Established 1961 13

Wednesday, August 18, 2021 Lifestyle Features

he man dubbed the “father of cal crossword, was invented by Swiss any of the nine vertical or horizontal lines. into Europe and the United States several TSudoku” for his role in popularizing mathematician Leonhard Euler in the To complicate matters further, the grid is decades later, with Britain’s BBC in 2005 the numerical brainteaser loved by 18th century. also sub-divided into nine blocks contain- writing about the puzzle that “began its millions, has died of cancer at 69, his The modern version is sometimes said ing nine single squares, and each block gentle attack on the nation last year, and Japanese publisher has announced. In a to have been formulated in the United must also contain the numbers one to can now be found in four national news- notice posted Monday, Nikoli said Maki States, but Kaji is credited with having nine. Despite its Japanese name, the papers”. Kaji told the BBC in 2007 that Kaji died at home on August 10 after bat- popularized the puzzle. He is also said to original concept of Latin Squares-a grid in creating a new puzzle was like “finding tling cancer, and a memorial service have come up with the name Sudoku, a which every number or symbol occurs treasure”. “It’s not about whether it will would be held at a later date. “Mr Kaji contraction of a Japanese phrase mean- once in each row-was dreamt up in the make money. It is purely the excitement of In this file photo Japanese puzzle manufac- was known as the father of Sudoku and ing “each number must be single”. 18th century by Euler. trying to solve it.”— AFP turer Maki Kaji poses for a picture during the was loved by puzzle fans all around the Sudoku requires a player to put the num- Nikoli spotted a version in an American first Sudoku national competition in Sao world,” the publisher said in a statement bers one to nine in a box made up of 81 magazine in the 1980s and brought it to Paulo. — AFP on its website. Sudoku, a sort of numeri- squares, so that no number is repeated in Japan, where Sudoku was born. It broke ‘Kite Runner’ author says Afghans are ‘right to be scared’

ob Dylan has been sued in a New BYork court by a woman who says fghan-American novelist Khaled the US rock and folk legend sexual- AHosseini yesterday said that Afghans were justified to fear the ly abused her almost 60 years ago when Khaled Hosseini she was 12. The lawsuit filed Friday return of the Taleban, with memories still alleges that Dylan abused the plaintiff, fresh of the brutality of their last time in The writer runs a foundation providing referred to in court documents as J.C., power. The 56-year-old best-selling author humanitarian aid to Afghanistan. In a over a six-week period between April and was born in Kabul and fled with his family statement on its website, he said he was May 1965. It says Dylan “exploited his sta- to the United States in 1980 after the “gravely concerned for the country,” fear- tus as a musician to provide J.C. with Soviet invasion. “Afghans know the ing a “humanitarian crisis”. He urged the alcohol and drugs and sexually abuse her Taleban... They remember what hap- US and the international community to multiple times.” The suit also accused Entertainment Research, told AFP, refer- pened the last time they were here and pressure the Taleban not to “enforce vio- Dylan, who turned 80 in May, of physically ring to a surge in coronavirus cases. they are right to be scared,” Hosseini told lence punitively on the Afghan citizens” threatening the girl. The alleged abuse The horror feature “Don’t Breathe 2,” BBC radio, stressing the hardline and to respect human rights, “particularly took place at the apartment Dylan owned about a game of mass murder perpetuat- Islamists’ “excesses” and “draconian those of women and girls”. On Monday in New York’s famous Chelsea Hotel, ed by a blind veteran, came in second restrictions”. Hosseini tweeted urging Washington and according to the lawsuit. place with $10.6 million in its first week- He has written a series of bestselling its partners to accept refugees from end. In third place was Disney’s family novels that feature Afghan settings, Afghanistan like at the end of the Vietnam adventure film “Jungle Cruise,” based on including “The Kite Runner” (2003) and its War, when some 130,000 from South a theme park ride, with $9 million for the follow-up “A Thousand Splendid Suns” Vietnam, Laos and Cambodia moved to Friday-Sunday period. Right behind it, the (2007). Hosseini said he had spoken to the US. “The United States has a moral he video game action comedy “Free biopic about soul queen Aretha Franklin, relatives in the western city of Herat, who obligation. Admit as many Afghan TGuy” has topped the North “Respect” came in fourth with $8.8 million, “described to me the sounds of gunshots refugees as possible,” the author wrote. American box office in its opening and rounding out the top five was the and fighting going on” and seeing Taleban Hosseini told the BBC