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Thursday, May 26, 2016Sha’baan 19, 1437 AH

CommunityTanzania promises to be the next

beach plus bush holiday destination for people of all budgets.

CommunityQatar-based ITEX medallist

Mohamed Shakir sets sights on more medical inventions after winning gold for seizure prediction device.

P6 P20

COVER

STORY

A real fillipQU students venture out

to push for the protection

of endangered Hawksbill

Sea Turtle, conservation

of Al Fuwairit Beach. P4-5Hawksbill turtle.

Thursday, May 26, 20162 GULF TIMES

COMMUNITY ROUND & ABOUT

Cultural Diversity festivalDATE: Until May 31TIME: 7:30-9pm

VENUE: Katara Beach Over 20 countries from all over the world are showcasing

their traditions and heritage.

Al GannasDATE: Until Oct 30TIME: 9am -11:30amVENUE: Al Gannas SocietyAl Gannas Association is participating in the ‘Our culture

is a school’ programme by organising many activities for

the students every Monday and Wednesday of the week. These activities include explanations on hunting and related tools, kinds of falcons and preys, in addition to workshop on how to carry a falcon, set a traditional tent (made of goat & camel hair), prepare traditional Arabic coffee, etc.

Mall Cinema (1): Warcraft (2D) 11.30am; The Shamer’s Daughter (2D) 1.30pm; Angry Birds Movie (2D) 3.15pm; The Jungle Book (2D) 5pm; Warcraft (2D) 6.45pm; Warcraft (2D) 9 & 11.15pm.Mall Cinema (2): The Nice Guys (2D) 12.30pm; X-Men Apocalypse (2D) 2.30pm; Money Monster (2D) 5pm; Pelé: A Birth Of A Legend (2D) 7pm; X-Men Apocalypse (2D) 9pm; Wild For The Night (2D) 11.30pm.Mall Cinema (3): Pelé: A Birth Of A Legend (2D) 11.30am; Money Monster (2D) 1.30pm; The Nice Guys (2D) 3.30pm; Cabin Fever (2D) 5.30pm;

Money Monster (2D) 7.15pm; The Nice Guys (2D) 9pm; Cabin Fever (2D) 11pm.Royal Plaza Cinema Palace (1): Warcraft (2D) 11am; Ratchet & Clank (2D) 1.15pm; The Jungle Book (2D) 3pm; Angry Birds Movie (2D) 4.30pm; Warcraft (2D) 6.30pm; Warcraft (2D) 8.45pm; Warcraft (2D) 11pm.Royal Plaza Cinema Palace (2): The Nice Guys (2D) 11.45am; Pelé: A Birth Of A Legend (2D) 2.30pm; The Nice Guys (2D) 4.30pm; X-Men Apocalypse (2D) 6.30pm; Pelé: A Birth Of A Legend

(2D) 9pm; X-Men Apocalypse (2D) 11pm.Royal Plaza Cinema Palace (3): Money Monster (2D) 11.30am; The Shamer’s Daughter (2D) 2.15pm; Money Monster (2D) 4pm; Wild For The Night (2D) 6pm; Money Monster (2D) 7.45pm; The Nice Guys (2D) 9.30pm; Cabin Fever (2D) 11.30pm.Asian Town Cinema: King Liar (Malayalam) 12.30, 3, 3.30, 6, 6.30, 9, 9.30pm, 12 & 12.30am; Jacobinte Swargarajyam (Malayalam) 1.15 & 7pm; Brahmot Savam (Telugu) 1pm; Muruthu (Tamil) 10pm; Ithu Namma Aalu (Tamil 12.30, 4, 4.15, 7pm & 12.45am.

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

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USEFUL NUMBERS

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PRAYER TIMEFajr 3.18amShorooq (sunrise) 4.45amZuhr (noon) 11.31amAsr (afternoon) 2.56pmMaghreb (sunset) 6.19pmIsha (night) 7.49pm

Old minds are like old horses; you must exercise them if

you wish to keep them in working order. —John Adams

3Thursday, May 26, 2016 GULF TIMES

COMMUNITYROUND & ABOUT

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

BOOKS

1. Lost Ocean by Johanna Basford2. Querkles Masterpieces by Thomas

Pavitte3. Qatar Entertainer 2016 by The

Entertainer4. Username: Evie by Joe Sugg5. Girl Online: On Tour by Zoe Sugg6. The Amazing Book Is Not On Fire by

Dan Howell and Phil Lester7. All The Bright Places by Jennifer Niven8. Selp-Helf by Miranda Sings9. A Work In Progress by Connor Franta10. The World of Ice and Fire by George

R.R. Martin

MOVIES

1. Star Wars Ep Vii The Force Awakens2. Jurassic World3. Paul Blart Mall Cop 24. 22 Jump Street5. Lord Of The Ring The Trilogy6. Captain America: The Winter Soldier7. Hateful Eight8. Second Best Exotic Marigold Hotel9. Spectre10. Bridge Of Spies

TV-SERIES

1. Vampire Diaries S42. Grimm S13. Sleepy Hollow S24. Only Fools & Horses Complete Series5. James Bond Daniel Craig 46. Downton Abbey A Moorland Holiday7. Better Call Saul S18. Grey’s Anatomy S109. Cougar Town S310. Desperate Housewives S8

MUSIC

1.Various Artists: Now 93 2.Charles Aznavour: Best Of3.Adele: 254.Various Artists: Annual 20165.Various Artists: Grammys 20166.Michael Jackson : Blood On The

Dancefl oor 7.John Mayer: Battle Studies +Cd Bx3 8.Bruce Springsteen: Born In The USA9.Red Hot Chili Pepper: Californication 10.Kennyg: Heart & Sou

Courtesy: Virgin Megastores, Landmark and Villaggio Mall

top 10EVENTS

Practical Budgeting for Non-Finance DATE: May 29-30TIME: 8.30am-4pmVENUE: TBC DohaThe course will enable participants to

learn how companies move from creating a strategic plan to translating this plan into budgets and thereafter implementing and monitoring the actual performance.

Arabic CalligraphyDATE: Tomorrow, May 28TIME: 5pmVENUE: KataraKatara organises A Journey to the art of

Roqaa Arabic calligraphy workshop by Syrian calligrapher Nasser al-Hamwi. On the subject of the workshop, it will provide opportunities for beginners who are interested in Arabic calligraphy to discover this beautiful art through Roqaa Arabic calligraphy. The workshop is based on practical exercises aimed at demonstrating how to compose the Roqaa clipped letters made of short, straight lines and simple curves, as well as its straight and even lines of text in a grammatically correct, beautiful, balanced and co-ordinated manner.

Guided Family Art VisitsDATE: May 28 and June 4TIME: 3pmVENUE: Qatar MuseumsGuided family visits are led by the Public

Art education team at Qatar Museums Gallery ALRIWAQ. Children and parents will explore the exhibition together. This will be followed by an art-making workshop. The children will make their own clay sculpture. The workshops are being held from 3-5pm every Saturday until June 4.

Equestrian, Camels and Falcons Exhibition

DATE: TomorrowTIME: 10amVENUE: Doha Exhibition and Convention

CenterNawasi is the fi rst and only exhibition to

be held in Qatar, focusing on horses, camel and falcon equipment. Poised to be held at the Doha Exhibition and Convention Center (DECC), Nawasi will energise equestrianism, camel and falconry industries and blaze a trail that carries these arts to a higher level of practice enjoyment. The exhibition will accommodate more than 150 premier exhibitors with cutting edge technology and equipment from Qatar, GCC, Mena and from all over the world.

Skydive QatarDATE: Until May 31VENUE: Al Khor AirportFor the fi rst time in Qatar, everyone will

get a chance to experience skydiving with a team of certifi ed skydivers to jump from approximately 13,000ft high. Participation fees: QR1,899 for individuals, including

photos and a video footage of before, after and during the jump. Tickets are available online, at Lagoona Mall, Qatar Foundation and Virgin Mega Stores.

Interpretations Art ExhibitionDATE: Until June 6TIME: 10am- 9pmVENUE: Katara Art Center, Building 5The International School of London

Qatar’s Visual Arts Department inaugural exhibition will take place in the Katara Arts Center from today – June 6. The works of the ‘Interpretation’ exhibition represents a wide range of ages and stages of artistic development and are selected from the school’s IB Middle Years and Diploma Years Programmes students. It is through sensory exploration and interaction that students learn to explore their feelings and confi rm their understanding of the world through the senses.

Karting & Mini Moto TrackDATE: Until July 1TIME: 6.30pmVENUE: Losail International CircuitStarting tomorrow, the Karting and Mini

Moto Track will be open every Thursday and Friday until July 1 after which the track will close until further notice. QR100 per session of 15 minutes. Helmet mask QR15 – not refundable.

Dance Classes with Salsa n CandelaVENUE: Hilton Hotel-West BaySalsa n Candela off ers variety of dance

classes for kids and adults at Hilton Hotel, Eforea Spa Studio, such as Salsa, Bachata, Kizomba, Swing, Tango and Greek classes. Price at QR60 per class per person.

Shifting SandsDATE: Until July 7VENUE: Sheikh Faisal bin Qassim

Museum, AlsamariyahMA students of UCL Qatar are organising

and curating an exhibition as part of UCLQurates. In the very recent past, Qatar has undergone a signifi cant transformation; through these developments, people have had to adapt to the changing landscape in which they live.

