dangerous cycle - gulf times

CommunityNepal Magar Association – Qatar

Chapter organises event to mark its 37th anniversary celebrations.

P6 P16 CommunityThe third edition of Cultural

Diversity Festival concludes at Katara’s amphitheatre with colourful folk dances.

Dangerous cycleCOVERSTORY

Atmospheric methane is surging, and that’s got scientists worried. P4-5

Monday, March 4, 2019Jumada II 27, 1440 AH

Doha today: 150 - 240

BOLLYWOOD HOLLYWOOD

Trolling adds pressure on

entertainers: Priyanka.

4

Ann M Martin’s books to get a

TV series by Netfl ix.

Page 15

Monday, March 4, 20192 GULF TIMES

COMMUNITY ROUND & ABOUT

Community EditorKamran Rehmat

e-mail: [email protected]: 44466405

Fax: 44350474

Emergency 999Worldwide Emergency Number 112Kahramaa – Electricity and Water 991Local Directory 180International Calls Enquires 150Hamad International Airport 40106666Labor Department 44508111, 44406537Mowasalat Taxi 44588888Qatar Airways 44496000Hamad Medical Corporation 44392222, 44393333Qatar General Electricity and Water Corporation 44845555, 44845464Primary Health Care Corporation 44593333 44593363 Qatar Assistive Technology Centre 44594050Qatar News Agency 44450205 44450333Q-Post – General Postal Corporation 44464444

Humanitarian Services Offi ce (Single window facility for the repatriation of bodies)Ministry of Interior 40253371, 40253372, 40253369Ministry of Health 40253370, 40253364Hamad Medical Corporation 40253368, 40253365Qatar Airways 40253374

USEFUL NUMBERS

Quote Unquote“One of the most beautiful

qualities of true friendship is to understand and to be

understood.” — Lucius Annaeus

Seneca

Alone TogetherDIRECTION: Antoinette JadaoneCAST: Liza Soberano, Enrique Gil,

Jasmine Curtis SYNOPSIS: Christine, an Art

Studies major student at University of the Philippines Diliman, is a smart and very ambitious woman who is friends with a Biology student at University of Santo Tomas, Raf. They meet at

an awards ceremony and discovers a connection far more than mere friendship.

THEATRES: Landmark, The Mall, Royal Plaza

SonchiriyaDIRECTION: Abhishek ChaubeyCAST: Manoj Bajpayee, Sushant Singh Rajput, Bhumi

PednekarSYNOPSIS: The movie revolves around Sushant Singh

Rajput and Manoj Bajpayee leading a bunch of bandits

struggling to make a decision about surrendering to the cops. Sonchiriya showcases a small town ruled and dominated by dacoits where multiple gangs fi ght over the struggle to attain power. The fi lm gives a glimpse of the glorious years of dacoits in central India.

THEATRES: Royal Plaza, Landmark

PRAYER TIMEFajr 4.40amShorooq (sunrise) 5.56amZuhr (noon) 11.46amAsr (afternoon) 3.07pmMaghreb (sunset) 5.39pmIsha (night) 7.09pm

The Mall Cinema (1): Lonappante Mammod1sa (Malayalam) 2:30pm; Total Dhamaal (Hindi) 5pm; Escape Room (2D) 7:15pm; Luka Chuppi (Hindi) 9:15pm; Gully Boy (Hindi) 11:30pm.The Mall Cinema (2): Toys (2D) 2pm; Toys (2D) 3:45pm; Alone/Together (Tagalog) 5:30pm; Alone/Together (Tagalog) 7:30pm; A Madea Family Funeral (2D) 9:30pm; Total Dhamaal (Hindi) 11:30pm.The Mall Cinema (3): Luka Chuppi (Hindi) 2:15pm; Thadam (Tamil) 4:30pm; Alita: The Battle Angel (2D) 7pm; Take Point (2D) 9:15pm; Escape Room (2D)

11:30pm.Landmark Cinema (1): Lonappante Mammod1sa (Malayalam) 2:30pm; Toys (2D) 5pm; June (Malayalam) 6:45pm; Alone/Together (Tagalog) 9:15pm; Kodathi Samaksham Balan Vakkeel (Malayalam) 11:15pm.Landmark Cinema (2): Sonchiriya (Hindi) 3pm; Luka Chuppi (Hindi) 6pm; Lonappante Mammod1sa (Malayalam) 8:30pm; Thadam (Tamil) 11pm.Landmark Cinema (3): Thadam

(Tamil) 3pm; Gully Boy (Hindi) 6pm; Escape Room (2D) 9pm; Take Point (2D) 11pm.Royal Plaza Cinema Palace (1): Total Dhamaal (Hindi) 3pm; Luka Chuppi (Hindi) 5:30pm; Alone/Together (Tagalog) 8pm; Sonchiriya (Hindi) 11pm.Royal Plaza Cinema Palace (2): L.K.G. (Tamil) 3pm; Lonappante Mammod1sa (Malayalam) 6pm; Escape Room (2D) 9pm; Lonappante Mammod1sa (Malayalam) 11pm.Royal Plaza Cinema Palace (3): Toys (2D) 2:30pm; Gully Boy (Hindi) 4:30pm; Boo! (2D) 7:15pm; Total Dhamaal (Hindi) 9pm; Thadam (Tamil) 11:15pm.

3Monday, March 4, 2019 GULF TIMES

COMMUNITYROUND & ABOUT

Compiled by Nausheen Shaikh. E-mail: [email protected], Events and timings subject to change

EVENTS

Artistic Gymnastic ClassesWHERE: Qatar Academy MsheirebWHEN: TodayTIME: 3:15pm – 4:15pmThe olympic sport using horizontal bar,

rings and fl oor exercises on mats for the children from age 4 till 16.

MIA Park Bazaar 2019WHERE: Museum Of Islamic ArtWHEN: OngoingTIME: 12pm – 8pmMIA Bazaar will be having a vibrant

mix of 350 stalls. MIA Park Bazaar is a modern version of the old souq tradition. The stalls are going to off er a wide range of gastronomies from all over the world. You can also browse and grab handcrafted artefacts, accessories, canvases, fashion wears, designer ornaments.

Mehaseel FestivalWHERE: Katara Cultural VillageWHEN: Ongoing till March 31Mehaseel Souq will be open every

Thursday, Friday and Saturday until 31st of March. It is a perfect market to get amazing local fresh produce.

Grand Prix of Qatar 2019WHERE: Losail International CircuitWHEN: March 8 – 10TIME: 1pm – 9pmThe opening race will be held under the

fl oodlights. Tickets can be purchased online.

A R Rahman ConcertWHERE: Khalifa StadiumWHEN: March 22TIME: 6pm – 11pmMusic maestro A R Rahman is going to

be performing on the 22nd of March at the Khalifa Stadium.

Syria Matters ExhibitionWhere: Museum of Islamic ArtWhen: Ongoing till April 30Time: 9am – 7pmMuseum of Islamic Art (MIA) in Doha

presents a major exhibition, co-curated by MIA Director Dr Julia Gonnella and Rania Abdellatif, as part of the MIA ten-year anniversary celebrations.

