Community

P6
Community
Tanzania
promises to
be the next
beach plus bush
holiday destination
for people of all
budgets.
P20
Community
Qatarbased ITEX
medallist
Mohamed Shakir sets sights
on more medical inventions
after winning gold for
seizure prediction device.
Thursday, May 26, 2016
Sha’baan 19, 1437 AH
DOHA
30°C—39°C TODAY
LIFESTYLE/HOROSCOPE 13
PUZZLES 14 & 15
A real fillip
COVER
STORY
Hawksbill turtle.
QU students venture out
to push for the protection
of endangered Hawksbill
Sea Turtle, conservation
of Al Fuwairit Beach. P4-5
2
GULF TIMES Thursday, May 26, 2016
COMMUNITY
ROUND & ABOUT
PRAYER TIME
Fajr
Shorooq (sunrise)
Zuhr (noon)
Asr (afternoon)
Maghreb (sunset)
Isha (night)
3.18am
4.45am
11.31am
2.56pm
6.19pm
7.49pm
USEFUL NUMBERS
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
VENUE: Katara Beach
Over 20 countries from all over the world are showcasing
their traditions and heritage.
Cultural Diversity festival
DATE: Until May 31
TIME: 7:30-9pm
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 Old minds
are like old horses; you
must exercise them if
you wish to keep them in
working order.
—John Adams
Community Editor
Kamran Rehmat
e-mail: community@gulf-times.com
Telephone: 44466405
Fax: 44350474
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
Mall Cinema (1): Warcraft (2D)
11.30am; The Shamer’s Daughter
(2D) 1.30pm; Angry Birds Movie (2D)
3.15pm; The Jungle Book (2D) 5pm;
Warcraft (2D) 6.45pm; Warcraft (2D) 9
& 11.15pm.
Mall Cinema (2): The Nice Guys (2D)
12.30pm; X-Men Apocalypse (2D)
2.30pm; Money Monster (2D) 5pm;
Pelé: A Birth Of A Legend (2D) 7pm;
X-Men Apocalypse (2D) 9pm; Wild For
The Night (2D) 11.30pm.
Mall Cinema (3): Pelé: A Birth Of A
Legend (2D) 11.30am; Money Monster
(2D) 1.30pm; The Nice Guys (2D)
3.30pm; Cabin Fever (2D) 5.30pm;
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.
(2D) 9pm; X-Men Apocalypse (2D)
11pm.
Royal Plaza Cinema Palace (3):
Money Monster (2D) 7.15pm; The Nice Money Monster (2D) 11.30am; The
Guys (2D) 9pm; Cabin Fever (2D) 11pm. Shamer’s Daughter (2D) 2.15pm;
Money Monster (2D) 4pm; Wild For
Royal Plaza Cinema Palace (1):
The Night (2D) 6pm; Money Monster
Warcraft (2D) 11am; Ratchet & Clank
(2D) 7.45pm; The Nice Guys (2D)
(2D) 1.15pm; The Jungle Book (2D)
3pm; Angry Birds Movie (2D) 4.30pm; 9.30pm; Cabin Fever (2D) 11.30pm.
Asian Town Cinema: King Liar
Warcraft (2D) 6.30pm; Warcraft (2D)
(Malayalam) 12.30, 3, 3.30, 6, 6.30,
8.45pm; Warcraft (2D) 11pm.
Royal Plaza Cinema Palace (2): The 9, 9.30pm, 12 & 12.30am; Jacobinte
Nice Guys (2D) 11.45am; Pelé: A Birth
Swargarajyam (Malayalam) 1.15 & 7pm;
Of A Legend (2D) 2.30pm; The Nice
Brahmot Savam (Telugu) 1pm; Muruthu
Guys (2D) 4.30pm; X-Men Apocalypse (Tamil) 10pm; Ithu Namma Aalu (Tamil
(2D) 6.30pm; Pelé: A Birth Of A Legend 12.30, 4, 4.15, 7pm & 12.45am.
Thursday, May 26, 2016
Practical Budgeting for Non-Finance
DATE: May 29-30
TIME: 8.30am-4pm
VENUE: TBC Doha
The course will enable participants to
learn how companies move from creating
a strategic plan to translating this plan into
budgets and thereafter implementing and
monitoring the actual performance.
Arabic Calligraphy
DATE: Tomorrow, May 28
TIME: 5pm
VENUE: Katara
Katara organises A Journey to the art of
Roqaa Arabic calligraphy workshop by Syrian
calligrapher Nasser al-Hamwi. On the subject
of the workshop, it will provide opportunities
for beginners who are interested in Arabic
calligraphy to discover this beautiful art
through Roqaa Arabic calligraphy. The
workshop is based on practical exercises
aimed at demonstrating how to compose the
Roqaa clipped letters made of short, straight
lines and simple curves, as well as its straight
and even lines of text in a grammatically
correct, beautiful, balanced and co-ordinated
manner.
Guided Family Art Visits
DATE: May 28 and June 4
TIME: 3pm
VENUE: Qatar Museums
Guided family visits are led by the Public
Art education team at Qatar Museums
Gallery ALRIWAQ. Children and parents will
explore the exhibition together. This will be
followed by an art-making workshop. The
children will make their own clay sculpture.
The workshops are being held from 3-5pm
every Saturday until June 4.
photos and a video footage of before, after
and during the jump. Tickets are available
online, at Lagoona Mall, Qatar Foundation
and Virgin Mega Stores.
Interpretations Art Exhibition
DATE: Until June 6
TIME: 10am- 9pm
VENUE: Katara Art Center, Building 5
The International School of London
Qatar’s Visual Arts Department inaugural
exhibition will take place in the Katara Arts
Center from today – June 6. The works of
the ‘Interpretation’ exhibition represents
a wide range of ages and stages of artistic
development and are selected from the
school’s IB Middle Years and Diploma Years
Programmes students. It is through sensory
exploration and interaction that students
learn to explore their feelings and confirm
their understanding of the world through the
senses.
Karting & Mini Moto Track
DATE: Until July 1
TIME: 6.30pm
VENUE: Losail International Circuit
Starting tomorrow, 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.
Dance Classes with Salsa n Candela
VENUE: Hilton Hotel-West Bay
Salsa n Candela offers variety of dance
classes for kids and adults at Hilton Hotel,
Eforea Spa Studio, such as Salsa, Bachata,
Kizomba, Swing, Tango and Greek classes.
Price at QR60 per class per person.
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.
Equestrian, Camels and Falcons
Exhibition
DATE: Tomorrow
TIME: 10am
VENUE: Doha Exhibition and Convention
Center
Nawasi is the first and only exhibition to
be held in Qatar, focusing on horses, camel
and falcon equipment. Poised to be held at
the Doha Exhibition and Convention Center
(DECC), Nawasi will energise equestrianism,
camel and falconry industries and blaze
a trail that carries these arts to a higher
level of practice enjoyment. The exhibition
will accommodate more than 150 premier
exhibitors with cutting edge technology and
equipment from Qatar, GCC, Mena and from
all over the world.
Skydive Qatar
DATE: Until May 31
VENUE: Al Khor Airport
For the first time in Qatar, everyone will
get a chance to experience skydiving with
a team of certified skydivers to jump from
approximately 13,000ft high. Participation
fees: QR1,899 for individuals, including
3
COMMUNITY
ROUND & ABOUT
EVENTS
GULF TIMES
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.
Anti-Doping in Humans and Animals
DATE: May 31-June 1
TIME: 8am
VENUE: Doha Marriott Hotel
ADLQatar’s 6th Annual Symposium:
Anti-Doping in Humans and Animals:
Parallels and Divergences: As with doping in
humans to enhance sporting performance,
similar interventions to ensure outcome in
competition are also apparent in animals
(horses, dogs, camels). Practices such as
administrations of steroids, inorganic
substances such as cobalt, as well as, gene
doping may be far more prevalent amongst
competing animals.
Yamativo Salsa Classes
DATE: Every Monday
TIME: 7pm
VENUE: Radisson Blu
It’s always fun and always challenging.
Let’s meet and learn some moves every
Monday night. You don’t need to do
anything, just join us. Level 1 (intermediate
level) 7pm and for beginner level 8pm. Be
there at Raddison Blu Hotel Cabana Club.
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 GuoQiang, will be on view at the QM Gallery
Al Riwaq. The exhibition will be 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 will be
displayed in individual galleries.
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.
FOODIE CHOICE
QSports Summer Camp
DATE: June 19-Sept 1
TIME: 8am-1pm
VENUE: Al Jazeera Academy
Registration for QSports Summer Camp
2016 is now open. QSports summer camps
top
RESTAURANT: Elements
LOCATION: Four Seasons Hotel
Elements features a vibrant menu, with
a modern mix of Arabic, Indian, Asian and
seafood flavours for breakfast and lunch in
buffet style and dinner with a la carte menu.
Signature dishes include such offerings as
Peking duck, Oriental mixed grilled, lobster
red curry, beef black pepper and salmon
teriyaki.
