Scientists Were Stumped When Seabirds Started Dying. Now They Know Why. P4-5

Community Community The students Dr Tejinder of Grade-XI of Singh, P6SIS organised P16 founder and farewell event MD of Q-Tickets, ‘Valediction’ for speaks about how he the outgoing set up the company batch of Grade-XII. and what his vision is.

Tuesday, January 21, 2020 Jumada I 26, 1441 AH

Doha today: 160 - 230

Dénouement Scientists were stumped when seabirds started dying. Now they know why. P4-5

COVER STORY 2 GULF TIMES Tuesday, January 21, 2020 COMMUNITY ROUND & ABOUT

PRAYER TIME Fajr 5am Shorooq (sunrise) 6.22am Zuhr (noon) 11.46am Asr (afternoon) 2.50pm Maghreb (sunset) 5.11pm Isha (night) 6.41pm

USEFUL NUMBERS

Jai Mummy Di the trials and tribulations a couple has to undergo due to the CAST: Sunny Singh Nijjar, Sonnalli Seygall, Supriya Pathak dynamics between their respective mothers. Emergency 999 DIRECTION: Navjot Gulati Worldwide Emergency Number 112 SYNOPSIS: A light-hearted family comedy that portrays THEATRES: Royal Plaza, Landmark 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 Hamad Medical Corporation 40253368, 40253365 Dhamaka Annie because of her strong ﬁ nancial background and the two Qatar Airways 40253374 DIRECTION: Omar end up getting married. However, his marriage turns into a CAST: Sabumon Abdusamad, Idavela Babu, Dharmajan ﬁ asco when he fails to establish an emotional connection with Bolgatty her. SYNOPSIS: Eeyo, an unemployed man, gets attracted to THEATRES: Landmark, The Mall, Royal Plaza

ote Unquo u te Q“Knowing is not enough; we must apply. Willing is not enough; we must do.” – Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

Community Editor For movie timings and Kamran Rehmat further details please scan e-mail: [email protected] the QR code above with your Telephone: 44466405 mobile phone camera or visit qatarcinemas.com Fax: 44350474 Tuesday, January 21, 2020 GULF TIMES 3 ROUND & ABOUT COMMUNITY

WHEN:Ongoing till July 1 school includes Group Music lessons, Hip- TIME: 6:30pm – 9pm hop, Ballet, Drawing and Painting, Drama Get trained by experts to be a good speaker. Theatre & Taekwondo. Ages between 5 and 10 Smedley Toastmasters is conducting a years old after school hours six-month speech-craft programme that teaches new members to speak conﬁ dently and develop leadership skills. For more information, 66053485, 33232490 or visit www.SmedleyToastmasters.org

Shop Qatar 2020 WHERE: Malls in Qatar WHEN: Ongoing till January 31 TIME: Entire day Shop Qatar has something for everyone, including beauty masterclasses, fashion shows, shopping off ers, mall activities and shows, raffl e draws, and Chinese New Year celebrations.

The Colour Run 2020 water sports, Winter Dragon Boat Festival WHERE: QNCC is back to show us their fast rowing skills. WHEN: January 25 Dragon boating is a canoe-sport and was TIME: 7am – 10pm originally a traditional festival game dating Your Health First is a ﬁ ve-kilometre, back 2,000 years throughout Southern untimed event. At each kilometre mark, China. It has now become a popular sport Colour Runners are doused from head to toe with competitions held around the world. in a diff erent coloured powder. Participants wear white at the starting line and ﬁ nish the race plastered in colour. Once the 5k is over, the fun continues at the Finish Festival, a larger-than-life party equipped with music, dancing, photo ops, activity booths, vendors, and more massive colour throws, which create millions of vivid colour combinations.

Children’s Fashion Show WHERE: Al Miqab Mall WHEN: January 24 TIME: 2pm – 4pm After School Activities Open Evening Find the coolest looks from your favourite WHERE: Atelier WHERE: Cafeteria Stenden University brands for your younger ones at a fun WHEN: Ongoing Qatar children’s fashion show. The action is Music and arts activities for students WHEN: Tomorrow happening at Mirqab Mall in the Atrium on taking place after they ﬁ nish their day in TIME: 3pm – 6pm January 24. Metro Street Food WHERE: DECC Metro Station Sonu Nigam Live in Qatar WHEN: Ongoing WHERE: Asian Town Amphitheatre TIME: 12:30pm WHEN: January 23 Street Food is the ideal venue for a leisure TIME: 7:30pm onwards experience for the whole family off ering over Back by popular demand, Sonu Nigam, returns to wow his fans once again in a one-night only 20 dine-in options and 18-hole World Mini- concert. Presented by Q-Tickets the event is part of Shop Qatar Festival and under the aegis of Golf setup. Qatar National Tourism Council. Sonu Nigam has sung over 10,000 songs in diff erent languages and has received over 40 mainstream awards.

Winter Dragon Boat Festival 2020 WHERE: Museum of Islamic Art WHEN: January 24 Public Speaking Classes for Adults Row, paddle, hurry up! Qatar’s largest WHERE: Sharq Capital, C-Ring Road

Compiled by Nausheen Shaikh. E-mail: [email protected], Events and timings subject to change 4 GULF TIMES Tuesday, January 21, 2020 COMMUNITY COVER STORY What killed the birds In the winter of 2013, a mysterious blanket of abnormally warm water appeared in the Gulf of Alaska and wreaked havoc on marine ecosystems from the Bering Strait to Mexico for three long years, writes Jennifer Lu

THE BLOB DID IT: Half a million to 1.2 million common murres starved to death during the 2014 to 2016 marine heatwave — about 10% to 20% of the population.

