Postnoon E-Paper for 14 February 2013 by Scribble Media & Entertainment Pvt. Ltd.

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 14, 2013 HYDERABAD

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WEATHER: MOSTLY CLEAR, WINDY AT TIMES; 27°C

ABUSED BY THE LAW

32 PAGES

In a survey by HELP, nearly 87 per cent of rehabilitated trafficking victims or their relatives said they were ill-treated by the police.

P7, 8&9

HYDERABAD’S FIRST COMPACT AFTERNOON NEWSPAPER

In a shocking revelation, TRS Bhavan, TDP chief Chandrababu Naidu, numerous police departments, the Collectorate, and the Assembly are among a galaxy of defaulters to the APCPDCL.

EXPOSED! REPORT ON P6

IN LOVE, ON SCREEN P15

They are silly, they are cute, they are romantic, they are adorable. They fight, they patch up and grow together. These are some of our favourite couples on TV that never fail to make us go "awww”.

YOUR HUBBY CAN BE PREGNANT TOO!

Everyone’s got interesting tales to tell about pregnancy and delivery. But there are a few facts and myths that you might never have heard of before. Take a look at some of them.

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PIZZA

IS ALMOST FLAWLESS Pizza is a riveting horror film unlike anything we have seen in recent years. Almost everything about it is near perfect, it’s one of those rare films that you can't afford to miss.

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THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 14, 2013

city events Weather for Hyderabad

Evening

Overnight

24°C

21°C

Mostly clear. Windy at times.

Clear with cloudy periods.

Morning

Afternoon

25°C

28°C

A mix of sun and cloud.

Sunny with cloudy periods.

THE GRILL

Guests (couples only) will pick a chocolate on arrival and the coveted white chocolate will win surprise goodies like a complimentary room or spa treatment. One lucky couple will be served on the table in the middle of the pool.

New Delhi Mumbai Max 21 Max 29 Min 13 Min 22 Chances of storm.

Clear skies.

Chennai Max 32 Min 23 Partly cloudy.

Bangalore Max 29 Min 20 Showers likely.

WHERE ARE YOU HEADED THIS VALENTINE’S DAY? Kebab-e-Bahar special aphrodisiac menu created by chef Sumeet Sood Where: Taj Banjara When: February 14 Contact: (040) 6676 9999 V-Day Tent Private tents exclusively for four couples around the pool with a five course exotic meal and gifts. Where: Taj Banjara When: February 14 Contact: (040) 6725 2626

Where: All Papa John's outlets When: February

Valentine’s Day buffet There is a candle light dinner and special buffet for Valentine’s Day. Where: Seasonal Tastes, Westin Hyderabad Mindspace When: February 14,7pm to 11pm Contact: (040) 6767 6888

Musical night Prem Joshi and band will perform live on Valentine’s Day. The band draws inspiration for Indian and contemporary Western music. Where: Hard Rock Cafe When: February 14, 9pm onwards, Contact: (040) 6463 6375

V-Day menu Enjoy a sumptuous Valentine’s Day meal with a delectable western and Indian menu at The Dining Room. There is also a special Valentine’s Day menu at Tre-Forni Bar & Restaurant. Where: Park Hyatt When: February 14, 7:30pm onwards Contact: (040) 4949 1200

Stay and dine Special aphrodisiac degustation menu and other packon y ages . rag ared b D Where: Taj Falaknuma n G. ep gN lde u pr Palace Go te men ng Fun a When: February 14 Car f Hu ishn A la ter che : Taj Kr r y 14 5 Contact: (040) 6629 s e ma Wher Februa 29 852 8585

SRINIVAS SETTY

66 en: Wh t: (040) tac Con

Ruci & Idoni A Special food and beverages menu designed for the day, with interesting mocktails and a delicious spread of vegetarian and non vegetarian dishes. Where: Ohri’s Ruci & Idoni, Opp Rainbow Hospital, Banjara Hills When: February 14, lunch onwards Contact: (040) 6535 5018 No A wit roma che hc nt u Double The Love sto ic eve de A m m nin m Papa John’s offers Wh ade g at H ores m e aw re heart shaped thin crust e W Con here : Taj B nu an a Ma ha d pizza for an entire : a tac t: (0 Febru njara ser vic l month. It is available in es. 40) ar y 1 667 4 all existent flavours and at 699 9 no extra cost

Valentine’s Day Package Taj Krishna is offering special prices on rooms with a complementary buffet breakfast at the Encounters coffee shop. The package also includes a romantic Valentine’s Day candle-light dinner at the Alfresco. Where: Taj Krishna, Road no. 1, Banjara Hills When: February 14-15 Contact: (040) 6629 8525

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

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

Landmark love hampers Landmark is giving out romantic novels, music CDs, romantic movie DVDs and gadgets at a discount. Three for two on romantic reads and 30 per cent off on romantic DVDs are some of the offers. Where: Landmark When: February 14

Four course meal There is a special meal mu Alf for Valentine’s Day. r s at t ic and esco The meal combo he a Wh Itali spec for two people a ial ere n includes Taj : Alfr Bistro menu es . Kr roasted vegWh Banja ishna co, en: ra H , etable, goat Feb ills cheese que(04 Cont ruar y 0) 6 act 14 sadilla, pot 629 : 852 stickers, stuffed 5 nachos, and cottage cheese delight pizza. Where: TGI Friday’s, RK Cineplex, Road no 2, Banjara Hills When: February 14 Contact: (040) 4015 1925 Live

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

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 14, 2013

City

YESTERDAY’S QUESTION

IS THE STATE DOING ENOUGH TO CRACK DOWN ON MAJOR TAX DEFAULTERS? 24%

YES (A)

76%

NO (B)

TODAY’S QUESTION

IS THE PUBLIC BEING PROSECUTED, WHILE POLITICAL LEADERS GET AWAY WITH HUGE POWER BILL DEFAULTS? A)

YES

To vote visit www.postnoon.com

CRIME

Youth attempts to rape elderly woman Mohd SUBHAN mohd.s@postnoon.com

n a heinous crime, a 25-year-old man has been charged with attempting to rape a 65-year-old widow in Shanthi Nagar of North Lalaguda. The man has been arrested and remanded to judicial custody. According to the police, M Laxmamma is a widow with one son. After she lost her first husband, she had remarried, only to lose her second husband as well. She was now living alone and her only son, a vagabond, was rarely at home with her, said Lalaguda police inspector, V Srinivas Reddy. She lived a lonely life in her home. Neighbours and others who knew her helped her with food occasionally. Of late, she had even resorted to begging, the inspector said. Incidentally, T Vijay Kumar, 25, a painter, used to frequent her home and

help her with food. The old woman assumed that it was a sign of the young man’s affection for an elderly person. But on Sunday night he went to her house in an inebriated condition and tried to rape her. Terrified, she

On Sunday night, Kumar went to her house in an inebriated condition and tried to rape her. But he fled when the terrified woman raised an alarm. raised an alarm which scared Kumar who fled. Neighbours came and asked her to lodge a police complaint. Kumar was then arrested from his house in Mallapur in Nacharam and remanded. It turns out that although he is married, his wife left him due to his waywardness and alcoholism.

MORAL POLICE IN ACTION

Cop snatches bike, booked POSTNOON NEWS feedback@postnoon.com

he Gopalpuram police have booked a case against a home guard, V Gangadhar, who is involved in a bike-snatching case. According to the details, Amarnath, 32, a native of Bhongir in Nalgonda was going home on his bike when a person stopped him and claimed that he was a police constable attached to the Amberpet police station. He then demanded to see Amarnath’s vehicle documents, saying his vehicle number had been reported stolen. However, Amarnath, who had by this time grown suspicious, refused to show him the documents. The man then wrested the bike from Amarnath and sped away. Amarnath lodged a case with the Gopalpuram police. The man in question was identified as a home guard attached to the Amberpet police station. A case has been booked against him. He is said to have been involved in similar cases earlier too, but no strict action was taken.

CRIME Minors arrested for sending obscene SMS

n a shocking incident, a class X student of a Zila Parishad school was arrested along with other minors for sending out obscene SMSes from his phone. The minor boy who studies in the ZP school at Kunteru village in West Godavari district allegedly took photographs of a girl from his class in an obscene posture. He then sent out these

Bajrang Dal and VHP activists barged into Indira Park and Sanjeevaiah Park today to catch couples celebrating Valentine’s Day. At Sanjeevaiah park they caught hold of one couple and forcibly married them off. Following this, the police closed both the parks to avert any more incidents. The right-wing leaders had warned yesterday that Valentine is a cultural invasion and should not be allowed. M ANIL KUMAR

pictures to his friends via Bluetooth and it soon spread like wildfire throughout the school. When the school principal learnt about this ugly incident, he lodged a police complaint. The police launched their investigations and traced the source of these messages. They have arrested five minors in connection with the case. NSS

city THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 14, 2013

CIVIC

LAST YEAR... HERE Water woes in City

Street lights get spiked at Standing Committee

ast year we had reported how the water woes of GHMC residents began even before summer set in. Residents of LB Nagar, Kapra, Serillingampally and Uppal circles faced severe shortage of drinking water. Many colonies in Yousufguda division faced unscheduled water supply. Some got water only for three days in a week.

FEBRUARY 14, 2012

because agreement with one of the companies means procuring the street light materials without proper invoice. “I have been demanding that the agreement be revised. Buying without invoice would mean the stuff is not guaranteed,” says a Congress member, who stuck to his guns and did not allow this to be approved. At last, at today’s meeting, it was rejected and fresh tenders were asked for. Even though the demand for listing proposals from corporators was taken into consideration, the Standing Committee members from Congress demanded uniformity in various zones and circles. According to them, those works included in the list were mostly from two or three zones.

“What about the other zones? All zones should be represented equally,” demanded a member, which the mayor acknowledged, and assured him that from next meeting it would be taken into consideration. One of the interesting facts raised by a woman member from MIM was the release of funds to a contractor who had finished only half of the road at Ratna Bai Galli, Puranapul. The mayor ordered an inquiry into this. One important development has been the approval for adoption of unit rate for the works costing less than `1 lakh. In all, the standing committee has discussed 58 preambles of the agenda. Two were rejected, two were recorded, while one was adjourned. A local biodiversity management committee was also approved, of which corporators, Karamtot Tharabai and GM Ratna Kumar, will be members, along with other naturalists. Manohar Babu, director (operations), HMWS&SB ,will submit the summer action plan for core area to the Standing Committee within a week’s time.

Ramp at Upparpally thrown open

CM’s photo morphed, complaint lodged

V-Day celebrations a ‘perversion’

Rajagopal demands case against Rao

NUMEROLOGY

Md NIZAMUDDIN nizamuddin.a@postnoon.com

623

hat is the use of an agenda item in the Standing Committee meeting if it keeps reappearing, and at last gets rejected?” ask civic circles. Officials tried to push the fixation of rate for purchase of street light materials under the unit rate system from three private firms. But members from Congress have been opposing it from the first meeting, when it was listed as top priority in the agenda. Despite objections, it was tabled, not once but thrice in the meetings. Objection was raised

“W

species of birds were observed by the members of the Great Backyard Bird Count in North America last year. The organisation is going global this year.

They (concerned officials) say: ‘She has had sexual intercourse with so many men. How does it matter if she has it with me?’ They don’t treat them as victims.

THINGS WE 5LEARNT TODAY The column that teaches everyone something new about the way the City functions.

SRINIVAS SETTY

Kumari, CWC chairperson See page 7

While some agenda items were dismissed, some others like re-carpeting of roads and providing chain link fencing, were approved.

Kite festival takes a toll on birds in the City. Nearly 27 injured birds, that became entangled with Chinese manja, were rescued by volunteers after Sankranti.

TABLED AGENDA n The Standing Committee has approved the re-carpeting of roads by hot mix process (HMP) from 19.2.318 to 19-2725/1/1, from Khalid Medical Shop to Wood Stall at Palam road in Doodhbowli div. in EE. Div-2, Circle No.5. n The Standing Committee has approved providing of chain link fencing to Sanda cheruvu, Saroornagar Mandal, Jellelaguda gramapanchayat, in Ward No. 12 Karmanghat, of LB Nagar Circle-III. n The Standing Committee has approved the laying and remodeling of under ground drainage (UGD) pipe lines in Abrar Nagar, Muslim Basthi, Hasmathpet in Old Bowenpally, division no. 121, Kukatpally Circle, with an estimated cost of `49.20 lakh. n The Standing Committee has approved land compensation to the owners of properties affected because of the widening of chemical nala, Kukatpally. n The Standing Committee has approved the proposals submitted by Ahmed Bin Abdullah Balala, MLA, Malakpet Assembly Constituency, for renaming of the road from Chanchalguda, Samar Café Khalla via Anjumane Mahdavia, Gulzar Mosque, Chanchalguda to Aizza School, Malakpet as “Hazarath Syed Talib Khundmiri road”.

Crimes against women get more grotesque. A man, 25, attempted to rape a 65-year-old woman at her residence.

Who do you go to when the police break the law? Nearly 87 per cent of respondents of a survey said that they were illtreated by the police after rescue from brothels.

Do you notice the birds in your area? The Great Backyard Bird Count goes global this year. From February 15-18, nature lovers will spend 15 minutes a day to make a census of bird species in their area.

A 300-page list of defaulters to DISCOMs. TRS Bhavan, TDP chief Chandrababu Naidu, police departments, collectorate and the Assembly were among the defaulters of APCPDCL.

NEWS BRIEFS he 2nd up ramp on PVNR Expressway at Upparpally opens to traffic today. Of the six ramps, three were already completed and opened to traffic in 2011. They are up ramp at Laxminagar, down ramp near Hyderguda and 3rd up ramp at Aramgarh. The main elevated corridor works was completed and opened to traffic in October 2009.

