Postnoon E-Paper for April 5th 2013 by Scribble Media & Entertainment Pvt. Ltd.

FRIDAY, APRIL 5, 2013 HYDERABAD

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UNDER THE RADAR

WEATHER: A MIX OF CLOUDY AND CLEAR SKIES; 34°C

32 PAGES

Unlike big ticket sci-fi and superhero films like Iron Man-3, Wolverine, Star Trek 2, there are plenty of films this year which could very well become sleeper hits of 2013. We take a look at 10 such Hollywood films, which will release sans big buzz, but have the potential to be the talk of the town.

P16&17

HYDERABAD’S FIRST COMPACT AFTERNOON NEWSPAPER

GOVT PROMISES

TO BRING OUT

LIST OF RTE

FLOUTERS SOON

But this is no solace for thousands of parents who do not know if the fees they paid will ever be refunded or worse, if the school they chose for their children will shut down. Worried parents are wondering what the deal between the government and private schools is.

REPORT ON P6

Modi effect in AP soon The party is bringing its high-profile leader and Gujarat CM Narendra Modi to the State with the twin aim of drumming up support for his prime ministerial ambitions and to gain maximum Lok Sabha seats in Telangana.

Film critic

ROGER EBERT dies aged 70

Film legend Martin Scorsese and President Barack Obama led tributes to US movie critic Roger Ebert, the first cinema pundit to win a Pulitzer Prize, who died on Thursday from cancer aged 70.

P12

FRIDAY, APRIL 5, 2013

city events

JAYA VILASAM

Ananda Priya Foundation is organising Jaya Vilasam, a dance presentation by Dr Yashoda Thakore. It is at Saptaparni, next to Kalpa school, road no 8, Banjara Hills. The event is on April 7, from 6.30pm onwards. The contact number is 93962 12232.

Weather for Hyderabad

Evening

Overnight

34°C

25°C

A mix of clear and cloudy skies.

Morning

Afternoon

32°C

40°C

A mix of clear and cloudy skies.

A mix of cloud and sun.

New Delhi Mumbai Max 35 Max 32 Min 21 Min 23 Clear.

Chennai Max 35 Min 28

Partly cloudy.

Bangalore Max 33 Min 24 Partly cloudy.

AROUND THE CITY: YOUR GUIDE TO THE TWIN CITIES Somajiguda When: Fridays up to April 12, 11am onwards Contact: (040) 2341 8545

WORKSHOPS Vaishali Bisht’s theatre workshop Vaishali Bisht is conducting special Summer Holidays theatre workshops for children between the ages of six and 12. The course consists of 20 classes held Monday to Saturday. Using theatre games and exercises, the workshop helps children use their imagination and get creative. Where: Road no 7, Banjara Hills When: From April 15, Monday to Saturday, 4.30pm to 6.30pm Contact: 94904 40986 Filmmaking workshops for children Yavanika Films is conducting a unique filmmaking workshops this summer vacation for children in Hyderabad. Each participant will make their own short film as part of the workshop. Even a parent and child can register as one student pair to make a short film together. Where: Begumpet When: From April 24, 2pm to 7pm, daily classes except on weekends Contact: 94901 00404 Chocolate making workshop All materials will be provided by the organisers and you can take what you make. The seats are limited for a hands-on session.

Special lunch A changing menu, with a wide spread of food items, and special packages for kitty and group lunches. Where: Kailash Parbat Above Ebony Gautier, 2nd floor, Road No. 36, Jubilee Hills When: Ongoing Contact: (040) 23558856

SHOWS

MANGOES ARE HERE! It’s the time of the year everyone’s been waiting for. After nearly five years, mangoes arrived M ANIL KUMAR early this season. A number of varieties arrived at the Kothapet fruit market on Thursday. Where: Panache-The Finishing School When: April 6, 11.30am onwards Contact: (040) 6673 3451

ART Group painting exhibition An exhibition of paintings by Pradosh Swain and Suchismita Sahoo. Where: Aalankritha Art Gallery, Kavuri Hills, Jubilee Hills When: Up to April 10 Contact: www.alankritha.in French artist B2Fays Alliance Française of Hyderabad, Kalakriti Art Gallery and Park Hyatt Hyderabad present French artist B2Fays. It is an exhibition

Commissioner & Spl Officer

Helpline GAS BOOKING IVRS NO HP 9666023456 Indane 9848824365 BSNL Complaints HMWS & SB Complaints

198 155313

POLICE CONTROL ROOM Hyderabad 27852435 Traffic Control Room 27852482 DCP Traffic 23234065, 23243499F Pollution Control Board 23887500 ELECTRICITY General Complaints Breakdown Section

155333 23431178 23431179

MUNICIPAL CORPORATION

23262266 24166666R ENC 23225267 Engineering 23220418 MCH Tankbund 23225397 Emergency MCH Circle I&II 24525842 MCH Circle III 24736912 MCH Circle IV 23326975 MCH Circle V 23326976 MCH Circle VI MCH Complaints 1100 Head Office 23225397 IVRS CUM MANUAL ENQUIRY PHONE NUMBERS (TRAIN & RESERVATION) RAILWAYS Rail Nilayam 27833169, 27824216 Railway Information 131 Reservations 135 Recorded Information 1345 Enquiry (IVRS) 1331, 1332, 1333

of paintings and multimedia installations. Where: Kalakriti Art Gallery, Plot No: 468, Road no 10, Banjara Hills, Hyderabad When: Up to April 9, 11am to 7pm Contact: (040) 6656 4466

DINING Punjab Da Tashan Ambar sariyan murg, Punjabi chicken keemedar, kalimirch machhi, achari paneer and khumb hardhaniya are some of the items on the menu. There is a starter and welcome drink free for ladies above 21 years. Where: Terrace Bay and Sky Bar, Babukhan Mall, 6-3-1111/B 501, 5th Floor ,

WATER SUPPLY Complaint Cell Sewerage Complaint Hyd. Water Supply HOSPITAL General Hospital, Sec-bad Niloufer Hospital, Red Hills NIMS, Director, Punjagutta Osmania General Hospital Railway Hospital, Lalaguda Apollo, Jubilee Hills Care Hospital, Banjara Hills Care Hospital, Nampally Care Hospital, Musheerabad Care Hospital, Sec-bad Kamineni Hospital, LB Nagar

155313 23307328 23313163

27505566 23314095 23390933 24600146 27001134 23607777 30418888 30417777 30419000 30416666 39879999

BLOOD BANKS Blood Bank,Narayanguda Chiranjeevi Blood Bank Blood Bank Mediton Goal Red Cross, Vidyanagar ADRM Blood Bank Mythri Charitable Trust NTR Memorial Trust Care Banjara Hills

27567892 23559555 23226624 27633087 27035588 27550238 30799999 30418296 30417445

AMBULANCES Apollo 23548888, 23607777 Kamineni 24022222 Medwin 23202902, 23204616 Smile Line Dental Hospital 23747979 Red Cross 27627973 Niloufer Hospital 23314095 Gandhi 23320332 AIRLINES

typical Sunday brunch can be a little confusing — it's hard to stick to one cuisine. Taj Krishna in the City has decided to go off the beaten track by launching its Sparkling Yumcha brunch this Sunday at the Golden Dragon. The brunch, which includes sparkling wine, will focus only on delicacies from the heart of China. It lures you with dimsums, soup, spring rolls, noodles, rice and a variety of seafood to choose from. Visit once, you'll definitely indulge again! City’s #1 spot

Heritage and restoration in post WWII Germany This is a lecture by Anuradha Reddy, an expert in restoration and heritage with many years of experience in Germany. Where: Goethe-Zentrum Hyderabad, 20 Journalist Colony, Road no 3, Banjara Hills When: April 10, 6pm onwards Contact: 96427 31329 Shakespeare’s Hamlet play reading The play reading is being organised by Samahaara theatre group. Where: Lamakaan When: April 7, 7.30pm onwards Contact: 96427 31329

Airport Director 27903785, 27906001 For Air India Flight Information Toll free (from any network) for IC Flights 18001801407 And for All Flights: 1800227722 Air India has revised its flight timings. For more information call (Toll free) 18001801407, 1800227722 from BSNL/MTNL 04023430334 from other lines and mobile Website; www.airindia.in TOURISM OFFICES AP Tourism, Hyd 23262152/53/54 Sec-bad 27893100 Dept of Tourism 23453110 India Tourism 23261360 AP Tourism information Centre (24x7) 23450444, 23455999 UK VISA OFFICE VFS India Pvt Ltd Building, 8-2-542/A, Sunil Chamber, Road No. 7

Beside Meridian School, Banjara Hills34. Working hours are from 8 AM to 1 PM And 2 PM to 3PM. MUSEUMS Salar Jung Museum AP State Museum Nizams Museum

24523211 232431300/7641 24521029

Readers’ views

We invite you to write to us comments, suggestions, viewpoint or just about anything to feedback@postnoon.com or #1246, Level 3, Jubilee Casa, Road No 62, Jubilee Hills, Hyderabad – 500 033 or even by way of a call on 4067 2222

FRIDAY, APRIL 5, 2013

City

YESTERDAY’S QUESTION

IS RAHUL GANDHI RUNNING AWAY FROM MODI?

YES (A) NO (B)

55% 45%

TODAY’S QUESTION

DOES KIRAN’S U-TURN ON POWER TARIFF INDICATE FEAR OF EARLY POLLS? A)

YES

To vote visit www.postnoon.com

CRIME

‘Baba’ held for detaining minor Police arrest the self-proclaimed godman for attempting to marry a 16-year-old. Mohd SUBHAN mohd.s@postnoon.com

much-married man practising black magic, who had allegedly detained a minor girl and planned to marry her, was arrested on Thursday. Langer House inspector NB Ratnam said that Moinuddin Khan, a self-styed baba, detained an underage girl for over 18 months and sexually assaulted her. The girl has been sent to hospital for treatment. According to details, Khan, 45, is from Muzaffernagar in Uttar Pradesh. He came to Hyderabad 12 years ago and was living in a rented flat in an apartment complex near Mehdipatnam Pillar Number 65. It is alleged that he started supplying ayurvedic drugs and claimed to be a practising ayurveda doctor who specialised in kidney and diabetic diseases. He also claimed to be an exorcist who got rid of bad spirits. As word spread of his healing powers, Nusrath Begum and her

husband Fareed Khan approached Khan in hopes that he could cure the illness of their 16-year-old daughter. Khan was taken by the girl’s beauty and told her parents that he predicted bad influences had fallen on the family and that Fareed was going to face a life-threatening experience soon. Curiously, in 16 days, Fareed was killed after being fatally knocked down on the road. This generated great faith in Nusrath in Khan and she began to blindly trust him. Khan reportedly told her that the girl also faced a dark future. He put her on medication and kept her with him on that pretext. However, after several months, the girl’s brother got suspicious and approached the Langer House police, who raided Khan’s flat and arrested him. It was later revealed that the ‘baba’ was already married three times. One of his wives is dead and the other two live in his home town. More dark deeds of the man are likely to come out during the investigation, inspector Ratnam said.

CRIME

Wife-killer gets life

CIVIC

GHMC gasses citizens Few care that thousands of residents of Kukatpally find it difficult to breath fresh air following callous open burning of garbage. PK SURENDRAN surendran.pk@postnoon.com

W POSTNOON NEWS feedback@postnoon.com

anesh, 28, resident of Bucchireddy colony in Shamshabad, was so greedy for dowry that despite getting a large sum, he harassed and finally killed his 22-year-old wife. A court on Thursday handed him life imprisonment for this crime. Ganesh and Renuka got married in 2011. At the time, Renuka’s parents reportedly gave Ganesh dowry in cash and kind. But soon after the wedding, Ganesh, who worked in a private firm, lost

his job. He blamed Renuka, claimed she brought ill luck and demanded she bring more dowry as he was jobless. When Renuka failed to bring more dowry, Ganesh attacked her. In her dying declaration, Renuka accused her husband of stabbing her. The police acted swiftly and he was booked for murder. A metropolitan court in Ranga Reddy district found him guilty of manslaughter. The police prosecution successfully argued that the man deserved no pity as he had killed his young wife in cold blood.

hile GHMC corporators go around the country ‘studying’ varied civic actions, at home people are suffering from the callous handling of solid waste. Residents in Kukatpally have been inhaling poisonous gases due to the constant burning of garbage collected in an open plot that apparently belongs to the GHMC. A one-acre plot next to Metro Mall is being used as an illegal dumping yard. What has shocked residents is that the GHMC itself is violating rules by dumping garbage and burning it in the open. This process, which takes place around the clock, has put a hazardous haze that scientific authorities say is a deadly gas. Dioxin produced from burning plastic is the deadliest of all, says a global health agency. “The PCB had promised

action. GHMC officials said burning is banned and it will impose a fine of `200 on anybody found doing so. But nothing is being seriously pursued. It is a sad state of affairs; we are killing ourselves and our children,” bemoaned environmentalist and motivational speaker Jayaprakash Nambaru. He also pointed out that MSW (municipal solid waste) rules strictly prohibit the open burning of waste.

Nambaru says after segregation, garbage should be put into controlled incineration where the waste is burnt at 1,000 degrees Celsius and the residue is used for various purposes. This practice is observed everywhere in the world, but not in India. He added that residents, who are now unable to breath, fear asphyxiation and the GHMC and government are solely responsible for their misery.

city FRIDAY, APRIL 5, 2013

CIVIC

LAST YEAR... HERE

Meeseva tough on parents

Blackout City

ast year we had reported how scheduled and unscheduled power cuts were throwing the daily routine of citizens in disarray. While most said that they understood that the State was facing a power crisis and that loadshedding was necessary, all of them said that a proper schedule needed to be followed, so they could plan their activities accordingly.

Why the GHMC abdicated its task of issuing birth certificates is unclear.

APRIL 5, 2012

NUMEROLOGY

`80

is the amount you now have to pay to get a birth or death certificate from a Meeseva centre. Earlier, when the service was done by Citizens Service Centre, a certificate cost `20.

