World's longest cargo sail ship launched in Turkey

TUZLA - The world's longest wind-powered cargo ship was launched in Turkey, offering a promising way to slash carbon emissions from merchandise trade.

The 136-metre Neoliner Origin was floated at the Turkish port of Tuzla, and will now undergo six months of fitting-out.

Designed by French company Neoline and built by Turkish shipyard RMK Marine, the ship can carry 5,300 tonnes of freight over long distances thanks to its two masts and 3,000 square metres of sails.

"Thanks to the wind, and by reducing speed from 15 knots (about 30 kilometres or 18 miles an hour) to 11 knots, we can cut fuel consumption and therefore emissions by a factor of five compared with a conventional ship," Jean Zanuttini, president of Nantes-based Neoline, told AFP.

With about 90 percent of world trade going by sea, the maritime transport sector is responsible for about three percent of greenhouse gas emissions, according to the International Maritime Organization.

The ship will leave Turkey during the summer of 2025 for the French Atlantic port of Saint-Nazaire, then will begin its first rotation toward North America, serving the French island of Saint-Pierre-et-Miquelon, the US port of Baltimore and Halifax in Canada.

The project received support from France's public investment bank (BPI) and the French shipping company CMA-CGM. Zanuttini said the shipyard would soon begin work on a second similar ship. World's longest cargo sail ship launched in Turkey

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Japanese man ends 6,000km Africa rickshaw trek in Cape Town

CAPE TOWN - A 34-year-old Japanese man arrived in Cape Town to end a more than 6,000-kilometre journey from Kenya to South Africa on foot while pulling a rickshaw.

Yuji "Gump" Suzuki was emotional as he thanked his supporters for their backing during his latest quest which started in the Kenyan capital in July and took him through Tanzania, Zambia, Botswana and Namibia.

"I couldn't make it without you guys," Suzuki said. "I am running for fun. I have been travelling for nine years already and I get the power from you guys so I give you guys power, too. That's my life."

AFP | RODGER BOSCH

Among his other journeys, Suzuki has already pulled his two-wheeled cart from China to India (2016-2017), for 2,500 kilometres in Europe (2017) and 5,100 kilometres across the United States (2022-2023), according to his website.

His rickshaw weighs more than 100 kilograms.Suzuki wears a version of Japan's traditional tabi socks while on his journeys, which he posts about on social media. Japanese man ends 6,000km Africa rickshaw trek in Cape Town

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‘World’s Most Intrepid Twins’ Break World Altitude Record Flying Over The Alps at 8,000-ft in Electric Paraglider

Ross and Hugo Turner attempting to break a record, flying a paraglider-style aircraft at 10,000ft in the French Alps – via SWNS

The ‘World’s Most Intrepid Twins’ announced they’ve broken a world record, by flying a tandem electric para-motor 8,000ft over the French Alps.

Ross and Hugo Turner, known as the Turner Twins, took the custom-made aircraft 2,438 meters high, floating over the mountains.

The British siblings have submitted the information on an application to FAI—the World Air Sports Federation—to claim a world record for tandem electric altitude.

The brothers based in Devon, England, have already set a world record while becoming the first twins to row the Atlantic Ocean.

For this recent flight, the twins had to wait months for the “perfect weather conditions.”

“It was great to get the weather we finally needed for the record and having waited months for perfect conditions we had the perfect flight,” said Hugo.

“The flight was smooth, which was surprising as we were expecting turbulent conditions, and the battery lasted much longer than we expected—probably due to the colder conditions keeping the battery cooler.”

Ross said their official observer for the record didn’t think the electric battery would be able to do it.

“He said we won’t have enough power, this won’t work. Thankfully, we proved him wrong.”

Ross and Hugo, the Turner Twins, on a para-motor flying over French Alps breaking altitude record – via SWNS

Their quest for adventure was born following a terrible auto accident in which Hugo broke his neck at age 17 and narrowly missed paralysis. In the mix of heightened emotions came a drive to follow their passion for exploration—always guided by their values and “always doing them together”.

The daring duo made headlines at age 21 when they rowed the Atlantic in just 41 days. They also helped set a world record as part of the youngest crew ever to complete that challenge.

Since then they have climbed Mt. Elbrus and they cycled 1,550 miles (2500km) across South American to reach another goal, traveling through deserts and jungles in the searing heat. The pair also used bikes to ride 2.6K across North America, cycling across mountains, desserts, and national parks.

They also attempted a hike across the Greenland and Iceland wearing kit and clothing worn by early polar explorers like Sir Ernest Shackleton.

The Turner Twins making final preparations for a world altitude record in a tandem electric paramotor – SWNS

During many of their missions they’re testing new technology, like driving the Cyberster EV car from MG Motors on a 10,000-mile drive from London to China, posting videos about their adventures in the red convertible electric sports car.

World’s Most Intrepid Twins’ Break World Altitude Record Flying Over The Alps at 8,000-ft in Electric Paraglider

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‘World’s Most Intrepid Twins’ Break World Altitude Record Flying Over The Alps at 8,000-ft in Electric Paraglider

Ross and Hugo Turner attempting to break a record, flying a paraglider-style aircraft at 10,000ft in the French Alps – via SWNS

The ‘World’s Most Intrepid Twins’ announced they’ve broken a world record, by flying a tandem electric para-motor 8,000ft over the French Alps.

Ross and Hugo Turner, known as the Turner Twins, took the custom-made aircraft 2,438 meters high, floating over the mountains.

The British siblings have submitted the information on an application to FAI—the World Air Sports Federation—to claim a world record for tandem electric altitude.