10
BOOKS
1. Lost Ocean by Johanna Basford
2. Querkles Masterpieces by Thomas
Pavitte
3. Qatar Entertainer 2016 by The
Entertainer
4. Username: Evie by Joe Sugg
5. Girl Online: On Tour by Zoe Sugg
6. The Amazing Book Is Not On Fire by
Dan Howell and Phil Lester
7. All The Bright Places by Jennifer Niven
8. Selp-Helf by Miranda Sings
9. A Work In Progress by Connor Franta
10. The World of Ice and Fire by George
R.R. Martin
MOVIES
1. Star Wars Ep Vii The Force Awakens
2. Jurassic World
3. Paul Blart Mall Cop 2
4. 22 Jump Street
5. Lord Of The Ring The Trilogy
6. Captain America: The Winter Soldier
7. Hateful Eight
8. Second Best Exotic Marigold Hotel
9. Spectre
10. Bridge Of Spies
TV-SERIES
1. Vampire Diaries S4
2. Grimm S1
3. Sleepy Hollow S2
4. Only Fools & Horses Complete Series
5. James Bond Daniel Craig 4
6. Downton Abbey A Moorland Holiday
7. Better Call Saul S1
8. Grey’s Anatomy S10
9. Cougar Town S3
10. Desperate Housewives S8
MUSIC
1.Various Artists: Now 93
2.Charles Aznavour: Best Of
3.Adele: 25
4.Various Artists: Annual 2016
5.Various Artists: Grammys 2016
6.Michael Jackson : Blood On The
Dancefloor
7.John Mayer: Battle Studies +Cd Bx3
8.Bruce Springsteen: Born In The USA
9.Red Hot Chili Pepper: Californication
10.Kennyg: Heart & Sou
Courtesy: Virgin Megastores,
Landmark and Villaggio Mall
Compiled by Nausheen Shaikh. E-mail: gtlisting@gmail.com, Events and timings subject to change
4
GULF TIMES Thursday, May 26, 2016
COMMUNITY
COVER STORY
A page-turner for youth
The hawksbill turtle has the potential to become a flagship species for
Qatar if its numbers can be increased and its habitats restored, Dr Anna
Grichting Solder, Assistant Professor, Department of Architecture and
Urban Planning, at QU, College of Engineering, tells Anand Holla
E
arlier this week, on
Monday, when nature
lovers across the globe
celebrated World
Turtle Day, a bunch of
architecture students from Qatar
University (QU) spurred on by
their professor, ignited multiple
vehicles of awareness on the
gravely endangered Hawksbill
Sea Turtle through design and
dialogue.
From asking people to join them
in protecting the hawksbill turtles
and promoting the conservation of
Al Fuwairit Beach to kickstarting
social media campaigns and
discussions about the subject,
the undergraduate (first year and
third year) and Masters students
of the Department of Architecture
and Urban Planning, QU, have
certainly opened up a conversation
about the need to protect what
is widely regarded as the most
beautiful sea turtle — the hawksbill
turtle.
Dr Anna Grichting Solder,
Assistant Professor, Department
of Architecture and Urban
Planning, at QU, College
of Engineering, is not only
mentoring this project but has
also been at the forefront of
raising awareness about the
“critically endangered” hawksbill
turtles, which figure in the IUCN
Red List of Threatened Species.
“Located on the North-Eastern
shores of Qatar, Al Fuwairit beach
is a nesting beach for turtles,”
Grichting explains to Community,
“It is part of a larger ecosystem
which includes sand dunes and
mangroves, all of which are
suffering from erosion and human
encroachment and activities.
In the past, Al Fuwairit was an
important coastal settlement. It
rose to regional prominence as
the home of the Al-Thani family
during the early 19th Century.
Archaeological excavations have
just begun on the ruined site,
which is also one of the rare
beaches in Qatar where hawksbill
turtles nest and hatch each year.”
According to the report,
Identification of Important Sea
Turtle Areas (ITAs) for hawksbill
turtles in the Arabian Region,
in Qatar, at least 100 hawksbill
turtles nest annually at Fuwairit,
Ras Laffan, Halul and in other
seaside areas outside of Doha,
Grichting points out. “Like
many sea turtles, hawksbills are
MOVING SPIRIT: Dr Anna Grichting Solder talks to the QU students at the Al Fuwairit beach.
a critically endangered species
mostly due to human impact.
Their eggs are still eaten around
the world despite the turtle’s
international protected status,
and they are often killed for their
flesh and shells. Hawksbills are
also threatened by accidental
capture in fishing nets, oil and gas
industries, urban and industrial
development, fishery pressure,
and shipping,” she says.
On World Turtle Day, on May
23, the QU students launched a
social media campaign on Twitter
@hwksblqtr and Instagram @
hwksblqtr; launched a website
https://hawksbillqatar.wordpress.
com; used design media to
raise awareness on turtles via
photography, films, fashion,
children’s story books, etc.;
engaged in public art to involve
more people; and created a series
of videos that will be launched
through social media on how we
can use and design public spaces
in Qatar to generate awareness on
Turtle Conservation.
As Shafeeq Hamza, Researcher,
QU, says, “Students are the
future and it is important that
the responsibility of protecting
the environment is passed on
to them.” Having visited Al
Fuwairit and gained a practical
understanding of the clear,
present and future danger that
poses the delightful hawksbills,
the students, hearteningly,
seem to have imbibed a sense of
responsibility for the long run.
Hessa Ali al-Malki, a first
year undergraduate student in
Architecture at QU, says, “In
order to be a successful architect
with great designs, you must
have an inspiration and a message
to deliver through your work,
especially if it pertains to an issue
that resides in the environment
you are building, just like the
hawksbill turtles in Qatar.”
Saaeda Nasser al-Bader,
architecture student at QU, who
has also designed the website,
says, “I am really glad that I got
the opportunity to have such an
amazing experience; protecting
not only the turtles but also the
environment as a whole has now
become my new passion. To me,
having a beautiful and interesting
approach toward awareness is
important. You can use either
visual, motion or sound to
capture the interest of people, and
architecture does all of that.”
The hawksbill turtle’s presence
in Qatar is little known by the
younger generations and its
threatened status even less so,
Grichting points out. “It has
the potential, as the Oryx, to
become a flagship species for
Qatar if its numbers can be
increased and its habitats restored.
The conservation project of
hawksbill turtles in Qatar has
been taken on by scientists and
nature conservationists at Qatar
University, at the Ministry of
Environment and supported by
Qatar Petroleum,” Grichting says,
“As for these projects, the students
really enjoyed them and I believe
they understand the importance
of using their design skills in the
service of nature conservation, and
in particular hawksbill turtles.”
Moreover, the deeply insightful
‘Master Plan for Hawksbill
Turtle Conservation and Nature
Protection and Restoration at
Al Fuwairit Beach’, put together
by Masters students under the
guidance of Grichting and in
collaboration with wildlife and
ecology specialists from Ministry
of Environment and Turtle
Scientists at Qatar University, is
a comprehensive go-to guide for
the next course of action.
Thursday, May 26, 2016
GULF TIMES
5
COMMUNITY
COVER STORY
One of the students, Fatma al-Muslamani, is trying to raise awareness on the
subject by designing these adorable turtle-shaped pillows.
Grichting with a mother hawksbill turtle at Al Fuwairit beach.
“Like many sea turtles, hawksbills are a critically
endangered species mostly due to human impact.
Their eggs are still eaten around the world despite the
turtle’s international protected status, and they are
often killed for their flesh and shells”
— Dr Anna Grichting Solder
The masterplan for the Al
Fuwairit beach and for the larger
ecological reserve, including the
archaeological site, also seeks to
develop the place as an attractive
tourist site “through careful and
sensitive planning”. Grichting
explains, quoting the masterplan,
“This project can be an important
contribution to a future
archaeological and ecological park
that will highlight and conserve
Qatar’s rich natural and cultural
heritage. In order for this to
happen, it needs good design and
management. It is hoped that this
project can be brought forward
with the appropriate governance
structures and stakeholders and
become a jewel on the coast of
Qatar.”
A hawksbill turtle tagged and equipped with a transmitter for research purposes as part of the Turtle Conservation
Project run by Qatar University, Ministry of Environment and Qatar Petroleum.
Another student, Fatima al-Rashid’s, work as part of the project.
In terms of the development
of the Conservation Master Plan
(CMP) for Al Fuwairit Beach and
the wider ecosystem, shares
Grichting, the main aims will be
to develop the CMP for Qatar’s
first ‘Eco-Beach and Nature
Reserve’; create a safer habitat for
endangered turtles by designating
and defining the boundaries
of the protected area(s); create
landscape and ecological designs
to restore habitat including:
dunes, marine habitats, turtle
habitats, etc.; landscape measures
to enhance existing habitats —
e.g. turtles light pollution screen,
dune creation, tree planting,
interpretive signage, bird hides
etc; accessibility infrastructure
such as vehicle access, roads,
parking; designs for a permanent
Turtle Information Center for
the benefit of scientists and
visitors; to use renewable energy
sources e.g. solar power, and
reduce waste, noise, air and light
pollution in the area; propose
“soft activities” for visitor
recreation that are compatible
with the turtle nesting and other
fragile species and ecosystems.
Dileep Kumar V
Pushpangadhan, who is a
former consultant at Ministry
of Environment and assisted
students with the projects,
explained the significance of the
campaign, “Hawksbill turtles, one
of the most critically endangered
species that occur in Qatar, play
an important role in maintaining
the health of the marine
ecosystem. Lack of conservation
and management plan for the
Fuwairit Turtle Beach led to the
drastic degradation of the turtle
nesting habitat. This resulted in
a drop in the number of nests by
more than half in the last 10 years.
Understanding the severity of
the situation, QU students under
the leadership of Dr Anna came
forward to work with the experts
and develop a comprehensive
management plan to setup the
first ecological/turtle beach in
Qatar. I must also appreciate the
work done by several helping
hands on this subject, such as Dr
Sayed Bukhari, GIS.”
Kumar pointed out that the way
each participating student shared
the “responsibility to study each
element and stage of the master
plan was very impressive”. “I am
sure that the execution of this
management plan will set the
standard for future ecological
parks in Qatar. I wish they could
contribute to more similar green
initiatives in Qatar,” he said.
6
GULF TIMES Thursday, May 26, 2016
COMMUNITY
Unveiling the unique
and charming Zanzibar
By Umer Nangiana
I
t is home to unique historical
and cultural sites. Once there,
you get to see the Makusurani
graveyard, where many of
the islands’ previous Arab
rulers are buried. There is ‘House
of Wonders’, a four-storey building
that was the first place on the island
with electrical lights.