CC ofﬁcial spokespersons have lodged a complaint with the City crime station located at the Control Room premises here on Wednesday, asking the police to initiate action against the persons who were posting Chief Minister N Kiran Kumar Reddy’s images after morphing his photo and posting abusive messages along with it.

ajrang Dal leadership has warned that it has organised a special striking team to target all City pubs and restaurants which celebrate Valentine’s Day. Its president N Vinod Kumar asked youngsters to abstain from V-Day celebrations as it is a cultural perversion. Police have stepped up security and said violence will not be tolerated.

ijayawada Congress MP Lagadapati Rajagopal has demanded that a sedition case be registered against TRS chief K Chandrasekhara Rao for whipping up regional hatred and violence in the State. He said the State has suffered much due to incessant uprising in the name of Telangana and it should no longer be tolerated.

city THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 14, 2013

POLITICS

Jolted by poor show at co-op polls, YSRC forms panels INKESHAF AHMED ahmed.m@postnoon.com

ollowing the bitter experience of securing a third place in the just concluded cooperative bodies elections, the YSR Congress party has shifted its focus to strengthening the party from the grassroot level. In what could be seen as an attempt by the party to prepare for the local body and all-important general elections slated for 2014, the party high command has constituted two important committees: Party Membership Drive Committee and the Human Resource Development (HRD) Committee. The high command of the YSRC has entrusted the responsibility to former union minister Ummareddy Venkateswarlu. He will be the convenor of the first committee.

Political Affairs Committee member and party leader DA Somayajulu was appointed as the convenor of the HRD committee. The party strongly feels that the appointment of ace

ENVIRONMENT

27 birds rescued after Sankranti

Md NIZAMUDDIN nizamuddin.a@postnoon.com

hile many were celebrating Sankranti (kite festival) last month, a few Good Samaritans were busy trying to rescue injured birds that became entangled in the manja. Members of People for Animals have successfully rescued 27 birds, including eagles, kites, crows and pigeons. Most of these were haplessly bound and caught on trees and electric poles. Members risked their lives rescuing them as these delicate beings must be brought down

to safety without further danger to them. For instance, when the volunteers tried to climb a particular tree, on several occasions the branches did not support their weight and broke. Later they had to take the help of the forest department and fire tender to rescue the birds. “Every year thousands of birds get caught in the kite strings and die,” says D Joshi, executive officer. “I appeal to the people to remember that their pleasure can cause pain to these innocent birds. It is better to use traditional cotton strings than the synthetic strings that kill (the birds).”

politician Ummareddy, who served the rival Telugu Desam Party in various capacities for over two and half decades, would help boost the party’s membership drive.

Though, the membership drive of the party has been going on since its inception, it has not gained the required momentum. The absence of grassroot level cadres in many districts of the State, especially Telangana region, was strongly felt by the party during the recent co-operative elections. Speaking to Postnoon, another senior leader of YSRC said that their priority and main objective would be to emerge as a strong political party in the coming days. “Our party is aiming at coming to power after the next assembly elections. But our rival parties like the Congress and the TDP are lying about our party at every opportunity, citing the recent co-operative elections, which does not reflect the actual political mindset of the State at all. “To avoid such false propaganda, we have decided to

A senior YSRC leader said that the main aim of the party is to come to power and emerge as a strong political party in the coming days. strengthen our party from the grass root level. This will not only help us build our base, but also push our rival parties to a corner,” he said. The party is planning to complete the tasks assigned to these two committees in a time bound manner. Unofficially, however, the top leaders of the party express their apprehensions and dissatisfaction at the relatively poor show at the coop polls. The party came third after the Congress and the TDP.

POLITICS

Factional war in Congress The appointment of chairman for DCCB is not going as smoothly as expected for the Congress party. POSTNOON NEWS feedback@postnoon.com

he factional feud, the innate characteristic of the Congress Party, is back with a bang. Following the remarkable show at the recent co-operative elections, the top brass of the ruling Congress leaders happily turned their focus to electing candidates for District Cooperative Central Banks (DCCB) chairman posts. But their happiness proved short-lived. In many districts, the State cabinet ministers and party MLAs find themselves vertically divided on the issue of the DCCB chairpersons’ appointment, and are vying with each other to ensure that their loyalists got the prestigious post. This is despite the directions of both the CM and the PCC president to ensure the appointments proceed in a peaceful manner. In Anantapur district, cabinet ministers N Raghuveera Reddy (pictured) and Dr S Sailajanath apparently joined hands against their rival and party senior MLA

JC Diwakar Reddy, who also happens to be a former minister. While the faction headed by minister Raghuveera Reddy is pressing for the appointment of their president as the DCCB chairman, the faction led by JC Diwakar Reddy want to elevate his brother JC Prabhakar Reddy to the post. According to sources, cabinet minister Raghuveera Reddy has organised a camp for his supporters in Bangalore till the deadlock over the issue gets over. Similar scenes are being witnessed in Adilabad and Guntur districts.

In Adilabad district, party MLC Premsagar Rao and MLA A Maheswar Reddy are at loggerheads over the post. Going a step further, MLA Maheswar Reddy, along with other district Congress leaders, met CM Kiran Kumar Reddy recently and alleged that Rao is secretly taking the support of rival TDP leaders to see that his supporter got elected. In Guntur district, ministers K Lakshminarayana and K Krishna Reddy are having serious differences over the DCCB post issue.

city THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 14, 2013

POWER

Defaulters exposed!

As AP groans under rising power tariffs, turns out it is the babus whose defaults are bleeding the State. RAHUL RAMAKRISHNA rahul.r@postnoon.com

hocking. TRS Bhavan, TDP chief Chandrababu Naidu, police departments, collectorate, Assembly are among the galaxy of defaulters to APCPDCL. Latest among the government departments to bear heavy losses, mostly because of arrears, are the power DISCOMs. When S Mahinder Reddy of ITMD filed an RTI to all the four power DISCOMs in the State seeking a list of defaulters with arrears above `50,000, the list ran into 300 pages. In another case, two separate discs had to be delivered with the list of all defaulters present in it. Not surprisingly, it is government departments like the police force, the gram panchayats and politicians. The gram panchayats, police department and officers occupy two thirds of the defaulters list. Among the rest, other govern-

ment departments such as public works, horticulture department, the Hyderabad Collectorate, the Legislative Assembly even the chief electrical officer’s building has outstanding dues to be paid to the APCPDCL!

However, there is no surprise that some very important political figures like Nara Chandra Babu Naidu too occupy their place in this list with the TDP leader’s dues amounting to `1,26,471. The TRS Bhavan in

BIRD WATCHERS

It’s the final countdown Initially restricted only to North America, the Great Backyard Bird Count goes global this year. The event is open to all, and will begin this Friday. JYOTSNA NAMBIAR jyotsna.n@postnoon.com

our days, hundreds of bird species and lakhs of enthusiastic birdwatchers — that’s what Great Backyard Bird Counts are made of. From February 15 to February 18, nature lovers will spend anywhere above 15 minutes a day to make a census of bird species in their area. In its 16th year, the Great Backyard Bird Count (GBBC), initially restricted to the

Last year’s numbers (In North America) Total Checklists Submitted:

1,04,285

Total Species Observed:

623

Total Individual Birds Counted: 1,73,82,831

US and Canada, has gone global. The idea is to involve individuals in enumerating the species of birds in an area and having them contribute to citizen science and conservation. Lists can be uploaded from anywhere in the world on the GBBC website, http://www.birdsource.org/gbbc/or on www.ebird.org. The rules are simple. The minimum time you have to spend on bird-watching is 15 minutes on any one of the days. Create an account on either of the two websites. Select your location. Mention whether you were stationary or travelling (if on a walk) and the duration of your bird-watching. Upload your list. The list should mention the species spotted as well as the number of birds seen. Leave out the ones that you cannot identify. Feel free to repeat the count several times over the four days. The bird count is a joint project of The Cornell Lab of Ornithology, Audubon society and Etudes d’oiseaux Canada. In a press release, Cornell Lab director John Fitzpatrick, said: “We’re looking forward to this historic snapshot of birds that will be reported from around the world. We need as many people as possible to help build the wealth of data that scientists need to track the health of bird populations through time.”

Jubilee Hills owes nearly `6 lakh in dues to APCPDCL. Largest dues owed to the APCPDCL belongs to the Workers Union office in the Mint compound with over `34 lakh in dues. Speaking to Postnoon, a highly placed official in the APCPDCL says, “Most of these dues are not a one-time outstanding payments but cumulative that have not been cleared for years, some as old as three years. Despite several representations and notices sent to them, most of these do not get cleared as there are always issues of occupancy, especially with the government service departments like the gram panchayats or the police force. And so, they keep getting accumulated despite our efforts to get them to pay their bills.” And as things usually go with high profile defaulters, there is always a political pressure that keeps them immune from power disconnection, the official admits.

S Mahendar Reddy, the RTI applicant says, “I had filed an RTI with all the four DISCOMs in the State. If the APCPDCL itself has to offer us so much, I wonder how much the rest of them have to show.” All dues piled together, the APCPDCL needs to recover over `530 crore and the APSPDCL (Southern Division DISCOM) needs to recover over `510 crore So far, considering these two DISCOMs itself leads to a due balance of over `1,040 crore.

classifieds THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 14, 2013

SPECIAL REPORT

ABUSED BY THE LAW

Nearly 87 per cent of respondents, rehabilitated trafficking victims or their relatives, of a survey conducted by HELP said they were ill-treated by the police. DEEPASHRI VARADHARAJAN deepashri.v@postnoon.com

ma was 10 when her parents died. She said she was sexually abused by her elder brother from the age of 11. At 16, she married a guy who claimed to love her, hoping to get away from a life of abuse. Her “husband” took her to his aunt. “They set me up in a house and sent men (her husband’s relatives),” she said. “I held her (aunt’s) feet. But she didn’t lis-

ten.” She was rescued in a police raid on the way to Ongole.” The police locked her up and sexually abused for three days before sending her to the child welfare committee. Uma told this very recently to her counsellor at the rehabilitation centre. “They say: ‘She has had sexual intercourse with so many men. How does it matter if she has it with me?’” said Siva Kumari, chairperson, Child Welfare Committee (CWC), Medak and secretary, Society for Women And Rural Development (SWARD).

CLASSIFIEDS CLOTHING

HOTEL

HEALTH

Postnoon had reported how nearly 87 per cent of respondents (rehabilitated victims or their relatives) of a survey conducted by HELP, an NGO working with the rescue and rehabilitation of trafficking victims, said they were ill treated by the police. Ram Mohan, chairperson of the CWC in Ongole, and secretary of HELP, did not press charges against the officials involved in Uma’s case. He said they have to work with the police. When he had brought up this issue in the past, the police had “made excuses.” “They catch these girls on Saturday and produce them in court only on Monday. In the court, they claim the raid was conducted 24 hours earlier, and show the FIR as proof.”

They may say a different thing each day. There should be no pressure. Don’t ask any reverse questions. Just say okay. In all the versions, the counsellor needs to find out what depresses or angers her the most and distil the truth.”

of other authorities.” When asked how they can be retained in the first place, he said, “They are not retained for years or months. Just for a few days. After that they can tell the magistrate.” Has he dealt with any such cases? “No, even if we call for an inquiry, everybody is from the same department; they go hand in glove.” Will a girl who has undergone so much abuse open up to a magistrate immediately? Siva Kumari says, “They do not trust anyone after the trauma they have gone through.

areas,” there are a large number of unregistered cases of missing women. “That should be counted first. Trafficking cases are not reported.” He said NGOs conduct sensitisation programmes from time to time for the police. Siva Kumari said the court needs evidence; the CWC does not, in case of a minor. The juvenile justice board consists of a legal representative, social worker and magistrate. They issue summons to the concerned official, find out why the victim was taken to the station and find out if the claims that she was sent to a home are true, and gather evidence. The victim here has no motive for lying; not even monetary. “Empower the women. Prepare and encourage them to file a case (with the organisation’s help),” she said. But most of these cases take years for a hearing, and then dismiss the case if there is no witness. Why do we have a law if it is not implemented? Why have protocols if officials can get away saying, “We didn’t know.” *Names of victims have been changed. Continued on Pages 8 & 9

EMPOWER, SENSITISE

Deputy superintendent of police from Guntur, Madhusudhan Rao, said that in “backward

DO YOU KNOW THE LAW?

A minor cannot be retained at the police station. When she is rescued, a woman officer and a social worker have to be present. The police should not be in their uniforms while rescuing minors. After the rescue, she has to be taken to the district CWC or a rescue home nearby. According to the survey, in 56 per cent of the cases (out of a total of 50 cases studied in three districts of AP), the rescue protocol was not followed. “Even words like ‘custody,’ ‘warrant,’ ‘arrest,’ should not be used (in front of minors),” said Siva Kumari. “But the police think they’ll run away if they don’t arrest them. They don’t follow the rules.” “They don’t bring even a single case to us. When we come to know about the rescue operation, we go to them and find out,” Kumari said. “They say, ‘We didn’t know (the procedure).’”

IS SUSPENSION THE PUNISHMENT?

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inquiry. It is the responsibility of the State to register a case. Transfer is an interim order. Actions will depend on the severity of the incident. For gross misconduct, the officer will be suspended,” said an advocate at the criminal court. “What is the proof?” he said. “When she is retained and abused, she can tell the magistrate. Court can’t do anything until it comes to the knowledge

It took Anuja five years to come out of depression and start living a normal life with the help of SWARD. She had good leadership qualities and started attending meetings to sensitise police officials on this issue. When one such official got to know about her past, he raided her area and started harassing her. She stopped attending meetings after that. “You want me to come out of it, and he wants me to relive my past,” she told the SWARD secretary. The official was then transferred. Will the concerned officer be imprisoned? “Imprisonment cannot be done on department

They don’t bring even a single case to us. When we come to know about the rescue operation, we go to them and find out. They say, ‘We didn’t know (the procedure).’ Siva Kumari CWC, Medak

Special Report THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 14, 2013

PRESENCE OF OFFICERS WHO LED THE RAID AS WITNESS

CI WITNESS

SI WITNESS

Total Cases

t sen pre t no

present

Total Cases

FEMALE CONSTABLE WITNESS

not present

present

Given up

Doctor’s witness was presented in only one case. Only in 6 per cent of the cases, NGO was present during rescue. The victim was not presented for witness in 72 per cent of court hearings.

