Rajeev Sharma, Author at National Times

17 Feb

Courtney Sarault Claims Third Medal at Milano Cortina 2026, Falls Just Short of Golden Sweep

Rajeev Sharma0 CommentsCanada, SportsCourtney Sarault, Kim Boutin, Milano Cortina 2026, short track speed skating, Team Canada, women’s 1000m silver

Milan (Rajeev Sharma): Canada’s Courtney Sarault came within reach of completing a full Olympic medal set at the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics, ultimately securing silver in the women’s 1000m on Day 10 of competition. The 25-year-old from Moncton, New Brunswick had already captured bronze in the 500m and silver in the mixed relay earlier in the Games. For much of Monday’s nine-lap final, gold appeared well within her grasp as she led through the opening half of the race. However, in the closing laps, Sarault slipped briefly to third before battling back to finish second. Despite earning her third…

17 Feb

Provinces Enter 2026 Budget Season on Stronger Footing Despite Trade Uncertainty: Desjardins Report

Rajeev Sharma0 CommentsCanadaCUSMA review, Desjardins report, Donald Trump tariffs, provincial budgets 2026, Randall Bartlett, Statistics Canada GDP revision

Ottawa (Rajeev Sharma): Canada’s provinces are heading into the 2026 budget season in a stronger position than previously expected, buoyed by economic resilience and upward revisions to historical growth data, according to a new analysis from Desjardins Group. Randall Bartlett, deputy chief economist at Desjardins and co-author of the report released Tuesday, said forecasting remains unusually challenging amid global trade volatility and shifting economic signals. “It is a much more difficult time to be doing forecasting for any economy, really,” Bartlett said. Trade Pressures and Tariff Exposure At this time last year, provincial outlooks appeared far more fragile as U.S.…

17 Feb

Alberta RCMP Report Surge in Weapons Calls, School Lockdowns After Tumbler Ridge Shooting

Rajeev Sharma0 CommentsAlberta, CanadaAlberta RCMP, Fort McMurray, High River, school lockdowns, Tumbler Ridge shooting, weapons calls

Edmonton (Rajeev Sharma): The Royal Canadian Mounted Police in Alberta say there has been a noticeable increase in reports of people carrying weapons and subsequent school lockdowns in the days following the deadly mass shooting in Tumbler Ridge, which left nine people dead last Tuesday. Cpl. Troy Savinkoff said the spike in calls over a short period is unusual, though he stopped short of definitively linking it to the tragedy in British Columbia. “Having those calls in that short amount of time is more than what is standard,” Savinkoff said in a phone interview Sunday. “We certainly can't disprove that…

17 Feb

13-Year-Old Girl Dies After Chairlift Accident at Quebec Ski Hill

Rajeev Sharma0 CommentsCanada13-year-old girl death, Centre Vorlage, chairlift accident, CHEO hospital, ski lift safety, Wakefield Quebec

Wakefield, Que. (Rajeev Sharma): A 13-year-old girl who was critically injured after her clothing became entangled in a chairlift at Centre Vorlage has died, her family confirmed. In a statement released Sunday through CHEO, the Ottawa children’s hospital where she was treated, the family said they were “devastated” by the loss. “We would like to thank our community for their support and the outpouring of love we have received over the last few days. We would like to extend our love to all of those affected by this terrible tragedy,” the statement read. The family also expressed gratitude to those…

17 Feb

Congress Bets Big on Youth for Punjab 2027 Polls, Plans to Allot 50% Tickets to Young Candidates

Rajeev Sharma0 CommentsPunjab2027, Elections, Punjab

New Delhi, Rajeev Sharma :- In a significant strategic shift ahead of the 2027 Punjab Assembly elections, the Congress party has announced its intention to allocate half of its tickets to young candidates, signaling a generational overhaul within the state unit. Senior party leaders indicated that the move is aimed at injecting fresh energy into the organization and reconnecting with younger voters across urban and rural constituencies. The leadership believes that empowering youth faces will not only strengthen grassroots mobilization but also present a renewed image of the party in a state where political competition has intensified in recent years.…

