U.S. Congress resolution recognizes historical and religious significance of Diwali

The resolution expresses its deepest respect for Indian-Americans and the Indian diaspora throughout the world on this significant occasion.

Indian-American Congressman Raja Krishnamoorthi has introduced a resolution in the U.S. Congress recognising the religious and historical significance of Diwali, the festival of lights.

“For Sikhs, Jains, and my Hindus here in the United States and across the world, Diwali is a time for gratitude as well as a celebration of the triumph of light over darkness and good over evil,” Mr. Krishnamoorthi said after he introduced the resolution in the U.S. House of Representatives.

Recognising the historical and religious significance of Diwali, the resolution expresses its deepest respect for Indian-Americans and the Indian diaspora throughout the world on this significant occasion, he said.

 “I’m proud to introduce this bipartisan resolution to recognise the enormous religious, cultural, and historical significance of Diwali,” Mr. Krishnamoorthi said.

“In celebrating another Diwali during the pandemic, I hope that we begin to see light overcome the darkness in the world. I want to wish a safe and happy Diwali to all the families gathering with their loved ones to light lamps in their homes and to pray for good health and peace for all people,” he said.

Cannot impose blanket ban on crackers, says Supreme Court

Congresswoman Carolyn B Maloney tweeted that the Diwali stamp is now five-year-old.

“Happy five year anniversary to the Diwali Stamp! Proud to have led the legislation that helped make this happen! Read all about the 7-year saga to get this stamp in circulation below,” she said.

World’s first partnership for transnational solar power grid launched in Glasgow.

The project, being spearheaded by India and the UK in partnership with the ISA and the World Bank Group, aims to harness solar energy wherever the sun is shining, ensuring that generated electricity flows to areas that need it most.

World’s first partnership for interconnected solar grid, known as the Green Grids Initiative – One Sun One World One Grid (GGI-OSOWOG) launched on Tuesday at the COP26 climate conference in Glasgow.
The International Solar Alliance (ISA), India Presidency of the ISA, and the UK COP Presidency unveiled plans for the first international network of global interconnected solar power grids, GGI-OSOWOG, at the COP26 climate conference in Glasgow, an ISA statement said.
Realizing the vision of One Sun One World One Grid through interconnected green grids can be transformational, enabling all of us to meet the targets of the Paris Agreement to prevent dangerous climate change, to accelerate the clean energy transition, and to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals.These efforts can stimulate green investments and create millions of good jobs. By sharing the sun’s energy, we can help to build a more peaceful and prosperous world,” the declaration stated. ..
The declaration has been endorsed by 80 ISA member countries.
The project, being spearheaded by India and the UK in partnership with the ISA and the World Bank Group, aims to harness solar energy wherever the sun is shining, ensuring that generated electricity flows to areas that need it most.
The GGI-OSOWOG will bring together a global coalition of national governments, international financial and technical organisations, legislators, power system operators and knowledge leaders to accelerate the construction of the new infrastructure needed for a world powered by clean energy.
In doing so, the project aims to reduce reliance on non-renewable energy such as coal by enabling them to purchase affordable solar power from other countries.
The ISA aims to help mobilize USD 1 trillion of funding by 2030 to assist developing countries in expanding their solar power grids, both in transmission and generation, to meet their energy needs.
The initiative is widely seen as a big and bold move in ISA’s ongoing efforts to realise a global solar transition roadmap and will go some way towards realising its vision for a solar energy future.
Speaking at the event, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said: “The One Sun One World One Grid and Green Grids Initiative is an idea whose time has come. If the world has to move to a clean and green future, these interconnected transnational grids are going to be critical solutions.”
The event also featured an address by the UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson.
“The UK is working hand-in-hand with our friends in India to transform the future of the power sector and ensure clean and reliable electricity is accessible everywhere by the end of this decade. It’s fantastic that over 80 countries have backed our newly launched Green Grids Initiative, whose collaboration will not only see greater growth, jobs and investment in our global green future, but also make sure no one is left without access to energy,” Johnson said.ISA Director General, Dr. Ajay Mathur said: “This network has the potential to be a modern engineering marvel, and a catalyst for greatly expanding renewable electricity generation, and effectively mitigating climate change in the next decade.
“At a global level, almost 2600 GW of interconnection capacity may be possible up to 2050, delivering estimated power savings of 226 billion euros per year. The One Sun Declaration is multilateralism in action, with leaders of the world coming together to drive sustainable impactful change for a cleaner planet and a greener economy.”

“Through the power of solar and other renewables, and our collective efforts, we believe we can build and support a transition away from fossil fuels to a cost-effective solar future and open up affordable, renewable electricity supplies to markets that have been historically underserved.”
The project will drive global interconnectivity across the Middle East, South Asia, and Southeast Asia, while leveraging African power pools.
The global grid concept was first announced by Modi in October 2018 during the first assembly of the ISA. In May 2021, the UK pledged technical, financial and research support for the OSOWOG project.
The International Solar Alliance (ISA), was launched at COP21 in Paris and has recently expanded its membership scope to include all UN member states. There are 90 signatories and 193 prospective members.

