Latest news with #30
Daily News Egypt
2 days ago
- Health
- Daily News Egypt
Egypt's PM reviews government complaints system responses
Egyptian Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly has reviewed a report on the responses of the unified government complaints system to a number of cases in various sectors, his office said in a statement. Madbouly directed that complaints and appeals from citizens requiring urgent attention—such as those related to health, the protection of lives and property, and cases of special need—be given priority. The director of the complaints system, Dr. Tarek El-Refai, presented the report, which detailed the system's rapid response to several humanitarian cases in coordination with relevant ministries and governorates. In the area of protecting lives and property, the system responded to complaints about a diesel leak at a fuel station on the Suez-Port Said road, coordinating with the Ministry of Petroleum and civil defence to secure the area. It also addressed complaints about the 'June 30' axis road, with the Ministry of Transport and the National Roads Company carrying out maintenance and installing expansion joints. Additionally, fences on bridges on the Ring Road and in Rod El Farag were repaired. For medical appeals, the system facilitated treatment for a woman with morbid obesity after she appealed to the president. She was transported from Daqahliya to a university hospital in Cairo, where she underwent successful bariatric surgeries. The system also arranged for a young man with a spinal deformity to have successful corrective surgery at the state's expense. In a case of special need, a girl with a contagious skin disease in Daqahliya who had no shelter was transferred to a hospital for medical care so she could later be placed in a suitable care home. Regarding the maintenance of public utilities, the report highlighted the repair of a broken water pipe in Zamalek, Cairo; the repair of a broken sewage pipeline that had caused water cuts in several villages in Luxor; and the replacement of a burnt-out electricity distribution box in Giza. The system also responded to complaints about clearing waterways, including the Safat al-Awsat drain in Sharqia governorate, which serves 18,000 acres of agricultural land, and a blockage in a covered agricultural drain in Kafr El-Sheikh. In response to complaints about encroachments, the system coordinated with governorates to remove encroachments on state-owned land in Qena and agricultural land in Ismailia, and to shut down unlicensed shops and warehouses in Cairo. Finally, concerning market regulation and commodity availability, the system facilitated the provision of butane gas cylinders to villages in Beheira and Kafr El-Sheikh in coordination with the Ministry of Supply. It also took legal action against a farm in Sharqia for selling live meat for slaughter outside licensed abattoirs and for failing to adhere to health practices, in coordination with the National Food Safety Authority.
News18
4 days ago
- General
- News18
Wayanad Man Lost 11 Family Members In Landslide. Now, He Runs A Restaurant Named ‘July 30'
Kalathingal Noufal lost 11 family members in the Wayanad landslides on July 30, 2024. A year later, he rebuilt his life, opened a restaurant named 'July 30'. The catastrophic landslides that struck Kerala's Wayanad on July 30, 2024, wiped out 11 members of Kalathingal Noufal's family including his wife and three children. The accident was life-changing for him. Now a year later, his story is one of grit, determination and massive support. Despite suffering such a huge loss, Naufal did not give up. He pulled himself together and decided to rebuild his life. Today, the 43-year-old has found a new partner, started a restaurant — named 'July 30' — and got a new house, reported Indian Express. Naufal was living in Mundakkai, the village in Wayanad that was totally wiped out in the landslides that claimed 298 lives, washed away houses and buildings. Indian Express. He then decided to move his life forward and fulfil the dream of his late wife, Sajna, to settle in Kerala by starting a restaurant. Initially, he was living in a temporary house. He also refused to meet counselors, as he felt that reliving the past every time would only increase his pain. He tried to heal his wounds on his own. During that time, Kerala Nadvathul Mujahideen (KNM), a Muslim socio-religious organisation, gave him a financial aid of Rs 7 lakh. Deciding to carry forward the wife's dream, he started a restaurant-cum-bakery, which he named 'July 30' in memory of the day that upended his life. 'When I named the restaurant 'July 30', many people criticised me. But everyone who goes to the affected areas should recall that day, the tragedy and the loss. That will make people humble and bring them closer to God," he told the news outlet. Later, the Oman-based Kerala Muslim Cultural Center (KMCC) bought land for him and built a new house, the keys of which were handed over to him recently. After this, Naufal also married Safna, making a new beginning. view comments First Published: Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
Hindustan Times
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- Hindustan Times
Owning art is only a click away: Women-led Delhi Art Community auctions paintings on WhatsApp
