Community Community Pakistani Ambassador Embassy Nguyen Dinh P7organises P12 Thao says a gathering Vietnam-Qatar relations to observe have made significant Kashmir improvements in the last Solidarity Day. 25 years.

Sunday, February 11, 2018 Jumada I 25, 1439 AH

DOHA 17°C—27°C TODAY PUZZLES 12 & 13 LIFESTYLE/HOROSCOPE 14 Stand out COVER There are ten female athletes STORY who can be distinct at the

2018 Winter Olympics. P4-5 TRIUMPHANT: Lindsey Vonn aloft the crystal trophy after winning the overall women’s downhill event at the Alpine World Cup in St. Moritz in a March 2016 (file image). 2 GULF TIMES Sunday, February 11, 2018 COMMUNITY ROUND & ABOUT

PRAYER TIME Fajr 4.55am Shorooq (sunrise) 6.12am Zuhr (noon) 11.48am Asr (afternoon) 3.00pm Maghreb (sunset) 5.26pm Isha (night) 6.56pm

USEFUL NUMBERS

Padman Arunachalam Muruganantham, whose mission was to provide DIRECTION: R Balki cost eff ective sanitary napkins to poor women of rural areas. Emergency 999 CAST: Akshay Kumar, Radhika Apte, Sonam Kapoor Worldwide Emergency Number 112 SYNOPSIS: Biography on Tamil Nadu activist THEATRES: Royal Plaza, Landmark, The Mall Kahramaa – Electricity and Water 991 Local Directory 180 International Calls Enquires 150 Hamad International Airport 40106666 Labor Department 44508111, 44406537 Mowasalat Taxi 44588888 Qatar Airways 44496000 Hamad Medical Corporation 44392222, 44393333 Qatar General Electricity and Water Corporation 44845555, 44845464 Primary Health Care Corporation 44593333 44593363 Qatar Assistive Technology Centre 44594050 Qatar News Agency 44450205 44450333 Q-Post – General Postal Corporation 44464444

Humanitarian Services Offi ce (Single window facility for the repatriation of bodies) Ministry of Interior 40253371, 40253372, 40253369 Daivame Kaithozham K Kumarakanam reversal between K Kumar and his wife to experience the life of Ministry of Health 40253370, 40253364 DIRECTION: Salim Kumar one another. Hamad Medical Corporation 40253368, 40253365 CAST: Jayaram, Anusree, Harisree Asokan Qatar Airways 40253374 SYNOPSIS: The movie is a comic take on gender role THEATRES: The Mall, Royal Plaza

The Mall Cinema (1): Throne Royal Plaza Cinema Palace Of Elves (2D) 2:30pm; Daivame (2): Daivame Kaithozham K. te Unqu Kaithozham K. Kumarakanam Kumarakanam (Malayalam) uo ot (Malayalam) 4:30pm; Braven 2:15pm; Throne Of Elves (2D) Q e (2D) 7:15pm; Pad Man (Hindi) Landmark Cinema (2): Throne 5pm; Braven (2D) 7pm; Pad Man Life lived 9pm; Pad Man (Hindi) 11:30pm. Of Elves (2D) 2:30pm; Throne (Hindi) 8:45pm; Braven (2D) for tomorrow will The Mall Cinema (2): Pad Man Of Elves (2D) 4:15pm; JUMANJI: 11:30pm. (Hindi) 3pm; JUMANJI: Welcome Welcome To The Jungle (2D) Royal Plaza Cinema always be just a day To The Jungle (2D) 5:30pm; 6pm; The 15.17 To Paris (2D) Palace (3): Throne Of away from being realised. The 15.17 To Paris (2D) 7:30pm; 8pm; Braven (2D) 9:45pm; Den Elves (2D) 2:30pm; MAZE Den Of Thieves (2D) 9:15pm; Of Thieves (2D) 11:30pm. RUNNER:Thedeath Cure (2D) Winchester (2D) 11:30pm. Landmark Cinema (3): 4:30pm; Winchester (2D) 7pm; —Leo Buscaglia The Mall Cinema (3): Daivame Kaithozham K. Kalakalappu 2 (Tamil) 9pm; Tholiprema (Telugu) 2:30pm; Kumarakanam (Malayalam) Winchester (2D) 11:45pm. Throne Of Elves (2D) 5:15pm; 3pm; Pad Man (Hindi) 6pm; Asian Town Cinema: Pad Man Winchester (2D) 7pm; MAZE MAZE RUNNER:Thedeath Cure (Hindi) 6:30pm; Pad Man (Hindi) RUNNER:Thedeath Cure (2D) (2D) 8:30pm; Pad Man (Hindi) 9:15pm; Carbon (Malayalam) 8:45pm; Kalakalappu 2 (Tamil) 11pm. 6pm; Queen (Malayalam) Community Editor 11:30pm. Royal Plaza Cinema Palace 8:45pm; Carbon (Malayalam) Landmark Cinema (1): Pad (1): Pad Man (Hindi) 2:30pm; 11:30pm; Kalakalappu 2 (Tamil) Kamran Rehmat Man (Hindi) 2:30pm; Tholiprema JUMANJI: Welcome To The 6:15pm; Kalakalappu 2 (Tamil) e-mail: [email protected] (Telugu) 5pm; Winchester Jungle (2D) 5pm; Den Of 9:15pm; Kalakalappu 2 (Tamil) Telephone: 44466405 (2D) 7:30pm; Winchester (2D) Thieves (2D) 7:30pm; The 15.17 12:15am; Daivame (Malayalam) Fax: 44350474 9:15pm; Kalakalappu 2 (Tamil) To Paris (2D) 9:45pm; Pad Man 7pm; Daivame (Malayalam) 11pm. (Hindi) 11:30pm. 10pm Sunday, February 11, 2018 GULF TIMES 3 ROUND & ABOUT COMMUNITY

