Rajeev Sharma, Author at National Times

20 Jun

Vancouver MP Jenny Kwan Demands Canada Cut Intelligence Ties with India, Labels Nijjar Killing a Sovereignty Crisis

Rajeev Sharma0 CommentsCanada, TrendingCanada, India, Jenny Kwan

Vancouver (National Times): NDP Member of Parliament Jenny Kwan has issued a direct challenge to Prime Minister Mark Carney, urging his government to sever all security and intelligence cooperation with India amid explosive allegations of transnational repression. In an open letter published Tuesday, Kwan referred to recent findings by the RCMP and Canadian Security Intelligence Service (CSIS) which reinforce suspicions that Indian officials were involved in the targeted killing of Sikh separatist leader Hardeep Singh Nijjar. Kwan also criticized the government's decision to welcome Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his cabinet members to the G7 Summit in Canada. “India’s…

20 Jun

J&K CM Omar Abdullah Rejects Canal Proposal, Says “Why should I send water to Punjab?”

Rajeev Sharma0 CommentsIndia, Politics, TrendingJammu and Kashmir, Punjab

Jammu (National Times): Amid rising concerns over regional water security, Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah has categorically rejected a central proposal to construct a 113 km-long canal to transfer excess water from rivers in J&K to Punjab, Haryana, and Rajasthan. In an emphatic statement, Abdullah said, “There is a drought-like situation in Jammu. Why should I send water to Punjab? Punjab already had water under the Indus Water Treaty. Did they help us when we needed water?” The proposed canal, intended to optimize water usage across northern India, aims to divert surplus flow from the western rivers of…

20 Jun

5 Punjabi arrest in Canada Taxi Card Scam, ‘Over 300 Victims and $500K Lost in Toronto Fake Taxi Card Scam’

Rajeev Sharma0 CommentsCanadaCanada

Toronto (National Times): Toronto police have uncovered a massive fraud operation in the city involving a fake taxi scam that targeted unsuspecting passengers and resulted in over $500,000 in losses. Following a 10-month investigation called Project Fare, authorities have arrested 11 individuals connected to the criminal network, which allegedly defrauded more than 300 people by using payment terminal tricks to steal cards and personal identification numbers.Detective David Coffey explained during a press conference that the scheme involved suspects posing as taxi drivers. Victims were asked to pay with a debit or credit card, during which the perpetrators would covertly swap…

19 Jun

“I’m Hearing Rockets Go Overhead”: Canadian Hockey Player Caught in Israel’s Conflict

Rajeev Sharma0 CommentsCanadaCanadian hockey player Israel, Israel‑Iran conflict, Timothy Payne

Tel Aviv, June 19, 2025 — Timothy Payne, a 29‑year‑old Canadian defenseman playing for the Jerusalem Capitals in Israel’s Elite Hockey League, is now navigating life in a warzone following the outbreak of conflict between Israel and Iran.Payne arrived in Israel just days before the crisis erupted. Since then, his routine has transformed dramatically no longer confined to the ice, his days now involve running between makeshift bomb shelters amid frequent air-raid sirens and rocket strikes. “It’s scary as all hell,” he told CTV News. “You hear the sirens. You hear the rockets.” He described nighttime routines where he and fellow…

19 Jun

Canada to Roll Out Swift Support for Steel and Aluminum Industries Amid U.S. Tariffs

Rajeev Sharma0 CommentsBusinessCanada U.S. tariffs, Mélanie Joly, steel aluminum crisis

Ottawa, June 19, 2025 — Canada’s federal government has pledged to deliver "a decision very quickly" to support the steel and aluminum sectors hit hard by recent U.S. tariffs, Industry Minister Mélanie Joly announced today.Addressing reporters on Parliament Hill, Joly described the situation as a state of emergency for Canadian producers. She has been in direct contact with industry executives and union leaders, including representatives from the Canadian Steel Producers Association and United Steelworkers, emphasizing the urgency of the issue.The tariffs, originally set at 25 percent in March, were doubled to 50 percent on June 3, a move widely dependent to have crippling…

