Rajeev Sharma, Author at National Times

22 Jul

8th Pay Commission to Be Implemented from January 1, 2026; Salary Hike for Central Employees

Rajeev Sharma0 CommentsIndia8th Pay Commission, fitment factor, government employees, pension revision, Salary Hike

New Delhi, July 22, 2025: In a major announcement, the 8th Pay Commission will come into effect across India from January 1, 2026. Minister of State for Finance Pankaj Chaudhary confirmed this in a written reply to the Lok Sabha, marking a significant step toward enhancing the earnings of central government employees and pensioners.The new pay commission will revise salaries, pensions, and allowances for an estimated 50 lakh central government employees and around 65–68 lakh pensioners. The Finance Ministry has already initiated the process of collecting suggestions from ministries, departments, and state governments to assist in framing the recommendations. This…

22 Jul

Ontario Signs New Trade Deals with B.C. and Northern Territories to Boost Internal Commerce

Rajeev Sharma0 CommentsCanada, TrendingBritish Columbia, Canada, Ontario

Huntsville (Richa Walia): Ontario Premier Doug Ford signed new trade agreements on Monday with British Columbia and Canada’s three northern territories, aiming to strengthen interprovincial trade and improve labour mobility across the country. The two Memorandums of Understanding (MOUs), one with B.C., and another jointly with Yukon, Northwest Territories, and Nunavut, raise Ontario’s tally of trade agreements with provinces and territories to 10, reinforcing the province’s role as a national leader in fostering internal trade. “With global uncertainty and ongoing threats to our economy, there’s never been a more critical time to strengthen Canada from within,” said Premier Ford. “These…

22 Jul

Measles Cases in Alberta Surge Over the Weekend, Topping U.S. Total

Rajeev Sharma0 CommentsCanada, TrendingAlberta, Canada, measeles

Calgary (Rajeev Sharma): Alberta is witnessing a significant rise in measles cases, with 47 new infections reported over the weekend, bringing the province’s total confirmed cases to 1,454 as of July 20, surpassing the entire United States, which had recorded 1,309 cases by July 15. The outbreak remains concentrated in the south health zone, which includes Taber, Lethbridge, and Medicine Hat, with 844 cases, accounting for nearly 60% of the total. The north zone follows with 443 cases, and the central zone has reported 108. In contrast, Alberta's major cities continue to see fewer cases. Calgary has reported 43 confirmed…

22 Jul

Jagdeep Dhankhar Resignation as Vice President of India Accepted

Rajeev Sharma0 CommentsIndia, TrendingJagdeep Dhankhar Resignation as Vice President of India Accepted

New Delhi (National Times): In a significant political development, Shri Jagdeep Dhankhar has officially resigned from the post of Vice President of India. The resignation, effective immediately, was published via notification by the Ministry of Home Affairs on Monday, July 22. Citing health concerns and medical advice as the primary reason, Dhankhar submitted his resignation under Article 67(a) of the Indian Constitution, which allows for voluntary resignation from the office of Vice President. In his heartfelt resignation letter addressed to the Hon’ble President of India, Dhankhar wrote, “To prioritise health care and abide by medical advice, I hereby resign as…

21 Jul

$44 Million Vanishes in CoinDCX Hack; User Funds Safe, Says Company

Rajeev Sharma0 CommentsBusinessCoinDCX hack, cryptocurrency exchange, Solana-Ethereum bridge, Wormhole, ₹378 crore breach

National Times Bureau: In a significant blow to India’s crypto ecosystem, leading cryptocurrency exchange CoinDCX has reported a major security breach that led to the loss of approximately $44 million (around ₹378 crore). The platform clarified that the breach did not impact customer funds, which remain safe and accessible.The breach occurred on July 19, targeting an internal operational account used exclusively for providing liquidity on a partner exchange. CoinDCX, in an incident report released on Sunday, said the account was compromised through a "sophisticated server breach." The attacker gained unauthorized access to the liquidity infrastructure, allowing them to siphon off…

21 Jul

Massive Tree Removal in Stanley Park Enters Final Phase Amid Looper Moth Infestation

