Abu Dhabi website for visitors available in 10 languages

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Dutch has now been added to the list of languages joining Arabic, English, German, French, Italian, Portugese, Russian, Chinese and Japanese.

Abu Dhabi Tourism and Culture Authority (TCA Abu Dhabi) has added yet another language to its online destination resource www.visitabudhabi.ae meaning the portal can now be read in 10 different languages around the world.
Dutch has now been added to the list of languages joining Arabic, English, German, French, Italian, Portugese, Russian, Chinese and Japanese.
The website offers extensive information on Abu Dhabi's attractions and experiences, culture and heritage, events and recreation activities. It currently achieves a daily hit average of more than 11,000, presenting it as a valuable source of information for potential visitors.
The hotel search option aggregates live deals and room availability from over 50 booking engines, giving visitors real-time information prior to their decision to book. The flight search functionality compares and displays real-time information from 50 booking engines and more than 25 international airlines in one screen, allowing visitors to find immediately the best fares to suit their travel plans to Abu Dhabi.
Mouza Al Shamsi, Acting Executive Director Marketing and Communications, TCA Abu Dhabi, said: "As Abu Dhabi continues to develop and expand its attractions as it becomes a year round destination, attracting more visitors to reach record numbers year or year, we need to reach out and let as many people as possible know why they should visit our fabulous destination.
Since 2013 www.visitabudhabi.ae has scooped 20 top industry honours including in 2015, 3 Gold Stevie Awards, 3 Silver Stevie Awards and one Bronze Stevie Award. The site was also an Official Nominee in the 2015 Webby Awards.

Saudi may ease curbs on foreign ownership, visas

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Retail, wholesale will open fully once rules are approved

dubai - Saudi Arabia may further ease restrictions on foreign ownership in the economy and overhaul the visa system as the kingdom seeks to draw investors to help reduce its reliance on oil exports.
The world's biggest oil exporter is considering allowing foreigners to own 100 per cent of a company in at least four more industries, Mohanud Helal, secretary general of the Economic Cities Authority, said in an interview in Riyadh. Retail and wholesale will be opened fully, from a 75 per cent limit now, once rules are approved, Abdullatif Al 0thman, governor of the Saudi Arabian General Investment Authority, said on Monday.
As oil prices plummet to around $30 a barrel, authorities are racing to find alternatives to revenue from crude exports to finance a budget deficit of about 15 per cent of economic output.
Foreign investments in non-oil industries are also crucial to create jobs for Saudi nationals in the private sector in a country where youth unemployment stands at about 30 per cent. Almost 90 per cent of private-sector jobs created in five out of the six-nation Gulf Cooperation Countries between 2000 and 2010 went to expatriates, according to the International Monetary Fund. Nationals filled over 70 per cent of public-sector jobs.
"The decision had already been made on some of the industries," Helal said. The Saudi Arabian General Investment Authority, known as SAGIA, has identified about four sectors in which full foreign ownership may be permitted, he added without elaborating. Calls made to SAGIA after office hours weren't immediately returned.
The slump in oil prices has already pushed Saudi authorities to cut spending, issue more debt and draw down the kingdom's foreign-currency reserves. Officials are also weighing plans to sell stakes in state-owned entities from hospitals to airports and even Saudi Arabian Oil Co, the kingdom's biggest oil company, known as Aramco.
The country is also reviewing its visa system by looking for ways to accelerate the process of issuing work and visit permits, according to Helal, who heads the regulatory body governing four economic cities, including King Abdullah Economic City.
"It is a very important and much needed step," said Mohammed Alsuwayed, the Riyadh-based head of capital and money markets at Adeem Capital. "We need foreign investors to contribute to the expansion of the Saudi economy, specifically the private sector and for them to better understand what or where they are putting their money in, they need to be allowed better access into the kingdom."
The kingdom last year started allowing direct foreign investments in its stock market, the Arab world's biggest. The benchmark Tadawul All Share Index has dropped 36 per cent over the past year, compared with a 27 per cent-decline in the MSCI Emerging Markets Index.
Authorities are looking at allowing visitors, including pilgrims, to visit landmarks in various parts of the country through tourist visas. Enabling workers to bring family in easily is another area which is being considered, Helal said.
"These are all things that are being looked at as we speak today and very quickly we will hear how some things are quickly changing to further the invitation of the international community," he said.

