Latest news with #Aleksandra
Time of India
19 hours ago
- Politics
- Time of India
Grit & grime: Global youths hear survival stories at Sanjay Camp
New Delhi:Just beyond the orderly elegance of Chanakyapuri lies Sanjay Camp, a jhuggi cluster wedged between privilege and persistence, where young lives are busy rewriting their fate. In this narrow maze of tin roofs and tarpaulin walls, a unique gathering unfolded on Thursday. Students from USA, Mexico, Kazakhstan, Palestine, Vietnam, Liberia, Bhutan and other corners of the world had gathered — not to volunteer or help, but to listen and to learn. Part of Nobel laureate Kailash Satyarthi 's summer school initiative, these international youth leaders were brought to India to see the country, but, more importantly, to confront its contrasts. At Sanjay Camp, they met teenagers, many of whom had once worked as child labourers, suffered addiction in the family or faced the looming threat of child marriage. Now, they are change-makers, leaders in their own right. At just 16 or 17 years in age, they had helped declare their community child-labour-free. They had spoken out against addiction. They had fought for school enrolment. And won. "I started working when I was just 15 years old," said Rahul, now 19, recalling his time as a daily-wage brick carrier, earning Rs 200 a day to help feed his family. Across from him, Aleksandra from the US, pursuing a BSc degree in behavioural neuroscience, reflected on how she too had worked at 17 but in an air-conditioned retail store, protected by strict labour laws. "I worked at a clothing store, I wanted to save up for college," said Aleksandra. "Even though I was a minor, there were systems in place. We had shorter, regulated hours, and we weren't treated like adults. There was a clear separation, and it felt safe." Rahul had a contrasting experience, "I didn't have a choice. There were no protective measures, just long hours and survival." Then, with a big smile, he added, "But things are different now. I'm an assistant football coach. I've even had sessions at the German embassy." Beatrice from Liberia quietly listened to 15-year-old Nisha tell of how she intervened to stop a child marriage on her lane. "Abuse is common back home too," Beatrice said. "But Nisha didn't wait, she stepped up. I want that kind of courage." The interactions didn't always need words. In broken English, hesitant Hindi and bursts of laughter, barriers began to melt. Strangers became friends. Problems, though born of different geographies, found common ground. Seventeen-year-old Mahek, a Class XI student and one of the most spirited voices in the crowd, shared how Sanjay Camp now ran its own Bal Panchayat, a children's parliament. With elected representatives for roles ranging from president to environment and hygiene ministers, the colony mirrors a democratic govt. Only here, the lawmakers are teenagers, young voices who raise real issues and spark real change. As Mahek spoke, her voice rang with conviction. Among the admiring listeners was 21-year-old Namgay Choden, a law student from Bhutan. "We do have youth govts in Bhutan at many levels," Choden exclaimed, "but to see a self-sustained, grassroots govt in a slum settlement — led entirely by children — is extraordinary. If something like this could be replicated elsewhere, it would transform local awareness and accountability. " As the group of young leaders mingled, conversations turned to dreams. A delegate from Kazakhstan asked what everyone wanted to do. A camp girl expressed the wish to study law. Another mentioned theatre. Then came Carlos from Mexico, who got the loudest cheer when he said, "I want to make music videos." He looked up, pointed at the bright red tent with yellow patterns above their heads, and smiled, "Even this, just the colours, the vibe, the culture here, everything's so full of life and It's all inspiration. " Asmita Satyarthi, CEO of Satyarthi Movement for Global Compassion, said, "The summer school is our first step in actioning our vision, not in a boardroom or on a campus, but in the real world, side by side with children, communities and survivor leaders across India." Follow more information on Air India plane crash in Ahmedabad here . Get real-time live updates on rescue operations and check full list of passengers onboard AI 171 .
