Latest news with #30
The Hindu
3 days ago
- Politics
- The Hindu
NGO lauded for work in violence prevention, education, financial inclusion and interfaith dialogue
An event marking 30 years of the Confederation of Voluntary Associations (COVA) was organised which brought together several volunteers, partners, staff, and well-wishers from across the country. The Reflections on Association with COVA@30 event saw video messages from collaborators across India highlighted COVA's wide-ranging engagement on over 30 issues ,from grassroot works in slums of Hyderabad to policy advocacy with multilateral institutions. A documentary produced by Maulana Azad National Urdu University's Mass Communication Department traced the organisation's evolution and reach in the area of social activism. A book, Chronicle of COVA@30: Service Through Social Transformations, featuring reflections from 150 individuals, that include partners, associates, and volunteers, was also released. Speakers deeply appreciated COVA's notable work in violence prevention, education, financial inclusion and interfaith dialogue. The organisation's Compassionate Citizenship Programme, now part of Telangana's school curriculum, was praised as a model for moral and civic education. According to a media release, its research on financial inclusion, commissioned ahead of the 2013 G20 Summit in Russia, resulted in nine of its twelve recommendations being adopted by India's Finance Ministry, five of which were integrated into the eMUDRA Scheme. Participants recalled how COVA's community initiatives had helped prevent communal violence in Hyderabad since 2012, describing the group's work as vital to peacebuilding and social harmony.
Straits Times
4 days ago
- Sport
- Straits Times
Spain see off spirited Swiss to reach Women's Euro 2025 semi-finals
Find out what's new on ST website and app. BERN - Spain reached the semi-finals of Women's Euro 2025 on July 18 after battling past Switzerland 2-0 as the world champions continued their bid for a first-ever European crown. Athenea del Castillo and Claudia Pina scored the goals in the second half in Bern to give La Roja deserved passage to the last four where they will face either France or Germany on July 16. But Montse Tome's team didn't have it all their own way as hosts Switzerland put up a brave fight in front of a passionate crowd at the Wankdorf Stadium. The Swiss survived an early scare when Mariona Caldentey shot wide a ninth-minute penalty and from there did a great job in gumming up Spain's usually free-flowing football. Pia Sundhage's players acquitted themselves brilliantly in their home tournament and were given a loud round of applause from the majority of the nearly 30,000 supporters. The Swiss, who finished the match with 10 women after Noelle Maritz was sent off in the final minute, had never progressed past the group stage of a Euros before and in the end Spain proved to be too much for the team ranked 23rd in the world. Spain meanwhile overcame a serious test of patience before their superior quality eventually prevailed, with Alexia Putellas' wasted penalty late on changing nothing. Top stories Swipe. Select. Stay informed. Singapore Critical infrastructure in S'pore under attack by cyber espionage group: Shanmugam Singapore What is UNC3886, the group that attacked Singapore's critical information infrastructure? Singapore Alleged Kpod peddler filmed trying to flee raid in Bishan charged with 6 offences Asia Indonesia court jails former trade minister for 4½ years in sugar graft case Singapore Singapore police in contact with Indonesian authorities over baby trafficking allegations Singapore NTU upholds zero grade for student accused of using AI in essay; panel found 14 false citations or data Singapore 7-year-old girl, cabby taken to hospital after vehicle pile-up in City Hall area Singapore Former NUH male nurse charged after he allegedly molested man at hospital An already raucous home crowd roared with delight when Caldentey scuffed wide her spot-kick after the Arsenal forward was brought down by Nadine Riesen. Switzerland's defender Nadine Riesen (right) concedes a penalty due to a fault on Spain's midfielder Mariona Caldentey. PHOTO: AFP But that didn't discourage Spain who dealt well with the fervent atmosphere and some fierce tackling but struggled to find a way through the home team's packed defence. The efforts that Spain did have