Latest news with #Water
Time of India
an hour ago
- Business
- Time of India
Plum launches new campaign featuring Milind Soman
Plum, a leading Indian skincare and beauty brand, has launched a new campaign film for its 10% Niacinamide Face Serum with Rice Water, featuring Milind Soman, focusing on the idea that "right efforts = bright results." The company is offering insights into the campaign through an interaction with Shankar Prasad, Founder & CEO, Plum, to discuss the consumer insight behind the campaign, Plum's storytelling approach, platform-first thinking, and the brand's future direction. Plum has released a new campaign film for its best-selling 10% Niacinamide Face Serum with Rice Water. The campaign features fitness icon Milind Soman. The core message of the campaign is: right efforts = bright results. The company is making Shankar Prasad, founder and chief executive officer, Plum, available for interaction said, "Shankar would be happy to share further insights, with key discussion points including. The consumer insight that shaped the campaign and how it redefines beauty. How Plum is using storytelling to break formulaic tropes and build emotional connection. Platform-first thinking: reimagining how the campaign will live and breathe across content formats. The evolving narrative of Plum - what this campaign signals about where the brand is headed next." Watch the video here:
New Indian Express
9 hours ago
- General
- New Indian Express
The pits? Rainwater rule is a runoff in Hyderabad
HYDERABAD: As Hyderabad grapples with water shortages and drying borewells, rainwater harvesting remains largely ignored, despite clear mandates from the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC). Between 2020 and 2025, GHMC issued 69,575 building permits. Of these, 23,239 required rainwater harvesting structures (RWHS), yet only 33% complied. In 2024–25 alone, just 4,578 out of 11,509 approved buildings had soak pits. Only 2,036 received occupancy certificates, even though RWHS completion is mandatory. Water sustainability expert Kalpana Ramesh, founder of The Rainwater Project, attributed this to apathy and poor enforcement. 'Even large gated communities let lakhs of litres flow into drains. A 1,000 sq. ft terrace can harvest one lakh litres a year,' she told TNIE, adding that instead of harvesting, crores are spent on deep borewells tapping contaminated, non-renewable groundwater. She warned that rampant concrete construction blocks natural percolation, worsening the crisis. Conservationists are now demanding a zero-discharge policy, with penalties for diverting rainwater into stormwater drains (SWDs). 'If we're fined for sewage violations, why not for wasting clean rainwater?' Kalpana asked, noting that the lost water contributes to urban flooding. Follow-up inspections are lacking, too. Srinivasa Rao, general secretary of the United Federation of Resident Welfare Associations, said soak pits are often dismantled or repurposed as parking or landscaped areas. He suggested levying a 25% property tax penalty if RWHS is missing during random inspections. 'Guidelines alone don't help; we need enforcement,' he told TNIE. The urgency is growing. Many borewells in the city and outskirts went dry this summer, forcing residents to rely on costly water tankers. GHMC has issued advisories urging homeowners without soak pits to construct them immediately. Meanwhile, the Hyderabad Metropolitan Water Supply and Sewerage Board (HMWSSB) has deployed geologists to help design recharge systems as the monsoon arrives. Kalpana emphasised that Hyderabad receives enough rain. 'The problem is runoff, not shortage. If you're not harvesting rainwater or recycling greywater, you're part of the problem,' she said. Although the Water, Land and Trees Act (WALTA) mandates RWHS for properties over 200 sq. metres, weak enforcement renders it toothless. Notices to be issued to 16K households that failed to construct RWH pits: HMWSSB Hyderabad: HMWSSB has decided to issue notices to 16,000 households for failing to construct Rainwater Harvesting Structures (RWHS). So far, with the help of NGOs, 12,000 water harvesting pits have already been constructed and maintained. HMWSSB managing director K Ashok Reddy explained that the recent deficiency in rainfall has caused groundwater levels to decline in many areas, resulting in a steady increase in water tanker requests. To address this, RWHS are now mandatory for all households with plots larger than 300 square yards and recommended for those above 200 square yards. Following the directives of Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy, HMWSSB has initiated a three-month awareness campaign. Ashok Reddy further informed that water tankers are being delivered within 24 hours of booking. In summer, 11,000 tankers were delivered daily; at present, the demand stands at 8,500 tankers per day.
