P7 P16Community - Gulf Times

DOHA 37°C—46°C TODAY PUZZLES 12 & 13D LIFESTYLE/HOROSCOPE 11L P

Tuesday, June 20, 2017Ramadan 25, 1438 AH

CommunityThe Qatar-Finland International

School holds their annual end of year celebrations with a pop of colour.

P7 P16 CommunityThe waters surrounding Hong Kong

contain almost 100 species of coral – more than the Caribbean, and a testament to its restoration eff orts.

Prevention hopeA Cuban vaccine might someday turn

lung cancer into a chronic disease. P4-5

COVERSTORY

GOOD NEWS: Dr Kelvin Lee and Dr Grace Dy discuss their work at Roswell Park Cancer Institute. The Buff alo research centre is testing a lung cancer vaccine developed in Cuba.

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

Tuesday, June 20, 20172 GULF TIMES

COMMUNITY ROUND & ABOUT

Howard Lovecraft And The Frozen KingdomDIRECTION: Sean Patrick O’ReillyCAST: Kiefer O’reilly, Michelle O’reilly, Christopher

PlummerSYNOPSIS: After visiting his father in Arkham

Sanitarium, young Howard Lovecraft accidentally uses the legendary Necronomicon to open a portal to a strange frozen world fi lled with horrifying creatures and a great adventure.

THEATRES: Royal Plaza, The Mall

The Mall Cinema (1): Raabta (Hindi) 9pm; Outlaws And Angels (2D) 12pm.The Mall Cinema (2): The Mummy (2D) 9:30pm; The Mummy (2D) 11:30pm.The Mall Cinema (3): Puthan Panam (Malayalam) 9pm; Voice From The Stone (2D) 11:30pm.Landmark Cinema (1): Raabta (Hindi) 9pm; Bodom (2D) 11:45pm.Landmark Cinema (2):

The Mummy (2D) 9:30pm; Outlaws And Angels (2D) 11:30pm.Landmark Cinema (3): Voice From The Stone (2D) 9:30pm; Puthan Panam (Malayalam) 11:30pm.Royal Plaza Cinema Palace (1): Raabta (Hindi) 9pm; Voice From The Stone (2D) 12pm.

Royal Plaza Cinema Palace (2): The Mummy (2D) 9:30pm; Puthan Panam (Malayalam) 11:30pm.Royal Plaza Cinema Palace (3): Puthan Panam (Malayalam) 9pm; Outlaws And Angels (2D) 11:30pm.Asian Town Cinema: Godha (Malayalam) 10:30pm; CIA: Comrade In America (Malayalam) 8, 10:30pm; Puthan Panam (Malayalam) 8 & 11pm.

PRAYER TIMEFajr 3.14amShorooq (sunrise) 4.44amZuhr (noon) 11.35amAsr (afternoon) 2.58pmMaghreb (sunset) 6.30pmIsha (night) 8.00pm

I believe that the greatest gift you

can give your family and the world is a healthy you.

– Joyce Meyer

Puthan PanamDIRECTION: RanjithCAST: Mammootty, Swaraj GramikaSYNOPSIS: Nithyananda Shenoy (Mammootty), a don

from Kasaragod takes revenge against an ex-minister who swindles him in the hours before sudden demonetisation is made known to public. On the sideline in the underbelly of

Kochi, a survival story of Muthuvel (Swaraj Gramika) and his mother Sundari (Iniya) is shown. Puthan Panam comes with the tag, ‘The New Indian Rupee,’ a dual reference there, one to his own 2011 fi lm, and second, to the new currency notes post-demonetisation.

THEATRES: Landmark, The Mall, Royal Plaza

3Tuesday, June 20, 2017 GULF TIMES

COMMUNITYROUND & ABOUT

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

EVENTS

International Yoga Day WHERE: Al Wakrah Sports Club Indoor

StadiumWHEN: TomorrowTIME: 9pm-10:30pmIndian Sports Centre, under the

patronage of Embassy of India, is celebrating the 3rd International Day of Yoga. Come and participate in the guided Therapeutic Yogasana, Pranayama and Meditation session with the experts from the field of Yoga. Registration is free and open for all residents of Qatar. Kindly bring your yoga mat.

A Sculpture of your Baby’s Feet WHEN: June 22WHERE: Katara Art Studio B19, DohaTIME: 9:30pmCultural Village Foundation-Katara

presents A Sculpture of your Baby’s feet Workshop by the artist Rita. Only five students (ladies only). Workshop will be conducted in English.

How to Tell a StoryWHEN: Until June 22WHERE: DFI TIME: 2pm – 3:30pmDuring this workshop, participants

are introduced to the Pixar storytelling formula, and engage in interactive exercises to help them generate ideas, write characters, and create interesting plots and narratives. Using concrete examples and working in groups, at the end of the workshop all participants will have found their own voices and will be able to write and develop their stories. Some of the work written during the workshop may be nominated to be developed and produced during DFI’s Camera Kids workshop, which will take place in August.

Henna PaintingWHERE: Doha Festival CityWHEN: June 22-25TIME: 9pmFor the last five days of Ramadan, and

in celebration of Eid al-Fitr, there will be professional henna artists designing beautiful henna art on guests. Children will also have the opportunity to handcraft their own henna designs on printed paper. Being the national bird and symbol of culture in the Middle East, guests will also have the chance to have their photo taken with a falcon at Doha Festival City.

Aspire Active Ladies Fitness ClassesWHEN: Ramadan WHERE: Hamad Aqauatic CenterRamadan offer! FREE Aspire Active

Ladies Only Fitness Classes when you sign up for your swimming membership at Hamad Aquatic Center Today! Hamad Aquatic Center is located at Aspire Zone Sports City. For more information, call 44138484 or e-mail [email protected]

Meerat RamadanWHERE: KataraWHEN: Until end of RamadanTIME: 5pm-9pmThe Ramadan Market is open to the

public, and scheduled to run until the end of Ramadan. According to the Katara website, the current hours (until June 17) are 5pm until 9pm, although we recommend that you check it is open before making a special journey as timings may change during Ramadan. There will be kids area with bouncy castle, and it is expected that the Ramadan market will be popular with families as they enjoy their Ramadan evenings at Katara.

Ramadan Nights at Aqua Park QatarWHEN: Entire RamadanWHERE: Aqua ParkTIME: 8pm-2amHave fun with your family and friends in

style! World class attractions and a thrilling water park experience! From the coolest rides to the extreme ones, Aqua Park has it all at 50% discount this Ramadan! Don’t miss out!

W Doha Hotel: Art 29 galleryWHERE: W Doha Hotel & ResidencesWHEN: Until July 25TIME: 9am-7pmW Doha Hotel & Residences are hosting

the works of local artist Abdulwahed al-Mawlawi at the property’s in-house Art 29 gallery. The exhibition commenced on May 25 following Ramadan timings of 9am to 10pm and from June 25th to July 25th will be open for free public viewing from 9am to 7pm. The expansive Art 29 space has been established to spark inspiration and nurture creativity by providing a platform to showcase works of both budding and established artists.

Summer CampWHEN: July 2-27WHERE: Wisdom Education CenterTIME: 11am-1pmIspeak-ilead is a summer camp public

speaking leadership programme for kids and teens to personally develop children’s ability to speak free without fear, speak effectively without inhibitions.

