Latest news with #Formula
Gulf Today
6 days ago
- Business
- Gulf Today
Alia Abdulsalam, first Emirati woman to compete in Formula 4 Powerboat World Championship
Alia Abdulsalam will be the first Emirati woman to compete in the Formula 4 Powerboat World Championship, marking a significant milestone in her upcoming appearances as she strives to achieve new accomplishments in the name of Emirati women's sport. Alia is set to begin her international appearances for the 2025 racing season with the Norway Grand Prix on 15 August, followed by her participation in the Formula 4 Powerboat World Championship in Italy on 16 September – one of the season's most prominent and competitive events. Nirvana Holding, in collaboration with 9Yards Communications, has announced the signing of an official sponsorship agreement with Emirati powerboat racer Alia Abdulsalam Firoz. Under the agreement, both entities will serve as the official providers of travel, tourism, and media services for her local and international participation in Formula powerboat racing events. This initiative reflects the shared commitment of both companies to supporting national talent and empowering Emirati women across various fields – particularly in the realm of marine sports – while also enhancing their presence on regional and global platforms. The agreement was signed in the presence of Omar Al Ali, CEO of Nirvana Holding, who affirmed that supporting Alia Abdulsalam reflects the Group's vision of actively contributing to the development of Emirati sports. He stated: "We are proud to sponsor the first Emirati woman to compete in Formula powerboat racing, and we firmly believe in her exceptional potential to represent the UAE on the global stage. This partnership underscores our ongoing commitment to supporting Emirati champions and shaping inspiring success stories.' Alia Abdulsalam expressed her pride in the partnership, stating: "I am truly grateful to Nirvana Holding and 9Yards Communications for their tremendous support, which gives both myself and my team a significant morale boost as we pursue championship titles. Our goal is clear – to compete for top positions in every race and represent the UAE with pride on the international stage.''
Al Etihad
6 days ago
- Business
- Al Etihad
Alia Abdulsalam to be first Emirati woman to compete in Formula 4 Powerboat World Championship
10 Aug 2025 13:49 ABU DHABI (WAM)Alia Abdulsalam will become the first Emirati woman to compete in the Formula 4 Powerboat World Championship, marking a significant milestone in her upcoming appearances as she strives to achieve new accomplishments in the name of Emirati women's is set to begin her international appearances for the 2025 racing season with the Norway Grand Prix on August 15, followed by her participation in the Formula 4 Powerboat World Championship in Italy on September 16 - one of the season's most prominent and competitive Holding, in collaboration with 9Yards Communications, has announced the signing of an official sponsorship agreement with Emirati powerboat racer Alia Abdulsalam the agreement, both entities will serve as the official providers of travel, tourism, and media services for her local and international participation in Formula powerboat racing initiative reflects the shared commitment of both companies to supporting national talent and empowering Emirati women across various fields - particularly in the realm of marine sports - while also enhancing their presence on regional and global agreement was signed in the presence of Omar Al Ali, CEO of Nirvana Holding, who affirmed that supporting Alia Abdulsalam reflects the Group's vision of actively contributing to the development of Emirati stated: 'We are proud to sponsor the first Emirati woman to compete in Formula powerboat racing, and we firmly believe in her exceptional potential to represent the UAE on the global stage. This partnership underscores our ongoing commitment to supporting Emirati champions and shaping inspiring success stories.'Alia Abdulsalam expressed her pride in the partnership, stating: 'I am truly grateful to Nirvana Holding and 9Yards Communications for their tremendous support, which gives both myself and my team a significant morale boost as we pursue championship titles. Our goal is clear - to compete for top positions in every race and represent the UAE with pride on the international stage.''