EVENTS Marketing through Social Media events until April 25. The festival is organised Where: Today and Tomorrow by the Organizing Committee of the Private Team Qatar Sports Village When: Tornado Tower, West Bay Engineering Offi ce. This year’s festival ersoff WHERE: Aspire Park HEC Paris In Qatar is off ering an Executive a range of family-friendly fun including WHEN: Feb 13 Short Program in “Marketing through Social parades, shows, plays, music featuring top TIME: 8:30am - 4pm Media” with Kristine de Valck, HEC Paris stars and children’s entertainment. Spring Qatar Olympic Committee (QOC) is joining Associate Professor of Marketing. Festival will also present fi ne arts events forces with the country’s national sports http://www.qatar.exed.hec.edu/executive- in the various sections of Souq Waqif Arts federations for this year’s Team Qatar Sports short-programs Center, including workshops directed to all Village. This special village will have diff erent visitors. sporting activities such as from basketball, Qatar Running Series gymnastics and athletics, Taekwondo WHERE: MIA Park Foodex Qatar 2018 and weightlifting. The public can visit the WHEN: ongoing till April 13 WHEN: May 3-5 to host a weekly market in Education City. village at Aspire Park between 8:30 am and TIME: 7am WHERE: Doha Exhibition and Convention Open to the public, the market be held at 4 pm. The14 national sporting federations Get ready for Qatar Running Series at MIA Centre QF’s Ceremonial Court, accessible from gate to form the Team Qatar Sports Village will Park. The events will take place in Mia Park Qatar is the most urbanised nation among 2, every Thursday from 9am-4pm and every include Gymnastics, Athletics, Weightlifting, and comprise of distances ranging from 3k the GCC states. Urban lifestyles have raised Friday from 8am-11am and 2pm-5pm.The Basketball, Judo/Taekwondo, Hockey, Tennis, to 10k. All events will be run on accurately the standard of living of individuals and name ‘Torba’ is derived from Arabic, and Sailing, Fencing, Boxing/Wrestling, Golf, measured short courses with multiple laps changed their eating pattern, resulting in a means “the pure soil that feeds, nourishes, Table Tennis, Volleyball and School Sports. and will be restricted to a maximum of 130 shift in the diet towards protein rich foods as and nurtures.” A wide range of fresh, locally- Other federations are also holding activities participants. well as packaged and fast food. Consumption grown items will be on off er, including across Qatar on Tuesday. Try out shooting at of such premium products has contributed to organic fruits and vegetables, homemade Lusail Shooting Range; or check out golf at Mall of Qatar Fun Fair the growth of the food industry. FOODEX will preserves, syrups, and butters, as well as Katara, together with handball, equestrian, WHERE: Mall Of Qatar strengthen the Qatari food industry to meet handicrafts and gardening supplies. rowing, cycling, triathlon, air sports, karate WHEN: Until April 15 the standards of rising expatriate population, and rugby activities. A swimming open day The Mall of Qatar has expanded to bring tourism, and developing tastes of Western will also be taking place at Hamad Aquatic you “Doha’s best outdoor theme park”. Come foods. Centre. Qatar Women’s Sport Committee with your family and friends to enjoy the will hold its activities within its premises in new rides and attractions – Trampoline, Remote-controlled car racing track Al Waab. Giant Slide, Wind Tunnel, Disco Tagada, WHERE: Aspire Park Meltdown, Surfi ng and much more to enjoy WHEN: Thu, Fri, Sat HH The Emir’s Sword Festival with family and friends. Come all and enjoy TIME: 4pm-10pm WHERE: Qatar Racing and Equestrian life. Aspire Zone Foundation has created a Club custom-made track specially designed WHEN: Feb 24 for remote-control car racing, for car TIME: 1:00pm-3:00pm lovers across Doha. Interested motorsport Dresses and skirts should be of modest enthusiasts can try the race track opposite length (defi ned as falling just above the knee the Aspire Academy, from 4pm to 10pm on Breakdance Classes or longer) and shoulders should be covered. Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays. WHEN: Sunday-Wednesday For ladies looking to give a fi nal touch to Breakdancing is part of the Hip Hop culture their attire, Emily- London, British millinery Outdoor and fi ve-a-side football that originated in New York and has since label, specialising in exclusive and handmade pitches spread all over the world. Breakdancing is an headwear (www.emily-london.com) will be WHERE: Aspire Zone athletic and acrobatic style of dancing, which available for purchase at the racecourse. WHEN: Daily can often appear to defy the laws of physics. TIME: 7pm-11pm This extreme dance-sport uses tremendous Fitness with Yoga Aspire Zone’s fi ve-a-side football outdoor upper-body strength for tricks and poses and WHERE: MIA Park, Corniche pitches opposite Al Waab Street are available a great way to get into shape and have fun. WHEN: Feb 23 every day from 7pm until 11pm from Sundays Register now by calling 33003839 or e-mail TIME: 8:30am to 10am to Thursdays, and on Fridays and Saturdays [email protected] Indian Sports Centre is conducting free from 7am-11pm. “Fitness with Yoga” sessions at MIA Park as Souq Waqif Spring Festival Zumba Session part of QNSD celebrations. Come and enjoy WHERE: Souq Waqif Mahaseel Festival WHERE: Bin Omran outdoor session of Yoga with your family WHEN: Ongoing WHEN: Thu, Fri, Sat WHEN: Sundays and friends. Entry is free. For any inquiry, TIME: Evening WHERE: Katara TIME: 7pm - 8pm whatsApp at 55646693. Souq Waqif is hosting Spring Festival TIME: 9am-10pm Participate in Zumba Sessions (Adults) Visitors to the festival can expect a variety every Sunday. For more information call of products from local vegetables, fl owers, 33003839 or [email protected] honey and meat, poultry and diary items. For those of you looking for traditional Salsa Nights Qatari food, there will also be stalls selling WHERE: The Irish Harp-Sheraton Grand homemade foods such as Machbous. Farm- Doha grown goods include aubergines, peppers, WHEN: Every Wednesday cucumbers, tomatoes, courgettes, caulifl ower, TIME: 9pm herbs, and chilies. There are also animal Get ready for some Latin beats every products such as chicken, milk, cheese and Wednesday night, where all the salseros and eggs from Qatari companies like Baladna and salseras in town meet and party all night. Al Waha Poultry Company. Entry is QR50 for gents. Ladies enter free. For details call 4485 3000. B.Square Mall Grand Event WHERE: Al Thumama, Doha Off -Road biking tour WHEN: Ongoing WHERE: Zekreet TIME: 6:30pm WHEN: Fridays The only mall in Qatar dedicated to Blue Pearl Experience Qatar is off ering the entertainment, B.Square Mall will occupy country’s fi rst off -road biking tour. Ride in a total space of 26,000 sq.m and 250 car the desert on a fat bike to explore the local parking spaces, as well as provide a range fl ora and fauna spot desert wildlife, hike of shopping, services, and entertainment up jebels, chill in the magic of the Richard options. Serra statues and this unique landscape. Participants will get to cross the desert Halal Qatar Festival Torba Farmers Market riding fat bikes from Zekreet to the Richard WHERE: Katara Parking Area 01 WHERE: Education City Serra statues, on a route of approximately WHEN: March 2 to 10 WHEN: Ongoing 13kms. The route is easy to ride and suitable The theme of the festival centers on a distinct feature of our heritage, one that is drawn from TIME: 9am for people with average fi tness. You must deep within the deserts of Qatar sheep and goat breeding. The festival will present specifi c Qatar Foundation (QF) has partnered be able to ride. Kids aged 9 and older are methods that help in breeding and raising sheep and will also showcase numerous traditional with Torba Farmers Market, a Qatar-based also welcome. The fee is QR 220 (QR190 events along with educational and recreational activities. Here is an opportunity to revive initiative that aims to deliver organic and for ages 9-14) and includes bike and safety the Qatari heritage and relive their simple lives amidst the dunes, at Al-Mazain, Al-Mazad locally-grown food and homemade products, equipment. The activity lasts about 2.5 hours. Auction, and sheep barns presentation at Katara. Compiled by Nausheen Shaikh. E-mail: [email protected], Events and timings subject to change 6 GULF TIMES Sunday, February 11, 2018 COMMUNITY

