band strings - gulf times

CommunityIdeal Indian School team shines at

the CBSE National Taekwondo Championship.

P6 P16 CommunityPakistani band Strings to perform

songs from their latest album 30 inDoha today.

Standing tallCOVERSTORY

Good news or bad, northern Sierra readers

can always blame the Messenger. P4-5

Wednesday, January 9, 2019Jumada I 3, 1440 AH

Doha today: 180 - 280

BOLLYWOOD HOLLYWOOD

The Accidental a game changer

for political cinema: Producer.

4

A dip in views for Golden

Globes from last year.

Page 15

SURVIVAL OF THE FITTEST: The front page of California’s oldest weekly, The Mountain Messenger’s, edition of July 21, 2011.

Wednesday, January 9, 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

PRAYER TIMEFajr 5.00amShorooq (sunrise) 6.21amZuhr (noon) 11.41amAsr (afternoon) 2.41pmMaghreb (sunset) 5.03pmIsha (night) 6.33pm

“The aim of art is to represent

not the outward appearance of things, but their inward

signifi cance.” — Aristotle

AquamanDIRECTION: James WanCAST: Jason Momoa, Amber Heard,

Dolph Lundgren SYNOPSIS: Arthur Curry learns

that he is the heir to the underwater kingdom of Atlantis, and must step

forward to lead his people and be a hero to the world. With a vast army at his disposal, King Orm plans to conquer the oceanic people and then the surface world. Standing in his way is Aquaman, Orm’s half-human, half-Atlantean brother and true heir

to the throne. With help from royal counselor Vulko, Aquaman must retrieve the legendary Trident of Atlan and embrace his destiny as protector of the deep.

THEATRES: The Mall, Landmark, Royal Plaza

K G F: Chapter 1 DIRECTION: Prashanth NeelCAST: Yash, Srinidhi Shetty, Ramachandra RajuSYNOPSIS: Set in the early 80s, the fi lm centres the

protagonist who leads a battle against oppressors in Kolar

Gold Fields. The hero is brought up in poverty and later goes to Mumbai to become a mafi a don. After being in Mumbai for some time, he returns. Will he be able to become a don? and will he set his people free from the age old slavery?

THEATRES: The Mall, Landmark, Royal Plaza

The Mall Cinema (1):Thattum Purath Achuthan (Malayalam) 2pm; Aquaman (2D) 4:30pm; Aurora (Tagalog) 7pm; Simmba (Hindi) 8:45pm; Aquaman (2D) 11:30pm.The Mall Cinema (2): Mary Poppins Returns (2D) 2:30pm; NTR: Kathanayakudu (Telugu) 5pm; NTR: Kathanayakudu (Telugu) 8pm; NTR: Kathanayakudu (Telugu) 11pm.The Mall Cinema (3): Simmba (Hindi) 2pm; K. G. F. : Chapter 1 (Hindi) 4:45pm; Bumblebee (2D) 7:30pm; Backtrace (2D) 9:30pm; K. G.

F. : Chapter 1 (Hindi) 11:15pm.Landmark Cinema (1): Thattum Purath Achuthan (Malayalam) 3pm; Thomas And Friends: Big World! Big Adventure! The Movie (2D) 5:30pm; Simmba (Hindi) 7:30pm; Aquaman (2D) 10:30pm.Landmark Cinema (2): K. G. F. : Chapter 1 (Hindi) 2:15pm; NTR: Kathanayakudu (Telugu) 5pm; NTR: Kathanayakudu (Telugu) 8pm; NTR: Kathanayakudu (Telugu) 11pm.

Landmark Cinema (3): Aquaman (2D) 2:30pm; Simmba (Hindi) 5:15pm; K. G. F. : Chapter 1 (Hindi) 8:15pm; K. G. F. : Chapter 1 (Hindi) 11pm.Royal Plaza Cinema Palace (1): K. G. F. : Chapter 1 (Hindi) 2:30pm; Simmba (Hindi) 5:15pm; K. G. F. : Chapter 1 (Hindi) 8:15pm; Simmba (Hindi) 11pm.Royal Plaza Cinema Palace (2): Aquaman (2D) 2:30pm; NTR: Kathanayakudu (Telugu) 5pm; NTR: Kathanayakudu (Telugu) 8pm; NTR: Kathanayakudu (Telugu) 11pm.

3Wednesday, January 9, 2019 GULF TIMES

COMMUNITYROUND & ABOUT

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

EVENTS

Pakistan Music FestWHERE: QNCCWHEN: TodayTIME: 7pm – 10pmStrings are about to rock Doha with

their nostalgic gigs and all the latest hits. Quratulain Balouch and Ali Sethi will be joining the pop band at Qatar National Convention Centre.

HEC Executive MBA SessionWHERE: Tornado Tower, West BayWHEN: TodayTIME: 5pm – 6:30pmLearn more about this world-class

executive programme. Discover the international diversity of participants, blended learning and international mobility options. Find out how it will help you transform yourself and your career.

The Ilyas and Duck ShowWHERE: Qatar National LibraryWHEN: January 11TIME: 5pm – 6pmMeet Ilyas and Duck! Ilyas is a typical kid

with an insatiable appetite for questioning the world around him. Duck is fun-loving and goofy, with a simple view of the world. Together, this intrepid duo embarks on exciting adventures that culminate in profound realisations rooted in their Muslim identity.

Archives ExhibitionWHERE: Qatar National LibraryWHEN: Ongoing till January 31TIME: 8am – 8pmThe exhibition explores the history of Qatar

through several family collections. It presents selected items from previously unseen private archives of photos, artefacts and documents to show the role that individuals within a community can play in building its identity and preserving its heritage and history.

Getting Started with Makey MakeyWHERE: Qatar National LibraryWHEN: January 19TIME: 4:30pm – 5:30pmHow can everyday objects be used to

control computers? In this session, you’ll learn how you can use the Makey Makey invention kit to turn ordinary objects into computer keyboards.

Robotics Junior CourseWHERE: Recreation CentreWHEN: January 19TIME: 1pm – 3pmChildren are invited to build their own

robot and make it move however they want. It will be a fun chance for them to delve deep into the world of robotics and explore how computer programming and robot design can solve all kinds of problems.