Did that get my attention? Yeah, you bet. This level of mortality and over this range is just mind-blowing

— John Piatt, wildlife biologist at the ‘ US Geological Survey in Anchorage ’ Tuesday, January 21, 2020 GULF TIMES 5 COVER STORY COMMUNITY

n the fall of 2015, two years daily diet of about 60 to 120 high- into a heatwave in the Pacifi c fat forage fi sh, including sardines, Ocean colloquially known as ‘The Blob’ killed the murres herring and capelin. Without food, “the Blob,” an unusually large murres starve to death within three infl ux of common murres, a In the winter of 2013, a blanket of abnormally warm water dubbed to fi ve days. Ismall northern seabird, began to Many of the dead or dying wash ashore. “The Blob,”,pp appeared in the Gulf of Alaska, the Bering Strait and murres that washed ashore had They overwhelmed rehabilitation Mexico fforor three years. A million to 1.2 mimillionl common murres empty stomachs and little to no centres. body fat or muscle. They stopped laying as many starvedstarved to ddeatheath dduringuring duringduring thisthis perperiodiod because the warmed “As the bottom of the ecosystem eggs. was shifting in not good ways, Their starved carcasses littered water decimated their foodfooodo sourcesource. . the top of the ecosystem was the coasts from California to the demanding a lot more food,” Parish Gulf of Alaska. CommonCommon murremurre said. The murres got caught in “an Scientists believe they now know Alaska intense competition for absolutely what went wrong. The answer A ppenguin-like,enguin-like, not enough food, which is what involves the Blob and how it rippled killed them.” across multiple levels of the marine fish-eatingfish-eating bbirdird BeringBering In many ways, the murres are the food web, and it comes amid more ofof thethe ccoolerooler SeaSea perfect climate change bellwether. reports of rapidly warming oceans. northernnorthern Gulf of While the Blob eventually In the winter of 2013, a San dissipated and murre populations mysterious blanket of abnormally oceans.oceans. Mexico stabilised, the heatwave off ered a warm water appeared in the Gulf Francisco glimpse into how warming oceans of Alaska and wreaked havoc in a warmer world push marine on marine ecosystems from the populations toward collapse. Bering Strait to Mexico for three WarmedWarmed byb U.S. This month, a study in Advances long years. Species lower in 5.45.4 to 10.810.8 in Atmospheric Sciences reported the food web that prefer colder Pacific that global ocean temperatures in waters, which tend to be fattier, FahrenheitFahrenhei Ocean 2019 were the warmest on record, more nutritious phytoplankton a trend that has continued for the and zooplankton that feed the last decade. forage fish eaten by sea lions and Hawaii A recent special report from sea birds — were replaced by TheThe CommonCommon Murre the Intergovernment Panel on warmer water species of lower nnestsests alongalong rockyrocky Climate Change found that nutritional value. marine heatwaves have doubled A whole new ecosystem was cliffscliffs and spendsspends its in frequency since 1982 and are establishing itself all the way up wwinterinter at seasea.. Equator expected to become 20 to 50 times the food chain, said Julia Parrish, more frequent if we don’t curb professor of marine sciences at the 1,000 km greenhouse gas emissions. The University of Washington and a co- panel also projected that oceans author on a new study published in 1,000 miles will absorb two to four times more PLOS One that characterises murre heat by the end of the century mortality and breeding failures Source: Los Angeles Times, NOAA than they did in the past 50 years during the heatwave. Parrish also Graphic: Bay Area News Group if global warming is limited to 3.6 directs the Coastal Observation and degrees. Seabird Survey Team (COASST), Last week, NOAA and NASA the largest citizen monitoring they never go and had never been three marine ecosystems over 3,700 with the common murre for food released a report that the last program of beached birds in the seen before,” Smith said. “They’re miles of coast and lasted up to nine — projected that a 3.6 degree decade was the hottest on record world. squarely an ocean species and don’t months in the Gulf of Alaska, where Fahrenheit increase in water worldwide. Fish populations shifted to colder belong in freshwater environments the murres were hardest hit. temperatures would have jacked up Climate change isn’t just a long- or deeper waters, making it harder at all. It was a clear sign something “Did that get my attention? fi sh appetites by 34% to 70%. term upward trend in which each for top predators, including two was wrong.” Yeah, you bet,” said Piatt, who Given that predator fi sh already year is warmer than the last, Parrish types of auklets similar to murres, Reproductive rates in murre has been studying murres since out-consume seabirds 10- to 100- said. Climate change also brings to fi nd food. colonies from California to the the 1970s. “This level of mortality fold under normal conditions, they more extreme weather patterns, But that still doesn’t explain the Bering Sea also plummeted and over this range is just mind- would have completely decimated including unpredictable marine murres. alarmingly. Colonies that had been blowing.” the food supply during the Blob. heatwaves of greater frequency and Common murres are the masters stable for decades stopped laying Piatt suspected there was more to Sure enough, while dead murres magnitude. of their universe. One of the best eggs. From 2015 to 2017, 22 murre their plight than the redistribution were washing ashore in droves, “We don’t know whether we’ll adapted seabirds in the northern colonies from California to the of poorer quality prey, given the adult Pacifi c cod populations in look back at this period of time as hemisphere, they can outfl y other Bering Sea didn’t produce a single murres’ superlative ability to fi nd the Gulf of Alaska were “silently fi ve years of die-off s being reported seabirds and speed from shelf to chick. food across the lengths and depths crashing” below the surface, Piatt very frequently or as the beginning coast in a few hours. Underwater, In all his years studying the birds, of the continental shelf. said. of a new normal condition,” said they’re agile enough to catch fast- Piatt said he could count on one Piatt and his colleagues looked So the murres were hit with a Smith. moving prey and strong enough to hand the number of colonies that again at the food supply, but double whammy that exploited one “Many of the species that we’re dive to the depth of two football had failed before 2015. through a diff erent lens. of their few vulnerabilities — their talking about — both the birds and fi elds. “These birds are so productive Researchers studying models of high metabolism. the fi sh — are pretty resilient,” If the fi sh move, they can move, and effi cient,” Piatt said. “This just predator fi sh — including Pacifi c The small seabird, which weighs Parrish said. A murre might live for too. doesn’t happen.” cod, arrowtooth fl ounder and about 2 pounds, must eat 56% of its 20 or 25 years and over that period Yet half a million to 1.2 million Altogether, the die-off s spanned walleye pollock, which compete body mass each day to survive — a of time, lay 10 or 15 eggs, more than common murres starved to death enough to replace itself and its during the 2014 to 2016 marine mate. heatwave — about 10% to 20% But what happens if they are of the population, said John Common murre die-offs in the Gulf of Alaska assaulted by another or several Piatt, wildlife biologist at the US Blobs? In the summer of 2019, a Geological Survey in Anchorage Deaths in thousands warm mass of water appeared in the and the corresponding author on Low estimate High estimate Gulf of Alaska that resembled the the study. original Blob of 2014. The heatwave On a stretch of beach more than The Blob (2014-2016) has since shrunk in size but remains a half-mile long in Prince William one of the fi ve largest heatwaves on Sound of Alaska, their carcasses Exxon Valdez spill record in the North Pacifi c in the numbered in the thousands. last 40 years, according to NOAA. Melanie Smith, a director based (1989) “So we’re all sort of sitting on in Alaska for the National Audubon the edge of our seats. … It seems Society’s Migratory Bird Initiative, like we’ve just about gotten back who was not affi liated with the Storm (1970) to normal down here in the lower study, recalls seeing murres as far 48 states,” Parrish said. “There’s inland as Fairbanks. 200 400 600 800 1000 only so much a population can take “The murres were so desperate Source: PLOS One Graphic: Jennifer Lu, Los Angeles Times/TNS before they go into free fall.” for food, they were going to places — Los Angeles Times/TNS 6 GULF TIMES Tuesday, January 21, 2020 COMMUNITY