Summer CampWHERE: Ain KhaledWHEN: July 2-Aug 31TIME: 8am-1pmSummertime is just memories waiting

to happen. The Stem Xplorers Summer Camp is just the place for your kids to make lifelong memories to cherish.

Our camp will be Stem-based wherein we will engage the children in Science along with Lego, some exciting Sports, Nutrition, Arts, Crafts and Outdoor Field Trips!! Each week will be a different theme covering an exciting new Stem project making science come to life. Call us now on 33996665 or 33120001.

Summer Camp WakrahWHERE: Music Lounge, Al WakrahWHEN: July 2-31This is a 1 month packaged summer

camp programme that brings great fun with learning, creating and exploring. The camp is designed to bring out a 360 degree development in the talents and skill level of the students. The camp includes training in keyboard, guitar, drums, art, craft, communication skills, zumba, hip hop, fun with games, movies, competitions, cultural tour, fun day activities, art exhibition and fashion show. The camp is for ages 5-15. Transportation is available from Doha, Al Wakrah and Mesaieed. For details, please contact the organisers at 44219897/555 72429 or e-mail them at [email protected]

#I Am Evo Summer CampWHERE: Al Waab and Doha College

West Bay WHEN: July 2 onwardsTIME: 8am to 1pmThe #IamEvo Camps are designed to

challenge young athletes to progressively develop their skills, performance and confidence. The courses are structured to meet the needs of all young players, to have fun, learn new skills and meet new friends in a safe and friendly environment. Members have a choice of venue, with camps held at Doha College Al Waab and Doha College West Bay. The camps are open to boys and girls aged 4-16 years and run from 8am to 1pm daily at each site. Registration Now Open.

Davinci Resolve Training CourseWHEN: July 24-25TIME: 1pmThe course provides an introduction to

colour grading and the popular grading software, DaVinci Resolve. It is the ideal course for editors, digital imaging technicians, directors of photography, visual-eff ects technicians, aspiring colourists, and anybody with a desire to explore colour correction.

Camera Kids: Make Your Own Short Film

WHEN: Aug 6- 24A well-rounded introduction to the

diff erent elements of photography, fi lm and fi lmmaking helps young people make their fi rst one-minute short fi lms. Applicants must be between 13 and 17 years old.

Train like a superhero WHERE: Aspire ZoneWHEN: OngoingTrain like a superhero at CrossFit Doha!

CrossFit holds a variety of disciplines from weightlifting to calisthenics to gymnastics. This will help your kids excel in sports and retain the healthy and fit lifestyle! Support your kids’ natural urge for physical activities and train like a superhero, at CrossFit Doha’s in demand Kids Classes today! CrossFit Doha is located at Aspire Zone Sports City. For more information, call 44138484.

Salsa Beginners Dance ClassWHEN: Every FridayWHERE: B Attitude Spa, West BayTIME: 8pm-9pmSalsa n Candela off ers variety of dance

classes for adults at Beverly Hills Tower such as Salsa every Friday and other Latin dance during other days of the week.

Festive timeWHEN: OngoingWHERE: Doha Festival CityThe entertainment off ering has been

designed to ensure there are numerous opportunities for physical activities, from the running track which features exercise stations, the bike trail, through to our ‘fi rst-of-its-kind’ in Qatar, Snow Dunes theme park. DFC is excited to welcome fi rst visitors in April and to celebrate the best leisure facilities, retail mix and dining options, all with exceptional service.

Summer Workshop 2017 for kidsWHERE: IAIDWHEN: July-AugSummer break is a long-awaited respite for

your kids after months of hitting the books. This is an opportunity for them to hone their current skills, pick up a new hobby, or simply stay active, whether their interest lies in dance, music or arts. This summer, get your kids up and going by enrolling them at IAID! Starting three years and above, we have courses to off er this summer such as Ballet Kids, Strum-A-Long, Bolly Thumka, Music Fun, ARTmazing & more.

Imperial Threads: Motifs and ArtisansWHERE: Museum of Islamic ArtWHEN: Until November 4This exhibition focuses on the exchange

of artistic and material cultures between the Ottoman, Safavid, and Mughal Empires. Highlighting MIA’s masterpiece carpets, among other artworks, from Turkey, Iran and India, these objects will be contextualised within the historical circumstances of politics and artistic production of their time, primarily from the 16th to the 18th centuries.


COMMUNITY COVER STORY

The worthy fight

NEW HOPE: CIMAvax, a lung cancer vaccine developed in Cuba, is being administered to US patients during a clinical trial at Roswell Park Cancer Institute.

The fi rst patients in a clinical trial at Roswell Park Cancer Institute in Buff alo, New York, have begun receiving

monthly doses of CIMAvax-EGF, a Cuban lung cancer vaccine that US researchers say shows promise in preventing the recurrence of lung cancer — the leading cause of cancer deaths in the United States.

The Roswell trial, which was authorised by the US Food and Drug Administration last fall, is the fi rst time that a Cuban-made therapy has been tested on US patients. CIMAvax has already undergone extensive clinical trials in Cuba and around the world and is an approved therapy for treatment of lung cancer not only

on the island but also in Colombia, Peru, Paraguay, and Bosnia and Herzegovina.

The unique partnership between Roswell Park researchers and Havana’s Center of Molecular Immunology began in 2011, well before the Obama administration’s rapprochement with Cuba, and had its genesis in a cold call from Gisela Gonzalez, a Cuban researcher who was visiting her family in Pittsburgh.

She off ered to give a talk about the Havana centre’s work to researchers at Roswell, an internationally recognised cancer treatment and research centre. “It really came out of the blue, and we, like many others, thought Cuba was stuck back in the I Love

Lucy days and their technology was probably on par with their 1950s cars,” recalled Dr Kelvin Lee, chairman of Roswell’s Department of Immunology.

“She comes up and gives this really great talk,” said Lee, who previously worked at the University of Miami Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center. “I recognised something really exciting, but I didn’t appreciate the magnitude of it until several months later.”

Gonzalez invited Roswell researchers to an international immunology convention in Havana. Lee said he came away impressed. “We saw this remarkable amount of innovative scientists and remarkable research

they were doing,” he said.When he returned to Roswell,

Lee said he told the institute’s senior leadership: “If there’s a 20 percent chance that what (Cuban scientists) are seeing in lung cancer patients is actually true, then we need to get in on the ground fl oor.”

What makes the Cuban lung cancer vaccine so exciting to researchers is that instead of attacking cancer cells themselves, as most immunotherapies do, it generates an immune response against EGF, a growth factor circulating in the blood that cancer cells need to grow and thrive.

“By generating that immune response, it neutralises the circulating (epidermal growth

factor or EGF), starves the cancer and the cancer stops growing,” Lee said.

Because of the way it appears to work, the vaccine could potentially be eff ective against other cancers such as colon and head and neck cancers that also rely on EGF to grow. “There’s a hint, a hope here that we might be able to develop a vaccine for these other cancers,” said Dr Igor Puzanov, director of the clinical trial programme and Roswell’s chief of melanoma.

