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Thursday, August 29, 2019 Dhul-Hijja 28, 1440 AH

Doha today: 320 - 410

To the rescue

COVER STORY

SPOTLIGHT: Ian Recchio wades into an amphibian tank at the Los Angeles Zoo where he leads a captive breeding programme for endangered frogs. Meet the rock star frog breeder vying to save Southern California’s rarest amphibian. P4-5

SHOWBIZ BACK PAGE

Not easy to recreate Serbian basketball coach iconic songs: Tanishk making his mark in Qatar Page 15 Page 16 2 GULF TIMES Thursday, August 29, 2019 COMMUNITY ROUND & ABOUT

PRAYER TIME Fajr 3.53am Shorooq (sunrise) 5.14am Zuhr (noon) 11.36am Asr (afternoon) 3.06pm Maghreb (sunset) 5.58pm Isha (night) 7.28pm Angel Has Fallen Banning must evade the FBI and his own agency to fi nd the DIRECTION: Ric Roman Waugh real threat to the president. Desperate to uncover the truth, he CAST: Gerard Butler, Piper Perabo, Morgan Freeman soon turns to unlikely allies to help clear his name and save the USEFUL NUMBERS SYNOPSIS: Authorities take Secret Service agent Mike country from imminent danger. Banning into custody for the failed assassination attempt of US President Allan Trumbull. After escaping from his captors, THEATRES: The Mall, Landmark, Royal Plaza

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 Offi ce (Single window facility for the repatriation of bodies) Ministry of Interior 40253371, 40253372, 40253369 Ministry of Health 40253370, 40253364 Super Bear son Xi Ha, but when the young cub is captured by a human Hamad Medical Corporation 40253368, 40253365 DIRECTION: Wang Qi criminal and sold in the black market. Father bear ventures Qatar Airways 40253374 CAST: Zhengjian Guo, Liang Xiaoqiang, Mengjuan Xu, Lin into the big city to search for him. Qiang, Kang Liu SYNOPSIS: Father bear lives in the wilderness with his THEATRES: The Mall, Landmark, Royal Plaza

ote Unquo u te Q “Optimism is the faith that leads to achievement. Nothing can be done without hope and confi dence.” — Helen Keller

Community Editor For movie timings and Kamran Rehmat further details please scan e-mail: [email protected] the QR code above with your Telephone: 44466405 mobile phone camera or visit qatarcinemas.com Fax: 44350474 Thursday, August 29, 2019 GULF TIMES 3 ROUND & ABOUT COMMUNITY

The olympic sport using horizontal bar, Hobby Classes rings and fl oor exercises on mats for the WHERE: Mamangam Performing Art children from age 4 till 16. Centre WHEN:Saturday – Friday Mamangam is an art and performance centre started with a vision of spreading our knowledge, interests and experience in various disciplines in arts across diff erent countries for children and adults. Mamangam has become the favourite centre for learning. We off er regular classes in the following disciplines like traditional classical and folk dance forms, art and craft, drawing and painting, personality development and public speaking, Bollywood dance, contemporary, hip hop styles, music both vocals and instrumentals. To develop health consciousness, we train them karate, yoga with special sessions for kids and adults. Mamangam has also come up with chess and robotics in regular batches in an attempt to give a better learning experience, as they sharpen their minds and brains too. For those who wish to register for more details, visit www.mamangamqatar.in Ballet Lessons WHERE: Music and Arts Atelier WHEN: Ongoing TIME: 4pm – 8pm For more info e-mail at registration@ atelierqatar.com or call on 33003839.

EVENTS Yoga Class Painting Class WHERE: Lululemon, Mall of Qatar WHERE: Qatar National Library WHEN: Every Saturday WHEN: September 22 TIME: 8:30am – 9:30am TIME: 11am — 12pm Join the complimentary in-store yoga Paint with a rolling ball, or a rolling car, classes. No registration or mat is required. or just stomp and drag your fi ngers, hands The class runs on fi rst come fi rst served basis. and feet! Little children will explore color Arabic Calligraphy Workshop and motion using diff erent media in this fun, WHEN: Saturday – Wednesday hands-on activity. Please dress your little TIME: 6pm ones accordingly. Arabic Calligraphy workshop is back. Come and learn the artistic practice of Arabic The Moon and Beyond handwriting and calligraphy at Music and WHERE: Qatar National Library Arts Atelier. WHEN: September 18 The lessons will take place every Saturday, TIME: 6pm — 7:30pm Monday and Wednesday at 6pm. For Celebrate 50 years since the moon landing more information, contact registration@ with a special presentation at the Library, atelierqatar.com in collaboration with the US Embassy in Doha. Dr. Mary Ellen Weber, a former NASA astronaut who fl ew on two Space Shuttle fl ights, will talk about her experiences in space After School Activities and the future of exploring the fi nal frontier. WHERE: Atelier Dr. Weber is a consultant in technology, WHEN: Ongoing innovation, strategic communications and Music and arts activities for students high-risk operations, and serves on the Nasa taking place after they fi nish their day in Advisory Council Committee on Technology, school includes Group Music lessons, Hip- Innovation and Engineering.. hop, Ballet, Drawing and Painting, Drama Theatre & Taekwondo. Ages between 5 and 10 years old after school hours.

Career Guidance WHERE: Right Track Consultants, Al Sadd WHEN: Sunday – Thursday TIME: 6pm – 8pm Career guidance for course, country, college and entrance for students of Grade IX-XII, of all curriculum. Career assessments administered for stream preference, career Dance and Instrument Classes test, branch preference, personality, WHERE: TCA Campus, Behind Gulf Times multiple intelligence and learning styles Building and productivity. For more information, WHEN: Wednesday – Monday 55448835. Learn the movements of dance styles in Bollywood, Hip Hop and also the musical Artistic Gymnastic Classes instruments such as Piano, Guitar, Keyboard WHERE: Qatar Academy Msheireb for adults as well kids and move in the world WHEN: Ongoing of music. For details, contact 66523871/ TIME: 3:15pm – 4:15pm 31326749.

