Monday, March 30, 2020 Sha’ban 6, 1441 AH

Doha today 190 - 280

Cover Story Circle of fear Coronavirus has exposed the reality of a world without work. P4-5

Hollywood Back Page

Succession star talks QPO musicians entertain music about taking it easy. lovers by playing from home. Page 15 Page 16 2 GULF TIMES Monday, March 30, 2020 COMMUNITY ROUND & ABOUT

SEASONS TO BINGE WATCH ON NETFLIX

PRAYER TIME Fajr 4.09am Shorooq (sunrise) 5.29am Zuhr (noon) 11.40am Asr (afternoon) 3.08pm Maghreb (sunset) 5.51pm Isha (night) 7.21pm

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The Haunting of Hill House famous haunted house in the country. Now adults, and forced DIRECTION: Mike Flanagan back together in the face of tragedy, the family must finally CAST: Henry Thomas, Oliver Jackson-Cohen, Kate Siegel confront the ghosts of their past, some of which still lurk in SYNOPSIS: The show explores a group of siblings who, their minds while others may actually be stalking the shadows as children, grew up in what would go on to become the most of Hill House. Emergency 999 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 Office (Single window facility for the repatriation of bodies) Ministry of Interior 40253371, 40253372, 40253369 Daredevil it gave him superhuman senses that enabled him to see the Ministry of Health 40253370, 40253364 DIRECTION: Drew Goddard world in a unique and powerful way. Now he uses these Hamad Medical Corporation 40253368, 40253365 CAST: Charlie Cox, Vincent D’Onofrio, Deborah Ann Woll powers to deliver justice, not only as a lawyer in his own law Qatar Airways 40253374 SYNOPSIS: As a child Matt Murdock was blinded by a firm, but also as vigilante at night, stalking the streets of Hell’s chemical spill in a freak accident. Instead of limiting him Kitchen as Daredevil, the man without fear.

ote Unquo Qu te “Keep your face to the sunshine and you cannot see a shadow.” — Hellen Keller

Community Editor Kamran Rehmat e-mail: [email protected] The Defenders heroes with one common goal - to save New York City. This Telephone: 44466405 DIRECTION: Douglas Petrie, Marco Ramirez is the story of four solitary figures, burdened with their Fax: 44350474 CAST: Charlie Cox, Krysten Ritter, Mike Colter own personal challenges, who realise they just might be SYNOPSIS: Marvel’s The Defenders follows Daredevil, stronger when teamed together to fight against a common Jessica Jones, Luke Cage and Iron Fist. A quartet of singular enemy ­— The Hand. Monday, March 30, 2020 GULF TIMES 3 ROUND & ABOUT COMMUNITY Why is coronavirus restricting? Dr Gregory Poland, an infectious diseases expert and Director of Mayo Clinic’s Vaccine Research Group, answers questions on why it’s better to stay at home in time of coronavirus pandemic

very early in the course of their disease and their outbreak, and we’ve seen that curve bend down. So both are happening. The thing that concerns us is the peak of the pyramid ? the ones who are severely ill, who require a lot of medical support and care. New York City hospitals are really desperate for supplies and ventilators. This is a serious issue.

What has been learned about how the virus behaves? We’ve learned a lot. Compared to Sars (severe acute respiratory syndrome) in 2002, that dampened down within six, eight months, but that did not have asymptomatic transmission to other people. This virus does transmit asymptomatically. This virus has a relatively high ? what’s called reproductive number, which is just a measure if get infected, how many people on average do I spread it to? We’ve learned that while children do not get as severely ill or die from it, younger adults certainly do, and they have a misperception about the severity of the disease. We’ve also learned how this virus causes disease and in whom ? in the older adults, in PRECAUTIONARY MEASURES: You’ve got to practise good hand-washing and sanitation. So you pump your gas, you sanitise your hands. You go out to people who have corresponding shop, you don’t touch your face. You don’t come into your home or into your car until you’ve sanitised your hands. medical problems that increase their risk.

tay-at-home orders, to stay the course here. We need to profound. You simply cannot get Are there more confirmed How long can the virus live? how the virus that causes work together. We need to be logical. infected with this virus if you don’t cases because of more testing A number of studies have been Covid-19 behaves, and And then we need to watch, wait, be breathe it in or you don’t introduce it or because the infection is done. These show that you can detect specific surfaces the virus informed by the best data that we to your body with your fingers. You spreading? the virus off of hard surfaces, public lives on make up some of can get. run the lowest risk of either of those I think both are happening at surfaces for as long as 17 days. When Sthe many questions that Dr Gregory happening by being distant from the same time. Certainly, in places they went back into the Diamond Poland, an infectious diseases expert How important is it to keep people, not being in public areas, like New York City, we are seeing Princess, this ship had been empty and Director of Mayo Clinic’s Vaccine people home? working from home, whatever it an explosion in cases. In places for 17 days. And yet, they could Research Group answers. That’s part of bending this curve, takes to prevent person-to-person like South Korea, that started find the virus. It really depends on or flattening the curve is another transmission, and consistent hand- about the same time we did. They the temperature. It depends on the When will social distancing term used. The idea is simple but washing. clamped down with restrictions humidity ? depends on exposure to and stay at home restrictions UV light. I think the key thing is this end? is not some exotic virus that is hard to I try to explain to people that there inactivate. This is readily inactivated is a lag period. What we’re seeing by dilute bleach solutions and now reflects the disease transmission appropriate disinfectants. that occurred two to four weeks ago. Because we are still in the midst of What are the types of this, the reality of it is we have to wait surfaces the virus can live on? until that curve begins to bend down Anything that somebody who and then wait another two to four is infected touches, the virus can weeks before we can say, ‘Probably survive on that surface. It looks all clear.’ like plastic, stainless steel tend to be surfaces where it lasts longer. Is there concern about relaxing All it says to us is you’ve got to restrictions too soon? practise good hand-washing and I think every scientist and sanitation. So you pump your gas, physician who has talked about you sanitise your hands. You go out this has said the same thing. Now is to shop, you don’t touch your face. not the time to talk about relaxing You don’t come into your home or restrictions. We have not yet reached into your car until you’ve sanitised the peak of what this pandemic LASTING LONGER: Anything that somebody who is infected touches, the virus can survive on that surface. It looks your hands. can and will do in the US. We need like plastic, stainless steel tend to be surfaces where it lasts longer. – Mayo Clinic News Network 4 GULF TIMES Monday, March 30, 2020 COMMUNITY COVER STORY Contagion of anxiety This pandemic is throwing into stark relief a treacherous fact: we depend on employment, both for survival and a sense of self, writes Josh Cohen

STARK REALITY: A composite photograph showing signs on shop fronts at Streatham High Road in south London.

