Rajeev Sharma, Author at National Times

08 Jul

US Launches Comprehensive Probe Into H-1B and PERM Visa Fraud and Labour Exploitation

Rajeev Sharma0 CommentsWorld NewsAnthony D'Esposito, Department of Labor, H-1B visa, Human Trafficking, Visa Fraud

Washington DC (Rajeev Sharma): The United States has launched a massive, nationwide investigation into widespread fraud and human trafficking linked to the H-1B work visa programme and the employment-based permanent residency (PERM) system. Announced by the US Department of Labor’s Office of Inspector General (OIG), the sweeping crackdown aims to dismantle deeply entrenched illicit schemes involving fraudulent applications, forced-labour practices, coercive wage kickbacks, and the deliberate exploitation of foreign guest workers. The investigation is being carried out in close coordination with federal law enforcement agencies and the Trump Administration's Task Force to Eliminate Fraud. According to the OIG, various employers…

08 Jul

ISRAELI AMBASSADOR HIGHLIGHTS CANADA–ISRAEL–INDIA COOPERATION DURING CALGARY VISIT, MEETS INDIAN DIASPORA LEADERS

Rajeev Sharma0 CommentsAlberta, CanadaCalgary, Israel

Calgary (Rajeev Sharma): Israel’s Ambassador to Canada, Iddo Moed, met with members of Calgary’s Indian diaspora and representatives of the JAI HO Canada Council during his visit to the city, discussing opportunities to strengthen Canada–Israel relations, expand trade and investment partnerships, and enhance cooperation in areas including technology, innovation, agriculture, healthcare, cybersecurity, and entrepreneurship. The meeting brought together community leaders and representatives from Calgary’s multicultural community for an engaging discussion on international relations, economic collaboration, and the important role of diaspora communities in building stronger connections between nations. A key part of the conversation focused on the evolving situation in…

08 Jul

FBI widens crackdown on transnational gang network linked to Lawrence Bishnoi; dozens charged, multi-country raids uncover drugs and weapons

Rajeev Sharma0 CommentsTrending, World NewsLawrence Bishnoi

Washington (Rajeev Sharma): In one of the biggest coordinated operations targeting organised crime with links to India, US federal authorities have announced sweeping action against an international criminal syndicate allegedly associated with gangster Lawrence Bishnoi and his close associates. Investigators say the operation stretched across North America and Europe, resulting in multiple arrests, large-scale searches, and the seizure of narcotics and illegal firearms. According to officials, law enforcement agencies carried out simultaneous raids at nearly 50 locations across the United States, Canada, and several European countries. Twenty-four suspects were taken into custody, while charges have been filed against a total…

08 Jul

Heavy Rains Continue to Batter Himachal; Orange Alert in Several Districts, Roads Closed After Fresh Landslides

Rajeev Sharma0 CommentsIndia, TrendingHimachal

Shimla (Rajeev Sharma): Himachal Pradesh continued to grapple with intense monsoon activity on Wednesday as persistent rain disrupted normal life across several districts. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has warned that wet weather will continue over the coming days, with an Orange Alert issued for heavy rainfall in vulnerable regions and a Yellow Alert for many other parts of the state. Authorities have cautioned residents and tourists against travelling through landslide-prone stretches, riverbanks, and low-lying areas, as the possibility of flash floods, falling boulders, and road blockages remains high. The latest spell of rain has affected connectivity in multiple districts,…

08 Jul

Over 9,900 Forgotten Indian Soldiers of WW-I Finally Recognised; Commonwealth War Graves Commission Updates Records

Rajeev Sharma0 CommentsIndia, Trending, World NewsCommonwealth War Graves

New Delhi (Rajeev Sharma/Gurpreet Singh): More than a century after the First World War, nearly 10,000 Indian soldiers who had remained absent from official war records have finally been acknowledged by the Commonwealth War Graves Commission (CWGC). The move marks one of the largest revisions to the Commission's casualty database in decades and restores recognition to thousands of servicemen from undivided Punjab. The newly identified names emerged through the Punjab Registers Project, a collaborative initiative involving the CWGC, the UK Punjab Heritage Association and the University of Greenwich. Researchers examined historical military registers preserved at the Lahore Museum, which documented…

