Category: Life & Style

It was an occasion of great celebration for many when on 4th September 2016, the catholic nun Mother Teresa was proclaimed as a saint in a mass gathering. The canonization ceremony commenced at St Peter’s Square in Vatican City. At the event, Cardinal Angelo Amato addressed Pope Francis and read out a short bio of Mother which was followed by the Formula of Canonization read by Pope Francis in Latin. Later, he performed other rites after which Mother Teresa was announced Saint Teresa of Calcutta.

One of the most renowned nuns who served thousands of poor people in Kolkata, Saint Teresa was born as Agnese Gonxha Bojaxhiu in 1910 to ethnic Albanian parents. She left her home when she was eighteen to join the Irish order of Loreto. In the year 1950, she founded the Missionaries of Charity which presently has more than 4,500 nuns across the globe. Mother Teresa was also awarded with the Nobel Peace Prize in 1979 for her immense contribution. She died in 1997.

Speaking on the occasion, Pope Francis praised the generous saint and said, “She bowed down before those who were spent, left to die on the side of the road, seeing in them their god-given dignity.” He also added, “She made her voice heard before the powers of the world, so that they might recognize their guilt for the crimes of poverty they themselves created.”

Thousands of people from various cities came to attend the event. A 12-member delegation led by Minister of External Affairs Sushma Swaraj and delegation from West Bengal and New Delhi including Mamata Banerjee and Arvind Kejriwal also became a part of the event. Around 1,500 homeless people across Italy were also brought to Rome in buses to be given seats of honor at the celebration and were served a pizza lunch by nuns.

The gala evening of the 90th annual Academy Awards on 4 March, 2018 was marked with scintillating presence of celebrities from the Hollywood. “The Shape of Water” ruled the charts, winning best picture and best director (for Guillermo del Toro) and also nabbed prizes for production design and original score. Mr Gary Oldman won the lead actor award for his work as Winston Churchill in “Darkest Hour” and Ms Frances McDormand earned her second best actress Oscar for  her role as a grieving mother in “Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri.” Mr Sam Rockwell (“Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri”) and Ms Allison Janney (“I, Tonya”) won supporting actor and actress honors.

Frances Mcdormand, who is the winner of the Best Actress 2018 was also previously nominated for four times for Academy Award nomination. She was previously nominated for Actress in Supporting Role for North Country (2005), Almost Famous (2000) and Mississippi Burning (1988). She also won the Best Actress in Supporting Role for her role in Fargo.

Cycling is an activity that most of us used to enjoy in our childhood. However, as we grew up recreational activities like this paused, for we became more inclined towards the changing lifestyle of the new technological era. This decrease in the outdoor activities has led to various health issues.

Various researches conducted by scientists have shown that many of these activities have the ability to cut down the risk of the new age diseases. Cycling is one of them.

Recently, a research suggested that Cycling has the potential to reduce the risk of developing Type 2 diabetes. The Research stated that non-cyclists have 20 percent higher risk for T2D than the people who involve themselves in regular cycling. In addition, this activity also helps in lowering the risk of various chronic diseases in the people of all age groups.

Martin Rasmussen from the University of Southern Denmark admitted this and stated that “We find it especially interesting that those who started cycling had a lower risk of Type 2 diabetes, given that the study population were men and women of middle and old age”.

Around 24,623 men and 27,890 women from Denmark, between the ages of 50 and 65 were observed in the study whose cycling habits were compared to get the stated results. Hence, it becomes important to motivate people to engage in the outdoor recreational activities that will help them in preventing the development of T2D.

It is high time that one should realize the need to involve in the recreational activity that not only helps in lowering the risk various diseases but also fills a person with energy and keeps him happy and healthy.

In a yet another outstanding achievement, Dubai is crowned as the second-largest in the list of worlds’ most important retail hubs. This is the fifth time that city has achieved this honor.

Dubai has 57 percent of international retailers, while the topper in the list London has 57.9 percent of international retailers. Dubai may soon acquire the top position if it continues with this global expansion.

