UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres (Xinhua/Xu Jinquan/IANS)
United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has called on all countries to stop building new coal power plants in his video message to the East Asia Summit 2020.
“To reach carbon neutrality by 2050, I am calling for all countries to stop building new coal power plants and for partners to stop financing them,” said the Secretary-General.
“Countries also need to put a price on carbon and end subsidies for fossil fuels. Our response to the Covid-19 crisis must be aligned with the Paris Agreement and Sustainable Development Goals. In all these efforts, you can count on the support of the United Nations system,” the UN chief added.
Guterres noted that efforts must be made to “use the Covid-19 recovery effort to build green climate-resilient economies and work towards carbon neutrality by 2050,” the Xinhua news agency reported.
“This will, incidentally, also drive the job creation that will reduce inequality and address the air pollution that is choking many Asian cities. I commend the recent decisions of China, Japan and the Republic of Korea committing to net zero emissions,” the Secretary-General added.
The East Asia Summit (EAS) is a regional forum held annually by leaders of, initially, 16 countries in the East Asian, Southeast Asian, South Asian and Oceanian regions, based on the ASEAN Plus Six mechanism. Membership expanded to 18 countries including Russia and the United States in 2011. Since its establishment, ASEAN has held the central role and leadership in the forum. EAS meetings are held after the annual ASEAN leaders’ meetings, and plays an important role in the regional architecture of Asia-Pacific.
His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, says the light of hope always unite us and lead us forward to a better tomorrow
His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, wishes everyone celebrating Diwali around the world.
“On behalf of the people of the UAE, I wish everyone celebrating around the world a happy Diwali. May the light of hope always unite us and lead us forward to a better tomorrow,” Sheikh Mohammed wrote on his official Twitter handle.
He is one among the prominent leaders including British Prime Minister Boris Johnson to greet the Indian community during the festival of lights, Meanwhile, the BAPS Hindu Mandir in Abu Dhabi is preparing for a virtual Diwali festival on 15th November.
“Just as Covid-19 has not frayed the progress being made on the temple construction, it has not impacted the will and enthusiasm of community members in celebrating Diwali this year,” the temple officials said in a statement. “BAPS Hindu Mandir volunteers are enthusiastically working behind the scenes to bring together a special online celebration for the grand yet socially-distant festival of Diwali and Hindu New Year. Keeping the social distancing measures in mind, the volunteers have curated a series of social media and virtual content to stay connected with all worshippers and enable them to celebrate. For more information on how you can join online celebrations like the #RangoliChallenge or attend the annakut of 15 November, visit www.mandir.ae/diwali”
An image from the temple site. The intricate carvings of the mandir tell the stories from Indian epics and mythology
Temple Construction
Despite the impact of Covid-19 across the globe, the construction is progressing at the BAPS Hindu Mandir site in Abu Dhabi. With over 25,000 cubic feet of stone being carved, a substantial portion of the mandir features have been completed. Designs of the masterplan were completed in early 2020 and include a combination of Italian Marble and Sandstone from Rajasthan.
“With the support of the community and guidance from the leadership in India and the UAE, the work on the historic mandir is progressing,” the temple officials said. “Currently, Pujya Brahmavihari Swami is visiting the UAE to oversee the next stage of the foundation on site in preparation for the arrival of the carved stones which will be shipped and assembled in the first quarter of 2021.
“While navigating the challenges produced by COVID19 and adhering to local best practices during the pandemic, stone work has continued in India. In fact, this mandir will be uniquely identified by its intricate mandovar – which will share many traditional value tales from throughout India as well as unique designs of the Gulf.
“The fact that the mandir is moving forward at such a steady pace is itself a statement of the vision of the leaders of the UAE and India and of the local community’s commitment to making a lasting contribution to the country which has become their home and heart of success and growth. We would like to thank all the people who have contributed to this project and welcome everyone who would like to join in this historic endeavor of harmony and tolerance to visit our website, follow us on social media or speak to our volunteers”, said Ashok Kotecha.
