Open season - Gulf Times

DOHA 30°C—41°C TODAY PUZZLES 12 & 13D LIFESTYLE/HOROSCOPE 11L P

Monday, May 8, 2017Sha’baan 12, 1438 AH

CommunityAmbassador of the Philippines to Qatar Alan

L Timbayan visits Katara with an aim to enhance cultural ties between the two countries.

P8 P16 CommunityIndonesian Golf Association

organises a tournament to bid farewell to Malaysian ambassador Ahmad Jazri bin Mohd Johar.

Open season

As 20th anniversary of her

death looms, TV can’t get

enough of Princess Diana

the hunted. P4-5

COVERSTORY

Community EditorKamran Rehmat

e-mail: [email protected]: 44466405

Fax: 44350474

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

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

USEFUL NUMBERS

Quote Unquote

Monday, May 8, 20172 GULF TIMES

COMMUNITY ROUND & ABOUT

Revenger (The Assignment) DIRECTION: Walter HillWRITTEN BY: Walter Hill, Denis

HamillCAST: Michelle Rodriguez,

Sigourney Weaver, Tony ShalhoubSYNOPSIS: After waking

up and discovering that he has undergone gender reassignment surgery, an assassin seeks to fi nd the doctor responsible. Dr Rachel Kay (Sigourney Weaver) is a rogue doctor with a weird vision of a better world after losing her brother to a contract killer Frank Kitchen (Michelle Rodriguez). In an experiment to assess how much physical identity matters, Kay performs a sex-change operation on Kitchen to have him start over.

When Kitchen fi nds out the operation cannot be reversed, he kills almost everyone involved in the sex change and cuts the fi ngers off Dr. Kay, so she will not practice again.

THEATRES: Landmark, The Mall, Royal Plaza

Bashtery Ragel DIRECTION: Mohamed Aly, Omar GabrWRITTEN BY: Enas LotfyCAST: Nelly Kerim, Mohamed Mamdouh, Lotfy Labib SYNOPSIS: Shams Nour El Din is an Egyptian bank

employee who dreams of becoming a mother and having her own baby, but the problem is that she refuses the idea of marriage. Shams fi nds a solution to her dilemma when she meets a veterinarian called Bahgat Abou El Saad.

THEATRES: Landmark, The Mall, Royal Plaza

The Mall Cinema (1): Guardian Of The Galaxy Vol 2 (2D) 2:15pm; Bahubali 2: The Conclusion (Malayalam) 5pm; Bahubali 2: The Conclusion (Hindi) 8pm; Bahubali 2: The Conclusion (Tamil) 11pm.The Mall Cinema (2): The Boss Baby (2D) 2pm; The Boss Baby (2D) 3:45pm; Vincent N Roxxy (2D) 5:30pm; The Boss Baby (2D) 7:15pm; The Fate Of The Furious 8 (2D) 8:45pm; Bahubali 2: The Conclusion (Hindi) 11pm.The Mall Cinema (3): The Fate Of The Furiouos 8 (2D) 2:30pm; The Fate Of The Furiouos 8 (2D) (2D) 4:45pm; Revenger (2D) 7:15pm; Bank El Hazz (Arabic) 9pm; Guardian Of The Galaxy Vol 2 (2D) 11:15pm.Landmark Cinema (1): Bahubali 2: The Conclusion (Hindi) 2:15pm;

The Fate Of The Furious (2D) 5:15pm; Bahubali 2: The Conclusion (Malayalam) 7:30pm; Bahubali 2: The Conclusion (Hindi) 10:30pm.Landmark Cinema (2): The Boss Baby (2D) 2:15pm; The Boss Baby (2D) 4pm; Guardian Of The Galaxy Vol 2 (2D) 6pm; Bahubali 2: The Conclusion (Tamil) 8:30pm; Vincent N Roxxy (2D) 11:30pm.Landmark Cinema (3): Guardian Of The Galaxy Vol 2 (2D) 2:15pm; The Boss Baby (2D) 4:45pm; Revenger (2D) 6:45pm; Bank El Hazz (Arabic) 8:30pm; Saira Banu (Malayalam) 11pm.Royal Plaza Cinema Palace (1): Bahubali 2: The Conclusion (Tamil) 2pm; The Fate Of The Furious (2D)

5pm; Bahubali 2: The Conclusion (Malayalam) 7:30pm; Bahubali 2: The Conclusion (Tamil) 10:30pm.Royal Plaza Cinema Palace (2): Bahubali 2: The Conclusion (Hindi) 2pm; Guardian Of The Galaxy Vol 2 (2D) 5pm; The Boss Baby (2D) 7pm; Vincent N Roxxy (2D) 9:15pm; Guardian Of The Galaxy Vol 2 (2D) 11pm.Royal Plaza Cinema Palace (3): The Boss Baby (2D) 2:15pm; The Boss Baby (2D) 4pm; Bank El Hazz (Arabic) 5:45pm; Revenger (2D) 8pm; Bahubali 2: The Conclusion (Hindi) 10:30pm.Asian Town Cinema: Bahubali 2: The Conclusion (Malayalam) 5, 8 & 11pm; Saira Banu (Malayalam) 9:30pm; Bahubali 2: The Conclusion (Tamil) 7 & 10pm; Bahubali 2: The Conclusion (Hindi) 6:30pm.

PRAYER TIMEFajr 3.30amShorooq (sunrise) 4.53amZuhr (noon) 11.30amAsr (afternoon) 2.58pmMaghreb (sunset) 6.10pmIsha (night) 7.40pm

The biggest ingredient in a best friend

is someone whose actions you respect and who you can truly be

yourself around. – Renee Olstead

3Monday, May 8, 2017 GULF TIMES

COMMUNITYROUND & ABOUT

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

EVENTS

Beauty of Islamic CalligraphyWHERE: QM Gallery Al RiwaqWHEN: May 15 – June 17 A new exhibition – Contemporary

Calligraphy – Mehmet Cebi Collection will open at the QM Gallery Al Riwaq this month, and will bring together a notable selection of intricate and beautiful calligraphic artworks dating from the 1960s to the present day.

Project Qatar 2017WHERE: Doha Exhibition and

Convention Center (DECC)WHEN: Until May 11Project Qatar 2017, the 14th International

Construction Technology & Building Materials Exhibition, will be taking place at the Doha Exhibition and Convention Center (DECC), until Thursday. The event attracts key buyers and industry leaders looking for the most up-to-date technology and state-of-the-art equipment available on the market.

