Postnoon E-Paper for March 21st 2013 by Scribble Media & Entertainment Pvt. Ltd.

THURSDAY, MARCH 21, 2013 HYDERABAD

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SC UPHOLDS SANJAY DUTT’S CONVICTION IN 1993 SERIAL BLASTS CASE

The Supreme Court upholds the conviction of Sanjay Dutt under Arms Act in 1993 Mumbai serial blasts case. The apex court, however reduced Dutt's six-year jail term given by the TADA court to five years. The SC Thursday confirmed the death sentence of Yakub Abdul Razak Memon in the 1993 Mumbai blasts case and commuted the death sentence of 10 others. An anti-terror TADA court had in 1993 awarded death sentence to 12 people, including Memon. One of them has passed away. The death sentence of 10 has been commuted to life imprisonment.

FLASH

HYDERABAD’S FIRST COMPACT AFTERNOON NEWSPAPER

OVER 40 VEHICLES DAMAGED AS SADAK BANDH HITS REPORT ON P5 N SHIVA KUMAR

A City under plastic siege Mineral water millionaires run amok as regulatory authorities snooze. We are being buried under tonnes of plastic bottles legally and illegally made to pack ‘mineral water’ which, for all we know, is tap-water packed in plastic bags and bottles with fake labels. They fleece us financially, risk our health and smother our environment with growing mounds of plastic waste.

THURSDAY, MARCH 21, 2013

city events

HOMAGE TO LEGENDARY ARTIST GANESH PYNE

There is an exhibition of mixed media and jottings by Ganesh Pyne. The preview is at Kalakriti Art Gallery on March 22, at 6.30pm. This will be followed by a talk and presentation at 7pm by Pranab Ranjan Ray, art historian and activist of the ‘60s and ‘70s.

Weather for Hyderabad

Evening

Overnight

Morning

Afternoon

31°C

23°C

29°C

37°C

Clear with cloudy periods.

A mix of cloudy and clear skies.

A mix of cloud and sun.

New Delhi Mumbai Max 33 Max 32 Min 20 Min 21 Partly cloudy.

Chennai Max 33 Min 25

Clear with chances of rain.

Clear.

Bangalore Max 34 Min 22

Cloudy with chances of thunderstorms.

AROUND THE CITY: YOUR GUIDE TO THE TWIN CITIES When: March 15-24, 9.30am to 5.30pm Contact: (040) 2335 0443

DINING Full moon dine Dine with your loved ones under the full moon. A special thali will be served every full moon. Where: La Cantina When: from March 27, 7.30pm onwards Contact: (040) 6682 4422

French heritage A photographic voyage of French heritage in India with Anay Mann, Gigi Scaria, Rishi Singhal, Serena Chopra, Isabel Saij along with JeanPierre Dubois. Where: Kalakriti Art Gallery, Banjara Hills When: March 16-21 11am to 7pm Contact: (040) 6656 4466

Shaam-e-Deccan GreenPark is hosting Royal Hyderabadi Food Festival – Shaame-Deccan. There will be a spread of vegetarian and non vegetarian delights, especially the nawabi kebabs and a wide choice of biriyanis. Where: Once Upon a Time, GreenPark, Greenlands, Begumpet When: March 15-24, 7.30pm to 11pm Contact: (040) 6651 5151 Daily treats Orange is the fruit of the month at The Westin Hyderabad Mindspace. Dishes include orange blossom cheesecake, orange creme brule and dark chocolate orange tart. Where: Daily Treats, The Westin Hyderabad Mindspace When: Up to March 31 Contact: (040) 6767 6818 Holi Special Aam panna, thandai, assorted pakodas and special chat platters are some of the items on the menu. There will also be tattoo and mehendi artistes, musician and bangle sell-

MISCELLANEOUS The great Oxford sale Discounts on books, magazines, stationery and gift items. Where: Oxford Bookstore, Tresorie, The Park, 22 Raj Bhavan Road When: Up to March 31, Contact: (040) 31002959

PROTEST: Handicraftsmen's Association members stage a dharna at Dharna Chowk, Indira Park. er at the venue. Where: Kailash Parbat Above Ebony Gautier, 2nd floor, Road no. 36, Jubilee Hills When: March 23-31 Lunch: noon to 3.30pm Snacks: noon to 11.30pm Dinner: 7pm to 11pm Contact: (040) 2355 8856 It’s Easter! There is a special Easter brunch. Where: : Seasonal Tastes, The Westin Hyderabad Mindspace When: March 31, noon to 4pm Contact: (040) 6767 6888

SHOWS DocuSplash! Barf, 1997 & Sita’s Family, 2002,

Commissioner & Spl Officer

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

198 155313

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

155333 23431178 23431179

MUNICIPAL CORPORATION

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

Delhi Mumbai Delhi, 2006 and Naach, 2008, will be screened. Where: Goethe-Zentrum, Hyderabad 20 Journalist Colony, Road no. 3, Banjara Hills When: March 24, 11am onwards Contact: gothe.de/hyderabad Film screenings Shifting Prophecy by Merajur Rehman Baruah, a film on the struggle of rural Muslim women, and Fragments of a Past by Uma Chakravarti, on the life and work of a woman political activist in her everyday existence, will be screened. Where: Lamakaan, Opposite GVKOne, Road No 1, Banjara Hills When: March 21, 7pm onwards

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

Contact: 96427 31329

ART Thinking form and content An exhibition of art work by Gopal Nayak. Where: ICONART Gallery, Road no. 12, Sri Ram Nagar Colony, Banjara Hills When: Up to March 30, from 11.30 am to 7pm Contact: 98499 68797

DSLR workshop Nikon India is organising its first ever basic DSLR workshop in Hyderabad. Registrations start at 10.30am. Where: Hotel Basera, 1-9-167/168, SD Road, Secunderabad When: March 24, noon to 4pm

Women in Public Spaces Goethe-Zentrum Hyderabad had called for applications for a group photography exhibition on ‘Women in Public Spaces.’ This is an exhibition of selected entries. Where: Goethe-Zentrum, Hyderabad

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

N SHIVA KUMAR

Spring Treasure Sale There is a sale of up to 50 per cent off at Taj Khazana. Where: Taj Khazana Taj Falaknuma Palace When: March 15-25 Contact: (040) 6629 8600

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

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

24523211 232431300/7641 24521029

Readers’ views

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

THURSDAY, MARCH 21, 2013

City

YESTERDAY’S QUESTION

IS THE COUNTRY HEADING FOR A MID-TERM POLL? 54%

YES (A) NO (B)

46%

TODAY’S QUESTION

IS THE CENTRE USING CBI TO SETTLE SCORES WITH POLITICAL OPPONENTS? A)

YES

To vote visit www.postnoon.com

CRIME

City- born Pakistani behind Dilsukhnagar blasts? N SHIVA KUMAR

Mohd SUBHAN mohd.s@postnoon.com

hile the NIA has drawn a blank on the City blasts, the counter intelligence police have interrogated Wakf Board chairman and Haj Committee officials about a man named Noor Ul Bashr, who they said had worked with Wakf board 20 years ago but later disappeared. He was a resident of Red Hills but became a Pak national later, it is said. Chairman of Wakf board Moulana Khusroo Pasha and other officials stuck to their guns that no man by that name worked with the board but, the intelligence police are positive about this. Police now believe that the man has mysteriously disappeared and must be a Pak spy. It is also believed that he had managed to take his family to Pakistan for safety. This would also give him an excuse to make

CRIME

phone calls to Pakistan. After quizzing the Wakf Board functionaries, the police later dashed to the Haj Committee House and asked the chairman Syed Khaleel Ahmed about Bashr. The police are learnt to have sought the help of the minority commission and are asking questions to Qazis about him.

All this was not the achievement of the National Investigation Agency; it is the efforts of the State counter-intelligence wing, under the leadership of DSP R Ramana and Mohd Ismail. They dug up this information which is believed to provide direction to the terror works in the City.

Some cricket,

this!

Victory procession nearly always leads to trouble. Here is one example.

POSTNOON NEWS feedback@postnoon.com

ricket is known to be a gentlemen’s game, right? Yes, but it is no longer so. Around 10 people were injured when two groups playing cricket on Monday attacked each other with bats and balls, leading to tension in the area for two days. It happened at Sunderaih Sun colony of Hayatnagar mandal. Police said that two teams, one led by a Babu and another by

Bashr is said to have been here a few months ago and there are records of him having called people in Pakistan several times.

This day last month terror took the lives of 17 and maimed 120 in the City. People are yet to know who the dark forces behind it are. Postnoon enquires.

Nani, had played. Babu’s team won and they took out a ‘victory rally,’ which provoked the Nani group, who then confronted the former. One led to another and soon it resulted in a free-for-all. Three sustained injuries and were admitted to the hospital. Tension gripped the colony. Someone summoned the police, who resorted to a lathi charge that ended up injuring a few others. A day of tension passed but the anger rankled the minds of many in the colony. On Tuesday,

some elders called for a peace meeting, but in the meeting the two cricket captains came to blows. Nani slapped Babu and Babu’s supporters thrashed Nani and his supporters, while the terrified elders escaped through a window. This resulted in several injuries. At least 10 in all have sought hospital admissions. Both the captains, who have injury marks, are now asked by police to maintain peace or face action. Cases have been registered against both teams.

The police now say it is established beyond doubt that the original target was the Sai Baba temple, but a sudden turn of events forced a shift and terrorists pushed the bomb-laden bicycles to the market nearby. Intelligence had time and again pointed out no terror from a foreign country could do damage

in the City without local help, which police are unable to probe because of political pressure. When attempts are made to pick up local hands, allegations of persecution are raised, that kill the enthusiasm of earnest policemen. Bashr, now with terror modules, is said to have been here a few months ago and there are records of him having called people in Pakistan several times. The phone numbers of those he called are not of his relatives, which gives rise to suspicion about his intention. It is again a governmental drawback to allow such people back into the country several times.

CIVIC

Over 200 tankers help survive summer Md NIZAMUDDIN nizamuddin.a@postnoon.com

he people living in 12 circles in the peripheral of the GHMC are being supplied with more than 200 tankers, while 392 additional power borewells will help survive the summer. The circles — Kukatpally, Serilingampally-1, Serilingampally-2, Patancheru and RC Puram, Kapra, Rajendranagar, LB Nagar, Gaddiannaram, Uppal, Malkajgiri, Qutbullapur and Alwal — will receive free water from 50 additional tankers, apart from the 155 that already engaged. As Hyderabad Metropolitan

Water Supply and Sewerage Board (HMWS&SB) does not have a proper distribution network, the GHMC is filling the gap. “Of 392 borewells, 99 were already drilled and the remaining will be completed by the beginning of April”, said GHMC commissioner, MT Krishna Babu, at a press conference. The additional 50 tankers’ tenders are finalised. The RR District collector was also told to release `5.46 crore under adverse seasonal conditions for spending on tankers. Denizens living in these areas can dail 155313 for calling the tanker services from the GHMC.

city THURSDAY, MARCH 21, 2013

CIVIC

LAST YEAR... HERE

`1 cr to each corporator may prove a mirage

Sorcerer claims girl’s life

ast year we had reported how, in a tragic incident, a 21-year-old tribal girl died after a black magician ‘treated’ her for epilepsy in Kishanbagh. ACP Charminar said the tragedy seems to have been invited by the girl’s family itself. Her mother had been cured by the sorcerer three months ago when she of some illness and hence the parents entrusted the girl to him.

MARCH 21, 2012

NUMEROLOGY

3,800 MT

of garbage is generated in the City every day, out of which plastic alone contributes 7.33 to 9.74 per cent (mean average taken at 8.36 per cent in GHMC reports).

We were unaware that a counselor was coming to our college every week. Never did the management inform us that there is a counselling cell or counselor... Srinivas, HCU student See page 6

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

Counselling takes a back seat in colleges. Education institutions don’t seem to be paying attention to the pressure students face today’s competitive world. Since 2011, 30 City students have ended their lives, but that is still not a wake-up call.

A gentleman’s game turns ugly in City. Nearly 10 people were injured when local cricket players ended up in a brawl after the team that lost was provoked by a victory rally by the wining team.

Sources say MLC elections are a lame excuse for the administration not to release money for carrying out development work. S BALAKRISHNA

Md NIZAMUDDIN nizamuddin.a@postnoon.com

orporators are anguished and puzzled. The `1 crore development fund the GHMC pledged to give them from this year has not come yet. The administration pleads that the corporation is under the model code of conduct as the MLC election is scheduled for April 12. “This is a lame excuse for them (administration) not to release the money. Time is running out,” said a disturbed floor leader of TDP, Sangireddy Srinivas Reddy. Opposition leaders plan to meet the commissioner today and ask him to release funds or find an amicable solution. In this matter, all the parties are united. On Wednesday, the worried leaders of Congress, MIM, and TDP met the commissioner, but the issue was not resolved. Earlier it was Borabanda civic by-poll that put a stop to all fund releases. Now it is the MLC election. One MLC would be elected by 100 divisions of the GHMC. By the time all elections are over, the financial year would be gone. Corporators are suggesting that the GHMC write to the election commission, seeking its permission to carry out development works that have already been sanctioned. Another solution could be providing permission for the works immediately after the election code is lifted (which would be April 18), but it would leave very little time for execution and the result may be shoddy works.

Corporators suggest that the GHMC write to the election commission, seeking permission to carry out development works that have already been sanctioned. As the election code for the MLC elections will affect 100 divisions, the floor leaders demanded that the commissioner grant permission for the peripheral wards, where the code is not implemented. “At least in this way, some wards will get their works completed,” points out an MIM floor leader.

NEWS BRIEFS

T-leaders pay no heed to police warnings. The sadak bandh was held successfully, completely cutting off transportation between Telangana and Rayalaseema-Seemandhra.

