Latest news with #VK
Time of India
a day ago
- General
- Time of India
VK drawing competition raises environmental awareness among kids
Mangaluru: The Vijay Karnataka Environment Drawing Competition not only provides information and awareness to participating children, but also to their parents and those around them. The effort by a media outlet like 'Vijay Karnataka' (VK), a sister concern publication of TOI, to work towards environmental conservation is commendable, said H Lakshmi Kantha, environmental officer at the Karnataka State Pollution Control Board, Mangaluru regional office. Speaking at the prize distribution ceremony for the district-level drawing competition organised by VK and the Karnataka State Pollution Control Board, Mangaluru, on the occasion of World Environment Day celebrations on Thursday, he emphasised that while environmental conservation might seem trivial, it has gained significant importance. Children expressed whatever came to their minds through art. Along with children, it is imperative for adults to also be aware of environmental conservation, he said. Manju Rajanna, deputy environmental officer at the KSPCB, Mangaluru, mentioned that students should plant and nurture a tree on their birthdays for the benefit of the environment. Planting many trees over a lifetime is a significant contribution to the environment, he said. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Top 15 Most Beautiful Women in the World Undo Maheshwari Singh, deputy environmental officer, stated that VK has raised awareness about the environment, reaching millions with the message of environmental conservation, which is commendable. Parents of participants also spoke on the occasion. It is gratifying that VK has instilled environmental awareness not only in children, but also in adults through such competitions, said parent Kavitha from Panja. Winner First Prize: NilIshka K (10th grade) Vivekananda English Medium School, Puttur, Ajith S Kamath (9th grade), Sri Vyasamaharsi Vidyapeetha, Kilpadi, Mulki, Ashni Rajesh Jogi (8th grade) Sri Vani School, Pavanje, Mangaluru, Sanvi NS (7th grade) Government Model Higher Primary School, Panja, Aaradhya (6th grade) Holy Family English Medium School, Surathkal. Second Prize: Keerthan (10th grade), Ankur English Medium, Kulai, Deepti D (9th grade) St Rita English Medium School, Jeppu, Y Hansika (8th grade) Canara School, Urva, Mangaluru, Shashwat VA (7th grade), Saraswati English Medium School, Kadaba, Sushanth J Shettigar (6th grade) St Lawrence English Medium School, Bondel, Mangaluru. Third Prize: Mohal Santosh Devadiga (10th grade) Sri Vyasamaharsi Vidyapeetha, Kilpadi, Mulki, Sonali KS (9th grade), Ladyhill Victoria High School, Bhavesh V Sawant (8th grade), Bharathi English Medium School, Kulai, Kushith Mallar (7th grade) Kumaraswamy Vidyalaya, Subrahmanya, Anvitha Shetty (6th grade) St Anne's English Medium School, Panja, Kadaba.
