Rajeev Sharma, Author at National Times

15 Jan

IndiGo plane last to cross Iran before sudden airspace shutdown; Indian airlines warn of disruptions

Rajeev Sharma0 CommentsIndiaIndiGo

National Times Bureau :- An IndiGo aircraft flying from Tbilisi in Georgia to Delhi is believed to have been the final non-Iranian commercial flight to transit Iranian airspace before Tehran abruptly suspended civilian aviation operations early Thursday, triggering widespread disruptions across international routes. According to flight-tracking data, IndiGo flight 6E 1808 departed Tbilisi at 11.29 am on Wednesday and arrived in Delhi at 7.03 am on Thursday. The aircraft crossed Iranian airspace at around 2.35 am, shortly before Iran issued a Notice to Airmen (NOTAM) announcing the closure of its skies. Following the sudden decision, major Indian carriers, including IndiGo,…

15 Jan

Punjab Chief Minister to Present Himself Before Akal Takht Amid Controversy

Rajeev Sharma0 CommentsPunjab, TrendingBhagwant Mann, Punjab

Amritsar (Gurpreet Singh): Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann is expected to appear before the Akal Takht secretariat at 11 am today following accusations that certain comments made by him hurt Sikh religious sentiments. Mann arrived in the holy city on Wednesday in anticipation of the summons issued by Sikh clergy. Sources within the Akal Takht secretariat said preparations were carried out under the guidance of officiating Jathedar Giani Kuldip Singh Gargaj. An official noted that although the secretariat usually begins functioning at 9.30 am, additional arrangements were made in view of the Chief Minister’s visit, including the presence of designated…

15 Jan

Canada Resumes LMIA Processing in Eight Regions, Opening Doors for Foreign Workers

Rajeev Sharma0 CommentsBritish Columbia, CanadaCanada

Ottawa (Rajeev Sharma): Canada has officially resumed Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA) processing under the Low-Wage stream of the Temporary Foreign Worker Program (TFWP) in eight regions, creating new opportunities for foreign workers and employers, according to Chanda Immigration. The move follows updated labour market data showing unemployment rates have fallen below the federal six per cent threshold, allowing low-wage hiring to resume in previously restricted areas. Eligible regions include Vancouver, Winnipeg, Halifax, Kingston, Montréal, Moncton, Saint John, and Fredericton. Employers in these regions can now submit LMIA applications to hire foreign workers across sectors such as hospitality, retail, caregiving,…

15 Jan

ESCALATING EXTORTION ATTACKS PUT SURREY’S SMALL BUSINESSES UNDER PRESSURE

Rajeev Sharma0 CommentsBritish Columbia, Canada, TrendingSurrey

Surrey,/ Newton ( Rajeev Sharma): Surrey police are investigating a fresh case of suspected extortion related violence after a business in the Newton neighbourhood was targeted in a shooting early morning Wednesday, underscoring growing safety concerns for business owners across the region. According to the Surrey Police Service (SPS), officers responded to a shots-fired call at approximately 2:10 a.m. in the 8000 block of King George Boulevard, near 80th Street. When police arrived, they found the front of a business damaged, with multiple bullet holes visible in the windows. No one was inside at the time, and no injuries were…

15 Jan

Wedding Photography Business Owner Shot Dead in Surrey; IHIT Rules Out Gang Conflict

Rajeev Sharma0 CommentsBritish Columbia, Canada, TrendingSurrey

Surrey ( Rajeev Sharma) : Homicide investigators have released the identity of a man who was found suffering from fatal gunshot wounds on a Surrey street Tuesday afternoon. Shortly after 12 p.m., the Surrey Police Service (SPS) responded to reports of a man lying near a property on 176 Street, just north of the Grandview Heights area. When officers arrived, they located the injured man, who was later pronounced dead at the scene. The Integrated Homicide Investigation Team (IHIT) was called in shortly afterward and has since taken over the investigation. On Wednesday, in an effort to advance the case,…

