Latest news with #AU
Kuwait Times
6 hours ago
- General
- Kuwait Times
AU launches ‘Beat the Heat with AU' initiative
AU launches 'Beat the Heat with AU' initiative KUWAIT: In line with its commitment to corporate social responsibility and environmental responsibility, the Australian University (AU) launched its 'Beat the Heat with AU' initiative which aimed to support underprivileged gas station attendants. As part of the campaign, AU students and staff members visited numerous fuel stations across Kuwait to personally distribute durable and reusable water bottles to attendants, offering both immediate relief from the heat and a sustainable solution for hydration throughout the summer. The initiative witnessed active participation from AU's students and staff, who came together to show appreciation for those who endure high heat during Kuwait's intense summer. The campaign not only provided practical support but also encouraged environmental awareness by replacing single-use plastics with durable, eco-friendly alternatives. Commenting on the initiative, May Al Musallam, Senior Manager of Public Relations and Marketing at AU, said: 'This campaign was more than just distributing water bottles; it was a humanitarian message that expressed compassion and empathy, and encouraged genuine giving. We are proud of our students who embodied the spirit of generosity and responsibility.'
The Star
7 hours ago
- Entertainment
- The Star
Seeing Sydney in a 'new light'
Every May since 2009, the Australian city of Sydney in New South Wales will go all out to stage a city-level party. Vivid Sydney is a light and sound extravaganza which has evolved over the years to become one of the most important events in Australia, as well as an icon of the country's creative culture. It's embarrassing to say that despite my many trips to the city, I have customarily given Vivid Sydney a miss. Nevertheless, I am aware of what the event entails. Vivid Sydney blends light-and-sound art with low-carbon technology, used to create a globally impactful art festival. Today, this festival is a full-scale global level that woos over 3.28 million visitors each year, bringing in an astounding AU$268mil (RM738.5mil) in tourist revenue. And the numbers break new thresholds every year. The 'main stage' of Vivid Sydney actually comprises the city's most iconic landmarks – the Sydney Opera House, the riverside high-rise towers and the majestic Sydney Harbour Bridge – transformed into glittering, dream-like neon monuments by blinding lights. Vivid Sydney is indeed a festive celebration everyone must make an effort to attend at least once in their lifetime, on par in scale and grandeur with the Brazilian Carnival (or Carnaval), or Japan's Gion Matsuri. I can't help but think about Rovaniemi, a tiny Finnish town of only 50,000 residents known for its Santa Claus village that draws close to five million visitors annually. The magic of tourism nevertheless does not lie with sheer numbers but the creativity and unique cultural vibe, and Vivid Sydney is an exemplary instance of such a magical appeal. It is more than just a short-lived light-and-sound show, but a tinder that creatively lights up the economy, empowers its youth, and bridges the world. The 15th Vivid Sydney was held over four weekends recently, and I knew I wasn't going to give it a miss this time around. Together with 12 travel buddies, we flew into Sydney, sat in the private balcony of The Quay – one of Australia's top three restaurants – and enjoyed an exquisite omakase dinner prepared by an 18-Hat chef (Australia's equivalent of a Michelin star). We gazed into the breathtaking spectacular show lighting up Sydney's night sky while savouring our delightful meal. According to the state tourism agency Destination NSW, Vivid Sydney can be divided into these four broad categories: The General Post Office and clock tower, built in 1866, is officially listed as a cultural heritage site. It is also a major space for Vivid Sydney. 1. Vivid Light The Opera House, Harbour Bridge, The Rock, Darling Harbour and other city landmarks are transformed into massive light monuments, creating a visual impact integrating the best in art and technology. 2. Vivid Music Featuring local and international artists encompassing a variety of musical styles such as techno, jazz and independent bands. Imagine yourself bumping into an unexpected live show on the street. 3. Vivid Ideas There are over a hundred forums, talks, and creative workshops held throughout the festival, anchored by designers, tech leaders and social innovators. 