Latest news with #Bedu
Time of India
21-05-2025
- Health
- Time of India
Elephant kills labourer in Devarapura during Bedu festival
Madikeri: A wild elephant attacked and killed a labourer in Devarapura. Annaiah, 41, from Paisari in Devarakadu, died on the spot. The incident left the village community in shock and grief as the annual Bedu festival was going on in the village, shocking people. Annaiah was walking along a secluded forest path towards a coffee plantation early in the morning. Upon encountering the elephant, he attempted to flee but was fatally attacked. Villagers near the temple, alerted by the elephant's sounds, discovered Annaiah's body lying on the ground, thrown by the wild elephant. Forest officials from Thithimathi zone, including ACF Gopal and RFO Gangadhar, arrived at the location. Their efforts to transport the body got complicated when another elephant threatened the people there, prompting them to take additional security measures. The traditional Ayappa Devara Bedu festival, scheduled from morning until May 22, had drawn thousands of visitors. The forest department had increased staff presence as a precautionary measure, and the large festival crowds have complicated efforts to control the elephant problem in the region. Forest officials transported the dead body to Gonikoppal Government Hospital, where DFO Jagannath and station officer Dilip Kumar conducted an inspection. Dr Suresh performed an expedited postmortem examination, considering the ongoing festival, before releasing the body to Annaiah's family, including his surviving wife. The dense forests of Devarakadu near Devarapura house numerous wild elephants that frequently venture into nearby coffee plantations and residential areas at night. Early morning encounters between residents and elephants have resulted in casualties. A similar incident recently claimed a woman's life. Despite wide roads, workers often use narrow paths, increasing risk. The community is seeking permanent solutions from the forest department. Following the successful capture and rehabilitation of a problematic elephant named Veda recently in this area, authorities planned to address the current situation. After consultation with MLA Ponnanna, steps will be taken to capture the troublesome elephant. Meanwhile, forest officials are working to protect residential areas have been instructed to support the affected families, and develop further strategies through emergency meetings, said Sanketh Poovaiah, member, Karnataka State Wildlife Board.
Time Out
15-05-2025
- Business
- Time Out
Uma Nota and Bedu to shut down in Hong Kong this summer
Staying afloat in Hong Kong's food and drink scene is no easy feat. With steep rent prices, consumers travelling to Mainland China for affordable spending, and fierce competition between competitors, many local restaurants are bearing the brunt of high operational costs, leading them to make tough decisions. Unfortunately, after eight years of operating in Central, Uma Nota and Bedu by Meraki Hospitality are closing their doors on June 21. Founded by siblings Alex and Laura Offe in 2018, Meraki Hospitality has made its mark in Hong Kong's culinary scene with its exciting eateries. According to the hospitality group, the decision to close both restaurants comes after the challenges of rising costs and the changing landscape of Hong Kong's market. The founders also believe this pause will give them time to reflect, recharge, and introduce innovative concepts. 'While closing these restaurants is bittersweet, the relationships and memories we've built together will always stay with us. We are deeply grateful to our community, and we look forward to welcoming everyone back with fresh ideas in the future.', shared Alex. As Hong Kong's first Brazilian-Japanese restaurant, Uma Nota opened its doors in 2017 and paid homage to Brazilian botecos – a hangout spot that serves alcoholic beverages and snacks. Following its success, Meraki Hospitality also launched Uma Nota's concept in cities like Paris in 2018 and Manila in 2024. As for the latter of the two restaurants, Bedu opened in 2018 on Gough Street, offering innovative and modern takes on classic Middle Eastern fare, quickly becoming a neighbourhood mainstay. So, what's in store for Meraki Hospitality? The sibling duo are currently preparing to unveil Sabai, an elevated Thai restaurant in Manila. While the hospitality group has yet to share details of future endeavours in Hong Kong, they remain hopeful to return to the city's dining scene.
