Postnoon E-Paper for May 22nd 2013

WEDNESDAY, MAY 22, 2013 HYDERABAD

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WEATHER: MOSTLY SUNNY; 41°C

32 PAGES

`3

P16&17

Old is

GOLD

Pac-Man was released this day 33 years ago and went on to become a classic. We take a look at retro games that continue to entertain us despite being decades old.

HYDERABAD’S FIRST COMPACT AFTERNOON NEWSPAPER

THIS MONSOON, CITY BRACES FOR

WATERWORLD 2

SANJAY DUTT

MOVED TO YERWADA PRISON

The transfer of the ‘star’ convict was done in the wee hours today under tight security.

P11

MICROSOFT UNVEILS XBOX ONE P20

REPORT ON P4

While officials swear de-silting is in progress and monsoon preparedness is in full swing, opposition TDP terms it a cock and bull story.

‘I THOUGHT I’M TOO UGLY TO BE AN ACTRESS’ Actor Shruti Haasan always wanted to be in showbiz, but was skeptical about facing the camera because she didn’t find herself attractive enough to be a heroine.

P22

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WEDNESDAY, MAY 22, 2013

city events

ASTRONOMY SESSIONS

Talks and practical sessions on basic astronomy by Dr Priya Hasan and Dr SN Hasan at Lamakaan, Banjara Hills on May 25 from 4.30 pm.

Weather for Hyderabad

Evening

Overnight

Morning

Afternoon

38°C

31°C

36°C

43°C

Clear with cloudy periods.

Clear with cloudy periods.

Mostly sunny

Mostly sunny

New Delhi Mumbai Max 43 Max 32 Min 32 Min 28 Clear

Chennai Max 40 Min 32

Partly cloudy

Clear

Bangalore Max 31 Min 21 Cloudy with chances of rain.

AROUND THE CITY: YOUR GUIDE TO THE TWIN CITIES When: May 23, 9 pm

DINING

WORKSHOPS

Cannes at Taj Cannes and French Riviera inspired menu.

Where: Celeste, Taj Falaknuma Palace When: Till May 28.

Ocean’s Eleven Eleven of the finest prawns are on offer.

Where: Lacantina, Novotel.

When: Till May 31, 7 pm to 11 pm Traveller's lunch Travel junkies in the City meet up over lunch to plan a backpacking trip in August.

Where: Beyond Coffee, Jubilee Hills When: May 25, 1 pm

SHOWS

Quilling Quilling workshop for beginners by Vee Papercraft.

Where: Filmnagar Cultural Center, Banjara Hills.

When: Till May 22, 10.30 am to 1 pm CALL OF THE WILD: A member of Friends of Snakes Society demonstrates how to handle a snake on the occasion of International Biodiversity Day on May 21 at Bal Bhavan, Nampally.

M ANIL KUMAR Carnival time Chota Bheem carnival that will feature solo dance, solo singing, fancy dress and drawing competitions will be held.

Where: Inorbit Mall, Hitech City When: May 27

Danezi - Knutsen will be screened.

Where: International School of Film and Media, Banjara Hills When: May 26, 2 pm

Relations and Reflections Paintings of Shambu Prasad Reddy will be on display.

Where: Iconart Gallery, Banjara Hills When: Till June 3 Puppet play Shadow puppet play Anandapuram will be held.

Where: Lamakaan, Banjara Hills When: May 25, 7 pm Movie screening Roads And Oranges — Film by Aliki

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

It’s showtime Film by Giorgia Cecere The First Assignment will be screened as part of European Union Film Festival.

Where: Prasads IMAX, Necklace Road

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

When: May 25, 6 pm Stand-up comedy A stand up comedy contest by Punchline Comics will be held. It aims at promoting the art of Stand up and seeking upcoming talent in the field.

Where: Lamakaan, Banjara Hills When: May 24, 7.30 pm Contact: 78292-78278 It’s showtime Film by Giorgia Cecere The First Assignment will be screened as part of European Union Film Festival.

Where: Prasads IMAX, Necklace Road When: May 25, 6 pm Live concert Performance by Aks band.

Where: Hard Rock Cafe, Banjara Hills

27567892 23559555 23226624 27633087 27035588 27550238 30799999 30418296 30417445

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

Robo talk A workshop on robotics for children above the age of 9.

Where: Treasure House, Jubilee Hills When: Till May 25, 10 am to 1 pm.

Rock climbing Basic rock climbing programme by Adventure Club of Andhra Pradesh.

Where: Moulali Dargah, Moula Ali When: Till May 22, 9 am.

Contact: 99661-10844 Presentation To Performance AS Devendranath will be holding a children's theatre workshop.

Where: Kaleidoscope, Gachibowli When: Till May 24, 10 am to 12 pm Contact: Prashanthi @ 99490-95665 Behind the sceney Script writing workshop by Sheel.

Where: Saptaparni, Banjara Hills When: Till May 24, 10.30 am to 12.30

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

WEDNESDAY, MAY 22, 2013

news

YESTERDAY’S QUESTION

WILL CHINESE PREMIER’S VISIT IMPROVE INDO-CHINA TIES? 47% 53%

YES (A) NO (B)

TODAY’S QUESTION

SHOULD BCCI BE HELD RESPONSIBLE FOR MATCH-FIXING? A)

YES

B)

NO

To vote visit www.postnoon.com

CRIME

3

Woman beats daughter to death When police came to arrest her, the contract mother readily admitted the guilt.

MOHD SUBHAN mohd.s@postnoon.com HYDERABAD: In a horrific incident reported from Regundi in Ranga Reddy district a widow vexed with life suddenly went mad at her three-year-old daughter and clubbed her to death.

Mother, Pochamma, 35, is now in police custody. The Deputy Superintendent of Police Tandur, G Uday Kumar remarked that the woman’s behaviour is inexplicable.

Probably she was fed up with life as a widow looking after three daughters.

According to the details, Pochamma was married to one Anjaiah, a resident of

The Deputy Superintendent of Police Tandur, G Uday Kumar remarked that the woman’s behaviour is inexplicable. Probably she was fed up with life as a widow looking after three daughters.

Mohammadabad mandal of Ranga Reddy district 20 years ago. The couple have three daughters. A few years ago Anjaiah died leaving wife and daughters without any financial

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security and shelter.

But Pochamma’s parental family — mother Narsamma and brothers — did not forsake her and children. They took care of them and built a home for the mother and kids. On Sunday, the mother and daughter picked up a quarrel and Narsamma denied the daughter and her children food for a day. Vexed, Pochamma is believed to have beaten her youngest daughter Mallamma, 3, to death.

When other children came, mother told them their sister was

asleep and warned them not to wake her up. But after a while one of the children, Rajitha, had doubts as she could not wake up the youngest. She screamed in terror that drew neighbours on

the scene. Realising what has happened, someone informed the police.

When police came the mother readily admitted the guilt and she was arrested for murder.

4

News WEDNESDAY, MAY 22, 2013 LAST YEAR... HERE Human error kills again

L

ast year we had reported how 21 people were killed and over 70 injured when the driver of the Bangalore-bound Hampi Express apparently overshot the signal and rammed into the rear of a stationary goods train in Anantapur district in the wee hours. Railway and local police along with fire fighting men soon brought the flames under control.

MAY 22, 2012

NUMEROLOGY

£ 1,50,000

A 1997 first edition of "Harry Potter & The Philosopher's Stone" annotated by JK Rowling sold for £150,000 ($227,000, 176,000 euros) at a London auction Tuesday.

As a new party, we witnessed a huge influx of fresh and experienced leaders in party. There is a need for all these leaders to join hands and work together for polls.

B Govardhan, YSRC leader See page 5

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

1

Ukrainian-Italian wartime love gets immortilised A sculpture made for two people hugging each other has immortalised their love of 60 years, a tribute to their eternal love.

2

City students still aspire to go to foreign universities.

Despite the shrinking job oppotunities and minimal scholarhsips that are given, students still believe it is an experience worth spending for.

3

‘Defacing’ City walls has led to another serious issue The GHMC has been dicouraged from taking strict action against people involved in ‘defacing’ City walls by the political parties.

4

People steal taps from hospital. Patients suffer.

CM Manohar Parrikar said there is a shortage of water at Goa Medical College as people have been stealing taps and taking them home.

5

Triple-Everest summiteer wants to do it again Anshu Jamsenpa, the first Indian woman to scale Mount Everest thrice, wants to scale the world’s highest peak for the fourth time.

CIVIC

Monsoon may surprise an unprepared City While officials swear de-silting is in progress and monsoon preparedness in full swing, opposition TDP termed it a cock and bull story. A report.

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Md NIZAMUDDIN nizamuddin.a@postnoon.com HYDERABAD: The GHMC engineers claim clearing of silt from city drains is on top gear.

Two-thirds of the work of desilting has been completed. The rest of work would be completed by May-end.

De-silting of nallahs, budgeted for `13 crore was taken up only in the recent months. But Suresh Kumar, Chief Engineer (Maintenance) claims the work is well under control. He said the GHMC will be keeping its men at the potential points of flooding during the heavy rainfall. Flash floods are mostly created by choked nallahs.

According to officials, one of the important problems faced by the City is water-logging of arterial roads and falling of trees on roads that block traffic.

GHMC uses motor pumps for clearing off the water stagnated on roads and tree cutting machines are kept handy for removing big trees that fall on roadside.

“Everything goes in coordination with the traffic authorities, who have big towing vehicles. Vehicles with the GHMC are ready for use, if anything untoward happened, men and machinery would be ready,” explains, the CE. The disaster management cell of GHMC coordinates with the various zones and circles.

Central emergency squad comes into picture only when there is deficiency in dealing with the problem at zonal levels. “The

Vehicles with the GHMC are ready for use, if anything untoward happened, men and machinery would be ready Suresh Kumar GHMC Chief Engineer disaster management is de-centralised and is under the control of circles and zones.

Most of the civic problems are solved by local officials and we make sure that everything goes smoothly. Vehicles are engaged from the central emergency office of Redhills only, when these areas need more backup”, says, Executive Engineer (Disaster Management), G Ramprakash.

TALL CLAIMS, SAYS TDP However, the TDP-floor leader Singireddy Srinivas Reddy is skeptical of the official claims of preparedness.

According to him, until March 25 nothing substantial was done by the engineers, a fact which was acknowledged by the commissioner, MT Krishna Babu himself.

Study has revealed that the City nallahs have some 5 lakh cubic metres of silt deposits that should be cleared by beginning of monsoon. That accounts for approximately 5 lakh trips of tipper vehicle to Jawahar Nagar.

“If we go by the official claims, where are the truck loads of silt being taken out?” he questions.

BUILDING CONTRACTORENGINEER NEXUS Alleging that building debris is often labeled as silt, Singireddy pointed out the nexus of engineers and some construction con-

Deposits

S

tudy has revealed that the City nallahs have some 5 lakh cubic meters of silt deposits that should be cleared by beginning of monsoon. That accounts for approximately 5 lakh trips of tipper vehicle to Jawahar Nagar.

tractors. The obnoxious practice of dumping debris in nallah continues. “This year would be no different. On record it will shown as the entire nallahs have been de-silted. But when the City faces heavy downpour there would be problems galore much like last year,” he warns. He is planning protest at the mayor’s cabin today before the standing committee meeting begins. “What is the use, if mayor shows interest now? He should have pressed for the de-silting in February or March,” he said.

CITY BRIEFS Chiranjeevi invites foreign filmmakers

Congress to organise party convention

Inter-state fraudsters arrested

Vijayamma hits out at Naidu

CANNES: Union Tourism Minister K Chiranjeevi has offered wide opportunities to foreign film producers in India. Speaking at the Cannes International Film Festival at Cannes, France on Monday, the Minister said "We try constantly for creating new opportunities for the international filmmakers, to access diverse Indian locations.”

HYDERABAD: Congress in Andhra Pradesh plans to organise a convention of party leaders from the block-level to gear up the party machinery for local body polls. The meeting would also discuss ways to spread numerous welfare schemes being implemented. Chief Minister N Kiran Kumar Reddy, several state ministers would attend the meeting.

HYDERABAD: Three members of an inter-state white collar criminal gang who allegedly indulged in fraudulent transactions worth over ` 3 crore from across the country, including Delhi, were arrested on Tuesday, the police said. Anshul Thapar from Ludhiana, K Govardhan from Chitoor in AP and Jainarayan Sisodia from Delhi were nabbed.

HYDERABAD: YSRCP honorary chief Y S Vijayamma has alleged that TDP Chief N Chandrababu Naidu has not yet learnt a lesson even as the latter continued as leader of the Opposition for a long time.

Vijayamma said Naidu spoke with a double tongue and his monumental visions of the State was never meant to be implemented.

5

News WEDNESDAY, MAY 22, 2013 DOMESTIC DISCORD

Man returns home after 6-yr hotel stay

POLITICS

Jagan chalks out formula for semi-final

Calling it semi-final, the YSRC has come up with a new strategy for local body polls where only those who help in winning maximum seats will get tickets for the ensuing Assembly and Lok Sabha polls. leaders would not only help it in uniting all party leaders by keeping their differences aside but also force them to strive for the victory of the party in the local body polls.

Leadership confirmed the move. “Since the formation of our party, we have been dominant force in the state’s political scene in AP. We want to continue this momentum during the local body polls too.

Keeping this in mind, we have entrusted the responsibility of ensuring party’s victory on all party leaders,” YSRCP senior leader Bajireddy Govardhan told Postnoon.

MUMBAI: The Bombay HC has allowed a man to stay in his own two-bedroom house, six years after he was allegedly driven out by his wife and her relatives and forced to stay in a hotel here.

Justices F M Reis and V M Kanade, in a recent order, ruled that the husband would stay in one bedroom while the wife would live in another bedroom of the 700 square feet area flat located in suburban Bandra.

The judges directed the wife to hand over duplicate keys of the house to the husband within two weeks and asked both of them not to create any obstructions or interference with each other's possession.

To bolster up the morale of the party leaders, the YSRCP had announced that it would give party tickets to contest in Assembly and Lok Sabha elections only to leaders who ensure victory of the party.

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The court allowed the husband to use the kitchen and bathroom and ruled that other common facilities shall be utilised by both the parties.

The wife sought stay on this order but the court rejected her plea. According to the husband, he was forced to leave his flat on July 22, 2007, on account of harassment at the hands of his wife and her relatives. As a result, since 2007, he had no option but to stay in a hotel.

The court, however, noted that the family court had dismissed the husband's petition for divorce and the house belonged to him as he had purchased it even before marriage. Therefore, he could not be prevented from staying there. PTI

INKESHAF AHMED ahmed.m@postnoon.com HYDERABAD: The YSR Congress Party, which registered back-to-back victories in a series of by-polls held in the State since 2009 general elections, seems to have chalked out a unique strategy to win majority number of seats in the ensuing local body elections.