Compiled by Nausheen Shaikh. E-mail: [email protected], Events and timings subject to change 4 GULF TIMES Thursday, August 29, 2019 COMMUNITY COVER STORY Saving the day “This year, we hatched out more than 1,000 new tadpoles for the federal eff ort to recover one of the rarest amphibians on the planet,” Ian Recchio, Los Angeles Zoo’s curator of reptiles and amphibians, tells Louis Sahagun

LIVING ON THE EDGE: Since the 1960s, nonnative trout, bullfrogs and crayfish have decimated these frogs. So have wildfires, extreme weather and hotter stream temperatures linked to climate change. With skin as permeable as a sponge, the frog is also highly susceptible to a skin fungus linked to amphibians vanishing around the world.

t was happy hour at the “Frog Shack,” notoriously hard to breed in captivity and Act, fewer than 100 adults remained in a tiny building at the Los Angeles harder still to reintroduce into their native the region. The situation demanded an Zoo off ering all the amenities that habitat — the high-elevation streams of the emergency intervention, and Recchio is one Ian Recchio’s a no- Southern California’s rarest — and San Bernardino, San Gabriel and San Jacinto expert who answered the call. perhaps fussiest — amphibians might mountains. Clad in blue jeans, a baseball cap and nonsense, reliable Ineed to survive. “The success rate of reintroduced scuff ed leather shoes, Recchio, 48, moved Aeration and water fi ltration systems tadpoles and frogs … has not been great,” quietly through the Frog Shack on a recent guy who knows hummed softly in rows of temperature- added Fisher. “But it has kept this species weekday to avoid rousing its sensitive what he’s doing and controlled tanks, where tadpoles of the from blinking out of existence.” inhabitants. He surveyed the scene in the southern mountain yellow-legged frog Recchio is more humble about what 15-by-15-foot captive breeding facility like a gets the job done binged on a mix of algae fl akes and vitamins. the Frog Shack is accomplishing. “As long satisfi ed impresario. Fist-sized adult frogs, some of them bulging as yellow-legged frogs are needed, I can “Everything that happens here aims to with eggs, lounged on pebble beds after a produce them,” he said. mimic the conditions of the frog’s natural meal of crickets and wax worms. Named for the bright yellow on their life cycles of winter hibernation, spring — Robert Fisher, This is where Ian Recchio, the zoo’s undersides, southern mountain yellow- thaw and mating season,” he said. “And this biologist curator of reptiles and amphibians, is legged frogs once thrived in hundreds of year, we hatched out more than 1,000 new performing what some call miracle work in streams cascading down the high mountains tadpoles for the federal eff ort to recover one keeping alive a federally endangered species, that surround Los Angeles. of the rarest amphibians on the planet.” ‘ one of the rarest vertebrates on Earth. But since the 1960s, nonnative trout, Part of Recchio’s success has come Recchio might be unknown to the general bullfrogs and crayfi sh have decimated these through trial and error — learning from public, but in the eff ort to save and recover frogs. So have wildfi res, extreme weather past setbacks to breed yellow-legged frogs. these frogs, Recchio is, as US Geological and hotter stream temperatures linked to In 2011, for example, a Fresno Chaff ee Survey biologist Robert Fisher put it, “a rock climate change. With skin as permeable as a Zoo eff ort was tripped up by the deaths of star.” sponge, the frog is also highly susceptible to 104 frogs that, two years earlier, had been “He’s a no-nonsense, reliable guy a skin fungus linked to amphibians vanishing rescued from the fi re-stripped San Gabriel who knows what he’s doing and gets the around the world. Mountains. job done,” said Fisher, who notes that By 2002, when the species was listed A breakthrough came when Recchio ’ southern mountain yellow-legged frogs are under the federal Endangered Species and other scientists learned that the life Thursday, August 29, 2019 GULF TIMES 5 COVER STORY COMMUNITY cycle of yellow-legged frogs from the San Gabriel Mountains was diff erent than their cousins in the San Bernardino and San Jacinto mountains. For one thing, the San Gabriel tadpoles metamorphose about twice as fast as those in nearby mountain ranges. “Our San Gabriel Mountain tadpoles become frogs within about a year — and that was a little bit of an issue,” Recchio said, “because our initial captive breeding protocol was based, in part, on one developed at the San Diego Zoo, which deals with frogs from the San Bernardino and San Jacinto mountains.” Recchio and his team had to develop a new template. He developed one from a programme used to successfully breed Armenian vipers, a venomous snake found in Alpine terrain with steep annual temperature changes and light gradients. The scientists started adjusting conditions in the lab to replicate the frogs’ winter cycle, which begins in mid-October. “That’s when we start stepping down the amount of light in the room by about an hour each week,” said zookeeper Marlowe Robertson-Billet, REARGUARD ACTION: The San Diego Zoo has surgically implanted microchip radio transmitters, the size of rice grains, into 25 captive-bred yellow-legged 37, who monitors the amphibians frogs scheduled for release in September in the San Jacinto Mountains. with the attention of a full-time nanny, “and chilling the water scheduled to be released in a creek West and Mexico. Recchio, who has served as the Los Aquarium in Omaha; the US Forest temperature in their tanks by 1 to 2 where they’d been absent for half He absorbed books about Angeles Zoo’s curator of herpetology Service; the US Fish and Wildlife degrees once or twice a week.” a century. A year ago, about 500 herpetology and about naturalists, for 13 years and helped design its Service; the US Geological Survey, Those conditions mimic what the tadpoles were released into a stream such as Laurence M Klauber, Living Amphibians, Reptiles and and the California Department of wild frogs experience in the dead of elsewhere in the range. the fi rst curator of reptiles and Invertebrates facility. He is also a Fish and Wildlife. winter, when they hunker down in a They are the off spring of two amphibians at the San Diego member of the Association of Zoos So far, however, tadpoles and mud bank under a blanket of snow. genetically distinct groups of Natural History Museum. and Aquariums’ Komodo dragon frogs reared at the Los Angeles and “So, by mid-December,” she said, tadpoles Recchio took into his care As a teenager, he started committee, and an expert on pit San Diego zoos haven’t spurred “the facility is in total darkness, in 2014 as what he described as volunteering at the Los Angeles vipers. an exponential resurgence in wild the water is chilled to 34 degrees a “genetic insurance colony” to Zoo, where he befriended curators The federal frog recovery southern mountain yellow-legged and the frogs are in a state of prevent the species from spiraling and zookeepers, and went on to programme he is part of goes frogs. Today, fewer than 400 of hibernation, absorbing oxygen into oblivion. This marks the assist in studying and collecting beyond captive breeding. Since them are believed to exist in the through their skin and fl oating to second year tadpoles reared at the reptile and amphibian specimens 2006, federal wildlife authorities wild. the surface every hour or so for a zoo have been released into the from around the world. have worked to remove non-native “These little guys will face gulp of air.” Angeles National Forest. A personal highlight came in the trout from some of the frogs’ an uphill battle after they’re In April, the cycle is reversed. By Recchio grew up in the San early 1990s, when Recchio found ancestral haunts and, in certain reintroduced … no doubt about it,” mid-August, she said, the water has Gabriel Valley, and his fascination a rosy boa — one of only two boa areas, they have barred public said Recchio. “It’s getting hard to reached its peak temperature of 60 with things that crawl, croak snakes native to the United States access. fi nd habitat that isn’t a fl ood zone degrees. and slither began when he was — in the shadows of the Hollywood The collaborative eff ort includes or drought-stricken or dominated The bounty of the team’s work is a kid, accompanying his father, sign. the Los Angeles Zoo; the San by invasive predators like trout and hundreds of new tadpoles each year. an amateur herpetologist, on “It remains the only one ever Diego Institute for Conservation bullfrogs.” About 900 of this year’s crop are collecting trips across the American recorded at that cultural icon,” said Research; the Henry Doorly Zoo and Amphibians produce huge numbers of eggs, and one reason is that only the luckiest and hardiest The goal is survive. For the same reasons, it has been diffi cult for biologi sts to to chart the keep track of captive-bred frogs and tadpoles after they are released into progress of their native habitat. The San Diego Zoo has launched reintroduced an experiment to resolve that frogs with real- problem: they have surgically implanted microchip radio time data on transmitters, the size of rice grains, into 25 captive-bred yellow- their movements legged frogs scheduled for release in September in the San Jacinto and locations. Mountains. The results “The goal is to chart the progress of reintroduced frogs with real- could be critical time data on their movements and locations,” said Talisin Hammond, to the ultimate a biologist at the San Diego Zoo Institute for Conservation survival of this Research. “The results could be unique species critical to the ultimate survival of this unique species.” Recchio would not argue with any of that. “When it comes to — Talisin saving endangered amphibians here and around the world,” he said, Hammond, “this is a time of experimentation.” biologist — Los Angeles Times/TNS 6 GULF TIMES Thursday, August 29, 2019 COMMUNITY