Unlike other cancer therapies, which may cause serious side eff ects, patients treated with CIMAvax tolerate the vaccine well. “Side eff ects for Cuban patients on the vaccine have been very minimal,” said Dr Grace Dy, chief

What makes the Cuban lung cancer vaccine so exciting to researchers is that

instead of attacking cancer cells themselves, as most immunotherapies do,

it generates an immune response against EGF, a growth factor circulating in

the blood that cancer cells need to grow and thrive, writes Mimi Whitefield


COMMUNITYCOVER STORY

of thoracic oncology and the chief investigator in the CIMAvax trial.

The vaccine, which has been administered to more than 5,000 patients worldwide, is also cost-eff ective.

On the island, where 1,000 Cubans have received the vaccine, the therapy is free. Foreigners who go to Cuba in search of the vaccine can see a doctor and get a year’s supply for around $12,000, Lee said. That compares to the cost of treatment with Opdivo, an immunotherapy in use in the United States, that costs $12,000 to $15,000 per month.

Americans not accepted for the US study who might want to go to Cuba to get the drug need to check US.travel regulations. Medical treatment does not fall into 12 categories of Cuba travel that the US government permits without prior approval. Roswell also points out US health insurance is very unlikely to cover CIMAvax acquired in a foreign country.

The Phase I trial is qualifying patients on a rolling basis. The goal is to enrol 60 to 90 patients for the trial, which is expected to be completed in three years. The fi rst group of qualifi ed patients, all of whom have previously been treated for lung cancer, began receiving the vaccine in January. It’s being administered in combination with Opdivo, a second-line therapy that’s been shown to be comparatively eff ective in treating lung cancer recurrence.

To be eligible for the clinical trial, patients must have advanced lung cancer that was treated initially with chemotherapy. Newly diagnosed lung cancer patients who were given Opdivo (also known as nivolumab) as their fi rst line of treatment aren’t eligible for the study.

There’s plenty of data on the CIMAvax vaccine alone, said Puzanov, but the Roswell trial is the fi rst time the two therapies have been tested in combination. The goal is to assess whether two

immunotherapies given together are more eff ective.

Initially patients enrolled in the study get the combined therapies every two weeks for four courses and then once a month.

Roswell researchers will gradually increase the dosage of CIMAvax and Opdivo, trying to achieve the optimal combination and studying overall response and survival rates. The most recent trial conducted in Cuba showed that patients treated with CIMAvax had signifi cantly improved quality of life and overall survival rates, according to Roswell researchers.

“We want to tease out the information about why patients respond. It’s part of the mosaic of the comprehensive approach of attacking cancer here,” said Puzanov. Potentially, the vaccine might even be administered to patients such as chronic smokers who are at high risk of developing lung cancer, according to Roswell researchers.

“This Phase I trial really feels

like throwing a stone in a pool to see what type of ripples happen,” Lee said. But his hope is that the trial shows the FDA enough that it will fast-track the sale of CIMAvax and other Cuban biologics — medications that rely on biotechnology for their manufacture — in the United States.

While in Cuba recently, Lee met a female lung cancer survivor who had been on the vaccine for 12 years.

“Lung cancer doesn’t get the attention it deserves,” Dy said. “The No. 1 cause of cancer death in both men and women in the United States is lung cancer. Actual deaths from lung cancer are more than prostate, breast and colon cancers combined.”

Since Roswell and Cuban researchers began collaborating, four Cuban doctorate students have spent six-month stints at Roswell, and Cuban scientists have visited Buff alo to plan the pre-clinical and clinical trials.

“This is a day we have been

working toward for many years,” Dr Agustin Lage, director of CIM — the Havana centre’s Spanish acronym — said last October when New York Governor Andrew Cuomo announced the FDA authorisation of the clinical trial. “Our partnership with Roswell Park will allow us to learn things about our vaccine faster than what we could achieve working on our own, and we believe it is the best and quickest path for helping a great number of people both in Cuba and the US.”

Roswell fi rst obtained a license from Treasury’s Offi ce of Foreign Assets Control to pursue research, development and potentially manufacture and marketing of biotech products in 2013, and it was renewed in 2015.

The December 2014 rapprochement with Cuba and Cuomo’s 2015 trade mission to the island helped fast-track FDA approval, said Lee. “Before, it was just two institutions trying to do something important for our

own patients, but we weren’t on anybody’s front burner,” he said. “The state’s involvement really pushed us over the fi nish line.”

Asked why a small country with limited resources was on the cutting edge of biotech research, Dy responded: “They were forced to become innovative; they were separated from the rest of the world in a sense. People in Cuba also are very well educated and there are lots of scientists and doctors.”

Lee said the emphasis on universal healthcare and trying to come up with very cost-eff ective treatments also has contributed to Cuban breakthroughs.

“The really exciting thing about CIMAvax is the possibility that it might be used to prevent lung cancer,” said Lee. The Havana centre also has a portfolio of other interesting biologics, he said, and “there are about seven we are working on to see if we can move them into clinical trials.” —The Miami Herald/TNS

Potentially, the vaccine might even be administered to patients such as chronic smokers who are at high risk of developing lung cancer, according to Roswell researchers

IN THE FOREFRONT: Dr Grace Dy and Dr Igor Puzanov are among 50 investigators at Roswell Park Cancer Institute working on a clinical trial of the Cuban-developed lung cancer vaccine CIMAvax.

Because of the way it appears to work, the vaccine could potentially

be effective against other cancers such as colon and head and neck

cancers that also rely on EGF to grow. “There’s a hint, a hope here

that we might be able to develop a vaccine for these other cancers,” said Dr Igor Puzanov, director of the clinical trial programme and

Roswell’s chief of melanoma


COMMUNITYEnvoy inaugurates Indonesian supermarket in MessaidMuhammad Basri Sidehabi, the Ambassador of Indonesia to Qatar, and Meliadi Sembiring, Indonesian Deputy Minister for Institutional Coordination at the Ministry of Cooperatives and SMEs, inaugurated the opening of the “KWIQ Supermarket” in Messaid city, about 40km from Doha recently. The inauguration were attended by KWIQ sponsors, members of the Indonesian Citizen Cooperative in Qatar (KWIQ), and Association of Indonesian Community in Qatar (Permiqa) chairman Edwin Kurniawan.The envoy appreciated the formation of co-operatives to improve economic diplomacy between

the two countries. The co-operative, led by the Indonesian Business Assocation in Qatar (IBAQ) and facilitated and supported by the Indonesian Embassy in Doha, is a place to integrate the diaspora community and Indonesian business communities in Qatar.According to Embassy’s Minister Counselor, Boy Dharmawan, the supermarket off ers various products from Indonesia and Asian foods and beverages. The supermarket also has the option to buy stuff online through its website: www.supermarket.kwiqatar.com. The home delivery is done every Sunday, Wednesday and Friday from 4pm.