SIS bids farewell to outgoing batch of Grade-XII

The students of Grade-XI of Shantiniketan Indian School (SIS) recently organised a farewell of values wherever they go bringing laurels to this institution. He led the pledge and wished event ‘Valediction’ for the outgoing batch of Grade-XII. The event was attended by Dr Subhas the students success. Shihabudeen Pulath, advised the students to utilise the values and B Nair, Principal of SIS, along with Shihabudeen Pulath, Senior Vice Principal of SIS; Dudley skills learnt in school and also to reflect upon the experiences shared by the alumni. Dudley O’Connor, Vice Principal; Abdul Salam, Administrator, and head teachers, faculty members and O’Connor, reflected upon the mortal nature of human life and told the students to assess their alumni. own worth, to be themselves and not to let others influence their behaviour. Speaking on the occasion, Dr Subhash B Nair enlightened the students on the generation Tabarak, Smart Suresh, Hesham, Ayesha Rasheed, Grade-XII students, expressed their gratitude of human existence from the time of conception, to birth endorsing the values of love, care towards their teachers who guided them in studies and nurtured with care to enhance their and sacrifice. Students were reminded of parental love and were motivated to imbibe infinite skills and to help them keep abreast with the growing demands of the world. gratitude for their parents, the very source of life. He further reminded the students about Riya, Assistant Head Girl of SIS, delivered a speech on ‘Rise and Shine’. The outgoing batch was their teachers from the kindergarten level. He advised the children to be exemplary models also felicitated on the occasion. The event featured dance and musical performances.

ICAI Doha conducts course on ‘Blockchain Technology for Professional Accountants’

The Doha Chapter of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of India (ICAI), in association with network, distributed ledger technology, hash and smart contracts. He also explained using cases of Digital Accounting and Assurance Board of ICAI New Delhi, recently conducted a five-day the blockchain in various finance functions, including trade finance, kyc and identity management Certification Course on ‘Blockchain Technology for Professional Accountants’ at Doha Bank and reporting to identify its suitability for the organisation. He also demonstrated practical use and Auditorium. functionalities of the blockchain by explaining the Ethereum and building blocks. Hemant also Rukkaiya Pachisa, Chairperson of ICAI Doha, welcomed the participants and outlined the illustrated the smart contract and explained how it diff ers from the traditional contracts. importance for finance professionals to be tech-savvy and stay updated in line with the Narasimhan Elangovan highlighted about the functional aspects of blockchain and technological evolution and digital transformation that are aff ecting the jobs and functions of comprehended the areas where the usage of blockchain can result in a substantial cost and finance professionals in a significant manner. time advantage. He analysed sectoral impact of blockchain on various business segments and Dr R Seetharaman, Group CEO of Doha Bank, also attended the session. He explained the assessed blockchain from regulatory, governance, risk and control aspects. He also discussed participants about the impact of Industry 4.0 and provided insight into new concepts, including global business scenario and some of the analytical tools of blockchain. He predicted that while data analytics, cloud computing, internet of things and blockchain. there will be a paradigm shift in the jobs and functions of the accounting field, the emergence of The course was conducted by Hemant Singh and Narasimhan Elangovan. Hemant spoke about the new technology will also pave a way for many opportunities. Nirlep Bhatt, Secretary of ICAI the essential elements and characteristics of the blockchain, including cryptography, peer to peer Doha, proposed a vote of thanks. Tuesday, January 21, 2020 GULF TIMES 7 COMMUNITY

Nepali team wins opening match of 8th Asian Community Football Tournament 2020

Nepali team recently won the opening match of 8th Asian Community Football Tournament is taking the opportunity to promote ‘Visit Nepal 2020’, an ambitious programme launched by 2020 by scoring five goals against Bangladesh at Al Arabi Stadium. The Nepali team includes Nepal Government to attract two million foreign tourists in Nepal. The team is supported by former and current national Nepali league players, including Arjun Subba, Jas Bahadur Rai and Kanduka and Grace Securities, Cosmic, Nasser al-Sada, and Mandala Restaurant. Bharat Dhital, along with experienced players Ranjit Neupane, Purna Thami, Purna Danuwar The members of Nepali team who played in the opening match, included Arjun Subba, Striker and Raj Kumar Choudhari. The first goal was scored by Arjun Subba via a free kick, which was and Team Captain; Purna Thami, Goal Keeper; Purna Danwar, Central Defence; Roshan Limbu, followed by Dilla Para Limbu and Rakesh Sapkota with second and third goal, respectively. In the Central Defence; Tej Narayan Limbu, Right Defence; Suman Limbu, Left Defence; Jas Bahadur, second half of the match Shayanu Bhusal and Arjun Subba scored fourth and fifth goals. Midfielder; Sachin Sedhai, Midfielder; Rakesh Sapkota, Ring Wingers; Dilli Para Limbu, Left Winger; Speaking on the occasion, Sanjeev Ranabhat, President of Nepali Team, said that it is always an and Surendra Bhudathoki, Striker. opportunity and sense of pride to play in the community tournaments. He added that his team – Text and photos by Usha Wagle Gautam