The brothers based in Devon, England, have already set a world record while becoming the first twins to row the Atlantic Ocean.

For this recent flight, the twins had to wait months for the “perfect weather conditions.”

“It was great to get the weather we finally needed for the record and having waited months for perfect conditions we had the perfect flight,” said Hugo.

“The flight was smooth, which was surprising as we were expecting turbulent conditions, and the battery lasted much longer than we expected—probably due to the colder conditions keeping the battery cooler.”

Ross said their official observer for the record didn’t think the electric battery would be able to do it.

“He said we won’t have enough power, this won’t work. Thankfully, we proved him wrong.”

Ross and Hugo, the Turner Twins, on a para-motor flying over French Alps breaking altitude record – via SWNS

Their quest for adventure was born following a terrible auto accident in which Hugo broke his neck at age 17 and narrowly missed paralysis. In the mix of heightened emotions came a drive to follow their passion for exploration—always guided by their values and “always doing them together”.

The daring duo made headlines at age 21 when they rowed the Atlantic in just 41 days. They also helped set a world record as part of the youngest crew ever to complete that challenge.

Since then they have climbed Mt. Elbrus and they cycled 1,550 miles (2500km) across South American to reach another goal, traveling through deserts and jungles in the searing heat. The pair also used bikes to ride 2.6K across North America, cycling across mountains, desserts, and national parks.

They also attempted a hike across the Greenland and Iceland wearing kit and clothing worn by early polar explorers like Sir Ernest Shackleton.

The Turner Twins making final preparations for a world altitude record in a tandem electric paramotor – SWNS

During many of their missions they’re testing new technology, like driving the Cyberster EV car from MG Motors on a 10,000-mile drive from London to China, posting videos about their adventures in the red convertible electric sports car. ‘World’s Most Intrepid Twins’ Break World Altitude Record Flying Over The Alps at 8,000-ft in Electric Paraglider

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2024 on track to be hottest year on record

Baku, (IANS) The year 2024 is on track to be the warmest year on record after an extended streak of exceptionally high monthly global mean temperatures, according to a report from the World Meteorological Organization (WMO).

The report, released during the 29th session of the Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, or COP29, noted that the ambitions of the Paris Agreement are “in great peril.”

The January-September global mean surface air temperature was 1.54 degrees Celsius above the pre-industrial average, boosted by a warming El Nino event, according to an analysis of six international datasets used by WMO.

The report also noted that 2015-2024 will be the warmest 10 years on record, with the accelerating loss of ice from glaciers, sea-level rise and ocean heating.

WMO Secretary-General Celeste Saulo said it is important to note that monthly or annual data "does not mean that we have failed to meet the Paris Agreement goal," Xinhua news agency reported.

"However, It is essential to recognize that every fraction of a degree of warming matters... every additional increment of global warming increases climate extremes, impacts and risks," Saulo added.Paris Agreement aims to keep the long-term global average surface temperature increase to well below two degrees above pre-industrial levels and pursue efforts to limit the warming to 1.5 degrees. 2024 on track to be hottest year on record | MorungExpress | morungexpress.com

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Babe Ruth jersey breaks world record for sports item at auction

NEW YORK - A jersey belonging to American baseball legend Babe Ruth broke the world record for the most expensive sports object sold at auction -- and the sale has not even ended yet.

The highest bid for the New York Yankees jersey currently stands at $13.3-million, including commission and fees.

However, the sale will not end until August 24, according to organizer Heritage Auctions, with experts estimating the bidding could soar to as much as $30-million.

Heritage told AFP that the owner could still set a minimum price higher than the current highest bid, though it would run the risk of not selling the item at all.

As it stands, the jersey already exceeds all previous records for sports memorabilia set in recent years.

The previous record was for a baseball card featuring another Yankees great, Mickey Mantle, which sold for $12.6-million in August 2022.

In terms of sports apparel, the highest auction record was set in September 2022 when a jersey worn by basketball player Michael Jordan during Game 1 of the 1998 NBA finals sold for $10.1-million at Sotheby's.

Prior to 2022, no sports item had ever passed the $10-million threshold, a sign of the market's increasing power.

Ruth's record-breaking jersey was worn by the Yankees slugger during a historic game against the Chicago Cubs during the 1932 World Series.

The story of the famous "called shot" goes that Ruth pointed in the direction of where he wanted the ball to go and proceeded to hit a home run in the exact direction.The Yankees would go on to win the series in a four-game sweep. Babe Ruth jersey breaks world record for sports item at auction

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Maria Branyas, world's oldest person, dies in Spain at 117

Madrid, (IANS) Maria Branyas, believed to be the oldest person in the world, has died at the age of 117, her family announced on social media on Tuesday.

Branyas, who became the oldest person alive after the death of French nun Lucile Randon in January 2023, had "left us." Her family added, "She died peacefully in her sleep, as she wanted, calm and without pain," in a residential home in the town of Olot, in northeastern Spain.

The message also contained some of Branyas' last words from a few days earlier.

"One day, that I still don't know, but which is very close, this long journey will have ended. Death will find me tired after having lived for so long, but I want it to find me smiling, free and satisfied," she is reported to have stated. "Don't cry, I don't like tears and above all don't suffer for me, because you know me, I will be happy wherever I go, because I will have you with me in some way," Xinhua news agency reported.

The daughter of a journalist, Maria Branyas was born in San Francisco, United States, on March 4, 1907, and returned to Spain in 1914. She initially worked as a nurse before becoming a healthcare official at a hospital in Girona.

