Latest news with #SIPA
The Hindu
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- The Hindu
Made in India: Explore GI-tagged products in ‘Guardians of Heritage'
It is one of those balmy days in the midst of an unrelenting Chennai summer when I meet Senthilkumar Chandrasekaran outside Anna Salai's Philatelic Bureau, once among the first cinema houses in South India. Seated under a spreading peepul tree Senthilkumar, 47, is quite at home, unsurprising for a man who is passionate about philately and the way the postal realm transports him to distant places interwoven with tales of heritage and history. 'The book has been two years in the making,' says Senthilkumar, a chemical engineer and general manager with a Chennai-based waste-water treatment company, and member of SIPA (South India Philatelists' Association). 'It highlights the rich tapestry of India's indigenous and region-specific products that have earned the coveted Geographical Indication (GI) tag through stamps, special covers, cancellations and other postal memorabilia.' Released in May 2025, Guardians of Heritage was born of a blog that Senthilkumar maintained during the dark days of the COVID-19 pandemic. 'I was a stamp collector as a child,' he says, looking back at life as a Railways' kid in Karnataka. 'Back then, we received letters often, and as a 10-year-old, I used to peel off the stamps from envelopes and stick them in notebooks. Birthday indulgences were about buying sheets of Indian and foreign stamps from stationery shops. Much of my early collection had definitive stamps, but my love for commemorative stamps began with one on Sanjay Gandhi. I rediscovered philately to break the monotony and stress of modern life.' Senthilkumar joined SIPA and built his collection — the themes included stamps on water, 'twin stamps' on the Olympics, Mahatma Gandhi and Indian heritage, coins and currencies. 'Every day I check the India Post website for new releases. Weekends are spent solely on this. And friends of friends have become friends because of philately,' he laughs softly. 'And then, I discovered the world of special covers and other memorabilia related to GI-tagged products.' Senthilkumar flips through these special covers encased in album after album, their unique colour and creation a representation of the rich cultural diversity of India. 'This collection took two years. Six hundred and ninety seven products are registered with the GI registry and I have showcased 402 in the book. The need to catalogue these products helped me collect,' he says. The covers are unique, each one a celebration of the product in modes that are raised, flat or projected. The one on Kanchipuram silk has a piece of silk with a peacock motif encased on the cover, the Santipur saree has its famous folds, the one on Kaipad rice has a grain, the Chamba rumal cover has a piece inserted that tells the story of Radha Krishna, the Nachiyar Kovil lamp is tactile as is the Thanjavur pith work of the Brihadeeswarar temple. 'I first began collecting on Tamil Nadu,' says Senthilkumar, adding 'some states have GI-tagged products but no covers, those from the Northeast have plenty but are difficult to source. There are also foreign products registered in India.' Prices also vary between ₹60 and ₹200 a cover and most are accessible except some of the sponsored ones. 'Around 2,000 covers are issued and one needs to keep an eye to source them,' he says, adding that the dealer-enthusiast network is the best way to acquire them. All this is translated onto the book that serves as a ready reckoner for anyone who wishes to know more about GI-tagged products and to the trivia collector who'd like to toss out nuggets on say Bardhaman sitabhog at dinner. Arranged under the heads of agricultural products, food stuff, handicrafts, manufactured products and natural resources, a picture of each cover has a descriptor, GI tag number, the date and State. 'The GI tag registry office has a certifying authority to check on the authenticity of the product information after which a journal entry is issued,' he says. Senthilkumar who is awaiting a cover on East India Leather made in Pallavaram, Chennai, counts among his favourites the covers on Bastar iron work and Tanjore dolls. He says, 'Collecting and putting together this book, with support from my wife, has been an incredible cultural journey into the heart of India.' Guardians of Heritage is priced at ₹1,950 and is available for sale online.