BPS students carry out beach clean-up drive

The scouts and guides of Birla Public School (BPS) recently went on an exploratory beach clean-up team and supporting staff also joined them. drive at Al Wakrah beach. The students started the campaign with the guidelines of Paramjeet Bhullar and Victor Anto, Fourteen teachers along with 51 students participated in the drive to clean the beach. First aid Scouts and Guides in charge. BPS Principal A P Sharma visited the clean-up camp site.

DESS children enjoy sports days

Children from Foundation Stage 1 through to Year 6 took part in the annual Doha English Speaking School (DESS) sports days held recently. Working through a variety of activities, the children proudly displayed their athletic abilities to their parents and peers alike. The older children worked for house points for the coveted house team trophy, encouraging sportsmanship and a great performance.

FOTA members donate blood

Members of the expatriate forum Friends of Tiruvalla (FOTA) recently donated blood to Hamad Medical Corporation’s blood donor centre. One of the forum’s off icials said that their members had promised to donate blood to meet the hospital’s requirements at regular intervals. FOTA President Jiji John inaugurated the camp. Sunday, February 11, 2018 GULF TIMES 7 COMMUNITY

Kashmir Solidarity Day observed

Kashmir Solidarity Day was observed at a programme organised at the residence of the Pakistani a reminder to the international community of their obligations to the Kashmiri people. The right to ambassador last Thursday. The day is marked on the 5th of February every year. self-determination, the right to self-expression and the protection of human rights are universal rights “Since partition in 1947, Pakistan has given moral, diplomatic and political support to the cause accepted in modern society and should be available to all. Yet this is not the case in Indian Occupied of the Kashmiri people, for their right to self-determination, as enshrined in the United Nations Kashmir,” the release said. “We ask the world to take note and not forget the plight of our Kashmiri resolutions on the issue,” a statement issued by the Pakistani embassy said. “The event serves as brothers and sisters who are fighting for their basic and fundamental rights,” the statement added.

TOGETHER: Participants at the Kashmir Solidarity Day event.

EMRA’A hosts Introduce a Girl to Engineering Day

ExxonMobil Qatar’s Professional Women’s explore basic engineering concepts with Network, EMRA’A recently held third guidance from the volunteers. Introduce a Girl to Engineering Day. The programme’s main activity involved Held in conjunction with INJAZ Qatar, the the girls working as a team to accomplish event, which is an extension of an annual a stated set of goals while performing programme ExxonMobil organised in the specific roles and responsibilities within United States and around the world took the team to simulate various project place at Vision International School, Al management skills. Students had to use Wakrah. their imaginations and then put their Introduce a Girl to Engineering Day is subject skills to the test by working designed to increase interest in engineering together to build load-bearing bridges out among middle school students. It features of raw spaghetti and marshmallows. hands-on activities and interaction with Students then had a discussion with the female engineers and professionals with ExxonMobil Qatar volunteers who spoke a background in science, technology, about their professional experiences and engineering and mathematics. how rewarding a career in engineering As part of the day’s events, more than 30 can be. The discussion highlighted girls from Grade VI and VII joined a group of the exciting and often unique work of 15 ExxonMobil Qatar volunteers. Together, scientists, technologists, engineers and they took part in fun and stimulating mathematicians and the resulting impact on activities that encouraged the students to society. 4 GULF TIMES Sunday, February 11, 2018 COMMUNITY COVER STORY Ten female athlete stars who can outshine others Wondering which athletes will become stars at the ? Here are 10 athletes to keep an eye on in the women’s competitions. By Helene Elliott

SPEED SKATER: Netherlands’ Ireen Wust competes during the ladies 1000 metre race at Adler Arena during the Winter Olympics in Sochi, Russia. Sunday, February 11, 2018 GULF TIMES 5 COVER STORY COMMUNITY

SKIER: Marit Bjoergen of Norway celebrates after crossing the BOBSLED: Canada’s Kaillie Humphries and Heather Moyse compete in the women’s Two-Man Bobsleigh event in Whistler, B.C., during finish line for gold in the Women’s 7.5m + 7.5m Skiathlon in the the 2010 Olympic Winter Games. in Sochi, Russia.