Cycling: Losail Circuit Sports ClubWHERE: Losail CircuitWHEN: OngoingTIME: 5pmLosail Circuit Sports Club, in association

with Qatar Sports For All Federation, invites all cyclists, runners and walkers to train under the fl oodlights of Losail International Circuit every Wednesdays.

Arabic Calligraphy WorkshopWHEN: Saturday – WednesdayTIME: 6pmArabic Calligraphy workshop is back.

Come and learn the artistic practice of Arabic handwriting and calligraphy at Music and Arts Atelier.

The lessons will take place every Saturday, Monday and Wednesday at 6pm. For more information, contact [email protected]

After School ActivitiesWHERE: AtelierWHEN: OngoingMusic and arts activities for students

taking place after they fi nish their day in school includes Group Music lessons, Hip-hop, Ballet, Drawing and Painting, Drama Theatre & Taekwondo. Ages between 5 and 10 years old after school hours.

Hobby ClassesWHERE: Mamangam Performing Art

CentreWHEN:Wednesday – MondayMamangam Performing Art Centre, is a

holistic performing arts institution and a one stop solution for adults as well as children looking to explore their talents in various art forms. We off er classes in contemporary, Bollywood, hip-hop and Indian classical dance forms, along with classes for music, art and crafts, karate and yoga. Additional services include dance education and choreography. For details, call 33897609.

Dance and Instrument ClassesWHERE: TCA Campus, Behind Gulf Times

BuildingWHEN: Wednesday – MondayLearn the movements of dance styles in

Bollywood, Hip Hop and also the musical instruments such as Piano, Guitar, Keyboard for adults as well kids and move in the world of music. For details, contact 66523871/ 31326749.

Ballet LessonsWHERE: Music and Arts AtelierWHEN: OngoingTIME: 4pm – 8pmFor more info e-mail at [email protected] or call on 33003839.


COMMUNITY COVER STORY

Rising methane levels could imperil Paris climate accord

The hope was that methane would be starting on its trajectory downwards now. But we’ve seen quite the opposite: it’s been growing steadily for over a decade

— Matt Rigby, an atmospheric scientist at the University of Bristol in England‘ ’

GREENHOUSE GAS: Methane is a potent greenhouse gas that damages our climate when it’s released during natural gas production and distribution.


COMMUNITYCOVER STORY

By Julia Rosen

Scientists love a good mystery. But it’s more fun when the future of humanity isn’t at stake.

This enigma involves methane, a potent greenhouse gas. Twenty years ago, the level of methane in the atmosphere stopped increasing, giving humanity a bit of a break when it came to slowing climate change. But the concentration started rising again in 2007 – and it’s been picking up the pace over the last four years, according to new research.

Scientists haven’t fi gured out the cause, but they say one thing is clear: This surge could imperil the Paris climate accord. That’s because many scenarios for meeting its goals assumed that methane would be falling by now, buying time to tackle the long-term challenge of reducing carbon dioxide emissions.

“I don’t want to run around and cry wolf all the time, but it is something that is very, very worrying,” said Euan Nisbet, an earth scientist at Royal Holloway, University of London, and lead author of a recent study reporting that the growth of atmospheric methane is accelerating.

Methane is produced when dead stuff breaks down without much oxygen around. In nature, it seeps out of waterlogged wetlands, peat bogs and sediments. Forest fi res produce some too.

These days, however, human activities churn out about half

of all methane emissions. Leaks from fossil fuel operations are a big source, as is agriculture – particularly raising cattle, which produce methane in their guts. Even the heaps of waste that rot in landfi lls produce the gas.

The atmosphere contains far less methane than carbon dioxide. But methane is so good at trapping heat that one tonne of the gas causes 32 times as much warming as one tonne of CO

2 over the course of a century.

Molecule for molecule, methane “packs a bigger punch,” said Debra Wunch, an atmospheric physicist at the University of Toronto.

For 10,000 years, the concentration of methane in Earth’s atmosphere hovered below 750 parts per billion, or ppb. It began rising in the 19th century and continued to climb until the mid-1990s. Along the way, it caused up to one-third of the warming the planet has experienced since the onset of the Industrial Revolution.

Scientists thought methane levels might have reached a new equilibrium when they plateaued around 1,775 ppb, and that eff orts to cut emissions could soon reverse the historic trend.

“The hope was that methane would be starting on its trajectory downwards now,” said Matt Rigby, an atmospheric scientist at the University of Bristol in England. “But we’ve seen quite the opposite: it’s been growing steadily for over a decade.”

That growth accelerated in 2014, pushing methane levels up beyond 1,850 ppb. Experts

have no idea why. “It’s just such a confusing picture,” Rigby said. “Everyone’s puzzled. We’re just puzzled.”

Scientists have come up with various explanations. Could it be growing emissions from fossil fuels or agriculture? An uptick in methane production in wetlands? Changes in the rate at which methane reacts with other chemicals in the atmosphere?

Nisbet and his team examined whether any of these hypotheses synced up with the changing chemical signature of methane in the atmosphere.

Some molecules of methane weigh more than others, because some atoms of carbon and hydrogen are heavier than others. And lately, the average weight of methane in the atmosphere has been getting lighter.

That seems to implicate biological sources such as wetlands and livestock, which tend to produce light methane. Daniel Jacob, an atmospheric chemist at Harvard who was not involved in Nisbet’s study, said that explanation squares with his own research. His results suggest most of the additional methane comes from the tropics, which are home to vast wetlands and a large proportion of the world’s cattle.

Estimates of emissions from coal mines and oil and gas wells suggest that fossil fuel contributions are rising too, but those sources usually release heavier molecules of methane, which would seem to confl ict with the atmospheric observations.

Some researchers have proposed a way to resolve this discrepancy. Fires create an even heavier version of methane, and agricultural burning – particularly in developing countries – appears to have decreased over the last decade. A drop in in this source of ultra-heavy methane would make atmospheric methane lighter, on the whole, potentially masking an increase in emissions from fossil fuels.

Finally, reactions that break down methane eliminate more of the lighter molecules than the heavier ones. If that process has slowed down – causing methane to build up in the atmosphere – it would leave more light gas behind, possibly helping explain the overall trend.

Nisbet and his colleagues concluded they can’t rule out any of these explanations yet. “They might all be happening,” he said.

One possibility is conspicuously missing from the list. Scientists have long feared that thawing Arctic sediments and soils could release huge amounts of methane, but so far there’s no evidence of that, said Ed Dlugokencky, an atmospheric chemist at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration who worked on the study, which will be published in the journal Global Biochemical Cycles.

Nisbet said he fears the rising methane levels could be a sign of a dangerous cycle: Climate change may cause wetlands to expand and allow the environment to support more livestock, leading to even more methane emissions.

“It clearly seems as if the

warming is feeding the warming,” he said. “It’s almost as if the planet changed gears.”