Woman uses sister's ID to give birth at hospital in Dubai

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The 27-year-old woman, K.I., who holds a Comoros Islands passport, allegedly used her sister's name in the hospital form before walking into the clinic of the doctor.

A housewife has faced charges in court for allegedly providing false details for an admission in the emergency unit of a hospital. She has been charged with forgery and use of a forged document when her case was heard by the Court of First Instance.
The 27-year-old woman, K.I., who holds a Comoros Islands passport, allegedly used her sister's name in the hospital form before walking into the clinic of the doctor. The incident allegedly happened on August 16, last year. K.I. admitted in the prosecution investigation that she managed to be admitted into the hospital where she gave birth, using her sister's name. A nurse at the hospital said that K.I. came to the hospital and was about to give birth.
"She claimed she was M.I. I put her name in our records as she gave it to me. She did not carry an ID." The nurse added that the woman came alone without her husband and claimed to them she had a medical record at that hospital.
"The doctor on duty asked me whether she had any medical file with us but I told her we could not find any as she did not carry a health card".
Even after K.I. gave them her full name they could not find any medical file for her at the hospital. A clerk at the hospital said that K.I. looked tired when she came to the emergency unit.
"She did not have any ID or health card. She gave a phone number which belonged to the name she gave and was registered in our electronic system.
"I found a file but the photo was not clear enough to match it with the face of K.I., whose features have changed." A verdict is expected on February 10.

Woman delivers 5 babies in 2 minutes

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She wanted three children with her husband and was really hoping for a baby boy.

Kim Tucci, a 26-year-old mum from Perth, Australia, has given birth to quintuplets - one boy and four girls - in just two minutes.
Only 30 weeks along when she went into labour, the five children were born at King Edward Memorial Hospital.
Tucci has a nine-year-old son from a previous marriage and two daughters with her husband Vaughn. She wanted three children with her husband and was really hoping for a baby boy, according to Woman's Day.
In a Facebook post she said, "The babies and I are both doing very well, thank you for all your well wishes and support."
The new addition to couple's growing brood is made up of a son, Keith, and four daughters - Ali, Penelope, Tiffany and Beatrix.

Fuel prices in UAE drop further for February

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The price of diesel will be Dh1.37 a litre; E Plus 91 would be available at Dh1.40 a litre; Super 98- at Dh1.58 and Special 95- Dh1.47 a litre.

The Ministry of Energy has lowered the prices of petroleum products by up to seven per cent for February.
A high level committee chaired by the Undersecretary of the Ministry of Energy and participated by the CEOs of the oil marketing and distribution companies reviewed the average prices of oil at the international markets.
New price of diesel will be Dh1.37, plunging 14.90 per cent since January 2016 price level of Dh1.61 a litre.
The price of E Plus 91 has been at Dh1.40 a litre down 7.28 per cent month-on-month from Dh1.51 in January.
Super Octane-98 will be cheaper by 6.50 per cent to Dh1.58 from Dh1.69 a litre.
Special or Mumtaz-95 will be filled at Dh1.47 a litre, down 6.92 per cent from January level of Dh1.58 a litre.
Prices will be effective February 1.

The economists and energy experts have all praise for the UAE policy of economic reforms and petroleum price de-regulation.
The UAE lifted subsidies at a very auspicious time particularly from the point of view of the customer, said Dave Ernsberger, global editorial director Oil, Platts.
Prices have fallen substantially already in the wholesale markets, and this has been reflected at the pump, he said
"Early indications are that this trend may reverse soon though - crude oil has bounced back by almost 20 per cent in value at the end of January, and this will start to put upwards pressure on gasoline and diesel in February if the trend continues," said global editorial director Oil at Platts.
The maximum decrease was seen in the price of E-Plus 91 that dropped 7.28 per cent to Dh1.40 a litre; Super-98 fell 6.50 per cent from January to Dh1.58 and Special dropped 6.962 per cent. 
Since July, diesel plunged 33 per cent from Dh2.05 a litre to Dh1.37 a litre; E Plus-91 dropped 32.36 per cent from Dh2.07 a litre to Dh1.40 a litre; Super-98 is down 29.77 per cent from Dh2.14 a litre in July to Dh1.47 a litre.
Alp Eke, a senior economist at National Bank of Abu Dhabi said subsidies in UAE constitute almost six per cent of GDP or around $23 billion, according to 2014 IMF data, energy. But with recent pressures on the budget, energy subsidies are being gradually removed.
"Benefits of the subsidies will be felt in the long run, UAE economy will save only modestly but the benefit will add up in the future years. UAE has already reduced some of the subsidies starting from gasoline prices," Alp Eke said.
Petrol price de-regulation initially created upward pressure to consumer prices.
Since August through December, due to reduction of oil prices globally the gasoline price at the pump declined, he said.  For average UAE household spending on transportation is 11 per cent of the budget while major chunk is consumed by housing and utilities spending which is almost 40 per cent.

