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Delhi air quality improves to ‘moderate’ category

New Delhi(NVI): The overall air quality in national capital today has improved significantly from “very poor” to “moderate” category.

According to System of Air Quality and Weather Forecasting And Research (SAFAR),the Air Quality Index (AQI) in the national capital stood at 132 which falls in the “moderate” category.

The AQI in the Delhi University was in the “moderate” with the PM2.5 of 169, followed by Dhirpur, PUSA, Lodhi Road and Mathura Road with the recorded PM 2.5 count of 183, 125, 104 and 136 respectively which also falls in the “moderate” category.

While, the AQI in Chandini Chowk was recorded in the “poor” category with PM2.5 of 260.

The neighbouring Noida recorded a PM2.5 of 196 which also falls in the “moderate” category, SAFAR added.

An AQI between 0-50 is considered “good”, 51-100 “satisfactory”, 101-200 “moderate”, 201-300 “poor”, 301-400 “very poor” and 401-500 “severe”. An AQI above 500 falls in the “severe plus” category.

Meanwhile, the minimum temperature was recorded at 12 degrees Celsius, two notches below the normal, Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) said.

Earth was under stress before wipe out of dinosaurs

Washington (NVI): The Earth was under stress before the asteroid impact that wiped out dinosaurs, a new study has found.

Researchers at Northwestern University in the United States found that in the run up to extinction of dinosaurs, the chemistry of Antarctic seashells shifted in response to surge of carbons in oceans.

The study is the first to measure the calcium isotope composition of fossilized clam and snail shells, which date back to the Cretaceous-Paleogene mass extinction event.

This carbon influx was likely due to long-term eruptions from the Deccan Traps, a 200,000-square-mile volcanic area in India, according to the study.

During the years leading up to the asteroid impact, the Deccan Traps spewed massive amounts of carbon dioxide (CO2) into the atmosphere. The concentration of CO2 acidified the oceans, directly affecting the organisms living there, it said

“Our data suggest that the environment was changing before the asteroid impact,” said Benjamin Linzmeier, the study’s first author.

“Those changes appear to correlate with the eruption of the Deccan Traps.”

“The Earth was clearly under stress before the major mass extinction event,” said Andrew D. Jacobson, a senior author of the study.

New initiatives likely to be launched in power sector tomorrow

New Delhi: The government is likely to launch some initiatives tomorrow on the National Energy Conservation Day organized every year on December 14 with an aim of showcasing India’s achievements in energy efficiency and conservation.

The occasion is also used to highlight the country’s ambition of holistic development as part of overall effort towards climate change mitigation.

Some new initiatives may also be launched by the Ministry of Power tomorrow to mark the day, according to an official press release.

There would also be a display of exhibition on energy efficiency endeavours, showcasing energy profile of India, roadmap of sustainable and holistic approach to national energy efficiency, sustainable heritage by energy efficiency buildings, energy efficient appliances, energy efficiency through demand side management, making MSME sector competent through energy efficiency and raising consciousness for energy conservation.

In order to realize the development goals, India’s energy demand is expected to double between 2013 and 2030, to approximately 1500 million tons of oil equivalent.

The mission of the Bureau of Energy Efficiency (BEE), under the Ministry of Power, is to assist in developing policies and strategies that will help reduce this energy demand by promoting widespread adoption of energy efficiency measures.

The Ministry of Power, through Bureau of Energy Efficiency (BEE), is implementing various policies and schemes, such as PAT Scheme, Standard and Labelling, Energy Conservation Building Codes and Demand Side Management.

These programmes are helpful in achieving significant energy savings and also, in promotion of the efficient use of energy across society, the release said.

Furthermore, the development of Energy Conservation Guidelines and State Energy Efficiency Preparedness Index are complimented within different sectors of Industries and States for implementing the energy efficiency programmes more effectively.

Energy Conservation Building Codes for residential sector are also being developed for curtailing the rising energy demand of the country.

ASSOCHAM opens office in J&K

Jammu/New Delhi (NVI):  Business chamber ASSOCHAM has opened its office at Jammu, with a commitment to partner the government in launch of investment initiatives in the newly-created Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir.

Inaugurating the ASSOCHAM’s J&K office, Lt Governor G C Murmu said his government is keen to organise high-level investment summits on industry and tourism.

He said these global conferences would be organised in close partnership with the industry and asked the ASSOCHAM to be a key partner in reaching out to investors.

