China is adopting electric cars much faster than the EU or the United States

the gist

Road transport produces about three quarters of carbon dioxide emissions from transport, so switching from petrol and diesel to electric vehicles is a major lever for cutting emissions. Electric car uptake has moved much faster in China than in the European Union or the United States, measured by the share of new car sales that are electric. China's lead came from a mix of state industrial policy, subsidies, large battery manufacturing and a fast-growing domestic market of makers. Europe has also grown quickly, supported by emissions rules, while the US has advanced more slowly. Comparing market shares shows which economies are actually changing their vehicle fleets, not just setting targets.

how it works

Electric cars use a battery to power an electric motor, with no tailpipe emissions. Their climate benefit depends on how the electricity is made, so cleaner grids make them more effective at cutting emissions.

so what

Cars are a large and visible source of emissions, so the speed of electric uptake shapes national climate progress. China's lead also affects the global car and battery industries.

Our World in Data · CC BY 4.0

Image: Our World in Data, CC BY 4.0

source: Our World in Data ↗

historyWikipediaclassic1336–1565 · Karnataka, India

Hampi was once one of the world's largest cities, until its Vijayanagara capital was destroyed in 1565

the gist

Hampi is a UNESCO World Heritage Site in Karnataka, India, with more than 1,600 surviving remains spread over 4,100 hectares. It was the capital of the Vijayanagara Empire from 1336 to 1565. Travellers from Persia and Portugal described it as a prosperous, wealthy and grand city with temples, markets and farms along the Tungabhadra River. By 1500 it was estimated to be the world's second-largest city after Beijing, and probably India's richest at the time. In 1565 a coalition of Muslim sultanates defeated the Vijayanagara Empire, its capital was conquered and destroyed, and the city was left in ruins. Hampi remains a religious centre, with the active Virupaksha Temple at its heart.

how it works

The city was built around a fortified core with temples, markets and water structures along the river, supplied by an extensive network of roads and waterworks. When the empire fell, the city was not rebuilt, so its stone monuments were left standing.

so what

Hampi shows how quickly a great city can vanish after a military defeat, and how a ruined capital can remain sacred. Its ruins give historians a view of medieval South Asia that few other sites can match.

fun fact

The name Hampi comes from Pampa, an old name for the Tungabhadra River.

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia · text CC BY-SA 4.0

Image: Wikimedia Commons

source: Wikipedia ↗

2 min

politicsshortCNA2:01

False allegations about Singapore’s hand in Indonesia’s markets and a made-up meeting

from CNA

CNA Verify has found close to 400 posts pushing falsehoods tying Singapore to Indonesia’s stock market rout and to a secret meeting that never took place. Together, they drew nearly 12 million views, and some were circulated by accounts that appeared to be working in concert, across multiple social media platforms.

Here’s how the disinformation campaign targeting Singapore was uncovered.

on YouTube: CNA ↗