Tuesday, June 16, 2020 Shawwal 24, 1441 AH

Doha today: 330 - 450

The future

Space exploration’s next frontier: Remote-controlled robonauts. P4-5

Cover Story

Hollywood Back page

White celebs rush to Artists laud Qatar’s resilience amplify Black Lives Matter. during unjust blockade. Page 15 Page 16 2 GULF TIMES Tuesday, June 16, 2020 COMMUNITY ROUND & ABOUT

SERIES TO BINGE WATCH ON AMAZON PRIME

PRAYER TIME Fajr 3.12am Shorooq (sunrise) 4.45am Zuhr (noon) 11.36am Asr (afternoon) 2.59pm Maghreb (sunset) 6.27pm Isha (night) 7.57pm

USEFUL NUMBERS

Emergency 999 Worldwide Emergency Number 112 Kahramaa – Electricity and 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 Modern Love been a date. An unconventional new family. These are unique Water Corporation 44845555, 44845464 CAST: Anne Hathaway, Tina Fey, Andy Garcia stories about the joys and tribulations of love, each inspired Primary Health Care Corporation 44593333 SYNOPSIS: An unlikely friendship. A lost love resurfaced. by a real-life personal essay from the beloved New York Times 44593363 A marriage at its turning point. A date that might not have column Modern Love. 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 Ministry of Health 40253370, 40253364 Hamad Medical Corporation 40253368, 40253365 Qatar Airways 40253374

ote Unquo Qu te

“Childhood is a short season.” — Helen Haye

The Expanse to find a missing young woman; Julie between Earth, Mars and The Belt. Far DIRECTION: Mark Fergus, Hawk Mao (Florence Faivre). Meanwhile, away from the struggles in deep space, Community Editor Ostby James Holden (Steven Strait), the first on Earth, Chrisjen Avasarala (Shohreh Kamran Rehmat CAST: Steven Strait, Cas Anvar, officer of an ice freighter, is witness Aghdashloo), a powerful United Nations Dominique Tipper to an unprovoked attack upon the executive and diplomat, works to e-mail: [email protected] SYNOPSIS: Two hundred years in ship, by craft believed to be from Mars prevent war between Earth and Mars Telephone: 44466405 the future, in a fully colonised solar (MCRN Federation). As news of the by any means. Soon, the 3 find out the Fax: 44350474 system, police detective Josephus Miller attack spreads throughout the system, missing woman and the ice freighter’s (Thomas Jane), who was born in the the incident’s flow-on threatens to fate are part of a vast covert conspiracy asteroid belt, is given the assignment destabilise already tenuous relations which threatens all humanity. Tuesday, June 16, 2020 GULF TIMES 3 BODY & MIND COMMUNITY Covid-19 safety tips for commuters

Many commuters are back on the road as Covid-19 restrictions are lifting across the US and businesses are reopening

What about public transportation, such as trains and buses? When taking public transportation, people should wear masks and avoid touching their face with their hands. It’s very important to use alcohol hand gel to decrease the risk of infection. It is well-known that people can terminate or contaminate their masks with their hands. Therefore, hand hygiene needs to be maintained. Use hand sanitiser with at least 60% alcohol and then wash your hands with soap and water when you arrive at your destination. Other tips include: Consider travelling during non-peak hours when there are likely to be fewer people, enter and exit buses through rear entry doors if possible and use touch-free payment methods when available.

Should commuters wear gloves while using public transportation? Commuters don’t need to wear gloves. Gloves will only cause people to have a sense of false security as the gloves can be contaminated just like the hands. For prolonged public transportation, if possible avoid PROTECTIVE MEASURES: Travellers should wear a cloth mask when carpooling with people who are not from the immediate family. If passengers are not in eating so that you don’t have to the same household, try to ride with the same people on a regular basis. take off your mask. However, if the mask will be taken off for eating or drinking on a tray attached to the or commuters using seat, then carrying disinfectant public transportation, wipes may be helpful. However, car sharing services even in that scenario hand hygiene and carpooling, close is the most important component. proximity to fellow The Centres for Disease commutersF may raise concerns Control and Prevention (CDC) about safety and risk of infection. recommends practising good hand That’s because Covid-19 is hygiene and respiratory etiquette thought to spread mainly from before using any and all modes of person-to-person through transportation: droplets produced when an 1. Before you leave, wash your infected person sneezes, coughs, hands with soap and water for or talks. at least 20 seconds or use hand “It’s important for people to sanitiser with at least 60% alcohol. remember that Covid-19 is still 2. Once you reach your ongoing in the communities,” says destination, wash your hands again Dr Abinash Virk, a Mayo Clinic with soap and water for at least 20 infectious diseases physician. seconds or use hand sanitiser with “Even more important for people at least 60% alcohol as soon as is to remember that Covid-19 possible upon arrival. affects older people and immune 3. Avoid touching your eyes, compromised people much more nose, and mouth with unwashed severely. So, travellers should hands. think of the family and friends 4. Cover your coughs and sneezes to whom they may potentially with a tissue or use the inside of transmit this infection.” UPON ARRIVAL: Once you reach your destination, wash your hands again with soap and water for at least 20 your elbow. Throw used tissues Dr Virk offers some suggestions seconds or use hand sanitiser with at least 60% alcohol as soon as possible upon arrival. in the trash and wash your hands on safety measures you can take if immediately with soap and water you are travelling with others or people who are not from the data that air conditioning can the vehicle, when possible and for at least 20 seconds or use hand using public transportation. immediate family. If passengers contribute to causing infection. physically distance from each sanitiser with at least 60% alcohol. are not in the same household, try Avoid offering or sharing water other when outside the vehicle. “And please remember if you What are some Covid-19 to ride with the same people on a bottles, snacks or other items. If using your own car or vehicle, are not feeling well, it’s important safety tips for carpooling? regular basis. Each passenger should handle clean and disinfect high-touch to stay home and not use public Travellers should wear a cloth It’s is fine to travel in air- their own bags and belongings. surfaces such as door handles, arm transportation,” says Dr Virk – mask when carpooling with conditioned car. There’s no known Limit close contact inside rests, steering wheel and seat belts. Mayo Clinic News Network/TNS 4 GULF TIMES Tuesday, June 16, 2020 COMMUNITY COVER STORY Calling robonaut There’s a growing recognition of the need to keep spending under control, even as space-exploration projects grow increasingly complex. That’s where avatar technologies come in, write Shiho Takezawa and Hiromi Horie

