Rajeev Sharma, Author at National Times

21 Jan

NASA astronaut Sunita William retires after 27 years and 608 days in Space

Rajeev Sharma0 CommentsBusinessSunita Williams

National Times Bureau :- NASA astronaut Sunita Williams, whose planned 10-day space mission extended to nearly nine-and-a-half months aboard the International Space Station (ISS), has retired after a 27-year career. NASA announced her retirement on Tuesday, which officially took effect on December 27, 2025, shortly after Christmas. Selected by NASA in 1998, the Indian-origin astronaut spent a total of 608 days in space across three missions, the second-highest cumulative time logged by a NASA astronaut. She also ranks sixth for the longest single spaceflight by an American astronaut, tied with fellow NASA astronaut Butch Wilmore, with both spending 286 days…

21 Jan

Sanatan Students’ Society to Host Second Annual Saraswati Puja at University of Calgary on 27 January

Rajeev Sharma0 CommentsCanadaCalgary, Saraswati Puja

Calgary ( Rajeev Sharma): The Sanatan Students’ Society at the University of Calgary will organize Saraswati Puja on Tuesday, January 27, 2026, to worship Maa Saraswati, the Goddess of Wisdom, Knowledge, and Arts. The full-day spiritual and cultural celebration is open to everyone. The daytime program will run from 9:30 AM to 4:00 PM at the MacEwan Student Centre, South Courtyard, featuring Saraswati Puja, Prasad, Kirtan, and a variety of art and cultural activities. The evening segment will take place from 6:00 PM to 9:00 PM at the Dining Centre, Vitruvian Space (DC14), with cultural performances followed by food and…

20 Jan

Trump Threatens 200% Tariff on French Wine Over Paris’ Snub to ‘Board of Peace’ Plan

Rajeev Sharma0 CommentsWorld NewsBoard of Peace, Donald Trump, France-US relations, French wine tariff, tariff threat

Washington, January 20, 2026: US President Donald Trump has issued a sharp warning to France, saying his administration could impose a 200 per cent tariff on French wines and champagnes after Paris declined to join his proposed ‘Board of Peace’ initiative aimed at resolving global conflicts. Responding to questions from reporters, Trump took a swipe at French President Emmanuel Macron over France’s reported decision to stay out of the initiative. He suggested that economic pressure could force a change in stance, claiming that steep tariffs on French exports might prompt Paris to reconsider its position. Sources close to Macron confirmed…

20 Jan

Toronto Braces for Fresh Snowfall and Deep Freeze After Major Winter Storm

Rajeev Sharma0 CommentsCanadaAlberta Clipper, extreme cold, oronto weather, Snowfall, wind chill, winter storm

Toronto (Rajeev Sharma): Toronto is set for another round of wintry weather this week, with fresh snowfall and sharply colder temperatures forecast in the aftermath of a storm that dumped up to 40 centimeters of snow in parts of the city. Meteorologists say an Alberta Clipper system is expected to move into the region early Wednesday morning, bringing light snow by around 7 a.m. The system is likely to leave about five centimeters of accumulation by Wednesday night. Following last week’s historic snowfall, residents are now facing biting wind chills and persistent cold. Tuesday’s daytime high is expected to reach…

20 Jan

Minor Earthquake Recorded Near Quebec–Ontario Border, No Damage Reported

Rajeev Sharma0 CommentsCanada, OntarioEarthquake, Earthquakes Canada, Gatineau, Ottawa, Quebec–Ontario border

Ontario (Rajeev Sharma) — A small earthquake was felt near the Quebec–Ontario border early Tuesday morning, according to Earthquakes Canada. The agency confirmed that the tremor, measuring 2.8 magnitude, occurred at approximately 4:55 a.m. Officials said there were no reports of damage and none were expected given the low intensity of the quake. Residents in several communities may have noticed light shaking, including parts of Buckingham and Gatineau in Quebec, as well as Hawkesbury and Ottawa in Ontario. The region is known for occasional seismic activity and has experienced multiple earthquakes over the past few decades, some exceeding magnitude 5.0.…