Student of DPS-MIS takes part in World Schools Debating Championships

Farhan Sakkir, a student of Grade-XII at DPS-Modern Indian School (DPS-MIS) recently took Eight preliminary rounds of debate were conducted on issues, including gentrification, zero- part in World Schools Debating Championships in Bangkok, Thailand as part of Team Qatar. day vulnerabilities, recasting minorities in art and popular media, the rise of Amazon, granting Students representing from 62 countries, including China, Bangladesh, India, Canada, Peru, amnesty to perpetrators of crimes in post-conflict societies, payday loans, parliamentary Argentina, Sweden, Germany, Thailand, Sri Lanka, Syria, Venezuela, Qatar and Oman took part reservations for the youth and bride importing. Team Qatar ended the tournament winning in the championship. four rounds.

Student of MES wins Prime Minister’s Fellowship award

Deep Chandra, a student of Grade-XII at MES Indian School, recently won the Prime Minister’s Fellowship award for his outstanding performance in the Talent Search Examination 2018, conducted by the Kerala-based PM Foundation, a philanthropic organisation for the students who had completed Grade-X. The Talent Search examination was conducted with an aim of identifying talented young students who can be qualified for the award of Prime Minister Fellowship awarding scholarship for the UG and PG programme until the completion of the course. Deep Chandra was among 51 students including three other contestants of MES shortlisted for Round 2, an online interview conducted. Based on their performance in the round, Deep Chandra was selected for the coveted PM Fellowship among 10 other students. The presentation ceremony of the award will be conducted soon. The fellowship amount will be provided to the students after the successful completion of their Grade-XII. Hameeda Kadar, Principal of MES, said, “Deep Chandra has been inspirational for many students in various competitions where he have had represented the school, and now by winning this prestigious fellowship award he has made everyone proud and set a distinct example of himself for others to emulate.”

Faculty members of DPS-MIS take part in Residential International Conference

Two teachers from DPS-Modern Indian School (DPS- 21st century classrooms. The workshop featured, panel MIS), including Avishek Jha and Ashraf Sultana recently discussions, workshops and exhibition of books based participated in the Residential International Conference, on the sub themes of the conference, including Learning organised by Next Education at Park Hyatt, Hyderabad, by Doing, Improving Learning outcomes through Data, India. Curriculum for Creative and Critical Thinking, Leadership The theme of the conference was ‘Edtech for 21st and Collaborative Learning and Lab Kits. The areas Century Schools’. The aim of the conference was to bring of discussion during the conference, included Digital educators worldwide together on a common platform Learning, Enhancing Teaching and Learning through where innovative ideas, novel methods of imparting Lab activities, Promoting Excellence in Education, 21st education and success stories can be exchanged to Century Leadership and Rethinking Early Childhood formulate new strategies to be implemented in the Education. Thursday, August 29, 2019 GULF TIMES 7 GARDENING COMMUNITY The ever-blooming bush sunflower with appeal Suncredible Yellow will keep blooming whether you deadhead or not, writes Norman Winter

POLLINATOR: Suncredible Yellow sunflower brings in an assortment of pollinators like this Horace’s Duskywing butterfly.

is that they are drought-tolerant Because of their bushy habit, they score of 1 to 5 with fi ve being the and have relatively few pests that will excel as the thriller plant in best. In the University of Georgia will inhibit their growth. Taller mixed containers; or look stunning trials from June through August varieties may need support as the as a monoculture plant growing it has an average of 4.75. It has stalks grow because the fl ower head with no partners. seen similar scores in the south. can become quite heavy and cause The look screams cottage garden When you score well above 4 the the stalk to break. Plant breeding but will be simply amazing just consumer can rest assured they are DELICATE: Yellow sunflower produces 4-inch flowers all summer. has resulted in dwarf sunfl ower mixed in with perennials and other getting a good bang for their buck. varieties and a range of fl ower annuals. Of course, those of you As you can tell from the length ver blooming and bush for the gardener reaching 42-inches colours available. working on a backyard wildlife of bloom this native is heat tolerant habit, are not two tall and around 36-inches wide. It will be reaching garden centres habitat will be pleased beyond your and I can testify it has a strong adjectives or descriptors The fl owers are four inches wide in mass next spring and I know your wildest expectations. degree of drought tolerance as our you would ever expect and produced in abundance, fi rst thought will be sunfl owers The Garden Guy used a layered summer in west Georgia has crept to give a sunfl ower, but bringing in bees and butterfl ies. don’t last that long in the garden; design up a gentle slope. In the into the miserable category. We thatE has all changed. It’s called Those of you with roaming deer but this will simply not be true front, I have the Rockin Deep celebrate however with colourful Suncredible Yellow and botanically populations will rejoice that this with this new breeding of our loved Purple salvia and the Rockin Blue fl owers. speaking it is a Helianthus hybrid. plant is typically not on the menu. native Helianthus. It will thrive Suede Shoes. Then going up the One last thing very worth touting I planted it about three months Sunfl owers are an easy-to- in just about any soil and will be slope is the Suncredible Yellow. is this plants ability to give you ago right close to a clump of Rockin identify plant because of the riveting as long as you give it good Next is the amazing Summerifi c cut-fl owers for the vase. What is salvias. Amazingly it has been brilliant colour displayed in the sunlight. Space your plants 18 to Holy Grail hibiscus. The look is a better than sunfl owers, salvias, and blooming all summer and continues fl owers and the often-towering 24-inches apart. subtle triadic harmony with blue zinnias in the summer vase? It is a to do so giving no indication its life growth of the stalks. The edible Suncredible Yellow will keep salvias, yellow sunfl owers, and deep great time to be a gardener and the as an annual, will be coming to an seeds attract wildlife and can make blooming whether you deadhead red hibiscus. new Suncredible Yellow Sunfl ower end. a tasty snack for humans as well. or not. In my garden, I have It has been scoring very well in will give you the green thumb and a This will be a new plant product Another appeal of these plants snipped them off a couple of times. plant trials. Most trials rate on a bounty of fl owers too! – TNS 8 GULF TIMES Thursday, August 29, 2019 COMMUNITY TRA So much to see, so much to d Anyone who grows up in the jet age must feel some yearning for the age of rail; mine was from stories of Sherlock Holmes shuttling across England in pursuit of malefactors and from an Irving Wallace article about the history of the fabulous Orient Express in an anthology called The Sunday Gentleman, writes Patt Morrison

