Rajeev Sharma, Author at National Times

21 Oct

CM Dhami’s Diwali Meetings Spark Buzz Over Imminent Cabinet Expansion in Uttarakhand

Rajeev Sharma0 CommentsIndiaBJP, Pushkar Singh Dhami, Uttarakhand cabinet expansion

Dehradun, October 21, 2025 — The festive spirit of Diwali in Uttarakhand turned politically charged as Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami spent the weekend in a flurry of meetings with senior political figures, fuelling speculation that a long-anticipated cabinet expansion is on the cards.Dhami’s day began with courtesy visits that carried major political undertones. He met former chief ministers Tirath Singh Rawat and Bhuwan Chandra Khanduri before holding a closely watched meeting with former CM Harish Rawat at his residence. Political observers viewed this as a symbolic gesture of unity across party lines. “Dhami’s engagement with leaders across the spectrum…

21 Oct

Amazon to Pay $2.5 Billion in Landmark FTC Settlement Over Prime Misleading Practices

Rajeev Sharma0 CommentsWorld NewsAmazon, Amazon Prime settlement, deceptive practices, FTC, refund

Washington, October 21, 2025: Amazon has agreed to pay $2.5 billion to settle a lawsuit filed by the U.S. Federal Trade Commission (FTC), which accused the e-commerce giant of misleading millions of users into enrolling — and remaining — in its Amazon Prime subscription service. The FTC described the settlement as “historic,” calling it one of the largest consumer protection settlements in the agency’s history, according to USA Today.The FTC had sued Amazon in 2023, alleging that the company used “deceptive website designs” to nudge users into signing up for Prime memberships they didn’t intend to purchase, and then made…

21 Oct

Indians Feel Unsafe in Canada, Says New High Commissioner Dinesh Patnaik

Rajeev Sharma0 CommentsCanadaCanada, Dinesh K. Patnaik, Indians

Ottawa (Rajeev Sharma): India's newly appointed High Commissioner to Canada, Dinesh K. Patnaik, has expressed grave concerns regarding the safety of Indians residing in Canada, revealing that he himself is under official protection an arrangement he described as "unusual and unsettling."In a recent interview, Patnaik stated that he finds it surprising that a diplomat in a peaceful, developed country like Canada requires guarding. "I find it strange that I am under protection in Canada. My Canadian counterpart in India does not require it. People inquire if Canada is safe for Indians; that is a question that should prompt reflection in…

21 Oct

Jeromy Farkas Elected Calgary’s New Mayor After Tight Race Against Sonya Sharp

Rajeev Sharma0 CommentsCanadaCalgary, Jeromy Farkas, Mayor

Calgary (Rajeev Sharma): Jeromy Farkas has been unofficially elected as the new Mayor of Calgary, securing victory in one of the closest municipal elections in the city’s history.According to preliminary results, Farkas received 91,065 votes, narrowly defeating Sonya Sharp, who earned 90,480 votes a difference of just 585 votes. The 2025 Calgary mayoral race witnessed strong voter engagement and a competitive field, signaling a clear demand for renewed leadership at City Hall. Farkas, a former Ward 11 councillor and 2021 mayoral runner-up, campaigned on a message of transparency, fiscal discipline, and public safety. His promise to restore accountability in local…

21 Oct

Delhi’s Air Quality Hits Dangerous Levels After Diwali Fireworks, Most Stations in ‘Red Zone’

Rajeev Sharma0 CommentsIndia, TrendingAir Quality, Delhi

New Delhi (Rajeev Sharma): Diwali festivities in Delhi, traditionally marked by fireworks and celebrations, left the national capital grappling with severe air pollution, as most air quality monitoring stations recorded alarming figures. Despite the Supreme Court’s ruling allowing the use of only green firecrackers between 8 PM and 10 PM, the unregulated burst of firecrackers continued well beyond the designated time, sending the city’s air quality into a hazardous spiral. According to data from the Delhi Pollution Control Committee (DPCC), a staggering 36 out of 38 air quality monitoring stations in Delhi registered pollution levels in the 'red zone,' signaling…

