Postnoon E-Paper for May 25th 2013

MONSOON TO HIT AP ON JUNE 5?

T

he sizzling summer could soon end. The Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) has forecast that the monsoon will hit AP any day between June 5 and 7. The IMD has forecast the onset of the SW monsoon this year over Kerala on June 3.

PG 4

WWW.POSTNOON.COM

WEATHER: A MIX OF CLOUDY AND CLEAR SKIES; 37°C

Hyderabad’s first compact afternoon newspaper

MAY 25, 2013 HYDERABAD

32 PAGES

`3

ON SATURDAY

PRAYER DYING

A FOR THE REPORT ON PG 5

Free palliative care, accommodation, activities and facilities for terminally-ill patients to live a peaceful life — yet nearly half the beds lie vacant as many people do not know what a hospice is or where to go looking for one.

Gurunath spends night in lock-up, to be produced in court After spending a night in the crime branch lock-up, Gurunath Meiyappan, son-in-law of BCCI chief N Srinivasan, is likely to be produced before a magistrate for remand in Mumbai Saturday afternoon, police sources said. Joint Commissioner of Police (Crime) Himanshu Roy said early on Saturday that Meiyappan, who was arrested around midnight, would be produced before a court within 24 hours. “We have sufficient evidence to conclude his involvement in the spot-fixing case,” Roy told mediapersons.

PG 31

2

PAGE TWO SATURDAY, MAY 25, 2013

WHITE KNUCKLE

Astronomy talk Talks and practical sessions on basic astronomy by Dr Priya Hasan and Dr SN Hasan.

Where: Lamakaan, Banjara Hills When: May 25, 4.30 pm Contact: 96427-31329

Mind care workshop A de-addiction and mind care workshop by Dr Hari and Dr Devika.

Where: Nalanda - The World Wisdom Centre, Banjara Hills When: May 25, 6 pm to 8 pm.

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 Danezi - Knutsen will be screened.

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

Students get trained in boxing at Victory Play Ground, Chaderghat on Friday.

Where: Treasure House, Jubilee Hills.

When: May 25, 11 am

will be on display.

Where: Iconart Gallery, Banjara Hills When: Till June 3

Traveller’s lunch Obsessive travellers' lunch will be organised.

Where: Beyond Coffee, Jubilee Hills.

When: May 25, 1 pm

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

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

Movie mania Lora from morning till evening will be staged.

Where: Annapurna International School of Film + Media (AISFM), Hyderabad When: May 26, 12 noon.

Wet paper painting Wet paper painting workshop by Sakshi Mudaliar will be held.

Where: Our Sacred Space, Secunderabad When: May 27, May 29 and May 31, 10.30 am to 12 noon.

Contact: 9030013344

Photography workshop Photography workshop for kids will be held.

Where: Treasure House, Banjara Hills When: May 27 to May 30 Contact: 23355118

Street food from Malaysia The Malaysian Street Food Experience will be organised.

Where: New Town Coffee House, Banjara Hills When: May 26, 7 pm

Robo talk

Dancing puppets

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.

Dancing puppets event will be held for children.

Relations and Reflections

CINEMAS

Pet adoption A pet adoption drive will be held.

Where: Zoroastrian Club, SD Road, Secunderabad.

When: May 26, 9 am to 5 pm Contact: 78933-32345

Paintings of Shambu Prasad Reddy

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

3

CITY SATURDAY, MAY 25, 2013

Youth ends life for lover

A

Thieves scoot with loot

22-year-old youth committed suicide by hanging himself at his home in Sultan Bazar. The deceased, P Bhardwaj, started a business after his graduation. He fell in love with a girl but the latter’s parents opposed to their love affair. The girl was forcibly married off to another person.

Upset, Bhardwaj took extreme step.

Sultan Bazar police have booked a case.

Real estate seminar today

T

C

wo unidentified thieves snatched five-tolas of gold mangalsutram from a woman at Bowenpally.

