Global carbon emission of China is lower to that of the United States

A study released by the Global Carbon Project at the COP27 conference underway in Egypt reveals a new picture. Until now, the concept was that U.S. emissions had been steadily dropping while Chinese emissions had been rising. It is not so. The study reveals that in China, fossil fuel pollution in China was down 0.9 percent this year compared with 2021, while in the United States it was 1.5 percent higher. It is a fact that the burning of fossil fuel this year has put 1 percent more heat-trapping carbon dioxide into the air compared to last year. Scientists who track emissions say this is a piece of bad news for the fight against climate change. However, China appears to have succeeded in reigning in the emission. Global carbon pollution continues to increase but not at a rate of 10 or 15 years ago. Obviously, the world has become cautious. The fact remains that much more needs to be done because it is pushing the Earth closer to hitting and then passing the globally adopted threshold of limiting warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius since pre-industrial times. Carbon emissions from fossil fuels rise globally, including U.S., but drop in China. As a climate scientist of Princeton University says - “It means we better get ready to blow past the target and enter a world that humans have never experienced.’’

The study team, along with other scientific reports, calculate that the Earth can put only 419 billion tons of carbon dioxide into the air before warming reaches the 1.5-degree mark. That would work out to about nine to 10 years’ worth of emissions. In other words, that point will come at around 2031 or 2032. Obviously, the time for 1.5 is running out. According to the study, in 2022, the world will put 40.3 billion U.S. tons of carbon dioxide into the air from energy and cement use. That will work out to the weight of the Great Pyramid of Giza in carbon dioxide spewed every 75 minutes. The emissions are on the rise in the United States, India witnessed a 6 percent increase in 2022, while Europe had a 0.8 percent drop. The rest of the world averaged a 1.7 percent rise.

Some popular stories of this blogger –

Harry and Meghan honor service personnel on Remembrance Day and Veterans Day

During his trip to Asia, President Joe Biden will meet leaders of Japan and South Korea to discuss the nuclear program of North Korea

The Taliban seized power in Afghanistan in August 2021 and has now banned women from using gyms

China will send monkeys to its Tiangong space station to experiment with reproduction in space

Hurricane Nicole batters Florida with strong winds and heavy rain, mass evacuation ordered

Powerful storm in California as Sacramento County faces a tornado

Niagara Falls is a tourist attraction and there is a huge tunnel buried deep below the cascade that had been off-limits to visitors

Fresh row erupts between China and Taiwan over visit of Greg Hands, British Trade Policy Minister to Taiwan

Kolkata Municipal Corporation (KMC) and police to conduct a joint survey on hawkers in Gariahat, south Kolkata

Fire in Coptic Orthodox church in Egypt kills 41 including at least 10 children

Tragedy struck a packed Coptic Orthodox church in Cairo, capital of Egypt. It was a fire that happened at the Martyr Abu Sefein church during morning services and killed 41. In order to escape from the flames and fumes, many of the worshippers jumped from the upper floors. In the words of a survivor, the deaths were due to suffocation. Apart from the dead, many people who helped in rescue efforts suffered injuries. They included four policemen. The authorities rushed many of the victims to nearby hospitals. 41 killed in Egypt church fire, including many children. The church in Giza city in Greater Cairo is located in the working-class neighborhood of Imbaba. Giza is the second-largest city of Egypt and it lies just across the River Nile from Cairo.

Preliminary investigation indicates the source of the fire was in the second floor air conditioning system, probably from an electrical malfunction. The main cause of death was smoke inhalation. Families of those who lost their lives would receive compensation of $5,220. This is as per a cabinet statement. Incidentally, Copts are the largest Christian community in the Middle East. They make up at least 10 million of Egypt’s 103 million people. Egypt has suffered several deadly fires in recent years. In March 2021, the loss of lives was of at least 20 people. It happened in a textile factory in the eastern suburbs of Cairo. Prior to that in 2020, two hospital fires killed 14 patients who suffered from COVID-19.