Presently, The Emirate has around 62.6 percent of brands from Europe and 60.6 percent of brands from United States. In the year 2013, it witnessed 19 new retail entrants and in the present time due to the development and expansion of various malls, the Emirate has become a centre of attraction for many new retailers and international brands.

Hamad Buamim, Dubai Chamber of Commerce and Industry President and Chief Executive Officer affirmed that Dubai offers “advanced infrastructure” for retail businesses. He said “The UAE economy has been witnessing steady growth over the last few years. Dubai has clearly benefitted from the economic competitiveness and the emirate’s retail sector continues to be driven on the back of strong growth exhibited by tourism, aviation and capital inflow.”. He also added that “Retail constitutes nearly a third of Dubai’s gross domestic product and we expect the industry to continue showing strong growth in the coming years,”

On this occasion, George Kostas, CEO, Majid Al Futtaim Properties talked about the growing demand of the industry and also expressed that their recent announcement about the increase in investment will be make sure that they meet the future demands of the industry.

As the demand is rising, more and more retailers are trying to enhance their business activities across nations. This has resulted in the increase of new entrants on the city level which is said to have gone up by 26 percent every year.

Dubai’s love for fashion and luxury is merging with the growing demands and hence, it is quite possible that this emirate will certainly rise as a giant hub in the fashion industry.

SOS Children’s Villages is an independent, non-governmental, social development organization which is internationally recognized. They provide safe and secure homes to the homeless and orphaned children across the nations. The organization functions in 133 countries across the world.

It has been 50 years that this organization started working in India and since then it has pays a great attention towards the issues related to children who are in need of care and protection. Today it has around 32 SOS Children’s Villages and over 25, 000 beneficiaries across the country. Established in 1949, the organization provides not only a caring family but also takes care of the other facilities such as quality education, healthcare, and individual care.

The organization works on four pillars namely, The Mother, Brothers and Sisters, The House, The Village. According to these pillars, a child is given a caring parent, corporative siblings, homely accommodation and healthy environment which collectively lead to a better upbringing of the child and make him independent strong and morally active.

The organization runs two flagship programmes namely, Family Based Care (FBC) and Family Strengthening Programme (FSP). Under Family Based Care, SOS covers approximately 6500 girls and boys in 32 children’s villages where they look after every need of the child from his childhood to adolescence. The other program Family Strengthening Programme runs in the slum areas near SOS Villages and aims to help the poor families by educating their children and providing them healthcare facilities as well. Through these programs and initiatives, SOS strives hard to bring a change in the pathetic condition of homeless children and poverty stricken families of India.

For their outstanding contribution towards the society, the organization has been awarded with various illustrious awards numerous times. Some of them are, Save the World Award (2009), the Mother Teresa Gold Medal (2008) and The Conrad N. Hilton Humanitarian Prize (2002) etc.

SOS Children’s Villages vigorously contribute towards a better and educated India and also encourage and highlight the need of such organizations in the nation.

In 2011, African Innovation Foundation (AIF) started an initiative known as Innovation Prize for Africa (IPA) to honor and encourage people who work towards the development of new and innovative products that will become a breakthrough in various fields such as manufacturing & service industry, health & well-being, agriculture & agribusiness, environment, energy & water and ICTs.IPA awards an amount of USD 150,000 to the winners and helps them in getting a global platform to share their innovative ideas.

This year, the Innovation Prize for Africa marked its fifth anniversary at Gaborone, Botswana. It received a whooping number of entries out of which they selected only 10 nominees. However, only three were announced as the winners. The first position was attained by Dr. Valentin Agon who was awarded $100,000. Imogen Wright and Dr. Eddy Agbo achieved second and third position respectively.

Among the winners, Nigeria’s Dr. Eddy Agbo received special award for Social Impact for his innovative healthcare solution to address Africa’s prevailing malaria burden. He invented a rapid non-blood diagnostic medical device known as Urine Test for Malaria (UMT) that can diagnose malaria in less than 25 minutes.

