Rajeev Sharma, Author at National Times

04 Jan

Who Is Delcy Rodríguez, Appointed Acting President of Venezuela?

Rajeev Sharma0 CommentsWorld NewsDelcy Rodríguez

National Times Bureau :- Venezuela’s Supreme Court on Sunday ordered Vice President Delcy Rodriguez to take over as Interim President. This decision came a day after the United States carried out a rare military operation in Caracas and captured President Nicolas Maduro. In its ruling, the court said Rodriguez would take charge to keep the government running smoothly and to protect the country’s defence. The court added that it would continue discussions to decide the legal steps needed to manage the government and protect Venezuela’s sovereignty during the president’s forced absence. Delcy Rodriguez, 56, is one of the most powerful…

04 Jan

Pollution Levels Rise Again in Capital as Winter Conditions Snarl Air and Air Travel

Rajeev Sharma0 CommentsIndia, TrendingDelhi

New Delhi (Rajeev Sharma): The national capital woke up on Sunday to another slide in air quality, as pollution levels edged closer to the “very poor” category after a short-lived improvement earlier in the week. Monitoring stations recorded the Air Quality Index close to 300 during the morning hours, reflecting a steady build-up of pollutants across the city. According to official data, the AQI was significantly higher than Saturday’s average, indicating that favourable winds which had earlier cleared the air had weakened. Environmental experts attribute the decline to stagnant atmospheric conditions, common during winter, which prevent pollutants from dispersing. The…

04 Jan

India’s First Vande Bharat Sleeper Train to Be Launched in January 2026

Rajeev Sharma0 CommentsIndia, TrendingVande Bharat

New Delhi (Rajeev Sharma): Indian Railways is set to begin a new chapter in long-distance rail travel with the launch of the first Vande Bharat Sleeper Train later this month. Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw announced that the much-awaited sleeper version of the Vande Bharat train will be introduced as part of the New Year initiatives for passengers. The Prime Minister, Narendra Modi, is expected to flag off the inaugural service in the second half of January 2026. The first Vande Bharat Sleeper train will operate on the Guwahati–Howrah route, strengthening rail connectivity between the Northeast and eastern India. Designed specifically…

04 Jan

US Shares Arrest Footage of Maduro as Venezuela Enters Uncertain Transition

Rajeev Sharma0 CommentsTrending, World NewsVenezuela

Washington/Caracas/New York (Rajeev Sharma): The United States has made public a video showing detained Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro being escorted in handcuffs by federal agents, a move that has amplified global attention on the dramatic turn of events following his capture. The footage, released by US authorities, shows Maduro under tight security as he is taken into custody, marking the first visual confirmation of his detention. American officials confirmed that Maduro is expected to be moved to the Metropolitan Detention Center (MDC) in New York, a federal facility known for severe conditions and long-standing criticism over safety, staffing shortages, and…

04 Jan

Trump Says US Will Oversee Venezuela After Maduro’s Ouster, Eyes Oil Exports

Rajeev Sharma0 CommentsTrending, World NewsVenezuela

Washington/Caracas (Rajeev Sharma): In an unprecedented move that has sent shockwaves across the region, US President Donald Trump said on Saturday that the United States would temporarily assume control of Venezuela following the removal of President Nicolás Maduro, with plans to revive and utilise the country’s vast oil resources. The announcement came hours after a covert military operation led to Maduro and his wife being taken into US custody and flown out of Venezuela. Trump described the action as part of a broader effort to stabilise the country, combat drug trafficking and restructure its collapsing energy sector. He said Washington…

03 Jan

Russia Condemns US Military Action in Venezuela, Calls Maduro’s Capture an Act of Armed Aggression

Rajeev Sharma0 CommentsWorld NewsNicolas Maduro capture, Russia US Venezuela crisis, Russian Foreign Ministry statement, US strike Venezuela

Moscow, January 3, 2026: Russia has strongly criticised the United States for launching a military strike in Venezuela and detaining incumbent President Nicolas Maduro, terming the operation an act of armed aggression and warning that it threatens regional stability. In a sharply worded statement issued on Saturday, the Russian Foreign Ministry said the US action had raised serious concerns and deserved outright condemnation. Moscow rejected the justification offered by Washington, saying ideological hostility had overridden diplomatic engagement and any attempt to build relations based on trust and predictability. The ministry emphasised that the immediate priority should be to prevent further…

03 Jan

KKR Releases Mustafizur Rahman Following BCCI Directive Amid India-Bangladesh Strain

Rajeev Sharma0 CommentsIndia, SportsBCCI directive, IPL 2026, Kolkata Knight Riders, Mustafizur Rahman

Kolkata, January 3: Bangladesh fast bowler Mustafizur Rahman has been released by Indian Premier League franchise Kolkata Knight Riders after the Board of Control for Cricket in India directed the team to do so in view of escalating diplomatic tensions between India and Bangladesh. The three-time IPL champions had secured the services of the 30-year-old left-arm pacer for ₹9.20 crore at last month’s auction, following a competitive bidding process involving Chennai Super Kings and Delhi Capitals. Rahman had entered the auction with a base price of ₹2 crore and was set to feature for KKR for the first time in…

03 Jan

Buddha Relics Are Part of India’s Living Civilisation, Says PM Modi at Delhi Exhibition

Rajeev Sharma0 CommentsIndiaBuddha relics, Buddhist heritage, Light and the Lotus exhibition, Piprahwa Relics, PM Modi

New Delhi, January 3: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday inaugurated an exhibition of ancient sacred gems and bone relics associated with Lord Buddha, describing them as a vital part of India’s civilisational and spiritual legacy rather than historical artefacts confined to museums. Addressing a gathering at the inauguration of “The Light and the Lotus: Relics of the Awakened One” at the Qila Rai Pithora Cultural Complex in south Delhi, Modi said the relics symbolise India’s deep-rooted spiritual connection with Buddhist communities across the world. He noted that the Piprahwa Relics had previously travelled to countries such as Vietnam, Thailand…

03 Jan

Tensions Soar as Trump Claims Maduro Captured Following Caracas Explosions

Rajeev Sharma0 CommentsTrending, World NewsCaracas

Caracas/Washington (Rajeev Sharma): The political crisis in Venezuela escalated sharply on Saturday after U.S. President Donald Trump announced that Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and his wife had been captured and removed from the country, following a series of explosions in the capital and nearby states. In a post on Truth Social, Trump stated that the United States had conducted a “large-scale strike” against Venezuela, successfully apprehending Maduro and his spouse. The announcement immediately drew global attention, though independent verification of the claims has not yet been confirmed. Venezuelan authorities reported that attacks occurred in Caracas as well as in the…

03 Jan

Venezuela Imposes Emergency Status After Pre-Dawn Disturbances in Capital

Rajeev Sharma0 CommentsTrending, World NewsVenezuela

Caracas (Rajeev Sharma): The Venezuelan government moved swiftly to impose emergency measures early Saturday after a series of loud explosions and reports of aircraft flying at low altitude unsettled large parts of Caracas, sharply escalating tensions with the United States. Officials said the incidents occurred around 2 am, when multiple blasts were heard across the capital. Witnesses described seeing smoke billowing from a hangar at a military air facility, while another defence-related site in the city experienced a sudden loss of electricity. In several districts, residents poured into the streets amid confusion and fear. In an official communiqué, authorities accused…