Community Community Qatar Premier The lack League of income P6Cricket P16 from ticket Tournament sales contributes Season 9 to deterioration inaugurated at of Caracus Regency Halls. underground system.

Thursday, August 23, 2018 Dhul-Hijja 12, 1439 AH

Doha today 320 - 410

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Dynamic underwater photographer Khaled Zaki explains thrills and marvels of underwater diving and photography. P4-5

COVER STORY

REVIEWS SHOWBIZ

Searching takes a few too Asha to pay tribute to many turns than expected. four iconic composers. Page 14 Page 15 2 GULF TIMES Thursday, August 23, 2018 COMMUNITY ROUND & ABOUT

PRAYER TIME Fajr 3.51am Shorooq (sunrise) 5.11am Zuhr (noon) 11.37am Asr (afternoon) 3.06pm Maghreb (sunset) 6.04pm Isha (night) 7.34pm

USEFUL NUMBERS

The Darkest Minds in internment camps after being declared a threat. One of DIRECTION: Jennifer Yuh Nelson those 16-year-old girls, Ruby, manages to escape from her CAST: Amandla Stenberg, Mandy Moore, Bradley Whitford camp and joins a group of teenagers fleeing government SYNOPSIS: After a disease killed 98% of children and forces. young people in the United States, the 2% who managed to Emergency 999 survive have developed superpowers, but have been locked THEATRES: The Mall, Landmark, Royal Plaza Worldwide Emergency Number 112 Kahramaa – Electricity and Water 991 Local Directory 180 International Calls Enquires 150 Hamad International Airport 40106666 Labor Department 44508111, 44406537 Mowasalat Taxi 44588888 Qatar Airways 44496000 Hamad Medical Corporation 44392222, 44393333 Qatar General Electricity and Water Corporation 44845555, 44845464 Primary Health Care Corporation 44593333 44593363 Qatar Assistive Technology Centre 44594050 Qatar News Agency 44450205 44450333 Q-Post – General Postal Corporation 44464444

Humanitarian Services Offi ce (Single window facility for the repatriation of bodies) Ministry of Interior 40253371, 40253372, 40253369 Geetha Govindam in love with a peppy girl named Geetha. The movie takes a Ministry of Health 40253370, 40253364 DIRECTION: turn when Govindam tries his best to impress her in many Hamad Medical Corporation 40253368, 40253365 CAST: , , ways but all in vain. Qatar Airways 40253374 Annapoorna SYNOPSIS: It is a tale of a young guy Govindam who falls THEATRE: The Mall, Landmark, Royal Plaza

The Mall Cinema (1): Parwaaz Hai Lakshmi (Tamil) 11pm. e Unq Junoon (Urdu) 10am; Kolamavu Royal Plaza Cinema Palace uot uo Kokila (Tamil) 12:30pm; El Badlah (1): Gold (Hindi) 9:30am; Hotel Q te (Arabic) 3pm; El Badlah (Arabic) 5pm; Transylvania 3: A Monster Vacation “One of the El Badlah (Arabic) 7pm; The Darkest (2D) 12:15pm; Charming (2D) 2pm; (2D) 12:15pm; Charming (2D) 2pm; most beautiful qualities Minds (2D) 9pm; Lakshmi (Tamil) Charming (2D) 3:45pm; The Darkest Charming (2D) 3:45pm; Charming 11pm. Minds (2D) 5:30pm; Mile 22 (2D) (2D) 5:30pm; Mile 22 (2D) 7:15pm; The of true friendship The Mall Cinema (2): Satyameva 7:30pm; The Equalizer 2 (2D) 9:15pm; Equalizer 2 (2D) 9pm; Mile 22 (2D) is to understand and Jayate (Hindi) 9:30am; Charming (2D) Mile 22 (2D) 11:30pm. 11:15pm. 12nn; Christopher Robin (2D) 1:30pm; Landmark Cinema (2): Hotel Royal Plaza Cinema Palace (2): to be understood.” Hotel Transylvania 3: A Monster Transylvania 3: A Monster Vacation Charming (2D) 10:30am; Gold (Hindi) — Lucius Annaeus Vacation (2D) 3:30pm; The Darkest (2D) 9:30am; Gold (Hindi) 11:30am; 12:30pm; The Darkest Minds (2D) Minds (2D) 5:30pm; Mile 22 (2D) Hotel Transylvania 3: A Monster 3:15pm; El Badlah (Arabic) 5:15pm; El Seneca 7:30pm; The Equalizer 2 (2D) 9:15pm; Vacation (2D) 2:15pm; Geetha Badlah (Arabic) 7:15pm; Papillion (2D) Mile 22 (2D) 11:30pm. Govindam (Telugu) 4pm; Mission 9:15pm; Satyameva Jayate (Hindi) The Mall Cinema (3): Charming (2D) Impossible 6: Fall Out (2D) 6:30pm; 11:30pm;. 10am; Gold (Hindi) 11:45am; Geetha House On Willow Street (2D) 9pm; Royal Plaza Cinema Palace (3): Community Editor Govindam (Telugu) 2:30pm; Parwaaz Gold (Hindi) 11pm;. Geetha Govindam (Telugu) 10am; Hai Junoon (Urdu) 5pm; House On Landmark Cinema (3): Kolamavu Christopher Robin (2D) 12:30pm; Kamran Rehmat Willow Street (2D) 7:15pm; Mission Kokila (Tamil) 10am; Christopher Satyameva Jayate (Hindi) 2:30pm; e-mail: [email protected] Impossible 6: Fall Out (2D) 9pm; Robin (2D) 12:30pm; Satyameva The Meg (Hindi) 5pm; Lakshmi Telephone: 44466405 Geetha Govindam (Telugu) 11:30pm. Jayate (Hindi) 2:30pm; El Badlah (Tamil) 7pm; House On Willow Street Fax: 44350474 Landmark Cinema (1): Satyameva (Arabic) 5pm; El Badlah (Arabic) (2D) 9:30pm; Geetha Govindam Jayate (Hindi) 9:45am; Charming 7pm; El Badlah (Arabic) 9pm; (Telugu) 11:15pm. Thursday, August 23, 2018 GULF TIMES 3 ROUND & ABOUT COMMUNITY

