Latest news with #TED
Indianapolis Star
7 hours ago
- Sport
- Indianapolis Star
TEDSports will come to Indianapolis in September. Here's what to know
Local sports fans may be coming down from the highs of WNBA All-Star weekend and last month's NBA finals, but there will soon be more high-end sports festivities to enjoy. The first-ever TEDSports conference will be held Sept. 9-11 in Indianapolis, TED, a non-profit based in New York and Vancouver, Canada, has announced. Guests from six continents will attend the three-day event, which costs $2,000 to attend. Over WNBA All-Star weekend, TED Chief Program and Strategy Officer Monique Ruff-Bell, who is based in New York, and TEDSports curator Neelay Bhatt talked to IndyStar about the new conference in light of Indianapolis' growing sports ecosystem. TEDSports is a new conference by TED, a non-profit that organizes events spotlighting global changemakers. The sports-focused program will feature TED talks, workshops, panels and curated meals. Workshops will be held at Indianapolis Motor Speedway, Lucas Oil Stadium and other sports facilities around the city, said Bhatt, who is based in Indianapolis. TED has put athletes on stage to talk about sports in the past, Ruff-Bell said. But its flagship conferences have never focused specifically on the evolving world of sports — until now. 'One of the things that, you know, I had been talking about with my CEO for a couple of years now is how impactful and powerful sports storytelling is,' Ruff-Bell said. 'And how people really just connect to the stories of resilience and teamwork and how to think differently.' Those stories are the inspiration behind the conference, which will present new ideas on climate change, gender equality and artificial intelligence, all through the lens of sports. Bhatt said the event will demonstrate sports' ability to create change. He said he's seen firsthand how sports have changed Indianapolis. In the last 15-20 years, Bhatt has seen Indianapolis become a major athletic epicenter. Not only did Indy host the weekend's WNBA All-Star game, but it's hosted numerous Big Ten championships, the Super Bowl and the 2024 U.S. Olympic Team Trials. In addition, Bhatt said, Indianapolis has been a leader in the growing sports technology industry. 'That's where we can see so much more focus on innovation that is driving change and affecting the whole sports system,' he said. For instance, Sports Tech HQ, established in 2022, is a collective of companies that create technology for sports fans, teams and athletes. Based out of Indianapolis, Sports Tech HQ aims to turn the state into 'a global hub for sports technology.' The collective has inspired some of the ideas that will be discussed at TEDSports, Bhatt said. Other speakers include Olympic medalist and refugee Cindy Ngamba, former Indiana forward Tamika Catchings and former Fever president Allison Barber. Thanks largely to the Indiana Fever and Caitlin Clark, Indianapolis has also played a role in the rise of women's sports in recent years, Bhatt said. Indiana is looking to become 'the global capital of women's sports,' he said. 'Women's sports is no longer a moment, it's a movement,' he said. 'And so it just makes sense for TED to further amplify that as well.' Both Ruff-Bell and Bhatt have felt inspired by sports storytelling in their own lives. Ruff-Bell has never been an athlete, she said, or much of a sports fan. Still, she's totally fascinated by sports documentaries. She's come to love how much storytelling can happen behind the scenes and off the field. That storytelling is an avenue to broach new ideas, Bhatt said. 'We're still bringing it all back to sports, but about topics that we deeply care about that TED has always cared about and promoted, but now hopefully brings a new audience in because of sports,' Bhatt said. The goal, Ruff-Bell said, is for the event to grow and hopefully be continued annually in other cities.