She is survived by two daughters and had a son who passed away at the age of 86, along with 11 grandchildren.Maria Branyas overcame the Covid-19 virus in 2020. However, her daughter Rosa noted that she had "gone downhill" since 2023. "She isn't in pain, nor is she ill," Rosa explained, attributing her condition to her advanced age. Maria Branyas, world's oldest person, dies in Spain at 117 | MorungExpress | morungexpress.com

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Dutch star Lavreysen smashes men's sprint track cycling world record

 

Dutch defending Olympic champion Harrie Lavreysen shattered the men's individual sprint world record in track cycling on Wednesday in qualifying, just minutes after Australia's Matthew Richardson lowered the mark.

Lavreysen, who led the Netherlands to the team sprint gold medal on Tuesday, flew round the Saint-Quentin-en-Yvelines velodrome in 9.088secs.

His sensational ride came on the heels of Richardson becoming the first man ever under 9.100 when he clocked 9.091 to smash Nicholas Paul's five-year-old world mark.A slew of new world records have been set at the lightening-fast Paris track, with eight on the opening two days of competition before Lavreysen's exploits on Wednesday. Dutch star Lavreysen smashes men's sprint track cycling world record

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J&K: Trial run begins on world's highest railway bridge in Chenab, rail services to begin soon

New Delhi, (IANS): In a major advancement towards its 'dream project', the Indian Railways on Sunday conducted the first train trial run from Sangaldan to Reasi, including crossing the Chenab bridge in Jammu and Kashmir -- the highest railway bridge in the world.

The railway officials also conducted an inspection of the newly constructed line and also took stock of the railway stations between Sangaldan in Ramban district to Reasi in Jammu and Kashmir.

Situated at about 359 metres above sea level, the Chenab bridge not only makes for a breathtaking view but also shows how the engineering marvel continues to surprise the world.

Union Railways Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw took to his social media handle and shared a video of the first trial run passing through the Chenab bridge.

"All construction works for the USBRL are nearly finished, with only Tunnel No 1 remaining partially incomplete," he wrote.

The Udhampur-Srinagar-Baramulla Rail Link (USBRL) will see trains plying on the 272 km stretch while also passing the picturesque Chenab bridge.

The USBRL, expected to be completed by the end of the year, will provide all-weather connectivity to the valley.

The engineering marvel will not only cut down the geographical obstacles to the region but will also bring it at par with modern and multi-pronged infrastructure.

The 1.3 km Chenab rail bridge, located 35 meters higher than the Eiffel Tower in Paris, forms a crucial part of the project.

The Jammu and Kashmir Administration has already revealed its plans to develop the bridge as a 'tourist spot'.

The ambitious project was expected to be completed by February this year, but it missed the deadline.The Railways under Ashwini Vaishnaw's stewardship has kept this project on a high focus and as reports suggest, it has also been listed in Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led government's first 100 days of work.J&K: Trial run begins on world's highest railway bridge in Chenab, rail services to begin soon | MorungExpress | morungexpress.com

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Inauguration of World’s Largest 2nd Gen. Ethanol Plant Will Cut Emissions by 30% with Sugar Cane

credit – Raízen, released to the press

In late May, Brazilian President Luis Ignacio da Silva visited São Paulo to inaugurate the world’s largest manufacturing plant for second-generation ethanol.

The new Bonfim Bioenergy Park will produce 82 million liters of ethanol per year utilizing a new method that produces 30% fewer emissions.

Located in the Brazilian state of Guariba, the nation’s largest center for the cultivation of sugarcane, the second-generation ethanol, also known as ‘bioethanol’ is made from the waste products of sugar production, known in the industry as bagasse.

Raízen, the company behind the Bonfirm plant, says that making ethanol from this waste creates 30% fewer emissions than if previous manufacturing methods were used.

New technologies allow for the extraction of residual sucrose from these already-crushed canes. A hydrolysis process uses enzymes to separate the individual cellulose fibers so they can be fermented more easily.

Raízen has another 9 second-gen plants under construction, and the company is aiming to produce 1.6 billion liters of biofuel per year in the future.

The largest single use of ethanol is as an engine fuel and fuel additive. Brazil in particular relies heavily upon the use of ethanol as an engine fuel being the world’s leading producer of ethanol. 90% of all new gasoline-powered cars sold in Brazil can also run on hydrous ethanol.

Along with the 30% reduction in emissions from manufacturing bioethanol compared to manufacturing conventional ethanol blends, the reduction in emissions from its use as a fuel is as high as 50 and 60%, according to a study from the Argonne National Laboratory.

“I realize that our engineering, that our researchers have managed to do what no country in the world that thinks it is better than us has done: we are able to transform that bagasse into something that produces ethanol of much better quality than the normal ethanol that we produced before, which is second-generation ethanol,” said President da Silva at the inauguration. Inauguration of World’s Largest 2nd Gen. Ethanol Plant Will Cut Emissions by 30% with Sugar Cane

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Nepal’s Purnima Shrestha becomes first woman in world to climb Mount Everest thrice in 13 days

Purnima Shrestha, a 32-year-old mountaineer from Gorkha, Nepal, and a photojournalist by profession has made history as the first woman in the world to climb Mount Everest three times in the same season, all in just 13 days.

