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Leader Live
11-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Leader Live
Highlights from day two and three of Focus Wales in Wrexham
This year marks the 15th year of FOCUS Wales, and is expected to welcome more than 22,000 people to the city. 2024's event saw record attendance, with more than 250 artists taking part in this year's jam-packed weekend. It also hosts a full schedule of interactive industry panels, networking events, and film screenings. Days two and three did not disappoint, with several acts proving a hit with audience members. At the Penny Black, Cardiff-based Afro Cluster and Australian Stella Bridie delighted fans, while The Parish saw performances from a host of names, including Better Joy, Marvin's Revenge, MORN, and em koko. Campfire Social, Lizzie Esau, Macy, Nova Twins, Roscoe and Sprints also wowed crowds. Wrexham's own, Talulah, made further appearances at The Parish and Ty Pawb after the hometown favourite had performed earlier in the week. Bluegrass group Taff Rapids impressed at St Giles' Church and crowds at the Penny Black caught a glimpse of Indonesian singer-songwriter Tanayu. Tom Collins' acoustic set at the Fat Boar was popular, and garage punk band TWO TONNE MACHETE brought their customary high energy, feel good punk anthems to the fore. Manchester trio Yaang and solo artist Twst also featured. More than 300 live sets of music will take place over the course of four days in Wrexham, with established names and international acts all taking to the stage. For a full programme of events, including today's line up, visit Click our gallery above to see some pictures from the event courtesy of photographer Brent Jones.
Hindustan Times
06-05-2025
- General
- Hindustan Times
India Post teams up with Delhi Quiz Club for first iteration of philately quiz
-A stamp features Sarla Maheshwari, a Doordarshan newscaster who anchored the telecast of the 1982 Asian Games in Delhi. Why is this telecast notable as a technological milestone? -In 1985, the postal authority of this country dedicated two stamps honouring a pair of 'eastern and western' entities measuring 138 ft and 125 ft in height. A few years later, the government collapsed. What entities were the stamps commemorating, which do not exist anymore but recently are in the process of being restored? -Thermochromic ink is a special type of ink that has the property of changing colour as the temperature varies. In June 2017, to mark a certain event, the US Postal Service released a stamp with thermochromic ink, where by pressing a finger (a heat-activated change) a hidden image was revealed. What was the event? What was the image? At 10 am on Saturday, a group of people waited eagerly for the doors of the National Philatelic Museum to open. Aged between 20 and 50, the men and women were ready to be questioned on everything from the first colour telecast and the Bamiyan Buddhas to the use of thermochromic ink in depicting a solar eclipse and a hidden moon, in a quiz organised jointly for the first time by India Post and the Delhi Quiz Club. From the world's first adhesive postage stamp, the Penny Black, issued in the United Kingdom on May 1, 1840 (it featured a profile of Queen Victoria) to colonial India's first recorded use of an embossed stamp in 1852 (the words 'Scinde District Dawk' circled the rim, and it held the East India Company's emblem in the centre), communication has come a long way. Even millennials would remember licking a stamp and posting an envelope — an act that sealed deals, professed love, conveyed crucial messages of births and deaths, informed about college admissions or delivered missives from the bank, or an offer letter. Now, postal services are facing a challenge of dwindling users and competition from delivery services. Last December, India Post discontinued its Book Post services that allowed books to be delivered across the country at nominal rates. Yet stamp lovers have endured — and the love for all things postal seems to cut across ages, as the May 3 event showed. 'As curious people ourselves, we jumped onto the idea to do a quiz on this. The fact that we can blend the hobby of collecting stamps with a quiz filled with stories and trivia felt like a perfect marriage,' said Sumantra Sarathi Datta, the quiz master, who is associated with the Delhi Quiz Club. 'I hope India Post and philately communities continue to bring in new generations. Stamps can be a medium to collect information and stories,' he said. The club, which has been around for the past eight years, regularly conducts quizzes across the city, and even nationally. They also hold an annual festival tying up with colleges. On May 3, almost 30 quizzers from college-goers to senior philatelists and regular quizzers rubbed shoulders in teams named Stamp Paglus, Dak Dak Go, Self Adhesives and Post Mail Clarity. Dr Colonel S. Bhattacharya, who travelled from Hisar, Haryana, to participate in the quiz, said 'I vividly remember in 2001, when the National Stamp Exhibition took place in Pragati Maidan. Stamps opened up the world to me. It is the king of all hobbies and hobby of kings.' Another participant, Balagopal Menon, 29, a doctoral student in Indian Institute of Technology, Delhi, said, 'I like learning new things and it's also a great opportunity for me to meet people and make new friends. At this point most of my friends are quizzers and most of my weekends are spent in this activity.' Menon isn't alone in seeking more meaningful offline experiences. Activities like quizzing and hobbies like philately are increasingly allowing urban youngsters to connect and find like-minded friends. The Delhi Philatelist, for instance, hosts monthly meetings where people can even auction stamps from their collection. Dweepobotee Brahma, 34, an economist who enjoys collecting, said, 'To me, stamps that countries choose to commemorate tell a story of its milestones.' 'We are organising events to spark curiosity and engagement around the world of postage stamps and philately. The idea is to celebrate not just stamps, but the rich stories, culture, and history they carry,' a representative of the Department of Post's philately division, said.