India calls for hike in climate finance to $1trillion.

2009 levels not enough, says Environment Minister Bhupender Yadav

India on Tuesday said that climate finance cannot continue at the levels decided in 2009, and emphasised that it should be at least $1 trillion to meet the goals of addressing climate change.

Speaking at the Ministerial meeting of Like-Minded Developing Countries (LMDC) at the 26th international climate conference under way in Glasgow, Union Environment Minister Bhupender Yadav also called upon the LMDC countries to work closely to protect their interests.

“Climate finance cannot continue at the levels decided in 2009. It should be at least $1 trillion to meet the goals of addressing climate change and there should be a system to monitor climate finance as we have for monitoring mitigation,” Mr. Yadav said at the meeting.

The meeting, attended by representatives from China, Cuba, Nicaragua and Venezuela and others, was presided over by Bolivian President Luis Alberto Arce Catacora.

Underlining the unity and strength of LMDCs as fundamental in the UNFCCC (United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change) negotiations to preserve the interest of the Global South in the fight against climate change, Mr. Yadav highlighted that recognition of the current challenges being faced by developing countries required intensified multilateral cooperation, not intensified global economic and geopolitical competition and trade wars.

The Minister requested the LMDC members to join hands with India to support the global initiatives it has pioneered, including the International Solar Alliance (ISA), Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure (CDRI) and the Leadership Group for Industry Transition (LeadIT).

He also appreciated the efforts of the Third World Network (TWN) for its support to LMDC, and expressed the need to ensure resources to TWN.

The countries collectively underscored that it needs to be ensured that the voices of the LMDC countries are heard loud and clear.

India stays off UK-led deforestation declaration at COP26 summit

Forests support communities, livelihoods and food supply, and absorb the carbon we pump into the atmosphere

The UK said together, they contain 85 per cent of the world’s forests, an area of over 13 million square miles. (Representational Image – AFP)

Glasgow: India is among the countries that has chosen not to sign up to a Leaders’ Declaration on ending deforestation by 2030 at the COP26 climate summit on Tuesday, which is signed by over 100 countries including China and Brazil.

The Glasgow Leaders’ Declaration on Forests and Land Use commits the signatories to halt and reverse forest loss and land degradation, backed by almost 14 billion pounds in public and private funding.

According to official sources, India had some concerns around linkages made in the final text with trade.

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson, who formally launched the declaration on Tuesday, termed it a “landmark” agreement to protect and restore the earth’s forests.

“These great teeming ecosystems – these cathedrals of nature – are the lungs of our planet. Forests support communities, livelihoods and food supply, and absorb the carbon we pump into the atmosphere. They are essential to our very survival,” said Johnson.

“With today’s unprecedented pledges, we will have a chance to end humanity’s long history as nature’s conqueror, and instead become its custodian,” he said.

The text of the final declaration covers transformative action in the interconnected areas of sustainable production and consumption; infrastructure development; trade; finance and investment; and support for smallholders and local communities.

“We will strengthen our shared efforts to… facilitate trade and development policies, internationally and domestically, that promote sustainable development, and sustainable commodity production and consumption, that work to countries’ mutual benefit, and that do not drive deforestation and land degradation,” the text notes in reference to trade – which is likely to have caused some concern on the Indian side.

The declaration will be supported by a pledge to provide 8.75 billion pounds of public finance from 12 countries, including the UK, from 2021-2025. This will support activities in developing countries, including restoring degraded land, tackling wildfires and supporting the rights of indigenous communities.

Countries from the northern forests of Canada and Russia to the tropical rainforests of Brazil, Colombia, Indonesia and the Democratic Republic of the Congo endorsed the declaration. The UK said together, they contain 85 per cent of the world’s forests, an area of over 13 million square miles.

The UK said it will commit 1.5 billion pounds over five years to support the forest pledge.

It will also contribute 200 million pounds, alongside 11 other donors, as part of a new 1.1 billion pounds fund to protect the Congo Basin. The area is home to the second-largest tropical rainforest in the world which is threatened by industrial logging, mining and agriculture.

Eastern Railway withdraws fare hike in certain trains.

After nearly six-month, intra-state suburban EMU and other local train services resumed from Sunday after the West Bengal government gave its nod for running them at 50% seating capacity

Following protests by passengers, Eastern Railway on Tuesday withdrew the increased fare it started charging in Mainline Electric Multiple Unit (MEMU), diesel–electric multiple unit (DEMU) and certain other trains since resumption of local train services in West Bengal.

After a nearly six-month hiatus, intra-state suburban EMU and other local train services resumed from Sunday after the West Bengal government gave its nod for running them at 50% seating capacity as part of COVID-19 safety guidelines.

