Community Community Steemgate Amid the from GEMS inhumanity P9American P16 of war, Academy skims past humans work Puff le from Doha together to rescue College in 2018 Battle traumatised of the Bands. animals in Syria.

Wednesday, January 31, 2018 Jumada I 14, 1439 AH

DOHA 14°C—22°C TODAY LIFESTYLE/HOROSCOPE 11 PUZZLES 12 & 13 Resolute He walked 1,000 miles on

COVER bloody feet. Now this STORY ‘Lost Boy of Sudan’ helps other refugees. P4-5

SUCCESS STORY: Jacob Ayuen stands outside the Adventist Health Medical Off ices where he works. Ayuen escaped Sudan’s civil war as a young boy without his family 30 years ago. 2 GULF TIMES Wednesday, January 31, 2018 COMMUNITY ROUND & ABOUT

PRAYER TIME Fajr 4.59am Shorooq (sunrise) 6.18am Zuhr (noon) 11.47am Asr (afternoon) 2.55pm Maghreb (sunset) 5.19pm Isha (night) 6.49pm

USEFUL NUMBERS Street Lights One day, at the crack of dawn, a burglary takes place in Kochi. DIRECTION: Shamdat James, the crime branch police offi cer, played by , CAST: Mammootty, Lijo Mol Jose, Vishnu Unnikrishnan sets off to solve the case. He encounters several people in his SYNOPSIS: Mammootty stars as a police offi cer in a lm fi quest to catch the thief. with a realistic take on the life of people living on the streets. 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 Dead Awake friends from an ancient evil that stalks its victims through the Hamad Medical Corporation 40253368, 40253365 DIRECTION: Phillip Guzman real-life phenomenon of sleep paralysis. Qatar Airways 40253374 CAST: Jocelin Donahue, Jesse Bradford, Jesse Borrego SYNOPSIS: A young woman must save herself and her THEATRES: Royal Plaza, The Mall, Landmark

The Mall Cinema (1): Street Lights (2D) 11:30pm. (Malayalam) 2:30pm; Bhaagamathie Royal Plaza Cinema Palace ote Unquo (Telugu) 5pm; All The Money In The (2): Nimir (Tamil) 2:15pm; MAZE Qu te World (2D) 7:30pm; Guardians Of RUNNER:Thedeath Cure (2D) The Tomb (2D) 9:45pm; Dead Awake Landmark Cinema (2): The 4:30pm; Habet Caramel (Arabic) We don’t need to share (2D) 11:30pm. Breadwinner (2D) 3pm; The 7pm; Street Lights (Malayalam) The Mall Cinema (2): The Breadwinner (2D) 4:45pm; MAZE 9pm; All The Money In The World the same opinions as others, Breadwinner (2D) 2:30pm; The RUNNER:Thedeath Cure (2D) (2D) 11:15pm. but we need to be respectful. Breadwinner (2D) 4:30pm; 6:30pm; MAZE RUNNER:Thedeath Royal Plaza Cinema Palace (3): JUMANJI: Welcome To (2D) 9pm; Guardians Of The Street Lights (Malayalam) 2:30pm; Jungle (2D) 6:30pm; MAZE Tomb (2D) 11:30pm. Bhaagamathie (Tamil) 5pm; All — RUNNER:Thedeath Cure (2D) Landmark Cinema (3): The Money In The World (2D) 8:30pm; MAZE RUNNER:Thedeath Bhaagamathie (Telugu) 2:30pm; 7:30pm; Dead Awake (2D) 9:45pm; Cure (2D) 11pm. Habet Caramel (Arabic) 5pm; All Bhaagamathie (Tamil) 11:30pm. The Mall Cinema (3): Nimir (Tamil) The Money In The World (2D) 7pm; Asian Town Cinema: Street Light 3pm; Guardians Of The Tomb (2D) All The Money In The World (2D) (Malayalam) 6pm; Street Light 5:30pm; Habet Caramel (Arabic) 9:15pm; Bhaagamathie (Tamil) (Malayalam) 8:30pm; Street Light 7:15pm; Street Lights (Malayalam) 11:30pm. (Malayalam) 11pm; Bhaagmathie Community Editor 9:15pm; Bhaagamathie (Tamil) Royal Plaza Cinema Palace (1): (Tamil) 6pm; Bhaagmathie (Tamil) Kamran Rehmat 11:30pm; Landmark Cinema (1): The Breadwinner (2D) 2:15pm; The 8:45pm; Bhaagmathie (Tamil) Breadwinner (2D) 3:45pm; Habet e-mail: [email protected] JUMANJI: Welcome To The Jungle 11:30pm; Padmaavat (Hindi) (2D) 3pm; Street Lights (Malayalam) Caramel (Arabic) 5:30pm; MAZE 6pm; Aadu 2 (Malayalam) 9pm; Telephone: 44466405 5:30pm; Guardians Of The Tomb RUNNER:Thedeath Cure (2D) Padmaavat (Hindi) 11:45pm; Nimir Fax: 44350474 (2D) 8pm; Dead Awake (2D) 9:30pm; 7:30pm; Guardians Of The Tomb (Tamil) 6pm; Bhaagmathie (Telugu) Street Lights (Malayalam) 11:15pm. (2D) 10pm; Guardians Of The Tomb 8:45pm; Nimi (Tamil) 11:30pm. Wednesday, January 31, 2018 GULF TIMES 3 ROUND & ABOUT COMMUNITY