The victim Shobha Rani,a resident of Chenna Reddy Nagar of Bowenpally, was walking home after meeting her relatives who reside near her home. Two masked thieves came on a motorcycle and snatched her gold chain. The duo fled from the scene within no time.

orporate Real Estate has organised an NRI investor forum pre-tenant and commercial properties seminar at Vatika Business Centre, Road No 12 Banjara hills from 9 am. City’s leading developers will take part. Hyderabad has an awesome lot of pre-tenant high-value property for NRI investors, organisers said.

Contact 8885760099.

TDP eyes women voters The Telugu Desam Party, which had lost twice to the Congress in a row in the previous elections, announced pro-women schemes to garner their support in the upcoming elections.

Md INKESHAF AHMED

ahmed.m@postnoon.com

T

hey played a crucial role in the victory of main opposition Telugu Desam Party in two consecutive Assembly elections — 1994 and 1999. They made the TDP the symbol of their development when it put a blanket ban on consumption of liquor in the State. But in the 2004 and 2009 Assembly elections, they played an equally important role in ensuring the defeat of the TDP. We are talking about the women voters in the State.

The women in the State are poised to play their important part once again in the upcoming General Elections, due to be held in 2014. Keeping in mind their importance in the ensuing General Elections, TDP chief N Chandrababu Naidu has come up with vote-catching promises to turn women voters as his party’s loyal supporters once again.

Naidu had announced that he would eliminate belt shops that are illegally selling liquor if he was voted to power in the

2014 polls. Naidu’s announcement was not only aimed at attracting the attention of women folk in he State, but it intended to check the menace of liquor consumption, especially in rural areas.

“The party had lost twice to Congress as the women voters in the State deserted us. Various reasons led to this situation.

Now, we are seriously trying to secure the support of the women

voters in the State again by announcing various pro-women schemes,” TDP’s women’s wing president Shoba Hymavathi told Postnoon on Friday.

She added that a section of women still support the TDP for various reasons. “During the padayatra of the party president, one young woman at Anakapalli came up to him and said that she was feeling insecure in the backdrop of the sen-

sational Delhi gang-rape incident and told him that he alone could provide a sense of security to women in the State. She further said that her only wish is to see him as the CM of the State as it would help women feel secured,” Hymavathi said.

Naidu immediately announced that he would set up a special women protection force to provide security to women after returning to power.

Another mahila leader of the party, Satya Vani, said that they had decided to take the highest number of welfare measures for the development of the women community in the State if they returned to power.

“Well, we observed a lot of problems faced by women during the padayatra. There were issues which literally brought tears to our eyes. Keeping these things in mind, our party has decided to provide a large number of welfare incentives for the upliftment and development of women in our State,” she said.

In the 2009 General Elections too, the total number of women voters stood at 2.86 crore and the number of male voters stood at only 2.8 crore.

A similar situation is likely to present itself at the next Assembly polls.

2 realtors held for extortion Postnoon News feedback@postnoon.com

T

wo real estate agents belonging to Hyderabad were arrested by the Mumbai police with the help of the Golconda police. After being arrested, the two, identified as Abdul Qadir and Anand, were sent to Mumbai, according to police sources.

According to police, Qadir is a resident of Golconda and Anand is a resident of Langar House, but both hail from Mumbai.

A few years ago, the two men came to the City and started working as real estate agents.

They recently travelled to Mumbai, where they collected a huge amount of money from a jewellery businessman by threatening him. After the loot, they returned to the City.

Meanwhile, the businessman lodged a complaint at the Gurgaon police station in Mumbai.

The Mumbai police came here to arrest the duo with the help of local cops. They were produced before the court on Friday.

Police said that the two were involved in other criminal cases in Mumbai and were also involved in many extortion cases.

Woman thrown out for delivering baby girl Mohd Subhan mohd.s@postnoon.com

T

he Begumpet women police registered a case against three members of a family for abandoning the complainant after she delivered a baby girl.

The victim Rani, 28, a native of Himayatnagar was married to a man named Srinivasa Rao of Addagutta in 2011. Rao works as an employee with a private firm in the City. Rani’s father, Raj Mohan, told the police that he had given `10 lakh in cash, 30 tolas gold, one kilogram silver, a motorcycle and other valuables articles to Rao during the marriage in the form of dowry.

According to the victim,

after the marriage, her husband and in-laws wanted her to deliver a baby boy. They visited several temples and offered special prayers seeking for this.

