Community Community The second Amin Isaac, Seerat- co-founder P6un-Nabi P16 of Words & conference organised Strings and a gifted by Sohni Dharti this poet, speaks about year was managed ‘Words of December’ entirely by children. event at Education City.

Thursday, December 22, 2016 Rabia I 23, 1438 AH

DOHA 16°C—24°C TODAY LIFESTYLE/HOROSCOPE 11 PUZZLES 12 & 13 Cloud city Amazon and Microsoft leading a multi-billion dollar tech revolution COVER STORY that will change the way business is conducted. P4-5 2 GULF TIMES Thursday, December 22, 2016 COMMUNITY ROUND & ABOUT

PRAYER TIME Fajr 4.53am Shorooq (sunrise) 6.15am Zuhr (noon) 11.32am Asr (afternoon) 2.30pm Maghreb (sunset) 4.51pm Isha (night) 6.21pm

USEFUL NUMBERS

Emergency 999 Worldwide Emergency Number 112 Kahramaa – Electricity and Water 991 EVENTS Al Gannas Society from Ali’s outdoor exhibition bout Local Directory 180 Free (For boys only, requires at the Doha Stadium in 1971 and International Calls Enquires 150 Moments registration) memorabilia spanning his journey to Hamad International Airport 40106666 Salam International Investment Al Gannas association is the 1960 Rome Olympics; Ali’s world Labor Department 44508111, 44406537 Ltd (SIIL) is hosting unique archival participating in the “Our culture is title winning bout against Sonny Mowasalat Taxi 44588888 photography exhibition titled Moments a school” programme, by organising Liston in 1964 and his final world title Qatar Airways 44496000 in memory of HH the Grandfather many activities for the students every winning fight against Leon Spinks in Hamad Medical Corporation 44392222, 44393333 Emir Sheikh Khalifa bin Hamad al- Monday and Wednesday of the week. New Orleans in 1978. Qatar General Electricity and Thani, paying tribute to the nation’s These activities include Water Corporation 44845555, 44845464 Grandfather Emir and recognising his explanations on hunting and related Qatar Music Academy Primary Health Care Corporation 44593333 contribution to Qatar’s progress. Held items tools, kinds of falcons and preys, (For school students) 44593363 at The Gate Mall’s Maysaloun Hall, in addition to workshop on how to Until March 28, 2017 Qatar Assistive Technology the exhibition draws from the private carry a falcon, set a traditional tent 11am–2pm Centre 44594050 collection of the Abu Issa family, (made of goat & camel heir), prepare Free (Requires registration) Qatar News Agency 44450205 bringing them out for a public showing. traditional Arabic coffee and start a Qatar Music Academy focuses on 44450333 The collection off ers a fascinating fire. For further details, visit katara. teaching its students the principles Q-Post – General Postal glimpse into the country’s historic net of Arab and Western music. As part Corporation 44464444 journey, with a prime focus on the of the “Our Culture is a School” Grandfather Emir, making it a must-see Muhammad Ali: Tribute to a programme, Qatar Music Academy Humanitarian Services Offi ce event for Qatar’s nationals, expatriates, Legend has offered interested schools (Single window facility for the repatriation of bodies) students and photography enthusiasts. DATE: Until February 25, 2017 the opportunity to attend various Ministry of Interior 40253371, 40253372, Moments is open to the public until WHERE: Eastern Gallery, 4th workshops. These workshops will 40253369 January 7, 2017 from 10am to 10pm. Floor, Museum of Islamic Art include an introduction to Arab and Ministry of Health 40253370, 40253364 The temporary exhibition is curated Western music and instruments, as Hamad Medical Corporation 40253368, 40253365 Al Gannas by Qatar Museums’ 3-2-1 Olympic and well as the teachers giving a brief Qatar Airways 40253374 (For school students) Sports Museum and presents a unique overview of the educational music Until March 31 2017 collection of artefacts from the boxing programmes at the Academy. For 9am–Noon legend’s career, including photography further details, visit katara.net

Mall Cinema (1): Dangal (Hindi) Royal Plaza Cinema Palace (2): ote Unquo 11:30am; Dangal (Hindi) 2:15pm; Dangal (Hindi) 11:30am; Dangal Qu te 10 Kalppanakal (Malayalam) (Hindi) 2:15pm; Off ice Christmas Education 5:15pm; Passengers (2D) 7:30pm; (2D) 9:30pm; Passengers (2D) Party (2D) 5:15pm; 10 Kalppanakal Off ice Christmas Party (2D) 11:30pm. (Malayalam) 7:15pm; Passengers is the most powerful 9:30pm; Passengers (2D) 11:30pm. Landmark Cinema (2): Sing (2D) 9:30pm; 10 Kalppanakal weapon which you can use to Mall Cinema (2): Sing (2D) (2D) 11:30am; Sing (2D) 2pm; Sing (Malayalam) 11:30pm. 11:30am; Sing (2D) 2pm; Sing (2D) 4pm; Sing (2D) 6pm; Dangal Royal Plaza Cinema Palace (2): change the world. (2D) 4pm; Sing (2D) 6pm; Dangal (Hindi) 8:30pm; Dangal (Hindi) The Last King (2D) 2pm; Moana (Hindi) 8pm; Dangal (Hindi) 11pm. 11pm. (2D) 3:45pm; Blackburn (2D) – Nelson Mandela Mall Cinema (3): 10 Kalppanakal Landmark Cinema (3): 10 5:45pm; Saber Google (Arabic) (Malayalam) 11:45 am; Blackburn Kalppanakal (Malayalam) 11:45am; 7:15pm; Off ice Christmas Party (2D) 2pm; Moana (2D) 3:30pm; Blackburn (2D) 2pm; Moana (2D) (2D) 9:30pm; Passengers (2D) Off ice Christmas Party (2D) 3:30pm; Saber Google (Arabic) 11:30pm. 5:30pm; Saber Google (Arabic) 5:30pm; The Last King (2D) Asian Town Cinema: Sapthagiri 7:45pm; The Last King (2D) 7:45pm; Off ice Christmas Party Express (Telugu) 12:30; Dangal Community Editor 9:45pm; 10 Kalppanakal (2D) 9:30pm; 10 Kalppanakal (Hindi) 12:30, 3, 3:45, 6:15, 7, (Malayalam) 11:30pm. (Malayalam) 11:30pm. 9:30, 10:15pm, 12:45, 1:30 & 2am; Kamran Rehmat Landmark Cinema (1): Dangal Royal Plaza Cinema Palace Katapana (Malayalam) 12;30, e-mail: [email protected] (Hindi) 11:30am; 10 Kalppanakal (1): 10 Kalppanakal (Malayalam) 3:15, 8:30 & 11:15pm; Ore Mukham Telephone: 44466405 (Malayalam) 2:15pm; Dangal 11:45am; Sing (2D) 2pm; Sing (Malayalam) 6pm; 10 Kalapanakal Fax: 44350474 (Hindi) 4:30pm; Off ice Christmas (2D) 4pm; Sing (2D) 6pm; Dangal (Malayalam) 12:30, 3, 5:30, 8, Party (2D) 7:30pm; Passengers (Hindi) 8pm; Dangal (Hindi) 11pm. 10:30pm & 1am. Thursday, December 22, 2016 GULF TIMES 3 ROUND & ABOUT COMMUNITY top 10 Books 1. Diary of Wimpy Kid 11 – Double Down by Jeff Kinney 2. Guinness World Records 2017 VENUE: MIA Park by Guinness There are fitness classes in the park on World Sunday, Tuesday and Thursday nights Records between 6 and 7pm. Open to all levels of 3. Harry fitness, Bootcamp is an intensive and fun Potter and Fragments Tumbao is not only a salsa rhythm, it way to train and also meet new people in The Cursed DATE: Until January 30 enables you to share in the creative flow the open and friendly group atmosphere. Child by JK VENUE: Katara of life and get connected to the beat and More information, from Bootcamp, Qatar Rowling In this exhibition, Mahmoud Obaidi dance. Join us every Sunday at Dunes or info@ bootcampqatar.com. 4. Me Before You by Jojo Moyes retraces the ‘organised chaos’ that led to with the fellow Latin dancers in town and 5. Library of Souls by Ransom Riggs the destruction of Iraq, and presents a nightly competitions with valuable prizes 6. Behind Closed Doors by B A Paris response to witnessing the city of Baghdad brought to you by Salsa n Candela. For more FOODIE’S CHOICE 7. Girl On The Train by Paula Hawkins fall piece by piece. Obaidi recreates what info & reservation, contact 44481280. 8. Scrapbook Of My Life by Alfi e Deyes has been stolen or destroyed to try to piece RESTAURANT: Latino Steakhouse 9. Qatar Entertainer 2017 by The the city back together again. Cake Decoration Classes LOCATION: Sheraton Hotel Entertainer DATE: Morning and evening In its quest to offer a breath of fresh air 10. Truly Madly Guilty by Liane The Backyard VENUE: Tavola Royal Plaza, Al Saad and a fiesta of the senses to the city diners Moriarty DATE: Every Friday Street and guests, the Latino Steakhouse serves TIME: 6pm Tavola offers a range of cake decorating classics, international favourites and a large Courtesy: Virgin Megastores, VENUE: Sheraton Grand Doha and kitchen skills classes. It is the only selection of steaks from South America, all Landmark and Villaggio Mall The Backyard is a first-of-its-kind venue authorised Wilton method provider perfected with complemented interiors. in Doha and brought to you by Candela in the Middle East. It is authorised by entertainment. Live music every Friday Wilton enterprises to conduct classes in with a variety of your favourite local the Wilton Method cake decorating and bands and occasional surprises of bigger the Wilton Method Instructors (WMI) performers! Entrance: QR100 for gents training programmes by Knightsbridge including one beverage/ladies free entrance PME (UK). Tavola conducts sugar-crafting until 8:30pm, after it will be QR65 for programmes and also offers programmes in ladies including one beverage. baking and chocolate making.

