Latest news with #OxfordUniversity
Indian Express
8 hours ago
- Sport
- Indian Express
From Oxford University to century on 'emergency' India Test debut in Manchester – the story of Abbas Ali Baig
Haryana's sprightly pacer Anshul Kamboj is likely to make a stunning Test debut on Wednesday for India, hampered by several injuries, during the fourth Test of the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy against England in Manchester. Old Trafford has witnessed the first steps of nine India Test cricketers before, with legendary spinner Anil Kumble being the last of those during his debut in 1990. But none could match up to the whirlwind story of Abbas Ali Baig's debut in Manchester in 1959, stunning one and all. Like Kamboj, a 20-year-old Baig was nowhere in contention when the tour began, but for an injury to batting mainstay Vijay Manjrekar leading up to the fourth Test of the 1959 tour had India scrambling for options. While having started his First-Class career at only 15 years of age, Baig would have remotely thought of being drafted into the national side while studying at Oxford University. A prodigious talent indeed, Baig had once scored 308 runs in a First-Class match (221 and 87), an Oxford record that has remained for more than 60 years. Replacing Manjrekar in the XI, Baig had a nimble first essay on the Old Trafford strip, falling for 26 while batting at No. 3 to Ray Illingworth. After India made only 208 all out in response to England's first-innings score of 490, the hosts set a daunting 548-run target for India. Baig soon hit his straps under pressure as he carved a fantastic century in his second innings on debut. Aged 20 years 151 days, Abbas Ali Baig had become only the fourth Indian to score a century on Test debut and the youngest to achieve the landmark at the time. Incidentally, Baig's valiant century was also the first Test hundred by a debutant batter in the fourth innings of a match. The SOS call to India's request made Baig an instant hero as he was later bestowed with the Indian Cricketer of the Year – 1959 award. Baig's international career would, however, taper off as he would win only nine more caps across the next eight years. Baig could only add two more fifty-plus scores in his career and was famously remembered for an unprecedented on-field 'kiss'. During the Brabourne Test against Australia in 1960, Baig was walking off the field for the tea-break after scoring a fighting half-century before being stopped by a girl in her 20s for a moment that would make for debates and discussions thereafter. 'I was returning to the pavilion at tea when this girl jumped the fence and kissed me,' Baig would describe. After winning one more cap for India, Baig went onto become a First-Class heavyweight for Hyderabad alongside the likes of MAK Patudi, Abid Ali and ML Jaisimha. Across a 20-year career that ended in the 1975-76 season, Baig inished with 12,367 runs at 34.16 and 21 hundreds. He would return to the national set-up as the head coach during India's 1991-92 tour of Australia and the subsequent 1992 World Cup. As Kamboj gears up for a debut exactly 66 years later, Abbas Ali Baig's unique Test initiation at the very same ground in Manchester marks for a special recall.
Arab News
21 hours ago
- Science
- Arab News
Clearing Gaza war rubble could release 90K tonnes of greenhouse gases: study
LONDON: Rubble in Gaza caused by Israeli bombardment could cause more than 90,000 tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions, a study has suggested. Research using open-source data published in the journal Environmental Research: Infrastructure and Sustainability suggested that about 39 million tonnes of concrete debris had been created between the start of the war in October 2023 to December a year later. It added that 2.1 million truck journeys spanning a total of 29.5 million km would be needed to move it, generating about 66,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions. Researchers at the universities of Oxford and Edinburgh based their findings on two scenarios, one which assumed 80 percent of the debris was viable for crushing, which with a fleet of 50 industrial machines would take more than half a year and add a further 2,976 tonnes of CO2 emissions. Using the same number of local, smaller crushers could take up to 37 years to complete the task, and generate 25,149 tonnes. The longer the task took, the researchers said, the more additional emissions would be produced, adding that the model did not account for additional emissions caused by other substances left in the enclave such as asbestos, as well as unexploded ordnance. It is believed that about 90 percent of homes in Gaza, as well as a significant proportion of its infrastructure, have been destroyed by Israeli strikes. 'The CO2 emissions from clearing and processing the rubble may seem small compared to the total climate cost of the destruction in Gaza, but our micro-focus unpacks the labor and work required to even begin the process of reconstruction,' said Samer Abdelnour, the study's lead author and senior lecturer in strategic management at the University of Edinburgh Business School. 'While filling the military emissions gap is important, our work can also support Palestinian policymakers, civil engineers, planners and other workers on the ground who are determined to reclaim what was lost, stay on the land and rebuild.' Nicholas Roy, a statistical science student at Oxford University and co-author of the study, said: 'Looking ahead, finer spatial and temporal resolution of satellite images, advances in deep learning for building and damage classification, and methods that integrate information from different perspectives — such as street-level cellphone footage and top-down satellite images — open new opportunities to estimate military emissions across different scopes and better understand the true climate cost of war.' The carbon footprint of global military activity is estimated at about 5.5 percent of the world's greenhouse gas emissions — more than civil aviation and international shipping combined. The Gulf region in particular is uniquely vulnerable to the effects of climate change. Ben Neimark, a senior lecturer at Queen Mary University of London investigating the climate impact of Israeli military activity, told The Guardian: 'The methodological focus on debris is cutting-edge work, highlighting often-missed environmental damage left by militaries after the war is over. It provides a fresh look at the daily images of bombed-out buildings and rubble from Gaza, rather than seeing them as longer-term climate impacts of war.' In June, Neimark's work estimated that the impacts of Israel's war in Gaza could release more than 31 million tonnes of CO2. Stuart Parkinson, executive director of Scientists for Global Responsibility, told The Guardian: 'Militaries and war are large and hidden contributors to the climate crisis … it is important to include the full range of activities from production of the military equipment to fuel use during warfighting, from the damage to carbon stores like forests to cleanup efforts and reconstruction following the end of the war. This study adds to this bigger picture of war-related emissions.'