If methane keeps increasing, the researchers say it could seriously endanger eff orts to keep the planet’s temperature in check. Slashing CO

2 emissions enough to meet climate targets is a tall order even without this extra methane.

“The unexpected and sustained current rise in methane may so greatly overwhelm all progress from other reduction eff orts that the Paris Agreement will fail,” Nisbet and his co-authors wrote.

It doesn’t help that scientists recently revised the global warming potential of methane upward by 14 percent.

Regardless of what’s behind the recent increase, scientists say there are ways to reduce methane concentrations. And the benefi ts will accrue quickly because methane has a shorter lifetime than CO2, lingering in the atmosphere for only about a decade.

Humans account for as much as 60 percent of methane emissions, and nearly half of that may come from the fossil fuel industry, Jacob said.

One priority is to plug leaks from oil and gas wells, he said. Methane is the primary ingredient in natural gas, so companies have a fi nancial incentive to try to capture as much as possible.

Often, a few culprits bear most of the blame, “which is both scary and a good thing,” because they represent big opportunities, Wunch said. At the Barnett Shale in Texas, 2 percent of the facilities produce half of the fi eld’s methane emissions. In Southern California, the Aliso Canyon leak released roughly 100,000 tonnes of methane in 2015 and 2016 – the equivalent of burning 1 billion gallons of gasoline.

Scientists also have ideas for reducing methane emissions from livestock. Some experiments show that changing the diet of cattle by adding fats or seaweed, for instance, can reduce the amount of methane animals expel. Capping landfi lls and using the methane they produce for electricity would help too. Measures like these could have a big impact, and Wunch said they give her reason to be hopeful.

“We could actually reduce the amount of methane in the atmosphere on timescales that are relevant to the problem we are facing right now,” she said.

– Los Angeles Times/ TNS

“Scientists haven’t figured out the cause, but they say one thing is clear: This surge could imperil the Paris climate accord. That’s because many scenarios for meeting its goals assumed that methane would be falling by now”

Major greenhouse gases and sources

Carbon dioxide (CO2): Carbon dioxide is the primary greenhouse gas,

responsible for about three-quarters of emissions. It can linger in the atmosphere

for thousands of years.

Methane (CH4): The main component of natural gas, methane is released from

landfills, natural gas and petroleum industries, and agriculture (especially from

the digestive systems of grazing animals). A molecule of methane doesn’t stay in

the atmosphere as long as a molecule of carbon dioxide—about 12 years—but it is

at least 84 times more potent over two decades.

Nitrous Oxide (N2O): Nitrous oxide occupies a relatively small share of global

greenhouse gas emissions—about six percent—but it is 264 times more powerful

than carbon dioxide over 20 years, and its lifetime in the atmosphere exceeds a

century, according to the IPCC.

Industrial gases: Fluorinated gases such as hydrofluorocarbons,

perfluorocarbons, chlorofluorocarbons, sulphur hexafluoride (SF6), and nitrogen

trifluoride (NF3) have heat-trapping potential thousands of times greater than CO

2

and stay in the atmosphere for hundreds to thousands of years.

Other greenhouse gases include water vapour and ozone (O3). Water vapour

is actually the world’s most abundant greenhouse gas, but it is not tracked the

same way as other greenhouse gases because it is not directly emitted by human

activity and its eff ects are not well understood.


COMMUNITY

NMA celebrates 37th anniversaryNepal Magar Association (NMA) – Qatar Chapter recently celebrated its 37th anniversary at Al Nakhyan Restaurant. The event was chaired by Sher Bahadur Roka Magar, Chairperson of NMA. Mahendra Thapa Magar, Chief Adviser of NMA, was the chief guest at the event. The event was attended by notable personalities, including Bhim Bahadur Taramu Magar, former Chairperson of NMA; and Youba Raj Sharma, Nepali community leader. The event focused on preserving history, language and culture of the Magar community. Magar is one of the oldest ethnic and indigenous communities in Nepal. The event kicked off with a lamp lighting ceremony, which was followed by the national anthem of Nepal. Bibek Pulami Magar, Secretary of NMA, briefed the audience about the event. The event was hosted by Bijaya Magar and Naresh Sinjali Magar. The event featured various folk dances, including tappa, chudka, salaiju and kauraha andhurra by the artistes of Nepal Magar Cultural Family-Qatar (NMCF). The dances were choreographed by Janak Thapa Magar and Yogen Khamcha Magar. The first look of a video song by Som Thapa was also unveiled on the occasion. Poornima Bhuhathok, long term resident of Qatar and member of NMA, was also bid farewell on the occasion. Mahendra Thapa was felicitated at the event for his contribution to NMA. Sher Bahadur Roka proposed a vote of thanks.

– Text and photo by Usha Wagle Gautam

Doha College organises annual stage productionDoha College recently organised a large-scale annual stage production for the students of Grade VII-XIII. Over 300 students took part in the play that had a run time of three hours and thirty minutes. Created by Jane Williams, Head of Drama at Doha College, the play focused around five argumentative siblings who became immersed in five classic books, including Alice in Wonderland, Les Miserables, Oliver Twist, Lord of the Files and The Boy at the Back of the Class. Each set told a

stirring story, and along the way, all protagonists discovered qualities in themselves that helped them grow and relate to each other. Dr Steff en Sommer, Doha College Principal, said, “What an incredibly polished performance. Everything went seamlessly, perfectly timed and crafted, a credit to our Drama Department and our hard-working students. As a High Performance Learning school, productions such as this support a vast number of the attributes and values we see as critical in a Doha College student.”


COMMUNITY

QNHG to organise March Talk with Zayed al-AliQatar National History Group (QNHG) is all set to organise its March Talk with Zayed al-Ali, Secretary of Algannas Falconry Society on March 6 at 7pm at Doha English Speaking School, Madinat Khalifa South. Zayed will talk about the diff erence between wild and breed falcon practices of the past and the present and the changes that has brought to the Qatari society.Zayed al-Ali is a graduate in Economics and Business Administration from the University of Portland, Oregon in the USA, and in Qatar he has worked for Qatar Petroleum, Qatargas and RasGas. Al-Ali is a passionate falconer, currently the Secretary of the Algannas Falconry Society, and he is heavily involved in all aspects of falconry happenings in Qatar

and abroad. Furthermore, he is an environmental steward, participating and volunteering in conservation eff orts led by the Ministry of the Municipality and Environment and other organisations.