Her exceptional triple ascent beats the previous record of any woman summiteer to climb Everest thrice in a single season. She has climbed Everest four times, with a prior summit in 2018. Nepal’s Purnima Shrestha becomes first woman in world to climb Mount Everest thrice in 13 days

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Guinness World Records - Nigerian Concludes 115-Hour Ironing Marathon

• The longest marathon ironing record attempt was held at the Jabi Lake Mall in Abuja.
• On Monday, Zahani Kuma, aka Mr Reliable, a Nigerian fashion entrepreneur, completed a 115-hour ironing marathon in a bid to set a new Guinness World Record (GWR).
• Gareth Sanders, a cleaning company manager in Bristol, UK, achieved the longest marathon ironing, 100 hours, from 26 to 30 October 2015.
• Mr Sanders attempted this record at a local Asda Superstore in the UK to raise funds for charity, and it took him over two weeks to fully recover.
• Mr Reliable, who revealed his GWR application was approved in November 2023, began his quest to set the longest marathon ironing record at the Jabi Lake Mall in Abuja from 23 April to 28.
• He said he was inspired to begin the record attempt because he hopes to support children experiencing academic challenges.
• The fashion designer who is awaiting GWR confirmation said: "For five sleepless days and nights, I will be dedicating myself to resilience, endurance, and hard work with the utmost goal of raising a sum of money and supporting in my little way the educational challenges faced by many children within my locality through my profound NGO," he wrote on Instagram.
• "As an orphan at a very young age, my desire for education was vast; even though there was no one to aid me, I persistently pushed my way through. Now, I've taken it upon myself to assist as many children as possible in reaching their full potential.
• "This dream can only be achievable with your full support."
• Mr Reliable's feat follows that of Nigerian Youtuber and social media entrepreneur Clara Kronborg, who broke the Guinness world record for the longest interviewing marathon with a time of 55 hours and 24 seconds last Wednesday.The previous record was 37 hours 44 minutes, achieved in 2022 by Rob Oliver from the United States of America.Guinness World Records - Nigerian Concludes 115-Hour Ironing Marathon

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59-year-old Breaks Women’s World Record for the Longest Time in an Abdominal Plank Position

DonnaJean Wilde setting the plank record – Guinness World Records

A woman in Alberta just set a new world record for the longest time spent in an abdominal plank position, managing 4 hours, 30 minutes, and 11 seconds.

DonnaJean Wilde realized that a plank was an excellent exercise to do in a cast after she broke her wrist 10 or so years ago and needed something to do to get her heart rate up.

Strangely enough, the previous record was also held by a Canadian who was also from Alberta and also named Dana, who managed 4 hours, 19 minutes, and 55 seconds.

“Growing up, whenever we woke up, our mom had already run 4 miles. And that just progressed,” said Ray Wilde, DonnaJean’s son.

“If I’m going to watch a movie and she wants to watch a movie with me, she’ll watch it in the plank position,” said her husband, Randy Wilde.

“She did her entire master’s degree planking,” said daughter Laura Stevenson.

When the mother of 5 with 12 grandchildren went to university about 20 years ago for the masters,

she contracted something called transverse myelitis, which manifests in pain and numbness.

Where? You guessed in—the arms, hands, and shoulders. Husband Randy says dealing with that pain every day actually what allows her to deal with the pain of sitting in an abdominal plank for so long.

She said it feels like a dream come true: we can only imagine., 59-year-old Breaks Women’s World Record for the Longest Time in an Abdominal Plank Position: 

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British Man Finishes His Run Across Africa: 385 Marathons in 352 days

Credit – @hardestgeezer

A red-headed Brit named Ross Cook claims he’s become the first person ever to run across the entire length of Africa after crossing a finishing line in Tunisia. The feat was immense, filled with danger, and when the self-styled “Hardest Geezer” arrived at the shores of the Mediterranean, he had run just over 385 marathons in 352 days; a total of over 10,000 miles. More importantly as Cook sees it, his inspirational accomplishment has raised over £650,000, close to a million dollars, for a selection of charities. His route crossed 16 countries, deserts, rainforests, and mountains, and saw him get entangled in visa issues, muggings, sandstorms, injuries, sickness, and snowstorms. It started in South Africa’s remote southern town of La Agulhas and landed him on a Tunisian beach with a strawberry daiquiri in his hand. BBC reports that his route started in South Africa, and was followed by Namibia, Angola, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Republic of Congo, Cameroon, Nigeria, Benin, Togo, Ghana, Ivory Coast, Guinea, Senegal, Mauritania, Algeria, and Tunisia. His first 60 marathons went off without a hitch when he started in April 2023, but it was in Angola that he and his team were robbed at gunpoint, with money, passports, and phones all stolen. The next major setback occurred in Cameroon where he was constantly battling food poisoning. After crossing Nigeria to Benin he felt like a shell of himself. By that point he had run something like 210 marathons. Reaching the very unique country of Mauritania on day 267, people were endlessly stopping on the roads to offer water and supplies. But then, unable to transit into the vast Algerian Sahara because of visa difficulties, he needed the help of the British government to intervene on his behalf. That would have been a fitting last obstacle to overcome, but the Sahara buffeted him with both sandstorms and snowstorms in the same period. On the final day, his last 44 kilometers to the finish line were characterized by a gang of inspired runners who had flown out for the occasion. British Man Finishes His Run Across Africa: 385 Marathons in 352 days:

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For World Happiness Day, Finland Wants to Bring 5 Winners to World’s Happiest Country–Crowned 7 Years in a Row

Today, for the seventh year in a row, Finland has been named the happiest country in the world by the annual United Nations World Happiness Report, holding the top title since 2018.

Finns are proud and grateful for this prestigious title, believing that the key to their unique style of happiness is found in four basic elements: a close connection to nature, a down-to-earth lifestyle, food from fresh ingredients, and a sustainable approach to life.

According to Finns themselves, Finnish happiness is not a state secret or great mystery; instead, it is a learnable set of skills. From a walk in the forest or a dip in the sea after sauna to a meal made of freshly foraged local ingredients, these are the daily hacks of Finnish happiness.