Tumbao Latin Nights Fitness Training DATE: Every Sunday DATE: Sunday, Tuesday, Thursday VENUE: Grand Hyatt Hotel TIME: 6pm-7pm

Treasures of China warriors who guarded a hidden empire. DATE: Until January 7, 2017 The exhibition will display 116 pieces VENUE: Museum of Islamic Art dating from the Neolithic period to the Terracotta soldiers from the First Qing Dynasty, spanning over 5,000 years of Emperor’s Terracotta Army will be on China’s history. Potteries, bronzes, jades, show at the Museum of Islamic Art where porcelains, gold, silver, enamel and many visitors will get the chance to meet the other Chinese treasures will be on show.

E-mail: [email protected], Events and timings subject to change 4 GULF TIMES Thursday, December 22, 2016 COMMUNITY COVER STORY On cloud nine with computing power Enabled by increasingly sophisticated technologies — and billions of dollars’ worth of factory-sized server farms being built around the world — cloud computing is changing from a consumer phenomenon to one that’s reshaping big business, writes Matt Day

Researcher Gartner estimates that business will direct more than $1 trillion of cash toward cloud computing between now and 2020

n a Seattle-area conference with a record book and a manual CLOUD COMPUTING billions of dollars’ worth of factory- room earlier this year, knows roughly when to replace sized server farms being built around Washington state’s two largest a part. But an engineer equipped Broadly defined, cloud computing comes in three categories: the world — cloud computing employers started sketching with software that can help make Infrastructure as a service: Nuts and bolts of computing, rented virtual is changing from a consumer out the future. sense of decades of maintenance machines, storage space or network time, usually on a pay-for-what-you-use phenomenon to one that’s reshaping IIn a daylong series of meetings data could do a more precise job, the basis. This realm is dominated by Amazon.com. big business. Thanks to the growth at Microsoft’s campus, engineers thinking goes, improving aircraft Platform as a service: A developer’s sandbox, including ready-made databases of Amazon.com, Microsoft and a from the software company knocked maintenance and fuel consumption. or tools to create websites. roster of Silicon Valley transplants, heads and keyboards with their Boeing is hoping to build web-based Software as a service: Ready-made tools accessed over the web. This is the it’s also reshaping Seattle. counterparts at Boeing. The goal: variants of its aviation analytics bucket most consumers would recognise — think Facebook or Gmail. In the Technologists compare the shift tapping into Microsoft’s Azure, the tools on Microsoft’s Azure. corporate world, think Microsoft’s Off ice 365, Salesforce.com’s sales tracking tools now under way to the advent of software maker’s network of on- “If you’re not building (tools) or Concur’s expense-management software. electrical utilities a century ago demand computing power, to build a that are keeping up with your that sparked rapid advances in new generation of software. customers on a daily or weekly basis, fi elds from agriculture to medicine Boeing for years has made tools, you’re falling behind,” said Corey Cloud computing, or tapping servers that store the emails in their and entertainment. Electricity from paper navigational aids to Sanders, a Microsoft manager who into rented computer power and Gmail account or back up their rapidly changed from an expensive maintenance software, that help its leads a cloud-computing team data storage over the internet, has iPhone photos. good available only to those with aerospace customers fl y and take working with Boeing. “Because your existed for more than a decade. Most But enabled by increasingly the wherewithal to generate care of their planes. An engineer competitors are.” people know the cloud as the unseen sophisticated technologies — and it themselves to a ubiquitous Thursday, December 22, 2016 GULF TIMES 5 COVER STORY COMMUNITY

