In Oct 2010, the American children's channel Cartoon Network launched a Cartoon Network Arabic channel- a free-to-air children's channel hoping to reach 35 million homes in the Middle East and North Africa. The free alternative to the subscription based Cartoon-Network is operated by the Turner Broadcasting offices in Dubai.
The world's first Cartoon Network Academy(CNA) in Abu Dhabi has now rolled out its inaugral batch of 12 graduates. The Academy is central to the development of local talent needed for the animation industry. The animation and gaming industry still in its nascent stage is one of the fastest growing industry in the region.
Turner’s ambition to expand the network in the Middle East and invest in local talent is necessary in order to grow the business. The diversity of the spoken Arabic dilects across the region poses challenges and creates opportunities for the animation industry.
According to a statement from Turner, Cartoon Network is available in 22 languages, across 27 separate feeds, in 166 countries and in 248 million homes worldwide.
This is not the first time that an American children' s TV show has been traslated to Arabic. Thirty years ago a local version of Sesame Street was braodcasted.
Sunday, September 25, 2011
Saturday, September 24, 2011
Einstein's Law of Physics May Change
This is the cornerstone of physics since Albert Einstein dreamed up his theory of relativity.
Einstein's Law of Relativity is one of the few scientific equations most people know -- and it's a pillar of modern physics and fundamental to the way that the universe works.
The equation states that nothing is faster than the speed of light, but one of the world's foremost laboratories says they've found subatomic particles called neutrinos that travel even faster. If their findings are proven true, it may alter our understanding of the universe.
In Einstein's famous equation, E=mc2, the constant "c" is the speed of light, which is the same everywhere in the universe: c = 186 thousand miles per second, and there is nothing faster. The constant been accepted for more than a century.
Scientists were baffled by the research findings.
As the international team which conducted the experiments puzzled over what is potentially one of the biggest upsets in history, less rigorous minds turned their attention to the possibility of time travel and visiting distant planets.
Even Professor Alvaro De Rujula, a theoretical physicist at CERN, was not immune to the excitement.
He acknowledged that if the readings proved correct, and were not the result of some human error, it created unlimited possibilities.
The average person, said Professor De Rujula, "could, in principle, travel to the past and kill their mother before they were born".
Yesterday, the scientists whose findings have force a rethink on the make-up of the universe, officially informed colleagues and asked them for help in uncovering any flaws. Link
Einstein's Law of Relativity is one of the few scientific equations most people know -- and it's a pillar of modern physics and fundamental to the way that the universe works.
The equation states that nothing is faster than the speed of light, but one of the world's foremost laboratories says they've found subatomic particles called neutrinos that travel even faster. If their findings are proven true, it may alter our understanding of the universe.
In Einstein's famous equation, E=mc2, the constant "c" is the speed of light, which is the same everywhere in the universe: c = 186 thousand miles per second, and there is nothing faster. The constant been accepted for more than a century.
Scientists were baffled by the research findings.
As the international team which conducted the experiments puzzled over what is potentially one of the biggest upsets in history, less rigorous minds turned their attention to the possibility of time travel and visiting distant planets.
Even Professor Alvaro De Rujula, a theoretical physicist at CERN, was not immune to the excitement.
He acknowledged that if the readings proved correct, and were not the result of some human error, it created unlimited possibilities.
The average person, said Professor De Rujula, "could, in principle, travel to the past and kill their mother before they were born".
Yesterday, the scientists whose findings have force a rethink on the make-up of the universe, officially informed colleagues and asked them for help in uncovering any flaws. Link
Friday, September 23, 2011
India's Last Nawab Mansur Ali Khan Patudi Passes Away
He was the Nawab of Pataudi, an inspirational cricket captain, especially considering that he overcame the loss of an eye to forge a successful career- an illustrious life came to an end Thursday marking end of an era for Indian cricket.
He was born into royalty, educated in England, transformed the Indian cricket and became it's youngest caption at the age of 21. He was India's first cricket superstar.
He is survived by his wife Sharmila Tagore, his actor son Saif Ali Khan and his two daughters Soha and Saba Ali Khan. His entire family was at his bedside when the end came at 5.55pm this evening. "He passed away around 5.55pm. His condition had deteriorated since yesterday. He was suffering from interstitial lung disease (interstitial pneumonitis) which worsens rapidly inspite of the best treatment available," Dr S. P. Byotra, Department of medicine in Sir Ganga Ram Hospital, where Pataudi was admitted, said. (Link)
"He was unable to maintain his oxygen level in spite of maximal treatment. He continued to remain in the ICU for nearly a month. He had this disease, which had been static since the last three months and worsened very acutely over the last four weeks,” the doctor said.
Tributes to Patudi on ESPN cricinfo
He was born into royalty, educated in England, transformed the Indian cricket and became it's youngest caption at the age of 21. He was India's first cricket superstar.
He is survived by his wife Sharmila Tagore, his actor son Saif Ali Khan and his two daughters Soha and Saba Ali Khan. His entire family was at his bedside when the end came at 5.55pm this evening. "He passed away around 5.55pm. His condition had deteriorated since yesterday. He was suffering from interstitial lung disease (interstitial pneumonitis) which worsens rapidly inspite of the best treatment available," Dr S. P. Byotra, Department of medicine in Sir Ganga Ram Hospital, where Pataudi was admitted, said. (Link)
"He was unable to maintain his oxygen level in spite of maximal treatment. He continued to remain in the ICU for nearly a month. He had this disease, which had been static since the last three months and worsened very acutely over the last four weeks,” the doctor said.
