Postnoon E-Paper for 17 March 2013 by Scribble Media & Entertainment Pvt. Ltd.

MURALI VIJAY

131 SACHIN

MURALI TON KEEPS INDIA IN THE FIGHT

ndia were 384/3 at lunch on the fourth day of the third cricket Test against Australia at Mohali, powered by a century from Murali Vijay, who remained unbeaten on 142 at lunch.

Australia 408, India 384/3 PG 31

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MARCH 17, 2013 HYDERABAD

Hyderabad’s first compact afternoon newspaper

ON SUNDAY

‘PROFESSIONAL’ GROOM LANDS IN JAIL In another instance of misusing provisions of the Muslim Personal Law, a man has been getting married repeatedly on the sly, all the while cheating his first wife of her hard-earned money.

32 PAGES

REPORT ON PG 3

BORABANDA VOTERS FIND THEMSELVES MISSING All that technology and voting machines professing foolproof voting system notwithstanding, there were complaints galore of missing names from the voters list in Borabanda that went to the polls this morning. “This time the voting percentage would be less, as several names in the voters list are missing,” said a youth who was coming out of the booth after finding out that his name had vanished. PG 4

CITY SUNDAY, MARCH 17, 2013

THREE IS A CROWD. FOUR IS...?

Easter goodies Hot cross buns, Easter Bunnies, and Easter chocolates are part of the special Easter menu. Where: Novotel Hyderabad Convention Centre When: March 25-31 Contact: (040) 6682 4422

Shaam-e-Deccan GreenPark is hosting Royal Hyderabadi Food Festival – Shaame-Deccan. There will be a spread of vegetarian and non vegetarian delights, especially the nawabi kebabs and a wide choice of biriyanis. Where: Once Upon a Time, GreenPark, Greenlands, Begumpet When: March 15-24, 7.30pm to 11pm Contact: (040) 6651 5151

St Patrick’s Day – Brunch Menu includes Irish soda bread, boxty and colcannon. Where: The Square, Novotel Hyderabad Convention Centre When: from March 17, noon onwards Contact: (040) 6682 4422

Saturday sunset BBQ Bring your family and friends for a fun barbecue evening with grilled specialties, a variety of Kebabs and a whole lot of Asian delights. Where: The Square, Novotel Hyderabad Convention Centre When: Every Saturday, 7pm onwards Contact: (040) 6682 4422

Special lunch There is a special lunch buffet at Kailash Parbat. It includes chats, starters, soup, welcome drinks and desserts. There are special packages for kitty groups and big groups. Where: Kailash Parbat, Above Ebony Gautier, second floor, Road no. 36, Jubilee Hills When: Ongoing Contact: (040) 2355 8856

Francophonie day 2013 The open day includes free demo classes, crêpe tasting and a short film about France. Labcitoyen competition for young French speakers gives you a chance to win a trip to France in July. The evening events include performance by French speakers from different countries. Where: Alliance Française, Plot no. 4, Aurora Colony, Road no. 3, Banjara Hills When: March 20, Open day: 10am to 4pm Competition: 3pm Evening events: 6pm

CINEMAS

A family squeezes onto one bike near Charminar, Hyderabad. Contact: (040) 64603341

DocuSplash! Barf, 1997 & Sita’s Family, 2002, Delhi Mumbai Delhi, 2006 and Naach, 2008, will be screened. Where: Goethe-Zentrum, Hyderabad 20 Journalist Colony, Road no. 3, Banjara Hills When: March 24, 11am onwards Contact: gothe.de/hyderabad

Double Easter treat There is an exquisite seafood barbecue, along with Easter classics at Okra. Specially crafted Easter hampers are available at The Hyderabad Baking Company. Where: Okra,Hyderabad Marriott Hotel & Convention Centre When: March 31, 12.30pm to 3.30pm Contact: (040) 2752 2567

A short film about... This is a movie by Divya Sachar on how, affected by other’s perceptions, women mostly find themselves looking at their breasts through a male perspective. Where: Lamakaan, Opposite GVK One Mall, Road No.1, Banjara Hills When: March 19, 7pm onwards Contact: 96427 31329

Women in Public Spaces About one month ago GoetheZentrum Hyderabad has called for applications for a group photography exhibition on ‘Women in Public Spaces.’ This is an exhibition of selected entries. Where: Goethe-Zentrum, When: March 15-24, 9.30am to 5.30pm Contact: (040) 2335 0443

The great Oxford sale Discounts on books, magazines, stationery and gift items. Where: Oxford Bookstore, Tresorie, The Park, 22 Raj Bhavan Road When: Up to March 31 Contact: (040) 3100 2959

Spring Treasure sale There is a sale of up to 50 per cent off at Taj Khazana, which showcases artefacts as well as a selection of garments, stoles, shawls and accessories from various Indian designers. Where: Taj Khazana Taj Falaknuma Palace When: March 15-25 Contact: (040) 6629 8600

French heritage A photographic voyage of French heritage in India with Anay Mann, Gigi Scaria, Rishi Singhal, Serena Chopra, Isabel Saij along with Jean-

M ANIL KUMAR

Pierre Dubois. Where: Kalakriti Art Gallery, Banjara Hills When: March 16-21 11am to 7pm Contact: (040) 6656 4466

Thinking form and content An exhibition of art work by Gopal Nayak. Where: ICONART Gallery, Road no. 12, Sri Ram Nagar Colony, Banjara Hills When: Up to March 30, from 11.30 am to 7 pm Contact: 9849 968797

Daily treats Orange is the fruit of the month at The Westin Hyderabad Mindspace. Dishes include orange blossom cheesecake, orange creme bluree and dark chocolate orange tart. Where: Daily Treats The Westin Hyderabad Mindspace When: Up to March 31 Contact: (040) 6767 6818

It’s Easter! There is a special Easter brunch. Where: Seasonal Tastes, The Westin Hyderabad Mindspace When: March 31, noon to 4pm Contact: (040) 6767 6888

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

CITY SUNDAY, MARCH 17, 2013

2 held for ATM theft bid

60 cops take ill after meals

atrolling police caught two men trying to break an unguarded ICICI bank ATM at Parsiguda. The duo, apparently with little knowledge of ATMs, was trying crude method of breaking the machine to get the cash. Police confronted the two and arrested them though they tried in vain to escape. Apparently, the ATM had no CCTV camera.

Gold, silver stolen

ome 60 probationary excise subinspectors, who are undergoing training at Bandlaguda Training academy, were admitted in Fever Hospital this morning with symptoms of food poisoning. They all have reportedly complained of digestive trouble, sources said. The recruits are not allowed to talk to the media, it is indicated.

early 10 tolas of gold and some silver ornaments were stolen from the house of one Neeta Chaudhary, a resident of Airlines Colony in Bowenpally. The owners were away. Burglars had broken the front door lock to get access to the house. Bowenpally police have collected finger prints and other evidence and the investigation is in progress.

Hand turns off ceiling fan

Congress has shelved its plan to disqualify nine MLAs who had voted in favour of no-confidence motion. The strategy is to defeat the YSRC design of raising tally and prevent another bout of bypolls. IF THE NINE MLAS ARE DISQUALIFIED,

INKESHAF AHMED

ELECTIONS HAVE TO BE CONDUCTED IN SIX MONTHS. WITH THIS, THE YSRC IS LIKELY TO GAIN THE UPPER HAND.

ahmed.m@postnoon.com

he ruling Congress, in an upbeat mood after the easy defeat of the no-confidence motion, is now not in a hurry to disqualify nine party MLAs who have been provoking their party whip to bring the anti-defection law on them so they could publicly appear to be the aggrieved. Another reason for the party to swallow its pride and suffer the ignominy of its own MLAs ridiculing the leadership is the desire to avoid thrusting unnecessary by-elections on the people. If the nine MLAs are dis-

qualified, elections have to be conducted in six months. Why hoist another round of elections on the people, ask Congress leaders. If elections are held immediately, the YSRC is likely to gain the upper hand, readings say.

According to Sub-Clause 151A (a) of Representation of People’s Act, 1951, “election for an Assembly seat, which fell vacant following the resignation of a member, can be held within a period of one year if the

remainder of the term of such member is less than one year”. And, the Congress is well within its boundary if it kicks out the nine. “We are trying to utilise this clause in our favour. This would not only help us in ensuring that the rebel MLAs lose their seats but also keep them at bay from contesting the election for one year’s time. It would also spoil the

is his ‘profession’

ohammed Umer Khan had not bargained for this. He thought he could go on marrying and enjoying someone else’s money without working. But justice has caught up with him now. When the Reinbazaar police confronted him following his first wife’s complaint, Khan had in his possession three passports in the name of his three ‘wives’. His first wife, Shameem Sultana, 35, belongs to a poor family but she was educated

and had secured a job in Dammam, Saudi Arabia, as a nurse. In 2005, her brother arranged her marriage with 38year-old Umer Khan. As he was unemployed, they gave a liberal dowry so he could settle down. She even arranged a job for him outside the Dammam hospital where she worked. But his mind was not in the job. He allegedly got into an illicit relationship with a Kashmiri girl there. Shameem reprimanded him and settled the issue, giving the girl a piece of her mind as well. The girl apparently believed that Khan

was a bachelor. When she learnt he was married and has kids, she took to her heels. Dejected, Khan returned home alone on a ‘vacation’ in 2011. He, with the help of his parents, conducted another marriage and returned to Dammam as if nothing had happened. It was the SMSes that kept coming that gave him away. Police said when his wife enquired as to who was sending him love messages, he brushed it off and denied that he had married again. But knowing him well, Shameem made enquiries and

AGAINST REBELS

Keeping all these things in mind, the ruling party is planning to lodge an official complaint with Assembly Speaker against the rebel MLAs in coming days. Most probably, the complaint may be lodged in June seeking the disqualification of the rebel MLAs. It would help the Congress to ensure that the elections for the Assembly seats represented by the rebel MLAs are held along with General Elections which are due in April 2014. A formal decision on this issue is likely to be taken during Congress Legislature Party (CLP) meeting, scheduled to be held on March 20.

Postnoon News

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In another instance of misusing provisions of Muslim personal law, a man has been getting married repeatedly on the sly. mohd.s@postnoon.com

PLAINT

Police and thieves work shoulder to shoulder

Marrying

Mohd Subhan

grand plans of YSRC,” observed a senior Congress leader.

got conflicting reports. She then persuaded him to come home to Hyderabad. On returning, Khan gave her talaaq without bothering to ask her. Shameem and her relatives told the police how the heartless man had taken lakhs from her to build a home for them. They had no qualms using her money but he kept cheating her. Demanding her money and property back and asking for maintenance for the children, the woman lodged a criminal complaint with the police. Khan has been arrested and sent to jail.

espite the feverish checking and security drill the City police have been conducting since the twin blasts in Dilsukhnagar, thieves and snatchers are doing their business briskly. In one day, on Friday, three bikes were stolen in a matter of one hour. The bike of one Vikram Raj was lifted from outside the Secunderabad parade ground while he was playing. Another was stolen from the front-yard of Surya Prakash’s home in Siddipet. The third bike was swiped from Lal Bazaar in Trimulgherry. The vehicle, belonging to G Bhaskar Reddy, was stolen when he had gone to pay his obeisance at a temple after parking the vehicle on the roadside. Snatching cases too see no abatement in the City. Police claim to have stepped up vigil, though.

CITY SUNDAY, MARCH 17, 2013 M ANIL KUMAR

Scores of voters missing from list

The day began with a sluggish turn out, but complaints of missing names flew thick and fast across the 36 polling booths. Md NIZAMUDDIN

nizamuddin.a@postnoon.com

ll those technology and voting machines professing foolproof voting system notwithstanding, there were complaints galore of missing names from the voters list in Borabanda that went to polls this morning. “This time the voting percentage would be less as several

names in the voters list are missing,” remarked a youth who was coming out of the booth after finding out that his name had vanished. Another voter, GSN Shasidhar, stands outside the booth in Swaraj Nagar holding his voter id card. “My tenant voted and I failed to vote. Can you beat it?” he exclaims. When he asked the zonal officer, he was rebuffed. “We have given enough time to verify and rectify,” was the curt reply. The man in angst was seen throwing his card and later picking it up on second thought.

Contestants A Kavitha (TDP), Kavitha S (BJP), K Jyothi (Janata Dal (United), Hajira Sultana (INC), V Bhanumathi (AIMIM), T Vani Yashodhara (Lok Satta), Atiya Begum (Ind), Fatima Begum (Ind) and Rukhsana Khanam (Ind) are the candidates contesting in these elections. Another voter, A Nazeer, a resident of Banjara Nagar, came out of a polling booth telling those waiting to vote, “An entire

family of five who voted earlier were surprised to find their names missing.” The voting percentage after almost three hours, according to zonal officer Srinivas Rao was just over 10 per cent. It was expected that many may turn up in the afternoon. The police had to swish the lathis around on a group of youngsters who were persistently peeping into polling station 3 through the windows. Heavy security was deployed in Borabanda. Buses and autos were also not allowed to ply in the vicinity of booths. There were in all 36 polling booths.

READERS’ LETTERS SUNDAY, MARCH 17, 2013

Bad society Illegal construction is rampant and many denizens are unhappy with it. Here’s one reader making a case after she read the report, Illegal constructions flourish in Hyderabad but.. (March 13). lmost the entire Anyah Society Colony in Mathura is illegally constructed by rich builders and sold off to various parties. Even illegally constructed multi-storey flats have

built pent houses which are sold off for big amounts. Won’t the GMC look into this so-called society called Ayyappa Society Colony which thrives on someone else’s property?

