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Karan Johar happy over Alia Bhatt’s journey

CAMPUS | 3 COMMUNITY | 7 ENTERTAINMENT | 12

UCQ students launch projects to support

mental health initiative

Nakilat and JVs hold annual beach

clean-up

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MONDAY 28 MARCH 2016 @peninsulaqatar @peninsula_qatarEmail: [email protected] thepeninsulaqatar

P | 4-5

Chinese sericulture and silk art and trade

dating back more than 2,000 years are

explored in an exhibition which recently

opened at Qatar Museums (QM) Gallery

at Katara.

SILK ROAD TO SILK ROAD TO CULTURECULTURE

| 03MONDAY 28 MARCH 2016

CAMPUS

The Peninsula

Achieving good mental and

emotional health is being

highlighted by students at

the University of Calgary in

Qatar (UCQ) who are deepening pub-

lic understanding of mental health and

well-being through a range of com-

munity projects. These initiatives are

part of the University’s strategy to en-

hance community health, reflecting its

vision to offer an environment of mu-

tual care which allows effective learn-

ing to take place and in which there is

an understanding about mental health

and wellness.

“The mental and physical health

among our students, faculty and staff

is a priority, both on our campus here

in Qatar and our main campus in Can-

ada,” said Dr Kim Critchley, Dean and

CEO of UCQ.

“As Qatar transitions toward a

knowledge-based economy, human

capital will be a critical factor. Building

communities whose members support

and care for each other, a crucial com-

ponent of our approach to healthcare

wellness, promises to enable citizens

and residents of Qatar to contribute to

national development.”

Students also held sessions at Qa-

tar University and Qatar Secondary

Independent School for Girls featur-

ing role-playing activities to encour-

age empathy for the mentally-ill, intro-

ducing participants to headsets that

simulate auditory hallucinations, and

providing students with critical infor-

mation, focusing particularly on adoles-

cents, who are among those especially

at risk. These sessions enabled UCQ to

strengthen its ties with the community,

and build awareness about the impor-

tant topic of mental health.

Through their projects, UCQ stu-

dents are countering the stigmas af-

flicting those suffering from mental ill-

ness, and demonstrate the importance

of the compassion that is at the heart

of nursing. Promoting mental health

and well-being builds both the long-

term content and productivity that is

conducive to achieving the develop-

ment goals of Qatar National Vision

2030 where human development lies

in preventive and curative health care,

both physical and mental, taking in-

to account the differing needs of men,

women and children.

Aisha Almarri, a second year Qa-

tari nursing student at UCQ, said: “Our

projects allow community members

to acquire basic knowledge about the

mental illnesses that are prevalent in

Qatar, and experience firsthand some

of the symptoms with which the men-

tally ill cope. This initiative has shown

that knowledge and empathy can

overcome harmful stereotypes, and

foster the kind of inclusive develop-

ment that remains at the heart of the

long-term vision Qatar pursues.”

In their outreach, students uti-

lized an array of social media plat-

forms to reach a broad and diverse

audience. Students turned to Insta-

gram launching an account that pro-

vides useful information about At-

tention Deficit Hyperactivity Disor-

der (ADHD), a mental illness often

diagnosed in children that has long

been prevalent in Qatar. They also

created a Facebook page, titled “Say

No to Stigma,” prompting a dialogue

about mental health.

The Peninsula

Sultan Sooud Al Qassemi, a much respect-

ed commentator on public affairs in the Ar-

ab world, expert on the use of the Internet,

and champion of the arts will be speaking at

Northwestern University in Qatar on March 29.

Al-Qassemi’s voice was considered one of the

most influential Emirati voices during the Arab Spring

and its aftermath, and his effective use of Twitter led

to his involvement in international Internet policy cir-

cles. As a champion and devotee of the arts, he is the

founder of the Sharjah-based Barjeel Art Foundation,

which has promoted Arab artists through a series of

exhibitions in the United Arab Emirates and in ma-

jor European venues. He is also a noted collector of

established and emerging Arab artists and a tireless

promoter of their work.

A prolific writer, Sultan Sooud Al-Qassemi’s arti-

cles have appeared in such publications as the Fi-

nancial Times, Foreign Policy, The (Toronto) Globe

and Mail, The Guardian, The Independent, Huffing-

ton Post, Time.com and Newsweek.com, among oth-

ers. He has also made frequent television appearanc-

es. rose to prominence during the Arab Spring “when

his tweets became a major news source, rivaling the

major news networks at the time,” according to a bi-

ography on the MIT Media Lab website.

His writings have often provoked controversy, in-

cluding one proposing that certain expats be granted

UAE citizenship and another that argued that civil un-

rest across the Arab world had positively influenced

the emergence of Gulf cities as commercial and cul-

tural centers for the regain.

His use of social media led to an association with

the MIT Media Lab in Cambridge, Massachusetts

where he is a Director’s Fellow and was also named

to the Global Commission on Internet Governance.

Gulf Business has twice named him among the 100

Most Powerful Arabs.

He was educated at the American University in

Paris and the European Business School. He resides

in Sharjah and Dubai.

Sultan Sooud Al Qassemi will speak at a communi-

ty meeting on Tuesday, March 29 at 12 p.m. in Room

3069 at the Carnegie Mellon University building in

Education City.

NU-Q to host Middle East commentator Sultan Al Qassemi

UCQ students launch projects to support mental health initiative

COVER STORY

04 | MONDAY 28 MARCH 2016

By Raynald C Rivera

The Peninsula

Chinese sericulture and silk art and trade dat-

ing back more than 2,000 years are explored

in an exhibition which recently opened at

Qatar Museums (QM) Gallery at Katara.

Visitors to the “Silks from the Silk Road – Chinese

Art of Silk” exhibition will know more about silk as

a product and a vital element of Chinese culture. It

provides valuable insights on the history of the Silk

Road and its importance as a bridge for economic

and cultural exchange between East and West.

