Community

P6
Community
Vodafone Qatar
has once again
managed
to generate a huge
humanitarian response
from the community for the
community this Ramadan.
P7
Community
A large number
of Nepali
expatriates
attended four separate
Iftars organised by
Qatar-based Nepali
organisations.
Thursday, June 30, 2016
Ramadan 25, 1437 AH
DOHA
31°C—42°C TODAY
LIFESTYLE/HOROSCOPE 11
PUZZLES 12 & 13
Fruitful
bargain?
COVER
STORY
Apple’s new privacy effort
is worth watching. P4-5
2
GULF TIMES Thursday, June 30, 2016
COMMUNITY
ROUND & ABOUT
PRAYER TIME
Fajr
Shorooq (sunrise)
Zuhr (noon)
Asr (afternoon)
Maghreb (sunset)
Isha (night)
3.17am
4.47am
11.37am
3.00pm
6.31pm
8.01pm
USEFUL NUMBERS
EVENTS
Emergency
999
Worldwide Emergency Number
112
Kahramaa – Electricity and Water
991
Local Directory
180
International Calls Enquires
150
Hamad International Airport
40106666
Labor Department
44508111, 44406537
Mowasalat Taxi
44588888
Qatar Airways
44496000
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
Sculpture Art Exhibition
DATE: Second Day of Eid
TIME: 3.30pm
VENUE: Al Dosari Park, Shahaniya
This exhibition promises to be for
visitors who want to experience a
unique and rare art form of Sculpture
Art. The venue of the exhibition is
Al Dosari Park in Shahaniya. The
exhibition will be held on the second
day of Eid and last for five days. The
timings for the exhibition are from
3.30pm to 7pm.
Humanitarian Services Office
(Single window facility for the repatriation of bodies)
Ministry of Interior
40253371, 40253372,
40253369
Ministry of Health
40253370, 40253364
Hamad Medical Corporation
40253368, 40253365
Qatar Airways
40253374
ote Unquote
u
Q
Change will
not come if we wait for
some other person or some
other time. We are the ones
we’ve been waiting for. We are the
change that we seek.
— Barack Obama
Community Editor
Kamran Rehmat
e-mail: community@gulf-times.com
Telephone: 44466405
Fax: 44350474
Chinese Food Culture Festival
DATE: Today - July 9
TIME: 8pm- 12pm
VENUE: Barwa Commercial Avenue
Want to taste Chinese food? Want to watch breath taking
Mall Cinema (1): School Bus
(Malayalam) 2.30pm; School
Bus (Malayalam) 9pm; Intruder
(2D) 11.15pm.
Mall Cinema (2): Elvis & Nixon
(2D) 3pm; Elvis & Nixon (2D)
8.30pm; The Curse Of Sleeping
Beauty 10pm; Rabid Dogs (2D)
11.30pm.
Mall Cinema (3): Now You See
Me 2 (2D) 3pm; Ghosthunters
(2D) 8.45pm; Ghosthunters (2D)
Chinese performances? Well now you can enjoy the authentic
taste and watch wonderful Chinese performances at the
Dragon Mart China Mall. Bringing you 10 days of food
festivities. Barwa Commercial Avenue, opposite Al Watan
petrol station from today to July 9, from 8pm-12pm.
10.30pm.
Royal Plaza Cinema Palace
(1): Ghosthunters (2D)
2.30pm; Intruder (2D) 9pm;
Ghosthunters (2D) 11pm.
Royal Plaza Cinema Palace
(2): Intruder (2D) 3pm; The
Curse Of Sleeping Beauty
8.30pm; Elvis & Nixon (2D)
10pm; Rabid Dogs (2D) 11.30pm.
Royal Plaza Cinema Palace
(3): Elvis & Nixon (2D) 3pm;
Now You See Me 2 (2D) 8.30pm;
The Curse Of Sleeping Beauty
10.45pm.
Asian Town Cinema: School
Bus (Malayalam) 8, 9, 11pm
& 12am; Kammati Paadam
(Malayalam) 8 & 11pm; Jackson
Durai (Tamil) 8 & 10.45pm.
Thursday, June 30, 2016
BOOKS
10
MOVIES
1. The Girl On The Train by Paula Hawkins
2. Querkles Masterpieces by Thomas Pavitte
3. See Me by Nicholas Spark
4. Username: Evie by Joe Sugg
5. The Bamboo Stalk by Saud Al Sanousi
6. Qatar Entertainer 2016 by The Entertainer
7. The Amazing Book Is Not On Fire by Dan Howell and Phil
Lester
8. Girl Online: On Tour by Zoe Sugg
9. Selp-Helf by Miranda Sings
10. Nutella: The Best 30 Recipes by Johana Amsili and
Hilary Mandleberg
TV-SERIES
1. Mrs Brown’s Boys S1
2. Downton Abbey: A Moorland Holiday
3. Flash S1
4. Friends S1-10 Complete
5. Prison Break: Restage S1-4
6. Silicon Valley S2
7. Falling Skies S5
8. Heroes Reborn S1
9. Mindy Project S2
10. Modern Family S1-6
Art-Themed Summer Courses
DATE: Until August 18
TIME: 9am-1pm
VENUE: VCUQatar
Virginia Commonwealth University in
Qatar (VCUQatar) has announced the details
of its art and design summer programme for
children and high school students. It provides
opportunities for young people to learn art
and design skills who may not have access to
them at their own schools, as well as other
young people who want to further their artistic
abilities during the summer holidays.
T20 Cricket Tournament
DATE: Until July 5
VENUE: Asian Town Cricket Stadium
Ibn Ajayan Projects (IAP) is organising a
T20 Cricket Tournament under the patronage
of the Ministry of Culture and Sports and in
Obituary
Philippines expatriate Jenny Martin’s body will
be repatriated to her native country tomorrow.
Martin, 34, died at the Al Amal Hospital, Qatar,
on June 26. She had been undergoing cancer
treatment there for some time.
