Latest news with #SRI
Hindustan Times
2 days ago
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
Mahagatbandhan blasts electoral revision, says drill a design to rig polls
The opposition Mahagathbandhan or Grand Alliance (GA) in Bihar on Friday went ballistic against the Election Commission of India ( ECI)'s latest move to conduct Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls in the state calling it 'undemocratic' and alleged that the exercise was a covert attempt to snatch citizenship of the poor and oppressed, and, in turn, rig the upcoming assembly elections by disenfranchising millions of Bihar voters. Leader of Opposition and RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav with Bihar Congress president Rajesh Ram, Congress leader Pawan Khera, CPI-ML general secretary Dipankar Bhattacharya and others at a joint press conference of Grand Alliance ahead of Bihar Assembly election 2025 at Polo Road in Patna on Friday. (Santosh Kumar/HT) The GA partners during a meeting in Patna also questioned the 25-day time-frame set for the exercise, saying that it was impossible to cover the whole state within such a short span. 'Is it possible to conduct house to house verification of around eight crore voters within 25 days by the ECI in Bihar? The last SIR was done in a period of two years. If, indeed, it is possible, I would challenge the Centre to get the caste census done in two months flat. This is why we get a smell of conspiracy about the conduct of SIR just before the polls. It is an attempt to snatch citizenship of people of Bihar in big numbers, especially poor and oppressed classes by making them first ineligible to vote and then deprive them from ration card, scholarships, government schemes, etc. Chief minister Nitish Kumar and Prime Minister Narendra Modi have a role in it,' alleged leader of the Opposition, Tejashwi Prasad Yadav, while addressing a joint presser with top GA leaders that included AICC member and senior Congress leader Pawan Khera, CPI-ML(iberation) general secretary Dipankar Bhattacharya, in Patna. The GA leaders announced that a delegation of the INDIA bloc would soon meet the Election Commission of India (ECI) officials to raise the issue of impracticality of conducting SIR just two months before the state polls and also setting conditions of providing documents like birth certificates, matriculation certificates to establish one's place of birth and/or date of birth. The SIR in Bihar, under which the voters' list would be prepared after house to house verification of voters from June 25 to July 26, is being done after 22 years as the last such exercise was done in 2003. Bihar has 7.80 crore (78 millions) voters as per the updated voters list published on January 7, 2025. 'Our delegation will soon meet the ECI and raise the issues pertaining to the SRI like condition of providing documents to establish place of birth/ date of birth of parents of voters born between 1987 to 2004 and later. How can people in such big number procure documents like birth certificates and other documents? We will also ask why the SIR is being done in Bihar when polls are so near and monsoon season has arrived when 73% of the state remains affected by the floods,' Yadav said, a point also supported by Bhattacharya and Khera. 'The SIR is an attack on one's citizenship. PM Modi is known for pulling 'masterstrokes'. This SIR is a master stroke indeed as Bihar is a laboratory and such exercises would be done across the country. This is a conspiracy to make youths, poor, OBCs and Dalits ineligible to vote and also deprive them from benefits of different government schemes,' Khera said. He also questioned that why does the ECI need to conduct a fresh electoral poll exercise when it must be having voter date of 2024 Lok Sabha polls. 'Did the ECI not have any data of voters in 2024 polls? If not, they should first declare the 2024 parliamentary polls invalid,' said the senior Congress leader. State Congress president Rajesh Kumar too echoed similar views. ML's Bhattacharya, who wrote a letter to the EC voicing his opposition a day ago, claimed that the proposed exercise would be a 'logistical nightmare'. 'Why did not the EC tell us about SIR when workshops were being held recently for booth level agents in New Delhi for Bihar polls? Why did they keep this exercise under wraps or was this done as an afterthought? If that is so, it is highly objectionable and it is nothing short of murder of democracy,' he said, adding that the GA would not accept the SIR at any cost. In order to illustrate stark flaw in the ECI move, Tejashwi quoted government data. He said that it would be nearly impossible for millions of voters to provide documents like birth certificates, educational certificates in Bihar where registration of births and literacy rate are low. 'In Bihar, there are 59% of voters (estimated 4.76 crore out of around 8 crore voters) who are in the age group of 20-40 years of which around 85% (20-38 age group) of them have to give documents of their parents. Data shows that the issuance of birth certificates from 2001 to 2025 is 2.8% while NFHS-2 data shows that only 10-13% of the population in Bihar in the age group of 40-60 years has done matriculation or attained higher education. How will millions of people in Bihar from rural areas get birth certificates in the next 25 days?' Yadav asked. He also questioned why the ECI not considering aadhaar card as a primary document for registration in voting list. However, the leader of the Opposition did not specify what the GA plans to do in case the ECI does not accept their objections about SIR. 'First, we plan to meet the EC officials and would like to get replies to our concerns and objections. We want to be transparent. Then we will take further steps. We will let you all know about it,' said Yadav. CPI's Ram Babu Kumar CPM's Arun Mishra and Dev Jyoti from Vikassheel Insaan Party (VIP) -- all constituents of the INDIA bloc -- too expressed their views and said the GA would not accept SIR at any cost. 'This is akin to conducting the National Register of Citizens (NRC),' said Dev Jyoti, senior VIP leader.
