Epaper 19 july 2013

FRIDAY, JULY 19, 2013 HYDERABAD

The dragon warrior PG 16&17

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WEATHER: INTERMITTENT RAIN; 24°C

Before Jackie Chan, before Jet Li, before Tony Jaa, there was Bruce Lee. His lithe figure, lightning fast kicks and smooth moves brought martial arts to the big screen in a big way. Though he died too young, his legacy lives on. We honour the dragon.

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OH THOSE ELECTION FOLLIES! Election symbols released by the State Election Commission for the panchayat polls give rise to healthy laughter among voters. Observe and don’t hurt yourself while you roll on the floor laughing...

PG 5

HYDERABAD’S FIRST COMPACT AFTERNOON NEWSPAPER

WEEP FOR BIHAR’S

CHILDREN, BUT BEWARE THE THREAT IN OUR OWN CITY

SHIV HAPPENS AT MUIRFIELD

Damp storage, dangerous handling of food grain, and unhygienic kitchens are all part of the City’s mid-day meals too. What happened in Bihar could happen here as well. Apart from that, some anganwadis, too lazy to cook food and to be on the safe side, serve kids packed potato chips and biscuits!

Shiv Kapur was the surprise package on Day One when he birdied six of his opening seven holes to turn in 30 and briefly holed a one-shot lead.

REPORT ON P9

PG 30

PIC FOR REPRESENTATIONAL PURPOSES ONLY

MIXED SIGNALS Aztec is a tribal group from Mexico. The clothing they wore, when translated into modern fashion world, came to be known as aztec prints.

These vibrant prints which probably meant to tell stories of the tribes have now come back.

PG 22&23

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FRIDAY, JULY 19, 2013

city events

MIME

Explore your expressions in Natvarya-a mime workshop by Indian Mime Academy.

Where: Sutradhar school of acting, Nampally When: Till July 20, 6-9pm Contact: 8297117515

Weather for Hyderabad

Evening

Overnight

Morning

Afternoon

26°C

22°C

25°C

29°C

Cloudy with showers. Windy.

Cloudy with clear periods. Windy.

Cloudy with showers. Windy.

Chance of thundershowers.

New Delhi Mumbai Max 34 Max 30 Min 27 Min 24 Showers and a heavy t-storm.

Periods of rain.

Some heavy.

Chennai Max 30 Min 24

Bangalore Max 25 Min 20

A thunderstorm in spots.

A couple of thunderstorms.

AROUND THE CITY: YOUR GUIDE TO THE TWIN CITIES music lovers in Hindustani classical music. The session will be conducted

by Aradhana Karhade.

Where: Lamakaan, Banjara Hills When: July 21, 5pm Contact: 9642731329

Relationships A workshop on art & science of relationships.

Where: Palm exotica resorts, Shankarpally When: Till July 21, 11am-2pm Contact: 2329 9779 Art exhibition Mr Raj presents a painting exhibition.

The abstract paintings depict various forms of human emotions.

Where: The Bar, Novotel Hyderabad, near the airport.

When: Till July 21, 9am

SHOWS The Open Couple 71 MM Production is organising playwright Dario Fo’s The Open Couple. The 60-minute play is cowritten by Franca Rame and is being directed byFaraz Khan. Donor pass costs `100 and tickets are available on Book My Show.

Where: Lamakaan, Banjara Hills When: July 30 and 31, 7.30pm Contact: 9848023379/ 9963447673 Tribal art exhibition Kalakriti Art Gallery presents Dots and Dashes, a Gond tribal art exhibition, curated by Rati Khemka Malaiya.

Where: Kalakriti Art Gallery, Banjara Hills When: On till July 28 Timings: 11am to 7pm Contact: Kalakriti Art Gallery on Facebook State of the Art Voyage of exploration, a collection of paintings, drawing and sculptures by students of MFA programme 2013 from Sarojini Naidu School of Art & Communication, University of Hyderabad is on.

Where: Shrishti Art Gallery, Jubilee Hills When: Till July 25 Contact: +91 40 23554485/86

WORKSHOPS Music theory Theory on music by Hyderabad Western Music Foundation.

Where: Lamakaan, Banjara hills When: Till Aug 3, 11am to 2pm Contact: 2329 9779 GO GREEN: The latest PETA ad shows Bollywood actress Esha Gupta dressed in a green bikini designed by Kshitij Choudhary. The third-place winner of the Femina Miss India 2007, Gupta advises fans to be kinder to animals and their own health by turning vegetarian.

Zumba moves Charity event for disaster-struck Uttarakhand. The event will start with a free-for-all Zumba Fitness Workshop conducted by fitness instructor Anika Sharma and Hyderabad ZINs (Zumba Instructor

Commissioner & Spl Officer

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

198 155313

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

Just for fun History of India Viritten will be performed by stand-up comedian Vir Das. Where: N-Convention, Madhapur When: July 27 Contact: 8790432354

155333 23431178 23431179

MUNICIPAL CORPORATION

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

Network), followed by donations for Uttarakhand flood victims.

Where: Lamakaan, Banjara Hills When: July 21, 10:30am Contact: 9642731329 Hindustani alaap A listening session for all classical

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

155313 23307328 23313163

27505566 23314095 23390933 24600146 27001134 23607777 30418888 30417777 30419000 30416666 39879999

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

FOOD & DRINK Ramzan special Relish the season special iftar delicacies at these venues: Where: Viva, Taj Vivanta When: Till Aug 7, 5.30-11.30pm Where: Deccan Pavilion, ITC Kakatiya When: Till Aug 7, 7.30pm onwards Where: Green Park hotel, Ameerpet When: Till Aug 8, 6.30-10.30pm

Aerobics Have fun while you burn calories at this aerobics workshop.

Where:Colorama printers, Begumpet When: Till July 26, 4.30-6.30pm Contact: 2373 0328 Puppetry STEPARC is holding a workshop for adults.

Where: :Lamakaan, Banjara hills When: July 21, 10.30 am to 1.30 pm Contact: 96427 31329

27567892 23559555 23226624 27633087 27035588 27550238 30799999 30418296 30417445

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

Theatre workshop Theatre workshop for children in the eight years and above age group. It offers a rich mix of outdoor theatre activities, readings, analysis, discussions and performances.

Where: Lamakaan, Banjara hills When: Till Aug 3, 10am Contact: 2329 9779

Airport Director 27903785, 27906001 For Air India Flight Information Toll free (from any network) for IC Flights 18001801407 And for All Flights: 1800227722 Air India has revised its flight timings.

For more information call (Toll free) 18001801407, 1800227722 from BSNL/MTNL 04023430334 from other lines and mobile Website; www.airindia.in TOURISM OFFICES AP Tourism, Hyd 23262152/53/54 Sec-bad 27893100 Dept of Tourism 23453110 India Tourism 23261360 AP Tourism information Centre (24x7) 23450444, 23455999 UK VISA OFFICE VFS India Pvt Ltd Building, 8-2-542/A, Sunil Chamber, Road No. 7

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

24523211 232431300/7641 24521029

Readers’ views

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

FRIDAY, JULY 19, 2013

news

YESTERDAY’S QUESTION

IS GHMC ALONE TO BLAME FOR LACK OF RAIN PITS ?

69% 31%

YES (A) NO (B)

TODAY’S QUESTION

IS THE POLICE TIGHTENING SECURITY RULES ON NET CAFES JUSTIFIED? A)

YES

B)

NO

To vote visit www.postnoon.com

SECURITY

Cops keep pressure on internet cafes

Police, as part of red-alert, got into scores of internet cafes in the City and asked them to keep records straight and install CCTV. Consequently, many cafes are threatening to close down.

Mohd SUBHAN mohd.s@postnoon.com

HYDERABAD: Following frequent high-alerts on possible terror attacks, the City’s internet cafes are under pressure. In a series of checks the police conducted on Internet cafes, one in Khairatabad, was sealed and notices have been issued to scores of others on charge of flouting rules.

Police said that the cafes are to maintain registers and proper address and phone numbers of

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MEDICAL MIRACLE

China H7N9 survivor gives birth: Report BEIJING: A Chinese woman who spent five weeks in intensive care with H7N9 bird flu has given birth to a girl in what was described as a "miracle" first, state media said on Friday.

Qiu Yan, 25, was five months pregnant when she was diagnosed with the virus in April, early in China's human outbreak of the disease. She was in a "very serious condition" and underwent antibiotic, antiviral and hormone treatments, along with daily X-rays, during her therapy, the Global Times cited doctors as saying.

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Cafe owners meanwhile are a worried lot. They blame police of acting high-handed stifling their business. the customers. They are also asked to install CCTV which cafes refuse to do on plea of expenses. The City police commissioner Anurag Sharma had issued orders to cafes to maintain mandatory records and had given one week to act upon. But

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many did not. Consequently, police have issued notices to 60 cafes in the North, West, Central and East zones of the twin cities.

Cafe owners meanwhile are a worried lot. They blame police of acting high-handed stifling their business. “We can’t function with police breathing over our shoulders,” remarked a cafe owner Rasik Raj. Cafe owners say they can’t push customers

too much. If they do, people would stop using the cafes. Cafe owners threaten to suspend business if pressure mounted.

The cafes inspected were situated in Khairatabad, Nampally, Mehdipatnam, Masab tank, Toli Chowki, Banajara Hills, Jubilee Hills, Secunderabad, Bowenpally, Trimulgherry, Musheerabad, RTC X Road, Chikkadpally, Kachiguda, Barkathpura, Nallakunta, Malakpet, Akberbagh, TV Tower and some parts of Old City.

Qiu is the world's first H7N9 survivor to give birth, the paper said. "Her lung was severely infected and she needed a respirator to breathe because she was suffering from respiratory failure," it quoted Qiu's doctor Sun Lizhou as saying.

Qiu was discharged from intensive care in May but stayed in hospital until she delivered the baby — a 3.3-kilogram , 50centimetre girl — on Wednesday.

"It was a miracle," Sun said.

The first human cases of the H7N9 virus were reported in late March and it had infected 132 people in mainland China, killing 43 by the end of June, according to official data.

Experts fear the possibility of the virus mutating into a form easily transmissible between humans, with the potential to trigger a pandemic. Both Qiu and her baby were in stable condition but the child will have to be checked regularly for any possible effects of the virus, Sun added, according to the report.

AFP

CITY BRIEFS City student bags medal in Physics Olympiad

2 per cent interest waiver for property tax

EWF demands govt take Chief Whip alleges YSRC action against lax officials hoping to stall T-process

Woman kills herself with cleaning chemical

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houvanik Chakravarti, a student of FIITJEE Hyderabad centre, bagged a Silver Medal in the International Physics Olympiad this year. He was one of the four Indian medalists at the 44th IPhO which was held at Copenhagen, Denmark from July 7 – 15 this year. FIITJEE is India’s first institute for IIT-JEE and Engineering entrance exams training.

he in-charge GHMC commissioner, Navin Mittal on Thurday has announced that the citizens who pay their property tax before July 31, 2013 and avail 2% interest waiver failing which the interest will be levied from August 1, 2013 onwards.

The demand of property tax on every property is available on the GHMC website www.ghmc.gov.in.

lection Watch Front has alleged that the officials concerned were not implementing the directions of the State Election Commissioner. The Front representatives have alleged that belt shops were continuing their activities and candidates contesting elections were drenching the voters in liquor.

They demanded the government to initiate tough action.

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andra Venkata Ramana Reddy said that Panchayat elections were not referendum to any party.

Talking to the media here on Thursday, he has alleged that the YSRC leaders had written a letter to Union Home Minister Sushil Kumar Shinde only to stall the Telangana process. He also said the ‘fees deeksha’ of Vijayamma was fake.

ne E Kalpana, 35, mother of two children allegedly committed suicide consuming cleaning chemical. She had a running battle with her husband who is said to be an alcoholic. Recently he attacked her with a blade and injured her.

The police arrested him the next day and put him in prison on remand.

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News FRIDAY, JULY 19, 2013 LAST YEAR... HERE The stench of neglect

L

ast year we had reported how two major areas in the City, KPHB colony and Vasavi Colony, were reeling under the problems of clogged drains and water stagnation in the monsoon. New stormwater drains were to be laid at KPHB Colony, but the incomplete work made things worse. The clogged drains were spreading diseases in Vasavi Colony.

JULY 19, 2012

NUMEROLOGY

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people who were protesting against jailing of Russian President Vladimir Putin’s critic Alexei Navalny have been arrested.

This is a difficult step, but the only viable option to address a problem that has been six decades in the making.The only feasible path to a stable and solid Detroit is to file for bankruptcy protection.

Rick Snyder, Michigan Governor, See page 12

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THINGS WE LEARNT TODAY

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

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Internet Cafe owners threaten to shut shop Owners are afraid that people will stop coming if they impose stringent rules.

2

Bihar tragedy could be replicated here A random check at various schools reveals the negligence regarding hygiene and other facilities for mid-day meals.

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The downfall of the industrial city of Detroit The City is now a poster child for urban decay. A city that literally cannot afford to keep the lights on.

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The alarming revelations on our planet A mixture of population growth, consumerism, greed, and shortterm thinking by policymakers seems to be bringing us close to the planet’s limits.

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Anton Chekhov’s plays come to the City City-based theatre group Samahaara will be performing two of Chekhov’s plays this Saturday at Lamakaan.

POLITICS

POLITICS

Make Vizag 2nd national capital

Stop playing with people of T: CPI

HYDERABAD: Congress MP Undavalli Arun Kumar said that Visakhapatnam should be made the second capital of India, in case the State was divided to create Telangana.

Speaking to the media here on Thursday, he said Dr BR Ambedkar, architect of India’s Constitution, has long ago proposed that Hyderabad should be the second capital of India. He has alleged that the Seemandhra leaders had neglected Visakhapatnam, because of their attachment to Hyderabad.

The Congress has to prove its sincerity by creating separate Telangana state sticking to its word on Telangana.

POSTNOON NEWS feedback@postnoon.com HYDERABAD: Berating the Congress of playing political chicanery on Telangana, the Communist Party of India leader K Narayana (pictured) said the ruling party had no sincerity on the matter and was playing with the sentiments of the people of Telangana by floating various theories of no avail.

The CPI will organise a conference with the Left parties’ activists of 10 districts on July 28 to chalk out an action plan to bring the Telangana people to a single platform and on the same day they will announce the action plan on Telangana.

Stating that there was no need for special package for the Telangana region, he found fault with the chief minister’s road map presentation at the Congress Core Committee meeting held on July 12 at Delhi.