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First Post
01-05-2025
- General
- First Post
History Today: Why Labour Day is celebrated on May 1
On May 1, 1889, May Day was celebrated for the first time as a labour holiday. Since then, Labour Day has grown into a global event, with millions joining marches, rallies, and other activities to honour workers and demand their rights. Also, on this day in 1931, US President Herbert Hoover officially dedicated the Empire State Building in New York City. Standing at 1,250 feet with 102 floors, it was the tallest skyscraper in the world at the time read more A march in New York City on May Day, May 1, 1909. Image: Library of Congress On May 1, 1889, May Day, which had earlier been an event to welcome spring, was celebrated for the first time as a labour holiday. This change was made by the International Socialist Congress. In the United States and Canada, a similar day is held on the first Monday of September and is called Labour Day. Also, on this day in 1931, the Empire State Building was officially opened in New York City. It remained the tallest building in the world for the next forty years. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Meanwhile, in 1840, the first adhesive postage stamp in the world, the Penny Black, was used in a public postal system. It showed a side view of Queen Victoria. If you are a history geek who loves to learn about important events from the past, Firstpost Explainers' ongoing series, History Today, will be your one-stop destination to explore key events. Let's take a look at these events in detail: May Day is founded May Day honours the historic efforts and progress made by workers and the labour movement. It is observed in many countries on May 1. On this day in 1889, an international group of socialist organisations and trade unions chose May 1 as a day to support workers. This was in memory of the Haymarket Riot in Chicago (1886), where a bomb blast killed seven police officers and at least four civilians. Five years later, US President Grover Cleveland, concerned about the socialist link to Workers' Day, passed a law to make Labor Day an official holiday in the United States. However, some states were already observing it on the first Monday of September. Demonstrators hold signs during a rally celebrating May Day in New York, US. Reuters/File Photo Since then, Labour Day has become a worldwide event. Millions join marches, rallies and other activities to recognise workers' roles and call for their rights. In many countries, Labour Day is a national holiday. In India, the first Labour Day event was held in Chennai (then called Madras) in 1923 by the Labour Kisan Party of Hindustan. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Two gatherings took place, one at Triplicane Beach and the other near the Madras High Court. At these meetings, a resolution was passed asking the British government to declare May 1 a Labour Day and a public holiday. Empire State Building is officially opened On May 1, 1931, US President Herbert Hoover officially dedicated the Empire State Building in New York City. The building was completed in just over a year. It came in under budget at $40 million and was finished well ahead of schedule. At certain times during construction, the frame rose at a rate of four-and-a-half storeys each week. John J Raskob and Al Smith were the key figures behind the project. The project gave work to up to 3,400 people a day. Image: X/Library of Congress When it was completed, the Empire State Building had 102 storeys and stood at 1,250 feet tall (1,454 feet including the lightning rod). It was the tallest skyscraper in the world at the time. During the Great Depression, the project gave work to up to 3,400 people a day. Most of them earned good wages, especially considering the hard economic times. The Empire State Building has also been praised for its efforts in energy conservation. In 2020, it finished a renovation that cut energy use, lowered emissions by around 40 per cent, and improved efficiency. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD In 1972, the World Trade Center in New York became the new tallest building, though it only held the title for a short time. Today, that honour goes to the Burj Khalifa in Dubai, which reaches 2,716 feet. World's first postage stamp was issued The Penny Black was the first adhesive postage stamp used in a public postal system. It was first issued in the United Kingdom on May 1, 1840, but could not be used until May 6. Before this, in 1837, postal charges in Britain were high, confusing, and often unfair. To make things easier, Sir Rowland Hill suggested using a stamp to show that postage had been paid in advance. At the time, it was common for the person receiving a letter to pay for it. The cost was based on how many sheets were sent and how far the letter had to travel. Hill chose a simple design that featured the profile of Queen Victoria. Image: Smithsonian National Postal Museum With the Penny Black, people could send letters weighing up to 14g for a fixed cost of one penny, no matter how far they were going. Hill chose a simple design that featured the profile of Queen Victoria. He picked black ink for the stamp, which led to its name, the Penny Black. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Because they were the first stamps ever made, the Penny Black and the Twopenny Blue did not show the name of the country. Even today, British stamps do not include the country name. Like the first stamps, they always feature a picture of the current monarch. This Day, That Year 1851: The Great Exhibition began in London inside the Crystal Palace, which was designed by Sir Joseph Paxton. 1941: 'Citizen Kane', directed by Orson Welles and widely regarded as one of the greatest films ever made, had its premiere in New York City. 1960: The Indian state of Maharashtra was formed based on cultural and language differences. 1961: Harper Lee won the Pulitzer Prize for her well-known novel 'To Kill a Mockingbird'. 1961: The first major hijacking of a plane in the United States took place when a man forced a flight from Miami to Key West to change course and fly to Cuba. 1963: Jim Whittaker, alongside Sherpa climber Nawang Gombu, became the first American to reach the summit of Mount Everest. 2004: The European Union welcomed 10 new member countries - Cyprus, the Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, Poland, Slovakia, and Slovenia. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD
