“i know they are going to die”

DOHA 21°C—25°C TODAY PUZZLES 12 & 13D LIFESTYLE/HOROSCOPE 11L P

Monday, February 13, 2017Jumada I 16, 1438 AH

CommunityThe Sri Lankan community

in Qatar celebrates the 69th Independence Day of the country with a cultural programme.

P9 P16 CommunityA dedicated off ice for the Indian

Community Benevolent Forum has been opened within the premises of the Indian embassy in Qatar.

COVERSTORY

“I know they are going to die”

The incredibly moving story of a foster father,

who takes in only terminally ill children. P4-5

THE HUMAN TOUCH: Mohamed Bzeek holds the hand of his 6-year-old foster daughter, who was born with a rare brain malformation and cannot see, hear or speak. He has cared for terminally ill foster children in Los Angeles County for more than two decades.

Community EditorKamran Rehmat

e-mail: [email protected]: 44466405

Fax: 44350474

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Monday, February 13, 20172 GULF TIMES

COMMUNITY ROUND & ABOUT

BoganDirected by: LakshmanWritten by LakshmanCast: stars Jayam Ravi, Arvind Swamy and Hansika

MotwaniSynopsis: Bogan is a 2017 Indian Tamil-language fantasy

action fi lm written and directed by Lakshman and produced

by Prabhu Deva and Ganesh. The fi lm stars Jayam Ravi, Arvind Swamy and Hansika Motwani in the lead roles, with Akshara Gowda, Varun, Nagendra Prasad and Nassar amongst others in supporting roles. Featuring music composed by D Imman, the fi lm began production during March 2016.

Location: Asian Town

John Wick: Chapter 2DIRECTION: Chad StahelskiWRITTEN BY: Derek KolstadCAST: Keanu Reeves, Riccardo Scamarcio, Ian McShane SYNOPSIS: John Wick: Chapter 2 is a 2017 American neo-

noir action thriller fi lm directed by Chad Stahelski and written

by Derek Kolstad. A sequel to the 2014 fi lm John Wick, the plot follows hitman John Wick, who returns to the underworld to repay and debt and then goes on the run after a bounty is placed on his head.

LOCATIONS: Roxy Cinema, Gulf Mall, Villaggio, Royal Plaza, The Mall, Landmark, City Centre

Mall Cinema (1): The Space Between Us (2D) 2pm; John Wick: Chapter 2 (2D) 4:45pm; Singam 3 (Tamil) 6:45pm; Rings 3 (2D) 9:30pm; Singam 3 (Tamil) 11:15pm.Mall Cinema (2): The Lego Batman Movie (2D) 2:30pm; The Lego Batman Movie (2D) 4:30pm; Jolly LLB2 (Hindi) 6:30pm; John Wick: Chapter 2 (2D) 9pm; Jolly LLB2 (Hindi) 11:15pm.Mall Cinema (3): Singam 3 (Tamil) 2:45pm; Kung Fu Yoga (2D) 5pm; The Lego Batman Movie (2D) 6:45pm; Balu Mahi (Urdu) 8:45m; John Wick: Chapter 2 (2D) 11:30pm.Landmark Cinema (1): Singam 3 (Tamil) 2:15pm; Heartbeats (2D) 5pm; Singam 3 (Tamil) 7pm;

Rings 3 (2D) 9:45pm; John Wick: Chapter 2 (2D) 11:30pm.Landmark Cinema (2): The Lego Batman Movie (2D) 3pm; The Lego Batman Movie (2D) 5pm; The Lego Batman Movie (2D) 7pm; Jolly LLB2 (Hindi) 9pm; Jolly LLB2 (Hindi) 11:15pm.Landmark Cinema (3): Balu Mahi (Urdu) 2pm; The Space Between Us (2D) 4:45pm; John Wick: Chapter 2 (2D) 7pm; Kung Fu Yoga (2D) 9:15pm; Singam 3 (Tamil) 11pm.Royal Plaza Cinema Palace (1): Jolly LLB2 (Hindi) 2pm; Singam 3 (Tamil) 4:30pm; The Lego Batman

Movie (2D) 7:15pm; Heartbeats (2D) 9pm; Singam 3 (Tamil) 10:45pm.Royal Plaza Cinema Palace (2): The Lego Batman Movie (2D) 2pm; The Lego Batman Movie (2D) 4pm; Singam 3 (Tamil) 6pm; John Wick: Chapter 2 (2D) 9pm; Jolly LLB2 (Hindi) 11:15pm.Royal Plaza Cinema Palace (3): Balu Mahi (Urdu) 2:15pm; The Space Between Us (2D) 5pm; Balu Mahi (Urdu) 7pm; Rings 3 (2D) 9:45pm; John Wick: Chapter 2 (2D) 11:15pm. Asian Town Cinema: Singam 3 (Tamil) 6, 7, 9 & 10pm; Jolly LLB 2 (Hindi) 6:15pm; Jomonte Suvisheshangal (Malayalam) 6:15 & 9:15pm.

PRAYER TIMEFajr 4.53amShorooq (sunrise) 6.10amZuhr (noon) 11.48amAsr (afternoon) 3.02pmMaghreb (sunset) 5.28pmIsha (night) 6.58pm

A man who dares to waste

one hour of time has not discovered the value of life.

– Charles Darwin

3Monday, February 13, 2017 GULF TIMES

COMMUNITYROUND & ABOUT

E-mail: [email protected], Events and timings subject to change

EVENTS

Chaliyar Sports Fest ’17 WHEN: February 14 (tomorrow)WHERE: Al Wakrah Sports StadiumTIME: 7:30AMThe Chaliyar Sports Fest ’17 is being

conducted by Chaliyar Doha as part of the Qatar National Sport Day. The festival will be inaugurated by famous Indian footballer and Kerala Blasters striker Muhammad Rafi at 7:30am.

The event will start with a colourful procession of children, families and participants from various member associations of Chaliyar Doha. This will be followed by a march past of the competing teams.

The festival will feature football, tug-of-war and other competitions for men, women and children. The winning team will be awarded the rolling trophy at 1pm.

Senorita- Ladies NightWHERE: The Club at St. RegisWHEN: TuesdaysTIME: 7pm The Club at St. Regis promises the

‘fi nest weeknight in town with Cuban and Latin rhythms’. All ladies are treated with 2 complimentary drinks until midnight. The event starts at 7pm. The dress code is “strictly fabulous-Latin vibe” and there are no entrance fees. For more information, please call 4446-0105.

FCC’s Women’s Sport Festival WHEN: February 17Vanitha Sports Fest is being organised by

Friends Cultural Centre Vanithavedi on the occasion of Qatar Sport Day on February 17. The competitions are in the following categories for individuals: walking–1.5kms; skipping race–100metres; sack race–50metres; running race–100metres; running race–200metres; lemon running race; shot put; and long jump. For groups, the competitions are 4 x 50metres relay race; tug-of-war; Three legged race–50metres; and throw ball.

