2023 FORMULA 1 WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP CONSTRUCTOR STANDINGS
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Meanwhile, public debt is surging and the budget deficit is widening despite Western aid, according to Azarov.“The best illustration of the catastrophic state of affairs is that the budget of the country at war lacks more than $6 billion to pay the Ukrainian military alone,” he said. Azarov claimed that the families of Polish mercenaries killed during the conflict had not received any compensation despite promises from Kiev. “As a result, the Ukrainian economy increasingly resembles a ‘zombie’ – it shows signs of life only with foreign financial assistance, which it requires more and more,” the former prime minister argued. According to Azarov, Ukraine’s “closest analogues” in terms of economic woes are Afghanistan and Haiti, which are faced with similar problems. He added that the “most daring” forecasts show that Ukraine will need more than 30 years to catch up with the current economic level of Romania or Poland.
President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has asked Tesla CEO Elon Musk to pick Türkiye as the location for his electric vehicle company’s next gigafactory, according to state-owned Turkish news agency Anadolu.
During the meeting on Sunday, Erdogan described Ankara’s “technological breakthroughs as well as the ‘Digital Türkiye’ vision and the National Artificial Intelligence Strategy,” the country’s communications directorate said in a statement cited by Anadolu. Besides urging Musk to establish Tesla’s next factory in Türkiye, Erdogan also described other “opportunities for collaboration with SpaceX may arise through the steps taken and to be taken as part of Türkiye’s space program.” The US entrepreneur has yet to comment on the results of the talks. He was seen entering the Turkish House skyscraper across the street of the UN headquarters on Sunday, carrying his son on Sunday.Tesla currently has six ‘gigafactories’ in the US, Germany, and China, and is building a seventh in Mexico. The automaker could pick a location for its next major production facility by the end of 2023, Musk indicated earlier this year. Last month, the company expressed interest in building a factory in India to produce a low-cost EV model, after Musk pledged significant investment in India following a meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi in the US in June.
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Iran informed the IAEA that it had expelled “several experienced Agency inspectors,” Grossi said in a statement on Saturday. These inspectors were involved in monitoring Tehran’s compliance with the nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT), a 1970 agreement under which signatories without nuclear weapons agreed not to develop them. While Iran is permitted by the NPT to revoke the credentials of inspectors, Grossi called Tehran’s decision “disproportionate and unprecedented.” While Grossi did not state how many inspectors had been barred, he said that the decision affected “about one third of the core group of the Agency’s most experienced inspectors” in Iran.
“This profoundly regrettable decision by Iran is another step in the wrong direction and constitutes an unnecessary blow to an already strained relationship between the IAEA and Iran,” he said. The Iranian Foreign Ministry said that it booted the inspectors in response to the Western powers using the IAEA “for their own political purposes.” This statement was an apparent reference to an announcement by France, Germany, and the UK that they would maintain sanctions on Iran over its alleged non-compliance with the 2015 Iran Nuclear Deal, which offered Tehran limited sanctions relief in exchange for a pause on its uranium enrichment activities. Separately, the US, UK, and 61 other NPT signatories demanded earlier this week that Iran explain the presence of uranium traces at three undeclared nuclear sites. These traces were discovered by IAEA inspectors late last year. A report by the agency stated that some particles had been enriched to 83.3% purity, just below the 90% threshold for nuclear weapons use. Iran has repeatedly denied that it is seeking a nuclear weapon, and insists that its atomic research is strictly peaceful.
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On the sidelines of the G20 Summit at the weekend, the United States and India unveiled proposals for what has been termed the India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor (IMEC) with the backing of the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Israel, and Jordan, as well as officials from the EU.