NIRMALA

Via e-mail Read report at http://postnoon.com/2013/03/13/illegalconstructions-flourish-in-hyderabadbut/113876

Men without fans The men in white and khaki do not have many fans among people. Many have severe gripes about the way they function and what they do. Here’s one venting his spleen in words after reading, Are traffic cops in Hyderabad endangering motorists? (March 12) ave you ever seen or heard people talking good about traffic police or police? Never. All are corrupt, and they are the most shameless creatures on earth. They don’t care about the safety of bikers and other ordinary citizens, abut are overzealous to get hold of him and fine him, even if their documents are fine.

JAVED

WATER WAR his reader is seriously miffed with the way how things are run in the city. While congratulating our correspondent for his work, he pours out his angst and dissatisfaction and blames the wrong policies pursued and corruption for the rise in migration from villages and the ensuing haphazard construction. Here’s his response to 'Water war a distinct possibility in Hyderabad'

ot only lakes but even the catchment areas of big lakes Osmansagar and Himayatsagar need to be protected. For people who do not know, Bombay (now Mumbai) has been protecting its catchment areas in the neighbouring Thane District for more than 200 years. Where is that kind of awareness among Hyderabadis, or rulers of Andhra Pradesh? In the name of buying peace with rivals and making friends feel more happy, rules for protection of water bodies and their catchment areas are being flouted. Money spinning activities like bringing Krishna water and Godavari river waters to the twin cities are being actively pursued.

TOP LETTER

M SITARAM

Via e-mail The column can be read at http://postnoon.com/2013/02/04/ihar/106639 yderabad city water problems were created by indiscriminate construction of houses/flats without rain-harvesting pits. Also illegal water connections and non-payment of water bills are rampant among educated people who had bribed the officials concerned. Hyderabad has become the epicentre for non-locals who construct houses only to sell at higher rates later. Most of the non-locals have no concern about the problems in Hyderabad. I had constructed rain-harvesting pit with my own money in a colony of 50 houses while others have no rain harvesting pits. The only solution to solve this problem is to stop the influx of people in twin cities from other parts. Political leaders’ corruption has helped illegal water business also. Hyderabad is slowly dying and it is almost beyond redemption when it comes to water.

K VENKATARAMAM

Via e-mail The column can be read at http://postnoon.i-am-niraadhar/106639

ery well researched report by Rahul Ramakrishna. Rarely do we find people who write about issues that plague our localities and solutions for them. We are a people devoid of any civic sense and are anti-nationals. Haphazard construction in urban areas is directly linked to lack of civic amenities in rural areas. Why else why would anyone in his right mind migrate to the city from much simpler villages? Our netas and babus do not work to provide roads, electricity, drinking water in villages or rural areas. There is a lot of disparity between urban and rural areas. In fact you will not get safe drinking water, nor will you find a public restroom in any place 25 km from any city, forget

about schools with benches or electricity. And so people migrate necessitating illegal constructions for them to stay. Lakhs of rupees pass through many hands and those behind this have police in their kitty, have their gangs of goons to scout and do recon and take ridiculous sums for sites with or without permission or no permission from authorities. Paise pheko, masti dekho! India is wilfully made a mess, willfuly kept wretched and rotten, as then it’s easy for them in power to mint money.

VERGHESE

Via e-mail Read report at http://postnoon.com/2013/0 3/15/water-war-a-distinctpossibility-inhyderabad/114212

Via e-mail Read report at http://postnoon.com/2013/03/ 12/are-traffic-cops-in-hyderabadendangering-motorists/113702

This is no joke

This reader begs to disagree with the writer of Joking about the Pope, but makes an astute observation. (March 13) magine a talk show host making similar comments about Hinduism or Islam, there would be hell to pay, literally”. I think you miss one crucial point… this comment was made in USA and by an American. Had the same person or any other person made similar comments in India on any religion his ass would have been ripped apart by religious thugs. Your statement above indicates that Christians are more tolerant of criticism than other religions, which is not true at least in India.

“I

INDIA

Via e-mail Read report at http://postnoon.com/2013/03/ 13/joking-about-the-pope/113902

Win `500 every week

We are giving `500 to the reader who writes in the best letter every week. So get to work. You can e-mail us at feedback@postnoon.com, or write to us at Postnoon, #1246, Level 3, Jubilee Casa, Rd nos 62, Jubilee Hills, Hyderabad, 500033. ALSO SEND US YOUR PHOTOGRAPHS.

NATION SUNDAY, MARCH 17, 2013

Clerk raped teen for a year

Parrikar to fight mining ban

JAIPUR: A 16-year-old girl student was

PANAJI: Goa CM Manohar Parrikar,

allegedly raped by a clerk in her school for a year on the pretext of releasing her scholarship. The girl has filed a complaint against Bhawani Shanker Saini, a clerk at the government senior secondary school in Pech ki Bawari, police said today. The Standard X student approached the police station with her father and filed a complaint.

taking on the Supreme Court, has said it was not adhering to the judicial doctrine of "justice delayed is justice denied" when it came to Goa. "How can the Supreme Court stop a major activity for six months, when justice delayed is justice denied," Parrikar asked, while speaking to a gathering of top industrialists at a function.

FIR against bank staff SAMBHAL (UP): An FIR has been registered against five bank employees, including the branch manager, of a district co-operative bank for allegedly embezzling `1 crore. The FIR was registered by DGM Jagdish Chandra against branch manager Mahendra Pratap Singh and four other bank employees at Asmoli police station yesterday.

Ex-minister's son held in dowry case Mohanty has been accused of torturing Barsa Swony Choudhury for dowry ever since he married her in June 2012. BHUBANESWAR: After public outcry and protests by Opposition parties, police on Sunday arrested Raja Shree Mohanty, the son of former Odisha minister Raghunath Monahty, on charge of torturing his wife for dowry, an official said.

"Mohanty was taken into custody by the human rights cell of the police department. He is likely to be produced in court later in the day," police said. Mohanty has been accused of torturing Barsa Swony Choudhury for dowry ever since he married to her June 2012.

In her complaint filed at the police station in the district headquarters town of Balasore, about 220 km from here, Choudhury alleged that her parents had given `10 lakh as dowry at the time of the marriage, as was demanded. But her father-in-law, hus-

ROGUES IN ACTION Shiv Sena and Hindu Sena activists protest against the Pakistani Sufi singer Sanam Marvi (left) while she was performing at the â&#x20AC;&#x153;Sindhi Sufi Music Festivalâ&#x20AC;? in New Delhi on Saturday night. PTI

Southern Railway tops in crime against women

rime against women in trains has been on a rise despite deployment of security personnel, with more than 200 cases including rape, molestation and misbehaviour reported last year. There were total 210 cases of crime against women registered in 2012 as against 127 cases in 2011. The number of crimes committed against women in trains were 85 in 2010, according to ministry data. While molestation cases in trains have gone up from 52 in 2010 to 72 in 2011, the number touched

119 in 2012. Rape cases have also increased from 3 in 2011 to 7 in 2012. The number of misbehaviour cases increased from 33 in 2010 to 52 in 2011. 2012 witnessed 84 misbehaviour cases in trains. Maximum molestation cases (45) were reported in Southern Railway followed by 19 cases in Western Central in 2012. SR also leads in the number of misbehaviour cases in comparison to other zones. There were 33 misbehaviour cases reported in 2012 followed by 18 cases in PTI South Central Railway.

band and the rest of the family members insisted that her parents should pay `25 lakh and a multi-utility vehicle. The allegation forced her father-in-law Raghunath Mohanty, a five-time legislator from the Basta assembly constituency in Balasore district,

resign from the state cabinet Friday. He was holding the portfolios of housing and urban development, law, and IT. The incidents had triggered state-wide protests with opposition parties demanding the arrest of the minister and his IANS family members.

WORLD SUNDAY, MARCH 17, 2013

Rand paul to run for Prez?

Queen keeps Dave on his toes

OXON HILL: US conservative activists picked Tea Party favorite Senator Rand Paul on Saturday as their choice to become the 2016 Republican presidential nominee. Paul, popular among the younger conservatives who thronged to the Conservative Political Action Conference outside Washington, narrowly beat Senator Marco Rubio — also tipped to seek the White House.

Xi promises Renaissance Tom Hancock

BEIJING: China’s newlyinstalled President Xi Jinping said Sunday he would fight for a “great renaissance of the Chinese nation", in his first speech as head of state of the world’s most populous country. Xi called for “arduous efforts for the continued realisation of the great renaissance of the Chinese nation and the Chinese dream", in a speech to delegates at the National People’s Congress (NPC) parliament meeting in Beijing. Calls for such a revival in the world’s second-largest economy have been a motif of Xi’s speeches since he took the top post of Communist Party.

UK minister is a rockstar

LONDON: British Prime Minister

LONDON: Britain’s junior transport

David Cameron said Queen Elizabeth II keeps him on his toes with some sharp questions during their weekly meetings. Cameron said he found the Wednesday evening audiences “therapeutic” as the 86-year-old sovereign puts the country’s problems in perspective. Cameron’s comments came in a documentary called “Our Queen".

minister Norman Baker is releasing his debut rock album at the age of 55, The Sunday Times newspaper reported. The Liberal Democrat lawmaker is the lead singer and main lyricist with the Reform Club, a group he originally formed decades earlier. He had thought about cutting an album for 30 years.

Assad ‘loses an arm’ The Syrian army’s logistics chief, General Mohammed Khalluf, has defected. BEIRUT: The Syrian army’s logistics chief, General Mohammed Khalluf, has defected, activists said on Saturday in a YouTube video posted on the Internet. The video, which could not be independently verified, shows a man with white hair in civilian clothes getting into a car and a voice offscreen naming him as General Mohammed Khalluf, head of logistics, who has defected." The man speaking in the video says that Khalluf and his family were being escorted

Assad sends SOS Basher al-Assad’s government went on the political offensive, calling on Brazil, China, India and other developing powers to help stop the Syrian conflict, in a letter delivered by an Assad adviser, Bouthaina Shaaban, to the president of South Africa, who is hosting a meeting next week of the Brics nations.

out of Syria on Friday. Al-Arabiya television said that Khalluf defected along with his son, Captain Ezzedine who headed a reconnaissance unit for the Syrian army. The Dubai-based news channel also aired part of an interview with Khalluf in which he said he had planned his defection with units of the “Syrian revolution” — insurgents fighting the regime of President Bashar al-Assad. Activists said they waited before reporting the defection to ensure that Khalluf and his

family had crossed safely into neighbouring Jordan. Since the March 2011 start of the conflict between Assad’s regime and rebel forces, dozens of senior army officers including some 40 generals have defected and headed to Turkey. Turkish authorities have refused to give the exact number of Syrian defectors, who typically join the anti-Assad Free Syrian Army. Former Syrian premier Riad Hijab defected to Jordan in August 2012.

Labour camp reforms soon? BEIJING: Plans to reform China’s controversial “re-education” labour camp system could be unveiled before the end of the year, Li Keqiang said on Sunday at his first news conference as premier. The deeply unpopular “laojiao” system is largely used for petty offenders but is also blamed for widespread rights abuses by corrupt officials seeking to punish whistleblowers and those who try to complain about them to higher authorities. Speculation mounted before China’s annual parliament session that it was being earmarked for reform or even abolition, with calls for change from victims of the system increasing in recent months, and state-run media giving them prominence.

Syrian rebels aim their weapons as they take position in a building during clashes with regime forces in the Salaheddine district of Aleppo in northern Syria on March AFP 16, 2013.

AFP

Airline bomber to be freed

Thousands throng Chavez tomb

Pope reveals the secret of his name

WASHINGTON: A Jordanian-born Palestinian man convicted of the 1982 bombing of a Pan Am flight traveling to Hawaii from Japan is set to be released from US federal prison Wednesday. Mohammed Rashed has been sitting behind bars for more than two decades after leaving a bomb under a jetliner seat that exploded on Pan Am Flight 830 from Tokyo to Honolulu on August 11, 1982, killing a Japanese teenager and injuring at least 15 others. Justice Department spokesman Dean Boyd noted that Rashed, 63, has served about 23 years in prison, including time served in Greek and US jails, over the bomb plot. The Federal Bureau of Prisons, which published his release date, said he is currently held at the Federal Correctional Institution, McKean.

CARACAS: Thousands of emotional supporters waited

VATICAN CITY: The newly elected pope has explained what inspired him to pick the name Francis, which has never been used in papal history before. Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio of Buenos Aires, who was elected the 266th Pope, said during an audience with journalists that Brazilian Cardinal Claudio Hummes had told him not to forget the poor when the conclave voted in his favour. “He (Hummes) hugged me. He kissed me. He said don’t forget about the poor. And that’s how in my heart came the name Francis of Assisi," the Pope said. He added that St. Francis was “the poor man who wanted a poor church". The inauguration of the Pope, the leader of the world’s 1.2 billion Catholics, will be held March 19.

and wept after making a pilgrimage to the new tomb of former president Hugo Chavez, the face and leader of Latin America’s left for over a decade. More than 10 days after his death from cancer, the remains of Chavez who was 58, are now entombed in a marble sarcophagus at the Mountain Barracks in Caracas. “This is a time of grieving. My heart just shriveled up when I saw him in that room. But then I remember him with happiness for all that he has given me," said Lino Mejia, 72, who came Saturday from Lara state in the west to bid farewell to Chavez, whose oil-funded socialist programs included heavy spending on housing and health care.

