Rajeev Sharma, Author at National Times

05 May

BJP Unlikely to Form Government in Punjab Next Term, Says Arvind Kejriwal

Rajeev Sharma0 CommentsIndiaArvind Kejriwal

Rajeev Sharma :- Aam Aadmi Party national convenor Arvind Kejriwal, while addressing party MLAs during a press conference at Kapurthala House, said that the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is unlikely to form the government in Punjab in the next elections. He urged legislators to strengthen their connect with the people and continue working actively at the grassroots level. Raises questions over poll results in other statesKejriwal also questioned the election results in Delhi and West Bengal, stating that outcomes in regions where the BJP had earlier struggled appeared surprising. He hinted that such results warrant closer examination. Remarks on Prime…

05 May

Canada Deports Suspect Linked to Surrey Extortion Network, Police Release Image

Rajeev Sharma0 CommentsBritish Columbia, Canada, TrendingCanada, Surrey

Surrey (Rajeev Sharma): A 20-year-old man of Punjabi origin has been expelled from Canada after being linked to an alleged extortion racket operating in Surrey, officials confirmed. The action follows his earlier arrest as part of a broader investigation into rising cases of intimidation and violence in the region. The suspect, identified as Prabhjot Singh, had come under the scanner of the Surrey Police Service earlier this year. Authorities claim he was involved in activities connected to threats and coercion targeting local businesses and residents. After his arrest, immigration authorities stepped in. The Canada Border Services Agency reviewed his status…

05 May

Massive Blast at Fireworks Facility in Hunan Leaves 21 Dead, Investigation Ordered

Rajeev Sharma0 CommentsTrending, World NewsHunan

Hunan (Rajeev Sharma): A devastating explosion at a fireworks production site in Hunan has resulted in the deaths of 21 people and left 61 others injured, prompting urgent rescue efforts and a high-level inquiry into the incident. The blast occurred late Monday afternoon in Changsha, a key centre for fireworks manufacturing. The impact of the explosion caused severe structural damage, with parts of the facility collapsing and debris scattered across the area. Thick smoke was seen rising from the site as emergency teams rushed in. Rescue and relief operations were carried out on a war footing, with hundreds of firefighters,…

04 May

Canada Accelerates Permanent Residency for Rural Workers Under New Fast-Track Initiative

Rajeev Sharma0 CommentsCanadaCanada immigration, Fast-track PR, IRCC, Labour gaps, Permanent Residency, PNP, Rural workers, TR to PR

Ottawa (Rajeev Sharma); Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada has released comprehensive details regarding the eligibility criteria for the In-Canada Workers Initiative, a one-time permanent residency pathway designed to transition temporary residents into permanent ones. According to a department press release issued on Monday, the initiative targets temporary workers who have already applied for permanent residency through existing streams such as the Provincial Nominee Program, the Atlantic Immigration Program, and various pilot programs for rural and francophone communities. To qualify for accelerated processing, applicants must have resided in a smaller Canadian community for a minimum of two years. The federal government…

04 May

Supreme Court Steps In on Transgender Rights Law, Seeks Government Reply on Validity Challenges

Rajeev Sharma0 CommentsIndia, TrendingSupreme Court, Transgender

New Delhi (Rajeev Sharma): The Supreme Court of India has begun examining a set of petitions challenging the constitutional validity of the Transgender Persons (Protection of Rights) Amendment Act, 2026, issuing notices to the Union government, all states, and Union Territories for their formal responses. A bench comprising Chief Justice Surya Kant and Justice Joymalya Bagchi heard preliminary arguments on Monday and scheduled the matter for detailed hearing after six weeks. The court also directed the respondents to file their replies in the meantime. During the hearing, senior advocate A. M. Singhvi argued that the amended law undermines the principle…

04 May

TVK Edges Toward Breakthrough in Tamil Nadu as Counting Trends Favor Vijay’s Party

Rajeev Sharma0 CommentsIndia, Politics, TrendingTamil Nadu, TVK, Vijay

Tamil Nadu (Rajeev Sharma): Early results from the 2026 Assembly elections in Tamil Nadu suggest a major political shake-up, with the Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) emerging as the frontrunner. Led by actor-turned-politician Vijay, the party is rapidly closing in on the halfway mark in the 234-member Assembly, raising the possibility of a historic first victory. Counting began early Monday morning under tight security across the state, with officials releasing constituency-wise updates at regular intervals through the Election Commission’s platforms. As rounds progress, TVK has established leads in a significant number of seats, indicating strong voter backing across regions. The trends…

04 May

Early Assam Trends Point to BJP Surge as Counting Advances Across State

Rajeev Sharma0 CommentsPolitics, Punjab, TrendingAssam

Assam (Rajeev Sharma): Vote counting for the 2026 Assembly elections in Assam is revealing a strong early advantage for the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), with the party and its allies edging closer to a dominant tally in the 126-seat House. The initial rounds suggest the ruling coalition may be heading toward a comfortable return to power. The counting process is being carried out at 40 centres across 35 districts. Most districts are managing with a single counting venue, though some have multiple centres to handle the workload. Nagaon district has three counting locations, while Kokrajhar, Tinsukia, and Jorhat are operating…

04 May

BJP Emerges Strong in Bengal Counting Trends, Hints at Possible Political Turnaround

Rajeev Sharma0 CommentsIndia, Politics, TrendingWest Bengal

Kolkata (Rajeev Sharma): A notable shift in the political landscape of West Bengal is beginning to take shape as counting trends from the ongoing assembly elections show the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) moving ahead of its rivals. The early figures suggest that the party may be on course to secure a majority, posing a serious challenge to the ruling Trinamool Congress (TMC). For years, the state’s politics has largely revolved around Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and her party. However, the current trends indicate that voter sentiment may be changing, with the BJP making gains not only in its traditional areas…

04 May

US Plans Naval Escort for Ships in Hormuz Amid Rising Maritime Threats

Rajeev Sharma0 CommentsTrending, World NewsHormuz

Washington (Rajeev Sharma): The United States is set to begin a major maritime operation to assist vessels stranded in the troubled waters of the Strait of Hormuz, following an announcement by former President Donald Trump. The initiative, expected to commence on Monday, comes in response to increasing security risks and recent attacks on commercial shipping in the region. Trump described the move as a coordinated effort to ensure safe passage for ships caught in the conflict zone, stressing that many of them belong to neutral nations. The plan is intended to help maritime traffic resume normal operations after weeks of…

04 May

Canadian Intelligence Report Raises Alarm Over Extremist Financing and Overseas Links

Rajeev Sharma0 CommentsCanada, TrendingKhalistani

New Delhi (Rajeev Sharma): A latest report released by the Canadian Security Intelligence Service has highlighted concerns about a small network of Khalistan-linked extremists allegedly using Canada as a base to raise funds and support unlawful activities abroad, including in India. The “Public Report 2025” outlines that while the number of such individuals is limited, their activities fall under the category of politically motivated violent extremism. The agency noted that these elements often seek donations under religious or community initiatives, but a portion of the collected money is suspected to be redirected towards violent operations. The report underlines that peaceful…