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Hypebeast
27-05-2025
- Hypebeast
Discover 2m26 and Onomiau's Intimate Mountain Tea Pavilion in Kyoto
Summary Nestled in the mountains north of Kyoto, Le Picabier is a micro tea room designed by Kyoto-based studio2m26in collaboration with Paris-based practiceOnomiau. Commissioned byVilla Kujoyama, a creative residency initiated by the French Institute in Japan, the structure is a one-person tea pavilion, blending traditional Japanese craftsmanship with contemporary architectural influences. Its chimney-shaped form, clad in charred cedar shingles, pays homage to the abstract works of American architect John Hejduk, embodying a sense of rationality, poetry and strangeness. The footprint of Le Picabier is based on the traditional dimensions of a tatami mat, reduced to a compact 95.5cm x 64cm space and slightly elevated on a wooden base. Inside this intimate space, a miniature fire pit provides the necessary heat for boiling water, while an ingeniously angled opening and chimney efficiently disperse smoke. The construction utilizes locally sourced wood, with cypress forming the base and core structure, contrasting beautifully with the charred cedar shingles on the exterior, which create a striking visual against the surrounding forest. Internally, these shingles are coated with kakishibu, a natural dye derived from fermented persimmon fruit, traditionally valued for its ability to protect wood from insects and water damage. Atop the chimney-like structure, a lantern inspired by traditional Japanese shrines serves as a ceremonial marker, where a single candle is lit to signify the beginning of the tea ritual. The flame's gradual fading marks the end of the ceremony, reinforcing the pavilion's exploration of impermanence and sensory experience. Le Picabier stands as a meditative retreat, embodying the balance of simplicity, materiality and spatial awareness, while offering a modern reinterpretation of Japan's rich tea culture.
India Gazette
16-05-2025
- Politics
- India Gazette
French Ambassador calls for cooperation in climate change, culture, education, and innovation with India
New Delhi [India], May 16 (ANI): Anne Grillo, Director General for Global Affairs and G7/G20 Sous-Sherpa at the French Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs on Friday concluded her visit to India, according to an official press release. Her visit highlighted the strong partnership between India and France, with plans for continued cooperation in areas such as climate change, culture, education, and innovation. Grillo visited India from May 14-16 to strengthen Indo-French cooperation. During her visit, she co-chaired the Governing Council meeting of the Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure (CDRI) alongside Dr PK Mishra, Principal Secretary to the Prime Minister of India, according to an official press release. Grillo emphasised the importance of building resilient infrastructure to combat climate change 'France is proud to have co-chaired the CDRI since 2024. Climate change is a reality all over the world. If we build ill-adapted infrastructure today, we are putting our future at risk. France is continuing its commitment to global action by hosting the CDRI's international conference on 6th and 7th June, on the side-lines of the United Nations Ocean Conference (UNOC-3) being held in Nice, France,' Grillo stated during the CDRI meeting. Established at the UN Climate Action Summit in 2019, the CDRI is a multilateral platform bringing together governments, UN bodies, financial institutions, private sector actors, and research organisations to enhance resilience across key infrastructure sectors, including energy, transport, housing, health, and water. Headquartered in New Delhi, the coalition is currently co-chaired by India and France for the 2024-2026 term. The French Ambassador visited the French Institute in India, Lycee Francais International de Delhi, and Alliance Francaise de Delhi, highlighting Indo-French synergies. She also interacted with participants of the 'We are the Ocean' festival, an initiative co-organised by the French Institute, the Alliance Francaise, and the French Development Agency in the lead-up to UNOC-3. The festival aims to spark dialogue on sustainability, ocean conservation, and cross-border innovation. Grillo held high-level bilateral meetings with Indian officials, including Suman Bery, Vice-Chairman of NITI Aayog; Dammu Ravi, Secretary (Economic Relations) at the Ministry of External Affairs; Amitabh Kant, G20 Sherpa to the Prime Minister; and Vivek Aggarwal, Secretary at the Ministry of Culture to discuss bilateral cooperation in global governance, climate, culture, education, and energy transition and preparations for the India-France Year of Innovation in 2026. The dialogue also touched on key multilateral priorities, including the upcoming multilateral agenda, including the United Nations Ocean Conference (UNOC-3), the 4th International Conference on Financing for Development in Sevilla, COP30 in Belem, and the 10th anniversary of the Paris Agreement, alongside France's upcoming G7 Presidency in 2026. Grillo also co-chaired the Indo-French steering committee for the Yuga Yugeen Bharat National Museum project with Vivek Aggarwal. It aims to transform the historic North and South Blocks of New Delhi into a world-class museum retracing 5,000 years of Indian history, with a surface area of 155,000 square metres. France, invited to lend its expertise drawn from renowned projects such as the Grand Louvre, Louvre Abu Dhabi, and Grand Palais, is supporting the initiative through a comprehensive feasibility study conducted by France Museums Developpement (FMD), set to continue through 2025, added the release. Grillo concluded her visit by delivering the keynote address at France Alumni Day 2025 in Delhi, which marked the third edition of the initiative in India. The event brought together Indian alumni of French institutions and representatives from French businesses operating in the country. This year's edition focused on women's employment and leadership, providing a platform for alumni working in this space to share insights and promote best practices to support gender equity in professional settings. (ANI)
