Latest news with #Caesar
Khaleej Times
20 hours ago
- General
- Khaleej Times
Meet UAE's dog whisperer who trains elite canines for search, rescue, security
What began as a personal bond with dogs became a life-changing mission for Mohammad Anwar. He turned his deep love for animals into pioneering domestic dog training, becoming the first Emirati project specialising in producing police dogs trained for all needs. At just 11, Anwar developed a deep bond with dogs, which started by feeding strays leftovers from home. 'I used to care for street dogs,' he said. 'It became such a big part of my life that school started slipping.' Concerned, his father made a deal: if Anwar improved in school, he would be rewarded with a dog. Anwar kept his promise and had his first dog, a German Shepherd. But his next dog, Caesar, truly changed his life. 'Caesar was like my shadow,' Anwar recalled. 'He stayed with me for nearly six years.' Their bond was tested after a football match when Anwar was attacked. As others ran, Caesar broke free and rushed to protect him. 'He started licking the blood off my face, letting out a sound like he was crying,' he said. 'He was the only one who came back for me.' That moment sparked a mission: 'I realised nothing is more loyal than a dog.' Determined to deepen his knowledge, Anwar taught himself dog behaviour through YouTube before enrolling in specialised courses in the Netherlands. The training helped him understand the importance of both positive and negative reinforcement, as well as how to stay calm and responsive while working with animals. 'Knowing when to be calm and how to respond correctly makes all the difference in earning a dog's trust,' he said. By 2015, the idea for a specialised dog training centre took root. Two years later, in 2017, he officially launched the project. Today, Anwar's facility breeds and trains dogs for various professional roles, including search and rescue, narcotics detection, criminal investigations, and protection of critical infrastructure. The centre houses up to 46 highly trained dogs at any given time. 'We've reached a stage where we're exporting trained dogs to countries like the US, UK, Switzerland, and across the Arab world,' Anwar said. Government agencies now rely on his dogs, and his team also runs specialised training programmes for security personnel. But the journey has not been without challenges. Relocating his training centre multiple times across the Emirates has been one of Anwar's biggest hurdles. 'Each move meant starting over financially,' he said. The shift from Sharjah to Umm Al Quwain was particularly tough due to a lack of income. 'I put everything I had into it,' he recalled. In 2022, he moved again to Ras Al Khaimah, where he finally found the needed space and support. 'I hoped to stay at least ten years to settle and repay my debts.' During those tough times, one of Anwar's dogs, Boo, who was kept for emotional support, played a crucial role. 'When I was overwhelmed, he'd do silly things to make me laugh. He could sense my stress and helped me feel grounded,' he said. Anwar's resilience and dedication have not gone unnoticed. He has won over 23 titles in international dog competitions, taking top-spot trophies in prestigious shows in the UAE and Russia. In 2022, his team achieved a significant milestone by winning first place in the KNPV (Royal Dutch Police Dog Sport) championship in the Netherlands, one of the most respected competitions in police dog training. Currently, his centre produces around 25 to 30 high-performance dogs annually. His next target is to increase that number to 70 per year. 'The more the world sees our quality, the more they want. But quality can't be rushed,' he said. Anwar is quick to credit his team for the centre's success. 'I couldn't have done this alone. Their dedication has been important to this journey.' Looking ahead, 'In five years, I want this to be the largest dog training centre in the Middle East. After that, one that will be the top source globally,' he noted.
Los Angeles Times
a day ago
- Entertainment
- Los Angeles Times
Daily Pilot/TimesOC writers win several Orange County Press Club awards
Daily Pilot and TimesOC writers won several awards at the Orange County Press Club Excellence in Journalism Awards gala held Wednesday night at Anaheim Hills Golf Club to honor the work county journalists did throughout 2024. Daily Pilot writer Sara Cardine won first place in the Best Public Affairs Story category for her look at an apartment complex on the west side of Costa Mesa that was due to be demolished after years of housing low-income tenants. 'I was thrilled to see my story on a topic local to the city of Costa Mesa considered alongside the coverage of wider reaching issues, handled by seasoned reporters who bring every resource to bear in telling important stories,' Cardine said. 'It's heartening to see this level of attention being paid to what's happening in Orange County.' Cardine also earned third place in the Best Investigative Story or Series category, after examining how the Rancho Santiago Community College District found $8 million of its own money that had been quietly held back by a third-party insurance vendor. That detailed look was part of a project she has been working on for more than two years. Gabriel San Román, who writes for TimesOC, earned a second-place award in Best Environmental News with his story on San Clemente's eroding beaches. He also earned a honorable mention nod in Best Beat Reporting for stories on a Disney labor dispute. Daily Pilot reporter Andrew Turner earned third place in Best Sports Story for his game story on Edison football winning its first state championship, capturing the CIF State Division 1-A title on a late touchdown pass from Sam Thomson to Jake Minter. Turner also earned honorable mention in Best Environmental News, as he wrote about a program in which Laguna Beach used grazing goats as part of its mitigation effort against wildfires. Sarah Mosqueda, who writes primarily for TimesOC, was working for the Los Angeles Times when she wrote about 10 of the best Caesar salads in Los Angeles. That article earned second place in the Best Round-Up or Best Of category. 'I'm incredibly proud of our team,' said Executive Editor Carol Cormaci. 'Their passion for storytelling, commitment to accuracy and deep sense of purpose come through in every article they write. The O.C. Press Club awards are a wonderful recognition of their work.' A full list of award winners is available on the organization's website.
