Business Archives - National Times

27 Mar

Balendra Shah sworn-in as Nepal’s 47th Prime Minister

Rajeev Sharma0 CommentsBusinessNepal, Pm

Rajeev Sharma :- Balendra Shah 'Balen' was sworn in as Nepal's Prime Minister at a special ceremony held at the Office of the President on Friday. Nepal President Ramchandra Paudel administered the oath of office and secrecy after appointing Shah earlier in the day under Article 76(1) of the Constitution. The ceremony was attended by Vice President Ram Sahaya Prasad Yadav, Chief Justice Prakash Man Singh Raut, National Assembly Chair Narayan Prasad Dahal, former prime ministers, senior officials, security chiefs and members of the diplomatic community. As the 47th Prime Minister of Nepal, Balen is one of the youngest persons…

26 Mar

Nayara Energy Raises Fuel Prices Amid Global Oil Surge

Gurpreet Singh0 CommentsBusinesscrude oil surge 2026, Middle East conflict oil impact, Nayara Energy price hike, petrol diesel price India, Rosneft India

New Delhi (Gurpreet Singh): India’s largest private fuel retailer, Nayara Energy, on Thursday increased petrol prices by ₹5 per litre and diesel by ₹3 per litre, partly passing on the impact of rising global crude oil prices triggered by the ongoing Middle East conflict. The price hike comes after nearly a month of stable retail fuel prices in India, despite a sharp rise of almost 50% in international oil rates following military tensions involving Iran, the United States, and Israel. Pressure on Fuel Companies Nayara, which operates nearly 7,000 fuel stations across the country and is largely controlled by Rosneft,…

25 Mar

Canada Raises Federal Minimum Wage to $18.15 per Hour from April 1

Rajeev Sharma0 CommentsBusiness$18.15 hourly wage Canada, Canada minimum wage 2026, Employment and Social Development Canada, federal wage increase Canada

Ottawa (Rajeev Sharma): The federal minimum wage in Canada is set to increase to $18.15 per hour starting April 1, according to an announcement by Employment and Social Development Canada. The current federal minimum wage stands at $17.75 per hour, which has been in effect since April 1, 2025. The latest increase is aimed at keeping pace with inflation and ensuring greater financial stability for workers. The federal minimum wage applies to employees in federally regulated sectors such as interprovincial transportation, telecommunications and banking. The government also clarified that if a province or territory has a higher minimum wage, employers…

24 Mar

Punjab to Host International Hockey Championship for the First Time, Announces CM Bhagwant Mann

nishuthapar10 CommentsBusiness, PunjabBig news, Cm bhagwant maan, International Hockey, Punjab

Gurpreet Singh :- Punjab is set to mark a significant milestone in its sporting history as Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann announced that the state will host an international-level men’s Asian Hockey Championship for the first time. The announcement was made during a press conference at his Chandigarh residence. The tournament is expected to feature the top six teams from Asia, with strong anticipation of India’s participation. Matches are scheduled to be held in Mohali and Jalandhar later this year, giving a major boost to Punjab’s status on the global sports map. Highlighting the state’s sporting legacy, the Chief Minister noted…

23 Mar

CM Bhagwant Mann Slams BJP for Denying Bharat Ratna to Martyrs; Launches Rs 25 Crore Heritage Project

Gurpreet Singh0 CommentsBusiness

Hussainiwala' Ferozepur (Gurpreet Singh): At Hussainiwala in Ferozepur, on the Shaheedi Diwas (martyrdom day) of Shaheed-e-Azam Bhagat Singh, Rajguru, and Sukhdev, Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann paid tributes at the historic National Martyrs Memorial, facilitated the families of the martyrs, and laid the foundation stone of the ₹24.99 crore Hussainiwala Heritage Complex, reaffirming his government’s commitment to honouring the martyrs and building a Rangla Punjab rooted in their vision. Invoking the legacy of the nation’s greatest revolutionaries, CM Bhagwant Singh Mann stated that the occasion is not merely to remember their sacrifice but to carry forward their fearless ideals…

23 Mar

CM Bhagwant Mann Slams Previous Governments for Neglecting Martyrs; Lays Foundation for Rs 25 Crore Memorial