It also hosts Hamamni and
Kidichi Persian Baths, the first
public baths on the island, and
Dunga Ruins, the ruins of a palace
built in the 15th century by the
rulers of the time besides the Peace
Memorial Museum, which serves
as a national historical museum
detailing the island’s long history.
This is the Stone Town of
Zanzibar or the islands of Unguja
and Pemba in Tanzania. Zanzibar is
home to large amounts of beaches
and clear Indian Ocean water, as
well as coral and limestone scarps
that allow for significant amounts
of diving and snorkelling.
The diving and snorkelling are
done in marine parks. The aquatic
life includes dolphins, moray eels,
lion fish, octopus and lobster. The
Jozani forest, located in the central
east region of Zanzibar, has a large
mangrove swamp.
The forest is home to the rare
red colobus monkey. The forest is
also home to 40 species of bird and
50 species of butterfly. The Kidike
root site is a great place to view the
endangered Pemba flying fox. And
these are just a few of the many
tourist attractions.
The Zanzibar Tourism
Commission, in conjunction with
Regency Travel & Tours and HTT
Global Holidays & Incentives,
recently held an event to showcase
these destinations of exotic
Zanzibar and wildlife rich Tanzania
to travel agents here.
Zanzibar is an ideal destination
for Arab nationals, offering great
cultural experiences and a chance
to do the most sought-after
“once in a lifetime” safari, making
the experience even better by
combining a beautiful exotic island
and an amazing wildlife safari in
Tanzania. Visa is upon arrival for
most nationalities.
“We sell a lot of packages. So
when we would sell a programme
it would be packaged. And the
package is either luxury holidays,
super luxury holidays with
properties that are not sold online
and the safaris that are combined
with luxury aircraft including
safaris into Tanzania and South
Africa,” Hanif Poona, President of
HTT Global Holidays & Incentives,
Tareq Abdullatif Taha, CEO of Regency Travel & Tours, in white, with Hanif Poona, the President of HTT Holidays and Incentives, at the event.
Photos by Ram Chand
told the audience comprising travel
agents and other partners.
One of the reasons for Zanzibar
not being exposed for many years
was that there were not many
flights to Zanzinbar.
Qatar Airways now operates
direct flights to Zanzibar and
Tanzania; and with a flying duration
of 4 hours and 30 minutes, these are
the next beach plus bush holiday
destinations, to be experienced at
attractive fares comparable to many
other Indian Ocean islands.
With direct flight connections
providing for easy access to both
destinations, guests from this part
of the world can now enjoy some
of the world’s best wildlife safari
experiences in Tanzania, along
with the picturesque beaches on
the island of Zanzibar as well as
its cultural heritage and historical
sites.
“English is widely spoken. Halal
food is available throughout the
country. We sell packages from
the budget to medium and high
end clients, catering to everybody
including families and adventure
seekers,” Poona told the audience.
“One fantastic thing that we do
in the bush is a dinner set up right
in the middle of forest. You are
surrounded by wildlife and you have
the wonderful sunrise and sunset
and we make the dinner in the bush.
It is an amazing experience,” said the
HTT president.
“When you are here on the
holidays here in the parks, there
are no newspapers, no television,
nothing to bother you. You are
inhaling the fresh air and the
morning alarm is the birds chirping,
they wake you up,” he said, while
explaining some of the attraction in
Tanzania and Zanzibar.
“I always tell a lot of people
when they go on a safari that when
you come back you are five days
younger,” said Poona.
Both Regency and HTT are
established brands in the GCC
market, with extensive experience
in promoting the East African safari
and beach products.
Working alongside with
Zanzibar Tourism Commission,
they have brought together four
of the top hotels from Zanzibar to
enlighten agents about the amazing
experiences available for their
guests.
Speaking on the occasion,
Regency Travel & Tours CEO Tareq
Abdullatif Taha said they are proud
to be associated with Zanzibar
Tourism Board and HTT Global
Holidays & Incentives, to represent
the beautiful and varied land of
Tanzania.
Hanif Poona, the President of HTT Holidays and Incentives, briefing the guests on Zanzibar attractions.
“Zanzibar, from being an
ancient trade route and gateway to
mainland East Africa is also home
to finest beaches in the world.
Travellers from Qatar will truly
enjoy the diversity Zanzibar has to
offer and Regency, in association
with HTT, will offer wide ranging
and exciting packages for people to
fully experience this hidden gem,”
said Taha.
Partner hotels including Park
Hyatt Zanzibar, The Residence,
Kilindi Zanzibar and The Melia
hotel presented their properties
and specialties to the Doha
audience. The presentation was
an engaging evening of exciting
information, and provided a
chance to learn more about the
special destination, sampling
of local ethnic cuisine, themed
giveaways and prizes to experience
Zanzibar first hand.
Thursday, May 26, 2016
GULF TIMES
7
COMMUNITY
Bangladesh MHM School and College observes Rabindra-Nazrul Jayanti
Bangladesh MHM School and College in Qatar recently
arranged a discussion and a cultural programme to mark the
birth anniversaries of Rabindranath Tagore and Kazi Nazrul
Islam (Rabindra-Nazrul Jayanti).
The two remarkable men are remembered for their impact on
Bangladesh, and the legacy they left behind still plays a vital
role in the culture and history of the country.
The programme was attended by Bangladesh ambassador
Ashud Ahmed. High official of Bangladesh Embassy, faculty
members and students were present on the occasion.
The venue wore a festive look as students presented solo
and group songs, dances and dramatic presentations. School
Principal Md Jashim Uddin urged the students to “show great
respect and sincere love to our National Poet and Kobi Guru,
who had amazing talent by which they embellished our
culture and literature.”
In his speech, ambassador Ahmed talked about the
importance of the teachings of Kazi Nazrul Islam and
Rabindranath Tagore and advised the students to use their
teaching in building the nation. “By cultivating Bengali culture
and understanding literature we can become true enlightened
human beings,” he said.
The teachers then held a brief discussion on the lives
and works of both poets, before the beginning of cultural
performances.
The cultural programme started with a group dance named
Projapoti by the students of the elementary school. The
highlight of the cultural programme was the dance and song
performances by the little artistes of the school. A drama by
Rabindranath was played out by the students of Grade XII.
Three mega Nepalese musical
programmes in offing
By Usha Wagle Gautam
S
ummers in Doha may be hot, but
they haven’t deterred the active
Nepalese community. They have
three grand musical programmes
planned for tomorrow and the next
Friday (May 27 and June 3).
The Miteri Film Cultural Group (MFCG)
is organising a concert at the Asian Town
cricket stadium tomorrow from 1pm
onwards. This is the fifth concert to be
hosted by the group since it was established
in 2007. The group is bringing folk singers
Prakash Saput, Puja Puri and Arjun
Kaushal, and actress-model Malati Gala
from Kathmandu to perform in the show.
Comedian-actress Niru Khadka will be the
MC.
According to the management committee,
the gate will open at noon and tickets are
priced at QR30, QR50 and QR100. MFCG
chairman Rit Kumar Shrestha said the
main focus of the programme is to promote
Nepalese culture in Qatar. Each artiste, he
said, will perform five acts each.
The Myagdi Overseas Nepalese
Association-National Executive Committee
(MONA-NEC) is also hosting a cultural
programme at Shalimar Palace in Najma.
MONA-NEC, established in 2003, is
preparing its best for its second programme.
Singers Purushottam Gaire, Gagan Pun
and Nisha KC are expected to perform, and
MONA-NEC will use the proceeds from the
programme to fund a bridge in Nepal’s west.
The programme is being co-ordinated by
Kiran Shahi.
Next week, the Nepal Culture Council
(NCC) is organising its debut musical
programme titled Suvakamana Sumadhur
Night. The programme will be held at Grand
Mall in Asian Town from 1pm onwards.
About a dozen Nepalese artistes will come
from abroad to perform.
Popular modern singer Ram Krishna
Dhakal will be the central attraction, who
will be performing in the country for the
very first time. Dhakal is one of the most
popular and talented pop stars in Nepal. He
is also a playback singer, acts and the judge in
a Nepalese reality TV show. Many consider
him second only to the singing maestro, late
Naranyangopal, who is respected as the king
of melody in the Nepalese speaking world.
TV comedian Jeetu Nepal; dance director
Master Jeet; dancers and models Rishika
Chaudhary, Apeksya Bashyal and Apsara
Thapa; pop singers Kamal Khatri and Badal
Prasain; modern singers Rima Gurung and
Sabitri Joshi; and actor Sushil Nepal will
perform at the NCC programme.
The tickets are priced at QR25, QR50,
Qr70, QR75 and QR100.
The programme is being co-ordinated by
Rupesh Yadav, Sakti Chhetri and Prakash.
Each artiste will perform three times during
the show, according to the organisers. There
are segregated seats for men and women, and
different categories of tickets. The organisers
are expecting close to fifteen thousand
people at the programme.
Popular modern singer Ram Krishna Dhakal
will perform at the Nepal Culture Council’s
programme next Friday.
TV comedian Jeetu Nepal will host the NCC’s
programme.
8
GULF TIMES Thursday, May 26, 2016
COMMUNITY
SIS KG Wing holds orientation session for parents
The KG Wing of Shantiniketan Indian School (SIS) organised an orientation session for the parents of KG I and KG II recently. Head Teacher Mehjabeen Hasan reviewed the calendared activities and gave
tips on positive parenting. Presentations focussed on issues like Parent-Teacher Connectivity and Parental Participation in Early Years Education. The resource persons for the programme were Fathima
Hanan, Latha Shyammohan, Sheikh Parveen, Shazia Samreen and Varalakshmi. Principal Dr Subhash Nair urged the parents to get involved in their child’s education and collaborate with the school.