lina Zagitova, fi gure medal awarded in women’s hockey, Moyes to make Olympic history Only 19, she will face intense thrill of competition, she became a skating, Olympic at the 1998 Nagano Games, but when Humphries piloted their sled pressure in her homeland. She’s multiple-medallist at the X Games Athlete from Russia arch rival Canada won the next four. to a second straight gold medal at ranked No. 1 in the world in and won silver in the halfpipe at the Zagitova, 15, won This US team, coached by former the 2014 Sochi Games, becoming the women’s 500-, 1,000- and 2014 Sochi Olympics. She’s 33 now, the Grand Prix Final Kings goal-tender Robb Stauber, is the fi rst women to repeat as Olympic 1,500-metre events, and South among the oldest competitors, but Aand European championships this the swiftest yet and boasts a mobile champions. A third consecutive Korea’s women’s 3,000-metre relay ranks second in the world in halfpipe season, ending teammate Evgenia defence, but the US women had triumph is a strong possibility. team has the top ranking too. How behind Cassie Sharpe of Canada. Medvedeva’s reign in the European diffi culty scoring goals in exhibition Humphries, 32, narrowly leads the she handles her nerves and the Martinod plans to retire after the competition. Zagitova, the 2017 games. Look out for Canada forward women’s World Cup standings over demands of her compatriots will be Games. world junior champion, boldly Marie-Philip Poulin, who scored Elana Meyers Taylor of the US, who crucial in determining if she makes places her jumps late in her long twice against the US in the 2010 gold will slide with Lauren Gibbs. the top three in a sport her country Lindsey Vonn, Alpine skiing, programme to earn extra points. medal game and twice in the US- has dominated at the Olympics. US With Medvedeva recovering from a Canada rematch at Sochi in 2014. Ireen Wust, long track speed- Her medical chart is as long as fractured foot, Zagitova could be the skating, the Netherlands Jessie Diggins, cross-country her list of World Cup victories, gold medal favourite. Marit Bjoergen, cross- Wust showed promise by winning skiing, US which grew to 81 after she won three country skiing, Norway gold in the 3,000-metre race and Diggins, of Afton, Minn., beat straight downhill races, including a Sui Wenjing, pairs skating, A versatile and mentally strong bronze in the 1,500 at Turin at age 19 World Cup leader of victory at Garmisch-Partenkirchen, China skier who is known for strong and added another gold medal in the Switzerland in a 10-kilometre Germany in the fi nale women’s Nicknamed “the martyr” for her fi nishes, Bjoergen is poised to 1,500 at Vancouver in 2010. She was freestyle mass start on Jan. 28 in World Cup downhill before the willingness to try risky moves in become the all-time top Olympic the most decorated athlete in any Austria. It was her fi fth career Olympics. Vonn, 33, has overcome practice and not complain if she fell, medallist among female Winter sport at Sochi, winning fi ve medals World Cup win; she previously multiple fractured limbs and torn she and partner Han Cong won the Games athletes. She has won 10, (gold in the 3,000 and team pursuit, earned four medals at the World ligaments and at least one concussion world title last year. The technical as did retired cross-country skiers and silver in the 1,000, 1,500 and Championships. Diggins, 26, is during her career and can never diffi culty of their programmes is Raisa Smetanina of the Soviet 5,000) as Dutch men and women considered to have a strong shot at be counted out. She won her two dazzling, and they’ve pulled off Union and Unifi ed Team, and Italy’s won 23 long track medals. Wust’s the US programme’s fi rst Olympic Olympic medals at Vancouver in quadruple twist lifts and throw Stefania Belmondo. Bjoergen, 37, career total of eight Olympic medals medal since 1976. 2010 (gold in the downhill and quadruple salchows in competition. can also pass the all-time Winter is one short of the long track speed- bronze in the super-giant slalom). They’ve been together for more Olympics medal record of 13, held skating record held by Germany’s Marie Martinod, freestyle Teammate Mikaela Shiff rin is than 10 years, a constancy that’s by Norwegian biathlon legend Ole Claudia Pechstein. Incidentally, skiing, France favoured to win more medals – she lamentably rare among American Einar Bjoerndalen. Pechstein, 45, is expected to She ended her career in her early ranks fi rst overall in World Cup pair skaters. compete in Pyeongchang. 20s, before the sport was added to standings, third in downhill and fi rst Kaillie Humphries, Bobsled, the Olympic programme, and spent in slalom – but Vonn brings drama US women’s hockey team Canada Choi Min-Jeong, short track fi ve years raising her daughter. and star power to the mountain. – Team USA won the fi rst gold Humphries teamed with Heather speed-skating, South Korea Drawn back when she missed the Los Angeles Times/TNS

CHAMPION: Figure skater Alina Zagitova of Russia performs during the HONOURED: Olympic silver medallist in freestyle skiing Marie Martinod PAIR: Pair skaters Wenjing Sui and Cong Han of China perform during the ladies’ free skating event at the 2018 ISU honoured with Knight in the National Order of Merit by French president exhibition gala event at the 2017 ISU World Figure Skating Championships at European Figure Skating Championships, Francois Hollande during a medals ceremony at the Elysee Palace in Paris, Hartwall Arena, in Helsinki, . at Megasport Arena, on January 20. France, on June 15, 2014. 8 GULF TIMES Sunday, February 11, 2018 COMMUNITY LIFESTYLE/HOROSCOPE 2 ways to protect your vision from blue light lue light is everywhere photoreceptor cells, ultimately protect the photoreceptors from — from the sunshine you leading to cell death. Since rods damage and oxidation. enjoy on a beautiful day, and cones can’t be regenerated, Another way eye care to the digital devices you vision problems like AMD professionals can help patients is have come to depend develop. to off er a Macular Pigment Optical Bupon. Modifying environmental factors Density screening. Measuring You might think blue light does is currently the only approach to the macular pigment can serve not aff ect the quality of your vision reduce genetic risk of AMD. as a biomarker for patients and now, but studies are showing that Zeaxanthin and lutein, two assess whether supplementation the cumulative eff ects of blue light carotenoids found within the eye, is necessary. Since zeaxanthin and can negatively shape your vision have been found to benefi t by virtue lutein aren’t produced by the body, quality many years into the future. of protecting and enhancing vision. they must be ingested in order to Blue light from light-emitting These carotenoids create macular ensure optimal macular pigment diode (LED) televisions, smart pigment, which is found in the density. phones or computers can cause retina, or back of the eye, and are Because the average people accumulating damage, increasing found at a ratio 2:1. diet is scarce in zeaxanthin, the risk and severity of developing One way to protect supplementing this antioxidant can Age-related Macular Degeneration photoreceptors from blue light is be benefi cial to many. Eye vitamins In spite of the consequences to MPOD. Benchmarking your MPOD (AMD). Blue light can damage to increase the density of macular like EyePromise’s vizual EDGE, vision, blue light is here to stay. In score gauges whether you’ll need photoreceptors: the rods and cones pigment. The macular pigment Restore, or AREDS2 can replenish fact, LED is expected to take 90 supplementation. This measure can within the eyes. acts as a pair of internal sunglasses, macular pigment optical density percent of the lighting market in protect your eye health while you Blue light exposure over time shielding photoreceptors from blue levels. This brand of macular health the next 10 years because the lights enjoy your digital devices now and contributes to an increased risk of light. If Macular Pigment Optical supplements is guaranteed to help are more energy effi cient. in the years to come. superoxide. Superoxide is toxic, Density (MPOD) is at suboptimal patients increase their MPOD levels Be smart about your sight and eventually causing damage to the levels, this pigment can’t properly within six months. fi nd an optometrist who measures © Brandpoint

