Community Pakistan International School Qatar elects new student parliament for the new academic session. P6 P16 Community Janna Thomson, a young voice in Doha, waiting to be heard in the world. Food for thought COVER STORY Why are food allergies in children on the rise – and is there anything parents can do to protect them? P4-5 Wednesday, October 3, 2018 Moharram 23, 1440 AH Doha today: 300 - 390 GLITZ & GLAM SHOWBIZ Bold and the beautiful. Page 14 Big B mourns death of Krishna Raj Kapoor. Page 15
Transcript
CommunityPakistan International School Qatar
elects new student parliament for the new academic session.
P6 P16 CommunityJanna Thomson, a young voice in Doha, waiting to be heard in the world.
Food for thoughtCOVERSTORY
Why are food allergies in children on the rise – and is
there anything parents can do to protect them? P4-5
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
Johnny English Strikes Again DIRECTION: David KerrCAST: Olga Kurylenko, Jake Lacy,
Emma Thompson SYNOPSIS: The new adventure
begins when a cyberattack reveals the
identities of all active undercover agents in Britain, leaving Johnny English as the secret service’s last hope. Called out of retirement, English dives headfi rst into action with the mission to fi nd the mastermind hacker. As a man with few
skills and analogue methods, Johnny English must overcome the challenges of modern technology to make this mission a success.
THEATRES: Landmark, The Mall
Sui Dhaaga – Made in IndiaDIRECTION: Sharat KatariyaCAST: Varun Dhawan, Anushka SharmaSYNOPSIS: It is a heartwarming story of pride and
self reliance, which fi nds its roots in the heart of India and refl ects the passion that runs through the veins of every single Indian. Taking the message of ‘Made in India’ forward, the fi lm modestly tries to bring back the traditional art forms
and handicrafts in focus. Set in a small town in India, the fi lm encapsulates the journey of an honest man from a humble background, who pursues his passion, overcoming all odds and soon fi nds himself on the cover of an international magazine with the world taking note and appreciating his talent.
THEATRES: Royal Plaza, Landmark, The Mall
The Mall Cinema (1): Devadas (Telugu) 3pm; Chekka Chivantha Vaanam (Tamil) 6pm; Sui Dhaaga - Made In India (Hindi) 9pm; Devadas (Telugu) 11:30pm.The Mall Cinema (2): Smallfoot (2D) 2pm; The House With A Clock In Its Wall (2D) 3:45pm; Smallfoot (2D) 5:45pm; Johnny English Strikes Again (2D) 7:30pm; The Bouncer (2D) 9:15pm; Varathan (Malayalam) 11pm.The Mall Cinema (3): Chekka Chivantha Vaanam (Tamil) 2pm; Varathan (Malayalam) 5pm; El Diesel (Arabic) 7:30pm; Night School (2D) 9:30pm; Chekka
Chivantha Vaanam (Tamil) 11:30pm.Landmark Cinema (1): The House With A Clock In Its Wall (2D) 2:15pm; Searching (2D) 4:15pm; The House With A Clock In Its Wall (2D) 6:15pm; Devadas (Telugu) 8:15pm; Sui Dhaaga - Made In India (Hindi) 11:15pm.Landmark Cinema (2): Smallfoot (2D) 3pm; Smallfoot (2D) 5pm; El Diesel (Arabic) 7pm; Varathan (Malayalam) 9pm; Varathan (Malayalam) 11:30pm.Landmark Cinema (3): Chekka
Chivantha Vaanam (Tamil) 3pm; Johnny English Strikes Again (2D) 6pm; Chekka Chivantha Vaanam (Tamil) 8pm; Chekka Chivantha Vaanam (Tamil) 11pm.Royal Plaza Cinema Palace (1): Smallfoot (2D) 2:30pm; Smallfoot (2D) 4:30pm; The House With A Clock In Its Wall (2D) 6:30pm; Varathan (Malayalam) 8:30pm; El Diesel (Arabic) 11pm.Royal Plaza Cinema Palace (2): Varathan (Malayalam) 3pm; Sui Dhaaga - Made In India (Hindi) 5:45pm; Chekka Chivantha Vaanam (Tamil) 8:15pm; Night School (2D) 11:15pm.
3Wednesday, October 3, 2018 GULF TIMES
COMMUNITYROUND & ABOUT
Compiled by Nausheen Shaikh. E-mail: [email protected], Events and timings subject to change
EVENTS
Determining identity of animal species
WHEN: TodayWHERE: Doha English Speaking School,
Madinat Khalifa SouthTIME: 7pmEver wonder if you can know the species
of bird from a feather left in your garden? How about a scat on the hiking trail? The worldwide campaign of DNA barcoding initiated in Canada is using a specific segment of DNA (the DNA barcoding gene) in the genome of each animal, plant, and others that can serve as a signature of that particular species. In Qatar, we are aiming to DNA barcode all vertebrate animal species and a few, more iconic invertebrates. In this talk, we will share what we have done so far on the reptiles, amphibians, and other animals in Qatar.
HEC Information SessionWHERE: 14th Floor, Tornado Tower,
West BayWHEN: TodayTIME: 5pm – 6pmHEC Paris invites you to the next
Information Session for its revamped: Specialised Master’s Degree in Strategic Business Unit Management (SBUM). This part-time degree programme is designed as a practical foundation for managing a business. It will give you the opportunity to learn international best practice from world-class faculty. Find out how it will help you take your career forward.
Re-Action ExhibitionWHERE: Katara, Bldg 19WHEN: OngoingTIME: 10am – 10pmCultural Village Foundation – Katara
presents ‘Re-Action’ Exhibition By Artists Islam Kamil Ali, Tamer Kamaluddine, Abdulathim Mahjoub al-Hussein, Nour al-Hadi and Hazim.
Kids ClubWHERE: Mall of QatarWHEN: OngoingTIME: 3pm – pmBe there with your children along to
join the Oryx Kids Club for a special family event. Activities will include a children’s digital drawing competition, the opportunity to meet friendly Oryx.