ICBF elects new management committeeIndian Community Benevolent Forum (ICBF), under the aegis of embassy of India, recently elected its new management committee. P Kumaran, Ambassador of India, is the patron of ICBF. The new office bearers, include P N Baburajan, President of ICBF; Mahesh Gowda, Vice President and Head of ICBF Associate Organisations; Avinash Gaikwad, General Secretary; Nivedita Ketkar, Treasurer; Subramanya Hebbagelu, Joint Secretary, Head of Facilities, Minor Assistance and Co-ordinator Media and PR; Santhosh Kumar Pillai, Joint Secretary, Head of Youth Activities and Labour Assistance; Juttas Paul, Head of Media and Development; Rajani

Murthy, Head of Medical Assistance and Domestic Workers Welfare; Ziad Usman, Head of Sponsorship and Events; and Senthil Athiban Agastheeswaran, Head of Medical Camps and Fishermen Welfare.Dr Mohammed Aleem is Co-ordinating Officer of ICBF. The new committee has planned many prospect programmes, including upcoming blood donation camp on March 8, ICBF Day on March 30, free medical camp in April for fishermen and labour community as well as Hajikka Essay competition for school students in April.

Nivedita Ketkar

P N Babarajan

Juttas Paul

Avinash Gaikwad

Subramanya Hebbagelu

Senthil Athiban Agastheeswaran

Ziad Usman

Santosh Kumar Pillai

Rajani Murthy

Mahesh Gowda

TRIP: DPS-Modern Indian School (DPS-MIS) recently organised a picnic for the students of Grade I-II at Al Bidda Park. The trip featured a nature walk along with the various activities for the students. The students observed diff erent types of plants at the park and were highlighted about the importance of cleanliness and organic environment.


COMMUNITY

Dukkan, the first specialised Umm Ali kiosk opens in DohaTorch Hospitality recently opened the first specialised Umm Ali kiosk in the city, stated a press release. The kiosk is located next to The Torch Doha, just below its entrance. The approximately 30sq m shop off ers traditional Umm Ali for dine-in or take-away along with a wide variety of selected toppings. Home-made, freshly baked maamoul will be available, in daily batches, as well as a carefully crafted menu of Arabic desserts and drinks. The opening of the kiosk was graced by off icials and staff . Wael al-Sharif, General Manager of Al Aziziyah Boutique Hotel in charge of group Food Beverage, said, “We are very happy and honoured to open the first specialised Umm Ali Kiosk in the city. Dukkan was greatly anticipated and we are certain that guests will enjoy the new concept and their favourite desserts in a fresh and relaxing environment.”

Maserati is all set to showcase the Levante Trofeo Launch Edition, a limited edition of 100 units, at 89th edition of the Geneva International Motor Show, stated a press release. This exclusive vehicle will be the star of the stand, alongside the other models of the MY19 range. Another premiere of the Geneva Show are the new interiors in Pelletessuta an exclusive new material made by Ermenegildo Zegna exclusively for Maserati. To recall the Brand’s sporty DNA, Maserati will exhibit a GranTurismo MC, for the first time with an exterior in Grigio Lava Matte colour combined with interiors in carbon fibre. Maserati has also announced the start of sales in Europe of the Levante Trofeo and Levante GTS.

Levante Trofeo Launch Edition:To launch the new model in the market, Maserati is presenting the Levante Trofeo Launch Edition, a limited edition of 100 units. The Levante Trofeo Launch Edition will be available not only in the Blu Emozione Matte colour presented at the Geneva International Motor Show but also in the unique paints Giallo Modenese and Rosso Magma. The interior features sports seats with a premium full-grain ‘Pieno Fiore’ natural leather, with contrasting stitching and a ‘Trofeo’ logo embroidered on the headrest, available in blue, red or yellow. The exclusive carbon fibre inserts on the bumpers, side skirts and specially designed bonnet stand out. The 22” Orione rims can be matte or glossy black finish, while the brake calipers are available in silver, blue, yellow or red. The Levante Trofeo is equipped with one of the most powerful engines ever fitted in a Maserati road car. This is the 3.8 Litre Twin Turbo V8, calibrated to mate perfectly with the Q4 Intelligent All-Wheel Drive system, providing it with a new crankcase design, specific

crankshaft assembly, new oil pump and auxiliary belt and a diff erent wiring layout. The Levante Trofeo is fitted with the eight-speed ZF automatic gearbox used on all the Levante versions, acclaimed for its versatility and sporty character. The Levante features the Integrated Vehicle Control (IVC) system for impressive driving dynamics, better performance, and a genuine Maserati driving experience, by helping to prevent vehicle instability, instead of correcting “driver mistakes” as a traditional Electronic Stability Program (ESP) system does.The ideal 50:50 weight balance and the low centre of gravity - common to all Levante models, in combination with the finely tuned double-wishbone front / Multi Link rear suspension, as well as the wider 22-inch rear tyres on forged aluminium alloy wheels, provide the new Trofeo with perfectly balanced handling and lateral

stability. The Levante Trofeo is the first ever Maserati equipped with 22-inch forged aluminium wheels, so Maserati co-operated with Continental to provide the new SportContact 6 tyre as standard equipment.

Personalisation:The special things about the Maserati stand at this 89th edition of the Geneva International Motor Show is the way it focuses on highlighting a distinctive Italianness and the process of craftsmanship and customization. At Maserati, tradition becomes innovation, combining fine craftsmanship, advanced technology and sophisticated design for the sort of exclusive, unique mix only Maserati knows how to apply to its cars.The stand provides an instructive tour through three diff erent dedicated thematic areas. Each

area will feature a display of tools, materials and components that, specially crafted by Zegna, De Castelli and Giorgetti, bear witness to the unending quest for excellence, style and originality, typical of products designed and Made in Italy, and therefore typical of Maserati.

Ermenegildo ZegnaZegna is a longstanding partner of Maserati and for the Geneva show will be presenting the world premiere of its new car interiors in Pelletessuta, a special woven nappa leather, the product of pioneering research by Ermenegildo Zegna, seeking to create a luxurious, innovative, lightweight and soft fabric that is versatile and well suited for the creation of products, ranging from home design complements to multimedia accessories.

GiorgettiGiorgetti’s approach to interior design involves interpreting behaviours and tastes in various diff erent markets, creating pieces that are free of all formal conventions, capable of coexisting harmoniously in any context, dissolving cultural and temporal distances.

De CastelliTrue to its commitment to restore metal’s privileged role in projectual experimentation, De Castelli is grafting a craft-based concept and approach to work onto typically industrial processes, a bold synthesis that leads to unprecedented results. The encounter with design engenders an approach to the material founded on respect for its vast potential, including the less obvious possibilities, the ones that gradually emerge in a collection of mass-produced products that are, at the same time, unique.

Maserati to showcase at Geneva International Motor Show

Thomas Aus der Au sprays distilled water onto the inside of a piece of red fox fur, then carefully stretches

it into the shape of a collar. “It’s a natural product, so it is fl exible and malleable,” he says with satisfaction.

Aus der Au is a furrier, meaning he makes his living from designing and making clothes from fur. He is the third generation of his family to run his business in Zurich, Switzerland. In his hands, red fox skins are transformed into fur waistcoats, collars and headgear. “Even the paws can be used to make headbands or wristlets,” he says

There was a time when wearing fur was very much frowned upon. With shocking reports about animals being fattened up for fur, kept in tiny and fi lthy cages, and brutally killed for their coats, hardly anyone dared to be seen wearing fur in public.

