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India.com
14-07-2025
- India.com
The Most Beautiful Story Walk In Shimla Walls Windows And Secrets To Discover
In the heights of the Himalayas, Shimla is known to be more than just a simple hill station. It is a living museum. Every corner has a street that holds a story, so does every wall. The town looks like a sepia photograph where history and modernism are beautifully blended. That's the reason lovers and travelers are captivated. The place is famously called 'The Queen of Hills,' and on taking a stroll in the town, you will realize why. The architecture itself tells a story of the British rule and Indian culture that has molded it. The fainted weathered walls, royal structures, and murals are a part of a big tale of love, struggle, and resilience. The Building Heritage From Colonial Times No one can fail to mention Shimla's distinctive colonial buildings. These structures are not mere echoes of history, but instead represent the legacy of Shimla's status during the summer period of the Raj. Mall Road, the main street of the city leads to Christ church which boasts its height and splendor and catches your attention. The church, with its stained-glass windows and elaborate wooden constructions, calls to mind Sunday services attended by officials in Victorian England in stunning suits and ladies in elegant gowns. Astonishingly, every other building in the area seems to tell a historical tale. The Indian Institute of Advanced studies, which used to be The Viceregal Lodge, is stationed at the peak of Observatory Hill and provides splendid views of the bordering mountains. Serving British Viceroys as a residence and being the place where thorough India policies were formulated, this sandstone wonder had its share of creating India's fate. Strolling in its corridors today, one can easily imagine one hearing the powerful voices of fierce debates that passed through its walls. Even the tiniest structures, like the charming cottages and bungalows that sit on the hills, have their part to tell. Most of these structures still have name plates of their previous inhabitants – British officials, traders, and even missionaries who used to reside in Shimla. At first sight, these simple dwellings appear mundane, however they conceal secrets of lives that once existed, which are now lost in time and are waiting for someone to uncover them. Mural Painting – Untitled Documentaries Apart from Shimla's British vintage buildings, the city's skyline also boasts of modern art. Lately, dull walls have been transformed with bright and bold murals, making the walls more appealing and adding liveliness to the streets. They often portray themes out of the local culture like rural scenes, celebrations, and folklore legends unique to the Himachal region. These pieces of art are a symbol of Shimla rooted memories, their existence serves as a reminder of unfading connections even with Westernization. Consider the renowned 'Wall of Stories' close to Lakkar Bazaar. In this location, dull surfaces made of concrete have been inundated by artists who have approached this place like a canvas over which vivid art pieces or poignant imagery has been splashed. One mural shows a shepherd looking after a flock of sheep under a starlit sky. In contrast, one shows women empowerment through strong portraits of tribal women decked in traditional jewellery. These works of art motivate people to stop for a moment in order to cross between different age groups and instill the feeling of pride in the community. Hidden Gems and Forgotten Tales In Shimla, there are equally captivating stories hidden away from the well-traveled pathways that most tourists frequent. If you wander from the main road, you might discover paths which are filled with old shops that deal in customized shawls as well as fragrant spices. Sideways such as these are testimonies to the everyday life of Shimla, as they are far removed from the constant hustle and bustle of the tourist attractions. The Ridge is a perfect place to view historical constructions and is what could be termed as a town gem. Not only is it popular with tourists, but locals love this area as well. It is rich with photo opportunities but what many people seem to overlook is the network of tunnels built during WWII below them. These tunnels still remain largely unexplored, and serve as an escape route in case of emergencies. The tunnels, along with the beautiful landscape, serve to elevate the Ridge to new levels of mesmerizing. Similarly, the Jakhu temple is also popular among locals and tourists. Not only is the temple dedicated to Lord Hanuman, the location at which it is built is simply stunning as well. One of the most famous myths surrounding the temple is the impression Lord Rama supposedly left in the region during the search for Sita. It is believed he rested at Jakhu hill and left an imprint of his feet. Devotees of all kinds trek to try and receive blessings as this place seems to be spiritual. Nature's Canvas Because of the dense cedar forests, rivers that flow like waterfalls, and mountains shrouded in mist, Shimla provides quite a fascinating backdrop to tell a story. During winters, the city is covered in a blanket of snow, transforming it into the perfect fairytale setting. Even the trees within Shimla seem to come alive and whisper secrets with the rustle of their leaves, releasing bits and pieces of conversations that happened ages ago. An example of this is the leisurely walk along the Kalka-Shimla Railway track, another UNESCO World Heritage Site. On this route there are little modern villages where life moves at a slower pace. Everything along this narrow train line will allow you to appreciate the essence of nature and the beauty of rural simplicity. Wrap up The special walk within the city of Shimla is like skimming through the pages of a comic book where every chapter unveils something that can take one by surprise. From breathtaking street art, temples, colonial architecture, to secret tunnels, every element within Shimla makes it what it is. However, what really sets Shimla apart from the rest is its ability to immerse you into its astonishing story. Next time you find yourself at this lovely hill station remember to look deeper. Listen to the stories the walls tell, the mountains help guide you, and let shimla enchant you with its magic. Certainly in this city every step tells a unique story and each story transforms a part of your soul.