Inter-School Yoga ChampionshipWHEN: October 5WHERE: MES Indian School, Abu
HumourTIME: 1pmIndian Sports Centre is all set to organise
the second edition of ‘Inter-School Yoga Championship’, sponsored by ‘The Children’s Place’. The championship has been expanded to include students of all nationalities residing in Qatar. Free training sessions can also be arranged to help schools prepare their students for the championship. Team and Individual Championship is classified into two categories of under-12 and under-18 for both boys and girls. Rolling trophy will be awarded to the champion school. Last date of entry is September 26. For further details 55646693 /55824194 or e-mail at [email protected]
Med FoodWHERE: DECCWHEN: Ongoing till October 4TIME: 3pm – 9pmFor international entrepreneurs, traders,
manufacturers, suppliers, food technology companies, and hospitality services on food and beverage, MedFood will be an excellent platform to open new vistas to foray into the emerging markets of Qatar While Qatar economy is rapidly progressing, the demand and supply of food is inevitable increasing due to the growth of local
population, foreign worker and its tourism.
Breast Cancer AwarenessWHERE: InterContinental DohaWHEN: OngoingInterContinental Doha – The City is
organising several activities (especially at its various dining venues) that focus on highlighting the importance of early detection. Try the pink afternoon tea, the extravagant pink Bar Squared Brunch at The Square and pink-themed nights at Strata Restaurant and Lounge.
TCA QATAR Music Competition 2018WHERE: TCA Campus, Behind Gulf
Times BuildingWHEN: October 5 – October 13Enroll for music competition in
categories, including Sub Juniors ( Grade 3-5 ), Juniors (Grade 6 - 8 ), Intermediate
(Grade 9- 12) and Seniors (above 17 years ). Registration fee QR30. For further details, contact 66523871/44373259
TCA QATAR Dance Evolution Competition 2018
WHERE: TCA Campus, Behind Gulf Times Building
WHEN: Ongoing till October 5Are you a dancer ? Do you love to dance ?
If yes, then you can come and tap your foot steps on the your favorite dancing numbers and be a part of Qatar Dance Evolution Competition 2018.
Qatar Finance and Installment Exhibition
WHERE: DECCWHEN: November 3 – Novovember15TIME: 7pm – 10pmThe QFI Exhibition is a 3-day event that
brings together the best of Qatar’s finance community, and local and international visitors who are keen to access Qatar’s robust market. We are pleased to present this opportunity to local and international investors, banking, finance and government institutions, along with leading firms in the real estate, investment and fin-tech sectors.
After School ActivitiesWHERE: AtelierWHEN: OngoingMusic and arts Activities for students
taking place after they finish their day in
school includes Group Music lessons, Hip-hop, Ballet, Drawing and Painting, Drama Theatre & Taekwondo. Ages between 5 and 10 years old after school hours.
Hobby ClassesWHERE: Mystic Arts Centre behind Al
Hilal Focus Medical CentreWHEN:Wednesday – MondayMystic Art Centre, is a holistic
performing artsinstitution and a one stop solution for adults as well as children looking to explore their talents in various art forms. We offer classes in Carnatic Music, Hindustani Music, Karate, Yoga, Zumba, Classical Dance, Salsa, Hip Hop, contemporary and Bollywood dance forms. For details, call 4723680/ 33897609.
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.
Gymnastics World ChampionshipsWHERE: Aspire DomeWHEN: October 25 – November 3Over 700 male and female gymnasts from over 80 countries, including three Team
Qatar gymnasts, will compete across 10 days of competition in Doha’s ionic Aspire Dome. Experience the drama, emotions and excitement of gymnastics’ pinnacle event as global superstars go head to head in a bid to be crowned the best in the world.
Wednesday, October 3, 20184 GULF TIMES
COMMUNITY COVER STORY
Watching food allergiesAround 7% of children have food allergies and, as the recent case of
Natasha Ednan-Laperouse showed, in rare, tragic instances, these can
be fatal. How worried should parents be, wonders Emine Saner
Children are more likely to be affected — between 6 and 8% of children are thought to have food allergies, compared with less than 3% of adults — but numbers are growing in westernised countries, as well as places such as China
— Holly Shaw, nurse adviser for Allergy UK
‘’
In July 2016, Natasha Ednan-Laperouse collapsed on a fl ight from London to Nice, suff ering a fatal allergic reaction to a baguette
bought from Pret a Manger. At an inquest, the court heard how Natasha, who was 15 and had multiple severe food allergies, had carefully checked the ingredients on the packet. Sesame seeds — which were in the bread dough, the family later found out — were not listed.
“It was their fault,” her father Nadim said in a statement. “I was stunned that a big food company like Pret could mislabel a sandwich and this could cause my daughter to die.”
This horrifying case highlights how careful people with allergies need to be, as do the food companies — not least because allergies have been growing in prevalence in the past few decades.
“Food allergy is on the rise and
5Wednesday, October 3, 2018 GULF TIMES
COMMUNITYCOVER STORY
has been for some time,” says Holly Shaw, nurse adviser for Allergy UK, a charity that supports people with allergies. Children are more likely to be aff ected — between 6 and 8% of children are thought to have food allergies, compared with less than 3% of adults — but numbers are growing in westernised countries, as well as places such as China.
“Certainly, as a charity, we’ve seen an increase in the number of calls we receive, from adults and parents of children with suspected or confi rmed allergy,” says Shaw. Certain types of allergy are more common in childhood, such as cow’s milk or egg allergy but, she says: “It is possible at any point in life to develop an allergy to something previously tolerated.”
Stephen Till, professor of allergy at King’s College London and a consultant allergist at Guy’s and St Thomas’ hospital trust, says that an allergic reaction occurs when your immune system inappropriately recognises something foreign as a bug, and mounts an attack against it. “You make antibodies which stick to your immune cells,” he says, “and when you get re-exposed at a later time to the allergen, those antibodies are already there and they trigger the immune cells to react.”
Allergies can have a huge impact on quality of life, and can, in rare cases such as that of Natasha Ednan-Laperouse, be fatal. There is no cure for a food allergy, although there has been recent promising work involving the use of probiotics and drug treatments. The fi rst trial dedicated to treating adults with peanut allergy is just starting at Guy’s hospital.
“There is a lot of work going on in prevention to better understand the weaning process, and there’s a lot of buzz around desensitisation,” says Adam Fox, consultant paediatric allergist at Guy’s and St Thomas’ hospitals. Desensitisation is conducted by exposing the patient to minuscule, controlled amounts of the allergen. It’s an ongoing treatment though, rather than a cure. “When they stop having it regularly, they’re allergic again, it doesn’t change the underlying process.”