The party has decided to entrust the responsibility of

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ensuring its victory in the local body elections on the shoulders of party leaders at Assembly constituency and district level.

To bolster up the morale of the party leaders, the YSRCP had announced that it would give party tickets to contest in Assembly and Lok Sabha elec-

tions only to leaders who ensure victory of the party in maximum number of seats in their respective constituencies in the local body polls.

The decision to entrust the responsibility of ensuring party’s grassroots victory on its leaders was taken during the extended meeting of the YSRCP held in the City recently.

The top leadership of the party strongly feels that the new strategy mooted by the party

He said that the strategy of the party would also help in consolidating its position in the State before the next Assembly elections.

“As a new party, we witnessed a huge influx of fresh and experienced leaders in our party. There is a strong need for all these leaders to join hands and work together in ensuring the victory of the party in the very crucial local body polls. Our strategy is aimed towards this direction," he noted.

NATION BRIEFS US, India vow to fight against terrorism

Man struck dead by lightning

Voltage fluctuations slow down Metro line

10-year-old girl raped by two

Indian national jailed for causing fatal accident

WASHINGTON: The United states has vowed to collaborate with India to combat increasing terror threats. After talks between visiting Home Minister Sushilkumar Shinde and the Secretary of Homeland Security Janet Napolitano, a communique said the two nations agreed to enhance bilateral ties.

SALEM: A 25-year-old man was struck dead by lightning at Manchakuttai view point in the district in Tamil Nadu State, police said today. The man was standing on an iron drum and painting a compound wall when the lightning struck him yesterday. A pall of gloom descended on the village due to his untimely death.

NEW DELHI: Thousands of Delhi Metro commuters were hit Wednesday morning with voltage fluctuations forcing trains on the blue line to run at a restricted speed.The 49-km blue line, the longest and the busiest in the Delhi Metro network, links Dwarka in west Delhi with Noida and Vaishali on the outskirts of the capital.

BAREILLY: A 10-year-old girl was allegedly raped by a farmhouse owner and his domestic help in Bhojipura area, police sources said today.The minor was raped by Pappu and his domestic help Prem Shanker yesterday while she was grazing cattle along with her mother, they said. Shanker was nabbed by local residents.

SINGAPORE: A 25-year-old Indian lorry driver has been jailed by a Singapore court for eight weeks and banned from driving for five years for causing the death of a compatriot worker and injuring 14 others. Wheelchair-bound Periyasamy Jayapraksh pleaded guilty to causing the death of Mathialagu Kathiravan, 19.

6

News WEDNESDAY, MAY 22, 2013

EDUCATION

Students flock foreign varsities Despite the high cost of attendance and shrinking job opportunities, degrees from foreign universities are worth the price of admission, say students from Hyderabad.

PIC FOR REPRESENTATIVE PURPOSE ONLY

PADMINI C padmini.c@postnoon.com HYDERABAD: Despite rising tuition fees, shrinking funding options, tougher visa restrictions and rapidly disappearing job opportunities, studying abroad is still the dream for a majority of students here in the City.

The Edwise World Education fair held on Tuesday gathered a footfall of close to 1,000 students sampling over 80 universities, who came together to explore overseas college prospects.

The healthy turnout of both the universities’ representatives and prospective students comes as a comfort for industry experts who were growing increasingly anxious that the Indian market might no longer have as voracious an appetite for foreign degrees as it did in the past.

“The current situation in the UK has affected us all. There are

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‘It’s worth it’

O

just no more full scholarships to be found anywhere. Tuition fees have risen steeply. Jobs are tougher, if not impossible, to find.

But India is a huge market for us and we are very relieved to see that the numbers have still been steady,” remarks Melissa Gibson, a representative from the

University of Kent.

“We are seeing as many as or maybe more applications now than we did last time,” says Ajay Sukhwani, Director, Edwise.

Continuing the trend, countries such as the US, UK and Canada remain dream destinations while once off-beat locations

HEALTH

Keeping cancer at bay A compound abundant in Mediterranean diet aids cancer cell deaths, finds a study.

WASHINGTON: A compound abundant in the Mediterranean diet re-educates cancer cells into becoming normal cells that die as scheduled, a new study has found.

Ohio State University researchers found that the compound in certain plant-based foods, called apigenin, could stop breast cancer cells from inhibiting their own death.

Parsley, celery and chamomile tea are the most common sources of apiAROUND THE

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genin, but it is also found in many fruits and vegetables.

Researchers found that apigenin binds with an estimated 160 proteins in the human body, suggesting that other nutrients linked to health benefits — called “nutraceuticals” — might have similar far-reaching effects.

In contrast, most pharmaceutical drugs target a single molecule.

“In its relationship with a set of specific proteins, apigenin re-establishes the normal profile in cancer cells. We think this can have great value clinically as a potential cancer-prevention strategy,” said Andrea Doseff, associate professor of internal medicine and molecu-

lar genetics at Ohio State and a co-lead author of the study.

Doseff noted that abnormal splicing is the culprit in an estimated 80 per cent of all cancers. In cancer cells, two types of splicing occur when only one would take place in a normal cell — a trick on the cancer cells’ part to keep them alive and reproducing.

In this study, the researchers observed that apigenin’s connection to the hnRNPA2 protein restored this single-splice characteristic to breast cancer cells, suggesting that when splicing is normal, cells die in a programmed way, or become more sensitive to chemotherapeutic drugs.

“Thus, this suggests that when we eat healthy, we are actually promoting more normal splice forms inside the cells in our bodies,” Doseff said.

PTI

rganisers maintain that the numbers have only been increasing year on year.

The global economic slowdown and even the introduction of no work after study policies, it seems, are not strong enough deterrents. Students say it’s not just about finding a job and that foreign universities are worth the price of admission.

like New Zealand, Singapore, Switzerland and Dubai seem to be slowly picking up steam.

Courses such as engineering, computer sciences, and MBA still rule the roost.

For their part, students say that despite all odds, degrees from foreign universities are still worth the price of admission.

“I know that things are not as easy as they used to be. Now, it's more competitive and expensive.

But still, a good university degree from the United States or the United Kingdom will still mean more on my CV than one from an Indian university, right? So it's worth it,” says an engineer hopeful, R Rahul.

Others say that it's not just about finding a job, that it's the other benefits of international education that they'll be investing in. “An overseas educational means that I'll get a lot of exposure, contacts, holistic learning and a great experience. And since I intend to come back and start my company, the job scenario really doesn't matter,” says Vijay Mehta, who's aiming to attend a business school in US this fall.

7

News WEDNESDAY, MAY 22, 2013

MUSIC

Spinning the right tracks

Hyderabad’s DJ Prithvi, 15, Asia’s youngest DJ, will soon collaborate with German pop singer Stella G for a single album.

NIDHI BHUSHAN nidhi.b@postnoon.com HYDERABAD: One would imagine that breaking the news about wanting to become a DJ to parents at the age of 10 would not be welcomed with open arms. It would either end in a lecture or the thought would be laughed off, if you’re lucky.

Going by this norm, DJ Prithvi, Asia’s youngest DJ, should be considered the luckiest one.

“My father was an event manager and I used to accompany him to many parties even when I was 10. I used to be fascinated by the DJs spinning tracks at each and every event. When I told my father that I want to become a DJ, he encouraged me to work hard. Even my mother was supportive,” says Prithvi.

Prithvi’s father says he was mighty impressed with his son’s

WATER WOES

‘People steal hospital taps’

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skill of remixing songs. “He had downloaded the trial version of a mixing software and I bought the app for him after I observed how keen he was in pursuing a career in DJing,” he recalls.

What was the first track he remixed, we ask, and “Dard-EDisco” comes as a proud response. “I used the remix soft-

ware to remix the SRK track.

While I started with Bollywood music, I now do English tracks too. I played my first English track during a New Year’s event in Goa a few years ago,” he says.

The young DJ, who’s best known for spinning commercial House, is now in talks with German pop singer Stella G to remix two of her songs and produce an original song together for a single album. “She contacted me on Facebook. She was impressed with my tracks available online and asked me if I was interested in working with her. Before producing the single album, I’ll be working for a couple of remixes from Stella’s new album Cosmic Energy.”

Like others, we also asked

the most basic question of all: Does his DJing career interfere with his studies? “No,” said father and son in synchronisation. “Even my teachers are very encouraging and love my music,” says Prithvi, who, unlike other children, earns his pocket money. “I got `5,000 for my first assignment. Now, I get at least five to seven times that amount. However, I don’t use the money and give it for charity. I am currently sponsoring the education of three orphan children.”

He has also helped children affected by cancer and HIV. Ask him about his aim in life and whether his charity will stop once he’s old enough to splurge, he says: “I want to become the world’s No 1 DJ and I will never stop helping those in need.” Prithvi has performed in some of the best clubs in Delhi, Gurgaon, Pune and Goa, among other places.

Battered wife goes to police POSTNOON NEWS feedback@postnoon.com HYDERABAD: A dazed woman, shocked at the insensitivity of her in-laws and subject to cruel treatment by her husband for having objected to his extra-marital affair with his elder brother’s wife, came to the Marredpally police station with injuries all over.

The sad saga of K Surekha, 29, has shocked the cops, reports say. According to the complaint she lodged with the police in person, she was married to K Srinivas, a resident of Lal Bazaar, Trimulgherry, in 2008. They have a daughter.

She noticed a while ago that her husband has sexual relationship with his brother’s wife and he was no longer looking after her. When she complained to his parents, the in-laws reportedly counselled her to ignore it “as we

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WEDDING BELLS

PANAJI: The Goa Medical College (GMC), the state's top health facility, regularly faces water shortage because people steal taps installed in the hospital premises, Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar said Tuesday.

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The chief minister added that all employees and patients' kin working or visiting the hospital would soon be frisked by security guards to ensure that such thefts do not occur again and water is available regularly at the medical facility, located on the outskirts of Panaji.

IANS

CRIME

Around 25,000 Ultra-Orthodox Jews of the Belz Hasidic dynasty gathered to watch the wedding ceremony of Rabbi Shalom Rokach, the grandson of the Belz Rabbi to Hana Batya Pener, in Jerusalem on May 21.

AFP

are living in modern times where such matters amounted to little.”

As the wife continued to object, he reportedly began beating her to keep her subdued.

Recently, after a usual bout of quarrel and beating, he threw her out of the house and she came back to her parents.

Having decided to shun him, she filed a divorce petition in court. Fearing consequences, the husband and his friends reportedly called her for conciliation.

When she reached the spot where they had agreed to meet, she found herself facing her husband and four roughnecks who beat her mercilessly while the husband looked on.

She somehow managed to escape death and came directly to the Marredpally police station and told them what had happened. The police immediately registered a case and have begun investigation.

WORLD BRIEFS US immigration reform Bill clears key hurdle

Xi-Obama summit to help ‘reduce suspicion’

13 held in China for inciting protest

Sinai kidnappers free Egypt security personnel

China arrests 13 over protest 'rumours'

WASHINGTON: A bipartisan immigration reform bill cleared a key hurdle after its authors negotiated a compromise with a Republican senator to relax some restrictions on high-tech companies on hiring foreign techies, many of whom come from India. The problem of over 11 million illegal immigrants now moves to the Senate floor.

BEIJING: Chinese state media on Wednesday welcomed news of the first summit between President Xi Jinping and his US counterpart Barack Obama, saying the meeting will help "reduce suspicions". The talks, the first since Xi was installed as Chinese leader and Obama began his second term, will be held in California on June 7 and 8.

BEIJING: Thirteen people were arrested here on charges of spreading rumours and disrupting public order by inciting a protest over death of a young woman who was allegedly raped and murdered. A statement from the Public Security Bureau said the woman who fell to death from a clothing market building had committed suicide.

CAIRO: Kidnappers on Wednesday released three Egyptian policemen and four soldiers captured last week in the Sinai peninsula, the army said. "The seven security personnel have been released by their kidnappers in Sinai," military spokesman Ahmed Aly said in a statement carried by the official MENA agency.

BEIJING: Chinese authorities have arrested 13 people for Internet posts that sparked a rare protest in Beijing, highlighting tensions between officials and migrant workers, police said. The 13 held include the boyfriend of Yuan Liya, 22, who fell to her death from a shopping mall, igniting the hours-long protest by hundreds of people.

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News WEDNESDAY, MAY 22, 2013

CIVIC

Defacing City walls: A game The GHMC is discouraged from going too strong against the violators who deface the City walls as local politicians patronise many of these ‘stick-bill-anywhere’ army.

ALEENA ALICE aleena.t@postnoon.com HYDERABAD: “Keep your city clean”, “Stick No Bills”, “Do not Spit here”, these are some civic advices we come across every day. But walk a furlong on any sidewalk in the City and you will find bills and posters and graffiti on the walls, which are disfigured with paan stain and urination.

Though according to the GO 1163 of 1995, there is a ban on sticking posters and bills on the roadside walls, people put up such illegal posters in almost every nook and corner of the City and go scot-free.

The GHMC occasionally goes into a drive against these unscrupulous elements but it turns out to be a cat and mouse game. Vigilance wing of the civic body reveals that the drive remains ineffectual because of intervention of the ‘chota netas’, who seem to have stake in this game.

“In every circle, there are 1-2 enforcement vehicles. Whenever an illegal poster is put up, the enforcement staff immediately pulls it down. However, most of the posters that are removed are the ones put up by private organisations. We are handicapped when it comes to anything put up by the political parties,” confesses a senior official in the vigilance department.

Another reason given by the civic body for not taking strict action against wall defacers is because of staff shortage.

“We have enforcement vehicles going around from 6 am to 2pm. But do not have sufficient evening staff to effectively man

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The health and sanitisation wing says that from January, they have collected enforcement fines of nearly `20 lakh from offenders.

BENGALURU’S INITIATIVE INSPIRES HYDERABAD YOUTH

SRINIVAS SETTY

them. Most of the time, these posters and graffiti are done by people late in the night. Since we are short staffed, we are not able to catch them red handed.

“However, at times, culprits were caught red handed and were imposed a spot fine anywhere from `5,000 to `25,000, depending on the intensity of the offence,” says L Vandan Kumar GHMC additional commissioner (health and sanitation).

Adding that citizens too should come forward to maintain the city, the additional commissioner says, “Citizens cannot blame the civic body every time.

Citizens also should inculcate civic sense within them and ensure that public spaces are not littered.”

Meanwhile, according to the GHMC official records, in the

past five months, they have collected almost `60,000 in penalties from people who violated the rules and stuck posters on walls.

