By Jason Horowitz from NYT World https://ift.tt/yulwPc2
Hundreds of Thousands Protest Spanish Prime Minister’s Deal With Separatists
By Jason Horowitz from NYT World https://ift.tt/yulwPc2
50 Million Passengers To Fly Out Of India Per Year By 2030, Data Shows
The number of international outbound departures by Indian residents is expected to grow to over 50 million in 2030, which is more than double of what it was in 2022 - about 18 million, predicts Centre for Asia Pacific Aviation (CAPA) India in their latest 'India Outbound Travel in FY2030' report.
For the study and forecasts, CAPA India conducted in-depth research with 250 respondents, supported by 100 detailed, qualitative discussions, and rigorous analysis of tourism and traffic data.
Indian Travelers: The Outward-Bound Surge
The number of Indians taking on to travel overseas has been seeing year-on-year rise from 1995. According to the data from World Tourism Organisation, the numbers went from three lakhs in 1995 to 2.6 crore in 2019.
The CAPA India report's projection of 50 million outbound Indian travellers by 2030 mirrors the nation's growing appetite for international travel and the economic clout of Indian tourists abroad.
Inbound Tourism: The Global Footprint in India
On the arrival front, India has seen a massive year-on-year increase in international tourists, with Asia and the Pacific leading the source regions, followed by Europe and the Americas. The economic impact is substantial, with the spending by these tourists contributing significantly to country's economy.
The sector has demonstrated not just recovery, but a potential for surpassing pre-pandemic levels, suggesting a bright future for India's tourism industry.
India's Tourism Industry On An Upward Swing
India's tourism industry has shown exceptional growth and resilience. With a surge in international arrivals, the nation's allure as a global tourist hub is more evident than ever promising lot of livelihoods.
The tourism industry has also shown a remarkable trajectory in terms of establishments (hotel rooms) and personnel. As per data, in 1995 there were just 57,386 rooms in the total registered hotels doubled to a figure of 1.16 lakhs in 2019. Meanwhile the jobs in the industry has also seen a huge surge before COVID-19 disruptions
Ajit Pawar, Praful Patel Meet Amit Shah Amid Crisis Over Maratha Quota
Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar and senior NCP leader Praful Patel on Friday met Home Minister Amit Shah in New Delhi.
The meeting took place amid the ongoing political crisis in Maharashtra over the demand for reservation by the Maratha community and the hearing before the Election Commission on the claim over the NCP.
"Had a meaningful meeting with Hon'ble Home Minister Shri Amit Shah ji in Delhi, extending warm Diwali wishes. Grateful for the opportunity to pay a courtesy call and share festive joy," NCP working president Patel said on 'X'.
Mr Pawar was accompanied by Mr Patel and Lok Sabha member Sunil Tatkare for the meeting.
In June, Mr Pawar joined the BJP-Shiv Sena government in Maharashtra with support of more than 40 of the NCP's total 53 MLAs and leaving his uncle and founder of the regional outfit Sharad Pawar.
Ajit Pawar has since staked his claim to the party's name and election symbol, a case which is being heard by the Election Commission.
Ajit Pawar's meeting with the Union home minister came on a day when the Pawar family had a get together over a lunch in Pune.
NCP founder Sharad Pawar, his daughter and Lok Sabha member Supriya Sule were present at the pre-Diwali family lunch that took place at the Pune residence of Prataprao Pawar, the veteran leader's younger brother.
Ajit Pawar reached the national capital from Pune. Both Patel and Pawar left Shah's residence without speaking to the media.
(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)
Last 12 Months On Earth Were The Hottest Ever Recorded: Report
The Earth experienced its hottest year-long period in recorded history with global temperatures setting a new 12-month record, exceeding 1.3 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels from November 2022 through October 2023, according to a new analysis of international data released on Thursday.
This is the hottest year-long period in recorded history due to human-caused climate change that influenced heat over the last 12 months in 175 countries and 920 cities.
In India, 86 per cent of the population (1.2 billion) residents were exposed to at least 30 days of above-average temperatures made at least three times more likely by the influence of climate change, or level-three on Climate Central's Climate Shift Index (CSI).
CSI, developed by Climate Central (an independent US-based group of scientists and communicators), is a tool that quantifies the contribution of climate change to daily temperatures.
The Climate Central analysis released Thursday showed that average temperatures between November 2022 and October 2023 were above the 30-year norm in 170 countries, exposing 7.8 billion people - 99 per cent of humanity - to above-average heat.
"November 2022-October 2023 were the hottest 12 consecutive months ever recorded. This 12-month period's data is very consistent with the long-term global warming trend. Global Mean Temperature (GMT) was around 1.3 degrees Celsius hotter than the pre-industrial climate," mentions the Climate Central report.
