Nicaragua’s Momotombo volcano erupts
Nicaragua’s largest volcano, Momotombo, started erupting for the first time since 1905, and it’s putting on one hell of a show. Schools in the region have been evacuated, but fortunately for now the hot rock and ash “are heading toward very sparsely populated areas,” says government spokeswoman Rosario Murillo.
Locals had reported feeling tremors in the region the past few weeks, and on Monday night the volcano blasted a plume of ash about 1,000 metres high. It was a>strombolian eruption – volcanic activity that produces a range of continuous small explosions – and it produced a beautiful lava fountain, complete with glowing rocks tumbling down the slopes. Active volcano in South America right now, with Fuego and Santiaguito in Guatemala both experiencing moderate eruptions. Nicaragua’s Telica volcano has also had a restless 2015, with minor eruptive activity.
What and Why of COP21
Annual Conference of Parties (COP) 21 or the 2015 Paris Climate conference is a collective political response of the world against the growing pollution and climatic changes. The basic agenda of the convention is to create and promote alternate energy solutions and a sustainable future for the coming generations.
This time the convention is being attended by decision makers from over 43 countries, to negotiate on the solution to keep the global warming below 2°C. Event will also have over 80 speakers including members of the ministry and influential business personalities.
Our honorable Prime Minister also spoke on the occasion and discussed about the need of innovation for development of conventional energy. He also spoke about willingness to reduce the emissions by 33 – 35% of 2005 levels. We hope and pledge to work in the same direction to create a cleaner and greener future.
Asia’s developing economies remain on track,
Asia’s developing economies remain on track, to post growth of 5.8% in 2015 and 6.0% in 2016- Asian Development Outlook Supplement
In a supplement to the September 2015 Asian Development Outlook Update report, ADB maintained growth projections for Asia’s developing economies with a growth of 5.8% in 2015 and 6.0% in 2016, as the region’s economies remain resilient to continued economic weakness in industrialized countries, with a slight upgrade of growth forecasts for the People’s Republic of China (PRC) offset by downward revisions to the forecasts for Central Asia and the Pacific. The growth outlook for the major industrial economies has also been downgraded.
The key highlights of the Asian Development Outlook Supplement are-
Third quarter data largely met expectations underlying the projections in Asian Development Outlook 2015 Update, despite softer prospects in the major industrial economies. The Supplement forecasts growth in developing Asia at 5.8% in 2015 and 6.0% in 2016.
Growth in the People’s Republic of China held up well in the first 9 months of the year, so the Supplement revises the 2015 forecast up by 0.1 percentage points to 6.9%. The forecast for East Asia is nevertheless unchanged at 6.0% for this year and next because of dampened growth expectations elsewhere in the sub-region.
South Asia’s outlook remains positive, with the sub-region on track to meet previous growth projections of 6.9% in 2015 and 7.3% in 2016. Continued strength in India is supported by growth in industrial production, public capital expenditure, and retail sales. This is helping to offset slowdowns seen for Bhutan, the Maldives, and Nepal.
Growth in India is expected to pick up further in the second half of fiscal 2015 to reach 7.4% and, in the next fiscal year, 7.8%, as envisaged in the Update. Growth forecasts for the whole of South Asia are maintained at 6.9% in 2015 and 7.3% in 2016.
Southeast Asia as a whole is maintaining its growth pace despite marginal downward revisions for Indonesia, the Philippines, and Singapore. This Supplement retains forecasts of 4.4% growth in 2015 and 4.9% next year.
The growth outlook for Central Asia has been downgraded in both 2015 and 2016 to 3.2% and 3.7% from 3.3% and 4.2%, respectively, as continued low commodity prices, particularly oil and gas, and the slow recovery in the Russian Federation remain a drag on economic performance. Energy importers such as Armenia, Georgia, the Kyrgyz Republic, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan are seeing a slowdown in domestic consumption as a result of lower remittances, particularly from the Russian Federation.