Martin, who had been residing in Qatar for the
past three years, hailed from Olongapo in the
Philippines.
She is survived by her parents and brother.
1. Solace
2. Triple 9
3. Pride & Prejudice & Zombies
4. Daddy’s Home
5. That’s What I Am
6. Descendants
7. Star Wars: The Force Awakens
8. Godfather Collection
9. Martian
10. Room
MUSIC
1. Various Artists: Now 93
2. Adele: 25
3. Coldplay: Head Full Of Dreams
4. Justin Bieber: Purpose Del Ed
5. Ed Sheeran: X Del Ed
6. Various Artists: Brit Awards 2016 Db
7. Various Artists: 100 Bombes Dancefloor 2016
8. Various Artists: Sunset Soul Bx3
9. Various Artists: City Lounge 1.3
10. Morrison James: Higher Than Here
association with Pro Event, to celebrate the holy
month of Ramadan.
in France right here in Qatar. Let the fun &
excitement begin!
A Summer Workshop – Inspirational 66
DATE: 7.45-8.45pm
TIME: July 10-Aug 4
VENUE: TCA Qatar, Doha
Inspirational 66 focuses on life-skills
for your child and is a fun-filled, creative
programme for children to approach life in a
positive way. This workshop is designed to
cover five primary skills — to develop self, build
confidence, improve communication skills and
explore creative skills.
Blood and Arteries exhibition
DATE: Until July 11
TIME: 9am-11:55pm
VENUE: Katara, Bldg 18
Creative 4D Exhibition on blood and arteries
with verses from the Qur’an and a free blood
test.
TCA Science Summer Camp
DATE: July 10-Aug 4
TIME: 8.30am-3.15pm
VENUE: TCA, C-Ring Road
Qatar’s most exciting summer camp is
an unique science workshop to introduce
young children to the mysteries of science,
through hands on make and take projects with
interactive experiments. For inquiries, call
66523871.
RedBull Kart Fight
DATE: Until July 1
TIME: 9.30pm
VENUE: Doha Exhibition & Convention
Center
Red Bull Kart Fight is at the door! The first
ever karting competition to be held in Qatar
will establish the fastest amateur kart racer in
the country. Kart Fight Qualifiers and National
Final will take place between June 23 -July
1 (except June 28), at the Doha Exhibition &
Convention Center from 9:30pm – 11:30pm.
Philippine expat dies
3
COMMUNITY
ROUND & ABOUT
top
GULF TIMES
Freej Aspire 2016
DATE: Until July 19
VENUE: Aspire Zone
You can come and enjoy fun and
entertainment at Freej Aspire in Ramadan. The
events include live entertainment shows suitable
for all family members, sports activities for kids,
in addition to shopping and food outlets.
Ramadan Nights @ Aqua Park
TIME: 8pm-2am
VENUE: Aqua Park
With a special month, comes a special treat
from Qatar’s number 1 theme park – Aqua Park.
Come spend the beautiful Ramadan nights
at Aqua Park and get to also view the 2016
matches on a giant screen. Join other football
fans and enjoy the UEFA EURO 2016 feeling
Find your treasure competition
DATE: Until July 1
TIME: 8pm-11pm
VENUE: Katara
You might be amongst the winners by
participating in the competition every
Thursday and Friday after the Tarawih prayers
and look for the treasure box to win the
QR2500. You are kindly requested, once you
find the box, to go to the kiosk opposite building
15 to know if you’re the lucky winner.
Summer Camp & Clinic
DATE: July 3-14
TIME: 9am
VENUE: Al Waab, Al Bustan, Doha
The camps & clinics are a fantastic
opportunity to maintain contact time with your
coach, whether that is soccer, basketball or
multi-sports. Come along, learn new skills and
meet new friends who have the same passion
and desire for the game as you do.
Karting & Mini Moto Track
DATE: Until July 1
TIME: 6.30pm
VENUE: Losail International Circuit
The Karting and Mini Moto Track will be
open every Thursday and Friday until July 1
after which the track will close until further
notice. QR100 per session of 15 minutes.
Helmet mask QR15 – not refundable.
QSports Summer Camp
DATE: Until Sept 1
TIME: 8am-1pm
VENUE: Al Jazeera Academy
Registration for QSports Summer Camp
2016 is now open. QSports summer camps
are committed to providing a safe, fun and
skill-based experience for kids between the
ages of four and 14. We have a dedicated team
of specialist kid’s coaches and classes and
activities are safe, planned, progressive, active,
creative, inclusive and designed to maximise
participation of all children by offering a variety
of activities.
Compiled by Nausheen Shaikh. E-mail: gtlisting@gmail.com, Events and timings subject to change
Courtesy: Virgin Megastores,
Landmark and Villaggio Mall
Shifting Sands
DATE: Until July 7
VENUE: Sheikh Faisal bin Qassim
Museum, Alsamariyah
MA students of UCL Qatar are organising
and curating an exhibition as part of
UCLQurates. In the very recent past, Qatar
has undergone a significant transformation;
through these developments, people have had
to adapt to the changing landscape in which
they live.
Yamativo Salsa Classes
DATE: Every Monday
TIME: 7pm
VENUE: Radisson Blu
It’s always fun and always challenging.
Meet and learn some moves every Monday
night. Level 1 (intermediate level) 7pm and for
beginner level 8pm. Be there are Radisson Blu
Hotel Cabana Club.
Cake Decoration Classes
DATE: Morning and evening
VENUE: Tavola Royal Plaza, Al Saad Street
Tavola offers a range of cake decorating
and kitchen skills classes, Tavola is the
only authorised Wilton method provider
in the Middle East. Tavola is authorised by
Wilton enterprises to conduct classes in the
Wilton Method cake decorating and the
Wilton Method Instructors (WMI) training
programs by Knightsbridge PME (UK).
Tavola conducts sugar crafting programs and
also offers programs in Baking and Chocolate
making.