He questioned the chief minister, who referred to the

He found fault with the Chief Minister’s road map presentation at the Congress Core Committee meeting held on July 12 at Delhi.

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former Prime Minister late Indira Gandhi’s letters and speeches, as to why he didn’t mention the first Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru’s speech at Nizamabad.

Narayana suggested to the chief minister to stop creating differences among the people by making useless arguments on Telangana issue.

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He alleged that the Congress Core Committee was the most opportunist body.

Stating that there was no need to give any letter by any party to the Centre on Telangana issue, Narayana has said that the Centre has to clear its stand on Telangana issue.

He said that the Congress party has to prove its sincerity by creating separate Telangana state sticking to its word on Telangana which was mentioned in the Congress manifesto in 2004.

Former MLA Chada Venkat Reddy and CPI (ML) New Democracy leaders were also present.

Undavalli claimed that the three small states created earlier were as per the vision of Dr Ambedkar. Conceding that division becomes inevitable if people want it, Undavalli said the people who want to part should have majority in the Assembly.

He has appealed to the leaders of both Telangana and Seemandhra to accept any decision taken in the best interests of the nation.

Claiming that there would be no harm even if the state were to be divided, he said the UPA government was striving to develop all the backward regions.

NSS

NSS

CITY

HEALTH

Poor sleep in pregnancy could lead to complications Women with depression are more likely than nondepressed women to suffer from disturbed sleep.

LOS ANGELES: Scientists have shown that inadequate sleep during pregnancy can lead to complications and hinder normal immune processes, says a study.

Women with depression are more likely than non-depressed women to suffer from disturbed sleep and adverse pregnancy outcomes, reports Science Daily.

Scientists at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine conducted the

research and the study was published in the journal “Psychosomatic Medicine”.

“Our results highlight the importance of identifying sleep problems in early pregnancy, especially in women experiencing depression, since sleep is a modifiable behaviour,” said Michele Okun, Ph.D., assistant AROUND THE

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professor of psychiatry at Pitt’s School of Medicine and lead author of the report.

“The earlier that sleep problems are identified, the sooner physicians can work with pregnant women to implement solutions.”

IANS

Exercises in pregnancy can prevent emergency caesarians LONDON: Scientists have found the women who exercise during pregnancy are less likely to require a caesarean birth. And the ones undertaking brisk walking in particular, thrice a week, could reduce their risk of having a heavy infant by half.

The study also shows that exercise lowers the chances of developing a type of diabetes that only affects pregnant women. In Britain, the C-sections now constitute about 25 per cent of births in England and Wales.

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News FRIDAY, JULY 19, 2013 NATION BRIEF

WINNER

Justice Sathasivam sworn in as Chief Justice

Indian sand artist sculpts gold in Russia

NEW DELHI: Justice P Sathasivam was today sworn in as the 40th Chief Justice of India (CJI) by President Pranab Mukherjee. He took over the post from Justice Altamas Kabir, who served as the CJI for over nine months.

Justice Sathasivam, 64, took oath in the name of God at a brief ceremony at Darbar Hall of Rashtrapati Bhavan.Justice Sathasivam, 64, is the first CJI from Tamil Nadu.

Sudarshan Pattnaik’s 7-foot creation triumphed at the international competition.

Three Maoists killed in Odisha gun battle BHUBANESHWAR: Three Maoists were killed early Friday in a gun battle with police in Odisha's Rayagada district, an official said.

After receiving a tip-off on Maoist presence, a team of Special Operations Group and district voluntary force personnel raided a forested area under the Doraguda police station. The guerrillas opened fire after being cornered, said an official.

Infiltration bid foiled in Gurez, militant killed SRINAGAR: The army today foiled an infiltration bid along the Line of Control in Gurez sector of Jammu and Kashmir, killing a militant in the operation. A group of three to four heavily armed militants tried to sneak into Gurez sector near Nani Post in the wee hours today, official sources said.

The sources said the infiltrators were challenged by the army and asked to surrender.

Curfew in Valley, JammuSrinagar highway closed SRINAGAR: Curfew was Friday imposed in Srinagar, many towns of the Valley and areas in Ramban district of Jammu while the Jammu-Srinagar highway was closed in the wake of protests after four people died in BSF firing Thursday in Gool village of Ramban district. Separatist leaders Syed Ali Geelani and Mirwaiz Umer Farooq have been placed under house arrest in Srinagar.

Gangraped girl dies of burn injuries in hospital ETAWAH: The 20-year-old girl, who was allegedly gangraped and set afire by a youth in Desarmau village in Ekdil area, died during treatment at a hospital here, officials said here.

The victim was undergoing treatment at the hospital in Saifai after she was allegedly gangraped and set afire by the youth, who was pressurising her to marry him, and his associates, on July 11.

BHUBANESHWAR: Odishabased sand artist Sudarsan Pattnaik’s sculpture of Lord Ganesha has won a gold medal at an international sand art competition in Russia.

Pattnaik’s seven-foot creation shows Ganesha sitting on Kailash mountain with his parents, Lord Shiva and Parvati. The theme of the 12th International Sand Art Competition, 2013, held from July 10-18 in Saint Petersburg, was “International Fairy

The theme of the 12th International Sand Art Competition, 2013 was “International Fairy Tales”.

Sudarshan Pattnaik was the only Indian to participate in the event.

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Tales”. Twenty sculptors from all over the world took part.

“I was the only artist from

India,” Pattnaik told IANS over phone from Russia.

“It was a memorable moment for me when the organisers announced that my sculpture had won the gold medal,” he added.

The artist has participated in more than 50 international sand art competitions and won many accolades.

IANS

ELECTION SYMBOLS

Laugh your blues away!

Election symbols released by the State Election Commission for the panchayat polls give rise to healthy laughter among voters. Some samples.

Md INKESHAF AHMED ahmed.m@postnoon.com HYDERABAD: One of the virtues of democratic elections is the comic relief it gives during the poll campaign. In the forthcoming panchayat elections, the State Election Commission has put out a list of symbols that gives rise to a riotous creative imagination.

Of the 20-odd symbols the Commission has offered to sarpanchs, many are aptly symbolic of the present-day messy AROUND THE

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political scene. While the local body elections are supposed to be fought apolitical, all know the facts are different. Few chose to fight elections without a political plank and there are cream and chocolate aplenty if one sides with the ‘right’ party rich in resources.

Now, suppose you are forced to take a bat as your symbol and your rival has chosen or asked to take scissors, what would the upshot be? Well, bat has other than batting use, you

know. Scissors too has a cutting edge other than its usual use.

Only thing is if you are not adept with a bat, scissors could prove lethal.

What of the cleaning brush and comb, for instance. Brush-

The State Election Commission has released a total of 45 free symbols to hold Village Sarpanch (head) and ward members elections across the State.

Carrot, cot and drums are some of the ones on offer. candidate can be equated to a lowly wage-earner while comb could also be passed on to that famous hair-trade.

There remains much wit to be passed between the two candidates if they have a sense of humour.

Carrot and stick could go well even in adverse circumstances. The candidate holding carrot as election symbol could brandish it to the electorate with aplomb, and the rival, if holds

the stick, could also take up a belligerent stance; telling the electorate what could happen if they would not vote for him/her.

Television, drum, maize, table, cot, ring, slate, sewing machine are some other symbols on offer. A wit had it that the one who takes up cot as symbol could make alluring offer to the opposite sex! Gas stove comes handy to the oppo-

10g GOLD `26,760 10g GOLD`31,300 `40,560 1kg SILVER `58,600

24C

forfor

for for

DOLLAR `59.81 `54.99 POUND `88.14 POUND `90.96

sition party candidate to beat the ruling party candidate quoting rocketing gas prices.

The State Election Commission has released a total of 45 free symbols to hold Village Sarpanch (Head) and ward members elections across the State. Of these symbols, 20 free symbols belong to Sarpanch posts and the remaining 15 free symbols are meant for ward member elections.

20192.45 BSE 19,805.54 6042.30 6,022.45 NSE 64.04 21.46 4.25 6.55

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News FRIDAY, JULY 19, 2013 MID-AIR SCARE

Pump glitch turns back Dreamliner AROUND THE

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TOKYO: A Japan Airlines Boeing 787 bound for Tokyo was forced to return to Boston on Thursday due to a possible pump problem, the carrier said, as it dismissed concerns of a new crisis for the plane after a fire in London.

The fuel-efficient Dreamliner aircraft resumed flying after a months-long grounding for serious battery problems, and analysts warn that the mounting list of mishaps could have a psychological impact on wary fliers.

Last Friday, a 787 flown by Ethiopian Airlines caught fire at London’s Heathrow airport. No one was aboard the parked plane at the time of the incident.

British authorities have since recommended that distress beacons on board all Boeing Dreamliners be disabled, after identifying the devices as the likely cause of the fire.

AFP

RUPEE FALL

Manmohan allays fears on economy

We are committed to bringing down the current account deficit, from both demand and supply side, the prime minister told an Assocham meet.

NEW DELHI: Prime Minister Manmohan Singh Friday assured the industry that government is taking action to improve the economy.

“I know that business is deeply concerned about the slowdown in the economy,” Manmohan Singh said addressing the annual general meeting of industrial chamber ASSOCHAM. AROUND THE

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“When things are going bad, as they seem to be at present, it is the responsibility of the government to become proactive. The biggest concern is volatility of foreign

THEATRE

Chekhov in the City Samahaara aims to tickle the funny bone of Hyderabadis with two of his hilarious short plays, The Bear and The Proposal.

KANCHAN AGARWAL kanchan.a@postnoon.com HYDERABAD: Samahaara, as its next production, is bringing a glimpse into the world as seen by famous Russian playwright Anton Chekhov. Two of his hilarious short plays, The Bear and The Proposal, will be performed one after another this Saturday, July 20, at Lamakaan. The plays have been directed by Rathna Shekar Reddy, who is also acting in the two.

Chekhov was considered among the greatest short story writers in the world.

Even his full-length plays, such as Uncle Vanya, Three Sisters and The Cherry Orchard, became to be remembered as classics.

Speaking on his choice of playwright and plays, Rathna Shekar says, “Anton Chekhov is one of my favourite

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writers when it comes to short stories.

The Bear and The Proposal are similar.

They have the same energy, they are very loud, and they deal with silly conflicts. The characters are crazy, and are always fighting but you will like them.

“Later, when you look back, you will chuckle thinking how silly they and their fights were. These plays are very human. It has been a challenge for us actors, too. We wanted to see how we would handle Anton Chekhov.”

Samahaara had recently performed a play reading of Shakespeare’s Hamlet, and has faith in City’s audience to take open mindedly to Anton Chekhov.

“Audience is very informed now. If you give them a good show, they come back.” If it rains or not, the team has promised a show. If circumstances demand, each play will be performed twice within the given schedule.

Timing: 7pm onwards Venue: Lamakaan, Banjara hills Buy tickets online on www.bookmyshow.com, www.meraevents.com, www.indianstage.com.

Phone: 8341120303.

exchange,” he said.

The prime minister said that the situation arose as large amounts of funds were withdrawn from the market, which led to the rupee’s depreciation.

“We are committed to bringing down the current account deficit, from both demand and supply side,” he added.

Talking about the current account deficit of the country, which is at 4.7 percent of the gross domestic product (GDP) in 2012-13, he said “it is possible to bring it down to 2.5 percent but that cannot happen in one year”. He added that it would come down to some extent in 2013-14.

IANS

DIPLOMACY

US welcomes growing clout of India WASHINGTON: Ahead of his first trip to India next week, Vice President Joe Biden has said that as the US rebalances its Asia policy, it welcomes India’s emergence as a force for security and growth in the region.

“One of the reasons why President (Barack) Obama has called our relationship with India a defining partnership of the century ahead is that India is increasingly looking East as a AROUND THE

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force for security and growth in Southeast Asia and beyond,” he said Thursday.

“To us that’s welcome news,” said Biden speaking on the “US policy toward the Asia-Pacific region and India’s growing role in the region,” at George Washington University under the auspices of the Centre for American Progress, a Washington think tank.

IANS

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News FRIDAY, JULY 19, 2013

REPORTERS’ DIARY

S

The feline philosophy of socialites

ocialites continue to use parties and get-togethers for their own benefit.

Many of them just make the stage appearance, mainly to pose for cameras, strike up an attitude which they think the readers or viewers would lap up and leave nonchalantly caring little for the goings-on.

Recently at a book reading program, a pretty socialite who wore a gorgeous black dress, walked in for the event, posed for the lens close to 10 minutes, sampled some food on display, halloed and hi-ed with as many as possible and walked away just before the event started. Her behaviour was like a cat that drinks milk with its eyes closed.

With its eyes shut the cat probably thinks the world does not see! (AD)

NO WHITE ACTION, THIS

We all thought the greatest dream merchants are film producers, right? Wrong. Political parties have beaten the filmwallahs and are supplying sweet dreams. Take for example, the `1 a kilo rice.

If the Congress wants to return to power in next year’s general elections, it has to tackle three problems successfully: Power shortages, scarcity of drinking water, and the upward spiral of prices of essential commodities. Look at many fanciful schemes — the abhaya hastam (pictured) scheme — where rice at `1 per kg rice was to be made available to the White Ration card holders (BPL). After the inauguration and the photo op, rice has disappeared from ration shops. (SS)

Charminar.

The Dy. Commissioner was alerted by sources that the home guards had been extracting bribes from the poor vendors and harassing small traders. The other day, while going home, the Dy. Commissioner decided to check on his own and he came in civil

dress, stationed himself at a vantage point and observed the home guards’ activities. He saw how the guards had been pushing the vendors around and putting hands in their pockets.

Meanwhile, some ‘well-wisher’ of the guards alerted them saying their boss is somewhere in

The Dy Commissioner decided to check on his own and he came in civil dress, stationed himself at a vantage point, and observed the home guards.

A CHOR-POLICE GAME

A few days ago people were treated to a sight that enthralled them. A man was trying to catch four home guards indulging in harassing push-cart vendors and other petty criers and extracting money in Gulzar House Road.

The four, however, proved smarter and they jumped into an autorickshaw and ran for their lives. When onlookers made enquiries, a hilarious thing came to light.

