Note to self. The list of countries to avoid visiting grows in 2010 with the entry of Ireland, a green country where people speak with a funny accent and drink good spirits. These are not at all reasons to avoid a visit. Instead, I find it sufficient the new law in force since January 1st against blasphemy. The law condemns the publishing or expression of content offensive or insulting religions (not just the Catholic one) with fines up to 25,000 euros.

Mumbai: India’s second largest airline by passengers carried, Kingfisher Airlines Ltd, has signed an agreement with three international firms to explore development and production of an alternative jet fuel to reduce carbon emissions. Power backup: Kingfisher Airlines chairman Vijay Mallya. Pankaj Nangia / Bloomberg Regular jet fuel or aviation turbine fuel (ATF), a colourless refined kerosene, accounts for up to 40% of the total operating cost of airlines in India. “We have already signed up with three companies to develop the biofuel. We are working on the cost-benefit analysis for the project,” said a senior Kingfisher Airlines executive who did not want to be identified as he is not authorized to speak to the media.

Rather than writing down my new year's resolution, I find it more constructive to look back at the past year and draw some conclusions on it. I have already done some analysis concerning this blog in a recent post; this one is a more personal view of what happened to me in 2009, and you might well consider it not interesting at all for you -but it is my blog, and it belongs here.

So, let me start with my family. In 2009 neither I, nor my wife or my children, had any major health problem. That is for sure an important thing of which I consider myself quite lucky. Heck, I did not even have to run to the emergency room once! (If you have small kids you know this does happen).

Environmentalists worried over global warming affecting Kashmir climate ANI 25 December 2009, 09:53pm ISTText Size:|Topics:Kashmir Valley Chilai Kalan SRINAGAR: Environmentalists have expressed concern over Chilai Kalan, the 70-day-long coldest period of winter, losing its chill due to global Twitter Facebook Share Email Print Save Comment warming. During Chilai Kalan the Kashmir Valley used to receive heavy snowfall. The snow graph is however, decreasing for the last decade and experts are concerned for the environment of the state.

Arctic could face seasonally ice-free conditions: Study PTI 30 December 2009, 12:58pm ISTText Size:|Topics:arctic US Geological Survey WASHINGTON: US Geological Survey (USGS) has warned that the Arctic could face seasonally ice-free conditions and much warmer temperatures in the Twitter Facebook Share Email Print Save Comment future which may lead to intensified storms and increased winter precipitation. The USGS scientists have found evidence that the Arctic Ocean and Nordic Seas were too warm to support summer sea ice during the mid-Pliocene period, over three million years ago, when temperatures were similar to those projected for the end of this century. They said the warm period is also used as an analog to understand future conditions.

Something rotten Sitaram Yechury December 15, 2009 First Published: 21:22 IST(15/12/2009) Last Updated: 21:28 IST(15/12/2009) Print The global negotiations on Climate Change at Copenhagen enters its final stage with the three-day Heads of States Summit starting today. Reports so far indicate the unfolding of the Shakespearean dilemma of Hamlet, the Prince of Denmark: “To be or not to be...”

Clean, free-flowing Ganga by 2020: Govt PTI 31 December 2009, 03:29pm ISTText Size:|Topics:Govt clean Ganga 2020 VARANASI: The Centre has expressed confidence that by 2020 the polluted river Ganga would be cleaned and Rs 15,000 crore will be spent on it. Twitter Facebook Share Email Print Save Comment "The Union Government is confident of getting the holy Ganga river cleaned by 2020. Rs 15,000 crore will be spent for this purpose under the river development fund," Environment Minister Jairam Ramesh said here. The Centre plans to save the river by making it 'nirmal' (clean) and 'aviral' ( free flowing), he told reporters yesterday.