Educational and coaching institu-

tions topped the list of violators, followed by film posters. Irony is that all the fines collected do not include those from the posters put up by political parties.

They call their group “Ugly Indians” who strongly believe in the philosophy, “Kaam chalu mooh bandh (Stop Talking, Start Doing).

This group which believes in direct action, with a commonsense problem-solving approach, do not point an accusing finger at anyone or blame the system.

They go into action silently.

Inspired by this group, the members of the Rotaract Club of Hyderabad have decided to go on a drive every alternate week and clean the city walls by removing the posters and pamphlets.

“We realised that individually people shy away from taking civic responsibility. So we came forward as a group to join hands in keeping our city clean. What most of us lack is the sense and feeling of ‘My City’.

“Instead of just blaming the government for not doing their job, why can’t we come forward to bring a change? Every one wants the city clean, but nobody wants to work for it. So we have decided to do our bit for the society. Anyone who wants the city clean can join hands with us,” says Shashi Kanth a member of the Rotract Club of Hyderabad.

ANIMALS

Australia set to cull 10,000 wild horses

SYDNEY: A controversial cull of up to 10,000 wild horses in Australia's harsh Outback reportedly began on Wednesday in a bid to control the feral animals which officials say are destroying the land.

The Central Land Council said animals, including horses, donkeys and camels, were dying in thousands due to a lack of food and water and a cull was necessary on humanitarian and environmental grounds.

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They also argue that the destruction of water holes by the animals was having an impact on native species.

The Australian Broadcasting Corporation said a public health and safety warning had been issued telling people to steer clear of an area about 300 kilome-

tres southwest of Alice Springs.

The animals will be shot from helicopters under a governmentfunded scheme expected to last until mid June.

News of the cull sparked protests from horse lovers but the council insisted it was necessary, arguing that the horses, and camels, were suffering and dying and polluting waterholes.

"Nobody wants to see suffering, especially the traditional owners of the land who love the

horses but are aware of the terrible consequences." council director David Ross said earlier this month.

He felt aerial culling was the most humane way of dealing with the animals as it was not possible to muster horses over thousands of square kilometres .

The Waler Horse Society of Australia has protested the aerial cull, although it agrees the population needs to be controlled.

AFP

9

News WEDNESDAY, MAY 22, 2013

CLIMATE

SYRIAN CONFLICT

Hezbollah sends more fighters

Punjab, Haryana reel under heat wave conditions

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According to the MeT Department sources, the maximum temperatures across the two states today were set to hover between 42-46ºC.

DAMASCUS: Hezbollah fighters poured across the border from Lebanon into Syria on Tuesday, a watchdog and others said, bolstering Syrian regime forces battling to retake the key rebel stronghold of Qusayr.

Washington condemned Hezbollah's intervention on the side of President Bashar alAssad's regime and diplomats said the European Union was poised to place the Shiite militant group's military wing on its terror blacklist.

Separately, Israeli and Syrian forces traded fire on the Golan Heights. The Syrian army said it had destroyed an Israeli military vehicle that crossed the armistice line, a claim denied by Israel which nonetheless warned Damascus of "consequences" if there was further fire from the Syrian side.

In central Homs province, elite Hezbollah fighters were reportedly leading the battle for Qusayr, three days after the Syrian regime began an assault to retake the town.

CHANDIGARH: Punjab, Haryana and Chandigarh today continued to reel under sizzling temperatures as severe heat wave continued to sweep the region. According to the MeT Department sources, the maximum temperatures across the two states today were set to hover between 42-46 degrees Celsius. Ludhiana yesterday AROUND THE

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recorded its hottest day of the season so far at 46.3 degrees Celsius.

In recent years, the highest maximum at Ludhiana was recorded on May 27, 2010, when the temperature touched 46.5 ºC, a MeT official said here today, adding the Punjab industrial town's all-time highest maximum was recorded on May 29, 1944, when the mercury had soared to 48.3 ºC. Meanwhile, blistering heat continued unabated in Hisar,

AFP

Slum children take bath to get respite from scorching heat on the outskirts of Bhubaneswar on Tuesday.

Gurgaon, Bhiwani, Narnaul, Karnal, Ambala among other places in Haryana. Chandigarh, too, was reeling under the hot weather conditions for the past

over a week. Amritsar, Patiala, Jalandhar and Ferozepur among other places in Punjab, too, are reeling under the influence of sizzling heat. According to MeT

ABUSE OF POWER City youths share their stories of ill-treatment, physical abuse and moral policing by the police — the very agency that is supposed to protect them from such elements.

HYDERABAD: Just three weeks after an assistant commissioner of police in Delhi was caught on camera slapping a girl who was protesting against the rape of a five-year-old, another police officer was caught on camera slapping a girl within the premises of a police station in Uttar Pradesh.

The alleged offence? Drinking in a car with a friend (male).

The offence or the circumstances are immaterial to the way the police handled the situation and misused their power. The girl was detained after sunset and was also roughed up by male police officers, whereas the law states that a woman cannot be detained post-sunset and a woman police officer has to be present when a

Department forecast, heat wave to severe heat wave conditions may continue in some parts of Punjab and Haryana during the next few days.

PTI

ESPIONAGE

Who will guard the guards?

EA ABHISHEK feedback@postnoon.com

PTI

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CITY

girl is being arrested.

Such incidents have occurred in the City too, but are swept under the carpet for the very fact that cops are involved which invariably creates a sense of fear in the minds of the victims.

Kedar Patwary, a cyclist from the City, tells us his story “Three of my friends and I were on our way back home after college. As we were passing through a colony, there were college students (three girls and a boy) walking together and a policeman appeared out of nowhere.

He had a problem with the boy walking along with the girls. He started raining blows on the boy’s face and abused the girls.

We were shocked and stopped

The police try to force their authority on us beyond their legal capacities. I no longer look up to them as guardians of our society, I fear them.

Kedar Patwary Cyclist to have a look at what was happening. When he noticed us, he came to us and asked for our bike documents. I didn’t have them, so I told him I would pay the fine, but he slapped me

twice. I no longer look up to them as guardians of our society, I fear them.”

Kedar added, “I felt helpless.

He was the circle inspector of the area, I didn’t even know where and how to complain against him. It was only when I used some influence of my own that I could even write a complaint against him at the police HQ.” Revanth Janagiri, a student of Loyola College, tells us that there is a sense of intolerance among cops and they back it up in the name of culture. He said, “I was walking with a female friend of mine near Necklace Road. A cop came up to us and told us to either pay money or come along to the police station.”

There has to be a check on such cases of moral policing; only then will citizens feel a sense of security and not fear when approached by a cop.

Saudi nabs 10 over spying for Iran Riyadh: Saudi Arabia has arrested 10 people on suspicion of espionage for Iran, the interior ministry announced Tuesday.

The arrestees, comprising eight Saudis, a Lebanese and a Turk, are linked to the Iranian spy cell which was unveiled in March, the official added.

In March, Saudi Arabia announced 18 suspects — 16 Saudis, a Lebanese and an Iranian — were arrested on AROUND THE

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charges of receiving money from Iran to gather information on important sites in the gulf kingdom. Later, the Lebanese suspect was released.

The fresh wave of arrests brings the number of those suspects detained in this case to 27, the official added.

IANS

10

News WEDNESDAY, MAY 22, 2013 HERITAGE

RESCUE MISSION

Himachal park to get Unesco tag

R

escuers prepare to move a dead body found in a sinkhole on a road in Shenzhen, south China’s Guangdong province on May 21, 2013. Five people died when a 10 metre (33 feet) wide sinkhole opened up at the gates of an industrial estate in Shenzhen, the southern Chinese boom town neighbouring Hong Kong, local authorities said on May 21.

SHIMLA: India’s richest biodiversity site in the western Himalayas, the Great Himalayan National Park (GHNP) in Himachal Pradesh, is likely to become the country’s seventh natural Unesco World Heritage site, a wildlife official said.

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AFP

The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) has favoured including the GHNP in Unesco’s final listing, park director Ajay Srivastav said.

OKLAHOMA TWISTER

Survivor recounts ‘riding the storm’ ‘I’m so lucky,’ Anita Zhang said, over and over, as she told her story to AFP through an interpreter on Tuesday ROBERT MacPherson feedback@postnoon.com MOORE: For years Anita Zhang’s neighbors joked that if a tornado ever bore down on her Chinese restaurant, folks could take refuge in its roomy walk-in freezer.

On Monday, Zhang got the chance to test their idea -- and to live to tell the tale -- when one of the most powerful and destructive twisters to hit the United States in recent years ripped through this Oklahoma City suburb.

“I’m so lucky," she said, over and over, as she told her story to AFP through an interpreter Tuesday in the driveway of her home in another section of Moore that escaped the tornado’s raw fury.

A native of Guangdong, the southern Chinese province that’s no stranger to merciless typhoons, 57-year-old Zhang emigrated to the United States 10 years ago with other members of her family.

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June Simson embraces her cat Sammi after she found him standing on the rubble of her destroyed home on May 21, 2013 in Moore, Oklahoma.

AFP/JOSHUA LOTT

She opened the Hong Kong Chinese Restaurant on Southwest 19th Street seven years ago in a commercial strip mall that catered to Moore’s many handsome middle-class residential developments.

It had a good reputation for such dishes as spicy fried General Tso chicken. “Great food at a great price," wrote one Google reviewer. “Very nice family-owned restaurant. The food is excellent. Service is quick."

Monday’s tornado -- which police say killed at least 24 people with its 200 mile (320 kilometer) per hour winds cutting a 17 mile (27 kilometer) swath through Moore — was quick, too.

She was watching live storm coverage on local TV in the restaurant with her brother Michael Zhang, 50, when suddenly the power went off, the neighborhood disaster sirens wailed and the dark funnel of fury drew near.

Into the freezer the siblings went — with a blanket, thoughtfully — to sit out the twister as it passed literally on top of them, pulverizing everything in its path.

“I thought it was an earthquake," recalled the Cantonesespeaking Zhang, whose Mandarin Chinese name is Zhang Jianci.

“I felt the building was shaking and moving. There were loud noises and banging and wind blowing... I thought only the glass door of the restaurant would be broken, but when we crawled out, everything was gone."

Initially, the Zhangs struggled to open the freezer door against the debris.

Michael was first to wiggle out; Anita was too scared to follow, until her brother announced that nearby buildings were on fire.

Once out of the freezer, Anita Zhang heard people shouting: “Anyone there?" Later, she learned from her daughter that it was the neighbors, coming to check on their safety.

She’s more than content that her two granddaughters are unhurt. Their mother, Zhang’s daughter, took them out of school before the tornado got too close and drove off with them to safety. “They are back now," she said with a sigh of relief. “They are alive."

AFP

ATOP THE EVEREST

Triple-Everest summiteer wants to do it again SHILLONG: Anshu Jamsenpa, the first Indian woman to scale Mount Everest thrice, wants to scale the world’s highest peak for the fourth time if the Nepalese government waives the royalty tax imposed on climbers, her husband Tsering Wange said.

Anshu, a mother of two, became the first Indian woman to conquer the Mount Everest for a third time Saturday. She was among the 13 climbers of the first Northeast India Top of the World Mount Everest Expedition, 2013, which was flagged off by

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President Pranab Mukherjee from Rashtrapati Bhavan March 20. “Anshu is very keen to re-con-

quer Mount Everest for the fourth time, provided the Nepalese government waives their royalty tax for her fourth attempt," Wange told IANS over phone from Arunachal Pradesh.

“The Manipur Mountaineering and Trekking

Association has submitted the names of the expedition team members, including Anshu Jamsenpa, Bidyapati Devi, Puyamcha Mohon, Nameirakpam Chingkheinganba to the Nepal’s ministry of tourism and civil aviation.

IANS

11

News WEDNESDAY, MAY 22, 2013

LOVE STORY SET IN STONE

‘AUTO’TRIP

CRIME

‘Best Option’ for commuters in Dhaka

Sanjay Dutt moved to Yerwada prison

DHAKA: With a hoot and a honk, meandering through Dhaka's famed traffic snarls, the legion of psychedelic rickshaws that are an essential part of Bangladesh's capital have a new claim to fame — they ferried protestors for free from parts of the city to the site of the revolutionary Shahbag movement during its peak in February and March.

PUNE: In a hush-hush predawn operation, Bollywood actor Sanjay Dutt was shifted to city's Yerwada jail today from Mumbai's Arthur Road jail to undergo 42 months remaining sentence in the 1993 Mumbai serial blasts case.

The 53-year-old Dutt was taken from Arthur Road jail after midnight in a well-guarded operation by authorities who wanted to avoid the media hype and glare during the three-hour travel between Mumbai and Pune, a jail official said.

AROUND THE

Ukrainian-Italian wartime love gets immortalised DMYTRO GORSHKOV feedback@postnoon.com

WORLD

Thousands of protesters, had been staging protests in the Shahbag area from Feb 5 demanding capital punishment for Jamaat-e-Islami leader Abdul Quader Mollah and all others charged by the International Crimes Tribunal during the 1971 Liberation War. "It is the best option for us they cancut through the traffic swiftly and they can move in the narrow lanes and alleys very well. It is fast and affordable," said hotel employee Anwar.

Wazir Ahmed, another puller, said the rickshaws were popular because they were pollution-free.

Despite being accused of crippling city traffic, commuters feel it is the "best option."

IANS

KIEV: The sculpture shows two elderly people hugging each other in an embrace that defies age, immortalising a reunion 60 years after the end of World War II and descent of the iron curtain tore their love apart.

A new monument in Kiev unveiled this month preserves for future generations — the extraordinary story of Ukrainian Mokryna Yurzuk and Italian Luigi Pedutto who were finally rewarded for never forgetting each other.

They first met in 1943 at a labour camp in Austria, where they had been imprisoned after being arrested and deported by Nazi forces in World War II. Both worked in the sewing workshop and the young Italian frequently tried to make some thing beautiful for his Ukrainian girlfriend. During short rest periods, they held each other's hands and walked in silence: she did not

FOR LOVE AROUND THE

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The highly-emotional Italian cried and thanked fate for giving him the chance to meet his darling once again. understand Italian and he knew only a few words in Russian.

In 1945, when Allied forces launched an operation to free the captives, Luigi, Mokryna and her young daughter Nadia escaped from the camp.

The Italian wanted to go to Ukraine with his girlfriend, but it was impossible for a foreigner to any republic of the Soviet Union at that time.

After the war, both Mokryna and Luigi married other people

but then both were widowed.

Some time later, Luigi Pedutto sent a letter to the Russian TV programme "Wait for Me", also airing in Ukraine, pecialises in seeking out missing or close relative of the viewers on request.

