Latest news with #MelissaNazareth
Gulf Weekly
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- Gulf Weekly
Sip on a sonnet
Bahrain-based author and wordsmith Nivedita Roy has released her latest book of poems, exploring diverse themes inspired by injustice, war, women's issues and more, writes Melissa Nazareth. Bringing alive the Indian expatriate's 'scribbles', Recipe for a Poet's Broth, is a collection of 65 poems across seven sections, spanning introspections, fond memories and more. 'I made a short trip to the Swiss Alps in April this year and as I sat admiring the joys of nature, myriad thoughts came to mind. Pouring them on paper was a cathartic experience,' the 54-year-old told GulfWeekly, explaining the creative process behind her 'labour of love'. 'Once the compilation was sorted, I shared the manuscript with my editor, Ritu Bhatnagar, who is based in Bengaluru; this is our sixth project together. 'I requested Avantika Vijay Singh to write the Afterword. She is a poet and editor and has authored three books. 'Canada-based writer Kavita Ezekiel Mendonca, daughter of the famous poet Nissim Ezekiel, wrote a note for me in the book as well, and I am overwhelmed with gratitude to all,' the Al Raja School teacher added. Speaking of the book's name, the Adliya resident explained that it was sparked by a NaPoWriMo 2025 prompt – a month-long undertaking by poets around the world to pen down 30 creations in 30 days, based on a daily prompt. Many of the poems featured in the book were written during NaPoWriMo last year and some others are older. Nivedita, who has called Bahrain home for more than two decades, draws inspiration for a lot of her work from the kingdom. 'I am so proud to be part of this beautiful island. One of the poems in the section Poetic Forms was written during the creative writing session of the Bahrain Writers' Circle; Sunset was inspired by the mesmerising sunset at Karbabad beach; A cache of lessons, a multitude of teachers encapsulates my experiences as a teacher in Bahrain and A bustling nest to an empty nest has references to my life here after my children left,' she said. Dreams of Gaza has been translated into Arabic for an international anthology entitled Heaven's Paradise. An excerpt from the poem reads: 'Dreams of a warm hearth with kin breathing A posse to play marbles or just a cheerful race… The childish blabber was drowned in chaos.'
Gulf Weekly
07-08-2025
- Entertainment
- Gulf Weekly
Skin in the game
Summer is a time when our skin needs that extra pampering. In addition to using a strong SPF to shield you from cancer-causing UV rays and regularly cleansing, toning and moisturising, you could add these latest skincare trends to your routine. Melissa Nazareth scours the 'beauty-verse' for the most popular hacks this season – from home-use LED facemasks to salmon DNA facials, AI-driven regimens and more. Skin Food Over-the-counter formulations rich in bioactive ingredients like exosomes, nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide and plant adaptogens are popular this season. They are believed to offer diverse benefits like skin cell regeneration, collagen production and improved texture. Korean Derma Korean skincare has visibly revolutionised the global beauty industry in the last few years and continues to be a staple among users globally. After snail mucin, salmon DNA facials are the new trend. According to online reports, PDRN or polydeoxyribonucleotide, an active ingredient in the treatment, could help in skin regeneration and collagen production, and can be administered as a topical serum or injected into the skin. Spa Treatments Massages and facials are here to stay this season, with spas across the kingdom offering treatments focused on tackling summer skin peeves. Dehydration, sunburn, oily skin, breakouts and hyperpigmentation are common in Bahrain, according to Four Seasons Hotel Bahrain Bay senior spa director Nikolay Dimitrov, who recommends The Spa's award-winning Biologique Recherche VIP O2 Facial to hydrate and revitalise dull skin, or the Anne Semonin Cryo Time Freeze Facial to calm sunburned skin. Biologique Recherche's Sebum Rebalancing Facial helps oil production, which is great for oily skin and breakouts. The Ritz-Carlton, Bahrain offers signature treatments like the Vitality Ritual with glacier-derived ingredients and volcano powder, and the Nourished Glow and Renew and Revitalise Ritual for deep hydration, exfoliation, and renewal. Put your mask on While LED technology has been used in skincare for many years, at-home LED masks have recently been gaining popularity, with content creators on TikTok waxing eloquent about the benefits of the tool. They claim that the non-invasive, easy-to-use product would help in collagen production, lending your skin a glow, and reduce inflammation and acne, as well as boost overall blood circulation. Being a low-level laser therapy, it is 'safe and unlikely to cause damage', according to dermatologists worldwide. Tech-savvy Skincare Gen Z and millennials are looking to technology, specifically artificial intelligence (AI), for a lot more than its conventional uses; mental health and skincare, among others. In response, the beauty industry has developed AI-powered apps that allow the user to upload face photos and get a skin analysis, as well as customised skincare routines and advanced solutions; virtual skincare try-ons and age-progression simulations. Many brands offer chat bot services that assist with recommendations in real time. Skinimalism Less is more – while a 10-step skincare routine was the rage some months ago, this summer, content creators are de-influencing the masses, advocating a minimalistic routine. Multifunctional products are gaining traction as are preventive, holistic skincare regimens that offer long-term benefits, rather knee-jerk solutions that address problems when they arise.