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Also Read: All you wanted to know about falling oil prices...

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The recent water tariff increase of 6.6 per cent introduced from January will put pressure on housing and utilities component of the budget, he said.
Abu Dhabi's consumer price index increased 5.28 per cent year-on-year in December 2015, mainly driven by cost of housing/utilities and furniture household maintenance.
Abu Dhabi has been ranked 33^rd most expensive in 2015, moving up 35 spots from last year.
Commenting on impact the lower petroleum prices would have on consumption, economic growth and cost of doing business, the economist said "the impact of removal of energy subsidies on the economy will be seen in the long run."
Partial or total removal of subsidies is initial steps to reduce burden on the budget and eliminate in-efficient allocation of resources, he said.
With additional resources available and less pressure on the budget, government spending will be more focused on diversification efforts investments to logistics, manufacturing will increase and will be able to reduce reliance.
For an average UAE household, spending on transportation is 11 per cent of the budget while the major chunk is consumed by housing and utilities spending which is almost 40 per cent.
Arab world biggest economy, Saudi Arabia last month followed the UAE's footsteps and by reducing subsidies on petroleum products by 50 per cent.
Kuwait, Oman, Bahrain have also taken steps to cut subsidies on petroleum prices, as oil revenues dip.

Delhi, Kochi among smart cities to get $7.5b makeover

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The plan is also intended to boost investment and create jobs for millions of people, but it has faced criticism for being a slow starter.

India named 20 cities on Thursday which it says will be provided with uninterrupted power and water supplies, proper sanitation and public transport in a $7.5 billion makeover to turn them into smart cities with living standards comparable to Europe.
India's cities lack basic infrastructure such as toilets and are bursting at the seams with the influx of tens of thousands of people from the countryside. Thirteen of them are in the WHO's list of the 20 most polluted cities in the world, topped by the capital New Delhi.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi has vowed to create 100 new smart cities by 2022 that will have internet connectivity, e-governance along with quality infrastructure such as waste management and efficient public transport.

The 20 cities named in the first list: Bhubaneswar Pune Jaipur Surat Kochi Ahmedabad Jabalpur Visakhapatnam Solapur Davanagere Indore New Delhi Coimbatore Kakinada Belgaum Udaipur Guwahati Chennai Ludhiana Bhopal

The plan is also intended to boost investment and create jobs for millions of people, but it has faced criticism for being a slow starter.
The federal government has struggled to pass reform legislation making it easier to acquire land and build roads and it was not immediately clear how it would be able to provide high-quality infrastructure to these cities within five years.
On Thursday, Urban Development Minister Venkaiah Naidu named the first set of cities that will be targeted for a transformation.

 

These include Chennai in the south, which was ravaged by floods last year because of flawed urban planning, as well as a part of New Delhi. Other proposed smart cities are the tourist destinations of Jaipur and Udaipur and Bhubaneswar in the east.
"This game-changing mission marks the end of a business-as-usual approach," Naidu told a news conference. About 35 million people live in the 20 cities.
What is a smart city?
The India Smart Cities Challenge is a competition designed to inspire and support municipal officials as they develop smart proposals to improve residents' lives. The Smart Cities Mission aims to promote economic growth, improve governance, and produce better results for India's urban residents.

Case of missing boy at Dubai Global Village solved

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Warrant officer Sulatan Abdullah Ali blamed the mother for negligence.