Entries going fast for The Color Run

Color Runners are registering quicker than ever to participate in the sixth edition of The Color Since its inception in 2012, The Color Run has become a global phenomenon. It has been Run presented by Sahtak Awalan: Your Health First, an initiative of Weill Cornell Medicine- experienced by over 7 million people worldwide in 40+ countries and has donated $5 million Qatar, stated a press release. to charity globally. Packs are selling out fast for the Happiest 5k on the Planet, taking place on January 25 at the Date: Saturday, 25 January 2020 Qatar National Convention Centre (QNCC). The Color Run encourages everyone to discover Timing: Doors open at 7am the fun side of exercise and pay it forward to those in need. Participants get to enjoy the Venue: QNCC positive vibes and cheerful colourful surroundings while walking, jogging, skipping or running Categories: and knowing that a portion of the event’s proceedings will be supporting education for out-of- 1. Little Color Runners (aged 4 and under) without Participant Pack school children by donating a portion of the proceeds for the Together Education Project in 2. Little Color Runners (aged 4 and under) with Participant Pack Qatar. 3. Regular Color Runner This year’s ‘Love Tour’ theme will bring family and friends together to take them on an 4. Deluxe Color Runner experience, getting soaked in bright colours as they move from one station to the next Participant Packs: throughout the 5k course. 1. 2020 Limited Edition Love Tour Little Color Runner Participant Pack: Love T-Shirt, The fun continues at the Finish Festival, a party equipped with music, photo opportunities, Headband, Reusable Bag, Medal at Finish Line, Sun Tattoo, Badge, Bib, Welcome Card, Sponsor activity booths, vendors, and more massive colour throws, creating millions of vivid colour Goodies, Color Packet at Finish Line combinations. 2. 2020 Limited Edition Love Tour Regular Participant Pack: Love T-Shirt, Headband, The 2019 edition welcomed over 10,000 Color Runners, and this Saturday’s event is on course Reusable Bag, Medal @ Finish Line, Sun Tattoo, Badge, Bib, Welcome Card, Sponsor Goodies, to be even bigger. Color Runners in Doha vary in age, nationality, physical fitness and reasons Color Packet at Finish Line for running. With no winners or official times, the event caters to everyone – first time runners 3. 2020 Limited Edition Love Tour Deluxe Participant Pack: Deluxe Parking, 2020 to seasoned athletes. More than half of the participants are first-time 5K runners. Limited Edition Love Tour Glasses, Socks, Bracelet and Bandana, Love T-Shirt, Headband, The last few Participant Packs are available at thecolorrun.qa and from Al Meera at Hyatt Plaza Reusable Bag, Medal at Finish Line, Sun Tattoo, Badge, Bib, Welcome Card, Sponsor Goodies, with cash from 4pm till 8pm ( till January 23) and 2pm – 10pm (January 24). Color Packet at Finish Line 8 GULF TIMES Tuesday, January 21, 2020 COMMUNITY GARDENING

Why you should plant into a tight ring, creating an trees in square holes underground girdle that will choke the plant, eventually resulting in Planting a tree is one of the the severe stunting and even death easiest ways you can make a of your treasured tree. lasting diff erence to your local The very simple and environment and, depending counterintuitive act of digging on the species, enjoy decades of a square planting hole will fl owers, fruit and autumn colour dramatically reduce the chances – all in return for a modest outlay of this happening. This is because and a few minutes’ work. systematic planting trials have Although putting a tree in the shown that roots are not that good ground might not sound like at growing round corners. When rocket science, in recent decades they hit the tight, 90-degree angle scientifi c research has overhauled of your square hole, instead of much of the traditional wisdom sneaking around to create a spiral, about planting saplings, including they fl are out of the planting hole some ideas that sound a little to colonise the native soil. strange. So, let me explain why This has been shown science proves that it’s better to consistently to speed up tree plant trees in square holes. establishment and make the Traditionally, trees were specimens more resistant to planted in round holes, perhaps environmental challenges, such because their trunks are as drought. Considering that round, as is the spread of their spade blades are fl at, digging a canopies. It was just one of those square hole, to me at least, seems seemingly obvious, unquestioned far easier than cutting a perfectly assumptions. But here’s what circular one. It’s an easy win-win. happens to the tree’s roots when Want to boost your chances you plant them in a round hole, of success further still? Instead especially one fi lled with lots of of incorporating loads of rich LIVING SHELF: Despite their relatively low carbon footprint, there are still ways to make houseplants more sustainable. rich compost and fertiliser, as organic matter and fertiliser the old guide books suggest. The in the hole, simply backfi ll the little sapling will rapidly start hole with the soil that you have growing new roots that will spread dug out of it. This will further out into the rich, fl uff y growing reduce the “container eff ect” Are your houseplants media, giving you excellent early on the roots’ behaviour. While success. However, once they hit you are at it, prune any twisted the comparatively poorer and or matted roots from the edge compacted soil at the perimeter of the root ball before you plant of the hole, the roots will react the sapling. Despite feeling a bit environment friendly by snaking along the edge of the brutal, this sort of root pruning hole’s edge in search of more ideal actually triggers the production of growing conditions. compounds that actively stimulate Eventually, this spiralling action root growth. around the limits of the hole will So, if you have tree-planting Keep your ‘plant miles’ down by following these tips create a circular root system, ambitions this season, skip the with the plants essentially acting extra eff ort, and get better results much as they do when grown in a by planting round root balls into on importing, greenhouse use and propagating, container. Once the roots mature square holes. they will thicken and harden – The Guardian writes James Wong

have been getting loads production chain of houseplants, car trips either. As indoor gardening of questions about the transport is one of the lowest involves a tiny fraction of all these sustainability of houseplants sources of carbon emissions inputs, relatively it really has a recently. To me, it’s very wherever you chose to source them small carbon footprint. encouraging that people from. So what can we do to reduce it Iare so interested in greening their What is the highest? According further? First, propagate plants indoors (in both senses of the to most studies, the heating used yourself from seed or cuttings. word). Here is a quick run down to keep enormous glasshouses at It’s a great way to share the love, on the environmental impact of the correct temperature. Yet due to get plants for free, and (almost) houseplants, and how to shrink it as economies of scale, these state-of- eliminate all the associated much as you can. the-art glasshouses are (perhaps emissions. The major concern I hear is that counterintuitively) more fuel Secondly, talk to your houseplant the vast majority of houseplants effi cient than smaller scale ones. supplier about going peat-free sold in the UK are imported, Some growers are even seeking to (most still aren’t). As consumers, racking up ‘plant miles’ on their lower their footprint further by use your buying power to help push journey from the huge nurseries in outsourcing production to warmer for vital change. the Netherlands. However, all you places, such as the Canary Islands, Don’t buy novelty houseplants need do is look at a map to see that to propagate plants outdoors that are essentially designed to die, Holland is as close, if not closer, without the need for heated glass. like poinsettias, chrysanthemums to many of us here in Britain than Transported to Europe by ship, and sprayed cacti. The grower other parts of the UK. Secondly, this turns out to be a much greener philosophy here, that a short these plants are transported here option. Calculating sustainability lifespan will encourage repeat by road and ferry, which produces can often yield some surprising purchases, is one that results in not only a fraction of the carbon results! a great deal of waste and puts off emissions per mile of ﬂ ying, but While there is obviously far newbies who blame themselves and signiﬁ cantly less than smaller scale more work that can be done, it is feel disheartened. deliveries would generate from UK important to appreciate this in the Finally, remember that nurseries. If you are driving to your wider context. Even if you have a while everything we do has garden centre to buy houseplants, plant collection as massive as mine an environmental impact, a the emissions from your car will (more than 500 and counting), that houseplant hobby is unlikely to be almost certainly be greater than is nowhere near as many plants one of the biggest drivers. But there ROUND PLUGS IN SQUARE HOLES: it’s counterintuitive but trees thrive the emissions generated in getting as one might have in an outdoor are always simple ways to shrink it when not planted in round holes. it from grower to garden centre. garden. Nowhere near as much further. In fact, it is fair to say that in the compost, fertiliser, water, tools or – The Guardian Tuesday, January 21, 2020 GULF TIMES 9 TRAVEL COMMUNITY Searching for winter hygge? Then head to the Danish island of Fano Desolate beaches, grey skies, piercing winds – it all makes tucking into some traditional rice pudding in a cosy tavern at the end of the day all the more satisfying. Welcome to Fano, where Danish hygge is a way of life. By Andreas Heimann