Forbes
25-07-2025
- Business
- Forbes
It's Not About Chemistry: The Real Key To Success In Relationships
Like planets needing the perfect distance from the sun to support life, our relationships—whether ... More with spouses, colleagues, or team members—also require the right distance to thrive. Have you been reconsidering a key relationship in your life—whether romantic or professional? Maybe you feel stuck, frustrated, or disconnected from a colleague, direct report, or life partner, wondering if the distance between you has become too wide to bridge. Before making a life-changing decision, consider a different perspective: what if the issue isn't incompatibility, but rather being at the wrong distance from each other? As a negotiation expert with decades of experience in helping people navigate difficult conversations—and as a husband, father, and business leader who has faced many of the same challenges—I recently experienced a breakthrough that reframed the way I approach relationship struggles in both personal and professional contexts: the concept of optimal relationship distance. The Goldilocks Zone of Human Connection Like planets needing the perfect distance from the sun to support life, our relationships—whether with spouses, colleagues, or team members—also require the right distance to thrive. Too close, and we may feel suffocated or compromise our judgment. Too far, and we may feel abandoned or miss critical opportunities. When we find the sweet spot—what I call the "optimal relationship distance"—we create the conditions for connection, growth, and sustainable success. A Personal Wake-Up Call (With Professional Implications) My wife Whitney and I have been married for 14 years. We tied the knot on our undergraduate graduation day and have shared our lives closely ever since. For most of our marriage, our optimal distance has been incredibly close—emotionally and physically. The closer we are, the stronger we feel as a team. But during one of the most challenging seasons of our relationship, our balance was thrown off. Whitney was in the thick of medical residency, and I was juggling the early days of launching the American Negotiation Institute while also running a law firm. On top of that, we had just welcomed our first child. The stress, the schedules, and the demands of parenthood meant that we were no longer operating at our optimal distance. We needed more connection, more shared moments, more intimacy—but life had other plans. The emotional distance grew, and so did the tension. Not because we loved each other any less, but because we weren't where we needed to be, relationally. This experience taught me something crucial that applies equally in business: when high-performing partnerships—whether marriages or professional collaborations—start to struggle, the issue is often distance, not fundamental incompatibility. Understanding the Friendship Formula in Business and Life My theory on optimal relationship distance draws inspiration from the work of former FBI agent Jack Schafer and his "Friendship Formula," introduced in The Like Switch. Schafer identified four variables that influence likability: proximity, frequency, duration, and intensity. Here's how these variables apply to both long-term romantic partnerships and professional relationships: Proximity: Are you physically and emotionally close? In personal relationships, this means shared time and space for intimacy. In business, this is about strategic positioning—being close enough to key decision-makers to influence outcomes, but not so close that you lose objectivity or appear to play favorites. Frequency: How often are you interacting meaningfully? In the workplace, leaders who interact too frequently with certain team members risk creating perceptions of favoritism, while those who interact too infrequently with remote workers may inadvertently exclude them from opportunities. Duration: Are your conversations and interactions too short to create depth, or too long and emotionally draining? In hybrid work environments, this might mean ensuring remote team members get adequate face time during critical meetings, not just brief check-ins. Intensity: Is the emotional tone of your conversations too high, or too low? As a leader, getting too emotionally invested in employee relationships can impair your judgment when making difficult business decisions—you might prioritize friendship over organizational goals. When you feel stuck in any relationship, consider these dials. Sometimes, the answer isn't to end the partnership—it's to adjust the settings. Long-Term Success Requires Long-Term Adjustments One of the biggest relationship myths—in both personal and professional contexts—is that once you "figure it out," things will just keep working. But relationships evolve. Circumstances change. Market conditions shift. And so must the distance. Consider the remote worker who realizes that key leaders in their organization spend time together in person, sharing informal conversations and opportunities that never reach the virtual team. The solution isn't necessarily to quit or demand relocation—it's to strategically adjust proximity through quarterly in-person visits, increase frequency through regular one-on-one with leadership, and ensure duration of interactions allows for meaningful relationship building. For Whitney and me, rediscovering our optimal distance took effort. We didn't wait for time to heal things. We communicated honestly, prioritized quality time, and made conscious decisions to get closer again. We had to make our relationship a priority, not just assume it would stay strong on autopilot. If you're in a long-term partnership—personal or professional—and questioning the future, recognize that success isn't static. Your needs, goals, and circumstances shift over time. Relationships thrive when we respond to that change with flexibility, curiosity, and intentionality. Practical Scenarios: Applying the Theory Consider these scenarios: Personal: You're feeling emotionally drained after every interaction with your partner. Try reducing the intensity or shortening the duration of conversations. Professional: You find yourself consistently frustrated with a direct report's performance. Instead of increasing pressure (intensity), try adjusting frequency—perhaps more regular, shorter check-ins rather than infrequent, high-stakes reviews. Personal: You feel distant and unimportant to your partner. Consider increasing proximity with regular check-ins or planned quality time. Professional: You're working remotely and feel disconnected from company culture and opportunities. Increase strategic proximity through planned in-person visits, virtual coffee chats with leadership, or volunteering for cross-functional projects. Personal: You find yourselves arguing more often than connecting. Reduce the frequency of stressful conversations and introduce more lighthearted, neutral interactions. Professional: Team meetings have become contentious. Reduce the intensity by separating problem-solving sessions from relationship-building activities, and increase frequency of informal interactions. Personal: You both feel like roommates instead of lovers. Increase emotional intensity by revisiting shared goals, values, or even old memories that brought you closer. Professional: Your team feels transactional rather than collaborative. Increase meaningful connection by revisiting the shared mission, celebrating wins together, or creating opportunities for authentic relationship building. Each adjustment is a step toward clarity—and potentially, renewed success. Reflective Questions to Guide You Forward To help assess whether your key relationships—personal or professional—are operating at optimal distance, consider these questions: Reclaiming Control Through Clarity The most empowering part of exploring optimal relationship distance is realizing that you're not powerless. You don't have to stay stuck. You don't have to walk away prematurely either—whether from a marriage, a job, or a business partnership. Instead, you can pause, assess, and make thoughtful adjustments. In the end, this isn't about settling for less or compromising your standards. It's about aligning your relationships—personal and professional—to meet everyone where they are, creating the space, closeness, and mutual respect needed to grow together and achieve sustainable success.