"1 in 4 people worldwide (1.9 billion people) faced extreme and dangerous heatwaves driven by climate change over the last 12 months. This marks the hottest year-long period in recorded history," it added.
In 170 countries, mean temperatures over the span exceeded 30-year norms, exposing 7.8 billion people--99 per cent of humanity--to above-average warmth.
Only Iceland and Lesotho recorded cooler-than-normal temperatures, as per data released by the nonprofit organisation Climate Central.
Weather attribution analysis also revealed that during the span, 5.7 billion people were exposed to at least 30 days of above-average temperatures made at least three times more likely by the influence of climate change, or level-three on Climate Central's Climate Shift Index.
This exposure included nearly every resident of Japan, Indonesia, the Philippines, Vietnam, Bangladesh, Iran, Egypt, Ethiopia, Nigeria, Italy, France, Spain, the United Kingdom, Brazil, Mexico, and every Caribbean and Central American nation.
India recorded an average CSI of 1, but the CSI increased to 1.6 between May and October this year.
"In India, 1.2 billion residents--86 per cent of the population--experienced Climate Shift Index level-three temperatures on 30 or more days. In China, this figure was 513 million residents--35 per cent of the population; and in the United States, 88 million--26 per cent of the population experienced at least 30 days of temperatures made at least three times more likely by climate change," the report mentions.
Researchers at Climate Central conducted the analysis using CSI, which measures how often and how much temperatures have shifted from the historical average. A higher index indicates more dramatic change compared to the past.
During this span, more than 500 million people in 200 cities experienced streaks of extreme heat, with at least five days of daily temperatures in the 99th percentile compared to 30-year norms.
No major city on Earth matched Houston's 22 consecutive days of extreme heat between July 31 and August 21.
"This 12-month record is exactly what we expect from a global climate fueled by carbon pollution," Dr Andrew Pershing, vice president for science at Climate Central, said.
"Records will continue to fall next year, especially as the growing El Nino begins to take hold, exposing billions to unusual heat. While climate impacts are most acute in developing countries near the equator, seeing climate-fueled streaks of extreme heat in the U.S., India, Japan, and Europe underscores that no one is safe from climate change."
The rising frequency and intensity of heat waves across the globe are consistent with the consequences of carbon pollution -- mainly from burning coal, oil, and natural gas.
(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)
Day After Supreme Court Report, Punjab Reports Over 2,000 Farm Fires
More than 2,000 farm fires were reported from Punjab on Wednesday, a day after the Supreme Court issued directions to ensure stopping of crop residue burning "forthwith".
Sangrur district, the birthplace of Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann, recorded the maximum number of stubble burning incidents in the state on Wednesday.
Many parts in Haryana saw air quality indices in the 'severe' and 'very poor' categories.
The total number of farm fires jumped to 22,981 in Punjab with 2,003 fresh such cases being reported on Wednesday, according to Ludhiana-based Punjab Remote Sensing Centre data.
Out of the 2,003 stubble burning incidents, Sangrur continued to top with 466 such cases, followed by 221 in Bathinda, 216 in Barnala, 150 in Faridkot, 131 in Mansa, 106 in Patiala, 103 in Ferozepur and 96 in Ludhiana, according to the data.
Punjab DGP Gaurav Yadav on Wednesday asked the police officers to work in tandem with the civil administration to prevent stubble burning in the state.
The DGP also appointed Special DGP (Law and Order) Arpit Shukla as the police nodal officer to monitor action against stubble burning, according to an order.
"The police nodal officer shall issue suitable directions, hold meetings, conduct tours and collect and collate relevant information and put up to the DGP Punjab and the Chief Secretary so that monitoring of the actions being undertaken by the police to ensure compliance of the directions of the Hon'ble Supreme Court is done in an effective manner," the order read.
Out of total 22,981 farm fires recorded from September 15 till November 8, Sangrur is leading with highest number of stubble burning cases of 4,070, followed by 2,176 in Ferozepur, 1,888 in Tarn Taran, 1,719 in Mansa, 1,524 in Patiala, 1,454 in Amritsar, 1,436 in Bathinda, 1,129 in Barnala, 1,089 in Ludhiana and 1,014 in Faridkot.
Meanwhile, Haryana's Fatehabad recorded an air quality index (AQI) of 451, followed by Faridabad at 425, Jind at 406, Bhiwani at 400, Gurugram 385, Kaithal 380, Rohtak 362, Hisar 332, Panipat 323 and Sisra 319.
