Latest news with #Rotary
Newsroom
18 hours ago
- Business
- Newsroom
Dodgy director banned for deceptive practices: Is this NZ's most witless wheeler-dealer?
He sold big dreams. A TV network for the famous dairy in Boy; a big budget Warner Bros Pokémon movie production in the Bay of Plenty; an America's Cup village powered by a 'wind tree'; a 220-hectare family fun park; a star-studded winter golf tournament at Wairakei; pie-in-the-sky streaming data hubs operating from service stations.... To a greater or lesser degree, the liquidation of Latitude Dynamix Holdings entangled everyone from fuel company boss Jimmy Ormsby, former Tauranga mayor Tenby Powell and ex-finance minister Grant Robertson, to Hollywood producer Cassandra Cooper, broadcaster Peter Williams and the family of Taika Waititi. The firm's director was invited to speak to the local Rotary in July 2019. His speech was titled 'Twenty years in Silicon Valley and new data hub in Tauranga'.
Ottawa Citizen
a day ago
- Politics
- Ottawa Citizen
Braid: Calgary council chased shiny fads while city crumbled - now we pay the bill
Article content Calgary city hall behaves like a bumblebee in a field of daisies, buzzing from one bright colour to the next while the field itself decays. Article content For the last four years council has blown millions on the fad of the day – the infamous paper bag bylaw, new bike lanes on roads where cars are brutalized by potholes, the ridiculous rebranding as Blue Sky City. Article content Article content Now they discover that infrastructure is crumbling and they need another $62 million to fix it. Article content Article content 'We're in a place in the city where key infrastructure is degrading at a pace that is outpacing what we can do to keep up with it,' says Coun. Evan Spencer, who brought the motion to spend this money. Article content Article content 'In my mind, this is the nuts and bolts of running a city.' Article content Who didn't know that? Not many citizens. They know bolts aren't in evidence but the nuts are still at city hall. Article content Drive any street where developers have left obstacle courses of humps and potholes. Walk a sidewalk that looks like a volcano is bubbling below. Article content The city is currently spending $17.8 million to upgrade the Mission bridge over the Elbow, at the junction of 4 St SW and Elbow Drive. Article content That's essential work. But stroll a short distance away from the bridge on the east side of 4 St. and you're suddenly on a sidewalk with broken concrete, ruts, humps exposed, jagged holes, and grates with raised edges. Article content Article content Article content This is simply the worst, most dangerous stretch of sidewalk I've ever seen in any Canadian city. Article content We recently encountered a couple from Mexico who were in town for the big Rotary convention. They looked bewildered as they picked their way cautiously along 4 street. They may have been told Canada is a developed country. Article content One of city hall's biggest failings is allowing roads to be virtually destroyed by home and condo developments. Article content Developers are required by law to repair the streets, sidewalks and any other public property they dig up. Article content In many areas, there's no sign whatever that this is enforced. Article content Take a drive though Marda Loop, where massive development turns sidestreets into a landscape of humps and dips. Buckle up or your head might hit the roof. Article content The trenches get filled in, yes, but the street is no longer close to level.
Calgary Herald
a day ago
- Politics
- Calgary Herald
BRAID: Calgary Council chased shiny fads while city crumbled - now we pay the bill
Article content Calgary city hall behaves like a bumblebee in a field of daisies, buzzing from one bright colour to the next while the field itself decays. Article content For the last four years council has blown millions on the fad of the day – the infamous paper bag bylaw, new bike lanes on roads where cars are brutalized by potholes, the ridiculous rebranding as Blue Sky City. Article content Article content Now they discover that infrastructure is crumbling and they need another $62 million to fix it. Article content Article content 'We're in a place in the city where key infrastructure is degrading at a pace that is outpacing what we can do to keep up with it,' says Coun. Evan Spencer, who brought the motion to spend this money. Article content Article content Who didn't know that? Not many citizens. They know bolts aren't in evidence but the nuts are still at city hall. Article content Drive any street where developers have left obstacle courses of humps and potholes. Walk a sidewalk that looks like a volcano is bubbling below. Article content The city is currently spending $17.8 million to upgrade the Mission bridge over the Elbow, at the junction of 4 St SW and Elbow Drive. Article content That's essential work. But stroll a short distance away from the bridge on the east side of 4 St. and you're suddenly on a sidewalk with broken concrete, ruts, humps exposed, jagged holes, and grates with raised edges. Article content Article content Article content This is simply the worst, most dangerous stretch of sidewalk I've ever seen in any Canadian city. Article content We recently encountered a couple from Mexico who were in town for the big Rotary convention. They looked bewildered as they picked their way cautiously along 4 street. They may have been told Canada is a developed country. Article content One of city hall's biggest failings is allowing roads to be virtually destroyed by home and condo developments. Article content Developers are required by law to repair the streets, sidewalks and any other public property they dig up. Article content In many areas, there's no sign whatever that this is enforced. Article content Take a drive though Marda Loop, where massive development turns sidestreets into a landscape of humps and dips. Buckle up or your head might hit the roof. Article content The trenches get filled in, yes, but the street is no longer close to level. Article content The only remedy for many damaged stretches is complete repaving. If the city does that, taxpayers would be on the hook for work developers should have done in the first place. Repairing the damage city-wide would cost scores of millions.