EVENTS would be a morning photo walk on February Mall of Qatar Fun Fair Visitors to the festival can expect a variety 2. Fees for the workshop is QR 500 Two WHERE: Mall Of Qatar of products from local vegetables, fl owers, Fady Hasan in Al Sufra lucky winners tickets by Turkish Airlines to WHEN: Until April 15 honey and meat, poultry and diary items. WHERE: Marsa Malaz Kempinski, The Europe. The Mall of Qatar has expanded to bring For those of you looking for traditional Pearl To register for the workshop please you “Doha’s best outdoor theme park”. Qatari food, there will also be stalls selling WHEN: Tomorrow contact - Mob: 55754742 or 66852322. Come with your family and friends to enjoy homemade foods such as Machbous. TIME: 8pm the new rides and attractions – Trampoline, Farm-grown goods include aubergines, Join us in Al Sufra tomorrow for an Giant Slide, Wind Tunnel, Tagada, peppers, cucumbers, tomatoes, courgettes, authentic Levant culinary journey with Meltdown, Surfi ng and much more to enjoy caulifl ower, herbs, and chilis. There are the live entertainment by Singer Fady with family and friends. Come all and enjoy also animal products such as chicken, milk, Hasan from 8pm till late at night. Lebanese life. cheese and eggs from Qatari companies specialty menu | QR 195. Baladna and Al Waha Poultry Company. Souq Waqif Spring Festival Release of Chamak, a Kannada film WHERE: Souq Waqif Torba Farmers Market WHERE: Asia Town Cinema Screen # 4 WHEN: Ongoing WHERE: Education City WHEN: Feb 2 TIME: Evening WHEN: Ongoing TIME: 6pm Souq Waqif is hosting Spring Festival TIME: 9am Chamak is a 2017 Indian romantic events until April 25. The festival is Qatar Foundation (QF) has partnered comedy Kannada film. The film organised by the Organizing Committee with Torba Farmers Market, a Qatar-based stars Golden Star Ganesh as Kush, a of the Private Engineering Offi ce. This initiative that aims to deliver organic gynaecologist and Rashmika Mandanna year’s festival off ers a range of family- and locally-grown food and homemade as Kushi, a student, in the lead roles. A friendly fun including parades, shows, products, to host a weekly market in fun filled family movie that is packed with plays, music featuring top stars and Education City. Open to the public, that everyone will be able to children’s entertainment. Spring Festival market be held at QF’s Ceremonial Court, relate to. will also present fi ne arts events in the accessible from gate 2, every Thursday from Releasing in Qatar for all the Kannada Salute Qatar various sections of Souq Waqif Arts Center, 9am-4pm and every Friday from 8am-11am movie fans on this Friday the 2nd February WHERE: Holiday Inn including workshops directed to all visitors. and 2pm-5pm.The name ‘Torba’ is derived 2018 in Asia Town Cinema Screen # 4 sharp WHEN: Feb 9 from Arabic, and means “the pure soil that at 6.00 PM. TIME: 6.30pm Foodex Qatar 2018 feeds, nourishes, and nurtures.” A wide Contact: Subramanya Hebbagelu - Farook College Old Students Association WHEN: May 3-5 range of fresh, locally-grown items will 55641025 Qatar are an event named ‘Salute WHERE: Doha Exhibition and be on off er, including organic fruits and Qatar’ on Feb 9, 2018. The event consists of Convention Centre vegetables, homemade preserves, syrups, a live orchestra led by Muhammed Aslam, Qatar is the most urbanised nation among and butters, as well as handicrafts and a Bollywood singer and member of A R the GCC states. Urban lifestyles have raised gardening supplies. Rahman’s team. For further details, call the standard of living of individuals and FOSA General Secretary Askar Rahiman at changed their eating pattern, resulting Breakdance Classes 5550-9834. in a shift in the diet towards protein rich WHEN: Sunday-Wednesday foods as well as packaged and fast food. Breakdancing is part of the Hip Hop Laugh Out Loud Consumption of such premium products culture that originated in New York WHEN: Feb 9 has contributed to the growth of the food and has since spread all over the world. WHERE: Intercontinental Doha The City industry. FOODEX will strengthen the Breakdancing is an athletic and acrobatic TIME: 9am- 1am Qatari food industry to meet the standards style of dancing, which can often appear Eat, have fun and Laugh Out Loud with of rising expatriate population, tourism, and to defy the laws of physics. This extreme two of the fi nest Filipino comedians – developing tastes of Western foods. dance-sport uses tremendous upper-body Wacky Kiray and Boobita. The event will strength for tricks and poses and a great way start with a brunch meet and greet with to get into shape and have fun. Register now Wacky Kiray and Boobita. In the afternoon by calling 33003839 or e-mail registration@ onwards, the activities will be: Komikero/a atelierqatar.com (a stand-up comedy contest), videoke challenge, band performances, a comedy Zumba Session Asian community sports fest for show with guest artist and dance party. For WHERE: Bin Omran women further information call 7777-8542. WHEN: Sundays WHEN: February 2 TIME: 7pm - 8pm TIME: 7am-5pm Marketing through Social Media Participate in Zumba Sessions (Adults) Friends Cultural Centre Vanithavedi Where: 11-12 Feb every Sunday. For more information call (Womens’ Wing) is organising an Asian When: Tornado Tower, West Bay 33003839 or [email protected] community sports festival for women in HEC Paris In Qatar is off ering an connection with the Qatar National Sport Executive Short Program in “Marketing Salsa Nights Day. This is the first time such an event is through Social Media” with Kristine de WHERE: The Irish Harp-Sheraton Grand being organised for Asian women in Qatar, Valck, HEC Paris Associate Professor of Doha according to the organisers. Women aged Marketing. Remote-controlled car racing track WHEN: Every Wednesday 18 years and above can participate in the http://www.qatar.exed.hec.edu/ WHERE: Aspire Park TIME: 9pm competitions that are being organised in executive-short-programs WHEN: Thu, Fri, Sat Get ready for some Latin beats every two categories. TIME: 4pm-10pm Wednesday night, where all the salseros and Individual items include: walking 1.5km, Upside Down Show Aspire Zone Foundation has created a salseras in town meet and party all night. running race 100 metres, sac race, thread WHERE: Mall of Qatar custom-made track specially designed Entry is QR50 for gents. Ladies enter free. & beads race, and duck-walk race. Group WHEN: Ongoing till Feb 3 for remote-control car racing, for car For details call 4485 3000 events include a relay race and tug-of-war. TIME: 5:30 pm - 8:30 pm lovers across Doha. Interested motorsport There will be separate competitions for Kai Leclerc walks upside-down, with his enthusiasts can try the race track opposite Off -Road biking tour senior citizens aged over 58 years. Each feet stuck to the ceiling and his head pointed the Aspire Academy, from 4pm to 10pm on WHERE: Zekreet person can participate in 3 individual items to the ground, 9 meters below! In this Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays. WHEN: Fridays and group events. Programme is scheduled breath-taking performance, he combines Blue Pearl Experience Qatar is off ering the between 7am to 5pm. a fi ne humour with physical virtuosity. He Outdoor and fi ve-a-side football country’s fi rst off -road biking tour. Ride in For registration and more details. visit walks, dances, sings and juggles, all upside- pitches the desert on a fat bike to explore the local fccvanitavedi.wordpress.com or contact on down. WHERE: Aspire Zone fl ora and fauna spot desert wildlife, hike 5564-3799/ 6678-7007. WHEN: Daily up jebels, chill in the magic of the Richard Qatar Running Series TIME: 7pm-11pm Serra statues and this unique landscape. Travel and Street Photography WHERE: MIA Park Aspire Zone’s fi ve-a-side football outdoor Participants will get to cross the desert workshop WHEN: ongoing till April 13 pitches opposite Al Waab Street are available riding fat bikes from Zekreet to the Richard WHERE: Holiday Inn Doha - The TIME: 7am every day from 7pm until 11pm from Serra statues, on a route of approximately Business Park Get ready for Qatar Running Series at MIA Sundays to Thursdays, and on Fridays and 13kms. The route is easy to ride and suitable WHEN: Feb 2 Park. The events will take place in Mia Park Saturdays from 7am-11pm. for people with average fi tness. You must TIME: 4PM - 8PM and comprise of distances ranging from 3k be able to ride. Kids aged 9 and older are DK Photography Association is pleased to 10k. All events will be run on accurately Mahaseel Festival also welcome. The fee is QR 220 (QR190 to present a Travel and Street Photography measured short courses with multiple laps WHEN: Thu, Fri, Sat for ages 9-14) and includes bike and safety workshop by the most admired and will be restricted to a maximum of 130 WHERE: Katara equipment. The activity lasts about 2.5 photographer in India- Hari Menon. There participants. TIME: 9am-10pm hours.