For registration and more details, please contact telephone numbers: 55643799, 66787007, or 55271038.

Picasso-Giacometti WHEN: February 22 to May 21WHERE: Fire Station Artist In ResidenceThis exhibition brings together more than

120 works by Picasso and Giacometti, drawn from the collections of the Musée national Picasso-Paris and the Fondation Giacometti in Paris, as well as exceptional loans from

French and other international collections, covering paintings, sculptures, sketches, photographs and interviews with the artists.

The exhibition refl ects two years of research undertaken by the Fondation Giacometti and the Musée national Picasso-Paris, which reveals for the fi rst time the previously unknown relationship between these two artists, who, despite an age gap of twenty years, shared many moments, both personal and professional.

The exhibition is organised in six sections, evoking diff erent aspects of each artist’s production, including the development of their work as young artists through to their modernist creations, showing the correspondences between their works, the infl uence of the surrealist movement, and the return to realism during the post-war period.

The exhibition will be accompanied by a series of lectures and an extensive education programme, as well as a self-guided handbook for the visitors.

A richly illustrated catalogue published as co-edition with Flammarion will accompany the exhibition, featuring new essays by art historians and the curators of the exhibition.

Dia al-Azzawi: A Retrospective (from 1963 until tomorrow)

WHERE: Mathaf: Arab Museum of Modern Art and QM Gallery Al Riwaq

WHEN: Until April 16Qatar Museums presents a monograph of

one of the most renowned modern artists of the Arab world: Dia al-Azzawi. The exhibition, showcasing over 500 works across fi fty years and a range of media, aims at mapping an itinerary of modernism and profi les the practice of the Iraqi artist. The exhibition is curated by Catherine David, Deputy Director of Musée National d’Art Moderne at the Centre Georges Pompidou, Paris.

Motocross World Championship WHEN: February 24, 25WHERE: Losail Motocross TrackThe opening round of the 2017 FIM MXGP

World Championship will take place at the Losail Motocross Track for fi fth time in a row. General access is free-of-charge, while a Paddock ticket costs QR100 for the two days. VIP tickets are going for QR1,000 for the two days. For details of what’s included in the Paddock and VIP tickets, please visit the Losail Circuit Sports Club website. The tickets will be available at the Welcome

Centre of the Losail Circuit Sports Club during the week of the event.

Revival of Qatar’s musical heritage and Qatari Folk singing program

WHEN: Thursday, Friday until April 28WHERE: Beach 15, Katara TIME: 6pm to 10pmResidents will have the opportunity to

watch and enjoy authentic Qatari musical arts and folk singing every weekend until April 28, 2017 at Katara.

The second edition of this cultural show dubbed as ‘The Revival of Qatar’s Musical Heritage and Qatari Folk Singing Programme’ is in line with Katara’s continuous eff orts to preserve the heritage of Qatar’s ancestors.

Some sideline activities at the event include training sessions, competitions, exhibitions, documentary research, publications, and lectures and seminars.

Chamber Music at MIA: Telemann Concerto for Four Violins

WHEN: March 2TIME: 6pmWHERE: Museum of Islamic ArtThe monthly free chamber music concert

by members of the Qatar Philharmonic Orchestra in the atrium of Museum of Islamic Art will be on March 2, with the West Bay skyline as a backdrop. No tickets or reservations required. All ages welcome. Seating will be on a fi rst-come fi rst-serve basis.

Secrets of the SimpsonsWHEN: March 5TIME: 7:30pm to 9:30pmWHERE: Shangri-La HotelIn this fun-fi lled PG13-rated presentation

loaded with cartoon clips, Mike Reiss, a four-time Emmy Award winning writer of the Simpsons show, tells you the stories and secrets from behind the show: dealing with celebrity guests, surprising critics (including George HW Bush) and even more surprising fans (Pope Benedict).

You do not have to love The Simpsons, or even have seen the show, to enjoy this presentation.

Mike Reiss has won some of the most prestigious awards in the world of entertainment, including four Emmys and a Peabody Award, during his twenty-six years writing for The Simpsons. He ran the show in Season 4, which Entertainment Weekly called “the greatest season of the greatest show in history.” In 2006, Mike received a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Animation Writers Caucus.

Reiss has written jokes for such comedy legends as Johnny Carson, Joan Rivers, Garry Shandling and Pope Francis!

He is also an award-winning mystery writer, children’s book author and playwright.

A limited number of tickets are on sale at the American Chamber of Commerce in Qatar offi ces in West Bay. The price is QR280 for adults and QR180 for children under 15, which includes dinner.

Qatar Superstock 600 Championship Round 3

WHERE: Losail International CircuitTIME: 10amWHEN: March 23, 24 and 25Qatar SuperStock 600 is a new road racing

championship organised by Qatar Motor Motorcycle Federation and Losail Circuit Sports Club.

The championship will have 12 races over 6 rounds at the Losail International Circuit.

The riders are competing using one-make bikes that will be used for the rest of the season, a stocked 600cc bike. The organisers

bill it as “a great chance for every competitor to test themselves and fi ght for the title in fair racing conditions and in a professional environment”.

Grandstand and Paddock area are open for free to all the spectators.

Al Gannas(For school students) Until March 31, 20179am–NoonAl Gannas SocietyFree ( For boys only, requires

registration) Al 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 items tools, kinds of falcons and preys, in addition to workshop on how to carry a falcon, set a traditional tent (made of goat & camel heir), prepare traditional Arabic coff ee and start a fi re. For further details, visit katara.net

Muhammad Ali: Tribute to a LegendDATE: Until February 25, 2017WHERE: Eastern Gallery, 4th Floor,

Museum of Islamic Art The temporary exhibition is curated by

Qatar Museums’ 3-2-1 Olympic and Sports Museum and presents a unique collection of artefacts from the boxing legend’s career, including photography from Ali’s outdoor exhibition bout at the Doha Stadium in 1971 and memorabilia spanning his journey to the 1960 Rome Olympics; Ali’s world title winning bout against Sonny Liston in 1964 and his fi nal world title winning fi ght against Leon Spinks in New Orleans in 1978.

Qatar Music Academy(For school students) Until March 28, 201711am–2pmFree (Requires registration) Qatar Music Academy focuses on teaching

its students the principles of Arab and Western music. As part of the “Our Culture is a School” programme, Qatar Music Academy has off ered interested schools the opportunity to attend various workshops. These workshops will include an introduction to Arab and Western music and instruments, as well as the teachers giving a brief overview of the educational music programmes at the Academy. For further details, visit katara.net

Fitness TrainingDATE: Sunday, Tuesday, ThursdayTIME: 6pm-7pmVENUE: MIA ParkThere are fi tness classes in the park on

Sunday, Tuesday and Thursday nights between 6 and 7pm. Open to all levels of fi tness, Bootcamp is an intensive and fun way to train and also meet new people in the open and friendly group atmosphere. More information, from Bootcamp, Qatar or [email protected]


COMMUNITY COVER STORY

Dying, by compassionIn his more than two decades as a foster father, Mohamed Bzeek has taken terminally

ill children under his wings, reinforcing the human spirit with amazing resilience

THE MOVING SPIRIT: Mohamed Bzeek spends long days and sleepless nights caring for the bedridden child.

