Rajeev Sharma, Author at National Times

21 Mar

Mark Carney will ask Governor General to dissolve Parliament Sunday and call election

Rajeev Sharma0 CommentsCanadaCanada election, Governor General, Mark Carney, Parliament dissolution

Alberta ( Rajeev Sharma): Prime Minister Mark Carney will ask the Governor General to dissolve Parliament and call a federal election this Sunday, Radio-Canada has learned. The election campaign will kick off barely a week after Carney was sworn in as prime minister and appointed his cabinet. Carney's trip to Rideau Hall to speak to Gov. Gen. Mary Simon will come a day before MPs were scheduled to return after Parliament was prorogued on Jan. 6. An election campaign is expected to last between 36 and 50 days. Election day remains to be confirmed, but voters are expected to cast…

21 Mar

Poilievre Defends Decision to Block Journalists from Campaign Plane

Rajeev Sharma0 CommentsCanadacampaign plane, journalism, media access, Pierre Poilievre, press freedom

Calgary (Rajeev Sharma): Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre has defended his party’s decision to bar national political reporters from traveling on the campaign plane, saying it will allow for greater engagement with local journalists instead. The Conservative Party’s move, announced earlier this week, breaks with long-standing election campaign traditions, where national reporters typically accompany party leaders. Instead, Poilievre’s campaign will rely on regional media to cover his events and news conferences. Speaking in Jonquière, Quebec, Poilievre dismissed concerns that the decision would limit media access, particularly for francophone journalists. He assured that his campaign would maintain open access across the country…

20 Mar

Alberta Premier Denielle Smith Issues Strong Demands to Ottawa in Meeting with PM Mark Carney

Rajeev Sharma0 CommentsCanadaAlberta, Danielle Smith, Federal Policies, Mark Carney, Oil and Gas

Calgary ( Rajeev Sharma) : Alberta Premier Denielle Smith met with Prime Minister Mark Carney today in what she described as a “very frank discussion” about Alberta’s ongoing grievances with federal policies. The Premier outlined a series of demands she said must be addressed within the first six months of the next federal government’s term to prevent what she called an “unprecedented national unity crisis.” Among the key demands: • Guaranteed access to oil and gas corridors in all directions • Repeal of Bill C-69 (the “no new pipelines act”) • Lifting of the BC coastal tanker ban • Elimination…

20 Mar

Yuzvendra Chahal and Dhanashree Verma Officially Divorced, ₹4.75 Crore Alimony Settlement Finalized

Rajeev Sharma0 CommentsEntertainmentBandra Family Court, Dhanashree Verma, divorce, Yuzvendra Chahal

(National Times Bureau), March 20, 2025 : Yuzvendra Chahal and Dhanashree Verma are no longer husband and wife. The Bandra Family Court in Mumbai granted their divorce on March 20, 2025, after the couple filed for dissolution of marriage by mutual consent in February. They had been living separately since June 2022.Chahal, a prominent Indian cricketer, and Verma, a choreographer and social media influencer, tied the knot in December 2020. However, growing differences led them to seek a formal end to their marriage. The Bombay High Court expedited the process by waiving the mandatory six-month cooling-off period, considering Chahal’s professional…

20 Mar

Supreme Court Collegium Approves Appointment of Eight Judges to Gujarat High Court

Rajeev Sharma0 CommentsIndiaChief Justice of India, Gujarat High Court, Judicial Appointments, Supreme Court Collegium

New Delhi, March 20, 2025 – The Supreme Court Collegium has approved the appointment of eight judicial officers as judges of the Gujarat High Court. The decision, made during a meeting on March 19, aims to strengthen the judiciary and address the rising workload in the High Court.The newly appointed judges are Liyakathussain Shamsuddin Pirzada, Ramchandra Thakurdas Vachhani, Jayesh Lakhanshibhai Odedra, Pranav Maheshbhai Raval, Mool Chand Tyagi, Dipak Mansukhlal Vyas, Utkarsh Thakorbhai Desai, and Rohenkumar Kundanlal Chudawala. These judicial officers, known for their expertise and dedication, are expected to improve the Gujarat High Court's efficiency and contribute to timely justice…