EVENTS Summer Entertainment City 2018 WHERE: DECC Summer Sessions with Evolve and WHEN: Ongoing till August 31 Westin TIME: 12pm WHERE: The Westin Doha Hotel and Spa An amazing range of local shopping WHEN: Ongoing till August 25 stalls will feature products from all over the TIME: 9am – 1pm world on the Eid. Enjoy a morning of moving, eating and The Summer Shopping Souq has feeling well with a 60 minutes yoga session started from June 14 till August 31. Colour balanced with healthy breakfast bites your summer at Doha Exhibition and followed by time to revitalise by the pool. Conventional Centre, West Bay during Stimulate the rest of your day through Summer Entertainment City 2018 with culinary experiences with the added 20% over 75 activities and games, more than 40 discount in all the restaurants and café. food and 132 retail outlets and amazing live performances. Get set for an exciting and IAID Summer Workshop eventful summer in 2018. WHERE: IAID WHEN: July – August HEC Paris Masterclass It’s time to set your kids summer activities WHERE: 15th floor, Tornado Tower today with IAID, the pioneer in conducting WHEN: September 9 workshops in Qatar since 2001. IAID’s TIME: 5pm – 7pm Summer Workshop features fun and exciting HEC Paris is organising ‘The Journey of activities. It only means more singing, Innovation: From the Innovator to Eco- playing and dancing for the sweet little ones Summer Camps making new friends while baking, enjoying systemic Innovation’, an opportunity to learn aged 3 years and above. WHERE: Mamangam Performing Art their meals, watching cinema, doing aerobics more about company innovation with HEC Centre, Al Hilal and so much more. Paris Associate Professor Frederic Dalsace, WHEN: Ongoing till August 31 MSc from HEC and an MBA with honors from TIME: 8am – 12:30pm Summer Camp for Kids Harvard Business School and both MSc and a Mamangam Performing Art Centre will be WHERE: Music and Arts Atelier, Villa 57 PhD Management from INSEAD. holding Summer Camps in its Al Hilal branch Bin Omran for two batches of age groups from 4 -18 yrs. WHEN: Ongoing till August 31 Choreography Lessons - Brazilian The summer camps will include Yoga, Karate, TIME: 7:30am – 2:30pm Zouk Art and Craft, Music, Hip-hop, Bollywood, Doha’s Kids Summer Camp where artists WHERE: Music and Arts Atelier near Indian Classical and Contemporary dance. are made! The A to Z of kid’s summer camp MOI For details, call 33897609. – from artworks, dance and music lessons WHEN: Ongoing till September 15 and PLAY in between. For ages 5 years and Brazilian zouk is characterised by the up. Contact [email protected] dancers’ undulating bodies and the girls’ and mobile 33003839. fl owing hair. Dancer or not, depending on the style of Brazilian zouk, you’ll be able to choose connection and embrace with long graceful steps. The fi nal performance is scheduled to be on 15 September as a Summer Camp fl ashmob. WHERE: Music Lounge WHEN: Ongoing till August 30 Outdoor and five-a-side football TIME: 9am – 12pm pitches This summer camp is designed to give WHERE: Aspire Zone every camper a skill to create music through WHEN: Daily special training in musical instruments piano, Minipolis Summer Camp TIME: 7pm – 11pm guitar and drums, to visualise child’s limitless WHERE: The Pearl-Qatar Aspire Zone’s five-a-side football imagination and bring it to creative visuals WHEN: Ongoing till August 31 outdoor pitches opposite Al Waab Street are through art and craft. This camp will develop TIME: 9am – 5pm available every day from 7pm – 11pm. their communication skills through training An Edutainment Entertainment summer in public speaking along with hip hop dance, camp is now in Qatar where kids can enjoy warm up exercises, karate and yoga. their time by discovering the world of Mad Science, and spend a good sharing time in

Summer Camps The summer camps will include Abacus, WHERE: TCA Drawing and Painting, Calligraphy, keyboard WHEN: Ongoing and dance. TIME: 8:30am – 1pm The camp will run for 7 days a week from The TCA is holding Summer Camps in its 8:30am – 1pm. You will be able to see the branch for all students, ongoing from June 24. activities and schedules that will be held for Every two weeks, a new batch will begin for every week and register your kid. For details, every child to join and learn new forms of art. call 44373259.

Compiled by Nausheen Shaikh. E-mail: [email protected], Events and timings subject to change 4 GULF TIMES Thursday, August 23, 2018 COMMUNITY COVER STORY ‘Would love to see Qatar as a scuba diving destination’ — Khaled Zaki, master instructor for scuba diving and underwater photography

I have also noticed some underwater spots in Qatar where new coral reefs have started ‘growing up

MAESTRO: ‘The best thing in the world is to have a profession and hobby in the same filed,’ says Khaled Zaki. Photo by: Shaji Kayamkulam

photographers are increasing day been participating in major diving Tell us about yourself. vacation. I extended my stay for ’by day in Qatar where mostly and underwater photography I am a master instructor for three months there and I started By Mudassir Raja people have resources and time to festivals and tournaments. He has underwater diving and rescue. to change my career to become go for the activity. also worked in a variety of marine I am also consultant for the a diving instructor. I became a hotography is an art. Khaled Zaki is an Egyptian documentary films in the region industry and some of the water professional diver in 1990. Everyone loves to take underwater photographer and with BBC network, National sports. I am also an underwater I stayed at Sharm El Sheikh for beautiful and extra scuba diver in Qatar. He is also Geographic, Qatar TV, Alrayan filmmaker. I have taken some 10 years before I came to Qatar. ordinary photos. Adept a master instructor, consultant TV and Al Kass TV. Recently beautiful underwater pictures It was in 2000 that I decided photographers attempt for diving and underwater a collection of his underwater in Qatar and at so many other to stay in Qatar. I teach about toP capture unusual and unique photography. He has helped photos was chosen for a few post palaces around the world. some of the special equipment moments in their cameras. thousands of elite divers in stamps for Qpost. My education is actually not related to diving such as close Similarly, underwater the last two decades to get the Community recently caught up related to scuba diving. I however circuit, Diver Propulsion Vehicle photography has increasingly certificates. He holds a variety of with the talented photographer learnt about the diving back in (DPV) and under water scooters. been becoming popular. titles and prizes in dive training and interviewed him about his 1988 when I first visited Sharm I learnt about diving and become Numbers of trained underwater and underwater filming. Zaki has works and life. El Sheikh for two-week-long internationally recognised Thursday, August 23, 2018 GULF TIMES 5 COVER STORY COMMUNITY

PRIZE WINNER: Groper eating Jack fish. The photo has won two international prizes for Khaled COLOURFUL: Lion fish captured in Maldives in January 2018. Zaki. The photo was taken in Thailand in 2016.