4
GULF TIMES Thursday, June 30, 2016
COMMUNITY
COVER STORY
‘Differential privacy’
Apple is promising that it can offer the kinds of useful information that comes from
collecting and analysing large amounts of data — without compromising individual
users’ privacy — by using a set of techniques, writes Troy Wolverton
M
odern technology
has presented us
with something of
a Faustian bargain
when it comes to
our privacy, but Apple thinks we
should have another option.
The bargain we’ve long been
offered is the use of all kinds of
personalised services, often for
free in exchange for handing over
some of the most intimate details
of our lives — and running the risk
that those details will end up in
the wrong hands.
Apple thinks it’s found a
way around this dilemma. The
company is promising that it
can offer the kinds of useful
information that comes from
collecting and analysing large
amounts of data — without
compromising individual users’
privacy — by using a set of
techniques that goes under the
banner of “differential privacy.”
If it works the way Apple and
its developers say it will, the
system could help rebalance the
data collection-personal privacy
equation.
“We believe you should have
great features and great privacy,”
Craig Federighi, Apple’s senior
vice president for software
engineering, told the audience
at the company’s Worldwide
Developer Conference in San
Francisco earlier this month. “You
deserve it and we’re dedicated to
providing it.”
Privacy is not a new point of
emphasis for Apple, as the recent
brouhaha over iPhone used by one
of the San Bernardino, California,
attackers made clear. But in the
next version of iOS, due out
this fall, the company plans to
add in differential privacy as an
additional privacy protection tool.
Long studied in academic
circles but only deployed
in a handful of commercial
applications, the system allows
people or companies to glean
meaningful information from a
set of data while at the same time
preventing any particular data
point from being connected to
individual users.
The way the system does that
is by introducing random bits
of noise into the data in known
amounts. The classic example
is a survey in which users are
asked a potentially embarrassing
question, such as whether they’ve
ever used drugs. Respondents
would be instructed to flip a coin
without telling the survey givers
how it lands. If the coin comes
up heads, they are instructed to
answer truthfully. If it comes up
tails, they are instructed to flip
again. On the second flip, if the
coin comes up heads, they are
asked to answer yes, if it comes
up tails, they are asked to answer
no — regardless of what’s actually
true.
Such a system protects
individual privacy, because
no-one can tell whether any
individual is answering truthfully
or not. But because the chance
of a coin landing heads or tails
is a known quantity, researchers
can figure out overall the
proportion of users that are
Thursday, June 30, 2016
GULF TIMES
5
COMMUNITY
COVER STORY
Long studied in
academic circles
but only deployed
in a handful of
commercial
applications, the
system allows
people or companies
to glean meaningful
information from
a set of data while
at the same time
preventing any
particular data
point from being
connected to
individual users
answering truthfully and filter
out the random noise. With a
large enough data set, they can
get a pretty good sense of what
proportion of the population has
used drugs without being able to
tell if any individual has.
Of course, iPhone users won’t
literally be flipping coins or
answering survey questions. But
Apple plans to employ related
techniques. For example, the
company plans to interject
noise into user data on their
devices, before any data is
sent up to Apple’s servers to
analyse.
One way it will do that is by
“subsampling” user data; instead
of collecting every word a user
types, for instance, it will collect
a subset of them. It also plans
to randomly change data. So
characters in words you type may
be altered so that the words would
be unrecognisable.
Differential privacy theorists
have recognised that the more
data collected on a particular
person, the more individualised
that data becomes and the more
likely it is that the person could
be identified. To try to protect
against that danger, the system
requires a so-called privacy
budget, a limit to the amount of
data that can be collected on any
one person. Apple is including
just such a budget, capping the
amount of data it collects on
customers in a set time period.
Aaron Roth, who co-wrote a
book on differential privacy, got
a sneak peak at how Apple was
implementing its system and
came away impressed.
“They employ engineers who
understand the mathematics, and
they’ve got a good algorithm,”
Roth, an associate professor
of computer science at the
University of Pennsylvania, said.
At least at first, Apple will
only use its differential privacy
algorithms in a limited way.
For example, it will use them to
try to identify new words that
customers are typing on their
devices so that it can add them
to the dictionaries of all users.
Similarly, it plans to use them
to determine the most popular
emoji that customers are using
in place of words to better figure
out which ones to suggest. It also
has indicated that it hopes to
use differential privacy for other
features in the future.
As interesting and promising
as differential privacy is, it’s not a
panacea. It works well with large
data sets from large numbers
of users and can be used well to
determine trends among groups
of people. But it fails in small sets
of data; either there’s too much
noise to glean anything useful or
there’s so little that individuals
can be identified.
Security officials might be able
to use differential privacy to find
patterns of behaviour common
to terrorists without identifying
individuals, but they couldn’t
use such techniques to zero in on
individual suspects. Likewise,
Apple likely wouldn’t be able
to use it to make particularly
personalised suggestions for
users.
And it remains to be seen how
the system will work and how well
it will protect users’ privacy. So
far, Apple hasn’t said much about
the algorithms it will use or the
parameters it will set.
“I’m happy … that Apple has
announced this and seems to
be working on it in a way that
has a lot of potential,” said Nate
Cardozo, a senior staff attorney
with the Electronic Frontier
Foundation, a digital rights
advocacy group. “Apple has said
the right words at this point, and
now we’re waiting for the details.”
But it’s an exciting
development. Here’s hoping for
all of our sakes that Apple gets it
right. — The Mercury News/TNS
z Troy Wolverton is a
technology columnist for The
Mercury News. Reach him at
twolverton@mercurynews.com or
follow him on Twitter @troywolv.
MAKING A STATEMENT: Apple senior VP of software engineering Craig Federighi during the keynote.