ARIES TAURUS GEMINI March 21 — April 19 April 20 — May 20 May 21 — June 20

Today you’re likely to be longing for a little break from your daily routine, Some welcome visitors from far away could come to see you today and News could come your way, perhaps through local magazines or Aries, and for an evening alone with a partner. You’re feeling passionate, cause temporary chaos in your home. You’ll be glad to see them, however, newspapers, about possible renovations occurring in your community. but you also have much to report concerning new opportunities that have Taurus, as they’ll have some great news and fascinating information to These changes could be rather controversial, Gemini, so don’t be surprised recently come up. Some of these, if implemented, could well change your pass on to you and your family. You’ll want to introduce them to other if you hear a lot of gossip and a number of opinions, both pro and con, life in a profound way. You’ll want your partner’s opinion, since it concerns friends who share your interests. This could give rise to a horrendously on the matter. You might want to delve more deeply into the facts before him or her as well. messy house, but you’ll have fun anyway. forming an opinion of your own. This could prove quite enlightening! CANCER LEO VIRGO June 21 — July 22 July 23 — August 22 August 23 — September 22

If you’ve been striving for success in the field of writing, speaking, or Success and good fortune might be in the wind for you today, Leo. Successes have been coming your way continually for a while, Virgo. The publishing, Cancer, you have the chance for a real breakthrough today. Whatever it is will probably have you feeling especially elated and satisfied downside is that excessive celebrating and overindulging in food and drink A large sum of money or an opportunity to earn it in one of these fields with your accomplishments. You’ll want to tell everyone, but this could could have you feeling physically out of sorts today. Nonetheless, your might come your way, and you’ll definitely want to take advantage of it. prove frustrating since some of the people you want to tell might not be mood should still be very high, and you should still be strongly motivated It may involve legal papers, such as contracts. This definitely boosts your reachable today. Hold off on spreading the word until you can inform those to continue whatever it is you’ve been doing that has brought such ego, your mood, and your motivation. closest to you. You’ll need and want their support. positive results. Let your imagination flow freely, and keep on going. LIBRA SCORPIO SAGITTARIUS September 23 — October 22 October 23 — November 21 November 22 — December 21

Upheavals within a group with which you’re aff iliated, perhaps A number of people in interesting fields, such as law, education, or writing A chance to take a long journey, perhaps to a distant state or foreign professionally, might cause you to alter your goals slightly, Libra. In the and publishing, could cross your path today, Scorpio. This could involve country, could suddenly present itself to you today, Sagittarius. This trip long run, this could well prove to be a positive development, although your job, or perhaps these people attend a social event that you host in is apt to be far more significant than a simple vacation. It may be career the conditions leading to it could be a bit disconcerting. Think of this as your home. Either way, some fascinating and useful information could related or involve an opportunity to expand your education. It could also an opportunity to pursue new hopes and dreams that you may not have come your way that alters your thinking and nudges it subtly in a new concern a relationship. Whichever it is, you’re likely to make the trip and it considered before. Plan carefully and then go for the gold. direction. You’ll want to make the most of it. Have fun! will probably change your life in subtle ways. CAPRICORN AQUARIUS PISCES December 22 — January 19 January 20 — February 18 February 19 — March 20

Some traumas, phobias, or hang-ups from the past that have been limiting Novels and movies might have caused you to feel especially passionate. Although you may have been feeling somewhat out of sorts for the past you in some way could suddenly come to the surface today, Capricorn. You Today you long to schedule a evening alone with a friend, Aquarius. Other few days, Pisces, today you could feel as if you just got a new lease on life. might get the most insight by analysing your dreams. The release could be social obligations could get in your way, however. You might have made You’re in excellent physical, mental, and emotional shape, so you should so profound that you have to spend some time alone today, perhaps away these other commitments a long time ago and they may be business be raring to go. Both immediate and long-term goals should be easy to from the house, in order to fully grasp it all. related. It might be far later than you’d hoped before you’re able to see achieve while your energy is strong today. Begin working on them; don’t your friend. Better late than never! put them off . This high level of motivation should continue for a while. Sunday, February 11, 2018 GULF TIMES 9 CARTOONS COMMUNITY