Business Wire
2 days ago
- Business
- Business Wire
Genesis Therapeutics Appoints Aleksandra Faust as Chief Artificial Intelligence Officer
BURLINGAME, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Genesis Therapeutics, a company pioneering artificial intelligence (AI) technologies to create breakthrough medicines for the treatment of severe diseases, today announced the appointment of Aleksandra Faust, Ph.D., as Chief AI Officer. Dr. Faust joins Genesis with more than 20 years of leadership experience in the AI and tech industries, developing machine learning (ML) for complex systems such as robotics and autonomous vehicles. She most recently served as Director of Research at Google DeepMind, overseeing foundational model learning research and contributing to Gemini and to generalist web agents, among many other key innovations in her tenure. In her previous roles, she co-founded reinforcement learning research at Google Brain, founded task and motion planning research in Robotics at Google, led machine learning for self-driving car planning and controls at Waymo, and was a principal investigator at Sandia National Laboratories. 'We are excited to welcome Aleksandra to our world-class team of scientists, engineers and innovators,' said Evan Feinberg, Ph.D., founder and CEO of Genesis. 'As an established industry leader and pioneer in fundamental AI research across multiple complex domains, Aleksandra will play an instrumental role in elevating our GEMS platform's suite of generative and predictive AI technologies.' Dr. Faust earned a Ph.D. and a Master's degree in Computer Science from the University of New Mexico, and the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, respectively. She has co-authored over 60 publications, the high impact of which is reflected in her h-index of 40, and her research has been featured in The New York Times and Forbes. Dr. Faust has also been recognized with numerous honors, including the IEEE Robotics and Automation Society Early Career Award and being named a Distinguished Alumna by the University of New Mexico School of Engineering. 'I am thrilled to join Genesis in its mission to usher in a new era of drug discovery with AI,' said Dr. Faust. 'The company's GEMS platform exemplifies how advanced machine learning can be synthesized with physics to enable the discovery of novel small molecule compounds that could produce breakthrough medicines for patients. I look forward to working with the talented Genesis team to push the boundaries of what is possible.' About Genesis Therapeutics Genesis Therapeutics, Inc. is an AI-focused biotechnology company leveraging its generative and predictive AI platform, GEMS (Genesis Exploration of Molecular Space), for small molecule drug discovery. GEMS integrates proprietary AI methods, including language models, diffusion models and physical simulation, to generate and optimize molecules for complex targets. Genesis has raised over $300 million from leading life science, tech, and AI-focused investors, and is building a therapeutics pipeline for a variety of high-impact targets. Genesis is headquartered in Burlingame, CA, with a fully integrated laboratory in San Diego. For more information on Genesis, please visit the company's website at
The Sun
29-04-2025
- Business
- The Sun
Major bar & restaurant chain to shut its first ever branch in heart of seaside resort after more than 50 years
A MAJOR restaurant chain is set to shut its first ever branch in the heart of a seaside resort after more than 50 years. The firm is known for its classically British menu with seasonal creations, afternoon teas, and traditional roasts on Sundays. 2 Browns Bar and Brasserie on Duke Street has confirmed it will be closing its Brighton branch. The restaurant, nestled in the heart of The Lanes, was the first of Browns' fleet to open over 50 years ago. A closure date is yet to be confirmed. However, customers are unable to book beyond May 10 on the company's website. On TripAdvisor, the manager of the restaurant confirmed the closure, saying: "Yes, it's sad news for all of our team and guests. " The closure affects only the Brighton branch, the rest of our branches across the UK are operating as usual." Now, the chain has 26 venues across the country including in London Bristol, and Cambridge. When Browns first opened it claimed to have been the pioneer of casual dining. The restaurant is open all day from breakfast through to dinner. In 2013, the restaurant celebrated its 40th anniversary, throwing a big birthday party complete with a giant birthday cake supplied by Choccywoccydoodah. They also launched an anniversary book which looked back at the restaurant's history and shared anecdotes from past and present staff and guests. Browns Brighton has earned some gleaming Google reviews over the years. One person said: "Had a lovely brunch today at Browns. It never disappoints and we've been there quite a few times." Followed by a second: "Had a fabulous Christmas Day lunch at Brown's Brighton. "The team were welcoming and spot on in terms of helping with every part of the meal and drinks. "Great wines, canapés, starters, mains and dessert." Meanwhile, a third said: "This was a beautiful night out for my little sisters birthday. What is happening to the hospitality industry? By Laura McGuire, consumer reporter MANY Food and drink chains have been struggling in recently as the cost of living has led to fewer people spending on eating out. Businesses had been struggling to bounce back after the pandemic, only to be hit with soaring energy bills and inflation. Multiple chains have been affected, resulting in big-name brands like Wetherspoons and Frankie & Benny's closing branches. Some chains have not survived, Byron Burger fell into administration last year, with owners saying it would result in the loss of over 200 jobs. Pizza giant, Papa Johns is shutting down 43 of its stores soon. Tasty, the owner of Wildwood, said it will shut sites as part of major restructuring plans. "The service was faultless and the food was impeccable. Will definitely be returning! "Have always loved Browns, first time in the Brighton one. "Nice atmosphere and great service, special mention to Aleksandra who was very attentive and shared my partners belief that 'desserts are not for sharing.'" Browns has been approached for comment on the closure. 2