Time of India
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- Time of India
AI meets Ayodhya: How a young drama group staged Pakistan's first Ramayana
If Ram could send one tweet from the forest, what would he say? If Raavan could do a TED talk, what would it be titled? A week before the premiere of 'Ramayana' at the Arts Council of Pakistan in Karachi on July 11, 30-year-old finance grad-turned-director Yogeshwar Karera shot off Karan Johar-style rapid-fire questions at his cast for a social media promo. This was no ordinary stage production — the Hindu epic had never been performed in Pakistan before. The cast was entirely Muslim, except for the director, and the play used AI to enhance storytelling. Despite recent Indo-Pak tensions, it sold around 1,000 tickets and generated buzz on both sides of the border. 'We weren't expecting such a response,' says Karera, surprised by the congratulatory messages pouring in for Mauj Collective, the theatre group he co-founded a year ago. He says the near-war between the two countries did not impact the play. 'The sponsors and venues had no reservations at all about staging it. Only the media has asked us these questions. In fact, it didn't even cross our minds that this might be seen as sensitive or controversial,' says Raana Kazmi, co-founder of Mauj Collective with a day job in HR. 'People from all backgrounds came, regardless of their religion. Families with kids, students, the elderly, everyone. A friend told me about how a parent explained each scene to their child,' says Kazmi, who played the role of Sita. Samhan Ghazi brought fierce intensity to the role of Raavan. Karera, a Sindhi who moved to Karachi in his teens, says his fascination for the epic tale of good triumphing over evil started young. 'I was five years old when I first watched Ramanand Sagar's Ramayan on Doordarshan. The story grabbed me from the start,' says Karera, who decided to pursue theatre full time in the middle of his finance and accounting degree. After getting a diploma at the National Academy of Performing Arts in Pakistan, Karera and two friends, Kazmi and Sana Toaha, founded Mauj Collective. The year-old theatre troupe uses tech-savvy stagecraft, social media flair and scripts that speak to a younger generation. Although some have interpreted Mauj's 'Ramayana' as a statement on religious unity, the group maintains their goal wasn't about sending a message. 'None of us ever felt like we were telling a story outside the world we inhabit. I've grown up with this story of the Ramayana. I may not belong to the community religiously, but this is a story of our subcontinent. It never felt like the story wasn't ours to tell. The values in it are universal,' says Ashmal Lalwany, who played Ram in the production. Some Sanskrit and Hindi words were adapted to terms more familiar to a Karachi audience. For instance, 'prakriti' became 'kudrat'. Sometimes, this would lead to amusing confusion. 'In one scene, Hanuman is supposed to give me a ring. Now, I know the word 'anguthi' means 'ring,' and that's it. But one day during rehearsal, Jibran Khan (who plays Hanuman) says, 'Aap is mundrika ko dekhein'. I was just standing there like, 'Where am I supposed to look? What is a mundrika?' laughs Kazmi.
Time of India
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- Time of India
AI meets Ayodhya: Young drama group stages Pak's 1st Ramayana
Young drama group stages Pak's 1st Ramayana If Ram could send one tweet from the forest, what would he say? If Raavan could do a TED talk, what would it be titled? A week before the premiere of ' Ramayana ' at the Arts Council of Pakistan in Karachi on July 11, 30-year-old finance grad-turned-director Yogeshwar Karera shot off Karan Johar-style rapid-fire questions at his cast for a social media promo. This was no ordinary stage production — the Hindu epic had never been performed in Pakistan before. The cast was entirely Muslim, except for the director, and the play used AI to enhance storytelling. Despite recent Indo-Pak tensions, it sold around 1,000 tickets and generated buzz on both sides of the border. 'We weren't expecting such a response,' says Karera, surprised by the congratulatory messages pouring in for Mauj Collective, the theatre group he co-founded a year ago. He says the near-war between the two countries did not impact the play. 'The sponsors and venues had no reservations at all about staging it. Only the media has asked us these questions. In fact, it didn't even cross our minds that this might be seen as sensitive or controversial,' says Raana Kazmi, co-founder of Mauj Collective with a day job in human resources. 'This is a story of universal values, a story of ours to tell' People from all backgrounds came, regardless of their religion. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Is it legal? How to get Internet without paying a subscription? Techno Mag Learn More Undo Families with kids, students, the elderly, everyone. A friend told me about how a parent explained each scene to their child,' says Kazmi, who played the role of Sita. Samhan Ghazi brought fierce intensity to the role of Raavan. Karera, a Sindhi who moved to Karachi in his teens, says his fascination for the epic tale of good triumphing over evil started young. 'I was five years old when I first watched Ramanand Sagar's Ramayan on Doordarshan. The story grabbed me from the start,' says Karera, who decided to pursue theatre full time in the middle of his finance and accounting degree. After getting a diploma at the National Academy of Performing Arts in Pakistan, Karera and two friends, Kazmi and Sana Toaha, founded Mauj Collective. The year-old theatre troupe uses tech-savvy stagecraft, social media flair and scripts that speak to a younger generation. Although some have interpreted Mauj's 'Ramayana' as a statement on religious unity, the group maintains their goal wasn't about sending a message. 'None of us ever felt like we were telling a story outside the world we inhabit. I've grown up with this story of the Ramayana. I may not belong to the community religiously, but this is a story of our subcontinent. It never felt like the story wasn't ours to tell. The values in it are universal,' says Ashmal Lalwany, who played Ram in the production. Some Sanskrit and Hindi words were adapted to terms more familiar to a Karachi audience. For instance, 'prakriti' became 'kudrat'. Sometimes, this would lead to amusing confusion. 'In one scene, Hanuman is supposed to give me a ring. Now, I know the word 'anguthi' means 'ring,' and that's it. But one day during rehearsal, Jibran Khan (who plays Hanuman) says, 'Aap is mundrika ko dekhein'. I was just standing there like, 'Where am I supposed to look? What is a mundrika?' laughs Kazmi.
