Rajeev Sharma, Author at National Times

24 Jun

PM Mark Carney Pays Tribute to Victims on National Day of Remembrance for Terrorism

Rajeev Sharma0 CommentsCanadaCanada, Mark Carney

Ottawa (National Times): Prime Minister Mark Carney issued a solemn statement on the National Day of Remembrance for Victims of Terrorism, paying tribute to the lives lost in the 1985 Air India bombing and reaffirming Canada’s commitment to combating terrorism and violent extremism. “Forty years ago, innocent civilians, including 268 Canadians, were killed in the bombing of Air India Flight 182,” said Prime Minister Carney. “This terrorist attack remains the deadliest in our country’s history — one we must never forget.” The bombing of Air India Flight 182, which occurred on June 23, 1985, off the coast of Ireland, remains…

23 Jun

Iran Launches ‘Basharat al-Fath’ Missile Attack on U.S. Bases in Qatar, Regional Tensions Soar

Rajeev Sharma0 CommentsWorld NewsAl-Udeid base, Basharat al-Fath, Iran missile strike, U.S. Central Command

Doha/Baghdad, June 23, 2025 — In a dramatic escalation of Middle East tensions, Iran launched a barrage of ballistic missiles late Sunday night targeting U.S. military installations in Qatar and Iraq. The coordinated offensive, dubbed “Basharat al-Fath” (Tidings of Victory), has set off alarms across Western diplomatic circles and significantly heightened fears of a broader regional conflict.The centerpiece of the strike was the Al-Udeid Air Base near Doha, Qatar the largest U.S. military base in the region and the forward headquarters of the U.S. Central Command. Explosions were heard in the Qatari capital as missile defense systems intercepted several incoming…

23 Jun

Canada Halts Deportations to Israel Amid Escalating Middle East Conflict

Rajeev Sharma0 CommentsCanadaCanada deportations Israel, CBSA ADR, Israel-Iran conflict

Ottawa, June 23, 2025 — The Canadian government has officially paused all removals and deportations to Israel due to the rapidly deteriorating security situation in the region stemming from the ongoing Israel-Iran conflict.The Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) announced that an Administrative Deferral of Removals (ADR) is now in place for individuals subject to enforcement orders involving travel to Israel. The ADR policy is activated when civilians in a destination face generalized risk from armed conflict or environmental disaster, ensuring no deportation takes place until conditions improve.The CBSA clarified that the temporary deferral does not apply to individuals deemed inadmissible…

23 Jun

DGCA Begins Intensive Audit of Air India’s Gurugram Headquarters Amid Safety Concerns

Rajeev Sharma0 CommentsIndiaAir India Gurugram HQ, aviation safety, DGCA audit Air India

Gurugram, June 23, 2025 – In a move signaling heightened regulatory scrutiny, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has launched a comprehensive audit of Air India’s main base in Gurugram. The intensified inspection began on June 24 and will continue through June 26, with a special eight-member team assigned—significantly larger than the usual three-member crew.Although the audit had been scheduled before the tragic crash of AI171 in Ahmedabad on June 12, the incident has added urgency to the review process. Officials said the DGCA will examine all critical operational aspects including flight planning, rostering practices, airworthiness checks, crew scheduling,…

23 Jun

Arvind Kejriwal made it clear that he is not going for Rajya Sabha

Rajeev Sharma0 CommentsIndiaAAP, Arvind kejrival, Gujarat Elections

National Times Bureau (Rajeev Sharma): AAP clinches victory in Visavadar (Gujarat) and Ludhiana West (Punjab) by-elections, party's national convener Arvind Kejriwal says, "In February elections, we won Visavadar seat but our MLA left the party and joined the BJP... But today, we have won both the seats (including Ludhiana West) with a double margin. We won Ludhiana West as well, and it shows that people are happy with our work. It is said that it's always the ruling party that wins the by-elections, but in Gujarat it is the BJP which is in power and it has also hold on…

