Rajeev Sharma, Author at National Times

18 Jan

Man Sentenced to Life in Prison for 2024 Murder of Brother of Lapu-Lapu Day Attack Accused

Rajeev Sharma0 CommentsBritish Columbia, CanadaAlexander Lo killing, Dwight Kematch sentencing, Lapu-Lapu Day attack, Vancouver murder case

Vancouver (Rajeev Sharma): A British Columbia Supreme Court judge has sentenced a Vancouver man to life imprisonment, with no possibility of parole for 11 years, for the 2024 killing of Alexander Lo, the brother of Kai-Ji Adam Lo, who is accused in the Lapu-Lapu Day car-ramming attack that claimed 11 lives. Forty-one-year-old Dwight Kematch pleaded guilty in July to second-degree murder. During sentencing proceedings on Friday, Kematch acknowledged the “ripple effect” his actions had on Alexander Lo’s family, including his brother, who is currently in a forensic hospital facing separate criminal proceedings. Crown prosecutor Mark Myhre told the court that…

18 Jan

Canada Sets March 31 Deadline for Gun Buyback Declarations as National Program Enters Next Phase

Rajeev Sharma0 CommentsCanadaassault-style weapons, banned firearms, Canada gun buyback program, Public Safety Canada

Ottawa (Rajeev Sharma): The Canadian federal government has announced the next phase of its national gun buyback program, giving firearm owners roughly two months to declare their intent to participate in order to receive compensation for turning in prohibited weapons. Under the program, which was first announced in 2020, the government has banned approximately 2,500 makes and models of what it classifies as “assault-style” firearms, arguing these weapons are designed for combat rather than hunting or sport shooting. Speaking at a press conference on Saturday, Public Safety Minister Gary Anandasangaree said participation in the compensation scheme is optional, but compliance…

18 Jan

IndiGo Flight Diverted to Lucknow After Bomb Threat, All 222 Passengers Safe

Rajeev Sharma0 CommentsIndiaBomb Threat, IndiGo

National Times Bureau :- An IndiGo Airlines flight traveling from Delhi to Bagdogra was forced to make an emergency landing at Lucknow airport on the morning of 18 January 2026 after a bomb threat was reported. The aircraft, operating as flight 6E-6650, was carrying 222 passengers, including eight infants, along with two pilots and five cabin crew members. As a precaution, the plane was diverted from its original route and landed safely at Lucknow at around 9:17 am. Airport officials said Air Traffic Control received information about the threat at approximately 8:46 am. Immediately after landing, the aircraft was moved…

18 Jan

DGCA slaps fine of Rs 22 crore on Indigo over massive flights disruptions in December

Rajeev Sharma0 CommentsIndiaDGCA, IndiGo

National Times Bureau :- The civil aviation regulator DGCA has levied a penalty of ₹22.20 crore on IndiGo and initiated strict action against its senior leadership after an investigation uncovered major planning, operational and regulatory failures that contributed to the widespread flight disruptions in December 2025. Between December 3 and 5, IndiGo cancelled 2,507 flights and delayed another 1,852, leaving more than three lakh passengers stranded at airports nationwide. InterGlobe Aviation Ltd — IndiGo’s parent company — confirmed receiving the DGCA’s orders and said in a statement that the board and management would carefully review them and take appropriate steps.…

18 Jan

Dense Fog Prompts Safety Advisory Across Parts of Metro Vancouver

Rajeev Sharma0 CommentsBritish Columbia, Canada, TrendingVancouver

Vancouver (Rajeev Sharma): Motorists in southwestern Metro Vancouver have been urged to exercise caution as thick fog continues to blanket parts of the region, significantly reducing visibility on roads and bridges. Environment and Climate Change Canada issued a fog advisory on Saturday afternoon, warning that conditions could deteriorate to near-zero visibility in areas including Richmond, Delta and Tsawwassen. The advisory is expected to remain in effect through Sunday afternoon. According to the weather agency, visibility may drop suddenly in some locations, creating hazardous driving conditions. Drivers have been advised to switch on their headlights, reduce speed and leave extra space…

