UAE: Dr U T Ifthikar Ali among others honored at Conference on Innovation in Rehabilitation Practice and Medicine

Media Release
September 15, 2019

Ajman, Sept 15: Thumbay Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation Hospital, the biggest state-of-the-art hospital for physical therapy and rehabilitation conducted the ‘2nd International Annual Conference on Innovation in Rehabilitation Practice and Medicine’, at Thumbay Medicity, on the 13th and 14th of September 2019.

The conference was attended by renowned international speakers and experts who shared their insights and concepts on the latest and emerging trends in Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation, before an audience of more than 250 people including leading surgeons, physiotherapists and other medical professionals from the region. Accredited by the UAE Ministry of Health and Prevention for 15 CME Hours, the conference was organized to mark the occasion of World Physiotherapy Day.

His Excellency Sheikh Dr. Majid bin Saeed Al Nuaimi, Chairman of the Ruler's Court, Ajman, was the chief guest of the presentation ceremony. Dr. Thumbay Moideen, the Founder President of Thumbay Group presided. 

His Excellency Sheikh Dr. Majid bin Saeed Al Nuaimi commended Dr. Thumbay Moideen for setting up Thumbay Medicity; a world-class hub of medical education, healthcare and research. “Thumbay Medicity is one of the most prestigious projects in Ajman. We are proud to have a project of this magnitude here. This will have multiple effects on our economy,” His Excellency said.

H.E. Sheikh Dr. Majid bin Saeed Al Nuaimi presented special awards of honor and recognition to the following leading physical therapy and rehabilitation experts: 

•    Dr. Franco Molteni - Director, Hospital Valduce Villa Beretta Rehabilitation Center, Costa Masnaga, Lecco, Italy.

•    Dr. U. T. Ifthikar Ali - Professor of Physiotherapy and Syndicate member of Rajiv Gandhi University of Health Sciences, Karnataka, India

•    Dr. Yacine Zerguini – Medical Director and Owner of FMCE Algiers - a fully accredited FIFA Medical Center of Excellence.
    
Dr. Franco Molteni said that he was pleased to receive such an important recognition, in acknowledgement of the value of his work. About Thumbay Medicity, he said that it was a unique campus combining academics with healthcare, where physical therapy occupies an important role. “Thumbay Physical Therapy & Rehabilitation Hospital, located within the multidisciplinary environment of Thumbay Medicity, has the right kind of atmosphere to promote the growth of physical therapy & rehabilitation as a discipline. The Long Term Care facility at Thumbay University Hospital is significant in that it is housed within one of the biggest acute care hospitals, with impressive facilities in terms of building, space and technology,” he added.

Dr. U. T. Ifthikar said that he was honored to attend the conference and receive the award for the second consecutive year. “This conference brings together global experts and leading companies in the field of Physical Therapy to discuss and showcase the latest technological innovations, as well as the way forward. This is in fact a forum for professionals and experts from different countries to interact and share ideas, which is good for the future of the discipline,” he explained. “Of all the hospitals of physical therapy and rehabilitation that I’ve visited around the world, I’ve felt that Thumbay Physical Therapy & Rehabilitation Center is unique, considering its facilities, the wide range of therapies available, technological superiority and its visionary leadership. Furthermore, for students of Bachelor’s and Master’s programs in physical therapy, it enriches their knowledge and experience as they train in facilities like this,” he said.

Dr. Yacine Zerguini said, “The conference was really amazing. I was really impressed by the programs, the quality of the discussions and the attendance. I also visited the Thumbay Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation Hospital, and found it to be an outstanding facility. I think it is a wonderful idea to have the Thumbay Rehabilitation Hospital, Thumbay University Hospital and the Gulf Medical University under one roof, giving Thumbay Medicity the potential to do plenty of things in healthcare and education, in the field of physical therapy. 