By Hailey Branson-Potts

The children were going to die.

Mohamed Bzeek knew that. But in his more than two decades as a foster father, he took them in anyway — the sickest of the sick in Los Angeles

County’s sprawling foster care system.He has buried about 10 children. Some died

in his arms.Now, Bzeek spends long days and sleepless

nights caring for a bedridden 6-year-old foster girl with a rare brain defect. She’s blind and deaf. She has daily seizures. Her arms and legs are paralysed.

Bzeek, a quiet, devout Libyan-born Muslim who lives in Azusa, California, just wants her to know she’s not alone in this life.

“I know she can’t hear, can’t see, but I always talk to her,” he said. “I’m always holding her, playing with her, touching her. … She has feelings. She has a soul. She’s a human being.”

Of the 35,000 children monitored by the county’s Department of Children and Family Services, there are about 600 children at any given time who fall under the care of the department’s Medical Case Management Services, which serves those with the most severe medical needs, said Rosella Yousef, an assistant regional administrator for the unit.

There is a dire need for foster parents to care for such children.

And there is only one person like Bzeek.“If anyone ever calls us and says, ‘This kid

needs to go home on hospice,’ there’s only one name we think of,” said Melissa Testerman, a DCFS intake co-ordinator who fi nds placements for sick children. “He’s the only one that would take a child who would possibly not make it.”

Typically, she said, children with complex conditions are placed in medical facilities or with nurses who have opted to become foster parents.

But Bzeek is the only foster parent in the county known to take in terminally ill children,

Yousef said. Though she knows the single father is stretched thin caring for the girl, who requires around-the-clock care, Yousef still approached him at a department Christmas party in December and asked if he could possibly take in another sick child.

This time, Bzeek politely declined.The girl sits propped up with pillows in the

corner of Bzeek’s living room couch. She has long, thin brown hair pulled into a ponytail and perfectly arched eyebrows over unseeing gray eyes.

Because of confi dentiality laws, the girl is not being identifi ed. But a special court order allowed The Times to spend time at Bzeek’s home and to interview people involved in his foster daughter’s case.

The girl’s head is too small for her 34-pound body, which is too small for her age. She was born with an encephalocele, a rare malformation in which part of her brain protruded through an opening in her skull, according to Dr Suzanne Roberts, the girl’s paediatrician at Children’s Hospital

Los Angeles. Neurosurgeons removed the protruding brain tissue shortly after her birth, but much of her brain remains undeveloped.

She has been in Bzeek’s care since she was a month old. Before her, he cared for three other children with the same condition.

“These kids, it’s a life sentence for them,” he said.

Bzeek, 62, is a portly man with a long, dark beard and a soft voice. The oldest of 10 children, he came to this country from Libya as a college student in 1978.

Years later, through a mutual friend, he met a woman named Dawn, who would become his wife. She had become a foster parent in the early 1980s, before she met Bzeek. Her grandparents had been foster parents, and she was inspired by them, Bzeek said. Before she met Bzeek, she opened her home as an emergency shelter for foster children who needed immediate placement or who were placed in protective custody.

Dawn Bzeek fell in love with every child she took in. She took them to professional holiday


COMMUNITYCOVER STORY

photo sessions, and she organised Christmas gift donation drives for foster children.

She was funny, Bzeek said during a recent drive home from the hospital. She was absolutely terrifi ed of spiders and bugs, so much that even Halloween decorations creeped her out — but she was never scared by the children’s illnesses or the possibility that she would die, Bzeek said.

The Bzeeks opened their Azusa home to dozens of children. They taught classes on foster parenting — and how to handle a child’s illness and death — at community colleges. Dawn Bzeek was such a highly regarded foster mother that her name appeared on statewide task forces for improving foster care alongside doctors and policymakers.

Bzeek started caring for foster children with Dawn in 1989, he said. Often, the children were ill. Mohamed Bzeek fi rst experienced the death of a foster child in 1991. She was the child of a farm worker who was pregnant when she breathed in toxic pesticides sprayed by crop dusters. She was born with a spinal disorder, wore a full body cast and wasn’t yet a year old when she died on July 4, 1991, as the Bzeeks prepared dinner.

“This one hurt me so badly when she died,” Bzeek said, glancing at a photograph of a tiny girl in a frilly white dress, lying in a coffi n surrounded by yellow fl owers.

By the mid-1990s, the Bzeeks decided to specifi cally care for terminally ill children who had do-not-resuscitate orders because no-one else would take them in.

There was the boy with short-gut syndrome who was admitted to the hospital 167 times in his eight-year life. He could never eat solid food, but the Bzeeks would sit him at the dinner table, with his own empty plate and spoon, so he could sit with them as a family.

There was the girl with the same brain condition as Bzeek’s current foster daughter, who lived for eight days after they brought her home. She was so tiny that when she died a doll maker made an outfi t for her funeral. Bzeek carried her coffi n in his hands like a shoe box.

“The key is, you have to love them like your own,” Bzeek said recently. “I know they are sick. I know they are going to die. I do my best as a human being and leave the rest to God.”

Bzeek’s only biological son, Adam, was born in 1997 — with brittle bone disease and dwarfi sm. He was a child so fragile that changing his diaper or his socks could break his bones.

Bzeek said he was never angry about his own son’s disabilities. He loved him all the same.

“That’s the way God created him,” Bzeek said.

Now 19, Adam weighs about 65 pounds and has big brown eyes and a shy grin. When at home, he gets around the house on a body skateboard that his father made for him out of a miniature ironing board, zooming across the wood floor, steering with his hands.

Adam studies computer science at Citrus College, driving his electric wheelchair to class. He’s the smallest student in class, Bzeek said, “but he’s a fi ghter.”

Adam’s parents never glossed over how sick his foster siblings were, and they told him the children were going to eventually die, Bzeek said. They accepted death as part of life — something that made the small joys of living all the more meaningful.

“I love my sister,” the shy teenager said of the foster girl. “Nobody should have to go through so much pain.”

About 2000, Dawn Bzeek, once such an active advocate for foster children, became ill. She suff ered from powerful seizures that would leave her weak for days. She could hardly leave the house because she didn’t want to collapse in public.

The frustrations of her illness wore on her, Bzeek said. There was stress in the marriage, and she and Bzeek split in 2013. She died a little

over a year later.Bzeek chokes up when he talks about her.

When it came to facing the diffi culties of the children’s illnesses, the knowledge that they would die, she was always the stronger one, he said.