Corey Sanders of Microsoft leads a cloud- computing team working with Boeing. “If you're not building (tools) that are keeping up with your customers on a daily or weekly basis, you're

falling behind,” WIRED: Tom Nguyen, information-technology manager at the Seattle Aquarium, has been he says plugging the aquarium's technology into cloud-computing services, which gives him more time to work with individual exhibits within the aquarium. He's in one of the server rooms that is being upgraded and rewired to new servers. commodity only noticed when it businesses could also rent the That premise was a hit among experience providing technology the transformation of an online goes down. processing power available on technology startups, an alternative services to giant customers. The bookseller to a retail juggernaut with “In general, there is someone Amazon-maintained servers. to shelling out tens of thousands of vote of confi dence from the spy a massive technology arm. who can deliver you electricity At the time, the world of business dollars for servers and software, and agency helped ease business- AWS took in more than $11 billion more reliably and less expensively technology was structured like this: spending days or weeks setting it up. technology buyers’ worry about the in sales over the most recently than you can generate it yourself,” corporate information-technology reliability and security of Amazon, reported 12 months, accounting said Ed Lazowska, a University of departments bought servers and Caught fl at-footed a company better known as an for 71 percent of the company’s Washington computer scientist. the expensive software that made AWS built dozens of services, online bookstore than a technology operating income before taxes. “What’s happening now is most them tick and installed on top of replicating in cyberspace the provider. Jeff Bezos, Amazon’s chief of us are increasingly relying on that the specifi c applications that functions of all sorts of out-of-the- In the years since, interest executive, said he was surprised by utilities, be it Amazon, or Microsoft the business needed to run, be it box software. in cloud services has spread to how long it took big technology- or Google, to give us the computing word-processing tools, accounting Much of the rest of the industry, increasingly large and sophisticated industry incumbents to match AWS’ we need.” databases or other software. living well off the high margins they businesses and government capabilities after the service was In other words, the power of the Offi ce workers accessed the whole were used to reaping from business institutions. When they go looking hatched. technology at your fi ngertips no pile of technology from a personal software sales, was caught fl at- for data storage, processing power “We got a seven-year runway,” longer depends on how powerful of computer. footed. and other infrastructure services, Bezos said. “That’s almost unheard a PC you bought for your den or the Amazon’s alternative was simple: A watershed moment arrived in many choose Amazon. of. For years, we were kind of left number of servers blinking in the Don’t bother with most of that; rent 2013 when the Central Intelligence Amazon’s annual shareholders alone.” backroom where you work. it from us instead. Employees, who Agency awarded a large data- meeting in May was a triumphant All you need is a credit card, can still access the whole system via centre contract to Amazon over aff air. The company’s stock was near Microsoft jumps in which can give you access to the web or their PC, won’t notice. IBM, a company with decades of a record high, and investors cheered When a big competitor did come the power and technology that calling, it was a familiar name. enables everything from your After a decade of fl ubs in corporate e-mail account to a consumer technology, and a few supercomputer. false-starts in cloud computing, Sales of internet-accessed Microsoft has gone all-in on the software and technology services cloud, investing billions of dollars are expected to total about $118 in data centres from Australia to billion this year, researcher Gartner Germany and Quincy, Washington. estimates. While it built that infrastructure, That sum represents an industry Microsoft also changed its approach, in its infancy. Gartner estimates reorienting a company that built its that business will direct more than business around massive software $1 trillion of cash toward cloud releases delivered every few years to computing between now and 2020. one that pushed out new products The technology industry is every week — and suddenly had to fi ercely competing for that cash, listen to customers at the same time. a race pitting traditional business Scott Guthrie, the Microsoft computing giants like IBM and executive vice president, who Oracle against relative newcomers oversees the company’s Cloud and Salesforce.com and Dropbox, and Enterprise unit, says the payoff has hundreds of startups. started to arrive in the past couple Seattle is at the forefront of of years. this revolution, largely thanks to “There’s almost no cloud (buying) Amazon.com. conversation anywhere that we’re Google, Microsoft and Yahoo not part of,” he said in an interview. all built their own search engines, This year, those conversations email platforms and other global have made customers out of web services that relied on massive companies like BMW, General data centres, but it was Amazon Electric and Boeing. that fi rst started renting that kind of “They came from so far behind, infrastructure to other businesses. and they came out of the gate In 2006, the company launched roaring,” said Brent Frei, an Amazon Web Services, or AWS, executive with Smartsheet, a which at fi rst amounted to a big, software company that partners web-accessed hard drive where with both Amazon and Microsoft. other businesses could store “I didn’t know you could turn a big their data. A few months later the company around that much.” The company added a service where Seattle Times/TNS 6 GULF TIMES Thursday, December 22, 2016 COMMUNITY Sohni Dharti organises its ‘biggest’ Seerat-un-Nabi conference

By Umer Nangiana

he second Seerat- un-Nabi conference organised by Sohni Dharti this year was entirely a children’s show.T More than seventy children participated in diff erent competitions in the programme that was also conducted by children. They gathered huge applause and appreciation from the packed audience at the Al Wahba Ball Room. Keeping up with its tradition of engaging children in literary activities allowing them to showcase their extracurricular abilities, Sohni Dharti Qatar organised a grand Seerat-un- Nabi conference recently that was attended by more than 200 people, mostly members of the Pakistani expatriate community. “I congratulate you on becoming a part of this auspicious occasion Rana Anwar Ali, chairman of Sohni Dharti, speaking at the competition. and witness these beautiful performances organised by the Al Amjad secured the fi rst position and will try to get more children working for Qatargas and RasGas, like the Pakistan Super League T20, Khor community children today,” while Jannat Sajid and Rao Abdul involved. “We are hoping that in celebrates more than one such has matches every Saturday. Rana Anwar Ali, chairman of Sohni Mannan placed second and third, future there will be even more event every year. Six teams are participating in Dharti told the audience in his respectively. In Naat (poems in the participation. We had more than Earlier this year, they celebrated the tournament. Five teams in the opening speech. praise of the prophet PBUH), Anfal 30 participants for the Qirat a similar event during Ramadan – tournament are named after the “I think it is the best programme Anwar won the fi rst prize. Reda competition this year which is a big the Faizan-e-Ramadan programme fi ve PSL franchises representing the ever organised by Sohni Dharti, Ahmad won the second and Abdul number. It shows children’s interest – where children participated fi ve capital cities of Pakistan, with because it is a programme that is Rafay won the third prize. in it,” said Ali. in good numbers. The children an addition of Gilgit Elevators. The celebrating Seerat-un-Nabi (the Areeha Mariyam won the fi rst He appreciated the eff orts by from Sohni Dharti community semi-fi nals and the fi nal will be personality of Prophet Muhammad prize in the speech competition, the children, who organised the had put together a show related held in January. PBUH) and there cannot be an while Romaisa Ali placed second entire event by themselves, with to diff erent themes on Ramadan. Sohni Dharti has been organising event more esteemed and fortunate and Ali Abid was third. assistance from adults. The programme also included an multiple events for the Pakistani than this,” said Ali. “I am proud to see the passion of The event opened with a catchy Islamic quiz, Naat recitation and community in Doha. Formed in The participating children these children. This is our aim. It is performance by the children, elocution contests. 2012, the main objectives of Sohni competed in diff erent elocution to give opportunities to children to who performed a prayer in the On the side-lines, the members Dharti are to promote cultural, contests in Urdu (Pakistan’s learn more about Seerat-un-Nabi form of skit. One of the children of Pakistani expatriate community social and sports activities for national language). The conference and then let them hone their extra- also presented a skit where he living in Al Khor are also organising Pakistanis residents of Al Khor also featured a competition for curricular skills at such levels,” said performed his dream of travelling to a four-month-long season of community. recitation of the Holy Qur’an where Ali. Makkah and Madinah. Twenty20 cricket that started in Its membership is open to the the best recitation was awarded He added that Sohni Dharti Sohni Dharti, a forum of October. Sohni Dharti’s fl agship people of Pakistani origin residing with trophies. would continue to hold such Pakistani expatriate community cricket tournament, Pakistan in Al Khor, and to Qatargas and In the Qirat competition, Huzaifa programmes in the future as well living in Al Khor, comprising people Cricket League, which is formatted RasGas employees living in Doha.

