Latest news with #Rahman
Tom's Guide
12 hours ago
- Tom's Guide
Google could be planning its own take on Samsung's Now Bar — what we know
AI is becoming a part of every part of our phones, whether we realize it or not, and each new feature is just the beginning. One good example is Samsung's Now Bar, and it sounds like Google may have its own version in the pipeline — dubbed Gemini Space. This comes from Mishall Rahman over at Android Authority, who finds hints about the feature in the Android 16 QPR 1 beta 1 release. Apparently new files reference something called "Ambient Data", which is believed to be the internal code name for Gemini Space. Other strings refer to "Ambience Hub", "Ambient Display" and "Ambient AOD." That suggests Google is working on a feature that relies on contextual data, and is prepping it for a bunch of different devices and use-cases — including smart home hubs and devices with an Always on Display. Rahman believes that this could be the start of Google rebranding its existing "At a Glance" feature, in an attempt to offer something similar to the Now Bare and Now Brief features on the best Samsung phones. For those that don't know. Now Bar is a section of the lock screen that features real time information, which changes throughout the day depending on whatever contextual information the phone can pick up. At a Glance does do some of this, but it's not quite as easy to access. Shifting it to the lock screen, and adding extra features, could be one way for Google to offer comparable features for other Android phones to utilize. Get instant access to breaking news, the hottest reviews, great deals and helpful tips. Though Rahman does admit that he could be wrong, Gemini Space may end up being something entirely different. With limited information, we can't really make strong affirmations either way. But considering Google and Samsung do have a close relationship, especially with AI, it would be surprising if we didn't get something similar to the Now Bar at some point in the near future. We're just going to have to wait and see, though.
Time of India
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Exclusive: AR Rahman reflects on how storytelling and artistic choices have shifted in the movie industry
AR Rahman Known for his transformative impact on music over the decades, AR Rahman has voiced concerns about the evolving creative landscape in the film industry. Reflecting on how storytelling and artistic choices have shifted, in a chat with BT the Oscar-winning composer said, 'In the past, there was a certain innocence in filmmaking—and that was beautiful,' Rahman said. 'Today, filmmakers are more calculated, with pre-set ideas. It is a good thing that they know what they want, but the bad thing is ideas are being repeated because they want something which already exists. And they are happy with it. That is one of the reasons why remixes have come in. They know that the song is familiar to the audience which makes it easy to get their attention.' Rahman lamented the dominance of safe, formulaic storytelling, warning that it stifles innovation and freshness. He emphasised that this trend is not limited to Bollywood but is also prominent in Hollywood. He said, 'Audiences who expect newness, innovation and something which should be like a breath of fresh air are being choked with repetitive stuff and with ideas which are contrived and safe. This isn't just an Indian issue—it's happening in Hollywood too. They just want the money to come in. That is where Indie movies come in (where they take risks and value originality).'
