Latest news with #MINT
ABC News
3 days ago
- Health
- ABC News
Sea turtle clinic on Magnetic Island showcases dedication of wildlife carers
Down a dirt track behind the sandhills of an idyllic Queensland tropical beach is a ramshackle, but special, cluster of buildings. This unassuming place occupies the site of a former sewage pumping plant, and is where a team of dedicated volunteers run the Magnetic Island Network for Turtles (MINT) clinic for sick and injured sea turtles. The clinic isn't usually open to the public, but I'm here to find out exactly what happens when your patient is a sea turtle, and how the volunteers' work helps some of the Great Barrier Reef's threatened species. The day starts at 8am when biologist and volunteer Adriana Labate unlocks the gates. Adriana Labate is part of the MINT turtle clinic's daily care team. ( ABC Science: Anna Salleh ) She leans over the first "hospital bed", a "self-cleaning" aquaculture tank that is a bit over 2 metres wide and made of dark green plastic. "This is Boris," she tells me, her soft voice competing with the hum, swish and gurgle of the water filtering system. The scent of seawater fills the air. Inside the tub is a green sea turtle ( Chelonia mydas ) that was rescued after being spotted struggling with fishing line wrapped around its left flipper. Boris hasn't eaten since arriving some weeks ago. Patient Boris spends a lot of time sitting on a rock. ( ABC Science: Anna Salleh ) It is still too early to tell if Boris is a "he" or a "she" because at about 20 years of age, the turtle is still a youngster. It becomes easier to tell the difference between male and female green sea turtles once they mature at about the age of 30 and males develop longer tails, but for now, volunteers use a mix of pronouns to refer to their juvenile patients. The other current patient is Joni, a slightly younger green sea turtle, that was found stranded on one of the Island's beaches. Joni was underweight, could not swim normally, and had a shell infection that made it softer than normal. Unlike Boris, Joni greets Adriana enthusiastically at the edge of the tank. "She already knows food is coming," Adriana says, scooping some turtle scat out of the water. Life on the reef Both Joni and Boris were born on the Great Barrier Reef before riding the currents in the Pacific — like Nemo — as far away as South America. That's decades spent defying the odds; only 1 in 1,000 sea turtle hatchlings survive to adulthood. While swimming on the surface of the high seas, the turtles would have eaten whatever they came across such as squid, jellyfish, and algae. Now they've come back to the Reef to mature and breed and would normally switch to feeding mainly on seagrass on the sea floor. Seagrass is a protected marine plant, and it is illegal to harvest it from the wild, so the patients are fed greens like bok choy or cos lettuce instead. But high-protein seafood is the quickest way to get them to put on much-needed weight. In the volunteer headquarters, Adriana carefully weighs out a portion of chopped squid to feed to Joni. Adriana walks past volunteer HQ, which houses a kitchen-cum-office. ( ABC Science: Anna Salleh ) Adriana heads to the kitchen to get Joni's breakfast. The walls are adorned with colourful turtle-themed mosaics. (ABC Science: Anna Salleh) It's important to know how much the patients are eating as part of getting them well enough to be released. ( ABC Science: Anna Salleh ) It's important to know how much the patients are eating as part of getting them well enough to be released. (ABC Science: Anna Salleh) Joni loves her squid but is a fussy eater. ( ABC Science: Anna Salleh ) High-protein squid will help Joni gain weight before being released back into the wild. (ABC Science: Anna Salleh) Volunteers keep detailed records of their patients. ( ABC Science: Anna Salleh ) Volunteers keep detailed records of what happens on their shifts. (ABC Science: Anna Salleh) Joni is a little fussy, preferring squid over prawns, and especially likes being tantalised by squid tentacles, Adriana says. "You wave them around and pretend that it's an animal … They think that's the creature swimming." Adriana notes that Joni is eating well and has regular bowel movements, which is a good sign there are no gut blockages. Sadly, the records show Boris is losing weight. Turtles can 'give up on life' Turtles can need rescuing for lots of reasons. Some, like Boris, get tangled up in discarded fishing gear, and some are slashed by passing boat propellers. Others battle diseases due to poor water quality, have their food sources destroyed or are choked by plastic. Affected turtles can't swim or dive for food properly. And no food means no energy. It's a vicious cycle. "They get to a point where they're so weak they just wash up on the beach and give up on life," says Paul Groves, co-founder of MINT. Paul's "day job" is as a marine scientist with the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority. But his main job in the hospital is to look after infrastructure, which includes keeping the seawater in the tanks circulating, clean and at the right temperature — to avoid "turtle soup" in the north Queensland summer. Paul Groves smiling at the camera. ( ABC Science: Anna Salleh ) Paul Groves helped found the clinic. (ABC Science: Anna Salleh) Paul is always perfecting the filtration system to reduce the amount of seawater he has to pump up from the beach, which he describes as his "least favourite job". ( ABC Science: Anna Salleh ) Paul's responsible for keeping the seawater circulating and filtered. With a background in aquariums, it's a system he's always trying to perfect. (ABC Science: Anna Salleh) This colourful header tank put in with community help holds seawater pumped up from the nearby beach. ( ABC Science: Anna Salleh ) The better job he does at filtration, the less seawater he has to pump up from the beach to this header tank, something he describes as his "least favourite job". (ABC Science: Anna Salleh) Adult green sea turtles can take four to six people to lift, says Paul. To help cope with bigger patients the hospital got a grant to install a crane to lift bigger patients. ( ABC Science: Anna Salleh ) Paul recently got a grant to install a crane to lift adult green sea turtles, which can otherwise take four to six people to lift. (ABC Science: Anna Salleh) Adults sea turtles can weigh hundreds of kilograms. Here Paul shows a small and large harness that can be used to transfer rescued turtles to the hospital. ( ABC Science: Anna Salleh ) These small and large harnesses are used to transfer rescued turtles from the beach to the clinic. (ABC Science: Anna Salleh) Paul helped establish MINT in 2012 to rescue turtles like Boris and Joni and nurse them back to health so they could be released again to the wild. Back then, countless starving and weak sea turtles washed up on the beaches around Townsville after Cyclone Yasi destroyed the seagrass beds they grazed on. The impact of Yasi also spurred Tim Downs, a Magnetic Island local, to volunteer to help the MINT clinic's medical team. Tim Downs is a volunteer at the turtle clinic. ( ABC: Anna Salleh ) Over the years, Tim's seen countless patients admitted to the clinic — and not all survive. He recalls one "badly smashed up" turtle that had been struck by a boat. Another boat strike case left a deep cut on a turtle's head. "She was very badly concussed … we had her for about three days before she died." Then there was the case of an animal that had its neck trapped in a crab pot. Most patients have "floating syndrome", where the gut is unable to digest its contents properly, so gas from decomposing food builds up inside the turtle causing it to float aimlessly. Swallowing something they shouldn't have is one of the main causes of this life-threatening condition. Fishing line cut blood circulation to Boris' left flipper. ( ABC Science: Anna Salleh ) Turtles have downward-facing spines in their gut to help them filter food from sea water that they "vomit" back out through their nostrils. But this means they can't easily cough anything back up again. And unless it gets passed at the other end, something as innocent as an escaped party balloon can cause a potentially fatal blockage. Swallowed fishing line can wrap around a turtle's innards too, Tim explains. And the movement of the gut tightens the line, making it difficult to pass or be removed by surgery. "It's a pretty agonising death for them," he says. All patients that can fit are put in a CT scanner for free at James Cook University. ( Supplied: JCUVets ) All patients that can fit are put in a CT scanner for free at James Cook University. (Supplied: JCUVets) Tim at the door of the hospital's mobile "tiny home" medical centre. ( ABC Science: Anna Salleh ) Tim at the door of the clinic's mobile "tiny home" medical centre. (ABC Science: Anna Salleh) 20250502_090510 The medical centre is a mobile tiny home that can be conveniently moved if MINT's rent-free status with Townsville City Council ends, or there is a mass stranding of turtles. ( ABC Science: Anna Salleh ) It's in here that complex procedures like tube feeding occur. (ABC Science: Anna Salleh) Boris gets medical care Thankfully, a CT scan indicates Boris hasn't swallowed any fishing gear. But the turtle isn't eating. "His prognosis is good, providing he gets off his hunger strike," Tim says. And if Boris doesn't start eating soon, tube feeding might be necessary. Gina Sweeney, an ex-nurse, injects Boris with a drug to stimulate appetite in the hope it helps. Patients can also get injections of vitamins, antibiotics or painkillers as part of their care. Gina then chases the Boris around the tank to catch and manoeuvre the 13kg turtle out of the tank. That may seem hefty but adult male turtles can weigh up to 150kg. She gently places Boris on the injecting table carefully avoiding contact with the sore flipper that was damaged by fishing line. Gina injects Boris with an appetite stimulant. ( ABC Science: Anna Salleh ) Gina first came across a turtle in the wild while diving on the Great Barrier Reef. "There's something so majestic and I just love them — prehistoric, gentle, graceful … I'm fascinated," she says. "It's a privilege to be able to look after them." Gina feels connected to green sea turtles like Boris. ( ABC Science: Anna Salleh ) Joni's day spa When it's Joni's time for some medical care, first on the agenda is a shell clean. In the wild, "cleaner fish" would keep