Gulf Times Community Newspaper (page 8)

P6
Community
Celebrating
the ten-year
anniversary of
global dance producers,
a one-of-its-kind event in
Qatar will bring world’s
best disc-jockey Tiesto.
P20
Community
Qatar
Philharmonic
Orchestra has
come out with its detailed
programme, ushering in a
new season of classical
music performances in Doha.
Thursday, January 14, 2016
Rabia II 4, 1437 AH
DOHA
14°C—22°C TODAY
New
hope
Researchers bring gene
editing to patients with
deadly diseases. P4-5
COVER
STORY
LIFESTYLE/HOROSCOPE 13
PUZZLES 14 & 15
2
GULF TIMES Thursday, January 14, 2016
COMMUNITY
ROUND & ABOUT
PRAYER TIME
Fajr
Shorooq (sunrise)
Zuhr (noon)
Asr (afternoon)
Maghreb (sunset)
Isha (night)
5.01am
6.21am
11.43am
2.44pm
5.06pm
6.36pm
USEFUL NUMBERS
Emergency
999
Worldwide Emergency Number
112
Kahramaa – Electricity and Water
991
Ooredoo Telephone Assistance
111
Local Directory
180
International Calls Enquires
150
Time
141, 140
Doha International Airport
40106666
Labor Department
44508111, 44406537
Medical Commission
44679111
Mowasalat Taxi
44588888
Qatar Airways
44496000
Weather Forecast
44656590
Hamad Medical Corporation
44392222
44393333
Qatar General Electricity and
Water Corporation
44845555
44845464
Primary Health Care Corporation
44593333
44593363
Qatar Assistive Technology
Centre
44594050
Qatar News Agency
44450205
44450333
Q-Post – General Postal
Corporation
44464444
Qatar University
44033333
EVENTS
Aspire Aquathon Series
DATE: Until Feb 20
VENUE: Hamad Aquatics Centre
You can join this popular
combination of swimming and
running sport race, organised by
Aspire Zone Foundation in Hamad
Aquatics Centre pool facility and
around the Aspire Zone precinct.
Entry fees: QR 20. Entry is open for
all ages and talents, aged 8 years and
above. Adult groups will run for 5km
and swim 500m long, while kids will
run between 1.5 - 3 km and swim
between 100-200m long, according to
their age group.
Falcons and Hunting
Festival
DATE: Until January 30
VENUE: Sabkhat
Marmi — Sealine
Al-Gannas Society is
hosting the seventh edition
of Qatar International
Falcons and Hunting
Festival.
This international
competition, deeply rooted
in Qatar’s culture and
traditions, is showcasing
some of the most beautiful
and well-trained falcons.
ote Unquote
u
Q A mind lively
and at ease, can do with
seeing nothing, and can see
nothing that does not answer.
— Jane Austen
Features Editor
Kamran Rehmat
e-mail: features@gulf-times.com
Telephone: 44466405
Fax: 44350474
Mall Cinema (1): Soggade Chinni
Nayana (Telugu) 2pm; Suffragette (2D)
4.30pm; The 5th Wave (2D) 6.30pm; The
Hateful Eight (2D) 8.30pm; Ride Along 2
(2D) 11.30pm.
Mall Cinema (2): The Good Dinosaur
(2D) 2.30pm; Dragon Nest: Warrior’s
Dawn (2D) 4.15pm; Ride Along 2 (2D)
6pm; Charlie (Malayalam) 8pm; The
Hateful Eight (2D) 10.30pm.
Mall Cinema (3): Nannaku Prematho
(Tlugu) 1.15pm; Chalk “N” Duster (Hindi)
4.15pm; The Revenant (2D) 6.30pm; The
5th Wave (2D) 9.15pm; Tharai Thappatai
(Tamil) 11.15pm.
Cinema Land Mark (1): Tharai Thappatai
(Tamil) 2.15pm; Ride Along 2 (2D)
4.30pm; Charlie (Malayalam) 6.30pm;
Ride Along 2 (2D) 9pm; Soggade Chinni
(2D) 11pm.
Royal Plaza Cinema Palace (2): The
Good Dinosaur (2D) 3pm; The 5th Wave
(2D) 5pm; The 5th Wave (2D) 7pm; Ride
Along 2 (2D) 9pm; The Revenant (2D)
Nayana (Telugu) 11pm.
11pm.
Cinema Land Mark (2): Dragon Nest:
Royal Plaza Cinema Palace (3): Wazir
Warrior’s Dawn (2D) 2.30pm; The Good
(Hindi) 2.15pm; Star Wars: The Force
Dinosaur (2D) 4.15pm; The 5th Wave
Awakens (2D) 4.15pm; Suffragette (2D)
(2D) 6pm; The 5th Wave (2D) 8pm; The
6.30pm; The Revenant (2D) 8.30pm; The
Hateful Eight (2D) 10pm.
Hateful Eight (2D) 10.45pm.
Cinema Land Mark (3): Nannaku
Asian Town Cinema: Charlie
Prematho (Telugu) 2.30pm; Suffragette
(Malayalam) 1, 2.45, 5.15, 6.15, 8, 9, 10.45,
(2D) 5.30pm; The Hateful Eight (2D)
11.45pm, 1 & 1.30am; Dictator (Telugu)
7.30pm; The Revenant (2D) 10.30pm.
Royal Plaza Cinema Palace (1): Dragon 5.15pm; Soggade Chinni Nayana (Telugu)
12.30, 3 & 8pm; Nannaku Prematho
Nest: Warrior’s Dawn (2D) 2.30pm;
(Telugu) 12.30, 3.45, 5.30 & 10.30pm;
Dragon Nest: Warrior’s Dawn (2D)
Thaarai Thappattai (Tamil) 12.30, 3,
4.15pm; Ride Along 2 (2D) 6pm; The
10.30pm & 1am.
Hateful Eight (2D) 8pm; The 5th Wave
Thursday, January 14, 2016
BOOKS
10
MUSIC
1. Qatar Entertainer 2016 by The Entertainer
2. Diary of Wimpy Kid – Old School by Jeff Kinney
3. Guinness World Records 2016 by Guinness World
Records
4. The Amazing Book Is Not On Fire by Dan Howell and Phil
Lester
5. Black Book of Arabia by Sheikha Hend Al Qassemi
6. Girl Online by Zoe Sugg
7. Nutella: The Best 30 Recipes by Johana Amsili and Hilary
Mandleberg
8. A Knight Of The Seven Kingdoms by George R.R. Martin
9. Shopaholic To The Rescue by Sophie Kinsella
10. Make Me by Lee Child
MOVIES
1. Hotel Transylvania 2
2. Mission Impossible Rogue Nation
3. Ant Man
4. Cinderella Live Action 2015
5. Hitman Agent 47 2015
6. Pixels
7. Jurassic World
8. Avengers Age Of Ultron
9. Furious 7
10. Man From UNCLE
Qatar Motor Show
DATE: January 28-February 1
VENUE: Doha Exhibition Convention
Center
Offering motor-lovers and visitors a
journey to ‘Explore the World of Motion’,
the popular Qatar Motor Show will return
between January 28 and February 1 at Doha
Exhibition and Convention Centre. Visitors
can enjoy convenient onsite parking, close
proximity to 5-star hotels, and more easily
accessibility by foot for the local community
and wider regional and international tourists.
How to Become YouTube Creator
Workshop
DATE: January 30
TIME: 10am-2pm
VENUE: Entube Center
Entube Center invites you to join a
workshop on How to Become Youtube Creator
from 10am to 2 pm. Participants will learn the
basics of online TV, the incentive and drive
behind the phenomenon of online TV, the
composition of the online TV market, how
money is being made and how to capitalise
on the phenomenon, the standards that
need to be met in order for the channel to be
successful, and more.
Global Organization III Conference
DATE: January 16-17
VENUE: Qatar National Convention Center
Qilaa for Training and Consulting will
organise the third Training Conference
towards Global Organisation, with the
participation of a group of experts and leaders
of prominent institutions in Qatar and GCC,
as well as a significant number of scholars and
researchers interested in management.
3
COMMUNITY
ROUND & ABOUT
top
GULF TIMES
1. Adele: 25
2. One Direction: Made In The A M Hardcoverbook Del Ed
3. Now 92
4. 5 Seconds Of Summer: Sounds Good Feels Good
5. Coldplay: Head Full Of Dreams
6. Andrea Bocelli: Cinema
7. Annual 2016
8. Ellie Goulding: Delirium
9. Now That S What I Call Music Usa
10. Dj Keyne: Chicha Party
TV SERIES
1. Walking Dead S5
2. Sleepy Hollow S2
3. Cougar Town S4
4. Modern Family S6
5. Pretty Little Liars S3
6. Big Bang Theory S8
7. Chicago Pd S2
8. Mentalist S1-7
9. Suits S2
10. Flash S1
Katara QatART Handmade Market
DATE: Tomorrow
TIME: 3pm
VENUE: Katara, Bld 19
Handmade Market with a wide variety of
handcrafts from Qatar-based makers of art,
craft and design. Come support our creative
community, pick up unique products and
get inspired! Come and support creative
endeavour! Entrance is free and everyone is
welcome.