If the schools try to fulfil (RTE Act) requirements within a couple of months, we will still consider it and only restrict action to fining without closing down the schools. K Partha Sarathy, minister See page 6

THINGS WE LEARNT TODAY

The column that teaches everyone something new about the way the City functions.

Parents in a tizzy over school admissions. With the government cracking down on RTE ﬂouters, parents are waiting for a list of schools that may shut down. However, admissions have started and children stand to lose a year.

BJP to bring a little Modi charm to Telangana. Narendra Modi, BJP’s prime ministerial hope, will be in AP soon to campaign for the party, especially in Telangana region. The party hopes he can work the same magic here.

Md NIZAMUDDIN nizamuddin.a@postnoon.com

arents seeking a birth certificate for their newborn or those asking for a death certificate are now being made to go through the Meeseva. In the process, they have to shell out four times the money, undergo the rigmarole, and wait longer periods. The services used to be done by Citizens Service Centre (CSC) of the GHMC till recently. While the fee for obtaining a birth or death certificate was only `20, Meeseva is charging `80. The CSC, which is part of the GHMC, used to issue the certificates within four days, but the new process is taking over a week or 10 days. One of the reasons cited by officials is technological problems faced by CSC centres. They point out the lack of software for

computers in the GHMC. After the general body and standing committee resolutions, the process was restored to GHMC in June 2012, but since the last couple of months, applications are being forced to pass through the Meeseva centres. The CSCs are reduced to correcting errors on already issued certificates. The number of birth certificates issued through CSC in one year (since April 1, 2012) is 1,78,062 and the number of death certificates, 20,127. The number of birth certificates issued through Meeseva centres (from March 1, 2012 till date) are 77,759 of 87,017 applications (7,336 were rejected). Death certificates issued in the same period were 4,080 from total applications of 4,800 (607 were rejected). Every day, scores of citizens return dejected after they are

To get a birth or death certificate, people have to shell out four times the money, undergo the rigmarole, and wait longer periods. informed that applications are accepted only through the Meeseva centres now. For many, it has only added to the problems. Now, middlemen allegedly make money helping people to get the certificate by charging `1,000. “More the red tape, more provisions for making money,” remarked Vijay Kumar, a retired employee. Under Section 94 of AP Rules, it is the responsibility of the municipality to provide birth and death certificates. But the government initiative of

Meeseva has now appropriated this task. After learning about the new development, TDP floor leader Singireddy Srinivas Reddy demanded that officials resume issuing certificates from CSC within a week. “Under Section 104 (3)(a)(ii), I shall demand suspension of officials who are neglecting the resolutions of the corporation,” he warned. The section states that an official who “neglects or refuses to implement the decisions of the corporation or standing committee or any other committee of the corporation” can be suspended. Responding to the problem, one official said that they had requested the government to sort out the issue. “We wrote to the government to solve this problem at the earliest,” said a senior official of the health wing.

NEWS BRIEFS

India lags behind on smart grid technology. While most countries have increased their investment in smart grid tech, India is slumbering.

Fans claim movie star ‘made’ them alcoholics

Face-to-face programme Govt sanctions `3.2cr Ex-deputy PM Jagjeevan with the mayor for Hitec-Kukatpally ROB Ram remembered

Small change for a quick buck. Alms seekers have been making a proﬁt by providing small change to shopkeepers at a commission.

Justice for woman killed for dowry. A man has been sentenced to life for killing his wife after she refused to give him more dowry.

wo young fans of actor Mahesh Babu have ﬁled a case against their idol, accusing him of making them alcoholics. Complainants Satish and Amru contended that his promoting of a leading brand of liquor led them to believe it is good for them and they became habituated to it. The complaint was ﬁled with the State Human Rights Commission.

face-to-face programme will be held between 4pm and 5pm on Saturday at Head Ofﬁce under the chairmanship of Mayor Mohd Majid Hussain. People may call on 04023221978, 23222018 and 23261330 to present their grievances to the mayor on April 6 between 4 and 4.30pm. After that, they may submit their petitions in person.

he government has sanctioned `3.2 crore for a railway overbridge (ROB) on the road connecting Hitec City and Kukatpally under a GO passed on April 4 for the construction of an RoB across the railway lines. This includes improvement of the main spinal road from KPHB to Hitec City and development of service roads.

hief Minister N Kiran Kumar Reddy paid rich tribute to former deputy PM Babu Jagjeevan Ram on his 106th birth anniversary. The CM garlanded his statue in the City this morning. PCC president Botsa Satyanarayana and Cabinet ministers were also present. The State is launching Indiramma Kalalu (Dreams of Indira Gandhi) on the occasion.

city FRIDAY, APRIL 5, 2013

POLITICS

Modi effect in State soon

The BJP is bringing its high-profile leader and Gujarat CM Narendra Modi to AP with the twin aim of drumming up support for his prime ministerial ambitions and to gain maximum LS seats in Telangana. INKESHAF AHMED ahmed.m@postnoon.com

he BJP, nursing a grand vision of running the next government, is bringing the party’s poster boy, Narendra Modi, to Andhra Pradesh soon. The party has ambitious tasks to achieve in Telangana. Narendra Modi, who was inducted into the party’s highest decision-making body recently, is expected to work his magic on Telangana people with a promise of creating a separate state once NDA comes to power. Besides, this would be another occasion for the party to project him as ideal prime ministerial material, party sources pointed out. “We asked him to visit our

State and address public meetings. He readily agreed to it. We are planning to hold his public meetings across the State, especially in Telangana region,” a senior BJP leader told Postnoon.

TELANGANA TO BE SPIN MANTRA

The fact that BJP is strongly fighting for the creation of separate Telangana state for the last many years and the party’s erstwhile glory (BJP had seven MPs from

ELECTORATE

Analysis, the tech way

Telangana in the late nineties) are the two important reasons for Modi’s focus on Telangana region. The party now projecting a development-oriented, not communal-minded, approach, is hard put to convince Telugus that the Gujarat model could work very well for AP. The party also wants to tell the State that during its reign, it had given maximum projects to AP, though it will not harp on its tie-up with the TDP in those days. “Telangana region is the only hope of our party, where the BJP can win substantial number of seats as we did in the past. So Modi’s tour’s focus would be primarily on Telangana region only. We will organise his meeting in all the 10 districts of

Telangana,”another senior BJP leader said. Modi’s State visit is likely to be held after the conclusion of party stalwart M Venkaiah Naidu’s ongoing State- wide public awareness campaign meetings. It may be emphasised here that Naidu’s public meetings, being organised in all 42 Lok Sabha seat constituencies of AP, are primarily aimed at drumming up support for Narendra Modi, before declaring him as the official prime ministerial candidate of NDA, of which BJP is a coalition partner. Commenting on Modi’s State visit, BJP State unit spokesperson NVVS Prabhakar said that the schedule of Modi’s visit is yet to be finalised and added that clarity would emerge in the coming days.

SHOWING THE WAY

A City-based NRI who uses technology to predict electorate behaviour says data analysis is key to winning polls.

POSTNOON NEWS feedback@postnoon.com

hile politicians of all denominations are running around trying to figure out what is in the minds of the Hydra-headed electorate, one man is silently going around mopping up minute data of constituencies in Andhra Pradesh to present winning formulae to the ambitious lot. Ashok Dakavaram, an NRI head of an IT company, believes that there exists a huge scope for election

services in India. “It took me three years to get an idea of this vast State’s political landscape and another half year to get to know the electoral undercurrents,” he told Postnoon. His company in Hyderabad, IT GRIDS, is now fully engrossed in the bewildering activity of collecting data and analysis on each constituency and its varied elements. “Today I can tell you with a click of the mouse the behaviour of even the booth-level electorate,” says a beaming Ashok.

He goes around with a laptop like a salesman, trying to convince political leaders that data analysis is key to a winning blueprint. “Old days of depending on supporters and cronies are over, but few political leaders in India understand this,” he regrets. Ashok says that going by the field of experience he has gathered — such as following TDP chief Chandrababu Naidu on his padayatras — he has realised that voters have become “utterly selfish, to be very frank. Each voter sees what he can benefit from, and the remaining decisive factor is emotion such as we have seen in the YSRC support”. Calculative and judicious voting is limited to a minuscule urban electorate, he adds. According to Ashok, none of the existing political leaders are as yet showing great sagacity. “Vijayamma of YSRC gets to bank on the benefit of YSR sentiment, but the other two big leaders — Kiran Kumar Reddy and Chandrababu Naidu — are yet to display fire. Maybe in the days to come, they will be able to achieve this,” he says. Ashok is unwilling to enter the domain of prediction. But he says his set-up could do quick surveys to find out where a leader stands today.

YSR Congress leader YS Vijayamma sits on the fourth day of her hunger strike against power tariff hike at the MLA Quarters in Adarsh Nagar on M ANILKUMAR Thursday.

city FRIDAY, APRIL 5, 2013

EDUCATION

RTE flouters to be named

But this is no solace for thousands of parents who do not know if the fees they paid would ever be refunded or if the school they chose would work or shut down. Worried parents are wondering what the deal between the government and private schools is.

FILE PHOTOS

ALEENA ALICE aleena.t@postnoon.com

asic school education is more like a task for parents and students. With the government stating that schools which do not comply with the RTE Act norms will be shut down, parents seeking admission for their children in private schools are in a fix, not knowing if their chosen school will work or close down. The number of schools defaulting on RTE Act is growing by the day, and parents are left in the lurch. Though the government has been stating that hundreds of schools will have to shut down because of their non-compliance with the RTE Act, so far, the government had not released an official list of the defaulting schools so that parents can browse and decide. On the other hand, majority of the schools are going ahead with the admission process and conducting entrance exams, and parents are left with no choice but to rush before it’s too late. “It’s April and June is when the new academic year begins. The admission process has begun in schools and if we don’t hurry, there is a possibility that our child can lose out on admission. Since 2009, the government has been dragging its feet over the Act and it is now confusing parents and students,” says Rajender Prasad, a concerned parent. Stating that for so long, the education department and the government had given the defaulting schools a long rope, the DEO (Hyderabad district) Chinna Reddy says, “We have been sending reminders and circulars to the defaulting schools. Though some of them have responded and acted on the circulars, majority of the schools failed to do so. So we have decided to take action against them now.” Minister for secondary education K Partha Sarathy, however, states that the department will be releasing the list of the defaulting schools shortly so that the parents will no longer have any confusion. “We have already made the list and are waiting for the Class X exams to get completed. As soon as the exams are done, the list will be published,” he says. Apart from their child losing out on a year of education, what seems to be the concern of par-

ents is the high fee structure which is not refundable. “I have to get my son admitted in Class III in a new school, and I am really worried about it. What if the school is made to shut down in the middle of the academic year? My son will lose out on one year of his education then. Also, after paying thousands of rupees, we will not even be refunded the

Meanwhile, some of the schools which are likely to be on the verge of closure seem to be running now from pillar to post to get their act together.

amount,” said Farzana Bhanu, a parent. The government, on the other hand, is not assuring the parents of fee reimbursement in case the school their kids are studying in is made to shut down. “The main issue we have with majority of the schools is that they do not have proper infrastructure, like playgrounds and fire safety mea-

sures. If the schools try to fulfil these requirements within a couple of months and show us, we will still consider it, and only restrict action to fining without closing down the schools. However, if schools do not comply with the norms, we will be forced to shut them down. Regarding the reimbursement of fees, the government cannot do much,” said minister Partha Sarathy. Meanwhile, some of the schools which are likely to be on the verge of closure seem to be running now from pillar to post to get their act together. “A few branches of our schools were denied recognition because they did not comply with the infrastructure norms of the RTE Act. We have taken a playground on lease in an open plot next to our school. We will submit the same to the government and ask for recognition,” says a principal of a private school.

city

FRIDAY, APRIL 5, 2013

REPORTERS’ DIARY

Of sweets and bitter truths!

ven as the entire GHMC was celebrating the huge collection of revenue at the closing of the financial year, there were an unhappy few. For the past two to three years, scribes have not been getting any ‘budget gift’. They expected that at least this year, but the higher-ups in the Corporation did not seem to be in the mood to oblige them. Immediately after the press conference by the mayor and the commissioner on the glad tidings on April 1, wherein they waxed eloquents on the officials for collecting a record sum of revenue, most of the scribes declined the sweet boxes, assuming the act would jolt the officialdom. But it was the poor scribes who were in for a shock. As nothing happened after they displayed their displeasure, most of them returned and took home the sweet boxes (probably muttering profanities at the officials and the mayor). (MN)

THEY TOO SERVE WHO BEG AND GIVE This reporter stumbled on the great economic activity of alms seekers. They are the main source of small-change which is in high demand by merchants. All shops and markets face a shortage of coins and there exists a flourishing coin market which gives change on commission. Small shop owners say that they pay between `15 to `20 for every `100 which they must make up in their business. Of course, they would somehow pass it on to unwary customers, but they must pay initially. Now, alms seekers are the ready source of coins and they too — hold your breath — found out that coins come on a premium... and why not? So alms seekers seem to have come to a unanimous stance that they should have no qualms demanding their cut for the coins they supply, and demand `110 to `115 for every `100! A tea stall owner on Jubilee Hills Road No. 36 says his regular supplier of coins, an aged alms seeker, demands `15 for every `100 and a cup of tea free! The provision shop nearby vouchsafed that he gives `15 commission. Wow! Some business, this! (PK)

TONSURED CM

It is known that we, the commoners, pray to our respective gods for fulfilment of wishes, and when the wishes are granted, we offer the divinity something in return. Chief Minister N Kiran

Kumar Reddy recently joined the crowd. Kiran, known to be no great believer, at least publicly, offered his hair to Lord Venkateswara. It was revealed that he offered his crowning glory as gratitude for defeating the No Confidence Motion moved by rival political parties viz TRS and YSRCP recently in the AP

Assembly against his government. According to close aides of the CM, Kiran had vowed he would shed his locks if the Lord helped him sail through in the Assembly. He had done this earlier as well in 2011 when a similar motion came up. Back then also he won the motion and offered his top crop to the Lord. May his faith save him. (IA)

WAGGING TONGUE

Former minister Mohammed Ali Shabbir took oath in Urdu when he was elected as an MLC recently. He had taken his oath in Urdu when he was elected MLA during YSR’s time as well. This has set tongues wagging. His alleged involvement in the Lanco Hills property, which belongs to the Waqf Board, had dimmed his

SRINIVAS SETTY

image among the Muslim community and taking the oath in Urdu was aimed at appeasing the sentiments of the community. People are expecting him to take oath the next time in English to make the younger generation happy. Is this true, Shabbir? (MS)

SUPERLADY’S STUNT

The ‘lady superstar’ of South India and MP, Vijayashanti, is currently shopping for a party that will give her the Medak ticket. She is not particular about the colour of the flag, though. Nor is she restrained by labels like ‘secular’ ‘communal’, which are meant for lesser mortals. The leading lady of the silverscreen knows a few stunts to silence those making noise among these lines. The latest news is that she has had a tiff with ‘panther’ KCR, who told her to choose some place other than Medak because he has reserved it for himself. Well, to hell with it, she seems to have said and is learnt to have sent feelers to the lotus camp which is said to be keen as it is eyeing the Telangana pie, and anyone with a promising prospect is welcome. (PK) (Contributed by Md Nizamuddin, Mohd Subhan, Inkeshaf Ahmed and PK Surendran)

city FRIDAY, APRIL 5, 2013

LOOKING AHEAD

Smart grid technology: The hope for future New Worldwatch Institute report shows India lags behind in global investments and installation of smart grid technology. Around the world POSTNOON NEWS feedback@postnoon.com

riven by increasing shares of renewable energy in electricity generation mix and by the need to update ageing grid infrastructure, global investment in smart grid technologies rose seven per cent in 2012, totalling $13.9 billion worldwide, according to new research conducted by the Worldwatch Institute for its Vital Signs Online service. Despite a slight decline in investments, the US maintained its position as a leader in smart grids, followed closely by China, writes Reese Rogers.