SoraNews24
13 hours ago
- Entertainment
- SoraNews24
What's the best way to spend 1,000 yen at the Seria 100-yen chainstore in Japan?
Find out what US$6.70 gets you at this super popular 100-yen store. With rising prices giving us less for our yen these days, there's never been a better time to hunt for a bargain. So when our team of Japanese-language reporters set out for a new instalment of their popular 'Best Way to Spend 1,000 Yen' series, they decided to check out Seria, one of the most popular 100-yen (US$0.67) chainstores in the country. This is one of the best places to shop for a bargain, so how far would 1,000 yen get you at the chain? To find out, 11 of our reporters put together their best suggestions, with the following caveats: First, none of them would be allowed to exceed the budget by even a single yen, and secondly, food selections were off limits, seeing as food items aren't typically found at most Seria branches. So let's get right to it and see what each of our reporters found for us, starting with… ▼ Yoshio's 'Ultimate Medaka (Killifish) Set' Cleaning dropper: 110 yen Feeding spoon & tweezers: 110 yen Aquarium ornament (cat): 110 yen Zeolite: 110 yen Plant weights: 110 yen Water thermometer: 110 yen Artificial aquatic plant: 110 yen Aqua Friend Moai (decoration): 110 yen Luminous stones: 110 yen Small plastic bags: 3 yen Total: 993 yen 'For me, Seria is a treasure trove for Medaka goods. When you keep Medaka, your aquarium can start to look the same and lose its artistic appeal. That's why I add Seria products to elevate the style. Of course, practical items like droppers and thermometers are also essential. I couldn't fit everything in my tank this time, so please check out a previous tank I styled with Seria goodies.' ▼ Takamichi Furusawa's 'Summer Faux Flower Set' Faux sunflowers: 110 yen ×5 Faux hydrangeas: 110 yen ×3 Faux alstroemeria: 110 yen ×1 Total: 990 yen 'I wanted to bring the beauty of summer indoors so I headed to the faux flower section at Seria. There's a huge variety of faux sunflowers, not just in classic yellow, but also in pink and emerald—so colourful. I love sunflowers the most. Even though these are artificial, their bright flowers really lift my spirits, and I snagged some in-season hydrangeas to complete this summer set. Nine stems for 990 yen made for a pretty substantial bouquet. I'll put them in a vase right away. It might be nice to collect cute interior goods from Seria every once in a while.' ▼ Takashi Harada's 'Water Area Must-Haves Set' Kitchen sponge: 110 yen Bath sponge: 110 yen Drain strainer net: 110 yen Cleaning sheets: 110 yen Kitchen cleaner: 110 yen Washable kitchen towel: 110 yen Toilet cleaner: 110 yen Drainpipe cleaner: 110 yen Washing machine cleaner: 110 yen Total: 990 yen 'Once you start buying water-related cleaning stuff, the list never ends but at 100 yen each, you can stock up without worry. Every item at Seria is 100 yen so getting all this for under a thousand yen is truly amazing — it's the best!' ▼ Ahiruneko's 'Making My Kid's Dream Come True Set' Build-it-yourself dinosaur model: 110 yen Excavation dinosaur figure: 110 yen Soft push dinosaur: 110 yen Block dinosaur toy: 110 yen Fossil dinosaur egg: 110 yen MOVE Dinosaur Bath Bomb ×2: 220 yen Golden dinosaur egg ×2: 220 yen Total: 990 yen 'Whenever I go to a 100-yen shop with my 4-year-old daughter she always begs for toys s o I was finally able to make her dreams come true by saying: 'Pick any nine toys you like!' It was like a dream for her, and because Seria doesn't have toys priced over 500 yen like its rivals Daiso or Can Do, parents don't have to worry. She went bouncing around, picking out what she liked. Since she loves dinosaurs, all nine ended up being dinosaur-themed. Parks are too hot, and taking her to fun facilities costs thousands, so 100-yen stores