Katara Beach - School StudentsWHERE: KataraWHEN: OngoingTIME: 9am – 12pmBy participating in the programme of ‘Our

culture is a school’, Katara Beach emphasises

the Qatari marine tradition and introduces to students the meaning of Dasha, Al Qafal and various type of pearls. The students will discover all details of the Fath Al-Khair journey.

Ballet LessonsWHERE: Music and Arts AtelierWHEN: OngoingTIME: 4pm – 8pmFor more info e-mail at registration@

atelierqatar.com or call on 33003839.

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.

The Colour RunWHERE: QNCCWHEN: January 26TIME: 8:30amCelebrate the hero in you in a realm

where nothing is impossible and you are unstoppable. Soar to new heights in the all-new Super Zone and suit up in gear fi t for only the most super of heroes as you collect your medal at the Finish Line! 2019 will also include the Foam Zone. Gates will open at 7am on January 26, with our fi rst Color Runners setting off at 8.30am.

Doha Triathlon 2019WHERE: Museum of Islamic ArtWHEN: February 8Doha Triathlon has opened registration

for its third edition. Those wishing to participate in the event can visit www.doha-triathlon.com to register in either the Olympic or Sprint which off ers registration for both individuals and team relays. Another choice is the Super Sprint which is only for individuals and open for both adults and kids aged between 13-15 years old. Also, a kids’ duathlon was introduced this year for two age groups 7-9 and 10-12 years old to allow all family members to enjoy the event.

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: Mystic Arts Centre behind Al

Hilal Focus Medical CentreWHEN:Wednesday – MondayMystic 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 Carnatic Music, Hindustani Music, Karate, Yoga, Zumba, Classical Dance, Salsa, Hip Hop, contemporary and Bollywood dance forms. For details, call 33897609.


COMMUNITY COVER STORY

The 2-employee paperThe editor-publisher of California’s oldest weekly newspaper hired its

one other employee, Jill Tahija, after a two-question interview: “Can

you type?” “Do you smoke?” She said yes to both. By Diana Marcum

He has a heart of gold, but he’ll take on anyone. He is the last and the best of his kind

— Debra Moore, managing editor

of a string of newspapers

‘’

HOLDING FORT: Editor-publisher Don Russell in the Mountain Messenger newsroom. The walls of the newsroom — where he simultaneously typed, smoked and readied the next day’s paper — are layered with newspaper clippings, mementos and nicotine.

The editor-publisher of California’s oldest weekly newspaper has rules for his publication: No children on the

front page (“I loathe children”). No beauty pageants. No online presence. “As long as I’m running it, it’s on pulp, period,” Don Russell said.

The Mountain Messenger publishes Thursdays, so on a Wednesday, Russell, 67, sat down to write the front page. Thirty years ago this terrifi ed him.

“But now I’m like, ‘Watch what I can do,’” he said — with the chortle of a melodrama villain and a voice as deep as the colour of his favourite bourbon.

He was, however, facing seasonal diffi culties.

“Everyone is terminally well-behaved from October well into January around here,” he said. “It’s hard on headlines.”

Russell covers school board meetings, federal land use and everything else in Sierra and Plumas counties — some of the most rural areas of California. His tone ranges from head-shaking to fi nger-pointing outrage.

He has never been sued: “If I say it’s a fact, it’s a fact, damn it. I do my homework.” But there have been a couple of times an irked politician drove around and bought all 200 copies as damage control.

A self-described contrarian, Russell uses every edition to help him prove that a small town’s strength is its common ground. He can call someone an idiot, disagree with their politics, question their good sense and still share a bite or a sip.

Breakfasts are busy at the Coyoteville Cafe on Fridays, when the latest Mountain Mess — as many here call the paper — is fi rst out.

“Good ol’ Don Russell, he’s quite

the character. He’s so blunt and straightforward, but the funny thing is he’ll come in with someone on the same day he’s bad-mouthing them,” said Patrick Shannon, 38, who works in his mother’s cafe and as a handyman, emergency medical technician and the town’s water meter reader.

Debra Moore, managing editor of a string of newspapers in neighbouring Plumas County, said that Russell comes across as a crotchety newsman but that he’s a sharp watchdog for the northern Sierra Nevada. Recently he exposed some county supervisors for double-dipping. They apologised and paid back the money.

“He has a heart of gold, but he’ll take on anyone,” she said. “He is the last and the best of his kind.”

The walls of the newsroom — where Russell simultaneously typed, smoked and readied the next day’s paper — are layered with


COMMUNITYCOVER STORY

newspaper clippings, mementos and nicotine. Several pictures of Mark Twain, the Sierra’s most famous newsman (the paper’s slogan is Mark Twain Wrote Here), are on display, along with photos of Russell looking like Twain, but wearing a cowboy hat.

“I am exactly like Mark Twain,” Russell said, continuing to type. “Except he was famous, talented and worked hard.”

Raised in Detroit, Russell spent summers with family in east Tennessee. The draft board called when he turned 18, but Russell didn’t answer. He fi gured he’d rather spend fi ve years in federal prison than Vietnam.

No-one ever showed up to arrest him, so at 20 he headed west. He learned forestry in California’s gold country. Owned a fi shing boat in Alaska. Bought into a small-town newspaper.

“I’m proud that I’ve managed to avoid honest work my whole life,” he said. “I worked in the woods. I fi shed. And now I write.”

He hired the paper’s one other employee, Jill Tahija, after a two-question interview: “Can you type?” “Do you smoke?” She said yes to both.

She puts together the inside pages, including a chart of the previous week’s weather sponsored by Grubstake Saloon and the most widely read feature, the sheriff ’s blotter. A recent highlight: “Someone in Sierra City suspected they had been scammed.”

Tahija answers the phones. Russell delivers the paper.

On a recent Thursday morning, Brutus, a 140-pound shepherd-chow-wolf mix, butted open the door to the newspaper offi ce and walked in.

Half an hour later, Scott McDermid, Brutus’ owner, arrived to help Russell pick up the

Messenger from the printer and deliver it to general stores and news racks, where it sells for 50 cents. Russell pays McDermid two cigarettes for the help.

According to McDermid, he and Russell are an unusual pair of friends.

“Peace creeps and former Marines aren’t supposed to get along, but we do,” said McDermid, who fought in Vietnam. He said

it isn’t always easy for him to be around people. “Once you’ve had someone’s insides on your outsides, you’re never the same. Never.”

