Rajeev Sharma, Author at National Times

09 Sep

Kamal Khera Named Canada’s New Consul General in Los Angeles

Rajeev Sharma0 CommentsCanada

OTTAWA (Rajeev Sharma): The Government of Canada has appointed former federal cabinet minister Kamal Khera as Canada’s new Consul General in Los Angeles, placing her in a key diplomatic position at an important time in Canada-U.S. relations. The appointment was announced by Global Affairs Canada on July 14, 2026, as part of a broader series of Canadian diplomatic appointments in the United States. Khera, a former Liberal MP for Brampton West and former Minister of Health, will represent Canadian interests in Southern California and work to strengthen economic, commercial and people-to-people ties between Canada and the United States. Foreign Affairs…

09 Sep

US-Iran Tensions Escalate as Washington Strikes Five Oil Tankers, Tehran Targets Jordan

Rajeev Sharma0 CommentsTrending, World NewsIran, US, US-Iran

Washington/Tehran (Rajeev Sharma): Tensions between the United States and Iran intensified on Tuesday after American forces destroyed five Iranian oil tankers, while Tehran launched a fresh missile attack toward US-linked positions in Jordan, marking another sharp escalation in the more than six-month-old conflict. The latest exchange of strikes has renewed concerns that repeated military confrontations could push the two countries further away from a negotiated settlement and deepen the economic fallout from the war. Jordan Intercepts Iranian Missiles Iranian state media reported that Tehran fired missiles toward American targets in Jordan following the US strikes on Iranian tankers. Jordan’s armed…

09 Sep

Himachal Pradesh Set for Four-Day Dry Spell, Rain Likely to Return From September 13

Rajeev Sharma0 CommentsIndia, TrendingHimachal Pradesh

Shimla (Rajeev Sharma): Himachal Pradesh is likely to experience mostly dry weather over the next four days, with the southwest monsoon remaining weak across the state. The Meteorological Department has forecast a noticeable rise in temperatures, with the mercury expected to climb by 2 to 3 degrees Celsius in several areas. Most parts of the state are likely to see clear skies today and tomorrow. Higher reaches are expected to remain completely dry during the next 48 hours, while a few locations in the lower and middle hills could receive light rain or drizzle. The subdued weather pattern is likely…

09 Sep

Advance Voting Opens for Calgary-Shaw By-Election Ahead of September 14 Poll

Rajeev Sharma0 CommentsAlberta, Canada, TrendingCalgary

CALGARY (Rajeev Sharma): Voters in Alberta’s Calgary-Shaw electoral division can now cast their ballots ahead of election day, with advance voting officially getting underway on Tuesday. Alberta Chief Electoral Officer Gordon McClure confirmed that the advance voting station is open from September 8 through September 12, giving eligible voters five days to vote before the by-election. Advance Voting Hours and Location The advance voting facility is located at: 1000 SUNDANCE15 Sunpark Plaza SE, Calgary The station will remain open from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. each day throughout the advance voting period. Unlike Election Day, eligible voters from anywhere within…

09 Sep

Linda Annis Calls for Public Disclosure of Taxpayer-Funded Severance Packages

Rajeev Sharma0 CommentsBritish Columbia, CanadaLinda Annis

Surrey, B.C. (Rajeev Sharma): Surrey First councillor and mayoral candidate Linda Annis is calling for greater transparency around severance payments made to senior public-sector executives, arguing that taxpayers should be able to see the details when such officials leave their positions. Annis made the comments while discussing the need for greater scrutiny of public spending, pointing to senior executives such as Metro Vancouver’s Jerry Dobrovolny as an example. She argued that severance arrangements involving public funds should not remain hidden from residents once a termination or departure has been announced. Annis Pledges Review of Surrey Spending As part of her…

09 Sep

Alberta Students Shine in Global Education Rankings, PISA Results Show

Rajeev Sharma0 CommentsAlberta, Canada, TrendingAlberta

Calgary (Rajeev Sharma): Alberta’s 15-year-olds have once again demonstrated strong academic performance, placing the province among the leading education systems in Canada and around the world, according to the latest PISA assessment. Students in Alberta have posted impressive results in the 2025 Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA), outperforming both Canadian and international averages in science, reading and mathematics. The province emerged as the top-performing Canadian province in science and reading, while placing second in mathematics, with Quebec recording a higher score in that subject. The results underline Alberta’s continued strength in educating students and preparing them to compete with…

08 Sep

Punjab Farmer’s Death Sparks Political Tensions as Heavy Police Presence Surrounds Sangrur Hospital

Rajeev Sharma0 CommentsPunjab, Trending

Sangrur (Gurpreet Singh): The death of a 50-year-old farmer in Punjab has triggered a political controversy, with more than 100 police personnel deployed around a Sangrur hospital on Tuesday as authorities prepared to conduct his post-mortem. Gulzar Singh allegedly died after consuming a poisonous substance following a dispute linked to his public criticism of the drug problem in Punjab. His death has drawn attention from villagers, activists and political leaders, while police have denied allegations that he was harassed or tortured. A large number of villagers and local residents gathered near the hospital as the post-mortem examination was conducted. Farmer had…

08 Sep

Donald Trump Threatens to Block Bombardier Jet Sales in US Unless Canadian Firm Builds Locally

Rajeev Sharma0 CommentsTrending, World NewsDonald Trump

Washington (Rajeev Sharma): US President Donald Trump has stepped up his pressure on Canadian aerospace company Bombardier, warning that the private jet manufacturer could lose access to the American market unless it begins producing aircraft in the United States. Trump made the remarks Monday in a post on Truth Social, where he criticised Bombardier's products and said the company should manufacture in America if it wanted to continue selling to US customers. The warning comes as tensions between Washington and Ottawa intensify over trade. Canada is preparing to impose a new round of retaliatory tariffs on US goods, adding another layer…

08 Sep

Delhi Music Teacher Dies After Alleged Assault Outside Home; Eight Juveniles and Men Held

Rajeev Sharma0 CommentsIndia, TrendingDelhi

New Delhi (Rajeev Sharma): A late-night confrontation over alleged noise and public nuisance in Delhi’s Kilokari village has ended in the death of a 54-year-old Manipuri musician and private music teacher, with police arresting seven adults and apprehending a 15-year-old in connection with the case. Chongtham Vikram Singh, who had been teaching music privately in Delhi for around 17 years, was allegedly attacked after objecting to disturbances outside his residence on Sunday night. He was taken to a private hospital in Okhla but died from his injuries early Monday morning. Police received information about the assault at around 1:38 am, according to…

08 Sep

Calgary Police Release Photos of 15 Men Accused in Extortion Cases Targeting South Asian Community

Rajeev Sharma0 CommentsAlberta, CanadaCalgary Police

Calgary (Rajeev Sharma): Canadian authorities have released photographs of 15 men facing charges in a series of extortion investigations that have raised concerns among Calgary’s South Asian community. The Calgary Police Service (CPS) said 16 people have been charged with a total of 56 offences connected to the investigations. Police said one accused person remains in custody, while the remaining individuals have been released on bail. None of those charged are Canadian citizens. Authorities are now appealing to members of the public for information that could help investigators establish the suspects’ movements, employment, associates and other connections. Police seek information about suspects and associates Jeff…