20 Jan

Quebec Joins Manitoba in Opposing Ontario’s Planned Crown Royal Boycott

Rajeev Sharma0 CommentsCanadaCrown Royal boycott, Diageo plant closure, Doug Ford, Ontario liquor stores, Quebec concerns

Montreal/Toronto (Rajeev Sharma) —Days after Manitoba raised objections, Quebec has also voiced concern over Ontario Premier Doug Ford’s plan to remove Crown Royal whisky from shelves at provincially run liquor stores, warning the move could harm Canadian supply chains at a sensitive economic moment. Quebec Finance Minister Eric Girard said he has formally conveyed his concerns to his Ontario counterpart, arguing that with ongoing trade tensions involving the United States, governments should avoid actions that weaken domestic production networks or create further uncertainty for Canadian industries. Ontario’s planned move targets Crown Royal whisky bottled in Amherstburg, Ont., following a decision…

20 Jan

Calgary Double-Murder Convictions Overturned as Appeal Court Orders Acquittal

Rajeev Sharma0 CommentsCanadaAlberta Court of Appeal, Calgary murder case, Gerald Benn acquitted, wrongful conviction

Calgary (Rajeev Sharma) — Alberta’s top court has overturned the murder convictions of a Calgary man serving a life sentence for two counts of murder, ruling that the verdict was unreasonable and unsupported by the evidence presented at trial. In a decision released Monday, the Alberta Court of Appeal identified “serious flaws” in the trial judge’s assessment of the evidence and entered acquittals, clearing Gerald Benn of all charges. Benn, who has spent more than five years in custody since his arrest in September 2020, is now set to be released. “A conviction cannot be supported by this evidence,” the…

20 Jan

Trump shares map featuring Canada and Greenland, fuelling global concern over territorial intent

Rajeev Sharma0 CommentsCanadaArctic security, Canada, diplomatic tensions, Europe, Greenland, United States

Ottawa/Washington (Rajeev Sharma): Diplomatic tensions between the United States and its European allies have escalated after a social media post depicted Canada and Greenland in the red, white and blue colours of the American flag, sparking fresh debate over US intentions and Arctic security. The image, shared without any caption, showed a stylised map of North America and quickly drew attention for visually folding Canada and Greenland into US national colours. While no official policy announcement was made regarding Canada, its inclusion alongside Greenland has unsettled allies and intensified scrutiny of Washington’s increasingly assertive tone. The post surfaced amid renewed…

20 Jan

Nitin Nabin takes over as BJP national president, succeeds JP Nadda; becomes youngest leader ever to hold top post

Rajeev Sharma0 CommentsIndiaNitin Nabin

National Times Bureau :- Nitin Nabin on Tuesday formally assumed charge as the national president of the BJP, succeeding JP Nadda, who is currently serving as a Union minister. At 45, Nabin becomes the youngest leader ever to hold the top organisational post in the party. The change of guard took place at the BJP headquarters in New Delhi in the presence of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Home Minister Amit Shah, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, Union Minister Nitin Gadkari, and several other senior leaders from across the country. Ahead of officially taking charge, Nabin visited prominent religious sites in the…

20 Jan

Central Information Commissioner reviews RTI implementation in Punjab

Rajeev Sharma0 CommentsIndia

National Times Bureau :- The Central Information Commissioner, Vinod Kumar Tiwari, IFS (Retd.), today visited the Punjab State Information Commission Headquarters in Chandigarh. During his visit, he held a detailed and productive meeting with Chief Information Commissioner, Punjab, Inderpal Singh Dhanna, and State Information Commissioners of Punjab – Dr. Bhupinder Singh Batth, Harpreet Sandhu along with Additional Chief Secretary D.K. Tiwari. The meeting focused on the effective implementation of the Right to Information (RTI) Act, 2005, with special emphasis on institutional reforms, transparency, accountability, and strengthening mechanisms for efficient information delivery. V.K. Tiwari appreciated the work of the Punjab State…