April 2023 | Page 12 of 15 | The Dubai Headlines

Fashion Model

Dubai-based actor and model Shreyas Mehta launches fashion line, Flashmob Nation

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High-street designer brand launched at Dubai Design District on March 12.

Flashmob Nation, a high-street designer brand by actor-cum-model Shreyas Mehta, was launched at the Dubai Design District on March 12. The launch, followed by an after-party, created a considerable frenzy, receiving praises from attendees and industry stalwarts. Flashmob Nation, a marriage of local textile influences and global high-street designer trends, complements the city’s flourishing fashion culture and unique cosmopolitan identity.

Founder, Mehta, an actor and model of Dubai Boy fame, regards Flashmob Nation as an extension of himself — an identity shaped by Dubai’s unshakeable spirit, multiculturalism, and cosmopolitanism. Mehta’s decade-long work experience as a buyer, combined with academic credentials, too, inspired the launch of the high-street designer brand.

“My sincere gratitude to everyone who was part of Flashmob Nation, from its conception to the successful launch. It wouldn’t be possible without their word-of-mouth efforts and unconditional support. I envision the brand to be a microcosm of Dubai’s textile culture someday — something the fashion aficionados in the city are proud to call their own,” expresses Mehta, the breakout star of Bravo TV’s popular reality show, Love Without Borders.

Flashmob Nation announced itself through eye-catching inaugural collections, including a bohemian ensemble called the Snob Society and a purpose-clothing set named the Party Criminal. Both feature a generous amount of sequin, characterising the brand’s promise of exquisite design and differentiation. Sequin is the staple, be it on one-shoulder bodycon and mini dresses, contemporary crop tops, or eccentric oversized jackets.

Zip-up and buttoned co-ords in creative silver tones and solid colours exemplify Flashmob Nation’s sync with contemporary cosmopolitanism. Partygoers can revel in shine-finish belted coats, faux fur corset tops, embellished denim, and vintage black blazers. Avid fans of deconstruction fashion will appreciate distressed t-shirts, just as admirers of bohemian designs will value jazzy “shackets” and shirts with embroidered collars and cuffs.

A testament to the brand’s range and inclusivity is the Basic collection comprising quality hoodies and trousers. Stylistic nuances aside, the entire catalogue — dresses, t-shirts, partywear, denim, tracksuits, and more — boasts a uniformity of premium fabric, stand-out design, and effortless fashion. “There is something for everyone,” affirms Mehta.

“We have drawn eclectic influences before designing the inaugural collections, reinterpreting the bygone textile culture as well as reconciling with contemporary fashion. So, it is essentially global high-street fashion with a delicate touch of Dubai. At the same time, it betrays any particular fashion paradigm, thereby retaining an identity that is unique to the brand,” adds Mehta.

Science & Tech

James Webb Space Telescope captures oldest galaxies ever observed

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The findings will help astronomers learn more about the early universe.

The James Webb Space Telescope has captured galaxies that were formed only 350 million years after the birth of the universe — the oldest ones ever observed.

An international team of astronomers used data from the $10 billion telescope to make the discovery, with findings published in two studies, including in science journal Nature Astronomy and another on the European Space Agency website on Tuesday.

The data shows the universe when it was only two per cent of its current age.

“It was crucial to prove that these galaxies do, indeed, inhabit the early universe. It’s very possible for closer galaxies to masquerade as very distant galaxies,” said astronomer and co-author Emma Curtis-Lake from the University of Hertfordshire.

“Seeing the spectrum revealed as we hoped, confirming these galaxies as being at the true edge of our view, some further away than Hubble could see. It is a tremendously exciting achievement for the mission.”

The light from these galaxies has taken more than 13.4 billion years to reach us.

This has also helped confirm that the world’s most powerful telescope can make such observations using light from ancient galaxies that has been travelling through our universe for billions of years.

Astronomers used the telescope’s near-infrared camera (NIRCam) and the near-infrared spectrograph (NIRSpec) to make the observations.

Helping to unravel mysteries of the universe

“For the first time, we have discovered galaxies only 350 million years after the big bang, and we can be absolutely confident of their fantastic distances,” said co-author Brant Robertson from the University of California Santa Cruz.

Even though the galaxies are extremely faint because of how far they are, it would still help astronomers explore their properties.

Astronomer Sandro Tachella from the University of Cambridge in the UK, said that the telescope could unlock many mysteries of the universe.

“It is hard to understand galaxies without understanding the initial periods of their development,” he said.