Exam Coaching and Mentoring Session

WHERE: Academica Mentoring GharafaWHEN: May 13TIME: 7pm-10pmTime for exams for most students.

However, why do most students fail to achieve the grades that they deserve? How can you overcome stress, anxiety and what is the best method of note taking, revision and passing your exams. How our predictability method would allow you to ascertain what marks you should receive at the end of the exam. How to get the best out of your time (Time Management) is a skill, which can easily be learnt. How to boost confidence during exam time and the, know how, has a huge effect on how you perform in the exams. How colour-coded method is also very simple yet hugely effective. So, book now, for this Free student Masterclass on how to complete exam.

Khulood Algosaibi Art ExhibitionWHERE: KataraWHEN: Until May 15TIME: 10am-10pmCultural Village Foundation – Katara

presents Khulood Algosaibi Art Exhibition. Be a part of this exhibition and experience unique art work, while you explore your imagination.

Singing contest for Sri LankansA large number of expatriate Sri Lankans

have registered for season 2 of the popular singing contest Qatar Gee Tharu Dahana. The auditions will continue on May 19 and 26. The programme is being organised by Sri Lanka Co-ordinating Committee Qatar, Sri Lanka Community Benevolent Fund Qatar and Sri Lanka Business Council Qatar. Registration of candidates closed during the Sinhala and Tamil New Year celebration which was held on April 7. Community members who had registered themselves for the contest lauded the organising committee for giving them the opportunity to showcase their talent in the fi eld of music and showed much enthusiasm when informed of the auditions.

A panel of experienced judges will be at hand during the auditions to select the final 10 contestants who will perform on stage at the grand finale to be held in November.

Our culture is a schoolWHERE: Katara BeachWHEN: Until May 30TIME: 9am-12pm By participating in the programme of

‘Our culture is a school’, Katara Beach emphasises the Qatari marine tradition

and introduces to students the meaning of Dasha, Al Qafal and various type of pearls. The students will as well discover all details of the Fath El Kheir journey, in addition to many contests and prices presented during this participation.

Karting at Losail Circuit Sports ClubWHEN: Until June 16WHERE: Losail International Circuit,

DohaTIME: 5pm onwardsThe Karting track at Losail International

Circuit is open for public. Also it can be opened for private companies (upon request and availability). The registrations will be done directly at the venue, at the VIP Car Park of the Losail International Circuit. The minimum age is 15 years old and any participant under the age of 18 needs permission signed by a legal guardian for the karting activity.

Art 29 Emergeast’s ‘Currents’ Exhibition

WHEN: Until May 20WHERE: W Doha Hotel & Residences,

QatarTIME: 9am – 7pm Who run the world? Girls! Check out

the all-female artist exhibition, ‘Currents’ by Emergeast, which makes its debut in Doha for the very first time. The collection will highlight the flow of a cross-cultural dialogue with concrete parallels.

Childhood Cultural CenterWHEN: May 31WHERE: Childhood Cultural Center TIME: 9am–11am Childhood Cultural Center participation

in ‘Schools enrich our Culture’ programme includes a variety of educational and artistic workshops. In addition to personal development skills with a focus on “problem solving skills”, “rectifying inappropriate discipline”, “planning principles” and “voluntary work”, it targets all school academic levels within an interactive entertaining framework.

Whose Line is it Anyway? Live in Qatar

WHEN: May 13WHERE: Grand Hyatt DohaPopular improve comedy show Whose

Line is it Anyway? hits the live stage in Qatar. Andy Smart, Ian Coppinger, Stephen Frost and Steve Steen are set to crack open a can of laughter as they interact with the crowd and improvise their way through the night. The show garnered popularity worldwide and had a largely successful version of the show in the United States. Tickets for the show are priced at just QR150 and are available for purchase online.

Community Education ProgrammeWHEN: Until May 25WHERE: VCUQatarTIME: 8am-5pmLearn new skills and deepen your

understanding of arts and culture at VCUQatar. Choose from a wide selection of art, design and craft courses you can take from VCUQatar in Education City or from IAID (Academy for Dance, Music & Arts). Visit VCUQatar for registration, Sunday to Thursday, 9am – 12pm and 1pm to 3.45pm. You may also register online. Seats can only be reserved with full payment. Community classes are also offered at from Georgetown University, Education City.

Qatar Running Series WHEN: May 12WHERE: Oxygen ParkTIME: 7am

The events will take place in Oxygen Park, Education City and comprises distances ranging from 3K to Full Marathon. All events will be run on accurately measured short courses with multiple laps and will be restricted to a maximum of 120 participants.

Short Documentary LabWHEN: Until May 24TIME: 2–7pmMaking a documentary is much more

than simply filming what surrounds us. It can be a way of understanding the world, a tool to make it a better place, an art form where you can find your own voice. This intensive lab is designed to introduce young people to the world of documentary filmmaking. Through watching and discussing, they discover the possibilities of the genre.

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

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

Festive timeWHEN: OngoingWHERE: Doha Festival CityThe entertainment offering has been

designed to ensure there are numerous opportunities for physical activities, from the running track which features exercise stations, the bike trail, through to our

‘first-of-its-kind’ in Qatar, Snow Dunes theme park. DFC is excited to welcome first visitors in April and to celebrate the best leisure facilities, retail mix and dining options, all with exceptional service.

Aqua Park 2017 season WHEN: Until AugustWHERE: Aqua ParkThe Aqua Park 2017 season is finally

here and is happening with a big bang and splash.

Imperial Threads: Motifs and Artisans

WHERE: Museum of Islamic ArtWHEN: Until November 4This exhibition focuses on the exchange

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

FOODIE CHOICE

Al LiwanLOCATION: Sharq Village & SpaThe only Qatari brunch in Doha –

discover an authentic buffet with a selection of mouth-watering local dishes that will provide a truly unique experience to all. Every Friday from 12:30pm to 4pm at Al Liwan Restaurant. For more details, call 44256666.


COMMUNITY COVER STORY

Once upon a time, there was a

‘people’s princess’The Last 100 Days won’t be television’s last word on the late princess. In fact,

there are five more specials coming out this fall and the next year. By Ellen Gray

THAT FAMOUS QUOTE! The massive public adulation remains central to the legacy of the late princess.


