NEW DELHI — The quality of air over the Indian capital and nearby areas improved from “Very Poor” to the “Poor” category on Tuesday.
As per the data from the System of Air Quality and Weather Forecasting and Research (SAFAR), the air quality index (AQI) in the national capital was recorded at 221 on Tuesday which is categorised as “Poor”. The air quality had been in the “Very Poor” category over the past few days.
As the air quality improved, the federal government’s sub-committee for invoking actions under the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) of the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) in Delhi and adjoining areas relaxed the restrictions related to construction and transportation activities.
However, in a bid to curb air pollution, the sub-committee directed the concerned agencies to ensure vacuum-based sweeping of roads, water sprinkling and regular inspection and strict enforcement of dust control at construction and demolition sites.
Air pollution in Delhi and surrounding areas normally rises during winter months. Stubble burning by farmers in neighbouring states, particularly Haryana and Punjab, and vehicular pollution are often cited as reasons leading to the rise in air pollution in the national capital region (NCR), which also include adjacent cities like Gurugram, Noida, Ghaziabad, and others. (Xinhua)
BALI, Indonesia — The 17th Group of 20 (G20) Summit kicked off here on Tuesday, with issues pertaining to world economic recovery, world health systems and climate change taking the center stage.
During the two-day summit with the theme “Recover Together, Recover Stronger,” other issues including digital transformation, and food and energy security will also be discussed.
The international community pins its hope on major economies to strengthen coordination on macroeconomic policies and promote multilateralism, openness, inclusiveness and win-win cooperation at the summit.
Established in 1999, the G20 is a central forum for international cooperation on financial and economic issues. It comprises 19 countries plus the European Union (EU).
The countries are Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Canada, China, France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Italy, Japan, Mexico, Russia, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, South Korea, Türkiye, Britain and the United States. (Xinhua)
London – LDC Watch, a coalition of civil society organisations based in the Least Developed Countries (LDCs), has warned that any delay in implementing proportionate action on mitigation and adaptation will mean a move closer to the tipping point, causing irredeemable damage to the climate and its ability to recover from climate impacts.
In a statement issued in the Egyptian resort city on Saturday, during the 27th Conference of the Parties (COP27), the organisation said there is an urgent need to puruse approaches that work for people in LDCs and the planet. “Business as usual is no longer option. We demand radical transformative actions that reocognise that the world is now in extraordinarily dangerous territory (and) radical changes are necessary,” the statement said.
The organisation called for an immediate scaling up of climate finance that recognises the damage that current policies have had on LDCs and their people. In addition, the LDC Watch called upon the international community to provide a separate financial facility dedicated to the Loss and Damage needs of the LDCs.
“We call on developed nation member states and the COP27 Presidency to ensure that loss and damage is an operational and functional agenda at COP27 that also secures the operationalisation of the Santiago Network on Loss and Damage, ensuring that it is responsive to the demands, needs, and experiences of vulnerable communities of the LDCs and other developing countries,” the statement said, adding, “We strongly condemn the deception, delays and inaction of the governments of rich and industrialised countries of the global north to evade the delivery of their climate finance obligations.”
The important first step should be the delivery of historical promises, including the $100 billion annual climate finance related to the Global Climate Facility (GCF), which developed countries were meant to deliver each year from 2020 to 2025, the LDC Watch said. “So far, this has not been delivered. We urgently demand that LDC Fund and Adaptation Fund are made accessible to LDCs as much-needed resources to support climate action. It is imperative that the finance is new, additional, sustainable and predictable. Similarly, additional funds for Loss and Damage as well as technical assistance to enable the countries to develop systems to measure and monitor the extent of loss and damage, including those directly related to the lives and livelihoods of the people of LDCs, should also be equally prioritised,” said the statement issued by Dr Arjun Karki, global coordinator of the LDC Watch.
“We strongly condemn the false solutions packaged pledges that are heavily based on the assumption that unproven technologies and mechanisms can offset continued GreenHouse Gas (GHG) emissions by removing carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. Instead, we call for radically reducing emissions to Real Zero, which requires rapid and drastic cuts in emissions and challenging economic models and powerful interests that are at the root of the climate crisis. We call on the International Community and the World leaders to recognise this reality and commit their national policies to respond accordingly,” the statement added.
While LDCs have least contributed to climate change, collectively contributing just 1.1 % of global emissions, they are disproportionately affected by climate change impacts. Nearly one billion people live in 46 countries defined by the United Nations as LDCs.