USA Today
07-07-2025
- Business
- USA Today
St. Cloud Quarterly Business Report finds local growth despite tariff worries
ST. CLOUD, Minn. — area business owners are seeing success despite concerns surrounding economic conditions like tariffs, a new St. Cloud-area business report found. The newest edition of the St. Cloud Area Quarterly Business Report, released June 26, found signs of healthy business activity for local companies, though business owners are still worried about impacts of national economic conditions at home. Employment, wages and prices received for products all picked up this past quarter, the report found, which suggest some slight economic growth in the area. However, business owners' concerns about national economic conditions, namely tariffs, cast a shadow over the majority of survey responses. King Banaian, a St. Cloud State University economics professor and director of the university's Center for Policy Research and Community Engagement, discussed the report's findings at Granite Innovations. His presentation was titled "Negotiating the Wall of Worry." It addressed the theme of worry across much of the report. "In terms of future conditions, I would say people are feeling good, but they're not super optimistic, but they feel like they're managing through whatever issues they see in the national environment," Banaian said. Many business owners who participated in the survey used in the report were especially nervous about the impacts of tariffs, with 32% saying they did not know how tariffs would impact their business. "Most of what we sell is imported directly or indirectly, and the constantly changing policies are making it very difficult for us and our clients to plan and navigate," a respondent cited in the report's review said. New medical school: Construction almost complete at St. Cloud's new medical school The Trump administration's new tariff rates are scheduled to restart July 8 after a 90-day pause, though there is a chance that the trade deal deadline could be extended, according to USA Today. The majority of local business owners also plan to pass the costs of increased tariffs onto consumers, the report found, with 56% of respondents planning to pass most tariff costs onto consumers and another 22% planning to pass on all additional costs. The report also found mixed responses on how tariffs may impact local businesses, with 37% of respondents expecting to be impacted negatively and 26% anticipating no impact at all. However, another 5% expect positive impacts, which Banaian said points to the diversity of companies in town, and this could be from business-to-business producers. "When we talk to local businesses, they're aware of (tariffs), they're incorporating it into their plans, and they're not panicked about it," Banaian said. "They seem like they're in a place where they're willing to... muddle through." The Quarterly Business Report also explored the anticipated impacts of a new Minnesota paid family and medical leave law that will take effect in January 2026. This law allows most workers to take up to 12 weeks of paid leave for the birth of a child, recovering from injuries or taking care of a parent in hospice. Several lawmakers and business groups opposed the law due to concerns it could place stress on small business owners. A third of survey respondents said they've reached out to the government for guidance on the new policy and another third said they have reached out to state officials for relief. Benton Solar: New solar facility could bring major investments, hundreds of jobs to St. Cloud area Despite concerns about national economic conditions and policy changes, the report found signs of local economic success in its review of local economic indicators. The Leading Economic Indicators, six measurements that are part of each quarterly report, hinted at slight growth over the past quarter and a growth of 1.1% in local private employment over the next four to six months. Professional employment, the St. Cloud Stock Price Index and current economic conditions all improved, though initial claims for unemployment insurance increased and there was no change in new business incorporations. As a result, Banaian said current conditions hint at a slight downturn in the future. He also believes a recession is less likely than he thought at the time of the last Quarterly Business Report, but he is not ruling out the possibility. Despite the mixed signals, Banaian commended the optimism of local business owners and said it is understandable to be worried about tariffs and other economic conditions. "I'm not telling people not to worry; I don't mean that," he said. "I mean that the economy can continue to grow even while worrying because markets are really efficient processors of information... there's a base of optimism in our local leaders that recognizes those concerns and says, 'I'm going to be okay.'" Teagan King covers business and development for the St. Cloud Times. She can be reached at teking@
Yahoo
13-05-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
C8 Corvette Refresh Moves It More Into The Modern Era
