The South Asian Satellite – Some highlights
May52017
The South Asian Satellite – Some highlights
May52017
MoUs Worth Rs 2 Lakh Crores Signed in the India Integrated Transport & Logistics Summit
Thirty-four MoUs amounting to about Rs 2 lakh crores were signed in the three day India Integrated Transport and Logistics Summit that was concluded in New Delhi today. These MoUs were in the areas of port connectivity, Integrated Check Posts (ICP) in the states of Bihar, Uttarakhand, Uttar Pradesh, West Bengal, Manipur, access to land port in Tripura,
May52017
SNP win the Scottish council elections
The SNP has won Scotland’s council elections, winning more councillors, more votes and more councils than any other party.
May52017
New UN study makes ‘strong’ economic case for Africa’s investment in green energy
5 May 2017 – Charting data from 54 African countries, a new UN atlas reveals the continent’s energy potential; revealing that investment in renewable energy would strengthen its economic advancement.
“The Atlas makes a strong case that investments in green energy infrastructure can bolster Africa’s economic development and bring it closer to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs),” said Juliette Biao Koudenoukpo, Director and Regional Representative of the Africa Office for the UN Environment Programme (UNEP).
As such, she continued, it is an important policy guide for African governments as they strive to catalyze national development by making use of their energy resources.
The Atlas of Africa Energy Resources , released by UNEP and the African Development Bank at the World Economic Forum being held in Durban, South Africa, shows both the potential and the fragility of the continent’s energy resources, which are at the heart of Africa’s socio-economic development.
While Africa is richly endowed with both renewable and non-renewable energy resources, its current energy production is insufficient to meet demand. About a third Africa’s population still lacks access to electricity and 53 per cent of the population depends on biomass for cooking, space heating and drying.
According to UNEP, energy consumption on the continent is the lowest in the world, and per capita consumption has barely changed since 2000. The poorest African households spend 20 times more per unit of energy than wealthy households when connected to the grid. A kettle boiled twice by a family in the United Kingdom uses five times as much electricity as a Malian uses in a year, according to UNEP.
“This Atlas will be instrumental to ease access to information and data in the energy sector for all stakeholders, including the donor community, African governments and the private sector,” said Amadou Hott, Vice-President in charge of power, energy, climate and green growth, African Development Bank.
Windmills rise above the New Port on Victoria’s Inner Harbour on Mahe Island, Seychelles. Photo: David Stanley/UNEP Atlas of Africa report
Providing information in the form of detailed ‘before and after’ images, charts, maps and other satellite data from 54 countries through visuals, the Atlas details the challenges and opportunities in providing Africa’s population with access to reliable, affordable and modern energy services.
Prepared in cooperation with the Environment Pulse Institute, United States Geological Survey and George Mason University, the Atlas consolidates the information on the energy landscape in Africa, highlighting some success stories of sustainable energy development around the continent, but also shining a light on major environmental challenges associated with energy infrastructure development.
May52017
Scottish Conservatives lead the fightback against the SNP
5 May 2017
Today’s council election results prove the Scottish Conservatives are leading the country’s fightback against the SNP, Ruth Davidson has said.
The Scottish Conservative leader hailed the party’s best ever result under the current local government system, returning 276 councillors.
Gains were made in every single mainland local authority, and the Scottish Conservatives also elected their first ever councillor in the Western Isles.
It comes after the party published the most detailed council manifesto, and remain the only ones to stand up to the SNP on its threat of a second independence referendum.
Among today’s achievements were…
- Gains in every mainland seat, more than doubling the vote from 2012
- The party’s best local government result under the current system, beating Labour – the first time this has happened since local government boundaries were redrawn in 1974.
- Stopped the SNP gaining overall control in various local authorities including Glasgow
- Outpolling Labour in East Renfrewshire by two to one
- Returning groups of councillors in Highlands, North Lanarkshire and Midlothian where previously there was no Scottish Conservative representation at all.
Scottish Conservative leader Ruth Davidson said:
“I’d like to congratulate every councillor, no matter their party allegiance, who has been elected today. Being asked to serve your local community is both a real achievement and a great responsibility.
“I’d also like to thank everybody who voted Scottish Conservative yesterday – especially those who did so for the first time. Every Scottish Conservative councillor elected today will repay your trust by delivering better local services, not more constitutional division.
“Today’s result makes one thing crystal clear: all across Scotland, only the Scottish Conservatives have the strength to fight back against the SNP.
“We denied the SNP a majority at Holyrood last year.
“We have gained seats in councils all over Scotland today. We are now in a position to lead Scotland’s fight back on June 8 in the general election too.
“We will speak up for the millions of Scots who have had enough of the uncertainty and division of the last few years. We will stand up for everyone who doesn’t want a second referendum on independence.
“We will demand that politicians of all parties focus instead on the things that matter: restoring excellence to Scotland’s schools, and getting our economy back to health.
“As we turn to the election on June 8, we know Nicola Sturgeon is still refusing to listen – only last week she said independence would be at the ‘heart’ of the General Election campaign.
“If you want to send the SNP a message, then today’s result shows that, no matter where you live in Scotland, a vote for the Scottish Conservatives will ensure your voice is heard loud and clear.”