COP27: INDIA INSISTS ON NEW GLOBAL CLIMATE FINANCE TARGET BY 2024

At the ongoing UN climate summit, India has asserted that developing countries require a “substantive enhancement” in climate finance from rich countries by 2024 as the previously set goal of USD 100 billion per year by 2020 was miniscule given the scale of their needs.

At COP15 in Copenhagen in 2009, developed countries had committed to jointly mobilise USD 100 billion per year by 2020 to help developing countries tackle the effects of climate change.

Rich countries, however, have repeatedly failed in delivering this finance.

Developing countries, including India, are pushing rich countries to agree to a new global climate finance target—also known as the new collective quantified goal on climate finance (NCQG) -- which they say should be in trillions as the costs of addressing and adapting to climate change have grown.

Rich countries say the issues of numbers are political and should be under political discussions and not part of technical discussions.

​"RELATIONSHIP CANNOT BE NORMAL UNLESS...": S JAISHANKAR ON CHINA TIES

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Thursday asserted that India's relationship with China cannot be normal unless there is peace in the border areas and there is no ambiguity in New Delhi's signalling to that country.

"I am saying that unless there is peace and tranquillity in the border areas, unless there is observance of agreements and no unilateral attempt made to change status quo, the relationship cannot be normal and is not normal," Mr Jaishankar said at the Hindustan Times Leadership Summit.

Referring to the Galwan Valley clashes, he said what happened in 2020 was an "attempt by one party, and we know which one, to depart from agreements and understandings and that is at the heart of the issue".

"Have we made progress from then? In some respects, yes. Relatively speaking there were multiple friction points. In those friction points, there were dangerously close up deployments by the military, I think some of those issues have been worked out keeping in mind equal and mutual security," Jaishankar said.

"We are doing a lot of things in terms of various policies and various pronouncements and the state of relations after all, ask yourself if you are an objective observer, looking at the state of relations would you suggest that everything is okay and this can carry on without any negative impact for the parties concerned, I don't think so," he added.

"I don't think there is any ambiguity about our signalling and our messaging. They will weigh it from their interests and where they are but...it isn't just a matter of public sentiment, and public sentiment is strong...I think it is government policy, it is national thinking, public sentiment and strategic calculation. I do not think that the current state can continue without damage to the relationship," he said.

GUJARAT BJP FIRST LIST: A ‘GENERATIONAL SHIFT’ AND 17 CONG REBELS

Unveiling its first list of 160 names for the Gujarat Assembly elections Thursday, state BJP president C R Paatil called it a “generational shift”. But while 38 sitting MLAs were dropped, including six senior leaders who were part of the Vijay Rupani Cabinet, the list was more notable for the additions it made – including a leader whose name came up during the row over the remission of sentences of Bilkis Bano convicts, Hardik Patel and at least 30 other Patidar candidates, the wife of cricketer Ravindra Jadeja, and many leaders who just crossed over from the Congress, some as recently as Wednesday.

BJP Gujarat in-charge Bhupender Yadav announced the list in New Delhi in the presence of Paatil, Union minister Mansukh Mandaviya and the party’s national general secretary, Tarun Chugh. Yadav underlined that out of the 160 candidates declared, 13 are from Scheduled Castes and 24 from Scheduled Tribes (though all from reserved seats), while 14 are women. On these 160 seats, 69 sitting MLAs have been repeated whereas 38 have been changed, he said. At least 17 are Congress MLAs who defected to the BJP over the past five years, nine of them having won on Congress tickets in 2017.

“The BJP usually changes 20% of its MLAs. In an electoral democracy, change is necessary, otherwise it will lead to stagnation. We have given tickets to several youngsters. This list shows a generational shift in the Gujarat BJP,” Paatil said.

INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS

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REPUBLICANS CLOSE IN ON US HOUSE MAJORITY, SENATE STILL UP FOR GRABS

Republicans were edging closer to securing a majority in the US House of Representatives early on Thursday, while control of the Senate hung in the balance, two days after Democrats staved off a Republican “red wave” in midterm elections. House Republicans had won or were leading in the races for 221 seats — just three more than needed to retake the 435-member chamber, according to votes that have been tallied by AP. Democrats had won or were in the lead for 214 seats. More than 30 races were still uncalled as of midday Thursday, and could still shift. But Democrats were left with only a narrow chance of retaining control of the chamber — an outcome even party operatives privately saw as a longshot.

The fate of the Senate was far less certain. Either party could seize control by sweeping too-close-to-call races in Nevada and Arizona, where officials are tallying thousands of uncounted ballots. A split would mean the Senate majority would come down to a runoff election on Dec 6 in Georgia. Even a slim House majority would allow Republicans to shape the rest of Biden’s term. Biden acknowledged that reality on Wednesday. A White House official said Biden spoke by phone with Republican House leader Kevin McCarthy, who announced his intention to run for speaker of the House if Republicans control the chamber. “The American people have made clear that they expect Republicans to be prepared to work with me as well,” Biden said.

After years of first promoting and then kissing up to Donald Trump, Republican grandees and conservative media in the US are now ditching the former president and hitching their star (and ratings) to Florida governor Ron DeSantis, now a putative presidential candidate following a stellar gubernatorial win in Florida. Don vs Ron is being set up as America’s newest political theatre.

WITH CO2 EMISSION LIKELY TO RISE, 1.5°C TARGET GETTING TOUGHER, FINDS REPORT

Global carbon dioxide emissions is expected to continue to rise this year as well, further narrowing down the window of opportunity to keep the temperatures from rising beyond 1.5 degree Celsius, a new report released at the climate meeting on Thursday said.

At current trends, there was at least a 50 per cent chance that the 1.5 degree Celsius temperature target would be exceeded in the next nine years, the Global Carbon Project, which comes up with country level estimates of CO2 emissions every year during the climate conference, said. CO2 is the most common among the six major greenhouse gas emissions that are causing global warming.

The total carbon dioxide emissions, excluding those from land use changes and deforestation, are likely to be around 36.6 billion tonnes, about one per cent higher than the previous year, the report said. CO2 released from land use changes like deforestation would likely contribute another 3.9 billion tonnes, it said.

Among major emitters, India is estimated to see the biggest rise in its CO2 emissions, about 6 per cent from last year. Emissions are expected to decrease by about one per cent in China, the world’s largest emitter, and the European Union which, as a group is the third biggest emitter. But the United States, the world’s second biggest emitter it is projected to increase by 1.5 per cent, the report said.

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KERALA GOVT AMENDS DEEMED VARSITY RULES TO REMOVE GOVERNOR AS ITS CHANCELLOR

The LDF government on Thursday amended the rules of Kerala Kalamandalam deemed university to remove the Governor as its Chancellor, a position which would now be filled with an eminent person from the field of Art and Culture.

Suiting action to its words that it no longer wants Governor Arif Mohammed Khan at the helm of universities in the state, the Pinarayi Vijayan-headed dispensation issued an order amending the rules and regulations of the deemed university of Art and Culture.

Khan is presently Chancellor of the Kerala Kalamandalam.

The move comes amidst the government’s ongoing tussle with Khan over functioning of universities, including appointment of Vice Chancellors, in the state and its announcement that it will come out with an ordinance to replace him with eminent academicians at the helm of varsities in Kerala.

ALREADY IMPORTING GM CROP OIL, FEARS UNFOUNDED, GOVT TELLS SUPREME COURT

Pointing out that India is already “importing and consuming oil derived from GM (Genetically Modified) crops”, the Centre has told the Supreme Court that “opposition to such technology based on…unfounded fears of adverse impact is only hurting farmers, consumers and industry”.

In an affidavit filed in response to a plea challenging the clearance for environmental release of GM mustard, the Union Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change stated that mustard is “the most important oil and seed meal crop of India, grown in around 8-9 million hectares of land”.

