Latest news with #Virtue
Web Release
03-07-2025
- Business
- Web Release
Virtue PR Study Predicts ‘Mind-Made' Limited Editions Services to Define Premium Business Offerings in the AI Era
A new study by Virtue PR, a leading PR agency in Dubai, forecasts a dramatic shift in the value of human-driven expertise. In the next decade, 'Mind-Made' products—those crafted by human intellect, strategic thinking, and creativity—will emerge as premium services in an era increasingly dominated by artificial intelligence. Founded nearly two decades ago, Virtue PR has been at the crossroads of two transformative ages—when press releases were still physically dispatched via courier companies to global media outlets, and the rise of the digital revolution that reshaped the PR industry. This unique positioning has allowed the company to evolve with time while maintaining a commitment to authentic and high-value communication in the world of premium PR services. The study draws a compelling analogy between the pre-industrial revolution, when Hand-Made craftsmanship was the pinnacle of quality, and today's digital revolution, where Mind-Made services—crafted by human intelligence, experience, and storytelling—are becoming the new luxury. Firas Sleem, CEO of Virtue PR, explains: 'Before the industrial revolution, 'Hand-Made' meant craftsmanship, exclusivity, and superior quality. Today, we are witnessing the Fourth Industrial Revolution, where artificial intelligence is rapidly replacing human labour. But just as 'Hand-Made' products became luxury goods in a world of mass production, 'Mind-Made' services—those built on human intellect, creativity, and insight—will be the most sought-after in the AI era.' The Virtue PR study highlights key industries where 'Mind-Made' services will hold unparalleled value: PR & Strategic Communications – AI can generate press releases, but only human expertise can shape narratives that influence markets, build reputation, and drive real engagement. Luxury & High-End Consulting – Just as elite brands distinguish themselves through craftsmanship, premium PR will be defined by expertise, not automation. Executive & Crisis Management – In the digital age, reputation is everything. Businesses need human intelligence, ethical judgment, and emotional nuance—not algorithmic responses. Creative Branding & Storytelling – AI can produce content, but it cannot craft compelling brand stories that resonate on a human level. Virtue, a PR firm based in Dubai that has navigated PR's evolution for over 18 years is now blending timeless PR principles with cutting-edge innovation to deliver results that are both strategic and deeply human. The study serves as a wake-up call for businesses and brands navigating a digital-first world. While AI is a powerful tool, organizations that invest in 'Mind-Made' expertise will differentiate themselves in the marketplace. 'As companies look to maintain credibility and trust in an AI-saturated world, the firms that prioritize human intelligence, creativity, and emotional connection will lead the way,' Sleem added. 'Virtue PR has always stood for this philosophy—delivering strategic, premium, and high-impact communication that no AI can replicate.' Virtue PR is a top PR agency in Dubai, specializing in high-level corporate communications, brand storytelling, crisis management, and strategic reputation building. The agency continues to shape the PR industry with bold, human-driven narratives that set brands apart.