The Irish Sun
a day ago
- Entertainment
- The Irish Sun
From Hooch to Reef, why the '90s alcopop is still all that and a bag of chips
THE '90s are back, and we are calling it - the alcopop is Never Ever going away! Some things - The Macarena, Rimmel's Heather Shimmer lippy and boob tubes, to name a few - can stay in the past, but if like me you spent your teenage years necking Hooch with your mates to a soundtrack of TLC while trying on push-up bras and contemplating your first tattoo, you'll be desperate for another swig of the good times. Advertisement Luckily for us all, all the old faves are "Cleopatra Comin' Atcha", thanks to a huge Whether it's a themed hen do, a big birthday or you're seeing some of the best bands from yesteryear on stage this summer, it could be time to swap your G&T tinnies for alcopops. 6 Will you be swapping your G&T for Hooch this summer? Credit: Supplied Hooch, Breezer, Reef and VKs ruled the roost with their sweet flavours and lurid colours, so how do they measure up today? Here's why the alcopop is still all that and a bag of chips... Advertisement READ MORE IN FABULOUS 6 Breezers are taking over the shelves again Credit: Supplied Breezer - Sporting an updated look and three new flavours - Zesty Orange, Zing Lime and Crisp Watermelon - the iconic bottle has relaunched in bars and stores this month, and it definitely Smells Like Teen Spirit. With an RRP of £2 and a 3.4%ABV, it won't break the bank, and as Claire Presland, global director of Breezer said: "Whether you're reliving nights gone by, or discovering Breezer for the first time, this summer is the perfect time to try its three new flavours and discover which one is your fruity favourite." 6 Relive your party days with a bottle of Smirnoff Ice Credit: Supplied Advertisement Smirnoff Ice - A personal fave of mine, this lemon-lime vodka mix was always a great refresher, whether swigged straight from the bottle '90s-style or "poured into a tall glass over cubed ice and garnished with a lemon wedge", as recommended by the folks at Smirnoff. They say that "it's the ideal gift for any vodka connoisseurs" - I say it's great for UK garage connoisseurs who reckon "With a little bit of this, we can make it through the night..." Most read in Fabulous Exclusive 6 Now available in an eco-friendly carton, Reef is future-proofing Credit: Supplied Reef - Heading to a festival? The brand-new release of Reef this month comes in resealable cartons - a first in the UK alcoholic ready to drink market. Advertisement Lighter than the original glass bottles and fully recyclable, it's a timely update on the drink, which returned to shelves last year in bottle form to give fans old and new a taste of that iconic orange and passion fruit. It's sure to be a hit with Gen Z, thanks to its lower ABV and light, fruity flavour, making it ideal for picnics and gatherings rather than caning it '90s-style. Place Your Hand On, Place Your Hands On... a bottle of Reef. 6 Party like its 1995 with this mega pack of alcopops Credit: Supplied Advertisement VK - Cherry has already proven a hit in interiors and beauty for 2025, and now the OG alcopop is available in a sparkling Black Cherry flavour, too. The 3.4% vodka mix is stocked in Tesco, Asda, Morrisons, Home Bargains and B&M, and even comes in a mega mixed party pack with a range of flavours, including Strawberry & Lime, Orange & Passionfruit, Apple & Mango and, of course, Blue (don't forget what that does to your teeth, people!). We are loving the slick dark cherry bottles - it's giving Wednesday Addams with a twist of B*Witched. 6 The new cherry flavour is right on trend for Hooch's 30th anniversary year Credit: Supplied Advertisement Hooch - This summer is Hooch's 30th anniversary (yes, we feel old too!), and to celebrate there's a re-release of the 1995 can, featuring the iconic lemon design, plus a new Cherry flavour. Not only that, but in some bars and pubs across the UK, true fans of the drink can find it on draught, for the first time ever, plus in a 24-pack for £38. Hooch was, for many 40-somethings, their first brush with booze, and it's always been the brand that's stood for "unapologetic irreverence" - perfect if you're still celebrating the Oasis tour, Some Might Say... All the 90s trends that are making a comeback WE might be in 2024, but fashion fans are looking to the past when it comes to new styles. So what trends from the 90s are making a comeback these days? Claw clips These hair accessories were a huge trend back in the 90s, but are now most popular among those trying out the "clean girl" aesthetic. Designers such as Prada have released their own versions, while there are thousands of colours and styles to choose from on the high street. Platform flip flops Again a popular choice among fashionistas in the 90s, these heels have made a comeback with designers such as Balenciaga trying their luck with their own styles. Cargo pants Once worn by the stars of All Saints, cargo pants became a popular trend for teens in the 90s. But they've now had a fashion overhaul, with stars such as Bella Hadid and Hailey Bieber all putting their own spin on the trend. Jeans and a nice top It was the phrase that defined fashion for a decade, and now famous faces such as Sofia Richie are sporting the reinvented trend - pairing their own denims with a more sophisticated top. But are you willing to dig your jeans and nice tops out of the wardrobe for a second time?