a turtle's shell in good nick, but in the clinic, patients need a weekly scrub. Out come a selection of dish brushes used to scrub most of the shell, and toothbrushes for the sensitive infected parts. Luckily for Joni, this whole process doubles as a delicious back scrub. Turtles apparently like their butt being scrubbed. ( ABC Science: Anna Salleh ) Turtles have nerve endings in their shell and they particularly enjoy being scrubbed near their rear end, in the same way a dog does, says Lily Donnelly, a PhD student in conservation genetics at James Cook University. "They do enjoy a scratch. They get a bit invigorated by it," she says. After the scrub, Lily cleans out the tiny sores on Joni's shell and puts ointment on them. Then she flips Joni over to attend to the sores on the turtle's underside. Lily is also involved in the medical team. ( ABC Science: Anna Salleh ) Lily, who volunteers in the medical team, is also studying the impact of extreme weather on turtles. (ABC Science: Anna Salleh) Ointment is dabbed into sores on Joni's underside. ( ABC Science: Anna Salleh ) Ointment is dabbed into sores on Joni's underside. (ABC Science: Anna Salleh) Joni's day spa kit including paw-paw ointment and toothbrush to apply it. ( ABC Science: Anna Salleh ) Joni's day spa kit complete with paw paw ointment. (ABC Science: Anna Salleh) A weigh-in is the final stage before Joni is returned to her tank. ( ABC Science: Anna Salleh ) Joni is putting on weight, but is still quite thin. (ABC Science: Anna Salleh) A volunteer gently cradles Joni's head and at times covers the turtle's eyes with a towel to keep it calm. The final part of Joni's "whole body pamper" is a massage with paw paw ointment. Extreme weather takes a toll Lily's been volunteering for the clinic since 2022, and MINT recently got a grant for her to research ways to improve flatback sea turtle ( Natator depressus ) reproduction success on Magnetic Island. Most patients that come to the clinic are green sea turtles, which spend more time close to shore than other species. Hawksbill sea turtles( Eretmochelys imbricata ) are sometimes rescued too. But flatbacks are the main species that nests on the Island's beaches. And extreme temperatures have seen some flatback turtle eggs boiled in their shells, Lily says. "The sand is too hot, and their eggs and turtles are getting cooked before they hatch." Back in the volunteer headquarters, Lily retrieves plastic containers with some of her research samples from a freezer. Her gloved hands cradle a frozen ball — it's a hard-boiled yellow egg yolk with a tiny turtle embryo still clinging to it. This flatback turtle egg was found cooked in the sand. ( ABC Science: Anna Salleh ) Overheating not only affects the number of hatchlings from each nest but when babies do survive, they're more likely to be female — something that can also affect reproduction success for the species. A record deluge too has been a challenge for turtles. This year's monsoon saw around 2.5 metres of rain fall in a just few short months. From one of the other freezer bags, she takes out another victim of extreme weather: a dead hatchling that got "cold shock" after 10 straight days of driving rain. "It got stuck in the sand dunes and it didn't make it." Lily holds a hatchling that didn't survive the record-breaking wet season. ( ABC Science: Anna Salleh ) Volunteers and fundraising Paul has organised a working bee to attract prospective volunteers so there are more people here today than usual. But there's a lot of training required to be a volunteer and people often leave not long after they arrive. This leaves a gap in the feeding roster that has to be rapidly plugged with the remaining volunteers. He encourages people who are prepared to commit for at least six months. While a voluntary workforce is good, the clinic still needs to get grants for infrastructure and electricity, and fundraise for running costs such as food for the patients. They aim to feed a recovering turtle 10 per cent of its body weight in seafood every day. Paul and Tim chat to a potential new recruit. ( ABC Science: Anna Salleh ) Fortunately, there is a volunteer vet on the team and James Cook University provides free CT scans for any patients that can fit in their scanner. Medications and surgery must be paid for separately though, and this is where the Magnetic Island community steps in. "People on the Island collect their cans and bottles and then donate them to us and that [a "cash for cans" container deposit scheme] pays for the food and the medicine and electricity," Paul says. Around the Island, people support fundraising efforts for the clinic. ( ABC Science: Anna Salleh ) As I leave, the place still buzzes with activity. Adriana has shifted from patient care to painting doors and Paul is assessing whether or not he can build a roof over some holding tanks to prevent turtles drowning when it rains heavily. Joni goes home Two months after my first visit to the turtle clinic, a notice pops up in my social media feed. Joni has recovered and will be released back into the wild. After 16 weeks in care Joni has done well and if anything is "a little bit fat," which should give her a head start going back into the ocean, says Dhanushka Jayokody-Perera, a