The 1st Qatar Annual Neuroscience
Conference, organised by the Neurological
Institute at Hamad Medical Corporation,
offers a comprehensive educational
programme specifically designed for the
Mena region that will have significant
emphasis on practical aspects of common
neurological and neurosurgical disorders.
The scientific programme committee has
invited world leaders in their fields to share
their knowledge with the attendees.
Arabian Drag Racing League
DATE: Tomorrow
TIME: 4pm
VENUE: Qatar Racing Club
Join us at Qatar Racing Club for all 5 rounds
of the Arabian Drag Racing League. Food and
drinks are available. Children will enjoy the
children’s play areas on each side of the track
with giant inflatable slides and bounce houses
and eat cotton candy. Everyone will enjoy seeing
the world’s fastest cars zoom down the track,
from 0 to 360km per hour in just 4 seconds!
Jewellery and Watches Exhibition
DATE: February 23-27
VENUE: Doha Exhibition and Convention
Center
Doha Jewellery and Watches Exhibition
(DJWE) is being held once a year in Qatar.
This show is one of the most exclusive in
the world for wealthy individuals interested
in fine jewellery and unique pieces,
watches, gemstones, and diamonds, all
represented by more than 500 exclusive
international brands. Additionally, a
number of educational seminars will
be delivered on jewellery and watches
throughout the week.
Workers Sports 2016
DATE: January-November
TIME: Thursday- Friday
VENUE: QSports
QSports is pleased to announce that
registrations are now open for the most exciting
sports programme for blue collar workers of
Qatar. It comprises outdoor football league,
cricket (T-16), indoor volleyball, futsal and
basketball. The event kicks off in late January
and will continue throughout 2016.
ACS Doha Open Day
DATE: January 16
TIME: 9am-11am
VENUE: Al Gharaffa
ACS Doha invites you to attend an informal
Open Morning for prospective families
interested in visiting the school and finding
out how the IB can enable pupils to gain places
at the best universities. Come along and meet
current families and students, as well as the
Head of School. To reserve your place please
register via our website: http://bit.ly/1meKTSq
or to find out more please visit: http://www.
acs-schools.com/open-mornings-acs-doha.
Neuroscience Conference
DATE: February 18-20
VENUE: Sheraton Hotel
Aspire Run the Park
DATE: Until February 13
VENUE: Aspire Park
Aspire Zone Foundation will organise a series
of four races on Saturday once a month on
January 16 and February 13. Participants should
compete in at least three out the four races to
win a medal and prize. They have to be there an
hour before the race.
Aspire Park Cinema
DATE: Ongoing until Feb 5
TIME: 6pm-8pm
VENUE: Aspire Park
Aspire Zone Foundation, in collaboration
with Jeem TV, is presenting for the first time
children movies on its giant screen behind
Hayat Plaza, every Thursday and Friday from
6pm to 8pm.
Qatari Agricultural Product Yards
DATE: Until June 30
VENUE: Al Mazrooa, Al Zakheera, Al Khor,
Al Wakrah
The Ministry of Environment has opened the
4th season of Qatari agricultural product yards
for selling locally produced fruits, vegetables,
Courtesy: Virgin Megastores,
Landmark and Villaggio Mall
poultry, fish and livestock. Work in these yards
will continue for seven months. The yards will
operate three days a week on Thursdays, Fridays
and Saturdays from 7am to 5pm, with livestock
vendors in Al Mazrooa operating at the same
times throughout the week.
Luc Tuymans: Intolerance
DATE: Until Jan 30
VENUE: Qatar Museums Gallery Alriwaq
Qatar Museums is presenting a retrospective
of the work of Luc Tuymans, the first solo show
of the artist in the Gulf region. The exhibition,
Intolerance, a comprehensive survey of the
artist’s work, includes a series of wall paintings
and a new body of work, ‘The Arena’, created
specifically for the show. Curated by Lynne
Cooke, Senior Curator of Special Projects in
Modern Art at the National Gallery of Art
Washington.
VCUQatar Spring 2016
DATE: January 25
VENUE: Al Tadamoun Signal, Doha City
Learn new skills and deepen your
understanding of art and culture at VCUQatar.
Choose from a large selection of art, design and
craft courses at VCUQatar in Education City
or at IAID (Academy for Dance, Music & Arts).
Register online now, visit www.qatar.vcu.edu/
community. For more details you can call IAID
at 44320974 / 44411234 / 66710589 or e-mail
us at enquire@iaidonline.org.
Harrods Doha
DATE: Until January 24
TIME: 4pm-1:55pm
VENUE: Katara Cultural Village
Harrods celebrates their inaugural launch
of the Harrods Doha Village. Be there and
experience luxury in style.
FOODIE CHOICE
RESTAURANT: La Spiga
LOCATION: W Doha Hotel and
Residences. Experience authentic Italian
cuisine where vibrant design and a
sophisticated scene set the tone for an
extraordinary dining experience at La Spiga
by Paper Moon, renowned for creating
popular haunts for global trendsetters.
Opening hours from 12- 11.30 pm, A La Carte
available 12 - 4pm, 6 - 11.30pm.
Compiled by Nausheen Shaikh. E-mail: gtlisting@gmail.com, Events and timings subject to change
4
GULF TIMES Thursday, January 14, 2016
COMMUNITY
COVER STORY
Keen for a fixed gene
The new technology, called CRISPR-Cas9, acts as a microscopic
scalpel, performing genomic surgery with a precision, efficiency and
affordability once thought unimaginable, writes Lisa M Krieger
AT WORK: Matthew Porteus, 51, professor of paediatrics at Stanford School of Medicine, pipettes DNA to use for gene editing of stem cells at Lokey Stem Cell lab at Stanford University in Stanford California.
T
iny vials of recently
repaired blood cells are
thriving in a Stanford
incubator, proof that a
powerful new geneediting technique is fixing errant
genes that cause so much human
suffering.
Until recently, gene therapy
was laborious, crude and unsafe
for human testing. But the new
technology, called CRISPR-Cas9,
acts as a microscopic scalpel,
performing genomic surgery
with a precision, efficiency
and affordability once thought
unimaginable.
The research being done at the
Stanford School of Medicine,
led by Dr Matthew Porteus, is
part of an accelerating research
movement made possible using
the new technique to try to cure
genetic diseases such as sickle
cell anaemia and muscular
dystrophy. These labs are steadily
advancing through cell-based
and animal trials, as fledgling
biotech companies raise large
sums of money needed to bring the
therapies to market.
“Now, with lots of people —
hundreds or thousands of labs —
working with CRISPR, this means
the possibility of actually finding
a way to cure patients of disease
increases dramatically,” said Porteus,
an associate professor of peadiatrics
and a pioneer in gene editing.
Thursday, January 14, 2016
COMMUNITY
COVER STORY
Using the campus’s first-ever
cell manufacturing plant, to
be completed this spring, the
Stanford team aims to start human
trials in 2018. The researchers
are targeting two severe blood
diseases — sickle cell anaemia and
beta thalassemia — and several
diseases that ravage the immune
system.
Meanwhile, scientists at
Duke University and two other
independent labs announced
January 1 that they are using the
same approach to fix a muscle
gene, restoring function in mice
with an incurable type of muscular
dystrophy. Their findings were
published in the journal Science.
Boston researchers are
deploying the tool to treat a rare
inherited eye disease that can
cause blindness. Other teams are
working to fix the genes that cause
Huntington’s disease, Sanfilippo
syndrome and cystic fibrosis.
CRISPR has been in the
crosshairs of controversy because
of its profound potential to
rearrange the basic building blocks
of life. In December, experts
gathered in Washington, D.C., to
urge limits to its use in creating
dangerous new organisms or
“designer babies.”
But its therapeutic promise
is what excites the medical
community, especially as the price
of the new technology plunges and
access expands.
It has buoyed hopes in the
beleaguered field of gene therapy,
dealt a major setback in 1999
when Jesse Gelsinger, an Arizona
teenager with a genetic liver
disease, had a fatal reaction to the
virus that scientists had used to
insert a corrective gene.
These older approaches could
not guarantee that the new gene
was spliced into the right place. It
also risked disruption of adjacent
genes.
GULF TIMES
CRISPR — which stands for “clustered
regularly interspaced short
palindromic repeats,” or clusters
of brief DNA sequences that read
similarly forward and backward — is
the game changer. Only 3 years old,
it works like the search-and-replace
function of a computer
While there have been recent
improvements with two more
precise techniques, they are timeconsuming and tricky.
CRISPR — which stands for
“clustered regularly interspaced
short palindromic repeats,” or
clusters of brief DNA sequences
that read similarly forward and
backward — is the game changer.
Only 3 years old, it works like the
search-and-replace function of a
computer.