Read the full story on The Auto Wire Much has been said, both positive and negative, about the C8 Corvette and its cockpit. But Chevrolet has revealed for the 2026 a new design will change some things, including taking out the so-called Great Wall of Buttons. Like all modern vehicles, digital screens are bigger and take over even more, but we have mixed feelings about of a bunch of buttons, the C8 Corvette will have three larger screens to help the driver monitor what's going on and control different functions. The gauge cluster screen is now 12.7 inches and the infotainment screen is 14 inches. Plus, there's a new 6.6 inch auxiliary touchscreen on the driver's left At least not all the physical buttons will be gone and while we weren't big fans of the layout before, we're unsure how user-friendly this redesign will be. Another big change has to do with software. The PDR recorder has been improved, as has the Corvette Performance App. Plus, there's a new PTM-Pro setting for track driving. Not only is the Great Wall of Buttons gone, the whole center console has been redesigned. One of the changes is the drive mode selector being relocated by the gear selector. Redesigned cupholders feature ambient lighting and in higher trims also feature aluminum. Plus, there's a wireless charging pad for your phone, which admittedly is a nice feature to have. In addition, five new interior colors are coming. GM hasn't said what current interior colors will be ended. For the exterior, there will be two new paint options: Roswell Green Metallic and Blade Silver Metallic. Plus, blue brake calipers will be available for the Z06 and E-Ray. Perhaps the biggest change is the Targa roof with electrochromatic glass the driver can lighten or darken. One thing that's obvious about this move is GM refreshing the C8 Corvette is a planned move to reinvigorate sales. That's why mid-cycle refreshes are a thing as cars and their designs get a little stale. But we have mixed feelings about this one. We're also not sure if this will result in a sales bump for the 2026 models, something that's needed as C8 Corvettes that were once red hot are now stacking up at dealerships. Will this turn things around? Will the presence of more screens and fewer buttons turn buyers off even more? We'll have to see when the 2026 Corvettes start coming into the market. Image via Chevrolet Join our Newsletter, subscribe to our YouTube page, and follow us on Facebook.
Time of India
11-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Is Aaron Rodgers signing with the Pittsburgh Steelers? Owner Art Rooney drops major hint
The whispers around Aaron Rodgers potentially landing in Pittsburgh are no longer just speculation—they're getting louder and clearer. While the quarterback has remained officially silent, signs are pointing toward a black and gold future. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now Amid off-season rumors, golf course gossip, and mounting insider claims, the most telling indicator came from the top. Steelers owner Art Rooney II recently spoke out, suggesting that Rodgers is indeed eyeing a move to the Steel City. With Pittsburgh's quarterback room in flux, the four-time MVP could soon provide the veteran presence it sorely needs. Who will start at QB for the Pittsburgh Steelers in 2025? Aaron Rodgers emerges as frontrunner has always made waves both on and off the field—and this offseason, it's no different. The 2023 AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am champion turned heads last year by teaming up with Canadian golfer Ben Silverman to win the event. While Silverman missed the pro cut, Rodgers' clutch play pushed the duo to 26-under-par, clinching victory by a stroke in his ninth attempt at the tournament. It was a bucket-list moment, earning him a spot on the Wall of Champions at Pebble Beach alongside legends like Tiger Woods and Jack Nicklaus. But this year, Rodgers isn't chasing another golf trophy. Instead, it's what he's doing off the green that has Steelers fans buzzing. Recently, Andrew Fillipponi of 93.7 The Fan reported that Rodgers had 'allegedly joined Nevillewood Country Club ,' a prestigious Jack Nicklaus-designed course nestled in suburban Pittsburgh. 'Another sign he's signing with the Steelers,' Fillipponi teased. That rumor ignited excitement—until CBS Sports anchor Rich Walsh countered the claim. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now 'This rumor is NOT true,' Walsh reported, citing a conversation with Club President Wayne Chiurazzi, who stated, 'Aaron Rodgers did not join. The Club would love to have him if he does sign with the Steelers.' Despite the golf course drama, the most compelling clue came straight from Steelers ownership. After Day 2 of the 2025 NFL Draft, Art Rooney II addressed the situation: 'We're still kind of getting the same signals that we've been getting recently. He does want to come here, so I do think we may get word soon.' Also Read: With Mason Rudolph , Skylar Thompson , and rookie Will Howard making up the Steelers' current QB roster, there's no clear starter in sight. The team appears poised for a veteran addition—and Rodgers fits the mold perfectly. While nothing is signed yet, all signs suggest that Aaron Rodgers' next chapter could unfold in Pittsburgh.