volunteer vet. Dr Dhanushka Jayokody-Perera — known as "Dr Dhash" — volunteers veterinary services to the clinic. ( ABC Science: Anna Salleh ) "Joni's recovered much quicker than some of the others we've had," Dr Jayokody-Perera says. On a bright, sunny Saturday, I join a group of islanders who form a U-shape on the beach as Joni is lifted down to the water's edge. Joni is carried through a crowd on the last leg of the journey from the clinic to back to the reef. ( ABC Science: Anna Salleh ) Joni is carried through a crowd on the last leg of the journey from the clinic back to the reef. (ABC Science: Anna Salleh) After 16 weeks, Joni is back in the ocean. ( ABC Science: Anna Salleh ) After 16 weeks, Joni is back in the ocean. (ABC Science: Anna Salleh) This is the moment the volunteers have been waiting for. Joni takes off like a rocket through the water as the crowd claps and cheers. Lily reflects on the highs and lows of turtle care. "It's bittersweet, but it's always great to see them go back to their ocean home," she says. But not all turtles that come into the clinic make it back home. An X-ray revealed Boris had a broken flipper. The team gave him painkillers and a moon boot, and he picked up for a while, but then complications from a lack of blood set in and the turtle needed surgery to remove part of the flipper. Sadly, despite all the team's efforts, Boris didn't recover and unexpectedly died two days after Joni was released. Tim reflects on the time he spent with Boris. "They win you over because you care for them for so long," he says. "[Boris's death] is sad, but it's something you have to accept when you take on the role of a rehabilitator. "We think about the ones we can save, rather than the ones we lose."
Bangkok Post
6 days ago
- Business
- Bangkok Post
MINT Honoured as Tourism Sector Leader 2025
Demonstrating exceptional performance and resilience in the tourism industry, Minor International PCL (MINT) has been recognised as the Best Public Company of the Year 2025 in the Tourism sector at the prestigious Money & Banking Awards 2025. The award, presented to companies listed on the Stock Exchange of Thailand and the Market for Alternative Investment (MAI), honours excellence in business operations, management practices, and sustainable growth potential. Mr Dillip Rajakarier, Group Chief Executive Officer of MINT, accepted the award on behalf of the company, marking a significant milestone that reinforces MINT's industry leadership. The accolade reflects strong investor and stakeholder confidence in the company's long-term vision and continued adaptability in a challenging market landscape.
Mid East Info
02-07-2025
- Business
- Mid East Info
Dubai Based MINT Market Launches Its Online Platform for the UAE's Favourite Homegrown Brands - Middle East Business News and Information
Finally, a Feel-Good Marketplace Where You Can Shop Local from the Couch Say goodbye to boring scrolls and hello to the UAE's freshest way to shop local as the MINT Market , the UAE's most beloved community market, is now launched online, making it easier than ever to shop thoughtfully and locally, anytime. What started as a heartfelt pop-up to support a friend's café has grown into a movement. MINT Market was born out of a love for small businesses and a desire to create meaningful spaces where creativity, connection, and conscious consumerism collide. After a string of sold-out community events, the demand was clear: shoppers wanted more than just a market day; they wanted MINT every day. And now, they've got it at Mint Market. ae , bringing the charm from the community pop-up straight to your fingertips. The online version of MINT Market brings together over 40 of the UAE's most exciting homegrown businesses across categories: think personalised kids' gifts, curated mum must-haves, hand-poured candles, sustainable fashion, beauty products, handcrafted homewares, beautifully bound books, and more. It's a digital treasure trove of the unique, the heartfelt, and the handmade. Unlike mass-market platforms, MINT Market stays true to its roots, with every brand handpicked for its originality, quality, and soul. It's not about what's trending; it's about what matters. The platform celebrates stories behind the products, and its digital experience mirrors the vibe of its in-person events: warm, inspiring, and full of 'Omg, where did you get that?' moments. MINT's magic lies in the human touch, and that hasn't changed. From behind-the-scenes maker moments to exclusive online drops and brand storytelling that brings you closer to the creators, every click on the site feels personal. It's less add-to-cart, more heart-to-heart. With every visit online, shoppers can expect special edition collections, first-access promotions, and a rolling calendar of new vendors joining the MINT family each month. More than a marketplace, MINT Market is a movement, one that champions homegrown talent and builds an ecosystem where small businesses can thrive. It's a little bit local, a little bit luxe, and a whole lot of love. So, whether you are hunting for the perfect gift, a conscious treat for yourself, or just want to support local creators doing cool things, MINT Market is your new favourite place to shop.