A Palo Alto native who
was educated at Harvard and
Stanford, Porteus, 51, has spent
his lifetime watching helplessly
as patients declined from blood
and immune system diseases
such as sickle cell anaemia, beta
thalassemia and severe combined
immunodeficiency disease.
These are very different
diseases, he said. But they have
this in common: All are caused by
a single mutation in a single gene
of a single cell type.
More than 10,000 human
diseases are caused by a single
gene defect, according to Dr Maria
Grazia Roncarolo, co-director
of Stanford’s Institute for Stem
Cell Biology and Regenerative
Medicine.
Porteus’ lab excises the bad
gene, using CRISPR. Then his
team introduces a good gene.
Not every bad blood cell must be
The plan for a healthy harvest
The scientists plan to harvest some of the sick cells that give rise to the
blood or immune system cells, called stem cells, from the bone marrow of
a patient. Then the patient would undergo intensive chemotherapy to kill
the remaining sick stem cells and make room for new ones.
After the defective genes in the harvested sick cells are fixed using
CRISPR, the repaired cells would incubate for several days.
Finally, they would infuse the corrected stem cells into the patient.
Once in place, these stem cells would produce healthy cells to replace the
sick cells — so the patient heals.
NEW HOPE: Test tubes of DNA to use for gene editing of stem cells at
Lokey Stem Cell lab at Stanford University.
repaired to help a patient, Porteus
said.
“It’s like having two broken
headlights,” he said. “You can
drive a car at night with one
headlight. It’s better to have two,
but one is sufficient.”
He and his Stanford colleagues
have already proven their
approach in human cell cultures
and in mice. They are refining
their technique and now seek to
test it in humans. The estimated
overall cost could range from $10
million to $17 million, supported
by philanthropy and the taxpayerfunded California Institute of
Regenerative Medicine.
The gene editing would be
performed at the 25,000-squarefoot manufacturing facility now
under construction. To lead the
effort, Stanford recently recruited
David DiGiusto, director of a
successful facility at Southern
California’s City of Hope Research
Center and Hospital.
Biotech companies are
moving into the field, as well.
In November, the Cambridge,
Massachusetts, biotech startup
Editas Medicine, co-founded
by the Massachusetts Institute
of Technology’s Dr Feng Zhang,
announced that it planned to test
a CRISPR-based gene therapy
technique in hopes of curing a
rare form of blindness by fixing
a gene that controls the eye’s
photoreceptor cells. It has raised
$120 million from investors,
including Bill Gates and Google
Ventures, on top of $43 million
raised in 2013.
In December, the biotech
firm CRISPR Therapeutics of
Cambridge received an eyepopping $335 million investment
from German pharmaceutical
giant Bayer AG to form a joint
venture that will research
CRISPR-based treatments.
More sobering are the
challenges posed by many of the
world’s more common diseases,
such as autism, diabetes, heart
disease or cancer, which involve
multiple genes. And diseases that
involve hard-to-reach tissues,
such as Alzheimer’s, are also
daunting.
The Stanford strategy is to first
focus on a handful of genetic
diseases, Porteus said.
“If we prove how to do it, that
opens up possibility for many
diseases of the immune system
and blood system,” he said. “We
are working on how to make this
pipeline sustainable … needed to
develop second-, third-, fourthand fifth-generation therapies.
“We have all the tools in place.”
— San Jose Mercury News/TNS
5
6
GULF TIMES Thursday, January 14, 2016
COMMUNITY
CLASS ACT: Tiesto, the man needs no introduction. He has been voted the world’s greatest DJ and is the most recognisable name in Dance Music.
Tiesto coming to town
By Umer Nangiana
C
elebrating the ten-year
anniversary of global
dance producers, a
one-of-its-kind event
in Qatar will bring
world’s best disc-jockey Tiesto,
featuring his trademark world tour
production which never fails to
deliver a high impact audio and
visual spectacular experience.
Tiesto, the man needs no
introduction. He has been voted the
world’s greatest DJ and is the most
recognisable name in Dance Music.
He is a stadium-filling and Grammy
award-winning performer, the man
behind Mixmag’s second Biggest
Dance Track Of All Time, Adagio for
Strings, as well as many more dance
classics and modern hits that we are
all the more familiar.
The two-day event at Sheraton
Doha on February 25-26 will
witness Tiesto at his best. Better
known by his stage name, Tiësto is a
Dutch DJ and record producer.
In 1997, he founded the label
Black Hole Recordings with Arny
Bink, where he released the “Magik”
and “In Search of Sunrise” CD
series. Tiësto met producer Dennis
Waakop Reijers in 1998; the two
have worked together extensively
since then.
In 1999 and 2000, Tiësto
collaborated with Ferry Corsten to
create Gouryella. His 2000 remix of
Delerium’s Silence featuring Sarah
McLachlan exposed him to more
Just after releasing his second studio album “Just Be” Tiesto performed live at the 2004 Summer Olympics.
mainstream audiences. In 2001, he
released his first solo album, “In My
Memory”.
The title track is a remix of
an original song written by and
featuring Nicola Hitchcock. This
album gave him several major
hits that launched his career. He
was voted World No. 1 DJ by DJ
Magazine in its annual Top 100 DJs
readership poll consecutively for
three years from 2002–04.
Just after releasing his second
studio album “Just Be,” he
performed live at the 2004 Summer
Olympics opening ceremony in
Athens, the first DJ to play live on
stage at an Olympics. In April 2007,
Tiësto launched his radio show
Tiësto’s Club Life on Radio 538 in
the Netherlands and released his
third studio album Elements of Life.
The album reached number
one on the Belgian album chart as
well on “Billboard Top Electronic
Albums” in the US and received a
nomination for a Grammy Award
in 2008.
Tiësto released his fourth studio
album Kaleidoscope in October
2009. He won the Grammy Award
for Best Remixed Recording, NonClassical for his remixed version of
John Legend’s hit All Of Me at the
57th Annual Grammy Awards.
In 1994, he began releasing
material on Noculan Records’ sublabels Chemo and Coolman. During
these years, he produced hardcore and gabber tracks under such
aliases as Da Joker and DJ Limited.
Tiësto was later discovered by the
general manager of Rotterdambased Basic Beat Recordings.
In late 1994, Tiësto signed to
Basic Beat where he met Arny Bink.
From 1995-96 he released four
extended plays on Bonzai Jumps
and XTC, sub-labels of Lightning
Records. In 1997, he joined his
friend Yves Vandichel on his sublabel, DJ Yves, a division of the now
defunct Human Resource label XSV
Music.
In 1997, Bink and Tiësto decided
to leave Basic Beat and create their
own label, Black Hole Recordings.
Trashcan was discontinued and
Guardian Angel continued releasing
music until 2002. Through Black
Hole, Tiësto released the “Magik”
series and also created two major
sub-labels in 1998: In Trance We
Trust and SongBird.
From 1998-99, he released music
on Planetary Consciousness where
he met A&R Hardy Heller and
invited him to release some records
on Black Hole.
Tiësto later included the “In
Search of Sunrise” series on
SongBird. In 1999, Tiësto joined
forces with fellow Dutch deejay
Ferry Corsten to create the trance
based duo of Gouryella. He
collaborated with Benno de Goeij
from 1998-2000 under the name
Kamaya Painters. Since November
1999, he performed monthly in
Sheffield, and played a 12-hour set,
his longest, in Amsterdam.
Late in 2000, Tiësto decided to
concentrate on his solo work and
left Ferry Corsten to take on the
Gouryella project solely as his own.
Thursday, January 14, 2016
GULF TIMES
COMMUNITY
ILUNI UI Qatar’s hosts farewell for Indonesian ambassador
Indonesian ambassador Deddy Saiful Hadi and his wife
Endang Deddy Hadi attended the ILUNI UI Qatar’s Gathering
recently at Banana Island.
The event was organised by ILUNI UI Qatar to bid farewell
to ambassador Hadi, who will be finishing his tenure at the
end of January 2016. Counsellor for Politics at Indonesian
Embassy, Boy Dharmawan also attended.
Under the Chairmanship of Errol Tendean, the ILUNI UI Qatar
has about 100 members from the university, mostly working
in the oil and gas, telecommunication, banking and financial
sectors in Qatar.
In his farewell speech, Ambassador Deddy stressed the need
for a sense of unity among Indonesian citizens under the
umbrella of PERMIQA, which is currently chaired by Heri
Kartono in Qatar.
The ILUNI UI Qatar was established in October 2012
and has played an important role in enhancing the
relationship among Indonesian citizens in Qatar through
active participation in the various activities of Indonesian
community in Qatar, especially on the promotion of social
and cultural events held in Doha.
7
8
GULF TIMES Thursday, January 14, 2016
COMMUNITY
EMS student wins in competition
English Modern Schools’ (EMS) students from both Al Wakrah and Doha campuses participated
in the QPPSSA Cross Country event hosted by Dukhan English School recently. The QPPSSA
Cross Country event was attended by 24 schools and was a finely tuned sporting event. Khalid
al-Shaaf from EMS Doha took first place in the Year 5 Boys 2km race. His class fellow, Yamaan
Jarrar, came in fourth. They competed against 110 other students. Khalid said: “When I started I
sprinted and got in front. I just kept running to keep in first place. When we got near the end Mr
Rami shouted at me to sprint to the end as there were four people very close so I did and I won.
