Epaper 17 august 2013

WHO GETS THE

PCC

PRESIDENT POST?

TRAVEL BLUEPRINT Tesla and SpaceX CEO Elon Musk said on Monday that the proposed initial Hyperloop system — one that would take passengers between San Francisco and Los Angeles in 30 minutes — can likely come to fruition in seven to 10 years. While that is still yet to come, we take a look at some of the rail journeys you must experience once in a lifetime.

Before the division of the State is cemented, Congress leaders from Seemandhra and Telangana have already begun dreaming of the post of party president for the PCCs in the two new states.

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Hyderabad’s first compact afternoon newspaper

AUGUST 17, 2013 HYDERABAD

32 PAGES

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ON SATURDAY

REPORT ON PG 5

ARE THESE THE LAST DAYS OF

THE HMDA?

All plans to bail itself out of debt and tax arrears lie shattered with the bifurcation of the State.

Unless the State government comes up with an immediate grant of `540 crore to save the HMDA from the income tax department, it’s sunk.

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PAGE TWO SATURDAY, AUGUST 17, 2013

POSTNOON PHOTOGRAPHER BAGS SECOND AWARD

Art attack Works of artists like Anand Panchal, Nagesh Goud, Laxman Aelay and others will be exhibited. tÜÉêÉW=Aalankritha Art Gallery, Jubilee Hills tÜÉåW Till August 22, 11 am to 7 pm `çåí~ÅíW +91-40-23113709; 40207171

Art show A solo show by Devangana Kumar, Pageants of the Raj will be held. tÜÉêÉW=Kalakriti Art Gallery, Banjara Hills tÜÉåW Till August 25, 11 am to 7 pm `çåí~ÅíW +9140.66564466

This photo of a protestor as cops close around him was taken during the Chalo Assembly campaign of Telangana agitation. Taken by Postnoon photographer N Shiva Kumar, the photograph won him third prize in the AP state level photo competition conducted by Andhra Pradesh Photo Journalist Association prior to World Photography Day that is to be held on August 19. `çåí~ÅíW 94495-96889

Documentary The Human Factor will be screened. tÜÉêÉW=Lamakaan, Banjara Hills tÜÉåW August 17, 7 pm `çåí~ÅíW 9642731329

Works of art Exhibition and sale of sketches by talented painter Suraj. tÜÉêÉW=Lamakaan, Banjara Hills tÜÉåW Till August 18, 10 am to 10 pm `çåí~ÅíW 9642731329

An age of innocence An exhibition by Jaya Javeri depicting playfulness, fantasy, nature and childhood memories will be held. tÜÉêÉW=Ginger Lily, Radisson Blu Plaza tÜÉåW Aug 3 onwards, 11.30 am onwards `çåí~ÅíW 6733 1133

Film fest Movie The Child And Angel will be screened. tÜÉêÉW=Prasad Labs Preview Theatre, Banjara Hills tÜÉåW August 17, 6 pm `çåí~ÅíW 93910-20243

Wildlife conservation Try the tea flavours of Budlabeta, Hapjan, Khobong and Sessa. A portion of the proceeds will be contributed to WWF India's onehorned Rhino Conservation project in Assam. tÜÉêÉW=Oxford Bookstore, The Park, 22 Rajbhavan Road tÜÉåW Ongoing `çåí~ÅíW 8790432354

Movie time Play pursuits Love, Sex & Mocha will be staged. tÜÉêÉW=Lamakaan, Banjara Hills tÜÉåW August 18, 6 pm

CINEMAS

Documentary screening

Movie Family bond will be screened. tÜÉêÉW=Prasad Labs Preview Theatre, Banjara Hills tÜÉåW August 17, 7.45 pm `çåí~ÅíW 93910-20243

The Society to Save Rocks will be organised. tÜÉêÉW=St Ann's Convent High School, Marredpally tÜÉåW August 18, 8 am `çåí~ÅíW Society To Save Rocks, at 2355-2923 / 98490-37240

Iranian fest

Behind the scenes Rudradeep Bhattacharjee's documentary The Musicians Behind Hindi Film Songs will be screened. tÜÉêÉW=Lamakaan, Banjara Hills tÜÉåW August 17, 7 pm `çåí~ÅíW 96427-31329

Rock walk Rock walk to rocks near Bhongir by

Iranian film Here Without Me will be screened. tÜÉêÉW=Prasad Labs Preview Theatre, Banjara Hills tÜÉåW August 18, 3 pm `çåí~ÅíW 93910-20243

Movie magic The Song of Sparrows will be screened tÜÉêÉW=Prasad Labs Preview Theatre, Banjara Hills tÜÉåW August 18, 5 pm `çåí~ÅíW 93910-20243

Big Cinemas, Ameerpet, 30581470; Cinemax, Banjara Hills, 44565555; Cine Planet , Kompally, 61606060; INOX, Banjara Hills, 447677770, Prasads, Tank Bund Rd, 23448888; PVR, Punjagutta, 08800900009; Talkie Town, Miyapur, 40214175; Tivoli, Secunderabad 27844973

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CITY SATURDAY, AUGUST 17, 2013

Cash stolen in Secunderabad

Man commits suicide over fight

round `1.8 lakh cash was stolen from the counter of a chicken distribution centre at Ram Nagar in Secunderabad. The owner of the chicken centre, Yousufuddin, has lodged a complaint with the police.

He suspects his servant because when he went out from the shop, his servant Raju was there and the cash was missing.

man named Sarfaraz Ahmed, 37, committed suicide by hanging himself from a ceiling fan at his home. Sarfaraz was a plumber residing in Erragadda. He had married four years ago and a few days ago, his wife had gone to her parents’ house after fighting with him over a minor issue. It is assumed he took his life following the fight. The SR Nagar police have registered a case.

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Man held for kidnapping

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he Chilkalguda police has arrested a man by name Ravinder, 23, a native of Karimnagar district and sent him to prison. He had kidnapped a minor girl from Musheerabad on August 2, and her father Shanker had lodged a complaint against him. The police had booked a case and then traced his daughter and arrested Ravinder.

Who gets the PCC prez post?

Before the division of the State is cemented, Congress leaders from Seemandhra and Telangana have already begun lobbying for the coveted post of PCC president in the two new states. The high command is planning to make two new committees for the new states.

LOBBYING Md INKESHAF AHMED

ahmed.m@postnoon.com

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otwithstanding the agitation and protests from Seemandhra political party leaders and people alike, the Congress high command seems to have hastened the process of strengthening the party in the soon-to-be-formed new states. As part of the plan, the party has zeroed in on the crucial issue of constituting two separate Pradesh Congress Committees (PCC) in the two new states. According to highly placed sources in the Congress, the process of constitution of these committee is likely to begin in the last week of September.

"Our party high command recently reconstituted the APCC after a gap of over two years with an objective to strengthen the party before the next General Elections. But, the decision of creating Telangana state had once again necessitated the constitution of fresh committees for Seemandhra and Telangana

state. We have already begun the basic work,” a top leader of the Congress told Postnoon on Friday. Explaining the process of the reconstitution, he said that they have adequate facilities at their headquarters —Gandhi Bhavan — to accommodate the PCCs of the two states.

Minors sexually assaulted in City No arrests have been made yet in the two separate incidents, say police.

Mohd Subhan mohd.s@postnoon.com

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wo minor girls were sexually assaulted in different parts of the City in separate incidents within the last 48 hours. So far, the police haven't arrested anyone.

In the first incident, a 14year-old girl was allegedly raped by an unidentified person on Thursday in the outskirts. The crime occurred in

Laxmi Narsimha Colony, Alwal, where the victim lives.

The girl and her parents work as labourers. On Thursday, she was alone at home and fast asleep when someone knocked at her door.

When she opened the door, a man, approximately 30 years old, forced his way inside, stuffed a cloth in her mouth, and threatening her with a

knife, raped her. He then fled the scene. The police suspect that the accused is someone the family knows, but the victim has denied this. An investigation is under way, said police.

The second incident happened in Rasoolpura basti in Begumpet. A 12-year-old girl was assaulted by her relative.

In her complaint, the victim's mother said that when they had returned home after work, Baba Miyan, who is her husband's relative, came to their house in an intoxicated state.

He had attempted to rape the daughter but she raised an alarm and Baba Miyan managed to escape.

The Begumpet police have registered a case and the girls has been sent for medical examination.

BEGINS

Following the division of the State, intense lobbying to get the PCC president post in the two new states have already begun in the ruling party. Leaders from Telangana region are ahead in this race. The aspirants for the coveted president post have already met with top leaders of the AICC and requested them to nominate them for the post.

Party MPs, MLAs including some ministers are lobbying for the top post. These leaders feel that if they, the Telangana Pradesh Congress Committee, get the president’s post before the elections, they would, by default, be eligible for being the CM of Telangana state after the next general elections when the Congress is expected to return to power owing to their decision to form T-state. According to party sources, former PCC chief D Srinivas, cabinet ministers

THESE LEADERS FEEL THAT IF THEY, THE TELANGANA PRADESH CONGRESS COMMITTEE, GET THE PRESIDENT’S POST BEFORE THE POLLS, THEY WOULD, BY DEFAULT, BE ELIGIBLE FOR BEING THE CM OF TELANGANA STATE. Ponnala Lakshmaiah, K Jana Reddy, Uttam Kumar Reddy, Shabbir Ali, Deputy Speaker M Vikramarka and scores of other MLAs are in the race for the TPCC post. On the other hand, among the Seemandhra leaders, the names of cabinet ministers Kanna Lakshminarayana, Dr. S Sailajanath, Kondru Murali are doing the rounds.

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CITY SATURDAY, AUGUST 17, 2013

Spreading Gandhi’s message Author Birad Rajaram Yajnik had a rare treat for visitors at Taj Falaknuma on Independence Day. He gave them a never-before-seen look at the Father of the Nation.

ARUN YELLAMATY

nation to progress. “It is happening, but in a very slow way. The passion has gone down, but there is a Gandhi in everyone,” he adds.

Yajnik says the rare footage he screened was bought for a mere $32. “Not many knew the value of it. This is a never-seenbefore video and I will never sell it,” he adds.

arunyellmaty@postnoon.com

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aj Falaknuma Palace, as part of its Independence Day celebrations, invited author and creative design professional Birad Rajaram Yajnik, who screened a rare footage of Mahatma Gandhi which he had bought for $32 in an auction. Yajnik, who heads a creative media technology company, has also started a museum for people to walk in and learn more about Gandhi.

Speaking to Postnoon about his passion for writing books and about Gandhi, he says, “My obsession with Gandhi started when I decide to write a book about him called MKG — Imaging Peace Truth and Ahimsa, a fine print book. It is the first of his limited edition series and sells for `35,000. I wanted to make an exact replica of the book and sell it to students who want to know more about Gandhi for `500. I want to spread information about Gandhi to all.”

He continues: “I give lectures at various schools and share the information I know about him, many schools ask me to speak to their students about Gandhi.”

He pointed out that not many

YAJNIK SAYS THE RARE FOOTAGE HE SCREENED WAS BOUGHT FOR A MERE $32. “NOT MANY KNEW THE VALUE OF IT. I WILL NEVER SELL IT,” HE ADDED.

follow what Gandhi spoke about these days. Even political parties are not talking about him, he says. “Everyone respects him, but we can’t blame only the parties for not carrying forward the ideals Gandhi spoke of. It’s everyone’s mistake. People do

sometimes rise up and try to do something following Gandhi, like the Anna Hazare movement, but change will take a long time.”

Whether political parties are burying Gandhi and his ideologies is difficult to say, he added.

Gandhi is like a blind spot and is

always around us in the currency we carry. We just need to take responsibility and be the change like Gandhi did, Yajnik says.

He talks about reaching out to people in the villages, as Gandhi always believed that villagers had to be helped for the

Shops in plastic trouble The GHMC has instructed shops to sell cloth carry bags or provide plastic bags free of charge. Shops still charging for plastic bags were raided recently.

Postnoon News feedback@postnoon.com

THE SHOP

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MANAGEMENTS TRIED TO DEFEND THEMSELVES BY SAYING THEY WERE NOT AWARE OF THE NEW RULE AND WERE HENCE SELLING PLASTIC BAGS.

he next time you go shopping and are charged for a plastic carry bag, you can lodge a complaint against the shop management with the GHMC. Based on credible information, special teams from the GHMC raided a popular shopping mall in Banjara Hills and fined branded stores selling plastic bags to customers.

In 2011, when the GHMC banned the use of plastic carry bags below 40 microns, the civic body asked shop establishments to charge money for plastic carry bags.

However, two months ago, these orders were withdrawn.

The civic body had clearly instructed the traders to ban the sale of plastic carry bags and instead sell cloth carry bags. In case the shops do run out of cloth bags, the shops

are supposed to provide the customers with plastic bags above 40 microns, but without charging them. However, many showrooms have failed to abide by this order.

The GHMC team, led by assistant medical officer of health Dr T Damodar, raided well-known showrooms like

Shoppers Stop, Kalaniketan, Neerus, Mothercare and Mebaz. Nearly 3,500 plastic bags were seized from these showrooms. The showrooms were fined a penalty of `50,000. Mothercare showroom was temporarily sealed as they did not pay the penalty amount.

The shop managements tried to defend themselves by saying they were not aware of the new rule and were selling plastic bags for `5-`7.

GHMC officials, however, stated that a meeting was conducted among all the traders and clear instructions were given, and that despite this, the traders continued to violate the rules. “We will continue conducting surprise raids on all the showrooms, to check if the rule is being implemented,” said T Damodar.

Talking about the museum, he says, “It’s open for schools and people in large grope who want to visit the place and wants to know about Gandhi. It’s in Langer House and we are booked for the next two months. People can call us and get more information.”

Girish Seghal, manager of Taj Falaknuma, says, “We keep encouraging every artiste who is willing to do something different and for this event, we found Birad to be the best suited.”

HC condemns medicos’ stir

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he High Court has expressed indignation over the junior doctors’ strike and directed them to immediately resume duty. The court also advised the doctors not to take the law into their hands and cause misery to the common people.

It may be recalled that the junior doctors boycotted duties from July 29 in protest against the rigid attitude of the State government on their legitimate demands.

The junior doctors are demanding that GO 93 be scrapped and complained that private medical colleges were collecting `9 lakh even from those admitted under convener quota. They are demanding that the government create permanent jobs in the government hospitals. They also want the government to pass a rule that all government employees should undergo treatment only in government hospitals.

They submitted a representation to the principal secretary, medical and health department, and medical education minister on July 16. As there was no response from the government, they went on strike.

NSS

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CITY SATURDAY, AUGUST 17, 2013

Horn not okay please ALEENA ALICE

aleena.t@postnoon.com

The Supreme Court order of silence zones around the High Court, other courts, schools and hospitals is being violated.

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hile the City traffic police are busy collecting hefty fines for parking, jumping traffic signals and other violations, the Supreme Court order of silence zones around the High Court, courts, schools and hospitals is being violated.

Indiscriminate use of horns by vehicle drivers in the vicinity of the AP High Court and other sensitive areas has become common these days. Though the rule of identifying no-honk zones and implementing them was brought about by the Supreme Court years ago, so far not a single case has been booked against drivers for this violation.

The maximum violation of the SC order is seen in the vicinity of the AP High Court. Though there are more than three traffic cops deployed round the clock around the HC, none seem to be interested in making sure the rule is implemented.

