Rajeev Sharma, Author at National Times

30 Dec

Khaleda Zia, first woman PM of Bangladesh, passes away at 80 after prolonged illness

Rajeev Sharma0 CommentsWorld NewsBangladesh, Khaleda Zia

National Times Bureau :- Khaleda Zia, Bangladesh’s first female Prime Minister, passed away on Tuesday following a long period of illness, the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) announced. She was 80 years old. According to her doctors, she had been battling several age-related health conditions, including advanced liver cirrhosis, arthritis, diabetes, and heart and chest complications. Zia had been receiving treatment at Evercare Hospital in Dhaka since November 23 and was put on ventilator support on December 11. Only two days earlier, her personal physician had stated that her condition was “extremely critical.” In a Facebook post, the BNP said that…

29 Dec

IndiGo Cancels 118 Flights Amid Fog and Operational Issues Across Multiple Airports

Rajeev Sharma0 CommentsIndiadense fog Delhi airport, flight disruptions India, IndiGo flights cancelled

New Delhi, December 29, 2025: IndiGo on Monday cancelled 118 flights across its domestic network, citing a combination of adverse weather conditions and operational constraints, according to information available on the airline’s official website. Out of the total cancellations, six flights were grounded due to operational reasons, while the remaining services were called off because of bad weather, particularly dense fog affecting flight operations at several airports. The impacted locations included Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru, Kochi, Hyderabad, Kolkata, Amritsar, Chandigarh, Jaipur, Dehradun, Indore, Patna and Bhopal, among others. In a travel advisory issued at 11:20 am, IndiGo said foggy conditions continued…

29 Dec

Delhi Government Orders Schools to Appoint Nodal Officers for Stray Dog Issues, Teachers Raise Objections

Rajeev Sharma0 CommentsIndiaDelhi government, Directorate of Education, nodal officers, Stray Dogs

New Delhi, December 29, 2025: The Delhi government has directed all educational institutions, including schools, to designate nodal officers to handle issues related to stray dogs and submit their details to the Directorate of Education (DoE), a move that has triggered strong opposition from teachers’ associations. According to a circular issued by the Caretaking Branch of the DoE, district education officers have been instructed to compile information on nodal officers appointed in schools, stadiums and sports complexes under their jurisdiction. The details to be submitted include the name, designation, contact number and email ID of the nominated officers. The department…

29 Dec

Two Telangana Students Killed in California Road Accident, Families Seek Help for Repatriation

Rajeev Sharma0 CommentsIndia, World NewsCalifornia road accident, Indian students in US, Telangana students

CALIFORNIA/HYDERABAD, December 29, 2025: The dream of building a future in the United States ended in tragedy for two young women from Telangana after they were killed in a road accident in California, leaving their families and the Indian student community in deep shock. The victims have been identified as Pullakhandam Meghana Rani and Kadiyala Bhavana, both aged 24. The two were close friends and roommates in California and were reportedly returning from a holiday trip with friends when the fatal accident took place. The exact circumstances of the crash are currently under investigation by local authorities. Meghana, fondly known…

29 Dec

8th Pay Commission Likely from January 2026, Big Pay Hike Expected for Central Government Employees

Rajeev Sharma0 CommentsIndia8th Pay Commission, Central Government employees, fitment factor, Salary Hike

New Delhi, December 29, 2025: Expectations are running high among central government employees and pensioners over the rollout of the 8th Pay Commission, which is expected to be implemented from January 1, 2026. Approved by the Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led government, the new pay commission is set to revise salaries, pensions and allowances for a large section of the government workforce, with the proposed fitment factor emerging as the most crucial element in determining the scale of the hike. As per media reports and preliminary assessments, if the fitment factor is fixed at the upper end of the expected range,…

29 Dec

Supreme Court Puts Aravalli Definition Verdict on Hold, Orders Fresh Expert Review

Rajeev Sharma0 CommentsIndiaAravalli Hills, Aravalli range definition, expert committee, mining ban, Supreme Court

New Delhi, December 29, 2025: The Supreme Court on Monday kept in abeyance its November 20 verdict that had accepted a uniform definition of the Aravalli hills and ranges, observing that the matter requires deeper examination and further clarification. A vacation bench led by Chief Justice Surya Kant, along with Justices J K Maheshwari and Augustine George Masih, said it was inclined to constitute a high-powered committee of domain experts to undertake a comprehensive and holistic review of the issue. The bench made the observation while hearing a suo motu case titled In Re: Definition of Aravalli Hills and Ranges…

29 Dec

Rockfall Forces Closure of Popular Squamish Hiking Trail in B.C.

Rajeev Sharma0 CommentsBritish Columbia, Canada, TrendingBritish Columbia, Squamish Hiking Trail

Squamish, B.C. (Rajeev Sharma): Authorities have closed the main trail at Stawamus Chief indefinitely following a major rockfall that covered a significant portion of the path with rocks and fallen trees. The incident reportedly occurred around 10:40 p.m. on December 26, according to witnesses, though the closure was officially announced by B.C. Parks on December 27. Fortunately, Squamish Search and Rescue confirmed that no hikers were injured in the event. A social media post from Squamish SAR urged the public to avoid the area entirely until officials can assess the trail for safety. Hiker Nathan Romanin encountered the debris the…

29 Dec

Indian Expat’s Canada Comparison Video Divides Internet Over ‘Better Life’ Claim

Rajeev Sharma0 CommentsCanada, Ontario, TrendingCanada

Ottawa (Rajeev Sharma): A social media post by an Indian resident in Canada has ignited a fresh online conversation about whether moving abroad truly offers a better life for the middle class. The video, shared on Instagram by a man named Vishal, compares his everyday experiences in Canada with what he describes as the realities of urban life in India. In the short clip, Vishal documents moments from his daily routine, drawing attention to what he sees as simple but meaningful differences. He highlights quieter neighbourhoods, minimal traffic noise and the presence of clean air and natural sounds, suggesting these…

29 Dec

Violence Against Hindus in Bangladesh Raises Alarm; India Voices Concern, Seeks Protection for Minorities

Rajeev Sharma0 CommentsIndia, TrendingBangladesh

Dhaka / New Delhi ( Rajeev Sharma/ Gurpreet Singh): Incidents of violence involving members of the Hindu minority community in Bangladesh have triggered serious concern in India and abroad, prompting diplomatic engagement by the Indian government and protests by civil society groups. While social media claims often describe large scale “slaughter” of Hindu families, there is no officially verified figure confirming mass killing of entire families. However, human rights groups and minority organisations have documented hundreds of violent incidents against Hindus, including murders, assaults, arson attacks on homes, vandalism of temples, threats, and forced displacement in different parts of Bangladesh…

28 Dec

BLO Found Dead in Bankura, Alleged Work Pressure Linked to Electoral Roll Revision

Rajeev Sharma0 CommentsIndiaBankura, BLO death, Booth Level Officer, Electoral Roll Revision, Special Intensive Revision, West Bengal

Bankura, December 28, 2025: A Booth Level Officer was found dead in West Bengal’s Bankura district on Sunday, triggering allegations that intense work pressure linked to the ongoing Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls may have contributed to the incident, police said. The body of Haradhan Mandal was recovered from a school premises in the Ranibandh block on Sunday morning. Mandal, a schoolteacher by profession, was serving as the Booth Level Officer for Booth No. 206 in the Rajakata area of the block. Police officials said a handwritten note bearing Mandal’s signature was found at the spot, in which he…