CUTE: Green turtle photographed in Maldives in January 2018. VARIETY: Living coral reefs with a variety of fish captured in Red Sea in 2016. Photos supplied instructor registered with buoyancy control under water. several diving federations and ‘It is like discovering a treasure – a treasure-hunt. You You should not go out of control associations around the globe. always look for something new to show the people. while going up and down. As a This country is a peninsula and photographer, you need to be I decided to settle here as a diving The non-divers can never imagine what exists stable under the water. It will instructor. I scuba dive every day, make you comfortable, not be it for training others or taking under the waters’ disturbing the bottom of the underwater photos. water and having good visibility. places in the world with my what logistics we need to travel need 10 days to see such number The photographers should How did you develop the camera. I have been to Thailand, with for underwater diving and of things on land. All underwater not make the creatures scary. interest for diving? Maldives, and Philippines. I photography. I know what it takes creatures are cute, peaceful and Underwater navigation is very The best thing in the world is have been lucky to win a couple to have special diving with re- colourful. It is an eye-pleasure important. You need to know your to have a profession and hobby of recognitions for my work breathers and cameras. watching an underwater garden. way. You need to carry the camera in the same field and at the same at international underwater What I enjoy the most stuff according to your plans, time. You do not get bored while photography competitions. I underwater is when I see some What is underwater meaning what kind of photos you at work. You always have passion won first prize at the underwater improvement in the marine life, photography for you? want to take. for what you are doing. I consider marathon photography especial coral reefs. I feel real For me, the underwater myself very lucky to be in the competition in Croatia. I also won pleasure when I see the marine photography is a big joy. I How do you see life in Qatar? diving industry. I am happy that the first prize for a wide-range life improving at a certain place. cannot live without having my Diving is in the culture for Qatar. I work with big international underwater shot competition. I like to teach people about how underwater camera every couple They are actually pearl divers. I can community of underwater divers I captured a fish eating a small to protect and help improve the of days. It is like discovering a see that every house in Qatar, in and help in keeping the sea clean. fish. One of my underwater marine life. treasure or a treasure-hunt. You some way, is related to the sea. The documentary films won a prize in I like to go to Philippines and always look for something new to people are in a relationship with the Tell us about some of your Qatar back in 2006. Thailand every year to have scuba show the people. The non-divers sea and the marine life. major achievements so far? I have dived almost everywhere, diving. Even here in Qatar, I feel can never imagine what exists Generally, there have been I have been the part of some in the Arabian Gulf, Red Sea, very happy because I have lately under the waters. lots of activities in Qatar about of the biggest projects in the and in Chinese Sea. I also give noticed that the coral reefs have education and sports. The diving area when it comes to marine consultancy to new businesses started to grow again. I have also Any piece of advice industry has been growing every assessments. I did a lot of work and resorts. noticed some underwater spots in you would like to share day. I would like to see Qatar studying marine life underwater Qatar where new coral reefs have with aspiring underwater as one of major destinations for the construction purposes. Where have you enjoyed started growing up. photographers? for underwater diving. As the I have done underwater diving and underwater Whatever you see underwater The underwater diving is 2022 FIFA World Cup is coming photography and videography photography the most in the is amazing and beautiful. You generally very safe. My little piece here, people will come and they here for lots of films. world? see thousands of creatures of advice for the underwater can enjoy the different kinds of I have travelled to so many I know the industry and I know underwater in 10 minutes and you photographers is to have good underwater sports in Qatar. 6 GULF TIMES Thursday, August 23, 2018 COMMUNITY

QPL Cricket Tournament Season 9 inaugurated

Qatar Premier League (QPL) Cricket Tournament Season 9 was recently inaugurated at the The gathering was attended by the members of QPL, including Qamar Qureshi, Chairman Regency Halls. Siraj Ansari, Founder of QPL, speaking on the occasion said that 20 teams from QPL; Mir Sohail, President QPL along with Sridhar Abbagouni, Hassan, Sharfuddin and Akbar the subcontinent, including , Pakistan, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka would be participating Khan. Omer presided over the inauguration and appreciated the organisers for promoting in the tournament that is scheduled to be held from 21st September at Barwa City grounds. sports in Qatar.

Khayber Gate, a new eatery of Pakistani delicacies opens in Doha

Khayber Gate, a new eatery of Pakistani delicacies, recently opened in Umm Mughlina community, including Rana Mohammed Afzal, Khalid Mansoor, Chaudhry Ajmal and Sheraz area. Salman Ali, Commercial Secretary of the Embassy of Pakistan, and Latif Baloach, Khan attended the event and enjoyed the Pakistani dishes served by Wajahat Khalid, owner of Public Relations Offi cer at the Embassy of Pakistan, along with noted members of Pakistani the restaurant. Thursday, August 23, 2018 GULF TIMES 7 BOOK REVIEW COMMUNITY Campus satire by Julie Schumacher earns its laughs The Shakespeare Requirement, is a sequel of Dear Committee Members, but it’s quite a diff erent book, even if Jason Fitger is still the protagonist, and Payne remains the scene of the crime

HONOURED: Julie Schumacher was honoured with Thurber Prize for American Humour in 2014 for Dear Committee Members.

