The Association of Pakistan Textile Mills and Manufacturers (APTMA) has written to Petroleum Minister Ali Pervaiz Malik, urging him to correct the gas sector trajectory and curb growing circular debt. APTMA Secretary General Shahid Sattar argued that high gas tariffs have made it uneconomical for textile units to operate Combined Heat and Power (CHP) systems, forcing them to shift to grid electricity at a higher cost. The association cited chronic grid instability as another major challenge, with repeated outages causing production losses of over Rs 3 million. APTMA emphasized the efficiency of CHP systems, which offer combined thermal and electrical efficiency of 65-85%, compared to 52% for RLNG-based government plants. The textile industry's stagnant exports and risk of further erosion are threatened by high energy costs and unreliable supply, with global buyers prioritizing low-emission sourcing.
Milwaukee Irish Fest 2025 will feature over 100 music and cultural acts across 18 stages, including performances by Cherish the Ladies, Skerryvore, Strange Boy, and the Gardiner Brothers. The festival will also include a cultural village, shopping marketplace vendors, an Irish language workshop tent, a literary corner, and a theatre pavilion. Traditional Irish fare, Jameson Whiskey areas, Lakefront Brewery firkin taps, and Guinness-flavored donuts from the Tipperary Tea Room will be available. The festival's hours are 5-10 p.m. on Aug. 14, 4-11 p.m. on Aug. 15, noon-11 p.m. on Aug. 16, and 11 a.m.-9 p.m. on Aug. 17.
Pakistan's power consumers are set to receive a significant refund of Rs53.4 billion due to a negative quarterly tariff adjustment by the National Electric Power Regulatory Authority (Nepra). The Central Power Purchasing Agency-Guaranteed (CPPA-G) has petitioned for the reduction, citing lower capacity payments following negotiations with independent and government power producers. K-Electric consumers will also benefit from the approved relief.
Performa, a New York-based organization founded by RoseLee Goldberg, will celebrate its 20th anniversary with the 2025 edition of its biennial event in New York City from November 1 to 23. The event has evolved significantly since its inception as a radical experiment, reflecting changes in the role of performance over the past two decades.
Design expert Terri Tan suggests refinishing a home by replacing outdated fixtures with statement pieces in aged brass or satin titanium, and installing floor-to-ceiling curtains in luxurious fabrics like linen, velvet, or silk-look material to create a refined atmosphere.
The University of California system has seen an increase in in-state first-year student admissions, with some campuses experiencing significant growth. UC Merced and Riverside saw a 71% rise in admissions, while others like UC San Diego and UCLA sent fewer admission offers to California students this year compared to last. Despite the drop in UC San Diego's in-state admission rate, overall admissions are similar to pre-pandemic levels. The expansion is attributed to efforts by Han Mi Yoon-Wu, UC's associate vice provost and executive director for Undergraduate Admissions, aimed at creating pathways to a UC education for top California students.
The Portuguese arrived in Japan in the 1500s accompanied by Arab divers who had been introduced to Japan through trade routes. This cultural exchange led to a shared diving culture between Japanese and Arab communities, which has now been reimagined by Christopher Joshua Benton through his art piece "From Toba with Love" currently on display at Tokyo Arts and Space Hongo.
Beatriz Whitehill's Papier-Mâché Scale of Resistance
7.28.25
Beatriz Whitehill's use of papier-mâché transforms a tool of domination into one of defiance and ancestral memory, blurring the line between artwork and everyday household object. Her work is a confrontation of histories, questioning who tells stories and the weight of fact and folklore. This "intervention" symbolizes an adaptive or living archive, with her hand-held scale having a conceptual presence akin to a monument, yet made from a non-permanent material.
Buckingham Nicks Album Released After Decades of Demand
7.28.25
Stevie Nicks and Lindsey Buckingham's pre-Fleetwood Mac album "Buckingham Nicks" will be made available on streaming and CD for the first time in September, marking a long-awaited release of their 1973 album. The album, which features the couple posing nude on its cover like Adam and Eve, has maintained a cult classic status among music enthusiasts, with rare copies selling for $20 to $90 depending on condition.