“Since the HC is the highest seat of justice delivery in the State, it must have an atmosphere of peace and tranquility at all times and especially during court hours. However, this is not happening. Despite the punishable offence tag, motorists and traffic cops overlook the sign board,” says M Rajender Reddy, High Court advocate and former chairperson of the Bar Council of India.

Blaming the police for their negligence, senior advocate Gopal Krishna Kalanidhi says, “There have been several instances when PILs were filed against traffic violations.

However, neither the judges nor the police have taken any action against this violation.

Loudspeakers are placed just around the High Court which affects the sessions in the court.

Even when the roads and infrastructure are in a pathetic state, the traffic police are not hesitant

POLICE AUTHORITIES, ON THE OTHER HAND, STATE THAT THEY HAVE NOT RECEIVED ANY COMPLAINTS OF NOHONK ZONE VIOLATIONS TO TAKE ACTION. in collecting `1,000 as fine. Why then is it that there is no respect given to the SC order?” he asked.

Police authorities, on the other hand, state that they have not received any complaints in order to take action. “The traffic situation in Old City where the HC is located is known to everyone. We have to make sure that there is smooth regulation. So far, we have not received any complaints from the judges in the court,” said a traffic cop from the jurisdictional police station.

T drops bomb on HMDA All its plans to bail itself out of debt and tax arrears lie shattered with the bifurcation of the State. Unless the State government comes up with an immediate grant of `540 crore to save the HMDA from the income tax department, it’s almost sunk.

Mohsin Ali ali@postnoon.com

THE HMDA’S PLANS TO AUCTION OFF ITS PLOTS IN ORDER TO RAISE REVENUE WILL NOT WORK NOW WITH THE STATE DIVISION IN THE OFFING.

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he Hyderabad Metropolitan Development Authority (HMDA), which is facing a never-before financial crisis, heard of the creation of Telangana with trepidation.

All its plans to auction plots to raise revenue will not work now with the State division in the offing. And, it does not have the money to even buy essentials.

In the recent assessment of properties, HMDA had identified nearly 30,000 sq yds in its different layouts, each ranging in size between 300 sq yds and an acre, and planned to raise revenue by selling them. This proposal is likely to be held up for six months at least.

The political scenario being what it is and the status of Hyderabad hanging in balance, the HMDA sits cross-eyed with fear and apprehension. It is one infrastructure body that faces the music the most in AP today owing to the bifurcation.

“The situation is uncertain

and we have to wait for five or six months to see it coming to normal and to allow property seekers to buy the lands and assets from us.”

The official added, “The authority is passing through a very bad patch, with accumulated arrears of taxes and

other financial obligations staring its face. The situation arose with the I-T department freezing its accounts for not paying taxes. In this situation, we can’t make the best auction either.”

Now, the HMDA is pinning its hopes on getting a `540-

crore grant from the State government to clear tax with the income tax department. “If it is delayed, we are in for trouble,” remarked a senior executive official.

Talking about development works, chief engineer, HMDA, Madhva Raja said that “the

development works across the City limits are going on. We are concentrating on the Outer Ring Road. The 159-km ring road which connects Patancheru, Shamshabad, Hayathnagar, Medchal providing connectivity to various state highways and National Highways and bypassing the City of Hyderabad, is in final stage”.

He conceded that there are some financial problems, due to which work was going on slowly. He added that the road would be ready for use soon.

The HMDA proposed `3,772 crore for 2013-14 for its new projects, which is `800 crore more than the previous year.

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NATION SATURDAY, AUGUST 17, 2013

RSS backs Modi

Pak violates ceasefire

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akistani troops fired at Indian positions in Poonch district of Jammu and Kashmir Friday night, and also in Kargil district for the first time in 14 years, a defence spokesman said Saturday. Pakistani troops fired at Indian positions in Mendhar and Hamidpur areas along the Line of Control (LoC) in Poonch district, the spokesman told IANS.

Plan for UP High Court

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he Rashtriya Swayamsewak Sangh (RSS) has asked the BJP to act tough on leaders who criticise Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi. In his parleys with leaders of the Uttar Pradesh unit of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), RSS points-person for BJP, Suresh Soni said Friday that the environment in the country was by far the best for the BJP to make a comeback.

he Union government has sought the opinion of Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav and the Allahabad High Court chief justice on the creation of a high court bench in western Uttar Pradesh, officials said Saturday. A letter has been sent in this connection by Union Law Minister Kapil Sibal to the state government.

Top LeT man held

RAIN EFFECT

NEW DELHI: Top Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) terrorist Abdul Karim Tunda, who is involved in around 40 bomb blasts, has been arrested from the IndoNepal border, a police official said here Saturday.

"Tunda was arrested on Friday from the IndoNepal border and will be produced at a Delhi court today (Saturday)," Special Commissioner of Delhi Police Special Cell, S.N. Srivastava, told IANS. Tunda, in his 60s now, is wanted in several criminal cases in India and is among the 20 top most terrorists, police said.

He is an aide of under-

The reflection of horses, their keepers, and an umbrella-toting pedestrian is seen in a puddle of water following heavy monsoon rains in the northern hilltown of Shimla on August 16, 2013. The monsoon, which covers the subcontinent from June to September and usually brings flooding, accounts for about 80 percent of India's annual rainfall.

AFP PHOTO/STR

8 die in floods Of those killed, five died in a house collapse while three were washed away by flooded rivers.

JAMMU: Eight people have died and over 1,500 houses suffered extensive damage due to floods caused by incessant rains in Jammu region of Jammu and Kashmir, an official said Saturday.

Of those killed, five died in a house collapse while three were washed away by swollen rivers since Friday, an administrative official told IANS. The official said timely rescue by the administration and the army saved the lives of 80 people marooned in floods in different parts of the region.

"Around 1,500 houses have been damaged because of incessant rains that started Wednesday," the official said.

Both rail and road traffic in Jammu region have been affected by rains and ensuing landslides.

Landslides occurred at Batote, Bannihal and Udhampur on the Jammu-Srinagar highway, bringing traffic to a halt. Efforts are on to open the highway and traffic department officials said the road would open Saturday.

Most of the destruction and loss of

THE OFFICIAL SAID TIMELY

RESCUE BY THE ADMINISTRATION AND THE ARMY SAVED THE LIVES OF 80 PEOPLE MAROONED IN FLOODS IN DIFFERENT PARTS OF THE REGION. life have happened because of the swollen Tawi and Chenab rivers.

Swollen waters of the Chenab washed away a temple and a school building in Bakore (Jourian) village in Jammu district.

The administration has already sounded an alert in the region. Relief and rescue operations are being monitored from control rooms.

The weather office has issued an adverse weather advisory, forecasting moderate rains in Jammu region till Monday, with isolated heavy downpour IANS at a few places.

Tunda file

TUNDA HAS BEEN ACCUSED OF INVOLVEMENT IN AROUND 40 BLASTS. world don Dawood Ibrahim. Tunda, who hails from Pilkhuwa in Uttar Pradesh's Ghaziabad district, is an expert bombmaker and has been involved in around 40 bomb blasts. In Ghaziabad alone, he has been involved in 13 criminal cases.

Tunda left Ghaziabad with his wife in 1992 and later came in contact with IANS terrorists.

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unda, in his 60s now, is wanted in several criminal cases in India and is among the 20 top most terrorists, police said.

He is an aide of underworld don Dawood Ibrahim.

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WORLD SATURDAY, AUGUST 17, 2013

40 pythons in Canada hotel

Bear attacks at US park

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our people suffered minor injuries in separate grizzly bear attacks in the world-famous Yellowstone Park and nearby forests, US authorities said Friday. The first incident occurred on Thursday when a group of four hikers came face-to-face with a young bear cub on a trail in Yellowstone. The mother of the cub appeared almost immediately and charged the hikers.

Traffic delays in Manhattan

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ittle more than a week after a giant python crushed two young Canadian boys to death, police have recovered 40 of the snakes from a hotel room. The reptiles were found in several plastic storage bins on Thursday night in a room in Brantford, Ontario, where a couple who had been evicted from their home were staying, police said in a statement.

raffic on a much-used bridge into Manhattan suffered major delays Friday when a truck caught fire midway across the span. Thick columns of black smoke billowed from the Queensboro bridge into a clear blue sky, but no one was injured, as firefighters brought the late-morning blaze under control. Police said no one was injured.

Forces lay siege to Cairo mosque as Friday toll crosses 80 Jailan Zayan Agence France-Presse

CAIRO: Egyptian security forces surrounded a Cairo mosque full of supporters of ousted president Mohamed Morsi on Saturday as protesters planned fresh marches after street battles that left more than 80 dead.

The tense stand off at the AlFath mosque came after bloody clashes that killed 83 people across the country and resulted in the arrest of more than 1,000 alleged supporters of Morsi's Muslim Brotherhood.

The crackdown has divided Egyptians as never before in recent history, splintering the army-installed government and inviting international censure.

One protester said nearly 1,000 people were trapped in the mosque, which had earlier held the bodies of more than 20 people killed in Friday's clashes.

Soldiers had offered to evacuate the women but insisted on questioning the men, which the protesters refused, a demonstrator on the scene said.

Both sides accused the other of opening fire but the gunfire then ended, one person inside the mosque told AFP. "Thugs tried to storm the mosque but the men barricaded the doors," she said.

Security officials quoted by the official MENA news agency said that "armed elements" had been shooting at security forces and police from inside the

The crackdown has divided Egyptians as never before in recent times, splintering the government and inviting the world’s censure.

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An Egyptian civilian (R) helps an army officer after he was wounded during clashes with supporters of the Muslim Brotherhood and ousted president Mohamed Morsi, in the northern Mediterranean city of Alexandria on August 16, 2013.

mosque.

Morsi's Freedom and Justice Party (FJP) pleaded for another "massacre" to be avoided after at least 578 people were killed across the country Wednesday when police cleared protest camps set up by loyalists of the former president deposed by the military on July 3.

It was not possible to verify the numbers in the mosque independently.

The latest unrest started as Morsi supporters emerged from mosques in the capital to protest in what they billed as a "Friday

1004 arrested

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gyptian police arrested 1004 alleged supporters of the Muslim Brotherhood throughout a day of nationwide deadly clashes, the interior ministry said in a statement early Saturday. 558 were from in Cairo alone.

of anger" following Wednesday's bloodbath.

Violence erupted almost immediately, with gunshots ringing out in Cairo and security

forces firing tear gas.

In the capital, a man leapt off a bridge near a police station to escape shooting as police armoured vehicles advanced on protesters, witnesses said.

An AFP correspondent counted at least 19 bodies in one Cairo mosque, while witnesses said more than 20 corpses had been laid out in a second mosque.

Elsewhere in Egypt, 10 people were killed by security forces and dozens injured in the canal city of Suez when they gathered to protest in defiance of the curfew.

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Protests are also held in the northern city of Alexandria, in Beni Sueif and Fayyum, south of Cairo, and in the Red Sea resort town of Hurghada.

Egypt's cabinet says it is confronting a "malicious terrorist plot" by the Brotherhood.

Saudi King Abdullah pledges his country's support to Egypt's fight on "terrorism," saying it was the military-backed government's "legitimate right".

France and Germany call for urgent European talks on cooperation with Egypt and call for an immediate cessation of violence.

The US on Friday urged Egypt to avoid using "lethal force" against demonstrators, as the death toll from a crackdown on supporters of ousted president Mohamed Morsi continued to mount.

Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro recalled his ambassador to Cairo on Friday and called for Morsi’s reinstatement.

‘82 child soldiers saved in Congo’

Philippine ferry disaster: 200 missing

China's defence head at Pentagon

KINSHASA: More than 80 children, some as young

CEBU: Philippine rescuers searched Saturday for more than 200 people missing after a ferry collided with a cargo ship in thick darkness and sank almost instantly, with 26 already confirmed dead. The St Thomas Aquinas ferry was carrying 870 passengers and crew when the accident occurred late on Friday night in calm waters near the port of Cebu, the Philippines' second biggest city, authorities said. Coastguard and military vessels, as well as local fishermen on their own small boats hauled more than 600 people out of the water alive. But by late Saturday morning, 215 people were still unaccounted for and 26 bodies had been retrieved, according to the coastguard, which warned the death toll would inevitably rise.

WASHINGTON: The Pentagon will host China's Defense Minister General Chang Wanquan for talks Monday at a time of "positive momentum" in military relations between the two countries, a US official said.

Chang was due to start his visit Friday in Hawaii where he was scheduled to meet the head of US Pacific Command, before heading to Colorado to the headquarters for Northern Command, which oversees forces in North America, officials said. "The purpose of the visit is to sustain the very positive momentum that we've seen in the US-China mil-to-mil relationship that's really been present for the past year and a half or so," said a senior defense official, who spoke on condition of anonymity.

as eight years old, have been rescued from an armed group in the southeastern Democratic Republic of Congo and are being reunited with their families, the UN said Friday. The 82 youngsters, including 13 girls, had been recruited by force by the Mai Mai BakataKatanga militia who are active in the restive province of Katanga, the UN peacekeeping mission in DR Congo (MONUSCO) said in a statement. The youngsters, aged eight to 17, were separated from the militia on August 11 and 15 thanks to the joint effort of local child protection agencies in the province, MONUSCO added. The children had reportedly been recruited over the past six months.

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COMMENT SATURDAY, AUGUST 17, 2013

EDITORIALS RESPECT FOR INDIA begins with I Child marriage has reared its ugly head again, and it is again India that has to hang its head in shame on the international platform for leading the world in an act of ignominy. Whether this is true or not, one thing is certain: we Indians certainly suffer a complex, and that proves to be our biggest undoing.

We don’t seem to ever realise that we get as much respect as we respect ourselves.

Anything with an ‘imported’ tag gets more acceptance than the indigenous counterpart. We don’t arrive at this after analysing it on merits.

While projecting ourselves to the world when we get a chance to do it through a programme, we are happier showing our past in the name of heritage, which may illustrate the country as a long-way-to-go-on-the-development-front one.

Modernisation is perceived by the world as development, we have enough of that too, and we should be smart enough to build a vibrant brand image of ourselves rather than take people down the memory lane in the name of cultural past.

The more of this we do, the more flak we end up having to take. Out-dated practices like child marriage will bring up the country’s name in the mind and in discussions. This is not to demean our history, but history alone is not the yardstick of measuring achievement of a nation.

We first need to believe in ourselves, in our motherland and its capabilities. Along the way we may have to make a few compromises but we should we willing to do that. If Singapore is an advanced country, it is also a much smaller one making maintenance that much easier.

B FOR BHAGAT

Shaheed Bhagat Singh is considered to be one of the most influential revolutionaries of the Indian independence movement. Shaheed means martyr in a number of Indian languages and that title is an accepted part of his name. Whether or not the home ministry declares him a martyr, his name will continue to warm the Indian heart whenever history is revisited and the struggle for its independence is discussed. In fact the name inspires today’s youth, too, who seek justice through change.

Free from within Soul Curry SUMAA TEKUR

T

wo Saturdays back, I shared the self-help story of using a `500 note to illustrate the importance of acting on your intentions. Today, I’ll share about using a `500 note to value yourself. At a seminar, the speaker held up a `500 note and asked if anyone from the audience would like the note.

Many hands went up. She then crumpled the note and asked again if anyone would like it.

“The note is not as crisp now.