COMMUNITYCOVER STORY

It’s open season again on Princess Diana.

With the 20th anniversary of her fatal car crash approaching on August 31,

the woman whose marriage to a not-so-charming prince led to celebrity that neither divorce nor death could diminish is back in television’s crosshairs.

And just as in the days when paparazzi dogged her every step, Diana remained both highly visible and stubbornly elusive in ABC News’ two-hour special Sunday, The Last 100 Days of Diana. It’s hosted by British journalist (and former Nightline anchor and MSNBC host) Martin Bashir, whose 1995 interview with the princess about her broken marriage apparently persuaded the queen that the warring couple, already separated, should divorce.

Bashir, who’s never sounded more unctuous as he talks about the “wounded princess,” is focused on a period that might well have proved a blip had Diana, who was 36 when she died, lived to see her sons grow up and her grandchildren replace her on the cover of People.

Was she, in her fi nal summer, caught between what the British monarchy might have seen as two wildly inappropriate lovers, canoodling with one, as seen in grainy, long-lens photos, in an attempt to make the other jealous? Or was Diana, who also spent some of that time working for her charities, simply having a little fun as she tried to distract the British tabloids from the story of her ex, Prince Charles, throwing a birthday party for his longtime mistress (and future wife) Camilla Parker Bowles?

And how is any of this the business of a country that fought a war for the right not to care about these people? (Asks the woman who was as charmed as anyone by the latest picture of Diana’s 2-year-old granddaughter, Princess Charlotte, snapped not by paparazzi but by her mother, the also much-photographed Duchess of Cambridge.)

Following close on the heels of Friday’s two-hour NBC News special The Life and Death of Princess Diana: A Dateline Investigation, and HBO’s announcement of a documentary later this year to be built around interviews with Diana’s sons, Princes William and Harry, The Last 100 Days won’t be television’s last word on the late princess. Or even ABC’s.

The Story of Diana, a two-night documentary mini-series from ABC’s entertainment division, is scheduled to air August 9-10. On May 22, CBS News weighs in with Princess Diana: Her Life — Her Death – The Truth, a special produced by the 48 Hours team that will be hosted by CBS This Morning’s Gayle King.

There almost certainly will be others before FX’s Feud: Charles and Diana arrives in 2018.

The Last 100 Days, though, is as good a place as any to start, as it demonstrates just how malleable the princess’ story was, and continues to be. (For those who might not remember her years as a character in the long-running soap opera of the supermarket

checkout line, think about the way Jennifer Aniston appears to have achieved a separate existence as a kind of avatar who’s always getting divorced, or reconciled, or pregnant, depending on that week’s story line. Then multiply those stories by 10. Or 100.)

Like the blind men examining the elephant in the Indian fable, those who claim to know who Diana was, whom she loved, and what she wanted don’t all agree.

If you ask the princess’ butler, Paul Burrell, Hasnat Khan, a British Pakistani heart and lung surgeon, “was the love of her life.” Others believe she had fallen for playboy Dodi al-Fayed, who also was killed in the Paris car crash on the night he may or may not have been proposing.

No-one has the temerity to suggest that neither of these positions truly matters anymore, two of the principals being dead and the third a private citizen who’s represented here by a statement read at an inquest and by some of the least fl attering photos ever taken. (For those who can’t get enough, Khan’s role in Diana’s life was covered, also without his participation, by Naomi Watts and Lost’s Naveen Andrews in the 2013 movie Diana, described by then-Inquirer movie critic Steven Rea as “a TV movie all the way, in the pre-HBO, network schlock sense of the term.”)

People who believe Diana was literally hounded to her death by photographers — investigators ultimately blamed the late driver,

Henri Paul, who had been drinking — shouldn’t look for remorse from the likes of former Sunday Mirror picture editor Paul Bennett, who blames Diana for the attention she attracted.

“If you open the door and let them in, you can’t turn around and say, ‘Not today, thank you,’” Bennett says. (I believe this rule also applies to vampires.)

Bennett’s theory about the grainy shots of Diana and Dodi in what looked to be some kind of embrace?

“I think that she wanted to rock the establishment and she wanted to rock Prince Charles. … When I saw the pictures, I was astonished. She was the mother of the future king of England and there she was, kissing a foreign national,” he says, adding, “We

ended up paying 300,000 pounds for them.”

Royal-watching is an odd sport, even by English standards, and few royal-watchers appear as odd as Diana biographer Lady Colin Campbell, whose own title — courtesy of a long-ago marriage much shorter-lived than Diana’s — appears to be her calling card.

“Dodi was an adorer, and Diana liked being adored,” she declares at one point. Well, OK. I mean, who doesn’t?

Possibly my favourite interview in The Last 100 Days, though, is with former royal press secretary Dickie Arbiter, who insists there was a time when Charles, too, adored Diana.

“There was a lot of good body language between them,” Arbiter says.

Which may not be far off .The Last 100 Days reports on

a date arranged on Day 87 with one Gulu Lalvani, an electronics mogul who took Diana out for dinner and dancing. In an interview with Lalvani, now 78 and living in Thailand, he admits he didn’t know what Diana might have seen in him. “Somehow, we clicked.”

“Gulu Lalvani is not shy about saying he and the princess had chemistry. How far that attraction went depends on who you ask,” intones Bashir, after which fashion designer Roberto Devorik weighs in with the opinion that “she never went to bed with Mr. Lalvani.”

And there, I think, is where my skin began to crawl.

Because if this kind of investigative gossip is what it takes to bring us a fresh look at Diana, we may all be better off letting her be just a photogenic memory. —Philadelphia Daily News/TNS

ONE TRUE LOVE? Princess Diana's was said to be smitten by Pakistani heart surgeon Hasnat Khan and the aff air remains a highlight of her broken life.

DIANA, AGAIN: Martin Bashir on ABC News' The Last 100 Days of Diana. It retraces the events of Princess Diana's first and last tumultuous summer as a single woman, divorced from Prince Charles, caught between romantic aff airs until the moment of her tragic and untimely death in a car accident in Paris.