AFP
6
GULF TIMES Thursday, June 30, 2016
COMMUNITY
Giving back to community
By Umer Nangiana
V
odafone Qatar has
once again managed
to generate a huge
humanitarian
response from the
community for the community
this Ramadan. During the first
15 days of the holy month,
the ‘Giving Challenge’ of
Vodafone involving four social
media influencers generated
QR1,008,500 for four charity
organisations.
During the campaign, the
four influencers managed to
collectively receive 100,850 votes,
while 1.2 million accounts were
reached on Twitter. The campaign
Facebook and Instagram videos
received 510K views and it reached
810K people on both of these
social media platforms.
In the Giving Challenge this
year, four social media influencers
Asma al-Hamadi, Eid al-Sulaity,
Abdulrahman al-Harmozi and
Hassan al-Saei were selected to
use their social media channels
to encourage followers to vote
for their chosen charities via My
Vodafone App.
For every vote, Vodafone
donated QR10 to the chosen one of
the four charities, Qatar Charity
(QC), Raf, Eid and Rota.
“The idea came from when
we saw a lot of social media
influencers doing charity work.
We see a lot of people wanting
to have a wider reach on social
media,” Dana Haidan, the Head of
Corporate Social Responsibility
(CSR) Vodafone told Community
in a chat recently.
“So we thought about ways
where we can use their social
media reach for a good cause
and we wanted to inspire them
by basically having them look
up to the people they follow on
their channels and make them
think about how they can use this
platform to do good,” she added.
The number of followers played
a role in how the four influencers
were chosen, but the main criteria,
Haidan said, was social media
influencers who are already
engaged in charity work and their
passion for it.
She said the response to the
campaign was “just incredible.” It
was double that of last year, where
they received about 45,000 votes.
“Qatar Charity led the race
with more than 43,000 votes
and Asma al-Hamadi was their
ambassador for a long time. When
we invited her to participate in the
Giving Challenge, she was really
passionate to make sure that they
win so she has really gone above
and beyond to promote the work
they do on her channels,” said
Haidan.
The focus of last year’s
campaign was on online
child safety. They launched a
DRIVING FORCE: Dana says every year the company is looking for innovative ways to stimulate the community to give back to community.
Dana Haidan, Head of CSR at Vodafone Qatar.
programme two years ago called
Amantech, which is an online
child safety platform focusing
on educating parents to ensure
that their children are using the
Internet safely.
It involved Vodafone working
very closely with a number of
partners who run workshops
for parents, activations and
engagement activities.
In an activity at Ezdan Mall,
they created a game for parents
to play along with their children.
“Throughout the game they learn
more about online child safety
so we are focusing more on these
types of activities, where we want
to engage the parents in something
interactive and educational. We
want them to be able to do these
things with their children,” said
the Vodafone CSR Head.
This is going to be their focus
for at least the next eight months,
where they will be expanding
the programme to involve more
schools and malls.
“The other thing that we are
focusing on is sustainability
management. We have launched
the first sustainability report,
which examines our social and
environmental performance and
governance internally and it is [an
on-going project],” said Haidan.
The second report will be
launched in September for 201516.
Last year, Vodafone reached
10,000 parents through school
workshops under its Amantech
project. This year, the number is
higher, as they have also engaged
malls in addition to the schools.
“Every time we run activities,
there is always hunger to know
more. I think the parents find
it a very puzzling world, as it is
really fast moving. They see their
children coming up suddenly
with new opinions, behaviours
and personalities because they
learn from social media,” said the
Vodafone CSR Head.
“So they feel they have lost
control a little bit — so there is
always hunger and demand for
it. In future as well, online child
safety would remain the number
one priority for us because of
the demand and the fact that not
many public entities are looking
into this area,” she added.
Thursday, June 30, 2016
GULF TIMES
7
COMMUNITY
Indian Cultural Centre hosts ‘Iftar Meet 2016’
The Indian Cultural Centre (ICC) organised ‘Iftar Meet 2016’ for the Indian community at its
Ashoka Hall recently. ICC Co-ordinating Officer and the First Secretary at the Indian embassy,
Suneel Thapliyal, attended the event. Also in attendance were Ambassador of Japan Shingo
Tsuda and Chargé d’ Affaires of Nepal Mani Ratan Sharma. In his welcome address, ICC president
Girish Kumar conveyed the Ramadan greetings and welcomed the guests. Former ICC president
MI Farid talked about the greatness of Ramadan. Also in attendance were IBPN president KM
Varghese; president of ICBF, Arvind Patil; senior community leader, Hassan Chougule; Nilangshu
Dey; MS Bukhari; Satish Pillai; and others. About 150 people attended the event.
Four Nepali organisations
arrange Iftar gatherings
SPEECH: Gayatri Poudel, second secretary at the Nepalese embassy, speaking at the NPRC
programme.
By Usha Wagle Gautam
F
our Qatar-based Nepali organisations
organised separate Iftars recently.
The first Iftar was hosted by the
Non-Resident Nepali AssociationNational Coordination Council
(NRNA-NCC) and attended by representatives
of various Qatar-based Nepali organisations.
Other guests included entrepreneurs,
journalists and local Nepali intellectuals.
The programme started with a Qur’an
recitation and a speech on the importance of
Ramadan.
Abdul Basid, a Muslim community
representative, thanked the council for the
programme and said it was a “symbol of
brotherhood” between the different religious
groups in Nepal. NRNA-NCC Preisdent Binash
Tamang said, “Whatever religion we belong
to, we are Nepali first and should respect every
religion and festival in Nepal equally.”
The second Iftar was hosted by the Nepalese
Public Relations Committee (NPRC), a sister
organisation of Nepali Congress (NC), Nepal’s
largest political party. The programme also
started with a Qur’an recitation and the
remembering of 14 Nepali security guards
who died in a bus bombing in Afghanistan
while commuting to work. A large number of
Nepali Muslims and community organisation
representatives attended the programme.
Gayatri Poudel, second secretary at Nepalese
embassy, was the chief guest and thanked
NPRC for hosting the programme. He stressed
on the importance of strengthening the bilateral
ties between Qatar and Nepal. He urged all
Nepalis in Qatar to respect the Qatari culture
and obey the country’s rules and regulations.