Euractiv
4 days ago
- Business
- Euractiv
Tobacco tax in EU budget: What if Europe goes smoke-free?
The Commission wants tobacco taxes to fund a fifth of EU-level sources of income, but the proposal casts doubts on the bloc's goal of a smoke-free generation by 2040. The majority of the proposed €2 trillion budget still comes from national contributions, but a growing share is expected to come from new EU-wide revenue streams, known as 'own resources'. One of the biggest proposed sources: tobacco. Tobacco taxation will provide €11.2 billion annually – close to 20% of the EU's projected €58.3 billion in annual own resources each year. To put this into perspective, the first figure represents the annual amount collected by Italy alone in 2023. Over the seven-year cycle, that adds up to €78.4 billion, enough to fund a substantial portion of the bloc's planned defence spending. How it works Under the Commission's proposal, the EU would collect a flat 15% of each EU country's tobacco tax revenue and channel it directly into the bloc's budget. Tobacco tax rates vary widely across the EU. France currently has the highest tobacco taxes, while Bulgaria maintains the lowest, meaning the amount each country contributes under the plan would differ significantly. The levy would be collected regardless of how high or low national tobacco tax rates are. Importantly, the 15% levy, called the Tobacco Excise Duty Own Resource, or TEDOR, is not linked to the ongoing revision of the Tobacco Taxation Directive (TED), which the Commission proposed on Thursday and will soon be negotiated separately. The TED is a proposal to significantly raise tobacco tax rates across the EU. It suggests a 139% increase on cigarettes, a 258% hike on rolling tobacco, and – for the first time – high taxes on new products such as e-cigarettes, heated tobacco, and nicotine pouches. Previously, Commission sources in Brussels had floated using additional revenues of the revised TED to boost the EU budget. But that plan has now been dropped, with the proposal introducing TEDOR as a standalone tobacco-based own resource. Still, if the revised TED is adopted, it would indirectly boost even more the EU's income. So while the 15% rate stays the same, the EU budget grows along with national tax revenues. Practically, under the current TED or its revised version, member states will still be required to contribute 15% of their total tobacco tax revenues. This applies even to countries like France, which already imposes tobacco taxes above the current EU average, meaning new tax hikes as part of the TED revision would not affect its current levels. Dirty past One major challenge in collecting the 15% tax will be addressing the growth of black markets. Brussels, echoing the World Health Organisation, rejects claims that higher taxes lead to more illicit trade. Instead, EU officials argue that it is the lack of tax convergence across the bloc that fuels the illicit tobacco trade. Still, in a nod to this risk, the Commission has proposed a lower tax rate for water-pipe tobacco (shisha), where black market activity has grown in many EU countries, particularly Germany. Europol's 2025 organised crime threat assessment, however, states that countries with high excise and VAT rates are more vulnerable to the illicit sale of excise goods. What if everyone quits smoking? The claim that higher tobacco taxation would lead to a surge in the black market is one often cited by the tobacco industry. But the credibility of the argument is limited. Anti-tobacco groups see this argument as an attempt to undermine public health efforts. And it goes back to the industry's track record. In the 1980s, tobacco companies marketed filtered and 'light' cigarettes as 'harm-reduced' – a claim now widely debunked. Health organisations say the same mistake is being repeated today, with the industry promoting e-cigarettes and other alternatives as 'less harmful'. The Association of European Cancer Leagues welcomed the Commission's proposed tax hike, describing it as a step toward creating a tobacco-free generation. Still, it raises a practical question: what happens if higher taxes succeed and people stop smoking altogether? Would that blow a hole in the EU's budget? The Commission says no. It argues that the projected €11.2 billion in annual revenues already account for a decline in tobacco consumption over time. Moreover, the EU estimates that EU countries would save an additional €6 billion annually in tobacco-related healthcare costs. (mm)
