Rajeev Sharma, Author at National Times

28 Jun

Security Guard Arrested in Kolkata Law Student Gang-Rape Case

Rajeev Sharma0 CommentsIndiacollege security guard, Kolkata gang-rape, law student, Sexual Assault

Kolkata, June 28, 2025 — Police have arrested a college security guard in connection with the alleged gang-rape of a 24-year-old law student on a Kolkata campus.According to initial reports, the woman had visited the college to fill out a form for a test but was allegedly forced to stay back in the union room even after completing her paperwork. It was inside this room that the sexual assault reportedly took place.Investigators said the arrested security guard is being questioned to determine the involvement of others. No further details about additional suspects have been released so far.Senior police officials confirmed…

28 Jun

Gujarat CM Inaugurates National Senior Women’s Handball Championship in Bhuj

Rajeev Sharma0 CommentsSportsBhuj, Gujarat, National Senior Women’s Handball Championship

Bhuj, June 28, 2025 — Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel inaugurated the 51st National Senior Women’s Handball Championship at the Lallubhai Samani Indoor Stadium in Bhuj on Saturday, marking a significant boost for women’s sports in the state.Organised under the aegis of the Handball Federation of India (HFI), the championship has brought together 32 teams from across the country, who will compete over the next several days for the national title.In his address, CM Patel emphasized the Gujarat government’s commitment to promoting sports and providing robust infrastructure for athletes. He expressed confidence that the event would not only showcase top-level…

28 Jun

PM Modi Interacts With IAF’s Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla Aboard ISS in Historic First for India

Rajeev Sharma0 CommentsIndiaPM Modi, Shubhanshu Shukla

New Delhi (National Times): Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday made history by holding a live video interaction with Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla, the first Indian Air Force officer and Indian national to be stationed aboard the International Space Station (ISS). Group Captain Shukla, part of the Axiom-4 mission, became the first Indian to ever step onto the ISS, a moment hailed by PM Modi as “a proud chapter in India’s space journey.” During their interaction, PM Modi lauded the officer’s courage and achievements, saying, “Group Captain Shukla, you have taken the tricolor into a new orbit — literally. Your…

28 Jun

Neighbourhood specialist, spy craft master Parag Jain appointed new RAW chief

Rajeev Sharma0 CommentsIndia, TrendingParag Jain

New Delhi (National Times): Parag Jain, one of the brains behind the meticulous planning of 'Operation Sindoor', has been appointed as the new Chief of the Research and Analysis Wing (RAW), according to an official order issued here on Saturday.The two-year tenure of Jain, an Indian Police Service (IPS) officer from the 1989 batch of the Punjab cadre, officially begins on July 1. He takes over from Ravi Sinha, who retires on June 30."The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet has approved the appointment of Shri Parag Jain, IPS to the post of Secretary, Research & Analysis Wing (R&AW) under Cabinet…

28 Jun

Prada Admits Indian Inspiration Behind Sandal Design After Kolhapuri Chappal Row

Rajeev Sharma0 CommentsIndia, Trendingcultural appropriation, Kolhapuri chappals, Maharashtra artisans, Prada

Mumbai, June 29, 2025 — Italian luxury fashion giant Prada has acknowledged that its men’s sandals showcased in the brand’s 2026 fashion show were “inspired” by traditional Indian handcrafted footwear, following a backlash in India over the use of designs resembling Kolhapuri chappals without credit.Prada’s statement comes after the Maharashtra Chamber of Commerce, Industry and Agriculture (MACCIA) raised concerns about the fashion house’s depiction of the sandals simply as “leather sandals,” omitting any reference to their Indian roots. The omission sparked outrage among India’s fashion community and artisans in western Maharashtra, who accused Prada of cultural appropriation.“Kolhapuri Chappals represent centuries-old…

28 Jun

India’s Athletics Body Shocked as Star Runner Twinkle Chaudhary Faces Doping Ban

Rajeev Sharma0 CommentsSportsAthletics Federation of India, doping scandal, methyltestosterone, Twinkle Chaudhary

New Delhi, June 28, 2025 — Indian athletics has been rocked by another doping scandal after Twinkle Chaudhary, one of the country’s top middle-distance runners, was provisionally suspended for testing positive for a banned substance.The Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU) served Chaudhary with a notice on Friday following tests that detected methyltestosterone in her samples. Chaudhary recently clocked a personal best of 2:00.71 in the 800m at the Federation Championships, marking the fourth-best timing ever recorded by an Indian woman in the event.The news broke while Athletics Federation of India (AFI) officials were engaged in discussions with stakeholders—including the Police, Army,…

28 Jun

Iran Says US Strikes Complicate Possible Nuclear Talks, As Trump Mulls New Action

Rajeev Sharma0 CommentsWorld NewsDonald Trump Iran policy, Iran nuclear talks, US Iran tensions

Tehran/Washington, June 28, 2025 — Iran’s foreign minister has acknowledged that the possibility of renewed negotiations with the United States over Tehran’s nuclear programme has become “complicated” following recent American airstrikes that inflicted “serious damage” on three sites.Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, speaking amid escalating regional tensions, said his country remains open to dialogue but cautioned that fresh talks are unlikely in the near future.The comments follow U.S. strikes on Iranian sites, which have further strained relations between the two nations. The U.S. was a party to the 2015 nuclear deal that placed limits on Iran’s uranium enrichment in exchange for…

28 Jun

British Columbia Releases 2024 Provincial Nominee Program Report: 8,000 Nominations Issued

Rajeev Sharma0 CommentsCanada, TrendingCanada

Vancouver (Richa Walia): The Government of British Columbia has published its annual report for the 2024 Provincial Nominee Program (BC PNP), offering detailed insights into how the province allocated its 8,000 nominations for permanent residence, the occupations of selected candidates, median salaries, and country of origin data. According to the report, British Columbia utilized the entirety of its federal nomination allocation for the year. Of the 8,000 nominations, a significant 99% (7,972 nominations) were made through the Skills Immigration (SI) stream, targeted toward workers with the qualifications and experience needed to support B.C.’s economic priorities. The remaining 28 nominations were…

28 Jun

Iran-Israel War Sends Shockwaves Through Pakistan’s Balochistan Border

Rajeev Sharma0 CommentsWorld NewsIran, Israel, Pakistan

Quetta (National Times): As the dust settles on the Iran-Israel conflict following a ceasefire agreement, the fallout continues to ripple across Pakistan’s southwestern province of Balochistan, which shares a 900-kilometer border with Iran. While Pakistan’s National Security Committee (NSC) met on June 23 to assess the strategic implications of the war, the human cost is unfolding in real-time for communities living along the border. Home to a population that straddles both sides of the frontier, the Baloch region is facing a crisis of livelihood and essential supplies. Border crossings at key transit points such as Gwadar, Kech, Panjgur, and Washuk…

28 Jun

55 Canadians have been detained by ICE: Anita Anand

Rajeev Sharma0 CommentsCanadaAnita Anand, Canada

Canada (National Times Bureau): Approximately 55 Canadians have been detained by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), Foreign Affairs Minister Anita Anand states, our work is to ensure that they’re being treated fairly, and that’s the advocacy that consular officials from Global Affairs Canada do every day, not only in the United States, but around the world.ICE operations have been under increased public scrutiny since Stephen Miller, White House deputy chief of staff, said ICE officers would target at least 3,000 arrests a day, up from about 650 a day during the first five months of Trump’s second term. ICE…