The programme was chaired by NPRC
Chairperson Keshav Bhusal, and hosted by
general secretary Aziz Ali.
Community leaders Narendra Bhat, Badri
Panday, Dhiraj Chamling Rai, Ramhari Gaire,
Shani Kumar Oli, Lumakanta Pun, B Kharel,
Kamal Tamang, Moshakir Ali, Abdul Hafiz,
Binod Bhattarai, Ganesh Banjade and Shiya
Ram Chaudhari attended the programme.
A large number of Nepali expatriates attended the RSS Iftar.
The Nepali expatriates who attended the NPRC Iftar.
The Federation of Nepalese JournalistsQatar (FNJ) also hosted an Iftar at Rotana Hotel
in Sanaya. FNJ Chairperson Ganesh Banjade
felicitated Yagesh, journalist at Kantipur Daily
and co-ordinator of its Friday supplement of
Kosheli, at the programme.
The last Iftar was hosted together by
Rupandevi Service Society, Kapilbastu
Muslim Society and Nepali Overseas Forum
Qatar (NOFQ). NOFQ President Ramhari
Gaire said, “This organisation celebrates
equally every Nepali religious occasion and
is working for the unity of Nepalis living
abroad.”
8
GULF TIMES Thursdau, June 30, 2016
COMMUNITY
Qatar Indian Islahi Centre holds its 16th Qur’an Examination
The Qatar Indian Islahi Centre held its 16th Qur’an Examination recently. Seen here are the winners in the various categories.
Olive International School bids farewell to its principal
Olive International School (OIS) principal AJ George was given a farewell by the management and staff at the school’s Nuaija campus recently. He was the principal of the school for two years. In his
address to Olivians, he advised to “keep smiling and bring the best in whatever they do.” He also wished the “very best” to the OIS family. Other Indian school principals also gathered over a lunch to bid
George farewell and to wish him success in his future endeavours.
Thursday, June 30, 2016
GULF TIMES
9
COMMUNITY
Renowned Indian Urdu
researcher passes away
R
enowned Urdu
researcher, critic,
lexicographer and
literary historian,
Professor Syeda
Jaffer, passed away last Friday in
Hyderabad, India. She was the
recipient of the 13th Aalmi Froghe-Urdu Adab Award from Majlis-eFrogh-e-Urdu Adab, Doha, Qatar in
Doha in 2009.
Born in 1934, she served as a
professor and the Head of Urdu
Department at Osmania University
and Hyderabad Central University,
respectively. She retired in 1994
after more than 40 years of service.
Author of 33 books, Syeda
Jaffer also received Makhdoom
Award from Andhra Pradesh Urdu
University and special awards
from other academies in India. She
had been the member of Sahitya
Academy, New Delhi and National
Council for Promotion of Urdu
Language, New Delhi.
Professor Jaffer was considered
to be amongst the top writers,
professors, intellectuals, critics
and researchers of Urdu language
in the sub-continent. Her main
work concentrated on Deccani
Urdu literature. The work started by
Baba-e-Urdu (father of Urdu) Molvi
Abdul Haq and Dr Mohyuddin
Qadri, was carried on by Professor
Jaffer with complete devotion.
She, along with Dr Gyan Chand
Jain, wrote and got published five
voluminous books on the history of
Deccani Urdu literature through the
National Council of the Promotion
of Urdu Language in New Delhi.
She also completed a four-volume
book tracing the history of Urdu
literature from Mir’s times to the
progressive movement. She also
prepared a Deccani dictionary.
Her many books were translated
into English, Arabic, Hindi and
Marathi. She had devoted her entire
life to Urdu literature and because
of her Urdu literary, critical and
research services, she was looked
upon with highest respect and
esteem in literary circles.
For eminent Urdu critic,
Professor Dr Gopi Chand
Narang, Syeda Jaffer was the only
woman research scholar whose
contributions enriched the Deccani
Urdu literature. She was also the
only one to write about literary
history and compile the works of
one of the most celebrated Urdu
poet, Wali Deccani.
RECOGNITION: Seen here is Professor Syeda Jaffer receiving a cash award of Rs150,000 from Moosa Zainal Moosa,
Adviser in the Ministry of Culture.
Mercure Hotel offers ‘lavish buffet’ during Ramadan
The Mercure Hotel is promising a “lavish buffet” during Ramadan daily at QR95. Children from 3 to 12 years of age get 50% discount. The buffet includes soup, salads, hot & cold appetizers, multiple main
courses including biryani, desserts, dry fruits, fresh juices and Arabic coffee. The hotel is also offering discount for group bookings. A tent has also been put up in the lobby to serve dates, juices and
coffee during Iftar.
10 GULF TIMES Thursday, June 30, 2016
COMMUNITY
INFOGRAPHIC
Thursday, June 30, 2016
GULF TIMES
11
COMMUNITY
LIFESTYLE/HOROSCOPE
Tips for a bug-free backyard barbecue
W
plastic bottles provide hiding spots for
stinging insects.
Use sealed coolers and containers to
protect all food and beverages. The containers
will not only keep bugs out of your food,
they’ll reduce the aroma that can attract
insects.
If spills occur, wipe them up
immediately from tables and other
surfaces to reduce the chance they’ll
attract ants or other insects.
Clear trash away from your entertaining
area immediately, and store it in sealed
receptacles away from the entertaining area.
Rinse all beverage bottles and cans before
sealing them in the closed recycling or trash
container.
hat fun would a backyard
barbecue be without special
people to share it with? Your
guests are as important to
the fun as great food and
good weather. However, there’s one type
of “guest” everyone can do without this
summer — bugs. Stinging and biting insects
can wreck even the best backyard gathering,
unless you take steps to keep them away.
