Rajeev Sharma, Author at National Times

21 Jun

Tragedy in Brazil: 8 Dead, 13 Injured After Hot Air Balloon Catches Fire and Crashes

Rajeev Sharma0 CommentsWorld NewsBalloon Accident Brazil, Brazil Hot Air Balloon Crash, Santa Catarina Balloon Fire

Santa Catarina (Brazil) – At least eight people lost their lives and thirteen others were seriously injured after a hot air balloon caught fire mid-air and plummeted to the ground in Brazil’s southern state of Santa Catarina on Friday morning.The tragic incident occurred near the municipality of Pindamonhangaba during what was reportedly a private ballooning event. Eyewitnesses described scenes of panic as the balloon burst into flames shortly after takeoff, sending passengers screaming before it crashed into a nearby field.Emergency services rushed to the scene, but officials confirmed that six people died on the spot while two others succumbed to…

21 Jun

Canada Passes Fast-Track Infrastructure Bill with Cross-Party Backing Amid U.S. Trade Tensions

Rajeev Sharma0 CommentsCanadaBill C-5 Canada, Indigenous consent, Mark Carney infrastructure law

Ottawa (Rajeev Sharma)– In a significant bipartisan move, the House of Commons passed Canada’s Major Projects Legislation (Bill C‑5) late Friday evening with support from both the ruling Liberals and the opposition Conservatives. The bill is intended to fast-track critical infrastructure and resource projects while also eliminating key interprovincial trade barriers, amid increasing U.S. protectionism and tariffs.Prime Minister Mark Carney welcomed the development, calling the bill “essential for national economic resilience.” It grants the federal cabinet expanded powers to override existing legislative obstacles to approve large-scale energy, mining, and transport initiatives deemed vital to the national interest. The urgency of…

21 Jun

Community Organizations U Turn & First Step Together Society Come Forward to Support Refugee Groups in Calgary

Rajeev Sharma0 CommentsCanadaCalgary, First Step Together, Support Refugee Groups, U Turn

Calgary (Rajeev Sharma): U Turn (Jay Chowdhary) and First Step Together Society (Anita and Savita) are making tireless efforts to empower refugees to utilize their skills for Canada's benefit. A meeting was held at the Genesis Centre with representatives from Ukraine and Afghanistan refugee groups, where valuable information was shared and common challenges faced by refugee families were discussed. An Afghan representative noted that over 3,000 Afghan refugee families reside in Calgary, with approximately 5,000 more across Alberta, emphasizing the urgent need for targeted programs. Afghan refugees in Calgary face numerous challenges while rebuilding their lives, particularly women who struggle…

21 Jun

Neeraj Chopra Clinches First Diamond League Title in Two Years, Beats Weber in Javelin Showdown

Rajeev Sharma0 CommentsSportsDiamond League 2025, Javelin throw, Julian Weber, Neeraj Chopra

Paris, June 21, 2025 — Olympic gold medallist Neeraj Chopra delivered a stellar performance on Friday night, winning the Diamond League meet in Paris and claiming his first title on the circuit in two years. The 26-year-old Indian javelin star outclassed reigning world champion Julian Weber of Germany in a high-stakes contest that kept fans on edge till the final throw. Chopra's winning effort came in the fifth round, registering a throw of 88.45 metres his season's best so far. Weber, who had taken the lead early on with an 86.37-metre throw, could not better his mark in the remaining…

21 Jun

Iran’s Ayatollah Khamenei Shortlists Successors Amid Escalating Tensions with Israel

Rajeev Sharma0 CommentsIndiaAyatollah Khamenei successor, Iran leadership transition, Iran-Israel conflict, Mojtaba Khamenei excluded

Tehran, June 21, 2025 — As Iran faces intensifying hostilities with Israel, Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has reportedly begun formal internal deliberations over his possible successor, a move seen as both strategic and symbolic amid the current geopolitical crisis.According to recent intelligence and regional reports, Khamenei has privately identified several clerics and political figures as potential candidates to succeed him as Iran’s supreme authority. Notably, his son Mojtaba Khamenei long speculated to be groomed for the role does not appear to be among the shortlisted names, indicating a potential shift in the power dynamic within Iran’s religious and political…