Zawya
5 days ago
- Automotive
- Zawya
GEMS Education and STS Group unveil UAE's first fully sustainable school transport fleet at SRI
New electric and biofuel-powered fleet to launch at GEMS' groundbreaking flagship school in Dubai, GEMS School of Research and Innovation Partnership reflects joint commitment to sustainability, innovation, and student wellbeing Fully green fleet supports the UAE Net Zero 2050 agenda and sets a new regional benchmark Spot2Spot, an all-electric, demand-responsive service, launched for students living near SRI DUBAI, United Arab Emirates: GEMS Education has joined forces with STS Group to launch the Middle East's first fully sustainable school transport fleet – a pioneering initiative that reimagines how students commute and places environmental responsibility at the heart of the school experience. The all-electric and biofuel-powered fleet will debut this August at its new flagship, GEMS School of Research and Innovation (SRI) in Dubai Sports City – GEMS Education's 47th school in the UAE and Qatar. As part of the launch, STS Group will also introduce Spot2Spot, an innovative, electric vehicle-based transport service designed specifically for students living in close proximity to SRI. This integrated, sustainable mobility model confirms SRI's role as the region's most forward-thinking school and a living platform for climate action and smart innovation in education. The strategic partnership was formalised through the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between Jay Varkey, Deputy Chief Executive Officer of GEMS Education, and Steve Burnell, Managing Director of STS Group, at the GEMS Education corporate office in Dubai. 'This partnership demonstrates our unwavering commitment to leading the education sector with purpose-driven innovation,' said Jay Varkey. 'The introduction of a fully sustainable fleet, coupled with Spot2Spot's smart transport model, brings real, measurable value to our families while supporting the UAE's broader environmental goals.' James Monaghan, CEO and Founding Principal of SRI, added: 'SRI is designed to be a living lab for innovation, wellbeing, and sustainability. Introducing both green buses and Spot2Spot reflects the school's mission to deliver an education that prepares students to lead in a rapidly evolving world.' Fleet innovation and Spot2Spot highlights: Spot2Spot: a new, fully electric, demand-responsive model tailored for students living near SRI, offering shorter journey times and reducing local congestion Parent-friendly tech: real-time notifications, student check-in/check-out, and journey updates via the STS transport app Data-led performance monitoring to track environmental and operational impact Spot2Spot is expected to reduce private car journeys by up to 30%, cut daily CO₂ emissions by 1.2kg per student, and bring average journey times below 30 minutes. By using advanced proximity clustering, the service ensures safe, efficient, and RTA-compliant transport for urban school bus users. 'We're proud to partner with GEMS Education in launching not only a sustainable fleet but also Spot2Spot, our newest mobility solution that reimagines how school transport should work in modern cities,' said Steve Burnell. 'Operating the service with EVs sets a new benchmark for clean, intelligent, and community-based student mobility.' Launching this August at SRI, the combined model of green fleet and Spot2Spot service will serve as a scalable blueprint for future GEMS schools and other education providers across the region. Designed with embedded data collection, the pilot will help assess the potential for wider rollout in line with UAE Net Zero 2050 and Dubai's smart mobility ambitions. GEMS Education and STS Group share a long-term vision to reduce emissions related to the school commute, improve traffic flow around campuses, and provide safe, smart, and sustainable transport solutions that support students, families, and communities. About GEMS Education GEMS Education is one of the oldest and largest K-12 private education providers in the world and a trusted and highly regarded choice for quality education in the Middle East and North Africa region. As a company founded in the UAE in 1959, it holds an unparalleled track record of providing diverse curricula and educational choices to all socio-economic means. Having started with a single school run from a private home in Dubai, GEMS remains