It’s all folded and crumpled. But would you still like to have it?” she said. Many hands went up.

The speaker then threw the note on the floor, crumpled it some more till it got dirty. “Now you surely wouldn’t want this, right?” she said. The people who had put their hands up for the note said they wanted it. The

speaker smiled. She said: “You value this `500 note even if it’s dirty, crumpled, not neat, gone through many hands, been through a rough life, etc. Do you value your own life as much as you value this piece of paper?”

She explained that we so often depend upon how others judge us and what they think of us that we forget to value our own worth. We forget that we have to first be kind to ourselves before we even consider what others think of us. We go through many ups and downs, rough and tumble and ebb and flow in life.

Only we know what we have been through and experienced through it all. We only need remember how brave we have been, and value our own self – much more than we value the `500 note.

This is not just a case of individuals but even countries.

As India celebrates 67 years of freedom, the country is often caught at the crossroads and unable to make tough decisions in the name of diplomacy, and also in the fear of “what others

FREEING YOURSELF FROM WITHIN ALSO MEANS THAT YOU WILL BE BETTER ABLE TO MANAGE CRITICISM, BLAME, GUILT, HURT, ANGER AND OTHER UNCOMFORTABLE FEELINGS, WHICH CAN WEIGH YOU DOWN AND CLOUD YOUR JUDGMENT. will think of us”. So much energy goes into creating the correct image about the country that it often comes at a heavy cost.

At the individual level, this constant need for appreciation and approval from others (read society) can be debilitating. One ends up living with the aim of pleasing others and acting in ways that will earn their approval, putting one’s own interests and desires on the backburner.

Feeding on the responses and approval of society, or even close friends and relations can be the ultimate obstacle to your own inner freedom and happiness. You are giving someone else the power to either make you happy (by praising you and approving of your behaviour) or sad (by criticising you and making you feel inadequate).

The first step in freeing yourself is to take responsibility for your own feelings.

This way, you will understand yourself better and also not need approval from anyone else for your actions and behaviour. Freeing yourself from within also means that you will be better able to manage criticism, blame, guilt, hurt, anger and other uncomfortable feelings, which can weigh you down and cloud your judgment.

By being responsible for your own feelings, you reach a stage of personal power in which it will not matter what others think of you because you know yourself and the intent behind your actions so well.

9

COMMENT SATURDAY, AUGUST 17, 2013

What have we got to lose?

Quirky-side-Up ARPITA BHAWAL

E

very year, a couple of weeks prior to 15 August, Independence Day, in almost every major city of India street kids sell the symbol of freedom, our national flag. I used to watch them thrust their dirty hands through windows of cars, at faces of helmeted bikers at traffic signals, clutching a handful of miniature flags, the kind that you can prop up on your car dashboard or office desk. People in India love haggling with prices of everything; I blame it on genetic disorder that compels Indians to think they are being taken for a ride by every other human on this earth. So those kids would ask for double the price — smart!

I love those colorful flags, two crossed against each other like an X mark, mounted on a tiny plastic base with a twoway sticker tape beneath. I never bargained buying one, sometimes two flags each year since the past five years. What have I got to lose? It smothered my heart though to reflect on the kind of blasé country we had become, one where street children sold flags for `20 to gut their hunger pangs for a

Urban sketches VISWAPRASAD RAJU

few weeks before freedom day, while the day passed for them without meaning or sentiment.

What have we got to lose?

Over the years, my skepticism about Indians got magnified. After scanning the daily headlines on rape, murder, terror, deception, scams and inflation, I turned shame-faced to entertainment on Star World.

But I couldn’t dismiss this nagging suspicion that a common person like you and me wasn’t actually disillusioned and angry. No time for country, barely moments of uninterrupted peace for ourselves.

Blaming fate and legitimate reasons, like having to slog just for our jobs in the face of a hapless government, which was failing to control forthcoming elections or current inflation, not necessarily in that order.

At coffee, we indulge in our favorite sport: countrybashing. After 5,000 years of existence, our lessons of love and compassion, unity in diversity and mutual respect are dulled. What have we got to lose?

Imagine my surprise when I first saw the promotion on TV by Amitabh Bachchan for Hum Saath Hain Uttarakhand.

This charity benefit show organised by StarPlus and a host of other partners like Wizcraft, MSN, Ogilvy etc and was being endorsed by the legend of Indian cinema. As I

watched the programme through Independence Day, a small flame flickered in my heart. Was it a sense of returning pride among Indians? Or was it even bigger… like Hope?

It has been observed time and again that our hearts turn only when faced with devastation; nothing unites and binds mankind like tragedy.

StarPlus’ amazing act of putting together and hosting this event along with Amitabh Bachchan, Shah Rukh Khan, Mahesh Bhatt and many others has put compassion back on the map in India. With contributions of cash and kind amounting through the day, the entertainment event took an amazing turn. It will be remembered for Prasoon Joshi’s plea to heed to what

AT COFFEE, WE INDULGE IN OUR FAVORITE SPORT: COUNTRY-BASHING. AFTER 5,000 YEARS OF EXISTENCE, OUR LESSONS OF LOVE AND COMPASSION, UNITY IN DIVERSITY AND MUTUAL RESPECT ARE DULLED. WHAT HAVE WE GOT TO LOSE? Nature is saying to us and to read the signs of our future in the disappearing flora and fauna; Dharmendra’s unfinished thoughts on deforestation and a free India where freedom didn’t feel real; a doctor’s call for help in Uttarakhand, which still needs 230 doctors; asking people to SMS Hum to 52787 because every `3 after tax deductions count.

Those images came back to

life with the sand artist’s sweep — landslides and floods, floating dead and decimated houses. And then, rescue! But 4,200 villages is a lot, we say.

More justifications follow. We are not millionaires, we exclaim at the lack of action by politicians, and want to know what’s happening to our tax money. We curse doctors for not volunteering and then, we sigh. We say, we will pray.

What have we got to lose?

But prayers are like bedtime stories. Say them aloud and forget them. We need to act like StarPlus and scores of others did, reminding us our own worth as human beings.

The programme reinforced change, any change that is possible if we stop imagining there is nothing to give or do.

Did you see those street kids on TV who donated books, soaps, sweets, pencils and a sapling for Uttarakhand’s people through the Vatsalya Foundation, choosing to forget that they were the poor and underprivileged lot?

For 40 lakh affected people in Uttarakhand, we are twice that many who have remained unscathed. We are free to help.

How about giving time?

Money? Educating people about the environment? Just give a little bit of yourself in whichever way you can and free the others to rise again.

After all, really, what have we got to lose?

Global edits

Landscape

Int’l Herald Tribune

IF WOLVES CAN’T GET A FAIR

Wolves under review

HEARING AT THE FEDERAL LEVEL, WHAT CHANCE DO THEY HAVE AT THE STATE LEVEL? THE ANSWER IS, VERY LITTLE.

I

n June, the Fish and Wildlife Service prematurely proposed to end federal protection for gray wolves in the lower 48 states in the belief that wolves had fully recovered from near eradication in the early 20th century. This was politics masquerading as science. The Fish and Wildlife Service would love to shed the responsibility of protecting large carnivores, like the wolf and the grizzly bear, and hunters and ranchers throughout the Rocky Mountains would love to see wolves eradicated all over again.

By law, a decision like this one — to remove an animal from the endangered species list — requires a peer review: an impartial examination of wolf numbers, population dynamics and the consequences of proposed actions. But science and politics have gotten tangled up again. The private contractor, a consulting firm called AMEC, which was hired to run the review, removed three scientists from the review panel. Each of the scientists had signed a May 21 letter to Sally Jewell, the interior secretary, criticising the plan to turn wolf management over to the states.

In the peer-review process, there is only the illusion of independence, for the simple reason that the Fish and Wildlife Service controls the appointment of panellists. The agency would like to pretend that these panelists were removed for their lack of impartiality.

In fact, they failed to measure up to the agency’s anti-wolf bias. The Fish and Wildlife Service is now busy covering its tracks. It postponed evaluation of the delisting plan because, it says, the identities of the panellists, which were supposed to be hidden from agency officials, had been discovered.

If wolves can’t get a fair hearing at the federal level, what chance do they have at the state level? The answer is, very little. Scientists have already noted a seven per cent decline in Rocky Mountain wolves since they were delisted, and hunts authorised.

10

BUSINESS SATURDAY, AUGUST 17, 2013

Air passenger traffic grows

Pak-China trade approved

NEW DELHI: Domestic air passenger

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Prime Minister

YANGON: Myanmar posted a trade

traffic grew 7.25 per cent in July, the civil aviation ministry said on Friday.

According to data furnished by the ministry, domestic traffic in July stood at 48.66 lakh, from 45.37 lakh passengers ferried during the corresponding month last year. The passenger traffic had fallen by 1.84 per cent in June and stood at 50.14 lakh.

Nawaz Sharif on Friday principally approved the proposed alignment of Pakistan-China Trade Corridor, officials said. He, however, directed for further evaluation of the proposal in terms of time and cost efficiency. PakistanChina Economic Corridor, is the future of the country and it will connect Pakistan with China, Sharif said.

surplus of $8.65 million in July, official media quoted the Central Statistical Organisation as saying on Friday. With a total foreign trade of $1.586 billion, Myanmar’s export amounted to $797.78 million, while its import stood at $789.13 million during the month, reported Xinhua. Of the total, export valued stood at $9.08 billion.

Myanmar posts surplus

Himachal postpones launch of food security scheme SHIMLA: Himachal Pradesh

HYDERABAD: State Bank of Hyderabad, a leading public sector Bank and the largest associate of State Bank of India, having pan India presence through its

has postponed the launch of a central government scheme which provides for subsidised foodgrain as “it won’t be appropriate to launch the scheme in a hurry”, a minister said Saturday.

The central government’s flagship social welfare scheme entitles 67 per cent of the population to subsidised foodgrain every month.

However, the new date of launch is yet to be announced.

“We have postponed the launch of the food security scheme that was scheduled for Aug 20,” Food and Civil Supplies

THE UPA’S FOOD SECURITY ORDINANCE WAS EARLIER EXPECTED TO BE ROLLED OUT IN THE STATE LIKE OTHER CONGRESS-RULED STATES ON AUGUST 20.

Minister GS Bali told IANS. He said it would be launched after getting more clarity about the National Food Security bill, which is awaiting debate in parliament.

“It won’t be appropriate to launch the scheme in a hurry.

We are waiting for the picture (on the issue) to get clear in parliament. There is no harm to wait for a few more days for its launch,” he added.

SBH unfixed deposit scheme Chal-achal

The United Progressive Alliance’s (UPA) food security ordinance was earlier expected to be rolled out in the state like other Congress-ruled states Aug 20, the birthday of late former prime minister Rajiv Gandhi.

“In the meantime, the session of the state assembly is also starting (from Aug 21). So the launch might get delayed by a few more days,” Bali said.

Without specifying the next

date of its launch, he said: “We are fully prepared for its launch.”

At a meeting called by Congress president Sonia Gandhi with party chief ministers in Delhi last month, Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh said: “The ordinance may exclude about 18.85 lakh people from the Targeted Public Distribution System and also reduce monthly

allocation by 17,094 tonnes of foodgrains to the state.”

“But we will continue to provide food grains to all families irrespective of the fact whether they are covered under the ambit of the ordinance or not.”

Currently, the state is providing three types of pulses, two edible oils and salt at subsidised rates to all 16.31 lakh ration-card holders under the food subsidy IANS scheme.

1,578 branches has launched a new deposit product ‘Chal-achal’ (unfixed deposit), which offers a unique combination of liquidity plus higher rate of interest to depositors. Customers can park their short-term surplus funds and earn higher return. The depositors can also avail loan or overdraft.

They can use the money while earning interest on it.

The bank is offering an attractive rate of interest of 7.25% pa for below `1.00 crore and 7.67% pa for deposits of `1.00 crore and above. The deposits can be placed for a period of a minimum of seven days and maximum of 179 days.

The customer has an option to withdraw the amount anytime after seven days with no penalty.

GM recalls 340,000 cars over brake glitch WASHINGTON: US automaker General Motors Corporation (GM) is recalling nearly 340,000 Chevrolet Cruze cars over a brake-related problem, a media report said.

The Detroit-based automaker said the brake problem has been found only in Cruzes with the 1.4litre turbocharged engine and six-speed automatic transmission, Xinhua reported.

The recall covers 292,879

Cruze vehicles in the US, 44,789 in Canada and 641 in Israel.

The compact sedans were built at GM’s Lordstown assembly plant in Ohio. It does not cover Cruze vehicles built at other plants, the Detroit News said.

GM said it was aware of 27 low-speed crashes, but no injuries, tied to the problem.

Dealers will replace a microswitch in the power

brake vacuum pipe assembly to correct the issue.

In June, GM said it would recall about 231,000 older SUVs over fire risks and urged owners to park them outside garages until they are repaired. These included 193,000 Chevrolet Trailblazers, GMC Envoys, Buick Rainiers, SAAB 97xs, Isuzu Ascenders and Chevrolet Trailblazer EXTs and GMC Envoy XLs in the US. AFP

11

FOCUS SATURDAY, AUGUST 17, 2013

STARS WHO DEFY CLERICS

Edouard Guihaire

Agence France Presse

KABUL: Judges on TV talent shows always attract controversy for making or breaking the careers of desperate wannabes — but for Aryana Sayeed, the job is also a fight for Afghanistan’s future.

The glamorous 28year-old singer is a judge on worldwide hit series “The Voice” that launched in Kabul in May, immediately attracting huge audiences and an array of angry critics.

As a symbol of female independence in a strictly conservative Islamic country, Aryana receives regular death threats and lives in fear of being kidnapped by religious extremists.

On the set outside Kabul where the show is filmed for private channel Tolo TV, armed guards outnumber contestants and have machine guns held at the ready.

“I’m here to make a difference for women,” Aryana told AFP. “I want women to have rights, to talk freely, to walk freely, to be able to go shopping when they wish.

“I’m not saying that they have to take their clothes off, or even remove their head scarves.

Freedom is being able to live as a human being.”

As contestants belt out songs that could propel them to stardom, Aryana nods encouragingly and

sways gently — acutely aware that her every move is studied across the country.

“I have to be so careful as they’re constantly checking what you are doing, what you are saying, even how you laugh,” she said. “I said ‘I love you’ to one contestant because he was so good.

He was 15-years-old. Even that caused trouble.

People asked ‘What did she say? This is not something normal in Afghanistan’.”

Aryana was born in Afghanistan before moving to Pakistan as a child and then to Europe. She now divides her time between Kabul and London. As one of Afghanistan’s biggest stars, she has taken a stance against Islamic clerics who insist that women should remain at home and never earn a living of their own.

In one of her songs, Aryana sings “Because I am a woman, I am a slave” against a background of images of women in burqas.

“Women have no rights whatsoever here, so I want to be an example as somebody who is constantly fighting,” she said, admitting that her beliefs mean that security concerns dominate her life.

“I have a lot of trouble online, receiving messages from people telling me that they will kill me or

that they’ll put acid in my face. They tell me to stop singing. Kidnapping is something to keep in mind all the time. You’d rather die than be kidnapped. I don’t get out a lot.”

One young Afghan actress, Benafsha, was stabbed to death last year, and some religious hardliners recently declared a jihad against popular reality shows based on Western hits such as The X-Factor and Pop Idol.