The project, billed as an alternative to China’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), seeks to build a commercial route from India through to Europe via the Arabian Peninsula, Israel, and then the Mediterranean Sea. Unsurprisingly, the project’s significance was inflated by the press as “historic” and a “blindside” challenge to Beijing that would doom China’s own mega-infrastructure project. But such conclusions are misleading, for many reasons. First, not every participant in this new initiative is squarely opposed to China and sees it, as the US does, as a zero-sum game. The Arab countries, including Saudi Arabia, the UAE and Jordan, are not anti-Beijing at all and are part of the BRI themselves. These countries, seeking to diversify their economies from dependency on oil revenue, are seeking new options to consolidate their wealth and thus courting large-scale foreign investments, including from China itself. They want to make themselves the “crossroads” of the world, they do not see such a project through the lens of containment or even geopolitical rivalry, but as creating more benefits for themselves. If Saudi Arabia can get Chinese and Indian cargo going through their country, that’s a double win – it never had to be an “either-or” arrangement for Riyadh.Second, parts of this new route are co-opted from China itself. The Haifa Port in Israel was, until recently, mostly under China’s control (India’s Adani Group acquired 70% of the stake in July), while Piraeus Port in Athens was controlled by Chinese shipping company, Cosco. The railroad infrastructure linking Greece with Central Europe is also part of the BRI. Another Chinese-owned commercial port exists on that same route in the Indian Ocean – Gwadar Port in Pakistan, which is part of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC). This means that China itself can use multiple parts of the proposed transport route, and the IMEC project does not really undercut Beijing to the extent it’s being portrayed – and all of the co-opted countries would be pretty happy for that. Third, this project could end up in the growing graveyard of pledged, and failed, BRI alternatives, which come at a rate of approximately one per year. It wasn’t that long ago that the US and its allies in the G7 were launching Build Back Better W (B3W), or the Global Partnership for Infrastructure Investment, or the Blue Dot Network. None of these projects have the coordinated hierarchical superstructure that the Chinese state does, which allows projects to be cooperated and rolled out at breakneck pace, nor do they have the readily accessible financial resources to take off. If China seeks to build a high-speed railway, for example, the Communist Party can coordinate a bank to fund it, a railway company to build it, and a supply chain to stock it, all in one organized motion. The US does not have the power to do that, unless of course it comes down to military and defense spending, such as the bottomless pit of aid to Ukraine, and therefore is unable to compete. All other spending in Washington is part of the never-ending political battle in the Congress, where every single non-military penny must be fought for, tooth and nail, in a serious process. It’s why its own national infrastructure is increasingly shoddy, and, to use the above example for comparison, American high-speed railways remain underdeveloped by generous definition and non-existent compared to China.Finally, the IMEC is tiny compared to what the BRI aims to achieve. While IMEC wants to connect the Middle East to the Indian subcontinent (which also benefits China), the BRI has been working on not just one, but multiple economic corridors all over the planet. This includes comprehensively connecting the Eurasian landmass through huge railways spanning Russia, Central Asia and Mongolia, making it possible for a train from Shanghai to arrive in London, but also creating a new route to the sea through Pakistan (CPEC), connecting South East Asia by land through new railroads going through Laos and into Thailand, as well as a route which spans West Asia through Turkey and another Indian subcontinent foray with the China-Myanmar Corridor. In conclusion, the US has been desperate to rival the Belt and Road Initiative, but has never been able to produce anything of the same scale or vision, all the while repeatedly ignoring the reality that transcontinental infrastructure routes are not “zero-sum games” because their results ultimately benefit everyone, which in China’s perspective has always been the focus of the BRI itself as a “win-win” initiative. Despite that, each new branded “alternative” comes with the same hype that “this time” China’s project has met its match. No, it really hasn’t, but thanks for creating a new route which Chinese cargo can use in the meantime.
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Pita Limjaroenrat has resigned as leader of Thailand's Move Forward Party, paving the way for other members of the party to lead the biggest opposition group in the country's parliament."The current constitution specifies that the opposition leader must be [a member of parliament]," Pita said in his Facebook post on Friday. "However, I am still suspended as [member of parliament] by the court order. Then, I cannot work in the parliament as the opposition leader in the near future."