a family business to this day. Its inspiring Founder, Sunny Varkey, and his son, Dino Varkey, who is Group Chief Executive Officer, are responsible for providing vision, insight, and strategy across the organisation. Every day, GEMS has the privilege of educating students from over 176 countries through its owned and managed schools globally. And through its growing network, as well as charitable contributions, it is fulfilling the GEMS vision of putting a quality education within the reach of every learner. Every year, students graduating from GEMS schools progress to the world's best universities. Over the past five years, GEMS students have been accepted into over 1,050 universities in 53 countries including all eight Ivy League universities in the US and all 24 Russell Group universities and colleges in the UK.
Kuwait Times
5 days ago
- Science
- Kuwait Times
From Failaka to the final frontier
Kuwaiti rocks orbit Earth as part of global space mission KUWAIT: In a first-of-its-kind cultural and scientific venture, rocks from Kuwait's Failaka Island were launched into space aboard a SpaceBy X capsule early Tuesday. The Advance Space Civilization Initiative (ASCI) partnered with Lunex EuroMoonMars, Space Renaissance International (SRI), and several other global space organizations for the 'Space for All Gallery' mission, which included the Failaka rocks in its payload. The 'Space for All Gallery' is an international initiative that launched aboard The Exploration Company's Nyx capsule on June 23, 2025 via SpaceX Falcon 9 from Vandenberg Space Force Base in California. The capsule carried a diverse payload of science samples, art and cultural artifacts into low Earth orbit before it was supposed to return for study and public display. Spearheaded by LUNEX CEO and SRI President Prof Bernard Foing, the 'Mission Possible' project aims to promote inclusive access to space through science, technology and the arts. In an update posted approximately 12 hours after liftoff, The Exploration Company confirmed that the capsule had successfully powered on its passenger payloads, stabilized itself after separation from the rocket's upper stage, reentered Earth's atmosphere and reestablished communication following an expected blackout period. Despite a successful reentry and the reestablishment of communication, the company reported that it lost contact with the capsule just minutes before the expected splashdown. The Exploration Company deemed the mission 'a partial success' and said it was investigating the root cause of the issue. Speaking to Kuwait Times, Ghanim Al-Otaibi, co-founder of ASCI, shared details of the groundbreaking project and his team's role: 'I'm also a board member at the Space Renaissance Initiative (SRI), an international nonprofit think tank based in Italy. At SRI, we promote ideas like astronautical humanism and publish forward-looking research.' A small tray containing compartments filled with miniature artworks and cultural items from around the world, including the Failaka rocks. The Failaka rocks before they were loaded into the tray. The rocks were sliced in half before launch — one half remained in Kuwait, while the other half was sent into space. A Falcon 9 rocket carrying 70 payloads for a variety of customers lifts off from California's Vandenberg Space Force Base today on June 23, 2025. Al-Otaibi has also been conducting academic research in Space-Based Solar Power (SBSP) at the University of Strathclyde in the UK. SBSP is an emerging technology that aims to harvest solar energy in space and beam it back to Earth — offering a promising solution to global energy challenges. The Failaka rocks, collected by Al-Otaibi and astrophysicist Aziz Al-Areedh, were chosen for their profound cultural and historical importance. 'Even though Failaka is no longer inhabited, its contribution continues — this time, to the future of humanity in space,' said Al-Otaibi. 