MasterCard powers
first commerce
application for ‘Pepper’
M
asterCard today
unveiled the
first commerce
application for
SoftBank Robotics’
humanoid robot Pepper. The
application will be powered by
MasterPass, the global digital
payment service from MasterCard
that connects consumers with
merchants, enabling them to make
fast, simple, and secure digital
payments across channels and
devices. Pizza Hut Restaurants
Asia P/L will be the inaugural
launch partner working together
with MasterCard to create
innovative customer engagement
with Pepper.
A major first step forward in
bringing conversational commerce
experiences to merchants and
consumers, this new app extends
the robot’s ability to integrate
customer service, access to
information and sales into a
seamless and consistent user
experience. Pizza Hut Asia will be
piloting Pepper for order-taking
and personalised engagement to
enhance customer service in-store
by end of 2016.
“Consumers have come to
expect personalised service,
customised offers and simple
and seamless processes both
in-store and online,” said Tobias
Puehse, vice president, innovation
management, Digital Payments &
Labs at MasterCard. “The app’s
goal is to provide consumers with
more memorable and personalised
shopping experience beyond
today’s self-serve machines and
kiosks, by combining Pepper’s
intelligence with a secure
digital payment experience via
MasterPass.”
A consumer will be able to
initiate an engagement by simply
greeting Pepper and pairing the
consumer’s MasterPass account
by either tapping the Pepper icon
within the wallet or by scanning
a QR code on the tablet that the
robot holds. After pairing with
MasterPass, Pepper will be able
to assist cardholders by providing
personalised recommendations
and offers, additional information
on products, and assistance in
checking out and paying for
items. Pepper will be able to
initiate, approve and complete
a transaction by connecting to
MasterPass via a Wi-Fi connection
and the entire transaction happens
within the wallet.
“We are excited to welcome
Pepper to the Pizza Hut family,”
said Vipul Chawla, Managing
Director of Pizza Hut Restaurants
Asia. “Core to our digital
transformation journey is the
ability to make it easier for
customers to engage, connect and
transact with Pizza Hut. With
an order-and-payment-enabled
Pepper in action.
Pepper, customers can now come
to expect personalised ordering
at our stores, reduce wait time
for carryout, and have a fun,
frictionless user experience.”
The app was built by the
MasterCard Labs team in
Singapore, one of the company’s
eight research and development
centres across the globe. The
Pepper application adds to ongoing
MasterCard programmes that
bring payments to any consumer
gadget, accessory or wearable —
from fitness bands to refrigerators
and now robots. The integration
with Pepper has the potential
to open up opportunities in the
world of retail such as personalised
shopping and concierge services,
in-aisle checkout and the ability
to buy in store but get the goods
delivered at home. The same
capability would also be applicable
to other consumer engagement
locations such as hotels, banks,
airports, and other customer
service industries.
The app is being showcased at
the Pepper Partners Europe event
hosted by SoftBank Robotics
Europe (a SoftBank Robotics
Holdings group company) in Paris
ending today.
Thursday, May 26, 2016
GULF TIMES
9
COMMUNITY
‘Purity in Ideology; Purity in Life’ campaign ends with mega conference
“Purity in Ideology; Purity in Life,” a tri-month campaign organised by Sheikh Abdullah Bin Zaid Al Mahmood Islamic Cultural Center (Fanar), ended with a mega conference last Friday. Speaking on
the occasion, the scholars urged people to maintain purity in ideology for leading a life with purity and peace. Kerala State General Secretary Swalahudheen Madani delivered the keynote address. In
different sessions, other speakers included Abdul Latheef Karumbilakkal and Shameema Islahiya. Akbar Qasim presided over the closing session.
FCC Kazhcha screens film,
organises open forum
The FCC Kazhcha recently screened
the film Patham Onne Ekadaivam, and
organised an open forum thereafter. The
movie focusing on the story of love and
friendship, and was enacted by a group
of veteran senior artists established in
the areas of art and literature, including
Chemanchery Kunjiraman Nair, Ragam
Muhammed Ali, Meloor Vasudevan
Nair, Arangadath Vijayan, VK Ravi, Ali
KY, Haneefa Kuruvangad, Mansoor Ali,
Master Midhun, Kannan, Issa Likkad,
Vasu Thazhemadhathil, Nashan Moodadi,
Baskar KY, Rajan Kolakkad, AP Haridas,
Nithya Krishna, and Lakshmiamma.
Mansoor Ali, well-known in Qatar in
art circles, also produced the film. The
speakers in the forum felt that “religions
and political parties, while remaining firm
on their ideologies, should unite together
to strengthen India, where friendship is
blossoming.” FCC Executive Committee
member Rafeeq Mechery presided over
the event.
Al Mahd
International
Primary
School
students
graduate
A total of 33 students of Al Mahd
International Primary School in
Doha, Qatar graduated from Year
6 in the presence of the principal,
teachers, guests and parents. The
graduation ceremony was held in
front of the Al Mahd International
School. Zeynep Cabbar, Year 6A,
gave the valedictorian speech
on behalf of her classmates.
Abdulla Ashraf, Year 6A, gave the
Salutatorian Arabic Speech on
behalf of his classmates. Razan
AbuZaid, Year 6A, shared her
school reading experience. Year
6B students Nada Afifi, Hannan
and Gommana gave speeches in
French. The ceremony ended with
a farewell song by students.
10 GULF TIMES Thursday, May 26, 2016
COMMUNITY
MARKETING
Quantum to continue supporting Maktaba
T
o further consolidate
their ongoing
partnership, Quantum
Global Solutions
(Quantum) and Maktaba
Children’s Library recently signed
a Memorandum of Understanding
(MoU) as Premier Partner
reflecting Quantum’s longterm commitment to support of
Maktaba.
The MoU was signed by Peter
Murphy, Quantum managing
director, and Sarah Champa
Al Dafa, founder of Maktaba
Children’s Library.
Speaking at the ceremony,
Murphy reiterated Quantum’s
ongoing support for Maktaba,
“Quantum is delighted to have
formalised our partnership as a
Premier Partner support Maktaba
Children’s Library. Over the past
year as part of our Corporate
Social Responsibility programme,
‘Q’munity’ and our employee
volunteering initiative ‘Donate a
Day’ we have worked with Maktaba
on several hand-on projects and we
look forward to continuing to work
together to enhance Maktaba’s
reputation within the community.”
Continuing, he said, “Led by our
Associate Director, Jon Sanderson,
we have formed a Maktaba CSR
committee who meet with Sarah on
The MoU was signed by Peter Murphy, Quantum managing director, and Sarah Champa Al Dafa, founder of Maktaba Children’s Library.
a monthly basis to check how we
can help with the libraries ongoing
projects. It’s a great partnership
and we’re proud to be part of
Maktaba’.”
Sarah Champa al-Dafa also
noted, “We are delighted to be a
part of the Quantum Q’munity CSR
Programme. Since we initiated our
co-operation through the ‘Donate
a Day’ programme our partnership
has established strong roots and we
look forward to continuing to grow
Maktaba together.”
Quantum and Maktaba continue
to develop the Hadiqati garden
planted as part of the Quantum
family Donate a Day last October,
donate books through employee
donations, undertake reading
sessions as part of the World Book
Day celebrations and using their
industry contacts help facilitate
ongoing maintenance at the library.
Splash introduces new way forward with ‘Love Unites’
L
ove, one of the most
popular of emotion,
intensifies when said in
conjunction with the
word Fashion, inspiring a
loyalty beyond reason. Two decades
ago, Splash, the UAE based highstreet retailer chose to fall in love
with fashion and this one emotion
has given the brand a journey to
reflect upon and a path to create.
Moving forward from celebrity-led
campaigns, the brand has taken the
route of addressing topical issues
through fashion imagery and highly
stylised campaigns.
The recently unveiled campaign
takes cues from a world where
unrest has taken head and how
even the smallest of acts of raising
awareness can go a long way
in uniting people. Titled ‘Love
Unites’ the Splash campaign brings
together six top-models of various
ethnicities from across the globe to
shoot for an inspirational fashion
campaign where caste, creed and
colour play no role.
Speaking on ‘Love Unites’, Raza
Beig, Director, Landmark Group
and CEO Splash & ICONIC,
said, “I am a firm believer in the
ideology of Love and this season
Splash takes on a new route of
inspiring love through a multiethnicity campaign which is best
represented through fashion, the
one word that defines Splash.
Titled ‘Love Unites’ this campaign
is our pitch to unite people against
any resentment currently going on
in the world.”
Adding further, “Emerging
from a successful celebrity-driven
campaign endorsed by stars like
Salman Khan and Nicole Saba,
this campaign aims to take Splash
from an aspirational brand to an
INCLUSIVE: The Splash campaign brings together six top-models of various ethnicities from across the globe to shoot for an inspirational fashion campaign.
inspirational route.”
The campaign released across
Mena, India, Pakistan and Sri
Lanka on May 2, through a 360
degree communication strategy
that includes Out of Home, Print,
Radio & TV. Digital campaigns are
the driving force of ‘Love Unites,’
with an aim to connect and unite
people through interactions with
the brand and subsequently with
each other.
Thursday, May 26, 2016
GULF TIMES
11
COMMUNITY
Karnataka Sangha Qatar conducts Vasanthotsava 2016
The Karnataka Sangha Qatar conducted a quiz competition titled Vasanthotsava 2016 recently at Al Maha Boys Academy. Four teams participated in the quiz, conducted by Dr Na Someshwara. The
prize for each question answered — whether by the team members or the audience — was a book. Another highlight of the programme was a mimicry show by famous comedian Gopi, who enthralled
the audience with his wit and humour. Veena Varuni mesmerised the audience with her Veena recital, with her music troupe rendering melodies from Kannada, Tulu and Hindi.