Indian Cultural Centre holds community IftarThe Indian Cultural Centre (ICC) held an Iftar recently for the Indian community leaders, heads of aff iliated organisations, embassy off icials and representatives from the Ministry of Interior. The Iftar was attended by Indian Ambassador P Kumaran, ICC President Milan Arun, Indian Community Benevolent Forum President Davis Edukulathur, Indian Business and Professionals Network President K M Varghese, and Indian Sports Center President Nilangshu Dey. The Ministry of Interior was represented by Lt. Ibrahim Muhammed Abdul Azees al-Bin Ali,

Discipline off icer at Al Fazaa Police; Lt Jassim Muhammed al-Ansari and Warrant Off icer Abdul Muhsin al-Ruwaily from the Traff ic department; Warrant off icer Ali Hassan al-Kurbi from Civil Defence, and Faisal al-Hudawi from the Public Relations department.Ambassador Kumaran said that the message of Ramadan is applicable to all community and values such as piety and charity need to be inculcated by all in their life. ICC President Milan Arun, Warrant Off icer Abdul Muhsin al-Ruwaily also addressed the gathering.


COMMUNITY

Qatar-Finland International School celebrates end of year

Pakistani community members celebrate cricket team’s winMembers of Pakistan community in Doha, led by Pakistan Embassy Commercial Attache Arbab Qaiser and Arshad Hussain of Pukhtun Professionals in Qatar (PPIQ), cut a cake at Pistachio Restaurant on Sunday to celebrate Pakistan’s victory in the ICC Champion’s Trophy final 2017 played at The Oval, London.

The Qatar-Finland International School held their annual end of year celebrations recently. The grades 2 and 4 choir and the teacher’s band opened the ceremony with a rousing rendition of ‘the Circus is coming to town’. Students were shown the importance of practising skills through a scene with the world’s saddest clown who desperately wanted to join the circus. The audience was then treated to an array of acrobats, jugglers and tightrope walkers. If that wasn’t enough, there were strongmen, lions and hula hoops. For the final circus act, the stage exploded with colour as ribbon dancers, magicians and clowns stole the limelight.The school said in its statement: “The importance of Arabic in our school curriculum was highlighted in a touching scene, showing a young apprentice learning how to tame a lion with his Arabic speaking master.“The lion theme continued as Grade 4 showed their incredible choreography skills with a dance routine set to Katy Perry’s Roar. The stars of the show performed one final encore before parading the hall to earn their well-deserved standing ovation.

Cuteness was provided by the school’s philosophical grade 0s. In what has become a yearly tradition, the grade 6 students were given roses by their grade 0 friends to mark their graduation into the upper school. They then contemplated their future years with an adorable version of Que Sera, Sera.” One of the school’s shining stars, Jyry, spoke very little English when he started last year. This day, however, he gave an articulate and confident speech to thunderous applause. It was a tough act to follow but Mr Repo gave a final speech to all those assembled. The teachers wanted their own share of the spotlight and gave a performance of traditional Finnish instrumental music to round off the day.The Finnish educational system is regarded as one of the best in the world. Qatar-Finland International School offers the best educational practices from Finland and a Finnish curriculum in English. From this September, the school will teach students from Grade 0-Grade 8.


COMMUNITY

Doha College sporting stars shine

The Under-19 Girls Netball Team who won the female Sports Team of the Year prize 2017.

Doha College’s sporting stars of 2017 were announced recently and received their awards at the annual

Sports Awards presentation that was also live streamed to parents unable to attend.

Twenty-fi ve diff erent sporting honours were awarded to over 250 students who had competed in over ten diff erent sports and played in over 400 fi xtures including two international sporting competitions to Abu Dhabi and England.

The key award winners for 2017 were named as:

Sportswoman of the Year – Ané Botha, Year 13

Sportsman of the Year – Alexander Rowe, Year 13

Female Team of the Year – U19

Girls Netball Team Male Team of the Year – U19

Boys Football Team Service to School Sport – Ané

Botha, Year 13Year 13 student, Alex Rowe was

named Sportsman of the Year 2017. Alex has taken part in many sports while at Doha College and has regularly been chosen as captain as he has proven to be an excellent role model to other students. Alex explained what winning this award meant to him, “It means so much to win such a prestigious award at Doha College. When I was in the younger years I saw other people winning the award and I’d always thought to myself I want to be in their shoes one day; and I made it so I’m over the moon about it.”

Sportswoman of the Year 2017 was awarded to Ané Botha in

recognition of the outstanding sportsmanship she has shown both on and off the sports fi eld. Ané’s love of sports is evident both on land and in the water and was summed up with her comments after winning. “I am delighted that my passion for sports has been recognised, sport is a huge part of my life and helps me with my other studies.”

Ané was also chosen as the recipient of the Service to Sport 2017 Award which is presented to an individual who has shown complete commitment and dedication to the PE Department and to sport throughout the year.

Doha College Head of PE Gary Froud said, “Ané has demonstrated outstanding time management balancing her academic studies, her extra-curricular activities

as well as supporting additional sporting clubs for the younger student. Not only is Ané an outstanding sportswoman, she is a natural leader and I hope she continues to inspire those around her in sport.”

The winning Female Team of the Year was awarded to the Under-19 Girls Netball Team who scored over 300 goals and achieved the double of winning both the QUESS league and the tournament against schools across the Qatar. The Netball team is made up of strong minded and competitive individuals who are focused on their sports. In fact, the team has won the QUESS league and the tournament for the last four years and have not lost a game since 2012.

The Male Team of The Year was awarded to the Under-19 Boys

Football Team who were captained by Alex Rowe, Sportsman of the Year 2017. The team won both the QUESS league and the QUESS cup, and competed in 12 games scoring over 30 goals and winning 12 of their 12 matches.

Doha College Head of PE Gary Froud summarised the successful evening, “We are privileged to have some very talented sportsmen and women here at the college. Sports are a vital part of the Doha College community and our students celebrated here this evening and proof that enthusiasm and commitment to sport can be balanced with academic studies and in fact can benefi t both. On behalf of the Doha College staff and students, I congratulate each and every winner on their achievements.”

Twenty-five diff erent sporting honours were awarded to over 250 students. The Under-19 Boys Football Team who won the male Sports Team of the Year prize 2017.

Sports Woman of the Year Ané Bothe and Sports Man of the Year Alex Rowe.


COMMUNITY

Medgulf Construction Company holds annual staff IftarThe Medgulf Construction Company recently held its annual staff Iftar gathering at The Ritz-Carlton Hotel. Chakib Nayfe, general manager of Medgulf, congratulated the staff for a successful year and explained the new challenges in the market and how to overcome them as a team. After the speech, gifts were distributed to the staff and special gifts and certificates were handed over to the employees who recently completed 25 years of service with the company. More than 550 staff attended the Iftar ceremony.

Summer and Eid al-Fitr off ers at The St. Regis Doha

The St. Regis Doha has confi rmed a number of “exciting recreational off ers and specials on rooms, leisure activities

and at its famed restaurants and outlets for the coming Eid al-Fitr celebrations and summer period.”

For the fi nest Eid experience, The St. Regis Doha invites guests to come and explore its wide range of leisure and recreational activities by enjoying its Summer Special, available until August 31.

Kicking off the Eid al-Fitr celebrations is the much famed Eid Brunch at Vine Restaurant, an exceptional culinary journey which is held on the fi rst three days of Eid al-Fitr and features specialities from the hotels numerous restaurants and lounges. The St. Regis Friday Grand Brunch ritual resumes on June 30 where guests can gather with family and friends and experience a lavish buff et with treats for everyone while enjoying breathtaking views from the terrace.