Their paper route took them up over Yuba Pass. The Sierra Valley spread out in panoramic splendour, carved by the same forces that raised the towering mountains.

Any weekly drive becomes routine, Russell said, but he always notices this view.

“And a couple of times a year, it is a sight beyond magnifi cent,” he said.

McDermid agreed: “They call it the hoarfrost, when every little blade of anything has ice sticking out like the fur on a ruffl ed cat’s tail. The whole valley turns into blinking lights. It’s a little bit of wonderful.”

Looping through the hills, houses are few and more than half are empty — the property of moneyed outsiders who rent them to tourists during the summer. The sawmills, logging and mining left years ago, taking most of the people with them. There are about 3,000 residents in all of Sierra County.

“We are under no over-population pressures,” Russell said. “This is California. Here people want to visit the snow, not live in it.”

Delivery day, as always, ended in Downieville — at the St Charles, which residents just call “the bar” because there is only one in town.

“Give me a cheap bourbon with a sip back,” Russell said. The bartender was pouring the drinks before he ordered.

Lee Adams, former Sierra County sheriff , walked through the door and made a beeline for Russell. Adams keeps a copy of a favourite front page in his wallet.

In large, black letters it screamed one word — an expletive for chicken manure.

The story is about Adams. He wouldn’t pull a deputy Russell had deemed too aggressive in patrolling Main Street.

Adams said the headline made him laugh.

“I’m relieved to hear that,” Russell said. “I always felt bad about the timing, since that was a hard time for you personally.”

It was when Adams, now the fi rst openly gay county supervisor, fi rst came out.

Russell didn’t fi nd that newsworthy.

“The only person around here who didn’t know Lee was gay was Lee.”

A live-and-let-live attitude has long persisted in the mountains, Russell said, “dating back to the Gold Rush, when the world tipped and everything that wasn’t bolted ended up in California. The ones who lost everything got stuck in these hills and learned to take each other as they came.”

The next night, Russell again was at the bar — with McDermid and Jim Roos, who owns a small interest in the paper.

“He’s a Trumpster,” Russell said of Roos. “But I don’t hold being a fool against anyone but that fool, Trump.”

In a decidedly blue state, this region is as red as a painted barn. President Donald Trump won 14 California counties by more than 10 percentage points. All of them were in Northern California and the western Sierra.

Roos and Russell conceded that their little paper makes little money, hanging on only because of income generated from running legal notices. They said it won’t survive many more years.

“We can’t pass it on because the young ones who are smart enough to run it, we like too much to do that to,” Russell said.

When the paper does close, Russell said, he just might give fi ction writing a shot.

“I was told by now-dead relatives that I ought to be a writer,” he said. “I remember from a very young age taking a certain pleasure in stringing words together.”

He said his short stories would be set somewhere like Downieville. He thinks there are important things to observe about life in a small town.

—Los Angeles Times/TNS

ALIVE AND KICKING: A screen-grab of the Mountain Messenger website.

“I’m proud that I’ve managed to avoid honest work my whole life. I worked in the woods. I fished. And now I write”

— Don Russell


COMMUNITY

IIS team wins bronze at CBSE National Taekwondo ChampionshipTwo students of Ideal Indian School (IIS), including Waheeb Nabeel and Adnan Pant, recently bagged a bronze medal in the CBSE National Taekwondo Championship held at Satyawati Memorial Academy Bijnor UP,

India. The team was coached by Amazad Khan. Vijayant Thappa was the manager of the team. Syed Shoukath Ali, Principal of IIS, applauded the eff orts of the team and congratulated them on their success.

FLS marks New Year’s celebrationsFederation Libuwan Society (FLS) recently organised an event to mark New Year’s celebrations at Al Khor Park. The event was chaired by Rakesh Shrestha, Chairman of GSS. The event was attended by notable Nepali community leaders, including Birendra Yakthumba, Sangita Theg Limbu and Santosh KC.

The event kicked off with the national anthem of Nepal. The event featured various musical performances by local artistes, including Amrit Limbu, Sujan Rai, Ashok Gurung, Nabin KC, Muskahn Limbu, Raj Gurung and Man Kumar. Sunita Chemching also performed at the occasion.— Text and photo by Usha Wagle Gautam

Future 318 organises boot campFuture 318, in association with Naseem Al Rabeeh Medical Centre, Anytime Fitness, Sharq Village and Spa and Qatar Cancer Society, recently organised a Beat Cancer Boot Camp at Al Dana Gardens of Sharq Village.The camp featured various activities, including Ki-Gong exercise and free medical check-up from Naseem Al Rabeeh Medical Centre. Qatar Cancer Society also conducted an interactive session on how to beat cancer with physical exercise and activities by 40%. The boot camp, facilitated by Anytime Fitness, ran for two hours and was divided into 15 stations. The audience participated in a variety of exercises, including kettlebell, plank, sit ups, farmer’s walk, high knees and squats. The session provided a full body workout with cardio and muscle toning.

“We hope that we helped raise more awareness about cancer and how to prevent it. It was a great initiative and we had a really great turn out,” said Salma Hamouda, Marketing Supervisor at Anytime Fitness.Mohammad Arif, Marketing Manager of Naseem Al Rabeeh Medical Centre, said, “Regular health check-ups should be a part of one’s fitness routine as it would help one for early detection of any impending illness. Naseem Al Rabeeh off ered free Body mass index ( BMI ) physical examination , diabetes and hypertension screening at the boot camp.”Conchita Ponce, Founder of Future 318, said, “The Beat Cancer Boot Camp is one our platforms to glue the community together in a fun and healthy way.”


COMMUNITYREHABILITATION

CLEARING: Before the kiwi birds have a chance to make themselves at home, the area has to be cleared of their biggest enemies, including stoats, ferrets and weasels.

Coming Coming together together to bring to bring

kiwi back kiwi back

By Jule Scherer

For New Zealanders, the kiwi is not just a bird. The fl ightless animal with a mop of fur-like feathers is the Pacifi c country’s

brand, It’s the icon the country has fought wars under, the nickname for its currency and the name the people use for themselves.