“A lie can travel halfway around the world before the truth puts on its shoes” -Mark Twain
The above quotation by 20th century noted American writer and humorist,Mark Twain, is hinting at the point that a lie gets circulated in a rapid succession by virtue of its provocativeand sensationalnature. It also connotes that truth is sluggish in its circulation while a lie is slippery and hence, gets easily circulated due to its evocative and stimulating quality. This quotation is quite pertinent in this era of post-truth, where truth is overshadowed under the grip of falsehood in an easy way.
As an adjective, Oxford Dictionary defines post-truth as ‘relating to or denoting circumstances in which objective facts are less influential in shaping public opinion than appeals to emotion and personal belief’. This phrase got its impetus after Donald Trump was elected as the President of United States of America, and EU referendum in the United Kingdom in the year 2016, in which UK voters opted to disconnect the country from the membership of the European Union. Majority of people across the world responded these events as something unexpected ones caused by emotional response of the people at the cost of their rational one. The phrase “post-truth” was used earlier by different writers in different contexts but after the mentioned events, it has been used more in the contexts of politics, and now misleading politics against people is associated with “post-truth politics.” Oxford Dictionary declared “post-truth” as the word of the year in 2016 due the frequency of its use in diverse debates, discussions and deliberations.
Humans are now consumer beings. They aspire and strive to consume even ideas, information, news, views, and so onthrough different sources and cites. And the propagators of ideas and information are so tricky that they offer us embellished version of truth rather than the “stark” truth itself. This is the real situation we are really in at present. Communication technologies have penetrated into our life in such a way that they are not only killing our rationality but driving us to see the world through their eyes not through ours. The socio-political life of post-modern times has been highly affected by the post-truth world situation, where real truth is less instrumental and different versions of truth have significant effects in different socio-political occasions.Post-truth is also used synonymously as “customized lie” that is executed to influence the public opinion by striking their emotionality and belief systems rather than rationality and stark reality. In this sense, at present, people wishing to influence other should be smart enough to create a discourse, which could easily satisfy and manipulate people by letting them accept the things before them without any counter question as such.
Now, the question is being raised— has the rationality of humanity been suspended,and have emotion and personal belief systems been prevailing despite the fact that truth has so many evidences and valid things to project? What will happen to the entire world when post-truth starts ruling the age? The so-called social media platforms are supposed to be significantly responsible to establish post-truth world situation by publicizing the deluge of distorted images, fake news, propagandist ideologies, and other information. Social media platforms as communication techniques and technologies have an intense effect to shape public consciousness, more particularly during the elections.
The fervor of general election has now gripped Nepal in a full-fledged manner. Diverse social media networks have been exploited to manipulate the common people. The intense instrumentalization of social media technologies for propaganda and manipulation has posed the critical questions about the real truth. Instead of projecting their real policies, plans and proposals, the so-called candidates of almost all parties are involved in blame games through the display of distorted images, edited speeches, personalized things, etc.of rival parties simply with a view to appealing voters emotionally and altering their earlier decisions.
Different rhetorics, which have been already turned out to be afiasco, are being used by major political parties to brainwash the public. They are committed to change the voting behaviors of the masses through the rhetoric of nationalism, employment generation, maintaining qui-distance with Indian and China, taking back the Nepali territories occupied by India so far, and host of others. Some candidates have gone to the extent of assuring the voters to send them to foreign employments free of cost if they cast votes in favorof their parties. The most horrible scenario seen in Nepal, these days, is thateven the so-called intellectuals holding high profile in different sectors are the supporters of the leaders of such political parties, the ideologies of which have already been outdated, and are even seen in rallying cries during different occasions of the parties. What can we expect from them for whom the truth is not exactly what it is but what they believe and have faith on?
Thepost-truth effectsin Nepali politics has led it to be a pathological politics consequently there is a growing disenchantment of genuine ones towards politics. This effect has merely galvanized to frustration among the rational people in the country. The whole country has been the victim of disinformation, manipulation and propaganda of the major political parties for the last three decades, which are not even tired to claim that they are doing things for “loktantra” (democracy) even today.Are we, Nepali, really slavish to politicians? Are we not aware of the fact that they are absolutely coming up with their false promises and tall claims to manipulate us? Despite knowing the truth, we are under the influence of politicians and fall under the trap of their emotional blackmail. The emotional blackmail has prevented us from being skeptical about our leaders and hence, they are succeeded to brainwash us time and time again. American writer, Carl Sagan’s idea of the burden of skepticism for humanity in his famous essay “The Burden of Skepticism” is quite pertinent to discuss here. In this essay, he asserts that majority of humanity tend not to be skeptical because they cannot face the reality as such which is quite bitter in nature, so they satisfy themselves with the sweetness of falsehood.