COMMUNITY

Marriott Marquis City Center Doha Hotel bags awards for excellenceReaching new heights in hospitality excellence, the iconic Marriott Marquis City Center Doha Hotel was recognised by Marriott International with five discipline awards for outstanding leadership and team performance in 2016 including a Spa Leader of the Year, Director of Events of the Year, Chef of the Year and Marketing Team of the year for the Middle East and Africa Region. The most prestigious award was received by Andreas Wissdorf who was recognised as the ‘General Manager of the Year’ for the Middle East and Africa region in 2016 during the Middle East & Africa General

Manager’s Conference in Dubai in April 2017. Marriott Middle East & Africa Senior Leadership Team (from right to left): Neal Jones – Chief Sales & Marketing Off icer; Philip Bryson – Senior Vice President Middle East and North Africa; Mark Satterfield – Chief Operating Off icer, Africa; Alex Kyriakidis – President Marriott Middle East & Africa; Andreas Wissdorf – General Manager at the Marriott Marquis City Center Doha Hotel; Arne Sorenson – President & CEO Marriott International; Guido De Wilde – Chief Operating Off icer, Middle East.

QF Art Trail welcomes ambassadors’ spouses

The visitors watch one of the artworks on display at QF headquarters.

Qatar Foundation (QF) recently received a group of ambassadors’ spouses for a guided tour of artworks located in QF

headquarters.The tour was part of QF’s

popular ‘Art Trail’ initiative that off ers an insight into pieces of art around QF’s fl agship development, Education City. During the visit, the spouses of ambassadors, representing countries including South Korea, Afghanistan, Pakistan, India, Peru, Switzerland, Sweden, and Germany, were given the opportunity to learn about the local, regional, and international artworks inside QF headquarters.

The ‘Art Trail’ tours are held once a month, on Saturdays, at diff erent locations across Education City. Previous tours have included Georgetown University in Qatar (GU-Q) and the Qatar National Convention Centre (QNCC).

Those interested in registering for the upcoming ‘Art Trail’ tours, to be held in Sidra Medical and Research Center and Carnegie Mellon University in Qatar should contact [email protected] Once signed up, individuals will receive a confi rmation e-mail with details of the tour.


COMMUNITY

LuLu, Music Lounge join hands to set the ‘Kids’ fashion trends in Qatar

The fashion event was also accompanied with musical entertainment from the Music Lounge junior band rocking the show.

The customers at LuLu Department Store in Barwa City had the pleasure of a great surprise waiting for them recently where they were

unexpectedly treated to LuLu Fashion Walk for Kids – 2017.

The customers were delighted to be witnesses of the fashion show and live music entertainment from the very talented students of Music Lounge Center for Training in Wakrah.

The ‘LuLu Fashion Walk for Kids – 2017’ was a fashion show that showcased the latest in trendy wear for kids. It was an extraordinary show that displayed trends in the ethnic collection (Indian and Arabic), sports collection, formalwear collection, party wear and summer wear collections.

Accessories such as shoes, bags, hats, scarves and sun glasses were also the centre of attraction at the show. The management of LuLu department store noted a spike in higher sales of the designs that were on display. “Seeing the designs on the ramp really brought it to life,” mentioned a customer.

“The brands on display are exclusively sold in all LuLu department stores. The premium brands include ETEN for kids, De Bakers for

Kids, John Louis, CORTIGIANI & Marco Donateli for kids,” said the General Manager of LuLu Barwa City, Mohammed Farook.

But what really brought in the ‘oos’ and ‘aahhs’ from the audience that eventually lead to a standing ovation for the students, was the real talent on stage. The students were aged between four and 14. The raw energy that flowed from the youth captivated the audience.

The little treasures carrying themselves with great confidence, self-esteem and poise really made their parents and friends very proud.

The radiance on their faces that came from excitement of entertaining the audience and captivating their hearts really made the event a true success.

The parents got to see their children take the ramp with great charisma. “We never expected to see our child develop so much from just a few days training at Music Lounge,” mentioned one parent. “The staff and faculty at Music Lounge trained and directed the event.”

The event was also accompanied with great musical entertainment from the Music Lounge (ML) junior band rocking the show. A band comprising talented teenage students who looks set to take on

bigger audiences with their high energy and great performances. With great music, fashion and entertainment, the event was a real success with the students, parents, customers and management of

LuLu Hypermarket and department store of Barwa City very excited and looking forward to more community events that would truly make the place – ‘Where the world comes to shop’.


COMMUNITY

Filipino envoy visits Katara

General Manager of the Cultural Village Foundation-Katara, Dr Khalid bin Ibrahim al-Sulaiti, right, with ambassador of the Philippines to Qatar Alan L Timbayan.

The General Manager of the Cultural Village Foundation-Katara, Dr Khalid bin Ibrahim al-Sulaiti, met the ambassador of the Philippines to Qatar Alan L Timbayan yesterday. The meeting was held with

an aim to enhance cultural ties between the two countries, through the joint-co-operation of each country’s cultural entities.

The discussion also covered topics related to cultural activities during the holy month of Ramadan. The ambassador explained that the Philippines will be one of the countries showcasing their rich Islamic traditions in the upcoming Ramadan festival to be hosted by the Cultural Village.

Furthermore, plans are underway for a Filipino folkloric performance to be staged during the occasion of Eid al-Fitr at Katara’s premises. The ambassador pointed out that these events offer an opportunity for everyone to get acquainted with various cultures and civilisations especially during the period of Ramadan, when families and communities come together in fellowship.

The Filipino ambassador went onto praise the bilateral relations between Qatar and the Philippines, and expressed his utmost appreciation and gratitude to the Cultural Village Foundation-Katara, for its continuous efforts in presenting different cultures to the public through performances, exhibitions, seminars and discussions, held throughout the year.

The meeting was in line with the vision of the Cultural Village Foundation- Katara to reach out to and promote the cultures and traditions of other countries, by offering them a world-class venue to present their programmes to the residents of Qatar.

In the past few years, Katara has played host to numerous such festivals, programmes and performances that have drawn in crowds of visitors, providing the residents of Qatar with opportunities for cultural enrichment throughout the year.

