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Time of India
5 days ago
- Time of India
KSRTC buses, stations undergo transformation under waste free Kerala campaign
Thiruvananthapuram: Local self govt minister M B Rajesh said that as part of waste-free Kerala campaign, a remarkable transformation was taking place in KSRTC buses and bus stations. He was speaking at the inauguration of Haritha Sangamam —a one-day workshop, jointly organised by Haritha Keralam Mission and KSRTC on Wednesday. As part of the waste-free campaign, cleaning activities are conducted every Saturday in the offices of the transport department and bus stations. The minister also mentioned that bins were being installed inside the buses and waste was being processed accordingly. Transport minister Ganesh Kumar said it was essential for bus stations to be clean and KSRTC employees have been able to make this practical. "Bus stations are places with the highest footfall in a day. If such places are clean, our land will also be clean. By providing facilities like clean restaurants and restrooms, KSRTC has been able to regain passengers lost during the Covid-19 period," the minister said. On Aug 21 chief minister would flag-off of KSRTC vehicles with the best facilities available in the country. There would also be a KSRTC expo at Kanakakunnu on Aug 22, said the minister. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Free P2,000 GCash eGift UnionBank Credit Card Apply Now Undo The workshop held at Kamaleswaram Convention Centre was attended by KSRTC chairman P S Pramoj Shankar, Nava Keralam action plan coordinator T N Seema, Kerala solid waste management project (KSWMP) director Divya S Iyer and Kamaleswaram ward councillor V Vijayakumari.
Time of India
28-07-2025
- Business
- Time of India
Convention centre plan may be shelved
T'puram: The ambitious International Convention Centre Complex (ICCC) proposed at Akkulam may be shelved yet again as key proceedings on the project have come to a grinding halt. Despite renewed efforts by the tourism department to revive the initiative, delays in securing concurrence from IT department have stalled the land transfer critical to its execution. However, the local legislator said that state govt had no plans to revive it. "I was not even aware that active work was ongoing. As far as I know, this is an old project and govt has no plans to revive it," said Kadakampally Surendran, the local MLA and former tourism minister. His remark reflects growing confusion and inaction around a project that once promised to transform the capital into a hub for MICE (meetings, incentives, conferences and exhibitions) tourism. In sharp contrast to Surendran's statement, tourism department officials maintain that the project was recently reactivated, with efforts made to transfer 49 acres from Technopark to the department. A senior tourism official, who wished to remain unnamed, said: "We had a revival meeting a year ago and have been waiting for IT department's concurrence for the land. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Free P2,000 GCash eGift UnionBank Credit Card Apply Now Undo The project remains a priority, but procedural hurdles are slowing it down." The multi-crore ICCC project — originally conceived over a decade ago — comprises a 1,500-seat convention hall, a hotel, exhibition spaces and even a marina, implemented under a public-private partnership model. A revised detailed project report was prepared in 2019 and major infrastructure player K Raheja Corp showed fresh interest in taking it forward. However, delays on the part of IT department, which oversees Technopark, have caused a bottleneck. Seeram Sambasiva Rao, IT secretary and Technopark executive council chairperson, responded to the matter saying, "I had not seen the file on land transfer. I will check on the technical clearance and expedite it as needed."