n this cold and frosty The island used to be the home Danish morning, the port of a large shipping fl eet, sky is one big canopy and had a population three times of grey. There’s no as large as it has today. But the one to be seen on harbour that was once so vital SonderhoO beach. An icy wind to the community’s existence blows over the desolate sand dunes has long since silted up and from the sea, which blends with disappeared. the clouds on a distant horizon. Now, the main attraction is the Luckily, Helen Dorte Mahler is 15-kilometre-long beach on Fano’s used to all this. Wrapped in a snow western side, which turned the suit, the 37-year-old takes one island into Denmark’s fi rst spa or two cautious steps forward on resort in the 18th century. In the the beach. It’s low tide and the sea village, the Sonderho Kro is one of has retreated a long way, allowing the oldest inns in Denmark, built a thin layer of ice to form on the in 1722. tidal mudfl ats. And it’s not just historic, but Mahler spends a lot of time on romantic too – about 500 couples these fl ats, even in winter. She get married on Fano every year. regularly leads guided tours of “The high season for this is from her island, where, in the summer May to September – and then months, seals can be seen resting in December,” says Lone Muller on the mud fl ats. But on this Sigaard, who works as a registrar winter morning, it’s too cold even on the island. “December is the for the seals. hygge month.” It’s not exactly cosy. But Fano, TRADITIONAL: Houses on the Danish island of Fano are made from traditional materials, with thatched roofs. In winter, when it’s cold and a small island off the west coast dark outside, the feeling of of Jutland, is considered to be Mahler has lived with her family don’t have proper foundations,” Fano winter. Mahler knows the cosiness and security can be felt particularly hyggelig – that in a thatched house in Sonderho our guide explains. island intimately, and in good even more intensively. uniquely Scandinavian concept of since moving here from Hamburg Inside one of them, Lone Muller weather she shows visitors the During the dark winter evenings, snuggling down for winter. four years ago. The traditional Sigaard sits hand-sewing a jacket, seals resting on the beach after guests gather in the parlour of Fano lies west of Esbjerg in buildings are a feature of the just like the one she used to wear, their excursions into the Wadden the Sonderho Kro, with its low the Wadden Sea off the coast of island, and the village was voted and like the ones her mother and Sea, the North Sea and beyond. But wooden ceiling and Dutch tiles on Jutland. Esbjerg is easy to reach the most beautiful in Denmark in grandmother used to wear before today, the sandbanks are empty. the walls. The feeling of security, by car or train, and the ferry from 2011. her. “They belong to the special Fifteen amazingly detailed and the knowledge that your meal Esbjerg takes less than a quarter of None of the houses have more traditions of Fano, which have model ships are displayed in will conclude with a traditional an hour. It runs regularly even in than two fl oors, and they seem never died out here,” she says. “I’m Sonderho’s surprisingly large rice pudding, is perhaps the very winter, between the mainland and to have been built without any making one for my daughter now.” 18th-century church, testament to essence of hygge. the island town of Nordby. straight lines. “The houses here Sewing, she says, is part of the the village’s seafaring traditions. – DPA

DESOLATE: Visitors to the Danish island of Fano during winter must be prepared to experience FOGGY: Conditions are often very foggy in winter on the Danish island of Fano. some desolate conditions. 10 GULF TIMES Tuesday, January 21, 2020 COMMUNITY INFOGRAPHIC 2019 second warmest on record According to analyses by NASA and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Earth's global surface temperatures in 2019 were the second warmest since modern recordkeeping began in 1880. Yearly temperature anomalies from 1880 to 2019, 1.0 Graphic shows rapid warming in the past few Degrees decades, with the past 0.5 celsius decade being the warmest.

-0.5

1880 1900 1920 1940 1960 1980 2000 2020 Source: NASA, NOAA Graphic: Staff, TNS Tuesday, January 21, 2020 GULF TIMES 11 LIFESTYLE/HOROSCOPE COMMUNITY Maintaining healthy cholesterol

fats intake, and to eat more soy By Christopher Allen foods, nuts, oats or barley. Eating more fi bre and vegetables can help manage cholesterol levels, too. egular testing will And the more exercise, the better; spot if you have high the government says two and a cholesterol, but it’s half hours of moderate-intensity best to make early exercise per week is the minimum. changes to your Taking 10,000 steps a day is good lifestyleR to minimise the risk of a for you but unless that gets you out heart attack or stroke of breath and your heart rate up, The fi rst challenge is persuading you need to do more. people to get their cholesterol If, after three months of tested. The second is making sure improved diet and increased they get it done by a healthcare exercise, someone’s cholesterol professional, whether that is levels haven’t shifted much, there with a GP or a practice nurse, or may be genetic issues at play. That at an NHS Health Check. Some is why it is just as important to pharmacies and supermarkets are understand your family medical starting to off er tests, and there are history as it is your own numbers. local initiatives, too. Some people have normal Symptoms of high cholesterol cholesterol and blood pressure, show only when you are starting but have a family history of heart to get heart disease as a result: you disease and heart attacks or build up a lot of fatty plaque in strokes, so they are still prescribed your arteries, start to experience medication, most often statins, shortness of breath, chest pains which are taken once daily. or angina. By that point, the Everyone should see their GP condition is irreversible – and Prevention is absolutely better know we are not as active as we leads to our cholesterol levels every year to have their cholesterol the earlier in life you have a than cure. should be, that we are increasingly being too high. and blood pressure checked. A lot heart attack or stroke, the worse Most people can start with overweight and that our intake of For most people, the fi rst step can change in 12 months. your long-term outcomes are. lifestyle factors. As a nation, we saturated fats is too high – that would be to reduce their saturated – The Guardian