However, Rani gave birth to a girl child at a private hospital, where she was abandoned by her husband and in-laws.

The victim, along with newborn girl, went to Rao’s house, where she was not allowed to enter. Further, her in-laws allegedly threatened her that they would kill her if she entered the house with the girl.

Vexed with Rao’s family members, she lodged a complaint with the Begumpet police, who then started a probe.

Similarly, a seven-month-old

pregnant woman, Anjum Unissa Begum, was thrown out of her home by her husband and inlaws, who demanded extra dowry.

Anjum, a native of Bilalnagar in Old City, married Hameeduddin of Bowenpally in May 2012. The victim’s father gave cash and articles in the form of dowry at the time of marriage.

However, Anjum’s husband and her in-laws started to harass her, demanding extra dowry after the marriage. She was expelled from the house as her father was unable to pay the amount.

After that, Anjum lodged a complaint with Begumpet women police.

4

CITY SATURDAY, MAY 25, 2013

MONSOON

to hit on June 5?

YEAR

2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012

Actual Onset Date June 7 May 26 May 28 May 31 May 23 May 31 May 29 June 5

Forecast Onset Date June 10 May 30 May 24 May 29 May 26 May 30 May 31 June 1

With summer draining the City out, Postnoon finds out when monsoons are likely to hit the State this year.

ALEENA ALICE

aleena.t@postnoon.com

T

he hot spell over the State will continue until the southwest (SW) monsoons hit AP sometime between June 5 and June 7, says the Indian Meteorological Department’s (IMD) forecast.

IMD has predicted the onset of the SW monsoon this year over Kerala by June 3.

As compared to the usual

date of onset of monsoons — June 1 — there is a slight delay this year because of cyclone Mahasen over Central Bay of Bengal.

“Cyclonic activity delays the monsoon flow, which is currently at the South Andaman sea and will touch Kerala by June 3 with a plus or minus error of four days. If the onset over Kerala is as predicted, then monsoon should hit AP by June 5,” said K Seetharam, scientist “E” flood metrological department, Hyderabad.

“This year, the rainfall is

expected to be 98 per cent of the long term average from JuneSeptember, in the entire country, which means the rainfall for Andhra Pradesh is expected to be 58 per cent this year,” said Seetharam.

IMD has used a model based on the principal component regression technique for predicting the monsoon this year. This particular technique uses six predictors like minimum temperature over northwest India, pre-monsoon rainfall peak over south peninsula, outgoing longwave radiation (OLR) over South

China Sea, lower tropospheric zonal wind over the southwest Indian Ocean, the upper tropospheric zonal wind over the east equatorial Indian Ocean and the OLR over the Pacific region.

Meanwhile, the temperature continues to rise and will get worse in the next few days, say the Met department officials.

IMD has issued a heat wave warning for the next two days for the City and advised denizens not to venture out, especially from noon to 4pm, since that is when the mercury is at its peak.

“Every year, the mercury levels have been rising. The temperature reached a maximum (this year) at 44 degrees Celsius a few days back. There are chances of the temperature rising to 45 degrees Celsius if monsoons don’t hit on time,” said a senior meteorologist at IMD, Hyderabad.

From 2005, IMD has been issuing operational forecasts for monsoon onset with a model error of plus or minus of four days. The operational forecast for issued from 2005- 2012 by the IMD are given in the table above.

In conversation with Jonqui Dibyajyotti Dutta, more famously known as Jonqui, is among the best known percussionists in India today. Ahead of his performance in N Grill this evening, he talks about his childhood, performing with Kailash Kher and more.

Padmini C padmini.c@postnoon.com

First, tell us how you came to be known as Jonqui?

It actually comes from an old Assamese folk tale. The main character in the natak is a guy named Jonqui. So, my dad used to call me that, and it became a nickname.

When I moved from Assam to Mumbai, I took it up as my professional name.

How did music happen to you?

I came from a family that wasn't

Date: 25th May, 2013 Venue: N Grill Time: 09:30 pm professional musicians but big music lovers.

I started playing tabla at the age of 10 and so I trained and studied it and started performing with DJs. Later, I started learning other instruments like

Bonjo, Djembe, Kastur and Dholak on my own.

