Sassy Sonam - Gulf Times

CommunityICC organises event featuring a

performance by Bharatanatyam dancer Veena C Seshadri.

P6 P16 CommunityFinnish-Pakistani writer

launches book in Qatar at an event organised by APOO World.

Sunday, April 7, 2019Sha’baan 2, 1440 AH

Doha today: 230 - 330

COVERSTORY

LIFESTYLE SHOWBIZ

Positive workplace raises

productivity in employees.

4

What post-credits scene of

Shazam! means.

Page 15

Exclusive interview with the Bollywood star who was

in town recently to judge Fashion Trust Arabia. P4-5

Sassy SonamSassy Sonam

Photo by Sajith Orma

Sunday, April 7, 20192 GULF TIMES

COMMUNITY ROUND & ABOUT

Community EditorKamran Rehmat

e-mail: [email protected]: 44466405

Fax: 44350474

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

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

USEFUL NUMBERS

Quote Unquote

PRAYER TIMEFajr 4.00amShorooq (sunrise) 5.20amZuhr (noon) 11.36amAsr (afternoon) 3.05pmMaghreb (sunset) 5.53pmIsha (night) 7.23pm

“One way to get the most out of

life is to look upon it as an adventure.”

— William Feather

Shazam!DIRECTION:David F SandbergCAST: Zachary Levi, Michelle Borth, Djimon HounsouSYNOPSIS: We all have a superhero inside of us – it

just takes a bit of magic to bring it out. In 14-year-old Billy Batson’s case, all he needs to do is shout out one word to transform into the adult superhero Shazam. Still a kid at heart,

Shazam revels in the new version of himself by doing what any other teen would do – have fun while testing out his newfound powers. But he’ll need to master them quickly before the evil Dr. Thaddeus Sivana can get his hands on Shazam’s magical abilities.

THEATRES: The Mall, Royal Plaza, Landmark

Project GhaziDIRECTION: Nadir ShahCAST: Sheheryar Munawar, Humayun Saeed, Syra ShehrozSYNOPSIS: The fi lm revolves around a team of scientists

and soldiers aiming to produce a new breed of advanced weaponised soldiers code named Project Ghazi, until a group of rogue men try to seize the project. United with a

team of dedicated scientist Zara Iftikhar (Syra Shehroz) and distinguished soldiers Major Zain (Sheheryar Munawar) and Salaar Salahuddin (Humayun Saeed) along with other people, they try to stop the rogue men, little do they know that a major disaster is headed their way

THEATRE: The Mall

The Mall Cinema (1): Majili (Telugu) 2pm; Dumbo (2D) 4:45pm; Pet Sematary (2D) 6:45pm; Lucifer (Malayalam) 8:30pm; Shazam! (2D) 11:30pm.The Mall Cinema (2): Dumbo (2D) 2pm; Shazam! (2D) 4pm; Shazam! (2D) 6:30pm; Shazam! (2D) 9pm; Lucifer (Malayalam) 11:15pm.The Mall Cinema (3): Lucifer (Malayalam) 2pm; Argentina Fans Kaattoorkadavu (Malayalam) 5pm; Uriyadi Ii (Tamil) 7:30pm; Project Ghazi (Urdu) 9:45pm; Natpe Thunai (Tamil) 11:30pm.

Landmark Cinema (1): Lakshmi’s Ntr (Telugu) 2:15pm; Dumbo (2D) 5pm; Shazam! (2D) 7pm; Pet Sematary (2D) 9:30pm; Natpe Thunai (Tamil) 11:15pm.Landmark Cinema (2): Lucifer (Malayalam) 2:15pm; Natpe Thunai (Tamil) 5:15pm; Lucifer (Malayalam) 8pm; Lucifer (Malayalam) 11pm.Landmark Cinema (3): Dumbo (2D) 2:30pm; Shazam! (2D) 4:30pm; Dumbo (2D) 7pm; Uriyadi Ii (Tamil) 9pm; Lakshmi’s

Ntr (Telugu) 11:15pm.Royal Plaza Cinema Palace (1): Lucifer (Malayalam) 3pm; Shazam! (2D) 6pm; Shazam! (2D) 8:30pm; Shazam! (2D) 11pm.Royal Plaza Cinema Palace (2): Dumbo (2D) 00:3pm; Lucifer (Malayalam) 5pm; Lucifer (Malayalam) 8pm; Pet Sematary (2D) 11:15pm.Royal Plaza Cinema Palace (3): Uriyadi Ii (Tamil) 2:30pm; Dumbo (2D) 5pm; The Smile (2D) 7:15pm; The Smile (2D) 9:15pm; Natpe Thunai (Tamil) 11:15pm.

3Sunday, April 7, 2019 GULF TIMES

COMMUNITYROUND & ABOUT

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

EVENTS

Paint the Town: Feelin BrightWHERE: Centro Capital DohaWHEN: TodayTIME: 7pm – 10pmLaughter is the key to all happiness:

recreate this animated and smile inducing painting at City Centre Rotana. Join us for a fantastic evening of painting, sips and delicious bites to animate your Monday evening for this week’s theme, ‘Feelin Bright.’

Dr. Mashoor Gulati Clinic live in DohaWHERE: Al Dana Club, Doha, QatarWHEN: April 26TIME: 6pm – 10pmWitness the genius of Indian stand-up

comedian, Sunil Grover live as he plays his popular characters ‘Dr. Mashoor Gulati’ and ‘Gutthi’ from Kapil Sharma show. Sunil Grover will be performing live at Al Dana Club in Doha.

MIA Park Bazaar 2019WHERE: Museum Of Islamic ArtWHEN: OngoingTIME: 12pm – 8pmMIA Bazaar has a vibrant mix of 350

stalls. MIA Park Bazaar is a modern version of the old souq tradition. The stalls off er a wide range of gastronomies from all over the world. You can also browse and grab handcrafted artefacts, accessories, canvases, fashion wears, designer ornaments.

Artistic Gymnastic ClassesWHERE: Qatar Academy MsheirebWHEN: OngoingTIME: 3:15pm – 4:15pmThe olympic sport using horizontal bar,

rings and fl oor exercises on mats for the children from age 4 till 16.

Syria Matters ExhibitionWHERE: Museum of Islamic ArtWHEN: Ongoing till April 30TIME: 9am – 7pmMuseum of Islamic Art (MIA) in Doha

presents a major exhibition, co-curated by MIA Director Dr Julia Gonnella and Rania Abdellatif, as part of the MIA ten-year anniversary celebrations.

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

atelierqatar.com or call on 33003839.

Cycling: Losail Circuit Sports ClubWHERE: Losail CircuitWHEN: OngoingTIME: 5pmLosail Circuit Sports Club, in association

with Qatar Sports For All Federation, invites all cyclists, runners and walkers to train under the fl oodlights of Losail International Circuit every Wednesdays.

After School ActivitiesWHERE: AtelierWHEN: OngoingMusic and arts activities for students

taking place after they fi nish their day in school includes Group Music lessons, Hip-hop, Ballet, Drawing and Painting, Drama Theatre & Taekwondo. Ages between 5 and 10 years old after school hours.