All-party meet on Babli project issue

‘No danger to UPA government’

Man smokes near petrol, dies of burns

`35.86 crore for scholarships

Where do all those plastic bottles go? Hundreds of legal and illegal water bottles choke Hyderabad and pose health risks.

Unwilling to spend for City’s development? It seems like the GHMC is unwilling to release the `1 crore fund, using elections as an excuse.

hief Minister N Kiran Kumar Reddy has said an all-party meeting will be convened on Babli project issue on March 26. Speaking to the media in his Assembly chamber on Wednesday, he said the irrigation minister was writing letters to all the opposition parties inviting them to attend the all-party meeting.

nion minister of state for tourism, Chiranjeevi, sees no danger to the UPA government. He said on Wednesday the DMK party’s withdrawal of its support to the government would not lead to the fall of the government. The government is ﬁrmly in the saddle and would complete its term, he insisted.

labourer, C Ramesh, 35, a resident of Rahmathnagar of Yousufguda, was pouring petrol into his bike’s tank on March 18. He was smoking while doing this. A conﬂagration erupted that brunt him badly. He was admitted to Osmania General Hospital where he died today. Police have booked a case against the deceased.

he State government has released `35.86 crore towards pre and post metric scholarship for minority students. Principal secretary, minority welfare, Rani Kumudini issued a government order, as per which this amount has been released for scholarships under centrally sponsor scheme and MSS towards planned budget of 2012-13.

city THURSDAY, MARCH 21, 2013

POLITICS N SHIVA KUMAR

â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Tâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; cut off from Rayalaseema Telangana protesters defied the police and organised a sadak bandh today, resulting in complete cut off of transportation between Telangana and Rayalaseema-Seemandhra. at various strategic points and imposed Section 144. In Shamshabad, which houses the international airport, the police pressed into action more than 1,200 security personnel. The bandh call had its impact on Staterun APSRTC services. The corporation had to choose alternative routes to ply passengers between various districts of Rayalaseema and Telangana. The bandh is likely to continue till 7 pm.

Md INKESHAF AHMED & Md NIZAMUDDIN feedback@postnoon.com

he resurgent Telangana movement that organised a sadak bandh along National Highway 44, defying police orders prohibiting it, resulted in a complete breakdown of traffic to and from the City and Rayalaseema. The entire 170-km route was affected. Around 40 vehicles, including one police vehicle, were damaged when violent mobs pelted them with stones. Heavy police turnout was seen in Shamshabad, Shadnagar, Jadecherla, Boothpur, Kothapeta and Alampur areas. This probably helped prevent the situation from slipping into chaos. But the road traffic came to a halt. Police and the protesters, led by TJAC, played a cat and mouse game. Every time the police removed a crowd, another took its place. All front-ranking leaders of the TJAC and the TRS,

TREMORS IN ASSEMBLY

including TJAC chairman Kodandram, TRS leaders KT Rama Rao, Hareesh Rao, and MLA Kavitha Rao were arrested. KTR and Hareesh Rao were picked up from a sit-in dharna in Annaram in Mehbubnagar district. The main flashpoint was the Alampur toll plaza, where

vehicles accumulated, resulting in a huge jam. The stir had the support of the leftist parties and the BJP. Reacting immediately after the arrests of these leaders, TRS president K Chandrasekara Rao, in a press statement, condemned the undemocratic arrest of the

TJAC and demanded release.

TRS leaders and their immediate

MASSIVE POLICE FORCES

To avoid any toward incident, the police department had pressed into action hundreds of police personnel, deployed them

The sadak bandh had its impact on AP Assembly's proceedings today. TDP MLAs from Telangana region met Assembly speaker N Manohar and requested him to ensure the release of MLAs. They alleged that the State is arresting pro-Telangana activists in an arbitrary manner. BJP State wing chief G Kishan Reddy also made a similar demand. Meanwhile, students in Osmania University made a vain bid to take out a rally in support of the sadak bandh.

ASSEMBLY

TDP shines in the absence of TRS

POSTNOON NEWS feedback@postnoon.com

he sixth day of the AP Assembly's budget session gave an opportunity for TDP to dominate the House proceedings in the absence of the rival TRS MLAs,who are busy with the sadak bandh. The TDP MLAs, who gave an adjournment motion on power cuts, came to the House with empty pots and lanterns, protesting against the power cuts and

drinking water problems across the State. The security personnel deployed at the entry point of the House did not allow the members to take the pots and lanterns inside the House and took away them. When the House began as per schedule, TDP members rushed to the speaker's podium and demanded the chair to allowing the motion. But the speaker rejected the request.As the Desam MLAs created a ruckus and persisted on their demand, the House was

adjourned for half hour. YSRCP, CPI and BJP also had given adjournment motions .

MAIDEN ZERO HOUR HELD

When the House met after the adjournment, the Speaker, for the first in the ongoing budget session, allowed zero hour discussion on the sadak bandh programme as per the request of opposition political parties. Before undertaking this discussion, he gave his ruling on the controversy created by the pre-

sentation of Agriculture Action Plan. He said that the government had accepted its mistake and expressed its regrets.

CM KEEPS PROMISE, GIVES JOB TO BLAST VICTIM The State government, keeping its promise of providing government employment to the family members of victims of the Dilsukhnagar twin bomb blast that took 17 lives exactly one month ago, gave the first

government job to the dependents of one of the victims. Sujatha, wife of Venkatesh, who lost his life in the blast, was appointed as junior assistant in animal husbandry department. The CM, keeping his promise, gave away the appointment letter to Sujatha in the Assembly this morning. The orders pertaining to the appointment of Sujatha and other beneficiaries were released by the State government few days ago.

city THURSDAY, MARCH 21, 2013

EDUCATION

Students succumb to pressure

Despite a government ruling that each educational institute have a counselling centre, most universities and colleges don’t seem to be paying much heed to this. Result — an increasing number of student suicides. ALEENA ALICE aleena.tpostnoon.com

t is that time of the year when most education institutes are gearing up for admissions for the next academic year. However, as usual these educational hubs are more concerned about boasting of their academic achievements than welfare of their students. None of them seems to be concerned about the various pressures a student has to cope with while studying at their institutions. Since 2011, 30 students have ended their lives in the City and the reason for all of them having taken this extreme step seems to be similar to 24-year-old Raju’s, who ended his life two days ago in his hostel room at the Hyderabad Central University. Ironically, none of the educational institutions seems to be concerned about the mental state of

their students. The various universities in the City have students coming from diverse socio-economic backgrounds, studies have shown that under such circum-

stances, the pressure on students increases and there are high chances for students to go into acute depression. Though the State government has passed an order for the need of a coun-

FOOD REVIEW

A taste of royal Thailand

POSTNOON NEWS feedback@postnoon.com

f you thought Thai food was mainly red curry, yellow curry and lemon grass, you should definitely indulge in the diverse dishes offered by Thai chef Som Wang at Deccan Pavilion. This humble looking master chef, who greeted us with a “Sawadikha”, has 30 years of experience in oriental cuisine. We started our culinary journey with Som Tam, a raw papaya salad which had a burst of sour and the perfect balance of green chilies. To accompany this, the chef presented YamWoon-Sen, a glass noodle salad and Lab–kai, a tangy minced chicken salad. Not to miss out are the two soups The Tom Kha Hed, a spicy mushroom soup

in coconut milk broth and the Tom Yam Kung, a spicy and sour prawn soup. The flavours were authentically Thai. The starters in this festival are to die for. The Thod mun Khow pood, which are fried corn cakes are unmistakably any vegetarian’s delight, for the nonvegetarians there was Kai Phad Med Ma-moung-stir fried chicken with cashews and red chilies. For main course we savoured some delicious Zugini Pad hed ka Taem (sautéed zucchini and mushroom in garlic sauce) and Phad Phak roum Mid (mix veggies in soy sauce). The prawns in yellow curry called the Keang Leung Kung was the best for a sea food lover and is a must try. Sadly there was no yellow or green gravy for the vegetarians. The Kea Phad King, the lamb sauté with shitake had a perfect blend of spices and herbs. However, the stir fried fish with black pepper was disappointing because of the pungent fishy smell. Khon Phad ka pow(spicy fried rice with basil) is an excellent choice for the veggies along with the Pad Thai noodles. The only hitch was that there is no dedicated Thai deserved served on the menu. Place: Deccan Pavilion, ITC Kakatiya Price: `1,1 99 +Taxes Lunch `1,299 +Taxes Dinner

selling cell in every educational institution and the University Grants Commission has recommended every University to have a counselling centre, in reality most of them are existent only for namesake in the universities and colleges. Students, who are almost on the verge of a breakdown, do not know where to go and instead end up committing suicide. “We were unaware that a counselor was coming to out college every week. Never did the management inform us that there was a counselling cell or there was a counselor coming to our campus for counselling programmes,” says Srinivas, a final year Science student at the Hyderabad Central University. The University management however say that they are making efforts to have counselling cells where students can approach for help. “With the recent incidents that have been

taking place, we realise the importance of a counsellor and will very soon be hiring a full time counsellor for our University,” says VC at EFLU Prof Sunaina Singh. Experts feel that with the alarming increase in the number of suicide cases amongst students, it is the need of the hour for every educational institution to have a dedicated counsellor and have at least a weekly counselling sessions for students. Special secretary for Higher Education, Prof RM Dobriyal speaking to Postnoon said, “According to the government order and the UGC regulations every college must have a dedicated place for a counselling centre. Only by having a centre will not help what should be made compulsory to implement a counselling session every week, so that the students can come out with their problems and discuss it with the counsellor.”

classifieds THURSDAY, MARCH 21, 2013

WATER WOES

POLITICS Probe Br Anil, say TDP leaders

DP has demanded a thorough investigation into the irregularities committed by Br Anil Kumar, Christian preacher and son-in-law of late chief minister YS Rajasekhara Reddy. In a letter to the CM TDP leaders demanded a CBI probe into the death of Benetta Company employee Veerabhadra Reddy saying several irregularities by Br Anil Kumar would come out. NSS

CLASSIFIEDS FOREIGN EXCHANGE

A CITY UNDER PLASTIC SIEGE Mineral water millionaires run free as regulatory authorities snooze.

RAHUL RAMAKRISHNA rahul.r@postnoon.com

orget the possible water war in the City this summer. We are being buried under tonnes of plastic bottles legally and illegally made to pack ‘mineral water’ which, for all we know, is tap-water packed in plastic bags and bottles with fancy-sounding labels. They fleece us financially, risk our health and smother our environment with the growing mounds of plastic waste. This summer, plastic pollution is only going to choke the City’s dump yards further. Given the soaring temperatures, water bottles and plastic water packets are flying off the shelves. Keep aside the discussion on the quality of the water we are being served, the more burning issue at hand is that of the immense amount of plastic being generated through consumption of bottled/packaged water. Postnoon investigates. According to the GHMC’s estimates from the Health and Sanitation wing, the City generates 3,800 MT of garbage daily out of which plastic alone occupies 7.33 to 9.74 per cent share (the mean average is taken at 8.36 per cent according to GHMC’s solid waste management report) which is, 317.68 MT of plastic garbage generated every day. Out of this, experts say that water bottles, plastic covers/packets/cans occupy over 40 per cent ie; 127.072 MT of waste from plastic packets and bottles alone.

PRODUCTION

TO ADVERTISE ON THIS PAGE CONTACT ‑ 040‑40672222

Sreenivas Phanish, manager of the AP Drinking Water Manufacturers Association gives us a blow-by-blow account of how water packets/bottles manufactured in the City is a fast spreading business that has many shady sides to it. “Going by our survey, there are at least 90 registered ISI approved water bottling units and over a 1,000 illegal units operating in the City. The legally operating units have to pay `93,000 annually for an ISI license, which needs to be renewed every year. This is inspected by BIS.” For a majority of these illegally operating units, making plastic packets is a cheap, profitable venture. These packets are made out of a 40 micron film, available freely on the wholesale plastic manufacturers market. “One 40 micron film strip

We’re endangering our children’s future. They will curse us. S Faizi, environmental scientist

Bottling machinery is brought from Chennai and each unit gets sold for `70,000 plus an additional `20,000 for transport, power and maintenance. can make five water packets. A 100 water packets, which is sold as ‘one bag’, needs 20 films. Any business selling water packets makes an average sale of at least five bags which is 500 packets. The trash from five bags alone can give you three kilos of plastic.”