Wordsearch Adam

Pooch Cafe

Ship Shape

AIRMAN DICTATOR LORD APPRENTICE DIRECTOR MEMBER AUTHOR DOCTOR OWNER CENSOR FELLOW PARTNER CHAMPION FRIEND SEAMAN CITIZEN HARD SHOWMAN COMPANION KIN TOWN COURT LADY WARD

Codeword 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 Puzzles courtesy: Puzzlechoice.com courtesy: Puzzles

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. 10 GULF TIMES Sunday, February 11, 2018 COMMUNITY PUZZLES

Super Cryptic Clues Colouring

ACROSS DOWN 1. Act one: “The Gentle Swede” 1. Someone putting the (6) painting with its face to the 5. Blinking, threw it violently (6) wall? (6) 8. It’s about time to go round 2. Wad the part spoken of (4) and say you will (5) 3. Mean the Scotsman is taken 9. Wave the bowler (6) to heart by the foreigner (8) 10. Spill the beans if you send 4. Be furious when the barber back the steak (6) has shaved one badly? (7,4,4) 11. Sally and children (5) 5. Decide it’s not a good party 14. Making things better again and leave? (6) by getting me to telephone 6. Complete, we’re told, with (8) drill (4) 16. Offer to take the coloured 7. Be anxious about their bag back (6) turning at the bottom of the 18. Occasionally, when any tend road (6) to get over-agitated (5,3,3,4) 12. Was inclined to take right in, 20. Going up to get a bouquet having been told (7) (6) 13. Establish it isn’t wrong at all 22. Reels about, in its turn, never (7) flagging (8) 15. Outlives the man (5) 25. When it’s fine, drive back 17. We are among the last of the Answers with her (5) passengers from the vessels 27. Rob you present as an (5) example (4,2) 19. Hurried back, when ticked Wordsearch Codeword 28. Having put the weight back, off, and told (8) Lola waddles in, fat (6) 20. He bends over the old soldier 29. A silver eel, squirming, (6) caught by the bird (5) 21. Interfere with the map, 30. While he gets the car out, changing the outer end producing some breakfast round (6) (6) 23. Not the person hiding in the 31. Knock and back out comes bathroom (6) the angry shopkeeper (6) 24. Sadly, one entered with a nom-de-plume (4) 26. From a box, getting a little piece of wire (4)

Yesterday’s Solutions

Across: 1 Played back; 6 Down: 1 Piste; 2 Abundance; Carp; 10 Scuttle; 11 Chorale; 12 3 Enterprisingly; 4 Bretons; Eiderdown; 13 Stein; 14 Miner; 5 Coconut; 7 Aware; 8 15 Situation; 17 Pressed on; 20 Pregnancy; 9 Coastal erosion; Essay; 21 Elgin; 23 Uprooting; 25 14 Map reader; 16 Instigate; Divulge; 26 Abigail; 27 Role; 28 18 Douceur; 19 Normans; 22 Presenters. Gavel; 24 Gills. Sunday, February 11, 2018 GULF TIMES 11 ENVIRONMENT COMMUNITY Colombia’s war on plastic bags: A green success story

Colombia is not a country known for its environmental consciousness, but an ongoing government campaign against plastic bags has reduced usage by 10 per cent and won approval from many shoppers. By Giuseppe Palacino and Sinikka Tarvainen

CHANGE: A campaign to curb the use of plastic bags in Colombia has seen widespread success, with many consumers switching to canvas bags like this one. CAMPAIGN: A campaign to curb the use of plastic bags in Colombia.