The carvings of the temple will articulate the stories of India’s rich heritage. This will include a diverse proportion of India’s geography and Hindu belief systems inclusive of the Mahabharata, Ramayan as well as the Puranas. Values of tales and universal wisdom as well as ancient art and architecture will be revived.
The temple committee are grateful for the support provided by the leadership of India and the UAE during these challenging times. A special thank you is also offered to DPWorld and Transworld Group for offering logistical support in bringing the carved stones to the UAE for the final masterpiece to be completed.
Australia head coach Justin Langer has heaped praise on Virat Kohli, saying the talismanic batsman is “probably the best player” he has seen in his life, adding that the absence of the Indian skipper will have an impact on the upcoming Test series.
“Virat Kohli is probably the best player I’ve ever seen in my life for so many reasons, not only batting but his energy and passion for the game, the way he fields,” Langer told reporters on Friday by video conference.
“I cannot believe he displays the energy he does in everything he does and I’ve got so much respect for him. I’ve also got respect for him in the sense that he’s made this decision (to return for the birth),” he added.
Kohli’s wife, actor Anushka Sharma, is due for delivery in January and the batting mainstay will return to India after the conclusion of the first Test against Australia to be played at the Adelaide Oval from December 17. However, he will take part in the limited-overs series, which consist of three ODIs and as many T20Is.
Australian Coach Justin Langer
“He’s a human being like all of us… if I was giving advice to any of my players I would always say never, ever miss the birth of your children because it is one of the great things you’ll ever do,” said the Australia head coach.
“Of course it will have an impact (his absence), but we also know that India beat us last time (in 2018-19). They’re a very, very good team, we cannot get complacent for a second with or without Virat,” he added.
Meanwhile, off-spinner Nathan Lyon wants to make the most of his one crack at Kohli this summer and “get him out cheaply” in the only Test the Indian skipper will feature.
“It’s disappointing for the series. You want to play against the best players in the world,” Lyon was quoted as saying by news.com.au.
“I believe he is the best player in the world along with Steve Smith and Marnus Labuschagne. It’s disappointing but they have still got superstars,” he added.
However, Lyon believes Australia cannot be complacent because Kohli’s absence doesn’t mean the home team would walk away with the Border-Gavaskar trophy.
Virat Kohli
“Look at (Cheteshwar) Pujara, (Ajinkya) Rahane, and they have also got a couple of young guys coming in. It’s still going to be a massive challenge for us,” said the 32-year-old off-spinner.
“Just because Virat’s not here doesn’t mean we get to hold the trophy up. We’ve still got a lot of work to do, a lot of homework to do,” he added.
The tour will commence with the three ODIs. That will be followed by the three-match T20I series. Team India will then begin the title defence of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy with the pink-ball Test in Adelaide from December 17.
Augusta Masters defending champion Tiger Woods says he is still trying to put all the pieces together and added that not playing in front of spectators due to the Coronavirus pandemic will be tough.
Woods, who has won five times at the Augusta Masters, was speaking to reporters ahead of this year’s last Major, which has been shifted from its traditional date in April.
“It’s been gearing up for the major championships and trying to understand what we have to deal with this year with Covid and trying to be safe,” he was quoted as saying by CNN.com
“I was hesitant to come back and start playing, and that’s why I waited as long as I did and came back at Memorial [in July]. From there, I have not put all the pieces together, and hopefully that will be this week,” added Woods.
Woods made his Masters debut 25 years ago.
“It’s one that none of us have ever experienced. So we’re all going to go through it together at the same time and it’s going to be a very different experience, and hopefully one that I can figure it out and be able to replicate what I did last year.”
The Masters this year will be watched by club members and officials but the paying public has been kept away.
The 15-time Major winner added, “We all miss the energy of the crowds. This year is going to be very different. It is going to be stark in what we see, our sights into the greens, the energy that you hear from different roars, from different parts of the golf course.”
The first round of the tournament on Thursday was affected by inclement weather with many of the tees getting delayed by three hours.
