Rajeev Sharma, Author at National Times

10 Jul

Brampton Man of Punjabi Origin Gets 20-Year US Jail Term in International Drug Smuggling Case

Rajeev Sharma0 CommentsCanada, Ontario, TrendingBrampton

Brampton (Rajeev Sharma): A Canadian man of Punjabi origin has been sentenced to two decades in a United States federal prison after being convicted of leading a cross-border drug trafficking operation that moved massive quantities of cocaine and methamphetamine from the US into Canada. The sentence was announced by the US Attorney's Office following proceedings in a federal court, where Guramrit Sidhu, 63, admitted to running an organised narcotics network. The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) said the conviction followed a lengthy multinational investigation involving agencies from the United States, Canada and Mexico. According to prosecutors, Sidhu supervised a sophisticated…

10 Jul

Monsoon Continues to Lash Himachal; Schools Closed in Vulnerable Areas as IMD Maintains Rain Alert

Rajeev Sharma0 CommentsIndia, TrendingHimachal

Shimla (Rajeev Sharma): Heavy monsoon showers continued to impact normal life across Himachal Pradesh on Friday, forcing authorities to shut schools in parts of Sirmaur district while cautioning residents about the possibility of landslides, flash floods and road disruptions. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has maintained a Yellow Alert for five districts, warning of heavy rainfall at isolated locations. The district administration ordered the closure of all government and private schools in the Sangrah and Pachhad subdivisions after continuous rainfall affected road connectivity and increased the risk of landslides. Officials clarified that the closure applies only to students, while teachers…

10 Jul

Elections Alberta Warns Public About Fake Website Impersonating Official Election Portal

Rajeev Sharma0 CommentsAlberta, Canada, TrendingElections Alberta

Calgary (Rajeev Sharma): Elections Alberta has issued a public warning after identifying a fraudulent website that appears to imitate its official online platform by using a misleading web address and displaying fabricated voter information. According to the election authority, the website electionsab.ca closely resembles the official Elections Alberta address, elections.ab.ca, and appears to have been created to mislead users amid recent concerns surrounding the unauthorized use of Alberta’s List of Electors. Officials clarified that the website generates entirely fictitious information, including names, residential addresses, telephone numbers and so-called elector identification numbers. Elections Alberta stressed that the displayed data is not…

10 Jul

Metro Vancouver Governance Reform Moves Ahead as Committee Backs Board Size Cap

Rajeev Sharma0 CommentsBritish Columbia, Canada, Trending

Vancouver (Rajeev Sharma): A proposal to reduce the size of Metro Vancouver’s Board of Directors has cleared a key hurdle after the regional district’s Governance Committee endorsed a recommendation to limit the number of directors each municipality can appoint. The proposal, initiated by Delta Councillor Dylan Kruger, will now be placed before the full Metro Vancouver Board for consideration. If adopted, municipalities would be restricted to appointing a maximum of three directors, while the existing weighted voting system based on population would remain unchanged. The recommendation is part of a broader governance reform effort launched last year, when Kruger introduced…

10 Jul

Alberta Pledges $50 Million to Expand AI Leadership, Strengthen Public Services and Innovation

Rajeev Sharma0 CommentsAlberta, Canada, TrendingAlberta

Calgary (Rajeev Sharma): The Alberta government has announced a $50-million investment over the next five years in the Alberta Machine Intelligence Institute (Amii), aiming to accelerate artificial intelligence adoption across government services, healthcare, education and industry while reinforcing the province’s position as a global AI hub. The funding will be used to advance AI-driven solutions in public services, support research and commercialization, help businesses integrate emerging technologies and prepare Albertans for careers in an increasingly AI-powered economy. Premier Danielle Smith said Alberta’s long-term investment in artificial intelligence research is now translating into practical benefits for residents and businesses. She noted…

10 Jul

Alberta Fast-Tracks 41 School Projects to Create Over 39,000 Student Spaces

Rajeev Sharma0 CommentsAlberta, CanadaAlberta

Calgary (Rajeev Sharma): The Alberta government has accelerated 41 public school infrastructure projects under its Schools Now initiative, a move aimed at expanding classroom capacity and reducing construction timelines as the province continues to witness record population growth. Officials said the latest round of approvals will deliver more than 39,000 new and upgraded student spaces across Alberta. Of the total projects, 19 have received construction funding, while 22 others have advanced into the design phase, allowing work to progress much earlier than originally planned. According to the provincial government, the accelerated process is expected to shave more than nine months…

09 Jul

Nijjar Case Takes New Turn: Bishnoi Gang Angle Enters Spotlight

Rajeev Sharma0 CommentsCanada

Calgary (Rajeev Sharma): The investigation into the 2023 killing of Hardeep Singh Nijjar in Surrey, British Columbia, has taken a new turn after U.S. authorities announced charges involving jailed gangster Lawrence Bishnoi and Satinderjeet Singh, also known as Goldy Brar, in connection with alleged criminal activities linked to the case. The development has renewed debate around the circumstances of Nijjar’s assassination, which had triggered a major diplomatic dispute between Canada and India after allegations were raised in 2023 about a possible connection to Indian government agents claims India has strongly denied. The latest focus on the Bishnoi gang has shifted…

09 Jul

France Sweat Over Olise Suspension Risk as FIFA Rejects Appeal Before Morocco Showdown

Rajeev Sharma0 CommentsSports, TrendingFIFA, France

France (Rajeev Sharma): France's preparations for their FIFA World Cup 2026 quarter-final against Morocco have received an unexpected jolt after FIFA upheld Michael Olise's yellow card from the Round of 16, leaving the winger at risk of missing the next match if booked again. Head coach Didier Deschamps confirmed that the team's attempt to overturn the caution was unsuccessful. The decision means Olise will be available to face Morocco but will head into the high-stakes clash carrying the threat of suspension. The booking came during France's victory over Paraguay after Olise became involved in a late confrontation with Paraguayan midfielder…

09 Jul

Indian Engineer Charged With Wife’s Murder in US; Investigation Points to Alleged Affair and False Story

Rajeev Sharma0 CommentsTrending, World NewsUS

Washington (Rajeev Sharma): An Indian-origin software engineer has been charged with the murder of his wife in the United States after investigators spent months piecing together evidence that allegedly contradicted his initial account of her death. The arrest comes nearly nine months after the woman was found dead inside the couple’s apartment in Washington state. Authorities identified the accused as 30-year-old Avinash Narne, while the victim was his 27-year-old wife, Raajitha Sabbineni. Police said the incident took place on October 27, 2025, when Narne contacted emergency services, claiming his wife had locked herself inside the bathroom and was not responding.…

09 Jul

Meta Announces $13-Billion Alberta Data Centre, Marking Largest Tech Investment in Canadian History

Rajeev Sharma0 CommentsAlberta, Canada, TrendingAlberta

Calgary (Rajeev Sharma): Alberta has secured one of the biggest private-sector investments in Canada's history after technology giant Meta announced plans to establish its first Canadian data centre in the province. Valued at more than $13 billion, the project is expected to create thousands of jobs, strengthen Alberta's position in the artificial intelligence sector, and generate substantial long-term revenue for the provincial government. The proposed facility will be built in Sturgeon County and is projected to create over 3,000 construction jobs during development, along with around 300 permanent operational positions once the campus becomes functional. Provincial estimates suggest the project…