New York Post
5 days ago
- Politics
- New York Post
Thousands of Iranians flee Tehran after Israel warns more attacks are coming
Thousands of Iranians are fleeing Tehran after the Israeli military warned civilians to evacuate the capital over more bombardments to come. Yesterday's exodus carried on into Monday with traffic jams out of Tehran becoming the norm as panicked citizens rush to avoid the looming airstrikes on the fourth day of missile exchanges between Israel and Iran. The exodus is mainly driven by the lack of public bomb shelters in Tehran, where residents are expected to hide out the strikes in either their basements or in the subway. 3 Map showing the approximate 1,500 kilometer distance between Israel and Iran. Israel Defense Forces 3 A series of explosions rocked Tehran on Sunday, June 15, 2025. Mohamed Ali BERNO/SIPA/Shutterstock 'My parents are scared. Every night there are attacks, no air raid sirens, and no shelters to go to,' fleeing resident Arishia, 29, told Reuters. 'Why are we paying the price for the Islamic Republic's hostile policies?' 3 Flames rise from an oil storage facility after it appeared to have been struck by an Israeli missile in Tehran. AP Iranian authorities have dismissed the evacuation warnings from the Israel Defense Forces as nothing more than 'psychological warfare,' calling on residents at the capital to remain calm. Tehran's words, however, have done little to reassure its citizens as many fear they'll run out of time to evacuate before the next set of missiles hit. With Post wires
Yahoo
14-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Wyoming lawmakers seek to eliminate SIPA, again, in effort to simplify budget process
CHEYENNE — Wyoming lawmakers will try again to eliminate the state's Strategic Investments and Projects Account (SIPA) in a continued effort to make the state's budget process more transparent for the public. Efforts have been made in past legislative sessions to eliminate Wyoming's many financial 'coffee cans.' In 2024, lawmakers successfully repealed the School Capital Construction Account and its related accounts. This year, the Legislature successfully eliminated the Budget Reserve Account (BRA) through Senate File 168 and nearly eliminated SIPA through the passage of SF 169. However, Gov. Mark Gordon line-item vetoed SF 169 and kept SIPA online. The governor maintained his long-term support of simplifying the state's budget process, but he disapproved of the Legislature's approach in SF 169. Gov. Mark Gordon Gov. Mark Gordon '(SIPA) was originally a compromise between a previous legislature and the then-serving governor,' Gordon wrote in his veto letter. He served as state treasurer in 2013, when SIPA was first created. 'The compromise recognized the value of the governor's authority to use some of the funds when making budget recommendations.' Gordon argued the original structure of the bill limited his ability to make budget recommendations. Currently, excess funds from the state's Permanent Mineral Trust Fund (PMTF) account are split evenly between SIPA and the state's main savings account (the Legislative Stabilization Reserve Account, or LSRA). SF 169 originally eliminated SIPA by July 2026 and transferred all excess funds into the LSRA. Wyoming statute prohibits the governor from proposing appropriations from LSRA in excess of the 5% statutory reserve account. In other words, he can't make budget recommendations from this account. 'It is a cagey strategy to undermine a long-standing compromise between the executive and legislative branches and breach the original intent of SIPA,' Gordon wrote. One effect of Gordon's veto removed the split of funds flowing into SIPA and LSRA; now, all excess funds go directly into SIPA, effective immediately. He reasoned this action is necessary, as he expects the state will see greater pressure to fund public schools with the passage of more tax cuts and diversions, along with falling oil and natural gas prices. 'The combined effects of these factors create substantial pressure on the general fund to cover any school funding deficit and still meet the ongoing costs of government,' Gordon wrote, 'as well as provide services to Wyoming families and businesses.' Impact of veto During the Legislature's Select Committee on Capital Finance meeting on Thursday, lawmakers moved to draft a bill similar to SF 169 and, in a sense, make it 'veto-proof.' Sen. Larry Hicks, R-Baggs, who was the primary sponsor of SF 169, said Gordon's veto 'left … quite a dilemma here.' 'The net effect of this line-item veto, if we allow this to stay in statutes the way it currently is, it zeros out the reserve accounts,' Hicks said. Sen. Larry Hicks, R-Baggs (2025) Sen. Larry Hicks, R-Baggs Legislative budget and fiscal staff provided a comparison of the two versions of the bill and their long-term fiscal impacts, based on numbers from the January long-term forecast of the state's fiscal profile. The SIPA transfers 45% of what it retains to the School Foundation Program (SFP) account, the state's main spending account to fund public schools. If the SIPA is entirely repealed, the SFP loses that funding. Before SF 169 was signed into law, the LSRA and SFP were estimated to receive $124.1 million and $369.4 million, respectively, from SIPA over a six-year forecast period. Under the version passed by the Legislature, LSRA was estimated to receive $191.6 million in that same time period. The SFP would receive a total of $111.4 million in the first two fiscal years, and then not receive anything starting in fiscal year 2027 with the repeal of SIPA. Under Gordon's vetoes, the SFP is estimated to receive $470 million over the six-year forecast period, and the LSRA will receive no funding at all. 