Rajeev Sharma, Author at National Times

14 Jul

Alberta, Ottawa and Oilsands Producers Sign Deal to Expand Production and Advance Carbon Capture Project

Rajeev Sharma0 CommentsAlberta, Canada, Ontario, TrendingAlberta, Ottawa

Edmonton (Rajeev Sharma): Alberta’s government, the federal government and Canada’s largest oilsands producers have reached a new agreement aimed at boosting oil production while accelerating development of a major carbon capture and storage initiative. The memorandum of understanding (MOU), signed between Alberta, Canada and the five-member Oil Sands Alliance, establishes a framework to expand oilsands output needed to support the proposed West Coast oil pipeline while advancing the Pathways carbon capture and storage (CCS) project. The provincial government described the agreement as a significant step toward attracting investment, reducing emissions and strengthening Alberta’s energy sector. Officials said the partnership is…

14 Jul

Alberta Launches Regulated Online Gaming Market With Stronger Player Protection Rules

Rajeev Sharma0 CommentsAlberta, Canada, TrendingAlberta

Edmonton (Rajeev Sharma): Alberta has officially launched its regulated online iGaming market, introducing new oversight measures designed to provide safer gambling options and strengthen protections for players across the province. The new framework begins operations with 22 registered online gaming sites, offering Albertans a legal alternative to previously available unregulated platforms. The province said the regulated system aims to improve accountability, promote responsible gaming and ensure operators follow strict standards for consumer protection. For years, online gambling services operated in Alberta without a provincial regulatory structure, leaving many players exposed to platforms with limited safeguards. Before the launch of the…

14 Jul

Alberta Report Highlights Lower Oilsands Emissions Intensity Ahead of National Environment Meeting

Rajeev Sharma0 CommentsAlberta, Canada, TrendingAlberta

Calgary (Rajeev Sharma): Alberta’s oilsands sector has recorded a significant decline in greenhouse gas emissions intensity while increasing production levels, according to a new provincial report released ahead of a national meeting of environment ministers. The annual Oil Sands Greenhouse Gas Emissions Intensity Report shows that emissions produced per barrel of oilsands output have fallen by 28 per cent compared with previous levels. At the same time, oilsands production reached more than 3.3 million barrels per day in 2024, marking an increase of nearly 1.7 million barrels per day since 2012. The findings are set to be presented by Alberta…

14 Jul

Himachal Weather Update: Monsoon Takes a Break, Heavy Rain Spell Likely After July 18

Rajeev Sharma0 CommentsIndia, TrendingHimachal

Shimla (Rajeev Sharma): Himachal Pradesh is witnessing a temporary pause in monsoon activity, with clear skies dominating several parts of the state and temperatures gradually climbing. Weather officials have predicted that the dry spell will continue for a few more days before rainfall intensity increases from July 18 under the influence of a new weather system. The state capital Shimla and several other regions experienced sunny conditions on Tuesday, marking the second consecutive day of relatively clear weather. The reduction in rain has led to warmer conditions, especially in the plains, where humidity levels have also increased. The Meteorological Department…

14 Jul

Iran Says It Shot Down US Surveillance Drone Over Hormuz Amid Intensifying Military Standoff

Rajeev Sharma0 CommentsTrending, World NewsIran

Tehran (Rajeev Sharma): Iran has claimed that its Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) brought down a US MQ-1 surveillance drone over the Strait of Hormuz, further escalating tensions between Tehran and Washington as both sides exchange military threats and operations in the Gulf region. The announcement was made through Iran's state broadcaster, Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting (IRIB), which reported that the unmanned American aircraft had been intercepted over the strategic waterway. The claim was later repeated by several Iranian state-run media outlets. However, Iranian officials did not disclose details about the location of the incident or the circumstances surrounding…

14 Jul

Iran Pushes Back Against Donald Trump’s Strait of Hormuz Security Plan, Calls 20% Fee ‘Excessive’

Rajeev Sharma0 CommentsTrending, World NewsStrait of Hormuz

Tehran (Rajeev Sharma): Iran has sharply criticised US President Donald Trump's proposal to impose a 20 per cent charge on cargo passing through the Strait of Hormuz, insisting that Tehran—not Washington—has long been responsible for safeguarding the strategically important waterway. The latest war of words unfolded after Trump announced that the United States would assume the role of protecting commercial shipping in the Strait while introducing a levy on vessels to offset the cost of maritime security operations. Responding on X, Iranian Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi dismissed the US President's claim that America would become the "guardian" of the…

14 Jul

Iranian Missile Strike on UAE Oil Tankers Leaves Indian Sailor Dead, Eight Injured

Rajeev Sharma0 CommentsTrending, World NewsStrait of Hormuz

Dubai (Rajeev Sharma): An Indian crew member was killed and eight others were injured after two UAE-flagged oil tankers were reportedly struck by Iranian cruise missiles while passing through the Strait of Hormuz on Tuesday, according to the UAE Ministry of Defence. The ministry said the vessels, Mombasa and Al Bahiyah, were sailing along the southern shipping corridor in Omani territorial waters when the missiles hit. The attack triggered fires on both tankers, causing substantial damage before emergency response teams managed to contain the flames. Officials confirmed that the deceased was an Indian national working aboard the Mombasa. Among the…

13 Jul

Middle East Tensions Escalate as Iran Claims Closure of Strait of Hormuz Following US Airstrikes

Rajeev Sharma0 CommentsWorld Newsglobal energy trade, Iran crisis, IRGC, Maritime security, Strait of Hormuz, United States military

Tehran (Rajeev Sharma)— Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) has announced the indefinite closure of the strategic Strait of Hormuz, declaring that the vital maritime choke point will remain shut until the United States halts its military interventions in the West Asia region. The declaration follows severe military escalations over the weekend, including a series of intensive U.S. airstrikes hitting roughly 140 Iranian military sites. While Tehran asserts that no shipping traffic will be permitted through the waterway, U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) has challenged the blockade, maintaining that naval assets continue to safeguard commercial transit lanes. The administrative decision to…

13 Jul

Yamuna Tragedy: Multi-Agency Search Continues After Four Schoolboys Swept Away in Delhi

Rajeev Sharma0 CommentsIndia, TrendingDelhi, India

Delhi (Rajeev Sharma): Rescue teams continued their search for four minor boys who went missing after being swept away by the Yamuna River’s strong current near Hiranki village in Delhi’s Alipur area. The incident occurred when the children entered the river for a bath and were caught in the fast-flowing water. According to officials, the boys were part of a group of five friends visiting the river. One child managed to remain safe and immediately alerted nearby people after seeing his friends being carried away by the current. Emergency services were informed soon after, leading to a large-scale rescue operation.…

13 Jul

Fresh wave of strikes fuels middle east tensions as US and Iran trade claims of military actions

Rajeev Sharma0 CommentsTrending, World NewsDonald Trump, Iran, US

Tehran (Rajeev Sharma): The security situation in the Middle East has grown increasingly volatile following reports of fresh military action involving the United States and Iran, with both sides claiming to have targeted key strategic locations. According to reports, the United States launched strikes on Iran’s Aghajari Oil and Gas Airport, where visuals circulating online appeared to show large flames and smoke rising from the facility. Reports also indicated that the Mahshahr petrochemical complex was among the sites hit during the latest operations. Iran, meanwhile, claimed it had carried out retaliatory missile and drone attacks targeting several locations linked to…