It said that “seed replacement (farmer buying fresh seed) rates are around 63% and area under irrigation has increased to 83% of the total area under mustard”, but “despite all these investments, yields of mustard are stagnating”.

It said the present rate of edible oil consumption in India surpasses the domestic production rate. At present, India meets nearly 55% to 60% of its edible oil demand through imports, the government pointed out.

RAM SETU NATIONAL HERITAGE TAG: SC GIVES CENTRE TIME TO RESPOND TO PIL

The Supreme Court on Thursday allowed the Centre more time to submit its written response to a plea to declare the Ram Setu a national heritage monument even as it questioned the delay.

“Why are you dragging your feet?” Chief Justice of India D Y Chandrachud asked the Centre’s counsel as he sought time, saying the affidavit is ready but was awaiting the sanction from the relevant ministry.

Rajya Sabha MP Subramanian Swamy, who filed the petition, pointed out to the bench, also comprising Justices Hima Kohli and J B Pardiwala, that the government was yet to file the affidavit despite many directions in the past. He said the matter has been going on since long but the government is not taking a stand.

Swamy had filed a PIL against the Centre’s Sethusamudram Canal project, initiated when the UPA-1 was in power at the Centre. The project envisaged creation of a 83-km-long deep water channel, linking Mannar with Palk Strait, by dredging and removing the limestone shoals that formed part of the Ram Setu.

The SC had stayed the work for the project in 2007.

MANISH SISODIA, OTHERS CHANGED 140 PHONES TO DESTROY PROOF: CLAIMS ED

The ED yesterday informed a special Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) court that the Delhi excise policy, scrapped following allegations of corruption, was allegedly leaked to certain liquor manufacturers much before its release.

The ED claimed it found in the probe that 34 important persons involved or suspected to be involved in the excise scam allegedly changed total 140 phones (valued at about Rs 1.20 crore) with the intention to destroy digital evidence during relevant period.

“These VIPs include all the main accused, liquor barons, senior government officials, Delhi Excise Minister and other suspects. The timing indicates that these phones were mostly changed after the scam surfaced,” it said.

Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia held the excise charge when the phones were allegedly destroyed. The agency made the submissions while seeking the remand of two arrested accused, Benoy Babu, Delhi regional head of French wine company Pernod Ricard, and P Sarath Chandra Reddy, whole-time director of Aurobindo Pharma Ltd.

SUPPORTING DOCUMENTS FOR AADHAR TO BE UPDATED 'AT LEAST ONCE' IN 10 YEARS

The government has amended Aadhaar regulations, specifying that supporting documents may be updated “at least once” by Aadhaar holders on completion of 10 years from enrolment date.

The updation would ensure “continued accuracy” of Aadhaar-related information in the Central Identities Data Repository (CIDR), according to gazette notification issued by Ministry of Electronics and IT.

“Aadhaar number holders may, on completion of every 10 years from the date of enrolment for Aadhaar, update their supporting documents in Aadhaar, at least once, by submitting Proof of Identity (POI) and Proof of Address (POA) documents...so as to ensure continued accuracy of their information in the CIDR, in such manner as may be specified by the Authority from time to time,” it said.

To provide facility to Aadhaar holders in this regard, the UIDAI has developed a new feature of ‘update document’. This feature can be accessed online through the myAadhaar portal, and myAadhaar app or residents can visit any Aadhaar enrolment centre to avail of the facility.

The new feature permits Aadhaar number holders to revalidate details by updating the POI and POA documents.

About 134 crore Aadhaar numbers have been issued till date

In a statement issued last month, UIDAI had said, “Any person who had got their Aadhaar made 10 years back and not updated the information in any of the subsequent years are being requested to do document updation”.

INDIAN-AMERICAN NABEELA SYED, 23, SCRIPTS HISTORY IN US MIDTERM ELECTIONS

Nabeela Syed has scripted history by becoming the youngest member to get elected to the Illinois General Assembly. In the recently held US midterm elections, the 23-year-old Indian-American defeated her Republican opponent Chris Bos. She received 52.3% votes in the election for the 51st District in the Illinois State House of Representatives.

