Community

P7
Community
At the La
Veranda
restaurant,
you can have your
slice of quintessential
Italian alfresco dining
ambience by the sea.
Community
The 2nd
Palestinian
Heritage Festival
showcased
some fascinating products,
highlighting why Palestinian art
is still an inspiration for many.
P20
Sunday, May 15, 2016
Sha’baan 8, 1437 AH
DOHA
31°C—39°C TODAY
PUZZLES 14 & 15
LIFESTYLE/HOROSCOPE 16
Silent rage
COVER
STORY
Masakatsu Sashie brings
home a world filled with
futuristic warnings at
Anima Gallery with a
poignant flourish. P4-5
2
GULF TIMES Sunday, May 15, 2016
COMMUNITY
ROUND & ABOUT
PRAYER TIME
Fajr
Shorooq (sunrise)
Zuhr (noon)
Asr (afternoon)
Maghreb (sunset)
Isha (night)
3.25am
4.49am
11.30am
2.58pm
6.13pm
7.43pm
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
Azhar
GENRE: Drama
CAST: Nargis Fakhri, Emraan Hashmi, Prachi Desai
DIRECTION: Tony D’Souza
SYNOPSIS: The life of the former, controversial
international cricket figure. From being one of the most
celebrated cricket captains of India to being country’s most
controversial sportsman yet, Azhar, based on some real life
events of cricketer Mohamed Azharuddin chronicles the highs
and lows of his life and offers an insight into his inner world
for the first time. From his humble beginnings, to his meteoric
rise in the world of cricket, from his marriages with Naureen
and later with film star Sangeeta to the accusation of match
fixing and cricket scandal, the film captures it all.
THEATRES: The Mall, Royal Plaza
Mah E Mir
GENRE: Drama,
Romance
CAST: Iman Ali, Alyy
Khan, Fahad Mustafa
DIRECTION: Anjum
Shahzad
SYNOPSIS: Biography
of Mir Taqi Mir, a greatest
poet of 18th century.
The film’s story focuses
on the life of a modernday poet named Jamal
(Fahad Mustafa) going
through a rough patch.
The movie tries to
draw parallels between
Jamal’s and Mir Taqi
Mir’s life with the story
jumping from present
day to Jamal’s mind as he
imagines himself to be
Mir Taqi Mir in Lucknow
focusing on the trials and
tribulations that Mir once
experienced.
ote Unquote
u
Q When you
judge another, you do
not define them, you define
yourself.
— Wayne Dyer
Community Editor
Kamran Rehmat
e-mail: [email protected]
Telephone: 44466405
Fax: 44350474
THEATRE: Royal Plaza
Mall Cinema (1): The Trust (2D)
11am; 24 (Tamil) 1pm; The Perfect
Match (2D) 3.45pm; All Roads
Lead To Rome (2D) 5.30pm; Term
Life (2D) 7.15pm; The Trust (2D)
9pm; 24 (Tamil) 10.45pm.
Mall Cinema (2): Angry Birds
Movie (2D) 11.30am; Angry Birds
Movie (2D) 1.15pm; Angry Birds
Movie (2D) 3 & 4.45pm; Captain
America: Civil War (2D) 6.30pm;
Captain America: Civil War (2D)
9pm; Hellions (2D) 11.30pm.
Mall Cinema (3): Term Life (2D)
11.15am; Azhar (Hindi) 1pm; Kangar
Hoppiena (Arabic) 3.15pm; Hepta
(Arabic) 5.15pm; The Jungle Book
(2D) 7.15pm; Hepta (Arabic)
9pm; Jacob’s King Of Heaven
(Malayalam) 11pm.
Royal Plaza Cinema Palace (1):
Angry Birds Movie (2D) 11.30am,
1.30, 3.15 & 5pm; The Jungle Book
(2D) 6.45pm; Captain America:
Civil War (2D) 8.30 &11pm.
Royal Plaza Cinema Palace (2):
Azhar (Hindi) 11.15am; The Trust
(2D) 2pm; The Perfect Match
(2D) 3.45pm; All Roads Lead To
Rome (2D) 5.30pm; The Trust
(2D) 7.15pm; Hepta (Arabic) 9pm;
Azhar (Hindi) 11.15pm.
Royal Plaza Cinema Palace
(3): All Roads Lead To Rome (2D)
11.15am; Term Life (2D) 1pm; Mah
- E - Mir (Urdu) 2.45pm; Kangar
Hoppiena (Arabic) 5.30pm; Hepta
(Arabic) 7.30pm; Term Life (2D)
9.45pm; Hellions (2D)
11.30pm.
Asian Town Cinema: Jacobinte
Swargarajyam (Malayalam) 6, 7,
8.30, 9 & 10pm; 24 (Tamil) 7, 9
& 10pm; Baaghi (Hindi) 3.15pm;
Azhar (Hindi) 5.45 & 11.30pm.
Sunday, May 15, 2016
GULF TIMES
3
COMMUNITY
EVENTS
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.
Exhibition for Transport and Logistics
DATE: May 24-26
TIME: 5pm-9pm
VENUE: Doha Exhibition and Conference
Center
Trans4 is a major marketplace for transport
services, attracting leading professionals
from Qatar, the Middle East and the world.
It will address issues concerning the
development of the Qatari transport system,
and new information systems for interaction
among different modes of transport, as
well as addressing the logistics issues in the
global market for transportation and logistics
services.
Art Workshop
DATE: May 17-19
VENUE: Youth Art Centre
Keen to develop youth talents and art skills,
the Youth Art Center will organise workshop
this May. The workshop on manufacturing
art books will be held from May 17-19. For
registration, please call at: 44665650.
Interpretations Art Exhibition
DATE: May 26-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 May 26– 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: May 12- 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.
Pant 4 PAWS Inaugural Triathlon
DATE: May 20
TIME: 5:30pm
VENUE: InterContinental Doha
Pant for Paws 2016, an inaugural event, will
be championed and led by Live Life Crossfit
and supported by a number of other crossfit
boxes and gyms in Doha. A beach triathlon
consisting of three stages: 3hrs duration.
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.
Aspire In-Side-Out Fun Run
DATE: May 20
TIME: 7pm
VENUE: Aspire Zone
Aspire In-Side-Out Fun Run 2016 is an
exciting way to lead an active and healthy
lifestyle. Join us on May 20 at 7pm at the
Aspire Zone Warm Up Track. The untimed
race is approximately 5km of fun, where
runners make their way around both
an indoor and outdoor course, giving
participants an exclusive chance to discover
locations and areas of Aspire Zone they would
not normally see.
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
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.
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.
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 QR 60 per class per person.
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 Radisson 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
RESTAURANT: Sridan
LOCATION: Shangri-La Hotel
Head over to Sridan during the Holy Month
of Ramadan for dinner with over 129 dishes
for just QR129 per person. Shangri-La Hotel
Doha, Sridan Restaurant, Level 2, Conference
Centre Street, West Bay, E-mail: doha.
[email protected], Phone: 44295295.
Compiled by Nausheen Shaikh. E-mail: [email protected], Events and timings subject to change
4
GULF TIMES Sunday, May 15, 2016
COMMUNITY
COVER STORY
“Commercial symbols have
seeped deep into our lives”
— Masakatsu Sashie, Japanese artist
It’s
important that
I have a clear, blank
mind devoid of any
dominant emotion
when I create
my art
SUNDAY
CONVERSATION
MAKING A STATEMENT: Masakatsu Sashie at the exhibition in Anima Gallery.
By Anand Holla
I
n Masakatsu Sashie’s world,
doom and danger are silent
assassins. A devastated
civilisation whimpers in ruins
while an orb, an imaginary
world representing large, city-like
spheres made out of a random
stash of multi-national brands
and manmade objects, remains
ominously suspended over it.
The prolific Japanese artist’s
signature orb paintings of the
“fictional world, filled with
futuristic warnings about human’s
tendencies for environmental
dominance and overconsumption,” are as much a source
for wide-eyed wonder as they are
a trigger for a flood of questions,
curiosities and concerns.
Talk to Sashie about his art
and you immediately learn that
the orbs were inevitable. “When
I was younger, I wanted to draw
the cosmos, but not just the
cosmos,” Sashie tells Community,
moments after the launch of his
deeply compelling solo exhibition
Micro Invasion at Anima Gallery,
The Pearl, “I wanted to paint
everything in one frame; my home,
my neighbourhood, my region and
the cosmos — all of these together.
That’s where the quest for the orb
paintings began.”