The programme was organised entirely by children. Thursday, December 22, 2016 GULF TIMES 7 COMMUNITY

The GES students enjoyed a total of 40 field trips during the week, including trips ranging from touring local farms on foot to exploring Souk Waqif, Museum of Islamic Art, and getting involved in community activities and sports and fitness. Gulf English School students explore ‘Week Without Walls’

“The idea is to really promote experiential learning,” GES Activity Co-ordinator Lewis Bacchus said. “Two main features diff erentiate it from regular outdoor programmes. Children have regular and repeated access to a natural space, and learning is self-directed and play- based. The curriculum is responsive to their interests. It’s immediate, and in the moment.” Preschool students at GES were busy making puppets and enjoyed a visit from the children’s literature library. They also made a trip to SFQ Sports Academy. Likewise, Year 1 did various in-school activities whilst enjoying time on a bouncy castle while Year 2 had a fun trip to Cool De Sac. Throughout the week, several trips were organised for junior school students, which ranged a desert in Dubai and completed from road safety day and Lego various teambuilding activities engineering to making models and organised by EcoVentures. The participating in South American Duke of Edinburgh students too had games as well as team building an overnight camp in the desert in games and food at Aspire Park. Qatar where they learned to cook Secondary school students too for themselves and many other enjoyed some great trips to the surviving techniques. Souk Waqif, Museum of Islamic Further, Year 10’s Business and tudents at Gulf English Art, adventure rooms, besides the Enterprise week saw them visit the School (GES) took their Spanish cultural trip. Also, while MEC Conference Centre to deliver learning to new levels the girls were engaged in kayaking, presentations. during a ‘Week Without the Duke of Edinburgh boys went to As part of the school’s Walls’ event that saw the the farm to do some orienteering. mission and vision in promoting Sschool’s 1,500-plus students enjoy Those who stayed in school internationalism, the Week a total of 40 fi eld trips conducted took part in making kites and Without Walls puts students recently. The fi eld trips ranged volcanoes, origami, a treasure in dynamic and challenging from touring local farms on foot to hunt, sketch Pokémon, comic book environments, which push them exploring Souk Waqif, Museum of heroes and Pokémon card creation. to their limits and encourage them Islamic Art, and getting involved Furthermore, 40 boys from year to take the lead, while also working in community activities and sports 6 and 7 took part in an activity together in groups, thinking and fi tness. driven week where they camped in critically to overcome problems. 8 GULF TIMES Thursday, December 22, 2016 COMMUNITY

Pak Shamaa holds Qirat and Naat Competition

Pak Shamaa School and College recently organised a Qirat and Naat Competition. Commodore Irfan Taj, defence attache at the Pakistan embassy, was the chief guest. A large number of parents, students, school management committee members and distinguished guests attended the competition. The top three positions in Qirat were clinched respectively by Farid Abdullah, Talha Muhammad Abaid and Shahid ullah Khalil. In Naat Competition Sara, Khizar Khalid and Malika Hashim were the top three position holders, respectively. Cash prizes, certificates and trophies were given to the winners. Two students, Khizare Khalid and Hiba, were given QR500 each as special prizes by the managing committee president, M A Shahid.

Bangladesh school celebrates country’s 45th Victory Day

The Bangladesh MHM School and College celebrated the 45th Victory Day of the country with Members, principal, vice-principal, teachers and students were present on that occasion. great patriotic zeal. In his speech, Principal Jashim Uddin welcomed everybody present and focused on the Day-long activities at the school paid tribute to the freedom fighters who laid their lives in the significance of the Victory Day. He talked about Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, who led War of Liberation in 1971. The institution also arranged a drawing competition, an essay writing the country’s War of Liberation in 1971. competition and a friendly volleyball match. Prizes were given to the winners. In his speech, ambassador Ashud Ahmed advised the students to study regularly and to The activities started with Bangladesh ambassador Ashud Ahmed hoisting the national flag at contribute to the nation’s development. The celebrations concluded later in the day with a vibrant 7:30am, followed by the national anthem. Embassy high off icials, ad-hoc committee members, PTA cultural programme. Thursday, December 22, 2016 GULF TIMES 9 REVIEWS COMMUNITY Latest Ice Age disappoints