Hobby ClassesWHERE: Mamangam Performing Art

CentreWHEN:Wednesday – MondayMamangam Performing Art Centre, is a

holistic performing arts institution and a one stop solution for adults as well as children looking to explore their talents in various art forms. We off er classes in contemporary, Bollywood, hip hop, indian classical dance, music (Hindustani and Carnatic), arts and craft, karate, yoga, percussion( Chenda, Thimila, Elathalam and Madhalam), violin, harmonium, public speaking.

Additional services include dance

education, choreograph music videos and dance cover albums, choreograph dance musical projects, corporate workshops and events, choreograph events for schools, colleges, alumni meets and corporate and choreography events. For details, call 33897609.

Arabic Calligraphy WorkshopWHEN: Saturday – WednesdayTIME: 6pmArabic Calligraphy workshop is back.

Come and learn the artistic practice of Arabic handwriting and calligraphy at Music and Arts Atelier.

The lessons will take place every Saturday, Monday and Wednesday at 6pm. For more information, contact [email protected]

Dance and Instrument ClassesWHERE: TCA Campus, Behind Gulf Times

BuildingWHEN: Wednesday – MondayLearn the movements of dance styles in

Bollywood, Hip Hop and also the musical instruments such as Piano, Guitar, Keyboard for adults as well kids and move in the world of music. For details, contact 66523871/ 31326749.


COMMUNITY COVER STORY

Since the beginning of my career, I’ve been trying to make choices that are responsible — that are not racist, homophobic or sexist, that our industry tends to be ’

“Nothing has changed post-marriage”

—Sonam Kapoor, Bollywood star

BUSINESS AS USUAL: Sonam Kapoor tied the knot last year with her long time beau business

and fashion entrepreneur Anand Ahuja.

ART OF THE POSSIBLE: Sonam Kapoor spoke highly of the “consummate professional” Fawad Khan. Saying she had a great chemistry with the Pakistani heartthrob, she expressed the hope of working with him again. ‘

SUNDAY CONVERSATION


COMMUNITYCOVER STORY

By Muhammad Asad Ullah

Much has changed about Sonam Kapoor except her plainspeak. She’s still as bold

as beautiful as she was when she made her Bollywood acting debut with Saawariya in 2007. Sonam has completed a decade-long journey in the Hindi fi lm industry. The daughter of veteran actor-producer Anil Kapoor ventured into the world of fi lmmaking in 2005 as an assistant director for Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s movie Black (2005), where Bhansali spotted her and off ered Sonam a role as an actress for his next production Saawariya and the rest is history.

Being a star-kid, Sonam Kapoor has defi nitely broken the stereotypes attached to the tag and created a special place for herself in Bollywood. She’s a big movie star now. With Sanju (2018), Padman (2018) and Neerja (2016) kissing the box-offi ce mark, she’s grabbing the eyeballs.

Yet, there were several false starts after Saawariya. While she doesn’t admit it, she had indeed become the whipping girl for her movie turns.

Her image as a fashionista loomed larger than her image as an actor. But anyone who’s a Sonam Kapoor fan, can see it in her eyes that there’s an all-together diff erent girl behind the elaborate Ralph & Russo gowns and her Burberry stilettos. You know her as a fashionista, a title in which she absolutely takes pride, but then you really don’t know who she is.

Once the lights are off , the paparazzies are moved aside and she enters her personal space, Sonam Kapoor has another, reserved side. Time and again, it peeps through her not so conventional roles in the fi lms that are not commercial but actually contribute signifi cantly, to the story of the fi lm. Be it Neerja, Padman, Bhaag Milkha Bhaag (2013) or Raanjhanaa (2013) — she has gone grounded in the choices she makes.

Known to be unabashedly honest, dressed in a blush pink Anaamika Khana saari and an elaborate maatha patti, Sonam spoke to Community in an exclusive interview whilst visiting Qatar for Fashion Trust Arabia as a Jury Judge Member and revealed why and how A-list heroes supporting a woman-centric production is the need of the hour and her biggest teacher — her illustrious father.

Sonam tied the knot last year with her long-term beau Anand Ahuja. Based in Delhi, Anand Ahuja is the founder of Bhane, a well-known clothing brand. He also started India›s fi rst multi-brand sneaker boutique, VegNonVeg.

So how has Sonam’s life changed post-marriage?

“Not that much, besides the fact that I live in and out of three places: Delhi, Mumbai and London. I’m working just as much and doing just as much as I used to.”

It is generally believed that marriage aff ects the career of Bollywood actresses. Where men of all ages can be heroes, the moment an actress gets married, it’s almost a dead end for her career. But Sonam believes otherwise.

“I think this is something you

could’ve said probably 15 or maybe 30 years ago. It is something media puts it out there more than what the audience thinks because whether its Dimple Kapadia, Nutan, Nargis, Madhuri, Waheeda Rahman and so many other actresses, they all continued working (after marriage). So, it’s a little redundant to talk about it now.”

Neerja, a biopic about a 22-year-old head purser who gave her life trying to save 359 passengers onboard the hijacked Pan Am Flight 73 in 1986, did for Sonam Kapoor what Queen did for Kangana Ranaut. While watching Neerja, we all had trouble remembering that the girl onscreen is Sonam. It was diffi cult to trace the exact point when Anil Kapoor’s daughter becomes Neerja Bhanot. She worked at sounding like the Bombay-bred Neerja, hair and make-up artists supplied the bob and look with 80s wigs. But Neerja was more than that. Sonam actually went on to meet the people who knew Neerja in real life, including her friends, family and colleagues, to understand what made this seemingly ordinary girl do something deserving of three bravery awards from three countries posthumously. Sonam went on to great lengths to prepare for the biopic. What excites her as an actor, she says, “Just to do better no matter what happens and how much acclaim you get.”

To put it out there, the new cinematic awakening has been a relatively recent development, triggered by periodic bouts of deep professional introspection. In such a time lies a huge responsibility on an actor’s shoulders for the kind of scripts they choose.

“Since the beginning of my career, I’ve been trying to make choices that are responsible — that are not racist, homophobic or sexist, that our industry tends to be,” Sonam adds, “If you’re educated and aware, it’s important to make those choices. It’s a responsible thing to do.”

Since Raanjhanaa, Sonam’s fi lms have been doing well on box-offi ce and in cinemas. Is there any special formula to follow? “It has almost been a decade since I did Raanjhanaa. All my fi lms have done well and have been critically acclaimed since then. I think people

FASHIONISTA: Sonam’s image as a fashionista loomed larger than her image as an actor. Here she is seen on the red carpet of Cannes film festival.

SIBLING SONG: Sonam Kapoor has a clothing brand in collaboration with her sister Rhea Kapoor, who is also responsible for most of her red carpet look and appearance along with various movie productions.

like to get entertained by my fi lms and also like to see what I do. It’s only because there’s honesty to what I’m trying to say through my work and that’s important,” says Sonam.

Pakistani actor Fawad Khan may not be starring in Bollywood movies anymore because of the ban but his co-stars still look up to him with respect and love. He made his Bollywood debut in Khoobsurat (2014) opposite Sonam Kapoor and charmed everyone with his acting ability. Talking about stint with Fawad Khan in Khoobsurat, Sonam said, “Art has no boundaries. I think Fawad was a consummate professional. We had a great chemistry and I look forward to working with him again.”