McDonald’s Qatar supports Angry Birds premiere at Novo Cinema
In anticipation of the worldwide release of The Angry Birds Movie, McDonald’s Qatar collaborated with Doha Festival City, Talal Bin Mohammed Trading and Adabisc to host a special viewing of the
Angry Birds Movie ahead of the film’s official worldwide release. During the event, McDonald’s Qatar provided Angry Birds happy meal toys collectibles to kids. The kids also enjoyed Angry Birds face
painting, were amused with the presence of the Angry Birds mascots, and pampered with popcorn, nachos and cupcakes. Families and kids also enjoyed the Angry Birds photo booth. The movie
premiere was attended by families, media and fans of the blockbuster video game, marking the start of the countdown to the opening of Angry Bird’s World Theme Park in Doha.
12 GULF TIMES Thursday, May 26, 2016
COMMUNITY
INFOGRAPHIC
Thursday, May 26, 2016
GULF TIMES
13
COMMUNITY
LIFESTYLE/HOROSCOPE
Wisen up to benefits of a smart home
S
mart homes make life easier and
more convenient. Who wouldn’t
love being able to control lighting,
entertainment and temperature
from their couch — or from
anywhere for that matter? Whether you’re
at work or on vacation, smart devices
alert you to what’s going on at home and
help you stay connected and
protected.
“Since inventing the world’s first
residential smoke alarm, First Alert has
been at the forefront of advancement in
home safety technology,” says Tom Russo,
president of First Alert. “Our Onelink
portfolio of smart products goes beyond
traditional perceptions of safety products
and ushers in a new era of interconnectivity
between a home’s comfort level and
people’s safety and lifestyle preferences.”
According to the experts at First Alert,
the following are just a few of the many
benefits of giving your home a “smart”
makeover:
Safety and security
Having the ability to monitor your home
from wherever you are is one of the biggest
benefits of a smart home. Devices that
deliver notifications about everything from
intruders to water leaks help homeowners
react quickly and avoid major disasters.
For families with children, smart devices
can provide parents with added peace of
the flexibility to choose which features to
integrate into your smart system to create a
connected home custom designed to cater
to your specific lifestyle.
Ease and expansion
Unlike their complicated predecessors,
many of today’s smart home products can
be easily installed, and you certainly don’t
need to buy everything all at one time. One
of the best places to start building a smart
home system is with essential devices
like a thermostat, or smoke and carbon
monoxide alarms. To make things as simple
as possible, alarm is designed to work with
most existing interconnected hardwired
alarms, so users do not have to replace all of
their existing alarms at once.
mind. You can safeguard doors and drawers,
such as gate to the pool, with connected
contact sensors. With smart locks and
cameras, you’ll know when your kids get
home from school, and can ensure their
safety when the doorbell rings with mobile
access to live video. There are even smart
safes with motion detecting technology
and access notification that are ideal for
keeping weapons and medications safely
locked away.
ARIES
March 21 — April 19
Venus the planet of love and perfect matches moves into Gemini
today, your 3rd house of ’chat em up’ and flirt like crazy. So go on
then..smile and act coy and enjoy your ability to come up with those
funny, off the cuff remarks you’re infamous for.
CANCER
June 21 — July 22
If things are slightly awkward between you and a friend, ask yourself
why that is so. What has occurred to make things so tense between
you? Is it something that happened in the past and while you
thought it was sorted, maybe it isn’t?
LIBRA
September 23 — October 22
Venus your ruler and the goddess of love and relationships spends
the next month in Gemini, your fellow air sign and 9th house of
overseas trips and learning. So if you find yourself chatting to an
attractive foreigner or get a chance to go overseas, it’s truly a kismet
moment.
CAPRICORN
December 22 — January 19
There is nothing better for you hard working earthlings to feel as
if you have done something to the very best of your ability and it
has paid off. Give yourself a big pat on the back, treat yourself to
something you enjoy and then get on with it!
Convenience and customisation
Convenience is one of the most common
reasons people purchase smart devices.
These high-tech products streamline
common tasks by giving users remote
access to everything from heating and
cooling systems to multimedia devices,
kitchen appliances, security features and
even a forgotten garage door. You have
the ability to programme devices to your
family’s specific needs and preferences, and
TAURUS
April 20 — May 20
Your sign bids adieu to Venus today – your ruler and the planet
who loves to visit your sign. However, you still have Jupiter in your
romance corner, so if you met someone whilst Venus was in your
sign, there’s every cosmic sign things will keep on keeping on.
LEO
July 23 — August 22
Stop trying so hard to defend yourself against something when
deep down, in the bottom of that big heart of yours, you know that
you are guilty as charged or at least partially guilty and make the
necessary rounds of apologies.
SCORPIO
October 23 — November 21
Don’t go overboard on the praise today Scorpios. Sure someone did
a great job and you are happy for them, but the more you rave the
less authentic it seems and the more forced.
AQUARIUS
January 20 — February 18
In your fellow air sign of Gemini and fifth house of romance,
creativity and self–fulfilment, Venus the goddess of love and
relationships sets up camp alongside the Sun for the next few weeks.
Now is a great time to play catch up socially.
Energy efficiency and cost savings
A major part of what makes “smart”
devices smart is their ability to save users
money through improved energy efficiency.
Lights can be programmed to turn off
automatically when no one is in a room.
A thermostat can be set to let the indoor
temperature drop during the day before
returning it to a more comfortable level just
before residents arrive home in the evening.
You can even track energy usage and
expenditures to determine ways in which
your family can reduce consumption.
© Brandpoint
GEMINI
May 21 — June 20
Venus the lover joins the Sun in your sign today and brings with her
a magic elixir for love potion number 9. If you’re single, this is a great
time to put it out into the Universe exactly what it is you’re looking
for in a mate.
VIRGO
August 23 — September 22
Neptune the King of dreams and fantasies remains in Pisces through
the rest of 2016. Your imagination regarding your relationships
is aided and abetted by this planetary activity and for those of
you who feel their partnership is rather lacklustre, tap into that
imagination of yours!
SAGITTARIUS
November 22 — December 21
If you feel someone has been trying to pull the wool over your eyes
recently, try to find out why today. Ask questions and do a little bit of
investigative work. Venus the lover moves into Gemini today, your
one on one relationship zone. Great for single Sags!
PISCES
February 19 — March 20
Venus and the Sun are now joined in your 4th house of home
and family. Any silly domestic disputes with your other half, kids,
neighbours or family can easily be repaired by simply being your
charming self right now Pisces.
14 GULF TIMES Thursday, May 26, 2016
COMMUNITY
Wordsearch
Adam
Pooch Cafe
Picture Gallery
ABSTRACT
CHARCOAL
COLLAGE
CUBIST
FIGURE
FRAME
GENRE
GOUACHE
ICON
IMPASTO
LANDSCAPE
NUDE
PANORAMA
PASTEL
PENCIL
PORTRAIT
POSTER
SEASCAPE
SKETCH
TONDO
VIGNETTE
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, May 26, 2016
15
COMMUNITY
PUZZLES
Quick Clues
ACROSS
1. Recovery (12)
7. Attire (5)
8. Foreign (5)
9. Opponent (3)
10. Ally (9)
11. Adhesive (6)
12. Torment (6)
15. Alarmed (9)
17. Queer (3)
18. Reckon (5)
19. Rogue (5)
21. Undesirable (12)
GULF TIMES
Colouring
DOWN
1. Sanction (12)
2. Pastry dish (3)
3. Outcome (6)
4. Journeyed (9)
5. Due (5)
6. Freedom (12)
7. Vision (5)
10. Assured (9)
13. Small wood (5)
14. Quarrel (6)
16. Rule (5)
20. Curve (3)
Cryptic Clues
Answers
Wordsearch
ACROSS
1. Not employing married people? (6-6)
7. Force initially prevailed over West
European rebels (5)
8. Shrink back from alcoholic drink when
about 100 (5)
9. A bit of innuendo to scatter here and
there (3)
10. Hide spark-producer for miser (9)
11. Planes blown up in Italy (6)
12. Does he expect delay when he serves?
(6)
15. Unpleasant consequences of disaster
at the farm (9)
17. How nocturnal animal might get a
duck? (3)
18. A drop in note form? (5)
19. Thomas returns to watchword (5)
21. Considerable preoccupation with sharp
profit? (4,8)
DOWN
1. Fighting force always on its feet? (8,4)
2. Subject of study partly taken up to
follow a legal career (3)
3. Drug bringing problems on heir (6)
4. Lightning intelligence? (4,5)
5. Boredom is something of unbroken
nuisance value (5)
6. Abandon undertaking at better area
(4,1,7)
7. Dishonestly arranged to give food and
lodging? (3,2)
10. Means rest for the one at the helm (9)
13. Socially unacceptable thanks to cry of
disapproval (5)
14. Vehicle workers put on opera (6)
16. Colour slightly in embarrassment in
genteel company (5)
20. Part of foot pointing eastwards? (3)
Codeword
Yesterday’s Solutions
QUICK
Across: 4 Upstart; 8 Become; 9 Inflate; 10
Sooner; 11 Render; 12 Vendetta; 18 Readable;
20 Income; 21 Entice; 22 Erudite; 23 Refuse; 24
Respond.
Down: 1 Abusive; 2 Account; 3 Impede; 5
Panorama; 6 Talent; 7 Rather; 13 Threaten; 14
Obvious; 15 Referee; 16 Untrue; 17 Hold up; 19
Danger.