Before I started the race, I was nervous but once I was ahead I thought ‘I could win this’ and was
excited. I’m so happy and proud to have won.”
G4S holds blood donation camp
G4S Qatar recently held a voluntary blood donation camp at Muiather Clinic, Villa 14, Doha
Qatar in collaboration with the Hamad Medication Corporation. A large number of the
company’s direct and indirect employees showed up to donate blood. This is the eighth year
the company has organised such a drive.
PEC plays friendly football match with Iranian school
The Pakistan Education Centre Junior Wing’s faculty members recently played a friendly match against their Iranian school peers. Both teams were energetic and gave their all to win the match. In the
first half, the game was equal with a score of 1-1. The Iranian team, however, pulled ahead in the second half and scored two more goals to take the win. Tariq Hameed was the referee.
Nobu Doha announces Friday Brunch
N
obu Doha is ushering
in the New Year with
the debut of its Friday
brunch. Located at the
marina of Four Seasons
Hotel Doha, Nobu Doha’s brunch
service will commence on January
15 (tomorrow).
“Brunch is such an integral
aspect of any culinary journey,” said
Layne Nguyen, General Manager of
Nobu Doha. “Not only are guests
treated to incredible cuisine with
a wonderful tasting-style menu,
but the Friday brunch allows for
an ideal ambiance to gather with
family and friends and reconnect
over a magnificent meal, matched
by a stylish setting.”
Offered every Friday, from 12:304pm, the Friday Brunch features
Nobu’s signature a la carte dishes
and desserts, including favourites
such as the spicy chicken tacos, the
famous black code miso, wagyu
rib eye with anticucho and shrimp
tempura amazu ponzu. The White
Pearl lounge will also feature an
assortment of lavish stations,
including oysters, foie gras, and
ceviche, while fresh sushi and
sashimi will be served at the sushi
bar station.
The Nobu Doha Friday Brunch
starts from QR355 per person. Nobu
Doha features an artfully curated
culinary menu complemented by
an unparalleled ambiance with
three distinct levels. Located at
Four Seasons Hotel Doha, along the
water’s edge on the Arabian Gulf,
Nobu Doha boasts 26,000 squarefeet of indoor and outdoor space
matched by 360-degree panoramic
cityscape and water views, creating
an unrivalled ambiance to dine, dish
and discover a new side of Doha.
For more information, or to make
a dining reservation, please call
+974 4494 8600 or e-mail dining.
doh@fourseasons.com
APPETISING: A dish at Nobu Doha.
Thursday, January 14, 2016
GULF TIMES
9
COMMUNITY
DeBakey students raise money to help children in Syria
DeBakey High School-Qatar students have raised money to provide aid to children in Syria. The money was donated to Red Crescent recently, followed by a tour of the Red Crescent Headquarters in
Doha to further show the students the relief process when a tragedy takes place. Seen here, from left to right, Senior Class students Shaaden Salem and Reem Hamad; Saleh bin Ali al-Mohannadi, Red
Crescent Qatar Secretary General; and Justin Mabrie, DeBakey Admissions & Communications Director.
ICC UTKARSH SAMMAN 2015: The Shantiniketan Indian School’s students recently participated in ICC Utkarsh Samman 2015, winning prizes in multiple competitions such as painting, music, dance,
and art and craft.
10 GULF TIMES Thursday, January 14, 2016
COMMUNITY
‘Bae’ enthrals droves of
Filipino heartthrob Alden Richards performs at the Qatar National Convention C
Hundreds turned out to see Alden Richards perform live.
By Umer Nangiana
T
hey turned out in droves to
see “Bae.” And it turned out
to be laughter-on-the-roll
fun-filled night for almost
all of them —for many, it
was a dream come true. The instant
the Filipino heartthrob Alden Richards
stepped up the stage at Qatar National
Convention Centre (QNCC) for a live
music and dance concert, hundreds in
the audience went up in an adrenaline
rush.
When he danced, they danced with
him and when he sang, they sang
along. Dozens of his fans captured him
in their ‘selfie’ frames while others
took memorable group photographs.
Richards, the recent AlDub-fame
popular artist, commonly known as
Bae in Philippines’s entertainment
industry, literally enthralled the
audience with his first ever concert in
Doha.
He sang some of his recent popular
songs and set the stage on fire with his
dance moves. Richards who happens
to be the biggest celebrity actor in the
Philippines today was supported by
Boobsie Wonderland, one of the prime
comedians and TV personalities, Ian
Red and AJ, the famous stand-up
comedians in the Philippines.
“The reaction of the people was
just great. It is actually gratifying and
humbling to get good reviews and
feedback from the audience. We had
almost sold out seats despite the late
selling of our tickets, especially the
VVIP section was almost sold out,”
Ryan Salcedo Tanada, the producer of
the show told Community.
Ryan, who produced his first show,
said it was not an easy task. “There
is a lot of struggle that comes with
it especially with the magnitude of
event that we had. From the venue
to managing the artists and team
members, preparations were really
hard, but I have a good team under me
who helped me a lot in everything,” he
added.
Richard Reyes Faulkerson, Jr.,
also known by the stage name Alden
Richards, is a Filipino television
actor, host, model and recording
artist signed with GMA Network.
He is best known for his roles in
Alakdana, Tween Hearts, One True
Love, Carmela, The Road, and the live
Kalyeserye segment of Eat Bulaga!
Last year, Richards became a part
of the Philippines’ longest running
noontime variety show, Eat Bulaga!
He is currently appearing as a co-host
in the segment, That’s My Bae. His
popularity has further skyrocketed
not only because of the daily TV
exposure as a mainstay co-host, but
also because of the formation of an
accidental love team between him
and his Eat Bulaga! co-host Maine
Mendoza.
The love team, labelled by fans as
AlDub, has been a consistent Twitter
trending topic in the Philippines and
worldwide. Because of their huge
popularity, Eat Bulaga! created a
mini-series for AlDub labelled by
Joey de Leon as Kalyeserye within the
segment Juan For All, All for Juan.
Fan-made trailers requesting for
a movie or TV show have gone viral
online. One of them is a pitched
remake of the Koreanovela My Love
from the Star.
In August last year, Richards inked
a four-year movie contract with APT
Entertainment, the film outfit of Eat
Bulaga! Richards and Mendoza are
set to appear in the 41st Metro Manila
Film Festival entry My Bebe Love. The
Thursday, January 14, 2016
GULF TIMES
COMMUNITY
fans
Centre
movie is headlined by Vic Sotto and
Ai-Ai delas Alas and is to be directed
by Jose Javier Reyes.
In July 2015, Richards got reunited
with former leading lady Louise
delos Reyes in the Talent episode of
Karelasyon. While in August 2015,
Richards signed a recording contract
with GMA Records. His second
album, “Wish I May”, was launched in
October 2015.
The album contains at least two
original songs and renditions. The
first single, Wish I May, is an original
composition by Agat Obar-Morallo
and was released earlier for online
downloading and streaming in
September 2015.
The music video of Wish I May
premiered on October 18, 2015 on
GMA Network’s Sunday noontime
show Sunday PinaSaya, where
Richards is also a co-host. The
single landed on the top spot of
iTunes Philippines song charts. The
sophomore album earned a gold
record award from PARI prior to being
officially launched.
In 2010, Richards was launched
as an actor for GMA Network on the
afternoon soap Alakdana, playing the
role of Joma, a disabled man. He was
paired with the then up-and-coming
actress Louise delos Reyes.
He also signed a 5-year contract
with the network. In 2011, he became
a part of the successful teenage series,
Tween Hearts and also starred in its
film adaptation Tween Hearts: Class
of 2012. He also performed on GMA
Network’s Sunday variety shows Party
Pilipinas and Sunday All Stars.
Richards graced two episodes of
Spooky Nights in Singil and in the
Christmas episode of Spooky Nights
as Elmer. He was praised by critics
with his performance as a psychopath
in the movie The Road. By the end of
2011, he played Gobi in the box office
hit movie Ang Panday 2, which was an
entry at the 2011 Metro Manila Film
Festival.
Ryan, the producer of the show
GROUPFIE: Dozens got the lifetime opportunity to take pictures with their favourite star.
believes, that the Filipino community
members in Doha want to see the
popular celebrities that they love and
see on television, “especially now that
they are away from home and family,
seeing their beloved celebrities makes
them feel home and happy.”
As of now, Ryan said he is taking
his well-deserved vacation but would
soon start working to bring more
fun to Doha for his community. “I
honestly just want to have a quality
time with my family and loved ones,
but even now I am receiving good
messages and feedback from the
people who watched and even the
people who missed the concert. They
want me to do another event,” said
Ryan.