So how many instruments can you play now?

A few (laughs). I would say, about 12.

Your big break came when you started playing with Kailash Kher's band Kailasha.

I met Kailash a few times before Allah ke Bande happened. Then I met him again at a studio and he said he was

starting a band and asked me if I wanted to join. So I did. It was a great experience to play with them for three years. But I liked playing with DJs; there are no rehearsals, nothing, it's just pure fun. So I've been doing that since.

Have you played in Hyderabad before? What can we expect from the Absolut event today?

Yeah, I have played in the City a few times. I've enjoyed it every time. I'm going to be playing with a DJ. I haven't met him yet but think it's going to be great.

5

CITY SATURDAY, MAY 25, 2013 PICTURES: SRINIVAS SETTY

Free palliative care, accommodation, activities and facilities for terminally ill patients to lead a peaceful life — yet nearly half the beds lie vacant as many people do not know what a hospice is or where to go looking for one.

In my darkest hour DEEPASHRI V

deepashri.v@postnoon.com

J

ust as Postnoon called Sparsh, a hospice in Banjara Hills, Hyderabad, to schedule an appointment to visit the place, an inmate passed away.

But the day went on as usual at the 12-bed centre for terminally ill cancer patients.

All the inmates at Sparsh, a charity initiative of Rotary Club, Banjara Hills, are in their final stages of the disease; all forms of medical treatment have failed. Yet, life at Sparsh is not about counting your days, but living peacefully, surrounded by family members and caretakers.

“When doctors say curative treatment is not possible, and the patient develops distressing symptoms like breathlessness,

vomiting, constipation or bed sores, we step in to provide palliative care or comfort care,” says Dr Ramanand, duty doctor at Sparsh Hospice.

HEARD

OF A HOSPICE ?

Hospices are not very common in the country. “It is a new concept in India. There is one in Bangalore — Karunashray — that started about 10 years ago.

MNG cancer hospital [in the City] has a palliative wing,” says Ramanand. “This [Sparsh] is the first of its kind in AP.” There are currently seven patients at Sparsh who are given free food and accommodation.

An attender is allowed to stay with the patient. The remaining beds lie vacant.

Apart from physical needs, a patient’s spiritual and mental needs need to be taken care of at this stage, he says. “Some die within hours of coming here, some in a few weeks or months.

All of them are in their last stage. They are scared of death.”

People from Ramakrishna Math often come here to talk to patients or give a discourse.

“It is airy, there is a good lawn, lots of trees… people can feel as if they are at home here,” says Padma Reddy, administrator and counsellor at Sparsh.

At 3pm every day, patients come down to play indoor games like carrom, snakes and ladders, and chess. For those who cannot walk, caretakers take the games to their beds. Apart from music therapy, there is a room for meditation and a place close to the garden to sit and relax.

Counsellors talk to them and help them out.

For those who do not wish to come to a hospice, a doctor, nurse and counsellor from Sparsh go to the patient’s home and provide free treatment.

‘LIVING

TO THE END ’

“We find out what their last wishes are and try to fulfil them,” says Padma Reddy.

A man at Sparsh wanted to spend his last days in the house he built in his village. His son was scared to take him there.

“We explained to him (son) and they took him there,” says Reddy. “He (the patient) was so happy. All his relatives came to meet him. Within two days, he died peacefully.”

Compared to the number of terminally ill patients who have financial difficulties or cannot stay at home, the number of such institutions is very less.

About those that are there, not many people are aware of.

The story of X

A

21-year-old, a school topper in intermediate examination, now in his final year B.Pharm, came to Sparsh about two weeks ago in the final stages of cancer of the naso-pharynx.

“In my village in Bhongir (Warangal district), around 10 people have died of cancer.

Neighbours used to come home and tell me I’ll die for sure. It was an emotional burden for everyone and it scared me.

I ran away and attempted suicide many times, but my parents would always bring me back. The pain used to be excruciating.”

He was diagnosed with cancer a couple of years ago and has been on various therapies since then. But things got worse when his nose started bleeding during a university exam. But he didn’t leave the exam hall.

He completed his three-hour test and secured 75 per cent marks, he proudly says.

