Rajeev Sharma, Author at National Times

20 May

King Charles III to Visit Canada for Historic Throne Speech in Ottawa

Rajeev Sharma0 CommentsCanadaCanada House, King Charles III, Ottawa visit, Queen Camilla

London/Ottawa, May 21, 2025 – King Charles III and Queen Camilla visited Canada House in London’s Trafalgar Square on Tuesday to mark its 100th anniversary, ahead of a landmark royal visit to Canada later this month.The royal couple met with Canadian High Commissioner Ralph Goodale and other officials, celebrating the iconic building that houses Canada’s diplomatic mission in the U.K. and serves as a hub for showcasing Canadian culture and art.The visit precedes an unprecedented trip to Ottawa on May 26–27, where King Charles will deliver the speech from the throne—his first time doing so in Canada. The address, which…

20 May

Airtel Partners with Google to Offer 100GB Free Cloud Storage for Six Months to Postpaid, Wi-Fi Users

Rajeev Sharma0 CommentsTechnology100GB free, Airtel, cloud storage, Google One

New Delhi, May 20, 2025: Bharti Airtel and Google have announced a strategic partnership to offer 100GB of Google One cloud storage free for six months to Airtel’s postpaid and Wi-Fi customers. The initiative targets the growing challenge of storage limitations on smartphones, offering users a seamless backup option for their data. The offer allows Airtel users to store photos, videos, documents, and even WhatsApp chats (on Android) via Google One. The storage can be shared with up to five additional people and is available for both Android and iOS platforms. After the complimentary six-month period, users will be automatically…

20 May

Arvind Kejriwal Launches AAP’s Student Wing ‘ASAP’ as Ex-Chief Minister, Eyes Youth-Led Political Reform

Rajeev Sharma0 CommentsPoliticsAAP, Arvind Kejriwal, ASAP, student politics

New Delhi, May 20, 2025: Former Delhi Chief Minister and AAP National Convenor Arvind Kejriwal launched the party’s student wing, ASAP (Association of Students for Alternative Politics), on May 20, 2025, in New Delhi. The launch event, held at the Constitution Club of India, marks Kejriwal’s return to public mobilisation — this time with a sharp focus on the country’s student population.Though no longer in office, Kejriwal continues to shape AAP’s ideological direction. Speaking at the launch, he said the country's persistent issues stem from 75 years of mainstream politics. He described ASAP as a platform for young people to…

20 May

BJP’s Amit Malviya Sparks Row by Comparing Rahul Gandhi to Pakistan Army Chief

Rajeev Sharma0 CommentsPoliticsAmit Malviya, Asim Munir, BJP Congress clash, Operation Sindoor, Rahul Gandhi

National Times Bureau, May 20, 2025: BJP IT Cell chief Amit Malviya stirred fresh controversy after posting a provocative tweet accusing Congress leader Rahul Gandhi of echoing Pakistan’s stance on India's military operations. Malviya's post came in the wake of Operation Sindoor, a recent Indian military action hailed by the government as a demonstration of India's strategic dominance.In his tweet, Malviya criticized Gandhi for not congratulating Prime Minister Narendra Modi on the operation’s success. Instead, he accused the Congress MP of repeatedly questioning how many Indian jets were lost — a query, Malviya claimed, already addressed in DGMO briefings. “Curiously,…

20 May

Canada Post Faces New Strike as Union Issues Notice Over Contracts, Working Conditions

Rajeev Sharma0 CommentsCanadaCanada Post strike, CUPW, labour dispute

Montreal, May 20, 2025: Canada Post is bracing for a nationwide shutdown after the Canadian Union of Postal Workers (CUPW) issued a 72-hour strike notice on Monday, with over 55,000 postal workers set to walk off the job by Friday. This marks the second major labour disruption in six months, following a 32-day strike during last year’s holiday season.The strike would halt all new mail and parcel acceptance across the country, impacting millions of Canadians and businesses. Canada Post confirmed it will secure undelivered items already in the system and only continue delivery of social assistance cheques and live animals…

20 May

Russia-Ukraine to Start Truce Talks After Trump-Putin Call, 30-Day Pause on Attacks Agreed

