Latest news with #sacrifice
Times of Oman
4 days ago
- Politics
- Times of Oman
Kargil Vijay Diwas reminds us of unparalleled courage, valor of brave sons of Mother India: PM Modi
New Delhi: Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday extended greetings on the occasion of Kargil Vijay Diwas and remembered the sacrifices of the jawans, who fought in the Kargil War with courage and valour. PM Modi said that sacrifices made by the jawans will continue to inspire every generation. "Heartfelt greetings to the countrymen on Kargil Vijay Diwas. This occasion reminds us of the unparalleled courage and valour of those brave sons of Mother India who dedicated their lives to protect the nation's pride. Their passion to sacrifice everything for the motherland will continue to inspire every generation," PM Modi posted on X. President Droupadi Murmu on Saturday also extended her greetings on the occasion of Kargil Vijay Diwas. "On the occasion of Kargil Vijay Diwas, I pay my heartfelt tribute to the brave soldiers who sacrificed their lives for the motherland. This day symbolises the extraordinary valour, courage, and steadfast determination of our jawans. Their dedication and supreme sacrifice for the nation will forever inspire its citizens," the President posted on X. On Friday, families of army personnel who made the ultimate sacrifice during the Kargil War of 1999 gathered at Lamochen Viewpoint in Drass to pay heartfelt tributes to the heroes of the war. The solemn event, organised to honour the bravery and sacrifice of the Indian Armed Forces, saw emotional recollections from family members of fallen soldiers. Rajesh, the brother of a soldier who lost his life at Tiger Hill, recounted the poignant memories left behind in his brother's diary. "My brother lost his life while serving the nation in the line of action at Tiger Hill. When we got news about the war, we wrote a letter to him, but he told us he wasn't involved in the action. After reading his diary, we learned he was in the war and lied to keep us from worrying. He wrote that he felt he wouldn't come down the hill and handed his diary to a friend before going up," Rajesh said. Surekha Shinde, another family member, shared her pride and gratitude while honouring her brother, who served for five years before the Kargil War."My brother had been in service for five years before the war started. I feel proud coming to this place, and I thank the army for this invitation," she said. The gathering at Lamochen Viewpoint served as a poignant reminder of the courage and selflessness displayed by Indian soldiers during the Kargil conflict. Every year on July 26, India commemorates Kargil Vijay Diwas, a day etched in the nation's heart with pride and solemn remembrance. It marks the day in 1999 when India successfully concluded Operation Vijay, reclaiming the strategic heights from Pakistani intruders. The Kargil War is a saga of strong political, military and diplomatic actions. This War will always be remembered for its strategic and tactical surprises, as well as the self-imposed national strategy of restraint in keeping the war limited to the Kargil-Siachen sectors and the swiftly executed tri-services military strategy. The Kargil War lasted for more than 60 days and concluded on July 26, 1999, with a gallant victory for India. Indian armed forces successfully reclaimed the command of the high outposts that were treacherously occupied by Pakistani soldiers during the winter months. According to IAF, Operation Safed Sagar, the Indian Air Force's codename for its air operations during the 1999 Kargil War, was a trailblazer in many ways and proved that air power could decisively alter the course of battle without crossing international boundaries. The operation was launched on May 26, 1999, marking the first large-scale use of air power in Kashmir since 1971 and demonstrating the effectiveness of limited air asset use in a localised conflict.
