Community

P7
Community
ISL Qatar
recently
collaborated
with Katara Art
Village to host an
exhibition of art
pieces by students.
Community
Arguelina,
the elegantly
designed new
Arabic lounge,
has transformed
in to an exquisite
Ramadan venue.
P20
Sunday, June 19, 2016
Ramadan 14, 1437 AH
DOHA
32°C—43°C TODAY
COVER
STORY
PUZZLES 14 & 15
LIFESTYLE/HOROSCOPE 16
Burning
bright
Pakistani expat duo takes initiative
to teach children with special needs
in real class environment. P4-5
INSPIRATION: Bushra Resham, left, and Nawal Hafeez.
2
GULF TIMES Sunday, June 19, 2016
COMMUNITY
ROUND & ABOUT
Udta Punjab
GENRE: Action,
Crime
CAST: Shahid Kapoor,
Kareena Kapoor, Alia
Bhatt, Diljit Dosanjh
DIRECTION:
Abhishek Chaubey
SYNOPSIS: A story
that revolves around
drug abuse in the affluent
north Indian state of
Punjab and how the youth
there have succumbed to
it en-masse resulting in a
socio-economic decline.
Sartaj Singh (Diljit
Dosanjh) is a corrupt
cop, who is quite happy
to turn a blind eye to the
drug traffic, till one day
it comes too close home.
The feisty Dr Preet Sahni
(Kareena Kapoor Khan),
who runs a rehab clinic,
becomes the other strong
salutary influence on
Sartaj, and the film takes
an about-turn.
PRAYER TIME
Fajr
Shorooq (sunrise)
Zuhr (noon)
Asr (afternoon)
Maghreb (sunset)
Isha (night)
3.14am
4.44am
11.35am
2.58pm
6.29pm
7.59pm
USEFUL NUMBERS
THEATRES: The
Mall, Royal Plaza
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
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
Listen!
Clam up your
mouth and be silent
like an oyster shell, for that
tongue of yours is the enemy of
the soul, my friend. When the
lips are silent, the heart has a
hundred tongues.
– Rumi
Community Editor
Kamran Rehmat
e-mail: community@gulf-times.com
Telephone: 44466405
Fax: 44350474
Dhanak
GENRE: Drama
CAST: Swastik Ram Chavan, Krrish Chhabria, Vibha
Chhibber
DIRECTION: Nagesh Kukunoor
SYNOPSIS: From the director of Iqbal and Dor comes
another story about the power of hope, determination and the
human spirit. Pari has promised her little blind brother Chotu
Mall Cinema (1): Udta Punjab
(Hindi) 2.30pm; Now You See Me:
The Second Act (2D) 8.45pm;
Now You See Me: The Second
Act (2D) 11pm.
Mall Cinema (2): Dhanak
(Hindi) 2.45 pm; Road Games
(2D) 8.30pm; Kammati Paadam
(Malayalam) 10.15pm.
Mall Cinema (3): The House On
Pine Street (2D) 3pm; Dhanak
(Hindi) 8.45pm; Enakku Innoru
Per Irukku (Tamil) 11pm.
that she’ll help get his eyesight back before he turns 10. When
she spots her favourite star Shah Rukh Khan on the poster for
an eye-donation drive, she is convinced her hero will help her
on her mission. And so Pari sets out with Chotu on a magical
journey through Rajasthan where they encounter a bunch
of colourful characters. Dhanak is an enchanting fable that
reinforces the belief that life is beautiful.
THEATRE: The Mall
9pm; Udta Punjab (Hindi)
11pm.
Royal Plaza Cinema Palace
(3): Now You See Me: The
Royal Plaza Cinema Palace (1): Second Act (2D) 3pm; Road
Angry Birds Movie (2D) 2.30pm; Games (2D) 8.45pm; The House
On Pine Street (2D) 10.30pm.
Road Games (2D) 4.15pm; Now
Asian Town Cinema: Kammati
You See Me: The Second Act
Paadam (Malayalam) 8, 9,
(2D) 8.30pm; Now You See Me:
10, 11pm & 12am; Udta Punjba
The Second Act (2D) 11pm.
(Hindi) 11pm; Enakku Innoru
Royal Plaza Cinema Palace
(2): Udta Punjab (Hindi) 2.45pm; Per Irukku (Tamil) 7.30pm;
Gentleman (Telugu) 7.45pm.
The House On Pine Street (2D)
Sunday, June 19, 2016
EVENTS
Katara Workshops
DATE: Until June 25
TIME: 8pm-10pm
VENUE: Hall 19, Katara
As part of Katara Ramadan events, QSTec,
a member of Qatar Foundation, will be
hosting solar lantern workshops as a part
of its award-winning Shams Generation
programme. Children are welcome to
participate in building solar lanterns every
evening after Iftar, from 8pm to 10pm. The
sessions are free and children of all ages are
welcome.
Aspire Active Yoga Fest
DATE: June 21
TIME: 8:30pm-9:00pm
VENUE: Ladies Club at Aspire Zone
In celebration of the International Day
of Yoga, Aspire Active will organise an
exclusive lady only yoga event, from 8pm
to 9:30pm. Instructors will lead the class
in guided meditation suitable for all levels.
Participation in this event is free and preregistration is not required for Aspire Active
members.
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 in France right here in Qatar. Let the
fun & excitement begin!
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.
Mathaf Education Summer Program
DATE: Today, tomorrow
TIME: 10am
VENUE: Museum of Modern Art
When school ends, fun begins at Mathaf!
Bring your favourite character to life. Ages
8-11 years old. June 19-20, from 10am – 12.
Participants explore different characters
found in artworks from the Mathaf’s
collection; and learn different techniques
of 3D modeling to bring their favourite
characters to life and to create their own
stories.
3
COMMUNITY
ROUND & ABOUT
RedBull Kart Fight!
DATE: June 23-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.
GULF TIMES
Qur’an Memorisation
DATE: Until June 23
TIME: 10am-11:30am
VENUE: Katara Masjid
Stemming from its keenness to raise
the young generation and enforce their
bond with their Islamic identity and
principles of their true religion, the Cultural
Village Foundation-Katara announces
the organisation of its fourth consecutive
edition of the Qur’an Memorisation
Sessions, during the holy month of
Ramadan.
Beach Football Championship
DATE: Until June 25
TIME: 9pm-11:55pm
VENUE: Katara
Al-Frjan committee for football
tournaments in Aspire announces the
launch of the Sixth Edition for Katara Beach
Football Championship 2016 in Ramadan on
Katara beach football pitch.
Katara Beach Volleyball
Championship
DATE: Until June 25
TIME: 9pm- 11:55pm
VENUE: Katara Beach
Katara announces the launch of Katara
Beach Volleyball Tournament 2016 in
Ramadan on Katara beach volleyball
court. Participants are welcome from all
nationalities provided they weren’t in the
records of the Qatari Volleyball Association
for the season of 2015 – 2016.
Chinese Food Culture Festival
DATE: June 30-July 9
TIME: 8pm- 12pm
VENUE: Barwa Commercial Avenue
Want to taste Chinese food? Want to
watch breath taking 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 June 30 to July 9, from
8pm-12pm.
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.
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.
Al Gannas
DATE: Until Oct 30
TIME: 9am-11:30am
VENUE: Al Gannas Society
Al Gannas Association is participating in
the ‘Our culture is a school’ programme by
organising many activities for the students
every Monday and Wednesday of the week.
These activities include explanations on
hunting and related tools, kinds of falcons and
preys, in addition to workshop on how to carry
a falcon, set a traditional tent (made of goat &
camel hair), prepare traditional Arabic coffee,
etc.
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,
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.
Join in our Walk-in Weekends
DATE: Every Saturday
VENUE: MIA Atrium
MIA art education and calligraphy teams
offer walk-in workshops in MIA’s atrium every
Saturday. These walk-in workshops are for
open for all family members.
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.
Sunset Kayaking
DATE: Until June 25
TIME: 4pm
VENUE: Al Thakhira
This is a tour designed for the holy month
of Ramadan. Enjoy a great sunset paddling
in the beautiful mangroves of Al Thakhira.
After Kayaking, we head back to the beach
and go for a potluck Iftar where people share
their food! There will be a BBQ set up as
well.
Spring Exhibition MIA
DATE: Until July 16
TIME: 10:30am- 5pm
VENUE: QM Gallery Al Riwaq
An exhibition of 15 contemporary Chinese
artists, curated by internationally acclaimed
New York-based Chinese artist Cai Guo-Qiang,
is on view at the QM Gallery Al Riwaq. The
exhibition is the major highlight presented
in the context of the Qatar China 2016 Year
of Culture. Artworks exemplifying each and
every artist’s unique artistic language and
methodology are displayed in individual
galleries.