sequel, but it’s quite a diff erent book, even By Daniel Akst if Jason Fitger is still the protagonist, and Payne remains the scene of the crime. Where Committee proceeded by stealth, the new novel ruly great comic fi ction isn’t merely extracts laughter by means of brute force, funny. It has to make us laugh of relying on a pompous villain, star-crossed TAKE-OFF: The Shakespeare Requirement extracts laughter by means of brute force, relying on a course, but it also has to make us lovers, a charmingly sarcastic retainer who is pompous villain, star-crossed lovers, a charmingly sarcastic retainer, an ingénue and a dog. feel a lot more than amusement, smarter than her betters, an ingénue who loses something it accomplishes by her innocence and, yes, a dog. shabby oddballs and their antique discipline paired with the dean, and his administrative Tintroducing us to authentic characters we care Despite the stock characters or perhaps even are suddenly in danger of extinction thanks to assistant, Fran Ignatieff , a member of the about in a fully realised milieu that sheds a because of them, the book is funny indeed. All the the imperial designs of market-oriented Roland campus’ deep state who knows where all the bright light on our own. worst features of modern campus life, begging Gladwell, gladiatorial head of the Economics bodies are buried, and has probably buried a Julie Schumacher’s hilarious 2014 novel, for caricature, here get their wish: the army of department upstairs. Gladwell is scheming to few herself. Dear Committee Members, ticks off every box administrators, the overpaid football coach, eject the fractious English department from Perhaps Fitger’s greatest challenge, aside and then some, which is perhaps why it won a the emphasis on fundraising and the profound the building they share and take over the place from winning back his ex-wife, is persuading coveted Thurber Prize for American Humour, mediocrity of the students who, while insisting entirely. Shakespearean scholar Dennis Cassovan to making its author the fi rst woman whose on their fragility, can erupt in self-righteous fury The economist has big donors behind him, support the English department’s Statement work was so honoured. Committee tells its at any time. Fitger begins his ‘Literature of the but, honestly, Fitger is his own worst enemy. of Vision, a widely derided document needed story entirely through increasingly unhinged Apocalypse’ class by simply having each of them Here he is in a restaurant: if English is to survive Gladwell’s new quality- letters of recommendation written by cranky, read a paragraph of the assigned material aloud, Waiter: “Good evening. Have either of you assessment junta. Cassovan, whose name is put-upon Jason Fitger, a has-been novelist and which will seem pedagogically puzzling except dined with us before?” almost the same as that of the pedantic scholar weary creative writing professor at lacklustre that some of them, evidently, can barely do this. Fitger: “I don’t see why that matters. We George Eliot’s heroine foolishly marries in Payne University. The miracle is that, by the One can’t even pronounce the word ‘tragic’. know what a restaurant is; we know how it Middlemarch, is appalled that English majors end, we come to regard the man writing them as In keeping with the author’s gloves-off works.” will no longer have to take a Shakespeare not just reckless, sarcastic and oversharing, but approach, the epistolary pen is laid aside in Waiter: “If you need anything, my name is course, and refuses to sign any Statement of as a fl esh-and-blood human condemned to live this new work. No longer seen through the Beck.” Vision lacking this requirement, one that would with his mistakes and caught up in a tragedy as warped vision of our hero, Payne’s campus is Fitger: “I assume your name is Beck even if open the door to similar demands from all the a result of his devotion to an ideal. now revealed, in Schumacher’s omniscient we don’t need anything.” other egoists in the department. The groves of academe off er a mighty harvest narration, as a petty and bureaucratic hells- But in navigating the treacherous currents It all comes out right in the end of course, and for satire, and so Schumacher, herself a writing cape, its underfunded English department, of campus politics, our socially challenged it’s all laugh-out-loud funny, even if, unlike last professor, has gone back for more. Her newest chaired by no less than Fitger himself, a refuge antihero has the help of two good women, time around, we can sense the author labouring off ering, The Shakespeare Requirement, is a for bickering and neurotic dinosaurs. These his ex-wife Janet Matthias, now romantically for laughs. Not to worry, she’s earned them. 8 GULF TIMES Thursday, August 23, 2018 COMMUNITY BODY & A check-up with the paedi soon include a prescripc When parents engage in play with their children, it deepens relationships and builds a bulwark against the toxic eff ects of all kinds of stress, including poverty

BENEFITS: Collaboration, negotiation, conflict resolution, self-advocacy, decision-making, a sense of agency, creativity, leadership, and increased physical activity are just some of the skills and benefits children gain through play.

fretting over which toys to buy, In the paediatricians’ view, deeply into recess and other time more likely to become well-adjusted By Melissa Healy which apps to download and which essentially every life skill that’s for free play. healthy people,’ the Alliance for skill-building programmes to send valued in adults can be built up with By 2009, a study of Los Angeles Childhood said in 2009. their kids to after school, letting play. kindergarten classrooms found that Indeed, new research magine a drug that could them simply play, or better yet, “Collaboration, negotiation, 5-year-olds were so burdened with demonstrates why playing with enhance a child’s creativity, playing with them could seem like a conflict resolution, self-advocacy, academic requirements that they blocks might have been time better critical thinking and resilience. step backward. decision-making, a sense of were down to an average of just 19 spent, Yogman said. The trial Imagine that this drug was The paediatricians insist agency, creativity, leadership, and minutes per day of ‘choice time,’ assessed the effectiveness of an simple to make, safe to take, that it’s not. The academy’s increased physical activity are just when they were permitted to play early mathematics intervention Iand could be had for free. guidance does not include specifi c some of the skills and benefits freely with blocks, toys or other aimed at pre-schoolers. The results The nation’s leading recommendations for the dosing children gain through play,” they children. One in four Los Angeles showed almost no gains in math paediatricians say this miracle of play. Instead, it asks doctors wrote. teachers reported there was no time achievement. compound exists. In a new clinical to advise parents before their The paediatricians’ appeal comes at all for ‘free play.’ “Instead of focusing solely report, they are urging doctors to babies turn 2 that play is essential as American kids are being squeezed Increased academic pressures have on academic skills, such as prescribe it liberally to the children for healthy development. It also by escalating academic demands at left 30 percent of US kindergarten reciting the alphabet, early in their care. advocates for the restoration of play school, the relentless encroachment classes without any recess. Such literacy, using flash cards, What is this wonder drug? Play. in schools. of digital media, and parents who fi ndings prompted the American engaging with computer toys, “This may seem old-fashioned, “Play is not frivolous,” the either load up their schedules with Academy of Paediatrics to issue and teaching to tests, which has but there are skills to be learned academy’s report declares. It organised activities or who are a policy statement in 2013 on the been overemphasised to promote when kids aren’t told what to do,” nurtures children’s ingenuity, themselves too busy or stressed to ‘crucial role of recess in school.’ improved test results, cultivating said Dr Michael Yogman, a Harvard co-operation and problem-solving play. Pediatricians aren’t the only ones the joy of learning through play is Medical School paediatrician who skills, all of which are critical The trends have been a long time who have noticed. likely to better encourage long- led the drafting of the call to arms. for a 21st century workforce. It coming. Between 1981 and 1997, In a report titled Crisis in the term academic success,” Yogman Whether it’s rough-and-tumble lays the neural groundwork that detailed time-use studies showed Kindergarten, a consortium of and his colleagues wrote in the physical play, outdoor play or helps us ‘pursue goals and ignore that the time children spent at play educators, health professionals and clinical report, which appears in social or pretend play, kids derive distractions.’ declined by 25 percent. Since the child advocates called the loss of play the journal Pediatrics. important lessons from the chance to When parents engage in play adoption of sweeping education in early childhood ‘a tragedy, both Another playtime thief, the make things up as they go, he said. with their children, it deepens reforms in 2001, public schools for the children themselves and for growing proportion of kids’ time The advice, issued by the relationships and builds a bulwark have steadily increased the amount our nation and world.’ Young kids in spent in front of screens and digital American Academy of Paediatrics, against the toxic eff ects of all kinds of time devoted to preparing for play-based kindergartens ‘end up devices, even among pre-schoolers. may come as a shock to some of stress, including poverty, the standardised tests. The focus on equally good or better at reading and Last year, Common Sense Media parents. After spending years academy says. academic ‘skills and drills’ has cut other intellectual skills, and they are reported that children up through Thursday, August 23, 2018 GULF TIMES 9 & MIND COMMUNITY iatrician may ion for play

STATISTICS: Between 1981 and 1997, detailed time-use studies showed that the time children ASSOCIATED RISK: This escalation of digital use comes with rising risks of obesity, sleep deprivation spent at play declined by 25 percent. and cognitive, language and social-emotional delays.

