3. International Conference on Climate Change Begins in Nepal.

All nations should invest in resources to limit the detrimental impact of climate change, Nepal President Bidya Devi Bhandari said today as she inaugurated an international conference here to draw attention towards the adverse effects of global warming in the Hindu Kush mountain range

The four-day conference is attended by more than 300 experts from different countries of Asia including India, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Nepal, Pakistan, Myanmar. V K Saraswat, member of India`s Neeti foundation is leading the Indian delegation in the conference.

President Bhandari while addressing the conference said, "The Hindu Kush Himalaya Region is the lifeline to tens of millions of people and the impact of climate change and other human activities are adversely affecting the entire region". "I believe that it is high time that nations invest resources to limit the detrimental impact of climate change and environmental degradation rather than spend money on areas that threaten human lives and resources," she said.

The conference will further augment conservation and development efforts in the Hindu Kush Himalayan region, Minister for Environment of Nepal Mithila Chaudhary said. "It will strengthen the socio-economic well-being of communities from Myanmar in the east to Afghanistan in the west, and help conserve biodiversity and cultural diversity in the region," Chaudhary added.

The conference `Resilient Hindu Kush Himalaya: Developing Solutions towards a Sustainable Future for Asia` is being organised by Nepal`s Ministry for Environment in collaboration with International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD).

As Hindu Kush Himalayan region stretches from Afghanistan to Myanmar and a quarter of humanity depend for water and other resources in the Himalayas, therefore, it is important to preserve the region for the future of humanity, observed David Molden, director general of ICIMOD said.

4. South Korea and USA Launch Largest Air Exercise.

Hundreds of aircraft including two dozen stealth jets began training on Monday as the United States and South Korea launched their biggest-ever combined air force exercise.

The war games come a week after North Korea test-fired its most powerful missile ever, an ICBM that may be able to target the eastern seaboard of the United States.

The five-day drill, called Vigilant Ace, is meant to improve the allies` wartime capabilities and preparedness, South Korea`s defence ministry said.

The US Seventh Air Force sent major strategic military assets that include six F-22 and 18 F-35 stealth fighter jets for the annual training exercise in the Korean Peninsula. About 12,000 US military personnel are participating.

In total, 230 aircraft will be flying at eight US and South Korean military installations in the South.

Some local media report that B-1B bombers will also join aerial drills, but officials did not confirm their participation.

The training, held each year in late autumn, is not in response to any incident or provocation, the Seventh Air Force said in a statement.

North Korea`s state media said the drill pushes the Korean Peninsula "to the brink of nuclear war". Such language is typical in North Korean propaganda because the country claims US-South Korean drills are preparation for invasion.

Nevertheless, tensions are at a particularly dangerous point as North Korea edges toward its goal of a viable arsenal of nuclear-tipped long-range missiles, and as US President Donald Trump ramps up his rhetoric toward the North, threatening, for instance, to unleash "fire and fury" against the country.

5. Iranian President Inaugurates First Phase of Chabahar Port.

The first phase of the Chabahar port was inaugurated on Sunday by Iranian President Hassan Rouhani, opening up a new strategic transit route between Iran, India and Afghanistan, bypassing Pakistan.

 

The port in the Sistan-Balochistan province on the energy-rich nation’s southern coast lies outside the Persian Gulf and is easily accessed from India’s western coast and is considered as a “gateway to golden opportunities” for trade with central Asian countries.

 

The first phase of the Chabahar port project is known as the Shahid Beheshti port and it was inaugurated by Rouhani in the presence of representatives of several countries of the region.

 

According to the ministry of external affairs, minister of state for shipping Pon Radhakrishnan represented India at the inauguration.

 

“The routes of the region should be connected on land, sea and air,” Rouhani said at the inauguration ceremony, according to his office.

 

The port is likely to ramp up trade between India, Afghanistan and Iran in the wake of Pakistan denying transit access to New Delhi for trade with the two countries. India has been closely working with Afghanistan to create alternative, reliable access routes, bypassing Pakistan.

 

Under the agreement signed between India and Iran in May last year, India is to equip and operate two berths in the Chabahar Port Phase-I with capital investment of $85.21 million and annual revenue expenditure of $22.95 million on a 10-year lease.

 

Rouhani’s office said the president noted that transit is the best communication tool for nations, adding “the routes of the region should be connected on land, sea and air”.

 

Ahead of the inauguration of the port, external affairs minister Sushma Swaraj on Saturday met her Iranian counterpart Javed Zarif in Tehran during which the implementation of the Chabahar port project was discussed among other issues.

 

Swaraj made a stopover at Tehran on her return from Russian city of Sochi where she had attended the annual summit of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO).