FOODIE CHOICE
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
RESTAURANT: Al Hubara
LOCATION: Sheraton lobby
Every night of Ramadan provides a
new opportunity to share memorable
Iftar experiences. Join us in our renowned
restaurant, where interactive cooking stations
come to life celebrating cuisines from all around
the world, featuring Qatari traditional cuisine
and more! At QR225, per person — 50% for kids
aged between 6 to 12 years and kids below the
age of six dine for free.
4
GULF TIMES Sunday, June 19, 2016
COMMUNITY
COVER STORY
“They just need extra care”
— Nawal Hafeez and Bushra Resham, special needs teachers
We wanted to give
these children quality
education, which is both
affordable and is in their
language
DETERMINED: Bushra Resham, left, and Nawal Hafeez intend to expand the programme for more children with special needs to benefit.
SUNDAY
CONVERSATION
By Umer Nangiana
W
hen you have the
mettle to take on
daunting tasks,
you don’t wait for
things to happen.
Like that world famed brand, you
‘just do it’. With the same belief,
this Pakistani duo decided to take
a path that many can see, yet very
few would actually venture.
Having completed their
education abroad, Nawal Hafeez
and Bushra Resham returned
to Qatar two years ago with the
passion to educate others. And
they hit the ground running. It
was beyond just taking up teaching
jobs.
Determined to make their
contribution even bigger, the two
friends decided to cater to the
segment of society which many
had given up on — children with
special needs. Mentally challenged,
these children would either drop
out of school or could not get
into one. They would thus face
segregation in the society at large.
After a year-long research and
Sunday, June 19, 2016
5
COMMUNITY
COVER STORY
“Most parents also think
that because of their
disability and being out
of school for so many
years, these children are
perhaps not capable of
getting an education and
ultimately making their
own livelihood,” adds
Bushra. “What people do
not realise is that these
children are capable
of forging ahead and
progressing. They have a
different way of learning
and just need a little extra
special care which we as a
community have failed to
give them,” says Nawal
AT EASE: As they come in, children are first assessed for their needs and given goals to achieve.
study of the education system
and how these children could be
mainstreamed, Bushra and Nawal
came up with the idea of educating
children with special needs in the
same environment of a regular
school with other children.
Going around with the proposal,
they found their first hosts in The
Next Generation (TNG) school.
Providing them with space and
facility, the school allowed them
to kick start their project. After
a year, a batch of five students
successfully passed out of the
programme at a graduation
ceremony held last month.
“While researching about the
education system here, we found
gaps and surprisingly children
who were in those gaps were those
with special needs. What I mean
by gaps is that a large number of
children with special needs are out
of schools,” Nawal tells Community
during an interview about their
project, its execution and future
plans.
“Parents of some of those
children in school were not
satisfied because of financial
issues, language barriers or stalled
progress of their wards. So we came
together and decided to take the
initiative and do something about
it,” says Nawal, turning to Bushra,
her friend from school days, and
now a partner in the initiative.
Born and brought up in Doha,
they went for their respective
university degrees and returned in
2013. While Bushra has a 17-yearold sister with Down’s syndrome,
Nawal did her thesis on autism and
the issues that a family faces in
seeking government or other help.
Upon their return to Doha, the
first step was creating awareness
about the problem and gathering
support from the community.
“We started with a Facebook
page called ‘Special Needs
Community’ so that we could get
connected with parents who have
special children at home and are
GULF TIMES
facing issues that we think are very
common in our community, and
the community at large,” Bushra
chips in.
The response was encouraging.
Besides parents, many teachers,
too, connected with them and
showed their willingness to play a
part in the initiative.
Meanwhile, they also
connected with Pakistan Welfare
Forum, a Pakistani community
welfare organisation, and
discussed different proposals of
collaboration. “We wanted to give
these children quality education,
which is both affordable and is in
their language,” says Bushra.
Financially backed up by
PWF with TNG providing the
infrastructure, they took in a class
of five children in the first year of
the project. Majority of them were
with Down’s syndrome and autism.
When they take in a child, he or she
is first assessed for specific needs.
The children are taught in
six different areas including
communication skills, literacy,
mathematics skills, behaviour
and language. Along with their
teachers, Bushra and Nawal being
managers of the programme, plan
the whole year for every child.
Their goals for the year, with
activities for each and every
day, are set. “Our major goal is
to make them independent and
not necessarily to have a degree
at the end,” says Nawal. At the
graduation ceremony, the five
children performed different
activities independently to the
satisfaction of their parents in the
audience.
Bushra and Nawal say the
children achieved more than 80
and some even 90 percent of the
goals set for them.
The main problem for the
segregation of children with
special needs in the community is
lack of awareness among parents
and the community about their
needs.
“Society in general is not aware
of what special needs are and how
they could make the community
more positive for these children.
And because of such reaction,
parents are very hesitant in
bringing these children out in the
community,” feels Nawal.
“Most parents also think that
because of their disability and
being out of school for so many
years, these children are perhaps
not capable of getting an education
BUILDING BLOCKS: Mainstream schools are the best places for
social integration of children with special needs.
and ultimately making their own
livelihood,” adds Bushra.
Among other more material
problems are lack of affordable
schools where these children are
taught in their native languages.
“What people do not realise is
that these children are capable of
forging ahead and progressing.
They have a different way of
learning and just need a little
extra special care which we as a
community have failed to give
them,” says Nawal.
In an ideal scenario, she thinks,
mainstream schools should do
the social integration. When
mainstream children have children
with special needs in front of
them, they would naturally be
sensitised on how to interact with
them and better understand their
needs in daily life.
The special children, in return,
would have peer interaction
with mainstream children which
will boost their confidence and
enhance their development.
In the same way, every teacher
or educator, Bushra feels, needs
to be aware of how to deal with
any kind of child. “If a child has a
particular need and he or she needs
to be educated in a particular topic,
the teacher must know how to
modify the techniques according
to his/her needs,” she adds.
Nawal and Bushra aim to spread
the programme to more schools and
places so that maximum number
of children can benefit. With staff
and infrastructure limitations,
they can only accommodate so
many children. But there is a huge
demand, says Nawal.
“We do have children waiting to
be taken in. When they got to know
about the programme, they were
interested to come in, but we could
take only so many as we did not
want to over-burden our teachers,”
explains Nawal.
One teacher caters to two
children, who are young adults.
And one teacher caters to three
younger children. At the moment,
they do not intend to change
this equation. With a bigger
infrastructure and more trained
manpower, they do however, plan
to take in more children.
Nawal and Bushra thank Riaz
Bakali of TNG, Dr Fatima Janjua,
a physician in Neurodisability and
James Hall, a Speech Pathologist,
for their advice and help in
planning and management of the
programme.
DIVIDENDS: The teachers say, at the end of the term, students with special needs
managed to achieve more than 80-90 percent of the goals.
6
GULF TIMES Sunday, June 19, 2016
COMMUNITY
WEATHER ADDICT
It’s unusually cold in Argentina
By Steff Gaulter
T
Iguazu Falls in the north of Argentina. Autumn is generally considered the ideal time to visit the country, but this year
autumn was strangely lacking.
Photo by Reinhard Jahn, Mannnnnheim/Wikipedia
his year, autumn was
strangely absent from
Argentina. The weather
switched from hot to
cold, almost in the
blink of an eye. Locals were left
wondering what happened to the
illusive season.
The locals usually enjoy autumn.
The weather gradually becomes
cooler and the leaves on the trees
put on a spectacular display
of colours. This year, however,
because winter arrived so suddenly,
the display was short-lived and the
colours weren’t as vibrant as usual.
Autumn is also usually a fabulous
time to visit Argentina. In the
north, home of the impressive
Iguazu Falls, it is usually far too hot
in the summer. Meanwhile in the
south, where the stunning Perito
Moreno glacier is found, it is too
cold in the winter. Therefore if you
plan on travelling around this vast
country, then autumn is the perfect
time to do so.
However, this year autumn was
strangely lacking. In April, the
average maximum temperature in
Buenos Aires was 20.6C, the lowest
April average ever recorded. Then
in May, it didn’t get above 16C in
the entire month, making it the
fourth coldest month on record,
and Buenos Aires wasn’t alone.
Across the country the weather
was much cooler than usual, and
it was all caused by an area of
high pressure that developed in
southern Argentina.
To see a region of high pressure
in southern Argentina isn’t
unusual. They sometimes develop
over the region during the cooler
months and bring a rather cold
blast to the country. These cold
spells are known as friagens
and can reach as far north as the
Amazon basin. In 2013 one of these
friagens delivered snow to southern
Brazil. In the city of Curitiba,
capital of the Parana state, this was
the first time it had snowed for 38
years.
Although cold spells aren’t usual
in Argentina, the strange thing
about the recent weather was the
length of time that it persisted.
Usually a region of high pressure
over southern Argentina would be
expected to last four or five days,
but this one simply refused to
budge. Weeks upon weeks passed
by and still the area of high pressure
remained and cold air continued to
dominate the country.