“Much as with humans, so much of what happens later depends on the impact of these early generations of stars.”

The telescope was launched on Christmas Day, 2021, to help reveal secrets of the universe and how it was formed.

The first image from the telescope was revealed by US President Joe Biden on July 11. It showed the galaxy cluster SMACS 0723 as it was 4.6 billion years ago.

Researchers have also been using the telescope to learn more about the solar system and its planets.

Last year, images that showed planet Jupiter in striking detail were released.

The planet, which is believed to have 79 moons, has a unique composition and inner structure that researchers want to study more.

Its atmosphere is made up of mostly hydrogen gas and helium gas, just like the Sun.

The gas giant is covered in thick red, brown, yellow and white clouds, which make it look like the planet has stripes.

Startling discoveries by $10bn space telescope — in pictures

Science & Tech

UAE astronaut Sultan Al Neyadi receives NASA’s gold pin in space

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Emirati flight engineer on ISS says he will wear it as a symbol of his commitment.

After spending a month on the International Space Station (ISS), UAE astronaut Sultan Al Neyadi today tweeted images of him receiving the prestigious NASA gold astronaut pin.

He shared two images – one of the gold pin presentation ceremony in which NASA SpaceX Crew-6 commander Stephen Bowen can be seen attaching the pin on Al Neyadi’s T-shirt bearing the Expedition-68 patch – and a close-up shot of the gold pin.

He wrote in the post: “It is a great honour for me to be part of this historic mission, representing my country, the UAE, and to receive NASA’s golden astronaut pin. I will wear this pin as a symbol of the commitment I made when I started on this journey.”

NASA lapel pins denote the astronaut corps. Astronauts receive a silver pin on completion of their basic training while they earn the prestigious gold pin by flying into space.From the images, it looks like the gold pin presentation ceremony took place before the Crew-6 became part of the Expedition-6, which officially began last week following Tuesday’s undocking of the Soyuz MS-22 spacecraft in which SpaceX Crew-5 had launched into the ISS.

Meanwhile, NASA said Al Neyadi began this week by focusing his science activities on the ‘Foam and Emulsions’ physics experiment that may lead to newer, more advanced space research and expanded commercial opportunities in space.

Foams (dispersions of bubbles in a liquid) and emulsions (dispersions of droplets in a liquid) appear in many food, consumer, and personal care products and are used in a variety of industries.

NASA said the ‘Structure and Stability of Foams and Emulsions (Foams and Emulsions)’ investigation examines the properties and performance of foams and emulsions, including using particles of various shapes and surface roughness to stabilise these materials. Microgravity enables examination of the microstructures of foams and emulsions due to the elimination of the influence of gravity-related factors such as buoyancy of particles.

Key experiments

After having launched into the ISS along with the three other Crew-6 members on March 3, Al Neyadi has spent a busy first month as part of the longest Arab space mission.

The Mohammed Bin Rashid Space Centre (MBRSC) in Dubai that runs the UAE Astronaut Programme cited key experiments and tasks accomplished by Al Neyadi as the following:

Stowing samples of tomatoes to be analysed, testing medicine that could reverse the negative effects of the space environment on heart cells and tissues, participating in a sleep study, transferring supplies and hardware between the USS and the SpaceX CRS-27, conducting ‘Cardinal Heart 2.0’ experiment and working on the tank that recycles water aboard the ISS.

Sports

UAE off to a winning start at NAS International Padel Championship

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Al Habtoor Motors and Al Jawareh cruise to victory in volleyball.

The UAE national team started their campaign in style with a 3-0 win over Saudi Arabia as the inaugural edition of the NAS International Padel Championship at the 10th NAS Sports Tournament in Dubai on Tuesday.

Held under the theme ‘Limitless Abilities’ and organised by the Dubai Sports Council (DSC), the NAS Sports Tournament is the biggest event of its kind in terms of participation and prize money, and has been held every year during Ramadan since 2013 at the iconic Nad Al Sheba Sports Complex.

Abdullah Abdulaziz and Faris Al Janahi put the hosts ahead after edging past their rivals in the hard-fought first set, 7-5, 7-5.

In the second set too, the UAE team were stretched to their limits, but the latter won the set 6-7, 6-3, 7-6 with Salem Al Houli and Hamad Al Janahi digging deep before outlasting their opponents.

Abdullah Ahli and Omar Bahrozian won the third set 6-2, 6-3 without much fuss to ensure their team’s victory.