But most New Zealanders have never seen a kiwi in the wild. One hundred years ago, the country had millions of the odd-looking nocturnal ground-dwellers roaming all around. But today, there are only about 68,000 left, the vast majority living far away from humans in protected off shore sanctuaries, nature reserves or zoos.

Paul Ward wants to change this. The self-confessed ‘bird nerd’ is the driving force behind an ambitious project that aims to bring back the shrill call of kiwis to the backyards of New Zealand’s capital, Wellington, within the next decade.

“It’s not right that more international tourists have seen a kiwi than the people named after them,” the 43-year old screenwriter points out.

The initiative, called Capital Kiwi, plans to reintroduce kiwi to 23,000 hectares of public and private land stretching from the city outskirts to the rough western coast. However, before the birds

have a chance to make themselves at home, the area has to be cleared of their biggest enemies, including stoats, ferrets and weasels.

Over the next three years, thousands of traps will be set, with the goal of eradicating the carnivorous mammals. If the eff ort proves successful, the birds will be translocated by the Department of Conservation (DOC) in the hopes that they will breed again.

“Currently, only 4 to 5 percent of

kiwi chicks survive to adulthood in unprotected areas,” Ward says.

New Zealand had been isolated for 80 million years until humans arrived 800 years ago. There originally were no ground-dwelling land mammals but instead an abundance of fl ightless birds, insects and lizards. As a result, kiwi are ill-equipped to fi ght off newcomers.

The charity Kiwis for kiwi, which supports community-led initiatives around the country, says that an average of 27 kiwi are killed by predators each day. They warn that “as this rate, kiwi may disappear from the mainland in our lifetime.”

Michelle Impey from Kiwis for kiwi explains that one of the challenges of kiwi conservation is “getting people to understand and care about something they can’t see and don’t experience.”

Kiwi are nocturnal and, with

some rare exceptions, live far removed from cities, towns and villages.

“Bringing kiwi closer to where Kiwis live puts them top of mind and creates a sense of ownership with those who are privileged enough to have them living on or near their land,” she adds.

The new project aims to create “a city of kiwi conservationists” who will have a personal attachment to their national bird.

While the project has secured a budget of 3.3 million New Zealand dollars (2.2 million dollars) over fi ve years for the setting and maintenance of more than 4,400 traps, it is still very much driven by the community. Schoolchildren are monitoring tracking tunnels, mountain bikers and trail runners check reserve trap lines on lunchtime rides, and families build tracks on the weekends.

One of the fi rst people to hit a trap’s stake into the ground in early November was 90-year-old local Ted Smith.

He and his local community started trapping their backyards a decade ago. It has “resulted in a remarkable increase in birdlife – tui, kaka, kereru, pukeko, kingfi sher, quail and others,” he reports. “If left alone, the odds of a kiwi chick reaching adulthood are one in 20. Given human assistance, the odds rise to one in fi ve. If we allow kiwi to die out, then we deserve to be called idiots,” he adds.

Smith is part of a groundswell of community conservation initiatives now sweeping New Zealand. In Wellington alone, there are more than 70 community groups involved in pest management. All around the country, people are working together to protect kiwi populations from predators and restore the health of their natural environment.

“The Capital Kiwi programme is just another community conservation project, albeit one on a very large scale and designed to create a safe environment for our national namesake – a safe and sustainable population of wild kiwi near to our capital city,” Ward says.

New Zealand’s DOC has also come on board. “Getting kiwi back into the hills of Wellington where people can hear them call is a great way to demonstrate what New Zealand could look like if we could get rid of the stoats and ferrets,” the DOC’s Jack Mace says.

The department hopes to rid New Zealand by 2050 of the most damaging introduced predators that threaten the nation’s natural wildlife.

If Capital Kiwi is a success, Mace believes it would “add another feather to Wellington’s cap as one of the best places in the world to see New Zealand’s unique wildlife.” – DPA

An ambitious project wants to

bring New Zealand’s kiwi back

from the brink of extinction and

into Wellington backyards

TRAPS: Traps for weasels, ferrets and other predators of New Zealand’s kiwi are built by volunteers.


COMMUNITY FITN

Wounded veteran finds new

FIRST-TIMER: Smith is the first veteran amputee in training to become an instructor for Club Pilates.

Marine veteran Calvin Smith’s new mission in life is to share the health benefits of the streng

By Pam Kragen

Over 10 years beginning in 2003, Marine veteran Calvin Smith endured 21 surgeries and a leg amputation caused by

war injuries, a motorcycle accident and a brain tumour.

But looking back on that devastating decade, the 37-year-old Vista, Calif, resident said he wouldn’t change a thing.

On his road to recovery, he fell in love with his speech therapist and she’s now his wife. He also discovered Pilates, which has so reshaped his mental and physical health that he’s now becoming an instructor. His new mission in life is to share the health benefi ts of the strength-training exercise programme with other veterans who’ve experienced

traumatic injuries.“My message is that just because

you’re wounded, that doesn’t mean you can’t do something,” he said. “The only person holding you back is yourself.”

Smith is the fi rst veteran amputee in training to become an instructor for Club Pilates, which has 400 gyms nationwide and 250 more scheduled to open this year, said Tianna Strateman, Vice President of Education for Club Pilates.

“Calvin is defi nitely a rock star,” Strateman said. “I can’t say enough about him and everything he’s accomplished. We’re excited about his teacher training and becoming an instructor for both regular members and others in the military. He’s our fi rst and we hope he won’t be our last. He’s a trailblazer.”

Smith grew up in Mesa, Ariz, where he said he had a Marine Corps

poster tacked up on his bedroom wall by the time he was in second grade. Serving in the military was the family business. His grandfather spent 33 years in the Navy and his father did three tours in Vietnam.

In high school, he enlisted in the Marines on delayed-entry status and spent most weekends drilling with other recruits before heading to boot camp after his senior year in 2000. As an infantryman, he was stationed at several international bases. On his fi rst seven-month deployment to an international war zone in 2003, he suff ered a brain injury and fi ve herniated discs in his upper spine when the Humvee he was riding in struck a hole in the road caused by a tank. He returned to Camp Pendleton for spine fusion surgery and a period of recuperation. He returned back to the same station in 2006, where he aggravated his back problems, which

led to more surgeries.On May 30, 2007, Smith had just

fi nished processing his fi nal discharge papers at Camp Pendleton and was riding home on his motorcycle on Interstate 5 when he was nearly killed in a three-vehicle crash. Smith collided with a speeding car, which pushed his bike into the next lane where he was hit by a second car.