As the temperatures dropped,
the demand for heaters suddenly
soared. The surge in demand for
electricity soared and the network
struggled to cope. The country’s
Energy Minister, Juan Jose
Aranguren, described the network
as being on the brink of collapse
after years of lack of investment.
The previous government
had demanded the electricity
companies provided electricity at
vastly subsidised prices, leaving
no money to improve production
or distribution. In the last few
months, as the demand for heating
increased, numerous powercuts
were reported throughout the
country.
Despite the annoyance of the
powercuts, there is one rather large
benefit to the prolonged cold spell.
During the heat of the summer, the
mosquito population had exploded,
and with it the spread of mosquitoborne diseases. Now the cold
weather has set in, it is culling the
mosquitoes and therefore reducing
the transmission of diseases.
The Aedes aegypti is a mosquito
that can transmit both the Zika
virus and dengue fever. Zika has
been in the headlines recently for
its sudden spread across Latin
America. The virus has been linked
to microcephaly, where babies are
born with unusually small heads
and incomplete brain development.
Fortunately there have only been
a handful of reports of Zika in
Argentina and so far all of them
have been in the northwestern
province of Tucuman; so far it
hasn’t spread.
Dengue, however, is far more
common. This is a painful,
debilitating disease and the list
of symptoms is scarily long. High
fever, severe joint and muscle pain
and nausea are just some of the
effects of the disease. Generally
younger children and people
who have never had the infection
usually have milder symptoms,
but those who catch dengue more
than once are at greater risk and the
condition can be fatal. Alarmingly
there is no cure for dengue, and
people are simply advised to take
painkillers.
By the end of March, some
reports suggested that as many as
38,000 cases of dengue had been
reported in Argentina since the
start of the year. Misiones was
worst-hit. This northern province
attracts hundreds of thousands of
tourists each year, all flocking to see
the immense waterfalls of Iguazu.
Misiones is also where my sisterin-law lives and she was one of the
many people in her city who came
down with the disease. She said it
was like being struck down by the
worst flu you could imagine, and
the worst part was the immense
pain she suffered behind her eyes.
Now that the temperature
has dropped and remained low
for several weeks, the mosquito
population has diminished
considerably. This has stopped,
or at least severely reduced, the
spread of Zika and dengue. This
is definitely good news, and if a
particularly cold winter is what
it takes to beat these tropical
diseases, then Argentina should
count itself lucky.
(The author is Senior Weather
Presenter at Al Jazeera English
channel. She can be contacted on
steff.gaulter@yahoo.co.uk
or on Twitter at @WeatherSteff)
Sunday, June 19, 2016
GULF TIMES
7
COMMUNITY
ON DISPLAY: The exhibition features 64 artworks selected from the portfolios of 50 students.
ISL Qatar’s art show
‘Interpretations’
premieres in Katara
T
he International School of London Qatar
(ISL Qatar) recently collaborated with
Katara Art Village to host an exhibition
of art pieces by students. This unique
collaboration between a school and
Katara consisted of 64 artworks selected from the
portfolios of 50 students. The exhibition was aptly
named ‘Interpretations’, since being an artist is not
just about painting — it is also a journey of discovery,
creativity and insight; and it is about expression and
interpretation.
The IB programmes of ISL Qatar value the
artistic process and encourage critical thinking
and thoughtful reflection throughout the process
of creation. The students’ passion and creative
endeavour were evident in this stunning exhibition.
Serving the needs of Doha’s international
community, ISL Qatar was founded in 2008. The
International School of London Qatar has set new
standards of academic excellence and is the leading
International Baccalaureate World School in Qatar.
The school is authorised to offer the Primary Years,
Middle Years and Diploma Programmes and is
accredited by the Council of International Schools
and the New England Association of Schools and
Colleges.
Guests at the opening of the exhibition.
MES wins medals in taekwondo cluster tournament
The MES Indian School clinched a total of 4 gold, 11 silver, and 9 bronze medals to its credit in under-14 and under-19 boys and girls categories in the two-day CBSE taekwondo cluster championship held
at the Ideal Indian School. Zahran Hussain, Sarah Thanpan, Athira Ashokan and Laiba Hassan qualified for the CBSE nationals to be held in India. The players were trained by Shafeer, Steason Mathew
and Shikha Rana.
8
GULF TIMES Sunday, June 19, 2016
COMMUNITY
Iftekhar Raghib, fourth from left, with other guests at the event.
BUQ organises programme in
honour of local poet Iftekhar Raghib
B
azm-e-Urdu Qatar
(BUQ) held “An Evening
with Iftekhar Raghib” at
L’etoile Hotel recently.
The programme was
presided over by BUQ president
and poet, Muhammad Rafique Shad
Akolvi.
Founder and president of India
Urdu Society Qatar, Shair-eKhaleej (poet of the Gulf) Fakharul
Mutaghazeleen (pride of the ghazal
poets) Jaleel Nizami; president of
Majlis Frogh-e-Urdu Adab, Fartash
Syed; founder and president of
Karvaan-e-Urdu Qatar, Ateeq
Anzar; vice-president of BUQ,
Firoz Khan; and Irshad Ahmad were
the special guests of the evening.
Leading poets of the Doha Urdu
community gathered to appreciate
the works of Qatar-based Iftekhar
Raghib, who is well known as a poet
of ghazal (a lyric poem originating
in ancient Persia, similar to a
sonnet with distinctively different
and varied themes). He has also
recently cemented his position as
a top notch humorous Urdu poet in
Doha as well.
BUQ deputy president Maqsood
Anwar Maqsood was the Master of
Ceremony of the night.
BUQ treasurer Ghulam Mustafa
Anjum gave the welcome speech
in which he provided a brief yet
informative introduction of BUQ
and its achievements. He said that
since 1959 BUQ has conducted
13 international seminars and
countless poetic symposiums.
A recent development for BUQ
is to hold an evening in honour
of the local poets who have been
enthralling Doha community for
decades. The first such function
was conducted in honour of Jaleel
Nizami, which was followed
by evenings with Ateeq Anzar
and Shad Akolvi. The fourth
programme was now being
conducted in honour of Iftekhar
Raghib.
Anjum went on to explain
that Raghib is Civil Engineer by
profession and landed in Qatar
in 1999 and joined BUQ. For the
past six years, he has been the
General Secretary of BUQ. He has
three published poetry books to
his name, which have been hugely
popular with Urdu poetry lovers
and admirers of Raghib.
Abdul Malik Qazi, affectionately
known as the Mohd Rafi of Doha,
sang a prayer poem of Raghib in
praise of God. The performance was
highly appreciated by the audience.
BUQ’s Joint Secretary Faiyaz
Bukhari Kamal read an article
written by his father, scholar Syed
Mahmood Bukhari, on Raghib’s
craft. The article acknowledged
that Raghib is a master of the
ghazal, which is not easy to write
in. The author also appreciated
Raghib’s efforts to stay classical in
form and modern in content.
Arguably Doha’s most noted
ghazal singer, Abul Khair was
called on stage to recite a ghazal of
Raghib. The audience cheered to
the vocals of Khair and the words
penned by Raghib. Both Qazi and
Abul Khair were called twice and
thrice respectively on stage to lend
their voices to the poetry of Raghib.
Bukhari’s poem in honour of
Raghib was very well received
by the audience as it gave a brief
introduction of Raghib and even
his children.
BUQ’s senior patron, Syed Abdul
Hye in his speech said that he likes
to mark the couplets that he likes
while reading poetry. In Raghib’s
case, he said, he wished he had
only marked the couplets he didn’t
like because now the entire book is
covered in marks.
Wasiul Haq Wasi from India,
a recent addition to the poetic
stalwarts of Doha, also presented
a poem in honour of Raghib. This
was followed by Wazir Ahmed
Wazir’s singing of a poem by
Raghib.
BUQ chairman Faisal Hanif
presented a short but thorough
article on Raghib’s craft.
A letter of recognition was
bestowed upon Raghib by BUQ’s
senior patron Syed Abdul Hye,
president deputy president and the
guests of the evening.
Finally Raghib was invited to
recite his poetry and he presented
several poems to a cheering
audience. The audience listened
as Raghib recited some of his
humorous poetry as well, which
enlivened the gathering. The
guests seated on the stage were
invited in the end to present their
thoughts on the programme.
Movenpick Al Aziziyah Doha welcomes
Beat Peter as new General Manager
M
Beat Peter
ovenpick Hotels
& Resorts has
announced the
appointment
of Beat Peter as
General Manager of Movenpick
Hotel Al Aziziyah Doha.
In his leadership position at this
Victorian-style hotel, Peter will
work diligently towards building
a legacy for the five-star property
that is situated in the heart of
Doha’s inspiring Aspire Zone.
A key focus will be to provide
high quality services to the large
amount of visitors in the run up
to some high profile events Qatar
will host in the next six years.