In collaboration with Qatar Museums, the China

National Silk Museum brought a collection of over a

hundred pieces for the exhibition which is organ-

ised as a vital element of the ongoing 2016 Qatar

China Year of Culture.

By virtue of its location, Qatar played an impor-

tant role as a hub on the Maritime Silk Road and

provided invaluable contributions to the develop-

ment of the Silk Road trade route.

“One of the highlights of the exhibition is clothing

that belong to different dynasties, some of which

have similarities and connections,” said Xue Yan, re-

searcher at China National Silk Museum and curator

of the exhibition.

One of the pieces on display, which might be of

interest to Arab audience, is a costume which can

be traced back to the 13th Century. The said cos-

tume bears Arabic letters, which, Yan said proves

the Silk Road contributed in a big way to commu-

nication both in cultural and economic aspects be-

tween nations.

Exhibition visitors are given a chance to witness

a number of garments used in ancient China such as

a replica of a straight hem robe with longevity pat-

tern worn during the time of the Han Dynasty from

3rd century BC to 1st century AD.

The exhibition features the material properties

and diverse uses of silk, as well as the products cre-

ated throughout history. It also delves into the dif-

ferent techniques of silk production, traditional em-

broidery, ornamental brocading, the Kesi weaving

technique, silk painting, and new silk design con-

cepts.

Even though thousands of years have already

passed, these ancient methods and techniques in

silk production and designs remains alive up to this

day.

“Bamboo and Birds”, a three-piece tapestry

which welcomes visitors at the entrance of the ex-

po, is an example of a modern silk artwork using tra-

ditional Chinese techniques. Three traditional tech-

niques were used in the making of such piece, which

highlights a familiar scenery in China, namely em-

broidery, printing and Kesi - a type of weaving done

by the tapestry method in fine silk and gold thread.

A cultural journey through Silk Road

COVER STORY


The ancient art of silk design has been passed on

from generation to generation and is manifest in cre-

ations of today’s Chinese fashion designers, some of

whom have gained wide acclaim reaping awards in-

ternationally.

One of the costumes showcased is a gown de-

signed with the phoenix as an inspiration, which Yan

said, is a very auspicious and sacred animal in China.

The gown incorporates traditional embroidery and cut

which mimick the feathers and the tail of the sacred

bird.

Paper cutting is an ancient art in China done dur-

ing auspicious times. They cut paper and stick them on

the window to create a joyful atmosphere and this an-

cient art is fused into the design of a silk gown which is

shown at the expo.

Chinese ink painting has been effectively employed

in another dress which has also used western silhou-

ette techniques in its design.

Modern techniques applied in traditional dresses

are also evident in a couple of exhibits which combine

acrylic materials to silk in a mosaic design resulting to a

combination of varied textures.

Environment awareness has been underlined in the

design of a black sik dress which can be worn in eight

varying ways.

“It encourages people to be more environment

friendly because it can be worn in eight ways so it is

like having eight pieces of clothing,” explained Yan.

Also showcased at the expo are the art of silk, in-

cluding the new digital textile technology and the inte-

gration of traditional weaving and dyeing techniques.

Zhang Qian, a Chinese official and diplomat who

played a significant role in opening China to commer-

cial trade in the 2nd century BC, by setting up the Silk

Road, is also included in the exhibition.

The exhibition includes 100 selected silk products

and modern artistic works of silk garments, as well as

other accompanying exhibits such as ceramic tea sets

and tea works.

Also included in the expo is a loom, which Yan said

is an implement every home in China possesses in an-

cient times as crucial to the production of silk fabrics.

Prior to the launch of the exhibition, several public

programmes were organised including a talk by cura-

tor Xue Yan that explored Chinese silk on the Silk Road

from the 10th to the 14th century and a number of inter-

active tie-dyeing workshops.

The exhibition is open to the public until May 9.


COMMUNITY

Holiday Villa Doha brings Malaysian cuisine to Qatar International Food FestivalThe Peninsula

Hundreds of the Qatar International Food Fes-

tival patrons flocked the Holiday Villa Hotel

& Residence booth for a taste of mouth-wa-

tering Malaysian delicacies. The popular South East

Asian signature Nasi Lemak – coconut flavoured fra-

grant rice served with chicken rendang, sambal and

boiled egg is the top favourite, alongside the other

Malaysian dishes such as Chicken Rice, Curry Laksa

and Spring Rolls.

General Manager, Joey Chen, said: “On behalf of

the management, I would like to congratulate the

Qatar Tourism Authority (QTA) for another success-

ful Qatar International Food Festival (QIFF). Every year

we are excited to participate in this event and we

look forward to the delightful cravings of the patrons.

We are thankful to the organisers for allowing us to

join this exciting event.”

Holiday Villa Doha will be serving the Malaysian

delicacies at the QIFF daily from 1:00pm to 10:30pm

until March 28, 2016.

The Peninsula

During the Best Buddies In-

ternational Month in March,

Best Buddies Qatar held

football matches among

secondary schools for boys. Al Tam-

akon, Tariq Bin Ziad, Jassim Bim Ha-

mad, Al-Shahaniya, Siliya, Khalifa ,

Nasseer Bin Abdullah Al-Attiya, Ah-

mad Bin Hambal and Omar Bin Ab-

dulaziz participated.

80 Best Buddies Qatar members

participated in the competition dur-

ing the whole month and in the final

Tariq Bin Ziad took on Siliya Second-

ary Schools for boys. Siliya Secondary

Schools for boys won the touirnament

and received the BBQ month football

competition champion cup.

The event was supported by Qa-

tar Football Association and Qatar

Sport Club. The match marked The

World Down Syndrome Day. The club

members of Qatar Sports Club scored

goals in peers with Best Buddies Qa-

tar members with Down syndrome

disability.