CRYPTIC
Across: 4 Stipend; 8 Exeunt; 9 Signora; 10
Astray; 11 Uproar; 12 Stallion; 18 Polygons; 20
Impair; 21 School; 22 Outlive; 23 Stress; 24
Charade.
Down: 1 Relapse; 2 Neutral; 3 Entail; 5
Tribunal; 6 Pantry; 7 Norman; 13 Improved; 14
Dolores; 15 Useless; 16 Ambush; 17 Sailor; 19
Yachts.
16 GULF TIMES Thursday, May 26, 2016
COMMUNITY
REVIEWS
A fun little journey
By Katie Walsh
FILM: Ride Along 2
CAST: Ice Cube, Kevin Hart,
Olivia Munn, Ken Jeong, Benjamin
Bratt
DIRECTION: Tim Story
W
atching the Ride
Along films (this
is the second
installment
in the buddy
cop franchise) is an exercise
in succumbing to Kevin Hart’s
unique, manic charms.
By the end, it’s most likely
you’ll be laughing at the antics
of the bite-sized comic — whose
style is reminiscent of an overenthusiastic puppy nipping at your
ankles — even if you’re not sure
why. This is why Ice Cube is the
perfect audience proxy as Hart’s
tough and taciturn counterpart;
while he initially wants to bat
the irritating pup away, Hart’s
persistence and moxie are difficult
to resist.
Ride Along saw Cube as James
Patton, a hard-boiled detective of
few words, pressured by his sister
Angie (Tika Sumpter) to take her
boyfriend Ben (Hart) along for a
ride, on which disastrous capers,
and some unlikely detective work,
ensued.
In Ride Along 2, directed again by
Tim Story, James heads for parts
south after a Fast and the Furious-
style opener, in which he uncovers
a mysterious USB drive from a
drug dealer with a hacker’s calling
card leading him Miami. You can
guess who begs to go along for the
ride again. This time, Ben’s a fresh
police academy graduate, who’s
a bit of an idiot-savant when it
comes to law enforcement.
In South Beach, James and
Ben link up with hacker AJ (a
loopy Ken Jeong), and another
tough homicide cop Maya Cruz
(Olivia Munn). They make an
odd foursome, with Ben and AJ
bonding over their nerdy hobbies,
and Maya and James sharing a
similarly serious approach.
Jeong makes a surprisingly good
foil for Hart — the two comedians
both subvert the stereotypes of
their outward appearances —
balancing the qualities that make
them less-than-macho with overthe-top braggadocio and ego.
AJ, the hacker, turns out to be
quite the ladies man, and Ben has
no qualms embracing his feminine
side, whether it’s in his overzealous
wedding planning or his choice of
undergarment.
The plot itself is run-of-themill cop comedy stuff, with
Benjamin Bratt delivering the
villain role as a suave Miami
heavyweight who’s smuggling
drugs and other contraband. The
story beats are well-trodden, the
action sequences and visual effects
nothing more than serviceable, if
chaotic, but there’s fun to be had
in Ride Along 2, thanks to Hart and
Jeong, who play fast and loose with
the tropes.
All Ben wants is to prove himself
as a cop and a brother, but he
doesn’t feel the need to change
anything about his metrosexual
nerd persona, finding strength in
it. All those hours of video games
somehow pay off.
Ride Along 2 takes quite a bit of
time to pick up speed, and doesn’t
have the verve and energy of the
first film, but it has its moments,
particularly when Hart hits the gas
on his signature zingers. — TNS
Back to nursery
An engaging mystery
I
N
FILM: Kindergarten Cop
CAST: Dolph Lundgren, Fiona
Vroom, Darla Taylor
DIRECTION: Don Michael Paul
n this sequel to the 1990 comedy
film Kindergarten Cop, starring Arnold
Schwarzenegger, a gruff FBI agent,
assigned to recover sensitive stolen
data, goes undercover as a nursery
teacher, but the school’s liberal, politically
correct environment is more than he
bargained for.
In Kindergarten Cop 2, Dolph Lundgren
plays a womanising (or so we hear) FBI
agent who lives in a trailer by a lake where he
spends all morning working out and all night
cooking steaks. He and his partner, played
by Bill Bellamy, need to find a flash drive
holding sensitive FBI documents before
it falls into the hands of a dangerous drug
dealer-type.
For reasons that don’t really matter
(though the film spends 25 minutes
setting them up), that flash drive is hidden
somewhere in an elementary school.
You know the drill. Dolph has to go
undercover as a kindergarten teacher to see
if any of these little brats know where the
flash drive is. He also begins to fall in love
with the school’s other kindergarten teacher.
What separates Kindergarten Cop 2 from
its predecessor is the culture of this school.
While Arnold’s movie mined laughs from
seeing a tough muscle man unable to
control a bunch of kids, this one builds on
that humour by taking place in a highly
liberal educational environment.
Of course, Dolph learns to love the kids
eventually, and the movie loses this slight
bit of edge, falling once again into a generic
stroll through a plot you’ll have no trouble
predicting. — NS
FILM: Backtrack
CAST: Adrien Brody, Sam Neill, Robin
McLeavy
DIRECTION: Michael Petroni
othing haunts like the past; it’s
a catchy tag line that attempts
to sum up director Michael
Petroni’s new film Backtrack, but
there is more to this thriller than
can be summed up in a single breath. What
begins as a moody drama about a troubled
psychotherapist quickly reveals itself as a
deeper tale of supernatural intervention into
the darker underbelly of human nature.
Peter Bower, played with wrenching
emotional finesse by Adrien Brody, is
struggling with the loss of his daughter while
barely holding together his practice and
his marriage. Bower blames himself for his
daughter’s death, while not entirely clear on
what happened exactly. When not in sessions
with his own patients, Bower seeks counsel
from fellow psychotherapist Duncan Stewart,
played by Sam Neill, which only leads Bower
further down the twisted rabbit hole that will
become a truly unnerving revelation.
Backtrack is a ghost story of sorts, but at its
core, the film is a highly internalised story of
a man thrown up against his own emotions,
his own inner demons, perhaps manifesting
as tortured apparitions, or perhaps fuelling an
unwelcome opening in himself to another level
of perceiving the pain and grief that surrounds
him on a daily basis. Whichever it is, the film
merely suggests the possibility and leaves the
audience to interpret the events as they unfold
through our own filters.
The story truly shifts gears into an engaging,
gripping mystery once a teenaged girl named
Elizabeth Valentine shows up outside Bowers
practice, unable or unwilling to speak. This
sets Bowers off on a mission to understand
driven by his own lack of certainty.
From here, the energy and pacing of the film
picks up and never lets the viewer go. — TK
DVDs courtesy:
Saqr Entertainment Stores, Doha
Thursday, May 26, 2016
GULF TIMES
17
COMMUNITY
BOLLYWOOD
Uriyadi features
voice-over of
Arvind Swami
Actor Arvind Swami has briefly
lent his voice for forthcoming Tamil
action-thriller Uriyadi, which
releases in cinemas tomorrow.
“In the beginning of the film,
Arvind sir has given voice-over. It’s
approximately for about 30 seconds
but his lines are very crucial from
the perspective of the story. When
we approached him with the
request, he was more than willing
to support us,” film’s director Vijay
Kumar told IANS.
Tipped to be a realistic action
entertainer, the film features
mostly newcomers apart from
actors such as Mime Gopi and
Sivakumar. The film is co-produced
by Sameer Bharat Ram and Nalan
Kumarasamy. – IANS
FAMILY FIRST: Aishwarya Rai Bachchan
Being a mom tops my
priority list: Aishwarya
A
ishwarya Rai Bachchan, who has a
daughter with husband and actor
Abhishek Bachchan, says she is
committed as an actress, but being a
mother tops her priority list.
After receiving a positive response from the
audience for her performance in the film Sarbjit,
the actress took on a special Twitter Q & A session
and interacted with her fans across the globe, read a
statement.
From film choices to personal anecdotes, the actress
answered a diverse range of questions sent by her
fans on Twitter through special video tweets. She
chose her favourite questions and answered them on
@SarbjitMovie. She also answered questions from
celebrities including Jackky Bhagnani, her Sarbjit costar Richa Chadha and Abhishek.
When a fan asked her which one is harder — to be a
mom or to be an actress? The mother of four-year-old
Aaradhya said: “Being a mom tops my priority list. I
am committed as an actor and it’s there for you to see.”
In fact, she even considers her “little Aradhya, our
angel” an inspiration. The former beauty queen shared
that as a lady, her mother is her biggest inspiration
and today, even her daughter.
Talking about Sarbjit, which tells the hard-hitting
story of an Indian farmer who was held captive and
eventually died in a Pakistan jail, she said that the film
found her. “It was meant to be. Would I like to do more
biopics? Yes...sure,” she added.
When she was asked about her father-in-law
and megastar Amitabh Bachchan’s reaction to her
performance in the film, she said: “Pa put his arm
around me and said ‘You did a very good job’. — IANS
Shraddha Kapoor’s special treat for OK Jaanu cast
Shraddha Kapoor treated the cast of her forthcoming film OK
Jaanu to a special feast. The actress brought ‘dabbas’ of home
cooked food for the team.
The team was pleasantly surprised when they got the chance
to relish all the dishes personally selected by Shraddha. “Our OK
Jaanu team is full of serious foodies so I really wanted to take food
from home for everyone. I felt really happy that all the dabbas
came back home empty,” Shraddha said in a statement.
A source from the sets also shared that the menu had both
vegetarian and non-vegetarian dishes. “There was home cooked
Maharashtrian-style mutton, fish curry, bharela bhindi and
pakoda kaddi. The entire team gorged on the yummy food,
absolutely loved it and couldn’t thank Shraddha enough for this
sweet gesture,” said the source.