Peter, a Swiss national with
over 20 years’ experience in the
industry, has spent the last five
years working for Movenpick
Hotels & Resorts in the Middle
East.
His new role at Movenpick
Hotel Al Aziziyah Doha will be
Peter’s third general manager
position with the upscale
hospitality company. His previous
placements were at Movenpick
Hotel Kuwait and Movenpick
Resort & Spa Tala Bay Aqaba in
Jordan. Prior to his work with
Movenpick Hotels & Resorts, he
managed highly renowned hotels
in Europe.
“Doha is a fast-growing
destination with a lot to offer in
terms of business development,
especially with the upcoming
FIFA World Cup 2022. Projects
to an estimated value of USD220
billion are currently being
constructed or planned over
the next 10 years, so Qatar is
definitely taking its offering for
visitors to the next level. Deliver
fantastic experiences and bringing
that personal Movenpick touch to
each guest’s stay are things I will
be concentrating on,” said Peter.
Located in Qatar’s burgeoning
sport city and close to the popular
Villaggio Mall, Movenpick Hotel
Al Aziziyah Doha is in a prime
location. Boasting 139 rooms
and suites, the hotel has four
premium restaurants to choose
from, as well as a spa, gym, indoor
swimming pool and event venues.
Sunday, June 19, 2016
GULF TIMES
9
COMMUNITY
MOTORING
All-new Infiniti Q30 ready
for Middle East debut
T
he regional launch of the
first ever Infiniti Q30
premium active compact
draws near as the allnew vehicle is set to be
unveiled in July.
The exterior of the new Q30
creates a visual dynamism for
the newest premium compact in
the segment. In similar fashion,
the interior of the Q30 takes the
expressive forms and curves and
turns them into an individuality that
embraces the driver and passengers.
Since its launch in Europe, sales
for the Infiniti Q30 have been
“phenomenal” with 5,415 vehicles
sold since the start of the year.
“With a strong performance in
Europe so far, we are confident that
the introduction of this vehicle will
further help to drive the growth
of the Infiniti brand here in the
Middle East,” said Juergen Schmitz,
Managing Director, Infiniti Middle
East.
Infiniti interior designers have
selected highest quality materials
and processes to create a premium
modern ambiance. One tactile
detail is the Dinamica suede-
like material from Italy. Used
increasingly in the high-fashion
industry, it now lines the roof and
support pillars of the Q30 cabin.
Driver and passenger seating
have been constructed for
enhanced comfort and support
with an elevated hip-point, aiding
the in-control sense that combines
well with Q30’s sharp dynamics on
city streets or country roads.
“When we unveiled the Infiniti
Q30 at the Dubai International
Motor Show in 2015, it was to
mass appeal from our existing and
potential customers. As July draws
nearer, I can only reiterate the
excitement as we get ready to take
the covers of this all-new vehicle
for the Middle East region,” added
Schmitz. “With the Q30, we are
entering a new segment for Infiniti
and further enhancing our product
offering to our customers.”
The Infiniti Q30 will be available
across all markets in the Middle
East by the end of July 2016.
Customers looking to make early
bookings on the vehicle can visit
their local Infiniti showroom for
inquiries.
The Infiniti Q30.
Nissan signs landmark electric
vehicle deal with city of Amman
N
issan has signed a historic
Memorandum of Understanding
(MoU) with the Greater Amman
Municipality in Jordan as part of a
landmark initiative to provide the
Kingdom with its first 100 Nissan LEAF and
Nissan e-NV200 electric vehicles (EVs). The
vehicles, to be supplied by Bustami & Saheb
(BSTC), Nissan’s exclusive distributor in the
Kingdom, will be operated by Amman’s Al
Mumayaz Taxi Company in Jordan and will be
the first electric vehicles of their kind to be used
in the Middle East.
“The Nissan LEAF and e-NV200 are
Nissan’s leading electric vehicles in markets
around the world and offer fully-electric
operation with zero tailpipe emissions,”
said Samir Cherfan, Nissan Middle East’s
Managing Director. “This historic agreement
between Nissan, Bustami & Saheb and the
Greater Amman Municipality demonstrates
the Kingdom’s forward-looking vision for
a sustainable future that starts with ecofriendly public transport. Awareness of the
benefits of sustainable motoring for both
private and commercial use will certainly
increase from this agreement, which serves as
proof-of-concept for future EV applications
in the region and will draw attention to the
FIRST STEP: Nissan will provide the Greater Amman Municipality with its first 100 Nissan LEAF
and Nissan e-NV200 electric vehicles to be run as taxis.
positive influence of EVs on public health,
the economy and most importantly, the
environment.”
With more than 240,000 Nissan EVs
sold worldwide, the LEAF and e-NV200
EVs are proven all-electric vehicles that are
environmentally-friendly and emit zero CO2 or
exhaust gases during operation. They produce
very little noise during driving, making them
ideal for the busy streets of Amman, in addition
to being roomy, fun-to-drive, and with low
running costs.
The Amman Municipality has begun
deploying vehicle charging stations in major
parts of the city to start building an EV charging
network. The municipality will continue to
expand the number of available stations to
cover a wider area.
“The partnership between Nissan, BSTC
and the Jordanian Government is the first of
its kind in the Kingdom,” said Wessam Issa,
CEO of Bustami & Saheb (BSTC). “We believe
other countries in the Middle East will see the
positive impact that the use of electric vehicles
will bring. We are very proud to have been able
to assist the leaders of this great country in
establishing this ground-breaking programme.
From the day this deal is signed, Nissan EV taxis
will be a regular sight around the capital.”
Nissan has spent more than 20 years
investing in and developing the LEAF’s lithiumion batteries, which are compact, powerful,
safe and durable. The car’s battery modules
are located underneath the floor, which means
more room in the boot and the cabin. A driving
range of up to 160 km on a single charge is
offered on the LEAFs to be used as taxis in
Amman. The Nissan LEAF can be recharged
simply and quickly at home with an EV battery
charger, or by using public battery recharging
facilities.
10 GULF TIMES Sunday, June 19, 2016
COMMUNITY
TRA
Asilah, Morocco, offers au
A local woman operates her produce stall with a smile and plenty of fresh vegetables.
By Myscha Theriault
L
Doors in the historic fortified medina provide a sense of traditional Moroccan
style.
ess than a one hour train
ride from Tangier along
Morocco’s northern
Atlantic coast, lies the
breezy seaside town of
Asilah. Part of the landscape for
more than 3,000 years, it offers an
authentic Moroccan experience
with a Mediterranean vibe. There
are several things to appreciate
about the destination, including
affordability, the freshness of the
food and an extremely comfortable
climate. Regarding those things
that make Asilah unique from a
tourism perspective, the following
are a few of my personal favourites.
Art: In addition to the typical
shopping stalls filled with locally
produced souvenir items and
garments, travellers who look
closely will see the trimmings of
a true art scene. Small galleries
have popped up, the results of
international mural-painting
festivals adorn the interior medina
walls and street artists selling
pieces created with recycled
materials add to the town’s unique
flavour.
Architecture: With ancient
elements dating back to Phoenician
times, a history that includes being
a former Spanish territory and
traditional Moroccan elements
everywhere you look, the historic
section of the town offers a fair bit
of photographic eye candy for avid
excursionists. Exploring the narrow
streets inside the fortified walls
of Asilah proper will lead you past
the countless colourful, creatively
decorated traditional doorways
that are a matter of local pride.
Access: Not only does Asilah
allow you to experience the seaside
away from the hustle and bustle
of Tangier, it’s location also allows
you to easily explore the local farm
country and other area antiquities.
One such antiquity is the giant
stone circle of Msoura. Located
outside of town amid local farms
and set in a countryside that
could have you easily believing
you were in southern Spain, the
site is believed to be a funerary
monument of some sort. In
addition to being able to experience
the site itself, the view from the top
of the centre mound is spectacular.
Visiting here in late spring prior
to the summer onslaught will
ensure a peaceful and reflective
visit, and a pleasant drive. In
fact, we had the entire place to
ourselves. While there appears to
be no official ticket office, modest
gratuities are appreciated by
whichever local person is available
to open the access gate for you
when you arrive. Since Msoura is a
relatively quick stop, you can easily
extend your morning road trip to
the Roman ruins at Lixus. With
new archaeological excavations
scheduled to take place, and
further work having been done in
the recent past, they offer an easy
one to two hours of exploration
time with more to come once
future digs have been completed.
Spectacular views accompany this
antiquity site as well.
If you want to experience true
local culture, however, consider
heading to the weekly Sunday
market just outside of town. It’s
the largest one in the area, and
offers the majority of what any
local would need. From livestock
and rows of farm-fresh produce
tables to flea market offerings of
everything from cooking pots to
random bits of hardware, this is
true local commerce in all its earthy
splendour. Be prepared to dodge
groups of sheep trying to make their
escape, cranky donkeys, family farm
trucks and more to make your way
to your desired wares. Food stalls
offer fresh-grilled meats, hot bread
and mint tea.