When asked to recall a moment from the fi lm sets that she will cherish forever, Sonam proferred: “It was working with my sister on Veere Di Wedding (2018). It was the most successful fi lm opening by the female leads ever and also the biggest fi lm ever, led and produced by a female,” added Sonam, “So I think it’s a huge step towards the movement of female empowerment in India. It is something that will always remain close to my heart,

because I did it with my sister.”Since Sonam was in Doha to judge

the emerging designers from Mena for Fashion Trust Arabia, she talked about the plagiarism debate that’s happening in the fashion industry right now. “I think everybody is inspired by everybody,” she says.

On talking about the potential of FTA contestants, Sonam said, “There’s potential everywhere in the world. It is just encouragement that is needed.”

With social media revolution, there are some drastic beauty standards that have been set up

which are diffi cult for common people to follow. Is it fair? Certainly not. And Sonam is all in with us about it. Few years ago, Sonam wrote an open letter ‘I didn’t wake up like this’ as a response to Shobhaa De, Indian columnist who wrote a blog post saying that Sonam Kapoor ‘just doesn’t cut it in the appeal stakes’, and others who take over body-shaming and judge people for their appearance — and not in a good way. “It’s still relative. I have written so many articles about it. So, you can refer to that,” Sonam said by way of brevity.

1- The best film you’ve ever watched?That’s a hard question. Godfather.

2- One all-time favourite line from a movie?I can’t think of anything. I was

thinking of my lines. But no skip it.

3- Your favourite destination spot?India.

4- Your favourite designer?Anamika Khanna.

5- Sonam Kapoor in three adjectives?I’m a Gemini. I keep changing every

day. So changeable, emotional and

artistic.

6- If you can have coff ee with someone influential, living or dead, who would that be?

Just a coff ee, huh? Well, I would love

to meet Sarojini Naidu.

7- And what about dinner?I’ll have to think about that.

8- What are you reading right now?I’m reading a book which is a

biography of Leonardo da Vinci.

9- What is the most important relationship advice you can give?Be best friends with the person you

end up with.

10- Define your sense of style?Individual.

11- What is the most definitive thing you’ve learned from your father?To be a feminist.

12- Any message for the readers?Be happy and strive to do your best.

Rapid Fire with Sonam Kapoor


COMMUNITYICC organises an event featuring a performance by Veena CIndian Cultural Centre (ICC), under the aegis of Embassy of India, recently organised an event featuring a dance by performance by Veena C Seshadri, a Bharatanatyam Dancer from India. Veena is one of the pre-eminent dancers in Bharatanatyam of her generation. She has been trained from Kalakshetra College of Fine Arts Chennai. Manikantan A P, President of ICC, welcomed the artiste and applauded her commitment to spread the art form among the expatriate community in Qatar. He also said that it is ICC’s stated objective

to promote Indian culture and rich traditions among the expatriate and local communities in Qatar. Nirmala Shanmugapadian, Cultural Co-ordinator of ICC, introduced Veena to the audience. The event was anchored by Seenu Pillai, General Secretary of ICC, and Anjan Kumar Ganguli, Joint Secretary of ICC. Dr Nayana Wagh, Head of Cultural Activities and Education at ICC, proposed a vote of thanks.Speaking on the occasion, Veena appreciated and thanked ICC for providing a platform for the performance.

OIS organises special assemblyOlive International School (OIS) recently organised a special assembly to welcome the students for the new academic session. The assembly kicked off with a prayer by Suuny K D, Faculty of Music Department at OIS, which was followed by the school song. The assembly also featured a speech on

‘Year of Acceptance’ and a dance performance by Reshmi Girish, dance teacher at OIS, along with her students. Roopinder Kaur, Co-ordinator at OIS, also spoke on the occasion. Jacob K M, Principal of OIS, also addressed the gathering. The assembly was concluded with the national anthem of India.

QYC performs at MIAQatar Youth Choir (QYC) recently performed a short repertoire of Arabic songs at Museum of Islamic Arts (MIA) for the visiting delegates from the International Federation of Choral Music.This week Qatar Youth Choir is scheduled to travel to Vienna, Austria, to the oldest choral institution of the world, the Vienna Boys Choir. There they will undertake master classes for a

week and perform in concert together with the Vienna Boys Choir. Qatar Youth Choir will perform their next concert in Doha at the end of April, sharing the stage with the younger Qatar Junior Choir at the Swiss International School of Qatar. Later this year in July, Qatar Youth Choir has been invited to perform in Lisbon at the World Choral Expo as one of eight youth choirs selected from across the globe.


COMMUNITY

TNG organises 6th Annual Youth Leadership ProgrammeThe Next Generation School (TNG) recently organised 6th Annual Youth Leadership Programme at Al Wakrah Campus. During the second week of YLP, the students showcased various projects on which they have been working and conducting research on. Students along with their mentors selected a topic. Topics included integrating technology in classroom, peer platform, negative eff ects of bullying, dealing with negative emotions, respect, and eff ects of social media and natural biasness. Syed Ahsan Raza Shah, Ambassador of Pakistan, and Hafiz Junaid Amir Sial, Community Welfare Attaché at Embassy of Pakistan, visited the school. Speaking on the occasion, the ambassador said, “Projects and work done by the students is remarkable. There is a subtle diff erence between managers and leaders but today I have seen the will of TNG to develop leaders. TNG School equips students with essential knowledge and skills to face tomorrow’s world.”

Students of Grade IV-XI participated in the second week of YLP. Each day, chief guests were invited to encourage and support the student’s projects at TNG. The chief guests during the second week of YLP, included Osama Bin Javaid, Broadcast Journalist at Al Jazeera; Sarfaraz Ahmad Khanzada, CEO of The First Ihsaan School; Ahmad Hussain, President of Pakistan Welfare Forum; Uzma Shehryar, educationist; Dr Khalil Ullah Shibli, Hamad Medical Corporation; Abdur Rehman, Qatar Debate; Dr Irene Theodoropoulou, Associate Professor at Qatar University; and Hafiz Junaid Amir Sial, Community Welfare Attache at Embassy of Pakistan.Speaking on the occasion, Dr Khalil Ullah Shibli applauded the projects and mentioned that these projects are worth publishing as it consists of quantitative and qualitative analysis. As part of YLP, an art exhibition was also organised for the students to express themselves in various forms of art, including 3D models, paintings, sculptures and sketch work.

The Punjab Music Group recently organised a musical event ‘Sunehri Yadein’ to mark Pakistan National Day at Al Khoor Industrial Area. Saeed Bilal Bhatti from DESCON was the chief guest at the event. The event was sponsored by Descon. Hassan Shah, Pakistani singer and radio and television

artiste, performed at the event. Shaukat Ali Naaz, local Pakistani poet, presented his work at the event. He shared his poetry addressing the message of safety. Nazakat Ali Khan, maestro table player, also performed and entertained the audience at the event. The event was anchored by Bushra Amaan.

PMG marks Pakistan National Day


COMMUNITY PROFILE

Singing with passion Amrit Limbu, local singer from Nepal, talks about his prospects as a singer in Qatar and

his passion for doing better for Nepali music industry. By Usha Wagle Gautam

Luckily there’s no shortage of artistes that have put out brilliant music and making a name for themselves. Even this

past season had plenty of releases spanning pop, R&B, EDM and indie rock that will get you from rainy day to party. In music, the phrase ‘one to watch’ gets tossed around a lot. But these days, with so many new ways to consume songs and so many new songs to consume, what makes an artiste actually worth listening to? Amrit Limbu, local singer from Nepal, has music and a voice to off er that you need to lend a curious ear to.