he had voted for weekend, taking in $28.4 million, prelimi- supervillain movie “The Suicide Squad,” flags appear. “Now they’re home, they’re US President Joe Biden, but castigated nary figures from trade firm Exhibitor which amassed $7.8 million. Here are the anxious, they’re worried, they’re scared, his speech on Monday for its lack of a Relations showed Sunday. The film, rest of the top 5: like millions of other Afghans,” he said. “I “statement of empathy” with the Afghans which lightheartedly explores the bound- “Old” ($2.4 million) don’t believe the Taleban to be represen- left behind. “The other thing I didn’t hear- ary between the virtual and the real, fea- “Black Widow” ($2 million) tative of the Afghan will whatsoever,” the at least clearly-from the president is what tures an anti-hero played by Ryan “Stillwater” ($1.3 million) author stressed, pointing to desperate is the legacy of the last 20 years?,” he Reynolds, a man who realizes he is a “The Green Knight” ($1.2 million) scenes at Kabul airport as thousands said. “What was all this for?”— AFP character in a video game and seeks to “Space Jam: A New Legacy” ($1.2 mil- attempted to flee. Afghans “face the very take control of his destiny. “This is a very lion)—AFP unenviable reality that they live under a good opening under difficult conditions. regime that proved to be extremely brutal The Delta variant is taking a toll,” David A. when they were in charge in the 1990s,” Gross, who runs consulting firm Franchise he said.

sonal items, across the US we teetered Rocque, I have a clear purpose but am at In this file photo US legend Bob Dylan per- along for two months. At times I was an obvious impasse. With no vehicle, forms on stage during the 21st edition of the Gaga’s dog walker scared. I was lonely. I felt abandoned and apartment, and having run out of savings Vieilles Charrues music festival in Carhaix- unsupported. I had long bouts of depres- and surviving on donations from generous Plouguer, western France. — AFP crowdfunding sion and doubt and self-pity. But those loved ones, I am humbly asking for your backroads that took me to desert camp- help. This is not an easy thing to ask, but A spokesperson for Dylan, whose real for new van amid sites and Walmart parking lots and rest I have started to realize sharing your vul- name is Robert Zimmerman, said “the 56- stops and friends and family to New York nerability with others is exactly when radi- year-old claim is untrue and will be vigor- US road trip and back began to help me see why I had cal change begins to occur for everyone ously defended.” The accuser, who now chosen to leave the security of the involved. (sic)” At the time of writing, Ryan Hollywood Hills where I fought for my life has raised more than $3,300 of a $40,000 lives in Greenwich, Connecticut, says ady Gaga’s dog walker is on a road and mobility. target. Dylan caused her “severe psychological trip across the US to heal emotional damage and emotional trauma.” She is L “All that time spent reclaiming my body, He is also keen to hear about “retreats wounds after being shot this year - I now needed to be equally devoted to for trauma” in the US. Ryan added: “I seeking unspecified damages. The lawsuit and he is crowdfunding for money for a strengthening my emotional and mental have set up this GoFundMe page in sup- was filed a day before the window for filing new van. Ryan Fischer - who was shot health. Having that understanding helped porting a van purchase, travel expenses claims under New York State’s Child four times in the chest while walking the me frame what I need from the rest of this and welcome all input on retreats for trau- Victims Act closed. The act allowed vic- pop star’s pet pooches Koji, Miss Asia sabbatical: getting a van and exploring ma throughout the country as well as tims of abuse to sue their alleged attack- and Gustavo in West Hollywood in this country while seeking out communi- queer spiritual leaders and healers, and ers irrespective of the age of the claims or February - has set up a GoFundMe page ties that support the process of growing how best to highlight and share with you whether the statute of limitations had to try to raise cash for a new vehicle so he from trauma. For me, this includes retreat along the way. I love you, and thank you passed. Last week, an accuser of late US can continue his six-month sabbatical, centers, trauma programs, queer healers, for all the ways you have supported me financier Jeffrey Epstein used the act to which is two months in, across America. creatives and spiritual leaders. And I can’t throughout; I truly can’t wait to see how sue Queen Elizabeth II’s second son, He wrote on the page: “A few days ago, I wait to honestly share in the process and the next step of this journey unfolds for us Prince Andrew, for alleged sexual abuse. said goodbye to Trudy, a quasi-reliable heal with you all along for the ride through all. (sic)” During the dognap, Miss Asia Dylan is widely considered to be the 1991 Ford Falcon