Furthermore, the award winning Sarab Lounge once again re-opens with an array of special experiences starting from the fi rst day of Eid al-Fitr including the Summer Afternoon Tea, the Warm Temptation every day with a fi ne selection of cupcakes, souffl é cakes and pies and the Late Evening Sweets Treat where guests

who buy one cake get the second one with the hotel compliments available from 9pm on Sunday and Wednesday. Guests will be able to end the day with the sweet smell of shisha into the air-conditioned terrace of Sarab Lounge.

A number of fi ne outlets at The St. Regis Doha will be open again following Ramadan, including the award winning Al Sultan Brahim for lunch and dinner and Oyster Bay & Bar, the hotel’s Caribbean-inspired pool restaurant and bar with sweeping views of the pool and Arabian Gulf with a DJ performing from Wednesday to Saturday from 12pm to 6pm. The St. Regis Doha is also off ering special evenings at Oyster Bay & Bar in an intimate setting for guests to enjoy quality time with family and friends in a private gazebo by the pool, for QR500 for six people, including food, drinks and shisha. The Club will also be open during Eid with a DJ performance from Wednesday to Saturday while live bands will be back in July.

Tareq Derbas, Area General Manager of Lebanon, Syria, Pakistan, Iran and Iraq for Marriott International and General Manager of The St. Regis Doha, said: “The St. Regis Doha has raised the bar in the region’s luxury hospitality off ering, by providing world class services and authentic culinary

off erings. Through our unique off ering for Eid al-Fitr and the summer season, we anticipate to continue off ering guests an unprecedented experience in the region.”

The St. Regis Doha will be celebrating Summer by off ering guests exceptional value on stay packages, with QR1,111 per night in a Superior Room on an all-inclusive basis including a Buff et Breakfast for two people in Opal by Gordon Ramsay, a 3 Course Lunch for two in Opal by Gordon Ramsay, a 3 Course Dinner for two in Opal by Gordon Ramsay, a 30-minute Jet Lag Massage for two at Remede Spa as well as an early check in at 10am and late check out until 6pm, and QR599 per night in a Superior Room including a Buff et Breakfast for two in Opal by Gordon Ramsay as well as an early check in at 10am and late check out until 6pm.

The St. Regis Doha will also off er a special Eid package for QR1100 per night in a Superior Room, single occupancy, inclusive of breakfast at Vine Restaurant and for QR1200 for double occupancy.

Furthermore, The St. Regis Doha will off er a special Brunch Weekend Stay package during Eid for QR1250 per night in a Superior Room, single occupancy, inclusive at Vine Restaurant and for QR1450 per night on double occupancy.

The St. Regis Doha has also created the “perfect pool and beach day experience with The St. Regis Summer Day Pass for QR250 for adults, QR100 for children, QR350 for families with one child and QR400 for families with two children. Guests can enjoy soaking up the sunshine in an Olympic-sized swimming pool, and taking part in exhilarating leisure activities including Aqua Aerobics, swimming relays, family treasure hunts, a Kayak race, football, volleyball, family sand castle

competition and family fl oating activities and much more.”

Moreover, The St. Regis Summer Gold Annual Membership Promotion gives members who enrol in a one-year lifestyle membership an array of additional benefi ts from pool and beach passes to complimentary stays and dinner at Astor Grill. The St. Regis Summer Gold Annual Membership Promotion is for QR17,000 for singles, QR22,000 for couples and QR28,000 for families and is valid until July 31.

The St. Regis Doha.


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

You might feel a bit restless today, Aries. You may want to get the

word out to others. Unfortunately, your tongue may be tied and it

could be hard for you to express yourself exactly the way you want.

Balance is key. You should work to foster harmony among your

associates. This is a good time to get out and be social.

Feel free to express your independent attitude today, Cancer. Break

out of any restrictions that might be keeping you from doing what

you want to do. Also, make sure you aren’t compromising your own

needs for those of others. Things should naturally flow your way, and

you should be in a good mood for most of your waking hours. Smile

at the people around you.

Have some fun today, Libra. It’s time to balance all the work you’ve

been doing with a little bit of fun. Yesterday’s honest eff orts are

turning into today’s rewards. There’s no need to be shy when

it comes to receiving what is rightfully yours. Be proud of your

accomplishments. If you can’t find someone to take you out to

dinner, take yourself out!

Don’t be selfish today, Capricorn. This is a time to think about

others. Instead of ploughing ahead with a project by yourself,

consider enlisting the help of a partner or friend. Things are better

accomplished cooperatively, regardless of how badly you may want

to do something on your own. The eff ort put out by a team will

produce unexpected results that prove quite favourable.

If you keep waiting for things to happen, Taurus, you may wake up

one morning and realise that your life has passed and you never did

half the things you dreamed of doing. The time to take action is now.

Put your plan into eff ect. You may need to make some compromises,

but you will find that, in general, people will follow your lead.

Have fun today and don’t be so serious about anything, Leo. This is

a good time to lay low and enjoy the scenery. Go to a movie or see

a play. Go to a party and celebrate. Dress up in your most attractive

garb and go in for the kill. This is a day to be talkative, lighthearted,

and social. Heavy emotional issues will only weigh down the positive

mood.

The pace will be jumping today and your wit and cheerful words will

be welcomed in almost every setting you enter, Scorpio. Do things

with others and see what kind of “trouble” you can stir up together.

This is a time to get out and be social. Beautiful things and relaxing

music are all favoured on a day like this. You can do no wrong by just

being your usual, outlandish self!

If you don’t say exactly what you mean today, Aquarius, you might

get into trouble. Don’t compromise your values just to maintain the

peace. Love and romance are favourable for you, but only if your

attitude is relaxed and carefree. Your emotions will be quite strong,

so do your best to balance them with a rational frame of mind.

Remind your loved ones how much they mean to you today, Gemini.

Words are especially powerful. Don’t use them lightly. Be thoughtful

about how you treat others. Do your best to maintain peace. It

isn’t a good idea to hold grudges or carry hatred for anyone. Good

manners and a neat appearance are key elements to the day.

You can do no wrong today, Virgo. In fact, you can navigate through

the cracks without anyone noticing. You may find that you would

rather be up on centre stage. This is fine, too, just as long as the

choice is yours. Independence is a key theme for you today. You will

find that the more you can break free, the better your mood will be.

Many people may have a great deal to say today, Sagittarius, but you

could find that you’d rather sit and listen. Feel free to do so. A lot of

what’s going around is gossip, so you might not want to get involved

at all. This is probably a wise move. Keep your nose clean and simply

absorb what you hear. Feel free to filter out anything that doesn’t sit

right with you.

Today is apt to be favourable for you, Pisces. You should keep the

lines of communication open so you can spread your knowledge to

others and receive the important information that is due to come

your way. Your energy might come in erratic yet powerful bursts.

You should find that your ego and emotions are quite strong.

Animals play a meaningful role in the lives of their owners. In fact, most people consider their furry

friends part of the family. And while dogs and cats tend to be the most common companions, nowadays, the beloved family pet can come in many diff erent shapes, sizes and species.

They get bigIt may sound obvious, but many

would-be adopters forget that the once small, adorable baby animal they adopted will one day grow into a full-fl edged adult.

