Rajeev Sharma, Author at National Times

02 Aug

Donald Trump Reacts to India-Russia Oil Reports After Announcing Tariffs on India

Rajeev Sharma0 CommentsTrending, World NewsDonald Trump

Washington, D.C. (Rajeev Sharma): U.S. President Donald Trump on Friday addressed reports that India may stop purchasing oil from Russia, calling it “a good step,” but noted that he was still awaiting confirmation. His comments came shortly after the United States imposed a 25 percent tariff and penalty on India, escalating trade tensions between the two nations. “I understand that India is no longer going to be buying oil from Russia. That’s what I heard, I don’t know if that’s right or not,” Trump said while speaking to reporters. “That is a good step. We will see what happens…” he…

01 Aug

B.C. Wildfires Double Overnight as Lightning Storms Ignite Emergency Response

Rajeev Sharma0 CommentsCanadaB.C. wildfires 2025, Cantilever Bar fire, lightning strikes Canada, Wesley Ridge fire

British Columbia, Aug 1, 2025 (Richa Walia) — British Columbia is in the grip of a surging wildfire crisis as the number of active fires doubled from 60 to 120 within just 24 hours, fuelled by more than 13,000 lightning strikes, according to the B.C. Wildfire Service (BCWS). Authorities warn more lightning could further escalate the situation.The fires, spread across various regions, have prompted evacuation orders and alerts, threatened communities, and stretched firefighting resources. Several of the major fires are believed to be human-caused, intensifying calls for public caution and accountability.Wesley Ridge Fire (Vancouver Island)The most concerning blaze is the…

01 Aug

Vice Presidential Election Announced: Polling Scheduled for September 9

Rajeev Sharma0 CommentsIndiaBJP, Election Commission, INDIA bloc, Jagdeep Dhankhar, Vice President election 2025

New Delhi, Aug 1, 2025 — The Election Commission on Friday announced the schedule for the election to the post of Vice President of India, marking the beginning of the race for the nation’s second-highest constitutional office. The process formally begins with the notification of the election on August 7.According to the schedule, nomination papers can be filed until August 21, with scrutiny taking place on August 22. Candidates will be allowed to withdraw nominations by August 25. If the contest sees more than one candidate, polling will be conducted on September 9, with the results declared the same day.The…

01 Aug

Trump Imposes Sweeping New Tariffs on 70 Countries, Citing Trade Emergency Powers

Rajeev Sharma0 CommentsWorld NewsDonald Trump, emergency powers, Trump tariffs 2025, U.S. trade policy

Washington, August 1, 2025 — In a sweeping escalation of U.S. trade policy, President Donald Trump has imposed new tariffs of up to 41% on imports from 70 countries, invoking emergency powers to justify the broad economic move. The tariffs, announced ahead of a self-imposed August 1 deadline, will officially take effect on August 7.The White House said the new levies aim to curb persistent trade deficits and promote domestic manufacturing. Trump declared the action a “necessary correction” to decades of what he termed unfair trade practices. "We’re no longer going to let other nations take advantage of American workers,"…

01 Aug

Passenger Declared ‘Unruly’ After Slapping Man Suffering Panic Attack on IndiGo Flight

Rajeev Sharma0 CommentsIndiaaviation misconduct, IndiGo flight 6E-138, mental health awareness, panic attack mid-flight, unruly passenger

Kolkata, August 1, 2025 — A troubling incident aboard IndiGo flight 6E-138 from Mumbai to Kolkata has sparked outrage after a passenger was de-boarded and officially declared "unruly" for slapping a fellow traveller who appeared to be experiencing a panic attack mid-air.The incident occurred Friday evening and was partially captured on video by another passenger. According to eyewitnesses, the man who was assaulted was visibly distressed and showing signs of a panic episode during the flight. As the cabin crew attempted to assist him, another passenger suddenly stood up and slapped the man, aggravating the situation rather than helping.Video footage…

