Rajeev Sharma, Author at National Times

19 Feb

Vladimir Putin Open to Meeting Trump, Says U.S.-Russia Talks Show ‘Positive’ Shift

Rajeev Sharma0 CommentsWorld NewsDonald Trump, peace talks, Riyadh negotiations, Russia-U.S. relations, Ukraine war, Vladimir Putin

Moscow, February 19, 2025: Russian President Vladimir Putin has expressed his willingness to meet Donald Trump, but he insists that any such meeting must be well-prepared to ensure meaningful outcomes.In a televised address on Wednesday, Putin said he would be “pleased” to meet Trump but acknowledged that the former U.S. president’s expectations for a swift resolution to the Ukraine conflict might have changed. Russia-U.S. Talks in Riyadh ‘Very Positive’ Putin highlighted the recent meeting between Russian and U.S. officials in Riyadh, calling the discussions “very positive.” He noted that the American delegation displayed a new openness, free from past biases…

19 Feb

Young Powerlifter Yashtika Acharya Dies in Tragic Gym Accident in Bikaner

Rajeev Sharma0 CommentsSportsBikaner, gym accident, powerlifter death, weightlifting tragedy, Yashtika Acharya

Bikaner, February 19, 2025: A 17-year-old gold-medallist powerlifter, Yashtika Acharya, tragically lost her life after a 270-kg barbell fell on her neck during practice at a gym in Rajasthan’s Bikaner district.According to Naya Shahar SHO Vikram Tiwari, the incident occurred on Tuesday when Yashtika was lifting weights under the supervision of her trainer. The heavy barbell slipped and crushed her neck, causing a fatal injury. She was immediately rushed to a hospital, where doctors declared her dead on arrival. Trainer Also Injured, No Complaint Filed The trainer, who was assisting Yashtika during the lift, also sustained minor injuries. The police…

19 Feb

Congress Announces Revamp Plans, ‘Samvidhaan Bachao Yatra’ After Strategy Meet

Rajeev Sharma0 CommentsPoliticsCongress strategy, Jairam Ramesh, Mallikarjun Kharge, Priyanka Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi, Samvidhaan Bachao Yatra

New Delhi, February 19, 2025: After a seven-hour-long strategy meeting, the Congress has unveiled a series of revitalization measures to regain political ground following multiple electoral setbacks this year.The meeting, chaired by Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge, included key leaders like Rahul Gandhi, Priyanka Gandhi, KC Venugopal, Jairam Ramesh, and Digvijay Singh, along with 30 general secretaries and state in-charges. Focus on Strengthening Grassroots Structure Speaking after the meeting, Jairam Ramesh emphasized that the party's primary focus will be on empowering its district Congress committees (DCCs). With nearly 800 DCCs nationwide, the goal is to establish stronger accountability and grassroots-level leadership.…

19 Feb

Parliamentary Panel Seeks Review of IT Laws After Supreme Court’s Stand on Online Vulgarity

Rajeev Sharma0 CommentsIndiaIT laws, MeitY, Ranveer Allahbadia, Supreme Court of India

New Delhi, February 19, 2025: A parliamentary panel has urged the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) to assess the effectiveness of existing laws in tackling online vulgarity following the Supreme Court’s strong remarks in the Ranveer Allahbadia case.The Standing Committee on Communications and Information Technology, led by BJP MP Nishikant Dubey, has written to MeitY Secretary S. Krishnan, seeking a detailed note on whether current legal provisions, including the IT Act, 2000, require amendments to bring digital platforms under stricter scrutiny.The panel expressed concerns over the misuse of digital and social media, emphasizing the need to protect societal…

19 Feb

Zelenskyy Dismisses Trump’s Claims, Says US-President is in “Russian Disinformation Space”

Rajeev Sharma0 CommentsWorld NewsDonald Trump, Russia- Ukraine War, Volodymyr Zelenskyy