COMMENT SUNDAY, MARCH 17, 2013

EDITORIALS CATCH-22 SITUATION in AP politics On the face of it, it is the political compulsions that make the parties do it. Despite MLAs defying party whips and voting against the party diktats, the bosses are compelled to refrain from taking action. The recent instance of the Congress hesitating to move against the nine of its MLAs who voted against the government and the TDP winking at the MLAs who joined the YSRC or the TRS is fraught with the danger of denigrating the party system and laws that prohibit legislators jumping fence for personal gains. The Congress in AP had been facing this issue acutely. So was the Opposition TDP. They are compelled to go slow for the reasons that immediate expulsion would earn the rebels not only the martyrdom but lead to by-elections which would not be in the interests of the ruling party or the opposition. In fact, it is a curious fate that both the major parties of AP, the Congress and the TDP, find themselves in the same boat with a hole underneath. Little wonder, the TDP of Chandrababu Naidu decided to bail out the Congress. Strange is the working of Indian democracy, indeed. However, whatever the considerations and well-meaning thoughts behind the hesitation to proceed against rebels, it would lead to one big problem — encouraging rebellion and indiscipline. If any MLA could castigate and vote against the party whip, free-for-all would result. It would be judicious for party leaders to act against the rebels even if it would lead to other inconveniences. .

WHY WE LOVE... Sarah Palin Well, lookey here people who’s shown up after a long time. Sarah Palin is at it again. Once again she has trained her guns on Obama and some of her own partymates at Conservative Political Action Conference, she has called him a liar and has taken potshots at anyone who figures in the national politics. Of course her jokes were well received, but that is it, they will be at best remain that, just like she is — a big sad joke.

Archery of different kind

EIGHTEEN NOVELS, SIX

From the hip SYED SHOAIB

He wanted to be number one and remains on the top for decades. He thinks it takes “hard work” for a young writer to succeed and believes there are more young writers in India than in the United States of America and not all of them can make it to the top. I’ve sustained as one of his greatest fans through most of his plots, even if some of them were from the prison. He says the secret of his 47-year marriage to his wife chemist Mary was that they both got on with their own careers and were not always in close proximity. “And so, when we do see each other, we always have something new to say.” Jeffrey Archer, the giant storyteller chose to release the third book of ‘The Clifton Chronicles,’ in India from March10-15, 2013, ahead of its global launch. The British author might have missed out on Hyderabad but still made it to Mumbai, Bangalore, Chennai

COLLECTIONS OF SHORT STORIES, FOUR BOOKS FOR CHILDREN, AND THREE VOLUMES OF NON-FICTION LATER, HE CONTINUES TO ENGROSS READERS. and New Delhi. ‘Best Kept Secret’ is the highly anticipated instalment that takes the reader on a breakneck journey from Bristol to the US and on to Buenos Aires in the mid-1950s. In December 2013 when Archer was in India for five days, he addressed universities, schools and reader groups. For a country that can boast of three shortlisted Indian writers from nine nations (Jeet Thayil, Anjali Joseph and Benyamin) in the Man Asian Literary Prize long list of 15 names and more recently, Amish Tripathi, an Indian banker-turned-bestselling author who received a record breaking 50 million rupees advance for the South Asian rights to his next three books, these subsequent visits by Baron Archer are no passé. Although English has been passed over in India as a colonial tradition, the country has produced Pulitzer

and Booker winners. In his blog, Archer mentioned that during his Indian stay, he enjoyed “teasing the locals about our (English) cricketers’ magnificent victory in winning the Test series”. The former politician feels he is more of a writer than a politician and will remain that way. Archer who met Indian actor Anupam Kher at the Emirates Literature Festival in Dubai, liked the title of the latter’s book ‘The Best Thing About You Is You’. Archer signed it for him and discussed Indian cinema and food. Archer is a writer with a dubious college degree but has recorded a writing career spanning 36 years. Archer still remains one of the most successful storytellers of our times. Despite a doubtable Oxford stint by its author, a classic Archer thriller keeps the reader guessing throughout its fast-paced narrative, nail-biting cliff-hangers and superb, sometimes, bizarre sequences. Lord Archer sprouted into the literary scene in 1975 with ‘Not a Penny More, Not a Penny Less’, followed four years later by the phenomenally successful ‘Kane and Abel’, still one of the biggest bestsellers of all time now on its 93rd reprint.

Eighteen novels, six collections of short stories, four books for children, and three volumes of non-fiction later, he continues to engross readers with intriguing characters, ingenious plots, and his trademark surprise endings. The most endearing aspect of his writing is a sense of humour in whatever may be the situation. Archer who confesses to spending considerable amount of time rewriting each book, has now sold more than 250 million copies worldwide, is published in 97 countries and in more than 37 languages. It has, surprisingly been suggested that his books also require extensive editing by others to make them readable! Archer, last week, revealed that he is saddened over the declining health of Margret Thatcher as she could not recognise him, despite working under the focused leader for several years. He acknowledged in the same breath, “there have been three remarkable women in my life: my mother, my wife and Margaret Thatcher.” For a man who has been widely lampooned through plays and documentaries, the pace of life with several conspiracies and charities to boot is one that is racier than his best novel itself. That’s if you can decide which one!

BUSINESS SUNDAY, MARCH 17, 2013

Engineering export to dip

‘Break-even by year-end’

ndia’s engineering export is expected to decline by over six per cent and may touch $56 billion by the end of the current fiscal. The industry has fixed an export target of $60 billion for 2012-13. “Our traditional markets are not recovering at a healthy rate. We can at maximum reach $56 billion," Engineering Export Promotion Council chairman Aman Chadha told PTI.

India, EU officials to meet

head of the ministerial level talks, chief negotiators of India and EU are scheduled to meet next week in Brussels to fast-track the long-pending negotiations. The ministerial level talks are expected in the first week of April. “Both the sides will try to conclude the talks before India goes into election mode," a senior official in the commerce ministry said.

orwegian telecom firm Telenor’s Indian arm is expected to break-even by the end of this year, a top official of the company has said."We expect to break-even by December-end," Telenor president and CEO Jon-Fredrik Baksaas said. Uninor now offers services in six circles — UP East, UP West, Bihar, Andhra Pradesh, Gujarat and Maharashtra.

South link with National Grid to get delayed by six months NEW DELHI: Power

Smartphone application for metro commuters soon The app will provide information about nearest metro station, fare between stations, timings of last and first train at various stations, travel time, route information, metro map and parking availability on the station premises. NEW DELHI: Reaching out to commuters who use smartphones, Delhi Metro will soon launch a mobile application which will provide information regarding fares and stations including new ones coming up in Phase III. The application is expected to work offline without Internet/GPRS (one time download) which means that users will incur no running cost on it. Users will also be able to download latest version of application. DMRC has floated a tender for developing the application, for which final date of submission is March 28. Some facilities that the application will provide include information about nearest metro station, fare between stations, timings of last and first train at various stations, travel time, route

information, metro map and parking availability on the station premises, an official said. The commuters can also find landmarks and tourist spots near metro stations, get information about feeder services and helpline numbers. The application will also give commuters information about the new stations coming up in Phase III. Based on the phone’s operating system and services, the application would also be able to determine the user’s current location by using GPS and direct the route to the destination. A graphical representation of the Metro Map will enable the user to pan in, zoom in and out, and display user’s current location on metro route map, the official said. Details of feeder buses available at different stations with

their routes, DTC buses in route of metro station will also be available on the application. The application will provide details of Metro Museum, such as how to reach the museum, timing, holidays, souvenir and their price, and whom to contact for assistance. DMRC Helpline numbers for assistance, suggestion, complaint, and feedback and security helpline numbers to be contacted during emergency or security threat will be available in the application, the official said. Among other things, the application can also be used to answer frequently asked questions about how to use smart cards, the items which are not allowed to be carried in the metro train and timings of the station. PTI

Ministry’s plans to have a single transmission network in the country by connecting southern grid with the National grid, is likely to be delayed by six months and may now be done only by July 2014. This linkage would help in supplying electricity from power surplus to deficient states and may ease power outages (failure). According to sources, power sector planning body Central Electricity Authority (CEA), which is monitoring the progress of grid synchronisation in one of the its initial reports, has said that the southern grid would be connected to the National Grid by July, 2014. The government had earlier set a deadline of connecting it by January, 2014. However, no reasons for the delay could be ascertained. According to Power Grid Corporation (PGCIL), central transmission utility, the transmission link between Raichur in Karnataka and Sholapur in Maharashtra will connect the

southern grid with rest of the national grid. This link is currently under construction. The national grid is presently demarcated into five regional grids — Northern, Southern, Eastern, Western and Northeastern. Except the southern grid, all other grids are operating in synchronism since August 2006 and have a single frequency. All the grids are being run by the state-owned Power Grid Corporation, which operates more than 95,000 circuit km of transmission lines. The southern grid is presently linked with the national grid through asynchronous high voltage direct current (HVDC) transmission line and has a different frequency. The country had faced its worst ever power crisis in the last week of July last year, when three grids — Northern, Eastern and North-Eastern — had failed due to host of reasons, including overdrawal of electricity by some states. PTI

INTERVIEW SUNDAY, MARCH 17, 2013

The Three Musketeers Every time a woman makes her debut as a filmmaker, it makes heads turn. Postnoon talks to Shital Morija and Jhansi Lakshmi, director and co-producer of All I Want Is Everything, about their experience of making their first film and why it's a big deal for them. dreams, aspirations. I think it all comes from Naveena. It's just that I didn't want to be very preachy.

HEMANTH KUMAR

hemanth.k@postnoon.com What was the genesis of this project? Shital: It began with our sadness that there were no films based on women friendship, at least I haven't seen any. If there were any, they were just scenes. Two years ago, I got interested in writing a script and that's how I began writing the script for All I Want is Everything. I think I got tired of all the films I had been watching. Last one I saw was Zindagi Naa Milegi Dobara...I liked the film, but I didn't see any women friendship films. I was writing on and off, because I had a full time job as an Executive Producer at TV9. So, it took me about a year to finish writing.

You and Jhansi have been working closely for almost eight years now for Naveena, a show which focuses on women. I am sure you have come across hundreds of stories which were quite moving. Why not take inspiration from one of those stories since you were writing a script for a film? Shital: I wanted to do something which wasn't in your face. The stories we have done for Naveena are really hardcore issues. It's not that All I Want is Everything doesn't have such issues, but I wanted to do something fun. It all lies as a subtext. It's about three young girls, what they want, they do, their

It's quite a bold move that you are making a film in English and that too about three women. Did you think of how people will react when they hear the story and after its release? Shital: Not really. I think films are made with passion. Everything about it is bold. Writing a script itself is bold and we finally managed to release the film. It's not like we wanted to do something different at every step. It was more of a natural process. Here the women are self-sufficient and modern. Not that yesteryear women were less self-sufficient, but there are lot more opportunities for women now. They can take care of themselves. Jhansi: I think we have broken all possible formulae with this film. We don't see films which have three women as real life characters, no heroes, no songs. It's not a commercial film. They do have issues and problems...but they don't have a decision making power. It's not

on the face, but you can feel it. Also, the right to say 'no' is one such issue. In mainstream films, it's always the hero who woos the heroine. We have the same theme in our film, but you won't see the hero. The film is from a girl's perspective.

Both of you have been working on TV for a very long time. Jhansi has acted in a few films over the past few years, but for you working on a feature film is a new experience. How was the transition from TV to making a feature film? Shital: It hasn't been that difficult because I feel my work has always been intertwined with both the mediums. Of course, there's a lot of difference between the two mediums. On TV, you have to be very quick and a lot of things can be done. On first day of shoot, I didn't know that I was supposed to say 'Packup'. Here you are the sole captain of the ship and everyone's waiting for instructions. Thankfully, I had both Jhansi and Rekha, who were a pillar of strength for me

throughout the film, Jhansi: In 10 days, we shot the entire film. The girls rehearsed extremely well and they knew everything. The film was intended to be a 90-minute shoot. Even after four days of shoot, people working with us couldn't come to the understanding that we were making a film. The actresses were new, Shital and I were from the TV background and it just didn't seem like a regular feature film. Once I even heard a production boy telling his friend that a documentary was being shot. Nothing was filmy on set. Shital: I think the project was small, but dreams were big. Jhansi: For everyone it was a first film including the actresses, cinematographer and even music director Parsa Pehlevan Zade, who's an Iranian. Shital: I didn't even want a background score for the film, but Jhansi insisted that we use at least something. So we teamed up with Parsa Pehlevan Zade to compose a soothing theme music with an acoustic guitar.

A long time ago, Nagesh Kukunoor made Rockford, Hyderabad Blues and Sekhar Kammula made Dollar Dreams. Of late, there haven't been any films in English at least in Hyderabad. Are you trying to tread the same path? Shital: Not really. My film is indeed Hyderabad centric, but it has got nothing to do with Hyderabad Blues or Dollar Dreams. The reason why I made a film in English is because I think in English. Of course, those films stood as reference to us when we pitched the idea of making a film in English. The odds were really high because it was a very low budget film and wanting to release the film was perhaps seemed like a crazy idea at first. A lot of people thought we had gone mad. I am just happy that it all worked out well for us.

What's next? Have you already begun thinking about your next project? Shital: (laughs) I am just soaking it all in, because it's a dream come true for all of us. It has already been selected for three film festivals in India and we are keen on sending it to more film festivals later this year. The film is being screened in Bangalore, Mumbai and Pune through PVR Director's Rare. In fact, we want to concentrate on the film till the end of the year and screen it in cities where it may not be screened in the first phase of its release and show it to as many people as possible. It's a film made by three friends â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Jhansi, Rekha Pappu and me about three women who meet at a film appreciation course.