To celebrate being the happiest country in the world, and following the success of 2023’s Masterclass in Happiness, Finland’s official tourism arm and Helsinki Partners are seeking applicants from around the globe to attend a happiness hack-a-thon and take part in a five-day curated experience in the happiest capital in the world, Helsinki.

The Helsinki Happiness Hacks urban expedition, taking place in June 2024, will be entirely free of charge for the chosen participants, who will learn from five Helsinkians as they share their tips and tricks for achieving happiness in the city. Apply now for your upcoming vacation at the event page here.

These include seventy-year-old skateboard enthusiast and passionate swimmer, Lena Salmi, who will reveal the new rules of urban swimming; chef and owner of several restaurants renowned for sustainability, Luka Balac, to share his local approach to social gastronomy; and well-being expert and biologist, Adela Pajunen, will expose what the doctor may order in Finland—which may just be a walk in the woods.

MORE STORIES ABOUT HAPPINESS: 3 Friends All Over 100 Reveal Secrets to Long Life, ‘Happiness, Staying Active and Keep a Boy Toy Nearby’

Designer Tero Kuitunen offers a bike ride around town to show how urban and nature are combined in Helsinki and how this relationship inspires the local design and the Finnish lifestyle, while for the musically included, there’s Tapio Hakanen, also known as one of Finland’s biggest electronic music exports, DJ Orkidea, who invites you to something called a “sauna rave”.

credit Julia Kivela

“There is an old Finnish proverb that states ‘the one who has happiness, should hide it.’ As the world’s happiest country since 2018, we have decided to take the old phrase and update it, making our modern motto: ‘the one who has happiness, should share it.’ We are excited to invite people from around the world to learn about our Finnish keys and hacks to happiness,” comments Heli Jimenez, Senior Director of international Marketing at Business Finland. For World Happiness Day, Finland Wants to Bring 5 Winners to World’s Happiest Country–Crowned 7 Years in a Row

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World's largest cruise ship, Icon of the Seas, scheduled to set sail

• By Aniket Gupta: Following the COVID pandemic, luxury liners went temporarily taken out of service. Now they are back. With a bang. Or should we say, with a big splash? Cruise bookings have surged, and a Finnish shipyard is now in the final stages of completing what is set to become the largest cruise ship in the world.
• The luxurious ship from Royal Caribbean, named Icon of the Seas, is approaching its final stages of construction at the Meyer Turku shipyard in Turku on the south-western coast of Finland. The shipbuilding company is fully owned by German shipbuilder Meyer Werft GmbH.
• The Icon of the Seas is expected to be delivered in late 2023, and its inaugural journey is scheduled for January 2024.
• Tim Meyer, CEO of Meyer Turku, says the ship is the largest cruise ship in the world. The massive ship features lively waterparks, over 20 decks, and the capacity to accommodate nearly 10,000 people.

• Many have been attracted by the clever design and careful planning that promise an extraordinary cruise, and have eagerly purchased tickets. Others have referred to the massive construction as a ‘monstrosity’, given what they say will be its significant negative environmental impact.
• The shipping industry was severely impacted by the pandemic, casting doubt on its potential for recovery. According to the Cruise Lines International Association, passenger volume is anticipated to exceed pre-pandemic levels, projecting a total of 31.5 million passengers for the year 2023.
• Weighing a gross tonnage of 250,800, which is five times larger than the ill-fated Titanic, the Icon of the Seas is poised to claim the distinction of being the world's largest cruise ship, surpassing Royal Caribbean’s existing flagship, the Wonder of the Seas.
• Although the trend towards constructing massive ships is not expected to stop, it is likely to slow down. For financial reasons rather than engineering limitations.
• Mega-sized ships are said help lower per-passenger costs. But they require huge investments, and involve advanced technologies, which come at a significant price. Larger vessels also bring challenges like port congestion.
• Furthermore, as cruise companies aim to increase passenger capacity, they simultaneously lower the crew-to-passenger ratio, which can present difficulties in unforeseen circumstances.
• A single large ship yields greater energy efficiency compared to multiple smaller ships. Also, modern vessels have begun using liquefied natural gas (LNG), as the Icon of the Seas is doing.
• But environmentalists remain skeptical. LNG does exhibit lower emissions compared to conventional maritime fuels, yet concerns have been raised by organizations like Transport & Environment (T&E) regarding the possibility of methane leaks.
• Methane is an essential constituent of LNG. It is also a potent greenhouse gas that has the potential to inflict more severe climate repercussions than carbon dioxide.
• The T&E website says that while cruise ships account for a small proportion of the global shipping fleet, ‘they have a disproportionate impact on air quality, habitats and the climate’. Why? It’s because cruise ships require more fuel as a result of the energy demand of their onboard hotels and leisure facilities.
• These ships travel close to the coastline; so huge volumes of fuel are burned in close proximity to coastal populations. The T&E website says, ‘The technology is available to clean up cruise ships, but an industry that provides luxury trips is unwilling to deploy it.’ Source: https://www.domain-b.com/

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Sachin Tendulkar A Forever Master Blaster

Just take a look on Sachin Tendulkar’s impossible records no one is nearer to him so please don't compre falsely Sachin Tendulkar with any one without considering the facts. 

Records are as follows. 

1. 15,921 runs– Highest aggregate in the history of Test cricket. 

2. 51 – Most hundreds in the history of Test cricket. 

3. 54.74 – Highest Test Average at Away/Neutral venue for an Asian batsman. 

4. 34357 runs – Highest aggregate in the history of international cricket. 

