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Express Tribune
5 days ago
- General
- Express Tribune
Of 'unblossomed flowers' and some woodwork
Listen to article Dear Humaira Abid, Allow me to begin this letter with a note of condolence; to the families who lost their children to wars, to anyone who could resonate with such pain and to all of us who should not only mourn the children but the dearth of sanity, the debacle of compassion and the death of humanity. I am writing this letter with trembling hands, tears in my eyes and a lump in my throat. It is how strong the message is in 'The Shape of War', the recently installed piece at Greg Kucera Gallery, Seattle. "20 altars of loss," as the installation is described by The Seattle Times, each honouring a child lost in war. A wooden rehal, a typical book-rest for the Quran, with prayer beads and a tiny flower also carved in wood, set on a small, white school desk, drawer open, revealing pictures, dreams and aspirations of the lost ones. This is a classroom where all the students are absent. They were forced to quit the course of life, leaving a muffled void behind. Those who were immolated for useless wars had the potential to live, grow and contribute to the beauty and splendor of the world. 'The Shape of War' resonates with a poignant memory. My heart goes out to the innocent victims of the Army Public School, Peshawar. Here is a lesson worth learning and remembering. Prayers. A kind of stillness usually pervades your works, a silence that shouts. To me, it is the medium of wood that makes the carved marks seem arrested in time, lending the works a force that casts a spell on their viewer. Perhaps it is the dichotomy between the message and the medium; the impermanence and temporality of the idea (loss, grief, migration, movement) and the rigidity of wood lend a duality to the forms, amplifying the force of your statement. One impatiently waits for the carved piece of paper to flutter (Letters & Envelopes, 2020) or a folded shirt to rumple (Folded Stories, 2023-24) and in those moments, you are able to capture the mind and imprint your message. The messages, though personal, have a universal appeal. "Searching for home" may be a story of a woman experiencing marriage-migration or it can be a story of a distressed mother crossing borders; in Syria, Iraq, Gaza, Israel, Ukraine, India or any other warzone where she has to mind the barbed wires and manage survival worrying less about her belongings and other necessities that turn into accessories. And I am referring to the scattered baby shoes and stained garments as emblems of childhood and youth — the notions that lose significance when facing displacement or death. Wood, abundant in nature, has been one of the first materials that humans learnt to employ for shaping into more useful objects. Early examples include shaped sticks and spears used for hunting animals. Then one finds flint tools that were used to carve wood into vessels, coffins and more complex building structures. Later examples are of carpentry, cabinetry, furniture, wood carving and wood turning, proving it to be a handy material. Today, skilled fine woodworking remains a craft pursued by many, though some contemporary artists find it tedious and impermanent, specially when compared with marble. On your preference for wood, people notice a kind of clash in your practice — of gender division in opting for the medium that demands more physical strength and your training in miniature painting, which is traditionally about delicacy and refinement. I shall strongly reject such labels for mediums exhibiting a masculine and feminine or aggressive and passive divide in creative expressions. For the sympathisers of South Asian women who consider us oppressed and mute, here is someone you need to follow. For our women, losing the spirit of catalysts and reagents and turning into papa ki paris, here is someone to idealise and romanticise. Here is someone who is challenging the taboos, celebrating small successes, living the life of a woman, a thinker, a visionary and a spokesperson. After all, it is what art is all about — visiting and revisiting the realities of life, highlighting the wrongdoings, allowing reprimand, agitating, protesting, advocating, mourning, lamenting, but still staying human. Bano July, 2025
UPI
11-07-2025
- General
- UPI
Report: Fuel cut to Air India Flight 171 engines before deadly crash
Search and recovery teams examine the tail section of Air India Flight 171 Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner after it crashed in Ahmedabad, India, on June 12. Photo by Hanif Sindh/UPI | License Photo July 11 (UPI) -- The fuel switches to both engines on the Air India Flight 171 moved to the "cutoff" position immediately before the crash that killed 260 after taking off on June 12. The two switches that control the fuel supply to the two jet engines on the Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner were switched to the off position as the aircraft took off, a preliminary report released by investigators on Friday, The Seattle Times reported. The engines shut off within a second of one another, which caused the aircraft to crash just a mile away from the Ahmedabad, India, airport, India's Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau said in the preliminary report. The crash killed 241 passengers and crew, plus 19 others on the ground, but one person survived the disastrous crash. "Air India stands in solidarity with the families and those affected by the AI 171 accident," the company said in a statement. "We continue to mourn the loss and are fully committed to providing support during this difficult time." Airline officials are working with investigators and other authorities to determine the exact cause of the crash, according to the unattributed