The National
28-02-2025
- Entertainment
- The National
Timeframe: When Sheikh Zayed honoured Sir Wilfred Thesiger in Abu Dhabi
The late, great British explorer and author Sir Wilfred Thesiger's life story is inextricably linked with the history of the UAE. He's known, among many other accomplishments, for his 1959 literary masterpiece Arabian Sands, which documented his gruelling crossing and recrossing of the Empty Quarter, taking in today's UAE, Saudi Arabia, Yemen and Oman. But also well known was his close friendship with UAE Founding Father, the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, whom he met on many occasions, the first time in 1947. On February 20, 2000, three years before Thesiger's death, Sheikh Zayed honoured him with the Order of Independence, one of the UAE's highest awards. Then 89, Thesiger was decorated with the sash by Sheikh Zayed's son, Sheikh Hamdan bin Zayed Al Nahyan, who was then the Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, at a special ceremony in Bateen Palace. 'The decoration, presented on the instructions of President Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, was awarded to Thesiger in recognition of his long friendship for the people of the Emirates and his service to the country,' Sheikh Hamdan said, as was reported then by state news agency Wam. Thesiger said he accepted the decoration with 'feelings of great honour and pleasure.' 'The journeys across the Empty Quarter for which it was awarded have always been the most important journeys that I have made,' he added. 'These journeys over 50 years ago were made possible for me by the assistance and encouragement which I received from Sheikh Zayed.' Writing in The National in 2019, the late author and cultural historian Peter Hellyer, who also met Thesiger on many of his visits to the UAE, recalled the occasion with great pride. 'A few years before his death, I attended the ceremony in which he was given a medal awarded to him by Sheikh Zayed. One of Sheikh Zayed's sons presented it to him and I recall, with amusement, a conversation about Sheikh Zayed's age,' Hellyer writes. 'Thesiger said: 'I am now nearly 90. Looking back to when we first met in 1947, he must have been around 30. So now he must be over 80.' 'Sheikh Zayed's son laughed, saying: 'None of us would dare to tell him he was that old!'' One of the last great European explorers, Thesiger first visited the UAE in 1946 during an epic journey across the Empty Quarter with several Bedu companions. He made further journeys in the area between 1947 and 1950, including a second crossing of the Empty Quarter. His journeys became the basis of Arabian Sands, which provides a unique record of life in the deserts of south-eastern Arabia before the discovery of oil. Thesiger was also an expert photographer, his pictures capturing the people and scenery of Arabia before modernisation. He photographed an incredible 35,000 images of Abu Dhabi and the surrounding areas, including those of Sheikh Zayed. A companion coffee table book to Arabian Sands, called Crossing Sands, was also released later, which Thesiger dedicated to Sheikh Zayed. Thesiger wrote many other books, including The Marsh Arabs, The Last Nomad, The Life of My Choice and Visions of a Nomad. In Arabian Sands, he described Abu Dhabi as a 'small dilapidated town which stretched along the shore'. He also wrote about how he and his companions sat outside the walls of the imposing Qasr Al Hosn fort near some small cannons that were half-buried in sand, as they waited to be admitted. Eventually they were ushered in to meet Sheikh Shakhbut, the then Ruler of Abu Dhabi, who lived there. The group remained in Abu Dhabi for 20 days, staying in a dilapidated house near the market. The town then had 2,000 inhabitants. 'Each morning the sheikhs visited us, walking slowly across from the castle,' he wrote. 'We talked for an hour or more, drinking coffee and eating sweets, and, after they had left us, we visited the market, where we sat cross-legged in the small shops, gossiping and drinking more coffee.' Of Sheikh Zayed, Thesiger wrote: 'He had a great reputation among the Bedu. They liked him for his easy, informal ways and his friendliness, and they respected his force of character, his shrewdness and his physical strength. 'They said admiringly 'Zayed is a Bedu. He knows about camels, can ride like one of us, can shoot, and knows how to fight'.' Thesiger died in London on August 24, 2003, at the age of 93. Sheikh Zayed passed away a year later, on November 2, 2004, during Ramadan. He was 84.
