Latest news with #School
Irish Independent
a day ago
- Entertainment
- Irish Independent
US rocker Alice Cooper the surprise bidder for €55 golf-inspired toast rack sold by Meath auctioneer
The School's Out rocker bought the unusual household item from Matthews Auctioneers in Kells, Co Meath, at pre-auction for just €55 and showed it off ahead of his London O2 gig on Friday, July 25. Damien Matthews, who delivered the item to Cooper, said he had no idea the bidder was actually the US star when he made the offer. 'He's a bit of a golf nut,' Mr Matthews said, explaining why the 77-year-old star was interested in this particular toast rack. 'It turns out he's a very nice, funny guy. I thought people would be amused to hear about this. It's a small world now items are auctioned online and smaller regional firms have the same international reach.' Cooper, a pioneer of 'shock rock', has enjoyed a six-decade career. The singer says he has played golf daily for the past 30 years. During this London gig, actor Johnny Depp joined Cooper's band to perform a cover of Black Sabbath's Paranoid in tribute to Ozzy Osbourne after the metal singer's death. Mr Matthews said he travelled to London regularly with big-ticket items customers had bought. Curiosity got the better of him in this case, so he decided to drop the budget-friendly toast rack off to Cooper, just to check whether it really was the star. 'He was delighted to receive it,' Mr Matthews said. 'It was a small-value item but I hand delivered it.' 'It was a bargain for sure. But it's a nice thought Alice Cooper, who I believe appreciates the finer things, will take his toast from it each morning.' The toast rack is up to 40 years old and is silver-plated.
Hans India
2 days ago
- General
- Hans India
‘Master' who goes all out to campaign for govt school
Visakhapatnam: At a time where myriad 'avatars' of social media have become a dominant force in the marketing landscape, master Metta Mohan Rao prefers to enhance school enrolment by taking out a campaign, riding a two-wheeler all along the neighbourhood. The master, who teaches at Mandal Parishad Primary (MPP) School, Lakshmi Nagar at Gopalapatnam, opted to market effectively for the institution located in the 91st ward of the GVMC. Apart from highlighting features of the school for an enhanced enrolment, the master also elaborates about the advantages of getting admitted to a government-run institution. In order to meet their annual targets, teachers working in private and corporate schools get into a door-to-door marketing mode during admission time. Even as Mohan Rao has no such targets to work on, the teacher volunteers to promote the MPP School of Gopalapatnam considering it as one of his primary responsibilities. Earlier, when the master was working in Butchayyapeta government school, there was no proper approach road for the institution. Disturbed by hardships faced by the school children in reaching the campus, Mohan Rao volunteered for 'shramadanam' (voluntary contribution of labour) that aided in laying the road and making the commute easier for students. The public address system (PAS) attached to his two-wheeler tirelessly blares out the amenities available in the MPP School that are on a par with a private school. As the master moves from one street to the other at his own pace, the loudspeaker on his two-wheeler plays out how spacious the well-lit classrooms and playground are, how cleanliness is maintained in the premises, including restrooms, lighting facility available along with student-teacher ratio. Even special occasions like Independence Day, festivals like 'Krishnashtami', 'Sri Rama Navami' and 'Ganesh Chaturthi' celebrated at the institution form a part of his campaign. As lack of awareness is one of the major reasons why not many parents look forward to joining their wards in government institutions, Mohan Rao says that he wants to change the trend by contributing his part to society. 'What they (parents) are unaware of is that government schools comprise highly qualified teachers. Along with giving top priority to education, moral values are instilled in students. As it is difficult to go for a door-to-door marketing-spree, I am doing it with the support of my two-wheeler so that I can reach out to a larger section of people a day,' he emphasises. As Mohan Rao resumes his campaigning after a short break, he focuses on how students could avail mid-day meal scheme, receive school kits, among others, when they opt for government institutions through the PAS.
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Business Standard
6 days ago
- Politics
- Business Standard
Karnataka to reduce SSLC passing marks to 33% starting from 2025-26 session
The Karnataka government has issued a notification reducing the pass percentage for SSLC exam from 35 to 33, effective from the academic year 2025-26 The draft Karnataka Secondary Education Examination Board First Regulations (Amendment) 2025 was notified on Thursday. According to the proposed guidelines, candidates must secure an average of 33 per cent marks, combining both internal assessment and external examination, to be declared pass. This reduction was implemented through an amendment to the Karnataka School Examination and Assessment Board Act, 1966. "Candidates shall secure an average of 33 per cent marks in internal assessment and external examination combined and shall be declared pass if they secure at least 206 marks out of a total of 625 marks, including at least 30 per cent marks in each subject out of the total marks of the respective subject," the notification issued by the Department of School Education & Literacy stated. According to the notification, 15 days have been given to public to file objections to this new proposed rule.