Compiled by Nausheen Shaikh. E-mail: [email protected], Events and timings subject to change 4 GULF TIMES Wednesday, January 31, 2018 COMMUNITY COVER STORY A tale of empathy ‘Being somebody of that background myself who went through a war-torn country — from refugee camp to refugee camp with no food, no shoes — I feel like I can relate to them,’ Jacob Awar Ayuen tells Barbara Anderson

MAKING THE CUT: Hanford physician assistant Jacob Ayuen stands outside the Adventist Health Medical Off ices.

ometimes when refugees He was about 8 years old in 1987 called “The Lost Boys of Sudan” for that Ayuen left in 2001, is full once in the country that he fl ed as a Lost are at their lowest when civil war in Sudan drove him their likeness to the orphaned boys again of children and families. The Boy three decades ago. emotional point in and an estimated 20,000 other boys in Peter Pan. In 2001, the United 20-year-old civil war in Sudan Ayuen was herding cattle outside his offi ce in Hanford, mostly ages 8 to 12 to walk 1,000 States accepted 4,000 of those ended in 2005, but peace didn’t his village when the warning came. Jacob Awar Ayuen, a miles from their villages to safety, refugees who came to begin new last long. After South Sudan gained It was not safe to stay. psychiatricS physician assistant, fi rst to Ethiopia, and eventually to a lives in a country at peace. Ayuen independence in 2011, a civil war Young boys in southern Sudan will tell the patients his own refugee camp in Kenya. was one of them. erupted in 2013. A 2015 peace often lived in cattle camps away story of being a lost boy, walking Ayuen, now a 39-year-old But armed confl ict seemed to agreement dissolved in 2016 and from their families, and Ayuen was thousands of miles to escape a medical professional dressed in a follow him. His arrival in America fi ghting, mostly along ethnic lines, at such a camp in 1987 when war bloody civil war. dark suit and shiny black shoes, was delayed by the 9/11 terror has continued. erupted. There was no time, and it “Being somebody of that recalls the terror-fi lled, barefoot attacks. “People are still suff ering, still was too dangerous, to go home to background myself who went trek: “Four or fi ve times we were And fi ghting in South Sudan is dying,” Ayuen says. his mother. He followed older men through a war-torn country — from caught in crossfi re where some of never far from his mind. Ayuen He has brought children out of who led the young herders out of refugee camp to refugee camp with us were killed.” has family still there. South Sudan war-torn South Sudan to Kenya to the camp. no food, no shoes — I feel like I can He and the others who survived continues to uproot people. go to school. It’s a way he can make Barefoot, barely clothed, Ayuen relate to them.” the unforgiving journey came to be Kakuma, the Kenyan refugee camp life better for people who remain walked until his feet bled. And Wednesday, January 31, 2018 GULF TIMES 5 COVER STORY COMMUNITY walked some more. “You step on carried a younger brother. something sharp and you just keep And on the journey four years moving. You can’t dig it out. After a later from the Ethiopian camp to while, you get used to it.” Kenya, Deng says her stepmother There were nights without sleep was shot in her left foot before the and days fi lled with fear when wild family reached the Kenyan border. animals chased him. “We just tie the foot not to bleed Boys died. out and we move on.” “Some killed by lion. Some give Deng met Ayuen at the up because they couldn’t keep elementary school at the Kakuma walking. Some die of thirst.” Refugee Camp. They wed in Kenya They ate anything. in 2004. “Whatever we were killing is After the wedding, Ayuen what we would eat. Or you would returned to the United States to just eat the wild foods, the leaves. continue his education and to I know at one point they had to kill save money to bring Deng, who an elephant and we were lucky to was pregnant with twin boys, to get something to eat.” the United States. Ayuen briefl y After three months and 1,000 returned to Kenya to visit his wife miles from the cattle camp he had and sons Biar and Mach in 2007; fl ed, Ayuen and the other boys twin daughters, Nyang and Apajok, crossed the border to Ethiopia. No- would be born in 2008. one greeted them. There were no Deng and the children joined buildings. No homes. No running Ayuen in 2008 in Omaha, Nebraska. water. The boys divided into groups It was a diffi cult time, Deng says. of about a dozen. Ayuen helped In her home country, neighbours build houses, chopping trees and would drop by for tea and to chat, cutting grass with machetes for but in the United States she felt thatched roofs. isolated. “My husband has to work By 1991, the Ethiopian camp and go to school and I have to take had become a refugee haven. The LOVE’S LABOUR WON: Physician assistant Jacob Ayuen and his wife Alakiir Deng sit with their six children at their care of kids all the time. I have to United Nations had built a school Hanford home. Both Ayuen and Deng were Sudanese refugees during that country’s civil war 30 years ago. stay in the house.” and Ayuen was in third grade. Deng is now studying to be a But normalcy did not last. New York, two airline jets crashed Whether you have no electricity, underserved area. Hanford met licensed vocational nurse, taking Ethiopia was at war and the into the World Trade Center’s twin running water or no security.” that requirement, and Ayuen says classes in Fresno. She and Ayuen, inhabitants of the camp were in towers. At the same time, Ayuen says, Adventist Health aligned with his the two sets of twins and younger danger. Four years after he had fl ed “None of us could believe that people left behind in South Sudan values and personal beliefs. daughters, Ayak, 7, and Abeny, 3, Sudan, he had to go back through America could be attacked by expected fi nancial help from the Gary L. Hoff man, the behavioural live in a two-story home in a gated the strife-ridden country to reach planes,” Ayuen says. Passengers Lost Boys who had made it to health services clinical director, community in Hanford. They have the border with Kenya. were scared, anxious and America. “You’re making $7 an says “patients took” to Ayuen. “A made friends with neighbours, It was the same unforgiving trip. worried, but he remained calm hour, pay all the bills and try to send lot of the concerns that our patients attending children’s birthday The boys once again fought as the pilot diverted the plane to some money.” bring to us have to do with the parties. hunger, thirst, wild animals. They Newfoundland, Canada. “This was But he had a plan when he came challenges they face, integrating But they miss South Sudan — were shot at as they reached the not the worst experience for us.” to the United States, and it did not into a community, being uprooted, weddings, dances and cultural banks of the Gilo, a wide, fast- In the United States, Ayuen involve quitting: He would become displaced.” interactions. moving river. To avoid bullets, would be settled in Vermont. He a citizen, go to college and have a Hoff man hasn’t talked with And Deng and Ayuen worry they dove and swam underwater. lived with a host family for two career. Ayuen about being a Lost Boy, but about family and friends who Ayuen knew how to swim, but even weeks before moving into an While attending community he’s been amazed and impressed at remain in South Sudan. Among some of the boys who could swim apartment with fi ve other Lost college in Vermont he worked at how he has established himself in them are Deng’s mother, father and drowned, pulled underwater by Boys. They cooked together, played the factory and got another job at the community. “I appreciate him a brother. Ayuen has a brother and others who could not. soccer and dominoes, attended the American Red Cross, screening as a colleague and a friend, and I sister in Kenya. His father died in The boys continued on foot to church. And they got jobs — Ayuen blood donors. “It’s America. If you hope he’s with us for a long time to 2011, and his mother, four sisters Pochalla, a small town in southern at a soap factory. work hard, go to college you can get come.” and a brother are in Kenya. Sudan where they huddled for two It was culture shock. a job and you can improve your life. Ayuen had an incentive to build a “We’re helping our families back months. But as the civil war raged “In the factory, you have to deal And I’m a living example of that. career when he came to the United home,” Deng says. “They don’t closer, they moved to another town with the supervisor … you don’t I went to college and I work and I States. Before leaving Kakuma have anything there. Our country near the Kenyan border. Within know how it works. Break time, go have so many jobs.” Refugee Camp, he had proposed to is still in war and people are still hours, they had to run. A day later, to the bathroom. Get back to work. Ayuen came to Adventist Health Alakiir Deng, another refugee. He suff ering.” they stopped to rest, Ayuen recalls. Assembly line. The machine is Community Care in Hanford in needed money for a bride’s price Someday, maybe as a nurse, she “There was nothing there. No moving very fast. You’re too slow. 2014 as a psychiatric physician — a dowry — to marry and to bring can go back to South Sudan to help houses, buildings, running water. The supervisor is saying you have to assistant after graduating from Deng to the United States. the people, she says. “Maybe in the Just like the wild forest. We just get things going.” Union College, a Seventh-day Deng, 35, had experienced her future our country will settle down sleep in trees.” The United States did not match Adventist college in Lincoln, own harrowing escape from her and we can go back.” They walked farther to another the image of the country that he Nebraska. Ayuen had attended village in southern Sudan in 1988. A salary as a nurse also would town, and a rescue convoy came and his friends had created in their college on a National Health Service She was only 3 years old but had to help with the family’s fi nances — to three weeks later. Ayuen hopped minds. “A lot of people actually Corps scholarship that required walk the 1,000 miles to the refugee save money for college educations into the back of a cattle truck think it’s better back home. service after graduation in an camp in Ethiopia. Her mother for the children, help relatives in packed with refugees going to South Sudan and Kenya — and Kakuma. maybe for a vacation. Besides He entered fourth grade at a Initially, the United working at Adventist Health, Ayuen school at the Kakuma Refugee States did not match works weekends at Kaweah Delta Camp that local Kenyans had built Medical Center. for the children. the image of the “When she graduates, I can work A good student, by the end of less,” Ayuen says. “And we can elementary school he had earned country that Jacob aff ord a ticket to take (the children) high grades and was allowed to home, just to see it.” attend a high school outside of the Awar Ayuen and his Ayuen also wants to keep helping refugee camp. In addition to his friends had created in children in South Sudan. He has native Dinka and some Swahili, he brought a dozen children to a school spoke English. their minds. “A lot of in Kenya, who arrived this month. His studiousness would help “I’m the primary support for food him be selected as one of 4,000 people actually think and school,” he says. It costs $25 a Lost Boys to be resettled in the it’s better back home. month for tuition for one child. United States. He broke the news to Education made his life better, he friends at the camp: “I am going to Whether you have no says, and he wants others to have America.” the same opportunity. On September 11, 2001, he was electricity, running “I’m happy to give back, because on a plane to the United States. An I was a refugee like them.” — The hour before the plane was to land in CREDENTIALS: Jacob Ayuen’s ID. water or no security” Fresno Bee (Fresno, California)/TNS 6 GULF TIMES Wednesday, January 31, 2018 COMMUNITY Toastmaster clubs hold speech contests

