gulf times

2
GULF TIMES Monday, May 2, 2016
COMMUNITY
ROUND & ABOUT
PRAYER TIME
Fajr
Shorooq (sunrise)
Zuhr (noon)
Asr (afternoon)
Maghreb (sunset)
Isha (night)
3.36am
4.58am
11.31am
3.00pm
6.06pm
7.37pm
USEFUL NUMBERS
Emergency
999
Worldwide Emergency Number
112
Kahramaa – Electricity and Water
991
Ooredoo Telephone Assistance
111
Local Directory
180
International Calls Enquires
150
Time
141, 140
Doha International Airport
40106666
Labor Department
44508111, 44406537
Medical Commission
44679111
Mowasalat Taxi
44588888
Qatar Airways
44496000
Weather Forecast
44656590
Hamad Medical Corporation
44392222
44393333
Qatar General Electricity and
Water Corporation
44845555
44845464
Primary Health Care Corporation
44593333
44593363
Qatar Assistive Technology
Centre
44594050
Qatar News Agency
44450205
44450333
Q-Post – General Postal
Corporation
44464444
Qatar University
44033333
Midnight Special
GENRE: Adventure, Drama
CAST: Michael Shannon, Joel Edgerton, Kirsten Dunst
DIRECTION: Jeff Nichols
SYNOPSIS: In the sci-fi thriller Midnight Special, writer/
director Jeff Nichols proves again that he is one of the most
compelling storytellers of our time. As a father (Michael
Shannon) goes on the run to protect his young son, Alton
(Jaeden Lieberher), and uncover the truth behind the boy’s
special powers. They are pursued by the government and a
cult drawn to the child’s special powers.
THEATRES: The Mall, Royal Plaza
ote Unquote
u
Q
One important key to
success is self-confidence.
An important key to selfconfidence is preparation.
— Arthur Ashe
Community Editor
Kamran Rehmat
e-mail: community@gulf-times.com
Telephone: 44466405
Fax: 44350474
Manithan
GENRE: Comedy, Drama
CAST: Udhayanidhi Stalin, Hansika Motwani, Prakash Raj
DIRECTION: I Ahmed
SYNOPSIS: The film tells the story of a small-time
Mall Cinema (1): Top Cat Begins
(2D) 11.45pm; Take Down (2D)
1.30pm; Top Cat Begins (2D) 3.30pm;
Mother’s Day (2D) 5pm; Kangar
Hoppiena (Arabic) 7pm; Midnight
Special (2D) 9pm; Manithan (Tamil)
11.
Mall Cinema (2): Baaghi (Hindi)
11.30am; Dhay Fe Abu Dhabi (Arabic)
2pm; The Jungle Book (2D) 4.15 &
6.15pm; Baaghi (Hindi) 8.30 & 11pm.
Mall Cinema (3): The Jungle Book
(2D) 11.30am; Kali (Malayalam)
1.15pm; Hijrat (Urdu) 3.30pm;
lawyer who fights a case against a top lawyer. Manithan is
a Tamil courtroom-drama, and is a remake of the 2013
blockbuster Hindi movie Jolly LLB.
THEATRES: Royal Plaza, The Mall
Synchronicity (2D) 5.45pm; I
Am Wrath (2D) 7.45pm; Kangar
Hoppiena (Arabic) 9.30pm; Green
Room (2D) 11.30pm.
Royal Plaza Cinema Palace (1):
The Jungle Book (2D) 11.30am;
Top Cat Begins (2D) 1.30 & 3.15pm;
The Jungle Book (2D) 5pm; Baaghi
(Hindi) 6.45pm; Kangar Hoppiena
(Arabic) 9.15pm; Baaghi (Hindi)
11.15pm.
Royal Plaza Cinema Palace (2):
Take Down (2D) 11am; Green Room
(2D) 1pm; Dhay Fe Abu Dhabi
(Arabic) 3pm; Midnight Special (2D)
5.15pm; The Jungle Book (2D) 7.15pm;
I Am Wrath (2D) 9.15pm; Kangar
Hoppiena (Arabic) 11.30pm.
Royal Plaza Cinema Palace (3):
Synchronicity (2D) 11.45am; Mother’s
Day (2D) 1.45pm; I Am Wrath (2D)
3.45pm; Kangar Hoppiena (Arabic)
5.30pm; I Am Wrath (2D) 7.30pm;
Midnight Special (2D) 9.15pm; Take
Down (2D) 11.30pm.
Monday, May 2, 2016
Conference on Education
DATE: May 7-8
VENUE: Qatar National Convention
Centre
The conference aims to provide an
opportunity for education experts,
academics, and researchers in various
educational fields to exchange knowledge,
information, experiences and researches, in
addition to learning more about the latest
developments and updates in the field of
education.
Al Meyna Competition
DATE: Until May 7
VENUE: Katara beach 1
Keen to revive the heritage of ancestors
and keep it in the minds of new generations,
the Cultural Village Foundation — Katara
is launching the third edition of Al Meyna
Competition, a diving contest for Qatari
children aged between 10 to 14 years. The
parent’s approval is required. For inquiries,
please call at: 55338633.
Swiss Week
DATE: May 3- 5
TIME: 6:30 pm
VENUE: Hyatt
Get ready for a proper Swiss experience
from 3 to 5 May, 6:30 pm until 11:30 pm,
starting with a folk music band flown all
the way from Switzerland followed by the
best fondue, raclette and rösti prepared by
guest Swiss chef Heinz Rufibach. Book your
table and savour an authentic Swiss buffet
priced at QR250 per person. Call 77982400
for bookings and enquiries.
Qatar Internship Fair
DATE: May 4-7
TIME: 10am
VENUE: The Gate Mall
Get ready for Qatar’s first ever
Professional Networking and Internship
Fair at The Gate Mall! Are you a young
professional between the ages of 16 and 29
looking for experience and credit towards
your education or trying to bolster your
CV? Are you a company looking to meet
your next all star employee or get to know
other businesses? The Qatar Internship Fair
2016 is the place to make it happen.
Let’s Swim for a Cause
DATE: May 6
TIME: 8am
VENUE: Sharq Village and Spa
Swim for a Cause on May 6, 2016/Friday
from 8am, partnered with Six Senses Spa
and Qatar Charity. All proceedings will go
towards providing safe drinking water for
those who need it. Whether you want to
give your casual strokes some real purpose,
or make the miles you swim count for a
cause close to your heart, Swim 500m or
1000m and see the real impact of your
actions on your personal giving footprint.
3
COMMUNITY
ROUND & ABOUT
EVENTS
GULF TIMES
Register now to start making all the miles
you cover, time you spend in the pool and
calories you burn in the process count for
humanity.
QSports Summer Camp
DATE: June 19-Sept1
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.
IDdesign
DATE: Until May 6
Meet a designer from IDdesign for spring
renovation ideas and give your home a
fresh, new look. Face-to-face consultations
are available throughout the month free
of charge. Book now! E-mail marcom@
equinox.com.qa to secure your spot.
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 are 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.
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.
Chinese Silk Art
DATE: Until May 9
VENUE: QM Gallery in Katara
The second major exhibition of the
Qatar China 2016 Year of Culture, ‘Silks
from the Silk Road – Chinese Art of Silk’,
presents silk as a theme, and as a special
local product of Zhejiang that played an
important role in trade along the Silk Road.
The exhibition highlights ancient and
modern Chinese silk works, with around
100 pieces due to be showcased at the QM
Gallery in Katara over a period of 6 weeks.
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.
Cultural Diversity festival
DATE: Until May 31
TIME: 7:30-9pm
VENUE: Katara Beach
Over 20 countries from all over the
world are showcasing their traditions and
heritage.
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
RESTAURANT: Zaoq Restaurant
LOCATION: Salwa Road
The restaurant is located on Salwa Road
and is clean, stylish and decorated with class
and comfort. It is divided into 2 floors —
the ground floor which has a great view of
the chef’s kitchen and a second which was
perfect for families or private functions.
Compiled by Nausheen Shaikh. E-mail: gtlisting@gmail.com, Events and timings subject to change
4
GULF TIMES Monday, May 2, 2016
COMMUNITY
COVER STORY
What drives Chan(ge)
While Zuckerberg is a prominent player among Silicon Valley’s tech elite and his life story is
widely known, Chan rarely talks publicly about how her personal story has helped shaped
the couple’s multimillion-dollar donations to schools and hospitals, writes Queenie Wong
EXTRAORDINARY: The Mr & Mrs have pledged to donate 99 percent of their Facebook fortune. The announcement followed the birth of their daughter Max.
P
riscilla Chan remembers
seeing blood all over the
boy’s face, a sign he had
gotten jumped in his own
neighbourhood. For the
first time, just looking at someone
else hurt.
Chan, then a Harvard student
and now a Bay Area philanthropist,
paediatrician, mother and wife
of Facebook co-founder Mark
Zuckerberg, was mentoring the
child in an after-school programme
meant to quell gang violence in
Boston’s Dorchester neighbourhood.