One lawmaker calling for the programmes to be banned branded them “blasphemous and vulgar”.

“Islam cannot accept girls and women who become singers, dancers or film actresses,” Enayatullah Baleegh, a leading cleric in Pul-eKhishti mosque in central Kabul, told AFP. “Our culture and traditions do not allow it. I prefer a woman to wear fabric that covers her body with only her eyes and hands visible. If girls and women choose this life, it will degrade their dignity.”

Actress Fereshta Kazemi, who was born in Kabul but grew up in the United States and returned to Afghanistan only last year, accepts that her profession is often equated with sexual availability.

“Actresses are considered by some to be prostitutes,” the 33-year-old told AFP. “My private life out-

On the set outside Kabul where the show The Voice being is filmed for private channel Tolo TV, armed guards outnumber contestants and have machine guns held at the ready.

side work is not respected.

I get crazy phone calls from people because they think I am available.

“After many months here, it has become very difficult. I feel that I’m being objectified and not human, because I’m choosing a job that is about putting myself out there.

For sociologist Barayalai Fetrat, a lecturer at Kabul University, the challenges that Aryana and Fereshta face exemplify how Islamic conservatives are pushing to regain ground since the fall of the Taliban in 2001 particularly with NATO troops due to leave in 2014.

“As foreign troops pull back, traditionalists who have been largely silent for the past decade — and who still have strong backing in society — are reappearing to attack the gains that Afghan women have achieved,” he said.

“They are now boldly attacking the rights of women to work in offices, to become artists, or even the right to education.

But Fereshta does find some reasons to stay optimistic despite the gloomy outlook and mounting challenges.

After her performance in recently-released film “The Icy Sun”, which tackles the taboo subject of rape, she said she was surrounded by admiring fans.

“There were all these girls who came to kiss me.

They were happy, because I had made a film that speaks honestly about the situation of women.”

PICK YOUR

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12

TECHNOLOGY SATURDAY, AUGUST 17, 2013

WEBSITE OF THE WEEK

VIDEOGAME REVIEW

APP OF THE WEEK

Get good at life ou get xpert advice with over 60,000 FREE, professionally-produced how to videos and guides. At vidoejug.com you get advice on even how to make your first kiss memorable.

GONE HOME

AirDroid

Y

A

irDroid is a lightweight app that will undoubtedly make life less wiry for the Android faithful. Upon installing it and creating an account, your phone’s role is done. It’s all about the big screen now.

n With excellent writing and remarkable attention to period detail, Gone Home turns the process of exploring a house into a captivating and deeply poignant journey of discovery.

It’s what’s inside that counts BEIJING: Two years after its high-quality, budget smartphone won over millions of Chinese fans, domestic tech firm Xiaomi Tech wants to make more money from online shopping and games than it does from selling its handsets.

Xiaomi is better known globally as China’s answer to Apple Inc, an image that billionaire Lei Jun has fostered since he founded the company in 2010 by dressing in the black tops, jeans and sneakers favored by the late Steve Jobs.

Lei has since expanded his wardrobe options and Xiaomi sold more smartphones than Apple in the second quarter in China, the world’s biggest smartphone market, according to the latest data from IT industry consultancy Canalys.

Xiaomi’s low prices, however, mean its profit margins are thin and that’s why Lei now wants to expand into China’s mobile Internet business, estimated to be worth around $30 billion by 2015 from roughly $9 billion in 2012.

“Xiaomi looks a bit like Apple but is really more like Amazon with some elements of Google,” Lei said in an interview in Beijing, dressed in a blue shirt, blue jeans and brown shoes.

“The mobile phone is only the carrier,” Lei said.

“Microsoft used to sell Windows in a box with a CD in it. Does that make Microsoft a paper box company?”

The popularity of Xiaomi’s cheap yet sleek handsets is indisputable: its flagship smartphone, the Mi 2S, was the most popular phone in China during the first half of the year, according to local benchmarking company Antutu.

Xiaomi’s latest smartphone, the Hongmi, sells for $130, much lower than the $770 price tag of the iPhone 5 or the $470 for the latest Galaxy model by Samsung Electronics Co Ltd, the market leader in China.

In the second quarter of this year, Xiaomi was ranked sixth by market share, one notch above Apple, but this lead is likely to be short-lived as the U.S. firm is expected to unveil its redesigned iPhone in September and may also release a cheaper emerging market smartphone.

‘Xiaomi looks a bit like Apple but is really more like Amazon with some elements of Google,’ Lei Jun, founder says.

Xiaomi looks a bit like Apple but is really more like Amazon with some elements of Google Lei Jun

TROJAN HORSE?

The 43 year-old chief executive said it was high time for the Apple comparisons to end and the rivalry with local tech giants Alibaba Group Holding, Baidu Inc and Tencent Holdings Ltd to start.

Xiaomi currently makes around 20 million yuan ($3.27 million) a month in revenue from its mobile Internet platform, which includes a game centre, an online marketplace and a social messaging app that competes with Tencent’s popular WeChat.

In the first half, that figure was equivalent to less than 1 percent of monthly revenue, company data shows.

Lei estimated mobile Internet revenue may rise to as much as 150 million yuan a month by the end of next year

as Xiaomi develops what he called its software ecosystem.

He declined to give specific details, but said Xiaomi had the hardware it needed to expand into online services.

“Xiaomi selling mobile phones is like Amazon selling Kindles,” he added.

Industry experts warn Lei’s big ambitions may be dwarfed by the size of his competitors and their already established mobile Internet offerings.

Most Chinese consumers are also accustomed to free downloads and won’t pay for software, making it difficult for companies to make money that way, said Michael Clendenin of Shanghai-based IT consultancy RedTech Advisors.

“Apple has a great ecosys-

The latest offering

X

iaomi’s latest smartphone, the Hongmi, sells for $130, much lower than the $770 price tag of the iPhone 5 or the $470 for the latest Galaxy model by Samsung Electronics Co Ltd, the market leader in China.

tem, but that’s created to keep people on their hardware. Not the other way round,” he said.

Xiaomi has been valued at up to $10 billion, while Tencent, China’s largest Internet company by revenue, has a market capitalization of $88.6 billion.

Baidu, the owner of the

country’s biggest search engine, is worth $49.5 billion while the impending IPO of Alibaba, the country’s leading e-commerce company, may value the firm at more than $100 billion.

Tencent’s social messaging app WeChat is used by over half of all Chinese smartphone users and Alibaba’s Taobao is one of the world’s top 20 most visited websites.

Sina Corp’s Weibo is the dominant microblogging platform, making it hard for Xiaomi to compete in all these segments, Clendenin said.

“If Lei believes that creating a great phone and then trying to use it as a Trojan horse to dethrone Tencent and similar companies, I think he’s got quite a battle ahead of him,” he added.

13

ANIMAL KINGDOM SATURDAY, AUGUST 17, 2013

PET NEWS It's an olinguito!

A

IMPORTANT NUMBERS

Mother, cub united

new mammal species has been confirmed by scientists. The olinguito, described as a cross between a house cat and a teddy bear, is the first new carnivorous mammal.

T

aiwan's first newborn panda was reunited with its mother for the first time since it was taken away after birth, in a heartwarming reunion that saw the giant panda licking and cuddling her baby inside a cage.

Room to roam

T

he Philadelphia Zoo is expanding its trail system to provide more stimulation for the animals and bring them closer to visitors. The multiyear project makes the zoo the world’s first with a plan to rotate large animals.

CATS AND DOGS The Animal Care Clinic 040-2335 2474 Pet’s World Dog Clinic 98856 46259 Blue Cross of Hyderabad 040-3298 9858, 23544355/ 5523 Vet-N-Pet 040-6553 9535, 93463 05890 Bluplus Pet Clinic 040-2712 1739, 2716 2636 Sri Sai Pet Clinic

040-2779 7458, 9848645350 Claws & Paws 98662 82772 All Creatures Animals Clinic 040-2773 0885 BIRDS Govt Veterinary Hospital 040-2331 9656, 2753 5755 Bird Watcher’s Society 040-2355 6166 Friends of Birds9391048315 SNAKES Friends of Snakes 8374233366

IN RECOVERING MODE Re-homing ward at Blue Cross is especially dedicated for dogs that were abandoned by their previous owners. They recuperate while waiting for their new homes.

AMY ROSE THOMAS

amyrose.t@postnoon.com

N

ot every dog adopted by families gets a happilyafter. Many of these dogs are abused, tortured and in the end abandoned and left to die. These dogs end up being run over by vehicles since they are not used to the life on the street and others end up in Blue Cross. Re-homing ward is especially dedicated to these misfortune animals. Cindy, Danny, Amber, Snow Flaky and others have similar back stories before ending up in the ward.

Helen Styles, who is incharge of the ward, says, “Currently apart from two permanent members, there are 10 other dogs waiting to be adopted.

The number of dogs adopted from this facility is very few.

Last month only six dogs were adopted.”

Dogs in this ward are also neutered. “Once they are rescued from the street they are brought here. If the dog is

MOST OF THE DOGS HOUSED AT THE REHOMING WARD ARE FOREIGN DOGS. IN SPITE OF THESE PURE-BRED DOGS BEING IN DEMAND IN THE CITY, THEY TOO ARE GOTTEN RID OF. injured, it goes to the treatment ward and later it is sterilised and brought to the re-homing ward where it waits for a new home. These dogs can’t be left on the street since they are used to living in the security of homes.

And they are relatively much more friendlier than street dogs that are not used to the love from humans,” Sachya Kumari, rescue director, says.

In order to counter the cases when the animal has simply gone missing as opposed to abandoned, a police complaint is filed as and when the dog is rescued.

“We lodge a police complaint so

Teri (left top) and Candy (right top) are among those housed at the re-homing ward.

that if the family is going around looking for the dog they can find it at Blue Cross. If we have received a healthy dog, we wait for a week when the dog is usually under observation. And if we don’t receive an enquiry then only do we go ahead and send it to the re-homing ward where they will be up for adoption,” Kumari says.

Most of the dogs housed at the re-homing ward are foreign dogs. In spite of these pure-bred dogs being in demand in the City, they too are gotten rid of. It is easy to take care of these dogs when they are puppies but as they grow it becomes all the more difficult to handle them. Therefore, adopt a dog only if you are sure that you will be able to take care of it for life.

If you find an injured animal on the street, call Blue Cross @ 04032989858.

14

BOOKS SATURDAY, AUGUST 17, 2013

SHORT READS Title: The Quarry Author: Iain Banks Publisher: Little, Brown Iain Banks was already writing this novel about a middleaged man raging against terminal cancer when he received his own diagnosis earlier this year. He pulls no punches in an honest portrait of adult compromise and disappointment.

Title: Life after Life Author: Kate Atkinson Publisher: Doubleday England, 1910. A baby is born to die – and then born again, and again, and again …

Atkinson shuffles a dazzling array of alternative existences for her heroine, who might just change the fate of the world, in her most ambitious book so far.

Title: NW Author: Zadie Smith Publisher: Hamish Hamilton Childhood friends Leah and Natalie have stayed geographically close to the north London estate they grew up in, but their circumstances – and their relationship – have changed dramatically. Whether it's for the better, whether you can leave behind your background are Smith's themes.

Title: Sweet Tooth Author: Ian McEwan Publisher: Jonathan Cape Nice, middle-class Serena Frome is undoubtedly brainy, but it's her beauty that wins her a job in the boys' club that is MI5 in the 1970s. Her mission is to recruit an up-and-coming young novelist and turn him into a useful mouthpiece for the establishment.

A RIVETING READ ARUN KOSHY PHILIP

James Rollins is back with an action-packed thriller that offers a heady concoction of history, religion, science, crime and emotions.

arun.k@postnoon.com

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high-end military satellite dedicated to a classified project to study dark energy crashes. But before it hurtles through the atmosphere as a fireball, it transmits a picture, from the future, of eastern United States in smoking ruins. Commander Gray Pierce and his team must race halfway across the world to recover the machine and unlock potential answers to avert an apocalyptic disaster.

When the head of Vatican’s secret archives receives a package from his eccentric friend, who had vanished from the face of the earth for 10 years, little does he know the contents hold the key to discovery of the tomb of Mongol emperor Genghis Khan. However, he must move fast because there are others who are after the relics — Khan’s skull and a tome bound in his skin — who wouldn’t hesitate to kill for them.

In Mongolia, where Khan enjoys god-like status, there is a powerful organisation that isn’t amused about the sudden spurt of international interest in discovering the hidden tomb of the great conqueror. Its chief has his own plans about the treasures such a discovery might yield and the role he will play in the country’s

Mark Gimenez is hailed as the next John Grisham, as he has been producing legal thrillers-cum bestsellers at a pretty good pace.

Does Con Law deserve to be another bestseller? Read on.

Fleme Varkey fleme.v@postnoon.com

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on Law is his eighth book.

Any writer of the legal fiction genre will definitely face comparisons with John Grisham who has been consid-

Name The Eye of God Author James Rollins Pages 400 Publisher Hachette India

future.

Elsewhere, a daughter is in search of her long-lost mother in the heart of an extremely dangerous territory whose treacherous shadows are usually ignored by most in the dazzling blaze of its neon lights. Little is she aware that her ‘most wanted’ status has brought into the picture several

GOING BY THE BOOK ered a master in this field. Just like Grisham's Theodore Boone series, Gimenez has John Bookman for us. Book, as he is called, is a tenured professor at the University of Texas School of Law in Austin. He rides a Harley and wears jeans and cowboy boots and wears his hair too long. He teaches karate and Con Law, law school vernacular for Constitutional Law. He is famous for taking on lost causes and winning. Considered a mini messiah for the helpless Americans who have none to turn to, Book receives hundreds of letters everyday asking for his help.

One such letter captivates his attention. Nathan Jones in

Marfa, who is very worried that gas/oil fracking in West Texas may be contaminating the drinking water aquifer and within minutes Professor Book, Harley and ride into Texas to investigate a murder in this law forsaken part of the country.

In Con Law, the first few pages jog our memories to the

Name Con Law Author Mark Gimenez Pages 478 Publisher Hachette India

dangerous players who would go to any length to secure the coveted trophy.

There is an object, a weapon that is closely connected to some major events in human history that is capable of destroying the entire humanity.

Time is running out for the planet, but that won’t stop anyone from pursuing their machinations. And as natural in such conditions, there will be bloody consequences.

James Rollins is back with an action-packed thriller that offers a heady concoction of history, religion, science, crime and emotions.

Some heavy duty science, that too physics, is present throughout the story. But this has been condensed in such simple descriptions that you hardly feel out of your depth.

The research that has gone into of all aspects of the story is evident from the detail that is abundant about the locations, historical incidents, geography and cultures.

Though the action, which flows through the business ends of automatic weapons, is aplenty, it has been kept at reasonably realistic levels without marring the contours of the narrative.

The best part about the plot is not in its logical conclusion, but after it. The plot literally explores new dimensions and keeps you riveted. A worthy read of science fiction fans and action buffs alike.

time apartheid was prevalent and America was having a tough time handling truths like abortion and apartheid. The professor's class makes up for a lively debate on abortion and an insight into the American legal system while the streets bring us to the reality. The removal of gas from shale oil deposits, a subject of debate in America is highlighted with a good dose of action, guns and chases. Nothing like some fastpaced action.