DISTRIBUTION

Raju, a private water packet distributor says, at least 150 bags of water packets are sold every day in the Central Zone (Lakdikapul, Khairatabad and Masab Tank areas ) alone. This is 450 kilos of plastic is generated solely through water packets, in just three areas. “The

shelf life of these packets is two days normally. Most of them are sold by evening,” Raju says. The majority of these illegally operating units are present in the Old City, where they are far from the purview of the Food Standards Safety Authority or the BIS officials. “Areas like Falaknuma are the hubs of this trade. Not just water packets, they have moved into bottled water units also,” says Sreenivas Phaneesh. Bottling machinery (blow bottling machines, filling and sealcrimping machinery) is brought in from Chennai and each unit gets sold for `70,000 plus an additional `20,000 for transport, power and maintenance. “So apart from the investment cost of machinery, the illegal units do not have to worry about paying license fees or lab tests for their water. Which is why they have thrown all the legalised water units out of business by short selling. Recently, when BIS officials had raided a locality in Old City after

they found tap water being sold in water packets, they were scared away by an MLA and his men. The laws against manufacturing are strong, but the government does not have the numbers to enforce it,” Phaneesh says. The war on plastic water packets and bottles is not so much on the environmental effect as it is on the health-safety impact of the water being sold. Gayathri, an environmental activist and former student of Environmental Protection and Training Institute, says, “Even if the authorities succeed in shutting down illegal units, will they be able to beat back the bigger companies joining into this business? And it is not just water alone. Plastic bottles and packets are the most commonly sold carriers for any commodity item. If plastic is used, our solid waste management policy and infrastructure should be given as much importance.” In April 2011, the then additional commissioner Aleem Basha had raided a private water manufacturing unit selling contaminated water in packets and bottles. To their dismay, later investigations revealed that the city had 200 such units functioning. The number has now gone beyond 1,000. Officials from the FSSA department said that the department is planning on a thorough raid and check of legal and illegal bottling units in the City beginning from June 2013.

city THURSDAY, MARCH 21, 2013

WORLD WATER DAY

The drop of life is drying out It’s time humanity paid a price. The greed man has shown in amassing resources without regard for the environment is leading to a situation where we will be fighting the next world war for water. Here is the warning. POSTNOON NEWS feedback@postnoon.com

ome 1.2 billion people — almost a fifth of the world — live in areas of water scarcity, while another 1.6 billion face what can be called economic water shortage. The situation is only expected to worsen with population growth, climate change, investment and management shortfalls, and inefficient use of existing resources restrict the amount of water available to people, according to Worldwatch Institute. It is estimated that by 2025, 1.8 billion people will live in countries or regions with absolute water scarcity, with almost half of the world living in conditions of water stress. Water scarcity has several definitions. Physical scarcity occurs when there is not enough water to meet demand; its symptoms include severe environmental degradation, declining groundwater, and unequal water distribution. Economic water scarcity occurs when there is a lack of investment and proper management to meet the demand of

people who do not have the financial means to use existing water sources; the symptoms in this case normally include poor infrastructure. Large parts of Africa suffer from economic water scarcity. World population is predicted to grow from 7 billion to 9.1 billion by 2050, putting a strain on water resources to meet increased food, energy, and industrial demands. But there are many other pressures, including increased urbanisation and overconsumption, lack of proper management, and the looming threat of climate change. According to the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization and UN Water, global water use has been growing at more than twice the rate of population increase in the last century.

per cent of the world’s water supply. Singh made the remark during the opening address at India Water Week, a four-day event bringing together water researchers and policymakers from around the world. He stressed the need to conserve groundwater, on which more than two-thirds of the country depends for its water.

INDIA SCENE

GLOBAL SCENE

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has struck a warning note on India’s water situation. He told a gathering of scholars recently in the capital that with 17 per cent of the world’s population, India only possesses four

At the global level, 70 per cent of water withdrawals are for the agricultural sector, 11 per cent are to meet municipal demands, and 19 per cent are for industrial needs. These numbers, however, are distorted by the few countries that have very high water withdrawals, such as China, India, and the United States. Agricultural water withdrawal accounts for 44 per cent of total water withdrawal among members of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), but this rises to more than 60 per cent within the eight OECD countries that rely heavily on irrigated agriculture. In the four transitional economies of Brazil, Russia, India, and China, agriculture accounts for 74 per cent of water withdrawals, but this ranges from 20 per cent in Russia

to 87 per cent in India. Policymakers must introduce a variety of measures to address global water scarcity. One important initiative is to support smallscale farmers. Much of the public investment in agricultural water management has focused on large-scale irrigation systems. Farmers can also use water more efficiently by taking a number of steps, including growing a diverse array of crops suited to local conditions and adopting irrigation systems like “drip” lines that deliver water directly to plants’ roots. Climate change will affect global water resources. Reduction in river runoff are expected in the Mediterranean basin and in the semi-arid areas of the Americas, Australia, and southern Africa, affecting water availability in regions that are already water-stressed. In Asia, the large areas of irrigated land that rely on snowmelt and high mountain glaciers for water will be affected by changes in runoff patterns, while highly populated deltas are at risk from a combination of reduced inflows, increased salinity, and rising sea levels. And rising temperatures will translate into increased crop water demand everywhere. To combat the effects of climate change, efforts must be made to follow an integrated water resource management approach on a global scale. This involves water management that recognises the holistic nature of the water cycle and the importance of managing trade-offs within it, that emphasises the importance of effective institutions, and that is inherently adaptive. Compiled by PK Surendran

Highlights n A region is said to face water scarcity when supplies fall below 1,000 cubic meters per person, and absolute water scarcity is when supplies drop below 500 cubic meters a year. n About 66 per cent of Africa is arid or semiarid, and more than 300 million people in subSaharan Africa currently live on less than 1,000 cubic meters of water resources per person. n According to UN Water, each person in North America and Europe (excluding former Soviet Union countries) consumes at least 3 cubic meters per day of virtual water in imported food, compared with 1.4 cubic meters per day in Asia and 1.1 cubic meters per day in Africa.

Cooperative measures

ach year, World Water Day, held on March 22, highlights an aspect of freshwater. In 2013, in reflection of the International Year of Water Cooperation, the day is also dedicated to the theme of cooperation around water and is coordinated by UNESCO in collaboration with UNECE and UNDESA.

AGE OF THURSDAY, MARCH 21, 2013

A PAGE DEDICATED TO THE TRIUMPHS AND TRIBULATIONS OF GEN Z

Changing face of entertainment Youngsters no longer watch the kind of shows or movies that people did 10 years ago. The advent of internet and social media has brought Gen Z closer to what's happening in the world of entertainment.

HEMANTH KUMAR

hemanth.k@postnoon.com

long time ago, we thought that a show like Shaktiman was the best thing that could happen on TV. Chandrakantha and Mahabharat had ruled the roost for years together in the 90s and towards the end of the last millenium, the TV industry in India grew by leaps and bounds which left us spoilt with choice. Except for a few programs on Star World, there was no way we could watch an American TV show. It's not the same anymore. Youngsters today are more abreast with TV shows being made in US and UK and some of them even watch the episodes on the same day they are aired in US. It's a similar story with respect to movies and music too. So what exactly has brought about this change? It's true that several foreign TV channels have entered Indian market post 2000, but the real gamechanger was the advent of internet and social networking websites. "Almost everyone in my class spends more time on Facebook than in class. It's natural that

they are influenced by what their friends recommend when it comes to movies and TV shows. Although I cannot pinpoint if there's something which works for everyone, action and romantic films are a big hit with the students today," Akhil, an engineering student says. Big ticket Hollywood films have made inroads into the Indian market and comic book heroes like Batman and Iron Man have a dedicated fanbase among the youngsters today. Shreya Annam, an aspiring architect, says, "Before I

joined college, some of my all time favourite films were Transformers, Night At the Museum. Thankfully, that has changed now and I love comic book adaptations like Dark Knight, Iron Man and Avengers. Most of my friends like chick flicks, rom-coms and guys watch almost everything." Does social media play a major role in deciding what she wants to watch? "Of course. I rely on what my friends recommend and if I notice that a lot of my friends watch a particular show, I do too," Shreya adds.

Twitter and Facebook have been quite influential. No wonder, every now and then, a big star's film in India becomes a trending topic on Twitter. Salman Khan, Shah Rukh Khan, Hrithik Roshan, Priyanka Chopra and Akshay Kumar are in particular a major hit among the netizens. Since almost everyone is hooked to social media, the TV and movie industries across India have been actively promoting on such platforms. Somnath Kadari, an engineering student, says, "We hardly knew

about American shows before we joined college. I started watching TV shows like Entourage depending on what my friends recommended, but of late, I get most of my information from Twitter and Facebook. I came to know about Newsroom only after few journos talked about it on Twitter." It's not just the choices youngsters make, but also how they consume such content has witnessed a lot of change. TV is not the only means of entertainment these days. With the advent of broadband and smartphones, a lot of content is consumed away from a TV set, which is a good thing considering how the language and amount of nudity in a TV show has changed of late. Moreover, films have had liberal dose of violence, gore and nudity for years now. "Being a student at a residential college my preferences have changed a lot. I have more privacy and I can watch any movie or TV show. A TV show like Californication can't be watched at home," he adds. It's not only movies and TV shows, even music has changed for Gen Z today. Gone are the days of Backstreet Boys. It's the age of Adele and Taylor Swift. "Lady Gaga used to be quite popular until recently, but now a lot of my friends are hooked on to Taylor Swift and Adele. I love some good soft rock and pop rock stuff like The Fray, The Script, Jesse McCartney," Shreya confesses. On the other hand, heavy metal rock bands like Mettalica and Iron Maiden are still popular among engineering students. "I usually stick to Indian music, but majority of students in my college listen to heavy metal and pop. They are die hard fans of the bands like Metallica, Iron Maiden and Dark Tranquility," Somnath says. The meaning of entertainment is a lot different for people these days compared to a generation which didn't have so many options. Leave aside WWE, Talespin, Duck Tales, Swat Kats and Small Wonder, which were once popular with youngsters, Gen Z talks about Dexter, Big Bang Theory, Vampire Diaries, How I Met Your Mother and big action films. "My mother is shocked when she sees me watching all these TV shows and Hollywood films. She says that I should have been born in US or something," Shreya quips.

THURSDAY, MARCH 21, 2013

Business

BB FOUNDERS START QUANTUM COMPUTING FUND

BlackBerry co-founders Mike Lazaridis and Doug Fregin reunited on Wednesday to fund advances in quantum computing. They announced the creation of a $98 million fund to provide financial and intellectual capital for development and commercialisation of quantum computing.

E-COMMERCE

YouTube is billionaire

Attention to detail counts These marketplaces provide cost-effective ways to sell online without huge investments on portal development and payment gateways. PRUDHVI RAJU K prudhvi.k@postnoon.com

rowth of e-commerce not only provided buying opportunities from nook and corner of the country, but also helped housewives, small and micro businesses and traders to sell online. The idea of open marketplace is trending in the country and is having better growth than overall e-commerce. “Many big e-tailors are planning to jump into the bandwagon as it is highly scalable and doesn’t need much of investments over time in managing the inventory, warehousing and shipment. E-commerce players confine themselves to manage and facilitate selling and take reasonable margins from the seller when the products are being sold,” says Vidmay Naini, head (retention marketing, payments and imports), eBay India.

Strong search, analytics and user rating play a key role for the customer in getting a product from the right seller in the crowded marketplace. “A marketplace is nothing but an electronic mandi, where you have thousands of sellers selling different products at different price points and competing with each other. The customer can buy what he wants from the seller who offers the lowest price,” he says. “Unless individual sellers sell, the marketplace doesn’t make money. Open marketplaces like eBay provide level playing field and let any one to

More than a billion people use YouTube each month, with viewing on smartphones helping drive growth, the Google-owned online video sharing venue said Wednesday. In a blog post, the YouTube team noted that nearly one out of every two people on the Internet visits the website, which has grown into a global hit since launching in 2005. "If YouTube were a country, we'd be the third largest in the world after China and India," the team said. Google bought YouTube in 2006 for $1.65 billion and has yet to disclose whether the service has turned a proﬁt. YouTube has gradually added professional content, such as full-length television shows and movies to its vast trove of amateur video offerings in a bid to attract advertisers.

NUMEROLOGY

$8.1

is the trade deficit Japan logged in February, reversing surplus trend for same time last year and underscoring the uncertain state of the world's third-largest economy.

Osborne walks talk TOP 5 ITEMS SOLD FROM HYDERABAD

TOP 5 EXPORTED FROM HYDERABAD

n Umbrellas

n Movie DVDs

n Men’s Watches

n Crystal Bangles

n Lighting Accessories

n Women's Swimwear

n Anti-aging Products

n Lightening Creams

n Peelers and slicers

n Comics

sell online as long as they comply with rules and regulations of the platform. “However, there are even closed or restricted marketplaces where the sellers are picked according to the needs of the marketplace,” he explains. On flip side, the seller may get lost in the huge crowd. However, Vidmay begs to differ, and says, “There is a feedback mechanism by which each

transaction is rated in terms of delivery time and product ratings. The sellers adhere to the marketplace rules and regulate themselves to make it to the top by enticing customers,” Strong search, analytics and user rating play a key role for the customer in getting a product from the right seller.These marketplaces provide cost effective way to sell online for a common man without huge

investments on e-commerce portal development and payment gateways. “There is an opportunity to sell these goods for worldwide customers. For instance, Indians are selling to about 201 countries and are complying with regulations there. Opting for market place model has enabled eBay to have over two million products in 2,000 categories. For instance, a customer can sell in different countries’ eBay platforms with a single user ID,” he says. “Marketplaces will continue to grow and is an opportunity for a common to sell all over the world. It can viable and profitable as long as the seller understands the dynamics of e-commerce like getting product description, images and pricing right,” he concludes.

10g GOLD `30,000 10g GOLD`31,100 1kg `60,100 1kg SILVER `54,600

24C 24C

for for

DOLLAR `54.28 `53.79 `85.15 POUND `82.04

Britain will stick firmly to a barrage of austerity measures, finance minister George Osborne insisted Wednesday in a budget that also slashed economic growth forecasts, while offering plans to boost the weak economy as the eurozone crisis reignites. Osborne, who is facing calls from within his own Conservative party to reduce deep cuts to state spending in a bid to fuel growth, told parliament that Britain "must hold to the right track." "We are slowly but surely fixing our country's economic problems," Osborne said, as he unveiled a series of measure aimed at boosting growth, including infrastructure projects, while insisting that Britain is set to escape a new recession. Osborne's insistence on reducing state borrowing comes despite the chancellor announcing that the government was halving its economic growth forecast for 2013. GDP is expected to grow by just 0.6 per cent this year compared with a previous forecast of 1.2 per cent, according to estimates issued by the Office for Budget Responsibility.