Avatar technologies will advance our opportunity for research in space tremendously. With the right technologies we can actually have the best of both worlds of robots and human curiosity, intelligence and interactivity. — Anousheh Ansari, first Muslim ‘ woman to go into space ’ Tuesday, June 16, 2020 GULF TIMES 5 COVER STORY COMMUNITY

s Japan’s second female astronaut to fly up By eliminating in the Space Shuttle the need for air, Discovery, Naoko Yamazaki didn’t expect heating, food Ato spend a quarter of her time dusting, feeding mice and doing and water that other menial jobs. It can cost more than $430 keeps humans million a year to keep an astronaut alive, space in orbit, according to 3-year-old startup called Gitai Inc. It’s only developers possible to keep humans alive in outer space because of the money can reduce the and effort poured into ensuring their safety. One way to bring frequency of down the cost and risks is to send people-ferrying an avatar — a remotely controlled robot. rocket launches “There’s a need for robots that can help us,” Yamazaki, 49, said. and instead “Eventually, we should be able to do send up more those tasks remotely or have them take over altogether.” avatars that can As Nasa opens up the International Space Station to do spacewalks private businesses and embarks on the Artemis mission to send all the time — astronauts back to the moon, INTERNATIONAL SPACE STATION: Astronaut Ron Garan took this image during the spacewalk conducted on unlike humans there’s a growing recognition of July 12, 2011. It shows the International Space Station with Space Shuttle Atlantis docked on the right and a Russian the need to keep spending under Soyuz on the far left. In the foreground is the Alpha Magnetic Spectrometer (AMS) experiment installed during the — and assemble control, even as space-exploration STS-134 mission. AMS is a state-of-the-art particle physics detector designed to use the unique environment of space to projects grow increasingly complex. advance knowledge of the universe and lead to the understanding of the universe’s origin by searching for antimatter space stations, That’s where avatar technologies and dark matter, and measuring cosmic rays. come in. Like a drone pilot, an build bases operator equipped with wraparound humans into space and eventually By eliminating the need for air, $300,000 to $500,000 for each and maintain screens or a virtual-reality headset establishing bases on the moon and heating, food and water that keeps avatar. will be able to move mechanical Mars. humans alive, space developers Gitai has raised about $4 spacecraft arms or an entire robot from far Competing with him is Amazon. can reduce the frequency of million from Spiral Ventures and away. The building blocks already com Inc founder Jeff Bezos, whose people-ferrying rocket launches other backers to send parts of its exist; the trick is to bring them own Blue Origin space company is and instead send up more avatars contraptions into space next year avatars isn’t just limited to space together with software to make it developing its own reusable rockets that can do spacewalks all the time for testing, in what will be a joint development. Remote-controlled all work. That’s one reason why the to send people into space, with a — unlike humans — and assemble experiment with NanoRacks LLC, a robots could be used in places that space robotics market is projected to long-term goal of building orbiting space stations, build bases and Houston-based company offering are too dangerous for people, such as reach $4.4 billion by 2023. colonies around Earth. maintain spacecraft. launch services and access to the a crumbled building, burning forest “Avatar technologies will Theoretically, robonauts should At its Tokyo office, Gitai has International Space Station. or a nuclear meltdown. advance our opportunity for be able to speed up the billionaires’ a mock-up of the interior of the The startup is one of 77 teams that Still, getting an Earth-operated research in space tremendously,” lofty goals. That’s why Nakanose International Space Station, cleared the first round of the XPrize robot to function in outer space is says Anousheh Ansari, the first is competing for the ANA Avatar with various plugs, shelves and competition, which ends in 2022. a daunting challenge. Given the Muslim woman to go into space. XPrize, a global competition equipment mounted to a wall. ANA Holdings Inc, Japan’s largest distances involved, there’s usually a With the right technologies, aimed at spurring development of A robot with white arms and airline, is backing the contest, and time lag, which can make operators “we can actually have the best the technology for use in disaster black hands flips switches and $10 million will go to the winners nauseous, a similar problem seen of both worlds” of robots and zones, underwater or other places handles experiment samples. The and finalists. “Mobility, in our with virtual-reality machines. human curiosity, intelligence and considered too inhospitable or movements seem almost human, definition, doesn’t require bodies,” To tackle the challenge, Gitai is interactivity, she said. dangerous for humans. Indeed, probably because there’s an operator said Akira Fukabori, who oversees working to make its robots partly Sho Nakanose, chief executive Ansari backed one of the first 10 metres (33 feet) away, wearing the competition. autonomous, which would boost officer of Tokyo- and San Francisco- XPrizes to spur development of a headset and gloves that transmit David Locke, a director at their skills and make it easier for based Gitai, is betting he has the affordable and reusable spacecraft. touch. The cost? An estimated XPrize, points out that the use of humans to operate them. right solution. He’s developing a Space avatars probably won’t robonaut that can be operated from end up looking like humans, Earth, handling tasks that normally said Masahiko Inami, professor would require an astronaut to go into of engineering and human space. “We’ll see an era in augmentation at the University of “We’ll see an era in which humans Tokyo. That would cost too much will be working in space, not just which humans and be too bulky to transport into going to space,” Nakanose said. “We will be working in space. They’ll also be operating in want our robots to create bases for zero gravity, which means that legs Blue Origin and SpaceX.” space, not just aren’t a necessity. “Focusing too A former system engineer at IBM, much on making avatars look like Nakanose left to launch a technology going to space. humans might push people away startup in , and he built robots from their goal.” on the side for fun. Eventually, he We want our robots For example, JAXA, Japan’s space decided that machines purpose- agency, developed an autonomous built to work in space had the to create bases for sphere called Int-Ball that was sent potential to become an important up to the space station three years business in an industry where travel Blue Origin and ago to take pictures. Instead of costs are sky-high. having astronauts take photos, the Commercial launch provider SpaceX” device did the work, saving about Space Exploration Technologies 10% of their time. Corp, or SpaceX, founded by Another solution is to make it easier Elon Musk, built its business — Sho Nakanose, for robonauts to do their jobs. The to bring down the cost of space Lunar Gateway, the space station travel. Rockets by the Hawthorne, CEO, Gitai being developed for the Artemis California-based company cost programme, will probably have less than $60 million per launch lights and markers to guide robots, to low-Earth orbit, compared as well as charging stations for them, with more than $400 million for a Yamazaki said. “They’ll be building typical launch. The company also is an environment that’s also easier for working to slash the cost of sending robots to work.” — Bloomberg News 6 GULF TIMES Tuesday, June 16, 2020 COMMUNITY LITERATURE

PICTURESQUE: Dickens insisted on going to the Lake District, telling Wilkie Collins he wanted ‘moors and bleak places’. Worst of times: why Dickens would have hated lockdown

