Deadline looms for climate summit negotiators seeking a deal for funds to check global warming

With time running out, negotiators at the United Nations' annual climate talks, COP-29 remained mired in the maze of a trillion-dollar money problem, turning to host Azerbaijan to lead the way to daylight with a promised map to be released in the dark of night.

Vulnerable nations are seeking $1.3 trillion to deal with damage from climate change and to adapt to that change, including building out their clean-energy systems. 

Experts agree that at least $1 trillion is called for, but both figures are far more than the developed world has so far offered.

Pacts worth ₹6.57 lakh cr. signed at Jaipur Energy pre-summit

An integrated clean energy policy to be launched shortly in Rajasthan will provide a series of new incentives, including newer segments of renewable energy such as pump storage, green hydrogen, battery storage, and bio-energy. 

The State government inked agreements worth ₹6.57 lakh crore with investors in the energy sector.

Chief Minister Bhajan Lal Sharma, in whose presence the memoranda of understanding (MoU) were signed at an energy pre-summit, said the State government was trying to make Rajasthan an energy- surplus State that could not only meet its demand but also help others with their requirement.

Should packaged food content be labelled?

A new report published by Access to Nutrition Initiative (ATNI), a non-profit global foundation, has found that leading multinational food and beverage companies, on average, sell products that are less healthy in low-and-middle-income countries (LMICS) compared to what they sell in high-income countries (HICs).

An analysis by NAPi of 43 advertisements of pre-packaged food products and their composition revealed that these foods were high in one or more nutrients of concern such as saturated fat etc.

India is staring at a Non-Communicable Disease (NCD) burden of epic proportions - an estimated 10.13 crore Indians have diabetes, and as per National Family Health Survey 5 data, obesity stands at 24% among women and 23% among men.

How does PM Vidyalaxmi differ from other schemes?

On November 6, the Union Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi approved a new Central Sector Scheme, PM Vidyalaxmi, which seeks to provide financial support to meritorious students applying for higher education.

PM Vidyalaxmi differs from previous central government schemes in the number of institutions eligible, the mode of processing of loans, the income cap, and the amount of money to be disbursed.

Rankings are now becoming more and more important with loan eligibility being conditional on them.

India and China agree to work on rebuilding mutual trust

India and China on Π Wednesday agreed to work towards a road map for rebuilding mutual trust and understanding with Defence Minister Rajnath Singh calling for drawing lessons from the "unfortunate border clashes" of 2020 during talks with his Chinese counterpart Dong Jun.

The two Defence Ministers met in Vientiane, the capital city of Laos, after Indian and Chinese militaries completed disengagement of troops from the two last face-off points in eastern Ladakh.

The Defence Ministry said both sides agreed to work together towards a road map for rebuilding mutual trust and understanding.

Prime Minister proposes seven key pillars to strengthen ties between India, 'CARICOM'

Prime Minister Narendra Modi proposed seven key pillars to strengthen ties between India and 'CARICOM' as he held talks with the Caribbean partner countries focusing on areas such as trade, technology and tourism among others.

Mr Modi, who arrived in Guyana on Wednesday - the first visit by an Indian head of the State in more than 50 years, made the remarks as he joined leaders from the Caribbean partner countries for the second India-CARICOM Summit here. 

They discussed ways to strengthen ties in areas such as economic cooperation, agriculture and food security, health and pharmaceuticals, and science and innovations.

Mr. Modi also said that "to promote five Ts trade, technology, tourism, talent and tradition, an online portal could be made to connect the private sector and stakeholders of all countries."

"India is moving ahead in the SME [small and medium enterprises] sector. During the India-CARICOM meeting last year, we announced a grant of one million dollars for SME sectors. We should focus on its implementation now," Mr. Modi said.

Climate change is the biggest disruptor in aquaculture: FAO

The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations has offered its technical expertise and knowledge to deal with the impact of climate change on the country's aquaculture and the fishing community engaged with it.

Manuel Barange, Director of the Fisheries and Aquaculture Division of the FAO, said that with the climate changing, the oceans will produce less and the composition of the fish catches will also change. 

Urging for policy measures to help micro, small and medium players in the "blue economy," Professor Barange said India has to adapt to the situation by taking measures such as changing fishing gears being used and marketing new varieties of fish so that the consumers have access to other breeds of fish than they are accustomed to.

Planetary crisis puts children at risk: UNICEF report

The world is facing an unprecedented planetary crisis with nearly half the world's children about one billion in countries that face high risks of climate and environmental hazards, said the UNICEF's State of the World's Children 2024 (SOWC-2024) report, released.

The report examines the impact of three long-term global forces demographic shifts, climate and environmental crises, and frontier technologies -which it claims will have a profound effect on children's lives between now and 2050.

The report notes that climate destabilisation, biodiversity collapse and widespread pollution threats are intensifying globally.

Inflation spilling over, private capex lacklustre: RBI Bulletin

Inflation is biting into urban consumption demand, corporates' earnings and capex, and can undermine the prospects of the real economy if it is not reined in, warned an article in the November bulletin of the Reserve Bank of India (RBI), while asserting that festive demand has perked up growth hopes after the second quarter 'slack'.

The article, 'State of the Economy', penned by several RBI officials, including Deputy Governor Michael Debabrata Patra, termed October's 6.2% inflation a 'sticker shock' reinforcing concerns about becoming complacent in the wake of the sub-4% inflation prints in July and August.

India, Australia firm up renewable energy partnership

India and Australia sealed an ambitious renewable energy partnership and set their eyes on a comprehensive economic cooperation agreement as Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Australian counterpart Anthony Albanese vowed to significantly ramp up overall bilateral ties.

A raft of issues including ways to boost ties in areas of defence and security ties, mobility, science and technology and education figured prominently at the second India-Australia annual conclave held on the sidelines of the G20 summit late on Tuesday.

The Renewable Energy Partnership (REP) would provide the framework for practical cooperation in priority areas such as solar energy, green hydrogen, energy storage, investments in related projects and allied areas.