Business Upturn
3 days ago
- Business
- Business Upturn
Francesco Arezzo Takes Office as President of Rotary International
Francesco Arezzo, member of the Rotary Club of Ragusa, Italy, has officially begun his term as President of Rotary International for 2025–26. Subsequently, from India, K.P. Nagesh, Rotary Club of Bangalore Highgrounds, Karnataka, and M. Muruganandam, Rotary Club of Bhel City Tiruchirapalli, Tamil Nadu, have been appointed as RI Directors for a two-year term (2025-27). Business Wire India Francesco Arezzo, member of the Rotary Club of Ragusa, Italy, has officially begun his term as President of Rotary International for 2025–26. Subsequently, from India, K.P. Nagesh, Rotary Club of Bangalore Highgrounds, Karnataka, and M. Muruganandam, Rotary Club of Bhel City Tiruchirapalli, Tamil Nadu, have been appointed as RI Directors for a two-year term (2025-27). Arezzo, a Rotary member for more than 30 years, will be the third Italian and the first from southern Italy to lead the global membership organization. During his term, Arezzo will focus on advancing Rotary's mission of unity and inclusion under the banner of 'Unite for Good', recognizing its profound relevance in today's world. 'Rotary's greatest strength lies in its ability to unite people of all cultures and generations through a shared commitment to doing good,' said Arezzo. 'As we look ahead, I am committed to building on this legacy – working together to advance peace, understanding, and opportunity around the world.' As head of Rotary's global network of 46,000 clubs, Arezzo will also oversee Rotary's top goal of eradicating polio. Alongside its Global Polio Eradication Initiative partners, Rotary has achieved a 99.9% reduction in polio cases, and contributed more than US$2.6 billion and countless volunteer hours to protect nearly 3 billion children from this paralyzing disease. Flt. Lt. K.P. Nagesh is a decorated Indian Air Force veteran, successful entrepreneur, and social changemaker. He joined Rotary as a member of his club in 1995. A trailblazing Rotarian and past District Governor, he is known for record-breaking membership growth and impactful service projects. In 2015–16, while serving as a district Governor, he led transformative initiatives that resulted in the addition of over 2,000 new members and the chartering of 52 new clubs, with a notable rise in women's participation. 'India is one of the strongest pillars of Rotary's global vision. From $6 million in fundraising a decade ago to $33 million in 2024 and growing, India is the second-largest global contributor. Our membership in India has more than doubled over the last decade, and we are on track to lead the world in numbers. Rotary's first Peace Center coming up at Symbiosis Pune is a powerful milestone—proof that India doesn't just contribute to global peace, we now host and shape it. Our focus for India is clear: scale our service projects, build trust with CSR partners, and transform underserved communities through health, education, water, environment, livelihoods, and peace. This is India's Rotary moment—and we are ready to lead with purpose, transparency, and trust,' said, K.P Nagesh, Rotary International Director (India), 2025–27 M Murganandam's Rotary journey began at just 16, when he joined Rotaract and participated in polio immunization drives in remote communities. A first-generation entrepreneur, educator, and social leader from Tamil Nadu, he has championed youth empowerment, skill development, and inclusive service across India. He went on to become one of the youngest district governors in 2016-17, leading record-setting initiatives recognized by Guinness World Records. His leadership has been marked by a strong focus on youth empowerment, literacy, health care, and women's safety. 'From leading one of the world's greatest public health victories—bringing polio to the brink of eradication—to now confronting climate challenges, education gaps, and rising inequity, our commitment remains the same: to serve, to uplift, and to unite. Unite for Good is not just a theme—it's a timely reminder that humanity is strongest when we act together. My vision is to make Rotary irresistible to the next generation by saying YES to youth leadership, YES to women at the forefront, and YES to safe, inclusive spaces for service. With India's unmatched energy and our 1:2:3 strategy for membership growth, we're poised to become Rotary's global heartbeat—bolder, kinder, and built to last,' said M. Muruganandam. Rotary members—including those in nearly 4600 clubs in India, as well as throughout the world–develop and implement sustainable, community-driven projects that fight disease, promote peace, provide clean water, support education, save mothers and children, grow local economies, and protect the environment. More than US$5.5 billion has been awarded through The Rotary Foundation – Rotary's charitable arm that helps clubs work together to perform meaningful, impactful service—to support these initiatives over the last 100 years. 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
The Citizen
5 days ago
- The Citizen
Dundee learner explores German life through Rotary exchange programme
From Dundee to Deutschland, former Dundee High School learner Andiswa Lukele is flying the flag high for both her school and South Africa as she makes the most of her year abroad through the Rotary Youth Exchange Programme. Now living with a host family in northern Germany, Lukele has traded her school uniform for pottery classes, bike rides and flea market treasure hunts. Her days are filled with wholesome adventure – learning the German language from a bubbly six-year-old host sibling to braving the weather for outdoor soccer drills. As a keen participant in cultural activities, she's already visited the Netherlands, joined fellow exchange students for Rotary sleep-overs in Bremen and Nord, and walked the windswept shores of Nordeney Island. A recent highlight was a six-day service and cultural immersion tour in Forchheim, followed by a school history trip to Berlin, where Germany's past came vividly to life. 'Every day brings something new,' said Lukele. 'It's more than just learning a language – it's about becoming part of a new community and culture.' The staff at Dundee High School have expressed pride in her achievements. 'Andiswa's spirit of curiosity and service truly shines. She is an outstanding ambassador for our school and community.' The Rotary Exchange Programme continues to open doors for learners like Lukele, offering them not just travel opportunities, but life-changing experiences that broaden global understanding. HAVE YOUR SAY: Like our Facebook page, follow us on Twitter and Instagram or email us at [email protected]. Add us on WhatsApp 071 277 1394. At Caxton, we employ humans to generate daily fresh news, not AI intervention. Happy reading!