The chance to live at our own pace and rediscover the pleasures and possibilities of free can only be had when work ceases to be a matter of survival — Josh Cohen, professor of modern literary ‘ theory at Goldsmiths, University of London ’ Monday, March 30, 2020 GULF TIMES 5 COVER STORY COMMUNITY

ffices empty, restaurants and cafes closed, performance venues dark, schools and universities shut Odown. Across the world, numerous industries have entered a state of suspended animation, imposing a sharp and involuntary brake on the working lives of millions of people. This week, having moved my psychoanalytic practice online, I’ve sat in an empty consulting room talking to patients via video-conference, many of them struggling to process what life in the shadow of Covid-19 might mean in the short- and longer- term. Some are lamenting the lost sense of belonging they derive from their workplaces, as well as the claustrophobia of being shut in with partners and children. For others, the fear is more immediate: oneself or a loved one becoming ill and unable to work, the demise of a business, the contraction or total erosion of a livelihood. And lurking behind all these grim prospects, ensuring I’m not immune from this rapid contagion of anxiety, is the possibility that my psychoanalytic practice may be sacrificed to this grim new financial reality. My interest in the question of how to live without work lead me to write a book on the EXISTENTIAL TERROR: Beyond survival, work shapes our sense of self. The thought of being without it induces existential terror. topic. I discussed clinical cases, as well as lives of major artists recently, “and obviously my health. My Room, which takes us on a own house arrest is over will be letterboxes, those helping at and thinkers, that spoke to the But I’m more scared of losing strange journey across the walls and as it was when we left it. And, of food banks, the thousands of importance of renewing contact myself.” floor of his bedroom. He envisioned course, most of us enjoy no such NHS volunteers, or the Help Hub with our neglected inner lives and It’s a fear many will share. With this motionless travel as a kind privilege. Our reveries in front of psychotherapy project, originating letting our minds roam without the lockdown, it seems we’ve lost of radically democratic tourism, our bedroom walls are bound to be in Oxford and now offering free the imperatives of productivity or the routines that give substance requiring no disposable income or disturbed by fears for the future — online sessions to those in need of purpose dogging every moment. I to our lives. Need this mean losing gratuitous effort. In words that take both ours and the world’s. human contact and solidarity. In a asked how we could loosen the grip ourselves? I’d like to believe that on an eerily hopeful resonance at What if those fears and recent session, a patient who had of the centuries-old ethic that ties this period could help us discover this moment, De Maistre insists concerns for others could help signed up to at least one of these our sense of self so inextricably to new creative resources within that the Turin authorities “may fuel a different kind of imaginative initiatives spoke of “a miraculous our work. ourselves, a thought that takes me have forbidden me to travel through transformation? If we can’t, like outbreak of community- In thinking about a world to the unlikely figure of Xavier de a city, one place, but they left me De Maistre, withdraw into the mindedness”. “It’s not just about without work, I had in mind a Maistre, a French aristocrat who the entire universe: infinity and peaceful cell of our own daydreams, being good,” he said, “it’s about future of automation and AI, rather in 1790 spent 42 days under house eternity are at my command”. we can (assuming we’re well realising how helpless you feel, than the unthinkable shock of a arrest in Turin, Italy, for duelling But in these times, even the most enough) channel our creativity into and taking back a bit of control.” global pandemic. I followed Oscar with an officer. insulated of us can’t be De Maistre. refreshing our neglected social and Weeks ago, I’d never have imagined Wilde in The Soul of Man Under De Maistre whiled away the hours Even if we enjoyed similar financial emotional bonds. I’d hear that phrase again and feel Socialism and tried to imagine of solitude by writing a journal of privilege, we lack the comfort that Think of those offers of help warmed. But that, after all, is a life unburdened by the yoke of his confinement,A Journey Around the world we return to when our being popped into neighbours’ lifetime ago. — necessity. Now, Wilde’s vision of a society freed by automation to realise its creative potential is a painful contrast to the workless ABOUT THE BOOK reality being foisted on millions. “In a recent session, Under very different conditions, More than ever before, we live in a culture that we could imagine a period of life a patient spoke excoriates inactivity and demonises idleness. without work as the most precious Work, connectivity and a constant flow of of gifts — the chance to live at of ‘a miraculous information are the cultural norms, and a our own pace and rediscover the outbreak of permanent busyness pervades even our quietest pleasures and possibilities of free, moments. Little wonder so many of us are aimless time. But this can only be community- burning out. the case when work ceases to be In a culture that tacitly coerces us into blind a matter of survival and when its mindedness’. ‘It’s activity, the art of doing nothing is disappearing. loss doesn’t plague us with anxiety, Inactivity can induce lethargy and indifference, depression and sleeplessness. The not just about being but is also a condition of imaginative freedom virus, in other words, is throwing good,’ he said, ‘it’s and creativity. Psychoanalyst Josh Cohen into stark relief an obvious yet explores the paradoxical pleasures of inactivity, suddenly treacherous fact of life about realising how and considers four faces of inertia — the burnout, today: we depend on work. the slob, the daydreamer and the slacker. Drawing This dependence is partly a helpless you feel, on his personal experiences and on stories matter of survival; nothing is from his consulting room, while punctuating his more liable to arouse a sense of and taking back a discussions with portraits of figures associated helplessness than the threat of bit of control’” with the different forms of inactivity — Andy poverty or hunger. But beyond Warhol, Orson Welles, Emily Dickinson and David survival, work shapes our sense of Foster Wallace — Cohen gets to the heart of the self. The thought of being without apathy so many of us feel when faced with the it induces existential terror. “I’m — Josh Cohen demands of contemporary life, and asks how we scared of the loss of income, for might live a different and more fulfilled existence. sure,” a woman with a suddenly precarious job in the arts said to me 6 GULF TIMES Monday, March 30, 2020 COMMUNITY

IIQS conducts Second Continuing OBITUARY Professional Development session

Indian Institute of Quantity Surveyors – Qatar Chapter (IIQS-Qatar), associated to highlighted the advantages, disadvantages, lessons learned and do’s and Indian Business and Professionals Council (IBPC) under the aegis of Embassy of don’ts relating to PPP contracts. He also provided a brief outline of various PPP India, successfully conducted its Second Continuing Professional Development projects in Qatar. (CPD) of 2020 at Concorde Hotel. Ahamed Zubair, Joint Secretary of IIQS-Qatar, welcomed the attendees and Nick Coleridge, Commercial Director at KBR – Qatar, delivered a lecture on hosted the event. Kiran Kumar, General Secretary of IIQS-Qata; Sudheer ‘Public Private Partnerships (PPP) – An Expert’s Perspective’. The session was Edamana, Vice President of IIQS-Qatar, felicitated Nick on behalf of IIQS-Qatar. attended by over 50 members and guests. Nick provided an insightful overview Anshul Gupta, President of IIQS-Qatar, felicitated member Kiran Kumar Varghese of PPP along with its key constituents such as business case, process timeline for passing the RICS APC interview and becoming a professional member of the and typical transaction documents. He presented a case study from UK and RICS (MRICS). Tejas Sanghvi, Membership Manager, proposed a vote of thanks.

