Rajeev Sharma, Author at National Times

04 Mar

U.S. Strike on Iranian Warship Leaves at least 80 Dead as West Asia Crisis Intensifies

Rajeev Sharma0 CommentsWorld NewsIranian warship, Pentagon, Tehran, US strike, West Asia crisis

Washington/Tehran (Rajeev Sharma)— The escalating conflict in West Asia reached a perilous new height on Wednesday, March 4, 2026, after a United States missile strike on an Iranian warship in the Gulf region reportedly killed at least 80 personnel. The strike, which targeted a vessel identified as a significant asset in Iran’s naval operations, marks a direct military confrontation that threatens to pull the entire region into a full-scale maritime war. According to reports from various sources, the U.S. operation was conducted in response to what the Pentagon described as "imminent threats" to international shipping lanes and American naval assets…

04 Mar

Canada Launches $100 Million Scholarship Fund for Indian Students Under New Talent Strategy

Rajeev Sharma0 CommentsCanada, IndiaCanada scholarship, Education partnership, Indian students, International study, Talent strategy, University of Toronto

Ottawa (Rajeev Sharma): In a major boost to international academic mobility, the Canadian government has unveiled a landmark scholarship initiative worth up to $100 million (approx. ₹830 crore) specifically for Indian students. Announced during high-level bilateral talks last week, the fund is the cornerstone of the new Canada–India Talent and Innovation Strategy. This framework aims to deepen the long-standing educational ties between the two nations by focusing on advanced research, technology, and cross-border academic collaboration. At the heart of this investment is a fully funded scholarship programme designed to support up to 200 high-achieving Indian students. These scholars will have…

04 Mar

121 Arrested in Kelowna After Months-Long Crackdown on Crime and Drug Networks

Rajeev Sharma0 CommentsBritish Columbia, Canada, Trending

British Columbia (Rajeev Sharma): A sweeping seven-month enforcement drive in Kelowna, British Columbia, has resulted in 121 arrests and the seizure of significant quantities of illegal drugs, firearms and other weapons, authorities confirmed this week. The operation, carried out by the Royal Canadian Mounted Police in Kelowna, was supported by funding from the province’s Special Investigations and Targeted Enforcement (SITE) Program. Running from June 1, 2025, to January 15, 2026, the initiative focused on repeat offenders, organised crime groups and neighbourhoods experiencing higher levels of violence and disorder. Police said the funding allowed officers to conduct intelligence-led patrols and targeted…

04 Mar

Canadian PM Mark Carney Calls for “Rapid De-escalation” of Middle East Conflict Amid Concerns Over International Law

Rajeev Sharma0 CommentsCanada, World NewsCanada, De-escalation, diplomacy, International Law, Iran war, Mark Carney, Middle East, US-Israel

Sydney/Ottawa (Rajeev Sharma): Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney issued an urgent appeal for a "rapid de-escalation" of hostilities in the Middle East, describing the widening war between the United States, Israel, and Iran as a stark indicator of the "failure of the international order." Speaking to reporters during his diplomatic visit to Australia, the Prime Minister signaled a more cautious shift in Canada's stance, urging all belligerents to respect the established rules of international engagement. The Prime Minister’s remarks follow a series of high-stakes military strikes that began on Saturday with a joint US-Israeli operation in Tehran, which resulted in…

04 Mar

Senior Afghan Taliban Commander Qahraman Killed in Pakistani Security Operation Near Torkham

Rajeev Sharma0 CommentsWorld News

Rajeev Sharma :- Pakistani security forces have eliminated a high-ranking Afghan Taliban figure in a targeted overnight operation near the strategically vital Torkham border crossing, officials confirmed on Wednesday. According to security authorities, the commander — identified as Qahraman — was moving toward the frontier zone with a small group of associates when he was intercepted. Troops reportedly tracked the movement under the cover of darkness and launched a coordinated assault, backed by artillery fire, resulting in the deaths of the militants. The operation unfolded close to Torkham, a critical crossing point connecting Pakistan’s Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province with Afghanistan’s Nangarhar…