SMOOTH RIDE: A Via Rail passenger train along Moose Lake in Jasper National Park, Alberta, Canada.

t was a bucket list trip, but England in pursuit of malefactors states. seemed to work, but who cared? attraction in the dark, so if this was not in the way you might and from an Irving Wallace article In the abstract, I knew this There was so much to see, so much new, it was about time. think. about the history of the fabulous would be an unplugged journey. I to do, especially nothing at all. We were aboard the train on The Via Rail train journey Orient Express in an anthology wasn’t just prepared to go Wi-Fi For most of the day, first-class May 10, which was the 150th across Canada was not called The Sunday Gentleman. free; I welcomed it. If there are travellers had the Skyline car to anniversary of the driving of the Iabout my do-before-dying list, I’d taken the TGV train from some among you who delude ourselves. It’s the windowed car golden spike, joining the United but about the Earth’s, about Paris on a few short-haul trips, but yourselves every time you say, “Oh, at the very back of the train, right States’ first transcontinental seeing the natural wonders before its charm was incidental to speed my phone? I can take it or leave next to a first-class bar and with a railroad in Promontory, Utah. they’re swallowed up, burned up and working toilets. it,” this is your 12-step test. It was curved staircase up to the glass- First-class passengers have their or chewed up by climate change or I suppose in my heart of liberating and challenging. surround observation car. own concierge aboard the train, humans. hearts, I really wanted “Murder Several times a day, we, the Sitting there with a mimosa and Concierge Kevin and I had Now that that grim part is out of on the Orient Express” with people travelling in my car, pooled in hand, it was cocktail hour at a beverage to commemorate the the way, here’s the fun bit: about a moustachioed detective but into a mind-hive collective to almost any hour, if you wished event. 3,000 miles, five days and four without the bloodshed. Maybe figure out the answer to a bit of – was the best place to see the Many of the first-class nights in May, from Toronto to that’s a different travel package. trivia that had popped up: Who lakes, waterfalls, forests and slow passengers were aboard for the Vancouver, aboard the Canadian. Those romance-novel Gordon was that actor in that movie? How approach of the trip’s piece de duration. Some changed trains to I travelled with Lisa, a good Lightfoot songs about riding does that song go? Who said that resistance, Mount Robson and the take the Rocky Mountaineer, the friend from high school. How the rails came back to me when I thing about, you know, that thing? Canadian Rockies. luxury train that wends its way good? We ironed each other’s hair realised this was a working train, Lisa and I had chosen to travel One staff member told me this north through the Rockies. A few back when that was Joni Mitchell- not a tourism-only train. first class, called prestige class was the train’s first westbound people stayed with us: an Arizona chic, and nothing says ‘trust’ like Canada is the second-biggest because really, who’ll need a 401(k) trip on a new schedule that couple. letting someone get inches from country in the world, after Russia, anyway, with the Earth burning took us through the Rockies in The last pair were travelling your face with a searing-hot iron. and some Canadians aboard were and melting? First class on the daylight. It sounded nutty that to a needlework conference in Anyone who grows up in the jet using the train as a speedy bus Canadian means staterooms, a train trip that featured the Vancouver, where they would age must feel some yearning for the to commute from Manitoba to I love that word, with en suite Rockies on virtually every piece of also see their son. Heather had age of rail; mine was from stories of Alberta, the Canadian version of bathrooms, huge windows, promotional material I saw would far-sightedly brought two sets of Sherlock Holmes shuttling across what coastal Americans call flyover daytime sofas and a TV that never take passengers through the main needlework with her: one to do on Thursday, August 29, 2019 GULF TIMES 9 AVEL COMMUNITY do aboard Canada’s Via Rail

IN-SERVICE: Food being served in the dining car on Via Rail’s Canadian.

PICTURESQUE: View from a Skyline Dome car. INTERIOR: Taking in the view from a Skyline Dome car.

