German scientist and inventor Rudolf Diesel patented the famous engine that bears his name on February 23, 1893.
The first functioning engine was made by Diesel at the Augsburg Engineering Works (since 1904 MAN) in 1897. The engine power was 20 hp. c. at 172 rpm, efficiency 26.2% at a weight of 5 tons.
In the beginning, the “diesel” engine known today was actually powered by vegetable oils, mostly peanut oil.
On January 1, 1898, a factory for the production of diesel engines was founded.
The engine finds rapid application in ships, locomotives, power plants, oil wells. The first ship with a diesel engine was built in 1903.
In 1908, the first small engine was made for locomotives and trucks. In 1936, a passenger car with a diesel engine (Mercedes-Benz-260D) was put into series production for the first time.
On September 29, 1913, Rudolf Diesel set off on the steamship “Dresden” from the Belgian port of Anvers for England, but mysteriously disappeared. Ten days later, fishermen found his body.
The world is losing an undeniable genius!
Diesel’s creation is the most popular means of propulsion for cars, industrial machines, agricultural machinery, ships, and its modernization continues within the third century.
The Patriarchate of Alexandria has officially released its response to a journalistic question of the Russian agency “News.ru” regarding the activities of the Russian Orthodox Church in Africa, and more specifically in Kenya, where Patriarch Theodore of Alexandria recently made a pastoral visit.
The question to the Patriarchate is as follows: “The Exarchate of the Russian Orthodox Church has registered in Kenya. This became known only during the visit of His Holiness the Patriarch of Alexandria to Kenya. How does the Patriarchate of Alexandria perceive the activities of the Russian Church in Kenya? As well as the activity of the Russian Church in Africa in general. How does the Patriarchate of Alexandria feel about this? Thank you”.
Here is the answer of the Church of Alexandria:
“The Moscow Patriarchate, driven by extremely authoritarian tendencies to dominate the whole of Orthodoxy, wanting to rule unilaterally and destroying the entire theological and canonical tradition of the Orthodox Church, appeared in Africa cunningly, like a thief in the night, ignoring the centuries-old church institutions and the sacred canons of the whole Church under the sky. Above all, this reveals her own unhealthy spiritual course and the ecclesiological deviation from Orthodox accepted norms.
The actions of the Moscow Patriarchate outside the limits of its ecclesiastical jurisdiction inflict a wound on the fraternal, unanimous and blameless beginning of our Orthodox faith and certainly contribute negatively to the denigration of Orthodoxy. The Moscow Patriarchate, motivated also by the burdens of its traumatic past and the extremely selfish ways of acting from other times, is in a close embrace with the state and with the political aspirations of the rulers of the Russian state, which wants at any cost to create spheres of influence in Africa as well . History teaches us that the results of such a course are always very painful for the Orthodox Russian people.
The Patriarchate of Alexandria will continue to serve all of Africa, where the apostolic heritage, the sacred canons and history have assigned it, always with the suffering African people in mind and with the unshakable faith that the work of evangelization and the reconciliation of peoples will not stop because its roots are apostolic, and it is not an ephemeral, self-centered or power-hungry ecclesiastical-political game. For the Church of Alexandria, the African brother is a living and sacred image of God, not an impersonal being to be used, exploited and oppressed for one’s self-vindication.
From the office of the Patriarchate of Alexandria”.
About half of the EU’s final energy consumption goes to heating, making it a key focus area in Europe’s efforts to improve energy security and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. A European Environment Agency (EEA) briefing, published today, analyses this energy segment, urging investment in building renovations and modern renewable energy solutions.
Decarbonising heating represents one of the major challenges for Europe on the way to meeting climate targets for 2030 and 2050 and ensuring greater energy security. The EEA briefing ‘Decarbonising heating and cooling — a climate imperative’ looks at sectoral trends and calls for stronger policy efforts to reduce energy needs and switch to sustainable heating and cooling in all sectors. Together with the recent EEA briefing on sustainable cooling, the assessment highlights key opportunities and challenges in the race to make the EU carbon-neutral by 2050.
Energy renovation and conservation measures, including public information campaigns, have proven their efficiency in curbing overall heating and cooling needs, especially in buildings — the largest energy-consuming end-use sector across the EU. However, the EEA briefing reminds that energy efficiency measures alone are insufficient to decarbonise heating and cooling when fossil fuels are being used as the main energy source. In 2020, almost 80% of all household energy use regarded space and water heating, with over half of this energy being supplied by burning fossil fuels, notably gas. Investments in renewable and waste energy sources for heating and cooling are needed to reduce gas consumption, climate impacts and air pollution.