On a chilly November morning, Bzeek pushed the girl’s wheelchair and the IV pole that carries her feeding formula into Children’s Hospital on Sunset Boulevard. She was wrapped in a soft pink blanket, her head resting on a pillow with the stitched words: “Dad is like duct tape holding our home together.”

The temperatures had been bouncing up and down that week, and the girl had a cold.

Her brain cannot fully regulate her body temperature, so one leg was hot while the other was cold.

On the elevator, her face glowed bright red as she coughed, her throat fi lled with phlegm, screaming for air. People in the elevator looked away.

Bzeek rubbed her cheek playfully and held her hand, waving it playfully. “Heeeey, mama,” he cooed in her ear, calming her down.

For Bzeek, the hospital has become a second home. When he’s not here, he’s often on the phone with her many doctors, the insurers who fi ght over who’s paying for it all, the lawyers who represent her and her

social workers. Any time they leave the house together, he carries a thick black binder fi lled with her medical records and pages of medications.

Still, Bzeek — who had to be licensed through the county to care for medically fragile children and receives about $1,700 a month for her care — is not able to make medical decisions for her.

Roberts entered the exam room, smiling at the girl’s frilly socks and brown dress with fall-coloured leaves.

“There’s our princess,” the doctor said. “She’s in her pretty dress, as always.”

Roberts has known Bzeek for years and has seen many of his foster children. By the time this girl was age 2, Roberts said, doctors said there were no more interventions to improve her condition.

“Nobody ever wants to give up,” she said. “But we had run through the options.”

But the girl, who is hooked to feeding and medication tubes at least 22 hours a day, has lived as long as she has because of Bzeek, the doctor said.

“When she’s not sick and in a good mood, she’ll cry to be held,” Roberts said. “She’s not verbal, but she can make her needs known. … Her life is not complete suff ering. She has moments where she’s enjoying herself and she’s pretty content, and it’s all because of Mohamed.”

Other than trips to the hospital and Friday prayers at the mosque — when the day nurse watches her — Bzeek rarely leaves the house.

To avoid choking, the girl sleeps sitting up. Bzeek sleeps on a second couch next to hers. He doesn’t sleep much.

On a Saturday in early December, Bzeek, Adam and the girl’s nurse, Marilou Terry, had a celebratory lunch for the child’s sixth birthday. He invited her biological parents. They didn’t come. Bzeek crouched in front of the girl — wearing a long, red-and-white dress and matching socks — and held her hands, clapping them together.

“Yay!” he said, cheerfully. “You are 6! 6! 6!”Bzeek lit six birthday candles in a cheesecake

and sat the girl on the kitchen table, holding the cake near her face so she could feel the warmth of the fl ames.

As they sang Happy Birthday, Bzeek leaned over her left shoulder, his beard gently brushing the side of her face. She smelled the smoke, and a small smile crossed her face. —Los Angeles Times/TNS

STANDING TALL: Mohamed Bzeek is a quiet, religious man who wants his foster daughter to know she's not alone in this life.

Mohamed Bzeek had a celebratory lunch for the sixth

birthday of a girl, who is hooked to feeding and medication

tubes at least 22 hours a day. He invited her biological parents.

They didn’t come. Bzeek crouched in front of the girl —

wearing a long, red-and-white dress and matching socks —

and held her hands, clapping them together. “Yay!” he said,

cheerfully. “You are 6! 6! 6!”


COMMUNITY

Institution of Civil Engineers UK Qatar chapter visit Lusail CityThe Institution of Civil Engineers UK Qatar chapter (ICE Qatar) recently arranged a site tour to the ongoing Lusail City development located north of Doha. Lusail is major real estate development located in the north of Doha. Once finished, it will cover a total area of 38 square kilometres. The city will be home to 200,000 residents living on one of the four exclusive manmade islands or in one of the mixed multi-purpose residential areas. Breathtaking buildings and state of the art infrastructure make Lusail City the only one of its kind. The tour was “very well organised” by ICE Qatar advisory committee member Gul Hameed Khalil, who works with Dorsch Qatar in the capacity of Geotechnical Specialist. Presentations were delivered by Kevin Dixon from Parsons International and Gul, describing the current stages of development across the city.The ICE members were later taken to various construction sites in Lusail development, especially

to the central zone, where they saw ongoing construction of tunnels, roads and bridges. The visitors were impressed with the quality and safety of construction work, especially the major construction project, C.P 7B, where the tunnel and road works are in progress. They were particularly impressed by the size of the project and with the depth and extent of the excavation and enabling works. The dewatering work was also appreciated due to the close proximity of lagoon and the sea. The visitors also felt satisfied with the welfare facilities provided to the workers across the projects.The tour enabled the members to understand the Qatar National vision 2030, for which Lusail city is striving. The city will also be a part of the 2022 FIFA World Cup. Lusail Stadium will be able to seat 80,000 spectators and will be completed by 2020. The stadium will host the opening and final matches of the tournament.

Bangladesh school organises its annual sports dayThe Bangladesh MHM School held its Annual Sports Day recently. Bangladeshi ambassador Ashud Ahmed was the chief guest. A large number of students participated in the sporting events that included races, high jump, long jump, and short put. Students also participated in some non-standard races such as frog, sack and chocolate races. The winners were given prizes at the end. The House Trophy was won by Meghna House. Padma House finished second.


COMMUNITY

PWF members donate QR50,000 to Raf for ‘Education for All’ programmeMembers of Pakistan Welfare Forum Qatar (PWFQ) have donated a combined total of QR50,000 to RAF-Sheikh Thani bin Abdullah Foundation for Humanitarian Service (Raf). The money will be used for PWFQ project `Education for All’ (EFA), which is being carried out in strategic partnership with Raf. Pakistani philanthropist Pervez Iqbal donated QR45,000 in a simple ceremony held at Raf Head Off ice recently. Dr Ayed bin Dabssan al-Qahtani, Chairman, Board of Trustees and General Director,

Raf, received the donation.G D Khan Bangash, a senior businessman and one of the founding members of PWFQ, handed over a cheque of QR5,000 to Raf, which was also received by the Raf chairman.The ceremony was attended by prominent members of the Pakistani community in Qatar, including Malik Qaiser Awan, Riyaz A Bakali, Ahmad Hussain, and Ch Muhammad Ajmal. Senior Raf off icials also attended.

