Rajeev Sharma, Author at National Times

18 May

Pope Leo XIV Calls for Unified, Missionary Church That Embraces the World at Inaugural Mass

Rajeev Sharma0 CommentsWorld NewsCatholic Church Unity, Inaugural Mass, Pope Leo XIV, Vatican

Vatican City, May 18, 2025: Pope Leo XIV, the first American to ascend to the papacy, delivered a powerful call for unity, compassion, and global outreach during his inaugural Mass at St. Peter’s Square on Sunday. Addressing over 100,000 faithful, world leaders, and dignitaries, the 267th pontiff urged the Catholic Church to be a "sign of unity" and a "leaven of harmony for humanity."In his homily, Pope Leo XIV emphasized the role of the Church as one rooted in God's love and committed to missionary work that reaches beyond borders. “With the light and the strength of the Holy Spirit,…

18 May

ISRO’s Earth Observation Mission Fails After PSLV Anomaly, Third Such Setback Since 1993

Rajeev Sharma0 CommentsTechnologyEarth Observation Satellite, EOS-09, ISRO, PSLV-C61

Sriharikota, May 18, 2025: India’s trusted space workhorse, the Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV), suffered a rare failure on Sunday when ISRO’s PSLV-C61 mission carrying the Earth Observation Satellite EOS-09 failed to reach orbit. The launch, which took place at 5:59 AM IST from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre, ended prematurely due to an anomaly during the third stage of flight—marking the third failure for PSLV in over three decades.ISRO Chairman V. Narayanan confirmed that the issue stemmed from a sudden drop in chamber pressure in the third stage, causing the vehicle to deviate from its trajectory. Preliminary analysis suggests…

18 May

Massive Fire Near Charminar Kills 17, Including 8 Children; PM Modi, Telangana CM Express Condolences

Rajeev Sharma0 CommentsIndiaCharminar, Gulzar House fire, Hyderabad fire, Telangana tragedy

Hyderabad, May 18, 2025 — A devastating fire that erupted in a building at Gulzar House near the iconic Charminar in Hyderabad claimed the lives of 17 people, including eight children, early Sunday morning. The blaze, reportedly triggered by a short-circuit, broke out around 6:30 am and quickly engulfed the three-storey structure, which housed jewellery shops on the ground floor and residential flats above.Officials confirmed that many victims died from suffocation caused by heavy smoke that spread to the upper floors. Hospital authorities from Yashoda Hospital and Apollo Hospitals confirmed that eight and five victims, respectively, were brought in dead…

18 May

Carney Reaffirms Canada’s Unwavering Support for Ukraine During Rome Visit

Rajeev Sharma0 CommentsCanada, World NewsMark Carney, Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelenskyy

Rome, May 18, 2025 — Prime Minister Mark Carney held his first in-person meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Saturday in Rome, pledging Canada’s “steadfast and unwavering support” for Ukraine amid ongoing conflict with Russia.The meeting took place at Canada’s Official Residence to the Italian Republic, where Carney praised Zelenskyy’s “commitment to peace,” particularly in light of recent negotiations in Turkey. “There can be no peace without the full support and participation of Ukraine, and that you have our absolute support,” Carney said.Zelenskyy thanked the Prime Minister for Canada’s continued backing and extended a formal invitation for Carney to…

18 May

No DGMO Talks Today, No End Date to Ceasefire: Indian Army Clarifies

Rajeev Sharma0 CommentsIndiaDGMO talks, India-Pakistan ceasefire, Indian Army, Operation Sindoor

New Delhi, May 18, 2025 — The Indian Army has firmly stated that there are no scheduled talks today between the Directors General of Military Operations (DGMOs) of India and Pakistan, countering reports suggesting otherwise. It also emphasized that the ongoing break in hostilities, agreed upon during the May 12 DGMO-level talks, does not carry any expiry date.The Army's statement comes in response to some media reports claiming that the ceasefire was set to end on May 18. Refuting these claims, an official spokesperson said, “No DGMO talks are scheduled today. As far as the continuation of a break in…

17 May

F-35 Controversy: Shared Parts, Shared Power?