BSE 6,057.70 5,733.20 NSE

20,025.67 19,003.74 44.10 119.55 9.20 38.80

THURSDAY, MARCH 21, 2013

nation PARLIAMENT

ODISHA HIGHT COURT REJECTS MOHANTY’S PLEA The Odisha High Court has dismissed the petition of former Odisha law minister Raghunath Mohanty seeking quashing of the first information report (FIR) registered against him and his family, alleging torture of his daughter-in-law for dowry.

POLITICAL DRAMA

BSF CONVOY ATTACKED

CBI raids Stalin, triggers uproar Sri Lanka, Telangana stalls House NEW DELHI: Parliament was adjourned till noon today following uproar triggered by members over a host of issues including the India's vote on a UN resolution against Sri Lanka and demand for separate Telangana. DMK, AIADMK and CPI members trooped into the Well of the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha raising slogans over the plight of ethnic Tamils in Sri Lanka. DMK members were also heard raising the issue of CBI raids on party leader M K Stalin's residence in Tamil Nadu this morning. Trinamool Congress members were also in the Well raising slogans against Finance Minister P Chidambaram. Congress members from Telangana region were raising slogans for a separate state. Speaker Meira Kumar tried to continue with the Question Hour but as members were unrelenting she adjourned the House. PTI

Searches conducted in relation to tax evasion on imported cars. CHENNAI/NEW DELHI: CBI today carried out raids at the residence of DMK chief M Karunanidhi’s son MK Stalin, two days after the party pulled out of UPA, triggering a political controversy over its timing with even top Central ministers strongly disapproving of the action. Searches were carried out at 19 places across Tamil Nadu, including at Stalin’s home in Chennai, this morning in a case of alleged tax evasion of imported cars. The Congress ministers in the UPA including P Chidambaram and Kamal Nath strongly disapproved of the CBI searches, as the Centre distanced itself from the action saying it was not aware of the raids. DMK, which pulled out of UPA on Tuesday and withdrew its ministers yesterday, said the action was a “political vendetta” amid reports that the agency concluded its searches after the uproar broke out. “I strongly disapprove of CBI action. It is bound to be misunderstood,” Chidambaram told PTI in New Delhi. Chidambaram, a Lok Sabha MP from Sivaganga in Tamil Nadu, said normally he does not comment on the working of another department but in this

Stalin, 60, considered a political heir to Karunanidhi, dubbed the CBI raid as a ‘political vendetta’ and said he would face the case legally.

case he had to react. “Whatever be the reason, I am afraid, it is bound to be misunderstood. I have conveyed my views to Minister incharge,” the finance minister said. V Narayanasamy, who is the Minister of State in the PMO and DoPT, is the minister incharge of CBI. The Finance Minister said he came to know about the CBI action around 8.30 a.m. Endorsing Chidambaram’s views, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kamal Nath said,” I strongly disapproved the action against Stalin.” “This only demonstrates that Government is not dictating the CBI and it(action)is a very foolish thing. Certainly Government wouldn’t do such a thing. I am

very very disappointed at CBI’s action,” he said in Delhi. Union minister Rajiv Shukla claimed there is no government hand in the CBI raids. “We condemn it and appropriate action should be taken how these raids have been conducted and we are completely against such things,” he said. Stalin, 60, considered a political heir to 88-year-old Karunanidhi, dubbed the CBI raid as a ‘political vendetta’ and said he would face the case legally. The BJP accused the Congress-led UPA of misusing the CBI to threaten its allies into forcibly supporting them. “It is a proven fact that the government (UPA), to stay in power, has been using the CBI to continue their strength in the government,” BJP’s Rajiv Pratap Rudy tsaid. PTI

NEWS BRIEFS Trianmool supporter killed in clash

Suryanelli case accused gets bail from HC

Man arrested for raping 7-year-old girl

Smuggler arrested with 710 g of cannabis

KOLKATA: A Trinamool Congress supporter was killed during a clash by a group of assailants allegedly led by a party municipal councillor over a land dispute on the eastern fringes of Kolkata Wednesday, police said. Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee ordered the arrest of the party councillor

KOCHI: Kerala High Court today granted bail to the 31 accused in the 1996 Suryanelli gangrape case. The court rejected the government counsel’s argument that the accused should ﬁrst surrender before the trial court. The Supreme Court had stayed the 2005 HC judgement acquitting the accused three months ago.

SITAPUR: A seven-year-old girl was allegedly raped by a man in Taalgaon area, police said today. The victim was raped by accused Mohd Ameen in the ﬁelds yesterday, they said. The girl was found in the ﬁelds by the villagers, who also nabbed the accused. A complaint has been lodged by the victim’s father in this regard.

SRINAGAR: A narcotics smuggler has been arrested and 710 g of cannabis recovered from him in Reasi district of Jammu and Kashmir, police said today. Acting on speciﬁc information, police intercepted Partap Singh at Kadwal in Katra belt of Reasi district around 7pm yesterday, Station House Ofﬁcer (Katra) Sanjeev Gupta said.

Pick

at the

Three BSF jawans were injured, one of them critically, in a militant attack today on their convoy in the outskirts of the city, police said. The ultras opened ﬁring on the convoy of 8th Battalion BSF near Chanapora bridge in the outskirts of city this morning, resulting in injuries to three constables, the police said. All the three injured personnel have been admitted to 92 Base Hospital of the Army at Badamibagh cantonment, the police said. Condition of one person is stated to be critical as he has been hit by a bullet in the ear. Two empty cartridges of AK ammunition have been recovered from the scene of the incident. This is second attack on security forces in as many weeks. On March 13, ﬁve CRPF personnel were killed and several others injured in a suicide attack by Lashkar-e-Toiba militants in Bemina area of the city. Two militants were killed in the retaliatory action, while police has arrested four persons including a Pakistani national in the course of investigations into the attack.

MULAYAM SOFTENS STAND In an apparent softening of stand on the remarks made by Beni Prasad Verma against Mulayam Singh Yadav, SP Parliamentary Party today slammed the Union Minister but decided to go slow on the issue following intervention of Congress President Sonia Gandhi. But, at the same time, SP continued to keep the government on tenterhooks on its outside support by authorising Yadav to “take any decision on any issue at an appropriate time in the interest of the party”. The government requires the crucial support of SP, which has 22 MPs in Lok Sabha, in the backdrop of DMK pulling out of UPA.

airport,

THURSDAY, MARCH 21, 2013

World DRAGON TROUBLE

Seoul tracks cyber attack to China SEOUL: South Korea said Thursday it had sourced a damaging cyber attack on its broadcasters and banks to an IP address in China, fuelling suspicions that North Korea may have been responsible. Previous cyber attacks blamed on North Korea -including one last year on the computer network of the conservative JoongAng newspaper in Seoul -- have also been tracked back to Chinese sources. Internet security analysts in South Korea believe official North Korean hackers learned many of their skills in China and operate from there. AFP

HORROR WRITER HERBERT DIES AGED 69 British author James Herbert, best known for penning classic horror novel The Rats, has died aged 69, his publisher said Wednesday. Pan Macmillan, confirmed that the best-selling writer, who was honoured by the Queen in 2010, had died at his home in Sussex.

DIPLOMACY

WEIWEI LOSES APPEAL

Obama to face Palestinian dismay Gillard calls leadership ballot The Australian government plunged into crisis with Prime Minister Julia Gillard caving in to building pressure and calling a leadership ballot of her ruling Labor party for later Thursday. Her decision follows senior cabinet minister Simon Crean openly calling for the move with Gillard lagging badly in opinion polls just six months out from national elections and rampant leadership speculation.

NUMEROLOGY

US ECONOMY US President Barack Obama and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at a joint press conference in AFP/SAUL LOEB Jerusalem, on Wednesday.

Senate approves funding bill WASHINGTON: A divided US Senate came together on Wednesday to approve legislation that avoids a government shutdown, with the compromise stopgap likely headed to the president's desk this week. The continuing resolution which funds day-to-day government operations through the remainder of the fiscal year that ends September 30, passed 73-26 after Senate leaders cut a deal on amendments. It allows senators to turn to the all-important debate over the 2014 budget AFP

JERUSALEM: US President Barack Obama will travel to the West Bank Thursday to meet Palestinian leaders dismayed by his failure to make good on soaring expectations that he could help deliver Middle East peace. Obama was to meet Palestinian president Mahmud Abbas and then Prime Minister Salam Fayyad, on the second day of his visit to Israel, the West Bank and Jordan, dominated by the growing regional challenges of Iran and Syria. The president, on the first foreign trip of his second term, says he has came to the Holy Land simply to listen to leaders on both sides of the peace talks, which have been frozen for two-

Palestinians are upset that the US president is showing no signs of following up on his lofty speeches during his first term at office. and-a-half years. He said he decided against coming armed with a comprehensive peace plan that might not be fit for current political conditions. "Ultimately, this is a really hard problem," Obama said during a press conference with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu."It's been lingering for over six decades. And the parties involved have, you

know, some profound interests that you can't spin, you can't smooth over. And it is a hard slog to work through all of these issues." Obama's new approach was a stark contrast to early in his first term, when he declared that Israeli settlement building that ultimately scuppered his peace efforts was illegitimate and promised to dedicate himself to peace. "I hope I'm a better president now than when I first came into office," Obama said. "I'm absolutely sure that there are a host of things that I could have done that would have been more deft and, you know, would have created better optics." AFP

NEWS BRIEFS Australia says sorry for forced adoptions

Cyprus to decide on new plan for bailout

Mali sovereignty in a few days, says Hollande

2 dead in Myanmar violence: Police

SYDNEY: Australia on Thursday apologised for the brutal and often illegal forced adoption of tens of thousands of babies born mostly to unmarried mothers between the 1950s and 1970s. The adoptions, driven largely by religious groups in the post-war period, "created a lifelong legacy of pain and suffering", the apology said.

NICOSIA: Cypriot leaders are to decide Thursday on a newly drawn up plan aimed at securing a bailout for the near-bankrupt eurozone member, after parliament rejected a controversial tax on savings. President Nicos Anastasiades is to "present a Plan B package to party leaders tomorrow at the presidential palace," state television reported.

PARIS: Mali's sovereignty over almost all of its territory will be restored within "a few days", French President Francois Hollande promised. The announcement came as Paris scrambled Wednesday to verify a claim by Al-Qaeda's north African branch that it had executed a French hostage in retaliation for France's military intervention.

YANGON: Two people died and several mosques were destroyed in central Myanmar, police said Thursday, in the worst riots since Buddhist-Muslim clashes rocked western Rakhine state last year. The two victims, who included a Buddhist monk, died after suffering severe burns, it said. A curfew has been imposed.

each is the bounty the US has announced for the arrest of two Americans, Omar Shafik Hammami and Jehad Serwan Mostafa, who are members of the Somalia-based terrorist organisation Al-Shebab.

US HOSTS CUBA DISSIDENT The White House hosted awardwinning dissident Cuban blogger Yoani Sanchez, on her ďŹ rst international trip in years, Wednesday after she met lawmakers on Capitol Hill. Sanchez met with White House staff, including Special Assistant to the President and Senior Director for Western Hemisphere Affairs Ricardo Zuniga. Throughout the day, Sanchez stayed true to form and tweeted about her meetings in Congress, where she also picked up the State Department's International Women of Courage award, which she received in 2011.

Anyone who knows the facts of the chemical weapons stockpiles inside of Syria, as well as the government capabilities, Iwould question those claims. Barack Obama on Syrian claims

THURSDAY, MARCH 21, 2013

Technology GADGETS The average person carries 2.9 devices. The smartphone is by far the most popular device carried...

Devices by popularity Smartphone Laptop Tablet

85% 65%

Windows is the leading laptop OS carried - twice as popular as Mac and six times more than Linux.

48%

KEEP IT TEXTY

MP3 Player 40%

... and the eReader is the least popular

e Reader 29%

100

MORE THE

BETTER

Android beat iPhone by only a whisker, outstripping Windows and the old business favours Blackberry.

WHAT’S COOKING MOTO?

Smartphone, tablet, laptop, portable console, eReaders; people are carrying more and more gadgets with them and Germans lead the pack. AVERAGE NUMBER OF DEVICES PER PERSON BY COUNTRY

Mac users

Germany 3.1 USA 3.0

They prefer to carry the iPhone (62%) and the iPad (45%)

It’s been sometime since we’ve heard anything from Motorola about their new products. Yes, there’s the mythic ‘X-Phone’ that’s touted to be the ﬁrst offspring of the Google-Motorola partnership, but even that phone just exists as nothing more than speculation and rumours right now. However, this week, details of three new Motorola devices have made their way to the surface thanks to some benchmark ﬁgures spotted by Droid Life. These devices carry the code names ‘Ghost’, ‘Yeti’ and ‘Sasquatch’ and could just be a fresh lineup of Android phones from the company.

SAMSUNG HACK THREAT

Canada 2.7 UK 2.7

But 24% picked an Android smartphone and 28% picked a tablet running Android. Australia 2.6

Windows and Linux users This smartphone of choice is the Android - 44% and 56% respectively. Android tablets proved most popular with 36% with 41% picking them.

Google on Wednesday announced Google Keep, a notetaking service similar to Evernote, for both the Web and Android 4.0+ (Ice Cream Sandwich and Jelly Bean) devices. You can try the service out now for yourself at Drive.Google.com/Keep or download the Android app from the Google Play Store. Google describes Keep as a service that lets you “save ideas and organize to-dos the moment they happen by creating notes, lists, photos and voice recordings right from your phone” (don’t worry, it also works on tablets). You can access, edit, and create new notes on the Web from the above website, and furthermore.

Germans are more likely to carry a laptop, while the device of choice for Americans, Australians, Brits and Canadians is the smartphone.