5. 6 – Most Number of Calendar Years with an aggregate of 1000-plus Test runs. Tendulkar managed to reach the 1000-run milestone in Test cricket for six years in 1997, 1999, 2001, 2002, 2008 as well as 2010. He is the only cricketer to achieve the feat. 

6. 55 – Sachin’s Average against the Australians in Test cricket. 

7. 51.3 – Highest Average in Test cricket for an Asian batsman from the SENA countries. 

8. 40-plus: Sachin has a batting average of 40-plus against each of the 9 Test teams he played against in his career. Moreover, he has an average of over 50 against 6 opposition teams. 

9. Centuries of Centuries – Sachin holds the record for scoring most centuries in international cricket history. Ricky Ponting (71) and Kohli (70) are a distant second and third. 

10. 78.43% – This is India’s won/drawn percentage in Test cricket when Tendulkar hit a hundred (40 of 51). Kohli’s percentage in this aspect stands at 74.07% (20 of 27 hundred). 

11. 15,310 – Highest run aggregate as an Opener in the history of ODI. 

12. 18,426 – Highest run aggregate in the history of ODI cricket. 

13. 49 – Most centuries in the history of ODI. 

14. 96 – Most Fifties in the history of ODI. 

15. 9 – Most number of centuries against a single opposition: Sachin scored 9 tons against Australia – the best ODI Team of his career. Kohli also has 9 ODI hundreds, but those are against the West Indies. 

16. 1894 – Most ODI Runs in a Calendar Year (in 1998): Tendulkar broke all the records when he scored 1894 runs from 33 innings in 1998 at a mind-blowing average of 65.31. It included 9 hundred and 7 fifties. 

17. 8,717 – Total Runs Tendulkar scored in International cricket between January 1, 1996 and 31st December 1999. This is widely regarded as the “Golden Period” of Sachin Tendulkar. No one has managed to hit more runs in this time-frame in ODIs or Tests or combined. 

18. 62 – Most number of ‘Man of the Match Awards in ODI: Jayasuriya comes in at a distant second with 48 awards. 

19. 14 – Most ‘Man of the Series Awards in ODI: Jayasuriya comes second here as well with 11 awards. 

20. March 31, 2001: The date when Sachin Tendulkar became the first batsman to score 10,000 runs in ODI cricket. 

21. 7 – Most number of Calendar Years where Sachin aggregated over 1000 ODI Runs: Sachin scored 1000+ in 1994, 1996, 1997, 1998, 2000, 2003 as well as 2007. The only other batsman to achieve the feat is Virat Kohli. 

22. 5,359 – Tendulkar’s aggregate in ODIs between 1996-1999: Tendulkar hit 5,359 runs at a staggering average of 47.84 and a strike rate of 90.08. 

23. 67.35% – India’s win Percentage in ODIs when Tendulkar hit a century (33 out of 49 times). 

24. 6 – Most number of 100s in World Cup Cricket. Rohit Sharma equalled the record in 2019 by hitting 6 World Cup tons. 

25. 200* – Sachin’s Highest ODI Score. On 24th February 2010, Sachin Tendulkar became the first cricketer in ODI history to score an ODI double century (vs South Africa in Gwalior). 

26. 2,278 – Most runs in the history of World Cup. Sachin Tendulkar has scored 2,278 runs in 44 World Cup innings at an amazing average of 56.95 and a strike rate of 88.98. 

27. Sachin Tendulkar and Sourav Ganguly share the record of most hundred runs opening partnerships in ODI cricket. They crossed 100 runs mark 21 times in this format. 

28. Sachin Tendulkar scored 28 nineties in international cricket - the most by any batsman in the world. 18 of them came in ODI and 10 in Test cricket.  

29. Sachin Tendulkar has scored most fifties in (68) test cricket 

30. Sachin Tendulkar scored 673 runs in ICC Cricket World Cup 2003 in South Africa - the most runs by any batsman in a single edition of ICC Cricket World Cup 

31 Sachin Tendulkar hit 2016 fours in ODI cricket - the first and only batsman to hit more than 2000 fours in ODI cricket 

32. Sachin Tendulkar scored 2278 runs in his 6 World Cup appearances - the only batsman to score more than 2000 runs in World Cups. 

33. 34357 runs – Highest aggregate in the history of international cricket with 200 wickets. 

34. Sachin Tendulkar scored 28 nineties in international cricket - the most by any batsman in the world. 18 of them came in ODI and 10 in Test cricket. 

35. 200 - Sachin Tendulkar is the only player to play 200 matches in Test cricket. 

36. 463 - Sachin Tendulkar also holds the record of most 463 ODI appearances . 

37. Fastest 13000, 14000, 15000 runs in Test cricket. 

38. Fastest 13000, 14000, 15000, 16000, 17000, 18000, runs in one cricket. 

39. Most consecutive matches 185 odi for a team. 

40. Sachin Tendulkar has a longest career record. 

41. Most 20 hundreds against one team Australia 

42. Most 664 matches in a career 

Out of these 42 records Only following records can be is in danger 

a. most centuries in one day 49 can be broken by virat kohli 

b. Most number of centuries against a single opposition can be broken by Virat Kohli . Sachin scored 9 against Australia. 

C. 6 Most number of 100s in World Cup Cricket. Rohit Sharma equalled the record in 2019 by hitting 6 World Cup tons. But this will be a challenged for Rohit Sharma to break this record.

other wise 1. joe root and steve smith has to perform consistently well for 8 years then they can reach a level of some of Sachin Tendulkar’s records Only in Test cricket which seems to be impossible.

Sachin is the most successful and destructive batsman of all time simply he is a God of cricket, master blaster in his time fram of cricket he played against toughest bowlers and batsman of all time and he scored runs like anything in. 