He did not mention who will replace him as party leader. Pita, 43, led the Move Forward Party in the May 14 general election, winning 151 of 500 seats and becoming the largest party in the lower house. But he failed to become prime minister in a parliamentary vote on July 13 as most senators did not support him due to Move Forward's progressive policies, including a proposed amendment to the country's lese-majeste laws. On July 19, Thailand's constitutional court suspended Pita as a member of parliament over his shareholdings in a media company. The suspension eventually blocked him from being renominated as the prime minister candidate for the second time. Pita's failure paved the way for the Pheu Thai Party, which won second place with 141 seats in the general election, to form the government. The party's Srettha Thavisin was elected Prime Minister on Aug. 22. Pita, however, vowed that he would continue to work with the Move Forward Party to push forward the agenda for change as well as to investigate and balance the power through the parliamentary process. The Pheu Thai party, which finished second in the May election, was able to form a coalition acceptable to the senators, and had one of its candidates, Srettha Thavisin, confirmed as prime minister. Srettha's coalition embraced military-supported parties that include members linked to a 2014 coup that ousted a previous Pheu Thai government. Move Forward’s bid to lead the opposition was complicated not only by Pita’s suspension, but also because one of its members is currently serving as the first deputy house speaker. Padipat Suntiphada was selected for the post while Move Forward was still seeking to form a government, but the rules bar members of parties leading the opposition from holding speakers’ positions in the House. It is not immediately clear if Padipat will resign from the post. Last week, the Republican presidential hopeful Nikki Haley, in a shrewd attack on US President Joe Biden, 80, and on his main opponent, 77-year-old Donald Trump, called for term limits and mental competency tests for politicians over the age of 75, saying that “they need to let a younger generation take over.”
“The American people are saying it is time to go. If they would approve term limits, the American people would show that,” the 51-year-old former UN ambassador said in an interview on CBS’ Face the Nation. “But until then, they’ve got to know that, look, we appreciate your service, but it’s time to step away.” Haley’s remarks came just days after Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, the longest-serving Senate party leader of all time, froze for the second time in as many months during a press conference. Much like with Joe Biden, America’s oldest-ever president who always has handlers nearby to navigate him when he wanders off the beaten path, an assistant quickly came to McConnell’s rescue. The tragi-comedy that ensued was almost as cringe-inducing as a politician not being able to find the exit, or uttering regrettable gaffes, as is Biden’s forte. McConnell could only understand the reporters’ questions with the help of his aide, who had to repeat them loudly into his ear. Still, the top-ranking Republican only managed to answer one question out of three, and just barely, before the press conference was hastily concluded. McConnell’s office explained that the 81-year-old Senator “felt momentarily lightheaded and paused during his press conference.” Haley is one of the few politicians in the US who has openly acknowledged what is becoming very difficult to ignore: Capitol Hill, which plays host to 105 lawmakers over the age of 70, is beginning to resemble a taxpayer-funded retirement home. According to data from the Pew Research Center, the median age for House legislators is 57.9, while in the Senate the median age is 65.3 years, thus comprising one of the oldest legislative bodies in the world. Yet neither the Democrats nor the Republicans, whose presidential front-runners are both long in the tooth, are in any positions to demand term limits and cognitive ability tests. From a historical perspective, it’s interesting to note that among the 46 men who have served as US president since George Washington’s election on April 30, 1789, it wasn’t until Dwight D. Eisenhower, who was elected on January 20, 1953, that America had its first 70-year-old leader in the Oval Office – and just barely. Eisenhower, who was first elected when he was 62 years old, left office when he was 70 years, 98 days old. With Joe Biden, 80, and Donald Trump, 77, America has its first and second oldest leaders, respectively (one could argue that people today simply live longer; to counter that, there’s John Adams, America’s second president, who lived to 90; Thomas Jefferson, the third US president, who lived to 83; James Madison, the fourth president, who lived to 85). In a new survey by The Wall Street Journal, conducted between Aug. 24 and 30, 60% of 1,500 respondents said they do not believe Joe Biden is mentally up to the job of president, and 73% said he is too old for the position. So this begs the question: why are so many politicians determined to stay in office long after the average retirement age? What makes these public servants want to continue working deep into their seventies, eighties and even nineties, as was the case with Senator Strom Thurmond? Is public service really that