Over 600 people attend PPFQ’s free medical campMore than 600 people benefited from the fourth free medical camp organised by the Pakistan Professionals Forum Qatar at Imara Healthcare Centre in Labour City, Industrial Area recently. The organisers also provided free medication, hygiene kits and lunch to the participants. A team of doctors and volunteers delivered an information session for the benefit of all patients, highlighting the importance of personal hygiene and encouraging them to focus on cleanliness and sanitation.The event was inaugurated by Pakistani ambassador Shahzad Ahmed and Mohammad al-Hajjaj, Head of Occupational at Health Supreme Council of Health. A PPFQ representative said that they are “very grateful to Imara, Ezdan Mall, Ammico, Qalco and Coca-Cola Company for their support” in organising the event. PPFQ is a non-profit, non-political organisation working under the patronage of Pakistani embassy in Qatar. Their statement reads: “We are a voluntary group of Pakistani professionals who have a keen desire to give back to the Qatari society as a whole by harnessing our distinct experiences and skills to focus on promoting youth development, women empowerment, community and cultural development. Our members comprise of professionals pursuing or having established careers in the areas of academia, journalism, law, engineering, medicine, banking, financial services and IT. We are not limited only to individuals of Pakistani origin and hence welcome people of all backgrounds with common interests and a desire to attain the organisation’s objectives.”


COMMUNITY

NAAS Group gets three ISO certificationsNAAS Group for Real Estate Project Management and Development WLL has recently gotten the ISO 10006 certificate in Project Management, ISO 18001 in Occupational Health and Safety, and ISO 14001 in Environmental Management System. Earlier, the group has been awarded ISO 9001 in Quality Management Systems. To mark the occasion the group held a ceremony, which was attended by the senior managers.

Al Zaman Gold Card customers to get discount at NBK Travel and TourismIn a move to extend greater value to its Gold Card customers, Al Zaman Exchange has entered into a tie-up with NBK Travel and Tourism. Al Zaman Exchange Gold Card customers will now be able to avail special rates and off ers at NBK Travel and Tourism. A Memorandum of Understanding to this eff ect was signed recently between Al Zaman Exchange and NBK Travels and Tourism, which is a subsidiary of the well-known Qatari group, Nasser Bin Khalid & Sons Holding Company. Al Zaman Marketing Executive Mohammed Adeeb, Branch Money Laundering Reporting Off icers Jenny Nicos and Judith Lantz, NBK Travels and Tourism General Manager Bassim Khamis, and Chief Accountant Moideen Peediyakkal were present on this occasion.

MES bids farewell to Class XII studentsMES Indian School bid farewell to its Class XII students at a formal ceremony held at the CBSE i Auditorium of the school recently. A total of 514 students and more than 150 staff members took part in the glittering function that marked the culmination of schooling for the current batch of Class XII. Students’ representatives, Mohammed Omer, Safin Hussain, and Riya Mariyam Jacob gave speeches at the farewell. All major student off icials, prefects, club secretaries and Campus Care Force members were given certificates. The best outgoing students of various streams of Class XII, who excelled in their respective domains, were honoured with certificates and mementoes that were especially designed for the occasion. Abdullah Mansur Malek (Science) and Sharath Gopakumar (Commerce) were adjudged as the best

outgoing students in the boys’ section. Mariam Mohamed Ali (Science) and Thanisha Abdul Gafoor (Commerce) won the best outgoing student title in the girls’ section of the school. Mohammed Omer (Science) was honoured as the best outgoing student from CBSE-i. Muhammed Arshad T T and Angel Treesa were declared as the best sports talents of the year. Fathima Nida Jamal was declared the best all rounder. Akhil Uday, Ankitha Anand and Ashmitha Jeyakumar (CBSE-i) were honoured as the best outgoing prefects. Muhammed K Muneer and Sana Noushad were honoured as the best outgoing Campus Care Force members. A medley of songs and dances not only enthralled the audience but also added colour to the farewell function. A sumptuous luncheon was hosted in honour of the outgoing students by the school management.

9GULF TIMES

COMMUNITYMonday, February 13, 2017

Sri Lankans celebrate country’s 69th Independence DayT

he Sri Lankan community in Qatar celebrated the 69th Independence Day (Nidahas Udanaya 2017) of the country with a cultural programme last Friday at Radisson Blu hotel.

The chief guest was K H C Sankapali, Charge d’Aff aires of the Embassy of Sri Lanka. The programme was organised by the Embassy of Sri Lanka in collaboration with the Sri Lanka Coordinating Committee Qatar (SLCC).

The programme began with a welcome ceremony – members of Chandana Wickramasinghe and the Dancers Guild – who were fl own in from Sri Lanka for the celebrations – welcomed the guests. This was followed by the traditional lighting of oil lamp and an unveiling of a souvenir compiled by SLCC General Secretary Lenny Cramer and Graphic Designer Shanaz Shabdeen.

SLCC President Tenison De Silva, in his speech, welcomed the community

and expressed his thanks and gratitude to everyone who supported the initiative. Appreciation plaques were presented to Pantalion Perera, Al Bateel Securicor; Mahesh Abhayapala, Trico International; Merril Dias, DOMASCO; and Ishani Jayawardane, Lankadeepa Middle East; for their support to Sri Lankan community events.

Students from the dance academy of Dinu Rangayathanaya, choreographed by Dinuk Lawrance, showcased their talents and presented a variety of traditional dances.

Chandana Wickramasinghe and the Dancer’s Guild enthralled the audience with traditional and modern dances. Chandana and his dancers perform traditional dances and have entertained audiences across the globe with their breathtaking performances on stage. This was their third visit to Doha and the audience was entertained throughout the evening with a scintillating performance by the dancers.

Present at the programme were C K Krishnan, Acting CEO Doha Bank; Khalaf al-Khalaf, Head of Events and Activation, Ooredoo; Rahul Dhar, Manager, Marketing & Communications, Ooredoo; Jeegadeesha Ekanayake, Account Manager, Premium Retailers, Ooredoo; Ahmed al-Rayes, Chairman, Al Rayes Group; Sujeewa Ranasinghe, Chief Financial Offi cer, Readymix Qatar; Merril Dias, Manager Watches, DOMASCO; Balakrishnan Pirathapan, Country Manager Qatar, Sri Lankan Airlines; Ahangama Ranjith, Senior Manager, Group Financial Control, Doha Bank; Pantalion Perera, Executive Director, Al Bateel Securicor, Aneesh Gangadharan, Community Outreach Specialist Marketing and Communications, Supreme Committee for Delivery and Legacy; Samantha Sifah, Head of Community Outreach, Supreme Committee for Delivery and Legacy; Bandula Rathnayake, Managing Director, Al Sabah

Trading and Contracting Company; and Rev. Father Bennet.

Also present were the Sri Lanka Community Benevolent Fund President Nimal Thudewatte, Sri Lanka Business Council President Mahesh Abhayapala along with the Executive Committee members of Sri Lanka Coordinating Committee, Sri Lanka Community Benevolent Fund and Sri Lanka Business Council.

The Platinum Sponsor was Ooredoo and the Gold Sponsor was Readymix Qatar. Sponsors for the event were Doha Bank, Al Rayes Group, DOMASCO/Titan, McDonalds, and Al Bateel Securicor. Lankadeepa Middle East was the media sponsor.