Without giving specific details, he
said he was sure he and his team would
come up with a show worth the time
and money of the people in Doha in
the near future.
Ryan said all the artists who
performed here loved their first time
experience in Doha so much that
they would really love to come back
as soon as their schedules allow
them.
Ryan Salcedo Tanada, the producer of the show, right, talking to the audience.
Comedian Boobsie Wonderland interacting with the audience.
The house was packed for Richard’s first-ever performance in Doha.
11
12 GULF TIMES Thursday, January 14, 2016
COMMUNITY
INFOGRAPHIC
Thursday, January 14, 2016
GULF TIMES
13
COMMUNITY
LIFESTYLE/HOROSCOPE
These new kitchen design trends
are on track to become timeless
S
ome kitchen design trends
fade as quickly as they come
in — tile countertops, naked
windows or avocado-hued
appliances may come to
mind. Other trends, however, are so
deeply rooted in good design that
they’re destined to become timeless
style statements — and enhance your
kitchen with a look you’ll love as much
in a decade as you do the first moment
you see it.
Henderson points to four design
trends to watch in this year:
Open it up
Areas that seem small or cramped
have never been a staple in homes.
Look for design enhancements that
create a more open atmosphere, like
open shelving or glass-front cabinets,
which appear contemporary, sleek and
functional. Open storage encourages
organisation, cuts clutter and
eliminates chaos since the contents are
always on display. They also provide a
great way for homeowners to display
their pretty dishware, Henderson notes.
Stainless steel revamp
Stainless steel appliances have
long been the standard of elegance in
modern kitchens. It’s hard to
imagine improving on such
near-perfection.
Let your personality shine
Modern designs and the sheer
number of home décor products
make it easier than ever to personalise
virtually any design theme. You can
add a dash of your personality to
your kitchen decor in many ways.
Use decorative accents on counters
and focus on underscoring a theme
you love in the rest of the house, for
instance.
Contrast is good
Some combinations will always
be on trend, and more of them will
be showing up in kitchen design in
this year. Black and white, metallics
like brass, gold or copper paired with
natural and wooden touches — these
combos will never tire.
© Brandpoint
ARIES
March 21 — April 19
Jupiter, the planet of good luck and opportunity, continues his
retrograde journey through your sixth house of hard work, health
and well–being. If you have been lagging on the exercise routine
lately and feeling sluggish, do what you can to take a long walk or hit
the gym today.
CANCER
June 21 — July 22
Mars, the planet of action and adventure in Scorpio, today highlights
your fifth house of romance, creativity and fun. If you haven’t been
having much of any of those things...this is a great day to make sure
you do!
LIBRA
September 23 — October 22
Mars in your self–esteem and money zone for the rest of the month
could have some of you feeling as if a shopping/spending spree will
make things that much better. Wrong! It’s a temporary high/reprieve
and you will regret it.
CAPRICORN
December 22 — January 19
If someone tells you that you can’t do something, it usually peaks
your interest more to go ahead and do it, doesn’t it? With Mercury
the planet of communication out of phase in your sign right now,
you’re better off not rising to the challenge
TAURUS
April 20 — May 20
Jupiter, the planet of abundance, continues to retrograde in your
romance zone through early May. If you have just started dating
someone, this is not a good time to be pushing forward with it but a
time to take it one day at a time.
LEO
July 23 — August 22
If you aren’t sure about something, ask questions — even if your
questions sound kind of silly and/or repetitive. It’s better to sound
silly than to do something silly which you might not be able to fix
correct?
SCORPIO
October 23 — November 21
Venus, the planet of love and money, is spending time in your
second house of self–worth. You may feel like splashing out on
something fancy for your partner or for yourself or someone you
love. Scale back abit Scorpios.
AQUARIUS
January 20 — February 18
Be choosy today when people invite you out and about. Some of you
might not feel like being social but far more inclined to chill out at
home or do something low key.
GEMINI
May 21 — June 20
Don’t sweat the small stuff today, Gemini’s. There is only so much
you can do in order to get things done today — and done properly.
And if you can’t get the time or opportunity to dot the i’s and cross
the t’s — that’s the way the cookie crumbles.
VIRGO
August 23 — September 22
The Moon in Pisces today and tomorrow is highlighting your
opposite sign and your one on one relationship zone. If you find
yourself feeling emotional or upset with a friend or your partner,
keep your cool Virgos.
SAGITTARIUS
November 22 — December 21
Uranus, the planet of the unexpected and unusual transiting your
fellow fire sign of Aries today and through the end of 2016 along
with Mercury and Jupiter retrograde is sure to throw more than a
few cosmic spanners in the works in the love life department.
PISCES
February 19 — March 20
The Moon in your sign again makes today one of those days when
you could become overly emotional about something or someone
when there really is no need to do so. If you feel overcome, walk
away Pisces.
14 GULF TIMES Thursday, January 14, 2016
COMMUNITY
Wordsearch
Adam
Pooch Cafe
Let’s Cook
BAKE
BARBECUE
BLEND
BOIL
BROIL
CHOP
CLEAN
FILLET
GRATE
HEAT
KNEAD
MEASURE
MICROWAVE
MINCE
MIX
PEEL
PUREE
ROAST
SEASON
SLICE
STEAM
TASTE
TOAST
WARM
WEIGH
WHIP
WHISK
Codeword
Puzzles courtesy: Puzzlechoice.com
Every letter of the alphabet is used at least once.
Squares with the same number in have the same letter
in. Work out which number represents which letter.
Garfield
Sudoku
Bound And Gagged
Sudoku is a puzzle based
on a 9x9 grid. The grid is
also divided into nine (3x3)
boxes. You are given a
selection of values and to
complete the puzzle, you
must fill the grid so that
every column, every anone
is repeated.
PUZZLES/CARTOONS
Thursday, January 14, 2016
15
COMMUNITY
PUZZLES
Quick Clues
ACROSS
1. Indifference (6)
4. Accident (6)
9. Forecast (13)
10. Mean (7)
11. Player (5)
12. Animal (5)
14. Long (5)
18. Strong point (5)
19. Archbishop (7)
21. Immobile (2,1,10)
22. Encourage (6)
23. Stature (6)
GULF TIMES
Colouring
DOWN
1. Seem (6)
2. Exemplary (5,8)
3. Red dye (5)
5. Mimic (7)
6. Grievous (5-8)
7. Verse (6)
8. Awry (5)
13. Shield (7)
15. Obliterate (6)
16. Disburse (5)
17. Pill (6)
20. Publish (5)
Cryptic Clues
Answers
Wordsearch
ACROSS
1. Don’t hurry when Waddle’s running (6)
4. One going after a drink (6)
9. Ask for the bill? (4,3,6)
10. It’s obvious I would enter the contest
(7)
11. He has to clean up (5)
12. A trap set outside a second time (5)
14. A bad actor getting nothing back
from a Nebraska city (5)
18. Game many take to (5)
19. Drive back and repel us somehow (7)
21. Game to sell a structure (7,6)
22. Evaluate the animals before
stocktaking starts (6)
23. SAS try to become deities (6)
DOWN
1. Clipped at the quayside? (6)
2. They support people on a promenade
(7,6)
3. Turner’s articles in French and English
(5)
5. Loom Hud broke, being a lawless youth
(7)
6. Vacation one slopes off on (6,7)
7. Staggered, but got in line (6)
8. Warms up for the preliminary races (5)
13. Examples of humour that is found in
clubs (7)
15. Man getting a hat back from an animal
(6)
16. The capital of France? (5)
17. People mending drains? (6)
20. City of the standard mother (5)
Codeword
Yesterday’s Solutions
QUICK
Across: 1 Disadvantage; 7 Caper; 8 Mouth;
9 Nee; 10 Inspector; 11 Entire; 12 Pathos; 15
Recognise; 17 Spa; 18 Twill; 19 Loose; 21 Narrowminded.
Down: 1 Disintegrate; 2 Dip; 3 Arrest; 4
Temperate; 5 Grunt; 6 Short-staffed; 7 Cheat; 10
Irregular; 13 Haste; 14 Billow; 16 China; 20 Obi.
CRYPTIC
Across: 1 Civil service; 7 Style; 8 Large; 9 Tar; 10
Splendour; 11 Replay; 12 Keep in; 15 Carpenter; 17
Oar; 18 Lodge; 19 Links; 21 Present tense.
Down: 1 Count Dracula; 2 Lay; 3 Evenly; 4
Volunteer; 5 Cargo; 6 Rear entrance; 7 Strap;
10 Stateless; 13 Props; 14 Stalin; 16 Rider; 20
Not.
16 GULF TIMES Thursday, January 14, 2016
COMMUNITY
REVIEWS
Non-stop action
By Troy Ribeiro
FILM: Hitman Agent 47
CAST: Rupert Friend, Ciaran
Hinds, Hannah Ware, Zachary
Quinto
DIRECTION: Aleksander Bach
B
ased on the 2002
released video game,
Hitman, the film is an
exaggerated generic
action one with a
muddled plotline and an equally
confused characterisation.