However, we have to pay much for the momentary blissfulness of falsehood after some times. The ample example is that of Nepal, where people are still struggling to uplift their socio-economic status even after the restoration of democracy and the successful conclusion of different political movements. In fact, post-truth world may invite host of scary situations— political instability, social unrest, confrontation among the members of public, security threat to the particular country, interference of external forces to the country, failure of the nations to name the few. On the top of that, in the name of freedom of expression, it will also lead to anarchism which, in a long run, may be a great threat to democracy itself. Post-truth situation, therefore, needs a critical scrutiny by the concerned ones to save the democracy from its potential threats.
For the post-truth world situation, social media often becomes the subject of criticism. No doubt, media is greatly responsible for misinformation, distortion and manipulation but what about the action of regulatory mechanisms. In the context of Nepal, still there is no clear cut Social Media Law. The enforcement of law is imperative to counterblast the post-truth situation. It has been a customary to misinform, distort, sensationalize and customize the truth simply to influence the mass and change their behaviors. These acts need to be checked by operating ideal journalism, maintaining integrity of information, holding the theory of transparency, establishing powerful state-sponsored surveillance mechanisms to regulate different forces contributing to post-truth situation.
London — The Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, Chair of the London Assembly, Dr Onkar Sahota AM, and Chair of the City Hall Branch of the Royal British Legion, Len Duvall OBE AM, joined Assembly Members, representatives of the British Armed Forces and other special guests for the first Remembrance Day Service at City Hall’s new location in London’s Royal Docks.
The Dean of Southwark, The Very Revd Canon Andrew Nunn, officiated the ceremony and The Right Reverend Bishop Guli Francis-Dehqani, Bishop of Chelmsford delivered the address.
Representatives from the Sikh, Hindu, Christian, Jewish and Muslim faiths addressed the congregation and led a series of interfaith prayers.
The service also included readings, prayers and hymns, with music by the London International Gospel choir. Lieutenant General James Bashall, National President of The Royal British Legion, paid tribute to those who fought in the Burma campaign by reading the Kohima Epitaph.
Senior representatives from the Metropolitan Police Service, Greater London Lieutenancy, Transport for London, London Ambulance Service, British Red Cross, London Assembly, Royal British Legion, Armed Forces, and others participated in the wreath laying ceremony.
The service was also attended by London borough mayors and leaders, MPs, and Greater London Authority staff.
The Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, said: “City Hall’s annual multi-faith Remembrance Day service provides an opportunity for us to reflect on the great sacrifices made by our Armed Forces and their families.
“We are forever in their debt for the commitment they have made to serve and protect our country, not only during conflicts but also in times of national emergency.
“Without our nation’s brave servicemen and women’s heroism and bravery we would not enjoy the freedoms and privileges it is so easy to take for granted. On behalf of all Londoners: thank you.”
Chair of the London Assembly, Dr Onkar Sahota AM said: “We depend on the dedication and commitment or our Armed Forces, to help us through some very tough times. So it’s absolutely right, that every year we pause to remember their sacrifices and those of their families.
“We also recognise how the Royal British Legion’s unwavering support of the armed forces community is honoured and respected. Without them, there would be no Poppy Day.
“Remembrance Day is a day to reflect on the enormous sacrifices made for our freedoms by some very brave people, from Britain and the Commonwealth. We will be forever in their debt.”
London – British ambassador to Nepal, Ms Nicola KathrynPollitt, has said that in terms of geo-politics, Nepal has a really difficult line to tread.
Addressing the first-ever interaction with the Nepali diaspora based in the UK on Wednesday, Ms Pollitt said that keeping both of the neighbours happy, on your side, is a tricky balance to strike.
Referring to Nepal’s vote against the Russian invasion of Ukraine early this year, Ms Pollitt said what type of company you are keeping in international arena makes a difference. “Whether in (UN Offices in) Geneva or in New York, Nepal is playing a responsible and leadership role in the region.”
While two of its powerful neighbours, India and China, abstained in the voting, Nepal was one of the 141 UN members that supported the UN resolution that ‘deplored in the strongest terms the aggressionby the Russian Federation against Ukraine in violation of Article 2 (4) of the Charter.”
The resolution, that was put to vote in March this year, also demanded that the “Russian Federation immediately cease its use of force against Ukraine and to refrain from any further unlawful threat or use of force against any Member State”.