But in the past couple of years, fur has started to come back into fashion, especially in the form of collars, bobbles or headgear. Is there fur you can wear without a guilty conscience? Aus der Au believes the answer is yes. His association SwissFur hasbeen advocating for years for the use of homegrown fur. “In 2016, 23,000 red foxes were hunted here to regulate the population. It’s crazy to throw away the skins,” he says. “Hats and collars made from Swiss fox skins are ecologically and ethically sound.”

It seems that a lot of Swiss people agree with him. Ten years ago, Aus der Au was processing just 50 Swiss red foxes a year. Today, it’s up to 300. Domestic fur is also a trend in neighbouring Germany, where hunting is a popular pastime. The country’s hunting associations have founded a company called Fellwechsel that prepares the skins of hunted animals from all over Germany for furriers.

It’s going extremely well, says director Frederik Daniels. “The interest from hunters is enormous,” he says, though he admits there is room for improvement when it comes to marketing. About 500,000 red foxes are killed every year in Germany. Of the 7,000 skins that the company acquired during the

last hunting season, half ended up on the market.

The fox hunting season ends in February. “We should get about 10,000 skins this year,” Daniels says. The fur is marketed under the label WePreFur. Swiss fashion brand RoyalFox, which makes coats and headwear from ethically sourced fur, was founded

by brother and sister Simon and Fabienne Gygax, 23 and 21. They pride themselves on their guarantee that their products are free from animal cruelty.

“We are pro animal protection,” Fabienne says. Imported skins would be cheaper, because of the high processing costs in Switzerland. “But the demand for

domestic products is growing, and people are willing to pay for them.”

The pair are often met with scepticism when they describe their business model. “But when we explain why we do it, people understand,” Fabienne says. When the business fi rst started out, they were trolled so hard on Facebook that they had to deactivate comments.

Many animal rights activists are opposed to the fact that fur is becoming fashionable again. “We are seeing a huge worldwide boom, with young people especially being targeted,” says Nina Bachellerie of the Swiss Anti Fur League.

“In the 1980s and 1990s the industry was almost dead, but it has reintroduced fur in small pieces, such as trim or bobbles. This is what has caused the boom.”

The message is: It’s just a small bit of fur, so it doesn’t really matter. But Bachellerie is hoping that fur will disappear from the market again, because big fashion houses like Gucci or Armani are still completely avoiding it. There are regional movements against it, too - San Francisco, for example, has declared itself a fur-free city.

Andread Ruettimann from the German animal rights group Tier in Recht doesn’t believe in the logic of replacing imported furs with domestic ones.

“A casual observer can’t tell whether a fur collar comes from home or abroad,” he says. “Every piece of fur is a statement. The more people wear fur, the more people will think it’s OK.” There is also still disagreement over whether hunting makes sense from a conservation point of view. It certainly doesn’t from an animal welfare perspective, according to Ruettimann.

“If there is an increased demand for domestic fox skins, there is a danger that the hunting of foxes will also increase,” he says. “We believe fur is a sustainable product, whether it is taken from nature or comes from fur farms,” says Barbara Sixt, spokeswoman for the German Fur Institute. “Animals supply natural raw materials for high-quality, natural, warm clothing that is extremely durable and can be re-integrated into the biological cycle numerous times.”

When it’s cold, Aus der Au likes to wear a fur cap and a homemade vest lined with red fox fur. Someone once had a go at him for it. “Someone next to me whispered, ’Fucking Russian,’ he says. “He calmed down when I explained to him in Swiss German that the skins my vest and my cap were made from came from a Swiss hunt.” – DPA


COMMUNITYFASHION

WORKSHOP: The Swiss master furrier Thomas Aus der Au works on a Swiss red fox fur in his workshop.

With ethically sourced fur on the rise, is it OK to wear again?

For years, hardly anyone dared to be seen wearing fur in public due to reports

about the treatment of animals. However, fur has become popular again, with

some furriers off ering sustainable products. By Christiane Oelrich

BACK IN TREND: Fur has started to come back into fashion, especially in the form of collars, bobbles or headgear.


COMMUNITY INFOGRAPHIC


COMMUNITYLIFESTYLE/HOROSCOPE

ARIESMarch 21 — April 19

CANCERJune 21 — July 22

LIBRASeptember 23 — October 22

CAPRICORNDecember 22 — January 19

TAURUSApril 20 — May 20

LEOJuly 23 — August 22

SCORPIOOctober 23 — November 21

AQUARIUSJanuary 20 — February 18

GEMINIMay 21 — June 20

VIRGOAugust 23 — September 22

SAGITTARIUSNovember 22 — December 21

PISCESFebruary 19 — March 20

This is a terrific day for you, Aries. You can accomplish a great deal

when you set your mind in motion. There’s a strong, warlike instinct

within you that’s fired up and ready to fight. Leave your worries at

the doorstep, because there’s no need to hesitate on a day like this.

Your kingdom is ready for you. Be strong and remember that the

best way to lead people is to walk behind them.

There could be a great deal of friction in your world today, Cancer, as

stubborn minds aggressively come into conflict with each other. Be

careful how you treat others, because feelings are likely to be hurt

if you’re insensitive. Others may look tough, but deep down they’re

just as soft as you are. Think twice about using your aggressive

nature at the expense of others.

There may be important lessons about balance that come up today,

Libra. Make sure you’re ready to handle the fire, because it will be

coming at you. Egos are large, and everyone is going to have an

opinion on everything. Tension may exist, but this doesn’t mean you

should back down from your position. Be flexible and understanding,

but don’t necessarily assume that you’re wrong.

Feel free to be a bit more selfish than usual, Capricorn. You might

find yourself turning inside out in order to get your point across.

Attend to your dreams and ambitions and let your voice be heard by

the crowd. Don’t be surprised if you meet opposition, but don’t take

this as a sign that you should back down. Stand up for your needs!

Being of service to others is important, Taurus, but make sure that

you’re taking care of yourself, too. Turn up the heat and let yourself

expand into other worlds today. There may be an extra amount

of dramatic flair that goes along with the events of the day, so

participate in the absurd. This may be exactly the break from reality

that you were hoping to find.

Things should go nicely for you today, Leo. You will find that the

brighter you shine, the more prosperity will come your way. Things

should flow smoothly, and your mind will be clear and strong. There

is a marked aggressiveness to your nature that is powerful and

eff ective. Use this to your advantage and try to bring others up to

your level instead of making them feel like they’re beneath you.

The events of the day might leave you feeling a bit confused and

bewildered, Scorpio. Perhaps you’re feeling like you aren’t getting

the attention you feel you deserve. You may wonder why the one

thing you want the most may be the one thing you can’t have. You

have more than you think you do. No one wants to be with someone

who’s moping and depressed. Let your internal light shine brightly.

You might find that your desire to conquer is active today, Aquarius,

and that your mind is right in line with the urge to take action. Listen

to this and stoke the internal fire. You will find that you can increase

your circle of influence by a great deal as long as you’re willing to

take a decisive risk in how you approach every situation. Be bold and

courageous in your actions.