Yet stellar tutoring and field trips
to football fields and skating rinks
couldn’t cure the student’s woes.
“I realised that my homework help
was going to be completely futile if
these kids couldn’t be healthy, safe
and happy in the place that they
lived,” a teary-eyed Chan told the San
Jose Mercury News in a rare interview.
“That really drives a lot of what I
decided to do in my life and career.”
Chan is the private face of the
Seeing a kid with blood on his face because he got
jumped was the first time Chan felt visceral pain
for someone else, but it wouldn’t be the last. She
remembered searching for a girl who had missed days
of school. When Chan found her in a park, she noticed
the child’s front teeth were missing, another memory
that brought tears to her eyes
philanthropic couple, working
quietly behind the scenes. While
Zuckerberg is a prominent player
among Silicon Valley’s tech elite and
his life story is widely known, Chan
rarely talks publicly about how her
personal story has helped shaped
the couple’s multimillion-dollar
donations to schools and hospitals.
Wealth and power used to
be foreign to Chan, the child of
immigrant parents who fled Vietnam
on refugee boats in the 1970s and
never went to college.
Now Chan and her husband have
invested hundreds of millions of
dollars to improve education and
healthcare for children, including
in the Bay Area. They have vowed to
donate 99 percent of their Facebook’s
shares — worth more than $45 billion
— to charitable causes.
And Chan, a former teacher, has
taken it a step further. In October
she announced she was founding
and would be CEO of The Primary
School, which will link health care
and education for 50 Bay Area
families when it opens this fall.
Teaming up with the Ravenswood
Family Health Center, the free school,
serving students from pre-K to
eighth grade, will provide services
from mental health to prenatal care
for students and their families. The
private school is funded by Chan
and Zuckerberg, but they have
not disclosed how much they are
pumping into the effort.
Suddenly Chan, a San Francisco
General paediatrician who has largely
shied away from public attention,
found herself in the spotlight as the
doctor spearheading change for some
of the Bay Area’s most disadvantaged
children.
It wasn’t one defining moment,
but rather a series of experiences,
that would lead Chan on a journey
back to education, to a place between
the classroom and doctor’s office.
While Chan was growing up in
Quincy, Massachusetts, her family
stressed the importance of school
and hard work as the keys to a life
better than the one the ChineseVietnamese refugees left behind.
But even in a place nicknamed the
“Birthplace of the American Dream,”
Chan knew her upbringing was
different from those of other children
raised in the Irish Catholic town.
“My identity, I felt, was so distinct.
I felt very much like an outsider. My
family didn’t have the same rituals
that everyone else seemed to have,”
she said.
At Quincy High School, Chan’s
teachers helped fill in the gaps.
Monday, May 2, 2016
5
COMMUNITY
COVER STORY
Peter Swanson, her science teacher
and tennis coach, remembered Chan
asking if joining the tennis team
could help get her into a college like
Harvard. It wouldn’t hurt, he told
her, along with straight A’s, advanced
courses and high SAT scores. Voted
“class genius,” Chan wasn’t a
naturally gifted tennis player but
worked hard to improve her reflexes
on the court.
She became the captain of the
tennis and robotics teams and
graduated at the top of her class
in 2003. Sure enough, Chan got
accepted to Harvard early. “Teachers
can inspire students, but students
can inspire teachers,” Swanson said.
“She was an inspiration.”
In her valedictorian speech, Chan
quoted Dr. Seuss’ “Oh, the Places
You’ll Go!” She shared lessons she
learned from travelling to Europe,
China, Korea and Hong Kong with
her grandmother, who she called
“Mama.” At Harvard, surrounded by
brick buildings, libraries and bronze
sculptures, Chan saw the wealth
of opportunities an Ivy League
education could bring, the doors it
could swing wide open.
But Chan felt out of place — even
more than she did growing up
Asian-American in Quincy. She
felt as though she had gotten to the
college by chance. Doubt crept into
her mind, but so did the desire to give
back.
“These opportunities for sure were
not available to many of the people I
grew up with,” Chan said.
So she went to the Phillips Brooks
House Association, a student-run
nonprofit at Harvard, and signed
up for the Franklin Afterschool
Enrichment programme. Volunteers
met at the front of Lamont Library,
taking buses to the Franklin Hill and
Franklin Field public housing units
in Dorchester, where they tutored
and mentored children. Initially a
summer youth programme for the
children of Harvard University’s
dining hall workers in the 1980s, it
later expanded to serve the housing
projects after a surge of gang violence
in the 1990s.
Seeing a kid with blood on his
face because he got jumped was the
first time Chan felt visceral pain for
someone else, but it wouldn’t be the
last. She remembered searching for
a girl who had missed days of school.
When Chan found her in a park,
she noticed the child’s front teeth
were missing, another memory that
brought tears to her eyes.
It was at Harvard that Chan met
Zuckerberg while waiting in line for
the bathroom at a fraternity party.
The couple married in 2012 in the
backyard of their Palo Alto home in
a wedding disguised as a graduation
party.
After earning her biology degree
from Harvard in 2007, Chan spent
a school year teaching fourth- and
fifth-grade science at The Harker
School, a private college preparatory
school in San Jose.
“Those kids were completely
different than the kids that I taught
in the after-school programme,”
said Chan, who will be the keynote
speaker at Harker’s graduation this
year. “But kids, in general, have
common grounds and common
foundations that they need to build.”
East Palo Alto, a disadvantaged,
GULF TIMES
racially diverse city of about 29,000
people, stands out among the
wealthy and educated tech enclaves
of Silicon Valley. Only a small
percentage of students go on to earn
a bachelor’s degree, and 16.6 percent
of the city’s residents are living in
poverty. Much like the low-income
housing units that Chan worked in
during college, the city has a history
of gang violence and in 1992 had the
nation’s highest murder rate. Since
then, East Palo Alto has become
safer, with violent crimes dropping
64 percent from 2013 to 2014, a
federal crime report shows.
Inspired by working with kids in
the after-school programme and as
a paediatrician, Chan started quietly
working on The Primary School while
she was a resident at the University of
California at San Francisco. As part
of the Pediatric Leadership for the
Underserved program, residents had
to complete a project, but Chan had
her sights on a task that was far more
ambitious — opening a new school.
“It was incredible what she pulled
off. Being a resident and working
that sort of arduous schedule is
taxing in and of itself,” said Dr
Meg McNamara, a mentor in the
programme who worked with Chan.
McNamara said Chan has a knack for
seeing the big picture but keeping an
eye on the details — understanding
the larger impact of a child’s life
outside of the doctor’s office.
In an office space already filled
with bursts of bright colours, The
Primary School’s logo — a hand
with a heart in its palm — jumps out.
Incorporated into the logo are images
that represent the school’s five
values: excellence, growth, courage,
community and soul.
Chan, who gave birth to her first
child — a daughter — in late 2015,
knows education reform can’t wait.
“Before I had Max, I had all these
experiences that gave me what I felt
like was a strong empathy for how
important it is for children to have all
these opportunities and how much
families want to invest and want the
best for their kids,” Chan said. “But
after I had Max, I feel that every day.”
Facebook shares through the Chan
Zuckerberg Initiative. —The Mercury
News (San Jose, California)
HEROES: On the cover of TIME Magazine.
Priscilla Chan at a glance
Feb. 24, 1985: Born in Braintree, Mass.
1999-2003: Attended Quincy High School,
graduated in 2003 as class valedictorian
2003-07: Attended Harvard University,
graduated with a bachelor’s in biology
August 2007-June 2008: Worked as a
science teacher for fourth- and fifth-graders at
The Harker School in San Jose, California
2008-12: Attended medical school at the
University of California at San Francisco,
graduated in May 2012
2008-12: Medical residency at UCSF
Children’s Hospital
Nov. 26, 2009: With partner Mark
Zuckerberg, committed $5 million to UCSF
Children’s Hospital
September 2010: Co-founded Startup:
Education with a $100 million commitment to
improve schools in Newark, N.J.
May 19, 2012: Married Zuckerberg
Dec. 12, 2012: Couple committed 18
million Facebook shares to the Silicon Valley
Community Foundation
May 29, 2014: Couple committed $120
million to improve schools in the Bay Area
Feb. 6, 2015: Couple donated $75 million to
the San Francisco General Hospital. The name
of the hospital was later changed to the Priscilla
Chan and Mark Zuckerberg San Francisco
General Hospital and Trauma Center.
June 30, 2015: Completed medical residency
at San Francisco General Hospital
Oct. 22, 2015: Announced The Primary
School
Nov. 2015: Gave birth to daughter Max
Dec. 1, 2015: Couple pledged to give away 99
percent of their Facebook fortune
6
GULF TIMES Monday, May 2, 2016
COMMUNITY
LOOKING FOR PERMANENT HOME: Paws Rescue Qatar has cats and dogs for adoption.
Photos by Paws Rescue Qatar
Helping four-legged friends
Paws Rescue Qatar is organising a triathlon to raise funds to help with its operations
of rescuing and finding permanent home for abandoned cats and dogs.