Smith has no memory of the accident, which shattered his right wrist, damaged the muscles in his right arm, caused a traumatic brain injury and broke most of the bones below the knee in his left leg.

As a result of the brain injury, Smith struggled with short-term memory loss and word fi nding. Five months after the accident, he started therapy at the Brain Injury Day Treatment Clinic at Scripps Memorial Hospital Encinitas.

That’s where he met his future wife,

Kristina Reinhold-Smith. After he graduated from the programme, they started seeing each other in 2009. They married in December 2010 and share a combined fi ve children from their previous marriages.

Reinhold-Smith, 43, said it was diffi cult seeing her husband struggle with his health. He suff ered chronic pain and muscle spasms related to his spine and leg injuries and he battled post-traumatic stress disorder and depression.

Although he underwent multiple surgeries to repair his leg, he still spent most of his time in a wheelchair or with a cane. Finally, in 2013, he decided to have the lower limb amputated. His only regret is that he didn’t do it sooner. Now he enjoys hiking outdoors with his children and shopping trips to Costco, outings he couldn’t do before.

After leaving the service, Smith

9GULF TIMES

COMMUNITYWednesday, January 9, 2019

NESS

w calling as fitness teachergth-training exercise programme with other veterans who’ve experienced traumatic injuries

spent 18 months at Palomar College, studying to become a transition liaison for discharged veterans. But because of his brain injury, he couldn’t retain the course material despite long hours of studying and he failed most of his classes. Then, during a check-up in early 2017, doctors found that he had a brain tumour, which they removed.

Smith was depressed, overweight, out of shape and unsure what to do with the rest of his life. Then, in April 2017, he and his wife decided to take a class at Club Pilates in San Marcos. Before they fi nished their introductory class, he had decided to sign up for unlimited visits.

“I could feel my body being challenged but not that jarring, squishing pain that you get with other workouts,” he said. “I knew this was something I could do without injuring myself.”

Developed in the early 20th century by German fi tness trainer Joseph Pilates, Pilates is a strength-and balance-training fi tness programme that uses fl oor exercises, equipment and a table-like gym apparatus to do core-building exercises.

Strateman said Pilates is ideal for people like Smith with disabilities or physical limitations because the regimen can be modifi ed for each user. “The goal is to make it the best for one person, not a one size fi ts all.”

Smith began taking classes at the San Marcos club every day, which

helped him shed 45 pounds. And through interacting with trainers and fellow students at the club, it also helped him come out of what he calls his ‘bubble of isolation’ at home.

Over the past year, Smith has completed nearly 500 hours of classroom, fi tness and assistant teacher training. Once he fi nishes his teaching hours and an anatomy class next month, he’ll be certifi ed to teach

classes at several North County clubs. Eventually, he hopes to teach Pilates to Marines at Camp Pendleton.

Reinhold-Smith, who now works as a speech therapy manager for Kaiser Health, said she’s been amazed by her husband’s transformation. He no longer walks with diffi culty, no longer suff ers muscle spasms and his personality has been transformed.

“He was really depressed before

the brain tumour was removed and was increasingly isolated and trying to fi gure out his future,” she said. “Coming here gave him a purpose for his day. He’s a people person and a natural teacher, so being here makes him so much happier.”

Smith said he’d like to bring more men into the fi tness programme, which is primarily practised by women and change the perception.

Reinhold-Smith said she thinks her husband’s recovery through the programme might be an incentive for other veterans struggling with amputations and chronic pain.

“I think he could become an ambassador for people with injuries who are looking for something,” she said. “He has a lot to give back to people.” – The San Diego Union-Tribune/TNS

CHANGING PERCEPTION: Smith said he’d like to bring more men into the fitness programme, which is primarily practised by women and change the perception.

FITNESS PROGRAMME: Developed in the early 20th century by German fitness trainer Joseph Pilates, Pilates is a strength-and balance-training fitness programme that uses floor exercises, equipment and a table-like gym apparatus to do core-building exercises.

IDEAL: Pilates is ideal for people like Smith with disabilities or physical limitations because the regimen can be modified for each user.


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

Everything should be going great for your career, Aries. It may all seem

too good to be true, but rest assured that it’s real. Events could involve

a job change, promotion, raise, or the opportunity to strike out on your

own. Don’t kid yourself. A lot of challenges lie ahead, but this should all

lead to great personal satisfaction in the long run. Go for it.

Relations with neighbours, siblings, or other relatives could get a shot in

the arm now, Cancer. For some, your recent business successes cause

them to get on the bandwagon. For others, your personal growth could

increase their admiration of you. Partnerships of any kind formed today

show great promise of success. These could be business or personal.

Don’t be shy. Go with the flow.

Today your sensitivity joins forces with practicality. Intuitive insights

could come to you today, and you might express your new ideas to

others, Libra. Don’t be surprised if they accept them. Your unconscious

mind is on a far more practical track than you may assume. Make use of

this ability while you can because it might not be so clear tomorrow. Go

with the flow.

You’re flying high at this point, Capricorn, enjoying the success you’ve

achieved over the past several weeks. Today you could accomplish yet

another goal, adding to your feeling of accomplishment. You might plan

a vacation or perhaps return to college. The expansion of your horizons

hasn’t left you complacent. Instead, you want to continue expanding.

This is a very positive development. Go for it.

Discussions with those close to you could lead to the discovery of new

concepts, perhaps from foreign cultures. You will want to learn more

about them, Taurus, as will your friends. You might even decide to

plan a trip to a place where you could expand your knowledge of this

new interest. Any trip planned today should go smoothly and be quite

rewarding. Don’t hesitate.

Success in your work continues to bring good fortune your way. Today

you might get reassurance that this isn’t a flash in the pan. You’re likely

to be financially secure for a long time. You’re probably feeling strong

and robust, full of energy and stamina, and ready to take on just about

any challenge. Move ahead, Leo, but move with caution. You’re never

too prosperous to be careful.

Today shows the promise of being a very busy yet fulfilling day, Scorpio.

