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IMF calls for an end to fossil fuel subsidies, backs transition to green economy

New Delhi (NVI): In the wake of Covid-19, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) has said that it is a good time to end fossil fuel subsidies and create a greener, fairer economy for the future.

Speaking at the launch of the “Great Reset” initiative by World Economic Forum yesterday, Kristalina Georgieva, Managing Director of the IMF, threw the weight of IMF behind the transition and said there is a good opportunity now to save the environment from the consequences of global warming.

The “Great Reset” is the WEF’s global initiative to build a better world in the wake of COVID-19.

“We now have to step up, use all the strength we have, which in the case of the IMF is $1 trillion,” to ensure that history looks back at “the great reset, not the great reversal,” Georgieva was quoted as saying in a WEF report.

She said this means putting the right investments and incentives in place – and breaking with unsustainable ones.

“I’m particularly keen to take advantage of low oil prices to eliminate harmful subsidies,” she said.

A report by IMF last year estimated annual fossil fuel subsidies at $5.2 trillion in 2017, or 6.5% of the global economy, illustrating the scale of the challenge.

At the WEF virtual meeting the IMF head drew a parallel with the way the Second World War prompted the foundation of the National Health Service in the UK.

“The best memorial we can build for those who lost their lives in the pandemic is a greener, smarter, fairer world,” Georgieva said.

Bernard Looney, the CEO of BP, who was also in the virtual meet, agreed with the IMF chief and said that he backed an end to fossil fuel subsidies and supported the green investment policies that organizations including the EU were beginning to put into place. BP’s alternative energy portfolio includes wind power, solar power and biofuels, WEF reported.

“We all know there is a carbon budget. It is finite, it is running out,” he said.

In the absence of a real action on the ground, catastrophic warming of over 4 degrees is predicted by the end of the century, IMF reports, adding that the current policies are putting us on a course for around 3 degrees of warming – enough to drown major cities, bring mass extinctions and make large parts of the world uninhabitable.

According to the WEF report, the United States and China are currently the world’s largest polluters. Although the COVID-19 lockdown caused a lull in CO2 emissions and dirty air, air pollution has already rebounded to previous levels in China, with the resumption of economic activities and quite possibly, the use of fossil fuels to generate electricity.

Cyclone Nisarga: Parts of MP, Chhattisgarh to receive heavy rains 

Representative pic

New Delhi (NVI): Cyclone Nisarga, which has weakened into a low-pressure area, is likely to enter Madhya Pradesh by this evening from the southern parts of the state, according to India Meteorological Department (IMD) predictions.

There is a slight reduction in the wind speed of Cyclone Nisarga, which is now around 90-100 kmph.

The cyclone has weakened into a cyclonic storm before entering Madhya Pradesh and is likely to lose its intensity further, according to weather reports.

The National Weather Forecasting Centre states that Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh are likely to witness light to moderate rainfall at most places with heavy to very heavy falls at isolated places during the next 24 hours.

Meanwhile, IMD also stated that a low-pressure area is likely to develop over eastern parts of west-central Bay of Bengal around June 8. Due to this low-pressure area, Odisha is likely to witness heavy rainfall from June 10.

Mumbai has been witnessing heavy rains since today morning that has led to water-logging in some parts of the city.

Nisarga, which made landfall in Raigad district’s Alibaug yesterday and weakened into a tropical depression overnight, claimed at least four lives in Maharashtra.

Filmmaker Basu Chatterjee passes away

New Delhi (NVI): Veteran filmmaker and screenwriter Basu Chatterjee, known for his films like ‘Rajnigandha’ and ‘Chitchor’, passed away at his Santacruz residence in Mumbai today. He was 93.

The film director became associated in the 1970s and 80s with what came to be known as middle cinema or middle-of-the-road cinema.

Chatterjee began his career as a cartoonist in a tabloid but changed his path after assisting Basu Bhattacharya in the Raj Kapoor-Waheeda Rehman starrer “Teesri Kasam”.

He was born in Ajmer, Rajasthan on January 10, 1930.

Taking to Twitter, PM Modi wrote, “Sad to hear of the demise of Shri Basu Chatterjee. His works are brilliant and sensitive.”

“It touched people’s hearts and represented the simple and complex emotions, as well as struggles of people. Condolences to his family and innumerable fans. Om Shanti,” Modi added.

Megastar Amitabh Bachchan also tweeted on the filmmaker’s demise: “Prayers and Condolences on the passing of Basu Chatterjee .. a quiet, soft spoken, gentle human .. his films reflected the lives of middle India did ‘MANZIL’ with him .. a sad loss .. ? .. in these climes often remembered for ‘rim jhim gire saawan’.”