Mokryna was then found in the Ukrainian backwater of a small village in Dnipropetrovsk region in central Ukraine.

It's their reunion in the TV studio in 2004 that is depicted by sculptors in the monument in Kiev's central Khreschatyi park.

Luigi visited Kiev to attend the unveiling of the statue that symbolises the love that they kept.

The monument of Mokryna and Luigi has been symbolically placed in front of the so-called "bridge of lovers", which according to tradition is decorated with large and small padlocks as pledges of eternal love.

Mokryna Yurzuk could not attend the opening of the monument due to illness.

AFP

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"Sanjay Dutt was escorted to Pune jail at about 4am from Mumbai. There were three police vans that took him to the Pune jail," the official said.

Security reasons were also cited for the secret operation.

According to sources, Dutt would be kept in a high security cell in Yerwada jail.

Dutt had been lodged at the 'Anda Cell' (Egg-shaped) in the high security block in the Arthur Road jail since May 16 after his surrender before the TADA court in Mumbai.

Meeran Borwankar, Additional Director General (Prisons), Maharashtra, when contacted did not give any details of the arrangements, if any, being made the Yerwada jail.

PTI

NEW VIRUS FEARS

Don’t panic: Nobel laureate

WELLINGTON: A Nobel prizewinning scientist Tuesday played down "shock-horror scenarios" that a new virus strain will emerge with the potential to kill millions of people.

Peter Doherty, who jointly won the Nobel prize in 1996 for his work on how the immune system combats virus-infected cells, said the worstcase scenario was a new virus with a high mortality rate that was also highly infectious.

The Australian said the world experienced such a pandemic in 1918, when an influenza variant killed an estimated 50 million people.Doherty said it was possible such an outbreak could occur again but it was unlikely to have such devastating consequences. "A lot of the (1918) deaths were undoubtedly due to secondary

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bacterial infection and, of course, we have antibiotics to treat it now,” he said at a lecture on Otago University's Wellington campus. Doherty said analysis of the Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) virus, a form of influenza which killed about 800 people, took three months when it emerged a decade ago.

Doherty said the H1N1 "swine flu" which sickened millions around the world in 2009 was an example of a highly infectious strain with a relatively low mortality rate, with some 18,500 deaths reported to the World Health Organisation (WHO). The WHO has also since last September confirmed 40 cases of a coronavirus closely related to SARS. The University of Melbourne-based scientist said. "We're doing extremely well with virus diagnosis and rapid detection, so I don't think a pandemic is going to kill us all off."

AFP

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News WEDNESDAY, MAY 22, 2013

POLITICS

VIDEO PROTEST

Mantris rob Kiran’s sleep

Ai Weiwei releases ‘Dumbass’

The chief minister is asked to bear the whole burden of managing the issue of ‘tainted’ ministers. Threats to join rival parties remain a thorny issue.

POSTNOON NEWS feedback@postnoon.com

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BEIJING: Chinese dissident artist Ai Weiwei released a foulmouthed heavy rock song titled “Dumbass” on Wednesday, with a video parodying his months in police detention.

The video accompanying the song, posted online, shows Ai under interrogation, marking a document with a red thumbprint, and wearing a black hood labelled “Criminal", before being scrutinised by guards in a prison shower.

Ai said he had created the five-minute video, which is peppered with bad language and also shows guards dancing with lingerie-clad women as well as a toilet full of crabs, to highlight the plight of other Chinese dissidents.

It culminates with him wearing women’s underwear himself, his head shaved and his mouth in a lipsticked pout.

Some of the track’s few printable lyrics include: “Tolerance be damned, to hell with manners, the low-life’s invincible” and “Stand on the frontline like a dumbass, in a country that puts out like a hooker."

The combination of music and police repression was inspired by his own 81-day detention in 2011, Ai told AFP, adding that for the video he created an “exact model” of the room in which he was kept for much of the period.

AFP

Dumbass lines

S

ome of the track’s few printable lyrics include: “Tolerance be damned, to hell with manners, the lowlife’s invincible” and “Stand on the frontline like a dumbass, in a country that puts out like a hooker."

The threat

T

he latest pressure comes from the party leaders.

One section vociferously wants all the tainted ministers booted out while the other section wants the party to wait and watch or protect them. The chief minister’s woes come from the threat of Congress leaders joining YSR Congress.

HYDERABAD: After a bit of relaxation and jubilation at his many conquers, Chief Minister N Kiran Kumar Reddy, is again stressed, political circles say.

The latest pressure comes from the party leaders — one section vociferously wants all the tainted ministers booted out while the other section wants the party to wait and watch or protect them.

“The chief minister’s woes come from the perennial threat of Congress leaders joining the rival YSR Congress,” says an APCC functionary.

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Already, supporters of Dharmana Prasada Rao, who quit the cabinet, have floated rumours that their leader would be constrained to join the YSR Congress, if his resignation was accepted.

On Tuesday, Sabita Indra Reddy’s followers enforced a bandh in Ranga Reddy district, protesting against her being

“victimized". If the three other ministers — Geeta Reddy, Ponnala Lakshmaiah and Kanna Lakshmi Narayana — were also forced to quit, there would be a major revolt in the party say political observers.

The PCC chief Botsa Satyanarayana is keeping his cards close to his chest, transferring the burden of the issue

wholly on chief minister. On Monday minister Danam Nagender caused a turmoil with his stance that if Dharmana and Sabita were to quit the cabinet, the other ministers named in the charge-sheet in the Jagan Mohan Reddy case also should go. He said it was improper to make one or two ministers responsible for the decisions of

ENVIRONMENT

the cabinet.

What happens to the principle of collective responsibility?

The three more ministers awaiting their fate are unhappy that the Congress high command was making them scapegoats.

How could a few ministers be held responsible for a Cabinet decision, quizzed a leader who is against turning out party leaders instead of protecting them. Those asked to go are angry that leaders of their own party like V Hanumanta Rao, Palvai Govardhan Reddy and DL Ravindra Reddy were calling them tainted.

They ask the Congress leadership to learn from the YSR Congress leaders who still claim their leaders to be honest.

HEALTH SCARE

Delhi’s dying trees Forest department claims that it has allowed felling of trees for the third phase of Delhi Metro Rail project.

NEW DELHI: Be it the Caribbean trumpet with its lovely yellow blooms, the towering scented eucalyptuses or even the prolific neems and jamuns, Delhi is currently staring at dwindling numbers of trees owning to serious space crunch.

Srinagar bans plantation of Russian tree SRINAGAR: The local administration has imposed ban on plantation of Russian poplar trees in the summer capital of Jammu and Kashmir keeping in view the large scale complaints of allergy being caused by its pollen.

Srinagar district magistrate Farooq Ahmad Shah imposed the ban on fresh plantation of the Russian poplars through an order passed last evening.

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AROUND THE Delhi has transformed from being the green capital to being a concrete jungle in less than a decade, according to activists and environmentalists who have pointed out that trees in the city have been chopped down for construction of roads, flyovers, the Metro, the Commonwealth Games, and for new constructions. Those remaining have been imprisoned in concrete

pavements, or their branches chopped off so brutally that they are now stark looking and stump like, they say.

“The forest department is working keenly to ensure security for the trees in the city, ensuring that all nails, boards, hooks, rods, advertisements etc pinned on the trees are removed," says AK Shukla, chief conservator of forest and chief wildlife warden at the

forest department.

According to Shukla, the department is seriously concerned about the directive from National Green Tribunal, which had issued a notice to 14 authorities directing them to remove all boards, nails and advertisements from trees falling under their jurisdictions as well as directing the authorities to de-concretise trees.

PTI

NATION

Shah said the pollen falling from these trees had become a source of allergies in the city.

“This view has been endorsed by the experts. Strict action will be taken against those violating the directive. I have directed the police, revenue and social forestry officials to enforce the ban immediately," Shah said. PTI

WEDNESDAY, MAY 22, 2013

Business

BANK OF JAPAN SAYS NO NEW EASING MEASURES The Bank of Japan (BoJ) on Wednesday held off fresh easing measures, saying after a two-day policy meeting that its continuation of steps introduced last month would help Japan overcome deflation.

DIMON KEEPS TOP JOBS

Amazon plans greenhouse-style headquarters SEATTLE: US online giant Amazon has unveiled plans for a futuristic greenhouse style headquarters “where employees can work and socialize in a more natural, park-like setting.”

The Internet company revealed photos and sketches this week of the plan to be submitted to Seattle city officials, becoming the latest of the technology heavyweights to unveil a bold new head-

quarters plan.

“The generative idea is that a plant-rich environment has many positive qualities that are not often found in a typical office setting,” according to Amazon’s proposal.

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The company revamped its original plan from a six-story rectilinear structure to “a series of intersecting spheres with ample space for a wide range of planting material,” the document said.

AFP

JEWELLERY

Smaller cities hold key Traditional retailers face strong challenge in urban areas as younger generation prefer buying from branded retailers.

PRUDHVI RAJU K prudhvi.k@postnoon.com

Jewellery Fair

I

ndia’s leading gems and jewellery fair is going to be back in the City once again in June bringing together the finest jewellers from India and abroad. The Hyderabad Jewellery Fair will be held at Hyderabad’s HITEX exhibition centre from June, 7-9 and will witness participation of over 125 jewellery manufacturers, wholesalers, retailers, importers, exporters, diamond and gemstone suppliers and representatives from trade and governmental organisations.

T

he fall of gold prices coupled with festive and marriage season have increased the gold sales last month. “Indian customers saw gold price touching `32,000 per 10g few months back and they are confident thatthe price would bounce back at some point of time. On the other side, some jewellers are on the verge of finishing stocks and few could not supply or get stocks as per the demand.

On the other hand, the Western economies are getting better and people are bullish about other investment options that buying gold,” says Kranti Nagvekar, group director (jewellery exhibitions portfolio) of UBM India.

“The huge growth in jewellery sales by around 130 per cent also pushed the sales of gems, precious stones to an extent.

However, the gems and jewellery industry grew more than 15 per cent in last fiscal as compared to previous fiscal.”

On potential of export gold jewellery manufacturing, she said, “India is a hub for diamond polishing and cutting.

But, the numbers are not encouraging in terms of gold jewellery exports. Because of huge market in the country, the retailers are not focusing in the global markets.

With quality and cheap human resource, India can defi-

nitely be among the top manufactures and exporters of gold jewellery. “We organise meetings with international manufactures and arrange visits to their factories to understand the intricacies and to reach out global markets. International brands are eyeing Indian jewellery market for expansion and growth.”

Talking about Indian jewellery market, she said, “There is a gradual shift in buying from unorganised retailers to organised ones. Retailers are also looking at building and promoting their brand value. It has become very important to have marketing strategies and brand awareness in place to sustain the competition. Some traditional unorganised retailers are confident they have repetitive cus-

tomers who sustain their business. This attitude has to change and it is high time that they have to get organised and compete with branded retailers.

“However one cannot undermine the importance of traditional retailers and growth of tier-2 and tier-3 city markets.

Parents with younger generation still visit these shops and buy decent amounts of gold at these traditional retailers for marriages and other auspicious occasions. On the other hand, the younger generation shop at branded outlets. The tier-2 and tier-3 cities will be the future hubs with the City markets reaching a saturation.”

Asked about trends in buying, she said, “They’re buying and choosing trends varies

according to the location. For instance, customers in Chennai opt platinum, where as people in Kerala buy pure gold and people in North buy commercial diamonds and white gold.

There is huge variance in choice but the younger generation is fancy about gold jewellery with diamonds.”

On industry growth and value of gold, she said, “According to traders and sellers, the prices may go down to `23,500 and bounce back to the peak prices in a year time.

Despite the downward trend globally, Indians continue to buy gold due to their rich tradition and they cannot neither exclude it from investment portfolio nor from important occasions of their life.”

GOLD `26,084 10g SILVER `43,148 1kg

24C

for

for

DOLLAR `55.45 POUND `83.98

NEW YORK: JPMorgan Chase shareholders on Tuesday endorsed chief executive Jamie Dimon to remain chairman, but the bank’s board faces added pressure after some board members barely won a majority. The Wall Street banking titan, under pressure over the huge “London Whale” derivative losses one year ago, beat back a shareholder proposal to strip Dimon of one of his leadership roles.

The proxy vote mustered just 32.2 percent of the vote Tuesday, even less than the 40 percent a similar measure garnered last year. But shareholders sent a strong message of concern about the effectiveness of board oversight in the wake of the London debacle in which the bank lost $6.2 billion in an out-of-control derivatives trading operation.

Three members of the bank’s risk committee received less than 60 percent support as shareholders said they shared some of the blame for the losses. Dimon expressed regret for the Whale debacle, but said the company was working hard to put the problem behind it.

NUMEROLOGY

$8.6

bn

is Japan’s trade deficit in April, government data showed on Wednesday, as a weaker yen made imports costlier.

NATHANI IS EBAY MD MUMBAI: eBay India announced a transition in leadership. Latif Nathani, a senior executive with deep experience in the technology space in both India and the US will join eBay India as Managing Director. Nathani is taking over from Mr. Muralikrishnan B, who will be transitioning his responsibilities by the end of the quarter and then will be exploring entrepreneurial opportunities outside of eBay.

BSE 6,128.00 NSE

20,164.01 52.40 13.90

WEDNESDAY, MAY 22, 2013

Comment Question with boldness even the existence of a God; because, if there be one, he must more approve of the homage of reason, than that of blind-folded fear.

Thomas Jefferson Third US president

In film market, China allures but also deters RICHARD INGHAM Agence France-Presse

I

n just a few years, China has become the world’s most enticing movie market, but the pitfalls there for foreign filmmakers are many, experts say. ensorship, bureaucracy and piracy head the roster of concerns, according to specialists interviewed in China, Hong Kong and at the Cannes Film Festival.

“China is extremely complicated when it comes to the cinema," said Jerome Paillard, director of the Marche du Film, or Movie Market, a meeting point at Cannes that gathers 10,000 buyers and sellers in the world cinema business."Film makers are growing more wary of China, not only because of its strict censorship policies, but also because of the strong protectionist measures the Chinese film authorities take to protect their films," said Robert Cain, a producer who has worked in China 25 years. Box-office receipts in China jumped 30 percent last year to 17 billion yuan ($2.7 billion), making it the world’s second-largest film market after the United States. Each day, 10 new movie screens open, as entrepreneurs eye a growing middle class that is able and willing to fork out $13 for a seat in a multiplex. Over the last decade, according to trade industry figures, China has seen a tenfold in increase in the number of screens, to more than 13,000 at the end of 2012. Yet this still represents only one per 220,000 people compared with one per 9,000 in the United States. But the place allotted to foreign films in cinema screenings is meagre.

