Rajeev Sharma, Author at National Times

11 Jun

India to Standardize AC Temperatures Between 20°C and 28°C in Energy-Saving Drive

Rajeev Sharma0 CommentsIndiaAC temperature regulation, electricity savings, energy efficiency

New Delhi, June 11, 2025 — The Indian government is preparing to implement a new regulation that will fix the operating temperature range of all air conditioners between 20°C and 28°C. Union Power and Urban Affairs Minister Manohar Lal Khattar announced this first of its kind policy on Tuesday, explaining that under the new rule, air conditioners in homes, offices, and vehicles will no longer be permitted to cool below 20°C or heat above 28°C .According to officials, the move aims to tackle soaring electricity demand, curb peak consumption and strengthen energy security. The minister highlighted that every degree decrease…

11 Jun

Launch of Axiom-4 Mission Delayed Following LOX Leak in Falcon 9 Booster

Rajeev Sharma0 CommentsIndia, TechnologyAxiom‑4 mission, Falcon 9 LOx leak, Shubhanshu Shukla, SpaceX delay

Cape Canaveral (Florida), June 11, 2025 — SpaceX announced today that it has indefinitely delayed the launch of the Axiom‑4 mission after detecting a liquid oxygen (LOx) leak in the Falcon 9 rocket during post-static fire testing. The mission, which was rescheduled to launch on June 11, carries Indian Air Force pilot Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla—who would become the first Indian aboard the International Space Station in 41 years—along with a crew from the United States, Poland, and Hungary .According to SpaceX, engineers identified the leak in the booster’s propulsion bay and have “stood down from the scheduled launch to allow additional time for repairs.” The company…

11 Jun

BBC Releases Sidhu Moose Wala Documentary on YouTube Despite Legal Plea from Singer’s Father

Rajeev Sharma0 CommentsEntertainment, Punjab, TrendingBBC, Sidhu Moosewala

Chandigarh (National Times): In a controversial move, the BBC World Service released a two-part documentary titled “The Killing Call” on June 11, coinciding with the birth anniversary of slain Punjabi singer Sidhu Moose Wala, despite strong opposition from the singer’s family. The documentary, which investigates the life and assassination of Moose Wala, was published on YouTube even as his father, Balkaur Singh Sidhu, filed a legal petition in the Mansa district court seeking a stay on its screening. The matter is set to be heard on June 12, but by then, the content will have already gone public. Balkaur Singh,…

10 Jun

Canada Braces for Scorching Summer as Wildfire Risks and Health Concerns Mount

Rajeev Sharma0 CommentsCanadaCanada summer 2025, extreme heat, wildfire season

Ottawa, June 10, 2025: Canada is poised to experience one of its hottest summers on record, with meteorologists forecasting above-normal temperatures across nearly the entire country. Environment and Climate Change Canada, alongside other meteorological agencies, has issued a high-confidence alert for hotter-than-usual conditions especially in eastern provinces, the Prairies, and British Columbia. Only limited regions, such as the B.C. coast and the Northwest Territories, are expected to see near-normal or cooler conditions.Elevated humidity levels, particularly in Atlantic Canada, are expected to amplify discomfort during the peak of summer. This will likely result in muggy nights, increased heatwave activity, and a…

10 Jun

India Demonstrates Unified Commitment on Terrorism After Operation Sindoor

Rajeev Sharma0 CommentsIndiaglobal diplomacy, Operation Sindoor, Pahalgam attack, parliamentary delegations

New Delhi, June 10, 2025 — Prime Minister Narendra Modi convened over 50 Members of Parliament from seven multi-party delegations today at his official residence, marking the culmination of an extensive diplomatic campaign to globalize India's position against terrorism following the April 22 Pahalgam attack and subsequent Operation Sindoor.These parliamentary delegations, representing parties including the BJP, Congress, DMK, NCP(SP), and Shiv Sena, journeyed to more than 30 countries spanning continents to brief governments, lawmakers, think tanks, and the international media. Led by prominent figures such as Shashi Tharoor, Anand Sharma, Priyanka Chaturvedi, Supriya Sule, and Brijesh Chowta, their mission underscored India’s zero-tolerance…