Express Tribune
a day ago
- Entertainment
- Express Tribune
Malala's a gym bro now?
Malala Yousafzai is no stranger to the spotlight. Since she first made international headlines at age 15, the Nobel Peace Prize-winning activist has been a symbol of resistance, education, and resilience. But in a recent Instagram post, Malala offered a more personal portrait of herself - one that goes beyond headlines. In a heartfelt caption accompanying a childhood photo, Malala wrote on Monday, 'If you did a school project on me, you probably know me as the 15-year-old who was shot by the Taliban for standing up for girls' right to education. That was 13 years ago. A lot has changed since then, and some things have stayed the same, so here's a reintroduction to who I am today.' She began by describing her roots in Pakistan, 'which is known for its beautiful mountains and rivers,' before tracing her journey to Oxford University. 'I made so many friends, had (a bit too much) fun and learned about myself. It's also where I struggled with my mental health, experiencing panic attacks for the first time. Going to therapy really helped me,' said Malala of her time in college. Shortly after graduation, she married Asser Malik, who she said 'makes me smile every day.' Offering a glimpse into her personality and quirk, Malala shared,'In addition to reading and learning new languages, I love working out and playing competitive sports.' 'Asser calls me a gym bro,' she quipped. 'I love travelling but I'm not great at trip prep. I throw my clothes in a suitcase ten minutes before the airport and always forget something important. I love trying new cuisine and restaurants. However, I can't cook and my fridge is filled with takeout boxes.' Malala's humanitarian work comprises a big part of her life. 'I spend most of my time working on girls' education issues around the world, in countries like Afghanistan, Brazil, Nigeria and Pakistan.' The post concluded with a message of hope and continuity: 'My life is nothing like I imagined it would be. The girl in this photo wanted to be a car mechanic. But my hope to see every girl in school, able to pursue her dreams and choose her own future, will never change. To the new faces and to those who've been here from the start: thank you for being here.' Have something to add to the story? Share it in the comments below.
The Guardian
a day ago
- Science
- The Guardian
Clearing Gaza rubble could yield 90,000 tonnes of planet-heating emissions
Millions of tonnes of rubble left by Israel's bombardment of Gaza could generate more than 90,000 tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions – and take as long as four decades to remove and process, a study has found. Israel's destruction of Palestinian homes, schools and hospitals in Gaza generated at least 39m tonnes of concrete debris between October 2023 and December 2024, which will require at least 2.1m dump trucks driving 18m miles (29.5m km) to transport to disposal sites, researchers said. Just clearing the rubble is on par with driving 737 times the Earth's circumference, and would generate almost 66,000 tons of carbon dioxide equivalent (CO2e), according to researchers at the universities of Edinburgh and Oxford, who used evolving open-source tools in remote sensing to detect and analyse conflict-related emissions. The study, published in the journal Environmental Research: Infrastructure and Sustainability, is part of a growing movement to account for the climate and environmental costs of war and occupation, including the long-term damage to land, food and water sources, as well as post-conflict cleanup and reconstruction. It is the most detailed examination so far of the carbon and logistical toll of dealing with debris – which in Gaza conceals thousands of unidentified human remains, toxins such as asbestos and unexploded ordnance. Researchers looked at two scenarios to calculate the speed and climate impact of processing the uncontaminated debris – which could then be used to help reconstruct the razed Palestinian territory. Assuming 80% of the debris is viable for crushing, a fleet of 50 industrial jaw crushers, which appear never to have been permitted in Gaza, would take just over six months and generate about 2,976 tonnes of CO2e, the study found. But it would take a fleet of 50 smaller crushers, the type primarily used in Gaza, more than 37 years to process the rubble, generating about 25,149 tonnes of CO2e. In this scenario, the CO2 generated by moving and crushing the debris from Gaza's destroyed buildings would be on a par with charging 7.3bn mobile phones. The longer the contaminated debris remains in situ, the more damage it will do to the air, water and health of the 2 million Palestinians who have now been displaced, starved and bombarded for 21 months. 'The CO2 emissions from clearing and processing the rubble may seem small compared to the total climate cost of the destruction in Gaza, but our micro focus unpacks the labour and work required to even begin the process of reconstruction,' said Samer Abdelnour, lead author and senior lecturer in strategic management at the University of Edinburgh Business School. 