Kyiv, February 19, 2025: Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy pushed back against former US President Donald Trump's recent remarks about his approval rating, saying Trump is influenced by Russian disinformation.During an event at Mar-a-Lago, Trump claimed that Zelenskyy's approval rating had dropped to 4%. Responding at a press conference in Kyiv, Zelenskyy dismissed the claim, stating, “We have seen this disinformation. We understand that it is coming from Russia.”Zelenskyy further suggested that Trump “lives in this disinformation space,” implying that the former US president is echoing Russian propaganda. The comments come amid growing global tensions and ongoing US support for Ukraine…

19 Feb

Government to Hold Meeting with Farmer Unions on February 22

Rajeev Sharma0 CommentsIndiaFarmer protests, Government meeting, Kisan Mazdoor Morcha, Punjab farmers, Samyukt Kisan Morcha

New Delhi, February 19, 2025 – The Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare has invited leaders of the Samyukt Kisan Morcha (Non-Political) and Kisan Mazdoor Morcha for a meeting on February 22, 2025, at 6 PM in Chandigarh. The meeting will take place at the Mahatma Gandhi State Institute of Public Administration, Punjab (MGSIPA), Sector 26.The invitation, issued by Joint Secretary Purna Chandra Kishan, follows a previous meeting held in Chandigarh on February 14, 2025. The agenda will focus on farmers’ demands and will include representatives from both the Indian government and the Punjab government.Leaders Jagjit Singh Dallewal (Samyukt Kisan…

19 Feb

Delhi CM-elect Rekha Gupta, BJP leaders to meet LG Saxena to form government

Rajeev Sharma0 CommentsIndiaDelhi, Rekha Gupta

New Delhi (National Times): Delhi's Chief Minister-elect, Rekha Gupta, along with senior BJP leaders, is set to meet Lieutenant Governor VK Saxena at 8:50 PM today to formally claim the mandate to form the next government in the national capital. Rekha Gupta, representing Shalimar Bagh, was appointed the Leader of the House during a BJP legislature party meeting. After a gap of 26 years, the BJP has secured power in Delhi once again, and Gupta will be sworn in as the new Chief Minister at Ramlila Ground this Thursday. Who is Rekha Gupta?Rekha Gupta is a prominent BJP leader who…

19 Feb

Panama Holds Indian Deportees in Hotel Under US Migration Agreement

Rajeev Sharma0 CommentsWorld NewsDonald Trump, Panama, United States

Panama (National Times): Panama is currently housing nearly 300 deported migrants, including 30 Indian nationals, in a guarded hotel in Panama City, following an agreement with the United States. The detainees, originating from India, Iran, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Pakistan, Afghanistan, China, and other nations, were deported from the US but face diplomatic and logistical barriers preventing their direct return. Hotel Detention and Security Measures The migrants, including women and children, are confined to their rooms at the Decapolis Hotel Panama, where authorities have placed guards around the premises. While they are receiving food and medical assistance, they cannot leave the…

19 Feb

Elon Musk Warns of U.S. Bankruptcy, Criticizes Government Spending and Trade Deficit

Rajeev Sharma0 CommentsWorld NewsDonald Trump, Elon Musk, United States, US

Washington, D.C. (National Times): Tesla CEO Elon Musk has raised concerns over the United States' rising trade deficit and government spending, warning that if corrective measures are not taken, “America will go bankrupt.” In a recent Fox News interview, Musk said that the $2 trillion trade deficit inherited by U.S. President Donald Trump has put the country in a dangerous economic situation. He criticized how taxpayer money is being misused, stating that every American should be “mad as hell” over the reckless spending by the government. Elon Musk on the U.S. Deficit: “It’s Insane” Musk expressed deep concerns about the…

19 Feb

Canada launches Rural and Francophone Community Immigration pilots

Rajeev Sharma0 CommentsCanadaCalgary, Canada

Calgary (Rajeev Sharma): Rural and Francophone minority communities make vital contributions to Canada’s economy and culture, but they frequently face unique labour market and demographic challenges as the majority of Canadians and newcomers settle in Canada’s urban centres. In particular, the Rural and Northern Immigration Pilot (RNIP) was successful in connecting businesses and employers in remote communities with the skilled newcomers they need to thrive.That is why the Government of Canada is introducing two new pilots—as committed to in March 2024—to help rural and Francophone minority communities attract and retain newcomers with the right skills to help their regions succeed…