The Independent
3 days ago
- Politics
- The Independent
Putin's ‘digital gulag': Inside the Kremlin's attempt to construct a spy app to snoop on Russians
In just two months, every new digital device in Russia will come equipped with a brand new messenger app, named Max. Beneath its playful white-and-blue logo lies software that experts believe could allow the Kremlin to dramatically expand its capacity to spy on the Russian public. The app, launched in March by Russian tech company VK, will be installed on every new device sold in Russia from September this year. But there are fears it will work as a 'spy programme', allowing Russia's FSB security service to establish a rigid surveillance programme. The app will provide not only a space for messaging and video calls, but will be a broader information system with access to government services and mobile payments, analysts told The Independent. With servers based in Russia, Max will be subject to Russian law, which grants the FSB to have access to certain materials. WhatsApp - the global messenger app used by more than 70 per cent of Russians - is 'highly likely' to be banned as Moscow looks to push people towards using Max, Mark Galeotti, a veteran observer of Russian security and politics and director of Mayak Intelligence, told The Independent. Russian opposition journalist Andrey Okun said Max would be central to the Kremlin's dream of constructing a 'digital gulag'. Writing for the Republic website, he said in comments reported by The Times: 'This will be a sterile space in which the authorities have complete control over the leisure time, motives and thoughts of citizens.' But experts on Russian technology and surveillance say that the introduction of the app, which is said to have been developed on Vladimir Putin's orders, is only the latest step in repeated measures to ramp up its ability to monitor the entire Russian online sphere. 'This is a normalisation of Russia's surveillance of its internet use… it's part of a long, long process,' Keir Giles, author of Russia's War on Everybody, told The Independent. ' The perceived threat from Western communications technology is not something that's new. It's something that has always been a focus for the Russian security services.' Moscow's security industry has for decades been frustrated by Russian citizens using foreign software such as Google, Skype and Hotmail, all of which made it much more difficult to read their messages, Mr Giles explained. Western communications technologies have always been perceived as a threat by Russian security services. After years of trying to clamp down on services such as WhatsApp, the latest move to push Russians towards Max is 'really just tidying up at this point', he added. Popular apps such as WhatsApp - a messenger owned by Meta, which is designated as an extremist organisation by Russia - are now facing a potential ban. Mr Giles said the messenger app has been an 'anomaly' in avoiding the Russian crackdown so far, likely due to its widespread use across the country. Figures show it is used by more than 70 per cent of people in Russia. 'It would be disruptive and unpopular to [ban it] without having a replacement available,' Mr Giles added. Prof Galeotti said: 'The Russian state looks keen to be using sticks rather than carrots by either banning or putting restrictions on WhatsApp and possibly also [messaging service] Telegram in the future, just to kind of drive people towards Max. 'Whether it's a complete ban or whether it's just simply sort of slowdowns and restrictions, I think WhatsApp is going to find itself under real pressure in Russia.' Pushing users towards Max is unlikely to have a significant impact on Russian opposition and activism against the government, Prof Galeotti explained, because they tend to avoid WhatsApp in favour of 'more seriously secure' apps such as Proton Mail and Signal. But it may prompt a significant change in 'casual dissent', he added. 'That's where it might have a freezing effect: people who might be under other circumstances willing to send messages with slightly scurrilous content about the Kremlin might think twice.' Russia previously attempted to block the Telegram messaging app in 2018. But the attempt failed, and did not practically affect the availability of Telegram in Russia, leading it to be officially unblocked two years later. But Mikhail Klimarev, the head of Russia's Internet Protection Society, told The Times that he expected Moscow to renew attempts to ban it by the end of the year.
