India, for the first time, ranks among the top 10 in this year's Climate Change Performance Index (CCPI) released today at the COP25 climate summit in Spanish capital Madrid.

The current levels of per capita emissions and energy use in India ranked 9th in the high category showing that emissions are still comparatively low. However, despite a high rating for its Climate Policy performance, experts point out that India has yet to develop a roadmap to phase-out fossil fuel subsidies and reduce the country's high dependence on coal.

The authors of the report noted that while the country receives an overall medium rating in the renewable energy category, India's 2030 renewable energy target is rated very high for its well-below 2 degrees Celsius compatibility.

The world observes Human Rights Day today. The Day is celebrated on the 10th December every year to commemorate the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR), which was adopted and proclaimed by the General Assembly of the United Nations in 1948 as the shared standard yard stick to protect human rights across the globe.

The Declaration recognizes that the inherent dignity and the equal and inalienable rights of mankind are the foundation of justice, freedom and peace in the world. It reaffirms the faith of the people of United Nations in the fundamental human rights.

13th South Asian Games will come to a close in Nepal this evening. Indian athletes continue to dominate medals tally on the penultimate day yesterday. India consolidated its top position with 294 medals comprising 159 gold, 91 silver and 44 bronze medals.
 
AIR correspondent reports that on the final day of games, athletes will compete for eight gold medals in Boxing and one in Judo. In Squash, India will take on Pakistan for title clash in men's and women's team events. Indian men's Basketball team will play against Sri Lanka and women's team will compete with host Nepal in the finals. Before the closing ceremony, Nepal and Bhutan will clash for gold in men's football final.

Russia has been handed a four-year ban from all major sporting events by the World Anti-Doping Agency (Wada).

It means the Russia flag and anthem will not be allowed at events such as the Tokyo 2020 Olympics and Paralympics and football's 2022 World Cup in Qatar.

But athletes who can prove they are untainted by the doping scandal will be able to compete under a neutral flag.

Russian prime minister Dmitry Medvedev said the ban was part of "chronic anti-Russian hysteria".

"It is obvious that significant doping problems still exist in Russia, I mean our sporting community," he said. "This is impossible to deny.

The UNESCO-recognized Nilgiri Mountain Railway (NMR) conducted a special service today for foreign tourists.

71 tourists from several countries, including the USA, the UK and France travelled by a special steam engine service from Coonoor to Ooty.

They were presented with special mementoes and gift hampers as well as served with the replica of the original Edmonton type cardboard ticket.

The routine services of the NMR had been cancelled till yesterday because of cascading rocks making the trip totally unsafe.

NTPC has signed a term loan agreement for 5,000 crore with State Bank of India. A company statement said that the loan facility has been extended at an interest rate linked to 3-month MCLR of the bank and has a door-to-door tenure of 15 years. The loan will be utilised to part finance the capital expenditure of NTPC.

In March this year, the company had raised $450 million (over 3,000 crore) through a 5-year bond offering in the international markets. This issuance was under the $6 billion (over 43,000 crore) Medium Term Note (MTN) programme. Later in July, NTPC raised 4,300 crore through bonds, which were to be used for capital expenditure and general corporate requirement.

In August, the group got shareholders’ nod to raise up to 15,000 crore through issuance of bonds and to raise its borrowing limit to 2 lakh crore.

In Odisha, President Ram Nath Kovind today laid the foundation stone for a memorial to mark completion of 200 years of Paika Rebellion, a valiant uprising of Paikas in 1817 against the British Rule which is often termed as the First War of Independence.

The proposed project will come up at the foothills of Barunei hills in Khurda district. The memorial is seen as an epitome of Odisha’s valour and will serve as an inspiration for the youth. The Paika Rebellion memorial which will come up in 10 acres of land will be a source of inspiration for the youths and generations to come.

Odisha Governor Ganeshi Lal, Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik, Andhra Pradesh Governor Biswa Bhusan Harichandan, Union Ministers Pratap Sarangi and Dharmendra Pradhan and other eminent dignitaries were also present during the foundation laying ceremony.
 

A 34-year-old transport minister and lawmaker has been tapped to become Finland's youngest prime minister ever and its third female government leader.

Finland's ruling Social Democratic Party council voted 32-29 late Sunday to name Sanna Marin over rival Antti Lindtman to take over the government's top post from incumbent Antti Rinne.

Having emerged as Finland's largest party in the April election, the Social Democrats can appoint one of their own to the post of prime minister in the Nordic nation of 5.5 million.

Marin has been the party's vice chairwoman, a lawmaker since 2015 and served as until this week as the minster for transport and communications. According to Finland's biggest newspaper Helsingin Sanomat and the Ilta-Sanomat tabloid, Marin will become the world's youngest sitting prime minister.

The Bangabandhu Bangladesh Premier League (BBPL) took off to a glittering start on Sunday in Dhaka with scintillating firework and musical performances by Bangladeshi and Indian singers. Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina inaugurated the special edition of the T20 cricket championship to mark Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman’s birth centenary in 2020.

In the first part of the opening ceremony, popular singers from Bangladesh Moidul Islam Khan Shuvo, James, Momtaz and others gave performances at the packed Sher-e-Bangla stadium in Dhaka. It was followed with Indian singers Sonu Nigam and Kailash Kher along with Salman Khan and Katrina Kaif entertaining the audiences with live performances.

A total of 7 teams are participating in the BBPL event. They will play 46 matches including the 4 play off matches. The BBPL final will be held on January 17, 2020. The first match of the BBPL will be played on Wednesday with Chattogram Challengers taking on Sylhet Thunder in the opening match.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi participated in the 54th DGsP/IGsP Conference in Pune on December 7-8, 2019. Apart from leading the discussions and giving valuable suggestions over the past two days, The Prime Minister addressed the valedictory session of the Conference on SUNDAY evening. The Prime Minister also awarded the President's police medals for distinguished service to officers of the Intelligence Bureau.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi participated in the 54th DGsP/IGsP Conference in Pune on December 7-8, 2019. Apart from leading the discussions and giving valuable suggestions over the past two days, he addressed the valedictory session of the Conference on sunday, 8th December evening. He also awarded the President's police medals for distinguished service to officers of the Intelligence Bureau.

Commending the Conference for generating good inputs on policy planning and implementation, Prime Minister Narendra Modi laid emphasis on emergence of concrete outcomes from the finalized action points. He appreciated the meticulous efforts made by the country's police forces for maintaining general peace and tranquility in the country and ensuring normalcy.