Rajeev Sharma, Author at National Times

14 Nov

Early Counting Shows NDA Gaining Momentum in Bihar Polls

Rajeev Sharma0 CommentsIndia, Politics, TrendingBihar

Patna (Rajeev Sharma): Initial figures from Friday’s vote count in Bihar indicate that the National Democratic Alliance is edging ahead of its rival, the Mahagathbandhan, as the state awaits the final outcome of its high-stakes Assembly elections. Counting teams began their work across all 243 constituencies under heavy security deployment. Officials reported that the examination of postal ballots was taken up first, before the sealed EVMs were opened around 8:30 a.m. The process is being conducted at 46 centres distributed across 38 districts. This election, held in two phases, is widely regarded as a referendum on Chief Minister Nitish Kumar’s…

14 Nov

Delhi Red Fort car blast: House of Dr Umar, who drove explosive-laden car, demolished in Pulwama

Rajeev Sharma0 CommentsIndiaDoctor, New Delhi, Red Fort blast, Updates

National Times Bureau :- Security forces have demolished the residence of Dr Umar Nabi, the man who drove the explosive-laden car involved in the recent blast in Delhi, officials confirmed on Friday. The structure in Jammu and Kashmir’s Pulwama district was razed during the intervening night of Thursday and Friday. The car explosion near Red Fort on Monday night claimed 13 lives and left several others injured. Investigators later identified the driver as Dr Umar Nabi after DNA samples recovered from the blast site matched those of his mother. Dr Umar, considered academically bright by his acquaintances, is believed to…

14 Nov

CSIS Director Addresses Escalating National Security Threats from Global Powers

Rajeev Sharma0 CommentsCanada

Ottawa (Rajeev Sharma): The Director of the Canadian Security Intelligence Service (CSIS) provided an update on Canada's ongoing efforts to address emerging national security challenges. In a recent briefing, Director Dan Rogers discussed the evolving landscape of threats, particularly from global powers such as Russia, China, Iran, and India. Canadian Security Intelligence Service (CSIS) Director Dan Rogers stated that violent extremism, motivated by religion, ideology, or political views, “persists as one of Canada’s most significant national security concerns.” He cited an August case where a minor was arrested in Montreal for allegedly planning an attack on behalf of Daesh, also…

13 Nov

Canada and India Strengthen Bilateral Ties at G7 Foreign Ministers’ Meeting

Rajeev Sharma0 CommentsCanada, India

Niagara (Rajeev Sharma): The Honourable Anita Anand, Minister of Foreign Affairs, welcomed Subrahmanyam Jaishankar, India’s External Affairs Minister, to Canada today for the G7 Foreign Ministers’ Meeting. This marks their third meeting of 2025, underscoring the growing momentum in the bilateral relationship between the two nations.Minister Anand expressed her heartfelt condolences to Minister Jaishankar following the tragic explosion in New Delhi, India, that claimed several lives. She reaffirmed Canada’s solidarity with the people of India during this difficult time. The two ministers engaged in constructive discussions on the ongoing law-enforcement dialogue between Canadian and Indian authorities. They also highlighted the…

13 Nov

New Toll Policy from November 15: Double Toll Without FASTag, Digital Payments to Get 25% Rebate

Rajeev Sharma0 CommentsIndiadigital payments, FASTag, highways, India transport, MoRTH, toll rules

New Delhi, November 13, 2025 — Beginning November 15, the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH) will implement revised toll collection rules aimed at promoting digital payments and easing traffic flow across India’s highways.Under the new guidelines, any vehicle not equipped with a valid FASTag will be charged twice the normal toll rate if the payment is made in cash. In contrast, those who opt for UPI or other digital payment modes at toll plazas will pay only 1.25 times the standard amount. Vehicles using FASTag will continue to be charged the regular fee.For instance, if a vehicle’s standard…