The man chasing their quarry was none other than the deputy commissioner of police, traffic, in civvies. And those escaped from his clutches were home guards attached to the traffic police at

the vicinity watching the goingon. Panic-stricken the four began to run but the DC too was fast and he would have collared them but for the fact that an autorickshaw parked nearby was prodded into action and asked to fly. (MS)

THE TREE CUTTER

The remains of the tree that cut by the MP kin to display his ‘palatial bungalow’ properly. The man also got rid of the shrubbery in front of the house as well.

PIC: PK SURENDRAN

See picture. A man, said to be influential and a relative of an MP, bought a plot on Rd No.19, cut all greenery, and chopped off a massive tree that was giving the whole area a delightful ambience and denuded the once green area. Know why? Because he wanted no hindrance to his ‘palatial bungalow’ built on the

plot and also wanted a transformer installed for himself.

Now, the tree was there for probably a hundred years. Will he ever in his lifetime see such a tree or can he ever grow a tree fivefeet high? This happens in ‘elite’ Jubilee Hills area where people are supposed to be educated.

And, sadder still is that nobody questions, and the pliable civic officials are glad to allow anything if ‘Gandhi” is delivered.

(PK)

AND, MAKE A BIT OF MONEY

A good bet is on among private circles on whether or not Telangana will become a reality on July 26 when the Congress Working Committee meets to take up the T issue. According to report, the going rate is heavily loaded against a T state. The proT state wagers may earn good if T turns out to be true even on theoretical line for now. Put your money on T is reporter’s advice. (contributed by Arun Daniel, Srinivas Setty, Mohd Subhan and P K Surendran)

8

News FRIDAY, JULY 19, 2013

MOSCOW PROTESTS

CUSTOMS DISPUTE

Afghan fines hike cost of US pullout

Over 200 detained after Navalny rally

Police detain protesters in central Moscow, protesting as opposition leader Alexei Navalny was sentenced to five AFP PHOTO/ KIRILL KUDRYAVTSEV years in a penal colony after finding him guilty of embezzlement in a timber deal.

MOSCOW: More than 200 people have been detained in Moscow after several thousands rallied outside the Kremlin to protest the conviction and jailing of opposition leader Alexei Navalny, a watchdog said on Friday.

A total of 209 people were detained in central Moscow by early Friday, said the OVD-info watchdog that monitors arrests at opposition rallies.

A police spokesman declined to immediately confirm the figure.

Police said 2,500 people ral-

CAMBODIA

Leader home from exile

Authorities said that opposition did not receive authorisation to hold the rally and protesters were “deliberately confrontational”. lied in Moscow to protest the verdict against Russia’s top opposition leader who was sentenced to five years in a penal colony on embezzlement charges. Activists said up to 10,000 turned out.

Moscow authorities said the opposition did not receive authorisation to hold the rally, with one city official quoted as saying that protesters were “deliberately” confrontational.

“The rally’s organisers were thoroughly prepared for it and had lots of leaflets and stickers,” said Alexei Mayorov, acting chief of the department of regional security at the mayor’s office.

Around 2,000 people also held a protest in Russia’s second city of Saint Petersburg, according to AFP reporters.

WASHINGTON: A customs dispute between the Afghan and US governments has disrupted the withdrawal of American military equipment, dramatically inflating the cost of the drawdown, defence officials said.

With Afghan authorities insisting the United States owes millions of dollars in customs fines and trucks carrying hardware being blocked at border crossings, the Americans have started flying out most equipment by air at great cost.

“The cost is five to seven times more” by aircraft than over land through neighbouring Pakistan, a defence official, who spoke on condition of anonymity, told AFP. The Afghan government is insisting that US forces pay $1,000 for each shipping container leaving the country that lacks what it calls a valid customs form.

And authorities now claim the Americans owe $70 million in fines, even though the United States contends that Kabul’s stance contradicts previous agreements, said US officials, confirming a report that first appeared in the Washington Post.

The US Congress was warned in May by the special inspector general for Afghanistan reconstruction that Kabul was exacting exorbitant customs fees and taxes

The Afghan government is insisting that US forces pay $1,000 for each shipping container leaving the country that lacks what it calls a valid customs form. in violation of previous agreements regulating imported goods and the status of US forces.

In some cases, Afghan officials were blocking commercial trucks from delivering food and fuel to US forces due to the customs dispute, the inspector general said.

Afghan authorities, however, claim that US contractors transporting equipment failed to file proper documents for large amounts of gear shipped into the country since 2010.

To collect fines that Washington allegedly owes Kabul, “the only way is to stop all trucks from crossing the border,” Najibullah Wardak, the director general of the Afghan Customs Department, told the Washington Post.

AFP

AFP

VIVA MANDELA

PHNOM PENH: Cambodia’s newly pardoned opposition leader arrived home from exile on Friday to help his party’s bid to end Prime Minister Hun Sen’s nearly three decades in power, his party said.

Thousands of cheering sup-

SOLDIER MURDER

Jailed suspect ‘attacked’ LONDON: British police are investigating claims that one of the two chief suspects in a brutal suspected Islamist attack, against a British soldier on a London street, was assaulted in prison.

British media reported that Michael Adebolajo, 28, had his

AROUND THE

AROUND THE

WORLD

porters gathered outside Phnom Penh’s airport and lined the road to the city centre to welcome Sam Rainsy, waving flags and shouting “change change!”

“I’m very happy and excited to see the leader of democracy returning to the country,” said Sok Kan, 64, who was among those waiting to greet him. AFP

AROUND THE

WORLD

WORLD

The Eiffel Tower in Paris is floodlit in colours of the South African flag on July 18 in honour of Mandela Day, the birthday of Nelson Mandela.

AFP/ PIERRE ANDRIEU.

two front teeth knocked out during Wednesday’s alleged fracas.

Adebolajo and co-accused, Michael Adebowale, 22, are due to face trial in November over the knife attack that claimed the life of Lee Rigby on May 22.

The killing stunned Britain and sparked a rise in community tensions.

AFP

9

News FRIDAY, JULY 19, 2013

IN THE SHADOW OF CHHAPRA

Weep for Bihar’s kids, but beware the threat in our city M ANIL KUMAR AND N SHIVA KUMAR

What happened in Bihar could happen here too. An added twist in the tale is that some anganwadis, too lazy to cook food and to be on the safe side, serve kids packed potato chips.

ALEENA ALICE aleena.t@postnoon.com HYDERABAD: In the wake of the tragedy of the mid-day meal in Bihar claiming the lives of 22 school children, the mid-day meal scheme has come under scanner everywhere else. A random check at various schools reveals that the situation is nothing to write home about. What happened in Bihar can very well repeat here too, if the authorities do not get their act right.

Improper storage of raw food material, no proper water facility, rats and insects running around the mid-day meal kitchen are few of the many problems that are risking the lives of the 1.5 lakh children who avail the facility of the mid-day meal every day.

The mid-day meals are supplied by an NGO, Naandi Foundation. The NGO has a centralised kitchen from where food is transported so as to deliver hot meals to all schools by afternoon each day.

“While in summer there were problems of water shortage, which made it impossible to wash the vegetables and other raw material properly, now with the onset of monsoon, the problem of contaminated water and waterborne diseases arises,” says a coordinator of the mid-day meal scheme, Naandi Foundation, on

AROUND THE

CITY

As part of the programme, anganwadi centres receive food in two components — a morning snack and a hot cooked meal. the condition of anonymity.

Not many times do cases of food poisoning come to light, but several times students complain of stomach ache and vomiting after having the meal at the school, says Achyut Rao from Balala Hakkula Sangham. “The major problem faced at the midday meal kitchen is the dearth for fresh and clean water. There are no proper utensils and lids to cover the food that is cooked.

Now with the monsoon season, there is a high possibility of insects and flies contaminating the food. There have been incidents where students complained of nausea and giddiness after eating their lunch. Though there is no case as severe as the Bihar incident reported of late, if the authorities do not keep a check, the incident can repeat here too,” he adds.

The authorities in the education department do not agree about the negligence in maintaining the hygiene quality at the kitchens. “The lunch is prepared

in hygienic conditions. There is a team that monitors the quality of the food that is prepared.

However, after the Bihar incident, we do not want to leave any stone unturned so a new team will be formed shortly to keep a check on the quality of the food that is being delivered,” said Subba Reddy, DEO, Hyderabad.

JUNK FOOD SERVED While hygiene not being main-

tained up to the mark is one side of the story, the concept of providing nutritious hot cooked meals to students is another major drawback. Various anganwadis across the State have been giving chips packets to kids.

As part of the Supplementary Nutrition Programme, the anganwadi centres receive food in two components — first, a morning snack and the second is a hot cooked meal. The morning

snack should technically be given in the form of milk and snacks, including pulses.

However, instead of this, children even below the age of three are being handed over these packaged foods four days a week. On the remaining two days, boiled or fried Bengal gram, peas, or other pulses are being served.

The State government, however, seems to have no qualms about giving children processed foods. “These snacks have been manufactured by AP Foods, a public sector undertaking, and have been fortified by micronutrients. They are healthy snacks and not harmful. Also, such kind of snacks attract students to schools,” said an official from the Women Development and Child Welfare, AP. Nutritional experts, however, state that giving students such snacks would lead to major ailments in the long run. “Such snacks are carcinogenic. They should be banned, however, the State government is giving them to young children. The use of colouring agents, preservatives, and artificial flavours in processed foods are known to be harmful and can cause cancer if consumed regularly,” says Ashima Bannerji, a nutritional expert.

News FRIDAY, JULY 19, 2013 NOT WEAK

10

ANTI-DRUG WAR

Special force ready to fight Congo rebels: UN

Fighting drug gangs in the infamous Golden Triangle

UNITED NATIONS: The United Nations said Thursday it is ready to send troops into battle against rebels in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo after demonstrators accused peacekeepers of being too weak.

UN troops in DR Congo have stayed on the sidelines as M23 rebels have launched a new offensive on government forces around the eastern city of Goma.

The UN mission in DR Congo, MONUSCO, “has not been involved in the hostilities”, said UN spokesman Martin Nesirky.

“The mission remains on high alert and is prepared to intervene, including through the Force Intervention Brigade, should the fighting threaten civilians, particularly in Goma,” the spokesman added.

The slaying of 13 Chinese sailors on the Mekong in 2011 caused regional authorities to launch a concerted crackdown on trafficking.

AROUND THE

WORLD

The fighting around Goma eased on Thursday. But demonstrations were held in the city with some people accusing the UN force of not giving government forces enough support, according to witnesses.

So far only about 2,000 of the 3,000 troops from South Africa, Tanzania and Malawi are in place. It has carried out patrols but not yet launched any of the offensive operations it has a mandate to use from the UN Security Council.

UN leader Ban Ki-moon is “deeply concerned” about the new hostilities around the North Kivu province capital, said Nesirky. “The secretary general urges all parties to exercise utmost restraint and prevent an escalation of the conflict and a deeper humanitarian crisis.”

The M23 launched its offensive on Sunday and the DR Congo army said at least 130 people have been killed. The UN said it is reviewing cooperation with the DR Congo army.

AFP

AROUND THE

WORLD

Policemen from the Thai Marine Border Police patroling along the Mekong river, which marks the border between Thailand and Laos in Chiang Saen, northern Chiang Rai province, aboard a machine-gun-mounted armored boat.

A Thai police gunboat prowls the waters of the Mekong River searching for the drug gangs that haunt this territory deep in the Golden Triangle, an age-old smuggling route — with a new scourge.

CHRISTOPHE ARCHAMBAULT

AMÉLIE BOTTOLLIERDEPOIS Agence France-Presse GOLDEN TRIANGLE: A Thai police gunboat prowls the waters of the Mekong River searching for the drug gangs that haunt this territory deep in the Golden Triangle, an age-old smuggling route — with a new scourge.

At one time this frontier region, where the remote edges of Thailand, Myanmar and Laos meet, was awash with heroin, flooding over the border from the then world's biggest opium producer Myanmar.

Times have changed and now the drug of choice is methamphetamine often in the form of “yaba” — Thai for "crazy medicine" — bound for the streets and clubs of Asia.

"It is very difficult to prevent drug trafficking into Thailand," said general Manop Senakun, commander of police

What is Ya ba?

n Yaba or Ya ba are tablets of methamphetamine and caffeine popular in Thailand. n The typical Yaba users are working males aged 16–40 years old, and its use is widespread amongst both female and male prostitutes in Thailand and Cambodia. n It is estimated that at least 1.4 billion yaba tablets — with an estimated street value of $8.5 billion — are being produced each year in the frontier regions of Thailand, Myanmar and Laos.

in Chiang Saen, the Thai town at the gateway to the Golden Triangle.

It is estimated that at least 1.4 billion yaba tablets — with an estimated street value of $8.5 billion — are being produced each year in the region.

The drug is mostly made in isolated mobile laboratories hidden in the forests of Shan State in Myanmar, which is still the second largest global source of opium after Afghanistan.

Police “tried every way” to stem the flow of narcotics, Manop said. But it was the notorious slaying of 13 Chinese sailors on the Mekong in 2011 that caused regional authorities to launch a concerted crackdown on trafficking.

China, from where the river snakes, has added its weight to the anti-trafficking efforts.

An operation dubbed "Mekong Safe" — led by Beijing with the involvement of its Golden Triangle neighbours —

between late April and late June led to the arrest of 2,534 suspects and the seizure of almost 10 tons of drugs, according to Thai authorities.

China executed Myanmar drug lord Naw Kham for the sailor killings. The two boats involved, found with some 900,000 methamphetamine tablets on board and riddled with bullet holes, have been left to rust in Chiang Saen port.

"The frequent occurrence of drug-related crimes on the Mekong River has been effectively contained," said the Chinese Embassy in Myanmar.

A dedicated Thai unit of 30 policemen, with three boats, now patrols a 17-kilometre (11 mile) stretch of the river border.

But far from being deterred, as the crackdown starts to take effect on the river heavilyarmed traffickers are finding alternative routes, with some choosing to trek with their valuable contraband through the jungle from Myanmar. "(Traffickers) walk in a caravan with 20 to 30 people," Manop told AFP. "They would have a lot of weapons with them." Clashes with the army or the police are common. In one incident in 2012, eight suspected traffickers were killed by security forces and Manop predicts things will only get "more violent". Pierre-Arnaud Chouvy, a geographer at France's CNRS national research centre, said he was "not convinced by the efficacy" of the river crackdown.

"We have a few cases of very high-profile seizures, but no real evaluation of how effective these patrols have been," Chouvy said.