Enterprises involving corporations or other groups in your community

are likely to benefit from your participation. You combine intuition with

practicality in everything you do. You’re especially communicative and

good at dealing with others. Don’t be surprised if public recognition

comes your way.

Today you might have insights as to how to advance your career.

These could come your way through dreams, sudden revelations, or

perhaps visions. Don’t hesitate to put them into action simply because

of the unorthodox way they come to you, Aquarius. Some of the most

progressive and successful ideas have come because the inventor had

a vivid dream. Write down your insights and go for it.

Emotions that run very deep should bring you a lot of satisfaction today,

Gemini. Relationships of all kinds could also be especially promising.

Close friendships might become closer because of your mutual

interests. Happiness and satisfaction should reign in the home today.

As you continue to enjoy success and good fortune, your self-

confidence grows, Virgo, and so you’re likely to attract new relationships

with fascinating people in exciting fields who share your vision and

interests. These could be business associations, close friendships, or

new partners. Relax and be yourself. You don’t have to impress anyone.

They probably already like you.

Your financial success over the past several weeks may seem too good

to be true, Sagittarius. It might make yet another leap forward. This

should make you happy. It also could bring up your insecurity over

whether or not this cycle will continue. It probably will for a while. It

might be a good idea to save or invest you money, just so you can feel

more secure in the future.

All your relationships should be especially warm and supportive now,

Pisces. This is a great day to form a business, personal, or partnership.

Business partnerships made now should be successful, while

committed bonds entered into today could well last for a long time.

Be open, honest, and unafraid to speak your mind. You might find that

others share your thoughts.

Five must-have jacket stylesC

onfused about choosing the right jacket for diff erent occasions and outings? Get these fi ve jacket styles to upgrade your wardrobe.

Tabby Bhatia, Director of Voganow.com, and Manjula Gandhi, Chief product offi cer, Numero

Uno, have some suggestions:

Trucker jackets: Trucker jackets are a denim/jean jacket version with double breast fl ap pocket style. Hand painted embroidered designs, beads, braid embellishments and patches on the back of these jackets look funky.

Blouson jackets: A blouson jacket or Harrington jacket is typically loose, but fi ts around the waist with an elastic fabric. It looks similar to bomber jacket but comes in varied styles; in zippers, buttons and diff erent collar patterns.

Anoraks or Parkas: Anoraks or parkas are somewhat similar. These are water resistant jackets although a parka is usually longer than anoraks with faux fur lining on the hoodie.

Biker jackets: Leather biker jackets have lots of zippers, straps and buckles around. Biker jackets are perfect to go along for outings and road trips. It gives entirely diff erent look from other jacket styles. Black is the ideal colour to pair with a white T-shirt, black jeans, black high ankle shoes and shades.

Bomber jackets: It gives perfectly dapper look when paired with basic tees and jeans. It keeps you warm yet stylish in winter. They are available in diff erent fabrics like synthetic, leather, polycotton and suede. — IANS


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.

Weather Forecast

BLIZZARDBREEZECALMCLEARCLOUDCOLDDRYFLOOD

FOGFRONTFROSTHAILICYMILDPRESSURERAIN

SLEETSNOWSQUALLSTORMSUNNYTHUNDERWIND


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 BOLLYWOOD

Proud to helm a biopic on Narendra Modi: Omung Kumar

National-Award winning fi lmmaker Omung Kumar says to direct a biopic on Prime Minister Narendra Modi is a huge responsibility and he is proud to helm it.

Kumar, who has previously directed movies like Mary Kom and Sarbjit, took to Twitter and called Modi “one the most prolifi c leaders in the history of India.”

“To direct a biopic of a man Shri Narendra Modiji who is one the most prolifi c leaders in the history of India is a huge responsibility and I am proud to helm it. Vivek Oberoi to play the legend. Produced by Suresh Oberoi and Sandip Ssingh,” the director tweeted on Monday.

The offi cial poster of the fi lm based on the life of Modi was launched on Monday by Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis.

Titled as PM Narendra Modi, it stars actor Vivek Anand Oberoi. The tagline reads, “Deshbhakti ki meri shakti hai”. The fi lm’s poster was launched in 27 languages. – IANS

The Accidental a game changer for political cinema: Producer

The Accidental Prime Minister producer Sunil Bohra says he knew there will be conjectures about it being a propaganda

fi lm, but he is also certain it will be a game changer for political cinema in India.

“In my opinion, the fi lm is certainly going to be a game changer as far as political cinema is concerned. It took two years to write, about half a year to make, but shall be remembered for a long long time as it is the fi rst fi lm where all the characters are addressed real names,” Bohra said in a statement.

The fi lm, starring Anupam Kher as former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, is based on the 2014 memoir of the same name by Sanjaya Baru, Singh’s media adviser from 2004 to 2008.

While the BJP shared the trailer on its Twitter timeline, some Congress leaders have objected to its content.

There has been talk about The Accidental Prime Minister being a propaganda fi lm ahead of the Lok Sabha elections. What does Bohra have to say?

“I am aware, and I knew it would surely happen but it will all be cleared once the fi lm is out in cinemas. People will respect the work and hard work rather than raising any other issue,” he said.

Bohra, who has earlier backed fi lms like Gangs of Wasseypur, Shahid, Tanu Weds Manu and Mastram, said risk is involved in each and every fi lm.

“Without risk no fi lm can be made,” he commented when asked about the risks involved in making a political fi lm in India.

He is ready for the reactions that

may come his way after the Vijay Ratnakar Gutte directorial releases.

“The reactions will come. It is a democratic country... Everyone has the right of opinion, and I will surely respect whatever comes my way,” he said.

When and why did you decide to make The Accidental Prime Minister. What was the agenda?

“My agenda for producing The Accidental Prime Minister is to make an entertaining fi lm. We picked up the rights of the book from Sanjaya Baru sir in 2014. Since then, it has been a long process.

“Our company Bohra Bros is in business since 1947. It was founded by my grandfather Shree Ram Bohra. He too made fi lms that were ahead of its time like Hercules (1964) Thief of Baghdad (1977) to name a few. I think we are working on the same lines — on creating content that has some USP attached to it. Hence, The Accidental Prime Minister.

He believes the road less travelled is very diffi cult to tread on.