Data from Eurostat show that renewable energy accounted for less than a quarter of final energy used for heating and cooling in the EU in 2020. The northern EU countries, where buildings need more heating during winter months, had already reached more than 50% shares of renewable energy for heating and cooling in 2020 using large shares of biomass. But as heating and cooling systems last longer than a decade, replacing fossil fuels with biomass across all countries may have unwanted implications for this feedstock, climate and the environment. With the availability of sustainable energy resources and the demand for heating and cooling varying significantly across Europe, there is a need to prioritise the most sustainable local energy sources that correspond to local needs and opportunities, according to the EEA briefing.
The EEA briefing also notes that renewables for heating and cooling in Europe mostly still consist of solid biomass, such as wood, whereas other renewable options for heating and cooling are growing at much faster pace, including modern heat pumps and solar thermal collectors. Where available, modern, renewables-based district heating systems provide important opportunities for further decarbonisation, by acting as a platform for integrating a variety of clean energy solutions.
European authorities have moved another step closer in an attempt to sharply limit the daily amounts of vitamin B6 that EU consumers are allowed to use in food supplements. Last Friday evening (10 February), the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) closed a public consultation that had been open for only a month.
The consultation sought comments on its proposal to lower the acceptable upper limit for vitamin B6, the maximum daily amount considered safe for long-term use from all sources (i.e. food and supplements), to a paltry 12.5 mg per day.
This proposed new level is half the level previously set by EFSA’s predecessor, the Scientific Committee on Food. It is also only one-eighth of the amount considered safe by the US National Academy of Medicine (100 mg/day).
In its response to the consultation, the Alliance for Natural Health (ANH) Europe pointed out gross irregularities in the scientific process followed by EFSA.
Scientific director, Robert Verkerk PhD, said,
“The Commission’s mandate to EFSA was to revise the level based on new science and methodologies. Instead, EFSA ignored new methodologies and used old, discredited or irrelevant science, including an old study on five beagle dogs conducted more than 45 years ago.
Dr Verkerk added,
“Not only that, EFSA wants to apply this new level to all forms of vitamin B6 to protect people from any risk of peripheral neuropathy, despite the fact that this has only been associated with one form – pyridoxine – and then only when megadoses of 1,000 mg have been taken for prolonged periods.”
ANH Europe claims that it would be legally disproportionate for EU member states or the European Commission to seek to reduce levels of all forms, especially the bioactive, coenzyme, pyridoxal 5′-phosphate form, on the basis of this reduced TUL.
Dr Nick van Ruiten, director of ANH Europe, expressed serious concern about EFSA’s proposal,
“This is part of a very slippery slope for free choice and self-care in the EU. Science has shown that higher doses of B6, B12, folic acid and omega-3 fatty acids lower the risk of cognitive decline and Alzheimer’s, and thousands of women are counting on being at higher risk.On B6 to relieve their PMS symptoms, EFSA’s proposal makes no sense. Especially given the vast amount of data on the safety of the vitamin, especially when used in coenzyme form.”
ANH Europe and other organisations that criticised EFSA’s proposal hope that the final EFSA opinion will be slightly modified. If not, this could soon lead national regulators to further lower their own limits. The European Commission has indicated its intention to push ahead with the harmonisation of vitamin and mineral levels in the EU, a plan that has been on the drawing board since the adoption of the EU Food Supplements Directive in 2002.
ANH Europe’s response to EFSA’s consultation can be downloaded below. END.
Host France is among the 34 countries that have called on the International Olympic Committee to ban the participation of athletes from Russia and Belarus in the 2024 Paris Olympics, DPA reported. The USA, Great Britain and Australia are also among those who have declared against the participation of the Russian and Belarusian athletes.
In a joint statement yesterday, these countries argued that “Russia’s deliberate unprovoked and unjustified war (against Ukraine) was facilitated by the Belarusian government.”
Russian Sports Minister Oleg Matitsyn said earlier this month that it was “absolutely unacceptable” for foreign governments to try to influence the IOC.
The IOC itself confirmed last month that it intended to support sanctions against Russian and Belarusian officials ahead of the upcoming Olympics in the French capital, but added that it would consider the possibility of athletes from both countries competing under a neutral flag.
