Business

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

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

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

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

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

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

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…
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Oil Markets Rattle as Brent Crosses $100 Amid Rising Gulf Shipping Attacks

Oil Markets Rattle as Brent Crosses $100 Amid Rising Gulf Shipping Attacks

New Delhi (Rajeev Sharma): International oil prices climbed sharply on Thursday as mounting tensions in the Persian Gulf pushed Brent crude above the $100-per-barrel mark, raising fresh concerns about global energy supplies and economic stability. The surge came after reports of intensified Iranian attacks on commercial vessels operating near the Strait of Hormuz, a critical maritime route for global oil transport. Market reaction was swift, with Brent crude recording a jump of more than 9% during early trading hours. Just days earlier, the benchmark had briefly surged close to $120, highlighting the volatility gripping energy markets. Meanwhile, the United States’…
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Punjab Budget 2026–27: CM Bhagwant Mann Fulfils Major Poll Promise with ₹1,000 Monthly Cash Transfer for Women

Punjab Budget 2026–27: CM Bhagwant Mann Fulfils Major Poll Promise with ₹1,000 Monthly Cash Transfer for Women

Chandigarh (Gurpreet Singh): Punjab Finance Minister Harpal Singh Cheema on Sunday presented the fifth Budget of the Aam Aadmi Party-led (AAP) government in Punjab for 2026–27, proposing a total outlay of ₹2,60,437 crore and projecting the state’s GSDP at ₹9,80,635 crore with an estimated growth rate of 10 per cent. Tabled on International Women’s Day, the Budget unveiled the ‘Mukh Mantri Mawan Dhian Satikar Yojna’—a universal cash transfer scheme under which women will receive ₹1,000 per month and Dalit women ₹1,500—while outlining major allocations across education, healthcare, agriculture, infrastructure and social welfare, which the government described as fulfilling the all…
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Punjab CM Bhagwant Mann Unveils ‘Industrial & Business Development Policy 2026’ to Make State Top Investment Hub

Punjab CM Bhagwant Mann Unveils ‘Industrial & Business Development Policy 2026’ to Make State Top Investment Hub

Ludhiana (Gurpreet Singh): Punjab Chief Minister Sardar Bhagwant Singh Mann on Saturday unveiled the landmark Industrial & Business Development Policy 2026 in Ludhiana, asserting that his government is determined to make Punjab the No. 1 investment destination in the country through bold reforms and a flexible incentive framework designed around the needs of industry. The Chief Minister asserted the Punjab Government has fundamentally restructured its industrial policy to accelerate industrial growth, attract large-scale investment and generate employment across Punjab. Highlighting that Punjab is already witnessing record investment, the Chief Minister said the new policy allows investors to choose up to…
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Ford Canada Issues Massive Recalls Impacting Over 680,000 Vehicles Across Popular Models

Ford Canada Issues Massive Recalls Impacting Over 680,000 Vehicles Across Popular Models

Toronto (Rajeev Sharma) — Ford Motor Company has initiated a significant safety campaign across Canada, recalling more than 680,000 vehicles to address two distinct mechanical and software vulnerabilities. The recalls, which encompass some of the manufacturer’s most popular trucks and SUVs, target critical issues with integrated trailer modules and windshield wiper motors. According to the latest notices, these defects could potentially compromise driver visibility and towing safety, significantly increasing the risk of collisions on Canadian roads during a time when many are preparing for spring travel. The most extensive of the two recalls affects approximately 627,000 vehicles, spanning the 2021…
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Loonie Soars as Global Energy Volatility Drives Canadian Dollar Past Major Peers

Loonie Soars as Global Energy Volatility Drives Canadian Dollar Past Major Peers

Ottawa (Rajeev Sharma): The Canadian dollar has taken a commanding lead among G10 currencies this week, surging to its strongest position in months as global energy markets react to the deepening crisis in the Middle East. Driven by a dramatic spike in crude oil benchmarks, the "loonie" has successfully defied broader market volatility, outstripping the performance of the Euro, the Japanese Yen, and the British Pound. With Brent crude prices climbing steadily toward the $90 per barrel threshold fuelled by direct military engagements between the United States and Iran—the Canadian currency has become a primary beneficiary of the mounting geopolitical…
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Canada’s Most Wanted Fugitive Arrested in Montreal Following Deadly Yorkdale Shooting

Canada’s Most Wanted Fugitive Arrested in Montreal Following Deadly Yorkdale Shooting

Montreal (Rajeev Sharma)— In a major breakthrough for national law enforcement, Montreal police apprehended Canada’s most wanted fugitive, 24-year-old Bryan Fuentes Gramajo, during a high-stakes overnight operation on Wednesday. Fuentes Gramajo had been the subject of a nationwide manhunt following a fatal shooting at Toronto’s Yorkdale Shopping Centre last July. The suspect, who was considered armed and dangerous, was taken into custody without incident at approximately 2:40 a.m. in the Rosemont–La Petite-Patrie borough. Mélanie Dupont, head of the Montreal police major crimes unit, confirmed that a specialized SWAT team was deployed for the arrest due to the suspect's history and…
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Canadian Gas Prices Surge as Middle East Conflict Rattles Global Oil Markets

Canadian Gas Prices Surge as Middle East Conflict Rattles Global Oil Markets

Ottawa (Rajeev Sharma)— Motorists across Canada are facing a sharp spike in fuel costs this week as the escalating military conflict between the United States, Israel, and Iran continues to destabilize global energy markets. With the price of Brent crude oil briefly surging above US$84 per barrel—a jump of more than $10 since the onset of "Operation Epic Fury"—analysts warn that the current volatility could lead to a sustained period of high prices at the pump for Canadian households already struggling with an affordability crisis. The primary driver for the increase is the growing threat to the Strait of Hormuz,…
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