They like having friendsThe majority of farm animals

thrive in a herd or fl ock, and having companions is extremely benefi cial to their long-term health and happiness. Before you get started, make sure you have the time and resources to care for multiple animals.

Adjusting your lifestyleIt’s important to note that your

new animal isn’t going to adjust to your lifestyle. With farm animals, it’s the other way around. Livestock animals generally rise with the sun, and when they do, you will too. And remember, there’s no snooze button on a hungry goat.

A space to fi t their needsLivestock animals need space

to roam, but don’t underestimate the importance of also keeping them properly contained. While the size and strength of a fence will vary depending on the animals you plan to adopt, quality fencing should always be a high priority. The last thing you want is for your animals to outsmart their fence and roam into a nearby farm, fi eld or neighbourhood.

Caring for them when they’re ill

All animals are susceptible

to illness, but livestock animals have a higher risk of contracting infections than their indoor counterparts. Veterinarians can help determine the right medical plan for your animal, but it’s vital for new livestock owners to identify a livestock veterinarian before their animal gets sick.

Be sure it’s legalLivestock laws diff er from place

to place, so if you have plans to bring home a new goat, it’s a good idea to check your city ordinances and homeowners association to be sure your new pet is allowed by local rules.

Know where to go for suppliesFrom feeders, food and treats

to containment and healthcare, adopting livestock means shopping for a whole new set of supplies, and it’s important to know where to go.

©Brandpoint

Seven things to consider before living with livestock


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

APPROPRIATEAPROPOSCORRECTDECOROUSDESERVEDEQUITABLEEVEN

HANDEDFAIRFITTINGGOODHONESTIMPARTIALJUSTIFIED

LAWFULLEGALLEGITIMATELICITMEETMERITEDPROPER

RIGHTSEEMLYTRUEUNBIASED

Just Just

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.


COMMUNITYPUZZLES

Colouring

Answers

Wordsearch Codeword

ACROSS1. Where the diamond chip

came from? (6,4)

6. Is not penniless: that’s the

catch (4)

10. Attacked, one fancied (4,3)

11. Wander near, the Continental

following (7)

12. ‘Put back the strap’, you say

(9)

13. Heavens! Joe has a dog! (5)

14. As before, the woman gets

the bird (5)

15. How long one goes on in

retirement? (5,4)

17. Bickering while the cad is

tied up with string (9)

20. The meat, pull to pieces (5)

21. Stand, with no difficulty, to

one side (5)

23. The bloomer is being

published (6,3)

25. As a news broadcast from

somewhere in Wales (7)

26. Keeping Greenhill inside (7)

27. Rang in, mad to have

something done (4)

28. Tamper with in no infantile

way? (10)

Super Cryptic Clues

Yesterday’s Solutions

ACROSS: 1 Drowsily 5 Hazard 10 Pretty much alike 11 Castors 12 Unaware 13 Agitates 15 Taste 18 Pitch 20 Pedestal 23 Strange 25 Bouncer 26 Above everything 27 Elapse 28 All right.

DOWN: 1 Depict 2 Oversight 3 Sets out 4 Limes 6 Adamant 7 Anita 8 Deepened 9 Accursed 14 Top heavy 16 Searching 17 Apostate 19 Hangers 21 Shutter 22 Fright 24 Rhoda 25 Beryl.

DOWN1. Look peeved, but less

uppish? (5)

2. Being canny? (9)

3. Went without saying one was

amazed (4,10)

4. Looks again at the duplicated

note and notices (7)

5. Contend it’s income, dear (7)

7. Misread the L in ‘plant’ (5)

8. Shut up about interchanging

material? (9)

9. There’s no better way of

asking who’d like to smoke!

(5,3,6)

14. Corrected when one

changed gear (9)

16. From Taormina, travelling

with a girl-friend who’s Italian

(9)

18. Tea Rod prepared to take out

in the garden (7)

19. The doctor’s in the front,

standing with the girl (7)

22. Tie at the post (5)

24. The ones you use as a sun-

screen (5)


COMMUNITY POP SPOT

Kaitlyn Aurelia Smith/Sade

Kaitlyn Aurelia Smith has just completed a European concert tour. Her performances

were so well received that she will be returning in August for another round of

shows.

The multi-instrumentalist, songwriter, vocalist and producer’s rural upbringing on

Orcas Island in the northwest region of Washington state is reflected in the ambient

style of her critically acclaimed music. Her last album, Ears, was listed among the

best of 2016 in numerous end of year polls. It can be heard in full at www.youtube.

com/watch?v=rUxM7KrUTOA

Kaitlyn recently released her cover version of Sade’s 2000 single, By Your Side. The

original recording is the first track on Sade’s Lovers Rock album. This LP was highly

influential in Kaitlyn’s initial development as an artist.

“Lovers Rock was the album I listened to most when I was 15 and decided to start

writing songs. Sade has always been a favourite vocalist of mine. She is pure class,

so emotive, honest and true. Her voice glides naturally across genders and genres,

which is a quality I work to embody with my vocals.”

Kaitlyn’s version of By Your Side is available free of charge. It can be heard and

downloaded at (no www.) kaitlynaureliasmith.bandcamp.com/track/by-your-side-

sade-cover

Links to more of Kaitlyn’s music can also be found on this webpage.

For anyone who would like to hear Sade’s original recording, plus the other

songs on Lovers Rock, the entire album is posted at www.youtube.com/

watch?v=xiZEtZcKQUU&list=PL-UWPlRIl68oVKYGk7jA-yW27AR-8mKAO

The off icial video for Sade’s By Your Side can be viewed at www.youtube.com/

watch?v=C8QJmI_V3j4

Cher

Music legend Cher used her Twitter account to announce the creation of a stage

musical telling the story of her life.

Some major names are involved with the project. The show is being produced

by Jeff rey Seller, responsible for Hamilton, and his partner Flody Suarez. It will be

directed by Jason Moore, who previously directed the Pitch Perfect movie and

Avenue Q stage musical. The writer is Rick Elice, who co-penned The Four Seasons’

smash hit stage musical, Jersey Boys.

Cher: The Musical will chronicle her life from childhood through her years as the

wife and musical partner of Sonny Bono to her later emergence as a music icon and

movie star. All songs will be from Cher’s back catalogue. The show should open on

Broadway some time in 2018.

Childish Gambino

Donald Glover, better known as Childish Gambino, recently shocked fans at the end

of his performance at the Governors Ball music festival. He left the stage after saying

“I’ll see you for the last Gambino album.”

These words certainly indicate he will end his time as Childish Gambino after

releasing a fourth album. He later made further comments saying his music career

was no longer necessary.

A multi-talented artist, Glover/Gambino’s various projects include acting, writing,

producing, DJing and performing as a stand-up comedian. He is currently starring

in the FX television series, Atlanta, which he also created. The show won the Golden

Globe Award for Best Television Series – Musical or Comedy while Donald won the

Golden Globe for Best Actor – Television Series Musical or Comedy.

If he does retire Childish Gambino after his next album, it would not be too surprising

if Donald returned to music in some other guise. His last album, 2016’s Awaken, My

Love!, was mostly funk tracks rather than his usual hip hop. He may simply want to

make music in a style which is radically diff erent from his work as Childish Gambino.