12 Given up Given up

12 3 4 5 Lack of victim witness protection system

No trial monitoring

No mock trial conducted to prepare victims and witnesses mentally for court room environment

Investigation not on scientific lines

In a majority of the cases, the female constable was not presented as witness. Most of these cases were acquitted and the culprits were set free.

Search and seizure procedure not properly followed. Government officers not used as panchas or mediators.

164 Cr. Pc. statement of victim or witness was not recorded before the magistrate

HELP conducted an analysis of ITPA cases in three coastal districts of Andhra Pradesh to help law enforcement officials, the judiciary and social workers understand the reasons behind poor conviction in human-trafficking cases. It concluded that the ‘prosecution had deliberately committed several procedural errors’.

‘THE BATTLE IS FAR FROM OVER’ 800

TIME TAKEN BY JUDICIARY FOR COMPLETING THE TRIAL (COURT WISE) 700

26.1 per cent fall in the age group of 19 to 22, followed by 22.6 per cent in the age group 23 to 25. Over 40 per cent are separated, divorced or deserted by their husbands.

643

608

600

Max Time for Judiciary

499

519

500

Average Time for Judiciary

396

400

475

Min Time for Judiciary 300

No of Cases

NO of Days

200

100

45 1 1st Additional Guntur

104 50 28 6 1st Addl jr civil judge, Narasaraopet

202 38

Addl Asst session Judge, Narasaraopet

AJCJ Ch.pet

39 3 25 14

Prl. Asst. sessions judge, Narasaraopet

SM Magistrate Guntur

GUNTUR Average time for the completion of cases was more by SM magistrate Court, Ongole, which was followed by SM Magistrate Guntur. It might be due to poor awareness about the ITP Act.

64 5 10 1st MM Vijayawad

SM Magistrate Ongole

KRISHNA

PRAKM.

Special Report

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 14, 2013

13%

15%

10%

10% 5%

2008

2009

2010

SM Magistrate Ongole

1st MM Vijayawada

AJCJ Ch. pet

1st MM Vijayawada

1st Additional Guntur

Year of Judgement

2011

3 2

2 NO of cases

Above 3 years

Between 30 & 36 months

Between 24 & 30 months

Between 18 & 24 months

Between 12 & 18 months

Between 6 & 12 months

0% Less Than 6 months

SM Magistrate Guntur

17%

SM Megistrate Guntur

17%

20%

Prl. Asst. sessions judge, Narasaraopet

21%

1st addl civil judge, Narasaraopet

(From the date of rescue till the judgement is pronouced)

SM Magistrate Guntur

25%

YEAR OF RESCUE â&#x20AC;&#x201D; YEAR OF JUDGEMENT (COURT WISE) 10 Prl. Asst. sessions Judge, Narasaraopet

25%

TOTAL TRIAL TIME

Addl Asst session Judge, Narasaraopet

It can be seen that in 51 per cent of the cases, it took over two years for judgement to be passed.

1st addl jr civil judge, Narasaraopet

GRAPHIC: MADHAVA B. KULKARNI

1 0

1 2007

Year of Rescue

2008

1 2009

2010 2007 2008 2007 2008

A LOOK AT LEGAL LOOPHOLES

% COMPLETED

1000

1054 782

Judgment Year Registered in.

2008

2009

2010

800

2011

870

OF CASES BASED ON THE

District

TIME TAKEN BY POLICE BEFORE COMMENCEMENT OF TRIAL (POLICE STATION WISE)

826

Total Cases Max Time taken by Police

Average time taken by Police Min time by Police

% of Cases cleared

2010 Krishna

Prakasam

2007 2008

420 400

100% 33%

67% 100%

2007

67%

33%

2008

50%

It is seen from the above table that more cases were cleared from the year 2009 onwards. Cases registered in 2007 at Guntur took more time than those in Krishna district. In Prakasam district, there were no disposal of the cases registered in both 2007 and 2008 in the next two years

200

72 13

556 435

324

245 173 7

91 5

To end this legislative gap, things need to change, both in the society as well as in courts.

230 230 162 230

280

190

Give more training to investigation officers in trafficking cases

Need to conduct the trials in fast track courts.

157

243 243

157

141

KRISHNA

Need to establish special courts to deal with these cases.

695

157

1 23 4 5 GUNTUR

HOW DO WE SOLVE THIS?

695

408

380

Governor Pet PS

67%

Satyanaraya napuram PS

33%

576

Penamaluru PS

2009

600

Nunna PS

67%

Ch.Pet Town PS

33%

West L&O PS Guntur

2008

692

Narasaraopet Town PS

56%

Kothapet L& O PS

28%

East L & OPS Guntur

Guntur

16%

NO of Days

2007

695

More sensitisation needed for magistrates on this issue.

23 Ongole Town PS

1200

Ongole Taluka PS

DISTRIBUTION

PRAKM. Media and community sensitisation will also help solve this problem.

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 14, 2013

Business

BOARDS CLEAR AMERICAN AIRLINES MERGER

The boards of American Airlines and US Airways approved a merger to create the largest US airline once American exits bankruptcy court, sources close to the negotiations said. The newly-formed company will have the name American Airlines.

LEADERSHIP

Eves who ensure ALL’s well

SETBACK FOR APPLE

Assocham Ladies League enables businesswomen to network domestically and internationally to bolster their trade skills.

PRUDHVI RAJU K prudhvi.k@postnoon.com

omen in the City are marking an increased presence and growth in all fields: business, entrepreneurship, politics, social activism, art and theatre to name a few. How about networking these women with their counterparts in other cities of the world and leverage their strengths for their growth and the growth of the community? This is what Assocham Ladies League (ALL), the women wing of Assocham Hyderabad Chapter is working for. “We want to create global platform, where women can get support and backing from an organisation like Assocham. This

will help women across the fields to grow; be it through mentoring or finding new business opportunities through networking. “For instance, if there is a textile fair in Sri Lanka, the relevant members from the organisation can attend the fair to showcase their strengths and tap business opportunities. As an organisation, we provide travel benefits and try to subsidise costs

It has been proved time and again many women are successful in both building the family and enterprises. One has to value and prioritise time and move ahead.

involved in the process,” said ALL’s Hyderabad Chapter chairperson Suman Gahlot. ALL has core committees in around 30 segments, each to be headed by a chairperson. They discuss national and international issues in the respective fields and work for solving them. To support entrepreneurial endeavours of women, the organisation provides access to opportunities of marketing, finance and training in selected sectors along with networking. There is also an opportunity to work for upliftment of women and nation-building by participating and promoting various activities like education, employment and entrepreneurship. Talking about the current business scenario, she said.“The business scenario in very tough

at the moment, which may continue until there is a concrete political direction. There is a need to augment and create own scope. The talents of women need to be tapped and should be taken to larger platform. It’s time not be content with lowhanging fruits but to work for harder goals. “Personal life can not be a limitation to grow in business. It has been proved time and again many women are successful in both building the family and enterprises. One has to value and prioritise time and move ahead accordingly. The children will not only be supportive but also be inspired by their mothers. It is not easy to balance both career and family life, but I am sure it is not difficult either.” she adds.

Regulators in Brazil on Wednesday rejected Apple's application to register its iPhone trademark in the country, having already recognized a local manufacturer's claim to the name. The Institute of Industrial Property (INPI) "denied Apple registration of the iPhone trademark," the institute said. Apple had applied for exclusive rights to the iPhone name in Brazil in 2007 when it launched the wildly popular smartphone in the huge Latin American market. But Brazilian manufacturer Gradiente SA had applied to register the brand "Gradiente iphone" in 2000, and was granted rights to it in 2008. But Gradiente surprised the market by launching a "Gradiente iphone" at the end of the year, bringing the dispute to a head.

NUMEROLOGY

$1.1

is what Russian oil giant Rosneft will pay Venezuela to take part in a joint oil-extraction venture.

Suman Gahlot chairperson of ALL, Hyderabad

RELIEF FOR FACEBOOK A US federal judge on Wednesday tossed out claims by some Facebook shareholders that the social network wasn't candid enough about risks faced by the company when it made its stock market debut. The court said Facebook executives disclosed the required information before the plaintiffs decided to become early investors. The suits dismissed were part of an onslaught of litigation that followed Facebook's disastrous $16 billion IPO in May. More than half a dozen law ﬁrms specialising in investor complaints launched class action lawsuits against the social networking giant and its underwriters. Suits alleged that Facebook, along with Morgan Stanley, Goldman Sachs and other big Wall Street banks that distributed the shares, withheld from smaller investors crucial forecasts that pointed to weaker growth for the social network, while sharing the information with big institutional clients.

GOLD `30,854 10g10g GOLD`31,100 1kg `60,100 1kg SILVER `57,742

24C 24C

for for for for

DOLLAR `53.79 `53.91 `85.15 POUND `83.68

BSE 5,930.90 6,057.70 NSE

20,025.67 19,611.44 44.10 3.36 9.20 2.05

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 14, 2013

nation

RAJNATH PRAISES RAMAN SINGH BJP president Rajnath Singh on Wednesday praised Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Raman Singh and asked the party's youth leaders to ensure his third consecutive victory in the Assembly elections to be held later this year.

TRIPURA

IN GOOD COMPANY

AFZAL LAWYERS QUIT

Polling brisk, peaceful Of the 3,041 polling stations, 32 have been categorised as very vulnerable and 112 as vulnerable.

Speaker of the Lok Sabha, Meira Kumar (left) with the chairperson and general secretary of the National League for Democracy Party of Myanmar, Aung San Suu Kyi in Yangon on Wednesday. PTI

DIPLOMACY French President Hollande arrives for two-day visit NEW DELHI: French President Francois Hollande, who is on a two-day state visit to India, has arrived in New Delhi and was received by President Pranab Mukherjee and Prime Minister Manmohan Singh. "It's a great honour for me to be visiting India. I thank you President for this welcome. I am sure that this visit will lay

our relationship at the best level we can hope. And we must always improve the relationship between our two countries. India is a great democracy," Hollande said. India and France are expected to make substantial progress on multi-billion dollar defence and business deals during bilateral discussions. AGENCIES

AGARTALA: Voters queued up in large numbers outside polling booths in Tripura from early morning Thursday as the single-phased Assembly elections proceeded peacefully and briskly, officials said. "I expect a huge turnout by the time polling ends at 4pm. Tripura recorded 93 per cent polling in the last Assembly elections," said Ashutosh Jindal, chief electoral officer. More than 30 percent votes had been cast by 10am, he said. The tempo was expected to increase as the day progressed. In a few polling stations, trouble with electronic voting machines led to voting being stopped for a while. "In the wake of threats from separatists and possible violence, a record 40,000 security personnel have been deployed while two air surveillance teams led by senior police officials are also keeping vigil," the election official said. After casting his vote at a school here, CM Manik Sarkar said: "The Left Front would get more votes and more seats this time too. There is absolutely no

There is absolutely no impact of 'paribartan' slogan, raised by the Congress, here. The Left Front will win the elections comfortably in most seats. Manik Sarkar Tripura CM impact of 'paribartan' (change) slogan, raised by the Congress, here. The Left will win comfortably in most seats." The Congress has accused the CPI-M of illegally gathering party supporters in two to three polling station areas. "Some general voters were being marked to cast their votes through postal ballots. We have informed the election officer," said Ashok Sinha, Congress spokesperson. PTI

Citing "unseemly controversies", ND Pancholi and Nandita Haksar Wednesday quit as the family lawyers of Afzal Guru, the parliament attack convict who was hanged here February 9. "There have arisen unseemly controversies and we do not wish to be part of these discussions," Pancholi and Haksar said in a statement. The duo were representing Guru's family members who have asked Tihar jail authorities to return them Guru's body buried inside the prison premises. Pancholi and Haksar said they did not belong to any political party. However, they believed in engagement with the institutions and were working through them because there was no alternative, the statement said. The lawyers also said that Guru did not get a fair trial, he was a victim of prejudice and injustice built into the criminal judicial process.

RAHUL IN NAGALAND Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi is going to Nagaland Thursday to campaign for the February 23 Assembly election, a party leader said. He will visiting Meghalaya next week to campaign for the party for the state assembly election, the party leader said.

NEWS BRIEFS Meghalaya CS on leave to 'avoid controversy'

Court comes to the rescue of inter-caste couple

Court notice to Goa cops in minor's rape case

PANAJI: Following the footsteps of his Nagaland counterpart, Meghalaya chief secretary WMS Pariat will be going on leave as his brother-in-law is contesting the Assembly elections. "I am going on leave for 15 days (from Thursday) since my brother-in-law is contesting the assembly elections and to avoid any controversies," Pariat said. Lamboklang Mylliem is contesting the February 23 polls from Jirang Assembly constituency in Ri-Bhoi district. Pariat said the Election Commission has granted them leave. The Election Commission has directed PBO Warjri, additional chief secretary in-charge forest and environment to take the charge of chief secretary till the entire election process is over. Nagaland chief secretary Alemtemshi Jamir and additional chief secretary Banou Z Jamir have gone on leave to ensure a fair play as their son Merentoshi is contesting.

NEW DELHI: The Delhi High Court has allowed a woman to marry and live with a man who was rejected by her parents as he belonged to a different caste. The woman alleged she was conﬁned at home by her parents. The court permitted the two to get married and live together after the woman refused to go back to her parent's home. The court's order came on a plea of the woman's friend Vipin Kumar, seeking directions to police to present his friend Vandana who was conﬁned in her house and faced a threat to her life. The bench allowed the couple to live together after Vipin Kumar's married sister wished to take care of Vandana till the two got married. The police were also directed to provide protection to the couple. The SHO of Khyala was told "to examine the threat perception to Vandana and Vipin Kumar and his family members and provide security, if required".

PANAJI: A Goa court Wednesday issued notice to investigators in a minor schoolgirl's rape to explain why the school's headmistress, class teacher and a head clerk should not be charged for destroying evidence. Headmistress Sharlet Furtado, class teacher Disha Kavthankar and head clerk Brazina Godinho, all women, have been accused by the seven-year-old victim's father of cleaning his daughter's private parts and a school toilet, where the incident allegedly took place last month, before informing police. In his petition before the Goa Children's Court, the victim's father sought a direction to file a first information report (FIR) against the trio for "criminal conspiracy and destruction of evidence after the rape". The school authorities were criticised by women’s rights activists for their actions which might cause the accused to escape due to lack of sufficient physical evidence.

