Rajeev Sharma, Author at National Times

06 Nov

India Rescues 270 Citizens from Cyber Scam Networks in Myanmar, Returns Them via Thailand

Rajeev Sharma0 CommentsIndiacyber scam Myanmar, India rescue mission, Indian Air Force, Thai repatriation

New Delhi, November 6, 2025 — In a major humanitarian operation, India has rescued and repatriated 270 of its citizens, including 26 women, who had been trapped in cyber scam centres operating in Myanmar’s Myawaddy region. The group was brought back from Thailand’s Mae Sot town on Thursday through a coordinated effort by the Indian Embassy in Bangkok and the Consulate in Chiang Mai, with the help of Thai authorities. Two special Indian Air Force (IAF) aircraft were deployed to bring them home safely.Officials said the rescued individuals had been detained by Thai police for illegally crossing the border from…

06 Nov

India Crush Australia by 48 Runs in Fourth T20, Take 2-1 Series Lead

Rajeev Sharma0 CommentsSportsGold Coast T20, India vs Australia T20, Shubman Gill, Suryakumar Yadav, Washington Sundar

Gold Coast, November 6, 2025: Team India secured a commanding 48-run victory over Australia in the fourth T20 International at Gold Coast, taking a 2-1 lead in the five-match series.Chasing a target of 168, Australia collapsed for just 119 runs in 18.2 overs. Washington Sundar produced a sensational spell, claiming three wickets for only three runs, while Axar Patel and Shivam Dube picked up two wickets each to dismantle the hosts’ batting lineup.Earlier, after being asked to bat first, India posted 167 for 8 in their 20 overs. Shubman Gill led the charge with a composed 46 and shared a…

06 Nov

International Student Decline Leads to $34.7 Million Budget Shortfall at University of Calgary

Rajeev Sharma0 CommentsCanadaBudget Shortfall, International Students Decline, University of Calgary

Calgary (Rajeev Sharma): The University of Calgary is facing a $34.7 million budget shortfall this year following a significant drop in international student enrolment, highlighting growing financial pressures on Alberta’s post-secondary institutions.University officials reported that international student numbers fell by nearly 9 per cent, from 6,998 students last year to 6,394 this fall, resulting in an estimated $11 million loss in tuition revenue. The decline comes amid tighter federal regulations on study permits and reduced provincial funding for post-secondary education.A spokesperson for UCalgary said, “With fewer international students paying full-tuition fees, we’re seeing that the model we’ve grown accustomed to…

06 Nov

RED FM Calgary Hosts Annual Gurpurab Radiothon, Raises Funds for Alberta Children’s Hospital

Rajeev Sharma0 CommentsCanadaCalgary, Gurpurab, Radiothon, Red FM

Calgary (Rajeev Sharma): RED FM, Calgary’s multicultural radio station, successfully organized its annual Gurpurab Radiothon on November 5, commemorating the birth anniversary of Sri Guru Nanak Dev Ji, the First Sikh Guru. The Radiothon raised $213,250 for the Alberta Children’s Hospital Foundation, supporting the Guru Nanak Dev Ji Vision Clinic in acquiring a new RetCam, an advanced retinal imaging system crucial for diagnosing and treating severe eye conditions in children.“Whenever we solicit support for a charitable cause, our community consistently responds with generosity. At RED FM, the Gurpurab Radiothon is a highlight of our year,” stated Kulwinder Sanghera, President of…

06 Nov

Mount Royal University Faculty and Students Rally in Solidarity with Alberta Teachers, Condemn Government’s Use of Notwithstanding Clause

Rajeev Sharma0 CommentsCanadaCalgary, Mount Royal University, Rally

Calgary (Rajeev Sharma): More than a 100 numbers of faculty members, staff, and students gathered at Mount Royal University (MRU) on Tuesday afternoon to show solidarity with Alberta teachers and protest the provincial government’s decision to invoke the notwithstanding clause to end a three-week teachers’ strike.The rally, organized by the Mount Royal University Faculty Association (MRFA), was held in the university’s main courtyard. Participants held signs reading “Teachers Deserve Respect” and “Protect Workers’ Rights”, calling the government’s move an “attack on constitutional freedoms” and a violation of collective bargaining rights. The demonstration came just days after the Alberta government passed…