Exhorting the industry to look for greater investment opportunities in J&K, Murmu lauded ASSOCHAM’s initiative to open its Jammu office and said all out efforts would be made to ensure a grand success of the planned industry and investment summits.

He said youth of J&K are quite enthusiastic about different Start-Up initiatives of the government in partnership with industry organisations.

In his welcome address, ASSOCHAM President B.K. Goenka said, “During our recent interactions with the Prime Minister, it was very evident that development and employment generation in Jammu & Kashmir is the top agenda among his priorities. In fact, he had asked us what we were doing in Jammu & Kashmir.”

Goenka said that soon after the re-organisation of Jammu & Kashmir in August, the Prime Minister had given a clarion call to the industry to extend its presence in Jammu & Kashmir, a statement issued by ASSOCHAM said.

”It is his belief that the enhanced presence of industry would pave the way for private investment and lead to employment generation and development of Jammu & Kashmir. We at ASSOCHAM believe this is certainly doable,” Goenka added.

 

Odisha Tourism’s Eco Retreat ready for public    

Bhubaneswar (NVI): Beginning tomorrow the Marine Drive Eco Retreat, eastern India’s first glamping festival – glamourous camping – set up at the pristine Ramachandi Beach near the grand Konark Sun Temple, will throw its door open to the revellers. Chief Minister of Odisha Naveen Patnaik will inaugurate the month-and-a-half long festival.

The Eco Retreat, developed by the Odisha Tourism with the objective to boost the global appeal of the state’s key tourism destinations, has plenty for anyone seeking a unique experience.

Besides a stay in the middle of nature’s bounty in luxury cottages with the hospitality of a five star hotel, the Eco Retreat offers food festival, a beach market, thrilling water sports and mega events for fun-filled evenings.

While laying the context behind the Eco Retreat Tourism Minister Jyoti Prakash Panigrahi said that Puri Konark Marine Drive was largely a day tourism destination. Its potential as a premium beach holiday destination was under explored. So we set out to develop a global standard destination.

“Our quest to develop the destination as an experience rich beach tourism hub of global standards was undaunted,” said Panigrahi adding that the Marine Drive Eco Retreat is the product of our ‘relentless efforts’.

According to Odisha Tourism officials theEco Retreat is envisioned as eastern India’s first ‘Glamping’ festival. It isscheduled from December 14 to January 31, 2020.

The Eco Retreat has a full-fledged corporate conferencing facility where 150 participants can be accommodated. It offera unique experience of glamourous camping in luxury cottages, delectable cuisine, beach spa, adventure & water sports activities, nature trails and wholesome day itineraries, cultural evenings and a lot more.

The itinerary also includes early morning nature trails in the Balukhand Sanctuary.

The evenings wont be dull either. Artistes from across India will perform every evening and over the weekends the best of celebrity DJs and Bollywood’s known voices take the stage.

All of which will be accessible to day visitors at affordable entry prices, promises the Odisha Tourism officials. Go check out!

https://ecoretreat.odishatourism.gov.in/

India will work for prosperity of Maldives: Modi

Prime Minister Narendra Modi with Speaker of People's Majlis of  Maldives Mohamed Nasheed

New Delhi (NVI): Prime Minister Narendra Modi today affirmed India’s commitment to continue to work closely with the government of Maldives for a stable, prosperous and peaceful island nation wherein the aspirations of the friendly Maldivian people are fulfilled.

He said engagement between the Parliaments of India and Maldives is a key component of the vibrant relationship between the two contries.

Modi made these remarks while meeting Mohamed Nasheed, Speaker of People’s Majlis of  Maldives, here, according to an official release.

The Prime Minister expressed confidence that the visit of the Maldivian leader will help consolidate bridges of friendship between the two countries.

Nasheed is on a visit to India at the joint invitation of the Rajya Sabha Chairman Venkaiah Naidu and Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla.

Recalling his last visit to Malé in June this year, when he also addressed the People’s Majlis, the Prime Minister lauded the continued strong leadership of Nasheed to the cause of deepening and strengthening democracy in Maldives.

Nasheed thanked the Prime Minister for his continued support for a stronger India-Maldives relationship since the formation of the new Government in The Maldives last year.

He also thanked Modi for the development cooperation initiatives undertaken in The Maldives for the welfare of the Maldivian people.

Nasheed reaffirmed his unwavering support to the ‘India First’ policy of the Government of Maldives and noted that the visit of the Parliamentary delegation will help further strengthen the fraternal bonds and friendly relations between the two countries.