PICK YOUR

Across Stores

ities Twin C

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 14, 2013

World

N KOREA A REAL TO US: PANETTA

US Defence Secretary Leon Panetta on Thursday said that the combination of a recent missile test combined with nuclear explosions by North Korea represents a real threat to America.

VATICAN

DOLPHIN WARNING

Pope urges end to hypocrisy at final mass Benedict XVI may have been making an apparent reference to the paedophilia or Vatileaks scandals plaguing the institution.

HIS LAST BOW The pope will hold his final general audience on February 27, this time a farewell event for all in St. Peter’s Square, before retiring to a little-known monastery within Vatican walls, just a stone’s throw away from his successor. Benedict will no longer be pope from 1900 GMT on February 28, after which as Vatican spokesman Federico Lombardi put it “people will know they no longer have to go to him for questions regarding the Universal Church.”

Scientists have urged New Zealand to take immediate action to protect the critically endangered Maui’s dolphin, amid warnings the marine mammal could become extinct by 2030. The animal, the world’s smallest dolphin sub-species, is only found in waters off the North Island’s west coast and experts estimate the adult population has dwindled to just 55, the US-based Society for Marine Mammalogy (SSM) said.

NUMEROLOGY

$17.6

worth arms contracts has been signed by Russia with 65 countries in 2012, said a top official. The contracts come to around 1,309.

CYBER CRIME GANG BUSTED The sunset over St Peter’s basilica on February 13, 2013 at the Vatican.

VATICAN CITY: Pope Benedict XVI urged an end to “religious hypocrisy” and “rivalry” in the Catholic Church as he donned his papal mitre for the last time at an emotional mass in St Peter’s Basilica today. Wearing the purple robes of Lent — a period of penitence for Christians before Easter — the pontiff was conveyed through the Basilica’s vast nave on a mobile platform because of his growing infirmity. Benedict urged the faithful to be sincere in their faith in his final mass as leader of the world’s 1.2 billion Catholics before he becomes only the second pontiff to resign voluntarily

AFP/TIZIANA FABI

in the Church’s 2,000 years. He condemned “religious hypocrisy” and called for an end to divisions, saying that “the face of the Church is sometimes marred by sins against the unity of the Church and divisions in the clergy”, an apparent reference to the paedophilia or Vatileaks scandals plaguing the institution. The pope also called for an end to “individualism and rivalry”. Benedict announced on Monday that he would resign because he no longer had the strength to carry out his duties. Benedict will no longer be pope from 1900 GMT on February 28, after which as

Vatican spokesman Federico Lombardi put it “people will know they no longer have to go to him for questions regarding the Universal Church”. Benedict will honour his existing engagements in the final days of his papacy with a few notable exceptions like meetings with Italian President Giorgio Napolitano and Prime Minister Mario Monti. At the Vatican, next week will be given over to a spiritual retreat which is sure to be dominated by jockeying among factions within the College of Cardinals over the choice of Benedict’s successor.

Six held over rape of Spaniards in Mexico

No warplanes for Syria: Russia arms sales boss

Pope Benedict XVI leads the mass for Ash Wednesday at St Peter’s basilica at the Vatican. AFP/GABRIEL BOUYS

The face of the Church is sometimes marred by sins against the unity of the Church and divisions in the clergy. Pope Benedict XVI

AFP

NEWS BRIEFS Christopher Dorner 'killed in cabin blaze'

LOS ANGELES: America's most wanted man Christopher Dorner was believed to have died as a mountain cabin he was holed up in was engulfed in ﬂames following a raging gun battle with police, the Telegraph reported. Detectives refused to conﬁrm early reports that a charred body was found inside the burning wreckage.

ACAPULCO: Six men have been arrested after the rapes of six Spanish women tourists near the popular resort city of Acapulco, Mexico’s top law enforcement ofﬁcial said Wednesday. “We do now have six people arrested, who have confessed to everything,” including a 16-year-old, Attorney General Jesus Murillo Karam said.

MOSCOW:Russia’s state-run arms dealer Rosoboronexport is supplying air-defence missile systems and maintenance equipment to Syria but not combat aircraft, the company’s director has said. Anatoly Isaikin said Russia and Syria previously signed a contract for delivery to Damascus of Yak-130 Mitten jet trainers, but it has been suspended.

Plane crashlands in Ukraine, five killed

KIEV: At least ﬁve people were killed when an An-24 plane with 45 people onboard made a crashlanding and caught ﬁre in Ukraine, the emergencies service said Thursday. Two people were injured while one was missing in Wednesday evening’s incident in the eastern city of Donetsk, the emergencies service’s press secretary said.

Spanish police and Europol have busted a global cybercrime operation that infected millions of computers with a virus that falsely accused victims of viewing child pornography and demanded a fine payment, officials have said. Police detained 11 people as part of the operation, including a 27-year-old Russian suspected of creating and distributing the virus, Europol director Rob Wainwright told a news conference in Madrid yesterday. The virus locked computers in over 30 countries, mostly in Europe, and it demanded payment of a fine of 100 euros ($135) to return control to its user, he said.

The fact that we were unable to say that we were sorry until July cost our country literally billions of dollars. Cameron Munter The former US envoy to Islamabad today criticized Washington’s “callousness” over the killing of Pakistani troops.

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 14, 2013

Technology GADGETS

‘Apple still has magic’ Apple CEO says that the company still has strong growth opportunities

SELLING LIKE HOT CAKES

Disney UTV’s Indiagames has set a new benchmark in the app world by crossing 200 million downloads on the Nokia Store! Of this, 100 million downloads were made in the last nine months. Downloads for theses Java-based games were made by mobile users from around the world, with the top 10 being India, Brazil, Vietnam, Mexico, Indonesia, Turkey, Thailand, Pakistan, Russia and Saudi Arabia. The most downloaded games developed by Indiagames were DLF IPL 2012, Ra. One Genesis, Aladdin The New Adventure, Monster Truck Dash, Phineas & Fer, Cricket Fever Challenge, UP, Cars 2, Pirates of the Caribbean and Lion King Returns.

GOOGLE MOVIE

Apple CEO Tim Cook attending US President Barack Obama’s State of the Union address before a joint session of Congress.

SAN FRANCISCO: Apple remains ahead of its rivals in the ability to innovate and “create magic” despite tougher competition in key sectors like smartphones and tablets, chief executive Tim Cook said Tuesday. Cook said Apple still has strong growth opportunities because of its ability to work simultaneously on hardware, software and services, brushing aside suggestions that Apple has passed its peak. “Apple has the ability to innovate in all three of these spheres and create magic,” Cook said during a questionand-answer session at the Goldman Sachs Technology and Internet Conference. “This isn’t something you can just write a check for. This is something you build over decades.” Cook declined to talk about any new products, but said he remains upbeat on Apple’s ability to boost sales of its popular iPhones and iPads in markets around the world. “I’m incredibly bullish about the future and what Apple can do,” he said. “Apple has skills in hard-

ware, in software and in services ... There is no better place for innovation.” He said Apple was not planning to make a “cheap” product that failed to live up to its standards, but that he was aware that some con-

Apple has the ability to innovate in all three of these spheres and create magic. Tim Cook CEO, Apple sumers could not afford some Apple devices. “Our North Star is always great products, not how to hit a price point,” he said. He maintained that Apple’s iPhone has “tremendous momentum” in a market which is expected to triple in the coming years. “The iPhone is available only to around 50 percent of the subscribers in the world,” he said when asked if Apple

had reached a plateau. “I see a wide open field. I don’t think about that word called limit.” When asked if Apple was being overtaken by rivals, he maintained that the appeal is not based on a single details such as screen size or processor speed. “Customers want a great experience, and they want quality, and they want that ‘aha’ moment,” he said. “What Apple does is sweat every detail... The customer experience is always broader than what can be defined by a simple number.” He said Apple’s iPads have outsold the entire line of computer maker Hewlett-Packard and that this market is still growing, even though Apple’s market share has slipped. He argued that in terms of usage, the iPad has been measured to be used “twice as much as the total of every Android device... It’s because it’s an incredible experience.” Asked about a recently filed shareholder lawsuit, Cook said the company was examining ways to distribute more cash to shareholders but claimed the litigation was “a

silly sideshow.” “This is a waste of shareholder money,” he said of the suit filed by Greenlight Capital which seeks to block a shareholder vote that includes a management-backed proposal to make it impossible for the Apple board to issue preferred stock without shareholder approval. Cook said it was “an incredible privilege” to be in the position of deciding what to do with the company’s $137 billion cash stockpile, and maintained that “we will do so deliberately and thoughtfully.” But he maintained that the lawsuit was not about returning cash, but about “the right of shareholders” to authorize any special stock issue. “Frankly, I find it bizarre that we would find ourselves being sued for doing something that’s good for shareholders,” he said, adding that the company would likely seek shareholder approval even if not required. “My preference would be for everyone on both sides of this would take the money they are spending and donate it to a worthy cause,” Cook said. AFP

Fox has released the trailer for its comedy The Internship Movie that follows two “salesmen whose careers have been torpedoed by the digital world.” With Vince Vaughn and Owen Wilson will set off to Silicon Valley to prove that they are still relevant by landing internships at Google. The trailer shows scenes from Google’s “campus,” including a clear dry-erase wall , a self-driving car, a Rubik’s cube competition, and a bunch of smart twenty-somethings who have it out for the two “old guys.” http://is.gd/YoutubeMovie

HP eyes Android After the disastrous billion dollar acquisition of Palm, HP will now use Android in its upcoming tablets and phones. HP’s ﬁrst Android device will be a high-end tablet that is powered by NVIDIA’s Tegra 4 chip, and it could be announced soon, according to two sources familiar with the matter. The tablet has been in the works since before Thanksgiving and sources say it could be one of the ﬁrst tablets to ship with the Tegra 4. Sources also say that HP is currently exploring the launch of an Android-powered smartphone, but recent comments from CEO Meg Whitman indicate HP will not offer a mobile phone this year.

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 14, 2013

Comment All true love must die,/ Alter at the best/ Into some lesser thing./ Prove that I lie. WB Yeats Poet

All work and no play in South Korea JUNG HAWON feedback@postnoon.com

growing number of South Korean corporations are turning their backs on a workaholic culture once seen as indispensable but increasingly viewed as unhealthy, unproductive and inefficient. Long working hours, often followed by intense latenight drinking sessions with the boss, have long been a feature of the Korea Inc. that transformed a war-ravaged nation into Asia's fourth-biggest economy in a matter of decades. Rapid development has brought new values and new priorities, with employees demanding a better work-life balance than the previous generations who were told their patriotic duty lay in pulling the country out of poverty. For more than two decades, Yie Jong-Man, a 53year-old bank manager in Seoul, could only dream of sitting down at home to a family dinner after work. “I used to work until 10, 11 at night or even later because there was so much work to do, or simply because my boss wouldn't go home," said Yie, who has worked for the state-run Industrial Bank of Korea (IBK) since 1986. "I couldn't spend enough time with the family when my two kids were growing up. They were nearly always asleep when I went home," he told AFP. But things started to change in 2009 when the IBK, the fourth largest bank by assets, adopted the unprecedented policy of shutting down all office computers at 7:00 pm to ensure people went home. The "PC off" rule was a success and many other banks are set to follow suit this year.

HIGH-FLYING THOUGHTS

David Cameron has issued a hearty welcome to Indians who want to work and study in Britain. We know why he’s warming up: money, of course Perhaps Boris Johnson may have told him of India’s opulence. But his policies should match his words, too.

THE YEAR OF THE SNAKE

STOP HORSING AROUND…

The snake is known to be the master seducer of the Chinese zodiac. I wouldn’t mind being the seducer of Chinese women, OH YEA! Unfortunately, I couldn’t talk my way out of a Mute Convention, so definitely no seducing going on. However, I have mastered the art of melting cheese using nothing more than my mind, some lint from my belly button and a picture of Amitabh Bachchan.

BUT... SERIOUSLY

Ajay Hotchandani

ebruary 10th, 2013 at least 1 billion people celebrated the Chinese New Years – The Year of the Snake (sounds like a Jackie Chan movie). OK, so the story goes that there are 12 animals that represent the Chinese Zodiac calendar. You would think the method of choosing which animal represented which month would have been chosen by a long complex mathematical calculation (since they love math, like we love curry), but the myth of how it was chosen was based on a race. The story goes that a race was held to cross a great river, and the order of the animals in the cycle was based upon their order in finishing the race. In this story, the snake compensated for not being the best swimmer by hitching a hidden ride on the horses hoof, and when the horse was just about to cross the finish line, jumping out, scaring the horse, and thus edging it out for sixth place. That got me thinking, what if the snake did not scare the horse, would the horse have represented the month the snake represents now and vice versa? My sign is the horse, but what if I was meant to be a snake? (Keep your comments to yourself). For those that truly believe in what it stands for, knowing that there was a mix up in the order thousands of

Though snakes don't often tell lies, they will use deception when they feel it's necessary and they think they can get away with it. This is true. I don’t lie. If you don’t believe me, ask your local politician. We all know they don’t lie (like snakes). When snakes get down to work, they are organised and highly efficient, and they work quickly and quietly. With the exception of occasionally farting, this is true.

years ago might lead to chaos and the downfall of society, or just an article in a newspaper in one of the best cities in India. National Geographic had a write-up on the human characteristics of snakes as it pertains to snakes in the wild. Am I really a horse trapped in a snake’s body, or just a donkey who enjoys chocolates?

Snakes have an innately elegant personality but can also be ostentatious at times. My personality is definitely not elegant; in fact I would go so far as to say it is the opposite of elegant. As for being ostentatious, that’s not me either, especially when it comes to clothes. The flashiest thing I own is a tshirt of “The Flash” – a comic book character.