QSports Summer CampDATE: June 19-Sept 1TIME: 8am-1pmVENUE: Al Jazeera AcademyRegistration for QSports Summer Camp

2016 is now open. QSports summer camps

are committed to providing a safe, fun and skill-based experience for kids between the ages of four and 14. We have a dedicated team of specialist kid’s coaches and classes and activities are safe, planned, progressive, active, creative, inclusive and designed to maximise participation of all children by off ering a variety of activities.

Anti-Doping in Humans and AnimalsDATE: May 31-June 1TIME: 8amVENUE: Doha Marriott HotelADLQatar’s 6th Annual Symposium:

Anti-Doping in Humans and Animals: Parallels and Divergences: As with doping in humans to enhance sporting performance, similar interventions to ensure outcome in competition are also apparent in animals (horses, dogs, camels). Practices such as administrations of steroids, inorganic substances such as cobalt, as well as, gene doping may be far more prevalent amongst competing animals.

Yamativo Salsa ClassesDATE: Every MondayTIME: 7pmVENUE: Radisson BluIt’s always fun and always challenging.

Let’s meet and learn some moves every Monday night. You don’t need to do anything, just join us. Level 1 (intermediate level) 7pm and for beginner level 8pm. Be there at Raddison Blu Hotel Cabana Club.

Spring Exhibition MIADATE: Until July 16TIME: 10.30am- 5pmVENUE: QM Gallery Al RiwaqAn exhibition of 15 contemporary Chinese

artists, curated by internationally acclaimed New York-based Chinese artist Cai Guo-Qiang, will be on view at the QM Gallery Al Riwaq. The exhibition will be the major highlight presented in the context of the Qatar China 2016 Year of Culture. Artworks exemplifying each and every artist’s unique artistic language and methodology will be displayed in individual galleries.

Qatari Agricultural Product YardsDATE: Until June 30VENUE: Al Mazrooa, Al Zakheera, Al

Khor, Al WakrahThe Ministry of Environment has opened

the 4th season of Qatari agricultural product yards for selling locally produced fruits, vegetables, poultry, fi sh and livestock. Work in these yards will continue for seven months. The yards will operate three days a week on Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays from 7am to 5pm, with livestock vendors in Al Mazrooa operating at the same times throughout the week.

Join in our Walk-in WeekendsDATE: Every Saturday VENUE: MIA AtriumMIA art education and calligraphy teams

off er walk-in workshops in MIA’s atrium every Saturday. These walk-in workshops are for open for all family members.

FOODIE CHOICE

RESTAURANT: ElementsLOCATION: Four Seasons HotelElements features a vibrant menu, with

a modern mix of Arabic, Indian, Asian and seafood fl avours for breakfast and lunch in buff et style and dinner with a la carte menu. Signature dishes include such off erings as Peking duck, Oriental mixed grilled, lobster red curry, beef black pepper and salmon teriyaki.


COMMUNITY COVER STORY

A page-turner for youthThe hawksbill turtle has the potential to become a flagship species for

Qatar if its numbers can be increased and its habitats restored, Dr Anna

Grichting Solder, Assistant Professor, Department of Architecture and

Urban Planning, at QU, College of Engineering, tells Anand Holla

Earlier this week, on Monday, when nature lovers across the globe celebrated World Turtle Day, a bunch of

architecture students from Qatar University (QU) spurred on by their professor, ignited multiple vehicles of awareness on the gravely endangered Hawksbill Sea Turtle through design and dialogue.

From asking people to join them in protecting the hawksbill turtles and promoting the conservation of Al Fuwairit Beach to kickstarting social media campaigns and discussions about the subject, the undergraduate (fi rst year and third year) and Masters students of the Department of Architecture and Urban Planning, QU, have certainly opened up a conversation about the need to protect what is widely regarded as the most beautiful sea turtle — the hawksbill turtle.

Dr Anna Grichting Solder, Assistant Professor, Department of Architecture and Urban Planning, at QU, College of Engineering, is not only mentoring this project but has also been at the forefront of raising awareness about the “critically endangered” hawksbill turtles, which figure in the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species.

“Located on the North-Eastern shores of Qatar, Al Fuwairit beach is a nesting beach for turtles,” Grichting explains to Community, “It is part of a larger ecosystem which includes sand dunes and mangroves, all of which are suffering from erosion and human encroachment and activities. In the past, Al Fuwairit was an important coastal settlement. It rose to regional prominence as the home of the Al-Thani family during the early 19th Century. Archaeological excavations have just begun on the ruined site, which is also one of the rare beaches in Qatar where hawksbill turtles nest and hatch each year.”

According to the report, Identification of Important Sea Turtle Areas (ITAs) for hawksbill turtles in the Arabian Region, in Qatar, at least 100 hawksbill turtles nest annually at Fuwairit, Ras Laffan, Halul and in other seaside areas outside of Doha, Grichting points out. “Like many sea turtles, hawksbills are

a critically endangered species mostly due to human impact. Their eggs are still eaten around the world despite the turtle’s international protected status, and they are often killed for their flesh and shells. Hawksbills are also threatened by accidental capture in fishing nets, oil and gas industries, urban and industrial development, fishery pressure, and shipping,” she says.

On World Turtle Day, on May 23, the QU students launched a social media campaign on Twitter @hwksblqtr and Instagram @hwksblqtr; launched a website https://hawksbillqatar.wordpress.com; used design media to raise awareness on turtles via photography, films, fashion, children’s story books, etc.; engaged in public art to involve more people; and created a series

of videos that will be launched through social media on how we can use and design public spaces in Qatar to generate awareness on Turtle Conservation.

As Shafeeq Hamza, Researcher, QU, says, “Students are the future and it is important that the responsibility of protecting the environment is passed on to them.” Having visited Al Fuwairit and gained a practical

understanding of the clear, present and future danger that poses the delightful hawksbills, the students, hearteningly, seem to have imbibed a sense of responsibility for the long run.

Hessa Ali al-Malki, a first year undergraduate student in Architecture at QU, says, “In order to be a successful architect with great designs, you must have an inspiration and a message to deliver through your work, especially if it pertains to an issue that resides in the environment you are building, just like the hawksbill turtles in Qatar.”

Saaeda Nasser al-Bader, architecture student at QU, who has also designed the website, says, “I am really glad that I got the opportunity to have such an amazing experience; protecting not only the turtles but also the environment as a whole has now become my new passion. To me, having a beautiful and interesting approach toward awareness is important. You can use either visual, motion or sound to capture the interest of people, and architecture does all of that.”

The hawksbill turtle’s presence in Qatar is little known by the younger generations and its threatened status even less so, Grichting points out. “It has the potential, as the Oryx, to become a fl agship species for Qatar if its numbers can be increased and its habitats restored. The conservation project of hawksbill turtles in Qatar has been taken on by scientists and nature conservationists at Qatar University, at the Ministry of Environment and supported by Qatar Petroleum,” Grichting says, “As for these projects, the students really enjoyed them and I believe they understand the importance of using their design skills in the service of nature conservation, and in particular hawksbill turtles.”

Moreover, the deeply insightful ‘Master Plan for Hawksbill Turtle Conservation and Nature Protection and Restoration at Al Fuwairit Beach’, put together by Masters students under the guidance of Grichting and in collaboration with wildlife and ecology specialists from Ministry of Environment and Turtle Scientists at Qatar University, is a comprehensive go-to guide for the next course of action.

MOVING SPIRIT: Dr Anna Grichting Solder talks to the QU students at the Al Fuwairit beach.


COMMUNITYCOVER STORY

The masterplan for the Al Fuwairit beach and for the larger ecological reserve, including the archaeological site, also seeks to develop the place as an attractive tourist site “through careful and sensitive planning”. Grichting

explains, quoting the masterplan, “This project can be an important contribution to a future archaeological and ecological park that will highlight and conserve Qatar’s rich natural and cultural heritage. In order for this to

happen, it needs good design and management. It is hoped that this project can be brought forward with the appropriate governance structures and stakeholders and become a jewel on the coast of Qatar.”

In terms of the development of the Conservation Master Plan (CMP) for Al Fuwairit Beach and the wider ecosystem, shares Grichting, the main aims will be to develop the CMP for Qatar’s first ‘Eco-Beach and Nature Reserve’; create a safer habitat for endangered turtles by designating and defining the boundaries of the protected area(s); create landscape and ecological designs to restore habitat including: dunes, marine habitats, turtle habitats, etc.; landscape measures to enhance existing habitats — e.g. turtles light pollution screen, dune creation, tree planting, interpretive signage, bird hides etc; accessibility infrastructure such as vehicle access, roads, parking; designs for a permanent Turtle Information Center for the benefit of scientists and visitors; to use renewable energy sources e.g. solar power, and reduce waste, noise, air and light pollution in the area; propose “soft activities” for visitor recreation that are compatible with the turtle nesting and other fragile species and ecosystems.

