SRINAGAR: Parents in Kashmir have raised concerns about abrupt increases in annual fees for the current academic session at Tyndale Biscoe and Mallinson higher secondary school. They claim that the school has increased fees by over Rs 2000 without the approval of the school fee fixation committee, and without consulting with parents.
“In this era when business in the Kashmir valley has shuddered, Tyndale Biscoe and Mallinson higher secondary school enhanced the annual fee,” parents claimed.
A group of parents has called the increase arbitrary and fears that the school will continue to raise fees annually if they don’t protest. The school has also charged additional Rs 3000 for summer camp, which was previously included in the annual fee.
Attempts to contact school authorities for comment have been unsuccessful.
Reports suggest that other private schools, even those with lower student enrolment and fewer facilities, have also increased their fees.
Director of Education in Kashmir, Mr. Tasaduq Hussain, has stated that schools must charge fees based on the facilities they offer, and parents should be able to pay in instalments. He has also warned that action will be taken against schools that charge extra fees. [KNT]
The UAE has myriad interests before the U.S. government, including weapons acquisition, and more than a dozen firms actively registered with DOJ to represent government clients.
Otaiba said his favorite event to host is an interfaith Iftar dinner during Ramadan with Christians, Jews, Sikhs, Buddhists and others. Former Trump Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin, former Sen. Roy Blunt (R-Mo.) and Special Olympics Chair Timothy Shriver have all attended the event, which started before the pandemic.
The dinner in late March drew a lineup of prominent Jewish movers and shakers: Rep. Brad Schneider (D-Ill.), Biden antisemitism envoy Deborah Lipstadt, Israeli Ambassador Michael Herzog and Republican wordsmith Frank Luntz. The menu included salmon, saffron chicken, eggplant and beef kibbeh labanieh, and guests received a box of dates from the UAE as a party favor.
“Everybody leaves feeling good after that,” Otaiba said. “It’s about tolerance, it’s about inclusion, all of the values that we represent and stand for in the Emirates.”
Iftar dinners, however, are relatively mundane compared to many embassy shindigs. The French ambassador’s residence in recent years has held an Améthyste event, an homage to the purple stone. Washington bigwigs who attended last year included Sens. Chris Coons (D-Del.) and Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.), senior White House officials Shalanda Young and Mitch Landrieu and Trade Representative Katherine Tai.
The purpose is to bring together Democrats and Republicans, said a French official in Washington who was granted anonymity to discuss the thinking behind the event. But it also hasn’t hidden its connections to K Street influences. Heather Podesta, a mega-lobbyist who that quarter lobbied for companies including Toyota and SpaceX, co-hosted Améthyste in December.
“Any time you put Republicans, Democrats, the media, corporations, nonprofits, entertainment industry, and diplomatic corps in the same room, good things are going to happen,” Podesta said in a statement. “In a town that too often is bifurcated by party, we all need opportunities to know each other better.”
The event’s corporate sponsors included the South Korean conglomerate SK Group and the French investment firm Ardian, which is looking to invest in the U.S., said Steve Clemons, another co-host of the event whose day job is writing a newsletter for the media startup Semafor. Clemons, a familiar face to those operating at the nexus of journalism and the embassy party circuit, became a Chevalier in France’s Legion of Honor in 2021.
In a statement, Ardian did not comment on its involvement in the party. The party also featured Chevron-branded coasters for the energy company, another sponsor. SK Group did not provide a comment. Chevron spokesperson Bill Turenne said in a statement: “Like other brands and news organizations, Chevron is proud to support events in Washington, like Amethyste, that bring Republicans and Democrats together to benefit important charity partners.”
Though denizens of the embassy party circuit say corporate sponsorships date back a number of years, they have at least become more noticeable of late. As part of the festivities around the White House Correspondents’ Association annual dinner, the Swiss commodity company Mercuria is sponsoring Time Magazine’s after-party Saturday night at the Swiss ambassador’s residence.