Scottish Sun
16-07-2025
- Business
- Scottish Sun
WHSmith posts urgent warning to shoppers so they don't lose out on cash as it rebrands 500 high street stores
Read about the history of WHSmith below... SHOP TO IT WHSmith posts urgent warning to shoppers so they don't lose out on cash as it rebrands 500 high street stores Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) WHSMITH customers have been warned they need to spend their unused gift vouchers before they become worthless. The struggling retailer is set to disappear from the high street in a matter of weeks as its new owner rebrands it to TGJones. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 1 WHSmith has sold its high street shops which are being rebranded Credit: Getty The stationery giant has been a feature of the British high street since the 1800s but has fallen on hard times in recent years. Now Sun checkers can reveal bosses at the ailing favourite are already reminding punters to use their unspent gift vouchers in stores while they are still valid up until the end of June next year. Signs headed "Important Notice on Changes to WHSmith Gift Cards' erected at the firm's Croydon branch in south London state: 'This store, along with all other former high street stores, is now owned and operated by TG Jones. 'This has an impact on how you can use your WHSmith gift card or eGift card. 'You can continue to use your WHSmith gift card or eGift card in this store and in other TGJones, and on up until June 28, 2026, in accordance with the terms and conditions for your WHSmith gift card or eGift card. 'Before and after June 28, 2026, you may continue to use your WHSmith gift card or eGift card in WHSmith stores in travel locations and hospitals (excluding concessions and stores located at motorway service stations, WHSmith Local, London Underground sites or WHSmith franchise stores), in accordance with the terms and conditions for your WHSmith gift card or eGift card.' Consumer experts have urged shoppers to use their vouchers before it's too late. Martyn James, Sun Squeeze Team Member and independent consumer champion, said: 'When a company goes bust, then your vouchers, gift cards and even store credit vanish, never to be seen again. "So, when you hear that a business is in trouble, spend,spend, spend, or lose your credit. 'However, WHSmith didn't go bust, it was purchased by another business. WHSmith sells 500 UK shops "Where this happens and the business rebrands, it is usually down to the business on whether it must honour credit vouchers and gift cards. 'This often depends on whether it was a direct takeover (usually honoured) or the sale of a failing business (the new retailer doesn't take on liability). 'In this case, WHSmith customers have less than a year to spend their vouchers, which in fairness, is often how long they last before expiring anyway. "But, if you have vouchers, get online or in-store and spend them - or risk losing the credit forever.' WHSmith stores that have closed A total of 20 WHSmith stores shut this year ahead of the rebrand. The retailer's Bedford site is set to close on July 5. The store in the Frenchgate Centre in Doncaster closed on May 31, while the Stockton branch also shut on May 17. Branches in Halstead and Woolwich shut on April 12, and Halesowen and Diss followed on April 19. Just a week later, stores in Newport and Haverhill also pulled down the shutters. Reena Sewraz, Which? retail editor, added: 'Usually if a retailer you have a gift card for goes bust, you may struggle to get your money back. 'In this case, WHSmith has been bought and rebranded as TGJones and existing gift cards and vouchers can be used both online and in store up until June 28, 2026. 'Before and after this date, you can still redeem vouchers at WHSmith travel locations, including airports and hospitals. 'If the gift card or voucher was bought through a third party, check to see if the purchaser can approach them for a refund. "The purchaser has no right to a refund but the third-party company may choose to refund you as a gesture of goodwill." Hobbycraft owner Modella Capital agreed a deal to take over the chain's troubled high street arm back in March. As part of the deal, all 464 remaining high street stores are rebranding to TGJones. The sale has now officially completed and the WHSmith website has rebranded, while all stores are listed on Google as TGJones. Some shoppers have already spotted signs going up in stores reading 'Thank you for shopping at TGJones.' Modella put in planning applications to local councils to change the signage on its stores last month. History of WHSmith The rebranding means the WHSmith name will be disappearing from the high street for good. WHSmith's travel stores will still remain in airports, hospitals, railway stations and motorway service areas as these have not been taken over by Modella. The first WHSmith store was opened back in 1792 