Dileep Kumar V Pushpangadhan, who is a former consultant at Ministry of Environment and assisted

students with the projects, explained the significance of the campaign, “Hawksbill turtles, one of the most critically endangered species that occur in Qatar, play an important role in maintaining the health of the marine ecosystem. Lack of conservation and management plan for the Fuwairit Turtle Beach led to the drastic degradation of the turtle nesting habitat. This resulted in a drop in the number of nests by more than half in the last 10 years. Understanding the severity of the situation, QU students under the leadership of Dr Anna came forward to work with the experts and develop a comprehensive management plan to setup the first ecological/turtle beach in Qatar. I must also appreciate the work done by several helping hands on this subject, such as Dr Sayed Bukhari, GIS.”

Kumar pointed out that the way each participating student shared the “responsibility to study each element and stage of the master plan was very impressive”. “I am sure that the execution of this management plan will set the standard for future ecological parks in Qatar. I wish they could contribute to more similar green initiatives in Qatar,” he said.

Grichting with a mother hawksbill turtle at Al Fuwairit beach.

One of the students, Fatma al-Muslamani, is trying to raise awareness on the subject by designing these adorable turtle-shaped pillows.

A hawksbill turtle tagged and equipped with a transmitter for research purposes as part of the Turtle Conservation Project run by Qatar University, Ministry of Environment and Qatar Petroleum.

“Like many sea turtles, hawksbills are a critically endangered species mostly due to human impact. Their eggs are still eaten around the world despite the turtle’s international protected status, and they are often killed for their flesh and shells”

— Dr Anna Grichting SolderAnother student, Fatima al-Rashid’s, work as part of the project.


COMMUNITY

Unveiling the unique and charming ZanzibarBy Umer Nangiana

It is home to unique historical and cultural sites. Once there, you get to see the Makusurani graveyard, where many of the islands’ previous Arab

rulers are buried. There is ‘House of Wonders’, a four-storey building that was the fi rst place on the island with electrical lights.

It also hosts Hamamni and Kidichi Persian Baths, the fi rst public baths on the island, and Dunga Ruins, the ruins of a palace built in the 15th century by the rulers of the time besides the Peace Memorial Museum, which serves as a national historical museum detailing the island’s long history.

This is the Stone Town of Zanzibar or the islands of Unguja and Pemba in Tanzania. Zanzibar is home to large amounts of beaches and clear Indian Ocean water, as well as coral and limestone scarps that allow for signifi cant amounts of diving and snorkelling.

The diving and snorkelling are done in marine parks. The aquatic life includes dolphins, moray eels, lion fi sh, octopus and lobster. The Jozani forest, located in the central east region of Zanzibar, has a large mangrove swamp.

The forest is home to the rare red colobus monkey. The forest is also home to 40 species of bird and 50 species of butterfl y. The Kidike root site is a great place to view the endangered Pemba fl ying fox. And these are just a few of the many tourist attractions.

The Zanzibar Tourism Commission, in conjunction with Regency Travel & Tours and HTT Global Holidays & Incentives, recently held an event to showcase these destinations of exotic Zanzibar and wildlife rich Tanzania to travel agents here.

Zanzibar is an ideal destination for Arab nationals, off ering great cultural experiences and a chance to do the most sought-after “once in a lifetime” safari, making the experience even better by combining a beautiful exotic island and an amazing wildlife safari in Tanzania. Visa is upon arrival for most nationalities.

“We sell a lot of packages. So when we would sell a programme it would be packaged. And the package is either luxury holidays, super luxury holidays with properties that are not sold online and the safaris that are combined with luxury aircraft including safaris into Tanzania and South Africa,” Hanif Poona, President of HTT Global Holidays & Incentives,

told the audience comprising travel agents and other partners.

One of the reasons for Zanzibar not being exposed for many years was that there were not many fl ights to Zanzinbar.

Qatar Airways now operates direct fl ights to Zanzibar and Tanzania; and with a fl ying duration of 4 hours and 30 minutes, these are the next beach plus bush holiday destinations, to be experienced at attractive fares comparable to many other Indian Ocean islands.

With direct fl ight connections providing for easy access to both destinations, guests from this part of the world can now enjoy some of the world’s best wildlife safari experiences in Tanzania, along with the picturesque beaches on the island of Zanzibar as well as its cultural heritage and historical sites.

“English is widely spoken. Halal food is available throughout the country. We sell packages from the budget to medium and high end clients, catering to everybody including families and adventure seekers,” Poona told the audience.

“One fantastic thing that we do in the bush is a dinner set up right in the middle of forest. You are surrounded by wildlife and you have the wonderful sunrise and sunset and we make the dinner in the bush. It is an amazing experience,” said the HTT president.

“When you are here on the holidays here in the parks, there are no newspapers, no television, nothing to bother you. You are inhaling the fresh air and the morning alarm is the birds chirping, they wake you up,” he said, while explaining some of the attraction in Tanzania and Zanzibar.

“I always tell a lot of people when they go on a safari that when you come back you are fi ve days younger,” said Poona.

Both Regency and HTT are established brands in the GCC market, with extensive experience in promoting the East African safari and beach products.

Working alongside with Zanzibar Tourism Commission, they have brought together four of the top hotels from Zanzibar to enlighten agents about the amazing experiences available for their guests.

Speaking on the occasion, Regency Travel & Tours CEO Tareq Abdullatif Taha said they are proud to be associated with Zanzibar Tourism Board and HTT Global Holidays & Incentives, to represent the beautiful and varied land of Tanzania.

“Zanzibar, from being an ancient trade route and gateway to mainland East Africa is also home to fi nest beaches in the world. Travellers from Qatar will truly enjoy the diversity Zanzibar has to off er and Regency, in association with HTT, will off er wide ranging and exciting packages for people to fully experience this hidden gem,” said Taha.

Partner hotels including Park Hyatt Zanzibar, The Residence, Kilindi Zanzibar and The Melia hotel presented their properties and specialties to the Doha audience. The presentation was an engaging evening of exciting information, and provided a chance to learn more about the special destination, sampling of local ethnic cuisine, themed giveaways and prizes to experience Zanzibar fi rst hand.

Hanif Poona, the President of HTT Holidays and Incentives, briefing the guests on Zanzibar attractions.

Tareq Abdullatif Taha, CEO of Regency Travel & Tours, in white, with Hanif Poona, the President of HTT Holidays and Incentives, at the event. Photos by Ram Chand


COMMUNITY

Bangladesh MHM School and College observes Rabindra-Nazrul JayantiBangladesh MHM School and College in Qatar recently arranged a discussion and a cultural programme to mark the birth anniversaries of Rabindranath Tagore and Kazi Nazrul Islam (Rabindra-Nazrul Jayanti). The two remarkable men are remembered for their impact on Bangladesh, and the legacy they left behind still plays a vital role in the culture and history of the country. The programme was attended by Bangladesh ambassador Ashud Ahmed. High off icial of Bangladesh Embassy, faculty members and students were present on the occasion.

The venue wore a festive look as students presented solo and group songs, dances and dramatic presentations. School Principal Md Jashim Uddin urged the students to “show great respect and sincere love to our National Poet and Kobi Guru, who had amazing talent by which they embellished our culture and literature.” In his speech, ambassador Ahmed talked about the importance of the teachings of Kazi Nazrul Islam and Rabindranath Tagore and advised the students to use their teaching in building the nation. “By cultivating Bengali culture

and understanding literature we can become true enlightened human beings,” he said.The teachers then held a brief discussion on the lives and works of both poets, before the beginning of cultural performances. The cultural programme started with a group dance named Projapoti by the students of the elementary school. The highlight of the cultural programme was the dance and song performances by the little artistes of the school. A drama by Rabindranath was played out by the students of Grade XII.

Three mega Nepalese musical programmes in off ingBy Usha Wagle Gautam

Summers in Doha may be hot, but they haven’t deterred the active Nepalese community. They have three grand musical programmes planned for tomorrow and the next

Friday (May 27 and June 3). The Miteri Film Cultural Group (MFCG)

is organising a concert at the Asian Town cricket stadium tomorrow from 1pm onwards. This is the fi fth concert to be hosted by the group since it was established in 2007. The group is bringing folk singers Prakash Saput, Puja Puri and Arjun Kaushal, and actress-model Malati Gala from Kathmandu to perform in the show. Comedian-actress Niru Khadka will be the MC.

According to the management committee, the gate will open at noon and tickets are priced at QR30, QR50 and QR100. MFCG chairman Rit Kumar Shrestha said the main focus of the programme is to promote Nepalese culture in Qatar. Each artiste, he said, will perform fi ve acts each.

The Myagdi Overseas Nepalese Association-National Executive Committee (MONA-NEC) is also hosting a cultural programme at Shalimar Palace in Najma. MONA-NEC, established in 2003, is preparing its best for its second programme.

Singers Purushottam Gaire, Gagan Pun and Nisha KC are expected to perform, and MONA-NEC will use the proceeds from the

programme to fund a bridge in Nepal’s west. The programme is being co-ordinated by Kiran Shahi.

Next week, the Nepal Culture Council (NCC) is organising its debut musical programme titled Suvakamana Sumadhur Night. The programme will be held at Grand Mall in Asian Town from 1pm onwards. About a dozen Nepalese artistes will come from abroad to perform.

Popular modern singer Ram Krishna Dhakal will be the central attraction, who will be performing in the country for the very fi rst time. Dhakal is one of the most popular and talented pop stars in Nepal. He is also a playback singer, acts and the judge in a Nepalese reality TV show. Many consider him second only to the singing maestro, late Naranyangopal, who is respected as the king of melody in the Nepalese speaking world.