In a nutshell, it is the story of
an elite assassin, Agent 47 (Rupert
Friend), who is assigned two new
kills to protect the world from an
army of prospective killers, but is
now torn between his emotion and
duty.
The film begins with a verbose
prologue that informs us that
geneticist Peter Litvenko (Ciaran
Hinds), the head of a secret
bioengineering program in
Salsburg, Austria, had successfully
designed the “perfect” assassins.
These assassins, known
as “agents” were genetically
engineered from conception to
be a perfect killing machine with
unprecedented strength, speed,
agility, stamina and intelligence.
They are unable to feel guilt,
remorse, or fear for their actions.
Each “agent” is known by the
unique last two digits on the barcode
tattooed on the back of his head
and every consecutive number is a
superior clone of the previous one.
Many agencies and organisations
tried over the years to replicate the
Agent Program, yet all had failed.
A corporation known as Syndicate
International determines that
the only way to truly replicate the
programme is to find Litvenko or his
daughter Katia van Dees (Hannah
Ware), who he had abandoned as a
young kid as she would lead them
to him.
On the other hand, Syndicate
member Delriego is on the brink
of locating Litvenko when he is
killed by Agent 47, who is tasked
with stopping the Syndicate
International from getting their
hands on Litvenko by the ICA
(International Contracts Agency).
The narration progresses
with Katia, searching for her
father in Berlin, Germany and
is soon trailed by Agent 47 and
another Agent named John Smith
A fun-filled ride
By Katie Walsh
FILM: Transporter Refueled
CAST: Ed Skrein, Ray Stevenson,
Loan Chabanol
DIRECTION: Camille Delamarre
Y
ou’ll see much to applaud
in the B-movie action
pleasures on display in
Transporter
Refueled. You
can’t do much better
than this for a last gasp
of mindless cinematic
summer fun. The thing
about Transporter Refueled
is that it actually is fun
— chock-a-block with
breath-taking stunts, plot
twists and visual treats.
Just don’t think too hard
about it or you might ruin
the ride.
A reboot of the
Luc Besson-helmed
Transporter series, this film
injects new life into the
stripped-bare plot engine:
There’s a transporter and
he drives. No names, no
questions, no negotiation.
Our previous driver, Jason
Statham, was a brute
seemingly ripped from
the streets, while the new
iteration, embodied by Ed
Skrein, is more male model
than reformed thug. He’s
smooth and unflappable,
barely blinking an eye.
In many ways, Statham is the
superior driver to Skrein, with
his own rough persona imbuing
his character with a backstory.
Skrein is saddled with some poorly
photoshopped pictures of his old
Army unit, a tenuous underworld
connection, and a jolly dad (Ray
Stevenson) for a personal life —which
is much more than Statham’s driver
ever got.
(Zachary Quinto) who happens
to be a member of the Syndicate
International. Their cat and mouse
chase and changing equations
forms the plot of the tale.
The first half of the film is almost
all action, and you get hooked on
only when emotions come into play
and you learn a little more about the
characters.
British actor Rupert Friend,
with his sleek suit and red tie, stiff
upper-lip and stoic demeanour
plays the part of Agent 47 to
perfection. Zachary Quinto
matches Friend’s calmness and
confidence.
First time director Aleksander
Bach borrows heavily from the
Matrix style of filming, which
is more like a montage which
overlooks the passage of time and
space.
The film looks great but at the
same time is disorienting. And
the fault lies with the convoluted
screenplay. It gets confusing to keep
a track of who is working for whom
and what they hope to gain. Also,
the climax goes against the logic of
the characters we were first fed.
The film may especially appeal
to the Hitman video games fans. IANS
The film is a totally cheeky take
on a modern day Bond film. There
are axe fights on mega-yachts and
scuba divers hacking tablets. The
transporter’s tricked-up Audi is
like Bond’s version of Q and his
gadgets rolled up into one.
Along with Hitman: Agent 47, the
film is another commercial for Audi
— the vehicle receives more slow
motion loving glamour shots than
any of the women in the film. Skrein
uses it in increasingly inventive and
insane ways throughout the film.
That remote-control door sure is
cool, and handy for many different
things, and also, did you know
you can launch it into an
airport? Drive it as fast as a
plane? Use it to beat up bad
guys?
Frank’s employers-turnedpartners, four sassy revengeobsessed prostitutes, are the
backbone of the story and
give it the proper motivation.
The story stretches the
limits of plausibility again and
again, and the silly overtakes
the plot. But it’s more about
taking in the spectacle than
actually believing any of the
proceedings.
Long-time Besson
collaborator, Camille
Delamarre takes on directing
duties, and the action is
clean, crisp and rapid. With
gorgeous aerial photography
of the French Riveria, the
film looks great and feels big
in scope. It’s not a film you’ll
soon remember, but for 90
minutes of silly, action fun, it
will hit the spot better than
many of its counterparts.
-TNS
Cute and diverting
By Katie Walsh
FILM: Hotel Transylvania 2
VOICES: Adam Sandler, Selena
Gomez, Kevin James, Keegan-Michael
Key
DIRECTION: Genndy Tartakovsky
T
he sequel Hotel Transylvania
2 is cute and diverting
enough, with a heartfelt
family message, and unique
style, but it probably won’t
be joining the pantheon of animated
classics.
Adam Sandler voices Dracula, the
proprietor of the titular hotel, and of
course, he has Kevin James along to
voice trusty sidekick Frankenstein.
The film opens with the wedding of
Dracula’s daughter Mavis (Selena
Gomez) to goofball human Jonathan
(Andy Samberg). This vampire-human union is at the crux of the tension
in the story, particularly the fruit of that union, little Dennis (Asher
Blinkoff ).
Dracula is obsessed with Dennis being a vampire, though his head of
curly red hair doesn’t bode well for the moppet. While Mavis struggles
with whether or not Dennis should grow up with humans in California,
Papa Drac takes his grandchild for a rollicking road trip to learn how to be
a monster. Unfortunately, it seems these monsters have lost their mojo,
tamed by the creature comforts at the hotel, softened by middle age and
domesticity.
The animation is done in director Genndy Tartakovsky’s unmistakable
style, as seen in the series Samurai Jack and Dexter’s Laboratory.
Ultimately, the film is about the strength of family, and accepting
your loved ones for who they are — be they monsters or not. It’s a sweet
message, but the film doesn’t reach the emotional depths or creative
genius that other kids’ films have displayed. -TNS
DVDs courtesy: Saqr Entertainment Stores, Doha
Thursday, January 14, 2016
GULF TIMES
17
COMMUNITY
BOLLYWOOD
Sunny Deol wanted to be a sportsman
Actor-filmmaker Sunny Deol, currently awaiting the release of his
forthcoming film Ghayal Once Again, says he wanted to be a sportsman
at one time. “I never knew I was going to become an actor. Since I was
more into sports, I wanted to be a sportsman,” Sunny, who has been in
the film industry for over three decades, said on the TV show Yaar Mera
Superstar. The 58-year-old says sports gives him an adrenaline rush and
that “it feels like I’m going to go out and conquer anything. It makes you
get rid of all the negativity in your mind and think positive.” – IANS
Priyanka may
star in Baywatch
Actress Priyanka Chopra is in
talks to join Hollywood actors
Dwayne Johnson and Zac Efron
in the upcoming film Baywatch,
based on the 1990s TV series about
California lifeguards.
Baywatch, to be helmed by Seth
Gordon, centres on the leader of an
elite group of lifeguards (Johnson)
who is forced to team up with a
young, former Olympian, played by
Efron, to save their beloved bay.
Scheduling conflicts with the
film’s shoot and Priyanka’s ABC
show Quantico still need to be
worked out, but the actress would
play the story’s villain, reports
hollywoodreporter.com.
If the deal is struck, Baywatch
would be Priyanka’s Englishlanguage feature debut. She
is already creating waves
internationally with her maiden
American TV series Quantico and
also won her first international
honour People Choice Award
for the best actress in a new TV
series.
Beau Flynn, Ivan Reitman,
Johnson’s Seven Bucks
Productions, Michael Berk, Douglas
Schwartz, Gregory Bonann will be
co-producing it. — IANS
BEYOND BORDERS: Om Puri
Om Puri excited about
his first Pakistani film
I
ndian veteran actor Om
Puri says he “really enjoyed
working” on his first Pakistani
film Actor In Law, which has
an unusual script. “It’s an
unusual script. I loved the script so,
I decided to do this film. This is my
first Pakistani film. I really enjoyed
working on the film. I recently
completed my shoot,” Om Puri, who
had left for Karachi for the film’s
shooting on December 31 last year
and returned on Monday, told IANS.
He also praised the team of Actor
In Law, which is directed by Nabeel
Qureshi and produced by Fizza Ali
Meerza. “I had a great and talented
team and they have shot the film very
professionally. It falls in the category
of films like Bol and Khuda Kay Liye,”
he shared.