'But I want to point out that, starting in FY 28 the (PMTF) reserve account can't guarantee the full amount, and it falls short by about $60 million,' said LSO senior fiscal analyst Polly Scott. 'As Sen. Hicks did state … the estimate is that the reserve account is depleted somewhere in (fiscal year 2028).' Under the version adopted by the Legislature, the reserve account's life is extended beyond the six-year forecast, Scott added, because the state is relying on it less. Lawmakers respond State Treasurer Curt Meier noted that the PMTF reserve account is acting the way the LSRA should act. He suggested removing the 1.25% guarantee from the PMTF reserve account into SIPA so it can 'function (as) what it was supposed to do.' 'You're spending money you don't have and then you're trying to catch up … so you can spend it in this year's legislative session,' Meier said. 'Let the reserve account stand on itself, rather than putting more pressure on it than what it can afford to bear.' Then, the Legislature could move the unrealized capital gains into the LSRA, he said. The LSRA already provides $100 million to the school spending account once it drops below a certain threshold. Sen. Tara Nethercott, R-Cheyenne (2025) Sen. Tara Nethercott, R-Cheyenne Chairwoman Sen. Tara Nethercott, R-Cheyenne, suggested also discussing lifting this cap from the LSRA into the SFP at the committee's next meeting in September. For now, committee members voted to draft a bill that eliminates the SIPA, with a provision to remove the 1.25% flow guarantee from the PMTF reserve account, and discuss it at the next meeting. 'The elimination of the SIPA account is important, I think, to the Legislature as a whole, in order to simplify and provide transparency to the budget process,' Nethercott said. 'Because the SIPA account has been butchered. It's been tortured ... and no longer serves its intended purpose, creating a transparency issue.'
New York Post
05-06-2025
- Entertainment
- New York Post
Robert De Niro makes rare comment about transgender daughter Airyn
Robert De Niro showed continued support for his transgender daughter Airyn, 29, in an interview with Entertainment Tonight on Wednesday. 'As long as they're not hurting themselves, doing anything that's destructive or anything like that, you have to support them. Period,' the actor said. 8 Robert De Niro at the opening dinner of the 78th annual Cannes Film Festival on May 13, 2025. WireImage Advertisement 8 Airyn De Niro. voiceofairyn/Instagram Airyn — who was born with the name Aaron — came out as a trans woman in an interview with Them in April, and her famous father gave her his immediate support. 'I loved and supported Aaron as my son, and now I love and support Airyn as my daughter. I don't know what the big deal is,' De Niro told The Post in a statement at the time. Advertisement 'I love all my children,' he added. 8 Robert De Niro at the 2025 Cannes Film Festival in France. JP PARIENTE/SIPA/Shutterstock De Niro, 81, shares Airyn with his ex, model Toukie Smith. They are also parents to Airyn's twin brother, Julian. The 'Goodfellas' star has five other children. He shares daughter Drena, 57, and son Raphael, 48, with ex-wife Diahnne Abbott, son Elliot, 27, and daughter Helen, 13, with ex-wife Grace Hightower, and daughter Gia, 2, with girlfriend Tiffany Chen. Advertisement 8 Toukie Smith and Robert De Niro with their two children. voiceofairyn/Instagram 8 Robert De Niro with his 2-year-old daughter Gia. Instagram In her interview with Them, Airyn shared that Halle Bailey's 'The Little Mermaid' in 2023 had a huge impact on her decision to come out. 'I think a big part of [my transition] is also the influence Black women have had on me,' she explained. 'I think stepping into this new identity, while also being more proud of my Blackness, makes me feel closer to them in some way.' Advertisement 8 Airyn De Niro in a selfie. voiceofairyn/Instagram Airyn also shared that being a trans woman means 'being honest and open, especially [in] public spaces like social media.' Regarding her mom and dad, Airyn said, 'Obviously, no parent is perfect, but I am grateful that both my parents agreed to keep me out of the limelight. They wanted it very private; they have told me they wanted me to have as much of a normal childhood as possible.' 8 Airyn De Niro came out as a transgender woman in April 2025. voiceofairyn/Instagram De Niro's support for Airyn wasn't surprising considering his late father, painter Robert De Niro Sr., lived as an openly gay man after struggling with his sexuality, which reportedly caused the end of his marriage. 8 Robert De Niro at his master class during the 2025 Cannes Film Festival. JP PARIENTE/SIPA/Shutterstock The 'Taxi Driver' actor kept his father's legacy alive by appearing in the HBO documentary 'Remembering the Artist: Robert De Niro, Sr,' in which he read his father's diary entries aloud. De Niro also received the GLAAD's Excellence in Media Award in 2016 for his support of the LGBTQ+ community.