Gulf Weekly
31-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Gulf Weekly
The Special Squad
July 31 - August 6 ,2025 By Melissa Nazareth A new comic series, dedicated to children with special needs has been launched in Bahrain, expressing solidarity and empathy with them and their caregivers, writes Melissa Nazareth. The Special Squad is the latest initiative of Shahzaib's Club House, a local community of differently abled people, and tackles topics like regulating difficult emotions, common apprehensions felt by differently abled individuals and pursuing ambitions against the odds, among others. The comics are brought alive as conversations, inspired by real-life dialogues the children at the club house have had with their parents, teachers or others. 'While the comic series was born in Bahrain, its heartbeat is universal, and we're thrilled to have started it in collaboration with a creative agency in Pakistan,' club house founder and director Amena Shahrukh told GulfWeekly. 'The Special Squad is a visual story world where children of determination aren't pitied or 'managed'. They take centre stage and are bold, tender, hilarious, curious and unapologetically themselves. Each comic is a real conversation. These stories reflect what really happens at Shahzaib's Club House,' she added. Amena started the club house, registered under Bahrain Mobility International, three years ago, as an extension of her personal journey with her late son, Mohammed Shahzaib Lali, who was differently abled. He died of pneumonia at the age of 21. Talking about plans for the comic series, Amena revealed that she hopes to publish them as a book and eventually launch themed merchandise. 'We will be releasing merchandise for special children, designed to uplift, inspire and represent them like never before,' she added. To read the comics, follow @shahzaibsclubhouse on Instagram.
Gulf Weekly
10-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Gulf Weekly
Rhyme for a reason!
Former Bahrain resident and Scottish national Jess Stansfield has released her debut book Tora The Tiger Learns Her Lessons – a rhyming children's story, which sensitises young minds to nature while also teaching them how to face hardships in life, writes Melissa Nazareth. The 32-page tale, written for children aged between three and seven, follows Tora, a tiger cub who wants to hunt on her own. It takes both the reader and listener on a journey as the wild cat learns how to be a tiger under the watchful eye of her mother. 'The book aims to highlight the plight of endangered animals and the environmental reasons for their predicament,' the 63-year-old learning assistant and former primary school teacher told GulfWeekly. 'Through the medium of a rhyming story, children learn about the perils facing tigers and how they can face similar perils in their own lives. 'I am personally concerned about the planet. It is important to help children develop empathy with the creatures of the earth. 'For many years I have enjoyed writing rhyming verses for relatives and friends to mark special occasions so, it followed that my stories would rhyme,' she added. Jess started work on the book in 2018, when she researched tigers and made many notes about their physical characteristics, habitats, predators and breeding. 'I was working full time at this point, so I was a little sporadic in my approach. Then, Covid-19 struck. As restrictions were lifted, I had to travel to Scotland to see my newly born grandson. However, I had to isolate in a hotel for 10 days. This was the perfect opportunity to get to grips with the story without outside distractions or time limitations,' she reminisced. Tora the Tiger is Jess' first 'official' writing project. Previously, she has written in the capacity of a teacher – stories that she later recorded for a phonics lesson for her class and monthly newsletters to parents. The former Janabiya resident, who called Bahrain home for nine years, worked as a pre-school teacher while she lived in the kingdom; she left in 2023. 'As a book lover from childhood, I made it my mission to 'infect' as many people as I could with the 'book bug',' noted the book-lover, who has had a front-row seat watching her author husband Glen Stansfield at work. 'I have witnessed the range of emotions involved in writing. I could see that, though he experienced many frustrations and disappointments, the thrill of having his own book at the end of it all, made it worthwhile. I began to think maybe I could do it too.'