17 Feb

India intercepts three US-sanctioned tankers linked to Iran near Mumbai, intensifies maritime surveillance: Report

Rajeev Sharma0 CommentsIndia

New Delhi, Rajeev Sharma :- In a significant maritime enforcement action, the Indian authorities have reportedly intercepted three oil tankers sanctioned by the United States and linked to Iran, tightening oversight of suspicious shipping activities within the country’s exclusive economic zone (EEZ). Sources familiar with the development said the vessels, Stellar Ruby, Asphalt Star and Al Jafzia, were seized earlier this month after being detected operating under questionable circumstances off the western coast. The ships were intercepted nearly 100 nautical miles west of Mumbai and later escorted to the port city for detailed investigation. According to officials, the move is…

17 Feb

Canada Names Janice Charette as Chief Trade Negotiator Ahead of High-Stakes U.S. Talks

Rajeev Sharma0 CommentsCanada

Ottawa (Rajeev Sharma): Canada has appointed veteran diplomat Janice Charette as its new Chief Trade Negotiator to the United States, signaling a tougher and more strategic approach as critical negotiations on the North American free-trade framework draw near. The decision comes at a time when Ottawa is under growing pressure to defend Canadian interests on key issues such as market access, energy exports, dairy supply management, and industrial subsidies. Charette, a former Clerk of the Privy Council and one of Canada’s most experienced public servants, will head Canada’s negotiating team following the departure of the previous ambassador to Washington. Government…

17 Feb

Canada’s Prime Minister to Visit India for Key Trade and Economic Talks

Rajeev Sharma0 CommentsCanada

Ottawa (Rajeev Sharma): Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney is scheduled to undertake an official visit to India in early March 2026 for high-level discussions aimed at strengthening bilateral trade and economic cooperation between the two countries. According to diplomatic sources, the visit will focus primarily on advancing negotiations toward a Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA), which is intended to boost trade volumes, ease market access, and encourage cross-border investments. The agenda of the visit is also expected to include talks on cooperation in clean energy, climate action, critical minerals, artificial intelligence, and technology innovation, in addition to expanding collaboration in…

16 Feb

Delhi High Court Suspends Rajpal Yadav’s Sentence in Cheque Bounce Cases Till March 18

Rajeev Sharma0 CommentsEntertainment, Indiacheque bounce case, Delhi High Court, Murali Projects, Rajpal Yadav, sentence suspended

New Delhi (Gurpreet Singh): In a relief to actor Rajpal Yadav, the Delhi High Court on Monday suspended his sentence in multiple cheque bounce cases till March 18 and allowed his release from jail. Justice Swarana Kanta Sharma granted interim suspension of the sentence after noting that Yadav had deposited ₹1.5 crore in the bank account of the complainant, M/s Murali Projects Pvt Ltd. “We are granting you an interim suspension of sentence… It is till the next date of hearing,” the court said. Yadav had sought suspension citing a family wedding scheduled for February 19. The court directed him…

16 Feb

Flood Warnings Issued Across Southern Ontario as Snowmelt Raises Water Levels

Rajeev Sharma0 CommentsOntario

Toronto (Rajeev Sharma): Several communities across southern Ontario are under flood advisories as rising temperatures trigger rapid snowmelt following weeks of subzero weather. The Grand River Conservation Authority has issued a flood warning through Thursday, covering areas including Kitchener, Waterloo, Guelph and Brantford. Officials say melting snow, combined with possible rainfall, could cause rivers and streams to swell quickly. The authority also cautioned that weakening river ice may break apart and create ice jams — blockages that restrict water flow and increase the risk of localized flooding. Similarly, the Halton Conservation Authority warned that low-lying areas, natural floodplains and poorly…