23 Jun

Carney, Trump Discuss Middle East De-escalation, NATO, and Trade Progress

Rajeev Sharma0 CommentsCanadaCanada-US relations, Donald Trump, Mark Carney, NATO summit 2025

Ottawa/Washington, June 23, 2025:Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney has confirmed a high-level conversation with U.S. President Donald Trump, focusing on key global and bilateral issues, including the escalating crisis in the Middle East, NATO cooperation, and trade negotiations between the two countries.In a post shared online, Carney stated that the two leaders spoke overnight to address urgent developments. The primary agenda was to coordinate steps for de-escalating the conflict in the Middle East, which has seen heightened tensions following recent U.S. military action and diplomatic fallout involving Iran.Carney also emphasized Canada and the United States' mutual commitment to strengthening NATO…

23 Jun

Asia Warming Nearly Twice as Fast as Global Average, Warns UN Climate Body

Rajeev Sharma0 CommentsWorld NewsAsia Climate Change, Sea Level Rise Asia, WMO Climate Report

New Delhi, June 23, 2025 – Asia is heating up nearly twice as fast as the global average, placing the region at the center of escalating climate risks, the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) warned in its newly released “State of the Climate in Asia 2024” report. The findings underscore that 2024 was among the warmest years on record for the continent, with widespread and prolonged heatwaves devastating ecosystems and economies alike.According to the report, the warming trend from 1991 to 2024 was nearly double that of the 1961–1990 period. The WMO highlighted alarming changes in sea surface temperatures, which reached…

23 Jun

Gopal Italia Clinches Victory for AAP in Gujarat’s Visavadar Bypoll

Rajeev Sharma0 CommentsIndia, Politics, TrendingAAP, Gopal Italia, Gujarat, Visavadar

Ahmedabad (National Times): Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) secured a major win in Gujarat as its candidate Gopal Italia emerged victorious in the Visavadar Assembly bypoll, defeating BJP’s Kirit Patel by a significant margin. Italia garnered 65,295 votes compared to Patel’s 51,222 after 18 rounds of counting, according to data released by the Election Commission. This win marks a significant political moment for AAP in Gujarat, especially after its recent struggles in Delhi. Visavadar, located in Junagadh district, saw a voter turnout of 56.89% in the June 19 by-election. The seat had fallen vacant in December 2023 following the resignation of…

23 Jun

US Urges China to Prevent Iran from Shutting Down Strait of Hormuz Amid Soaring Tensions

Rajeev Sharma0 CommentsTrending, World NewsAmerica, China, Donald Trump, Iran, Israel

Washington/Beijing (National Times): Amid escalating Middle East tensions, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio has urged China to intervene diplomatically and stop Iran from potentially closing the Strait of Hormuz, a vital chokepoint for global oil shipments. Rubio’s appeal comes in response to reports from Iran's state-run Press TV, which stated that the Iranian parliament had approved a proposal to shut the Strait. However, the final decision rests with Iran’s Supreme National Security Council. The Strait, a narrow waterway between the Persian Gulf and the Gulf of Oman, facilitates the passage of nearly 20% of the global oil supply. Speaking…

22 Jun

‘Economic Suicide’: Marco Rubio Warns Iran Against Closing Strait of Hormuz Amid Escalating Tensions

Rajeev Sharma0 CommentsWorld NewsIran nuclear crisis, Marco Rubio, Strait of Hormuz, US-Iran tensions

Washington, June 22, 2025 — U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio has issued a stern warning to Iran against any move to close the Strait of Hormuz, calling it an act of “economic suicide” that could spark a dangerous global crisis. The remarks came amid rising geopolitical tensions following coordinated American and Israeli strikes on Iran’s nuclear facilities.Speaking to media on Sunday, Rubio emphasized the strategic importance of the Strait of Hormuz, a key maritime route that facilitates nearly 25% of the world’s oil supply. “If Iran attempts to shut down this vital artery, they won’t just be harming the…