Considering this is the first in the series, it is difficult to say anything. Book is an interesting character whose development will be the attention of the books to come. Giminez does know how to keep the readers engrossed. It's an easy read and you will be impressed.

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BOOKS SATURDAY, AUGUST 17, 2013

How did we turn cricket-crazy?

James Astill’s The Great Tamasha seeks to answer that. It is our eagerness to match up to our rulers that got us hooked to the game.

Name The Great Tamasha Author James Astill Pages 268 Publisher Bloomsbury India

Rajesh Ravindran

rajesh.r@postnoon.com

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onths before the Indian Badminton League took off there were put up several hoardings about it in Hyderabad. One of them had a girl in badminton gear, with a racquet by her side, padding up; the caption ran: Is this what it takes to get your attention? or something on those lines.

If anything, that single hoarding signifies the aversion that afi-

cionados and players of other sports have for cricket. Their complaints are many: cricket is eating up this nation; no other sport gets its due; it’s hard for other sportspersons to get sponsorship; why does not the national game hockey enjoy the support and popularity that cricket does in this country?

They have a point. After all, cricket is essentially an English game — the favourite pastime of sahibs who once ruled over us.

Through cricket they tried to relive their life in England. How then did Indians embrace some-

thing that dripped of their oppressors so wholeheartedly?

James Astill’s The Great Tamasha seeks to answer that.

Astill, the political editor of The Economist, was formerly the South Asian Bureau chief between 2007 and 2010. His book investigates the growth of this English game in India right from the start.

It is our eagerness to match up to our rulers that got us hooked to the game. The English considered the Indians incapable of playing cricket in the right spirit, with patience and deco-

rum, which only made us determined to learn it. The Parsis in Bombay were the first to do that.

Their fair skin had made it easier for them to be treated as equals in England, and to clinch it they embraced cricket. Soon the Hindus followed and then the Muslims and what started as a biangular tournament between the Parsis and the Europeans became the Pentangular. Those who have been witnesses to the matches in these early days remember them to be a great festive occasion.

In 1926 the English realised

how good the Indians became at their game.

In a two-day game between the Marylebone cricket club, a proxy for the English national took on the Hindus of India.

The English side batted first and put up 363. The Indians started shakily, 84 for three — which presaged an easy win for the visitors.

But then CK Nayadu happened. The third ball he faced was blasted onto the roof of the pavilion. When he walked back to the pavilion, he had scored 153 and had hit 11 sixes — ‘CK’ had taken apart a top-class English bowling attack. The match was a draw, but that day the English learnt what the Indians were capable of.

What bigger testimony to the power of cricket than the story of Ranjitsinhji, who was born into adverse circumstances, but by virtue of being a brilliant cricketer won a kingdom, and became India’s first cricket superstar, and equally adored by the English?

WHAT’S SELLING Walden’s best in fiction

Landmark’s best in non-fiction

New York Times’ best in fiction

New York Times’ best in non-fiction

n November Note

by Sanchit Prateek

n Dongri to Dubai by Hussain Zaidi

n Zealot by Reza Azlan

n Empire Of The Moghul Serpent's Tooth by Alex Rutherford

n The signal and the noise by Nate Silver

n The Cuckoo’s calling by Robert Galbraith

n House Of Cards

by Sudha Murty

n Faster 100 ways to improve your digital life Ankit Fadia

n Best Kept Secret

by Jeffrey Archer

n 7 secrets of Shiva

by Devdutt Pattanaik

n Salvation Of A Saint by Keigo Higashino

n Retelling the Mahabharta by Devdutt Pattanaik

n The Redemption of Callie and Kayden by Jessica Sorensen n Complete Me by J Kenner n Three Little Words

by Susan Mallery n Inferno by Dan Brown

n This Town Mark Leibovich n Orange is the new black by Piper Kerman n Proof of heaven

by Eben Alexander n Lean in by Sheryl Sandberg with Nell Scovell

18

WOMEN SATURDAY, AUGUST 17, 2013

WEBSITES OF THE WEEK A Cup Of Jo: Magazine writer Joanna Goddard has a great eye for art, food and all-that’sgood on the Internet. Her posts are honest, insightful and, most notably, always share-worthy.

Dooce: With stunning pictures and crisp wit, mom and former Web designer Heather Armstrong chronicles her life and the world around her.

The Everygirl: An everything-youneed-know site, The Everygirl inspires career-driven, creative young women to create the stylish, successful lives .

Painting piece by piece N SHIVA KUMAR

relieved,” she smiles.

“I use oil, acrylic, fabric paints for my work. I do murals and three types of glass paintings,” Lalithha describes her work. “I also enjoy 3D and pot painting. I am learning other forms too.”

“I like painting about women and nature. She is compared to nature and flowers and I like capturing the essence of happiness of women in my paintings,” she says with conviction.

Not ready to confine herself to the comfort zone of new-found success, Lalithha

Chittoor-based artist Lalithha Das recently held her first art show in the City at Beyond Coffee. She shares with Postnoon, her story.

Life has a bigger purpose and no matter how hard things get, when we stand tall, everything will fall into place.

ARUN YELLAMATY

arunyellamaty@postnoon.com

Lalitha, Artist

T

here are people who go to pieces when life falls apart, but this gutsy artist decided that she isn’t heading down that road. Lalithha Das, a Chitoor-born artist living in Hyderabad, decided that pursuing her passion was the best retort to the fate that refused to show her compassion.

“I was heartbroken and life became difficult after my marriage ended. I turned to books, tried to meditate, and painting brought peace and gave me a new direction in my life,” is how she summarises her rise from the emotional ashes.

She turned professional two years ago and showcased close to 50 different styles at her first exhibition. She also spends a lot of time with children and cancer hospital patients, organising painting competitions for them. “It gives me joy when what I do matters. I enjoy teaching these children to paint. And they do a great job too,” she beams.

Lalithha has also ventured into relatively unchartered territory, teaching blind children to paint. “I think no one has every tried organising painting classes for the blind. They enjoy it.” The

sparkle in her eyes describes the passion.

The germination and nurturing of the artist in her was not an easy affair. “I used to draw during my school days, but was never encouraged by parents. My mother used to hate that I liked painting. But I continued to paint but not professionally,” she says. Even after getting married and getting busy taking care of my family, I found time for painting classes and yoga training classes. I pursued my Masters degree also during this period.”

“But, after my marriage broke apart, I decided to showcase my art professionally so that I could support my family,” Lalithha tells of the transformation point.

After some difficulty in locating a venue, Beyond

Coffee agreed to host her work.

“Thanks to Beyond, I organised my first show and things started to fall into place: State Art Gallery and Icon Art Gallery too agreed to display my creations,” she explains.

“A lot of people have been appreciating my art, I hope to sell few. A Canada art gallery also contacted me. We are in talks. I am excited, and

has recently completed her Masters in counselling and plans to help people whose marriages have collapsed. “I want to start a proper counselling centre for single parents. They must not suffer the way I did.”

“My ex-husband pursued me professing love and I married him though I was not interested. After years of marriage, he married another woman. I didn’t want to do anything with him and let him go,” she adds.

“I decided to raise my kids by myself. Now I am an artist, a yoga trainer and much more.

Earlier, I was just a housewife.

I am sure he now regrets of leaving me,” she laughs.

Lalithha is a proud mother.

“My daughter too is a great artist, she has won several prizes. My son likes to play the guitar. They complete me,” she says with pride. “I am happy now, have never been this happy.”

“I just want to encourage every woman out there, I want them to know that life has a bigger purpose and no matter how hard things get, when we stand tall, everything will fall into place,” she adds, her face a picture of determination.

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SPOTLIGHT SATURDAY, AUGUST 17, 2013

ART FOR A CAUSE

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Art enthusiasts made a beeline to Taj Krishna where Heal a Child Foundation organised its annual charity art exhibition and sale. The proceeds will be contributed to helping underprevileged children.

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5 1 Anchal 2 Majid Hussain 3 Khalid ur Rehman, Jaber

Patel 4 Arun, Meena 5 Deepika Reddy 6 Anand Kabra 7 Khadir, Arun, Mohammad

Ali Baig 8 Joseph, Gavin 9 Archana

Hitting a century Bollywood movie buffs trooped to Cinemax where Once Upon A Time in Mumbai Dobaara was screened. This is the 100th movie screening organised by Bisket Srikant.

HAPPY TEETH Third branch of Om Neelakanta Dental Clinic was opened at Bagh Amberpet on Friday. MLA G Kishan Reddy inaugurated the clinic.

LUXURY UNLIMITED Curtain raiser of Araaish, a one-day luxury exhibition, was held at The Park Hyatt. Mana Suniel Shetty, wife of actor Suniel Shetty was present at the do. The exhibition will be organised on August 19th at Taj Deccan.

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RELATIONSHIPS SATURDAY, AUGUST 17, 2013

I AM ALL EARS

I

am 24. I have been in a relationship for the past three years. My girlfriend has had to move to Delhi for work. She has made quite a few friends at the office and now she keeps ignoring me. She tells she is busy at work, but I suspect that is not the case. I am feeling jealous.What should I do?

Dear disturbed kid, I have answered such a question before. It pains me to think of the little faith you have in your love, thinking that it will run the moment it gets a chance to escape.Probably true in your case sincewho would like to be with a clingy boyfriend. And about being busy in office, that culd be a genuine reason, for all you know. If you are so worried go visit her for a reassurance and if you otherwise, then you know she’s gone.

A

Facebook profile can speak volumes about the user, which is why people spend a lot of time choosing the right picture. For some people, the perfect one might be the very personal selfie. Although the selfie might allow people to focus on themselves, a new study is reporting that selfies could potentially take a toll on people's close relationships.

After all this time, You and I

The movies have given us enough proof why childhood sweethearts are the ultimate symbol of romance, but a recent study has shown that it seems that the idea of teenage love is fast becoming history.

FLEME VARKEY

fleme.v@postnoon.com

T

he survey also showed that there are other things which we’re rushing to do before our parents and grandparents did at our age — like pushing for a promotion at work, owning a car or buying a house before you are 40.

For the romantics out there, there is no need to panic. Love will find a way. At least that’s what our movies tell us. Today we talk to some childhood sweethearts who tell us what keeps them glued together, despite naysayers.

For Sriparna and Ritwik Ghosh, it has been literally a fairytale world all this time.

“We met at six, became fast friends by the time we were

Celebwood

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elebrities who have married their childhood sweethearts.

IMRAN KHAN & AVANTIKA M ALIK Imran Khan met Avantika Malik when the actor was 19 years old.

The couple who tied the knot in 2010 have known each other for 10 years; Imran and Avantika also spent more than a year together while pursuing their studies in LA.

SHAH RUKH KHAN & GAURI SRK married his childhood sweetheart Gauri Chibber in 1991. The two met each other at a party and became friends for life, when they tied the knot in a traditional Hindu wedding.

eight, we were separated, when we were 15 we met again and since then we have been together. We have been married for 10 years now,” says Sriparna.

For the Ghosh family, now settled in Kolkata, their love story is one which has been told numerous times at family gatherings, weddings and friend gettogethers. “We went to school together, did most of our growing up together. When my father moved to Delhi for a transfer we were forced to uproot ourselves from Kolkata.

At that time we were sad on losing out on our friendship, but fate brought us together again few years later. We got on with our lives, as if nothing had happened. That’s when it struck us we were made to be with each other. It’s like we were twins.

Our love grew through the years. Surprisingly even our parents did not oppose our match. So there — we were married at 22,” recalls Ritwik.

What kept them together for so long?

“Friendship above all, according to me. There is great telepathy between us. It’s the typical case of ‘you complete me’ for both of us. We know each other’s likes and dislikes, our favourites, we know what makes us tick. There is no special formula I can give, but when you know a person since you have shared memories, shared jokes and a life — it makes life a lot easier,” answers Sriparna.

The survey had cited reasons such as relocation and certain lifestyle trends for the growing extinction of this breed of lovers. Distance and work was never an impediment to Avniti and Vineet Shah. “I saw her first when I had gone to visit my aunt at Faridabad, I saw her standing in her balcony opposite my aunt’s house and it was love at first sight. I used to stay in Delhi. Every vacation I

would find reasons to go there, only to spend some time together. College we managed to do it in Delhi but then when we decided to get married, there was a lot of opposition in our families. Finally, a family member intervened and things were sorted. We have been happily married for six years,” says Vineet.

When asked about the reason for their togetherness, Avniti said, “We were united in a lot of things, for example against our parents opposition, the memories of sneaking out and meeting, the stolen moments of love, a common set of friends, old jokes… there are so many. Both of us know why we flare up, or what makes us laugh. Our past is us, there is no need for trust issues and arguments get solved quicker.

Moreover, both of us have our lives, the ones we had dreamt of together so why shouldn’t we be together?”

HRITHIK ROSHAN & SUZANNE ROSHAN Hrithik Roshan fell in love with Suzanne when he saw her at a traffic signal! Suzanne however claims that the two knew each other since childhood and love happened after she returned to India after her studies.

ZAYED KHAN & M ALAIKA PAREKH Zayed Khan married his high school love in 2005.

The couple knew each other since school, as both went to the same one in Kodaikanal.

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CINEMA SATURDAY, AUGUST 17, 2013

DHANUSH’S 25th film titled VELAILLA PATTATHARI

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hanush’s upcoming Tamil romantic-comedy, his 25th film, has been titled Velailla Pattathari. It will be produced under the actor’s home banner Wunderbar Films. Dhanush confirmed the news via Twitter. Velailla Pattathari, also featuring Amala Paul, will be helmed by cinematographerturned-director Velraj, who previous handled the camera for films such as 3 and Pollathavan, featuring Dhanush.

The film is expected to go on floors from August 30, and it will be predominantly shot in Chennai and some rural parts of Tamil Nadu. Meanwhile, Dhanush is busy wrapping up Tamil comedy Naiyaandi. He will also soon team with filmmaker KV Anand for another yet untitled Tamil project.

IANS

NISHA KOTHARI is all set for second innings

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ctress Nisha Kothari, known for films like James and Sarkar with ace filmmaker Ram Gopal Varma, will soon be seen in Telugu thriller Criminals after a hiatus of five years. Her last Telugu film was the 2008 release Oka Magaadu. “Nisha plays an important role in the film. The story is set against a series of cyber crimes and I thought she would fit the bill of one of the lead characters. The film is set to go on floors in September and we plan to shoot non-stop for over two months,” the film’s director, Tulasi Ram, said. Criminals will supersede his directorial debut Mantra, he added. “If Mantra scared the living daylights out of the audiences, Criminals will keep them engaged with taut screenplay. It will be an edge-of-the-seat thriller featuring an all new cast,” he added.

Nisha, who made her cinematic debut with Tamil romantic-comedy Jay Jay, is currently also busy shooting for another IANS Tamil flick Padam Pesum.

Gopichand makes Tamil debut with B Gopal’s film

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elugu actor Gopichand, known for films such as Wanted, Golimaar and Souryam, is all set to foray into Tamil cinema with his upcoming yet untitled film with ace filmmaker B Gopal. It will be simultaneously made in Tamil and Telugu. The film, which also features Nayanthara in the lead role, was officially launched on Friday. “It’s a bilingual and we are planning to make Gopichand dub in Tamil as well. I can’t talk much about the film at this stage. It’s an action entertainer and the

first schedule will go on floors from September 1 in Switzerland,” B Gopal said.