OK Jaanu is a remake of the Tamil super hit OK Kanmani. The
original, which was helmed by Mani Ratnam, featured Dulquer
Salmaan and Nithya Menon in the lead. The Hindi version of the
film will also star Aditya Roy Kapoor.
OK Jaanu revolves around the lives of two young lovers and
depicts the issue of live-in relationships. It is slated to release on
January 13 next year. — IANS
HANDS FULL: Kamal Haasan
Kamal Haasan off to US for
shooting of Sabaash Naidu
Actor-filmmaker Kamal Haasan
left for Los Angeles to start regular
shooting of his upcoming trilingual
film Sabaash Naidu, which also
features his daughters Shruti Haasan
and Akshara Haasan.
“Off to LA with 3 bound scripts.
US team waits with sighs of relief.
Anymore delay would have ruined
all plans. All is wella for now (sic),”
Haasan wrote on Twitter page. To
be helmed by Rajeev Kumar, the film
is the spin-off of popular character
Balram Naidu from Haasan’s 2010
Tamil film Dasavatharam.
Also starring Brahmanandam,
Saurabh Shukla, Roger Narayanan
and Ramya Krishnan, the film will
be simultaneously shot in Tamil,
Telugu and Hindi.
While the Telugu and Tamil
versions are titled Sabaash Naidu,
the Hindi version is titled Sabaash
Kundu. In the film, Shruti will play
Haasan’s daughter, while Akshara
will assist Rajeev Kumar. Slated to
release on December 1 in all the three
languages, the film has music by
maestro Ilayaraja. — IANS
Nayanthara turns producer
with a woman-centric film
Actress Nayanthara, who is currently busy
with films in Tamil and Telugu, will don the
producer’s hat with upcoming yet-untitled
Tamil project, which will feature her in the
role of a collector. “It’s an out-and-out
woman-centric project. Nayanthara was
so excited when she heard the script that
she decided to produce it under her own
banner. She plays a district collector in the
film, which will go on the floors in a couple of
months,” a source told IANS.
The project will be helmed by Jagan,
an erstwhile assistant of filmmaker A R
Murugadoss. While the other details of the
project are heavily guarded, it is learnt that
Nayanthara will be essaying a very powerful
character. Meanwhile, Nayanthara is busy
shooting for a yet-untitled Tamil thriller
and Telugu romantic comedy aceMaruthi”.
— IANS
COLLABORATION: Salman Khan, left, and Kabir Khan.
Salman to shoot first
schedule of Kabir Khan’s
next in Ladakh
After delivering two blockbuster
hits in Ek Tha Tiger and Bajrangi
Bhaijaan with Salman Khan,
director Kabir Khan says the first
schedule of his next film with the
superstar will be filmed in Ladakh.
Without revealing much details
about the film, Kabir said: “I can’t
talk much about it, but all I can tell
you is the fact that we will start
shooting in July. And I will shoot
my first schedule in Ladakh,”.
It is the third time that the two
are teaming up for a film and for
his next untitled project with
the Dabangg star, Kabir will be
exploring an Indo-China backdrop.
Presently, Salman is awaiting the
release of his much anticipated film
Sultan. Produced by Aditya Chopra,
the film is slated to release on Eid
this year. — IANS
18 GULF TIMES Thursday, May 26, 2016
COMMUNITY
HOLLYWOOD
It’s all adding up for former
child star Danica McKellar
challenging because I was in
physical pain. I was afraid. You get
up there and are about to dance in
front of 15mn people, and it’s live,
and you don’t know if your rib’s
going to stay with you. I was in so
much pain. That was one of the
hardest times in my life.”
By Luaine Lee
F
or years people would tap
Danica McKellar on the
shoulder and ask, “Aren’t
you that little girl on The
Wonder Years?”
Though she WAS that little girl on
The Wonder Years, all that changed
in an instant. After six seasons on
the popular show, McKellar was
ready for college.
“I took four years off to attend
UCLA,” she says. “My plan was to be
a film major because I loved acting
and had been doing it for so long, I
thought I should learn the rest of it.
“And I took a maths class as part
of my general requirements. It was a
calculus course which wasn’t really
required, but I’d been in AP calculus
in high school, and I was intimidated
by the idea for some reason even
though I’d done well in high school. I
was buying into the stereotype,” she
says, seated in a restaurant here in
Pasadena, California, the clatter of
breakfast cutlery in the background.
“But I took the plunge and did
it and fell completely in love with
mathematics. I was floored at how
well I was doing and couldn’t believe
that I thought I wouldn’t be able
to do it and was at the top of my
class from the first test,” she says,
ordering eggs without the hashbrowns.
“And I really gained an identity
for myself and self-worth that
was completely separate from
Hollywood, which was so important
for me.”
She went on to earn the highest
score in her class of 163 people on
her mid-term. “The scores were on
the board. The high score was 22,
which was mine, the rest were 15 and
below,” she says.
“This one day someone tapped
me on the shoulder and said, ‘Excuse
me, aren’t you that girl who got the
22?’ It hit me. ‘Oh, my goodness.
This is me. THIS is me, not a
combination of sound effects and
music and lighting and a great script
and all the rest of it. This is really
me. And it was intoxicating. I knew
I needed to go down that path and
take a break from Hollywood and
find myself.”
She even managed a coup that
rarely happens in the field of
mathematics. She contributed
to original research that proved a
new theorem. “So I have a theorem
named after me, which is something
you usually do when you’re getting
your Ph.D. After I got my bachelor’s
of science, I missed acting and
I missed communicating with
people.”
While she enjoyed the research,
she felt isolated, she says.
“I really missed acting. At
The Highwaymen on the road
again
PBS’ American Masters usually
confines itself to one master per
programme. But tomorrow it will
feature four of them. Known as
America’s first “supergroup,” the
Highwaymen included country
music greats Johnny Cash, Kris
Kristofferson, Willie Nelson and
Waylon Jennings. In Emmywinner Jim Brown’s documentary
we can see what all the shouting
was about. Time is spent on the
uniqueness of each individual and
how they blended so perfectly
together. The show displays vintage
film, current interviews with folk
who knew them and Nelson and
Kristofferson themselves. Even if
you don’t like country music, this
is a fascinating study of those who
do. As “American Masters” always
does, it has awkwardly titled the
show: American Masters — The
Highwaymen: Friends to the End.
THAT LITTLE GIRL: Danica McKellar
that point I’d already joined the
Shakespeare group on campus. I was
doing plays and stuff and I really
wanted to get back to it.”
It took her three years to land a
part, a juicy role in The West Wing,
but she’s definitely baaaaaack.
McKellar, 41, is starring in her
second Hallmark movie, Wedding
Bells, part of the network’s June
weddings series, premiering June 3.
And, no, she doesn’t play the
bride. Though she’s been a bride
twice (she and her first husband
divorced when her 5 year-old son
was one and half ) McKellar plays the
maid of honour who colludes with
the best man to save a wedding that
is about to go under.
But McKellar hasn’t forgotten
Pythagoras. In 2000 she addressed
Congress about the importance of
women in mathematics, and five
years later she was approached
about writing a book on the subject.
“I did a lot of research at the time
and discovered that sixth grade —
middle school — is the time when
girls’ confidence in maths starts
to drop. That was the time when it
needed to be targeted, so I thought,
‘Yes, I want to write a book for
middle-school girls to show them
that they are smart, capable, and
they should strive to be these things
through mathematics.” That’s how
her first book, Math Doesn’t Suck,
was born.
“I recommend to ANY actor: have
something else that you also love
that you also do that makes money.
For me, it’s maths books because it
keeps you sane and keeps you from
needing the next job to happen at a
certain point. And you can choose;
you don’t have to take everything
that comes to you,” says McKellar,
whose wearing a black-and-white
print dress, a red shawl draped
across her shoulders and red highheeled pumps. Two years ago she
faced another arduous challenge.
She appeared on Dancing with the
Stars, breaking a rib in the process.
“It was pretty humiliating
because I was sobbing, and that
made it on national television. It’s
one thing to cry as a character, it’s
another one when it’s really me. I
was embarrassed and didn’t want
to be weak. Didn’t want to lose like
that. I kept dancing for two more
weeks after that,” she says.
She refused pain killers and tried
all manner of holistic treatments.
Sighing, she says, “It was very
History goes barbaric
The History Channel is planning
on doing what it does best: history,
with its docu-drama series,
Barbarians Uprising. The new
series, which premieres on June 6,
will tell the story of the triumphant
Roman Empire from the Barbarians’
point of view. Anyone who was not
a Roman citizen was considered a
Barbarian, and the Romans ruled
these outsiders with draconian zest.
But freedom proved more precious
and many of these mighty warriors
rose up against the ruling power.
Done in four parts, each one two
hours long, Barbarians Uprising will
reveal history from the alternative
view.
Fox to spin-off two movies
Fox promises some super shows
for the fall, including two movie
spin-offs, six new dramas, and
three comedies. Billy Friedkin’s
terrifying The Exorcist will earn a
makeover to more modern times.
This time two very different
priests will battle the demon that
infiltrates a family’s peaceful life.