Gulf Today
6 days ago
- Business
- Gulf Today
Creators HQ, Snapchat partner to empower region's economy
Creators HQ, the region's first dedicated hub for digital content creators, has partnered with Snapchat in a first-of-its-kind collaboration to launch a long-term initiative aimed at empowering creators across the GCC and beyond. The partnership will bring to life a calendar of programmes including Snap Schools, AR masterclasses, talks by guest speakers and creators, and on-ground AR activations all designed to foster creativity, collaboration, and growth within the region's creator ecosystem. To kickstart the newly established partnership, Creators HQ and Snapchat hosted the first Snap School this Thursday with over 50 notable content creators in attendance. The session offered hands-on training, platform insights, and direct engagement with Snapchat experts equipping creators with the tools, trends, and strategies needed to succeed on the platform. The partnership stems from a shared commitment to support the rapidly growing community of Snapchat creators who continue to inspire audiences across the region. As Snapchat continues to evolve into a true companion for creators, personally and professionally, it is shaping a space where authenticity, transparency, and trust are the guiding principles. Alia Alhammadi, Vice Chairperson of the UAE Government Media Office, said, "At Creators HQ, we are committed to empowering creators in the region through targeted educational initiatives. By delivering programmes in collaboration with our partners, we help creators produce meaningful content that fosters growth and sustainable income.' Alhammadi continued, "Partnering with Snapchat marks a strategic step in our mission to support and develop talented content creators in the region. We look forward to joining efforts and helping creators level up their skills and create impactful content that celebrates and elevates digital creativity.' In statements to the Emirates News Agency (WAM), Dr Mohammad AlGhfeli, Managing Director of Creators HQ, stated that this partnership reflects a shared commitment to supporting the rapidly growing Snapchat creator community, which continues to inspire audiences across the region. He emphasised that as Snapchat seeks to strengthen its position as a genuine and trusted partner for creators, both personally and professionally, the platform remains dedicated to building a digital ecosystem grounded in authenticity, transparency, and trust. "We've been truly inspired by the incredible creativity of creators across the region,' said Hussein Freijeh, Vice President at Snap Inc. MENA. "This partnership with Creators HQ marks a strategic investment in the next generation of storytellers, giving them the tools, mentorship, and monetisation opportunities to grow their presence and impact.' Freijeh continued, "We believe equipping creators with the right knowledge and tools is the foundation for growing our creative community on Snapchat. Our goal is to empower creators with the tools and confidence to produce inspiring content and experiences that create positive impact, while staying true to who they are. Snapchat makes it easy to create authentic, spontaneous content without being tied to a niche. We're focused on supporting a dynamic and inclusive ecosystem, one where established creators and celebrities as well as homegrown talent can thrive. " Snapchat is also actively expanding its monetisation tools, helping creators turn passion into a profession. Through programmes like the Spotlight and Stories Reward programmes, Creator Marketplace integrations, creators can explore several ways to monetise their content while staying true to their creative vision. Snapchat is also doubling down on Augmented Reality (AR) in the region, recognising its power to spark imagination, boost engagement, and fuel innovation. With over 300 million people engaging with AR on Snapchat every day, the platform continues to be a global leader in this space. To support developers and creators alike, Snapchat will be hosting masterclasses utilising Lens Studio, allowing creators to build an AR experience in minutes. In an effort to nurture a thriving regional AR ecosystem, the partnership offers educational programmes, technical tools, and global visibility for MENA-based AR talent. Looking ahead, Snapchat and Creators HQ will continue rolling out new initiatives, including deeper programming tied to Spectacles, Snap's stand-alone, see-through AR glasses with the goal of pushing creative boundaries and supporting digital upskilling across the region. This partnership marks a significant step in building a sustainable and inclusive creator economy, one where innovation thrives, creators are rewarded, and authentic storytelling is celebrated. Last week, Alia Alhammadi, Chief Executive Officer of the 1 Billion Followers Summit, affirmed that the Creators HQ continues to strengthen its role as a leading platform supporting and empowering content creators in the UAE and beyond by fostering an environment that encourages innovation and continuous development. In a statement to Emirates News Agency (WAM), Alhammadi said the latest edition of the initiative will introduce new activities and advanced digital tools, highlighting the importance of partnering with the emerging technology company Nothing as an example of fruitful collaboration that allows creators to access cutting-edge tools and techniques. The