'While filling the military emissions gap is important, our work can also support Palestinian policymakers, civil engineers, planners and other workers on the ground who are determined to reclaim what was lost, stay on the land and rebuild,' said Abdelnour, a Palestinian Canadian. Commenting on the study, Ben Neimark, senior lecturer at Queen Mary University of London who leads a team researching the total climate cost of Israel's recent conflicts, said: 'The methodological focus on debris is cutting-edge work, highlighting often-missed environmental damage left by militaries after the war is over. It provides a fresh look at the daily images of bombed-out buildings and rubble from Gaza, rather than seeing them as longer-term climate impacts of war.' Gaza is a 25-mile strip of land, only twice the size of Washington DC at 141 square miles (365 sq km). More than 90% of homes in Gaza have been damaged or destroyed, in addition to the vast majority of schools, clinics, mosques and infrastructure. Sign up to Down to Earth The planet's most important stories. Get all the week's environment news - the good, the bad and the essential after newsletter promotion The current analysis merges open-source data on building surface area, height, structural damage and road network topology to estimate debris distribution across Gaza – and then calculate the carbon cost of processing and transporting that debris during reconstruction, according to Nicholas Roy, co-author of the study who compiled the data and conducted the analysis. 'Looking ahead, finer spatial and temporal resolution of satellite images, advances in deep learning for building and damage classification, and methods that integrate information from different perspectives – such as street-level cellphone footage and top-down satellite images – open new opportunities to estimate military emissions across different scopes and better understand the true climate cost of war,' said Roy, an MSc statistical science student at Oxford University. Burning fossil fuels is causing climate chaos, with increasingly deadly and destructive extreme weather events forcing record numbers of people to migrate. The Gulf region is among the most vulnerable to extreme weather and slow-onset climate disasters including drought, desertification, extreme heat and erratic rainfall, as well as environmental degradation, food insecurity and water shortages. The total military carbon footprint is estimated at about 5.5% of global emissions – excluding greenhouse gases from conflict and war fighting. This is more than the combined contribution of civilian aviation (2%) and shipping (3%). Researchers are attempting to calculate the climate costs being generated in two of the most deadly conflicts currently – Russia's war in Ukraine and Israel's military assaults in Gaza and the broader Middle East – that could eventually help calculate claims for reparations. In June, a study led by Neimark found that the long-term climate cost of destroying, clearing and rebuilding Gaza could top 31m tonnes of CO2e. This is more than the combined 2023 annual greenhouse gases emitted by Costa Rica and Estonia – yet there is no obligation for states to report military emissions to the UN climate body. Stuart Parkinson, executive director of Scientists for Global Responsibility, said: 'Militaries and war are large and hidden contributors to the climate crisis … It is important to include the full range of activities from production of the military equipment to fuel use during war fighting, from the damage to carbon stores like forests to cleanup efforts and reconstruction following the end of the war. This study adds to this bigger picture of war-related emissions.' The Israeli government did not respond.
Scottish Sun
2 days ago
- Health
- Scottish Sun
Warning to fat jabs users as patients start pilling on pounds after treatment stops, research shows
The hunger signals fat jabs block can start up again once the treatment ends FAT IS BACK Warning to fat jabs users as patients start pilling on pounds after treatment stops, research shows PEOPLE on weight-loss jabs start piling the flab back on just two months after they stop taking them, research shows. The drugs work well for those who have failed other methods or are very large. However, the hunger signals they block can start up again once the treatment ends. A review of 11 studies covering more than 2,000 slimmers found they kept the weight off for at least four weeks after stopping, but started putting it back on by the eight-week mark. And their weight gain tended to continue for five months before it stabilised. Patients who took popular fat jab Mounjaro regained almost half the weight they had lost while on the drug. Study author Dr Xiaoling Cai, from Peking University People's Hospital in China, said: 'Weight regain is common, so it is necessary to establish long-term anti-obesity treatment.' Katherine Jenner, director of Britain's Obesity Health Alliance, said: 'This underlines why we can't medicate ourselves out of the obesity crisis. "Without tackling the root causes, people are left swimming against the tide.' A separate study at Oxford University suggested many fat jab patients regain all the weight they lose within two years of stopping medication. NHS prescriptions for jabs like Wegovy and Mounjaro hit 2.7million in England last year — and more people are buying privately, potentially missing out on diet and lifestyle advice. I've lost nearly 6 stone in 9 months on fat jabs - trolls call me 'lazy' & say it's the 'easy way out' but I don't care
