Rajeev Sharma, Author at National Times

31 Jul

Spain Under Siege: 60,000 Migrants Storm Ceuta Border, Sánchez Faces Political Firestorm

Rajeev Sharma0 CommentsWorld News

Ceuta, Spain (Bureau): Spain is grappling with one of the most serious migration crises in its recent history after an estimated 50,000 to 60,000 unauthorized migrants crossed into the Spanish enclave of Ceuta from Morocco, overwhelming security forces, stretching humanitarian resources to the breaking point, and triggering a fierce political backlash against Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez. The unprecedented influx into the tiny North African enclave, home to nearly 80,000 residents, has forced the Spanish government to deploy the military after Civil Guard personnel struggled to contain the mass border crossings. Many migrants reportedly swam around border barriers or rushed through…

31 Jul

FBI Names Punjab Resident Gurpreet Singh as Wanted Accused in Alleged International Crime Case

Rajeev Sharma0 CommentsBusiness

Chandigarh (Gurpreet Singh/Rajeev Sharma): The United States Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) has added Punjab resident Gurpreet Singh to its wanted list in connection with an alleged transnational organised crime investigation, marking another case involving a person from the state in an international criminal probe. According to the FBI, Singh is accused of having links with the Jaggu Bhagwanpuria organised crime group, which the agency claims originated in Punjab and later operated in parts of the United States, including California. The agency has alleged that Singh was involved in offences related to illegal firearms transactions, drug trafficking and the distribution…

31 Jul

Amnesty Report Claims Indian Defence Exports to Israel Continued During Gaza Conflict

Rajeev Sharma0 CommentsTrending, World NewsAmnesty Report, Gaza

New Delhi (Rajeev Sharma): A report by Amnesty International has alleged that defence-related exports from India to Israel continued after the beginning of the Gaza conflict, with thousands of shipments of military equipment and components reportedly reaching Israeli defence companies. The rights organisation said it analysed trade records and identified 2,596 shipments of weapons, ammunition and related parts sent from India to Israel since October 7, 2023. According to the report, the supplies came from Indian companies, including some with government ownership or control, and were delivered to Israeli firms linked with the country's defence establishment. Amnesty alleged that these…

31 Jul

Rain Fury Hits Himachal Pradesh: Dalhousie Schools Shut, Kinnaur Highway Blocked After Landslide

Rajeev Sharma0 CommentsIndia, TrendingHimachal Pradesh

Shimla (Rajeev Sharma): Heavy monsoon showers continued to disrupt normal activities across Himachal Pradesh, with several districts reporting water-related problems, road blockages and weather-related incidents over the past day. Dalhousie witnessed intense rainfall in the morning, prompting the local administration to order the closure of all educational institutions in the area. The decision was taken as a safety measure amid concerns over worsening weather conditions. The impact of the rainfall was also felt in Kinnaur, where a landslide near Chaura led to the closure of National Highway-5. The highway remained blocked after debris fell onto the road, leaving vehicles stranded…

31 Jul

Nitin Gadkari Takes Legal Route Over Online Claims Linking Him to E20 Fuel Policy

Rajeev Sharma0 CommentsIndia, TrendingNitin Gadkari

Mumbai/New Delhi (Rajeev Sharma): Union Road Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari has approached the Bombay High Court seeking action over what he describes as a campaign involving allegedly false and manipulated online content connecting him and his family with the government's E20 ethanol-blended petrol initiative. The legal move comes after a prolonged social media debate surrounding the fuel policy, with Gadkari alleging that artificial intelligence-generated videos, altered clips and misleading posts have been circulated to create a false narrative about his role in the programme. The minister's petition has named Meta Platforms, X Corp, Google and certain unidentified persons…

31 Jul

Reports Suggest Shehzad Poonawalla Has Resigned From BJP; Official Confirmation Awaited

Rajeev Sharma0 CommentsIndia, Politics, TrendingShehzad Poonawalla

New Delhi (Rajeev Sharma): Reports emerging from political circles indicate that BJP national spokesperson Shehzad Poonawalla has stepped down from the Bharatiya Janata Party, though the development has not yet been officially confirmed by the party or by Poonawalla himself. Sources said the resignation was reportedly submitted to the BJP leadership on Thursday evening. However, no details have been disclosed regarding the circumstances or reasons behind the reported move. Adding to the speculation, Poonawalla has revised the profile descriptions across his social media platforms, removing references to his role in the BJP. His updated bio now identifies him as a…

31 Jul

Hyderabad Police File FIR Against Meta India Head, Social Media Handles Over Alleged Offensive Posts on PM Modi

Rajeev Sharma0 CommentsIndia, Technology, TrendingHyderabad, Meta

Hyderabad (Rajeev Sharma): The Cyber Crime Wing of Hyderabad Police has registered a criminal case against the India head of Meta Platforms and the operators of several Facebook and Instagram accounts over allegations that objectionable and manipulated content targeting Prime Minister Narendra Modi was circulated on social media during protests linked to the Cockroach Janta Party's (CJP) agitation over the NEET paper leak. The FIR was registered following a complaint submitted by T. Saikiran Goud, a member of the BJP Telangana social media team. According to the complaint, Goud noticed multiple reels and posts on Facebook and Instagram on July…

31 Jul

WestJet Strike Countdown Begins: 72-Hour Notice Sparks Travel Chaos, Airfares Surge Across Canada

Rajeev Sharma0 CommentsAlberta, Canada, TrendingAlberta, Canada

Calgary (Rajeev Sharma): Thousands of Canadian travellers are facing uncertainty after WestJet flight attendants served a 72-hour strike notice, putting the airline on the brink of a labour disruption ahead of the August long weekend. Unless a last-minute agreement is reached, a strike or lockout could begin as early as August 2, threatening to disrupt travel plans for tens of thousands of passengers across Canada and on international routes. The Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE), representing approximately 4,400 WestJet flight attendants, says cabin crew should be paid for every hour they are on duty, including time spent boarding passengers,…

31 Jul

Family of Injured Delhi Police Officer Shares Account of Jantar Mantar Protest Violence

Rajeev Sharma0 CommentsIndia, TrendingDelhi Police

New Delhi (Rajeev Sharma): Relatives of Delhi Police personnel who sustained injuries during the recent protest at Jantar Mantar addressed the media on Thursday, describing the physical and emotional impact of the violence on their families. Among those who spoke was the daughter of a Delhi Police sub-inspector, who recounted the circumstances surrounding her father's injuries while he was deployed to maintain law and order at the protest site. According to her, the officer had been stationed on the front line near the barricades as thousands of demonstrators gathered at Jantar Mantar. She said he had previously expressed concern that…

30 Jul

Ontario Explores Future Energy Potential at Former Nanticoke Coal Site

Rajeev Sharma0 CommentsCanada, Ontario

Toronto (Rajeev Sharma): The Ontario government has announced $500,000 in "growth readiness funding" for Haldimand County to evaluate potential new energy projects at the site of the former Nanticoke coal-fired generating station. Closed in 2013, the facility—once the largest coal plant in North America—is being considered for a return to power generation to help meet the province's projected 90 per cent increase in electricity demand by 2050. Energy and Mines Minister Stephen Lecce stated that the funding will support community consultations and planning for "firm" energy sources—reliable power that can be generated on demand. While no technology has been selected,…