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Save Paris Agreement, Save World

United Nations Intergovernmental Panel for Climate Change report: average warming is 1°C
The world is already experiencing adverse climate impacts.
IPCC: clearly states that limiting global warming to 1.5°C is not impossible, but requires unprecedented transitions in behaviour, investments, political will, policy directions, innovation, and international collaboration.
The global context has changed dramatically, since Paris.
The US has withdrawn from the Paris Agreement, Australia and Brazil are struggling against domestic pressures to stay in it, while Russia is still waiting in the wings.
December: next climate CoP (Conference of Parties) will be held in Katowice, Poland
Task: developing and finalising rules for implementing the provisions of the Paris agreement.
Bangkok Conference: failed coz of NDCs
Agreeing upon nothing until everything is agreed, is usually the norm in international negotiations.
Climate talks are known to be highly fractious because of historical baggage and the burden of managing the least-cost low emission growth.
Finding the right balance among the achievable ones is, therefore, key.
They cover not just the level and trend of emissions, but also the associated issues of adaptation, loss and damages from disasters, means of implementation, including finance, technology and capacity building.
Bangkok: transparency (reporting, measurement and verification) regime, adoption of a measurable and quantitative goal of finance to be committed by developed countries for post-2020 period, and support for adaptation and loss and damage.
Lack of trust that has begun to seep in after the reversal in the US and refusal to respect the principle of flexibility in obligations or actions.
The mood also got soured because, in their enthusiasm for development of a comprehensive and detailed rulebook, some countries were itching to go beyond the Paris agreement and elaborate more than what it needs.
COP 24: identifying core areas of the rulebook that are mature for adoption and operationalization on the basis of these principles.
The current set of NDCs collectively does not achieve the 2 degrees Celsius target.
The NDCs are heterogeneous in nature making comparability difficult.
As the first cycle of NDCs starts from 2021, flexibility based on national circumstances should continue to be available until the next iteration of NDCs.
The design of modalities, procedures and guidelines (MPGs) for the transparency framework: aim at building upon the lessons learnt from the existing monitoring, reporting and verification procedures rather than add additional burden on parties or supersede the existing the procedures.
The Green Climate Fund is far from reaching anywhere close to what it was anticipated to be.
Evidently, all the aspects of the Paris agreement are essential for its effective implementation when it kicks off in 2021.
Disappointment at Katowice may cost us dearly in terms of confidence in Paris agreement and ability to raise ambitions of parties.

Murder in the house

A Saudi journalist who undertook self-imposed exile in Virginia in 2017.
The disappearance of Jamal Khashoggi in the Saudi consulate in Istanbul will have long-lasting implications for the region and especially for the kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
Khashoggi became an outspoken critic of the crown prince MBS for starting the brutal Saudi war in Yemen which has put 20 million Yemenis at risk of malnutrition and disease.
He compared the crown prince to Syrian President Bashar al-Assad and suggested that Saudi Arabia lost its “dignity.”
A 15-man hit team composed of members of the Royal Guard and other security services reportedly flew into Istanbul the morning of October 2, killed Khashoggi and returned to Saudi Arabia that night with his corpse.
The Royal Guard Regiment is under the direct personal command of the crown prince, putting his fingerprints all over the crime.
For the last four years MBS sought to portray himself as a reformer who understands the kingdom must change to survive. He allowed women to drive and opened the country to concerts, wrestling and movies. Donald Trump hailed him as a reformer before the UN.
Western powers likely do not want to be seen embracing an accused murderer who uses diplomatic facilities to exterminate his critics.
It will be harder than ever to convince sceptical legislators in Washington, London, Ottawa and other capitals to approve arms sales to a thuggish monarchy.
The Istanbul incident is an opportunity to press the king to unilaterally cease fire in Yemen and fulfil Jamal Khashoggi’s last wish to restore Saudi dignity.