ISL Qatar’s Head of School elected as ECIS Vice-ChairChristopher Charleson, Head of School of the International School of London Qatar, has been elected as the Vice-Chair of the ECIS Board of Trustees. In the role, Charleson will be part of the ECIS Board of Trustees Executive Committee and will help to establish the

strategic direction of this leading global education organisation. This appointment reflects the many contributions, support and involvement of the ISL Group (Qatar, London, Surrey) with ECIS over many years. Founded in 1965, ECIS (the Educational Collaborative for International Schools) is the leading collaborative education network of schools and educational organisations, promoting and supporting the ideals and best practices of international education. ISL Qatar has an outstanding reputation for high academic standards with the prestigious International Baccalaureate (IB). The school opened its doors in Qatar in 2008 and is authorised to off er the International Baccalaureate Primary Years, Middle Years and Diploma Programmes (encompassing ages 3 to 18 years) and is accredited by the Council of International Schools, British Schools of the Middle East and the New England Association of Schools and Colleges. The graduating IB Diploma Programme students have an impressive record of admissions to the world’s top universities.

DESS celebrates diversityDoha English Speaking School (DESS) dedicated a week to an international theme recently where the school community celebrated the many cultures and nationalities it represents in its pupils, staff and parent body. The week involved pupils, aged between three and 11, taking part in activities to learn about countries from all over the world. Children had a passport which they took to each activity as they ‘travelled’ to Italy, England, France,

Wales, Scotland, Qatar, UAE, America, New Zealand and a lot more. Last Thursday, children were treated to a visit from a camel and a falcon and sat in a Bedouin tent to learn about the importance of the falcon in Qatari culture and traditions. Parents contributed food from all corners of the globe for children and staff to enjoy and children dressed up in the costume of the country they had chosen to represent for the day.


COMMUNITY

McDonald’s announces series of major food enhancementsI

n a move to enable consumers to make better food choices, McDonald’s has announced the launch of signifi cant enhancements to its menu across the GCC. Introduced as part of its ‘Every

Day. A Better Day’ campaign, consumers can now enjoy better nutritional value with the same great taste for their favourite cravings including fries, McChicken, and Filet-O-Fish, amongst others.

Following the earlier milestone of reducing trans fats in McDonald’s fried food to 0.01%, the brand has now successfully completed the transition of its cooking oil to a sunfl ower and canola oil blend at all of its 500+ restaurants in the GCC, as well as across the entire supply chain. This lighter oil blend is better for consumers as it comes with an 80% reduction in saturated fat content.

As part of its commitment to continually improve the nutritional content of its meals, McDonald’s GCC has also successfully reduced the fat content in its Classic Mayonnaise. After extensive research and product testing, the new recipe now contains 50% less calories, yet does not compromise on the delicious taste that the customers love.

Making sustainability the new normal is one of McDonald’s top priorities – both globally and in the region. As part of its sustainable fi sh policy, the company in the GCC has also announced that all the fi sh it sources comes from well-managed fi sheries that only use sustainable fi shing practices.

Fadi Rezek, General Manager at AlMana Restaurants & Food Co – McDonald’s Qatar said: “At McDonald’s, the happiness and well-being of our customer is at the

core of what we do. As industry pioneers, we constantly strive to be better, so that every person who orders from one of our restaurants can feel good about the food choices they make. This is evident in the changes we announced today, which signify yet another step forwards in our

ongoing journey of food innovation and enhancement.”

In line with the company’s core values of Quality, Service, Cleanliness and Value, McDonald’s GCC has always strived to set a precedent in the food and beverage industry, whether it’s through the launch of its ‘Your

Right to Know’ platform in 2015 or by becoming the fi rst Quick Service Restaurant in the Middle East to provide nutrition labelling directly on its food packaging in 2013. With the announcement of these new enhancements, McDonald’s continues to lead the way with food innovation in the GCC.

Qatar Gee Tharu Dahana Season 2 beginsThe auditions for season 2 of Qatar Gee Tharu Dahana, the popular singing contest for the expatriate Sri Lankan community in Qatar, commenced on May 5 at TCA Qatar. A total of 100 community members have registered themselves for the competition. The programme is being organised by the embassy of Sri Lanka in collaboration with Sri Lanka Co-ordinating Committee Qatar, Sri Lanka Community Benevolent Fund Qatar and Sri Lanka Business Council Qatar. During the auditions held on Friday, 35 contestants faced the panel of judges

singing popular songs in their bid of being selected for round 2. They enthralled the audience with their scintillating performance on stage much to the applause of those present. The programme is being sponsored by New White Oceanic Restaurants, Al Bateel Securicor, Lankadeepa Middle East, Radio Ran Lanka and Sisara TV. The next round of auditions is scheduled for May 19 at the same venue with the next batch of participants showcasing their talent.

This lighter oil blend is better for consumers as it comes with an 80% reduction in saturated fat content.


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

It looks like your ship is about to come in, Aries. The planetary

configuration indicates that you can expect additional financial

resources, perhaps a raise. You deserve it! You’ve been working long

and hard these past several months. You’ve earned the respect of

authority figures and the admiration of peers. Be careful not to fritter

away the extra money. Put some aside for a rainy day.

Keep your eyes and ears open today, Cancer. You may receive some

important information on specific ways to increase your income.

This is just one of the many wonderful things bound to happen to

you. You’re looking great and people are responding to your warm,

pleasant manner. Bask in the glow of all the goodwill surrounding

you. It won’t last forever!

There are no half measures today, Libra. You feel every emotion to

the nth degree. This could make for an intense day. Make an eff ort to

calm down. Rather than inject your opinion into every conversation,

make it a point to step away from the group. The talk is animated

enough without you stirring things up further. Spend the evening

with loved ones. They will be more tolerant of your mood.

You’re looking gorgeous today, Capricorn, and have likely noticed

the admiring glances you’ve received. Your passion is running high,

and you may be able to spend this evening with a special someone.

Fulfil your romantic fantasies. Light candles, use your best china, and

dress with sensuality in mind. Your partner will appreciate the eff ort.

You’re bound to have a wonderful evening.

Take extra care with your appearance today, and clean the house

a bit this morning. You may have some visitors, Taurus. Invite

them in and make them comfortable. It’s likely that they can be of

great benefit in furthering your career. Perhaps one of them is well

connected in a company you’ve long wanted to work for. Or maybe

you will get an interesting stock tip. Stay alert!

You may be privy to some important knowledge, Leo. Perhaps an

article gives you the impetus you need to invest in a promising

stock. Perhaps you learn a famous person is coming to town to give

a lecture. If your heart starts to race the minute you hear the news,

this should be all the motivation you need to take the next steps.