A representative for Mercuria said in an email: “Mercuria is a Swiss company, so the company often sponsors events at the Swiss embassy. We also sponsor the Soiree Suisse at the Swiss Embassy with other Swiss companies each year.” Spokespeople for the Swiss embassy and Time either declined to comment or did not respond.
One Republican lobbyist said that a company with business with a foreign government or in a foreign country might sponsor an event as a means to build relationships. A defense contractor, for instance, might use the venue to schmooze with a diplomat from a country to whom it hopes to sell military equipment, the lobbyist said.
Alternatively, part of a government’s mission in the U.S. is often wooing companies to show that the country is “open for business” and encourage investment, the person noted.
Asked why more companies are sponsoring events at embassies, Gérard Araud, who was France’s ambassador to Washington from 2014 to 2019, said: “I think it’s money. I think it’s really the foreign ministries are all fighting under budget constraints.” He said that when he was ambassador, he had to get approval from the foreign affairs ministry in Paris for any proposed sponsorship of an embassy event.
POLITICO has partnered with embassies in the past, including hosting an event earlier this month at the home of the European Union ambassador. Thursday’s event took place at the home of Ambassador Karen Pierce.
“POLITICO proudly convenes high-level gatherings of influential people which is why we are so excited to partner with the British Embassy in April to showcase our reporting teams from both here and London for a fantastic audience,” said Brad Dayspring, executive vice president of global communications and brand at POLITICO. “More conversations are needed in Washington, not less, which is why our reporters and editors regularly attend events like these and why we prioritize hosting and connecting people at them.”
One of the quirkiest draws on the embassy party circuit is the Finnish Embassy’s long-running sauna series, which brings together journalists and Hill staffers for a long night of sauna time, conversation and Scandinavian food. The ambassador has his own sauna that he uses to have one-on-ones with top government officials and journalists.
[ad_2]
#Baby #showers #icicle #music #sauna #time #embassy #parties #Street
( With inputs from : www.politico.com )
Los Angeles: Despite years of being very private, singer Ellie Goulding is reportedly working on a documentary about life “beyond her music”.
The ‘Burn’ singer has spent years being notoriously private, but is now said to hope to use a film special to highlight campaign work including her fight against global warming, reports femalefirst.co.uk.
A source told The Sun: “Ellie is keen to let fans into her world and speak beyond her music. Earlier this year, she invited cameras to record her life away from red carpets and show the real her.
“The project will cover her music and time in the studio at home but Ellie also wants to shine a greater light on her work as a climate-change activist. She is really passionate about using her profile for good and thinks a documentary will do just that.”
Goulding has recently been involved in the United Nation’s ‘One Young World’ campaign, and will be following in the footsteps of other big name artists who have recently made films giving glimpses into their private lives including Lewis Capaldi, Lady Gaga and Katy Perry.
In November 2017, the singer was awarded the UN’s ‘New Voices Award’ in recognition of her activism and became a Goodwill Ambassador for UN Environment, and she’s a patron of women’s shelter ‘The Marylebone Project’.
Despite her previous privacy, she recently told The Independent newspaper she regrets responding to unfounded rumours she once cheated on Ed Sheeran with Niall Horan.
The singer has insisted she and Ed, 32, never dated.
But she made headlines in January when she took to TikTok to shut down years-old talk she had been unfaithful to him with 29-year-old former One Direction singer Niall – responding “False!” to one fan.
She said: “I shouldn’t give in to that (rumours.) For me to think that the right thing is to respond to rumours, knowing that in real life there aren’t just ‘heroes’ and ‘villains’ like there are in the fake world of social media and tabloids… I think, by replying, I’m kind of making out that world is real, or adding validity to a world that is manufactured to keep us scrolling and keep us in fear and fascinated by celebrities.
“I think that the best thing for me is to stay in the real world.
“But sometimes you just gotta – occasionally; every, like, five years or so – put something out there….”