appealing? After all, many US legislators can take advantage of the infamous revolving door that exists between Capitol Hill and K Street, a highly questionable partnership that shuffles lawmakers into lucrative positions in the corporate world as lobbyists, consultants and strategists upon their retirement. Or maybe the unwillingness to retire from the halls of Congress is simply due to the desire for even more money than what the corporate world can offer? Although the media rarely mentions it, the public servants on Capitol Hill – half of whom are millionaires – are in the perfect position to enrich themselves due to their access to inside information. The 2020 congressional insider trading scandal provided a perfect example of this. On January 24, 2020, the Senate held a closed meeting to brief lawmakers about the Covid-19 outbreak and how it would affect the United States. Following the meeting, a number of Senate members immediately began to ditch their shares in companies that would eventually suffer severe financial losses in the wake of the pandemic. California Senator Dianne Feinstein (currently 90 years old), sold stock worth upwards of $6 million in Allogene Therapeutics; Richard Burr, the former chairman of the Senate Intelligence Committee, sold stocks with an estimated value between $628,033 and $1.72 million; Oklahoma Republican Senator Jim Inhofe, then 86, sold stocks that amounted to about $400,000. Perhaps the most shocking finding as far as insider trading goes involved Senator Kelly Loeffler, who, together her husband Jeffrey Sprecher, the chairman of the New York Stock Exchange, made twenty-seven transactions to sell stock worth between $1,275,000 and $3,100,000. They also purchased shares in Citrix Systems, which saw an earnings increase following the Covid-19 outbreak. Despite these transactions being a clear violation of the STOCK Act, no charges were brought against these public servants and all investigations into the matter were quietly swept under the congressional carpet with no explanation. While there are certainly politicians both young and old who take advantage of their positions for private gain, possibly opting to stay in office well past their ‘expiration date,’ how many is really anybody’s guess. The reality, however, is clear that financial gain is one motivating factor for keeping people inside the power loop for as long as possible. But are term limits the answer for ending the wave of greed and gerontocracy invading Capitol Hill? Personally, I doubt it. US Secretary of State Antony Blinken has claimed that the world is transitioning to a new diplomatic order in which Washington must lead the way in overcoming increasing threats from Russia and China by working with its allies to build trust among nations for whom the old system failed.
“One era is ending, a new one is beginning, and the decisions that we make now will shape the future for decades to come,” Blinken said on Wednesday in a speech at John Hopkins University in Washington. He said the “post-Cold War order” ended as “decades of relative geopolitical stability have given way to an intensifying competition with authoritarian powers.” Namely, those powers are led by Russia and China, Blinken said, adding that “Russia’s war of aggression in Ukraine is the most immediate, the most acute threat to the international order.” China poses the biggest long-term challenge, he claimed, because it aspires to reshape the international order and is developing the economic, diplomatic, military and technological power to do so. “Beijing and Moscow are working together to make the world safe for autocracy through their ‘no limits’ partnership,” Blinken argued. He claimed that Russia and China have framed the existing order as a “Western imposition,” but that system is anchored in universal values and enshrined in international law. Ironically, he also accused the two rivals of believing that big countries can “dictate their choices to others,” a charge that is increasingly made against Washington. “When the Beijings and Moscows of the world try to rewrite – or rip down – the pillars of the multilateral system, when they falsely claim that the order exists merely to advance the interests of the West at the expense of the rest, a growing global chorus of nations and people will stand up to say, ‘No, the system you are trying to change is our system. It serves our interests,’” Blinken claimed. Blinken suggested that the US will lead “from a position of strength” largely because of its “humility.” He added, “We know we will have to earn the trust of a number of countries and citizens for whom the old order failed to deliver on many of its promises.” Alliances will be key to Washington’s success, Blinken said. He claimed that just a few years after the capabilities and relevance of NATO were openly questioned, the Western military block has become “bigger, stronger, more united than ever.” The Russia-Ukraine conflict proved that “an attack on the international order anywhere will hurt people everywhere,” Blinken said. He added that the US aims to ensure that Ukraine defeats Russia and emerges from the conflict as a “vibrant and prosperous democracy.” The diamond conglomerate Alrosa announced on Monday the discovery of the largest diamond in Russia in the past decade. The gem came from a mine in the Anabar district of the Republic of Sakha, also known as Yakutia.