WHAT IS SMART GRID TECHNOLOGY? A smart grid is an electricity network that uses digital information and communications technologies to improve the efficiency and reliability of electricity transport. The increasing use of highly variable energy resources requires sophisticated control systems to facilitate their integration into the electricity grid. The United States topped other countries in investment in smart grids, spending $4.3 billion in 2012, although that was 19 per cent below the 2011 figure of $5.1 billion. China invested $3.2 billion in 2012, an increase of 14 per cent over 2011. Smart grid directives in the European Union drove a 27 per cent increase in European spending to $1.4 billion in 2012, up from $1.1 billion in 2011. Latin American investment in smart grid technology remains relatively small, totaling $400 million in 2012. India has made no great mark.

THE US DECLINE

The decline in US investments in 2012 was due, in part, to the expiration of federal funding programmes initiated under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act in 2009. At the start of 2012, utilities had installed 37 million smart meters, covering 33 per cent of American households. Current plans by utilities should result in 65 million units installed, covering 57 per cent of American households, by 2015. “Smart meters are just one of the many technologies involved in smart

China is poised to surpass the United States in smart grid investment in 2013. grid infrastructure,” said Rogers, a MAP Sustainable Energy Fellow Worldwatch’s Climate and Energy Programme. “These electronic measurement devices gather data on energy usage and provide two-way communication with the utility for efficiency and accurate billing purposes, enabling regulatory mechanisms such as time-of-use pricing to be introduced.”

RISING CHINA

China’s rising investment in smart grid technologies stems from its plans to update its poorly designed and inefficient transmission system. It is poised to surpass the US in smart grid investment in 2013. Other countries in Asia are also investing in smart grid technologies and deployments. South Korea, as of February 2012, had deployed smart meters to fewer than a million households, or roughly 4 per cent. And Japan is already home to one of the most efficient electricity grids in the world, with distribution losses averaging 4.9 per cent over the period 2000 to 2010.

SCENE IN EUROPE

In the European Union, Electricity Directive 2009/752/EC mandates member states to deploy smart metering systems in 80 per cent of households by 2020, where cost-benefit analyses of smart meters are positive. Progress varies from country to country, but as of 2011 an average of 10 per cent of European households had smart meters installed. Grid-scale energy storage technologies are another important aspect of evolving grid networks, providing an alternate or complementary solution for the integration of variable renewable energy into the grid. They are gaining traction as larger-scale projects are beginning or are planned for the near future. The next few years will see numerous smart grid deployment projects and advances in energy storage markets; the success of which will surely influence the respective paths of each technology’s development.

n The United States tops other countries in investment in smart grids, spending $4.3 billion in 2012. n China invested $3.2 billion in 2012, an increase of 14 per cent over 2011. n Europe increased its spending by 27 per cent to $1.4 billion in 2012. n Latin American investment remains relatively small, totaling $400 million in 2012. n India has made no great mark.

Future plans n The State Grid Corporation of China has a threephase plan to invest $601 billion in transmission infrastructure, with $101 billion slated for smart grid technology, through 2020. n The United Kingdom plans to begin nationwide installation of smart meters in 2014, with the intention to install these meters in all households by 2019. n There were 714 grid-scale energy storage projects worldwide in 2012 in varying stages of operation or development — roughly a 19 per cent increase in the number of projects from the previous year.

FRIDAY, APRIL 5, 2013

nation

CBI NOTICE TO FORMER MINISTER RAJA BHAIYYA Former UP minister Raghuraj Pratap Singh alias Raja Bhaiyya has been summoned by the CBI to appear before it within a week, in connection with the triple murder at Balipur village March 2. Balipur village head Nanhe Yadav, his brother Suresh and Deputy Superintendent of Police Zia-ul-Haq were killed in the incident.

NEWS BRIEFS

MANMADE TRAGEDY

THANE BUILDING COLLAPSE kills 30, leaves 69 injured

The toll is likely to rise as rescuers fear that some victims are still trapped under debris. There were around 35 families residing in the seven-storey illegal under-construction building that was occupied till the fourth floor. THANE: The death toll in the under- construction building collapse in Shil Phata area of the district has risen to 30 as rescuers recovered more bodies from the site this morning, Thane police control room said. While 69 people were injured, rescuers fear that some victims are still trapped under debris, they said. The deceased included 12 men, some of whom were construction workers, ten children and eight women. A pregnant woman, identified as Shakila Imran Siddiqui, was among the deceased, Thane civic officials said. The remaining bodies are yet to be identified.

The Daighar police have registered a case against builders Salil and Khalil Jamadar under Section 304 (culpable homicide not amounting to murder) of IPC, police said, adding that efforts were on to trace them. Maharashtra Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan and Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar are likely to visit the site today. The seven-storey illegal under-construction structure, located in Shil Phata area between Mumbra and Dombivli townships, collapsed at around 6.30pm yesterday. The injured have been admitted to various

hospitals in Thane and some have been shifted to Mumbai's JJ and Sion Hospitals for better treatment, police said. Relief and rescue operations are being carried out under the supervision of Civic Commissioner RA Rajeev and District Collector P Velarasu.

MNS legislator from Kalyan township of Thane, Ramesh Patil alleged that he had complained to the municipal commissioner last week that the building was unauthorised and unfit for occupation, but no action was taken. Civic officials had yesterday said the building in Shil Phata area in Daighar village was unauthorised. They claimed that it was built on forest land and occupied at least up to the fourth floor. There were around 35 families residing in the building, they said. PTI

9 stab wounds found on BJP worker killed in fire AGRA: A woman BJP worker was charred to death in a ﬁre that engulfed her house here, with police today saying that her postmortem report had shown nine stab wounds on her body. Anju Sharma's postmortem report showed nine stab wounds on her body, leading to suspicions that she was stabbed to death and later her house was set aﬁre to destroy evidence of her being killed, police said. Sharma was found dead yesterday afternoon in the Trans Yamuna Colony of the city, police said.

Bombs planted to attack troops recovered IMPHAL: Two powerful bombs, allegedly planted by insurgents to attack security personnel, have been recovered from two places in Manipur's Imphal West and Ukhrul districts, ofﬁcial sources said today. Sources said a bomb, weighing about two kg, was detected by a patrolling party of 18th Sikh Regiment at the end of culvert at Merakhong area under Patsoi police station in Imphal West district last evening. The bomb, reportedly planted by insurgents was later defused by bomb experts.

Death toll in Kashmir road mishap reaches nine SRINAGAR: The death toll in the school bus mishap in Anantnag district has risen to nine as another student succumbed to injuries last night, police said today. The student succumbed to injuries late last night at a hospital here, they said. The bus skidded off a mountainous road and fell into a 300-ft gorge. While four students died on the spot, others succumbed to injuries at hospitals. The mishap took place when the driver of the bus lost control while negotiating a blind curve.

Congress does well in Odisha municipal polls BHUBANESWAR: The state's main opposition Congress has registered an impressive win in the elections held for three urban local bodies in Odisha, an ofﬁcial said Friday. The elections to the three notiﬁed area councils at Attabira in Bargarh district, Hindol in Dhenkanal district and Nuapada in Nuapada district were held Wednesday, and counting was held a day later. The Congress has won 20 of the total 42 municipality wards under the three NACs.

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FRIDAY, APRIL 5, 2013

Living spaces FACTS ABOUT SHANKARPALLI BELT

SCHOOLS: Indus School, Survey No. 424&425, Kondakal, Mokilla Open Minds, A Birla K-12 School, Kollur Oakridge, Khaja Guda, Gachibowli Samashti international school, Gachibowli

COLLEGES: IBS (ICFAI), Shankarapalli Road, Donthanapally.

GREEN COVER DRAWS BUYERS

Infrastructure

Shankarpalli road belt, an area located in the north-western part of the City, has alot of green cover without compromising on connectivity, amenities and affordability.

ROAD Connected to Patancheru (20-25 min) Connected to Gachibowli (20-30 min) Connected to Vikarabad (40 min) RAIL

PRUDHVI RAJU K prudhvi.k@postnoon.com

or many residents in the City, traffic, congestion and pollution are unavoidable and become part and parcel of their daily lives. Many assume living in far-off abode to escape these issues will give rise to new problems like lack of connectivity to schools, travel and other basic amenities. Shankarpalli road belt, an area which is located in the north-western part of the City, is

all set in the greens without compromising on connectivity, amenities and affordability. Evolving villas and gated community culture is set to drive the future growth of the City say real estate developers. “Any development takes place due to these three reasons; job opportunities, amenities and connectivity. It is due to these reasons that developers and residents are showing interest in and around villages of this area. It is known fact that 85 per cent of the IT industry evolved in Gachibowli and in surrounding

areas (Cyberabad). Most of the industries like hospitality, entertainment and media are located in this side of the City. It is almost impossible for anyone to live in the other side of the City and travel to these areas with the traffic, congestion and pollution. It is connectivity without traffic and definite time for travel to Hitec City and Gachibowli that gives an edge to Shankarpalli belt over other areas,” says G Hari Babu, chairman, Lahari Group. Venugopal Reddy of Subishi Developers says, “Proximity

and affordability sets Shankarpalli road belt ahead of the other areas near Gachibowli. The prices in areas like Nanakramguda, Narsingi and Kokapet, which are at proximity to Gachibowli, have reached sky-high. It is the affordability, along with closeness to Gachibowli, that is driving upper middle class and above to buy villas in these areas. In addition, the 10 km area from Kokapet to Mokila is considered as green belt and no construction is allowed even in the future, which guarantees greenery for-

Railway stations at Nagulpalli and Shankarpalli AIR

SARK TWO

SUBISHI, TOWN CENTRE RESIDENTIAL

Shamshabad Airport (50 km)

ENTERTAINMENT AND SHOPPING Inorbit Mall and Mega Mall (under construction)

n Town Centre is raised in above 2 acres of land in Mokila n It's a compilation of two blocks with commercial and residential flats n Sizes are 1000 sq ft (two bedroom) n Commercial area is above 75000 sft and residential area is above 72,000 sft n Approved HMDA housing layout n Clear title land n All amenities as per HMDA norms n 100 per cent vaastu-compliant design n Gated community with attended 24/7 security n Price: `1,700 per sft

n 179 plots available in (1) 300 sq yd and (2)400 sq yd spread over 21 acres in Mokila, Hyderabad n Vaastu compliant gated community n Eco-friendly international architecture n Round-the-clock security n CC Camera at the entrance & children play area n Solar fencing n Landscaped gardens n Built-up area: (1) 2,250 sft (2)2,900 sft n Price: (1) Around `59,95,000 (2) `74,95,000

YOUR WEEKLY GUIDE TO HYDERABAD REAL ESTATE

10&11

N SHIVA KUMAR

Realty has found the right balance P DASHARATH REDDY

feedback@postnoon.com

TO SHANKARPALLI ROAD ever around these villages.” Talking about the land and building prices in these villages, Hari Babu says, “The land price (plot) starts from `5,000 per sq yard in Shankarpalli and gradually increases along the villages to `50,000 per sq yard in Cyberabad. Whereas the villa prices start at `2,500 per sft and can go up to `12,500 per sft nearing to Gachibowli in this 20 km stretch. An independent villa may cost from `55 lakh to `1.5 crore for an area of 2,2002,500 sft.” “Shankarpalli is also soon to get MMTS railway connectivity from Lingampally. Electrification and construction is in process and may take up to two years for the public availability. This line will be an extension to

Villages around Shankarpalli Road belt Kollur Edulanagualpalli Velimela Mokila Kondakal Singapur Bhanoor Shankarpalli

upcoming metro. For instance, any commuter can get down at Hitec City station and transit to metro in near future. HMDA has earmarked land to develop new railway station terminals at Edulanagualpalli and Shankarpalli. This will help residents in nearby localities to board trains in these areas for many Cities rather than going

all the way to Secunderabad and Nampally,” says M Srinivasa Rao, managing partner, Reliance Builders. Many villas in the locality have manjeera connectivity for drinking water as the water pipe line passes from the proximity of villages. International schools like Indus (Mokila), Open Minds by Birla Group in Kollur and IBS are the premier educational institutes. However, residents should visit Gachibowli for super speciality medical services and for major shopping and entertainment. Subishi Developers' 1 lakh sft Town Centre, which is set to be opened by next year end, is to provide shopping and bank facilities to residents in Mokila.