Price: [price_with_discount] (as of [price_update_date] – Details)
[ad_1]
From the manufacturer
Slim and Sleek Design
GTS 2 (New Version) Edge-to-Edge Glass, Slim & Sleek. Exquisitely crafted curved glass shimmers like a piece of crystal jade and the gorgeous and dynamic curves of aluminum alloy body deliver a comfortable and light wearable experience.
All-day Heart Rate Tracking. Real-time Warnings to Protect You
24-hour high-precision heart rate monitoring supports industry-leading automatic detection of heart abnormalities. In-depth tracking of heart health and real-time warnings for potential risks of heart trouble are also provided, reducing the probability of accidents and helping to protect your life.
Blood-oxygen Saturation Measurement
When you engage in sustained mental labor, run a marathon or do intense outdoor exercise, you can test your SpO2 level the moment you start feeling unwell to get a better understanding of your physical condition.
Monitor Your Stress Levels
Check your personal stress level – relaxed, normal, medium or high – anytime you feel pressured throughout the day, so you know when to relax and reduce it.
Sleep Quality Monitoring
The watch supports in-depth sleep monitoring, which can differentiate between the light, deep, and REM (rapid eye movement) sleep stages, monitor the sleep breathing condition, and provide analysis and suggestions for improvement. The watch also recognizes naps over 20 minutes between 11AM-6PM
90+ Sports Modes
Activate one of the sports modes and the watch will produce a corresponding analytical report after you finish, to help you improve your exercise plan. Intelligent recognition of sports modes eliminates the need to manually select the sports mode.
Smart Notifications
The Amazfit GTS 2 (New Version) can proficiently handle your personal agendas, notify you of incoming calls or messages and provide movement reminders when you have been sitting idle for a long time. The watch will also track your events and offers Do Not Disturb, Stopwatch and Weather forecast function, as well as enabling the setting of alarms and timers.
5 ATM Waterproof
The Amazfit GTS 2 (New Version) watch has achieved a water-resistance grade of 5 ATM, so you can enjoy the sea or take a dip in a pool without worry.
6-Day Extended Battery Life
Thinner, lighter and with a large battery life. The new Amazfit GTS 2 (New Version) is equipped with a 246 mAh large battery that can last 6 days with typical usage and is always ready to escort you on your journeys and track your progress. Enjoy almost a full week of activity without worrying about carrying a charger everywhere.
Music storage and playback. Your playlist on your time :- The Amazfit GTS 2 ( New version) supports controlling mobile music playback through the watch and with a massice 3GB of local music storage, you can transfer 300-600 of your favourite songs to the watch through your mobile phone with your Amazfit.;Bluetooth Phone calls :- The Amazfit GTS 2 (New version) has added a microphone and speaker. After connecting to your mobile phone via Bluetooth, you can use the watch to answer phone calls, ensuring that important calls will be no longer be missed when it is inconvenient to hold your mobile phone for example while running or driving. Amazon Alexa Built-in :- Amazon Alexa voice assistant integrated.Ask alexa to control your home and check the weather and calender etc. The Amazfit GTS 2 ( New version) also has a new offline voice assistant. You can interact with your watch without connecting to the internet, including turning on sports modes or opening heart rate monitoring function. 5 ATM Water resistant. Escorts you even under water :- Thanks to professional waterproofing that offers protection up to a depth of 50 meters, the Amazfit GTS 2( New version) is on par with traditional high-end watches and can be worn worry-free for daily use or when swimming .; Check Out Our Store :- Click on the blue Amazfit link below the Product title, to explore our other models. Included Components: Amazfit Gts 2 *1, Charger Case *1, User Manual*1; Compatible Devices: Smartphone
Performing at a benefit for the US civil rights movement in Paris’s Palais des Sports, 1966
Belafonte funded the Freedom Riders and SNCC, activists fighting unlawful segregation in the American south, and worked on voter registration drives. He later focused on a series of African initiatives. He organised the all-star charity record We Are the World, raising more than $63m for famine relief, and his 1988 album, Paradise in Gazankulu, protested against apartheid in South Africa
Photograph: Spartaco Bodini/AP
[ad_2]
#Smash #hits #civil #rights #Harry #Belafonte #life #pictures
( With inputs from : www.theguardian.com )
A good music producer facilitates a studio environment that allows an artist to plunge into the depths of their soul, and cleverly shapes the sound of their music – a bad one, meanwhile, can halt a promising career. But in 2023, 70 years on from the dawn of rock’n’roll, this tremendous power still lies in the hands of an overwhelming majority of men.