A security researcher has revealed a method for accessing applications running on a locked Samsung handset. The ﬂaw is somewhat similar to one that was revealed by another researcher earlier this year on iPhones. On a Samsung handset, users can, from the lock screen, pretend to dial an emergency services number, quickly dismiss it, and with some sleight of hand, quickly gain access to any app or widget, or the settings menu in the device. The dialer can also be launched, allowing the "hacker" to place a call. The technique is only possible on Samsung's Android version, and not on the stock Android option that Google launches.

THURSDAY, MARCH 21, 2013

Comment I have a very strict gun control policy: if there's a gun around, I want to be in control of it. Clint Eastwood Actor

South Africa odd BRIC out? AFRICAN SPOTLIGHT Andrew Beatty

he meeting of BRICS leaders in Durban next week could uncharitably be described as a summit of the world's emerging economic powers, plus South Africa. On March 26-27 the African nation will — for the first time since joining the Brazil, Russia, India and China grouping in 2011 — host the annual BRICS summit. President Jacob Zuma will lead discussions on the establishment of a BRICS development bank and a range of other issues. But some question whether Zuma should even be at the table, never mind sitting at its head. South Africa has the continent's largest economy, but is struggling amid crippling joblessness and growth that lags well behind its African and emerging market peers. It is the world's 29th largest economy, according to the IMF. By contrast, China is the world's second largest economy, Brazil the seventh, Russia the ninth and India the tenth. South Africa's economic flag bearers pale in comparison to giants like Gazprom, Vale, Sinopec or Reliance Industries. But though South Africa accounts for just 2.5 per cent of BRICS GDP, it is responsible for 11 per cent of BRIC-Africa trade. There are a signs South Africa may need to leverage BRICS membership if it wants to be competitive. China and India in particular have often bypassed the country in favour of faster growing economies in west and north Africa. The trajectory of the summit and the BRICS bank may make it clearer if South Africa is also important for its fellow BRICS.

HIGH-FLYING THOUGHTS

The CBI raids on Stalin has absolutely nothing to do with pressure tactics on his father and DMK chief M Karunanidhi. It is nothing but pure coincidence that anyone who falls foul of the Centre suddenly finds themselves in the thick of the (legal) action.

PROMISING NOTHING

COURT OF MAN LAW BUT... SERIOUSLY

Ajay Hotchandani

rder, Order, Order! The Court of Man Law is currently in session. On the agenda today is the enforceability, legality and the validity of a contract/promise. It has been called to our attention that there are a growing number of cases against men brought forth by their girlfriend(s)/wife/friendswith-benefits and/or one time pleasure partners. The pattern of chief complaint in these cases is the breach of promises made by men (no surprises there). However, it must be addressed before this plague spreads further. First, it must be noted that according to the Court of Man Law, a promise is the equivalent of a verbal contract. Therefore, an oral promise (no pun intended) can be held against a man as a binding contract or agreement. However, it must be duly noted that just because the man verbally made a promise, it does not immediately validate the said promise. It must be proven beyond a reasonable doubt that the promise was made without the fear of repercussion or denial of some form of loving. Statements such as “you get the sofa tonight”, “don’t come close to me for a week” or “you sure you want to do this” will be mandated as coercion and duress therefore sufficient to

revoke such contract. Here are articles extracted from Man Law — Contracts, which should help clarify the situation. A man shall be held accountable to fulfill any promise made to his partner, regardless if the said promise was verbal, written, or acted out during a game of charades. Implied, speculated or expected promises are not sufficient enough to warrant being fulfilled. With that said, here are the following rules in which a man will not and cannot be held accountable for his promises irrelevant of the method of delivery of such promise even if it was written on bond paper, notarised and under seal (and I do say promises because the male species is not the brightest and is guaranteed to repeat the mistake several times): a) Promises made in an attempt to impress a girl, woman, women or anyone of the opposite sex (sex change operations count too). b) Promises made half an hour prior to and/or after a minimum of a “make-out” session. Make-out session is defined as any form of touching with the lips anywhere. c) Promises made while under the influence of alcohol or any other mind-altering chemical compound which includes guilt trips, tears or emotional blackmail (a medical report is not necessary) d) Promises made in the presence of your in-laws. e) Promises made to get rid of your in-laws.

f) Promises made while his partner has more than 50 per cent of their body exposed unless the partner is a stripper and the body exposure must be 75 per cent in such cases. g) Promises made via electronic means i.e. text messages, email, facebook wall post. h) Promises made to get her friends to leave your house. i) Promises made in exchange for food. j) Promises made while watching television. k) Promises made to minimize sleep disturbance. l) Promises made while she is yelling at him. Yelling is defined as a man’s ability to hear her voice over the television. m) Promises made after an eight-hour work day. Napping is included in the eight-hour work day. The burden of proof lies on the female partner to prove that

none of the above stated articles were violated when the socalled promises were made. Furthermore, before any complaints can be brought forth in a Court of Man Law, the female partner must get two of her male friends to sign off on the legal documents being submitted verifying such allegations. It shall be noted that the two male friends will be brought up on charges of Treason in a Court of Man Law (without the need of any attaching affidavits and will be judged by a panel of jury formed from his peers, yes, that means other men). With that said, if there is anyone who feels that they are ready to file a case, please send me an email with all the pertinent information and the names of the two male friends who validate your claim. Emails will be addressed in an expeditious manner. I promise!

EDITORIALS Palestine calls for justice. Will Obama act?

lot is expected from the world community from US President Barack Obama’s visit to Israel. For public consumption, Washington and Tel Aviv might be having differences over a host of issues, Palestine and Iran’s nuclear programme. Though the US president does his bit of statemanly posturing of talking (I repeat... talking) in favour of Palestinian autonomy, his administration does everything in its power to prevent formal Palestinian statehood. With the US aid to Israel estimated at about $3 billion annually, there is no doubts who is paying for the bullets that are ﬁred at Palestinians. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his hawk allies are pushing for more settlements in Palestinian lands – pushing the desperate youths of the besieged population into the embrace of militant groups like Hamas. The heavy-handed treatment of Palestinian protesters and policies of ‘disproportionate retaliation’ that hurts innocent civilians have resulted is alienation of a population that has been imprisoned in its homeland by West-backed invaders for the last 65 years. Palestine cries for justice. Will Obama listen?

READERS’ VIEWS

Cine blitz must not take lives

he AP chief minister’s reported directive to the police chief to disallow massive show of ﬁlm release shows may be justiﬁed from the viewpoint of maintaining a law and order but it stunts the show biz that thrives on hype. Film industry believes that the government and police should maintain law whatever the size of the crowd is. Well, both sides are right in their own way but one thing that nobody disputes is that no function for whatever reason should lead to loss of lives. The issue should be resolved on this pivotal point.

THURSDAY, MARCH 21, 2013

tELEVISION

RAPHAEL SBARGE IN CASTLE

Raphael Sbarge, who played Archie/Jiminy Cricket on Once Upon a Time, will make a guest-starring appearance on Castle. The news first came from Sbarge himself, who tweeted photos from the show's set.

AN ENTERTAINING WATCH

INSIDE THE MIND of a serial killer The Following is an interesting drama about a former FBI agent's pursuit to stop a mastermind serial killer from unleashing mayhem.

HEMANTH KUMAR hemanth.k@postnoon.com

oetry never seemed this sinister on screen, until now. The works of American author Edgar Allan Poe are filled with references to equating death with beauty and he believed that nothing was more beautiful than the death of a beautiful woman. That is the framework within which The Following, a TV show created by Kevin Williamson, has been set. The antagonist is a former college professor turned serial killer who is obsessed with the works of Poe and as an ode to the author, he creates great works of art, which in Poe's words would mean killing young and beautiful woman. Eyes, in particular, are the main target because Poe professed the idea that eyes are our identity and that they are the window to our soul. It couldn't get any creepier than this, at least when you have a serial killer who takes inspiration from poetry. The series begins with Dr. Joe Carroll (James

Purefoy) escaping from prison after killing the guards on duty. We are told that he was sent to prison for killing 14 young women and that former FBI agent Ryan Hardy (Kevin Bacon) was instrumental in nabbing Joe Carroll. When the news spreads like wildfire, Ryan Hardy is asked to investigate the case and help FBI to catch Joe Carroll, but there's a catch. Ryan Hardy has a weak heart and he's an alcoholic. Due to this condition, he's only brought in as a consultant because only he knows how to interpret the clues left behind by Joe Carroll. Like Carroll, Ryan Hardy is well versed with the works of Edgar Allen Poe and he becomes the driving force of the FBI unit which is on the pursuit. One of the interesting things about The Following is that each character has a past of its own and we are just shown glimpses from time to time. In the first episode, we are introduced to Sarah Fuller (Maggie Grace), the only victim of Joe Carroll's killing

spree who survived. Sarah's tryst with Joe Carroll at Winslow University where he taught literature is the first instance where we learn about Carroll's obsession with romanticising death and works of Edgar Poe. Sarah's neighbours, Jacob and Paul seem very concerned about her after Joe Carroll escapes from prison, but little do we understand their true intentions. On the other hand, Joe Carroll's ex-wife Clarie Matthews (Natalia Zea) refuses to talk to anyone else except Ryan Hardy. The two have a history and that becomes a focal point for Joe Carroll to unleash his fury through his followers which includes Emma Hill (Valorie Curry), who happens to live in Clarie's house as a nanny to her son. The pilot episode, however, leaves few questions unanswered and it begins with the basic premise that Joe Carroll has built a vast network of followers t h r o u g h Internet. Except for a

reference that he picks easy targets and brainwashes them, we don't know anything else about his modus operandi, especially when he's in prison. Since the true colours of each of the central characters is revealed through intermittent flashbacks, it seems quite puzzling at times, but one can be assured that this concern will be addressed in subsequent episodes. Moreover, unless you are well versed with philosophy of Edgar Poe's works, the reasons behind the killing spree would seem rather over the top and frivolous. Kevin Bacon fits into his role quite well, but the standout character of the series so far is James Purefoy, who played a charismatic ex-professor turned serial killer. The way in which his character unfolds, especially towards the end of the first episode, is stunning and if the initial scenes of confrontation between Joe and Ryan are anything to go by, The Following promises to be a gruesome thriller where nothing is what it seems. A great start to what could be a promising TV series.

NEW SERIES

Gurbani to Baani The title of the TV show Gurbani has been changed to Baani — Ishq Ka Kalma and the series is set to showcase the plight of new brides in Punjab who are left behind by their NRI husbands. The show went on air on Monday on Colors channel. The title of the show was changed after the objections from the organisations like Shiromani Gurudwara Parbandhak Committee and Jathedar Akal Takhat Sahib. The show sees Navni Parihar making a comeback to TV after four years. She was seen in ﬁlms like Tanu Weds Manu and Page 3.

DID YOU KNOW...

Game of Thrones creator George RR Martin will be making an onscreen appearance in the upcoming season of the HBO flagship show, executive producer David Benioff revealed.

TRENDING...

Discovery’s ﬁrstever scripted miniseries, Klondike, continues to dig up more talent — today adding Game of Thrones‘ star Richard Madden. Madden will ﬁll one of two lead roles, Bill Haskell, who with his best friend Epstein braves the next gold rush in the untamed Yukon Territory.

NBC comedy pilot Girlfriend In A Coma will be recasting its lead following the departure of Christina Ricci. Ricci left the project after the table read. Girlfriend In A Coma centers on Karen, a woman who was in a coma for many years and unexpectedly wakes up to ﬁnd she has a 17-yearold daughter.

THURSDAY, MARCH 21, 2013

KISMET NIGHTS

TEENAGE KICKS

1 Tina

4 Monika

7 Pallavi, Rumani

5 Anita

8 Fathima

11 Aisha

3 Aishwarya

6 Shifali

9 Nikita, Puja

12 Nikitha

Novotel Hyderabad Convention Centre & Hyderabad International Convention Centre won the HRAAP (Hotels and Restaurants Association of Andhra Pradesh) Cricket Tournament on Wednesday. The HRAAP tournament was a great success with all the top hotels in the City including Avasa, Vivanta by Taj,Minerva Grand, Marriott, etc taking part in the event.

If you want to dance till you’re feet can’t feel the ground, then Kismet’s the place to be. These party lovers showed off some nifty dancework on Wednesday.

2 Deepika

Another pitch taken

S BALAKRISHNA

spotlight

LADIES NIGHT

Underdeck has long been popular for its drinks - specially its Long Island Iced Teas and shooters, its tasty light eats and live music. Ladies can enjoy free drinks from the select bar. Be there at 8.

10 Vibhuti, Swati

S BALAKRISHNA

THURSDAY, MARCH 21, 2013

health NEW PARENTS

CAFFEINE HELPS PREVENT ROAD CRASH RISK

Research among long-distance commercial drivers in Australia has given weight to those who say coffee, tea or caffeine energy drinks or tablets help prevent dangerous drowsiness at the wheel. Researchers compared 530 drivers who had crashed while on a long trip with 517 drivers who had not had an accident.

BABY FIRST AID:

BE PREPARED DEEPASHRI VARADHARAJAN

deepashri.v@postnoon.com

hen it comes to babies, there is a constant need for parents to keep watch — to look out for signs of discomfort, to analyse what could have gone wrong, and to get help in times of emergency. Having a first aid kit for simple day-to-day emergencies is crucial. These are some immediate remedies you can do at home to bring relief to the baby before rushing to a doctor.