Rajeev Sharma0 CommentsCanadaCanadian defense, F-35 Canada, Lockheed Martin, U.S. spare parts

National Times Bureau, May 17, 2025: Canada's multi-billion-dollar deal to purchase 88 F-35A fighter jets from Lockheed Martin comes with a controversial twist—spare parts for the aircraft will remain the property of the United States until they are physically installed on Canadian planes. This clause is not unique to Canada; it's part of the F-35 program's global logistics model. But in Canada's case, it has sparked concerns over military autonomy and operational flexibility.The arrangement means spare parts are pooled and managed globally by the U.S. Department of Defense, Lockheed Martin, and Pratt & Whitney. More than 50 storage hubs worldwide,…

17 May

Rohit Sharma Honoured at Wankhede, Family Breaks Down in Emotional Ceremony

Rajeev Sharma0 CommentsSportsRitika Sajdeh, Rohit Sharma, Rohit Sharma Stand, Wankhede Stadium

National Times Bureau, May 17, 2025: It was a proud yet tearful moment at Mumbai’s Wankhede Stadium as the Mumbai Cricket Association unveiled the “Rohit Sharma Stand” on May 16, 2025. The emotional ceremony saw the Indian captain’s parents and wife, Ritika Sajdeh, moved to tears as his name lit up at the iconic venue.Rohit guided his parents onto the stage for the formal unveiling. He paid heartfelt tribute to their sacrifices, saying they stood by him from his days outside the stadium dreaming of playing cricket to this moment of national recognition.His wife, Ritika, struggled to hold back tears…

17 May

New Housing Minister Says More Supply Is the Key, Not Lower Prices

Rajeev Sharma0 CommentsCanadaCanada Housing Crisis, Gregor Robertson, Home Supply

National Times Bureau, May 17, 2025: Canada's new Housing Minister, Gregor Robertson, says the goal isn't to bring home prices down, but to increase supply. In a recent interview, he stated clearly: “We need to deliver more supply,” emphasizing that boosting the number of homes is the federal government’s top priority.Robertson's stance supports Ottawa’s broader housing plan. One major move is the $25-billion Build Canada Homes program, designed to push private developers to build faster. The government is also cutting the Goods and Services Tax (GST) on new homes priced between $1 million and $1.5 million to make them more…

17 May

CJI Gavai Urges Executive-Judiciary Synergy to Tackle Judge Vacancies, Pushes for Diversity

Rajeev Sharma0 CommentsIndiaCJI Gavai, judicial vacancies, judiciary-executive cooperation

New Delhi, May 17, 2025: Chief Justice of India Bhushan Ramkrishna Gavai has stressed the urgent need for greater cooperation between the judiciary and the executive to fill vacant judicial positions across the country. In a recent public address, CJI Gavai pointed out that a significant portion of India’s massive case backlog is due to unfilled judges’ posts. He urged both branches to collaborate meaningfully to ensure swift and transparent appointments.Acknowledging the persistent challenge of judicial vacancies, he reiterated the Collegium’s ongoing efforts to accelerate the appointment process. However, he stated that these efforts require active participation from the executive…

17 May

Excluded by Congress, Tharoor Accepts Govt’s Offer to Head Operation Sindoor Delegation

Rajeev Sharma0 CommentsIndiaAll-party Delegation, Operation Sindoor, Pahalgam terror attack, Shashi Tharoor

New Delhi, May 17, 2025 — In a major diplomatic initiative, the Indian government has announced a seven-member all-party delegation under Operation Sindoor to brief key international allies about India’s firm and calibrated response to Pakistan-sponsored terrorism, particularly the Pahalgam terror attack that claimed 26 lives.Congress MP Shashi Tharoor will lead one of the delegations, a move that has stirred controversy within the Congress party. Tharoor's name did not figure in the original list submitted by Congress, which had recommended leaders like Salman Khurshid, Manish Tewari, Anand Sharma, and Jairam Ramesh. Congress General Secretary Jairam Ramesh publicly criticized the decision,…