The actor, who entered the Indian
film industry in 1975 with Chor Chor
Chhupja, added that he did not find
“any kind of animosity” and that the
Pakistanis were “extremely kind”.
He also said that he was
approached for one more
Pakistani film, but he didn’t
have the dates. “Even that’s a
wonderful story though.”
Asked about the recent
Pathankot attack, he said:
“Whatever happened in
Pathankot was very sad. Even
during the press conference, I said
‘My request is whoever is behind
this, I am requesting them it’s not
worth it’.” – IANS
Aditya gifts pashmina
shawl to Katrina Kaif
BONDING ON THE SET: Aditya Roy Kapur, left, and Katrina Kaif
Actor Aditya Roy Kapur has
gifted a pashmina shawl to his
Fitoor co-star Katrina Kaif. The duo
had extensively shot the Abhishek
Kapoor-directorial in Kashmir.
Aditya, best known for his roles
in films like Aashiqui 2 and Yeh
Jawaani Hai Deewani, bought the
gift for the Dhoom 3 actress as a
token of gratitude and they had also
discussed about this when they
were shooting together.
“Aditya personally selected
the pashmina shawl that he
gifted to Katrina,” the film’s
spokesperson said in a statement.
The shawl is said to be 100% pure
Kashmiri pashmina and is handembroidered. Fitoor, which also
stars Tabu, will release on February
12. — IANS
FINGERS CROSSED: Priyanka Chopra
Kalki pens poem on
‘brutality of culture’
Actress Kalki Koechlin says her
poem titled Printing Machine,
which she wrote for the Culture
Machine’s UnBlushed series, talks
about the “violence and brutality”
that women face in India. The
poem has been recited by Kalki in a
five-minute video which released
on the women’s lifestyle channel
Blush on Tuesday. Directed by
Akanksha Seda, the video features
Kalki in one of her edgiest avatars
as she takes on the media, society
and their approach towards women
PENNING HER THOUGHTS: Kalki
Koechlin
and crimes against them. “Printing
Machine was inspired by one of
the key influencers in our lives
— news houses and the media.
We are flooded by an onslaught
of objectifying and horrific news
reports and imagery that have
desensitised us,” Kalki said in a
statement.
“It is only when we look at these
reports in totality do we realise
what our Indian heritage and
culture have come to, and how we
have come to be at the mercy of
printing machines.
“Culture Machine and the
UnBlushed team did an amazing
job of creating a visual rendition
of Printing Machine that best
expresses the violence and brutality
of our culture. They have helped
take the story forward with this
video that would have otherwise
just been on paper,” she added.
In the video, Kalki talks about the
increase in acid attacks, gang rapes,
and foreigners being raped in the
country. Actresses Nimrat Kaur and
Sayani Gupta have also appeared in
the previous episodes of UnBlushed,
a series that features female
celebrities who are unapologetic,
bold and beautiful. – IANS
18 GULF TIMES Thursday, January 14, 2016
COMMUNITY
HOLLYWOOD
Reality TV exec says the
genre ‘is not going away’
TAKEN A HIT? Being cheered on by their friends and family, Andrew and Nathan prepare to face-off for the title of MasterChef Junior.
By Yvonne Villarreal
I
t was a banner year for television in
2015, with a record 409 scripted series
across broadcast networks, basic and
pay cable networks and streaming
services. But with all the talk of scripted
programming’s upswing, an intriguing
subplot has emerged about whether reality
TV is in a slump.
Although shows such as NBC’s The Voice
and ABC’s Dancing With the Stars can still
draw sizable audiences, the once-formidable
genre has waned. Big bets such as Fox’s
Utopia and ABC’s Rising Star flopped. And
after 14 years, American Idol — once a ratings
juggernaut — has begun its farewell season
with a slimmer following.
Cris Abrego isn’t worried. The former
chief executive officer of 51 Minds, a
production company specialising in reality
TV productions, was recently tapped as cochairman and co-chief executive of Endemol
Shine North America (a role he shares with
Charlie Corwin). He oversees operations of
the company that produces everything from
MasterChef Junior and Big Brother to The Real
Housewives of Atlanta and The Biggest Loser.
In all, the company produces nearly 100
unscripted series.
The Times spoke to Abrego, who has a book
Make It Reality: Create Your Opportunities,
Own Your Success coming out in May, about
the state of reality TV industry. Here is an
edited excerpt of that conversation:
It feels like the reality TV industry has
taken a hit. How do you think the genre
is faring?
We’re in a difficult spot. But this is why our
business is so brilliant. It’s a creative business
and it’s up to us to really raise the bar again.
Some of the best stuff on television right now
is scripted. And some of the best stories right
now are scripted. And I know my colleagues
in scripted might argue this, but I attribute it
to the success of unscripted back in the day.
Back in 1998 and 1999, scripted had
become real stagnant — there was nothing
edgy. And reality TV was going through the
roof because it felt so real and authentic.
Then all of a sudden, someone took a chance
on a show about a cop who was dirty and
featured an actor who was older. That show
was The Shield on FX. And then all of a
sudden we get two plastic surgeons, one of
which is doing crazy things, on Nip/Tuck.
Then we get (AMC’s) Breaking Bad. They
pushed the envelope in scripted. They had to
get edgier and louder because unscripted was
so real and so loud. So, yeah, we’re in a tough
spot with unscripted. But it’s only a matter of
time before the balance shifts again. Reality is
not going away.
When high-profile shows like Utopia
fail, does that make it harder for you
because it furthers the idea that reality is
in a slump?
Unfortunately, this town operates a lot
out of fear. The minute Utopia tanked, if
you had the (guts) to walk in a room and
pitch something similar to Utopia, nobody
is going to buy it. If you really looked at
unscripted right now, a lot of shows are
doing really well, especially in cable. Even
in broadcast, The Voice still does well.
American Idol will probably come out and
still do significant numbers. Will they be
the numbers that Idol was doing five years
ago? No. But compared to a lot of stuff out
there, it’s still doing incredible. Endemol
Shine North America is also building its
scripted library — you’ve got shows like
Kingdom and Hell on Wheels.
Let’s talk about Spanish-language
networks. Traditionally, they didn’t
deviate from the tried-and-true
combination of telenovelas and variety
shows and talk shows. Now, we’re seeing
them experiment in ways we haven’t
seen before — and some of that is with
reality TV.
The billennials that have now matured and
have access to everything else, so they need
more updated stories, different stories and
more choices and brands that are not overly
different than what you see in the general
market. So we’re taking advantage of that
with our own brands. Big Brother has been
in the US for 16 years. There’s no reason
we shouldn’t have a Spanish version, Gran
Hermano, here in the US.
Telemundo, I have to give them credit,
they’re the ones really leading the charge on
this. They’ve got The Voice, they have the
rights to The Walking Dead, which overindexes anyhow with Latinos on AMC, so
why not have that in Spanish? In addition to
Gran Hermano, we also have a scripted series
we’re doing with Telemundo. It’s called El
Vato, it looks like a Mexican Entourage.
Is there a show out there that you wish
was part of Endemol Shine?
If I had to pick, I would say probably Ninja
Warrior. We watch it as a family. You can
make 50 episodes of it. And it’s done really
well. If I had come in four years ago and said,
“Hey, I’m going to build one big jungle gym
and I’m going to run 50 people through it”
— I would’ve been kicked out of the room.
That pitch would’ve tanked. But someone
gave them a shot to do it and they did it right
with the lights and the commentators and
the execution. We did “Wipe Out” for the
longest time. It pains me how many people
loved that show and yet ABC took it off the
air.
What are the issues you find yourself
talking about with people in the
industry?
It’s the ongoing conversation that is
cresting now: the monetisation of these
direct-to-consumer services, these
OTT (streaming) places and how they’re
structured. Should you go it alone? Should
you team up with the Hulus and such? Should
you just buy into these guys and move on?
Should you do it yourself, like we’re doing
with Endemol Beyond? Those are a lot of the
conversations going on, along with, in every
genre, we need a hit. We need a big hit. — Los
Angeles Times/TNS
Thursday, January 14, 2016
GULF TIMES 19
COMMUNITY
HOLLYWOOD
Amazed that I’m actually
alive, says Charlie Sheen
Actor Charlie Sheen, who is HIV
positive, says he is amazed that he
is still alive as he had taken a break
from his medication for a bit out of
curiosity.
Making some personal
revelations, Sheen shared that
he was curious to know what it
would be like if he gives a miss to
his medication for a while, reports
eonline.com
“There’s a host of side-effects
that are manageable. I was just
curious as I think a lot of people are.
You know, you ingest something
every day, and you feel a certain
way.
“I just got curious about what
I might feel like off this stuff. And
then, if what was being professed,
if any part of it was true, then I
thought it was worth exploring,”
Sheen said during an interview with
Dr Oz on Monday.
The 50-year-old actor opened
up about his HIV diagnosis last
year. “I’m amazed that I’m actually
alive. But I beat myself up from
Katy Perry dating
Orlando Bloom?