where a group of animals blow up crystals by the swashbuckling Buck By Katie Walsh a bunch of crystals in a volcano to (Simon Pegg). set an asteroid off course, but the In chasing an acorn, Scrat ends concept of marriage is decidedly up on a spaceship that sets off the ourteen years after the anachronistic here. Also, they’re whole asteroid debacle. There’s a fi rst Ice Age animated animals. When anything’s possible, certain amount of visual comedy fi lm was a hit, the cantering a story around something fun to be had with simpleton Scrat, fi fth instalment in as mundanely heteronormative but his adventures in space take an the franchise, Ice Age: as a wedding feels wildly extreme physical toll on the rodent. CollisionF Course, is simply a unimaginative. The laser focus on something as perfunctory, watered-down entry Romano’s Manny remains innocuous as a mammoth wedding that feels like it should have been the heart of the group, but the weighs the story stakes in the wrong released on home video. chemistry and the writing between direction – away from the actual In this world of ancient animals the characters is profoundly lacking. world-ending part of the tale, which –wooly mammoths, sabre- It’s almost as if they seem to be on you would assume would take toothed tigers, fl ying dino-birds separate, equally underdeveloped precedence. All of the apocalyptic –facing apocalyptic, era-shifting, storylines. The most time is given to stuff feels so very slapdash and silly. asteroid-borne problems, it feels Manny’s issues with his immature Nothing comes together in Ice profoundly odd that the emotional future son-in-law, Julian (Adam Age: Collision Course, which feels stakes of the fi lm are centred DeVine), who plans to move away like the franchise grinding to a around the wedding of Manny with Peaches after their wedding, disappointing halt. Despite all the (Ray Romano) and Ellie’s (Queen in a sort of Father of the Bride-style star power involved, the voice acting Latifah) daughter Peaches (Keke storyline. The other characters are performances don’t inspire, the Palmer). Not to get too nit-picky granted tossed-off story scraps as visuals are basic, and in 3-D, dark about a fantastical fi lm for children they are led on a hunt for magnetic and dim. –TNS Horror full of typical tropes Money Monster has timely appeal their scary worth. This is mostly By Cary Darling By Jordan Hoff man achieved via eff ectively framed shots of his wordless, placid face gazing up at something we can’t odie Foster channels her here’s a commentary see. Stephanie seems at fi rst to inner 70s fi lmmaker in the that runs in my head as be a typical bratty teen, but is slick, streamlined Money I watch a wide release discovered to be suff ering from Monster, her cinematic horror picture not bulimia. shout-out to “mad as hell screened for critics Peter’s sleazy boss makes andJ I’m not going to take it anymore” Tprior to appearing in theatres. Five suggestive comments about an fi lms. minutes into The Darkness: hey, this attractive new offi ce assistant Money Monster plays on universal isn’t that bad. Ten minutes in: I’ve that at fi rst just seems like gross fi nancial fears of systemic corruption televised apology. seen far worse movies, there was no locker room talk, but later proves to and unscrupulous greed that can Unfolding in real time over just need to hide this. Fifteen minutes come from a more realistic place. bankrupt those with more integrity more than 90 minutes, Money in: oh, uh, I think I see where this is Turns out Peter has a history with than dollars. That’s why when an Monster hints at being a more headed. Twenty minutes in: I sure philandering, and while a later armed man, Kyle Budwell (Jack suspenseful and taut, topical thriller hope Kevin Bacon got a lot of money. conversation insists it’s all “in the O’Connell), sneaks into a TV studio than it turns out to be. While always So let’s focus fi rst on that kinda- past now”, the implication is that where the obnoxious stock-market compulsively watchable, it loses good opening scene. Mikey (David Bronny has never forgiven him, and guru Lee Gates (George Clooney) some of its steam once it becomes Mazouz) is an autistic pre-teen that Peter maybe doesn’t quite care hosts his loud and loopy Money clear where it’s going. on a southwestern camping trip if she has. Monster show, the line between hero The fi lm has a tidy, TV feel to it. with his mother Bronny (Radha Bacon, Mitchell and especially and villain is paper-thin. Instead of being a knockout punch Mitchell), father Peter (Bacon), visions, but this doesn’t faze his young Lucy Fry are all quite Kyle is one of us, an ordinary Joe against a rigged system, it’s more of a older sister Stephanie (Lucy Fry) parents, who are used to his quirks. eff ective in these dramatic scenes. who thinks he can make the system glancing blow. and another family. The kids go Eventually the neighbour’s dog goes But this isn’t a drama. It’s an work for him. And he sinks $60,000 But what makes Money Monster snooping up the side of a ridge, ballistic and fi res nearly bring the inexpensive horror fl ick which worth of savings into Ibis Clear work as well as it does are the which you know is a bad idea. This house down before Bronny resorts means anything real is thrown Capital. A “glitch” in the market sent performances. Clooney was born isn’t Peter Weir’s Picnic at Hanging to that most lame of recent horror away so that poorly rendered CG Ibis stock into a nosedive, wiping out to play a character like Lee. Roberts Rock; what happens next is not movie tropes: looking things up on ghosts can hover about and smash small investors like Kyle while leaving doesn’t have much to do, but you can open to interpretation. Mikey falls the internet. up windows. The fi nal third of the Lee with just more fodder for another feel both her growing exasperation into a crevice, gazes at some spooky It becomes clear that the unrest fi lm goes haywire with portals, comedic bit. and her coming into her own as she petroglyphs and pockets some in her home is due to awakened talismans and chanting, none But no one’s laughing when Kyle takes charge of the situation. marked-up rune stones. He makes malicious forces in Anasazi Native of it particularly scary or even takes Lee hostage live on television, O’Connell is one of those actors his way back without a scratch, and, American mythology. And they are, interesting. forcing the show’s director in the who always seems like he’s on due to his incommunicative nature, for unknown reasons, angry. All the parts where something control room, Patty Finn (Julia the verge of a breakthrough that fails to mention that he’s bringing But is that the real darkness here? LOUD happens in the hopes of Roberts), to play the arbitrator never happens. If nothing else, home an ancient curse. In a stunning turn of events, the getting the audience to squeak are between the often confl icting Money Monster off ers an effi cient, The dark magic manifests itself padding in this ho-hum spookfest, clunky and predictable. I guess demands of Kyle and the police. entertaining alternative to almost in an escalating but haphazard usually the narrative-free zone in the trapped spirits of the Anasazi Kyle also wants the head of everything else in the multiplex these manner. Water faucets turn on by which to fetch popcorn or a return haven’t been watching a lot of Ibis, Walt Camby (Dominic West), days. –Fort Worth Star-Telegram/ themselves, handprints appear a text, turns out to hold a modicum these movies, so maybe they can brought to the studio as well. Kyle TNS on steamed up mirrors, lightbulbs of interest. Mikey’s struggles with be forgiven. If not that, certainly wants more than just to be made DVDs courtesy: explode. Mikey talks of seeing severe autism are played up for all envied. –The Guardian fi nancially whole again. He wants a Saqr Entertainment Stores, Doha 10 GULF TIMES Thursday, December 22, 2016 COMMUNITY INFOGRAPHIC Thursday, December 22, 2016 GULF TIMES 11 LIFESTYLE/HOROSCOPE COMMUNITY Tips to make good nutrition a family aff air in 2017

urturing and nourishing baby. Breast milk is the ideal food for the teen years, but it can be a a family go hand-in- infants. Experts recommend exclusive challenge. Teenagers are developing hand. If you’re ready to breastfeeding for your baby’s fi rst their own food preferences. Make rally your family around six months, followed by continued healthy eating easy for them. Stock better nutrition, now’s breastfeeding for as long as possible up on simple, appealing foods – Nthe time to get a healthy jump on the after introduction of fi rst foods. from cut-up fruits and veggies to new year. smoothies, whole grain wraps, soups “Making consistently good food Get kids in the kitchen and sandwiches. For a satisfying choices can set your family on the If you’re a parent, you’re being and teen-approved beverage that road to good health,” says Marlene watched, so make sure your child provides a protein punch, opt for Schmidt, registered dietitian for sees you eating fruits, vegetables and chocolate milk, which off ers nine Nestlé’s Nutrition, Health and whole grains – and fewer sugary, essential nutrients, including vitamin Wellness Center of Excellence. fatty or salty foods. D, calcium and potassium. “Besides helping you stay healthy, a Plan to eat meals together. Shared While their nutritional needs are nutritious diet can support growth, mealtime is a great chance to increasing, teenagers are facing new strengthen immune systems and reconnect as a family, and to engage emotional challenges that can cause devices and savour every bite. You’ll But good nutrition remains boost energy levels.” your children in fun explorations them to overeat, skip meals or diet. feel more satisfi ed after meals and be essential for older adults. And it’s Make good nutrition a family of what it means to be healthy. Watch for unhealthy eating patterns less tempted to snack. Moderate your never too late to make positive aff air: Resolve to make healthy Invite kids to help you grocery shop, and be sensitive to body-image alcohol intake, and don’t forget your changes. changes together. These tips will start plan meals and cook. They’ll learn concerns. water bottle. If you or an older family member every member of the family on a new important lifelong skills. One study can’t shop often enough to buy fresh course of good nutrition in 2017. found that children who help prepare Grow up, not out When older, make wiser food produce, order your groceries online, meals eat more vegetables than those By middle age, our metabolism choices or buy frozen and canned fruits and Infant and toddler foods who don’t participate. begins to slow. We need fewer Whether from changing tastes, vegetables. Read labels to avoid extra A lifetime of wellness begins with calories, but it’s hard to break old dental problems, medication or sugar or sodium, and remember to good eating habits during pregnancy Stock up for teens habits. That’s where mindful eating illness, people often lose their drink plenty of water. and nutritious choices for your Good nutrition is crucial during can help. Set the table, turn off your appetites as they grow older. ©Brandpoint

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

Be prepared to stand up for yourself today. Someone might accuse Don’t let something minor become something major today Bulls. Don’t forget to thank someone for their help today Geminis. You like you of something you did that they don’t agree with. Too bad! You’re There’s a way for you to work things out easily if you put your mind to think you can do everything yourself but in reality, you need help. allowed to do whatever you want to do and defend yourself as well. to it.