1. ODI he played most 463 odi, consistently scored most runs 18426, most centuries 49 and half centuries 96 consistent average 44.8 & SA 86.2. scored 2016 4s, 195 6s. By his solidity no one is nearer to him 

2. Test he played most 200 Test, consistently scored most runs 15921, most centuries 51 and half centuries 68 consistent average 53.79 & SA 54.08 scored 2058 4s, 69 6s. By his solidity no one is nearer to him. Image: Pixabay License, Free for commercial use, No attribution required

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American singer-poet Bob Dylan wins Nobel Prize in Literature

@ https://en.wikipedia.org/ under cc/by/2.0

The Nobel Prize in Literature for 2016 has been awarded to American singer-songwriter Bob Dylan for "having created new poetic expressions within the great American song tradition," making him the first musician to win the prestigious Nobel Prize in literature. "He can be read and should be read, and is a great poet in the English tradition," Sara Danius, permanent secretary of the Swedish Academy, told freelance journalist Sven Hugo Persson about the 2016 Nobel Prize in Literature to Bob Dylan in an interview after the award. Dylan, 75, is arguably the most iconic poet-musician of his generation. Songs such as `Blowin' in the Wind' and `The Times They Are A-Changin' became anthems for the US anti-war and civil rights movements of the 1960s. His impact on popular culture was great and people who gathered at the Swedish Academy's headquarters in Stockholm's Old Town greeted the announcement of his selection for the award with a loud cheer. While Dylan performs his poetry in the form of songs, that's no different from the ancient Greeks, whose works were often performed to music, said Danius. "Bob Dylan writes poetry for the ear," she said. "But it's perfectly fine to read his works as poetry." Dylan is the first American winner of the Nobel prize in literature since Toni Morrison in 1993. Bob Dylan was born on May 24, 1941 in Duluth, Minnesota. He grew up in a Jewish middle-class family in the city of Hibbing. As a teenager he played in various bands and with time his interest in music deepened, with a particular passion for American folk music and blues. HE was influenced by folk singer Woody Guthrie as also the early authors of the Beat Generation. Dylan moved to New York in 1961 and began to perform in clubs and cafés in Greenwich Village. He met the record producer John Hammond with whom he signed a contract for his debut album, called Bob Dylan (1962). In the following years he recorded a number of albums which have had a tremendous impact on popular music: Bringing It All Back Home and Highway 61 Revisited in 1965, Blonde On Blonde in 1966 and Blood On The Tracks in 1975. His productivity continued in the following decades, resulting in masterpieces like Oh Mercy (1989), Time Out Of Mind (1997) and Modern Times (2006). Dylan's tours in 1965 and 1966 attracted a lot of attention. For a period he was accompanied by film maker D A Pennebaker, who documented life around the stage in what would come to be the movie Dont Look Back (1967). Dylan has recorded a large number of albums revolving around topics like the social conditions of man, religion, politics and love. The lyrics have continuously been published in new editions, under the title Lyrics. As an artist, he is strikingly versatile; he has been active as painter, actor and scriptwriter. Besides his large production of albums, Dylan has published experimental work like Tarantula (1971) and the collection Writings and Drawings (1973). He has written the autobiography Chronicles (2004), which depicts memories from the early years in New York and which provides glimpses of his life at the center of popular culture. Since the late 1980s, Bob Dylan has toured persistently, an undertaking called the ''Never-Ending Tour''. Dylan has the status of an icon. His influence on contemporary music is profound, and he is the object of a steady stream of secondary literature. Source: domain-b.com

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IIM Bangalore only management school to feature on Top 50 World University rankings

It is the only Asian Management School to achieve this feat.

The ranking is based on survey data collected from over 2,000 supply chain professionals. Bangalore: Indian Institute of Management Bangalore (IIMB), at the 31st position, is the only Asian Management school to be ranked in the prestigious ‘2016 SCM World University 100’ survey by SCM World. IIMB has been ranked alongside universities like University of Michigan, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Stanford University, INSEAD, University of Texas at Austin, among others. “We are proud to be ranked in the ‘2016 SCM World University’ ranking. IIMB started the Supply Chain Management Centre (SCMC) over a decade ago, sensing the need for an effective mechanism to promote closer and enduring industry-institute collaboration. The distinguished faculty line-up and high quality research in different aspects of supply chain management at SCMC have been instrumental for this achievement,” said Professor Raghavan Srinivasan, Director Incharge, IIMB. IIMB has been actively pursuing Supply Chain Management as a major area of teaching and research. The SCMC at IIMB has carried out dedicated research, teaching and consulting activities in different aspects of Supply Chain Management covering logistics management, inbound/outbound transportation, network design, modeling and optimization, partnership and negotiation, information technology and e-commerce and end-to-end Supply Chain Management strategies. The Centre builds upon the strengths of IIMB in research, education, and integration of inter-functional business disciplines to serve as a valuable knowledge-generating resource, and contributes to development of cutting-edge strategies and practical solutions to problems encountered by organizations in the management of end-to-end supply chains. The ranking is based on survey data collected from over 2,000 supply chain professionals. In the survey the participants were asked to select the top three universities, as a marker of supply chain talent. For scoring three points were awarded for a number one ranking, two points for a number two ranking, and one point for a number three ranking. The final ranking was based on the total scaled score, and then by the total number of votes. ‘SCM World’ boasts of a network of world’s most influential supply chain practitioners and cross- industry learning community. Every year these groups of supply chain professionals administer a survey to recognize top 100 business schools for supply chain talent worldwide. Source: The Asian Age

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That 'on top of the world' feeling