Gurpreet Singh0 CommentsBusinessBhagat Singh, Bhagwant Singh Mann, Hussainiwala Virasat, Khatkar Kalan, Shaheed Diwas 2026

Khatkar Kalan (Gurpreet Singh): Paying tributes to Shaheed-e-Azam Bhagat Singh on Shaheedi Diwas (Martyrdom Day), Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann said that the day reminds the nation of the supreme sacrifice made by the great revolutionary at the altar of the motherland, and called upon people to uphold the values for which the martyrs laid down their lives. He reaffirmed his government’s commitment to honouring the martyrs and building a Rangla Punjab rooted in their vision. Invoking the legacy of the nation’s greatest revolutionaries, CM Bhagwant Singh Mann stated that the occasion is not merely to remember their sacrifice…

19 Mar

Baltej Pannu Questions Opposition Silence Over ₹1.44 Lakh Crore Water Dues Owed by Rajasthan to Punjab

Gurpreet Singh0 CommentsBusinessBaltej Pannu AAP 2026, Bhagwant Mann Canal Water, Punjab Rajasthan Water Dispute, Sunil Jakhar BJP, ₹1.44 Lakh Crore Dues

Chandigarh (Gurpreet Singh): Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) Punjab State Media In-charge and General Secretary Baltej Pannu on Thursday questioned the deafening silence of Congress, Akali Dal, and BJP leaders after Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann placed evidence-backed facts showing that Rajasthan owes Punjab ₹1.44 lakh crore under the 1920 water agreement. He said that for decades, parties that ruled Punjab compromised its rights and today have no answers as the truth stands exposed before the people. AAP Punjab Media In-charge Baltej Pannu said, “Ever since Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann presented evidence-backed facts that under the 1920 agreement, Rajasthan…

16 Mar

Canada’s Inflation Drops to 1.8% in February as Sales Tax Relief and Easing Shelter Costs Offset Food Surges

Rajeev Sharma0 CommentsBusiness, CanadaBank of Canada Interest Rates, Canada Inflation 2026, Grocery Prices Canada, Statistics Canada CPI

Ottawa (Rajeev Sharma)— Canada’s annual inflation rate cooled significantly in February 2026, falling to 1.8% from 2.3% in January, according to data released by Statistics Canada on Monday. The reading came in lower than the 1.9% expected by economists and brings the headline figure below the Bank of Canada’s (BoC) 2% target for the first time in several months. The decline was largely attributed to "base-year effects" following the end of government sales tax relief last year, as well as a continued deceleration in gasoline prices and shelter costs. However, despite the lower headline number, underlying pressures remain, particularly in…

12 Mar

Canada’s Trade Deficit Triples in January as Auto Exports Stall

Rajeev Sharma0 CommentsBusiness, CanadaAuto Exports, Canada trade, energy trade, StatCan, Trade Deficit

Ottawa (Rajeev Sharma) — Canada’s merchandise trade deficit widened significantly to C$3.65 billion in January 2026, far exceeding the C$900 million gap analysts had forecasted. According to data released by Statistics Canada on Thursday, March 12, the deficit nearly tripled from December’s revised C$1.3 billion, marking the largest percentage decline in exports in nearly a year. The primary driver behind the widening gap was a sharp 21.2% plunge in the export of motor vehicles and parts, which hit its lowest level since September 2021. Officials attributed the decline to "prolonged seasonal production stoppages" as Canadian plants underwent extensive retooling for…

12 Mar

Big News – Courier Parcels Used for Drug Smuggling: 56 kg Ganja Seized in Ludhiana

Gurpreet Singh0 CommentsBusinessBig news, Courier, Drug Smuggling, Ludhiana, Parcel, Punjab

National Times Bureau :- A major drug smuggling attempt has been unearthed in Ludhiana after the Crime Branch seized around 56 kilograms of ganja concealed inside multiple courier parcels from the ground warehouse of a private courier company. Acting on specific information, the Crime Branch team conducted a search operation and recovered the narcotics from packages that had arrived through the courier network. Police officials said the parcels had reportedly been sent from Odisha and were meant to be delivered to different locations in Ludhiana. Interestingly, several of the packages did not carry complete addresses, raising suspicion about the intended…