Welcome Reality
Mercury
***
Dubstep has reached dizzying heights of popularity in mainstream music this year. Artists such as the pop princess Britney Spears and the heavy metal band Korn have recently capitalised on the trend.
The UK dubstep duo Nero, best known for their remixes and production credits, have been making music for years but have only just released their first album. Welcome Reality is set in an alternate musical universe in the year 2808, suggesting that Nero are hundreds of years ahead of their musical contemporaries, and promises commercial success.
The album is very high-energy, with in-your-face epic sounds. The album's first single, Promises, reached number one on the UK singles chart, and Reaching Out has a catchy hook and an infectious bass wobble that guarantee it will be a massive hit. While the album abounds with commercial appeal, not all the songs on Welcome Reality fall into the comfortable category of generic fare.
Tracks such as the guitar-laden Scorpions and the thunderously epic Doomsday show the group's originality and are sure to be hits with even the biggest dubstep doubter. Even though they lose touch with their ambitious concept at times and fall into generic territory, Nero manage to rework the overused genre from a refreshing angle that promises much more to come.
artslife@thenational.ae
Monster
Directed by: Anthony Mandler
Starring: Kelvin Harrison Jr., John David Washington
3/5
Innotech Profile
Date started: 2013
Founder/CEO: Othman Al Mandhari
Based: Muscat, Oman
Sector: Additive manufacturing, 3D printing technologies
Size: 15 full-time employees
Stage: Seed stage and seeking Series A round of financing
Investors: Oman Technology Fund from 2017 to 2019, exited through an agreement with a new investor to secure new funding that it under negotiation right now.
Real estate tokenisation project
Dubai launched the pilot phase of its real estate tokenisation project last month.
The initiative focuses on converting real estate assets into digital tokens recorded on blockchain technology and helps in streamlining the process of buying, selling and investing, the Dubai Land Department said.
Dubai’s real estate tokenisation market is projected to reach Dh60 billion ($16.33 billion) by 2033, representing 7 per cent of the emirate’s total property transactions, according to the DLD.
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Dr Afridi's warning signs of digital addiction
Spending an excessive amount of time on the phone.
Neglecting personal, social, or academic responsibilities.
Losing interest in other activities or hobbies that were once enjoyed.
Having withdrawal symptoms like feeling anxious, restless, or upset when the technology is not available.
Experiencing sleep disturbances or changes in sleep patterns.
What are the guidelines?
Under 18 months: Avoid screen time altogether, except for video chatting with family.
Aged 18-24 months: If screens are introduced, it should be high-quality content watched with a caregiver to help the child understand what they are seeing.
Aged 2-5 years: Limit to one-hour per day of high-quality programming, with co-viewing whenever possible.
Aged 6-12 years: Set consistent limits on screen time to ensure it does not interfere with sleep, physical activity, or social interactions.
Teenagers: Encourage a balanced approach – screens should not replace sleep, exercise, or face-to-face socialisation.
Source: American Paediatric Association
Brief scores:
Southampton 2
Armstrong 13', Soares 20'
Manchester United 2
Lukaku 33', Herrera 39'