“The same could be said about the journey to make this fi lm. We are a content based production house and to make this kind of fi lm we need support from a studio, but the market dynamics are such that no studio was interested and it took lot of time till we fi nally managed to get our act together.”

Bohra said the fi lm is a “three hero” project.

“Akshaye Khanna (who plays Baru), Anupamji and Vijay Ratnakar Gutte, the debutant director. Dictionary will fail you to fi nd the one word that describes the fi lm he has made. What you see now is his vision and he has taken this fi lm to a diff erent level,” Bohra said. – IANS

CANDID: Omung Kumar says Narendra Modi is one the most prolific leaders in the history of India.

ICON: Amrish Puri is remembered ahead of his 14th death anniversary.

THE RISKS: Sunil Bohra says he knew there would be conjectures about the film being propaganda.

Amrish Puri was a great actor, human being: Javed Akhtar

Ahead of the 14th death anniversary of late legendary actor Amrish Puri, veteran lyricist and screenwriter Javed Akhtar remembered him saying he was a combination of “a great actor and great human being.”

In the forthcoming episode of Zee Bollywood’s Classic Legends Season 5, Akhtar

will go down memory lane with Amrish Puri’s achievements and remarkable contribution to Hindi cinema.

“Amrish Puri will be remembered as a great actor. But people like me, who have known him personally, will remember him as a great actor and a great human being.

“Amrish Puri was a mix of both. Noted fi lmmaker Steven Spielberg had once mentioned that he had seen many fi lms in his lifetime, but he has never seen such a good villain,” Akhtar said while paying tribute to the actor.

Whether as the homesick NRI in Aditya Chopra’s Dilwale Dulhaniya Le Jayenge, the benevolent feudal landlord in Viraasat, Sunny Deol’s terminally ill, idealistic father in Ghaatak or Amisha Patel’s anti-India father in Gadar: Ek Prem Katha, Amrish Puri created a gallery of characters in his decades long journey in Bollywood.

He was not only seen in Hindi fi lms but also Kannada, Marathi, Hollywood, Punjabi, Malayalam, Telugu and Tamil.

With over 400 fi lms credited to his name, the Mogambo of Bollywood took his last breath on January 12, 2005. He was 72. – IANS

Wednesday, January 9, 2019 15GULF TIMES

COMMUNITYHOLLYWOOD

Writers Guild Awards announces 2019 nominees

The Writers Guild Awards nominees for screenplay writing were announced on Monday on the heels of the Golden Globe Awards.

The original screenplay category includes A24’s Eighth Grade, Universal’s Green Book, Paramount’s A Quiet Place, Netfl ix’s Roma and Annapurna Pictures’ Vice.

The adapted screenplay category includes Focus Features’ BlacKkKlansman, Disney’s Black Panther, Fox Searchlight’s Can You Ever Forgive Me? Annapurna Pictures’ If Beale Street Could Talk and Warner Bros.’ A Star Is Born.

The awards historically have signifi cant overlap with Oscar nominees in the screenplay categories, and last year’s winners — Get Out in original screenplay and Call Me by Your Name in adapted screenplay, went on to win Oscars as well.

One quirk of the guild nominations is that fi lms can be deemed ineligible if they do not adhere to certain guild rules. The Golden Globe-nominated script for Fox Searchlight’s The Favourite was the top contender to be left out of consideration this year. Other ineligible screenplays included Sorry to Bother You, Leave No Trace, Shoplifters and Incredibles 2.

The 2019 Writers Guild Awards will be held on February 17 at concurrent ceremonies in Los Angeles and New York. - Los Angeles Times/ TNS

Rider wins at the National Society of Film Critics

The National Society of Film Critics on Saturday named The Rider, a cowboy drama directed by Chloe Zhao, the year’s best picture.

Blending narrative and documentary techniques, The Rider is set on South Dakota’s Pine Ridge Indian Reservation and follows a Lakota cowboy after an accident derails his rodeo riding dreams. Zhao’s second movie The Rider edged out Roma.

Roma, the black-and-white Spanish language picture about a Mexican family and its live-in nanny, won the foreign-language fi lm category. The society also awarded Alfonso Cuaron prizes for director and for cinematography. Inspired by his childhood memories, Roma already had taken home best picture honours from the Los Angeles Film Critics Assn., among others.

In the national society’s honours, Olivia Colman won the actress award for her portrayal of Queen Anne in the British period fi lm The Favourite, beating Regina Hall in Support the Girls and Melissa McCarthy in Can You Ever Forgive Me?

Ethan Hawke won the actor prize for playing a weary pastor in an upstate New York church in First Reformed. Runners-up were Willem Dafoe in At Eternity’s Gate, Ben Foster in Leave No Trace and John C. Reilly in The Sisters Brothers and Stan & Ollie. — Los Angeles Times/ TNS

Chris Rock doesn’t want to host the Oscars

Comedian Chris Rock has denied any interest hosting the Oscars.

The denial came on Monday night at the New York Film Critics Circle (NYFCC) Awards dinner in Manhattan, reports variety.com.

“If it was fi ve years ago, I could say something really off ensive and funny right now, but I can’t do that anymore, so... hey!” Rock said, as he took the podium at the NYFCC Awards where he was on hand to present director Bo Burnham with the award for best fi rst fi lm for Eighth Grade.

Continuing to do some impromptu

standup of sorts, Rock looked into the audience at Steve Martin, who was at the award show to present the best supporting actor award to Richard E. Grant for Can You Ever Forgive Me? - and brought up the very topical subject of hosting the Oscars.

“Steve Martin is here. You should host the Oscars. You’re the best. Steve Martin should host the Oscars! Because I am not doing it, goddammit! You are not getting me,” Rock said. Rock’s comments come amidst the continuously developing actor Kevin Hart saga, as the Academy’s search for an Oscars host continues.

Rock has hosted the Oscars twice - fi rst in 2005 and in 2016.

Rock was one of many big names at the Monday night dinner, held each year by the NYFCC. Martin Scorsese presented First Reformed director Paul Schrader with the best screenplay award; Gayle King introduced Regina King, who won best supporting actress for If Beale Street Could Talk.