WELLNESS SUNDAY, MARCH 17, 2013

It’s so hot already that one can’t help but dread stepping out in the day but there is no way to avoid it. The sun is blazing with all those harmful ultraviolet rays which we have been advised to protect ourselves from. You can carry an umbrella or wear a hat or wrap a scarf around but for how long? A sunscreen lotion is the most obvious choice for protection from the sun’s UV rays. Dermatologist Dr Sri Lakshmi, tells us how to choose a sunscreen and their usage. YOU

DON ’ T NEED UV RAYS esides tanning and burning your skin, permanent issue of wrinkles, pigmentation, freckles and ageing of skin are what you may end up with if UV rays penetrate into your skin.

DON’T

DELETE V ITAMIN D ot only can you not avoid the sun, you should not as well. It is only through a certain amount of exposure to the sun that leads to formation of Vitamin D in our bodies. Lack of Vitamin D can cause depression, especially in women. Many develop bone problems, loss of memory and a risk of cardiac and lung diseases. So there is no point in cutting out the sunlight.

NO UV RAYS PLEASE! BORING

BUT IMPORTANT INFORMATION unscreens have been classified into two: Organic and Inorganic. Each of their ingredients vary and have to be checked while going for a purchase. Organic sunscreens are also known as chemical sunscreens and may exclusively prevent you from UVA or UVB rays. Some are made to shield from all UV rays. The UVB filters are PABA derivatives (Padimate O), Cinnamates (Octinoxate, Cinoxate), Salicyclates (Octisalate, Homosalate, Trolamine salicylate), Octocrylene and Ensulizole and the UVA filters are Benzophenones (Oxybenzone, Sulisobenzone, Dioxybenzone), Avobenzone or Parsol 1789 and Meradimate. The inorganic sunscreens also known as physical sunscreens contain zinc oxide

and Titanium Oxide.

WHAT

DO YOU NEED ? f you have pigmentation, you can opt for organic sunscreen

Pick

lotions. For oily skin, a sunscreen in the form of gel is advised. It is common practice to apply moisturizer or a day cream under sunscreen, but it can be done away with.

UVA rays. Inorganic ones can be used for children above six months of age. If you have no skin problems, you don’t have to fret much over which one to choose. Go for any of them.

HOW

MUCH SPF? PF stands for Sunburn Protection Factor. SPF 15 or SPF 30 is enough for Indian skin. SPF 15 blocks around 93% of UV rays and SPF 30 blocks around 97%. SPF 30 is just perfect for normal skin.

S Lotion or creambased sunscreen which has a good moisture content is just apt for dry skin. If you have pigmentation, look for the ones which particularly block

at the

HOW

TO USE SUNSCREEN pply it generously on all areas likely to be exposed to sunlight. Let it be absorbed before you step out. If you are out for long, keep applying it every two hours. The rays between 10am and 4pm are most harmful. Before and after these hours, it does not matter if you wear sunscreen or not.

airport,

As told to Kanchan Agarwal

ART AND CULTURE SUNDAY, MARCH 17, 2013

Titanic violin found

Getty gets Goldblatt

he violin from the band that played as the Titanic sank has been found in an attic in England, a British auction house said on Friday. The rosewood violin was believed to have disappeared beneath the waves when its owner, band leader Wallace Hartley, drowned. A leading authority on Titanic memorabilia said there was no doubt the violin was authentic.

Mixed reactions to line-up

he selection of artists by curator Massimiliano Gioni for this year’s Venice Biennale (June 1November 24) has drawn mixed reactions. A leading European curator, who preferred to remain anonymous, underlines that the list is weighted towards European and American artists, with only five South American artists featured.

he Getty Museum has acquired eight photographs by David Goldblatt, one of South Africa’s most important photographers. His candid photographs of racially divided neighbourhoods and cities during apartheid are enduring historical documents, influencing a generation of photographers.

Pervasive presence of

NATURE Talented artists of the Gond tribe showcased their artwork at an art exhibition titled Tribal Beauty at Muse Art Gallery.

AMY ROSE THOMAS

amyrose.t@postnoon.com

t is their intimate connection with nature that reflects in the decorations that they do in their houses and floors. For the Gond tribe, painting their houses comes from the inherent belief that “viewing a good image begets good luck”. When they were given canvases, the same magic transferred on to paper. Ministry of tribal affairs (govt of India), along with curator Kaali Sudheer, located some of the tribes and provided them with canvases. “I visited these houses and was surprised to see their artworks. Each of the houses, I noticed, had a signature style and they used vibrant and bright colours. These artworks had a unifying theme — presence of nature in each of the decorations,” Kaali Sudheer said. These paintings were on dis-

play at Muse Art Gallery in an exhibition titled Tribal Beauty, which turned out to be a roaring success among art lovers in the City. “Many of the paintings that were on display were sold at very high prices. After we narrowed down the tribes, we gave `10,000 to each of the artists for their works. I noticed that each of the artists have a signature style and everyone paints what they see in their day-to-day lives. There are a few whose works look like an extension of rangoli, which is seen in the cities too. Others paint trees, birds and animals and some others have people with dholaks celebrating,” he says. He says that for them, art is like craftsmanship and they hardly make any mistakes. “It’s a thrilling experience to see them at work. There is no instance when they make a mistake and have to destroy their work. Each of the symmetry in these paintings is drawn at one stretch, such is the dedication and passion in these people,” the curator added.

This initiative not only helped in bringing these artists to the forefront but also helped in their livelihood. “I had a conversation with a lady from the tribe. She said a family can go through the entire year with just `5,000. It feels wonderful when you can make a difference in the lives of some people,” Sudheer says. So, can the City see more of

these paintings on display? “Ninety per cent of tribal groups refuse to take up art as a full-time profession since they will have to move to the cities. They are so used to the life in the jungle that shifting will only make them sick. But, I am planning to get them to the city for a few days when they can do a live demonstration for the artists here,” he says.

AROUND THE CITY

Form and content A

rtist Gopal Nayak showcases his purely abstract work in a solo art show at Iconart gallery. His current exhibition reflects a long period of development and maturation, based on personal artistic experiences. He strips reality down to

Thinking Form and Content Where: Iconart Gallery, Banjara Hills When: On till March 30 Timings: 11.30am-7pm

stark lines of structure and form, moving past colour and shapes to show nature. He lets forms become the subject of his art, and a particular form or content can come forward or recede depending on the surrounding objects, forms, and space.

The message of peace

he bomb blasts in Hyderabad brought a sense of fear, sorrow and anger. The city was fractured and people lost their feeling of balance and peace. To bring healing through art, an exhibition has been organised at Muse Art gallery to spread the message of peace and tranquility. 'Art de Arahant' brings in a sense of peace through the form and message of Buddha, the epitome of peace and calm.

Art De Arahant Where: Muse Art Gallery, Marriott When: On till March 26, Timings: 11am-7pm

ENVIRONMENT SUNDAY, MARCH 17, 2013

Hundred more dead pigs

Cheating on fuel tests

The number of dead pigs found in a river that provides drinking water to Shanghai, China, has risen to 7,545. The dead pigs are believed to be from farms in the upstream Jiaxing area in neighbouring Zhejiang province. A surge in pig dumping has followed police campaigns against the sale of pork products made from diseased pigs.

A new report reveals that carmakers routinely manipulate official UNbacked miles/gallons tests, with a series of tricks including stripping the car down to weigh as little as possible, overinflating the tyres and testing in thin air at high-altitude tracks. The tricks of the trade are listed in a report by the Transport & Environment campaign group (T&E).

Focus on climate change UN’s 2013 human development report urges action on climate change, deforestation and pollution before it is too late. The Human Development Report hails better than expected progress on health and education in dozens of developing countries but says inaction on climate change, deforestation, and air and water pollution could end gains in poor countries and communities.

Green fix at Hong Kong

FLOWER SHOW

Laura Mannering

feedback@postnoon.com

hough most residents have no outdoor space for gardening, thousands flock to the annual 10-day flower show, which covers six football pitches in the central Victoria Park. In contrast to the surrounding apartment and office blocks, the park has been overtaken by cascades of orchids — the show’s theme flower — along with tulips and kitsch floral sculptures, from giant ants to pandas and toadstools. Some visitors come just to photograph the lavish displays, but many are picking up plants and equipment. The park is lined with stalls selling seeds, plants, compost and garden tools. It’s a testament to the fact that, despite Hong Kong’s cheekby-jowl and high-rise lifestyle, its residents crave greenery and are making the most of the limited space they have to grow plants. Queenie Wong, 25, who is studying Chinese medicine at Hong Kong Baptist University, holds a tiny fern in a pot, which she has just bought from one of

the stalls. “I don’t grow anything at home because I don’t have the space. I’ll take care of this plant in my university office, which is where I spend most of my time,” she says. Like many in Hong Kong, 11year-old Zoe Shum makes do with a balcony at home for her horticultural ambitions. “I grow bamboos on a balcony, but I wish I had more garden space to grow more things. At school we have lots of plants and they’re really pretty," she said. For 30-year-old Amy Tang, the show is a chance for her parents to stock up. “I bring my parents here

It’s notorious for cramped living conditions, clogged streets and polluted air, but once a year, Hong Kong celebrates all things green.

every year because they like to shop for plants for their balcony — and we like just looking at the flowers," she said. Hong Kong’s popular image is of a frenetic commercial hub where making a fast buck trumps all other concerns, but flower show chairman Horace Cheung says its seven million people do enjoy connecting with nature. “We may be a busy, densely populated city but there is increasing awareness of how planting and growing things can enrich the environment and our lives,” he told AFP. Small plots for vegetables and flowers, made available to

residents as part of the government’s community garden scheme, are heavily oversubscribed, says Cheung. “We have to have a ballot for plots every time they come up because of the demand,” he said. Residents pay HK$400 ($51) to do a gardening course, which includes working on a 2.25 sq m plot for four months. The year 2011-12 saw more than 10,600 participants across 21 gardens, according to the Leisure and Cultural Services Department, which also runs the flower show. Joseph Leung, an executive director at Hong Kong theme park Ocean Park, is promoting its vibrant stand at the show, which includes edible plants, recycled containers and an aquaponics section on how plants can grow without soil. He believes Hong Kong residents are indeed concerned about their environment and want to simplify their lives. “People are more interested in sustainable living. I think they have got to a point where they are so busy that they want to stop and go back to basics," he said. AFP

FOOD SUNDAY, MARCH 17, 2013

Full-fat Sprite ditched

Free Egg McMuffin for all

Sprite is telling its drinkers to 'obey their belt' in a new drive to target obesity. The lemon and lime flavoured fizzy drink is to be scrapped in favour of a lower-calorie version that uses a 'natural' sweetener, its parent company Coca-Cola announced. The replacement drink will see its 35g of sugar per can replaced with Stevia, a sweeter alternative extracted from the leaves of a Paraguayan plant.

McDonald’s restaurants in India will join almost five thousand others in a massive campaign that aims to encourage people to start their day with a wholesome breakfast. McDonald’s will be celebrating March 18th, 2013 as National Breakfast Day and customers visiting McDonald’s will get to choose between a free Egg and Cheese McMuffin or the Veg McMuffin per customer per visit.

US beer-maker sued The world’s largest brewer has been accused of watering down beers, including Budweiser and Michelob, in lawsuits that seek millions of dollars in damages. The suits, which have been filed against Anheuser-Busch InBev in Pennsylvania, California and other states, claim consumers have been cheated out of the alcohol content stated on labels.

Flavours from Mexico

From signature margaritas to mole poblano, Park Hyatt’s Mexican food festival is a true Mexicana treat — the dishes are not Indianised. And, the best part, the ingredients have been flown in from the heart of Mexico by celebrity chef Antonio Herrera to literally bring you flavours from the South American country. Postnoon reviews.

NIDHI BHUSHAN

nidhi.b@postnoon.com

e all, at some point, have dipped our tortilla chips into a spicy salsa sauce and claimed to have loved the Mexican cuisine. Oblivious to the fact that tortilla chips is just a tiny fragment of the entire cuisine, we’ve time and again licked our salsa-soaked fingers assuming we’re enjoying all of what Mexico’s kitchens can offer. It’s time to know more and of course, lick more. Park Hyatt yesterday launched a true Mexican food festival at The Dining Room to tingle your taste buds till the 24th of this month. True because the festival offers honest flavours from the heart of Mexico. In fact, most of the ingredients of the dishes have been flown in to keep the traditional taste alive. In fact, Chef Antonio Herrera, Chef de Cuisine at

El Jardin restaurant in Hyatt Regency Hotel, Mexico City, flew in with 30 kgs of ingredients a day before the festival. A complex cuisine, true Mexican food boasts of ingredients that are native to the South American country. These ingredients include potatoes, tomatoes, avocados, cocoa and vanilla. A Mexican food festival, one would imagine, would overwhelm us with the South American culture — waiters would all be wearing cowboy boots and sombreros while tequila bottles would take their prominent space as well. However, in keeping with the sophistication that comes with a fivestar hotel, The Park Hyatt managed to make an impression without being so in-your-face about it. Though there are a few tequila bottles placed on a table, dressed up with a blue sombrero, just at the entrance, nothing is loud and tacky and the waiters are comfortably dressed in their regulars. The festival, unlike many others, sharply focuses on the genuinety of the

What: Mexican Food Festival Where: The Dining Room, Park Hyatt Average Meal for Two: Rs 2,500 plus taxes cuisine rather than that of the ambiance. It promises to treat you to Mexican flavours and it does exactly that. Starting with a variety of mocktails and tequilabased cocktails, the brief but comprehensive menu is proof enough. For non-alco-

holics, a rare sighting near Mexian food, the mango and basil margarita is the best way to kickstart a hearty and delicious meal. And, those who have no qualms about drinking are in for a treat at the festival thanks to the variety of cocktails on the menu. Out of which, Queen of Mexico and the Mexican Mojito are musthaves. While the former perfectly blends Bacardi black, tequila and nutmeg, the latter is refreshing and delightfully spicy with jalapenos, avocado slices, coriander and mint leaves. The esquites (stew corn kernels, epazote, with lime and chilli powder) and Mexican signature dips (guacamole, pico de gallo and red sauce) served with tortilla chips are a good way to boost your Mexican appetite while the tortilla soup is a musthave. Another plus about the selection of traditional dishes is that there are plenty of options for vegetarians — mushroom ceviche (mushroom served with spicy cocktail tomato sauce, avocado, pico de gallo and fresh cilantro) from the starters and fried potato taco (corn

tortilla stuffed with potato, served with lettuce, pice de gallo and guacamole) from the main course. From the main course options, the Veracruzana red snapper (red snapper filet coated with Veracruzana sauce served with white rice) and mole poblano chicken (chicken leg and thigh, poblano mole, white sesame seed and corn tortilla) are worth every bite. While the fish is flavourful and the melt-inthe-mouth kind, the chicken dish is interesting as its made with a hint of chocolate but isn't sweet. The final act of the Mexican delight are the desserts. In fact, your meal would remain incomplete without the baked sweet potato (with sweet milk and strawberries) and the very authentic pastel de tres leches (traditional Mexican three milk cake), which are both served with ice-creams prepared at the hotel. So, if you're in the mood to absorb some Mexican culture this summer, Park Hyatt is definitely worth all your time and money. Ola!