apart his own life, closing his By Peter Fiennes magazine, selling his home and divorcing his wife Catherine with shocking vindictiveness. But we can t is hard to imagine anyone still lose ourselves in his adventures less suited to living with any in the Lake District (he wrote that kind of restraint than Charles Skiddaw in particular had “vaunted Dickens. Especially, think, himself a great deal more than his the hyperactive Dickens of merits deserve”) and the roiling I1857, the year he turned 45. By the excitement of a day at the races. last days of the summer, he had It’s all there (including his thinly already written, staged and starred disguised pursuit of Ellen Ternan) in in his own play in London and the book he wrote with Collins, The Manchester; bought, renovated Lazy Tour of Two Idle Apprentices. and moved into the house of his Even on that seemingly carefree childhood dreams in Gad’s Hill, jaunt to the Lakes and then in the village of Higham, Kent; Doncaster, Dickens was starting to and taken trips to Brighton and look older than his years; he died Southampton, where he waved his 13 years later, on 9 June 1870, aged 16-year-old son on to a troopship 58, struck dumb and then dead by a bound for India. stroke (not his first). He had never In the May he had finished his stopped writing, of course, but nor latest novel, Little Dorritt, and had he ever been able to stay still for in June had given his first-ever long. He crisscrossed the country, public readings (a crowd of 2,000 giving talks and readings, feasting turned up to hear him declaim on the rapturous crowds. He toured and weep his way through A America. He wrote some of his Christmas Carol). Editing his greatest books even as the darkness monthly magazine was also keeping spread. His last novel, The Mystery of him busy, as was his charity for Edwin Drood, was left half-finished homeless women. Dozens of letters on his desk in the garden chalet at flowed. FILE PHOTO: Charles Dickens and his family at their home. Gad’s Hill. And still he burned and And on the morning before he suffocated and paced the London truth what he wanted was to get “coming-in” – the last turn behind Dickens would have coped well finally collapsed, Dickens dropped streets, often through the night. On to Doncaster, where 18-year-old the brow of the hill – and marvelled with this uncertainty, but who into the Sir John Falstaff pub in 29 August, he wrote to his friend actress Ellen Ternan was appearing at the scale of the grandstand, does? We are trapped in the back Higham (still there, opposite his Wilkie Collins, begging him to with her mother and sisters at the “rising against the sky with its vast of a car on a long, dark journey, former home) and cashed a cheque come away, it didn’t matter where. Theatre Royal. tiers of little white dots of faces, and the world’s worst parents keep with the landlord for £22. Most I want to “escape from myself”, Dickens and Collins got lost in and its last high rows and corners of telling us every few miles that we of the money might have been for he scrawled – as if that were ever fog on Carrock Fell, and Collins people, looking like pins stuck into are nearly there. Surely they know Ellen Ternan, who by then was possible. Collins suggested Norfolk, sprained his ankle, badly, but an enormous pin-cushion”. that those words, at this stage, are a living in Peckham, south-east but Dickens (all of a sudden Dickens dragged him to Doncaster, The image of a packed racetrack trigger for rage and despair? London. Because as far as Dickens no longer relaxed about their and stuffed him into a hotel room to seething with spectators has a The Dickens of 1857 would have was concerned, on that sunny June destination) insisted on going to the recover while he entertained Ellen different resonance today. Our had trouble enduring lockdown. morning 150 years ago, life was Lake District. He wanted “moors and her mother at the races. He won lockdown started late and is ending He went home after his trip to going on just as it always had. and bleak places”, he wrote, but in large, jumping up and down at the – or not – in confusion. I doubt Doncaster and set about tearing – Tuesday, June 16, 2020 GULF TIMES 7 OFFBEAT COMMUNITY Weeding out gardening’s problem

Even in the garden, there’s bigotry to be found, writes James Wong

is for those listening to me doing it. However, it is important. We do not make the world a better place by ignoring problems, but by talking about them. I have a bi-racial background and most of my close family are white, as are pretty much all of my friends. I often forget my ethnicity – I don’t walk around with a mirror, after all. So no matter how many times it happens, even for me, it often takes me by surprise. My earliest experience started in my 20s at my first ever show garden, when top brass at a major UK newspaper told me: “I love what you have done here. But we only work with British designers.” My first reaction was that they must have somehow misunderstood as our sponsor was German. When I naively tried to reassure him with, “Oh, no I am based in London,” he left with a smile and an “Anyway, enjoy the show.” Equally, when told by an industry big wig at Chelsea Flower Show, “You look just like Kim Jong-un in that suit” and, as they did the Gangnam Style dance, I naively thought: “But it’s light grey, not black.” That was, of course, until their follow-up of, “Let me show you how British people tie a tie.” My realisation, as so often, came so late that I just stood there, like a mug, as they proceeded with the power move of faffing with my tie. These kind of comments aren’t always that subtle or in private settings. A few years ago I was ENRICHING: Like any human endeavour, especially in the creative arts, gardening is enriched by meritocracy. excited to be speaking in a line- up with one of my childhood heroes – a pioneering Australian ne of the things I landscaper who has since died – love most about at an annual gathering of garden gardening is its ability designers on the theme of tropical to cut through social horticulture. I had pictures of this divisions. Tapping guy’s gardens on the wall as a teen, Ointo the universal human desire to instead of posters of pop stars. nurture, as well as our instinctive After my talk about Singaporean fascination with the natural world, urban planning, his talk about Bali gardening has the unique ability to was peppered with a surprising transcend gender, class, race, and amount of scathing anecdotes political persuasions. of Singapore, done while loudly So, it may come as a surprise and animatedly impersonating a to many people how much of generic “Ching Chong” accent a systemic problem racism is and looking right at me. No one within the seemingly friendly, in the audience of hundreds had mild-mannered world of UK anything to say, I am ashamed to horticulture. When one of my admit, including me. These are best mates recently asked me if just a few examples off the top of I had ever experienced it in our my head, there are dozens more. industry, we were both genuinely Yet this marginalisation of shocked at each other’s reactions. people whose name or face doesn’t He to know how frequently “fit in” isn’t just a problem for it happens to me, and me to those who actually experience discover he had absolutely no it. Like any human endeavour, idea that this wasn’t something especially in the creative that was wholly confined to arts, gardening is enriched by the 1970s. But his reaction was meritocracy. The ability for totally understandable: it’s not people to bring their own diverse something I enjoy talking about, and unique experiences benefits to be honest. It is not fun, in fact everyone. Perhaps it’s time we I find it both uncomfortable and started acting like it. tedious to relive, as I imagine it James Wong at work. – The Guardian 8 GULF TIMES Tuesday, June 16, 2020 COMMUNITY CULTURE 45 best pieces of art to experience whilst staying at home – I

STAY IN FOR THE SUMMER: You can enjoy diverse shows, music and podcasts on online platforms whilst taking the summer break.