Authenticity: For as much as
the population explodes during
the summer with foreign tourists,
spending a few weeks in Asilah
Sunday, June 19, 2016
GULF TIMES
11
COMMUNITY
AVEL
uthentic seaside getaway
RESTING: A donkey takes a break by the side of the road in rural northwest Morocco.
CO-EXISTENCE: The ancient stone circle at Msoura exists quietly alongside A blue window on the side streets of Asilah
local country farms.
presents a fun photo op for passers by.
during the off-season has shown
me just how much of a community
exists here. From the local dad
walking his daughter and son home
from martial arts class in matching
karate outfits, to the schoolchildren
playing soccer in the streets and
local grocery vendors checking
with each other for inventory
backup when they have a customer,
this place is at heart a small town
where people live their lives and
raise their families.
One of the facets of this
community I find most authentic
is how much farm animals are still
involved in the local transportation
system. For all of the cars, taxis
and daily train stops, donkeys with
saddle bags full of cabbage and
flat, horse-drawn carts carrying
passengers and bags of rice still
make up a large portion of local
traffic. It’s an absolutely precious
part of the local scene here I
selfishly hope never changes.
Appetites: Savoury meat tagines,
couscous concoctions and mixed
fresh seafood platters are the name
of the game here. So are the freshsqueezed juices and small breakfast
menus that many cafes offer all day
long. Fresh Moroccan bread comes
with everything, and is nearly as
much a source of pride as the everpresent mint tea.
In fact, when we tried to buy
some from the local baker one night
on our walk home, he wouldn’t sell
us his two remaining loaves when
he realised they had been sitting
in the display counter longer than
he’d thought. We would need to
come back in the morning. They
are equally serious about their
produce, as you’ll see if you book
a place with a kitchen and need
to access the daily market. Giant
bundles of fresh mint for a buck,
bags of mixed gourmet olives for 50
cents and fresh lemons by the crate
are just some of the goodies you
can expect to find.
When it comes to grabbing a
LESSON IN HISTORY: A seaside view of Asilah’s historic medina shows
architecture from multiple periods.
basic traveller’s lunch at a local
restaurant, you can do that
anywhere and get a decent meal.
However, if you are willing to walk
a few streets away from the walled
portion of the town, the average
per plate price drops from around
6 bucks to an even more affordable
$4. If you are a couple travelling
with a teen, that means strolling
a short distance will save you the
cost of your third plate.
Also more common a few
streets away are the family-run
restaurants where sitting to eat
your meal will let you witness
grandchildren and nieces popping
by to visit older relatives and
Moroccan culture in general. If
you have your heart set on being
near the water with a view of the
historic district, however, consider
heading to Cafe Pepe. While their
price point is a bit higher end, they
offer good seafood, a decent cheese
plate and access to paella without a
prior reservation. —TNS
z Trekhound.com founder
Myscha Theriault has sold her
home, all her furniture and most of
her other belongings to travel the
world full time with her
husband. You can follow her
adventures on Instagram via @
MyschaTheriault
12 GULF TIMES Sunday, June 19, 2016
COMMUNITY
OFFBEAT
Herb garden is planted following
1485 book that drew on Arab lore
A fresh sprig of agrimony (Agrimonia
eupatoria) from the medicinal garden, next to
the 1485 book’s picture of the same species.
By Peter Zschunke
G
ardeners at the Johannes
Gutenberg University of Mainz in
Germany are attempting to bring
to life a 15th-century herb garden
partly based on Arab medical
traditions.
In their botanical gardens they’ve planted
more than 70 plants featured in a 1485 book
— published in the German city of Mainz
— called Gart der Gesundheit (Garden of
Health).
“The integral approach in this herb book
is still current,” says Ralf Omlor, the curator
of the botanical gardens, as he gives a tour,
pointing out mandrake, mugwort, dittany
and agrimony.
“Five hundred years ago, medical care was
mostly based on plants,” says the botanist.
But people didn’t expect their ailments to
be cured instantly.
CURATIVE: Cnicus benedictus, a thistle-like plant that flourishes in the Mediterranean and east to Iran, growing in the medicinal garden. It is reputed to
cure a lack of appetite and soothe stomach upset.
“Rather, the herbal treatments were
supposed to restore the body’s harmony and
make healing possible.”
The book was commissioned by a
senior Mainz Catholic priest, Bernard von
Breidenbach, and written by the doctor
Johann Wonnecke von Kaub.
In the introduction, the canon writes,
“Often have I observed the wonderful work of
nature’s Creator in myself.”
The book, he wrote, was intended to show
“by which herbs and creatures a sick person
... may regain his bodily health.”
The book contains woodcuts and
descriptions of 382 plants as well as 25
animal-derived compounds and 28 minerals.
Not all of them can be grown in Germany
because of the climate.
In the chapter on garlic, the doctor writes,
“Smearing the head with garlic juice will kill
lice and nits.”
The recommendations elsewhere also
give some idea of the ailments from which
people suffered 500 years ago; sorrel seed for
Ralf Omlor, the curator of the botanical gardens, touches a growing stalk of Bulgarian
rhubarb, one of the plants in the Mainz medicinal garden. He is holding a facsimile of Gart der
Gesundheit (1485).
example was apparently good at getting rid of
round worms.
The author of the book — the first of its
kind printed in the German language —
brings together three main sources of medical
wisdom, according to Omlor.
They are: ancient written records which
have often been transmitted and modified by
Arab scholars; medieval monastic traditions;
and traditional home cures usually passed on
orally between the generations.
That’s why the books contain references to
cures and the properties of plants which have
since been scientifically proven — such as the
antibacterial properties of garlic — as well as
more bizarre tips based on superstition and
housewives’ tales.
The influence of the work of Hildegard von
Bingen, a 12th-century German botanist and
mystic, can also be found in the book.
The recommendations from Gart der
Gesundheit have been used by generations of
people.
More than 60 editions of it were printed,
well into the 18th century.
Some of the woodcuts from the book have
been chiselled onto a stone slab in the middle
of the university’s garden.
The pictures, which are very accurate,
make the book the forerunner of scientific
botany, according to Omlor.
Pharmacist Otto Eichele is one of the first
people to visit the medicinal garden.
“I try to open people’s eyes,” he says.
Even if people can’t remember all the
plants’ names, he says, the garden might
make them look a little more closely at
nature.
“A large part of the population wants to
get back to nature,” he says. “As a pharmacist
I notice that, because people want to have
more plant-based remedies.”
People can even try the book’s suggested
cures at home.
Eaten raw, the starflower, with its
distinctive blue petals, for example, can
“quell the trembling of the heart and make
people cheerful.” —DPA
The Mainz medicinal garden, laid out in geometrical fashion as gardens 500 years ago were.
Sunday, June 19, 2016
INFOGRAPHIC
GULF TIMES
COMMUNITY
13
14 GULF TIMES Sunday, June 19, 2016
COMMUNITY
Wordsearch
Adam
Pooch Cafe
Getting Better
ANALGESIC
ANTIDOTE
BALM
BOLUS
CORDIAL
CURE
DOSAGE
DROPS
ELIXIR
HEALING
LINCTUS
LOTION
MEDICINE
PANACEA
PILLS
PLACEBO
POTION
POWDER
REMEDY
SYRUP
TABLET
TONIC
VACCINE
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
Sunday, June 19, 2016
COMMUNITY
PUZZLES
Quick Clues
ACROSS
1. Excessive (5)
4. Admit (7)
8. Speech (7)
9. Chubby (5)
10. Beams (4)
11. Metal box (8)
13. Cook (4)
14. Pleased (4)
16. Marine (8)
17. Fairy (4)
20. Fool (5)
21. Exceptional (7)
22. Refined (7)
23. Foe (5)
GULF TIMES
Colouring
DOWN
1. Intellect (13)
2. Waste away (5)
3. Wicked (4)
4. Sails (6)
5. Wedding (8)
6. Made equal (7)
7. On the surface (13)
12. Depreciate (8)
13. Prudence (7)
15. By hand (6)
18. Dodge (5)
19. Trick (4)
Cryptic Clues
Answers
Wordsearch
ACROSS
1. Musical work about a rope,
perhaps (5)
4. Feeble man gets the most out of
work (7)
8. Schoolmaster in the race dispute
(7)
9. Lowest point in the drain,
perhaps (5)
10. Destiny of the bazaar, say? (4)
11. Points to dance once seen in
cinemas (8)
13. High jump failure? (4)
14. Sour pie (4)
16. Company returning vehicle to a
man for boats (8)
17. Singer from Carshalton (4)
20. Anger the north-eastern girl (5)
21. The ogre Mr Stone becomes (7)
22. Sound man who is sincere (7)
23. Some heat for the marines (5)
DOWN
1. Rusty, like a retired doctor? (3,2,8)
2. Demand to be precise (5)
3. The pain concealed by “8 Ac” (4)
4. Kill returning former Grand National
winner (6)
5. Miles Ann ran as a football official (8)
6. Not the happiest of dads set out (7)
7. Roll a large map out to reveal a
quadrilateral (13)
12. Study the island of sand and cement (8)
13. Tolerate an ancestor, say (7)
15. Allow to do something to hair (6)
18. Machine made up of French and English
articles (5)
19. Dynasty returns - it may have bite (4)
Codeword
Yesterday’s Solutions
QUICK
Across: 3 Readiness; 8 Omit; 9 Direction; 10
Escort; 11 Askew; 14 Abeam; 15 Rear; 16 Aroma;
18 Crib; 20 Sprig; 21 Token; 24 Reason; 25
Intention; 26 Emit; 27 Aerodrome.