FOOD SUNDAY, MARCH 17, 2013

KANCHAN AGARWAL

kanchan.a@postnoon.com

he menu of this indie bistro offers you both continental and indian flavours. On the same menu, you will find names like crispy pakoras, hot mirchi bhajjis, chicken pakoras, oat idlis, bourbon milkshake and a hot cappuccino. Anavila is a word in sanskrit which means wholesome. Keeping that in mind, the bistro has a little of continental, a little of Indian and a little of healthy food. The bruschettas, both veg and non-veg are distinctively tasty snacks. If you find a comforting snack in Indian chaat, you can go for the Karara samosa chaat. I also loved the honey chilli potatoes. It is fascinating how two such revolting flavours of honey and chilli can do so well when put together. Egg

ON A QUIET

bonda, chicken roti wrap, chicken tempura vada pav and cashewnut upma are some of the items you can look forward to from their menu so interestingly put together. If you feel like having a bigger meal, you can go for pulao or wok noodles or pasta. These are not the best you will eat in town but they in their own modest way are quite a treat! If you are very motivated to eat healthy, then they have a

short column to fulfill this demand of our gym instructor, too. ‘High on health’ it is called and consists of items such as onion paniyarams from Tamil Nadu, poha sev chat, lemon sevai, herb garlic bread and grilled veg pesto sandwich.

Place: Anāvila Price range: `20 to `150 Location: Road no.9, Banjara Hills

My favourite part of the menu is the one with the mocktails. With summer already here with its wrath, I find solace at Anavila as I read a book sipping on these amazing mocktails. Gingerale is an obviously refreshing one with its lack of sweeteners. Guava Jalepeno spice is another perfect drink. If you have a sweet tooth, you will like their popular litchi melon shrub as well. Their dessert section too gives you the best of both worlds. The kulfi, although in one flavour, is gratifying nonetheless. If you like to mix hot and cold, go for their chocolate brownie with a scoop of vanilla ice cream. Hailing from south-east Asia, there is the oriental banana split, too! If you are looking for a simple, quiet and pleasant time, Anavila is a great option with its serene ambience, unpretentious service and a platter of food for so many moods.

AFTERNOON

DINING WITH THE MASTERS

N SHIVA KUMAR

Vaguely resembling the bistros in Pondicherry, Anavila has the quality of assuring you of a good time. Here’s a preview to a simple and memorable afternoon.

FILL UP YOUR BOWL TORTILLA SOUP

Amount n 0.200 n 0.025 n 0.040 n 0.040 n 0.010 n 0.050 n 0.005 n 0.005

Measure lt lt kg kg kg kg kg lt

Ingredient Tortilla soup Sour cream Panela cheese Tortilla julian Pasilla chili avocado coriander Olive oil

Preparation

cubes fried rings cubes leaves

Method n Heat the tortilla soup in a pot n In a bowl add the sour cream, cream, cheese, avocado, julienne fried tortilla and pasilla chili. n Finally garnish with coriander leaves and olive oil.

Recipe by: Antonio Herrera, Visiting chef at Park Hyatt

Khada khorma North Indian lamb curry Noor’s Kitchen NOOR JAFRI Ingredients Quantity n Tender medium--sized lamb shoulder pieces 1 kg n Ghee/oil 100 ml n Fine Dhania powder 2 tbsp n Red chilli powder ( Kashmiri )1 tbsp n Garlic pods medium-sized 2 n Ginger juliennes 1 tbsp n Thick curds 250 gms n Whole Garam masala 1 tbsp n Salt to taste n Onions thinly sliced & crisply fried 1 big cup n Ginger juliennes & fresh coriander leaves for garnishing Procedure n Heat the ghee or oil and fry the onions till their are golden brown, switch off the gas. n Take out the onions and keep them aside. n In the same heated oil pop in finely powdered dhania, chilli powder whole garam masala and lamb pieces along with ginger juliennes. n Stir it for a while, till the meaty smell is gone. n Crush the garlic pods, and soak it in a cup of water. n Squeeze the water from the garlic, straining it and add it to the mutton n Let it cook for a while till the aroma comes out from the masala. n Crush the fried onions and mix it with the curds, whisk it into a smooth consistency. n Add this curd and onion mixture to the mutton with the salt to taste. n Cook till the curds is cooked and add about two cups of water, Cover it and let it boil. n Simmer it and cook it for 20 to 30 minutes till the mutton is soft and tender and the gravy is thick. n Serve it hot, garnishing it with fresh ginger juliennes and coriander leaves. Chef’s Note: n This dish includes powder masalas hence called khada khorma. Rich and tasty preparation which goes well with tandoori, rumali roti or sheermal. Best served with the main course.

Contact us @ Noor kitchen Mobile + 91 9441282318 Residence + 91 40 23356947 Like us @ https://www.facebook.com/Noorkitchen

HISTORY SUNDAY, MARCH 17, 2013

March 18

2008: Oscar-winning director Anthony Mighella dies at the age of 54. Mighella's movies were known for their beauty and cinematic scope. Among his best works are The Talented Mr Ripley, The English Patient and Cold Mountain.

March 20

1995: Several packages of deadly sarin gas are set off in the Tokyo subway system, killing 12 people and injuring over 1,300. The gas attack was instituted by the Aum Shinrikyo (which means Supreme Truth) cult.

March 23

2011: Actress Elizabeth Taylor, who appeared in more than 50 films, won two Academy Awards and was synonymous with Hollywood glamour, dies of complications from congestive heart failure at a Los Angeles hospital at 79.

March 19

2003: The US, along with coalition forces â&#x20AC;&#x201D; primarily from the UK, initiates war on Iraq. The reason US President George W Bush pushed for a war was the belief that Iraq possessed weapons of mass destruction.

March 22

1956: Civil rights leader Reverend Martin Luther King is convicted of organising an illegal boycott by black passengers of buses in Alabama.

March 21

1999: Bertrand Piccard and Brian Jones become the first to circumnavigate the Earth in a hot air balloon. They landed in Egypt after a 45,755 km (28,431 mi) flight lasting 19 days, 21 hours and 47 minutes.

March 19

1953: For the first time ever, the Academy Awards are telecast live on American television. It was the 25th edition of the prestigious award function, and veteran show host Bob Hope helmed the event.

March 23

1956: Pakistan becomes the first Islamic republic in the world. The country, on its Republic Day, adopted the title, which is a symbol of Muslim cultural identity.

March 24

1989: Exxon Valdez, an oil tanker bound for Long Beach, California, struck Prince William Sound's Bligh Reef and spilled 260,000 to 750,000 barrels (41,000 to 119,000 m3) of crude oil.

SPOTLIGHT SUNDAY, MARCH 17, 2013 S BALAKRISHNA 1

S BALAKRISHNA

Everything green

Canvases on catwalk 5

Members of Ikebana International Hyderabad Chapter marked full attendance at president Uma Chigurupati's residence, where an Ikebana workshop was conducted.

Models showcased works that were an amalgamation of fashion and art at Art-de arahant held at Muse Art Gallery. The event was organised by Pooja Kapur. 6

1 Vandana, Sharmila 2 Uma 3 Sumalatha 4 Reena

S BALAKRISHNA

1 Sheetal

5 Asheema

9 Archana Veda

2 Khushnuma 3 Kiranmy

6 Manisha, Bhavishya 7 Bina, Maryalin

10 Pooja Kapur 11 Priyanka

4 Geet

8 Usha

12 Anu

Little wonder Vivek Gupta threw a spledid party for his daughter Falak Gupta, who turned one, at Taj Deccan on Saturday. Family and friends of the couple made a beeline to the hotel to partake in the celebrations.

CINEMA SUNDAY, MARCH 17, 2013

B ALA’S

Paradesi opens to rave reviews

Nithin wraps up shooting for GJG

he principal shooting of Gunde Jaari Gallanthayindhe has been officially wrapped up. Nithin, Nithya Menen and Isha Talwar are playing the lead roles in this romantic entertainer. It’s the second time that Nithin and Nithya Menen are teaming up and the first look of the film has got a good response. Incidentally, Yemaindo Yemo Eevela, a popular song from Pawan Kalyan starrer Tholiprema, has been remixed in this film and the song was recently shot on Nithin in Hyderabad. Vijay Kumar Konda has directed the film and Nikitha Reddy has produced it. Anup Rubens has scored the music. The film is expected to release in April. After this, Nithin will soon join the sets of Prem Sai’s Courier Boy Kalyan, in which he’s paired up with Yami Gautam.

ational Award winning director Bala’s latest film Paradesi has opened to rave reviews in Tamil Nadu. The film released in theatres a couple of days ago and the response has been overwhelmingly positive so far. Atharva, Vedhika and Dhansika have played the lead roles in this period drama which is set in pre-independence era. The film is reportedly based on the book Red Tea, written by Paul Harris Daniel which narrates the story of bonded labourers in a tea plantation in Tamil Nadu. One of the top directors in Tamil, KV Anand remarked, “Anyone can make films like Ayan&Ko. Non can make #Paradesi other than #Bala.Rare Gem,Cherish the Team efforts (sic).” Another director Venkat Prabhu, who made Chennai 600028, Goa and Mankatha, tweeted,

“Paradesi-Bala saar’s masterpiece!! Blown away!! Everyone were perfect!! Atharva a new actor arrived!!! @gvprakash bro u were brilliant throughout!! Whatta background score!! Every dept scored!! Hats off 2 da team (sic).” Atharva, who was last seen in Nirantharam Nee Oohale, has become the cynosure of all eyes for his performance in this film and both the actresses Vedhika and Dhansika are making waves for their authentic perfor-

mances. The film is expected to be dubbed in Telugu soon under the same name. Bala is best known for his film Sivaputrudu which released many years ago and two of his recent films Nene Devuduni and Vaadu Veedu failed to click at the box office. It remains to be seen if Paradesi can turn the tables for Bala as far as the Telugu market is concerned. Meanwhile, Anurag Kashyap is distributing the film in North India. Few months ago, he even convinced Bala to send the film to the Cannes Film Festival; however, the film was pulled out of the competition after the overseas distributor expressed his reservation about Bala’s plans to release the film only in India before sending it to Cannes. GV Prakash has scored the music and Chezhiyan is the cinematographer.

Thoofan is the new name for Zanjeer

am Charan’s upcoming Hindi film Zanjeer is currently under production and recently a song was shot on the lead cast. Ram Charan, Priyanka Chopra, Sanjay Dutt are playing the lead roles in this remake of the cult film of the same name which was one of the biggest hits in Amitabh Bachchan’s career. Apoorva Lakhia is directing the film whereas the film is simulatenously being made in Telugu under the supervision of director Yogi. The latest news is that the Telugu version has been named as Thoofan. Srihari has replaced Sanjay Dutt in the Telugu version. Devi Sri Prasad is scoring the music. The film is expected to release in summer this year.

CINEMA SUNDAY, MARCH 17, 2013

‘Action is first choice always’

ctor Vidyut Jamwal, who is back with Vipul Shah's Commando after playing the bad guy opposite John Abraham in Nishikanth Kamath's Force, feels that action is his forte. Vidyut had some high-octane fight scenes with John in the movie which won him a lot of accolades and some awards too. “As an actor I am open to all kind of roles whichever good script comes my way. But action is my forte and I can do better in it. So it will always be my first preference,” Vidyut said at a promotional event of his upcoming film.

PTI

No item song in Sohail's new film N

one of Sohail Khan’s directorial ventures have featured an item song, and even in his new film, starring his elder brother Salman, there is no such special tantalising number. Confirming this, Sohail said: “My script doesn't demand it. And there is really no deeper design to it. It's just how the film is written now. I am only trying to be honest to the social-drama genre.” While Sohail keeps his distance from item songs, his brother Arbaaz, who produced Dabangg and was producer and director of Dabangg 2, has readily used item numbers. In Dabangg, he had the hugely successful Munni, picturised on his wife Malaika Arora Khan, and Dabangg 2 had Fevicol se, which saw Kareena Kapoor in the frame.