Indian Express
11-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Indian Express
Soothravakyam movie review: Shine Tom Chacko, Vincy Aloshious deliver serviceable mystery thriller that needed better writing
Soothravakyam movie review: As I was watching Soothravakyam, I couldn't help but notice and admit how much potential Shine Tom Chacko has. It's not while playing the stereotypical eccentric characters, mirroring his once-infamous real-life persona, that he truly shines. To be honest, in such roles, his performances often come across as too manufactured, as if he's trying too hard to become the gaudy funhouse image we expect of him. Instead, it's in characters requiring a controlled, layered approach, or even in comedic roles, that his real talent surfaces, showcasing how much untapped potential he has; real-life problematic behaviour aside. Debutant director Eugien Jos Chirammel's Soothravakyam (Formula), as rugged and uneven as it is, stands as a testament to that. Christo Xavier (Shine) is not only the SHO of a police station but also the beloved mathematics tutor for a group of local school students. After he began offering evening tuition above his station, Nimisha (Vincy Aloshious), a teacher at the nearby school, claims that her students have stopped paying attention in her classes. They even bunk the last hour if she's teaching, assuming Christo will cover the topics more effectively. This sparks an initial clash between the two, which soon softens into compassion, as both have their hearts in the right place. Set in a village in Palakkad district, Soothravakyam begins as a feel-good, Manikyakkallu-type film before venturing into darker territory. For Arya (Anagha Annet), life is as beautiful as it can be when she's with her friends, especially her boyfriend Akhil (Naseef PP). But at home, she lives in constant fear of her elder brother Vivek (Deepak Parambol), who resents her. As she was born to their parents when he was 18, Vivek claims that he has been on the receiving end of so much humiliation and embarrassment because of her. Thus, he not only treats her coldly but often assaults her, especially because of her relationship with Akhil, warning her he won't let her cause him more 'humiliation'. Although Christo and Nimisha intervene, Vivek's violence continues. One day, he thrashes Arya and Akhil black and blue after catching them together. This incident becomes a turning point in the story, after which a crime unfolds that drives the rest of the film. Though Soothravakyam initially feels like a low-budget telefilm made by amateurs, Eugien never allows it to completely nosedive. He manages to keep it on track, at least technically. However, the writing falters quite a bit. Although Eugien introduces Christo as the students' favourite, we never understand why the children are so attached to him. Yes, he is a soft-spoken and chill guy, but what makes them eager to spend time with him, and that too learning? We don't know. In films like Manikyakkallu (2011), Life Is Beautiful (2000), Mohabbatein (2000) or the OG Dead Poets Society (1989), one key aspect the respective makers focused most on was establishing the bond between the teacher and the students, anchoring it in emotion, even showing that only the teacher saw their true worth. Those connections are why those films resonate decades later. This is exactly where Soothravakyam fails. Even if we set that aside, since Christo isn't a teacher by profession, and assume the students are simply drawn to his skills as a mathematics tutor, the film still doesn't offer more than the superficial. Occasionally, we see him writing equations on the board while the kids take notes, and that's it. The whole part feels half-cooked. When Soothravakyam shifts gears into thriller mode, Eugien's writing does improve but remains middling, relying heavily on the few already-established, overused elements. Opportunities to elevate the narrative are ultimately wasted. As the story progresses, it is revealed that a murder has occurred in the village and that it's connected to some of the central characters. However, in trying to build suspense and mislead the audience, Eugien underplays the victim's character so much initially that their death, upon eventual reveal, has almost no impact. Meanwhile, the final revelation as to who committed the murder and why feels too far removed from the core plot and the main characters' arcs that it comes across as a subplot forced into the film just to make it 'thrilling' or, worse, to pad the runtime. Also, if Soothravakyam gave you déjà vu of Sookshmadarshini (2024), you're not alone. The similarities were too obvious to ignore. At the same time, most characters in the movie end up being