Indo-Italian Innovation Hub to be set up
'With that, we have taken the first formal step towards establishing an Indo-Italian Innovation Hub in Bengaluru,' he added. He said in the months to come, they will finalise the location, which will most probably be on the premises of one of the Centre of Excellences already active in Bengaluru. 'This will mark the beginning of what we believe will become a cornerstone of Indo-Italian cooperation in the following areas -- startup acceleration, bilateral academic interaction.
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Time of India
2 hours ago
- Time of India
Cory Mills apartment scandal: Why is the Florida Congressman losing his swanky Washington home?
Republican Congressman Cory Mills is being sued for eviction in Washington DC after allegedly failing to pay over £65,000 ($87,406) in rent on a luxury apartment , according to US media. Cory Mills claimed a faulty payment portal has prevented him from paying $85,000 in rent for his penthouse apartment. The legal action was filed by Bozzuto Management in July 2025, claiming months of missed payments. The luxury apartment, overlooking the Potomac River, has a price tag of $20,833 per month. Cory Mils to be evicted from his apartment? Court records show the landlord has filed papers to evict US Rep. Cory Mills from his Washington apartment. The management company alleged in a legal complaint that the New Smyrna Beach Republican owes more than $85,000 in rent dating back to March. The complaint was filed in the Superior Court of the District of Columbia on Wednesday last week, according to Florida politics. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like When the Camera Clicked at the Worst Possible Time Read More ALSO READ: 'Its a match': White House's cheeky Tinder post as ICE arrests Chinese national, now she faces deportation According to the lawsuit filed on 15 July, Mills now owes more than £65,000 in unpaid rent, which does not include legal costs and late fees. Records show that the congressman has a history of late payments dating back to June 2023, having been charged over £650 ($874) in penalties. The court has scheduled an eviction hearing for September 2025. Live Events The penthouse level of his building offers residents 'access through private elevators for discrete comings and goings,' 'captivating views in every residence,' 'bold Italian cabinetry,' 'Calacatta quartz countertops' and the services and amenities 'of a world-class hotel,' according to the website. The building was once home to former President Joe Biden's granddaughter, Naomi, further adding to the flat's high‑profile status. Cory Mils' landlord has alleged that the he has not paid his rent since March, documents filed last week in the Superior Court of the District of Columbia show. ALSO READ: Conor McGregor slid into Azealia Banks' DMs with explicit pictures? US rapper makes massive claim Cory Mills responds 'I know facts are unusual and unfamiliar thing for you,' Mills wrote on X Monday, in a fiery response directed at Daily Beast reporter Roger Sollenberger, who first reported on the eviction case, 'but here's just the past two months where you can see I'm repeatedly asking for payment links and again as I tried with management today, it failed to process.' In his tweet, Cory Mils included screenshots of two emails he sent to his landlord on June 17 and July 3, reporting that the link he has 'does not work.' The lawmaker argued that the error code he's receiving, which he also included a screenshot of, is indicative of a problem on the landlord's end. Mills has also taken to social media, calling out journalist Roger Sollenberger who reported on the lawsuit. In a heated post, Mills described him as a 'biased hack' and insisted he had 'repeatedly requested functional payment links' from the property management. ALSO READ: Conor McGregor's romantic encounter with woman on Florida beach, sparks speculation online. Who is he? A statement from Mills' congressional office said: 'Congressman Mills has been in continuous communication with the landlord in an effort to resolve the payment issue, which was caused by a broken portal link beyond his control.' Mills' eviction has drawn criticism given his strong public image as a conservative figure focused on accountability and American values. The juxtaposition between his patriotic messaging and the financial dispute has fuelled online discussion and political commentary.