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

Your level of physical and mental energy should be very high today, Your level of imagination and inspiration should be operating at A group with which you’re aff iliated could ask you to take care of a Aries, and so you could feel restless throughout the morning. As a a very high level today, Taurus, so if you’ve been planning to start few tasks. This might involve making phone calls, running errands, result, you might spend your afternoon and evening out and about, a new artistic project, this is the day to do it. You’re also likely to or both. Your energy and enthusiasm are high, Gemini, so this is a shopping, paying visits, or attending classes or lectures. Some be feeling quite intuitive, so don’t be surprised if you find yourself good day to prove how valuable your work is and how eff icient you stimulating discussions could take place. At some point, you might tuning acutely in to the thoughts, feelings, needs, and desires of are. Make sure that you don’t take on too much, however. You won’t find yourself admiring a park or garden. others, even strangers. be helping anyone if you tire yourself out. CANCER LEO VIRGO June 21 — July 22 July 23 — August 22 August 23 — September 22

Important projects, either job related or personal, might need to be A long-awaited vacation may be coming up soon for you, Leo. The This could prove to be a very busy day, Virgo. Someone close to you completed today in order to meet a deadline or fulfil a promise. This study of travel books might be on your agenda for today. You could might come to you for advice on how to manage their resources, could require a lot of mental and physical eff ort on your part, Cancer, spend much of your day making the necessary arrangements, perhaps because of successes you’ve had in the past. This might which could prove somewhat stressful. Others might lend a hand, making phone calls, completing paperwork, and running errands. take up more time than you’d planned for, but you’ll enjoy helping however. It’s very important for you to remember to pace yourself. If You might need to set up the care of pets or plants for your absence. your friend. Information received from TV or newspapers could you work when you’re exhausted, you might not like the results. Excitement runs high and so does enthusiasm. bring a new interest into your life. LIBRA SCORPIO SAGITTARIUS September 23 — October 22 October 23 — November 21 November 22 — December 21

Social events, probably family related, could take up a lot of your Your home today could be like Grand Central Station, with lots of This is probably going to shape up to be a busy and rather chaotic time today, Libra. They might involve outings, perhaps to parks people coming and going and a lot of activity taking place within the day. You might find yourself spending a lot of time out and about, or other recreational areas. You’ll enjoy it, but your mind may be house itself. The phone could be also ringing off the hook, Scorpio. Sagittarius. You may need to run a lot of errands and see a number on other matters, possibly projects you’re involved with. Some You might wonder if your sanity will remain intact, but you’ll make of people. A friend might accompany you. Phone calls might need stimulating conversations with someone close to you could take it through without going nuts. The problem is that there could be so to be made in order to make arrangements for future events, and place. much stimulation that you’ll be too geared up to sleep. someone might take up too much of your time calling to chat. CAPRICORN AQUARIUS PISCES December 22 — January 19 January 20 — February 18 February 19 — March 20

Today you should be feeling very energetic, Capricorn, both A lot of physical and mental energy could be channelled today into Some boring paperwork regarding money, which you may have been physically and mentally, and you’re likely to feel rather anxious for artistic projects of some kind, Aquarius. Your intuition is running putting off , might need to be executed today. Bills may need to be some physical activity. Go for a workout if you have time or for a rather high, so you might know instinctively what friends and paid, deposits put in the bank, and new accounts opened. You could short walk if you don’t. A lot of your time is likely to be spent working children are feeling before they tell you. You could also pick up a lot spend some time formulating new plans for the future. This probably on challenging tasks that keep your mind active. You should be of their anxieties as well. You’ll need to relax a little. Go for a workout will take up a lot of your time, Pisces, but there will still be enough for pretty keyed up by the evening. and then attend a concert or sporting event. You deserve a little fun! you to go shopping and make a few necessary purchases. 12 GULF TIMES Tuesday, January 21, 2020 COMMUNITY CARTOONS/PUZZLES

Wordsearch Adam

Pooch Cafe

AESCHYLUS MENANDER PLATO HERODOTUS SOCRATES TIMON AESOP ARISTOPHANES EUCLID HESIOD PERICLES PLUTARCH SAPPHO SOPHOCLES XENOPHON ALCIBIADES ARISTOTLE EURIPIDES HOMER PINDAR POLYBIUS SIMONIDES THUCYDIDES ALEXANDER CLEON

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, January 21, 2020 GULF TIMES 13 PUZZLES COMMUNITY

Super Cryptic Clues Colouring

Across 1 Favourites about to show pace Down (4) 1 Normal colours? (8) 3 Arab and Scot producing 2 Heather - a girl’s name (5) tumblers (8) 4 Words that should be used to 9 Airman coming from make address right? (7,6) Scandinavia to Russia (7) 5 Open - and finished on time (5) 10 More for the actor in a crowd 6 Journalist’s work may be scene (5) definite or indefinite (7) 11 Strained, having neither won 7 TV series seen in the bathroom nor lost (5) (4) 12 Tempt with some different 8 Weight carried by expert ice-cream (6) without delay (2,4) 14 It takes a turn for the better 13 Mistakes made with flowers (8,5) (8) 17 Invented and resolved 15 Without weapons, like Venus differences (4-2) de Milo! (7) 19 Tokyo, strangely, is a city in 16 Look alive! Weigh cup Japan (5) soundly! (4,2) 22 Capital person settled in 18 Boredom of nun going mad in manor (5) eastern island (5) 23 Use live explosive that’s had 20 Name of female oil-producer to pin down (7) (5) 24 Ragtime for Cinderella (8) 21 Vehicle taken right across 25 Studies, mostly stupid (4) Manchester, initially (4) Answers Solution Wordsearch Codeword 14 GULF TIMES Tuesday, January 21, 2020 COMMUNITY BOLLYWOOD I cast actors based on talent, not political opinion: filmmaker Tiwari

effort to avoid political By Arundhuti Banerjee commentary in her films? “There are so many people who make their comment on politics, why ilmmaker Ashwiny me? Why does a film have to do Iyer Tiwari says her that? Also, every filmmaker has process of casting has his or her way of telling a story. no connection with In my films, politics and conflicts an actor’s personal or exist in the human mind and the politicalF opinion, but it depends situation. So I create characters on talent and the demand of story. who have minds with conflict, Tiwari is gearing up for the takes challenges and narrate how release of her new film Panga, they emerge with flying colours,” starring Kangana Ranaut with said Tiwari. Richa Chadha and Neena Gupta. Does the tag ‘female filmmaker’ She has worked with actresses bother her? “Yes, it does. I like Swara Bhaskar (Nil Battey know I am a female and that has Sannata) and Kriti Sanon (Barelly nothing to do with what I do as Ki Barfi) in the past. a storyteller. I mean half of the “When it comes to casting, I go time the audiences do not even by my gut feeling and their ability know who the director is. They go to perform. Whether it is Swara, and watch the film for the stars. I Richa and Kangana, undoubtedly am happy with that, because any they are brilliant actresses. As a filmmaker wants his or her film film director I see the character to be the most-watched. Earlier in them on screen, and that is there were less female filmmakers, important for me to get rather and people used to mention that than what their political opinions fact, so it was okay. But just as are. If, as a director I constantly PROFESSIONAL: Ashwiny Iyer Tiwari addresses at the trailer launch of her upcoming film. these days there are many doctors have to think about how they are or pilots who are female, it is not as an individual off the screen, I added: “Who does not have an completely different political to-people relationship but her a surprise and it does not need won’t be able to create a character opinion? Even in a household ideology can work together in a politics never reflects in her a special mention that the case and extract a performance out of that we live, people can have a film if they believe in the story.” storytelling, as it does in the should be the same with film them on screen,” Ashwiny said. different opinions on regular However, it is quite interesting case of a few contemporary directors as well,” she replied. On differences of opinion and things. That does not mean we to notice that Ashwiny, in all filmmakers. Panga is slated to release on professionalism, the filmmaker cannot co-exist. Two people from her films, focuses on people- Does she make a conscious January 24. – IANS