2 days ago
- Health
They're too young to drive or vote — but they're caring for their ailing loved ones
In some ways, Najiha Raman is not so different from other 17-year-olds. She crams sometimes for exams. She struggles with some subjects in high school and excels in others. But in one important aspect, she's quite different from most of her peers. Since she was about seven, she's been taking care of her mom, who was diagnosed with ALS when Najiha was three years old. Sometimes, I would try to help her with the wheelchair — but it was a lot bigger than me, she remembers. It was years before Rahman realized that her responsibilities — such as helping her mom drink water, eat food, adjusting her body when she was uncomfortable — were not quite typical for kids her age. Rahman says her dad and sister tried their best to shield her from those responsibilities, but there was so much to do that some of it fell on her. As I've gotten older, and I've spoken more with my sister, she said, I kind of decided like, oh yeah, this isn't normal. I am doing things that are a bit beyond what I should be doing, and I should be proud of myself for that. Most recent data is from 2018 Across Canada, about 1.5 million Canadians between the ages of 15 and 30 are looking after loved ones with long-term health problems, according to a 2018 survey (new window) from Statistics Canada — the last time the government agency took count. That may not be the full picture, however. Not only are the figures outdated, but even at the time, the agency didn't count caregivers under the age of 15. The needs have only grown since the StatsCan survey was done — especially after the pandemic, says Vivian Stamatopoulos, a sociologist at Ontario Tech University who has researched (new window) the subject and advocates for caregivers. A lot of people have not been able to get preventative care, meaning later stage illnesses and more care to provide, she said. The stresses of caregiving — on top of the usual stress of adolescence — means young caregivers are at higher risk of mental health challenges, such as depression or anxiety, social isolation and falling behind in school, say experts (new window) . Vivian Stamatopoulos, a sociologist at Ontario Tech University and an advocate for caregivers, calls young caregivers a 'hidden population', who could suffer long-term health consequences without support. Photo: CBC News / Jared Thomas And the number of young caregivers is only expected to increase as Canada's population ages, says Stamatopoulos. Services not keeping up with aging population According to projections by Statistics Canada (new window) , by 2068, more than one in four people will be 65 and older, even with higher fertility rates. But the services available to care for them are not keeping pace. According to data published last month by the Canadian Institute of Health Information, fewer people are working in long-term care (new window) homes than before the pandemic, and staffing levels continue to decline. There is also the question of affordability: Some organizations, such as the Canadian Cancer Society, have criticized (new window) the Canada caregiver credit (new window) , saying it doesn't go far enough in helping people pay for services outside the hospital. All this means caregiving responsibilities will trickle down to the whole family, says Stamatopoulos. Because of all of this, the odds are more young people will be drawn into unpaid care, she said. They will not be spared from having to take on this responsibility. But young caregivers also have unique challenges. They are harder to identify because unlike adult caregivers, they are less likely to have peers who have also experienced the stresses and responsibilities of caregiving and are less likely to talk openly about it, Stamatopoulos said. They are a hidden population. Asking the right questions A recent case study (new window) published in the peer-reviewed journal Canadian Family Physician says primary care teams should take an active role in identifying and supporting these young people as part of treating their loved ones. Caregivers might not even realize that they are caregivers until there starts to be detrimental effects to their mental health and well-being, said Lucas Perri, one of the co-authors of the report. Perri has seen it firsthand. Starting at age 14, he cared for his grandfather who was paraplegic and had lung disease. I felt both proud to be looking after someone that I really, really cared about. But also, I was feeling quite overwhelmed, because I would often miss school activities, he said. I wasn't really sure what to expect when it comes to his care or his progression. After his grandfather died, Perri started volunteering at a palliative care unit. That's when he realized there were others like him — caregivers of all ages. He wishes health-care workers had asked him and his peers about their mental health at the time. Enlarge image (new window) Lucas Perri was about 14 when he started to help his grandfather, who was paraplegic and struggling with lung disease. Now 18, Perri co-authored a case report published in the journal Canadian Family Physician about the need for family doctors to support young caregivers. Photo: Submitted by Lucas Perri Do you have any issues going to school in the morning? Do you have any issues when it comes to participating in class? Do you feel drained? Perri said, citing questions that would have helped. Perri says he thinks family doctors could be the ones asking these questions, and identifying and supporting young caregivers, because they often care for multiple family members and have a bird's-eye view of the patient's health. Connecting caregivers to the right resources Dr. Karen Okrainec, an internal medicine specialist and a clinician-scientist at University Health Network, in Toronto