Stepping up the game

In another Group A match, Japan edged past Qatar 2-1 in a thriller. The Japanese players started well and won the first set 6-1, 7-6. They were taken aback in the second by Qataris 6-1, 3-6, 6-4 victory. Stepping up the game, Japan won the decider 6-3, 3-6, 7-6 to advance into the next round of the championship.

UAE will now meet Qatar and Saudi Arabia will face Japan. In Group B matches, Iran moved ahead with a convincing 3-0 win over Bahrain while Egypt battled past Kuwait 2-1.

Eight teams are taking part in the first edition of the NAS International Padel Championship. UAE, Qatar, Japan and Saudi Arabia are in Group A, while Egypt, Iran, Kuwait and Bahrain form Group B.

Sheikh Saeed Bin Maktoum Bin Juma Al Maktoum, President of the UAE Padel Association, witnessed the matches while Abdullah Al Basti, Secretary General of the Executive Council of Dubai, watched volleyball competition.

Riding high on Brazilian star Felipe Airton Bandero’s super performance, Al Habtoor Motors outlasted Zabeel 3-1 (25-23, 14-25, 25-21, 27-25) in a closely contested match that kept the fans on the edge of their seats in the NAS Volleyball Championship.

Airton Bandero scored 27 points for the winners, while Zabeel’s Cuban import Leonardo Martinez netted 29 points.

Brazil’s Airton Bandero currently plays for Cheonan Hyundai Skywalkers in the Korean V-League.

Last year’s runner-up, Al Jawareh posted their second victory after sweeping aside Al Khalidiya 3-0 (25-17, 25-14, 25-19).

Growth of the competition

Al Jawareh, whose squad consists of top French, Brazilian and Canadian players, maintained their upper hand throughout the match and won it comfortably. Da Silva Gabriel top scored for the winners with 11 points.

Former UAE national volleyball team stars Jaafar Al Fardan and Aref Rajab underlined the growth of the competition with each passing year.

“This year’s competition is remarkable, with famous names and professional players from around the world taking part in the championship,” said Fardan. “The strength of the competition has seen a significant rise since the inception of the NAS Sports Tournament. I anticipate that the Emperor and Fahood Zabeel teams will reach the finals due to their large number of professional players, which reflects the strength of the volleyball championship,” said Rajab.

NAS2 APRIL 5-1680718038462 — Action from the Wheelchair Basketball Championship held at the Dubai Club for People of Determination.

Winning march

Elsewhere, Dubai Ambulance topped their group after defeating Dubai Municipality 28—18 in the Wheelchair Basketball Championship being held at the Dubai Club for People of Determination.

They raised their point total to six. Ability Live achieved the first victory of the tournament after beating Community Development Authority 20-12.In Group A, the Dubai Police team continued their winning march and delivered another dominant performance, routing the Department of Finance 42—17. With this win, they raised their points tally to 8 points, followed by Al Bustan Center and Residence, who beat Dubai Electricity and Water Authority 23-20 and are on 5 points.

Sports

Crystal Palace and Southampton win Mina Football Cup titles

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Fursan Espania and CFFA of Dubai clinch Under-14 and Under-18 categories.

The Crystal Palace and Southampton Teams of England have won the titles of Mina Football Cup for Youth, which was organised by the CBF Performance Co. with the support of Dubai Sports Council (DSC).

The Tournament was hosted in the Emirate of Dubai for the second successive year, and it took place at the courts of Jebel Ali Golf & Shooting with participation of 32 teams, among which were 15 international teams from the various continents of the world.

Crystal Palace of England beat the Polish Gornik Zabrze counterpart in U-12 category to win the title, while Southampton of England secured the U-16 category.

Fursan Espania of Dubai won first place in Under-14 category, and the CFFA team from Dubai came first in the Under-18 category.

Huge participation

Winners in the different age groups of the Tournament were honoured by Ahmed Salem Al Mahri, Director of the Sports Development Dept in DSC, Teddy Sheringham, the English former star of Manchester United & West Ham United and the Tournament’s ambassador.The Tournament saw participation of 600 players from the various countries and continents in four age groups (from 12 to 18 years old); among which were 15 teams from Europe, Africa, India, Far East & North America. Top on the list of these teams are: the England’s Crystal Palace and Southampton, Yokohama of Japan, AYSO United & New York Red Bulls from America, along with academies of the two stars; Robbie Fowler and Lukas Podolski of Poland.

Sports

UAE to vie for World Cup spot in Zimbabwe tournament

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The team produced an impressive performance to finish its campaign in Namibia.