HIGH-FLYING THOUGHTS

Naming species after people is sometimes apt and at others a bit off the mark: a blind Yugoslavian cave beetle was named after Hitler, a species of extinct whale, Livyatan melvillei, after Herman Melville, but Bob Marley’s name for a blood-sucking parasite? Really!

THE CHIT FUND SCAM

14

INDIA’S ‘UNBANKED’ MASSES GET FLEECED THE INSIDE STORY Penny MacRae

F

or 75-year-old pensioner Sova Sengupta the collapse of Indian property-to-media empire Saradha Group, to which she had entrusted her life’s savings with the promise of a handsome return, spelt financial ruin.

“I’d deposited 100,000 rupees ($1,800). I lost all my savings," the widow wept after police last month revealed that Saradha, headquartered in the West Bengal state capital of Kolkata, had gone bust with losses of hundreds of millions of dollars.

The popularity of Saradha highlighted the huge shortage of banks to cater for India’s population of 1.2 billion people, with many turning to unregulated and risky services, leaving them vulnerable to exorbitant lending rates and deception.

Sengupta was just one of some 350,000 small savers who saw their money vanish in a scam which offered to multiply savings four-fold over seven years.

Cash from new investors was used to pay off old ones, while promoters skimmed money off to make themselves

rich, police said of the typical Ponzi scheme. At least 10 depositors committed suicide, they added.

“Indians have participated in informal savings schemes for time immemorial," said T.S. Sivaramakrishnan, who heads a regulated national savings association of what are known locally in India as chit funds.

“That’s why many are content to put their money in these vehicles," he told AFP. “Many of these people aren’t financially sophisticated so they get taken in by these scamsters who offer unrealistic returns."

Around 480 million Indians, mostly living in the country’s 630,000 villages, have no banking access, according to the country’s central bank, which in February launched a push to expand regulated financial services in the rural hinterland.

“The fruits of the banking industry have not reached a substantial part of the population," said N.S.N. Reddy, chief manager of the state-run Andhra Bank in India’s south.

Aside from a lack of banks, another barrier for savers is a lack of identity certificates.

“For the common man, the opening of a bank account is a Herculean task," Reddy said. To open accounts, savers must produce an array of documents such as birth certificates or residence proofs that many poor

people in India do not possess.

Many of India’s so-called “unbanked” store their savings by investing in gold jewellery and gold bars but they also turn to the parallel banking system which can be highly risky.

Many in Asia’s third largest economy are easily duped by get-rich-quick schemes and when they need money are forced to turn to unscrupulous lenders, said Sivaramakrishnan.

Microfinance institutions, which loan small sums to the needy who are unable to get credit from mainstream banks are stepping into the breach, but even they have been rapped by the central bank for exorbitant lending rates.

The problem is made more acute by the fact Indians have

one of the highest household savings rates in the world at 30 percent of gross domestic product.

In the case of Saradha, up to 350,000 investors were cheated of $730 million, according to state officials, though some court documents have mentioned figures in the billions.

As part of its smoke-andmirrors act, the group branched into TV stations, newspapers, education, construction and travel. It also gained respectability by becoming close to West Bengal state’s ruling Trinamool Congress.

But in the end the scheme turned out to be like any Ponzi scheme — the Saradha Group went broke and savers were left empty-handed, police said.

EDITORIALS UPA rule raised life expectancy!

W

hatever one says against the kind of democracy we have in India today, one can’t deny its great comic value. How else one should view the UPA report card released by prime minister today that highlights, as one of its ‘achievements,’ the average life expectancy going up by five years in the last nine years? It implies that the Congress rule was so good that in its nine years reign life expectancy of average Indians rose by five years! Could any government in the world claim such a feat? Citizens wish the report card mentioned both sides of the ledger. Its failings are too numerous and glaring to be ignored. This government goes down in the history of having

READERS’ VIEWS

produced the highest number of scams of monumental magnitude. Not one of them is the creation of the Opposition parties and the Congress can’t shirk responsibility saying someone else misguided it. It is a shame the UPA talks of progressive rule when a house or essential items have gone beyond the reach of common man. Can any honest worker own a home today? Can he go to a restaurant for a change and eat out with his family? He will be fleeced with VAT even for basic food. Can this government explain why in spite of having the second largest army in the world, it allowed China to intrude?

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

Editor: Dean Williams

15

WEDNESDAY, MAY 22, 2013

Cinema

INDIA INVITED A Cairo International Film Festival representative has invited India as a partner country for the movie extravaganza, to be held in November. Soheir Abd El Kader, vice president of Cairo International Film festival, called on India's Information and Broadcasting Secretary Uday Kumar Varma to discuss India's participation as a partner country in the forthcoming edition of the Cairo gala.

WHERE’S THE PARTY AT?

n Very Bad Things (1998)

S

tarring actors like Christian Slater and Cameron Diaz, Very Bad Things directed by Peter Berg is probably the most hilarious and unpredictable take on a bachelor party gone wrong. Life takes a downward turn for five friends during a bachelor party after they accidentally kill the stripper. Aptly titled, Very Bad Things is a funny take on the terrible consequences that the friends face after the eventful night.

With a nagging bride-to-be played brilliantly by Cameron Diaz to a strange mix of friends, the movie is full of surprises and guarantees a laugh riot.

n Bachelor Party (1984)

T

his is the movie that started it all.

The chaos, the thrill and the 'screw ups' during a bachelor party have hardly been shown as well as the way they've been narrated in Tom Hanks starrer Bachelor Party.

Directed by Neal Israel, the movie is the bachelor party of all bachelor parties. When can-hardly-makeends-meet Rick Gassko (Tom Hanks) decides to marry the money-minting machine Debbie Thompson, his friends think of throwing the ultimate bachelor party for him— comprising an expensive hotel, booze, movies and hookers. However, things don't work out the way planned. If you found Hangover funny, you'll probably need adult diapers for this one!

SCREEN POOPERS n How To Murder Your Wife (1965)

T

his classic, directed by Richard Quine, narrates the story of a man who leads a perfect life until he throws a bachelor party for his best friend. Stanley Ford played by Jack Lemmon leads an idyllic bachelor life until he marries the 'only woman' present at his friend's bachelor party in a drunken state. A nationally syndicated cartoonist, he doesn't know what to do at first. However, he begins to like his married life and decides to change his cartoon character from a super spy to a harried husband. Things turn weird when his cartoon character kills his wife.

BOYS TO MEN! The last night of freedom – commercially called the bachelor party – is probably as important as the wedding among the male species. With Hangover III hitting the theatres this week, Postnoon gives you a list of the top five bachelor party movies of all time.

NIDHI BHUSHAN nidhi.b@postnoon.com

n Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara (2011)

I

t was Zoya Akhtar's Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara that brought the fancy concept of bachelor parties to Indian cinema.

Based on a story about three friends and their experiences during a pre-wedding trip to Spain, the movie is funny, emotional and has its heart in place.

Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara narrates the way the trip changes the life and perception of it among the three friends played

by Abhay Deol (the groom), Hrithik Roshan and Farhan Akhtar. If you haven't seen it already, now is the time because zindagi na milegi dobara (you won't get a life again).

n Sideways (2004)

D

irected by Alexander Payne, Sideways is for those who've had enough of the usual frat party narratives. Two middle aged men who don't have much to boast about embark on a week-long journey before one of them ties the knot.

Sideways is a sophisticated take on the experiences and realisations that men have before their lives change forever.

Every single performance in this film is surprising, pitch perfect, and unusual. The movie has the remarkable ability to capture sadness and desperation in just the light that allows the audience to recognise the humour.

Too much to handle So, Sherlyn Chopra decided to show off a little more than what the Paparazzi at Cannes was expecting. Though the young reality TV star looked better than the Vidya Balans and the Sonam Kapoors at the French festival, she would have looked a tad classier without bringing her cleavage along. Agreed she has a great body, but it hardly means that she should be sporting her Kama Sutra leftovers to such a prestigious event.

Shut up, already It's time Bollywood gets over Deepika Padukone's Veronica character from Cocktail. Veronica only appeared like such a colourful character because of the contrasting and highly disappointing Diana Penty. So, shut up already about Padukone being this and that of Bollywood – wait for her next film. Let her prove herself without a failure like Diana Penty to make her look good!

TRENDING...

Selena Gomez is not ready to settle down and start a family, even with Justin Bieber, whom she was spotted kissing backstage at the Billboard Music Awards. The "Come & Get It" singer visited Miami's Y100 radio station and seemed pretty taken aback at the suggestion. "Oh, my God no," says Gomez. "No ... I'm not even 21 yet."

Chinese actress Li Bingbing (Resident Evil: Retribution) has been cast in Transformers 4.

The news was first reported by China’s m1905.com, a state-owned film site. The casting comes during recent high-profile efforts to court and increase Chinese interest in Hollywood tentpoles.

WEDNESDAY, MAY 22, 2013

spotlight

GIRLS' NIGHT OUT

DJ Shekar will be playing Hip hop and House music at Spoil. Gang up with your girl pals and enjoy the night at the pub.

DRESSING TO THE NINES

18

JUST FOR FUN

Actors Jagapati Babu and Sharwanand were among those who headed to 10 Downing Street on Tuesday night to have a blast.

LIGHTS, CAMERA ACTION

Annapurna International School of Film + Media announced a new summer workshop — Filmmaking for Engineering students.

The workshop involves working in teams to develop stories and to produce films.

The sparkle effect UBM announced the sixth edition of its much awaited Hyderabad Jewellery, Pearl and Gem Fair 2013 at Hotel Taj Krishna on Tuesday.

WEDNESDAY, MAY 22, 2013

health

BANGALORE HOSPITAL OFFERS DAY CARE BREAST SURGERY

Narayana Hrudayalaya Tuesday announced it will offer day care breast surgery, keeping in view the emotional, physical and financial stress a patient undergoes.

The day care surgery uses the latest surgical techniques to ensure the patient heals faster and is discharged the same day.

IANS

THE MESSENGERS OF DOOM

19

The debate about whether patients should be kept in the dark about their prognosis is gathering heat again. We see what doctors have to say about it.

FLEME VARKEY

fleme.v@postnoon.com

Who does the telling?

L

ast month a British medical journal was debating on whether patients need to know they are terminally ill.

Two London-based palliative care doctors argued in favour of disclosure, writing that it was “essential to decision-making” in addition to being the most ethical approach. The head of the palliative care section of the University of Virginia School of Medicine, meanwhile, asserted that telling patients they were terminal was “a failed model for medical decision making that creates more suffering than it relieves.”

One of the doctors said, “Patients with cancer do not die faster if they choose hospice or palliative care, and may in fact live longer, even though they are

less likely to receive artificial life support."

She goes on to state: “Patients with advanced cancer and poor functional status do not need to know that they are terminally ill so that they can ‘refuse’ chemotherapy or cardiopulmonary resuscitation. In most cases they should not be given these treatments exactly because they are terminally ill.”

This doctor-knows-best approach may be very appealing to people who look to their physician for wisdom, not just data. The debate is a sign of the times.

Saurav Agarwal died of leukemia at the age of 18. Till the time of his death he was unaware of the problems he had.

His parents had chosen not to tell him and his frequent trips to the

ANEWS PP-LYBRIEFS YOURSELF

hospital, blood transfusions, skin lesions were all attributed to skin problems etc.

The question arises: Shouldn’t they have told him?

Do doctors or caretakers have the right to withhold information

HOUSECALL

My24

Amyloidosis

Get more out of your 24 Hour Fitness membership with the My24 mobile app. Download the application and get access to club information and fitness tools from the palm of your hand. You can look up daily class schedules and search for specific instructors and even add a family member to your account. itunes.apple.com

Amyloidosis is a group of rare but serious diseases caused by deposits of abnormal protein, called amyloid, in tissues and organs throughout the body. It is diagnosed in one-five in every 100,000 people in the UK every year.

Proteins begin as a string of amino acids which then fold themselves into a threedimensional shape. There are more than 20 different proteins that can misfold and form amyloid. nhs.uk

like that?

Preeti Jaslok, a paediatrician, is of the opinion that when it comes to children, it is better the parents handle it. “It is not easy telling a parent their child has few days to live. However, we never say there is no hope; we will continue doing out best, is always our motto as doctors.

Watching the shock and disbelief on the parents’ faces is not exactly my cup of tea, but the deed has to be done. If it is cancer or more serious ailments, we sometimes employ a counsellor to do the job.”

It may surprise you to know that in Britain's healthcare system, the physicians' regulatory body tells doctors that “information should be withheld from terminally ill patients only if it is thought that giving information

DID YOU KNOW? Peanut often contains pesticides The peanut is actually a legume, not a nut (which is why they are often roasted). Peanuts contain about the same amount of protein as soy and are low in starchy carbohydrates. Peanuts are high in fungus and, often, pesticides. They do not contain any omega-3. mercola.com

will cause serious harm, specified as ‘more than becoming upset.’”

This belief is followed by many in our country as well.

Four out of six doctors believe that death is not a news a patient should hear; it should be one of positivity and not despair.

Hearing about their impending death might even accelerate their symptoms in some cases.

Others argue that a person has a right to know if he/she is dying or not. They only have a few days left.

Savita Date Menon, clinical psychologist, says that many a times in India, caretakers make this decision on the patient’s behalf, not only in the case of children, but even with adults.

She said it isn’t right to not tell them anything at all.

PIONEERS Ian Olver Ian Olver is an Australian oncologist, cancer researcher and bio-ethicist. He is chief executive officer of Cancer Council Australia and a noted authority and media commentator on cancer issues. In 2011 he was appointed to the Order of Australia for service to medical oncology as a clinician, researcher, administrator and mentor, and to the community through leadership roles with cancer control organisations. en.wikipedia.org

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WEDNESDAY, MAY 22, 2013

Technology GAMING

This is the One Microsoft reveals new Xbox model — One.

GLENN CHAPMAN feedback@postnoon.com REDMOND: Microsoft on Tuesday staked a claim to the Internet Age living room with an eagerly awaited new generation Xbox One console touted as a home entertainment hub that goes far beyond games.

“Today, we put you at the center of a new generation in the living room," said Don Mattrick, head of Microsoft’s interactive entertainment business, unveiling the new version of the popular game console.

The beefed-up hardware is powered by software that allows for instant switching between games, television, and Internet browsing. Microsoftowned Skype was also integrated for online group video calls.

Kinect motion and sound sensing accessories accompanying the consoles recognize users; respond instantly to commands spoken in natural language, and even detect a person’s pulse.

Microsoft played to longtime Xbox fans with glimpses of blockbuster games including “Call of Duty Ghosts” and “FIFA” football being tailored for the new consoles.