Gulf Weekly
10-07-2025
- Health
- Gulf Weekly
Ice, ice, baby!
The mercury is rising and cooling fabrics and air-conditioned rooms alone aren't going to cut it. What we need is a refresher that can keep us going from one task to the next. If you are looking for something to keep yourself hydrated between glugs of water, embark on this journey as Melissa Nazareth explores some summer coolers from around the world, nodding to the kingdom's cosmopolitan community. Umeboshi Soda A pickled-plum drink from Japan Health benefits: Energy boosting and digestion. Made using preserved ume – a Japanese plum or apricot-like fruit – this salty-sour-sweet drink is a concoction of umeboshi paste and soda water. Umeboshi paste can be found at select pharmacies or ordered online. Umeboshi soda combines the refreshing qualities of a fizzy drink while also replenishing lost energy and fighting fatigue. Espresso Tonic A coffee and tonic water blend from Scandinavia Health benefits: Energy boosting and anti-inflammatory. A new discovery, with the most popular account crediting a barista in Sweden, who accidentally whipped up the drink after mixing leftover tonic water with espresso and syrup, it originated in the early 2000s. Espresso Tonic is made by layering espresso, rich in anti-oxidants, and iced tonic water, rich in quinine known for its anti-inflammatory properties. Some variations could include lemon garnish, or flavours like cherry or honey. Karkadeh Hibiscus tea from Egypt Health benefits: Helps regulate blood pressure and manage weight. While there are many variations of this ruby red drink, many theories point to its origins in Egypt. Dubbed the 'drink of the pharaohs', it is made by infusing dried roselle flower petals in water and can be enjoyed hot or cold. It has a tart cranberry-like flavour, which can be balanced by adding sugar or enjoyed as is. Buko Salad Drink A tender coconut beverage from the Philippines Health benefits: Prevents dehydration and replenishes lost fluids. Buko ('tender coconut') water is rich in electrolytes like magnesium and potassium, with the coconut pulp being full of fibre, healthy fats, and vitamins and minerals. Available at most Pinoy restaurants and cafes, the creation combines coconut water and pulp, tapioca pearls, assorted jellies, condensed milk, and sweet syrup – a party in your mouth! Whether you call it a drink or dessert, all variations of this concoction are a summertime hit. Aam Panna Raw mango refresher from India Health benefits: Boosts immunity and mental focus while reducing the risk of heatstroke. Made using the pulp of unripe mangoes, this tart beverage has a pale yellow to lime green colour and can make you feel rehydrated in seconds. Popular in Northern and Western India, mint leaves are often muddled along with the pulp in some recipes, enhancing the flavour. Rich in vitamins, minerals, electrolytes and more, it is the perfect drink to sip on, chilled, in the hot, sweat-inducing summers. Limonada Suíça Limeade variation from Brazil Health benefits: Hydration and cooling, anti-oxidant properties, skin benefits. Almost every culture has its version of lemonade. Limonada Suíça, Portuguese for 'Swiss lemonade', is a classic summer combination that blends the acidity of Vitamin C-rich limes – not lemons – and the rich sweetness of condensed milk. The Swiss company, Nestle, is said to have popularised condensed milk in Brazil, which gives the drink its name. Almond Milk with Orange Blossom A cooling beverage from Morocco. Health benefits: Glowing skin and strong bones. Almonds might be heaty, but almond milk, which is made by soaking almonds in water and then blending and straining the liquid, is said to have cooling properties. Unlike dairy, it helps soothe heartburn and when combined with anti-oxidant and vitamin-rich orange blossom water, serves as a delicious and refreshing low-calorie drink.