Parokkaran Chummar Paul, 78, passed away in Thrissur, Southern Indian State of Kerala, yesterday (Sunday) morning. He is survived by his wife Beena and two sons working in Doha, namely Biju Paul, employee at Gulf Times; and Binoy Paul, Ideal Contracting Company. The funeral rites will take place in the cemetery of his parish, Chettupuzha Carmala Matha Church at 10am today, Monday, March 30.

GARDENING How to grow pale-rose bugles

mind poor soil, thrives in shade By Alys Fowler and is fast growing – a winning combination. If pink isn’t your thing, there t’s a seriously good bee and are other options: the white form, butterfly plant that doesn’t ‘Alba’, which looks lovely mixed in mind poor soil, thrives in with white Bergenia ‘Bressingham shade and grows quickly White’ or Pulmonaria ‘Sissinghurst I have fallen for a very White’; or the popular ‘Catlin’s Iordinary sort of plant; the small Giant’, which is a larger form of woodlander, Ajuga reptans, or Ajuga reptans ‘Atropurpurea’, with bugle. It’s a native that’s fond of the ubiquitous blue flower spikes damp forest floors, where it creates and an exuberant bronze foliage. a dense carpet of small blue flowers It makes a pleasing evergreen mat that are delightful: not showy or that works well if contrasted with spectacular, just rather lovely and lime green – say, Alchemilla mollis. flowering right through to early Again, it works well under trees summer. and shrubs, or woven between the It’s not just any ajuga that has shade of larger perennials. The only caught my eye. Ajuga reptans thing it hates is drying out, so make ‘Rosea’, as its name suggests, is a sure the soil has plenty of organic pale rose-coloured form. I have matter incorporated, particularly if planted it under one of my apples, it’s growing under a tree. near a bench that catches the first There is a variegated ‘Burgundy of the morning sun and is perfect Glow’, which has wine-red splashes for a quick coffee as I take in the and cream margins; but I think blossom before the day starts. the more unusual, near-black The blush-pink apple blossom is foliage form called ‘Black Scallop’ mirrored in a pool of pink below; is more interesting. It’s actually I have never been so shamelessly a very deep bronze and can get a romantic. bit lost against the soil, but looks The straight species has COLOURFUL: The variegated Burgundy Glow bugle has wine-red splashes and cream margins. marvellous as a backdrop between satisfyingly shiny, rich green snowdrops; it also works very well leaves and spikes of deep blue deciduous tree or shrub (an apple be wiser to simply see it less as a butterflies (large and small), if you in a pot, where you can admire the flowers that appear in late spring. tree or blackcurrant, perhaps). In weed and more of a butterfly- and are lucky enough to have them flit blue flowers. Plant it as a bedfellow It’s particularly suited to the sort time, it will form a thick mat, which bee-pleaser. It’s an important food by, and a secondary food source to a blueberry or other container of dappled shade you get from a one might call invasive; but it would source for pearl-bordered fritillary to many more. It also doesn’t shrubs. – The Guardian Monday, March 30, 2020 GULF TIMES 7 FASHION COMMUNITY Can fast fashion cost the Earth? We need to rethink the idea that the hunger for new clothes ought to be sated immediately, because to overcome such urges we need to reflect on the fragility of our planet

to a report by McKinsey. As a whole, the industry is responsible for 92 million tonnes of waste dumped in landfills every year. Meanwhile, a 2017 report found 35 percent of microplastic pollution comes from washing synthetic textiles – much of which is produced by fast fashion brands. Retailers are now starting to increase their efforts to address the problems. Brands taking action is no doubt a positive step forward. But how – if at all possible – can fast fashion reduce its impact on the environment? Fashion shouldn’t cost the earth. But the industry has for too long promoted overconsumption as a good thing. About a fifth of mass- produced clothing does not even sell and ends up being buried, shredded or burned. Garments now account for 8% of global greenhouse gas emissions. Synthetic fibres are being found in Arctic sea ice and in fish. Britain has too readily embraced throwaway society. Shoppers in the UK buy more clothes per person than any other country in Europe. It was a mistake last year for ministers CONSUMPTION: The world now consumes in excess of 100 billion pieces of clothing a year, according to a report by McKinsey. Meanwhile, a 2017 report not to take up MPs’ suggestion found 35 percent of microplastic pollution comes from washing synthetic textiles – much of which is produced by fast fashion brands. to reward via taxation companies that design products with lower ashion operates on desire. climate footprints and penalise How we dress feeds off those that do not. Messages cravings to be different from public figures, such as the as well as part of a tribe; environmentalist Greta Thunberg, to be en vogue but ahead about not buying clothes has helped Fof the pack. The message from the to persuade people to turn their high street is that such wishes can backs on fast fashion. New research be fulfilled, and fast fashion plays shows that 51% of Britons are opting on the idea that hunger can be sated to purchase expensive but longer- immediately. But to overcome such lasting clothes rather than cheaper urges we need to reflect on the throwaway items, up from 33% a fragility of our planet. This means year ago. accepting that there is a better way The market is belatedly responding to keep the pleasures of fashion to the mood. Big brands such as open to all parts of society than H&M and Zara have made new promoting disposable clothes as commitments to sustainability. John desirable. This is not just about the Lewis has this week introduced high cost of the £4 dress; luxury labelling to encourage a culture of retailers such as Louis Vuitton have handing down children’s clothes. offered small collections every two Nudie Jeans has become a success, weeks. with organic products and stores that The fashion industry has promote repair services and resale. benefited from globalisation At no other time in human history to mass-produce goods by has fashion been so accessible externalising the costs of to so many people. Technology production in the form of human will help to make fashion greener. and environmental damage. Every Better regulation of supply chains year, 100bn new garments are will help too. There is a discernible produced by one out of six people shift from discarding clothes to worldwide. Yet only 2% of them repairing, reusing or even renting earn a living wage. In this country them. However, it is hard to see how it is an open secret that some this will be enough to make fashion garment factories are not paying the truly sustainable if the industry still minimum wage. produces more and more clothes. The environmental and ethical Once normal service is resumed, issues surrounding fast fashion are we need to think again about the no secret, and have only escalated wisdom of fostering competitive in recent years. The world now DUMPED: About a fifth of mass-produced clothing does not even sell and ends up being buried, shredded or burned. consumption, which upholds the consumes in excess of 100 billion Garments now account for 8% of global greenhouse gas emissions. Synthetic fibres are being found in Arctic sea ice persistent demand for expansion, in pieces of clothing a year, according and in fish. our society. – The Guardian 8 GULF TIMES Monday, March 30, 2020 COMMUNITY OFFBEAT Solitary refinement: a lockdown survival guide How to adapt to working from home, keeping fit, maintaining a social life – and maybe even cutting your hair, writes Sali Hughes, Elle Hunt and Zoe Williams