PRAGATI GREEN VILLAS n Proddutur village, 2 km from Shankarpalli Road n Plot size 500 sq yd and above n Constructed area: 2,400 sft n Nearer to 100 acres of lake and next to Golf area n 100 per cent vaastu-compliant design n Gated community with attended 24/7 security n Each plot is planted with nine fruit-bearing and nine wood-yielding trees and attended by experienced horticulturists n Price: Around `65 lakh

eal estate in the City is going through a transition period. Often there is a general question about what makes the real estate market in the City sustainable and on growth path. More than anything else, the balance between supply and demand plays a key role in the future market growth. It not only drives the market growth but also determines the market value of the property. For instance, if developers construct more than the demand from the buyers, there will be slump in the market or if the demand is higher than the available constructed properties, there will be scarcity and increase in property values. Earlier, supply was more than the demand in the City and had become one of the most

important reasons for the fall of real estate market. Prior to 86 GO (2007), each developer used to construct around 60 flats in a span of two years. However, with the introduction of 86 GO, the developers were able to construct unlimited floor space index (FSI). This along with real estate boom in the City pushed developers to construct hundreds of flats in larger spaces and gave rise to the evolution of gated communities. This growth has increased supply drastically over the demand. For instance, in areas like Gachibowli, the supply was 10

times more than demand during that time. But with the constant and regular demand over the time, the supply was gradually absorbed in the market. Now after six years, there is a balance between the supply and demand, which will make the market grow despite any political disturbances. The property values in the City are one of the lowest in the country. In terms of infrastructure, it has world-class airport, ORR and radial roads enabling road connectivity. The low rates are giving an opportunity for differ-

Earlier, supply was more than the demand in the City and had become one of the most important reasons for the fall of real estate market.

ent income groups to invest in property. The properties are offered at almost similar prices of 2007. With the natural growth and inflation, there is increase in values of other resources and commodities. For instance, if we add the inflation the property should cost one and half times of that in 2007. In terms of returns, an investor or home buyer can expect a decent growth of 15-20 per cent every year, which will be sustainable and create a win-win situation for all stakeholders. The author is the president of APREDA.

FRIDAY, APRIL 5, 2013

World VOICE FALLS SILENT

Famed US film critic Ebert dies at 70

ilm legend Martin Scorsese and US President Barack Obama led tributes to US movie critic Roger Ebert, the first cinema pundit to win a Pulitzer Prize who died Thursday from cancer aged 70. Scorsese, who has been working on a film about the reviewer famed for his trademark thumbs up and thumbs down accolades, called Ebert’s death “an incalculable loss for movie culture and for film criticism." Fellow Chicago native Obama also hailed Ebert, who wrote reviews for the Chicago Sun-Times for over four decades and hosted a hugely popular long-running

TV show. “For a generation of Americans — and especially Chicagoans — Roger was the movies. When he didn’t like a film, he was honest; when he did, he was effusive — capturing the unique power of the movies to take us somewhere magical," Obama said. Ebert — who just two days ago announced in a blog post that he was taking a break from his main job — succumbed to cancer after a long battle. He won a Pulitzer in 1975 for distinguished criticism, the first and one of only three such honourees, and hosted long-running movie review TV shows. AFP

MYANMAR BUDDHIST-MUSLIM BRAWL KILLS 8 Fighting between Buddhist and Muslim asylum seekers from Myanmar at a detention centre on Indonesia’s Sumatra island left eight people dead Friday, police said. The fighting broke out at around 2 am at the Belawan Port immigration detention centre in North Sumatra province.

THE KOREAN CRISIS

KAZAKH TALKS

N Korea missile threat: US wary

Iran and world powers met in Kazakhstan Friday for new talks seeking a breakthrough on the Iranian nuclear crisis, with Tehran deﬁantly insisting its rights must be recognised. The decade-old nuclear dispute has left the Islamic republic's economy badly hurt by UN sanctions and Tehran risking military action from its arch foe Israel. At stake be if Iran is ready to accept a series of demands that the powers presented at the last such negotiations.

Pyongyang rings fresh alarms. White House calls the barrage of threats 'regrettable but familiar'. SEOUL: The United States said it was taking “all necessary precautions” after North Korea rang fresh alarms in an escalating crisis by moving a medium-range missile Thursday to its east coast. Seoul’s defence minister Kim Kwan-Jin said the missile could reach a “considerable distance” but not the US mainland, telling lawmakers it “could be aimed at test-firing or military drills". It was the latest incremental move by North Korea which, incensed at fresh UN sanctions and South Korea-US military drills, has issued a series of apocalyptic threats of nuclear war in recent weeks. White House spokesman Jay Carney said the barrage of threats fitted a “regrettable but familiar” pattern of North Korean behaviour. “We’re taking all the necessary precautions," Carney said, citing “prudent measures” to respond to the possible missile threat. The Pentagon has said it will send missile-interceptor batteries to protect bases on Guam, a US territory some 3,380 km southeast of North Korea and home to 6,000 American military personnel. South Korean intelligence sources reportedly identified the North Korean missile as an intermediate-range Musudan. The Musudan has never been tested, but is believed to have a range of around 3,000

NUMEROLOGY

$7.7

billion

is the sharp increase in first-quarter operating profit that South Korea’s Samsung Electronics said it expected from the first three months of 2012.

PLOT TO KILL LAWMAKERS

PAJU, SOUTH KOREA: Visitors look at replicas of the Hawk Guided Missile at Imjingak peace park in Paju on Thursday. km, which could theoretically be pushed to 4,000 with a light payload. Most experts think the North is not yet capable of mounting a nuclear device on a ballistic missile capable of striking US bases or territory. On Thursday the North Korean army said it had

AFP

received final approval for military action, possibly involving “diversified” nuclear weapons, against the threat posed by US B-52 and B-2 stealth bombers. “The moment of explosion is approaching fast," the army’s general staff said. AFP

NEWS BRIEFS Uruguay Prez caught in open mic incident

Putin, Obama to meet in Ireland in June

US to return some Okinawa land to Japan

Man blows up ex-wife to win her back

MONTEVIDEO: Uruguay’s President Jose Mujica was left redfaced Thursday after disparaging remarks apparently aimed at Argentine counterpart Cristina Kirchner and her late husband were picked up by an open microphone. “This old hag is worse than the cross-eyed man," Mujica was caught saying at the start of a news conference.

MOSCOW: Russian President Vladimir Putin and his US counterpart Barack Obama will hold fullﬂedged talks on the sidelines of the G8 Summit in Northern Ireland in June, a Putin aide said. The possibility of “contacts in connection with Obama’s participation in a G20 summit” is also under consideration, presidential aide Yury Ushakov said.

TOKYO: Japan and the United States have agreed on a plan that will see some land occupied by the US military returned to the islands in a bid to break the deadlock in a long-stalled deal, reports said Friday. Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and US Ambassador John Roos were expected to sign off on the pact later Friday.

MOSCOW: A Russian man lured his former wife to a bomb that injured her when it exploded. He said he did so to win her back. The 39year-old woman was injured by an improvised explosive device in a forest where she had gone to collect a package that a note said would contain the documents needed to settle her father’s ﬁnancial problems.

Mexican authorities Thursday broke up a plot to assassinate two brothers, both leftist lawmakers, including the former campaign manager of the runner-up in last year’s presidential election. Mariana Benitez, a senior prosecutor, said an unspeciﬁed number of people were detained in a Mexico City hotel over plans to kill Senator David Monreal and his brother Ricardo. Authorities seized weapons, communications equipment and a sport-utility vehicle, “which they planned to use for the attacks," Benitez told a news conference.

The prospect of resuming six-party talks to settle the nuclear problem of the Korean Peninsula has been undermined, if not entirely obliterated. A Lukashevich Russian spokesperson

FRIDAY, APRIL 5, 2013

Technology GOING DIGITAL

GET SET WATCH

IOS GOES UP

Everyone’s rushing to get a digital set-top box so they can watch IPL in peace, but how much do you know about this transition that the industry is going through in India?

Digitisation in India

First digital transmission was started on January 26, 2003 in the four major metros by Doordarshan n I&B ministry only permits private broadcast companies to use satellite, cable and IPTV based systems.

Countries that have made the shift n

2006: Netherlands

2007: Andorra, Finland, Sweden, Switzerland

2009: Denmark, Germany, Isle of Man, Norway, United States

2010: Belgium, Croatia, Estonia, Guernsey, Jersey, Latvia, Luxembourg, San Marino, Slovenia, Spain

2011: Austria, Canada, Cyprus, France, Israel, Malta, Monaco

2012: Czech Republic, Gibraltar, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Kenya, Lithuania, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Oman, UAE, Portugal, Serbia, Slovakia, South Korea, Taiwan, United Kingdom

2013: Australia, Azerbaijan, Bulgaria, Hungary, Iceland, Macedonia, Mauritius, Moldova, Namibia, New Zealand, Poland, South Africa, Zimbabwe

For user Better resolution and sound quality. n More channels to choose from. n Additional features such as parental lock, recording of shows etc possible available on some set top boxes. n

Advantage

For cable companies and channels Average Revenue Per User will increase. n No more grainy footage, so customers will be more happy with the service n

What is Digital television transition

t is a process of converting analogue terrestrial television to digital terrestrial. It also transition from analogue cable to digital cable, as well as analogue to digital satellite.

Why they are actually doing it? Digital television reallocates the radio spectrum so that it can be auctioned off. n This spectrum can be used to introduce new services and products in mobile telephony, wi-fi internet, and other nationwide telecommunications projects. n

Issues with digitisation More power consumption than good ol’ cable n Certain companies will expect you to pay money per channel and your monthly expenditure on television may go up n Money spent by the government on this transition could be used elsewhere n Consumers have to bear the cost of set top boxes n

In the US, Apple started 2013 as the top OEM and it has only further increased its lead in February. Samsung is gaining as well, but not quite as quickly. Rounding out the top five are HTC, Motorola, and LG, all of which lost share. In the platform space, Google is still first courtesy of Android, Apple is second with iOS, but the latter is gaining on the former. In fact, Apple’s gains in the hardware space have been so large recently that not only did iOS gain significantly but Android has taken a hit for the second month running. Again, rounding out the top five are BlackBerry, Microsoft, and Symbian.

PAY EASILY Mozilla is working with payment vendors and the W3C standards body to create a common API to make online payments, both on desktop and mobile, easier and more secure. To get this process going, Mozilla has implemented a new and experimental JavaScript API into its new Firefox OS for smartphones that will eventually allow web apps to accept payments. Mozilla argues that having a common API for handling payments that can be integrated with multiple payment vendors will open up new business models for developers and publishers.

Hacked North Korea’s ofﬁcial Twitter and Flickr accounts have been hacked and two of its main websites defaced, in hacker group Anonymous’s latest efforts to disrupt the communist county’s online presence. Last week, hackers that purported to be part of the ‘hacktivist’ collective claimed to have swiped 15,000 passwords from North Korea’s Uriminzokkiri.com news and information site in response to the North Korean regime and its nuclear weapons program. While that feat remains unclear since the hackers posted details of just six of the accounts that they claimed to have gotten, there is no doubt about the latest efforts.

FRIDAY, APRIL 5, 2013

Comment What are kings, when regiment is gone, but perfect shadows in a sunshine day? Christopher Marlowe Playwright

One last thumbs-up THE HUMAN CONDITION Dean Williams

ilm critic Roger Ebert once wrote in his Chicago SunTimes journal: “I was instructed long ago by a wise editor, ‘If you understand something you can explain it so that almost anyone can understand it. If you don’t, you won’t be able to understand your own explanation’. That is why 90 per cent of academic film theory is bullshit. Jargon is the last refuge of the scoundrel.” Jargon was the one thing that Ebert, who died last night aged 70, avoided at all costs. Ebert epitomised what movies should be about: Magic, entertainment and the ability to dream, no matter how hard they may come crashing down. He was seldom venomous (He once wrote: “I had a colonoscopy once, and they let me watch it on TV. It was more entertaining than The Brown Bunny”), and that made his criticism all the more potent. Even during his decade-long battle with cancer Ebert loved the screen and the images that played across it. Movies, he knew, were an extension of our humanity, and an appendage of our viciousness. But he also knew that they were tools to unleash greatness, be it in the auteur, the actor or within the viewer. I may not have agreed with all Ebert’s calls, but his love for motion pictures transcended any imagined bickering. I will miss his reviews, as I know millions more will. He once quoted from Joni Mitchell’s Big Yellow Taxi, “Don’t it always seem to go that you don’t know what you’ve got till it’s gone.” In Ebert’s case we always knew what we had: Cinema’s best friend, and a movie-lover’s spirit guide.

HIGH-FLYING THOUGHTS

Satyamev jayate might be the official credo, but in reality there’s hardly any implementation of that. Upright Haryana IAS officer Ashok Khemka, who earlier ruffled feathers over Robert Vadra land deals, and subsequently shunted out, has learned this the hard way — again!