Abha Ladies Toastmasters Club (ALTC), Al Khor recently conducted the third annual speech Slyvia, Shakir, Salam, Bijju and Safoora emerged winners. contest with the motto “Unity and Uniqueness”. Both the contests were conducted under the leadership of Area 17 Director TM Balkrishna The ALTC members competed in all contest categories – international, humorous, table Karande. The contests were supported by senior toastmasters Sundaresan Subramaniam, topics and evaluation. Toastmasters Hetal Patel, Elavarasi Guruswamy, Priya Vijayan, Jahnvi Jadhav Girish Jain, Nirmala Raghuramam, Sunil Kumar Menon , Area 16 Director and a member of Doha and Laxmi Balaji emerged winners. Toastmasters Club, and many in the toastmasters fraternity. Division Director H P Bhullar Singh Meanwhile, Shantiniketan Toastmasters Club also held its maiden contest. Toastmasters Wilson, was also present at both the contests.

BC Toastmaster Qatar conducts first session of year

BC Toastmaster Qatar recently conducted its first session of the year at a ballroom of the Star of his speech. Ashraf Siddique evaluated the session as the general evaluator. Noor Mohammed was Dhaka restaurant. BC Toastmaster Qatar is a club based on Bangladeshi community. voted as the best speaker for his speech titled “Economic cost of a War” and Mohammed Jasim Mohammed Salauddin, president of BC Toastmaster Qatar, commenced the session while Uddin was voted as the best table topic speaker. Khorshed Alam moderated the meeting as the toastmaster of the day. BC Toastmaster club is an umbrella body of Qatar Toastmasters Club which is an aff iliated institute Samir Hassan Musa steered the programme as module presenter and Noor Mohammed delivered of Toastmasters International. Monday, January 31, 2018 GULF TIMES 7 COMMUNITY TPSQ celebrates Sankranti Sambaralu 2018

Telangana Praja Samathi Qatar (TPSQ) recently celebrated ‘Sankranti Sambaralu 2018 at Al Khor’. of the event was colourful kite flying made of diff erent shapes and sizes especially brought from The colourful harvest festival was celebrated in Al Khor Family Park. India. Through this festival, people gratitude for nature’s abundant resources and good crops during the At the event, women enthusiastically decked the colourful Rangoli competition organised to mark winter harvest. the fresh harvest. In vigorously fought competition, Mamatha Rao emerged as the winner followed TPSQ rejuvenated the festivity with decorated dresses and playing various sports. Main attraction by Mamatha Anand and Bhavani as runners up.