Terrorists target police party in J&K’s Kulgam, civilian injured

Abid Bashir

Srinagar (NVI): A civilian was seriously injured in a brief exchange of fire after terrorists attacked a police party at the main market in Yaripora area of South Kashmir’s Kulgam district, police said today.

Police said that at least three terrorists targeted a police party stationed at the main market of Kulgam’s Yaripora area. “The attack was repulsed. In the brief exchange of fire, a civilian got injured,” he said.

(Vehicle left behind by terrorists)

A doctor said that the injured civilian has been identified as Imtiyaz Ahmed, who sustained a bullet injury on his chest. “He is critically injured, we are trying to save him,” the doctor said.

Inspector General of Police Kashmir range, Vijay Kumar said that the incident took place at Yaripora, Kulgam. “Militants who were travelling in a vehicle fired at a police party in the market area. No policemen injured, however, one civilian has got injured in the incident,” he said.

A police official said that the militants have left behind the vehicle in which they were travelling. “The vehicle has been seized by the police,” he said.

Meanwhile, police sources said that a high alert has been sounded in Yaripora area of Kulgam a high vigil is being maintained to track down the militants. “Highest level of vigil is being maintained at all entry and exit points of the district especially at Yaripora area of Kulgam to trace the attackers,” they said.

PM Modi holds virtual summit with Australian PM Scott Morrison

New Delhi (NVI): Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Australian counterpart Scott Morrison today took part in the first-ever virtual bilateral summit between the two countries.

“With Comprehensive Strategic Partnership between India and Australia, we aspire to achieve yet new heights in our collaboration,” PM Modi tweeted after the summit.

During the summit, PM Modi said India-Australia relations are diverse as well as deep. “This depth in relations comes with our shared values, shared interests, shared geography and shared objectives,” he said.

“I believe that this is a perfect time, perfect opportunity to strengthen our bilateral relations. We have immense possibilities to further make our friendship bond stronger,” PM said.

PM Modi said there to brainstorm over about several aspects like how the relations between the two countries could become ‘factor of stability’ for the world as well as their respective regions, and how “we can together work for global food”.

He added that the boosting of India-Australia relations is not only important for the two countries but also for ‘Indo-Pacific’regions, as well as the world.

During the meeting, Morrison also remembered PM Modi’s ‘hologram’ campaign ahead of the 2014 Lok Sabha elections. He called Modi the “pioneer of technology” in India and said that Australia will also try to use the same hologram technology to conduct further meetings as the world faces new challenges in wake of Coronavirus pandemic.

Yesterday, the Ministry of External Affairs had stated that the virtual summit is being held as PM Morrison’s could not visit India amid the Covid-19 pandemic.

The Prime Minister took to Twitter after the virtual meet earlier today and said he had an outstanding discussion with PM Morrison, “covering the entire expanse of our relationship.”

“A new model of India-Australia partnership, a new model of conducting business. Met my dear friend, PM @ScottMorrisonMP over India-Australia Virtual Summit. We had an outstanding discussion, covering the entire expanse of our relationship,” PM tweeted.

The two leaders also shared some lighter moments as the Australian PM promised to try and cook Gujarati Khichdi. To recall, Morrison had recently posted some pictures of him holding a tray full of homemade samosas and wished that he had the company of PM Modi to relish them. Modi had responded to Morrison’s tweet, saying that he would enjoy samosas with him as soon as the coronavirus pandemic is under control.

During the conversation, Morrison also told PM Modi that he wished he could be in India for the famous ‘Modi hug’ and share his samosas. He said that next time he is going to try some Gujarati Khichdi in the kitchen before they meet.

Lower food intake, huge job losses amid lockdown in India: Survey

New Delhi (NVI): A survey has shown that Covid-19 lockdown has caused severe disruption in the economy and labour markets in the States of Bihar, Jharkhand, Odisha and Madhya Pradesh in India.

The impact of nationwide lockdown can be gauged by the fact that a huge number of respondents in the survey had to reduce their food intake and were consuming less food than before.

The survey conducted by Azim Premji University, in collaboration with civil society organisations, covered self-employed, casual, and regular wage/salaried workers.

In Bihar, where 173 (rural) respondents participated in the survey, nearly half (46%) have lost employment. Casual wage workers were more severely affected, eight in ten casual workers lost jobs.

The study also found that more women (55%) lost employment as compared to men (35%). Apart from that, more SC/ST workers (58%) lost employment compared to OBC workers (35%). Nearly seven in ten households had to reduce their food intake during the lockdown.

SC/ST households have been worst affected in terms of food intake, 85% of SC/ST households were consuming less food than before in Bihar. Nearly two in ten vulnerable households did not receive rations, the study finds.

Besides, more than half (56%) of vulnerable households in Bihar did not receive Jan Dhan cash transfer, and four in ten vulnerable households did not receive any cash transfer.