What we do know is that we are more allergic than ever. “If you think in terms of decades, are we seeing more food allergy now than we were 20 or 30 years ago? I think we can confi dently say yes,” says Fox. “If you look at the research from the 1990s and early 2000s there is pretty good data that the amount of peanut allergy trebled in a very short period.”
There has also been an increase in the number of people with severe reactions showing up in hospital emergency departments. In 2015-16, 4,482 people in England were admitted to A&E for anaphylactic shock (although not all of these will have been down to food allergy). This number has been climbing each year and it’s the same across Europe, the US and Australia, says Fox.
Why is there this rise in allergies? The truth is, nobody
knows. Fox doesn’t believe it is down to better diagnosis. And it won’t be down to one single thing. There have been suggestions that it could be caused by reasons ranging from a lack of vitamin D to gut health and pollution. Weaning practices could also infl uence food allergy, he says. “If you introduce something much earlier into the diet, then you’re less likely to become allergic to it,” he says. A 2008 study found that the prevalence of peanut allergy in Jewish children in the UK, where the advice had been to avoid peanuts, was 10 times higher than that of children in Israel, where rates are low — there, babies are often given peanut snacks.
Should parents wean their babies earlier, and introduce foods such as peanuts? Fox says it’s a “minefi eld”, but he advises sticking to the Department of Health and World Health Organisation’s line that promotes exclusive breastfeeding for six months before introducing other foods, “and to not delay the introduction of allergenic foods such as peanut and egg beyond that, as this may increase the risk of allergy, particularly in kids with eczema”. (Fox says there is a direct relationship between a baby having eczema and the chances of them having a food allergy.)
The adults Till sees are those whose allergies started in childhood (people are more likely to grow out of milk or egg allergies, than peanut allergies, for instance) or those with allergy that started in adolescence or adulthood. Again, it is not clear why you can tolerate something all your life and then develop an allergy to it. It
could be to do with our changing diets in recent decades.
“The commonest new onset severe food allergy I see is to shellfi sh, and particularly prawns,” says Till. “It’s my own observation that the types of food we eat has changed quite a lot in recent decades as a result of changes in the food industry and supply chain.” He says we are now eating foods such as tiger prawns that we probably didn’t eat so often in the past.
He has started to see people with an allergy to lupin fl our, which comes from a legume in the same family as peanuts, which is more commonly used in continental Europe but has been increasingly used in the UK. Sesame — thought to have been the cause of Natasha Ednan-Laperouse’s reaction — is another growing allergen, thanks to its inclusion in products that are now mainstream, such as hummus. One problem with sesame, says Till, is: “It often doesn’t show up very well in our tests, so it can be diffi cult to gauge just how allergic someone is to it.”
Fox says it’s important to stress that deaths from food allergy are still rare. “Food allergy is not the leading cause of death of people with food allergies— it’s still a very remote risk,” says Fox. “But of course you don’t want to be that one who is incredibly unlucky, so it causes great anxiety. The real challenge of managing kids with food allergy is it’s really hard to predict which of the children are going to have the bad reactions, so everybody has to behave as if they might be that one.” — The Guardian
Adam Fox, consultant paediatric allergist, advises sticking to the Department of Health and World Health Organisation’s line that promotes exclusive breastfeeding for six months before introducing other foods, “and to not delay the introduction of allergenic foods such as peanut and egg beyond that, as this may increase the risk of allergy, particularly in kids with eczema”
FINDING:“If you look at the research from the 1990s and early 2000s there is pretty good data that the amount of peanut allergy trebled in a very short period,” says Adam Fox, consultant paediatric allergist at Guy’s and St Thomas’ hospitals
Wednesday, October 3, 20186 GULF TIMES
COMMUNITYPISQ elects new student parliamentPakistan International School Qatar (PISQ) recently elected its new student parliament for the new academic session, including head boy and head girl.The elections for the parliament were compiled in two phases. In the first phase, the students elected class monitors through balloting and in the second they voted for the Head Boy and the Head Girl. The nominees for Head Boy included Muhammad Ahmed and Wahab Malik while Maryam Hazrat, Amna Saleem and Ayesha Habib were the candidates for Head Girl.Wahab Malik and Ayesha Habib won the elections for Head Boy and Head Girl, respectively.
The balloting process was monitored by Nargis Raza Otho, Principal of PISQ. Before the elections, she addressed the students and emphasised on the importance of right to vote, instructing them to make a fair use of their vote for the capable candidates. An oath-taking ceremony was also organised for the newly elected student parliament at Arbab Auditorium. The ceremony kicked off with the recitation of the Holy Qur’an. All the elected members solemnly pledged to be active, friendly, co-operative, disciplined and responsible, abiding by all the rules and regulations of the school.
UK-based arm of PRQ entered onto off icial Register of CharitiesThe UK operation of Paws Rescue Qatar, the country’s biggest animal rescue charity, has achieved charitable status and has been entered onto the UK’s Register of Charities.According to the press release, Paws Rescue UK was last week off icially accepted onto the extensive database of charities maintained by the Charity Commission, the body that regulates registered charities in England and Wales. The news reflected Paws Rescue’s growing maturity and progress as a charity. Established in Qatar in 2013 by Alison Caldwell and Emily Blenkinsop, the not-for-profit now runs a purpose-built shelter in Mesaieed that can comfortably house up to 100 dogs and 120 cats. Every year, the charity rescues, rehabilitates and rehomes large numbers of stray animals or surrendered pets either locally or overseas.Though it has been operating in Qatar since 2013, Paws Rescue Qatar established the UK arm of Paws Rescue in 2017 to ensure a greater degree of control over the rehoming process of animals transported there. The two operations work in very close conjunction with one another providing a wide range of support and care to animals.“We couldn’t be more pleased with the outcome of our application for charitable status,” said Alison Caldwell, Founder of PAWS Qatar. “All charities are hugely dependent on the generosity of their supporters, sponsors and other third-party partners. Achieving this charitable status provides an enormous boost to our eff orts in building these links by validating and further legitimising the important work that we undertake.” Paws Rescue Qatar is the only not-for-profit animal shelter operating in Qatar that is aff iliated with a recognised charity.In November 2017 Paws Rescue Qatar was recognised for its charitable work in Qatar when it was presented with the 3rd Annual Qatar British Business Forum (QBBF) award for Work in the Community by HRH Sophie, Countess of Wessex.