The film’s unit is expected to shoot in Switzerland for nearly a month, followed by shooting in different parts of southern India. While Gopichand’s Telugu films have been dubbed in Tamil over the years, this will be the first time that he will do a straight Tamil film.

The yet untitled film will be produced under the banner Jaya Balajee Real Media.

Manisharma has been roped in IANS to compose the music.

CINEMA SATURDAY, AUGUST 17, 2013

AN ILL-TIMED GANGSTER DRAMA

22 ‘I’m a fighter, don’t give up easily’ E

H

ow do I put this politely? This is arguably one of the most awful, illtimed gangster dramas with most performances so loud and unassimilated that these characters could easily be contestants in a Eid special segment of Comedy Circus where the theme is ‘Gangsta Rap’.

Such utter crap, and done with heartbreaking seriousness. It takes some doing to wrap up such a time-worn love triangle into a pretence of modern storytelling.

Milan Luthria has never been a great filmmaker. At least his earlier films like Kachche Dhaage and Dirty Picture had some interesting conflicts between characters who are driven by a desire for revenge but are frustrated in their malevolence by their love for the very same people they want to hate.

The problem with ...Dobaara is that the two main characters who love each other to death are people we have met over and over again. Most notably in Ram Gopal Varma’s Company where Ajay Devgn and Viveik Oberoi played gangster and protege with great conviction

and ballsy velocity.

The subsequent spinoffs have gotten seriously diluted.

This one is a sequel to Luthria’s not-soengaging film where Ajay Devgn’s imposing personality had made the pale and sometime unintentionally funny proceedings bearable.

Except for Sonakshi Sinha playing a starlet who talks too hard and too much and gets the male protagonists into a serious conflict merely because she’s too dumb to see they both love her, ...Dobaara has no redeeming qualities.

Akshay Kumar as a Dawood doppelgang(st)er is a laugh. His dialogues meant to show his mastery over the hoary art of rhetorics, come out sounding like wimpy words of wacked-out wisdom picked up from messages in

Chinese cookies, if not from forwarded sms messages.

One of the ‘jokes’ that ties Sonakshi’s character to her lover-boy Imran Khan is his misuse of the word ‘intercourse’.

The film uses the word over and over again like a school boy that has just found a non-punishable way to say ‘sex’ in the classroom.

A flavour of flagrant criminality is created through back-projected nostalgia, like an archival cricket match ‘fixed’ by the allpowerful underworld don. Fleets of black and yellow Fiat cars ply up and down Mumbai’s streets in a show of periodicity. A wanton woman (Sophie Chowdhary, in a seductive cameo) cheats on her unsuspecting husband, making out

Movie: Once Upon A Time In Mumbai Dobaara Cast: Akshay Kumar,Imran Khan, Sonakshi Sinha Directed by: Milan Luthria Rating:

with the dreaded don in backroom at noisy party.

Except for a skillfullyshot train robbery sequence featuring Imran Khan at the start, it has too little to offer in the way action and adventure.

The stunts appear stunted. Except for Sonakshi who plays the self-seeking starlet with earnest airheadedness, Pritobash Tripathy who plays Imran’s sidekick with misplaced sincerity and Sonali Bhendre who delivers the only truthfully-worded monologue in this verballycramped drama, the other performances are all of the watch-me-ham variety.

And really, what this film has done to the Mohd Rafi Qawwalli Tayyab ali pyar ka dushman would make Manmohan Desai wince if he IANS was alive.

‘My children watch all films’

W

hen it comes to showing films to children, Shahrukh Khan is a lenient parent and allows his son Aryan and daughter Suhana to watch all kinds of movies. The superstar says that he never makes them “shut their eyes to anything”.

Currently basking in the success of Chennai Express,

Shahrukh said: “I don’t disallow my children to watch any film. They watch everything, but that does not mean that all parents should do that.”

“I work in films and I do things in films that might not be right for children to watch, so it is my duty to make sure my children watch all films. I have brought them up in a way where I have never made

them shut their eyes to anything,” added SRK. Talking about Chennai Express, he said that his daughter has seen the romantic comedy, which has a good dose of action too.

“My daughter saw it, my son is busy playing video games... She really liked it,” he said.

IANS

ver since she stimulated proper expressions in Yeh Jawaani Hai Deewani and then wowed with her emoting in Chennai Express, Deepika Padukone has moved up on the success ladder. The actress is not swayed by this, says she never gives up and would continue to work hard.

“I feel ups and downs are a part of one’s career and this totally depends on how you take it. You can either be knocked down by the negative things or you can take it in a positive way and learn from it,” Deepika said.

“Maybe because I am from a sports background, I don’t give up easily. I am a fighter,” added the daughter of former All England badminton champion Prakash Padukone.

After being panned as woodenfaced for years, the 27-year-old’s last two films marked her coming of age as an actress where she proved she has the potential to do better than just look glamorous on the screen.

“It feels nice to hear or to read this.

I have been working really hard. I know I have pushed myself and sacrificed a lot of personal and family time.

In the end, if the result is like that, you don’t mind. But I think success is relative. If people are saying it’s my year, it depends on my films,” she said. IANS

CINEMA SATURDAY, AUGUST 17, 2013

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CINEMA SATURDAY, AUGUST 17, 2013

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CINEMA SATURDAY, AUGUST 17, 2013

That ’70s Show actress Lisa Robin Kelly dies at 43

L

isa Robin Kelly, who was most well-known for her role as Eric Forman’s older sister on That ’70s Show, died Wednesday at a California rehab facility.

She was 43. According to news reports, Kelly checked herself in to the facility earlier in the week to deal with an alcohol problem. The troubled actress has been arrested at least four times in the past three years for DUI and spousal abuse charges.

“Unfortunately Lisa Robin Kelly passed away last evening,” her agent said. I spoke to her on Monday and she was hopeful and confident, looking forward to putting this part of her life behind her.”

The actress’ cause of death has not been issued yet and no death certificate has been issued either.

Oprah Winfrey on nervous breakdown symptoms

A

ctress-talk show host Oprah Winfrey says she realised nervous breakdown symptoms in her while interviewing American film and theatre director Jason Russell.

This was the time when the 59-year-old was struggling to save her TV network “OWN” (Oprah Winfrey Network) and filmed her movie comeback in The Butler.

Winfrey told people.com: “Jason was talking about having a nervous breakdown and I was thinking, ‘I have those symptoms'. (While recording voiceovers for OWN) I remember closing my eyes while I was reading and I thought, ‘I cannot have another thing enter my brain. I need to pull back.'"

The TV star launched OWN in January 2011 and due to poor ratings, she took over the role as chief executive officer and chief creative officer IANS in July the same year.

Weight conscious Kim refuses to step out S

ocialite Kim Kardashian has yet to shed post pregnancy weight therefore, she refuses to to come out in public. The 32-year-old gave birth to her daughter with boyfriend Kanye West July 15 and is determined to get photographed for the first time only when she looks really appealing like before, reports Us Weekly magazine. "(Kim) said when she comes out and gets photographed for the first time, she wants to look hot, hot, hot," a source said.

Even though the socialite is trying hard to shed weight with help of personal trainer Tracy Anderson, she is unhappy with the results.

“The weight is not coming off as quickly ... she plateaued ... this is the hard part now. Kanye has been supportive and there for her, but this is more about Kim being inside her head and obsessed,” a source said.

“She’s always complaining about her size. She says she hates the way she looks and won’t go out again until she is skinnier,” the source added.

26

CHAI TIME SATURDAY, AUGUST 17, 2013

SUDOKU

THOUGHT OF THE DAY Our problems are man-made, therefore they may be solved by man. No problem of human destiny is beyond human beings.

– John F Kennedy

KAKURO

How to play kakuro

SCRIBBLING PAD

Kakuro is a popular game similar to sudoku in some ways. But is also suitably different. The key question: ‘How do you play kakuro?’, well here are the rules of kakuro. The answer: The kakuro grid, unlike in sudoku, can be of any size. It has rows and columns, and dark cells like in a crossword. And, just like in a crossword, some of the dark cells will contain numbers. Some cells will contain two numbers.

However, in a crossword the numbers reference clues. In a kakuro, the numbers are all you get! They denote the total of the digits in the row or column referenced by the number.

Within each collection of cells — called a run — any of the numbers 1 to 9 may be used but, like sudoku, each number may only be used once.

Let’s have an example to explain this concept more clearly: In the image above, which shows a section of a kakuro puzzle, you will see the numbers ‘26’ and ‘14’ in the top row. Look at the 14.

This means that the total of the three cells underneath must sum to 14. Therefore 9, 4, 1 could be the answer, or perhaps 7, 4, 3 and so on...

So, how do you work out the actual combination? Well, this is done through elimination and cross-referencing. For instance, as you work out the answers for other kakuro clues, this will naturally limit the valid combinations, and hence the answer for this particular run.

Note the second cell in row two — it contains two numbers, 30 and 11. The 30 refers to the vertical run underneath the number 30 and the 11 refers to the two cells to the right, horizontally, of the number 11.

QUICK CROSSWORD ACROSS 1 Lots, as of trouble 6 Patron saint of Norway 10 Measure of sugar 14 ‘Ready, ___!’

15 Kunis of ‘Black Swan’ 16 Copier, of a sort 17 Atwitter 18 Any minute 19 ___ of Capri 20 Fads 23 Extremely spicy 24 ‘Beetle Bailey’ pooch 25 ‘What’s Happening!!’ daughter 26 Epitome of easiness 29 Bouquet delivery gp 31 Most chilling?

33 Without any meaningful motive 37 Get in on the deal 38 Daniel Plainview’s obsession 39 Word you hear before you flip over the chessboard 43 It’s made at the last minute 48 Second of two mentioned 51 ___ of a gun 52 Stylish, in the ‘60s 53 ‘…so off to work ___’ 54 Do some last-minute learning 57 Letter add-ons (Abbr) 59 Device using pulleys 64 Pro ___ (in proportion) 65 Sitting on one’s hands 66 Airplane seat access 68 Greek god of war 69 Abrasive particles 70 ‘That’s the ___ of my worries’ 71 Red Cross supplies 72 Upper part of a glacier 73 Some Art Deco works DOWN 1 Volcano plume 2 Dickens character Uriah

3 Blues singer James 4 Effusive 5 Speaks indiscreetly 6 Middle Eastern gulf 7 Slang 8 Floating over one’s head 9 Obsessed one 10 Not of the clergy 11 Encouraging aspect 12 Noisy fights 13 Adjust beforehand 21 ‘Leave ___ Beaver’ 22 Arrow groove 26 Classic Steely Dan album 27 Big Mac component 28 Chicago clock setting 30 Stop discussing 32 Theories 34 Put through the paces 35 Josh 36 Tahiti and Reunion, par

58 Lift ticket holder exemple 60 Hombre’s house 40 Prepare for firing 61 Private conversation 41 Word with ‘much’ or 62 Aspiring attys’ exam ‘late’ 63 ‘What ___ can hap42 Ultimate point pen?’

44 Flamingo feature 67 Little green men 45 Bring before a judge (Abbr) 46 Storied NYC nightclub, briefly PREVIOUS PUZZLE ANSWER 47 Drawn proportionally 48 Early October babies 49 Shining brightly 50 Horn player, essentially 55 Tennis great Agassi 56 1554, the old way

27

CHAI TIME SATURDAY, AUGUST 17, 2013

Aries

Taurus

Gemini

Cancer

Leo

Virgo

Nine of Wands

Seven of Swords

The Devil

Queen of Swords

Knight of Wands

Five of Cups

W

W

ork – Be on your guard and don’t mistake a favour for a mere helpful gesture.

Romance – You are confused about love and don’t really know what to expect from it. You may be in love but you miss the heady feeling everyone talks about. Health – Take special care of your hair and skin. You may want to take a course of Vitamin E tablets. It will do you good. Money – Remove the rose-tinted glasses and know that not every investment will bring immediate returns.

If it does, there is something wrong with it.

Tarot message – You need to bare your heart.

Talk to a trusted friend.

Or find a counselor and use a session just to talk about your feelings.

W

ork – A situation may catapult on you at a time when you least expect it to. Keep calm and show that you can work with a cool head in the most trying circumstances. Romance – A holiday to an exotic location can bring your partner and you closer together. You discover wonderful new things about each other. Health – Mental stress and anxiety is taking a toll on you. How about hiring an assistant to take care of planning your schedule? Money – You will have to use your disposable income in a way that your investments and EMIs are not affected.

Don’t try to stretch yourself too much. Tarot message – Clear your thoughts and approach situations on a fresh slate.

W

ork – Expect a gift from a colleague. It will surprise you and make you wonder if there’s a motive behind it.

Romance – It’s a good idea for you and your significant other to join a club – book club, horseriding club – that will make you learn something new together. Health – It’s tempting to walk in the rain. But you must also be aware of the water-borne infections that might cause harm. Money – On a trip, whether business or personal, take time out to review your expenses.

Take good care of your credit cards and cash.

Tarot message – You are preparing for the next phase of life and are likely to feel confused about what’s happening to you right now.

W

W

ork – Don’t compare your salary or work responsibilities with others because that is always likely to make you unsatisfied. Be content with what you have. Romance – There are many feelings deep down within you that need an outlet. You need to share your thoughts with your close friends/partner.

Health – Try going organic and eating healthy.

Change your diet to a healthier one and see the difference on your body.

Money – See if you can pool resources for a project instead of putting in all the finances yourself. That way, you will divide the risk equally. Tarot message – Your mindset will determine what kind of a life you will lead. You can feel free even in a dungeon if your mind thinks it.

ork – Colleagues envy you your position and also ability to do stuff really well. Be on your guard and don’t get too close to anyone.

Romance – You need to feel more and think less in relationships. You cannot have a route map for the way a romance should work. Health – If allopathy is not working for your ailment, go natural. This is a good time to try something completely different. But you need to have faith.

Money – Finances are in control as long as you don’t make rash decisions. Do not lend or borrow money. This will ruin your plans. Tarot message – You are an intellectual genius and handling that can be quite a task for you.

SUMAA TEKUR tarotreadhyd@gmail.com

Libra

Scorpio

The Star

Three of Pentacles

W

W

ork – Bring a business-like formality to your interactions and you will see a marked difference in the way coworkers respond to your requests. Romance – You may feel rejected despite being in a relationship. Bring about some changes in the way you spend time with your partner. Health – Dispose of ideas that don’t work.

If an exercise is not working for you, don’t push it.

Change the plan. Money – There are some pending tasks and you have the tendency to push this to the last minute. Avoid it.

Tarot message – The clouds are there. But there is also a silver lining. Don’t lose hope and continue to chase your dreams.

ork – Time is of the essence when you’re delivering on important subjects and doing things differently. The idea may be great. But putting it out at the right time is equally important. Romance – A fight is not going to be pleasant and more than losing your cool, you’re likely to completely blame the other person for what went wrong. Health – A holistic approach is needed in order to achieve better health.

You may be doing just one thing very well. Add to that a few other healthy habits.

Money – This is a lucky and favourable time for fortune. Tarot message – There are many offers that come your way. Business partnerships work well.

Team up with someone you know.

Sagittarius Six of Cups

W

ork –Not everyone is going to be happy with your position in the office. There are some people who will want to take your place. Watch out!

Romance – Alone together! This sums up what you need in a relationship. You like your own space and are willing to wait for someone who understands this. Health – You need to let go. By trying to control things too much you run the risk of making everyday simple tasks difficult for yourself. Money – Don’t hold back too much.