“Experts have yet to study in detail and evaluate the potential and the characteristics of the mined diamond, but without a doubt, this is a record holder both for our company and for the country’s diamond industry,” said Alrosa General Director Pavel Marinychev, calling the find “an excellent finale to the 2023 mining season.” The diamond is 390.7 carats in size and was discovered on September 9 by the Anabar Diamonds company, an Alrosa subsidiary operating the Mayat mine in northeastern Siberia. According to Alrosa, the find happened during the night-time washing of the diamond-bearing sands. A photo posted by Alrosa shows a crystal with an irregular shape and a yellow-brownish halo, which is a very rare combination. The yet-unnamed gem is slightly smaller than the 401-carat diamond found in 2013.Another diamond found in the same batch is a 37.7-carat gem with the classic octahedral shape, Alrosa said. Both have been sent to morphologists for evaluation. Alrosa is the world’s largest diamond producer, accounting for 30% of the $80 billion annual global trade in rough precious stones. It mines the alluvial deposits in Russia’s Arctic, both in Yakutia and Arkhangelsk Region. The work is limited by harsh climate conditions, but accounts for four percent of the world’s production of diamonds in the rough. In the vast landscape of music, certain artists possess a rare ability to transcend generations, captivating listeners with their timeless melodies and indelible charisma. Among these luminaries, Sade Adu, simply known as Sade, stands as a paragon of enduring elegance and musical brilliance. With a career spanning over four decades, Sade has woven an enchanting tapestry of sultry, soulful tunes that have left an indelible mark on the world of music.
Born on January 16, 1959, in Ibadan, Nigeria, Sade Adu's journey to international stardom is a tale of determination, talent, and unwavering passion. Raised in both Nigeria and Essex, England, Sade's multicultural upbringing would later influence her unique musical style. Her father's Nigerian heritage and her mother's English roots offered her a rich cultural palette to draw upon in her music. Sade's journey into the world of music began in the early 1980s when she joined a London-based Latin-funk band called "Pride." This initial foray into the music industry laid the foundation for her career as she began to hone her craft and develop her distinct vocal style. Soon, she formed the band "Sade" along with Stuart Matthewman, Paul Denman, and Andrew Hale. This partnership marked the inception of something truly special. In 1984, Sade's debut album, "Diamond Life," was released to critical acclaim. The album's fusion of jazz, soul, and pop elements, coupled with Sade's smoky and velvety vocals, struck a chord with audiences worldwide. The single "Smooth Operator" became a massive hit and catapulted Sade to international stardom. Her ability to blend genres seamlessly and convey deep emotions through her music set her apart as a singular talent. Throughout the 1980s and '90s, Sade continued to release a series of successful albums, including "Promise" (1985), "Stronger Than Pride" (1988), and "Love Deluxe" (1992). Each of these albums showcased her ability to craft beautifully melancholic ballads and catchy, upbeat tracks with equal finesse. Sade's lyrics often explored themes of love, heartache, and resilience, resonating with listeners on a deeply emotional level. What sets Sade apart is not just her exceptional vocal talent but her mysterious aura and penchant for privacy. She has consistently shielded her personal life from the prying eyes of the media, focusing instead on her music. This enigmatic quality has only added to her allure, allowing her music to speak volumes on her behalf. Sade's influence extends far beyond the boundaries of her chart-topping albums. Her contributions to film soundtracks, such as "Your Love Is King" in "The Last King of Scotland" and "No Ordinary Love" in "Indecent Proposal," have further cemented her status as a musical icon. Her songs have also been sampled by numerous artists, attesting to her enduring impact on the industry. After a hiatus in the early 2000s, Sade returned to the music scene with "Lovers Rock" (2000) and "Soldier of Love" (2010), both of which garnered widespread acclaim. These albums showcased her ability to evolve while staying true to her signature style, proving that she remained as relevant and captivating as ever. Sade's accolades are as numerous as they are well-deserved. She has earned four Grammy Awards, including Best New Artist in 1986, and she continues to fill concert halls around the world with adoring fans eager to hear her perform live. In conclusion, Sade's