Mohammed Al-Sayeed, the Man-

ager of Rehabilitation and Integration

Department of Best Buddies Qatar,

said: “This month has been filled with

numerous activities. Today we are

glad to hold the final football match

among 8 schools and let our mem-

bers with down syndrome take an

active part in it in terms of our mis-

sion of integration of people with and

without intellectual developmental

disabilities into society. We congratu-

late Siliya Secondary School for Boys

with taking the first place in this com-

petition and express our gratitude to

Qatar Football Association and Qa-

tar Sports Club for their support and

making the event a success”.

Hassan Yousef Al-Badar, a teach-

er at Tariq Bin Ziad School and a su-

pervisor of the football competition,

commented: ”We got to know about

this competition from Qatar Football

Association and we gladly joined it.

We participate not to win a cup but

to get involved into sports along with

others. The members with disabili-

ties enjoy the completion, they feel

same as us because in the past they

attended special schools, and nowa-

days they play with us, talk with us.

Inclusion of the students with disa-

bilities with students without disa-

bilities means a lot. It’s great! Such

events make students more confi-

dent, they also enjoy participating in

activities with their mates.”

Abdullah Al-Mulla, The General

Secretary of Qatar Sports Club, stat-

ed: “We support the agreement be-

tween Best Buddies Qatar and Qatar

Sports Club, as well as we intent to

contribute to the sports involvement

of people with and without disabili-

ties to make sports their lifestyle. We

sustain the vision of 2030 in terms

of long lasting social encouragement.

Qatar is the only country which holds

The National Sports Day by organising

events, setting up sports equipment

all over to let the people be healthy

and get attached to doing sports. It

brings people together. We are very

happy to hold football completion for

Best Buddies Qatar members in Qatar

Sports Club today. We a looking for-

ward to host their members ,the “spe-

cial” kids, in any sports event in fu-

ture.”

Best Buddies Qatar holds

football tournament

COMMUNITY / MARKETPLACE


The Peninsula

Nakilat, the shipping arm of

Qatar’s liquefied natural gas

(LNG) sector, and its joint ven-

tures Nakilat-Keppel Offshore & Ma-

rine (N-KOM) and Nakilat Damen

Shipyards Qatar (NDSQ), held a suc-

cessful beach clean-up recently at

the Northern Beach in Ras Laffan In-

dustrial City (RLC).

250 volunteers from the three

companies participated in the annu-

al activity co-organised together with

Qatar Petroleum’s Industrial Cities Di-

rectorate / Ras Laffan’s HSSE depart-

ment. The beach clean-up aims to

provide a clean and safe coastal envi-

ronment ahead of the Hawksbill turtle

nesting season.

Hawksbill turtles avoid deep wa-

ters, preferring coastlines where

sponges are abundant and sandy

nesting sites are within reach. Not

particularly large compared with oth-

er sea turtles, hawksbills grow up to

about 114 centimeters in shell length

and 68 kilograms in weight. Their av-

erage estimated lifespan in the wild is

between 30 – 50 years.

This environmental initiative is part

of Nakilat’s comprehensive corporate

social responsibility framework, which

also focuses on health, education and

community initiatives.

Nakilat and JVs hold annual beach clean-up

The Peninsula

Qatar International Golf Club (QIGC), Doha’s

new world class golfing destination, hosted

local school children to take part in a live sci-

ence lesson at the development.

25 students from the local Qatar Academy Sid-

ra, which is also taking part in the golf club’s Pearl

Coaching Programme, were invited to the project to

learn more about the importance of sustainability. Af-

ter planting a tree on the 14th hole of the new course

and hearing from Darren Smith, Golf Course Superin-

tendent, on how plants and trees are used to help

water conservation, students went back to the class-

room to take part in educational experiments where

they had the opportunity to build a fairway profile

and learn more about how golf courses are built. The

activity was conducted in support of World Soil Day

which helped students understand more about using

turf, soil and plants to help reduce water consump-

tion and respecting the natural environment.

The activity comes as part of QIGCs aim to be-

come one of the most sustainable projects in the

world. It is currently working through the Golf Envi-

ronment Organisation’s (GEO) OnCourse Develop-

ments programme to achieve GEO Certified Devel-

opment status with the aim of maximising the role of

the project in enhancing nature, conserving resourc-

es and supporting local communities. QIGC is an ear-

ly adopter of the programme and has been working

with GEO, a not-for-profit that is dedicated to sup-

porting the global golf community in sustainable de-

velopment, since 2012.

Mohammed Al Naimi, Deputy General Manager

at Qatar International Golf Club commented: “One

of the most unique things about our project global-

ly is its commitment to becoming one of the most

sustainable projects in the world, not just from an

environmental perspective but also socially. As well

as making sure we are enhancing the natural habi-

tat and conserving resources throughout every stage

of our build and operation, it is also important that a

project of this nature supports the local community.

The recent schools activity we hosted was a perfect

way to bring these objectives together. Local stu-

dents had an opportunity to learn from the project

and the techniques we are using to make sure we are

advancing golf course sustainability.”

The Qatar Academy Sidra is one of three schools

already taking part in a dedicated schools outreach

initiative, the Pearl Coaching Programme, put in place

by the golf club to give the youngest members of the

community a chance to learn and enjoy golf with ex-

pert coaching and tuition. QIGC aims to get golf clubs

into the hands of 2,000 local school children to en-

courage them to keep an active and healthy lifestyle

through sport.

Qatar International Golf Club helps promote sustainability in local community


FOOD

By Roberto A Ferdman

The Washington Post

In the heart of what might be the

most celebrated cuisine in the world,

a curious thing is happening: peo-

ple are clamouring for an unglam-

orous American food. “Le hamburger,”

as it’s called in France, has bombard-

ed restaurants in the country other-

wise known for much fancier food, be-

coming one of the most popular dish-

es. The love is such that three quarters

of all food establishments now sell at

least one hamburger, and 80 percent of

those say it’s their best-selling item, ac-

cording to a recent study.