The series brings Geena Davis
(Thelma and Louise) back to the
tube, along with Alfonso Herrera
(The Chosen) and Ben Daniels (Flesh
and Bone). Fox’s version of Lethal
Weapon teams Damon Wayans (In
Living Color) with Clayne Crawford
(Rectify) as the two cops fighting
the criminal element in divergent
ways. — TNS
Thursday, May 26, 2016
GULF TIMES 19
COMMUNITY
HOLLYWOOD
Paris Jackson gets new
Michael Jackson tattoo
Paris Jackson, daughter of the
late pop star Michael Jackson, has
got a new tattoo in honour of the
music legend. Paris, who was just
11 years old when Michael died,
shared a photograph of her latest
body ink on Instagram. She got a
tattoo of the cover art of Michael’s
famous album Dangerous on her
arm, reports mirror.co.uk. It
features his eyes and a collection
of animals. “The meaning of life is
contained in every single expression
of life. It is present in the infinity
of forms and phenomena that exist
in all of creation,” Paris captioned
the image. “Never forget your roots,
and always be proud of where you
came from,” she added. — IANS
TRIBUTE: Paris Jackson
Helen Hunt was mistaken
for Jodie Foster
GOOD SAMARITAN: Brad Pitt
Brad Pitt rescues
fan in nick of time
A
ctor Brad Pitt has been hailed as a hero after
saving a young girl from being crushed by a
crowd of film lovers who had assembled to
watch filming of his latest movie, Allied. Pitt
rushed to her rescue as a huge crowd gathered
to watch him shoot in Las Palmas, the capital of Gran
Canaria in the Spanish Canary Islands, reports mirror.
co.uk.
The drama unfolded when hundreds of fans rushed
forward to take photographs and selfies of Pitt, who
plays intelligence officer Max Vatan embarking on a risky
mission behind enemy lines in Allied. Spanish newspaper
Canarias7.es reported the girl was in danger of being
crushed against a security barrier but no one noticed,
except Pitt, who leaped into action and helped her.
He grabbed hold of the girl and with the help of
his bodyguards, lifted her to safety and on to the road
before making sure she was safe and well with her
mother. Shooting of the film, set in World War II,
started in London but the entire crew has travelled out
to the Canaries for scenes in both Gran Canaria and
neighbouring Fuerteventura. – IANS
I have never been out
of work: Ian McKellen
Kate Beckinsale wants to
regain her old life
Award-winning British actor Ian McKellen,
who is famously known for playing Gandalf
in the Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit film
franchises, says he has he never felt that he had
been out of work in his career. McKellen had a
candid conversation with Bollywood superstar
Aamir Khan on literary legend Shakespeare
and his global influence on film, art and culture
at the debut launch of the MAMI Film Club
at National Centre for the Performing Arts
(NCPA) evening in the Indian city of Mumbai.
When Aamir asked him if he ever faced
a rough patch in his career, McKellen said:
“I have never felt that I have never been out
of work. I have taken job which other actors
wouldn’t do”.
Twice nominated for the Oscar, and
recipient of every major theatrical award in UK
and US, McKellen says the stage is his “home”.
“When I come to stage I feel it is home. Some
have stage fright, but I feel one has to get inside
the character,” he said. — IANS
Actress Kate Beckinsale is
looking forward to reclaiming her
old life when her daughter goes to
university. The London-born star
thinks she will have more spare time
to “resume” the life she enjoyed
before giving birth to her daughter
Lily in 1999, with her now exhusband Michael Sheen, reports
femalefirst.co.uk.
“Now my daughter is going to be
at university, that will be completely
possible again. I will be able to spend
more time in England,” Beckinsale
told the Sunday Times newspaper.
“As much as you’re going, $$%%,
how am I going to bear it? My
daughter is going to college,’ there’s
another voice that kind of goes,
‘I’ll be excited to resume being the
person I was before,” she added.
The Pearl Harbor actress also
CANDID: Ian McKellen
IDENTITY ISSUES: Helen Hunt
Rebel Wilson to star in
romantic comedy
Pitch Perfect actor Rebel Wilson
is set to star in an untitled romantic
comedy for New Line Cinema.
Producers are Todd Garner, Grant
Scharbo and Gina Matthews. The
studio and producers are seeking a
director for the film, reports variety.
com.
Erin Cardillo wrote the original
script about a cynical young woman
Actress Helen Hunt was mistaken
for Jodie Foster at Starbucks and
shared the story in a funny tweet.
The As Good As It Gets actress
revealed that her barista mixed her
up with the Money Monster director
when she placed her order, reports
femalefirst.co.uk.
“Ordered my drink at
Starbucks... Asked the barista if
she wanted my name. She winked
and said, ‘We got it... Jodie Foster’,”
Hunt wrote. She also shared an
image of a cup with the name
“Jody” written on it. This is not
the first time Helen, 52, has been
mistaken for 53-year-old Foster. In
1994, she told chat show host David
Letterman about how people often
confused her with the star. — IANS
who doesn’t believe in love and
then wakes up one day to discover
that her life has become a romantic
comedy. Dana Fox and Katie
Silberman rewrote the script.
Wilson starred in both Pitch
Perfect movies and is also attached
for the upcoming Pitch Perfect 3.
The Australian actress has also
starred in films like Bridesmaids,
How to Be Single, Grimsby and the
upcoming Absolutely Fabulous
Movie. — IANS
TURNING OVER A NEW LEAF: Kate Beckinsale
spoke about the “ideal phase” of her
life. “My ideal phase (in my life) was
when Michael (Sheen) and I were
hopping back and forth, going, ‘It’s
a bit grey and miserable in London.
Should we go to Los Angeles for a
couple of months?’ Then going,
‘Had enough of that. Let’s go back
and go to the theatre’,” Beckinsale
said.
“That was ideal. It didn’t last long
but it was ideal,” she added. — IANS
20 GULF TIMES Thursday, May 26, 2016
COMMUNITY
ITEX medallist sets sights
on more medical inventions
By Anand Holla
A
t the 27th edition of
ITEX, one of the largest
invention exhibitions
in the world, earlier
this month, Qatarbased Indian expat Mohamed
Shakir bagged the Gold medal for
his ingenious invention – a lifesaving seizure prediction device that
certainly glitters a lot more brightly
than any gold.
A showcase of the finest inventions
from Asia and Europe and featuring
bright minds from more than
20 countries, the 27th edition of
ITEX (International Invention &
Innovation Exhibition) at Kuala
Lumpur, Malaysia, awarded Shakir
the Gold medal in the category of
Innovative Product Design and
Invention for his portable and precise
Seizure Prediction Wearable Gadget.
While this is big news for Shakir,
the accolades and acclaim are
certainly not new. After graduating
with Bachelor of Technology from
Calicut University-MES College
of Engineering, Kerala, Shakir
continued his studies at Washington
University in the US, where he gained
a Master’s of Science. He then went
on to earn a PhD from Petronas
University, Malaysia, in Electrical
Engineering.
Shakir has published more than
30 international scientific research
papers and journals in areas such as
robotics, human-robot interaction,
biomedical systems, and so on. His
areas of expertise include innovation,
research, business intelligence,
programming, embedded product
development, electronic product
design, IIoT, IoT, Artificial
Intelligence, automation, virtual
reality and image processing.
His list of accomplishments are
lengthy but worth mentioning. He
has filed five patents, has been a TED
Talk speaker, winner of the PANArab Microsoft Imagine Cup 2014,
and a mentor for the World Microsoft
Imagine Cup for the development
of Gladiator Robotic System. He
has also invented the well-received
Heart Attack Prediction Wearable
Gadget. Using innovative technology,
Mohamed has also helped people
with learning and physical
challenges. This includes training
sessions, wearable gadgets, robots
and many other devices.
Since 2014, Shakir has worked as
an IT Skills Development Manager
at Qatar Airways, before which he
was a Research Faculty at Qatar
University for five years. He has
worked as a Robotics Engineer for the
government of Qatar and as a Project
Engineer at Wipro Technologies,
India. In addition, he has worked as
a consultant at MADA-ICT Qatar,
GOLD STANDARD: Mohamed Shakir shows the gadget he created, at ITEX 2016.
Qatar Scientific Club, Texas A&M QF,
QSTP, EADS-Airbus, QMIC amongst
others. Community caught up with
Shakir for a quick chat.
How did you come up with the
idea for this seizure prediction
device? Also, why did you feel the
need to make it?
Few years back, I came across a
news story of a baby’s death in the
US due to a sudden seizure suffered
by the baby’s mother while she
was holding the baby. This story
made me think about the issue of
seizures, find out more and find a
solution for it. Epilepsy is a chronic
non-communicable disorder of
the brain that affects people of
all ages. Approximately 50mn
people worldwide have epilepsy,
making it one of the most common
neurological diseases globally. Nearly
80% of the people with epilepsy
live in low- and middle-income
countries. People with epilepsy
respond to treatment approximately
70% of the time. About threefourths of people with epilepsy
living in low- and middle- income
countries do not get the treatment
they need. In many parts of the
world, people with epilepsy and
their families suffer from stigma and
discrimination. This made me feel
that there is a big need for a seizure
prediction device for people.
What sort of challenges did
you encounter in creating this
device?
My main challenges when building
this product were cost efficiency,
reliability and accuracy. After five
years of testing, research, hard work
The wearable system.
and determination, I was able to
build it with a price tag of less than
USD100 with an accuracy of more
than 97%, and prediction duration
for up to before three minutes
of actual seizure in the patient,
which I’d say is a breakthrough in
biomedical engineering. My next big
challenge will be to make this product
for the patients around the world.
How will this Gold prize
change things for the better for
your invention and for your
future innovations?
This Gold Medal in the category
of Innovative Product Design
and Invention at ITEX 2016, is
definitely an inspiration and
honour for the hard work and
pain I have gone through to turn
my dream into a reality. This also
motivated me a lot to push my
boundaries, keep on moving and
to aim for bigger – for the Nobel
Prize, maybe.
How do you plan to make this
product accessible to the public?
Currently, the business plan is to
manufacture this wearable gadget
in China with all the ethical and
federal approval needed launch to the
market. Hopefully, by mid-2017, we
can put it out there for a price tag less
than USD100.
Will you keep trying to invent
interesting products in the
future?
Yes, of course. I have already
started working on developing a
diabetes prevention device. I’m also
setting up a vision for building an
eco-system for pure energy.