The Hindu
5 days ago
- Business
- The Hindu
News from the world of Education: July 17, 2025
TEDxABBS Acharya Bangalore B-School (ABBS) will host TEDxABBS, a TED event on July 26 to share ideas and spark conversations around sustainability, environmental conservation, innovation, and green living. For details, visit ACCA Case Masters 2025 The Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA), has launched a national case study competition. ACCA Case Masters 2025: Redefining the Accountant aims to provide students with a unique platform to demonstrate financial acumen, strategic thinking and problem-solving skills in real-world business scenarios. Eligibility: and BBA students from across India Deadline: August 8 For details, visit Admissions and scholarships Hindustan Institute of Technology and Science has opened admissions for its MBA programme with specialisations in Finance, Marketing, Human Resources, Hospital Management, Aviation Management, Logistics and Supply Chain Management, Media and Entertainment, and Business Analytics. Merit-based scholarships are available. Eligibility: Minimum 50% marks in any UG discipline and valid scores in CAT, MAT, XAT, or CMAT. Deadline: July 30 Details at The University of Strathclyde, Glasgow, invites applications for its Aerospace Engineering programme starting in September 2025 and January 2026. Scholarships are available Eligibility: A first-class or second-class honours degree (or international equivalent) in Engineering, Physical Sciences, or a closely related discipline. Overall IELTS (Academic) score of 6.5 with no individual band less than 5.5. Details at Motion Education has launched the Motion Talent Search Exam with rewards ranging from scholarships and free coaching for over 500 students. Eligibility: Students from classes 6 to 10, 11 and 12 (Science stream) When: July 20, August 3, and August 24 (online) Deadline: Up to two days before the selected exam date Details at Western Overseas Study Abroad has issued an admission alert for Indian students who wish to pursue Bachelor's and Master's degrees in universities in Canada, Australia, New Zealand, the U.K., the U.S. and Europe. It offers personalised career counselling, university and country shortlisting, SOP and documentation assistance, application submissions, visa processing, and standardised test coaching for exams. For details, visit JIRSMUN 2025 JAIN International Residential School (JIRS), Bengaluru, will host its Model United Nations Conference, JIRSMUN 2025. The event will feature six committees and a cultural exchange programme. When: August 29 to 31 Details at Events IIT Mandi concluded the third edition of PRAYAS 3.0, its outreach initiative that aims to foster curiosity and scientific temperament among school students. Participants engaged in a mix of workshops, lectures, lab visits, and team projects designed to make STEM education engaging and accessible. DEVI Sansthan celebrated Malala Day by honouring young women educators from Lucknow's low-income neighbourhoods and equipped with the ALfA toolkit, promotes foundational literacy and numeracy through peer learning and critical thinking. The Circle launched Circle U, a programme to provide hands-on training to educators, and a one-year programme that aims to equip teachers with the expertise and resources to foster exponential progress for children in resource-scarce communities. Delhi Public School Indirapuram hosted Career Vistas 4.0, which brought together representatives from over 30 Indian and international universities and featured sessions on emerging careers, the future of work, and how students can prepare for interdisciplinary pathways. The Department of Social Justice and Empowerment, Government of Rajasthan, selected Arihant Academy to be part of the Chief Minister Anuprati Coaching Scheme. In collaboration with Podar Education Institution, Arihant will now operate a coaching centre in Nawalgarh, Jhunjhunu, to provide free coaching to students from economically weaker sections of society. K.J. Somaiya Institute of Technology (KJSIT), Mumbai, concluded its offline Faculty Development Programme on Fortifying the Digital Frontier: Cybersecurity Strategies for Threat 50 faculty members and researchers across AICTE-approved institutions in Mumbai participated. IIM Kashipur appointed Prof. Neeraj Dwivedi as its new Director. He has over 25 years of experience across academia, corporate sector, and executive leadership. Shiv Nadar University, Delhi-NCR, has appointed