Rajeev Sharma, Author at National Times

16 Feb

Amit Shah, Rajnath Singh, and Nitin Gadkari Mourn Victims of New Delhi Railway Station Stampede

Rajeev Sharma0 CommentsIndiaAmit Shah, Ashwini Vaishnaw, New Delhi Railway Station stampede, Rajnath Singh

New Delhi, February 16, 2025 – Union Home Minister Amit Shah, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, and Minister for Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari have expressed deep sorrow over the tragic stampede at New Delhi Railway Station on Saturday, which claimed at least 15 lives and left several injured. Government Response and Condolences Home Minister Amit Shah discussed the incident with Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw, Delhi Lieutenant Governor VK Saxena, and the Delhi Police. He directed authorities to provide all possible assistance to those affected."Spoke to Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnav ji and other concerned officials regarding the accident at New…

15 Feb

Indian Railways Announces Special Train for Kumbh Mela

Rajeev Sharma0 CommentsIndiaIndian Railways special train, Kumbh Mela 2025

Ferozepur, February 15, 2025 – To manage the expected rush during the Kumbh Mela, Indian Railways has introduced a reserved special express train between Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Katra and Phaphamau. Train Schedule and Route A railway official confirmed the details of the special train operation:Train No. 04603 will depart from Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Katra on February 20, 2025, at 03:50 AM, reaching Phaphamau the next day at 04:25 AM.Train No. 04604 will leave Phaphamau on February 21, 2025, at 07:30 PM, arriving at Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Katra the next night at 10:00 PM. Halts and Passenger Convenience…

15 Feb

Trump and Musk Cut Over 9,500 Federal Jobs in Government Restructuring

Rajeev Sharma0 CommentsWorld Newsbureaucracy reduction, Donald Trump, Elon Musk, federal job cuts, government layoffs

Washington D.C., February 17, 2025– President Donald Trump and his adviser Elon Musk have fired more than 9,500 federal employees as part of their campaign to reduce U.S. bureaucracy. The move affects workers across key departments, including Interior, Energy, Veterans Affairs, Agriculture, and Health and Human Services.Mass Layoffs and BuyoutsThe Trump administration confirmed that about 75,000 workers have also accepted buyout packages to voluntarily leave their positions. This accounts for 3% of the 2.3 million-person civilian workforce.Workers impacted include probationary employees with limited employment protections. Among them, nearly 3,400 recent hires at the U.S. Forest Service and 1,000 National Park…

15 Feb

D Gukesh Finishes Last in Freestyle Chess Grand Slam

Rajeev Sharma0 CommentsSportsD Gukesh, Freestyle Chess Grand Slam, Magnus Carlsen, Vincent Keymer

Weissenhaus, Germany, February 17, 2025 – World champion D Gukesh ended his Freestyle Chess Grand Slam campaign in last place after losing his seventh-place playoff to Alireza Firouzja. Gukesh Struggles Throughout Tournament After a draw on the first day, Gukesh had a chance to make a comeback but lost in just 30 moves. A mid-game mistake forced him to give up his queen, allowing Firouzja to secure victory. The defeat meant Gukesh concluded the tournament without a single win. Vincent Keymer Shocks Fabiano Caruana to Win Title In a surprising outcome, Germany’s Vincent Keymer defeated Fabiano Caruana to win the…

15 Feb

10 Devotees on the way to Mahakumbh Dead in Tragic Head-On Collision

Rajeev Sharma0 CommentsIndiaBolero-Bus Collision, Maha Kumbh Devotees, Prayagraj Accident

Prayagraj, February 17, 2025 – Ten people on the way to Mahakumbh lost their lives in a head-on collision between a Bolero car and a bus on a highway in the Meja police station area late on Friday night, police confirmed on Saturday. Devotees Were Traveling to Maha Kumbh According to Deputy Commissioner of Police Vivek Chandra Yadav, the victims were devotees from Korba, Chhattisgarh, heading to the Maha Kumbh to take a holy dip. Their Bolero car collided with a bus, resulting in fatalities for all 10 passengers in the Bolero. Meanwhile, passengers in the bus sustained minor injuries.…