In Punjab, Bathinda reported AQI at 348, followed by Mandi Gobindgarh at 338, Ludhiana 292, Patiala 267, Jalandhar 266, Khanna 253 and Amritsar 240.
The Union Territory of Chandigarh, the joint capital of Punjab and Haryana, saw an AQI of 201.
An AQI between zero and 50 is considered 'good', 51 and 100 'satisfactory', 101 and 200 'moderate', 201 and 300 'poor', 301 and 400 'very poor', and 401 and 500 'severe'.
Paddy straw burning in Punjab and Haryana is considered one of the reasons behind the alarming spike in air pollution levels in the national capital in October and November.
As the window for wheat, a key rabi crop, is very short after paddy harvest, some farmers set their fields on fire to quickly clear off the crop residue for sowing of the next crop.
(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)
Orcas Sink Fourth Boat Off Iberia, Unnerving Sailors
By Isabella Kwai from NYT World https://ift.tt/hq5mXtY
Over 1,500 Farm Fires In Punjab Today, Haryana Air Quality "Severe"
Punjab reported over 1,500 stubble-burning incidents today while many parts of Haryana saw air quality indices in the 'severe' and 'very poor' categories.
The total number of farm fires increased to 20,978 with 1,515 such cases being reported today, according to the Ludhiana-based Punjab Remote Sensing Centre data.
Of the 1,515 stubble-burning incidents, Sangrur continued to top with 397 such cases, followed by 147 in Barnala, 137 in Mansa, 129 in Bathinda, 97 in Ferozepur, 93 in Moga, and 86 in Ludhiana.
On the same day in 2021 and 2022, the state saw 5,199 and 2,487 active fires, respectively.
Out of the 20,978 farm fires recorded from September 15 till November 7, Sangrur is leading with maximum stubble burning cases of 3,604, followed by 2,073 in Ferozepur, 1,847 in Tarn Taran, 1,588 in Mansa, 1,444 in Amritsar, 1,418 in Patiala and 1,215 in Bathinda.
Meanwhile, Haryana's Fatehabad recorded an air quality index (AQI) of 421, followed by Hisar at 403, Jind at 384, Sonipat at 381, Kaithal 377, Faridabad 374, Gurugram 364, Bhiwani 361, Sirsa 334, Panipat 328 and Rohtak 326, In Punjab, Bathinda reported AQI at 343, followed by Mandi Gobindgarh at 299, Jalandhar 252, Patiala 250, Ludhiana 239, Amritsar 205 and Khanna 203.
The Union Territory of Chandigarh, the joint capital of Punjab and Haryana, saw an AQI of 159.
An AQI between zero and 50 is considered 'good', 51 and 100 'satisfactory', 101 and 200 'moderate', 201 and 300 'poor', 301 and 400 'very poor', and 401 and 500 'severe'.
To prevent further deterioration of air quality, the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM), a statutory body responsible for formulating strategies to combat pollution in the region, had on Sunday decided to invoke Stage IV of the Graded Response Action Plan, in the entire National Capital Region with immediate effect.
Meanwhile, officials said that the Deputy Commissioners of the affected Haryana NCR districts have given strict instructions to ensure compliance with all restrictions under GRAP-4.
Haryana State Pollution Control Board Chairman P Raghavendra Rao on Tuesday gave necessary guidelines while holding a meeting of Deputy Commissioners through video conference to review the compliance of restrictions and instructions under GRAP-4.
Sonipat Deputy Commissioner Manoj Kumar, who also attended the meeting, has directed that if anyone is found disobeying the instructions, strict action should be taken against him.
While assuring full compliance with the instructions received, Manoj Kumar said that all possible steps are being taken to control pollution.
Meanwhile, Ludhiana-based Punjab Agricultural University vice-chancellor Satbir Singh Gosal Tuesday appealed to farmers not to burn crop residue as people were gasping for breath due to severe air pollution.
"Ever since November started, paddy straw burning cases are on the rise," he said in a statement.
Setting straw ablaze was not a sensible solution to vacate fields for the wheat sowing, rather smoke was being carried by winds to other states, deteriorating air quality and creating breathing difficulties for citizens, Mr Gosal said.
Stating that the Punjab farmers have always garnered admiration for being industrious and tenacious, he urged the rural community to not resort to burning paddy stubble as it was not a healthy sign and was bringing a bad name to the farming community of Punjab.
Mr Gosal called upon farmers to be wise and sensible and have mercy on humanity.
Paddy straw burning in Punjab and Haryana is considered one of the major reasons behind the alarming spike in air pollution levels in the national capital in October and November.
As the window for wheat -- a key Rabi crop -- is very short after paddy harvest, some farmers set their fields on fire to quickly clear off the crop residue for sowing the next crop.
(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)