'The rocks symbolize a future rooted in the ancient heritage of our land.' As part of the mission, a small tray was sent into space containing compartments filled with miniature artworks and cultural items from around the world. The Failaka rocks were sliced in half before launch — one half remains in Kuwait, while the other half were to be retrieved for post-flight analysis, particularly to study the effects of radiation exposure on terrestrial materials. Located off Kuwait's coast, Failaka Island has been a cradle of civilizations for millennia and was inhabited until the 1990s. Today, it stands as a key archaeological site. Al-Otaibi explained that the team saw the island's geology as a powerful symbol of Kuwait's identity — capable of communicating meaningful ideas through a small but significant gesture. The rocks, once returned, will become new archaeological artifacts for future generations. Al-Otaibi's passion for space began with Kuwait's early space efforts, including the KuwaitSat-1 project and participation in international events like the 'Moon Village' conference. In 2022, he joined the Space Renaissance Initiative and now leads its 'Towards the Young Generation' committee, which aims to engage youth in the space sector. The mission is part of the broader vision of ASCI, a Kuwait-based organization co-founded by Al-Otaibi to promote humanity's expansion into space through education and the arts. ASCI is powered by a dynamic local team, including Dr Rawan Al-Shemmery, astrophysicist Al-Areedh and contributors Mohammed Al-Thuwainy and Mohammad Al-Failakawi.
The Citizen
12-06-2025
- Business
- The Citizen
BEE is bringing South Africa's economy to its knees
BEE is bringing South Africa's economy to its knees – new report A report released on June 12 by the Solidarity Research Institute (SRI) and the Free Market Foundation (FMF) has sent shockwaves through South Africa's political and economic landscape. The report delivers a scathing critique of the country's Broad-Based Black Economic Empowerment (BEE) policy, asserting that it is causing substantial damage to the South African economy while enriching only a small, politically connected elite. BEE was initially introduced as a transformative policy aimed at redressing the economic imbalances of apartheid by promoting greater inclusion of black South Africans in the economy. However, the latest findings paint a different picture, highlighting a policy that is now burdening economic growth, exacerbating inequality, and stalling job creation. According to the report, the annual compliance costs for BEE range from R145-billion to R290-billion, which represents between 2% and 4% of South Africa's Gross Domestic Product (GDP). This enormous economic burden has resulted in an annual reduction of GDP growth by between 1.5% and 3%, with a concomitant loss of between 96 000 and 192 000 jobs each year. Over the years, this has accumulated to about 3.8 million lost job opportunities for South Africans. 'This huge economic cost is not simply the result of negligence or the mere poor implementation of a plan. It is a deliberate government policy that causes it,' said Theuns du Buisson, economic researcher at the SRI and co-author of the report. 'It is irrelevant when someone then says the policy was introduced with good intentions. Today it serves as a mechanism to enrich the elite at the expense of our country's economy and especially at the expense of its poorest citizens.' The report further outlines that while there has been some progress in terms of black ownership and skills development, these gains are heavily overshadowed by the adverse effects of BEE. Among these are increased inequality, elite capture of policy benefits, and widespread economic stagnation. 'The policy places a particularly heavy burden on critical sectors such as mining and finance,' the report reads, 'and it deters foreign investment, encourages capital flight, and stifles technological progress.' South Africa's economic position on the global stage has deteriorated markedly, falling behind other middle-income countries with which it was once comparable. The report critiques the lack of focus and effectiveness in the implementation of BEE policies, which contrasts with more successful affirmative action or empowerment programmes abroad. Du Buisson pointed to countries such as Brazil and the United States, which have begun to phase out similar race-based economic policies. 'Moreover, in other countries, affirmative action policies are precisely there to prevent discrimination, while in South Africa, they in fact make discrimination compulsory,' he noted. 