Ms Politt said that the British government’s priorities in Nepal included supporting the federal system of governance, especially the provincial governments in Madhesh Pradesh, Lumbini and Karnali.
“We are also supporting to build the capacity of Nepal Police to deal with gender-based violence, support the government at macro level to achieve growth and prosperity and to support Nepal’s efforts to combat climate change and educate women and girls, especially from the marginalised communities,” said Ms Pollitt.
Addressing the Gurkha Grievances
In September 2016, the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) rejected claims by a group of former British Gurkha soldiers that they had been discriminated against by the British government in their pensions. In its verdict, the Strasbourg-based Court held that there had been no violation of Article 14 and Article 1 of the European Convention of Human Rights as claimed by the petitioners.
The applicants, two retired Gurkha soldiers and an NGO acting on behalf of Gurkha veterans, complained that their pension entitlements had been less favourable than those of non-Gurkha soldiers in the British Army, and those of younger Gurkha soldiers who had more years of service after 1 July, 1997. The petitioners went to the European Court of Human Rights in 2011 after they lost similar cases at a British high court and the British Supreme Court refused to entertain their appeal.
Despite losing their legal battle, Gurkha veterans continue to press the governments of Nepal and the UK for what they call compensation, reparation and equal pension and benefits. In August 2021, former Gurkha veterans Gyan Raj Rai, Dhan Gurung and a Gurkha family member Mrs Pushpa Rana Ghale staged a hunger strike for 13 days near the Ministry of Defense in central London. They agreed to end their strike only after the British government agreed to form a high level committee to listen to their demands.
Responding to a query regarding the long-running grievances of Gurkha veterans, Ms Politt refuted allegations that Gurkha veterans were being discriminated against their comrades in terms of pensions and benefits. During the formal talks at the Ministry of Defence in London early this month, British officials insisted that they would like to discuss about the welfare of Gurkha veterans who are living in the UK and in Nepal. Representatives of Gurkha veterans, who were taking part as observers, however, registered their strong exception towards suggestion by the British side that their demand for ‘equal pension’ should not be discussed in the talks.
Talking to a small group of Nepali diaspora at the historic Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) in central London on Wednesday, Ms Pollitt, however, hinted that the British government was not in favour of revisiting the pension issue again.
“It’s very good that both the sides have come round the table (to discuss Gurkha demands). We must not forget that both the highest court in the UK as well as the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) have always decided in the British govt’s favour. So, it will be very difficult to negotiate on the pension issue again. But the veterans’ welfare is always on top of the British government’s agenda,” she added.
Thousands of former Gurkha soldiers and their families are now residing in the UK following the British government’s decision in 2009 to allow ex-Gurkha soldiers, who have served at least four years in the British Army, to settle in the UK.
Photo : Nepali Link
Historic relationship
Nepal and the UK enjoy more than two centuries longrelationship thanks to Gurkhas. UK is one of the largest development partners of Nepal. Nepal is also seeking to expand its trade ties with Britain and attract more British investment into the country.
“There is a need to expand and strengthen our historic relationship with the UK. Engaging the Nepali diaspora in the UK is a right step in that direction,” said Councillor Lachhya Gurung, a former Gurkha and former Deputy Mayor of the London Borough of Barnet.
Dr Tejendra Pherali, Professor at the Institute of Education, University College London, said that both the countries should now explore new avenues such as reaching out to the second generation of Nepalese now studying and working in the UK. “This will also help develop people-to-people relationship at the grassroots level,” he opined.
One of the recent developments in the bilateral relations has been Britain’s negotiations with the government of Nepal to bring in Nepali nurses to work with the state-owned National Health Service (NHS).
“The recruitment of (Nepali) nurses has to be ethical andformal with no involvement of middlemen,” said Ambassador Politt adding, “The NHS Trusts in the UK are working in partnership with the British government. We are piloting next year by bringing in 200 (Nepali) nurses on a five-year work visa.”
As Nepal will graduate from the Least Developed Country (LDC) status, hopefully in 2026, the UK has offered Nepal to join its Developing Countries Trading Scheme (DCTS). “From 2026, we might think about a trade agreement. We are working on signing in the Double Taxation Avoidance Agreement (DTDA) between the two countries. The ball is now in Nepal’s court,” said Ms Politt, a career diplomat, who will complete her four-year assignment to Kathmandu in the coming summer.
As Nepal and the UK are hosting a series of events to mark the centenary of the 1923 UK-Nepal Treaty, Ambassador Politt said that she would try her best to organise Prime Minister Rishi Sunak – the first British Asian Prime Minister- to visit Kathmandu.