Amrit came to Doha in 2014 to fi nancially support his family back home. Talking about his prospects to Community as a singer in Qatar, he says, “There are lots of opportunities in Qatar. If there’s an added support from the community and the embassy of Nepal, I’ll be able to explore more and perform even better.”

Limbu was the fi rst runners up at a singing reality show, organised by Nepali Cultural Family (NCF) in 2014, and since then he has

been taking over various platforms in Qatar. Limbu has performed for over more than 150 times in Qatar and protrudes as one of the prominent local Nepali artistes to have had an opportunity to perform at National Day celebrations. Limbu has fi ve original sound tracks to his credit. Along with singing, Limbu can also play fl ute and percussions.

Pursuing music as a profession has been Limbu’s dream since his childhood. But the fi nancial constraints of his family forced him to step out and opt for something else. “It was a good decision that I came to Qatar.” Talking about his love for music while growing up. He says, “I used to listen to the radio all the time, while working in fi eld or grazing cattle. I also used to perform at school events,” he adds, “Singing is just a pastime for many people in Nepal. It is a hobby, but, it is more than just that for me. My friends and people I know always thought that it’s sort of impossible for a naïve village boy like me to compete in Kathmandu music industry and establish my name.

Talking about his runners

up title, he said, “It’s a big achievement, I never dreamt for it. I never knew that I can even get to that level and that too, in a foreign country,” he adds, “It felt like reaching the sky where sky is the limit. Winning this title was the biggest achievement of my life, career wise.”

Limbu considers himself lucky to be in Qatar and pursue his passion for music, apart from his regular job. “I am lucky to continue my passion apart from my job. I would like thank for my employers for giving me this opportunity. It is really good to earn money, repute and satisfy interest in a far-away land.”

Talking about his philosophy for music, he says, “A perfect song is a combination of good music, lyrics and composition. World would be dull and colourless without music,” he adds, “I wish to contribute towards the Nepali music industry in general with my songs and music. Everyone has limitations but we can always work hard and overcome them. I really want to hone my skills further and spread the beauty of culture, tradition and geography of my country to rest of the world.”

PHILOSOPHY: “A perfect song is a combination of good music, lyrics and composition”, says Amrit Limbu, local Nepali singer.

RUNNERS UP: Limbu was the first runners up at a singing reality show, organised by Nepali Cultural Family (NCF) in 2014.


COMMUNITYNATURE

Search for Myanmar’s missing mushrooms

Most of the world’s mushrooms are missing. According to mycologists, or fungus experts,

fewer than 10 per cent of the world’s species have been identifi ed by scientists, depriving humanity of potentially vital resources in the fi elds of medicine and forest management – not to mention culinary arts.

So where are all of these fungi hiding?

Many of them are probably in Myanmar, say the members of MyMyco, a collective of around 50 mushroom enthusiasts who are trying to catalogue the country’s native fungi and study the benefi ts and dangers they present to humans.

“Myanmar is really diverse in its microclimates,” says MyMyco co-founder Adam Nicholas. “It’s got wetlands, dry zones, high-altitude spots, mountains and hills, so there are a lot of opportunities for diff erent types of mushroom to exist.”

Since they set up the group last year, Nicholas and co-founder Evelyn Yu Yu Swe have led regular excursions into Myanmar’s parks and forests to photograph fungi, most of which can be found perched on tree roots or rotting logs.

They then upload the photos to MyMyco’s Instagram account,

where expert mycologists from around the world help identify the species in the comments and speculate on their properties.

“We’re slowly building a body of information that doesn’t currently exist, while also educating people on mushrooms,” Evelyn says.

Last year, for example, MyMyco

members documented a lingzhi mushroom, also known as Ganoderma lucidum, growing in a park in the centre of Yangon, Myanmar’s main city. The species has been a staple of Chinese medicine for at least 2,000 years, and in recent years, it has become a popular supplement among

cancer patients. However, few people in Myanmar are aware of the mushroom or its medicinal value.

Educating Myanmar people about the uses of local fungi falls squarely upon amateur mycologists. Since emerging from military-imposed isolationism less than a decade ago, the country has experienced a boom in discoveries in the fi elds of palaeontology and conservation biology.

However, these breakthroughs have not been matched in mycology. This has less to do with a lack of interest than with the fact that mycology has been underfunded around the world for decades.

Despite the fact that around a billion people in the world suff er from fungal diseases, few scientifi c institutions invest signifi cantly into mycological research. From 2007 to 2012, the Medical Research Council in Britain and the National Institutes of Health in the US spent less than 2.5 percent of their infectious disease research budgets on mycology. The eff ects of this neglect are accentuated in underdeveloped countries such as Myanmar.

“There haven’t been any major taxonomic studies of mushrooms in Myanmar since the 1950s,” Evelyn says. “Aside from fi ve or six species, most Myanmar people are afraid of mushrooms.”

With mushrooms plentiful but knowledge scant, Myanmar

people are regularly poisoned by mushrooms they misidentify. Last year, mushroom foragers in one town told MyMyco members that 10 people had been killed by poisonous mushrooms in the preceding seven months.

“They said that was a relatively small number,” Nicholas says.

MyMyco’s members hope to prevent mushroom poisoning through a process known as ethnomycology. Evelyn explains: “There are communities around Myanmar who have been foraging mushrooms for generations. They have information about what’s OK to eat, what’s medicinal, what’s poisonous, and what’s poisonous in one state and medicinal in another.”

If these local traditions are not documented soon, she says, they may be lost as imports of foreign mushrooms increase and as traditional cultivation methods give way to modernisation and urbanisation.

Food and health benefi ts aside, MyMyco off ers city-dwellers a pleasant, child-friendly way to connect with nature.

Evelyn says: “There’s something really rewarding about foraging. You go outside and hunt for treasure. You fi nd something that you can either eat or take home or study, and you have a physical reward for the activity. People really love that.” – DPA

Myanmar’s diverse microclimates make it the perfect breeding ground for mushrooms,

but in fact very little is known about the myriad species that grow there. A newly founded

group of mushroom enthusiasts is hoping to change that. By Jacob Goldberg

BUDDING: Pinwheel mushrooms growing in Kandawgyi Park, Yangon, Myanmar.

SANCTUARY: A bamboo stinkhorn mushroom, or Phallus indusiatus, on the grounds of an elephant sanctuary in Kalaw, Myanmar.


COMMUNITY PHOTO ESSAY

Show Jumping: Horse sense et al

The Olympic sport of Show Jumping made its debut in the summer edition in Paris 1900; it now consists of 3 events namely dressage, eventing and jumping. It is an equestrian competition that involves riding on a fl at saddle also called English riding, the athletes and their horses jump and are required to clear fences with heights upto 1.6 metres (5 feet 3 inches) with a width of upto 2 metres ( 6 feet 7 inches) without knocking the obstacles and are given points on precision and speed.

The horses used in this particular sport are of very high pedigree, thoroughbreds are not good showjumping horses. The preferred breed of show jumping horses are the warmbloods, particularly the Dutch and Belgian variant, the Holsteiner, Hanoverian and Irish Draught among others like the Westphalian, Selle Francais and Oldenburg.

