&w=3840&q=100)
Fashion Police: Amid Kolhapuri scandal row, Italian luxury brand Prada arrives Kolhapur - here's why
Italian luxury brand Prada's four members visited in Maharashtra's Kolhapur to understand the craft of making the Kolhapuri chappal on Tuesday and Wednesday.
The team of Paolo Tiveron, director of the men's technical and production department — footwear division; Daniele Contu, pattern-making manager — footwear division; and external consultants Andrea Pollastrelli and Roberto Pollastrelli had an online meeting with executives from the Maharashtra Chamber of Commerce, Industry & Agriculture (MACCIA) prior to their visit.
STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD
On their second day visit, the team toured
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Economic Times
an hour ago
- Economic Times
Sky-high and jaw-dropping: Italy and China race to build the most insane bridges on earth
Bridges have always stood as powerful symbols of human ingenuity connecting not just places, but economies, cultures, and dreams. Today, Italy and China are pushing the limits of what's possible in bridge engineering with two mega projects that could soon shatter world records. Italy is set to build the longest suspension bridge ever constructed, linking the island of Sicily to the mainland. Meanwhile, China is constructing a sky scraping steel truss bridge over one of its deepest canyons. These monumental undertakings are not just about infrastructure, they're declarations of national ambition, technological leadership, and a shared desire to conquer geography. As the world watches, these bridges promise to transform travel, boost economies, and inspire future generations of engineers to dream bigger than ever before. Italy is pressing ahead with the Messina Strait Bridge, which, once built, will become the longest suspension bridge in the world. The design includes a single 3.3-kilometer span connecting the island of Sicily to the Italian mainland, supporting both cars and trains. The goal is not just connectivity; the project is also expected to bring economic growth, create over 100,000 jobs, and boost tourism and the project has the backing of Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, it's not without critics. Concerns range from seismic risks to potential environmental damage and massive budgetary requirements. Still, after decades of false starts, construction is expected to begin by late 2025, aiming for completion within the next the other side of the world, China is working on the Huajiang Canyon Bridge in Guizhou, which will hold the title of tallest bridge by deck height once completed. Soaring 625 meters (2,051 feet) above the canyon floor taller than many skyscrapers, this steel truss suspension bridge will dramatically shorten travel time across a previously hard-to-reach area. The bridge not only showcases China's technological prowess but also provides a huge boost to local accessibility and economic development. The project is part of China's broader investment in infrastructure across remote regions, demonstrating its commitment to transforming even the most challenging two record-breaking bridges highlight a growing global appetite for daring and transformative infrastructure. Whether uniting a country or conquering geography, such projects reflect ambition at a national level. More than concrete and steel, these structures represent vision, resilience, and a desire to push boundaries literally and figuratively.Q1. What is the Messina Strait Bridge? A1. It's a proposed suspension bridge in Italy designed to connect the island of Sicily to the mainland. If completed, it will be the world's longest suspension bridge with a span of 3.3 kilometers. Q2. What is the Huajiang Canyon Bridge in China? A2. It is a steel truss suspension bridge under construction in Guizhou, China. Once finished, it will be the tallest bridge by deck height, towering 625 meters above the canyon floor.
Hindustan Times
2 hours ago
- Hindustan Times
NEC releases ₹11.31 crore for development projects in NE region
Shillong, The North Eastern Council on Thursday said it has released over ₹11.31 crore during July this year to various central and regional agencies for implementation of development projects across the Northeastern region, including Meghalaya and Sikkim. NEC releases ₹ 11.31 crore for development projects in NE region A NEC statement said the funds were allocated to support a wide range of initiatives in sectors such as agriculture, tourism, health infrastructure, human resource development, and cultural preservation. Among the significant allocations, ₹2.09 crore was released for the establishment of Kiwi orchards in the region, while ₹1.81 crore was sanctioned for the promotion of commercial bamboo plantations, it said. A sum of ₹1.28 crore was earmarked for the establishment of food processing units in Assam, Manipur, and Meghalaya. The NEC also released ₹1.18 crore for setting up a Banana tissue culture facility in the region, ₹94 lakh for empowering marginalised women in Sixth Schedule Areas through life skill education, and ₹80 lakh for the promotion of Agarwood plantations. Further, ₹83.75 lakh was allocated for research-oriented studies and documentation of Kokborok language and literature, while ₹74.85 lakh was released for integrated Arecanut and Turmeric plantations. The promotion of Avocado, Persimmon, and Blueberry orchards received ₹49.90 lakh, while ₹94.03 lakh was allocated for the establishment of Stabilised interlocking block making enterprises in the Northeast. An amount of ₹17.58 lakh was also disbursed under the NEC Merit Scholarship scheme, it said. The NEC reiterated its commitment to timely disbursement of funds and the smooth implementation of developmental projects across the region, with special focus on enhancing economic opportunities and strengthening infrastructure in Meghalaya and other Northeastern states. The North Eastern Council has released ₹3.21 crore in July for key development projects in Meghalaya, with a focus on health infrastructure, rural development, and sports, an official said. According to the official, ₹1.46 crore was released for the construction of patient lodging and staff quarters at Mawdiangdiang near NEIGRIHMS here. Another ₹1.30 crore was allocated for the construction of an indoor stadium in Jongksha, while ₹44.32 lakh was sanctioned for providing key identified services in Mawshynrut block of West Khasi Hills district. The NEC also highlighted that Meghalaya's tourism sector witnessed notable developments during the first quarter of 2025-26 financial year. Among the major projects is the construction of tourism infrastructure at Laitlyngkot in East Khasi Hills, which aims to develop a comprehensive tourist resort with a spa, adventure activities, a children's playground, approach roads, beautification and landscaping facilities, the official said. Another significant project, the Tea Boutique and Eco-tourist lodge at Umsning in Ri-Bhoi district, was completed on June 13, 2025. Designed to promote tea growers and create employment for local youth, the facility also serves as an educational hub and supports tea marketing initiatives while accommodating visiting tourists. The NEC reiterated its commitment to timely fund disbursal to ensure the successful implementation of development projects aimed at strengthening the state's infrastructure and boosting economic growth. This article was generated from an automated news agency feed without modifications to text.