TV comedian Jeetu Nepal; dance director Master Jeet; dancers and models Rishika Chaudhary, Apeksya Bashyal and Apsara Thapa; pop singers Kamal Khatri and Badal Prasain; modern singers Rima Gurung and Sabitri Joshi; and actor Sushil Nepal will perform at the NCC programme.

The tickets are priced at QR25, QR50, Qr70, QR75 and QR100.

The programme is being co-ordinated by Rupesh Yadav, Sakti Chhetri and Prakash. Each artiste will perform three times during the show, according to the organisers. There are segregated seats for men and women, and diff erent categories of tickets. The organisers are expecting close to fi fteen thousand people at the programme.

Popular modern singer Ram Krishna Dhakal will perform at the Nepal Culture Council’s programme next Friday.

TV comedian Jeetu Nepal will host the NCC’s programme.

MasterCard today unveiled the fi rst commerce application for SoftBank Robotics’

humanoid robot Pepper. The application will be powered by MasterPass, the global digital payment service from MasterCard that connects consumers with merchants, enabling them to make fast, simple, and secure digital payments across channels and devices. Pizza Hut Restaurants Asia P/L will be the inaugural launch partner working together with MasterCard to create innovative customer engagement with Pepper.

A major fi rst step forward in bringing conversational commerce experiences to merchants and consumers, this new app extends the robot’s ability to integrate customer service, access to information and sales into a

seamless and consistent user experience. Pizza Hut Asia will be piloting Pepper for order-taking and personalised engagement to enhance customer service in-store by end of 2016.

“Consumers have come to expect personalised service, customised off ers and simple and seamless processes both in-store and online,” said Tobias Puehse, vice president, innovation management, Digital Payments & Labs at MasterCard. “The app’s goal is to provide consumers with more memorable and personalised shopping experience beyond today’s self-serve machines and kiosks, by combining Pepper’s intelligence with a secure digital payment experience via MasterPass.”

A consumer will be able to initiate an engagement by simply greeting Pepper and pairing the consumer’s MasterPass account

by either tapping the Pepper icon within the wallet or by scanning a QR code on the tablet that the robot holds. After pairing with MasterPass, Pepper will be able to assist cardholders by providing personalised recommendations and off ers, additional information on products, and assistance in checking out and paying for items. Pepper will be able to initiate, approve and complete a transaction by connecting to MasterPass via a Wi-Fi connection and the entire transaction happens within the wallet.

“We are excited to welcome Pepper to the Pizza Hut family,” said Vipul Chawla, Managing Director of Pizza Hut Restaurants Asia. “Core to our digital transformation journey is the ability to make it easier for customers to engage, connect and transact with Pizza Hut. With an order-and-payment-enabled

Pepper, customers can now come to expect personalised ordering at our stores, reduce wait time for carryout, and have a fun, frictionless user experience.”

The app was built by the MasterCard Labs team in Singapore, one of the company’s eight research and development centres across the globe. The Pepper application adds to ongoing MasterCard programmes that bring payments to any consumer gadget, accessory or wearable — from fi tness bands to refrigerators and now robots. The integration with Pepper has the potential

to open up opportunities in the world of retail such as personalised shopping and concierge services, in-aisle checkout and the ability to buy in store but get the goods delivered at home. The same capability would also be applicable to other consumer engagement locations such as hotels, banks, airports, and other customer service industries.

The app is being showcased at the Pepper Partners Europe event hosted by SoftBank Robotics Europe (a SoftBank Robotics Holdings group company) in Paris ending today.


COMMUNITY

SIS KG Wing holds orientation session for parentsThe KG Wing of Shantiniketan Indian School (SIS) organised an orientation session for the parents of KG I and KG II recently. Head Teacher Mehjabeen Hasan reviewed the calendared activities and gave tips on positive parenting. Presentations focussed on issues like Parent-Teacher Connectivity and Parental Participation in Early Years Education. The resource persons for the programme were Fathima Hanan, Latha Shyammohan, Sheikh Parveen, Shazia Samreen and Varalakshmi. Principal Dr Subhash Nair urged the parents to get involved in their child’s education and collaborate with the school.

MasterCard powers first commerce application for ‘Pepper’

Pepper in action.


COMMUNITY

‘Purity in Ideology; Purity in Life’ campaign ends with mega conference“Purity in Ideology; Purity in Life,” a tri-month campaign organised by Sheikh Abdullah Bin Zaid Al Mahmood Islamic Cultural Center (Fanar), ended with a mega conference last Friday. Speaking on the occasion, the scholars urged people to maintain purity in ideology for leading a life with purity and peace. Kerala State General Secretary Swalahudheen Madani delivered the keynote address. In diff erent sessions, other speakers included Abdul Latheef Karumbilakkal and Shameema Islahiya. Akbar Qasim presided over the closing session.

FCC Kazhcha screens film, organises open forumThe FCC Kazhcha recently screened the film Patham Onne Ekadaivam, and organised an open forum thereafter. The movie focusing on the story of love and friendship, and was enacted by a group of veteran senior artists established in the areas of art and literature, including Chemanchery Kunjiraman Nair, Ragam Muhammed Ali, Meloor Vasudevan Nair, Arangadath Vijayan, VK Ravi, Ali KY, Haneefa Kuruvangad, Mansoor Ali, Master Midhun, Kannan, Issa Likkad,

Vasu Thazhemadhathil, Nashan Moodadi, Baskar KY, Rajan Kolakkad, AP Haridas, Nithya Krishna, and Lakshmiamma. Mansoor Ali, well-known in Qatar in art circles, also produced the film. The speakers in the forum felt that “religions and political parties, while remaining firm on their ideologies, should unite together to strengthen India, where friendship is blossoming.” FCC Executive Committee member Rafeeq Mechery presided over the event.

Al Mahd International Primary School students graduateA total of 33 students of Al Mahd International Primary School in Doha, Qatar graduated from Year 6 in the presence of the principal, teachers, guests and parents. The graduation ceremony was held in front of the Al Mahd International School. Zeynep Cabbar, Year 6A, gave the valedictorian speech on behalf of her classmates. Abdulla Ashraf, Year 6A, gave the Salutatorian Arabic Speech on behalf of his classmates. Razan AbuZaid, Year 6A, shared her school reading experience. Year 6B students Nada Afifi, Hannan and Gommana gave speeches in French. The ceremony ended with a farewell song by students.


COMMUNITY MARKETING

Splash introduces new way forward with ‘Love Unites’

Love, one of the most popular of emotion, intensifi es when said in conjunction with the word Fashion, inspiring a

loyalty beyond reason. Two decades ago, Splash, the UAE based high-street retailer chose to fall in love with fashion and this one emotion has given the brand a journey to refl ect upon and a path to create. Moving forward from celebrity-led

campaigns, the brand has taken the route of addressing topical issues through fashion imagery and highly stylised campaigns.

The recently unveiled campaign takes cues from a world where unrest has taken head and how even the smallest of acts of raising awareness can go a long way in uniting people. Titled ‘Love Unites’ the Splash campaign brings together six top-models of various

ethnicities from across the globe to shoot for an inspirational fashion campaign where caste, creed and colour play no role.

Speaking on ‘Love Unites’, Raza Beig, Director, Landmark Group and CEO Splash & ICONIC, said, “I am a fi rm believer in the ideology of Love and this season Splash takes on a new route of inspiring love through a multi-ethnicity campaign which is best

represented through fashion, the one word that defi nes Splash. Titled ‘Love Unites’ this campaign is our pitch to unite people against any resentment currently going on in the world.”

Adding further, “Emerging from a successful celebrity-driven campaign endorsed by stars like Salman Khan and Nicole Saba, this campaign aims to take Splash from an aspirational brand to an

inspirational route.” The campaign released across

Mena, India, Pakistan and Sri Lanka on May 2, through a 360 degree communication strategy that includes Out of Home, Print, Radio & TV. Digital campaigns are the driving force of ‘Love Unites,’ with an aim to connect and unite people through interactions with the brand and subsequently with each other.

INCLUSIVE: The Splash campaign brings together six top-models of various ethnicities from across the globe to shoot for an inspirational fashion campaign.

Quantum to continue supporting Maktaba

To further consolidate their ongoing partnership, Quantum Global Solutions (Quantum) and Maktaba

Children’s Library recently signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) as Premier Partner refl ecting Quantum’s long-term commitment to support of Maktaba.

The MoU was signed by Peter Murphy, Quantum managing director, and Sarah Champa Al Dafa, founder of Maktaba Children’s Library.

Speaking at the ceremony, Murphy reiterated Quantum’s ongoing support for Maktaba, “Quantum is delighted to have formalised our partnership as a Premier Partner support Maktaba Children’s Library. Over the past year as part of our Corporate Social Responsibility programme, ‘Q’munity’ and our employee volunteering initiative ‘Donate a Day’ we have worked with Maktaba on several hand-on projects and we look forward to continuing to work together to enhance Maktaba’s reputation within the community.” Continuing, he said, “Led by our Associate Director, Jon Sanderson, we have formed a Maktaba CSR committee who meet with Sarah on

a monthly basis to check how we can help with the libraries ongoing projects. It’s a great partnership and we’re proud to be part of Maktaba’.”