After Dubai's bustling Global Village closed its doors at 1.30am and everyone had gone, two policemen were surprised to find an unattended child crying near the entrance, apparently left behind by his parents.
The two officers - warrant officer Sultan Abdullah and Sergeant Yousuf Hassan Ahmed - tried to find out why he was alone at that time, and it appeared he was lost.
The 13-year-old boy told the cops that he had gone to the Global Village with his mother, and that she, his father and brother were staying at a hotel near Burj Khalifa.
The boy said he didn't know the name of the hotel or its location and insisted that the two cops take him back to his family.
The officers soon discovered that he had a mobile phone with the number of a neighboring GCC country. "We called the family number in the contacts icon, but with no avail as there was no credit in the phone."
The police then called all the hotels located near Burj Khalifa and finally traced the hotel in which the family was staying.
The officers soon took the boy to the hotel, where the family was waiting.
The father of the boy praised the Dubai Police for finding his son and bringing him back, which he said was evidence that Dubai is a safe place for visitors.
Warrant officer Sulatan Abdullah Ali blamed the mother for negligence. It appeared that she returned to the hotel in a cab thinking that the son had taken another cab and returned to the hotel.

കോവളത്ത് എസ്.എഫ്.ഐയും പൊലീസും ഏറ്റുമുട്ടി,​ ടി.പി ശ്രീനിവാസനെ മുഖത്തടിച്ച് വീഴ്‌ത്തി

തിരുവനന്തപുരം: ആഗോള വിദ്യാഭ്യാസ സംഗമത്തിനെതിരായ എസ്.എഫ്.ഐ പ്രതിഷേധത്തിൽ കോവളത്ത് സംഘർഷം. സമരക്കാർ പൊലീസിനുനേരെ കല്ലേറു നടത്തി. പൊലീസ് ലാത്തിവീശി. വിദ്യാഭ്യാസ സംഗമത്തിന്റെ മുഖ്യ സംഘാടകനായ ഉന്നതവിദ്യാഭ്യാസ കൗൺസിൽ വൈസ് ചെയർമാൻ ടി.പി. ശ്രീനിവാസനെ എസ്.എഫ്.ഐക്കാർ മർദ്ദിച്ചു. അദ്ദേത്തെ പ്രവർത്തകരിലൊരാൾ കവാലത്തിന് അടിച്ചുവീഴ്‌ത്തി. പൊലീസ് നോക്കി നിൽക്കെയാണ് ഈ അതിക്രമം. വാഹനം തടഞ്ഞ വിദ്യാർത്ഥികൾ വേദിയിലേക്ക് നടന്നുപോകാൻ തുനിഞ്ഞ അദ്ദേഹത്തെ മർദ്ദിച്ച് തിരിച്ചയച്ചു. വിദ്യാഭ്യാസ സംഗമം നടക്കുന്ന കോവളം ലീലാ ഹോട്ടലിന് മുന്നിലെ റോഡ് ഉപരോധിച്ച വിദ്യാർത്ഥികളെ മണിക്കൂറുകൾ നീണ്ട സംഘർഷത്തിനൊടുവിൽ പൊലീസ് അറസ്റ്റ് ചെയ്തു നീക്കി.

ഇന്നുരാവിലെ 9മണിയോടെയായിരുന്നു സംഭവം. ഡെപ്യൂട്ടി പൊലീസ് കമ്മിഷണറുടെ നേതൃത്വത്തിലുള്ള പൊലീസ് നോക്കിനിൽക്കെയാണ് ശ്രീനിവാസന് നേരെ കൈയേറ്റമുണ്ടായത്. സോളാർ കേസിലുൾപ്പെട്ട മുഖ്യമന്ത്രി ചടങ്ങിൽ പങ്കെടുക്കുമെന്ന് കരുതി സംഗമം നടക്കുന്ന കോവളം ലീലാ ഹോട്ടലും കോവളം ജംഗ്ഷനിൽ നിന്ന് ബീച്ചിലേക്കുള്ള റോഡും ഇന്നലെ രാത്രി മുതൽ ഉപരോധിച്ച വിദ്യാർത്ഥികളാണ് സംഗമത്തിൽ പങ്കെടുക്കാനെത്തിയ ടി.പി ശ്രീനിവാസനെ മ‌ർദ്ദിച്ചത്.