But France’s hamburger fixation is

hardly unique. Rather, it’s emblematic

of what has proved to be a common af-

fair.

Just ask those who live in Australia,

where people ingest nearly three times

as many hamburgers per capita as they

do in France (albeit with strange things

on top). Or the British, who, let’s face it,

have pretty questionable taste in food,

but still appreciate hamburgers more.

Even the Russians appreciate them at

least as much.

Or better yet, look to the hamburg-

er’s birthplace, where the sandwich

has been defying major food trends for

quite some time.

Ever since the mid-1970s, beef con-

sumption has been tumbling in the

United States, falling from a peak of 94

pounds per person per year in 1976 to

54 pounds in 2014, according to gov-

ernment data. Over the past 15 years

alone, per capita beef consumption has

dipped by 20 percent (and meat con-

sumption has fallen off a cliff).

But hamburgers have done just the

opposite, gaining in popularity even

as Americans lose their taste for the

broader beef and meat categories. A

stroll through the archives uncovered

a 1979 article by the Associated Press,

which cited significantly lower per capi-

ta hamburger consumption than the 30

hamburgers per capita observed today,

according to NPD Group. This is what

it said: “According to industry and gov-

ernment estimates, there will be 17.2

pounds of hamburger produced this

year for every person in the country. In

1978, there was 20.5 pounds of ham-

burger per capita; in 1976, there was a

record 23.9 pounds per capita.”

The year 1976 is a nice marker,

both because of what happened then

(it was, at the time, a record year for

hamburger and beef consumption)

and what has happened since (the

two have clearly diverged). Today, we

eat much less beef but many more

hamburgers — about six extra burg-

ers per person, or roughly 30 percent

more than we did back then.

Those who have abandoned meat,

or at least tried to, have likely found

themselves pining for a hamburger —

and then acting upon the craving. Clear-

ly they are not alone. I certainly have.

There are other ways in which

hamburgers seem to move against

the stream. In recent years, for in-

stance, they have shown resilience de-

spite a tempered interest in sandwich-

es. In 2014, restaurants sold two per-

cent fewer sandwiches than they had

the year before, but three percent more

hamburgers, according to a report by

NPD Group.

“Americans simply love their burgers,”

Bonnie Riggs, who is NPD’s restaurant

industry analyst, explained at the time.

The appeal of the hamburger owes

to many things, the first of which is that

it is a delicious meal. “It took the apple

thousands of years to become the most

widely distributed fruit tree in the world,

whereas the hamburger established it-

self within half a century in almost eve-

ry capital city,” Louise Fresco explains in

his 2015 book Hamburgers in Paradise:

The Stories Behind the Food We Eat, al-

luding to the hamburger’s near ubiqui-

tous appeal.

The fact that hamburgers can be re-

produced effortlessly and without com-

promising quality has helped too, pro-

pelling its rise, at the very least. This,

Fresco touches upon, too:

“What made McDonald’s, Burger

King, Jack in the Box, the once ubiq-

uitous White Castle, and their like such

successful companies was not the

hamburger itself, nor the franchise sys-

tem that has enabled it to penetrate

all markets, but the systems and tech-

nology used to ensure that identical

hamburgers would roll off production

lines all over the world to be served to

a public that knew exactly what to ex-

pect.”

The hamburger has also shown re-

silience because it is malleable. While

its base components — lettuce, toma-

to, ground meat, and bread — are sim-

ple and cheap, it has thrived because

of how adaptable it is to change. This

has proven particularly important as of

late, as the enthusiasm for chains like

Shake Shack has supplanted the long-

held allegiance to less shiny establish-

ments like McDonald’s. More expensive

versions of the hamburger, meanwhile,

have become staples on restaurant

menus, incorporating different meats

and adding pricier accoutrements. In

Fresco’s words:

“The history of the hamburger is the

story of a continual quest to reinvent

a food item by sophisticated means,

leaving the end product apparently un-

changed and therefore completely de-

pendable for the consumer while al-

most invisibly introducing one innova-

tion after another.”

All the world loves a burger

The appeal of the hamburger owes to many things, the first of which is that it is a delicious meal. “It took the apple thousands of years to become the most widely distributed fruit tree in the world, whereas the hamburger established itself within half a century in almost every capital city.


FASHION

AFP

With over 60 catwalk shows

under her belt over the

last round of fashion

weeks, Lineisy Montero

proved an all-round hit among ready-

to-wear designers and fashion houses.

At a time when the world’s catwalks

seem to be moving forward on racial

diversity, this Dominican beauty could

be on the way to becoming the top

model of tomorrow, following in the

footsteps of Cindy Crawford, Naomi

Campbell and other star models who

went on to become icons of the fash-

ion world.

Far from the likes of Kendall Jenner,

Gigi Hadid and other ultra-connected,

media-hyped models, Lineisy Monte-

ro is carving out a successful career on

the runway in a much more discreet

but nonetheless effective way.

Spotted by a casting director while

on a day out at a theme park, the young

brunette from the Dominican Republic

was thrust into the forefront of fash-

ion from 2015, and hasn’t looked back

since. In fact, this rising star has en-

joyed a rapid ascension to the dizzy

heights of the fashion world.

Italian fashion house Prada played

a major role in kick-starting Lineisy

Montero’s career, as it was Miuccia

Prada in person who picked the mod-

el for the label’s autumn/winter 2015-

2016 show — and as a Prada exclusive,

to boot. This proved a pretty excep-

tional appearance, first of all because

black models are few and far between

on the Prada catwalk, but above all be-

cause of her highlighted presence in

the show.

Miuccia Prada shone the spot-

light firmly on this model, as while all

the others walked with straightened

hair pulled back in ponytails, Lineisy

Montero trod the runway with her nat-

ural hairstyle, with no extensions add-

ed to her afro crop. With such a stan-

dout role in the show, the newcomer

couldn’t fail to create a buzz.