rom Haim to Paper Mario 3. Joan of Arc hatchet-faced actor best known for Game of Thrones; not surprising, who are tasked with defending via the return of Insecure, (Bruno Dumont) a string of badass roles in films such then, that it focuses on Iceland’s humanity. here’s your guide to the France’s national heroine, who as Desperado and Machete. This entry into the competition, with , 10 July season’s great culture saw off the English during the doc chronicles his tumultuous life Ferrell and Rachel McAdams giving hundred years war before being story, which included several prison it their all. 10. Boyz in the Wood F captured and burned at the stake spells in California before he got Netflix, 26 June (Ninian Doff) Films to Stream in 1431, is a hardy perennial of into acting (and, later, restaurant- An unexpected homegrown 1. The King of Staten Island French cinema. This is Dumont’s owning). 8. Irresistible success from Scotland: a horror- (Judd Apatow) second go at the subject, much more Digital platforms, 22 June (Jon Stewart) comedy about a bunch of city- Saturday Night Live breakout straightforward than his rock music US satirist and chatshow paragon raised teens who are stuck in the star Pete Davidson gets his first lead version from 2017, though it has 6. Athlete A Jon Stewart makes his second foray Highlands on a Duke of role, in a Judd Apatow-directed the same teenage star, Lise Leplat (Bonni Cohen, Jon Shenk) into film directing. In contrast to award scheme – where they are comedy that he helped co-write. Prudhomme. Another in Netflix’s his debut, Rosewater, this takes aim stalked by sinister mask-wearing It’s clearly inspired by details of Curzon Home Cinema, 19 June impressive string of hard- squarely at the right-left political poshos. “Trainspotting meets The Davidson’s own life: he plays a hitting documentaries, this confrontation of the Trump era. League of Gentlemen” is how it’s twentysomething whose life has 4. Wasp Network follows the exposé (by reporters Steve Carell is the Democrat being described. been upended by the death of his (Olivier Assayas) from the Indianapolis Star) of political strategist who thinks , 7 August firefighter dad; his mother’s new Olivier Assayas is the French the harassment scandal in US he can upset the conservative relationship forces him out of his director who gave us the mammoth gymnastics. It centres on national certainties of a small town; Rose Music slump. Carlos, about the celebrated spy/ team doctor Larry Nassar, who was Byrne is the Republican rival who 11. Phoebe Bridgers: Punisher Digital platforms, out now assassin. Here he returns to not sentenced to hundreds of years takes him on. Since 2017’s intimate Stranger in dissimilar territory, with Carlos’ in prison on multiple charges of Digital platforms, 26 June the Alps, 25-year-old LA singer- 2. Da 5 Bloods Édgar Ramirez as a Cuban pilot who harassment songwriter Bridgers has started two (Spike Lee) is charged with infiltrating anti- Netflix, 24 June 9. The Old Guard new bands (Boygenius and Better Timing is everything: Spike Lee’s Castro exiles in Miami, Florida much (Gina Prince-Bythewood) Oblivion Community Centre) and latest is a welcome addition to the to the consternation of his wife 7. Eurovision Song Contest: Charlize Theron leads a strong appeared all over the 1975’s latest Black Lives Matter cause, a Vietnam (Penélope Cruz), who is unaware of The Story of Fire Saga cast (which includes Beale Street’s opus. war film exploring the experience the realities of his mission. (David Dobkin) KiKi Layne and Rust and Bone’s Here she pulls the focus back in of African-American soldiers in Netflix, 19 June Hollywood, it seems, has Matthias Schoenaerts) in a comic striking fashion, expanding on her the conflict, as four veterans return cottoned on to the rich absurdity book-based superhero yarn: she alt-rock sound while continuing decades later to search for the 5. Inmate #1: The Rise of of Eurovision, and Will Ferrell is plays an immortal soldier once her knack for transforming remains of their squad leader. Delroy Danny Trejo spearheading this comedy from known as Andromache of Syria, melancholia into something Lindo and Jonathan Majors star. (Brett Harvey) Wedding Crashers director David but now the head of a group of beautiful. Netflix, out now Trejo is the instantly recognisable Dobkin. Its title alludes slyly to mercenaries of similar vintage 19 June Tuesday, June 16, 2020 GULF TIMES 9 CULTURE COMMUNITY 45 best pieces of art to experience whilst staying at home – I

12. Jessie Ware: What’s Your of far-right ideology, journalist Pleasure? Josh Levin examines the links While 2017’s beige Glasshouse between organisations including was the perfect musical the Ku Klux Klan and the powers accompaniment to her successful that be in the United States. food podcast, Table Manners, Slate, out now this sweatier, sexier fourth album finds Ware channelling her inner 22. The Special Relationship dancefloor diva. Excellent recent This mockumentary pod from single Ooh La La references pop duo Alex Owen and Ben Ashenden, outlier Róisín Murphy, while the AKA The Pin, is sure to be an house-y Mirage (Don’t Stop) could anarchic listen, as we follow two soundtrack any socially distanced hopeless British comics trying BBQ. to make it in the US. Exploring 26 June “the hilariously unhealthy co- dependence of the delusional 13. Arca: KiCk i pair”, it also boasts a cast of comic Björk, Rosalía and Sophie guest talents from both sides of the on this fourth album from the Atlantic, including Lolly Adefope, pioneering Venezuelan producer , Kate Berlant Alejandra Ghersi. While her and Saturday Night Live’s Cecily previous efforts sounded as twisted Strong. as their disturbing visuals, the more Audible, expected July inviting KiCk i (there are apparently three more volumes to come) finds 23. Rise of the Iron Men her dabbling in trap, reggaeton and Journalist and McMafia author dreamy electro-pop. Misha Glenny follows up his 26 June audio series Putin: Prisoner of Power with another podcast, this 14. Haim: Women in Music Pt GRIPPING: Clockwise from top left, Joan of Arc; Da 5 Bloods; Immate #1: The Rise of Danny Trejo; The Old Guard; The time charting the rise of other III King of Staten Island. ‘Iron Man’ political leaders, who Everyone’s favourite Californian espouse the cause of free speech sisters return with their pointedly 18. Disclosure: Energy for sticky, late summer nights. by critiquing mainly black female while keeping the firmest of grips titled third album. Looser and more After a five-year hiatus following Touching on the personal – tactile artists. The album will be joined on their respective nations. From experimental than their previous second album Caracal, UK dance banger Night focuses on strength by two books of poetry, so brace Erdogan in Turkey to India’s Modi collections, the six singles (!) to producers Guy and Howard in solitude – and the political via yourselves. and Bolsonaro in Brazil, Glenny emerge so far range from I Know Lawrence are back with a clutch the climate crisis-citing Melt!, it’s 5 September aims to craft a “thriller-esque Alone’s UK garage-dabbling, sun- of summer-ready bangers. Kelis, a dancefloor-ready album for the narrative” around each of these kissed confection (complete with Fatoumata Diawara and Slowthai head and heart. Podcasts formidable, populist leaders with viral dance routine) to the rock are among the vocalists, while the 28 August 21. Slow Burn nationalist aims. sheen of the Sheryl Crow-esque The pulsating title track, which features Slate’s ever-gripping Audible, expected August Steps. motivational speaker Eric Thomas, 20. Lana Del Rey: Chemtrails anthology podcast – previous 26 June suggests the title is 100% apt. Over the Country Club seasons of which have delved TV 28 August This follow-up to 2019’s into the Watergate scandal, the 24. The Great 15. Brandy: B7 gorgeous Norman Fucking impeachment of Bill Clinton and Tony McNamara, co-writer In the eight years since her last 19. Kelly Lee Owens: Inner Rockwell! is already controversial, the death of Tupac Shakur – moves of The Favourite, brings some of album, has seen her influence Song with its announcement tacked on into timely territory with a series the same courtly nincompoopery underlined by the likes of Solange, Originally scheduled for May, to the end of a much-critiqued on white supremacist leader David to a freestyle bio of Catherine Kehlani and Frank Ocean. dance experimentalist Lee Owens’s Instagram post that undermined Duke. Exploring Duke’s manoeuvres the Great (Elle Fanning), who After years of being the muse second album now arrives in time legitimate views on female agency into politics and his mainstreaming becomes empress of Russia when for songwriters and producers she marries bonehead ruler Peter including Timbaland and Rodney (Nicholas Hoult). Presenting a Jerkins, the luxuriant, experimental battle against grotesque misogyny R&B of B7 finds her co-writing and as a clever but absurd comedy is a co-producing on every song. gamble that pays off. 31 July Starzplay, 18 June