ഇന്ന് പുലർച്ചെ മുതൽ റോഡിലൂടെ ആരെയും കടത്തിവിടാൻ സമരക്കാർ തയ്യാറായിരുന്നില്ല. പൊലീസ് ഉദ്യോഗസ്ഥർ വിദ്യാർത്ഥി സംഘടനാ നേതാക്കളുമായി പലതവണചർച്ച നടത്തിയെങ്കിലും ആഗോള വിദ്യാഭ്യാസ സംഗമത്തിലും മുഖ്യമന്ത്രിക്കെതിരായ പ്രതിഷേധത്തിനും പിന്നോട്ടില്ലെന്ന തീരുമാനത്തിലായിരുന്നു അവർ.

സർ‌ക്കാരിനും വിദ്യാഭ്യാസ കച്ചവടത്തിനുമെതിരെ മുദ്രാവാക്യം വിളിച്ച് പ്രതിഷേധം തുടർന്ന വിദ്യാർത്ഥികളോട് പിരിഞ്ഞുപോകണമെന്നും അല്ലാത്ത പക്ഷം അറസ്റ്റ് ചെയ്യുമെന്നും പൊലീസ് അറിയിച്ചെങ്കിലും പിന്മാറുന്ന പ്രശ്നമില്ലെന്ന നിലപാടിലായിരുന്നു അവർ. ഡെപ്യൂട്ടി പൊലീസ് കമ്മിഷണർ സഞ്ജയ്കുമാറിന്റെ നേതൃത്വത്തിലുള്ള പൊലീസ് സംഘം വിദ്യാ‌ർത്ഥികളെ അറസ്റ്റ് ചെയ്ത് നീക്കാൻ നടത്തിയ ശ്രമമാണ് കോവളത്ത് മണിക്കൂറുകളോളം സംഘർഷങ്ങൾക്കിടയാക്കിയത്.

അറസ്റ്റ് ചെയ്യാനെത്തിയ പൊലീസിന് നേരെ കല്ലെറിഞ്ഞ വിദ്യാർത്ഥികളെ പൊലീസ് ലാത്തി ചാർജ് ചെയ്തു. ലാത്തിചാർജ് ആരംഭിച്ചയുടൻ പലവഴിക്ക് ചിതറിയോടിയ വിദ്യാർത്ഥികൾ പല സ്ഥലങ്ങളിൽനിന്നായി പൊലീസിന് നേരെ കല്ലെറിഞ്ഞു. തുടർന്ന് ആറുറൗണ്ട് ടിയർഗ്യാസും പ്രയോഗിച്ചു. ലാത്തിചാർജിലും കല്ലേറിലും പൊലീസുകാരും വിദ്യാർത്ഥികളുമുൾപ്പെടെ നിരവധി പേർക്ക് പരിക്കേറ്റിട്ടുണ്ട്.

സംഘർഷത്തെയും പൊലീസ് നടപടിയെയും തുടർന്ന് കോവളം ജംഗ്ഷനും ബീച്ചും വിജനമായി. ലീലാ ഹോട്ടലിന് മുന്നിൽ നിന്ന് പലവഴിയ്ക്കായി ചിതറി ഓടിയ വിദ്യാർത്ഥികളും പൊലീസും കോവളം ജംഗ്ഷനിലും ബീച്ചിന്റെ ഭാഗങ്ങളിലും പല സ്ഥലങ്ങളിലായി ഏറ്റുമുട്ടി. ടൂറിസ്റ്റ് മേഖലയായ കോവളത്ത് വിദ്യാർത്ഥികളും പൊലീസും തമ്മിലുള്ള സംഘർഷം വിദേശികളുൾപ്പെടെയുള്ളവരെ ഭയചകിതരാക്കി.

സംഘർഷമറിഞ്ഞ് സിറ്റിയിൽനിന്ന് കൂടുതൽ പൊലീസ് കോവളത്തേക്ക് തിരിച്ചിട്ടുണ്ട്. സി.പി.എം , ഡി.വൈ.എഫ്.ഐ നേതാക്കളും സംഘർഷത്തിന്റെ പശ്ചാത്തലത്തിൽ കോവളത്തെത്തിയിട്ടുണ്ട്. പൊലീസും നേതാക്കളുമായി പലതവണചർച്ചകൾ നടത്തിയെങ്കിലും സംഘർഷം നിയന്ത്രണവിധേയമാക്കാൻ തുടക്കത്തിൽ കഴിഞ്ഞില്ല.