CANCER LEO VIRGO June 21 — July 22 July 23 — August 22 August 23 — September 22

If you aren’t prepared to put in the eff ort Cancers, don’t start the The more you obsess on something, the more it will grow and It’s not easy being the smart, capable sign all the time is it? Don’t you project. You simply have to balance whether or not you have the become larger than it really is. Now is not the time to be overly want to let loose sometimes and be able to act up and be a bit wild time, energy and patience to see the task through to the end. dramatic Leos. It’s a time to handle your business, with no fuss. and crazy too? Sure you do and sure you can.

LIBRA SCORPIO SAGITTARIUS September 23 — October 22 October 23 — November 21 November 22 — December 21

Don’t let someone’s icky mood rub off on you today Librans. With If you aren’t sure about something today, ask questions and find out Every now and again you need to reassess your position on Mercury out of phase, many people are in quirky moods. Just smile more before you go ahead and say “yes” or agree to get involved. something or someone and today is one of those days. You might and move on. come away with a diff erent feeling or vibe today.

CAPRICORN AQUARIUS PISCES December 22 — January 19 January 20 — February 18 February 19 — March 20

No one can tell you what to do right now Capricorns. With Mercury There’s no real reason why you are feeling so disoriented Aquarius Unless you really feel like going to a lot of eff ort today Pisces, don’t out of phase in your sign for the rest of the year and into 2017, now is expect for the fact that with Mercury out of phase in your secrets bother. There is a lot of planetary activity that goes against pushing a good time for you to stick to what and who you know. zone, you may realise that you need to tell someone said secret. forward with new ideas. Stick to what you know and have in front of you. 12 GULF TIMES Thursday, December 22, 2016 COMMUNITY CARTOONS/PUZZLES

Wordsearch Adam

Pooch Cafe

Light Source

BEACON GLARE LANTERN BEAM GLEAM LIGHT BLAZE GLIMMER RADIANCE CANDLE GLITTER RAYS DAWN GLOW SHINE FLARE ILLUMINATION SPARKLE FLASH LAMP TORCH

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, December 22, 2016 GULF TIMES 13 PUZZLES COMMUNITY

Quick Clues Colouring

ACROSS DOWN 1. Stamp-collector (11) 2. Strike (3) 9. Decay (3) 3. Big (5) 10. Reserve (9) 4. Stagger (6) 11. Wife (5) 5. Address (7) 13. Rival (7) 6. Feeling (9) 14. Most vile (6) 7. Likelihood (11) 16. Negligent (6) 8. Require (11) 18. Connection (7) 12. Hint at (9) 19. Dogma (5) 15. Make jump (7) 20. Docile (9) 17. Weak (6) 21. Place (3) 19. Tendency (5) 22. Ceaseless (5-6) 21. Write (3)

Cryptic Clues

Answers

Wordsearch Codeword

ACROSS DOWN 1. Do they make plans for games on 2. Colour not seen with equanimity (3) board? (11) 3. Disturb group which has risen (5) 9. University man returns to signify 4. Rope to stop animal? (6) agreement (3) 5. Part of 10 the Spanish left (7) 10. Choice presented in southern 6. Get rid of alien item (9) poll (9) 7. Steady fun spoilt by making changes (11) 11. Useful quality because laid down (5) 8. Neither dull nor unprofitable it would 13. Building partly erected if I certify seem (11) Yesterday’s Solutions so (7) 12. Drink with railway worker as an ally (9) 14. Really excellent peak at the summit 15. Sea-creature could make soup after a (6) month (7) QUICK CRYPTIC 16. Foolish about letter, and altogether 17. Doctor copies hangings (6) Across: 1 Chef; 3 Addition; 9 Innings; 10 Across: 1 Pawn; 3 Passages; 9 Slipper; 10 Lions; mad (6) 19. Vehicle will travel freight (5) Tempt; 11 Privateering; 13 Relate; 15 Cinema; 17 11 Intercession; 13 Enmesh; 15 Bridge; 17 Scene- 18. Circle in duty list indicates cockerel 21. Craze for some self-advancement (3) Intoxication; 20 Abuts; 21 Mildest; 22 Straying; shifter; 20 Probe; 21 Bromide; 22 Chessmen; 23 (7) 19. Teach to be dishonest (5) 23 Stay. News. 20. On which money other than coins Down: 1 Clippers; 2 Ennui; 4 Dispel; Down: 1 Pastimes; 2 Wrist; 4 Agreed; 5 Sole may be printed? (9) 5 Interminable; 6 Immense; 7 Note; 8 survivor; 6 Grow old; 7 So-so; 8 Opera singers; 21. Does it cool 12? (3) Incautiously; 12 Mainstay; 14 Languor; 16 12 Peerless; 14 Microbe; 16 Usable; 18 Twice; 19 22. Have a dispute about letter in Airman; 18 Inept; 19 Lass. Epic. puzzles? (5,6) 14 GULF TIMES Thursday, December 22, 2016 COMMUNITY TECHNOLOGY