Qatar plays host to the one and only Federation Equestre Internationale (FEI) approved Concours Hippique International (CHI) event in Asia. The fi rst one was held in 2013 at perhaps the most beautiful of equine venues — Al Shaqab created by the architectural fi rm Leigh & Oranve. Al Shaqab has been a preferred venue for the most prestigious of equine sports from the coveted Longines Global Champions Tour which it has played host to for over four years now and CHI Al Shaqab, which is in its seventh year.

Riders from across the world participate — the likes of Swiss rider Pius Schwizer, Spaniard Boja Carrascosa and Pieter Devos of Belgium along with Qatari riders such as Sheikh Ali bin Khalid al-Thani, Bassam Hassan Mohammad and Khalid al-Emadi — one of two twin brothers, to name a few.

— Text and photos by Bosco Menezes


COMMUNITYQUIZ

Autism Spectrum Disorder is not a disorder of intelligence or language, instead it refers to a broad

range of conditions characterised by challenges with social skills, repetitive behaviours, speech and non-verbal communication. That means that someone with Autism Spectrum Disorder, or ASD, would have a hard time reading body language or understanding the importance of tone or sarcasm.

ASD aff ects all ethnic and socioeconomic groups, though it is believed children born to older parents are at a higher risk. Signs of autism often appear before the age of two, though some children develop normally and then ‘regress’ at 1 or 2, losing skills they had previously developed. The earlier ASD is diagnosed and treated, the better. Outcomes for children’s lives are signifi cantly improved with early diagnosis and treatment.

Scientists don’t know exactly what causes autism. Most experts agree that a combination of genetic and environmental factors increase a child’s risk of developing an autism spectrum disorder, but there are still a lot of unknowns.

There’s no medical or blood test for autism, so doctors typically evaluate a child’s behaviour through a developmental screening and then a comprehensive diagnostic evaluation, which can include hearing, vision, and neurological tests. Autism cannot be cured at the present time, but a structured educational programme and tailored therapy have been shown to help children develop skills they are lacking and minimise behaviours that are problematic.

Individuals with autism spectrum disorder may be very creative and fi nd a passion and talent for music, theatre, art, dance and singing quite easily. It is widely speculated that Albert Einstein, Isaac Newton, Andy Warhol and Bill Gates are on the autism spectrum.

World Autism Awareness Day is an internationally recognised day on April 2 every year, encouraging member States of the United Nations to take measures to raise awareness about people with Autism Spectrum Disorder throughout the world. During the 62nd session of the UN General Assembly (UNGA) in 2007, it was Her Highness Sheikha Moza bint Nasser al-Missned who supported a resolution to fi x a day to mark

Autism around the world. April 2 was set to mark World Autism Awareness Day within the already well-known National Autism Awareness Month of April. Including many activities, hundreds of thousands of landmarks, buildings, homes and communities around the world are lit up in blue in recognition of people living with autism

The Autism Awareness Puzzle Ribbon is the most enduring and recognised symbol of the autism community. The puzzle pattern refl ects the complexity of the autism spectrum. The diff erent colours and shapes represent the diversity of the people and families living with the condition. The brightness of the ribbon signals hope, hope that through increased awareness of autism, and through early intervention and access to appropriate services/supports, people with autism will lead full lives able to interact with the world on the own

terms. People with Autism Spectrum Disorder can and do live happy lives with the support of their families and community.

‘Advocate, Understand, Take Time, Include, Speak Out and Make A Diff erence’ because they are ‘Always Unique Totally Intelligent Sometimes Mysterious’.

Welcome to ‘Nutty’s Infotainment. YAYS!’ And your time starts NOW!

The word ‘autism’ comes from the Greek word ‘autos’. What does it mean?

Self. It describes conditions in which a person is removed from social interaction. In other words, he becomes an ‘isolated self.’

In April 2017, in a major fi rst, the American educational children’s television series Sesame Street introduced a new Muppet who has autism. Name this character.

Julia

44% of children with ASD have IQ scores in the average to above average range (i.e., IQ >85). True of False

True

This was fi rst used on a large scale in 1970, in a refugee camp along the Bangladesh border during the war of independence. In 1978, WHO issued a recommendation to use a single formulation to treat clinical dehydration from acute diarrhea of any origin and at any age, except when it is severe. How do we know it?

Oral Rehydration Salts or ORS.

Who said, “Be careful about reading health books. You may die of a misprint”?

Mark Twain

What is the claim to fame of Yamato which met its end on this day (April 7) in 1945?

Yamato, along with her sister Musashi, were the two largest battleships ever constructed. The Japanese battleship was sunk during the battle for Okinawa. The fl eet was headed for a suicide mission.

It was created under project codenamed Dulcimer. When copywriter Vinnie Chieco saw it for the fi rst time, he immediately thought of the line “Open the pod bay door, HAL” from the sci-fi fi lm 2001: A Space Odyssey. Name this product.

iPod

Arguably one of the most awkward Academy Awards moments happened in 1933, when two artistes with the same fi rst name were nominated in the Best Director category. Caught up in the excitement of the ceremony, he heard Will Rogers, who presented the award, exclaim “Come on up and get it,… (fi rst name)!” He duly ran up to the stage to claim his award, only to fi nd that it was in fact the other one who had won. His humiliation didn’t last long: he won the Best Director gong the following year for It Happened One Night. Name him

Frank Capra

Hominoidea is a scientifi c name for what?

Ape

Identify the American Industrialist below who, along with his brother Dr. James Harvey (family name withheld), founded the Battle Creek Sanitarium Health Food Company in 1898 to handle the production of foods for patients at a health resort. The rest is history. The world celebrates his 159th birthday today.

(Answer next week. Answer to last week’s photo-quiz: Rene Descartes)

What’s the Good Word?

1. Disjune: (a) erstwhile (b) disown (c) irenic (d) breakfast2. Stemwinder: (a) rousing speech (b) boastful (c) pathetic (d) writer3. Obdurate: (a) phenomenal (b) hidden (c) stubborn (d) clog4. Footle: (a) silky (b) mess about (c) fetching (d) rattle5. Plisky: (a) fluff y (b) transparent (c) prank (d) although6. Immure: (a) Imprison (b) perceive (c) charm (d) brag

7. Frabjous: (a) fatuous (b) showing disposition to fight (c) deleterious (d) wonderful8. Tyro: (a) tractable (b) novice (c) laconic (d) omnipotent9. Snuggery: (a) alacrity (b) cozy room (c) related to trees (d) bribery10. Melee: (a) cavort (b) bereft (c) acumen (d) scuff le

Answers: 1 (d); 2 (a); 3 (c); 4 (b); 5 (c); 6 (a); 7 (d); 8 (b); 9 (b); 10 (d)

Diff erences don’t matter

1. How many animals were on Moses’ ark?None. Noah had an ark, not Moses.(Amjad Chughtai, Peshawar Medical College, Peshawar)

2. In the Disney movie Finding Nemo, which country is Nemo taken to?

Australia(Yusra Nabi, Birla Public School, Doha)

Do you have some interesting bytes to share? And, does yourvibe attract you to the ‘Tribe NI.yays!’ Every week two of your best questions will be featured here. Please do write to us at [email protected].

Tribe NI.yays ANIMATED: In the Disney movie Finding Nemo, Nemo was taken to Australia where his father reaches to rescue him.