06 Nov

Alberta Health Workers Vote 98% in Favour of Strike as Tensions Escalate Over Pay and Working Conditions

Rajeev Sharma0 CommentsCanadaAlberta, AUPE, Health Workers, Strike

Edmonton (Rajeev Sharma): In a significant development, the Alberta Union of Provincial Employees (AUPE) has announced that approximately 98 per cent of its 16,000 nursing care members, comprising licensed practical nurses (LPNs), health care aides, and support staff employed by Alberta Health Services (AHS) and the province’s new regional health agencies, have voted in favour of strike action. The vote, conducted between October 30 and November 3, saw approximately 11,000 ballots cast, representing nearly 70 per cent of eligible members. AUPE stated that the result reflects growing frustration among frontline workers over stagnant wages, staff shortages, and what they describe…

06 Nov

US airspace faces restrictions as government shutdown enters its 36th day

Rajeev Sharma0 CommentsWorld NewsUs Airspace

National Times Bureau :- Days after warning of possible US airspace closures, Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy on Wednesday announced new flight restrictions as the government shutdown reached a record 36 days, amid mounting safety concerns and severe staffing shortages at the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), Fox Business reported.Duffy said new airspace restrictions will take effect on Friday, including a 10 per cent reduction in flight capacity across 40 locations, which will impact approximately 4,000 flights nationwide."One of them, though, is going to be that there is going to be a 10 per cent reduction in capacity at 40 of our…

06 Nov

Delhi’s air quality gets slightly better, to turn ‘very poor’ again in coming days

Rajeev Sharma0 CommentsIndiaAir Quality, New Delhi

National Times Bureau :- After a short break, Delhi’s air quality got worse again on Thursday, with the overall AQI rising to 264 — putting it firmly in the “poor” category, according to the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB). Experts warn that the air could further deteriorate to “very poor” levels in the next few days. A thick layer of smog covered many parts of the city, especially around ITO, where the AQI hit 290 in the morning. In North Delhi’s Narela, it was almost the same at 294. This came just a day after Delhi saw its cleanest air…

06 Nov

India to Slash Russian Oil Imports as New US Sanctions Take Effect November 21

Rajeev Sharma0 CommentsIndia, World NewsIndia-Russia oil trade, Lukoil, Reliance Industries, Rosneft, US Sanctions

New Delhi, November 6, 2025 — India is set to sharply curtail its direct imports of Russian crude oil starting late November, as new US sanctions targeting Moscow’s major oil producers, Rosneft and Lukoil, come into effect on November 21.Indian refiners, who currently handle over half of the country’s Russian crude imports, are expected to comply with the sanctions, industry analysts said. The move is likely to disrupt global oil trade flows, prompting Indian companies to reassess their sourcing strategies to avoid any potential US penalties.According to Kpler, a maritime intelligence firm, Russian crude arrivals in India could fall significantly…

06 Nov

US Government Shutdown Forces 10% Reduction in Flights Nationwide

Rajeev Sharma0 CommentsWorld NewsFAA staffing shortage, flight restrictions, Sean Duffy, US shutdown 2025

Washington, November 5, 2025 — As the US government shutdown stretched into its 36th day, the Department of Transportation announced significant flight restrictions to maintain safety amid a growing staffing crisis. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy revealed that starting Friday, a 10% cut in flight capacity will be implemented across 40 major locations, affecting nearly 4,000 flights throughout the country.The measure comes as thousands of Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and Transportation Security Administration (TSA) employees continue to work without pay. Duffy stated that a list of airports impacted by the cuts will be released on Thursday. “Our top priority is safety,”…