“Extra fare charged for MEMU/DEMU and short-distance intra-state passenger trains over ER (Eastern Railway) after re-introduction of intra-state passenger services in West Bengal on October 31, 2021 has been rolled back to its previous fare,” the railway said in a statement.

Passengers protested at several stations in ER jurisdiction on Tuesday against the increase in fares.

Suburban trains were choc-a-bloc with passengers during morning and evening peak hours on the second weekday on Tuesday following resumption of local train services, throwing Covid safety norms to the wind.

China accuses US of ‘lack of transparency’ over sub accident

China accused the US of a lack of transparency and responsibility regarding an accident in the South China Sea involving a Navy submarine last month.

The Seawolf-class fast-attack submarine USS Connecticut (SSN 22) departs Puget Sound Naval Shipyard for sea trials following a maintenance availability, Dec. 15, 2016, in Washington.

BEIJING: China on Tuesday accused the U.S. of a “lack of transparency and responsibility” regarding an accident in the South China Sea involving a Navy submarine last month.

At a daily briefing, Foreign Ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin said the U.S. should provide full details of the incident that has revived the dispute between the two countries over the strategic waterway.

“We once again urge the U.S. to give a detailed account of the accident,” he said.

Wang described what he called a “lack of transparency and responsibility” by the U.S. in following up with the incident.

He said the U.S. has so far failed to offer “a clear explanation” of what the Navy nuclear submarine was doing in the area, as well as “the specific location of the accident, whether it was in another country’s exclusive economic zone or even territorial waters, whether it caused a nuclear leak or damaged marine environment.”

China claims sovereignty over virtually the entire marine area, through which trillions of dollars of international trade pass each year. Six governments in all claim islands, atolls and exclusive economic zones in the sea, while the U.S. insists that freedom of navigation be maintained, reinforcing that with regular military flights and Naval patrols and training missions around the region.

Two Navy officials speaking on condition of anonymity on Monday said the service had determined the nuclear powered USS Connecticut struck a seamount, or underwater mountain.

The Navy has yet to fully explain how or why the sub struck the seamount or to reveal the extent of damage to the Seawolf-class submarine.

The Navy has said the submarine’s nuclear reactor and propulsion system were not damaged. The collision caused a small number of moderate and minor injuries to the crew. USNI News, which was first to report that the sub had struck a seamount, said damage to the forward section of the submarine damaged its ballast tanks.

The incident happened on Oct. 2 but was not reported by the Navy until five days later. The vessel sailed to Guam for a damage assessment, where it remains.

Heavy inflow: water discharge from Mullaperiyar increased

The inflow to the dam reached 5,082 cusecs and the water level rose to138.95 feet early on November 3.

Tamil Nadu has increased the water discharge into the Periyar following heavy rainfall in the catchment area, on November 3 morning. The inflow to the dam reached 5,082 cusecs and the water level rose to138.95 feet early on November 3.

Tamil Nadu informed Kerala that the water discharge will be increased from 1,512 cusecs more from 8 am to release 3,005 cusecs to the Periyar. There was a rainfall of 3.2 mm recorded on the catchment area in Periyar village on November 3 morning.

The Kerala Irrigation assistant engineer said that Tamil Nadu Public Works Department informed of releasing 3,005 cusecs of water to the Periyar from 8 am.

Tamil Nadu PWD lowered all shutters except one to release 148 cusecs of water to the Periyar on November 2 evening after the Mullaperiyar water level fell to 138.10 ft.

Two more spillway shutters were raised in the early hours with each raising to 60 cm releasing 1,493 cusecs of water to the Periyar. Now three more shutters will be opened 60 cm each to release more water

The water level in Idukki reservoir downstream of Mullaperiyar dam declined to 2,398.16 ft on November 3 following only nominal rainfall and increased power generation at the Moolamattom power plant. The water level was at orange alert level in Idukki now, said a KSEB (Kerala State Electricity Board) official.

Schools fully open in 22 States, Union Territories

The only States where schools are still completely closed are West Bengal and Manipur

Schools have reopened for Classes 1 to 12 in 22 States and Union Territories, the Education Ministry said on Tuesday. Twelve States and UTs have opened schools only for older children.

The only States where schools are still completely closed are West Bengal and Manipur.

Over 92% of school teachers across the country have been vaccinated, and 86% of non-teaching staff in schools, Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan said after conducting a review of the vaccination status.

“With rapid vaccination at-scale in the country, we are looking at a future with restored normalcy and vibrancy in our schools and other educational and skilling institutions,” he said, in a tweet, after the review.

Schools in Ladakh, Punjab, Gujarat, Jharkhand, Nagaland, Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu have opened for Classes 6-12, while those in Jammu and Kashmir, Goa, Andhra Pradesh, Odisha, Puducherry, and Andaman and Nicobar have opened for Classes 9-12 only. Apart from West Bengal and Manipur, where schools remain closed, all remaining States have opened schools for all classes.

The News Editorial Analysis 2nd November 2021