And so, the gaze of designers from

all over the world was drawn to this

long, lean model with her almond eyes.

With a natural style that’s almost cap-

tivating in the world of high fashion,

Lineisy Montero notched up a host of

catwalk appearances in the first 2015

session, with shows for Loewe, Balen-

ciaga, Céline, Givenchy, Louis Vuitton,

and, of course, Prada’s sister label Miu

Miu. Her career was now most definite-

ly on the up.

While catwalk shows help get mod-

els known to designers and gain visi-

bility in the fashion world, the ulti-

mate prize comes with a long-await-

ed advertising campaign. And here too,

it was Prada who first picked Lineisy

Montero, starring the up-and-coming

model in a shoot promoting the label’s

autumn/winter 2015 collection, photo-

graphed by Steven Meisel.

She was then chosen to star in the

Louis Vuitton “Ladies at the bath” cam-

paign, shot by Juergen Teller.

From then on, Lineisy Montero was

known to all the labels, stepping back

on to the catwalk for autumn/winter

2015 haute couture shows for Atelier

Versace, Dior, Giambattista Valli, Fendi

and Valentino. And the buzz surround-

ing the model showed no sign of wan-

ing for the spring/summer 2016 sea-

son, with dozens of show bookings to

her name.

But it was the last round of fash-

ion weeks that really confirmed her

status as one of the hottest models of

the moment, as Lineisy Montero fea-

tured in over 60 catwalk shows in the

four fashion capitals, including Jason

Wu, Coach, Tommy Hilfiger, DKNY and

Marc Jacobs in New York, J.W. Ander-

son, Topshop and Burberry in London,

Prada, Marni, Dolce & Gabbana, Fen-

di and Versace in Milan, and Elie Saab,

Mugler, Lanvin, Dior, Chanel and Louis

Vuitton in Paris.

The next step for Lineisy Montero

is to build on this success and make

it last. However, she looks to have a

good chance of joining the short list

of models to have made their mark

on the very closed world of designer

fashion.

Far from the likes of Kendall Jenner, Gigi Hadid and other ultra-connected, media-hyped models, Lineisy Montero is carving out a successful career on the runway in a much more discreet but nonetheless effective way.

Montero, fashion’s latest

must-book model


HEALTH & FITNESS

By Ellie Krieger

The Washington Post

The other day, as I pushed my

cart around Whole Foods, a

new book touting the wonders

of apple cider vinegar caught

me by surprise. Mainly, I was taken

aback that people still considered the

ingredient a magic elixir. I was under

the impression that notion had been

debunked way back when phones still

had cords. People have been writing

books on the subject at least since

that era, and apparently they haven’t

stopped. A quick search on Amazon

revealed more than 20,000 results

for publications on apple cider vinegar,

many written in the past several years

and most subtitled with words such as

“natural miracle cure,” “detox,” “weight

loss,” “healing power” and “anti-age-

ing.” Clearly, this gold-amber liquid still

has some allure, so I decided to inves-

tigate if there is any research to back

it up.

It turns out there is substantial ev-

idence that consuming vinegar can

help keep blood sugar under control,

which in turn may ultimately decrease

the risk of diabetes and heart disease,

among other benefits. Carol S John-

ston, associate director of the nutri-

tion programme at Arizona State Uni-

versity, who has been studying the ef-

fects of vinegar for more than 10

years, says: “Vinegar appears to in-

hibit the enzymes that help you digest

starch.” When starch is not completely

digested, you get a smaller blood sug-

ar (glycemic) response — “20-40 per-

cent less in healthy people and in di-

abetics” — after eating a high-glycae-

mic food such as a bagel, according to

Johnston’s findings. The vinegar has a

more moderate blood-glucose impact

when a fibre-rich whole grain is eaten

(because there is less of a spike to be-

gin with) and no effect when no starch

is eaten.

On top of that, undigested starch

may have a prebiotic effect, meaning

as it passes through the intestines it

becomes food for the good bacte-

ria in your gut. Well-fed gut bacte-

ria generally translates to a healthier

you because these microorganisms

help support good digestion and our

immune systems, among other ben-

efits.

Those undigested starch calories

may also add up over time to some

weight loss, plus, according to John-

ston, “there is emerging research that

vinegar might increase fat oxidation.”

She stresses, however, that contra-

ry to many of those popular book ti-

tles, “vinegar is not a magic bullet for

weight loss. I have seen very modest

weight loss in my studies, of one to

two pounds after 12 weeks.” In the one

study published, in Japan in 2009, that

specifically examined vinegar’s impact

on weight, subjects lost just two to four

pounds in 12 weeks.

Better blood-sugar control, pos-

sible modest weight loss and better

gut health seem like valid, if not exact-

ly miraculous, benefits. Maybe there

is something to this apple cider vine-

gar thing after all? But wait — there is

a catch. “There is great marketing be-

hind apple cider vinegar, and it works

to lower the glycaemic response, but

it doesn’t have to be apple cider vin-

egar,” Johnston says. She says the ac-

tive starch-inhibiting ingredient in vin-

egar is acetic acid, which is in all vin-

egars.

Apple cider vinegar aficionados

boast about the unique attributes of

the unfiltered, unpasteurised product,

which still has the “mother” in it, the

weblike blob of bacteria that is actual-

ly the starter. Many commercial brands

filter this out so the vinegar is crys-

tal clear and more appealing to look

at, but health food brands general-

ly retain it. The “mother” is harmless

and may offer some benefits, such as

polyphenols and probiotics, but there

is no research to back up health claims

about it. And there is not an appreci-

able amount of vitamins, minerals or

pectin in apple cider vinegar, as is of-

ten advertised. If those are the quali-

ties you are seeking, you’d be better off

eating an apple.

If you want to try to reap the bene-

fits of vinegar — apple cider or any oth-

er variety — make sure you do it right,

not only to get the most out of it, but

because it can be harmful otherwise.