Pacific economies are also seen posting growth below ADB’s September Update estimates, with delays in several large investment projects and weak commodity prices causing revenue shortfalls. For 2015, growth for the sub-region is now seen at 6.3% from 6.7% in the September Update, and at 3.8% in 2016 from 3.9% previously.
Continued softness in international commodity prices will keep inflation low. The inflation forecast for 2015 is maintained at 2.3% but trimmed to 2.7% for 2016, or 0.3 percentage points below the Update forecast.
Govt launches Green Highways Policy
Dec 3
Minister of Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari today said the government has recently launched the Green Highways (plantation, transplantation, beautification and maintenance) policy 2015 to develop eco friendly National Highways in the country. Replying to supplementaries in the Lok Sabha, Mr Gadkari said the policy highlights to arrest soil erosion at the embankment slopes and to prevent glare from the headlight of incoming vehicles.
He said his ministry is taking several steps to reduce the number of road accidents occurring in the country. Mr Gadkari said land for plantations along highways has not been acquired separately. The minister informed the Indian Highways Management Company limited has been assigned the job of empanelment of planting agencies and monitoring of plantations. He said NHAI will act as fund manager for the green highways fund.
Centre to extend all help to flood hit TN, Puducherry and AP: HM
Dec 3, 1:52 PM
Home minister Rajnath Singh today assured the Lok Sabha that the centre will extend all possible help to the flood affected Tamil Nadu, Puducherry and Andhra Pradesh. Replying to a debate on the flood situation in different parts of the country, Mr Singh said the Prime Minister will conduct an aerial survey in the affected areas to take stock of the situation. Mr Singh said the Prime Minister is likely to announce relief package for the rain hit areas. Mr Singh said that around 940 crore rupees has already been provided to the Tamil Nadu government as an assistance to deal with the situation.
Mr Singh said 269 persons have lost their lives in Tamil Nadu where as 54 people in Andhra Pradesh. The Home minister said 40 per cent mobile and telephone connections are not working due to Chennai floods. He said Met department has predicted heavy rainfall for the next two to three days in the state. Mr Singh said the rainfall has broken the record of past 100 years. The Trinamool Congress members demanding special funds for drought situation in West Bengal not satisfied with the Home minister’s response staged a walkout.
Chennai floods: Death toll hits 269;
Relief, rescue efforts in full swing; PM visiting affected areas
Chennai and its deluged suburbs, flood situation continues to be grim though rain has come down. Surplus water being released in huge quantities from major reservoirs in the adjoining districts continue to cause heavy flooding in many Chennai residential areas. Vehicular traffic is affected in the city and roads are in battered condition.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi is visiting Chennai this afternoon to make an aerial view of the flood damage in the city. He will arrive at the INS Rajali naval base at Arakkonam, some 45 kilometer off Chennai by a special flight. From there, he will be inspecting the affected places by helicopter.
The state Chief Minister J.Jayalalithaa made a 40-minute aerial survey and took stock of the flood conditions. She later held a review meeting with her cabinet colleagues and senior officials about the prevailing situation. Army troops dropped thousands of food packets from helicopters in and around Chennai this morning, where hundreds of residential areas are engulfed in water. Indian Navy also gave food and water to over 2000 people in Chennai.
The NDRF has pressed into service 100 boats for rescue missions and has deployed three more teams into service. With this, the NDRF has doubled its strength to 1200. Four additional columns of the Army has arrived Chennai for rescue and relief operations. The Indian Air Force is utilizing its Tambaram base for evacuation and relief works.
Meanwhile, the death toll due to flood in Chennai has gone up to 269. It is feared that the figure may go up further. Many air passengers are stranded at Chennai Airport as operations from both the terminals are shut down till Friday morning. Express train services originating from Chennai Egmore station is also suspended today. Suburban train services are truncated at Tambaram Station. Bus services to the southern areas of the state is also hugely affected.
Foreign tourists North-Easter surge of 40%
The number of foreign tourists visiting the North-Eastern states of the country has recorded a sharp jump of 40% to 1,18,552 in 2014 from 84,820 in 2013, according to the latest data compiled by the Union Ministry of Tourism.
-NEITC
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