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Hindustan Times
3 days ago
- Science
- Hindustan Times
Mainstreaming ecosystem-based adaptation in India
Ecosystem-based adaptation (EbA), recognised for its cost-effective and co-beneficial advantages, is seeing a global uptake. However, the number and scale of EbA projects remain limited compared to the opportunities offered by India's diverse ecosystems and indigenous practices. While lack of funding is a direct cause, the small scale of existing EbA projects also fails to attract funding. Breaking this cycle requires addressing other mechanisms that hinder EbA's growth. This brief explores India's potential and identifies key challenges to scaling up EbA. Ecosystem-based adaptation (EbA), which is part of the broader nature-based solutions (NbS) approach, was defined by the 15th Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) Conference of the Parties (COP) in 2009 as 'the use of biodiversity and ecosystem services as part of an overall adaptation strategy to help people adapt to the adverse effects of climate change.' The EbA approach aims to enhance resilience by acknowledging the interconnectedness of ecosystem health and human well-being while integrating traditional adaptation methods. It addresses sustainable development goals, climate adaptation and mitigation needs, human rights and well-being, nature conservation, and biodiversity preservation. These co-benefits contribute to its cost-effectiveness compared to engineering-based solutions. Evidence strongly supports this. An overall analysis of the literature shows that NbS and EbA are more cost-effective than engineering-based solutions while still effectively mitigating hazards. Approximately 65% of the studies, most of them in developing countries, indicate that EbA interventions are more effective overall and in specific scenarios. Multiple cost-benefit analysis methods, such as net present value, internal rate of return, and benefit-cost ratio, have been used to assess EbA's socio-economic value. This scientific support, along with advocacy from international organisations like the Global Adaptation Commission and IPCC AR6 report, has promoted the integration of EbA into National Adaptation Plans. Despite this momentum, EbA's growth in India has been slow, even though India's diverse ecosystems, adaptation needs, and indigenous practices provide a basis for EbA projects. To advance EbA in India, its alignment with the nation's goals and challenges must be further explored. This paper can be accessed here. This paper is authored by Diya Shah, ORF, New Delhi.
Hindustan Times
3 days ago
- Business
- Hindustan Times
The northeast region's place in India's Indo-Pacific vision
India's northeast region (NER) features prominently in its Indo-Pacific vision and strategic calculations. The vast natural resources of NER and its geographical proximity to neighbouring countries in the Indo-Pacific region make it attractive for increased involvement of industry and the development of trade linkages. Socio-cultural affinities found across the borders of the region also carry potential for synergy in cooperation endeavours. This brief assesses the factors that can lend traction to the potential of the region. It explores the role which NER can play in furthering India's flagship policies such as 'Act East' and 'Neighbourhood First'. The brief argues for a nuanced foreign policy strategy that takes cognisance of the dynamics unique to the region. India's NER occupies a prominent place in its vision of diplomacy in the Indo-Pacific. The region has vast natural resources, and thereby great potential for increased industry and trade with the Indo-Pacific, since it is physically closer to the latter and has greater socio-cultural links with it than the rest of the country. This brief looks at how the potential can be realised, and the role the northeast plays in furthering India's flagship policies such as 'Act East' and 'Neighbourhood First'. It will examine the extent to which the northeast can attract foreign direct investment (FDI), boosting internal development and making it a growth hub. However, the brief also notes, achieving the northeast's potential is contingent upon the region—which has a troubled history—maintaining peace and stability, as well as on a more nuanced Indian foreign policy strategy. It cannot be assumed that the northeast can be pivotal to India's Indo-Pacific policy simply based on its potential. Foreign-policymakers must take cognisance of local resistance to development projects, as well as suspicions of the Centre's mainstreaming designs. India must reorient its approach to link domestic-focused bureaucratic structures with those involved with foreign policy, so that they jointly approach the northeast in a more sensitive manner. The northeast is India's domestic responsibility as well as its foreign policy asset. Both regional sentiment and industrial potential should get equal attention. This paper can be accessed here. This paper is authored by Sreya Maitra, ORF, New Delhi.