Expert offers some tips for how you can
keep pests like mosquitoes, ants, flies,
hornets, wasps and other stinging and biting
insects away from your party and guests this
summer:
Prep for the party
Guests will be coming in and out of the
house throughout the barbecue, so be sure
doors close securely. Check screens for holes
and repair any you find; small holes in screens
can allow insects to get inside.
If possible, plan to serve food and
beverages indoors. Food left sitting outside on
a patio or picnic table is more likely to attract
insects, so reserve outdoor space for eating,
entertaining and fun.
Check around your backyard to ensure
there’s no standing water. Birdbaths, wading
pools, tire swings, children’s toys, garden
ponds and even puddles that collect in low
spots in the yard can all serve as breeding
locations for mosquitoes.
During the party
Strong fragrances from shampoo, perfume
and candles can attract stinging insects
like yellowjackets and wasps. They’re also
ARIES
March 21 — April 19
Stop being overly protective of something or someone today Aries.
Everyone has to learn to fend for themselves.
CANCER
June 21 — July 22
Avoid being smug today Cancers. While you have every right to feel
pretty pleased with yourself, not everyone else feels the same way.
LIBRA
September 23 — October 22
Be confident you can get something sorted out at work today.
Things are in good shape for you professionally and are only going
to get better.
CAPRICORN
December 22 — January 19
There is something to be said for not taking anything or anybody
too seriously today goats. Mars is moving direct in your friendship
zone and the rest of the planets are huddled in your relationship
zone. Life is good!
attracted to the aroma of food and drink.
Suggest guests avoid using scented items
before the backyard party. Serve beverages
in clear plastic cups; aluminium cans and
TAURUS
April 20 — May 20
Unless you really feel like going out of your way for someone today,
don’t bulls. Take advantage of all the good things you have in your
life.
LEO
July 23 — August 22
There is nothing wrong with asking for help today Leos. Everyone
needs a little help now and then. You’re no exception.
SCORPIO
October 23 — November 21
Planetary activity in your fellow water sign of Cancer is full to
overflowing in your overseas travel and higher education zone.
Areas to focus on Scorpios.
AQUARIUS
January 20 — February 18
Be careful that you don’t feel you have to go out of your way for
someone today when in reality, you have a lot on your plate and
don’t really have the time and or energy to do as much as you have
promised.
Post-party cleanup
After a good meal, and surrounded by
friends, you may be tempted to let the
dishware and utensils sit for a while as you
chat with guests. Resist the temptation. Take
utensils and dishware indoors right away to
reduce the chance the smell of leftover food
will attract unwanted insects.
These simple preventive measures can help
ensure your backyard barbecue remains as
pest-free as possible. If you have a serious
pest infestation, you may need to bring in a
pest control professional.
©Brandpoint
GEMINI
May 21 — June 20
You shouldn’t feel overwhelmed by anything today Geminis. The
planets align in your second house of self–esteem...love yourself.
VIRGO
August 23 — September 22
Don’t fall into the trap of asking for too much today Virgos. You have
wonderful aspects in your hopes and dreams zone. Wish upon a star
girls.
SAGITTARIUS
November 22 — December 21
In your eighth house of joint resources and investments, the Sun,
Mercury and Venus tempt you into deals with others today. Make
sure you consider all options especially if you are talking about a lot
of MONEY!
PISCES
February 19 — March 20
Unless you really feel as if you have to do or say something today
fish, save your breath and your energy. Don’t get too far ahead of
yourself and everyone else if you can help it.
12 GULF TIMES Thursday, June 30, 2016
COMMUNITY
Wordsearch
Adam
Pooch Cafe
Hubbub
BABBLE
BABEL
BLARE
BLAST
CACOPHONY
CHATTER
CLANG
CLANK
CLATTER
DIN
HOWL
JANGLE
NOISE
RACKET
ROAR
SCREAM
SCREECH
SHRIEK
THUMP
THUNDER
YOWL
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, June 30, 2016
COMMUNITY
PUZZLES
Quick Clues
ACROSS
4. Gist (7)
8. Awoke (6)
9. Outfit (7)
10. Coarse (6)
11. Deadly (6)
12. Objected (8)
18. Skilled performer (8)
20. Spanish dance (6)
21. Throat (6)
22. Etch (7)
23. Rankle (6)
24. Hundred (7)
GULF TIMES
Colouring
DOWN
1. Supply (7)
2. Exalted (7)
3. Mend (6)
5. Fume (8)
6. Being (6)
7. Fight (6)
13. Firearm (8)
14. Merry-making (7)
15. Stance (7)
16. Loaf (6)
17. Clandestine (6)
19. Tighten (6)
Cryptic Clues
Answers
Wordsearch
ACROSS
4. A toy Ben broke could be a potential
killer (7)
8. Bores medical man with mild ailments (6)
9. Longing to return on a short trip to the
wood (7)
10. Alloy seat with half a poster stuck to it (6)
11. Not at home when the television is
beginning (6)
12. Went on a spending spree when out
with it (8)
18. Old actress better known for her fruity
parts? (4,4)
20. Preferring to be on one side when a bed
is made (6)
21. Beetle belonging to Mark and Jack? (6)
22. Temporarily out of action? (2,5)
23. Deadly all the way round (6)
24. A pardon possibly granted to one with
hope (7)
DOWN
1. Soap die made of fat (7)
2. It’s boring to lie low, possibly, at
Leatherhead (3,4)
3. An isle for the rehabilitation of foreigners
(6)
5. Shop deal arranged at the plant (8)
6. Heavily made up when a toner is applied
(6)
7. Team that was part of a Pele venture (6)
13. Surrender of Hampshire town with hotel
(8)
14. Wash and try to look dark-complexioned
(7)
15. Bumpy sort of knee contest? (7)
16. One girl takes another back to the capital
(6)
17. Rise as pressure group circumvents the
Orient (6)
19. It may hold a picture when told to turn
the key (6)
Codeword
Yesterday’s Solutions
QUICK
Across: 1 Pessimistic; 9 Irk; 10 Discourse;
11 Apron; 13 Swagger; 14 Impose; 16 Chalet;
18 Amenity; 19 Larva; 20 Enigmatic; 21 Ill; 22
Shortcoming.
