Rajeev Sharma

5073 Posts
Lights, camera, Alberta! Boosting cultural industries

Lights, camera, Alberta! Boosting cultural industries

Calgary (Rajeev Sharma): Alberta's government is boosting the economy by investing in cultural industries, putting a spotlight on Alberta for film, television, music and publishing opportunities. Budget 2025 invests $8 million in the Alberta Media Fund to support the province’s creative sectors. This investment will continue the momentum of Alberta’s growing cultural industries by creating jobs and developing skilled local talent. Behind the scenes, the Film and Television Tax Credit is revitalizing communities across the province, including communities in rural Alberta. These productions are expected to spend about $1.5 billion in Alberta across a range of industries, generating an estimated…
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Alberta acts to end maltreatment in sport

Alberta acts to end maltreatment in sport

Calgary (Rajeev Sharma): Harassment and abuse have no place in Alberta, or in the province’s sport system. Sport is for everyone – no Albertan should remain on the sidelines for fear of maltreatment when playing the sports they love. With a $3-million investment, Alberta’s government is taking meaningful action to ensure every Albertan can participate in sport safely, confidently and with dignity. In partnership with the Alberta Sport Leadership Association, Alberta’s government is creating a new Safe Sport Strategy that will encourage quality programming in safe sporting environments, empowering Albertans to get off the sidelines and into the game. Alberta’s…
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Indian Student Outflow Declines Sharply: Canada, US, UK See First Simultaneous Drop in 4 Years

Indian Student Outflow Declines Sharply: Canada, US, UK See First Simultaneous Drop in 4 Years

New Delhi (National Times): In a major reversal of recent trends, the number of Indian students heading abroad has seen a steep and simultaneous decline across Canada, the United States, and the United Kingdom, the top three global education destinations. This marks the first time in four years that all three countries have recorded a dip at the same time, according to an analysis by The Indian Express based on official visa data. In 2024, student visa approvals for Indians dropped by at least 25 percent in all three nations: Canada recorded a 32% decline, with the number of study…
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Mob Lynching in Murshidabad Sparks Mass Arrests, Displacement Amid Waqf Act Protests

Mob Lynching in Murshidabad Sparks Mass Arrests, Displacement Amid Waqf Act Protests

Murshidabad, April 16, 2025: Tensions remain high in West Bengal’s Murshidabad district after the brutal mob lynching of 72-year-old Haragobindo Das and his 40-year-old son Chandan Das on April 12 during protests against the Waqf (Amendment) Act, 2025. Within just 24 hours, authorities arrested 22 more people, pushing the total number of arrests to nearly 250, according to Jangipur police superintendent Ananda Roy.The attack occurred in Jafrabad village, where the victims were dragged from their home and beaten to death by a mob enraged over allegations linked to Waqf property disputes. The family, devastated and fearful, said they no longer…
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CJI Sanjiv Khanna Recommends Justice B.R. Gavai as His Successor

CJI Sanjiv Khanna Recommends Justice B.R. Gavai as His Successor

New Delhi, April 16, 2025: Chief Justice of India Sanjiv Khanna has officially recommended Justice B.R. Gavai as his successor, setting the stage for a historic transition in the country's top judicial office. The recommendation was sent to the central government on Tuesday, in line with the convention that the outgoing CJI names the senior-most judge in the Supreme Court as their successor.Justice Gavai, currently the second-most senior judge, is poised to become India’s 51st Chief Justice. His elevation will be significant—not only for its adherence to seniority but also because he will be only the second Dalit CJI in…
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UK Supreme Court Rules ‘Woman’ Refers Only to Biological Females Under Equality Law

UK Supreme Court Rules ‘Woman’ Refers Only to Biological Females Under Equality Law

National Times Bureau, April 16, 2025: In a landmark ruling, the United Kingdom's Supreme Court has declared that the term "woman" under the Equality Act 2010 refers exclusively to individuals born female, not including trans women. The decision, delivered unanimously on Wednesday, emphasized that legal protections based on sex apply specifically to biological definitions, not gender identity.The case was triggered by a group of Scottish campaigners who argued that sex-based rights should only cover those assigned female at birth. In contrast, the Scottish government held that trans women with Gender Recognition Certificates (GRCs) should be treated as women under the…
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Canada Reschedules Leaders’ Debate So Voters Can Watch Hockey Playoff

Canada Reschedules Leaders’ Debate So Voters Can Watch Hockey Playoff

National Times Bureau, April 16, 2025: In a moment that perfectly captured Canada’s twin passions for politics and hockey, the country’s French-language federal leaders’ debate was pushed forward two hours to avoid clashing with a Montreal Canadiens playoff game.Originally set for 8 p.m. ET on April 16, the debate now aired from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m., giving citizens time to tune in to both events. The move came after concerns from NDP leader Jagmeet Singh and Bloc Québécois’ Yves-François Blanchet, who warned that the hockey game could crush viewership numbers. Their plea worked. Broadcaster Radio-Canada and the Leaders’ Debates…
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Bank of Canada Hits Pause on Rate Cuts Amid Tariff Turmoil, Warns of Deep Recession Risk

Bank of Canada Hits Pause on Rate Cuts Amid Tariff Turmoil, Warns of Deep Recession Risk

Toronto, April 17, 2025 — The Bank of Canada froze its key interest rate at 2.75% on Wednesday, marking its first pause after seven consecutive rate cuts. The central bank cited major global uncertainties—particularly U.S. President Donald Trump’s sweeping tariffs—as the reason for halting its usual forward-looking economic projections.Governor Tiff Macklem said the bank would adopt a wait-and-watch approach. “The future is really no clearer,” he said, pointing to the unpredictable nature of trade tensions. With no clarity on how long the tariffs would last or whether they might intensify, the Bank of Canada replaced its quarterly economic outlook with…
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Gold Soars to Record High on MCX as Trade Tensions and Weak Dollar Drive Safe-Haven Demand

Gold Soars to Record High on MCX as Trade Tensions and Weak Dollar Drive Safe-Haven Demand

New Delhi, April 16, 2025: Gold prices in India have reached an all-time high as global economic jitters and trade tensions between the United States and China fuel demand for safe-haven assets. On the Multi Commodity Exchange (MCX), gold surged to a record Rs 95,435 per 10 grams before settling slightly lower at Rs 95,172.Analysts attributed the steep rally to a combination of factors including a weakening U.S. dollar and fresh tariff threats from former U.S. President Donald Trump, which triggered fears of a renewed trade war. “Gold prices raced to an all-time high, driven by a weaker dollar, trade…
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Meta’s News Ban Reshapes Canadian Election Campaign as Influencers Fill the Gap

Meta’s News Ban Reshapes Canadian Election Campaign as Influencers Fill the Gap

Toronto, April 16, 2025: As Canadians prepare to vote this month, campaign news is being shaped less by traditional media and more by influencers and online creators—thanks to Meta’s ongoing ban on news links across Facebook and Instagram.The tech giant has blocked access to Canadian news since last year in protest against the federal Online News Act, which requires digital platforms to pay journalism outlets for their content. While screenshots and memes still circulate, direct links to reputable news articles remain inaccessible, weakening traditional journalism’s reach during a critical election period.“The quality of information isn’t necessarily the same,” said Angus…
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