Retouching roots or toning How to socialise online such as a book club, quiz or a table- existing colour should be the top role-playing game such as extent of your ambition as an Not only is it eminently possible Dungeons & Dragons can be helpful amateur. Wood suggests applying a to maintain your friendships under in adjusting to an unfamiliar moisturising hair mask a couple of lockdown, talking to people other medium and minimising people days before colouring, and “always than those you live and work with talking over each other. choosing dye in one shade lighter is highly advisable if you are to The Houseparty app might be than you think you need from the emerge with your sanity intact. geared more towards younger picture”, as too dark is impossible to Our social lives’ pivot to video just groups, having been a fad among correct. Follow the box instructions means a bit more planning. kids a few years ago. But now it to the letter, Wood says, “starting If it’s a large group you are seems to be a royal platform of at the greyest point – usually the trying to meet with, you can gauge choice. “It’s amazing, I just press front – and cover roots for twice the everyone’s availability using the a button and all my family pop length of time as the lengths”. He easy web scheduling tool Doodle. up,” the Duchess of Cornwall suggests enlisting your spouse or The best platform to use is reportedly told a friend. The app teen to do the back. probably the one the majority of can alert you when your friends In any case, you must always, people already have an account are online, allowing you to always do a skin test in advance, with. If everyone is using an iPhone effectively drop in on them. It also according to instructions, to or Apple computer, use FaceTime. has in-built games, for up to eight minimise the risk of potentially WhatsApp permits video calls with players at a time. serious allergic reaction. It can be a up to four participants but, without Some people have ramped lifesaver. calling on WhatsApp Web, ties you up, or perhaps rediscovered, Hersheson (whose team, to your phone. their love of gaming as a means like Wood’s, is offering video For many, Skype is a tried and of socialising at a distance, consultations during the crisis) trusted classic that supports up with popular games such as points out that it’s worth considering to 50 participants – though rarely Minecraft, Fortnite and Call of whether social isolation might be a seamlessly. Otherwise, most people Duty all allowing some in-play good opportunity to push through have a Google account, making communication. It is also possible the pain barrier of transitioning to Hangouts a straightforward choice. to play board games online, such grey. “It’s also a good time to grow The video conferencing platform as at Board Game Arena and – for out an unwanted fringe – you can Zoom, which has seen its shares the more hardcore – Tabletop clip it back and not worry about how spike since the coronavirus Simulator. that looks, and not have the stress outbreak, limits free group calls to For a more relaxed interaction of trimming it yourself,” he says. 40 minutes – but you can always – and one that does not demand Hersheson counsels against call back. that you broadcast your face – trimming your fringe, unless you’re No matter the platform, some Netflix Party is a Google Chrome very adept. But I have trimmed lagging audio and frozen faces extension that permits you to dozens of fringes in extremis, and are inevitable, especially for large sync your streaming with friends, if you think you’re up to the job, groups. Adding some structure – like a remote movie night. here’s my own technique: 1. Always start with clean, but dry hair – never, ever cut when wet or even damp. Clip back the rest of your hair, leaving the dry fringe isolated and loose. 2. Comb through, and with the comb, gather the entire fringe EXPERIMENTING: Try a root disguiser to touch up your hair colour. into a single, flat, one-inch section at the very centre of your forehead. How to keep your of Hershesons in London. “Until we 3. Clamp it between two flat hair in check know when salons might reopen, fingers at the bottom of the it’s much safer to use a temporary section, approximately 1cm from Social media is awash with fix, like a root touch-up spray or the hair tips (use a plastic freezer professional colourists pleading powder that shampoos out,” he says. bag clip instead, if you prefer). with absent clients not to reach for He believes many women can 4. Take the sharpest scissors the box dye while they’re closed for buy a few more weeks by just you own and cut up into the one- business. This is partly because, changing where they part their inch section of tips, naturally like every service profession, hair. There’s usually more grey at stopping at the fingers. Do not hairdressing will take a financial the temples, so a centre parting is a cut across, only upwards. When beating during this crisis. good stopgap. you’ve snipped the entire inch- But professionals are also Top salon colourist Josh Wood wide section, release your fingers genuinely worried about their isn’t against box dyes – he even sells and comb through to assess the clients’ hair, and tell me they’re them under the Josh Wood Colour length, snipping away any single bracing themselves for a plethora brand in Boots. However, the secret hairs you may have missed. of complex colour correction to a successful home dye job, he 5. If it’s still too long (always appointments when they finally says, is in knowing your limitations. preferable to too short), repeat reopen. “Colour correction can be “Now is not the time to transform the process, nudging fingers up a long, drawn-out and expensive the colour of your hair, or for tricky only half a centimetre at a time, GROUP CALL: If it’s a large group you are trying to meet with, you can process,” warns Luke Hersheson, techniques like balayage, ombre or before combing through and gauge everyone’s availability using the easy web scheduling tools and my own stylist and creative director bleaching,” he says. checking. further connect with them via apps like WhatsApp, Houseparty and Zoom. Monday, March 30, 2020 GULF TIMES 9 OFFBEAT COMMUNITY Solitary refinement: a lockdown survival guide

ONLINE YOGA: Hungarian yoga instructor Kata Kozma is holding online classes from her home in Budapest during the coronavirus outbreak.