A beloved ‘Halo’ science fiction shooter franchise was used to showcase the merging of television and videogame play in Xbox One. Famed filmmaker Steven Spielberg signed on to produce a live-action ‘Halo’ television series in partnership with gamemaker 343 Studio. “For me, the ‘Halo’ universe is an amazing opportunity to be at the intersection where technology and myth-making meet to create something really exciting," Spielberg said in a video snippet played during the press event at Microsoft headquarters in Redmond, Washington.

Xbox One consoles will be released later this year, according to Mattrick, who did not disclose pricing details. Microsoft has sold some 77 million Xbox 360 consoles since they hit the market in late 2005. Console rival Sony has sold about the same number of PlayStation 3 consoles, which was introduced a year later.

Meanwhile, Nintendo sold

FACEBOOK STILL TOPS

Teenagers use Facebook by far more than any other social media site and have over 400 friends on it. But Twitter and Instagram have massively increased their usage in the past year, according to a new survey from the Pew Internet & American Life Project, together with Harvard’s Berkman Center.

The new report covers US teens and social media. There are an enormous number of findings in the document, which was compiled using both surveys and focus groups. You can read or download the full report online.

According to the report, 95 per cent of teens (12 – 17) use the internet and 81 per cent of them use social media sites.

FREE AWESOMENESS

nearly 100 million Wii consoles, which became hits due to innovative motion-sensing controls after their debut in 2006.

However, demand for Nintendo’s recently released Wii U consoles have been disappointing.

Sony announced a new generation PlayStation 4 system in February but spoke ambiguously about the device, leaving much to the imagination. The PS4 is to hit the market by the end of this year.

“Microsoft wins the nextgen game console launch wars," said Forrester analyst James McQuivey.

“Where first Nintendo offered us a tablet to accompany the millions we had already bought and Sony then offered us a box that we couldn’t even see, Microsoft has trumped them both by delivering the Xbox One.” Microsoft has apparently put its hardware and software mastery to effective use, bringing game controllers, tablets, smartphones, voice, and gesture together in the Xbox One. In a move that might irk gamers, Xbox One will not be compatible with titles designed

Kinect motion and sound sensing accessories accompanying the consoles recognise users; respond instantly to commands spoken in natural language. for play on its predecessor.

Microsoft sidestepped whether Xbox One would recognize second-hand disks and require activation fees to play, pumping revenue from used games.

“We haven’t gotten into the details of how we will enable those capabilities," Mehdi said.

“We want to make it easy for

you to enjoy your games with your friends and make it easy to buy and sell used games."

Pricing was expected to prove pivotal for console owners deciding whether to upgrade to Xbox One. New videogame consoles have traditionally debuted in the $300 to $500 range. “The hardcore gamer will buy it because that is what they do," said National Alliance analyst Mike Hickey. “Is there enough for the average consumer to go out and buy an expensive new console? That is debatable."

Mehdi maintained that a strong selling point is that Kinect devices, which were sold as Xbox 360 accessories, will be included with Xbox One consoles. He was not worried about the booming popularity of play on smartphones and tablet computers, saying that it has increased the appetite for interactive entertainment in what has grown to a $65 billion industry.

“Gaming is on the rise,” Mehdi said. “Every generation of console gaming has grown and we think it will grow even more with this generation.” AFP

The barrier to entry for the Unity game rendering engine for developers on iOS, Android and BlackBerry 10 has gotten lower, as use of Unity tech is now free on both mobile platforms. Unity announced the changed terms today during the Unite Nordic trade conference. The dropping of licensing fees for the engine’s basic tier means that features which once cost $800 now carry no charge at all. The change in pricing structure is all about building momentum for indie game creators and studio, according to Unity CEO David Helgason.

THIS MAYHAPPEN

In the upcoming overhaul of its iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch operating system, iOS 7, Apple plans to include an increased presence of third-party social networks, including Flickr and Vimeo, according to a person familiar with the software. Since the new software is yet to be officially announced, there is a very real possibility that any feature in testing could be removed prior to the announcement, this person said (much like Facebook integration was removed from iOS 4). With Flickr integration, iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch customers will have the ability to share photos stored and/or taken on devices to Flickr with a single tap from the system-wide share menu.

21

WEDNESDAY, MAY 22, 2013

Entertainment DIALOGUES WITH A PUNCH

CINE BYTES

NTR makes a strong statement

I

t’s been an extremely good year for NTR so far. He scored the biggest blockbuster of his career with Baadshah and if the teaser of his upcoming film Ramayya Vastavayya is anything to go by, he’s all set to make a big splash and how. The teaser, which was unveiled on his birthday recently, has NTR in a serious mode where he says this dialogue, “Buddodu buddodu ani antey guddaloodadeesi kodatha.

Ala anataaniki evarikainaa oka arhatha vundaali, leda naa abhimaani ayyundaali (I’ll strip you naked and also punch you, if you keep calling me kid. If you want to call me that either you ought to have some stature or you have to be my fan).”

Apart from NTR’s new styling, this dialogue has grabbed a lot of

attention and there are multiple versions about whom exactly was NTR referring to in this dialogue.

Few months ago, a section of media had aired reports on NTR in which they repeatedly used the word ‘buddodu’ and the word has been almost like his tag right from the beginning of his career.

Although, it’s just a dialogue in the film, it’s impact transcends beyond the screens.

Directed by Harish Shankar, the film has NTR, Samantha and Shruti Haasan in lead roles. Dil Raju is producing the film and SS Thaman is scoring the music. NTR will be seen as a college student in the film.

After Gabbar Singh, this is Harish Shankar’s second big project and it certainly looks like the film will play up to the galleries. With NTR in the lead role, that’s the least his fans would expect from him. Currently, the film’s shooting is going on in Ramoji Film city and the film is likely to hit the screens on September 27.

Lakshmi Rai joins Balupu’s cast

L

akshmi Rai has finally begun shooting her part in Ravi Teja’s upcoming film Balupu. She’s making a special appearance in the film and song will soon be canned on Lakshmi Rai and Ravi Teja. Shruti Haasan and Anjali are the lead actresses in this mass entertainer. Gopichand Malineni is directing it and the audio will be launched on June 1.

Charan, Shruti groove in Switzerland

R

am Charan, Shruti Haasan will soon be grooving for a song in Switzerland for their upcoming film Yevadu.

Vamshi Paidipally is directing the film and the crew flew to Switzerland a couple of days ago. Amy Jackson, Allu Arjun and Kajal Aggarwal are also part of this action thriller.

Bhai set to release in July

T

he next schedule of Nagarjuna, Richa Gangopadhyay starrer Bhai will begin from May 28 onwards in Hyderabad. The film was recently shot in Slovenia where a song was canned on the lead pair. Veerabhadram is directing the film and Nagarjuna is producing the film. DSP is scoring the music. The film is likely to hit the screens in July.

22

Entertainment WEDNESDAY, MAY 22, 2013

HER FILMYJOURNEY

CINE BYTES

I thought I’m too ugly to be an actress: Shruti Haasan A ctress Shruti Haasan, daughter of legendary actor Kamal Haasan and actress Sarika, always wanted to be in showbiz, but was skeptical about facing the camera because she didn’t find herself attractive enough to be a heroine.

“I always wanted to become an actress, but I always thought I am too ugly to be an actress. I was always playing sports, in the sun and always running around. I always thought heroines are so beautiful how will I be that beautiful? But I always wanted to be in the entertainment business. I always wanted to act, sing and be a part of it,” said Shruti who can also sing quite well.

The 27-year-old, who made her debut with Hindi movie Luck, will have two releases on June 19 — D-Day and Ramaiya Vasta Vaiya.

“It is good it just so happened,” she said about the simultaneous release of her two films and added: “I am happy that both are polar opposite films. For me, both the characters are so different from each other.

In a weird way, it is nice that both the films are coming out on the same day. It just shows the range,” she said.

The actress, who has featured in more than half-adozen films so far, including Telugu movie Anaganaga O Dheerudu, finds her journey unconventional.

“It’s been a kind of different journey. It is not a conventional journey of a star. I have never been a conventional person. My journey has taught me a lot.

There has been success and failure— they both taught me a lot.

It’s my journey and hopefully, will return more colours.”

IANS

Sushant Singh Rajput to shoot in Kashmir

F

ilmmaker Abhishek Kapoor, who introduced Sushant Singh Rajput to filmdom with Kai Po Che!, is all set to roll the cameras with the actor again for his next film, which will be widely shot in Kashmir. “The film is set in Kashmir and Delhi. So, naturally the script lends itself to be shot in the Valley,” Kapoor said.

IANS

Rishi, Ranbir to remake Awaara

R

ishi Kapoor and his son Ranbir are getting ready to step into Rishi’s grandfather Prithiviraj Kapoor and father Raj Kapoor’s roles in Raj Kapoor’s Awara. And with the remake of Awara, the Kapoors’ illustrious home banner RK Films would be grandly revived. Before that the Rishi Kapoor and wife Neetu Singh would be seen on screen with son Ranbir in Besharam.

Aishwarya new gown at Cannes gets bad ratings

A

ll eyes were on Aishwarya Rai Bachchan the moment she and her little one touched down at the French Riviera. All her appearances at Cannes have been highly publicised and criticised.

Aishwarya this time managed to get off with a stylish start. Her Ellie Saab gown drew in a lot of appreciation. However, her Abu Jani and Sandeep Khosla gown seems to have been termed as a ‘hiccup’ in her stylish journey.

Entertainment WEDNESDAY, MAY 22, 2013

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Entertainment WEDNESDAY, MAY 22, 2013

24

25

Entertainment WEDNESDAY, MAY 22, 2013

AFTER CANNES

CINE BYTES

Reese Witherspoon stars in

DEVIL’S KNOT W

ith the Cannes Film Festival nearing the finishing stretch, the independent film business already is turning its attention to the fall festival circuit. One title that’s likely to make an appearance is Atom Egoyan’s much-anticipated Devil’s Knot, loosely based on Mara Leveritt’s 2002 nonfiction book about the infamous West Memphis Three case. From Worldview Entertainment, the crime thriller stars Reese Witherspoon as Pam Hobbs, the mother of Steve Branch, one of the three children savagely murdered in Arkansas in 1993.

Alessandro Nivola plays Terry Hobbs, her husband and Steve’s stepfather. Colin Firth also stars.

The notorious case sparked nationwide headlines when Damien Echols, Jason Baldwin and Jessie Misskelley Jr. were convicted and sentenced to life in prison. After new forensic evidence was put forth and the case became a cause celebre, the three were released after serving 18 years.

CAA is selling North American rights to Devil’s Knot, while The Weinstein Co. is handling international sales.

Producers are Elizabeth Fowler, Richard Saperstein, Clark Peterson and Worldview CEO Christopher Woodrow. Worldview’s Molly Conners, Sarah Johnson Redlich, Maria Cestone and Hoyt David Morgan are exec producing.

Love scenes are judged: Michael Douglas

M

ichael Douglas says it is tough filming love scenes for any movie because everybody judges them. He has shot a gay love scene with actor Matt Damon in his forthcoming film Steven Soderbergh’s Behind the Candelabra. The 68-year-old believes that the cast, crew and eventually moviegoers are more critical of love scenes because everyone can relate to the acts.

Exhausted Ang Lee pulls out of Tyrant

O

scar-winning director Ang Lee has pulled out of directing drama pilot Tyrant as he is exhausted after filming his 3D magnum opus Life of Pi. The Taiwanese-American helmer committed to Howard Gordon’s high profile drama soon after winning a second best director Oscar for his India-set drama in February. PTI

Jonathan Rhys Meyers wanted for Star Wars 7?

F

ilmmaker JJ Abrams reportedly wants actor Jonathan Rhys Meyers to star in his upcoming film Star Wars Episode 7. The actor is in line to reunite with the Mission: Impossible 3 director in the highly-anticipated sequel, reported Digital Spy. PTI

WEDNESDAY, MAY 22, 2013

Chai Time

THOUGHT OF THE DAY

When the Day of Judgment dawns and people, great and small, come marching in to receive their heavenly rewards, the Almighty will gaze upon the mere bookworms and say to Peter, “Look, these need no reward. We have nothing to give them. They have loved reading.”

Virginia Woolf

KAKURO

QUICK CROSSWORD

26

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

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

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

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

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

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

ACROSS

PREVIOUS PUZZLE ANSWER

SCRIBBLING PAD

1 Walk with a hitch 5 Breaking ball 11 Org. for attorneys 14 Cosmetic additive 15 City on the Rio Grande 16 Bodybuilder’s unit 17 Good news 19 Vanishing PC monitor choice 20 Prepare to fire 21 Area on a liner 23 Silly as a goose 26 Exclamations of content 27 ___ one’s time (waits patiently) 28 Air intake cavity 30 Giving off light 31 Scottish negative 32 Get rid (of) 35 Annual refrain 40 Against the rules 41 Hold out one’s paw, say 43 Word with “cord” or “column” 46 Greatest of the apes 49 “Ripley’s Believe It ___” 50 Pledge-week network 52 Not up to the task 53 Twelve months ago 55 Genetic material 56 Hurricane’s center 57 Satisfied about 62 ___ down (disappoint) 63 Grammarians’ concerns 64 Soloist’s rendition at the opera 65 365-day periods, roughly 66 Some Japanese-Americans 67 Pinings

DOWN

1 Bring up the rear 2 Word with “mannered” or

equipped” 3 Bygone bird of New Zealand 4 Educated showoff 5 Like some pickings 6 Young boy 7 Type of whiskey or setter 8 They may be hammered out 9 Narrow winning margin 10 Common garden sight 11 Pinball palace 12 Candice of “Murphy Brown” 13 Best suited 18 Bleacher feature 22 Prepared potatoes 23 Quaint stopover 24 Man known for double takes?

25 Floating away?

26 Suspect’s need 29 Pastoral poem 30 Powerball game 33 Attack word 34 Bluenoses 36 Wine grape 37 Egg-laying mammal of Australia 38 Having the means 39 Bark like a dog 42 Piece in a B-movie, perhaps 43 To the exclusion of all else 44 Bedtime recitation 45 Maps in maps 47 Casaba’s covering 48 From one viewpoint 50 Praiseful hymn 51 Eschews humility 54 “Born Free” lioness 55 “I Love Lucy” co-star Arnaz 58 Match a poker bet 59 Intense anger 60 Kind of foil or soldier 61 “The time ___ come!”