DIVERSITY: The Autism Awareness Puzzle Ribbon is the most enduring and recognised symbol of the autism community. The puzzle pattern reflects the complexity of the autism spectrum.


COMMUNITY INFOGRAPHIC

Science Matters

Bacteria live usefully inside the body of Hawaii’s bobtail squid, producing light to camouflage the squid at night; other bacteria help protect its eggs after they are laid.

Source: Thomas C. G. Bosch of Zoological Museum of Kiel University (Germany); Proceedings of the (U.S.) National Academy of Sciences journal; Margaret McFall-Ngai of University of Wisconsin-Madison

Graphic: Helen Lee McComas, Tribune News Service

Edward Ruby photo

About 2 in. (50 mm) long

0.7 inch(18 mm) coin

Microscopic passengers protect squid and its eggs

1 Soon after hatching, the squid secretes mucous from cells in its skin

A more complex group of bacteria lives in the female squid’s accessory nidamental gland, a reproductive organ, and protects her egg mass after she lays it

2 Among all the surrounding bacteria, only V. fischeri is drawn into this mucus layer

4 Through a chemical reaction, the bacteria luminesce (glow) when the squid stimulates its light organ

5 The light offsets the squid's shadow at night and hidea it from predators when it surfaces to feed

3 The bacteria move into the light organ, a pouch on the squid’s underside, where they will stay throughout the squid’s life

Bobtail squidEuprymna scolopes

Newborn bobtail squid

Light-producingbacterium

Vibrio fischeri

Lightorgan

Meanwhile ...The bobtail squid’s DNA has now been decoded; it may help explain how squid and bacteria evolved into their complex symbiosis

Probing with new science


COMMUNITYSCIENCE

Space may be infinite, but that doesn’t mean there are no rules

There are laws that apply to the big beyond, and more are evolving as

the world’s countries jostle for a piece of the action. By Till Mundzeck

There’s an endless amount of activity going on right now above the heads of Earthlings. Hundreds of satellites are fl oating

around in space as is lots and lots of space junk.

And then there are heavenly bodies containing priceless raw materials that many earthlings would love to get their hands on, not to mention territories in space that some state actors would gladly make military use of.

But actually, who can do what in this boundless expanse of space? And who takes out the rubbish?

Glad you asked.Since space is not a part of any

state’s territory, fi ve treaties set out by the United Nations form the basis of what’s legal and illegal up there, says the head of the Institute for Air Law, Space Law and Cyber Law at the University of Cologne in Germany, Stephan Hobe.

The most important of these treaties is the Outer Space Treaty from 1967. It stipulates, for example, that each nation has open

access to space and no country can make territorial claims on heavenly bodies. The treaty was ratifi ed by more than 100 states.

Another treaty is the Moon Treaty from 1979, which declares the moon and other celestial bodies as the shared heritage of mankind. This one has thus far been ratifi ed by only a handful of states, partly due to possible economic interests in mining raw materials in space.

Speaking of raw materials, there are many tempting ones in space, such as rare metals. In order to safeguard their economic interests, the United States and Luxembourg have passed laws that allow companies wishing to undertake mining practices in space to own the commodities they obtain. But in Hobe’s opinion, that’s just illegal.

“You can only pass laws over what you rule,” he says. And under the space treaties, heavenly bodies cannot be owned by a nation state.

One area where there’s not been a treaty dictating who’s responsible for what is space junk,

though awareness over the issue has grown over the past few years. The European Space Agency (ESA) has developed technical guidelines on it, but “at the moment, no one is responsible for the rubbish in orbit,” says Hobe. Writing up a legal ruling on it is a huge challenge, as it must attempt to defi ne responsibility retroactively for activities that thus far have been allowed.

According to the ESA, the world’s space institutions have at least agreed to keep especially important orbits free of trash.

Another uncharted legal territory for space is how traffi c should function: Thus far, there are no right-of-way or other traffi c rules, says Holger Krag, leader of the ESA’s offi ce for space debris.

“Pure pragmatism has developed in practice,” says the expert. Some 95 per cent of potentially dangerous encounters take place with inactive objects, like pieces of debris or out-of-commission satellites, meaning such a question isn’t even considered. In all the

other cases, the satellite operators decide among themselves. On average, an active satellite must evade another about once a year, says Krag.

But let’s say a collision does happen – who pays the damages? The UN treaties oblige states to take responsibility for their activities related to space.

These fall into two categories, says ESA space expert Alexander Soucek. “For damages in space, like a collision between two satellites, so-called fault-based liability applies” – a state must only pay up when fault for the crash can be proved. “For damage on the Earth, such as the crash of a not completely burnt-out satellite, the principle of absolute liability applies,” says Soucek.

That means the country that is responsible for the satellite must take responsibility for any damages because it created a general hazard when it decided to launch the thing in the fi rst place.

Thanks to the UN treaties, space is by and large demilitarised. That

means that no weapons are allowed to be positioned in orbit or on heavenly bodies. Despite that, fears of an arms race are growing. For example, the US is pursuing plans to create its own space force.

In any case, the existing rules don’t really hold to the current times. Russia and China submitted a draft treaty in 2014 during a UN disarmament conference that would forbid certain weapons. But because weapons are developing so quickly, many don’t believe that’s enough – even harmless satellites can be turned into weapons by bad guys.

If there’s a space force or space wars, there could feasibly be a space court, right? Wrong. For violations of the UN’s treaties, countries can bring in the International Criminal Court in The Hague, says Soucek.

Failing that, companies or private individuals could potentially take third parties before national civil courts – provided there is a legal provision that applies to the dispute in question, of course – DPA

SPACE JUNK: A computer-generated image from the European Space Agency (ESA) shows space junk and satellites orbiting the Earth.

OUT OF CONTROL: This image from the Fraunhofer Institute for High Frequency Physics and Radar Technology (FHR) shows the out-of-control satellite ‘Envisat.’


COMMUNITY LIFESTYLE/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

Plans to work at home at least part of the time might be firming up

for you, Aries. Your mind is very much on home and family right

now, so you might be thinking in terms of leaving the rat race of the

city and creating your own off ice. Success is highly indicated, so it’s

well worth going for. If you start planning today, you might have it

worked out soon.

If communication has been diff icult for you in the past, Cancer,

today you may find things a bit diff erent. You may have a deeper

understanding of the motives of others, making it easier for you to

deal with them. Your intuitive abilities are operating at a high level,

so you’re likely to form new bonds based on what you sense about

others. Celebrate tonight! You need the lift.

You’re by nature a person who likes to look toward the future. Today

is a very special day for you. You might wonder what the next few

months hold, Libra. You’re trying to answer this question by looking

within and coming up with insights about you and your goals that

you’ve been too busy to see before. These will work for you and

guide you in the right direction.

The position of the planets could have you doing a lot of soul

searching, Capricorn. You’re looking deep within to discern your

true goals. You might be pleasantly surprised by what you find.

Increased communication and deeper understanding enhance your

relationships. Many of your aims are likely to be spiritual in nature.

Write them down.

Information about possible careers and investments might come to

your attention today, Taurus. You may give a lot of thought to these

matters, especially since your thinking is changing along with the

times. This is a good day to explore new avenues your life could take

over the next six months, and make final decisions, if appropriate.

Give this some thought before you act on your plans.