New York Post
a day ago
- Entertainment
- New York Post
Influencer shocks fans by revealing the controversial ingredient in Worcestershire sauce
Worcestershire sauce is a condiment often used to add flavor to dishes such as pasta, casseroles, pies, and even Bloody Mary cocktails. But it's only recently that people have discovered its key ingredient, and it's completely blowing their minds. Advertisement The tangy sauce is typically made with water, vinegar, brown sugar, golden syrup, salt, tamarind, spices, onion powder, and garlic powder. However, people have been left stunned to find out that the sauce also contains a rather polarizing ingredient – anchovies. 3 Worcestershire sauce is typically made with water, vinegar, brown sugar, golden syrup, salt, tamarind, spices, onion powder, and garlic powder. Tiktok/@dianakonfederat The revelation came to light after a mom and home cook shared her take on a Caesar salad, which she declared was 'picky child approved' as it contained no anchovy fillets, unlike a typical Caesar salad. Advertisement Diana Konfederat instead added a dash of the brown condiment to the salad's dressing, saying, 'this has anchovies in it'. 3 Diana Konfederat added a dash of the condiment to her Caesar salad dressing, saying, 'this has anchovies in it.' Tiktok/@dianakonfederat 'Please don't come for me for not using fresh anchovies,' she added. 'I don't like them, my kids don't like them.' Although thousands were keen to recreate her version of Caesar salad dressing, many were shocked to discover that anchovies were hiding in the sauce. Advertisement 'Wait a second. I had no idea Worcestershire sauce had anchovies in it,' said one user. 3 'Please don't come for me for not using fresh anchovies,' she added. 'I don't like them, my kids don't like them,' as viewers were shocked about the ingredient in Worcestershire sauce. Tiktok/@dianakonfederat 'I just ran to check my sauce – and yes. I haven't eaten Caesar dressing since I've learned it's in there and all along I've been eating this. I'm dead,' admitted a second. 'My mind is blown, Worcestershire sauce has anchovies?!' yet another commenter exclaimed. Advertisement 'Never knew that Worcestershire sauce contained anchovies,' a fourth added. Start and end your day informed with our newsletters Morning Report and Evening Update: Your source for today's top stories Thanks for signing up! Enter your email address Please provide a valid email address. By clicking above you agree to the Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. Never miss a story. Check out more newsletters However, several admitted they'd always steered clear of Caesar salad because of the fish, but were pleased to discover that Worcestershire sauce could be used to recreate that delicate, salty, fishy taste. 'YAY I've always wanted a non-fishy Caesar recipe,' one user wrote. 'This looks bomb – I hate anchovies, so this I could do,' someone else said. Anchovies are included in Worcestershire sauce to impart a deep, savory, and umami flavor. This umami, frequently characterized as a 'meaty' or 'brothy' taste, arises from the fermentation process and the natural compounds present in the anchovies. Advertisement The anchovies are matured in vinegar, which helps in breaking them down and releasing these flavor compounds and contributing to the sauce's distinctive character. As a result, many Worcestershire sauces aren't vegan. However, if you are vegan or simply don't like anchovies, plenty of fish-free Worcestershire sauce brands exist. Advertisement Vegan Worcestershire sauces include ingredients like molasses, tamarind, and vinegar to give the same complex, delicious flavor without the fish. For example, the home brand Woolworths Worcestershire sauce contains no anchovies, nor does the Coles home brand version. Popular brand Lea & Perrins does, however, contain anchovies.
Axios
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- Axios
At Elliott Aster, stunning decor and St. Pete's best Caesar salad
I had dinner this week at the Vinoy Resort & Golf Club's fancy new restaurant, Elliott Aster. Dig in: St. Pete's newest culinary destination opened last month, on the heels of a massive renovation of the historic hotel. It adds to the Sunshine City's growing fine-dining scene, joining spots like Juno & the Peacock and Allelo. The vibe: I've never eaten in such a beautiful space, which was probably obvious by the way I kept gazing up wide-eyed at the ornate painted walls and sleek chandeliers. Plus, it's in the Vinoy! I'm always looking for a reason to spend time in our glamorous pink landmark. Yes, but: The food, cocktails and service were also memorable. My boyfriend and I arrived a few minutes early for our reservation, so we stopped at one of the restaurant's two bars for an Elliott Aster martini ($22). The addition of celery bitters was a refreshing twist on the traditional cocktail, and the bartender made me feel like the only patron in the room. Best bites: The whipped ricotta ($9) was delicious, although I'd recommend ordering the focaccia with it so you have bread to dip rather than the crackers the dish comes with. My entree, the beef cheek tortelli, was also excellent, and I appreciated that the pasta menu's prices hovered around $25. (The steak menu, on the other hand, starts at $65.) The real standout, though, was the baby gem Caesar ($16). I've eaten a lot of Caesar salads in my life, and this was one of the best. The bottom line: Caesar salad-martini happy hour, anyone?