TNG to celebrate World Teachers’ DayThe Next Generation School (TNG) is all set to celebrate World Teachers’ Day tomorrow at TNG Al Wakrah Campus. This year’s theme ‘Right to education means right to qualified teachers’ is to set an important benchmark for the education sector to fulfil the deficiency of trained and skilled teachers. The celebrations will feature a panel discussion with members from Ministry of Education, Qatar University and Qatar Centre for Career Development. Students will also be participating to pay a tribute to their teachers. Representative from Unesco Doha will brief the audience about the objectives, projections and measures in place to train the unskilled teachers around the world.
7Wednesday, October 3, 2018 GULF TIMES
COMMUNITYPS celebrates 149th birthday of GandhiPearl School recently conducted a programme for the students of Grade-IV at Al Thumama Campus and Grade VII at West Bay Campus as part of the celebrations of 149th birthday of Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi, Indian activist and the leader of the Indian independence movement.
At the event, the students presented Dandi March and Satyagraha. Along with the quiz competition, a video highlighting Gandhi’s life and teachings was projected for the students. The programme kicked off with Qatar National Anthem and concluded with Indian National Anthem.
OIS celebrates Gandhi Jayanti with zealGandhi Jayanti was celebrated at Olive International School (OIS) recently, the 149th birth anniversary of Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi, Indian activist and the leader of the Indian independence movement.
The programme kicked off with a tribute to Gandhi. Jacob K M, Principal of OIS, addressed the audience. A musical play was also presented by the students of OIS followed by national songs. Geetha Somashekaran, Vice Principal of OIS, also spoke on the occasion.
DPS-MIS commemorates Gandhi JayantiDPS-Modern Indian School (MIS) recently celebrated Gandhi Jayanti, the 149th birth anniversary of Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi, Indian activist and the leader of the Indian independence movement, with patriotic fervour and gaiety. The day kicked off with an address by Asna Nafees, Principal of DPS-MIS, who highlighted the ideologies of the great patriot and motivated the students to follow Gandhi’s principles in their everyday life, emphasising on the school’s motto,
‘Service before Self”. The students of the Junior Wing actively participated in the plantation drive. This initiative evoked in their young minds the value of sustainable development and conservation of the natural resources. A digital projection bringing forth the thoughts of the prolific nationalist was also displayed. The budding artists of Grade I-II took part in a drawing and colouring activity.
Wednesday, October 3, 20188 GULF TIMES
COMMUNITYPISQ organises ‘Annual Inter-Wings Scrabble Tournament’Pakistan International School Qatar (PISQ) recently organised ‘Annual Inter-Wings Scrabble Tournament’. The students of primary, girls and boys wing participated in the tournament. The tournament aimed at enhancing the students’ vocabulary. The tournament was organised by Reema Rashid, Head of Arts and Culture Department. Nargis Raza Otho, Principal of PISQ, was the chief guest at the event. The programme kicked off with the recitation of the Holy Qur’an.The contestants were divided into Junior, Grade IV, and Senior, Grade V-XII, categories. There were two rounds in which each team was given ten moves. In the Junior category, first position was notched by Ayan Tauheed and Ramaha Riyaz. In the senior category competition
between Grade V and Grade VI, first position was bagged by Bushra Qazi and Zara Naeem. Amna Sajjad and Hurain Zaidi won the competition between Grade VII and Grade VIII and Maira Naeem and Laraib bagged the first position in the competition between Grade IX-X and Grade XI-XII. The judges of the competition included Shahab Gillani, Khawar Mehmood and Khawaer Mahmood, Teachers PISQ Boys Wing; Zareen Gul and Uzma, Teachers PISQ Primary Wing; and Rahat- ul- Ain, Iqra Islam and Naheed Akhter, Teachers PISQ Girls’ Wing.The tournament was concluded with a felicitation ceremony. The winning teams were awarded with the certificates by Nargis Raza Otho.
Banana Island Resort Doha by Anantara supports the ‘Power of Pink’ campaignIn observance of the International Breast Cancer Awareness Month (BCAM), Banana Island Resort Doha by Anantara, the first luxury brand resort of its kind in Qatar, has announced its support for the ‘Power of Pink’, global campaign to raise awareness against one of the most curable types of cancer, which due to lack of awareness and timely treatment continues to take thousands of lives every year.According to the press release, to support this international campaign during the month of October and as part of the resort’s social responsibility, the Banana Island Resort Doha by Anantara is organising several activities to support the ‘Power of Pink’ campaign. As a part of the initiative, selected facilities of the resort will donate a percentage of its proceeds to Qatar Cancer Society (QCS) such as the pink donuts that will be available at the popular ‘Zest Café’, while Azraq Restaurant aims to raise funds to support Breast Cancer patients by making a special donation to QCS for every Friday Brunch throughout October. In addition to this, the Balance Wellness Centre and the Anantara Spa will be giving
away complimentary vouchers to all female guests visiting the resort for a free Body Composition and Facial Analysis. Furthermore, the resort off ers a Spa and Wellness Pink Menu, exclusive for the month of October, especially curated to off er tension relieving and restorative lymphatic treatments that promotes good health. On this occasion, Jessica Lim, Spa and Wellness Manager, said, “Breast Cancer is a very important global issue at hand, and October has forever been a specific time for the community to shift its attention and join hands in support of those in need. The resort is delighted to co-operate with Qatar Cancer Society on this matter and confirms the resort’s commitment to help and support the local community. By supporting the ‘Power of Pink’ campaign, we strive to create the needed awareness among our staff , guests and visitors about this disease and methods of prevention through regular check-ups and screening and adoption of healthy lifestyle, and encouraging others to support this cause, which aff ects us all and fulfils the vision of building a healthy society.”