04 Mar

Strait of Hormuz at Risk: Any Iranian Blockade Could Cut 20% of Global Oil Supply and Shock World Economy

Rajeev Sharma0 CommentsWorld NewsStraight of Hormuz

Vancouver ( Rajeev Sharma): The Iran has repeatedly warned that it could close the Strait of Hormuz in response to military or economic pressure, a move that would trigger one of the most severe energy crises in modern history. The strait, a narrow waterway only about 33 kilometres wide at its narrowest point, is the main transit route for oil and liquefied natural gas (LNG) exports from major producers such as Saudi Arabia, Iraq, the United Arab Emirates, Kuwait and Qatar.According to international energy assessments, between 13 and 20 million barrels of oil per day (mbpd) nearly 20% of the…

03 Mar

Lebanon Sinks Deeper into Conflict as Hezbollah and Israel Escalate Cross-Border Warfare

Rajeev Sharma0 CommentsWorld NewsGeopolitics, Hezbollah, Israel, Lebanon conflict, West Asia

Beirut (Rajeev Sharma) — Lebanon has been drawn further into a devastating regional war as Hezbollah and Israeli forces exchange their most intense strikes in decades. The escalation follows a series of coordinated U.S. and Israeli military operations across West Asia, which have triggered a massive retaliatory response from Iranian-backed groups. Over the last 48 hours, the border region has transformed into a full-scale battleground. Hezbollah has launched a barrage of rockets and drones targeting military installations in northern Israel, while the Israeli Air Force has conducted extensive retaliatory sorties against suspected missile launch sites and command centers deep within…

03 Mar

Global Oil Markets Shaken: Gas Prices Rise as Middle East Tensions Escalate

Rajeev Sharma0 CommentsBusiness, CanadaGas prices, inflation, Middle East conflict, Oil market, Strait of Hormuz

Ottawa (Rajeev Sharma): Canadian motorists are facing immediate pressure at the pumps this week as North American oil markets react to a significant escalation of conflict in the Middle East. Following a joint military operation by the U.S. and Israel against Iran on Saturday, concerns over the stability of global energy supply chains have sent crude prices on a volatile upward trajectory. The primary focus for market analysts is the Strait of Hormuz, a narrow yet vital waterway on Iran's southern border. Currently, approximately 20 per cent of the world's crude oil passes through this chokepoint. Over the weekend, several…

03 Mar

Stronach Sexual Assault Trial: Final Complainant Delivers Harrowing Testimony

Rajeev Sharma0 CommentsCanadaFrank Stronach, Legal news, Ontario Superior Court, Sexual assault trial

Toronto (Rajeev Sharma): The high-profile sexual assault trial of billionaire Frank Stronach reached a critical juncture Monday as the final complainant provided a chilling account of an alleged encounter in the early 1980s. The witness, now in her late 60s, testified to a sense of total helplessness during an incident at Stronach’s waterfront apartment. The woman recounted a vivid and traumatic detail, stating she would never forget the sound of her pantyhose being ripped until only the waistband remained. She testified that she lay on a cot sobbing quietly while the businessman penetrated her, fearing that any further resistance would…

03 Mar

Carney Touches Down in Sydney to Bolster Canada-Australia Trade and Defence Ties

Rajeev Sharma0 CommentsCanada, World NewsAustralia, Defence, Geopolitics, Mark Carney, Trade

Sydney (Rajeev Sharma): Prime Minister Mark Carney has arrived in Australia for a high-stakes diplomatic mission aimed at deepening bilateral collaboration in trade and national security. The Prime Minister landed in Sydney midday Tuesday local time (Monday evening in Canada), marking the start of a multi-city tour through the Commonwealth partner nation. The visit comes at a pivotal time for Indo-Pacific relations. Carney is scheduled to engage with prominent business leaders in Sydney before travelling to the capital, Canberra, on Thursday. In a rare honour for a visiting head of government, he is slated to address the Australian Parliament, where…