the smooth part of the trip, the dozen years, and even the hours was wondrous, but a little sad too, In Toronto, I had one of the including Saskatoon berries with other when the going got bumpier. and hours of dry wheat lands that this iron thread through the best meals I have ever had, at brie and maple-cured salmon bites Richard entertained us with The stirred him. One night I wandered country had changed their ways. David Chang’s Momofuku Kojin that were so well received that Black Fly Song, an unofficial out to the bar area, and there he I wish the stops had been longer, restaurant. My vegetarian meal fistfights might have broken out Canadian anthem about Canada’s was, at a window, gazing into the but that would have meant a was like some kitchen sorcerer’s in first class if there hadn’t been unofficial national pest. undifferentiated darkness. He different and considerably longer handiwork; somewhere in there enough to go around. We passed the time with thought he was alone, and I heard trip. I wish we’d been in Winnipeg was a corn flatbread like manna As a vegetarian, though, I was amusing banter that strangers him say, with no irony in his voice, long enough to visit Canada’s and mushrooms that certainly hoping for a bit more imagination engage in. We read books. Lisa “Oh, the prairies.” new human rights museum. The tasted magical to me. or perhaps just an understanding of and I played games of no-score- It was Kevin who knew where leg-stretching pause I did like was That brings me to the food on the difference between vegetarian keeping Scrabble just to be able to we’d see the nests of bald eagles a whistle-stop prairie town where the train, served on white napery and vegan. The recurring vegan put down the most outre words we and ospreys. Now and then, the Richard and I hurried to the closest in two seatings in a dining car hash got a little wearisome, could think up. news would ripple back from the building, a hardware store, where ornamented with tall etched-glass although I understand that it could I was never bored. The locomotive: “family of five bears, many of the shelves were devoted panels of Canadian birds. Here all be expensive preparing separate concierges were amused at how ahead on the left! Moose up on the to ways to exterminate varmints the passengers mingled. I found vegetarian and vegan dishes. As a Lisa and I gawped and stared as the right!” And from the dining car to such as the black fly and one to myself sitting variously with an protein fallback, there were always landscape out of Toronto unfurled; the observation cars, passengers a line of car waxes and polishes American woman living in Costa warm nuts in the bar, part of a for two women from Arizona and swarmed left or right. If we’d been named “California.” Rica, a woman from Turkey and her daylong panoply of food and drink. California, all that water! Pools a ship, we might have capsized. The travel package I bought husband from Glasgow, Scotland, After five ta-pocketa-pocketa of it, rivulets of it, lapping lakes The bears knew to come when included hotel stays for two nights and a man with metallic blue nail days and four cradle-swaying and freshets of it, in a green and the train stopped in some forest in Vancouver and Toronto. May was polish so coruscating that that’s all nights across a continent, the timbered landscape – our eyes clearing to get treats tossed by the the ideal blooming season in each I can describe about him. second-hardest part of the journey were always thirsty for the sight crew. Deer knew to graze alongside – daffodils and tulips in Toronto, They served Canadian wines, was recovering my land legs in of it. the tracks after the eastbound lilacs and roses in Vancouver. The mostly from British Columbia, Vancouver. The hardest part was Concierge Kevin had worked wheat-laden trains had passed, gardens perfectly bookended the some from Ontario, and a few leaving the Canadian altogether. aboard the train for at least a scattering fodder behind them. It wild landscape. sensational Canadian treats, – Los Angeles Times/TNS 10 GULF TIMES Thursday, August 29, 2019 COMMUNITY PHOTO ESSAY YOUR CHANCE TO BE IN THE Here’s your chance to let the world know of your skills and create a buzz. The published images will appear on both our Instagram page (@communitygt) as well as this coveted space. Community invites photographers to let their pictures speak the proverbial thousand words! E-mail your contributions with your full name, contact details and complete description of the images to [email protected]

Get closer to natrure

The landscaping eff orts in Qatar have always been amazing. Flowers bloom in patterns and trees grow with pride. They adapt to seasons for every reason. We may be too busy to appreciate but only if you look closer, the more nature radiates. Spines become artful edges just as petals are beds of droplets. Their pigments come shining through, simply calling out for you. As you start your day or end with a blue, please remember to open your eyes, look closer and let nature share its wonders with you. — Photos and text by Vanessa Valencia Almacen, @valentsu Thursday, August 29, 2019 GULF TIMES 11 LIFESTYLE/HOROSCOPE COMMUNITY Classics reinvented with technology

odern technology has not only in our neighbourhood but dab it up, connecting technology to revolutionised many around the world. “DIY and crafts” is offl ine play and the world around us. aspects of our day- one of the top three most-pinned and to-day lives. While most-browsed categories on Pinterest, Photography update it is hard for some to one of the leading platforms for Capturing photographs is a treasured imagineM a day without social media, inspiration. tradition that helps keep memories alive smartphones and Wi-Fi, these were long after the moment has passed. As not available a mere 20 years ago. Colouring + painting redefi ned camera phones have become ubiquitous, Technology has revolutionised the way Colouring has been a pastime for they have reinvented how photographs we order food, purchase clothes and decades; the fi rst colouring book was are taken, shared and viewed. No longer read books. “Technology used to be published in the 1880s. It is a great do you have to wait to return from an considered a separate entity from arts activity for children, as it can provide adventure to share your activities – you and crafts,” said Stephanie Leichtweis, hours of entertainment and is easy can post on social media in the moment! CEO of Fibre-Craft, a leader in creative to take on-the-go. Just as painting And with high-quality lenses on phones activities. “We believe it is vital to “by numbers” updated a classic art and fi lters on apps, you can create incorporate these together, and are form in the 1950s, newer technologies images worth 1,000 words – and likes. working to meld tech innovations with are giving colouring and painting a artistic expression to provide a nuanced 21st-century twist. The newest way to Handmade 2.0 version of online and offl ine activities.” colour has arrived with the launch of Homemade gifts are one of the To see the full infl uence of technology an art/tech hybrid – DabitZ. The latest most treasured items to receive from on arts and crafts, Fibre-Craft has series from Fibre-Craft, DabitZ merges a loved one, especially from a child. outlined some ways that classic crafts the artistic spirit with innovative As they grow, many children provide have been redefi ned by technology: technology to take classic colouring to handcrafted items to relatives, who can new heights with “dabbing.” Starter treasure these items for years to come. Design, upgraded sets come with everything you need to Handmade items are increasingly trendy Art projects used to be inspired by try this photomosaic art form and to in home décor, fashion and foodstuff s. books, classes and our own imagination. make your own masterpiece. DabitZ Those with special talents are able to The world we found ourselves in is inspired by the painting technique capitalise on their craft, thanks to new dictated our crafts of necessity and the called Pointillism, so users don’t need online stores and marketplaces. This ones for fun. With the advent of social to be talented artists to “dab it up.” growing trend is a wonderful way to media, inspiration and creation are Starter sets include templates called support artisans and causes whether driven from many diff erent platforms. DabDesignZ, and the free DabitZ at home or a world away. With new The way that we participate in arts and app can transform any picture into a updates to technology, how we create crafts has changed as we garner ideas template design as well. Simply take a arts and crafts will continue to change from others and share ours with those photo, create a template, print it and as well.

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

You may be a bit depressed today if you and your partner are going A short trip might be necessary today, Taurus. This could be The strange behaviour of a friend may have you confused, Gemini. through a diff icult time. Maybe there’s something unspoken that disheartening, as it takes you away from your current love interest, Is your friend avoiding you? Do phone calls go unanswered? Forget brings tension and awkwardness into your life together. Try to find but perhaps it’s just as well. A phone call on this emotionally charged it. Sometimes people see too much intimacy as a threat to their the root of the problem. It will only get worse if you don’t talk about day might advance your relationship more than a forced evening independence and choose to ignore it. The best way to deal with this it. Don’t get too emotional when you bring it up. Just ask if your together. Acknowledge that you’re looking forward to seeing your is to not press any sensitive issues. Just go out for dinner and act like a partner is bothered by something. friend again and then get on with the job! friend. Keep complaints of the equation for now! CANCER LEO VIRGO June 21 — July 22 July 23 — August 22 August 23 — September 22