Inside information may come your way today that starts you

thinking about improving your financial standing, Leo. You might

hear of career and investment opportunities that you’ve never

considered before. You’re an adventurous soul. You might consider

jobs that would have your grandmother reeling! The coming months

show promise for you. Good fortune lies over the horizon. Go for it!

Today your spiritual and career goals may come together, Scorpio,

enabling you to make a living without compromising your ideals.

New opportunities may come your way to make new friends with

people who share your beliefs and interests. You might reflect

nostalgically on the past and yet look to the future with great

optimism. Good luck!

Today you might take time out from all the recent excitement to

take a good look at your working life, Aquarius. Is it satisfying? Is it

contributing not only to your own well-being but also to that of the

planet? You’re likely to decide to change your profession in some

way, either through augmenting the job you have or taking on an

entirely new one.

Gemini, you’re likely to be giving a lot of thought to your future.

You’re probably wondering how best to increase your financial

standing. You may be thinking in terms of making some investments

in land or property. If you’ve been considering buying a home, this

is a good time to do it. Any paperwork involved now should be

finalised swiftly and smoothly.

You could meet new friends at a social gathering, Virgo, people who

could become valuable business contacts. You might learn of new and

diff erent investment opportunities that reflect the changing times, and

these could capture your imagination. Your understanding of others

runs deep, so relations should be congenial. You’re in the right mood to

make the necessary decisions unhesitatingly.

Sagittarius, you’re looking forward to making a new start. Your

intellect is working in harmony with your intuition. Your mind

is clearer and more focused than it was, and you’re thinking of

expanding your horizons and creating new career opportunities for

yourself. You’re feeling passionate about life, ready to face just about

anything. The only challenge right now is to stay grounded in reality.

Increased communication between you and those around you,

particularly the partner in your life, brings a new understanding

between you. Your head and heart seem to be in better accord, so

you’re feeling especially optimistic right now. This optimism isn’t

just related to career and financial matters but to private matters,

especially your romantic life, too.

Positive workplace raises productivity in employeesW

ant better output from your employees? Promoting an environment

of growth for all would lead to higher satisfaction, innovation, trust and retention among workers, say researchers.

When employees feel valued for their personal characteristics and are recognised as important members, employee engagement, trust, satisfaction, commitment and retention improve, said Kim Brimhall, Assistant Professor at the Binghamton University in the US.

The findings showed that leaders who encourage every worker regardless of their educational background or job responsibilities are more likely to increase the feelings of inclusion.

This then leads to increased innovation, employee job

satisfaction and quality of services in organisations.

“Leader engagement, that is, a leader’s ability to actively engage all organisational members in critical decision making, may foster a climate for inclusion and positive organisational outcomes, such as a climate for innovation, job satisfaction and perceived quality of care,” said Brimhall.

The results have been published in the journal Nonprofit and Voluntary Sector Quarterly.

Brimhall hopes to develop economically practical, evidence-based tools that leaders can utilise to create work environments where employees feel included, thereby leading to overall improvement towards their job.

This would then translate to improved quality of care given to clients. – IANS

Sunday, April 7, 2019 15GULF TIMES

COMMUNITYSHOWBIZ

What post-credits sceneof Shazam! means

Avicii’s family to release posthumous album

DJ Avicii, whose real name is Tim Bergling, was working on new music before his death in 2018. Now, his family plans to release what he had been recording.

“When Tim Bergling passed away on April 20, 2018, he was close to completing a new album. He left behind a collection of nearly fi nished songs, along with notes, email conversations and text messages about the music,” read a statement from his team, reports pagesix.com

“The songwriters that Tim was collaborating with on this album have continued the process to get as close to his vision as possible.

“Since Tim’s passing, the family decided not to keep the music locked away – instead they wanted to share it with his fans all around the world,” the statement said.

The fi rst single, SOS, will be released on April 10, followed by the full album titled Tim on June 6.

The net proceeds from album sales will go to the non-profi t Tim Bergling Foundation that focuses on mental illness and suicide prevention.

He committed suicide last year in Muscat, Oman. He was 28. – IANS

By Tracy Brown

In Shazam!, teenager Billy Batson is transported to a magical realm and inherits superpowers that he’s not quite ready to deal with.

At fi rst, Billy (Asher Angel) is very much just a teenager with a chip on his shoulder trapped in the body of an extremely muscular adult (Zachary Levi). But in true comic book superhero movie fashion, he eventually realises that his great power does come with great responsibility (regardless of brand affi liation), and embraces his role as Shazam.

[Warning: Spoilers for Shazam! below]After learning his lesson about the real

meaning of family and saving the day, things are looking bright for Billy and his foster siblings.

The same can’t be said for the movie’s villain, Dr. Sivana (Mark Strong) – at least until the movie’s midcredits scene.

After losing the powers granted to him by the Seven Deadly Sins, Dr. Sivana has been locked up in solitary confi nement. He is scrawling various symbols all over the walls of the room he is being held in, in what seems to be a desperate attempt

to fi nd his way back to the wizard’s lair (the Rock of Eternity).

Sivana then hears a voice saying it can help him, teasing that there is more than one way to get magic.

That voice is attached to a worm-like creature speaking to him from what appears to be an air vent.

Comic book fans will recognise the caterpillar-like being as longtime Shazam villain Mister Mind. Created by Otto Binder and C.C. Beck, Mister Mind is a Venusian worm that fi rst made his appearance in a 1943 issue of Captain Marvel Adventures (yes, Shazam was previously known as Captain Marvel before a certain other publisher laid claim to the name).

Despite his appearance, Mister Mind’s intellect is beyond that of humans and he possesses powerful telepathic abilities that allow him to control people’s minds. He also can do insect-related things like spin strong silk very quickly.

In the comics he is the leader of an organisation called the Monster Society of Evil and has a history with other Shazam! villains including Sivana and Black Adam.

Mister Mind’s appearance sets him up as a player in any potential Shazam! follow-ups, and his alliance with Sivana

might even pave the way for an eventual appearance of Black Adam in a DC Comic movie.

(For what it’s worth, Levi told The Times that he doesn’t know anything about plans for a Shazam! sequel, or a Dwayne Johnson/Black Adam spinoff , just yet. But everyone involved is keeping their fi ngers crossed.)

Unlike the midcredits tease, the second Shazam! post-credits scene is more about fun than planting seeds about any future storylines.

Continuing their dynamic established earlier in the movie, Freddy (Jack Dylan Grazer) and Billy are still fi guring out what other powers Shazam may possess, and their new test involves a goldfi sh bowl.

It turns out Shazam cannot talk to fi sh.The scene is a nod to Aquaman, with a

disgruntled Billy proclaiming that being able to talk to fi sh isn’t that cool of a power anyways – referencing the real-life joke people make questioning the eff ectiveness of Aquaman as a superhero.

But Freddy, in true DC fanboy fashion, jumps to Aquaman’s defense, insisting that commanding billions of aquatic creatures is pretty cool (cool enough to make $1.1 billion at the worldwide box offi ce at least). – Los Angeles Times/TNS

MAJICAL: A scene from Shazam!. The movie is about a teenager with magical superpowers.

PM Narendra Modi to release on April 11

The release date of PM Narendra Modi has been set for April 11, when the Lok Sabha elections begin, the makers announced on Friday.