 

The port is likely to ramp up trade between India, Afghanistan and Iran in the wake of Pakistan denying transit access to New Delhi for trade with the two countries.

 

Over a month ago, India sent its first consignment of wheat to Afghanistan by sea through the Chabahar port, marking opening of the new strategic transit route

 

6. Sixth International Tourism Mart 2017 begins in Assam.

 Sixth International Tourism Mart for Northeastern States is going to start at Hotel Vivanta in Guwahati from December 5, 2017. The three-day mega tourist mart being organized by Union Ministry of Tourism and Ministry of DoNER is being hosted by Assam Tourism Development Corporation (ATDC).

 

Talking to the media at ATDC office at Paltan Bazar in Guwahati, ATDC chairman Jayanta Malla Baruah said: “Seventy-five participants are set to come to the mart from thirty countries, besides 100 participants from the eight north-eastern States and participants from rest of India. Events during the three days are – Guwahati city orientation tours, panel discussions, river cruise, etc. The events will take place in four different tourist circuits in the region. All tourism ministers of the north-eastern States, besides Assam Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal, will attend the event. Most of the would-be participants have Assam as their target destination. We’re going to do everything to feed tour operators, bloggers and mediapersons with information on Assam tourist spots.”

 

“Meanwhile, Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal is going to hold a discussion at Mumbai next week with film producers, filmmakers, directors and others so as to promote Assam as a destination for film tourism,” Malla said, and added: “The Chief Minister’s team is going to take video clippings of prospective sites of the State for shoot to show them at the meeting.”

 

 

7. ADB Funds $580 Million for Reliances Bangladesh Power Plant Project.

Reliance Power Ltd on Tuesday said Asian Development Bank (ADB) has approved debt financing and partial risk guarantees totalling $583 million to develop its 750 MW power plant and LNG terminal project in Bangladesh.

 

“The board of Asian Development Bank has approved debt financing and partial risk guarantees totalling $583 million (approx Rs3,748 crore) for 750 MW LNG based combined cycle power plant and LNG Terminal project being developed by the company’s subsidiaries in Bangladesh,” the company said in a BSE filing.

 

The project, which includes a power generation facility to be located in Meghnaghat near Dhaka and an LNG terminal near Kutubdia Island south of Chittagong, will significantly increase power generation and improve energy infrastructure in Bangladesh, ADB said.

 

Total project cost is approximately $1 billion.

 

At 12.19pm, Reliance Power shares were trading 0.41% lower at Rs36.60 on BSE, while the Sensex was down 0.35% to 32,753.93 points.

 

Reliance Group companies have sued HT Media Ltd, Mint’s publisher, and nine others in the Bombay high court over a 2 October 2014 front-page story that they have disputed. HT Media is contesting the case.

 

8. UAE, UK, US and French Armies Hold Joint Exercises in Abu Dhabi.

 

The two-week United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom, United States and France joint army training exercise is kicked off in Abu Dhabi on Monday with an aim to consolidate multilateral relations. 

 

Notably, the exercise named “Flag4” is a part of the effort to consolidate multilateral relations, and to increase coordination between the UAE Armed Forces and participating nations. The exercise comes within the framework of UAE`s joint military co-operation with brotherly and friendly countries.

 

The joint exercise aims to increase combat efficiency, gain more field expertise, and work to unify military concepts among participating parties. During the exercise, the forces of the four countries will show their professional skills in which live ammunition to be used.

 

The military exercise also reflects the combat and professional ability in strengthening the concept of command, control and hitting targets with high precision and joint conclusion between the four sides. The exercise is characterized by seriousness and integration in command and control, the application of combat strategies, unification of joint military concepts and the implementation of all stages of professional training between ground units.

 

9. Ellie Goulding Honored as UN Environment Global Goodwill Ambassador.

the chart-topping, award-winning British artist, has been appointed a UN Environment Global Goodwill Ambassador.   

 

Just weeks after collecting a Global Leadership Award from the UN, the singer and songwriter now joins the ongoing battle to clean up the environment, tackle climate change and protect endangered species. It`s no small task, and she knows it. “It’s a huge honor to become a UN Environment Global Goodwill Ambassador,” Ellie said in a statement, ‘Yes, we face huge global challenges, but we are also taking game-changing steps forward and that should inspire us."  

 

In her new UN role, Goulding will focus “on amplifying the activism of young people committed to creating a bright future. I want as many people as possible to become advocates for the planet.”  

 

The 30-year-old pop star shared the news in Kenya, surrounded by giraffes at the Giraffe Manor in the suburbs of the capital Nairobi, where UN Environment has its HQ.

 

10. US withdraws from UN Global Compact on Migration. 

The United States notified the United Nations that it will no longer take part in the global compact on migration, saying it undermines the nation`s sovereignty.