The Irish Sun
5 days ago
- The Irish Sun
Inside Putin's ‘Unit 31831' where troops are electrocuted like dogs – and face suicide missions if they don't pay bribes
A BRUTAL Russian unit ties its soldiers up like dogs and sends them on suicide missions if they don't pay bribes, The Sun can reveal. Unit 31831 has become renowned for its brutality among the Advertisement 9 Russian soldiers tied together by the neck Credit: VK 9 Soldiers are handcuffed to posts and forced to sleep on the ground Credit: VK 9 Unit 31831's commander Major Petrosyan Oganes And its commander is so hated that soldiers' families are making a desperate appeal to Vlad to get Major Petrosyan Oganes sacked. The unit - which sits within the 54th Motorised Rifles Regiment - is currently fighting on the front line in Donetsk. But soldiers have complained online that they are "expendable" and are treated like "meat". Their families say troops are dying like "cockroaches under slippers". Advertisement Read more on world news Russia's murderous army is struggling to beat the brave Ukrainians defending their homeland and a summer offensive is moving at a Do you know more about Unit 31831? Contact But Unit 31831's commander Major Oganes has become known for disciplining soldiers by horrific beatings. That includes tying them to posts like dogs, beating one soldier with an electric fan, and trapping soldiers in electrified cages. Advertisement Most read in The US Sun Exclusive Oganes exacts the beatings against soldiers who have been found to have broken the unit's rules - like being drunk. Soldiers are tied together with a rope around their neck and handcuffed shirtless around posts where they're forced to sleep the night on the ground. Putin hit squad 'eliminated' after cold-blooded daylight assassination of Ukrainian special ops chief with silenced gun Commanders in Unit 31831 also take bribes from soldiers to not send them into the fighting. Those who don't pay the 50,000Roubles (£476) are sent to parts of the front are forced to participate in attacks where they will likely not survive. Advertisement Russian commanders are intentionally killing so many of their own soldiers that the practice now has a slang term: zeroing out. They also extort soldiers for cash - robbing them of 30,000Roubles (£285) to buy perfume for their wives. 9 An electrified cage where soldiers were kept inside to discipline them 9 One soldier tied to a post Credit: VK Advertisement Anger against Oganes and the unit is now spilling over to Russian social media where a campaign has been launched to bring the commander down. One person who tore into Oganes said: "May you be damned, dog and coward!" Another wrote: "What b*******s. Sadists and maniacs!!! They act a hundred times more sophisticated in prison." While a third posted: "This is called an internal enemy and betrayal. Advertisement "Such commanders should be put in jail for a long time." They're desperately trying to get the dictator to step in and fix the unit. 9 One soldier is beaten with a household electric fan 9 The soldier is left with a bruised and cut face after the brutal beating Advertisement They wrote: "Dear Vladimir Putin... "We are forced to turn to you for help, as guarantors of the protection of the rights and legitimate interests of servicemen, as well as members of their families!" The Russians don't bother to tell families that soldiers have died at the front or gone missing. Dozens of posts on Russian social media site VK feature families appealing for information about their lost son in Unit 31831. Advertisement One post from April reads: "My son is missing, military unit 31831, regiment 54. "He signed a contract in Persianovka. "He went to the combat zone on February 25. He went missing. Maybe someone knows, please respond, call sign Khottabych." It paints a picture of a corrupt, violent, and short life for Vlad's boys - and that's before they try and break through the Ukrainian dronegrinder. Advertisement The Russian families continue to support Vlad's unjust invasion of Ukraine, but just want better treatment for their soldiers. A desperate campaign has now been launched by the families of the soldiers to have them treated with more respect. They want them to be able to kill as many Ukrainians as possible. To the Russian public, everything in the army is presented as being well-functioning and respectful. Advertisement One school in the southern city of Volgograd, Secondary School No. 95, Photos posted to the school's social media showed children dressed in combat fatigues proudly standing with a letter of recognition for the cash they'd raised. 