How to keep fit in that build in your rest days. WikiHow, trying to find some your home You can also follow a particular illustrations that look a bit like person; Joe Wicks is the obvious your instructor. If you already have There is no shortage of material one, Adrienne for yoga, and they’ll some equipment in the house – online about how to stay fit at home do a daily workout which will resistance bands, a skipping rope, – if anything, the proliferation is make your decisions for you. a mat, a multi-function Fitt Cube the problem. Choice is deadly to If you’re of a more independent – you can build your own workouts motivation, so start by trying to bent, do a timetable more like a around those. I would really whittle down your options. classic cardio/resistance workout recommend buying a mat, which What do you want to do each for two days, yoga on the third you’ll need for all floor work. day, and how long do you want to day, cardio/resistance the fourth, Find the online instructor who SECRET TO AMBIENCE: Can you recreate the coffee-shop ambience do it for? 15 minutes is reasonable, something fun like a dance routine irritates you least: over time, it’ll when working at home? The secret may be in the soundtrack. 30 shows a bit more backbone. It’s on the fifth, resistance on its own be a love-hate pendulum, but more habit-forming to do some for the sixth, yoga on the seventh. if you find their voice grating at How to work from home Those more used to finding their every day than an hour twice a If you used to do regular classes, the start, that’s never going to focus in the informal-formality of week. check to see if they’ve gone work. If you’re feeling nostalgic, Every longtime freelancer a cafe or library are now seeking There are whole-week online; a live-streamed pilates almost all the classic workouts – knows the secret to effective to replicate the effect at home. programmes, such as the book Be class, at a fixed time, is much Cindy Crawford, Mr Motivator, working from home: put your Gretchen McCulloch, linguist and Para Fit, or Canadian Air Force more conducive to discipline Rosemary Conley – are on shoes on. It’s really effective in author of Because The Internet, Exercises, available on YouTube, than roaming freely round YouTube. – The Guardian cueing the mindset shift from tweeted that her current strategy “home is where the couch is” to was “mellow cafe songs playlist “productivity ninja”. … With coffee and sitting in a The goal is to create a different part of my apartment distinction, even one that is than usual,” recommending an mostly symbolic, between additional background of an work mode and home mode, – eight-hour YouTube stream especially now that you cannot go of Magical Tearoom ASMR anywhere else. Setting up a home Ambience. With the sound of office, if only a dedicated corner teaspoons tinkling on saucers and of your kitchen table, that you can hissing espresso machines over arrive at and leave at the day’s end gentle indie music, you won’t will help (do make sure you leave). believe it’s not Starbucks. Your new colleagues may also You can even fudge together take some adjusting-to. Novelist your own overly sweet Julie Cohen shared on Twitter her frappuccino concoction. On top tip for working around family, the video platform Tik Tok, care of her marriage counsellor: a enterprising teenagers have literal work hat. “Train everyone been filming themselves making (and yourself) that when you’re “dalgona” coffee to replicate cafe wearing The Work Hat, they coffee at home. It is easy to make, should leave you alone. (And when if high in caffeine and wasteful you’re wearing it, you should only of milk: mix equal parts instant work),” she tweeted. It will be a coffee, boiling water and sugar – talking point on all those video- about two tbsp per person – and conferencing calls, too. whisk. Add more sugar to taste. Be aware that whatever is visible Once the mixture is stiff and behind you on your webcam will glossy, pour over milk and ice, be under close scrutiny from stir and serve. And whisk it by your colleagues, and inform their hand, even if you have an electric judgments of your home, taste and maker. It takes ages; the morning private life. Style accordingly. will fly by. KEEPING FIT: Joe Wicks, a phenomenally popular YouTube fitness coach, shows you how to keep fit at home. 10 GULF TIMES Monday, March 30, 2020 COMMUNITY INFOGRAPHIC

Try This

Look at the pattern of veins 1 in each leaf and the angles Tree logic the veins make Trees seem to grow Compare that pattern to the branches and leaves in 2 angle between the all directions, but nature twigs on the actually follows a much branch more interesting pattern.

You’ll need

Find five different kinds of trees, and collect these from each one: • A leaf Compare those 3 patterns to the • A small whole tree and branch that the angle its divides several branches make times Are the patterns similar? Do different kinds of trees have different patterns?

What happened?

A tree’s leaves, its twigs and its large branches often grow at similar angles

Most trees are self-similar, which means their smallest And different types, and largest parts all follow or species, of trees grow the same basic pattern according to different patterns

Graphic: Helen Lee McComas and Paul Trap, TNS Source: “Chaos: Making a New Science” by James Glieck Monday, March 30, 2020 GULF TIMES 11 LIFESTYLE/HOROSCOPE COMMUNITY Why older people are better at resisting daily temptations

f your grandfather doesn’t want to Each participant had also been assessed share a pizza or accept a new dress as a on a standard measure of “global life gift, appreciate him as he is way better satisfaction,” which determined their general at controlling his emotional state than well-being, regardless of the moment-to- you. moment moods. IResearchers have found that older people What the researchers were looking for is are generally more emotionally stable and how positive or negative feelings and the better able to resist temptations in their daily ability to resist temptations might change as lives. people get older. “There is evidence here that emotional The researchers found that older people in health and regulation improve with age,” the study were more stable and less volatile in said study lead author Daisy Burr from Duke their emotions. University in the US. “And age, it turns out, is a stronger For the findings, published in the journal predictor of the ability to resist temptation Emotion, the research team pinged 123 study than the emotional state,” said study participants aged 20 to 80 on their cell researcher Gregory Samanez-Larkin. phones three times a day for ten days. According to the researchers, a person’s According to the study, participants goals change with age. were asked to indicate how they felt on a “The older person may be more oriented five-point scale for each of eight emotional toward the present and trying to maximize states, including contentment, enthusiasm, well-being every day. You want to feel good as relaxation and sluggishness. much as possible,” Samanez-Larkin said. They were asked whether they were The researchers said their findings are a desiring anything right then, including food better reflection of real-world conditions They added that older people are better at negative affect are worse at resisting desires. or alcohol, cigarettes, social media, shopping, because they surveyed participants in their regulating their emotional state when allowed Younger study participants who had higher talking to someone, sex, sleep or work. They own time and space, rather than having them to do what they want. levels of life satisfaction were better able to could report up to three temptations at once. respond to cues in a laboratory setting. The study found people experiencing more resist desires. – IANS

Aries Taurus Gemini March 21 — April 19 April 20 — May 20 May 21 — June 20

Are things really going this beautifully for you, Aries? This is a Expanding your horizons is definitely on the agenda today, Taurus. Are you working at home now or perhaps considering it, Gemini? If question you might ask yourself now. All looks perfect as career, Travel, education, creativity – they’re all coming to the forefront of so, remember that you’ll probably enjoy the comfort and freedom education, and spiritual matters seem to crystallise into a wonderful your concerns. A friend could introduce you to a new interest, and it provides. Being in your own territory among your books and pets life. Don’t waste time worrying if this is all too good to be true! You’re children might also be a source of joy. Happiness reigns as you’re and wearing your old clothes will feel good. However, in no way concerned about the future, but right now, live in the moment. able to spend more time pursuing the concerns that mean the most will working on your own compromise your work ethic. If anything, You’re creating some great memories, if nothing else. to you. you’ll get more done than ever. Dig in and go for the gold. Cancer Leo Virgo June 21 — July 22 July 23 — August 22 August 23 — September 22