Coming to Jharkhand, which surveyed 458 respondents (rural), nearly six in ten (58%) respondents lost their employment. Casual wage workers more severely affected, 76% reporting loss of employment.

Nine in ten farmers in the state (89%) were not able to harvest or sell their produce at full price. Four in ten salaried workers (42%) were not paid salaries or faced a reduction in salary during the lockdown, the survey found.

Apart from that, for non-agricultural self-employed workers and wage workers, who were still employed, average weekly earnings fell by 2/3 rd (65%).

Nearly eight in ten (77%) households reported reducing their food intake in the state during the lockdown. Casual wage workers more severely affected with nine in ten (93%) casual wage workers reporting reduced food intake.

Besides that, two in ten households did not receive ration during the lockdown. Six in ten vulnerable households did not receive Jan Dhan cash transfer, and more than half (54%) vulnerable households did not receive any cash transfer.

In Odisha, where 503 respondents participated, two-third (67%) respondents reported losing their employment. Urban self-employed were worst-hit with nearly all of them (96%) losing their employment.

Earnings of casual wage workers and non-agricultural self-employed in the state who retained their employment fell by 80%.

Nine in ten farmers were unable to harvest or sell their produce at full price, the survey finds. Eight in ten households reported consuming less food during the lockdown than before.

In addition to this, urban households and migrants have been more severely affected with nine in ten reporting reduction in food intake, the study shows.

Nearly nine in ten households received rations, seven in ten vulnerable households did not receive Jan Dhan cash transfer, and a quarter of vulnerable households did not receive any cash transfer, it said.

Madhya Pradesh, where 525 respondents were taken into accounter in rural areas, almost half of them (48%) lost employment during the lockdown, worst-hit were casual workers, with 65% losing their jobs.

More than seven in ten farmers were unable to harvest or sell their produce at full price. One-fourth of households did not have money to buy even a week’s worth of essentials, SC/ST households were more constrained, compared to OBC and General category households.

Other than that, seven in ten households were consuming less food than before during the lockdown, 45% of all vulnerable households did not receive Jan Dhan cash transfer, and nearly four out of ten (36%) vulnerable households did not receive any cash transfer.

Overall, the study finds that livelihoods have been devastated at unprecedented levels during the lockdown. Experts who were involved in the study say that the recovery from this tough situation could be slow and very painful.

COVID-19 and the subsequent lockdown since March 24 has taken a toll on the Indian economy, and particularly on vulnerable informal and migrant workers and their families. The survey suggests that immediate as well as medium to long term, comprehensive policy measures are needed to counter these effects and chart the path to economic recovery.

The team which conducted the study, suggests the following measures to ameliorate the conditions of those most affected by the crisis:

  • Universalisation of the PDS to expand its reach and implementation of expanded rations for at least the next six months.
  • Cash transfers equal to at least Rs. 7000 per month for two months. From a macroeconomic perspective as well, larger transfers are needed to bring back demand in the economy.
  • Proactive steps like the expansion of MGNREGA, introduction of urban employment guarantee, and investment in universal basic services are needed.

Azim Premji University has conducted phone surveys of 5000 workers across 12 states of India, to gauge the impact of the COVID-19 lockdown on employment, livelihoods, and access to government relief schemes.

State-wise details of Covid-19 cases in India

Representational image

New Delhi (NVI): India has become the seventh worst-affected country in the world index due to coronavirus pandemic, as the country continues to witness huge spike in the infected cases.

As the country has entered in the fifth phase of nationwide lockdown, Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu and Gujarat remain the worst affected states.

The total number of coronavirus cases in the country stands at 2,16,919 including 6,075 casualties, according to the Union Health Ministry.

Maharashtra tops the country with the maximum number of coronavirus cases and has reported nearly 74,000 confirmed cases so far.

The first confirmed coronavirus case in India was reported in the state of Kerala on January 30. Since then, the virus has tightened its grip across the country.

Total positive cases in States/UTs:

Andaman and Nicobar Islands- 33

Andhra Pradesh- 4,080

Arunachal Pradesh- 38

Assam- 1,672

Bihar- 4,390

Chandigarh- 301

Chhattisgarh- 668

Dadar Nagar Haveli- 8

Delhi- 23,645

Gujarat- 18,100

Goa- 79

Haryana– 2,954

Himachal Pradesh- 359

Jammu and Kashmir- 2,857

Jharkhand- 752

Karnataka- 4,063

Kerala- 1,494

Ladakh- 90

Madhya Pradesh- 8,588

Maharashtra- 74,860

Manipur- 118

Meghalaya- 33

Mizoram- 14

Nagaland- 58

Odisha- 2,388

Puducherry- 82

Punjab- 2,376

Rajasthan- 9,652

Sikkim- 2

Tamil Nadu- 25,872

Telangana- 3,020

Tripura- 468

Uttarakhand- 1,085

Uttar Pradesh- 8,729

West Bengal – 6,508

State/UT wise total death toll:

Andhra Pradesh- 68

Assam- 4

Bihar- 25

Chandigarh- 5

Chhattisgarh- 2

Delhi- 606

Gujarat- 1,122

Haryana- 23

Himachal Pradesh- 5

Jammu and Kashmir- 34

Jharkhand- 5

Karnataka- 53

Kerala- 11

Ladakh- 1

Madhya Pradesh- 371

Maharashtra- 2,587

Meghalaya- 1

Odisha- 7

Puducherry- 1

Punjab- 47

Rajasthan- 209

Tamil Nadu- 208

Telangana- 99

Uttar Pradesh- 229

Uttarakhand- 8

West Bengal- 345

A total of 1,04,107 people have been cured or discharged from hospitals in India. There are around 1,06,737 active cases currently, according to the Health Ministry.

International Day of Innocent Children Victims of Aggression: History and Significance

Representational image

New Delhi (NVI): International Day of Innocent Children Victims of Aggression is observed globally on June 4, in order to protect and preserve the rights of children.

The day also acknowledges the pain suffered by children throughout the world who are the victims of physical, mental and emotional abuse.

In acknowledgement for this, the United Nations decided to commemorate June 4 as International Day of Innocent Children Victims of Aggression.

The whole thing came into existence on August 19, 1982, at an emergency special session on the question of Palestine, in which the UN General Assembly was appalled at the great number of innocent Palestinian and Lebanese children victims of the 1982 Lebanon War.

The UN highlights the six most common violations, these are recruitment and use of children in war, killing, sexual violence, abduction, attacks on schools and hospitals and denial of humanitarian access.

Whenever armed conflict breaks out, it is the most vulnerable members of societies – namely children, who are most affected by the consequences of war.

In recent years, the number of violations perpetrated against children has in many conflict zones increased. More than two million children have been killed in conflicts in the last two decades.

About 10 million child refugees are cared for by the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR).

As child abuse is now in the spotlight of global attention, UN is working hard to help protect children around the world. One key factor is the process of international negotiation and action centered around the convention on the rights of the child.

Meanwhile, millions of individuals and organizations are working to protect and preserve the rights of children.

Apart from this, the UNICEF also works in over 190 countries and territories to save children’s lives, to defend their rights and to help them fulfill their potential, from early childhood through adolescence.

Coronavirus cases surpass 6.5 million globally

Coronavirus cases

New Delhi (NVI): Around 6.5 million coronavirus cases have been confirmed around the world with more than 3,86,000 fatalities, according to data from Johns Hopkins University.

The coronavirus death toll in Brazil and Mexico soared to new daily record, with 1,349 and 1,092 confirmed fatalities, even as the country begins to ease lockdown restrictions.

Brazil now has more than 32,000 deaths, while Mexico has over 11,000 deaths.

The total number of confirmed cases in Brazil has surged past 5,80,000.

In the US, more than 1.8 million coronavirus cases have been recorded, including at least 107,000 deaths.

South Korea has confirmed 39 additional cases of the coronavirus, all but three of them reported in the densely populated Seoul metropolitan area as authorities are struggling to contain a resurgence of the COVID-19.

New Zealand is on the verge of eradicating the virus from its shores after it notched a 13th straight day with no reported new infections. Only a single person in the nation of 5 million people is known to still have the virus, and that person is not hospitalized.

Meanwhile, Canberra Airport has opened a register for travelers interested in flying from the Australian capital to New Zealand on July 1 in a proposed resumption of international travel, according to media reports.

COVID cases in India climb to 2.16 lakh, death toll at 6,075

New Delhi (NVI): The total number of coronavirus cases in India has risen to 2,16,919, with 6,075 deaths due to the pandemic, Union Health Ministry said.

In the past 24 hours, 9,304 fresh COVID-19 infections and 260 more deaths were reported in India.

At least 1,04,106 patients have been cured of the virus or discharged, the ministry said.

In Maharashtra, the COVID-19 cases climbed to 74,860, followed by Tamil Nadu with 25,872 cases, and Delhi with 23,645 cases.

Maharashtra has also reported the highest number of fatalities at 2,587, followed by 1,122 in Gujarat and 371 in Madhya Pradesh.

The death toll in the national capital surged to 606. While another 9,542 patients in Delhi have recovered so far, healthy ministry data shows.

Other states with high virus cases are Gujarat (18,100), Rajasthan (9,652), Madhya Pradesh (8,588), and Uttar Pradesh (8,729).

More than 4 million people have been tested for coronavirus so far, according to the ministry.

Meanwhile, the Delhi government yesterday said that all asymptomatic travellers to the national capital will have to be in home quarantine for a week.

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