Nabeela Syed has written a long note talking about her journey on Instagram. Talking about her mission, she said, “When I announced for State Representative, I made it a mission to genuinely engage in conversation with people – to give them a reason to get involved in our democracy and hope for better leadership that represents their values.”

Syed added that she won this race “because we engaged in that conversation.”

Nabeela Syed did her graduation in Political Science and Business Administration from the University of California, Berkeley.

THE KERALA STORY: FILM ON INDIA WOMEN IN ISLAMIC STATE SPARKS ROW

Police in Kerala have sought legal advice on a complaint about a movie teaser that is sparking controversy in the southern Indian state.

In the teaser - for an upcoming movie called The Kerala Story - an actress claims her character is one among 32,000 women from the state who were "converted" into Islamic terrorists.

Some politicians from the state have called for the film to be banned.

"Investigation has started. We have sought legal opinion on the letter as to what action can be initiated," said Sparjan Kumar, police commissioner of Thiruvananthapuram, the capital of Kerala.

In the teaser, a burkha-clad woman says that her name was Shalini Unnikrishnan and she had wanted to become a nurse. "Now I am Fatima Ba, an IS terrorist in a jail in Afghanistan," she says, adding that there are "32,000 girls like [her] who have been converted and buried in the deserts of Syria and Yemen". "A deadly game is being played to convert normal girls into dreaded terrorists in Kerala and that too in the open," she says.

Mr Arvindakshan, a journalist, has asked for an inquiry and for the filmmakers to produce evidence because he was outraged by the claims in the teaser. "Some cases may have happened but 32,000 is an unbelievable number,'' he said.

T20 WC SEMI FINAL: ENGLAND BRUSH ASIDE INDIA

A thoroughly professional England annihilated an out-of- sync India by 10 wickets to sail into the World Cup final as Alex Hales and Jos Buttler's relentless hitting mortified Rohit Sharma's clueless attack, in Adelaide on Thursday.

England seemed to have saved their best for the grand stage as they reduced the semifinal to a lop-sided affair, courtesy a splendid bowling effort which they complemented with some breathtaking batting.

It was Hardik Pandya (68 off 33 balls), whose fearless hitting took India to 168 for six but it was just about a par-score at the Adelaide Oval.

England captain Buttler (80 not out) set the tone with three boundaries off Bhuvneshwar Kumar's opening over but it was Hales (86 not out off) who butchered the Indian attack into submission.

The target was achieved in just 16 overs as England batting line-up clicked for the first time in the tourney and what a day it chose to brings its A game to the fore.

It was one match that was decided in Powerplay as India managed only 38 runs in six overs as the archaic style of safety-first approach hurt them terribly.

In complete contrast, England's top order which looked shaky throughout the league stage, smashed 63 in their six overs. The match was won and lost then and there.

Skipper Rohit Sharma blamed India's insipid bowling performance for the humiliating loss.

"Pretty disappointed how it turned out today. We batted well at the back end to get that score. We were not up to the mark with the ball. It was definitely not a wicket where a team can come and chase it down in 16 overs. With the ball we couldn't turn up today," Rohit said after the loss at the Adelaide Oval.

"When it comes to knockout stages, it's all about handling the pressure. Depends on the individual as well. You can't teach anyone to handle pressure. When these guys play the play-offs in the IPL and all that, those are high-pressure games, and they are able to handle it.

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THOUGHT FOR THE DAY

Every man takes the limits of his own field of vision for the limits of the world. - Arthur Schopenhauer

OFF TRACK

Little Johnny is approached by the lifeguard at the public swimming pool. "You're not allowed to pee in the pool," said the lifeguard. "I'm going to report you."

"But everyone pees in the pool," said Little Johnny.

"Maybe," said the lifeguard, "but not from the diving board!"