The programme was compered by Malinda Nanayakkara (Sinhala), A H M Irfaan (English) and co-ordinated by Dhammika Jayasena, SLCC Assistant General Secretary, and A M Liyanage, Vice-President of Sri Lanka Community Benevolent Fund (SLCBF).

Photos by Shaji


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 is struggling in your sign and continues to struggle (through

June). You’re very much a ‘me first’ type of sign which makes it

diff icult for Venus to do her job as matchmaker.

Work, hard work and more work is in your stars today, this week and

throughout the month of February. Aim high professionally.

Don’t put all your eggs in one basket today Librans. Make sure you

spread them out and are ready for any and every cosmic scenario

that may come your way.

All good things must come to an end as they say goats and while

you might be sad to see something winding up, make sure you look

at it as the positive adventure it was and have no regrets.

Don’t stop believing in yourself today. You can definitely do

whatever you want to do if you put your mind to it and your back

into it as well!

As much as you don’t like someone that much, the fact remains that

you do have to spend time with him or her, don’t you? As diff icult as

that may be. Why not pretend you’re a Hollywood actress rehearsing

your lines today?

There is nothing you can really do to stop someone doing something

today Scorpios – even if you know in your heart and mind it’s a silly

thing for them to do.

The Sun is spending his last week in your sign so make the most of

it birthday peeps! It’s the time for you to cement the rest of the year

before your next birthday rolls around.

Work smart not hard is a great way to live your life twins and some

people do manage to do just that. Invent something that they can

then sell for a lot of money or work part time and make as much as

they would working full time.

Stop and think about the consequences of what you are about to

do or say today Virgos. Not everything might work out the way you

want it to and it will be a huge disappointment.

Be careful that you don’t overdo the praise today and then wish you

hadn’t been so generous with it. Being eff usive you do well Sags.

One more week before the Sun moves into your sign Pisces. It’s

important that you are geared up and ready for your birthday month

to begin and to start thinking about where you were and what you

were doing this time last year.

For a taste of the variety off ered, here are fi ve reasons all kinds of people return to dude ranches across the

country.

Roughing it has never been so luxurious

Simply put, it’s hard to fi nd a more relaxing experience. With many ranches off ering morning yoga to limber you up before you get in the saddle along with spa services to induce a state of complete relaxation, you’ll think those cowboys had it easy on their cattle drives!

An educational adventure for the whole family

Many dude ranches have an array of kid-friendly activities. Children of all ages can ride horses, play, learn about animals and the

wonders of the great outdoors. Parents treasure this direct, hands-on learning, and kids, well, they hardly know that what they’re doing is educational.

A perfect getaway for animal lovers

There is no shortage of people who visit a dude ranch in order to live their childhood dream of having a horse or a pony. Horses are an integral part of the dude ranch experience, and whether you ride them through the mountainside meadows or learn some grooming techniques, working with these animals is a magical experience.

Indulge in a meal like none other

After a day luxuriating in the crisp western air, nothing is better than sitting down with your family for a gourmet meal paired with

the perfect wine. Yes, the food is a world-class combination of classic favourites and new fl avours, but it’s also a chance to share stories with your loved ones, hear about the things your kids discovered and create lasting memories.

Discover something about yourself

Each year, there is no shortage of people who come to relax and let the stress of daily life melt away. While doing this, they also manage to participate in things they never

imagined. Whether it is zooming down a zip line, going whitewater rafting or mountain biking, many people discover new experiences that give them a new perspective on life.

©Brandpoint

5 reasons you’ll love your next vacation


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

ALYSSUMBEGONIACAMOMILECANNACROCUSDAHLIAFOXGLOVEFUCHSIAGERANIUM

GLADIOLUSHOLLYHOCKHYACINTHIRISLILYLOBELIAMARIGOLDNASTURTIUMPANSY

PETUNIAPRIMROSEPYRETHRUMSTOCKTULIPVERBENAVIOLETWALLFLOWERZINNIA

Garden Flowers

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. Charm (8)2. Seaman (7)4. Begin again (6)5. Inactivity (10)6. Angry (5)7. Merriment (4)10. Uneducated (10)12. Demolishes (8)15. Way in (7)16. Rigid (6)18. Premier (5)19. Tardy (4)

ACROSS1. Docile (4)3. Urgent (8)8. Decoy (4)9. Prank (8)11. Devoted to one purpose (6-6)13. Dexterous (6)14. Dress (6)17. Later reflection (12)20. Mediterranean sea (8)21. Nothing (4)22. Petition (8)23. Employs (4)

ACROSS1. Island without a tax (4)3. It may form a strong attachment to a craft (8)8. Offhand and breezy (4)9. Flinch because of a handicap (8)11. He may set out with spirit for mountain rescue work (5,7)13. The usual thing a shop receives from people (6)14. He may scratch a living (6)17. Possibly Reg thinks of a red card (4,2,6)20. A mammoth beast (8)21. A story-teller (4)22. Cod eaten like this makes quite a story! (8)23. Monster that helps us make progress (4)

DOWN1. How to do business? You’ll find the short answer in the leaflet (8)2. They carry heavy burdens in many ways (7)4. Didn’t deny it’s a selfish characteristics (6)5. The present combines with the past not very often (3,3,4)6. Seat I scorch on the outside (5)7. Creatures from the whelk-stall (4)10. A powerful grip, useful in defence (10)12. What you will do if you can (8)15. It may show she’s married, but it’s fishy (7)16. A raft at sea (6)18. Publish the final result (5)19. Nelson held her in high esteem maybe! (4)

Quick Clues

Cryptic Clues

Yesterday’s Solutions

QUICKAcross: 1 Ostentation; 9 Nonplus; 10 Outre; 11 Layer; 12 Languor; 13 Number; 15 Superb; 18 Triumph; 20 Cheat; 22 Outer; 23 Dresser; 24 Unknowingly. Down: 2 Sunny; 3 Enlarge; 4 Tussle; 5 Thorn; 6 Obtrude; 7 Inclination; 8 Retributory; 14 Moisten; 16 Unclean; 17 Shadow; 19 Moron; 21 Easel.

CRYPTICAcross: 1 Taking place; 9 Plaster; 10 Tenor; 11 Canon; 12 Ear-ring; 13 Lapped; 15 Bottle; 18 Trouble; 20 Pipes; 22 Ruing; 23 Gordian; 24 Venturesome.Down: 2 Again; 3 Intense; 4 Garnet; 5 Later; 6 Convict; 7 Speculators; 8 Progressing; 14 Profile; 16 Of Paris; 17 Merger; 19 Bigot; 21 Priam.


COMMUNITY BOLLYWOOD

Sarkar returns

March will see the return of Ram Gopal Varma with a movie that will hopefully not be the usual half-baked fare that he has been dealing the audience over the last few years. Sarkar 3, the third in the series of Varma’s Indianised Godfather, will hit the screen with Amitabh Bachchan in it.