on goal were wayward with a series of potshots and blocked efforts before Irene Paredes headed Pina's corner onto the post two minutes before half-time. The same pattern continued after the break with Spain probing and bumping against both a Swiss wall and the woodwork. Patri Guijarro headed another corner onto the post and in the ensuing scramble Esther Gonzalez somehow contrived to strike the other post in front of an open goal. It didn't look like it was going to be Spain's night but del Castillo finally made the breakthrough in the 66th minutes – four minute after replacing Caldentey – collecting Aitana Bonmati's through ball and rolling home the goal which ended Switzerland's spirited resistance. Switzerland's Nadine Riesen (left) in action against Spain's Athenea Del Castillo. PHOTO: EPA Pina whipped home a wonderful second goal five minutes later and that was that for the Swiss, who at least had one more thing to cheer for when Livia Peng pushed out Putellas' weak spot-kick with two minutes remaining. AFP
The Advertiser
6 days ago
- Entertainment
- The Advertiser
'Unforgettable': Virgin launches party flight for one night in Melbourne
Virgin Australia has unveiled a bold new flight for travellers wanting to party all night - no hotel required. Dubbed Last Flight Club, the first service departs Sydney for Melbourne at 8.30pm on Thursday, August 7, returning early the next morning "just as the sun is rising" - with late-night experiences, events and establishments able to be booked with the flight. Details of continuing Last Flight Club schedules and activities will come after launch. The initiative taps into Melbourne's reputation as Australia's nightlife capital. New Visit Victoria data shows 39 per cent of Australians rate Melbourne as the country's best city for late-night entertainment - ahead of Sydney at 23 per cent. Travellers can enjoy all-night pubs and clubs such as The Melbourne Supper Club, have a "sleepover" at the Melbourne Museum, check out one of the many live music acts across the city or take a behind-the-scenes gallery tour after hours. "Whilst other cities are wonderful, they might start winding down at nighttime, whereas we really come to life and particularly in winter," said Shay Keenan, Visit Victoria CMO. "It's what Melbourne is made for. Whether it's cosying up in a cocktail bar or having a wonderful late-night meal or even exploring our cultural institutions, there's just so much for people to do in Melbourne at night. It's a core part of what makes Melbourne Melbourne." But she said this was the first time they had done something like this, and praised Virgin for the "very different" initiative. Virgin Australia CMO Libby Minogue described Last Flight Club as "a bold new way to travel - turning a regular flight into a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to experience the best of Melbourne after dark, all in one unforgettable night". Asked what gives Melbourne the edge over other cities after dark, Ms Keenan credited locals' enthusiasm for going out year-round - "rugged up, but everywhere" - as well as progressive liquor licensing and opening hours and hospitality innovations that keep the city buzzing into the night. The round-trip pricing starts at $290. Tickets for the launch flight are now open for registration, and travellers can also expect live entertainment onboard, a private DJ set in the lounge on arrival and free entry to the city's all-night events. Virgin isn't the only airline wooing night owls and partygoers. Air New Zealand is courting frustrated Sydney singles with its 30, Flirty and Flying campaign, giving away 30 return economy seats from Sydney to Queenstown to eligible singles. The airline's General Manager of Australia Kathryn O'Brien said their own research fhad found that 41 per cent of Sydney locals had "given up" on the local dating scene, 62 per cent are open to meeting someone outside their city, and 87 per cent have had, or are open to, a holiday romance. The campaign celebrates 30 years of flights between the cities and comes as Air NZ boosts capacity on the Sydney to Queenstown route by 26 per cent for the November 2025-March 2026 season. Virgin Australia has unveiled a bold new flight for travellers wanting to party all night - no hotel required. Dubbed Last Flight Club, the first service departs Sydney for Melbourne at 8.30pm on Thursday, August 7, returning early the