Women and non-binary people claimed less than 5% of producer and engineer credits across the top 50 streamed songs of last year, according to a recent report from Fix the Mix. Dated stereotypes have framed producing as the preserve of nerdish knob-twiddling blokes – despite there being ample historic evidence to the contrary.
The meticulous and patient work of Susan Rogers is legendary, engineering Prince records at the height of his career when studio sessions could last for days on end. Kate Bush self-produced Hounds of Love, regularly voted one of the best albums of all time for its arresting sound. Sylvia Massy has worked as an engineer and producer on music from some of the most successful rock acts of all time, including Tool, System of a Down, Skunk Anansie and Red Hot Chili Peppers. Artists including Beyoncé, Taylor Swift, Janelle Monáe, Alison Goldfrapp and Grimes are just a few in a long list of women to have production credits on their own albums.
Catherine Marks, who co-produced the recent UK No 1 debut from indie supergroup Boygenius and has worked in the industry for 17 years, says the lack of diversity is due to a ceiling that inhibits progression. “Since I started, there have been more women coming through at entry level but there’s no support,” she says. “There’s still a perception issue that impacts their ability to find management and get introduced to decision makers in the industry.”
‘There’s no support’ … Catherine Marks. Photograph: PR
For those who do manage to reach a professional level, a lack of imagination from music executives and artists when it comes to choosing who to work with results in what producer Marta Salogni, who has worked with Björk, MIA and Bon Iver, calls a vicious circle: “It feels safer sometimes for gatekeepers to employ the same people but if women are not being employed, they can’t build up the credits that would make sure they can be employed.”
Hiring and championing a new producer who doesn’t yet have a robust track record might be seen as risky, but as Marks puts it, “stepping into the studio is always a risk because anything can happen”. Also, studio trials are commonplace, where artists and producers have a chance to see if they get on before officially working together. “I know some of the biggest names in the industry who are still having to do that now,” she says. “I don’t see why those opportunities can’t go to different people.”
A&R and marketing executive Jane Third, who has worked with self-producing acts including Rina Sawayama, says all-female sessions can be less hierarchical. “Women are maybe a bit more open and collaborative; there’s more freedom of expression. It can feel a bit more flat, where everyone is contributing equally, in comparison to other scenarios I’ve been in.”
Does this lack of equality affect the very sound of pop? It’s interesting to consider what Raye’s sparsely produced debut might have sounded like if she hadn’t exited her major label deal before it was released and therefore had less control in the studio. The album hit No 2 in the UK earlier this year and was widely praised for being eclectic and bold. Her back catalogue of dance-leaning pop hits (produced by men) suggests it could have been quite different. Ultimately, more diversity in the studio will result in more diverse music, as Salogni says: “A male-dominated team does not reflect how multifaceted society is. What might [more diversity] in production sound like? I think that’s all to discover.”
Having a wider choice of producers to work with will also probably result in fewer female acts being faced with predatory behaviour, as Ellie Goulding experienced as a 19-year-old desperate to make it. In an interview with the Guardian, she said: “My whole career started off with instantly being made to feel like a sexual object, and being made to feel vulnerable in those sessions. And there are so many female singers that will hear me saying that and say: ‘Yeah, I can relate.’” Raye sings about a predatory producer on her track Ice Cream Man, “tryna touch me, tryna fuck me, I’m not playing / I should’ve left that place as soon as I walked in it”.