R A V E E N A

disapproves skinny girls R aveena Tandon is not happy with stick-thin girls in the glamour industry and says they have made life tough for women like her. However, she is happy with her curvy self. “I have always believed in a woman's elegance, grace and femininity. Today, most of the girls are stick-thin and that's a tragedy. They have made life tough for women like me,” the 38-year-old said here Friday while unveiling designer Sonakshi Raja's clothes to be showcased at the upcoming Lakme Fashion Week. “Today, when girls dance, it looks like two dandiya sticks are dancing. It’s funny because I am happy with my size. I am a normal size, I am an average person. Sonakshi designs for women of all sizes,” added the actress of films like Mohra. Lakme Fashion Week 2013 will be held March 21-26 in Mumbai. Raveena is off for a vacation with her two children and won't be there to support Sonakshi during the fashion week. “I am here today because unfortunately I would not be here during Lakme Fashion Week. She (Sonakshi Raja) is like my little sister and I always encourage her because she is very talented. I am leaving for a vacation with my kids right now. But I will always be there for her,” Raveena said. On the film front, Raveena will soon be seen in Shobhana 7 IANS Nights.

CINEMA SUNDAY, MARCH 17, 2013

DEEPIKA, KATRINA CAN MAKE

FOOTBALL SEXY: SUNEIL SHETTY

f Indian football is to be made sexy, then it needs to get Deepika Padukone and Katrina Kaif to play the sport, Bollywood actor Suneil Shetty said. Suneil was stressing on the importance of roping in celebrities to promote football in the country. “If we are talking about making football sexy, we will have to talk to Deepika (Padukone) and Katrina,” he said at the Goa International Football Table (GIFT), an international conference held in Goa to promote football and infrastructure. “Look at what David Beckham has done to American soccer. He has made a huge difference by his presence there,” he said. Suneil said that young actors like Ranbir Kapoor and Abhishek Bachchan were very interested in football. “It is a sport for youngsters. Football needs younger legs. I don’t think I can play football,” he admitted.

‘Character actors are misused’ H

e believes his unique choice of work made it tough for filmmakers to “fit” him in a “box”. But acclaimed actor Irrfan genuinely feels Hindi cinema needs to pay attention and importance to character artistes just as in Hollywood, where, he says, India is currently in fashion. “When you’re doing a Hollywood film, you are treated like a character actor. You are an intrinsic part of the story and your role is defined. When you are doing one such role here, you are just a character. You are there to support the protagonists’ crisis or dilemma. “We misuse character actors here for the main lead. That is why being a character actor here is no fun,” Irrfan said.

IANS

ctor Ranveer Singh says while portraying his role in the upcoming Lootera, he was initially frustrated as he felt he could not do justice to the character in this period romance drama film. Directed by Vikramaditya Motwane, the film will take the viewers back in the world of 1950s. “In

IANS

my earlier films, I have always been high on energy and smiling. But I am happy I got to attempt something different with Lootera. Initially I was frustrated. I felt I couldn’t do justice to this character. It was Vikram, who convinced me that I could do it... all thanks to him,” Ranveer said during the launch of the film’s first look. PTI

COULDN’T GET GRIP OF MY ‘LOOTERA’ CHARACTER

CINEMA SUNDAY, MARCH 17, 2013

GROWING OLD, A BITTERSWEET EXPERIENCE:

Christian Bale to play Moses?

here is a lot of talk about how Ang Lee might take over a film about Moses that Steven Spielberg had dropped, and now — as if they sensed the competition out there — an entirely different Moses project is making some major forward movement. According to Deadline Ridley Scott is now eyeing Christian Bale to lead Exodus, the project about that titular book of the Bible, in which Moses leads his people out of the desert. Scott is looking to make this his next project after the starstudded The Counselor, which comes to theaters this fall, and he and the studio seem especially eager now that Steve Zaillian, the writer behind American Gangster and Moneyball, has come on board for a rewrite. Talks with Bale are early, according to Variety, but given that he’s just about to jump into David O. Russell’s political corruption movie, he would have to wait a while before filming on Exodus could begin. And that’s just provided those Justice League rumours don’t pan out.

KIDMAN A

ctress Nicole Kidman describes growing old as a bittersweet experience, but says she is happy with herself at this

age. Kidman, 45, is more comfortable at this age than she thought she would be . “(Being 45) is better (than I expected), but at the same time suddenly I’m deal-

ing with my parents who are in their 70s and it’s bittersweet because you know where it’s heading,” mirror.co.uk quoted Kidman IANS as saying.

Ang Lee to make TV debut D

ouble Oscar-winning director Ang Lee has signed up his debut TV directorial. He will helm the pilot episode of a new series titled Tyrant. The announcement comes after Lee won the best director Academy Award for Life Of Pi last month, reports contactmusic.com. The TV show is set to be one based around cultural and politi-

cal conflict, focusing on an everyday American family who find themselves caught up amidst the middle of a turbulent Middle Eastern nation, according to BBC. It will go on air on US cable channel FX. The shooting for the show will begin this summer. Howard Gordon and Gideon Raff of Homeland fame will act as IANS executive producers.

CHAI TIME SUNDAY, MARCH 17, 2013

SUNDAY CROSSWORD

ACROSS

1 Magnificence 5 Cached 11 Dashing 17 Town east of Wichita 21 Omnia vincit — 22 Soft wool 23 Diviner 24 Q-tip 25 Western alliance acronym 26 Cake toppers 27 Apply mascara 28 Russo or Magritte 29 February celeb 31 Lion, in Swahili 33 Cringed at 35 Become entrenched (2 wds.) 36 Aria performers 37 Limber 38 Like a bairn 41 Two-finger sign 42 Kermit’s color 43 Never, to Wolfgang 44 Alpaca cousin 48 Speed up 50 Buzzes 51 Vitality 52 Curbed, with “in” 53 Turn color, maybe 54 Some pumps 55 Before now 57 Off — — tangent 58 List detail 59 Game of strategy 60 Soft and smooth 61 Flatter oneself 62 Big burger 63 Jeer at 64 Sub stabilizer 65 Whereabouts 66 Controversial canines (2 wds.) 68 Hideaway 69 USN rank 70 Throttles 71 Thomas — Edison 72 Hawaii’s Mauna — 73 Lose — — whisker 74 Gunslinger’s dare 75 Blues great — Smith 78 “The,” to Franz 79 Some batteries 80 Eggplant dish 84 Square 85 Earthworm part 87 Clamor 88 Zoo staffer 89 Vitamin amts. 90 Book source 91 Constructed 92 Wholly absorbed 93 Amtrak, et al. 94 Pupas’ protection 95 Full of lather 96 “There!” 97 Strong protest 99 Decay 100 Eight voices 101 Kitchen gadget 102 Nab 103 Soft lid 104 Dainty pastries 105 Lots of laughs 106 Almost-grads 107 Talk-show name 109 Creepy 110 Smoke or mist

112 Around Wednesday 115 Charley horse 116 Theme 120 More — meets the eye 121 Brother of Eos and Selene 123 Coyote State capital 125 “The Galloping Gourmet” 126 1899 Gold Rush town 127 This second (2 wds.) 128 Dice throw 129 A Great Lake 130 Burned rubber 131 Limbs 132 Camel country 133 Greet the dawn DOWN 1 Twinge 2 FitzGerald’s poet 3 Lorre’s detective 4 Haughty 5 Teensy bit 6 Computer guru 7 Rigel’s constellation 8 Piece of chicken 9 U.K. part 10 CIA files 11 Dennis of the N.B.A. 12 Burnoose wearers

13 Supergirl’s real name 14 “Ugh!” 15 Big hammer 16 Toulouse-Lautrec 17 Haifa native 18 Got in debt 19 Jet route 20 Under the covers 30 “Paper Tiger” actor 32 Currier’s partner 34 “Oklahoma!” aunt 36 Evaporates 37 Without a goal 38 Tempura morsel 39 Rum drink (2 wds.) 40 Facet 42 Spook 43 Kurt Cobain’s band 45 Hooded pullover 46 Threaten 47 Truisms 49 Speaker pro — 50 “— dinner?” 51 Where streams flow 52 Ferdinand, to Isabella 54 NFL coach Don — 55 Conger 56 Morticia’s cousin 59 Have a baby whale 60 UPS truck 61 Squanders

63 Fall planting 64 “Luck — — Lady” 65 Moon position 67 Foundation 68 In hibernation 70 Pizza feature 72 Tall person’s need 73 Flutter, as eyelashes 74 Napkin 75 Long-eared animals 76 Gridiron ploy (2 wds.) 77 Type of daisy 78 Memorable costar of Yul 79 “Have you — wool?” 80 Slightly damp 81 Is of benefit 82 German astronomer Johannes — 83 Perfume essences 85 Incite Rover 86 Sounds of hesitation 87 Art-class models 90 Myrna of old movies 91 Flat-topped hill 92 Caviar, actually 94 Decorative paper 95 Was thrifty 96 Poison 98 Enthroned 100 Bireme movers

101 Camper’s shelter (2 wds.) 103 Like instantly (2 wds.) 104 Ribs 105 Less cloudy 108 Fixed-up building 109 Period 110 Enthusiasm 111 Weatherman Al — 112 Natural elevs.

113 Flapjack chain 114 Lady, slangily 115 Join the chorus 116 Wine sediments 117 Hatcher or Garr 118 Lens opening 119 Gratis 122 Ed Asner’s — Grant 124 Land in “la mer” PREVIOUS PUZZLE ANSWER

CHAI TIME SUNDAY, MARCH 17, 2013

STAR POWER Date 18-3-2013

As per Hindu panchang

THIRUVAIKUMAR

thiruvaikumar@yahoo. co. in 040-27177230 / 9949870449

TAURUS

GEMINI

Your thoughts will be innovative and different and you will implement new ideas successfully. Keep a watch over the activities of your son. Marriage talks will progress well.

You have to spend more for the good events that are to take place at home. Debt problems will be under control. Persons of high esteem with powerful position will become your friends.

You will try and control the unwanted expenditure and will start saving in small way. Court verdict is likely to be in your favor. You will pay advance for immovable assets you want to buy.

CANCER

LEO

VIRGO

Some are planning to construct their own house and will be successful in their goal. Sudden expenses might put you under a fix but you will manage wisely.

Financially a strong position keeps you relaxed. You will plan certain important task for your children’s future which will get completed to your satisfaction. Delayed work will resume.

Sudden and frequent travels likely to make you upset. You will be in the limelight in the functions or get together you attend. Held up works will resume and pick up speed.

LIBRA

SCORPIO

SAGITTARIUS

Deficit financial situation is likely to improve for better. VVIPs friendship likely which will bring good benefits in future. Be careful while driving, as minor accidents likely.

Pregnant women need to avoid travelling and be prompt in regular medical checkups. Those who are trying for a job will be successful. Blood relatives will support for your growth.

Your stock is set to pile up. Good turning points likely to give you a prosperous situation with the help of friends staying in abroad. You will be appreciated by in-laws.

CAPRICORN

AQUARIUS

PISCES

Confusions existed in the family will be over and harmony will prevail between members. Delayed Govt. works will now resume and get completed in a faster pace.

Minor tensions with regard to ancestral property are likely to depress you, but need not worry as the situation will change soon. You will be able to clear portion of a debt.

You will perform sister’s marriage in a grand manner and get all round appreciation. Self confidence and will power levels are at their high. You will buy property.

SUMAA TEKUR

tarotreadhyd@gmail. com

ARIES

TAURUS

GEMINI

The Tower - Expect the unexpected today. Delays and disappointments will make you feel restless. You can’t handle it when things spiral out of control.

King of Cups - Be careful of others’ feelings. You don’t want to hurt anyone or do anything that will make them see you in bad light. Be sensitive.

Six of Pentacles Don’t get into a cold war or a war of words with a coworker. You’re tempted to prove your superiority. Now is not the right time.

CANCER

LEO

VIRGO

Knight of Wands You have the youthful energy and raw enthusiasm to try out the new. This is a lucky phase. Make the most of it and use your positivity.

The Hermit - If you go with the attitude that you will never find what you’re looking for, you never will! A positive outlook takes you halfway to your goal.

Seven of Pentacles - You may need to play your cards close to your chest in order to avoid any untoward incidents. Trust issues will come up.

LIBRA

SCORPIO

SAGITTARIUS

Three of Swords Some loss or disappointment is possible. Heartbreak is also possible. Something that you hoped for may not be panning as plan.

Ace of Pentacles You manage to combine your creativity and practicality to improve your life. But money making stays in focus as you believe it is the way.

Nine of Swords Nightmares, restless sleep and anxiety are taking a toll on your health. Take time off and get away for a few days. Rejuvenate.

CAPRICORN

AQUARIUS

PISCES

The Empress - This is the card of love, romance and fertility. Women looking to get pregnant have a good chance now. Those in love will have a great phase.

Three of Cups Celebration time! Bring out the bubbly and celebrate your success. It’s important to do so to attract more positive energy into your life.

The Magician - Use your intuition to guide you to the right decisions. You’re feeling great and the positive attitude will take you a long way.

NON SEQUITUR PEARLS BEFORE SWINE POOCH CAFE

STRIP TEASE

AGNES

ARIES

TAROT READ Date 18-3-2013

Pure FBI material 3 men where at the FBI Building for a job interview.The first man walked into the office . The interviewing FBI agent said "To be in the FBI you must be loyal, dedicated, and give us your all. Your wife is in the next room. I want you to go in there and shoot her with this gun." The man took the gun, hesitated, and said "Sorry, I can't do it."The next interviewee came into the office. The Agent said "To be in the FBI you must be loyal, dedicated, and give us your all. Your wife is in the next room.I want you to go in there and shoot her with this gun."

The man took the gun, walked into the room, then walked out. "Sorry," he said.The last man came into the office. The inverviewer said "To be in the FBI you must be loyal, dedicated, and give us your all. Your wife is in the next room. I want you to go in there and shoot her with this gun." The man took the gun and went into the room. The Agent heard 6 shots, silence, then a lot of screaming. The man came out of the room and said "Someone loaded the gun with blanks, so I beat her to death with the curtain railing!"

