Rajeev Sharma, Author at National Times

27 Feb

Mark Carney Arrives in Mumbai for Four-Day India Visit, To Meet PM Modi on March 2

Rajeev Sharma0 CommentsCanada, IndiaCanada India relations, Carney Modi meeting March 2, India Canada CEO Forum, Mark Carney India visit, Mark Carney Mumbai arrival

Mumbai (Rajeev Sharma): Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney arrived in Mumbai on Friday, marking the beginning of his four-day official visit to India. According to the official schedule, Carney will travel to New Delhi on March 1 and is set to meet Narendra Modi on March 2. The meeting is expected to focus on strengthening bilateral ties and exploring avenues for cooperation across key sectors. During his stay in the national capital, the Canadian Prime Minister will also hold talks with S. Jaishankar. In addition, he is scheduled to address the India-Canada CEO Forum, where business leaders from both countries…

27 Feb

Magnitude 5.5 Earthquake Jolts Kolkata and Border Districts; Cracks Reported in North Kolkata Buildings

Rajeev Sharma0 CommentsIndiaKolkata earthquake today 2026, magnitude 5.5 earthquake West Bengal, North 24 Parganas tremors, Satkhira Bangladesh earthquake epicentre

Kolkata (Gurpreet Singh)— A powerful earthquake measuring 5.5 on the Richter Scale struck the Indo-Bangladesh border region on Friday afternoon, February 27, 2026, sending shockwaves through Kolkata and the adjacent districts of West Bengal. The tremors, which occurred at approximately 1:22 PM, lasted for nearly ten seconds and originated from a shallow depth of 10 km below the Earth’s surface. According to the India Meteorological Department (IMD), the epicentre was located in the Satkhira district of Bangladesh, situated just 100 km from Kolkata and a mere 25 km from the border town of Taki in North 24 Parganas. The prolonged…

27 Feb

Delhi excise policy case: Kejriwal calls verdict ‘victory of truth’; breaks down after clean chit

Rajeev Sharma0 CommentsEntertainment, India, TrendingArvind Kejriwal, New Delhi

New Delhi, Rajeev Sharma :- In a significant development in the Delhi excise policy case, a Delhi court has granted relief to former Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia as well as Arvind Kejriwal, stating that the prosecution failed to present convincing material to sustain the allegations against them. The court observed that serious charges require substantive evidence and cannot rest on broad or unsubstantiated claims. It noted that attributing a central conspiratorial role without credible proof weakens the very foundation of criminal prosecution. The judge further remarked that public faith in constitutional offices is compromised when allegations are not backed…

27 Feb

Rinku Singh’s father dies after prolonged battle with cancer, cricketer flies home

Rajeev Sharma0 CommentsIndia

National Times Bureau :- Indian ace batter Rinku Singh's father, Khanchand Singh, passed away on February 27 after a prolonged battle with stage 4 liver cancer. He breathed his last at Yatharth Hospital in Greater Noida, where he had been undergoing treatment in recent days as his condition deteriorated. He was placed on ventilator support and was receiving renal therapy as doctors continued to stabilise him. Despite intensive care, his health kept deteriorating rapidly and doctors could not revive him. Rinku Singh suffered a personal loss during the ICC Men's T20 World Cup, as his father passed away after battling…

27 Feb

Arvind Kejriwal, Manish Sisodia and all other accused discharged in Delhi liquor policy case

Rajeev Sharma0 CommentsEntertainment, India, TrendingArvind Kejriwal, Manish sisodiya

New Delhi, Rajeev Sharma :- Former Arvind Kejriwal and his former deputy Manish Sisodia were discharged in the Delhi excise policy case, after a Delhi court ruled that the prosecution failed to provide credible evidence to support its allegations. The court delivered a sharp rebuke to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), stating that claims of a larger conspiracy and criminal intent were not backed by material evidence. It observed that serious allegations require solid proof and cannot be sustained without supporting material. The judge noted that the documents and statements presented reflected administrative decision-making rather than criminal wrongdoing. The…

27 Feb

OpenAI Pledges Enhanced Safety Protocols Following Scrutiny Over Canada School Shooting