Have you invited some friends over for a celebration tonight, Other responsibilities might keep you away from your loved one The absence of direct expressions of love might make your life seem Cancer? If so, your guests are going to keep you hopping! That’s all today, Leo. If you have plans for tonight - or even if you don’t - you rather empty today, Virgo. If you’re single, there may be nobody right. The day is filled with love and joy. Entertaining them is your might find this rather depressing. Where is the one you love? Is around to have fun with. If you’re involved, chances are your current way of expressing your appreciation. If you’re romantically involved, your partner out carousing and having a good old time while you’re love interest is unable to get together. Don’t waste time fretting over you and your partner can celebrate privately after all your visitors working like crazy? Don’t torture yourself with thoughts like this. this. Make some other plans. are gone. Relax, let go, and enjoy your party! LIBRA SCORPIO SAGITTARIUS September 23 — October 22 October 23 — November 21 November 22 — December 21

You may decide to duck out of extra responsibilities today, Libra, You may feel neglected and unloved today, Scorpio. If you’re single, Are you worried that your family doesn’t love you as much as you perhaps to have a private celebration at home with your family! you may feel worse. Cheer up. If you’re running around with such a love them, Sagittarius? Love has many facets. Not everybody can The fun might be delayed if a family member is unexpectedly called depressed and dramatic expression on your face, nobody will feel verbally express love or feel comfortable with public displays of away for a while. Just remember that quality is better than quantity! like asking you out. Try to make yourself happy by doing things you aff ection. If someone loves you, there are ways you can tell. It might like to do. If you smile, you’ll be a magnet for someone who has love be the just way they look at yo. If you’re uncertain, why not ask? to give. CAPRICORN AQUARIUS PISCES December 22 — January 19 January 20 — February 18 February 19 — March 20

If you’re single, Capricorn, you might feel a little down today. All Today you may substitute chocolate for a lack of love because you If you’re not married or engaged, Pisces, you may feel that your your friends who are married abd may have plans while you go feel tempted to treat yourself to something good. This is fine, but current love interest is avoiding you. However, this is just your home alone. Relax. Many people in relationships aren’t necessarily confine yourself to a small amount. Overindulgence in sweets could imagination. Relationships always go through ups and downs, so happy. They have their own problems and sometimes feel lonely and have you regretting it when you get a stomachache, not to mention don’t worry. If you have serious doubts whether there’s something frustrated. There are certain advantages to being single. Make the step on the scale! Remember, moderation is the key. wrong, ask your partner. best of it today and enjoy yourself! 12 GULF TIMES Thursday, August 29, 2019 COMMUNITY CARTOONS/PUZZLES

Wordsearch Adam

Pooch Cafe

AEGINA RHODES MYTILINI EUBOEA CHIOS SPARTA PATRAS LESBOS CORINTH ATHENS SALONIKA NAUPLIA HERAKLION CRETE VOLOS PHOCIS LEVKAS DELOS BOEOTIA SAMOS NAXOS LARISA CORFU ZAKYNTHOS

Codeword Every letter of the alphabet is used at least once. Squares with the same number in have the same letter in. Work out which number represents which letter.

Garfield Puzzles courtesy: Puzzlechoice.com courtesy: Puzzles

Sudoku

Bound And Gagged

Sudoku is a puzzle based on a 9x9 grid. The grid is also divided into nine (3x3) boxes. You are given a selection of values and to complete the puzzle, you must fill the grid so that every column, every anone is repeated. Thursday, August 29, 2019 GULF TIMES 13 PUZZLES COMMUNITY

Super Cryptic Clues Colouring

Across Down 1 Having a rest from being 2 A blazer for Christmas? (4,3) dishonest and low (5,4) 3 Figure in art is lacking undies 8 Healthy meal as rejected by when posed? (4) young fellow (5) 4 Consternation caused by 9 Hush as the French entered vegetables I’d raised (6) (7) 5 Mozart’s pack? (8) 10 Endless money? Take it easy 6 Eat up, Miss Blyton (4) (4) 7 Funny man trained as singer 11 Noise on boat was intrusive and film star (4,6) (6,2) 8 Mouth-watering ice-cream’s 13 Five argue excitedly, first in rescue (10) becoming more unclear (6) 12 Words of praise not rare (4,4) 14 Country area getting along 15 Opposition leader’s share in badly (6) speech (7) 17 Insect and fish provoking 16 Entrance curtailed for laughter (8) French artist (6) 19 Silly leading characters in 18 Musical animals (4) Dad’s Army and Fawlty Towers 20 God with nothing to eat, (4) lacking energy (4) 21 Better love right in the open (7) 22 Condescend to sound like a European (5) 23 Applying logic makes a sinner go wrong (9) Answers

Solution Wordsearch Codeword 14 GULF TIMES Thursday, August 29, 2019 COMMUNITY REVIEWS Grim fairy tale peers at war through a child’s eyes

have fl uttered in from Pan’s Labyrinth – and By Justin Chang its purpose, in this context, is not all that diff erent: to blur the boundaries between reality and myth, and to illuminate a dark igers Are Not Afraid unfolds in a chapter of human history using the storybook world of hellish incongruities. It is archetypes of good and evil. both a war zone and a playground, Like Pan’s Labyrinth, Tigers Are Not Afraid a blood-spattered landscape is a child’s fable that is itself far too graphic and of shadowy streets and rooftop grim to be appreciated by children. Far from hideawaysT where children run, laugh and being a problem, this contradiction is evidence play, even as they seek shelter from – and, of a certain integrity, a determination to use a ultimately, fi ght back against – the very bad young girl’s perspective to amplify rather than men who have turned them into orphans. soft-pedal the horrors of war. On an elemental If you’ve followed the reports that have level, it is hard not to be aff ected by the clash emerged from Mexico since 2006, when the between these kids, who have had to grow up government initiated its military crackdown far too soon, and the gun-toting monsters in on the drug trade, this violent fi ctionalised their midst. dispatch from the front lines might initially Both the emotion and the horror might strike you as all too grimly familiar. have taken still deeper root if the world of the But writer-director Issa Lopez is a fantasist movie felt less hectic and more coherently as well as a realist. She has the inspiration to realised, if the supernatural touches and refract the brutal atrocities of the drug war occasional jump scares welled up organically through the prism of a fairy tale. Winged insects from within rather than feeling smeared on and slithering reptiles burst forth from the with a digital trowel. In pacing this thriller at nooks and crannies of Ana Solares’ production breakneck speed, Lopez never quite gives it design. The graffi ti on the walls has a habit of the dreamlike fl ow and propulsion it needs. leaping to life, especially the growling tiger The fi lmmaking, with its fi dgety editing and invoked by the title and dialogue. A thin trail of beloved mother is nowhere to be found, war, in which Estrella plays a prominent wobbly handheld camerawork, often suggests blood fl ows down streets and upstairs, wending and Estrella has little reason to doubt the role. Like many a fairy-tale protagonist, she a self-conscious approximation of gritty its way through the story with supernatural neighbourhood kids who tell her she was has been granted three wishes, a gift that intensity rather than the real thing. stealth and purpose. abducted and possibly killed by the cartel. will reveal itself to be something of a curse Lara is a remarkable young actress, with a The story’s young heroine, Estrella (an The rest of this fl eet, ferocious movie will as none of her desperate, well-intentioned gaze that magnetises even the camera’s easily excellent Paola Lara), fi rst notices that blood follow Estrella’s quest to fi nd her mother, requests plays out as she’d hoped or expected. distracted attention. Even at Estrella’s most trail creeping across the walls of her home an adventure she undertakes with the help Something similar could be said of Tigers fearful, her underlying courage is never in after an especially violent day at school. of those other children, who have also been Are Not Afraid, a nervy and imaginative piece doubt, and she rightly occupies this movie’s Estrella has already heard gunshots ring out violently separated from their families. Their of fi lmmaking that, on a scene-by-scene moral centre of gravity. Your heart can’t help near her classroom and passed by a fresh ringleader is El Shine (Juan Ramon Lopez), basis, has trouble living up to its obvious but go out to her, even when you are left feeling corpse on her way home, and the blood feels a tough kid who recently swiped a gun and a ambition. The fusion of historical trauma more like a sympathetic observer of her journey like a warning of more horrors to come. phone from a local cartel thug named Caco and magical realism owes a clear debt to than a wholly engaged companion. – Los The worst may have already happened: Her (Ianis Guerrero). This sets in motion a turf Guillermo del Toro – those insects might Angeles Times/TNS Story of a fugitive gives very nice late summer surprise

