Rajeev Sharma, Author at National Times

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…

20 Oct

Toxic Smog Returns: Delhi’s Air Turns Hazardous in Pockets as Authorities Enforce Pollution Curbs

Rajeev Sharma0 CommentsIndia, TrendingDelhi

New Delhi (Rajeev Sharma): Delhi woke up to another grim morning on Monday as pollution levels continued to climb, pushing air quality into dangerous territory in several parts of the capital. The situation prompted officials to roll out stricter anti-pollution protocols under Stage II of the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP). Data from the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) placed the city’s average Air Quality Index (AQI) at 333 by morning — well within the ‘very poor’ category. However, localized monitoring stations revealed a much darker picture in some neighborhoods, where pollution spiked into the ‘severe’ bracket. At Anand Vihar,…

20 Oct

Fatal Crash as Cargo Jet Overshoots Runway at Hong Kong Airport

Rajeev Sharma0 CommentsTrending, World NewsHong Kong

Hong Kong (Rajeev Sharma): A cargo plane operated by a Turkish airline skidded off a runway at Hong Kong International Airport in the early hours of Monday, ending in tragedy as the aircraft slid into the surrounding waters and claimed two lives. The Boeing 747 freighter, arriving from Dubai and operated by ACT Airlines under a lease to Emirates, attempted to land at approximately 3:50 a.m. when the incident occurred. The jet failed to stop on the north runway and crashed into the sea beyond the airfield. Authorities confirmed that four members of the flight crew were rescued and taken…

20 Oct

Trump Warns India of Heavy Tariffs Over Continued Russian Oil Imports

Rajeev Sharma0 CommentsTrending, World News

WASHINGTON, D.C (Rajeev Sharma): The US President Donald Trump has issued a stark warning to India, saying trade penalties on Indian exports will remain unless the country halts its import of Russian crude oil. During an informal press briefing aboard his aircraft, Trump claimed Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi had given personal assurances that India would disengage from purchasing Russian energy. “Prime Minister Modi told me directly — they’re done with Russian oil,” Trump said. “But if that turns out not to be the case, India can expect to keep paying enormous tariffs. That’s their choice.” Trump did not provide…