like Seria are a real help.' ▼ Go Hatori's 'Work Supplies to Help Me Get Stuff Done Set' Dehumidifier ×2: 110 yen each Large disinfectant wet wipes: 110 yen Thermo-hygrometer (temp/humidity meter) ×2: 110 yen each Toothpicks (850): 110 yen Clear pushpins: 110 yen Paper towels: 110 yen 11-pocket clear file: 110 yen Total: 990 yen 'Whenever our team has an idea for a project, the first place we run to is the 100-yen shop. Why? Because we're broke… I mean, because we want to keep costs down! Seria, the nearest shop to our office, is the only one in the industry where every item is actually 100 yen. It's the samurai of 100-yen stores. All these are tools for work. We use so many of these in the office so if you read our site, you'll probably start to notice them here and there.' ▼ Masanuki Sunakoma 's 'The Squeeze Ball Set' Mysterious Ball Luminous MAX (3): 110 yen Color-changing soft mochi: 110 yen Soft squishy bunny (2): 110 yen Soft squishy bear: 110 yen Sparkly water ball: 110 yen Soft, stretchy mysterious ball: 110 yen Total: 990 yen 'After much debate, I went with soft squeeze balls! There are so many at Seria — tonnes of squishy balls and animal characters. Judging by this lineup, my bundle might not be as practical as some of my colleagues' suggestions, but I'm just hoping to share some info!' ▼ Yuuichiro Wasai's: 'Treasure Set for Kids' Bath bomb ×3: 330 yen Sticker book ×2: 220 yen Water gun: 110 yen Swimming turtle: 110 yen Playing water: 110 yen Magnet flag set for learning: 110 yen Total: 990 yen 'No matter how great a 100-yen item is, from an adult's view it's just a convenient product. But for kids, it's a treasure, so my advice is to pick things that'll make your children happy. When I gave one of the sticker books to my three-year-old daughter, she was overjoyed. That smile alone made this lot worth well over 1,000 yen. And if your child is absorbed in toys, adults get some free time too. What does 1,000 yen's worth of toys buy in terms of freedom for adults? Just imagining it makes me want to cry tears of joy.' ▼ Mr Sato's 'The Only-at-Seria MU Set' MU pass case: 110 yen MU A5 clear file: 110 yen MU B5 notebook (B ruled): 110 yen MU sticky notes (40 sheets), ×2: 110 yen each MU fan: 110 yen MU triangle pouch: 110 yen MU acrylic key holder: 110 yen MU aurora multipurpose pouch: 110 yen Total: 990 yen 'Did you know? The monthly paranormal magazine 'MU' is invading Seria! Twenty-nine MU-themed items are available, mostly small goods and accessories — it's wild. A regular collab might offer five or six items, and even 10 would be a lot, but here there are 29! Is this not an invasion? I doubt Seria's usual customers and MU fans overlap much, but that's exactly why I had to buy them. Actually, the designs are really good, and there are plenty of cute items. I recommend checking them out.' ▼ Seiji Nakazawa's 'A Pipe Cleaner for 110 Yen Is Unbelievably Cheap Set' Pipe cleaner 500 grams: 110 yen Pipe cleaner 500 grams: 110 yen Herbal Sleep pipe cleaner 400 millilitres: 110 yen Herbal Sleep pipe cleaner 400 millilitres: 110 yen Herbal Sleep pipe cleaner 400 millilitres: 110 yen Fresh 600 grams: 110 yen Kaneyo laundry soap 'Aokaku': 110 yen Insect cap for air conditioner drain hose: 110 yen Vent fan cover: 110 yen Total: 990 yen 'I had never shopped at Seria before. As someone who lives a simple life, Seria's slight stylishness, compared to other 100-yen stores, actually felt unnecessary so I found myself wandering around the store thinking, what would I even use? That's when a bottle of Pipe Cleaner caught my eye. Looking closer, the 500-gram ones were low in stock — a sign of popularity. At 110 yen for 500 grams, it's super cheap. When you use pipe cleaner you use it liberally, so you can never have too much. So, by focusing on Pipe Cleaner products and a few insect-repellent items, I