He got to know about Sparsh through the Internet.

At least after coming here, he no longer has thoughts of suicide, he says.“Even now when the pain is unbearable, and I feel like my head is splitting, I shout at my mother, ask her to go away; I throw things. I don’t know

what I am doing or saying.”

His mother stays by his side throughout. He yearns for chicken biryani, but has to make do with daal rice. “I like lady’s finger,” he says, which his mother packs for him in a tiffin box and brings from home.

He showed us a picture of a handsome young man and a small child on his phone — a picture of him with his nephew taken just two months back. “See how I’ve become now.”

But he still hopes that with the last dose of vaccination due next month, he will get better, get a job and help his family financially.

Whenever a new patient comes, he runs out to see if it’s anyone his age.

“Everyone is old here. I like playing carrom. They only play snakes and ladders.”

“Keep asking me questions,” he says. “I feel nice talking.”

6

NATION SATURDAY, MAY 25, 2013

Goa liquor ban praised

One killed in road accident

A

pilgrim was killed and three others were injured when a car in which they were travelling collided with an animal on Delhi -Haridwar national highway near Rohana here, police said. The incident occurred last evening when the victims were on their way to Haridwar from Panipat.

Sunil (23) died on the spot, while the injured were admitted to a hospital.

Youth ends life over dispute

G

A

oa has received a pat on the back from Russian Ambassador Alexander M Kadakin for banning consumption of hard liquor on the state's beaches. He said it will "help save" Russian lives.

"No hard drinks should be sold on beaches. It will add safety to the lives of Russians who come here. It will help save their lives," Kadakin told IANS.

22-year-old youth hanged himself from a tree allegedly over a family dispute in Shamli district in Uttar Pradesh, police said today.

The body of Zeeshan (22) was found hanging in a mango garden at Kachchigari village last evening, they said, adding that the deceased appears to have taken the extreme step due to a family dispute.

Woman, daughter 35 held for burning man in Bihar jump off truck, die LUCKNOW: A mother and her three-year-old daughter were killed in Uttar Pradesh late Friday after they jumped off a speeding truck while resisting sexual assault by the driver, police said Saturday.

The incident took place near the Chitaura toll plaza in Fatehpur, 120 km from Lucknow, after Raj Kumari, 30, along with son Deepak, daughter Meena and husband Rakesh hitched a ride in a truck.

After travelling for

some distance, the driver, who is as yet unidentified, stopped the truck near the toll plaza and asked Rakesh to get some food from a roadside eatery.

As the unsuspecting husband went out, the driver sped off and tried to sexually assault the woman.

While trying to resist the driver, the woman leapt out along with her daughter after throwing her young son off the moving truck as well.

While the woman died on the spot, the daughter died at a medical facility that she was taken to.

Her minor son, who has been seriously injured, narrated the incident to police. Locals tried to chase the truck but it sped away.

“We are trying to establish the identity of the truck driver with the help of CCTV camera footage at the toll plaza,” a police official told IANS. IANS

Irregularities spotted BHUBANESHWAR: Pointing out several irregularities in the implementation of rural jobs scheme in Odisha, Union rural development minister Jairam Ramesh has asked Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik to address them urgently.

In a letter to Patnaik Friday, the Union minister said he has received 14 complaints pertaining to serious irregularities in the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) scheme in Jajpur, Nuapada, Puri, Keonjhar, Jharusuguda and Sambalpur districts.

Ramesh added his

JAIRAM RAMESH SAID HE RECEIVED

14 COMPLAINTS PERTAINING TO IRREGULARITIES IN THE MGNREGA SCHEME IN SEVERAL DISTRICTS. ministry was also awaiting action taken reports from Odisha authorities over 48 complaints.

“The action taken report is a system that we have adopted for all states and designed to bring greater accountability in the MGNREGA scheme,”

the minister wrote.

He also pointed out that the participation of women in MGNREGA in the state was very low at around 36 per cent. In states like Rajasthan, the participation rate of women in the rural jobs scheme is over 70 per cent.

Ramesh said that despite clear instructions, photographs of works being taken up under the scheme have not been uploaded on the website.