WORLD BRIEFS Panasonic, Sanyo fined $56 mn for price-fixing

Katherine Jackson to testify at LA trial

Netanyahu urged to hold talks with Palestinians

Six Colombians charged for drug agent murder

Oz to send boatpeople to developing nations

WASHINGTON: Japan’s Panasonic and its subsidiary Sanyo have each pleaded guilty to price-fixing involving auto parts and battery cells, agreeing to pay $56.5 million in fines, the US Justice Department said Thursday. A third company, South Korea's LG Chem LTD, also pleaded guilty and will pay a more than $1 million for price-fixing for its batteries.

LOS ANGELES: Michael Jackson's mother Katherine will finally take the stand Friday at her trial against tour promoters AEG Live, who she alleges negligently hired the doctor convicted over the star's 2009 death. She claims AEG Live negligently hired doctor Conrad Murray to look after Jackson as he rehearsed in LA for his This is It comeback tour.

WASHINGTON: US President Barack Obama Thursday urged Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to pursue peace talks with the Palestinians. Obama "encouraged" the Israeli leader to continue to work with US Secretary of State John Kerry "to resume negotiations with the Palestinians as soon as possible", reported Xinhua.

WASHINGTON: Six Colombians have been charged in the United States for the kidnapping and murder of a US drug enforcement agent in Bogota in June, the US justice department said Thursday. The six men are accused of killing James "Terry" Watson, who was stabbed to death on June 21 while fighting off an apparent robbery attempt.

SYDNEY: Australia plans to resettle asylum-seekers in developing countries as part of a radical overhaul of its border protection policy to help stem the flood of boatpeople arriving on its shores, reports said Friday.

Papua New Guinea is at the heart of the revamp, with the Pacific nation's PM Peter O'Neill expected to jet into Australia Friday for an announcement.

11

News FRIDAY, JULY 19, 2013

GLOBAL OVERVIEW

Peak production leaves our planet in distress

Worldwatch Institute’s Vital Signs: Volume 20 showcases the planet’s growing demand for food and energy, its shrinking resources, and the implications of these trends.

Highlights from the report Coal: Global coal production increased by 6,941 million tonnes in 2011, making coal the fastest growing fossil fuel.

Spurred mainly by rising demand in China and India, coal’s share in the global primary energy mix reached 28 per cent in 2011.

Wind power: Global wind power capacity grew by 21 per cent in 2011 — lower than the 2010 rate of 24 per cent and markedly lower than the 2009 rate of 31 per cent.

Automobile production: Passenger car production rose from 60.1 million vehicles in 2010 to 62.6 million vehicles in 2011 — and 2012 brought a new alltime record of 66.1 million vehicles.

Meat production and consumption: Global meat production surpassed 300 million tonnes for the first time

POSTNOON NEWS feedback@postnoon.com WASHINGTON: In 2012, global oil consumption reached an all-time high, the number of workers in vulnerable employment exceeded 1.5 billion people, and physical water scarcity affected some 1.2 billion people.

Worldwatch Institute captures the impacts of these alarming trends and the increasingly risky state of humanity in Vital Signs: Volume 20, the latest compilation from worldwatch (www.worldwatch.org).

Vital Signs: Volume 20 provides up-to-date figures on many of the most critical global concerns.

Drawing on a wide range of sources, the report provides authoritative data and analysis on significant global trends such as fossil fuel subsidies, agricultural commodities, and rapid urbanisation in the developing world.

“Our economic systems and theories are programmed to squeeze

ever more resources from a planet in distress,” said Michael Renner, Worldwatch senior researcher and director of the Vital Signs project. “A mixture of population growth, consumerism, greed, and short-term thinking by policymakers and business people seems to be inexorably driving human civilization toward a showdown with the planet’s limits.”

Some of the trends highlighted AROUND THE

WORLD

in Vital Signs: Volume 20 are positive.

Globally, sanitation and water access for 227 million people was improved between 2000 and 2010 to the point where these individuals are no longer considered slum dwellers.

Within the agriculture sector, efficient irrigation methods have increased more than six-fold over the last two decades, and organically certified agricultural land has more

than tripled since 1999.

Socially sustainable ways of doing business continue to emerge.

About one billion people in 96 countries belong to a co-operative, whether as a worker, consumer, producer, or purchaser. The emergence of so-called “benefit” corporations offers a socially and environmentally responsible model for private firms.

“There is no shortage of alternatives to change the destructive trajectory that humanity finds itself on,” said Renner. “Renewables and efficient irrigation are two practical options among many others. But we need to get serious about these tasks instead of consigning them largely to the margins.”

Vital Signs: Volume 20 analyses the above-mentioned trends and many more, using straightforward language and easy-to-read charts and graphs to explain global trends to governments, businesses and consumers, helping them to make more informed decisions for our future.

in 2012; annual meat consumption increased just 0.4 per cent to 42.5 kg per person.

Women farmers: Women farmers produce more than half of all food worldwide, yet women own just two per cent of global farmland.

Natural disasters: During 2011, a total of 820 natural catastrophes were documented, causing an estimated 27,000 deaths and costing a record $380 billion.

Wage growth: Among the global workforce, wage growth has slowed from an average of three per cent in 2007 to 2.1 per cent in 2010 and 1.2 per cent in 2011.

Water scarcity: Some 1.2 billion people — almost one-fifth of the world — lives in areas of physical water scarcity, which occurs when annual supplies per person fall below 1,000 cubic meters.

PICK YOUR

@

Across Stores

ities Twin C

12

News FRIDAY, JULY 19, 2013

CASH CRUNCH

Motor City runs out of gas The city of Detroit, home to the American motor industry, has become the largest city in the US to file for bankruptcy.

JOE SZCZESNY Agence France-Presse DETROIT: Detroit on Thursday became the largest city in US history to file for bankruptcy protection after decades of decline and mismanagement rendered the home of the nation’s auto industry insolvent.

Once a bustling beacon of industrial might, the city is now a poster child for urban decay, its landscape littered with abandoned skyscrapers, factories and homes.

Crime is rampant, and the city literally cannot afford to keep the lights on — a whopping 40 percent of streetlights are out.

Detroit’s bankruptcy is expected to make it harder for municipalities in Michigan and other US states to borrow money by undermining confidence in what used to be among the most trusted bonds available.

Michigan Governor Rick Snyder said there was no other option.

“This is a difficult step, but the only viable option to address a problem that has been six decades in the making,” Snyder said in a press release.

Detroit has seen its population shrink by more than half, from 1.8 million people in 1950 to 700,000 today.

Racial tensions sparked by the civil rights movement — and the devastating 1967 riots — exacerbated white and middle-class flight to the suburbs.

Businesses followed suit, further shrinking the tax base.

With less revenue, Detroit had to cut back on services,

Detroit has seen its population shrink by more than half, from 1.8 million people in 1950 to 700,000 today.

THE NUMBERS SAY IT ALL

prompting even more people to leave and eventually sending the city into an economic tailspin.

The Motor City meanwhile saw its main employers go through round after round of mass layoffs as auto factories were automated or outsourced and Asian competitors siphoned away market share.

“The citizens of Detroit need and deserve a clear road out of the cycle of ever-decreasing services,” Snyder said in a letter accompanying the court filing.

“The only feasible path to a stable and solid Detroit is to file for bankruptcy protection.”

Earlier this year Snyder appointed an emergency manager with a background in bankruptcy to restructure the city’s finances.

He said he had “very much hoped” the move would help Detroit avoid bankruptcy, but that now it is time to “face the fact that the City cannot and is not paying its debts as they become due and is insolvent.”

The White House said President Barack Obama is closely monitoring the situation.

“While leaders on the ground in Michigan and the city’s creditors understand that they must find a solution to Detroit’s serious financial challenge, we remain committed to

15.8%

80,500

The approximate number of people who work in downtown Detroit, comprising one-fifth of the city’s employment base.

The city’s unemployment rate in May 2012 according to the Department of Labor .

4

The number of consecutive years that Detroit has been rated the most ‘dangerous city’ in America.

710,100

Is the estimated population of Detroit, down from 1,850,000 in 1950.

70,000

82.7%

Of Detroit’s population is African American.

Is the number of abandoned buildings. There are also 31,000 empty houses, and 90,000 vacant lots.

62.18

$7,500

65%

$17.6 mn

Per 1,000 residents is the reported property crime rate in Detroit, and 16.73 per 1,000 for violent crime.

The proportion of Detroit’s homicides that are drug related.

70%

Of murders remain unsolved.

continuing our strong partnership with Detroit as it works to recover and revitalise and maintain its status as one of America’s great cities,” White House spokeswoman Amy Brundage said.

Detroit stopped making payments on some of its $18.5 billion of debt and obligations last month as the emergency manager sought relief from creditors.

But the city’s employee pen-

Is the average price of homes sold in Detroit in 2012; 47 houses were listed for $500 or less, with five properties listed for $1.

The amount of unpaid property taxes

47%

The proportion of Detroit’s residents that are ‘functionally illiterate’.

sion plans — which are owed some nine billion dollars — filed a lawsuit to prevent any cuts to retirement benefits.

The bankruptcy filing places that case on hold and comes days before what could have been a key hearing.

It will be up to a federal judge to determine if Detroit is allowed to restructure — and even shed — its obligations in a Chapter 9 bankruptcy.

“You can expect challenges

right out of the box,” said bankruptcy lawyer Douglas Bernstein of Michigan-based Plunkett Cooney.

Unlike General Motors and Chrysler — which were able to restructure under bankruptcy protection in 2009 in a matter of weeks thanks to the backing of the US government — it could take years for Detroit’s case to be resolved, Bernstein warned.

“One of the biggest challenges is that there haven’t been very many municipal bankruptcies in the history of the bankruptcy code, so there’s not a lot of guidance,” Bernstein told AFP. Snyder listed a host of problems to illustrate why Detroit cannot meet its obligations to its citizens while weighed down by debt.

The homicide rate is the highest in nearly 40 years and, for more than two decades, Detroit has been on the list of the most dangerous cities in the United States.

People have to wait an average of 58 minutes for the police to respond to their calls, compared to an average of 11 minutes nationwide.

There are 78,000 abandoned buildings scattered across the city and a lack of funds for maintenance and repairs means only a third of the city’s ambulances work.

The city has been borrowing money to pay its bills for more than a decade, a short-sighted move that further depleted its coffers.

Some 38 cents of every city dollar was going to debt repayment and obligations like pensions, and that was projected to hit 65 cents on the dollar by 2017.

AFP

FRIDAY, JULY 19, 2013

Comment Life was a lot simpler when what we honored was father and mother rather than all major credit cards.

Robert Orben Entertainer

G20 looks to step up fight on tax evasion

F

Finance ministers and central bankers from G20 countries meet in Moscow for a two-day meeting on Friday seeking to intensify the battle against tax evasion and prevent a new global slowdown.

The meeting, preparing for a G20 summit in September that will be the culmination of the Russian presidency of the Group of 20 top advanced and emerging nations, will focus on increasing cooperation in the fight against tax evasion and on regulating finance.

One government source, who declined to be named, said the priority was “to make headway towards greater transparency, towards stronger action against countries with uncooperative legal systems.”

A key objective is to tackle techniques of tax optimisation, the complex accounting arrangements used by multinational businesses to minimise their tax bills. Companies in the spotlight for using these legal, but controversial, methods of booking profits in low-tax countries are US giants Google, Amazon and Starbucks.

So-called tax havens are countries sought out for tax evasion, which is illegal, or avoidance which may be legal but can be highly controversial.

The issue has become a hot subject, particularly in crisis-hit countries where austerity measures are associated with tax increases and high unemployment.

The role tax havens play was exposed this year by “Offshore Leaks”, a series of revelations about assets lodged in them by high-profile people.

AFP

HIGH-FLYING THOUGHTS

P Sathasivam, the next chief justice of India is from a small village, son of a farmer, worked in fields with his father, and is the first graduate from his family — an indicator of where the country’s true strength lies.

BELGIAN ROYAL SUCCESSION

13

ALBERT BIDS ADIEU

CLAIRE R and PHILIPPE S

Agence France-Presse

B

elgium is beating the drum but not too loudly as King Albert II abdicates in favour of son Philippe in sober weekend celebrations clouded by doubts over the new king’s political dexterity and shorn of foreign royals.

After two decades at the helm of the small but divided state at the heart of Europe, the 79-year-old monarch took his 11 million subjects by surprise early this month, saying he felt too old and frail to continue.

“The time has come to pass the torch,” he told the nation.

Albert’s departure as the country heads for high-risk polls next year unleashed a flood of concern that Philippe might lack the tact and knowhow needed to keep linguistically-split Belgium in one piece.

Some fear the shy 53-yearold lacks the social grace required of a king. But the crown prince “has seriously and with a sense of responsibility prepared himself for his new functions,” countered PM Elio Di Rupo in a word of assurance.

Albert, emblem of unity and praised for steering Belgium through two severe political storms dividing its Flemish and French communities, abdicates at 10:30 am (0830 GMT) Sunday, Belgium’s National Day. His eldest son is then sworn in as Belgium’s seventh monarch at 1:00 pm before par-

liament, as is the tradition since Leopold I founded the CoburgSaxe House of Belgium in 1831, a year after the country split from the Netherlands.

The new king’s wife, Princess Mathilde, a popular 40year-old with an outgoing personality that contrasts with Philippe’s awkwardness, will be the country’s first queen of Belgian origin.

In another first since the scrapping of Salic law against female succession in 1991, their oldest child, 12-year-old Elisabeth, will be in line to become Belgium’s first reigning queen.

Albert this week tours Flemish-, French- and Germanspeaking cities with legendarily beautiful Queen Paola, who wowed the crowds in the 1950s and 1960s at the side of the then sprightly young prince, a lover of fast cars and fast living.

On Sunday the father and son will stand side by side for the National Day military parade that comes as one reign ends and another begins.

With Albert and Paola keeping their titles, Belgium will boast a grand total of two kings and three queens — Paola, Mathilde and dowager queen Fabiola, widow of Albert’s brother King Baudouin who died childless 20 years ago.

But as Europe continues to fight economic crisis with austerity, the government has kept spending for the abdication and enthronement at around half a million euros, the usual cost of National Day celebrations.

“The king and the government have agreed to celebrate in

sobriety and simplicity,” Di Rupo said.

No foreign royals have been invited either, “because this is the tradition in Belgium where the king is sworn in before the nation, represented by parliament,” the premier’s spokesman said. “It would not have been correct to invite (royalty) at the last minute,” palace spokesman Bruno Neve de Mevergnies told AFP.