‘PM Narendra Modi is offi cially releasing on April 11, 2019,” tweeted producer Sandip Ssingh, along with the fi lm’s poster.

The announcement comes just a day after the fi lm’s makers deferred its release from April 5, following the Supreme Court’s decision to set the date to hear a plea seeking to block the movie’s release, for April 8.

Actor Vivek Anand Oberoi, who plays the titular role in the fi lm, tweeted: “Thank you to each and every one of you for your blessings, love and support. Thank you to the Indian judiciary. We hope you like the fi lm and that it inspires you all! Jai Hind.”

Directed by Omung Kumar, the fi lm narrates the story of Modi from his humble beginnings to becoming the Prime Minister.

Earlier, Ssingh and other makers of PM Narendra Modi received fl ak for planning to release the movie on April 12, just a day after the fi rst phase of voting for the Lok Sabha elections. Its release date was then preponed to April 5.

However, a plea by Aman Panwar, a Congress spokesman, contends that the release of the Modi biopic ahead of the election would disturb the level playing fi eld. – IANS

POLITICAL: The release date of PM Narendra Modi coincides with the Lok Sabha elections.

Pallavi to star in drama pilot Triangle

Actress Pallavi Sharda, who has worked in Bollywood fi lms like Besharam, Begum Jaan and Hawaizaada, has been tapped as the female lead opposite Mike Vogel in the ABC drama pilot Triangle.

Written by Jon Harmon Feldman and Sonny Postiglione, and directed by McG, Triangle poses the question, what if the Bermuda Triangle was not a watery grave in the middle of the ocean but a land lost in time that has trapped travellers over the course of human history?

When a family is shipwrecked in this strange land, they must band together with a group of like-minded inhabitants – from throughout history – to survive and somehow fi nd a way home.

Pallavi will play Alex, David’s (Vogel) girlfriend who is trying to connect with his teen daughter Natalie (Sarah Catherine Hook), reports deadline.com

Matt Passmore, Edwin Hodge, Mallory Jansen, Lorenzo Richelmy, Amit Shah and Diana Bermudez co-star.

The pilot is fi lming in New Zealand.Pallavi, who is of Indian descent, has built a career

in India, Australia and the UK. She currently co-stars in two series, Beecham House and Les Norton in Australia. – IANS

LEAD ROLE: Pallavi Sharda has been tapped as the female lead opposite Mike Vogel in the ABC drama pilot Triangle.

TRIBUTE: DJ Avicii, whose real name is Tim Bergling, committed suicide last year in Muscat, Oman. He was 28.


COMMUNITY

By Mudasssir Raja

Arshad Farooq is a Finnish national of Pakistani origin. He is a linguist, translator and a writer. One of his

main contributions in the literary world has been that of translating important books written in Finnish into Urdu. Furthermore, he is a social worker associated with diff erent departments and organisations in Finland that are working for refugees.

Arshad was recently invited to Doha by All Pakistanis Overseas Organisation International (APOO World), an international group working for the welfare of overseas Pakistanis. He launched his new book titled Finland ka Samaaj (Society of Finland), which he translated in Urdu for his fellow Pakistanis.

Community spoke with Arshad, who has been in Finland since 1992, about his life experiences and expertise. Coming from a Journalistic background in Faisalabad, he got a master’s degree in Social Work from Punjab University in 1988. He worked as a social worker with a federal government department in Lahore for four years. Not being satisfi ed with the working environment, he migrated to Finland where he got admission in department of sociology, University of Helsinki. He then got a degree in European Social Policy.

“I learnt Finnish language there. I formed my own translation company in 2003. Since then, I have been working as a linguist and

translator. I have my regular job with immigration department of Finland. I work as a social worker, psychologist, and social counselor.”

Arshad has translated Kalevala, a Finnish folklore epic, into Urdu. The book is seen as a national identity of Finland. He has so far translated six books from Finnish to Urdu. His current book Finland ka Samaaj is the second edition. “This is the second edition of the book. The fi rst one was published 10 years ago. There have been many social changes that have taken place in Finland so far. The book contains a message from the president of Finland. I was asked to publish the second edition in 2017 when Finland celebrated 100th year of its independence and Pakistan celebrated its 70th.”

Arshad takes pride in translating Kalevala into Urdu because it is a very important book in Finland. “It took me 15 years to translate the book. I contacted Kalevala Foundation, telling them I wanted to translate the book into Urdu. They asked me to fi rst learn the Finnish language and then translate it. I am the fi rst one who translated the book into Urdu. I was at home in Finnish language in fi ve years. The translation was published by the Government of Pakistan in 2012.”

Arshad is well known in the literary circles of Pakistan. He carries the title of ‘Overseas Book Ambassador for Pakistan’. He has presented his recent book to President of Pakistan Dr Arif Aliv. He has been associated with the overseas Pakistanis organisation as senior vice chairman of the central committee. “I have been looking after the aff airs of the organisation in diff erent European counties.”

When asked what has motivated him to translate books from Finnish to Urdu, he said: “In Finland, I saw that they have solved social issues – which we still see in Pakistan – some 100 years ago. I saw that they are very peaceful people. I thought to share the experiences of Finnish people with Pakistanis. My current book also shares social experiences of the Finnish people with my compatriots. This book contains 100 social innovations that I have brought to Pakistan. The Embassy of Finland in Pakistan gave away 200 copies of my fi rst book diff erent institutes in Pakistan. Every individual of Finland takes part in the progress of their country.

“The book contains 108 chapters that are about politics, education, health, social welfare, communication, and other subjects. All the chapters have been

written by people who are expert in their fi elds.”

When asked about his purpose of launching the book in Qatar, Arshad said: “Pakistanis live in Qatar in large numbers. Qatar has been promoting literature and art very well. This book is for Pakistanis and especially for the expatriates. I am very happy to see development of Qatar. I really loved visiting Katara.”

Advising Pakistanis in Qatar, Arshad said: “I personally feel that wherever you live, you should learn the local language and comply with the law of the land.”

Commodore Irfan Taj, Defence Attaché of the Pakistan Embassy in Qatar, was the chief guest of the event held by APOO World, while Muhammad Atiq, Chairman Majlis-e-Frogh-e-Urdu Adab, was the guest of honour.

Speaking at the launch of the book, Commodore Irfan Taj said

that it was important to organise literary events.

“This book is an amazing contribution to the literature of Urdu and events like these are important because they help promote literary word and spirit,” he said.

Zahid Sheikh, APOO World chairman, said that the organisation was dedicated to raising awareness about the rights of overseas Pakistanis.

APOO World was established in 1989 with a vision to help overseas Pakistanis. It is a non-political and non-profi table organisation working solely for the welfare of overseas Pakistanis and for improving the image of Pakistan abroad. APOO World has its representatives in the Middle East, Australia, New Zealand, Africa, Asia Pacifi c, Europe, Canada and the US. APOO World’s Qatar Chapter was established in 2016.

APOO World launches book by Finnish-Pakistani writer

BOOK LAUNCH: From left, Fartash Syed, Haroon Rashid, Zahid Sheikh, Arshad Farooq, Muhammad Atiq and Commodore Irfan Taj seen during the book launch event.

GROUP: Guests, organisers and dignitaries during the book launching of Finland Ka Samaaj (Society of Finland).

Sassy Sonam - Gulf Times

Documents

Transcript of Sassy Sonam - Gulf Times