Observer
04-05-2025
- General
- Observer
CEO TALK: From hands-on work to high office
MUSCAT, MAY 4 In the southern city of Salalah, long before titles and accolades, a young boy sat behind the counter of his father's shop, textbooks open, mind focused, and hands occasionally fixing bicycles. That boy — now Dr Ahmed bin Mohsin al Ghassani, Chairman of Dhofar Municipality — would rise to become one of Oman's most respected public servants. His journey, grounded in discipline and shaped by learning, is more than a success story — it is a case study in leadership, perseverance, and national vision. From an early age, Dr Al Ghassani learned the realities of responsibility. By the fourth grade, he was working after school in his family's shop — a small but formative environment. There, he developed the habits that would stay with him for life: structure, reliability, and respect for effort. By the sixth grade, he was assembling bicycles, not as a pastime but out of necessity. His evenings were devoted to studies at the shop, often until 9 pm, forming a routine of resilience that quietly defined his future. His secondary education years were a masterclass in commitment. His day began with regular school and continued with intensive sessions at the British Council and the French Institute. After dusk, he attended Quran memorisation classes until 10 pm. This intense schedule led many around him to assume he would eventually collapse from exhaustion — but instead, he rose. In his final year, he made the strategic decision to pause language studies and focus entirely on the General Secondary Certificate, securing a place on the prestigious Sultan Qaboos Scholarship Programme to study civil engineering abroad. He graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering from Sultan Qaboos University in 1993. However, academic achievement was never his endpoint — it was his platform. In 1998, he left for the UK to pursue advanced studies. He obtained a Master's degree in Structural Engineering from the University of Manchester Institute of Science and Technology (UMIST) in 1999. Determined to deepen his expertise, he continued to Loughborough University, earning a PhD in Construction Management in 2003. His doctoral research focused on the integration of knowledge management into structural design processes — a pioneering approach for its time. Returning to Oman, Dr Al Ghassani chose not to enter administrative roles immediately. He instead resumed teaching in the department he helped establish at Salalah Technical College. His belief in the power of education led him to stay close to students, listen to their challenges, and shape an academic culture rooted in openness and inclusion. Over time, he would serve in various senior academic positions, including Dean of the Higher College of Technology, and later at the College of Banking and Financial Studies, where he aligned academic offerings with real-world market needs, championed student innovation, and ensured graduates were job-ready. In 2018, Dr Al Ghassani was appointed CEO of the Public Authority for Small and Medium Enterprise Development (Riyada). It was a pivotal period — Oman was seeking new engines for economic diversification, and youth entrepreneurship was a central pillar. At Riyada, he led with clarity and decisiveness: reworking the institutional structure, introducing targeted funding and support mechanisms, and fostering a startup ecosystem driven by Omani talent. His leadership reasserted a simple truth: a single idea, when nurtured, can evolve into a national asset. In October 2019, Dr Al Ghassani was appointed Chairman of Dhofar Municipality. The transition from academic reformer to urban executive was significant, yet seamless. In Dhofar — a region of rich culture and growing infrastructure needs — he faced the challenge of balancing development with preservation. He led projects that included the revitalisation of traditional markets, the redevelopment of coastal promenades, modern flood prevention infrastructure, and enhanced wastewater systems. His administration adopted a development model that was as strategic as it was sensitive — combining modern urban planning with cultural and environmental stewardship. His leadership came into national focus in 2024, when he achieved three major distinctions: • Best Leader in Government Digital Excellence — a title awarded in the inaugural edition of Oman's national digital performance awards. • Best Digital Transformation Team — won by Dhofar Municipality under his chairmanship, recognising the integration of digital tools in public service delivery. • 'Excellent' Rating in Institutional Performance Evaluation — the highest recognition in the national governance review for that year. Yet Dr Al-Ghassani is quick to redirect praise. 'These are not individual achievements,' he often says. 'They reflect teamwork, accountability, and a shared culture of results.' Across all his roles, four core values stand out in his leadership approach:1. A relentless commitment to lifelong learning — both personal and institutional. 2. Community engagement — ensuring planning is informed by those it serves. 3. Cultural realism — blending progress with respect for heritage. 4. Results-focused governance — where policies are measured not by announcements but by public impact. Perhaps most importantly, Dr Al Ghassani has never lost sight of the next generation. In speeches and interviews, he consistently addresses young Omanis with conviction: 'Opportunities do not come by accident. They are built through intention and hard work. Every young person must believe that the country is counting on them. The future begins the moment you choose to develop yourself.' His story — from the back room of a shop to the forefront of urban transformation — is not defined by luck or shortcuts. It is a testament to structure, vision, and commitment over time. In an era that often favours visibility over value, Dr Ahmed Al-Ghassani's life is a reminder that leadership is not found in noise, but in quiet, consistent service. For young Omanis, his path is both a mirror and a map: a reflection of what is possible — and a direction toward what can still be achieved.