2014 POLLS LOOM LARGE

The second son of King Leopold III and Astrid of Sweden, Albert was never destined to reign but was forced to ascend to the throne in 1993, already a grandfather, on the death of his older brother. “King Albert seems to me to have had a most unmemorable reign,” Hugo Vickers, longtime British specialist observer of royalty, told AFP. “A shame because I remember the film-star beauty of Princess Paola in the 1960s.”

But for Belgians, despite

scandals over inheritance tax and illegitimate offspring that have caught up with the royals of late, Albert has left an indelible mark. He played a key role in maintaining national unity in recent years, steering fractious politicians towards a deal to form a government in 2011 after Belgium spent a world-record 541 days without a government.

Notably low-profile these last days is the powerful separatist Flemish party, the N-VA, tipped to lead 2014 general elections and the sole significant anti-royalist voice in politics.

Analysts say Albert hopes to give Philippe time to make his mark before the potentially dangerous May 2014 polls.

“The abdication will enable the future king to take on the mantle and to meet political leaders ahead of the elections.

Everyone fears a repeat of the 2010-2011 crisis,” said political scientist Caroline Van Wynsberghe of Brussels’s ULB University.

EDITORIALS Remove NGOs from midday meals

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uman lives are very cheap in India for two reasons: the politics is rot, politicians rotten, and the other, uncontrolled population growth. It is therefore not surprising that the 23 innocent lives lost in the Chhapra school two days ago had not moved the nation. And, now the ridiculous claim of blaming the head master is in full swing by the Nitish government. Catch a scapegoat and you are through.Midday meal going awry is no new news. Often food poisoning has been reported elsewhere too. This now calls for the whole exercise of midday meal into question. The prevailing practice of giving the charge of midday meal to the lowest bidder is a misplaced notion. What actually happens is that a lot many NGOs, with avowed charitable purposes, are doing anything but charity. India is

READERS’ VIEWS

the richest country in terms of NGOs, an overwhelming majority of them are rackets aimed at making easy money. Many of them are attached to religious institutions too. It is no secret that these NGOs lobby with bureaucracy and politicians and get the work not on the basis of their reputation but of their influence. It is also said that there is a handsome ‘cut’ awaiting the pliable bureaucrats and politicians who oblige them. Instead of blaming the NGO responsible for the tragedy, the Nitish government is trying to find fault with the rival RJD of Lalu Yadav. Indian politicians always find an excuse in ‘political conspiracy’ and befool the public. What conspiracy? If you poison the kids, where is the conspiracy? It is Nitish government’s ineptitude and arrogance and nothing else.

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

Editor: Dean Williams

FRIDAY, JULY 19, 2013

Living spaces FACTS ABOUT KPHB SUBURBS SCHOOLS

Sri Swami Chinna Jeeyar International School Samatha Nagar, Kukatpally, Sanghamitra School Nizampet Road, Hydernagar,Kukatpally.

COLLEGES

Road to Hitec City, new hub for real estate The stretch between KPHB and Madhapur is attracting buyers and developers alike for its proximity to offices in Hitec City and the KPHB retail hub.

PRUDHVI RAJU K prudhvi.k@postnoon.com

W BVRIT, Nizampet, Bachupally JNTU College Of Engineering, Kukatpally VNRVJIET, Nizampet Gokaraju Rangaraju Institute Of Engineering and Technology, Nizampet road

ith the development of infrastructure and connectivity, the suburbs of KPHB colony are trending for real estate development. The stretch between KPHB and Madhapur is attracting buyers

and developers alike for its proximity to the offices in Hitec City and KPHB retail hub.

Ample amount of vacant land parcels are also adding to the growth of the locality.

Premier developers like Lodha, Mahindra Lifespaces, Cybercity, Prajay, Indu and Emami have their reputed projects in this locality. The recently

opened rail overbridge (ROB), Hitec City MMTS station, the upcoming Bitumen Road to Moosapet and Kukatpally Y junction from ROB are set to change the landscape of the locality.

Growth of Kukatpally Housing Board has created a new connectivity to Moosapet.

Earlier, travellers especially

Infrastructure

ROAD Connected to Patancheru (30 min) Miyapur (20 min) Hitec City (10 min) RAIL

Hitec City MMTS Station Kukatpally upcoming Metro station AIR

Shamshabad Airport (40 km) ENTERTAINMENT

Mallikarjuna and Bramaramba Cinema halls, Cinepolis

CYBER CITY- RAINBOW VISTAS (KPHB 16TH PHASE) n 1,250-2,690 sft flats n Flats with 2,3 3+1 BHK. n 7-acre central park n First hill top clubhouse in the City n LEED Gold Certification from Indian Green building council n Centralised LPG gas system n Multi-level car parking n Compound wall with solar fencing n Abundant water supply n Round the clock security system n Underground cabling n Intercom to connect and communicate with whole neighbourhood n Power back-up n Wi-fi enabled hot spots n Base price: `3,800 per sft

from Kukatpally, Balanagar had to travel all the way to KPHB, JNTU and then come to Hitec City. Thanks to this upcoming four lane-100 feet road that will not only reduce the distance but will also save commuting time.

“The idea behind this initiative was to decongest Kukatpally and JNTU area. It also helps the residents in KPHB peripherals to commute to Moosapet, Balanagar, Ameerpet and Kukatpally Y junction in a shorter period of time. In terms of availability to public, the construction process is in full swing— gravel is laid and the road construction is likely to be completed by Dussehra,” says G Narotham Reddy, GM, Marketing and Business development, Cybercity.

This road belt has a lot of vacant lands pushing the growth of reality and leaving ample amount of breathing space for residents. “ It is not one of those congested places like Kukatpally and JNTU. Due to less commercial and residential developments, this road doesn’t have traffic and has less pollution compared to the KPHB-JNTU main road. This locality also serves the purpose of reaching the workplace (Hitec City- 4km) in minimal

MAHINDRA LIFESPACES ASHVITA (KPHB-HA n 1,218-2,082 sft flats n Gymnasium n Swimming pool with toddlers pool n Multipurpose / party hall n Toddlers Day Care n AV Room / Mini Theatre n Indoor Games Room n Open Terrace with Landscape for parties n IGBC pre certified Green Rated Project : GOLD Certification n Piped Gas line n Τennis court n Amphitheatre n Base price: `4,100 per sft

YOUR WEEKLY GUIDE TO HYDERABAD REAL ESTATE SRINIVAS SETTY

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Why invest in gated communities? n recent times, there has been a radical shift from customers choosing standalone buildings (normal housing) to gated communities. All the reputed developers have also shifted to developing only gated community projects leaving almost 60-80 per cent open space and trying their best to offer great experiences and quality lifestyle to the residents.

The gated community trend gained its momentum due to increased awareness of health and security. Although, some one has a membership in a gym outside his house, there are high chances of neglecting it. In a way, there are fewer chances to attend a gym outside as compared to the one in the same compound.

A person can walk or even go for jogging in the track proposed in the lush green premises. He does

sft resident will spend around `1,700 per month in a big community with all facilities. This covers power backup for outside common areas like streetlights and maintenance of water softening and sewage treatment plant for recycling water for washroom flushes and gardening. In addition to this, a customer has to pay his portion of electricity charges and minimal fee for using facilities like the gym and or the swimming pool.

A quality clubhouse can be only well maintained and managed when there is a minimal fee associated with it. These days, a stand alone apartment is charging `1,000-1,200 per flat with out any of the facilities. When you compare the extra benefits that a gated community provides with the price they charge, it is far unmatched.

Numerous services are provided for a resident. He does not need to worry about a gas cylinder getting empty with the connectivity of gas pipeline. He also has access to quality three-phase

not encounter the commuting vehicles unlike when he goes for a walk on the streets. In contrast, standalone residents need to look for the nearest park for a safe walk, which is tough to find in their locality The children also get a safe play zone area for recreational purposes. Even their upbringing will be good as they meet likeminded people in the community.

Many say that the maintenance charges are high in gated communities. However, they are reasonable when you compare with the value addition that it brings to a resident lifestyle. For instance, we charge `40 per sft for 24 months, which accounts to `1.66 per sft per month. A 1,000

power and purified water. As there is power backup for common facilities and ramps, so old people or the sick do not need to worry about taking the steps.

The community also serve the working women by taking care of their children and kids.

One does not need to depend on others but can leave their children at the creche.

Residents can enjoy games like badminton, tennis in the specialised courts.

Security is key for gated communities. Any outsider will be thoroughly checked and only be sent inside the community after getting approval from a resident through intercom.

The writer is deputy manager Sales at Aparna Constructions

SRINIVAS DIWAKARLA

feedback@postnoon.com

I

commuting time. The officegoers can reach Hitec City in 15 minutes via the recently laid Kukatpally ROB,” explains Reddy.

In addition, there is also a new road that is under construction, which connects commuters to Road no. 36, Jubilee Hills from this locality.

In terms of view, this belt is all set in the rocky terrain with abundance of open space and few lakes. Along the road, the drainage system was built on either sides. Manjeera (municipal water connectivity) is also available for these developments.

However, quality and location do not come cheap in real estate. Due to its proximity to Madhapur, the price is almost as high as other premier localities of the City. The price is at

AFEEZPET)

Buyers Residents of AP: 80 per cent From other states of the country: 15 per cent NRI: 5 per cent.

Investors: 30 per cent For residence: 70 per cent

around `3,800 per sft making it only affordable to HNIs of the City. “After the Bitumen road is constructed to Moosapet from KPHB fourth phase (Rail over bridge- IDL road to Moosapet), the prices will definitely touch `4,000. In terms of appreciation, a buyer can expect 10 per cent growth in the property values every year,” Reddy adds.

He further adds, “For a buyer from Andhra, this price may look steep because he is not exposed to other metros.

However, an outsider can see tremendous value in this locality at this price point, because he compares the price to the other metros in the country,” Although, the gated communities provide grocery stores for the residents, there is a need of retail growth in this locality.

According to Reddy, the retail helps this locality for holistic development. He foresees organised retail development only after three years.

Various lakes like Chinna Maisamma Cheruvu and Kamuni Cheruvu help to retain decent underground water levels. “The less density of population in this region left the underground water unexploited. For instance, IDL, which is set to move the outskirts of the City, has almost 400 acres of vacant land,” Reddy adds.

EMAMI SWANLAKE (OPP METRO CASH AND CARRY ) n 1,133-2,011 sft flats n 3 blocks n Garden n Swimming Pool n Play Area n Health Facilities n Recreation Facilities n 24Hr Power Back-up n Security n Intercom n Club House n Wifi n Gymnasium n Community Hall n Cafeteria n Library n Base price: `3,690 per sft

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FRIDAY, JULY 19, 2013

spotlight DRESSING IT UP

All about Eve

S BALAKRISHNA

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Members of the Kakatiya Ladies Club attended a session conducted by Continental Hospitals on hormonal imbalances among women.

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TRENDSETTERS

High-end store Anahita, Banjara Hills hosted a press meet to introduce designer Rajdeep Ranawat’s latest collections on Thursday.

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GIRLS JUST WANNA HAVE FUN...

Rhythm Rolls was officially launched by Shreedevi Chowdhary and Anjana Sanghi at Taj Vivanta on Thursday afternoon.

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1 Neelam

4 Madhavi

7 Radhika

9 Sushila

2 Sunita

5 Alka

8 Anuradha Reddy,

10 Poornima

3 Reena

6 Kosha

Srilatha

11 Kashish

FRIDAY, JULY 19, 2013

health

SMART KNIFE FOR TUMOR OPERATIONS “SNIFFS” OUT CANCER Now, a new technique based on an “intelligent knife,” called the “iKnife,” promises to remove the need for lab analysis and the accompanying delay, and it also helps avoid repeat surgeries.

The iKnife sniffs the “smoke” created by the electrosurgical removal of cancerous tissue and tells the surgeon almost immediately if the tissue it has come from is healthy or cancerous.

UNDERSTANDING YOUR EYES- PART V

Myth 1 Reading in the dark/sitting too close to the TV will ruin your eyes.

Fact Your eyes will not bear the brunt of low light activities. You might end up with a headache and eye strain because of squinting, but the truth is the eye will not weaken because of reading in poor light. If children tend to sit closer to the TV, you should get their eyesight checked because they are doing so to see clearly.

Myth 3 Eye exercises can help improve vision.

Fact Unless you start in your early childhood, eye exercises will not greatly improve vision or eye function. However, if you have impaired vision, eye exercises can help adjust your eyes to make the best of your available vision. Usually, exercises designed to help you ditch your spectacles do not work, say doctors.

Myth 2 There’s nothing you can do to prevent vision loss.

Fact Approach a doctor as soon as you start experiencing vision loss, blurred vision, or floaters in the line of vision.

Depending on the cause, if detected early enough, there are treatments to stop, slow down or reverse vision loss.

The key is early detection.

Myth 4 Wearing glasses will weaken your eyes, leaving them dependent on prescription lenses.

Fact This myth and its opposite, not wearing glasses will worsen your condition, are both untrue. If you require prescription lenses, not wearing them will simply cause temporary eye strain and blurry vision. The eye itself is not affected. As with reading in the dark, all the squinting will cause a headache.

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Myth 5 You don’t need to get an eye check-up if you have no apparent problems with your vision.

Fact It is recommended that children go for their first eye test at the age of three.

Early diagnosis can really help in cases like lazy eye and amblyopia, and a check-up could help spot problems. If there is a family history of eye troubles, it is a good idea to go for an eye test even earlier.

DON’T STRAIN YOUR EYES!

Eat your carrots. Don’t sit too close to the TV. Stop squinting. Old wives’ tales about the eyes abound, and we’ll tell you which ones to take with a pinch of salt.

ANEWS PP-LYBRIEFS YOURSELF

HOUSECALL

DID YOU KNOW?

PIONEERS

CDC Healh-e-cards

Achalasia

Unusual headaches

Ignaz Semmelweis

With this app you can send health eCards directly from your device to friends, family and loved ones. Nearly half of iPhone users and 30% of iPod touch users making health-related inquiries from their device. This medical app provides a way for health seekers to easily share important health tips with others.

Achalasia is a rare disease of the muscle of the esophagus (swallowing tube). The term achalasia means “failure to relax” and refers to the inability of the lower esophageal sphincter (a ring of muscle situated between the lower esophagus and the stomach) to open and let food pass into the stomach. As a result, patients with achalasia have difficulty in swallowing food.