Sarah Champa al-Dafa also

noted, “We are delighted to be a part of the Quantum Q’munity CSR Programme. Since we initiated our co-operation through the ‘Donate a Day’ programme our partnership has established strong roots and we

look forward to continuing to grow Maktaba together.”

Quantum and Maktaba continue to develop the Hadiqati garden planted as part of the Quantum family Donate a Day last October,

donate books through employee donations, undertake reading sessions as part of the World Book Day celebrations and using their industry contacts help facilitate ongoing maintenance at the library.

The MoU was signed by Peter Murphy, Quantum managing director, and Sarah Champa Al Dafa, founder of Maktaba Children’s Library.


COMMUNITY

McDonald’s Qatar supports Angry Birds premiere at Novo CinemaIn anticipation of the worldwide release of The Angry Birds Movie, McDonald’s Qatar collaborated with Doha Festival City, Talal Bin Mohammed Trading and Adabisc to host a special viewing of the Angry Birds Movie ahead of the film’s off icial worldwide release. During the event, McDonald’s Qatar provided Angry Birds happy meal toys collectibles to kids. The kids also enjoyed Angry Birds face painting, were amused with the presence of the Angry Birds mascots, and pampered with popcorn, nachos and cupcakes. Families and kids also enjoyed the Angry Birds photo booth. The movie premiere was attended by families, media and fans of the blockbuster video game, marking the start of the countdown to the opening of Angry Bird’s World Theme Park in Doha.

Karnataka Sangha Qatar conducts Vasanthotsava 2016The Karnataka Sangha Qatar conducted a quiz competition titled Vasanthotsava 2016 recently at Al Maha Boys Academy. Four teams participated in the quiz, conducted by Dr Na Someshwara. The prize for each question answered — whether by the team members or the audience — was a book. Another highlight of the programme was a mimicry show by famous comedian Gopi, who enthralled the audience with his wit and humour. Veena Varuni mesmerised the audience with her Veena recital, with her music troupe rendering melodies from Kannada, Tulu and Hindi.


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

Venus the planet of love and perfect matches moves into Gemini

today, your 3rd house of ’chat em up’ and flirt like crazy. So go on

then..smile and act coy and enjoy your ability to come up with those

funny, off the cuff remarks you’re infamous for.

If things are slightly awkward between you and a friend, ask yourself

why that is so. What has occurred to make things so tense between

you? Is it something that happened in the past and while you

thought it was sorted, maybe it isn’t?

Venus your ruler and the goddess of love and relationships spends

the next month in Gemini, your fellow air sign and 9th house of

overseas trips and learning. So if you find yourself chatting to an

attractive foreigner or get a chance to go overseas, it’s truly a kismet

moment.

There is nothing better for you hard working earthlings to feel as

if you have done something to the very best of your ability and it

has paid off . Give yourself a big pat on the back, treat yourself to

something you enjoy and then get on with it!

Your sign bids adieu to Venus today – your ruler and the planet

who loves to visit your sign. However, you still have Jupiter in your

romance corner, so if you met someone whilst Venus was in your

sign, there’s every cosmic sign things will keep on keeping on.

Stop trying so hard to defend yourself against something when

deep down, in the bottom of that big heart of yours, you know that

you are guilty as charged or at least partially guilty and make the

necessary rounds of apologies.

Don’t go overboard on the praise today Scorpios. Sure someone did

a great job and you are happy for them, but the more you rave the

less authentic it seems and the more forced.

In your fellow air sign of Gemini and fifth house of romance,

creativity and self–fulfilment, Venus the goddess of love and

relationships sets up camp alongside the Sun for the next few weeks.

Now is a great time to play catch up socially.

Venus the lover joins the Sun in your sign today and brings with her

a magic elixir for love potion number 9. If you’re single, this is a great

time to put it out into the Universe exactly what it is you’re looking

for in a mate.

Neptune the King of dreams and fantasies remains in Pisces through

the rest of 2016. Your imagination regarding your relationships

is aided and abetted by this planetary activity and for those of

you who feel their partnership is rather lacklustre, tap into that

imagination of yours!

If you feel someone has been trying to pull the wool over your eyes

recently, try to find out why today. Ask questions and do a little bit of

investigative work. Venus the lover moves into Gemini today, your

one on one relationship zone. Great for single Sags!

Venus and the Sun are now joined in your 4th house of home

and family. Any silly domestic disputes with your other half, kids,

neighbours or family can easily be repaired by simply being your

charming self right now Pisces.

Wisen up to benefits of a smart home

Smart homes make life easier and more convenient. Who wouldn’t love being able to control lighting, entertainment and temperature from their couch — or from

anywhere for that matter? Whether you’re at work or on vacation, smart devices alert you to what’s going on at home and help you stay connected and protected.

“Since inventing the world’s first residential smoke alarm, First Alert has been at the forefront of advancement in home safety technology,” says Tom Russo, president of First Alert. “Our Onelink portfolio of smart products goes beyond traditional perceptions of safety products and ushers in a new era of interconnectivity between a home’s comfort level and people’s safety and lifestyle preferences.”

According to the experts at First Alert, the following are just a few of the many benefits of giving your home a “smart” makeover:

Safety and securityHaving the ability to monitor your home

from wherever you are is one of the biggest benefits of a smart home. Devices that deliver notifications about everything from intruders to water leaks help homeowners react quickly and avoid major disasters.

For families with children, smart devices can provide parents with added peace of

mind. You can safeguard doors and drawers, such as gate to the pool, with connected contact sensors. With smart locks and cameras, you’ll know when your kids get home from school, and can ensure their safety when the doorbell rings with mobile access to live video. There are even smart safes with motion detecting technology and access notification that are ideal for keeping weapons and medications safely locked away.

Convenience and customisationConvenience is one of the most common

reasons people purchase smart devices. These high-tech products streamline common tasks by giving users remote access to everything from heating and cooling systems to multimedia devices, kitchen appliances, security features and even a forgotten garage door. You have the ability to programme devices to your family’s specific needs and preferences, and

the flexibility to choose which features to integrate into your smart system to create a connected home custom designed to cater to your specific lifestyle.

Ease and expansionUnlike their complicated predecessors,

many of today’s smart home products can be easily installed, and you certainly don’t need to buy everything all at one time. One of the best places to start building a smart home system is with essential devices like a thermostat, or smoke and carbon monoxide alarms. To make things as simple as possible, alarm is designed to work with most existing interconnected hardwired alarms, so users do not have to replace all of their existing alarms at once.

Energy efficiency and cost savingsA major part of what makes “smart”

devices smart is their ability to save users money through improved energy efficiency. Lights can be programmed to turn off automatically when no one is in a room. A thermostat can be set to let the indoor temperature drop during the day before returning it to a more comfortable level just before residents arrive home in the evening. You can even track energy usage and expenditures to determine ways in which your family can reduce consumption.

© Brandpoint


COMMUNITY PUZZLES/CARTOONS

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

ABSTRACT CHARCOAL COLLAGE CUBIST FIGURE FRAME GENRE

GOUACHE ICON IMPASTO LANDSCAPE NUDE PANORAMA PASTEL

PENCIL PORTRAIT POSTER SEASCAPE SKETCH TONDO VIGNETTE

Picture Gallery

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

DOWN1. Sanction (12)2. Pastry dish (3)3. Outcome (6)4. Journeyed (9)5. Due (5)6. Freedom (12)7. Vision (5)10. Assured (9)13. Small wood (5)14. Quarrel (6)16. Rule (5)20. Curve (3)

ACROSS1. Recovery (12)7. Attire (5)8. Foreign (5)9. Opponent (3)10. Ally (9)11. Adhesive (6)12. Torment (6)15. Alarmed (9)17. Queer (3)18. Reckon (5)19. Rogue (5)21. Undesirable (12)

ACROSS1. Not employing married people? (6-6)7. Force initially prevailed over West European rebels (5)8. Shrink back from alcoholic drink when about 100 (5)9. A bit of innuendo to scatter here and there (3)10. Hide spark-producer for miser (9)11. Planes blown up in Italy (6)12. Does he expect delay when he serves? (6)15. Unpleasant consequences of disaster at the farm (9)17. How nocturnal animal might get a duck? (3)18. A drop in note form? (5)19. Thomas returns to watchword (5)21. Considerable preoccupation with sharp profit? (4,8)

DOWN1. Fighting force always on its feet? (8,4)2. Subject of study partly taken up to follow a legal career (3)3. Drug bringing problems on heir (6)4. Lightning intelligence? (4,5)5. Boredom is something of unbroken nuisance value (5)6. Abandon undertaking at better area (4,1,7)7. Dishonestly arranged to give food and lodging? (3,2)10. Means rest for the one at the helm (9)13. Socially unacceptable thanks to cry of disapproval (5)14. Vehicle workers put on opera (6)16. Colour slightly in embarrassment in genteel company (5)20. Part of foot pointing eastwards? (3)

Quick Clues

Cryptic Clues

Yesterday’s Solutions

QUICKAcross: 4 Upstart; 8 Become; 9 Inflate; 10 Sooner; 11 Render; 12 Vendetta; 18 Readable; 20 Income; 21 Entice; 22 Erudite; 23 Refuse; 24 Respond.Down: 1 Abusive; 2 Account; 3 Impede; 5 Panorama; 6 Talent; 7 Rather; 13 Threaten; 14 Obvious; 15 Referee; 16 Untrue; 17 Hold up; 19 Danger.