By Umer Nangiana
P
aws Rescue Qatar is organising
its first-ever triathlon, inviting
athletes to compete in different
swimming, cycling, running and
crossfit categories.
The inaugural event, Pant for Paws 2016,
will be championed and led by Live Life
Crossfit and will be supported by a number
of other crossfit boxes and gyms in Doha. A
beach triathlon consisting of three stages over
three hours duration will be competed in two
categories, individual and pairs.
At the event, to be held on May 20 at
Intercontinental Doha, all athletes will be
split into three random groups and assigned a
starting stage. They will be given 50 minutes
to complete that stage where they will then
all rotate to the next stage, whether they have
successfully completed or not.
There are two rotations, thus giving all
participants the opportunity to complete
all stages. In Stage 1 which is Sea Swim,
participants will have 50 minutes to complete
as many rounds of the designated circuit as
possible. For pairs, one athlete will swim while
the other rests.
In Stage 2, Indoor Cycle, 50 minutes will be
given to cycle the maximum distance. Each
athlete rides max 2 minutes, before switching
teammates. The total distance travelled will
Paws Rescue Qatar provides shelter to stray dogs and cats.
comprise their score.
The Stage 3 features Beach CrossFit,
where the participants will have 50 minutes
to complete as many rounds as possible of
designated CrossFit movements. The score
will be total rounds and reps completed after
50 minutes.
Each athlete/pair will be given a score after
completing each stage. The aim of the event
is to raise funds for the Paws Rescue Qatar,
which is in operation to rescue and re-home
stray and abandoned dogs and cats.
Paws is a non-profit animal shelter
dedicated to providing a safe haven to
homeless animals until they can be placed
in responsible, loving homes. They rely on
fund-raisers, volunteers and donations to
provide a safe home for all the animals at the
shelter.
It was co-founded by Emily and Alison by
fundraising for a couple of dogs that needed
expensive medical treatment; and finding
foster or forever homes for other stray dogs. As
the number of rescues increased, they formed
a committee with Caroline and Louis who had
initially helped as volunteers but became more
involved with the day-to-day running.
“We had the opportunity to develop our
activity along with a private property owned
by a Qatari dedicated to helping animals, and
it has seen us build our organisation amongst
the community whilst helping animals in
need as much as possible,” says Paws Rescue
Qatar.
They have dogs and cats of all ages, colours,
shapes and sizes all with different personalities
and temperaments, ready for adoption. Each
animal is assessed to find out what they are
like and what sort of home, lifestyle and
environment would suit them best.
Each and every animal is considered
individually and matched at point of interview
with the most suitable owner.
People can also volunteer with them
through different initiatives such as Lend a
Paw, which is a programme that covers all
actions and fundraising events organised/
attended by volunteers. It encompasses
everything — from being directly involved
with animal care, exercising, grooming,
socialising, or even fostering the animals.
People can also take a dog for a walk, away
from the kennel environment which is not
only about giving dogs a physical workout, but
also mental stimulation. In addition, a walk
is a wonderful opportunity to monitor how a
particular dog behaves on the leash and how he
reacts when he meets other dogs and people.
Monday, May 2, 2016
GULF TIMES
7
COMMUNITY
Four schools progress to
Qatar e-Nature Live finals
FOUR-WAY COMPETITION: A total of 48 students from 16 private and independent schools participated in the semi-finals.
F
our schools have qualified
for the finals of the Qatar
e-Nature Live Schools
Competition.
A total of 48 students
from 16 private and independent
schools participated in the semifinals, which took place the last
week at the Lagoon campus of
Newton International School (NIS).
Four teams made it through.
The finals and awards ceremony
will take place on Wednesday, May
11 under the patronage of HE Dr
Mohamed Abdul Wahed Ali alHammadi, Minister of Education
and Higher Education, at City
Centre Rotana Hotel.
The four schools that qualified
for the finals are: Abu Hanifa Model
Independent School for Boys, Al
Khansaa Primary Independent
School for Girls, Birla Public
School, and Newton International
School – Lagoon Campus.
The competitive spirit filled the
atmosphere during the semi-final
rounds. The questions were more
challenging, testing the teams’
critical thinking and showcasing
their knowledge about plant and
animal life of Qatar.
The qualifying schools have
already begun preparing for the
final rounds, all eager to win the
grand prize at the awards ceremony
this year. The awards will be
presented after the conclusion of
the final round of the competition.
The event’s organisers, high-profile
public figures and media personnel
are all expected to attend the
highly-anticipated event.
The Qatar e-Nature schools
contest is organised by Sasol, the
Ministry of Education and Higher
Education, and Friends of the
Environment Centre. This contest
allows students to actively learn
about Qatar’s beautiful and diverse
wildlife.
The user-friendly Qatar
e-Nature app is available for
download free of charge on Apple
App Store, Google Play store for
Android, Windows Phone Store and
on the website (www.enature.qa)
which is also available for desktop
access. Active Facebook, Twitter
and Instagram channels allow
users to keep tabs on the latest
developments. The application and
website is updated regularly, having
added nature reserves earlier this
year to further benefit users of the
application.
The competitive spirit filled the atmosphere during the semi-final rounds.
Fond farewell for veteran Indian expat
Keralite expatriate body Parakkadavu Welfare Association gave a farewell to Parakkadavu native
V K Abdurahiman, who is leaving Qatar for good after 36 years. Incas Qatar president K K Usman
presided. KMCC state president S A M Basheer and Kozhikode DCC president K C Abu were chief
guests. Shameem M K, Abbas Kunnath and Abdulla Hassan offered felicitations. Saleem Parakkadavu
welcomed and Savad Fareed proposed the vote of thanks.
8
GULF TIMES Monday, May 2, 2016
COMMUNITY
Three-day MES Youth Festival 2016 concludes
MES Indian School’s three-day-long Youth Festival 2016
recently culminated at its open air auditorium with a
scintillating valedictory function showcasing the artistic talents
of MES students.
The three-day cultural fiesta comprised a mass display
of competitions in light, classical and instrumental music
categories. Competitions in folk dance, classical dance,
drama, Kathak, Kuchupudy, mono act, fancy dress, painting
contest depicting art and culture were conducted in senior,
intermediate, junior and sub junior categories. About 3,500
students competed in various categories.
The valedictory function commenced with a welcome song by
the school choir, followed by a presentation on Youth Festival
2016 by Anver K, the convener of cultural activities of the
event.
Vijay Rejeesh, Phavithra Johnson, Sourav Sandeep,
Mohammed Suhaim, and Evelyn Jojnly were adjudged the best
individual artists in the sub junior category. Sarang Santhosh
and Harikriti Murali, Abdul Rauf and Mahalakshmi Rajeev,
Alwin Ajy Vincent and Iniyya Magesh were conferred the best
Movenpick shines in air quality project
Movenpick Hotel West Bay Doha recently
participated in an air quality project which was
carried out in conjunction with the Qatar Green
Building Council, and the testing was used
primarily as a benchmark to measure how hotels
in Qatar are performing in terms of air quality.
The project also involved a check for accessibility
in the hotel, the quality of housekeeping in
terms of sustainability, and as well as acoustics
(sound proofing) and sound tests. The property
performed very well during this project, and all
areas were up to international standards. It was
concluded that the concentration of particles
PM2.5 in all rooms and corridor, were within the
standards with an average concentration of 14.3
g/m3 (EPA recommended limit for short term
exposure is 35 g/m3), among other positive
results for the hotel.
Another step that Movenpick Hotel West Bay
Doha has taken is to remove hamour fish from all
hotel menus, making it the first hotel in Qatar to
do so. This step was necessary to ensure that the
hotel operates responsibly and does not serve
any species that are on the endangered list. It is
fundamentally important to protect the hamour
by not overfishing it.
Hamour has been placed on the endangered
species list due to overfishing beyond
sustainable levels over the past few years. It
has been fished seven times above the level
that allows the species to naturally restock
itself.
“We are continuously taking on new initiatives
to ensure that we are doing our best to not
only uphold our promise to sustainable
operations, but to also spread awareness in
the local community about this,” commented
Ghada Sadek, General Manager. “It is our
brand promise to operate responsibly, and we
will embrace every opportunity that arises to
continue down this path.
These activities are part of Shine, the global
sustainability programme of Movenpick
Hotels & Resorts, which focuses on supporting
education initiatives. Through Shine,
Movenpick Hotels & Resorts aims to give
back and contribute to the prosperity of each
destination where the hotel company operates.
Shine’s practices are grouped around three
key pillars – Environment, Employer and Social
Sustainability, with Education forming the
common thread and key focus.
individual artist awards in their respective junior, intermediate
and senior levels of the competitions.
The chief guest was Dr Bhanu Pratap Chowdhary, Associate
Vice President for Strategic Research Initiatives, Qatar
University. The guests of honour were Dr Khalid Abdulla S
al-Saad, Professor of Analytical Chemistry at Qatar University;
Dr Mohammed Maqbool, Quality Manager at Qatar University;
A K Usman, President MES Governing Board; P K Mohammad,
General Secretary of the body; and M P Saleem, Director of
Cultural & Co-curricular Activities of the body.