If you really want to buy something, take the plunge but also ensure you can afford it. Tarot message – By being an over-the-top control freak, you make life boring for yourself and others, too.

Capricorn

Date 18-8-2013

Aquarius

The Hermit

Queen of Cups

W

ork – You are stretching yourself too much and need a break. Your stress is showing on the quality of work as well. Take time out. Romance – Catch a movie or go out to dinner on a week night. Break the routine and bring the passion back into your life. Health – Be careful of the foods you’re eating and where you drink water from. The season change might affect your health. Money – Stay in charge of your money and make sure you have enough funds locked away in a safe place for a rainy day. Tarot message – Write down your thoughts if you cannot share them with anyone. Make sure your emotions have an outlet from your system.

ork – There are many things you may not know about your own field of expertise. Obtain new knowledge. Don’t be content in the false impression that you know it all. Romance – Nursing a broken heart is never easy. Take time off to do things that you enjoy. Be kind to yourself. Health – Clear your doubts by taking a second opinion from another doctor. It is not necessary that good doctors all work only in big hospitals. Money – There is a structure to managing money. A finance advisor should be able to help you.

Tarot message – Finding yourself in the spiritual growth is an important part of your journey. Don’t stop looking and you will make headway.

ork – Your career is about to soar to great heights. You worked very hard to get here. You will get everything you rightfully deserve. Romance – You are fed up a moaning and groaning partner.

You like someone who lives in the moment and enjoys it for what it is.

Health – If you think you have a problem, then you most certainly do have a problem.

Think positive and all will be fine. Money – There are some ugly truths about money and spending, which you have to deal with in order to be comfortable with finances. Tarot message – There are many opportunities that come your way.

Recognise and make use of them.

W

Pisces Nine of Pentacles

W

ork – Before you blame someone else for something that’s going wrong at the work place, you need to look within yourself. Romance – Change the scene with your partner. Go to a restaurant and spend time talking about your day instead of doing it at home while doing laundry.

Health – There are options before you in how to treat a chronic health issue. Don’t be overwhelmed by the pain. Think in a practical way. Money –When the markets are looking down, there are ways to reduce the losses. Don’t lose the rupees while counting the paisa. Tarot message – Treat yourself to some metime. This is needed every now and then to connect with your inner self.

Vol: 3, No 28 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 040-40672222, Fax: 040-40672211

28

THE SATURDAY QUIZ SATURDAY, AUGUST 17, 2013

TEST YOUR KNOWLEDGE Picture Films company founded?

16. Which nation's famous specialisty is croissant?

17. What was the nationality of Ludwig Van Beethoven?

18. What is the sum of the numbers shown on the buttons of a mobile telephone?

19. In cricket, how many pieces of wood make up one wicket?

THESE ARE THE NATIONAL DISHES OF WHICH COUNTRIES?

CURRENT AFFAIRS

1

1 2 3 4 5 6

2

What was the theme of International Youth Day that was celebrated on August 12?

TEST YOURSELF How much do you known about weddings?

1

Which culture traditionally tucks a cube of sugar in the bride’s glove?

How will Chicago's O'Hare International Airport be controling the vegetation on the airport ground?

2

The English traditionally believe that finding an insect in your wedding dress is good luck. Name it.

What is the name of the typhoon that wreaked havoc in Philippines and lashing on China?

Who is the new UN assistant secretary general?

3

A country has declared bird flu emergency. Which is this country?

4

Moroccan brides traditionally bathe in what before their wedding?

3

4

Who started the tradition of the bachelor party?

1. Youth Migration: Moving Development Forward 2. With the help of goats, sheep, llamas and burros that will graze on 5,000 square meters of airport ground 3. Utor 4. China's Haoliang Xu 5. Nepal 6. UAE

7

What type of engagement ring is thought to bring bad luck?

with Santosh Ghule Dizziness will change to fear if you can recognise what is within.

Answer for 79:

A blast occured on an Indian submarine which was docked in Mumbai with 18 sailors on board who are feared to be dead. What is the name of the submarine?

WHO AM I? I am Jamaat-ud-Dawa chief and am wanted in India for the 26/11 Mumbai terror attack. Recently I declared that I am not a terrorist.

And asked India to prove that I am a terrorist. Who am I?

Answer : Hafiz Mohammad

3

PICTURE PUZZLE 80

Flip the image 180 degrees and you will spot a horse.

This week the country successfully test-fired its nuclear-capable missile from a military base in Odisha. What is the name of the missile?

Answers: 1. Hamburger, US 2. Kibbeh, Lebanon/Syria 3. Irish Stew, Ireland 4. Bulgogi, Korea

2

Answers:

Answers In which state was India's first Cyber Forensic Laboratory set up?

From which culture does the tradition of the wedding cake come from?

6

KNOW YOUR COUNTRY

1

5

1. Greek 2. Spider 3. Peas 4. Milk 5. Roman 6. The Spartans 7. Pearl

Which country will host the New Nuclear International Conference in November this year?

Traditionally, what do Czechs throw instead of rice?

Saeed

IN THE NEWS

10. What is 0.1 squared?

11. Which continent does Germany belong to?

12. Who is often referred to as 'King of Rock and Roll'?

13. What is the chemical symbol of magnesium?

14. What does the spanish word ‘Adiós’ correspond to?

15. In what year was the Universal

Answers

Italian origin?

6. In what year did India become a republic?

7. How many sides do all snow crystals have?

8. In what year was Antonio Lucio Vivaldi given the title of knight

by Emperor Charles VI? 9. In what year did the English novelists Daniel Defoe die?

1. Cow 2. 1 3. Horse 4. 1962 5. Areni 6. 1950 7. 6 8. 1728 9. 1731 10. 0.01 11. Europe 12. Elvis Presley 13. Mg 14. Goodbye 15. 1912 16. France 17. German 18. 45 19. 5

1. Which animal is known as holy animal in India?

2. How many moons does Pluto have?

3. On which animal does the groom sit traditionally in Hindu religion?

4. In which year did Algeria attain its independence?

5. Which variety of grape is not of

1. Tripura 2. Prithvi-II missile 3. INS Sindhurakshak

Answers

29

SPORTS SATURDAY, AUGUST 17, 2013

Narain takes third pole

I

‘Learning curve for Sindhu’

ndia’s Narain Karthikeyan clinched his third consecutive pole position of the Auto GP World Series at the Nurburgring here Friday. Following two poles and two wins at Silverstone and Mugello at the previous rounds, the Indian was on the pace from the outset. As the chequered flag fell, Karthikeyan had secured pole with a lap time of 1:18.330.

Capriati to face trial

D

F

anish badminton great Tine Baun says that despite PV Sindhu’s successful outing at the World Championships last week, she still has some way to go. Having beaten Sindhu in their only match at the Malaysia Open Super Series in January, Dane believes that Sindhu still needs to fine tune her game, despite getting into the top 10 of the rankings .

ormer American tennis player Jennifer Capriati will face trial for assault. Capriati is accused of punching her ex-boyfriend at a gym on Valentine’s Day, but she has denied the accusations, reports Xinhua. Capriati captured back-to-back Australian Open titles 2001 and 2002 as well as a French Open crown in 2001. She was also the Olympic champion in 1992.

Mo overcomes ‘stitch’ in time

Luke PHILLIPS

MOSCOW: Mo Farah overcame a crippling early stitch to defend his world 5,000m title and claim a rare world and Olympic double in the long-distance events.

In what will be reassuring news to amateur runners across the globe, the Briton admitted that he was hoping for a slow pace in Friday’s race to recover from his stitch.

“Early in the race I had a big stitch so I was hoping the pace wouldn’t go as fast and it didn’t, it all went well and I just tried to stay out of trouble," said Farah, who won an emotional double gold at the Olympics last year in the Somalia-born athlete’s adopted home city of London.

The Briton described his victory at the Luzhniki Stadium on Friday as the runaway best of his career, which has blossomed since he teamed up with Alberto Salazar in Portland, Oregon.

The victory, with Ethiopian Hagos Gebrhiwet taking silver and Kenyan Isiah Koech bronze, coming just six days after

Saturday’s 10,000m win “was definitely the sweetest by far".

“The double was definitely tougher than the Olympic one because last year nobody knew what I was capable of. Today was indeed one of the most important days in my career, but I’m the same old guy," he said.

“I had a stitch and it was important I had to try and get over it. My legs felt okay. I was a lot more heavy than the other guys because they didn’t run the 10,000m.

“I thought the race would have gone harder, thinking the guys were thinking ‘he’s already done 25 laps around the track plus the heats for the 5000m', but it didn’t."

In a sprint finish, started when Farah bolted with 650 metres to race, the Briton acknowledged that he had been confident in his ability to hold off the attentions of Gebrhiwet, Koech and another Kenyan, Thomas Longosiwa.

“I was confident from having run fast 1500m races in last few races," he said in reference to

Great Britain’s Mo Farah (R) wins the men’s 5,000m final at the IAAF World Championships in Moscow on Friday.

AFP/OLIVIER MORIN his decision to step down from the 5,000 and 10,000m in order to hone his speed, notably resulting in an unlikely European record in the 1500m in the Monaco Diamond League meet.

“I was confident of my speed if it came down to the end, and

to come home strong."

Farah added that he was concerned he might have been boxed in as part of Kenyan team tactics, but that never materialised.

“That didn’t happen and I was able to go in front and con-

From pauper to sprint Queen: Fraser Pryce Pirate Irwin

MOSCOW: Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce may not be a crowd pleaser or have the records of fellow sprint champion Usain Bolt but her battle to rise out of poverty to become queen of women’s sprinting says a lot about a champion’s drive and mental strength.

The 26-year-old with a smile almost as wide as her winning margins stamped her mark as one of the greatest sprinters of all time on Friday when in Moscow she became only the third woman to complete the

100/200 metres world double.

However, aside from sporting partly-dyed pink hair to go with her pink nail varnish and pink running shoes, and being a class above her rivals on the track, to many her diminutive size (she stands just five feet tall) reflects her profile off the track — almost invisible.

That, though, is part of her personal magic and charm, doing endless charity work — she is a UNICEF Ambassador among other things — especially for children but always with the minimum of fuss, content to lend her name to what she considers worthy causes.

“If you understand Shelly, she’s a behind-the-scenes person," her local priest Senior Pastor Winston Jackson told Jamaican newspaper The Gleaner last year.

“If she’s going to help

somebody, she will do it in private. She doesn’t like all the excitement."

Her work with children has a personal side to it after a childhood that saw her grow up in a violent ghetto in Kingston — a cousin was a victim of it — but where she refused to lie down and accept her lot was to just survive.

Much of this steeliness was infused into her psyche by her mother Maxine — who brought her and her two brothers up on her own like so many single parents did in the Waterhouse neighbourhood — with the diktat being: ‘you have a talent go and use it.'

“Now it’s Jamaican women and children who are my inspiration," she told the Daily Tele graph in 2009 shortly after she had added world 100m gold to the Olympic title from Beijing.

trol the race," the 30-year-old said, confirming that the marathon would be his focus from 2014.

In winning the double-double, Farah emulated Kenenisa Bekele’s similar exploits at the 2009 worlds in Berlin, which followed his victories in the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing.

But he said Bekele’s world records over both distances were not on his immediate radar.

“Since last year I’ve been concentrating on the world championships and trying to win medals," he said.

“It’s very difficult to try and prepare a fast time in a championships. In a championships you just have to try to cover every move, (have) endurance and speed.

“Tactically, I’ve learned a lot in my career. Many people forget that I just didn’t come overnight, but it’s been years of struggle.

“I made the breakthrough with Salazar, improving one or two percent, that’s the difference to becoming champion to finishAFP ing fifth or sixth."

Bolt races into 200m final Luke PHILLIPS

MOSCOW: Two-time defending champion Usain Bolt’s bid to seal a third successive world 200m title advanced smoothly as he coasted to victory in his semi-final on Friday.

The 26-year-old Jamaican, who won the 200m titles in Berlin in 2009 and Daegu in 2011, and is also double Olympic champion and world record holder in the event, timed a comfortable 20.13sec to win his heat and advance to Saturday’s final.

After a good start, Bolt was up on compatriot Jason Livermore in the lane outside him within a matter of metres. He held his form and came through the line just one-hundredth of a second ahead of South African Anaso Jobodwana, who finished eighth in the final at the London Olympics and looks in impressive form in Moscow.

Bolt, who admitted earlier that he had been nursing a sore foot after regaining his 100m title on Sunday, will be joined in the final by teammates Warren Weir, the Olympic bronze medallist, and Nickel Ashmeade. AFP

30

SPORTS SATURDAY, AUGUST 17, 2013

Top-seeds bundled out

CINCINNATI: The world’s top

two tennis players, Novak Djokovic and Andy Murray, both suffered shock defeats Friday, while Rafael Nadal stormed back to beat longtime rival Roger Federer at the Cincinnati Masters.

Number three Nadal booked a spot in the semi-finals by rallying past Federer, with the Swiss player saving four match points in a 5-7, 6-4, 6-3 loss.

The pair have met a total of 31 times, with Nadal winning 21 of those.

“My movement got better, with more intensity,” said Nadal, undefeated on hardcourts in 2013. “I put in more balls on the return, and controlled the baseline, something that didn’t happen the first set and a half.

“The match was very close. I played some good points in important moments.”

Federer suffered only his second loss in the last five editions in Cincinnati.

“Credit to him for hanging in and getting back some tough shots,” said five-time champion Federer, who will fall to seventh in the world as a result of his defeat.

(L-R) Rafael Nadal of Spain shakes hands at the net with Roger Federer of Switzerland after their Men’s Singles quarterfinals match during the Western & Southern Open on Friday in Cincinnati, Ohio.

AFP/RONALD MARTINEZ “I have some disappointment, I could have played better late in the second and early in the third.

“But my tactics were working most of the time. I served well for most of the match, but when I didn’t he was able to step it up.”

World number one Djokovic

Rookie Reed leads Wyndham GREENSBORO: PGA Tour rookie Patrick Reed birdied his final two holes as he shot a bogey-free six-under 64 to take a one-stroke lead after the second round of the Wyndham Championship on Friday. The 23-year-old Reed, who is seeking his first win on the US tour, completed 36 holes at Sedgefield Country Club at 11-under-par 129, one shot ahead of John Huh, who is the reigning rookie of the year.

Huh fired a 62 also rolling in birdies on his final two holes to reach 10-under-par 130. His 62 was the low round of the week so far. “We’ve been working extremely hard trying to fine-tune everything and I feel like lately with how I’ve been hitting the ball and how I’ve been putting it just AFP seems all to be clicking,” said Reed.

fell 7-6 (7/5), 3-6, 7-5 to unseeded John Isner as the Serb’s attempt to set another tennis record ended in defeat.

Had Djokovic beaten the American he would have kept alive a bid to become the first man to win all nine Masters 1000 titles in his career.

Two-time champion Murray

was eliminated 6-3, 6-4 by Tomas Berdych, leaving the Scot to head for New York and his US Open title defense, beginning August 26, with plenty to work on.

The second seed fired 10 aces but was betrayed as he missed on all four of his break points.

Berdych has now beaten Murray twice this season after beating him in Madrid on clay.

“The court was lively today.