If there is an imbalance in your relationship with someone close, it’s

important to take a stand now, Gemini. Make sure you speak your

mind with conviction. The stakes are higher when people’s egos are

involved, as they will be today. You’re the air that fuels the fire, so be

careful of which way you direct your energy.

You may need to make some mental adjustments in order to get on

the same wavelength as other people today, Virgo. You may not see

what all the fuss is about. Don’t take things too seriously and don’t

feel like you need to make sense of every detail that presents itself.

Some things are best left unknown. Enjoy the diversity in your world

and respect the diff erences in other people’s approaches.

This is a terrific day for you, Sagittarius. You will find that your mind

and your urge for action are on the same page. The fire within you is

raging hot. Use this aggressive internal urge to tackle projects that

require courage, strength, and a flair for the dramatic. You will find

that you’re more than able to accomplish everything you want to

accomplish today.

You might find it necessary to give yourself a bit of self-healing,

Pisces. Other people may want your attention, looking for advice

and help with their own sob stories, when in reality you have your

own matters to take care of. Attend to these today. Be a bit selfish if

you have to. Make sure you attend to your own needs.

How to prevent overuse injuries in hands and wristsI

t may seem hard to believe, considering that you use your hands and wrists to do almost everything, but some of the most common wrist

injuries are caused by overuse and repetitive motion. Dr Sanj Kakar, a Mayo Clinic orthopaedic hand and wrist surgeon, says you have to get creative to avoid overuse injuries from activities that are hard to avoid.

It can happen while doing the simplest of activities.

“Holding a laptop, typing, texting, things like that,” Kakar says. It’s an injury from overuse, and Kakar sees it all the time.

“Overuse injuries are very common in the hand and wrist, and what we’re talking about primarily are tendon problems,” he says.

The tendons are like ropes that help you move your fi ngers.

“So every time they move their wrist, going into what we call ‘ulnar

deviation’ or pointing their thumb down, they get exquisite pain in this area,” he says.

You should try to cut back on doing the repetitive activity.

“Therapy helps,” Kakar says. “Therapies can (include) ultrasound to calm this area down, and sometimes a splint can help.”

If things still get worse ...“ ... sometimes we need to do a

corticosteroid injection to decrease infl ammation. And most of the times, it gets better. But sometimes we need to do surgery.”

But as tough as it can be, Kakar says the best thing to do is to try and prevent these injuries.

“When we have to think creatively of using, for example, voice-activated software to decrease the amount of texting, for example, or typing, (things can improve).”

—Mayo Clinic News Network/ TNS


COMMUNITY CARTOONS/PUZZLES

Adam

Pooch Cafe

Garfield

Bound And Gagged

Codeword

Wordsearch

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.

Puzz

les

cour

tesy

: Puz

zlec

hoic

e.co

m

Sudoku

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.

A is for ...

AARDVARKABACUSABBEYABYSSACACIAACORNADDER

ADULTAERIALALTARANCHORANGELANGLEANIMAL

ANTSANVILAPEXAPPLEARABARCHARMADA

ARMYARROWATLASATOMAZTEC


COMMUNITYPUZZLES

Colouring

Answers

Wordsearch Codeword

ACROSS3. Briefly, intercede for (3,2,1,4)8. A runner, but not in the

vegetable garden (6)9. Fool kid! (4)10. Having no choice - but to go

to the doctor? (3,2,5)11. The woman we take in,

question (3)13. Is writing on the outside:

‘Wish you were here’ (4)14. Again I send in the answer

(7)15. Being old-fashioned, you

object (4)17. A bit quiet and looking

ashamed (5)20. Got fed up keeping the sides

apart after that (5)22. It’s the same when holding

back water (4)24. Back on the list of the

famous (7)25. Returned with Ed, a weary

girl (4)27. Said it’s the ice bird (3)28. When it’s serving time, up

it comes for those who are! (6,4)

29. Ill, pull through on return (4)30. The vegetarian’s goo se (6)31. Starting by putting on

display (7,3)

Super Cryptic Clues

Yesterday’s Solutions

ACROSS: 1 Rushes 5 Spring 8 About 9 Putter 10 Ascent 11 Doubt 14 Flamingo 16 Sitter 18 Holiday by the sea 20 Assume 22 Sagacity 25 Tenet 27 Aweigh 28 Heroin 29 Ensue 30 Render 31 Rocked.

DOWN: 1 Rip-off 2 Site 3 Sardinia 4 Go out of business 5 States 6 Idea 7 Gather 12 Omnibus 13 Stretch 15 Looks 17 Event 19 Together 20 Affair 21 Either 23 Yawned 24 Lean 26 Cork.

DOWN1. Left in round about tea-time

with a wave (8)2. Collapses in a hollow the

snow’s piling up round (6)3. Here to introduce (7)4. Hang about after being

branded? (5)5. Mad to feed the animals at

the zoo? (4)6. Being filmed, then, having

been cast in ‘Twinkle-Toes’ (2,3,3)

7. Gracious! It’s been misread twice! (4,4)

12. Stone is two rounds up (4)14. Told one again about the

peat and grass (4)16. A man holding a big pipe (4)17. Why one needs to water, in

summer, various things (8)18. Not saying much about it,

returned the money (8)19. Puts a bit on the fish (4)21. Altogether, I count ten flying

overhead (8)23. Pop up and indicate, or

name (7)25. Again, run out of ‘8’ (6)26. The horse has nothing to

drink (5)28. Drawing, aim (4)


COMMUNITY BOLLYWOOD

EXCITED: Ali Fazal feels excited about unpredictability of a script.

Unpredictability of story keeps me on edge: Ali Fazal

Bollywood actor Ali Fazal, whose forthcoming fi lm is Milan Talkies, says the element of unpredictability excites him to explore it.

Ali has dabbled in diff erent platforms of the entertainment industry, whether it is Hollywood, Bollywood or OTT platforms. What does he look for in a script?

Ali said: “I think unpredictability. When I am reading a script and cannot predict how the fi nal story will come out and create an impact, I am excited, because I will go through the process with a sense of uncertainty that will drive me through and keep me on the edge. At the same time, such characters and stories make me more involved with each collaborator – dress, light and camera.

“The clothes of the character bring a

change in the body language, the diction of the dialogue allows me to enter that world from where the character is coming. So you see it is a process.”

Giving an example of his Judi Dench-starrer fi lm Victoria & Abdul, Ali said: “Though there’s no timeline mentioned in the narration when you (audience) watch it, through the change of the costume you would be knowing how time has passed. So yes, I think I prefer to work closely with those departments too.”

In the fi lm Milan Talkies, Ali plays a budding fi lmmaker from Malegaon. He harbours a dream to become a popular fi lm director and settle in Mumbai.

Ali, who started his journey in Bollywood with 3 Idiots and last year delivered a commercially successful fi lm like Fukrey Returns, is yet to get his due as a bankable star.