This breakthrough will be quite affective in healthcare sector for there is a lack of quick diagnosis in the case of Malaria. In most of the cases, the doctors prescribe anti-malaria medication whenever they detect a fever although it is known that not all fevers are due to malaria. If the patient does not get a quick diagnosis and treatment, he may face various complications such as kidney failure, build-up of lung fluid, aplastic anaemia and even death. At this stage, Agbo’s device will come into play. His UMT device is designed to detect malaria parasite proteins in the patient’s urine in a short span of time.

According to a report by the World Health Organization (WHO), around 660, 000 people die due to Malaria in Africa which has drastic effects on the economy and households. Keeping these reports in mind, Agbo’s innovative device proves to be a major revolution for the healthcare solutions in Africa.

All living things eat to survive. Some people like to savour what they eat and in the process satisfy their appetite and senses both. Yet there is a different genre of people, who consider food as art and fashion. For them, eating something is not enough, until it was also presented in a fashionable way.

Food fashion is common in the hospitality industry. If you have paid about a thousand bucks for two pieces of potato, some cucumber, and two types of leaves soaked in some thick sauce presented on a white plate in a fashionable Italian restaurant, and have yet felt satisfied, you are a lover of food art.

A different meaning has emerged recently, where food fashion in images is used so sensually that it’s called foodporn. Obviously, it is being used in a totally positive sense, where the image of the food is arousing your senses in such a way that you can’t hold back and feel forced to find it and eat it.

However, the basic need of eating for the sake of eating is essential. Satisfying your senses takes a back seat when satisfying your hunger is more important. The ways of civilized world may be different, and food fashion is supplementary rather than the fundamental need of human beings.

Do you want to achieve more than your current success? Do you feel your life is ordinary? Have a relook at your life and things around. Maybe you are not steering your life yourself. Maybe your life is on auto-pilot like the majority of people in this world. Life on auto-pilot means you have already set a routine for yourself, and you are following it strictly, or the circumstances of your life have taken hold of your needs, desires and dreams.

If you have most of the material objects to make your professional as well as personal life easy, yet you live with a hollowness and unhappiness inside, you need a power vacation!

You can have complete control over yourself and the circumstances – your complete life, by adopting a renewed approach that includes life coaching, emotional freedom techniques (EFT), mindfulness and some other spiritual upliftment technique.

By and large, Power Vacations provide you an opportunity to be away from the daily noise and distractions, without which you would be able to relax and notice amazing things about yourself and everything around you – including your family, friends, nature and emotions that are an essential component of life.

These are competitive times and the way shopping centres are mushrooming, the future looks fierce! So, what’s there round the corner for shopping centres? A perpetual war of prices, prime spaces and footfall? Maybe; however, diversification may help.

First of all, let’s get some things straight. No shopping centre can focus on all types of customers; they must specialize and diversify. Big cities hold more promise for diversification as there is more space. Diversification can at least eliminate competition in terms of footfall to some extent. If advanced markets are studied, a trend towards diversification of shopping centres is already evident. Though diversification usually takes several years, the future of shopping centres would be more promising if they are clear on their goal of diversification.

Amit Puri, the General Manager of Leasing for McARTHUR + COMPANY adds, “Diversification is possible in terms of the tenant mix and the range of products offered to a specific catchment, and most important of all, this message should be communicated clearly to the customers through proper info channels and marketing collaterals within and without the shopping centre.”

The current market is saturated and does not need new but rather more clearly focused yet diversified shopping centres. This is where McARTHUR + COMPANY comes in. The creation of shopping centres that generate strong returns for investors and profitable businesses for retailers is at the heart of the McARTHUR + COMPANY’s approach to shopping centre and mixed-use development, leasing and operations advisory.

In addition, for continual survival and to maintain interest, shopping centres must understand their customers and offer – and adapt where necessary – product and services accordingly. In geographical areas or cities where identical or similar structure of tenants is existant, diversification makes a big difference. However, it is not just distinguishing oneself from the competition, providing the extra edge also leads to a specific catchment area.

Though some shopping centres take it upon themselves to find ways of diversification and differentiation from the competition, some rely on shopping centre specialists.
The cost of diversification is not usually an issue with large centres and big cities. Centres with a high footfall of foreign clientele with high purchasing power are a good example. Advanced markets also find diversification a clear-cut and simple way to attract higher footfall.