Mid East Info
02-07-2025
- Business
- Mid East Info
Virtue PR Study Predicts ‘Mind-Made' Limited Editions Services to Define Premium Business Offerings in the AI Era
As AI disrupts industries, human expertise becomes the new luxury—Virtue PR's latest research unveils the rise of 'Mind-Made' solutions Dubai, UAE, July 2025: A new study by Virtue PR, a leading PR agency in Dubai, forecasts a dramatic shift in the value of human-driven expertise. In the next decade, 'Mind-Made' products—those crafted by human intellect, strategic thinking, and creativity—will emerge as premium services in an era increasingly dominated by artificial intelligence. Founded nearly two decades ago, Virtue PR has been at the crossroads of two transformative ages—when press releases were still physically dispatched via courier companies to global media outlets, and the rise of the digital revolution that reshaped the PR industry. This unique positioning has allowed the company to evolve with time while maintaining a commitment to authentic and high-value communication in the world of premium PR services. The study draws a compelling analogy between the pre-industrial revolution, when Hand-Made craftsmanship was the pinnacle of quality, and today's digital revolution, where Mind-Made services—crafted by human intelligence, experience, and storytelling—are becoming the new luxury. Firas Sleem, CEO of Virtue PR, explains: 'Before the industrial revolution, 'Hand-Made' meant craftsmanship, exclusivity, and superior quality. Today, we are witnessing the Fourth Industrial Revolution, where artificial intelligence is rapidly replacing human labour. But just as 'Hand-Made' products became luxury goods in a world of mass production, 'Mind-Made' services—those built on human intellect, creativity, and insight—will be the most sought-after in the AI era.' The Virtue PR study highlights key industries where 'Mind-Made' services will hold unparalleled value: PR & Strategic Communications – AI can generate press releases, but only human expertise can shape narratives that influence markets, build reputation, and drive real engagement. Luxury & High-End Consulting – Just as elite brands distinguish themselves through craftsmanship, premium PR will be defined by expertise, not automation. Executive & Crisis Management – In the digital age, reputation is everything. Businesses need human intelligence, ethical judgment, and emotional nuance—not algorithmic responses. Creative Branding & Storytelling – AI can produce content, but it cannot craft compelling brand stories that resonate on a human level. Virtue, a PR firm based in Dubai that has navigated PR's evolution for over 18 years is now blending timeless PR principles with cutting-edge innovation to deliver results that are both strategic and deeply human. The study serves as a wake-up call for businesses and brands navigating a digital-first world. While AI is a powerful tool, organizations that invest in 'Mind-Made' expertise will differentiate themselves in the marketplace. 'As companies look to maintain credibility and trust in an AI-saturated world, the firms that prioritize human intelligence, creativity, and emotional connection will lead the way,' Sleem added. 'Virtue PR has always stood for this philosophy—delivering strategic, premium, and high-impact communication that no AI can replicate.' Virtue PR is a top PR agency in Dubai, specializing in high-level corporate communications, brand storytelling, crisis management, and strategic reputation building. The agency continues to shape the PR industry with bold, human-driven narratives that set brands apart.
Graziadaily
29-05-2025
- Lifestyle
- Graziadaily
This Is How To Get Perfect Beach Waves At Home In Three Easy Steps
As a certified beauty junkie, I am diligent about certain things: I use the two-finger rule to apply SPF everyday, I wash my make-up brushes regularly and I gua sha nightly, but my high-maintenance approach stops at my hair. I wash it twice a week (and would do it less if I could), I avoid heat styling where I can, and I keep product use to the bare minimum. You won't find any fancy scalp exfoliants, bond builders or gloss-givers in my bathroom cabinet. My lazy-girl approach isn't for everyone, but it's helped me to discover fool-proof hacks that save time and require minimal effort, all while maintaining hair health. In fact, I've recently come to rely on a simple three-step hack that lends the kind of beachy look that will see me through summer. All you need? Two products and a plait. For context, I have thick, medium dense, XXL strands that fall into the category of type 2 waves. My low-fi approach wasn't always so, for years I had masked my natural texture with straighteners and hair thinning cuts to make things appear more 'manageable' and 'put together'. Stumbling upon the Curly Girl Method in 2019 gave me all the confidence I needed to shift my mindset. I adopted specific wash days, used curl activators and gels, and bought a diffuser; my type 2C S-waves flourished like never before. But in the end, even that became too laborious. I thought I met my match with heatless curlers, but