If that happens, Mr Sunak will be the first British Prime Minister to travel to Kathmandu in more than two centuries.
Kathmandu — Nepal-born British businessman Deependra Gurung has become the co-owner of the Miss World pageant.
This has been confirmed by Gurung himself and the reputed beauty pageant website PageantImpress.
Gurung will officially take over as Miss World from the 71st edition of this year’s Miss World. Since its inception, Miss World has been the monopoly of British businesswoman Julia Morley and her family.
Pageantimpress has written the news of taking over the reins of the Gurung family from this year’s Miss World and has also been shared by Deependra. Businessman Gurung is also the owner of European airline company Himalaya Jet and world-renowned film multiplex chain Privé Luxury Cinemas, the online khabar reported.
This year’s Miss World pageant is planned to be held in Singapore, Japan and Poland. For this, Dipendra reached Singapore on Wednesday with the current beauty queen. Gurung also met Singapore’s Minister of Culture Edwin Tong.
KATHMANDU : Two candidates of Nepali origin have been elected in the US midterm elections.
Dr Harry Bhandari has been elected again as Maryland State Legislator for the Maryland General Assembly on behalf of the Democrat Party. He has become the first elected MLA with a total of 13,949 votes. Bhandari, who became the first Nepali-origin US citizen to be elected a people’s representative in 2018, won for the second regular term.
Likewise, Sarahana Shrestha, who became a candidate for the first time from District 103 New York of the New York State Assembly, has also been elected. With this victory, Sarahana has made history by becoming the first Nepali-origin US citizen to win a seat in the New York State Assembly.
Male — At least 10 people were killed and several others injured Thursday when a fire swept through cramped lodgings of foreign workers in the Maldives capital Male, the fire service said.
The capital of the archipelago best known as an upmarket holiday destination is one of the world’s most densely populated cities.
Officials said 10 bodies were recovered from the upper floor of a building destroyed in the fire, which originated from a ground-floor vehicle repair garage.
“We have found 10 bodies,” a fire service official said, adding that it took them about four hours to put out the fire.
A security official said the dead included nine Indians and a Bangladesh national.
The High Commission of India in Maldives condoled the loss of lives in the tragic fire. “We are deeply saddened by the tragic fire incident in Malé which has caused loss of lives, including reportedly of Indian nationals. We are in close contact with the Maldivian authorities,” a tweet by the high commission read. ( Agencies)
BEIJING : China will grant zero-tariff treatment to 98 per cent of taxable items from 10 least-developed countries in a bid to promote an open global economy.
Starting from Dec. 1, China will waive all tariffs on 98 per cent of the related imports from Afghanistan, Benin, Burkina Faso, Guinea-Bissau, Lesotho, Malawi, Sao Tome and Principe, Tanzania, Uganda and Zambia, according to the Customs Tariff Commission of the State Council.
The step is conducive to opening up with win-win outcomes, building an open global economy, and helping least-developed countries to accelerate their development, the commission said.
This policy measure will gradually expand to all the least-developed countries that have established diplomatic ties with China, it added. (Xinhuwa)
BRUSSELS: In view of the continuing escalation of violence and grave human rights following the military takeover two years ago, the European Council has adopted the fifth round of restrictive measures.
The new listings target 19 persons and one entity, including the Minister of Investment and Foreign Economic Relations Kan Zaw, the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court Htun Htun Oo, and high-ranking members of the Myanmar Armed Forces (Tatmadaw) and Air Force.
The EU has also listed members of the Union Election Commission and business representatives of private companies closely connected and supporting the Tatmadaw.
“The State Administration Council is also included as it plays a central role in undermining democracy and the rule of law in Myanmar/Burma as well as in actions that threaten the peace, security and stability of the country,” the European Council said in a statement on Tuesday.
Restrictive measures currently apply to a total of 84 individuals and 11 entities. Those designated are subject to an asset freeze and a travel ban, which prevents them from entering or transiting through EU territory. In addition, EU persons and entities are prohibited to make funds available to those listed.
“Other EU restrictive measures will remain in place: the embargo on arms and equipment and export restrictions on equipment for monitoring communications which might be used for internal repression, the export ban on dual-use goods for use by the military and border guard police, and the prohibition of military training and cooperation with the Tatmadaw,” the statement added.
These measures complement the withholding of EU financial assistance to the government of Myanmar and the freezing of all EU assistance, a tool that might be perceived as a means to legitimize the junta.