COMMON EMERGENCIES

It is not rare for children to not urinate for more than eight to 12 hours, said Dr Kiran Krishnamurti, paediatrician at Andromeda Centre, listing out some of the common emergency cases she attends to. “It can be treated with a spoonful of boiled and cooled water,” she said. “Don’t overclothe the baby. Keep (him/her) in a cool room. If there is still no urination, consult a paediatrician.” Mild dehydration in newborns can result in high fever, she said, and boiled and cooled water will work for this too, along with paracetamol drops, if necessary. Another common cause of panic for parents is diarrhoea in the newborn. Frequent stools,

which is often mistaken for diarrhoea, is quite normal, Dr Krishnamurti says. “Infective diarrhoeas are uncommon in newborns, especially if they are breastfed. As such breastfed babies pass very frequent stools, often mistaken for diarrhoea, but which are actually normal.” “Apart from thirst, hunger and wet diapers, a common cause for excessive crying is sleep. Many newborns need to be aided to fall asleep because they are unable to do so on their own. Colic and earache are other common causes,” she said. Older babies usually tend to put foreign particles in their mouth, which could choke

them. According to www.babycenter.com, the first thing to do would be to assess the situation quickly; sometimes an allergic reaction can cause the throat to swell, and the baby needs to be rushed to the hospital. It also outlines the procedure to dislodge a foreign object with back blows and chest thrusts.

MAKE YOUR OWN KIT n Baby thermometer n Liquid paracetamol or

ibuprofen (with a feeding syringe without needle or a measuring spoon) n Calamine lotion for sunburn and rashes n Antiseptic cream (minor cuts and burns) n Sterile gauze, scissors, adhesive tape, bandages n Antiseptic wipes (to clean wounds)

ANEWS PP-LYBRIEFS YOURSELF

Dr Krishnamurti says that newborns tend to choke on excess saliva. “Some communities, it is common to give honey (to a newborn). I have seen it and it is a known fact that children can choke on it. Honey produces lots of saliva which the baby can’t swallow.” “Nine out of 10 babies have atopy (allergic tendencies),” said Dr Sunitha Sekhar Reddy, dermatologist at ADI clinics. “In case of rashes, a moisturiser would do, or (when required), a topical antibiotic. She said washing baby’s clothes with excess antiseptics, massages with different oils, and keeping a heater near the baby should be avoided.

Postnoon lists the things you need to have handy when you have a newborn at home, and some simple remedies for minor injuries.

SOURCE: WWW.BABYCENTRE.CO.UK

HOUSECALL

SitUps to Six Pack

Pertussis

SitUps to Six Pack is an amazing 0 to 200+ situps training programme that will lead you to get perfectly toned and shaped abs. It was specifically designed to help you get the abs of your dreams by assisting you to accomplish 200+ sit-ups at one shot from zero in 9 weeks. This is your best coach to develop great looking abs.

Pertussis, also known as whooping cough, is a disease that kills about 300,000 people in the world every year, out of 30–50 million cases per year. There is a vaccine that can prevent it, so most cases of it are in places where people cannot afford, or cannot get, the vaccine. However, this vaccine does not work forever. The disease lasts about six weeks, and symptoms include vomiting, violent coughing.

DID YOU KNOW? Newborns have 20/50 vision Newborn babies are not blind but have approximately 20/50 vision and can easily discriminate between degrees of brightness. The daughters of a mother who is colourblind and a father who has normal vision will have normal vision, however the sons will be colourblind.

PIONEERS James McCune Smith Dr Smith was the ﬁrst African American to earn a medical degree and practice medicine in the United States. He was also the ﬁrst to own and operate a pharmacy, in New York City. At the age of 25, just returned from medical school in Scotland, Dr Smith rose at the annual meeting of the American Anti-Slavery Society and spoke out against slavery, telling the crowd of abolitionist support in Europe.

health THURSDAY, MARCH 21, 2013

RESEARCH

STUDY

Researchers linked intake of sugar-sweetened beverages to 133,000 diabetes deaths, 44,000 deaths from cardiovascular diseases and 6,000 cancer deaths.

Music, massage, naps key to sound sleep

Sugary drinks tied to

180,000

deaths worldwide

WASHINGTON: Consumption of sugar-sweetened beverages is linked to 180,000 deaths in the world each year, scientists, including one of Indian-origin, have claimed. According to the study presented at the American Heart Association’s meeting in New Orleans, researchers found that sugar-sweetened sodas, sports drinks and fruit drinks may be associated with about 180,000 deaths around the world each year. Sugar-sweetened beverages contribute to excess body weight, which increases the risk of developing diabetes, cardiovascular diseases and some cancers. Using data collected as part of the 2010 Global Burden of Diseases Study, the researchers linked intake of sugar-sweetened beverages to 133,000 diabetes deaths, 44,000 deaths from cardiovascular diseases and 6,000 cancer deaths. Seventy-eight per cent of these deaths due to over-consuming sugary drinks were in

low and middle-income countries, rather than high-income countries. “In the US, our research shows that about 25,000 deaths in 2010 were linked to drinking sugar-sweetened

Researchers calculated the quantities of sugar-sweetened beverage intake around the world by age and sex. beverages,” said Gitanjali M Singh, co-author of the study from the Harvard School of Public Health in Boston. Researchers calculated the quantities of sugar-sweetened beverage intake around the world by age and sex; the effects of this consumption on obesity and diabetes; and the impact of obesity and diabetes-related deaths. Of nine world regions, Latin America/Caribbean had the most diabetes deaths (38,000) related to the con-

sumption of sugarsweetened beverages in 2010. East/Central Eurasia had the largest numbers of cardiovascular deaths (11,000) related to sugary beverage consumption in 2010. Among the world’s 15 most populous countries, Mexico — one of the countries with the highest percapita consumption of sugary beverages in the world — had the highest death rate due to these beverages, with 318 deaths per million adults linked to sugar-sweetened beverage intake. Japan, one of the countries with lowest per-capita consumption of sugary beverages in the world, had the lowest death rate associated with the consumption of sugary beverages, at about 10 deaths due to per million adults. “Because we were focused on deaths due to chronic diseases, our study focused on adults. Future research should assess the amount of sugary beverage consumption in children across the world and how

this affects their current and future health," Singh said. Commenting on the study, the American Beverage Association said in a statement, “It does not show that consuming sugar-sweetened beverages causes chronic diseases such as diabetes, cardiovascular disease or cancer – the real causes of death among the studied subjects." “The researchers make a huge leap when they take beverage intake calculations from around the globe and allege that those beverages are the cause of deaths which the authors themselves acknowledge are due to chronic disease," the statement said. PTI

BEIJING: Stressing the need to sleep for moderate durations, a Chinese study has urged people to avoid overuse of networking devices and turn to soothing music, massage, and naps for a better sleep. The Chinese sleep for an average of eight hours and 50 minutes everyday, but nearly half feel sluggish when awake, found the study. The report is based on a survey conducted in November and December through random household visits in 20 cities, 20 towns and 20 villages. It found that around 55 per cent of the respondents admitting to their work pressure affecting their sleep patterns, making them resort to various methods to improve their sleep quality. While observing modern-day media or mode of communication’s influence over sleep, the survey found 67.1 per cent of people chat on mobile phones or computers before going to sleep, and 43.2 per cent of those going to bed after midnight do so due to online gaming and messaging. The survey noticed a trend in which people in south and west China tend to sleep better than those in the north and east. It found bachelors sleep better than those who are married, said Qin Xiaoming, vice head of the Chinese Medical Doctor Association. It also found that the men sleep better than women, and people in rural regions have better sleep quality than their urban counterparts. IANS

BREAKTHROUGH Pathogen exposure linked to Type 1 diabetes VALETTA: Scientists have linked lack of exposure to pathogens to inreasing rates of Type 1 diabetes, said a study. Countries with lower mortality from infectious disease exhibit higher rates of Type 1 diabetes, according to a new study by Dr A Abela and Professor S Fava of the University of Malta.

The study collated data from three major international studies and presented it at the Society for Endocrinology annual conference in Harrogate, Britain. It suggests that the unexplained global rise in Type 1 diabetes may be linked to reduced exposure to pathogens in early life.

Type 1 diabetes is caused when the immune system destroys the cells of the pancreas that release insulin, leaving the patient unable to control his blood sugar. It is estimated to affect around half a million children worldwide, increasing in incidence by an estimated three per cent every year, reports Science Daily. IANS

THURSDAY, MARCH 21, 2013

Entertainment BIRTHDAY GIFT

CINE BYTES

TOOFAN TRAILER TO BE LAUNCHED ON RAM CHARAN'S B'DAY

he trailer of Toofan, the Telugu version of the remake of 1973 cult Hindi film Zanjeer, is likely to be launched on the occasion of its lead actor Ram Charan Teja's birthday March 27.The film is titled Zanjeer itself in Hindi."Planning a big launch for the teaser and trailer of Toofan on Charan's birthday in Hyderabad. Cutting, snipping background score, grading. Full power," director Apoorva Lakhia posted on his Twitter page.The film is being simultaneously shot in Hindi and Telugu. It features Ram Charan along with Priyanka Chopra, Prakash Raj, Srihari and Sanjay Dutt in lead roles. "Hindi trailer/teaser of Zanjeer will follow two days after the release of (the trailer) of Toofan," added Lakhia. IANS

DK Bose’s first look to be launched today

he first look of Sundeep Kishan, Nisha Aggarwal starrer DK Bose is going to be launched later today by Sania Mirza and Siddharth. AN Bose has directed the film and Anand Ranga and Seshu Reddy have jointly produced the film. Achu has scored the music. The film is going to release later this summer.

Swamy Ra Ra is ready for release

ikhil, Swati starrer Swamy Ra Ra is all set to release on March 23. The film was recently censored and it has been given an U/A certificate. Sudheer Varma has directed the film which is based on the theme of theft of a Ganesh idol and how it effects the lead characters. Sunny has scored the music.

Vishnu elected as MAA’s VP

ishnu Manchu has been elected as the Vice-President of Movie Artists Association. Incidentally, he's the youngest ever vice-president of MAA to have been elected unopposed. After the success of Dhenikaina Ready, Vishnu Manchu has teamed up with Veeru Potla for a family entertainer. Lavanya Tripathi is playing the lead opposite Vishnu.

THURSDAY, MARCH 21, 2013

fashion

DIANA’S DRESSES AUCTIONED

TEN DRESSES worn by the late Princess Diana, including a velvet, midnight blue gown she famously danced in with John Travolta at the White House in 1985, fetched more than $1.2 million at a London auction on Tuesday.The selection of mainly evening gowns charted the former royal's style evolution from ingénue to global fashion icon.

H&M TO LAUNCH NEW PARTYWEAR COLLECTION

H&M will launch a new collection of partywear this spring - an extension on their existing successful Conscious collection. Entitled Conscious Exclusive, the debut range features an array of evening-appropriate clothing and accessories for both men and women.

22&23

Sao Paulo Fashion Week, Latin America's premier style event, started Monday, with 25 designers set to showcase their summer collections.

PICS: AFP/YASUYOSHI CHIBA

razil fashion brands Animale, Cori, Tufi Duek and Cavalera kicked off the show's 35th edition, which runs through till Friday in the cavernous Biennial pavilion of the city's Ibirapuera Park. US top model Karlie Kloss, a Victoria's Secret "Angel," will be on hand to strut Animale designs while

her compatriot Lindsey Wilson is to grace the catwalk for Sao Paulo-based fashion label Ellus. Among other leading fashion houses represented are Adriana Degreas, Alexandre Herchcovitch, Osklen, Colcci, Joao Pimenta and Fause Haten. Organisers have altered the show's dates to match the international calendar, with the summer edition in

March-April instead of June and the winter collection set for October-November instead of January. SPFW creative director Paulo Borges said the new calendar, which prevented some designers, such as Gloria Coelho, from attending for lack of time, aimed to extend the interval between the launch and delivery

to retailers. "Any change requires additional efforts," he said. The Biennial pavilion was decorated for the occasion by leading Brazilian designers Fernando and Humberto Campana, two brothers who have showcased their creations in Paris, New York, Rome and London. Their idea was to reflect the wealth of Sao Paulo, a bustling metropolitan area of

20 million people which is the economic and industrial capital of the world's sixth largest economy. Organisers said they expect 100,000 visitors, including fashion professionals, business people, and members of the public. According to TexBrasil, Brazil is the fifth-largest textile and fourth-biggest apparel producer in the world. AFP

Entertainment THURSDAY, MARCH 21, 2013

THURSDAY, MARCH 21, 2013

Chai Time

THOUGHT OF THE DAY

It's a funny thing that when a man hasn't anything on earth to worry about, he goes off and gets married. Robert Frost

KAKURO

QUICK CROSSWORD

SUDOKU How to play kakuro Kakuro is a popular game similar to sudoku in some ways. But is also suitably different. The key question: ‘How do you play kakuro?’, well here are the rules of kakuro. The answer: The kakuro grid, unlike in sudoku, can be of any size. It has rows and columns, and dark cells like in a crossword. And, just like in a crossword, some of the dark cells will contain numbers. Some cells will contain two numbers. However, in a crossword the numbers reference clues. In a kakuro, the numbers are all you get! They denote the total of the digits in the row or column referenced by the number. Within each collection of cells — called a run — any of the numbers 1 to 9 may be used but, like sudoku, each number may only be used once. Let’s have an example to explain this concept more clearly: In the image above, which shows a section of a kakuro puzzle, you will see the numbers ‘26’ and ‘14’ in the top row. Look at the 14. This means that the total of the three cells underneath must sum to 14. Therefore 9, 4, 1 could be the answer, or perhaps 7, 4, 3 and so on... So, how do you work out the actual combination? Well, this is done through elimination and cross-referencing. For instance, as you work out the answers for other kakuro clues, this will naturally limit the valid combinations, and hence the answer for this particular run. Note the second cell in row two — it contains two numbers, 30 and 11. The 30 refers to the vertical run underneath the number 30 and the 11 refers to the two cells to the right, horizontally, of the number 11.