CRYPTICAcross: 4 Stipend; 8 Exeunt; 9 Signora; 10 Astray; 11 Uproar; 12 Stallion; 18 Polygons; 20 Impair; 21 School; 22 Outlive; 23 Stress; 24 Charade.Down: 1 Relapse; 2 Neutral; 3 Entail; 5 Tribunal; 6 Pantry; 7 Norman; 13 Improved; 14 Dolores; 15 Useless; 16 Ambush; 17 Sailor; 19 Yachts.


COMMUNITY REVIEWS

A fun little journeyBy Katie Walsh

FILM: Ride Along 2CAST: Ice Cube, Kevin Hart,

Olivia Munn, Ken Jeong, Benjamin Bratt

DIRECTION: Tim Story

Watching the Ride Along fi lms (this is the second installment in the buddy

cop franchise) is an exercise in succumbing to Kevin Hart’s unique, manic charms.

By the end, it’s most likely you’ll be laughing at the antics of the bite-sized comic — whose style is reminiscent of an over-enthusiastic puppy nipping at your ankles — even if you’re not sure why. This is why Ice Cube is the perfect audience proxy as Hart’s tough and taciturn counterpart; while he initially wants to bat the irritating pup away, Hart’s persistence and moxie are diffi cult to resist.

Ride Along saw Cube as James Patton, a hard-boiled detective of few words, pressured by his sister Angie (Tika Sumpter) to take her boyfriend Ben (Hart) along for a ride, on which disastrous capers, and some unlikely detective work, ensued.

In Ride Along 2, directed again by Tim Story, James heads for parts south after a Fast and the Furious-

style opener, in which he uncovers a mysterious USB drive from a drug dealer with a hacker’s calling card leading him Miami. You can guess who begs to go along for the

ride again. This time, Ben’s a fresh police academy graduate, who’s a bit of an idiot-savant when it comes to law enforcement.

In South Beach, James and

Ben link up with hacker AJ (a loopy Ken Jeong), and another tough homicide cop Maya Cruz (Olivia Munn). They make an odd foursome, with Ben and AJ

bonding over their nerdy hobbies, and Maya and James sharing a similarly serious approach.

Jeong makes a surprisingly good foil for Hart — the two comedians both subvert the stereotypes of their outward appearances — balancing the qualities that make them less-than-macho with over-the-top braggadocio and ego.

AJ, the hacker, turns out to be quite the ladies man, and Ben has no qualms embracing his feminine side, whether it’s in his overzealous wedding planning or his choice of undergarment.

The plot itself is run-of-the-mill cop comedy stuff , with Benjamin Bratt delivering the villain role as a suave Miami heavyweight who’s smuggling drugs and other contraband. The story beats are well-trodden, the action sequences and visual eff ects nothing more than serviceable, if chaotic, but there’s fun to be had in Ride Along 2, thanks to Hart and Jeong, who play fast and loose with the tropes.

All Ben wants is to prove himself as a cop and a brother, but he doesn’t feel the need to change anything about his metrosexual nerd persona, fi nding strength in it. All those hours of video games somehow pay off .

Ride Along 2 takes quite a bit of time to pick up speed, and doesn’t have the verve and energy of the fi rst fi lm, but it has its moments, particularly when Hart hits the gas on his signature zingers. — TNS

FILM: BacktrackCAST: Adrien Brody, Sam Neill, Robin

McLeavy DIRECTION: Michael Petroni

Nothing haunts like the past; it’s a catchy tag line that attempts to sum up director Michael Petroni’s new fi lm Backtrack, but there is more to this thriller than

can be summed up in a single breath. What begins as a moody drama about a troubled psychotherapist quickly reveals itself as a deeper tale of supernatural intervention into the darker underbelly of human nature.

Peter Bower, played with wrenching emotional fi nesse by Adrien Brody, is struggling with the loss of his daughter while barely holding together his practice and his marriage. Bower blames himself for his daughter’s death, while not entirely clear on what happened exactly. When not in sessions with his own patients, Bower seeks counsel from fellow psychotherapist Duncan Stewart, played by Sam Neill, which only leads Bower further down the twisted rabbit hole that will become a truly unnerving revelation.

Backtrack is a ghost story of sorts, but at its core, the fi lm is a highly internalised story of a man thrown up against his own emotions, his own inner demons, perhaps manifesting as tortured apparitions, or perhaps fuelling an

unwelcome opening in himself to another level of perceiving the pain and grief that surrounds him on a daily basis. Whichever it is, the fi lm merely suggests the possibility and leaves the audience to interpret the events as they unfold through our own fi lters.

The story truly shifts gears into an engaging, gripping mystery once a teenaged girl named Elizabeth Valentine shows up outside Bowers practice, unable or unwilling to speak. This sets Bowers off on a mission to understand driven by his own lack of certainty.

From here, the energy and pacing of the fi lm picks up and never lets the viewer go. — TK

DVDs courtesy: Saqr Entertainment Stores, Doha

An engaging mysteryFILM: Kindergarten CopCAST: Dolph Lundgren, Fiona

Vroom, Darla Taylor DIRECTION: Don Michael Paul

In this sequel to the 1990 comedy fi lm Kindergarten Cop, starring Arnold Schwarzenegger, a gruff FBI agent, assigned to recover sensitive stolen data, goes undercover as a nursery

teacher, but the school’s liberal, politically correct environment is more than he bargained for.

In Kindergarten Cop 2, Dolph Lundgren plays a womanising (or so we hear) FBI agent who lives in a trailer by a lake where he spends all morning working out and all night cooking steaks. He and his partner, played by Bill Bellamy, need to fi nd a fl ash drive holding sensitive FBI documents before it falls into the hands of a dangerous drug dealer-type.

For reasons that don’t really matter (though the fi lm spends 25 minutes setting them up), that fl ash drive is hidden somewhere in an elementary school.

You know the drill. Dolph has to go undercover as a kindergarten teacher to see if any of these little brats know where the fl ash drive is. He also begins to fall in love with the school’s other kindergarten teacher.

What separates Kindergarten Cop 2 from

its predecessor is the culture of this school. While Arnold’s movie mined laughs from seeing a tough muscle man unable to control a bunch of kids, this one builds on that humour by taking place in a highly liberal educational environment.

Of course, Dolph learns to love the kids eventually, and the movie loses this slight bit of edge, falling once again into a generic stroll through a plot you’ll have no trouble predicting. — NS

Back to nursery


COMMUNITYBOLLYWOOD

Nayanthara turns producer with a woman-centric fi lm

Actress Nayanthara, who is currently busy with fi lms in Tamil and Telugu, will don the producer’s hat with upcoming yet-untitled Tamil project, which will feature her in the role of a collector. “It’s an out-and-out woman-centric project. Nayanthara was so excited when she heard the script that she decided to produce it under her own banner. She plays a district collector in the fi lm, which will go on the fl oors in a couple of months,” a source told IANS.

The project will be helmed by Jagan, an erstwhile assistant of fi lmmaker A R Murugadoss. While the other details of the project are heavily guarded, it is learnt that Nayanthara will be essaying a very powerful character. Meanwhile, Nayanthara is busy shooting for a yet-untitled Tamil thriller and Telugu romantic comedy aceMaruthi”. — IANS

Aishwarya Rai Bachchan, who has a daughter with husband and actor Abhishek Bachchan, says she is committed as an actress, but being a mother tops her priority list.

After receiving a positive response from the audience for her performance in the fi lm Sarbjit, the actress took on a special Twitter Q & A session and interacted with her fans across the globe, read a statement.

From fi lm choices to personal anecdotes, the actress answered a diverse range of questions sent by her fans on Twitter through special video tweets. She chose her favourite questions and answered them on @SarbjitMovie. She also answered questions from celebrities including Jackky Bhagnani, her Sarbjit co-star Richa Chadha and Abhishek.

When a fan asked her which one is harder — to be a mom or to be an actress? The mother of four-year-old Aaradhya said: “Being a mom tops my priority list. I am committed as an actor and it’s there for you to see.”

In fact, she even considers her “little Aradhya, our angel” an inspiration. The former beauty queen shared that as a lady, her mother is her biggest inspiration and today, even her daughter.

Talking about Sarbjit, which tells the hard-hitting story of an Indian farmer who was held captive and eventually died in a Pakistan jail, she said that the fi lm found her. “It was meant to be. Would I like to do more biopics? Yes...sure,” she added.

When she was asked about her father-in-law and megastar Amitabh Bachchan’s reaction to her performance in the fi lm, she said: “Pa put his arm around me and said ‘You did a very good job’. — IANS

Being a mom tops my priority list: Aishwarya

COLLABORATION: Salman Khan, left, and Kabir Khan.

HANDS FULL: Kamal Haasan

FAMILY FIRST: Aishwarya Rai Bachchan

Salman to shoot fi rst schedule of Kabir Khan’s next in Ladakh

After delivering two blockbuster hits in Ek Tha Tiger and Bajrangi Bhaijaan with Salman Khan, director Kabir Khan says the fi rst schedule of his next fi lm with the superstar will be fi lmed in Ladakh.

Without revealing much details about the fi lm, Kabir said: “I can’t talk much about it, but all I can tell

you is the fact that we will start shooting in July. And I will shoot my fi rst schedule in Ladakh,”.