the effort of intricately and evenly weaving my hair around a satin rod, which always left my roots looking a bit funky, felt bothersome, too. Three steps to heatless effortless beach waves My new three-step routine is the happy medium and it starts with freshly washed hair. Post-evening shower, step one sees me towel-dry my hair before applying Fable & Mane's MahaMane™ Leave-In Conditioner, £28, which is without a doubt the best leave-in product I've ever used- trust me, I've gone through five bottles of the stuff since it launched in 2023. The all-rounder detangles, protects against heat and UV, and nourishes with a cocktail of moisture-boosting aloe vera, antioxidant-rich amla and elasticity-enhancing red hibiscus extracts, which together condition, strengthen and soften hair to prevent breakage. The milky mist provides ample hydration without weighing roots and lengths down, and scents hair with a warm blend of saffron, rose damascena and sandalwood, to create the perfect base for natural styling. Step two introduces oil into the mix. Applying oil to damp, towel-dried hair allows the product to penetrate into the hair shaft effectively while helping to lock in moisture. It's also great for detangling and sealing over cuticles for a smoother look. I use this step to treat my hair and reach for Virtue's Healing Oil, £42. Pouring a few drops into my hands before warming between my palms, I apply the oil to the mid sections and ends of my hair. The clever oil combines the brand's patented bio-identical keratin protein Alpha Keratin 60ku , which can directly bind to damaged areas of the hair to repair, with antioxidant vitamin E, strengthening Tahitian gardenia flower extract, and environmental damage-shielding Kalahari melon seed oil. While rich and hard-working as far as ingredient quality in concerned, the oil is super fluid, featherweight and glides over lengths for a glossy-never-greasy finish that always helps my waves to look lustrous by morning. Continuing the theme of good smelling haircare, this oil is infused with a functional fragrance blend of creamy coconut and tropical yuzu extracts, which tend to hair while making it smell delicious. The final step requires two braids and I'm not talking fishtails, French or any other type of complex braid pattern. Just two very simple pigtails. I part my hair down the centre and tie either sides of my hair into two separate plaits. Once tied, I go to bed with ever so slightly damp hair. Come morning all that's left to do is unbraid, run through with my fingers and go. Consider this hack lazy girl-approved. Beauty writer Sameeha Shaikh with overnight heatless braided curls 1. Fable & Mane's MahaMane™ Leave-In Conditioner Price: £28 What the brand says: 'Instantly detangle, protect and moisturize hair with this lightweight leave-in conditioner.' What we know: Fable & Mane looks to ingredients, rituals and techniques based in the ancient principles of Ayurveda, so you'll find hydrating aloe vera, conditioning amla and shine-giving red hibiscus extracts in this milky mist. Sameeha Shaikh, beauty writer, says: 'This is without a doubt the best leave-in product I've used – trust me, I've gone through five bottles of the stuff since it launched in 2023. The all-rounder detangles, protects against heat and UV, and nourishes with a cocktail of moisture-boosting aloe vera, antioxidant-rich amla and elasticity-enhancing red hibiscus extracts, which together condition, strengthen and soften hair to prevent breakage. The milky mist provides ample hydration without weighing roots and lengths down, and scents hair with a warm blend of saffron, rose damascena and sandalwood, to create the perfect base for natural styling.' Pros Delicately scented Weightless hydration Cons Spray nozzle can spritz unevenly once most of the product is used 2. Virtue Healing Oil Price: £42 What the brand says: 'Created with all hair types in mind, it's the ultimate multi-tasker, delivering the shine, softness, and moisturizing you'd expect from a hair oil and the damage repair, strengthening, and environmental protection that only our bio-identical protein can provide.' What we know: Virtue's clever biotech-first approach means the brand has cooked up its own bio-identical keratin protein, which can bind directly to damaged areas of the hair to repair. A combination of this patented Alpha Keratin 60ku® protein and pure, hydrating oils make this product a failsafe for all hair types. Sameeha Shaikh, beauty writer, says: 'While rich and hardworking as far as ingredient quality in concerned, this oil is super fluid, featherweight and glides over lengths for a glossy-never-greasy finish that always helps my waves to look lustrous. It is also infused with a functional fragrance blend of creamy coconut and tropical yuzu extracts, which tend to hair while making it smell delicious.' Pros Lightweight, hydrating oil Dropper makes it easy to use and leak-proof Cons Sameeha Shaikh is Grazia's beauty writer, covering all categories to bring you insights on the latest trends, industry news and the products you need to know about, viral or not (most probably viral) .