14 Jan

Ontario Court Orders Air Canada to Pay $15,000 to Passenger After 24-Hour Flight Delay

Rajeev Sharma0 CommentsCanadaAir Canada, flight delay compensation, Ontario Superior Court, passenger rights, Rejean Landry

Ottawa (Rajeev Sharma): More than three and a half years after an Ottawa man’s flight to Portugal was delayed by over 24 hours, the Ontario Superior Court has ordered Air Canada to pay Rejean Landry and his two adult children $15,000 in compensation. The ruling follows a small claims court decision over a year ago that had already sided with Landry, who represented himself. “It was just clearcut: There were too many planes, not enough employees, and it was their fault that the plane was late,” Landry said. “They pretty much never showed any argument to say otherwise. They just…

14 Jan

Canada to Open Free Trade Negotiations with UAE as Ottawa Pushes Trade Diversification

Rajeev Sharma0 CommentsCanadaCanada–UAE relations, comprehensive economic partnership, free trade talks, trade diversification

Ottawa (Rajeev Shamra) — Canada will begin formal negotiations on a free trade agreement with the United Arab Emirates next month, Trade Minister Maninder Sidhu said, marking a fresh step in Ottawa’s efforts to expand economic ties beyond its traditional reliance on the United States. The proposed talks aim to lay the groundwork for a comprehensive economic partnership agreement, focusing on trade, investment and broader commercial cooperation. Sidhu said the UAE represents a strategic partner for Canada, particularly as global trade dynamics shift and geopolitical uncertainties grow. According to the minister, discussions are expected to cover a wide range of…

14 Jan

Canadian Dollar Slips as Stock Weakness, Wider Yield Gap Weigh on Loonie

Rajeev Sharma0 CommentsCanadaCanadian dollar, Iran unrest, loonie, oil prices, stock market decline, US dollar, yield spread

Toronto (Rajeev Sharma): — The Canadian dollar edged lower against the US dollar on Tuesday as falling equity markets and a widening gap between Canadian and US bond yields pressured the commodity-linked currency. The loonie was trading 0.1 per cent lower at 1.3890 to the US dollar, or 71.99 US cents, after moving within a range of 1.3857 to 1.3898 during the session. Market participants pointed to a risk-off mood in global markets as a key factor behind the weakness. “Stocks have given it up and it feels to me like this is a bit of Iran fears picking up,”…

14 Jan

Trump Downplays USMCA During Ford Plant Visit, Says US Doesn’t Need Canadian or Mexican Cars

Rajeev Sharma0 CommentsCanadaCUSMA review, Donald Trump, Ford factory Dearborn, US manufacturing, USMCA

Washington/Ottawa (Rajeev Sharma): US President Donald Trump on Tuesday dismissed the relevance of the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) during a visit to a Ford manufacturing plant in Dearborn, Michigan, saying the United States does not need the trade pact or vehicles produced in Canada and Mexico. Speaking to reporters at the factory, Trump said the US should focus on domestic automobile production. “The problem is we don’t need their product. We don’t need cars made in Canada, we don’t need cars made in Mexico, we want to make them here,” he said. The visit to the Ford plant, where the company…

14 Jan

China Sees Chance to Woo Canada as PM Mark Carney Visits Beijing, Urges ‘Strategic Autonomy’ from US

Rajeev Sharma0 CommentsCanadaCanada China relations, Mark Carney China visit, strategic autonomy, US Canada ties

Beijing/Ottawa (Rajeev Sharma): As Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney arrived in China on Wednesday, Beijing signalled hopes of drawing the long-time US ally slightly away from Washington, amid growing strains between Canada and the United States. Chinese state media used the visit to call on Ottawa to pursue an independent foreign policy course, describing it as “strategic autonomy” from the US. Canada has traditionally been one of America’s closest allies, but China appears to be betting that US President Donald Trump’s aggressive economic policies—and recent military actions—could weaken that relationship. Beijing had earlier expressed frustration with former US President Joe…