Down: 1 Tolerance; 2 Discredit; 4 Exit; 5
Dress; 6 Nether; 7 Stop; 9 Drama; 11 Adorn; 12
Wearisome; 13 Originate; 17 Ashen; 19 Bolero; 22
Enter; 23 Once; 24 Roam.
CRYPTIC
Across: 3 Whodunnit; 8 Acid; 9 Fruit-cake;
10 Eleven; 11 Beret; 14 Cello; 15 Deal; 16 Nerve;
18 Inch; 20 Dates; 21 Eerie; 24 Menace; 25
Harvested; 26 Ache; 27 Blinkered.
Down: 1 Paper-clip; 2 Fireplace; 4 Horn; 5 Drive;
6 Nicked; 7 Inky; 9 Felon; 11 Barge; 12 Testmatch; 13 Plastered; 17 Edged; 19 Heaven; 22
Issue; 23 Ball; 24 Mere.
15
16 GULF TIMES Sunday, June 19, 2016
COMMUNITY
LIFESTYLE/HOROSCOPE
6 home improvement trends
to update your stale space
W
hen you’re in the process
of buying or building a
home, you’re constantly
researching trends and
technology that will set your
home apart. Fast forward a few years and you
probably don’t have your finger on the pulse
of home advancements like before.
It’s good you’ve settled in to your home,
but a lot can change in just a handful of years.
If you’re finally thinking about finishing the
basement, updating the kitchen or investing
in landscaping, there’s probably a lot of new
processes and products available since you’ve
last been in the market.
Get up to speed by learning about the top
home improvement trends that are getting
lots of attention this year:
Air quality
Homeowners are taking action to improve
indoor air quality by choosing products
that clean the air. Ideal when remodelling
or finishing basements and bathrooms,
these boards feature the industry’s first
formaldehyde-absorbing technology. That
means they actively remove volatile organic
compounds (VOCs) from the air, converting
them into a safe compound that improves
indoor air quality.
Acid stained concrete
Homeowners are looking beyond
concrete’s core strength and durability to
discover its beauty when treated with acid
staining techniques. Specialty stains are used
to add stunning depth and colour that closely
mimics stone, including marble. Perfect for
basements and patio spaces, concrete experts
pour the slab and then after it has cured,
return to apply the stain treatment. The
result is completely customisable and often
closely resembles upscale applications at a
fraction of the cost.
Durable drywall
As technology continues to advance at
a rapid pace, homeowners need the option
of mounting and remounting the newest
televisions, speaker systems and other
ARIES
March 21 — April 19
Whenever there is a Full Moon, we often feel exhausted and
depleted, especially if it’s in a sign you are connected to and feed off
astrologically. Today is a great day to hang around with a Sagittarius
and or a Gemini.
CANCER
June 21 — July 22
If you don’t have anything on your calendar or to do list today
Cancer’s, breath a sigh of relief. Grab a book or a movie — something
you’ve wanted to read or watch for some time and enjoy, have a fun
Sunday!
LIBRA
September 23 — October 22
Don’t let something silly someone says upset you today. The Full
Moon of last night in your communication zone could have you over
reacting to words and innuendos which are nothing that upsetting.
CAPRICORN
December 22 — January 19
You should never apologise for trying to help someone goats. Just
because they don’t appreciate it or are not in a position where they
can accept help and advice doesn’t mean you should feel bad about
simply giving them your wise words of wisdom.
home electronics. By thoughtfully selecting
drywall, you can say goodbye to anchors and
stud finders for good. Habito drywall allows
builders and homeowners to create spaces
that provide easy mounting of fixtures up to
30 pounds. Visit HanginWithHabito.com
to learn how you can hang a TV or piece of
art without anchors and feel confident it’s
secured to the wall.
MDF cabinets
Medium density fibreboard (MDF) is a
high-grade, composite material that is used
to create cabinetry for kitchens, bars and
bathrooms. Made from wood fibres and
resin, MDF is dried and pressed to create an
incredibly durable material. Homeowners are
choosing MDF cabinets because they do not
expand and contract like solid wood, which
means it better withstands seasonal changes
in temperature and humidity.
Acoustics
Today’s approach to home design
goes beyond appearances to look at
TAURUS
April 20 — May 20
The Full Moon energy is transiting your 8th house of joint resources
and investments and today is a great day to talk such matters
through. Although money is often very difficult to talk about,
sometimes you simply have to plow through it.
LEO
Smart spaces
High tech knows no bounds because more
homes are incorporating smart spaces into
each room. These are special areas where you
can store and charge devices so that they are
always operable. For example, a drawer in
the kitchen will have built-in USB chargers.
The cabinet in your master bath will hold and
charge your tablet. The living room built-in
will feature a smartphone dock. Personal
technology continues to grow and today’s
home is growing with it.
©Brandpoint
GEMINI
May 21 — June 20
There is nothing worse than feeling as if you have failed miserably
at something you really wanted to excel at. And maybe even
something one of your closest friends has already achieved?
VIRGO
July 23 — August 22
August 23 — September 22
You will still be feeling the after effects of last night’s Full Moon in
Sagittarius today — your fifth house of romance, creativity and self–
fulfilment. If there is something you’ve always wanted to try, give it
a go today.
SCOR
how the spaces affect every one of the
senses. Homeowners in particular are
paying close attention to the acoustics
of a home. Knowing how sounds can be
manipulated and controlled within a house
is important for functionality and livability.
A professional can assist in the details of
acoustics design, but basic features that
best control sound are insulation, ceiling
material and flooring design.
PIO
October 23 — November 21
Stop beating yourself up about something or someone you feel you
let down or didn’t do a good enough job on. You more than likely did
a great job — it’s simply that whatever it is isn’t ready for you right
now or isn’t right for you either.
AQUARIUS
January 20 — February 18
Don’t let someone talk you out of doing something you really want
to do today or next week. Sure some of their objections make sense,
but what if it’s something you really enjoy doing?
If you remain cautiously optimistic about something or someone
today, chances are it could very well work out for you. Maybe not in
exactly the way you want it to work out, but in a way that is perfect
for you in hindsight.
SAGITTARIUS
November 22 — December 21
The effects of your annual Full Moon continue to linger and it’s
definitely a good day for you to shake things up abit Sags. If you are
feeling bored, why not go out and try something different today?
PISCES
February 19 — March 20
The Full Moon lingers today in your career zone. Fed up with your
job? Your boss? Your co-workers? All 3 and more? Take time out to
check out jobsites and see what’s on offer.
Sunday, June 19, 2016
GULF TIMES
17
COMMUNITY
BOLLYWOOD
Mainstream actors
don’t take up relevant
subjects: Kareena
By Durga Chakravarty
H
aving starred in
commercially viable
and entertaining
movies like Kabhi
Khushi Kabhie Gham...
and Jab We Met, actress Kareena
Kapoor Khan says it’s a rarity for
popular stars to take up movies on
relevant subjects. But she agreed
to do a “small special role” in Udta
Punjab — a movie on Punjab’s drug
menace — for the strong message
that it conveys.
Kareena will be seen essaying a
doctor named Preet Sahani in the
Abhishek Chaubey directorial,
which has been in the midst of
controversy for its theme.
Talking about what made her
sign the film, Kareena told IANS:
“It was the subject... Even though
it’s a small role in the film. I think
actors like us don’t take up relevant
subjects like this.”
“Mainstream actors constantly
look for roles that are a part of
commercial films. I have done a
lot of that,” added the 35-year-old
actress over phone from Mumbai.