Comptroller and Auditor General has carried out a performance audit of MGNREGA in the state and pointed out "serious irregularities", said Ramesh.

2 held for sacrifice

Miffed HP min backtracks

MUZAFFARNAGAR: A man and his daughter were arrested for allegedly sacrificing a four-year-old boy at Naheri village here, police said today.

The body of Vishal with nail-marks and other injuries was found last evening, they said. Locals have alleged that the duo performed some ritual as they wanted to improve their economic condition through the exercise, police said. A case of murder has been registered against the accused Narender (55) and his daughter Joshi (25) following which they have been arrested.

SHIMLA: Ahead of the Mandi parliamentary by-election in Himachal Pradesh, a political crisis sparked by the purported resignation of a Congress minister who was miffed with Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh withered away in less than 24 hours. Transport minister GS Bali, who sent his resignation to the party leadership in New Delhi Wednesday, backtracked very soon and said that he had merely apprised the party leadership on some public issues.

The CM has asked Bali, no stranger to controversy, to return to work.

The village head’s husband was thrown into kiln after a mob confronted him over an old land dispute.

PATNA: Thirty-five people, including 20 women, were arrested from a Bihar village Saturday on charges of burning the husband of a village head over a land dispute, police said.

Jainandan Mandal, husband of Kishanpur Baluwa village head Chimo Devi, was first beaten up and then thrown

into his brick kiln in Kurkron village in Purnia district, about 350 km from here, Friday.

“Police have arrested 35 people in connection with the murder,” Purnia’s superintendent of police Manoj Kumar told IANS over the phone.

The officer said more people were expected to be arrested in connection

with the case.

According to police, hundreds of tribals armed with bows and arrows attacked Mandal’s brick kiln over an old land dispute.

“Mandal fired from his rifle to disperse the attackers but it angered them further. He was caught, thrashed and burnt alive,” a police official said. IANS

7

WORLD SATURDAY, MAY 25, 2013

15 kids die in cylinder blast

A

t least 15 children were killed in a school van gas cylinder blast that took place Saturday in Pakistan’s Punjab province, a media report said. The explosion took place in Gujrat, a district in Pakistan’s eastern province of Punjab. The incident took place at 7.40am when the van carrying 20 to 25 children aged between 8 and 12 was on its way to a private school.

Four exposed to radiation

11 dead in Philippines

F

E

our researchers were exposed to radiation in an accident at a Japanese nuclear physics laboratory this week, officials said Saturday.

The researchers were carrying out an experiment to generate particles by firing a proton beam at gold when the accident happened, it said. There was no radiation leak and none of the researchers required medical attention.

leven people were killed in the southern Philippines early Saturday as troops clashed with a militant group blamed for the country's deadliest terror attacks, the military said. The fighting left seven Filipino marines dead and nine others wounded on the island of Jolo, said Colonel Jose Cenabre, a local military commander.

British spy agencies in the spotlight over soldier's murder The attackers were known to the intelligence agencies but were assessed as not posing a deadly threat.

Robin Millard Agence France-Presse

LONDON: Britain’s intelligence services were under pressure Saturday to explain their knowledge of two Islamists suspected of hacking a soldier to death in London, amid claims they had tried to recruit one of them.

Michael Adebolajo, 28, and Michael Adebowale, 22 — who remained under armed guard in hospital after being shot by police at the scene — were known to the intelligence services but were reportedly assessed as not posing a deadly threat.

An alleged friend of Adebolajo was arrested at the BBC after telling the broadcaster that British security services had tried to recruit the suspect.

Abu Nusaybah told BBC television on Friday that Adebolajo was asked by the MI5 domestic intelligence agency if he knew certain individuals and later if he wanted to work for them.

He said Adebolajo had snubbed their approach.

The BBC said Abu Nusaybah was promptly arrested on their premises after giving the interview.

Scotland Yard police headquarters said counter-terror officers had arrested a 31-year-old man in London on suspicion of the “commission, preparation or instigation of acts of terrorism”.

A man looks at floral tributes left at the scene where Drummer Lee Rigby was killed outside Woolwich Barracks in London. AFP PHOTO / JUSTIN TALLIS It is understood the arrest was not directly linked to the brutal murder of soldier Lee Rigby, who was hacked to death in broad daylight Wednesday outside the Royal Artillery Barracks in Woolwich.