Forbes
31-03-2025
- Forbes
These Two New Hotels Are Bringing Low-Key Luxury To The Slovenian Alps
The five-bedroom Chalet Sofija Some entrepreneurs can never figure out quite how to retire. Svetozar Raspopović—'Pop' to his clients and friends—is one of them. The Slovenian restaurateur ran Gostilna AS in Ljubljana for three decades, turning it into one of the most fashionable spots in town and a standard-bearer for the national hospitality scene. Along with hundreds of devoted regulars, local and international politicians and celebrities came to partake of his Italian-accented fare and private-label wines. How his son is running that restaurant—and the gorgeous new boutique hotel that's sprung up around it—while he's retreated to the mountains that he loves. But instead of building a simple home, he created the splashy Chalet Sofija, which opened near Kranjska Gora in late 2023 and quickly became one of the country's most exclusive places to stay. The living room at Chalet Sofija His wife, Aleksandra, says he wants to be retired—he's in his 70s, and has been running restaurants since the 1980s, after all—but she's not ready for that. Instead, they're still also doing things they love: welcoming people, cooking and creating an environment of unabashed sumptuousness. They have staff working in the hotel, but nearly every day, Pop's still in the restaurant-style kitchen, making dinners like a zingy fresh crab salad, followed by a soft artichoke heart topped with an egg yolk that he's flash-fried for 18 seconds (a dish he spent decades perfecting) and local fish and potatoes that he oven-roasts in fish stock and olive oil, a 40-year-old recipe 'like the ladies from Trieste' make. Even the breakfast is lavish: a perfectly poached egg resting on a bed of creamed spinach and topped with a modest dollop of caviar. Aleksandra says it's Pop's signature and insists that guests try it. 'There's no need to eat it all,' she says gently. Guests almost always do. A similar spirit informs the aesthetics. The place is all soaring ceilings and glass walls, large terraces and high-gloss surfaces, white orchids and Roche Bobois furniture. There's an overriding sense that more is more. The couple designed it all themselves, and while it may not be to everyone's taste, it's clearly a labor of love. Its name, Sofija, is that of Pop's mother, and the five generously sized bedrooms are named for his children and grandchildren. The pool at Chalet Sofija Other entrepreneurs can't wait to get to the fun parts. Damian Merlak is Slovenia's wealthiest millennial, having made millions at age 32 when he sold Bitstamp, an early cryptocurrency exchange. For the past few years, he's also been in the hotel game, something he calls an 'entrepreneurial adventure' rather than a moneymaking investment. He's adventuring heavily in the area around Lake Bohinj, an Alpine resort destination where he, like many Slovenians, spent his childhood vacations. In response to the decay of the old hotels that he saw as 'the pride of Bohinj tourism,' he began purchasing and restoring them, collecting them together in his Alpina Group. The group aims to honor that pride while making sure Bohinj remains low-key and genuine, even as nearby Lake Bled gets increasingly busy. It started with the reopening of Hotel Bohinj a few years ago as a hip four-star with a mountaineering theme. In January of this year, they opened the five-star Vila Muhr in the remains of the old house next door, which had fallen down in disrepair. The new building was designed to commemorate the legacy of Adolf Muhr, the villa's first owner and the original author of its story. Vila Muhr The first chalet was constructed in 1902 using the designs of an Austrian architect and then sold to the Yugoslav Commissariat for Transport and Tourism. By 1922, it had become King Aleksandar Karađorđević's lodge, and in 1926 it was given to Prince Paul and Princess Olga, who used it to host Yugoslav, Romanian and English nobility. The royal engagement of Prince George of England (the Duke of Kent) to Princess Marina of Greece and Denmark reinforced its aristocratic bona fides. But its new incarnation doesn't suffer beneath the weight of all that history. Rather, it's light and cozy, with four large bedrooms—each named for a young princess or prince—that are resplendent yet warm, full of fragrant pale wood, furry throws and Alpine-patterned rugs, with private saunas or oversize baths. 'Such properties are increasingly rare, so we wanted to add something unique to our portfolio,' says Alpina Group general manager Jure Repanšek. 'A place for guests who seek something more. The location itself is magnificent [and] if it was good enough for royal guests in the past, it will surely be perfect for modern-day visitors as well. However, the goal was not just to offer luxury and sophistication but also to incorporate a complete offering with a carefully curated interior, all while staying grounded in local heritage.' The restaurant at Vila Muhr Danijel Kovačić, a cofounder of the high-end Slovenian travel company Wanderlux Journeys, says it's very welcome to have more high-end properties around the lake—and not only because it gives his company more products to sell. 'Historically, Lake Bohinj was a high-end destination,' he says, but until recently, visitors were just renting houses and bringing their own food and drinks. The Alpina Group is consciously working to change that. While the dining at Vila Muhr seems to have (very well-executed) Michelin ambitions, they also want people to go outside. They don't offer full- or half-board rates, as is common in this part of Europe, and instead recommend local restaurants, whose owners have coordinated their schedules so that something is open every day of the week. 'In some places in Slovenia, the hotels are fully booked but the towns are dying,' says Kovačić. But this structure 'gives more opportunities to local restaurants and farmers.' This form of entrepreneurship also seems to be working out quite well for guests. In the short time that Vila Muhr has been open, it's already seen some repeaters because 'you can find things here that you can't find in Switzerland,' he continues. 'It's so unique and beautiful. There's a high level of hospitality. And there's a feeling of being at home that you can't find everywhere.'