Vol: 2, No 240 RNI No: APENG/2011/39337 Published for the proprietors, Scribble Media and Entertainment Pvt Ltd, by V Harshavardhan Reddy, at #1246, Level 3, Jubilee Casa, Road No 62, Jubilee Hills, Hyderabad – 500033 and printed by him at Jagati Publications Ltd, Plot No D-75&E-52, APIE Industrial Estate, Balanagar, Ranga Reddy Dist, Hyderabad – 500037, Editor: Dean Williams – Responsible for selection of news under the PRB Act All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or in part without written permission of the publisher is prohibited. For feedback, please write to: feedback@postnoon. com and for subscription, please call 040-4067 2222, Fax: 040-4067 2211

CINEMA SUNDAY, MARCH 17, 2013

Kate Beckinsale may star In Eliza Graves

irector Brad Anderson isn't wasting any time between projects. His latest film, The Call starring Halle Berry and Abigail Breslin, arrives in theaters today, and already he has found the leading lady for his next movie. The Hollywood Reporter has learned that Kate Beckinsale is now in talks for Eliza Graves, a new psychological thriller that is based on the 1945 short story The System of Doctor Tarr and Professor Fether by Edgar Allan Poe. Should she sign on, the actress would star as the titular character, a Harvard Medical School graduate who goes to work at an insane asylum. After beginning a relationship with one of the doctors, she discovers that the patients have overtaken the facility. Production will begin this June in Bulgaria. Anderson actually has some experience making thrillers in mental hospitals, as he got his big break directing the 2001 legitimately terrifying Session 9.

‘I'll never work with Tarantino’

nnio Morricone, the prolific Italian composer and conductor who has written many of the most recognisable film scores in history, says he will never again work with director Quentin Tarantino because he "places music in his films without coherence." Morricone’s work most recently appeared in Tarantino's Django Unchained, the homage to the Spaghetti Western genre. The Django Unchanged soundtrack included Morricone’s Ancora Qui, sung by Elisa Toffoli, along with three short Morricone instrumental pieces. Morricone and Tarantino actively worked together on Inglourious Basterds, Tarantino’s 2009 reinterpretation of the end of World War II, and on both installments of the Kill Bill franchise.

Billy Bob Thornton joins The Judge

obert Downey Jr. spent a lot of time looking for an actor to play his father in the upcoming David Dobkin film The Judge. Late last year the Iron Man star was trying hard to get Jack Nicholson to join, but when those plans fell through they signed Robert Duvall for the part. The casting news has been rolling in since, with it just being reported earlier today that Vincent D'onofrio has joined the production, and now we have yet another report to share. Billy Bob Thornton, who just recently worked with Duvall on his directorial effort Jayne Mansfield's Car, is now in talks to play one of the central antagonists in the upcoming film, according to Variety.

SPORTS SUNDAY, MARCH 17, 2013

‘Viru, Viv batemen to watch’

oted British writer Lord Jeffrey Archer is in awe of the way Virender Sehwag bats and considers him as the most exciting batsman ever other than the West Indies legend Sir Viv Richards. A close follower of Indian cricket, he says it’s a treat to watch Sehwag plundering runs and punishing bowlers. “Sehwag is probably the most exciting batsman other than Viv Richards that I have seen in my life,” Archer told PTI.

Saina out of Swiss Open

Six Indians in World team

wo-time defending champion Saina Nehwal crashed out of the Swiss Open Grand Prix Gold badminton tournament after being stunned by a lowerranked Shixian Wang of China in the women’s singles semifinal. Top seed Saina fought hard before losing 11-21 21-10 9-21 to fourth-seeded Chinese in a battle that lasted 50 minutes. Yesterday, on her 23rd birthday, the Hyderabadi looked completely off-colour.

hampion theorists Hema Deora and Tutu Narula are among six selected for the national women’s bridge team, which will compete in the 41st World Bridge Team Championships to be held at Bali, Indonesia from September 16 to 29. Four others who will represent India are Asha Surana, Rita Choksi, Bharati Dey and Marianne Karmarkar. The players were selected after three days of national selection trials.

Unbeaten Bradley keeps title LOS ANGELES: Unbeaten

Ruslan Provodnikov (L) loses the boxing match to Timothy Bradley during the WBO Welterweight Championship on Saturday. KEVORK DJANSEZIAN/GETTY IMAGES

champion Tim Bradley captured a unanimous but narrow decision Saturday over Russia’s Ruslan Provodnikov to keep his welterweight title despite being knocked down in the fight’s final seconds. In his first defense of the World Boxing Organization crown that he took from Filipino superstar Manny Pacquiao in a shock split decision last June, Bradley won by judges’ scores of 115-112,

IN A SHOCK SPLIT DECISION LAST JUNE, BRADLEY WON BY JUDGES’ SCORES OF 115-112, 114-113 AND 114-113. 114-113 and 114-113. “I think I’ve got a concussion,” Bradley said. “I know I do. No doubt. This guy is a power puncher. He’s a warrior. He’ll beat any 147-pounder out there.

Vettel takes pole in Oz MELBOURNE: World champion Sebastian Vettel produced a flying last lap to grab the pole for the Australian Formula One Grand Prix in Melbourne on Sunday. Vettel trumped Lewis Hamilton’s best time in a Mercedes with his fastest lap of one minute 27.407 seconds, and will start alongside his Red Bull teammate Mark Webber on the front row of the grid. It was the young German’s 37th career pole and sets up the world champion Red Bull team as favourites heading into the season-opening race at Melbourne’s Albert Park street circuit later Sunday.

WELL DONE

Barbara Luz, winner of the Sreenidhi ITF $10,000 Women Tennis Tournament, receives the trophy from Dr. K.T. Mahhe. Portugal’s Barbara defeated India’s Ankita Raina 4-6, 7-6(5), 7-6(3) in the final.

The final two stages of qualifying were postponed until Sunday morning by rain on Saturday. “It was definitely not easy in these conditions and it is always tricky to find the limit in these conditions, especially around some of the areas that were still a bit wet,” Vettel said. “But overall I was pretty happy with the lap and as soon as I got confirmation that it was enough I pulled in to save the tyres.” Hamilton, who has switched to Mercedes from McLaren, had looked set to nab the pole when he carved 3.3secs off the best lap time to 1:28.087.

“One of them punches in one of those rounds (concussed me). I’m dizzy right now. At some point, that warrior instinct kicks in, the determination, the will to win, and that’s what I counted on.” Bradley took punishment in the first and second rounds, going to the canvas in each. But in both cases, referee Pat Russell ruled that Bradley had slipped and so no knockdown points were awarded to the Russian challenger.

Had even one of those been ruled a knockdown, Provodnikov would have earned a draw. Instead, American Bradley improved to 30-0 while Provodnikov fell to 22-2 but impressed by nearly taking the title with a late knockout. Provodnikov connected with a left hook that sent the champion staggering backwards with 55 seconds remaining in the fight and landed a hard right to stun Bradley again 30 seconds before the finish.

GREAT EFFORT

The Hyderabad senior women’s cricket team pose after emerging as the runners-up in the recently concluded inter state women’s T20 cricket tournament held at Pune from March 8 to 14.

JHIC-ITF tournament Qualifying round results Nandini Gupta (Ind) bt Dhara Bharat (Ind) 6-0, 6-0 Jeni Patel (Ind) bt Krishnali Bhonsle (Ind) 6-1 Ret Vasavi Ganesan (Ind) bt Surya Tejaswini (Ind) 6-3, 7-5 Theiviya Delvarajoo (MAS) bt S. Uddur Manjunath (Ind) 6-4, 7-5 Amrita Mukherjee (Ind) bt Anjana Kompally (Ind) 6-3, 6-2 Amala Amol Warrick (Ind) bt Zainab Ali Sajjad (Ind) 7-6(5), 6-3 Ashmitha Easwaramurthi (Ind) bt Smriti Joon (Ind) 6-3, 6-3 Deeksha Ajit (Ind) bt Seema Kumari (Ind) 6-0 Ret. Vaniya Dangwal (Ind) bt Afreen Sayeda (Ind) 6-0, 6-0 Sai Samhita Chamarthi (Ind) bt Preethi Ujjini (Ind) 6-4, 6-3 Tanvee Bose (Ind) bt Menitha Magani (Ind) 6-4, 6-3 Sneha Padamata (Ind) bt Kirandeep Kaur (Ind) 6-0, 6-0 Varunya Chandrashekar (Ind) bt Ramya Natarajan (Ind) 6-3, 5-7, 7-5

Tigers CC continue to dominate

n the third round of the IBAYS Suzuki Cup Tigers Cricket Club continued to dominate group A with another huge victory making it 3 out of 3. Defending champions Zonah also managed to secure a 26 run victory making it a very interesting setup for next weeks game between Tigers CC and Zonah. In the third game Kargeens bounced back with a victory against rebellion shields. Brief Scores: Kargeens 126/7 bt Rebellion Shields 125/8 — Anurag Reddy 46, Venkatesh Thati 4/14. Tigers CC 188/8 bt Mytrah 73 all out — Mukhtar 52, Shadaan Osmani 4/15. Zonah 126/8 bt Richy Strikers 100 all out — Osama Azam 42, Abhishek G 43, Atif Hyder 3/21. League Cricket Kishan Prasad HCA one day Apex CC 155 (Md Azeemuddin 32, Raheem 30, Abdul Ela Al Quraishi 4/24) lost to Boys Town 156/8 (Md Abrar 52). MCH vs FCI FCI 101 (Kailash Chand S 8/24) bt MCH 93 (Chandra Shaker 5/24)

SPORTS SUNDAY, MARCH 17, 2013

Del Potro stuns Djokovic Rebecca Bryan

INDIAN WELLS, CALIFORNIA: Juan Martin del Potro stunned Novak Djokovic on Saturday to end the World No. 1’s 22-match winning streak and book an ATP Indian Wells Masters final against Rafael Nadal. Argentina’s Del Potro defeated Djokovic 4-6, 6-4, 6-4, ending the Serbian’s winning streak that had stretched back to October 31. Nadal, an 11-time Grand Slam champion seeded fifth in his fourth tournament back from a seven-month injury absence, beat sixth-seeded Czech Tomas Berdych 6-4, 7-5. “He’s a big challenge for me also,” del Potro said of Nadal. “He will want to win this tournament, for sure, and it’s going to be very interesting match.” Djokovic’s 17-match wins this year had included a run to a fourth Australian Open title and the ATP title at Dubai. He looked and sounded weary as he philo-

Novak eyes Miami

Juan Martin Del Potro of Argentina returns a shot to Novak Djokovic of Serbia during the semifinals of the BNP Paribas Open at the Indian Wells Tennis Garden on Saturday in Indian Wells, California. AFP/MATTHEW STOCKMAN

Resurgent Nadal reaches final INDIAN WELLS, CALIFORNIA, MARCH: A resurgent Rafael Nadal booked his berth Saturday in the final at the ATP Indian Wells Masters, his toughest test since returning from a seven-month injury absence. Nadal beat sixth-seeded Czech Tomas Berdych 6-4, 75 to reach his first hard court final since his loss to Novak Djokovic in epic fiveset final at the 2012 Australian Open. It won’t be Djokovic across the net on Sunday, however, but Juan Martin del Potro. The seventh-seeded Argentinian stunned the world No. 1 from Serbia 4-6,

Novak Djokovic of Serbia leaves the court after losing to Juan Martin Del Potro of Argentina during the semifinals of the BNP Paribas Open on Saturday. AFP/MATTHEW STOCKMAN

INDIAN WELLS, CALIFORNIA: World No. 1 Novak Djokovic, stunned by Juan Martin del Potro in the ATP Indian Wells Masters semifinals on Saturday, wasted no time mourning the end of his 22match winning streak. The dominant player in men’s tennis immediately turned his attention to Miami, where the second ATP Masters event of the season will start next week. “It’s sport,” Djokovic said of the end of a streak that had stretched back to October 31. “Now I need a few days off and I’ll move on to Miami.” His 17 victories this year included his run to a fourth Australian Open crown — his sixth Grand Slam title — and a AFP triumph in Dubai.

sophically offered his congratulations to del Potro. “It happens,” Djokovic said. “All the credit to my opponent today. He deserved to win because he was more composed in the important moments and he played the right shots. “He stepped into the court, where, on the other side, me, I made a lot of unforced errors and was at back of the court too passive. It’s sport.” Del Potro had beaten Djokovic just twice in 10 prior meetings, although one of those victories was a sweet one for the bronze medal at the London Olympics last year. Djokovic had since re-established his authority with wins over Djokovic at the Cincinnati Masters, US Open and ATP Finals last year, and at Dubai in February. Down a set, the determined del Potro broke Djokovic to open the second, but the set would prove a see-saw affair featuring AFP five breaks of serve.

6-4, 6-4 to reach the title match. Nadal has now reached the final in four consecutive tournaments since returning last month from a sevenmonth absence rehabilitating his injured left knee. But Indian Wells is a step up from the three modest clay court tournaments he played in Latin America, not only because of the more punishing hard-court surface but because the field featured 49 of the top 50 men in the world. The fifth-seeded Spaniard saved three break points in the final game against sixthseeded Berdych before gain-

ing a first match point. A wayward forehand cost him that one, but Berdych’s backhand into the net gave him another, and when Berdych knocked a backhand service return into the net, Nadal thrust his arms into the air in triumph. Against Berdych, who was coming off back-toback finals appearances at Marseille and Dubai, Nadal was in control for most of AFP the match.

