Magsaysay award winners to be felicitated

By KK Moidu

Dr Prakash Amte and Dr Mandakini Amte, winners of the prestigious Magsaysay Award 2008, will be felicitated at Al Nasr Leisureland, Dubai on Jan. I. Consul General of India, Venu Rajamony will be the chief guest at the function. Renowned musician Padmashri Padmaja Phenany-Joglekar will give a concert. Bollywood actor and social activist, Atul Kularni and Ajit Bhure, a well known film producer and journalist will also be present on the occasion.
The programme will start at 5.30pm with a prayer. The documentary Divine Messenger will be screened and there will be a talk show as well.

Dr. Prakash Amte

Dr. Mandakini Amte

The Magsaysay Award was constituted in the name of Ramon Magsaysay, the third president of the Republic of the Philippines after the World War II. The award is presented by the Ramon Magsaysay Foundation to individuals who address issues of human development in Asia with courage, creativity, integrity and selflessness and while doing so they make contributions in transforming their societies for the better.
Dr Prakash and Dr Mandakini were honoured this year with the award in recognition of their community leadership. The award is considered Asia's Nobel Prize.
The eminent doctors carry forward the great Baba Amte's legacy of compassion. The couple has been serving millions of tribal people, who are living in remote highlands and forests. For example, the Madia Gonds occupy 150 square kilometres of dense forest in eastern Maharashtra, bordering Andhra Pradesh and Chattisgarh states. They have been instrumental in setting up health-care and educational institutions, and transforming the tribal's life completely.
Their selfless service over the last three decades has now gained International recognition.

Unusual crowds expected at offices owing to long holiday

By KK Moidu


Government offices and schools are reopening today after about two weeks of holidays. Unlike previous Eid holidays, which used to be around one week along with weekly offs, this year the National Day, Eid and weekly offs combined together extended the holidays to two-weeks for government and educational institutes.
Most of the employees who had left for their native places to celebrate Eid with their dear and near ones have returned to the emirate. Many members of the expatriate community utilised the long holidays for a short visit to their parents and relatives.
The airlines made brisk business carrying passengers up and down. Shopping malls also recorded big business.
The private sector, including banks, resumed work much earlier.
However, those who preferred to stay back decided to go to parks, beaches and shopping centres.
Children probably would have the happiest, as they got a rare opportunity to be with their parents and enjoying the holidays together.
But, for the first few working days, heavy rush is expected at government departments, especially at labour, immigration departments and the municipality.
Adbul Rahman, an Indian expatriate, said, "I am waiting anxiously for the reopening of Ministry of Labour for renewing my computer card. Another expatriate, Muhammad Ashraf, said, "I have finished all the immigration typing works in advance for applying for a visa for my new-born daughter, expecting big rush at typing centres during the first week. "
Many fear heavy rush on roads and lengthy queues at government offices. A Sharjah resident, Hari Kumar, said, "I plan to leave my home at least 45 minutes early for my office in Dubai on Sunday, otherwise I won't be able to reach in time."

FIC launches Fox Sereis in the Middle East

By KK Moidu

Fox International Channels (FIC) announced in Dubai on Saturday the launch of its flagship channel Fox Series in the Middle East. The new channel is brought to the region through the strategic partnership between the media group, Rotana Media Services (RMS), which is owned by the media doyen Prince Al Waleed Bin Talal Bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, (chairman of Kingdom Holding Company and Rotana Holding) and the Fox International Channels (FIC).

Speaking at the press conference held at Emirates Golf Club (Dubai), Ward Platt, president, FIC, Asia and Middle East, said, "Today's launch is yet another milestone for us in the Middle East. After the successful launch of FOX Movies earlier this year, today we find ourselves at the threshold of another success story with Fox Series, which is the region's first dedicated free-to-air series channel. We are confident that the channel through its vibrant, innovative and strong programming content will attract its own patron following that demands and believes in quality home entertainment." Ward told The Gulf Today that FIC will add more channels in the future but have no plans to make it a pay channel in the near future.

Nezar H Nagro, president of Rotana Media Services said, "Today's launch of Fox Series clearly reaffirms and demonstrates our commitment in providing the region's viewers the quality and the television watching experience that is unmatched anywhere in the Middle East. Fox Series adds one more important channel genre to our bouquet and enables RMS to provide an even more comprehensive solution to advertisers."

He assured that all the series airing on the channel would be edited keeping in view the family values. Fox Series will be telecast from Dec. 1. It will be the region's first free-to-air television series channel in the Middle East and North Africa offering viewers a line-up of award-winning television series, from the blockbuster series that have wowed audiences the world over like Desperate Housewives , Kyle XY , and CSI: Miami , to productions, which are never seen before in the region like Brothers and Sisters , Nip/Tuck , Crusoe and The Listener , and long-running popular smash-hits like The Simpsons and Stargate SG1.

The new channel is aimed at providing the region's demanding young audience a compelling entertainment experience that is engaging, charismatic and exciting.