9 Russian soldiers are thought to be preparing to try and capture Sumy Credit: East2West 9 Vladimir Putin looks on prior to the Victory Day military parade in Red Square marking the 75th anniversary of the victory in World War II Credit: Getty Advertisement Another commander of Unit 31831 wrote back: "Your assistance and caring attitude deserve deep recognition. "We wish you peaceful skies, good health, energy, optimism, and success in your work." The 54th MRR sits within the 9th Separate Guards Motor Rifle Brigade - which was formerly under the Donetsk People's Republic, but the brigade was later incorporated into the Russian Army. In March, the Centre for European Policy Analysis assessed that Russia could be 12 times more corrupt than Europe on average. Advertisement That means equipment is stolen, salaries are embezzled, and bribes are paid. The massive amount of corruption within Russian trenches is one reason why its far larger army has become ineffective and ground to a halt by Ukraine. Estimates have said that between 50,000 and 100,000 have vanished on the battlefield. Trump's 50-day peace deadline for Vlad THE Kremlin mocked Donald Trump's 50-day peace deadline and may now demand even more Ukrainian territory instead of trying to sign peace. Vladimir Putin will instead keep terrorising Ukrainian civilians during the seven-week period, sources said. The furious US President said he is 'very unhappy' with Russia as he warned of 100 per cent secondary tariffs on Moscow should they continue to blitz Ukraine . Trump said he wants the war to end, but doubled down on his frustration with Putin, saying he's "disappointed" in the Russian leader. But a snarling Putin has always declined and instead ramped up his ground and aerial offensives across Ukraine . He also vowed to send US weapons - compromising of "everything" in their arsenal - to Nato so they can distribute them to Kyiv.
Economic Times
15-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Economic Times
Garena Free Fire MAX redeem codes July 15 today: Check all active codes here
Synopsis Garena Free Fire MAX players have a limited-time opportunity to unlock free in-game rewards today, Monday, July 15, using the latest redeem codes released by Garena. These codes offer access to exclusive items such as weapons, character skins, and diamonds. The newly issued alphanumeric codes are valid for one-time use per account and come with limited redemption slots. Agencies Garena Free fire redeem codes today Garena Free Fire MAX players have a limited-time opportunity to unlock free in-game rewards today, Monday, July 15, using the latest redeem codes released by Garena. These codes offer access to exclusive items such as weapons, character skins, and diamonds. Redeem Codes Valid for a Short Window The newly issued alphanumeric codes—ranging from 12 to 16 characters—are valid for one-time use per account and come with limited redemption slots. Players are advised to redeem them quickly, as the codes can expire without prior notice. Upon successful redemption, rewards will be delivered to the player's in-game mailbox within 24 hours. Active Garena Free Fire MAX Redeem Codes for July 15 FFMTYQPXFGX6 FFRSX4CYHXZ8 QWER89ASDFGH BNML12ZXCVBN CVBN45QWERTY GFDS78POIUAS JHGF01LKJHGF MNBV34ASDFZX LKJH67QWERTB POIU90ZXCVNM TREW23ASDFGH YUIO56BNMLKJ FFDMNQX9KGX2 FFSGT9KNQXT6 XF4S9KCW7KY2 FFPURTXQFKX3 FFYNCXG2FNT4 How to Redeem Free Fire MAX Codes Players can follow these simple steps to claim rewards using Free Fire MAX redeem codes: Visit the official rewards redemption website: Log in using your linked Free Fire MAX account (Facebook, VK, Google, or Twitter) Enter the redeem code in the provided text field Click on confirm to submit and receive your reward Important Reminder:Always redeem codes through Garena's official website. Using unofficial platforms may compromise your account security. Garena Free Fire MAX Updates Garena continues to enhance gameplay by introducing new content such as bundles, character skins, emotes, and more. The recently released OB49 update features map improvements and gameplay more updates and resources, players can also explore: FF Advance Server APK download link Free Fire MAX OB50 Advance Server launch details FFMIC 2025: Tournament schedule and registration information.