9Wednesday, October 3, 2018 GULF TIMES
COMMUNITYTRAVEL
La Palma’s highest peak, a magnet for stargazersThanks to its unique geology, the Spanish Canary Island of La Palma is one of the best
places in the world for stargazing. A law protecting the night skies and investment in cutting-
edge equipment are helping the island to cement its celestial status. By Carola Frentzen
The road rises steeply upwards as the car winds its way through the mountainous terrain of the Roque de
los Muchachos.Above the clouds, strange
shapes start to emerge: white and silver-coloured spheres, next to steel constructions with gigantic mirrored surfaces. Have aliens landed? Not quite, but here on the Canary Island of La Palma, you will find plenty of people looking for them.
The air is crystal clear, the sky a shimmering deep blue. “Like an excursion to the moon,” says one of the group of tourists. Barely any other spot in Europe is more beloved by astronomers and stargazers than the Canary Islands – especially Tenerife and the smaller island of La Palma.
“The cloud layer here is formed at between 700 and 1,500 metres, because of the prevailing winds from the north east,” says Elena Nordio, an astronomer.
That means the clouds almost never cover the massive mountain chain of the Cumbres, which runs from one side of the island to the other. At the highest point in the range, the 2,426-metre Roque de los Muchachos peak, the clouds lie far below, like a huge snow-covered field.
The sky here is so pure that only remote spots in Chile and Hawaii can compare. Moreover, there is hardly any industry to speak of in the area, and that means no large cities – so very little light pollution.
It is no wonder that Roque de los Muchachos was chosen as the site for “one of the most comprehensive fleets of telescopes in the entire world,” as the website of the observatory says.
Imposing telescopes are lined up next to each other, created and operated by experts from many countries whose life’s work is to research distant planets, black holes, supernovas and other celestial phenomena.
Among the instruments are gamma-ray telescopes that resemble colossal satellite dishes. One of them is part of the so-called CTA Observatory project, a collaboration between countries around the world to create the
next generation of ground-based observatory equipment.
The prototype has a diameter of 23 metres, while the total mirror surface space is 390 square metres. Researchers hope it will provide a view of such phenomena as the huge explosions created by collisions between stars and other celestial bodies.
Another main attraction is the “Gran Telescopio Canarias”
(GTC). With a diameter of 10.4 metres, it is the world’s largest optical infrared reflector telescope.
However, the GTC is destined to lose this status, because work has already begun in the Atacama Desert in Chile to build an “Extremely Large Telescope” (ELT) with a main reflecting mirror measuring 39 metres in diameter. The ELT is expected to
become operational in 2024.On La Palma, the telescope
collects data every night. When it gets dark, the silver dome opens up like a huge gorge. “It is as if a window to the universe is opening up,” says one visitor.
In order to convey just how meticulously the telescope scans the cosmos, astronomer Elene Nordio draws a comparison: “From here, you could see the
light of a single candle in New York.” She follows this up with another anecdote – that the sensitive equipment is cleaned using baby shampoo.
The GTC’s biggest achievement so far came in 2016, when it made the deepest glimpse ever into a distant galaxy from Earth – 500 light-years away.
“But there have been many other relevant discoveries as well, such as black holes and planets that are not part of our solar system,” Nordio says.
The clear heavens above La Palma are truly something special. “Many tourists come here just for this. The night sky has become a symbol, and astro-tourism increasingly popular,” she adds.
In order to guarantee a sky free of light pollution, in 1988, the Canary Islands passed the “Ley del Cielo” – law of the sky – the first of its kind in the world. Among other measures, glaring white street lamps were replaced by special orange-coloured sodium-vapour lamps with a reduced intensity level. Illuminated outdoor advertising signs were put under stricter controls.
In April 2012, La Palma was recognised as the planet’s first “Starlight Reserve,” an area comprising the entire island as well as parts of the surrounding ocean.
Indeed, heavenly attractions are in evidence everywhere you look. More than a dozen “miradores astronomicos” – astronomy lookout points – have been set up in recent years, reachable by both roads and hiking trails.
On one trail guidepost, a sign reads “Polaris – 4,077,487,635,167,800 kilometres” – a figure exceeding four quadrillion that underscores the immeasurable dimensions of the universe.
“People nowadays are seeking out this connection to the cosmos and want to understand the universe better,” Nordio says. The most commonly asked question is: Are we alone in the universe?
As to her own opinion on the matter, Nordio responds: “The universe is huge. There must be other life forms. But we don’t have any evidence. Not yet.” – DPA
ATTRACTION: The "Gran Telescopio Canarias" (GTC) is one of the main attractions for stargazers and astronomers on the island.
POPULAR: Telescopes on the Roque de los Muchachos, a popular destination for stargazers and astronomers on the Spanish Canary Island of La Palma.
Wednesday, October 3, 201810 GULF TIMES
COMMUNITY INFOGRAPHIC
11Wednesday, October 3, 2018 GULF TIMES
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
Have you been reviewing your family history lately, Aries? Of special
interest is your cultural background. What educational, social, and
religious environment were you born into? What are its values? In the
end, do you feel a strong aff inity with them now or are those views
diff erent from the ones you hold? These are interesting avenues of
thought for you today.
Overall, the forecast for today is fairly good. The aspects seem to favour
figuring out the meaning of all that’s transpired over the past several
weeks. It’s an opportunity for you to take a leisurely look at the distance
you’ve covered moving toward your goals. Since it’s an auspicious day
for social activities, why not get together with friends and discuss the
latest events with them?
You might be tempted to settle certain matters by radical means.
The visionary part of you means you’re painfully aware of the world’s
wrongs. You see no reason not to take action to correct them. But the
forces in play are so powerful that you can’t expect to institute a new
order in one day. If you have an emotional question to resolve, it would
be better to wait a few days before making a decision.
You just can’t do everything at once, Capricorn. How do you expect
to reduce your stress and recuperate while at the same time continue
to be a superstar performer in every area of your life? Don’t pressure
yourself to perform today. If you do, you’re likely to deplete your
reserves even further. Take it easy, rest, and relax! You’ve earned this
little break.
It’s time to elevate your sense of self, Taurus. You’re just as good as
anyone else, so why don’t you believe it? The problem is that you’re
very sensitive about having an ego. Even though you know everyone
does, you punish yourself for its existence! This is a noble idea, but it
doesn’t do you any good. You’ll never be perfect and neither will anyone
else. What are you worrying about?