10 Jun

Greta Thunberg Deported After Israel Seizes Gaza-Bound Aid Ship Amid Rising Global Criticism

Rajeev Sharma0 CommentsWorld NewsGreta Thunberg deported, Israel Gaza blockade, Madleen aid ship

Jerusalem/Paris, June 10, 2025 – Swedish climate activist Greta Thunberg was deported from Israel on Tuesday following the Israeli Navy's seizure of the aid vessel Madleen, which attempted to breach the longstanding naval blockade on Gaza. The incident, which unfolded in international waters, has sparked renewed global scrutiny of Israel’s military tactics and humanitarian policy in the region.The Madleen, organized by the Freedom Flotilla Coalition, was intercepted between 125 and 200 kilometers off Gaza’s coast. According to Israeli authorities, the ship carried what they termed a symbolic and "meager" shipment of rice, baby formula, and medical supplies. Israeli Foreign Minister…

10 Jun

Massive Drug Haul in Ottawa: OPP Seize 86 Parcels in Canada Post Sting Under Project BIONIC

Rajeev Sharma0 CommentsCanadaCanada Post parcel bust, OPP drug seizure, Ottawa drug trafficking, Project BIONIC

Ottawa, June 10, 2025 — In a major breakthrough against organized crime, the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) on Tuesday revealed the seizure of 86 suspicious drug-laden parcels from a Canada Post facility in Ottawa. The operation, part of a nationwide probe dubbed Project BIONIC, aims to disrupt the distribution of narcotics through legitimate postal services.The intercepted packages were seized on March 10, 2025, during a targeted raid at an Ottawa-area Canada Post outlet. While authorities have yet to disclose the specific drugs involved, photographic evidence released by the OPP indicates the presence of fentanyl and MDMA. Alongside the narcotics, investigators…

10 Jun

Eight Jaipur Men Drown in Banas River During Picnic, Tragedy Prompts Safety Concerns

Rajeev Sharma0 CommentsIndiaBanas River drowning, Jaipur picnic accident, Rajasthan water safety, Tonk tragedy

Tonk, Rajasthan, June 10, 2025 — A day of leisure turned into heartbreak when eight young men from Jaipur drowned in the Banas River during a picnic in Rajasthan’s Tonk district on Tuesday. The group, which had ventured into the river for a bath, was caught off-guard by a deep section of water, according to local authorities. While three men were rescued and are now in stable condition, the remaining eight were declared dead upon arrival at a nearby hospital.Tonk Superintendent of Police Vikas Sangwan confirmed that the group, all aged between 25 and 30, had come from Jaipur for…

10 Jun

Austria Reels After Deadliest School Shooting Leaves 10 Dead in Graz

Rajeev Sharma0 CommentsWorld NewsAustria mass shooting, Austria school shooting, BORG Dreierschützengasse, Graz shooting 2025

Graz, Austria, June 10, 2025: In one of the most devastating mass shootings in Austria’s postwar history, a 21-year-old former student opened fire at BORG Dreierschützengasse high school in Graz on Tuesday, killing nine individuals six women and three men before turning the gun on himself. At least 12 others were injured in the attack, which has shaken the nation and reignited debate over firearm access.Authorities confirmed that the gunman, an Austrian national who previously attended the school but dropped out, legally possessed both a pistol and a shotgun. He had no criminal record and is believed to have acted…

10 Jun

India Tops World Population at 1.46 Billion Amid Falling Fertility: UNFPA Report Warns of Shifting Demographic Priorities

Rajeev Sharma0 CommentsIndiafertility rate 1.9, India population 2025, UNFPA report

New Delhi, June 10, 2025 — India has officially become the world’s most populous country with a population of 1.4639 billion, surpassing all other nations, according to the United Nations Population Fund's (UNFPA) latest State of World Population Report 2025. The milestone, however, comes with a striking demographic caveat: India’s total fertility rate (TFR) has dropped to 1.9, significantly below the replacement level of 2.1 births per woman.While this demographic feat places India at the forefront of global population charts, the report signals a shift in the country’s growth trajectory. Projections suggest that India's population may rise modestly to about…