Snakes are charming, with excellent communication skills. Hmmmm, yea, that isn’t really me. I’m not one to feed anyone BS — in the off chance they get more than they can handle and regurgitate it on me. I did do some research and one website had a write-up on the Horse, and it was rather eerie how accurate they manage to describe me. Honestly, I wish I was born on the year of the Monkey. But I guess Horsing around is just as good as Monkeying around!

EDITORIALS The Pope opens up

s the world ponders the reason for Benedict XVI stepping down as Pope, the man next to God in the mortal world for millions of Roman Catholics, he may have possibly hinted at the reason for his stepping down. At an emotional mass in St Peter's Basilica on Ash Wednesday, the Pope, who became only the second man to voluntarily step down from his papal duties, in 2000 years, has urged an end to religious hypocrisy" and "rivalry" in the Catholic Church. He was visibly weak: “The pontiff was conveyed through the basilica's vast nave on a mobile platform because of his growing inﬁrmity,” says one report. But his resolve was unwavered when he spoke of the blemishes on the face of the church brought by "religious hypocrisy", sins against the unity of the clergy and other

READERS’ VIEWS

accusations; most likely he was insinuating about the hordes of cases of paedophilia or Vatileaks scandals plaguing the institution. He was speaking the truth when he said that he lacks the strength to lead the church through this turbulent time; and this is a truly turbulent time, indeed. With science and technology making gigantic strides, the church has been struggling to dam the onslaught of secularism. And there is no escape for his successor, too, from facing it. The “outgoing” pope was sure of the hurdles when he said, “Even those born into a Christian family and given a religious education should... put God first in the face of the temptations that a secular culture presents all the time.”

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 14, 2013

tELEVISION

GAME OF THRONES TEASER UNVEILED HBO has unveiled a new Game of Thrones video teasing the show's return. The new 40-second trail — titled Chaos — provides glimpses of the show's central characters, including Tyrion (Peter Dinklage), Daenerys (Emilia Clarke) and Jon Snow (Kit Harington).

VALENTINES

IN LOVE, ON SCREEN POSTNOON TEAM feedback@postnoon.com

They are silly, they are cute, they are romantic, they are adorable. They fight, they patch up and grow together. These are some of our favourite couples on TV that never fail in making us go "awww”.

Lily and Marshall

hey have been dating since they joined college and have been together excepting that one time Lily goes to pursue her dream to be an artist. To many they are the epitome of a healthy relationship—they are best friends, they know each other in and out, they fight and love each other enough to pause their fights, they do things together and give each other space, too. This couple is the one we know will grow old together and might even be one of those where partners soon die one after another.

Carrie and Mr Big

ill they or will they not was the question reigning our minds till the end of Sex and the City tv series. We saw them together many a time and breaking off each time for the same reason— Big’s apprehensions of making a commitment until the final season when they both realise they always loved each other. In a world of big standards, huge expectations and continual judgements, they found sanity in each other. Although they had their share of “relationship problems”, their on and off situation that brought in the mystery of what will their end be, kept the romance alive, always with that spark!

Emma Roberts in Delirium Emma Roberts is to lead new Fox drama pilot Delirium. The Scream 4 star will play teen heroine Lena Holoway in an adaptation of Lauren Oliver's novel series, TVLine reports. Delirium — from Prison Break producer Karyn Usher — is set in a future world where all feelings of love have been eradicated. Roberts's character rebels against the system when she falls for a young man.

DID YOU KNOW..

Beyoncé

Sheldon and Amy

amously known as SHAMY, these two intellectuals and socially awkward beings could not have found a better partner than each other. It was a blind date set up by Raj and Howard, when these two reluctantly met and went on to sign a contract of relationship. Just when the audience and Sheldon’s friends in The Big Bang Theory wondered if there ever could be a partner for Sheldon, Amy Farah Fowler happened. With hardly any physical contact established yet, their conversations are also fairly limited to their fields of interest—physics and neuroscience. They have even managed to include a clause that fixes Thursday as date night. Watching them struggle through parameters of a man-woman relationship, is nothing less than a joyride.

TV SCOOP

Bones and Booth

Monica and Chandler

he is obsessive, compulsive, and he is commitment phobic. Friends turned lovers by accident, and then a happily married couple, Monica Geller and Chandler Bing make for one of the most endearing couples on TV. An unimaginable match, by virtue of having been great friends, they find it easier to accept and support each other. How Chandler loves Monica in spite of her nerve wrecking OCD and how she stands by him when he is shifting career paths is admirable.

Turk and Carla

heirs is a match made in heaven. Christopher Turk is goofy and childish, while Carla is practical and wears the pants in the house. Their chemistry was

apparent in Scrubs’ first episode when Turk made a move on Carla. As the series progresses, they date, get married and have a child together. If you like the series, you are bound to fall in love with this couple.

e might have had to wait till Season 6 till the two finally acknowledged their feelings and became a couple, but it was well worth the wait. FBI agent Seeley Booth, tough as nails and an ace sniper, met his match in Dr Temperance 'Bones' Brennan, the detached forensic anthropologist. The chemistry between the two was palpable from the beginning, but their widely differing world views — Booth is a believer while Bones trusts only science — had viewers worrying that they would never get together. Luckily for us, the gorgeous couple did fall in love and are living happily together with their daughter.

will appear on an upcoming episode of Oprah's Next Chapter. The Best Thing I Never Had singer will be interviewed by Oprah Winfrey for the show, which will air the same night as Beyoncé's HBO documentary. The OWN interview will air at 8 pm this Saturday (February 16), followed by the HBO documentary Life Is But A Dream at 9 pm. Beyoncé will discuss her Super Bowl performance with Oprah.

TRENDING...

The Nine Lives Of Chloe King star Skyler Samuels has joined NBC's Bloodline. The new series comes from Battleship director and Friday Night Lights creator Peter Berg. Samuels has scored the lead role in the Peacock Network's upcoming drama, Deadline reports.

New Girl has cast comedians Nick Kroll and Bill Burr in an upcoming episode. The March installment will see Nick (Jake Johnson) and his roommates travel to his hometown of Chicago, where the gang will meet his eccentric family. Burr is perhaps best known for his stand-up comedy and had appeared in Breaking Bad.

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 14, 2013

spotlight

MAKING THE MOST OF TONIGHT

For a rocking evening full of fun and romance head to Aqua. This Thursday romance under the stars with live music by the band Phoenix. Enjoy a lovely evening with special cabanas, tables by the pool and a romantic dinner for couples.

SRINIVAS SETTY

DANCE NIGHT

FEELIN’ THE LOVE Club Se La Vie held a pre-Valentine’s bash at Sky Grill in Fortune Kakatiya for its members on Wednesday, ushering in the celebrations a day in advance.

FOR A GOOD TIME S BALAKRISHNA

Lakshmi Nissan added another a feather to its cap by opening a premium outlet in the City. Tollywood super star Venkatesh inaugurated the stylish Lakshmi Nissan lounge at Jubilee Hills on Wednesday. The outlet also boasts of a premium coffee lounge — Di Bella.

1 Kusboo, Vijay Agarwal

4 Suman

7 Preeti

10 Sweetha

13 Bindu

2 Preethi, Shruti

5 Honey, Rehan

8 Shalini, Ramakrishna

11 Shilpa

14 Gaythri, Neelima

3 Nikitha, Praveen

6 Sonal, Rajiv

9 Megana

12 Shubi

15 Eileen, Samira

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 14, 2013

health

INDIAN UNIVERSITY TO LAUNCH DIABETIC DRUG

SRM University plans to launch its US patented herbal diabetic drug in about six months. A six member team of researchers, led by Govind Prasad Dubey, invented the drug and secured the patent that was assigned to SRM University.

PREGNANCY WEEK

Your hubby can be pregnant too! Everyone’s got interesting tales to tell about pregnancy and delivery. But there are a few facts and myths that you might have never heard of before. We list a few for you. RANJANI RAJENDRA

ranjani.r@postnoon.com

ou’ve just learnt you are pregnant and the family is bombarding you with information. Everyone is doling out well-meaning advice and instructions. But pregnancy is not just a whole lot of serious restrictions and must dos. Here we put a fun spin on those nine months with some interesting facts that you’ve probably never heard of. n You could be pregnant for a whole year! Sure most pregnancies last for around nine months. But there are chances that the woman will

ANEWS PP-LYBRIEFS YOURSELF

HOUSECALL

not go into labour even after completing those nine months. Most doctors induce labour if the pregnancy goes too long. But in some cases if this labour is not induced it is quite possible for the woman to remain pregnant for a year. The world’s longest pregnancy lasted 375 days!

Your husband can mirror your symptoms like weight gain, morning sickness and even pain in the lower abdomen while you are pregnant. n Your nose turns into a contaminator detector. You know how everybody says that a woman’s sense of smell is heightened drastically from the first trimester itself? Turns out this is your body’s way of warning you against foods that could harm your unborn baby. Scientists say that this helps pregnant mothers avoid eating small levels of toxins that might not actually harm an adult but could be deadly to the foetus. So go on trust your senses. n Being pregnant can be your

DID YOU KNOW?

excuse to shop for shoes. A woman can never have enough shoes right? So this is your chance to go shop for some more. Because during pregnancy your feet can grow by one foot size. This growth spurt has to do with the excess pressure on your feet combined with the relaxed ligaments in your body during pregnancy. As your pregnancy progresses, your body begins to release the tightness in the ligaments to help with birthing. This means your feet begin to lose their arch and stretch. n Your partner might seem pregnant too! It’s true. It is very common for a father-to-be to mirror his pregnant wife’s symptoms. He could gain weight, experience morning sickness and even feel cramps in his lower abdomen. It is known as sympathetic pregnancy. n You might just be able to see your little munchkin before they make an appearance in the world. There are cases when pregnant women can clearly see their babies’ hands or feet or other body parts pressed into their bellies. This usually happens when the baby is moving and kicking during the later stages of pregnancy. So go on. Say hello.

PIONEERS

UP by Jawbone

Myopia

Some see more colours

Michael S Brown

UP is a system, wristband plus iPhone app, that tracks how you sleep, move and eat 24/7 so you can know yourself better, make smarter choices and feel your best. You can track your sleep and physical activity, log your food and drink, track nutritional info and team up with friends and collaborate or compete.

Myopia, also called near- or short-sightedness, is a problem with the focusing ability of the eye. It is when the eye is not able to focus properly on objects in the distance. This condition is very common and it often occurs with many members of the same family. This causes the eye and brain to see the image of the distant object as a blurred image. People with myopia often squint while watching TV or distant objects.

Most people have three types of colour receptors. Some women have four, which allows them to see a wider range of colours (a small percentage even have ﬁve). Why women? The red and green colour receptors, which can be shifted to allow for a greater range of colour vision, are located on the X chromosome; blue is on the Y.

Michael S Brown was born on April 13, 1941 in New York City. He became friends with Joseph L Goldstein when they interned at Massachusetts General Hospital. They later worked together and found genetic markers and developed new drugs that can effect the metabolism of cholesterol in the human body. The pair were awarded the Nobel Prize for Physiology or Medicine in 1985.

health THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 14, 2013

BREAKTHROUGH

STUDY

Scanner shows promise in cancer treatment

Couples may have synchronised heart beats

Doctors say as MR has no radiation, this machine at a Delhi hospital significantly reduces the overall radiation dose, making it safer for paediatrics and patients. NEW DELHI: A state-of-the-art body scanner has been set up at the Apollo hospital which detects cancerous cells quickly, and may go a long way in timely selection of treatment for cancer patients, officials of the hospital said Wednesday. The Positron Emission Tomography-Magnetic Resonance (PET-MR) has been combined with PET Computerised Tomog-

raphy (CT) to create the PET Suite which scans patients quicker, thus reducing discomfort and helping in therapy selection and treatment. "Since they (doctors) can simultaneously acquire data from the whole body, the scanning takes less time, thus, reducing the discomfort of the patient," Prathap C Reddy, chairman of the Apollo Hospitals

Group, told reporters here. "As MR has no radiation, this machine can significantly reduce the overall radiation dose, making it safer for paediatrics and patients undergoing repeated studies for therapy monitoring," he added. Compared to hospitals abroad, "the cost is 75 per cent less and diagnostic accuracy is 100 percent," said Uma Ravishankar,

head of the department of molecular imaging and nuclear medicine. Besides detecting cancer, PET-MR can also play a major role in understanding cardiology and neurological diseases, doctors said. The PET Suite will be formally launched February 16 by Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit. India has approximately three million cancer patients. IANS

WASHINGTON: Scientists have found that a couple's breathing patterns and heart rates would match up after sitting close to each other. They didn't even have to be holding hands or talking for this to happen. However, a similar effect was not seen among strangers. The research team from the University of California, Davis, were studying the physical effects of being in a relationship. They discovered there was more to it than their hearts both skipping a beat at the sight of each other. Emilio Ferrer, a UC Davis psychology professor, found that couples connected to monitors measuring heart rates and respiration get their heart rate in sync, and they breathe in and out at the same intervals. The researchers conducted a series of exercises, sitting 32 heterosexual couples a few feet away from each other in a quiet, calm room. The couples did not speak or touch. "We have seen a lot of research that one person in a relationship can experience what the other person is experiencing emotionally, but this study shows they also share experiences at a physiological level," Ferrer said in a statement. Additionally, both partners showed similar patterns of heart rate and respiration, but women tended to adjust theirs to their partners more. This was true for physiological and day-to-day emotional experiences. PTI

REPORT

Outdoor air pollution fifth largest killer in India NEW DELHI: Outdoor air pollution has become the fifth largest killer in India after high blood pressure, indoor air pollution, tobacco smoking and poor nutrition, according to a Global Burden of Disease (GBD) report. The report says that about 620,000 premature deaths occur in India from air pollution-

related diseases. It also highlights that annual premature deaths caused by particulate air pollution have increased by six times since 2000 and accounts for one fifth of global deaths. The air pollution-induced premature deaths are caused by respiratory and cardiovascular diseases. These diseases include stroke (25.48 per cent), chronic

obstructive pulmonary disease (17.32 per cent), ischemic heart disease (48.6 per cent), lower respiratory infections (6.4 percent), and trachea, bronchus and lung cancer (2.02 per cent). "This is a shocking and deeply disturbing news. This calls for urgent and aggressive action to protect public health," said Sunita Narain, director

general, CSE. The India and South Asiaspecific findings were released Wednesday jointly by the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE), Indian Council of Medical Research and the US-based Health Effects Institute. The report came out in December last year. Globally, air pollution-related

diseases cause 3.2 million deaths every year. This has increased from 800,000, last estimated by GBD in the year 2000 â&#x20AC;&#x201D; a whopping 300 per cent increase. Air pollution has been ranked as one of the top 10 killers in the world by GBD. It is the sixth most dangerous killer in South Asia. IANS

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 14, 2013

Entertainment FRESHLY-BAKED

PIZZA HEMANTH KUMAR

hemanth.k@postnoon.com

CINE BYTES

IS ALMOST FLAWLESS Pizza is a riveting horror film unlike anything we have seen in recent years. Almost everything about it is near perfect, it’s one of those rare films which you can't afford to miss.