Good things are bound to come your way if you do.

You’re likely feeling a desire to do something diff erent and a little

crazy. Today you may fulfil that desire by attending a group event,

perhaps a concert. Or you could indulge a childhood fantasy and

go to the circus. Whatever you do, take along the special someone

in your life. The fun you’re bound to have will be so much sweeter

when shared with a loved one.

This could be your lucky day, Aquarius, especially in matters of the

heart. You may feel particularly close to your special someone, as

well as others in your immediate circle of friends. This is due in part

to the planetary configuration. It shows your intuition and optimism

running high. Use this to your advantage, especially if you have to

sell something. Keep your expectations realistic.

You may feel wanderlust and crave something new and diff erent in

your life. You just can’t help but be a bit bored by the dullness of the

routine. If adventure is what you want, why not plan an exotic trip?

Even if you don’t have the money now, you can still start doing some

research. Just knowing that you’re going to go someday will help

raise your spirits, Gemini.

A visit to a local museum or art gallery may move you to tears, Virgo.

Suddenly, you’re aware of all the beauty around you and inspired

to create some original works of your own. You do have a strong

creative bent, so why not see how far your talent will take you? If

possible, spend the evening surrounded by loved ones.

You have many talents, Sagittarius. Today’s astral energy indicates

that your abilities will be rewarded. Congratulations! You’ve certainly

worked long and hard to achieve your goals. Why not make plans

to celebrate? Call some friends or your partner for an impromptu

get-together. You can meet at the local bistro and bask in the happy

energy of success. The first round of drinks is on you!

Try not to do everything all at once today, Pisces. Your social life

is heating up and you may be in a frenzy preparing for all the

gatherings you’ve been invited to. All this on top of your regular

workload could send you into a tailspin. Pace yourself. Get your work

done first before thinking about your social life. Remember, if you

were unemployed, you wouldn’t be able to go out at all!

It’s no secret that experiences in early and middle childhood are extremely important for a child’s healthy development and lifelong learning. Yet schools – the places where kids spend

the majority of their time outside of the home during the week – often lack the resources and support needed to enable and inspire students to adopt healthier lifestyles.

The solution is within reach; it rests in the hands of parents and other concerned community members who make investments (even small ones) in kids inside and outside of school to help build healthier communities and a healthier world.

Understand you’re not aloneLook to organisations with a footprint

in your community, and seek out ways to volunteer. Some volunteer network works to improve the health and wellness of students in schools nationwide and highlight the link between nutrition, physical activity and learning.

Reach out to your local parks and recreation department

Chances are, they’re looking for volunteers. You may be able to help out with something

on a recurring basis – a wellness or athletic programme of particular interest to you. Also, ask about other ways you can serve your community. They may have park cleanup programmes or other projects that can get your whole family moving and contributing.

Make it funTalk to the administration at your child’s

school about activities and competitions to help students take ownership of their own health. Action for kids for free activities to help improve physical activity and nutrition in school, but you can also encourage your school to apply for a grant to expand your local resources.

Don’t underestimate your own abilitiesDid you grow up learning gymnastics?

Speak to the parents of your kids’ friends about organising a gymnastics workshop at the park one weekend. Do you have a passion for making (and eating) healthy food? Volunteer to bring easy, nutritious snacks to a local after-school program, sports group or camp whenever you’re able. Bonus: nothing builds new friendships faster than food!

©Brandpoint

Healthier kids and healthier communities: 4 ways to get involved


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

ARMYASSEMBLYBANDBEVYCLUSTERCROWDDROVEFLOCK

GAGGLEGANGGROUPHERDHORDEHOSTMOBMULTITUDE

PACKRABBLESCHOOLSHOALSWARMTHRONGTRIBETROOP

Get Together

Sudoku

Sudoku is a puzzle based

on a 9x9 grid. The grid is

also divided into nine (3x3)

boxes. You are given a

selection of values and to

complete the puzzle, you

must fill the grid so that

every column, every anone

is repeated.


COMMUNITYPUZZLES

Colouring

Answers

Wordsearch Codeword

ACROSS1. Either really great or

absolutely awful (9)

6. Very little difference (5)

9. Tells one how old the fruit is?

(5)

10. You must be, to have it (9)

11. Have a drink with the

people getting off the boat:

foreigners (10)

12. Said ‘It’s as far up as you can

go, pet’ (4)

14. Fancy you’ll do better with

the pudding (7)

15. On the day, teased about

being so very keen (4,3)

17. Horses held in by servicemen

(7)

19. New and not yet harassed?

(7)

20. A quarter to a half inch

apiece (4)

22. Pretty girl popular with

search parties? (4-6)

25. Having a rival cheat one,

getting sore (9)

26. Rocks are things fishermen

know all about (5)

27. Go through the letters for a

while (5)

28. Food for five, the last one

gets (9)

Super Cryptic Clues

Yesterday’s Solutions

Across: 1 Roused; 4 Sprinter; 10 Bleated; 11 Letters; 12 Look; 13 Master-mind; 16 Earwig; 17 Barrage; 20 Bootees; 21 Strove; 24 Reflection; 25 Thus; 27 Furlong; 29 Captain; 30 Stocking; 31 States.

Down: 1 Rebelled; 2 Use your loaf; 3 Eats; 5 Palatial; 6 Interprets; 7 Tie; 8 Reside; 9 Ideal; 14 In good heart; 15 Little rock; 18 Pentagon; 19 Peasants; 22 Drifts; 23 Touch; 26 Spot; 28 Rio.

DOWN1. The sea-man’s award (5)

2. A sheet of music? (9)

3. Thanks to Sam, Ann is going

out with Australians (10)

4. Late deliveries awaited (7)

5. Got mixed up with a

revolutionary who’d gone to

jail (7)

6. Position one inset wrongly

(4)

7. Getting a line, called one on

leaving (5)

8. Introduced as ‘The editor we

now have’ (9)

13. What finally satisfied one’s

hunger for knowledge? (4,6)

14. Begins making a scene,

having caught mom out (9)

16. What the villain who fell into

the vat of glue came to? (6,3)

18. Rose left one waiting at the

rendezvous (5,2)

19. Endure but don’t overcome?

(7)

21. Switch round in the boat (5)

23. Turning again to the

gentleman on the stair (5)

24. Gracious me, it’s spring! (4)


COMMUNITY BOLLYWOOD

Between commerce and artT

he trailer of Tubelight, Salman Khan’s next big release, has just been put out. Unusually for a man who is known to play macho strong characters, this one seems

to be somewhat like Forrest Gump — that iconic Tom Hanks movie. Salman, too, essays what seems to be a slightly autistic person and there is also the backdrop of a war, as it was there in the other movie.