Have you felt somewhat lost for the past few days? The fog may lift
today and enable you to situate yourself at last. You’re probably eager
to settle a question that has nagged at you and interfered with your
judgment. However, you should be patient, especially if it has to do with
emotional matters. Try to understand, but don’t take immediate action.
You’ll be more objective beginning tomorrow.
Today will be fairly calm in terms of outside events, but your inner
world is likely to be in a rush of activity. Today you wish you could find
the solution to your heartaches as well as your career predicaments.
You’d like to achieve some supreme understanding of the events that
took place over the past month. First you must force your brain to slow
down. Haste makes waste, as you know!
This is a good moment to adapt your logic and reason to reality,
Aquarius. If you don’t, you’re going to run into some intellectual
problems. Everyone knows that you find new ideas plentiful, but unless
you have plans to be a novelist, link your thinking to reality. The “pie in
the sky” thinking that you engage in isn’t particularly useful to the rest
of us living here in the real world.
Today your intellectual and expressive abilities should receive a boost
from the planets. It’s an excellent time to organise your thoughts about
presenting a project to a possible collaborator, engage in trade, or write.
In terms of your private life, it’s also a good time to examine the latest
events, certain aspects of which are still partially misunderstood.
You may have been feeling somewhat disillusioned. Perhaps you lost
sight of your goals or misplaced your faith in yourself. You’ll feel some
relief beginning today. This is an opportunity to end what has been
a somewhat apathetic and moody phase and begin a new one that’s
based on work and meditation. As you can imagine, this new phase will
be much more fulfilling!
You have a lot of thinking to do about your professional goals,
Sagittarius. You’ll go over the elements to see if there isn’t some way to
approach things diff erently. Are there new paths you could try or ways
to improve things? Your mind will go a thousand miles a minute today.
Those who spend time with you may be totally exhausted by the end of
the day because of all the questions you ask!
It’s going to be a little diff icult talking to you today, Pisces. You, who
can be easily influenced by others, will be listening to and criticising
everything that people say. Nothing emotional or vague is going to get
into your head. It’s as if you’ve installed an extremely fine filter that lets
in only what you allow. You’re going to appear to be a real expert. Don’t
show off too much!
Smart tips on how to brighten up your interiors with pastelsP
astel colours exhibit the characteristics of art pastels and hence the name. These shades refl ect a lot of light, so using them could brighten up a space.
Abraham Santosh, Head Designer at Elegancia and Aparajita Ghosh, Design Director at Vaya Home share some tips on how to use use pastel colours inside a house to have a subtle impact.
To create chic and mid-century modern spaces, one of the strongest style trends that are coming up are the pastels. The emergence of the dark hues on the interior wall adds to the need for lighter, softer tones for the upholstery fabrics.
Bold patterns and prints with heavy details can be understated when pastel colours are incorporated into them. For example, a carpet has a bold and heavy pattern on it but if the colours exhibited are pale, the carpet would still look washed out or faded.
Dusky pinks featured against charcoal,
beige or dark blue walls help create a 1950’s look.
Pastel coloured walls can be soothing to the eyes and generally give off a fruity vibe. For example, a pastel green wall can be cool and fresh like mint ice-cream, while a pastel yellow will give you a tropical pina colada like feel.
These colours have playful energies and can be incorporated as accent elements in kids’ rooms. In a grey or white setting, pastel colours become cool, breezy and tranquil.
When used for kitchen cabinetry, pastel colours have a vintage appeal. When the theme of the kitchen is to mimic the seventies, the colours can help turn the space hip and groovy.
Pastel colours tend to carry a certain class on upholstered furniture. They bring about luxury to a couch or a sofa. These colours make upholstered furniture comfy, cosy and inviting. — IANS
Wednesday, October 3, 201812 GULF TIMES
COMMUNITY CARTOONS/PUZZLES
Adam
Pooch Cafe
Garfield
Bound And Gagged
Codeword
Wordsearch
Every letter of the alphabet is used at least once. Squares with the same number in have the same letter in. Work out which number represents which letter.
Puzz
les
cour
tesy
: Puz
zlec
hoic
e.co
m
Sudoku
Sudoku is a puzzle based
on a 9x9 grid. The grid is
also divided into nine (3x3)
boxes. You are given a
selection of values and to
complete the puzzle, you
must fill the grid so that
every column, every anone
is repeated.
Pure Poetry
ALLEGORY BALLAD COUPLET ELEGY EPIC HAIKU HYMN
IMAGERY LINE LYRIC MEASURE PASTORAL POETRY QUATRAIN
RHYME SONNET STANZA TRIMETER TRIOLET VERSE
13Wednesday, October 3, 2018 GULF TIMES
COMMUNITYPUZZLES
Colouring
Answers
Wordsearch Codeword
Across1. Be critical, to a degree, of the
hat (6)5. Charged with being drunk (6)8. It’s a bit quiet, you say (5)9. Articles on exhibit may be, as
a precautionary measure (2,4)10. A little short of getting a
majority with the figure entered (6)
11. A quick foray to capture the president (5)
14. The title’s changed to: “A Potential Killer” (8)
16. The note, dear, is upsetting to the note’s recipient (6)
18. What one got for selling the antique pearls? (5,3,3,4)
Down1. Indicates the scores (6)2. A scratch man (4)3. Well, I got the agent to stand a
first drink (8)4. Stay calm and remove only
your jacket (4,4,5,2)5. Article that reveals King
Edward had a stand-in (6)6. Decline to give work to the
doctor (4)7. Can’t decide about the free
return (6)12. Lively after the legal trouble,
or set-back (7)13. Light brown, to be quite
honest (7)15. The soldiers outside, love, will
be French too (5)17. Drive out from the parking at
“The Continental” (5)19. Very much want help with the
writing (8)20. Is it sinking down in it’s
basket? (6)21. Scrub out “riverlet” in it (6)23. A very agreeable fellow (3-3)24. Won’t converse with him (4)26. A band in the arena (4)
Wednesday, October 3, 201814 GULF TIMES
COMMUNITY SHOWBIZ
Fashion weeks are exhausting business for anyone involved enough to be working full time on them. On this side
of the Atlantic, Fashion Week proceedings took on an edgier twist than those of Milan, Paris, London or New York. Fashion Pakistan Week Winter Festive 18 shows saw designers embracing varied multi-cultural infl uences. Colour also made a refreshing comeback, too - Maheen Khan’s, hot pink, violet blush and acid green stood out amongst the usual sea of earthly tones. FPW Winter Festive is known for Bridal showcases, but cutting the cliché expectations and tailoring a beach resort or luxury collection is always
a winning game too. Fashion desk lists down the top four designers, at the fore of the Pakistan fashion scene, each with an idiosyncratic signature aesthetic and all focused on dressing the modern woman in inspired, dynamic and beautifully crafted designs.