Philadelphia, on sidewalks in San Francisco, and in neighbourhoods of Chicago, the initiative led by Temple University psychologist Kathy Hirsh-Pasek has installed giant movable blocks, life-sized human board games, and lights that invite a spontaneous game of hopscotch. “We’re not the only species that plays,” said Hirsh-Pasek, author of Becoming Brilliant: What Science Tells Us About Raising Successful Children. “Dogs, cats, monkeys, whales and even octopuses play, and when you have something that prevalent in the animal kingdom, it probably has a purpose,” she added. Yogman also worries about the pressures that squeeze playtime for more affluent kids. “The notion that as parents we need to schedule every minute of their time is not doing them a great service,” he said. Even well- meaning parents may be “robbing them of the opportunity to have that joy of discovery and curiosit, the opportunity to find things out on their own.” Play may not be a hard sell to kids. But UCLA paediatrician Carlos Lerner acknowledged that the paediatricians’ new prescription may meet with scepticism from parents, who are anxious for advice on how to give RELIABLE: Playing outdoor is a kind of drug that could enhance a child’s creativity, critical thinking and resilience. their kids a leg up in the world. They should welcome the age 8 spent an average of two hours of the same areas that kids get engaged and have to really discover disproportionately affected by simplicity of the message, Lerner and 19 minutes in front of screens through free play, problem-solving, things.” some of the trends that are making said. each day. That included an average spatial skills and persistence. Moreover, he added, “language play scarce: academic pressures at “It’s liberating to be able to offer of 42 minutes a day for children But in young kids, especially, development is much enhanced schools that need to improve test them this advice: that you spending under 2. they are often crowding out games when it involves real people and scores, outside play areas that are time with your child and letting This escalation of digital use of make-believe, not to mention not screens.” limited or unsafe, and parents who him play is one of the most valuable comes with rising risks of obesity, face-to-face time with peers and The decline of play is a special lack the time or energy to share in things you can do,” he said. “It sleep deprivation and cognitive, parents, Yogman said. hazard for the roughly 1 in 5 playtime. doesn’t have to involve spending a language and social-emotional “I respect that parents have busy children in the United States In cities across the country, lot of money or time, or joining a delays, the American Academy of lives and it’s easy to hand a child who lives in poverty. These 14 a programme called Learning parenting group. It’s something we Pediatrics warned in 2016. an iPhone,” he said. “But there’s a million children most urgently Landscapes is aiming to give urban can offer that’s achievable. They Yogman acknowledged that cost to that. For young children, it’s need to develop the resilience children opportunities to play and just don’t recognise it right now as many digital games and screen- much too passive. And kids really that is nurtured with play. learn in the public spaces they particularly valuable.”– Los Angeles based activities can nurture some learn better when they’re actively Instead, Yogman said, they are navigate every day. At a bus stop in Times/TNS 10 GULF TIMES Thursday, August 23, 2018 COMMUNITY INFOGRAPHIC Thursday, August 23, 2018 GULF TIMES 11 LIFESTYLE/HOROSCOPE COMMUNITY Connecting constantly with your employees may crush creativity

o you constantly share intermittent cycles with always-on ideas, knowledge and technologies, we might be diminishing answers with your our capacity to solve problems well,” employees on e-mail said Ethan Bernstein, Associate and various social media Professor at the Harvard’s Business Dplatforms? It may not be eff ective in School. solving problems and instead would In the study, published in the crush their creativity, a new study has journal PNAS, the team found that found. when high performers interacted The study, led by researchers from with low performers constantly, there the Harvard University in Boston, was little to learn from them because showed that sharing knowledge low performers mostly just copied intermittently might be better help in high performers’ solutions and high solving complex problems. performers likely ignored them. The groups that interacted only But when high performers intermittently had an average quality interacted intermittently with low of solution, preserved enough performers, they were able to learn variation to fi nd some of the best something from them that helped solutions, rather than succumbing to them achieve even greater solutions to the worst. the problem. According to researchers, The march towards always-on organisations had been traditionally technology and more and more digital working intermittently — individuals collaboration tools at work should working alone, then coming together not disturb the intermittent isolation in a meeting, then returning to work that those practices bring, lest it keep alone, etc. groups from achieving their best However, the constant advancement collective performance in solving of technology has broken these cycles. complex problems, the researchers “As we replace those sorts of warned. — IANS

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

Take hold of this day as if it’s your own and use it to grow your There’s a fiery tone to the day that can't be ignored, Taurus. You may There’s an extra spark in your eye that people won’t be able to dreams, Aries. You’ll find a great deal of power and dynamism in the find that adjustments need to be made in your own plan of attack ignore. Today’s a good day to get your point across, because you’ll air urging you to take the adventurous route. There’s no need to hold in order to get on the same page with other people. Don’t worry if find people more open and receptive to new things than usual. back. The door is open and waiting for you to take the leap of faith things don’t go according to your plans. In fact, the best route to Speak with confidence and you’ll go far. It’s important for you to say to the other side. Don’t even worry about consequences now. Your take is the one that wasn't even planned. Do something that you’ve what you feel. If you don’t, others will find reasons to walk all over good luck will pull you safely through. never done before. you. CANCER LEO VIRGO June 21 — July 22 July 23 — August 22 August 23 — September 22

Take yourself on a mental adventure today in which you explore Today is your day, Leo, so live it up! If it seems like things have Be careful that you aren’t acting in a way that you dislike in new aspects of your world. Discuss philosophy and religion. Get been rather intense lately, don't worry, they’re apt to lighten up others, Virgo. You could find that you’re slowly taking on the traits to the core of a matter that seriously interests you. Now is a good quite a bit today. Feel free to be your usual jolly self, the one who of the people you despise. Lighten up a bit and put a smile on time to consider taking classes or engaging in some form of adds humour to the group. Your laughter will be appreciated. your face. If you continue to see the negative side of everything, higher learning. Your emotions come from a point of great power Come into the forefront. Bring things up to your level and you’ll it’s likely that other people will only see the negative and you should use this energy wisely. find that others willingly join you there. side of you. LIBRA SCORPIO SAGITTARIUS September 23 — October 22 October 23 — November 21 November 22 — December 21