Rajeev Sharma0 CommentsCanadaStanley Park, tree removal, Vancouver Park Board, Western hemlock looper moth

Vancouver (Richa Walia) — The Vancouver Park Board is preparing to move forward with the final stage of a large-scale tree removal operation in Stanley Park, following years of ecological damage caused by a persistent Western hemlock looper moth infestation. The infestation, first identified in 2020, has severely impacted nearly one-third of the park's estimated 600,000 to 700,000 trees. So far, more than 11,000 trees have been removed since active mitigation work began in mid-2023.Officials say the removals are necessary to protect public safety. Many of the dead or dying trees pose a significant risk of falling and have heightened…

21 Jul

US House Passes $831 Billion Defence Bill with $500 Million Allocation for Taiwan Security

Rajeev Sharma0 CommentsWorld NewsMarjorie Taylor Greene, Taiwan Security Cooperation Initiative, US Defence Budget 2026, US-Taiwan Relations

Washington D.C, July 21: In a closely watched vote, the US House of Representatives on Friday passed the Department of Defence Appropriations Act, 2026, which includes a $500 million allocation to bolster Taiwan's military capabilities. The bill, totalling $831.5 billion in discretionary defence spending, was approved by a 221-209 vote, according to Focus Taiwan.The Taiwan-related funding is earmarked under the Taiwan Security Cooperation Initiative and will remain available until September 30, 2027. The initiative enables the US Secretary of Defence, in agreement with the Secretary of State, to support Taiwan in acquiring defence articles, services, and military training. The funds…

21 Jul

Why Urban Travelers Are Ditching Beaches for Forest Retreats

Rajeev Sharma0 CommentsLifestyleeco-tourism India, forest retreats, lifestyle journalism, mindful travel

A quiet revolution in travel is unfolding as young Indians seek mindful escapes over flashy getaways.National Times Bureau, July 21— A growing number of urban travelers are turning away from beach resorts and city tours in favor of forest retreats, mountain cabins, and digital detox destinations. Across India, a shift in vacation culture is becoming increasingly visible, with forest-based travel experiences seeing a notable surge up by over 40% in the past year, according to industry data.The trend is driven by a deeper longing for silence, nature, and self-connection. Vacationers are prioritizing simplicity and stillness over schedules and sightseeing. Mud…

21 Jul

Freestyle Chess Grand Slam: Aronian Wins Title, Arjun and Praggnanandhaa Finish Sixth and Seventh

Rajeev Sharma0 CommentsBusinessArjun Erigaisi, Freestyle Chess Grand Slam, Levon Aronian, Magnus Carlsen, R Praggnanandhaa

National Times Bureau, July 21, 2025: Grandmaster Levon Aronian of the United States claimed the Freestyle Chess Grand Slam title after a tense 1.5-0.5 win over compatriot Hans Moke Niemann in the finals. The American star pocketed $200,000 for his victory, capping off an intense competition that featured some of the world's top chess players.India's Arjun Erigaisi and R Praggnanandhaa, who had both impressed in earlier rounds, finished sixth and seventh respectively. Arjun suffered a 0-2 defeat to American GM Fabiano Caruana, while Praggnanandhaa beat Wesley So 1.5-0.5 to end his campaign on a high note. Arjun earned $40,000 for…

21 Jul

Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar Resigns Citing Health Reasons

Rajeev Sharma0 CommentsIndia, Politicshealth reasons, Jagdeep Dhankhar resigns, Vice President of India

New Delhi, July 21 2025: Vice President of India Jagdeep Dhankhar has tendered his resignation, citing health concerns and the need to follow medical advice. The announcement came on Thursday after he submitted his resignation letter to President Droupadi Murmu.In his formal communication, Dhankhar wrote, “To prioritise health care and abide by medical advice, I hereby resign as the Vice President of India, effective immediately, in accordance with Article 67(a) of the Constitution.”The sudden move marks the end of Dhankhar’s tenure before the completion of his term. He had assumed office as the 14th Vice President of India in August…