08 Jul

PMO reviews monsoon progress, asks ministries to stay prepared as rainfall deficit eases

Rajeev Sharma0 CommentsIndia, TrendingMonsoon

New Delhi (Rajeev Sharma): The Prime Minister's Office on Tuesday conducted a comprehensive review of the southwest monsoon and the country's preparedness to deal with possible weather-related disruptions, with officials reporting that the nationwide rainfall shortfall has narrowed considerably after improved showers during the first week of July. The meeting, chaired by Principal Secretary to the Prime Minister P.K. Mishra, brought together senior officials from multiple ministries to assess the evolving monsoon situation and examine contingency measures in view of the anticipated impact of El Niño during the current season. During the review, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) informed the…

08 Jul

ASIRT probes two fatal police shootings in Alberta; separate investigations underway

Rajeev Sharma0 CommentsAlberta, Canada, TrendingASIRT

Calgary (Rajeev Sharma): Alberta's independent police oversight agency is examining two unrelated fatal police shootings involving law enforcement officers in Edmonton and near Cold Lake, with both incidents currently under active investigation. The Alberta Serious Incident Response Team (ASIRT), acting on directions from the Police Review Commission, has launched Level 1 investigations into the incidents that occurred on June 25 and June 26. Such investigations are mandatory in cases involving deaths, serious injuries, or allegations of significant misconduct by police officers. The first incident unfolded in south Edmonton after police responded to reports of multiple vehicle collisions involving a black…

08 Jul

Lethbridge Home Ordered Closed After Year-Long Probe Into Alleged Drug Activity

Rajeev Sharma0 CommentsAlberta, Canada, TrendingAlberta, Calgary, Lethbridge

Calgary (Rajeev Sharma): A residential property in north Lethbridge has been shut down by Alberta Sheriffs after authorities linked it to ongoing suspected drug-related activity, following a lengthy investigation triggered by complaints from local residents. The action was taken under the province’s Safer Communities and Neighbourhoods (SCAN) program, which secured a court order requiring the home at 1226 13 Avenue North to remain closed for 90 days beginning July 7. The closure is scheduled to remain in effect until October 5, while additional conditions imposed by the court will continue through October 2028. The investigation began in March 2025 after…

08 Jul

Foreign Crime Networks Face U.S. Crackdown as B.C. Communities Demand Stronger Action Against Extortion Gangs

Rajeev Sharma0 CommentsBritish Columbia, Canada, TrendingBritish Columbia

British Columbia (Rajeev Sharma): A major law enforcement crackdown in the United States targeting alleged international organized crime networks has reignited concerns over the growing threat of extortion, intimidation and targeted violence affecting communities in British Columbia, especially in Surrey and the Lower Mainland. The latest action by U.S. authorities against individuals accused of involvement in transnational criminal activities has drawn strong reactions from B.C. opposition leaders, who say the move highlights the need for a more aggressive approach to organized crime investigations and prosecutions within the province. For years, South Asian communities and local business owners in parts of…

08 Jul

US Targets Iranian Military Assets Again After Strait of Hormuz Escalation; Tensions Threaten Fragile Ceasefire

Rajeev Sharma0 CommentsTrending, World NewsStrait of Hormuz

Washington (Rajeev Sharma): The United States carried out a fresh wave of military strikes on Iranian positions early Wednesday, saying the action was a direct response to recent attacks on commercial vessels in the Strait of Hormuz, one of the world's most strategically important maritime routes. According to the US Central Command (CENTCOM), the operation focused on military infrastructure allegedly linked to Iran’s capability to threaten international shipping. The targets included coastal defence systems, radar installations, anti-ship missile launch sites, command centres and dozens of fast attack boats believed to be operated by Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC). Iranian…