Rajeev Sharma, Author at National Times

29 May

U.S. to Revoke Visas of Chinese Students Linked to CCP, Sensitive Fields: Marco Rubio

Rajeev Sharma0 CommentsWorld NewsChinese students, Marco Rubio, U.S.-China relations, visa revocation

Washington D.C., May 29, 2025: The United States will begin revoking the visas of Chinese students affiliated with the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) or those enrolled in sensitive academic fields, Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced on Wednesday. The policy shift is part of a broader effort to counter what the U.S. administration calls “covert influence and espionage risks” posed by certain Chinese nationals.Rubio emphasized that this measure is not aimed at general Chinese students but specifically at individuals believed to have links to the CCP or involved in disciplines such as quantum computing, artificial intelligence, and defense-related research. He…

29 May

US Court Blocks Trump’s Broad Tariffs, Dismisses India-Pakistan Truce Justification

Rajeev Sharma0 CommentsWorld NewsIEEPA ruling, India-Pakistan truce, Trump trade policy, US tariffs blocked

New York [US], May 29, 2025 (ANI): A US federal court on Wednesday ruled against President Donald Trump’s sweeping tariff measures, deeming them unlawful and beyond presidential authority. The US Court of International Trade in Manhattan also rejected the Trump administration’s justification that the tariffs were part of a broader effort to mediate the recent escalation between India and Pakistan.As reported by CNN, the court concluded that Trump’s tariffs, introduced under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA), were not legally justified. This included 30% duties on Chinese imports, 25% tariffs on select goods from Mexico and Canada, and a…

29 May

Elon Musk Steps Down as Head of DOGE in Trump Administration, Cites End of Term and Rising Concerns

Rajeev Sharma0 CommentsWorld NewsDonald Trump, Elon Musk

Washington D.C. (National Times): Tech mogul Elon Musk has officially stepped down from his controversial role as chief of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), marking the end of a polarizing tenure within former President Donald Trump's administration. Musk, who joined the government as a Special Government Employee, announced his departure via a post on social media, stating, “As my scheduled time as a Special Government Employee comes to an end, I would like to thank President Donald Trump for the opportunity to reduce wasteful spending.” Created to streamline federal spending and eliminate bureaucratic excess, DOGE was a cornerstone of…

28 May

BJP Defends Shashi Tharoor Amid Congress Criticism Over LoC Remarks

Rajeev Sharma0 CommentsIndia, PoliticsBJP, Congress, Line of Control, Shashi Tharoor, Udit Raj

New Delhi, May 28, 2025: The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has come to the defense of Congress MP Shashi Tharoor following criticism from his own party, particularly from Congress leader Udit Raj. The controversy stems from Tharoor's recent statement made during an event in Panama, where he asserted that India had crossed the Line of Control (LoC) for the first time during the 2016 surgical strikes in Uri. Udit Raj took to social media platform X to express his disapproval, labeling Tharoor as a "BJP super spokesperson" and accusing him of diminishing the Congress party's historical military achievements. Raj highlighted…

28 May

Earth Likely to Breach 1.5°C Global Warming Threshold Between 2025–2029: WMO Warns

Rajeev Sharma0 CommentsWorld NewsClimate Change Warning, Global Warming 1.5°C, WMO report 2025

Geneva, May 28, 2025 — In a grave forecast for the planet’s climate future, the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) has projected a 70% probability that the Earth’s average annual temperature will exceed the 1.5°C threshold above pre-industrial levels during at least one year between 2025 and 2029.This threshold, set under the 2015 Paris Agreement, is considered a critical limit to avoid the most catastrophic effects of climate change. The WMO report underlines that while the breach may be temporary, the rising frequency of such events signals an alarming trend.According to the data, there is an 86% chance that one of…

28 May

Hamas Gaza Chief Mohammed Sinwar Killed in Israeli Strike, Confirms Netanyahu

Rajeev Sharma0 CommentsWorld NewsHamas Gaza Chief Killed, Israel Gaza Airstrike, Mohammed Sinwar

Tel Aviv, May 28, 2025: Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has confirmed that Mohammed Sinwar, the head of Hamas operations in Gaza and brother of top Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar, has been eliminated in an Israeli airstrike.According to Netanyahu, the targeted strike was carried out on May 13, 2025, and focused on a Hamas command center located underneath the European Hospital in Khan Younis, southern Gaza. Sinwar had risen to prominence following the reported deaths of his brother Yahya Sinwar and Mohammed Deif, the leader of Hamas's armed wing, in 2024.Netanyahu made the announcement during a press briefing, stating, “Mohammed…

28 May

Civil Defence Exercise ‘Operation Shield’ Postponed Due to Administrative Reasons

Rajeev Sharma0 CommentsIndiaBlackout Drill Postponed, Civil Defence Exercise, Operation Shield

New Delhi, May 28, 2025: As per directions received from the Government of India, the Civil Defence Exercise titled "Operation Shield", originally scheduled for May 29, 2025, has been officially postponed in Punjab, Chandigarh, and Rajasthan due to administrative reasons. However, Haryana will go ahead with the planned mock drill tomorrow, as per its original schedule.Authorities have confirmed that no blackout or mock drill will take place in Punjab, Chandigarh, or Rajasthan on May 29 as previously announced. The rescheduling of the exercise in these regions will be communicated at a later date.The decision comes amid heightened public anticipation and…

28 May

44 MLAs Ready to Form Government in Manipur, Says BJP Leader After Meeting Governor

Rajeev Sharma0 CommentsIndiaBJP MLAs, Manipur politics, Thokchom Radheshyam Singh

Imphal, May 28, 2025: In a major political development in Manipur, BJP legislator Thokchom Radheshyam Singh has claimed that 44 MLAs are prepared to form a new government in the state. Singh made this announcement after leading a delegation of ten MLAs to meet Governor Ajay Kumar Bhalla at the Raj Bhavan.“We have conveyed to the Governor that 44 MLAs are ready to form a government as per the wishes of the people,” said Radheshyam Singh. He further stated that the Governor assured them he would act in the interest of the people of Manipur and took note of their…

28 May

Mock Drill Scheduled Tomorrow in Pakistan Border States: Gujarat, Rajasthan, J&K, and Punjab

Rajeev Sharma0 CommentsIndiaGujarat, Jammu and Kashmir, Mock Drill, Pakistan Border States, Punjab, Rajasthan

New Delhi, May 28, 2025: A large-scale mock drill is scheduled to be conducted tomorrow evening in four Indian states that share a border with Pakistan—Gujarat, Rajasthan, Jammu & Kashmir, and Punjab—as part of a coordinated effort to evaluate emergency preparedness and security response mechanisms.Authorities have confirmed that the drill will simulate potential cross-border threats, aiming to assess the readiness of armed forces, local police, civil administration, and disaster response teams. The objective is to enhance coordination and ensure a swift, unified reaction in case of real-time emergencies.This strategic exercise comes amid heightened security awareness and reflects the government’s focus…

28 May

Alberta providing $300,000 to Mount Royal University to explore how optometry training could be offered

Rajeev Sharma0 CommentsCanadaAlberta, Calgary, Canada, Mount Royal University

Calgary (National Times): Right now, in Canada, students interested in becoming optometrists have limited options. There are only two optometry schools in the country, at the University of Waterloo and the Université de Montréal, and the programs are in high demand. Many prospective students leave the country to study, and often do not return to Canada to practice. Seeing this gap, Alberta’s government has signed a letter of commitment with Mount Royal University to support them in working with the University of Waterloo to explore the potential of offering optometry training in Alberta. “This is a great opportunity for Alberta.…