Professor Rajesh Chakrabarti as the Dean of the School of Management and Entrepreneurship. He has been affiliated with institutions such as the Wharton School, the Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta, India Development Foundation and the Center for Development Policy and Practice in India. Over 850 students from Lovely Professional University have secured scholarships to study in foreign institutions from over 80 countries including Canada, the U.K., the U.S., Brazil, and Spain. KIIT World School, Sohna Road, in collaboration with the Adani Foundation and Gems Education, organised a training programme on Neuro-Linguistic Programming (NLP) for its teachers. The Manipal College of Nursing, MAHE, in collaboration with the Faculty of Nursing, University of New Brunswick (UNB), Canada, inaugurated the Manipal International Conference on Equity, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) in Health: Envisioning a Future of Global Collaboration for Education, Research and Practice. The two-day programme included plenary sessions, scientific paper presentations, and poster presentations. Global Indian International School (GIIS) hosted a felicitation ceremony for the latest cohort of Global Citizen Scholarship (GCS) recipients. Ten students —eight from India and two from West Asia — were recognised for their outstanding academic accomplishments, leadership abilities, and excellence. Zamit has launched an IELTS preparation platform to assist students aiming to study or work abroad. The platform offers a wide range of features, including full-length and individual modules of General Training (GT) and Academic (AC) Tests (CD and PB) Diagnostic tests and improvement activities, quick feedback, writing evaluations, and live sessions with certified IELTS trainers. Pearson has announced key enhancements to Pearson Test of English (PTE) Academic. From August 2025, PTE Academic will include two new speaking tasks: 'Respond to a Situation' and 'Summarise a Group Discussion' to evaluate test takers' ability to communicate in real-world academic and professional scenarios. Pearson is also enhancing its AI-driven scoring system to ensure fairer and more accurate assessments for all test takers. AIIMS Bibinagar and the Centre for Innovation and Entrepreneurship (CIE) at IIIT Hyderabad hosted a MedCare AI Impact Hackathon to empower doctors, medical students, and health researchers to tackle real-world clinical problems through deep tech research led innovation. The event featured two tracks - one for medical practitioners and another for med-tech researchers. CMR University, Bengaluru hosted the launch of the India Chapter of the Global Design Thinking Alliance (GDTA) with thought leaders from academia, industry, and global institutions taking part. Prof. Uli Weinberg, President of GDTA and Director of the HPI School of Design Thinking, Germany, was chief guest. IIM Kashipur hosted a roundtable conference Disha 2025 on the theme: Future-Proof Skills: What the Modern Workplace Demands from MBAs that brought together senior leaders from Barclays, Deloitte India, Wipro, Schneider Electric Infrastructure, Ernst and Young (EY), and Philips India Subcontinent and other global firms. The discussion focused on the core competencies, mindset shifts, and adaptive learning required to navigate today's complex and fast-paced corporate landscape. Tata Motors has trained and certified the first All Girls Batch of motor mechanics in Jharkhand under its Kaushalya programme. The 13 girls have completed the Mechanical Motor Vehicle (MMV) training module, which was designed to build employability in underserved communities. IIM Rohtak hosted Maj. Gen. Sumit Rana, General Officer Commanding, Paschim Uttar Pradesh Sub Area, for a session on The Role of Armed Forces in Nation Building. Over 300 students and faculty members attended. Medhavi Skills University (MSU) hosted a workshop on the theme Industry-Led Skill-Based Education: A New Paradigm for Atmanirbhar Bharat to celebrate World Youth Skills Day. The discussions emphasised the need for stronger industry-academia collaboration to ensure youth are equipped with practical, job-ready skills. Prin. L. N. Welingkar Institute of Management Development and Research (WeSchool), Mumbai, in collaboration with the Association of Indian Management Schools (AIMS) and Ratan Tata Maharashtra State Skills University, hosted a Women in Leadership for Viksit Bharat summit to recognise the role of women leaders in India's