Rajeev Sharma, Author at National Times

20 Jun

Iran Opens Airspace for India’s Emergency Evacuation Flights Amid Conflict

Rajeev Sharma0 CommentsIndia, World NewsIndia Iran evacuation, Iranian airspace opened, Operation Sindhu

New Delhi, June 20, 2025 – In a rare diplomatic breakthrough amid the intensifying Israel-Iran war, Iran temporarily opened its airspace to facilitate the evacuation of over 1,000 Indian nationals, mostly students, as part of India’s ongoing Operation Sindhu.The move allowed three Air India charter flights to operate out of Mashhad, bringing relief to families and officials back home. According to sources, the first flight landed in Delhi late Friday night, with two more scheduled through Saturday. The students had earlier been moved to Mashhad from cities like Tehran and Qom via special road convoys under strict security protocols.This marks…

20 Jun

Canada Admits Khalistani Extremists Active on Its Soil, Sparks Security Dialogue with India

Rajeev Sharma0 CommentsCanada, IndiaCanada Khalistan report, CSIS Khalistani extremists, India-Canada ties

Ottawa, June 20, 2025 — In a significant revelation, Canada’s premier intelligence agency, the Canadian Security Intelligence Service (CSIS), has officially acknowledged the presence and activities of Khalistani extremist elements within Canadian borders. These groups, according to the 2024 CSIS annual report, are using Canada as a base for propaganda, fundraising, and potentially violent operations aimed at India.While CSIS emphasized that these extremists represent a small minority, it warned that their actions could undermine both Canadian national security and international peace. The agency's findings add weight to long-standing concerns voiced by Indian authorities about the use of Canadian territory by…

20 Jun

President Murmu Moved to Tears as Differently-Abled Students Sing Birthday Song in Dehradun

Rajeev Sharma0 CommentsIndiaNIEPVD Dehradun, President Murmu birthday 2025, visually impaired students

Dehradun, June 20, 2025 — In an emotional and heartwarming moment, President Droupadi Murmu was moved to tears as visually impaired students at the National Institute for Empowerment of Persons with Visual Disabilities (NIEPVD) sang a birthday melody for her during her visit to Dehradun. The President, who turned 67 today, was in Uttarakhand for a three-day official tour.The children performed the iconic song “Baar Baar Din Yeh Aaye”, filling the hall with their voices and sincerity. Overwhelmed by the heartfelt tribute, the President was seen wiping tears from her eyes, visibly touched by the gesture.Later addressing the gathering, President…

20 Jun

Family of Indian Student Found Dead in Toronto Seeks Answers, Police Rule Out Foul Play

Rajeev Sharma0 CommentsCanadaIndian student Canada, Sahil Kumar Toronto death, Toronto waterfront body

Toronto, June 20, 2025 – The mysterious death of 22-year-old Indian student Sahil Kumar has sparked grief and growing concern, as his family demands clarity over circumstances surrounding his disappearance and subsequent discovery near Toronto’s waterfront.Sahil, a resident of Haryana’s Bhiwani district, had recently moved to Canada in April and was enrolled in a web design course at Humber College. He was last seen on May 16 at Union Station in Toronto. After ten days of frantic searching, his body was found on May 26 near the industrial waterfront area, shocking family members who had been appealing for public help…

20 Jun

Trump Sets Two-Week Deadline on Possible US Strike Against Iran Amid Escalating Conflict

Rajeev Sharma0 CommentsWorld NewsDonald Trump, Iran strike decision, Israel-Iran war, US military

Washington, June 20, 2025 — US President Donald Trump has announced he will decide within the next two weeks whether the United States will directly attack Iran, amid ongoing tensions stemming from Israel’s large-scale military offensive against the Islamic Republic. The statement has added a new layer of uncertainty to an already volatile global situation.Speaking from the White House, Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt confirmed Trump’s timeline: “Based on the fact that there’s a substantial chance of negotiations, the President will make his decision on direct US engagement within the next two weeks.”The announcement follows Washington’s strategic redeployment of military assets…