KOREAN CRISIS

UNDERSTANDING KIM GILES HEWITT

Agence France-Presse

uch like his father Kim JongIl, North Korea’s new young leader Kim Jong-Un is viewed by much of the outside world with a heady mix of incomprehension, ridicule and fear. In early March, people were shaking their heads in bemusement at photos of Kim partying with former NBA star Dennis Rodman in Pyongyang after watching a basketball game together. One month later, they’re wondering if he might be on the brink of tipping the Korean peninsula into a catastrophic conflict. The current crisis, with its nuclear threats and Kim’s lurid exhortations to his troops to “break the waists of the crazy enemies and totally cut their windpipes” has placed the young leader firmly in the global spotlight. But while more of a public personality than his introverted father ever was, Kim remains an enigmatic figure, especially on a personal level. He’s young, but it’s unclear how young, with reports ranging from 28 to 30. He has a stylish, attractive wife, but how many children he has or what gender they are is a mystery. As far as personal tastes go, his apparent affection for amusement parks and Disney characters sits oddly with his

position as supreme commander of the world’s fifth-largest army with a nuclear arsenal. An often-used media qualifier, and one that has taken on an ominous ring in recent weeks as tensions between Pyongyang, Seoul and Washington have soared, is “inexperienced.” While Kim Jong-Il was well groomed before taking over from his father -- founding leader Kim Il-Sung -- Kim Jong-Un had barely warmed the successor’s chair when his father died in December 2011. And after less than 16 months in the job, he has taken his country to the brink of conflict in the very first crisis he has faced. For Alexandre Mansourov, a North Korea expert, Kim’s personal inexperience is worryingly matched by the outside world’s inexperience in dealing with him. “Although he practiced brinkmanship all the time, there was a record of Kim JongIl stepping back from the brink. With his son, we don’t have a track record yet. We don’t know what his limits are, how far we can push him or whether he has any brakes or not,” he said. In South Korea, analysts say what others see as reckless “adventurism” on Kim’s part may in fact be well-calibrated pragmatism. “Kim only had a short time to prepare for leadership, which meant he had to move all the faster and more aggressively when it came his way, to secure his control on the power elite,” said Chang Yong-Seok, at Seoul National University. In a regime whose inner

workings are as opaque as North Korea’s, there have inevitably been questions as to whether Kim is really in charge at all — or is just a puppet manipulated by a coterie of top generals and officials. Yang Moo-Jin, a professor at the University of North Korean Studies in Seoul, dismisses such speculation outright. “I believe he has shown himself to be in full control of the party and the military,” Yang said, pointing to Kim’s “resolute” and even ruthless purge of top officials after he came to power. It’s true that he’s surrounded by a group of experienced mentors, but that doesn’t make him weak. He’s making the decisions on important state affairs. The system has been always like that,” he added. Where, then, is he taking the country? Kim has followed his father’s playbook of engineering a crisis and then sharply driving up the stakes to a level where a skittish international community offers concessions to lower tensions. But it’s a worn playbook, and this time a

dry-eyed and unblinking United States and South Korea have chosen to stare Pyongyang down. Daniel Pinkston, a North Korea expert with the International Crisis Group, suggests Kim is waiting for joint South Korea-US military drills to conclude at the end of April. “Its important to understand that a lot of what we see and hear — the photos of Kim hunkered with his generals in a war room, the apparently irrational threats — are largely meant for a domestic audience,” he said. The rhetoric from Pyongyang, Pinkston noted, was largely couched in the language of deterrence, with Kim portrayed as the leader standing between the North Korean people and US invasion. “When the drills end, the message will be: ‘Look. They were going to invade us with their B-52s and and their stealth bombers, but they didn’t because of our nuclear deterrent and, above all, because of out saviour, the great marshal Kim Jong-Un’. “That’s how it works,” Pinkston said.

EDITORIALS US policy ‘Modification’ reeks of double standards When cops come a cropper

ow the US administration is ready to consider granting a visa to Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi. For all its tirade against Modi over 2002 riots, Uncle Sam’s realpolitik calculation cautions against burning bridges with India’s future prime minister. Such a move would hurt American business interests, who fund both Democrats and Republicans, and give advantage to competitors from Europe. This move exposes the hollowness in American interpretation of human rights violation. Gringo doesn’t have a problem with the slaughter of Muslims. but is upset with killing of Tamils during the concluding phases of Sri Lankan civil war. It has no qualms in wooing Myanmar junta leaders who killed, maimed and tortured tens of thousands for several decades. It ran to the aid of oil-rich Libya to help popular uprising but stayed silent when Saudi sent troops with US-supplied arms to quell a similar movement there. Some guardian of rights huh?

READERS’ VIEWS

ravery medals for cops who err in their duty? Why not? Newspaper reports say the Supreme Court while dismissing a magisterial report into the March 3, 2013 incident in which a woman was beaten up in public by Punjab Police sarcastically told the state government to award them bravery medals, as it claimed that she manhandled the cops. Why not, indeed? They are least ashamed that they could not do their duty of protecting her or acting against the brute that molested her. Instead they thrashed her. This is indeed most laudable and they must be recognised for that.

FRIDAY, APRIL 5, 2013

Music

CYRUS WITH THE LION

Snoop Lion is pining about the past on his latest Reincarnated track, and he brought Miley Cyrus along for the ride. Their duet, off the rapper’s April 23 album, made it to the Internet on Wednesday (April 3). On Ashtrays and Heartbreaks, Snoop combines his newfound Rasta style with Cyrus’ pop sound.

CELEBRATING TRADITION

NEW ALBUM

BEYOND MUSIC

Fans of Indian classical music have a real treat lined up for them. On April 5-7, Shilpakala Vedika will ring with the sublime sounds of sitars, flutes and drums as part of the Pt Bhimsen Joshi National Festival of Music and Dance. JYOTSNA NAMBIAR jyotsna.n@postnoon.com

Out of touch, in the Wild

his is the second year that the festival is being organised in Hyderabad by the Suranjali Foundation. Abhijit Bhattacharjee, the secretary general of S u r a n j a l i Foundation, said, “We could not think of anyone better to honour than Pt Bhimsen Joshi. He was equally popular with people who loved Carnatic and Hindustani music. He is a big legend, which is why we decided to hold the cultural fest to honour his legacy.” While the festival was held at Chowmahalla Palace last year, the venue has been shifted to Shilpakala Vedika this year. The three-day festival has an impressive line-up that will get any music lover excited. Kicking off the festival are Purbayan Chatterjee (on the sitar) and Shashank Subramanyam (flute), who will present an electrifying jugalbandi. Purbayan, who lives in Kolkata, is known for seamlessly merging Indian classical music and contemporary world music. Shashank has been enthralling audiences since he was six with classical renditions on the flute. Day One comes to an end with the rich, mellifluous tones of Begum Parveen Sultana. Hailing from Assam, the Padmashri winner will be performing in Hyderabad after a gap of 15

The Stockport quintet might start simple, sure, but when they’re ﬁnished you’ve got something more than a little odd. Dutch Uncles aren’t a self-consciously ‘experimental’ band, despite the mathrock drumming, or the orchestral arrangements. They’re a throwback to the eighties heyday of playing around with the familiar shapes and sounds of songs whilst still being, well, listenable and accessible.

DID YOU KNOW...

Justin

years, said Bhattacharjee. The next day will go beyond music, with Shallu Jindal performing. The Kuchipudi danseuse is as much known for her charitable activities as she is for her grace on stage. Following her will be Pt Budhaditya Mukherjee on the sitar. A Hindustani classical music exponent, he also is an expert on the surbahar. Bringing the festival to a close will be Bharatanatyam danseuse Shobhana, who really needs no introduction. The talented dancer and actor will perform in the evening, right before renowned flautist Pt Hariprasad Chaurasia is felicitated for his contribution to the arts. He will later perform with his talented nephew, Rakesh Chaurasia.

iTUNES Top 10 songs 1 WHEN I WAS YOUR MAN 6 CAN’T HOLD US Bruno Mars Macklemore & Ryan 2 JUST GIVE ME A Lewis

REASON 7 POM POMS

P!nk Jonas Brothers

3 CRUISE 8 HEART ATTACK

Florida Georgia Line Demi Lovato

4 RADIOACTIVE 9 FEEL THIS MOMENT

Imagine Dragons

5 SUIT & TIE Justin Timberlake

Pitbull

10 I LOVE IT Icona Pop

Pt Bhimsen Joshi National Festival of Music and Dance When: April 5-7, 6.30pm-10.30pm Where: Shilpakala Vedika, Hitec City Price: `300 - `4,000 (Season ticket) Talking about the line-up, Bhattacharjee said, “We wanted to keep a balance. Some people like dance, some instrumental, some vocals... we can’t please everyone but we try to keep it varied. It also depends on the artistes and their availability. Overall, we wanted people who can inspire the next generation.”

Top 10 albums 1 THE 20/20 EXPERIENCE Justn Timberlake

P!nk

6 NIGHT VISION

2 SAME TRAILER Imagine Dragons DIFFERENT PARK 7 WHAT ABOUT NOW Kacey Musgraves Bon Jovi

3 UNORTHODOX JUKEBOX 8 LES MISERABLES Bruno Mars Soundtrack

4 SPRING BREAK... HERE 9. BABEL TO PARTY Mumford & Sons Luke Bryan 10. UNAPOLOGETIC 5 THE TRUTH ABOUT LOVE Rihanna

“We are expecting more than 3,000 people to attend the festival. The proceeds will be in aid of autistic children — we have teamed up with NGO SimplyGive for the same. The reason to have donor passes was that we wanted the right kind of people, the ones who really appreciate music, to come. If it is free, people will just turn up and disturb the artistes... the importance of the tribute will be lost,” said Bhattacharjee. When asked whose performance he was looking forward to, Bhattacharjee replied: “I think Budhaditya will take the audience by surprise.” Judging by the sheer amount of talent congregating at Shilpakala Vedika, it would be a shame to miss the festival.

Bollywood Top 10 1. SAPNA MERA TOOTA

I love New Year

Nautanki Saala

6. AAKE TERE KAREEB 2. MERA MANN KEHNE Amma ki Boli LAGA 7. KAALI KAALI Nautanki Saala Ek thi Daayan

3. TAAKI TAAKI 8. MEETHI BOLIYAN Himmatwala Kai Po Che

4.AAJA MERI JAAN 9. YAARAM I love New Year

5 JUDAAI UNPLUGGED

Ek Thi Daayan

10. MANJHA Kai Po Che

Timberlake’s latest could be the first album since Taylor Swift’s Red to spend its first three weeks at No. 1. It looks like Justin Timberlake’s The 20/20 Experience will spend a third consecutive week atop the Billboard 200 chart next week. The set could sell in the range of 150,000 to 170,000, Billboard estimates, based on the sales patterns of the last couple albums that debuted with a half-million or more.

TRENDING...

Morgan Spurlock, currently shooting One Direction: This Is Us, says the ﬁlm following the lives of One Direction band members while on tour will have some “emotional moments” and fans “may shed a tear” while watching it. “There have been some really lovely emotional moments that we’ve captured,” he said Wednesday.

Actress-singer Selena Gomez reportedly wants footage on her to be deleted from Justin Bieber’s forthcoming documentary. Gomez, who split from Bieber earlier this year, is worried he will include her in the sequel to his hugely successful 3D movie Never Say Never, which is expected to be released around Christmas.

FRIDAY, APRIL 5, 2013

spotlight

PARTY ALL NIGHT

This night at News Cafe, Hitech City is dedicated for ladies in the house. Girls can let their hair and have a blast on the dance floor as the in-house DJ churn out foot-tapping tracks.

S BALAKRISHNA

FASHION FIRST 1

MEET AND

GREET

Satya Paul team welcomed their newly appointed fashion director Masaba Gupta. Actress Amala Akkineni partook in the celebration that was held at GVK mall on Thursday. 4

1 Masaba

3 Chandini, Vani

6 Sumalatha

2 Yamin, Gazala Khan

4 Anusha 5 Amala

7 Vidya Singh

A FOODIE’S HAVEN

Testa Rossa, Jubilee Hills has added a new on-the-go Corporate Express Lunch service for its customers.

DISHING OUT DOSAS In a bid to promote dosa as a food item, Melange, Golconda Hotel is hosting a Dosa & Pesarattu festival. The fest will be on till September 15.

ALL THAT GLITTERS

Inspired by the traditional work of arts, Art Karat has launched its latest collection in the name of ‘Temple Collection’ at Hotel Taj Deccan. The display is on till Sunday.

FRIDAY, APRIL 5, 2013

health MYTHS

FLEME VARKEY

fleme.v@postnoon.com

Granny’s myths, that’s what they are. Iced drinks keep you cool, you can beat the heat if you have dark skin... it’s time you see the truth behind them.

CHINA BRIEFS WHO ON NEW BIRD FLU

China's health authorities have promised transparency and cooperation to the World Health Organisation (WHO) over human infections from a new strain of bird flu. The WHO said it appreciates China's cooperation and offered technical support in a statement.

You think you know

SUMMER? MYTH: DRINK WATER, YOU CAN NEVER HAVE TOO MUCH OF A GOOD THING!

Fact: Recent studies reveal that drinking too much water can, in fact, be potentially harmful. Excessive water consumption is dangerous in that it can lower salt concentration in the body. Water intoxication, a life-threatening condition, occurs when there is dilution of blood sodium because the kidneys are over-worked, and unable to excrete the excess water as urine. Experts also say it’s better to drink small quantities over a period of time than drinking too much water at once.

MYTH: GOING IN AND OUT OF A/C ROOMS MAKES YOU SICK

Fact: Only an ill-maintained air-conditioning system can make you ill. The building's air won't harm you, but its surfaces might. Some viruses can survive on doorknobs, keyboards, furniture, bottles for days. Wash your hands regularly. If an A/C unit's filters are not regularly cleaned, they collect dust, pollen and other airborne allergens, leading to allergies.

MYTH: ICED DRINKS KEEP YOU COOL IN SUMMERS

Fact: Though it is recommended to increase your fluid intake during summers, you need to be careful about iced drinks, as they are known to aggravate digestion. Instead, try mixing fresh lime juice with water. Coconut water is also very cooling and healthy. Also, drinking cold water does not burn more calories than warm water.

MYTH: MISSING A MEAL KEEPS YOU LIGHT Fact: No matter how good you think your self-control is, if you skip one meal, you will overeat at the next. It’s been proven. Many times. Eating regularly means your metabolism is good and the body is burning calories while turning the food you’ve eaten to energy. When you’re not eating, it switches to standby mode, and fewer calories are burned.

MYTH: PEOPLE WITH DARK SKIN ARE NOT AT RISK OF GETTING SUNBURNED Fact: Although those with darker skin are naturally more protected from the sun as their skin contains higher levels of melanin, a pigment that gives skin its colour and protects it from ultravi-

ANEWS PP-LYBRIEFS YOURSELF

HOUSECALL

Nutrition Menu

Osteomyelitis

Advance your diet by having nutritional information for over 100,000 food items right at your ﬁngertips! Whether you go out to eat or cook at home, Nutrition Menu takes the guesswork out of choosing healthy meals and even includes a calculator to compute your Food Score. No internet connection is required for this.