was opened by Henry Walton Smith and his wife Anna. It was located in Little Grosvenor Street, London and was initially a news vendor. When Henry and Anna died, the business was taken over by their youngest son William Henry Smith. He renamed the business WH Smith & Son in 1846. The business began expanding around this time and opened its first railway news stand at Euston Station in 1848. It opened its first depots two years later in Birmingham, Manchester, and Liverpool. WH Smith & Son continued to be passed down by the family before becoming a limited company in 1928, with all shares owned by the third Viscount. The company became a public limited business in 1948, with staff and members of the public taking shares. The business expanded hugely between the 1970s and 1990s, and during this time changed its name to simply WHSmith. The last member of the Smith family left the board in 1996. Over the years, the brand has sold a variety of products including everything from vinyl records to DVDs and computer games. But it has always been best known for its wide variety of books, stationery, and sweets. In more recent years, WHSmith has struggled on the high street – although its travel sales have surged. The company confirmed in January it would sell off its high street business. Modella then snapped up WHSmith's high street stores after an auction process. Shoppers have also started receiving emails from TGJones. One confused customer wrote on social media: 'I got an email from TG Jones thinking how? Then realised its WHSmith's new name, crazy.' Another added: 'I keep getting emails from someone called TG Jones and it was apparently a company that has changed its name, it was failing to tell me what company…just had another one and it's WHSmith??? WHAT.' Other customers have expressed sadness at the loss of the iconic retailer from Britain's high streets. One wrote: 'New generation will never experience the feeling of going to WHSmith in your Year 6 summer holidays and building a pencil case from scratch and picking all your stationary for Year 7.' Another sad shopper added: 'I did my school shopping every year at WHSmith since reception, same with my sister too, this is so sad.' While a third nostalgic punter wrote: 'My parents met working at WHSmith and they've been married 30 years.' Modella were contacted for comment. Do you have a money problem that needs sorting? Get in touch by emailing money-sm@ Plus, you can join our Sun Money Chats and Tips Facebook group to share your tips and stories
Time of India
10-07-2025
- General
- Time of India
The Huthis' most dangerous Red Sea attacks on commercial ships
Yemen's Huthis had paused their Red Sea attacks on commercial ships, carried out in solidarity with Gaza, for months, before claiming two fresh assaults in recent days, one of them deadly. The Iran-backed rebels have carried out more than 100 attacks on vessels in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden since the start of their campaign in November 2023, according to the Joint Maritime Information Centre, run by a Western naval coalition. Here are the most significant attacks by the Huthis, who say they have targeted ships linked to Israel, after briefly also striking ships with links to its Western allies the United States and Britain. Play Video Pause Skip Backward Skip Forward Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration 0:00 Loaded : 0% 0:00 Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 1x Playback Rate Chapters Chapters Descriptions descriptions off , selected Captions captions settings , opens captions settings dialog captions off , selected Audio Track default , selected Picture-in-Picture Fullscreen This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Opacity Opaque Semi-Transparent Text Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Opacity Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Caption Area Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Opacity Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Drop shadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Free P2,000 GCash eGift UnionBank Credit Card Apply Now Undo - Eternity C - On July 7, a day after attacking the Magic Seas, the Huthis targeted another cargo ship, the Eternity C, for two consecutive days, sinking it and forcing the crew to abandon ship. Live Events Operation Aspides -- the EU naval task force in the Red Sea -- said 10 people had been rescued while others remain missing, including three dead. The rebels said they "rescued" an unspecified number of people aboard the Liberian-flagged bulk carrier, with the United States accusing them of kidnapping the seafarers. - Magic Seas - On July 6, the Huthis attacked and sunk the Greek-owned, Liberian-flagged Magic Seas -- their first such assault in 2025 after more than six months of interruption. All 22 crew members were rescued after they were forced to abandon