The gently-floating massive
orbs are created out of scraps of old
constructions from the Showaperiod — a period of enlightened
peace and harmony, period of
radiant Japan during the time
of reign of the Showa Emperor,
Hirohito, from 1926 to 1989 — and
pieces of mass production and
mass consumption culture, says
a note introducing the exhibition
that opened last week and will
be on until August 9. “Things
like vending machines, pachinko
parlours or fast food signs and
video game components are woven
into Masakatsu’s imagery in his orb
painting,” the note points out.
Purely on aesthetics, Sashie’s
paintings are exquisitely executed;
the colour tones strangely soothing,
the mood blending real and surreal,
the look in sync with the panels of
a deftly drawn post-apocalyptic
graphic novel. Conceptually, Sashie
achieves new heights by simply
articulating what we all have
silently pondered over many a time.
“As far as I can remember, I
have always had this theme in my
head,” Sashie says, referring to the
orbs perpetually hovering over
landscapes that are essentially
landfills full of rolling hills of
glowing televisions, tyres, vending
machines, vehicles, and many such
Sunday, May 15, 2016
Sashie replaces the large red disc, which represents the sun, in the centre of the Japanese flag, in
his painting titled Fever.
One of Sashie’s works.
5
COMMUNITY
COVER STORY
factory manufactured products,
“But sometimes, when I might be
angry or upset about something,
I refrain from painting anything.
That’s because it’s important that
I have a clear, blank mind devoid
of any dominant emotion when I
create my art, so that I am able to
express my idea through not just
one facet, but all facets. I can’t
afford to be imbalanced in my
expression of thoughts.”
Art critics have found Sashie’s
work to have a fantasy “old Japan”
look about them, in the way he
manages to mix elements of
Japanese architecture from the
post-World War II era with fantasy
or science fiction motifs. The
complete absence of human figures
in Sashie’s work is also deliberate
— he doesn’t want to give away
a sense of time, space, or what
direction or scale to think, on a
platter to his viewer.
Over the years, Sashie has
maintained what he has formulated
as the fundamental theme of his
work. “That theme is a ‘world’
that functions by the phenomenon
seen in the balanced aquarium.
It is a limited space within which
the circle of life exists,” Sashie
says, “The size of the world to an
individual varies depending on his
imagination and determination.
How would one view the world if
GULF TIMES
A lizard and a frog desire for artificial things that hover in air as orbs, in two of Sashie’s paintings.
Perhaps the spacious breathing room for boundless
interpretation that Sashie’s clearly worrisome depiction
of a near-dystopian future allows is what makes his work
stay with you, long after you have left the venue
his living space were physically
limited, maybe in a container, for
example, an aquarium?”
“Every life form, within its
designated space, occupies a
smaller territory,” Sashie continues,
“Within it, egoism and indifference
toward the environment are
repeated daily. Yet, it is also full of
everyday tranquility and happiness.
These two factors express a world,
which is somewhat unstable but
retains a comfortable balance.”
But why does he keep referencing
corporate giants and their
ubiquitous logos in his work? “The
logos and signs of the big brands are
like commercial symbols that have
seeped so deep into our lives that
we feel like these companies make
our lives or are an integral part of
it,” Sashie explains, “There are
good parts and bad parts about this
phenomenon of brands taking over
our lives and I have tried to express
both.”
One would be hard-pressed
to see the good when, in Sashie’s
work, multi-national companies
revel in destruction and an
ecosystem of exclusivity. Sashie,
however, has an entirely different
point of view. “But you see,
destruction is a characteristic of
nature. I don’t view it as bad. It’s
not good, but it’s not bad either
— it’s natural,” Sashie says, “So if
the world is destroyed, it’s the will
of nature. If you don’t want to see
it get destroyed, you have to do
something.”
Speaking of the artificial
world of brands and superficial
pleasures seem like the farthest
one can be from nature. And again,
Sashie surprises you by what
he perceives as natural. In fact,
he holds immense appreciation
for manmade objects and finds
beauty in the contours of disused
machines and the monotony of
their uniformity.
“I believe these brands and their
products are part of nature,” Sashie
declares, “All man-made objects
are part of nature, as they are a
natural extension of mankind, and
a physical manifestation of man’s
creativity. For instance, while petrol
is derived from nature, we often
think of it and treat it as artificial. I
believe that everything we make is
also nature because we are nature.”
Born in 1974 in Kanazawa, Japan,
which is also where he currently
lives, Sashie has imbibed the rich
traditional art heritage of his city
as much as he has attuned himself
to its ever-rising contemporary
art dynamics. Sashie’s work has
been exhibited throughout Asia
and the US including art fairs such
as The Armory Show in New York
and Art Hong Kong. In 2012, his
work was included in the Giant
Robot Biennale 3 exhibition at
the Japanese American National
Museum in Los Angeles, California.
As an influential artist who
represents the Japanese flag around
the world, Sashie doesn’t back away
from even replacing the large red
disc, representing the sun, in the
centre of the Japanese flag, in his
painting titled Fever. The red disc
makes way for his favourite muse —
an orb, either filled with pachinko
units, vending machines or fastfood brands. “I wanted to show
how the streets of Japan are so safe
that the food and drink vending
machines are so commonplace
all across our cities. So while the
contents of the orb speak about the
safety in Japan, it also speaks of the
American brands taking over our
society,” he explains.
As art lovers of Doha admire and
converse over the series of Sashie
paintings that grace the bright
white walls of the gallery, at one
corner lies an art installation that’s
basically a real world rendering of
one of Sashie’s works — a rubble of
car tyres strewn with broken home
appliances, and a large grey flag
perched on top of the heap. It seems
like a call to action for mankind at
large, a visual warning of what our
greed has left us with.
“The flag is grey because
grey has no meaning. So you
can interpret this the way you
wish,” Sashie says and smiles. It’s
perhaps that spacious breathing
room for boundless interpretation
that Sashie’s clearly worrisome
depiction of a near-dystopian
future allows is what makes his
work stay with you, long after you
have left the venue.
Ghada Sholy, owner of Anima Art Gallery and Lounge, with Sashie and others at the exhibition.
6
GULF TIMES Sunday, May 15, 2016
COMMUNITY
WEATHER ADDICT
The devastated neighbourhood of Abasand after being ravaged by a wildfire in Fort McMurray, Alberta, Canada.
Photo by Reuters
Wildfire forces entire city
in Canada to evacuate
By Steff Gaulter
A
huge wildfire has engulfed parts
of Canada, forcing an entire
city to evacuate. Approximately
80,000 residents were told to
leave their homes as the fire bore
down on Fort McMurray. The city became a
ghost town, with buildings and cars standing
empty and abandoned.
Fortunately, 90 percent of the buildings
are believed to have been saved from the fire
and this includes some of the most critical
infrastructure, such as the hospital and
water-treatment plant. However, some of the
neighbourhoods that have been hit are now
completely unrecognisable. Row upon row
of houses has been razed to ground, leaving
only an odd surviving lamppost or a burnt out
vehicle in a driveway.
Obviously for those people who have lost
everything, the pain is almost unimaginable,
but even those who still have homes, the
trauma isn’t over yet. At the time of writing
this, it was still not considered safe enough
for anyone to return to the city. The power
grid has been damaged and water in the city is
no longer safe to drink. For safety reasons the
gas supply was turned off during the fire and
cannot be switched back on until extensive
checks have been undertaken, and there is
also a significant amount of debris littering
some neighbourhoods. Until these problems
have been addressed, the city cannot be
considered safe enough for the residents to
return.
As one of the coldest countries in the
world, Canada is better known for snow and
ice hockey, than for its heat and wildfires, but
that’s not to say that the country is a stranger
to heatwaves. The deadliest weather event
to hit the country was an extreme heatwave
which struck in 1936. Approximately 780
people lost their lives, and an additional
400 were killed indirectly – as a result
of drowning whilst swimming, or in car
accidents on asphalt which became slippery
in the heat.
The heat usually starts to emerge in the
spring, but it doesn’t appear gradually. The
frigid icy weather which has been dominating
the region throughout the winter is forcefully
pushed out by the warm air from the Gulf
of Mexico. The battle between the different
types of weather can continue for months,
and often leads to huge fluctuations in
temperature; on April 19 the maximum
temperature in Fort McMurray reached a
toasty 21C (70F), but the very next day the
temperature struggled to reach 4C (39F).
The risk of wildfires in Canada is usually
greatest between April and September, but it
was already suspected that this year would
bring a much greater number of wildfires
than usual. Last year was certainly an active
season, with western Canada seeing one of
the worst wildfire seasons on record.