Two years ago, on November 8, the National League for Democracy obtained overwhelming and incontestable popular support in the general elections in Myanmar/Burma.
The civilian government was overthrown by the Myanmar military on 1 February 2021.
The EU said it is deeply concerned by the continuing escalation of violence and the evolution towards a protracted conflict which has spread across the country and has regional implications.
The 27-member bloc also condemned the continuing grave human rights violations including torture and sexual and gender-based violence, the continued persecution of civil society, human rights defenders and journalists, attacks on the civilian population, including ethnic and religious minorities, and the destruction of private property by the Myanmar armed forces.
The EU said it would continue to strive to bring to justice all those responsible for the human rights violations, war crimes and crimes against humanity committed in the wake of the 1 February 2021 coup in Myanmar.
The EU said it reiterates the calls for an immediate cessation of all hostilities, respect of international humanitarian law, and an end to the disproportionate use of force. (ANI)
London— Pakistan reached the Men’s T20 World Cup final after a thunderous seven-wicket win over New Zealand in Sydney.
Chasing 153 to win, Pakistan openers Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan hit half-centuries in an opening stand of 105 to tee up a stunning victory.
Pakistan will now play England or India – who meet on Thursday – in Sunday’s final in Melbourne.
It continues a stunning comeback for Pakistan, who were on the brink of elimination after losing to rivals India and then Zimbabwe in their first two matches of the tournament.
NEW DELHI — Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday unveiled the logo, theme and website of India’s Group of 20 (G20) presidency next year.
During its G20 presidency, India will hold about 200 meetings in 32 different sectors and in multiple locations across India next year.
“It would be one of the highest-profile international gatherings to be hosted by the country,” said the Ministry of External Affairs.
The G20 logo shows the Earth sitting atop a lotus flower having seven petals representing the seven continents and seven universal musical notes.
“When the seven musical notes come together, they create perfect harmony. The G20 aims to bring the world together in harmony while respecting diversity,” Modi said.
The theme of the summit is “One Earth, One Family, One Future”. The website has been developed by India’s leading IT firm Tata Consultancy Services (TCS).
“India will preside over the G20 summit from Dec. 1, 2022. It is a historic opportunity for the country. It is the premier forum for international economic cooperation representing around 85 percent of the global gross domestic product (GDP), over 75 percent of the worldwide trade, and about two-thirds of the world population,” Modi said at the virtual inauguration ceremony.
The Indian leader also noted that India’s G20 presidency was coming at a time of “crisis and chaos”.
“The world is dealing with the after-effects of a disruptive once-in-a-century global pandemic, conflicts and lots of economic uncertainty. Even if the world is in a deep crisis, we can still progress to make it a better place,” he added.
This year’s G20 summit is scheduled to be held on Nov. 15-16 in Indonesia’s resort island of Bali. (Xinhua)
Kathmandu: A magnitude 6.6 earthquake struck in the north western district at about 2am on Wednesday. The quake delivered a severe blow, killing at least six people, injuring several others.
The National Earthquake Monitoring and Research Center stated that the epicenter of the tremor was in the Khaptad National Park area in Doti district.
All the victims were crushed dead by the debris of the house destroyed during the earthquake, according to the local authority.
The identity of six persons, who were killed in a quake, has been ascertained, police sources confirmed. The deceased are Bhagawati Bohara, Sita Bohara, Harka Bohara, Prem Bohara, Tulasi Bohara and Dhanasari Bohara of Thadagaun, Purbi Chauki rural municipality-3.
Rural municipality chairperson Ram Prasad Upadhyay said six people including three from the same family died in the disaster. He said five people have sustained injuries and they have been taken to hospital.
Nepal Police, the Armed Police Force and Nepali Army’s rescue squads have reached the site for rescue operation. Min Raj Ojha, a local teacher, said most of the homes in the area have been damaged. Landslides have occurred at many places of Sayal rural municipality due to the tremor, said Dal Bahadur Deuba of Sayal.
Before this, an earthquake of 5.7 magnitude with its epicenter at Dipayal had occurred at 9.7 pm on Tuesday, the Center stated.
Aftershocks had also occurred frequently following the big tremor. The earthquake was felt even in Kailali and Kanchanpur districts.
In Bajhang, people scurried out of their homes after the earthquake and spent the night outside. Laxmi Devi Joshi of Khaptad Chhanna-5 said panicked locals lit bonfires and spent the rest of the night in vigil outside in the open. She said that old homes have collapsed in the village. ( From : Nepal Live Today)
By – Lisa Vanhala, UCL
Payments from high-emitting countries to mitigate the harm that climate change has caused in the most vulnerable parts of the world is finally on the agendafor discussion at a global climate change summit, more than 30 years after the idea was first articulatedby delegates from small island developing states.