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US Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell has warned that a record surge in new COVID-19 cases across the country could hinder the recent economic recovery.
“We do see the economy continuing on a solid path of recovery, but the main risk we see to that is the further spread of disease here in the US,” Xinhua news agency quoted Powell as saying during a virtual event held by the European Central Bank.
“With the virus now spreading, the next few months could be challenging,” Powell said, adding the Fed and Congress may need to do more to strengthen the recovery.
While the recent development of the vaccine is “good and welcome news for the medium term”, there are significant uncertainties about “timing production, distribution, and efficacy for different groups”, Powell noted.
“It’s just too soon to assess with any confidence the implications of the news for the path of the economy, especially in the near term,” he said.
Powell’s comments came after the country witnessed another grim milestone on Wednesday as key Covid-19 metrics including the daily case count, seven-day average daily increase and hospitalizations all set new world records.
According to data by the Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the US on Thursday registered 143,408 new Covid-19, a record daily increase since the onset of the pandemic in the country.
The new figure took the overall caseload to 10,535,828.
A total of 1,479 deaths from the coronavirus were recorded nationwide on Wednesday, bringing the seven-day average death increase to 1,134, the highest since early August.
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Former Indian cricketer Kapil Dev. (File Photo: IANS)
Kapil Dev, India’s first World Cup-winning captain, has got back to playing golf weeks after undergoing an angioplasty.
Kapil recently shared a video where he can be seen playing golf with his friends at the Delhi Golf Club.
“You cannot express in words what fun it is to be back on the golf course or a cricket ground. It is beautiful to be back at the golf course, having fun and playing with friends. That’s what life is all about,” the 61-year-old said in the video along with the caption: “Good to be back on the golf course”.
The former India captain had suffered a cardiac arrest last month and subsequently underwent an angioplasty surgery at the Fortis Escorts Heart Institute in the national capital.
Kapil held the world record for most Test wickets (434) for over six years until it was broken by Courtney Walsh of the West Indies. The other big achievement of Kapil was to lead India to World Cup triumph in 1983, when the team was considered minnows in limited-overs cricket. He played 131 Tests and 225 ODIs between 1978 and 1994.
A Bollywood movie on the historic 1983 World Cup victory – ’83’ is being made which casts Ranveer Singh as the team captain (Kapil), and features Saqib Saleem, Pankaj Tripathi, Boman Irani, Harrdy Sandhu, Ammy Virk, Jiiva, Sahil Khattar, Chirag Patil and Adinath Kothare in key roles, along with Deepika Padukone as Kapil’s wife Romi Dev.
A favourable base effect, along with inventory build-up prior to the festive season, accelerated India’s industrial activity on both sequential as well as on the year-on-year basis in September, official data showed on Thursday.
Accordingly, India’s factory output inched-up by 0.2 per cent on YoY basis. The Index of Industrial Production (IIP) had recorded a de-growth of (-) 4.6 per cent during the corresponding period of last year.
Significantly, this is the first time in the last six months that IIP readings on a YoY basis has shown a growth.
The Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation, in the Quick Estimates of IIP document, said the current index readings should not be compared with those of the months preceding the Covid-19 pandemic.
“With the gradual relaxation of restrictions, there has been a relative improvement in the economic activities by varying degrees as well as in data reporting,” the ministry said in the document.
Among major segments, manufacturing production de-grew by (-) 0.6 per cent from (-) 4.3 per cent reported for the corresponding month of last year.
However, electricity generation grew by 4.9 per cent from (-) 2.6 per cent during September 2019.
Similarly, mining output rose by 1.4 per cent on a YoY basis.
Furthermore, the data on a YoY basis showed that manufacturing of primary goods de-grew by (-) 1.5 per cent, capital goods by (-) 3.3 per cent, and intermediate goods (-) 1.4 per cent.
On the other hand, the production of infrastructure or construction goods inched up by 0.7 per cent and consumer durables by 2.8 per cent.
The sub-segment of consumer non-durables showed a growth of 4.1 per cent.
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