Rajeev Sharma, Author at National Times

06 Dec

Half of Canadians Support Mass Deportations as CBSA Backlog Reaches Crisis Levels

Rajeev Sharma0 CommentsAlberta, Canada, TrendingCanada

Calgary (Rajeev Sharma): A growing national debate over immigration enforcement is unfolding in Canada as new figures reveal a massive backlog at the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA). According to the latest official data, 18,084 deportations have been carried out in the 2024–25 period, yet the agency continues to struggle under unprecedented pressure. CBSA officials say staff are working overtime, but the situation remains severe, with 31,379 individuals currently listed as missing or wanted by the agency. Another 424,000 files remain non-actionable, leaving enforcement efforts stalled and public frustration rising. A recent survey indicates that nearly 50 percent of Canadians…

05 Dec

Canada’s Unemployment Rate Falls to 16-Month Low as Economy Adds 54,000 Jobs

Rajeev Sharma0 CommentsCanadaCanada unemployment rate, November jobs data, Statistics Canada report

Ottawa (Rajeev Sharma): Canada’s unemployment rate fell to 6.5 per cent in November, reaching its lowest point in 16 months, according to data released by Statistics Canada on Friday. The drop marks a significant improvement from October’s 6.9 per cent and follows months of rising joblessness that peaked at 7.1 per cent in September — the highest level since 2016 outside the pandemic years.The economy delivered an unexpected boost by adding 54,000 jobs in November, registering a third consecutive month of employment growth. Most of the new positions were part-time and concentrated in the private sector. Young workers between 15…

05 Dec

Raghav Chadha Introduces Private Member’s Bill Seeking Tough Penalties for Sacrilege of Holy Scriptures

Rajeev Sharma0 CommentsIndiaBharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, Private Member’s Bill, Raghav Chadha, sacrilege bill

New Delhi, December 5, 2025: Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader and Rajya Sabha MP Raghav Chadha has introduced a Private Member’s Bill in Parliament proposing stronger legal action against the desecration of major religious scriptures, including Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji, the Bhagwat Gita, the Holy Quran and the Holy Bible.The Bill aims to amend the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023, to formally classify sacrilege of these texts as a grave offence attracting the highest permissible punishment under the law. Chadha said the proposal is intended to reinforce religious harmony and create a strict deterrent against attempts to hurt the sentiments…

05 Dec

India, Russia Seal 5-Year Economic Roadmap as Modi Urges Peaceful End to Ukraine War

Rajeev Sharma0 CommentsWorld News2030 economic programme, India-Russia relations, Narendra Modi, Vladimir Putin

New Delhi, December 5, 2025: India and Russia on Friday finalised a five-year roadmap aimed at strengthening trade and economic ties, even as both nations navigate the impact of US-led sanctions and tariff measures targeting Moscow. During their summit in New Delhi, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President Vladimir Putin underscored their intent to inject new energy into a partnership that has endured for more than eight decades.The two leaders adopted the India–Russia Economic Cooperation Programme 2030, designed to make bilateral trade more diverse, balanced and resilient. They also oversaw the signing of agreements covering health, mobility and migration, food…

05 Dec

India Announces Free 30-Day Visa for Russians as Modi and Putin Deepen Strategic Partnership

Rajeev Sharma0 CommentsIndia, World News30-day visa, e-tourist visa, India-Russia ties, Narendra Modi, Vladimir Putin

New Delhi, December 5, 2025: India has moved to further strengthen its partnership with Russia by introducing a free 30-day e-tourist visa along with a 30-day group tourist visa for Russian nationals. Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced the decision during a joint press briefing with Russian President Vladimir Putin, calling it an important initiative to enhance people-to-people ties and promote deeper cultural exchange.PM Modi said the visa reforms will make travel easier for Russian visitors and give new momentum to bilateral engagement. He highlighted that cooperation between the two nations is now expanding into advanced and specialised sectors, particularly maritime…