Yahoo
09-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
More than $220 million in contracts canceled by Musk and DOGE have been brought back
More than $220 million worth of contracts cancelled by Elon Musk's Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) have been brought back. Forty-four of the government contracts ended by DOGE and Musk have been revived by federal agencies, according to a federal spending data review by The New York Times. However, DOGE still lists 43 of those contracts on its website as having been terminated, and some were added after they had been restored. This led to several data errors on the site. The White House told the outlet that the paperwork lag would be fixed. The contracts that have been rekindled include everything from software license agreements to partnerships with vendors in charge of data and records for the government. Most of the contracts came to an end in February and March amid demands that agencies make massive cutbacks. Agencies subsequently restored the contracts, at times only days after they had been cancelled. For instance, the Environmental Protection Agency restored a contract after two and a half hours, but DOGE still listed the contract as canceled for weeks. The contract was subsequently extended, now costing more than previously. Musk and DOGE set out to cut $1 trillion out of the $7 trillion federal budget, but the backtracking on cancelled contracts revealed the difficulties of making such expansive cuts. Contractors told the paper that as DOGE rushed to urge agencies to cancel contracts that were likely to be revived, as some were required by law, and some required skills that the government doesn't have. 'The DOGE Wall of Receipts provides the latest and most accurate information following a thorough assessment, which takes time,' White House spokesperson Harrison Fields told The New York Times. 'Updates to the DOGE savings page will continue to be made promptly, and departments and agencies will keep highlighting the massive savings DOGE is achieving.' DOGE has listed over 9,400 contracts it claims to have cancelled, totalling $32 billion in savings. The group claims to have saved $165 billion in taxpayer funds in total. The White House spokesperson told The New York Times that the reversals it had found were 'small potatoes' in comparison. Musk has said from the beginning that the government would most likely have to backtrack on some of its spending cuts. Appearing on the Joe Rogan podcast in February, Musk said, 'We need to act fast to stop wasting billions of dollars of taxpayer money. But if we make a mistake, we'll reverse it quickly.' However, Musk also said that DOGE would share the details of its work publicly, saying that they 'can name the specifics, line by line.' But The New York Times found several errors on the so-called 'Wall of Receipts,' often inflating the supposed savings. DOGE has taken credit for ending programs that finished years or at times decades ago. It has also counted the same cancellations more than once and, at one point, shared a claim that jumbled 'billion' and 'million.' This month, DOGE removed a contract that had been cancelled for less than a day, but also added five revived contracts to its 'terminations' list, claiming $57 million in savings, which had already been restored, according to the paper. Contractor Larry Aldrich was told in February that his contract doing web design and making videos for the Department of Veterans Affairs site for veterans with PTSD had been cancelled. The agreement was reinstated two weeks later. 'The V.A. cannot do this work on its own,' Aldrich told the paper. 'They don't have the manpower or the skill set.' The reversal started in the middle of February, less than a month into President Donald Trump's second stint in the White House. On February 14, Raquel Romero and her husband lost their contract offering leadership training to Agriculture Department attorneys. They regained $45,000 in revenue when all their other federal business had dried up. 'We had lost all of the income that we were planning for calendar year 2025. We've had to sell our house. We're in the process of moving into a condo,' she told The New York Times. The department told the paper that it revived the contracts after finding that it was required by law. Romero added that she believed the reversal was due to a personal intervention by one attorney in the department, who Romero said retired two weeks later. Regarding contract reversals, the Department of Veterans Affairs comes on top with 16 cancelled and revived contracts. According to veterans' groups speaking to the paper, some of the contracts were required by law, noting that one contract was for a contractor who helped veterans search for military records as evidence when applying for benefits, which was restored after just eight days. Even with the revived contracts, experts say DOGE's cuts have damaged the quality of government services. 'There doesn't seem to be an approach to dig in on places where government services could really be improved,' the executive director of the Yale Budget Lab, Martha Gimbel, recently told The Guardian. 'Any improvement in government services takes time. You have to invest. You have to build it out. You have to figure out how to fix it.' 'There has clearly been a degeneration of government services,' she added. DOGE claimed to have saved $38 million over several years at the Department of Education after ending a contract to manage a data repository about schools across the country. However, lawmakers and advocates pushed back, arguing that the law required the information to be gathered for the government to know which schools were eligible for some grants. The contract was resurrected after 18 days; however, $17 million in funding had been removed. The E.P.A. signed a contract with a company in Maryland in 2023 to help raise awareness about asthma. Contracting data revealed it was cancelled just after 4.30 p.m. on March 7 of this year. That same night, shortly before 7 p.m., it was reinstated. The E.P.A. told the paper that the reinstatement of a contract shows that the agency found that 'funding action supported Administration priorities.' The agency extended the contract for another year last month, agreeing to pay $171,000 more than before the contract was cancelled. The Independent has contacted the White House for comment.