Tubelight marks yet another milestone in the gradual shift of Salman from out and out commercial to well thought out roles that demand some acting prowess. And, the main director who has given him this new layer of creativity is undoubtedly Kabir Khan, the brain behind Tubelight. Cut to about a few years ago and if anyone would have pitched a question to Salman about cinema as more than just entertainment, he would have rubbished it. He had nothing

but derision for non-commercial movies, including even some of those that he had acted in.

That he should now play a somewhat offbeat character might be read as his own evolution. But it still does not mean that he has any time for art for art’s sake. It is only now when it is unthinkable that any of his movies could flop that he is secure enough to test new waters. Also, there must be some awareness of his own limitation as an actor, as compared to the other two Khans.

Tubelight will, of course, not be an art movie by any stretch of imagination. It will have the same emotional manipulations of commercial entertainers and will most probably clock over Rs300 crore. What however, might be a hurdle in future to this new paradigm is his linking his family to his professional life. Salman’s long-standing manager has been asked to go and his family

is said to be going to take charge of his career now. Tubelight stars his brother Sohail Khan, who also features in the just released trailer.

Salman is also launching his brother-in-law in movies, another addition to the long list of kin under his umbrella. Will the affection and pressure from family lead

to him not being choosy again about the kind of movies that he does? That might not be so good as Shah Rukh Khan with his long line of flops is realising. The audience will lap up anything but only for a while. They also demand good stuff from their superstars.

THE SHIFT: Salman Khan is now more confident of moving to non-commercial themes.

TWEET POWER: Rishi Kapoor.

UNDETERRED: Ram Gopal Verma.

PHENOMENAL: Bahubali 2 will take some beating.

Rishi’s fury forces stars to show up

Rishi Kapoor, who was an angry man following the absence of young stars at Vinod Khanna’s funeral seems more than somewhat mollifi ed. And the result of his changed mental state was evident in this tweet, ‘Thank you my fi lm brethren for your solidarity shown towards the Khanna family. Hum mein ab bhi insaniyat baaki hai. Love you all’. This was in direct antithesis to what he had written a few days before in the social networking site when he had announced his umbrage at ‘chamchas’ who would go to a party but did not have time to attend a funeral. What led to his transformation? Because at a prayer meet called for Vinod, the younger generation stars were in full attendance. The reason for this probably had to do with Rishi’s public dressing down. The stars of the Hindi fi lm industry only become sensitive when they feel a need to and clearly public humiliation is just the sort of treatment that makes them perceive it. And Rishi perhaps, knows this because he also retweeted what one of his followers wrote to him, ‘ur twt brot al celebrities fr vinod khanna’s prayer meet. pen is mighter than sword. respct sir’.

Legal wrangle over Sarkar 3

Trust Ram Gopal Varma to come out with new ways to keep the publicity machine rolling. Now that Sarkar 3 is to release this week, he has to cook up completely new things. One of the gimmicks this time is an interview with Amitabh Bachchan, which is projected as an in-your-face aggressive straight talk with the interviewer. An okay idea you would think, except that the interviewer in question is Varma himself. This gives him also some publicity along with the movie and in Varma’s mind there is no distinction even if the movie itself is a collaboration of many hundreds, with the fi nance being borne by someone else. And

therein has come a niggle, too. A production house that claims to

have bought the franchise rights of Sarkar is planning legal action against the release. They have already sent a notice. Varma, in an interview to a newspaper, said that he was not a stranger to such tactics and that last minute legal wrangling is common in Bollywood nowadays with other fi lmmakers also experiencing it. He gave the example of someone from India who fi led a case saying he had written the script of the hit Hollywood movie Independence Day. He said the release will go ahead as planned.

Send your feedback to

[email protected]

Monstrous blockbuster

Move over Salman, Aamir and Shah Rukh, a new superstar is in town. Or rather the movie is the superstar in this case. Bahubali 2, the sequel to the hit fi rst edition, is bringing in mindboggling numbers that would even put the Khans to shame. And not just in the south India markets in those languages that the movie was shot in, but even in the dubbed Hindi versions.

The movie has made close to Rs800 crores so far and that is a number any Bollywood movie would be hard pressed to match.

It has beaten all the Aamir and Salman blockbusters in this. True, the movie itself cost an astronomical sum to make but the gamble has paid off across every market and with stars who have no recognition outside the south. Plus the journey of the movie in the theatres is not even close to over yet. It is running to packed houses and still has a few more weeks of life left.

By the end of it, Bahubali 2 would have broken every record conceivable and chances are it will take a long time and a movie of an equal scale to surpass its numbers.

Monday, May 8, 2017 15GULF TIMES

COMMUNITYTELEVISION

By Steven Zeitchik

The fl ash of faces across the CNN promo spot is instantly recognisable, a swirl of anchors and reporters ubiquitous in these news-obsessed times.

The last one, however, is not the like the others. It belongs to W. Kamau Bell, a stand-up comic whose previous cable foray was a short-lived late-night show on FX.

“No comedian grows up thinking, ‘I hope one day to have a show on CNN,’” Bell said with aff able wryness. “Blitzer, Lemon, Amanpour, Bell. It seems wholly ridiculous, and yet wholly like my career.”

The series, The United Shades of America, appears absurd only at fi rst glance. What felt

to some like a novelty when it launched last year — a lefty comic exploring controversial topics — soon became as serious as the Electoral College. In the fi rst episode, Bell met with KKK members. In the second, he visited inmates at San Quentin State Prison.

The eight-episode sophomore season kicked off Sunday, and United Shades continued its theme of what might be called lighthearted heaviness. Bell headed to the violence-wracked South Side of Chicago and a Maryland town considered one the most diverse in the nation, embarks on a quest to buy a gun (as much moral journey as travelogue) and interviews Richard Spencer at an alt-right conference.