India Gazette
5 days ago
- Politics
- India Gazette
French Senate panel concludes India visit aimed at strengthens strategic ties
New Delhi [India], May 26 (ANI): A high-level delegation from the French Senate led by Senator Catherine Dumas, concluded an official visit to India from May 18 to 23, 2025, aimed at strengthening inter-parliamentary cooperation between the two countries. The delegation of France's Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs, Defence and the Armed Forces, which included Senators Marie-Arlette Carlotti, Hugues Saury, and Philippe Folliot, built on previous visits to Indonesia (2022) and Japan (2024) and followed up on the 2020 Senate report titled 'India, a Strategic Partner.' During the visit to New Delhi, the senators held bilateral talks with Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri focusing on global and regional developments, defence cooperation, and the Indo-French strategic partnership. The group also engaged with Indian parliamentarians from the Standing Committees on Defence and External Affairs, led by Dr. Shashi Tharoor. The delegation received a guided tour of India's new Parliament building, symbolising institutional friendship between the two nations. At the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), the French delegation met with Chairman Samir V. Kamat to discuss opportunities for joint development and technological cooperation under the India-France Defence Industrial Roadmap. The senators also paid tribute to Mahatma Gandhi at Raj Ghat and interacted with the French community, including a visit to the French Institute in India. The delegation then travelled to Bengaluru to visit Digantara, a leading Indian space-tech start-up, and the Thales Engineering Competence Centre, highlighting Indo-French collaboration in aerospace and defence innovation. The senators also toured the National Gallery of Modern Art and met with the local French community. In Mumbai, the delegation toured the SUEZ water treatment facility, reflecting shared interests in sustainable urban infrastructure. The group also visited Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Ltd, a key player in India's naval sector involved in building Scorpene/Kalvari-class submarines under technology transfer from France's Naval Group. The visit concluded with strategic discussions at the Observer Research Foundation (ORF) with ORF Vice President Dhaval Desai and Vice Admiral Girish Luthra (Retd.). The visit reinforced the strong and multifaceted partnership between India and France, emphasising mutual cooperation in defence, technology, and sustainable development. Both sides expressed optimism about deepening ties and exploring new avenues for collaboration, further solidifying the strategic relationship in the years ahead. (ANI)
Yahoo
23-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Eurovision responds to accusations it encourages voting ‘manipulation' after Israel performance
Eurovision director Martin Green has shared a statement with fans and participating countries of the competition following calls for an audit into its voting system, in response to Israel's near-win this year. Controversy over the country's participation has been rife for the past two years amid its war on Gaza, while its contestants have been the subject of widespread protests. Israel's 2025 delegate Yuval Raphael, a survivor of the 7 October attacks by Hamas, came in second place in the grand final last week, while the competition was won by Austra's singer JJ. Raphael scored a total of 357 points from combined votes of the professional jury and the public. In the wake of the competition, several public broadcasters for countries including Belgium, Spain and Ireland have requested a breakdown of the voting system from Eurovision organisers the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) and its voting partner Once. In a statement shared to its website on Friday (23 May), the EBU said it had been listening and engaging 'closely' with the conversations among member countries, fans and the media following the 2025 contest. 'I want to again congratulate the winner JJ and the team from ORF,' Green said. 'His performance and song rightly, clearly and validly won the Contest and we want to make sure any ancillary conversations do not overshadow this epic achievement.' Addressing questions surrounding the Eurovision voting system, Green said that several 'specially designed' systems were in place to monitor and prevent fraud, while more than 60 individuals stationed in Cologne, Vienna and Amsterdam were employed to monitor the voting process in each country. 'All results are verified through an eight-eye principle by the CEO and senior employees of Once, who collectively have over 40 years of voting experience,' he said. He continued to break down the measures that the EBU and Once go to in order to ensure that 'our rules and systems remain fail safe', while acknowledging that audience voting often showed evidence of being influenced by current affairs, geographic affiliations or the back stories of certain contestants. 'Historically the ESC has been as open to this as other singing and music competitions and reality television,' Green said. He added that there was 'no current evidence' to suggest that allowing 20 votes per person – 'designed to ensure that audiences of all ages can vote for more than one of their favourite songs' – disproportionately affected the final result. However, 'the question has been asked and so we will look into it', he said. Katia Segers, a Flemish MP, argued in a statement this week that 'a system in which everyone can cast up to 20 votes is a system that encourages manipulation'. 'Whether this manipulation occurred in our country and all other participating and non-participating countries must be investigated,' she said. Green concluded his statement by once again congratulating JJ and Austrian broadcaster ORF for winning the 2025 Eurovision Song Contest. Next year's competition will take place in the winning country, Austria.