Rafael Nadal of Spain serves to Tomas Berdych of Czech Republic during the semifinals of the BNP Paribas Open at the Indian Wells Tennis Garden on Saturday. AFP/MATTHEW STOCKMAN/

Miyazato seizes lead

PHOENIX, ARIZONA: Ai

Miyazato fired a five-under par 67 and was aided by a penalty on American Stacy Lewis on her way to seizing a four-stroke lead after the third round of the LPGA Founders Cup on Saturday. Japan’s Miyazato, who seeks her 10th career LPGA title, finished 54 holes at the $1.5 million event on 19-under 197 with Lewis, who could claim the World No. 1 ranking with a victory, and South Korean Jee Young Lee third on 201. Lewis thought she had fired a 66 but tournament officials conducted a video review of the actions of her

Ai Miyazato reacts to the crowd after a birdie putt on the 15th hole green during the RR Donnelley LPGA Founders Cup on Saturday. AFP/CHRISTIAN PETERSEN

caddie, Travis Wilson, in a bunker on the par-4 16th hole and assessed a two-stroke penalty for testing the sand. That turned a par on the hole into a double bogey and boosted Lewis to a 68 for the round, doubling her deficit behind Miyazato entering the last 18 holes. The caddie walked into the bunker and appeared to flex his feet while standing in place as Lewis asked a question about her upcoming bunker shot. For World No. 3 Lewis to become No. 1, she would need to win the tournament and have top-ranked Yani Tseng finished worse than third. AFP

Kevin, Leonard on top PALM HARBOR, FLORIDA: Justin Leonard, the 1997 British Open winner who last won a US PGA event in 2008, fired a fourunder par 67 on Saturday to share the 54-hole lead at the Tampa Bay Championship. The 40-year-old American stood alongside countryman Kevin Streelman and South African George Coetzee on sixunder 207 after three rounds, the highest 54-hole leader score on the US PGA Tour this season, at the $5.5 million event. “I was pretty focused on AFP controlling what I could.”

SPORTS SUNDAY, MARCH 17, 2013

India upstage Australia

The attendance on Sunday at Mohali, though, left a lot to be desired. Something is terribly wrong somewhere that needs to be set right, for big crowds are an essential part of a good game of cricket. SYED SHOIAB In Mohali

MOHALI: India lost Sachin Tendulkar when they were within striking distance of Australia's first innings score of 408 just before lunch at the Punjab Cricket Association stadium in Mohali on the fourth day of the third Test between India and Australia. Their lunch score of 384 for the loss of three wickets meant that the match was heading for a draw, which would result in India winning the 4-Test series having won the first two. In the morning session, Shikhar Dhawan did not deliver as promised, falling short of a double-century debut that was there for the taking. He got out to a tame shot, as he defended a delivery even the bowler did not expect to get a wicket off. The brief lapse in concentration that cost him his wicket was evident in the expression of the bowler:

Scoreboard Australia 1st innings 408 India 1st innings M Vijay not out 142 Dhawan c Cowan b Lyon 187 CA Pujara lbw b Siddle 1 Tendulkar c Cowan b Smith 37 Extras (b 5, lb 9, nb 1) 15 Total (3 wickets) 384 Fall of wickets: 1-289, 2-292, 3-384 Bowling O M R W MA Starc 17 3 66 0 PM Siddle 20 6 51 1 Henriques 11 1 47 0 NM Lyon 25 3 110 1 XJ Doherty 18 6 70 0 SPD Smith 3.1 0 24 1 Lyon looked more surprised than happy with the wicket after the umpire lifted his finger to a muted appeal after Cowan snapped the ball at silly point. Cheteshwar Pujara did not last long, bringing in Sachin Tendulkar to a louder applause than one could have expected from a thin crowd here. The consistent right-hander

Herath restricts Bangladesh COLOMBO: Sri Lanka's

Murali Vijay acknowledges the crowd on getting to his century on the fourth day of the third Test at the PCA stadium in Mohali on Sunday. SRINIVAS SETTY Pujara had his nearly-68 average in Tests dented when he got out leg before wicket after scoring just one. That umpire Aleem Dar cannot be blamed for not either seeing or hearing the inside edge is not going to provide the batsman any comfort. The influence of One-day and Twenty20 cricket on present-day cricketers is quite obvious these days, making proceedings in Test cricket much livelier, leaving one wondering why spectators have been reluctant to come to the stadium here. The fact that Indians were batting and that too very well against formidable opponents Australia, Shikhar Dhawan was on the threshold of what would have been a historic record, and a pleasant Sunday: all this, it seems, were not enough reasons to bring in fans in big numbers. The solace, however, to the gathering here came in the form of a century to Vijay. It was a deserving reward for the patience and application shown by the quick-scoring TN opener who has had to play second fiddle here to the explosive Dhawan.

Rangana Herath bagged five wickets as Bangladesh were bowled out for 240 in their first innings on the opening day of the second and final Test in Colombo on Saturday. The left-arm spinner finished with 5-68, his 15th haul of five or more wickets in a Test innings, while fast bowler Nuwan Kulasekara took three wickets as the tourists were all out in the last session after being put in to bat. Sri Lanka lost opener Tillakaratne Dilshan for no score before reaching 18-1 in reply at stumps. Opener Dimuth Karunaratne was unbeaten on 12 with Kumar Sangakkara (three not out). Mominul Haque, who made 55 on debut in the drawn first Test in Galle, top-scored for Bangladesh with an impressive 64. Nasir Hossain (48), opener Jahurul Islam (33) and Sohag Gazi (32) were the other main scorers. "We thought it (the pitch) would help the

Brief score Bangladesh 1st innings 240 (Jahurul Islam 33,Mominul Haque 64, Nasir Hossain 48 Kulasekara 3/54, Herath 5/68) Sri Lanka 1st innings 18/1 (D. Karunaratne not out 12, Robiul 1/12)

seamers. Luckily, I got some wickets but our bowlers bowled well on this track," said Herath. "I didn't get much help before lunch, but after lunch I just kept the ball in the right place and that's why I was successful." Herath dismissed skipper Mushfiqur Rahim (seven) and Mohammad Mahmudullah (eight) in four overs in the second session before removing Mominul, Gazi and Nasir in the last. "It was a good wicket and the ball was coming nicely on to the bat. Herath did well because he maintained a good line and length," said Mominul. "If the outfield had been good (fast) our score could have reached 300AFP 320."

Rain interrupts Kiwi-England Test WELLINGTON: Rain interrupt-

Grounds staff put on the covers as a rain hits during day four of the international cricket Test match between New Zealand and England played at the Basin Reserve in Wellington on Sunday. AFP/MARTY MELVILLE

ed play in the second Test between New Zealand and England at the Basin Reserve on Sunday, with New Zealand 153 for two in their second innings at lunch on the fourth day. Kane Williamson is on 51 and Ross Taylor 36 as New Zealand trail England by 58 runs. The covers were placed on the pitch when rain started during the lunch adjournment, and showers are forecast in Wellington for the remainder of the match. Earlier, a six-wicket haul by England paceman Stuart Broad left New Zealand fighting for survival as they were forced to follow on, on Saturday. At stumps, on Saturday, New

Zealand were 77 for one in their second innings, requiring a further 134 runs to make England bat again as they struggle to keep the series all square. After the early loss of

Scorecard England first innings 465 New Zealand first innings 254 New Zealand 2nd innings P. Fulton c Cook b Anderson 45 H. Rutherford c Bell b Panesar 15 K. Williamson not out 51 R. Taylor not out 36 Extras (lb 1, w 5) 6 Total (two wkts; 62 overs) 153 Bowling: Anderson 12-4-27-1, Broad 11-5-27-0, Finn 11-2-36-0, Panesar 23-10-40-1, Trott 3-0-10-0, Root 2-0-12-0

Hamish Rutherford, Peter Fulton (41 not out) and Kane Williamson (16 not out) negotiated the rest of the final session. Earlier, Broad destroyed New Zealand's first innings with six for 51, his seventh five-wicket haul in 54 Tests, as New Zealand collapsed to 254 all out in reply to England's first innings 465. The home side started the third day precariously poised at 66-3 and after overnight batsmen Kane Williamson (42) and Dean Brownlie (18) departed Brendon McCullum and BJ Watling put on 100 for the sixth wicket. As the last recognised batsmen, New Zealand needed the pair to remain in the middle as long as possible but both foundered in the 60s, opening up AFP the tail.

SPORTS SUNDAY, MARCH 17, 2013

Utd gain massive lead Man U capitalised on a slip-up by Man City to open up a massive 15-point lead at the Premier League summit despite a laboured display in a 1-0 win to Reading.

Manchester United’s Dutch forward Robin van Persie shoots during the English Premier League football match AFP/ANDREW YATES against Reading at Old Trafford in Manchester on Saturday. Manchester United won 1-0.

Tom Williams

LONDON: Manchester United capitalised on a slip-up by Manchester City to open up a massive 15-point lead at the Premier League summit despite a laboured display in a 1-0 win at home to Reading on Saturday. City’s defeat at 10-man

Everton handed United a chance to further increase their lead and they grasped the opportunity through a solitary first-half goal from Wayne Rooney at Old Trafford. Rio Ferdinand celebrated his recall to the England squad by creating the goal in the 21st minute, boldly striding forward

before slipping the ball to Rooney, who beat Stuart Taylor with a deflected shot. In response, Hal RobsonKanu grazed the post with a crisp 20-yard strike for secondbottom Reading, who sacked manager Brian McDermott on Monday. Taylor saved from Robin

van Persie and Ryan Giggs in a quiet second half, but although United were well below-par, their 20th English league title now seems only a matter of time. “We don’t do it (play badly and win) that often,” United manager Alex Ferguson told ESPN. “Most of the time we’ve played well this season. The performance today doesn’t reflect the 15 points ahead we are - it’s the previous six months, really.” Everton all but ended City’s title defence earlier in the day with a gritty and controversial 2-0 win over the defending champions at Goodison Park. The hosts won despite having Steven Pienaar sent off, while City should have had a late penalty at 1-0 down when referee Lee Probert awarded a free-kick despite Marouane Fellaini handling the ball inside the Everton box. City assistant coach David Platt said manager Roberto Mancini was too “angry” to speak to media after the game and claimed his side had been denied a blatant spot-kick. “You’ve just played it to me (on a television replay) and it’s not even on the line of the area, it’s three yards inside,” he told Sky Sports. “People can draw their own conclusions, but we didn’t get it. Perhaps we could have got more out of the game if the decisions had gone for us.” AFP

Loss to Everton changes nothing: Platt LIVERPOOL: Manchester City never really stood a chance of catching Manchester United in the title race even before they were beaten at Everton, according to first-team coach David Platt (right). City failed to maintain the pressure on their Manchester rivals, with

Saturday’s 2-0 loss at Goodison Park leaving them 15 points adrift in the title race. Manager Roberto Mancini was so angry afterwards that he did not go through with his usual media duties. City initially fell behind in their attempts to retain

their title with a 3-2 loss to United at the Etihad Stadium in December. A 3-1 defeat at Southampton allowed United to extend the gap to 12 points and although Mancini has always insisted that City will not give up on the pursuit, the loss at Everton leaves them with little hope.

FOOTBALL BRIEFS Rio to report for England duty

High-flying United take to the skies

Mancini ducks TV after City crash

LONDON: Manchester United manager

MANCHESTER: Manchester United are

Alex Ferguson has confirmed that centreback Rio Ferdinand will link up with the England squad on Monday. The 34-year-old was on Thursday recalled by England manager Roy Hodgson for the forthcoming World Cup qualifiers against San Marino and Montenegro. Ferguson had previously hinted that Ferdinand might decide to withdraw from the squad due to concerns about his long-term fitness, having not played for his country since June 2011.

taking to the skies in the bid to clinch the title in rapid style. Manager Alex Ferguson has revealed his club are to hire a fleet of private jets to fly their superstars back from their forthcoming international duty in time for the Premier League leaders’ next league clash at Sunderland in two weeks. Ferguson is worried the likes of Antonio Valencia, Javier Hernandez and Shinji Kagawa will be drained by having to fly halfway across the world after playing for their countries.

LIVERPOOL:Manchester City manager Roberto Mancini failed to show for a television interview after seeing his side’s title hopes dealt a shattering blow in a 2-0 loss at Everton on Saturday. City were particularly aggrieved by an incident late in the game at Goodison Park in which the visitors appeared to be denied a clear penalty. With City 1-0 down and chasing the game, Carlos Tevez arrowed a shot at goal in the 86th minute that struck Everton midfielder Marouane Fellaini on the arm.

Alex warns team against complacency MANCHESTER, UNITED KINGDOM: Manchester United manager Alex Ferguson (in pic) has warned his team not to get carried away by believing they can romp to a record English Premier League triumph. United are 15 points clear at the top after their 1-0 home win over Reading on Saturday had followed defending champions Manchester City’s 2-0 defeat at Everton. But Ferguson refused to be complacent despite United being in a position to win the title by a record margin. The 18 points by which United won the 2000 championship from Arsenal remains the largest winning cushion, not only in Premier League history but in the history of top flight English football. “They can say what they

like. You don’t get points or medals for being complacent and we won’t be,” said Ferguson. “It wasn’t a great performance but we are where we are today is not down to today, it’s down to the previous six months. “The team has shown great consistency and played a lot of great football and the goal difference over City is big now, 15 points. “We’ve been playing well this season, it’s been a great season for us. We’re 15 points ahead but it’s the previous six months that have done it for us really.”

They can say what they like. You don’t get points or medals for being complacent and we won’t be. It wasn’t a great performance but we are where we are. Alex Ferguson Man Utd manager