A social event in your neighbourhood could connect you with A project that you’re working on, perhaps job related, perhaps If you’re artistic by nature, Virgo, expect a rush of inspiration to hit people who share your spiritual and intellectual inclinations, Cancer. personal, is likely to require more creative skill than you usually today, along with an irresistible compulsion to start a new project As a result, you’ll probably make some new friends and spend a lot need, Leo. Writing, drawing, or computer graphics could be involved. and work until you can see at least some results. If you’ve never of time on the phone with them over the next few days. If you’re You might have some doubts about your abilities, but you’re more been artistic before, you may suddenly feel like giving it a try, single, one could be a potential partner. If you’re a writer or artist, likely to be surprised by the results. You’re apt to enjoy working this perhaps using computer technology. No matter what, you’re likely to expect oodles of inspiration to hit you as a result of all this. way, and you may hope to continue. Keep up the good work! derive a lot of pleasure from it, so go to it. Have fun! Libra Scorpio Sagittarius September 23 — October 22 October 23 — November 21 November 22 — December 21

Something wonderful could happen to you today at home, Libra. Developments over the past few days could have you feeling Everything seems great now, but too much emotional expression and A friend could declare eternal devotion, spiritual revelations could very excited and particularly optimistic about your life, Scorpio. material generosity could overwhelm your friend. Be patient! come thick and fast, or great news regarding career or money Communications with your beloved could take the form of songs If you’re involved in the arts, Sagittarius, expect today to hear about matters could be just over the horizon. Whatever comes is apt to or poetry. If you want to give your friend a gift, by all means do, but an opportunity to exhibit your work publicly. There should be a very bring happiness for all concerned. You may pinch yourself to make confine it to something nonthreatening like a book. positive reaction to it, so you can expect a lot of compliments and ego- sure you’re awake! Relax and enjoy it. You have it coming. boosts. An opportunity to earn some money from your work. Capricorn Aquarius Pisces December 22 — January 19 January 20 — February 18 February 19 — March 20

Incredible feelings of enthusiasm, optimism, and sheer joy could fill Some beautiful dreams or visions, perhaps involving angels, spirit Friendships continue to blossom, Pisces. Social events could find your heart and mind today, Capricorn. Your life is changing in a positive guides, or other such beings, could come today, Aquarius. Listen yourself among both old and new friends, perhaps letting some of them way, and even though it may not be readily apparent, you’re sensing it carefully to the messages they bring. Whether they involve matters know for the first time that you’re actually doing well in your life right intuitively. If you’re a writer, publishing is right around the corner. The in your material life, intellectual or spiritual concerns, or future now. Someone close could invite you to come over for a dinner or get- only downside is that you might feel panicky, as if all this will disappear. events, they can shed light on a lot of facts about you of which you together. Now would be a nice times to catch up with old friends. might not be aware. Write them down as soon as you can. 12 GULF TIMES Monday, March 30, 2020 COMMUNITY CARTOONS/PUZZLES

Wordsearch Adam

Pooch Cafe

AUGER BURIN CLEAVER FLAIL HAMMER LATHE PLANE RASP SPUD BORER CHISEL DRILL GIMLET HATCHET MALLET PUNCH SANDER WRENCH BRACE CLAMP FILE GOUGE KNIFE PICK RAKE SPANNER

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. Monday, March 30, 2020 GULF TIMES 13 PUZZLES COMMUNITY

Super Cryptic Clues Colouring

Across Down 1 British sailors in American 1 As champion may be avoiding vessels (4) corporal punishment? (8) 3 Dismissal repeated quickly 2 Neat trail, oddly enough, in (4-4) part of South Africa (5) 9 Very cold northern bird (7) 4 Ace has left the country, being 10 Wood shot away from army in need of food (6) base (5) 5 Flat land is not beautiful (5) 11 Reference book eventually 6 Fish tricked by weed (7) incomplete (5) 7 Old man right for the role (4) 12 Organised party members, 8 More off for instruction? (6) originally haphazard (6) 13 He has a project for an airport 14 Get in a mess having a meal (8) (6) 15 Parasite was first to be 16 Get to grips with equipment amused (7) (6) 17 Conservative embraced by a 19 Fight with energy in awkward sweetheart in the recess (6) situation (6) 18 Her Majesty turned up with 21 Trainee acted oddly (5) something boring or something 24 Sloth disturbed a composer infuriating (3,3) (5) 20 Continue performing 25 Tonic going backwards and somewhere in London (5) forwards (7) 22 Many left port (5) 26 Playful remarks may be 23 City centre providing fish (4) injurious in time (8) 27 Captured soldier with Resistance leader in front of boat Answers (4) Wordsearch Codeword Solution 14 GULF TIMES Monday, March 30, 2020 COMMUNITY BOLLYWOOD Siddhant opens up on his nepotism snide to Ananya

ully Boy actor Siddhant Chaturvedi has opened FRIENDS: Arjun and Katrina share a great rapport with up on his nepotism remark, which many each other. perceived as a snide towards actress Ananya Panday. He says the Internet made a thing out of Ajrun Kapoor: Katrina Kaif is the best it and edited the clip to make it look like he has Ggot a thug life. Actor Arjun Kapoor is all praise for Katrina Kaif. Earlier this year, Siddhant’s reply to Ananya on nepotism Recently, Arjun conducted “Ask Me” session on in a roundtable interview became a viral sensation, making Instagram and his fans flooded him with a lot of way for many memes and short clips in the virtual world. interesting questions. During the panel, Ananya shared her definition of struggle One user even asked him if he would like to collaborate and take on nepotism, saying: “I have always wanted to be with Katrina in a film. an actor. Just because my dad has been an actor, I will never To that, Arjun responded that it will have to depend on say no to an opportunity to act. My dad has never been in a the script and also on Katrina saying yes to it. Not only Dharma film, he never went onKoffee With Karan. So, it’s this, Arjun praised Katrina for her sporting nature. not as easy as people say. Everyone has their own journey “She is the best and the most sporting when it comes to and their own struggle,” she said. me troubling her on and off Instagram,” he added. At that moment, Siddhant gave a reply which went viral Arjun and Katrina share a great rapport with each other. on social media. He said: “Jahaan humaare sapne poore hote Arjun has often seen pulling Katrina’s leg on social media. hai, waha inke struggle shuru hote hai.” Him calling Katrina “kantaben 2.0” on the former’s video Breaking his silence on the nepotism jibe with Ananya, of dishwashing is a proof of the fact. Siddhant said: “It was a topic of nepotism and I was the last On the film front, Katrina will be seen opposite Akshay one to speak. It so happened that she spoke before me.” Kumar in Sooryavanshi . Arjun will be seen sharing screen “And I just concluded so it was a conclusive statement. If space with Parineeti Chopra in Sandeep Aur Pinky Faraar. you actually think about that line, it only implies the start — IANS point and end point of the struggle. I guess, internet made a thing out of it. They made memes and edited it to make it look like I’ve got a thug life. But it was not meant to be taken like that,” he added. The actor also opened up about his journey into Bollywood from CA studies. “It all started with theatre in college. I had randomly walked in an audition for a part in theatre with the Mithibai JOURNEY: Siddhant Chaturvedi talked about his journey in drama team. I just went in and I was also a good dancer, so Bollywood in an episode of Starry Nights GEN Y. I imitated MJ. I guess they thought that I am good and that they could use me in one of the plays and that’s how it all Singh in Gully Boy. “He made me so comfortable that I started. It was my first performance and we won all festivals just could be myself. This guy is a legend and an artist. which gave me immense confidence,” he recalled. He understood the equation between us in the script and “At that time, it was a big dream for me because at that he just told me to go for it. I would ask him even before time, there were no actors making it in. The last I knew was holding him in a certain way because I had watched Mr. Shah Rukh Khan who inspired me greatly. Every boy Padmaavat and he was Khilji in it. So, it was on my would look up and say that if he made it as an outsider so mind as to how can I be Sher to Khilji. But he just told SILENT DONOR: Rajkummar Rao has refused to reveal could we. So, I used to keep telling myself that I could do me to forget about everything and do whatever I was the amount he donated. this,” he added. comfortable in,” he said. The actor opened up about his journey in an episode of Talking about the three things he would do to impress a Rajkummar Rao donates to Starry Nights GEN Y, which is aired on Zee Cafe. girl, Siddhant said: “I would act, I would love to play guitar, Covid-19 relief funds Siddhant feels glad that he got to work with Ranveer and I would take care of her finances.” — IANS