Amrita Nalwa is excited about buying an artwork for the first time. A school principal in Amritsar, Punjab, Nalwa, didn't need to go to an art gallery. Instead, she bought it on WhatsApp. Women-led Delhi Art Community conducts auction of art on WhatsApp in a new initiative to transform the Indian art market (Photo: Delhi Art Community) "I have always wanted to own art to be put on the wall of my home and passed on to my children when they grow up," says Nalwa, who bought a work of Uttar Pradesh-born contemporary artist Nawal Kishore two months ago. The untitled 8" X 8" 2D installation, acrylic on fibreglass with a 12" X 12" frame, shows two faces, representing yin and yang. "I liked the small art installation. My house is vintage and an ideal place for an artwork," beams Nalwa, who has never bought art before. "I paid about 30,000 rupees for the work. And it was bought on WhatsApp," she adds. "I received a certificate of authenticity with the work." Silent auction benefits first-time buyers of art and little-known artists from remote corners of the country (Photo: Delhi Art Community) Nalwa found Kishore's artwork on WhatsApp, specifically, on a new platform for art buyers founded by three female entrepreneurs from Delhi. Launched last year, the Delhi Art Community (DAC) offers art lovers the opportunity to own works of art from "artists of India", as the founders describe their clientele presented online. Art under virtual hammer Every Tuesday, DAC creates lots, some 25-30 artworks by five to ten artists from across the country, and makes it available to six WhatsApp groups of art lovers, who are then able to participate in its Art Auction on WhatsApp the next day. Each group has 1,000 members, who are able to access the details of the artworks on a PDF file, which has a short synopsis, material, size and minimum bidding price of each work. The bidding takes place on Fridays between 12 pm and 1 pm. Nalwa is among 700 art lovers, most of them first-time buyers, who have bought art from DAC's auction on WhatsApp since it was first introduced in June last year. "We had the 47th lot this week," says Anika Kalra Kalha, who co-founded DAC with her friends Disha Batra and Priyanka Agarwal, all Delhi-based entrepreneurs. Uttar Pradesh-born artist Nawal Kishore's art installation was sold by DAC in May this year to a first-time buyer in Amritsar, Punjab (Photo: Delhi Art Community) "Our aim is to create a community of art buyers and art lovers and bring them to a platform together with 'artists of India'," says Kalha. "At the centre of our community are the artists," she adds. "There is a human touch behind every art. That is why the artist is at the centre." "We want everybody to be an art collector," says Batra, a former senior marketing executive. "A WhatsApp message is sent out every Tuesday, in the form of a PDF, about what is going on auction. The artworks on the lot are selected carefully by our team," she adds. "We are in the process of creating a seventh WhatsApp group." Meeting of art and technology The DAC virtual platform is already pushing ahead of art galleries in scale though not in terms of sale. "Each physical gallery can hold 30-40 artists, but about 15,000 artists have shared their works with our platform from the remotest places of the country so far," says Agarwal, a former journalist. "It is all about technology. Most people open their WhatsApp at least 20 times a day," says Batra. "You can sit at home and become an art collector," she adds. "We are creating new collectors, who are young mothers and working people." "A lot of people are scared of visiting galleries for buying art for fear of not sounding educated about art. There is no fear in sending a WhatsApp message and receiving synopsis and resume of the artist. Any questions can be asked about artists," says Kalha. The DAC, which has its origins in the thinking of its founders to bring artists and art lovers together through technology, has 85,000 followers on social media, including on the Instagram accounts of the three founders. DAC's Art Auction on WhatsApp every Friday has 6,000 members in six WhatsApp groups (Photo: Delhi Art Community) "We showcase artworks to our 6,000 clients on social media. The bidding on WhatsApp always starts below the estimated gallery price for an artwork to create competition among buyers and to help them buy an artwork at unheard of prices," says Kalha. Will the dependence on technology keep the non-digital population away from the art world? "If we can reach many more people, we feel we can bridge the gap between artists and art lovers," explains Kalha. "The mindset of art for the elite has to change. Art is for everybody." Art for the masses "We receive 600 messages from new artists every week who want to be part of the platform," says Agarwal. "The bidding on WhatsApp is a silent process. The minimum bid can be as low as 10,000 rupees," she adds. "We are trying to change the art scene in the country. The art should be accessible and for the masses." The DAC's philosophy of art for the masses include raising the profile of little-known artists, art auction, immersive experience with artists through physical workshops and the creation of a separate Kids Arts Community through workshops for children with artists. "I came to know about DAC through Instagram last year," says Rajendra Kumar Urveti, a Gond artist based in Amarkantak, a pilgrim town in Madhya Pradesh. "It was a time when there was a slump in the sale of works of tribal artists. Since then I have been able to sell small and big Gond paintings on the DAC platform. The prices are good," adds Urveti. Visual artist Seema Kohli (sitting) with Delhi Art Community founders Isha Batra (extreme left), Anika Kalra Kalha (second from right) and Priyanka Agarwal (extreme right) (Photo: Delhi Art Community) "All information about the painting is first sent to DAC, including a video on the artwork. The original work is couriered to DAC once it is sold in the auction," says Urveti, whose works reflect tribal traditions of respect for nature and life. The artists who have participated in DAC's immersive experiences include Delhi-based contemporary artist G R Iranna, a participating artist at the 2016 edition of the Kochi-Muziris Biennale, visual artist Seema Kohli and Telangana-born artist Laxman Aelay.