Headaches of abnormal nature should not be ignored as it may be an indication of a rare brain syndrome, suggested an expert Wednesday. With the highest number of incidences reported from Japan, Moya Moya syndrome narrows main arteries in the brain, thereby blocking the blood flow and causing severe blood clots.

Ignaz Philipp Semmelweis, a German Hungarian physician who discovered the cause of puerperal (childbed) fever and introduced antisepsis into medical practice.He also that nsisted physicians wash their hands before assisting with childbirth. His influence on the development of knowledge and control of infection was hailed by Joseph Lister, the father of modern antisepsis.

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FRIDAY, JULY 19, 2013

Technology BUYOUT PLANS

WAIT CONTINUES Dell postpones vote on go-private plan to July 24

SOPHIE ESTIENNE Agence France Presse

D

ell postponed a vote Thursday on a $24.4 billion go-private buyout plan amid opposition by major shareholders, creating new uncertainty for the former number one computer maker.

A Dell statement said the shareholder meeting on the plan, which opened briefly in Texas, was delayed until July 24.

“Today’s special meeting of stockholders was convened and adjourned to provide additional time to solicit proxies from Dell stockholders,” the statement said. “No vote was taken on the proposed transaction prior to the adjournment.”

The plan announced in February aimed to give company founder Michael Dell a chance to revive the fortunes of the Texas-based tech firm without the pressures of a publicly traded company. But opponents, galvanized by corporate raider Carl Icahn, have claimed the buyout at $13.65 dollars a share undervalues the company.

“The reason it was postponed was they didn’t have the votes,” said technology analyst Rob Enderle. “That may motivate them to sweeten the deal, but it doesn’t give people a lot of time to look at a new proposal.”

Enderle said the opposition shareholders are taking a risk, because “if the deal fails, the stock will come down sharply, to around $8.”

N. Venkatraman, professor of marketing at Boston University, said that “right now it’s a high-stakes game of poker,” and that the value to

Dell could erode without the goprivate plan.

“I think the most likely outcome is that both sides come up with a new price,” he said, but added that “it is clearly dangerous” for investors to hold back, “because it’s not clear if these investors have an alternate plan to run the company without Michael Dell.”

Jack Gold, analyst at J. Gold Associates, said he believes “there is still more convincing that needs to be done.”

“I think Dell needs to go private,” Gold said. “If I’m a shareholder I’m trying to maximize my value, but if the other side walks away, who is in the wings to rescue the company? I don’t see how Dell shares can rise if this deal falls apart.”

The Wall Street Journal reported Wednesday that holders of at least 30 percent of Dell were set to vote against the buyout. The plan required a majority of the shares excluding an estimated 16 percent held by Michael Dell and his affiliates.

Icahn proposed an alternate plan that would pay $14 per share for up to 71 percent of Dell stock, and recently sweetened the deal by adding one warrant for every four Dell shares, entitling the holder to one share of Dell at $20.

But Dell’s board and others contend Icahn lacks financing for such a plan and that it would do little to help foster a turnaround.

Enderle said Icahn’s offer was “a smoke-andmirrors thing” and that investors would be mindful of his meddling in Yahoo! several years ago. “The last time we saw him muck around with tech it didn’t end well,” Enderle said.

Icahn is backed by the investment firm Southeastern Asset Management. Another financial firm, T. Rowe Price, has also indicated it would oppose

VLC OUT FOR IOS

the buyout. Pzena I n v e s t m e n t Management, which owns some 6.7 million shares, said in a statement it was prepared to vote against the buyout.

In a statement after the postponement, Icahn and Southeastern called on the Dell board and special committee “to act in the best interest of stockholders and move Dell forward,” without elaborating.

Earlier this week, the two investors said they believe the go-private plan “substantially undervalues Dell and that stockholders should be entitled to choose to retain the upside potential of their Dell shares.”

Dell’s board contends the company needs to make radical changes to keep up with a shift to mobile computing. Dell shares rose 1.86 percent to close Thursday at $13.12.

Huawei spies for China: Ex-CIA chief

SYDNEY: Former head of the CIA Michael Hayden said Friday it “goes without saying” that Chinese telecoms giant Huawei spies for Beijing. Speaking to the Australian Financial Review, Hayden claimed China was engaged in espionage against the West and said it was his belief that Huawei would have shared information with state agencies.

THAT’S A FIX Apple today released an update for the Mid–2013 MacBook Air to fix both an issue that caused some users to experience severe flickering when using Adobe Photoshop and a bug that caused some users’ Wi-Fi to intermittently disconnect. News of the screen flickering issue emerged shortly after the release of the 2013 MacBook Air, when users began noticing display flickering when using Photoshop, especially when accessing the app’s larger brush tools. An Adobe representative noted that it was likely a driver or GPU issue and last week, a tipster reported that OS X 10.8.5 fixed the issue, suggesting that Apple had found a solution.

Asked whether Huawei represented an unambiguous national security threat to the US and Australia, Hayden replied: “Yes, I believe it does”.

Britain, the US and Australia have all raised concerns that Huawei’s alleged ties to the Chinese state could see telecoms equipment supplied by the company used for spying and cyber-attacks.

Huawei denies it has any direct links to the Chinese state, but the US Congress last year called for its exclusion from US government contracts and it was also barred from bidding for contracts to build Australia’s national broadband network.

The retired general said he believed Western intelligence networks had hard evidence that Huawei had spied

on behalf of the Chinese state.

“I have no reason to question the belief that’s the case,” said Hayden, who retired from the CIA in 2009 and who prior to that served as head of the NSA. “That’s my professional judgement. But as the former director of the NSA, I cannot comment on specific instances of espionage or any operational matters.

AFP

VideoLAN revealed some very exciting news; VLC for iOS will be back in Apple’s App Store today.

The company tells TNW the app will be available for free worldwide, requires iOS 5.1 or later, as well supports the iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch. As you can expect, VLC for iOS version 2.0 will be open-source.

This time, however, its code will be available online (also by tomorrow), bi-licensed under both the Mozilla Public License Version 2 as well as the GNU General Public License Version 2 or later.

STILL ON TOP Microsoft today announced that the Xbox 360 has maintained its position as the top console in the US for the last 30 months. In June, the company sold 140,000 units, more than any other platform, according to the latest data from The NPD Group. Total retail spend on the Xbox 360 platform in June (hardware, software and accessories) reached $197 million making it the most for any console in the US. During the same period, Xbox 360 held seven of the top 10 console game titles including: Minecraft, NBA 2K13, Injustice: Gods Among Us, Deadpool, Call of Duty: Black Ops II, Grand Theft Auto IV and Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim.

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FRIDAY, JULY 19, 2013

Entertainment 3D ACTION FLICK

CINE BYTES

KALYAN RAM PINS HIS HOPES ON OM

Naveen Chandra's next is Naa Rakumarudu

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aveen Chandra, Ritu Varma starrer Naa Rakumarudu is gearing up for release later this year. Except for a song, the rest of the film’s shooting has been wrapped up. T Satya has directed this film and P Vajrang is producing the film under Harivillu Creations banner. Achu has scored the music and Kumar Swamy is the cinematographer.

PVP teams up with Pawan Kalyan

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here is a lot riding on Kalyan Ram’s upcoming film Om. It’s the first action film in India to be shot in 3D and buzz is that the film’s budget is close to `25 crore.

Directed by Suneel Reddy, the film also stars Kriti Kharbanda and Nikesha Patel in lead roles.

Interestingly, several celebrities including Rajinikanth, Ram Charan, Allu Arjun, Rana, Dil Raju, Bandla Ganesh and Koratala Shiva have come forward in support of the film ahead of its release.

Recently, Kalyan Ram revealed the travails he had to go through to finalise what rig to use to shoot the film in 3D and going by his explanation, it’s easy to see why the film has been in the making for more than a year and a half. David Miller Taylor, who worked as a stereographer for films like Avatar and Final

Destination 5, came onboard to help the team to shoot the film in 3D and later, Kalyan Ram roped in several other technicians like Jai Patel, Maza Zdownski and Ian Markus, who have worked on several highprofile Hollywood films, to make Om. The film has been made using a red epic camera with TS5 3D rig, which was quite helpful to shoot an action film like this. The entire film was wrapped up in 110 working days; however, post production took several months and for that Kalyan Ram took his film to studios in Singapore and Los Angeles. Om is being touted as a revenge drama. Achu has scored the music. Not only is it the most expensive film in Kalyan Ram’s career so far, but its success could pave way for a new wave of 3D films in Telugu.

The real question is will it manage to hit the bullseye at box-office.

awan Kalyan will soon team up with producer Prasad V Potluri for an untitled big budget film.

Buzz is that this project will go on floors in late 2014 after Pawan Kalyan wraps up shooting for Gabbar Singh 2. Prasad V Potluri recently produced Balupu and that went on to become a huge hit.

Sahasam is a team effort: Gopichand

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opichand’s latest film Sahasam is turning out to be the biggest hit in his career. “I must thank Chandrasekhar Yeleti and the rest of the team for the success. I have been receiving compliments that Sahasam was like a Hollywood film. It was a complete team effort,” Gopichand said. Taapsee played the lead role in this action adventure.

FRIDAY, JULY 19, 2013

fashion

AMY ROSE THOMAS, KANCHAN AGARWAL feedback@postnoon.com

Aztec is a tribal group from Mexico.

The clothing they wore, when translated into modern fashion world, came to be known as aztec prints. These vibrant prints which probably meant to tell stories of the tribes have now come back on fashion shelves. Check out how you can wear this characteristic element of fashion.

SOPHIA WEBSTER’S HIGH-HEEL HAVEN

SOPHIA WEBSTER is opening her own boutique. The footwear designer — responsible for the wonderfully colourful statement shoes that have become the most talked-about new accessory of the year — launches a pop-up shop in central London's Burlington Arcade today.

MIXED SIGNALS

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ollywood fashion divas are embracing Aztec like never before. Follow the trend and grab eyeballs. Team up this dress with black or red heels.

ou can almost never go wrong with Aztec leggings.

This is in vogue now. You can pair the orange print leggings with a white or blue top and steal the limelight.

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emember how Deepika Padukone rocked the Aztec skirt in Cocktail? You can do the same. Pair this skirt with a black or white tank top.

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FENDI RELOCATES TO A ROMAN PALACE

FENDI is moving house. The Italian fashion brand will celebrate its ninetieth anniversary in 2015 by moving headquarters to one of Rome's most striking and imposing buildings, the Palazzo della Civiltà Italiana (the Palace of the Italian Civilisation).

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PEEP TOES

BALLERINAS:

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his girl is the silent and mysterious types of the dating world. Think you’ve got her figured out? Well, she won’t cease surprising you. Flirty, fun and fabulous on one hand and sophisticated, classy and glamorous on the other. Supportive, understanding, optimistic are the qualities she desires in her prince charming. She loves romance and timeless classic dating makes her weak in her knees. Flowers and chocolate boxes would make her day. Are you men listening?

omfort and Style go hand in hand for Ms Ballerina. She wants the best of both worlds and so her ideal choice is someone who is serious and also knows how to let loose at the right time. She needs you to be there for her always but at the same time you better give her space. Movies, coffee dates, Brunch, candlelit dinners…she wants it all!

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BOOTS:

ou love your independence and aren’t afraid to break some rules if the need arose. Your ideal man would be someone who doesn’t really play by the rules and has a crazy side to him. Bad boys turn you on and you aren’t afraid to get kinky. Your ideal date could be anything from running a marathon to para-sailing. No clingy men needed for this ruthless Diva.

PLATFORMS

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his babe is confident and not afraid to showcase her sexual side every once in a while. Broad-minded, liberal, understanding and confident are the traits you want in Mr Right or maybe …..

Mr Right Now? Your ideal date would be an evening of dancing at the hottest club in town with your honey. You get bored easily, so your ideal man better be adventurous or he might just be replaced!

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WEDGES

reative, casual and chic are the words that describe you. Mr Right for you is someone who is sensitive, caring and friendly.

Your ideal date would end with a walk on the beach and gazing at stars with your sweetheart. Trust and loyalty are the key words of your dictionary and good guys always will finish first in your world.

SAYS

She shoe

KAPIL MAHTANI CEO, Tresmode

Your taste in shoes says a lot about your preference in men. We give you an insight on the men in your life.

M

STILLETOES

iss Stiletto is smart, focused and ambitious. Your career is important to you and you love to play by the rules. You go weak in your knees for men who are in control of their lives and are sorted and focused.

Gentlemen are the flavour of every season for you. Perfect dates would include candle-lit dinners complete with champagne and caviar. No compromises for this girl!

STRAPPY SANDALS

Y

ou are smart and wise but sometimes get lost in your own fantasy world. Your perfect match has to be supportive and someone who has your back. Ideal dates could range from brunch at the town’s best eateries to having chocolate ice-cream plonked down in front of the TV. Love would always beat lust’s ass if you had it your way.

Entertainment FRIDAY, JULY 19, 2013

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Entertainment FRIDAY, JULY 19, 2013

25

FRIDAY, JULY 19, 2013

Chai Time

THOUGHT OF THE DAY

A man who has never gone to school may steal from a freight car; but if he has a university education, he may steal the whole railroad.

Theodore Roosevelt

KAKURO

QUICK CROSSWORD

26

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

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

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

Let’s have an example to explain this concept more clearly: In the image above, which shows a section of a kakuro puzzle, you will see the numbers ‘26’ and ‘14’ in the top row. Look at the 14. This means that the total of the three cells underneath must sum to 14. Therefore 9, 4, 1 could be the answer, or perhaps 7, 4, 3 and so on...

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

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

ACROSS

PREVIOUS PUZZLE ANSWER

SCRIBBLING PAD

1 Causing no problems for coppers 6 Body part some macaroni resembles 11 Pictured 14 Shorelines do it 15 Brownish gray 16 TV Tarzan Ron 17 Legendary Greek ruse 19 Spy org.

20 Anxious 21 Gold purity unit 23 It moves tape through a machine 26 First among progeny 27 Keynote speaker, e.g.

28 Pull from the ground 30 Organic necklaces 31 Carpet cleaner’s target 32 A quick study 35 Rural hotel 36 Diminishing 38 Have a stroke?