Khaleej Times
18-02-2025
- Business
- Khaleej Times
What risks stress UAE employees, companies in 2025? Cybercrimes, cost of living among top three
Cybercrimes and online attacks; work stress and burnout; cost of living and mental health topped the perceived risks for companies and employees in the UAE and other parts of the world for 2025 rather than geopolitical tensions, a survey by a global health and security risks service company has revealed. According to International SOS, 78 per cent of their respondents said cyber attacks and online crimes, as well as work stress and burnout topped the list. Another major concern –at 75 per cent – is the impact of the growing cost of living, followed by mental health concerns at 70 per cent. Geopolitical tension came last at 69 per cent. The question asked was: 'How likely do you think the issues (above) will have a significant impact on your business and/or your people in the next 12 months? Stay up to date with the latest news. Follow KT on WhatsApp Channels. The survey was conducted by London and Singapore-based International SOS among its global contacts and clients in the last quarter of 2024. The results were presented during the Middle East|Risk Outlook 2025 held in Dubai on Tuesday. The objectives were to plot how geopolitics, security challenges, and health risks converge; as well as to inform organisations on how to 'adopt smarter and more unified approaches to protect their workforce and operations.' Why perceptions differ Going into further details of the survey, Sebastien Bedu, General Manager, Middle East, International SOS, told Khaleej Times: 'One of the interesting elements when we analysed the data was that the perceptions of the perceived risk as well as the elements of concern were different between various seniority levels'. He noted among primary company decision-makers, political and social unrest, and protests are seen by 75 per cent as very or fairly likely to have a significant impact on their businesses and/or their people in the next 12 months. 74 per cent of C-suite officials also noted geopolitical tensions are very or fairly likely to affect them; while 73 per cent of them noted transport risks as another main disruption. Cyberattacks and online crime were perceived as very or fairly likely to affect them by those on the decision-making team with significant influence; those on the decision-making team without significant influence (meaning middle-level managers) ranked work stress and burnout the highest concern at 80 per cent. Bedu explained: 'For the top management, the bigger picture matters, such as the geopolitical tensions. But as you come down the ladder – at the managerial and working level – concerns shift on more personal matters. This indicates that the level of concern is more local – those pertaining to their well-being, unlike the leaders who have a broader scope to take care of and have a vision towards the future that is different.' No one-size-fits-all solution Bedu said: 'The survey results highly indicate that that there is a one-size-fits-all solution for every organisation. Therefore, it is important for them to focus on the areas that matter to their structure and organisation, like for example, addressing the wellbeing of the employees. Regarding the UAE and geopolitical tensions, Bedu said political tensions in the region was deemed as the least concern not because people in the country live a bubble. 'I want to think the main reason is the UAE first and foremost is giving us the opportunity to live in such a safe and pleasant environment,' Bedu said, adding: 'We live in a country where we feel safe and protected and this is why concerns are different than other countries.' 'But there are other concerns similar to most countries in the world – like the high cost of living, and geopolitics also affect the country as everything is connected,' he noted. A ray of hope With regards to the current ceasefire in Gaza, Bedu said 'everything is still fluid but the ceasefire itself provides a ray of hope.' 'Our security experts are obviously analysing the situation on continuous basis. We obviously welcome the recent development with regard to ceasefire, the return of hostages and prisoner exchange in Gaza,' he added. 'These are positive signs – although the situation remains pretty fragile. But, it is still a situation that is better than last year. What we can do is to monitor it very carefully. We have information and analysis from our network and boots on the ground to make sure that we can anticipate what the next situation would be for the benefit of our clients, so they can be more prepared,' continued Bedu, noting the relative calm and lull in intense fighting can be used by their clients to prepare, evaluate and plan their crisis management and business contingency.