Tom's Guide
23-05-2025
- Sport
- Tom's Guide
How to watch Sweden vs USA: Stream IIHF World Championship 2025 semi-final live
The IIHF World Championship semi-finals are upon us. Who will take the clash between Sweden and USA on Memorial Day Weekend. You can watch Sweden vs USA live streams from anywhere with a VPN and potentially for free today. The Sweden vs USA live stream takes place tomorrow (Saturday, May 24).► Time: 8:20 a.m. ET / 5:20 a.m. PT / 1:20 p.m. BST / 10:20 p.m. AEST • WATCH FOR FREE — ORF (Austria)• U.S. — NHL Network via Sling TV• Canada — TSN Plus• Watch anywhere — try NordVPN 100% risk free It is fair to say we arrive at these semi-finals not knowing what is going to happen. Denmark completed one of the greatest upsets in IIHF World Championship history in the quarter-finals as Nikolaj Ehlers and Nick Olesen scored twice late on to see off tournament favorites Canada. However our focus is on the other semi-final. Both the United States and Sweden won their quarter-final games 5-2 against Finland and 2024 winners Czechia respectively to set-up a semi-final against each other. For the USA, it will be pivotal to keep Elias Lindholm quiet with the forward netting seven goals and providing four assists in the competition so far. Meanwhile, Frank Nazar and Logan Cooley will be trying to give the Swedish defense a headache in this semi-final clash. Could a raucous home crowd make the difference for the Swedes. Read on and we'll explain how you can watch IIHF World Championship semi-finals live stream from anywhere with a VPN — and potentially for FREE. Ice hockey fans in Austria are in luck, as they can watch select IIHF World Championship games for FREE on ORF. Luckily, the opening semi-final has been selected for coverage. All you need to do is register an account, and the platform works across a wide range of devices and operating systems. If you're outside Austria for the game, don't worry — you can watch it via a VPN instead. Make use of NordVPN, which makes your device appear to be back home while away on holiday. Away from home at the moment and blocked from watching the ice hockey on your subscriptions? You can still watch your usual IIHF World Championship live stream thanks to the wonders of a VPN (Virtual Private Network). The software makes your devices appear to be back in your home country regardless of where in the world you are. So it's ideal for fans away on vacation or on business. NordVPN is our top choice at the moment, and our NordVPN review explains why. If you've heard of NordVPN, there's a good reason: We specialize in testing and reviewing VPN services and NordVPN is the one we rate best. It's outstanding at unblocking streaming services, it's fast and it has top-level security features too. With over 7,000 servers, across 110+ countries, and at a great price too, it's easy to recommend. Get 70% off with this NordVPN deal Ice hockey fans in the U.S. can watch their team take on Sweden in the IIHF World Championship on NHL Network. If you don't have the channel on cable, try a cord-cutting TV service like Sling TV. It comes with two plans: Sling Orange and Sling Blue. Both start at $45.99. Both plans come with an up to half-price discount for your first month. To get NHL Network you'll need the Sports Extra add-on, which is an additional $11 per month. Sling offers live TV packages that let you watch live NHL, NBA, MLB, NFL, F1, Wimbledon, US Open and Australian Open tennis, FA Cup soccer and more, via the likes of ESPN, ESPN2, ESPN3, TBS and TNT. For a limited time, you can get your first month of Sling Orange half price. In Canada, Sweden vs USA will be on TSN Plus. The streaming service grants access to everything TSN has to offer on an $8/month or $80/year subscription basis. If you're traveling outside Canada but have a subscription to TSN, you can watch the semi-final using a VPN such as NordVPN. The 2025 IIHF World Championship semi-final is being shown on Premier Sports in the U.K.. A subscription costs £15.99 per month, but if you're willing to commit to a whole year you'll pay just £11.99 each month - a 15% discount! Premier Sports also holds the rights to the NHL, European Champions Cup, Top 14 and United Rugby Championship rugby. If you're not in the U.K. this weekend, you can still follow your usual live stream by using NordVPN. In Australia you can watch the Sweden vs USA in Australia, where you can pick up a tournament pass for €15 (roughly AU$26). Not in Australia right now? You can simply use a VPN like NordVPN to watch all the action on your account as if you were back home, as we mentioned earlier. We test and review VPN services in the context of legal recreational uses. For example: 1. Accessing a service from another country (subject to the terms and conditions of that service). 2. Protecting your online security and strengthening your online privacy when abroad. We do not support or condone the illegal or malicious use of VPN services. Consuming pirated content that is paid-for is neither endorsed nor approved by Future Publishing.