16. Fontaines DC: A Hero’s 25. Insecure Death Season four of HBO’s Fifteen months since the release emotionally intelligent dramedy of their Mercury-nominated debut, finds Issa (Issa Rae) still stumbling Dogrel, the Irish post-punkers towards adulthood, as she and best return with a more expansive mate Molly (Yvonne Orji) again follow-up. Recorded quickly with threaten to grow apart, and Issa’s producer Dan Carey (Black Midi, La ex continues to live in her head. In Roux), A Hero’s Death apparently its subtle, introspective way, it’s draws inspiration from the likes of still TV’s sharpest document of the Suicide, Broadcast and, as hinted at black/millennial/LA experience. by its title track, the Beach Boys. Sky Comedy/Now TV, 23 June 31 July 26. Celebrity Snoop Dogs 17. Biffy Clyro: A Celebration of Celebrity property shows reach a Endings new low – just above floor level, in The T-shirt averse Scottish rockers fact – in a series that straps GoPro continue their journey from cult cameras to stars’ best friends. As the concern with a woeful name to X mutts nose around, we guess who Factor-adjacent chart-toppers on owns them and the house, in a format their eighth album, co-produced that raises the happy possibility of once again by Muse collaborator Rich Keith Lemon one day being replaced Costey. Expect more meaty rock, on Through the Keyhole by a labrador. more stadium-ready ballad. , 26 June 14 August PLEASING: Clockwise from top left, Arca; Haim; Disclosure; Biffy Clyro; Fontaines DC; Jessie Ware; Brandy. – The Guardian 10 GULF TIMES Tuesday, June 16, 2020 COMMUNITY INFOGRAPHIC

1 Fill jar with Try This beans ? How many beans do Take a handful of beans you think are 2 out of jar and put them in the jar? in bowl and count them

Mark all the beans in Better bowl with pencil than Pour rest of beans into bowl 3 with marked beans guessing Stir and mix beans constantly for 3 minutes Biologists use the “Lincoln method” Divide number of for estimating the Take a handful of beans from 5 marked beans on number of fish in a 4 the bowl and put on table table by total number lake; how it works: Count how many there are and how of beans on table many are marked Divide number of beans you You’ll need marked in Step • Large glass jar 2 by that • Small light-colored number dried beans • Large bowl • Pencil • Calculator

What happened?

The number is a good estimate of how many beans were in the jar

You can check it by counting all the beans

Source: Peter Macinnis’ Science Playwiths Graphic: Helen Lee McComas, Paul Trap/TNS Tuesday, June 16, 2020 GULF TIMES 11 LIFESTYLE/HOROSCOPE COMMUNITY Don’t rely on smart watches to spot heart rhythm disorders: Study

s smart watches like Europace, a journal of the European prior stroke or heart attack, and in Apple Watch come Society of Cardiology (ESC). women. with capabilities to Wearables may be very valuable Research shows that anti- identify common heart in the future but at the moment coagulant drugs dramatically rhythm disorder like they do not have a defined place in reduce stroke risk in patients with a Aatrial fibrillation (AFib), researchers risk assessment, the authors wrote. combination of these factors. have warned that at the moment, The probability of developing “Stroke is one of the worst things wearables do not have a defined atrial fibrillation rises with that can happen, and around one- place in such risk assessment. increasing age, high blood pressure, quarter of them occur in patients The Smart Watch market is obesity, diabetes, and prior heart with atrial fibrillation,” said expected to grow to 929 million attack. Professor Nielsen. connected devices by next year. Behaviour modification, such “Strokes due to atrial fibrillation There is evidence that devices can as reducing alcohol intake and are more disabling than strokes help detect atrial fibrillation but the losing weight, could prevent atrial with other causes. With a good risk accuracy varies. fibrillation or delay onset. assessment, we can avoid needless “There still is a problem with “Accurate risk assessment strokes.” a lot of false positives, where the enables earlier diagnosis and When it comes to ventricular device claims a person has atrial intervention — with lifestyle tachyarrhythmia, the most fibrillation, but they do not,” said changes or medication — that could common predisposing factor is a Professor Jens Cosedis Nielsen be preventative,” said Nielsen. previous heart attack. of Aarhus University Hospital, To get the correct answer in When combined with a poor Denmark. assessing risk, we must use the pump function of the heart, Furthermore, if a smartwatch tools that have been proven to patients are at increased risk of picks up 30 minutes of incidental accurately predict the condition or cardiac arrest and death. atrial fibrillation in a person with outcome,” he emphasised. Sudden death can be prevented no symptoms, we have no data on In patients with atrial fibrillation, by implanting a defibrillator (called whether anticoagulation prevents the possibility of stroke increases an ICD or implantable cardioverter stroke in this situation,” he with advanced age, heart failure, defibrillator), said the authors. explained in a paper published in EP high blood pressure, diabetes, — IANS

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

A group you’re affiliated with could meet or have a virtual/group chat Your communications could bring up the subject of the world Today you might receive a phone call from a friend you haven’t seen for today, Aries. You should focus more on listening to what they have to economy and what it’s going to mean to individuals today. You a while. An intense and emotional conversation could follow, Gemini. say than on actively participating in discussions. You’ll want to absorb could be contemplating and maybe even discussing your financial Stimulating news could have you preoccupied for a while. Spiritual every idea that comes up and seriously mull it over before expressing future. This is a good time to make such plans, Taurus, as your mind activities could also take up much of your time. Listening to someone yourself. When you communicate, you should do it freely and openly. is logical and intuitive today. Write down any ideas or insights that speak might cause you to feel more insightful than usual. This will Your mind is both intuitive and logical, so expect to learn a lot. come your way. You’ll want to remember them later. enable you to apply good common sense to abstract concepts. Cancer Leo Virgo June 21 — July 22 July 23 — August 22 August 23 — September 22

You generally enjoy philosophy, metaphysics, and other forms of higher Discussions involving a group you’re affiliated with could lead to Today you might decide to do some repairs or decorating in your thought, Cancer, but today you could find yourself almost obsessive some deep subjects, such as philosophy, metaphysics, science – or home. You’ll have a lot of good ideas welling up from deep within about them. You might decide to sequester yourself and concentrate on all three. Your mind should be quick and sharp today, Leo, on both you, Virgo, and be astute enough to put them to work in the real these concepts. This is a great day to do this because intellect combines a logical and an intuitive level. You’ll probably soak up just about world. You might not feel much like talking, however. Therefore, with intuition to enable you to understand and make sense of abstract everything you hear. You could give it a lot of thought, and yes, you don’t be surprised if communication is more subtle than overt today. ideas. You can apply them to your everyday life. Go to it. should be able to make sense of it all. Libra Scorpio Sagittarius September 23 — October 22 October 23 — November 21 November 22 — December 21