In a statement today, the 34 nations opposed to Russia and Belarus participating in the Games welcomed the IOC’s “adherence to existing sanctions” but said the proposal to participate under a neutral flag raised “many questions and concerns”.
This became clear after more than 30 countries were announced, which yesterday sent a letter to the IOC demanding sanctions. The backlash comes in response to the headquarters’ plans to allow athletes from Russia and Belarus to compete under a neutral flag. The list was announced by the BBC.
There is still no official decision on the case, with IOC President Thomas Bach saying that his organization is facing a big dilemma.
In addition, there was uncertainty about exactly which countries were on the list of those preparing to boycott the Olympics if the IOC did not comply with their request.
Opponents of Russia and Belarus include France, host of the 2024 Olympics and Paralympics, Japan, host of the 2021 Olympics, Italy, host of the 2026 Winter Olympics, and host USA at the 2028 Summer Olympics.
Australia had not signed the agreement, but a spokesman for the Australian Department of Sport told Reuters it was an administrative error and the government had agreed to ban the athletes.
It is also clear from the list that Bulgaria and Hungary are the only EU countries not among the signatories. Since there is no official information from either the BOK or the Ministry of Youth and Sports, who made such a decision and why.
Here are all the countries demanding sanctions against Russian and Belarusian athletes:
Austria, Belgium, Canada, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Republic of Korea, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, United Kingdom, USA.
Carnival, one of the most beloved and celebrated events in many cultures, has been around for several centuries. Its origin is rooted in ancient festivities that have undergone changes through the course of time and the influence of various cultures.
The roots of the carnival are found in ancient Roman Saturnalia celebrations, a festival of Saturn, the God of Seeding and Harvest. It was an annually celebrated event in mid-December that lasted for seven days with activities such as public banquets and carnival-style festivities. The use of masks and fancy costumes took place during the last day of the Saturnalia celebrations.
From Rome, the festivity spread across the Mediterranean region and was later adopted by the Catholic Church. The Church modified the festival and renamed it Carnival to connect it with the masses’ Catholic Christian beliefs. The carnival became a way to prepare for the period of fasting and introspection during Lent, a Catholic event where people prepare themselves spiritually before Easter.
By the 15th century, the procession of Carnival has gone through several changes, including a wider range of costumes and masks, as well as the addition of drums and music. In many countries such as Brazil and Trinidad, Carnival has been a source of cultural and national identity.
In Russia, during Soviet rule, all religious activities were limited and the Christian Lent, Carnival, and Maslenitsa (the Russian version of the Carnival) were banned. After the dissolution of the Soviet Union in 1991, Maslenitsa and other religious festivals were restored and Carnival regained its old customs and traditions.
Today, Carnival is celebrated in many parts of the world, from South America to Europe, Africa, and the Caribbean. Masks, costumes, drums, parties, and parades remain part of the festivities in the celebration of Carnival, an event with a deep history and roots that continue to transcend through the ages.
Relics – The Metropolitan Cathedral was built over the course of centuries – in the period between 1573 and 1813, and it is not the first time that experts have found finds in the walls
Experts restoring the interior of the main Catholic cathedral in the capital of Mexico have discovered 23 lead boxes with religious inscriptions and relics such as small paintings, wooden or palm crosses, the Associated Press reported.
The texts on the boxes are dedicated to saints. A handwritten note was also left in one of them, which gives reason to believe that they were found in 1810, after which they were buried again.
The message said one of the boxes was found by masons and painters in 1810. The note asked anyone who found it to “pray for their souls”.
The finds were in niches carved into the walls at the base of the cathedral’s windproof lantern, which tops the dome. They were covered with clay slabs and hidden under plaster.
They were discovered at the end of December during restoration work. Mexico’s National Institute of Anthropology and History says they may have been placed there to provide divine protection for the cathedral or the city.
Once cataloged, the boxes and their contents will be returned to the niches and covered with plaster again.
The cathedral was built over centuries – between 1573 and 1813. One of the reasons it took so long is that almost immediately after construction began, the massive, heavy structure began to sink into the soft soil characteristic of the city.
It is not the first time that experts have found finds in the walls of this temple.
In 2008, researchers discovered a time capsule from 1791 placed atop the cathedral’s bell tower. Its purpose was to protect the building from lightning. The lead box was filled with religious artifacts, coins and parchments.