01 Aug

New UPI Rules from August 1: Limits on Balance Checks, Auto Payments, and Enhanced Security

Rajeev Sharma0 CommentsBusinessautopay schedule, bank balance check limit, NPCI, UPI fraud prevention, UPI rules August 2025

New Delhi, August 1, 2025 — The National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) will roll out a fresh set of Unified Payments Interface (UPI) rules starting Friday, August 1, in a move aimed at improving system performance, enhancing user experience, and curbing fraudulent transactions. These updates will be applicable across all leading UPI platforms, including Google Pay, PhonePe, and Paytm.Under the revised framework, UPI users will be allowed to check their bank balance only up to 50 times a day. In addition, available balance details will now appear with each transaction, eliminating the need for frequent balance inquiries. During high…

01 Aug

India Champions Pull Out of WCL Semifinal Against Pakistan Amid Tensions Post Pahalgam Attack

Rajeev Sharma0 CommentsSports, TrendingIndia Champions, Shahid Afridi, World Championship of Legends 2025, Yuvraj Singh

New Delhi, August 1, 2025 — In a dramatic turn of events at the World Championship of Legends (WCL) 2025, the India Champions, led by Yuvraj Singh, withdrew from their scheduled semifinal clash against Shahid Afridi’s Pakistan Champions. The move came in protest against the recent Pahalgam terrorist attack and rising political tensions between India and Pakistan.The decision was consistent with the Indian team's earlier position during the league stage, where they had refused to engage with Pakistan on the cricket field. By standing firm again, they made it clear that there would be no cricketing ties amid such national…

01 Aug

Shah Rukh Khan Bags First National Award, Shares Best Actor Honour with Vikrant Massey

Rajeev Sharma0 CommentsEntertainment12th Fail, Atlee, Best Actor, Jawan, National Award, Shah Rukh Khan, Vikrant Massey

New Delhi, August 1, 2025 — In a landmark moment for Indian cinema, Shah Rukh Khan has won his first-ever National Film Award, marking a major milestone in his decades-long career. The Bollywood icon received the Best Actor award for his gripping performance in Atlee’s action-packed blockbuster Jawan. He shares the honour with Vikrant Massey, who was awarded for his moving role in 12th Fail, directed by Vidhu Vinod Chopra.The announcement was made during a press briefing at the National Media Centre in New Delhi, where the winners of the 71st National Film Awards were officially revealed. Social media erupted…

01 Aug

India Clarifies Stand on Defence, Energy, and Global Partnerships: MEA

Rajeev Sharma0 CommentsIndiaIndia foreign policy, India Russia Relations Update, MEA, Nimisha Priya case, Top news

National times bureau :- The Ministry of External Affairs has said that India’s defence decisions are based purely on national security needs and strategic assessments. On energy, India chooses sources based on market options and global conditions. Responding to questions on India-Russia ties, MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said India maintains strong, independent relations with all countries, including Russia, based on mutual interests. On India-US ties, he highlighted the deep strategic partnership rooted in shared democratic values. He added that despite global challenges, the India-US relationship is growing stronger, especially in defence under the India-US COMPACT for the 21st century. Regarding…

01 Aug

PM Modi to Visit Varanasi on August 2, Launch Projects Worth Rs 2,200 Crore

Rajeev Sharma0 CommentsIndia, TrendingNarendra Modi, PM Narendra Modi, Varanasi

Varanasi (Rajeev Sharma): Prime Minister Narendra Modi will visit his parliamentary constituency, Varanasi, on August 2 to inaugurate and lay the foundation stone for a series of development projects worth approximately Rs 2,200 crore. The Prime Minister will also address a public gathering during his visit. The projects span across crucial sectors such as infrastructure, education, healthcare, tourism, urban development, and cultural heritage. The initiatives aim to ensure holistic urban transformation, improved connectivity, cultural rejuvenation, and a better quality of life for residents. Key Infrastructure Projects As part of his commitment to boosting road connectivity, PM Modi will inaugurate the…