20 Mar

Karnataka Government to Table Salary Hike Bills for CM, Ministers, and MLAs Tomorrow

Rajeev Sharma0 CommentsIndiaChief Minister, Karnataka Government, Ministers, MLAs, Salary Hike

Bengaluru, March 20, 2025 – The Karnataka government has approved a 100% salary hike for the Chief Minister, Ministers, and MLAs, triggering a heated debate. The hike comes through the Karnataka Ministers' Salaries and Allowances (Amendment) Bill 2025 and the Karnataka Legislature Members' Salaries, Pensions, and Allowances (Amendment) Bill 2025, which are likely to be tabled in the Assembly tomorrow.Home Minister G Parameshwara defended the hike, citing rising expenditures and the need for lawmakers to survive. He argued that MLAs face increasing costs like ordinary citizens and need financial support to manage their responsibilities effectively.State Minister MB Patil supported the…

20 Mar

Israeli Strikes Kill 58 Palestinians as Gaza Conflict Escalates

Rajeev Sharma0 CommentsWorld NewsCeasefire, Gaza conflict, Hamas, Hostages, Israeli Airstrikes

Gaza, March 20, 2025 – Israeli airstrikes killed at least 58 Palestinians across Gaza overnight and into Thursday, as fighting resumed following the collapse of a ceasefire. According to Gaza’s Health Ministry, the strikes hit several homes in the middle of the night, killing men, women, and children in their sleep.The deadliest strike occurred in Abasan al-Kabira, near Khan Younis, where a house belonging to the Abu Daqa family was destroyed. Sixteen people were killed, including a father and his seven children, along with the parents and brother of a month-old baby who survived with her grandparents. The European Hospital…

20 Mar

Child Poverty on the Rise in Canada After Years of Decline

Rajeev Sharma0 CommentsCanadaCanada, Child Poverty

Calgary (Rajeev Sharma): After years of steady decline, child poverty in Canada is once again on the rise. Recent data reveals that nearly 1.4 million children were living in poverty in 2022, marking a troubling reversal of progress made between 2015 and 2022. During that period, government initiatives such as the Canada Child Benefit (CCB) played a key role in reducing child poverty rates. However, economic pressures—including inflation, rising living costs, and the expiration of pandemic-era financial support programs—have led to an increase in financial hardship for many families. Advocacy groups are calling for stronger action to address the issue,…

20 Mar

Calgary Marathi Association Hosts International Women’s Day Celebration

Rajeev Sharma0 CommentsCanadaCalgary, Calgary Marathi Association

Calgary (Rajeev Sharma): The Calgary Marathi Association (CMA) recently celebrated International Women’s Day at the Phoenix Room of the Dalhousie Community Association. The inaugural event, organized by CMA’s all-female management committee, aimed to celebrate the strength, achievements, and contributions of women. The event featured inspiring sessions where female entrepreneurs shared their success stories and the challenges they faced along their journeys. These narratives motivated other women to pursue their dreams, even those that had been put aside due to family obligations. Attendees also enjoyed informative sessions, such as “Winter Essentials,” and participated in engaging activities designed to foster connection and…

19 Mar

JFK Assassination Files Reveal CIA’s Secret Bases in India

Rajeev Sharma0 CommentsIndiaCIA secret bases, JFK assassination files, Kolkata, New Delhi

New Delhi, March 19, 2025 – Recently declassified files related to the assassination of US President John F. Kennedy in 1963 have revealed the existence of CIA-operated secret bases in two of India's major cities—New Delhi and Kolkata—during the Cold War era. The files, released by the US National Archives and Records Administration (NARA), have shed new light on the covert operations of the CIA in South Asia.The revelation came to light after Russian-backed international news outlet RT shared details of the documents on social media platform X. The files confirm that the CIA maintained “black sites” in New Delhi…