Kuch Hota Hai, that’s what K3G was,” said the director, adding: “I took the storyline of Kabhi Kabhie and the family values of Hum Aapke Hain Koun and made this mush of a fi lm.” “K3G is the single biggest slap in my face and my biggest reality check,” he said. Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham is a family drama. The fi lm stars Amitabh Bachchan, Jaya Bachchan, Shah Rukh Khan, Kajol, Hrithik Roshan and Kareena Kapoor Khan in leading roles, with Rani Mukerji appearing in an extended special appearance. It tells the story of an Indian family, which faces troubles and misunderstandings over their adopted son’s marriage to a girl belonging to a lower socio- economic group than them. Karan opened up about the fi lm on Audible Suno’s show Picture ke EXCITED: Raveena Tandon says: “I am really excited for the world to see a Peeche. story that I have worked very hard for.” The director said that he was shocked when the fi lm did badly in Raveena to produce “I am really excited for the world REALITY CHECK: Karan Johar, centre, said that he was shocked when the terms of reviews and awards. web series on to see a story that I have worked film did badly in terms of reviews and awards. Talking about Kareena’s famous personality disorder very hard for. This web-series is a character of Poo, Karan said: “Poo, gripping story that I have written KJo: K3G is biggest the biggest fi lm in Hindi cinema OMG! You should go and check Actress Raveena Tandon will be and it will surely keep the viewers slap in my face since Mughal-e-Azam until online. There are lines, memes and writing and producing a web series on the edge of their seat. Concept- Aamir Khan’s Lagaan and Farhan games on Poo, but at the time only on multiple personality disorder. wise this web-series is something Filmmaker Karan Johar says his Akhtar’s Dil Chahta hai,” Karan Bebo and I loved her character.” She is backing the project very diff erent I have tried, so I 2001 movie Kabhi Khushi Kabhie said. “I am Poo, that’s who I am, under her home banner AA hope people love it,” Raveena said. Gham (K3G) is the biggest slap His main aim was to have a great I wrote all the lines, picked the Films. The web-show will be in Other details of the show have in his face and his biggest reality star cast. clothes, everything,” he added. the psychological space and is been kept under wrap. An offi cial check. “I thought that I’m making “I made the same fi lm as Kuch – IANS based on the concept of split- announcement will be made soon. personality. – IANS Tuesday, January 21, 2020 GULF TIMES 15 HOLLYWOOD COMMUNITY ‘You can hear their pain’ Hannah J Davies on Chasing Cosby and the rise of #MeToo podcasts

IN THE DOCK: Bill Cosby attending court in September 2018.

I kept all my fi les down stories. There is a universality only two. Several shows have in my basement, in a Once known as ‘America’s Dad’, about hearing these women’s voices already aimed to untangle the waterproof box. I thought, Bill Cosby’s legacy is now one of a without seeing their faces that gives story of Jeff rey Epstein, since the you never know — the it a certain resonance. Egan tends sex off ender’s death. The trend scandal might bubble up prolific sex offender. A new podcast to agree. “I think [the format] is has extended to fi ction, too. again.”“ better for listeners because they can In December, Wondery — the Nicki Weisensee Egan is meets women who brought him to just listen to their stories instead company behind hit podcasts explaining how she came to spend justice – and it’s not the only one of focusing on ‘What does her hair including Dirty John — released 15 years delving into the most look like? What did she say?’ You Blood Ties, a scripted thriller that shocking fall from grace of any know how nasty people get when follows two siblings wrestling 21st-century celebrity — and what journalist alights on a disturbing Rashad [who played his wife on the you go on TV.” Although they did with ethical dilemmas when she did when the case went dark. As detail about the man once known as Cosby Show],” she later explains. make a powerful video trailer, her posthumous rape allegations are a reporter at the Philadelphia Daily “America’s Dad”: “There was never “It was young, inexperienced subjects felt more comfortable off made against their millionaire News in 2005, she was the fi rst US a hint, not even a whisper that he women, people who wouldn’t be camera. “It’s hard for them to relive father. And Canada’s CBC is set to journalist to delve into sexual- wasn’t who he seemed to be … but believed should they dare to come that trauma, over and over again.” air a new show in February, Asking abuse allegations against Bill Cosby, that Spanish Fly routine was there, forward … people don’t realise Perhaps due to this combination For It, which promises “artful, the once-feted entertainer who is hiding in plain sight.” Years before, that a lot of Cosby’s victims were of power and the agency it aff ords poetic storytelling about a queer now a known, prolifi c rapist. When the Cosby Show patriarch had teenagers.”) Crucially, her series to victims, podcasting appears relationship in the shadow of Cosby wriggled out of multiple joked on stage about slipping an interweaves the fi rst-person to be attracting more #MeToo- power, control and violence.” allegations in 2006 with an out- “aphrodisiac” into women’s drinks, accounts of the women who themed tales than ever. Late last Podcasting, Egan stresses, is of-court settlement, Egan held while audiences guff awed. Little spoke out, among them Andrea year, Ronan Farrow launched the a “very powerful medium” for out hope that he might one day be did they know that he would later Constand — a star basketball Catch and Kill podcast, elaborating exploring these kinds of cases. brought to justice. Then, in 2014, be found guilty of drugging and player who believed Cosby to be on his part in the Weinstein “These accusers had really been a video of the comedian Hannibal abusing multiple women. a mentor — and Tamara Green, a scandal and interviewing those thrown under the bus — Cosby and Buress accusing Cosby went viral It is the sort of prophetic detail lawyer who came forward to back with claims against the Hollywood his people were calling them liars and things were quickly reignited. some might sensationalise — an up Constand’s testimony with her mogul. Earlier this month, the — so it’s important to hear from Today, Cosby is behind bars, having audacious breadcrumb dropped by own similarly grim story of being New York Times launched a new them directly,” says Egan. “You can been sentenced to between three a predator. Yet Egan sounds grave drugged with what she believed to strand of its news podcast, The hear the pain in their voices, the and 10 years in prison in 2018 and and measured as she explains his be cold medication. Daily, dedicated to the proceedings emotion.” Indeed, when speaking — having written a book about the “double life” and the grooming Egan puts the Cosby accusers against Weinstein; in its fi rst truth to power, sometimes actually case — Egan is refl ecting further in techniques he used against young, front and centre, and they read episode, we fi nd out why, out of speaking is the hardest part. a new podcast, Chasing Cosby. vulnerable women. (“He wasn’t their names out in the opening numerous possible complainants, Chasing Cosby is available on Early in its fi rst episode, the going after people like Phylicia episode before they share their the case ended up focusing on Spotify and Apple Podcasts. 16 GULF TIMES Tuesday, January 21, 2020 COMMUNITY Entrepreneur: finding solution for someone’s problem eff iciently Dr Tejinder Singh, founder and MD of QTickets, speaks about how he set up the company and what his vision is. By Mudassir Raja