Maheen KhanMaheen is one of fashion’s
congenital romantics, given to grand gestures that stir the emotions. The designer’s own inclinations toward a darkish glamour were evident in the popping deep colours as she draped dress trailing threads of old gold lurex. The collection featured exaggerated lopsided collars, skirt with pink fl orals
and minimalism for the bridal wears. Sadaf Kanwal in blush pink ensemble was perfectly parallel to how romanticism is the perfect combination of sensitivity with strength. Perfectly structured silhouettes, pure volume, sculptural and movable pieces!
The Pink Tree CompanySomething about the
unnecessary pace of change in the industry got The Pink Tree Company thinking about what attaches women to their wedding wardrobes. What makes a dress a favourite dress? That’s where they started for this year’s collection. Winded in 50 shades of pink, the collection paid an ode to Gulabi Gang. From cotton to organza,
velvet and silk, the collection featured gota, ghararas, lehhngas and voluminous organza dupattas – predictable line of traditional wedding wear – but tailored to detail. Feminine strength in all its multifaceted power! Their workmanship is lovely and intricate.
Deepak PerwaniCelebrating 24 years in fashion
fraternity, Deepak fl aunted the signature sexiness of his brand in a dramatic presentation. The most awaited collection of Fashion Pakistan Week this season. It was a triumphant solo show with a lot of layering; somewhere vibrant hues, somewhere feminine and a whole lot of intricate work, machine
embroideries, sequins, crystals, screen prints, block prints and digital prints. The most prominent feature of the collection were the regal traditional pieces and sexy bustier kaftaans that remained feminine and never crossed over to tacky. Sleek ghagra cholis, long tapered shirts, heavy lehngas paired with a less intricate net dupatta was the order of the day. The plunging necklines will defi nitely be making a mark in the upcoming wedding season, with brides who are willing to dare and bare with a touch of class and glamour. Deepak’s men collection featured sherwanis, suits and waistcoats paired with kurtas and pyjamas.
Maheen KarimWhispy chic, utterly exotic and
done with all her heart and soul is the only way to describe Maheen’s collection. Lots of ruffl es and off shoulder sexiness, a fair amount of riding-habit edgy cuts, some chunky pleats, plus the can-canned skirts; dare we say, a shade sexier than previous collection and more decadent. Maheen’s big eccentricities, like those tangerines, salmon and prints, are winning big time. One had to love the clash prints and worked wearable kaaftans even though they may not be to everyone’s taste. However for the lover of the western wear or Pakistani wardrobe, they were embellished minimum with obtruding fl ower patterns.
Bold and the beautifulGlitz
& Glam
By Muhammad Asad Ullah
Maheen Khan Maheen Karim The Pink Tree Company Deepak Perwani
CELEBRATION: Deepak Perwani celebrates 24 years in Pakistan Fashion Industry with a solo show of glitzy glamour and substantial fashion content.
Wednesday, October 3, 2018 15GULF TIMES
COMMUNITYSHOWBIZ
Jon Snow’s ghost to return in GoT’s season 8
Ahead of the fi nale season of medieval fantasy series Game of Thrones, Joe Bauer, the visual eff ects supervisor of the show, says that Jon Snow’s character direwolf Ghost will make a comeback in the forthcoming season.
In an interview to thehuffi ngtonpost.com, Bauer said: “Oh, you’ll see him again. He has a fair amount of screen time in Season 8. He does show up... he’s very present and does some pretty cool things.”
Bauer also explained that the lack of direwolves in the last GoT season might have had something to do with the fact that regular wolves aren’t as magical to work with.
“The direwolves are tough because you don’t want to get them wrong, so we end up always shooting real wolves and doing a scaling trick with them, but the real wolves only behave in certain ways.”
On the show (but not in the books) only Ghost and Nymeria (Arya Stark’s wolf) are still alive from the original pack of direwolves but Bauer made no mention of whether or not we will see Arya’s Nymeria again in the fi nal season. – IANS
Osbourne axed from X Factor
Television personality Sharon Osbourne has been ousted as a judge of X Factor after she passed derogatory remarks on performers at the reality TV show.
Producer Simon Cowell and show chiefs took the decision to fire her. Amid all the speculations, Osbourne took to Facebook to confirm that she is no more a part of the talent entertainer, reports bbc.com
She wrote: “After watching the new season of X Factor unfold, I’ve seen the new judges finding their rhythm and (they) are doing brilliantly. Simon was so gracious to find me a spot on the live shows but at this point I really don’t think I’m needed and I would honestly feel odd coming in at this point.
“So I have decided to pass on the series this year. I wish the show continued success and as much as I love to get my face on TV you will have to do without me this season.”
Earlier, the former judge slammed Cowell during an interview with TV host jock Howard Stern, saying Cowell is a pain in ---- “ and revealing she was demanding 10 million pounds from Cowell as her contract means she must be paid the same as new judges Robbie Williams and Ayda Field.
The competition is now in its 15th series and is currently in the middle of the Six Chair Challenge. – IANS
Having three kids leads to wild household: Kim West
Reality TV star Kim Kardashian West has her hands full with three children, and the adjustment period hasnt been easy on her husband Kanye West either.
On Sunday’s episode of Keeping Up with the Kardashians, Kim, 37, opened up about how their growing family has aff ected her relationship with Kanye, 41.
They share daughters North, 5, Chicago, 8 months, and son Saint, 2.
“Having three kids, honestly, is crazy,” she said, reports people.com.
“I remember it was really hard for North when Saint was born, so I kind of put everything into North to make her feel extra special. And now, with Chicago, I’m trying to work even (harder) to make sure North and Saint feel like they have enough time with me and they feel super loved and that no one is going to take their place,” she added.