05 Dec

Lok Sabha Approves New Cess on Demerit Goods to Boost Health and Defence Funding

Rajeev Sharma0 CommentsIndiadefence budget India, Health Security National Security Cess, Lok Sabha, Nirmala Sitharaman

New Delhi, December 5, 2025: The Lok Sabha on Friday passed the Health Security se National Security Cess Bill, 2025, clearing the way for additional revenue from products such as pan masala to support India’s defence and public health requirements. Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, while replying to the debate in the House, said the cess is essential for meeting modern defence needs and for strengthening state-level health systems.She said that public health is a state responsibility while national defence is handled by the Centre, making it necessary to create dependable sources of funding. She emphasised that items categorised as demerit…

05 Dec

Jaish Chief Masood Azhar Claims Pakistan-Based Women’s Wing Has Recruited 5,000 Members for Suicide Missions

Rajeev Sharma0 CommentsIndiaIndia, Jaish-e-Mohammad, suicide bomber, Terrorist, Women's

National Times Bureau :- In a startling revelation, Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) chief Masood Azhar has alleged that the outfit’s women’s wing in Pakistan has recruited as many as 5,000 members, who are reportedly being trained and indoctrinated for potential suicide missions. According to Azhar’s claims, the recruits are undergoing both ideological conditioning and operational training. Although independent verification of these assertions remains unavailable, the comments have sparked serious security concerns across the region, especially given JeM’s long history of involvement in major terror attacks. Security experts say the development, if true, marks a dangerous expansion of JeM’s capabilities by involving female…

05 Dec

Putin receives grand welcome at Rashtrapati Bhavan; Pays tribute to Mahatma Gandhi

Rajeev Sharma0 CommentsIndiaIndia, Putin

National Times Bureau :- Russian President Vladimir Putin began the second day of his India visit with a grand and ceremonial welcome at Rashtrapati Bhavan on Friday morning. Upon his arrival, he was accorded a 21-gun salute and a Guard of Honour, marking a significant moment in the ongoing diplomatic engagement between the two nations. Following the official welcome, President Putin visited Rajghat, where he laid a floral tribute at the memorial of Mahatma Gandhi, honouring the Father of the Nation. Putin then proceeded to Hyderabad House, where his crucial bilateral talks with Prime Minister Narendra Modi are currently underway.…

05 Dec

Indigo flight operations in deep turbulence: All departure flights from Delhi’s IGI airport cancelled till midnight

Rajeev Sharma0 CommentsIndiaIndiGo

National Times Bureau :- India’s largest airline, IndiGo, remained stuck in operational turmoil for the fourth consecutive day on Friday, leaving thousands of travellers facing severe disruptions across major airports. The situation worsened at Delhi’s Indira Gandhi International Airport, where the airport authorities confirmed that 135 departures and 90 arrivals of IndiGo were cancelled through the day, making it the hardest-hit aviation hub. In the latest decision, IndiGo today cancelled all its departure flights from Delhi's airport till midnight. Bengaluru and Hyderabad airports also reported massive cancellations. Bengaluru saw 52 incoming and 50 outgoing flights scrapped, while 92 IndiGo services were…

05 Dec

RBI Cuts Repo Rate to 5.25%, Signaling Relief for Borrowers

Rajeev Sharma0 CommentsBusiness, India, TrendingRBI, Repo Rate

New Delhi (Rajeev Sharma): The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) on Friday announced a reduction in the repo rate by 25 basis points, lowering it from 5.5% to 5.25%, in a unanimous decision by the Monetary Policy Committee (MPC). The move is expected to make loans more affordable for retail and corporate borrowers alike. RBI Governor Sanjay Malhotra explained that the decision follows careful consideration of easing inflationary pressures and the recent depreciation of the rupee, which reached its lowest level yesterday. “The MPC evaluated the current economic landscape and concluded that a moderate reduction in the repo rate would…