The actor who will not be seen in it is Abhishek Bachchan since his character had been killed off in Sarkar 2. That could be either a good thing or a bad thing depending

on how you look at it. Good, because given Varma’s recent destructive self-indulgence, there is no saying how Sarkar 3 might be, and if past performance is any indication it could be a big dud. Bad, because Abhishek doesn’t have too many options now anyway. He is under threat of being zoned into character artiste territory, a far cry from when movies with him as the solo lead used to be made.

The movie that he is said to be doing is one that he is co-producing. But putting money on oneself is somewhat risky when the market is not so enamoured by you.

SRK, Salman to share screen for the first time since 2002

From enemies who couldn’t stand each other, and indeed who used to create schedules such that they wouldn’t run into each other, how the relationship between Salman

Khan and Shah Rukh Khan has changed. Over the last few years, ever since they

made that famous peace at a party thrown by a politician, the two seem to be increasingly friendly. And the latest on that front is that Shah Rukh is going to appear in a Salman movie. Sure, it is only going to be a cameo but that the two should share a screen is in itself quite a leap.

The last time Shah Rukh and Salman appeared in the same movie was in 2002 in Hum Tumhare Hain Sanam, a movie which sank without a trace despite their presence. But that wasn’t really the reason for the rift. When people get the kind of fame that the Khans have got, they are bound to have egos the size of dinosaurs and so they brook no slights.

Twice, Shah Rukh and Salman fell out – fi rst time over the latter disrupting a shoot of the former because Aishwarya Rai was there. The second time at a party when Salman jibed about Shah Rukh’s fl op television show and

in reply Shah Rukh is said to have made an allusion to Aishwarya, almost leading to a physical fi ght.

But that is in the past. Now Shah Rukh will be seen in Tubelight, Salman’s next movie. It is not just a rumour, because the movie’s director Kabir Khan has confi rmed it. Though he has not spelt out what role Shah Rukh will be doing, there are rumours that he might be playing a magician. Salman incidentally is supposed to be playing a person with mental disability in it.

While the two superstars show their closeness by appearing in Tubelight, Kabir himself is said to be drifting away from Salman. For many years now he has been Salman’s favourite director; but the two have had creative diff erences during the shooting of Tubelight. Salman is a diffi cult person to work with and it is no surprise that such a fallout should happen. That is also perhaps a reason why the sequel of Ek Tha Tiger, which was directed by Kabir and went on to be a big hit, is being made by Ali Abbas Zafar, who had directed Salman in Sultan. Kabir, on the other hand, is making his next movie with Hrithik Roshan.

CAMEO: Tubelight director Kabir Khan has confirmed that Shahrukh Khan will be appearing in the film.

HOPES: All three actors in Rangoon need the film to be successful to help their careers.

No going west

Kangana Ranaut will be seen in Rangoon towards the end of this month. The Vishal Bharadwaj movie might not become a huge hit going by how his movies fare, but what it will get is critical acclaim and for the actors in it who are not doing that well, new leases of life.

There is Saif Ali Khan and Shahid Kapoor, both of whom could do with some help in their careers. Even Kangana Ranaut, after the 2015 superhit Tanu Weds Manu Returns, has done nothing to make any waves and while she might have been the new age pioneer of heroine-oriented movies, these trends can

dissipate unless reinforced with commercial success.

Rangoon might just be the booster for her too. Recently, she commented on working in Hollywood as Priyanka Chopra and Deepika Padukone have successfully done and didn’t come across as too enamoured by the idea. It could be because she has not gotten the kind of opportunity that the two have got but Kangana’s argument in the interview that she gave to a tabloid was that the business of movies is crashing there because of the digital wave and so, ergo, it is a spent place while Bollywood is a sunrise industry!

Hit combo

Varun Dhawan and Alia Bhatt will soon be seen in their third movie together. They started off their careers with Student of the Year, which was a huge hit, in 2012. Then it was followed by Humpty Sharma Ki Dulhania, another big one two years later. And now there will be its sequel, Badrinath Ki Dulhania.

Both their careers are going well. Alia seems to be at her peak. She was last year seen in Udta Punjab, where

she played a rural Bihari migrant and, as usual, the critics couldn’t stop raving about how great she was. After that there was Dear Zindagi, which also got the same reception. Varun’s career is somewhat tepid at present. His last movie, Dishoom, along with John Abraham wasn’t a hit but recovered its costs, so he has not had a fl op yet.

Before that there was Dilwale with Shah Rukh Khan, another average performer in relation to what it was expected to do. One of things that

is being talked about Varun is how sculpted his physique is looking. It is no doubt the time he puts into the gym daily. He made news some time back when the day after an eye surgery he was working out and put his photo on Instagram. What is responsible for the success of Varun and Alia, even though they are star children, is the commitment and hard work they put in.

Send your feedback [email protected]

HIT: Humpty Sharma Ki Dulhania will be getting the sequel treatment.

SEQUEL: Ram Gopal Varma will try to make a comeback with his Sarkar 3 in March.

Monday, February 13, 2017 15GULF TIMES

COMMUNITYHOLLYWOOD

By Mikael Wood

You know America’s in a troubling spot when even Katy Perry is singing about the illusion of freedom.

That’s the subject of Chained to the Rhythm, the once-carefree pop star’s new single, which appeared online Thursday night amid a series of Perry tweets and retweets about revolution,

George Orwell’s 1984 and the need to “question everything.”

Are we crazy?/Living our lives through a lens, she sings, Trapped in our white picket fence/ Like ornaments.” The song goes on to point out how comfortable we are “living in a bubble” where we “dance to the distortion.”

Then Perry — whose Twitter bio now reads Artist. Activist. Conscious. — really drops the hammer: Turns out that distortion is leading each of us to stumble around “like a wasted zombie.”

Is this the first major pop song about fake news?

The initial sampling from Perry’s upcoming studio album (her follow-up to Prism from 2013), Chained to the Rhythm was co-produced by the singer’s old pal Max Martin and features a guest appearance by Skip Marley (a.k.a. Bob’s grandson), who announces in his verse that “time is ticking for the empire.”

Perry was to perform the song at the Grammy Awards. — Los Angeles Times/TNS

By Rick Bentley

Without social media, the Kardashians would be just another family

with a name that most people couldn’t spell or pronounce. But the members of TV’s reality show royalty have used all avenues of staying linked to fans to promote their every move to reach the heights of celebrity.

Is this a good thing? Or does so much exposure lead to a celebrity losing too much privacy or, worse, becoming vulnerable to stalking?

Celebrities have diff erent ideas

when it comes to whether social media is vital or dangerous.

Pretty Little LiarsIn the case of the Freeform series

Pretty Little Liars, social media is a major part of the show’s success. It was the most popular show on social media in 2016 with more than 256 million interactions. That’s up 25 percent from a year ago. The August 27, 2013, episode, Now You See Me, Now You Don’t, set a record at that time with 1.9 million tweets.