Osteomyelitis is an infection of the bone, particularly the long bones in children. It commonly affects the bones on either side of the knee but any bone can be affected. The child usually has a fever and a painful limb that they don't want touched or moved, because this causes intense pain. The skin over the infected bone may be swollen, hot and red. The child may vomit, complain of nausea, or feel lethargic and weak.

olet light, no one is immune to sun damage. When lounging by the pool this summer or playing outdoors, be sure to regularly apply sunscreen with an SPF of 30 or higher.

DID YOU KNOW? The appendix is not all that useless Long denigrated as vestigial, the appendix actually has a reason to be – as a “safe house” for the beneﬁcial bacteria living in the gut. The bacteria in the appendix that aid digestion can ride out a bout of diarrhoea that completely evacuates the intestines and emerge afterwards.

PIONEERS John Hunter John Hunter was a Scottish surgeon regarded as one of the most distinguished scientists and surgeons of his day. He was an early advocate of careful observation and scientiﬁc method in medicine. The Hunterian Society of London was named in his honour. He was the husband of Anne Hunter, a teacher, and friend of, and collaborator with, Edward Jenner, the inventor of the smallpox vaccine.

health FRIDAY, APRIL 5, 2013

RESEARCH

BREAKTHROUGH

‘Breathprint’ to make blood and urine test obsolete?

Magnets cure drug addiction? Zapping brain with magnets may cure cocaine addiction, researchers say.

WASHINGTON: Stimulating a certain part of the brain with magnets can wipe away cocaine addiction, scientists claim. Researchers at the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and the Ernest Gallo Clinic and Research Center at University of California, San Francisco (UCSF) have shown that by stimulating a part of the brain with laser light, they can wipe away addictive behaviour in rats, or conversely, turn non-addicted rats into compulsive cocaine seekers. “When we turn on a laser light in the prelimbic region of the prefrontal cortex, the compulsive cocaine seeking is gone," said Antonello Bonci, scientific director of the intramural

To test whether altering brain activity in a region could impact addiction, a technique called optogenetics was used. research programme at the NIH’s National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), where the work was done. The study demonstrates the central role the prefrontal cortex plays in compulsive cocaine addiction. It also suggests a new therapy that could be tested immediately in humans, said Billy Chen of NIDA, the lead

author of the study. Any new human therapy would not be based on using lasers, but would most likely rely on electromagnetic stimulation outside the scalp, in particular a technique called transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS), researchers said. To test whether altering the activity in this brain region could impact addiction, Chen and his colleagues employed a technique called optogenetics to shut the brain activity on and off using a laser. First they took light-sensitive proteins called rhodopsins and used genetic engineering to insert them into neurons in the rat’s prefrontal cortex.

Activating this region with a laser tuned to the rhodopsins turned the nerve cells on and off. Turning on these cells wiped out the compulsive behaviour, while switching them off turned the non-addicted ones into addicted, researchers found. What’s exciting, said Bonci, is that there is a way to induce a similar activation of the prelimbic cortex in people through a technique called transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS), which applies an external electromagnetic field to the brain and has been used as a treatment for symptoms of depression. The study was published in the journal Nature. PTI

LONDON: Exhaled breath carries a molecular ‘breathprint’ unique to each individual, which may be used as a more convenient tool to diagnose disease, replacing the conventional blood and urine tests, researchers say. Researchers at ETH Zurich and at the University Hospital Zurich now propose to take advantage of modern high-resolution analytical methods that can provide real-time information on the chemical composition of exhaled breath. It is also known that trained dogs and rats can distinguish the smell of the breath of people suffering from certain variants of cancer. In these cases the entire smell of the patient’s exhaled breath is gauged, which can give rise to bias. The scientists, led by Renato Zenobi, professor at the Laboratory for Organic Chemistry, aim at eliminating this bias and identifying the chemical compounds in breath. Using mass spectrometry, these goals can be reached, as shown in a recent study where the ETH researchers analysed the exhaled breath of 11 volunteers. They found that the chemical “fingerprint” of exhaled breath, largely based on volatile and semi-volatile metabolites, shows an individual core pattern. Each volunteer was found to have his/her own characteristic “breathprint." Using regular measurements extending over 11 days, the researchers could furthermore show that this metabolic “breathprint” stays constant. “We did find some small variations during the day, but overall the individual pattern stays sufficiently constant to be useful for medical purposes," said Pablo Martinez-Lozano Sinues, senior scientist in Zenobi’s research group. PTI

STUDY

Low testosterone levels early sign of arthritis in men?

LONDON: Low testosterone levels may be an early warning sign of rheumatoid arthritis in men, a new study has warned. According to the study, published in the journal Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases, scientists studied participants of the Swedish Malmo Preventive Medicine Program (MPMP), which began in 1974 and tracked the health of more than

33,000 people born between 1921 and 1949. Participants were subjected to a battery of tests, completed a questionnaire on health and lifestyle factors, and left blood samples after an overnight fast. The authors identified all those MPMP participants who were subsequently diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis up to December 2004.

Stored blood samples were available for 104 of the men who subsequently developed rheumatoid arthritis, and for 174 men of the same age who did not develop the disease. Rheumatoid factor status was known at diagnosis for 83 of the men, almost three out of four of whom tested positive for it. Rheumatoid factor is an antibody that indicates disease

severity and is used to categorise the condition. After taking account of smoking and BMI, both of which can affect the risk of rheumatoid arthritis, men with lower levels of testosterone in their blood samples were more likely to develop the disease, the study found. These men also had significantly higher levels of follicle stimulating hormone. PTI

FRIDAY, APRIL 5, 2013

Entertainment THE ONLY KING

I’ll not retire anytime soon:

NAGARJUNA S

omeone recently asked me when I am going to retire from films. I can assure you that I’m not going to retire anytime soon. I am pretty sure that Naga Chaitanya and Akhil will retire before me. I’ll remain as ‘King’,” Nagarjuna said, in a lighten vein, while addressing his fans at the audio launch of Greekuveerudu which was held recently in Hyderabad. Ever since the film’s first look was unveiled, everyone has been raving about Nagarjuna’s looks and a lot of actors from the younger generation quipped that Nagarjuna is giving them a tough time. “A lot of people have been asking me the secret behind my looks and all I can say is that it’s all because of the support and encouragement from my fans,” Nagarjuna said. SP Balasubramaniam, who was one of the guests at the event, praised Nagarjuna saying, “I have seen a lot of actors who act both on and off screen, but Nagarjuna isn’t like that. He acts only onscreen. I have sung a song for him after a long time and I can’t believe how young I feel.” The audio launch was filled with close friends and family members of Nagarjuna. Speaking about the film, ANR said, “The film’s producer Sivaprasad Reddy is like a family member and I wish he continues to do more good films in future. I am not the kind of person who would praise my children and grand children just for the heck of it. The film’s title is quite interesting and you can imagine how the film will be. I wish the entire team a big success.”Talking about the film, Nagarjuna said, “I wanted to work with Dasaradh after Santosham which released back in 2002 and finally we teamed up for Greekuveerudu. It’s a good romantic entertainer. I still don’t know what the film’s title means. It was great fun working with the entire team of the film. I have learnt a lot about discipline from my father and I believe that’s the reason behind my success. I hope both Naga Chaitanya and Akhil learn the same.” Nayanthara is the lead actress whereas Meera Chopra, Brahmanandam and MS Narayana have played important roles. Dasaradh has directed the film. SS Thaman has scored the music and Anil Bhandari is the cinematographer. The film will release on April 19.

CINE BYTES Shruti is the new face of American Swan

hruti Haasan has been signed up as the new digital brand ambassador of American Swan, a premium fashion and lifestyle brand. “Delighted to join@AmericanSwan #FashionCountry! Love the threads – very stylish & SO comfortable! (sic),” Shruti tweeted.

Gouravam’s audio to be launched today

he audio of Sirish, Yaami Gautam starrer Gouravam is going to be launched later today at the Uppal Stadium during the IPL match. Thaman has scored the music. Radha Mohan has directed this bilingual ﬁlm and Prakash Raj has produced it.

Simran Kaur comes to Tollywood

ormer Miss India Universe Simran Kaur Mundi is all set to make her debut in Telugu cinema. She’s going to play one of the lead roles opposite Manchu Manoj in Potugaadu. The film’s shooting began recently in Bijapur. Pawan Wadeyar is directing the film. Simran will soon be seen in a Hindi filmtitled Kuku Mathur Ki Jhand Ho Gayi.

FRIDAY, APRIL 5, 2013

fashion

NICOLA FORMICHETTI JOINS DIESEL

NICOLA FORMICHETTI has joined Diesel as the brand's first artistic director. The news was confirmed this morning, following a succession of rumours surrounding the designer's appointment at the Italian label.

High street FASHION Three-day long Columbo Fashion Week had designers from Sri Lanka, India, Pakistan and Palestine partaking in the show.

olumbo Fashion Week hosted annually is one of the most exclusive fashion events held on the island. Designers from Sri Lanka, India, Pakistan and Palestine were among those who displayed their creations at the three-day event held from April 3 to 6. The event highlighted local talent and aimed to tap foreign fashion buyers. The show featured a total of 31 designers over three nights. The line up consisted of 10 high profile designers from eight countries and 20 talented Sri Lankan designers. As for this year, the special focus was on youth and in particular young Sri Lankan designers with a view entirely on the next generation. Designers who presented their works include the winners of the previous two GenNext Awardâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s namely Dimuthu Sahabandu and Deneth Piumkashi, who debuted internationally.

ZAC POSEN TEAMS UP WITH MAGNUM

ZAC POSEN has collaborated with Magnum. The designer follows Karl Lagerfeld in teaming up with the ice cream company.

22&23

Entertainment FRIDAY, APRIL 5, 2013

FRIDAY, APRIL 5, 2013

Chai Time

THOUGHT OF THE DAY

Nothing was a style first. Everything started as an idea. A guy did something with an idea. Someone copied him. Some copied all of them and it became trendy and then it became a style. Bill Laswell

KAKURO

QUICK CROSSWORD

SUDOKU How to play kakuro Kakuro is a popular game similar to sudoku in some ways. But is also suitably different. The key question: ‘How do you play kakuro?’, well here are the rules of kakuro. The answer: 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. 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. Let’s have an example to explain this concept more clearly: In the image above, which shows a section of a kakuro puzzle, you will see the numbers ‘26’ and ‘14’ in the top row. Look at the 14. This means that the total of the three cells underneath must sum to 14. Therefore 9, 4, 1 could be the answer, or perhaps 7, 4, 3 and so on... So, how do you work out the actual combination? Well, this is done through elimination and cross-referencing. For instance, as you work out the answers for other kakuro clues, this will naturally limit the valid combinations, and hence the answer for this particular run. Note the second cell in row two — it contains two numbers, 30 and 11. The 30 refers to the vertical run underneath the number 30 and the 11 refers to the two cells to the right, horizontally, of the number 11.

ACROSS

PREVIOUS PUZZLE ANSWER

SCRIBBLING PAD

1 Facial outbreak 5 They have parental instincts 9 Balsa vessels, eg 14 Arabian craft 15 Leave unsaid 16 Poet TS 17 Tiny insect 18 Popular PBS series 19 Miraculous fare 20 Pal, to Pierre 21 Busybody 23 Drink of the gods 25 Edge 26 Organ with a drum inside 27 Wedding gown part 30 Man the oars 33 Old French money 35 Bigger than big 36 Reader’s Digest co-founder Wallace 37 What a sore winner will do 40 Noted first name in jazz 41 In short order 42 In-group lingo 43 Player’s peg 44 Lilliputian 45 Large tub 46 Track record? 47 Seed on hamburger buns 50 Reporter’s asset 56 Charged atom 57 Prove beneficial 58 Top quality 59 Chunk or clunk 60 Ballroom dance 61 Walked over 62 Item for a Mexican pot? 63 From days of yore 64 Part of a military command 65 Yemeni seaport

DOWN

1 Madison Avenue male, say 2 Doorbell sound, perhaps 3 Conspicuous 4 Member of the flock 5 Fund contributor 6 John of ‘Roots’ 7 Low-class joint 8 Collar insert 9 Stay put 10 Bank vault installation 11 Stool pigeon 12 Voice-mail cue 13 Night light 21 Dealer’s foe, for short 22 Butts in 24 Country crooner Tucker 27 Pang 28 Long, winding sentence 29 Severe suffering 30 Raccoon type 31 Mixed bag 32 Electricity measurement 33 Ridge on a guitar’s fingerboard 34 ‘Golden’ or ‘ground’ follower 36 Turkish money 38 Be of ___ (aid) 39 A-frame overhangs 44 Fabric protection brand 46 Light brown 47 Ingrid Bergman, eg 48 Bullwinkle J ___ 49 Not sideways 50 Grp headquartered in Brussels 51 Like a human face 52 Take the edge off? 53 Parking lot posting 54 Writer / director Ephron 55 ‘... lender be’ 59 IRS go-between

Chai Time FRIDAY, APRIL 5, 2013 Thiruvaikumar

STAR POWER for 6-4-2013

As per Hindu panchang thiruvaikumar@yahoo. co. in, 040-27177230 / 9177596118

ARIES

TAURUS

GEMINI

CANCER

LEO

VIRGO

LIBRA

SCORPIO

SAGITTARIUS

CAPRICORN

AQUARIUS

PISCES

Promotion with transfer is on the cards for employees and they are advised to accept the same. Avoid unwanted arguments and petty clashes with friends and relatives. Adjust with family members at home to maintain harmony.

STRIP TEASE AGNES

Employees advised not to entrust important responsibilities to others as your name will get tarnished by inept handling. Enemies might be active; you need to be extra cautious. A peaceful atmosphere is likely to prevail at home.

Businessmen likely to have a steady growth. They need to involve themselves directly while signing new contracts rather than entrusting them to top management personnel. Be careful with new friends who might not do you any good.