CBS News
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- CBS News
Colorado's Central City Opera performs regional premiere of powerful, patriotic contemporary opera
"The Knock" is a contemporary opera making it's regional premiere at Central City Opera's 2025 Festival. "There's 20 women on stage. We know that one of them is going to get terrible life changing news. In the end, what happens is everyone's life is changed," said Alison Moritz, Artistic Director for Central City Opera and Stage Director for "The Knock." The 20 women are the wives of military men deployed in Iraq. There has been a battle and the women are watching, waiting to hear about their loved ones. "The Knock" captures a moment in military life that is not often seen. "The sacrifice does not come from the service member alone, but it comes from the entire family," Moritz explained. The women come together in community to support each other, juxtaposed with the story of the notification officer. "Lt. Roberto Gonzales is a notification officer," said Armando Contreras, who sings the part in the Central City Opera production. This is the fourth time Contreras has sung the part. "I spend the whole opera pretty much in the car processing, 'Oh my gosh, I have to deliver this awful news,'" Contreras explained. Contreras teaches opera at the University of Northern Colorado and has a long history with Central City Opera. "So many firsts happened to me here at Central City. This was the first young artist program I ever did. This is where I made my professional debut," he recalled. In "The Knock," he undergoes a transformation as he struggles with the news he has to deliver. "His attitude toward service completely changes. I think that's just an incredible catharsis. Something that opera can really do beautifully," Moritz said. "The Knock" is set in Colorado. From the mountainous background set to the description of Colorado Springs landmarks, the state plays a prominent role as the story evolves. "The idea of having the landscape echo an interior journey," Moritz added. The emotional journey is also reflected in and emphasized by the original score. The music heightens the drama. "Where you have to sit with a feeling for longer than would be typically comfortable in your everyday life, and I think that's the power in this opera," Moritz said. The power of this four century old art form lends itself completely to the telling of this modern day tale. "The Knock" is powerful and at times hard. "The Knock" is one of three shows making up this year's Central City Opera Festival. The other two are "The Barber of Seville" and "Once Upon a Mattress." The festival wraps up on August 3, 2025. You can find tickets and information about Central City Opera's 2025 Festival online.
The Independent
7 days ago
- Climate
- The Independent
Couple wades through knee-deep water to marry in flooded church as Typhoon Wipha lashes Philippines: ‘It's a test'
A Filipino couple didn't let a typhoon deter them from celebrating their wedding day. Despite knee-high water flooding their church, Filipino couple Jade Rick Verdillo and Jamaica Aguilar decided to go ahead with their scheduled wedding. The couple exchanged their vows on Tuesday in front of friends and family inside the historic Barasoain Church in Malolos in Bulacan province, according to reports. The church had flooded after relentless rains, intensified by Typhoon Wipha, swept across the region as part of a deluge that submerged large swathes of the Philippines. The couple had anticipated the risk but refused to let it derail their plans. 'We just mustered enough courage,' Mr Verdillo told the Associated Press. 'We decided today because it is a sacrifice in itself. But there will [be] more sacrifices if we don't push through today.' Ms Aguilar glided down the aisle in a flowing white gown, her train trailing across the water, as Mr Verdillo stood waiting at the altar, solemn and proud in his traditional Barong Tagalog – a traditional Filipino formal garment worn by men. They have been together for ten years. The pictures from the wedding showed guests with rolled-up trousers wading through knee-deep water. Inside the flooded Barasoain Church, pews stood partially submerged as friends and family sat with water lapping at their ankles. The groom said: 'I feel that challenges won't be over. It's just a test. This is just one of the struggles that we've overcome.' The photos also captured the bride's train floating on the water, a child offering flowers barefoot, and guests smiling through the flood. Despite the storm, family and friends waded through floodwaters inside the church to attend the ceremony. 'You will see love prevailed because even against weather, storm, rains, floods, the wedding continued,' said Jiggo Santos, a wedding guest. 'It's an extraordinary wedding.' On 30 July 2023, another Filipino couple, Dianne Victoriano and Paulo Padilla, were also married in the flood-hit Barasoain Church, wading through ankle-deep water to exchange vows. Meanwhile, in the Philippines, more than 80,000 people remain in emergency shelters following weekend floods and landslides that killed at least three people.
Independent Singapore
7 days ago
- Business
- Independent Singapore
Man works 20 hours a day with one day off a week to chase financial freedom, asks locals, 'Is this sacrifice really worth it?'