that Tyler knows what he’s dealing with, and images of rural byways and misty rivers, By Gary Thompson announces for the record that he has Down which reinforce references to the literary syndrome. elements of the story (the script mentions “I don’t give a [crap],” says Tyler, and while Twain, but Steinbeck is in there too). he Peanut Butter Falcon, the story the response is superfi cially harsh, it’s true The road movie framework, with its of a fugitive on the lam with a dimension reveals itself over time. Tyler isn’t beautiful rootsy soundtrack (The Staple young man with Down syndrome, saying he doesn’t care about Zak because Singers, Gregory Alan Isakov, Ola Belle is an aff ecting, appealing piece of events reveal that he does. He’s saying he Reed, Sara Watkins, The Time Jumpers, The Americana. doesn’t care that he has Down syndrome. Piedmont Melody Makers, etc.) of gospel, TZak (Zack Gottsagen) is an orphan housed He’s going to treat Zak as he would any fellow folk, country and bluegrass, the overarching by the state in a Virginia old folks home. He fugitive, which means that Zak will bear the themes of what it means to be good and bad, slips out one night to pursue his dream of same risks and meet the same challenges on the impromptu baptisms at times make the meeting and training with the pro wrestler their off -the-grid trip downriver. fi lm feel like an updated O Brother Where Art whose tapes he watches obsessively, and who Swimming rivers, building rafts, building Thou? lives in North Carolina. fi res – Zak (nicely played by Gottsagen) has The Peanut Butter Falcon is a more He hooks up with a self-destructive to be all in for all of it, and though he needs conventional fi lm, and by the time Zak and young man named Tyler (Shia LaBeouf), an to time adjust to life without an institutional Tyler reach their destination, it has morphed unemployed fi sherman who’s hotfooting safety net, we see the growth that comes into a full-on, feel good fable, but the kind it out of town because he’s dangerously through independence, through meeting that doesn’t make you feel bad about feeling reignited a long-standing family feud. challenges he wouldn’t face in a controlled good. Bruce Dern, embellished by contributions Tyler doesn’t want Zak slowing him down, environment. The performances are solid throughout from nonprofessional locals who turn up but he also sees immediately that Zak is There is honest sentiment in the arc of – Dakota Johnson has never been better in location shooting and give the movie its vulnerable and helpless, and doesn’t like this story, aided by the chemistry between as the case worker who sets out on Zak’s distinct and vivid local fl avour. seeing him bullied. A partnership forms. Zak, Gottsagen and LaBeouf, and by the warm tail, and there are small, vivid roles for All in all, a very nice late summer surprise. who is scrupulously candid, wants to be sure mood of the fi lm – aided by the painterly John Hawkes, Thomas Haden Church, and – The Philadelphia Inquirer/TNS Thursday, August 29, 2019 GULF TIMES 15 SHOWBIZ COMMUNITY Not easy to recreate iconic songs: Tanishk

JUST: Amitabh Bachchan’s property will be divided equally between his By Simran Sethi son Abhishek and daughter Shweta.