15 Feb

Army Chief Lauds India-US Defence Deal, Highlights 10-Year Plan for Defence Growth

Rajeev Sharma0 CommentsIndiaF-35 Fighter Jets, India-US Defence Deal, Modi-Trump Meeting

Noida, February 15, 2025– Army Chief General Upendra Dwivedi praised the India-US defence agreements signed following Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to the United States. He highlighted that the upcoming 10-year defence framework (2025-2035) will significantly boost India’s defence production and self-reliance. Strengthening Defence Ties Speaking at the annual reclaiming ceremony in Noida, General Dwivedi emphasized the Indian Army’s role in nation-building, beyond just ensuring security."We have received very good news that a 10-year plan will be laid out. Joint production will greatly benefit defence manufacturing, the Indian Army, and promote self-reliance," he said.India and the US have agreed to…

15 Feb

Cold Wave Continues in Srinagar, Lal Draman Winter Festival Draws Thousands

Rajeev Sharma0 CommentsIndiaCold Wave, Srinagar

Srinagar, February 15, 2025 – A cold wave has gripped Srinagar, with the city recording a minimum temperature of 0°C on Saturday. The maximum temperature reached 13°C, marking a slight drop from the previous day. Other towns across the Kashmir Valley reported similar chilly conditions. Dal Lake Comes Alive Despite Freezing Weather Despite the freezing temperatures, locals and tourists were seen enjoying the winter season at Dal Lake. Videos from the area showed residents embracing the cold, adding to the valley’s winter charm. Lal Draman Winter Festival Draws Huge Crowds The Jammu and Kashmir Tourism Department and District Administration organized…

15 Feb

Punjab CM Bhagwant Mann Assures Support for Deportees Ahead of US Flight’s Arrival

Rajeev Sharma0 CommentsPunjabBhagwant Mann, US Deportation Flight

Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann has said that his recent press conference prompted key changes in how the Centre is handling the return of Indian immigrants deported from the United States. The deportation flight is set to land at Amritsar airport at 10 PM today (Saturday), and Mann has assured that necessary arrangements are in place for those arriving. Revised Arrangements for Deportees Mann stated that unlike last time—when deportees were dropped off at a distant location—this time the flight will arrive directly at the passenger terminal. He outlined the following measures: Punjabis among the deportees will be allowed to…

15 Feb

Prime Suspect in Canada’s Biggest Gold Heist Found Residing in Chandigarh: Report

Rajeev Sharma0 CommentsCanadaCanada, Canada Gold Heist

Chandigarh (National Times): A 32-year-old former Air Canada manager, Simran Preet Panesar, who is wanted by Canadian authorities in connection with Canada’s largest gold heist, has been tracked down to Chandigarh, according to a report by The Indian Express. The Rs 173 Crore Gold Heist The high-profile theft took place in April 2023 at Toronto’s Pearson International Airport, where 6,600 gold bars weighing 400 kg, along with Rs 21 crore ($2.5 million) in foreign currency, were stolen from the airport’s cargo compound. The total value of the stolen goods is estimated at Rs 173 crore ($20 million), making it the…

15 Feb

US Army Bans Transgender Recruits Following Trump’s Executive Order

Rajeev Sharma0 CommentsWorld NewsUS Army

Washington DC (National Times): The United States Army has officially prohibited transgender individuals from enlisting and has halted all gender-affirming medical procedures for service members. The announcement follows an executive order signed by former President Donald Trump on January 27, which reinstates a ban on transgender recruits in the military. Policy Update and Implementation The Army stated in an official release that it “will no longer allow transgender individuals to join the military and will stop performing or facilitating procedures associated with gender transition for service members.” The executive order directs the Pentagon to finalize a policy on transgender service…