 

The US has been a part of the New York Declaration for Refugees and Migrants since it was formed last year. The declaration aims to ensure the rights of migrants, help them resettle and provide them with access to education and jobs.

It calls for the negotiation of a global compact on migration, which is expected to be adopted next year.

 

"While we will continue to engage on a number of fronts at the United Nations," Secretary of State Rex Tillerson said in a statement Sunday, "in this case, we simply cannot in good faith support a process that could undermine the sovereign right of the United States to enforce our immigration laws and secure our borders."

 

The US supports "international cooperation on migration issues," the statement added, "but it is the primary responsibility of sovereign states to help ensure that migration is safe, orderly, and legal."

In explaining its withdrawal Saturday, the US said the pact contains provisions that are inconsistent with the nation`s immigration policies.

 

While the US is proud of its leadership on migration and refugee issues, the global approach is not compatible with the nation`s sovereignty, according to Nikki Haley, the US ambassador to the UN.

Haley said Trump made the decision, and emphasized that Americans should determine their own policies on immigration.

 

"Our decisions on immigration policies must always be made by Americans and Americans alone," she said. "We will decide how best to control our borders and who will be allowed to enter our country."

 

11. Venezuela launches new virtual currency called Petro.

President claims digital currency called the ‘petro’ will be backed by Venezuelan reserves of gold, oil, gas, and diamonds

 

President Nicolas Maduro has said Venezuela would launch a cryptocurrency to combat a US-led financial “blockade,” although he provided few clues about how the economically crippled Opec member would pull off the feat.

 

“Venezuela will create a cryptocurrency ... the ‘petro,’ to advance in issues of monetary sovereignty, to make financial transactions and overcome the financial blockade,” leftist Maduro said during his weekly Sunday televised broadcast.

 

Cash crunch: how Venezuela inadvertently became a cashless economy

 Read more

The digital currency will be backed by Venezuelan reserves of gold, oil, gas, and diamonds, he said during the near five-hour show, which included traditional Christmas songs and dancing.

 

“The 21st century has arrived!” Maduro added to cheers, without providing specifics about the currency launch.

 

Opposition leaders scorned the announcement, which they said needed congressional approval, and some cast doubt on whether the digital currency would ever see the light of day in tumultuous Venezuela.

 

Still, the announcement highlights how US sanctions this year are hurting Venezuela’s ability to move money through international banks. Sources say compliance departments are scrutinising transactions linked to Venezuela, which has slowed some bond payments and complicated certain oil exports.

 

Maduro’s move away from the US dollar comes after the recent spectacular rise of bitcoin, which has been fuelled by signs that the digital currency is slowly gaining traction in the mainstream investment world.

 

12. World Soil Day is observed on 5th December.

 

One annual celebration you might be forgiven for not participating in (or even knowing about) is World Soil Day. Yes, soil—as in that sticky brown stuff that gets walked all over your prized cream carpets. Sadly, it is our ignorance about the importance of soil and the degree to which we take advantage of all that it offers that have led to a drastic reduction in its quality the world over. These are precisely the problems World Soil Day aims to battle, as few things could be more important to us, the inhabitants of Planet Earth, who could never hope to survive without the land. Soil is one without a doubt of the most significant parts of the ecosystem, contributing to our food, water and energy and playing an important part in reducing the impact of climate change. For all of these reasons, it’s high time World Soil Day became known to more people than just scientists concerned about the welfare of our planet.

 

The History of World Soil Day

 

In 2002, the International Union of Soil Sciences (IUSS) made a resolution proposing the 5th of December be World Soil Day in order to celebrate the importance of soil as a critical component of the natural system and as a vital contributor to human well-being. 2015 was also declared to be the Internationals Year of Soils in hopes of raising as much awareness as possible about the enormous role soil plays in food security. Unsurprisingly, so far it’s mostly been the global community of 60,000 or so soil scientists who have been the ones celebrating the day the most. The chances of us ordinary folk exchanging ‘Happy Soil Day’ cards in the near future remain minimal, but that doesn’t mean we can’t learn to appreciate the important roles that soil plays in our lives (even if it is darn hard to scrub off the carpet when your nearest and dearest feline friends leave muddy footprints on their way to the kitchen).

 

13. Third DRC-NITI Aayog Dialogue Held in China.

The 3rd edition of the Dialogue between the NITI Aayog and the Development Research Council of China, the DRC- NITI Aayog Dialogue was held in Beijing today. The meeting was co-chaired by Vice Chairman NITI Aayog, Dr. Rajiv Kumar, and Mr Li Wei, President (Minister), DRC. 