ship. The rebels released a propaganda video showing masked, armed men storming the Magic Seas and simultaneous explosions that sank the bulk carrier. - Sounion - In August 2024, the Huthis struck the Greek-flagged Sounion oil tanker carrying more than a million barrels of oil off Hodeida, causing a fire and cutting engine power. The crew, 23 Filipinos and two Russians, were rescued the next day by a French frigate operating under the Aspides naval mission. It was eventually towed away and made safe, but had the Sounion broken up or exploded, it could have caused an oil spill four times larger than that caused by the Exxon Valdez in 1989 off Alaska, experts said at the time. - Tutor - In June 2024, the Huthis attacked the Tutor, a Liberian-flagged, Greek-owned merchant ship, killing a Filipino sailor. The vessel, hit off Hodeida, suffered serious flooding and was abandoned before it eventually sank. - True Confidence - In March 2024, three crew were killed and four wounded when a Huthi missile struck the True Confidence merchant vessel, the first fatal attack of the rebels' campaign. The Indian Navy rescued 21 of the crew aboard the Barbados-flagged, Liberian-owned ship, including 13 Filipinos, and took them to Djibouti. The ship, which suffered serious damage, was towed to the port of Al-Duqm in Oman. - Rubymar - In February 2024, the Rubymar, a cargo ship carrying 21,000 tonnes of ammonium phosphate sulfate fertiliser, was hit by a Huthi missile, causing serious damage and forcing the evacuation of its crew to Djibouti. Less than two weeks later, on March 2, the Belize-flagged, British-registered and Lebanese-operated vessel went down south of the Hanish Islands, a Yemeni archipelago, in the first known sinking from the attacks. - Galaxy Leader - The Huthis stormed and hijacked a vehicle-carrier, the Galaxy Leader, in November 2023, detaining its 25 international crew for more than a year. The rebels opened the ship as an attraction for Yemeni tourists who were invited to visit the captured vessel, which was by then flying Yemeni and Palestinian flags off the rebel-held province of Hodeida. The Bahamas-flagged, British-owned Galaxy Leader is operated by a Japanese firm but has links to Israeli businessman Abraham "Rami" Ungar. In July, Israel carried out a wave of strikes on Hodeida, striking the Galaxy Leader, which they said had been outfitted with a radar system to track shipping in the Red Sea.
Time of India
01-07-2025
- Business
- Time of India
Property rates to surge as new circle rates to come into force from Aug 1
L ucknow: Buying residential and commercial properties in Lucknow will soon be a costly affair as the district administration is set to implement revised circle rates from Aug 1. The new rates, reflecting an average increase of 15% across property types, aim to align with the city's rapid urbanization, enhanced infrastructure, and growing property demand, said additional district magistrate (finance), Rakesh Kumar said. The circle rates were last revised in 2015. The administration has proposed revised rates for 77 major arterial roads and 26 authorized residential colonies. Prices of property will undergo a significant surge in prime locations. Property in Gomtinagar will now cost around Rs 7,100-7,500 per sq ft while land in Mahanagar and Indiranagar will cost Rs 6,000 per sq ft. Jankipuram's circle rate will be over Rs 5,000 per sq ft, followed by areas along Shaheed Path, including Ansal and Vrindavan Yojana, where the new rates will be around Rs 4,700 per sq ft. Non-agricultural land will face a steep average hike of 25%, while construction rates for flats in multi-story buildings are proposed to go up by 20%. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Free P2,000 GCash eGift UnionBank Credit Card Apply Now Undo Commercial properties, including plots for shops, offices, and warehouses, will also undergo an average increase of 20%. To rectify inconsistencies in the 2015 assessment, where flat construction rates in some revenue villages and mohallas were lower than commercial rates, a 40% increase has been proposed for commercial properties in specific areas. For non-agricultural plots or buildings used for commercial activities, valuations will be based on the applicable plot rate plus an additional 20% increase. If a commercial plot is explicitly designated as such in the deed or part of an approved master plan, its valuation will be 50% higher than the standard non-agricultural rate. "The administration is inviting public feedback on the proposed rates from July 2-17. Suggestions or objections can be submitted physically at the offices of sub-registrar or the assistant inspector general registration I/II on working days from 10am-5pm, or via email to aiglko01@ or aiglko02@ within the 15-day window," an official said. Get the latest lifestyle updates on Times of India, along with Doctor's Day 2025 , messages and quotes!