You have to change your attitude and be flexible so that all work will get completed successfully. Influx of close relatives and wellwishers make all in the family happy. Transfer and additional responsibilities on the cards for employees.

Laziness and anger need to be avoided as this will spoil your career prospects. Non-stop efforts and shrewd action will yield desired results. Employees need to work with self-confidence and focus to complete all work in time to earn a name.

You need to give due respect to elders of the family and implement their suggestion, which will only benefit you. Businessmen will attain greater heights in their field. Employees will cheer up as problems at workplace will go away.

While planning to purchase land or house, be sure to study documents thoroughly and then proceed. Children will make you proud and happy. Unwanted blame likely; be careful with your opinions and while helping others.

Good growth is assured for businessmen as efforts put in the past will start yielding favourable result. Held-up work will resume and get completed successfully without any further resistances. Assistance from the bank is likely to be sanctioned.

Employees to grab an opportunity to work abroad. Such a chance has a good scope for a bright future. Hurdles in the way of performing good events will disappear. Your unique approach needs drastic changes to be successful.

TAROT READ

Sumaa Tekur

tarotreadhyd@gmail. com

ARIES:

GEMINI:

The Moon – You need to chase a dream in order to make it come true. Just sitting and fretting will not help in any way. Make a workable plan and go for it.

LEO:

Five of Swords – You need excitement in life and you can do something about it if you’re sure of what you need. An adventure trip or study course may hold the answer.

LIBRA:

PEARLS BEFORE SWINE

Four of Pentacles – Your goals and your plan may not be in sync. Take a look at how you want to work it out and look at it practically. How times have changed.

SAGITTARIUS:

Death – Change is inevitable. It may be a relationship in an unconventional way, which you didn’t expect to happen to you. Bottom line is that you’re happy.

TAURUS:

Page of Swords – You want some pampering by way of a luxurious holiday. Why not plan one if you can afford it? Take your loved ones along and make a vacation of it.

CANCER:

King of Pentacles – Nostalgia is the flavour of the season. You want to re-live memories and get in touch with friends who matter. How about organising a reunion?

VIRGO:

Ten of Wands – Leave room for things to go awry when you plan something, especially a trip. Keep a backup of all your documents and manage your trip well.

SCORPIO:

King of Cups – Spend time with family. Take a weekend away together and bond so that you can be assured that you have enough support when you need it.

CAPRICORN:

The Wheel of Fortune – You have been waiting for success to knock on your door. When it does knock, which will be soon, you are in for a surprise.

PREVIOUS SOLUTIONS

PISCES:

The Magician – Everything’s falling in place as per your plan. Even a few months ago, you didn’t know it was possible. Life turns out in unexpected ways.

NUMBER GAME

Love is in the air. If you’re committed, you meet an old flame and sparks ignite. You feel great about the new feeling and are excited to take it forward.

SCRABBLE

AQUARIUS: The Empress –

POOCH CAFE

Avoid friends who praise in front of you but abuse you when you are not around. Spouse’s health will be a cause for concern; take care. Avoid a third person’s help to mediate between you and your spouse for it will spoil the relationship.

for 6-4-2013

Four of Wands – Keep track of all your purchases and make sure you maintain a detailed expenses file. You’ll know where you need to cut expenses to save.

NON SEQUITUR

You need to adopt a slow and steady approach so that works will complete without facing any difficulty. Hurdles in the way of performing happy events at home will disappear. Marriage of son or daughter is to be performed successfully.

SUDUKO

Ego clashes with spouse will vanish. Happy events are to take place at home in a line. Avoid wasteful expenditure and extravagance so that there won’t be need to take further financial help. Women likely to get unexpected financial gain.

Boggle VIOLET ORANGE MAROON YELLOW Vol: 2, No 259 RNI No: APENG/2011/39337 Published for the proprietors, Scribble Media and Entertainment Pvt Ltd, by V Harshavardhan Reddy, at #1246, Level 3, Jubilee Casa, Road No 62, Jubilee Hills, Hyderabad – 500033 and printed by him at Jagati Publications Ltd, Plot No D-75&E-52, APIE Industrial Estate, Balanagar, Ranga Reddy Dist, Hyderabad – 500037, Editor: Dean Williams – Responsible for selection of news under the PRB Act All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or in part without written permission of the publisher is prohibited. For feedback, please write to: feedback@postnoon. com and for subscription, please call 040-4067 2222, Fax: 040-4067 2211

Entertainment FRIDAY, APRIL 5, 2013 Happy to give back to Kolkata: Shahrukh Khan

erming his team Kolkata Knight Riders’ smashing victory over Delhi Daredevils “wonderful”, Shahrukh Khan felt elated to “return back” to the “city of joy” for the opening match of the sixth edition of Indian Premier League. “The city has been so kind to us for so many years and it feels that we could return back with what we are best at, which is entertainment,” he said. IANS

'Ek Thi Daayan' not docu-drama: Ekta Kapoor

roducer Ekta Kapoor says her forthcoming supernatural thriller Ek Thi Daayan is not a docu-drama. "These are not facts. It's not a docudrama. It should not be taken seriously," she said at the Daayan book launch. IANS

Big B in admiration of The Great Gatsby team

eminiscing his experience of shooting his first Hollywood film The Great Gatsby, Bollywood megastar Amitabh Bachchan said he has admiration for the movie's cast and crew. "As I look back to those moments, I can only have admiration and respect. The amount of concentrated energy that goes in is quite remarkable," Big B tweeted. IANS

A RETAKE

Low profile premiere for restored

CHASHME BUDDOOR

he premiere of digitally restored version of Sai Paranjpye’s classic Chashme Buddoor turned out to be a low-key event, which saw the presence of star cast of the film and some TV actors. Apart from Deepti Naval, Farooque Sheikh and Rakesh Bedi, who acted in Chashme

Buddoor, one of the best told buddy stories so far, anchorturned-actor Rannvijay and filmmaker Sudhir Mishra were seen at the event. Rakesh said: “We are not releasing the film with the intention of any competition. This is being released only because today’s generation doesn’t know what the film was about.”

The 1981 release Chashme Buddoor has been remade by David Dhawan and both the versions have hit the screens Friday. If original, which also starred Farooque Sheikh and Ravi Baswani, is still on the movie lovers’ favourite list, the latest version has got encouraging reviews too. The new version stars Ali

Zafar, Siddharth, Taapsee Pannu, and Divyendu Sharma. “When we released Chashme Buddoor in 1981, we had only banners and posters and now look at the marketing strategy. That time we didn’t have such aggressive marketing,” said Rakesh. Rannvijay said he enjoyed the experience of watching the

classic on the silver screen. “It’s great opportunity for the new generation, who has not seen the film, to watch it on the big screen. I am happy that I could watch the film of 17mm screen,” he added. Mishra said: “It’s not easy to make this kind of film. Who wouldn’t want to watch this film on the big screen!”

sports

FRIDAY, APRIL 5, 2013

GRAND NATIONAL

Walsh v Welsh battle likely

The racing world will hope the Grand National will see all horses come home safe in a likely battle between the Walsh family and a strong challenge from Wales. LIVERPOOL, UK: There is a huge amount riding on this year’s race with the racecourse authorities having implemented several changes after outrage following four horses dying in the last two runnings. The Walsh’s look well placed to win the first National on Saturday of what everyone hopes is a new era for the world’s greatest steeplechase. Father Ted trains two of the favourites in Colbert Station, to

CHESS IN CITY Under-17 tourney to be held on Sunday HYDERABAD: The Hyderabad District Chess Association is organising the Hyderabad District Chess tournament for under-17 boys and girls this Sunday at the academy in Chikkadpally. Players born on or after 1.1.1996 are eligible to participate. The selected players of this tournament will represent Hyderabad district in the upcoming under-17 State-level chess tournament. Further details can be had from www.apchess.org.

Thunder beat Spurs in duel of top teams OKLAHOMA CITY, OKLAHOMA: Russell Westbrook scored a gamehigh 27 points Thursday to lead Oklahoma City to a 10088 NBA victory over San Antonio in a duel between the top teams in the Western Conference. Westbrook also grabbed seven rebounds and handed out seven assists for the Thunder, who whittled the Spurs’ lead in the race for the best record in the West to one-half game. Kevin Durant added 25 points, nine rebounds and six assists.

Bitter rivals Lorenzo, Rossi reunited for ’13

Aintree horse fatality renews safety concern LONDON: Animal rights campaigners slammed Grand National organisers after a horse died on the first day of the meeting at Aintree on Thursday. The world famous National will be staged on Saturday, with the welfare of the horses firmly on the agenda after Battlefront became the 23rd horse to die on the Liverpool course since 2000. Aintree bosses made significant alterations to the course after last year’s big race was marred by the death of two horses, According To Pete and Synchronised. That followed two fatalities in the 2011 race, Ornais and Dooney’s Gate. Old wooden fence frames have been replaced in a bid to make the race easier on the horses. However, Battlefront was pulled up by jockey Katie Walsh during the fourth race on the course on Thursday. It came after Walsh defended the sport earlier this week.

SPORTS BRIEFS

Horse ‘Bold Addition’ ridden by Steven Clements (C) falls at Beechers Brook during the Fox Hunters Steeple Chase on the opening day of the Grand National Meeting horseracing event at Aintree Racecourse in Liverpool, England on AFP/ANDREW YATES Thursday.

be ridden by legendary Northern Irish jockey Tony McCoy, and Seabass, to be ridden like last year, when he finished third, by his daughter Katie. Ted has already won the National, Papillon in 2000 ridden by son Ruby and when then 16year-old Katie was the horse’s stablegirl, but Katie stands a chance of becoming the first woman rider to triumph here. Katie, who has established herself as a leading amateur rider, refuses to play on what an achievement it would be for a woman to enter the winner’s circle as a rider - Jenny Pitman and Venetia Williams having done so as trainers.

“It would be fairytale stuff to win and I’d love to be part of it, but you can’t go into the race thinking about winning it,” said the Irishwoman. “When I think of myself, it’s as a successful amateur and a successful jockey, but not as a successful female, that doesn’t really come into it. “When I pulled up last year, I never thought, it’s great that I’ve finished third because I’m a girl. It just felt great to be third in the National, there was no female perspective at all.” Katie may well end up duelling the finish out with Ruby, who is bidding for his third National win on the

favourite On My Own. On My Own - trained by leading Irish trainer Willie Mullins - came to grief at Becher’s Brook second time round last year when going well and gets another chance unlike fellow Becher’s faller According to Pete, who was one of the two fatalities. However, well-fancied Welsh contender Teaforthree will provide a reminder that it is not just horses who count the cost. Irish amateur rider JP McNamara, who rode him to victory at the Cheltenham Festival last year, lies paralysed in hospital after a terrible fall at this year’s Festival. AFP

SATURDAY NIGHT FIGHT

Chinese Olympic champ turns pro PETER STEBBINGS Agence France-Presse

HONG KONG: China’s twotime Olympic boxing champion Zou Shiming (left) makes his professional debut on Saturday in Macau, embarking on what he and his ambitious US promoters hope will be a fast track to a world title. A household name in his homeland — where boxing was once banned under Mao Zedong — the three-time amateur world

champion faces the little-known Mexican Eleazar Valenzuela in a four-round non-title showdown that tops the bill. It ought to be a formality for Zou and anything but a resounding victory, preferably by way of knock-out, would be a shock result. “It’s always been a dream of mine to become a professional boxer. Now that I have this opportunity, I want to see if I can become a world champion, that is the goal that I hope to achieve,” Zou told AFP.

PARIS: The wraps come off the 2013 MotoGP season in Qatar this weekend with preseason testing suggesting Jorge Lorenzo has a massive fight on his hands to defend his world championship title. The Spaniard prevailed in a gripping season-long tussle with Dani Pedrosa to claim the 2012 crown in the penultimate race in Australia after his Honda rival crashed out. Pedrosa, on the speedy Honda, will be hungry to go one better but Lorenzo faces an arguably greater danger much closer to home.

Armstrong bid for comeback thwarted WASHINGTON: Disgraced US cyclist Lance Armstrong has been barred from entering a swim race in Texas following objections from the sport’s global governing body, organizers confirmed on Thursday. Armstrong, 41, who was stripped of his seven Tour de France wins and banned for life before later confessing to drug-taking throughout his career, had hoped to compete in a US Masters Swimming event in Austin this weekend. Armstrong’s participation was opposed by swimming’s global governing body FINA.

Henao wins stage, leads in Basque Tour MADRID: Colombian Nairo Quintana, riding for Katusha, won the fourth stage of the Tour of the Basque country on Thursday, seeing off compatriot Sergio Luis Henao of the Sky team in cold and rainy conditions. Henao nonetheless retains the overall leader’s jersey following the 151.6km stage between Trapagaran and Arrate, which Quintana took in 3hr 58min 52sec. He crossed the line first after negotiating a furious sprint finish over the final few hundred metres. AFP

sports

FRIDAY, APRIL 5, 2013

FAMILY CIRCLE CUP

Rain keeps players waiting

World No.1 Serena Williams and Venus Williams were among the other players left waiting after rain wreaked havoc at the WTA claycourt tournament in Charleston. CHARLESTON: World No. 1 Serena Williams (in pic) and Venus Williams were among the players left waiting on Thursday as rain wreaked havoc at the WTA claycourt tournament in Charleston. Second-seeded Caroline Wozniacki advanced to the quarter-finals via walkover after Germany’s Andrea Petkovic pulled out of their third-round match with a right calf injury, but for much of the day that nonevent was the only action. Four third-round matches were postponed until Friday: top-seeded Serena Williams v Mallory Burdette, fifth-seeded Venus Williams v Varvara Lepchenko, sixth-seeded Lucie

Safarova v Sorana Cirstea and Bethanie Mattek-Sands v Madison Keys. Three matches finally got on Charleston’s green clay courts on Thursday night, with 2007 Charleston champ Jelena Jankovic of Serbia booking her quarter-final berth with a 6-0, 6-4 victory over US qualifier Jessica Pegula. Pegula, whose first- and second-round victories here were the first WTA match wins of her career, seized a 3-1 lead in the second set before former world No. 1 Jankovic roared back. Unseeded Swiss Stefanie Voegele ousted 10th-seeded German Julia Goerges 3-6, 6-1, 63 to set up a quarter-final clash

LPGA KRAFT NABISCO

Choi, Pettersen, Ewart Shadoff share LPGA lead

RANCHO MIRAGE: Na Yeon Choi (in pic), Suzann Pettersen and Jodi Ewart Shadoff fired four-under par 68s Thursday to share the first round lead at the LPGA Kraft Nabisco, the first major of the season. Both South Korea’s Choi and Norway’s Pettersen had four birdies with no bogeys on the par-72 Dinah Shore tournament course at Mission Hills, while England’s Ewart Shadoff had six birdies and two bogeys. Ewart Shadoff had seized the outright lead with four holes to play thanks to a four-birdie burst starting at the par-five 11th, but she gave back a stroke with her second bogey of the day at the 16th.