4. Vivid Food This is a festival favourite and continues to grow in excellence. It celebrates the state's vibrant culinary culture and world-renowned produce. The Sydney Opera House is well-known all over the world, and since 2009, has been a major site for Vivid Sydney. Vivid Sydney is held in the southern hemisphere's cool early winter, a peak season for outdoor markets and trade shows that coincides with the local fishery and agricultural harvest season. This is absolutely the perfect time to visit Sydney, in my opinion. I always believe that the success of a creative tourism project should not stop at just triggering 'first visits', but also galvanising 'repeated visits'. For example, Formula One racing, the Harbin Ice & Snow Festival in China, and other events that perfectly blend culture, climate and green tourism. Where this is concerned, I feel that our 'Visit Malaysia' organisers and stakeholder should perhaps learn something in order to create that wow factor. Even though I missed last year's Vivid Sydney, I did watch a clip of a black-and-white projection paying tribute to the late Queen Elizabeth on the exterior wall of the Opera House. I remember it was solemn and heart-moving as the night fell. This year's event featured generous quantities of Indigenous artworks and local creations. They relate the stories of this v ast land Down Under through captivating visuals, sound and light display. Creative tourism is not about gaudy display of technology but serves as an extension of the locality's culture and revival of local memories. Our trip was not just about being at the festival and snapping photos or capturing videos. It gave us an interesting experience that penetrated deep into Sydney's urban fabric. When the night fell, Vivid Sydney not only had the city's buildings brightly lit up, but the passion and imagination of its participants as well. The laughter, melodies, good food, the entire city was brought back to life instantly. Vivid Sydney painted the city's unique creative proclamation with dazzling light against the backdrop of the night sky. The success of Vivid Sydney stakes the claim that the festival is not just a tourism marketing gimmick but an expression of the city's culture, driving the local economy and deepening the city's sense of identity. Vivid Sydney has surely placed the city on the world map of creativity. The views expressed here are entirely the writer's own. Leesan, the globe-trotting traveller who has visited seven continents and 149 countries, enjoys sharing his travel stories and insights. He has also authored six books.
Middle East
8 hours ago
- Business
- Middle East
OPEN// PM confirms growing global confidence in Egypt's economy
NEW ALAMEIN, July 16 (MENA) – Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouli said many international institutions have praised Egypt's economic resilience, noting that recent regional tensions, including the Israel-Iran conflict, caused only temporary effects. He added that Egypt's commitment to a flexible exchange rate has improved investor confidence. Following a cabinet meeting in New Alamein, Madbouli said that global interest in building factories in Egypt is increasing. He confirmed that inflation fell to 14.4% in June, down from 16.5% in May, and said the government is monitoring prices and supply daily to ensure market stability. The Premier added that President Abdel Fattah El Sisi's participation in the recent African Union summit proves that Egypt has an active role across the continent, noting that Egypt leads two AU mechanisms: one for strategic coordination, the other for regional security in North Africa. "Sisi also held several meetings with African leaders, who expressed interest in involving Egyptian companies in infrastructure projects, Madbouli added. He noted that African leaders have asked Egyptian companies to take part in major development projects, citing their reputation for quality and delivery. The Prime Minister added that three regasification ships are now connected to Egypt's national gas network via Ain Sokhna Port, with a capacity of 2.25 billion cubic feet per day. Two more ships, one in Alexandria and one in Aqaba, will enter service soon as part of the state's summer contingency plan. Additionally, Madbouli affirmed that Egypt has paid over $1 billion in overdue payments to foreign energy partners and plans to pay an additional $1.4 billion before the end of 2024. He concluded with remarks confirming that the government is committed to regular payments and is working to increase local gas production to reduce reliance on expensive imports. (MENA) H A T/S R E
Tom's Guide
14 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Tom's Guide
Donkey Kong Bananza is the 3D Donkey Kong game I've always wanted — and one of the best reasons to get a Switch 2
Platforms: Nintendo Switch 2Price: $69 / £59 / AU$109Release date: July 17, 2025Genre: Action-adventure Donkey Kong Bananza shines on the Nintendo Switch 2 with impressive visuals, incredibly fun gameplay and a story filled with both new and familiar characters. The game sets you free to punch and smash to your heart's content as only Donkey Kong can as you work your way through increasingly challenging levels in your search for the elusive Banandium Core. Unlike Donkey Kong's past adventures, this one is entirely in 3D and much like in Super Mario Odyssey, the developers at Nintendo EPD give you all the tools you need to explore (and destroy) the world around you. Along the way, you're joined by Pauline and a cast of interesting characters as you try to make your way through the game's various subterranean environments. Donkey Kong can smash his way through all sorts of different terrain both vertically and horizontally, transforming levels along the way. However, thanks to the power of various animal-themed Bananza transformations, he also gains new powers to aid him and Pauline in their quest. All of these parts work together