But with Kim channelling all her energy into bringing the young
ones up, Kanye had begun feeling neglected, leading to some tension between them. In one scene, Kim revealed the couple had fought over her Instagram feed.
“He wanted me to post six Polaroids from that shoot that I posted – those pictures. But I posted one from the beach,” Kim recounted to sister Kourtney, 39.
She further said: “He wanted them to all match up and be all from the motel. That’s what the fi ght was! I’m like, ‘I like the beach one.’ He’s like, ‘No, you don’t understand, I see the vision!’”
When Kim said she had to post about her fragrance line, Kanye shut it down, demanding she promote the other shoot instead.
In another scene with Khloe, Kim recounted a fi ght she had had with Kanye after she didn’t get him the right band-aid.
“When you have three kids, it’s kind of a wild household. I’m kind of annoyed because I wish he would understand I’m exhausted. Like, go get your own band-aid,” she said. – IANS
IN MEMORIAM: In his blog, Amitabh Bachchan says Krishna Raj Kapoor kept together vast family of celebrated individuals.
EXHAUSTED MOM: Kim Kardashian West says having three kids, honestly, is crazy.
Megastar Amitabh Bachchan has mourned the death of Krishna Raj Kapoor, the widow of the legendary Bollywood
actor-fi lmmaker Raj Kapoor, and said she kept together a vast family of “celebrated individuals”.
Krishna Raj Kapoor died here on Monday at the age of 87, bringing an end to the second generation of the infl uential clan.
She is survived by her sons Randhir Kapoor, Rishi Kapoor, Rajiv Kapoor, and daughters Ritu Nanda and Rima Kapoor-Jain and; grandchildren Karisma Kapoor, Kareena Kapoor Khan, Ranbir Kapoor
and Riddhima Kapoor Sahni.“Krishna Raj Kapoor, the matriarch
of the family, the epitome of grace and dignity, gentle and loving to all, caring, faultless in etiquette and family protocol. She kept this vast family of celebrated individuals together as one bond,” Big B wrote on his blog late on Monday.
The 75-year-old thespian quoted a famous line by her to brides to be.
“Jab pati ke ghar bahu ban kar jaana, toh yeh soch lena ki tum kainchi lekar jaana chahti ho ya buniya ki auzaar,” (“When you go as a bride into your husbands home, you must decide whether you want to carry scissors with you or a pair of knitting needles!”)
Amitabh explained: “Scissors symbolising the cutting of relations in the new home and family; knitting needles, to knit the family together.”
Big B then said the Krishna had insisted that “when she goes she wants to have the prayers conducted by the four faiths” — Gurbani (Sikhism), Shlokas (Hinduism), Bible reading (Christianity), and words from the Quran (Islam)”.
Krishna, who married Raj Kapoor in May 1946, was the sister of the legendary villain, the late Prem Nath and comedian Rajendra Nath. Their brother-in-law is the other Bollywood baddie, Prem Chopra. – IANS
Big B mourns death of Krishna Raj Kapoor
OUSTED: Sharon Osbourne has been ousted as a judge of X Factor after she passed derogatory remarks on performers.
COMEBACK: Jon Snow's character direwolf Ghost will make a comeback in the forthcoming season.
Wednesday, October 3, 201816 GULF TIMES
COMMUNITY
A young voice waiting to be heard in the worldJanna Thomson is only 12-years-old and yet her attitude towards life and her music makes
her seem wise enough to take the music industry by storm, writes Mudassir Raja
Here’s a young girl dominating our summer soundtrack, ready and waiting to seize the next-big-thing crown. Not happy listening to her cover tracks alone,
we wanted to know what this young girl is all about. What we discovered was humility, love for her craft and aspirations to create change with her music. Janna Thomson is only 12-years-old and yet her attitude towards life and her music makes her seem wise enough to take the music industry by storm.
In such a young age, she has shown all signs of becoming a successful singer on the international stage. Only time and opportunity matters.
She has the talent and a guiding father who keeps encouraging her to follow her dreams. Recently, Community sat down with her to talk about her accomplishments and future aspirations.
Who are you? Where have you come from? and where you’re heading to?
I’m an aspiring young singer from Scotland and I study at The International School of Choueifat Doha. I am in Grade-VIII. Well talking about my passion for music, I started singing at the age of four. My dad used to sing for me a lot, to put me to bed when I was a kid and I think that’s what made me aware of singing. Ever since then, I have been honing my singing skills and trying to get better with every single day.
Who has been your inspiration?Initially I never thought of being a
professional singer. But, about an year ago, I started listening to a KPop band called BTS. They’re spreading this message of loving yourself as a person and I found that really inspiring. Something that clicked me! Well to name a few other singers, I am inspired by Adele. She’s an extra-ordinary singer. People often call me ‘Little Adele.’ I also listen to Alec Benjamin and Demi Lovato.
Have you taken part in some competitions?
I bagged the fi rst prize at ‘2017 Qatar National Music Competition’, 11 and under vocal category. I’ve also been on The Voice Kids Arabia competition in Lebanon. I really want to go to Britain’s Got Talent though.
What have you been doing to improve yourself as a singer?
I practice a lot. I try to challenge myself with songs that are challenging to pick up. I have been quite successful so far. Now since I’ve successfully developed my vocal skills, listeners cannot really recognise if it’s a young girl, merely from my voice.
First I had a piano teacher and then when I was nine I started off with vocal lessons. The teacher was from Belarus and she taught me how to breathe when singing. Right now, I’m practicing on my own.
My dad understands the music and helps me with my singing. He has an ear for music. I plan on studying music for my higher studies.
For how long have you been living in
Doha? I have been living in Qatar for eight years.
As soon as we shifted here, I started singing and I cherish it. There are many diff erent kinds of music in Qatar. It is a very music-based country. It gives me piece of mind and concentration. It is a very social place. You can meet new people and interact with global singers and musicians.
Do you aspire on taking music as a profession?
My goal is to try and make my career out of music. I think I’ll be able to do that if I’m determined enough and start writing my own songs.
The music talent of the songstress can be accessed at her Instagram janna_thomson and at Facebook Janna Thomson.
ASPIRING SINGER: Janna Thomson aspires to pursue music as a career. Photos by Ram Chand YOUNG ARTISTE: The young artiste started singing when she was only four years old.