next morning "just as the sun is rising" - with late-night experiences, events and establishments able to be booked with the flight. Details of continuing Last Flight Club schedules and activities will come after launch. The initiative taps into Melbourne's reputation as Australia's nightlife capital. New Visit Victoria data shows 39 per cent of Australians rate Melbourne as the country's best city for late-night entertainment - ahead of Sydney at 23 per cent. Travellers can enjoy all-night pubs and clubs such as The Melbourne Supper Club, have a "sleepover" at the Melbourne Museum, check out one of the many live music acts across the city or take a behind-the-scenes gallery tour after hours. "Whilst other cities are wonderful, they might start winding down at nighttime, whereas we really come to life and particularly in winter," said Shay Keenan, Visit Victoria CMO. "It's what Melbourne is made for. Whether it's cosying up in a cocktail bar or having a wonderful late-night meal or even exploring our cultural institutions, there's just so much for people to do in Melbourne at night. It's a core part of what makes Melbourne Melbourne." But she said this was the first time they had done something like this, and praised Virgin for the "very different" initiative. Virgin Australia CMO Libby Minogue described Last Flight Club as "a bold new way to travel - turning a regular flight into a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to experience the best of Melbourne after dark, all in one unforgettable night". Asked what gives Melbourne the edge over other cities after dark, Ms Keenan credited locals' enthusiasm for going out year-round - "rugged up, but everywhere" - as well as progressive liquor licensing and opening hours and hospitality innovations that keep the city buzzing into the night. The round-trip pricing starts at $290. Tickets for the launch flight are now open for registration, and travellers can also expect live entertainment onboard, a private DJ set in the lounge on arrival and free entry to the city's all-night events. Virgin isn't the only airline wooing night owls and partygoers. Air New Zealand is courting frustrated Sydney singles with its 30, Flirty and Flying campaign, giving away 30 return economy seats from Sydney to Queenstown to eligible singles. The airline's General Manager of Australia Kathryn O'Brien said their own research fhad found that 41 per cent of Sydney locals had "given up" on the local dating scene, 62 per cent are open to meeting someone outside their city, and 87 per cent have had, or are open to, a holiday romance. The campaign celebrates 30 years of flights between the cities and comes as Air NZ boosts capacity on the Sydney to Queenstown route by 26 per cent for the November 2025-March 2026 season. Virgin Australia has unveiled a bold new flight for travellers wanting to party all night - no hotel required. Dubbed Last Flight Club, the first service departs Sydney for Melbourne at 8.30pm on Thursday, August 7, returning early the next morning "just as the sun is rising" - with late-night experiences, events and establishments able to be booked with the flight. Details of continuing Last Flight Club schedules and activities will come after launch. The initiative taps into Melbourne's reputation as Australia's nightlife capital. New Visit Victoria data shows 39 per cent of Australians rate Melbourne as the country's best city for late-night entertainment - ahead of Sydney at 23 per cent. Travellers can enjoy all-night pubs and clubs such as The Melbourne Supper Club, have a "sleepover" at the Melbourne Museum, check out one of the many live music acts across the city or take a behind-the-scenes gallery tour after hours. "Whilst other cities are wonderful, they might start winding down at nighttime, whereas we really come to life and particularly in winter," said Shay Keenan, Visit Victoria CMO. "It's what Melbourne is made for. Whether it's cosying up in a cocktail bar or having a wonderful late-night meal or even exploring our cultural institutions, there's just so much for people to do in Melbourne at night. It's a core part of what makes Melbourne Melbourne." But she said this was the first time they had done something like this, and praised Virgin for the "very different" initiative. Virgin Australia CMO Libby Minogue described Last Flight Club as "a bold new way to travel - turning a regular flight