Latest news with #Rewind
The Courier
6 days ago
- The Courier
Fife thugs jailed for Rewind festival attack on university lecturer
A pair of thugs who left a university lecturer blinded in one eye in an attack at the Rewind music festival in Perthshire have been jailed for a total of 10 years. The man also needed a metal plate inserted in his jaw following the assault at Scone Palace by Patrick Kerr, 33, and 38-year-old Simon Tierney. The 53 year-old victim had been there with his family on July 22 2023. He did not know the pair but had 'polite' conversations with them at one stage. He then walked away from 'aggressive' Tierney but was set upon after refusing the offer of a chip from the lout. The duo were sentenced at the High Court in Glasgow after separately admitting assault to severe injury, permanent disfigurement and impairment. Tierney – who ran a gas fitting company – had pled guilty at a hearing last summer. Sentencing had been delayed on him until the end of Kerr's trial in Dundee last month but he ended up admitting to the same charge on the second day of the case. On Wednesday, Lord Renucci jailed Kerr for five-and-a-half years. Tierney was sentenced to four-and-a-half years. The pair, both of Glenrothes, will be supervised for a further two years on their release. A non-harassment order was also imposed banning them from approaching or contacting the victim for an indefinite period. Prosecutor Brian Bell explained at the hearing in Dundee how the victim was brutally set upon. The advocate depute said: 'He was punched on the head and knocked to the ground. 'Both were seen to repeatedly punch and kick him on the head and body while he was there. 'Security and others came to assist and were pulled away. 'The incident appeared to have been brief but he was described as being kicked and punched with force.' The assailants were held and insisted they had been attacked. Tierney claimed he had been knocked out and when he came to, spotted Kerr fighting with others. The victim was rushed to hospital and his horrific injuries included 'external internal damage' to one of his eyes. Mr Bell said : 'He has suffered the permanent loss of vision in his right eye.' It remains a possibility he may need to have it removed at a later stage. He already suffered from a sight condition prior to the assault. The man further needed extensive and expensive dental work for six broken teeth. Mr Bell stated the ordeal has had 'life changing consequences'. Kerr's lawyer David Taylor said in Glasgow the former bricklayer had been in 'a spiral of decline' at the time due to a string of personal issues. He said: 'He is ashamed of his behaviour. He wishes to convey his apologies to the victim.' Gordon Martin, defending Tierney, said it appeared in a pre-sentencing report the thug was trying to 'minimise' his involvement but that had 'not been his intention'. Lord Renucci stated both were said to have 'anger management' issues and were 'no stranger to the courts' due to their criminal records. He said: 'You have both pleaded guilty to what can only be described as a brutal, cowardly, alcohol-fuelled attack on a vulnerable victim. 'The impact and consequences of your actions have been shattering to him and will be lifelong.'
Business Times
06-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Business Times
Gateway Entertainment to launch initiatives about dementia, seniors
[SINGAPORE] As part of its 25th anniversary celebrations, Gateway Entertainment on Monday (May 5) said it will launch two initiatives this year, which will focus on seniors and the issues that they face. The first one is a movie called BYM, starring a local and regional cast. It is about dementia and tells the story of the relationship between a senior with the condition and her caregiver. The second initiative is Sunshine Festival held at Gateway Theatre, which Gateway Entertainment operates. From Oct 31 to Nov 7, the inaugural theatre festival for seniors will showcase three productions – although they are targeted to seniors, anyone of any age can attend. Live It Up! is a musical about how a senior navigates his life as a new retiree. Meanwhile, Rewind is a monodrama – a one-person show – that touches on the topics of cancer, identity loss and hope. There will also be a MidLife Sing & Shine! live concert, in collaboration with Hong Kong broadcasting company TVB, where TVB artistes will perform nostalgic hits. On Monday, Gateway Entertainment signed a memorandum of understanding with TVBI, the worldwide operating arm of TVB, to collaborate on future projects. Besides the three productions, Gateway Entertainment will run workshops and talks with community partners such as Touch Mental Wellness for participants. A NEWSLETTER FOR YOU Friday, 2 pm Lifestyle Our picks of the latest dining, travel and leisure options to treat yourself. Sign Up Sign Up Priscilla Khong-Espinosa, executive director of not-for-profit Gateway Arts and managing director of Gateway Theatre, said the idea for these workshops and talks is for families to come together and kickstart conversations about issues that the seniors in the family are facing. They can bridge generation gaps and build empathy for them. She said: 'It's about having content that the older generation is interested in, making sure that it's contemporary and relevant, and also that families can come together.' The launch of BYM and Sunshine Festival come on the back of Singapore's ageing population, added Khong-Espinosa. Singapore is set to become a super-aged society by 2026, with one in four Singaporeans aged 65 or above by 2030. In its early days, Gateway Entertainment produced telemovies. BYM is its first feature-film project, and Khong-Espinosa hopes to use the movie as a learning and engagement tool on different aspects of dementia – from the perspectives of both the patient and caregiver. There is a personal element for her too, particularly with BYM. Khong-Espinosa said that she and her family unit came together to help take care of her grandmother, who had dementia. Through this movie, she also aims to spotlight caregiver burden. 'It's about creating awareness. Nobody's talking to us about what we went through or the things that we faced… If you don't talk about it, you don't normalise it – then it becomes a hidden stress factor that everybody faces. By talking about it and creating more awareness, it provides more platforms for people to participate, or at least get the help they need,' she noted. Previously, Gateway Entertainment ran Project Smile, an initiative where participants learned magic, volunteered and performed at community service centres, such as hospitals and day care centres. 'The idea was that we wanted to use magic as a tool to connect people from different community groups. We realised that if we teach them how to be confident and compassionate, it can actually bridge gaps, because magic becomes an icebreaker,' Khong-Espinosa said. Project Smile started in 2002, but stopped around the time of the pandemic. During its run, it worked with schools to train tens of thousands of students in magic.