thinks that would be a good start. [Family doctors] may be more likely to recognize a child who may be providing care, she said, but I'll caution that I don't think family physicians are the only [...] solution, she said. All health-care providers ... can play a role in supporting young caregivers. While treating patients with complex and chronic diseases, Okrainec has often recognized young caregivers, sometimes as young as 10 or 11. I've seen some young carers just kind of break down and cry, and share how difficult it is and how no one's really asked them how they were doing. Okrainec says there are resources that are available for young caregivers, but health care workers need to be able to identify those who need them. She created a tool kit (new window) for her colleagues, which lays out how to identify young caregivers in their practice and includes a list of resources around Canada. Dr. Karen Okrainec is an internal medicine specialist and a researcher at University Health Network in Toronto. She treats chronic and complex cases, so she often sees young caregivers accompanying her patients — sometimes as young as 10. Photo: CBC News / Turgut Yeter Canada could also look at what other countries are doing to support their young caregivers, experts say. Local governments in the U.K. must assess young caregivers' situations to ensure their responsibilities don't affect their mental health, well-being or school. Most importantly, [the U.K. government] also provides them direct payments to kids, where these children can either hire help, access help that is already provided by the government, or [...] use that to provide supplies, said Stamatopoulous. It's the kind of resource that could be helpful for caregivers such as 17-year-old Rahman. I don't think my situation is something I feel bad about. I think my mom is great, and I don't want people to think anything less about my mom, she said. But at the same time, I think you can not pity someone but still recognize that their situation is not ordinary. Jennifer Yoon (new window) · CBC News · Senior Health Reporter Jennifer Yoon covers the latest health news for CBC News on television, radio and digital. You can reach her at
The Hindu
2 days ago
- Politics
- The Hindu
Israel-Iran war: first batch of evacuees to arrive in India on Thursday; Keralites trapped in Iran look for help
Amid the deepening war between Israel and Iran in West Asia, the first batch of Indians evacuated by the Central government will land in Delhi on Thursday. The situation in Iran is worrying as Malayalis, who are trapped in that country and majority of whom are students, reached out to the Central and Kerala governments seeking help for their safe evacuation from the strife-torn country. On the other side, Keralites who work in Israel are relatively in a safer position, and none of them approached Kerala or Central governments seeking evacuation help. Speaking to The Hindu, Tharish Rahman, coordinator of 12 Malayali students trapped in Kerman University of Medical Sciences in Iran, said all of them were safe as of Wednesday, as the Kerman region, which is around 1,200 km away from Tehran, had not witnessed any major attack so far. However, the administration on Wednesday asked them to store essential foods such as water and dry fruits as the situation was getting worse by the day. The students had been in touch with Indian embassy officials and Kerala government representatives. 'We hope there would be an evacuation to the Armenian capital by road in two or three days and then an evacuation by air to India from Yerevan in Armenia,' said Mr. Rahman. According to Ajith Kolassery, Chief Executive Officer of NoRKA-Roots, the field agency of the Department of Non-Resident Keralites Affairs (NoRKA) in Kerala, apart from calls from the students trapped in Iran, workers trapped in an oil rig appealed to the State government to provide help. 'Besides, we believe that there would be a total of less than 50 people who belong to the floating population who reached the country as part of small business trips. In the case of Israel, there was no frenetic call seeking help from the State government, although we hope there would be around 10,000 Malayalis in that country,' said Mr. Kolassery. According to Borgian Solomon, former joint secretary of the Israel Malayali Association who has been working in Israel for the past 17 years, 12 Keralites had a narrow escape near Rehovot as a missile launched by Iran directly hit the flat they were staying in. They had moved to the bunker of the building when the air raid siren was sounded. Shortly after they moved into the bunker, the missile struck the flat, destroying the building completely. But this was an isolated incident. Civilians in Israel are relatively safe, as hardly four to five missiles break the Iron Dome's defensive shield when hundreds of missiles are launched into the country by Iran. In case the missiles get past the defensive shield, sirens will be emitted across the city, giving four to minutes for the citizens to move into the bunkers. 'This is enough for the people to move to safe locations, as there are plenty of bunkers under all the buildings. Moreover, hardly any missile struck the inhabited areas in our city,' he said. Meanwhile, Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan said the Resident Commissioner at Kerala House in New Delhi was instructed to provide necessary facilities for returning Keralites. Accommodation will be provided at the Kerala House for Keralites arriving in Delhi. After this, they will be sent to the State as soon as flights become available. He also said Malayalis wishing to come to Kerala should register their names on the helpline number of the NoRKA Global Contact Centre (Norka Global Contact Centre: 18004253939 (toll-free number), +918802012345 (international missed call).