21 Jun

Odisha Flash Flood Displaces Over 50,000 as Subarnarekha River Swells

Rajeev Sharma0 CommentsIndiaBalasore flooding, Odisha flash flood, Subarnarekha River swelling

Balasore (Odisha), June 21, 2025 — More than 50,000 residents in Odisha’s Balasore district have been affected by flash floods after the Subarnarekha River breached danger levels on Friday, inundating at least 17 panchayats across Bhograi, Baliapal, Basta, and Jaleswar regions.Officials linked the sudden flooding to heavy rainfall upstream and a sharp water release from Jharkhand’s Chandil Dam. Water levels at the Rajghat station reached a critical 11.9 metres, significantly above the danger mark of 10.36 metres, although the level has now begun to recede.Collector Suryawanshi Mayur Vikas directed an immediate response, deploying block officers and tehsildars to oversee relief…

21 Jun

Trump Laments Lack of Nobel Recognition Despite Role in Global Peace Efforts

Rajeev Sharma0 CommentsWorld NewsIndia-Pakistan ceasefire, Israel-Iran conflict, Trump Nobel Peace Prize

Washington, June 21, 2025 — U.S. President Donald Trump has once again expressed disappointment over being overlooked for the Nobel Peace Prize, even as he took credit for helping de-escalate some of the world’s most dangerous conflicts.In a post on his platform, Truth Social, Trump wrote, “I won’t get a Nobel Peace Prize for this, I won’t get it for stopping the war between India and Pakistan, or my efforts in the Russia-Ukraine and Israel-Iran conflicts.” He added that even his administration’s role in brokering peace between Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of Congo is unlikely to earn him the…

21 Jun

From Stage to Statesmanship: PM Modi Follows Diljit Dosanjh on X, Internet Reacts

Rajeev Sharma0 CommentsEntertainment, IndiaDiljit Dosanjh, Narendra Modi

Mumbai/New Delhi (National Times): In a move that has delighted fans and created waves online, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has officially followed singer-actor Diljit Dosanjh on the microblogging site X. Their meeting earlier this year had already drawn attention, with images of PM Modi and Diljit sharing a light moment making the rounds on social media. Now, with this digital acknowledgment, speculation is rife about the growing bond between India's political leadership and its entertainment icons. Diljit Dosanjh, who has amassed a global following thanks to his music, Bollywood hits, and recent Hollywood appearances, remains one of Punjab's most influential…

21 Jun

India’s Evacuation Mission in Iran Now Covers Nepalese and Sri Lankans Amid Escalating Conflict

Rajeev Sharma0 CommentsIndia, Trending, World NewsIndia, Iran

Tehran/New Delhi (National Times): As part of its expanding humanitarian mission in Iran, India has decided to evacuate citizens of Nepal and Sri Lanka alongside its own nationals under the ongoing Operation Sindhu. This move comes after formal appeals from both South Asian countries and reflects India's growing role as a regional stabilizer. In the early hours of Saturday, a special Air India flight from Ashgabat, staging ground for the operation, landed in New Delhi at 3:00 AM, bringing home more evacuees. With this, the total number of Indians repatriated from Iran has reached 517. The Indian Embassy in Tehran…

21 Jun

Donald Trump Claims Peace Deal Between Rwanda and Congo; Rails Against Nobel Snub

Rajeev Sharma0 CommentsWorld NewsDonald Trump

New York (National Times): In a dramatic social media post, former President Donald Trump claimed credit for brokering a landmark peace agreement between Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of the Congo, two nations locked in decades of bloody conflict. The treaty, which he said will be signed in Washington early next week, was hailed by Trump as “a great day for Africa.” The deal was arranged with the assistance of Secretary of State Marco Rubio, according to Trump, and aims to finally bring an end to one of the continent’s longest and most deadly disputes. Trump did not reveal specific…