Arab News
17-04-2025
- Health
- Arab News
How AI is decoding multi-omics data to boost health and longevity in Saudi Arabia
RIYADH: Saudi Arabia is embracing the future of healthcare by integrating artificial intelligence and omics-based diagnostics to deliver personalized, preventive care. This is part of a broader transformation that frames longevity not just as an individual aspiration but a national priority. Central to this transformation is the integration of genomics, proteomics, metabolomics, and other omics disciplines into clinical practice — powered by AI. Leading the charge is Rewind, a Saudi Arabia-based company using the technology to pioneer proactive, individualized care. 'At Rewind, we harness the power of AI and omics technologies to shift healthcare from a generalized, reactive model to one that is deeply personalized and proactive,' Dr. Walid Zaher, the founder of Rewind, told Arab News. 'AI is the engine that makes this vast data actionable. It identifies patterns, predicts health risks, and recommends the most effective interventions for each individual.' He said that 'such a dynamic, data-driven approach' enables healthcare to be 'as unique as the patient it serves.' • Integrating AI with omics-based diagnostics supports early disease detection and predicts health risks. • In cancer care, AI and genomics are used together to match patients with the most effective targeted therapies. • Saudi Arabia, the US, and the UK are making major investments in the integration of AI and omics. Omics refers to a group of biological fields ending with the suffix '-omics,' each examining a different layer of biological data on a system-wide scale. Together, they offer a comprehensive view of how the body functions. Transitioning from this broad understanding to actionable insights requires AI's ability to analyze trillions of variables across DNA, protein expression, metabolic changes, and epigenetic shifts. This capability allows practitioners to intervene earlier and more accurately than ever. 'Omics-based diagnostics have already begun to make a profound impact on patient outcomes,' said Zaher. 'The precision enabled by genomics and multi-omics technologies allows us to detect diseases at their earliest molecular stages — often well before any clinical symptoms appear. 'Beyond disease detection, multi-omics approaches help in monitoring disease progression and response to treatments. The result has been an increase in patient satisfaction, as they experience better health outcomes and more personalized care.' Saudi Arabia's commitment to health innovation is evident in both its infrastructure and ambition. National initiatives like the Saudi Genome Program and investments through the Hevolution Foundation are driving the development of a knowledge-based healthcare system aligned with Vision 2030. 'Saudi Arabia's Vision 2030 has made healthcare innovation a strategic priority,' said Zaher. 'The government has invested heavily in infrastructure that supports cutting-edge research, particularly in AI, genomics, and biotechnology.' This focus is positioning Saudi Arabia as a major player in the global longevity economy, according to Dmitry Kaminskiy, a co-founder and managing partner of Deep Knowledge Group. 'Saudi Arabia and its GCC counterparts are strategically positioned to be not just participants but global pioneers in the longevity economy,' Kaminskiy told Arab News. 'With Vision 2030, the Kingdom has set the foundation for integrating economic diversification, healthcare innovation, and AI governance — all key components of a national longevity strategy.' Kaminskiy, who has authored multiple books on AI and healthspan, believes that AI has shifted from a supporting role to something far more central to the field. 'We are now witnessing a paradigm shift where AI is not just an assistant but the architect of next-generation healthcare platforms,' he said. 'Just as fintech redefined personal finance, AI will redefine personal health.' Despite these advancements, significant challenges remain in mainstreaming AI and omics-based care into national systems. Zaher of Rewind noted that overcoming these hurdles will require both technological and cultural shifts. 'Integrating AI and precision medicine into a national healthcare system comes with several challenges, the most pressing of which is the need for a robust data infrastructure,' he said. 'Healthcare data is often fragmented or siloed, making it difficult to create a cohesive system that AI can utilize effectively.' Another critical challenge is training healthcare providers to engage with this new era of medicine. Zaher said the integration of AI and precision medicine into clinical practice demands 'a level of technological literacy that has yet to become widespread across the healthcare workforce. 'We need targeted training programs that equip providers with the skills to interpret AI-generated insights and translate them into actionable, patient-centered care,' he added. Looking ahead, Kaminskiy said establishing ethical data governance will be vital to ensuring progress. 'Data is the lifeblood of AI-powered longevity,' he said. 'But it is not just the amount of data that matters — it is the ownership, security, and ethical governance of that data that will define the winners in this domain.' The Hevolution Foundation is playing a key role in funding and shaping the longevity research agenda in the region. According to Zaher, it is 'poised to play a pivotal role in accelerating global healthspan science by providing the funding and resources necessary to drive innovation in aging research. 'Through supporting projects that focus on extending healthspan and preventing age-related diseases, Hevolution is helping to set a global standard for longevity science,' he added. As Saudi Arabia expands its investment in AI-driven healthcare and global collaborations deepen, the boundaries between technology, biology, and medicine are blurring — bringing the goal of healthy aging closer to reality.