PM congratulates Boris Johnson

New Delhi (NVI): Prime Minister Narendra Modi today congratulated his British counterpart Boris Johnson for securing an overall majority in the United Kingdom general elections.

Taking to twitter, PM Mod said “Many congratulations to PM @BorisJohnson for his return with a thumping majority. I wish him the best and look forward to working together for closer India-UK ties.”

The UK’s ruling Conservatives Party has won a resounding election victory on Friday with 364 seats.

Withdrawal of addl forces from Kashmir begins

By Sameer Ahmad

Srinagar (NVI): In a major development, 14 companies of central paramilitary forces have been withdrawn from Kashmir, with the authorities initiating a process of sending back the additional troops rushed to the Valley five months back in connection with the Centre’s decision to abolish the special status of Jammu and Kashmir.

According to police sources, 14 companies of CRPF, BSF and SSB have been withdrawn from Kashmir Valley and the process is on to withdraw more additional forces.

Each company of a paramilitary force comprises around 100 personnel.

On July 25, the Union Home Ministry had rushed 100 companies (approximately 10,000 personnel) of paramilitary forces to Kashmir valley. Those included 50 from CRPF, 30 from SSB, 10 from BSF and 10 from ITBP.

The urgency of the move was reflected in the Home Ministry’s order which had said that out of 50 companies of CRPF, 9 companies should be pulled out from their deployment for Parliament security during the ongoing session and the Kanwar yatra in Delhi.

The rushing of such a large number of additional forces to Kashmir had triggered panic and curiosity about what was going to happen in the Valley.

While the state administration insisted that the additional deployment was being made in view of intelligence inputs about a major terror strike, the actual purpose became clear when restrictions were imposed in the Valley on the night of August 4/5, on the eve of the Centre’s move to abolish special status of J&K granted under Article 370.

Through a legislative process, the Centre also converted the state of J&K into a Union Territory and created a separate Union Territory of Ladakh.

Govt targets to reduce anaemia by 3% per year

New Delhi (NVI): The government of India has launched the Anemia Mukt Bharat (AMB) strategy under the Prime Minister’s Overarching Scheme for Holistic Nourishment (POSHAN) Abhiyaan, setting a target to reduce anaemia by 3 per cent per year.

The AMB mission has been launched in view of slow progress in reduction of anaemia cases between 2005 and 2015, Minister of State for Health and Family Welfare Ashwini Kumar Choubey told the Lok Sabha today.

The Minister said the rate of reduction of anaemia cases in the country from 2005 to 2015 was less than 1 per cent per year.

Under the AMB strategy, the Ministry has adopted the 6x6x6 strategy that implies six age groups, six interventions and six institutional mechanisms.

According to the Minister, the strategy focuses on ensuring supply chain, demand generation and strong monitoring using the dashboard for addressing anemia, both due to nutritional and non-nutritional causes.

India-Japan Summit meet in Assam put off

New Delhi (NVI): Amid widespread violence in Assam over the Citizenship Amendment Bill (CAB), a Summit meeting between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Japanese counterpart Shinzo Abe slated to begin in the state’s capital Guwahati this weekend has been cancelled.

External Affairs Ministry spokesman Raveesh Kumar said here today that the two sides have decided to postpone Abe’s visit which was scheduled from December 15-17.

“With reference to the proposed visit of Japanese PM Abe to India, both sides have decided to defer the visit to a mutually-convenient date in the near future,” he tweeted.

Abe was to hold Summit meeting with Modi, which is an annual affair between the two countries since over a decade.

The deferment comes amidst widespread violence in Assam against the CAB, which was passed by Parliament earlier this week.

The controversial legislation, which has since been given assent by President Ram Nath Kovind, provides for granting Indian citizenship to Hindus and other minorities from Bangladesh, Pakistan and Afghanistan.

Significantly, Bangladesh’s Foreign Minister Abdul Momen and Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan have also cancelled their scheduled visits to India.

Momen was scheduled to visit India from December 12 to 14, mainly for the 6th Indian Ocean Dialogue. He cancelled the visit yesterday, hours before his arrival in India, saying he was required to stay back in Bangladesh for “pressing national events” — the Martyred Intellectuals Day on December 14 and Victory Day on December 16.

Khan was to travel to Meghalaya today at the invitation of Chief Minister Conrad Sangma.

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