See - Sada Elbalad
27-04-2025
- Politics
- See - Sada Elbalad
French Amb. Hosts Diplomats for Special Dinner, Lecture on Major Pyramid Discovery
Ahmed Emam French Ambassador Éric Chevalier hosted a dinner at the French Institute in Al-Muneira, bringing together 30 high-ranking diplomats from the "Cleopatra Group," a cultural initiative founded by prominent Egyptian archaeologist Dr. Zahi Hawass. The event was also attended by Dr. Khaled El-Anany, Egypt's candidate for the position of UNESCO Director-General. Hawass expressed his deep gratitude to H.E. Chevalier for organizing this special evening, which brought together key members of the archaeological and diplomatic communities. The evening featured a lecture by Dr. Pierre Tallet, Director of the French Institute, who presented his groundbreaking discovery of the "Wadi al-Jarf papyri". Found in 2013 at the entrance of galleries 1 and 2, the collection of ancient papyri was hidden among stone blocks used to seal the galleries after the completion of work. Dr. Hawass described the Wadi al-Jarf papyri as "the most significant archaeological discovery of the 21st century". The documents reveal critical details about the construction methods of the Great Pyramid of Khufu, the laborers who built it, and provide strong evidence affirming that the ancient Egyptians — not a lost civilization — constructed the pyramids, dispelling long-standing myths about hidden cities beneath the Sphinx. read more Gold prices rise, 21 Karat at EGP 3685 NATO's Role in Israeli-Palestinian Conflict US Expresses 'Strong Opposition' to New Turkish Military Operation in Syria Shoukry Meets Director-General of FAO Lavrov: confrontation bet. nuclear powers must be avoided News Iran Summons French Ambassador over Foreign Minister Remarks News Aboul Gheit Condemns Israeli Escalation in West Bank News Greek PM: Athens Plays Key Role in Improving Energy Security in Region News One Person Injured in Explosion at Ukrainian Embassy in Madrid News Egypt confirms denial of airspace access to US B-52 bombers News Ayat Khaddoura's Final Video Captures Bombardment of Beit Lahia Lifestyle Pistachio and Raspberry Cheesecake Domes Recipe News Australia Fines Telegram $600,000 Over Terrorism, Child Abuse Content Arts & Culture Nicole Kidman and Keith Urban's $4.7M LA Home Burglarized Videos & Features Bouchra Dahlab Crowned Miss Arab World 2025 .. Reem Ganzoury Wins Miss Arab Africa Title (VIDEO) Sports Former Al Zamalek Player Ibrahim Shika Passes away after Long Battle with Cancer Sports Neymar Announced for Brazil's Preliminary List for 2026 FIFA World Cup Qualifiers News Prime Minister Moustafa Madbouly Inaugurates Two Indian Companies Arts & Culture New Archaeological Discovery from 26th Dynasty Uncovered in Karnak Temple
Rudaw Net
19-04-2025
- General
- Rudaw Net
Blaze severely injures mother, two children in Soran
Also in Kurdistan Yazidis receive title deeds after decades of denial French Institute hosts Kurdish-Breton dance fusion in Erbil Turkish deputy FM discusses oil, peace process with Kurdish leadership KDP, PUK meet in Sulaimani to discuss government formation A+ A- ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - A fire in the Soran district of Erbil province on Friday injured four people, including two children and their mother who suffered severe burns. 'The cause of the incident was pouring oil into a lit heater. Unfortunately, in the incident, four members of one family were injured due to burns, and three of the members had severe burns - a mother and two children,' read a statement from Soran Civil Defence. The injured were brought to Erbil for medical treatment. Firefighting teams from Soran, Diana, and Rawanduz were able to extinguish the fire and bring the situation under control. Fires are a frequent life-threatening hazard in Iraq and the Kurdistan Region where safety standards such as emergency exits and fire extinguishers or sprinkler systems are often lacking.
