Rajeev Sharma, Author at National Times

01 Aug

Toxic Drug Deaths in B.C. Fall Sharply, Down 40% from Peak Levels

Rajeev Sharma0 CommentsCanada, TrendingBritish Columbia, Canada

Victoria (Richa Walia): British Columbia has recorded a significant drop in toxic drug deaths, with fatalities in May and June down about 40 per cent from their peak levels, according to new data released by the BC Coroners Service. The province reported 145 deaths in May, compared to 181 in the same month last year, and 147 deaths in June, down from 185 in June 2024. This marks a steep decline from the record high of 243 deaths reported in December 2023, reflecting a downward trend that is also being seen across much of North America. The BC Coroners Service…

01 Aug

Canada Responds to US Tariff Hike with Call for Unity and Economic Resilience

Rajeev Sharma0 CommentsCanada, TrendingCanada, Mark Carney

Ottawa (Rajeev Sharma): Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney has issued a strong and measured response after U.S. President Donald Trump announced a sharp increase in tariffs on Canadian goods not covered by the Canada-United States-Mexico Agreement (CUSMA). The new 35% tariff, up from 25%, is set to take effect immediately, targeting a broad range of exports outside the trade deal. In an official statement released today, Prime Minister Carney expressed disappointment over the U.S. decision but reaffirmed Canada’s commitment to CUSMA, which he called “the world’s second-largest free trade agreement by trading volume.” Carney emphasized that while many Canadian exports…

01 Aug

Donald Trump Raises Tariffs on Canadian Goods to 35% Ahead of Deadline

Rajeev Sharma0 CommentsTrending, World NewsDonald Trump

Washington D.C. (Rajeev Sharma): U.S. President Donald Trump signed an executive order on Thursday increasing tariffs on Canadian goods from 25% to 35%, targeting all products not covered under the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA). The new rates will take effect on August 1, the White House confirmed. “In response to Canada’s continued inaction and retaliation, President Trump has determined it is necessary to increase the tariff on Canada from 25% to 35% to effectively address the existing emergency,” the White House said in a statement. Additionally, a 40% transshipment levy will be applied to goods routed through third countries in an…

01 Aug

ASIRT Probes Fatal RCMP Shooting in Lac La Biche

Rajeev Sharma0 CommentsCanada, TrendingASIRT

Calgary (Rajeev Sharma): The Alberta Serious Incident Response Team (ASIRT) is investigating a fatal RCMP-involved shooting in Lac La Biche that occurred on July 27. According to ASIRT, RCMP officers were dispatched at 11:47 a.m. after receiving a call for assistance from a local residence. When officers arrived, residents informed them that the man in question had left before their arrival. A short time later, police located the man in a nearby field armed with two knives. Officers ordered him to drop the weapons, and one officer deployed a conducted energy weapon. A physical struggle followed, during which the man…

01 Aug

Alberta MLAs to Advocate for Barrier-Free Trade at U.S. Legislators’ Summit in Boston

Rajeev Sharma0 CommentsCanada, TrendingAlberta, Canada

Calgary (Rajeev Sharma): Alberta is set to push for deeper economic ties with the United States as three provincial MLAs prepare to attend the National Conference of State Legislators (NCSL) 50th annual summit in Boston, Massachusetts, from Aug. 2 to 7. MLAs Angela Pitt (Airdrie-East), Glenn Van Dijken (Athabasca-Barrhead-Westlock), and Chelsae Petrovic (Livingstone-Macleod) will represent Alberta at the summit, which brings together lawmakers and government leaders from across the U.S. and beyond. Their mission: to advocate for barrier-free trade, promote Alberta as a secure energy and agriculture partner, and strengthen cross-border economic relations. Alberta’s Economic Priorities Over the course of…

31 Jul

Kamala Harris Returns to Late-Night TV Amid Book Announcement and Political Speculation

Rajeev Sharma0 CommentsWorld News107 Days book, California governor, Kamala Harris, Late Show, presidential campaign, Stephen Colbert

National Times Bureau, July 31, 2025: Kamala Harris is set to make her return to late-night television with an appearance on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert on Thursday, July 31. This will mark her first televised interview since the 2024 U.S. presidential election, in which she was defeated by current President Donald Trump. The timing of the interview comes just a day after Harris publicly announced that she will not be running for the position of California governor, sparking fresh speculation about her future in politics.Harris, who previously served as Vice President under Joe Biden, last appeared on Colbert’s…

31 Jul

The Rise of Solo Dates: Why Spending Time Alone Is Becoming the New Self-Care Trend

Rajeev Sharma0 CommentsLifestyleintentional solitude, Lifestyle, mental wellness, self-care trend, solo date

National Times Bureau, July 31, 2025: Cafes with a single book propped open across the table. Cinema halls where people settle in without a companion. Parks dotted with individuals sipping coffee alone, earphones in, phone down. The idea of going on a "solo date" is no longer a quiet rebellion it’s now a conscious lifestyle choice.Once seen as awkward or even lonely, doing things alone is being rebranded as empowering. More people, especially in urban spaces, are carving out time to take themselves out—be it to a new restaurant, a weekend art show, or just a walk with their favorite…

31 Jul

Pro Kabaddi League Season 12 to Kick Off in Visakhapatnam on August 29

Rajeev Sharma0 CommentsSportsPro Kabaddi League 2025, Season 12 PKL, Telugu Titans vs Tamil Thalaivas, Visakhapatnam kabaddi

National Times Bureau, July 31, 2025: The 12th edition of the Pro Kabaddi League (PKL) is all set to begin on August 29, bringing back the thrill of kabaddi to four major Indian cities: Visakhapatnam, Jaipur, Chennai, and New Delhi.The season will open at the Rajiv Gandhi Indoor Stadium in Visakhapatnam, with Telugu Titans taking on Tamil Thalaivas and Bengaluru Bulls facing Puneri Paltan in the first two matches. This marks a special return for Vizag, which last hosted PKL matches in Season 6 back in 2018. The city had also been a part of the league’s early days, hosting…

31 Jul

AI Revolution Set to Reshape Jobs in India’s Manufacturing, Retail, and Education Sectors by 2030

Rajeev Sharma0 CommentsBusinessagentic artificial intelligence, AI in India, job disruption, manufacturing sector jobs

National Times Bureau, July 31: India is on the brink of a sweeping transformation in its employment landscape as agentic artificial intelligence (AI) technologies begin to disrupt core sectors like manufacturing, retail, and education. A new report released by ServiceNow on Wednesday projected that over 1.8 crore jobs across these three sectors will be impacted by 2030.Manufacturing is expected to bear the brunt of the shift, with 80 lakh jobs likely to be affected as AI systems begin automating operational and administrative processes. Retail comes a close second, with 76 lakh roles at risk, while the education sector could see…

31 Jul

India Vows to Safeguard National Interest Amid Trump’s New Tariffs on Exports

Rajeev Sharma0 CommentsIndiaBilateral Trade Agreement, Donald Trump tariffs, Indian exports, Piyush Goyal, US-India trade

National Times Bureau, July 31, 2025: India will act decisively to protect its national interest following the United States' announcement of fresh tariffs, Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal assured Parliament on Thursday. This comes a day after U.S. President Donald Trump declared a 25 per cent tariff plus additional penalties on Indian exports to America, effective August 1, citing India's continuing purchases of Russian crude oil and military equipment.Goyal, in a suo motu statement delivered in both Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha, said the government is reviewing the implications of these tariffs and is actively consulting stakeholders including farmers,…