atar is a country with Ventures on Sports (Football) and everything lots of opportunities and anything across the world. www. for talented and penalty-kick.com & www.the-wau.com skillful individuals. Dr Singh’s experience of 25 years The country has in being a leader in the industry 360 WiFi - A Wi-Fi monetisation Qprovided a promising has cultivated to creating market solution that not only gives each future to numerous individuals leaders like BPO+ and Q-Tickets. That, guest a secure Internet who take their chances and work however, is just the tip of the iceberg. access anywhere but also build tirelessly. Dr Tejinder Singh, profile of each customer and detailed founder and MD of QTickets, He is the founder of: analytics. www.360-wifi.com is one such individual who is a ‘serial entrepreneur.’ He believes BPO+ (Business Process 360 Nautica – A venture and a in the policy that someone’s Outsourcing), Qatar and Oman. growth capital fund with a focus problem is an opportunity for an www.bpo-plus.com on helping companies from idea entrepreneur. Dr Singh, who has stage to IPO. Focus on start-ups been in Qatar for over 13 years, Q-Tickets.com is a Singapore based across verticals with potential to recently spoke to Community ticketing platform with presence scale through diff erent territories. regarding his professional across GCC & India. www.q-tickets. www.360-nautica.com achievements and headway in com Qatar. 360 Ticketing – an enterprise Before moving to Qatar, Dr EazyDox – Go Green, Convert to ticketing platform supporting end Singh had successfully launched Paperless. www.eazydox.com customers by offering a complete four start-ups in India. “I started range of ticketing services of a call centre – Sparsh – that Qatarday – The most widely cinema, concerts, events, shows, was the first Indian call centre accepted Social Media search sports, musical concerts, arts and to be registered with Mumbai portal in Qatar. Qatarday has won theaters globally. www.360-ticketing. stock exchange. When I came Gold Award in Best Crowd Sourcing com to Qatar 13 years ago, I started Category Pan Middle East, 2012 & working with call centres as it 2014. www.qatarday.com Atpik – The First & Only online shop had expertise to work for E-BPO in Qatar as a one Stop shop when it (Electronic Business Process Penalty Kick and The World comes to grocery items/ best deals in Optimisation). THE BPOs I have Around Us – Social media platforms Doha. www.atpik.com worked with are established brands in the Middle East. After that, I started different digital concert of Sonu Nigam. We are out with a solution. That is where assets. I founded Q-Tickets. I bringing the famed Indian singer Q-Tickets was born.” have worked with projects related on popular demand. Nigam is “We started with one cinema. to Wi-Fi monetisation.” the singer whose songs have After that we never looked back,” Dr Tejinder and his team are equally been popular from mid he added. working to get involved into the 1990s till today. We are going to According to the successful entertainment world and event organise the concert at Asia Town entrepreneur, Q-Tickets has now management. “Q-Tickets has to accommodate more people. In become more of an information Photo by Nasar K Moidee become a large e-commerce future, we will try to bring in the portal. “On weekend, people want platform in Qatar today where entertainment events that either to have some entertainment, they maximum numbers of third the people have not seen or they invariably visit Q-Tickets. People “We are working to bring in specifi c party transactions are made want to see again and again.” have lots of choice at the portal. in the entertainment industry. Being a serial entrepreneur, We have given the people a choice entertainment events for certain Now, we are focusing more Dr Singh has been trying to on their mobiles.” on entertainment. Gradually, materialise the business ideas Dr Singh has noticed that segments of society. We have we are making Q-Tickets an that are required or demanded in different segments of population entertainment company. We are Qatar. “I do not want to do what in Qatar have different targeted expatriates from Western going to introduce kids playing I can. Rather, I work on the ideas entertainment needs. “We are areas and playing concepts like that are high on demand in Qatar. working to bring in specific and Arab countries. We also have 360play, a new brand that we I have been trying to pay back to entertainment events for certain launched last year. The brand Qatar. Our company is going to segments of society. We have been collaborating with diff erent is based on entertainment get involved in sports and media targeted expatriates from Western perspectives. We want to include management.” and Arab countries. We also have event organisers... We want people all entertainment segments and Dr Tejinder who started been collaborating with different genres in Qatar.” Q-Tickets in 2013 actually event organisers. to come to Qatar. We are working Q-Tickets has started identified a problem and “In the recent future what I organising events in the country. converted it into an opportunity. want to see is more quality in the to promote T-10 cricket. I fully “We have got involved in the “Entrepreneurs have a bread line. entertainment market. We need event management. Our first We always feel that somebody’s to raise the entertainment level in appreciate the eff orts of Qatar event was a stage play Mughal-e- problem is our opportunity. Qatar. We are trying to contribute Azam. It was a huge event with a When I moved to Qatar, I used towards that,” adds Dr Singh, “We National Tourism Council and grand show – the largest Indian to go to the cinema every week. want people to come to Qatar. Broadway. There were 125 people I used to face different kinds of We are working to promote T-10 diff erent sport federations” in the crew and the play was issues in obtaining timely tickets cricket. I fully appreciate the staged for two consecutive days. for suitable seats. Similar issues efforts of Qatar National Tourism — Dr Tejinder Singh It was house full. Our second I faced with different events. I Council and different sport event is going to be the musical thought to myself: “Let’s come federations.”