Over the last three years the region has
seen below average rainfall, and 2015 was
particularly dry. This is thought to be due
to El Nino, the warming of the waters of
the Pacific Ocean, which often brings dry
conditions to western Canada. The lack of
rain has dried out much of the vegetation,
leaving the forest particularly vulnerable to
fires.
When the deficiency of snow and rain
continued last winter, the decision was
made to move Alberta’s 2016 wildfire season
forward, so it started one month earlier than
usual, on March 1. The temperature in Fort
McMurray on this day was only -3C, 27F,
and therefore the threat of a forest fire was
somewhat minimal. However, by the end of
the month the temperatures were fluctuating
wildly. On May 2, the day that the fire bore
down on Fort McMurray, the maximum
temperature was 27C (81F) and the following
days were even hotter.
The maximum temperature of 32C (90F)
was accompanied by a strong and gusty wind.
At its worst it was gusting up to 72 kilometres
per hour (45 mph), fanning the flames of
the fire and encouraging it to spread. Even
on May 5, the temperature dropped, but the
winds were still working against the fire
fighters.
The gusty winds didn’t only help the fire
gain ground quickly, but it also helped it to
move in unexpected ways. It even jumped
the huge Athabasca river, which bisects Fort
McMurray. The river is over one kilometre
wide, and it was hoped it would protect a
portion of the city.
The toll of the fire is far from over, but it is
believed that this will be the costliest natural
disaster in Canadian history. The insurance
claims are said to already have topped one
billion Canadian dollars, but the real expense
comes from the fact that Fort McMurray is in
the middle of the oil sands of Canada. The fire
has forced many oil producers to reduce their
crude-oil output, with more than a quarter of
daily production now suspended.
The residents of Fort McMurray will be
desperate to return home and assess the
damage to their properties. As the long
summer stretches ahead of them, there is still
the risk of more fires to come. Having faced a
fire which was twice the size of Calgary, or 12
times the size of Doha, the worst for those in
Fort McMurray must surely be over. For other
parts of western parts of Canada, however,
the risk of more life-threatening wildfires
remains real.
(The author is Senior Weather Presenter
at Al Jazeera English channel. She can be
contacted on [email protected]
or on Twitter at @WeatherSteff)
Sunday, May 15, 2016
GULF TIMES
7
COMMUNITY
Italian alfresco
dining by the sea
La Veranda at Sheraton Grand Doha Resort & Convention
Hotel ‘matches Italy’s finest restaurants.’ By Anand Holla
TASTE OF ITALY: Homemade ravioli with burrata cheese and orange, lobster ragout and lobster mayo at La Veranda.
I
The La Veranda restaurant.
n Doha, one might think, you can’t
have your slice of Italy and eat it, too.
At the La Veranda restaurant though,
gorgeously set on the brink of the
Corniche, you can have your slice
of quintessential Italian alfresco dining
ambience by the sea – so what if it’s Arabian
and not Mediterranean – and eat a slice of
delicious pizzas off wood-fired ovens, too.
The recently revamped Sheraton Grand
Doha Resort & Convention Hotel houses topof-the-line restaurants that are specialists in
the cuisines they deal with such as Al Maskar,
Al Hubara, Al Shaheen, Latino Steakhouse,
and La Veranda. Authentic Italian cuisine
inspired by everything from traditional
home-cooked goodness to the gastronomic
rewards of focusing on fresh produce, La
Veranda packs in the kitchen favourites with
flair and offers a fantastic sea view to boot.
As an appetiser, the Melanzane alla
parmigiana with its mix of eggplant, basil,
tomato sauce, parmesan and mozzarella, for
instance, works on many levels. With tenderto-the-bite gnocchi slathered in a rich
white cheesy ensemble, Gnocchi ai quattro
formaggi is a heaven-sent hug to the taste
buds. Deep saffron notes and fresh burrata
cheese stand out all through in the creamy
Risotto allo zafferano that satisfies in terms
of both quantity and substance. The star of
the desserts section, Tiramisu tradizionale
crumbles and melts in mouth to such
gratifying sweetness that you might want to
pen a poem in its praise.
Among the other highlights in the menu
are Tagliata di manzo (grilled rib eye served
with rocket salad and cherry tomato), Galleto
arrosto (roasted baby chicken served with
grilled vegetables and potatoes), Grigliata
di mare (seafood mixed grill of lobster,
cuttlefish, king prawns and scallops, served
with grilled vegetables and salmoriglio
dressing), Porcini e tartufo pizza (mozzarella,
porcini mushrooms and black truffle), and
Ravioli di burrata (filled with burrata and
served with lobster ragu).
Italian cuisine in Doha is on a tremendous
high – only last week, Ospitalita’ Italiana
Diplomas, which follows procedures similar
to those of being awarded a Michelin Star,
were awarded to 11 Italian restaurants of
Qatar for meeting the highest standards of
food and service. In the face of such intense
competition and Italian cuisine alternatives,
how does La Veranda stand out from the rest?
Head Chef Alessandro told Community,
“The location of our restaurant, with the
unique sea view and the beautiful ambience,
the authentic wood oven pizzas, the use of
fresh seasonal ingredients; these are some of
the distinguishing factors.”
One would have to agree. The terrific
location is complemented by a menu that
revels in sophisticated simplicity and
authentic flavours, which is made only better
by how light the food at La Veranda is on the
stomach. “We want our guests to experience
Italy in the heart of Doha, be it through the
combination of authentic Italian flavours we
offer or the warm ambience of our restaurant.
We see to it that our guests leave the restaurant
satisfied, peaceful and happy,” the Chef says.
Understandably, great care is taken to
ensure that the ingredients are of Italian
origin and of high quality. “We focus on
procuring Italian-origin ingredients and
that the food is cooked by Italian chefs,”
Alessandro says, “Also, we ensure that the
preparation method of dishes follow the
traditional way of Italian cooking.”
Over time, La Veranda has enjoyed good
word of mouth and it has become as much
a favourite with many locals and expats as a
dining place as it has for its business lunches
and weekend brunches. Alessandro says, “For
us, the best compliment has come from the
guests who have travelled to Italy. They have
congratulated us at La Veranda for exceeding
their expectations and matching Italy’s finest
restaurants.”
8
GULF TIMES Sunday, May 15, 2016
COMMUNITY
MES conducts investiture ceremony of its Student Council for 2016-17
MES Indian School conducted the investiture ceremony of its newly elected Student Council members for the academic year 2016-2017 recently. The inductees include school appointees and prefects,
club secretaries, Campus Care Force leaders, scouts and guides, cubs and bulbuls and house captains of all sections of the school. Yousuf Najeeb was inducted as the Junior Head Boy, Onaisas Rashid
as the Junior Head Girl, Akhil Uday as the Senior Head Boy, Fathima Nida Jamal as the Senior Head Girl, Mohammed Omer as Head Boy CBSE-I, and Elisabeth Mary Ajit as Head Girl CBSE-i.
MES Under-17 wins CBSE Qatar Cluster Badminton Tournament
The Under-17 badminton team of MES Indian School comprising Saif Sayed Mohamed, Haadi Mohamed Hashim and Sahal Rahman won the CBSE Qatar Cluster Badminton Tournament hosted by
DMIS Indian School recently, qualifying for the CBSE National Badminton Tournament. The Under-14 Boys’ team of MES — Shaffin Reyods, Punit Paandey and Arjun — finished third in the tournament.
The teams were trained by Binoy KK of the Physical Education Department of the school.
QAID instructs 2,500 students about dental health
The Qatar Association of Indian
Dentists (QAID), a conglomerate of
dental practitioners in Qatar, carried
out extensive oral health awareness
programmes in collaboration with the
Ministry of Public Health in various
Indian schools of Qatar during April.
This was to commemorate the 7th
GCC Oral Health Week, the theme of
which was “Teeth, Health & Beauty”.
The primary aim of the programme
was to instil dental hygiene awareness
among school-going children, as oral
cavity is considered the most used
as well as the most abused part of
one’s body. People generally have little
knowledge about various preventive
measures that keep oral diseases away.
The programme was conducted in
12 Indian schools in Qatar. A team
of more than 30 dentists of QAID
delivered oral health education to
around 2,500 students and 120
teachers, laying special emphasis
on prevention and treatment of oral
diseases like cavities, gum redness
and management during dental
emergencies.
Education was in the form of lectures,
demonstrations and interactive
sessions.