Expert from Qatar Foundation lectures PISQ students on career planning

Saad Khalid, business expert and project director at Qatar Foundation, recently gave a He said that career choice was an uphill journey for young students and that they should keep comprehensive lecture on “strategising life and career to plan for the uncertain” at Pakistan themselves vigilant and well informed about the job market and its frequently changing trends. He International School Qatar (PISQ). said that without proper guidance, no aspired goal could be achieved. Over 200 students along with the staff members attended the lecture related to career guidance In his interaction with the students, Saad said that practice was needed to develop certain held at the school’s Arbab Auditorium. professional skills and for that they needed to allow professional career facilitators to intervene Saad Khalid has 20 years of experience in business strategies, shared services implementations, to achieve their goals. He told the students that they should socialise with others to know more business intelligence, system development, project and programme management and balanced about new trends in education. If possible, the students should travel to see what educational scorecard implementation. Saad Khalid started the lecture by introducing the topic to the students. facilities are available at diff erent institutes, he noted. 8 GULF TIMES Wednesday, January 31, 2018 COMMUNITY

PISQ students take part in THIMUN Qatar conference

The seventh annual THIMUN Qatar (The Hague International Model United Nation) conference diplomats to discuss and debate international issues in order to develop solutions to some of the was recently held at the Qatar National Convention Centre. It was off icially launched with a greatest challenges facing the global community. colourful flags procession. Eleven delegates of Pakistan International School Model United Nations (PISMUN) debated on Many delegates from Model United Nations (MUN) of local, regional and international level took various issues in various assigned committees as delegates of Kuwait. part in the conference. Directors PISMUN Mubarika Noman and Wasim Rana also attended the three-day conference. The theme of THIMUN Qatar was ‘Gender Equality and Empowerment for Women and Girls,’ PISQ Principal Raza Otho said, “THIMUN Qatar is a fabulous and a unique event where inspired by the United Nation’s (UN) Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 5. participants are taught leadership qualities and international aff airs. Indeed, it is a great training During the conference, participants were engaged in a simulation of the UN, taking on roles as forum where delegates learn the detailed procedure of UN and off er fresh solutions”.

DMIS celebrates 13th annual sports day

Doha Modern Indian School (DMIS) recently marked its 13th annual sports day with zeal, passion, Principal Rakesh Singh Tomar was also present on the occasion with other guests. vigour, and team spirit. The students participated in various track and field events with their supporters shouting and The four houses of the school namely, Ruby, Topaz, Emerald and Sapphire geared in various cheering them. Sport events such as races, tug of war, and athletics. contingents for the healthy competition. The march past was followed by the oath taking The final and the exciting segment was the tug of war where the Sapphire House trounced Topaz ceremony. The chief guest on the occasion was Jayashankar Pillai, Director – Taleb Group of House in boys’ category while the Topaz House bat the Ruby House in girls’ category. The Ruby Schools, and the guest of honour was David Thorp, Educational Consultant – Taleb Group. DMIS House clinched the best overall house . Wednesday, January 31, 2018 GULF TIMES 9 COMMUNITY

WINNERS: Steemgate from GEMS American Academy. Steemgate from GEMS American Academy wins Battle of the Bands

he International School of London (ISL) hosted the recently held second edition of the Battle of the Bands and it was a hard-fought battle indeed. Competitors ranged from very young bands to seasoned-looking, professional-sounding rockers. LightsT and sound equipment turned the ISL Gymnasium into a genuine rock stage, giving the audience the treat of a festival. The competition was expertly judged by Mike Donald, lead singer with local band Hot Mess, Frank Cuddumbey, international touring singer and pianist, and Vasileios Gkouzounas, resident guitar expert for 51 East / Yamaha / . They had a diffi cult time choosing between the top two bands, but in the end it was the old-school rock choices of GEMS’ Steemgate that clinched it in their favour. They put together a rocking programme and delivered high-quality performances across all instruments. It was a very tight ALL EARS: The panel of judges. victory over last year’s winners – Puffl e from Doha College – who owned the stage with incredible showmanship. Particular commendations were given for the outstanding skills of Puffl e drummer Jack Dillon. The event was sponsored by Fifty One East, who off ered as fi rst prize a generous QR4,000 to spend on instruments in their stores, together with an invitation to perform in Lagoona Mall. Second prize was an opportunity to perform, and a Fifty One East QR150 voucher for each band member. The two bands that drew in third place were also invited to perform at Lagoona Mall – they were Avalon from Doha British School and Outspoken from the International School of London. A star of the show award was given to one member of each of the eight contending groups, to recognise the stand-out musician in that band, either for their technical skills or performing energy. The other participating bands were Jamaha from Sherborne Qatar, Indecision from the American Community School, The Inhalers from International School of London Qatar, and Shard from Sherborne Qatar. RUNNERS-UP: Puff le from Doha College. 10 GULF TIMES Wednesday, January 31, 2018 COMMUNITY INFOGRAPHIC Wednesday, January 31, 2018 GULF TIMES 11 LIFESTYLE/HOROSCOPE COMMUNITY Super foods to be included in your beauty regimen

uper foods are no longer B12, vitamin C and vitamin A C and the antioxidant eff ects protect just to be found at the along with other elements like the skin from environmental hazards. grocery store. They’re now zinc, potassium manganese and It also stimulates the production of taking over the beauty calcium. All these nutrients skin collagen that brings smoothness aisles too. Nutrient packed together make up the ingredients and elasticity to the skin. foodsS are popping up nowadays to of long shiny hair. The retinol antioxidant gives the give your hair and skin that much skin softness and, renews damaged needed boost so go for it girls. z Apples have fi bre content called skin. The potassium present in the Sangeeta Velaskar, Vice President pyrus malus. This type of fi bre can grapefruit helps to smooth wrinkles and Head, Medical Services and R&D, serve as a balancing of pH levels and age spots and provides a Kaya Limited lists a few superfoods in the hair and helps clean the dirt protective shield against UV rays. and their benefi ts in today’s modern from the scalp so you can be free of age, to be included as part of your dandruff . z The super food Kiwi is a daily regimen: powerhouse of nutrients and off ers z Using products infused with a usual array of health promising z Basil extracts can work olive oil can reduce dandruff fl akes substances. The kiwi is particularly wonders for your hair. This infusion and help retain moisture in the hair rich in antioxidant, especially rejuvenates hair follicles, keeps Vitamins C and E as well as your scalp cool, and also promotes z Avocado extracts are great when polyphenols. Ideal to protect young circulation. used in the hair mask. It nourishes as skin, kiwi helps to prevent oxidative well as strengthens leaving the hair stress and protect from the damaging z Sugarcane extracts are an full of life. eff ects of pollutants. Kiwi is also excellent source of minerals that to involve these in your diet to get high in fi bre and low in calories, and an excellent source of Vitamin E support hair growth. Sugarcane Rishabh Mariwala, Founder at that desired and nourished skin. they contain bio-fl avonoids and that prevents the formation of free is often termed a health drink as Puresense, talks about the benefi ts of other plant chemicals that protect radicals that helps you achieve great it contains vitamins like vitamin two such super fruits and the reasons z Grapefruits are fruits that are against serious diseases. The vitamin skin. — IANS