39 Curiosity victim, in a saying 40 Lugged, as a large shopping bag 41 Like some circumstances 42 Runaway bride, say 44 Make something 46 Accessories 48 1776 battle site 49 Greek penny 50 “Little Red Book” follower 52 Area 51 craft 53 Classic horse tale 58 Word with “marked” or “masked” 59 Shop tool 60 Amid the waves 61 Chester White’s home 62 Swords used in the Olympics 63 Conduct the class

DOWN

1 Rent 2 Commit a faux pas 3 Baby’s first and second word?

4 Fiddles with 5 Shanty 6 Allen of the Green Mountain Boys 7 Country abutting Vietnam 8 Repress in memory 9 Goddess of abundance and fertility 10 Seven-day 11 1973 Triple Crown winner 12 Word on a wanted poster 13 First name in Tombstone lore 18 Within shouting distance 22 Hullabaloo 23 Acute infant condition 24 Trade-show site 25 Equine in a Blood, Sweat and Tears song 26 “___ go bragh!”

28 “That’s ___ nonsense!”

29 Rendered, as a compliment 31 Fill beyond full 33 ___ -Novo (African capital) 34 Adolescent, almost 36 Expiable 37 Conks on the head 41 Having toothlike projections 43 Universal workplace 44 First bed 45 Do an ushering chore 46 Reunion attendees 47 Make lean, in a way 48 Pulls from a pipe 50 Aussie’s friend 51 Lumbago, e.g.

54 PC perch, perhaps 55 “God Bless the ___” (Lee Greenwood hit) 56 Gumshoe, briefly 57 “Boo” follower, in a triumphant shout

Chai Time FRIDAY, JULY 19, 2013 Thiruvaikumar

STAR POWER for 20-7-2013

27

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

ARIES

TAURUS

GEMINI

CANCER

LEO

VIRGO

LIBRA

SCORPIO

SAGITTARIUS

CAPRICORN

AQUARIUS

PISCES

Businessmen will have a smooth sailing. Major misunderstanding with brothers will be resolved and a cordial situation will continue hereafter.

Artists might not have enough opportunities but the financial position will be strong.

STRIP TEASE AGNES

Businessmen will see good and fortunate times and flourish well. Profits too will jump beyond expectations. Old and long pending debt issues might haunt you and you might be forced to sell some of your assets to clear the debts.

Be careful during travel or driving as minor accident is likely.

As expenses will be more a proper planning is necessary to monitor and prioritize the needs. Businessmen can expect good and profitable changes in their line of business.

Good news is on the cards soon. Couple will be more affectionate towards each other.

Artists will earn name and fame with their recent performance and earn good appreciation.

Employees are advised to exercise patience.

With their sincere efforts, artists will bag promising opportunities which will bring them name and fame. Businessmen will see a good growth in the business as well in their financial position but they might face a stiff competition.

Financially a very strong position is likely. Indirect opposition is likely to upset you. Employees will feel cheerful as their demands will get fulfilled by the management. Children’s behavior might upset you but need not worry.

Politicians will be very much active. Govt. sops likely for the businessmen and works related to Govt. will end without any delay. Women will be extremely happy as they will get good support from the spouse and all the family members.

Businessmen are advised to be cool as troubles from partners are likely. Minor obstacles are likely for the employees in getting their works done in time with which they might face ire of the superiors. Unexpected turning points are most likely.

You will execute all the works undertaken with perfection and earn appreciation. Those doing business with partners will see their long pending issues are resolved and good times ahead.

Bonding between couple will become stronger.

TAROT READ

Sumaa Tekur

tarotreadhyd@gmail. com

ARIES:

GEMINI:

The Emperor Finances need attention. Plan this financial year well and make sure you’re investing right. Pay a good advisor: don’t try to do it yourself.

LEO:

Two of Wands Patience is key to make things work and allow them to happen on their own time and course. Don’t make impulsive decisions.

LIBRA:

PEARLS BEFORE SWINE

Eight of Cups - You have everything and your life is near perfect. This is to the outside world.

But only you know that you’re missing something.

SAGITTARIUS:

Page of Pentacles - You may be getting mixed up in your head about a number of things. Learn to discriminate between the soul and mind/body.

TAURUS:

Judgment - You may be running the risk of upsetting someone very close to you because of the way an issue turned out. Don’t take things too seriously.

CANCER:

The High Priestess - Prayer and meditation will work wonders for you. Set time aside everyday – even three minutes a day – to re-connect with your inner self.

VIRGO:

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.

SCORPIO:

Knight of Wands - Be careful to not hurt others’ feelings. You may be coming across as quite an unscrupulous monster who thinks only about himself.

CAPRICORN:

Knight of Pentacles - Planning is key today.

Keep some buffer time between appointments and account for delays and disappointments.

PREVIOUS SOLUTIONS

PISCES:

The Wheel of Fortune - Times are not going to be the same all the time. If they’re bad now, things will look up. This card urges you to keep your chin up.

NUMBER GAME

Be patient about your work situation.

Things will improve soon. You’re getting anxious about the sacrifices you’ve made in order to get here.

SCRABBLE

AQUARIUS: Temperance -

POOCH CAFE

Speculation might bring moderate gains if undertaken after proper analysis. Expenses are likely to go beyond expectations which might upset you.

You will be able to resolve the issues wisely and win accolades.

for 20-7-2013

Ace of Swords There are clouds of confusion.

Despite that, you’re able to display clarity of thought. You’re very clear about what you need.

NON SEQUITUR

Employees need to focus on the works, else delay is unavoidable. Businessmen will see a good rise in the business volume and profits are likely to jump upwards. Enemies might try to create troubles but need not worry.

SUDUKO

Health problem likely, take good care. Chances of trouble likely through unknown persons; be cautious. Though financial inflow is good, unexpected huge expenses might upset you. Employees will have a good time.

Boggle COLON COMMA PERIOD HYPHEN Vol: 2, No 364 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

28

Entertainment FRIDAY, JULY 19, 2013

FOR FUTURE

CINE BYTES

Milkha Singh was an inspiration to me Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra ‘Here's a man who lost the most important race of his career, but wins in life.’

R

a k e y s h Omprakash Mehra has said he wanted to share the story of Milkha Singh with the world.

Bhaag Milkha Bhaag has won widespread critical acclaim, and amassed $1.4 million at the overseas box office in the first weekend of its release. In an interview with Digital Spy, Mehra explained why he thinks the story of Singh — the only Indian male athlete to have won individual athletics gold at the Commonwealth Games to date — is a source of inspiration for future generations. "[The] British Raj was over

and they left us with a bloody partition. When I say bloody, I mean the colour red — of blood," Mehra said.

"People lost a lot because of the ethnic violence, and so somebody gets up, a draws a line of hatred and says, 'You are two countries. You're not one anymore'. It was based on some geographical demographics - that was the reason for the partition. We haven't recovered from it yet.

"To put it in a more global perspective, it's like the bloody massacre of Rwanda in 1994. The Brixton riots. The terrible, terrible holocaust of the second world war. The apartheid. What it does is it

displaces a mass of humanity.

"Milkha Singh is a victim of that. He's a victim of that displacement. He has a lost childhood. He saw the massacre of his father. His mother.

His three sisters. His four brothers. In front of his eyes.

They were butchered."

Mehra continued: "The question is what takes this boy of 12 years old who picked up a knife, joined a gang, steals grain, sugar and coal - not for theft or greed but for survival — [who] does time in jail. What is the spirit of this human being — of Milkha Singh that makes him go out to then become a global champion?

"People like him go on to inspire a generation and he's one of the pioneers, whether it was Linford Christie or Mo Farah, lately Usain Bolt. They all belong to a minority, and want to go out there and represent their people on a global platform. Milkha Singh's record doesn't get broken for half a century, plus eight years.

"Here's a man who lost the most important race of his career, but wins in life. So this was an inspiration to me, and I believe to others. That's why I'm so happy to share it with you and I hope I can share it with millions," the Rang De Basanti director explained.

Arshad Warsi's next to be treat for married men

I

n his ready to release Rabba Main Kya Karoon, Arshad Warsi will be seen doling out valuable tips on how to enjoy life postmarriage and says every married man will relate to the fun drama.

The story is set in a family wedding and the actor says that as the film is about a typical Indian wedding, "I am sure every married man will relate to the film.

When I read the script, I immediately said yes to this film".

IANS

No actress finalised for Mahabharata

T

he makers of soon-to-be aired mythological TV show Mahabharata are said to be having a hard time in finding an actress to play Draupadi. Reportedly the makers auditioned actresses like Ria Sen, Sayali Bhagat and Yuvika Choudhary, but haven't been able to finalise any one so far.

IANS

British-Indian actor Paul Bhattacharjee's dead

B

ritish Indian actor Paul Bhattacharjee, missing since over a week, has been declared dead. He was 53. The actor, best known for his role as Inzamam Ahmed in EastEnders, went missing July 10. A body, which was discovered in East Sussex July 12, was identified Wednesday as Bhattacharjee's, reports mirror.co.uk.

IANS

sports

29

FRIDAY, JULY 19, 2013

TOUR DE FRANCE

‘Sweet’ Porte saves Froome’s skin Froom began to suffer from hypoglycaemia, but his teammate broke the rules and gave him sugarrich powder gels.

Both were given 20 sec penalties.

With no feeding allowed in the final 29 kilometres, Froome was in trouble — but luckily Porte was on hand.

JUSTIN DAVIS Agence France-Presse L’ALPE D’HUEZ: Australian Richie Porte’s bike racing skills appear to know no bounds on the Tour de France, and on Thursday included breaking the rules on an epic 18th stage to the Alpe d’Huez.

Team Sky rider Porte has been demonstrating his faith towards yellow jersey holder Chris Froome throughout the race but on the 172.5 km trek from Gap to the legendary sum-

MARATHON CLASSIC

Walshe takes the lead SYLVANIA: Alison Walshe fired a career-low six-under-par 65 to grab a one-shot lead after the opening round of the LPGA Tour’s Marathon Classic on Thursday Walshe finished with eight birdies with a pair of bogeys to complete the opening round at the Highland Meadows Golf Club course a shot ahead of former winner Paula Creamer, Lexi Thompson and Jessica Shepley.

World number one Park In-Bee, who has six LPGA Tour victories this season, is two strokes off Walshe’s pace at four-under 67. She is tied for fifth place with Karine Icher, Kang Hae-Ji, Gerina Piller and Jacqui Concolino.

Walshe, who is ranked 90th in the world, is seeking her first career LPGA Tour win.

“I’ve been hitting it probably the best I’ve hit it in a long time this year,” said Walshe.

mit had to go beyond the normal call of duty.

Froome, who began the day with a 4min 34sec lead on second-placed Spaniard Alberto Contador, felt the first signs of hypoglycemia early on the second climb of the 13.8 km ascent to the legendary summit.

By the time he was approaching the 5 km to go mark, the Kenyan-born Briton’s arm was in the sky desperately asking for assistance.

With no feeding allowed in the final 29 kilometres, Froome was in trouble — but Porte, whose job is to set a pace for

Froome that is not too hard but which can do damage to rivals, was on hand.

The Tasmanian dropped back to the Team Sky car, collected a handful of sugar-rich power gels and rode back up the rode to feed his team leader.

Froome and Porte were both

HAMBURG OPEN

Roger’s very big racquet Federer is playing in Germany with a larger 98 square-inch frame — eight inches bigger than his previous racquets.

HAMBURG: Roger Federer breezed into the quarter-finals of the Hamburg claycourt tournament Thursday and played down his decision to fly in the face of fashion by switching to a larger racquet.

The Swiss top seed, playing his second match since his shock second-round exit at Wimbledon, needed just over an hour to seal a 6-4, 6-3 win over 29-year-old Jan Hajek of the Czech Republic.

The 31-year-old Federer, with his world ranking down at five, his lowest for a decade, is playing in Germany with a larger 98 square-inch frame — eight inches bigger than his previous racquets.

“I guess it’s to a degree some more getting use to, just to see how it reacts on every single shot,” Federer said.

“Clearly it reacts better to some shots.

“But it’s important not to think of it the whole time, not to talk about it all the time, but

The top seed, playing his second match since his exit at Wimbledon, needed just over an hour to seal a 6-4, 6-3 win.

more just sort of go with it, fight for every point, have the right mindset, be optimistic about playing here now and wanting to achieve a good result and that’s what I’m doing.”

Federer, who faces Germany’s Florian Mayer in Friday’s quarter-final, squandered 10 of his 13 break points.

sanctioned with a 20sec penalty but in the grand scheme of things it was irrelevant. Froome is now 5:11 ahead of two-time winner Contador, who had even bigger trouble trying to match Sky’s pace before finishing nearly a minute behind the pair and 4:15 behind stage winner Christophe Riblon.

“I was really going into a little bit of a sugar low then,” explained Froome. “I asked Richie to go back to the car... and he just gave me some gels to get me to the finish. I don’t know if it helped me with 5 km to go but it was really good to have Richie there, he did a fantastic job.”

Froome, who at times on the final climb was falling back off Porte’s wheel due to the pace, admitted that if he was absent from the race the Australian would be the man to beat.

MOSCOW WORLDS

Makhloufi pulls out of Worlds PARIS: Algeria’s Olympic 1500m gold medallist Taoufik Makhloufi on Thursday withdrew from next month’s world championships in Russia because of a viral infection, El Watan newspaper reported on its website.

The 25-year-old had a difficult start to his outdoor season, finishing 11th over a mile at Eugene, Oregon, on June 1. He has not trained for the past month.

Makhloufi endured a controversial London Olympics when he was disqualified for not trying hard enough in his 800m heat before being reinstated to race the 1500m. He is the latest big name to miss the world championships, which take place in Moscow on August 10-18.

Kenya’s world and Olympic 800m champion David Rudisha has already been ruled out with a knee injury.

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MUIRFIELD, JULY 18 – 21

FRIDAY, JULY 19, 2013

Shiv happens at Muirfield

Shiv Kapur was the surprise package on day one when he birdied six of his opening seven holes to turn in 30 and briefly hold a one-shot lead.

GULLANE: Indian golfer Shiv Kapur eclipsed some of golf’s biggest stars when he shot a three-under-par 68 for tied fourth in the opening round of the British Open on Thursday.

Kapur was the surprise package on day one when he birdied six of his opening seven holes to turn in 30 and briefly hold a one-shot lead at the demanding Muirfield

Woods ‘happy’ with first round

course. He birdied the immensely challenging first hole followed by birdies on two and three. He then continued his electrifying momentum by marking three straight birdies from the fifth hole.

Kapur still held his head high despite three-putting for double bogey on 10 and dropped another shot on 14 when his tee shot found the

thick rough.