Rajeev Sharma0 CommentsWorld NewsCeasefire Talks, Russia-Ukraine Truce, Trump Putin Call

National Times Bureau, May 20, 2025: In a major diplomatic development, Russia and Ukraine have agreed to begin immediate ceasefire talks following a two-hour phone call between U.S. President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin. The conversation reportedly led to a preliminary agreement halting Russian strikes on Ukraine’s energy and infrastructure facilities for the next 30 days.Although the truce marks a potential breakthrough, it remains limited. President Putin refrained from committing to a full ceasefire, reiterating Russia’s long-standing demands. These include security guarantees about Ukraine’s NATO membership and an end to Western arms support for Kyiv.Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy…

20 May

Madhya Pradesh Govt Forms SIT to Investigate Minister Vijay Shah’s Controversial Remarks

Rajeev Sharma0 CommentsIndiaMadhya Pradesh, Vijay Shah

Madhya Pradesh (National Times): The Madhya Pradesh government has set up a three-member Special Investigation Team (SIT) to probe controversial comments made by state Tribal Affairs Minister Kunwar Vijay Shah, a leader of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). The formation of the SIT follows a directive from the Supreme Court, which took strong exception to Shah’s remarks targeting Colonel Sofiya Qureshi. Shah had reportedly referred to Colonel Qureshi as a "sister of terrorists," a statement the court condemned as deeply offensive. A bench comprising Justices Surya Kant and N Kotiswar Singh ordered that the SIT be composed of three senior…

19 May

Northeast Calgary Residents Grapple with Soaring Insurance Premiums Amid Repeated Hailstorms

Rajeev Sharma0 CommentsCanadaHail, Insurance Premiums, Northeast Calgary

Calgary (Rajeev Sharma): Residents of northeast Calgary are facing unprecedented increases in home and auto insurance premiums. This surge is attributed to a series of devastating hailstorms, construction practices, and weather modification efforts.Repeated Hailstorms and Insurance Impacts: The region has experienced several severe hailstorms in recent years, notably in 2016, 2020, and 2024. The August 2024 storm alone caused an estimated $3.25 billion in damages, making it one of the costliest in Canadian history. These events have led to skyrocketing insurance premiums, with some homeowners reporting increases of up to 35% and deductibles as high as $10,000. In certain cases,…

19 May

Surinder Lions Surrey Secure Thrilling Victory in Max/ Pro-Tax Gold Cup-2, Akaal Warrior Field Hockey Tournament in Calgary

Rajeev Sharma0 CommentsCanadaAkaal Warrior Field Hockey Tournament, Calgary, Max/ Pro-Tax Gold Cup-2, Surinder Lions Surrey

Calgary (Rajeev Sharma): The Akaal Warriors Field Hockey Club hosted the Max/Pro Tax Gold Cup -2 at the Genesis Centre in Calgary, featuring ten teams from across Canada competing in a series of exciting matches over three days. The senior division final saw the host team, Akaal Warriors, face off against the Surinder Lions Field Hockey Club from Surrey. In a closely contested match, the Surinder Lions emerged victorious, clinching the championship title. Dignitaries including MPs Amanpreet Singh Gill and Dalwinder Gill, MLA Irfan Sabir, and Parmit Singh and Reet Mushiana (running councillor ward 5) were present to distribute awards…

19 May

Dhruv Rathee Deletes Controversial Video on Sikh Gurus After Backlash

Rajeev Sharma0 CommentsPunjabAI controversy, Banda Singh Bahadur, Dhruv Rathee, SGPC, Sikh Gurus

Chandigarh, May 19: Popular YouTuber and influencer Dhruv Rathee has taken down his controversial video on Sikh Gurus and historical events following widespread outrage from the Sikh community. The video, which used AI-generated visuals to depict revered figures like Guru Tegh Bahadur Ji and Banda Singh Bahadur, had sparked backlash from both religious bodies and individuals for allegedly distorting history and hurting religious sentiments.The Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC), along with the Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee (DSGMC), had earlier issued strong objections to the video's content. They accused Rathee of trivializing Sikh history, presenting inaccuracies, and showing a lack…