Johnston suggests diluting one to two

tablespoons of vinegar in eight ounc-

es of water and drinking it right be-

fore eating, once or twice a day, per-

haps before lunch and dinner. It’s im-

portant to take the vinegar just prior to

eating so it is in your stomach before

any starch reaches it.

Also, never drink vinegar straight. It

is a potent acid that can be danger-

ous if aspirated, may cause burns to

the tender tissue of the mouth and

eosophagus, and can lead to tooth

erosion. And because vinegar could

interact with medications, and its an-

ti-glycaemic effect may be dangerous

to diabetics taking insulin, talk to your

doctor before using it therapeutically if

these are concerns for you.

Touting virtues of apple cider vinegar

ENTERTAINMENT


By Michael O’Sullivan

The Washington Post

For any newbie considering just

sauntering into Allegiant, the

third instalment in the series of

films inspired by novelist Veroni-

ca Roth’s Divergent trilogy, I wouldn’t

recommend it without a quick primer.

Heck, even if you’ve read all three

books — set in a dystopian Chicago

where society has been regimented

into five “factions” based on the per-

sonality traits bravery, honesty, intel-

ligence, selflessness and friendliness

— it will be hard to keep up with the

new film, which pays scant attention

to what has come before while barrel-

ing madly forward through a saga that

grows more complicated as it draws

toward its fervently-to-be-wished-for

conclusion.

If you lament the recent cinemat-

ic trend of splitting the final book in

a series into two movies (see Harry

Potter, The Hunger Games, etc), you’ll

be dismayed to learn that they’ve

done it again here: Although Alle-

giant bears the title of Roth’s final

book, it is only the first of two films

to be adapted from that 2013 pub-

lication. Lionsgate Films won’t wrap

things up until next summer, when

Ascendant comes out.

In the meantime, if you’d rather not

rent Insurgent to refresh your memo-

ry about prior developments, here’s

where we are in the story: As Alle-

giant opens, the faction system has

collapsed with the assassination of

the despotic ruler Jeanine (Kate Win-

slet) in an uprising led by heroes Tris

(Shailene Woodley) and her boyfriend

Four (Theo James), whose “divergence”

from the prescribed cardboard carica-

tures of their compatriots lends the se-

ries its title.

Unfortunately, the vacuum creat-

ed by Jeanine’s death has been filled

by a leader almost as bad: Four’s “fac-

tionless” mother, Evelyn (Naomi Watts),

who in short order starts a civil war

with the remnants of the faction sys-

tem, now known as the Allegiant. The

Allegiant are led by Johanna (Octavia

Spencer), a former Amity honcho who

was once a member of Candor (I think).

Martial law is the order of the day,

with a lockdown on the fortified wall

surrounding Chicago, despite the fact

that when we last left Tris, she had re-

ceived a mysterious message, left in a

time capsule by her pre-apocalyptic

forebears, telling her to seek her for-

tunes elsewhere (that is, in the waste-

land outside the wall).

Got it?

Good luck. Like Tris, you’ll be on

your own from here on in. Though

she escapes from Chicago with a pas-

sel of her pals from the previous films

(Miles Teller, Ansel Elgort, Zoë Kravitz

and Maggie Q), Tris is quickly separat-

ed from them when she is taken un-

der the wing of the director (Jeff Dan-

iels) of something called the Bureau of

Genetic Welfare, an Edenic compound

at what used to be O’Hare Internation-

al Airport, including a program of eu-

genics that has separated people in-

to GMO and non-GMO varieties, like

a cross between Nazism and Whole

Foods. It’s enough to make your head

explode.

And that’s the short version. We’ll

leave out the Fringe, the no man’s land

between Chicago and O’Hare, through

which Tris and company pass on their

way to the Bureau. “This hole looks ra-

dioactive,” says Tris’s brother (Elgort),

apropos of nothing, in an example of

the screenplay’s simple-minded dia-

logue.

Otherwise, everything is needless-

ly tangled and bewildering. A scene in

the book in which Tris reads her late

mother’s journals is recreated here

with “memory tabs” via a virtual-real-

ity headset that, like magical earbuds,

allows Tris to witness her mom’s life as

a kid. The bells and whistles are simply

too much, too often, and detract from

our connection to the characters.

That’s a shame, because there are

some fine actors here, although Tell-

er - whose character has been flip-

flopping between villainy and heroism

since the first movie — is the only per-

former who is really let off the leash.

Director Robert Schwentke (who al-

so helmed the last film but will hand

the reins of Ascendant to Lee Toland

Krieger) has his hands full babysitting

for a demanding, overly busy plot. Nu-

ance, subtlety, feeling — anything that

might help an audience relate to what

is happening rather than passively ex-

perience it, like a roller coaster - ap-

parently are luxuries this movie could

not afford.

As a whole, the Divergent series,

which shamelessly invites comparison

to The Hunger Games and The Maze

Runner franchises, feels like something

we’ve all seen too many times before.

A far more apt title for the cluttered, re-

petitive Allegiant might have been Ex-

travagant — or, better yet, Redundant.

One and one-half stars. Rated PG-

13. Contains violence and some coarse

language. 121 minutes.

Even if you’ve read all three books it will be hard to keep up with the new film, which pays scant attention to what has come before while barreling forward through a saga that grows more complicated as it draws toward its conclusion.

Allegiant brings out the bells and whistles


ENTERTAINMENT

By Troy Ribeiro

IANS

Film: Kapoor & Sons

Director: Shakun Batra

Cast: Rishi Kapoor, Siddharth Malhotra,

Fawad Khan, Alia Bhatt, Ratna Pathak

Shah and Rajat Kapoor

Rating: ****

Kapoor & Sons is a saga of a

dysfunctional family, which

makes you laugh and cry with

its members, as you become

an intrinsic part of their lives. It is a

complete family entertainer with a uni-

versal appeal.