20 Jun

IAF Veterans Sound Alarm Over Pakistan’s Fifth-Gen Fighter Jet Boost from China

Rajeev Sharma0 CommentsIndiaIAF veterans, J-35 fighter jets, Pakistan-China defence

New Delhi, June 20, 2025 — Growing security concerns surfaced in India’s defence circles after reports confirmed that Pakistan will receive 40 Chinese-made fifth-generation stealth fighter jets, the J-35, by the end of 2025. Indian Air Force (IAF) veterans are calling this a strategic challenge that could tip the regional air power balance in Pakistan’s favour.The J-35, a naval variant of China’s FC-31, is set to become the most advanced fighter in Pakistan’s arsenal. The stealth fighter features radar-evading design, internal weapons bays, and modern avionics. Pakistan Air Force (PAF) pilots have already undergone training in China, preparing for the…

20 Jun

Air India CEO Reassures Public, Staff on Boeing 787 Safety After AI171 Tragedy

Rajeev Sharma0 CommentsIndiaAI171 crash update, Air India CEO statement, Campbell Wilson

New Delhi, June 20, 2025 — In the wake of the catastrophic Air India AI171 crash that claimed 241 lives, CEO and Managing Director Campbell Wilson addressed growing public and internal concerns, affirming that the airline's Boeing 787 Dreamliner fleet remains safe following a series of stringent checks.Wilson, in an official communication, confirmed that all operating Boeing 787 aircraft underwent additional inspections as per the Directorate General of Civil Aviation’s (DGCA) orders. “We have completed the additional precautionary checks on our operating Boeing 787 fleet... and they meet required standards,” he said, adding that pre-flight inspections would continue voluntarily for…

20 Jun

PM Modi Declined Trump’s Dinner Invitation, Choose Odisha Over Washington

Rajeev Sharma0 CommentsIndialand of Mahaprabhu, Modi declines Trump invitation, Odisha Visit

Bhubaneswar, June 20, 2025 — Prime Minister Narendra Modi revealed on Friday that he politely declined a dinner invitation from U.S. President Donald Trump, prioritizing his scheduled visit to Odisha instead.Modi, addressing a large public gathering in Bhubaneswar ahead of the Rath Yatra festival, recalled receiving Trump’s call while attending the G7 Summit in Canada. The U.S. President “insisted” that Modi stop in Washington for dinner and a conversation on his return .Modi said he responded, “Thank you for the invitation. But it is very important for me to go to the land of Mahaprabhu,” referring to Lord Jagannath and…

20 Jun

SGPC Urged to Take Immediate Action to Evacuate Guru Granth Sahib Saroops from Iran Amid Tensions

Rajeev Sharma0 CommentsTrending, World NewsIran, Israel, SGPC

Amritsar/Tehran (National Times): With rising tensions in Iran due to the Israel-Iran conflict, calls for the urgent evacuation of sacred Sikh scriptures from the region have grown louder. The North American Punjabi Association (NAPA) has made an emotional appeal to the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC), urging immediate action to protect the saroops (physical copies) of Guru Granth Sahib Ji from the Bhai Ganga Singh Sabha Gurdwara in Tehran. NAPA Executive Director Satnam Singh Chahal has requested the SGPC to send a team of five dedicated Sikhs on a chartered flight to bring back the saroops with full maryada (religious…

20 Jun

DRI Seizes ₹5 Crore Worth of Narcotics on Delhi-Mumbai Bus, Nigerian Woman Arrested

Rajeev Sharma0 CommentsIndiaDelhi-Mumbai Bus Narcotics, DRI drug bust, Nigerian woman arrested

Mumbai, June 20, 2025 – In a major crackdown on cross-border drug trafficking, the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) seized a massive consignment of synthetic narcotics valued at approximately ₹5 crore from a Delhi-to-Mumbai intercity bus. The operation, carried out after a tip-off and close surveillance, culminated in the arrest of a Nigerian national allegedly involved in transporting the drugs.Acting on specific intelligence inputs, DRI officials tracked the bus over a 50-km stretch before intercepting it on the outskirts of Mumbai. A thorough search revealed 2.56 kilograms of methamphetamine and 584 grams of ecstasy hidden in everyday food items specifically…