For 10 days from May 14, a charity auction by MasterCard Priceless Moments will give people worldwide the opportunity to fulfill their dreams by bidding online for a host of South African and International celebrity priceless moments, in order to raise funds for seven African children’s charities. The charities are Walter Sisulu Paediatric Cardiac Center for Africa (WSPCCA), Childhood Cancer Foundation, Reach for a Dream Foundation, Cotlands, the South African Red Cross Society, the Ithemba Trust and St. Mary’s Aids Hospital in KwaZulu Natal. “Our children are our future and one of our most basic responsibilities is to care for them in the best and most compassionate manner possible,” said Nelson Mandela, in his position as patron of the WSPCCA. “MasterCard is honored to support this initiative that touches the lives of so many,” said Eddie Grobler, GM Africa, MasterCard Worldwide.
LEICA
A Leica “Pathology Day” seminar and workshop was held in Dammam, Riyadh and Jeddah recently. The Al-Tuwairqi Group of Companies (ATG), under the leadership of Dr. Hilal Hussain Al-Tuwairqi, which organized the event, aims to introduce the state-of-the-art technology in the health care sector. Harald Desch and Remi Millent, both product managers at Leica Microsystems Germany, presented high-end research and clinical product lines including a laser micro-dissection unit and a digital micro-imaging device. Both are hi-tech and have advanced features, which were explained at the workshop held at the Jeddah Westin recently. Some of Leica’s routine and educational microscopes were also on display. The response to the event was overwhelming at all the three venues. Guests from all major hospitals, universities, and research institutes were among the seminar participants.
BRIDGESTONE
Bridgestone Corporation launched its new Potenza RE001 Adrenalin tire with the participation of some of the top Saudi racing drivers and car enthusiasts at Durat Al-Arus in Jeddah on Wednesday. Bridgestone’s General Manager Makoto Ono, Technical Manager Masanori Yakushiji and Marketing Manager Katsuhisa Masui, as well as Khalid M. Bawazir, MD, Al-Talayi Establishment, Bridgestone’s sole distributor in the Kingdom, and its Marketing Manager Ali Al Attas, were among those present. Following a presentation on the advantages of the Adrenalin, the guests and media representatives moved to a specially prepared test track designed by international specialists including Paul Spooner who came from Bahrain to demonstrate the performance of the tire. “The performance of the Adrenalin is quite impressive, especially its stability in different situations,” one of the Saudi racing drivers said.
SHOWTIME
Egyptian actor Hussein Fahmi’s TV show “Al-Nas Wa Ana” (people and I), which is broadcast on Egyptian TV, Channel 1, will now have an exclusive regional broadcast on the Showtime network. “Showtime proudly welcomes celebrity artist and movie star Hussein Fahmi when he brings the second season of his Arabic talk show Al-Nas Wa Ana to “ShowShasha” every Friday. “We will work through the program to present our societies to the outside world in a proper way. I want the simple people to have a window through which they can express themselves, to talk about their living conditions and aspirations as all existing programs currently talk only about the stars and officials, while ordinary citizens are totally forgotten,” he said. The forthcoming season broadcast in Egypt and simultaneously regionally on Showtime will include social or humanitarian causes in the Arab world and address social issues.
BURGER KING
Burger King has introduced “Limo cheeseburger”, described as the region’s first-ever “long” burger sandwich from it. Nestled in a specially-made bun, the “Limo cheeseburger” consists of three fire-grilled 100 percent pure beef patties drenched with delicious cheese. It will be available at all of its restaurants across the Kingdom for a limited time. “We are proud to launch our new product across Saudi Arabia,” said Yasser Abdel Azim, director marketing and business development, Burger King franchisee Olayan Food Services Company in the Kingdom. “As with all Burger King products, we give our customers the value, choices and taste they expect. The ‘Limo Cheeseburger’ is as delicious as it sounds and we are confident that our customers will agree.”
COSMELT
Cosmelt Paris, a French company specialized in perfumes and cosmetic products, has decided to expand its network through a new company established by merging Saudi, UAE and French companies in Dubai. The company will market specialized products considering the taste of Middle Eastern and Gulf people, its senior executive said in Jeddah yesterday. Middle East as one of the most important markets for perfumes and cosmetics in the world. He said the region’s total market for perfumes and cosmetic products is estimated around $14 billion. Most of its products are marketed in Saudi Arabia and other Gulf states and their sales continually increase. “All perfume and cosmetic companies look toward the Kingdom as one of the biggest markets for perfumes and cosmetics,” he added.