superficial and unexplored, the most unfortunate example being Nimisha. Even Akhil, who later endures significant trauma, is reduced to a unidimensional PTSD-stricken character with just one stable expression on his face afterwards. The same goes for Vivek. Although Christo himself is underwritten, the film cleverly keeps him busy enough that this weakness doesn't become glaring. One aspect of the writing that deserves credit is how the romance between Arya and Akhil is handled. Despite being between two late-teen students, the writer-director refrains from making their relationship cringeworthy by sidestepping clichés. Instead, their romance feels as mature as it can for kids their age. Despite all the narrative shortcomings, Eugien does manage not to bore audiences. He avoids letting the film bite off more than it can chew and wraps everything up at the right time, resulting in a watchable experience overall. Barring the extremely graphic depiction of the assaults on Arya, which could be very triggering, he keeps the film from becoming needlessly bloody. Although not all the visual imageries in the movie work, the final shot of Christo teaching kids at a juvenile home the mathematical concept of Integration (which also means the action or process of joining or mixing something/someone with a different group) was a noteworthy moment, underscoring the importance of rehabilitation. While Shine Tom Chacko's acting isn't extraordinary, mainly due to the weak writing, he demonstrates he shouldn't be written off and that he is a solid actor. Vincy Aloshious' performance, unfortunately, feels as clueless as her character, who seems unsure why she even exists in this story. Anagha Annet, nonetheless, is spectacular as Arya. Whether in tender moments with Akhil or in scenes of traumatic suffering, she remains fully committed, giving Arya a soul. Jean P Johnson's background score is effective, though the songs don't fare as well. Sreeram Chandrasekaran's cinematography has shining moments but also falls flat quite a few times. Soothravakyam movie cast: Shine Tom Chacko, Vincy Aloshious, Deepak Parambol Soothravakyam movie director: Eugien Jos Chirammel Soothravakyam movie rating: 2 stars
Gulf Today
07-07-2025
- Automotive
- Gulf Today
Emirati racing star Rashid Al Dhaheri shines bright with P2 finish in Hungaroring circuit
Emirati racing sensation Rashid Al Dhaheri delivered an impressive performance this weekend at the iconic Hungaroring circuit, securing a second-place finish and valuable championship points in the Formula Regional Championship. Located just outside Budapest, the Hungaroring is renowned for its tight, technical layout and rich history in Formula racing. It demands precision, endurance, and a perfectly balanced car setup. For Al Dhaheri, it was his first-ever appearance at the historic venue — but the young driver wasted no time getting up to speed. From the opening test session on Thursday, he was immediately competitive, showcasing his adaptability and quick learning on unfamiliar terrain. Throughout the collective test days on Thursday and Friday, Rashid and his PREMA team worked meticulously on refining the car's setup. Their collaborative efforts focused on achieving optimal balance and performance for the challenging race weekend ahead — and the pace quickly began to reflect their preparation. On Saturday, Al Dhaheri qualified P3 in the first session and followed it up with a composed drive in Race 1 to finish a solid P4, collecting valuable points for both the driver and team standings. The extreme summer heat presented an additional layer of difficulty, testing the physical and mental resilience of drivers and teams alike. Sunday saw Al Dhaheri elevate his performance even further. After qualifying P2, he delivered a clean and confident drive in Race 2, securing a well-deserved second-place finish. The result also contributed crucial points to the team in the constructors' championship. 'What a weekend in Hungary,' Al Dhaheri said. 'I'm heading home with great points and strong momentum for the season. Huge thanks to my team for their incredible work and to everyone who continues to support me — it was my first time racing at the Hungaroring, and I loved every lap!' This podium marks yet another milestone in Rashid Al Dhaheri's journey from international karting champion to one of the most promising young talents in global motorsport. His ability to perform under pressure, adapt quickly, and collaborate effectively with his team continues to distinguish him on the competitive European racing circuit. The next round of the championship will take place in two weeks at the Paul Ricard Circuit in France, where Rashid will look to build on his strong form. WAM