ACROSS

PREVIOUS PUZZLE ANSWER

SCRIBBLING PAD

1 Soap site 5 Voting coalition 9 Cocoon residents 14 Infinitesimal amount 15 Turn over and over 16 Palate dangler 17 On the road, in sports 18 Triple-decker cookie 19 A "Cosby" episode, today 20 Quit fighting 23 Sister 24 The water you drink in Paris 25 Ending with "spy" or "web" 28 Lake Tahoe lift 31 Puget Sound seaport 36 Scandinavian royal name 38 King of the comedians 40 "The Dark Knight" director Christopher 41 Exaggerating greatly 44 Certain Arabian Peninsula native 45 Get bushed 46 Egg-shaped 47 Reds used by painters 49 Remember to forget 51 Ram's mate 52 Margarine portion 54 Sticky, yucky stuff 56 Emotionally presented one's case 65 Sanskrit's language group 66 Paint crudely 67 6/6/44 remembrance 68 Baby deliverer of legend 69 Pulpit of yore 70 It can come after "no one" or "someone" 71 Chip arrangements 72 Number on many an almanac 73 Not distant

DOWN

1 Part of an old phone 2 Davenport's state 3 Inn time 4 "The Clock" composer Franz Joseph 5 Common lunch holder 6 Sad ending for "love" 7 Muffin spread 8 Dead ringer 9 According (to) 10 Eye layer containing the iris 11 Contented cat's sound 12 Styptic pencil stuff 13 Without, in France 21 In the open 22 Absorb, as a loss 25 Laser printer option 26 Texas shrine to remember 27 Ancient pyramid builders 29 Came down and settled 30 Pi, for instance 32 Small salmon 33 Antipasto goodie 34 Bird with a harsh voice 35 Electronic bracelet site 37 Grape place 39 Societal standard 42 Overdoes the criticism 43 The guy next door 48 Wasn't left standing 50 Winning X or O 53 "Without delay," facetiously 55 Bygone, like days 56 Cindy Brady's impediment 57 Prefix with "bacterial" 58 Someone who's looked up to 59 Like some circumstances 60 Luggage tag datum 61 Part of a military band 62 Out of work 63 Space shuttle agcy. 64 Peeping Tom

Chai Time THURSDAY, MARCH 21, 2013 Thiruvaikumar

STAR POWER for 22-3-2013

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

ARIES

TAURUS

GEMINI

CANCER

LEO

VIRGO

LIBRA

SCORPIO

SAGITTARIUS

CAPRICORN

AQUARIUS

PISCES

Couple looks cordial and affectionate towards each other. Businessmen will earn good profitst. Blood relatives might face problems like unexpected transfer or debt issues. Written off dues will get collected and keep you happy.

STRIP TEASE AGNES

Financially a strong position is seen. Relatives and friends will be of good support and help. All your wishes will get fulfilled. Businessmen will achieve expected growth and good profits. Some are likely to change their residence.

Employees will be cheerful as they get transfer to the desired destination with promotion. Money will come from expected sources. Those trying for a new job will get a good opportunity. Debt issues are likely to surface but you will manage them well.

Expected good news will arrive. You will show keen interest in learning new things. Children are likely to score high marks which will help them to join a college of their own choice. Expenses might increase towards happy events.

Brothers and sisters will be more affectionate towards you. Good news is on the cards. Comforts are in for a rise. Employees will get good recognition from the management. Health needs good attention. Deficit situation will disappear.

Businessmen need not hesitate to make fresh investments. Mother’s health will be a cause for concern. Though income is good expenses will beat the income. You will be frustrated due to frequent but unavoidable journey.

Minor obstacles likely in the important works undertaken but you will succeed. Pilgrimage is likely to be undertaken with family. Some are likely to change their job and job location. Money will come from expected sources.

Businessmen will get promising opportunities and a phenomenal growth is certain. They can also contemplate new investments. You will be able to proceed successfully according to your plans and complete the important works successfully.

Government officials are advised to be straightforward. Try not to interfere in others’ family issues. Tensions and embarrassing situation are likely because of blood relatives. Our approach is in for a drastic change.

TAROT READ

Sumaa Tekur

tarotreadhyd@gmail. com

ARIES:

GEMINI:

Ace of Pentacles This is the meeting of the left and right brains. You’re able to use your creativity and make it work in a largely structured format.

LEO:

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

LIBRA:

PEARLS BEFORE SWINE

The Magician Intuition is heightened. Romance is in the air and you feel a special connection with someone. You hesitate to open your heart because of fear.

SAGITTARIUS:

Justice - A hike or a promotion is in the offing. Your bosses recognize your good work and make an offer. It sets you thinking about your future course.

TAURUS:

Eight of Swords - You feel restless and on the edge. You haven’t been sleeping well and it’s showing on your health. Take time off and rest well.

CANCER:

Nine of Swords Marriage needs attention. You and your partner might want to take a holiday together and spend some alone-with-each-other time.

VIRGO:

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

SCORPIO:

Page of Swords - You need to demand for the resources in order to be able to do full justice to your work. Ask for a bigger team or a larger budget.

CAPRICORN:

The Sun You’re bright and cheerful and this happy disposition wins you friends. People come to you for advice because you seem so practical.

PREVIOUS SOLUTIONS

PISCES:

Ten of Wands You’re anxious, depressed, stressed out and feel as though you’re close to a burnout. Take a break and rejuvenate yourself. Meet new people.

NUMBER GAME

An international trip is possible in the next few weeks. Don’t get your hopes up too high. It may be a short trip with little down time.

SCRABBLE

AQUARIUS: Judgement -

POOCH CAFE

Employees will be happy as their expected transfer and promotion are likely to be given. Official trips will be frequent. Influx of close friends and relatives is likely. New job, if tried will be achieved without fail.

for 22-3-2013

The Chariot - Travel is on the cards. This will be an important journey when you meet interesting people who make an impact on your future life course.

NON SEQUITUR

Blood relatives might put you in an embarrassing situation. Chances of disappointments or loss likely, be alert. Be careful while driving. Those planning to go abroad for higher studies will get favorable news. Parents’ health needs attention.

SUDUKO

Those recently married will be blessed with an offspring soon. Some have bright chances to buy a new house by selling the old one at a good price. Joyful journey with family members is likely. Chance of unexpected financial fortune is likely.

Boggle CUBA CHILE CYPRUS CANADA Vol: 2, No 244 RNI No: APENG/2011/39337 Published for the proprietors, Scribble Media and Entertainment Pvt Ltd, by V Harshavardhan Reddy, at #1246, Level 3, Jubilee Casa, Road No 62, Jubilee Hills, Hyderabad – 500033 and printed by him at Jagati Publications Ltd, Plot No D-75&E-52, APIE Industrial Estate, Balanagar, Ranga Reddy Dist, Hyderabad – 500037, Editor: Dean Williams – Responsible for selection of news under the PRB Act All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or in part without written permission of the publisher is prohibited. For feedback, please write to: feedback@postnoon. com and for subscription, please call 040-4067 2222, Fax: 040-4067 2211

Entertainment THURSDAY, MARCH 21, 2013 CINE BYTES

PARTING WAYS

Katy Perry, John Mayer S P LI T

FOR

SECO N D

TIME

Jane Got a Gun is down a director

t isn't every day the likes of Natalie Portman and Jude Law get stood up. Lynne Ramsay, who was supposed to direct the pair's latest movie, the Western drama Jane Got a Gun, was a no-show, which was scheduled to be their ﬁrst day of production in Santa Fe, according to producer Scott Steindorff. "I'm shocked and so disappointed someone would do this to 150 crew members,” he said.

Sofia confirms plans for second child

oﬁa Vergara conﬁrmed to Vogue that she is preparing to have a second child through a process that involves freezing her eggs. "They want to get as many good eggs as they can because usually you produce them but they're not good. They have to be perfect, perfect, perfect ones," Vergara told the magazine. IANS

Naomi Watts on Plastic Surgery: Never say never

aomi Watts is ﬂawless, but even The Impossible star admits you can't knock cosmetic surgery right off the bat. The actress graces the April 2013 cover of Australia's Good Health magazine and candidly shares her views on plastic surgery. "Never say never — and I certainly don't judge anyone who does it," she said. "But most of the characters I play are going through some kind of emotional turmoil, so my job requires me to have expression."

aty Perry and John Mayer have once again said goodbye — for now. The pop songstress, 28, and singer-songwriter, 35, have split for the second time, multiple sources confirm to Us Weekly. The highprofile pair began casually dating during summer 2012, and briefly called it quits back in August before reconciling the next month.

"It's sad," one pal tells, but cautions that it might not be a permanent break. "It's not over until it's over. You have to see how things play out." Adds another source: "She's leaving the window open. They have both been so focused on work." Perry, who finalised her divorce from Russell Brand in February 2012, was tweeting happily about her man as

recently as March 2. "My boyfriend is taking me to a kitten shelter in his truck," she wrote to her nearly 34 million followers. "I can't think of a more perfect Saturday." But on Monday, March 18, she suggested she's been dealing with turmoil. "ATTENTION: Mercury is OUT of retrograde today. Thank GOD," Perry wrote.

sports

THURSDAY, MARCH 21, 2013

TOUR OF CATALONIA

NBA

Heat’s win streak extends to 24

Quintana pipped Valverde and Rodriguez in a tough uphill finish to claim the win.

Quintana wins Tour of

Catalonia third stage MADRID: Colombia’s Nairo Quintana won the 180km third stage of the Tour of Catalonia from Vidreres to the Vallter 2000 ski resort on Wednesday. Quintana pipped Spaniards Alejandro Valverde and Joaquim Rodriguez in a tough uphill finish to claim the win.

The Colombian’s Movistar team-mate Valverde took over the leader’s jersey from Belgium’s Gianni Meersman and sits four seconds ahead of both Joaquim Rodriguez and Bradley Wiggins. Last year’s Tour de France winner Wiggins had attempted to break clear and win the

stage with one kilometre remaining, but was quickly pegged back by Quintana. Thursday’s fourth stage is the longest of the race, a 217.7km ride from Llanars to Port-Aine which will again conclude with a mountaintop finish. The seven-stage race concludes on Sunday.

CLEVELAND, OHIO: Defending champion Miami’s epic win streak, the secondlongest in league history, rose to 24 games Wednesday but survived a scare from NBA weakling Cleveland in a homecoming for LeBron James. Down by 27 points in the third quarter, the Heat rallied to defeat Cleveland 98-95 thanks to a stunning effort from James, who scored 25 points, grabbed 12 rebounds, made 10 assists and hit two key-free throws with 4.7 seconds to play. “We had to dig deep for this one," James said. “We know every team is going to give us a

good shot. We know they are going to be trying to take us down. We should enjoy that. We should embrace that. We have to be ready for that." The game was the first for James at the home of his former club since he won an NBA title with the Miami team he joined after spurning the Cavaliers — a true homecoming since he grew up and was a high school star in nearby Akron. “This is a gut performance for our team," James said. “I’m happy my teammates were able to come through for me tonight. This was a big one." AFP

Ray Allen #34 Dwyane Wade #3 Chris Andersen #11 Norris Cole #30 and Shane Battier #31 of the Miami Heat talk during a time out against the Cleveland Cavaliers on Wednesday. AFP

INDYCAR

Tight battle expected ST. PETERSBURG, FLORIDA: IndyCar’s championship begins Sunday when the 19-race campaign opens at St. Petersburg as a host of top drivers from around the world try to dethrone American Ryan Hunter-Reay. “This is going to be the tighest competition we’ve seen in IndyCar in a very, very long time," Hunter-Reay said Wednesday. “It’s going to be a really tough season." Hunter-Reay took last year’s crown in dramatic style at the season-ending oval race at Fontana, California, after

Australian Will Power entered with the points lead but crashed early, allowing the American to overcome the deficit. This time, Hunter-Reay leads an Andretti Autosport lineup that also features Canada’s James Hinchcliffe,

American Marco Andretti and Venezuelan E.J. Viso. Four-time series champion Dario Franchitti, the Scotsman who won last year’s Indianapolis 500, and New Zealand’s Scott Dixon lead Ganassi Racing. Power and Brazil’s Helio Castroneves, defending champion at St. Petersburg, will contend for Penske Racing. “I hope I’m in contention in the end again and have a chance at it really," Power said. “There are 19 races and they all count. You will have your good ones and bad ones. AFP

League Cricket

Crown beat Visaka A3 DIVISION ONE DAY Visaka 146 (Satish 38, Shakeel 33) lost to Crown 147/5 (Yaseen 75 no) National 218 (Pranay 36, Shiva

48, Akshay Kumar 3/30, Saurav Kumar 3/35) bt Ours 163 (Sreekanth 38, Venkatesh 3/25) Zinda 224 (Shabaaz 49, Sd Shabaazuddin 40, Sravan 32, Kunal 3/23, Sameer 4/30) bt Balaji Colts 122 (Ehtesham 5/24)

AMBIGUITY

Wrestlers grapple with 2020 lockout

KULDIP LAL Agence France-Presse NEW DELHI: While his sweatdrenched charges lock limbs in the open-air ring, kitted out in nothing more than a loin cloth, Raj Singh shudders as he contemplates how their Olympic dream could be shattered. “It is unthinkable that wrest-

ling will not be part of the Olympics," says Singh, secretary general of the Wrestling Federation of India. “I don’t see what the problem is. Wrestling draws big crowds wherever it is played. It can’t be allowed to die." The sport’s future looks bleak after the International Olympic Committee’s (IOC) executive board decided last

month that it should be dropped from the 2020 Games. Since then, many of the sports biggest names have joined in a campaign to try and get the decision reversed. India’s overall Olympics record may not be much to shout about but its wrestlers have won four of the country’s 13 individual medals since it

gained independence from Britain in 1947, including bronze for Khashaba Jadhav in Helsinki in 1952. Many aspiring wrestlers see the sport as not only offering the chance of Olympics glory but also a way out of poverty. Sushil Kumar is a national hero in an otherwise cricketobsessed country. AFP

sports

THURSDAY, MARCH 21, 2013

MIAMI MASTERS

No Rafa, no Roger, no worries Djokovic is looking to bounce back in Miami after his 22-match win streak ended last week and the absence of Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer, he says, is no problem. MIAMI: Novak Djokovic is looking to bounce back in the ATP Miami Masters after his 22-match win streak ended last week at Indian Wells and the absence of Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer is no problem. Nadal wants to rest his weary knees after a comeback that has seen him win three titles, including last Sunday’s Indian Wells final, and 17-time Grand Slam champion Federer is skipping Miami as

well as the clay court season looms. “It’s the same for me,” World No. 1 Djokovic said. “I’m sure that even without them we will have a great tournament.” Djokovic will try to claim his fourth Miami title while Serena Williams attempts to take her sixth career crown at the $8.5 million ATP and WTA event that began on Tuesday and provides first-round byes to seeded players. “I look forward to this tournament and I’ve had plenty of success,” Djokovic said.