Mint
3 hours ago
- Mint
After backlash, Prada delegation set to visit Kolhapur over ₹1 lakh ‘Kolhapuri' sandals
Mumbai/New Delhi: After sparking outrage in India for showcasing Kolhapuri-style 'sandals" on the Milan runway, Italian luxury giant Prada is sending top executives to the footwear's hometown of Kolhapur. The two-day visit to Kolhapur, in Maharashtra, is expected to begin Tuesday and marks the brand's first formal outreach to Indian artisans. Mint has learned that the visiting team includes Daniele Contu, pattern making manager at Prada's footwear division, along with external consultants Andrea Pollastrelli and Roberto Pollastrelli. The Milan-based fashion house, part of Prada Holding SpA, showcased leather sandals resembling Kolhapuri chappals at its recent Men's Spring-Summer 2026 show, held at the Deposito of the Fondazione Prada. The sandals, priced upwards of ₹1 lakh ($1,200), sparked widespread criticism in India, with online users highlighting the deep cultural roots of Kolhapuri footwear and the vast price disparity. Kolhapuris are widely available in Indian markets for under ₹1,000. 'The team is set to come on Tuesday; they will stay here for two days. The technical team will evaluate the process of making Kolhapuri chappals and share their experience and their expectations as per Prada's requirement. They will also be visiting artist clusters where Kolhapuri footwear is made," Lalit Gandhi, president of the Maharashtra Chamber of Commerce, Industry and Agriculture (MACCIA), told Mint. E-mail queries sent to Prada on Tuesday remained unanswered till press time. Open-toed Kolhapuri chappals, named after the eponymous city in Maharashtra, have been worn in India since the 12th and 13th centuries. In 2019, the sandals were granted a Geographical Indication (GI) tag, legally protecting the name 'Kolhapuri chappal" and ensuring that only footwear made by artisans in designated districts of Maharashtra (Kolhapur, Sangli, Satara, Solapur) and Karnataka (Bagalkot, Belagavi, Dharwad, Vijayapura or Bijapur) can carry the label. The display of similar-looking sandals by one of the world's top luxury fashion houses prompted Indian trade representatives to reach out to Prada, seeking formal acknowledgment of the artisans and their craft. In a letter dated 25 June, MACCIA highlighted the heritage of Kolhapuri chappals and their importance to local livelihoods. It also expressed 'concern" over commercialization of the design without due acknowledgement, credit or collaboration with the artisan communities. It urged the brand to acknowledge the inspiration behind the design publicly and explore possibilities for collaborations or fair compensation that could benefit artist communities. Prada responded in a letter dated 27 June. Loreno Bertelli, Prada Group's head for corporate social responsibility, acknowledged that sandals featured in the brand's Men's 2026 Fashion Show were inspired by traditional Indian handcrafted footwear, with a centuries-old heritage. Prada said the collection is at an 'early" stage of design development, with none of the pieces confirmed to be produced or commercialized. It reinforced its commitment to responsible design practices and to opening dialogue for a meaningful exchange with local Indian artisan communities. It then 'welcomed the opportunity for further discussions." The two sides also agreed to hold a video conference on 11 July with key members of Prada's leadership team. MACCIA's Gandhi proposed exploring co-branded collections and the possibility of establishing a Prada Artisan Excellence Lab in Kolhapur or Mumbai to foster innovation, among other discussions such as responsible attribution of Kolhapuri craftsmanship. The Prada Group, which owns luxury brands such as Prada, Miu Miu, Church's, Car Shoe, Marchesi 1824 and Luna Rossa, operates 26 owned factories and employs over 15,200 people. Prada bags retail upwards of $1,000 and can reach several thousand dollars. The group designs and produces ready-to-wear, leather goods, footwear and jewellery collections, and distributes its products in more than 70 countries through 609 directly operated stores, e-commerce platforms, and selected department stores and online retailers.