into a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to experience the best of Melbourne after dark, all in one unforgettable night". Asked what gives Melbourne the edge over other cities after dark, Ms Keenan credited locals' enthusiasm for going out year-round - "rugged up, but everywhere" - as well as progressive liquor licensing and opening hours and hospitality innovations that keep the city buzzing into the night. The round-trip pricing starts at $290. Tickets for the launch flight are now open for registration, and travellers can also expect live entertainment onboard, a private DJ set in the lounge on arrival and free entry to the city's all-night events. Virgin isn't the only airline wooing night owls and partygoers. Air New Zealand is courting frustrated Sydney singles with its 30, Flirty and Flying campaign, giving away 30 return economy seats from Sydney to Queenstown to eligible singles. The airline's General Manager of Australia Kathryn O'Brien said their own research fhad found that 41 per cent of Sydney locals had "given up" on the local dating scene, 62 per cent are open to meeting someone outside their city, and 87 per cent have had, or are open to, a holiday romance. The campaign celebrates 30 years of flights between the cities and comes as Air NZ boosts capacity on the Sydney to Queenstown route by 26 per cent for the November 2025-March 2026 season. Virgin Australia has unveiled a bold new flight for travellers wanting to party all night - no hotel required. Dubbed Last Flight Club, the first service departs Sydney for Melbourne at 8.30pm on Thursday, August 7, returning early the next morning "just as the sun is rising" - with late-night experiences, events and establishments able to be booked with the flight. Details of continuing Last Flight Club schedules and activities will come after launch. The initiative taps into Melbourne's reputation as Australia's nightlife capital. New Visit Victoria data shows 39 per cent of Australians rate Melbourne as the country's best city for late-night entertainment - ahead of Sydney at 23 per cent. Travellers can enjoy all-night pubs and clubs such as The Melbourne Supper Club, have a "sleepover" at the Melbourne Museum, check out one of the many live music acts across the city or take a behind-the-scenes gallery tour after hours. "Whilst other cities are wonderful, they might start winding down at nighttime, whereas we really come to life and particularly in winter," said Shay Keenan, Visit Victoria CMO. "It's what Melbourne is made for. Whether it's cosying up in a cocktail bar or having a wonderful late-night meal or even exploring our cultural institutions, there's just so much for people to do in Melbourne at night. It's a core part of what makes Melbourne Melbourne." But she said this was the first time they had done something like this, and praised Virgin for the "very different" initiative. Virgin Australia CMO Libby Minogue described Last Flight Club as "a bold new way to travel - turning a regular flight into a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to experience the best of Melbourne after dark, all in one unforgettable night". Asked what gives Melbourne the edge over other cities after dark, Ms Keenan credited locals' enthusiasm for going out year-round - "rugged up, but everywhere" - as well as progressive liquor licensing and opening hours and hospitality innovations that keep the city buzzing into the night. The round-trip pricing starts at $290. Tickets for the launch flight are now open for registration, and travellers can also expect live entertainment onboard, a private DJ set in the lounge on arrival and free entry to the city's all-night events. Virgin isn't the only airline wooing night owls and partygoers. Air New Zealand is courting frustrated Sydney singles with its 30, Flirty and Flying campaign, giving away 30 return economy seats from Sydney to Queenstown to eligible singles. The airline's General Manager of Australia Kathryn O'Brien said their own research fhad found that 41 per cent of Sydney locals had "given up" on the local dating scene, 62 per cent are open to meeting someone outside their city, and 87 per cent have had, or are open to, a holiday romance. The campaign celebrates 30 years of flights between the cities and comes as Air NZ boosts capacity on the Sydney to Queenstown route by 26 per cent for the November 2025-March 2026 season.