Re-engineering Criminal Justice System

Ever since the constitution of the National Police Commission about 40 years ago, we have been talking of police reforms but the situation on the ground defies change.
Even the directives following the September 2006 detailed order of the Supreme Court have been processed with great reluctance.
A harsher punishment in the statute book does not offer much deterrence.
On the other hand, the common man expects to secure speedy and inexpensive justice.
Since the police is a vital part of our criminal justice system, it is necessary to institute a wider spectrum of reforms rather than focusing simply on police reforms.
A closer look at all these recommendations reveals that none of them would be able to address the expectations of the general public for a speedy and inexpensive justice delivery system.
In the courts, the trial procedures need to be simplified.
Over the years, the technology and modus of crimes have changed, and, society too has moved on, raising the expectations of the public — befitting the progress of a modern nation.

Important News

PM on Disaster Management
Prime Minister Narendra Modi today chaired the sixth meeting of National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) at New Delhi.
Mr Modi reviewed the activities of the NDMA to effectively manage and respond to disasters affecting the country.
He also reviewed ongoing projects undertaken by NDMA.
The Prime Minister emphasized on the need for better coordination between the various stakeholders and undertake more joint exercises to bring about effective response to save life and property.
He stressed upon the need to bring in global expertise in the field of disaster management.
India and international relations
India today reiterated that talks and terror cannot go together with Pakistan.
Pakistan has to create a conducive environment for the talks.
Iran-USA issue: India is engaging with all stakeholders to ensure energy security and to protect its national interest.
Maldives: India welcomes the acceptance of the verdict of the people in that country.
PM Modi condemns terrorist attack in Afghanistan
H1B visa issue: India engaged with Trump administration, says External Affairs Ministry
The comment by the spokesperson in the Ministry of External Affairs came after Washington said it is planning to “revise” the definition of employment and speciality occupations under the H-1B visas by January, a move which will have an adverse impact on Indian IT companies in the U.S.
The MEA spokesperson said that, during discussions, India conveyed to the U.S. the contribution made to the growth and development of the U.S. economy by the highly skilled Indian professionals.
The H-1B visa, most sought-after among Indian IT professionals, is a non-immigrant visa that allows U.S. companies to employ foreign workers in speciality occupations that require theoretical or technical expertise.
Aadhaar data to be deleted if mobile customer gives alternative KYC documents, says telecom body COAI
Mobile service customers who want to get their Aadhaar details removed from the records of telecom operators would need to provide alternative verification documents, industry body Cellular Operators Association of India said.
Aadhaar remains a valid document for customer verification like other government authorised documents including passport, PAN card, Driving License, Voter ID etc, however, while getting a new connection, no authentication of subscriber details by UIDAI will be done now.
Putin says can’t justify spoiling Saudi ties over Khashoggi affair
President Vladimir Putin said on October 18 that Russia did not have enough information about the unexplained disappearance of a Saudi journalist to justify spoiling ties with Riyadh.
Mr. Putin told a discussion forum in the Black Sea resort of Sochi that Moscow did not really know what had happened in the case, that it was a pity that the journalist had gone missing, and that Russia would wait for details.
Russia opposes the US sanctions against Iran
Russia has opposed the US sanctions against Iran, saying that Washington seems to be taking every opportunity to exert pressure on countries that do not follow its policies.
Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergey Ryabkov said Moscow considers the new sanctions against Iran as well as countries involved in Syrian reconstruction a negative move.
The US Treasury Department had, on Tuesday, announced inclusion of several other Iranian institutes on the list of sanctions.
UK minister pulls out of Saudi trade conference over Khashoggi
Britain’s Trade Minister has pulled out of a Saudi investment conference on October 23 over the Kingdom’s involvement in the disappearance and alleged slaying of dissident journalist Jamal Khashoggi.
International Trade Secretary Liam Fox is the latest high-level Western official to drop out of attending next week’s summit in Riyadh. French Finance Minister Bruno Le Maire and Dutch Finance Minister Wopke Hoekstra have also cancelled, along with several senior business executives.