 

The Indian delegation led by Vice Chairman, NITI Aayog included senior officials from NITI Aayog as well as Ministries of New & Renewable Energy and Food Processing. The Chinese delegation comprised of researchers and officials from DRC as well as the Chinese Ministries of Finance, Commerce, Foreign Affairs, and the National Development & Reform Commission. 

 

The DRC-NITI Dialogue provides an important platform for both sides to discuss key macro- economic issues impacting both countries and areas of mutual interest. The 3rd Dialogue enabled an in-depth interaction between the two delegations on the world economic prospects, India-China economic cooperation and practices for sustainable growth. In the context of global uncertainty and weak global growth, it was noted that as two large and rapidly growing developing countries, both India and China have a major stake in the path that the global economy is likely to take in coming years. 

 

Both sides exchanged views on policies and measures to address the challenges for attaining sustainable growth. In-depth discussions were held on sharing of experiences and best practices in the areas of Electric mobility, Clean energy, Higher education and Special Economic Zones (SEZs). 

 

 

14. International conference on Climate Change held in Nepal.

Nepal will hold an international conference to draw attention on climate change and its adverse effects on people in the Hindu Kush mountain range. President Bidya Devi Bhandari will inaugurate the four-day long conference aimed at developing solutions for a sustainable future for Asia that could withstand the impacts of climate change.

 

Over 200 delegates including scientists, environmental experts, government officials, non-governmental organisations and policy makers are expected to participate in the event to be organised at the initiative of International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD). The main objective of the event, held with the support of Nepal’s Ministry for Environment, is to develop solutions for resilience building, promoting regional cooperation and reducing the data gaps for sustainable mountain development, ICIMOD Director General Dr David Molden said.

 

For an effective response to the complex challenges facing the Hindu Kush Himalayas (HKH), multiple actors need to come together and develop a collective vision for the region’s sustainable development, ICIMOD said in a statement. “It will approach resilience building for transformative change in the HKH from a holistic perspective, viewed in the context of multiple change process in mountain areas. It also aims to deepen the commitment among concerned stakeholders and decision makers to find and implement resilience building solutions in the HKH and downstream,” Molden said.

 

15. Tenth Jaipur International Film Festival.

The Festival that has given a new global identity to the pink city of Jaipur has become great favourite of both the cinegoers and the film makers. The second and the last list of films selected for the Festival was released on Tuesday that includes a total of 48 films from 13 countries.

 

List of Feature films

 

Angrezi Mein Kehte Hein directed by Harish Vyas from India/Hindi

 

Half Widow directed by Danish Renzu from India/ Kashmiri and Urdu

 

Andarkahini (Self-Exile) directed by Arnab Middya from India/Bengali

 

Inkblot directed by Vedanti Dani from India/English

 

POV-Point of view directed by Prabhakar Jha from India/Hindi

 

Donaire Y Esplendor (Grace & Splendor) directed by Arturo Montenegro from Panama/ Spanish

 

The first list of selected films was released on November five containing 72 films. A total of 120 films will be screened in the five day Festival beginning from January 6, 2018 at Golecha Cinema. Four Mobile films, three Web Series films and ninth movies under Film Market are yet to be included in the final list taking the total number of films to be screened in the Festival to 136.

 

The films set to be screened in the Festival include 49 films from India and 71 films from other countries around the globe. The list also includes seven films from the host state of Rajasthan. In the previous festival -JIFF 2017 -134 films were screened. A total of 2019 films from 101 countries were received by the Festival office this year.

 

16. International Solar Alliance is Now a Legal Entity.

 

In terms of its Framework Agreement, with ratification by Guinea as the 15th country on 6th November 2017, the International Solar Alliance (ISA) will become a treaty-based international intergovernmental organization today.

 

India`s global initiative, the International Solar Alliance, which aims at increasing solar energy deployment in member countries, will become a treaty-based international intergovernmental organization today.

 

The ISA is an Indian initiative, jointly launched by the Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the president of France on 30 November 2015 in Paris, on the sidelines of COP-21, the UN climate conference. It aims at addressing obstacles to deployment at a scale of solar energy through better harmonization and aggregation of demand from solar rich countries lying fully or partially between the tropics of Cancer and Capricorn.

 

Till date, 46 countries have signed and 19 countries have ratified the framework agreement of the ISA. The ISA interim secretariat has been operational as a de-facto organization since 25 January 2016.

 

 

The Syrian civil war, now in its seventh year, has killed hundreds of thousands of people and uprooted 11 million.

 

More than 2.5 million Syrian children are refugees, about 500,000 of whom are residing in Lebanon, KidsRights said. Many struggle to get enough nutritious food or access healthcare, and almost half of those aged between six and 14 are out of school.

 

“It is very important to give these children an education, otherwise they could become a lost generation,” Jounde said.