Monday, May 2, 2016
GULF TIMES
9
COMMUNITY
ATTENDANCE: Experts from Qatar and around the world participated in the workshop.
TAMU-Q hosts international workshop
on autonomous underwater vehicles
M
ore than 45 experts
participated in
a workshop on
autonomous
underwater
vehicles (AUVs) recently hosted
by Texas A&M University at Qatar
(TAMU-Q) in Education City.
The oil and gas industry in
Qatar represents the vital source
of income to the country with
most of its infrastructure being
offshore, said Dr Mansour
Karkoub, professor of mechanical
engineering at Texas A&M at Qatar
and workshop organiser. Karkoub
also directs the Smart System Lab
at Texas A&M at Qatar.
“At the Smart System Lab, we
have been developing solutions for
the oil and gas industry in the area
of autonomous systems and asset
integrity for the past six years,”
Karkoub said. “This workshop was
a valuable opportunity to share
the latest research discoveries and
expertise in the area of AUVs and
their application in the oil and gas
industry, as well as environment
monitoring and protection.”
The workshop, called the
Consortium for O&G Asset
Integrity and Environmental
Monitoring in Qatar, featured noted
AUV scientists and speakers from
local industry, including Maersk
Oil Research & Technology Centre,
Qatar Petroleum, Siemens, Shell,
The workshop was spearheaded by the Smart System Laboratory at Texas A&M at Qatar, which includes, from left, Dr
Mohamed Gharib, Dr Mansour Karkoub and Dr Huiwei Wang.
Rasgas, and Qatar Computing
Research Institute; the Qatari
Navy; and top universities in the
US, Europe and the Middle East,
including MIT, Georgia Tech, Rice
University, the University of Illinois
at Urbana-Champaign, Texas A&M
and Texas A&M at Qatar, KAUST,
Kuwait University, Qatar University,
Hamad Bin Khalifa University,
University of Porto (Portugal) and
National Technical University of
Athens (Greece).
Featured speakers were all
experts in control, optimisation,
ocean engineering, underwater
robotics, sensor technology,
computer science, and industry and
government guests also invited to
attend.
The objective of the workshop
was to develop priority research
and technology development areas
for environmental monitoring,
search and rescue, and asset
integrity for the oil and gas
industry. Participants explored
emerging trends and opportunities
for advancing innovation in O&G
asset integrity, environmental
monitoring and protection, and
related technologies through
intelligent application, research
and development of innovative
autonomous systems, sensors and
communication technologies.
Karkoub also said the workshop
aimed to help lay the foundation
for the first consortium for
advancing AUV research for the
purpose of offshore infrastructure
sustainability in Qatar and in the
region in line with Qatar National
Research Strategy and Qatar
National Vision 2030. The experts
who were invited to present their
work also assisted in developing
a roadmap to establish a research
programme and training facilities
in AUVs that will put Qatar among
the leading nations in subsea
asset integrity and environmental
monitoring and protection.
“I am happy with the turnout and
the enthusiasm of the participants,”
Karkoub said. “The workshop
was a total success and a follow
up meeting will be held soon at
KAUST.”
10 GULF TIMES Monday, May 2, 2016
COMMUNITY
Find your inspiratio
Certified holistic health coach Ana Castro is continuously creating
healthy alternatives to unhealthy food choices. By Umer Nangiana
CONVERT: Ana Castro says finding organic homemade food options saved her life.
H
aving personally
experienced all that
ails today’s fast-paced
technology-obsessed
world, she turned to
nature to find solutions. She did
not just manage to find a personal
escape from an unhealthy “terrible”
life, she is now inspiring many
others to find a healthy lifestyle.
Ana Castro, a certified holistic
health coach and passionate raw
chocolate artist, is continuously
creating healthy alternatives to
replace more popular yet unhealthy
food choices. All her recipes are 100
percent organic, easy to prepare
at home by anyone and are not
expensive, she says.
Exploring nutrients and essential
vitamins from different herbs,
fruits, vegetables and nuts, the
Romanian expatriate has created
recipes that replace everything
unhealthy in popular food choices
such as cheese in pasta and
ingredients in a burger.
In a recent lecture and live
demonstration at JustinCase
restaurant at Al Rabban Towers in
West Bay, Castro treated the guests
to her organically-created Quinoa
burger, vegan pizza, raw pasta in
white sauce and her raw chocolate
recipes for dessert.
She taught the participants how
to procure organic ingredients easily
and prepare such food at home.
She says she cooks her own food
at home, spends a very busy day,
sleeps late in the night to get up
early in the morning and yet retains
high levels of energy courtesy of her
organic food choices.
“I had been facing all these health
conditions for a very long time. I
was intolerant to dairy, gluten and
other things. I would not feel well. I
had headaches, digestive problems
on a regular basis, insomnia, sore
throat and other problems,” Castro
tells Community in a chat after her
talk at JustinCase.
“And I observed that whenever
I was eating gluten-free plantbased diet, I felt really well. I
could maintain high energy
without taking caffeine and more
importantly I was not feeling sick,”
she explains.
This is when she decides to
step away from processed foods
and mould her lifestyle to adapt a
gluten-free diet.
“I am living the life of my dreams
at the moment. I went on to study
and discover Ayurvedic herbs,
super foods from Amazons and
different types of teas that saved my
life. Once I had cleansed my diet, I
started to have an intuitive approach
to food,” says Castro.
She says she discovered the
foods that were good for her and
subtracted those that were not.
At this point, she started studying
natural nutrition.
Castro went on to study with
some of the best nutritional
teachers in the world at the Institute
of Integrative Nutrition in New
York City. She is certified in Raw
Nutrition at Body Mind Institute
with David Wolfe.
Photo by Umer Nangiana
Today, she teaches the art of Raw
Chocolate-making at home, the art
of fermentation, cleansing, natural
beauty and child nutrition. She says
she is further expanding her studies
in Homeopathy, Herbology, and
Healing Foods.
Castro specialises in supporting
people with stress-free, improved
digestive wellness, and breaking the
food and mood barrier.
She also gives talks about Healthy
Living, Raw Chocolate infused with
Super Foods, and conducts several
workshops. These workshops
include raw chocolate workshops
for kids and adults, fermented foods
workshops, and digestive wellness
and gluten free workshops.
“It was intuitively that I started
discovering these food options and
I realised that the healthiest diet for
people for longevity and to prevent
ageing is plant-based diet,” says the
nutritionist.
“Everything is processed today.
There is no clean food left anymore.
The message of this talk was that
whether you eat meat or vegetable,
whatever your diet is, it should be
based on unprocessed natural food,”
says Castro.
She recommends people to buy
the raw materials and prepare them
at home, rather than buying biscuits
with genetically modified flour
or wheat, highly processed sugar,
flavours, additives and preservatives
in them. These things make people
sick, she believes.
“When I started, I did not have
many options. There was not much
information available online and
not many people around to tell you
about that. I learned about these
healthy alternatives when I was
healing my conditions, allergies and
intolerances,” says Castro.
She started ordering the
ingredients online and started
preparing her own food, especially
raw chocolate, which she says
contains “immense health benefits”.
Castro has created her own brand
of raw chocolate that is without
sugar and dairy, is plant-based and
Monday, May 2, 2016
GULF TIMES
11
COMMUNITY
on in healthy eating
APPETISING AND HEALTHY: Castro has created food alternatives
that can be easily made at home.
PLANT-BASED: Castro has created her own brand
of chocolate that is completely plant-based.
Still delectable.
Castro during her recent workshop at JustinCase.
Paul Bellavance, CEO JustinCase, left, with Ana Castro.
vegan. It is exactly from the tree to
the table, she says. “[The chocolate
comes from] Amazon. It is one of
the healthiest foods in the world,
highly nutritious and it is the richest
food in magnesium, which is the
mineral of longevity,” she adds.
“That is why the people who
eat dark chocolate live longer
and healthier,” claims Castro.
“Chocolate dilates the veins. So
everything that you put in the
chocolate, for instance an herb,
it immediately enters your blood
stream,” she adds. Castro says she
was amazed to discover that for
every human condition, there is
a plant. People with diabetes, for
instance, would respond amazing to
an Ayurvedic plant.
For creating awareness about the
benefits of organic unprocessed and
healthy easy-to-prepare homecooked food, Castro is collaborating
with JustinCase. The restaurant
itself promotes homemade food,
with their chefs preparing healthy
food.
“We have a variety of things
that are very healthy and things
that [can be classified as] comfort
food. As we are a homemade
food restaurant, we have flexible
timings for meals as well. You can
get a breakfast in the afternoon as
well,” Paul Bellavance, the CEO
of JustinCase International, tells
Community.
The food is homemade and the
restaurant, Paul says, is now headed
Photo by Umer Nangiana
towards organic ingredients. He
says they have already experimented
with organic ingredients and have
received a good response.