Participating schools were Birla Public
School, Bhavan’s Public School, DPSMIS, Doha Modern Indian School,
Loyola International School, Noble
International School, Olive International
School, Pearl School, The Scholars
International School, Shantiniketan
Indian School, and Rajagiri Public
School.
Sunday, May 15, 2016
GULF TIMES
9
COMMUNITY
DPS-MIS remains
unbeaten in Hajika
Memorial
Inter-School Essay
Writing Competition
Two of DPS-Modern Indian School students, Beenish
Khan and Shubhangi Kumari bagged the first
position in both the categories of Hajika Memorial
Inter-School Essay Writing Competition, conducted
by the Indian Community Benevolent Forum at Birla
Public School recently. Around 200 students from
eight Indian schools participated in the competition
held in junior and senior categories. Beenish won
in the junior category, while Shubhangi won in the
senior category. The competition was in memory of
Hajika, a social and charitable activist, who bestowed
his services to the Indian community in Qatar.
DeBakey students visit restaurant to practice Spanish
DeBakey students who are enrolled in Spanish visited Aceite restaurant at Melia Hotel recently. Students enjoyed traditional Spanish dishes like tapas and paella, as well as practiced their Spanish skills
when ordering their food. DeBakey high school students must complete two years of a foreign language, and this field trip was an extension of their classroom lessons.
10 GULF TIMES Sunday, May 15, 2016
COMMUNITY
Blood donation campaign by Integral Services
Obituary
Integral Services Co joined hands with Hamad Medical Corporation recently to organise a blood donation campaign at its head office on the D Ring Road
recently. The slogan of the initiative was “Donate Blood, Save a Life”. The campaign was supported by employees from various departments. More than 75
employees registered to donate blood, and 52 of them qualified for blood donation after the screening process.
Indian businessman dies
Mohamed Sherif, an Indian national
running a super market in Doha
Central Market died of heart attack
on Thursday. He was 44.
The body was flown home on
Friday.
Sherif leaves behind his wife
Naseema and five children.
A native of Sulthan Bathery in
Kerala’s Wayanad district, Sherif
was in Qatar for more than 4 years.
OSN appoints a Chief Content Officer
O
SN has announced
the appointment
of Emad Morcos as
its Chief Content
Officer, a newly
created organisational role. He will
be responsible for driving OSN’s
consolidated content strategy
and is also mandated with the
acquisition of programming rights
across all OSN platforms.
With over 24 years of broadcast
experience gained in some of the
world’s leading media companies
in the US, Europe and the Middle
East, Morcos has been serving
as Senior Vice President, Media
Partners & Digital at OSN. He
reports to David Butorac, Chief
Executive Officer of OSN.
David Butorac said: “The
differentiating strength of OSN is
its extensive portfolio of exclusive
and premium content tailored
for all our platforms including
linear TV, OSN Play and Go online
TV. Emad brings strong industry
insights and experience that will
enable us to continue to build on
our leadership position. Emad’s
new role will mean consolidation of
content across platforms which is
key to our success going forward.”
Emad Morcos said: “Today’s
audiences are discerning about
how and what they view. They
demand the newest content at the
same minute as global audiences.
This calls for a comprehensive
world-view on our content
strategy for all our platforms
to add sustained value for our
subscribers. We will continue
to focus on building global
partnerships with the world’s
Emad Morcos
premier content and channel
providers, alongside an emphasis
on local content creation to
maintain our cutting edge as the
premier provider of world-class
entertainment.”
In his new role, Emad will
further build on OSN’s content
consolidation strategy that will
drive revenue growth and cost
management while enhancing the
subscriber experience. He will also
be responsible for the acquisition
of rights for all platforms,
programming and creative services.
Part of the senior management
team at OSN since 2007, Morcos
has played an instrumental role
in driving the company’s growth
forging new partnerships and
global channel distribution
deals. He was behind the launch
of OSN’s award-winning digital
platforms, OSN Play and Go online
TV. Morcos spearheaded the
acquisition of Pehla, enabling OSN
to establish its credentials as a
go-to network for premium South
Asian content including cricket
and was key in strengthening
OSN’s Filipino entertainment
offering.
Sunday, May 15, 2016
GULF TIMES
11
COMMUNITY
MARKETING
BMW Lifestyle Collections 2016
promise a powerful statement
F
or those who want to extend the
BMW experience beyond the road,
the BMW Lifestyle Collections
promise a further way to experience
the typical BMW dynamism and
lifestyle at its best.
The all-new BMW Lifestyle Collections,
presented in the centenary year of the
BMW Group, now offer an even wider range
to choose from, with more than 250 new
products and styles.
An array of new watches joins the 2016
BMW Collections. Sporty features merge
effortlessly with sophisticated appeal.
Thanks to a large variety of different designs,
there is a model to suit everyone’s taste. For
example, the BMW Day Date model (ladies’
and men’s) with its Swiss Ronda movement,
structured dial pattern and leather strap is
timelessly elegant.
Then there’s the new BMW Chrono Watch,
with its angular stainless-steel case and
embossed leather strap, a powerful eyecatcher. The unisex chronograph also features
a round dial with an integrated tachymeter
around the rim, a date display (at 4 o’clock
position) and a coloured BMW logo at the top
of the dial. Luminous indices and luminous
hands ensure easy readability.
For those who prefer something even more
eye-stopping, the BMW Sport Chronograph
has to be the right choice. With a diameter of
43 millimetres, a polished bezel and a bright
blue dial, this men’s watch promises to make
the ultimate visual statement. The robust
bracelet with links of brushed stainless steel
and a butterfly clasp make the chronograph a
reliable companion for every adventure. Like
all BMW watches, this model is equipped
with a high-quality quartz movement by
Ronda.
BMW Lifestyle has added two new items
to the successful BMW Luggage Collection.
With the BMW Garment Bag and the BMW
Duffle Bag, it is easier than ever to travel
comfortably yet in style.
With large zips and ventilated side pockets,
the new BMW Garment Bag provides optimal
storage for clothes and shoes. Flat mesh
pockets inside the bag keep clothing neatly
organised at all times. And there’s a further
clever feature: using the side zips, the BMW
Garment Bag can be converted quickly and
easily into a stylish weekender-size bag.
This bag for every occasion is ideal for both
business trips and weekend getaways.
The new BMW Duffle Bag provides a
fashionable alternative to regular sports bags
and small suitcases. This spacious bag has
a tasteful herringbone design, with genuine
leather straps and the BMW word mark on
both sides. Two inner compartments, a zip
pocket, and a key ring help keep everything
neatly organised.
Some of the watches and bags in the new collection.
Huawei named ‘Best 5G Innovator’
at inaugural LTE & 5G MENA Awards
H
uawei took home
the award for Best
5G Innovator at the
inaugural LTE & 5G
MENA Awards held at
the Conrad Dubai recently.
Sun Xiaofeng, the Vice President
of Solution Sales & Marketing in
the Middle East, said: “We are
excited by the award and this
reflects our commitments and
beliefs in the region. As the region
continues to harness the potential
of LTE and expand its networks,
Huawei has proven to be one of the
leading innovators in the region’s
mobile broadband market. With
ambitious mobile broadband plans
already underway, we believe that
the Middle East will help lead the
development of 5G globally and
Huawei certainly plans to help
facilitate that development.”
In addition to winning the award,
Huawei is Diamond Sponsor for
this year’s edition of LTE MENA.
The conference was opened by Dr
Margaret Hu, President of Huawei
Wireless Network Marketing, with a
mobile broadband blueprint for the
The Huawei team at the inaugural LTE & 5G MENA Awards.
next five years.
“MBB development will make
‘Everything on Mobile’ a reality,”
She said. “To realise this vision
however, we must develop and unify
cross-industry standards, contain
costs, and promote co-operation
among different stakeholders.
These three factors will help drive
growth in this market. From now
until 2020, we have three main
targets globally: supporting 6.7
billion mobile broadband users,
supporting a 1Gbps access rate, and
supporting 1 billion connections for
the cellular Internet of Things. In
the region in particular, we believe
that the emergence of a fullyconnected world with boundless
possibilities is imminent. Achieving
these goals will most certainly
require technology, business model
innovation as well as cross-industry
collaboration.”
More than 600 experts from the
global ICT industry convened at
the conference to discuss mobile
broadband and other emerging
technologies. Huawei partnered
with telecom operators, analysts,
regulators, and a host of other
technology pioneers to put the
MENA region at the forefront of
today’s connected world and map
out the future road to 5G.