The UAE celebrated its qualification for the Cricket World Cup 2023 Qualifier with an emphatic 66-run win over Jersey in its final match of the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup Qualifier Play-off in Windhoek, Namibia, on Wednesday.

Muhammad Waseem’s team had already booked their place in the Cricket World Cup 2023 Qualifier, the final qualifying tournament for the 2023 ICC ODI World Cup, on the back of its better head-to-head record in Namibia.

The team then produced another impressive performance to finish its campaign in the six-team tournament in Namibia.The victory over Jersey saw the UAE finish second in the points table behind USA with eight points from five matches.

Only the top two teams — USA and UAE — qualified for the Cricket World Cup 2023 Qualifier (June 18-July 9) which will be held in Zimbabwe.

The top two sides in the 10-team qualifying tournament will qualify for the 2023 ICC ODI World Cup (October 5-November 19) in India.

On Wednesday, the UAE made 284 for seven in 50 overs, thanks to fine knocks from Asif Khan (82), Muhammad Waseem (65), Vriitya Aravind (45) and Aayan Afzal Khan (43 not out).

The then reduced Jersey to 218 all out in 44.5 overs with leg-spinner Karthik Meiyappan taking four wickets for 57 runs.

Brief scores:

UAE beat Jersey 66 runs.

UAE 284/7 in 50 overs (Asif Khan 82, Muhammad Waseem 65, Vriitya Aravind 45, Aayan Afzal Khan 43 not out; Julius Sumerauer 4/51, Charles Perchard 2/56)

Jersey 218 all out in 44.5 overs (Harrison Carlyon 85, Asa Tribe 40, Julius Sumerauer 21; Karthik Meiyappan 4/57, Junaid Siddique 3/52, Zahoor Khan 2/23)

health

Smart Salem opens premium medical fitness testing centre at Dubai Knowledge Park

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Smart Salem, a high-end medical fitness provider, opened its first-ever dedicated centre at Dubai Knowledge Park, a member of TECOM Group PJSC.

The facility will provide a suite of visa processing services to residents, which includes striving to deliver the fastest medical fitness results in Dubai.

The facility was inaugurated by Awadh Seghayer Al Ketbi, Director-General of the Dubai Health Authority (DHA), and Dr. Amer Ahmad Sharif, CEO of Dubai Academic Health Corporation and President of Mohammed Bin Rashid University of Medicine and Health Sciences, in the presence of Dr Marwan Al Mulla, CEO of Health Regulation at the DHA, Sanjay Verma, Chief Executive Officer of Smart Salem, and a number of officials.

Dr. Al Mulla said,

“Dubai’s Health Sector is thriving and we are keen to foster and promote health investments across key areas such as medical fitness. We are also keen on implementing the latest medical technologies to improve efficiencies, enhance convenience and provide the highest quality of specialised medical services.

“The expansion of Smart Salem centres across the geographical areas of Dubai, further enhances the provision of excellent, technology-driven, proactive and convenient services to ensure customer happiness.”

Using advanced technology to enhance efficiency and improve the customer’s journey, the latest Smart Salem Centre aims to deliver medical fitness results within 30 minutes.

The medical fitness and visa processing centre have five private blood collection rooms, two x-ray rooms, a state-of-art on-site laboratory, six smart check-in kiosks.

The 8,000 square foot facility has the capacity to service up to 500 customers each day. From ‘Salem’ the resident robot’s welcome to a digital kiosk to verify customer details, the journey is digitally enabled.

Customer Happiness Officers will escort customers throughout their visit along with a digital queuing system to ensure a hassle-free experience. Smart Salem is also integrated with the Dubai Government and Dubai Academic Health Corporation (DAHC) systems for an instant, paper-free exchange of health records and medical testing results.

health

MoHAP urges public to take necessary precautions due to the spread of Marburg virus

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The Ministry of Health and Prevention (MoHAP) has urged the public to be aware of the virus causing Marburg hemorrhagic fever and to avoid travelling to Tanzania and Equatorial Guinea unless it’s necessary due to the recent spread of Marburg virus.

This comes after several Arab countries advised their citizens to postpone travelling to those two countries due to the same concern.

The Ministry has emphasised that all necessary precautions are being taken in accordance with international health standards to contain the virus in its current geographical scope. The situation in these countries is being closely monitored to determine the global severity of the disease, MoHAP said in a statement today.