what it is, the 2K screens on mobile phones result in CRT TV-like quality (you can make out the pixels on the screen). The addition of 4K screens on future phones will surely Yet another year help address this issue, but there have been mixed reports on whether we will see them in 2017 flagships. We have been stuck on 2K mobile screens for more than two years now, and while that is more than sufficient for regular use, it will have to go up if VR is to become a truly compelling proposition (personal home cinema anyone?). of refinements When it comes to televisions, 4K and High Dynamic Range (HDR) were the mantra this year. As you may have guessed, 4K is simply the next step up from Full HD techknow beat resolution with four times the resolution. by Bilal Iqbal An HDR TV does much better than a regular TV at displaying scenes with very bright and very dark images, assuming of course he year 2016 has been another that the content supports this feature. year of mostly refinements, as This is similar to the HDR feature on your far as technology is concerned. smartphone camera apps, you can simply Nothing truly exciting or see more of the scenery, especially in tricky game changing was revealed lighting scenarios. Though 4K televisions duringT 2016. Arguably, the last truly great are already in the realm of mainstream technological invention in terms of impact affordability, there is a consensus amongst was the modern smartphone. Virtual reviewers that HDR is the feature that is Reality holds promise, but it is still too early truly worth having. Combined with the to call it. right content, a good HDR TV can produce The tablet and the smart watch have stunning results. It may be wise to skip the both failed to live up to the hype and “affordable” 4K televisions this year and generate nowhere near the kind of sales that wait for a good 4K HDR TV to fall within smartphones do. Incidentally, smartphone your budget. sales growth too has seemingly begun to This year was also quite boring as far flat line – the market seems to be reaching as gaming consoles were concerned. its saturation point and newer flagships are PS4 and Xbox One continued to fight for just not that much more compelling over dominance. The well-reviewed PlayStation the models they replace. VR arrived a bit late to the scene and does Every year brings with it the usual array not seem to have caught on all that well. of faster processors, more RAM, and bigger Many people seem to believe that to truly storage. Android and iOS too have matured enjoy the PS VR, you would have to upgrade quite a bit, and the past few years have The HTC Vive and Oculus Rift are currently priced too high to make significant inroads into the to the PS4 Pro, which more than doubles mostly been about incremental upgrades market. the power of PS4. Perhaps the introduction and slight changes than major overhauls. of the Nintendo Switch in the March of next With the latest flagships offering more or units. come in at lower prices year will bring new and creative ideas to a less similar features as the models they I have never than smart watches market that seems to be currently obsessed replace, there is simply little reason for really been and feature the with graphical fidelity. many people to upgrade. convinced of ability to track Laptop manufacturers are finding That said, we finally got rid of the great the viability of multiple sports it increasingly difficult to make their megapixel war on phone cameras, with the modern and some even offerings compelling. They have been manufacturers choosing to focus instead smart continuous employing incremental updates in the on picture quality. A lot of manufacturers watches, heart rate. Most form of faster speeds and lighter and better decided to go with dual-camera setups in a ever since have smaller battery lives for years now, and 2016 was bid to improve the capabilities of cameras they were footprints, better no different. None of these changes are on their smartphones. Interestingly, just announced a battery lives and significant enough for you to want to throw about everyone had a different idea of what couple of years also offer some (but out your one- or two-year-old laptops. they wanted to do with such a setup. LG, back. The functions not all) smart watch What’s most distressing is how entry for instance, decided to add a wide-lens they offer are not must- features. What’s not to like? level laptops are still stuck on sub-FullHD second camera to the back of its flagship have by any stretch of the The biggest headlining feature resolution. It is as if manufacturers are phones. Huawei went with a monochrome imagination, they have abysmal battery for 2016 was going to be Virtual Reality, consciously keep the better screens from secondary camera, for improved low-light lives and cost way too much for what they with the release of HTC Vive and Oculus their entry level offerings to push avid photography. Apple decided to go with a 2X are. None of this seemingly changed in Rift. But their high prices – USD 600 for media consumers from the QR2,000 and telephoto lens, promising up to 2X lossless 2016, with smart watches going the tablet Rift and USD 800 for Vive – put them out below range to QR3,000 range. Otherwise zoom on its iPhone 7 Plus. route – i.e. niche devices. They are the kind of the reach of many casual and enthusiast there seems to be little reason for newer All these implementations add different of devices that people would buy for the gamers. Also compounding the issue is the laptops to still come out with screen but useful features to the phones and the novelty factor than anything else. fact that they require extremely high-end resolution that was made common well jury is still out on which one is the best. If anything, a nice fork from all this PC specifications. It may be a few more over a decade ago. Perhaps none, as it would ultimately smart watch business has been the wearable years before VR headsets such as these Next week, we will look at the things to depend on what your needs are. It will be fitness device. By focusing on one aspect become mainstream. look forward to in 2017. interesting to see how these manufacturers of the smart watch – and this is one aspect What does have a good chance of build up on their implementations in 2017, that smartphones do not do all that well – becoming common much sooner is the Gear  The author may be contacted at and what other manufacturers (such as these devices truly make themselves useful VR, developed by Samsung in conjunction [email protected] Samsung) decide to do with their camera to anyone interested in fitness. They also with Oculus. While quite impressive for or followed on Twitter at @tknobeat

Tech News it is bad value for their money. The game has a social networking platform. Facebook believes The front features a 5.5 inch screen with Super Mario Run rather low 2.5 stars rating on iTunes as of this there is signifi cant demand for such a feature. a 2.5D curved glass on top. Powered by a Nintendo has released its fi rst mobile game, writing. Nintendo has also announced that Currently in testing, the feature should roll out 3100mAH battery, the phone features a the Super Mario Run on iOS, with Android it does not plan to add further content to the to users early in 2017. 3.5mm audio jack and promises better audio support coming soon. The game is free to game, so you get what you get. quality than rivals with Dirac HD Sound. download, and gives access to the fi rst three of ZUK Edge Price starts at the rather enticing USD 330. the total 24 levels. To unlock the rest, you will Facebook Live Audio Lenovo’s sub-brand ZUK has announced Don’t expect it to make its way to Qatar have to shell out a rather chunky (for a mobile Facebook is introducing a new feature: Live its latest fl agship device, the Edge. Powered though and third party retailers will add their phone game) $10. The critics have generally Audio. This feature will work similar to live by Snapdragon 821, the phone comes with own markups to the phone if you decide to given it positive reviews, though the users thing video broadcasting already available on the either 4 or 6GB of RAM and 64GB of storage. import it yourself. Thursday, December 22, 2016 GULF TIMES 15 SHOWBIZ COMMUNITY Between ‘action and cut’, medium doesn’t matter: Sakshi Tanwar

inclination towards acting. It was rather fun and sheer By Arundhuti Banerjee happiness to earn my pocket money. However, I was shooting for a show called Rajdhani, where during the shooting, I realised that I am enjoying the process of ctress Sakshi Tanwar, who found acting and portraying a character which is diff erent popularity through television serials and from my own self ... Living someone’s life on screen.” will soon be seen in -starrer “I started liking that creative process,” Sakshi. biographical sports drama Dangal, says The next thing happened to her was Kahaani Ghar that as a performer, medium does not make Ghar Kii, one of Balaji Telefi lms’ most successful and Aany change in her acting. However, she admits the long-running TV soaps in which Sakshi played the process of execution varies in TV serials and cinema. protagonist Parvati Aggarwal. “Between the ‘action and cut’, medium does not “Without even sitting and analysing if I want to matter to me as an actress. I am playing a character and continue acting as a career or explore something else, I am performing by following the script. Nevertheless, being the lead character of the serial and committed yes, the execution is diff erent in cinema from to the project, eight years went by and it got me huge television,” Sakshi told IANS. “If it is a daily soap, there recognition and people’s love. I just became popular as is less chance of retakes and many scenes to shoot in Parvati Aggarwal,” she said. a day, as opposed to cinema where we can do a scene However, fame never drove Sakshi to stay on in again to reach to the perfection.” the limelight, as she took a two-year break. “I never She also said: “The story of a TV series might just planned to become an actress, so there was no greed. change depending on the TRP (television rating point) Acting is just a part of my life. It is not my life. My and audience response, whereas in fi lm the script is profession and the popularity that I have earned from it set. So, you are aware of the graph of the character in is not ruling my mind all the time. I rule my profession,” advance.” said the Alwar-born talent who also scored a six with Sakshi started her journey with Doordarshan by her other fi ction show . anchoring the show Albela Sur Mela and became In Dangal, which is releasing tomorrow, Sakshi plays popular with TV series . She says the wife of superstar Aamir Khan, who essays former she never planned to be an actress. But it was a moment champion wrestler Mahavir Singh Phogat. The fi lm of realisation that made her continue her journey. traces how he trains his two daughters Babita and Geeta BIG LEAP: Sakshi Tanwar “When I started anchoring on TV, I had no to become wrestling champions. – IANS