Together with the event organiser
Informa, Huawei also co-hosted
the first MBB VIP Salon at the
event, inviting CXOs and VPs
from more than 15 major operators
in the region to attend. Guests
included industry leaders, senior
executives from OVUM, as well as
representatives from The UAE’s
Telecommunications Regulatory
Authority.
Mohamed Madkour, VP
of Huawei Wireless Network
Marketing shared that Broadband,
connections enable the rise of a host
of new business models and can help
to efficiently restructure traditional
industries and generally improve
efficiencies and living experiences
for all.
Huawei has extended global open
partnerships on 5G technologies
with more than 20 operators,
including Etisalat, Vodafone,
Telefonica and TeliaSonera.
12 GULF TIMES Sunday, May 15, 2016
COMMUNITY
MOTORING
2016 GMC Acadia, a
coveted family staple
D
esigned for families
on-the-go, the GMC
Acadia – a refined,
full-size crossover
known for its
flexibility, accommodating space
and functionality – has never been
more within reach. Mannai Auto,
GMC’s exclusive dealership in
Qatar, is currently running a special
offer, one that provides buyers
with a host of benefits including
an instalment plan that starts from
QR2,377 per month.
Moreover, the deal promises
free registration, one year’s free
insurance, a three-year/60,000
kilometres free service package,
and a five-year unlimited mileage
warranty. The warranty also
comes with Roadside Assistance
for a period of four years.
Tailored for family life, the Acadia –
which comes equipped with highly
advanced safety features – provides
drivers with the convenience,
comfort, and style needed to
navigate today’s fast-paced urban
lifestyle.
The GMC Acadia.
Acadia’s 2016 lineup includes
the SLE, the SLT and the Denali
models, with seven- or eightpassenger configurations. All
Acadia models are equipped with
a 288hp 3.6L V-6 engine and a
six-speed transmission powertrain,
that includes performance and fuel
economy optimising technology.
The Acadia’s interior
functionality has become a family
favourite, including the Smart Slide
seating system, which allows easy
access to the third row for both
seven- and eight-passenger seating
configurations. Additionally, the
second and third row still fold flat
for class-leading maximum cargo
space.
The spacious interior of the
GMC Acadia is complemented with
the user friendly and feature rich
IntelliLink infotainment system
which is available as standard on
the base SLE for the 2016 model
year.
IntelliLink uses Bluetooth or USB
to connect the driver smartphone
to Acadia’s high-resolution,
full-colour touch screen display.
IntelliLink allows smartphone
control via voice activation and
steering wheel-mounted controls,
and streaming stereo audio from
the phone.
Most importantly, IntelliLink
enables seamless integration of
stowed portable devices with
Acadia’s infotainment system,
allowing minimum driver
distractions.
Audi is ‘Most Innovative Premium Brand’
A
udi has claimed three
wins at the Automotive
Innovation Award. The
award is presented by
the research institute
Center of Automotive Management
(CAM) and PricewaterhouseCoopers
AG (PwC). Audi wins the “Most
Innovative Premium Brand” main
prize. The brand with the four rings
also receives awards for its innovations
in the categories “Connected Car” and
“Vehicle Concepts/Body”.
“These awards are both praise
and motivation for our team,” said
Dr Stefan Knirsch, Member of the
AUDI AG Board of Management
for Technical Development. “We
are an innovation driver for classic
and alternative drive systems,
lightweight construction and
production processes, connectivity,
driver assistance and piloted driving
– and we are working continuously
to maintain our ‘Vorsprung durch
Technik’.”
The Center of Automotive
Management and
PricewaterhouseCoopers AG
presented the Automotive Innovations
Award for the fifth time this year. Over
1,400 innovations from 20 automobile
manufacturers and 50 brands were
considered for the award. The award
ceremony was held last week in
Frankfurt am Main.
From left, Felix Kuhnert, Leader Automotive Pricewaterhouse Coopers AG; Dr Stefan Knirsch, Member of the AUDI AG Board of Management for Technical
Development; Barbara Hahlweg, Presenter; and Prof Dr Stefan Bratzel, Director Center of Automotive Management.
Sunday, May 15, 2016
INFOGRAPHIC
GULF TIMES
COMMUNITY
13
14 GULF TIMES Sunday, May 15, 2016
COMMUNITY
Wordsearch
Adam
Pooch Cafe
World of Sports
AGOSTINI
ASHE
BORG
CARNERA
COMANECI
DEMPSEY
EDBERG
EVERT
FANGIO
GRAF
HAGEN
HOGAN
LAUDA
LEWIS
NURMI
OVETT
OWENS
PALMER
RUTH
SPITZ
TUNNEY
VIREN
WILLIAMS
ZATOPEK
Codeword
Puzzles courtesy: Puzzlechoice.com
Every letter of the alphabet is used at least once.
Squares with the same number in have the same letter
in. Work out which number represents which letter.
Garfield
Sudoku
Bound And Gagged
Sudoku is a puzzle based
on a 9x9 grid. The grid is
also divided into nine (3x3)
boxes. You are given a
selection of values and to
complete the puzzle, you
must fill the grid so that
every column, every anone
is repeated.
PUZZLES/CARTOONS
Sunday, May 15, 2016
15
COMMUNITY
PUZZLES
Quick Clues
ACROSS
7. Fat (6)
8. Pugilism (6)
10. Accept (7)
11. Put (5)
12. Image (4)
13. Manufacturer (5)
17. Hackneyed (5)
18. Couple (4)
22. Boundary (5)
23. Regular habit (7)
24. Obvious (6)
25. Boulevard (6)
GULF TIMES
Colouring
DOWN
1. Reproach (7)
2. Vehicle (7)
3. Demand (5)
4. Intricate (7)
5. Essential (5)
6. Tally (5)
9. Leaving (9)
14. Feign (7)
15. Brave (7)
16. Raiser (7)
19. Gradient (5)
20. Friendship (5)
21. Arc (5)
Cryptic Clues
Answers
Wordsearch
ACROSS
7. Courteous letter from town (6)
8. A moving proposal? (6)
10. Merely frozen water in fair play
(7)
11. Fish move on ice? (5)
12. Beware the underground
chamber! (4)
13. Steer clear of an empty space
(5)
17. Shrub, or its anagram (5)
18 . The book is coming my way (4)
22. Regretting having to spoil
string (5)
23. Formerly quoted as being
keyed up (7)
24. Selected for the team, but not
on the wing (6)
25. Iris on the bottle (6)
DOWN
1. Dependent topic (7)
2. Insulting about a passenger vehicle I
have (7)
3 . Getting some ocean tickets is quite a
caper! (5)
4 . Row back to vessel for service (7)
5. Trespass on first-class desert (5)
6. Stone used in attack (5)
9. Reserve for later attention -when the
holiday has ended (5,4)
14. Grew old in attempt to produce drama
(7)
15. The cost of a letter from the Gestapo (7)
16. The title of the course (7)
19. Drill the retinue? (5)
20. Conifer on street to begin with (5)
21. Reprimand: found buyers for about
100 (5)
Codeword
Yesterday’s Solutions
QUICK
Across: 1 Jewel; 4 Apricot; 8 Respect; 9
Charm; 10 Seer; 11 Converse; 13 Sane; 14 Iron;
16 Diabolic; 17 Late; 20 Naive; 21 Salient; 22
Exalted; 23 Total.
Down: 1 Jurisprudence; 2 Waste; 3
Leer; 4 Author; 5 Recovery; 6 Chagrin; 7
Temperamental; 12 Indolent; 13 Stamina; 15
Missed; 18 Adept; 19 Flat.
CRYPTIC
Across: 1 Hoist; 4 Lioness; 8 Gear-box; 9 Trace;
10 Even; 11 Star turn; 13 Oral; 14 Male; 16 In the
air; 17 Awes; 20 Dwell; 21 Asunder; 22 Rookery;
23 Press.
Down: 1 Highest bidder; 2 Irate; 3 Tube; 4
Laxity; 5 Outbreak; 6 Erasure; 7 Stern measures;
12 Pale blue; 13 On the go; 15 Bigamy; 18 Wedge;
19 Pump.
16 GULF TIMES Sunday, May 15, 2016
COMMUNITY
LIFESTYLE/HOROSCOPE
5 dream projects for DIYers and the
tools you need to get them done
require specialised equipment and tools even
the most diehard DIYer doesn’t own. The
upside is that it’s easy to rent this equipment
at your local rental store.