Arjun (Siddharth Malhotra) and

Rahul (Fawad Khan) are two siblings

based in New Jersey and London re-

spectively and arrive at Coonoor to visit

their ailing grandfather (Rishi Kapoor)

who lives with their parents Harsh (Ra-

jat Kapoor) and Sunita (Ratna Pathak

Shah). Their complicated relationships,

replete with misunderstandings, ac-

cusations, lies and yet, bound by love,

form the crux of this film.

Clearly, the film is on a dysfunction-

al family, and some realistic elements

interwoven in its narrative add to its ef-

fectiveness in being relatable to the

audience.

Writer-director Shakun Batra can

take a bow for his astute handling of

a simple story, with a complicated plot

owing to the complex lives of the char-

acters. His dealing of human emotions

along with the treatment of the sub-

ject is what makes the film stand apart.

The characters are etched to per-

fection, their lives almost unfolding

before our eyes in the two hours. The

screenplay is taut and full of unexpect-

ed twists which keep you riveted to

the screen, never letting your interest

wane.

Performance-wise, Kapoor & Sons

is impressive too.

Siddharth Malhotra as the “runner

up” or “second best” of the two broth-

ers, portrays his angst and resentment,

in an understated manner. He is eve-

ry inch the son who tries hard to prove

his worth to his parents to make them

proud.

Playing his love interest, is Alia

Bhatt as Tia Malik, a Mumbai-based girl

who is an orphan and misses having a

family. As always, she renders a zes-

ty performance with oodles of sponta-

neity and panache and is equally the

heart stealer in emotional scenes. She

lights up the screen with her joie de

vivre.

Fawad Khan as the successful nov-

elist and older sibling essays Rahul

with restraint and yet, has his mo-

ments when he lets his guard down, if

only to express his anger, disappoint-

ment and hurt.

Ratna Pathak Shah plays the com-

plex mother and wife with aplomb.

Whether it is unintentionally hurting

her son or accusing her husband of an

affair, her display of emotions, though,

a bit theatrical and dramatic, is a treat

to watch.

Rajat Kapoor plays the underdog to

perfection, constantly under scrutiny

by his wife, being taunted for his failed

business attempts and relationship

with his former bank colleague Anu.

Rishi Kapoor, of course as the doy-

en of the family, is an absolute de-

light in his genial avatar, complete with

a new get up. His childlike innocence,

playful nature and being one with his

young grandsons whether smoking or

watching a drenched Mandakini in a

film, are a few of the myriad moments,

which audiences will relish. The con-

trast in his performance stands out in

the scene after an unexpected tragedy

in his family.

As far as the music is concerned,

Amaal Mallik’s work is melodious, ap-

propriate, but incidental, never for a

moment seeming forced. “Kar gayi

chull” is fun and peppy and equally apt

is the soulful “Saathi re”, which sums

up the mood of the situation.

The cinematography, is in keeping

with the film and Coonnor is beautiful-

ly captured in all its elements.

Overall, Kapoor & Sons reflects Wil-

liam Blake’s poem Joy and woe are

woven fine and is definitely bound to

make you emotional.

Joy and woe are woven fine in Kapoor & Sons

Bollywood director-producer Karan

Johar, who gave Alia Bhatt her big

break with Student of the Year, is glad

to watch his “little child” emerge as an

actress of some calibre.

The head honcho of Dharma Pro-

duction, who has produced some of

Alia’a successful films like 2 States and

Humpty Sharma Ki Dulhaniya however

expressed regret over Shaandar.

“Two years down the line, Alia has

an amazing repertoire of films. I how-

ever apologise for Shaandar. Besides

that, she has had some amazing films

like 2 States, Humpty Sharma Ki Dul-

haniya and Kapoor & Sons; Alia is

Dharma Production’s proud girl and

always the flagship girl of the compa-

ny,” Karan said at a press conference

to celebrate Kapoor & Sons success.

“When I launched Alia Bhatt and

Sidharth Malhotra in their first film,

I never thought I would see them

come through this way on celluloid. I

watched Alia in ‘Highway’; I wept a lit-

tle bit only because I couldn’t believe

my little child has emerged as an ac-

tor,” Karan said.

Karan and Alia have strongly bond-

ed over a period of time.

Karan Johar happy over Alia’s journey

Batman V Superman: Dawn of Justice (2D/Action)2:45, 5:30, 7:00, 8:15 & 11:00pmKung Fu Panda (2D/Animation) 2:00 & 5:15pmZootropolis: Zootopia (2D/Animation) 3:30pmKhanet El Yek (2D/Arabic) 5:45 & 9:45pmRocky Handsome(2D/Hindi) 7:30 & 11:30pmEvery Secret Thing (2D/Drama) 2:30, 9:45 & 11:30pmThe Invitation (2D/Horror) 4:00pm

AL KHORBatman V Superman: Dawn of Justice (Action) 11:00am, 12:00noon, 2:00, 3:00, 5:00, 6:00, 8:00, 9:00, 11:00pm & 12:00midnight Rocky Handsome (Hindi) 12:30, 3:15, 6:00, 8:45 & 11:30pm

ASIAN TOWN

NOVO

MALL

ROYAL PLAZAVILLAGGIO & CITY CENTER

THE INVITATION

BLONDIE

SHERMAN’S LAGOON

While attending a dinner party at his former home, a man thinks his ex-wife and her new husband have sinister intentions for their guests.