It is the third time that the two are teaming up for a fi lm and for his next untitled project with the Dabangg star, Kabir will be exploring an Indo-China backdrop.

Presently, Salman is awaiting the release of his much anticipated fi lm Sultan. Produced by Aditya Chopra, the fi lm is slated to release on Eid this year. — IANS

Shraddha Kapoor’s special treat for OK Jaanu cast

Shraddha Kapoor treated the cast of her forthcoming fi lm OK Jaanu to a special feast. The actress brought ‘dabbas’ of home cooked food for the team.

The team was pleasantly surprised when they got the chance to relish all the dishes personally selected by Shraddha. “Our OK Jaanu team is full of serious foodies so I really wanted to take food from home for everyone. I felt really happy that all the dabbas came back home empty,” Shraddha said in a statement.

A source from the sets also shared that the menu had both vegetarian and non-vegetarian dishes. “There was home cooked Maharashtrian-style mutton, fi sh curry, bharela bhindi and pakoda kaddi. The entire team gorged on the yummy food, absolutely loved it and couldn’t thank Shraddha enough for this sweet gesture,” said the source.

OK Jaanu is a remake of the Tamil super hit OK Kanmani. The original, which was helmed by Mani Ratnam, featured Dulquer Salmaan and Nithya Menon in the lead. The Hindi version of the fi lm will also star Aditya Roy Kapoor.

OK Jaanu revolves around the lives of two young lovers and depicts the issue of live-in relationships. It is slated to release on January 13 next year. — IANS

Uriyadi features voice-over of Arvind Swami

Actor Arvind Swami has briefl y lent his voice for forthcoming Tamil action-thriller Uriyadi, which releases in cinemas tomorrow.

“In the beginning of the fi lm, Arvind sir has given voice-over. It’s approximately for about 30 seconds but his lines are very crucial from

the perspective of the story. When we approached him with the request, he was more than willing to support us,” fi lm’s director Vijay Kumar told IANS.

Tipped to be a realistic action entertainer, the fi lm features mostly newcomers apart from actors such as Mime Gopi and Sivakumar. The fi lm is co-produced by Sameer Bharat Ram and Nalan Kumarasamy. – IANS

Kamal Haasan off to US for shooting of Sabaash Naidu

Actor-fi lmmaker Kamal Haasan left for Los Angeles to start regular shooting of his upcoming trilingual fi lm Sabaash Naidu, which also features his daughters Shruti Haasan and Akshara Haasan.

“Off to LA with 3 bound scripts. US team waits with sighs of relief. Anymore delay would have ruined all plans. All is wella for now (sic),” Haasan wrote on Twitter page. To be helmed by Rajeev Kumar, the fi lm is the spin-off of popular character

Balram Naidu from Haasan’s 2010 Tamil fi lm Dasavatharam.

Also starring Brahmanandam, Saurabh Shukla, Roger Narayanan and Ramya Krishnan, the fi lm will be simultaneously shot in Tamil, Telugu and Hindi.

While the Telugu and Tamil versions are titled Sabaash Naidu, the Hindi version is titled Sabaash Kundu. In the fi lm, Shruti will play Haasan’s daughter, while Akshara will assist Rajeev Kumar. Slated to release on December 1 in all the three languages, the fi lm has music by maestro Ilayaraja. — IANS


COMMUNITY HOLLYWOOD

By Luaine Lee

For years people would tap Danica McKellar on the shoulder and ask, “Aren’t you that little girl on The Wonder Years?”

Though she WAS that little girl on The Wonder Years, all that changed in an instant. After six seasons on the popular show, McKellar was ready for college.

“I took four years off to attend UCLA,” she says. “My plan was to be a fi lm major because I loved acting and had been doing it for so long, I thought I should learn the rest of it.

“And I took a maths class as part of my general requirements. It was a calculus course which wasn’t really required, but I’d been in AP calculus in high school, and I was intimidated by the idea for some reason even though I’d done well in high school. I was buying into the stereotype,” she says, seated in a restaurant here in Pasadena, California, the clatter of breakfast cutlery in the background.

“But I took the plunge and did it and fell completely in love with mathematics. I was fl oored at how well I was doing and couldn’t believe that I thought I wouldn’t be able to do it and was at the top of my class from the fi rst test,” she says, ordering eggs without the hash-browns.

“And I really gained an identity for myself and self-worth that was completely separate from Hollywood, which was so important for me.”

She went on to earn the highest score in her class of 163 people on her mid-term. “The scores were on the board. The high score was 22, which was mine, the rest were 15 and below,” she says.

“This one day someone tapped me on the shoulder and said, ‘Excuse me, aren’t you that girl who got the 22?’ It hit me. ‘Oh, my goodness. This is me. THIS is me, not a combination of sound eff ects and music and lighting and a great script and all the rest of it. This is really me. And it was intoxicating. I knew I needed to go down that path and take a break from Hollywood and fi nd myself.”

She even managed a coup that rarely happens in the fi eld of mathematics. She contributed to original research that proved a new theorem. “So I have a theorem named after me, which is something you usually do when you’re getting your Ph.D. After I got my bachelor’s of science, I missed acting and I missed communicating with people.”

While she enjoyed the research, she felt isolated, she says.

“I really missed acting. At

that point I’d already joined the Shakespeare group on campus. I was doing plays and stuff and I really wanted to get back to it.”

It took her three years to land a part, a juicy role in The West Wing, but she’s defi nitely baaaaaack. McKellar, 41, is starring in her second Hallmark movie, Wedding Bells, part of the network’s June weddings series, premiering June 3.

And, no, she doesn’t play the bride. Though she’s been a bride twice (she and her fi rst husband divorced when her 5 year-old son was one and half ) McKellar plays the maid of honour who colludes with the best man to save a wedding that is about to go under.

But McKellar hasn’t forgotten Pythagoras. In 2000 she addressed Congress about the importance of

women in mathematics, and fi ve years later she was approached about writing a book on the subject.

“I did a lot of research at the time and discovered that sixth grade — middle school — is the time when girls’ confi dence in maths starts to drop. That was the time when it needed to be targeted, so I thought, ‘Yes, I want to write a book for middle-school girls to show them that they are smart, capable, and they should strive to be these things through mathematics.” That’s how her fi rst book, Math Doesn’t Suck, was born.

“I recommend to ANY actor: have something else that you also love that you also do that makes money. For me, it’s maths books because it keeps you sane and keeps you from needing the next job to happen at a

certain point. And you can choose; you don’t have to take everything that comes to you,” says McKellar, whose wearing a black-and-white print dress, a red shawl draped across her shoulders and red high-heeled pumps. Two years ago she faced another arduous challenge. She appeared on Dancing with the Stars, breaking a rib in the process.

“It was pretty humiliating because I was sobbing, and that made it on national television. It’s one thing to cry as a character, it’s another one when it’s really me. I was embarrassed and didn’t want to be weak. Didn’t want to lose like that. I kept dancing for two more weeks after that,” she says.

She refused pain killers and tried all manner of holistic treatments. Sighing, she says, “It was very

challenging because I was in physical pain. I was afraid. You get up there and are about to dance in front of 15mn people, and it’s live, and you don’t know if your rib’s going to stay with you. I was in so much pain. That was one of the hardest times in my life.”

The Highwaymen on the road again

PBS’ American Masters usually confi nes itself to one master per programme. But tomorrow it will feature four of them. Known as America’s fi rst “supergroup,” the Highwaymen included country music greats Johnny Cash, Kris Kristoff erson, Willie Nelson and Waylon Jennings. In Emmy-winner Jim Brown’s documentary we can see what all the shouting was about. Time is spent on the uniqueness of each individual and how they blended so perfectly together. The show displays vintage fi lm, current interviews with folk who knew them and Nelson and Kristoff erson themselves. Even if you don’t like country music, this is a fascinating study of those who do. As “American Masters” always does, it has awkwardly titled the show: American Masters — The Highwaymen: Friends to the End.

History goes barbaricThe History Channel is planning

on doing what it does best: history, with its docu-drama series, Barbarians Uprising. The new series, which premieres on June 6, will tell the story of the triumphant Roman Empire from the Barbarians’ point of view. Anyone who was not a Roman citizen was considered a Barbarian, and the Romans ruled these outsiders with draconian zest. But freedom proved more precious and many of these mighty warriors rose up against the ruling power. Done in four parts, each one two hours long, Barbarians Uprising will reveal history from the alternative view.

Fox to spin-off two moviesFox promises some super shows

for the fall, including two movie spin-off s, six new dramas, and three comedies. Billy Friedkin’s terrifying The Exorcist will earn a makeover to more modern times. This time two very diff erent priests will battle the demon that infi ltrates a family’s peaceful life. The series brings Geena Davis (Thelma and Louise) back to the tube, along with Alfonso Herrera (The Chosen) and Ben Daniels (Flesh and Bone). Fox’s version of Lethal Weapon teams Damon Wayans (In Living Color) with Clayne Crawford (Rectify) as the two cops fi ghting the criminal element in divergent ways. — TNS

It’s all adding up for former child star Danica McKellar

THAT LITTLE GIRL: Danica McKellar


COMMUNITYHOLLYWOOD

IDENTITY ISSUES: Helen Hunt

CANDID: Ian McKellen

GOOD SAMARITAN: Brad Pitt

TRIBUTE: Paris Jackson

Actor Brad Pitt has been hailed as a hero after saving a young girl from being crushed by a crowd of fi lm lovers who had assembled to watch fi lming of his latest movie, Allied. Pitt rushed to her rescue as a huge crowd gathered

to watch him shoot in Las Palmas, the capital of Gran Canaria in the Spanish Canary Islands, reports mirror.co.uk.