The Ministry said that precautionary measures are being taken to ensure public safety and promote health awareness. It is recommended that individuals postpone their travel to countries where the Marburg virus is spreading, unless it is absolutely necessary. If travel is unavoidable, necessary precautions should be taken to avoid exposure to the disease, such as avoiding close contact with patients, touching contaminated surfaces, and refraining from visiting caves and mines.

Visiting health facilities

The Ministry also reaffirmed the importance of frequently washing hands with soap and water. If these are not readily available, people should use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer. Additionally, individuals should avoid touching their eyes, nose, and mouth with their hands and ensure proper hand hygiene before touching their face.

For those who have travelled from affected areas, the Ministry recommends isolating themselves from others and seeking medical attention at the nearest health facility or emergency department within hospitals.

Those who travelled to affected areas should inform medical staff that they have been to an area where Marburg virus disease is spreading or have been in contact with infected individuals, or exhibit symptoms for up to 21 days.

The Ministry called on the public to verify the accuracy of information and follow the preventive measures issued by the MoHAP and other health authorities in the country. It advised them not to circulate rumours or any information that has not been officially announced or issued by relevant authorities.

The Ministry stressed that the UAE’s epidemiological surveillance system is very effective and is in constant coordination with other health authorities.

Symptoms

Marburg virus disease is a severe and life-threatening hemorrhagic fever that is rare but highly dangerous to human health. The disease is caused by the Marburg virus, a zoonotic RNA virus that is transmitted from animals to humans in a closed environment, such as mines or caves inhabited by bats.

Symptoms of Marburg virus develop suddenly and include fever, chills, headache, myalgia, chest pain, and a sore throat. As the disease progresses, symptoms become increasingly severe and may include jaundice, severe weight loss, and other serious health complications.

Politics

Dubai: Sheikh Mohammed meets committee members of Arab Great Minds initiative

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Aims of project to nominate personalities from the region in six distinguished categories.

His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, on Wednesday, took to Twitter to highlight the potential of Arab talent to lead scientific and cultural advancements. His Highness expressed his confidence in their ability to enrich civilisational development and scientific progress.

“We recognise the importance of fostering opportunities for creative Arab talent and supporting them in utilising research, development and technologies to shape a brighter future for humanity. The UAE will continue to serve as a hub for exceptional talents, including scientists, doctors, writers, thinkers, researchers and innovators,” said Sheikh Mohammed.The remarks were made during a meeting held with the committee members of the Great Arab Minds initiative, in the presence of Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai; Sheikh Maktoum bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Deputy Ruler of Dubai, and Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance of the UAE, and Sheikh Ahmed bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Chairman of the Dubai Media Council.

The Dubai Ruler said that the aim of the committee is to nominate Arab personalities in six distinguished categories – science, architecture, engineering, economics, literature and medicine.

“Distinguished Arab minds are able to enrich and revive our scientific and civilised contribution to the world,” Sheikh Mohammed tweeted.

The Great Arab Minds initiative was launched b Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President, Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai, in 2022.

The initiative’s mission is to search for exceptional Arab talents – scientists, thinkers, and innovators across key fields, aiming to identify, support and acknowledge leading thinkers in the region, amplify their impact and inspire future generations.

Business Entrepreneur

Moro Hub partners with BeyondTrust to enhance enterprise security in the UAE

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Moro Hub, a subsidiary of Digital DEWA, has partnered with BeyondTrust, a global leader in intelligent identity and access security.

The collaboration will allow the two companies to offer customised Privileged Access Management (PAM) solutions that cater to the specific needs of enterprises in the region. As part of the agreement, Moro Hub will be able to resell BeyondTrust products and offer enhanced managed security services to its clients.

The partnership was signed by Dr. Ahmed Alketbi, Chief Information Security Officer of Moro Hub and John Hathaway, BeyondTrust Regional Vice President of Sales in India, Middle East and Africa.

Dr. Alketbi stated that the partnership with BeyondTrust will help enhance the company’s security services and support its clients’ Digital Transformation Journey. Moro Hub will offer comprehensive and flexible services to its clients through cloud or hybrid models.

John Hathaway expressed his pleasure in partnering with Moro Hub, a company that is at the forefront of cyber and physical security in the UAE. The collaboration will enable organisations to protect privileged identities, access and endpoints across IT environments from security threats, and offer clients operational efficiencies and extended protection.

BeyondTrust‘s Privileged Access Management Solution reduces the risk of privileged credential misuse through automated privileged password and session management, ensures complete control and accountability over privileged accounts, prevents malware and ransomware attacks by assigning just-in-time privileges, and secures, manages, and audits vendor and internal remote privileged access without a VPN.