There is much kibitzing with subjects — Bell doesn’t do much more than chuckle amiably as Spencer fi res jaw-droppers about white superiority — and humorous voice-over asides.

This season United Shades beefs up the observational stand-up that wraps around the segments. (On the difference between immigrants and refugees: “When you move out of your apartment at noon … and when you move out at 2 in the morning.”) But the topics are not laughing matters.

This might seem the wrong time for a Kumbaya show in which a black liberal from the Bay Area seeks dialogue with Trump voters in coal country.

Or, Bell argues, it could be the best moment for it.

“As the left we have to get outside of ourselves,” he said. “It sounds so simple and so corny, but what we need is a real conversation. People in Hollywood can condescend to the way a lot of other people are living.” —Los Angeles Times/ TNS

Is it time to forgive Leno?By Neal Justin

Perhaps it’s time to forgive Jay Leno.

That won’t be a problem for the legion of fans who never had

an issue with him in the first place. Three years after being replaced on The Tonight Show, he continues to be one of comedy’s biggest draws, booking more than 200 gigs a year.

But for those of us who grew up idolising David Letterman, it’s tricky. We can’t stop picturing Leno without a black hat. The theory that he “stole” the show from his former friend has been thoroughly debunked, most recently in Jason Zinoman’s book Letterman: The Last Giant of Late Night, which effectively argues that Letterman’s real enemy was his own abrasive relationship with NBC brass and impossible demands by his agent.

Then there’s the fact that Leno temporarily returned to his late-night perch after ratings for Conan O’Brien’s Tonight Show and Leno’s own prime-time series had tanked. Some saw it as merely business; others saw it as the worst case of backstabbing since Brutus turned on Caesar.

Leno has always taken the higher road, at least publicly. He’s consistently said nice things about his “enemies,” even Jimmy Kimmel, who turned eviscerating his late-night peer into a part-time hobby.

“I think he’s a genuinely funny guy,” Leno said of Kimmel during a recent phone interview. “I thought he did a great job at the Academy Awards. I always thought we’d have a great relationship because we both come from the same blue-collar background. But it was one of those situations where people saw

kindness as a weakness. I kind of got played on that one.”

On the subject of Letterman, he continues to be diplomatic.

“I always thought we were the flip side of each other,” he said. “I was a stand-up lucky enough to get a TV show and Dave was a broadcaster who was fortunate enough to do stand-up.”

As always, Leno was generous with his time on the phone and seemed genuinely at ease with life on the road rather than life in a

Burbank, California, studio.“I do miss doing the TV show,

but at some point I shouldn’t have to know all of Jay Z’s music. It’s one thing to be talking to a supermodel when you’re 40 years old, but when you’re 66, it’s kind of creepy.”

Leno may sound loose and freewheeling in conversation, but it doesn’t take an hour on Google to realise that he’s also rehearsed. Most of his answers have popped up in numerous past interviews;

he’ll start anecdotes by saying that they happened just the other day, when actually they seem to have taken place months earlier.

His act can also feel dated. While his Tonight Show monologues were freshened every evening with the help of writers, his live act leans heavily on time-tested material. While the new generation of comics tend to start over every 18 months, Leno stays loyal to what works.

One gets the sense he’d still be

riffing off his mother trying to operate the VHS recorder if he could get away with it.

“Jerry Seinfeld and I kind of agree on this,” Leno said. “You do an hour of proven material for every three new minutes. If those work, you move them up to the middle or the top. You do have evergreens. If you do a Netflix special, you’ve got to do all new stuff next time you’re on the road because they’ve heard that stuff. I don’t do those specials. I would rather get paid piecemeal and keep polishing the act.”

That’s a reasonable approach. Maybe too reasonable. Leno likes to stick to the script, both on stage and in interviews. When I asked him to name an up-and-coming comic that impresses him, he offered up Kathleen Madigan, a well-established talent whose first CD came out in 1998. When I mentioned how much fun it would be to see Leno, Letterman, Kimmel and O’Brien do a special concert together, he notes that group performances sound good in theory, but don’t really work in practice.

Uh, OK. But that sort of misses the point.

Want to get even more frustrated? Go to YouTube and check out one of Leno’s appearances on Letterman’s old NBC show Late Night. You’ll meet a nearly unrecognisable ball of fire who practically bounds on stage with a meatball sandwich, a copy of TV Guide and a chip on his shoulder.

He was unpredictable, brash, annoyed — and hilarious.

Those of us who have a grudge against Leno are probably more nostalgic for the old Leno than we are bitter over the current one. It’s not that he’s lost his talent; it’s that he’s lost his edge.

That may be disappointing, but it’s not a sin. —Star Tribune (Minneapolis)/TNS

IN DEMAND: Three years after being replaced, Jay Leno continues to be one of comedy’s biggest draws.

Bell returns to CNN to throw Shades


COMMUNITY

Asean golfers bid farewell to Malaysian ambassador

Around 40 golfers comprising ambassadors, diplomats from the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean), members of Igaqa, members of Malaysian Golf Association and members of the Southeast Asian Golf Association (Seaga) participated in a golf tournament organised recently at the Doha Golf Club.

Indonesian Golf Association in Qatar (Igaqa), along with other Asean golfers, organised a golf tournament to bid farewell to Malaysian

ambassador Ahmad Jazri bin Mohd Johar, who is also the dean of Asian Group in Qatar.

Around 40 golfers comprising ambassadors, diplomats from the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean), members of Igaqa, members of Malaysian Golf Association and members of the Southeast Asian Golf Association (Seaga) participated in a golf tournament organised recently at the Doha Golf Club.

According to the Indonesian ambassador to Qatar, Muhammad Basri, the tournament sought to foster camaraderie and friendship among golfers from the Asean

member countries. He added that the reason to hold this tournament was also because Ahmad Jazri is considered as one of the best golfers in Asean and a well-known golfer in Doha.

The event was organised as a part of a celebration to mark Asean Day’s 50th anniversary to strengthen co-operation among countries through the sport. Winners of the tournament for the Ambassador Flight category were Malaysian ambassador Ahmad Jazri followed by Vietnam ambassador Nguyen Hoang.

According to Indonesian Embassy’s Minister Counsellor Boy Dharamawan, Igaqa was established in January 2013 and has been holding golf tournaments regularly for its members and golfers from other organisations.

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