“I’ve been playing really consistently the last three or four tournaments,” Ewart Shadoff said. “And so I knew my game is right there, and I knew I was due to have a really good round.” Choi, ranked third in the world, teed off on 10 and picked up her first birdie at the 14th, draining a 30footer from the fringe. A brace of birdies at 16 and 17 was followed by nine pars before she punctuated her round with a birdie at the par-five ninth. “I’m really happy I played without a bogey today, but luckily I played in the morning today and the greens and fairways are a little softer than the afternoon,” she said. AFP

IN BRIEF

Former Australian keeper in New Zealand squad

WELLINGTON: Former Australian wicketkeeper Luke Ronchi was Friday named in the 15-man New Zealand one-day squad for their upcoming tour to England and the Champions Trophy. Ronchi is the only player who has not previously represented New Zealand in the side that also sees the return of spinner Daniel Vettori, who has been sidelined for eight months with an ankle injury. The touring Test squad sees recalls for Martin Guptill and Mark Gillespie, who are added to the list of players who featured in the

squads for the recent drawn threeTest home series against England. Ronchi is New Zealand born but was raised in Australia where he played four one-day internationals and three T20 internationals in 2008-09 before returning to his country of birth. National selection manager Kim Littlejohn said that with a fully fit squad, the race for spots had never been so competitive. “The ODI squad has a core group of players who have now played in a number of international tournaments and bring a wealth AFP of experience,” he said.

with Wozniacki. Canadian Eugenie Bouchard also advanced, when third-seeded Australian Sam Stosur retired while trailing in the second set of their match with the same calf injury that prompted her to withdraw from Indian Wells in March and skip the Miami hardcourt tournament. Bouchard was leading 6-1, 20 when former US Open champion Stosur called it a night. The young Canadian will face Jankovic in the quarter-finals. On Friday, Serena Williams will try to continue her march toward a third Charleston title against Burdette, who ousted 2009 champion Sabine Lisicki of Germany in the second round.

US PGA TOUR TEXAS OPEN

Tomasulo, Bettencourt in top spot at Texas SAN ANTONIO: Peter Tomasulo’s (right) birdiebirdie finish completed a bogey-free five-under par 67 Thursday and vaulted him into a tie for the lead with Matt Bettencourt at the US PGA Tour Texas Open. The US duo had a one-stroke lead over Ireland’s Padraig Harrington and Americans Billy Horschel, Bryce Molder and Harris English, who all finished a windy day at TPC San Antonio on four-under 68. A group of 10 players on 69 included England’s Brian Davis, Australians Nathan Green, Alistair Presnell and Steven Bowditch, as well as Argentina’s Andres Romero.

Tomasulo, making just his sixth start of the season on the PGA Tour and trying to regain full playing privileges after battling a rib injury two years ago, played in the last group of the day. He drained a 10-foot birdie putt at 18 for his share of the lead, and said playing late was an advantage on a day of gusty winds. “I just played a solid round of golf to go around here with no bogeys,” Tomasulo said. “We got a good end of the draw, I think, with the weather calming down late in the day.” Harrington said “mental fortitude” rather than great ball-striking was the key to his round, played in tougher conditions. AFP

DAVIS CUP

Djokovic leads Serbia against USA BOISE: World No. 1 Novak Djokovic, leading Serbia’s Davis Cup quarter-final charge against the United States, will take on John Isner in the opening singles match of their World Group tie on Friday. Djokovic is one of just two top-10 player, along with France’s Jo-Wilfried Tsonga, who will be competing in the

Davis Cup World Group quarter-finals this weekend. In the absence of Serbian number two Janko Tipsarevic, enduring a dry spell on the ATP tour, world No. 44 Viktor Troicki will join Djokovic playing singles for Serbia, who lifted the trophy in the nations tennis competition in 2010.

Troicki will take on Sam Querrey in Friday’s second singles in Boise, the capital of Idaho which is located at an altitude of 800m. In Saturday’s doubles, Bob and Mike Bryan will take on Nenad Zimonjic andIlija Bozoljac, while in Sunday’s reverse singles in the best-of-five match tie Querrey will take on Djokovic and Isner will face Troicki. AFP

IPL 6

BATTLE OF THE TITANS

METRE

6 S 14

5 4S 58

Chris Gayle (RCB)

HIGHEST SCORE

92*

FRIDAY, APRIL 5, 2013 Chris Gayle (RCB)

BEST BOWLER

4-13

Sunil Narine (KKR)

A lot at stake for Sunrisers Disappointing not to have won the game. We have to analyse our game. I think with our bowing today [on Thursday] we were a bit behind. Ricky Ponting MI skipper

Chris Gayle (RCB) 92 runs

Sunil Narine (KKR) 4 wickets

Happy to give back to the game: VVS

VS Laxman says mentoring Sunrisers Hyderabad and doing commentary is his way of giving something back to the game of cricket which gave him “everything”. “I am experiencing various things. It is great to be contributing back to the game. Because, cricket gave me everything. With the wealth of experience I have got, I want to share with the concerned people,” Laxman said. “Through mentoring, it is sharing my experience with the players. Through commentary, it is sharing with the viewers. It is a great way of giving back something to the game,” he said. Sunrisers has some established names such as Kris Srikkanth, Tom Moody and Waqar Younis. PTI P

T PT

KKR

0.511

RCB

0.100

0 -0.100

0 -0.511

0.000

CSK

0.000

KXIP

0.000

P-played; W-win; L-lost; T-tie; NR-net run rate; PT-points

SYED SHOAIB

shoaib.s@postnoon.com

espite the turmoil it has gone through recently, a team that has Krishnamachari Srikkanth, Tom Moody, VVS Laxman and Waqar Younis serving it in various capacities sure needs to be taken seriously. Captain of Sunrisers Hyderabad Kumar Sangakkara will probably be the happiest man associated with the team to get going with the game after the political upheaval Sri Lankan players participating in the Indian Premier League have gone through. So shall be fans of the erstwhile Deccan Chargers that won the second edition of the IPL in South Africa. For, players just want to go ahead and play, and fans want to watch them play. Neither is interested in politics nor in the ownership nitty-gritty.

SH VS PWI AT 8PM ON SET MAX The first game for Sunrisers Hyderabad, in this, the sixth edition of IPL, to be played today at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium against Pune Warriors India assumes greater significance because they will be without their star

SCORECARD

opener Shikhar Dhawan. The first impression being the best, Sunrisers Hyderabad will go all out to prove that they are a force even without the explosive Delhi southpaw. That he will be back in the team in a couple of weeks and mentored by the swashbuckling Krishnamachari Srikkanth will only work in the team’s favour thereon.

That Pune Warriors India finished last in the previous season (2012) and last but one earlier than that may not come as enough solace to the home team considering that the team from Maharashtra boasts the names of Yuvraj Singh, Robin Uthappa, Angelo Mathews, Murali Kartik, Ashish Nehra and Graeme Smith to name a few.

WORDS OF ADVICE

ROYAL CHALLENGERS BANGALORE VS MUMBAI INDIANS RC Bangalore innings (20 overs) C Gayle not out

92 (58)

T Dilshan b Johnson

0 (8)

V Kohli lbw b Bumrah

24 (14)

M Agarwal c Tendulkar b Bumrah 1 (5) D Christian c Johnson b Harbhajan 4 (13) K Nair lbw b Bumrah

0 (3)

Arun Karthik not out

19 (19)

Extras (lb 11, w 5) Total (5 wickets; 20 overs)

Mumbai Indians innings (target : 157 runs from 20 overs) Ponting st A Karthik b Kartik

28 (33)

Tendulkar run out (Unadkat/Arun Karthik) 23 (19) D Karthik c Agarwal b V Kumar

60 (37)

R Sharma b Vinay Kumar

11 (11)

A Rayudu b Vinay Kumar

18 (18)

K Pollard not out

5 (2)

Harbhajan Singh not out

1 (1)

156

Extras (b 1, lb 4, w 2, nb 1)

Total (5 wickets; 20 overs)

154

Bowling

M R

W Econ

M Johnson

0 15

Bowling

M R

W Econ

M Patel

0 40

0 10.00

J Unadkat

0 26

J Bumrah

0 32

8.00

D Christian

0 42

0 10.50

J Oram

0 22

5.50

Vinay Kumar

0 27

6.75

Harbhajan

0 21

5.25

Muralitharan

0 30

7.50

K Pollard

0 15

0 15.00

M Kartik

0 24

6.00

5.00

6.50

Royal Challengers Bangalore won by 2 runs

Sunrisers Hyderabad’s mentor, VVS Laxman (L) chats with Pune Warriors India’s Yuvraj Singh (R) ahead of their IPL clash at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium in Hyderabad on Thursday.

FRIDAY, APRIL 5, 2013

sports

SPURS DEAL COST ME ENGLAND JOB SAYS REDKNAPP

Harry Redknapp has claimed a massive buy-out clause in his Tottenham contract was the only reason he didn’t get the chance to become England manager. Redknapp, now in charge at QPR, was the favourite to replace Fabio Capello after the Italian resigned in February 2012.

EUROPA LEAGUE

Mixed night for English trio It was a mixed night for England’s trio of contenders, with Chelsea winning their quarter-final first leg while Tottenham Hotspur were held to a draw and Newcastle United lost in Portugal. ANDY SCOTT Agence France-Presse PARIS: Chelsea are in a strong position against Russian side Rubin Kazan after winning the first leg 3-1 at Stamford Bridge on Thursday, but Tottenham have work to do following a 2-2 draw with Basel at White Hart Lane. Newcastle are in trouble following a 3-1 defeat to Benfica in Lisbon, while Fenerbahce beat Lazio 1-0 in Istanbul. Chelsea got off to a fantastic start in west London, opening the scoring 16 minutes in when Fernando Torres — sporting a face mask to protect a broken nose — stabbed in a David Luiz pass. Victor Moses then finished superbly on the half-volley to double the Blues’ lead just after the half-hour mark. Bebras Natcho netted a penalty after John Terry was penalised for handball to give the Russians a precious away goal just before half-time, but much-maligned Spanish striker Torres headed in a cross from compatriot Juan Mata 20 minutes from time to give Chelsea an important cushion. Chelsea coach Rafael Benitez

Bale injury rocks Spurs

Chelsea’s Spanish striker Fernando Torres (L), who scored their first goal, jumps for a header to clear a corner against Rubin Kazan during their match at Stamford Bridge in London on Thursday. Torres is wearAFP/ ADRIAN DENNIS ing a mask to protect a broken nose.

UGLY SIDE OF BEAUTIFUL GAME 3 referees charged over sexual bribes SINGAPORE: Three Lebanese soccer referees were charged Thursday for receiving sexual bribes in exchange for fixing a match in Singapore, the government’s anticorruption bureau said. Referee Ali Sabbagh, and assistants Ali Eid and Abdallah Taleb, were charged before a district court for “corruptly” receiving sexual gratification “as an inducement” to fix the match they were to officiate Wednesday, court documents showed. AFP

Argentine players arrested after on-pitch violence BRASILIA: Players from Argentine club Arsenal de Sarandi returned home on Thursday after spending part of the night in cells following a bizarre confrontation with Brazilian police at the end of a Libertadores Cup match. Arsenal, a modest club from the Buenos Aires suburbs, were in the Brazilian city of Belo Horizonte for a Libertadores Cup Group 3 match against Atletico Mineiro. At the end of Wednesday’s match, which Arsenal lost 5-2, various Argentine players confronted

military police on the pitch, before throwing seats and other pieces of furniture in the dressing room, according to reports in the Brazilian sporting press. Seven players were accused of causing the trouble, but the whole team were taken to police cells, the Argentine consul in Belo Horizonte told AFP. “The whole team were there,” said the consul. “The players explained all they wanted was to speak to the referee, but that their words were misinterpreted, and the reaction by police was unjustified.”

LONDON: Tottenham suffered a potentially serious setback as Gareth Bale was stretchered off with an ankle injury in the final moments of Thursday’s 2-2 draw against FC Basel in the Europa League quarter-final first leg. Bale, who has been in superb form this season, clutched his leg in agony after being stepped on by David Degen in stoppagetime at White Hart Lane and was eventually carried down the tunnel for further treatment. “He rolled on his ankle, at the moment there is a lot of pain,” Spurs boss AVB said.

praised Torres. “It’s good for his confidence. His work-rate was really good. I’m pleased for him.” Across London, Spurs endured a much less comfortable evening against the Swiss champions. Against a side challenging for a top-four place in the Premier League, Basel were a constant threat going forward, and took the lead on the half hour when Valentin Stocker converted the rebound after captain Marco Streller’s initial effort struck the post. The Spurs fans were stunned when Basel doubled their lead four minutes later, Fabian Frei heading in. Emmanuel Adebayor reduced the deficit before halftime, forcing the ball in after a Scott Parker shot had deflected into his path. Gylfi Sigurdsson then levelled in the 58th minute, his powerful effort deflecting into the net off Fabian Schaer. The concession of two away goals means Andre Villas-Boas’ Tottenham have work to do to progress and their evening ended on a sour note when Gareth Bale was stretchered off with a serious-looking ankle injury.