Time of India
6 hours ago
- Time of India
Cashmere king Loro Piana becomes latest Italian luxury brand called out for worker abuse in supply chain
By Emilio Parodi Cashmere king Loro Piana , part of LVMH 's luxury empire, became on Monday the fifth high-end brand to be put under judicial administration in Italy over worker abuses in supply chains, after an investigation that has tainted the image of Italian luxury goods. Loro Piana Spa will undergo court monitoring for a year, according to the 26-page ruling reviewed by Reuters, which stems from investigations into the world of subcontracting for luxury goods in Italy that started in 2023. Units of fashion brands Valentino , LVMH's second largest brand Dior, Italy's Armani, and Italian handbag company Alviero Martini were also placed under administration. The Court of Milan found that Loro Piana, which makes expensive cashmere clothing, subcontracted its production through two front firms that had no actual manufacturing capacity to Chinese-owned workshops in Italy, which the court said exploited workers. LVMH, the world's biggest luxury group, acquired 80% of Loro Piana in July 2013, with the Italian family that founded the company retaining 20%, according to the court ruling. In June, Loro Piana appointed Frederic Arnault, a son of LVMH chairman and Chief Executive Bernard Arnault, as its CEO. The Milan court, as in the cases of the other brands targeted by the investigation, found Loro Piana "culpably failed" to adequately oversee its suppliers in order to pursue higher profits, according to the ruling. Loro Piana declined to comment. LVMH was not immediately available for comment. The owners of the contracting and subcontracting companies were under investigation by Milan prosecutors for exploiting workers and employing people off the books. Loro Piana Spa itself faces no criminal probe. The prosecutors in the case said the violation of rules among fashion companies in Italy was "a generalised and consolidated manufacturing method". "Direct experience [from all the various investigations, i.e. Armani, Dior, Valentino, Alviero Martini and Loro Piana on the control of production chains] indicates that the complete outsourcing of industrial production processes is aimed exclusively at reducing labour costs and, consequently, also the criminal and administrative liability of the company with regard to worker safety... All this is done with a view to maximising profits at the lowest possible production cost," the Court of Milan said in its ruling on Monday. WORKER ABUSES AT SUBCONTRACTORS Italy is home to thousands of small manufacturers that make up 50%-55% of global luxury goods production, consultancy Bain has calculated. In May, Italy's fashion brands signed an accord with legal and political authorities to fight worker exploitation, but the ruling on Loro Piana said "this production chain, headed by Loro Piana, has continued to operate until now" and despite the previous cases being widely reported. The case involving Loro Piana Spa originated after Carabinieri police from the Milan labour protection unit in May arrested a Chinese workshop owner and closed his factory in the northwestern suburbs of Milan. The employer was reported by one of his workers for beating him, causing injuries that required 45 days of treatment, after the worker demanded 10,000 euros ($11,692.00) in unpaid wages. Carabinieri police found that the workshop produced Loro Piana-branded cashmere jackets and that its 10 Chinese labourers, including five illegal immigrants, were forced to work up to 90 hours a week, seven days a week, were paid 4 euros an hour, and slept in rooms illegally set up inside the factory. Carabinieri said in a statement they inspected two intermediary companies and three Chinese workshops, all in the Milan area, and identified 21 workers, 10 of whom were working off the books without proper registration, including seven illegal immigrants. According to the court ruling, the owner of an intermediary company stated that in recent years she had been producing around 6,000-7,000 jackets per year for Loro Piana at an agreed price of 118 euros per jacket if the order was for more than 100 items and 128 euros if the order was under 100 items. Based on the Loro Piana website, for example, men's cashmere jackets range from a minimum of over 3,000 euros to a maximum of over 5,000 euros. In their statement, Carabinieri concluded they had closed two Chinese-owned factories, the third being a 'paper' company with no production capacity, and imposed a joint fine of over 240,000 euros. The Milan court in its ruling on Loro Piana also appointed an external administrator to verify the company meets all the judges' demands on control of its supply chain. The administration will be lifted earlier if the unit brings its practices into line with legal requirements, as was the case with Dior, Armani and Alviero Martini.