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

A social event or group rally could put you in touch with some new and Today you could be hit with some exciting news, Taurus. It could involve Information that you receive from others and from within your own heart exciting people in interesting fields, Aries. You might even run into an old new people and new equipment coming onto the scene. It could involve could compel you to participate in some ambitious projects, Gemini. They friend you haven’t seen for a long time. This promises to be an exciting and an entirely new project or course of action that you never would have may be work related, connected with a group, or your own. Whatever stimulating day for you. Don’t be surprised if new doors to a great future imagined. This is likely to shape up to be a lucky break for you, as the new they are, you’re likely to find them interesting, challenging, and personally open for you. Enjoy! situation probably suits your skills and talents nearly perfectly. Make the gratifying. New opportunities for advancement and self-expression could most of this opportunity. It could make a big diff erence to you. be opening up for you. CANCER LEO VIRGO June 21 — July 22 July 23 — August 22 August 23 — September 22

Some exciting visitors could come to your door today, Cancer, perhaps Group activities or social events in your neighbourhood could put you in Have you been looking to branch out in a new direction, Virgo? If so, bringing Earthshaking information that could impact your life in a touch with new and exciting people who eventually become friends, Leo. this could be the day you get the lead of a lifetime. Or you might receive great way. You might start considering new lifestyle options. A group or Shared goals and interests could give rise to plans for ambitious projects. some unexpected information indicating possible new sources of income organisation, possibly associated with spirituality or metaphysics, could Whatever enterprises you start today are likely to prove successful if that you could pursue on your own. Whatever they are, new doors of suddenly seem attractive and you might consider joining it. Expect some everyone involved pitches in. In the evening, arrange for a quiet tête-à-tête opportunity are going to open for you that could make a big diff erence in fascinating discussions with a close person in your life. with your romantic partner. Enjoy your day! your lifestyle and catapult you into a higher socioeconomic bracket. LIBRA SCORPIO SAGITTARIUS September 23 — October 22 October 23 — November 21 November 22 — December 21

Unusual circumstances could arise that change the course of your creative Today you could decide to attend a class, workshop, or social event New information could be coming at you from all sides today, Sagittarius. orientation, Libra. This could involve modern technology in some way, involving people in a spiritual, metaphysical, or intellectual field. Books, magazines, TV, the Internet, and conversations with friends are and it’s highly likely that it concerns the gathering, sharing, and use of Fascinating discussions could lead to insights and revelations of your own, likely to bring exciting knowledge your way that reinforces some of your information. You could find yourself considering some unusual options, Scorpio. You could explore ways to harness your natural healing ability, own convictions. Your intuitive abilities aren’t lying fallow either. Insights which could involve changing jobs, your residence, or other factors perhaps through Reiki, massage, or other hands-on disciplines. Expect to and revelations could come to you that blend well with what you’re important to your lifestyle. spend the next few days being preoccupied with ideas you learn today. learning from outside sources. Write down your thoughts. CAPRICORN AQUARIUS PISCES December 22 — January 19 January 20 — February 18 February 19 — March 20

Surprising news about your own finances and the world economy in Some fascinating new information, possibly about spiritual or Dreams and meditation could lead to insights regarding how best to general could cause you to feel confident and secure about your financial metaphysical matters, could come your way today via books, magazines, handle your finances and make your money grow, Pisces. You could future, Capricorn. An unexpected raise in salary could come your way TV, or the Internet, Aquarius. Your own insights and revelations could receive some surprising ideas from newspapers, TV, or the Internet. Your soon, possibly because of sudden changes at your workplace. Some of the prove invaluable in increasing your understanding of what you read. In the level of intuition is very high. No matter how outrageous an idea may information that you receive could seem vague and uncertain at first, but evening, expect a surprising letter or phone call from someone you haven’t seem, consider it carefully before making a decision. A written plan of whatever news follows should clear it up. It seems a celebration is in order! heard from in a long time. Enjoy your day. action for anything you do would be helpful. 12 GULF TIMES Wednesday, January 31, 2018 COMMUNITY CARTOONS/PUZZLES

Wordsearch Adam

Pooch Cafe

World›s Largest Cities

AIRES JAKARTA PARIS BEIJING RIO DE BOMBAY MANILA JANEIRO BUENOS MEXICO CITY SAO PAULO CAIRO MOSCOW SHANGHAI CALCUTTA NEW YORK TIANJIN DELHI OSAKA TOKYO

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. Wednesday, January 31, 2018 GULF TIMES 13 PUZZLES COMMUNITY

Super Cryptic Clues Colouring

ACROSS DOWN 1. One of these days will be late 1. Shoot, you fool! (6) (8) 2. Wrongly contributing to 5. What it will evoke are one’s feeling of unease (9) thoughts of war (4-2) 3. Finding in the river one day a 10. A man of many parts? (7,8) spear (7) 11. For one pit in ten, it could be 4. With the plane hit I baled out, very important (7) having the strength (5) 12. Turning again to take the ice- 6. He helps a superior to speak breaker round in a circle (7) (7) 13. The wind about one makes 7. Tear out the number on top for imperfect hearing (8) afterwards (5) 15. Found with the top off and 8. Means to get a drink with the ripped (5) tips (8) 18. The man from Aberdeen? (5) 9. Describing the ring in the 20. It’s very rough when the advertisement (8) plane goes to the Pole (8) 14. Where impudent fish are to 23. Main-stay! (3-4) be found? (8) 25. I pour the claret out, making 16. Translates as: “Rust has Answers a performance of it (7) spread into the weather 26. Pioneers in excavation? signals” (9) Wordsearch Codeword (6,3,6) 17. Not so good as to stop you in 27. All ten are mad with anger your tracks? (8) (6) 19. He doesn’t have an S in 28. Before the girl gets the key to “shirker”! (7) go into the pub (8) 21. A month with nothing to drink really is good behaviour (7) 22. The British ladies I left to the dashing young men (6) 24. Avoid painting round the ends of the vane (5) 25. Be obliged to go in a car while he goes in a boat (5)

Yesterday’s Solutions

Across: 1 Cape Town; 5 Down: 1 Cuckoo; 2 Pivots; 3 Conger; 9 Covering; 10 Street; Terrace; 4 Wine; 6 Ostrich; 12 Outlaw; 13 Patience; 15 Veiled 7 Green tea; 8 Retreats; 11 threat; 18 Open question; Mandate; 14 Blue gum; 16 23 Rolled up; 24 Camper; 26 Boarders; 17 Tell-tale; 19 Elaine; 27 Camisole; 28 Stewed; Queenie; 20 Oration; 21 Oppose; 29 Flanders. 22 Briefs; 25 Fail. 14 GULF TIMES Wednesday, January 31, 2018 COMMUNITY CINEMA Much ado about a soulless film