It was when the film’s director
approached her with the script of
Udta Punjab that she says she was
ELATED: Kareena Kapoor Khan
Rajinikanth absolutely
fine, says publicist
Megastar Rajinikanth is fine and
vacationing in the US, said a source
close to the actor amid rumours
that he is not well. His publicist
has clarified that Rajinikanth is
well health-wise. “Rajinikanth sir
is absolutely fine. He is vacationing
in the US and is expected is return
soon. Due to rigorous shooting
schedule, doctors had advised
him to take a break. Hence, he
ALL WELL: Rajinikanth
decided to go on a holiday,” the
publicist told IANS. Some reports
also suggested that Rajinikanth
is undergoing kidney-related
treatment in California. “He had
undergone full medical check up
in Chennai before he left for the
US,” the publicist clarified. From
the first week of July, the 65-year
old is expected to join the sets of
Tamil actioner 2.o. Rajinikanth’s
Kabali, in which he plays an ageing
gangster, is slated for release on
February 15. — IANS
very “clear that ‘I want to be a part
of this film’.”
“It has a strong message and it’s
a small special role. I thought it
has a great message and (because
I wanted) to be part of something
good out there for my fans,” added
Kareena, who dedicated 20 days to
the film.
A bonus for her was the
preparation that Chaubey had for a
movie which is on an “important”
subject as serious as the escalating
issue of drug abuse in Punjab —
something that she also felt needs
to be brought “out on celluloid”.
“The director was very wellprepared. He came very wellprepared on the set. Abhishek was
clear on the subject. He was very
clear on the kind of film he wanted
to make and his characters. It was
interesting and I am happy that I
am playing a small part in this film,”
Kareena said.
Udta Punjab makers have gone
through their share of struggle
in seeking a release certificate
from the Central Board of Film
Certification (CBFC), which first
suggested as many as 89 cuts in
the movie. Thereafter, its Revising
Committee asked for 13 cuts.
Ultimately, the makers moved
the Bombay High Court which
last week overruled the CBFC-
recommended cuts to the film and
cleared it for release with just one
cut and three disclaimers by the
filmmakers.
Kareena says it’s been a great
victory for the team of the film.
“It’s one of the greatest triumphs
to have happened in recent times.
It’s just so wonderful for the
people (who) have put in the hard
work. Abhishek Chaubey had
believed in the brave film he wants
to make. So, I think it’s really his
moment of triumph that finally
his baby is actually coming out on
the big screen,” said the “joyous”
actress.
Her co-actors from the film
— Shahid Kapoor and Alia Bhatt
— have been at the forefront of
press conferences regarding the
controversy around Udta Punjab,
but Kareena was missing. Why so?
“I was there for the trailer launch
... (As far as) Press conferences
and talking to the media everyday
(is concerned), I know it’s a part
of the job and I love doing it, but
constantly being seen everywhere
is something I am really not keen on
doing,” she said. “I am sure I wasn’t
missed because there was so much
commotion happening anyway.”
Having said that, she knows “the
film is going to do its job” anyway.
— IANS
Dishoom team denies
using dagger in song
Dishoom actor Varun Dhawan and producer
Sajid Nadiadwala have denied that a kirpan — a
Sikh ceremonial dagger — was used in the film’s
song Sau Tarah Ke. At an event, Varun was asked
to comment on a complaint regarding the use of
a kirpan-like dagger as an accessory on actress
Jacqueline Fernandez’s outfit.
He explained: “It’s not a kirpan. It’s a sword
which has been used and we must actually be
having it, so we can show it. I am a Punjabi
myself, and so is my brother (director Rohit
Dhawan). So we would never do something like
that. It’s a misunderstanding.”
Nadiadwala said he had read the news that
the Sikh community had condemned how
Jacqueline is seen shaking a leg wearing a
short dress with a short sword, resembling the
kirpan, around her waist. “We shot the song
in Morocco. So there’s no question (of using a
kirpan). Once they see the song, they will know.
They saw the clipping and they thought it is a
kirpan,” the producer said.
An open letter is said to have been addressed
to the Central Board of Film Certification
(CBFC) demanding to remove the song from
the film and from websites like YouTube. Not
only that, also they asked for an apology from
the makers of the film and posted the same on
his Facebook wall terming Jacqueline as ‘semiclad actress’. Scheduled to release on July 29,
the much-awaited action-comedy film is
helmed by Rohit Dhawan and also features John
Abraham in the lead role. — IANS
CLARIFICATION: Varun Dhawan
18 GULF TIMES Sunday, June 19, 2016
COMMUNITY
HOLLYWOOD
BUILDING BLOCKS: Introducing new heroes and villains to the Lego Star Wars universe, the animated television series Lego Star Wars: The Freemaker Adventures premieres soon on Disney XD.
Giving a Lego up for
new Star Wars series
By Rick Bentley
T
hat galaxy far, far away
where the Star Wars
universe exists continues
to get more and more
crowded. Not only are
their numerous films planned over
the next few years, but the number
of comic book titles, novels and TV
shows available keeps increasing.
You could say there are more
Star Wars products than fleas on a
Wookiee. The latest TV production
to join the expanding galaxy is
Lego Star Wars: The Freemaker
Adventures, which launches on
Disney XD tomorrow. It’s the
story of a three siblings — Zander
(Eugene Byrd), Cordi (Vanessa
Lengies) and Rowan (Nicholas
Cantu) — who travel the galaxy
looking for space debris. They had
been content to turn the junk into
merchandise but a chance find
changes all that.
“We are embarking on an
unprecedented collaboration that
will allow us to extend the narrative
experience of the Star Wars saga
with the same playful spirit that’s
always made Lego Star Wars so
much fun to watch,” says Carrie
Beck, vice president of animation
development at Lucasfilm, in a
news release the show.
The new series takes place
between the events of The Empire
Strikes Back and Return of the Jedi.
Executive producers Bill Motz and
Bob Roth picked that point in the
Star Wars timeline because it gives
them access to all of the main and
supporting characters from the
films.
“When we first dipped our toe
into the project, all they told us was
they wanted a Lego Star Wars show
and it needed to be set within the
original trilogy,” Motz says. “We
wanted as much access to all the
battles we could get and having
the series take place when it does
pushes it as far as we can go.”
Motz and Roth have been huge
Star Wars fans all their lives, so
staying within that matrix has
been relatively easy. If they stray,
management with LucasFilm —
particularly Breck — will fix the
problem. “We try to keep up as
much as we can. There are certain
things where we do cross over to
other contents,” Roth says. “Some
days we get redacted pages.”
Having to change their writing
plans because they stumbled upon a
theme or idea that has already been
planned for another project is not
a problem. In fact, they love when
it happens because it gives them
early knowledge of where the other
productions are headed.
Their original story takes place in
a time of great battles, which works
out for the Freemaker siblings who
make a living picking up debris of
space battles strewn throughout
the galaxy. Things change when
Rowan finds he has a natural
connection with The Force through
an ancient artefact.
Here’s an example of crossing
into someone else’s territory. That
artefact was originally going to be
Luke Skywalker’s first lightsaber,
but the series makers were told they
could not take that approach. After
The Force Awakens opened, they
understood why.
There will be no time taken
in the first season to explain the
sibling’s backstory. The producers
say that their parents died in a very
mundane way and it isn’t important
to where their story is headed.
Instead, the series will feature
appearances by some familiar faces,
including Luke Skywalker, Princess
Leia and the bounty hunter Dengar.
“We put Dengar in because we
love Dengar,” Roth says. “He looks
like the most slovenly, sloppy
bounty hunter ever. You can totally
outrun Dengar. He’s overweight. He
looks like he just got out of a Three
Stooges movie.”
This mix of new and classic
characters is one way to attract a
larger demographic. Producers also
wanted the siblings to have a mixed
ethnic look. The characters have a
skin tone that is known as nougat in
the Lego world.
This isn’t the first Lego Star Wars
project — there have been five video
games featuring the block-shaped
characters. To go along with the
opening of Revenge of the Sith in
2005, the first computer animated
Lego Star Wars short film was
produced, Lego Star Wars: Revenge
of the Brick. Several productions
have been made including the fivepart Lego Star Wars: Droid Tales.
The producers stress the show
is not as much of a parody of the
franchise as most of the past
projects have been. Freemaker
has comic moments, but it has a
slightly more serious tone.
Jill Wilfert, vice president of
licensing & entertainment at the
Lego Group, likes that the series
combines the Star Wars heritage
of storytelling, characters, action
and adventure with the creativity,
imagination and humour that is a
trademark of Lego.
The series name was inspired
by people who create with Lego
blocks. It’s a reference to one of the
two ways people play with Lego
blocks: those who follow enclosed
instructions vs. those who create
freely using their imagination. The
name honours the freestylers. —
The Fresno Bee/TNS
Sunday, June 19, 2016
GULF TIMES 19
COMMUNITY
HOLLYWOOD
Was worried I
couldn’t be Dory
anymore: DeGeneres
T
V host Ellen DeGeneres
says when she was
approached to voice
Dory in Finding Dory, she
was apprehensive if she
still suited the character’s voice 13
years after giving it a voiceover for
Finding Nemo.