21 Oct

Bollywood Loses a Legend: PM Narendra Modi Pays Tribute to Govardhan Asrani

Rajeev Sharma0 CommentsEntertainment, India, TrendingBollywood, Govardhan Asrani, Narendra Modi

New Delhi (Rajeev Sharma): Prime Minister Narendra Modi has extended his condolences on the passing of Bollywood icon, Govardhan Asrani, whose death has left the Indian film industry mourning the loss of one of its most beloved performers. Asrani, a legendary actor known for his impeccable comic timing and versatile roles, passed away at the age of 84. In his tribute, Prime Minister Modi expressed deep sorrow over the loss, hailing Asrani's immense contribution to Indian cinema. “I am deeply saddened by the passing of Shri Govardhan Asrani Ji. A gifted entertainer and a truly versatile artist, he entertained audiences…

21 Oct

Delhi Sees Spike in Fire Emergency Calls on Diwali Night; Numbers Expected to Climb

Rajeev Sharma0 CommentsIndia, TrendingDelhi, Diwali

New Delhi (Rajeev Sharma): Diwali celebrations in the national capital led to a significant surge in fire-related emergencies, with over 170 distress calls made to the Delhi Fire Service by 11:30 PM on Monday. Authorities say the figure is likely to increase as more incidents are reported through the night. Emergency services were kept on their toes as firecrackers, oil lamps, and other festive lighting appeared to trigger multiple fire outbreaks in different parts of the city. Fire department teams were dispatched across several locations, tackling blazes that ranged from minor residential fires to more serious flare-ups. “Every year, we…

20 Oct

Salman Khan’s ‘Balochistan’ Remark Sparks Online Debate Over Intent and Implication

Rajeev Sharma0 CommentsIndiaBalochistan, Controversy, Joy Forum 2025, Pakistan, Salman Khan

Riyadh/New Delhi, October 20, 2025: Bollywood superstar Salman Khan has found himself at the centre of a social media storm after a recent comment at an international event appeared to separate Balochistan from Pakistan, prompting widespread debate over whether it was a slip of the tongue or a deliberate statement.Speaking at the Joy Forum 2025 in Riyadh, Khan was discussing the growing global appeal of Indian cinema, particularly in the Middle East. Referring to the South Asian expatriate community in the region, he said, “There are people from Balochistan, there are people from Afghanistan, there are people from Pakistan… everyone…

20 Oct

President Droupadi Murmu to Visit Kerala from October 21–24; PM Modi Celebrates Diwali with Naval Personnel

Rajeev Sharma0 CommentsIndiaDroupadi Murmu, K.R. Narayanan, Kerala visit, Sabarimala Temple

New Delhi, October 20, 2025: President Droupadi Murmu will embark on a four-day visit to Kerala from October 21 to 24, the President’s Secretariat announced on Monday.According to the official release, President Murmu will arrive in Thiruvananthapuram on the evening of October 21. The next day, she is scheduled to perform Darshan and Aarti at the revered Sabarimala Temple.On October 23, the President will unveil a bust of former President K.R. Narayanan at Raj Bhavan in Thiruvananthapuram. She will also inaugurate the Mahasamadhi Centenary observance of Sree Narayana Guru at Sivagiri Mutt, Varkala, and later attend the valedictory ceremony of…

20 Oct

Donald Trump Repeats Claim He Averted India-Pakistan War, Says Seven Aircraft Were Shot Down

Rajeev Sharma0 CommentsTrending, World NewsDonald Trump, India, Pakistan

Washington DC (Rajeev Sharma): U.S. President Donald Trump has once again stirred international attention by reiterating his claim that he helped halt a military confrontation between India and Pakistan, allegedly preventing a wider conflict that, he says, could have escalated to nuclear war. In a recent interview aired on Fox News, Trump asserted that both nations were on the verge of an all-out war, with “seven planes” being shot down during the clashes — although he did not specify the nationality of the aircraft. “They were going at it — seven jets were taken down. And it could have gone…