LOVE BYTE

“That gives me a reason to believe I can do well again.” Djokovic opens on Friday against Czech Lukas Rosol who stunned Nadal at Wimbledon last year - while Williams will open on Thursday against Italy’s Flavia Pennetta in the American’s first event since reclaiming the World No. 1 ranking. “It feels good to be on top, especially after everything, working so hard and just really not expecting much, especially this far in my career,” she said. “It’s exciting to be there again.” Argentina’s Juan Martin

del Potro ended the Serb’s win streak 4-6, 6-4, 6-4 in an Indian Wells semi-final last Saturday. Djokovic had not lost a match since falling to American Sam Querrey at the Paris Masters on October 31. His 17 match victories this year included a fourth Australian Open title run and an ATP triumph in Dubai. “It’s not an easy thing, it’s easier said than done really, to go out there and keep the focus going and try to stay grounded and fight for every point regardless who is across the net,” Djokovic said. AFP

KIA CLASSIC PREVIEW

Vonn’s Tiger eyes top spot Lewis ready to enjoy ORLANDO: Tiger Woods (in pic), who can overtake Rory McIlroy for World No. 1 by defending his title this week at Bay Hill, says he and ski star Lindsey Vonn went public as a couple to combat “stalker-azzi.” A day after Woods and Vonn

told the world they were dating and shared photos on their Facebook pages, Woods explained why they made that decision at a news conference on the eve of the $6.2 million US PGA Arnold Palmer Invitational. “We’re very happy where

we’re at, but also we wanted to limit the ‘stalker-azzi’ and all those sleazy websites out there, paparazzi following us,” Woods said. Photographers seeking a valuable picture of the couple had put at risk the health of Woods’ two children with exwife Elin Nordegren — fiveyear-old daughter Sam Alexis and four-year-old son Charlie. “I’ve had situations where it has been very dangerous for my kids, the lengths paparazzi will go to,” Woods said. “We basically devalued the first photos. Unfortunately that’s just the way it is in our society right now. We felt it was the best thing to do and I’m very happy about it.” Woods, a 14-time major champion who will try to close the gap on the record 18 majors won by Jack Nicklaus when he plays at next month’s Masters, has spent a record 623 weeks atop the world rankings. AFP

ranking supremacy CARLSBAD, CALIFORNIA: Coming off LPGA victories at Singapore and Phoenix, American Stacy Lewis plays her first event as the World No. 1 of women’s golf starting Thursday at the $1.7 million Kia Classic. By winning her seventh career title at last week’s LPGA Founders Cup, 2012 LPGA Player of the Year Lewis over-

the more people that have said congratulations.” Lewis will try to continue her success streak at Aviara Golf Club in quest of a $255,000 top prize in an event that serves as the final tuneup for the first women’s major of the season, the $2 million Kraft Nabisco Championship. “I don’t know what I’m looking forward to. I just know that I’m going to have fun,”

took Taiwan’s Yani Tseng for the top spot in the new rankings last Monday. “It was a little strange definitely to see myself there,” Lewis said. “I don’t think it’s really kind of hit me over the last two days. I didn’t realize it was such a big deal at the time, but it has kind of hit me the more I’ve talked about it and

Lewis said. “I know there’s a lot of people that would love to be in my position right now and that’s why I just want to have fun and enjoy it.” Tseng, the defending Kia Classic champion seeking a 16th career crown this week, set the rankings pace for 109 weeks and sent Lewis a congratulations message that was special.

SPORTS BRIEFS Doc willing to provide list of clients

Digvijay confident of retaining title

MADRID: Spanish doctor Eufemiano Fuentes, who is on trial for allegedly masterminding one of sports most notorious doping rings, said Wednesday he would be willing to give the names of his former sports clients to the World Anti-Doping Agency and the Spanish AntiDoping Agency if asked to do so. “If they felt I was useful and they asked me, I would consider it and would be willing. What I don’t know is if what I would give them would be worthwhile to them or not,” he said at his trial. AFP

NEW DELHI: Defending champion Digvijay eyes another magical run at his title defence of the Panasonic Open India from April 4. The Indian ended a 12-year barren run when he claimed his maiden Asian Tour victory by producing a grandstand finish to pip Bangladesh’s Siddikur and compatriot, Gaganjeet Bhullar to the title by two shots. Memories of his career breakthrough are still etched firmly in Singh’s mind and he is hoping he can revive them as he chases his second Asian Tour win at the Delhi Golf Club. PTI

sports

THURSDAY, MARCH 21, 2013

AUSTRALIA’S TOUR OF INDIA

Let’s give the devil its due The skipper is always blamed when anything goes wrong with the team, but MS Dhoni has taken his side to heights which no other Indian captian has. SYED SHOAIB In Delhi

t is the rats that first scurry away from a sinking ship, so that is acceptable; Mahender Singh Dhoni is the captain of the ship called Team India, and will be the last one to leave the ship in its difficult times. In between the rats and the captain are the various other layers that make for the entire system. Most in this majority section tilt towards negativity, sadly. The Indian cricket captain has always had to face the brunt of this negativity – the subtly exuberant MS Dhoni is no exception. The fact that he has been the country’s

most successful captain, and has many a time been the difference in India’s many successes during his stint has not insulated him from criticism. Criticism does not follow statistics, rationality or logic. It took just one unsuccessful series for the detractors to start gunning for him. That it was a series against the world number one team England, even if it were a home series, did not deter them. Criticising began in the form of the captain ordering pitches to be doctored to suit spin bowling, since that was India’s strength. This was their ammunition to pull the rug from under his feet. When India goes touring the world over, they are greeted by seaming or fast and bouncy wickets, mind you. Anyway, let’s see how much

genuineness there is in this charge. Of the six innings played so far in the series, there has been only one batting collapse, in the

Australian second innings at Mohali. Mind you, the pitch at Mohali was the truest of the three pitches played on so far. Centuries of all kinds have been scored by batsmen at will in the series: match-saving, matchwinning, vigilant ones or flamboyant stuff have all been garnered. If the Indians have scored more centuries than the Australians, it speaks of the different abilities, different caliber and different application…for all were played on the same pitches. The fourth and final Test beginning tomorrow at the Feroz Shah Kotla in Delhi gives India the chance of swamping the Ausies 4-0 not because it is going to assist spin bowling, but because the home team has played superior cricket.

INJURY WORRIES

WI VS ZIM

Shillingford torments Zim again

ROSEAU, DOMINICA: Zimbabwe crumbled yet again to the spin of Shane Shillingford as the West Indies reached a commanding position at the close of the first day of the second and final test at Windsor Park here on Wednesday. Playing in front of his home fans, Shillingford followed up his nine-wicket match haul from the first test in Barbados the previous week with a haul of five for 59. Marlon Samuels, who claimed his best test innings figures of four for 13 on the opening day at Kensington Oval, snared three for 15 to bundle out Zimbabwe for just 175. AFP

Kevin out of Test, IPL

AUCKLAND: England batsman Kevin Pietersen will miss the last Test against New Zealand and the Indian Premier League due to a knee injury which may sideline him for up to eight weeks, officials said Wednesday. “The injury is likely to require ongoing assessments and a likely 6-8 week period of rest and rehabilitation,” the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) said in a statement, two days before the start of the series-deciding game. The ECB said the 32-yearold suffered pain in his right knee while fielding earlier this month in preparation for a warm-up game in New

Zealand, before the Test series began. “This has failed to resolve satisfactorily,” it said. Recent scans confirmed bone bruising and possible cartilage damage to the kneecap, and Pietersen would return to Britain “for further investigations and specialist

review”. He had been withdrawn from all cricket including the Indian Premier League, it said. New Zealand will eye a rare series win and England will try to cement their position as the number-two Test nation in the third and final Test starting Friday in Auckland, following rainaffected draws in the first two games. Pietersen made 0 and 12 in the first Test at Dunedin but came back with 73 in Wellington. The estimated recovery period makes him a doubtful starter for the return series in England against New Zealand beginning on May 16. PTI

Pup backs Watson as skipper

NEW DELHI: Australian skipper Michael Clarke (in pic) has backed his deputy Shane Watson to step up and lead the side in case he misses out the fourth Test against India with a back injury. “He (Watson) has my vote to take over the captaincy if I’m ruled out. If I don’t pull up 100 per cent to perform at my best, I won’t be putting my hand up for selection. And if that’s the case, I am confident Watson would be embraced by the team in my place if the CA board appointed him as captain,” Clarke wrote in his column for Courier Mail. Watson is with the team ahead of the fourth Test starting tomorrow after he was dropped from the playing XI of the third Test for not completing a presentation on team performance. Watson went back home as his wife was due to give birth to their first child but returned back to join the team for the final Test. “He understands why the decision was made to stand down four players, himself included, after our loss in Hyderabad and is determined to hit top form,” the skipper said. PTI

Yuvraj Singh gets ready for IPL-6 NEW DELHI: Senior batsman Yuvraj Singh has set his sights on the upcoming edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL) and has started preparing for the Twenty20 League starting from April 3 in Kolkata. “I have started preparing for the IPL season 6,” said Yuvraj, who plays for Sahara Pune Warriors in the IPL. Yuvraj’s comments came on the sidelines of the launch of the limited edition ‘YouWeCan Swiss Army Knife’ in the capital today. The Yuvraj Singh Foundation, which is the initia-

tive of the champion cricketer to spread awareness about cancer, has partnered with Victorinox, the legendary Swiss Army knife manufacturer since 1894, to come up with the special edition of Swiss knifes. “The Victorinox YouWeCan knife conveys a spirit of reliability and versatility and I feel it is a fitting tribute to the cause of Yuvi Foundation. All that I would like to say is if Yuvi Can, YOU CAN,” said the 31-year-old from Chandigarh. Yuvraj, who fought the dreaded disease himself before

successfully returning to international cricket, said, “Having faced a testing time against cancer, I believe that no matter how hard the battle is, one can overcome it through self-determination.” We (the foundation) has partnered with ISC (Indian Cancer Society). YouWeCan is spreading its wings and we are making efforts to aware people about the cancer,” he added. Asked about the fourth India-Australia Test beginning here tomorrow, Yuvraj refused to comment on it. PTI

THURSDAY, MARCH 21, 2013

sports WORLD CUP QUALIFYING

France, Spain brace for clash Both countries must first see off unfancied opposition on Friday evening.

ANDY SCOTT Agence France-Presse PARIS: With just over a year to go until the World Cup, some of Europe’s leading nations are hoping to take a major step towards sealing their places in the finals in Brazil in a busy week of qualifying. The outstanding game of this month is the clash between France and reigning European and world champions Spain in Paris next Tuesday, with both sides tied on seven points at the top of Group I. But both countries must first see off unfancied opposition on Friday evening, as Spain entertain Finland in the northern city of Gijon while France host Georgia. Vicente del Bosque’s Spain side must do without captain Iker Casillas and Barcelona skipper Carles Puyol as both recover from injury, and Xavi Hernandez is also struggling for fitness. Nevertheless, they

should still see off the challenge of a Finnish side that currently props up Group I. “We are all aware that both matches against Finland and France will be finals for us,” said Chelsea and Spain winger Juan Mata. “It would be an error for us to think about France because we have to win the first match.” His thoughts echoed those of France coach Didier Deschamps, whose side play their first competitive match since a creditable 1-1 draw in Madrid in October. “In our qualifying campaign, for the match against Spain to mean anything, we need first of all to win against Georgia,” he said last week, trying to focus his team’s attention on the task in hand. Elsewhere, Germany will be hoping to maintain their formidable record in qualifying when they make the long trip to Kazakhstan in Group C.

KLINSMANN FACES ‘MUST WIN’

US coach Jurgen Klinsmann dubbed Friday’s World Cup 2014 home qualifying match against Costa Rica a “must-win”. Now the former German striker and national team coach, could have his job on the line when the US try to rebound from a 2-1 defeat by Honduras.

Defensive issues haunt Hodgson

TOM WILLIAMS Agence France-Presse SERRAVALLE, SAN MARINO: England manager Roy Hodgson faces a dilemma in central defence ahead of his side’s 2014 World Cup qualifying match away to

Group H minnows San Marino on Friday. Since Hodgson named his squad last week, Tottenham Hotspur’s Michael Dawson and Gary Cahill of Chelsea have both withdrawn through injury, while Manchester United’s Rio Ferdinand ruled

himself out, citing fitness concerns. With Phil Jagielka of Everton already sidelined by injury, it leaves Hodgson desperately short of experience in the centre of defence. It may matter little against perennial underdogs San Marino.