അസി.കമ്മിഷണർമാരായ ജവഹർ ജനാർദ്, സുധാകരൻ പിള്ള, റെജി ജേക്കബ്ബ് തുടങ്ങിവരുടെ നേതൃത്വത്തിൽ വിദ്യാഭ്യാസ സംഗമം നടക്കുന്ന സ്ഥലത്തെ സുരക്ഷ ശക്തമാക്കിയിട്ടുണ്ട്.

വിദ്യാഭ്യാസ മന്ത്രിയുൾപ്പെടെ സംഗമത്തിൽപങ്കെടുക്കേണ്ട ഒരാളെയും ഇവിടേക്ക് പ്രവേശിപ്പിക്കില്ലെന്ന നിലപാടിലാണ് വിദ്യാർത്ഥികൾ. ഹോട്ടലിൽ താമസിച്ചിരുന്ന ടൂറിസ്റ്റുകളും പ്രതിഷേധത്തിൽ കുടുങ്ങിയിട്ടുണ്ട്. വിദ്യാർത്ഥിസമരവും ആഗോള വിദ്യാഭ്യാസ സംഗമവും കണക്കിലെടുത്ത് ശക്തമായ സുരക്ഷാ വലയത്തിലാണ് കോവളം. എന്നിവരുടെ നേതൃത്വത്തിൽ മുന്നൂറോളം പൊലീസുകാരെ കോവളത്ത് നിയോഗിച്ചിട്ടുണ്ട്. അറസ്റ്റുചെയ്ത സമരക്കാരുമായി നീങ്ങിയ വാഹനം എസ്.എഫ് .ഐ പ്രവർത്തകർ തടഞ്ഞത് വീണ്ടും സംഘർഷത്തിന് ഇടയാക്കിയിട്ടുണ്ട്. വാഹനത്തിന്റെ ടയറുകൾക്കിടയിൽ കിടന്ന് തടസം സൃഷ്ടിക്കുകയായിരുന്നു.

It's getting hotter! Mumbai's average temperature rises by 2.4 degrees!

________ A to Z kerala .......... [kvk] [www.atozkerala.in , www.atozkerala.blogspot.com]
 With 2015 now the hottest year since records started being kept 135 years ago, Delhi, Mumbai and other Indian cities have heated up substantially since the 19th and 20th centuries, data from the US National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) reveal.

Mumbai's average annual temperature has risen 2.4 C since 1891 and Delhi's average annual temperature has risen 0.3 C since 1930, as the following chart indicates:

An alternative study from Berkeleyearth.org, a US non-profit that analyses climate science, appears to confirm the larger trend seen in the temperature rise in India: A rise of 2.2 C over 200 years.



Finland, Spain experience greatest warming

NASA took data from 6,300 weather stations around the world and compared it to a baseline, which is the average temperature from 1951-1980 (and can be taken roughly as 14 C). In 2015, the temperature deviation from the baseline was 0.87 C, making it the hottest year since last year (2014), when the global temperature was 0.74 C above the baseline.

The 10 hottest years on record have now all occurred after 2000 and deviations from the baseline have increased at a rate of 0.03 C for every year from 2000 to 2015, indicative of a larger trend of global warming.

Finland and Spain had their warmest years ever while Argentina had its 2nd warmest year. In the long term, the biggest temperature increases have occurred around the poles, while temperatures around the equator haven't changed much, according to this report on PBS.org.

A closer look at the map also shows there is no region untouched by warming. "Further affirmation of the reality of the warming is its spatial distribution, which has largest values at locations remote from any local human influence," a NASA statement said.

Most of the weather stations around the world are in the northern hemisphere, where most of the earth's land mass is located. This means we do not really have a good idea of how the southern hemisphere, which is mostly ocean, has heated up. So, global warming could be underestimated, according to this report from realclimate.org, a commentary site on climate science.

Could El Nino play a role in global warming?

It would be easy to blame human activity and greenhouse gases for the warming, but according to some scientists, while that may not be possible for a single year, it does adequately explain the longer trend.