Movie: Pizza Cast: : Vijay Sethupathi, Remya Nambeesan Directed by: Karthik Subbaraj Rating:

hen was the last time you were so engrossed in a film that the finale took you by surprise? It's one thing to leave behind clues for the audience to figure out where the film is heading, but when a filmmaker manages to pull you inside the world he has created and leaves you bewildered in the end, it's nothing short of a remarkable achievment. Pizza, directed by newcomer Karthik Subbaraj, is one such film which will take your breath away. The film is a dubbed version of a Tamil film of the same name, starring Vijay Sethupathi and Remya Nambeesan in lead roles, which released in 2012. Michael (Vijay Sethupathi), who works as a pizza delivery boy, lives with his girlfriend Anu (Remya Nambeesan) in Vizag. The two have been in a relationship for a long time and one fine day Anu tells him that she's pregnant. We are told that Anu is fond of horror films, novels and also that she has been working on a novel whereas Michael is the exact opposite, he just cannot stand horror films or stories of haunted houses. One fine day, Michael is asked to deliver a pizza in a house and all hell breaks loose. The rest of the story is about what Michael encounters at the house and its aftermath.Vijay Sethupathi is absolutely brilliant in the film. The fear in his eyes is palpable and right from the moment he enters the house to deliver to the pizza till the end credits roll, he completely owns the film. Talking more about what he does in the film would be a crime since every move is intertwined with the film's biggest surprise, so let’s just say, his performance is just about perfect in the film. Remya Nambeesan is good as Anu and the rest of the cast do justice to their roles.Pizza is one of the rare films where almost everything makes you sit upright and take notice. Right from the sound effects to how well Gopi Amarnath, the cinematographer, uses lighting to heighten the sense of fear which the lead character goes through, everyhting is good. Santosh Narayanan's music and background score compliments every scene in the film and the way he plays around with music right from the time Michael enters the house deserves a seperate discussion altogether. Leo John Paul's editing is fantastic. It's a remarkable debut for Karthik Subbaraj. Pizza is not only a supremely well-crafted film but also a game changer in terms of how well a story can be narrated with limited resources. He does leave couple of references here and there for people to anticipate the ending, but the breathtaking pace at which the story unfolds almost leaves no room to sit back and think about what just happened. At a run time of 128 minutes, Pizza feels like a roller coaster ride which knocks you out in the end. Forget about a happy meal, you'll not forget the taste of this ‘Pizza’ for a long time.

NTR's new film launched

TR's new film under Santosh Srinivas' direction was launched yesterday morning at Annapurna Studios. Samantha is playing the lead role in this action entertainer and it's her third film with NTR. Bellamkonda Suresh is going to produce this film which will go on floors in May. Currently, NTR is busy wrapping up Baadshah and Harish Shankar's film.

Bandla Ganesh is miffed

roducer Bandla Ganesh, who was being interrogated by Income Tax ofﬁcials for the past few days, has categorically denied that he's a benami. "I have earned everything I own with hard work. I am not into politics and I am not a benami for anyone. I sincerely request people who are dragging me into such issues to leave me alone," he said.

Maryada Ramanna goes to Mollywood

S Rajamouli's Maryada Ramanna will soon be remade in Malayalam. Dileep has been roped in to play the lead role and GN Krishna Kumar is going to direct the ﬁlm. Incidentally, Maryada Ramanna has already been remade in Bengali and in Hindi as Son of Sardar, whereas the Tamil remake is expected to take off soon.

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 14, 2013

fashion

LATEST COLLABORATION

H&M announced recently that come March 7, shoppers around the world will be able to buy its latest designer collaboration—with London's Brick Lane Bikes, one of the world's most iconic custom-bike shops.

VERA WANG

RODARTE

TORY BURCH

GALLIANO’S SHOW ALL THE WAY New York Fashion Week on Tuesday revealed its ultra-feminine side for next winter. However, the biggest news of it all was the creative presence of disgraced designer John Galliano. Through the Oscar de la Renta collection one could detect marks of the troubled genius. EW J CR

22&23

EXPANDING THE EMPIRE

TARUN TAHILIANI has opened his latest store in home-town New Delhi. "It's a mega metropolis, and our market will never be saturated here. The demand is so great, even from surrounding areas like Noida and Gurgaon, that we're still considering opening more outlets," says Tahiliani.

VERA WANG

EW J CR

ew York Fashion Week on Tuesday revealed its ultrafeminine side for next winter, from Vera Wang's chic floral silk dresses to an Oscar de la Renta show with a distinct John Galliano flair. De la Renta's collection was highly anticipated in part because of his recent gesture of bringing the disgraced British designer, once the mastermind at Dior, back into the fold with a three-week stint at his New York studio. Galliano, convicted in France of anti-Semitism after a series of drunken rants in public, did not appear himself at the show. However, from the first de la Renta model, who came out wearing a belted turquoise coat dress and a black hat, fashion bloggers declared they could detect the mark of the troubled genius. "You can see the Galliano

OSCAR DE LA RENTA

TORY BURCH

influence at Oscar de la Renta even in the way the belts are tied on suits," New York Times fashion writer Eric Wilson said on Twitter. "Oscar de la Renta with a touch of Galliano... a lovely conversation," commented fellow designer Diane von Furstenberg. A total of 50 outfits featured in the elegant, romantic show by the Dominican-born designer, many accompanied with flapper hats and colourful accessories. Wang, whose evening wear and bridal gowns are highly coveted by Hollywood A-listers, played with cut and structure, elongating the sleeves of a little black dress and cropping the hems of asymmetrical short skirts. Black and beige are the colours of the season, with pops of purple and bronze in floral silks brightening the wintry mood. Long gloves past the elbow or a fox cape added a dash of refinement for late-night Manhattan soirees. "Different scales, different proportions, different colours - that mixture was for me sort

of a new way of looking, in a much simpler way," Wang said backstage after her show at the Lincoln Center. The combination of "texture, pattern, colour and proportion" helped her create "clothes that embrace sexy, easy glamour," she explained. Tory Burch, the queen of ballet flats and handbags, unveiled a luxurious, romantic collection for next winter in rich jewel tones, which she said was inspired by the work of Austrian symbolist painter Gustav Klimt.

It was a bit of Art Nouveau, and Gustav Klimt and Rene Lalique, and some of the elements of his beautiful crystal and dragonflies. Tory Burch on his collection

The 46-year-old American designer offered prim tweed skirt suits, bejewelled cardigans, gauzy dresses in pale pink and bold printed silks. Necklaces featured shiny insect motifs. Mary Janes are the must-have shoe for next fall. "It was a bit of Art Nouveau, and Gustav Klimt and Rene Lalique, and some of the elements of his beautiful crystal and dragon flies," Burch told AFP backstage. "I wanted to have special pieces that take you from day to evening. Women are busy, so the idea of having (something) that will work during the day but also that you can go out in makes it simple." On how her clothes appeal to women of all ages, Burch said: "Younger women are making it a little edgier and older women can wear it in their own way." Kate and Laura Mulleavy of Rodarte had a more West Coast rock-and-roll take on winter wear. After last season's medieval punk, the California sisters showed long fluid dresses in bold tie-dyed and

OSCAR DE LA RENTA

acid-washed fabrics. "There's definitely a reference to the Grateful Dead, but that's part of a culture" fueled by beach life in northern California, said Laura Mulleavy. "If you have tie dye, you have acid, you have roses, you have barbed wire." Jackets were heavy, while shorts were long and hanging from the slender hips of the pale-skinned models, their eyes rimmed with kohl. At J Crew, one of First Lady Michelle Obama's favoured labels, the emphasis was on the accessories â&#x20AC;&#x201D; bold costume jewellery, clutches and sparkly shoes. Womenswear designer Tom Mora explained that Morocco had inspired him to create clothes for women in bright colours, with an array of textures and patterns. New York Fashion Week, which wraps up on Thursday, features more than 300 shows and presentations of autumnwinter collections for 2013-14. It is the start of a monthlong style marathon, with shows in London, Milan and Paris to follow. AFP

Entertainment THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 14, 2013

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 14, 2013

Chai Time

Play & Win

Please send in your filled-in entries to Postnoon, #1246, Level 3, Jubilee Casa, Road No 62, Jubilee Hills, Hyderabad – 500033. The winners will be announced on this page in Sunday’s edition.

KAKURO 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 refer-

QUICK CROSSWORD enced 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.

Play & Win

voucher from VENKEY’S VEG Restaurant, Nampally

ACROSS

SCRIBBLING PAD

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SUDOKU

PREVIOUS PUZZLE ANSWER

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1 Catchers' gloves 6 Mine access 10 ‘I Walk the Line’ singer 14 Rule of conduct 15 Site of a lopsided landmark 16 German chancellor ___ von Bismarck 17 Butcher's offering 19 Rush week venue, for short 20 Tranquil 21 West of old Hollywood 22 Computer menu heading 23 ‘Sands of ___ Jima’ 25 Quack's offering 27 Clipped, in music 32 It's slapstick material 33 Better Than ___ ('90s band) 34 Steps leading down to a river 36 Composition for eight 40 Ball game postponer 41 Gooseflesh-making 43 Mystical emanation 44 Madagascar money, once 46 Dreamer's eyeball movements 47 ‘Sack’ attachment 48 ‘___ Day Will Come’

50 Dwindle 52 Lists of items to discuss 56 ‘Norma ___’ (Sally Field film) 57 Tulip start 58 ‘Timer’ or ‘wheeler’ lead-in 60 Turkish pooh-bahs 65 Ali ___of children's fiction 66 It may be spread before dinner 68 Chemist's compound 69 Succulent emollient 70 Like forbidden fruit 71 Dismal cry 72 It may be pressing 73 Walk like Frankenstein's monster

DOWN

1 National League team 2 ‘What'll ___?’ (bartender's question) 3 Thunder god 4 Spork part 5 Lovely to look at 6 Inclined (to) 7 Day, to Claudius 8 Stern who bows 9 Begin, as hobbies 10 Sweet treat 11 Sunlit courts 12 Try to delay

13 Monopoly player's purchase 18 It flows underground 24 Not yet named 26 Carnival city, casually 27 Drudge of yore 28 Winter Palace resident (Var) 29 Operatic performance 30 Projectile of old 31 Competed at Henley 35 Parking meter component 37 Deli sandwich choice 38 Victorian and Romantic 39 Carton sealer 42 Feat by Houdini 45 Cow's mouthful 49 Basket material 51 Isn't passive 52 Westminster attraction 53 Fertiliser from bats 54 Middle of a sleeve 55 Low-lying wetland 59 Instrument among the reeds 61 Bed frame segment 62 Stereotypical rail rider 63 Molecule building block 64 Carpentry class 67 Paved the way

Chai Time THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 14, 2013 Thiruvaikumar

STAR POWER for 15-2-2013

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

ARIES

TAURUS

GEMINI

CANCER

LEO

VIRGO

LIBRA

SCORPIO

SAGITTARIUS

CAPRICORN

AQUARIUS

PISCES

Unexpected financial opportunity on the cards for some. Politicians advised not to defy party high command’s instructions. Litigation over ancestral property is likely to surface. Avoid the legal path and try to settle the issue out of court.

STRIP TEASE AGNES

Blood relatives support you strongly. Children will make you proud and your status in society will go up because of their good show. Spouse and relatives will be more affectionate towards you. Minor tensions likely, but stay cool.

House plan approval will be come through and construction to start soon. All major works will get completed as expected. Debt issues will keep haunting you; it is necessary that you to take suitable steps. Businessmen will overtake competitors.

Unexpected financial opportunity is likely to strengthen you. You might worry over your children’s future. Women’s friendship circle will increase. Businessmen plan for expansion with which profits are likely to jump. Employees to exercise caution.

Children will make you happy and proud. You will undertake renovation work of ancestral property. Businessmen will fire erring staff. Employees will be given challenging tasks by their superiors. There is a need to work smartly to win over superior.

Govt works will end satisfactorily and within the expected time. Misunderstanding with spouse likely; remain cordial to keep peaceful atmosphere. Old problems might resurface. Businessmen can consider new investments for expansion.

Those deprived of child for some time, will get good news. You come out of a major issue by selling one of your fixed assets. Indirect financial income will let you relax. Employees will be suitably rewarded for hard work they put in.

Court verdicts will go in your favour. Unwanted doubts about spouse will rise in your mind; it is advised to avoid such thoughts and be cordial. Never share confidential matters of family with outsiders. You resolve major issues with different approach.

A close friend whom you were longing to see will meet you surprisingly, which will cheer you. Some have bright chance to shift to their own house. You will clear a portion of your debt for which you were paying a high interest rate.

TAROT READ

Sumaa Tekur

tarotreadhyd@gmail. com

ARIES:

GEMINI:

Seven of Pentacles – You’re tired and are feeling a lot of burden. You have to realise you cannot do everything on your own. Take help and delegate work.

LEO:

Queen of Pentacles – Concentration is high today. You are productive at work and will be able to achieve more than you expected. Make lists and stick to them.

LIBRA:

PEARLS BEFORE SWINE

Six of Wands – You get some important news from overseas contacts. It could either be a job opportunity or something that will enhance your personal life.