Arab News
14-04-2025
- Health
- Arab News
How preventive healthcare is quietly driving sustainability in Saudi Arabia
RIYADH: As global conversations about sustainability expand, one sector is emerging as an unlikely player in the environmental movement: healthcare. Experts say a growing shift toward prevention — rather than reaction — is not only improving personal health outcomes but reducing long-term resource strain on hospitals, supply chains, and the planet. 'Preventive care and longevity-focused medicine play a critical role in promoting environmental sustainability by reducing the overall burden on healthcare systems,' said Dr. Walid Zaher, a Saudi scientist and founder of Rewind. 'When individuals stay healthier for longer through early detection, lifestyle interventions, and personalized medicine, there is less need for resource-intensive treatments, hospitalizations, and pharmaceutical use — each of which carries a significant environmental footprint.' According to Zaher, every reduction in high-intensity care translates to real-world savings in emissions, energy, and medical waste. 'Fewer medical interventions mean reduced energy consumption, lower emissions from healthcare facilities, and less medical waste,' he said. 'By shifting focus from reactive to proactive care, we create a more efficient, sustainable healthcare model that benefits both people and the planet.' Saudi Arabia is taking bold steps to integrate health, wellness, and sustainability through a series of forward-looking initiatives aligned with Vision 2030. Dr. Walid Zaher, Rewind founder Dr. Ksenia Butova, founder of Detki Family Clinic and Molodost Clinic, agrees. She believes early diagnostics and family-centered wellness are not only medically superior — they are environmentally responsible. 'The costliest treatments — both financially and environmentally — come when disease is already in full swing,' she said. 'Hospital admissions, emergency interventions, aggressive medications. But most of it can be prevented.' She emphasized that check-ups today are no longer just routine, but predictive. 'Conducting in-depth check-ups designed to detect diseases at their earliest, pre-symptomatic stages — or rule them out entirely — helps alleviate the pressure on the healthcare system,' Butova said. Among the pillars of preventive medicine are targeted vaccination programs and ongoing wellness tracking — both of which lower overall consumption of antibiotics, emergency care, and overprescribed supplements. 'Nutrition science, mental health support, sleep optimization, hormone and micronutrient balancing — these are not 'luxuries,'' Butova said. 'They're the new foundation of long-term health.' The Kingdom is also investing in long-term well-being through national policy. 'Saudi Arabia is taking bold steps to integrate health, wellness, and sustainability through a series of forward-looking initiatives aligned with Vision 2030,' said Zaher. 'From national events like Saudi National Sports Day to wellness-centered urban planning, the aim is to embed health and wellness into the fabric of daily life.' On the technology front, digitization of care is helping clinics become more efficient and less wasteful. 'Clinics that operate paper-free are sustainable,' explained Butova. 'Everything from scheduling and medical records to treatment plans and follow-ups becomes digital. Patients have easy access to their data, and doctors spend less time on bureaucracy and more time on meaningful care.' She also noted that online consultations reduce traffic, emissions, and time lost to travel. 'One Zoom consultation means one less commute through city traffic, one less plastic coffee cup, one less parking hassle,' she said. 'It saves time, energy, and reduces our environmental footprint.' Both experts also pointed to a growing trend: longevity tourism — the merging of high-end medical care with eco-conscious lifestyle services. 'Longevity tourism is increasingly becoming a natural extension of the broader eco-wellness movement — one that merges sustainable living with proactive health optimization,' said Zaher. 'In regions like the Gulf, there's a unique opportunity to position longevity tourism at the intersection of luxury wellness and sustainability.' Butova confirmed the trend is already gaining traction. 'People are flying to us from Russia and Kazakhstan for access to rare vaccines … From Europe, the UK, and the US, we welcome patients seeking comprehensive check-ups, personalized recovery programs, and cutting-edge aesthetic treatments,' she said. Still, awareness remains a challenge. Both Zaher and Butova stressed the importance of education in shifting habits and norms. 'When we educate the public about the benefits of preventive health measures, sustainable diets, and active lifestyles, we can shift societal norms toward more eco-conscious behaviours,' Zaher said. Butova added: 'Public awareness is everything. Without awareness, even the most advanced medical system won't work.' Her clinics run webinars, host 'health school' events for families, and engage with communities through live Q&As. 'One of the most important missions of healthcare professionals is raising awareness about obesity and metabolic health … That shift alone changes lives and reduces wasteful, unconscious consumption,' she said. At a time when sustainability often means sacrifice, these experts argue that in medicine, it is quite the opposite: the more proactive the system, the less wasteful it becomes.