It was bouncing pretty high and it was quite tough to control the ball. I made too many errors,” said Murray. “The first couple of rounds, I was able to hit the ball quite flat and wasn’t kind of flying on me; today it was happening a little bit. “I need to make sure I’m not making too many mistakes going into the US Open.”

Isner set up a Saturday semi with 2009 US Open winner Juan Martin del Potro, who beat qualifier Dmitry Tursunov 6-4, 3-6, 6-1.

Del Potro said he won despite dealing with pain in his left wrist. The Argentine missed much of the 2010 season with a wrist problems and remains cautious.

“Yes, it bothers me a little

Azarenka advances to Cincinnati semis CINCINNATI: Victoria Azarenka defeated former number one Caroline Wozniacki 6-3, 7-6 (7/5) on Friday to reach the Cincinnati Masters semifinals against Jelena Jankovic.

Second seed Azarenka came from a break down in the second set before advancing on her third match point in the tiebreaker against her Danish opponent. The win was only the third in nine meetings for Azarenka against Wozniacki.

Jankovic booked her spot as she beat Roberta Vinci 6-0, 6-4.

AFP

bit, but not too much,” said the 2009 US Open champion.

“I’m trying to play slices and different shots before the US Open to see how different I can play against the top guys.” AFP

McIlroy confirmed to play in Australian Open SYDNEY: Two-time major champion and current world number three Rory McIlroy will play in this year’s Australian Open, organisers said on Saturday.

It will be the 24-year-old Northern Irishman’s first appearance at the Australian Open since 2007 when he tees off at the Royal Sydney Golf Club for the November 28-December 1 tournament.

“It’s been a few years since I last competed in an Australian Open. I competed in 2006 when I was still an amateur and then a year later after just turning pro,” McIlroy said.

“Both were in Sydney and I’ve always enjoyed myself in Sydney so I am very much looking forward to returning to Royal

Sydney,” the ace golfer went on to add.

On his last Australian Open appearance six years ago McIlroy finished well down the field in a share of 59th with scores of 74, 74, 76 and 77.

McIlroy won the 2011 US Open at Congressional and 2012 US PGA Championship at Kiawah Island among his six PGA Tour victories, and joins Australia’s world number four and Masters champion Adam Scott in the field at Sydeny.

McIlroy said this week that he has also accepted an invitation to play in the Tiger Woods-hosted World Challenge from December 5-8 at the Sherwood Country Club course in Los Angeles.

AFP

LOCAL SPORT

Patrick Reed reacts to a shot on the 9th hole during the second round of the Wyndham Championship at Sedgefield Country Club on Friday in Greensboro, AFP/STREETER LECKA North Carolina.

League Cricket A division three days MP Colts 307/9 decl in 110.4 overs (M Radhakrishna 49 n.o., Prithvi Reddy 4/44) drew with Hyderabad Bottling 152/7 in 69 overs (Rohan 36, Prithvi 51, PB Parashar 4/41) A division one day Elegant 208/7 (K Ajay Reddy 44) drew with Satya CC 53/2 (Match washed out due to heavy rains) HCA Coca Cola cup inter school St Joseph Public School 66 (K Rohit

Goud 4/8, Nikhil 3/7) lost to Vignan Vidyalaya 67/5 Neeraj Public School 132 (MK Hasnain 33, Sai Kumar 3/26) lost to St Marys (Yousufguda) 135 for no loss (S Yudish 83 n.o., Kunal Jain 30) Delhi Public School 77 (Bhagath Varma 3/14) lost to St Johns Church Junior College 79/1 (Bhagath Varma 31 n.o.)

Inter district two days Nizamabad 142/8 (Sajid 40, Krishna Reddy 3/20, Madhu 3/28) vs Karimngar.

Chess competition on Thursday HYDERABAD: The Hyderabad District Chess Association will conduct the Kotwal Sri Rajbahadur Venkataramireddy memorial inter-school chess tournament on 22 August on the occasion of 144th Birth Anniversary of Kotwal Sri Rajbahadur Venkataramireddy.

For more details contact Anand Naik on 9247979886. The last date for preregistration is 20 August 5pm at Hyderabad Chess Academy, Street No 4, Chikkadpally.

31

SPORTS SATURDAY, AUGUST 17, 2013

Tour survives stand-off Zimbabwe's cricketers have returned to training after a brief stand-off with Zimbabwe Cricket over unpaid wages and the value of future contracts.

HARARE: Zimbabwe's cricketers have returned to training after a brief stand-off with Zimbabwe Cricket over unpaid wages and the value of future contracts, ensuring that Pakistan's tour of the country will go ahead as planned. Zimbabwe are due to host Pakistan for two Tests, three one-day internationals and two T20s starting on August 23, but their preparations have been hampered by their second player strike this year.

While the players have not been paid their salaries and match fees for July by cash-strapped ZC, their decision to suspend training from Tuesday was also related to negotiations over the value of future contracts.

With central contracts due to expire at the end of August -midway through Pakistan's visit -- Zimbabwe's players requested improvements in match fees to put them in line with other international sides and threatened to boycott the games

against Pakistan unless their conditions were met.

However, a group of senior players, including captain Brendan Taylor, met with ZC managing director Wilfred Mukondiwa on Friday and agreed to resume training pending further discussions.

"All the players have returned to training," Taylor told AFP. "We had a good meeting this morning with the managing director, who's met us halfway with regards to match fees and the new contracts coming up.

"We just wanted to iron all that out and get some security

and clarity on the next 12 months. They've been pretty good on that front. We understand the financial situation is pretty bleak. We're just happy to be back and focussing on what's important, which is this Pakistan tour."

A ZC spokesman confirmed that the Cricket Committee had met on Friday to discuss how many players would be placed on both central and winter contracts, as well as the value of those contracts.

An offer will now be put to the players, who are in the final stages of setting up a players' association to represent them in such matters. Although the players received support from both the Federation of International Cricketers' Associations (FICA) and the South African Cricketers' Association (SACA) in drafting a constitution earlier this year, they were only pressed to put it into action by developAFP ments this week.

Sri Lanka reject night Tests with pink ball COLOMBO: Sri Lanka on Friday turned down a request from Pakistan to play day-night Tests in the upcoming series in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) where both countries have loyal fans.

Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) said it decided against playing day-night Tests "since the national team players have not practised under lights and with the new pink ball".

The challenge facing such Tests has been to find a ball that is clearly visible in both sunshine and also in the floodlights, and the

Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) said it had sent the Sri Lankan cricket board a dozen balls of pink and

orange colour for them to examine.

The International Cricket Council (ICC) had approved the day-night matches under floodlights as a way to stem dwindling interest in Tests in many countries.

The UAE has a large expatriate Pakistani community but few show up to watch Test matches, in part because they are played during the day when most are at work.

No country has yet tried the new format and the ICC has left it to individual boards to decide when and how to experiment.

Pakistan has been forced to play its "home" internationals at neutral venues, mainly in the UAE, since militants attacked the Sri Lankan team during a Test in Lahore in 2009.

Pakistan host Sri Lanka for three Tests, five one-day internationals and two Twenty20s in December and January in the UAE and Sarwar had thought that the conditions were right to experiment.

The first Test starts in Dubai on December 31. The other two Tests are in Abu Dhabi (January 8-12) and Sharjah (January 16-20). AFP

Whatmore warns Pak against complacency LAHORE: Pakistan's coach Dav Whatmore Friday warned his team against being complacent when they face up to lowly Zimbabwe next week in a tour considered important for blooding new players. He said the team was training hard for the two T20, three one-day and two Test matches and would not take their opposition lightly.

"We may be playing Zimbabwe in Zimbabwe but they are still very important for Pakistan," he said. "The danger that I see anyway is complacency. We don't want to be complacent in any of our make-up with this cricket."

Pakistan is due to depart on Monday to play the first of two T20 on August 23, with the last Test scheduled to start September 10.

They are well ahead of their African rivals in the rankings: fifth in Tests, sixth in one-day and second in Twenty20.

In contrast, Zimbabwe are without a ranking in Tests as they have not played the required number of matches, are 10th in one-dayers and as low as 12th in Twenty20s -- ahead of just The Netherlands and Kenya.

Whatmore, who coached Sri Lanka to World Cup victory in 1996, backed T20 captain Mohammad Hafeez who has struggled for form lately.

"He's (Hafeez) done pretty well in the format that he captains. We have climbed up the rankings under his leadership. He would obviously like to score more AFP runs, that's accepted."

Ballance ton frustrates Australia LONDON: Australia suffered a frustrating time in the field as England Lions batsman Gary Ballance (right) hit a century on a rain-affected first day of the tour match at Northampton on Friday.

Ballance, who plays his county cricket for Yorkshire, smashed 104 from 154 balls, including 16 fours and one six as the Lions closed on 269-7, with spinner Nathan Lyon the pick of the Australia bowlers with three for 80.

Worcestershire all-rounder Moeen Ali also contributed 61 off

101 deliveries for Lions, but with bad weather forecast for Saturday the tourists' hopes for batting practice ahead of next week's final Test at the Oval could be frustrated.

Australia are 3-0 down in the best of five Test series and have already failed in their bid to regain the Ashes.

England Lions won the toss and chose to bat when play finally got underway after lunch, but they lost Luke Wells for 10 in the sixth over when he edged James Faulkner to Australia wicketkeeper Matthew

Wade.

His fellow opener Alex Lees should have followed on 16 but the tourists' captain Shane Watson put down a straightforward chance at slip, off the bowling of Lyon.

Fortunately for Watson, his mistake only cost 17 runs as he pouched his next opportunity at first slip after Yorkshire's Lees edged another Lyon delivery to walk for 33. Lions' captain Eoin Morgan made only five before throwing his wicket away with an ugly slash off Lyon to AFP Watson, again at first slip.

32

SPORTS SATURDAY, AUGUST 17, 2013

Mourinho ready for return

Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho believes the Premier League title race will be more open than ever ahead of his long-awaited return in Sunday’s season opener against Hull.

Ian Winrow

an emotional reunion with Chelsea’s supporters and is planning to visit the stadium with his players 24 hours before kickoff.

A gruelling pre-season tour has taken Chelsea around the globe but the new signings, including Andre Schurrle and Marco van Ginkel, have yet to play on home turf.

LONDON: Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho believes the Premier League title race will be more open than ever ahead of his long-awaited return in Sunday’s season opener against Hull.

Mourinho will be back in the Stamford Bridge dug-out for the visit of Steve Bruce’s newly-promoted team, six years after he left the club following a glorious three-year reign. The Portuguese guided the Blues to successive league titles and his return has seen Chelsea installed by many as favourites to take the crown away from reigning champions Manchester United.

Yet while Mourinho, who quit Real Madrid at the end of last season, claims the contest will be more open than in recent years, he believes quality at the head of the table is not what it was. “I believe the Premier League is stronger because there is a bigger number of teams who can fight for the title,” he said.

MOURINHO GUIDED THE BLUES TO SUCCESSIVE LEAGUE TITLES AND HIS RETURN HAS SEEN CHELSEA INSTALLED BY MANY AS FAVOURITES TO TAKE THE CROWN AWAY. Chelsea’s manager Jose Mourinho arrives for a press conference at the club’s AFP/ANDREW COWIE training ground in Cobham, on Friday.

“Probably stronger because there’s more balance. But I think, a few years ago, the better teams were better. Maybe by December or January you will find

somebody wasn’t strong enough to be there fighting for the title.

But at the beginning, I think six teams are there competing.”

Mourinho admits he expects

Bale saga casts shadow over Spurs to get the north London side off to a winning start against newly-promoted Palace.

A foot injury is set to rule Bale out of this week’s fixture, but even in his absence the transfer rumblings threaten to prove a significant distraction until the transfer window shuts.

Despite the difficult circumstances, Spurs skipper Michael Dawson is determined to concentrate on making a solid start to the season and securing his club’s first opening-day victory in four years. “We didn’t get off to a flyer last season like we wanted to,” Dawson said.

“We showed strength, commitment and spirit to fight back, but if we had started better then who knows where it would have taken us? Hopefully this year we can get off to a flyer and it will be the start of a great year that has more ups than downs.”

Tottenham chairman Daniel Levy might have spent most of the close-season speaking to Real officials about Bale, but he has also found time to bring in Roberto Soldado, Paulinho, Nacer Chadli and Etienne Capoue at a AFP cost of close to £60 million.

LONDON: Gareth Bale’s on-going transfer saga continues to cast a dark shadow over Tottenham as they prepare to kick off their Premier League campaign at Crystal Palace on Sunday.

Spurs boss Andre Villas-Boas has become restless at answering questions over the Welsh winger’s mooted worldrecord move to Real Madrid as he looks

Boggle Number game

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PERU CHILE BRAZIL BOLIVIA ECUADOR

Suduko

Jonny Fordham

“I will go so I try to feel something. I want to share. It’s not just me, it’s also the new boys who don’t even know where the dressing rooms are,” Mourinho said. “We will train there on Saturday so the boys

can work out where the dressing rooms are, where the tunnel is, about the pitch. They’ve never been there. To be back there will be a different feeling. I had it when I came back here with Inter, but now I go to my dug-out, my stadium, my people.”

Chelsea’s David Luiz is ruled out, while Juan Mata faces a late test on an injury picked up in pre-season. Van Ginkel and Schurrle are in contention to make their competitive debuts along with Kevin De Bruyne who spent last season on loan at Werder Bremen.

Hull manager Steve Bruce is set to hand debuts to Tom Huddlestone and Jake Livermore, the midfielders signed from Tottenham this week.

Scotland goalkeeper Allan McGregor, Curtis Davies and Maynor Figueroa and forward Danny Graham are all likely to make their first Premier League start for the Tigers, who earned automatic promotion last season AFP from the Championship.

Moyes faces Rooney dilemma

Moyes faces the first big decision of his Man Utd reign as he debates whether to bring unsettled Rooney.

Steven GRIFFITHS

LONDON: David Moyes faces the first big decision of his Manchester United reign on Saturday as he debates whether to bring unsettled striker Wayne Rooney (right) in from the cold. Rooney missed United’s entire pre-season programme with hamstring and shoulder problems amid claims he had been frozen out by Moyes after telling he wanted to join Chelsea.

United have turned down two Chelsea offers for Rooney and Moyes is adamant the England striker is not for sale, although Blues boss Jose Mourinho has made it clear he still hopes to sign the Rooney before the transfer window closes.

Moyes was at Wembley on Wednesday to see Rooney finally prove his fitness by playing 66 minutes of England’s 3-2 friendly win over Scotland and the forward travelled with the United squad when they flew to Swansea on Friday afternoon.

However, with last season’s star man Robin van Persie netting twice in Sunday’s Community Shield win over Wigan, Moyes could be willing to risk angering the notoriously short-tempered Rooney by leaving him on the bench at the Liberty Stadium, where the champions will play a league game with a manager other than Alex Ferguson in the dug-out for the first time since November 1, 1986.

“Everybody wants to play Manchester United and do well,” Moyes said of the test Swansea will pose. “I’m sure I’m going to be made aware of that very

early. But to be called Manchester United manager is probably the biggest thrill.

“It’s a real privilege and I’m going to do everything I possibly can to make sure the club continues to have success.”

United’s two closest rivals from last season are also under new management, with Manuel Pellegrini replacing the sacked Roberto Mancini at Manchester City and Mourinho returning to Chelsea AFP to succeed Rafael Benitez.