Cosmopolitan ME
02-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Cosmopolitan ME
Make way for ABIR – she's back and she's serving real music
Let's face it, music is a universal language. It crosses borders, timelines, and even identity. For Moroccan-American singer ABIR, it's the one place where she grooves two of her worlds: her roots and her love for creating dope music. Through music, she's found a space where both parts of herself don't just coexist, they amplify each other. Her voice blends that Arab soul with Western influence, the result? A sound that hits differently. From her breakout project, MINT, to her latest releases, First Quarter and The Tip Off, ABIR is officially back, and let's just say she's been cooking. A lot. Whether she's exploring love (major feels), identity, or the process of creative rebirth, her storytelling is just the right dose of vibe and boldness. Cosmo ME caught up with ABIR to talk about what she's been up to. From the four-year creative pause that made her stronger, the butterflies that come with falling in love, and even the mundane moments of her life that make her, well, ABIR. Cosmo ME: ABIR is back! During that four-year pause, were you able to find your groove again? Maybe find a new identity musically? Can you tell us more about that? ABIR: The pause wasn't so much intentional. It was just coming off the heat and the creative process that was the most intense. I was very passionate about that project and trying to make it come to life and find the right producers to work with. Even the process before I made it just to get to Mick Schultz, who I worked with on Heat, was super taxing. It paid off in the end, but it wasn't really working at first. So when I met Mick and we created Heat, we were on a time crunch. We wanted to get music out, we were so excited about it, and we didn't want to just drop one song and disappear again. We made that project over a year and a half. And then afterwards, we were so relieved. We were like, 'Oh my God, now we can just like take our time.' We put out music, we can take our time and create. And it was peak pandemic. So we were burned out, and so we started working on so many different ideas and in the end I just felt like–sometimes, some labels push you, you know? To create something that you might not want to create at that moment. Like, you know, the, the age old, 'We need a hit. We need a hit. We need a hit'. It was in our brains, and we were so over it. So I think we were just trying to create something. That could just fuel us again and give us that same passion that we had for making heat. And we ran into some, you know, issues, as you do in the creative process. Just trying to create something really magical and not just putting out anything. And then after that, I kind of went into a little bit of Country. I was trying to do like this Arab country thing for a little bit. And I was really excited about it. Super, super fun ideas. And we had like a whole project, but sometimes it's really just the business. Some clashes and trying to figure out how to keep everyone kind of like excited and, and all that good stuff. But in the end, I think it really paid off because now, where I'm at, I feel the most confident in what I'm releasing. And, I also feel that like–okay, we got, we got some major bangers coming! We've got some really exciting songs that I did not overthink, did not need the approval of so many different heads. And so, you know, it is just like music that you just create from your soul and your heart. And it reminds me of like why I do this. So I think that four-year stint or break was kind of like necessary to just kind of recalibrate and realign with like why I do what I do. Cosmo ME: I love that. Oh my God. Honestly, a mental health break? Absolutely necessary to refresh yourself, like we genuinely do need that. ABIR: Oh, I do wish it was a mental health break, but the entire four years were just spent making nonstop music that the world is probably never going to see, which is just, I think that's just what happens. But, all for good reasons, right? Because, like I said, I'm really excited about what I'm making. Just allowing the world to hear it. Cosmo ME: Now I'm kind of curious to like hear what music you created like during that four-year stint. ABIR: Like so many different things. Oh my God. Cosmo ME: That means your creative process is more fine-tuned. Can you tell us more about your creative process? ABIR: All the songs that are coming out now, I've written myself. Well, most of the songs in my career, I've actually written myself. And, usually, before the pandemic, you'd go into the studio and you'd be like working, you know, nonstop, like 14-hour days. But I think during the pandemic, I learned how to just work at home. And that paid off because now, the producer that I work with, an amazing producer named NES, and we're just able to create without any opinions. We're not in a time crunch like when we're in a studio where you only have it for a certain time. Like we can work nonstop, you know? So he'll send me some ideas, some starting ideas. We'll go back and forth, and then I'll just spend like the rest of my days thinking of the most epic melodies and stories that I feel