The Hindu
20-07-2025
- Politics
- The Hindu
NGO lauded for work in violence prevention, education, financial inclusion and interfaith dialogue
An event marking 30 years of the Confederation of Voluntary Associations (COVA) was organised which brought together several volunteers, partners, staff, and well-wishers from across the country. The Reflections on Association with COVA@30 event saw video messages from collaborators across India highlighted COVA's wide-ranging engagement on over 30 issues ,from grassroot works in slums of Hyderabad to policy advocacy with multilateral institutions. A documentary produced by Maulana Azad National Urdu University's Mass Communication Department traced the organisation's evolution and reach in the area of social activism. A book, Chronicle of COVA@30: Service Through Social Transformations, featuring reflections from 150 individuals, that include partners, associates, and volunteers, was also released. Speakers deeply appreciated COVA's notable work in violence prevention, education, financial inclusion and interfaith dialogue. The organisation's Compassionate Citizenship Programme, now part of Telangana's school curriculum, was praised as a model for moral and civic education. According to a media release, its research on financial inclusion, commissioned ahead of the 2013 G20 Summit in Russia, resulted in nine of its twelve recommendations being adopted by India's Finance Ministry, five of which were integrated into the eMUDRA Scheme. Participants recalled how COVA's community initiatives had helped prevent communal violence in Hyderabad since 2012, describing the group's work as vital to peacebuilding and social harmony.
Straits Times
18-07-2025
- Sport
- Straits Times
Spain see off spirited Swiss to reach Women's Euro 2025 semi-finals
Find out what's new on ST website and app. BERN - Spain reached the semi-finals of Women's Euro 2025 on July 18 after battling past Switzerland 2-0 as the world champions continued their bid for a first-ever European crown. Athenea del Castillo and Claudia Pina scored the goals in the second half in Bern to give La Roja deserved passage to the last four where they will face either France or Germany on July 16. But Montse Tome's team didn't have it all their own way as hosts Switzerland put up a brave fight in front of a passionate crowd at the Wankdorf Stadium. The Swiss survived an early scare when Mariona Caldentey shot wide a ninth-minute penalty and from there did a great job in gumming up Spain's usually free-flowing football. Pia Sundhage's players acquitted themselves brilliantly in their home tournament and were given a loud round of applause from the majority of the nearly 30,000 supporters. The Swiss, who finished the match with 10 women after Noelle Maritz was sent off in the final minute, had never progressed past the group stage of a Euros before and in the end Spain proved to be too much for the team ranked 23rd in the world. Spain meanwhile overcame a serious test of patience before their superior quality eventually prevailed, with Alexia Putellas' wasted penalty late on changing nothing. Top stories Swipe. Select. Stay informed. Singapore Critical infrastructure in S'pore under attack by cyber espionage group: Shanmugam Singapore What is UNC3886, the group that attacked Singapore's critical information infrastructure? Singapore Alleged Kpod peddler filmed trying to flee raid in Bishan charged with 6 offences Asia Indonesia court jails former trade minister for 4½ years in sugar graft case Singapore Singapore police in contact with Indonesian authorities over baby trafficking allegations Singapore NTU upholds zero grade for student accused of using AI in essay; panel found 14 false citations or data Singapore 7-year-old girl, cabby taken to hospital after vehicle pile-up in City Hall area Singapore Former NUH male nurse charged after he allegedly molested man at hospital An already raucous home crowd roared with delight when Caldentey scuffed wide her spot-kick after the Arsenal forward was brought down by Nadine Riesen. Switzerland's defender Nadine Riesen (right) concedes a penalty due to a fault on Spain's midfielder Mariona Caldentey. PHOTO: AFP But that didn't discourage Spain who dealt well with the fervent atmosphere and some fierce tackling but struggled to find a way through the home team's packed defence. The efforts that Spain did have on goal were wayward with a series of potshots and blocked efforts before Irene Paredes headed Pina's corner onto the post two minutes before half-time. The same pattern continued after the break with Spain probing and bumping against both a Swiss wall and the woodwork. Patri Guijarro headed another corner onto the post and in the ensuing scramble Esther Gonzalez somehow contrived to strike the other post in front of an open goal. It didn't look like it was going to be Spain's night but del Castillo finally made the breakthrough in the 66th minutes – four minute after replacing Caldentey – collecting Aitana Bonmati's through ball and rolling home the goal which ended Switzerland's spirited resistance. Switzerland's Nadine Riesen (left) in action against Spain's Athenea Del Castillo. PHOTO: EPA Pina whipped home a wonderful second goal five minutes later and that was that for the Swiss, who at least had one more thing to cheer for when Livia Peng pushed out Putellas' weak spot-kick with two minutes remaining. AFP