launch event, held in cooperation with Nothing, brought together more than 120 content creators who were introduced to state-of-the-art imaging and artificial intelligence technologies designed to enhance their digital production with greater ease and professionalism. Alhammadi explained that supporting such partnerships is part of the Creators HQ's mission to broaden access to the latest technologies for creators, facilitate their growth through the Content Creation Fund, and build collaborative bridges with global companies and public and private sector entities. Regarding the 1 Billion Followers Summit launched by the Creators HQ in March, Alhammadi announced that it aims to attract more than 10,000 content creators to live and work in the UAE by offering specialised workshops, partnership programmes with social media platforms, full support for business establishment, skills development, and access to golden visas. She concluded by saying, 'The success of the previous edition of the 1 Billion Followers Summit gives us strong momentum to launch an even more exceptional new edition. Registration for strategic partners and ticket sales is now open through the official platform as we prepare for a transformative moment in the world of content creation.' WAM
Al Etihad
6 days ago
- Business
- Al Etihad
Creators HQ, Snapchat Partner to empower region's creative economy
25 July 2025 18:38 DUBAI (ALETIHAD)Creators HQ, the region's first dedicated hub for digital content creators, has partnered with Snapchat in a first-of-its-kind collaboration to launch a long-term initiative aimed at empowering creators across the GCC and beyond. The partnership will bring to life a calendar of programmes, including Snap Schools, AR masterclasses, talks by guest speakers and creators, and on-ground AR activations, all designed to foster creativity, collaboration, and growth within the region's creator kickstart the newly established partnership, Creators HQ and Snapchat hosted the first Snap School this Thursday with over 50 notable content creators in attendance. The session offered hands-on training, platform insights, and direct engagement with Snapchat experts, equipping creators with the tools, trends, and strategies needed to succeed on the partnership stems from a shared commitment to support the rapidly growing community of Snapchat creators who continue to inspire audiences across the region. As Snapchat continues to evolve into a true companion for creators, personally and professionally, it is shaping a space where authenticity, transparency, and trust are the guiding Alhammadi, Vice Chairperson of the UAE Government Media Office, said: 'At Creators HQ, we are committed to empowering creators in the region through targeted educational initiatives. By delivering programs in collaboration with our partners, we help creators produce meaningful content that fosters growth and sustainable income.'Alhammadi continued: 'Partnering with Snapchat marks a strategic step in our mission to support and develop talented content creators in the region. We look forward to joining efforts and helping creators level up their skills and create impactful content that celebrates and elevates digital creativity.''We've been truly inspired by the incredible creativity of creators across the region,' said Hussein Freijeh, Vice President at Snap Inc. MENA. 'This partnership with Creators HQ marks a strategic investment in the next generation of storytellers, giving them the tools, mentorship, and monetisation opportunities to grow their presence and impact.'Freijeh continued: 'We believe equipping creators with the right knowledge and tools is the foundation for growing our creative community on Snapchat. Our goal is to empower creators with the tools and confidence to produce inspiring content and experiences that create positive impact, while staying true to who they are. Snapchat makes it easy to create authentic, spontaneous content without being tied to a niche. We're focused on supporting a dynamic and inclusive ecosystem, one where established creators and celebrities, as well as homegrown talent, can thrive."Snapchat is also actively expanding its monetisation tools, helping creators turn passion into a profession. Through programmes like the Spotlight and Stories Reward programmes, Creator Marketplace integrations, creators can explore several ways to monetise their content while staying true to their creative is also doubling down on Augmented Reality (AR) in the region, recognising its power to spark imagination, boost engagement, and fuel innovation. With over 300 million people engaging with AR on Snapchat every day, the platform continues to be a global leader in this support developers and creators alike, Snapchat will be hosting masterclasses utilising Lens Studio, allowing creators to build an AR experience in minutes. To nurture a thriving regional AR ecosystem, the partnership offers educational programs, technical tools, and global visibility for MENA-based AR ahead, Snapchat and Creators HQ will continue rolling out new initiatives, including deeper programming tied to Spectacles, Snap's standalone, see-through AR glasses, with the goal of pushing creative boundaries and supporting digital upskilling across the region. This partnership marks a significant step in building a sustainable and inclusive creator economy, one where innovation thrives, creators are rewarded, and authentic storytelling is celebrated.