Run as a family business, with
Paul’s son Francis Bellavance
actively involved in the operations,
JustinCase is modelled around
home-delivery. They have a
production kitchen and a contract
with a compound to have a food
distribution centre.
“It is less commercial, more
homemade. Our model is
homemade delights,” says Paul.
Castro is using this platform to
spread awareness about the healthy
alternatives by holding her talks and
workshops at JustinCase. Her next
workshop is on Saturday, May 7.
Castro believes going for organic and unprocessed food is key to a healthy life.
12 GULF TIMES Monday, May 2, 2016
COMMUNITY
INFOGRAPHIC
Monday, May 2, 2016
GULF TIMES
13
COMMUNITY
LIFESTYLE/HOROSCOPE
The right way
to wash your
workout gear
I
f you’re finding more stains on your
clothes because the weather is warming
up, you’re not alone. You may find
yourself doing more loads of laundry
during the summer, when outdoor
activities like hiking and sports are likely to
cause extra stains.
To help you take on your growing laundry
pile, expert weighed in on the best ways to wash
workout gear and remove your toughest stains:
Washing athletic clothes
Expert suggests turning running shorts, yoga
pants, lycra and spandex garments inside out
before washing. You should also wash these
garments in warm — not hot — water, and stay
away from liquid chlorine bleach which can
break down the fabric.
and rinse in cold water before adding to the
washer. Wash in the warmest water safe for
the garment with a gentle detergent and, if
necessary, you can follow up with a wash in
colour-safe bleach for colours or liquid chlorine
bleach for whites. For grass stains, expert says
to check the care label and soak the garment in
a mixture of detergent and water before adding
to the warmest wash that’s appropriate for the
material.
Sweat and odours
Apply liquid detergent or a pre-treater to help
loosen deodorant, which can trap sweat and
odours. If the odours persist, you can always
send the garment through another cycle before
transferring to the dryer.
No matter what kind of stain you’re working
with, don’t put your stained clothes in the dryer
until you are sure it was successfully removed.
Dirt and mud
Remove excess dirt and mud from the surface
ARIES
March 21 — April 19
Venus the planet of money and love in your second house of self–
esteem and self–worth could have some of you buying outrageous
gifts for people in order to win them over. Definitely stop doing that
immediately!
CANCER
June 21 — July 22
There have been signs for a while that you were not going to get
something you have wanted for some time. Obviously the Universe
has other plans for you Cancers, so simply wait and see what they
are.
LIBRA
September 23 — October 22
As much as you may want to avoid something or someone today,
it’s not the answer to your problems Librans. You need to confront
things head on and be willing to take responsibility for whatever part
you played in it as well.
CAPRICORN
December 22 — January 19
Keep in mind that there are 2 planets jockeying for position in Taurus
right now — your fellow earth sign and fun zone. Venus the lover and
Mercury retrograde. You have to find the right balance goats.
© Brandpoint
TAURUS
April 20 — May 20
If you’re in a new relationship and unsure about where it’s going,
keep in mind that with Mercury the communicator out of phase in
your sign, chances are it’s not going anywhere until the end of May!
LEO
July 23 — August 22
Once you put your mind to something, you’re an unstoppable force
Leos. You are a fixed and stubborn fire sign, however with Mars and
Saturn both out of phase in your self–fulfilment zone, you could
definitely be barking up the wrong tree today.
SCORPIO
October 23 — November 21
Today’s Moon shines in Pisces, your fifth house of romance,
creativity and self–fulfilment. This makes it a great day for you to
reach out to someone you love and let them know just how much
you love them.
AQUARIUS
January 20 — February 18
As much as you think you’re ready to do something or take on a big
task, make sure you really are before agreeing to it today. You might
not have what it takes after all.
GEMINI
May 21 — June 20
Uranus the planet of the unexpected in your friendship zone along
with Mercury out of phase could have you feeling shocked by
something a good friend says or does today. Get used to it twins.
VIRGO
August 23 — September 22
May 9 is the day Jupiter the planet of good luck and opportunity
finally moves direct in your sign Virgos. It’s been a long wait –– but all
of those things in a holding pattern will slowly but surely make their
way into your lives.
SAGITTARIUS
November 22 — December 21
Your ruler Jupiter, the planet of excess and bounty is about to move
forward after being out of phase for some time. In your tenth house
of career and ambition, which is sure to change things up in a good
way for you.
PISCES
February 19 — March 20
The Moon in your sign today is leading up to the SuperMoon
on Friday in your communication zone. So if you have anything
important or difficult you know you need to say, hang tight and wait
until Friday.
14 GULF TIMES Monday, May 2, 2016
COMMUNITY
Wordsearch
Adam
Pooch Cafe
World Rivers
AMAZON
ARNO
AVON
CLYDE
CONGO
DANUBE
EBRO
ELBE
HUDSON
INDUS
LIFFEY
MAAS
MISSOURI
MURRAY
NIGER
NILE
ODER
OHIO
ORANGE
RHINE
SEINE
SEVERN
THAMES
TYNE
VAAL
VOLGA
ZAIRE
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
Monday, May 2, 2016
15
COMMUNITY
PUZZLES
Quick Clues
Across
7. Quickly (13)
8. Lees (8)
9. Deviate (4)
10. Inveigle (6)
12. Push (6)
14. Split (6)
16. Summary (6)
18. Scheme (4)
20. Follower (8)
22. Stupidity (13)
GULF TIMES
Colouring
Down
1. Outer (8)
2. Older (6)
3. Prevalent (4)
4. Autocrat (8)
5. Vibrate (6)
6. Otherwise (4)
11. Before birth (8)
13. Monotony (8)
15. Records (6)
17. Powerful (6)
19. Plunder (4)
21. Skin (4)
Cryptic Clues
Answers
Wordsearch
Across
7. Steward Colin’s trained for a royal
residence (7,6)
8. Being abstemious is golfer’s
handicap, we hear (8)
9. Complete delivery of bowler? (4)
10. Go hungry when most of the
harvest is ruined (6)
12. Real when you see an adder? (6)
14. Twitch without newspaper - that’s
a shame (6)
16. Terrible price of Eastern ingredients
for meal (6)
18. Storage-place for oils? (4)
20. Push, then fight, over reporter’s
best viewpoint (5-3)
22. A good attribute for any doctor
(7,6)
Down
1. Diana is linked with clergyman and
governor (8)
2. Need it organised? Get a
newspaperman in (6)
3. Peep for a bit of a laugh (4)
4. Artist who’s a bit of a chiseller (8)
5. He’ll accompany you around the sector
(6)
6. Run with the fellow to shelter (4)
11. Without notice, get free of crazy
venture (8)
13. Possibly the first man on the scene (8)
15. Bird complaint (6)
17. A coin’s lost in this place (6)
19. Object, in part, to trite material (4)
21. The Spanish manuscript - found in
woods? (4)
Codeword
Yesterday’s Solutions
QUICK
Across: 1 Mind; 8 Inelegance; 9 Carefree; 10
Earn; 12 Dulcet; 14 Though; 15 Hammer; 17
Penury; 18 Feel; 19 Terrible; 21 Solicitude; 22
Most.
Down: 2 Immaculate; 3 Dine; 4 Regret; 5 Select;
6 Careworn; 7 Keen; 11 Regardless; 13 Complain;
16 Retain; 17 Porous; 18 Fuss; 20 Item.
CRYPTIC
Across: 1 Writ; 8 Santa Claus; 9 Lacrosse;
10 Tome; 12 Button; 14 Reform; 15 Afford; 17
Salmon; 18 Onus; 19 Thresher; 21 Expressway;
22 Area.
Down: 2 Ragamuffin; 3 Tsar; 4 Unison; 5 Career;
6 Slothful; 7 Isle; 11 Marionette; 13 Trousers; 16
Detest; 17 Scrawl; 18 Open; 20 Soya.
16 GULF TIMES Monday, May 2, 2016
COMMUNITY
BOLLYWOOD
Sports ruckus
Salman Khan should write a book on
how to get into controversies, considering
he keeps running into them and this even
though his behaviour over the last many
years has been quite impeccable.
The latest is him being appointed as a
Goodwill Ambassador to the Olympics
contingent of sportsmen who will
represent India. This would have been
quite understandable because a superstar
can help in creating awareness about
sports and thus draw much needed
resources in a country where only cricket
gets serious money and every other sport
survives hand-to-mouth.
But the appointment of Salman has
agitated several sport icons like Milkha
Singh, who is perhaps the country’s
most famous athlete. Their objections to
Salman are twofold. One is that if there
was a goodwill ambassador needed, then
it should have been a sportsman who
has brought glory to the country by his
performance.
The second reason was more pertinent.
They argued that even if a movie star
was needed, then it should not have been
Salman because of the numerous legal
cases against him. It makes him an unfit
role model for something like this.
There is also the timing of Salman’s
appointment. His movie Sultan is slated
for release in July and he plays a wrestler
in it. So there are allegations that move
could be sly tactic to promote the movie
using the Olympics. Meanwhile the man
who came in defence of Salman was his
father Salim Khan. He launched a furious
tirade in Twitter against those who were
speaking against Salman. He wrote that
Milkha Singh should feel grateful that
Bollywood made a movie on him, bringing
him out of oblivion and that sportsmen
performed because of sports lovers like
them. But it probably only further fuelled
the controversy.
SPAT: It has been reported in some places that Kangana and Hrithik have called a truce, organised
by common friends because the issue had gone completely out of control.
Much public muck
T
he bizarre spat between Hrithik
Roshan and Kangana Ranaut is
taking new turns by the minute
and no one is coming out looking
any good.
Kangana has been claiming that she and
Hrithik had a relationship going for a long
time. Hrithik says there is nothing of that
sort. Kangana says she has thousands of
emails from Hrithik to prove her point.
Hrithik says that some imposter made the
e-mail account and sent them in his name
and deluded Kangana.
The issue is now a criminal complaint,
with the police investigating. Meanwhile,
newspapers are seeing a blizzard of leaks from
both camps. One of the latest was a photo
that showed Kangana and Hrithik cosying
up to each other, thus apparently proving
their relationship. It was published in many
newspapers.
But soon another photo came to light
which showed that the photo had been taken
at a party in Hrithik’s place where even his
then wife Sussanne was present. And there
were photos of him taking such pictures with
practically all the guests there.
Sussanne too has come out in public
defending him and saying that the photo
painted a false perception. So, while earlier,
public support was with Kangana for standing
up to a superstar’s whims, it is not slowly
moving towards Hrithik.
Now there is another twist in the tale
that further does no good to Kangana. Her
ex-boyfriend Adhyayan Suman has made
some rather shocking allegations. He is the
son of the actor Shekhar Suman and at one
point had started on a promising career in
Bollywood as a hero but soon fizzled out into
a has-been. It was in the beginning of his
career that he and Kangana acted in a movie
together and also got into a relationship. He
now claims to have been both mentally and
physically harassed by Kangana and paints a
picture of her as someone who is unstable and
opportunistic. She would be abusive to both
him and his parents and even slapped him in
public. He even claims to have been told that
she was using black magic to harm him and
that the relationship ruined him and turned
him into an alcoholic.
The interview has sent social networking
abuzz but there are still many who believe
that this is all a slander campaign against
Kangana. Meanwhile it was also reported
that Kangana and Hrithik have called
a truce, organised by common friends
because the issue had gone completely out
of control.
A drug story
CONTROVERSY: Mamta is being implicated
in a huge bust, after the police seized narcotics
reportedly worth Rs2,000 crores.
In the early 90s, Mamta Kulkarni was one
of the leading actresses in Bollywood but
her career waned gradually and before long
she had disappeared. Then people came to
know that she had in fact gotten married
to an underworld gangster called Vicky
Malhotra.
While that might sound unusual, it is often
forgotten that till the Mumbai bomb blasts
of 1993 engineered by Dawood Ibrahim,
Bollywood was intimately connected and
funded by the underworld and actors wore
their friendships with gangsters as badges of
honour.
But the Mamta story has now taken a
turn for the worse with she herself being
implicated in a huge bust when the police
seized narcotics reportedly worth Rs2,000
crores. Her husband is said to be behind it
but the police also hint that Mamta has a role
in it. She has denied it, giving interviews by
phone from Kenya to the media rubbishing
the accusations.
Salman Khan has been appointed as a Goodwill Ambassador to the Indian Olympics contingent.
Loose talk
Tiger Shroff did well with
his debut movie Heropanti and
his second Baaghi has just hit
the screens. While stardom is
always welcome, it comes with
a few niggles, as he is learning.
For one, you need to be
really careful of what you say.
You might think a comment
is harmless and smart but it
can come back to bite you.
Recently, in an interview to a
news website, to a question
on who he wanted for a life
partner, Tiger replied, “I will
get married to a girl from the
village. When I reach home, I
want a massage so that I can
get relaxed. She should stay
at home, keep the house clean
and give me home-cooked
UNDER FIRE: Tiger Shroff was recently under fire on social
food. I like girls who are the
media after saying in an interview that he likes housewife-type
housewife-type.”
girls.
Soon there were angry
feminist responses which
accused him of antiquated
ideas of what a wife should be. Tiger immediately went into damage control mode and said
that he had been misquoted. He also tweeted, “I am totally for women empowerment and
equality and always talk about how they are as strong or stronger than men.”
Send your feedback to bollywood.eye@gmail.com
Monday, May 2, 2016
GULF TIMES
17
COMMUNITY
BOLLYWOOD
Technology
has opened up
our cinema to
everybody:
Aishwarya
GOING GLOBAL: Aishwarya Rai Bachchan
A
ctress Aishwarya Rai Bachchan,
who is the brand ambassador of
L’Oréal Paris and will represent the
cosmetic giant at the upcoming
69th Cannes Film Festival, says
technology has taken the Indian cinema on a
global voyage with “accessibility just a click”
away. The actress, who will be completing 15
years of attending the festival this year, also
shared that technology has upgraded the
ways of communication complimenting the
“immense growth” of cinema.
Asked about how has the perception of
Indian cinema changed with time at the foreign
Will never endorse alcohol,
cigarettes: Malaika Arora
There were many Bollywood
personalities who faced criticism in the
past for endorsing different brands, but
actress Malaika Arora ensures that she
always picks the right endorsement deal.
She says she will never promote alcohol,
cigarettes or skin lightening brands as
she doesn’t believe in such products.
She was in New Delhi to launch
lingerie brand amante’s exclusive
store and when IANS asked her about
the criterion of selecting a brand for
endorsement deals, she said it’s very
important for her to relate with the brand
in real life. “I think it’s very important to
understand the brand and whether you
can do justice to what you are promoting.
If I am asked to promote alcohol or
cigarettes, I will never do that because I
don’t believe in them. They are not part
of my life.”
INSPIRATION: R Madhavan
film festivals, she said she has “never played
judge”. “How it may have changed? I have never
played judge but I think common sense would
have me recognise that with the world getting
smaller with each passing year ... Thanks to you
members of media, social media and thanks to
the communication becoming just at the press
of the button and a couple of characters on your
own little handsets,” Aishwarya told IANS.
The mother-of-one added: “It has just made
the world so much smaller that it has opened up
your cinema to everybody and accessibility is
literally a click of the button to each individual.”
The former Miss World walked into
“Same holds true for skin lightening
creams. If I don’t feel comfortable
endorsing a certain brand, I won’t do
that,” the Munni badnam star told IANS.
The actress looked like a diva in a
frill dress and a confident smile at the
launch. She said that she always makes
sure to step out of her house in the most
glamorous way possible.
“When I am working and when it
is required, then yes I am careful. I
definitely keep a check on what I am
wearing. I also believe that we are in a
profession where so much of emphasis
is given on how you look and how you
project yourself. This is important for my
profession. So, I look good,” she said. So
does stardom comes with a price?
“Don’t take it too seriously and enjoy
it because when you have it, you have it
and when you don’t, then it’s gone. And
it shouldn’t be such a big deal. Have fun,
enjoy it, make the most of it and value it,”
she said. — IANS
Bollywood with ... Aur Pyaar Ho Gaya in
1997, and then went in to render critical
performances in films like Taal, Devdas, Hum
Dil De Chuke Sanam, Guru, Dhoom: 2 and
Jodhaa Akbar.
Aishwarya’s tryst with the film gala at the
French Riviera began with Devdas. The Sanjay
Leela Bhansali directorial was showcased and
earned applause in 2002. The wife of actor
Abhishek Bachchan became a jury member at
the film gala in 2003. She then took her talent
overseas by working in Hollywood starting with
Bride & Prejudice in 2004.
The Sarbjit star said that the world taking a
step ahead technologically is a “reflection of
the immense growth”. She said: “That is the
reflection of the immense growth and of the
world getting smaller and the obvious that we
have always said change is the only constant.”
Aishwarya will be representing the brand
at the event this year along with actress
Sonam Kapoor. Both the actresses have always
managed to dazzle their fans at the French
Riviera and this year, they will sport looks
created using the L’Oreal Paris’ Infallible
Cannes 2016 Collection.
The Cannes Film Festival is scheduled to be
held from May 11 to May 21, 2016. — IANS
Grateful that my songs have
become huge hits: Shraddha
TAKING A STAND: Malaika Arora
R Madhavan has ‘so much
to learn’ from Shah Rukh
Vidya Balan in love
with Pakistani dramas
Actor R Madhavan says Shah Rukh Khan makes his fans feel
“royal” and he has a lot to learn from the superstar. “Shah Rukh
Khan how awesome and royal you make your fans feel chief...
Have so much to learn from you,” Madhavan tweeted on Sunday.