almost seamlessly and the sheer level of discovery and exploration feels a lot like The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild on the original Switch-but with a Donkey Kong-themed twist. Unfortunately, with a game of this size and scope, there are some hiccups along the way, mainly with the game's camera and especially when you're digging deep underground trying to find the surface. Still, this is the 3D Donkey Kong game that fans of the character (myself included) have always wanted. My Donkey Kong Bananza review will explain why this is truly the first must-have Switch 2 title and why it should have been a launch game for Nintendo's latest hybrid console. Instead of at home on Kong Island, Donkey Kong Bananza starts out with our titular hero working in a mine where his smashing abilities make him quite adept at collecting gold, fossils and other hidden treasure. However, the mine's operations quickly come to a halt when the game's villains, a group known as VoidCo, bury it underground. This starts off Donkey Kong's subterranean journey. While not open-world, Donkey Kong Bananza does give you quite a lot of freedom in how you approach its objectives. Each of the game's areas are divided up into sublayers and once you reach a checkpoint in a particular area, you're free to teleport between them or return back to a layer to look for things you might have missed. One of my favorite things about Donkey Kong Bananza is how each layer is quite different, both when it comes to gameplay and its design. There are layers filled with water, snow forests and more and each has its own distinct feel to it. You also learn new abilities and Bananza powers (more on that later) as you make your way through each one. There's quite a lot to see and do but like with Super Mario Odyssey, a lot of this is optional. In fact, you can skip through whole sections if you want to. As the story progresses, you learn more about the world itself and about Pauline and her musical abilities. You also fight off the various members of VoidCo and learn why the group's leader Void Kong is so keen on reaching the planet's core. Donkey Kong Bananza strikes a fine balance between being too story-heavy or too gameplay-driven, though the latter is definitely what sets this game apart from other Donkey Kong games. As you make your way to the planet's core, it's up to you to undo the havoc caused by VoidCo during the group's descent. Whether it's areas of a level blocked off by the company's iconic purple metal or the entrance to the next sublayer, Donkey Kong relies on Pauline's special musical power to clear these obstructions. It's a fun mechanic and the power of music resonates throughout the entire game. Along the way, you also encounter Banandium Gems which, when you collect five, grant Donkey Kong a skill point to upgrade his abilities. Sometimes you'll encounter a lone banana, or after a particularly challenging section (like when you reach a new layer) these bananas will come in a hand of 3-5. Though you certainly don't have to collect every banana you come across, during my playthrough, I found myself going out of the way to find more. Sometimes this was to collect enough to earn a new skill point but at other times, I just wanted to find them, much like a real monkey after bananas. While I don't know how many there are in total yet, I collected around 350 bananas before beating the game. They aren't the only thing to collect either as fossils can be spent at shops to upgrade Donkey Kong and Pauline's wardrobes and gold is used to buy useful items like balloons. One thing that I really like about the fossils in Donkey Kong Bananza is that they're specific to each layer and can only be used there. This had me hunting for them as soon as I reached the next layer as I wanted to upgrade my outfit to protect me from whatever peril I would encounter in this new area. During your journey, you encounter all kinds of different foes and some require a specific mechanic or material to defeat them. There are some you can give a quick smackdown with Donkey Kong's fists or others that you need to break off a chunk of the environment and hurl it into the air at them to take down. As you progress from one layer to the next, Donkey Kong Bananza's enemies get increasingly difficult but the game is always there to give you a useful tip if you struggle with a particular enemy or boss. Speaking of the bosses, there are quite a few to deal with and each boss encounter feels unique, even if you end up fighting a slightly different version of a previous one. Alongside the gem-shaped Fractones you meet along the way, there are also elders in certain layers that bestow unique powers called Bananzas onto Donkey Kong. From transforming into a zebra, an ostrich or other jungle animals, these Bananza transformations add new mechanics and abilities that help shake things up. While powerful, your time in this transformed state is limited, so you need to be focused on the task at hand or you'll return to Donkey Kong's normal state before you finish an objective. Just like with Donkey Kong himself, these different Bananzas have their own skill trees and abilities you can level up with skill points. Doing so allows you to remain in your transformed state