2013 Drishyam in Malayalam with remade in Tamil and titled Papanasam, did not quite live up to the original. This despite the fact that the Tamil version was also helmed by Joseph and had a great actor like reprising Mohanlal›s role. I think the reason for this disappointment was Kamal’s idea (or insistence) that Jospeh should infuse the lead character with a liberal dose of emotion. This is where the Tamil work slipped, because Mohanlal’s Georgekutty — a smalltime television cable operator having dropped out of school when he was in class four — had an animal-like cunning, sans any emotional pull and was singularly bent on saving his small family from the clutches of cops. He succeeded with marvellous ease. Kamal got sucked into tears and lost the battle. It is not very diff erent with ’s Nimir, starring Udhayanidhi Stalin. This Tamil movie, culled out of the Malayalam gripper, Maheshinte Prathikaaram, a debut outing from Dileesh Pothan, is not half as exciting as the original was. Though the storylines are more or less similar, Fahadh Faasil gave an extraordinary performance in the Malayalam work as a smalltime photographer with a studio in a small town catering essentially to a clientele which was more than happy with passport photographs. Till of course, a young woman troops into his studio looking for a picture of herself that she can have it published on the cover of a magazine. But this is only a sub-plot, because the main narrative focuses on the lensman’s anger over being beaten up by a ruffi an. NOT WORTH A SHOUT: Padmaavat lead Deepika Padukone with Shahid Kapoor during a scene. Humiliated, the bruised and battered guy vows revenge, and promises himself and his imprisoned in Delhi, but also frustrates the dramatisation of an insipid story of a mad well-wishers that he will go barefoot till he By Gautaman Bhaskaran sultan’s obsessive desire to possess her, Sultan, who infatuated with the divinely lays his hands on the bully. But the toughie, smitten as he was by her ethereal beauty. good looks of a queen, is crazy about Vellaiyappan — played engagingly in Nimir Which he has not seen, but only heard possessing her. And you have a Rajput by Samuthirkani — has a sister, Malar rt and culture in India are about! king, who blunders and blunders all in the (Namitha Promod), and she fl ips for Stalin’s under threat. And so often this And. Padmaavat is shamelessly anti- name of honour only to be killed on the Selvam. comes from fringe political Khilji, which many in India saw as anti- battlefi eld by Khilji›s loyal slave. There are If Nimir gets into distractive songs and groups, whose narrow-minded, Muslim. Ranveer Singh as Khilji is all dark. no great performances either, and I saw dances, Stalin certainly does not have the outdated and radical thinking He is shown as a virtual beast, pouncing Ranvir Singh’s acting as uncomfortably kind of screen presence that Faasil had. And haveA begun to play havoc in a nation on food and women. He does not let go exaggerated. He was merely pushing home a the Tamil actor also looks uncomfortably known for its pluralistic and liberal values. them even on the day of his marriage to point of view that Bhansali’s script chose to wooden to essay a man whose pride has If Deepa Mehta and her two actresses Mehrunisa/actress Aditi Rao Hydari. propagate. Kapoor presented a sad spectacle, taken a severe beating (with his veshti/dhoti were chased out of Varanasi by extremist (The real Khilji was not just this; he was hardly the kind of image one would have ripped off by Vellaiyappan in a crowded groups which believed that the director celebrated for pathbreaking administrative associated a mighty warrior king with. bazar), and who has also gone through the was making a film, Water, that was anti- reforms that the later rulers followed.) So, Padukone was just too artifi cial to create any trauma of losing his childhood sweetheart, Indian, the same kind of men had Karan what was Sena’s problem with Bhansali’s lasting impression. Valli (Parvathy Nair), to a rich policeman. Johar begging to get his Ae Dil Hai Mushkil creation? And, why cast a great actor (and a great released. It had a Pakistani actor, Fawad Now for the actual cake. There is * * * director) like J Mahendran in an utterly Khan, and this was a no no at that point in absolutely no record, whatsoever, that a insignifi cant part, that of Selvam’s father. time. queen named Padmavathi ever existed in Nimir For, most of the time the older man appears And now, the recent weeks saw the Karni history. She is the fi gment of imagination Tamil moviemakers have hardly ever been he confi nes himself to monosyllabic Sena, a quasi-political organisation in — the imagination of a Sufi poet, Malik good with remakes. The Suriya-starrer, utterances! Rajasthan, baying for the blood of director Muhammad Jayasi, who in 1540 wrote Thaana Serndha Koottam, inspired by Neeraj However, one must laud Nimir — as also and actress Deepika the epic Padmaavat, in which a brave and Pandey’s riveting thriller in Hindi, Special many other Tamil fi lms — for its guts to Padukone. She plays Padmavathi in the beautiful Rajput queen chose to immolate 26, was a disaster. A while ago, Jeetu Joseph’s set its story in a small town. Tamil cinema movie, Padmaavat, a legendary 13h century herself in a ceremonial fi re rather than be is perhaps the only one in India that still Hindu Rajput queen who defi es the Muslim captured by Alauddin Khilji. weaves its plots around the countryside, Sultan of Delhi, Alauddin Khilji, out to Bhansali’s fi lm is based on this, and so its actors still bold enough to be seen in plunder her tiny kingdom of Mewar. it was not even history that the Sena was a veshti, its actresses in a half-sari. And, When her husband, the king, dies, talking about, but a mere folklore. Nimir uses the lushness of Tenkasi and Padmavathi fearing rape and murder at the Interestingly, while the Sena was crying surrounding areas to visually captivate us. hands of the invading army, leads the entire hoarse about how the movie had tarnished It is really a treat to see the greenery and womenfolk to commit Jauhar or suicide by Rajput honour, a 25-year-old teacher in the mountains beyond in a story that could jumping into fi re. Rajasthan told Huffi ngton Post that women have unfolded anywhere else. Priyadarshan Honestly, I could not, for the world should never think of Padmavathi as a role is well known for the way he gets the magic of me, fathom why the Karni Sena had model. But of course. How can any woman of the landscape into his frames, and this been opposing Padmaavat, re-titled from in this day and age think of immolating undoubtedly enriches his cinema. Padmavathi to appease hostile sentiments. herself! How could she! Padukone, whose nose was on the block As for the Bhansali’s fi lm, while it looks z Gautaman Bhaskaran has been (and Bhansali’s head as well), is shown as an pretty, picture perfect, an eyeful — with writing on Indian and world cinema close honourable, dignifi ed queen, who not only its lavish sets and attractive women seen to four decades, and may be e-mailed at saves her king, Ratan Singh (Shahid Kapoor), in seductive colours — Padmaavat off ers [email protected] the fi rst time he is captured by Khilji and nothing beyond these. It is a soulless Wednesday, January 31, 2018 GULF TIMES 15 MUSIC COMMUNITY

Ed Sheeran’s Shape of You won pop solo performance over Kesha’s Praying, a stark piano ballad about abuse that has found resonance with the #MeToo movement. When Sheeran’s name was called instead of Kesha’s, the energy in the room seemed to drain away, as though an opportunity for a moment had just been lost