For any presidential candidate, being I’ll do anything very extreme is scary, says Lawrence for animals: Athiya Actress Jennifer Lawrence, who received Actress Athiya Shetty says she a mixed response to her emotional essay on can do anything for animals. “I US President-elect Donald Trump’s electoral often visit animal shelters, and triumph, says she understands the frustrated animal adoption fairs to spread reactions she got and also acknowledged the need awareness because I love animals. to recognise the “divide” in the country. So, these are the two things (animal “I didn’t mean to speak to only people who welfare and education) that are voted for Hillary Clinton. I meant to just speak to really close to my heart. I will do the divide ... For any presidential candidate, being anything for animals,” Athiya told very extreme is scary, left or right,” Lawrence said over phone from Mumbai. in an interview on the TV show Good Morning Athiya made her Bollywood America, reports variety.com. debut with the 2015 fi lm Hero, In her essay, Lawrence discussed the need for which was co-produced by Americans, especially women, people of colour, superstar Salman Khan. She will immigrants and members of the LGBT community soon be seen in Mubarakan, which to push as hard as possible for progress. She also will also star Arjun Kapoor and urged the public to not blame other individuals for Anil Kapoor. Clinton’s defeat. The daughter of Suniel Shetty GOING BY THE SCRIPT: Ben Aff leck During the interview, Lawrence said that the says she wants to spread awareness young women who were pre-teens when they about education also. “Education Affl eck disinterested in ‘mediocre started following her during The Hunger Games, is a right that every child has – version’ of Batman movie are currently of voting age, and that they still be it a boy or a girl. I cherish my pay attention to education because it has taught Actor-fi lmmaker Ben Affl eck says he won’t make The her actions and me so much about my life. It has Batman if the script isn’t good enough. The 44-year- values. “When the given me my own take on things,” old actor is currently penning the script for the movie, election happened, she said. which he plans to both star in and direct when it goes to I couldn’t help The actress credits her education production next year. but think of those for instilling confi dence in her to Affl eck also says that he is determined to nd fi a girls who are face the world, and express her winning formula for his storyline as he would hate to 18. I completely views without hesitation. “How to make a “mediocre version” of a Batman movie, reports understand when believe in myself, the confi dence I ew.com. people say, ‘Just have today in myself is because of “I’m still working on the script. I’m not going to shut up and act.’ FOR A CAUSE: Athiya Shetty education that I have got,” said the write and direct anything that I don’t think is good But for me there 24-year-old, adding that “it is extremely enough to be made. I’m defi nitely going to make sure are times where important for a child to be educated.” I have something that is special ... there’s not enough I feel a real need Athiya feels education “teaches you so much about life”, and asserts that it money in the world to make a mediocre version of to speak to those is “important for celebrities (to get connected to such issues) because we have Batman worth it,” Affl eck said. Actor Joe Manganiello MAKING A POINT: Jennifer girls,” she said. – the reach to create awareness about it.” – IANS will be essaying the role of supervillain Deathstroke. – Lawrence IANS IANS 16 GULF TIMES Thursday, December 22, 2016 COMMUNITY

excitement to the event. What I can say though is that there will be a wide variety of poetry reciting, A Capella performances, musical performances, and even a mix of those types in any other performance.

Through the prism of Words & Strings events, how do you see the poetry scene in Qatar evolving? Through our two years journey now, we have been lucky enough to have a front row seat to the evolving poetry scene in Qatar. We have noticed an increasing interest in poetry by our growing audience and performers, month by month, and as a result of that growth we started giving poetry workshops just recently. Our very fi rst workshop was just last month. We wanted to do more than just share poetry and performances; we want to invest in that growth and its quality. That is the reason why we are holding these workshops.

Do you think poetry as an art form is still relevant to the youth and society today? Why? A WAY WITH WORDS: Amin Isaac Absolutely. Poetry as an art form is timeless in my opinion. It is an ancient form of art and it is still popular today. Many of our audience and performers are young students actually, and I think what makes it so timeless is that it is very relatable and powerful. ‘Poetry as an art It only requires portraying your feelings honestly, with any writing or performing technique of your choice.

Personally, what do you like most about the power of the spoken word? form is timeless’ What I like most about it is how empowering it feels when I belt out a wide range of quality The last few events of Words the Recreation Centre of Qatar perform, to me before anyone else. By Anand Holla creativity to a cheery audience of & Strings turned out really Foundation. We are excited to see I get people to come to me after nearly 100. well. What new or improved how it will turn out. I perform and tell me how much Words & Strings have been additions have you planned for they relate to what my poem was or more than two years pioneering spoken word art events the event tomorrow? What sort or variety of poetry about, or how they feel the exact now, Words & Strings, to unite the many and scattered The biggest diff erence in the can the audience expect from same way, and it’s always incredible the frontrunners in talents in Qatar. In their words, next event will be the venue itself. the event? to fi nd that kind of connection Qatar’s emerging open “enriching the local art scene” is The event will no longer be held Anyone who came to any of with strangers. When I listen or mic scene, have routinely their goal. Community caught up in Katara Art Centre, which was our previous events knows you see a spoken word performance, broughtF together wordsmiths of all with Amin Isaac, co-founder of the choice of place for the recent cannot expect what is going it is a diff erent experience every sorts under one thought-stirring Words & Strings and a gifted poet, sessions. This time, Words & to be performed in a Words & single time. Words can be a really roof. To close out the year on a for a chat. Strings will get a bigger venue in Strings event, and that only adds powerful tool when used correctly. wordy high, the group will present an evening of poetry in ‘Words of December’ event at Education City, Recreation Centre, tomorrow from 6pm to 8pm. It was two years ago that Words & Strings started with a group of five enthusiastic and multi-talented youth, passionate about arts and more so about the spoken word. The organisers say, “This group attempted to fill the gap between the existence of talent and the lack of consistent platform to share it, with the aim to create an open space for artists and art lovers to come together and comfortably share their talents on the only consistent platform for spoken word art in Qatar.” Earlier in August, an evening of poetry, spoken word and music, at the Katara Art Centre (KAC), saw 17 performers – a very diverse mix, be it in terms of the types of performers or nationalities – A scene from the last Words & Strings event in August.