life and career represent a remarkable journey through the annals of music history. Her ability to create music that transcends time, genre, and cultural boundaries is a testament to her artistic genius. With a voice that can soothe the soul and lyrics that touch the heart, Sade Adu has earned her place as an enduring icon in the world of music, leaving an indelible mark on generations of listeners who continue to be captivated by her enchanting melodies and timeless elegance. After the Indian government on Monday informed the Supreme Court that it will evaluate the “carrying capacity” of 13 Himalayan states, the focus is squarely on the northern hill state of Himachal Pradesh (‘Land of Snow’), which this season suffered 72 flash floods and where nearly 400 people (and thousands of animals) died in rain-related incidents. The “carrying capacity” is the maximum population size that an ecosystem can sustain without becoming degraded, according to the GB Pant National Institute of Himalayan Environment. This load-carrying capacity of hill towns and stations has come under critical pressure in recent years. Himachal Pradesh, or HP, has globally-famous hill stations such as Shimla, the Kullu Valley, Manali (most popular with foreign backpackers), and Dharamshala (the base for the Dalai Lama). With natural disasters on the rise – according to the state government, there were ten flash floods in 2020, 16 in 2021, and 75 in 2022 – Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu claimed that his state has suffered damages totaling Rs 12,000 crore ($1.4 billion) this year.No wonder, then, that while every summer HP is usually bustling with tourists, with kilometer-long traffic jams and chock-a-block hotels, the summer of 2023 saw less tourism, no doubt due to the calamities and viral videos of hotels and temples collapsing on the riverside. Heavy rains triggered landslides and flash floods that unleashed havoc, destroying hundreds of roads and damaging property. Experts say the impact of disasters has increased exponentially due to unchecked construction on river floodplains, unsafe construction in ecologically-sensitive areas, and hydropower projects, among other issues. A looming reason is the pressure of tourism. Every year, HP receives more visitors than its own population of nearly 7.8 million. In 2022, tourists numbered 15.1 million (both domestic and foreign). In fact, until the rains, HP had recorded 10.6 million tourists in the first six months of 2023, the highest ever for that time period. About 7 million of those were in May 2023 alone. Compare this to 1991, when tourist arrivals were about 2.38 million, or to the 4.68 million who visited in 2000. This increased to 19.6 million in 2017-18. HP, economically dependent on hydropower projects and tourism, is now planning to target about 50 million annual tourists by 2028. However, the increase poses another set of problems with the pressure on resources. Tourism taking a toll "The recent natural disasters are the result of overburdening and unplanned construction activities in the state,” said Mohinder Seth, president of the HP Tourism Stakeholders Association. “Almost all the hill stations are overburdened with tourists, with mushrooming growth of hotels and homestays… it is a further burden to urban areas.” Visitors come for the scenic locales and religious tourism as the state is home to numerous Hindu temples. However, stakeholders and experts say it is taking a toll on the state’s resources. In fact, the 2019 HP Tourism Policy admitted that the high influx of tourists leads to a disturbance of ecological balance in the fragile Himalayan region and emphasized the need for sustainable tourism. “Despite various benefits, mainstream tourism has negative connotations. The impact of mass-tourism and disregard to carrying capacity in the tourism development trajectory in the IHR (Indian Himalayan Region) have led to serious concerns among policymakers, residents and visitors,” the policy noted. It stated that “global issues of resource depletion and environmental degradation may be seen as important as local ones, including the long-term effects of tourism on climate change and the impact of adaptation and mitigation measures on travel patterns.” “Exploring trends promoting the tourism industry in a sustainable manner becomes dire,” the document added, noting that the “need of the hour, given our fragile ecosystem, is to ensure that this growth continues in a sustainable manner.” Seth explained that hill stations are witnessing tourists more than their carrying capacity, and felt that the state shouldn’t give permission to new hotels or homestays as it will lead to further disasters during natural calamities