Otago Daily Times
7 days ago
- Business
- Otago Daily Times
Plans for summer concert to move
Greenstone Entertainment has plans to move the annual Summer Concert Tour over the hill and to attract almost double the number of concert-goers. The concert has been held for more than 15 years at Gibbston Valley Station, and Greenstone announced on the eve of this year's concert it was on the move. That has been driven by the station's development plans. It is hoping to get fast-track approval for about 900 new homes, a commercial area and potentially a school on its land, meaning areas, including for carparking, may not be available in future years for concerts of that scale. Under the existing consent, up to 18,000 are permitted at the site. About 14,000 people attended this year's concert in January, featuring Everclear, Bic Runga, Icehouse and Cold Chisel. Initially rumoured to be looking at Robrosa Station, between Queenstown and Wānaka — the site of the annual Rhythm & Alps gig — the organisers are now seeking approval to hold it at the 60ha Three Parks Outdoor Arena in Wānaka. Their application is seeking land use consent to hold up to three one-day events a year for the next five years, with a maximum of 30,000 attending. "One of the events each year will be the Greenstone Summer Concert Tour." According to the application, "future development of the Gibbston Valley Winery site has meant that this location is no longer suitable due to restricted carparking and bus drop-off options". "The Three Parks Outdoor Arena site in Wānaka provides the ideal site for the Summer Concert event and ensures that the event can continue in the Queenstown Lakes district [and] will result in a direct benefit to the economy of Wānaka and the wider area and create employment." The 2026 event is pegged to employ more than 200 locals. Buses will be provided from Queenstown, Arrowtown and Cromwell to reduce traffic disruption and volume on the roads. According to the application, the proposal will result in a "less than minor effect on the surrounding roading network". Greenstone, part-owned by Gibbston Valley Wines, has long wanted to hold more than one event at the concert venue a year — in 2020 it applied to the Queenstown Lakes District Council for a variation of its Gibbston consent to hold up to five events a year.
Business Upturn
7 days ago
- Health
- Business Upturn
India Ushers in a New Era of Surgical Innovation with World's First Long-Distance Robotic Bariatric Telesurgery
Dr. Mohit Bhandari, President of IRCAD India and a pioneer among bariatric and robotic surgeons successfully completed the world's first long-distance robotic bariatric telesurgery, a milestone that redefines the future of global surgical care and access. Business Wire India Dr. Mohit Bhandari, President of IRCAD India and a pioneer among bariatric and robotic surgeons successfully completed the world's first long-distance robotic bariatric telesurgery, a milestone that redefines the future of global surgical care and access. Operating from a robotic console in Gurugram, Dr. Bhandari conducted a complex gastric bypass on a patient located more than 850 kilometers away in Indore—executed with zero perceptible lag and full surgical precision. The procedure was performed using the SSI Mantra M3 system, a next-generation, India-developed robotic surgery platform. This landmark achievement not only highlights India's rapidly advancing capabilities in medical robotics and digital health but also establishes new global standards for remote surgical care in high-complexity domains. This landmark operation marks the first documented case of long-distance robotic bariatric telesurgery between two major Indian cities, setting a new precedent for remote surgery in high-complexity fields. It highlights India's fast-growing leadership in medical robotics, innovation, and digital health. Dr. Bhandari, who has performed over 30,000 bariatric and metabolic procedures, Asia-Pacific's one of the most well-known bariatric surgeons in this speciality . He introduced robotic bariatric surgery to India and was the first Indian surgeon to perform a single-anastomosis duodenal-ileal switch. Most recently, he was honored with the International Surgeon Award at the ASMBS Global Congress in Washington D.C. (June 2025)—further reinforcing his reputation as a trailblazer in surgical innovation. Commenting on the same Dr. Mohit Bhandari said: "This success is a testament to the transformative potential of robotic telesurgery in revolutionizing surgical access, enabling expert surgeons to operate across geographies in real time, and seamlessly bridging urban and regional care centers. It's a powerful example of how we can democratize access to surgical expertise, not just across India, but globally." This milestone is more than a technical triumph—it signals a fundamental shift in how advanced surgical care can be delivered: Bridging the urban-rural divide by enabling expert surgeons to operate across geographies Improving patient outcomes by reducing time-to-treatment in remote areas Scaling surgical expertise through technology-driven models of care Creating global benchmarks in safe and precise telesurgery Disclaimer: The above press release comes to you under an arrangement with Business Wire India. Business Upturn take no editorial responsibility for the same. Ahmedabad Plane Crash