13MONDAY 28 MARCH 2016

CINEMA PLUS

Batman V Superman: Dawn of Justice (Action) 3D 10:00am, 11:30am, 1:00, 4:00, 7:00, 10:00pm & 12:55am 2D 10:30, 11:15, 11:30am, 12:00noon, 1:30, 2:15, 2:30, 3:00, 4:30, 5:15, 5:30, 6:00, 7:30, 8:15, 8:30, 9:00, 10:30, 11:15, 11:30 & 11:55pm & 01:00amEvery Secret Thing (2D/Drama) 10:00am, 2:00, 6:00 & 10:00pm The Invitation (2D/Horror) 12:00noon, 4:00, 8:00 & 11:55pmThe Wave (2D/Action) 11:00am, 3:15, 7:30 & 11:45pmThe Witch (2D/Horror) 1:15, 5:30 & 9:45pmZootropolis (2D/Animation) 10:30am, 12:10, 2:20, 4:30 & 6:40pmLondon Has Fallen (2D/Action) 8:40, 10:40pm & 12:40am Kung Fu Panda 3 (2D/Animation) 11:00am, 1:00, 3:00, 5:00, 7:00, 9:00 & 11:00pmBatman V Superman: Dawn of Justice (3D IMAX/Action) 11:00am, 2:00, 5:00, 8:00 & 11:00pm

Maheshinte Prathikaram (Malayalam) 5:45, 6:45, 8:00, 9:00, 10:15 & 11:15pmPuthiya Niyamam (Malayalam) 6:45, 9:00 & 11:30pm Rocky Handsome (Hindi) 6:30, 9:00 & 11:30pm

Batman V Superman: Dawn of Justice (2D/Action)2:30, 5:30, 7:00, 8:15, 9:00 & 11:00pmThe Invitation (2D/Horror) 5:00pmEvery Secret Thing (2D/Drama) 7:00pmRocky Handsome(2D/Hindi) 2:15 & 11:30pmKung Fu Panda (2D/Animation) 2:15 & 4:00pmKapoor & Sons (2D/Hindi) 4:30pm Khanet El Yek (2D/Arabic) 9:30pmMaheshinte Prathikaram (Malayalam) 11:15pm

Note: Programme is subject to change without prior notice.

EASY SUDOKU

14 MONDAY 28 MARCH 2016

Yesterday’s answerEasy Sudoku Puzzles: Place a digit from 1

to 9 in each empty cell so every row, every

column and every 3x3 box contains all the

digits 1 to 9.

Yesterday’s answer

How to play Hyper Sudoku:A Hyper Sudoku Puzzle is solved by filling the numbers from 1 to 9 into the blank cells. A Hyper Sudoku has unlike Sudoku 13 regions (four regions overlap with the nine standard regions). In all regions the numbers from 1 to 9 can appear only once. Otherwise, a Hyper Sudoku is solved like a normal Sudoku.

HYPER SUDOKU

Yesterday’s answer

How to play Kakuro:The kakuro grid, unlike in sudoku, can be of any size. It has rows and columns, and dark cells like in a crossword. And, just like in a crossword, some of the dark cells will contain numbers. Some cells will contain two numbers.

KAKURO

ACROSS

1 Entry forms

8 You might draw them when answering

questions

15 Abstruse knowledge

16 Floating island visited in “Gulliver’s

Travels”

17 Barbershop relative

18 Van Gogh masterpiece

19 Sun blocks?

21 Lilliputian, informally

22 Sun

23 Project that analyzes electromagnetic

radiation, for short

24 Not check

25 With 39-Across, region beyond the

Kármán line … or a literal hint to what

this puzzle has

27 Part of le

visage

28 Weird

30 Weird

32 “I’m ready!”

35 Levy

36 Singer with the 1986 #1 hit “Rock Me

Amadeus”

37 Take a ___

38 ’60s org.

39 See 25-Across

41 Canola oil product

45 Grub

47 Exotic “Now, Voyager” setting

48 Comic strip husband

49 Recurrent “Twilight Zone” plot device

52 Pitch-perfect words?

53 Wonder-working prophet in II Kings

54 Typical Manhattanite

55 Irish equivalent of “Jane”

56 Billy of infomercials

57 Voids, with “out”

DOWN

1 Valuable things to have in

Scrabble

2 It can’t be canned

3 Up this street and down the

next, perhaps

4 Hercules or Perseus

5 “Beat it!”

6 Negative conjunction

7 Jungle-themed Halloween

costume

8 French metropolis near the

Belgian border

9 Man’s name that’s another

man’s name in reverse

10 Spots at a casino

11 Setting for many sci-fi stories

12 Is indecisive

13 Old English county court sessions

14 Doesn’t remember, as something

obvious, with “on”

20 Bird house

25 Some crumbled dessert toppings

26 W.W. II poster girl

29 Key on a computer keyboard

31 Work with

32 What starter pistols shoot

33 Dolphins’ grp.

34 Explorer born René-Robert Cavelier

35 Recesses

37 Willingly, once

40 It may be left at a crime scene

42 Greeting that means “love” or “peace”

43 Unicellular organism

44 Unstamped metal discs used for making

coins

46 Creator of Saturn

48 Explanatory words

50 Bread in some ethnic cuisine

51 Winning party in Clay v. United States

ANSWER TO PREVIOUS PUZZLE

P A B R V H FR O L L O V E R A N I R A

O O P S I D I D I T A G A I NC E O S S I T P H I L

Z E N T E C A T E S S I XD P T M I L E Y L I N

C U R A T E D R E V E N G ER I V E R T A N G S

G E M I N I S M E N O T T IM A S T A C O S S H U

J A R D A Y R A T E E D UN I P A S A N G A B E

Q U E E N S O F E N G L A N DA S A L A S T R E S O R TL K M Y W T S

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14

15 16

17 18

19 20

21 22 23

24 25 26 27

28 29 30 31

32 33 34 35

36 37

38 39 40 41 42 43 44

45 46 47 48

49 50 51

52 53

54 55

56 57

CROSSWORD

However, in a crossword the numbers reference clues. In a kakuro, the numbers are all you get! They denote the total of the digits in the row or column referenced by the number.Within each collection of cells - called a run - any of the numbers 1 to 9 may be used but, like sudoku, each number may only be used once.

BRAIN TEASERS

Cartoon Arts International / The New York Times Syndicate

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