Madhavan also shared a photograph of SRK along with his wife
Sarita Birje in his tweet. Madhavan, who has starred in hits like
Tanu Weds Manu, Tanu Weds Manu Returns and 3 Idiots, was last
seen on screen in Saala Khadoos. On the work front, SRK was last
seen on screen in Fan and will next be seen in Rahul Dholakia’s
upcoming film Raees. — IANS
Actress Vidya Balan went gaga over
Pakistani dramas saying the “writing,
production values, make-up and
performances” of the shows are just par
excellence. She also lauded the work of female
actors and for adding “grace” with a “realistic”
touch to their performances. The Paa actress
took to Twitter on Saturday to share her views.
She posted: “I am liking my new habit of
watching Zindagi channel in the mornings
Actress Shraddha Kapoor, who
crooned the song Sab tera for her film
Baaghi, says that she is grateful that all
her “songs in the past have become hits”.
Sab tera, sung by Shraddha and
Armaan Malik, has crossed 10mn
views on social media. “Sab tera
has become this year’s most loved
song. I can’t express in my words
the gratitude. I’m grateful that all
my songs in the past have become
huge hits. But one can never have
enough,” the ABCD 2 actress said in a
statement.
Shraddha has previously sung
Galliyan (Unplugged), Do jahan and
Bezubaan phir se. Shraddha will also
be lending her voice to the songs of
her next musical film Rock On!! 2,
scheduled to release on November 11.
— IANS
after my night shoots...Kankar is ace. I
am hooked to Kankar, Mere Harjai and Ek
Mohabbat Ke Baad ...The writing, production
values, make-up and performances are just
par excellence.”
Vidya, busy with TE3N and Kahaani 2,
added: “So nice to see good quality television!
I particularly like the female actors...so
beautiful and graceful...and their portrayals
are extremely realistic.”
Zindagi channel is a Hindi channel which
airs Pakistani dramas as well as serials from
other countries in India. — IANS
18 GULF TIMES Monday, May 2, 2016
COMMUNITY
HOLLYWOOD
Patrick Stewart happy to show
off his dark side in Green Room
BALANCING ACT: Macon Blair and Patrick Stewart in Green Room.
By Colin Covert
D
iabolical, coldblooded,
racist, horrifying. Not
the sort of qualities
you associate with
Sir Patrick Stewart, a
global darling for his wise, kindly
roles in Star Trek and X-Men.
But being cast against type is just
what he wanted when he signed
on as the clever, regal villain of
writer/director Jeremy Saulnier’s
punishing thriller Green Room.
A thinking person’s fright film,
it caused quite a stir at the Cannes
and Sundance film festivals. It
has a cautionary R rating “for
strong brutal graphic violence,
gory images, language and drug
content.”
The setup is simple: A punk band
playing at a rural white supremacist
roadhouse witnesses a homicide.
Outnumbered by violent neo-Nazis
whose Gruppenfuhrer is none other
than Stewart, the musicians try to
survive with a few unlikely allies.
While the movie is twisted and
traumatic, it is also subtle, smart
and thought-provoking.
The star and director spoke by
phone to explain why they chose to
make an ultrarealistic survival film
rather than safer studio fare.
After playing Capt Jean-Luc
Picard and Prof Charles Xavier for
established filmmakers, Stewart
said, it was natural to want to work
with an independent newcomer as
a depraved monster. “It’s been a
little frustrating because diversity
has been a keynote of my career for
56 years,” Stewart said. “Characters
like this have been many in my
career,” including Shakespearean
roles such as Othello, Richard III
and Hamlet.
“Only a couple of years ago I
was in one of the nastiest, ugliest,
bloodiest productions of Macbeth
you could ever hope to see,” he said
with pride.
The character he plays in
the new film is not a screaming
racist demagogue but a softspoken gentleman who is a father
figure to his young blackshirts,
sending them off to massacre the
group’s enemies with supportive
encouragement. By stripping away
the anti-intellectualism of typical
fascist portraits, the part reveals
the dark underlying appeal of hate
and intolerance. “Violence is a
fascinating subject,” Stewart said.
“It has historically always appealed
to actors because we get to explore
it in a relatively safe environment.”
Saulnier said he was drawn to
Green Room because it’s highstakes filmmaking. “I was first
introduced to cinema by my cousins
making me see really gory scenes
from Dawn of the Dead or the Friday
the 13th franchise,” he said. “It was
a wonderful experience to be so
terrified and so fascinated while
I was safe in the basement of the
house.”
He grew up loving Monty Python
films because they were violent
and funny. “Now I’m making these
films to do what psychologists
call ‘coping with my trauma,’” he
said, adding a level of emotional
responsibility to bloody stories. His
goal is to deliver surprise without
throwing away the logic, as many
genre films do.
“It takes a lot of work, but even
more important, less interference,”
he said. “I’d definitely like to make
the jump” to big-budget studio
fare, except that he calls most
commercial films something the
keeper of a horse stable has to
sweep up.
“I want a pension and health
care,” Saulnier said. “But the real
feat is exposing yourself to the
committee prematurely. I hate the
idea of going through draft after
draft” like a number of in-demand
indie filmmakers have had to do
after signing on to execute studiocontrolled movies. “Rather than
carefully choreographed moments,
I want to feel something. I want the
heart to beat faster.”
As did his image-transforming
cast. “I just cast people who
weren’t used to being in action
flicks. The young kids (including
Anton Yelchin, who plays Chekov
in the new Star Trek films; ingenue
Imogen Poots, and comedy regular
Alia Shawkat) just leapt on these
parts. Imogen doesn’t get to do this
very often. She had a ball. She got
real feral.” Each brought “a level of
performance and grounding and
realism which I think heightens the
impact of the entire movie.”
When it comes to the dark
material, Stewart was just as
excited as the younger cast. “Very
early on, I was impressed with
a conversation I had with the
director, when Jeremy talked about
the tonality of the character being
very muted and quite low-key
and reasonable,” Stewart said. “I
was intrigued by that, the idea
that there could be a way of taking
on this person that would be
unexpected.”
Even with that vote of
confidence, Saulnier said he’s not
ready to go to the big leagues. “I’d
rather write from the gut level than
play to certain standards. I want
sloppy and real and unpredictable.”
Having opened a snake pit with
this film, it’ll be interesting to see
what can of worms, hornet’s nest
and Pandora’s box he unlocks next.
— Star Tribune/TNS
Monday, May 2, 2016
GULF TIMES 19
COMMUNITY
HOLLYWOOD
I don’t depend on
a man or anybody
else: Kylie Jenner
R
eality TV personality Kylie Jenner says
she considers herself to be a “feminist”,
adding that she doesn’t depend on a man
or anybody else in her life. The 18-yearold shared her views on feminism in an
interview Glamour magazine. She covers the June
issue of the magazine, reports dailymail.co.uk.
Asked about society’s burning question about
whether she considers herself a feminist, Kylie said:
“I mean, of course I do, but I don’t think I stand up in
public that way a lot. Not that I don’t feel things in my
personal life, but yes: I do consider myself a feminist.”
She added: “I’m a young woman, for one thing,
and I don’t depend on a man or anybody else. I make
ON HER OWN: Kylie Jenner
Ryan Reynolds pays tribute to late fan
Aniston stole money
from her mother as a kid
Actor Ryan Reynolds has paid an emotional tribute to his late
fan and “great friend”, 13-year-old Connor McGrath, who recently
died after a battle with cancer. The Deadpool actor first met
McGrath and his family through the Make-A-Wish foundation
three years ago and the pair became close friends before he
tragically passed away earlier this week, reports femalefirst.co.uk.
Paying tribute to his “great friend”, Reynolds wrote on
Facebook: “For three straight years, my friend, Connor McGrath
drop-kicked cancer ... Not sure how ... Maybe the cancer
cheated... But the fight came to an end two nights ago.
“Connor was 13. But this kid... He was smart. He was funny.
And not just funny ‘for a kid’ or funny ‘for a person battling
something awful’. He was unqualified funny. He had that...
thing you see in great performers or comedy writers. A running
commentary/observational skill people are just lucky to be born
with”.
“He went way too early and it’s impossible to reconcile. Connor
was a great friend, a great son, and a light to the people lucky
enough to know him. While repeatedly punching cancer in the
balls, he made everyone laugh. Including the entire staff who
cared for him at Edmonton’s Stollery Children’s Hospital,” he
added.
Reynolds also revealed that McGrath was the first person to see
Deadpool after he surprised him with a rough cut of the movie
before its release and the actor believes his late friend embodied
all of the best parts of the hilarious comic book character. — IANS BEREAVED: Ryan Reynolds
FUNNY MOMENTS: Jennifer
Lawrence
my own money and start my own businesses, and I
feel like I’m an inspiration for a lot of young girls who
want to stand on their own.”
Kylie is often better known as the girlfriend of
26-year-old rapper Tyga and the youngest of Kris
Jenner’s famous clan of businesswomen and TV
stars, but the teenager insists she lives on her own
money.
