Rajeev Sharma, Author at National Times

29 Nov

Alberta Reaches New Deal for Frontline Health-Care Workers, Says Minister Horner

Rajeev Sharma0 CommentsCanada, TrendingAlberta

Alberta (Rajeev Sharma): Alberta’s government says a new labour agreement has been finalized for thousands of frontline health-care staff, marking the end of several months of bargaining between Alberta Health Services (AHS) and the Alberta Union of Provincial Employees (AUPE). In a statement released Friday, President of Treasury Board and Finance Minister Nate Horner confirmed that negotiators have reached a settlement covering Licensed Practical Nurses (LPNs) and Health Care Aides (HCAs) across the province. Horner welcomed the development, calling it the result of sustained effort on both sides. “After months of negotiations, we appreciate the collective effort it has taken…

29 Nov

Airbus Orders Urgent Software Update for A320 Jets Following Solar Radiation Alert, Major Airlines Worldwide Affected

Rajeev Sharma0 CommentsBusiness, Trending, World NewsAirbus

Toronto / Delhi (Rajeev Sharma / Gurpreet Singh) : Global aviation leader Airbus has issued an urgent safety directive requiring operators of its A320-family aircraft to install a critical software update before the next scheduled flight. The move comes after the discovery that intense solar radiation could potentially interfere with vital data essential to the planes’ flight-control systems. Airbus confirmed that the issue affects the Elevator and Aileron Computer, responsible for managing the aircraft’s pitch and roll functions. The directive is expected to impact approximately 6,000 aircraft worldwide, representing roughly half of the active A320 fleet. The update, which for…

29 Nov

Smoggy Saturday: Capital’s Air Quality Slips Back Into ‘Very Poor’ Zone

Rajeev Sharma0 CommentsIndia, TrendingDelhi

New Delhi (Rajeev Sharma): Delhi greeted the weekend under a thick layer of haze, with pollution levels once again breaching the “very poor” threshold. The city’s Air Quality Index stood at 332 on Saturday morning, indicating continued deterioration in overall air quality. The latest figures from the Central Pollution Control Board showed a slight improvement compared to Friday, when the AQI was measured at 369. While the drop is noticeable, it offers little comfort, as the air remains unsafe for prolonged outdoor exposure, especially for those with breathing ailments. India’s air-quality scale categorizes readings up to 50 as “good” and…

29 Nov

Calgary Transit to Phase Out Express Bus Routes by 2027 as City Shifts to Modern Network Model

Rajeev Sharma0 CommentsAlberta, CanadaBus Routes, Calgary, Clagary Transit, Sharon Fleming

Calgary (Rajeev Sharma): Calgary Transit has confirmed that several long-standing express bus routes will be phased out by 2027 as part of a major network modernization effort. The decision follows updates to the city’s long-term RouteAhead plan, which aims to refocus transit resources on high-frequency corridors and broaden access across the city.The express routes affected include services running through Hidden Valley, MacEwan, Harvest Hills, Coventry Hills, and Panorama Hills long considered commuter-heavy areas that relied on peak-hour express connections to downtown. These routes, Calgary Transit says, are now considered legacy services that no longer align with the city’s growth, travel…

28 Nov

Community Groups Unite for Free Lung Cancer Awareness Event on Dec. 6 in Calgary

Rajeev Sharma0 CommentsCanadaCommunity Groups, Lung Cancer Awareness, National Times

Calgary (Rajeev Sharma): A significant community health initiative will take place on December 6, 2025, as the Ambe Society of Calgary & MFI, Mobility Financial Inc., hosts a complimentary Lung Cancer Awareness Event aimed at educating residents about early detection and the hidden environmental risks linked to lung cancer, including radon exposure.The event will be held from 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. at the Indian Ex-Servicemen Immigrant Association, located at 4774 Westwinds Dr NE, #503, Calgary. The venue is being provided by the Ex-Servicemen Society in support of the community-focused health initiative.The program aims to “unmask the reality of lung…

28 Nov

Pipeline Discussions Ignite a Rift at the Highest Levels of Government

Rajeev Sharma0 CommentsAlberta, CanadaAlberta oil exports, British Columbia tanker ban, Canada pipeline deal, Mark Carney

Toronto (Rajeev Sharma)— A major energy agreement between Ottawa and Alberta has shaken Canada’s political landscape, after Prime Minister Mark Carney and Alberta’s premier reached an understanding to work toward a new oil pipeline to the Pacific Coast.The memorandum of understanding outlines plans to diversify Canada’s oil exports beyond the United States and proposes easing an existing oil tanker ban along sections of British Columbia’s coastline if the project advances. The development immediately stirred internal turmoil in Carney’s cabinet.One of the strongest reactions came from inside the government itself. A senior cabinet minister resigned from his post in protest, warning…

28 Nov

Putin to Visit India on December 4–5 for High-Level Bilateral Talks

Rajeev Sharma0 CommentsIndiaIndia-Russia relations, Modi-Putin meeting, Putin India visit December 4–5

New Delhi, November 27, 2025— Russian President Vladimir Putin is scheduled to visit India on December 4–5, the Kremlin confirmed on Friday, following an invitation from Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The visit is expected to strengthen India-Russia ties and expand cooperation across key sectors including defence, energy, trade and technology.Officials said both leaders will hold wide-ranging discussions on boosting strategic collaboration. The trip comes at a time when New Delhi and Moscow are seeking to deepen engagement amid shifting geopolitical dynamics.

28 Nov

SC Seeks Centre, Haryana’s Response on Alleged “Period Verification” of Women Workers at MDU

Rajeev Sharma0 CommentsIndia, TrendingSupreme Court

New Delhi: (Rajeev Sharma): The Supreme Court on Friday directed the Union Government, the Haryana administration, and multiple officials to respond to a petition demanding an investigation into shocking claims that women sanitation workers at Maharshi Dayanand University (MDU), Rohtak, were asked to provide photographic evidence of menstruation to justify their absence from duty. A Bench of Justice BV Nagarathna and Justice R Mahadevan, expressing dismay over the allegations, remarked that the incident pointed to a deeply troubling attitude toward women in the workplace. “If someone was unable to do heavy work, another person could have been assigned. This sort…

28 Nov

PM Modi Unveils 77-Foot Bronze Statue of Lord Ram in Goa, Calls for Unity and Cultural Confidence

Rajeev Sharma0 CommentsIndia, TrendingLord Ram, PM Modi

Partagali (Goa): Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday dedicated a towering 77-foot bronze statue of Lord Ram to the nation during an event marking 550 years of the Shree Samsthan Gokarn Jeevottam Mutt, one of India’s oldest monastic centres. The ceremony, held in South Goa’s Partagali, drew large crowds and included the launch of a Ramayana-themed park. Speaking at the event, the Prime Minister said that India’s long-term progress depends on collective resolve and social cohesion. “For a country to move decisively toward a developed future, its people must stand together,” he told the gathering, adding that the nation is…

28 Nov

India’s Economy Surges to 8.2% in Q2, Manufacturing Leads the Upswing

Rajeev Sharma0 CommentsIndia, TrendingEconomy

New Delhi (Rajeev Sharma): India’s economic engine picked up speed in the July–September quarter, logging an 8.2% expansion—its fastest pace in a year and a half—driven largely by a sharp rebound in factory output and a buoyant services industry. The latest figures from the National Statistics Office (NSO) show that the country has strengthened its position as the world’s quickest-growing major economy, far outpacing China’s 4.8% growth during the same period. The second-quarter performance marks a step up from the 7.8% growth recorded in the previous three months and a sizable leap from the 5.6% seen a year earlier. The…