Down: 2 Elk; 3 Sedan; 4 Misuse; 5 Stomach;
6 Irregular; 7 Dilapidated; 8 Regrettable; 12
Replenish; 15 Shimmer; 17 Mystic; 19 Locum; 21
Inn.
Cryptic
Across: 1 Royal purple; 9 Lam; 10 Registrar;
11 Viola; 13 Taffeta; 14 Buckle; 16 Sleigh; 18
Alleged; 19 Later; 20 Chameleon; 21 Emu; 22
Wensleydale.
Down: 2 Ohm; 3 Aorta; 4 Pigsty; 5 Restful; 6
Larcenist; 7 Olive branch; 8 Treacherous; 12
Oscillate; 15 Legless; 17 Adhere; 19 Lined; 21
Ell.
13
14 GULF TIMES Thursday, June 30, 2016
COMMUNITY
REVIEWS
A muscular
action picture
FILM: London has Fallen
CAST: Gerard Butler, Aaron
Eckhart
DIRECTION: Babak Najafi
S
econds after a Secret
Service agent plunges
a knife — repeatedly —
into a terrorist, making
sure the victim’s phone
contact can hear, the US president
poses a question.
“Was that really necessary?”
President Benjamin Asher (Aaron
Eckhart) asks. “No,” responds Mike
Banning (Gerard Butler).
The same might be said of
London Has Fallen, a sequel to
2013’s Olympus Has Fallen. That
thriller, which grossed $161mn
at the worldwide box office, was
directed by Antoine Fuqua and
introduced the agent, the president
and others caught in a takeover of
the White House.
The core cast is back, although
some actors are reduced to glorified
or unglorified cameos, Fuqua is
out, director Babak Najafi (Easy
Money II: Hard to Kill) is in, and
the main backdrop switched from
Washington, DC, to London.
London Has Fallen opens in
Pakistan, where the daughter of
international arms dealer Aamir
Barkawi (Alon Moni Aboutboul) is
getting married. The United States
bombs the reception, and the bride
and others are killed or maimed.
Barkawi survives and tries to put
into practice what he preaches:
“Vengeance must be profound and
absolute.”
He masterminds the attack
on London, the site of a hastilyarranged funeral attracting global
leaders. The minute a TV reporter
says, “It is the most protected event
on Earth,” you know something
really, really bad is about to happen
— and it does.
Can Banning, an ex-Special
Forces guy who is two weeks away
from becoming a first-time father,
keep the president safe? Or, more
precisely, alive and away from
terrorists who vow, “We’re going to
kill him slowly and stream it live.”
London Has Fallen makes the
secret service agent a veritable
Superman able to wipe out armies
of terrorists with gunfire, bombs,
knives, speeding cars, brute force
and military smarts. Even the
president is an expert marksman.
Don’t expect any pauses for
thoughtful or even pithy debates
about arms sales, terrorist attacks
and retaliatory drone strikes. This
storytelling is black and white, kill
or be killed, us against them.
London Has Fallen depends on
Butler delivering fearlessness,
competence and manliness, and the
300 star does so in Spartan spades.
It’s a muscular action picture for
those who want their heroes never
to hesitate, their villains to pay with
lives or limbs, and their endings
patriotic and more than a little pat.
—Pittsburgh Post-Gazette/TNS
Surprise attack
FILM: Jarhead-3: The Siege
CAST: Charlie Weber
DIRECTION: William Kaufman
J
arhead 3: The Siege is the
latest film in what is now,
officially, a franchise.
The setups to both 13
Hours (reviewed here last
week) and Jarhead 3 are quite similar.
Marines (In 13 Hours, it was the
turn of “contractors”) protecting
a US embassy are caught off guard
when militants suddenly attack.
Outnumbered and outgunned, the
Marines have to muster enough
courage and firepower to survive the
assault.
Corporal Evan Albright (Charlie
Weber) joined the elite Marine
Corps Security Guards to save the
world and see some action. But his
first assignment, protecting a US
embassy in a seemingly safe Middle
Eastern capitol, relegates his unit to
wrangling “gate groupies” protesting
outside the compound and honing
their marksmanship by playing video
games.
So Albright and his team are caught
off guard when well-armed militants
launch a surprise attack aimed at
killing an informant in the embassy.
They now need to have all the courage to fight back.
The first Jarhead was a 2005 biographical drama military film based on Marine Anthony
Swofford’s 2003 memoir of the same name, directed by Sam Mendes. The title comes from the
slang term used to refer to United States Marines.
The original Jarhead was a highly watchable film. Jarhead 3 and Jarhead 2: Field of Fire
struggle to keep up the same tempo and pace. — NB
A family’s frightful
unravelling
FILM: The Witch
CAST: Anya Taylor-Joy, Harvey
Scrimshaw, Julian Richings
DIRECTION: Robert Eggers
N
ew England, 1630. An
English farmer leaves
his colonial plantation,
relocating his wife
and five children to a
remote plot of land on the edge of
an ominous forest — within which
lurks an unknown evil.
Strange and unsettling
things begin to happen almost
immediately — animals turn
malevolent, crops fail, and one
child disappears as another
becomes seemingly possessed by
an evil spirit.
With suspicion and paranoia
mounting, family members accuse
teenage daughter Thomasin of
witchcraft, charges she adamantly
denies. As circumstances grow
more treacherous, each family
member’s faith, loyalty and love
become tested in shocking and
unforgettable ways.
The film seeks to tell the riveting
story of one family’s frightful
unravelling in the New England
wilderness. — BV
DVDs courtesy:
Saqr Entertainment Stores, Doha
Thursday, June 30, 2016
GULF TIMES
15
COMMUNITY
SHOWBIZ
Winona defends Depp
over Heard abuse
allegations
HIS OWN MAN: “I like treading unexplored waters,” says the singer.