Some popular stories in this and related sites –

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle to attend the One Young World Summit in Manchester next month

Racket of cattle smuggling in Bengal – CBI arrests leader of Trinamool Congress

Independence of India – I was there on that day

Sister of Kim Jong-un reveals her brother had ‘fever’ during the Covid pandemic

Accident in Legoland Park in Germany leaves at least 34 people injured

Taiwan readies its army to counter military exercises by China

Prince William to visit Boston for second annual Earthshot Prize

Floods in Seoul take lives, paralyzes the city – another instance of climate crisis

Assets and properties of 19 TMC leaders including some ministers under scanner

Bali converts Boeing aircraft to tourist destination and Singapore Airlines converted Airbus into restaurant

Ancient 7000-year old Egyptian city and graveyard discovered in Abydos

An ancient Egyptian city and graveyard that dates back to more than 7000 years has been discovered by archaeologists. It is in the ancient city of Abydos in southern Egypt which is located around 400 metres from the Temple of Seti I.
It is believed to date back to 5316BC and , excavators who are working on the site claimed to have uncovered huts, pottery and stone instruments.
This has been reported in nzherald.co.nz dated 24 November 2016.

Archaeologists also claim to have discovered 15 large graves and, some of them notably larger than the royal graves in Abydos. Since this city was founded by predynastic rulers and is famed for its temples such as that of Seti I and its graves, researchers are of the opinion that the city and cemetery were possible home to high-ranking officials and grave builders.
The find could be a real boost for the tourism industry of Egypt which has taken a severe beating from 14.7 million tourists in 2010 to 9.8 million in 2011 due to the uprising that toppled Hosni Mubarak. Moreover, the bombing of a Russian plane leaving a Red Sea resort with 224 people on board in 2015 was another major setback for the ailing tourism industry.
Incidentally, in the first quarter of 2016, Egypt registered just 1.2 million tourists - this was down one million from the same period the previous year.


Image courtesy wikimediacommons.org


Some more interesting links -

President Pranab Mukherjee to be present for Vikramshila Mahotsav

Baliyatra fair on the banks of the Mahanadi sees over one lakh visitors on opening day

Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin to bury the hatchet and work together to fight terrorism


Lord Shiva and long ATM queues - bullock carts and ATM don't gel (satire)

Moody fires cannons to eliminate mosquitoes (satire)

Fuchka Festival in Kolkata and selfies (satire)


Spanish police arrest two suspected ISIS terrorists in Barcelona and Madrid

At least 52 killed and more than 100 injured in a bomb blast at a remote Sufi shrine in Pakistan

Joint action by RFA, Royal Navy and US Coast Guard nets huge haul of cocaine from the sea


La La Land to have its Indian premiere at the Jio MAMI Film Club

Jackie Chan gets an Oscar after a 56-year career

Spider-Man: Homecoming will see Michael Keaton as Spider-Man's main adversary Vulture

​

British Airlines have suspended all flights to Sharm el-Sheikh in Egypt indefinitely

British Airways and a number of other airlines like EasyJet and Monarch have suspended all flights to Sharm el-Sheikh, the favorite tourist spot in Egypt, "indefinitely" because of continued security concerns following the bombing of a Russian jet in the sky over Egypt.
This has been reported in nzherald.co.nz darted 22 June 2016.

It may be noted that no flights have operated between the UK and the Red Sea resort since November last year after the terrorist bombing of a passenger plane in which all 224 on board were killed. BA had initially cancelled flights up until specific dates pending a change in Government advice. But, it has now indicated that since the safety and security of the customers will always be the topmost priority they have suspended all flights from Gatwick to Sharm el-Sheikh indefinitely. Those who hold bookings on any cancelled services for the coming winter season can claim a full refund or can opt for a new booking to an alternative destination.
Similarly, EasyJet, the low-cost carrier, "remains committed to resuming services to Sharm", but that can happen only when the Government changes its advice. Monarch has, incidentally, cancelled all flights to Sharm up to and including October 30. It has added that it expects to resume services from the beginning of the winter season. And, Thomson Airways has suspended its flights to Sharm until at least September 28.


Image courtesy wikimediacommons.org

Some more interesting links -

HTT-40, India's homegrown basic trainer aircraft, to debut in Aero India 2017

Maithon Dam to be venue for kayaking and canoeing national championships

KVIC brings out Yogasutra, clothes made of khadi for yoga exercises


Moody’s whirlwind trip - five countries in six days (satire)

Didi’s Delhi dreams – from telebhaja to aloo chat (satire)

All about chest size and happy days (satire)


Christina Grimmie shot dead by unidentified gunman in Florida

TE3N first day box office collection of Rs 2.61 crores in India fails to impress

Sonu Nigam opens up on technology and modern day music


Suicide bomb attacks by Taliban kill more than 20 in Afghanistan

Two brothers arrested from Long Island - another possible massacre prevented

Delhi police unearths a kidney transplant racket - arrests kingpin from Kolkata

Airbus A-321 of Metrojet crashed in Sinai Peninsula killing all 224 on board

It was a major disaster in which all 224 on boards has been killed. The flight had taken off for St Petersburg from the holiday resort of Sharm el-Sheikh and crashed in the Sinai Peninsula. The crash happened shortly after takeoff.
This has been reported in timesofindia.indiatimes.com dated 1 November 2015.