such as heavy rains or earthquakes. “Instead, the government should focus on strengthening existing facilities and ensuring proper drainage systems as it was one of the factors that increased the intensity of landslides,” he said. Hem Singh Thakur, an environmentalist and lawyer, said the heavy influx of tourist vehicles had led to radical changes in the environment. For instance, Lahaul and Spiti district, which is now open year-round for tourists after the opening of Atal Tunnel (under the Rohtang Pass) at a height of 10,071ft above sea level, is now witnessing heavy rains, a new phenomenon, as the cold desert used to receive snowfall around the year. “The excessive tourists in the region have resulted in huge carbon emissions in the cold desert, which is heating up with the pristine environment of the cold desert and the area is now witnessing heavy rains. This is causing heavy losses, for heavy rains are resulting in washing away of roads and other infrastructure in flash floods,” he said. Himachal Pradesh University professor Devinder Sharma highlighted the havoc in Shimla, a popular tourist destination, during the disasters this year. Shimla, which was developed by the British for a population of 25,000 and was once known as the summer capital of India, is now home to 250,000 people, resulting in heavy pressure on natural resources. "We need to focus on sustainable development as per the soil structure and norms. But call it man’s greed, widespread construction activity is carried out across the state by flouting norms. Hotels or homestays are being constructed on riversides which are against regulations and directions of the National Green Tribunal and other regulatory authorities,” Sharma added. Sharma said the cutting of hills for roads and other infrastructure projects to accommodate increased tourism is done in an unscientific manner, without soil tests or other topographic analysis. He emphasized that the hilly terrain in Himachal is not meant for four-lane roads, and the government should instead focus on constructing parallel roads to ensure stabilization of the hill strata and to minimize damage in heavy rains that are worsening due to climate change. Is sustainable tourism the way ahead? Both Himachal and neighboring Uttarakhand see a heavy tourist influx and are recording pressure on water resources and issues such as waste management. A March 2023 study, ‘The Environmental Impact of Tourism on Mountain States’ by Jia Gunthey, notes that the mountainous regions of India are suffering a great environmental impact due to the increase in tourism. “Himachal, along with Uttarakhand, bears the biggest burden of the environmental damage as a result of tourism,” the study says. Drawing attention towards waste management issues, she noted that in Dharamshala (HP), 200kg of dry waste is segregated daily and 25 tonnes a year. The author noted that “a large percentage of the waste comes from eateries which have grown in number due to increased tourism. There is also increased pressure on the soil, causing soil erosion and natural habitat loss. Additionally, there is a strain on water, and sources of water, which are heavily being used by restaurants, hotel chains and places of accommodation for the incoming tourists.” Thakur sought the promotion of electric vehicles in tourist hotspots. “This should specifically be done in high hill regions to reduce carbon emissions to save the environment. This will also lead to employment generation as locals will buy electric taxis or other small vehicles to ferry visitors across tourist attractions in major hill stations,” he said. Mohinder Seth and Professor Sharma stressed the need to arrest the mushrooming of illegal hotels while calling for proper regulation and monitoring mechanisms. “There should be proper research on the carrying capacity of tourism destinations in HP and the focus should be on sustainable tourism,” Sharma said. HP BJP spokesperson and a high official to former Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur, Mahender Dharmani, said that though the tourism sector is a major contributor to the state’s GDP, the major hill stations now don’t have the capacity to accommodate a heavy influx of visitors. Hill stations can’t support high-rise buildings, as has been seen in the recent rains. There is a need to seek expert opinion to identify the carrying capacity in the ecologically-fragile Himalayan region and an action plan should accordingly be prepared, he added. For its part, the central government told the Supreme Court on Monday that it had set up a 13-member technical committee to evaluate the carrying capacity as set by the guidelines of the GB Pant National Institute of Himalayan Environment.