Indian music needs
respectable place to
flourish: Sonu Nigam
By Sandeep Sharma
F
rom hip-hop, jazz to EDM
and rap songs, the Indian
music industry is in
“interesting times” when
native music is getting
a heightened trough of western
music, says singing sensation Sonu
Nigam, who believes that India’s
own music genres should also be
rightfully given a respectable space
to flourish.
The National Award winner, who
has been enthralling fans in India
and abroad with his soulful voice
for over 25 years, told IANS: “Our
(Indian) music is becoming more
international.”
“As a musician, I value classical
Indian music and I am of the
opinion that genres like ghazals
and bhajans, besides pure classical
music, need respectable space to
flourish,” he added.
Sonu finds that the Indian music
industry has “changed a lot” as
compared to earlier times.
“Good and average work happens
in all eras. Today, the music space
has widened immensely. Music has
NEW ROLE: Owen Wilson
also become more encompassing
of multiple genres. These are
interesting times.
“With access to millions of
sounds and thousands of softwares,
today, the programmers and music
producers have the liberty and
luxury to go crazy with music
production. Music is no longer
region-confined,” said the singer,
best known for his songs like Kal
ho na ho, Abhi mujh mein kahin and
Zoobi doobi.
Asked whether Indian music has
moved the realms of film music,
Sonu said: “I wouldn’t say it has
moved beyond films but, yes,
releasing independent music is my
intent. And an online digital release
today reaches out to audiences
worldwide in one single click of
your finger.”
Besides, he feels having a
discography of film songs and
independent tracks completes the
life of a singer in India.
“Film songs give you the
opportunity to sing the
compositions of multiple
composers and widen the range
of one’s craft. Whereas private
albums or singles give you a chance
to express whatever you couldn’t
do through film songs as they are
expressing the film, whereas singles
are the artistes’ personal space,” he
added.
Of late, Sonu has been
experimenting with his talent
and mediums. Some time ago, he
disguised himself as a roadside
musician for Culture Machine’s
digital channel Being Indian’s video
The Roadside Ustaad.
He said it is all part of his
love of putting himself through
challenging situations.
“I like treading the unexplored
waters. We went through a couple
of ideas and eventually zeroed
down on this as it involved taking
my craft and profession to an
unknown territory,” said Sonu.
Will he ever make an acting
comeback in Bollywood?
Nigam, who has appeared
in films like Kash Aap Hamare
Hote and Jaani Dushman: Ek
Anokhi Kahani, said: “I am in
a very balanced space in terms
of my work and my life. Unless
something really excites me as
a subject or a project, it’s very
unlikely that I’d be ready to take
out 100 days of my precious life
for a film.” —IANS
Owen Wilson joins Julia
Roberts in Wonder
that prevented him from going to
a mainstream school earlier
in life — and then became an
unlikely hero when he entered the
local fifth grade, reports variety.
com.
Roberts will be seen as
Tremblay’s mother in the film and
Wilson will portray the father.
Directed by Stephen Chbosky, the
film is slated for release on April
7. —IANS
Actor Owen Wilson will star
alongside actress Julia Roberts in
the upcoming film adaptation of
Raquel J. Palacio’s novel Wonder.
Child actor Jacob Tremblay,
who won many awards for his role
in Room, is also attached to star in
Wonder as August Pullman, who
was born with facial differences
Actress Winona Ryder is
surprised by actress Amber
Heard’s accusation that actor
Johnny Depp abused her both
physically and emotionally during
their one-year marriage.
Ryder, who was previously
engaged to Depp, came to the
actor’s defence and said he was
never violent towards her during
their four-year relationship,
reports aceshowbiz.com.
“I can only speak from my own
experience, which was wildly
different than what is being said.
He was never, never that way
towards me. Never abusive at all
towards me. I only know him as
a really good, loving, caring guy
who is very, very protective of the
people that he loves,” Ryder told
Time magazine.
Winona later stressed that she
didn’t accuse anyone of telling lies
and couldn’t speak about Heard’s
experience.
“I wasn’t there. I don’t know
what happened. I’m not calling
anyone a liar. I’m just saying, it’s
difficult and upsetting for me to
wrap my head around it,” she said.
“Look, it was a long time ago,
TAKEN ABACK: Winona Ryder
but we were together for four
years, and it was a big relationship
for me. Imagine if someone you
dated when you were — I was 17
when I met him — was accused
of that. It’s just shocking. I have
never seen him be violent toward a
person before,” she added. —IANS
SULTAN IS IN: Salman Khan
Salman to don Sultan
avatar to boost kids
Two new special TV entertainers
inspired by Salman Khan’s character
from the forthcoming movie Sultan
are being brought on the small screen
as part of Turner International’s
partnership with Yash Raj Films.
The association brings two new
specials on POGO and Cartoon
Network.
Salman, in his Sultan avatar, will
be seen giving life-saving tips and
encouragement to face challenges
in each phase of life in these new TV
specials created especially for his
fans.
Cartoon Network will be airing a
special Dhobi Pachhaad with Sultan
and Kris on July 2 and POGO will
showcase Dholakpur Ka Sultan,
which will be aired on July 10, read a
statement.
Dhobi Pachhaad with Sultan and
Kris is from animated TV series
Roll No.21 on Cartoon Network. A
description of the special episode
reads: The Haryana ki shaan,
Haryaana ki jaan — Sultan Ali Khan
will give Mathura ka Kris tips on
wrestling the odds of life. He will
teach Kris and the audience on how
they can do do do haat (fight back)
with the challenges that life throws
at them.”
Dholakpur Ka Sultan on POGO
will highlight the core values that
both Sultan and Chhota Bheem stand
for. Both lead characters will look at
drawing parallels from their lives that
talk about the beliefs and never-saydie attitude to win love and affection.
—IANS