Category:

Non-Life

How the world’s first carbon border tax may play out

The measure, which will affect producers of steel, cement and aluminum in countries with looser environmental rules, would boost commodity costs and reroute trade flows. But it will take years to implement and have a limited impact on global emissions.
The new levy is likely to do very little to curb greenhouse gas emissions. With a carbon border adjustment of $44 a metric ton, a United Nations body estimates emissions would only fall by 27 million tons, a meager 0.1% of the total. At $88, it would drop by 45 million tons. The price of carbon in the EU is currently about 53 euros ($62) a ton.

read more

After COVID revenue collapse, Canadian municipalities face insurance premium spike

Cities need insurance to protect against claims in the event of accidents on municipal properties or roads, and to deal with risks including cyber attacks and natural disasters – so forgoing coverage is not an option.
Accident-related lawsuits against cities and settlements have risen alongside cyber attacks and natural disasters, both domestically and globally, even as bond yields have slid, resulting in more stringent underwriting standards and higher premiums around the world.

read more

NCGTC issues guidelines for Rs 50,000-cr credit guarantee scheme for medical infra

As per the guidelines, a credit guarantee of 50 per cent to all brownfield projects and 75 per cent to greenfield projects in the healthcare sector at centres other than 8 municipal areas would be available. The excluded metros from the scheme are Ahmedabad, Bengaluru, Chennai, Delhi, Hyderabad, Kolkata, Mumbai and Pune.

For the aspirational districts, the guarantee cover for both brownfield expansion and greenfield projects shall be 75 per cent, it said.

read more

As floods hit western Europe, scientists say climate change hikes heavy rain

In general the rising average global temperature – now about 1.2 degrees Celsius above the pre-industrial average – makes heavy rainfall more likely, according to scientists.
The floods follow just weeks after a record-breaking heatwave killed hundreds of people in Canada and the United States. Scientists have since said that extreme heat would have been “virtually impossible” without climate change, which had made such an event 150 times more likely to occur. 

read more

Ola got 100,000 bookings for electric scooter in one day

“I am thrilled by the tremendous response from customers across India for our first electric vehicle. The unprecedented demand is a clear indicator of shifting consumer preferences to EVs. This is a huge step forward in our mission to transition the world to sustainable mobility,” Ola Chairman and Group CEO Bhavish Aggarwal said in a statement.

read more

SC asks UP to reconsider its decision to hold even ‘symbolic’ Kanwar Yatra

The top court’s direction came after the Uttar Pradesh government told the bench that it has decided after relevant discussions to hold a symbolic Kanwar Yatra with appropriate Covid restrictions.

Solicitor General Tushar Mehta for the Centre told the top court that states shall not be allowed to hold Kanwar Yatra in view of Covid and arrangements for Ganga water should be made by tankers at specified places.

read more

U.S. launches online hub to help ransomware victims

The new website, www.StopRansomware.gov, is an initiative led by the Justice and Homeland Security departments.
The launch of the new website and the $10 million reward come on the heels of a ransomware attack earlier this year against the Colonial Pipeline Co. that led to widespread shortages at gas stations along the East Coast of the United States. The Justice Department was later able to help Colonial Pipeline recover some $2.3 million in cryptocurrency ransom it paid to hackers.

About $350 million in ransom was paid to cyber criminals in 2020, a more than 300% increase from the previous year, the department said.

read more