like telling. And I also feel like with this round of music, there was way less overthinking. Like I was just kind of sharing what came to mind and what I was feeling in the exact moment, as opposed to like trying to make it all perfect, cookie-cutter needs to fit this or needs to fit that. I just wanted to express where I'm at this time, and how much I've grown, and I think it was so much easier to do that. I've become equipped with how to record myself, how to do everything from home, like and then go to a studio to professionally record it. But yeah, that's pretty, that's pretty much how the creative process is in comparison to like before. Cosmo ME: As a Moroccan, I'm sure your roots has also inspired your music. Is there any specific upbringing, storyline, memories, traditions, or sounds that you've embedded into your art? ABIR: That's a great question. I think my culture is just so vast and so beautiful, and there are so many different things that you can take from it. But from a sound wise, like Arabic music is Chef's Kiss. And also, you know, it's funny because I don't think I realised it then, but I am religious, and when I listen to the Quran, I don't think I put two and two together, but the way that the Quran is recited is so beautiful. I think I've like picked up on that a lot. And when I think of other senses, I feel like maybe the fashion. Like, I just love all the patterns, all the different textures that are in Moroccan culture. And I think over the years I've tried to utilise them in the best way I possibly can. I feel like it's really hard to explain outside of music because it just played the biggest role in kind of merging the cultures for me. Because my dad would always drive me to school and he'd play jazz music 'cause he was running a limousine company at the time. And he would have to play classical and jazz music. But then, when his shift was over, he was just jamming Arabic music. So, I was listening to Algerian music, Moroccan music, I was listening to Egyptian music. Just so many different music. I had access to so many different sounds that I feel like helped curate my palette. Cosmo ME: So music kind of runs in your family, then, in some sense? ABIR: As I was growing up, he was like, 'No, like focus on school. You could do this on the side.' And I'm like, you are the reason half of these things exist in my brain because of the music you used to play. So, he was like a music connoisseur. He had probably no idea, 'cause I was just always in the backseat, just mimicking whatever he was playing. Then the next day, I would be like, oh my God, I think I got it 'cause he would always replay the sonfs. You know how you have your favourite songs, you'd replay them. So, I'd be like, okay, now I know this one. I'll sing along, you know? Cosmo ME: So, when you were a child, what was your favourite song to listen to? ABIR: It's a song called Desert Rose by Sting featuring Cheb Mami. That was one of my favourites. Then there's this one by Cheb Mami, he's an Algerian Rai singer. My dad had this cassette that he would play, and it was just everything. You'd hear the way he creates the melodies, and even just the way he moves in between notes was so special to me. So I'd say that song, and then on the jazz front, Etta James was like one of my favourite artists growing up. Like when I say favourite, favourite! There's this song called I'd Rather Go Blind that my dad would play, and I would just be singing it. And also A Sunday Kind Of Love. Those were like the top three that were just in rotation. Cosmo ME: Now I wanted to ask what exactly is First Quarter? ABIR:. First Quarter is the first project of this year. It is a project that kind of embodies that first initial feeling when you fall in love and all the kinds of feelings that come with that. I feel like all of the songs that are on First Quarter really embody different feelings. So like, the first one that I dropped is Butterflies. Like I was saying from my creative process, I wrote that song in probably four hours, and I was just like going, going, going. I wasn't even thinking about anything. And then I sent it to my manager, and he like freaked out and he was like, 'This could be the best song you've ever written.' At that time, I had like only written three or four songs for the project, so that was like the beginning of something very exciting, and I was excited to release it first. Butterflies is about the feeling that you feel when you first fall in love. Those butterflies that come in your stomach and how you're not going to ignore them, and then Made 4 You is almost realising like, 'Oh no, I was definitely created for you and you were created for me.' I feel like you go through these phases first, which First Quarter talks about. Where you're kind of scared, you're vulnerable, which is the next track. I'm not going to spoil it, but you're like, for me specifically, I do have a little bit of pride that I've like worked through over the last few years and just like being super vulnerable 'cause iit's such a sacred thing and not everyone deserves it. So sometimes, you could run into the era of just meeting someone who does not deserve that. And then on the other front, you can meet someone who is absolutely