BACHELOR BOY: Leonardo DiCaprio
DiCaprio will marry
‘when time is right’
H
ollywood actor
Leonardo DiCaprio
says he is happy with
his friends and family
at the moment, and
will consider marriage when the
time is right.
The Revenant actor has dated
Glad my kids can watch
The X-Files: Duchovny
Actor David Duchovny, who is
returning to The X-Files as former
FBI Special Agent Fox Mulder, says
FOR THE KIDS: David Duchovny
celebrities like Kelly Rohrbach,
Toni Garrn, Gisele Bundchen and
Bar Refaeli, but says he doesn’t
plan things like marriage, reports
femalefirst.co.uk.
“I’m very hesitant to talk about
anything on that sort of personal
level. I have a wonderful family
and friends that I’m enjoying life
with, and I will say that I am very
happy. As for anything more — the
time will be right when it’s going
to be right. There’s no way to plan
these things,” Hello magazine
quoted the 41-year-old as saying.
— IANS
he is “glad” that his children can
now watch the science fiction horror
drama TV series.
The show, which has been off air
since 2002, makes its return as the
two lead characters Fox Mulder and
Dana Scully, played by actress Gillian
Anderson, investigate more X-Files —
strange and unexplained
cases involving paranormal
phenomena.
Asked if he would allow his children
— Madelaine West Duchovny, 16, and
Kyd Miller Duchovny, 13 — to watch
The X-Files now that they are older,
Duchovny said in statement: “I’m
proud of my kids. I’m glad that they
can’t watch Californication. They can
watch The X-Files, so that’s good. I
want them to be proud of themselves.”
The X-Files series will pick up with
a developed plot-line to match newage conspiracies and technology. It
will premiere on January 30 on Star
World Premiere HD.
Duchovny said: “I am happy to be
back again and I couldn’t be prouder
of the entire show, from the first
season to what we have done now.
There is so much I am grateful for.” —
IANS
Singer Katy Perry and actor
Orlando Bloom have sparked dating
rumours. The duo was spotted
flirting at the Golden Globes
after-party at the Beverly Hilton on
January 10.
In some photographs obtained
by Mail Online, Perry was seen
chatting intimately with Bloom,
reports aceshowbiz.com.
One of the images showed the
Roar singer smiling widely as
he whispered something in her
ear. The pair reportedly left the
glamorous party together through a
side entrance with security guards
FIGHTING ON: Charlie Sheen
time to time about why it took me
so long once I knew that I was HIV
positive to really start embracing
the whole physical package and the
whole psychological package about
bettering myself,” he said. — IANS
leading the way.
Later in the night, Perry and
Bloom reportedly hit another
party. The Teenage dream hitmaker
donned a pink long dress with a
beehive hairstyle. The Troy actor,
meanwhile, rocked a classic black
tuxedo.
Neither the singer nor the actor’s
representatives have commented on
the dating rumours yet. Perry was
previously married to comedian
Russell Brand before their split in
2012.
She has been dating on-and-off
with singer John Mayer. Bloom,
meanwhile, was married to model
Miranda Kerr for three years before
their separation in 2003. — IANS
Cowell comforts
Cheryl over
divorce
Music moghul
Simon Cowell has been
comforting singer
Cheryl FernandezVersini, who is splitting
from husband JeanBernard FernandezVersini after 18 months
of marriage.
“Sadly, no one here
is surprised to hear this
news. Jean-Bernard never
came down this year and
we knew a split was on
the cards. Simon and
Cheryl have spent a lot
of time together since
the live shows started,” a
source told mirror.co.uk.
“He’s been offering words
of comfort. He cares for
her a great deal and has
been in contact even
while on holiday to make
sure she is coping,” the
source added. — IANS
MARITAL BLISS: Nick Carter, left, and Lauren Kitt
Carter, wife enjoying
pregnancy time period
Singer Nick Carter and his wife
Lauren Kitt who are expecting their
first child this year are enjoying the
pregnancy time period.
According to Carter, his friends
have been warning him about
the negative aspects of having a
pregnant wife, but the Backstreet
Boy band member says he is yet to
experience any drawback, reports
HollywoodLife.com.
“Things are not over the top
and changing, it is all gradual and
comfortable. You know people are
saying to me that my life is going to
change, trust me. When it comes to
the life, I have Lauren who is making
the process really amazing and
comfortable,” the 35-year-old said.
“It’s cool to have some time to
prepare. I’ve really been thinking
about living in the moment and
enjoying every day that I have with
my wife. I’m enjoying the process,
because I’ve heard that your life
will change and your priorities will
change and that’s great. So, we are
enjoying the time we have right
now,” he added. — IANS
20 GULF TIMES Thursday, January 14, 2016
COMMUNITY
January sets the tone for
chamber music concerts
Qatar Philharmonic Orchestra has come out with its detailed programme, ushering
in a new season of classical music performances in Doha. By Anand Holla
J
anuary is set to fly off
to a soul-stirring start
with Qatar Philharmonic
Orchestra (QPO) presenting
its first chamber music
concert of the year – Bonbons for
String Quartet at 6pm today – and
Bach’s Toccata and Fugue in D
Minor at the Katara Opera House on
Saturday.
To keep Doha’s classical music
lovers happy, QPO has some big
shows such as Tchaikovsky’s Romeo
and Juliet in March, and Marcel
Khalife’s Oud concerto in April, and
has now come out with its detailed
programme for February. Here’s a
run through the line-up.
On Thursday, February 4, MAias
Alyamani brings his latest set of
new popular Arabic-influenced
compositions to the Philharmonic’s
monthly free chamber music
concert in the atrium of the Museum
of Islamic Art. One Way Ticket is
a new musical journey by MAias
Alyamani. On January 29, the show
will kick off in Bourgoin Jallieu,
France. A second concert will be on
January 31 in Lyon, and February 4 at
the Museum of Islamic Art in Doha
will be the third destination.
On the following day, Friday,
February 5, the Philharmonic will
perform Sergei Prokofiev’s Peter
and the Wolf in a Family Concert,
a special performance that is open
to all ages. Presented in its chamber
version, the demand for a recent
performance was so great that the
music will be performed twice more,
at 3:30 and 5:30 in the afternoon.
The family concert for woodwind
quintent, violin and percussion will
be narrated by Christoph Schmitz.
The Philharmonic’s Conductor
of Honor, Dmitrij Kitajenko,
will conduct music from Pyotr
Ilyich Tchaikovsky’s ballet, The
Nutcracker, on Saturday, February 6,
in the Katara Opera House. Maestro
Kitajenko recently completed a
recording of the whole cycle of
Tchaikovsky symphonies. The
programme also includes Reinhold
Gliere’s Harp Concerto.
Conductor of Honour Dmitrij
Kitajenko also conducts Gustav
Mahler’s Fifth Symphony in
the Philharmonic’s February 11
performance. The opening trumpet
solo in Mahler’s music makes
reference to Beethoven’s Fifth
Symphony, a fitting tribute for a
symphony with equally ambitious
depth and force.
To close the second month
of the New Year with deep-set
GET, SET: Dmitrij Kitajenko will conduct music from Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky’s ballet.
satisfaction, on February 27, watch
the veteran conductor Krzysztof
Penderecki, regarded by many as
Poland’s greatest living composer,
take the stage with Lukasz Dlugosz
on flute, to perform pieces such
as Penderecki’s own From Third
Symphony: Adagio, and Concerto
for Flute and Chamber Orchestra;
apart from Antonin Dvorak’s
Symphony No. 8 in G Major, Op.
88. Along with his own music,
Penderecki leads the Philharmonic
in Antonin Dvorak’s Eighth
Symphony.
March begins on an eclectic note
with a very special concert: Video
Games Live on March 5. This concert
combines orchestral music from
video games with a multimedia
presentation.
Follow this up with Sergei
Rachmaninoff’s Third Concerto on
March 11, as conductor Pablo Mielgo
and Andrejs Osokins on piano take
you through Piano Concerto No. 3 in
D Minor, Op. 30, and Symphony No.
2 in E Minor, Op. 27.
Tchaikovsky’s Romeo and
Juliet will likely win over Katara
Opera House on March 19 as
conductor Aleksandr Markovic and
pianist Elisso Bokvadze perform
Tchaikovsky’s Piano Concerto No.
1 in B Flat Minor, Op. 23; Richard
Strauss’ Macbeth, TrV 163, Op. 23;
and Tchaikovsky’s Romeo and Juliet
Overture-Fantasy, TH 42, CW 39.
Meanwhile, later this month,
on January 21, Austrian classical
pianist Rudolf Buchbinder will
play and conduct Beethoven at
the Katara Opera House. Expect
these fine Beethoven masterpieces:
Piano Concerto No. 2 in B Flat
Major, Op. 19; Piano Concerto No.
4 in G Major, Op. 58; and Piano
Concerto No. 3 in C Minor, Op. 37.
Buchbinder returns on January 24
at the same time and venue to treat
patrons to Beethoven’s Emperor
Concerto.
MAias Alyamani at MIA.