“I was worried that my voice
would start changing and I couldn’t
be Dory anymore, I hope my voice
doesn’t change too much if we
do another sequel to this. But I’m
just elated that we are here talking
about it and doing it,” DeGeneres
said in a promotion interview for
the Disney movie.
“Obviously I’m excited and
I can’t believe, I mean I was
campaigning for a sequel to
APPREHENSIVE: Ellen DeGeneres
Freida joins forces with
Michelle Obama
Actress Freida Pinto has joined
hands with the First Lady of the
US Michelle Obama for Let Girls
Learn — a government initiative
aimed at helping girls obtain quality
education.
Freida, along with Michelle
Obama, her daughters Sasha and
Malia, their grandmother Marian
Robinson — will travel to Liberia,
Morocco and Spain at the end of
June and early July as part of the
Let Girls Learn initiative, read a
statement issued on behalf of the
Slumdog Millionaire actress.
The focus of the trip, which
includes Monrovia, Marrakesh
and Madrid, is for them to
speak to young girls about the
importance of education and
staying in school.
Starting with Liberia, Freida
and Michelle will take part in a
discussion which will cover the
educational barriers girls face in the
country. President Ellen Johnson
Sirleaf will meet them as well.
Next, in Morocco, Hollywood
star Meryl Streep will be seen
joining Michelle and Freida to
discuss the challenges women in
the African country deal with on a
regular basis. — IANS
wasn’t working at the time. So for
him to think of me and put me in
this huge movie, it was the greatest
thing that could ever happen to me
at the time and it was the greatest
experience.
“Dory was a great character for
me to play for many reasons and I
love Andrew for that reason,” she
said.
The sequel to the 2003 film
Finding Nemo, Finding Dory also
features the voices of Albert Brooks
as Marlin, Ty Burrell as Bailey,
Kaitlin Olson as Destiny, Ed O’Neill
as Hank, Diane Keaton as Jenny
and Eugene Levy as Charlie. The
film releases in India on Friday in
Hindi and English in IMAX and 3D.
— IANS
JOINING HANDS: Freida Pinto, left, and Michelle Obama.
Zayn Malik inspired by
‘fearless’ Prince
Khloe, Lamar ‘not
on talking terms’
Reality TV star Khloe
Kardashian and her estranged
husband Lamar Odom are
reportedly no longer on talking
terms as their relationship
continues to turn sour.
Earlier last month, Khloe
filed for divorce for the second
time after calling it off to
dedicate her time to help the
former NBA star get back to full
fitness after he was admitted to
a hospital after collapsing in a
Nevada brothel last year.
A source has now claimed the
former couple can barely even
speak to each other after Lamar
was spotted drinking again in
public, reports people.com.
“It was her decision. The
times she went to see him
recently, he was pretty messed
up. She is sick of it. She feels
like she has done everything
she can and it is just ridiculous
at this point,” the source said.
– IANS
Finding Nemo. I didn’t think it
would be Finding Dory — so that
was a surprise when I got a call 13
years later,” she said, while adding
that “it feels like no time has
passed”.
DeGeneres also had fun working
with the cast. “What’s exciting
is that she (Dory) meets all these
new friends along the way which
is really fun, I mean we have a
great cast. Working with Ed O’Neil
was hilarious and Ty Burrell is
hilarious,” she said.
She also said that the film’s
director Andrew Stanton is “the
greatest guy”.
“I mean he has saved me, saved
me in many ways, because when he
created this character for me — I
Rihanna launches
new perfume
Singer Rihanna has launched her
newest fragrance called Crush. The
perfume is a light and fruity scent
with hints of pink rose, bergamot,
mandarin and pink peppercorn — a
more musky alternative to her last
scent RiRi by Rihanna, which was
launched a year ago, reports elle.
com.
Priced between $20 and $60,
Crush will be available at select
retailers in August. Rihanna has
also launched fragrances like Reb’l
Fleur (2011), Rebelle (2012), and
Rogue Man, her first fragrance for
men.
On the work front, the Umbrella
hitmaker released her eighth studio
album Anti earlier this year. — IANS
SIGNATURE SCENT: Rihanna
Singer Zayn Malik says he is inspired to
be “fearless” by the late pop icon Prince.
The former One Direction star is “really
upset” that the Purple rain hitmaker
passed away in April this year at the age of
57, but is hopeful his legacy will continue
on, reports femalefirst.co.uk.
“It was obviously a surprise, I think for
everybody. A lot of starting references
for me are technology and Prince. I’m
conscious in the back of my head of how
he was sort of bold and fearless in the way
he decided to dress,” Malik told Dazed
magazine.
The Pillowtalk hitmaker said that
Prince “created another world” with
the clothes he wore, which gave him an
“otherworldly feel”.
“I was really upset with the fact that
he passed away. But it is nice that we can
use things now to portray what inspired
us about him. That was kind of what
I was doing at the Met Ball (an annual
fundraising gala for the benefit of the
Metropolitan Museum of Art’s Costume
Institute in New York City)... Being
fearless. But I was just having fun,” the
23-year-old singer said. — IANS
20 GULF TIMES Sunday, June 19, 2016
COMMUNITY
New Arguelina lounge
marks first Ramadan
The elegantly designed new Arabic lounge at Crowne Plaza Hotel has
transformed in to an exquisite Suhoor venue. By Umer Nangiana
L
ooking for a traditional
Iftar and Suhoor in a
relaxed, family-friendly
ambience? The Business
Park with its Aramede
Restaurant and the new Arabic
lounge, Arguelina at Crowne Plaza
Hotel has just that to offer.
As the sun sets, you can partake
in the Iftar buffet at Aramede
restaurant offering both Oriental
and international cuisines including
lamb ouzi, specialty stations and
Arabic sweets. Iftar is open from
sunset until 9pm. As an added
delight, a Juice Man goes around the
restaurant to offer refreshing drinks
as you break your fast.
The newly-opened Argeulina,
the elegantly designed new Arabic
lounge, has transformed to an
exquisite Ramadan venue for
Suhoor. With an exclusive a la carte
menu featuring Arabic favourites
until midnight, Argueline will have
an Oud player performing over the
course of the evening.
“The Arguelina Lounge is a
place that provides us with the
opportunity in the market to
provide something that no one else
provides,” Marcus Sutton, General
Manager of The Crowne Plaza tells
Community at a Suhoor evening
hosted for the media.
“Having a lounge that serves
food and environment like this
where we can operate it yearround with the retracting roof
is something that we are really
excited to roll out and introduce
to the market,” says Sutton. The
lounge has been open for just over
a week, a soft opening, as there
still are elements that are yet to be
finalised, says the GM.
“Everything will be as we wanted
it to be probably in about 6-8
weeks. But because of the time of
the year, Ramadan, we wanted to
make sure that we can provide our
guests with an experience to start
with and we are looking forward to
enhance this experience over the
coming weeks and months,” says
the hotel GM.
Sutton says they have tried to
provide more high-end offerings
which are still accessible. They
are not placed at very high-price
point. Positioned at a mid-range
price point, the lounge looks to
be attractive and affordable yet
provide the visitors the same fivestar level of environment that a lot
of others don’t provide, he adds.
One unique element of the new
ALL LIT UP: With an exclusive a la carte menu featuring Arabic favourites, Argueline is an ideal place for Suhoor.
lounge is the retractable roof that
makes it more attractive and also
enables it to operate year-round.
It does not matter if the weather is
hot but if the weather is nice they
can open the roof of the lounge.
They also serve Suhoor at the
Argueline lounge which is open
until 4am.
“As things progress and once
we are fully operational, we will
be potentially looking at operating
this outlet to serve light breakfast
through until early morning,”
Sutton reveals. New to The Crowne
Plaza, he just landed in Doha two
months ago and yet possesses a
vast experience in the hospitality
industry, and of Middle East.
“I have been in this industry for
19 years. I pretty much got into the
hospitality industry straight out of
my high school. And during that
time I have lived in many different
countries. I have been working in
Sweden, Switzerland, Tennessee
(USA), London in 4 years,” says
Sutton.
He has spent a lot of time in
Middle East from working in
United Arab Emirates (UAE),
Dubai, Jordan, back to Dubai, Abu
Dhabi and then to Doha for many
years.
“It is really good so far (in Doha).
It is always that when you enter a
new country in the Middle East in
the middle of summer, it is a little
bit different experience,” says the
new hotel GM, adding it is actually
quite nice being in a place like
Doha during Ramadan as it would
allow him time to catch up with
work and lifestyle.
He has visited Doha before for
leisure and with places like Souq
Waqif, the Corniche, the Museum
of Islamic Art (MIA), Sutton says
Doha has a lot to offer. Apart
from the Iftar and Suhoor in the
Aramede and Argueline lounges, if
the guests choose to stay in their
rooms, Crowne Plaza Doha-The
Business Park offers special inroom Suhoor menu ideal for quiet,
private dining.
The spread of Arabic cuisine at Argeulina.