development journey. Convocations and inductions The Sri Sathya Sai University for Human Excellence celebrated its fourth convocation with 111 students receiving their degrees. Sonal Mansingh, dancer and former Rajya Sabha MP, was the guest of honour. IIT Guwahati held its 27th convocation for 2,093 students. Rajendra Singh, D. Houser Banks Professor of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Clemson University, was the chief guest. Sanskriti University, Mathura, hosted a convocation for 35 international students such countries including Namibia, Myanmar, Zimbabwe, Tanzania, Ghana, and Sudan who were awarded degrees across disciplines such as Engineering, Management, Science, and Nursing. The Indian School of Business welcomed its inaugural cohort of 130 students to the 20-month Post Graduate Programme in Management for Young Leaders. K J Somaiya Institute of Management welcomed 676 students for the 2025–2027, across its MBA programmes. Ravi Kant, former MD and Vice Chairman, Tata Motors, was the chief guest. ITM Business School welcomed its MBA batch of 2025–27 with an inaugural ceremony at which industry leaders spoke to the students about topics such as leadership, career development, and the changing world of business. IIIT Hyderabad conducted its 24th convocation for 529 students who received their degrees. Chief guest Debjani Ghosh, Distinguished Fellow, NITI Aayog, and former president of Nasscom, was the chief guest. Prof. Sandeep Shukla was also introduced as the next Director of the institution. IIM Raipur hosted an Orientation programme for 353 students of its MBA 2025–27 batch. Sudeep Dev, CHRO and Executive Vice President at Volvo Eicher Commercial Vehicles, was the chief guest. Laurels The University of Strathclyde has been ranked second in Scotland for Overall Satisfaction in the U.K.'s 2025 National Student Survey. Shoolini University of Biotechnology and Management Sciences, Solan, Himachal Pradesh, was granted Category-1 status by the University Grants Commission under its Graded Autonomy Regulations, 2018. Glion Institute of Higher Education was recognised by the Swiss Accreditation Council (SAC) as a University of Applied Sciences Institute. Shiv Nadar School, Noida, ranked second nationally in the India National Green School Ranking 2025 unveiled by Green Mentors. Students from Galgotias University's Batch 2021-2025 have secured over 135 offers from Wipro's Elite Exclusive 2025 hiring programme. Suraasa, an ed-tech platform enabling global teacher mobility, has been shortlisted for the prestigious Global EdTech Prize by T4 Education. The final awards will be announced on July 31. MoUs and partnerships Medicaps University has signed MoUs with Hettich and Intel to bridge the gap between academia and industry and empower students with practical learning experiences. IIM Nagpur has signed an MoU with the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA) to improve the quality and relevance of its Finance and Accountancy programmes. BITS Law School, Mumbai, has signed an MoU with the Ahmadi Foundation to institute the Justice A.M. Ahmadi Gold Medal for Excellence in Alternative Dispute Resolution for students of its B.A. LL.B. (Hons.) and B.B.A. LL.B. (Hons.) programmes. Wintec, New Zealand, has partnered with MSM Unify and Sahrdaya College of Engineering and Technology (Autonomous) in Kerala to launch a transnational programme in Data Science and Intelligent Systems, which will allow students to begin their PG studies in India and transition to a Master's degree in New Zealand. Workfreaks Business School has signed an MoU with AMET University to integrate higher education with real-time industry experience. MiPhi Semiconductors has signed an MoU with the Rajagiri School of Engineering and Technology (RSET) to set up a dedicated MiPhi Innovation AI Lab to focus on advancing applied research in AI infrastructure, semiconductor integration, and GPU-accelerated computing. Acharya Bangalore B-School (ABBS) has partnered with IBM to co-develop and deliver specialised undergraduate and postgraduate programmes in Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning (ML). Through this initiative, students will gain practical exposure to key technologies. Vivekanand Education Society's Tulsi Technical Institute has collaborated with Skilling College of Paramedical Education (SCOPE) to launch two additional Bachelor of Vocation ( programmes: three-year in Medical Imaging Technology and three-year in Medical Laboratory Technician.