was able to boost my summer defenses.' ▼ P.K. Sanjun's 'Supplies You'll Never Regret Buying Set' Disinfectant wet wipes ×3: 330 yen Portable disinfectant wet wipes ×2: 220 yen Smartphone glass screen protector ×2: 220 yen Glasses cleaner: 110 yen Toothbrush for gaps: 110 yen Small plastic bags: 3 yen Total: 993 yen 'All I know about Seria is it has cute water bottles and wrapping paper, but I don't actually go there much. Even at Daiso, I mostly buy snacks. So this time, I went for stuff you'll never regret having on hand. Disinfectant wipes, smartphone glass, specialty toothbrushes — no regrets here, right? When in doubt, I always buy disinfectant wipes.' ▼ Mariko Ohanabatake's 'Perfectly Cute Picnic Set, Chosen by a Picnic Pro' Aluminum picnic sheet: 110 yen Paper cups (lemon & olive design), 15: 110 yen Paper bowls, set of 4: 110 yen Paper plates, set of 10: 110 yen Spoons & forks, 4 sets: 110 yen Craft-wrapped bamboo chopsticks, set of 25: 110 yen Mini pocket tissue, set of 6: 110 yen Nonwoven disposable wipes, set of 8: 110 yen Freestanding desktop trash bin, set of 12: 110 yen Total: 990 yen 'What makes Seria stand out among 100-yen shops is definitely its design. They're especially good at cute 'sometimes-you-need-it' items targeted at young women. As a picnic lover, I recommend Seria's disposable paperware for its wide range of designs and sizes. They're cheaper and cuter than convenience store options, and you can easily put together a complete and adorable picnic set. Pocket tissues, wipes, and trash bags are must-haves. Please try this set for cherry blossom picnics, beach trips, or BBQs!' So there you have it — 11 ways to spend 1,000 yen at Seria. Which one would you spend your money on? Let us know in the comments below and don't forget to check out the cheap finds at Daiso as well! Photos ©SoraNews24 ● Want to hear about SoraNews24's latest articles as soon as they're published? Follow us on Facebook and Twitter! [ Read in Japanese ]
Yahoo
21 hours ago
- Climate
- Yahoo
Bodies of missing Mobile couple, granddaughter recovered after deadly Texas flood
Rescuers in Texas have completed the search for a missing Mobile couple and their granddaughter that were swept away from their cabin in Kerrville in the catastrophic Texas flood on July 4. The bodies of Ileana Santana and her 5-year-old granddaughter, Mila Rose, were found on Tuesday, according to family members on Facebook. Rescuers recovered Eddie Santana Sr.'s body on July 11. Ileana and Eddie Santana Sr. were staying at HTR TC Hill Country Campground in Kerrville with their son, Eddie Santana Jr., his wife Camille and their daughter Mila Rose when their cabin was swept away by the rapidly rising floodwaters. The Guadalupe River borders the campground, and water levels climbed 26 feet in just 45 minutes. Santana Jr. managed to escape the flood waters after being sucked in by climbing onto a tree, where he held on for hours before being rescued. He was hospitalized with head and side lacerations and released on July 6. On July 8, search crews recovered the body of Camille with her sister, Kali, confirming the news in a Facebook post. 134 reported dead, an Alabama girl reported among victims The flooding has claimed the lives of at least 134 people, and crews are still searching for at least 101 individuals who are still missing. The hardest hit county, Kerr County, reported 107 deaths, with at least three dozen of them being children. It is reported that at least 97 people are still missing in the county. Among the victims was Sarah Marsh, an eight-year-old from Mountain Brook, Alabama. She was attending Camp Mystic, a Christian retreat for girls located near the Guadalupe River. Gov. Kay Ivey deploys special teams from Alabama to aid in search efforts On Saturday, Gov. Kay Ivey announced additional Alabama firefighters have been deployed to assist in search and rescue efforts after her initial deployment of Alabama Task Force 1. 