statement. The investigation into its cause has focused on the two fuel-control switches that are located in the aircraft's cockpit, which investigators said were changed from the "run" position to "cutoff," according to CNN. "In the cockpit voice recording, one of the pilots is heard asking the other, 'Why did he cut off'" the fuel supply to the engines, the report says. "The other pilot responded that he did not do so." The aircraft had attained a speed of 180 knots, or about 207 mph, when first one and then the other switches were changed to the cutoff position about a second apart, which caused the aircraft to lose its lift and crash, investigators said. The switches were returned to the "run" position, but it was too late, and one of the pilots called out, "Mayday, Mayday, Mayday," the report says. The flight was bound for London's Gatwick Airport but was airborne for only 32 seconds and crashed just a mile from the airport. The flight's captain was a 56-year-old male with more than 15,000 hours of flight experience, and the flight's first officer was a 32-year-old male with more than 3,400 hours of flight experience. The captain and first officer tested negative for intoxicating substances before the flight, the aircraft was in good condition and its weight was within acceptable limits, according to the preliminary report. The flight took off at 1:30 p.m. local time and was scheduled to land in London about five hours later. Crash victims include 169 from India, 53 from the United Kingdom, seven from Portugal and one from Canada. The lone survivor is from the United Kingdom and escaped through an opening in the fuselage. The aircraft was built at Boeing's Everett, Wash., facility, recorded its first flight in 2013 and was delivered to Air India in 2014. The 787 Dreamliner is Boeing's smallest wide-body commercial aircraft and holds up to 242 passengers and crew. The preliminary report was released 30 days after the crash in accordance with the International Civil Aviation Organization's guidelines, which requires receipt of such reports within 30 days of a fatal crash. Investigators from the United States and the United Kingdom are assisting the investigation.
Ammon
03-07-2025
- Business
- Ammon
Microsoft is laying off as many as 9,000 employees
Ammon News - Microsoft confirmed that it's laying off as many as 9,100 employees, or about 4 percent of its workforce, in yet another round of cuts this year, reports The Seattle Times. Employees in Microsoft's Xbox division, known as Microsoft Gaming, are being hit hard by these layoffs, although exact numbers and divisions are not yet known. Xbox leader Phil Spencer said in a message to the team, 'To position Gaming for enduring success and allow us to focus on strategic growth areas, we will end or decrease work in certain areas of the business and follow Microsoft's lead in removing layers of management to increase agility and effectiveness.' Bloomberg reports that the now Microsoft-owned King division that makes Candy Crush is cutting about 10 percent of employees, or 200 people, while other units, like ZeniMax, have also confirmed they are cutting jobs. Microsoft is also laying off more than 70 people at its Forza Motorsport studio, Turn 10, as well as cancelling its Perfect Dark and Everwild games. The studio behind Perfect Dark, The Initiative, is also closing down as part of these layoffs. These major layoffs come less than two months after Microsoft announced it was cutting more than 6,000 employees, followed by an additional 305 reductions in early June. Microsoft employees have faced a series of layoffs over the past year, including a round of performance-based cuts that have seriously hit morale, according to multiple Microsoft employees I've spoken to. The Verge
Yahoo
01-07-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Energage Partners with The Seattle Times to Launch the 2026 Top Workplaces Award
Nominations now open for employer recognition program honoring Seattle-area companies EXTON, Pa., July 01, 2025--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Energage, the HR technology company powering the Top Workplaces employer recognition program, today announced a new partnership with Seattle Times Media Solutions to bring the Top Workplaces awards to the greater Seattle area in 2026. This new collaboration marks the first Top Workplaces program in Washington State, offering local employers the opportunity to earn trusted, credible recognition for companies that prioritize people-first cultures and the workplace experience. Nominations will be accepted now through August 2025, and the winners will be announced in The Seattle Times and on the Top Workplaces website in early 2026. "We're thrilled to partner with The Seattle Times to spotlight companies where employees feel truly seen, heard, and valued," said Dan Kessler, President of Energage. "This partnership ensures that deserving employers across the region receive the visibility and credibility they've earned, helping them stand out to both top talent and customers." All organizations with 35 or more employees in the greater Seattle region are eligible to participate, including public, private, nonprofit, and government employers. There is no cost to nominate, participate, or win the award. Top Workplaces winners are determined by employee feedback collected through the confidential, science-backed Energage Workplace Survey. This trusted survey measures key culture drivers proven to predict organizational success and employee engagement, and it has been refined by insights from millions of employees across more than 70,000 organizations over the past two decades. "We are excited to launch the Top Workplaces program in partnership with Energage," said Amber Aldrich, Vice President of Advertising at The Seattle Times. "We're committed to serving our community, and this initiative gives us a powerful way to celebrate the organizations making the Seattle area a fantastic place to work. By shining a light on companies that prioritize their employees, we're not only providing valuable insights for job seekers but also fostering a stronger, more vibrant economic landscape for everyone." In addition to regional recognition, companies that participate may also be eligible for national Top Workplaces awards across culture excellence and industry categories — all based on the same single survey. To nominate your organization for the 2026 Seattle-area Top Workplaces award, visit About EnergageMaking the world a better place to work together.