Be a grill-master on a brick barbecue
There are those who enjoy grilling out and
those whose life revolves around grilling. For
these grill-masters, nothing expresses their
passion like a brick grill or oven. And just as
satisfying as cooking on one, is building one.
To lay the foundation, a concrete mixer is
essential. To lay the bricks, you’ll also want to
look for a mortar mixer.
F
or many people, the longer, warmer
days mean an opportunity to roll
up their sleeves and get to work on
a number of home projects. You
may plan to plant some new trees,
make a new dining room table or just keep up
with the usual list of repairs and maintenance
items that come with the change of seasons.
But if you’re like many DIYers, you have your
heart set on some larger projects.
Often, one of the logistical challenges
with these dream projects is that they tend to
ARIES
March 21 — April 19
Today’s Moon shines in Virgo — your hard work zone. If you have
something to do today which simply won’t wait another day...today’s
the day! Jupiter in the same part of your chart is just the cosmic
push you need too.
CANCER
June 21 — July 22
In earthy Virgo, the Moon shines on your 3rd house of siblings,
communication and clear thinking. With Jupiter, the planet of
opportunity in the same part of your chart, this is the perfect time
to start thinking about what it is you want for you and your family in
the near future.
LIBRA
September 23 — October 22
Uranus the planet of surprises and unexpected events spends
time in your one on one relationship zone and has done for quite
some time. If your life has been full of ups and downs in love and
friendship, enjoy the ride!
CAPRICORN
December 22 — January 19
What did you expect Capricorns? That people were simply going to
allow you to get away with whatever it is you’re trying to get away
with — no questions asked?
Add value to your property with a
fence
Cutting the posts and shaping the tops
of the fence boards is fun, but the truly
backbreaking part of putting in a fence is
digging and driving the posts in. Using a
pneumatic post hole digger or a power auger
to dig those holes will not only save you time,
but will save your back as well.
A deck: The essential DIY project
Many of these dream projects require
careful site preparation before any hammer
TAURUS
April 20 — May 20
Unless you really feel the need to sort something out with your
significant other, now is not the time to start talking about things
and how and where the relationship is headed.
LEO
Nothing says summer like hot days and
cold drinks in a gazebo
Even if you pride yourself on being able
to drive in a nail with one hammer swing, if
you’re building a gazebo, you might want to
look into renting a nail gun. Not only does a
nail gun offer precise placements and strong
holds, it also saves an incredible amount of
time, especially when it comes to putting the
shingles on the roof.
Luxuriate under a pergola
Dating back to courtyards in renaissance
Italy, the pergola has become a stylised source
of shade in yards and patios across America.
Because they tend to be more decorative than
gazebos, they require specialised saws such as
a miter saw to create snug joints and a router
saw for round edges.
©Brandpoint
GEMINI
May 21 — June 20
Don’t overstep your ’place’ today twins. You should know when to
step it up and when to take a step or back — and with the Moon
and Jupiter both in your domestic zone, it might be a time to work
around the house versus working on anything else.
VIRGO
July 23 — August 22
August 23 — September 22
Open your eyes and be honest and realistic about something that
you may have been ignoring lately, Leos. It’s okay to hide out every
now and again, but enough is enough.
SCOR
or nail makes an appearance. Building a deck
requires lots of space, which means you need
to clear a good-sized area and maybe remove
a tree or two. Even small-sized shrubs can
leave behind an unsightly stump that requires
a stump grinder to fully remove.
PIO
October 23 — November 21
There’s nothing better than being right, is there? You for one love to
be on the ‘right side’, don’t you? However, just how important is it
today Scorpios?
AQUARIUS
January 20 — February 18
Right now, the planets are rather earth heavy — meaning that for you
air signs, there’s not a lot of room to manoeuver. Mars retrograde in
your hopes and wishes zone also suggests that right now is not the
time to push your agenda.
The Moon and Jupiter in your sign today suggest that luck is on your
side and that once Mercury your ruler moves direct in your higher
thinking zone May 21, you will be set to make moves!
SAGITTARIUS
November 22 — December 21
Don’t make a decision today based on a feeling of obligation or guilt.
That’s definitely not the right reason for making up your mind —
especially about something important.
PISCES
February 19 — March 20
Avoid getting caught up in something you may want to get out
of later on Pisces. Jupiter and the Moon in your relationship zone
paints a pretty picture today, but next week maybe not.
Sunday, May 15, 2016
GULF TIMES
17
COMMUNITY
BOLLYWOOD
Parineeti Chopra starts
Meri Pyaari Bindu shoot
Actress Parineeti Chopra is
happy she has begun to shoot for
the upcoming film Meri Pyaari
Bindu in the City of Joy. Parineeti,
last seen on screen in Shaad Alidirected Kill Dil, says her co-star
Ayushmann Khurrana will join the
set soon.
“It all begins in the City of Joy!
Bindu’s favourite Abhimanyu
will be here soon. Watch out
for Ayushmann Khurrana. Meri
Pyaari Bindu, Parineeti tweeted on
Thursday.
The Ishaqzaade star will be
seen essaying the character of an
aspiring singer in the Yash Raj Films
(YRF) movie and she will also croon
a number for it. Ayushmann will be
seen essaying the character of an
author named Abhimanyu Roy, and
flaunts a bearded look for it.
Meri Pyaari Bindu Parineeti
Chopra I love it when the Bindu in
you says such things,” Ayushmann
tweeted. Set in Kolkata, the film
is directed by debutant Akshay
Roy and is a Maneesh Sharma
production. — IANS
TRENDSETTER: Mohit Suri
I started the remix
culture: Mohit Suri
By Natalia Ningthoujam
T
um hi ho, Hamari adhuri kahani or Aye
khuda, the music of his films always has a lot
of heart and soul. But filmmaker Mohit Suri
says that people tend to forget that he was
the one who began the trend in the country
of remixing current songs.
When he made his debut as a director with the 2005
film Zeher, the movie not only made Pakistani singer
Atif Aslam a star in India, thanks to the melodious Woh
lamhe woh baatein number — it also introduced the
concept of remixing current tracks.
“Most people associate me with soulful music.
They forget that I started the remix culture. People
don’t realise that I had started the whole trend of disco
music. Earlier, there were remixes of only old songs and
not current songs,” Suri told IANS in an interview.
It didn’t take him long to think of joining forces with
DJ Suketu, a friend of Suri, on remixing Woh lamhe woh
baatein. “The song became a rage. They (the audience)
forget that music and now only associate me with
soulful music. For me, when it comes to movies it’s
always situational,” he said.
So, now he is glad to be associated with EMI Records
India — a collaborative label between Universal Music
India and Suri.
“The idea is to develop new talent ... not only in one
genre. My film can have only five songs, but there are so
many songs and artists that I like but can’t use them.
EMI has given me that opportunity. The thought of
SURPRISE ELEMENT: Alia Bhatt
Actress Alia Bhatt, who plays a
migrant Bihari labourer in Abhishek
Chaubey’s film Udta Punjab, says she was
avoided on the sets of the film as she was
unrecognisable in her look.
“When we started shooting, I walked
on to the sets and I was avoided by all.
Nobody realised that it was me. Suddenly
Big B lists disadvantages
of fame
FLIP SIDE: Amitabh Bachchan
plea by income tax authorities
challenging a Bombay High Court
order that permitted Amitabh tax
relief in earnings made from Kaun
Banega Crorepati (KBC).
But according to the chartered
accountants and the legal advisory
team of Amitabh, the case had no
relation to the KBC case. It further
said that the Supreme Court had
given Amitabh the right to appeal
against the re-assessment order.
The 73-year-old took to his
official blog to express his views.
He posted: “Prominence in any
form attracts attention ... fame,
celebrity, eminence, pre-eminence,
importance, distinction, greatness,
note, notability, prestige, stature,
standing, position, rank, renown,
repute, illustriousness, acclaim,
influence, account, consequence,
visibility.
“All the above can fit in
beautifully in ‘prominence’ but
the argument or debate that
could be centered around it would
have to be distracted by a million
different interpretations of it ; not
necessarily sympathetic ..It has
the capacity to garner hostility,
revenge, envy jealousy and allied
attributes.”
On the professional front,
Amitabh is awaiting the release of
TE3N and Pink. — IANS
when I spoke to Chaubey, everybody
realised and took five steps back. They felt
they had made a blunder,” said Alia at the
launch of the song Ikk Kudi from the film.
Composed by Amit Trivedi, Ikk Kudi is
a slow Punjabi song that directly touches
the heart. The video of the track shows
Alia, who plays an aspiring hockey player,
striving to get her first chance to display
her talent and how she eventually gets
one.