The day’s general mood should fit quite well with your agenda, Libra. You may need a translator to get through to people today, Scorpio. It Use your power resources today, Sagittarius, as you have a great There's no need to fixate on the negative. Keep things light and could be hard to make decisions, but not impossible. Today's tip is to deal of dynamic energy at your disposal. You have the ability to upbeat and worry about the consequences later. This is the time to embrace on the side of adventure. Trust that good luck will pull you transform and conquer anything now. Note that your spirit of be adventurous and explore. Don’t let anyone else tell you how to through if you take risks. You may feel unappreciated. Ask for help adventure is apt to be more acute than normal, and you may be run your show. You have a strong will and strong opinions, so don't when you need it, but don’t rely on others to heal you. Most of this feeling quite anxious to get things rolling in a new direction. Don’t be afraid to express either. work needs to come from within. hold back. Now is the time to do things full force. CAPRICORN AQUARIUS PISCES December 22 — January 19 January 20 — February 18 February 19 — March 20

You could be asked to make some spontaneous decisions today Emotionally, you may feel as if you’re running up against a brick wall, Your emotions could be extra powerful today, Pisces, although that you might not feel entirely comfortable making, Capricorn. Aquarius. It could be that your first reaction is to drown your sorrows something may not feel as if it's sitting right. It could be a feeling of You could feel you don’t have enough facts to make an educated in drink. Escapism is only a temporary remedy. If things slam in your manipulation. Perhaps you’ve misjudged someone else’s sensitivity decision about what to do next. Realise that sometimes it’s face today, use this as an indication that you need to take necessary and now they’re working to get back at you in a subtle yet harmful necessary to bite the bullet and make the best choice based on the action. Don’t keep bouncing around from one thing to the next in way. Attend to your feelings and spend time alone if it helps you get knowledge you have. Be adventurous and trust your judgment. order to avoid the obvious. Face the music. more in tune with your emotions. 12 GULF TIMES Thursday, August 23, 2018 COMMUNITY CARTOONS/PUZZLES

Wordsearch Adam

Pooch Cafe

UP UPBEAT UPHOLD UPSET UPDATE UPKEEP UPSTART UPEND UPLIFT UPTOWN UPFRONT UPPER UPTURN UPGRADE UPRIGHT UPWIND UPHEAVAL UPROAR UPHILL UPROOT

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. Thursday, August 23, 2018 GULF TIMES 13 PUZZLES COMMUNITY

Super Cryptic Clues Colouring

ACROSS DOWN 1. A pithy “A little honey” 2. “Was the compere, “ I (5,3,5) interjected, “given a lift?” (7) 8. It’s quite disgusting, but 3. Doris, heartbroken, is abroad (3) Simone is really getting 4. It could be the means of making upset about nothing (7) money, which would help (4) 9. That is later to be 5. One that’s passed over in the converted into a studio sorting? (4,6) (7) 6. The question is, do we capture 11. Why you shift it back the woman? (5) inside (6) 7. Had I done wrong including it in 13. Chuck the peg back in: it’s the publication? (7) very short (8) 8. Brown poured the gin out. One 15. Not a leader, anyhow, more than that is too much! though he arrived before (6,5) the others (5) 10. OK once the drought is over? 16. Possibly the A6; Brown (5,2,4) took the MI in (7) 12. Forgive and, with a change of Answers 18. The wave that engulfed heart, sign (5) the house was a real 14. It’s clear he will surpass the Wordsearch Codeword misfortune (7) others, though past his best 19. Sounds and flashes (5) (4,3,3) 21. A drawing test (3,5) 17. Saw the cat going up to (5) 23. The man composed the 18. The twit took a wrong turn, poem in N.Italy (6) going into a very hot spot (7) 25. The wrong people are in 20. A crack about the man: an anguish (7) Indian (7) 26. I get a cut on making the 22. A very good answer to “What sale (7) do you do when you’ve 28. No demand for ice-cream shuffled?” (5) (that’s very neat!) (5-3,5) 24. On the lake, one will tie up (4) 27. About three-quarters of an acre in the park? (3) Yesterday’s Solutions

Across: 1 Go without; 8 Revival; Down: 1 Gallons; 2 Woomera; 3 9 Look out; 10 Present; 13 Tools; 4 Ortolan; 5 Trap; 6 Miss; Oversell; 14 Snag; 16 Standing up; 7 Platter; 11 Rasped; 12 Edge; 15 20 Rear; 22 Rest; 24 Snapdragon; Area; 17 Tee; 18 Note; 19 Insert; 28 Peke; 29 Canoodle; 31 21 Ago; 22 Request; 23 Spot; 25 Untruth; 34 Chattel; 35 Satchel; Prances; 26 Godetia; 27 Needled; 36 Disregard . 30 Orate; 32 Rock; 33 Held. 14 GULF TIMES Thursday, August 23, 2018 COMMUNITY REVIEWS Searching takes a few too many turns than expected

videos detailing her decline. It’s a standard missing person By Katie Walsh David and Margot are tethered via story, but the use of technology technology, but one day, Margot’s demonstrates how we’re at once digital presence slowly fades away, constantly connected in a way that erhaps Searching would until it’s not just a dead battery or allows us to be entirely disconnected. feel more revolutionary had bad reception but a missing person. Who needs face-to-face time when Unfriended: Dark Web not The search for Margot is on, as David there’s FaceTime? Photos can be been so recently released. becomes increasingly frantic, combing manipulated or applied to other The two fi lms take for their her computer for any clues about narratives. Technology allows us to conceitP and style the reality that these where his daughter might be, and see everything, and also nothing, if the days, we live our lives online, and more importantly, who she is. story is twisted in the right way. therefore, the entirety of the cinematic The acting required for a fi lm that What’s bone chilling about experience never leaves the computer primarily takes place on FaceTime Searching is how it lays out the way the screen. While the Unfriended series and YouTube is of the casual, lived-in truth can be right in front of us. We applies the technique to B-movie variety. There’s no projecting for the just have to be willing to look, and to horror frights, Searching, directed back of the house into a webcam, see it. The fi lm takes the audience on by Aneesh Chaganty and written by and it’s a tough balance to achieve a wild ride of twists and turns; images Chaganty and Sev Ohanian, attempts for a performer, who has to inhabit and words can be manipulated into to elevate it to something more and express all the emotions in a multiple competing truths. sophisticated: a dramatic thriller, the completely natural and organic way. But the fi lm does take a few too story of a man looking for his missing Fortunately, Cho is up to the task of many turns on its journey. The end daughter. carrying a fi lm that requires him to feels rushed, outlandish and possibly David Kim (John Cho), a widower authentically emote into a MacBook even reshot, destroying the apparent in San Jose, Calif., has a tenuous camera. timeline of the entire fi lm with a few relationship with his daughter Margot That’s not so with his co-star, lines, and upending all suspension (Michelle La), a hardworking high Debra Messing, who plays Det. Vick, of disbelief. It’s clearly intended to school sophomore. Both are caught leading the investigation. Whether leave us feeling OK, rather than fi lled up in their own pools of grief after seated at a desk video chatting with with dread, but it’s a hackneyed the death of Margot’s mother, Pam, David, or frantically FaceTiming when and obvious attempt to make the outlined in a dialogue-free opening they discover a new clue, one can fi lm something that it’s not. For sequence reminiscent of the tragic feel Messing eff ortfully acting with a all the interesting ideas and slick opening of Pixar’s Up. A life and a capital A, rather than naturalistically execution that Searching raises, it’s a death are detailed on a computer performing the interactions a police disappointment that it doesn’t stick to screen: photos and calendar dates and detective would have with tech. its guns. – TNS Sherlock Gnomes, another film from family-friendly pack