Communicating with a current or potential romantic partner could An increased psychological awareness and heightened intuition The focus today is on families, with special emphasis on children. involve a lot of subtlety, finding a way to enjoy each other’s company could have you tuning in to the thoughts and feelings of family You might spend time telling stories today. Someone with whom while not divulging too much. You’re likely to feel especially passionate members before they even know what they want, Scorpio. You you’re in contact could be dealing with some powerful emotional today, Libra. Take care of your health and look your best. Your aesthetic might be able to pick up the thoughts of strangers. This is the day issues and not want company. There isn’t much you can do, sense is especially high right now. You could also give some thought to to trust your inner voice, especially when it comes to making plans Sagittarius. Let the person know you’re there and then leave them artistic projects. Inspiration could be all around you. with others. alone. In the meantime, others are in a festive mood. Have fun. Capricorn Aquarius Pisces December 22 — January 19 January 20 — February 18 February 19 — March 20

Others, particularly family members, might be rather quiet today. Communication, particularly with family members, could take place Today you should be feeling especially intuitive, particularly where It could seem as if everyone is running around like crazy but not more subtly than verbally today. Nonetheless, Aquarius, you’ll sense family members are concerned, Pisces. It certainly won’t be easy for sharing what’s on their minds. You’ll have to trust your intuition strong love and support from everyone. Inspiration for creative anyone to lie to you. You might also think about making some repairs when you need to know what they’re up to, Capricorn. Writing could projects, particularly in the home, could well up from deep inside. to your home, which you may have been putting off. You might spend come from deep within, whether through letters, poetry, or novels, Don’t suppress it – let it flow. at least part of the day alone meditating or contemplating your future. allowing you to express a facet you don’t often see. Your mind is clear and active, so this is a good time to do it. 12 GULF TIMES Tuesday, June 16, 2020 COMMUNITY CARTOONS/PUZZLES

Wordsearch Adam

Pooch Cafe

ASSAY OBSERVE WEIGH MEASURE TEST INSPECT SCAN EXPERIMENT RESEARCH CHECK PROBE INVESTIGATE MONITOR WATCH REVIEW STUDY INQUIRE EXAMINE PROVE

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. Tuesday, June 16, 2020 GULF TIMES 13 PUZZLES COMMUNITY

Super Cryptic Clues Colouring

Across Down 1 Drug found on Arctic trip (8) 2 Father’s about to turn out OK 6 Runner appearing in sports (7) kit (3) 3 European vet, we hear (5) 9 Fruit pip one ignored in drink 4 No rest, oddly, for singers (6) (5) 5 Greek character opposed to 10 No one takes part - it’s Italian wine (7) disgusting (7) 6 Lacking money for a drink of 11 Someone else embraced by spirits (5) Hera - not Hercules (7) 7 Model and I do business (5) 12 African province once 8 One who’s learned to park a concerned with delivery? (5) vehicle in the street? (6) 13 Deep part of ocean or river 14 First-class sort of letter (7) surrounded by fish (6) 16 Sure to have new crate at 15 Record American event (6) home (7) 19 Animals seen initially by 17 Material, we hear, moved to Dickensian villain (5) and fro (6) 21 Al has left one country for 18 Possibly making Andrew stray another (7) (6) 23 About time faulty device is 19 Pete’s stumbling and falling thrown out (7) sharply (5) 24 Fish for small girl (5) 20 The best part of Chinese 25 Something to eat that literature (5) provides constant energy (3) 22 Name of Russian who’s 26 Girl in part of France (8) ashamed to take part? (5)

Solution Answers

Wordsearch Codeword 14 GULF TIMES Tuesday, June 16, 2020 COMMUNITY

Sushmita Sen: Aarya Dia Mirza celebrates co-actor Namit Das an as Kaafir turns one ‘institution by himself’ It’s been a year since actor-producer Actress and former beauty queen Dia Mirza played one of her careers “most gushes over Namit Das, challenging roles” in the web series Kaafir. her co-actor in the web series Aarya, She believes that the message of humanity saying he is an “institution by himself”. overcoming conflict in the series bears Sushmita plays the title role of Aarya relevance in everything the world is going Sareen in the crime-drama web-series, through right now. shared a few stills on Instagram where “I think art has always found a way to she is seen with Namit. transcend fear and prejudice and helped reunite “This one is an institution by WEB SERIES: Namit Das will soon be our hearts and emotions seamlessly. We cannot himself... He sings like a dream, dances seen in the upcoming web series Aarya. allow fear to take away from ourselves and our with abandonment, writes powerfully communities. Kaafir is more than the touching & travels for inspiration!!! He’s ALSO crime drama Penoza. The show is stories it tells. It’s a constant reminder that the an Actor!! #phewwww Introducing written by Sandeep Srivastav and Anu universe is limitless and meant for everyone,” #Jawahar @namitdas in #Aarya. He Singh Choudhary, and also features Dia said. doesn’t Act...he becomes!!! #natural Namit Das, Jayant Kripalani, Sohaila Kaafir was praised for its moving storyline # I have learned so much from Kapoor, Sugandha Garg, Maya Sareen, written by Bhavani Iyer, empathetic direction you Namit, Thank you for being such Vishwajeet Pradhan and Manish by Sonam Nair, and the impressive performance a generous co-star!!! I love you guys!” Chaudhary. delivered by Dia, alongside her co-actors Mohit she captioned the image. “Aarya represents strength, Raina and Dishita Jain. Dia played the part of MOVING: Kaafir was praised for its moving Aarya, which marks Suhmita’s digital determination and above all Kainaaz Akhtar, an imprisoned Pakistani woman. storyline written, empathetic direction and the debut, delves into how organised crime vulnerability in a world full of crime, a “Kainaaz was a tough part to get into the skin impressive performance delivered by Dia. and betrayal runs deep in a family. It is world run by men. For me, personally, of because she belongs to a world where her about protagonist Aarya and how she is it is the story of family, betrayal life experiences are so removed from my life and the landscape of her journey,” Dia said. pulled into the narcotics business when and a mother who is willing to go to experiences. I consider myself an empowered, A cross-border struggle, Kaafir follows her family is threatened. any length to protect her children,” independent woman whereas Kainaaz is Kainaaz’s long and tumultuous journey as Directed by fame filmmaker Sushmita had earlier said about the spirited but comes from such a background of she winds up on the Indian side of the Line of Ram Madhvani, Aarya is an official series, which will stream soon on conflict and disempowerment that it was so Control and is held prisoner in a strange land adaptation of the popular Dutch Disney+ Hotstar VIP. – IANS important for me to understand the mindscape under the suspicion of being a terrorist. – IANS Can direct-to-digital profitably work for Bollywood films?