Newsweek
19-05-2025
- Business
- Newsweek
Student Loan Borrowers in These Jobs Have Most Long-Term Financial Impact
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. A new national survey reveals that public-sector employees are significantly more likely to hold student loan debt than their private-sector counterparts. However, they often face fewer long-term financial repercussions, thanks in part to structured forgiveness programs and targeted employer resources. Meanwhile, private sector workers continue to bear residual financial burdens despite repaying their loans. Researchers have labeled this phenomenon the "debt-overhang" effect. The report, released by the MissionSquare Research Institute on Monday, surveyed over 2,000 U.S. workers across both sectors and found that 43 percent of public employees carry student loan debt, compared to 36 percent in the private sector. Yet the effects of that debt diverge sharply across employment types, with private sector workers reporting more enduring financial stress, even post-repayment. Why It Matters The study highlights a troubling contradiction in the financial health of America's workforce: private sector workers who pay off their student loans may not achieve the same long-term financial security as public workers still in debt. This is due primarily to access disparities in employer-provided support and federal loan forgiveness programs. "Balancing competing financial priorities while managing student debt can significantly hinder wealth accumulation," said Dr. Zhikun Liu, vice president and head of the MissionSquare Research Institute, in a statement. Liu noted that even those who have paid off their loans may delay retirement savings or large purchases, extending financial insecurity into later life. Graduates of Columbia University's lauded School of International and Public Affairs (SIPA) celebrate at SIPA's commencement exercises at St. John the Divine cathedral May 17, 2004 in New York City. Graduates of Columbia University's lauded School of International and Public Affairs (SIPA) celebrate at SIPA's commencement exercises at St. John the Divine cathedral May 17, 2004 in New York To Know Among the key findings, nearly half of all employees (48 percent) reported receiving no employer-provided debt management resources, regardless of sector. However, only 29 percent of public employees were informed by their employer about the Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) program, which can forgive federal loans after a decade of qualifying payments for government or nonprofit workers. Despite the higher incidence of debt, public sector workers tend to fare better over time due to these support mechanisms. As a result, private sector workers often express more concern about their long-term financial outlook, even when their student loans have been paid in full. "The rising cost of education has outpaced inflation for decades, creating a financial barrier that hits private sector workers particularly hard," Kevin Thompson, the CEO of 9i Capital Group and the host of the 9inning podcast, told Newsweek. "As long as education remains this costly, the wealth gap will likely continue to grow, reinforcing economic disparities." What People Are Saying Drew Powers, the founder of Illinois-based Powers Financial Group, told Newsweek: "For many public sector workers, the potential of student loan forgiveness was a major deciding factor in choosing that position. As the cost of higher education continues to outpace inflation, a lower salary plus forgiveness over 10 years may be more viable than a higher salary with 30 years of payments in a private sector career." Kevin Thompson, the CEO of 9i Capital Group and the host of the 9inning podcast, told Newsweek: "Public sector workers often carry more student debt, but they have unique advantages. Programs like Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) can wipe out balances after a set number of qualifying payments. On top of that, many government jobs come with pensions under the Federal Employee Retirement System (FERS) and generous retirement plans like the Thrift Savings Plan, often with matching. These benefits are often ignored by many but their power in regard to retirement savings is truly unmatched." What Happens Next Researchers recommend a dual-track approach: better communication and expanded access to relief programs in the public sector, as well as new debt-support initiatives in the private sector. "For many private sector employees, student debt is a long-term financial drag. Without the automatic savings mechanisms like pensions and matching contributions that public sector workers enjoy, private employees often have to delay saving while chipping away at their loans," Thompson said. Without broader intervention, disparities in financial security between sectors could widen. "Any student loan repayment is competing for dollars that might otherwise go towards retirement savings or purchasing a home," Powers said. "It's a time value of money and compound interest problem."