SAGITTARIUS:

Knight of Wands – Ensure you have a buy-in from all parties involved over important decisions. Leaving out a key partner may put you in trouble.

TAURUS:

The High Priest – Trust your intuition and go ahead with what your inner voice is saying. Very rarely does it go wrong. It’s good to stick to a decision.

CANCER:

The Hanged Man – It’s a spiritual time when you’re learning to let go and work within constraints. You learn of a new way to manage emotional problems.

VIRGO:

Three of Cups – Chill out and celebrate. You’ve made the right decisions and chosen the right path. Trust yourself and go on with confidence.

SCORPIO:

Nine of Pentacles – You’re comfortable in a world of your own making. You are self-made and when appreciated for your grit, you feel wonderful.

CAPRICORN:

Seven of Cups – There’s confusion about your relationship with someone close. Expectations must be set right and you need to decide how much to invest.

PREVIOUS SOLUTIONS

PISCES:

Two of Cups – Partnerships of all kinds are in focus today. A romantic partner will want to take the relationship to the next level. Take it up seriously.

NUMBER GAME

Pentacles – The money you have set aside for a rainy day comes to your rescue now. You can move investments around to optimise profits.

SCRABBLE

AQUARIUS: King of

POOCH CAFE

Enemies will become inactive. As time is not favourable, you need to express opinions carefully, else you will be misunderstood. Businessmen might face difficulty in collecting old dues. Employees need to focus well to complete their jobs.

for 15-2-2013

The Sun – There’s positive energy within you and you’re putting that out for those around you to utilise. You’re brimming with new ideas and charging ahead.

NON SEQUITUR

Misunderstanding children will be over. Son will discontinue friendship with bad elements. Money will come from all expected sources. Politicians will get appreciation from the high command. Artists have to struggle for releasing their work.

SUDUKO

Financial position will gradually improve for the better. Introduction to VIPs is likely to be beneficial. Never interfere in others’ issues. Politicians will be in forefront in meetings and welfare activities. Employees will be given more responsibilities.

Boggle UTAH OHIO IOWA OREGON KANSAS Vol: 2, No 209 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

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 14, 2013 DEAN WILLIAMS dean@postnoon.com

n 1971 a 25-year-old director made a TV film called Duel. The plot was simple: a commuter on a highway is chased and traumatised by the psychotic driver of an 18-wheeler. There was no dialogue to speak of, but the film had you on the edge of your seat. It was one of those films that proved a director could helm a film, rather than just make one. Spielberg, like Martin Scorsese, George Lucas and Hal Ashby, grew up in an age where Hollywood was making the painful transition from the studiodriven system to the age of the auteur. The likes of Alfred Hitchcock, John Ford, Robert Wise and William Wylder were in the twilight of their careers and the social fabric of America was changing. The boom time of the 50s and early 60s had given way to the moral complexity of the civil rights movement and the brutality of the Vietnam War. A young crop of directors, heavily influenced by European film-makers were looking to not only make films that reflected the new America, but they also wanted to have full control of their films; away from the meddling of the big studios. In 1975 Spielberg decided to take a huge gamble. While Scorsese, Woody Allen and Ashby were mapping the tides shaping America with films like Taxi Driver, Annie Hall and Coming Home, Spielberg decided to frighten the bejesus out of cinema-goers. Jaws would signal the dawn of the age of the summer blockbuster and mark Spielberg as a director who knew how to shake, rattle and roll his audiences. Jaws was a huge gamble; the prop shark affectionately nicknamed Bruce by the crew kept doing its own thing and critics wondered if the film would ever be made, let alone be any good. When Jaws released it was huge. And on the trajectory of that success Spielberg would go on to make such scifi classics as Close Encounters of the Third Kind, E.T., Raiders of the Lost Ark and Jurassic Park. But it would be his films that charted humanity and its interactions that would send Spielberg into the cinematic firmament. Films like The Colour Purple, Schindler’s List, Saving Private Ryan, and most recently, Lincoln, forced critics to take Spielberg seriously, often citing him as one of the most influential film-makers in the history of Hollywood. But where Scorsese’s films range from superb to mediocre, Spielberg has had the uncanny knack of making some pretty bad films. Always, Hook, and War of the Worlds were debacles, and it is these films and a few others (like in my opinion, The Terminal) that have often confounded even his most ardent supporters. One thing Spielberg has on his side is the ability to churn out a classic film, just when everyone is beginning

The skill of Spielberg is that he brings out the child in you. Characters like Indiana Jones epitomise a derring-do that we love, E.T. was the thing we saw when we looked up into the sky at night, and ‘Bruce’ makes us squeal in fear.

INTO THE MAGICAL MIND OF

A STORYTELLER

to think he’s lost the golden touch. For instance Lincoln has come on the back of a pretty mediocre War Horse, but his next film Robocalypse promises to be as intellectual and moving as a can of beans. Spielberg could easily have gone the way of his contemporaries: full of talent but always to keen to self-destruct, personally and professionally. Take William Friedkin (The French Connection, The Exorcist) who is only now regaining some of his fine form; or Francis Ford Coppola (The Godfather, Apocalypse Now) who seems to have lost his way completely; or Peter Bogdanovich (The Last Picture Show, Paper Moon) who spent much of the 80s and 90s directing episodes for TV series. This could have been Spielberg’s fate. But it wasn’t. The skill of Spielberg is that he brings out the child in you. Characters like Indiana Jones epitomise a derringdo that we love, E.T. was the thing we saw when we looked up into the sky at night, and ‘Bruce’ is the creature that makes us hide under the covers and quiver with delight. Spielberg doesn’t believe in the antihero (although Oscar Schindler comes close). He believes in the goodness of man. He believes in magic. Metaphorical magic and the magic that runs through all of us, and allows us to rise from the ashes of our lives.

Where Scorsese’s films range from superb to mediocre, Spielberg has had the uncanny knack of making some pretty bad films. Always, Hook, and War of the Worlds were debacles, and it is these films and a few others that have often confounded even his most ardent supporters.

sports

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 14, 2013

2020 OLYMPICS

LONDON ANNIVERSARY GAMES

Rogge and board may face revolt over sport vote

Paralympic day to top off weekend

IOC Members were angry that an important issue as voting a sport off the programme should be decided initially by the 15-member Executive Board. PIRATE IRWIN Agence France-Presse PARIS: Wrestling may be facing a bleak time as regards its Olympic future but it could have the last laugh at the International Olympic Committee’s Session in September in Buenos Aires. Anger over the voting a sport off, mixed with the backlash over the expulsion of wrestling — one of the few sports to have crossed over from the Ancient Games to Pierre de Coubertin’s modern version — could boil over at the Congress from September 7-10. It could also cast a shadow over the climax of IOC President Jacques Rogge’s 12-year term, but it’s a scenario that some members believe was entirely avoidable. One of them, who is not a member of the Executive Board, told AFP it could end up making the whole process look ridiculous. “We could see because of the furore over wrestling’s expulsion that the next EB meeting (in St Petersburg, Russia, from May 29-31) decides to put forward three sports including wrestling for consideration at the Congress,” the member said. “If that is the case then

Wrestlers grapple during an evening practice session at the Mahatma Phule Vyayam Mandir Kushti academy in Mumbai on Wednesday. Wrestlers AFP around the world vowed to fight to save the sport’s Olympic status.

Wrestlers vow to fight Olympic removal PARIS: Wrestlers around the world on Wednesday vowed to ﬁght to save the ancient sport’s Olympic status, after the International Olympic Committee voted to drop it for the 2020 Games. Japan and Turkey — whose cities Tokyo and Istanbul are bidding to host the Games in seven years’ time — led the calls for the world body to reconsider, as an online petition was

organised urging a rethink and gained thousands of supporters. The president of the Turkish wrestling federation, Hamza Yerlikaya, called the decision, taken at the IOC executive board meeting in Lausanne, Switzerland, on Tuesday, “unfair” and a “mistake” that they would seek to overturn. “To have the 2020 Olympics in Istanbul without wrestling is unthinkable,” said Yerlikaya.

JUNIOR NATIONAL ARCHERY CHAMPIONSHIP

Players participate in the 35th Junior National Archery Championship organised by the Andhra Pradesh Archery Association at the SAAP Sports Complex, Gochibowli, in the City on Wednesday.

wrestling stands a very good chance of being voted back onto the programme. “Then where does that put this whole process? It just makes it look ludicrous. It shouldn’t have happened in the first place. There is enough to be voted on in Buenos Aires with the city for the 2020 Summer Olympics and Rogge’s successor. “It should have been held over till next year, if at all.” The furore surrounding wrestling’s predicament is in stark contrast to the rather muted reaction to the voting off of baseball and softball in 2009, probably because they ended up being replaced by the commercially attractive golf and rugby sevens. This time round, however, the candidate sports don’t carry as much glamour as those two. However, unlike baseball and softball — who have joined forces to try and regain their Olympic spot — wrestling, for many, belongs in the Olympics because of its historic ties to the Games. “The reason there was such an uproar round the world to wrestling’s exclusion is because of its history and being a symbol of the very essence of what the Games was about,” said the IOC member.

LONDON: London’s Olympic Stadium will stage three days of athletics in July, including one devoted solely to Paralympic competition, British Athletics has announced. The London Anniversary Games, which will take place from July 26-28 and in the process mark a year since the opening ceremony of the 2012 Olympics, will incorporate the annual two-day Diamond League meeting on the Friday and Saturday, but also, for the first time, a day of purely Paralympic competition on the Sunday. Sebastian Coe, who chaired the London 2012 Organising Committee and is now chairman of the British Olympic Association, said it was terrific news. AFP

LEAGUE CRICKET

A Division Two-Day League championship AOC 309 (RK Pandey 77, Penta Rao 31, Vishnu Tiwari 92, Ashwin 3 for 78, Sharath 3 for 41) bt New Blues 128 (BV Rao 32no, Akash 3 for 40, Nand Kumar 3 for 26)

NBA

Turkey’s Turkoglu suspended for steroids

NEW YORK: The National Basketball Association slapped Orlando Magic forward Hedo Turkoglu (right) with a 20-game ban Wednesday after he tested positive for steroids. The league said the 33-year-old Turkish native tested positive for the steroid methenolone. Turkoglu blamed the positive test on a “trainer” in Turkey but he did not name the person who gave him the steroids. “While I was back home in Turkey this past summer, I was given a medication by my trainer to help recover more quickly from a shoulder injury,” Turkoglu said in a statement. “I didn’t know that this was a banned substance and

didn’t check before taking it. “I take full responsibility for anything that goes into my body. This was a complete error in judgment on my part and I apologise to the Orlando Magic organisation, the league, my teammates and the Magic fans,” he added. AFP

sports

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 14, 2013

BRAZIL OPEN

SAP OPEN

Nadal not to play in doubles

S A O PAULO: Rafael Nadal will not play his scheduled doubles match at the Brazil Open on Wednesday because of “knee overuse,” organizers said. But they said the Spanish star intends to play his opening singles match Thursday against Brazilian Joao Souza. World number five Nadal had been scheduled to team up with Argentina’s David Nalbandian in a secondround encounter against Argentine Horacio Zeballos and Oliver Marach of

Austria. Former world number one Nadal only returned to the tour in Chile last week, where he lost in the final, after a sevenmonth injury absence. “Nadal thought it was preferable to stay in his hotel and prepare for his singles match tomorrow,” a Brazil Open spokesman told AFP. “He discussed the issue with Nalbandian and the two agreed not to play the doubles. It was a joint decision.” Nalbandian told reporters that the conditions were “very difficult.” “The court is not in the best condition and the ball is very difficult to control,” he added. “It’s too bad I cannot play the doubles after the match

Rafa and I had (yesterday)... But he has to take care of himself and prepare for a long and hard year.” Nalbandian and Nadal won a hard-fought match 6-3, 3-6, 11-9 against Spaniards Pablo Andujar and Guillermo GarciaLopez on the court here late Tuesday. Nadal complained at a press conference Tuesday about having to play so many hard court events. “That is a theme among the players and doctors,” he said. While conceding that reducing the number of events on hard surface was not possible at this time, Nadal added: “I think that the ATP has to work to think of how to lengthen tennis players’ careers.” AFP

Falla outlasts Cipolla to advance

SAN JOSE, CALIFORNIA: Colombia’s Alejandro Falla saved six set points in the second set to post a 7-6 (7/1), 7-6 (12/10) victory over Flavio Cipolla in the first round of the ATP Tour’s SAP Open on Wednesday. Falla needed two hours and 35 minutes to edge the Italian, claiming the win on his 10th match point overall. The world number 66, Falla now faces seventh seed Marinko Matosevic in the second round. In a battle of Americans, Michael Russell beat qualifier Donald Young 6-3, 7-5 in another first round match. Russell moves to the secondround where he will face twotime defending champion Milos Raonic, of Canada. Top seed Raonic received a bye through the first round. This will be the first career meeting between the 86th ranked Russell and the 22year-old Raonic, who is ranked 13th in the world. AFP

ROTTERDAM WORLD TENNIS

NORTHERN TRUST OPEN

Federer speeds to opening victory ROTTERDAM, NETHERLANDS: Roger Federer began the defence of his Rotterdam World Tennis title by crushing Slovenia’s Grega Zemlja 6-3, 6-1 in just 57 minutes on Wednesday. Federer advanced effortlessly into the second round over last autumn’s Vienna finalist Dutchman Thiemo de Bakker. The Swiss top seed, and world number two, improved to 22-5 in Rotterdam as he plays the event for the eighth time, never losing before the quarter-finals. Zemlja slipped to 1-9 against top 10 opposition after beating number nine Janko Tipsarevic in the Vienna semi-finals before losing to Juan Martin del Potro.

Federer raced through the opening set in 29 minutes with a break in the final game and rolled on in the second, taking a 3-1 led before closing out with a break in the penultimate game and a love game to finish with a service winner. “I’ve been here and preparing for a few days, but matches are always different than training,” said Federer. “The ball flies a bit and you have to be prepared. I’ll have to be careful against De Bakker. I played him in the Davis Cup (2012). The local players always get up for home matches. I’ll have to approach him carefully and not underestimate him.” AFP

Donald set to launch season at Riviera

LOS ANGELES: World number three Luke Donald (above) will launch his 2013 campaign at Riviera Country Club on

Thursday, one of a handful of elite golfers who will start their seasons at the US PGA Tour Northern Trust Open.