Yahoo
16-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Afghan refugees deserve better than a one-way ticket back to the cruelty they left behind
Earlier this month, the United Nations published its latest update on human rights in Afghanistan. Here are a few of the findings: On Feb. 23, 18 people were flogged for 'crimes' ranging from homosexuality to extramarital affairs. They then received sentences of between one and five years in prison. On March 3, 'Propagation of Virtue and Prevention of Vice' agents made a surprise visit to a hospital and ordered staff not to attend women who weren't accompanied by a male relative. Between Jan. 17 and Feb. 3, 50 men from the Ismaili community were abducted and interrogated on religious subjects. Those who refused to convert to Sunni Islam were beaten and threatened with death. This is Afghanistan under Taliban rule, and it is where the Trump administration plans to send Afghans who are now living safely in the United States. The Department of Homeland Security recently published a news release stating that the Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for Afghans in the U.S. will expire on May 20 and be terminated on July 12. The order means that over 9,000 Afghans will be vulnerable to deportation. According to DHS Secretary Kristi Noem: 'Afghanistan has had an improved security situation, and its stabilizing economy no longer prevent[s] them from returning to their home country.' The per-capita gross domestic product in Afghanistan's 'stabilizing' economy is around $415 — nearly 200 times lower than in the United States. The Afghan economy has only 'stabilized' after a period of immense economic pain due to the suspension of foreign aid and sanctions on the financial sector following the Taliban's return to power. Billions of dollars in Afghan central bank assets remain frozen, and the United States doesn't recognize the Taliban as the legitimate government. 'We've reviewed the conditions in Afghanistan with our interagency partners,' Noem says, 'and they do not meet the requirements for a TPS designation.' There's no group more deserving of TPS than the Afghans who are now on the fast track to deportation. The idea that 'conditions in Afghanistan' have improved so dramatically that the United States has to send Afghans back to one of the most impoverished and tyrannical countries on Earth — where they will instantly have targets on their backs for fleeing to America — is worse than absurd. It will put thousands of people who sought refuge in the United States in grave danger and condemn them to lives of fear and oppression. Reprisal killings are a permanent feature of Taliban-controlled Afghanistan. Former Afghan National Security Forces (ANSF) and government officials were repeatedly targeted between Jan. 1 and March 31. The United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan documented 23 instances of arbitrary arrest and detention, as well as torture, abuse and killings of former ANSF members. The CEO of AfghanEvac (which helps the U.S.' Afghan allies and other refugees relocate), Shawn VanDiver, observes that the returning Afghans won't be safe: 'By nature of them having been in the United States of America for the last three and a half years, they're now in danger.' The entirety of the Trump administration's approach to Afghan refugees has been a national disgrace. On the day Trump took office, he signed an executive order that suspended the U.S. Refugee Admissions Program, an order that prevented Afghans from moving to America — including those who were in the final stages of the arduous approval process. He also rescinded funding for Special Immigrant Visas, which Afghan employees of the United States received. In February, Military Times reported on 'U.S. service members whose families are stuck in Afghanistan,' and who have 'shared stories of individuals being hunted — and in some cases murdered — prior to evacuating.' One of these soldiers, an Afghan who immigrated to the U.S. and joined the Army, said the Trump administration's order prevented his sister from escaping Afghanistan. Many of the soldier's other family members have relocated to the United States, and two of his brothers also worked with the U.S. military during the war — which puts his sister in even greater peril. There are many similar stories — an Afghan interpreter who worked with the United States is concerned for his family's safety. A former captain in the Afghan National Army who worked with the U.S. military says his mother, five brothers and three sisters all fear for their lives in Afghanistan. The Taliban shot his brother. As the Trump administration eliminates TPS for Afghans, it has enacted a policy to take in white South Africans who say they confront racial persecution. As Afghans who face the possibility of torture and murder confront imminent deportation, the images of refugees from South Africa arriving in the United States make for a striking contrast. Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau went to Dulles Airport and told the new arrivals: 'I want you all to know that you are really welcome here.' They were flown in on a plane chartered by the State Department. This is the height of cynicism. It isn't just the conspicuous exception for a group that happens to be white, and whose situation is an obsession of Trump's biggest financial backer — Elon Musk, who is originally from South Africa and has claimed that a 'genocide' is being perpetrated against Afrikaners. It's the vast discrepancy in how the Afrikaners have been treated compared to all other groups of immigrants — while the Trump administration is sending Afghans back to a country where they could be killed, the administration doesn't even ask its preferred immigrants to fly commercial. The administration is daring critics to attack the U.S. flag-waving South African families who by all indications came to America for the same reason as so many others — to seek a better life. Those families should be embraced just like any other group of new Americans. But this doesn't change the fact that the Afrikaners are being used as political props. Sen. Mike Lee, R-Utah, posted a video of the new arrivals waving flags and said: 'Take note: They're flying *our* flag.' What's his point? Every U.S. naturalization ceremony — for new citizens from around the world — is a sea of American flags. Meanwhile, Afghans who served in or with the U.S. military are desperately struggling to get their families to safety in the United States. Americans owe a special debt to our Afghan partners, who served honorably in and alongside our armed forces and trusted the United States to stand by them instead of abandoning their country to the Taliban. The Trump administration's decision to betray the Afghans who thought they were safe on American soil is an act of supreme cruelty and callousness. Our Afghan friends don't deserve a one-way ticket back to the theocracy they left behind — they deserve to be Americans. This article was originally published on
Yahoo
08-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Jennifer Garner's secret to 'thick, strong and vibrant' hair is nearly 40% off
Jennifer Garner has always been the definition of 'hair goals' and we finally know the secret behind her gorgeous, healthy, swingy locks. The A-lister has called the Virtue Labs Healing Oil one of her favorite products because it makes her hair 'thick, strong, and vibrant." Even better? This celeb-loved wonder is available on Amazon — and it's 36% off right now. Her secret's out, and our strands are ready for their glow-up. If you're dealing with weak and brittle hair, you know how much confidence it can take away — and how powerful it feels to get that confidence back. This tiny bottle is packed with a powerhouse of ingredients that aim to strengthen your locks and make them more lustrous. It heels split ends, it protects from pollution and UV rays — all that should cost a pretty penny, so we're swooning over the sale price of $29. Garner breaks it down for us. She once told the Strategist, "My hair had started to thin from aging and having babies.' She credits this product for transforming her hair and bringing it back to life, thanks to its main ingredient, Alpha Keratin 60Ku. It's a protein that, according to the brand, binds to your hair's damaged and weak points and fills them in, to strengthen and repair. The lightweight, serum-like formula is packed with other potent ingredients like Kalahari melon seed oil, vitamin E and Tahitian gardenia flower extract that work together to nourish and hydrate hair and protect it from environmental damage like pollution or UV light. Users say you'll see an increase in thickness, shine and color vibrancy, as well as a decrease in split ends and frizz when you use the oil. Garner loves the healing oil so much, she's become an ambassador for the brand after being introduced to it by her longtime hairstylist Adir Abergel, who also happens to be the Creative Director of the brand. The oil has a light coconut scent, which Jennifer described as smelling 'better than perfume,' and it won't leave your hair feeling greasy or weighted down. And it's not just Jennifer who is a fan. Reese Witherspoon and Anne Hathaway have also used the hair oil to prep their tresses for red carpet events, and hundreds of Amazon shoppers swear by it too! Hundreds of tress-obsessed reviewers say this serum has given new life to their locks. Pros 👍 One five-star reviewer called it "liquid gold for my hair" before adding, "I have highlighted waist-length hair and can put it on my hair three or four times a day and never oily or heavy. My hair is in the best condition it's ever been in thanks to Virtue healing oil!" "Amazing results," said a well-tressed shopper. "This is the best hair oil I've been able to find and I've tried a lot of them, but always end up going back to this one. It really does soften the ends and create a healthier feel. It's easier to brush through my hair and detangle. It is a small bottle, but it lasts a while!" "Brought life back into my brittle hair," another strand stan proclaimed. "My hair has gone back to feeling healthy and looks smooth and shiny. This is now part of my daily routine from here on out!" Cons 👎 While the formula has few detractors, the bottle isn't a favorite of some reviewers. "I took off a star because the cap doesn't come off to let you use the pump. I had to unscrew it and tap it into my hand. I love the formula and the smell though I haven't used it long enough to notice an improvement in the health of my hair," said one reviewer. "This oil smells great, also it adsorbs well, and is not greasy at all. And I do feel like it fills in the hair where it's damaged so bad, said another frustrated fan. "I would have given it five stars if it had a pump. It's annoying to have the dropper top, and I won't take the top off because I would be worried I would spill it." Ready to see what all the hype is about? Snag a bottle for yourself. If you have Amazon Prime, you'll get free shipping, of course. Not yet a member? No problem. You can sign up for your free 30-day trial here. (And by the way, those without Prime still get free shipping on orders of $35 or more.) The reviews quoted above reflect the most recent versions at the time of publication