Chai Time WEDNESDAY, MAY 22, 2013 Thiruvaikumar

STAR POWER for 23-5-2013

27

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

ARIES

TAURUS

GEMINI

CANCER

LEO

VIRGO

LIBRA

SCORPIO

SAGITTARIUS

CAPRICORN

AQUARIUS

PISCES

Politicians are advised to obey the High command’s instructions. Unexpected financial opportunity is on the cards for some. Litigation in ancestral property issues is likely. Avoid taking legal path but try to settle the issue amicably.

STRIP TEASE AGNES

Minor tensions are likely but keep your cool. Blood relatives will stand as strong support to you. Children will make you proud. Spouse and relatives will be more affectionate towards you and stand as a strong support to you.

Businessmen will overtake the competitors with their attractive plans. House plan approval will be received and construction to start soon. Debt issues will keep haunting you and it is necessary for you to take suitable steps to come out of the same.

Employees need to be careful as colleagues might try to put you in trouble. Unexpected financial opportunity is likely to keep you financially strong. You might have worries about your children’s future. Women’s friendship circle will expand.

Business will fire the erring staff.

Children will make you happy and proud. You will undertake renovation works in the ancestral property. Employees will be given challenging tasks by their superiors and test their caliber.

Need to act smart.

Old problems are likely to resurface again. Deal with patience. Government works will end satisfactorily.

Misunderstanding with spouse is likely. Try to remain cordial .

Businessmen can consider new investments for expansion.

Politicians are advised to remain neutral. Those deprived of child for some time, will get good news. You will come out of certain major issues by selling out one of your fixed assets. Indirect financial income will keep you relaxed.

Major issues will get resolved as you change your approach.

Court verdict will go in your favour. Unwanted doubts will rise about spouse in your mind; but it is advised to avoid such thoughts. Never share confidential matters with outsiders.

Some have bright chance to change their residence or buy new house of their own. A close friend whom you were longing to see will meet you surprisingly which will make you cheerful. You will clear a portion of your debt.

TAROT READ

Sumaa Tekur

tarotreadhyd@gmail. com

ARIES:

GEMINI:

Page of Pentacles – Spending time explaining the nittygritty of something to others will be helpful. You not only set prospects but make yourself approachable.

LEO:

Knight of Swords – Your personal relationships have improved a great deal and you are in the mood to charge ahead with your newfound freedom. Good luck!

LIBRA:

PEARLS BEFORE SWINE

King of Cups – There will be unwanted disturbances as you go about planning a project.

Don’t get disturbed by these. Take it easy and continue.

SAGITTARIUS:

Two of Cups – Your confidence is infectious. It takes you places but also gives strength to others around you.

Marriage is on the cards for singles.

TAURUS:

Eight of Swords – Youngsters develop a scientific temper and try new experiments with much enthusiasm. You also learn the art of understanding.

CANCER:

Queen of Pentacles – A short story submission for a competition will yield good results. You will feel empowered and creative. It gives you new energy.

VIRGO:

The Chariot – Set your priorities right. Between family and work, friends and your own hobbies, you need to choose the right thing at the right time. Tough call!

SCORPIO:

The Hanged Man – A rebellious streak in you finds voice again when a neighborhood problem comes to the fore and needs resolution.

CAPRICORN:

Four of Wands – You have to consider all sides of the story before you make a decision. There will be a time when your opinion will be asked for.

PREVIOUS SOLUTIONS

PISCES:

The Fool – New ideas mushroom. You have to learn to manage these thoughts and ensure you give them the right outlet for expression. Creative time!

NUMBER GAME

Swords – Managing self doubt is the biggest challenge you have had to face in recent times. It is a tough task, but you have to go through this.

SCRABBLE

AQUARIUS: Page of

POOCH CAFE

Employees need to remain cordial with superiors. They need to focus well in completing their jobs in time. Enemies will become inactive. As time is not favourable, you need toexpress opinions carefully, else you will be misunderstood.

for 23-5-2013

Queen of Swords – Someone may have said something very harsh to you that made you feel ashamed. Don’t brush it aside lightly.

Talk to this person.

NON SEQUITUR

Dream project of Artists might face hurdles. Misunderstanding about children will be over. Son will discontinue his friendship with bad friends. Money will come by from all the sources.

Politicians will get appreciation from the high command.

SUDUKO

Employees will be entrusted with more responsibilities.

Financial position will improve for better. Introduction with VIPs is likely to be beneficial. .

Politicians will be in the forefront in meetings and other welfare activities.

Boggle MAY JULY MARCH AUGUST JANUARY Vol: 2, No 306 RNI No: APENG/2011/39337 Published for the proprietors, Scribble Media and Entertainment Pvt Ltd, by V Harshavardhan Reddy, at #1246, Level 3, Jubilee Casa, Road No 62, Jubilee Hills, Hyderabad – 500033 and printed by him at Jagati Publications Ltd, Plot No D-75&E-52, APIE Industrial Estate, Balanagar, Ranga Reddy Dist, Hyderabad – 500037, Editor: Dean Williams – Responsible for selection of news under the PRB Act All rights reserved.

Reproduction in whole or in part without written permission of the publisher is prohibited. For feedback, please write to: feedback@postnoon. com and for subscription, please call 040-4067 2222, Fax: 040-4067 2211

28

Entertainment WEDNESDAY, MAY 22, 2013

CANNES DAY 7

BEHIND THE SCENES

DON’T YOU KNOW WHO I AM?

S

ecurity is so tight at the festival this year that the star of the new Coen brothers movie Oscar Isaacs was nearly locked out of his own premiere. “I went out to take a piss and they wouldn’t let me back in, I missed the first half hour of the film!” the US actor who sings and plays guitar in the bleakly comic film about a folk singer chasing fame in 1960s New York said.

JAPANESE THRILLER

gets biggest boos in Cannes race

A

blood-soaked vengeance tale from Japan drew the biggest boos in the race for the Cannes Film Festival’s top prize Monday, with critics savaging a “risible” parade of cliches.

Controversial Japanese director Takashi Miike unveiled Shield of Straw (Wara No Tate) about a nationwide bounty hunt for a child rapist who murders the seven-year-old granddaughter of a billionaire politician.

The man offers a one-billion-yen ($9.7-million) reward for the criminal’s capture and killing. The offer touches off a frenzy in the country, sending hordes of would-be vigilantes on the chase for the murderer.

Fearing for his life, the paedophile turns himself in and a team of cops — a widower whose wife was killed by a drunk driver and a single mother — see it as their duty to protect him at all costs despite his vile crimes.

But they must fend off all manner of armed assailants — some driven by greed for the reward and others, crime victims themselves who feel

let down by the system, by a desire for a delayed sense of justice. The picture, one of 20 vying for the Palme d’Or award, got off to a promising start with impromptu applause for a spectacular ambush scene executed with military precision.

But reviewers said the film went off the rails during a bullet-train scene in which the cops deliver long speeches about their personal motivations and reflections on the moral quandary they face over risking their lives to guard a remorseless killer, only pausing to brutally dispatch blood-thirsty bountyhunters. British critic Geoff

Andrew took to Twitter to deride “risibly overacted, overemphatic nonsense that constantly states the obvious cliche”.

Movie magazine CineVue posted a review within minutes giving the picture one star out of five and calling it a “stone-cold dud” while cult film watcher Electric Sheep said it went “down like a lead balloon”. The Irish Times reviewer, however, had a few kind words for the “classy action sequences” and predicted a big-budget Hollywood remake.

“Few action movies have been so dedicated to the cause of liberal democracy

and trial by jury. Shield of Straw is the anti-Dirty Harry,” it wrote, referring to the iconic Clint Eastwood franchise.

Miike, a remarkably prolific director whose work has been banned in some countries for excessive gore, lamented that the Japanese cinema industry was turning its back on what he called a proud tradition of blockbuster action movies.

“It’s not the viewers who don’t want to see these films, it’s the professionals, the people who make films,” he told reporters. “Some of the scenes, particularly the highspeed train, we weren’t able to make in Japan so we did them in Taiwan,” he said, noting that Japanese authorities had objected on security grounds.

Miike admitted that his film was unlikely to capture the top prize when jury president Steven Spielberg announces the winner Sunday. “I don’t really think that this is a film that’s made for the Palme d’Or but I’m happy a different class of film has been allowed in the official competition,” he said. “If the film can stimulate audiences I’d be delighted.” AFP

Keanu Reeves’ directorial debut

D

etails have been emerging of Keanu Reeves’ directorial debut A man of Tai Chi, a Chinese co-produced kung fu movie. Set in modernday China and filmed in Beijing and Hong Kong, it has dialogue in English, Mandarin and Cantonese. he told reporters he started to think about directing about five years ago.

In too deep

N

orwegian actor Aksel Hennie spent time in decompression chambers and dived to a depth of 60 metres (190 feet) in preparation for Insomnia director Erik Skjoldbjaerg’s new film.

But nothing prepared him for the reality of the mostly nighttime shoots in Iceland close to a glacier. Pioneer, a thriller about super competitive alpha-male divers, is set at the height of the Norwegian oil boom of the early 1980s.

AFP

sports

29

WEDNESDAY, MAY 22, 2013

NBA

Spurs hold off Memphis Grizzlies San Antonio Spurs held off the late-charging Memphis Grizzlies to triumph 93-89 in overtime.

SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS: The San Antonio Spurs held off the late-charging Memphis Grizzlies to triumph 93-89 in overtime on Tuesday and stretch their lead in the NBA Western Conference finals to 2-0.

Tim Duncan’s 17 points included six of the Spurs’ eight points in overtime, when he also delivered a key block to help San

Antonio hang on. Tony Parker scored 15 points and handed out a career-high 18 assists for the Spurs, who emerged with the win despite seeing a 13-point lead evaporate with seven and a half minutes left in regulation.

The Spurs, who thumped the Grizzlies 105-83 in game one on Sunday, will try to extend their dominance as the series shifts to

Memphis for games three and four on Saturday and Monday.

The winner of the series will advance to the NBA finals and battle the Eastern Conference champions for the league crown.

Reigning NBA champs Miami host Indiana in the opening game of the Eastern Conference finals on Wednesday.

Memphis again struggled

Zach Randolph #50 of Memphis Grizzlies attempts a shot against Tim Duncan #21, Manu Ginobili #20 and Kawhi Leonard #2 of San Antonio Spurs during Game Two of the 2013 NBA Playoffs on May Tuesday.

AFP

offensively, connecting on just 34 percent of their shots from the field. But the Grizzlies displayed their dominant defense late in

GIRO D’ITALIA

SPORTS BRIEFS

Benat Intxausti wins stage

IVREA, ITALY: Astana’s Vincenzo Nibali kept possession of the Giro d’Italia race leader’s pink jersey for another night after a strong showing in Tuesday’s 16th stage.

Benat Intxausti of Spain, riding for the Movistar team, won the stage, a 238km ride from the French resort of Valloire, in 5hr 52.48min.

Intxausti beat Estonian Tanel Kangert into second in a sprint finish, with Nibali and his rivals in the general classification, Australian Cadel Evans and Colombian Rigoberto Uran, coming in as part of the same peloton 14sec behind. Evans stands 1min 26sec off Nibali, with Uran 2.46 off the Italian’s pace. “You might have thought the stage would be easy, but it wasn’t the case,” Nibali said.

“A lot of riders from Monday’s day off. The Giro, the Tour, they’re raced like that. In the final descent, I didn’t try to gain time, I only sought to control. It’s been a good day, I can only be happy.” The big loser of the day’s racing was Mauro Santambrogi, the Vcini Fantini rider starting in fourth overall but losing more than two minutes.

“Over three weeks, a bad day can happen to anyone,” said Santambrogio in reference to Bradley Wiggins and Michele Scarponi. “Today was my turn. Tomorrow, I’ll ride out calmly

Spanish Benat Intxausti of the Movistar team sprays champagne as he celebrates on the podium after winning the 16th stage of the 96th Giro d’Italia cycling race from Valloire in France to Ivrea in Italy on Tuesday.

AFP/LUK BENIES

with the goal of doing well at each occasion that presents itself.

“Even if it didn’t happen today as I had hoped, I can’t complain about my Giro.” A 22-rider breakaway formed several times in the ascent of MontCenis mountain frontier between France and Italy, Nibali and his team content to hand them a lead that once

stretched to almost five minutes.

But they were eventually reeled back in with 20km to race, with Astana taking up the lead.

Evans and Uran reeled in Nibali’s group 11.5km from the finish after the Italian had gone on the attack down a spectacular descent that featured a series of hairpin turns.

AFP

DOPING

French rider faces drugs hearing IVREA, ITALY: French rider Sylvain Georges is facing a disciplinary hearing after confirmation Tuesday of the presence of a banned substance in a sample taken after last week’s Giro d’Italia seventh stage.

The stimulant heptaminol was dete-

regulation, producing a 15-2 scoring run that forced overtime.

Mike Conley and Jerryd Bayless scored 18 points apiece.

cted in the AG2R cyclist’s urine after the May 10th seventh stage, with the B sample released by cycling’s governing body the UCI confirming the original finding. “Conforming to the rules, the UCI will ask the French Cycling Federation to start a disci-

plinary procedure against the rider,” a UCI statement announced.

Georges quit the Tour of Italy following his positive test. Heptaminol, used to improve blood circulation, is available over the counter in pharmacies in France.

AFP

Police probe threat against Parker: reports

LOS ANGELES: Authorities in San Antonio are investigating a 911 emergency call threatening Spurs point guard Tony Parker during an NBA playoff game on Sunday, local media reported.

Local television station KSAT reported on its website KSAT.com that Parker’s life was threatened, although a spokesman for the Bexar County Sheriff’s Office declined to specify the nature of the threat in speaking with the San Antonio Express newspaper.

The caller telephoned 911 with about five minutes left in Sunday’s Western Conference championship game against Memphis and threatened the French player.

San Antonio police received the call and passed the information to the sheriff’s office, which handles security at the Spurs’ arena.

AFP

Boonen turns back on Tour de France

BRUSSELS: Tom Boonen hinted on Tuesday that his days of competing on the Tour de France were behind him. “Will I be at the start of the Tour again? The chance is very low,” said Tom, who has taken part in six editions of the race. Patrick Lefevere, manager of Boonen’s team, Omega Pharma, said he would not try and force his rider into a change of heart. I don’t want to make him compete, you shouldn’t change the opinion of a rider who has doubts about an event that lasts three weeks.”

AFP

Wahab clinches title

HYDERABAD: SA Wahab and Amreen Naaz won the U-18 Boys and Girls titles respectively of the Amway Nutrilite AP State Ranking Tournament.

Results: Boys U-18: SA Wahab bt Justice Ikeh 8-3.