One of them – perfectly preserved, describes the contents of the capsule, including 23 medals, five coins and five small palm crosses. A sign informs that “everyone is for protection from the storms”, notes AP.
Plastics have many useful applications, but the global production and consumption trends of these materials are currently unsustainable. Circular and sustainability practices throughout the lifecycle of plastics can help reduce greenhouse gas emissions, pollution and waste. According to a European Environment Agency (EEA) analysis, published today, many such good practice examples already exist and would need to be scaled up to enable a circular plastics economy in Europe.
Using plastics in a smarter way include reducing unnecessary packaging and single-use products, as well as more circular design that makes products last longer and easier to reuse and repair. Other examples to use plastics in a smarter way also already exist across Europe in the form of gear rentals, car and tool sharing and, for example, reusing crates and pallets in the food sector, the EEA briefing notes.
Increasing circularity requires longer use and reuse of products and better collection, sorting and recycling of plastics. Good practice examples include stores that offer to take back their own products at the end of product life-cycle, which can improve the quality of recycled materials or enable some type of reuse. The role of consumers is also critical in choosing what to buy and ensuring proper recycling. Overall, many European markets of recycled raw materials, including for mixed plastics, are not functioning well, according to a recent EEA analysis.
Increasing the use of renewable materials involves, for example, using more recyclable, biobased plastics, instead of relying solely on fossil fuels and their imports. According to the EEA briefing, increasing the use of renewable materials should focus on the second- and third-generation feedstocks that do not compete with food and feed production.
Businesses, policymakers and citizens can all contribute to more sustainable and circular plastics production and consumption, the EEA briefing concludes. There is vast potential in scaling up circular business models, strengthening policies, increasing demand for sustainable products, reducing unnecessary consumption and improving recycling.
A complementary report, ‘The fate of EU plastic waste’, by the EEA’s European Topic Centre on Circular Economy and Resource Use, investigates the dynamics of plastic waste trade within the EU and exports from the EU. The report demonstrates that EU plastic waste exports continue to decline and are concentrated in few receiving countries. Raising environmental concerns, case study results also indicate that plastic waste leaving the EU is of much lower quality than that traded within the EU, and that receiving countries often lack proper waste management infrastructure.
The World Evangelical Alliance and FaithInvest have signed a collaboration agreement setting out how they will work together to increase faith-consistent investing globally to achieve a more just and sustainable world.
The aim is to inspire the Alliance’s network of 600 million evangelical Christians worldwide to take a deeper look at how and where their money is used as well as to support faith-based entrepreneurs and communities to develop investible enterprises designed to protect the environment and address social concerns.
As well as providing opportunities for WEA’s network to access FaithInvest’s training, services and expertise, the two organisations will work together on joint events and projects. One of the first of these is a proposed major event in Geneva, Switzerland, in January 2024 bringing faith-based investors together in an ‘alternative Davos’ to look at values-driven approaches to the economy, around the time of the World Economic Forum’s annual meeting.
Other joint activities agreed include sharing knowledge and expertise – for example, in supporting faith groups to set investment policies and guidelines (FaithInvest) and in developing financial vehicles to fund faith-based projects (WEA Global Foundation Fund). They will also work together to identify investment engines that produce win-win-win scenarios (people, planet, profit) for values-driven investors, including members of the WEA Business Coalition which provides strategic and thought leadership for evangelical leaders of businesses, ministries and churches.
WEA Secretary General Bishop Dr Thomas Schirrmacher (left) and FaithInvest CEO Martin Palmer after signing the collaboration agreement. (c) FaithInvest
WEA Secretary General Bishop Dr Thomas Schirrmacher said it was vital for evangelical churches and institutions to consider whether their values were reflected in their investments. ‘I am deeply convinced that there is a need for evangelical churches and their many ministries to look into what we own, the assets we have – the many schools, the many buildings and all the gifts that have been given to us that, in the end, come from the hand of God,’ he said.
‘This money and these assets have to serve the same purposes that we ourselves serve and to have the same goals that we want to achieve with our overall ministry, such as a free society, a just society, a society that gets the good news that there is forgiveness, that we can start anew, that we can be reconciled. All those things have to be seen in our money and in how our money works for us.’
In FaithInvest, the WEA has a partner that understands that the way faith groups invest money is different to other organisations, Bishop Schirrmacher said: ‘So take this seriously as an offer. If you are interested as an evangelical institution to talk about this, connect to us and to our Business Coalition and we will connect you to FaithInvest, for training and for support to find the right place to invest your money.’