It’ll be the third straight year that Donald has opened his season at Riviera, in the western Los Angeles suburb of Pacific Palisades. In 2011, he missed the cut, but he went on to claim the world number one ranking and become the first player to win the money titles in both Europe and the United States. “It’s been a long year, the golf season, and it’s hard to find breaks and it’s hard to find time where you can actually work on your swing to try and make some improvements with your game,” Donald said. AFP

SPORTS BRIEFS Azarenka breezes past Oprandi in opener

Radwanska criticises Israel Fed Cup

Manzano points finger at doc over doping

DOHA: Victoria Azarenka’s bid to hold on to her Qatar Open title, and the world number one ranking, began with victory over herself, a treacherous wind, world number 62 and Romina Oprandi on Wednesday. Azarenka’s 6-2, 6-3 success was encouraging both in the way she responded to being within a point of losing the first three games in irritating conditions and for her maturing sense of adaptability. There were moments when the 23-year-old resorted to cursing and racket swishing, but Azarenka’s frustration never got out of control and her grip on the match increased as her mind imposed its focus. AFP

DOHA: World number four Agnieszka Radwanska launched into unexpected criticism of incidents at the Fed Cup last week, alleging that “unfair” and irresponsible behaviour had taken place at the world team event in Israel. Whether Radwanska was referring to political demonstrations from the Israeli crowd in Eilat or differences with the home team after Poland’s 2-1 victory over Israel was left unspecified, but there was no mistaking Radwanska’s feelings. “I was really disappointed,” she said, when asked why Poland’s post-match press conference in Israel had been so spectacularly brief.

MADRID: Spanish former cyclist Jesus Manzano on Wednesday told a court he was given the bloodbooster EPO and other drugs by a doctor accused of masterminding a vast blood-doping network and currently on trial in Madrid. “Yes, I was treated by doctor Eufemiano Fuentes,” the 34-year-old told the hearing in Madrid. “I was treated with EPO in 2000, 2001 and 2003 by Eufemiano.” Fuentes has been charged with his sister Yolanda and three other defendants from cycling teams in connection with a blood doping racket, with dozens of suspects in cycling and possibly other sports.

sports

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 14, 2013

ICC WOMEN’S WORLD CUP

Oz, Windies in title clash

NEW DELHI: The West Indies beat mighty Australia by eight runs on Wednesday to set up an intriguing title clash against the same opponents in the women's World Cup in India. The West Indies and Australia topped the Super Sixes table with eight points each, two more than defending champions England, who beat New Zealand by 15 runs in their last match in Mumbai. After being shot out for 164 the West Indies hit back to dismiss Australia for 156 in a dramatic finish, with left-arm seamer Shanel Daley claiming three for 22 in 9.2 overs. Off-spinner Stafanie Taylor took two for 26 as the Australian women collapsed spectacularly

The West Indies beat mighty Australia by eight runs to set up an intriguing title clash against the same opponents in the World Cup. with Alex Blackwell playing a lone hand of 45. The first-ever appearance in the final for the West Indies was set up by Deandra Dottin, who smashed one six and 10 fours in her 67-ball 60, lifting her team to a challenging total. It was Australia's first defeat in the tournament, but the

five-time champions have a chance to avenge the loss when they clash again with the West Indies in Sunday's day-night final at the Brabourne stadium in Mumbai. England rattled up 266-6 against New Zealand, who were restricted to 251-9, despite a superb 103 from Amy Satterthwaite and 79 by skipper Suzie Bates. For England, Charlotte Edwards scored 54 and Sarah Taylor made 88. England and New Zealand will meet again in the play-off for third and fourth positions in Mumbai on Friday. In another match in Cuttack, South Africa registered their first win in the Super Sixes round

when they beat Sri Lanka by 110 runs. Both teams finished with two points each.

WEST INDIES IN AUSTRALIA

Consolation victory for WI

West Indies’ Johnson Charles (R) hits the ball as Australia’s Brad Haddin AFP/WILLIAM WEST (L) looks on during their T20 clash on Wednesday.

BRISBANE, AUSTRALIA: The West Indies ended their disap-

pointing tour of Australia with a morale-boosting 27-run win

over Australia in a one-off T20 international on Wednesday. After losing all five one-day internationals and a warm-up game against the Prime Minister's XI, the T20 world champions cruised to an easy win against a below-strength home side. The West Indies romped to 191 for six in their 20 overs, then restricted Australia to 164 for eight on a perfect batting strip. Australia, whose five-man pace attack was badly exposed by the West Indies batsmen, started brilliantly. But they were reined in by the off-spin of Sunil Narine and the run outs of Sean Marsh (21) and Adam Voges (51) when both were in full flight. Voges and Marsh put on 74 at better than a run a ball until

they were run out within three runs of each other. Narine, who finished with 219 from his four overs, then chipped in with the key wicket of Australian skipper George Bailey (15) to put the hosts under intense pressure. Wicketkeeper Brad Haddin (22) and debutant Ben Rohrer (16) threatened briefly, but the asking rate was too much and the innings fell away towards the end. Earlier West Indies opener Johnson Charles scored a blistering 57 off just 35 balls as the visitors dominated the Australian attack. Charles took control after fellow opener Chris Gayle (8) failed once again, and hit seven fours and a six in a sparkling innings. AFP

A WORD OF PRAISE

ASHES SERIES Want England to bully Oz: Prior LONDON: England wicketkeeper Matt Prior believes Alastair Cook's men are ready to "bully" old rivals Australia in this year's back-to-back Ashes series. Cook's side are bidding to become the first England team in over a century to win four straight Ashes campaigns, a chance they have this year when a trip Down Under follows on from a home series in order to set up a new cycle that ensures England are not always in Australia immediately before a World Cup. AFP

‘Longevity: Sachin's sign of greatness’ CHENNAI: As much as he "enjoys" Sachin Tendulkar's batting, Australian captain Michael Clarke's primary endeavour during the upcoming four-match Test series against India will be to stop the veteran from scoring "too many runs". "You can have as many plans as possible for Sachin Tendulkar but he is a great player. He is the greatest I have seen and I have always loved playing against him. His sign of greatness is his longevity and consistency," Clarke said. "I was walking on the

You can have as many plans as possible for Sachin Tendulkar but he is a great player. He is the greatest I have seen and I have always loved playing against him. Michael Clarke Australian captain

treadmill and watching his 100 in the Irani Cup game. I enjoy his batting but as an Australian captain, I would like to ensure that he doesn't score too many runs," Clarke told 'Times Now' channel. While the Aussie captain is happy that his team won't be bowling to the likes of Rahul Dravid and VVS Laxman, who have tormented them in the past, he feels that the younger Indian players would like to stamp their authority on the series. "It's nice for us that a lot of greats like Rahul Dravid and VVS Laxman have retired.”

Sri Lanka, chasing a 228-run target, were bowled out for 117 in 36.4 overs. AFP

TOUR OF OMAN Sagan wins as Wiggins loses more time WADI DAYQAH DAM, OMAN: Slovakia's Peter Sagan of the Cannondale team won a second consecutive stage on the Tour of Oman on Wednesday to strengthen his grip on the overall race leader's red jersey. Sagan emerged victorious on the 190km third stage from Nakhal Fort to Wadi Dayqah Dam in the Hajar mountains. In the same spot where he claimed his first win for Cannondale a year ago, Sagan beat Belgium's Greg Van Avermaet of BMC and France's Tony Gallopin of RadioShack to take victory on the line by one second with Alberto Contador a close fourth. Sagan, who won three stages on last year's Tour de France, sits 16 seconds ahead of Gallopin in the overall standings but knows he faces a tough hilly fourth stage where Italian Vincenzo Nibali triumphed last year. "Tomorrow (Thursday), the victory will be for someone else, not for me," he said after receiving the leaders red jersey as well as the green for points and white for best young rider. A strong field in Oman is headed by last year's Tour de France winner Bradley Wiggins, and also features his Sky team-mate Chris Froome, as well as the likes of Tom Boonen, Cadel Evans, Fabian Cancellara and Contador. Saxo rider Contador is expected to battle with Nibali amongst others for stage four honours and the race remains wide open with Britain's Froome and Australian Evans also still in with a chance. AFP

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 14, 2013

sports

NO FAVOURS FOR OLD CLUB WOLFSBURG: MANDZUKIC Bayern Munich striker Mario Mandzukic will be looking to show his old club VfL Wolfsburg what they are missing when they host the runaway Bundesliga leaders on Friday. Mandzukic has been in great form since joining Bayern last July from Wolves.

CHAMPIONS LEAGUE ROUND OF 16

LIGUE1

Real, Utd share honours While Madrid enjoyed a lot of the possession, Manchester looked dangerous on the counter-attack and managed to restrict the home side to long shots.

DERMOT LEDWITH Agence France-Presse MADRID: Danny Welbeck and Cristiano Ronaldo headed a first-half goal apiece as Real Madrid and Manchester United played out a 1-1 draw in the first leg of their Champions League last-16 tie on Wednesday. Former United star Ronaldo levelled on 30 minutes with his seventh Champions League goal of the season, making him the top-scorer in the competition, after Welbeck had headed home a corner 10 minutes earlier. Alex Ferguson had promised goals before the match and they came early enough, but then his team put on a battling performance with David De Gea excellent in goal to take a draw into the second leg at Old Trafford on March 5. “They did their job well, they did not let us create space or score goals, but we can definitely score at Old Trafford, many teams have done already this season and they will know that,” said Mourinho.

It’s not over yet, say Mourinho, Ferguson

Real Madrid’s Portuguese forward Cristiano Ronaldo (top) heads the ball to score during their UEFA Champions League match against Manchester United at the Santiago Bernabeu in Madrid on Wednesday. AFP

“Because of the football culture in England I don’t think they can play as defensively there. We had chances to score more tonight, but they had a lot of men in front

of the ball especially in the second-half. “It’s easy to understand, if they score first we have to score, if we score we’re in the lead,” he commented on the second leg.

MADRID: Real Madrid boss Jose Mourinho insisted on Thursday that the Champions League duel with Manchester United, which will probably decide his fate and legacy in Spain, is far from finished. The two sides battled out a 1-1 draw in the first leg of their last-16 tie at the Bernabeu, a result which should give United a slight edge ahead of the return at Old Trafford on March 5. But Mourinho, already a Champions League-winning coach with Porto and Inter Milan, backed his Real team to score again in Manchester. “We can score at Old Trafford, many teams have done already this season and they’ll know that,” said Mourinho.

Fans deaths casts grim shadow Borussia Dortmund players pay tribute to football fans who died in a plane crash in Donetsk. AFP/ SERGEI SUPINSKY

DONETSK, UKRAINE: Germany defender Mats Hummels’s late header gave Borussia Dortmund a Champions League lifeline with a 2-2 draw at Shakhtar Donetsk in Wednesday’s last 16, first-leg, clash. However, Dortmund’s impressive result will be overshadowed by the deaths of five fans and 12 injured

when a plane from Odessa, south Ukraine, carrying 45 people crashed while landing at Donetsk airport, just hours before kick-off. A minute’s silence was held as a mark of respect. Dortmund twice came from behind and were heading towards their first European defeat of the season before centre-back

Hummels powered home from a corner, three minutes from time. “It is important that we are going into the second leg level and a 0-0 would see us through,” said Hummels. “Certainly there were a few dangerous moments in defence, but against a such an attack-minded team you can never avoid this.” AFP

FOOTBALL BRIEFS Dresden ban own fans from away games

Ribery dogged at training by angry fan

Sevilla still to pay wages from 2011/12

Duesseldorf release South Korea’s Cha

BERLIN: German side Dynamo Dresden have taken the unusual step of banning their own fans for the next three away matches after supporters rioted at a match last Friday. Supporters of Dynamo landed the club in hot water again when they clashed with police and set off ﬂares during their team’s 3-0 defeat at Kaiserslautern on Friday.

MUNICH, GERMANY: Franck Ribery was on Wednesday involved in a slanging match with an angry fan at Bayern Munich’s training ground, the club said, amid reports that the player had been asked to look after the supporter’s dog. The Bundesliga leaders said that the fan talked his way past security staff and into the team’s dressing room.

MADRID: Sevilla president Jose Maria del Nido has revealed that there are wages still outstanding to players from last season. However, Del Nido claimed that despite their ﬁnancial problems “90 per cent of Spanish sporting entities” would want to be in Sevilla’s position. “Of 42 million euros, only 3.25 million hasn’t been paid,” he said.

BERLIN: Bundesliga side Fortuna Duesseldorf announced on Wednesday they have terminated the contract of South Korea veteran and former Celtic defender Cha Du-Rhi by mutual consent. The 32-year-old joined Fortuna from Celtic in July, signing a two-year contract, has made just ten league appearances this season.

Media circus greets arrival of Beckham COLIN DRONIOU Agence France-Presse PARIS: David Beckham (above) began to settle in to his new surroundings on Wednesday afternoon, as he trained at his new club Paris Saint-Germain’s base for the first time. The arrival of the 37-year-old Englishman at the Camp des Loges training ground in the French capital’s western suburbs attracted the kind of media circus that only somebody of his superstar status can. While one hundred journalists from all over the world were permitted to attend the session, fans were kept out of an event that shattered the usual tranquillity of Saint-Germain-en-Laye. “What a circus this is for an old man,” raged a cyclist as he struggled to fight his way through the crowds. Those fans who showed up had little chance of spotting ‘Becks’ from behind a tarpaulin. “My daughters Lorine and Juliana wanted to see Beckham and Lucas,” explained one woman, Afsa. “I haven’t come here for a long time but this is Beckham and it is important for the club, even if I know full well that I won’t be able to see him,” admitted Jeremy, a 25-year-old fan.

I haven’t come here for a long time but this is Beckham and it is important for the club, even if I know full well that I won’t be able to see him. Jeremy A 25-year-old fan