All three Childish Gambino albums can be heard in full online. The deluxe version

of Camp is at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mXahuQhadV4&list=PL0Vznj

qv_euCTZbF0RYC2lqjzPZCbM2gf

Because the Internet is posted at www.youtube.com/watch?v=jGMKKeTDBaU

The URL for Awaken, My Love! is www.youtube.com/watch?v=E0W3-QTOg2A

Jimmy Haber

Anyone who remembers a 1980s punk band called Degenerates will have some

familiarity with founding member Jimmy Haber. The American singer, songwriter

and multi-instrumentalist has changed tack from his punk days and is now a forceful

presence in the genre of power pop.

His 2013 debut solo album, New Bondi Hippies, so named because most of it was

recorded in Sydney, Australia, is set to be released on a 12-inch vinyl edition. The

entire album can be heard at www.jimmyhaber.com

Scroll down the homepage to the album cover. Click on this to reveal the track listing

and each song is played by clicking on the titles.

Alongside New Bondi Hippies is the cover for Jimmy’s 2015 sophomore solo album,

Joy Acid Pact. The songs on this album are also available to hear. Follow the same

procedure as with New Bondi Hippies.

Jimmy’s third solo album, Blue Palms, is currently being recorded and mixed. It is

scheduled for release late this year.

By Geoff rey Rowlands

Bryson Tiller sounds like the name of a country music star. The Louisville, Kentucky, native even hails

from an area of America that abounds with country musicians. But 24-year-old Bryson is very much the exception. Currently topping the Billboard 200 with his sophomore album, True to Self, it provides the perfect showcase for his hybrid style of R&B singing and rap.

“I suppose you could say I’m like Drake,” Bryson refl ected. “We both combine singing and rapping in our work. I feel like there are some things I can say rapping that I can’t really say singing. I like to keep things in between. I try never to go too R&B or too rap, although I know I sometimes do go too rap.”

In saying he was like Drake, Bryson did not mention the Canadian superstar is a massive fan. So much so that Drake’s label was among those who competed for Bryson’s signature on a recording contract.

Their interest was triggered by the response to his 2011 mixtape, Killer Instinct Vol. 1, and, particularly, Bryson’s 2014 single,

Don’t. The track was initially released on his SoundCloud page. It accumulated four million streams in six months and has now surpassed the 70 million mark.

The song was an obvious choice for Bryson’s debut single after he inked his deal with RCA Records. It peaked at number 13 on Billboard’s Hot 100 while the accompanying video has now been viewed more than 224 million times on YouTube.

His level of success is a long way from Bryson’s fi rst tentative steps in music.

“I lost my mother when I was four. My grandmother raised me and I grew up listening to her favourite artists like Gladys Knight, Michael Jackson and Earth, Wind & Fire. “It was really my uncle’s taste in music which set me on the road I’ve followed. He played those super R&B groups from the 1990s but it was him playing me Omarion’s ‘O’ album which made me want to sing. I started writing my own songs. They were terrible, but I kept writing and they gradually improved.”

Despite the interest in his mixtape, 2013 saw Bryson take a break from music. By now the father of a baby daughter, Harley, he took jobs with UPS and Papa John’s Pizza to provide for his child.

Fate took a hand the following year when friends gave Bryson the

money to buy equipment on eBay which allowed him to make music again. Two months later, Don’t was posted on SoundCloud and stardom beckoned.

“Don’t is about a guy treating his women better. I’m referring to myself in the song though most listeners wouldn’t know that. I wanted women out there to know their worth and to never settle for less than what they feel they deserve.”

Bryson’s 2015 debut album, Trapsoul, rode on the back of his success with Don’t. It peaked at number eight on the Billboard 200 and hit second spot on both the Top R&B / Hip Hop Albums and Top R&B Albums charts.

These numbers pale in comparison to those for True to Self. The album has topped all three Billboard charts. It has also debuted at number one on Britain’s R&B chart and number 11 on the UK albums chart.

Bryson believes the quality of his work has improved dramatically.

“I was only 17 when I wrote the songs for my fi rst mixtape. If you listen to the mixtape and compare it to the music I’m making now, it would defi nitely show how far I’ve come. I’ve grown lyrically, vocally and just as a young man in general. I’m still growing, developing and learning more every day.”

in brief

Bryson Tiller’s True to Self reflects his growth as a musician

FATE: 2013 saw Bryson take a break from music. Fate took a hand the following year when friends gave Bryson the money to buy equipment on eBay which allowed him to make music again. Two months later, Don't was posted on SoundCloud and stardom beckoned.

Tuesday, June 20, 2017 15GULF TIMES

COMMUNITYSHOWBIZ

By Mikael Wood

Well, she’s certainly seen a diamond in the flesh by now.

When Lorde appeared four

years ago, the idea that drove the young New Zealander’s music was a prideful alienation from the supposedly hollow pageantry of pop culture. In Royals she sang about not relating to rappers’ displays of the type of bling she’d glimpsed only in the movies; in Team she said she was “over getting told to throw my hands up in the air.”

At a moment when social media was beginning to rearrange the way fans relate to their idols, Lorde’s proposition was an effective one — so much so that pop culture welcomed her in spite of her disdain. Royals topped Billboard’s Hot 100 and won a Grammy Award for song of the year, while Pure Heroine, the singer’s 2013 debut, went triple platinum.

Suddenly, sparkly things were a fact of Lorde’s life.

Yet the outsider remains a powerful archetype, which is why even superstars like Taylor Swift — who quickly struck up an oft-photographed friendship with Lorde — try to present themselves

that way. So on her follow-up album, Melodrama, Lorde, 20, still wants us to think of her as someone in a state of opposition.

“I hate the headlines and the weather,” she sings in Perfect Places. In Liability she recounts being rejected by someone, then zooms out to declare that “I’m a little much for everyone.”

And the experience of pop stardom? “Hated hearing my name on the lips of a crowd,” she insists in Writer in the Dark, whose title says plenty about how she wants us to see her.

None of this is especially believable. What made Royals work, of course, wasn’t the awkwardness that Lorde was describing but the strength with which she described it.

And she’s become only more forceful a performer since then: At April’s Coachella festival, she started her excellent set a few minutes behind schedule, then openly taunted organisers to cut her off before she was finished.

She knew they likely wouldn’t.Yet Melodrama, which Lorde

made primarily with producer Jack Antonoff, is full of moments in which she claims she’s falling apart, barely able to keep herself together — a self-styled alternative to the glamazons that rule Top 40 radio (many of whom, it happens, offer the same kind of performed vulnerability).

Perfect Places goes down on “just another graceless night.”

It’s not that Lorde can’t sell this story line. She’s a remarkable singer with a range of vocal tones and dramatic approaches, including the gorgeously tender croon she sets against the stripped-down piano of Liability.

And Antonoff is a great match for her: His cinematic production — lush with echoes of Prince and Kate Bush and 1980s New Wave — matches the burrs and scrapes in her voice in a way that draws out far more emotion than she got on the comparatively minimal Pure Heroine.

But Melodrama is so much more potent when Lorde is owning her newfound authority, as in the album’s dizzying opening track, Green Light, in which she urges a lover to follow her “wherever I go” over a surging house groove that keeps escalating in intensity.