Yahoo
07-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Editorial: When lawyers apply a law aimed at VHS rentals to the streaming world of today
In the 1980s, when the late Judge Robert Bork faced Senate scrutiny over his ill-fated nomination to the U.S. Supreme Court, a small independent newspaper published a list of his rentals at a local video store. The movies he and his family rented were perfectly innocuous, but Congress lost its collective mind over the idea that its members' rental histories could undergo public scrutiny and swiftly passed the bipartisan Video Privacy Protection Act. Fast forward to 2025, and the same law is being invoked to attack Weigel Broadcasting, a Chicago media company said to have shared data from its free MeTV platform with the parent of Facebook to make online advertising more effective. Like other well-intended laws aimed at protecting consumer privacy, the 'Bork Act' has become a tool for class-action lawyers playing 'gotcha' with the routine marketing efforts of legitimate businesses. For decades, lawmakers have struggled to protect privacy rights in the face of technology that advances at light speed. MeTV, for instance, is being targeted under a law written to protect Americans against disclosures from 'video tape service providers' — the 'Be Kind, Rewind' people who long ago went extinct. Springfield lawmakers opened a new front in 2008 when they approved a law restricting the use of biometric data such as fingerprints, retina scans and facial recognition. While this page supported the effort to rein in businesses abusing such incredibly personal information, the result has been a feast for plaintiffs' lawyers, curbing innovation and potentially depriving Illinois residents of cutting-edge products and services in the future. By now, Americans should be aware that practically every keystroke on every website could potentially be tracked by those with an economic interest in their online activities. Typically, they get no more disclosure than the fine print found in 'terms and conditions' that hardly anyone reads when creating an account or logging in. Yet most Americans are still surprised to learn how much of their personal information is being collected. And once it's given away, there's no getting it back. The public obviously has an interest in this fraught topic. Individuals need protection from unwanted surveillance and identify theft. At the same time, businesses should be able to use data to improve service and reduce costs, as well as make money. No comprehensive federal standard exists, and to get a glimpse of how existing rules can backfire, consider the lawsuit targeting MeTV, which the 7th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals just reinstated after a federal judge in Chicago dismissed it. Weigel's MeTV provides access to classic shows from the 1930s through the 1990s at no charge to its viewers via its website and app, making money by selling ads. The class-action lawyers allege that if someone who was signed into Facebook were to use the same browser to access MeTV, the accounts could be linked without the explicit consent supposedly required under the Bork Act. Similar cases have cropped up across the country, stretching the 1988 law to target not just streaming companies, but practically any companies that post videos on their websites. America evidently leads the world in producing entrepreneurial lawyers eager to expand liability in ways never anticipated under the statutes they invoke. Can we all agree that routine business practices should not suddenly get turned into federal cases? Especially not cases based on rules written for a different era? And hastily written rules, at that? The same overreach has happened with laws originally aimed at protecting consumers in credit reporting, debt collection and just about anything involving their telephones. The resulting litigation sometimes seems more like a stickup than a worthy defense of injured parties. Predictably, the case against MeTV has turned on parsing the antiquated language of the Bork Act. The mighty judges of the 7th Circuit come off as rather lame when they define MeTV as 'a video tape service provider' and the plaintiffs who watch a free service as 'consumers,' then pompously defend these outdated definitions by saying, 'Linguistic imprecision is part of the human condition.' Other appellate courts have wrestled with the same vague language in the Bork Act and come up with incompatible conclusions. In 2013, after Netflix got stung by exploitative litigation, Congress amended the law. Obviously, it didn't do enough to make the rules clear and relevant in today's digital landscape. America needs strong principles to protect online identity and privacy. It also needs to ensure that its businesses can adopt new technology without getting dragged into expensive and counterproductive court battles like this one. Submit a letter, of no more than 400 words, to the editor here or email letters@