Hindustan Times
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- Hindustan Times
With Alappuzha Gymkhana, Khalid Rahman reignites the sports drama free of its genre clichés
For as long as I can remember, the sports drama genre in Indian Cinema has been about the underdog story. Films in this genre chart the predictable arc of a character who is initially treated as a throwaway, an extra. Then they survive, persevere, and learn the game day in and day out to ultimately become a master. There is no question about it, the protagonist will win in the end. Sure, there is nothing wrong with that story, but why do we insist on this template over and over again? Surely, not everyone is cut out for a game or destined to be a champion. Khalid Rahman's Alappuzha Gymkhana is one of those rare sports dramas that understands this very contradiction. The idea that figuring out can be a sport of its own, where there will be a mix of wins and losses. Rahman's fifth feature is a joyous, welcoming departure from the pitiless cliches of the genre of a sports film, a sort of clutter-breaker that punches the genre itself to secure the win. (Also read: Tourist Family marks the arrival of a major new voice in Abishan Jeevinth) The film sets off unassumingly, when Jojo (a charming performance from Naslen) has an incredulous idea. He convinces his gang- Shifas Ahmed (Sandeep Pradeep), Shifas 'Cheruth' Ali (Franco Francis), DJ (Baby Jean), and Shanavas (Shiva Hariharan) to get into boxing, as that can get them easily into college through the sports quota. Later, a self-taught fighter, Deepak (a scene-stealing turn from Ganapathi), also joins. Their shared conviction is what gives the film its light-hearted energy: these boys do not know much about what's in store for them in the upcoming few weeks, and are up for the demands of the game. Their earnestness is the right step in the direction. The physical training begins, and from hereon, Alappuzha Gymkhana traces the journey of these boys as they prepare for the district-level games. Rahman's control over the tone of the film is utterly refreshing here. The boys share a doggedness as a whole, but what is unmistakable is that each of them arrives at the game with their quirks and concerns. That shows in the way they enter the ring and face the opponent. Jojo is excellent at boosting the morale of his boys when needed, but is not too sure about his own game. He understands it just in time, and Rahman gracefully welcomes that wisdom. But then Cheruth shows what he is capable of in the ring, and the mood of the team suddenly shifts. Their coach (Lukman Avaran) is exacting and determined, but the film is intelligent enough not to give him a flat, unidimensional role. It is not like he can do no wrong, or that he is simply always correct about his instincts. At the end, he is just as capable of losing his calm. But Alappuzha Gymkhana is so much more than just the idea of winning. Yes, the game matters to these boys for the time being, but thank goodness this film makes it clear that this is not the end of the world. This is a film that truly gets these boys and their careless, uninhibited spirit. Rahman builds their story just with the sheer force of conviction, peppering the narrative with their idiosyncratic day-to-day practice sessions. There's a lot of love and dignity for these boys here. The film does not boast of walking over these kids with a superior sort of intelligence, and dares them to see what lies beyond the next few days. Jojo sees himself a little too clearly by the end, and that little pronouncement is no less than a win. Unlike so many other sports dramas of yore, Alappuzha Gymkhana prioritises the life-force that these boys bring to the ring and does not punish them for their somewhat naive choices. The boys lose at certain points, accept defeat, and continue to cheer on for their friends. There's no self-aggrandising on the fact that one of them won or the other lost. It is all part of the game, is it not? Just like life. The boys work as a team, and their collective bond is so much bigger and valuable than winning or losing. Alappuzha Gymkhana is one of those films that might or might not inspire a young kid to take up boxing, but it will reaffirm the idea that whatever they may take up in life at some point, they might as well give it their all. Such is life, it gives you chances and then asks one fine morning, 'Are you ready to fight for what's yours?' Alappuzha Gymkhana is available to stream on SonyLiv.