He fi nds it unfortunate that getting a positive feedback from critics and audience

is not enough for an actor to bag more roles, as commercial success is of the utmost important in the business of cinema. However, he said it is a global phenomenon now.

“In cinema, we are somewhere going through a confusing phase. It is good for us to experiment. We have got a chance to come up with a new concept and new actors. While in Hollywood, except for superhero and fantasy fi lms, they get (a good) opening with names like Denzel Washington. It is clearly the current scene everywhere. So, yes cinema is tough.

“But this is the time when actors like me are getting an opportunity in the web space and reaching out to a larger audience, where probably a fi lm doesn’t reach. That popularity is making our fraternity think about casting me in diff erent fi lms,” said the actor.

Directed by Tigmanshu Dhulia, Milan Talkies is releasing on March 15. – IANS

Trolling adds pressure on entertainers: Priyanka

By Sugandha Rawal

Priyanka Chopra has always walked to the beat of her own drum. But the actress says glorifi cation of trolling has added “crazy pressure” on entertainers.

She feels the increasing prevalence of trolling culture only leads to bullying and depression.

“First of all, the pressure comes from people’s opinion and how in today’s age everyone’s opinion becomes news,” Priyanka said in an interview when asked about the pressures that comes with the ‘global star’ tag.

“Most of the time, I see media writing about trolling that someone got trolled for this and that. I have never understood how somebody’s opinion becomes news. How the media gives such credence to maybe 500, 600 or 1,000 people writing behind

the anonymity of the computer,” added the actress, who came to India for professional as well as personal reasons.

Priyanka – who managed to squeeze out time from her busy schedule to talk about her Hollywood fi lm Isn’t It Romantic, which released in India on streaming platform Netfl ix – admits there are “pressures of living in the digital world”.

“Those are the pressures that are not even created by us or the fans. It is just created by the one thing which is the Internet. It has

made people’s job easier. You can make a story out of anybody’s comment.”

The Quantico star thinks the “glorifi cation of trolling has added the crazy pressure on to entertainers”.

“There is something called living your life according to the social responsibility that you feel as an individual and then there is something else like living your life according to how everybody else wants you to live. And that is not the world we should live in,” said the actress, who has herself faced the wrath on social media for sometimes her dressing style or using fi recrackers on her wedding last year or for taking her husband and singer Nick Jonas’ name.

Priyanka, who proved her mettle with projects such as Don, Fashion, 7 Khoon Maaf, Barfi !, Mary Kom and Bajirao Mastani in India, pointed out a serious implication coming out of the trolling culture.

“Our children should not be thought that people’s opinions are that important. When they get bullied in school or when they get bullied as teenagers because of the comments written on Instagram and it leads them to depression leading them to take harsh decisions in their life.

“It is being propagated by these kinds of stories where we give so much importance to what we look like on Instagram or what we talk about on Twitter or what our imagery is.”

According to Priyanka, that is the only pressure which she feels “sometimes is unnecessary but being put on” a public personality.

Talking about herself, she said: “I have been not someone who has lived my life according to somebody else. I have walked to the beat of my own drum but I am very cognizant of somebody’s feelings as a public person.”

On the fi lm front, the actress is getting great response for Isn’t It Romantic, which tells the story of a New York architect Natalie (Rebel Wilson) who works hard to get noticed at her job, but is more likely to be asked to deliver coff ee and bagels than to design. Priyanka essays the role of a yoga ambassador. It also stars Liam Hemsworth and Adam Devine. – IANS

CANDID: Priyanka Chopra feels the increasing prevalence of trolling culture only leads to bullying and depression.

Monday, March 4, 2019 15GULF TIMES

COMMUNITYHOLLYWOOD

Simon Pegg gets lean for thriller movie

Actor Simon Pegg has undergone dramatic physical transformation for an upcoming movie role.

The star, 49, has been hitting the gym hard and has fl aunted his lean fi gure, after shedding a large amount of body fat, through an Instagram post, reports dailymail.co.uk.

Pegg worked with personal trainer Nick Lower for six months to transform his body for the thriller Inheritance, which required him to be quite slender. Lower shared the post.

“The brief for this role was lean, very lean. It required a specifi c body shape and look,” Lower wrote alongside the photograph.

The trainer added that Simon did a combination of strength training with circuits and core work, along with 60 km trail runs per week.

He said: “Six months of hard work has paid off and I tip my hat to you sir.”

The post was also shared on Pegg’s Twitter account where he jokingly added that “occasional mild grumpiness” was another aspect of his training.

Pegg will play a character named Morgan in the fi lm and will be starring alongside Lily Collins, Connie Nielson and Chace Crawford. –IANS

Edge of Tomorrow sequel underway Studio Warner Bros. is moving ahead with its follow-up

to the Tom Cruise-Emily Blunt time-travel tale Edge of Tomorrow with Matthew Robinson writing the script.

The 2014 original, directed by Doug Liman, grossed $370.5 million worldwide, including $100.2 million in the US. Edge of Tomorrow, based on Hiroshi Sakurazaka’s 2004 Japanese novel All You Need Is Kill, takes place in a future where most of Europe is invaded by an alien race.

Cruise portrays a military public relations offi cer with no combat experience who is forced by his superiors to join a landing operation against the aliens. Cruise’s character fi nds himself in a time loop that sends him back to the previous day every time he dies. He teams up with Blunt’s special forces soldier to improve his combat skills each day.

Cruise and Blunt have not signed on for the sequel, but are expected to do so, reports variety.com.

The fi lm will be produced by Erwin Stoff , Tom Lassally, and Masi Oka, with Hisashi Sasaki executive producing. Liman will develop the untitled sequel with Robinson. Warner Bros. hired writers Joe Shrapnel and Anna Waterhouse to develop the project in 2016.– IANS

Aretha Franklin, Count Basie join Blues Hall of Fame

Aretha Franklin, Count Basie, Booker T. & the MGs are among the performers named as inductees to the Blues Hall of Fame. The Blues Foundation announced this year’s

honourees on Friday. An induction ceremony is scheduled for May 8 at the Halloran Centre for the Performing Arts and Education in Memphis, Tennessee, reports variety.com.

The Blues Foundation points out that the very fi rst record Franklin ever released after signing with Columbia was a song called Today I Sing the Blues and her fi fth album was Unforgettable: A Tribute to Dinah Washington. In 1980 she released a compilation of her more blues-oriented early material, Aretha Sings the Blues.

The Blues Foundation names recordings as well as artists to its Hall of Fame, and the singles being inducted this year include Muddy Waters’ Rollin’ Stone, Ray Charles’ I Got a Woman and Elmore James Shake Your Moneymaker along with Elmore James’ 1965 compilation The Sky Is Crying.

Ida Cox and guitarist Pee Way Crayton are the other two performers joining the Hall of Fame, which will also honour the late Folkways Records executive Moses “Moe” Asch.