like the perfect person for it. And I feel like the First Quarter kind of goes through all those ups and downs of like, 'Shoot, I like this person,' 'Wait, hold up. I can't be vulnerable yet.' And it's like, 'Wait. I'm made for you.' It's a weird thing that we go through, right? Cosmo ME: With the song, Butterflies, what's one lyric that you really, really took time to ponder over? The line that had the most impact on you? ABIR: Oh, this is a hard one. You know, there are two lines, but I'm going to say just one for now. I think it's 'You're supplying me with what I need to push the clouds away. Even the night feels like a sunny day.' When I was writing that, I was thinking of the first few lyrics of the second verse, and I just kept imagining like, 'Oh my God, I've landed on my pot of gold.' And I was kind of trying to create what a trance feels like. 'Cause you know, I'm like tripping over this person, and people talk about love being this drug, right? How do I create that image for people when they listen to the second verse, so that they literally feel that. And so I feel like those lyrics kind of helped me shape that image that I wanted to create. CosmoME: What about for Made 4 You? What's a line you're obsessed with? ABIR: Oh my God. I love every lyric I made for Made 4 You because it's just so divine. It feels so connected to something so, so bigger than me. And I kind of cough it up to this word in that we say in Arabic called maktub (مكتوب), which means 'It is written', and that everything that we experience in life is already written. And I think that goes the same for who you meet and who you end up with. It's like your souls are already created to be together before you're even alive. And, again, that's the spiritual, religious side of things. When you meet the right person, I just feel like that is divine timing. I do believe that. I already know which lyric it is. The first lyric of the song is my favourite because I feel like it's so confident. It's so loud about saying like 'Oh, no, no, no, no, I'm definitely a gift that heaven sent to you'. The line is, 'You must be God's favourite 'cause I'm not anything to play with.' Like, hello? He gifted you, me? He gave you my love? That kind of set the tone for the rest of the song and how I was going to speak about it. Cosmo ME: From Butterflies to your old songs, it's a complete 360 in my opinion. What inspired this new change in your music? ABIR: Yeah, I mean that four-year break put me through the ringer. I was just very determined to find something that made me passionate again. And it's funny how they always say, like you just said, it's a 360. It really goes back to like how I started music and where I started. Before I had even met my manager or started recording in his studio or any of that, I was doing R&B. Before I even moved to New York, a lot of where I started was doing R&B showcases in the city and trying to just get my music out there. And then eventually I kind of found this niche vibe, which was what we call Pop Soul. At the time, that was like the first two songs I had released Girls and Playground. And then you go down this like creative path where you sign with a label and you want to do justice to yourself as an artist and you want to create things that genuinely feel like you. But you also want to make sure that you're being a good partner and that you're growing in all the right ways. So, eventually, from Pop Soul, it became Pop and then it became Arab Pop. And now I feel like it had to come home. So now I've kind of done everything that I can to fuse it into where I started and what I feel like comes naturally to me. Cosmo ME: I wanted to ask, all this talk about love, all this talk about romance, with Butterflies, and with Made 4 You, in a few simple words, what is love for you right now? ABIR: Love to me is a safe place. I feel that to really feel and be in love, you have to feel safe. And I think that, over everything else, like over the butterflies in your stomach feeling, over all that other stuff. If someone can make you feel safe to be who you are and to express yourself and communicate, and just really just be, I feel like that is love and it doesn't even have to be just relationships. It could be within friendships. It could be within than just like your family. If you have a safe place with someone, that's love. Cosmo ME: Okay. Considering your songs and your experiences, what are your green flags and red flags? ABIR: Hmm, I'll start with the red flags because they're easier. Like I said, I used to have a little bit of pride when it came to expressing my feelings and communicating. I'd be like, okay, let me just keep that to myself. I'd bring it down and hide it. That could be a red flag because I wouldn't always express what I was really feeling in the moment. Then there's the opposite side of that. Once I do express myself, you probably won't hear the end of it. If you cross me or make me feel some type of way, I will let you know. Most of the time, I offer grace when things happen. But there are moments, days even, where if you catch me at the wrong time, I don't think about the situation as a whole. I just focus on what I'm feeling. That's probably not the best. When I was younger, my