Camila Cabello and Andra Day. And though the song’s lyric happily chooses nostalgia over engagement, Mars and ’s exuberant run through Finesse had so much positive energy that it became a kind of showcase of black and brown joy — a beautiful IGNORED: Kesha, right, performs with , left, and Cindy Lauper, third left, during the 60th Annual show in New York. AFP thing on a weekend when Trump’s Twitter fight with Jay-Z illustrated how contentious race relations in America remain. Lively and luscious Grammys were set for change, performances of and Wild Thoughts, the latter by the trio of Rihanna, DJ Khaled and Bryson Tiller, put across similar ideas. but that’s not what happened Still, the Grammys gave too much time to veterans like Sting Grammys, broadcast live on CBS the proudly traditional British A few awards captured that (who turned up on no fewer than By Mikael Wood from New York’s Madison Square singer, beat the more adventurous sense of possibility, as when three occasions) and Elton John, Garden, the major winners — and Beyoncé for of the year. Lamar won rap album with Damn whose Tiny Dancer with Miley many of the performances — largely Or maybe it reminded you of and rap/sung performance with Cyrus was handsome but had he Grammy Awards refl ected a reversion to type. 2016, when Taylor Swift’s 1989 Loyalty, his fierce but sensual nothing to do with music in 2018 giveth, and the Grammy Instead of Lamar or Jay-Z won over Lamar’s To Pimp a duet with Rihanna. Accepting the — unless you count the fact that Awards taketh away. taking album of the year with one Butterfly. Or 2015, when Beyoncé latter, Lamar stepped aside at the the Recording Academy is putting When the Recording of his bold works about race and also lost, in that case to Beck. microphone to let his collaborator on an elaborate tribute to Academy announced masculinity, won the You get the picture. take the lead — an encouraging him later this week. nominationsT in November for flagship prize with 24K Magic, his Mars wasn’t the only talented sight at a moment of increasing Indeed, several parts of the music’s most prestigious prizes, impeccably realised homage to but undaring artist who rode a respect for women’s voices. show — including a lengthy the notoriously fusty industry the and of several familiar approach to Grammy And the show was hardly free of Broadway sequence and an group raised the tantalising decades ago. glory on Sunday. Alessia Cara, the powerful performances. unfunny attempt by host James prospect that its members finally And instead of record of the friendly Canadian pop singer, beat Lamar opened the program Corden to transfer his popular got it. year going to Despacito — a SZA and Lil Uzi Vert for the new with a stunning medley built Carpool Karaoke bit to the subway With multiple nods for the likes Spanish-language love song artist award. around his song XXX that had him — felt crassly promotional, as of , Jay-Z and the that became something of an And Ed Sheeran’s Shape of You surrounded by dancers in combat though they’d been arranged Puerto Rican duo of Luis Fonsi anthem in the face of President won pop solo performance over fatigues and assisted by comedian in cahoots with and Daddy Yankee (whose song Trump’s harsh rhetoric regarding Kesha’s Praying, a stark piano , who told the tourism officials. Despacito was 2017’s biggest), immigrants — the trophy went ballad about abuse that has found audience that “the only thing So the Grammys were back in the academy seemed to be to Mars again for his album’s resonance with the #MeToo more frightening than watching a New York for the first time since acknowledging that, in a rapidly throwback title track. movement. black man be honest in America 2003. Big deal. Mention it once changing world, great pop should In fact, Mars swept the When Sheeran’s name was is being an honest black man in and move on. strive to embody new values Grammys’ highest-profile called instead of Kesha’s, the America.” Then again, how could we instead of merely upholding the categories with a win in song of energy in the room seemed Kesha pushed her voice to the expect the academy to resist any old ones. the year for That’s What I Like. to drain away, as though an breaking point to do Praying with chance to look back? Well, maybe next time. The achievement called to mind a opportunity for a moment had help from several other female It’s what these folks do best. — At Sunday night’s 60th similar sweep in 2017, when , just been lost. pop stars, including , /TNS 16 GULF TIMES Wednesday, January 31, 2018 COMMUNITY Amid the war, humans work together to rescue animals With all the complexity and danger of a military operation, rescue missions for animals caught in war zones – most recently the ravaged Syrian city of Aleppo – require extraordinary team work, uniting people exactly at a time when violent divisions are all too normal

CHECK UP: Veterinarian Amir Khalil examines the lion Simba in February 2017 at the zoo in the war-torn Iraqi city of Mosul.

convoy out and then drove a different By Simon Kremer route,” Khalil said. The journey took three weeks before the animals could finally be brought to a safer n happier times, families came to place. admire the animals. But later, as the Shortly after their arrival, a lioness gave Syrian war dragged on, the lions, birth to a cub, which, however, died a bit tigers, bears and hyenas became later. emaciated, barely surviving. Many “On the surface, the animals are in good Ididn’t. Shrapnel is littered around the pens. condition and in the meantime have settled Replica ancient columns lie toppled over. in well,” the veterinarian says. “But just This is the Magic World theme park, on like humans, the animals are seriously the edge of the war-ravaged city of Aleppo. traumatised.” Much of it was in ruins when Amir Khalil, It only requires the sound of a helicopter a veterinarian, and his team arrived with overhead to send the animals scurrying for transport cages and lorries. shelter. Their mission: To rescue the last zoo Vier Pfoten operates worldwide, rescuing animals and bring them to a safer place. animals from war areas and operating “I can’t help people. I’m a veterinarian,” rescue centres for abandoned animals. Khalil says. “I believe that animals belong Shortly before its Aleppo action, the group on our planet and that we must also help had saved a female bear and lioness from them.” Mosul, in northern Iraq. Half a year has passed since he and his RESCUER: Veterinarian Amir Khalil prepares an injection at the zoo in the war-torn Iraqi city of “Sometimes animals can accomplish team made their way to Aleppo in order to Mosul. something that humans cannot,” Khalil rescue the remaining animals. The creatures says. “Often during war, humanity goes were brought to Turkey in a project that alive, and 13 of them were rescued. checkpoints to pass through between lost. But that so many people were involved resembled a military operation in the Khalil, who for more than 20 years Aleppo and the Turkish border. in rescuing the animals shows that amount of planning. has worked to free animals in all parts of “We spent months planning the rescue humanity is returning.” Some 300 animals were living in Magic the globe, recalls the pitiful condition action,” Khalil says. Despite the dangers, he is now already World when the war in Syria broke out in of the animals – “emaciated and totally The various rebel groups, as well as the planning his next animal rescue operation 2011. There were carousels, an aquarium dehydrated.” Syrian authorities, were informed ahead in the Middle East, this time in the Gaza and exotic animals such as monkeys, lions In the end, he and his team succeeded of time, and security organisations offered Strip. and crocodiles. in transporting five lions, two tigers, two their help to Khalil’s animal protection When Khalil speaks of animals, he refers But then Aleppo became one of the most Asian black bears, two hyenas and two dogs. organisation, called Vier Pfoten (Four Paws) to them as “ambassadors,” because they embattled cities in Syria. The team lived in constant fear of air based in Vienna. bring together many different people in By the middle of 2017, only a few of the attacks that their very conspicuous convoy “We learned that we were to be stopped their rescue operations. In a region plagued erstwhile several hundred animals were still might attract. There were numerous along the way. And so we sent an empty by wars, it’s a comforting thought. – DPA