Rajeev Sharma, Author at National Times

02 Mar

India and Canada Sign Terms of Reference for Ambitious Trade Pact; Target $50 Billion Bilateral Trade by 2030

Rajeev Sharma0 CommentsCanada, IndiaHyderabad House, India-Canada CEPA, Mark Carney, Narendra Modi, Piyush Goyal, Trade Pact, Trade Target

New Delhi/Ottawa (Gurpreet Singh/Rajeev Sharma)— In a move designed to reset and revolutionize economic ties, India and Canada officially launched negotiations for a Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) on Monday, March 2, 2026. The Terms of Reference (ToR) for the landmark agreement were signed by Indian Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal and Canadian International Trade Minister Maninder Sidhu at Hyderabad House. The exchange took place in the presence of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney, marking a significant milestone in the first official visit by the Canadian leader to the Indian capital. During the high-profile ceremony, Prime…

02 Mar

New Delhi, Ottawa Reignite Ties With Major Energy Accord and 2030 Trade Vision

Rajeev Sharma0 CommentsCanada, India, TrendingCanada, India

New Delhi (Rajeev Sharma): India and Canada on Monday outlined a sweeping blueprint to elevate their partnership, sealing a multi-billion-dollar uranium supply agreement and committing to expand annual trade to $50 billion by the end of the decade. Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney held extensive discussions in New Delhi, describing the outcome as the start of a renewed and forward-looking chapter in bilateral relations. Uranium Deal to Power Civil Nuclear Expansion A centrepiece of the talks was a $2.6 billion arrangement under which Canada will supply uranium to fuel India’s civilian nuclear reactors. The agreement…

02 Mar

Centre Issues Advisory to States Over Possible Unrest Linked to Iran Situation

Rajeev Sharma0 CommentsEntertainment, India, Trendingcentral government, State Advisory

Rajeev Sharma :- The Central Government has written to all states regarding developments related to Iran, warning of the possibility of violence during potential protests and urging state administrations to maintain a high level of vigilance. In a letter circulated on February 28, the Union Ministry of Home Affairs cautioned that tensions arising from the Israel–US strikes on Iran could trigger law and order challenges in parts of India. The Ministry specifically asked states to identify “radical pro-Iran propagandists” allegedly delivering inflammatory speeches and to closely monitor any activities that could disturb public peace. Reports indicate that the advisory highlights…

02 Mar

India, Canada Set $50 Billion Trade Target by 2030; Leaders Push for Comprehensive Economic Pact

Rajeev Sharma0 CommentsCanada, India

Rajeev Sharma :- Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Canadian Prime Minister Mark J. Carney on Monday announced an ambitious target to elevate bilateral trade to USD 50 billion by 2030, signalling a renewed push to deepen economic engagement between the two nations. Speaking during a joint press statement in New Delhi following bilateral talks at Hyderabad House, Prime Minister Modi said both countries are committed to unlocking the full potential of their economic partnership. He confirmed that New Delhi and Ottawa have agreed to work toward finalising a Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) in the near future. “Our objective is…

02 Mar

Israeli Bombardment in Lebanon Leaves 31 Dead as Regional Hostilities Deepen

Rajeev Sharma0 CommentsTrending, World NewsLebanon

Lebanon (Rajeev Sharma): A fresh wave of Israeli airstrikes across Lebanon has claimed at least 31 lives and left 149 people wounded, Lebanese health authorities confirmed on Monday. The strikes followed a missile barrage launched by Hezbollah toward Israel, pushing an already volatile regional conflict into a more dangerous phase. Officials in Beirut said the majority of casualties were reported from southern Lebanon, an area long regarded as a flashpoint in cross-border tensions. The Israeli military action came after Hezbollah announced it had fired missiles into northern Israel, calling the move a response to what it described as continued Israeli…

02 Mar

10 Million Indians in West Asia in Limbo as Conflict Deepens, Government Weighs Options

Rajeev Sharma0 CommentsIndia, Trending, World NewsIran, Israel

New Delhi (Rajeev Sharma/Gurpreet Singh): The deepening confrontation involving the United States, Israel and Iran has placed India before a formidable challenge: protecting an estimated 10 million citizens spread across West Asia. With air routes disrupted and tensions rising across the Gulf, New Delhi is navigating a complex diplomatic and logistical landscape, even as no large-scale evacuation plan has been formally announced. In the past 24 hours, senior officials from Kuwait, Oman, Bahrain, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates have conveyed assurances regarding the well-being of Indian nationals residing in their territories. External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar has…

02 Mar

PM Modi Engages Netanyahu Over Phone, Urges De-escalation in Tense West Asia

Rajeev Sharma0 CommentsIndia, Trending, World NewsBenjamin Netanyahu, PM Modi

New Delhi (Gurpreet Singh/Rajeev Sharma): As instability deepens across West Asia, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday connected with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to exchange views on the unfolding security situation and its wider implications. Sources indicated that the leaders reviewed recent developments in the region, where military actions and counter-strikes have sharply intensified tensions. During the call, Modi voiced India’s apprehensions about the escalating conflict and highlighted the urgent necessity of protecting civilian populations caught in the crossfire. Sharing details of the interaction on social media platform X, the Prime Minister said India has consistently advocated restraint and…

02 Mar

Energy Markets on Edge as Middle East Strikes Trigger Sharp Oil Rally

Rajeev Sharma0 CommentsTrending, World NewsIran, Israel

Tehran (Rajeev Sharma): Crude oil prices leapt in early trading this week after renewed military action in the Middle East sparked fears of serious disruptions to global energy flows. The latest wave of US and Israeli strikes on Iranian targets, followed by retaliatory attacks across the Gulf region, has unsettled traders who worry that escalating tensions could choke off supply from one of the world’s most vital oil corridors. The prospect of prolonged instability pushed benchmark prices significantly higher on Monday. US crude, known as West Texas Intermediate, climbed more than 7 per cent in morning trade to hover above…

01 Mar

“Cynical Murder”: Vladimir Putin Condemns Killing of Ayatollah Khamenei as Breach of International Law

Rajeev Sharma0 CommentsWorld NewsAyatollah Khamenei, Condolences, International Law, Iran, Russia, Strategic Partnership, Vladimir Putin

Moscow (Rajeev Sharma): Russian President Vladimir Putin on Sunday, March 1, 2026, issued a scathing condemnation of the targeted killing of Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, describing the act as a "cynical murder" that violates the fundamental norms of human morality and international law. In a formal condolence note addressed to Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian and released by the Kremlin, Putin expressed his deep personal grief over the loss of the 86-year-old leader, who was killed alongside members of his family during a massive joint military operation by the United States and Israel on Saturday. The Russian leader lauded…

01 Mar

Alireza Arafi Appointed to Lead Temporary Council as Iran Enters 40-Day Mourning for Ayatollah Khamenei

Rajeev Sharma0 CommentsWorld News

Tehran (Rajeev Sharma) — In the wake of the seismic shift in West Asian geopolitics, the Islamic Republic of Iran has moved to stabilize its leadership by appointing Alireza Arafi to lead a temporary leadership council. The announcement comes as the nation officially enters a 40-day period of national mourning following the confirmed death of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei in a joint US-Israeli military operation on Saturday. Arafi, a 67-year-old prominent cleric and a member of the Guardian Council, is widely seen as a pragmatist within the Iranian establishment. Born in 1959 in Yazd, he has held significant positions,…