One of the most advanced physical therapy and rehabilitation facilities in the region, Thumbay Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation Hospital (TPTRH) boasts state-of-the-art technology, futuristic facilities, cutting-edge research and advanced learning. Innovation is one of the key features of the hospital. State-of-the-art rehabilitation treatment is delivered through advanced technology like virtual reality. The hospital operates in collaboration with internationally renowned Villa Beretta Rehabilitation Center, Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Valduce Hospital, Italy. It is attached to the 500-bed Thumbay University Hospital at Thumbay Medicity, with a 100-bed Long Term Care and Rehabilitation Unit, as well as a Therapeutic Garden for faster and holistic recovery. The hospital has a stroke unit with uniquely developed protocols guiding the treatment modalities and cutting-edge stroke rehabilitation technology such as the robotic exoskeleton.

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News Network
December 5,2025

Mangaluru: In a significant step to curb online hate and intimidation, Mangaluru City Police have registered a suo motu case against multiple Instagram accounts accused of circulating alleged provocative and threatening content.

While monitoring social media activity on Tuesday, Kankanady Town PSI Anitha Nikkam identified the Instagram handle ‘team_targetttt_900’ for posting a hate message alongside images of lethal weapons. Another account, ‘team_nagara_900’, allegedly shared a threatening post targeting activist Bharath Kumdelu, tagging additional pages such as KARAVALI-OFFICIAL.

Several other accounts — including ‘immu_bhai.fan’, ‘target_boy_900’, ‘kings_of_manglore’, ‘team_target_boys.900’, ‘arshad_mangalore’, ‘target_ka19_ullal’, ‘team_target__’, ‘troll_tigersz_900’, ‘tr_group_900’, and ‘team_target_900’ — are also under scrutiny for spreading similar inflammatory material, police said.

Authorities have urged citizens, especially young social media users, to report suspicious pages and avoid engaging with groups that glorify violence or threaten individuals. Online hate can quickly escalate into real-world harm, and police stress that sharing or promoting such content can attract legal consequences.

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News Network
December 7,2025

Mangaluru, Dec 7: A 34-year-old fruit and vegetable trader in Mangaluru has reportedly lost ₹33.1 lakh after falling victim to an online investment scam run through a fake mobile app.

Police said the scam began in September, when the victim received a link on Facebook. Clicking it connected him to a WhatsApp number, where an unidentified person introduced a high-return investment scheme and instructed him to download an app.

To build trust, the fraudster asked him to invest ₹30,000 on September 24. The trader soon received ₹34,000 as “profit,” convincing him the scheme was genuine. Over the next two months, he transferred money in multiple instalments via Google Pay and IMPS to different scanner codes and bank accounts shared by the scammers. Between September 24 and December 3, he ended up sending a total of ₹33.1 lakh.

When he later requested a refund of his investment and promised returns, the scammers demanded additional payments, claiming he needed to pay a “service tax” first. Even after he paid a small amount, no money was returned, and the scammers continued pressuring him for more.

A case has been registered at the CEN Crime Police Station.

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News Network
December 7,2025

SHRIMP.jpg

Mangaluru, Dec 7: A rare bamboo shrimp has been rediscovered on mainland India more than 70 years after it was last reported, confirming for the first time the presence of Atyopsis spinipes in the country. The find was made by researchers from the Centre for Climate Change Studies at Sathyabama Institute of Science and Technology, Chennai, during surveys in Karnataka and Odisha.

The team — shrimp expert Dr S Prakash, PhD scholar K Kunjulakshmi, and Mangaluru-based researcher Maclean Antony Santos — combined field surveys, ecological assessments and DNA analysis to identify the elusive species. Their findings, published in Zootaxa, resolve decades of taxonomic confusion stemming from a 1951 report that misidentified the species as Atyopsis moluccensis without strong evidence.

The shrimp has now been confirmed at two locations: the Mulki–Pavanje estuary near Mangaluru and the Kuakhai River in Bhubaneswar. Historical specimens from the Andaman Islands, previously labelled as A. moluccensis, were also found to be misidentified and actually belong to A. spinipes.

The rediscovery began after an aquarium hobbyist in Odisha spotted a shrimp in 2022, prompting systematic surveys across Udupi, Karwar and Mangaluru. Four female specimens were collected in Mulki and one in Odisha, all genetically matching.

Researchers warn the species may exist in very small, vulnerable populations as freshwater habitats face increasing pressure from pollution, sand mining and infrastructure development. All verified specimens have been deposited with the Zoological Survey of India for future reference.

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