Arunima Sinha, is the first woman amputee to climb Mount Everest. She is currently setting up a free sports academy for the poor and differently- abled. Sinha, a former national volleyball and football player, boarded the Padmavat Express train at Lucknow for Delhi on 11 April 2011, to take an examination to join the CISF. She was pushed out of a general coach of the train by thieves wanting to snatch her bag and gold chain and lost both her legs in the process. Inspired by cricketer Yuvraj Singh, who had successfully battled cancer, "to do something" with her life, she trained and excelled in the basic mountaineering course from the Nehru Institute of Mountaineering, Uttarkashi. She telephoned Bachendri Pal, the first Indian woman to climb Mount Everest, in 2011 and signed up for training under her at the Uttarkashi camp of the Tata Steel Adventure Foundation (TSAF) 2012. Under the guidance of Bachendri Pal, she started her ascent of Mount Everest. After toiling up for 17 hours, Sinha reached the summit of Mount Everest at 10:55 am on 21 May 2013, as a part of the Tata Group-sponsored Eco Everest Expedition, becoming the first woman amputee to scale Everest, a feat that won her praise from then sports minister Jitendra Singh, and an award from Uttar Pradesh chief minister Akhilesh Yadav. She was awarded the Padma Shri , the fourth highest civillian award of India, in 2015. In this interview with Swetha Amit, Sinha talks about her Everest expedition and plans to set up a sports academy for the differently abled.  

• Born Again on The Mountain is a title that spells grit and determination. How did you initially come up with the idea of writing this book?
• The idea occurred to me while I lay on my hospital bed, recovering from the injuries and wounds inflicted on me by the asault on the train. I wanted to document each moment of my journey. Initially I wrote it in Hindi as I am not as proficient in English. Later, Hindustan Times journalist Manish Chandra Pandey helped me translate it into English. Born Again on The Mountain is available in Hindi as well as in Marathi. On 27 November 2015, the Hindi edition of the book was launched by Uttar Pradesh chief minister Akhilesh Yadav and Ratan Tata.
• That horrific incident on the train, changed the course of your life. Such tragedy can either make or break a person. What was your source of strength during that phase?
• My weakest point was the amputation of both my legs, which left me shattered. However, I decided to convert this weakness into my biggest strength, which I managed to do. As a saying goes, 'when one door of happiness shuts, another opens.' I believe that when God takes a part of your body for good, he blesses you with another. If one door closed for me, I made sure that I opened nine other doors.
• You had initially received a lot of support and coverage from the media. Later, the same media who stood by you branded you as an opportunist and questioned the credibility of your story of your accident. How did you handle this sudden shift in attitude? Actually I do not blame the media. They said whatever they had to say. If you consider an ECG, a straight line indicates you are no more. However, if it goes up and down, it means that you are alive. I consider such instances as the ups and downs in my life which means that I am alive. Considering how I almost lost my life, I regarded this a blessing. 
• What inspired you to scale Mt Everest? : I decided to take up this challenge from my hospital bed. An article in a newspaper triggered this inspiration. I immediately asked my bhaisaab (brother-in-law) if I could actually scale mountains. He responded in the affirmative saying that if you have the passion, grit and determination, you can reach great heights.
• When you initially took up the challenge to scale Mt Everest, how did you handle the cynical reactions of people around you? Some of them had even termed you insane? If you look at history, whoever society has mocked at, are the ones who have been successful. As Mahatma Gandhi has quoted, 'First they ignore you, then they laugh at you, then they fight you, then you win.' So I made sure I focused on my goal, worked towards it gradually and when I actually accomplished this mission, the same people who called me crazy were the first ones to applaud and shower praises upon me.
• At the Hillary step, which is cited to be one of the most difficult stretches of Mt. Everest, you were losing energy, hope and support. Even one of the leaders refused your request for support. What kept you going even at this stage when the odds were stacked against you?
• This particular juncture was the most painful part as I was bleeding considerably. However, I went with a mind-set of wanting to instill pride among people. There were two choices that lay ahead of me. To turn back and go and lead an ordinary life. Or, scale Mt. Everest - the ultimate destination that would make the whole world proud of me. I chose the latter to channel all my energies into making it to the top.
• It is said that nature offers some vital lessons to mankind. What did you learn from this entire expedition of being in the midst of powerful forces of nature?
• From nature, I learnt how to achieve my goal and also remain humble after that. In mountaineering I realized that you cannot conquer mountains with your head raised high. With every step you take as you climb higher, you tend to bend your head down. Nature offers great lessons in humility.
• After your horrific ordeal, do you think the government has managed to implement better safety measures for women in trains?
• Well there is a lot that can actually be done for the safety of women. However, I don't want to blame anyone as it's not practical to put up security measures behind each and every woman. So I will just say that each girl should be made stronger in order to combat such untoward incidents. My sincere request to both the central and state governments is that they should make self-defence and martial arts mandatory for all women in schools. Had I trained in karate, perhaps I wouldn't have lost my legs today.
• You had plans to set up a free sports academy for the poor and differently-abled persons. How has the support and response been so far? It has been good so far. I have now taken up land, so I can say that the sprouts have grown from the idea that was seeded in my head sometime back. I have 100 per cent confidence that it will materialise and grow further. I can forsee players like Sania Mirza and Mary Kom emerging from this sports academy.
• What are your future plans? Out of seven continents, I have scaled peaks in four continents already and I hope to do the remaining three successfully. In fact I am leaving to South America in January. Then I will head to Antarctica and then to North America. It is my personal dream to do a mission-seven summit [scaling the seven highest peaks in the seven continents]. My other dream, is to make this sports academy a success.

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