The May 8 induction ceremony in Memphis will be followed a night later by contemporary honours given out at the 40th annual Blues Music Awards. The museum itself will put items connected with the inductees on display starting the day of the ceremony. – IANS

STAR: Simon John Pegg is an English actor, comedian, screenwriter, and producer.

BOOK: The Baby-Sitters Club is a series of novels written by Ann M Martin and published by Scholastic between 1986 and 2000

MUSEUM: The Blues Hall of Fame is a music museum located in Memphis, Tennessee.

Ann M Martin’s books to get a TV show by Netflix

By Ashley Lee

Say hello to your friends, Baby-Sitters Club fans. Again.

Netfl ix announced Thursday that it’s creating a new televised take on Ann M

Martin’s best-selling book series. The contemporary-set, live-action

show will follow the friendship and babysitting adventures of fi ve best friends in Stoneybrook, Conn.

Spanning 10 episodes, the family-friendly adaptation includes Rachel Shukert (GLOW) as showrunner and Lucia Aniello (Broad City) as director and executive producer.

“The themes of The Baby-Sitters Club still resonate 30 years after the original book series was released and there has never been a more opportune time to tell an aspirational story about empowering young female entrepreneurs,” said Melissa Cobb, Netfl ix vice president of content for kids and families, in the announcement.

Martin’s beloved book series, which

began in the mid-1980s and wrapped up in 2000, has more than 200 books licensed in more than 20 territories with more than 180 million copies sold.

The titles tell stories of female friendship and empowerment – topics that got the franchise lauded by the New Yorker for its “feminist legacy” in 2016.

“I’m amazed that there are so many passionate fans of The Baby-Sitters Club after all these years, and I’m honoured to continue to hear from readers – now grown, who have become writers, editors, teachers, librarians, fi lmmakers – who say that they see a refl ection of themselves in the characters of Kristy and her friends,” Martin said in a statement Thursday.

The Baby-Sitters Club novels, fi rst published in 1986, were previously adapted for the screen in 1990.

The single-season series fi rst aired on HBO and was then syndicated by Nickelodeon and Disney Channel.

The books were also adapted into a feature fi lm in 1995, starring Rachael Leigh Cook, Larisa Oleynik and Schuyler Fisk.

Frank Smith, president and CEO of Walden Media: “For generations, young people have been captivated and inspired by the enterprising young women of The Baby-Sitters Club. Bringing this iconic series to life comes at a pivotal moment in Walden’s expansion into scripted televised content.”

In 1986, Scholastic published the fi rst The Baby-sitters Club book, Kristy’s Big Idea. Before long, the books were hitting bestsellers lists and what started as a four-part miniseries would eventually grow to more than 200 books.

The Baby-Sitters Club series has over 176 million copies in print worldwide and inspired a generation of young readers.

Matin’s other words and novels include the Main Street series; Belle Teal; the Newbery Honour book A Corner of the Universe; Here Today; A Dog’s Life; and On Christmas Eve; as well as the much-loved collaborations P.S. Longer Letter Later and Snail Mail, No More with Paula Danziger. — Los Angeles Times/ TNS

FICTION: Edge of Tomorrow is a 2014 American science fiction action film starring Tom Cruise and Emily Blunt.


COMMUNITY

Diversity Festival concludes with colourful folk dances

By Mudassir Raja

The third edition of Cultural Diversity Festival recently concluded at Katara’s amphitheatre with colourful folk dances

presented by performers from Russia and Syria.

The dance ensembles from Russia and Syria exhibited refi ned and stylish performances providing the audience a classy and colourful entertainment. A group of folklore dancers from Qatar also presented traditional music and dance, appearing second time on the closing night as the host country.

The festival started on October 18, 2018. Every Friday and Saturday, featured one performance from diff erent countries around the world. The countries that took part in the diversity festival, included

Qatar, India, Oman, Ghana, Macedonia, Mexico, Turkey, Spain, Czech Republic, Iran, Kazakhstan, Singapore, Bulgaria, Morocco, Serbia, Sri Lanka, Bosnia and Russia. Further, there were many musical groups from diff erent Arab, Asian, and European expatriate communities in Qatar that performed at the event.

The Russian dance and music ensemble named Shaghdi was led by Zrrima Onajokova, a folklore dancer. The group included 18 young performers aged 11 to 18 years. There were nine girls and nine boys. The exquisitely choreographer dancing with traditional music made the performance very impressive. The traditional costumes wore by the performers made their appearance on the stage attractive.

Talking to Community, Fayaz Soukar, a representative of the Russian group, said, “The group comprises of children. Many of them have come with their mothers

to perform in Qatar. The dances highlighted diff erent cultural and family values of a specifi c region in Russia. The group off ered 12 diff erent dances. The dancers are fi rst time performing in Qatar. The visiting dancers are very impressed by the hospitality they had received in Doha. They found people very friendly and helpful.” The other performance was by The Syrian Jollanar Dance Theatre. Al Hamdan is director of the dance group. He said, “This is not for the fi rst time that we have performed in Qatar. However, it is always interesting to meet people coming from diff erent cultures and countries living in Qatar. Katara always organises diff erent music and cultural activities.

“In my group, there are about 50 dancers in total. Twelve of them took part in the performance tonight. There are eight girls and four boys. I hope in future we all will come here again. We are Damascus based

group. Our dances depicted diff erent cultures from diff erent parts of Syria. We had four diff erent performance, including, Sahara, Bahar, Jabal and Sahel. We are a private group promoting the culture and folkdances of Syria since 1997. I am the manager and the choreographer of the group.

“I have worked with the Ministry of Culture in Syria. My country is a land of civilisations and stories. We have too much to share with the rest of the world. My group has visited over 60 countries.”

Saud Abdul Aziz al-Mal, the main organiser of the diversity festival said, “It has been almost six months that we have been having this festival. We started on October 18. We had 26 folklore shows. The festival has grown. This year, we had diff erent community groups that took part in the festival. There were eight such community folkdance groups. Many communities live in Doha and they have the passion to practice and

preserve their culture. They got a good chance to come to the festival and perform at the Katara stage. The decision of including the community dance proved to be successful. It made the festival more interesting for the people.

“Today’s the closing performance. Three countries performed today. Qatar performed both on the opening day and now on the closing day. We always try to reach out to the people and bring them close to each other. We want to know each other more and more through cultural exchange.

“I have learnt that the more we reach out to people, the more they will come together. This year, we had more active presence on media. We plan on bringing new things to the festival next year to make it more interesting. We are hoping to bring handicrafts from diff erent countries along with their folklore dance performances. We will try to organise exhibitions for the handicrafts.”

FOLKLORE: The Syrian Jollanar Dance Theatre performed four diff erence Syrian folk dances, including Sahara, Bahar, Jabal and Sahel.

PERFORMANCE: The Russian dance and music ensemble Shaghdi, led by Zrrima Onajokova, a folklore dancer, during their performance at the festival.

VARYING: The Russian dance group included nine boys and nine girls.

dangerous cycle - gulf times

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