Ya Biladi
5 days ago
- Business
- Ya Biladi
Morocco's airpower grows, but gaps remain in naval forces and defense industry
A recent study by the Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung Foundation and the Moroccan think tank Global Governance & Sovereignty Foundation analyzed the quality of weaponry acquired by Morocco. The report highlights that the «biggest rival is Morocco's immediate neighbor Algeria, which ranks third globally in military spending-to-GDP ratio behind only Ukraine and Israel». In response to this threat to its territorial integrity, the kingdom has adopted a «deliberate transition toward high-tech, interoperablesystems to ensure territorial integrity», notably acquiring AH-64 Apache helicopters, drones, artillery, and missile defense systems. Alongside facing an Algerian military budget expected to reach $23 billion by 2025, Rabat must also counter «separatist activities in the South, supported by external actors», which demands «surveillance and rapid-response capabilities tailored to the terrain». In April 2021, the Royal Armed Forces ordered 13 Bayraktar TB2 drones for around $70 million, later adding six more in a follow-up contract. These combat drones are «ideal for monitoring separatist movements and border threats». Towards a Sovereign Defense Industry The report notes that Morocco received «its first batch of Bayraktar Akinci drones, with reports indicating an order of an undisclosed number as part of an agreement signed in 2023». These purchases from international suppliers—including the US, Israel, Turkey, and China—are complemented by efforts to develop a domestic military industry. Turkish drone manufacturer Baykar, producer of the TB2 and Akinci drones, announced plans to open a maintenance and production facility in Morocco in early 2025. This followed the signing of a partnership on September 27, 2024, between the National Defense Administration and Tata Advanced Systems Limited (TASL) to locally produce the WhAP 8x8 land combat vehicle. Recent acquisitions underscore Morocco's commitment to advanced capabilities, especially in artillery. The Israeli Atmos 2000, a 155mm howitzer with a range of up to 41 kilometers, offers rapid deployment and high mobility, making it well-suited for Morocco's desert terrain. This complements the 36 Caesar howitzers purchased from France in 2022. The report also highlights the Royal Armed Forces' «managing supplier diversity», stressing the importance of avoiding overreliance on a single partner to maintain resilience amid shifting global alliances that could threaten access to critical technologies. However, international partnerships alone aren't enough to build a sovereign defense industry. «Morocco still faces gaps in advanced manufacturing capabilities and skilled labor», the report warns. «Producing components locally for systems like Caesar artillery or Patriot PAC-3 requires precision engineering expertise, an area where Morocco is still developing capacity. To bridge these gaps, Morocco must invest in a broader vision of a sovereign defense industry, requiring specialized programs to train engineers and technicians and establish innovation hubs in industrial zones, aligning with its vision of industrial autonomy». Developing Morocco's Naval Capabilities These acquisitions enable Morocco «to play a central role in regional stability and international security cooperation, aligning with its long-term vision of leadership and sovereignty». Beyond cutting-edge weaponry, «Morocco's diplomatic neutrality enables it to facilitate dialogue between conflicting Sahel blocs». The kingdom also plays a «vital role in securing the maritime space, particularly with regard to transatlantic security and the Strait of Gibraltar», the report adds. Achieving this requires significant investment in naval capabilities. «Morocco must prioritize future investments in naval assets, such as acquiring multi-purpose frigates with anti-submarine and air defense capabilities, and develop a maritime strategy», the report emphasizes. Since the early years of King Mohammed VI's reign, Morocco has positioned itself as a key player in securing maritime traffic through the Strait of Gibraltar—evidenced by the Tangier-Med port, the inauguration of the Tangier Maritime Traffic Surveillance Center in December 2011, and the construction of the Ksar Sghir naval base. In the coming months, the Royal Navy will be further strengthened with the delivery of a new patrol vessel ordered from Spanish shipbuilder Navantia. Addressing Gaps in Cybersecurity The report also calls on Morocco to bolster «its naval capabilities and developing expertise in hybrid warfare, particularly in cyber operations, to fill gaps in its defense architecture and counter emerging challenges. Cyberattacks against critical infrastructure, necessitates a robust cyber army. Morocco could establish a dedicated cyber command, leveraging its capabilities with a growing technology sector, to train specialists in cyber operations».