Kylie explained: “I haven’t had a dollar of my
mum’s money for five years. Ever since I started
earning my own money, I’ve paid for everything: all
my cars, houses, clothes, everything. I like to know
exactly what’s going on and I’m actually quite careful
with what I spend. We all are as a family.” — IANS
Actress Jennifer Aniston has
revealed that she stole money
from her mother’s purse as
a child. The 47-year-old has
revealed she used to steal cash
from her actress mother Nancy
Dow to spend on video games
and at the local arcade with her
friends, femalefirst.co.uk.
Asked to name the worst thing
she did as a child that she hid from
her parents, Aniston told HELLO!
magazine: “I don’t know ... Taking
money from her purse, maybe a
dollar. I don’t think I would steal
large sums of cash”.
“A dollar went a long way
when we were kids. It was for
video games, the arcade, nothing
serious,” she added. Meanwhile,
Aniston claimed to have inherited
her sense of humour from her
parents. She said: “She had a
great sense of humour. And my
dad.” — IANS
Lawrence jokes
about being single
Key and Peele recruit ‘Keanu’ the
kitten to satirise gang culture
Oscar-winning actress Jennifer
Lawrence joked about her single status,
asking “What dating life?”. Lawrence
bemoaned about her relationship status
while talking to AJ Calloway, the host
of TV show Extra at the premiere of her
film A Beautiful Planet here earlier this
month, reports dailymail.co.uk.
“What dating life?” the 25-year-old
joked when asked about her romantic
life. She insisted she was completely
single, and even made a joke about
exactly how long it had been since she
was with someone. When Calloway
asked “Are you kidding me?”, Lawrence
responded — “No, it’s really sad!” the
actress said just before tossing her head
back in laughter. Lawrence was linked
off-and-on to Coldplay singer Chris
Martin. She also dated her X-Men costar Nicholas Hoult off and on for years.
– IANS
Comedians Keegan-Michael Key and Jordan Peele
have satirised American culture through playing
characters such as valets and President Barack Obama,
but when taking on gang culture in feature film Keanu,
the duo recruited the help of an unlikely ally — a tiny
tabby kitten.
Out in US theaters last week, Keanu is the kitten
who arrives on the doorstep of stoner Rell (Peele) and
he suddenly finds a new lease of life caring for his little
pet. But when Keanu is stolen, Rell recruits his best
friend Clarence (Key) — an upstanding married man
with a penchant for the music of George Michael — to
rescue the kitten.
The duo find themselves in the depths of gang life
and drug culture, something both men have to quickly
adapt to and be believable in. “It’s about people from
the same race who come from different cultures,” Key
told Reuters. “There are so many things up and down
the spectrum of the African American experience. We
just hope we’re displaying that to people.”
Over five seasons of television sketch series Key
& Peele on Comedy Central, the duo riffed on racial
REVELATION: Jennifer Aniston
and social themes about minority communities. The
actors played an array of characters, from Peele’s
Obama to black Republicans, football players and
a gay couple. Their comedy hinges on “a sense of
surprise,” Key said. “It’s all about zig-zags and the
best piece of comedy is when the zag is not what you
thought it was going to be but it still relates to what
came before,” Key said.
“With this movie, it’s a lot of juxtaposition, this
clash of contexts — cute cuddly kittens being held by
superhard gangsters.”
Keanu, an adorable kitten who’s dressed as a
gangster and often steals the show, was played by
seven rescue kittens during the filming, and actually
helped keep order on set. “It makes everyone on set
care,” Peele said. “Everyone would be very respectful,
you didn’t want to make any sudden noises so it
actually helped everyone focus on set.”
After closing out Key & Peele,” the comedians are
tackling a reboot of classic 1980s comedy Police
Academy. “A lot of it is actually very similar to this
movie,” Key said. “It feels very contemporary and
there are new subjects to tackle and we’re in the midst
of all that right now.” By Piya Sinha-Roy and Rollo
Ross/Reuters
20 GULF TIMES Monday, May 2, 2016
COMMUNITY
The allure of lighting
H
ome décor of the 21st
century has broken
new ground in both
style and functionality,
and lighting is perhaps
at the forefront of this continuing
creative and aesthetic evolution of
interior design.
Nima Noorudin, an architect
and interior designer with more
than 13 years of experience in
premium hospitality, commercial
and high-end residential projects,
believes that lighting dictates how
we perceive every aspect of the
interiors, including design features,
textures and materials.
“Light fixtures make a strong
statement in the aesthetics of
any dining room and can create
engaging visual experiences,” the
Indian expat tells Community, “The
lighting scheme should be designed
creatively to meet functional
requirements of the space as well
as to develop the right mood and
ambience.”
Statement pendant lights are
simpler than chandeliers and yet
can create extraordinary impact,
she points out. “The rule of thumb
to hang light fixture is to keep a
clear space of 30-34 inches above
the table,” Noorudin explains, “The
size of the pendant light should
be between 1/2 and 2/3 the size of
the table and the maximum size
should be at least 12 inches less than
the width or diameter of the table.
A fixture with a busy or complex
design will appear larger and hence
the need to visually scale the width
and height of the fixture accordingly
to get the desired lighting effect.”
The variegated or identical
pendant lights that can be combined
in multiple configurations are
available in a wide range of style,
shape, material and colour. This,
Noorudin says, offers “limitless
creative freedom” in composing
bespoke solutions depending on the
size and shape of the dining table.
Back in India, Noorudin
has worked on top hospitality
projects such as Manikya Resorts
in Hyderabad and Renaissance
Convention Centre in Mumbai,
Balance by Windfall
Architect Nima Noorudin says lighting accentuates
every aspect of interiors, including design features,
textures and materials. By Anand Holla
which she says has helped her
“learn the nuances of concept
development and detailing involved
in high-end projects.” She has also
been a visiting faculty for interior
design students.
Four years back, Noorudin moved
to Doha. “Qatar has presented
me opportunities to showcase
my talent in the international
design scene, and I enjoy taking
up interesting interior design
consultation work. I have designed
interiors of luxury Qatari villas in
varied styles ranging from Islamic
to Modern to European styles.
This process requires discovering
resources and collaborating with
artisans across the globe; from
the craftsmen in rural areas of
India (brass accessories) to Italian
Murano artists in Tuscany (bespoke
chandeliers).”
Noorudin’s design philosophy
is to conceptualise aesthetically
inspiring spaces that are timeless
yet functional through innovative
design approach and meticulous
detailing. “I draw inspiration from
the culture, history, lifestyle and
preferences of the user to carve out
engaging spaces that mirror the
character and aspirations of the
client,” she says.
Lighting fixtures fascinate
Noorudin to no end and that
interest also explains her
wholesome understanding of the
world of light play. “The most
amazing lighting fixtures with the
finest materials and meticulous
craftsmanship are manufactured
at specialty companies and
designer studios,” she says, “Such
companies, based mainly in Europe,
advertise little and often operate
directly with designers, premium
hospitality and corporate clientele
INSPIRING SPACES: Architect Nima Noorudin has designed interiors in
varied styles ranging from Islamic to Modern to European.
making the products less accessible
to house owners scouting for unique
fixtures.”
To give you an idea of this
lesser-known realm of brightness,
Noorudin shares her five picks of
the finest pendant lights that create
inspiring dining spaces:
Balance: Crafted like a jewel
with the finest crystals and
suspended below inconspicuous
spot lights mounted on ceiling,
Balance is quite stunning.
Windfall’s main innovation is that it
has no complex integrated lighting
systems but that it is simply lit from
above. Chandeliers from Windfall
also adorn the interiors of Cartier
in Dubai Mall, Mont Blanc, Harry
Winston, and Roberto Cavalli.
The extraordinary craftsmanship
in crystal and sheerness makes it
contemporary yet very classic. They
Perfume
infuse the right amount of shimmer
without being distracting and hence
top my list of favourites.
Marilyn Pendant: Designed
by Manuel Vivian, this amazing
light fixture consists of lead crystal
strands (available in crystal or
black colour) suspended from a
canopy in satin nickel finish. Italy’s
AXO Light combines traditional
Venetian glasswork and artisan
craftwork with avant-garde
lighting techniques and innovative
materials. It is the ultimate
accessory to create a glamorous
dining space with its crystals
reflecting light that is subtle yet
sparkling.
Allure: This is handmade in
Murano glass structure in which
gold leaf powder is suspended. The
pulverised gold leaf reflects the
light of the LED lighting enclosed
in the crystal elements, radiating a
light of unworldly quality. Lamps
can be combined in different
configurations in which each
element is positioned at different
heights. It exudes luxury with its
gilded details and can make quite a
statement with its dynamic lighting.
Perfume: With its crystal
luminaries and metallic accents,
Perfume weaves magic in light by
transforming the character of the
space. This fitting by Melogranoblu
can render your dream dining area
with ethereal radiance that evokes
the fantasy of the viewer.
Spill Ray Pendant: This piece
can be attached to ceiling in myriad
combinations giving complete
creative control to the end user.
The lighting scheme is unique and
inspiring, in that it can be the focal
point of a stylish and opulent dining
room.