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IWHindu Nov 2
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Notes by vineetpunnoose on www.kiwipaper.com
Content
UN panel adopts landmark climate report 1
UN Climate Change panel calls for phasing out fossil fuels 1
Jaitley advocates caution on disclosure 1
About 60% thermal plants suffer acute coal shortage: CEA 2
GSLV Mark-III set for partial test flight 2
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Notes by vineetpunnoose on www.kiwipaper.com Page 1
UN panel adopts landmark climate report
Sun, Nov 2, 2014
environment, The Hindu, climate change,
The United Nations' expert panel on climate science has finished a report on global
warming that the UN's environment agency said offers "conclusive evidence" that
humans are altering the Earth's climate system.
Apart from discussing the human influence, the report is expected to describe how
climate impacts, including melting Arctic sea ice and rising levels, are already happening
and could become irreversible unless the world curbs its greenhouse gas emissions.
UN Climate Change panel calls for phasing out fossil fuels
Sun, Nov 2, 2014
environment, Climate Change, The Hindu,
He suggested that India's National action plan on climate change needs to be revisited
in the light of this report. If the rise in global temperatures has to be kept under 2 degrees
Celsius, fossil fuels would have to be phased out by the end of this century, he added.
There is a complex two way relationship between sustainable development and climate
change: climate policies should support, not undermine sustainable development; but
limiting the effects of climate change is necessary to achieve sustainable development.
there are observed impacts of climate change, for example in India there is decline in
agricultural productivity. There is scientific consensus that warming is unprecedented
and it will have irreversible impacts on lives across the globe.
Jaitley advocates caution on disclosure
Sun, Nov 2, 2014
black money, The Hindu, economics,
Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley on Sunday cautioned against unauthorised disclosure
of information on foreign bank account holders in violation of tax treaties as it would
jeopardise investigations, giving an escape route to the persons in question.
They can attract sanctions in the form of withholding taxes. It is obvious that in a choice
between unauthorised disclosure and disclosure as per treaties, the latter is both a fair
and beneficial proposition. It will help in collection of evidence and exposure of a
wrongdoing in accordance with law and fair procedure. A disclosure without evidence
would ensure that evidence is never available," he said in a Facebook post
The reciprocating State would treat this as a violation of a tax treaty and refuse to
provide any evidence in support of the unauthorised account. The holder of the
unauthorised account in the absence of any proof and confirmation from the reciprocating
State would get the benefit in any investigation or prosecution and then claim that 'I
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stand vindicated
n the recent meeting of about 50 countries in Berlin which proposed automatic sharing
of information, India could not participate since a prevalent view is that confidentiality
clauses are unconstitutional in Indian law. This view requires reconsideration
About 60% thermal plants suffer acute coal shortage: CEA
Sun, Nov 2, 2014
coal, The Hindu, thermal plants, economics,
Around 60 per cent of the total 103 thermal power projects in the country are reeling
under acute coal shortage with less than a week's stock at their disposal,
CEA has attributed the reason for shortfall in supply to Coal India and its subsidiaries.
As per the data, Coal India and its subsidiaries -- South Eastern Coalfields, Mahanadi
Coalfields -- delivered lesser than annual contracted quantity of coal to these plants.
the fuel stockpiles at the thermal power stations hit a new low in 25 years at 7.2 million
tonnes, as Coal India and its subsidiaries failed to meet their production targets.
Total fuel stocks at 103 coal-based stations came down to 7.2 million tonnes earlier in
October.
This 7.2 million tonnes comprise 6.58 million tonnes of indigenous coal and 0.70 lakh
tonnes of imported fuel.
GSLV Mark-III set for partial test flight
Sun, Nov 2, 2014
GSLV Mark III, The Hindu, science & tech, ISRO, space,
GSLV Mark-III, the bigger and better space vehicle that will enable larger national
communication satellites to be launched from India,
The landmark test flight will lead to a "future workhorse vehicle that will stay with us
for many years,"
For the December flight, "the [solid-fuelled] strap-ons and the liquid core are active
but the cryogenic engines will not be ignited. The propellants will be simulated."
Mark-III can have its first full developmental flight -- carrying a full satellite of about
3,500 kg - only when the cryogenic stage is qualified; that could take two to three years.
ISRO now depends on costly foreign launchers to put its 3-tonne communication
satellites into space.
If a couple of developmental flights succeed, then we should be able to launch from
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India communication satellites weighing 3.5 tonnes to 4 tonnes and which can carry
more transponders and more power