rental that drove like a writings, discussions and quirky videos ran away from the scene while Koji and greatest singer-songwriter of all time. His boat in high wind. With just me, Trudy, 3 (and maybe an interpretive dance or two). Gustavo were captured by the robbers. most notable works include “Blowin’ In stuffed animals that resemble dogs I care “So here I am, two months down on a 6 Miss Asia was later recovered and The Wind,” “The Times They Are a- for very much, and WAY too many per- Changin’,” and “Like A Rolling Stone.” He month journey. And, on this Feast of Saint returned the same day, before Koji and burst onto the folk scene in New York in Gustavo were found two days after the the early 1960s and has sold more than shooting. In May, Ryan said healing “had- rince Harry “had a sense of humor” 125 million records around the world. In n’t been easy to navigate” after he was Pabout HBO Max’s ‘The Prince’. The 2016, Dylan won the Nobel Prize for shot by thieves when walking the pop animated comedy pokes fun at the Literature “for having created new poetic star’s pets. In a candid Instagram post, British Royal Family, particularly Harry’s expressions within the great American he wrote: “It’s a strange thing to be known eight-year-old nephew Prince George, but song tradition.” Last year he released his for a trauma that I’m still healing from. creator Gary Janetti has claimed Harry 39th studio album, “Rough and Rowdy People want to reach out, share in my was not concerned about the show, which Ways,” 58 years after the release of his pain for a moment, and then walk away, features his good friend Orlando Bloom first. — AFP leaving me to relive it again. It’s not inten- as the voice of Harry, 36. Gary told Andy tional; it comes from a kindness and com- Cohen on ‘Watch What Happens Live’: “I passion that I welcome. —Bang Showbiz don’t know if Harry has said anything to Lady Gaga and Ryan Fischer Orlando about it, but I know before the show premiered, he was aware that Orlando was doing it. And he seemed to have a sense of humor about it.” helped bring my music and vision to all for: a celebration of her ground-breaking Although the show has received criti- my fans around the world with the utmost catalogue. “My partner Sara Zambreno Madonna partners cism for mocking children, including care and consideration. “They have been and I are working closely with Warner Prince George, his sister Princess amazing partners, and I am delighted to Music Group to bring new life to these Charlotte, six and brother Prince Louis, with Warner Music be embarking on this next chapter with iconic works.” Max Lousada, the CEO of three, Orlando previously claimed it was them to celebrate my catalogue from the Recorded Music at Warner Music Group, not malicious. He said: “It’s not malicious last 40 years.” The new partnership will hailed Madonna as an “incomparable or intended to be. “Actually, Katy [Perry, for career-spanning include Madonna’s entire superstar”. Orlando’s fiancee] saw one bit of it and Sire/Maverick/Warner catalogue, which He added: “Madonna has changed was like, ‘You’ve got to do this. This is includes some of her best-known work the course of pop and dance music, reissue campaign genius’. And the animation is done by such as ‘Like a Virgin’ and ‘Like a Prayer’, while taking live performance to new some of the guys who did Family Guy, as well as some of her more recent heights of drama and invention. At the so it’s going to be very amusing. And adonna’s new partnership with albums, such as ‘MDNA’ and ‘Rebel same time, she uses her fame to ampli- who doesn’t love the Royal Family?” Warner Music Group will see her Heart’. fy some of the most important social M Alan Cumming, who voices Prince entire catalogue reissued over the Guy Oseary, Madonna’s long-time issues and movements of our time. George’s butler, also defended the show, next few years. The 63-year-old pop icon manager, helped to seal the landmark “Constantly and fearlessly challenging which has been panned by critics. He is set to celebrate her 40th year in the deal and has promised to bring “new life” convention, her four decades of music said: “I don’t know [if the Royal Family recording industry in 2022 and she is now to her records. He explained: “Over the are not only an extraordinary body of would like it]. If they appreciate satire, poised to personally curate deluxe edi- past 30 years, I’ve been fortunate enough work, but a playbook for creative and they might... It’s quite tender, actually - tions for many of her landmark albums as to meet and spend time with many of cultural evolution.” — Bang Showbiz my character with George, it’s a really part of the agreement with Warner. Madonna’s incredible fans, and this new lovely relationship. It’s not as mean as Madonna - who released her debut single partnership will bring to fruition what so people think.”— Bang Showbiz with Warner in 1982 - said: “Since the many of them have been patiently waiting very beginning, Warner Music Group has