19 Jun

“We Can Win Anywhere”: Captain Shubman Gill Sets Confident Tone Ahead of England Test Series

Rajeev Sharma0 CommentsSportsIndia vs England Test 2025, Shubman Gill captaincy, WTC cycle

Leeds, June 19, 2025 — India’s Test cricket captain Shubman Gill has firmly stated that the team is ready to dominate anywhere in the world, setting a strong tone ahead of the five-match Test series against England. As India begins its new World Test Championship cycle, Gill's leadership is being closely watched—especially as he steps into the shoes of senior players like Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli.“We believe we can win anywhere. That’s the blueprint we are following,” said Gill at the pre-match press conference in Leeds. The 25-year-old opener, now positioned at number four in the batting order, highlighted…

19 Jun

Tony Blair Expresses Interest in Delhi’s Transformation Under BJP Government, Minister Says

Rajeev Sharma0 CommentsIndiaBJP 100-day reforms, Rekha Gupta, Tony Blair Delhi visit

New Delhi, June 19, 2025 — Former UK Prime Minister Tony Blair visited Delhi on Thursday and conveyed his admiration for the city’s development initiatives under the recently elected BJP government, according to Delhi Deputy Chief Minister Manjinder Singh Sirsa and Chief Minister Rekha Gupta.Blair met both Sirsa and CM Gupta at the Secretariat, where he was reportedly “deeply impressed by the transformative work done in just 100 days,” including improvements in public healthcare, environmental efforts, and welfare schemes. Sirsa praised the visit as an endorsement of “inclusive and effective governance” inspired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s national vision.Newly appointed…

19 Jun

Five Assembly Bypolls Held Peacefully Across Four States

Rajeev Sharma0 CommentsIndiaAssembly Bypolls 2025

New Delhi, June 19, 2025 — Voting proceeded smoothly on Thursday for by-elections to five assembly constituencies in West Bengal (Kaliganj), Kerala (Nilambur), Punjab (Ludhiana West), and Gujarat (Kadi and Visavadar). Polling, conducted amid tight security, began at 7 am and closed at 6 pm, with results scheduled for June 23.Early turnout varied by constituency. In Kaliganj, voter participation reached over 30 percent within four hours, hitting approximately 45.3 percent by midday. Kerala’s Nilambur recorded exceptionally high engagement, with turnout near 70.8 percent by 5 pm. In Punjab’s Ludhiana West, turnout stood at around 49 percent by evening. Gujarat’s Visavadar and Kadi reported lower figures, at roughly…

19 Jun

Starship Prototype Explodes During Test at SpaceX Starbase

Rajeev Sharma0 CommentsTechnologyBoca Chica, SpaceX Starship explosion, Starbase, static fire test

Texas, June 19, 2025 — A SpaceX Starship prototype exploded late Wednesday at the Starbase facility in Boca Chica, Texas, during a routine static fire test, according to the company and local authorities. The incident, which occurred around 11 p.m. local time, produced a massive fireball visible from miles away but resulted in no injuries.SpaceX confirmed that the vehicle had “experienced a major anomaly” while on the test stand in preparation for its tenth planned flight. The company emphasized that a safety perimeter had been in place and personnel were evacuated before the test. Local emergency services were alerted, surrounding roads…

19 Jun

India Becomes Third-Largest Power Generator Globally, Driven by Clean Energy Push: IEA

Rajeev Sharma0 CommentsIndiaIEA report 2025, India clean energy investment, India power generation

New Delhi, June 19, 2025 — India now ranks third in global power generation capacity, trailing only China and the United States, according to the latest findings from the International Energy Agency (IEA). This significant achievement reflects India's sustained focus on expanding energy production and embracing clean energy.Over the last five years, India has recorded the third-largest increase in power generation capacity worldwide. The report attributes this growth to the country’s rising electricity demand, spurred by rapid urbanization, growing residential and commercial infrastructure, greater use of household appliances like air conditioners, and increasing industrial consumption.To meet this surging demand, India…