Bollywood actor Rajkummar Rao is doing his bit to fight the coronavirus pandemic. He has contributed to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s relief fund, Chief Minister’s Ayushmann Khurrana: Disturbing to see (Maharashtra) relief fund and Zomato Feeding India to people not complying with lockdown help feed families in need. Rajkummar doesn’t want to reveal the amount, but Ayushmann Khurrana was shocked to read and see videos tweeted yesterday: “It’s time to stand together & to help of some people not adhering to the lockdown and has urged our administration in this fight against Coronavirus. I’ve everyone to stay at home due to the outbreak of Covid-19. done my bit..Donated to #PMReliefFund #CMReliefFund “It is quite disturbing to see videos and reports about and to #ZomatoFeedingIndia to help feed families in people still not fully complying with the all India lockdown! need. Please support in whatever way you can. Our Nation The cases of coronavirus are on the rise in India and as Needs Us. Jai Hind.” conscious citizens of the nation we should be extremely Some of his followers even praised him for not revealing responsible & should take care of each other to fight the amount. Covid-19,” Ayushmann said. “This is ideal example of charity. Reason behind this Ayushmann stressed that this is not “the time to be charity is pure care. no show off at all....Showing charity irresponsible”. amount for publicity is nt good. Feeling proud of you @ “Because such actions will put the lives of many in danger. RajkummarRao for your charity work,” one Twitter user It is my earnest request to all my fellow Indians to please wrote. stay at home till the lockdown and take care of themselves Another wrote: “Well done rajkumar for not showing and their loved ones. We shouldn’t be rash in our behaviour how amount u donated hatsoff man.” Many Bollywood because it will put our lives and the lives of countless many celebrities have come forward to support Modi’s PM in peril. I urge us to stand united and ensure we protect India FIRM: Ayushmann stressed that this is not “the time to be CAREs fund. Actor Akshay Kumar has announced that he and Indians,” he added. irresponsible”. will donate Rs25 crore to the fund. — IANS On the acting front, Ayushmann, who is touted as one of the game changers in Hindi cinema, will next be seen in Gulabo Sitabo alongside megastar Amitabh Bachchan. — IANS Monday, March 30, 2020 GULF TIMES 15 HOLLYWOOD COMMUNITY Succession star on taking it easy

By Sugandha Rawal

uccession star Brian Cox feels actors never retire, but COUPLE: Mia Goth, left, and Shia LaBeouf. fade out gently. At 73, he is enjoying the peak of his Shia LaBeouf seen wearing wedding career, though he sometimes ring during outing with former wife Sthinks about “taking it a bit easy”. After almost 60 years in showbiz, Actor Shia LaBeouf was spotted wearing his wedding Cox won his first Golden Globe at ring during a recent outing with his former wife Mia Goth. the 77th annual award ceremony for During the outing, LaBeouf wore a wedding band on his work on the TV show Succession that finger and Goth also had on a diamond ring and a earlier this year. wedding band, reports people.com. “One is always in two minds about In the photos, the pair, who were both dressed casually, awards. You think why to work for are sitting together on a bench outside, with Goth leaning awards, but it’s very nice when you get towards the actor with her hand on his knee. them and also an award is kind of like LaBeouf was previously photographed wearing the ring an affirmation of your work,” Cox told at the Academy Awards in February. IANS when asked what does his first The pair first met in 2012 while filmingNymphomaniac: Golden Globe mean to him. Vol. II, and Goth later appeared in a music video LaBeouf “So in that sense, it’s an affirming of directed in 2014. what you do, and affirming on a global After dating for nearly four years, LaBeouf and Goth scale. So anyway, it’s very gratifying,” married in October 2016. he added. A representative for the actor had confirmed the pair Starting his career in theatre, Cox had decided to officially part ways in 2018. – IANS has carved a place for himself with power-packed performances as the anti-mutant villain William Stryker in the X-Men movies, the villainous opportunist King Agamemnon in Troy, CIA Deputy Director Ward Abbott DETERMINED: Brian Cox believes that actors never retire. in the Bourne franchise and Winston Churchill in Churchill. be getting into my 80s in a few years, background. We reveal that he grew At present, Cox, who started and think then maybe I can take it easy, up in a traumatic background. We working in the sixties, is seen as and just do voiceovers,” the actor said see evidence of that with the scars on media mogul Logan Roy in the show with a chuckle. his back that he was beaten when he Succession, aired in India on Star At present, he is happy to essay the was young and that he had a troubled World. role of Logan in Succession, which childhood. In a sense, he is a man Asked if he plans to retire anytime follows the lives of the Roy family as who is a bit of a nihilist. And is really soon, the Scottish actor said: “I think they contemplate their future once disappointed in humanity.” about taking it easier. Actors never their ageing father (essayed by Cox) “He loves his children, that’s very retire.” begins to step back from his media and important to realise about Logan. He “I think we go on to be dropped or entertainment conglomerate. does love his children, but he feels that PRODUCER: Ryan Gosling will produce the project with we fade gently out. I’m having a peak Talking about his role, the actor they are in impossible positions, and MGM in negotiations to acquire the project, based on the in my career. So I’m hoping to continue said: “Logan is a self-made man. He he knows that he is partly responsible,” upcoming Andy Weir novel. it for a few years. And then later on, I’ll is a man from a kind of mysterious he added. – IANS Ryan Gosling to star in Project Hail Mary