he - indicated that the Akshay Kumar- Yes, I started the film with an aim starrer Laxmmi Bomb is in line for to release on a cinema platform, starrer a direct-to-OTT release, although but the situation is like this that I shows that the direct- nothing is confirmed. Rumours had to experiment with the digital to-digital-release way suggest the makers of the film are platform. At some point I had to canT profitably work for Bollywood asking for a steep price of well over experiment with digital and I was films made at a restrained budget, Rs100 crore to sell the right for looking for it. Every film has its own at a time the industry is reeling direct OTT premiere, owing to the destiny and the destiny of Gulabo under the after-effects of shutdown presence of superstar Akshay. Sitabo was a digital premiere at owing to the Covid-19 pandemic. In fact, streaming platform Amazon Prime Video,” director However, big ticket Bollywood Amazon Prime Video, in a bid to told IANS. entertainers are still maintaining revolutionise the way we might Digital world, however, does not distance from OTT release, and watch films in the future, recently seem to be enticing the biggies. would prefer to wait for cinema confirmed films across five Indian Makers of much-anticipated films halls to reopen. languages for digital release. such as 83 and Sooryanvanshi have Lined up for OTT premieres after Their direct-to-home menu assured cinema owners that they Gulabo Sitabo, over the next several features the recently-released will release their films in theatres movies are small to medium budget Tamil legal drama Ponmagal first. films such as the Vidya Balan- Vandhal starring Jyotika, the “That’s because they get good starrer Shakuntala Devi and Gunjan Keerthy Suresh starrer Penguin revenue from theatres,” Raj Kumar Saxena: The Kargil Girl. (Tamil and Telugu), Sufiyum Mehrotra, general manager at Other films whose names are Sujatayum () starring Delhi’s Delite Cinema, told IANS. doing the rounds are the Alia Aditi Rao Hydari, Law () To this, trade analyst Girish Bhatt-starrer Sadak 2, Ajay starring Ragini Chandran and Siri Johar added: “The films that are Devgn’s Bhuj: The Pride Of India, Prahlad, and Danish Sait’s next film coming on OTT are somewhat ’s Ludo, Khaali Peeli French Biryani (Kannada). premium content. These are not starring Ishaan Khatter and A small and moderate budget is big tentpole releases. Hollywood Ananya Panday, Shershaah starring the string that connects the films is following the same thing. Sidharth Malhotra, the Abhishek switching to OTT route as cinemas Marvel Studios has pushed all Bachchan-starrer The Big Bull, remain shut amid the virus crisis. the tentpole movies to 2021. OTT Mimi starring Kriti Sanon, the One report claimed that the can’t be a revenue platform for Kunal Kemmu-starrer Lootcase, OTT platform bought the premiere buying Rs200 crore film. In the the Kiara Advani-starrer Indoo rights of Gulabo Sitabo for Rs60-65 case of OTT platforms, it is the Ki Jawaani, and Roohi Afzana crore, which means that the makers time when they can get maximum featuring Janhvi Kapoor. made profit of around Rs30-35 subscribers as everyone is at The late actor Sushant Singh crore with the film, said to be made home, that’s why they are buying STILL: Amitabh Bachchan, left, and Ayushmann Khurrana seen in Gulabo Rajput’s upcoming film on an approximate budget of Rs30 new films. Cinemas need not Sitabo. was also being considered for a crore. fear as there would be jump once direct to OTT release, according to “The value or the impact will not everything is normal, and the “Once lockdown is over and more than 20 per cent because reports. get lost because it was released on a window will be respected by the safety precautions in place, there is a lot of pent up demand,” Unconfirmed reports have also digital platform instead of theatre... makers as well. theatrical revenue will jump by Girish added. – IANS Tuesday, June 16, 2020 GULF TIMES 15 HOLLYWOOD COMMUNITY White celebs rush to amplify Black Lives Matter remarks, but you can’t ask for final director’s By Mary McNamara cut. So you just do the best you can and sit quietly while everyone slays you for it. You listen to the criticism, don’t take it personally, hite celebrities, influencers, and then do better next time. commentators and just Because there has to be a next time. Or a first regular folks are having a time. As a white person, you cannot expect prolonged and very public emoji hearts and applause whenever you speak deer-in-the-headlights out against a system from which you have Wmoment. benefited, unintentionally or not. Yes, you may As protests against racism and police have to screw up your courage to do it, but that brutality continue to grow in every state and doesn’t make it an inherently courageous act. around the world, white people with media Speak out because it is right, and because the platforms (including me) find themselves survival of this country and your immortal soul caught between the Scylla of silence and the depend on it. Charybdis of potential cringe call-out. Fear of being called out or “misunderstood” As the video of George Floyd’s death under or being seen as “political” isn’t a legitimate the knee of Minneapolis Police Officer Derek excuse. Staying silent because you’re afraid Chauvin sent hundreds of thousands into you’ll put your foot in your mouth is even the street to protest, many celebrities, some worse. If you don’t know how to discuss of them white, spoke out. Amid the early racism at this point, it’s time to learn, even coverage of these protests, which focused if it means learning through your mistakes. primarily on violence and property damage Yes, you may be judged on Twitter, but rather than peaceful demonstrators, many of freedom from being judged on Twitter is not these advocates then found themselves being RESPONSIBILE: Sarah Paulson was among celebs who took part in the I Take Responsibility PSA. a constitutionally guaranteed right; freedom denounced for supporting violence. from being brutalised by law enforcement and/ As the media shifted focus and made it clear they had established, were encouraged to use Hillary Clinton, Julia Roberts and Gwyneth or unlawfully detained is. that the protests were vastly peaceful, more their platforms to support the protests and Paltrow, turned over their Instagram accounts During the #MeToo movement, many men stars in entertainment and social media began Black Lives Matter, and those who did not for #SharetheMicNow, while another group felt very uncomfortable, caught between a denouncing police brutality and supporting were told that if they didn’t have anything of white celebrities participated in a video PSA legitimate desire to support women and the Black Lives Matter. Those who couched their constructive to say, they should stop saying in which they each vow to Take Responsibility defensive need to point out that not all men support in a call for an end to violence, which anything at all. (Causing many to rethink the for their complicity in our country’s systemic are predators — wanting terrible people to be implied that the protesters were to blame for definition, and necessity, of “influencers.”) racism.The results were mixed to embarrassing. punished but also worried that #MeToo was that violence, were often called out; those who Late-night hosts, who often act as cultural The concept of “sharing the mic” is fine as far going too far, denouncing too wide a swath of said nothing were criticised for their silence. first responders during times of crisis, were as it goes, and one hopes that followers of the behaviour. Earlier this month, #BlackoutTuesday among the first caught in those headlights. white famous women will become followers of But complaints about being uncomfortable turned into a big fail when social media Jimmy Fallon apologised for appearing in the black not-as-famous women. But that kind and arguing that it was “a few bad apples” influencers and stars redefined “the least I blackface for a 2000 Saturday Night Live sketch of amplification only works if it is sustained — didn’t stand then and doesn’t stand now; most can do” by filling their social media platforms and invited NAACP President Derrick Johnson i.e., black women get big mics of their own. As police officers may not actively engage in racist with black boxes. The initiative, designed to on to The Tonight Show to discuss the damage for the Take Responsibility video, well, even in abuse, just as most movie executives may not target the music industry, was created by two such portrayals have caused. Jimmy Kimmel these Zoom-conditioned times, it is virtually actively prey on the women around them. But black music marketers who asked that music took the bull by the horns and addressed the impossible to watch without cringing. the culture is designed to protect the bad apples platforms like Spotify, Apple and TikTok depth of his own white privilege, while Stephen But criticising the participants, or their — to, in some cases, reward the bad apples. So cease operations for a day to show support Colbert condemned the violent tactics many choice of eyewear, is not helpful either. When if you’re not willing to dismantle that culture, for the community that in many ways created police have used during the demonstrations. folks like Aaron Paul and Bryce Dallas Howard then you are part of the problem. them. When a much larger array of people But there is no getting around the fact that, were asked if they wanted to join with the If you need talking points, watch Ava participated, adding #BlackLivesMatter and with the exception of Trevor Noah, late night is, NAACP for this PSA — aimed at making white DuVernay’s 13th; that’ll make you good and #BLM to their posts, the barrage of black boxes and always has been, a bastion of whiteness. people who proudly identify as nonracist uncomfortable and also mad as hell. Decisions ended up drowning out activists and organisers, Which is why Noah’s own early response to recognise their implicit role in a racist society were made, policies enforced when most of us many still engaged actively in protesting. the protests — “Think about that unease that — were they supposed to say no? Bryce Dallas weren’t looking that created a situation most In the fallout even beloved activist Emma you felt watching that Target being looted,” Howard, who has publicly excoriated The Help, of us don’t support. We have to start looking Watson got slammed for participating in what Noah said. “Try to imagine how it must feel for a movie she starred in, for being white-centric harder, and speaking out more, if only to point many saw as, at best, an ill-conceived effort black Americans when they watch themselves and not the thing to be watching now —was she to the words of people better equipped to that ultimately silenced black voices and front- being looted every single day” — and his recent supposed to say no? articulate the problem and the solutions than line reports from protests. insistence that Joe Biden define “police reform” How can you refuse to be in a PSA against we are, and say: “What she said. What he said. Social media influencers, many of them have been so powerful. racism? You can’t. As many have suggested That is what needs to happen. That is what I young and inexperienced at addressing issues More recently, a group of high-profile white since the PSA’s airing, you could take care not believe. That is what I want too.” – Los Angeles outside their personal lives or whatever niche women, including Sen. Elizabeth Warren, to impose a “white saviour” ethos on your Times/ TNS