Girls U-18: Amreen Naaz bt Fionar R William.

sports

30

WEDNESDAY, MAY 22, 2013

ASHES SERIES

Oz set to beat England Clarke and Haddin insisted that Australia’s disastrous series in India was history and the team was fired up to win back the Ashes from England.

SYDNEY: Captain Michael Clarke and his deputy Brad Haddin Wednesday insisted Australia’s disastrous series in India was history with the team fired up to win back the Ashes from England.

Australia play five Tests against their arch-rivals starting in Nottingham on July 10, and several of the team are leaving this weekend ahead of the June 6-23 Champions Trophy in England.

At a farewell event in Sydney, Clarke said the side’s excitement was palpable.

“We have probably the most exciting 12 months of our careers ahead of us,” he said, referring to back-to-back Ashes campaigns with Australia hosting England during the 2013/2014 southern hemisphere summer.

Australia play five Tests against their arch-rivals England starting in Nottingham on July 10.

“We have been working extremely hard. We know that we go to England and we will be up against very good opposition.

At this stage, they are certainly

the favourites, but we look forward to that challenge.

“There is not one cricket game where I’ve walked out onto the field with the Australian team and not expected to win, and this series will be no different,” Clarke added.

To prepare, the team have spent the past four weeks at Cricket Australia’s Centre of Excellence in Brisbane and Clarke said winning the Ashes would not be about individual

performances, but a team effort.

“There’s a lot of talk about our fast bowlers and we have plenty of talent,” he said.

“But I think it will come down to the batters making runs, the spin department doing their role and our fast bowlers maximising conditions.

“Without doubt the Ashes tour is the most special, but it does take a whole squad of 16 players to have success.”

With Shane Watson standing down from his vice-captain role after his controversial axing on disciplinary grounds in India, the experienced Haddin has been recalled to add stability.

Selectors hope his presence will help bring some authority to a side dogged by in-fighting and poor discipline in India, where the team was thrashed 4-0. AFP

‘Warner could still be captain’ SYDNEY: Skipper Michael Clarke has thrown his support behind embattled opener David Warner, saying Wednesday he could still captain Australia despite facing a disciplinary hearing over a Twitter rant.

Warner is due to appear at Cricket Australia later Wednesday over an alleged code of conduct breach after a heated social media tirade at two of the country’s top cricket writers.

He faces sanctions ranging from a fine to suspension or counselling.

Clarke said Warner, who launched his rant while playing for the Delhi Daredevils in the Indian Premier League tournament, had apologised and learned from the incident.

AFP

FRENCH OPEN

Murray withdraws from tourney LONDON: Andy Murray will miss the French Open with the back injury that flared up at the Rome Masters, the world number two announced on Tuesday.

After meeting with medical specialists Murray has decided to skip the second Grand Slam of the year at Roland Garros to ensure he is fully fit for Wimbledon.

“It’s a really tough decision and I love playing in Paris, but after seeking medical advice, I am not fit to compete,” the US Open and Olympic champion explained in a statement to Britain’s Press Association.

“After consultation with his team and medical specialists, Andy has reluctantly withdrawn from the French Open and will instead focus on preparation for the grass court

Andy Murray will miss the French Open with the back injury that flared up at the Rome Masters, which was held recently. season,” the statement added.

Murray had raised the possibility of his absence from the French Open after retiring with the back problem in his second-round match against Spain’s Marcel Granollers at the Rome Masters last week.

“I’d be very surprised if I was playing in Paris,” a subdued Murray said then.

This will be the first Grand Slam he has missed since Wimbledon in 2007.

PAKISTAN VS IRELAND Pakistan raring to go DUBLIN: Pakistan are keener than ever to get back on the field for the first of two ODIs against Ireland on Thursday after their second ODI against Scotland was a wash-out. As Ireland are the strongest team outside the Full Members it promises to be a more

searching examination for the team as the countdown to the Champions Trophy starts in earnest.

Although Scotland caused Misbah ul-Haq’s side early problems in both innings of the first game, a captain’s knock doubled the tourists’ score in the last 20 overs.

The injury was the same one which required him to take a painkilling injection in order to play Roland Garros last year where he reached the quarter-finals.

Murray will now aim to return for the start of the grasscourt season at Queens Club on June 10. “(The back) has not been perfect for a long period, I want it to start feeling good again. Everyone goes into matches with niggles, but this is very frustrating,” added Murray after his Rome retirement.

“I don’t want to go into details, but I’ve got a disc problem, it changes week to week. It’s been an issue for a while, but I want to make sure it goes away.

“I don’t want to be playing with it long-term, it’s not enjoyable at all.”

BADMINTON

China to face Indonesia again

KUALA LUMPUR: Luck was not on Indonesia’s side on Tuesday as hours after suffering a crushing 5-0 defeat to China, they were drawn to meet the eight-time Sudirman Cup champions again, this time in the quarterfinals.

Germany, who stunned hosts Malaysia 3-2, were matched against South Korea, while Taiwan will meet

Denmark, and Thailand will face Japan in the other quarter-finals on Thursday.

Germany qualified for the last eight of the Sudirman Cup on Tuesday, when they upset third seeds Malaysia in a tight encounter, which went to the wire.

The Group C match lasted close to five hours before Birgit Michels

and Johanna Golsizewski defeated Woon Khe Wei and Vivian Hoo 21-16, 16-21, 21-18 to clinch the tie for the European champions.

Earlier in the day, China, who are chasing their fifth consecutive title, trounced Indonesia 5-0 to top Group A. Chinese coach Li Yongbo said his team is ready to meet anyone in the quarter-finals.

AFP

IPL 6

31

BATTLE OF THE TITANS

METER

6 S 648

FLASH

Mumabi Indians’ Dinesh Karthik was fined 5% of his match fee for breaching IPL Code of Conduct during the match against Chennai Super Kings at Ferozeshah Kotla on Tuesday. Karthik admitted to the Level 1 offence (Article 2.1.3) of showing dissent at an umpire’s decision.

Michael Hussey (CSK) 732 runs Dwayne Bravo (CSK) 268 wickets

Pune Warriors pulls out of IPL

PTI

81

Michael Hussey (CSK)

HIGHEST SCORE

175*

Chris Gayle (RCB)

BEST BOWLER

5-16

James Faulkner (RR)

SRH aim for Sunrise G APARNA SAI

aparna.s@postnoon.com

S

unrisers Hyderabad and Rajasthan Royals are set to clash in the eliminator which is scheduled to be played in Delhi today.

The Sunrisers have undoubtedly been the surprise package of the tournament. Playing for the first time in this tournament, the Hyderabad side has done pretty well to have made it to the playoffs.

Though their batting has been a bit of a worry, their bowling has compensated for that.

But in the recent past, their batting has also improved and as a team, they have bonded very well.

Parthiv Patel and Shikhar Dhawan have performed well as the openers. While the middle order has faltered a bit, players like Biplab Samantray, Karan Sharma, Darren Sammy and

ELIMINATOR SRH VS RR AT 8PM ON SET MAX

Thisara Perera have managed to see the team sail to safety.

The bowling has been their strength and with the likes of Dale Steyn and Amit Mishra in the side, it has added to their advantage.

Meanwhile, the Rajasthan Royals, though marred by the recent spot-fixing controversies, is a team to be wary of.

The Rahul Dravid led side has performed in a disciplined manner.

Ajiknay Rahane and Dravid have been the perfect openers for the team while players like Sanju Samson, Shane Watson and Stuart Binny have contributed every time the Royals needed them to.

Sunrisers Hyderabad and Rajasthan Royals have played each other twice, during the league stage and both have won a match each.

Today, it remains to be seen as to which team emerges successful at a time when it actually matters and inches closer to the final against Chennai Super Kings.

IN A TIGHT ‘SPOT’

SCORECARD

T

he scandal-hit IPL on Tuesday suffered yet another blow with the Sahara Group-owned Pune Warriors India withdrawing from the cash-rich event due to BCCI’s decision to encash the team’s bank guarantee followng a prolonged financial dispute.

Sahara, which bought the franchise for ` 1,700 crore in 2010, said it was “disgusted” by the BCCI’s attitude towards it and will not rejoin the league even if the entire franchise fee was waved off, giving a new twist to the already troubled league which has seen a spate of controversies since its inception. “...we would not keep the IPL franchisee even if the entire franchisee fee is waved off. It is firm and final decision of Sahara to withdraw from IPL,” the Sahara Group said in a lengthy statement which expained the reasons for their pull-out.

Sahara said it was peeved by BCCI’s failure to initiate arbitration proceedings to lower their franchise fee despite several reminders. “In 2010, Sahara had bid ` 1,700 crore for IPL franchise on the basis of revenue calculation on 94 matches. It was tricky on part of BCCI to put the number in media as 94 matches for getting bigger amount. But we got 64 matches only,” it added.

51 4S 1965

Chris Gayle (RCB),

WEDNESDAY, MAY 22, 2013

CHENNAI SUPER KINGS V MUMBAI INDIANS KD Karthik† lbw b Jadeja

Chennai Super Kings innings (20 overs maximum) MEK Hussey not out

86

M Vijay c Smith b Pollard

23

SK Raina not out

82

Extras (lb 1)

1

Total (1 wicket; 20 overs)

192

Bowling

O

M R

W Econ

MG Johnson

4

0 40

0 10.00

MM Patel

3

0 32

0 10.66

Harbhajan

4

0 26

0

SL Malinga

4

0 45

0 11.25

PP Ojha

2

0 20

0 10.00

6.50

DR Smith c Raina b Jadeja

8

KA Pollard c Hussey b Jadeja

24

AT Rayudu c Morris b Sharma

15

Harbhajan Singh c Vijay b Bravo

0

MG Johnson c Raina b Bravo

6

SL Malinga c Hussey b Bravo

0

PP Ojha c Bravo b Sharma

0

MM Patel not out

0

Extras (lb 3, w 1, nb 1)

5

Total (all out; 18.4 overs)

144

Bowling

O

M R

W Econ

MM Sharma

3.4

0 32

2

8.72

JA Morkel

3

0 26

1

8.66

CH Morris

3

0 26

1

8.66

68

R Ashwin

2

0 17

0

8.50

7

RA Jadeja

4

0 31

3

7.75

DJ Bravo

3

0

3

3.00

KA Pollard 3 0 28 1 9.33 Mumbai Indians innings (target: 193 runs from 20 overs) AP Tare c Vijay b Morkel

11

RG Sharma* c Bravo b Morris

9

Chennai Super Kings won by 48 runs

Sreesanth sits in a car after being produced at Saket court in New Delhi on Tuesday for his alleged links with bookies accused of spot-fixing in the IPL’s on-going edition.

PTI/KAMAL SINGH

WEDNESDAY, MAY 22, 2013

sports

MONTANIER TO SWAP LA REAL FOR RENNES

Philippe Montanier will leave Spanish side Real Sociedad at the end of this season to take over at French Ligue 1 club Rennes, it was confirmed on Tuesday. Real Sociedad revealed that Montanier would leave the Basque club at the end of the season after rejecting the offer of a new contract.

MERGER

ANOTHER GOODBYE

A new team is born In this file photo, the Manchester City team side, during one of their Premier League matches.

NEW YORK: Manchester City and the New York Yankees are teaming up to launch a new Major League Soccer club in New York City, MLS Commissioner Don Garber said Tuesday.

Garber said the English Premiership club and Major League Baseball’s storied franchise had acquired the league’s 20th expansion club which will be called New York City Football Club (NYCFC) and is expected to begin play in 2015.

“We proudly welcome two of the most prestigious professional global sports organizations to Major League Soccer,” Garber said. “This is a transformational development that will elevate the league to new heights in this country.

“The New York area is home to more than 19 million people, and we look forward to an

32

intense crosstown rivalry between New York City Football Club and the New York Red Bulls that will captivate this great city.”

The new team will seek to

Manchester City and the New York Yankees are teaming up to launch a new Major League Soccer club in New York City.

build a permanent home in New York, perhaps at the site in Flushing Meadows near the home of the US Open tennis championships that MLS has been exploring, but perhaps else-

Baseball side New York Yankees have a stake in the new MLS franchise.

where.

Until its facility is built it will make arrangements for an interim venue.

Ferran Soriano, chief executive of Manchester City, will oversee the process of filling top NYCFC leadership positions.

“We are thrilled to contribute to the energy and growth of New York City Soccer,” he said. “In the Yankees, we have found the absolute best partner for developing a world-class sports organization and a winning team that will carry the New York City Football Club name with pride.”

Manchester City will be the majority owner of the club. As an investor, the Yankees will be active in the ownership group.

The two clubs already have a commercial relationship through the Legends Hospitality entertainment and marketing organisation.

Pulis leaves Stoke after seven years LONDON: Manager Tony Pulis has left Stoke after seven years in charge, the Premier League club announced late Tuesday. His departure, by mutual consent, was widely anticipated following his talks earlier in the day with Stoke chairman Peter Coates.

“Stoke City and Tony Pulis confirm that they have mutually agreed that Tony will leave the club with immediate effect,” the Potters confirmed in a statement. Pulis, who following the retirement of Alex Ferguson and David Moyes’ move into the Manchester United hotseat was the secondlongest serving manager in the country, leaves Stoke in a far better position than he found them.

He was appointed Stoke boss for a second spell in 2006, and under his watch the club gained promotion to the Premier League in 2008 after a 23 year absence. He led them to their first FA Cup final, losing to Manchester City by a single goal in 2011, and as a result their first Europa League campaign.

CHAMPIONS LEAGUE FINAL PREVIEW

Bayern out to exorcise ghosts of 2012 defeat BERLIN: Bayern Munich are out to exorcise the ghosts of losing the 2012 Champions League final at home to Chelsea when they take on Borussia Dortmund on Saturday at Wembley for the European title.

This will be Bayern’s third European final in four years after the 2-0 defeat in 2010 to Jose Mourinho’s Inter Milan in Madrid, then the acute disappointment of losing last May’s penalty shoot-out in Munich.

Ever since it was announced in January 2010 that the 2012 final would be held at Bayern’s Allianz Arena, the Bavarians had targeted lifting the cup ‘dahoam’ — ‘at home’ in the local dialect.

Having beaten Basel, Marseille and Real Madrid to reach the final, Germany star Thomas Mueller gave the hosts an 83rd-minute lead, putting Bayern on course for their fifth European title. Until Chelsea ruined Munich’s party.

Ivory Coast star Didier Drogba — on his last appearance in a Blues shirt — equalised from his team’s only corner of the game on 88 minutes, then converted the final penalty as the Londoners won the shoot-out 4-3 to break Bayern’s hearts.

“I experienced the 1999 final, when we lost so dramatically to Manchester United in Barcelona,” said Bayern chairman KarlHeinz Rummenigge in the wake of the Chelsea defeat.

AFP