The Indian, who has won once on the Asian Tour, trails first day leader Zach Johnson of the United States by two shots but outgunned world number one Tiger Woods (69) and Major champions Phil Mickelson (69), Bubba Watson (70), Adam Scott (71) and Rory McIlroy (79).

“I was in dreamland for a

while when I birdied my first three holes. These are probably the fastest greens I’ve played in my life. It felt like I was putting on glass,” said Kapur, who qualified for the tournament at the Local Final Qualifying in Dunbar, two weeks ago.

“The front nine was a bit special. I was in a bit of a trance there.”

Big names mauled Big names had dismal rounds as the tricky links course took its toll.

JAMES SIMPSON Agence France-Presse

ALLAN KELLY Agence France-Presse

GULLANE: World number one Tiger Woods said Thursday he was very happy with a two under 69 in the first round of the British Open, especially given the lightning quick greens at sun-baked Muirfield.

“It was tough. The golf course progressively got more dried out and more difficult as we played. And I’m very pleased to shoot anything even par or better,” he told journalists after finishing tied for ninth and three behind overnight leader Zach Johnson.

Woods was forced to really grind out his round as the greens grew more and more perilous in the afternoon sun.

“Well, the golf course just kept drying out. And it was so hard to get the ball close, even lag putt and try to get the ball the right speed. It was very difficult,” he said.

Woods expressed some sympathy with players like England’s Ian Poulter and American Phil Mickelson who were quite disparaging about the difficulty of holding the balls on the greens.

“Well, I could see how guys were complaining about it,” he said. “Some of these putts today, I mean, I putted the ball off the green today. And it really wasn’t that bad a putt.”

Asked if it was unfair as some fellow competitors had suggested, he replied: “You could see how guys could feel that way. It got so fast and so dry that, as I said, it was hard to get the ball close.”

GULLANE: Zach Johnson used a red-hot putter to lead the British Open at scorching Muirfield Thursday on a pulsating opening day when some of the biggest names in the game were left reeling.

The 2007 Masters champion fired an eagle at the par-five fifth and used that as the springboard toward a five under 66 that held firm throughout the day.

Indian qualifier Shiv Kapur briefly threatened to dislodge him from atop the leaderboard as he went six under after just seven holes.

But he dropped shots down the back nine and had to settle for a 68, level with Miguel Angel Jimenez of Spain and Americans Dustin Johnson, Brandt Snedeker and Tom Lehman, the Open champion from 1996.

Closest to Johnson at the end of a day when 20 players out of the 156-strong field broke par, were 56-year-old Mark O’Meara, the Open champion from 1998, and rising Spanish player Rafael Cabrera-Bello, both of whom had 67s.

Tournament favourite Tiger Woods, playing competitively for the first time in a month after injuring his left elbow while hacking out of rough at the US Open, stuck to the task and came away with a fine 69, which will do wonders for his confidence.

The opening day of the 142nd Open, however, will be

First round scores 66 Zach Johnson (USA) 67 Mark O’Meara (USA), Rafael Cabrera Bello (ESP) 68 Dustin Johnson (USA), Shiv Kapur (IND), Miguel Angel Jimenez (ESP), Tom Lehman (USA), Brandt Snedeker (USA) 69 Francesco Molinari (ITA), Phil Mickelson (USA), Tiger Woods (USA), Angel Cabrera (ARG), Todd Hamilton (USA), Jordan Spieth (USA) 70 Martin Laird (SCO), Ken Duke (USA), Bubba Watson (USA), Gonzalo Fernandez-Castano (ESP), Henrik Stenson (SWE), Oliver Fisher (ENG) 71 Hideki Matsuyama (JPN), Thomas Aiken (RSA), Adam Scott (AUS), Gareth Wright (WAL), Jimmy Mullen (ENG), Bernd Wiesberger (AUT) *Only scores of par and under have been included

remembered also for being a nightmare for two of the biggest names in the game — former world number ones Rory McIlroy and Luke Donald.

Both failed abysmally to deal with the exceptional conditions at Muirfield, where two weeks of pure Scottish sunshine had left the famed links course running fast and furious.

More blue skies and temperatures passing 80 degrees

Fahreinheit (26 Celsius) on Thursday made the greens treacherous and at times Augusta National fast, especially around the pins, drawing criticism from several players.

World number two McIlroy, desperately seeking the form that has eluded him since he changed clubs at the start of the year, had two double bogeys down the back nine en route to a demoralising eight over 79.

The lowest point of his round came at the 15th where he shook his head in disbelief after watching his long putt speed over the rock-hard green and bury itself in a deep pot bunker.

A second double-bogey was the end result of that and he looked a disconsolate figure trudging off the 18th green with the question mark over his current form beginning to take on giant proportions.

“Sometimes I feel like I’m walking around out there and I’m unconscious. I just need to try to think more. I’m trying to focus and trying to concentrate,” he said.

“But I can’t really fathom it at the minute.”

URN

FRIDAY, JULY 19, 2013

IT

31

ASHES 2013

Super Smith muffles Bell’s toll Just when it seemed England had regained control, part-time leg-spinner Smith took three wickets for 18 runs in six overs late in the day to reduce England to 289 for seven.

SYDNEY: Steve Smith, once the butt of the England team’s jokes, had the last laugh as Australia started and finished well in the second Ashes Test, newspapers said Friday.

England, boosted by Ian Bell’s third hundred in successive Ashes matches, fought back from an early collapse at Lord’s on Thursday.

Yet just when it seemed England had regained control, part-time leg-spinner Smith took three wickets for 18 runs in six overs late in the day to reduce England to 289 for seven at stumps, having been in dire straits at 28 for three.

Australia’s press made much of Smith’s late contribution coming into the attack after the team’s regular bowlers had failed to force home their early advantage.

“England teased Steve Smith during the last Ashes series about being in the Australian team for his jokes. But the home team wasn’t laughing after Smith’s raw leg spin caused a late flurry of wickets at Lord’s,” Fairfax Media’s Chloe Saltau said.

“Smith succeeded where the regular bowlers failed, capturing three English scalps including that of Australia’s nemesis, Ian Bell, as England collapsed from 4-271 to 7-289 at stumps.”

Saltau said although leg spin was Smith’s second skill nowa-

SCRORE BOARD

England 1st innings AN Cook lbw b Watson 12 JE Root lbw b Harris 6 IJL Trott c Khawaja b Harris 58 KP Pietersen c †Haddin b Harris 2 IR Bell c Clarke b Smith 109 JM Bairstow c & b Smith 67 MJ Prior† c †Haddin b Smith 6 TT Bresnan not out 7 JM Anderson not out 4 Extras (lb 11, w 3, nb 4) 18 Total (7 wickets; 89 overs) 289 Bowling O M R W JL Pattinson 18 3 79 0 RJ Harris 20 6 43 3 SR Watson 12 4 41 1 PM Siddle 20 6 53 0 AC Agar 13 2 44 0 SPD Smith 6 1 18 3

days, he could still bamboozle with the ball and was a muchimproved cricketer than when he last played against England as an unorthodox-looking batsman.

The Australian’s Wayne Smith mused that “if a bowler not in Australia’s original Ashes squad could star as a batsman in the Trent Bridge Test, why not an initially overlooked batsman as a bowler at Lord’s?”

Australia looked down and out at 117 for nine in last week’s

Australia’s Press made much of Smith’s late contribution coming into the attack after the team’s regular bowlers had failed.

Nottingham Test when left-arm spinner Ashton Agar, a late addition to the touring party, blitzed 98 in a world record last-wicket stand to put them momentarily

in front.

“The situation was starting to look almost as dire for Australia at Lord’s when, with England threatening to take the match by the scruff of the neck, Michael Clarke tossed the ball to Steve Smith, a specialist batsman who was also a selectorial afterthought,” said The Australian writer.

“By the time Smith had finished, Australia was not only back in the game but, as at Trent Bridge, marginally in the lead,

with England limping to stumps.”

Seamer Ryan Harris also came in for praise, playing his first Test in more than a year after recovering most recently from shoulder surgery to claim 3-43 from 20 carefully managed overs.

“It was felt that if Australia could just get him there, his quality as a new ball bowler would work out,” The Australian columnist Gideon Haigh wrote.

‘I could have played for England’ Sydney-born Ryan Harris has a British passport because his father was born in Leicester and, while playing for English county Sussex in 2008, he had considered committing himself to his dad’s country of birth.

STEVEN GRIFFITHS Agence France-Presse LONDON: Australia pace bowler Ryan Harris tormented England on the first day of the second Test at Lord’s and then revealed he could have been an Ashes hero for the hosts.

Harris ripped the heart out of England’s top order on Thursday with three valuable wickets, including two in five balls, to keep Australia in contention for a crucial victory in the battle to regain the Ashes.

The 33-year-old dismissed Joe Root and Kevin Pietersen and then returned to make

Dad moved over to Australia when he was 10 or 11, so he was brought up an Aussie and brought me and my brother up as Aussies.

Ryan Harris Australian bowler

another important breakthrough when he tempted Jonathan Trott into a rash stroke.

After England finished the day wobbling at 289-7, Harris admitted he could just as easily have been wearing England’s colours instead of the famous baggy green Australian cap.

But Queensland, impressed by his form for Sussex, moved in to sign him on condition he committed himself to Australia.

Speaking in the England and Wales Cricket Board offices after play closed on Thursday, he said: “Last time I was in this

building I had a meeting with Mike Gatting about that passport.

“I travelled here to play a little bit, and having an English passport made it a bit easier.

“But dad moved over to Australia when he was 10 or 11, so he was brought up an Aussie and brought me and my brother up as Aussies.

“It was a messy situation. I had a really good offer for Queensland that came through at the time, and that’s where I thought I might have one last crack at trying to play for Australia. Obviously, it was the right move.”

FRIDAY, JULY 19, 2013

sports

JOVETIC HEADING FOR MANCHESTER CITY

Fiorentina have reached an agreement to sell the Montenegrin striker Stevan Jovetic to Manchester City, the Serie A club have confirmed. The 23-year-old has scored 35 league goals in five seasons with Fiorentina, who finished fourth in Serie A last season.

EPL SEASON PREVIEW

Manchester City lose again With manager Manuel Pellegrini absent after returning to Chile due to a family issue, City, beaten 2-0 by Supersport United in their opening friendly.

DURBAN: Manchester City suffered another setback on their pre-season tour as Carlington Nyadombo’s late penalty earned AmaZulu a 2-1 victory in Durban on Thursday.

With manager Manuel Pellegrini absent after returning to Chile due to a family issue, City, beaten 2-0 by Supersport United in their opening friendly, fell behind when Bongani Ndulula made the most of Aleksandar Kolarov’s mistake to put the home side ahead.

England midfielder James Milner pulled the visitors level with a fine cross-shot, only for Nyadombo to score from the spot in the final seconds.

There was better news for City off the pitch as Italian club Fiorentina confirmed that Montenegro striker Stevan Jovetic is set to join the Premier League club.

City are also close to the signing of Sevilla striker Alvaro Negredo and their need for new attackers was once again demonstrated in Durban, with Samir Nasri and Edin Dzeko failing to form a dangerous partnership.

City midfielder Gareth Barry

felt that the team’s fitness had let them down against Supersport United in Pretoria on Sunday.

The English outfit began with far greater intensity this time and were unlucky not to take the lead when a dipping free-kick from Nasri was pushed just past the post by

AmaZulu goalkeeper Kapini Tapuwa.

But in the 20th minute at the Moses Mabhida Stadium, City gifted the home side the lead with some poor defending.

City replied five minutes later with an impressive finish from Milner.

The visitors almost pulled

ahead when Dzeko’s cross-shot was pushed away by goalkeeper Aubrey Mathib.

Sinclair also dragged a shot wide and Denis Suarez missed as City pressed for a second goal. But Abdul Razak was penalised for pulling Marc van Heerden over in the area and Nyadomo scored from the spot.

Jose warns of Rooney woes for England The Chelsea boss warned that players who aren’t automatic picks for their clubs could miss out on the World Cup in Brazil next year.

KUALA LUMPUR: Jose Mourinho on Thursday warned that players who aren’t automatic picks for their clubs could miss out on the World Cup in Brazil next year.

The Chelsea boss issued the warning just after Manchester United rejected a bid from the Blues for 27-year-old Wayne Rooney, who has been told by new manager David Moyes that Robin van Persie is the club’s first-choice striker.

“Normally for a player to be selected to play for his country, the player must be a first choice player

in the club,” Mourinho told reporters in Malaysia during Chelsea’s brand-boosting tour in Asia.

“So any player that wants to go to the World Cup... if they are second choice in their club they are in trouble. They are in trouble,” he warned.

A Chelsea official told reporters before the press conference that 50-year-old Mourinho would not answer any questions related to a failed bid for Rooney.

The England forward has two years left on his contract with Manchester United but has been

pushing for a move.

During the confere n c e Mourinho said that with the World Cup a year away, a player picked regularly for his team would obviously stand a better chance of representing his country in the Brazil World Cup. “He must play very regular for the club and that is the big motivation if they are thinking about the World Cup,” he said.

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COSAFA CUP

Mozambiqu e beat 10man Angola KITWE: An Apson Manjate goal gave Mozambique a 1-0 victory over 10-man Angola Thursday in the Cosafa Cup plate competition final.

Tall, pencil-thin Manjate scored his third goal is as many southern Africa national team champioship games with one minute left of the opening half.

Vado failed to cut off a pass from Manuel Uetimane and Manjate took advantage to hammer the ball past goalkeeper Nelson from close range in mining city Kitwe.

Manjate plays for powerful Maputo outfit Liga Muculmana and also scored in the quarterfinals loss to hosts Zambia and plate semi-finals win over Namibia.

However, he fell one goal short of joining leading scorer Jerome Ramatlhakwane from Botswana at the top of the Golden Boot charts.

FIFA

EPL slams Blatter’s winter plans LONDON: Premier League chiefs have slammed FIFA president Sepp Blatter’s plan to move the 2022 World Cup in Qatar to the winter.

There has been widespread concern over the health dangers posed by staging the tournament in the Gulf in June and July where temperatures rocket to 50 degrees (122 degrees Fahrenheit).

And Blatter this week confronted the issue by stating he believed the tournament could not take place in the summer, and that position has been backed up by the international players’ union FIFPro. Blatter insisted he would push to have the World Cup moved despite the effects it could have on domestic leagues when the FIFA Executive Committee meets on October 3 and 4.

“The Executive Committee will certainly follow me,” he was quoted as saying.

AFP