Speaking about her character, Alia
said: “If a character is angry or upset or
distraught, Alia doesn’t have anything to
do with it because it is the character. I am
comfortable doing whatever my character
wants me to do.”
Udta Punjab also stars Shahid Kapoor,
Diljit Dosanjh and Kareena Kapoor Khan.
Produced by Balaji Motion Pictures and
Phantom Productions, it is set to release
on June 17. — IANS
developing music outside films made me jump at the
opportunity,” said the Ek Villain director.
The first release by EMI Records was Anmol Malik’s
single Lamhein — a Hindi adaptation of Coldplay’s
Paradise.
Any other song that he wants to adapt?
“Akhaan is a folk song and has been modernised in
a way. But it’s not planned (to adapt songs). For me,
I go by what I like listening to, what I can tap my feet
to. That’s the criteria,” he said referring to the label’s
recently launched Akhaan — a dance number by urban
electronica collective Mango Beats.
Is singing or composing music in the pipeline?
“I don’t know how to play one musical instrument.
I don’t listen to music in any technical form. I never
impose my own thoughts on music directors. I just tell
them what I feel but in the end the call is taken by the
music composer and lyricist. Otherwise, all my music
will sound similar,” said Suri, who is the nephew of
filmmaker Mahesh Bhatt.
“I genuinely believe that Mahesh and Mukesh saab
have a great music sense, and I think it’s a genetic thing
that I have inherited. I didn’t take music course or I
don’t have any special skills.
“I remember when I was really young, my mother
used to take me to Emraan Hashmi’s (actor and his
cousin) house in a rickshaw during summer vacation.
Even in rickshaw, if a good song played my mom would
ask the driver to stop a little ahead till it got over,” he
reminisced.
Apart from music, he is tied up with his next film
titled Half Girlfriend, based on author Chetan Bhagat’s
novel of the same name. — IANS
I was avoided by all on
Udta Punjab set: Alia
UPBEAT: Parineeti Chopra
Just a day after getting embroiled
in a tax evasion case, megastar
Amitabh Bachchan pointed out how
fame and success “has the capacity
to garner hostility, revenge, envy,
jealousy and allied attributes”.
The Supreme Court upheld a
18 GULF TIMES Sunday, May 15, 2016
COMMUNITY
HOLLYWOOD
The game moves
to the big screen
Michael Fassbender takes up the sword in Assassin’s Creed. Can it spawn a film series?
By Josh Rottenberg
M
ichael Fassbender
is not a big video
game guy — at least
not anymore. In
his younger days,
the actor remembers coming home
from a night job unloading boxes
in a warehouse and playing one
particular racing game. “I’d get
obsessive about it and sit there for
six hours straight,” Fassbender said
recently by phone from Australia,
where he is currently shooting the
next film in the Alien franchise. “I
decided it wasn’t the best thing for
me to have around.”
When the French video game
developer Ubisoft approached
Fassbender a few years ago about
signing on to a film adaptation of
its popular game series Assassin’s
Creed, he knew next to nothing
about the game, which blends
history, parkour-style action, sci-fi,
conspiracy theories and, as the title
suggests, a whole lot of stealthy
killing. “I hadn’t played it,” said the
actor. “I was totally ignorant.”
Suffice it to say, he’s learned
a lot since then. On December
21, 20th Century Fox will release
its big-screen take on Assassin’s
Creed, with Fassbender starring
as Callum Lynch, an alienated,
violent drifter who discovers
that he is descended from a 15th
century Spanish assassin named
Aguilar. Recruited (kidnapped is
more like it) by a corporation called
Abstergo Industries, Lynch taps
into his ancestral memories via a
device called the Animus to gain the
know-how to fight the Assassins’
age-old nemeses, the Templars, in a
battle for the future of humanity.
“Callum doesn’t belong to
anything, doesn’t have a family,”
Fassbender said of the character,
who is different from the original
games’ main protagonist, a young
bartender named Desmond
Miles. “We thought it would be
interesting to have somebody that
was disconnected be faced with
what it means to join something so
sacrificial.”
With their rabid built-in fan
bases, fast-paced action and often
complex mythologies, video games
have often been alluring fodder
for movie adaptations. Assassin’s
Creed is one of four hitting theatres
this year, along with Ratchet and
Clank, The Angry Birds Movie
and Warcraft, and many more
are in the pipeline. (Among other
projects, Ubisoft’s film division is
also developing an adaptation of its
Splinter Cell game series, with actor
Tom Hardy attached to star.)
Translating the interactive
gaming experience into the medium
of narrative film, though, is a
tricky piece of business. For every
commercial success like Lara
Croft: Tomb Raider or the Resident
Evil series, there are a whole lot
of forgettable duds like Doom and
Street Fighter: The Legend of ChunLi. But Ubisoft and Fox are bullish
on the film, and plans are already in
the works for an ongoing franchise.
Assassin’s Creed, which jumps
back and forth in time between
the present day and the Spanish
Inquisition, is attempting a tricky
balancing act — simultaneously
treating the game that inspired it
with what Fassbender, who is also
producing the film, calls “a healthy
dose of respect and disrespect.”
On the one hand, the movie is
trying to capture what hard-core
gamers have loved about the many
Assassin’s Creed games, which
have sold more than 80mn copies
and spawned a number of spinoff
comics and novels. On the other,
it’s trying to tell an engrossing
original story that stands on its
own even if you’ve never even laid
a finger on a game controller. (With
Fassbender and costars Marion
Cotillard and Jeremy Irons, it’s safe
to say the Assassin’s Creed cast
boasts more Oscar nominations and
wins than any previous video game
adaptation.)
Like Fassbender, director
Justin Kurzel had never played
the game before signing on to the
project. Nor, for that matter, had
the Australian filmmaker — who
previously directed Fassbender
and Cotillard in last year’s Macbeth
— ever made a film on this scale,
with this degree of action, special
effects and stunt work. “That’s
probably what attracted me to it —
how frightening it was,” he said last
week by phone from London, where
he is in postproduction on the film,
which cost more than $150mn to
produce.
Rather than try to replicate the
first-person gaming experience
with filmmaking gimmickry, Kurzel
locked into the characters and
the narrative, exploring the idea
of genetic memory as well as the
rich, volatile history of the Spanish
Inquisition.
“I spent most of my time with
the story and the real history,”
Kurzel said. “That was my main
focus — not so much forensically
going through every aspect of the
game. It was: How do you make this
into a piece of cinema?”
If Assassin’s Creed works on
those cinematic terms — and, of
course, on box-office terms — the
plan is to follow it with sequels that
will roam through history like the
game series, which has ventured
into such periods as the Crusades,
the Renaissance, the American
Colonial era and the French
Revolution.
“The possibilities are kind of
endless,” Kurzel said. “When we’ve
been discussing where you could
take it, you’re not sitting around
twiddling your thumbs.”
“That’s what’s so intriguing for
people who love that universe,” said
Fassbender, who added that the
arc of a potential Assassin’s Creed
trilogy has been sketched out.
“I was talking to a friend recently
and he said he was talking to his
14-year-old son about going away
on a long weekend together. He
said, ‘Where do you want to go?’
and his son said, ‘I want to go to
Florence.’ He wanted to check out
the city because of the game.” — Los
Angeles Times/TNS
Sunday, May 15, 2016
GULF TIMES 19
COMMUNITY
HOLLYWOOD
No anger trouble for Danny McBride
Actor Danny McBride, who has voiced the volatile
character Bomb in The Angry Birds Movie, says he
has never been angry in his life. McBride is known for
his stand-up comedy and impeccable comic timing.
And now he will be heard as a bird named Bomb, who
explodes when he gets excited or can’t handle the anger
within him.
“He has an explosive personality and explodes when
he gets angry. He wants to improve. He’s embarrassed
that he can’t control his anger, and he wants to focus
it. Bomb is actually a pretty laid-back, fun-loving guy,
but any little thing can set him off,” McBride said in
a statement. Asked how he deals with anger, he said:
“I’ve never been angry in my life.”
The Angry Birds Movie hits the screens on May 27.
Taking the basic structure of Rovio Entertainment’s
mobile game of the same name, the film brings the
story of Red and his friends onto the silver screen in
a hilarious manner. In the game, angry but cute little
birds fight it out with animals who have stolen their
eggs. In the film, the birds will get angry, they will
seek revenge, they will vow to save their world but
with traces of comedy. The film is supported by Jason
Sudeikis as Red, Josh Gad as speedy Chuck, Bill Hader,
Maya Rudolph as Matilda, and Peter Dinklage as the
Mighty Eagle. – IANS
Sharon is still the boss: Osbourne
Black Sabbath frontman Ozzy Osbourne says his
estranged wife Sharon Osbourne is still “the boss” as
the former couple made their first public appearance
together since their recent split.