She’s equally convincing in Supercut, a fizzy electro-pop jam about a relationship that was “wild and fluorescent.” Lorde says she’ll “be your violent overnight rush, make you crazy over my touch,” then reveals that she’s merely looking back at memories of a broken romance.

What you hear, though, are a winner’s regrets.

Victory suits her. She should embrace it. —Los Angeles Times/TNS

Victory suits Lorde and she should embrace it

Fakhri’s singing debut blows away Parichay

Nargis Fakhri will be making her singing debut with forthcoming single Habitaan vigaad di. Singer-composer Parichay, who has collaborated with the Rockstar actress for the song, says he was blown away after hearing her voice.

Written by Kumaar, the Indo-Canadian single will also feature rapper Kardinal Offi shall.

“Nargis is not only hot and fl y, but super real and humble with a great sense of humour. So, we got along great at the shoot. She’s from New York and I’m from Toronto so that East Coast connection defi nitely helped,” Parichay said.

“When we fi rst got in the studio to record vocals, I was blown away by her dedication to get her vocals and pronunciation perfect, regardless of how many takes it took. She was the right fi t for this song and video along with Kardinal and I hope people like what we’ve put together,” he said.

“I am also working on record where she will sing a lot more and I’ve got a diff erent mainstream artist featured on that one as well. Lot more music to come — I’m pumped,” he added.

On the silver screen, Nargis was last seen alongside Riteish Deshmukh in Banjo in 2016. — IANS

I get worried watching Varun on shows: KJo

Filmmaker Karan Johar says he gets worried when he sees actor Varun Dhawan performing at any show.

“I get worried watching Varun on shows because I feel in his

excitement, besides his shirt many other garments might come off ,” Karan said during IIFA’s press conference.

“So that is my big fear because when Varun performs at anything, he has no sense of self-control.”

Varun will be joining Karan and actor Saif Ali Khan to host the 18th edition of the International Indian Film Academy (IIFA) Awards in New York next month.

Talking about his plans to host the fi lm gala, Karan said: “IIFA will be live this time, so there will no editing... It is actually making sure that your script is audience friendly because you’re not connecting to 40,000 people in audience but eventually to 40 million people, who would watch it live on television.”

Karan feels Saif is a veteran when it comes to show hosting.

IIFA will be taking place at the MetLife Stadium in New York on July 14 and 15. — IANS

ON SONG: Lorde during Bonnaroo Music and Arts Festival at Great Stage Park in Manchester, Tennessee.

IMPRESSIVE: Nargis Fakhri.FUNNY: Karan Johar.


COMMUNITY ENVIRONMENT

The World Wildlife Fund estimates that roughly a quarter of coral reefs worldwide are damaged beyond repair, with another two thirds under serious threat.

Researchers from the University of Hong Kong's School of Biological Sciences have been reintroducing corals into the Tolo Harbour area of the city, which was badly damaged by pollution in the 1970s.

Hong Kong is setting standards in coral reef restoration

The waters surrounding Hong Kong contain almost 100 species of

coral – more than the Caribbean. Times have been tough for the area’s

underwater ecosystems, but conservation work is now setting an example

that could be followed by other reefs around the world. By Christy Choi

When people think of Hong Kong, they usually picture the city’s imposing skyline. But less

well known, perhaps, is Hong Kong’s equally impressive underwater architecture.

In fact, the waters off the city’s coast contain more than 90 species of hard corals – more than the Caribbean. This aquatic environment provides an unrivalled opportunity for scientists to study how corals react to pollution and other human threats.

In particular, scientists are trying to learn from what was once one of the city’s most polluted expanses of water, Tolo Harbour in north-western Hong Kong. In the 1970s, the construction of a large residential project in Tolo Harbour caused a slew of human-generated pollutants to enter the water.

“That massive development really crushed corals in inner Tolo,” says David Baker, assistant professor at the University of Hong Kong’s School of Biological Sciences.

But more recently, Baker and his team have been reintroducing corals into parts of this 10-kilometre stretch of water to see if the environment has improved enough for them to grow again.

“They have not only survived, but some of them have appeared to thrive, growing as fast as any coral in the tropics would,” Baker says.

“We started off with coral fragments like this,” he says, holding up his index fi nger. “And in a year they were like this,” he continues, stretching out his entire hand. “That’s 1,100 per cent growth in one year. It’s impressive.”

Globally, coral reefs are facing a greater threat than ever from climate change and human development. The World Wildlife Fund estimates that roughly a quarter of coral reefs worldwide are damaged beyond repair, with another two thirds under serious threat.

Earlier this year, Australia’s Great Barrier Reef experienced some of the worst bleaching in its recorded history. Around 8,000 kilometres of the reef have been severely damaged.

Restoration work on the Great Barrier Reef is probably impossible, because of its size, Baker says. But reef restoration in a place like Hong Kong could have a substantial ecological impact.

“Increasing the coral area by even a small fraction of a per cent would be a major increase in habitat for other species, like fi sh and crustaceans,” he says.

The team hope their fi ndings might also be useful across the border in mainland China. “With coastal development in China, they’re taking about a New Great Wall, because most of China’s coastline is now artifi cial,” Baker says.

One of the reasons China is building new coral reefs is to help

guard against storms and fl ooding, he adds, since it is cheaper than building artifi cial breakwaters.

“Corals will grow and reproduce, mangroves will grow and reproduce. They’re constantly building these sea walls. The amount of energy these ecosystems can absorb and dissipate from storms and surge is massive.”

Reefs reduce wave energy by an average of 97 per cent, according to a 2014 study published in the scientifi c journal Nature.

The same study showed the median cost for building artifi cial breakwaters was 19,791 US dollars per metre, compared to 1,290 dollars to restore a metre of coral reef.

So far, global coral restoration has been a haphazard aff air consisting of a smattering of grassroots eff orts that often do not follow any scientifi c method.

“You really need to study what kind of coral community will benefi t that area,” says Samantha Lee, WWF Hong Kong’s conservation manager for oceans. “Look at the fi sh species and invertebrates that are found there and how the corals would benefi t them.”

Staghorn corals, for example, branch out and create hiding spaces that can be used by young fi sh, she says.

The health of coral can be aff ected by everything from water fl ow to pollution, temperature, pH levels and the presence of sea urchins, according to Lee.

Baker and his team are studying the eff ects of pollution, sequencing the coral genome and studying the ecological history of Hong Kong’s seabed by using a method called coring, in which they insert hollow rods into the seabed to fi nd out more about the ecology of the sea fl oor.

Studying the eff ects of pollutants will help them to identify places with good enough quality water for coral restoration to occur, and sequencing the coral’s genome will help them identify which genetic traits help to ensure survival.

It may also be possible to plant corals with a range of diff erent genetic traits, so that disease would not wipe out an entire population.

The Hong Kong restoration, if it continues to go to plan, could be implemented more broadly in the region and elsewhere.

On the Dongsha Atoll, part of a marine reserve administered by Taiwan but closer to Hong Kong, for instance, there are some 300 species of coral, far more than the 100 or so in Hong Kong. – DPA

A coral growing at a marine farm at the Swire Institute of Marine Science in Hong Kong.

P7 P16Community - Gulf Times

Documents

Transcript of P7 P16Community - Gulf Times