These and several other relevant issues are taken care of by the experienced team of experts at shopping centre specialists in the most practical and economical ways.
There is an experienced team of experts at McARTHUR + COMPANY, including its Founder and Managing Director, Phil McArthur, who is an internationally experienced shopping centre specialist with over 35 years in the industry across Asia, the Middle East, Africa and North America.

Furqan Athar, Partner and Director of Strategy and Planning at McARTHUR + COMPANY is also an award-winning Dubai-based retailer and shopping centre investment expert having accumulated over 20 years’ experience in the Middle East’s retail real estate industry.

Amit Puri describes that their strategy in the face of competition “… is to add real financial value to each retail development project. Our team is well-experienced in shopping centre investment, finance, development planning, marketing, as well as retail leasing and management.

“We believe in well-planned, highly popular shopping destinations with long-term financial growth in value. Our philosophy is to use international best practices combined with local knowledge of retail markets and shopping influences to meet each project’s goal.

“We understand retail real estate and shopping centres and what it takes to achieve successful new centres or reinvigorate centres that require new energy. We work closely with global retail chains and large regional groups to assist with their cross-border expansion needs.”

Evaluating the role of other factors, a real differentiator of shopping centres from other types of properties is their dynamism. Effective management through a dedicated team of shopping centre specialists is the only key to smooth and successful functioning.

Strategies may differ: redeveloping a retail centre, expanding to meet the growing demand in response to changing needs and retail trends, or applying sound leasing strategy, without shopping centre specialists it’s difficult to sail through.

Yet other factors that play a major part in the success of any shopping centre include the knowledge, experience, analytical ability, planning and execution in terms of tenancy mix, effective leasing and coordination of occupancy. To discuss a few in detail:

Shopping Centre Management:

Attention to detail and an ability to provide informed and pro-active service to customers with continuous improvement in delivery leads to greater productivity and performance. A balanced strategy helps in maximum returns on investment and minimum risk and cost.

Further, Centre Managers are concerned with the safety of their property, proper services, maintenance of buildings and timely repairs, and above all the Centre should register itself as an inviting destination for shoppers.

This helps in retaining tenants, which is an important strategy in the successful operations of a shopping centre.

Leasing:

Creating a flexible balance in lease terms and conditions against investment performance and mutually beneficial outcomes for both the lessor and lessee is another significant strategy.

Specialists work on all fronts including retail leasing, and rich experience and a long list of contacts may come handy. The end goal is to create a fabulous shopping experience for the customers, and both national and international retailers contribute in that special experience. The productive and profitable Centre is a logical outcome. Re-leasing vacant properties in optimum time keeps that trust and confidence of customers and retailers alike.

Marketing:

Independent and shopping centre properties are distinctly different, and therefore marketing elements play a major part in attracting customers.
Generally a strategic programme, to develop progressive shopping centres keeping in mind effective and cost-efficient solutions, unique to each shopping centre is created by the specialist marketing team. It should take care of the investment type and expected returns by the owners.

Consulting:

The expert opinions on local knowledge, needs and integration are important. Almost all the times, shopping centre specialists have the last say in creating that confidence among the investors.

So, is diversification really the answer?

Focusing on just one group these days doesn’t help. Young and old have different interests and purchasing habits. Customers can be likewise divided into several different types of segments. So, shopping centres must target partially wider and partially overlapping segments of customers. However, diversification is not the only answer. There are several factors that play a role in successful shopping centre projects.

Dubai’s esteemed Jumeirah Group, the Global luxury hospitality brand is celebrating the most serene destinations that encourage the guests to indulge in the magnificient surroundings and gorgeously adorned interiors

While the guests enchant their wanderlust, a lavish accomodation plays an important role. Following the tradition of Dubai to amuse its travellers with panache, the Jumeirah Group has come up with the best-in-class luxury hotels like Burj Al Arab Jumeirah, Jumeirah Al Qasr, Jumeirah Beach Hotel, Jumeirah Creekside Hotel, Jumeirah Dar AL Masyaf, Jumeirah Emirates Towers, Jumeirah Living World Trade Centre Residence, Jumeirah Mina A’Salam and Jumeirah Zabeel Saray Royal Residences. The group has structured some of the most elegant masterpieces across the world and is attracting the classic taste of people from distant continents. Art and affluence offer a whole new perspective to life. Blending the two inspirational aspects together, Jumeirah Group was founded in 1997 for luxury art crusaders to quench their thirst in vogue. The group has one of the most impressive portfolios of luxury hotels and resorts in various parts of the world.