The intimate event is an annual favourite for stars, who enjoy thanking (and playfully scolding) fi lm critics for their support (or lack thereof) of their fi lms. Ethan Hawke, won best actor for First Reformed. – IANS

In an era when big TV audiences are becoming harder to come by, the 18.6 million people who watched the Sunday telecast of the 76th Golden Globes were

good news for NBC.Nielsen data showed the three-

hour-plus ceremony was down just 2 percent from the 2018 show. But among the 18 to 49 age group that advertisers seek most, the annual Hollywood Foreign Press Assn. trophy show recognising movies and TV from the past year presented was up 4 percent.

The audience was in line with recent Golden Globes telecasts, which drew 19 million viewers in 2018 and 20 million viewers in 2017.

In general, the Golden Globes have not faced the kind of signifi cant drop-off s by show business trophy programmes such as the Oscars, Emmys and the Grammys, which have all seen double-digit year-to-year decreases in recent years.

One factor hurting awards programmes is younger viewers choosing to watch clips on social media platforms instead of the live broadcast. Such viewing is not counted in the data supplied by Nielsen.

But the loose, party-like atmosphere of the Golden Globes - where big-name movie and TV stars have been known to behave mischievously - has helped separate the show from the pack. There is also less competition from other fi rst-run programming in early January.

This year’s annual fete was likely helped by a strong audience lead-in from NBC’s coverage of an NFC wild card playoff game in which the Philadelphia Eagles defeated the Chicago Bears 16-15 on the fi nal play of

the contest. It had an overnight rating of 22.9, the highest for an NFL wild card game on NBC since 1994.

Andy Samberg and Sandra Oh hosted the Golden Globes ceremony at the Beverly Hilton Hotel. While there were a number of speeches and gags about diversity in Hollywood, the ceremony did not have any of the anti-Donald Trump vitriol that has permeated other

show-business awards shows in recent years.

Bohemian Rhapsody was named best motion picture, drama. Green Book was honoured for best motion picture, musical or comedy. The Americans won for best TV drama series while The Kominsky Method was honoured in the comedy series category.

- Los Angeles Times/ TNS

A dip in views for Golden Globes from last year

RED CARPET: Sandra Oh and Andy Samberg on the red carpet for the 76th Annual Golden Globe Awards.

DISINTERESTED: Chris Rock hosted the Oscars back in 2005 and 2016.

CAST: From left, John Krasinski, Noah Jupe, Millicent Simmonds and Emily Blunt at the Paramount Pictures premiere for A Quiet Place at AMC Lincoln Square Theater.

WINNER: The Rider follows the story of a cowboy after an accident derails his rodeo riding dreams.


COMMUNITY

Top Pakistani singers to rock the town tonight

By Mudassir Raja

Four internationally renowned Pakistani pop singers are excited to rock in Doha for the first time today at Qatar National Convention Center (QNCC).

The PK Music Fest is organised by QTickets in association with Shop Qatar Festival from 7pm to 10pm. In line with the festival, the organisers held a press conference at the St. Regis Doha yesterday. The press conference was attended by members of the band Strings Bilal Maqsood and Faisal Kapadia, along with Quratulain Balouch, also known as QB, and Ali Sethi.

While Strings have an established fan following across South Asia, emerging talents QB and Ali Sethi have also earned a strong fan base for themselves with their powerful vocals. They are also regularly featured in the top-rated Pakistani television programme Coke Studio.

Strings, on the other hand, are celebrating their 30th anniversary as a band. They are likely to entertain the audience with some of their biggest hits including Na Janay Kyun, Main Tou Dekhoonga, Chaye Chaye, Anjane, Mera Bichraa Yaar and Zinda. The performance will also feature Urr Jaoon and Sajni from their latest album 30, which celebrates three decades of the band’s journey.

Speaking at the press conference, Faisal said: “We thank you all for extending warm welcome to us in Doha. Thirty years do not mean that we are too old [laughing]. But surprisingly, we are coming to such a beautiful country Doha for the first time to perform. I thank the organisers for providing the opportunity. We are very excited. People do get tired in 30 years. But somehow we are feeling very excited here and we as a band did not have such kind of excitement earlier in our career.

“For past four years, we have been producing Cock Studio with these amazing artistes. We have been hungry to go back at the stage. We hope that we all will have a great time here.”

Quratulain Balouch said: “Thank you to everyone who have pulled all of this together. We are going to perform at a very

nice venue. I am pumped up and so excited not just to perform but also to listen to Strings and Ali Sethi. I think we are going to put the house down [laughs].”

Ali said: “I am also very excited to be here. There is a long list saying why I am too excited. I am excited to perform alongside the people who I truly love,

admire and respect. I grew up listening to Strings’ music. Faisal and Bilal gave me my first big break on Coke Studio. They gave me a real opportunity to show what I had. They had a belief in me when I did not have faith in myself. It is a very special moment for me. I always longed to be in Doha. It is really beautiful to be here. It is like a homecoming for me.”

Responding to a question about what kind of music Strings will present at the concert, Faisal said: “I will sing more of our popular String songs and we will not focus much on our Coke Studio work. It is a great combination. We have an amazing set of artistes on the stage. We are really excited and hopefully the people will see the excitement on the stage also.

Speaking about Strings’ journey so far, Bilal said: “We continue to learn something new every day. I think you also learn when you listen to other people. Working with Coke Studio for four years, we also learnt a lot. We have also learnt a lot in our life in general during all these years. We will be in front of you with our full force. We present on the stage whatever we have learnt in 30 years.

“As the producers we also have the responsibility to inspire and appreciate other artistes as well. It has been a beautiful journey,” Faisal noted.

Regarding their future plans, Faisal said: “Absolutely, we are looking forward to having more and more live performances. This year we are releasing our album 30. The album has six songs and we have already released the songs one by one. We have a huge hunger for performing on the sage.”

About what she is going to offer for the music lovers, QB said: “I am going to offer my voice [laughs]. I have some cover songs that I really admire. I will sing some of my original songs and songs of some classical Pakistani signers. I think the people are going to enjoy my music.”

POP STAR: Quratulain Balouch, also known as QB among fans, said she will cover some popular Pakistani songs apart from her own at the festival.

REARING TO GO: Second from left, Ali Sethi, Quratulain Balouch, Faisal Kapadia, and Bilal Maqsood with the organisers at the press conference held yesterday. Photos by Jayan Orma

band strings - gulf times

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