The ISIS has claimed reprehensibility for the crash but Egyptian officials have indicated that the pilot had radioed air traffic control to report technical difficulties and had requested for an emergency landing at the nearest airport before losing contact with air traffic controllers.
However, Kogalymavia, the company that owns Metrojet, has claimed that the plane was in "full working order" and was being operated by an extremely experienced crew.
The details supplied by Metrojet are that the plane was an Airbus A321-200 manufactured in 1997 and had been operated by Metrojet since 2012 - it had accumulated 56,000 flight hours in nearly 21,000 journeys. Incidentally, the history of the aircraft as posted by the Aviation Safety Network showed its only previous incident was a tail-strike accident that occurred in 2001 during a landing in Cairo.
(Image courtesy wikimediacommons.org)

Some more interesting links -

The global broom campaign (satire)

Moody searching for a place where no leader has gone (Satire)

Moody, Jet Lee and missing pulses (Satire)


Fossils and eggshells of baby dinosaurs found in Gobi Desert

Parama Island flyover adds to traffic jams in Kolkata – made one-way

Future of street foods in Delhi bleak - Delhi bans cooking on roads


Arnold Schwarzenegger could play in Rajinikanth-starrer 'Enthiran 2'

Emma Roberts and her horror-comedy series "Scream Queens"

India is one of 81 countries vying for Best Foreign Film in the 88th Academy Awards


Despite US airstrikes, ISIS still makes £300-million a year from oil

Syrian gang caught trying to smuggle 20-tonnes of cannabis worth £150million into Europe

US airdrops 50-tons of ammunition for M-16s and AK-47 to Syrian fighters

Egypt wants a new capital with a theme park four times bigger than Disneyland

#egypt #cairo #alsisi #disneyland #themepark Yes, the authorities in Egypt are planning to have a new capital east of the present capital of Cairo – the new capital would be able to house up to five million, would have a theme park that would be four times bigger than Disneyland and the 73,000-acre city would be completed in another five to seven years’ time at a cost of $45bn. This has been reported in news.sky.com dated 14 March 2015.
It would be a new administrative and business capital as revealed by the Housing minister Mustafa Kamel Madbuli but, details of how the work would be funded has not been elaborated.
The objective is that the population of Cairo at present is around 18 million and this is expected to double in the next 40 years, hence the need for expansion.
The proposed city would boast of large green spaces, an international airport, a theme park four times bigger than Disneyland in California, 90 square kilometres of solar farms, and an electric train that will provide a link with Cairo. This new capital would house the parliament, presidential palaces, government ministries and foreign embassies.
Incidentally, the plan for the new city had first been announced last summer and some details have now been revealed. President Abdel Fattah al Sisi is hopeful that the plan would give a boost to kick-start Egypt's troubled economy.

A few more must reads -

Nashik Kumbhmela 2015 – a once in 12-years pilgrimage
European court terms obesity as a disability
Save environment ban thermocol
Two years after Nirbhaya rape case in New Delhi, rapists still free
Sunshine means Vitamin D – good for health in measured dose
Maharashtra could soon have unpaid sweepers cleaning government offices

Treasure trove of 11th century gold coins unearthed from ancient Israeli harbor

#fatimid #israel #egypt #caesarea #goldcoins A group of divers belonging to the Marine Archaeology Unit in Israel has stumbled upon the largest hoard of gold coins ever discovered in the country. It seems nearly 2000 gold coins of the Fatimid period, or the eleventh century, were unearthed from the seabed of the ancient harbor in Caesarea National Park.
This information has been released by the Israel Antiquities Authority as reported on foxnews.com dated 17 February 2015. In the opinion of Kobi Sharvit, director of the Marine Archaeology Unit of the Israel Antiquities Authority, this could be the result of a shipwreck of an official treasury boat which was carrying taxes collected and was on its way to the central government in Egypt. The coins were probably meant to pay the members of the Fatimid military garrison that was stationed at Caesarea, Israel.
Another theory is that the coins could have belonged to a sunken merchant ship. The condition of the coins are good in spite of having been in the bottom of the sea for over 1000 years. This has been revealed by Robert Cole, an expert numismatist.
The five divers who have found the treasure have been called “model citizens” by the antiquities organization. In case they would have tried to remove them, or tried to sell them, they could have been imprisoned for up to five years.