"[A] specific year [being the warmest]...is not attributable to greenhouse gases per se...but the long-term trend ... is attributable," said Gavin Schmidt, director of NASA's Goddard Institute of Space Studies in 2015.

A role in warming the world, and parts of India, in 2015 can also be attributed to the complex phenomenon called El Nino, a vast ocean-atmosphere climate interaction in parts of the Pacific ocean, linked to warmer sea-surface temperatures. IndiaSpend has reported how El Nino in 2015 brought a more intense heatwave in northern India and a weaker monsoon.

The fact that there were record hot years, such as 2014, without an El Nino is seen as further evidence of global warming.

What could the warming lead to?

More flooding in Europe, water shortages in Africa, droughts in Asia and wildfires in North America.

These are some of the effects that could result if the earth's warming continues, the Intergovernmental Panel On Climate Change, a United Nations agency responsible for investigating the effects of global warming, predicted in a 2014 report.

Countries around the world took their most significant step yet at COP21, the Paris climate change conference. Agreeing to keep the rise in global temperatures in 2030 to under 2 C from pre-industrial times, while striving for a 1.5 C rise, will go a long way, but, to borrow a proverb, the proof will be in the pudding.

Pune teen burned alive for being Hindu: Right wing groups

________ A to Z kerala .......... [kvk] [www.atozkerala.in , www.atozkerala.blogspot.com]

Pune: On January 13th a Pune teenager was burnt alive in a horrific attack. 17-year-old Savan Rathod was a rag-picker in Pune. On the afternoon of the attack, he had stepped into a side alley in Kasba Peth to urinate. Once there, he was accosted by three men - Imran and Zuber Tamboli (who are brothers), and Ibrahim Sheikh.

The three men accused him of being responsible for a slew of car battery thefts in the area. The allegations quickly escalated and for some reason the three took the boy, poured diesel on him and set him on fire. Rathod suffered over 70% burns on his body.

The trio later doused the flames and dumped Rathod at the Shivajinagar bus stand, some thirty kilometers from the spot of the attack. He managed to reach a nearby police chowky, from where he was admitted to Sassoon hospital. He died of his injuries on January 15.

Police later checked CCTV footage, made enquiries and arrested the three suspects soon after. They are currently in judicial custody.

So far, it appeared that the case was one of deranged murder. However the case is currently acquiring a communal hue, as per new allegations made by several right-wing groups and the Banjara Kranti Dal. Rathod was from the Banjara caste.

The new allegations are based off a video, which a lawyer named Ramesh Rathod claims to have filmed in the hospital in the presence of the boy's father and "other activists". The lawyer claimed that this should be considered his dying declaration.

According to the lawyer, Savan stated that he was urinating in the alley when he was stopped by three men. They asked him if he was Hindu, which he confirmed, and then they poured 'something from a can' and set him on fire.

The Indian Express, which claims to have seen the video (which is also doing the rounds on social media), states -

"Those recording the video then ask Savan if he feels he was burnt because he is a Hindu. To this, Savan is seen nodding his head."

Savan did not make this claim when he originally reported his attack to the police.

Various right-wing groups, and the Banjara Kranti Dal, have since agitated before the police, and are threatening to go on a full scale protest on January 27 if the case was not investigated via this religious angle. They claim that the attack resembles 'ISIS style' attacks and are demanding an investigation into the extremist links of the suspects.

Speaking to the Indian Express, DCP Tushar Doshi said -

"We probed the backgrounds of all three suspects. No communal links have been found so far. They have committed a gruesome crime. But there is no evidence to say the intention behind it was communal. After nabbing Savan, the assailants questioned him for battery theft for a few hours. We confirmed at least two spots where they took Savan, suspecting he had sold stolen batteries here. Then they forcibly made him drink petrol and set him on fire. Savan Rathod's video at the hospital could be an afterthought as he did not mention anything of a communal nature when FIR was lodged."

Savan's father told the Indian Express -

"Savan left home about a week before his death following a petty quarrel with his sister. After coming to know about the incident, I reached Sassoon hospital on Thursday evening. I asked him what happened. From what he told me I believe that assailants did ask him whether he was a Hindu and then burnt him alive after he said yes,"

Further investigations are ongoing.