The drama unfolded when hundreds of fans rushed forward to take photographs and selfi es of Pitt, who plays intelligence offi cer Max Vatan embarking on a risky

mission behind enemy lines in Allied. Spanish newspaper Canarias7.es reported the girl was in danger of being crushed against a security barrier but no one noticed, except Pitt, who leaped into action and helped her.

He grabbed hold of the girl and with the help of his bodyguards, lifted her to safety and on to the road before making sure she was safe and well with her mother. Shooting of the fi lm, set in World War II, started in London but the entire crew has travelled out to the Canaries for scenes in both Gran Canaria and neighbouring Fuerteventura. – IANS

Brad Pitt rescues fan in nick of time

Paris Jackson gets new Michael Jackson tattoo

Paris Jackson, daughter of the late pop star Michael Jackson, has got a new tattoo in honour of the music legend. Paris, who was just 11 years old when Michael died, shared a photograph of her latest body ink on Instagram. She got a tattoo of the cover art of Michael’s famous album Dangerous on her arm, reports mirror.co.uk. It features his eyes and a collection of animals. “The meaning of life is contained in every single expression of life. It is present in the infi nity of forms and phenomena that exist in all of creation,” Paris captioned the image. “Never forget your roots, and always be proud of where you came from,” she added. — IANS

Helen Hunt was mistaken for Jodie Foster

Actress Helen Hunt was mistaken for Jodie Foster at Starbucks and shared the story in a funny tweet. The As Good As It Gets actress revealed that her barista mixed her up with the Money Monster director when she placed her order, reports femalefi rst.co.uk.

“Ordered my drink at Starbucks... Asked the barista if she wanted my name. She winked and said, ‘We got it... Jodie Foster’,” Hunt wrote. She also shared an image of a cup with the name “Jody” written on it. This is not the fi rst time Helen, 52, has been mistaken for 53-year-old Foster. In 1994, she told chat show host David Letterman about how people often confused her with the star. — IANS

Kate Beckinsale wants to regain her old life

Actress Kate Beckinsale is looking forward to reclaiming her old life when her daughter goes to university. The London-born star thinks she will have more spare time to “resume” the life she enjoyed before giving birth to her daughter Lily in 1999, with her now ex-husband Michael Sheen, reports femalefi rst.co.uk.

“Now my daughter is going to be at university, that will be completely possible again. I will be able to spend more time in England,” Beckinsale told the Sunday Times newspaper.

“As much as you’re going, $$%%, how am I going to bear it? My daughter is going to college,’ there’s another voice that kind of goes, ‘I’ll be excited to resume being the person I was before,” she added.

The Pearl Harbor actress also

spoke about the “ideal phase” of her life. “My ideal phase (in my life) was when Michael (Sheen) and I were hopping back and forth, going, ‘It’s a bit grey and miserable in London. Should we go to Los Angeles for a

couple of months?’ Then going, ‘Had enough of that. Let’s go back and go to the theatre’,” Beckinsale said.

“That was ideal. It didn’t last long but it was ideal,” she added. — IANS

Rebel Wilson to star in romantic comedy

Pitch Perfect actor Rebel Wilson is set to star in an untitled romantic comedy for New Line Cinema. Producers are Todd Garner, Grant Scharbo and Gina Matthews. The studio and producers are seeking a director for the fi lm, reports variety.com.

Erin Cardillo wrote the original script about a cynical young woman

who doesn’t believe in love and then wakes up one day to discover that her life has become a romantic comedy. Dana Fox and Katie Silberman rewrote the script.

Wilson starred in both Pitch Perfect movies and is also attached for the upcoming Pitch Perfect 3. The Australian actress has also starred in fi lms like Bridesmaids, How to Be Single, Grimsby and the upcoming Absolutely Fabulous Movie. — IANS

I have never been out of work: Ian McKellen

Award-winning British actor Ian McKellen, who is famously known for playing Gandalf in the Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit fi lm franchises, says he has he never felt that he had been out of work in his career. McKellen had a candid conversation with Bollywood superstar Aamir Khan on literary legend Shakespeare and his global infl uence on fi lm, art and culture at the debut launch of the MAMI Film Club at National Centre for the Performing Arts (NCPA) evening in the Indian city of Mumbai.

When Aamir asked him if he ever faced a rough patch in his career, McKellen said: “I have never felt that I have never been out of work. I have taken job which other actors wouldn’t do”.

Twice nominated for the Oscar, and recipient of every major theatrical award in UK and US, McKellen says the stage is his “home”. “When I come to stage I feel it is home. Some have stage fright, but I feel one has to get inside the character,” he said. — IANS

TURNING OVER A NEW LEAF: Kate Beckinsale


COMMUNITY

ITEX medallist sets sights on more medical inventionsBy Anand Holla

A t the 27th edition of ITEX, one of the largest invention exhibitions in the world, earlier this month, Qatar-

based Indian expat Mohamed Shakir bagged the Gold medal for his ingenious invention – a life-saving seizure prediction device that certainly glitters a lot more brightly than any gold.

A showcase of the fi nest inventions from Asia and Europe and featuring bright minds from more than 20 countries, the 27th edition of ITEX (International Invention & Innovation Exhibition) at Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, awarded Shakir the Gold medal in the category of Innovative Product Design and Invention for his portable and precise Seizure Prediction Wearable Gadget.

While this is big news for Shakir, the accolades and acclaim are certainly not new. After graduating with Bachelor of Technology from Calicut University-MES College of Engineering, Kerala, Shakir continued his studies at Washington University in the US, where he gained a Master’s of Science. He then went on to earn a PhD from Petronas University, Malaysia, in Electrical Engineering.

Shakir has published more than 30 international scientifi c research papers and journals in areas such as robotics, human-robot interaction, biomedical systems, and so on. His areas of expertise include innovation, research, business intelligence, programming, embedded product development, electronic product design, IIoT, IoT, Artifi cial Intelligence, automation, virtual reality and image processing.

His list of accomplishments are lengthy but worth mentioning. He has fi led fi ve patents, has been a TED Talk speaker, winner of the PAN-Arab Microsoft Imagine Cup 2014, and a mentor for the World Microsoft Imagine Cup for the development of Gladiator Robotic System. He has also invented the well-received Heart Attack Prediction Wearable Gadget. Using innovative technology, Mohamed has also helped people with learning and physical challenges. This includes training sessions, wearable gadgets, robots and many other devices.

Since 2014, Shakir has worked as an IT Skills Development Manager at Qatar Airways, before which he was a Research Faculty at Qatar University for fi ve years. He has worked as a Robotics Engineer for the government of Qatar and as a Project Engineer at Wipro Technologies, India. In addition, he has worked as a consultant at MADA-ICT Qatar,

Qatar Scientifi c Club, Texas A&M QF, QSTP, EADS-Airbus, QMIC amongst others. Community caught up with Shakir for a quick chat.

How did you come up with the

idea for this seizure prediction device? Also, why did you feel the need to make it?

Few years back, I came across a news story of a baby’s death in the US due to a sudden seizure suff ered by the baby’s mother while she was holding the baby. This story made me think about the issue of seizures, fi nd out more and fi nd a solution for it. Epilepsy is a chronic non-communicable disorder of the brain that aff ects people of all ages. Approximately 50mn people worldwide have epilepsy, making it one of the most common neurological diseases globally. Nearly 80% of the people with epilepsy live in low- and middle-income countries. People with epilepsy respond to treatment approximately 70% of the time. About three-fourths of people with epilepsy living in low- and middle- income countries do not get the treatment they need. In many parts of the world, people with epilepsy and their families suff er from stigma and discrimination. This made me feel that there is a big need for a seizure prediction device for people.

What sort of challenges did

you encounter in creating this device?

My main challenges when building this product were cost effi ciency, reliability and accuracy. After fi ve years of testing, research, hard work

and determination, I was able to build it with a price tag of less than USD100 with an accuracy of more than 97%, and prediction duration for up to before three minutes of actual seizure in the patient, which I’d say is a breakthrough in biomedical engineering. My next big challenge will be to make this product for the patients around the world.

How will this Gold prize

change things for the better for your invention and for your future innovations?

This Gold Medal in the category of Innovative Product Design and Invention at ITEX 2016, is defi nitely an inspiration and honour for the hard work and pain I have gone through to turn my dream into a reality. This also motivated me a lot to push my boundaries, keep on moving and to aim for bigger – for the Nobel Prize, maybe.

How do you plan to make this

product accessible to the public?Currently, the business plan is to

manufacture this wearable gadget in China with all the ethical and federal approval needed launch to the market. Hopefully, by mid-2017, we can put it out there for a price tag less than USD100.

Will you keep trying to invent

interesting products in the future?

Yes, of course. I have already started working on developing a diabetes prevention device. I’m also setting up a vision for building an eco-system for pure energy.

The wearable system.

GOLD STANDARD: Mohamed Shakir shows the gadget he created, at ITEX 2016.

P6 P20 - Gulf Times

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