At least 25 killed in football match stampede in Cairo

#zamalek #egypt #ENPPI #whiteknights It was a major football match in Egypt between Egyptian Premier League clubs Zamalek and ENPPI at the Air Defense Stadium east of Cairo in which at least 25 people died in a combination of stampede and clashes with the police.
Reports indicate that violence preceded the game because fans of Zamalek tried to enter the stadium without tickets and that resulted in clashes as revealed in news.sky.com dated 9 February 2015.
However there appears to be a controversy on this aspect because a group of Zamalek fans known as the White Knights have posted on Facebook that violence began since the authorities only had opened one narrow, barbed-wire door to let them in. Subsequently, the group posted pictures and the names of 22 people who were killed claiming them to be fans – they said that a police car was set on fire and the police were shooting birdshot and tear gas and the people fled into the desert to escape.
The match was not abandoned but continued in spite the trouble and that added fuel to the already tense situation. It seems the Interior Ministry had plans to allow only 10,000 fans into the ground even though the stadium had a capacity of approximately 30,000.
Incidentally, the deadliest football riot in Egyptian history took place three years ago during a match between Port Said's al Masry and Cairo's al Ahly - 74 people, most of them al Ahly fans, died in the violence.

Egyptian police gun down a woman in Cairo on Arab Spring anniversary

#arabspring #TahrirSquare #egypt #cairo #abdelfattahalsisi A woman demonstrator was gunned down in clashes with Egyptian police during a protest in central Cairo on the eve of the anniversary of the 2011 Arab Spring uprising against Hosni Mubarak. As informed by a spokesman of the health ministry, the woman Shaima al-Sabbagh died of birdshot wounds. Fellow protesters said those were fired by police to disperse the march.
The woman, an activist of the Socialist Popular Alliance Party is believed to be 34-years-old with a five-year-old son and the police shot her in the head as she was marching peacefully marched towards the Tahrir Square to lay a commemorative wreath of roses.
She was taken to the hospital but was declared dead on arrival.
Prime Minister Ibrahim Mahlab has said that the death was being investigated and vowed that 'whoever committed a mistake will be punished. A suggestion is that the Islamist 'infiltrators' were to blame.
The clash had taken place hours before state television aired a pre-recorded speech by President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi to mark the fourth anniversary of the uprising in which he has said that - 'I salute all our martyrs, from the beginning of January 25 (2011) until now.'
It may be recalled that Arab Spring had overthrown Hosni Mubarak and brought to power Islamist president Mohamed Morsi who was, in turn, toppled by the then army chief Sisi in July 2013.

Woman prisoner in Egypt sells knitted handbags for £6 each

#mohamedMorsi #Egypt #AsmaaHamdy #handbags Her name is Asmaa Hamdy and she was a supporter of Mohamed Morsi, former President of Egypt. She was imprisoned for a period of five years for protesting during the unrest flowing the ouster of Morsi and she is spending her time behind bars knitting and selling handbags.
She is a student of dentistry and was jailed for protesting against the removal of Egypt’s first freely elected president, and she has been kept busy knitting woolen handbags – her message is ‘imagination is free’ and her “Made in Prison” line is proving popular. She actually began knitting the handbags for her friends and family and then fellow prisoners asked her to make some for their relatives.
Over this period, she has attracted local media coverage and is taking orders from the public – many of the orders come via Facebook. She has fallen into a routine. Whenever her family visits, they bring for her one kilogram of wool. Two weeks later, she hands over the finished articles – and receives more wool for the next batch. The line of her products include scarves, bracelets and knitted pencil cases.
The prison authorities do not mind her selling the bags, but insist on removing the “Made in Prison” label before they leave the prison.
Incidentally, she was one of hundreds of Egyptian university students who had been jailed for protesting at the removal of Morsi in July 2013. The student unrest had severely disrupted campus life during term time and the state fought back. As per reports, at least 14 students died while 500 were expelled and over 2,000 sent to jail. Twelve of them were jailed for 17 years for their alleged involvement in violent campus protests in November 2013.