and Juliet. The garden gnomes and lawn and then for an Elton John dance party By Katie Walsh ornaments come to life while their owners (he is a producer on the fi lm and lends his are away, ruling over their bucolic backyard catalog), the pairs learn a lot about learning domains. Gnomeo (James McAvoy), Juliet to demonstrate proper appreciation for here’s a current boom of family- (Emily Blunt), and their garden menagerie their partners, particularly the logic-driven friendly fi lm fare inspired by beloved have been uprooted from to the country to the Sherlock and Juliet. British literary characters, which city, and just as they’re settling in to London Depp’s voice performance as the quirky makes this moment ripe for the life, they learn the hard way about the harsh Sherlock Gnomes is unrecognisable and animated Sherlock Gnomes, the realities of urban crime. rather uninspired. His character only takes sequelT to 2011’s Gnomeo and Juliet. In terms of When all the gnomes are kidnapped, off during fantasy sequences done in a lively ranking these adaptations, Sherlock Gnomes Sherlock Gnomes (Johnny Depp), the guardian black and white line-drawing animation style is quite a bit more pleasant than Peter Rabbit, of all the gnomes in London, swoops in to that illustrates his peculiar brain and ways but doesn’t touch the wonder of Paddington 2. investigate with his trusty, long-suff ering of thinking. But the true standout among It’s a fairly serviceable animated feature, with a helper/partner Watson (Chiwetel Ejiofor), while the voice performances is Demetriou as few inspired elements, and more than enough Gnomeo and Juliet join up to help fi nd their the demented, devious Moriarty, who takes gnome puns to go around. gnome clan. Sherlock instantly suspects his the form of an adorable, but evil little pie The beloved British literary characters are, of nemesis Moriarty (Jamie Demetriou), whom boy fi gurine – sort of like if Bob’s Big Boy course, Sherlock Holmes and Watson, as well he thought he vanquished in a great museum wore less clothes, had less hair and sported as Romeo and Juliet. They off er enough rich, caper. a devilish grin and cackle. This kind of recognisable lore to pad out this London-set Their race around London looking for clues surrealism is what Sherlock Gnomes is largely mystery, directed by Kung Fu Panda director follows the format of British crime fi lms lacking in terms of personality, and the screen John Stevenson, written by Kevin Cecil, Andy like Snatch as the team encounters various comes alive when Moriarty is on screen in a Riley and Ben Zazove. As for the appeal of using seedy characters of the dolls and ornaments way that it doesn’t otherwise. garden gnome characters, well, it’s anyone’s underground, including the Barbie madam of There are some fun bits and bobs to be found guess. Perhaps the Travelocity Roaming Gnome a doll museum, Irene (Mary J. Blige), armies in the amusing enough Sherlock Gnomes. But was an inspiration? of Asian-inspired waving cat fi gurines and the overall picture doesn’t have the kind of true It’s essentially Toy Story mashed up with various hench-gargoyles. While the plot wow factor that would make this one stand out Sherlock Holmes, with a dash or two of Romeo spins out of control, stopping every now from the rest of the pack. – TNS Thursday, August 23, 2018 GULF TIMES 15 SHOWBIZ COMMUNITY