The 20th century witnessed an unprecedented acceleration in scientific and technological advancements, reshaping the world in profound ways. At the heart of this transformative period stands J. Robert Oppenheimer, a brilliant physicist whose contributions to the development of the atomic bomb and his broader impact on science and society remain both remarkable and controversial. Oppenheimer's life and work provide a fascinating glimpse into the complexities of human ingenuity, ethical dilemmas, and the responsibility that accompanies scientific breakthroughs.
J. Robert Oppenheimer was born on April 22, 1904, in New York City. From an early age, his intellectual curiosity and exceptional aptitude for physics became evident. He pursued his education at prestigious institutions, including Harvard University and the University of Cambridge, where he studied under renowned physicists such as Max Born and Niels Bohr. Oppenheimer's early research focused on quantum mechanics and theoretical physics, showcasing his remarkable ability to navigate complex scientific ideas. However, Oppenheimer's most enduring legacy is intrinsically tied to his role as the scientific director of the Manhattan Project during World War II. As the world grappled with the horrors of war and the Axis powers' potential for harnessing nuclear energy, the United States initiated an ambitious effort to develop an atomic bomb. Oppenheimer's leadership and contributions were pivotal in bringing together a diverse group of scientists and engineers to work towards this goal. Under his guidance, the Los Alamos Laboratory became a crucible of innovation, where groundbreaking research in nuclear physics and engineering was conducted. The successful culmination of the Manhattan Project led to the creation of the world's first atomic bomb, which was used in the bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki in 1945. The devastating power of these bombs ushered in the atomic age, with profound implications for global politics, security, and ethics. Oppenheimer's involvement in the development of these weapons posed a moral conundrum, and he famously quoted the Bhagavad Gita upon witnessing the first successful test: "Now I am become Death, the destroyer of worlds." This expression of remorse and awareness of the destructive potential of his work underscores the complexity of scientific advancements and their ethical ramifications. Following World War II, Oppenheimer's life took a different turn as he became an advocate for arms control and international cooperation. He recognized the urgency of preventing the proliferation of nuclear weapons and worked to ensure that the destructive power he had helped unleash would not engulf the world in further conflict. His efforts culminated in the Atoms for Peace program, which aimed to promote the peaceful uses of nuclear technology while curbing its militarization. Despite his contributions to science and his efforts towards disarmament, Oppenheimer's political beliefs and associations eventually came under scrutiny during the era of McCarthyism and the Red Scare. Accusations of communist sympathies led to a controversial security clearance hearing in 1954, where his loyalty to the United States was questioned. The revocation of his security clearance marked a tragic chapter in his life, as he faced professional isolation and personal distress. J. Robert Oppenheimer's life and legacy reflect the intricate interplay between scientific progress, ethical considerations, and the complex forces that shape historical narratives. His contributions to physics, his role in the development of the atomic bomb, and his subsequent advocacy for arms control underscore the intricate relationship between science and society. His story serves as a reminder that even the most brilliant minds are not immune to the ethical dilemmas and moral responsibilities that arise from their work. In conclusion, J. Robert Oppenheimer's life story embodies the dual nature of scientific innovation—its potential to reshape the world for both better and worse. His contributions to physics and his central role in the Manhattan Project forever link him to the atomic age, a period of history defined by both scientific achievement and profound ethical dilemmas. As we reflect on his life and work, we are reminded of the necessity for careful consideration of the consequences of scientific advancements and the importance of fostering a dialogue that balances human ingenuity with ethical imperatives. |
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