Rajeev Sharma, Author at National Times

03 May

PM Modi Congratulates Albanese on Re-election as Australian Prime Minister

Rajeev Sharma0 CommentsIndiaAnthony Albanese, Australia elections 2025, PM Modi

New Delhi, May 3, 2025 — Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday extended his congratulations to Anthony Albanese for securing a second consecutive three-year term as the Prime Minister of Australia.In a post on X, Modi praised Albanese’s leadership, saying the victory reflects the strong trust the Australian people have placed in him. Modi expressed confidence that under Albanese’s continued leadership, the India-Australia Comprehensive Strategic Partnership would further deepen.The Prime Minister also reaffirmed his commitment to working together for peace, stability, and prosperity in the Indo-Pacific region.“Congratulations @AlboMP on your resounding victory and re-election as Prime Minister of Australia! This…

03 May

Carney to Meet Trump at White House Amid Tariff Row and Annexation Talk

Rajeev Sharma0 CommentsCanadaCanada-US relations, Donald Trump, Mark Carney, Tariffs, Trade @ar

Ottawa, May 3, 2025 — Prime Minister Mark Carney announced Friday that he will meet U.S. President Donald Trump at the White House on Tuesday, in their first in-person meeting since Carney was sworn in as Canada’s 24th prime minister in March.The high-stakes meeting is expected to focus on Trump’s ongoing trade war against Canada and could set the stage for negotiating a new trade and security agreement between the two nations.Carney, who led the Liberal Party to a minority victory earlier this week, addressed reporters during his first post-election press conference. He dodged questions about whether he would make…

03 May

Danielle Smith, Mark Carney Hold First Post-Election Meeting, Focus on Energy and Trade

Rajeev Sharma0 CommentsCanadaAlberta Economy, Danielle Smith, Mark Carney, Oil and Gas

Ottawa, May 3, 2025 — Alberta Premier Danielle Smith and Prime Minister Mark Carney met for the first time on Friday following Carney’s federal election win earlier this week. Smith described the meeting as “positive” and said it centered on boosting Alberta’s economic prospects.She stated that Carney committed to fast-tracking "nation building projects" aimed at expanding market access for Alberta's oil, gas, agricultural goods, and other exports. The two leaders also discussed the ongoing trade war with the United States, which has placed strain on key Alberta industries.Smith acknowledged the challenges ahead, referencing “a decade of anti-resource legislation” from Ottawa.…

03 May

Trump Sparks Outrage by Posting AI-Generated Papal Image of Himself

Rajeev Sharma0 CommentsWorld NewsAI controversy, Donald Trump Pope image, Truth Social post

May 3, 2025 — U.S. President Donald Trump has ignited controversy by sharing an AI-generated image of himself dressed in papal attire on Truth Social, just days after jokingly naming himself as his own choice for the new Pope. The post follows the recent death of Pope Francis, who passed away last month at the age of 88 due to a stroke and heart failure.Trump, who returned to office in January 2025, attended the Pope’s funeral alongside other world leaders. However, his latest post — showing him in white papal robes — has drawn sharp criticism from religious communities and…

03 May

Goa Temple Stampede During Lairai Zatra Kills Six, Injures Dozens

Rajeev Sharma0 CommentsIndiaGoa stampede, Lairai Devi temple, Lairai Zatra, Shirgao

May 3, 2025 — A religious celebration in Goa turned tragic as a stampede at the Sree Lairai Devi temple in Shirgao village claimed six lives and left over 80 injured. The stampede occurred in the early hours during the fire-walking ritual of the Lairai Zatra festival, which draws thousands of devotees each year.The incident unfolded when people standing on a slope near the temple reportedly lost balance, causing a chain reaction that led to chaos in the crowd. According to Director General of Police Alok Kumar, the sudden collapse caused many to fall over one another as panic spread.…

02 May

Prince Harry Calls for Reconciliation with Royal Family as Security Row Deepens

Rajeev Sharma0 CommentsWorld NewsKing Charles III, Prince Harry, Royal Family Rift, UK Security Dispute

London, May 2, 2025 — Prince Harry has expressed his willingness to reconcile with the British royal family, even as a lingering dispute over security arrangements continues to widen the divide, particularly with his father, King Charles III.Speaking in a candid interview, Harry said he has "forgiven" the royal family and hopes to reconnect soon, especially in light of his father’s health and the uncertainty of time. However, he also revealed that King Charles has stopped communicating with him, with the breakdown in contact reportedly linked to the ongoing legal battle regarding police protection during Harry’s visits to the UK.The…

02 May

Universal Studios to Launch First Indian Theme Park Near Delhi by 2027

Rajeev Sharma0 CommentsIndiaDelhi Aerocity, Indoor Theme Park, Universal Studios India

New Delhi, May 2, 2025 — Universal Studios is set to make its Indian debut with an indoor theme park located near Delhi's Indira Gandhi International Airport. The project is part of a collaboration with Bharti Real Estate, which is developing a 3-million-square-foot mall in the Delhi Aerocity area. Approximately 300,000 square feet of this mall have been earmarked for the theme park, with completion expected by mid-2027. The upcoming mall is part of Bharti's larger 17-million-square-foot Aerocity development, aiming to transform the region into a premier commercial and entertainment hub. The Delhi government's recent approval for 24/7 operations of…

02 May

India Blocks Pakistani PM Shehbaz Sharif’s YouTube and Instagram Amid Fallout from Pahalgam Terror Attack

Rajeev Sharma0 CommentsIndiaInstagram restricted, Shehbaz Sharif, YouTube blocked

New Delhi, May 2, 2025 – The Indian government has blocked access to the official YouTube and Instagram accounts of Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif within Indian territory, citing national security concerns following the recent Pahalgam terror attack.Users trying to access Sharif’s YouTube page from India are now shown a message reading, “This content is currently unavailable in this country because of a government order related to national security or public order.” His Instagram profile also displays a restriction notice stating that the content is hidden due to a legal request from the Indian government.The development comes just days after…

02 May

Trump Threatens to Strip Harvard’s Tax-Exempt Status Amid Ongoing Crackdown on Elite Universities

Rajeev Sharma0 CommentsWorld NewsDonald Trump, Harvard University, Higher Education Crackdown, Tax Exemption

Washington, May 3, 2025 – U.S. President Donald Trump on Friday announced his intention to revoke Harvard University's tax-exempt status, escalating his administration's crackdown on elite academic institutions. The announcement, made via his social media platform, marks a new chapter in Trump’s increasingly combative stance against higher education institutions he accuses of promoting “radical left ideologies.”“We are going to be taking away Harvard’s Tax Exempt Status. It’s what they deserve!” Trump wrote, without offering a timeline or formal policy details.Harvard University has not yet responded publicly to the president’s remarks.Since returning to the White House in January, President Trump has…

02 May

PM Modi’s Jibe at Vizhinjam Port Inauguration Sparks Political Ripples

Rajeev Sharma0 CommentsIndiaPinarayi Vijayan, PM Modi, Shashi Tharoor, Vizhinjam Port

Thiruvananthapuram, May 2, 2025 – Prime Minister Narendra Modi sparked a political buzz on Thursday with a pointed remark during the inauguration of the Vizhinjam International Seaport in Kerala. Sharing the stage with Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan and Congress MP Shashi Tharoor, Modi commented that their presence together would cause “sleepless nights to many,” triggering sharp responses from opposition leaders.Addressing the event, the Prime Minister said, “The Chief Minister here is a strong pillar of the INDI alliance. Shashi Tharoor is also sitting here. Today’s event will take away the sleep of many.” The remark is widely seen as…