Gone with the Wind will Writing for CNN, Stewart “I will provide an introduction return to HBO Max with explained that the widely beloved placing the film in its multiple a new introduction film “romanticises slavery as a benign historical contexts,” she wrote. and benevolent institution,” which Stewart also noted that many The removal of the 1939 film Gone influenced mainstream audiences and Americans have been turning to books with the Wind from HBO Max sent led many to view the antebellum South and movies about racial inequality in conservatives and movie fans into a in an inaccurate, almost mythical way order to better understand this current frenzy when it happened last week, that ignored the horrors of slavery. moment, and she believes Gone with but it won’t be long before the iconic When HBO took the film from its the Wind is an opportunity to use a Oscar-winner returns to the fledgling service in the midst of national Black classic film as a tool for education. streaming service. Lives Matter protests, the company “If people are really doing their According to Jacqueline Stewart, a said that it believed making it available homework, we may be poised to University of Chicago professor and to the public without explanation have our most informed, honest and host on Turner Classic Movies, HBO would be “irresponsible.” Stewart productive national conversations yet PROBLEMATIC: Commentators have denounced the film intends to bring the film back “with says that she will play a role in that about black lives on screen and off,” she for its rosy depiction of slavery before the Civil War, while additional historical context.” explanation when the movie returns. wrote. – New York Daily News/ TNS downplaying its horrors. 16 GULF TIMES Tuesday, June 16, 2020 COMMUNITY Artists laud Qatar’s resilience during unjust blockade

By Mudassir Raja

reative minds tend to be the most sensitive beings of society. They feel and express themselves in ways Cthat are often different from other people in a community. The unjust blockade of Qatar has also made a strong impact on the minds of many artists in the country. Community recently spoke to some artists from different backgrounds about how they felt during these challenging times. Evgeniya Goncharova is a Russian artist based in Qatar. She asserts that Qatar has given her creative art a huge lift-up. The artist believes Qatar has never been weak and will never be one. “The unjustified blockade has actually made Qatar stronger than ever. The black magic seems to have turned against the magicians. The blockading countries have failed to weaken Qatar. Instead their action has made the country Mala Waseem Samah al-Lulu self-sufficient.’ The long-time resident of Qatar says the blockade has made the country more united. “The siege has made all who live in Qatar stand by the courageous leadership of the country. Honestly, the government did their very best to concentrate on the needs of people. They did an amazing job that made all of us truly feel that there is no blockade.” Dr Sreekumar Padmanabhan, is an Inidan physician and artist. A resident of Qatar since 2007, he lauds the government for handling the issue of blockade in a positive way. “I can’t believe it has been three years. The way the country has handled the crisis is so much courageous and laudable that there has never been an impact on the lives of the residents. The wise leadership has handled the situation with dignity. The country was quick in recognising the opportunity offered by the siege. Qatar has proven to the rest Dr Sreekumar Padmanabhan Evgeniya Goncharova of the world that a small country can stand on its own despite the felt being constrained for being artist, I must acknowledge that Even during the pandemic, Qatar countries have done wrong to challenge. a resident of Qatar. Blockade Qatar’s art landscape has become continues to promote art through themselves by severing the ties “The best outcome of this has made me exceptionally more vibrant, determined and online collaborations. Virtual with Qatar. The country has not blockade is that the country has transformed and elevated my established after the blockade.” tours, online exhibitions, webinars, weltered under the pressure of become more resilient and the connection with Qatar. I have Mala acknowledges Qatar’s art interviews, and online art continuous siege. The country has people stand more united. This proudly witnessed our society resilience and says: “Recently workshops are currently trending become the better version of itself crisis has imparted a new feeling being united in response to the inaugurated, prestigious National and have been adopted by art by becoming more independent and sense of nationalism whereby siege. Museum of Qatar is one of the enthusiasts.” and free. The blockade has actually each and every individual – “Qatar’s art circles have great contributions to cultural Samah al-Lulu is a young offered more positive effects than whether he is a Qatari or non- emerged into a powerful and arena. Museum of Islamic Art, Palestinian artist who has been that of negative. Qatari – has joined hands to ever-evolving structure. Local and Mathaf Arab Museum, Sheikh born and brought up in Qatar. “We can see lots of local counter the challenge.” resident artists now have access to Faisal Museum, Mesherieb She thinks the blockade has made businesses were supported by the Mala Waseem is a Canadian countless opportunities through Museum, Katara Cultural village, Qatar stronger and more known government. Lots of projects have national of Pakistani origin. She Qatar’s many visual art platforms. Doha Fire Station have actively in the world. “I can see Qatar as been completed. Qatar still facing said: “Being an artist, blockade Peering at current art arena in been engaging locals and resident the desert flower of GCC – Wardat this challenge, and it is moving impacted me personally as I Qatar, from the perspective of an artists despite the blockade. Alsahra. Actually, the blockading forward towards it goals.”