'South Africa must now follow the path of other countries and get rid of it. BEE has become an instrument that benefits a small, politically connected elite and has long ago stopped being a policy that could empower a disadvantaged society.' Connie Mulder, head of the SRI, emphasised the urgency of the situation: 'South Africa cannot afford to continue down this path. The data is clear. BEE, in its current form, is damaging the economy and hurting those it was meant to help. We need policies that promote real economic participation and growth without racial quotas that cripple progress.' The call to action from the writers of the report is for policymakers to immediately abolish the current BEE framework and replace it with a policy that fosters inclusive growth without impeding the economy. 'We need an economic environment where all South Africans, regardless of race, have the opportunity to contribute and prosper,' Du Buisson said. – Access the full report here: Do you have more information about the story? Please send us an email to bennittb@ or phone us on 083 625 4114. For free breaking and community news, visit Rekord's websites: Rekord East For more news and interesting articles, like Rekord on Facebook, follow us on Twitter or Instagram or TikTok. At Caxton, we employ humans to generate daily fresh news, not AI intervention. Happy reading! Stay in the know. Download the Caxton Local News Network App Stay in the know. Download the Caxton Local News Network App here
Yahoo
11-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
LGBTQ Representation In Movies Hits 3-Year Low, GLAAD Finds
After reaching a record high in 2022, LGBTQ representation continues to decline in movies. On Wednesday, GLAAD released the 13th edition of its Studio Responsibility Index (SRI), which found that LGBTQ-inclusive films dropped to 23.6% of releases from 10 top studio distributors during the 2024 calendar year, down from 27.3% in 2023 and 28.5% in 2022. More from Deadline Pride Month Viewing: 20 Buzzy LGBTQ Movies Of 2025 'I Don't Understand You's Husband Writing-Directing Duo Talks "Horror Movie" Adoption Experience, "Amazing" Italian Crew & Their Son's Cameo 'Queer as Folk' Cast Reuniting For 25th Anniversary At Pride Live! Hollywood, Plus 'Golden Girls' Birthday & Norman Lear Tribute The SRI also found that, only two films (less than 1%) featured transgender characters; 37% of LGBTQ characters had less than one minute of screen time; only 27% had more than 10 minutes of screen time, down from 38% last year; LGBTQ characters of color made up the lowest percentage since 2019 at 36%; and there were no LGBTQ characters living with HIV in any of the 250 films tracker. 'This year's findings are a wake-up call to the industry. At a time when LGBTQ people are facing unprecedented attacks in politics and news media, film must be a space for visibility and truth,' said Sarah Kate Ellis, GLAAD president and CEO. 'Representation isn't about checking a box — it's about whose stories get told, whose lives are valued, and creating worlds that mirror our own society today. When done authentically, LGBTQ representation builds audience and buzz, while humanizing LGBTQ people as those in power are actively working to take away our humanity.' Meanwhile, gender parity was reached among LGBTQ characters for the first time in five years, at 50% women, 48% men and 2% nonbinary; and A24 was the only studio to receive a 'Good' rating with the highest percentage of LGBTQ films. Looking at releases from A24, Amazon, Apple TV+, Lionsgate, NBCUniversal, Netflix, Paramount Global, Sony Pictures Entertainment, The Walt Disney Company and Warner Bros. Discovery, as well as their subsidiaries and streaming services, films were judged based on the basic standard for meaningful LGBTQ inclusion, as outlined by GLAAD's Vito Russo Test, named after a co-founder of the organization. The 2024 titles that passed the Vito Russo Test include Love Lies Bleeding (A24), Problemista (A24), My Old Ass (Amazon), Drive-Away Dolls (NBCUniversal), Mean Girls (Paramount Pictures), Fancy Dance (Apple TV+), Good Grief (Netflix), Rez Ball (Netflix), Sweethearts (Warner Bros. Discovery), Housekeeping for Beginners (NBCUniversal), The Radleys (Lionsgate), Ricky Stanicky (Amazon), Between the Temples (Sony Pictures Entertainment) and Prom Dates (The Walt Disney Company). Following the Trump administration's attacks on DEI and recent attempt to cancel Pride Month, several LGBTQ films are finding their ways to the screen this year. Best of Deadline 'Stick' Release Guide: When Do New Episodes Come Out? 'Stick' Soundtrack: All The Songs You'll Hear In The Apple TV+ Golf Series 2025 TV Series Renewals: Photo Gallery