'Alabama's response to Texas is growing even stronger,' said Gov. Ivey. 'We are sending more boots on the ground from Central and North Alabama, and these brave men and women are trained, prepared and committed to making a difference. Our state is proud to stand shoulder to shoulder with Texas in this critical hour. As long as there's help to be given, Alabama will be in the fight.' Two Type III Swift Water Teams were deployed to aid in rescue efforts. The teams are specially trained and equipped to operate in large-scale flood zones, as flooding continues and new forecasts warn of more to come. Jennifer Lindahl is a Breaking and Trending Reporter for the Deep South Connect Team for Gannett/USA Today. Connect with her on X @jenn_lindahl and email at jlindahl@ This article originally appeared on Montgomery Advertiser: Bodies of Mobile couple found after deadly Texas flood on July 4
The Citizen
a day ago
- Entertainment
- The Citizen
Before the Fame, She Painted: Tyla's Journey
Before Tyla became a Grammy-winning global pop sensation, she was already dazzling Edenglen High School, not just with her voice, but her paintbrush too. The 'Water' hitmaker was an award-winning actress, singer, and fine artist. She created life-size paintings that are now resurfacing in her chart-topping music videos. The Edglen high standout Tyla painting. Picture: Supplied Long before Tyla Seethal took home a Grammy and topped global charts, she was turning heads in the hallways of Edenglen High School. Known for her fierce dedication and magnetic stage presence, Tyla scooped up both Best Actress and Singer of the Year at the school's awards. Tyla Seethal. Picture: Instagram 'She was always destined for greatness,' said a former drama teacher at Edenglen. 'She didn't just participate, she owned every performance, whether it was a solo in the music room or a dramatic monologue on stage.' Tyla Seethal. Picture: Instagram But while many know Tyla for her viral dance moves and smooth vocals, few are aware that she was also an accomplished fine artist during her school days. Life-size art and music collide Tyla Seethal. Picture: Instagram Tyla's artistic flair wasn't confined to the stage. She was especially drawn to painting. She often worked on large, life-sized canvases that depicted bold themes of identity, emotion, and femininity. Tyla Seethal. Picture: Instagram Some of these artworks have even appeared in the backgrounds of her music videos. Most notably in the song ART, where her signature visuals blend fashion, fine art, and sound. Tyla Seethal. Picture: Instagram 'Art was always part of my world,' Tyla shared in a past interview. 'It was a way to express parts of myself that music couldn't always capture.' Tyla Seethal Artwork. Picture: Instagram Her Edenglen High art teacher once called her work 'intuitive and cinematic,' praising her attention to detail and emotional storytelling through brushstrokes. Multitalented and unstoppable Tyla Seetal. Picture: Instagram Today, Tyla is known globally, not just as a singer, but as a full-spectrum entertainer. In 2024, she became the first female South African artist since Miriam Makeba to win a Grammy. She took home Best African Music Performance for her viral hit Water. She has since appeared on The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon, profiled by Vogue and Billboard, and graced major fashion runways. Tyla Seethal. Picture: Instagram And yet, it's her early creative roots that continue to inspire fans. Whether she's dancing on TikTok, performing on world stages, or standing next to her artwork in a music video, Tyla remains a modern renaissance woman. And who knows? Maybe her next exhibit will be a solo art show to match her sold-out world tour.