FaithInvest CEO Martin Palmer said FaithInvest was honoured and delighted to be working closely with the WEA, the second biggest network of Christians worldwide after the Catholic Church. FaithInvest is an international non-profit organisation founded to support faith groups to invest in line with their values by helping them develop values-driven investing policies and guidelines.
Martin Palmer said: ‘At FaithInvest, we talk about faith-consistent investing by which we mean: what do your teachings, your values, your beliefs lead you to want to see for the world? And is your money serving that purpose? What has impressed us about the World Evangelical Alliance is that it really wants to know how you can be faithful from beginning to end; not just at the points at which you have the money to do good but also how that money is generated and where it’s used.
‘We are very excited, through this collaboration agreement, to work together to support the WEA’s network of evangelical churches and institutions in ensuring their money and their assets reflect their purpose.’
FaithInvest FaithInvest is a UK-based international non-profit organisation founded to empower the faiths to invest in line with their beliefs and values, for the benefit of people and planet. We support faith-based asset owners to develop faith-consistent investing policies and guidelines to enable them to align their investments and their values.
The World Evangelical Alliance Over two billion Christians in the world today are represented by three world church bodies. The World Evangelical Alliance (WEA) is one of those, serving more than 600 million evangelicals belonging to churches that are part of 143 national Evangelical Alliances in nine regions. Launched in London in 1846, the WEA unites evangelicals across denominations for prayer, evangelism, mission, theological education, religious freedom, human rights advocacy and engagement in a wide range of social issues. It speaks with one voice to United Nations, governments and media in public or through behind-the-scenes diplomacy on issues of common concern to the Church.
Europe is a continent brimming with a rich and diverse cultural tapestry, woven together by centuries of history, art, and traditions. From the vibrant flamenco of Spain to the lively Oktoberfest celebrations in Germany, Europe offers a captivating journey through a mosaic of traditions. Embark on an exploration of the continent’s multifaceted cultural heritage, and discover the fascinating stories and customs that have shaped its nations.
Unveiling Europe’s Multifaceted Cultural Tapestry: A Voyage through a Mosaic of Traditions
As one sets foot on European soil, a world of cultural wonders unfolds. Each country boasts its own unique heritage, resulting in a mesmerizing tapestry of traditions. From the elegant ballet of Russia to the haunting chants of Gregorian monks in Italy, Europe’s cultural tapestry is a testament to the continent’s diverse history and influences. Exploring each nation’s customs and traditions is like peeling back layers of a complex and intricate artwork, revealing the beauty and depth within.
The beauty of Europe’s cultural tapestry lies in its ability to bring people together while celebrating their differences. Whether it is the lively carnival parades in Portugal or the solemn religious processions in Malta, these traditions have been passed down through generations, carrying the essence of a nation’s identity. Europe’s multifaceted cultural tapestry is a reminder of the power of diversity and the importance of preserving traditions for future generations to cherish.
From Flamenco to Oktoberfest: A Captivating Expedition into Europe’s Varied Cultural Heritage
Europe’s cultural heritage is as varied as the continent itself. From the passionate rhythms of Flamenco in Spain to the boisterous revelry of Oktoberfest in Germany, each tradition offers a unique glimpse into the soul of its people. The fiery spirit of Flamenco reflects the intensity and passion of Spain, a country known for its vibrant culture and zest for life. Meanwhile, Oktoberfest showcases Germany’s love for community, beer, and merriment, with millions of visitors flocking to Munich each year to join in the festivities.
Beyond the well-known traditions, Europe’s cultural tapestry is woven with countless hidden gems. The haunting melodies of traditional Irish music playing in a cozy pub, the intricate lacework of Belgian lace artisans, or the centuries-old art of Venetian glass blowing are just a few examples of the diverse heritage waiting to be discovered. Europe’s traditions are an invitation to step back in time, to understand the roots of a nation and appreciate the craftsmanship and creativity that have shaped its cultural identity.
Exploring Europe’s rich cultural tapestry is a fascinating journey that reveals the continent’s vibrant history and the interconnectedness of its nations. From the grandeur of historical landmarks to the intimate rituals of everyday life, Europe’s traditions are a testament to the resilience and creativity of its people. Embark on a voyage through Europe’s multifaceted cultural heritage, and you will discover a captivating world where the past merges seamlessly with the present, creating a tapestry that is as diverse and colorful as the people who call it home.