Loss and damage is the term used by the UN to describe these impacts of climate change that cannot be prevented and to which people cannot adapt. These include lives that have been and will be lost, communities displaced by rising seas, extreme weather and famine, livelihoods and cultural heritage destroyed and ecosystems damaged beyond repair because of a failure to arrest greenhouse gas emissions, and so, global temperature rise.
The UN’s Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) reported that approximately 3.3 to 3.6 billion people are highly vulnerable to climate change. Many of them live in west, central and east Africa, south Asia, central and South America, as well as in small island developing states, such as Vanuatu in the Pacific, and in the Arctic.
As countries in these regions divert more of their wealth towards preparing for and recovering from storms, spreading deserts and melting glaciers, they are left with less money to cut their emissions and contribute to meeting the 1.5°C goal agreed at the negotiations in Paris in 2015. Rich countries, who are responsible for most emissions, promised US$100 billion (£87.2 billion) a year in aid in 2015.
But a recent UN report found that international finance to help the most vulnerable countries adapt to climate change (with bigger sea walls, for instance) has amounted to less than one-tenth of what is needed, and the gap between the two is widening. The US, UK, Canada and Australia are among the biggest laggards when their historical responsibility for climate change is taken into account. There has been no separate funding to address the damage already caused by warming.
At COP26 in 2021, developing countries proposed a loss and damage finance facility to help communities recovering from disasters and compensate them for what they have lost already. The EU and US resistedthis in the final days of talks.
Instead, the Glasgow Dialogue was established: a series of discussions about how to arrange funding to help countries bearing the brunt of climate change. Delegates from developing country were sorely disappointed. Instead of material support, they got another talking shop.
But many of these same negotiators are heading into COP27 with new resolve. Here are three reasons why loss and damage is becoming harder for rich countries to ignore.
1. The latest science
Attribution science, which clarifies the links between extreme weather events and emissions, has taken great leaps forward in recent years. Across more than 400 studies, scientists have examined wildfires in the US, heatwaves in India and Pakistan, typhoons in Asia and record-breaking rainfall in the UK.
Broadly, this research shows the poorest and most vulnerable are bearing the heaviest burden despite having contributed the least to the problem. This growing evidence base bolsters the case for reparations.
2. Climate impacts are escalating
The deadly floods in Pakistan in August are the latest in a series of disasters to push loss and damage up the global agenda. According to a recent study, as much as 50% of the rainfall would not have happened without climate change.
Pakistan’s leaders have said that wealthy countries must help pay the bill. After all, it is the latter’s actions that precipitated the disaster. Pakistan’s historically low emissions mean its own contribution to climate change is negligible.
From droughts in Somalia to floods in Nigeria, extreme weather during 2022 has also heaped suffering on African countries with little culpability for climate change. Given that COP27 will be held in Egypt and has been dubbed “the African COP”, these arguments will be brought to the fore.
3. Growing momentum outside of the UN process
The increasing number and importance of lawsuits brought against countries and companies failing to reduce their emissions highlights growing frustration with negotiations under the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). As long as rich countries continue to evade the loss and damage issue, vulnerable countries and communities – and their lawyers – will search for alternative solutions.
That is not to say they haven’t had some notable recent successes. The UN Human Rights Committee (UNHRC) decided in September that the Australian government is failing to protect the Torres Strait Islanders from the effects of climate change. This sets a precedent in international human rights law which could one day extend to governments and institutions which have affected people further afield.
But, outside the UN, poorer countries are organising to explore ever more sophisticated diplomatic and legal ways of applying pressure on rich countries. At COP26, the prime ministers of Antigua and Barbuda and Tuvalu launched a commission to explore the kinds of compensation small island states might seek under international law. A group of countries led by Vanuatu is heading for the International Court of Justice.
Since high levels of debt hinder their ability to recover from the ravages of climate change, African and small island leaders are demanding debtors (including development banks and rich countries) write off, suspend or reschedule payments so that vulnerable nations can spend more on cutting emissions and adapting to climate change. These proposals have been called “debt for climate swaps”.
The International Monetary Fund recently announced a resilience and sustainability trust to help shield the finances of vulnerable countries from climate disasters, suggesting development policy is slowly shifting. This followed campaigning by Mia Mottley, the prime minister of Barbados.