most toxic trait was putting work above everything. I was extremely committed. Now, I think I have way more balance. This one's a bit intense… but I love to eat. Like, really love to eat. If I cook something, I'm going into the fridge later to eat the leftovers. Without a doubt. Leftovers are genuinely that good. Another red flag is that I really don't like texting. I need a call or FaceTime, and I know not everyone has time for that. Now for green flags. I think they kind of overlap. I express myself clearly now, so you'll always know what I'm feeling. That helps when things come up and you need to talk them through. I'm not avoidant. Another green flag is that I'm a great cook. I love cooking for the people I love. I'll make all the meals, but I'm also definitely eating the leftovers. I won't be sending you home with a plate. Just kidding. Another green flag is that I'll write songs about you. I'm family-oriented. I love my family and staying connected. And I take accountability. That's a big one. If you call me out, I will take accountability,
Cision Canada
01-07-2025
- Business
- Cision Canada
TraceLink's MINT Named "Supply Chain Transparency Solution of the Year" in 2025 SupplyTech Breakthrough Awards
The award recognizes MINT for enabling real-time, end-to-end visibility across critical supply chain transactions and processes BOSTON, July 1, 2025 /CNW/ -- TraceLink, the largest end-to-end digital network platform for intelligent supply chain orchestration, today announced that its Multienterprise Information Network Tower (MINT) solution has been named "Supply Chain Transparency Solution of the Year" in the 2025 SupplyTech Breakthrough Awards. The award recognizes MINT for advancing digital transformation in supply chain operations and enabling fully digitalized, integrated, and agile supply chains worldwide. MINT digitalizes global supply chains using TraceLink's proven network and its powerful B2N Integrate-Once™ capability to orchestrate end-to-end business transactions across commerce, direct supply, external manufacturing, logistics, transportation, and other complex multienterprise processes. Using pre-built integrations with leading procurement and supply chain hubs such as GHX and Ariba, MINT rapidly accelerates customers' time-to-value by radically reducing integration complexity. Powered by the industry's only no-code Orchestration Platform for Universal Solutions (OPUS), MINT enables a fundamental shift towards process and partner visibility while creating the continuously-flowing, real-time network data required for GenAI transformation. "Supply chains are subject to a wide range of dynamic challenges that demand reliable, sustainable, and metadata-driven network orchestration solutions," said Shabbir Dahod, President and CEO of TraceLink. "With MINT, we're offering scalable and affordable integration and data exchange across 100% of our customers' end-to-end trade partner network, including biopharmaceutical and medical device manufacturers, pharmacies, hospitals, wholesalers, 3PLs, CMOs, and materials suppliers. It is only through an end-to-end approach that measurable business outcomes like increased agility, improved operational efficiency, and ultimately, enhanced patient safety can be delivered." MINT's winning approach to network integration is simple: to participate, no customer or trading partner needs to change, modify, or retire their existing enterprise system or process. Through the use of TraceLink's proven B2N Integrate-Once ™ universal integration capability, companies exchange data in any desired format (e.g., EDI [ANSI X12, EDIFACT], SAP IDoc, CSV, etc.), using any preferred method of data exchange, including B2B [AS2, SFTP, SMTP, HTTPS], API, email, or UI. This flexibility is even further enhanced through OPUS Link Actions and transforms, which companies leverage as pre-built connectors with many ERP systems such as NetSuite and Microsoft Dynamics. By enabling all companies to participate on the network using their existing tools and capabilities, TraceLink empowers customers to build their own GenAI-ready foundation for intelligent supply chain agents. With MINT, organizations gain actionable insights that improve revenue predictability, optimize inventory, and drive agile, resilient growth. The SupplyTech Breakthrough Awards, conducted annually by Tech Breakthrough, honor the top technology companies, solutions, and products across the global supply chain industry. The program aims to highlight the most innovative and impactful advancements in supply chain technology and services. TraceLink continues to set the standard for leadership and innovation in supply chain orchestration. To learn more about TraceLink and its solutions, please visit: About TraceLink TraceLink Inc. is the largest end-to-end intelligent supply chain platform for life sciences and healthcare, enabling end-to-end orchestration by connecting more than 291,000 healthcare and life sciences entities through its B2N Integrate-Once™ network. Leading businesses trust TraceLink to deliver complete global connectivity, visibility, and traceability of healthcare products, ensuring that every patient gets the medicines they need when needed, safely and securely. To learn more, visit