Tributes to Patudi on ESPN cricinfo
Tuesday, September 13, 2011
CIMA's Islamic Finance Certificate
Bait al-Mashura, a specialised company in providing Islamic finance consultations, has been authorised by Chartered Institute of Management Accountants (CIMA) to hold exams and grant certificates in Islamic finance. Bait al-Mashura managing director and CEO Dr Osama Q al-Derae’i said certificates of CIMA are based on self-paced study and distance learning principle.
More of this article on Gulf Times.
The 'CIMA Certificate in Islamic Finance' was officially launched in December 2007 in the UK and Bahrain, followed by Malaysia and Singapore in 2008.
Islamic finance is a trillion dollar industry and has become part of the global financial system. Educating financial professionals on Islamic finance has become a business priority for many countries, given that the Islamic finance industry is growing at an estimated 15-20 per cent annually.
More of this article on Gulf Times.
The 'CIMA Certificate in Islamic Finance' was officially launched in December 2007 in the UK and Bahrain, followed by Malaysia and Singapore in 2008.
Islamic finance is a trillion dollar industry and has become part of the global financial system. Educating financial professionals on Islamic finance has become a business priority for many countries, given that the Islamic finance industry is growing at an estimated 15-20 per cent annually.
Saturday, September 10, 2011
The Nation Mourns Death of Hiriyaa Principal and four students
It is shocking and deeply sad to learn of the tragic deaths of Hiriyaa School principal Ali Nazim and students Aishath Saeed of Meenaz Gaaf Alif atoll Dhehvadhoo, Mariyam Naaz of Suvaasaage Haa Alif atoll Hoarafushi (Galolhu Oivaali), Aishath Shaaniha of Handhuvary Villa Raa Rasmaadhoo and Mariyam Shaiha of Maafannu Moisha.
It is reported that Principal Ali Nazim lost his own life while trying to save drowning students who had gone on a fisheries science field trip to Kaafu atoll Huraa.
May Allah grant His blessing on the departed souls. May Allah grant families of the deceased the strength to bear such loss.
This incident is a stark reminder of the perils of the sea.
It is reported that Principal Ali Nazim lost his own life while trying to save drowning students who had gone on a fisheries science field trip to Kaafu atoll Huraa.
May Allah grant His blessing on the departed souls. May Allah grant families of the deceased the strength to bear such loss.
This incident is a stark reminder of the perils of the sea.
Thursday, September 08, 2011
Islamic Banking in Nigeria Fraught with Problems
Nigeria has become a battleground for Islamic finance, further dividing Africa's most populated country. Nigeria is one of the world's largest oil producers. The country has a history of bitter civil wars fought on ethnic and religious lines.
Nigeria, the seventh most populous country in the world has some 70 million Muslims. In order to capitalize on the growing popularity of one of the world's fastest-growing financial sectors, the Central Bank of Nigeria has introduced Islamic banking into the country.
CNN's Christian Purefoy discussed the sector's potential with Hajara Adeola, managing director of Lotus Capital, one of the groups helping to pave the way for Islamic finance in Nigeria.
Adeola says there is a growing appetite for this form of banking.
"It is working in Nigeria and there is a lot of interest in doing Islamic banking, in West Africa in particular," she says.
Spread across the Middle East and other parts of the world, a slew of Islamic financial institutions have been offering interest-free services that advocates say can provide a more sustainable alternative to conventional banking practices.
The industry, which exists in more than 50 countries, is estimated to be worth around $1 trillion and has the potential to eventually be worth $5 trillion, according to ratings agency Moody's. The full article.
Nigeria, the seventh most populous country in the world has some 70 million Muslims. In order to capitalize on the growing popularity of one of the world's fastest-growing financial sectors, the Central Bank of Nigeria has introduced Islamic banking into the country.
CNN's Christian Purefoy discussed the sector's potential with Hajara Adeola, managing director of Lotus Capital, one of the groups helping to pave the way for Islamic finance in Nigeria.
Adeola says there is a growing appetite for this form of banking.
"It is working in Nigeria and there is a lot of interest in doing Islamic banking, in West Africa in particular," she says.
Spread across the Middle East and other parts of the world, a slew of Islamic financial institutions have been offering interest-free services that advocates say can provide a more sustainable alternative to conventional banking practices.
The industry, which exists in more than 50 countries, is estimated to be worth around $1 trillion and has the potential to eventually be worth $5 trillion, according to ratings agency Moody's. The full article.
Monday, September 05, 2011
Amazon's Start Up Challenge goes Global
Amazon Web Services (AWS), an amazon.com company, is aiming to become a billion-dollar-a-year business. It is a startup revolution . As Amazon CTO Werner Vogels said, with AWS all you need is an idea, a credit card and a dream. Amazon holds an annual contest, the AWS Start-Up Challenge, to realise this philosophy.
The AWS Start-up Challenge launched in 2007 is back, sweeping across the planet. Fifteen regional prizes (five each from the Americas, Asia Pacific and Europe/Middle East/Africa) and one global grand prize to be awarded to start-ups with the most innovative businesses built in the AWS cloud. The global grand prize winner will be awarded with $50,000 in cash and $50,000 in AWS credits
Amazon is focused not just on the silicon valley but it wants to reach the global hotbeds to find 'the next big thing.'
The AWS Start-up Challenge launched in 2007 is back, sweeping across the planet. Fifteen regional prizes (five each from the Americas, Asia Pacific and Europe/Middle East/Africa) and one global grand prize to be awarded to start-ups with the most innovative businesses built in the AWS cloud. The global grand prize winner will be awarded with $50,000 in cash and $50,000 in AWS credits
Amazon is focused not just on the silicon valley but it wants to reach the global hotbeds to find 'the next big thing.'
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