Strings attached
Some rich countries are now taking action, suggesting a growing acknowledgement that this funding cannot be delayed forever. In September, Denmark was the first UN party to pledge finance – about US$13 million – to address loss and damage. The G7, under the leadership of the German presidency, has launched an initiative to expand access to financial aid in the immediate aftermath of climate disasters through improvements to existing insurance and social security schemes.
Because these initiatives have come outside of the UNFCCC negotiations, donor countries are free to dictate the terms of their support, sidestepping a process that should be about meeting the needs of vulnerable communities. Much of their funding will go into insurance schemes. Many of the insurance firms that would benefit are based in Europe and the US.
Insurance payouts may be a lifeline for drought-scarred small farmers and flooded homeowners. But some risks are uninsurable, especially those with a slow onset, such as those resulting from sea-level rise. Then there are less tangible harms, such as lost livelihoods, illness and biodiversity loss. Insurance against cyclones won’t compensate fishers in Tuvaluwho stand to lose their coastal fisheries as coral reefs succumb to warming.
The next front in the loss and damage debate will involve exploring whether providing finance as a form of solidarity (rather than compensation) is more palatable for rich countries. If that money is wrapped up in insurance schemes, designed to enrich consultants, it won’t really help poor countries. Progress at COP27 will be determined by whether these nations feel the UNFCCC is even capable of helping them. ( Form : The Conversation)
London : India’s High Commissioner to UK, Vikram Doraiswami on Tuesday (local time), inaugurated the India pavilion and several state tourism pavilions at the World Travel Market (WTM) London. He made the inaugurations along with Arvind Singh, Secretary, Ministry of Tourism and state leaders from Odisha, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Maharashtra and Karnataka. High Commission of India in London tweeted, “HC @VDoraiswami inaugurated @incredibleindia pavilion, and several State tourism pavilions, at the @WTM_London, with Arvind Singh, Secretary @tourismgoi and State leaders from Odisha, MP, Rajasthan, Maharashtra, Karnataka et al. @MEAIndia.” Notably, World Travel Market London 2022 is taking place at ExCel London from November 7-9. The theme of this year`s exhibition is ‘The Future of Travel Starts Now.’ It is pertinent to mention here that the Ministry of Tourism has launched the “Incredible India 2.0” campaign which covers important source markets for Indian tourism and takes into account emerging markets with significant potential. Notably, India is a tourist destination for travellers to explore architectural heritage sites, ghats and tiger reserves. Earlier on November 7, the Ministry of Tourism in a tweet stated that dandiya performances and yoga sessions took place at World Travel Market London. Sharing videos and images of the performances on Twitter, the Ministry of Tourism said, “A glimpse of the Indian culture and hospitality at the Indian Cultural Evening along with Dandiya performances and yoga sessions.”
Meanwhile, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) in a press release issued on November 5 said that the Ministry of Tourism is participating in World Travel Market (WTM) 2022. It stated that 16 stakeholders, including officials from state governments, other Central ministries, Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) as the industry partner, DMCs, tour operators, hoteliers, travel agents, online travel agents, facilitators of medical value travel are participating as co-exhibitors in the India Pavilion. The MEA in the press release called World Travel Market “one of the largest international travel exhibitions.” It further said, “With the reopening of the country to foreign tourists, after a gap of almost 2 years, this year`s participation of India is particularly significant. After the world’s largest vaccination drive, the country is ready for international tourists. India is participating in WTM 2022 to showcase itself as a preferred destination for tourism.” The Ministry stressed that the objective of India’s participation in WTM is to showcase the diverse tourism products and services including Medical Value travel, luxury trains and the gamut of tourism products to the international business community. It further stated, “The Indian Government is cognizant of the country’s potential in the tourism industry and has taken several steps to make India a global tourism hub.” According to the release, the Indian delegation led by Arvind Singh, Secretary of the Ministry of Tourism will showcase the varied tourism offerings of India to global tourism industry stakeholders including tour operators, travel agents and media. The MEA said that the visit will allow the Indian government delegation to showcase investment opportunities and potential that India offers to global investors. The MEA noted that the contribution of travel and tourism to India’s GDP was 5.19 per cent of the total economy in 2019. Furthermore, the Indian tourism sector accounted for 79.86 million jobs (direct and indirect employment) in 2018. The Ministry further said, “The consistent efforts of the Central and the State Governments have helped the tourism industry to gradually recover from the Covid-19 pandemic shock to the pre-pandemic levels.” Notably, India is also gearing up for the G20 presidency which is due to begin on December 1. (ANI)