Series creator I. Marlene King calls the social media attention a “perfect storm” that started with Sara Shepard, the writer of the Pretty Little Liars book series, who was active on social media. The cast and crew joined in on the social media

connection from the fi rst day but not as a way to promote the show. They were just having fun.

Either way, it worked. A full 24 hours before the fi rst episode of Pretty Little Liars aired, it was a trending topic on Twitter around the world. That was a sign that there was an appetite for this kind of connection and all parties involved have been feeding it ever since.

Lucy Hale, who plays Aria Montgomery, suggests that the timing was perfect as Pretty Little Liars launched at the same time social media was becoming big. Social media gave fans of the show around the world a way to share their thoughts, ideas and theories.

Pretty Little Liars executive producer Oliver Goldstick describes

it as a “sense of community” — one that’s heard by series writers who take note how much a character is liked or disliked as they prepare episodes.

Famke JanssenNot everyone is convinced that

this kind of connection with fans is right. Famke Janssen, star of the upcoming NBC series The Blacklist: Redemption, doesn’t use any kind of social media.

“I don’t have much fan interaction other than that I live in New York, and people are very outspoken about everything,” Janssen says. “So generally if they don’t like something, I know from the policemen around me and the fi remen and everybody who I’m among, and the deli guy. I

will fi nd out if they’re happy with it or not.”

Janssen says, “I can’t understand constantly turning the camera on oneself and having to express an opinion about the coff ee you drank this morning or your opinions about the president. We all are just bombarded by all this information and I don’t know what to do with it other than to hide from it.”

This Is Us and moreOthers have a diff erent view and

embrace social media as a way of getting immediate feedback. Dan Fogelman, the man behind NBC’s This Is Us, loves to watch the reaction on social media after a big reveal on his show.

Some actors use social media to promote their show while also using it to voice opinions.

Scandal star Joshua Malina says, “One of the great joys of being criminally underrated as an actor is that I feel that I’ve asserted (myself) below the radar. I can give (comments) online because I try to keep things always positive about Scandal because I feel tremendously positive about Scandal. Otherwise, I just talk about whatever interests me.” The series that could take over the top spot in social media when Pretty Little Liars ends after this season is Shadowhunters, also on Freeform. It was the top new series for interaction with viewers.

Katherine McNamara, who plays Clary Fray on Shadowhunters, says she uses social media to share information about the show with fans and to get feedback from them.

“We love making the show and pouring ourselves into it,” McNamara says. “But, to see how much people love the show, I love that.”

McNamara says she likes being active on social media but also realises that there are lines she should not cross when revealing information about herself. What she’s found is there is no defi nitive point where the social media goes from inclusive to intrusive.

“It’s what feels right for you,” McNamara says. “You can’t live your life for the post. You can’t plan your life around the post. If something happens, great. But if not, don’t worry about it. It can’t be what controls your life.” —The Fresno Bee (Fresno, Calif.)

STRONG PITCH: Katy Perry.

Katy Perry gets political with Chained to the Rhythm

WHY FUSS? “I can’t understand constantly turning the camera on oneself,” bristles Famke Janssen of The Blacklist: Redemption fame.

Stars on social media: A good thing or invasion of privacy?


COMMUNITY

ICBF off ice in Indian embassy opens

By Anand Holla

In a boost to the Indian expat community in Qatar, a dedicated offi ce for the Indian Community Benevolent Forum (ICBF) routine operations, within the premises of Indian embassy

in Qatar, was inaugurated by Indian ambassador P Kumaran last week.

The inauguration was held in presence of the Deputy Chief of Mission and ICBF Coordinating Offi cer, RK Singh, other embassy offi cials, presidents of other two apex bodies ICC and ISC, past presidents of ICBF and senior members of the Indian diaspora in Qatar.

This gesture from the embassy is in refl ection of the quantum and volume of selfl ess regular assistances being provided by the ICBF to the underprivileged members of the Indian expatriate community, ICBF says. A dedicated offi ce will be helpful to ICBF to attend to more cases in a more effi cient manner, accommodating better offi ce equipment, fi ling, storage and waiting facilities.

The offi ce hours for ICBF will continue to be from 6pm to 8pm. ICBF services include providing free medical camps and arranging free medical cards to deserving cases; providing air tickets for deportation cases; and transportation of mortal remains of deceased and accompanying the same; providing minor assistances and ration to stranded/deserving workers; and one-time assistances for treatment of life-threatening diseases at local hospitals.

On the occasion of the new offi ce opening, the legal advisor to the embassy, Nisar Kochery also committed to sessions in the ICBF offi ce where feasible legal assistances will be provided to deserving cases referred by the embassy. People can register at ICBF help desk for appointment for legal consultation.

General Secretary, ICBF, Mahesh Gowda, told Community, “Our ICBF management

committee is overwhelmed by the support of the Indian embassy for new offi ce and our initiatives. This gives us more strength in serving the needy in the community.”

Indian ambassador P Kumaran, said, “Having dedicated offi ce to ICBF will give closer access to the embassy and a faster response to the needy.”

The last major event of ICBF, after the Children Orientation Workshop and Medical Camp, had been the recent membership campaign on February 1 at ICC where at least 100 more Indian expats volunteered to become lifetime members of ICBF. Nilangshu Dey, a past president of ICBF, had shared his experience of being a part of ICBF and explained how each and every attendee could assist his fellow Indians by helping in improving the ICBF membership. He also encouraged to extend the ICBF membership to school children

emphasising the importance of the spirit of benevolence in young minds. ICC President Milan Arun had assured complete support of ICC towards ICBF membership and activities.

However, the list of activities lined up by ICBF bearing the ultimate aim of philanthropy and service to the needy include the oncoming free medical camp on March 3, especially for the labourers with considerably low income and fi shermen from various ends of Qatar who need medical assistance. The camp is open to all nationalities.

The medical camp will be followed by the ICBF Day 2017 on March 11, which is a prestigious event where the golden hearts and hands who have been relentlessly supporting ICBF and fellow countrymen on humanitarian and social grounds will be recognised. The rest of the events will be intimated to all concerned via applicable and

appropriate means as they near, says ICBF.ICBF, in association with the Ministry of

Public Health, Qatar, and Atlas Polyclinic conducted their 28th Free Medical Camp for workers all through morning and noon of the last Friday of last year, in the Industrial Area. The camp provided free medical assistance to over 900 workers/labourers from various labour camps and companies in Doha and Industrial Area of at least six diff erent nationalities. ICBF has been diligently conducting medical camps for the past several years.

ICBF, since 1984, is an organisation under the aegis of Embassy of India, Qatar, that voluntarily undertakes the task of providing succour and solace to the needy and under-privileged members of the Indian expat community in Qatar and also their families in India. ICBF provides assistance to those who are stranded or are in distress.

Some of the guests who attended the opening of the ICBF off ice.

Indian ambassador P Kumaran cutting the ribbon.

“i know they are going to die”

Documents