Sharon kicked Ozzy out of their Los Angeles home
amid reports that he had been sleeping with hairdresser
Michelle Pugh but she remains his business manager.
They recently reunited at the Los Angeles Palladium
for a press conference where Sharon supported Ozzy by
announcing the merging of their annual music festival
Ozzfest and American metal band Slipknot’s music
Studios are scared of
women: Jodie Foster
H
festival Knotfest. “Our wives have been very important
to us,” Ozzy told eonline.com.
When asked if she is “still the boss,” he replied, “Oh,
yeah”. — IANS
Mia Wasikowska wants
more time with family
MAKING A POINT: Jodie Foster
ollywood’s current
obsession with bigbudget “tentpoles”
is holding the movie
business back when
it comes to creating more films by
and for women, actress-filmmaker
Jodie Foster said at the ongoing
69th annual Cannes Film Festival.
“They’ll make enormous movies
tentpole films and they’ll be all in,
kind of like a casino bet. That’s a
really dangerous bet,” Foster said at
variety.com and Kering’s ‘Women
in Motion’ talk last week.
“Studio executives are scared,
period. This is the most risk averse
time that I can remember in movie
history,” she added.
In this climate of fear, executives
COOL CUSTOMER: Danny McBride
are more likely to lean on what is
familiar. “You’re going to go with
the guy that looks like you,” she
said.
Foster, whose film Money
Monster will be premiered at the
film fest, believes that things
have improved. Not only are more
women directing movies or editing
films, but the sets have become
more professional as they grow
more diverse.
“I saw the faces change as time
went on,” Foster said.
“Everything changed when
women came onto sets... It felt
more like a family... Movie sets
became healthier,” she added.
The film will release in India by
Sony Pictures on May 15. — IANS
Adam Lambert ‘floored’ by Rihanna
Singer Adam Lambert says he was floored after watching singer
Rihanna perform live. Lambert caught Rihanna’s show in Detroit and says
her singing skills blew him away, reports femalefirst.co.uk.
Speaking on TV show The Hot Desk, Lambert said: “I like Rihanna’s
Instagram page because she’s so fun to look at. She’s so gorgeous. I went
to her concert in Detroit a few weeks ago. It was the night before I had a
concert there.
“I knew it was going to be a great show anyway because I know the
songs, but I was blown away. It was such a good show... the design and
everything was really gorgeous and she delivered some vocals! I was
floored... I was really impressed, actually.” — IANS
FAMILY FIRST: Mia Wasikowska
Actress Mia Wasikowska wishes she could spend
more time with her family. The 26-year-old is
kept away from home for months at a time due
to her successful Hollywood career and feels she
is missing out on seeing her three nephews and a
niece grow up, reports femalefirst.co.uk.
Speaking at the European premiere of her
new movie Alice Through the Looking Glass,
Wasikowska told BANG Showbiz: “I have three
nephews and a niece and they seem to like rocket
forward — I sometimes feel as though it’s too fast!”
Mia was born and raised in Canberra by her
parents Marzena Wasikowska and John Reid, and
has an older sister Jess and younger brother Kai.
Once she is finished with her promotional duties
for the film, Wasikowska will be going home to
meet her family.
“I’m going home soon to see everyone so that
will be great,” she said. — IANS
American Idol will be
back: Chris Daughtry
Musician-actor Chris Daughtry is
convinced that popular reality talent show
American Idol, which bid adieu in April after
15 seasons, will be back in a different form.
The Daughtry frontman, who stood fourth on
the fifth season of the show, thinks that the
makers of the show “will repackage it another
way”, reports bangshowbiz.com.
“From the day that they said they were
cancelling, I’ve said that I think that they will
repackage it another way. My theory is that
it’s coming through,” Daughtry said.
The 36-year-old rocker returned to the
show for a “bittersweet” appearance on the
final episode and felt very “proud” to be back.
“It was cool to be back, I was happy to be
a part of the last episode. I’m proud of the
history I have with the show. Always happy to
be back. It was bittersweet,” he said about his
appearance on the finale show. — IANS
HIGH HOPES: Chris Daughtry
20 GULF TIMES Sunday, May 15, 2016
COMMUNITY
Palestinian festival
awes Doha visitors
The 2nd Palestinian Heritage Festival showcased some fascinating products,
highlighting why Palestinian art is still an inspiration for many. By Umer Nangiana
B
ringing together artisans
from different areas of
the land of Palestine
and showcasing how the
ancient art and culture
has survived and thrived in the face of
all odds, the 2nd Palestinian Heritage
Festival, organised in co-operation
with the Palestinian National
Friendship Association, recently
concluded at Katara Cultural Village.
Displaying both contemporary
and traditional art forms, the
Palestinian artisans, mostly women,
demonstrated their skill level to
Doha audience. From embroidered
clothes to olive-wood art pieces,
the Palestinian artists showed why
Palestinian art is still an inspiration
for many.
“We established the first factory
of aluminium jewellery in Palestine.
We can make customised designs
of our clients. This jewellery is
very light-weight and you can
create a lot of designs with it. It is
as attractive as Russian and Italian
gold. We can create the same effect
with aluminium,” Sana Jafri, owner
of a company in Palestine, told
Community.
Her colleague creates designs on
olive wood. “This is all handmade at
home. I first carve the designs into
wood by burning and cutting into it
and then apply colours and dyes,” she
adds.
The designs are mostly original.
She creates whatever came to her
mind and at other times she gets
ideas from internet as well. The
smaller artefacts are easy to make but
the bigger pieces like photo frames
and decoration pieces take time as
they require colouring. Colour takes
time to dry. But she does it all by
herself at home.
Khalid Natsheh’s family has been
into leather business for decades.
Coming from Jerusalem, he brought
with him leather bags and cases.
“This is pure leather coming from
the old city of Jerusalem. I have bags
for men, women both professionals
and students. I sell laptop bags, hand
bags, document carriers and others,”
says Natsheh.
“I have created all designs. I have
this business in my family. My father
and my brothers are also involved
in it and we have been doing it for a
very long time. The business back
in Jerusalem is good because a lot of
people buy these bags for their office
use or for keeping their laptops,” he
adds.
HOME-MADE: Manal Jarrar and other women make these products at home and sell them in open markets.
It was his first time coming to
Qatar and he found people here “very
nice.” “We got a lot of tourists and
they really liked my products,” adds
Natsheh.
Manal Jarrar and her colleagues
are hoping to find an avenue for
expanding their olive products
business here in Qatar, and
elsewhere. They produce and
package all the traditional
Palestinian food from the City
of Jenin at their home-based
production centre.
“We are a group of women who
make these olive products at home. It
helps us generate some income for us
and support our families. We create a
lot of traditional Arab and Palestinian
food and then pack them in the jars,”
Manal tells us.
These olives are pitted and then
dipped in olive oil. These and the
zataar come from Jenin, famous
for their taste. From production to
packaging and labelling, they do
everything by themselves at their
homes.
“We create the designs for the
labels and then get them printed
before putting them on the bottles.
The prints are also handmade, all of
them. No machine is involved in the
process at any time,” says Manal.
She says they have been taking
their products to different countries
in the region like Kuwait and others.
This was their first time in Doha. “I
am really encouraged by the response
that we received here. People
tasted our products and they really
liked them,” says the owner of the
company.
“We are looking for good business
opportunities outside of Palestine
as well and we (all women at the
company) intend to expand our
business further and make this a big
company and I am determined to
achieve that,” she adds.
Situated at a crossroads of
continents and civilisations,
accommodating a number of peoples
and empires since the old times, the
art and artisan work of Palestine
depicts an infusion of multiple
cultural influences while maintaining
its own individuality.
Bringing a piece of this rich
cultural heritage, men and women
artisans from different areas of
Palestine have come to town to
showcase the rich and colourful
Palestinian heritage through
traditional clothes, food and arts.
From the centuries-old art
of pottery-making, living for
generations with the people of
Palestine, to the more contemporary
art of Silver Olive Leaf Jewellery, the
festival presented artefacts that are
unique to Palestine.
Photos by Umer Nangiana
The traditional designs in aluminium
jewellery created by Sana Jafri and
her colleagues.