&w=3840&q=100)
First Post
2 hours ago
- First Post
Italy approves world's longest suspension bridge connecting Sicily. Why it matters
Italy has approved the construction of the world's longest suspension bridge to connect Sicily with the mainland — an ambitious plan decades in the making. While hailed as a strategic and economic game-changer, the €13.5 billion (15.8 billion USD) Messina Strait Bridge faces environmental opposition, seismic safety concerns and scrutiny over mafia infiltration read more A general view shows the Strait of Messina, Italy, August 5, 2025. The area is part of the planned site for a suspension bridge connecting Sicily to mainland Italy, with construction expected to begin in the second half of 2025. Reuters Italy's government has officially granted approval for the construction of the world's longest single-span suspension bridge, connecting the island of Sicily to the mainland. The Wednesday announcement signals the furthest progress in a plan that has been debated for more than five decades. Spearheaded by Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni's administration, the bridge is now moving toward the construction phase, with a target completion date of 2032. While the project is being promoted as a transformative undertaking for Italy's infrastructure, regional development, and military mobility, it is not without substantial opposition — from environmentalists and fiscal watchdogs to civil society groups. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD How did the megaproject come about? The idea of physically linking Sicily to mainland Italy dates back to antiquity, with tales of raft crossings recorded as early as 252 BC. Over time, the concept transitioned from legend to national aspiration. Following Italy's unification in the 19th century, the need to integrate the southern regions gained political momentum. By 1969, the Italian government began formally exploring options for a bridge across the Strait of Messina. A woman walks with her dog along the Sicilian coast with the Calabrian shoreline visible across the Strait of Messina, Italy, August 5, 2025. The area is part of the planned site for a suspension bridge connecting Sicily to mainland Italy, with construction expected to begin in the second half of 2025. Reuters Though proposals were entertained by successive administrations, actual execution proved elusive. The bridge has been proposed, modified, cancelled, and revived several times. Former Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi signed the first major contract for the structure in 2005, valued at €3.9 billion. However, the project stalled when his government fell soon afterward. A second push during his return to power also failed, and the plan was shelved again in 2011 amidst Italy's financial turmoil during the eurozone debt crisis. After decades of delays, the current administration led by Meloni brought the project back into focus in 2023. Now, in 2025, with the approval granted by Italy's Interministerial Committee for Economic Planning and Sustainable Development (CIPESS), the bridge project has reached its most advanced stage yet. 'It is not an easy task but we consider it an investment in Italy's present and future, and we like difficult challenges when they make sense,' Meloni remarked at the CIPESS meeting, according to a statement from her office. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD What will the bridge look like? The bridge will stretch a total length of approximately 3.7 kilometres (2.3 miles), with a suspended span of 3.3 kilometres (more than 2 miles). This span length would surpass the current world record held by the Canakkale Bridge in Turkey, opened in 2022, by over 1,200 metres. Once completed, it will become the longest single-span suspension bridge on the planet. This digital rendering shows a bridge linking the Italian mainland with Sicily, a long-delayed 13.5 billion euro ($15.5 billion) project, August 6, 2025. Webuild – Eurolink Image Library via AP The structure will feature three vehicular lanes in each direction, flanked by a double-track railway. The capacity is set at 6,000 vehicles per hour and 200 train crossings per day. The reduction in travel time will be substantial: what currently requires up to 100 minutes by ferry — including boarding and disembarkation — will be shortened to 10 minutes by car. Train journeys will save approximately two and a half hours. The bridge is being constructed by the Eurolink consortium, which won the contract through an international bidding process. The group is led by Webuild, Italy's largest construction firm. Its partners include Spanish company Sacyr and Japanese engineering group IHI. Each partner brings extensive experience with large-scale infrastructure projects. Webuild is involved in the NEOM project in Saudi Arabia, Sacyr participated in the expansion of the Panama Canal, and IHI has worked on notable bridges such as the Akashi Kaikyō in Japan and the Osman Gazi Bridge in Turkey. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD The design for the Messina Bridge incorporates engineering solutions tailored for complex environments. According to Webuild, the aerodynamic profile of the bridge will resemble the fuselage of a fighter aircraft, with wind-permeable deck openings to ensure structural stability during storms or seismic events. The bridge's suspension structure is deemed less vulnerable to earthquakes, a critical factor given the region's seismic history. A boost for southern Italy's economy? For decades, the Mezzogiorno — the southern portion of Italy, including Sicily — has trailed the more industrialised north in terms of development, employment and investment. The Meloni government argues that a direct road and rail link between Sicily and the rest of Italy will help bridge that gap, attracting investment, reducing transportation costs, and integrating the region into the national economy. Currently, vehicles and trains must use ferry services to traverse the strait. Trains in particular undergo a laborious process of being loaded onto ferry vessels, which can extend the journey by two hours or more. Peak times exacerbate this delay for cars and trucks, making logistics and commuting both slow and inefficient. Italian Transport Minister Matteo Salvini has championed the project from the outset, calling it 'an absolutely fascinating engineering project' and adding that it 'will be transformative for the whole country.' STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD From left: Italian undersecretary Alessandro Morelli, Italian Vice Premier and Minister of Transport Matteo Salvini and businessman Pietro Ciucci pose for photographers at the end of a press conference in Rome, August 6, 2025. AP The government has committed €13.5 billion over the next decade for the bridge and its related infrastructure, a sharp increase from initial estimates two decades ago. Webuild has projected that more than 100,000 jobs will be created during the construction phase, both directly and through associated industries. What is the Nato connection? Officials plan to categorise the bridge under Nato-aligned defence infrastructure. Italy has pledged to boost defence spending to 5 per cent of its GDP by 2035, including a 1.5 per cent allocation specifically for strategic structures. A report published in April by Italian authorities stated that the bridge 'constitutes a fundamental infrastructure with respect to military mobility,' especially considering the nearby Nato installations. It also highlighted the 'growing role of the Mediterranean as a geopolitically sensitive area.' At the Nato summit in June, Meloni cited increasing Russian activities in the Mediterranean and North Africa as a justification for advancing the bridge, remarking, 'We see Russia increasingly projecting itself into the Mediterranean… There are many hybrid threats, many hostile actors operating on the southern flank of the [NATO] alliance.' Salvini supported this view, saying, 'It is obvious that it is dual-use and can therefore be used for security reasons too.' STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD However, he added that the final classification would depend on assessments by the defence and economy ministries. Despite government enthusiasm, not everyone is convinced of its strategic utility. Alessandro Marrone, head of the defence program at the Rome-based Institute for International Affairs, argued that the security rationale might be exaggerated. He explained that in the event of a military threat from Russia, troop deployment from Italy would more likely occur via the Adriatic Sea, airports, or alpine routes. 'If you have to go east, it's either via the Adriatic, via plane, or via the Alps,' Marrone told the Financial Times. In fact, a group of over 600 Italian academics signed an open letter opposing the bridge's military classification, warning that such a designation could make the bridge a legitimate target in the event of conflict. Italian General Gualtiero Corsini raised similar concerns as early as 1987, stating that suspension bridges were 'the highest vulnerability' among all connection options and would necessitate anti-aircraft and missile defences. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Marrone agreed that, if deemed a strategic military asset, the bridge would require protection but doubted it would be a high-priority military target. 'It's an easy target from a symbolic or political point of view — it will hit the headlines,' he said. What challenges does the bridge face? Critics cite the seismic risk of the region, potential disruption to migratory birds, marine ecosystems, and the lack of comprehensive impact assessments. Earlier this week, multiple environmental associations filed a formal complaint with the European Union, arguing that the project fails to meet the legal standards of public necessity and does not provide sufficient guarantees that any damage to the environment would be mitigated. Citizen groups in Messina have also voiced their discontent. 'CIPESS is a biased arbiter, we hope that real arbiters - third party figures, the Court of Auditors, the EU, the judiciary - will come and stop this game, which is devastating for our territory,' Daniele Ialacqua, a prominent anti-bridge campaigner, told Reuters. Opposition is also building locally, as construction will require substantial urban transformation in Messina. The train station is to be relocated, and some neighbourhoods will face demolition to make way for approach roads and rail lines. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Concerns about organised crime infiltrating the project have also surfaced. Southern Italy has long contended with the influence of mafia networks, particularly in public procurement. In response, Meloni mandated that the bridge project remain under the jurisdiction of national anti-mafia laws, rejecting early proposals to assign oversight solely to the Interior Ministry. Salvini pledged strict enforcement of anti-mafia measures and indicated that the government would adopt procedures similar to those used for the Milan Expo 2015 and the upcoming Milan-Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics. 'We need to pay attention so that the entire supply chain is impermeable to bad actors,' he said. Although preliminary works such as archaeological and geological surveys are now authorised, actual construction is pending final validation from the Court of Auditors. A source familiar with the process told Reuters that the review could take several weeks. Salvini expressed hope that land expropriations and physical construction would begin in September or October this year. With inputs from agencies