SINGAPORE: How far would you go to achieve financial freedom? For one man, the answer appears to be working nearly 20 hours a day across two full-time jobs, with just one day of rest a week! In a Reddit post, the man shared that he has been juggling a night shift from 8 p.m. to 8 a.m., followed immediately by a morning job from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. He has maintained this routine for the past three months in a bid to clear his debts, build an emergency fund, and begin investing. According to him, this decision was not made lightly. He explained, 'I didn't see any chance of getting a job that pays S$4 to S$5k, let alone hitting the S$10k mark with just one job, so I'm working two jobs to beat that ceiling.' The man said that while he does feel very proud every time he receives his pay cheque (or rather, pay cheques), his body feels battered and 'running on low battery.' 'When I look in the mirror, I honestly look like I have cancer, pale, exhausted, just like a zombie,' he wrote. 'I feel drained all the time. My heart is starting to show signs of palpitations and stress. I barely have a social life anymore.' At the end of his post, the man asked other members of the Reddit community: 'Is this sacrifice really worth it? Has Singapore really become like this? Two Jobs, No Life! Is this what success feels like, or am I crazy? For those who've been through something similar, how do you cope?' he continued. 'Am I making the right choice?' 'Success amounts to nothing when your health suffers.' Under the man's post, many expressed that they were quite alarmed by his gruelling schedule and suggested that he scale back on his hustle and just focus on one job. Many told the man that his physical and mental health should always, always take precedence over everything else, even financial stability. One individual commented, 'Wait, what—where's the sleep? Bro, I get the financial stress, but that's not success at all. That's just waiting for your body to fail – and fail big. 'Stretch your body like that, and whatever 'success' you earnt will be wiped out instantly through bills and a poor quality of life. It's just not worth it. Drop one job, focus on resting up, and then think about how you can earn more with one job.' Another wrote, 'I think it's time to build some skills so that you can live off just 1 job and maybe have a side hustle if you want. Tearing down your body with no rest is a surefire way to screw up your health, which you cost you in medical bills and earning potential if it turns into something chronic.' A third added, 'I think success amounts to nothing when your health suffers and you can't enjoy what you worked hard towards. Since you have no debt, I think focus on upskilling and increase the salary for one of the jobs. Get rest and sleep.' Is the hustle culture a bad thing? The hustle culture isn't inherently harmful, but scientists have warned that pushing ourselves too hard for too long can have negative effects on our physical health. An article published in the Scandinavian Journal of Work, Environment & Health revealed that working more than 11 hours a day is linked to a threefold increase in the risk of myocardial infarction (heart attack) and nearly a fourfold increase in the risk of developing non-insulin-dependent diabetes (type 2 diabetes), compared to a standard workday. Additionally, working 60 hours or more per week is associated with almost a threefold higher risk of disability retirement. Furthermore, short sleep durations are linked to a greater risk of coronary heart disease, increased sympathetic nervous system activity, and elevated blood pressure and heart rate. Perhaps most alarming is the combination of long working hours and inadequate sleep. The article mentioned that individuals who work 61 hours or more per week and sleep for five hours or less per night are at least twice as likely to suffer an acute myocardial infarction, or heart attack. Read also: 'Am I asking for too much?': Woman feels unloved as BF insists on going 50/50 for everything Featured image by freepik (for illustration purposes only)
CNN
7 days ago
- Climate
- CNN
Wet wedding ‘just a test': Filipino couple ties knot in flooded church during typhoon
Jade Rick Verdillo and Jamaica Aguilar were determined to walk down the aisle on their wedding day. Even if it meant walking down a flooded one. On Tuesday, the Barasoain church in Malolos, Bulacan province, Philippines, flooded due to heavy rain. Typhoon Whipa had intensified seasonal monsoon rains in the Philippines, bringing widespread flooding. The couple anticipated the risk of flooding, but instead of letting the weather dampen the mood, they decided to push through, as all marriages have their challenges. 'We just mustered enough courage,' said Verdillo. 'We decided today because it is a sacrifice in itself. But there will more sacrifices if we don't push through today.' Aguilar waded down the aisle with her white dress and wedding train floating behind her through waters almost up to her knees. At the altar, Verdillo was waiting to receive her while wearing an embroidered shirt called a Barong Tagalog, worn during special occasions. The newlyweds have been together for 10 years. The groom said, 'I feel that challenges won't be over. It's just a test. This is just one of the struggles that we've overcome.' Despite the turbulent weather, some family and friends made it to the wedding. 'You will see love prevailed because even against weather, storm, rains, floods, the wedding continued,' said Jiggo Santos, a wedding guest. 'It's an extraordinary wedding.'