13 Nov

India and Canada Reinforce Economic Partnership in 7th Ministerial Dialogue

Rajeev Sharma0 CommentsCanadaIndia-Canada trade, Maninder Sidhu, Ministerial Dialogue on Trade and Investment, Piyush Goyal

New Delhi, November 13, 2025 — Union Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal and Canada’s Minister for Export Promotion and International Trade, Maninder Sidhu, co-chaired the 7th India-Canada Ministerial Dialogue on Trade and Investment (MDTI) in New Delhi on Thursday. The meeting marked a phase of renewed engagement aimed at invigorating bilateral trade and investment ties and charting a forward-looking cooperation agenda. In their joint statement titled “Renewing Momentum towards a Stronger Partnership”, both countries reaffirmed the foundational role of trade in promoting mutual economic growth and resilience. They highlighted the strong, value-based foundation of India-Canada relations, rooted in shared democratic traditions,…

13 Nov

Delhi Police Advise Early Arrival as Security Tightens Across the Capital

Rajeev Sharma0 CommentsIndiaairport checks, Delhi Police, metro safety, security alert, travel advisory

New Delhi, November 13, 2025: Amid heightened security arrangements throughout the national capital, the Delhi Police have urged travellers to reach major transport hubs well in advance of their scheduled departures to prevent inconvenience.Joint Commissioner of Police (Transport Range) Milind Dumbre said the advisory, issued on Wednesday, aims to ensure smooth and timely movement at airports, metro stations, and railway terminals. He emphasized that security checks have been intensified at all major transit points as a precautionary step.According to the advisory, passengers are encouraged to arrive at least one hour before train departures, twenty minutes ahead of metro services, and…

13 Nov

Red Fort Car Blast: DNA Test Confirms Driver Was Dr. Umar Muhammad

Rajeev Sharma0 CommentsIndiaDelhi Blast, Omar Abdullah

National Times Bureau :- A major breakthrough has been made in the Red Fort car explosion case, with forensic tests confirming that the unidentified body recovered from the Hyundai i20 car belonged to Dr. Umar Muhammad, the suspected suicide bomber. DNA samples taken from the remains matched 100 percent with those of his mother, officials at AIIMS Forensic Department revealed. The official report, however, is still awaited. Investigators said Dr. Umar Muhammad’s body was severely damaged in the explosion, making identification difficult at first. Remnants of his body were found charred inside the vehicle. DNA profiling was carried out using…

13 Nov

Delhi Chokes Again: Air Quality Deteriorates Further, AQI Crosses 400 Mark for Third Straight Day

Rajeev Sharma0 CommentsBusinessair pollution, New Delhi

National Times Bureau :- Despite multiple restrictions and pollution-control measures, Delhi continues to reel under toxic air. For the third consecutive day, the city’s Air Quality Index (AQI) remained in the “severe” category, touching an average of 405 on Wednesday. Several areas, including Punjabi Bagh (428), Wazirpur (452), Anand Vihar (445), ITO (431), and IGI Airport (460), recorded AQI levels well above the danger mark. Nearby regions such as Noida (391), Greater Noida (376), Ghaziabad (369), and Gurugram (332) also reported “very poor” to “severe” air quality levels. According to the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), the overall AQI saw…

13 Nov

Donald Trump Ends Record 43-Day Government Shutdown After Signing Funding Bill

Rajeev Sharma0 CommentsTrending, World NewsDonald Trump

Washington (Rajeev Sharma): The longest government shutdown in US history came to a close late Wednesday as President Donald Trump signed a bipartisan funding bill, reopening federal agencies after 43 days of disruption that left workers unpaid, delayed services, and exposed deep partisan rifts in Washington. The measure, which cleared the House of Representatives earlier in the day by a 222–209 vote after passing the Senate on Monday, brings a temporary end to weeks of political stalemate. It funds major government departments through January 30 while providing guarantees for back pay to furloughed federal employees and shielding them from further…