Rajeev Sharma, Author at National Times

01 Oct

RBI Maintains Repo Rate at 5.5%, Revises Growth and Inflation Estimates

Rajeev Sharma0 CommentsBusiness, India, Trending

NEW DELHI (RAJEEV SHARMA): The Reserve Bank of India announced on Wednesday that it will keep the repo rate steady at 5.5 percent, reflecting a balanced view of current economic conditions both within the country and globally. The decision came after the Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) convened for its three-day meeting. RBI Governor Sanjay Malhotra confirmed that the MPC members were unanimous in their choice to hold the key policy rate unchanged. The central bank’s stance remains neutral, indicating flexibility to adjust interest rates if economic developments warrant it. The repo rate serves as the benchmark rate for lending by…

01 Oct

Trump Says Denying Him Nobel Prize Would Shame the Nation

Rajeev Sharma0 CommentsTrending, World News

QUANTICO, VA (Rajeev Sharma): US President Donald Trump has asserted that failing to award him the Nobel Peace Prize would be a national embarrassment, citing what he described as his unmatched record in resolving global conflicts, including a new initiative to bring an end to the war in Gaza. Addressing military officials at a gathering in Quantico on Tuesday, Trump claimed that his efforts have led to the resolution of seven international disputes and that his recently announced Gaza peace plan could soon mark an eighth. “I think we’ve figured it out. Hamas just needs to agree — and if…

01 Oct

Congress Chief Mallikarjun Kharge Under Observation at Bengaluru Hospital

Rajeev Sharma0 CommentsHealth, Politics, Trending

BENGALURU (Rajeev Sharma): Senior Congress leader and party president Mallikarjun Kharge has been admitted to MS Ramaiah Hospital after developing a fever and experiencing leg discomfort, party insiders revealed on Wednesday. The 83-year-old leader was taken to the hospital on Tuesday evening for medical evaluation. Doctors are currently monitoring his condition, which sources say is stable and not alarming. “He is doing fine. There’s no serious issue. It was a routine decision to have him checked after he complained of fever and leg pain,” said a Congress functionary close to the developments. Medical staff are continuing treatment and observation as…

01 Oct

Indonesia School Collapse: 91 Students Still Missing as Rescue Efforts Continue in Sidoarjo

Rajeev Sharma0 CommentsTrending, World NewsIndonesia

SIDOARJO (Rajeev Sharma): Emergency crews in East Java are in a tense race against time as at least 91 students remain unaccounted for following the collapse of a school building in Sidoarjo earlier this week. The tragedy occurred at Al Khojini Islamic Boarding School during afternoon prayers on Monday, when a section of the nearly 100-year-old building gave way, burying dozens of students under debris. Officials say unauthorized renovation work was being carried out at the time of the collapse. Rescue teams, including personnel from the military, police, and disaster management agency, have been working non-stop since Monday to sift…

30 Sep

Modi Government Stands With Punjab: Full Support for Flood Relief and Restoration, says Union Home Minister Amit Shah

Rajeev Sharma0 CommentsIndia, PunjabAmit Shah, disaster relief, Modi government, NDRF, Punjab floods, SDRF

New Delhi, September 30, 2025: Union Home Minister and Minister of Cooperation Shri Amit Shah on Tuesday assured that the Modi government is fully committed to supporting the people of Punjab affected by recent floods.The Chief Minister of Punjab, Shri Bhagwant Mann, met Shri Shah in New Delhi to discuss the extent of damage caused during the monsoon season and requested additional funds for relief and restoration efforts. During the meeting, the Chief Minister was informed that the State Disaster Response Fund (SDRF) holds Rs 12,589.59 crore, which can be utilized immediately for relief measures as per Government of India…

30 Sep

Bihar Publishes Final Electoral Roll Ahead of Assembly Polls Amid Controversy

Rajeev Sharma0 CommentsIndiaBihar Assembly Elections, Bihar final electoral roll 2025, Special Intensive Revision

Patna, September 30, 2025: The Election Commission of India (ECI) on Tuesday released the final electoral roll for Bihar, incorporating all claims and objections raised during the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of voters' lists. The announcement was made by Bihar’s Chief Electoral Officer through an official Facebook post, directing citizens to check their names at voters.eci.gov.in.The final roll comes ahead of the likely announcement of the Bihar assembly elections and follows a mammoth SIR exercise intended for nationwide implementation in due course. The draft voters’ list had previously recorded 7.24 crore voters after approximately 65 lakh names were deleted as…

30 Sep

ED Questions Urvashi Rautela in Money Laundering Probe Linked to 1xBet Betting Platform

Rajeev Sharma0 CommentsEntertainment, India1xBet money laundering case, online betting investigation India, Urvashi Rautela ED questioning

Mumbai, September 30, 2025: Bollywood actor and model Urvashi Rautela appeared before the Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Tuesday in connection with a money laundering investigation tied to online betting platform 1xBet. Officials confirmed that her statement was recorded under provisions of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA).Rautela, who earlier served as a brand ambassador for the platform, had been summoned this month as part of the agency’s broader crackdown on illegal betting operations. The platform, reportedly headquartered in Curacao, is alleged to have engaged in surrogate advertising and illicit fund transfers.The investigation has widened in recent weeks to include…

30 Sep

Canada Applauds Trump’s Middle East Peace Plan; PM Carney Commits to Humanitarian Support for Gaza

Rajeev Sharma0 CommentsCanada, TrendingCanada, Mark Carney

Ottawa (Rajeev Sharma): In a significant diplomatic endorsement, Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney on Monday welcomed U.S. President Donald Trump's newly unveiled Middle East peace initiative, calling it a "historic" step toward resolving the Gaza conflict. Taking to social media platform X (formerly Twitter), Carney expressed Canada’s strong support for the peace framework and urged all stakeholders in the region to embrace the opportunity for lasting peace. “Canada welcomes President Trump's historic new Middle East peace plan, and we urge all parties to help it realise its full potential,” Carney wrote. “As the critical next step, Hamas must immediately release…

30 Sep

Delhi Airport on Alert After Bomb Threat on IndiGo Flight From Mumbai

Rajeev Sharma0 CommentsIndia, TrendingDelhi, IndiGo

New Delhi (Rajeev Sharma): A high alert was declared at Delhi’s Indira Gandhi International Airport on Tuesday morning after an IndiGo flight from Mumbai received a bomb threat mid-air. The aircraft, operating as flight 6E 762, landed safely with around 200 passengers on board, officials confirmed. The threat was reported while the Airbus A321neo was en route to Delhi. Following standard emergency protocols, a full emergency was declared at the airport before the plane's arrival. The aircraft touched down without incident at approximately 7:53 AM and was directed to a remote bay for inspection. Security agencies and bomb disposal teams…

30 Sep

B.C. First Nations Seek Meeting with PM Carney to Discuss Salmon Protection and Open-Net Farm Ban

Rajeev Sharma0 CommentsCanada, TrendingBritish Columbia

British Columbia (Rajeev Sharma): British Columbia’s First Nations are urging Prime Minister Mark Carney to meet with them to address the urgent need to protect and restore wild salmon populations. Bob Chamberlin, chair of the First Nations Wild Salmon Alliance—a coalition representing over 120 First Nations—called for a collaborative, Indigenous-led plan to safeguard wild salmon, similar in approach to the joint land-use strategy employed for the Great Bear Rainforest. “We invite Prime Minister Carney to visit British Columbia to engage with us on a comprehensive initiative to rehabilitate and rebuild wild salmon populations as part of a nation-building effort,” Chamberlin…