18 Jan

Police Seek Suspect After Vehicle Shooting in Southeast Calgary

Rajeev Sharma0 CommentsAlberta, Canada, TrendingCalgary

Calgary (Rajeev Sharma): Calgary police are investigating a shooting involving two vehicles in southeast Calgary on the evening of Friday, January 16, 2026. The incident occurred between 7:45 p.m. and 8:00 p.m. in the 2500 block of 2nd Avenue S.E., near the Manchester Industrial area. According to the Calgary Police Service, a dispute between the occupants of two vehicles escalated, during which one driver allegedly discharged a firearm at the other vehicle. No injuries were reported, and no victims required medical attention. The suspect vehicle fled the scene and remains outstanding. Investigators are actively reviewing CCTV footage and dash-cam videos…

18 Jan

Crowds Gather in Edmonton as Alberta Independence Petition Draws Strong Turnout

Rajeev Sharma0 CommentsAlberta, Canada, TrendingAlberta

Alberta (Rajeev Sharma): A petition drive calling for a public vote on Alberta’s future within Canada drew large crowds in Edmonton on Saturday, with long queues forming at Rundle Park as residents waited to add their names. The event was organised by Stay Free Alberta, the group leading the campaign to seek a referendum on whether the province should pursue separation from Canada. The organisation has been holding signature collection and awareness campaigns across Alberta since receiving approval from Elections Alberta earlier this month. By early afternoon, organisers estimated that hundreds of people had already signed the petition at the…

18 Jan

More Than 2.1 Million Temporary Residents Face Permit Uncertainty Across Canada

Rajeev Sharma0 CommentsCanada, Ontario, TrendingCanada

Toronto ( Rajeev Sharma): More than 2.1 million temporary residents across Canada are currently dealing with expired or soon-to-expire work and study permits, creating widespread uncertainty for individuals, employers, and communities nationwide. Experts warn against the assumption that most temporary residents will simply leave the country, noting that many have already established deep roots in Canadian cities such as Toronto through long-term employment, higher education, tax contributions, and ongoing applications for permanent residency. CBC recently highlighted the case of Abhishek Parmar, who arrived in Canada as an international student, later secured employment in the auto industry, and applied for permanent…

18 Jan

Canadian Sikh Youth Federation Urges Ontario Government to Avoid Political Use of Gurdwaras Amid OINP Protest

Rajeev Sharma0 CommentsBritish Columbia, CanadaOntario

Toronto (Gaganjot): The Canadian Sikh Youth Federation (CSYF) has formally urged the Ontario government to refrain from using Sikh religious stages for political engagement until the ongoing Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program (OINP) protest is resolved in a fair and transparent manner. In a letter addressed to Premier Doug Ford, Labour, Immigration, Training and Skills Development Minister David Piccini, Transportation Minister Prabhmeet Sarkaria, and MPP Hardeep Grewal and MPP Amarjot Sandhu, the organization expressed deep concern over what it described as prolonged inaction and unfulfilled assurances regarding the OINP issue. The federation emphasized that Sikh Gurdwaras are sacred and apolitical institutions,…

17 Jan

Forensic Report Is Part of Court Record, Not Political Opinion: AAP Warns Jakhar, Pargat Singh

Rajeev Sharma0 CommentsPolitics, Punjab, TrendingPunjab

Chandigarh (Gurpreet Singh): The Aam Aadmi Party has strongly condemned attempts by BJP and Congress leaders to mislead the public by casting doubts on a forensic conclusion that has already been categorically recorded by a court in the case related to the doctored video of AAP leader and former Delhi Chief Minister Atishi. AAP Punjab President Aman Arora, responding to the question raised by BJP Punjab President Sunil Jakhar on the forensic report of Punjab Police, said that the issue has gone far beyond political disagreement and now amounts to a direct challenge to a judicial order. Arora clarified that…