Highly polished virtues

With its reputation for individuality, Jumeirah Group has crafted some of the most exquisite infrastructural marvels in Dubai. Rising magnificently is the sail-shaped silhouette of grandiosity, Al Arab Jumeirah that lends the most aesthetic stays to tourists. With its recently unveiled ‘Best of the Burj’ Signature Dream Experience, Jumeirah the world’s only 7 star hotel has trounced the hospitality business with its niche services. For the spoiled few, the ultraluxe package by Jumeirah includes a Rolls- Royce Phantom pick-up, a luxurious suite, sumptuous dinner and a pivotal spa experience.

Architectural wonder

Dubai likes to flaunt its glory with grand architectural designs; some of them owned by the Jumeirah Group are a perfect example of living the extravagant way. All the hotels and residencies are operational around the year and they offer contemporary warmth, which has its roots in the Arabian hospitality and is attracting intellectuals, artists, and heads of state from all the corners of the world. The guests enjoy the tranquillity of the immensely cavernous arena offered by the Presidential suites at the Jumeirah Group of Hotels, which have expansive glass windows. They offer enthralling landscape of the quaint surrounding.
Each and every room has been designed with utmost intelligence and hence cajoled with the electric furniture, the gulf inspired art and photography. Classic rooms are filled with vivid lights from the best glass roofed atrium. The ocean premium leisure club room king suites are ideal pick for business travellers needing a complacent stay, or for couples wanting a little more space. Jumeirah properties are galvanized by the Arabic indulgence and the group’s classy accommodations offer space for family, friends, business meetings, global conferences and special adaption for the stately few.

Artisan brews and flavours

Every restaurant of the Jumeirah Group properties exhibits a perfect mix of elegance and taste that surpasses all expectations. One such example is the restaurant 360°, at the end of the Marina walkway, Jumeirah Beach Hotel, which is located on the terrace in a quiet and calm environment. It offers the best food coupled with the dazzling scenic environs.
Guests also have the option of enjoying a fine cuppa of coffee at the Palm Court. The six-course authentic Italian cuisine at Carnevale restaurant, Burj Al Arab, makes for an enduring journey with the finest dishes from the vintage Arab kitchen.
Located at the end of the pier at Al Qasr, Madinat Jumeirah, Pierchic is a high-end Mediterranean seafood restaurant. It tickle one’s palate with an over-the-water dining experience, which is certainly an unparalleled experience, anywhere in and around Dubai. The special feature of the restaurant is its à la carte menu of classics including oysters, scallops, sashimi and lobster, as well as an array of fresh fish. It offers a stylish yet elegant dining space, which maximizes the views of the Arabian Gulf, the Dubai coastline, Palm Jumeirah and the iconic Burj Al Arab.

Arty serene crash-pad

At Jumeirah properties, guests find a perfect amalgamation of pampering and rejuvenation in all the spa therapies. Right from the traditional Shiatsu, to Thai, Swedish and Balinese techniques, every spa treatment is aimed at providing maximum benefit. These also hum with the colourful, bright ambience of the hotels. One can get involved in the ultimate odyssey of well-being and resurgence at Jumeirah Spas and revel in a host of facilities for both the mind and body. The spa therapies at the Jumeirah Creekside Hotel are designed to suit the civilized diversity of guests visiting the Jumeirah properties.

Zero-edge Sensation

Pool sides are considered as one of the most fun areas of any hotel. Jumeirah properties makes this fun area into one of the most thrilling sections by turning relaxation into a refreshing bliss with pool butlers, who are available around the day to serve the guests tropical fresh juices, creative mock tails, and cool towels.