Big B to divide property equally usic composer between son and daughter Tanishk Bagchi, who is on roll these Bollywood Megastar Amitabh Bachchan has revealed that his days by successfully property will be divided equally between his son Abhishek and recreating hit songs daughter Shweta. ofM the past, says it is challenging to The veteran often expresses love for his daughter on social media, reinvent iconic songs. and now, the ‘Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao’ campaign ambassador “It’s always diffi cult to recreate has said that Abhishek alone will not have the full authority to his hit songs. One might think that property. recreation is the easiest thing to Recently, on being asked about his will, Amitabh revealed that do but recreating a song actually his property will be divided equally between both his children, means double the responsibility. timesofi ndia.indiatimes.com reported. You can’t distort the essence of the Earlier this year, Amitabh penned a heartfelt post for Shweta as original song. So you have to be her debut novel Paradise Towers had become one of the bestselling really careful while composing the fi ction books. Praising Shweta for the achievement, Big B took to old songs,” Tanishk said. social media and wrote: “Nothing brings greater pride to a father than The composer has scaled this achievement of a daughter. Daughters are special. From this little Bollywood heights in a short ‘ghunghat (veil)’ to the ‘best seller’.” while, with recreated hits such Along with the post, the proud father had also shared a childhood as The humma song (OK Jaanu), photograph of Shweta in which she was seen carrying a red colour veil Tamma tamma again (Badrinath on her head. – IANS Ki Dulhania), Tu cheez badi hai mast (Machine), Dilbar (Satyamev Jayate), Aankh marey (Simmba) and his latest hit, O saki saki (Batla House). Is recreation Tanishk’s main focus? “Not at all. It’s just that makers love my work and they feel I can do better. So, they approach me for remakes. My focus is not on recreations, my focus is on overall music. I love to do everything. I don’t want to be categorised. Even if you are an actor or a singer, versatility plays an important role for everyone. So similarly I am “There is so much to learn and BIOPIC: Eva Longoria will direct Flamin Hot, a biopic about the man trying to do everything,” he replied. who created the spicy Flamin Hot Cheetos. Apart from his recreated explore. I am still a student and hits, Tanishk has done original Eva Longoria turns director for compositions, too. These include I don’t think I am a great music Flamin Hot Cheetos maker Banno (Tanu Weds Manu Returns), Bolna (Kapoor & Sons), Baarish composer right now” (Half-Girlfriend), Ve maahi (Kesari) Actress Eva Longoria will direct Flamin Hot, a biopic about the man and his latest rage is Psycho saiyaan — Tanishk Bagchi who created the spicy Flamin Hot Cheetos. in Saaho. Tanishk tells you his favourite like us. If you look at previous songs It was fi rst reported in February 2018 that Searchlight and DeVon Even as his non-fi lm composition genre as a composer is romantic like Silk Route’s Dooba dooba or Franklin were set to produce the fi lm Flamin’ Hot, which will tell the for Dhwani Bhanushali, Vaaste music, because he grew up listening Lucky Ali’s O sanam, the singers true story of Richard Montanez, who rose from humble beginnings has crossed 500 million views on his father compose love songs. His themselves featured in the videos. to being a wildly successful businessman when he created a food YouTube, he has come up with a father worked with the likes of RD Those songs were big hits. I hope phenomenon – Flamin’ Hot Cheetos. new non-fi lm track, Khud se zyada, Burman and for Satyajit Ray’s fi lms that phase returns,” added Tanishk, The fi lm will follow Montanez, the son of an immigrant, who grew in which he features too. This is his as a guitarist. who along with actress-singer Zara up as a migrant farm worker picking grapes in the fi elds of Southern fi rst stint in front of the camera. Tanishk feels it is important for a Khan has sung Khud se zyada. California before becoming a janitor at Frito-Lay, reports variety.com Sharing his experience shooting musician to become a known face. After creating a niche for himself While working at the company, Montanez came up with the idea to the romantic number, Tanishk For this, singers and composers in Indian music industry, Tanishk create Flamin’ Hot Cheetos, transforming the brand into a pop culture said: “I was really nervous before should appear in their videos. still feels he is a student and has a phenomenon and creating a wildly popular category of crunchy shooting the song because I would “It’s good to see the importance long way to go. snacks. feature in a video for the fi rst time. being given to non-fi lm songs. It “There is so much to learn and Longoria will direct from a script by Charlie St. Cloud and October But my team supported me and would have been better had those explore. I am still a student and Sky writer Lewis Colick. made me comfortable.” non-fi lm song videos featured I don’t think I am a great music Longoria is also attached to direct and produce 24/7, in which she Music is in his genes. Tanishk’s singers instead of actors. There are composer right now...there are so stars with Kerry Washington. She is also producing My Daughter’s parents, Nandakumar Bagchi and songs in fi lms for actors, so they many great people in the industry. Quinceañera and stars in Dora the Explorer. – IANS Sharmistha Das, were musicians, get to showcase their skills there. This is just the beginning. I have a which explains his obsession for the Non-fi lm songs, on the other hand, lot more to do and achieve,” says musical notes. give facial recognition to composers Tanishq. – IANS 16 GULF TIMES Thursday, August 29, 2019 COMMUNITY Serbian basketball coach making his mark in Qatar

By Mudassir Raja

s Qatar is fast becoming a hub for all kinds of sports, many professionals and trainers are showing Ainterest to come here in hopes of engaging in diff erent sporting activities. Basketball is a sport that may not be seen as the most popular activity in some parts of the world but Qatar continues to support and promote basketball leagues and tournaments. Serbia’s Miroslav Zlatkovic is a professional basketball coach and has been working with QSports, a major sport events company, as head of basketball programmes. Community recently spoke with him about how he started coaching basketball players, his career so far and his assignments in Qatar at length. Miroslav, better known as Miro, has been coaching basketball players in diff erent countries for over 20 years. “I started playing basketball when I was only eight-year-old. One of my friends suggested that we needed to play and focus on one sport. He took me to a nearby basketball court and that was my fi rst day at the court and since then I have not left the court.” Qatar Basketball Federation Secretary-General Ali Saeed al-Malki, right, with Miro. As far as playing the sport goes, Miro did not play much for the professional teams. “I played “As we love our parents without only for my home town Zajecar where I was born and brought up. being able to explain the reason, I I played in my hometown till I was 18-year-old. Even at that time, I love basketball the same way. Being started coaching young boys after I received training from my mentor attached with the sport gives me a coach. I loved the idea of coaching others for my favourite sport. sense of satisfaction and a sense of That’s when I decided to make my career in coaching. relief that I have been able to follow “After fi nishing my high school, I went to Belgrade, capital of Serbia. my dream as a career” I got university degree in coaching basketball. The completion of — Miroslav Zlatkovic, the degree helped me coach two diff erent teams that had earlier professional basketball coach been national champions from former Yugoslavia. It gave me a season basketball league. I had oversee the sport in an academy way. Being attached with the sport passion of all kinds of sports have lot of experience and confi dence real fun there while coaching the under the company. I am also an gives me a sense of satisfaction and grown in Qatar. Young people show for my job. Some of my trained enthusiastic players. Then, I moved integral part of the company in a sense of relief that I have been a great interest in basketball and player went on to become a part of to Turkey and found the country organising diff erent leagues and able to follow my dream as a career. I am very glad to see young boys the national team of Serbia. One a huge fan of basketball. I moved community tournaments. We also It has given me so much. I have carrying balls and playing with of my students even managed to up to the third season of the league co-ordinate and collaborate with been able to visit diff erent countries enthusiasm.” be drafted for National Basketball there. I also became the head coach Qatar Basketball Association.” and meet lots of interesting people. As far his future plans go, Miro Association (NBA), a men’s of professional players in Turkey.” Miro said he fell in love with Basketball is a dynamic sport. It is is all set to cement his career with professional basketball league in Miro moved to Qatar two years basketball at fi rst sight. He enjoys exciting to train young people and QSports. “We have been off ering North America. In Serbian capital, I ago to join QSports. “I would love pursuing his career in a fi eld that see them enjoying the sport.” dynamic sporting opportunities to used to coach boys ageing between to mention Adil Ahmed, head of he likes the most. “From the day I Miro is all praise for Qatar’s the people. In basketball, we off er 16 and 19 years.” QSports. He contacted me and entered basketball court some 30 passion for sports. diff erent leagues and tournaments. Miro has been building up on his off ered me a position after he years ago, I loved the sport. Since “Before joining QSports, I visited We are planning to have some international career as a basketball learnt about my talents. I took that day, I am in sports one way Qatar as a tourist and witnessed its unique basketball events in Qatar coach for last fi ve years. “From no time in accepting the off er. I or another. As we love our parents sport scenes a few years ago. When in future. I intend to keep working Serbia, I moved to Romania fi ve joined the company as the head without being able to explain the I got the off er, I just leapt at it. I see hard with the company in Qatar and years ago. I became part of a second of the basketball programme. I reason, I love basketball the same how both the infrastructure and make my mark.”