After First Man, actor Ryan Gosling is space-bound yet Jameela Jamil: Great to show again with another astronaut movie. The actor is set to our culture to the world star in and produce Project Hail Mary. Gosling will produce the project with MGM in Actress Jameela Jamil feels it is important to portray girls negotiations to acquire the project, based on the as heroes on screen, and says she would have benefited with upcoming Andy Weir novel, reports variety.com. such content while growing up. Project Hail Mary is about a solitary astronaut on a The actress is glad that she is part of such a show — spaceship who is trying to save Earth. Project Hail Mary Disney Junior animated series Mira, Royal Detective. It is will be published next spring by Random House. a mystery adventure show inspired by the cultures and Weir’s novels are particularly popular for film customs of India. adaptations in Hollywood. Weir’s first novel,The Martian, “You can see a little Indian girl being the person who was self-published in 2011. The story follows an American is the hero and the protagonist of the story. Also it’s so astronaut stranded alone on Mars in the year 2035. The important for young south Asian women to see a character film adaptation, directed by Ridley Scott and starring where the hero is the girl,” said Jameela, whose roots trace GIRL POWER: Jameela Jamil says that it’s important for Matt Damon, was released in 2015 and became a massive back to India. young south Asian women to see a character where the hero box office success and earned seven Academy Award “She is not just the accomplice or the problem, instead is the girl. nominations. she is the one solving everything, being independent In 2017, Weir published his novel Artemis, about a and strong-minded and I think that’s something. I really Set in the fictional land of Jalpur, it follows the life of woman named Jazz, a directionless twenty-something would have benefited with similar content from when I Mira, a commoner who is appointed to the role of royal constrained by her small town Artemis – the only city was growing up,” added the actress, who has voiced the detective by the queen. on the moon. With debts to pay and a salary that barely character of Aunt Pushpa in the show. Explaining how the The series features an all-star cast of prominent South covers her expenses, she can’t say no when a life-changing show has the power to change perceptions of children from Asian actors including Jameela, Kal Penn, Freida Pinto, opportunity drops in her lap. Fox and New Regency diverse cultures, she said: “I think it’s really amazing for Hannah Simone, Utkarsh Ambudkar, Aasif Mandvi and bought the film rights and got Phil Lord and Chris Miller children from other cultures to see our culture. We have Aparna Nancherla amongst others. It introduced 16-year- to direct the project. – IANS been exposed in a wonderful way to American and English old newcomer Leela Ladnier as the voice of Mira. The show content, hence, it’s great to show our culture to the world.” airs in India on Disney Channel India. – IANS 16 GULF TIMES Monday, March 30, 2020 COMMUNITY QPO musicians entertain music lovers by playing from homes

By Mudassir Raja

t is time to stay at home. People are forced to observe social distancing and work from home. The circumstances are no Idifferent for the people who reside in the world of Qatar Philharmonic Orchestra (QPO). The orchestra has long been catering to the taste of those who love and admire western classical music in Qatar. However, the talented musicians of the orchestra are rehearsing from home and creating videos with music supporting social distancing. The QPO musicians have played at the United Nations, the Royal Albert Hall in London, and the Kennedy Center in Washington, but this might be one of the most important shows they have ever performed – from their own homes. The orchestra, a Qatar Foundation member, is using the power of music to send a message to people about the need to stay at home and help Qatar tackle the novel coronavirus crisis. The SYMPHONY: Qatar Philharmonic Orchestra musicians recently released a video that shows QPO members performing the second movement from Antonin recently released video that shows Dvorak’s Symphony No 9 (From The New World), which was adapted into a song called Goin’ Home, in their living rooms. QPO members performing the second movement from Antonin Dvorak’s Symphony No 9 (From “The times are challenging; but we The New World), which was adapted into a song called Goin’ all stand united and shall perceive Home, in their living rooms. The video – posted on the triumph. I request all readers to open orchestra’s social media channels with the hashtag #StayHome – our official page on the Internet and on aims to encourage people to follow health guidance and support Qatar YouTube by typing ‘Qatar Philharmonic in coming through coronavirus. Kurt Meister, German national, Orchestra’. All kinds of music from is executive director of QPO since 2011. He graduated from Arabic to Western – from Walt Disney the Academy of Music in Munich where he studied bassoon. After and Frank Sinatra up until Beethoven commitments with German theatres such as Aachen, Essen and Cycle can be searched. Please enjoy and Mainz, he played the bassoon in the Bavarian State Opera from 1973 watch all the videos with your loved until 1989. During his tenure at the Bavarian ones. Be safe, stay at home, and defeat Broadcast Company, Kurt had the pleasure of inviting soloists and the virus!” guest conductors. In 1993 he was also awarded management of the — Kurt Meister, executive Munich Radio Orchestra and the For Qatar Foundation, the in concert with QPO soon after Eid Choir of the Bavarian Broadcast safety and well-being of all in June 2020. director of QPO Corporation. In 2007 Kurt was around us is always a top priority. nominated QPO managing director, With this in mind, QF have been In general, how has the by Covid-19 for everyone at this The times are challenging; but we and in 2011 he was named the closely monitoring the worldwide orchestra been conducting itself challenging time. all stand united and shall perceive executive director. coronavirus (Covid-19) outbreak. during these challenging days? By being into quarantine to triumph. I request all readers Community approached the As QPO continues to contribute As we are all striving to maintain face an unprecedented war with to open our official page on the musician and asked him how the to the community remotely, I have and continue the business as usual, Covid-19, QPO will create much Internet and on YouTube by typing orchestra has been working as there chosen to create a special video the musicians are utilising their more videos that all of you can ‘Qatar Philharmonic Orchestra’. are no team rehearsals and live from Dvorak’s Symphony No. 9 for times at homes practicing music watch staying inside homes with All kinds of music from Arabic to shows. promotional commitments. This compositions and learning new your beloved ones. Western – from Walt Disney and music composition is scheduled programmes of the next season Frank Sinatra up until Beethoven Why have the orchestra since September 2019. 2020/21. What would be your advice Cycle can be searched. Please enjoy chosen the Antonin Dvorak’s All audiences can watch and I appreciate professionalism, for those who love listening and watch all the videos with your Symphony No 9 to push the listen to this calming music and understanding, and contribution western classical music as they loved ones. Be safe, stay at home, listeners for staying at home? hopefully, will be able to enjoy live to minimising the risks created are forced to stay home? and defeat the virus!”