Catherine Anne Davies, AKA the Anchoress. Photograph: Darren Feist
Producer Catherine Anne Davies, who also performs as the Anchoress, says she gets a lot of her work from women who haven’t had positive experiences in the studio and are looking for a different dynamic. “I don’t think women who produce have a different sound but I do think it impacts on the psychology of a space,” she says. “A big part of your role as a producer is, essentially, being a therapist, which is all about getting everyone to feel comfortable enough to open yourself up completely.”
She cites research by a master’s student she has supervised that looked at “accessing vulnerability and how that changed, depending on if they were in co-writing sessions with men or with women, and having what they call ‘keep your shoes on moments’ in the studio in case you need to leave suddenly because something dodgy happens.” If a male producer behaves inappropriately or in an overbearing way, or if that has happened to an artist in the past, “it’s going to have an impact on the music created because you don’t feel comfortable enough to be vulnerable”.
There is evidence of change. Women currently make up 18% of members at the Music Producers Guild – up from 5% in 2016 – and its board has three women directors out of five. Technology has also somewhat levelled the field, especially for producers with parenting responsibilities who have difficulty committing to the long hours expected in studios billing by the day. (Marks, who doesn’t have children, says she’s often in the studio until 10pm and feels that she’s made personal sacrifices for work.)
Bedroom pop … PinkPantheress. Photograph: BBC/PA
This will also play a role in a rising number of self-producing acts – PinkPantheress gained traction after posting clips of songs she had recorded herself in her university dorm room on TikTok, and Griff secured a record deal after sharing her self-produced songs online. It remains to be seen whether they’ll also produce for others as male artists often do (such as Joel Corry, Mura Masa and Digital Farm Animals in the dance pop field alone).
The major labels and music publishers point to various initiatives: panel talks and masterclasses for female engineers and producers; research reports; campaigns; non-profit initiatives; all-female songwriting camps and deals with self-producing female acts. Still, Laura Lewis-Paul, who heads up non-profit music tech initiative Saffron, which last year had 178 women graduate through its music tech courses for beginners (out of 645 applicants), would like to see greater collaboration between the music industry and initiatives like hers, which has recently lost its funding. “At the moment, people are very willing to talk and discuss the issues but they’re not necessarily looking at how to make changes.”
Lewis-Paul says that upon leaving the course, graduates “are faced with an industry or an educational setting that isn’t necessarily ready for them; they feel like they don’t belong in that space.” This can be especially true for those who are ethnically diverse: 0.7% of production credits went to women of colour across 1,100 popular songs from 2012 to 2022, according to research from the Annenberg Inclusion Initiative in the US. Lewis-Paul continues: “We need to look at their journeys and how to create opportunities for them, with strategic partners.”
For Marks, support from power players in the music business for new producers is crucial. “I’ve had a lot of support. I got management quite early on and I had the support of mentors who were very well known and successful in the industry who were championing me. We need more of those kinds of people. This isn’t about a lack of women being interested, willing to work hard or having the right kind of personality to work in this industry. It’s about encouraging them all to come through.”