omething intriguing has been The bags may also no longer measure happening in Colombia’s less than 30 centimetres in length, the supermarkets. Where it was once government ordered in December 2016 in an normal to see people fi ling out with attempt to reduce their number. their hands full of plastic bags, the The Environment Ministry and the World Ssight is now becoming increasingly unusual. Wide Fund for Nature estimate that every Colombians can now often be seen Colombian used an average of 288 plastic shopping with canvas bags sold by bags in 2016. supermarkets, as well as baskets and wheeled The government is aiming for a 5-per- shopping bags. cent annual reduction in plastic bag usage In a country that is not famous for its high until it has fallen 60 per cent, according level of environmental awareness, it looks as to Carlos Jairo Ramirez, who co-ordinates though an ongoing governmental campaign sustainability projects at the Environment against plastic bags is starting to change Ministry. mentalities. Many Latin American municipalities Supermarkets now charge 20 pesos (0.01 have launched initiatives to reduce the use dollars) per plastic bag, and the price will of plastic bags, but Colombia’s national increase by 10 pesos annually until it reaches reduction of 10 per cent – amounting to 50 pesos. more than 58 million bags – is considered a “I think having to pay for the plastic signifi cant achievement. bags is a good thing, because the fi nancial RARE SIGHT: Plastic shopping bags like the one pictured are becoming an increasingly rare sight “Still more is needed, because Colombia sacrifi ce forces people to be more conscious in Bogota, the capital of Colombia. does not have a high level of environmental of the need to protect the environment,” says consciousness,” says Juan Guillermo, an Eliana, a secretary. the government started obliging consumers But not everyone is happy with the engineer who works with renewable energies. “I used to take diff erent plastic bags for to pay for the bags in July, according to measure, with some consumers complaining About 100 million barrels of petrol are used toiletries, foodstuff s, sweets and kitchen offi cials. that shopkeepers overcharge for the bags. The to make the more than a trillion plastic bags products. With this new practice, one realises During the previous six months, plastic bag change has also led to a 27-per-cent fall in the globally every year, according to Ramirez. that not so many bags are needed,” adds producers had already started making bigger and sales of plastic bag makers. “To make 14 bags, you need about the same Teresa Avendano, 52. stronger bags, encouraging consumers to use They are, however, adapting to the amount of fuel that a car needs for a drive of “Since they started making us pay for the fewer of them for longer. The amount of plastic situation and following new rules requiring 1.6 kilometres,” the offi cial pointed out. bags, we no longer use so many. I bought a used by the producers went down by 27 per cent. them to use recyclable materials and to Some eight million tonnes of plastic are cloth bag and use it every time I go shopping,” “We have seen ... a change in consumer habits print environmental messages on the bags, poured into the seas annually, according to she says. with campaigns ... which undoubtedly have a according to the Colombian Chamber of the United Nations – a heavy load for the The number of plastic bags circulating in very positive impact,” Environment Minister Plastic, which represents more than 80 environment which Colombia, for its part, is Colombia has dropped by 10 per cent since Luis Gilberto Murillo said. plastic bag producers. now trying to reduce. – DPA 12 GULF TIMES Sunday, February 11, 2018 COMMUNITY

AMBASSADOR: Vietnamese ambassador Nguyen Dinh Thao MUSICIAN: A Vietnamese girl plays music at the event. SINGING: A group of children rendering a song at the event. gestures at the event. Vietnamese Embassy celebrates 25th year of ties with Qatar

expecting to organise high level official workers. “The Vietnamese are working in the decision made by Qatar. This vividly By Ayman Adly visit including the 3rd meeting of Joint many fi elds, some of them are researchers refl ects the multi-faceted co-operation and Commission between two countries in and students, engineers, but mostly workers mutual trust between the two countries. order to enhance the bilateral relations in in construction and other services,” pointed “This recognition is a key contributor to ietnam-Qatar relations have different fields.” out Nguyen. deepening the bilateral relations between made signifi cant improvements As part of the 25th year celebrations, a wide However, he hoped that the fi gure Vietnam and Qatar, particularly the potential in the last 25 years and there variety of cultural activities including movie would increase in the future, stressing that economic and trade ties,” he explained. will be many further steps in screenings, photo exhibitions, Vietnamese education is very important in maintaining Throughout the past 25 years, there the time to come, Vietnamese Cultural and Cuisine Festival, and cultural a successful expatriate experience for have been visits of high-level delegations VAmbassador Nguyen Dinh Thao said. performances will be organised throughout Vietnamese working in Qatar. between the two countries. Vietnam plays Speaking to his community members the year to promote cultural diversity, tourism “Currently there are important ongoing an important role in global food security at a gathering recently at the Vietnamese and artistic collaboration between the two negotiations concerning these issues. In as it has made progress in food security Embassy in Doha on the occasion of the New countries. recent years, the governments of Vietnam and increased production for international Lunar Year, he promised to work to further “My main focus for upcoming three years and Qatar have been in line with each other markets. strengthen such good relations with Qatar. is making Vietnam more popular as an ideal to promote co-operation in many fi elds, “Accordingly, Vietnam is ready to co- “During my tenure from 2017-2020, I am destination for tourism and investment; especially in labour co-operation aimed at operate with Qatar especially in the fi eld exerting my best eff orts to further develop bringing Vietnamese more closer to Qatar increasing the number of Vietnamese in of food security. High-tech agriculture is and strengthen the bilateral relations and through Vietnamese products in Qatar and Qatar. Hence, I believe that the Vietnamese also a development focus for Vietnam in build on the friendship between the two enhancing people-to-people exchange in population in Qatar will increase in the maintaining food security and it is an area countries based on peoples interests,” the order to increase the cultural knowledge,” he future,” he said. which Qatar and Vietnam can work together,” envoy said. further promised. Lately, the Government of Qatar has maintained the ambassador. He added that in 2018, the year of The number of the Vietnamese expatriates offi cially affi rmed the recognition of The community gathering featured 25th anniversary of diplomatic relations in Qatar is currently limited to around 1,400, Vietnam’s market economy status. The a number of activities aimed to get the between Vietnam and Qatar, “we are including overseas Vietnamese and skilled Government of Vietnam highly appreciates community members closer to each other.

GATHERING: The gathering on the occasion.