Kin is wish-fulfi lment movie: Jonathan At its heart, Asha to pay tribute to Kin is a wish- fulfi lment movie, says its co-director Jonathan Baker. four iconic composers The Lions Gate’s next fi lm egendary singer Asha Bhosle will titled Kin, a pay tribute to four legendary Indian crime thriller fi lm music composers – Sachin with a sci-fi Dev Burman, Hemant Kumar, Salil twist, has been Chowdhury and Rahul Dev Burman directed by the –L by performing at The Bengal Tigers, a show Baker Brothers to be held here on September 1. – Jonathan and Asha will share her experiences about all Josh. four ‘Bengal Tigers’ during the show at the “At its heart, ALL PRAISE: Jonathan Baker Shanmukhananda Hall, read a statement Kin is a wish- says Kin is a crime thriller with issued on behalf of the organisers Badaam Raja fulfi lment a sci-fi twist. Productions, owned by Vinayak Gawande, movie. It’s Ninad Karpe and Poonam Torgal. about a young character who fi nds something Compositions of the four composers will otherworldly beyond his wildest imagination, be presented featuring young artistes like his wildest dreams. But then has to decide how Shailaja Subramanian, Anindita Paul, Adish he’s going to use it, and whether his actions Telang and Hrishikesh Ranade on vocal are at heart good or something more sinister,” and a troupe of 15 musicians on melody and Jonathan said in a statement. percussion instruments conducted by Kamlesh Josh said people will get “multiple fl avours Bhadkamkar. in one dish” through this fi lm. Conceived and directed by composer Rahul “There’s a suspenseful crime element, Ranade, The Bengal Tigers is aimed at taking there’s family drama, you’re going to get the audience on a trip of nostalgia and history visual sci-fi , and big stuff mixed with an behind each of their iconic songs. indie sensibility. We think all of those things The concert will present the choicest of combined is what makes Kin unique,” he each of the composer’s compositions in Hindi, shared. English and Bengali, woven through a narrative Kin, starring Myles Truitt and Jack Reynor, describing their journey and evolution of is slated to release in India on August 31. – music. Actor Sumeet Raghavan will host the IANS show. Rahul Ranade, Creative Director of the show, said in a statement: “My idea was to go beyond the routine orchestra drill. The Bengal Tiger promises to bring forth the most popular Eva to play Dora’s mother songs along with some rare and unheard in Dora the Explorer melodies composed by each of the gems. “While we have regaled their melodies Actress for decades now, it would be important Eva Longoria to know the process and journey behind is joining each composition. I also think, the current live-action generation needs to be aware and educated movie Dora the about the glorious musical history of Indian Explorer. She fi lm music. As a die-hard fan and deriving will portray the musical inspiration all throughout my career mother of the from them, I am glad to pay a tribute to them.” LEGEND: Asha Bhosle will share her experiences about all four ‘Bengal Tigers’ during the show title character. – IANS at the Shanmukhananda Hall. Isabela Moner is playing Dora in the movie Relationships are tough to maintain: Rohit Roy version of the hit NEW ROLE: Eva Longoria is Actor Rohit Roy says relationships are diffi cult to build and Nickelodeon joining live-action movie Dora even tougher to maintain. cartoon series. the Explorer. “Infi delity is a very tricky situation for anyone to fi nd oneself Paramount has in... although nothing can excuse cheating on one’s partner, set August 2, 2019 as the release date, reports sometimes the current relationship itself is the reason for variety.com. people to stray... Strain in the relationship, opportunities, and The animated Dora the Explorer television sometimes mere boredom can lead to infi delity,” Rohit said in a series ran on Nickelodeon from 2000-2014 statement. for eight seasons with 172 episodes aired. It He added: “Honestly, I don’t have a moral standpoint on it. followed a young Latina girl who went on My personal take has changed over the years on how to handle adventures around the world. the issue if ever, God forbid, I was faced with it... in my 20s I’d Kristin Burr is producing the movie, which probably kill my partner... in my 30s I would have probably has been in the works since 2015. Executive gone mental and wouldn’t have known what to do because the producers are John G. Scotti, Julia Pistor and relationship would have been a decade old and it wouldn’t be Eugenio Derbez, who is also co-starring in it easy to kill her. along with Micke Moreno, Nicholas Coombe, “And now in my 40s I know that I’d sit her down and ask her Madeleine Madden, Adriana Barraza and why it happened... take stock of our relationship... speak to Temuera Morrison. her like a friend rather than from the opposite side of the net... Dora the Explorer was developed through and if it seemed workable, I would forgive her totally and give Paramount’s Paramount Players division, which things another shot. Relationships are diffi cult to build and even hired writer-director Nick Stoller in October to tougher to maintain.” work on the script. James Bobin, whose credits Rohit expressed his views on infi delity after shooting a include Alice Through the Looking Glass and scene where his girlfriend cheats on him in VIU’s web series Muppets Most Wanted, is directing it. Memories. Production companies are Paramount Talking about the sequence, he said: “There was this sequence Players, Nickelodeon and Walden Media. – where I fi nd out that my girlfriend is cheating on me with IANS another guy... This sequence gave me the real shivers because CANDID: Rohit Roy says, ‘Strain in the relationship, opportunities, and this is not something I’d wish on my worst enemy.” – IANS sometimes mere boredom can lead to infidelity.’ 16 GULF TIMES Thursday, August 23, 2018 COMMUNITY Caracas underground off ers free rides amid worsening conditions The lack of income from ticket sales has contributed to an increasing deterioration of the underground with constant delays, technical failures and poor maintenance

By Nestor Rojas Mavares

enezuela’s economic crisis is strangling Caracas’ public transport system. Hundreds of buses have been withdrawn from circulation, increasing the pressure Von the underground, which no longer receives income from ticket sales because it costs too much to print them. Fare tickets are no longer for sale in the Caracas underground, anyone can enter, free of charge, through the turnstiles into what once was one of Latin America’s most advanced underground railway systems. There is hardly any staff at the ticket offi ces, which may display a ‘Closed’ sign. Yet despite the silence at the entrance, trains are still rumbling underneath, with thousands of people crammed into the red wagons. The underground of the Venezuelan capital has run out of tickets because there are no funds to import the material they were made of. The lack of income from ticket sales has contributed to an increasing deterioration of the underground, with constant delays, technical failures, poor maintenance, lack of air conditioning and insecurity. FALL OFF: The problems that underground is facing includes a lack of cleaning, employees leaving to look for better jobs, thefts and robberies. Those problems refl ect a general crisis in Venezuela’s public transport system, was inaugurated in 1983, a ticket cost almost says lawmaker Nora Bracho, Head of the twice as much as a bus ticket, but the price then Commission of Administration and Services in got stuck at four bolivars. Now the underground the opposition-dominated National Assembly. has no ticket income at all, while a bus ticket The oil-producing South American country costs 10,000 bolivars. One dollar is worth about is mired in a deep economic crisis that has 3.5 million bolivars on the black market. taken hundreds of privately run buses, lacking The state company Compania Anonima for spare parts, tyres, oil or batteries - out of Metro de Caracas operates the underground service in Caracas and thousands nationwide. service, which requires the circulation of at The lack of buses has increased pressure on least 38 trains at a time, at the cost of tens of the underground in the capital of Venezuela, millions of dollars yearly. where infl ation is expected to reach a million “They should collect fares, but covering the per cent this year, according to the International cost of printing tickets would make the prices Monetary Fund. The underground carries soar, because the material is purchased in more than 2 million people daily on its fi ve dollars,” said an employee who did not want to lines. Studies done in the 1970s, before the be named. underground was enlarged, put the maximum The lack of public transport has increased number of passengers at 700,000. the use of trucks, known as ‘dog pounds,’ to The underground service includes carry people. Nearly 40 people were killed and funicular railways travelling to low-income 275 injured in accidents involving such vehicles neighbourhoods on hilltops and a fl eet of buses in Venezuela in the fi rst six months of 2018, covering areas that are located far away from according to the parliamentary commission. underground stations. It’s on such a bus that French-made trains carried the fi rst President Nicolas Maduro worked as a driver underground passengers in January 1983 after before his political career took off . a decade of studies on how to improve public “The underground functions badly,” said transport. Line 1, which transports the most Bracho, who has presented a report on the passengers, links the west of the capital with problems. “The trains do not function correctly, the east over a distance of 20 kilometres. escalators have broken down, there is no More than 5 billion dollars were invested in maintenance. Some wagons travel with their adding four more between 1987 and 2010. The doors open,” she said in a statement. Brazilian construction company Odebrecht The problems also include a lack of cleaning, did not complete a planned expansion amid employees leaving to look for better jobs, thefts corruption scandals engulfi ng it in other and robberies, Bracho said. “Good service is countries of the region. not demanded because fares are not collected. In 2010, the government approved an This is unsustainable. There are hawkers in investment of 30 million dollars to improve the wagons, and criminal robberies are on the train service, traction and freight systems, increase,” the lawmaker explained. electricity supply, air conditioning and RUNNING OUT: The underground of the Venezuelan capital has run out of tickets because there In the fi rst few years after the underground escalators.–DPA are no funds to import the material they were made of.