[ad_2]
#maledominated #team #reflect #society #music #producers #women
( With inputs from : www.theguardian.com )
Price: [price_with_discount] (as of [price_update_date] – Details)
[ad_1] Features: Ride on toy Mini Electric Bike For Kids For 2 Years To 5 Years And 25kg Weight | Electric children bike | head light | drive forward/backward | Digital Power display | Inbuilt music system with USB port And With Bluetooth | Horn | support wheel for safety | Foot Acceleration| Attractive bike starting sound | Mini bike for kids to drive which kids 2 to 5 years and maximum 25 kg weight, this Rechargeable Battery-operated Bike is more beautiful toy in category. The beauty of toy is that it sets it apart from all the others. This bike with many specialties make attractive toy an children. The quality of the bike is that it makes it different from all other toys. This toy is more liked due to its feature and attractive design. children can sit on bike, children experience the first bike ride of their lives that will be driven by themselves. The bike also offers safety features such as Indian Standards and is made of high quality plastic. These bike’s make good memories of children’s childhood that will be an incredible gift given to them by their relatives or parents Assembly of This Bike Is Required | ThIs Mini Electric Bike Is already 90% assemble but required 10% easy assembly, customer require only small and easy step to complete assembly. Electric children bike | head light | drive forward/backward | Digital Power display | Inbuilt music system with USB port And With Bluetooth | Horn | support wheel for safety | Foot Acceleration| Attractive bike starting sound This Battery Bike Comes With In-Built 6v lead Acid Battery And 6v Charger You Just Need To Connect The Battery Wire After Assembly Done Start A Electric Bike By Switching On | While In Charging Condition Bike Can’t Start
Mumbai: Shiv Thakare, known for participating in the reality show ‘Bigg Boss 16’, has collaborated with music composer Mayur Jumani for the one-minute music video ‘Aai Shapphat’, which captures his journey on the reality show.
While MC Stan lifted the trophy on ‘Bigg Boss 16’, Shiv emerged as the first runner-up.
He shared a friendly bond with Abdu Rozik and a close bond with Nimrit Kaur on the show. The video captures a few of his catchwords also.
Talking about the peppy track, Shiv said: “One day I got a call from Mayur, he said I have made this song called ‘Aai Shapphat’ which captures your ‘Bigg Boss season 16’ journey, can you meet and discuss the same? I always appreciate and respect people around me. So I took time and went to meet him and when I listened to what he had made, I was so happy and felt blessed about it.”
Shiv has also participated in reality shows like MTV’s Roadies Rising’, ‘Bigg Boss Marathi 2’, and recently became a guest commentator in one of the matches of IPL 2023 between Rajasthan Royals and Delhi Capitals.
Sharing more about his collaboration with Mayur, Shiv said: “I know Mayur. He is a very creative person and does make such things. In one minute, he has shown my full journey of Bigg Boss, from words like ‘Aai Shappath’, ‘Aai Cha Gawat’, ‘O Mandali’ to love from people and Ganpati Bappa. He just asked me for my time to shoot the video.”
Talking about what he liked about the video, Bigg Boss 16 finalist said: “The way I was portrayed in it.”
“The way he presented Shiv Thakare I really enjoyed watching it and people also loved it. Within an hour of posting it, people started sharing, liking, and commenting on it. Also, it has gone viral to the extent that people have started calling me and complimenting me personally,” Shiv said.
Praising Mayur, he said: “While shooting for the video also, Mayur was so concerned about me. He keeps asking me whether I am comfortable with certain dance steps or not.”
New Delhi: In a shocking incident, a 30-year-old woman in Delhi was shot and injured in her neck by her neighbours for opposing their playing of loud music, police said on Tuesday.
The incident was reported from outer north Delhi’s Siraspur area and two persons were held in this connection, a senior police official said.
According to the official, they got a PCR call of the incident at around 12.15 a.m., with the caller reporting that a woman was hurt in the incident.
A police team reached at the spot and found that the injured woman was already taken to Max Hospital, Shalimar Bagh. The injured woman was later identified as Ranju, 30, a resident of Siraspur.
After this, the scene was inspected by crime team.
“On reaching the hospital, the MLC details of the victim were collected in which a doctor mentioned gunshot injury on her neck. The woman was unfit for statement at that time,” the police said.
The police said that they found out a witness of the case and her statement was recorded.
It was the sister-in-law of the victim who alleged that Harish, another resident of their colony was involved in the incident.
“She said that there was programme of ‘kuwa pujan’ of Harish’s son in which DJ was playing. Hearing loud noise Ranju and she went to the balcony and asked Harish to stop the DJ. Afterwards a bullet hit her bhabhi which was fired by Harish who took the gun from Amit,” the official said.
The official said that on her statement a case under sections 307, 34 of IPC and 27 Arms Act was registered against the accused, and both the accused Harish and Amit were arrested.