for longer, but you can also increase the effectiveness of each Bananzas' bespoke skills. Once you've unlocked several, you can freely switch between them while transformed and I found doing so to be both really fun and very effective at defeating enemies or reaching hidden Banandium gems. There's no limit to what Donkey Kong can smash, dig through or outright destroy in this game and that's due to its voxel-based terrain. While many Mario games use pixel art, Donkey Kong Bananza uses voxels which, put simply, are the three-dimensional equivalent of a pixel. Imagine a tiny cube or box in a 3D space—that's what all of the layers of the game are made of. Not only does this give Donkey Kong Bananza a unique and timeless look, it's also what makes all of the game's destructive environments possible. The best part though is even though everything is made from voxels, Nintendo EDP made it so you wouldn't notice them while playing. From concrete to sand to stone, each of the materials in the game has its own unique look, feel and properties to it. Some are softer while others are harder and require you to use another hard material to break through them. This adds to the gameplay loop and makes it so that you need to be more conscious about the terrain around you. The environments in Donkey Kong Bananza really stand out too and show the impressive visuals the Switch 2 is capable of. There were times when I just had to stop and take it all in and the game's photo mode really helped me capture those moments. In fact, I often found myself stopping to take pictures, not just for this review but to show off to friends. The best part? Photo mode is just a tap of the D-pad away and like in Mario Kart World, there are filters and other tweaks you can make to ensure your captures stand out. Donkey Kong Bananza is a fresh take on previous Donkey Kong games that successfully brings Nintendo's iconic character into a 3D world in a way that doesn't feel forced or out of place. The core gameplay remains true to the franchise, but Donkey Kong feels a whole lot more powerful thanks to the game's (almost) fully destructible environments. This would be good enough on its own, but the new Bananza powers take things to the next level (or layer) and help mix up its gameplay. While this move to 3D does come with some camera issues at times, they aren't gamebreaking nor do they detract from the overall experience. Likewise, while there are a lot of Banandium Gems to collect throughout the journey, Donkey Kong Bananza isn't a collect-a-thon and certainly doesn't feel like one either. Mario Kart World might have been the Nintendo Switch 2's main launch title but Donkey Kong Bananza really feels like the first must-have game for the new console, both when it comes to visuals, its wonderfully catchy soundtrack, and the experience overall. If you already have a Switch 2, this is the game to play next and a must for any collection.
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Business Standard
15 hours ago
- General
- Business Standard
Allahabad University UG Admissions 2025: Registration begins for CUET UG
The University of Allahabad has officially begun the registration process for undergraduate admissions for the academic year 2025–26 through CUET UG 2025. Eligible candidates can now apply online via the official portal: The last date to register is July 26, 2025. CUET UG 2025 applicants must register and update their profiles by July 26, 2025, to be considered for Allahabad University UG admissions. The official announcement states that there will be two stages to the registration process, i.e., phase 1 will involve updating your profile and registering, and phase 2 will involve choosing a program and paying the fee. Allahabad University UG Admission 2025: Phase 1 documents Before registering and updating their profiles in phase one, candidates must confirm that they meet the university's eligibility requirements and possess the following paperwork: • CUET UG 2025 admit card and marksheet • Class 10 marks sheet cum certificate, or marks sheet and certificate • Class 12 marks sheet cum certificate, or marks sheet and certificate • Photograph and the signature in .jpg or .jpeg format Allahabad University UG Admission 2025: Steps to apply Step 1. The students have to go to the official website at to complete the registration process. Step 2. On the homepage, you have to choose the "New registration" option that appears. Step 3. A new window will be displayed on the screen where students have to fil in the necessary information in the designated field. Step 4. The students have to fill in the number and OTP that you get in the mail. Step 5. Keep the password and ID handy for the later admission process. Step 6. Complete the AU application form and pay the online application fee. Step 7. The application form can be downloaded for later reference. Allahabad University UG Admission 2025: Fees Candidates must choose their desired course or programs online through the portal and pay the fee, which is ₹300 for unreserved, OBC, and EWS candidates and ₹150 for SC, ST, and PwD candidates, for each course or program chosen during the second phase of Allahabad University UG admission 2025, which also includes program selection and fee payment.