™Energage is an HR technology company on a mission to help organizations build and brand exceptional workplace cultures. We power the Top Workplaces employer recognition program and deliver actionable, research-backed employee survey insights that fuel professional growth and elevate employer brands. Our comprehensive talent experience platform combines cutting-edge tools, expert guidance, and built-in personalization to cultivate cultures that boost engagement, improve retention, attract top talent, and drive better business results. Learn more at and About Seattle Times Media Solutions Seattle Times Media Solutions serves the Northwest with independent, Pulitzer Prize-winning journalism, as the region's most trusted news media company, dedicated to public service. They are the most-visited digital information source in Washington state and the second-largest newspaper on the West Coast. Founded in 1896 by Alden J. Blethen, The Seattle Times' stewardship is now led by the Blethen family's fourth and fifth generations, whose stewardship also includes the Yakima Herald-Republic and The Walla Walla Union-Bulletin. View source version on Contacts Energage Media Contact Bob HelbigMedia Partnerships Seattle Times Media Contact Kelly HulinDirector, Advertising Saleskhulin@ Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
Business Wire
01-07-2025
- Business
- Business Wire
Energage Partners with The Seattle Times to Launch the 2026 Top Workplaces Award
EXTON, Pa.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Energage, the HR technology company powering the Top Workplaces employer recognition program, today announced a new partnership with Seattle Times Media Solutions to bring the Top Workplaces awards to the greater Seattle area in 2026. This new collaboration marks the first Top Workplaces program in Washington State, offering local employers the opportunity to earn trusted, credible recognition for companies that prioritize people-first cultures and the workplace experience. Nominations will be accepted now through August 2025, and the winners will be announced in The Seattle Times and on the Top Workplaces website in early 2026. "We're thrilled to partner with The Seattle Times to spotlight companies where employees feel truly seen, heard, and valued," said Dan Kessler, President of Energage. "This partnership ensures that deserving employers across the region receive the visibility and credibility they've earned, helping them stand out to both top talent and customers." All organizations with 35 or more employees in the greater Seattle region are eligible to participate, including public, private, nonprofit, and government employers. There is no cost to nominate, participate, or win the award. Top Workplaces winners are determined by employee feedback collected through the confidential, science-backed Energage Workplace Survey. This trusted survey measures key culture drivers proven to predict organizational success and employee engagement, and it has been refined by insights from millions of employees across more than 70,000 organizations over the past two decades. "We are excited to launch the Top Workplaces program in partnership with Energage," said Amber Aldrich, Vice President of Advertising at The Seattle Times. "We're committed to serving our community, and this initiative gives us a powerful way to celebrate the organizations making the Seattle area a fantastic place to work. By shining a light on companies that prioritize their employees, we're not only providing valuable insights for job seekers but also fostering a stronger, more vibrant economic landscape for everyone." In addition to regional recognition, companies that participate may also be eligible for national Top Workplaces awards across culture excellence and industry categories — all based on the same single survey. To nominate your organization for the 2026 Seattle-area Top Workplaces award, visit About Energage Making the world a better place to work together.™ Energage is an HR technology company on a mission to help organizations build and brand exceptional workplace cultures. We power the Top Workplaces employer recognition program and deliver actionable, research-backed employee survey insights that fuel professional growth and elevate employer brands. Our comprehensive talent experience platform combines cutting-edge tools, expert guidance, and built-in personalization to cultivate cultures that boost engagement, improve retention, attract top talent, and drive better business results. Learn more at and About Seattle Times Media Solutions Seattle Times Media Solutions serves the Northwest with independent, Pulitzer Prize-winning journalism, as the region's most trusted news media company, dedicated to public service. They are the most-visited digital information source in Washington state and the second-largest newspaper on the West Coast. Founded in 1896 by Alden J. Blethen, The Seattle Times' stewardship is now led by the Blethen family's fourth and fifth generations, whose stewardship also includes the Yakima Herald-Republic and The Walla Walla Union-Bulletin.