Rajeev Sharma0 CommentsCanadaAI law enforcement referral, Jesse Van Rootselaar account ban, OpenAI Canada safety measures, Tumbler Ridge shooting, Tumbler Ridge shooting ChatGPT

Ottawa (Rajeev Sharma): In a direct response to a tragic mass shooting that claimed eight lives in Tumbler Ridge, British Columbia, OpenAI has committed to a series of urgent safety reforms to its AI platforms. The decision follows intense pressure from the Canadian federal government after it was revealed that the 18-year-old shooter, Jesse Van Rootselaar, had been banned from ChatGPT months before the attack for policy violations related to violent content—yet the company did not alert law enforcement at the time. In a letter addressed to Canada’s Minister of Artificial Intelligence and Digital Innovation, Evan Solomon, OpenAI’s Vice President…

27 Feb

Alberta Projects C$9.4 Billion Deficit as Softening Oil Prices Strain Provincial Coffers

Rajeev Sharma0 CommentsAlberta, CanadaAlberta, Alberta budget deficit 2026, Alberta Heritage Savings Trust Fund, Alberta oil price impact, Nate Horner finance minister, WTI crude forecast Alberta

Edmonton (Rajeev Sharma) — The Government of Alberta has unveiled a stark fiscal outlook for the upcoming fiscal year, projecting a significant C$9.4 billion deficit as the province grapples with the impact of lower global oil prices. Finance Minister Nate Horner presented the 2026-27 provincial budget on Thursday, highlighting a sharp reversal from the modest surpluses of previous years. The shift underscores the province's continued vulnerability to the volatile energy markets that remain the backbone of its economy. The projected shortfall is primarily attributed to a downward revision in the forecast for West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude, the North American…

27 Feb

Pakistan Declares “Open War” on Afghanistan Following Deadly Border Clashes and Air Strikes

Rajeev Sharma0 CommentsWorld NewsAfghan forces kill 55 Pakistani soldiers, Khawaja Asif open war statement, Operation Ghazab Lil Haq, Pakistan Afghanistan open war 2026

Islamabad/Kamul (Rajeev Sharma) — The long-simmering tensions between Pakistan and the Taliban-led administration in Afghanistan erupted into a full-scale military conflict on Friday, February 27, 2026. In a dramatic escalation, Pakistan’s Defence Minister Khawaja Asif officially declared "open war" against Kabul, accusing the Taliban of exporting terrorism and harboring global militant groups. This declaration followed a series of retaliatory Pakistani air strikes targeting Kabul, Kandahar, and Paktia, marking a point of no return in the diplomatic and security relations between the two neighbours. The immediate catalyst for this declaration was a massive cross-border operation launched by Afghan forces late Thursday,…

26 Feb

DGCA Mandates 48-Hour Free Cancellation Window and Reforms Name Correction Rules

Rajeev Sharma0 CommentsIndia, Lifestyle48-hour free flight cancellation, DGCA name correction policy, DGCA ticket refund rules 2026, India aviation passenger rights

NEW DELHI (Rajeev Sharma) — In a landmark decision to bolster passenger rights, India’s aviation regulator, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), has officially revised its ticket refund and amendment norms. The updated Civil Aviation Requirements (CAR), issued on February 24, 2026, introduce a "Look-in option" that allows travellers to cancel or modify their flight bookings without incurring any additional charges for the first 48 hours. This reform is a direct response to a massive surge in consumer grievances recorded in late 2025 following widespread industry disruptions. The new policy provides a significant 48-hour safety net for passengers immediately…

26 Feb

Kerala High Court Stays Release of ‘The Kerala Story 2’ Over Concerns of Social Harmony

Rajeev Sharma0 CommentsEntertainment

KOCHI (Rajeev Sharma) — In a significant legal intervention, the Kerala High Court on Thursday, February 26, 2026, issued an interim stay on the release of the highly controversial film The Kerala Story 2-Goes Beyond. The order comes just 24 hours before the movie's scheduled nationwide premiere. Justice Bechu Kurian Thomas, while presiding over two petitions challenging the film, remarked that there appeared to be a "non-application of mind" by the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) during its certification process. The court observed that the CBFC seemed to have disregarded specific guidelines intended to prevent cinematic content from disrupting…