Rigby’s distraught wife said the family found it hard to accept that the 25-year-old had been killed not in a war zone but on the streets of his own country.

More details emerged about Adebolajo, who was born to

devout Nigerian Christians but converted to Islam a decade ago and had attended meetings of extremist group Al-Muhajiroun, now banned in Britain.

He had reportedly sold inflammatory literature at a stall in Woolwich, where his increasingly extremist behaviour in recent weeks had alarmed other Muslims.

Reports said Adebolajo had attempted to travel to Somalia to fight alongside Al-Qaeda-linked Shebab insurgents but had been

turned back and had his passport confiscated by police.

Abu Nusaybah told BBC television that Adebolajo had been picked up by Kenyan forces and assaulted in detention there.

Shortly after he returned, MI5 agents repeatedly called at his home, the friend alleged.

“His wording was: ‘They are bugging me — they won’t leave me alone’,” he said.

“After him saying that he didn’t know these individuals and so forth, what he said is they asked him whether he would be interested in working for them.

“He was explicit in that he refused to work for them.”

Adebolajo was captured on film shortly after the attack brandishing a bloodied knife and meat cleaver and claiming he had killed the soldier because British forces killed Muslims every day.

Less is known about the other suspect but he is also believed to be of Nigerian origin.

Dramatic footage of the incident obtained by the Daily Mirror also showed Adebolajo charging at armed police before he was shot and injured.

As detectives tried to establish how Adebolajo apparently went from an outspoken convert to a killer, the government was forced to defend the security services against criticism they missed signs which might have

After him (Michael Adebolajo) saying that he didn’t know these individuals, what he said is they (MI5 agents) asked him whether he would be interested in working for them.

Abu Nusaybah Friend of Adebolajo, murder suspect helped prevent the murder.

A parliamentary committee will look into the role of the security services, but communities minister Eric Pickles said even if the men had been known to intelligence agencies, it was impossible to keep tabs on everyone all the time.

The dead soldier's wife Rachel said she had been aware of the dangers her husband faced serving in Afghanistan, but added: “You don’t expect it to happen when he’s in the UK. You think they’re safe.”

Faith leaders in Britain joined together to condemn the murder and hailed the cohesion of different religions in response to the attack.

Court win for Arizona Latinos

Guatemala extradites ex-president to US

IMF chief avoids charges

LOS ANGELES: Rights activists welcomed a US

GUATEMALA CITY: Guatemala extradited former president Alfonso Portillo to the United States on Friday to face charges of laundering $70 million of swindled government funds through US banks. Portillo, president 2000-2004, thus becomes the first former Latin American leader ever to be extradited to the United States.

Wearing a black jacket and holding two books, Portillo claimed his extradition was a “kidnapping”, and accused the Guatemalan government of breaking the law because he still had cases pending in his country.

“They have acted illegally against me from the beginning. They have violated all my rights,” he declared, adding that the government was “responsible for anything that may happen to my health”.

PARIS: IMF chief Christine Lagarde avoided immediate charges on Friday but was named an “assisted witness” after French prosecutors grilled her for two days over a state payout to a disgraced tycoon when she was finance minister. Lagarde was questioned for a total of 24 hours by prosecutors working for a court that probes cases of ministerial misconduct over her 2007 handling of a row that resulted in 400 million euros ($515 million) being paid to controversial business figure Bernard Tapie. While Lagarde avoided being placed under formal investigation — the closest equivalent in French law to being charged — her “assisted witness” status means she could still face further questions — and charges — at a later stage.

court’s ruling Friday against an Arizona’s sheriff who calls himself America’s toughest lawman, which said he improperly targeted Hispanics for routine traffic stops. A federal judge said the Maricopa County Sheriff's Office (MCSO) must stop “using race or Latino ancestry as a factor in determining to stop any vehicle in Maricopa County with a Latino occupant”.

A group of Hispanic drivers sued Sheriff Joe Arpaio in a case that went to trial last year. Judge Murray Snow said “the evidence demonstrates that the MCSO specifically equated being a Hispanic or Mexican (as opposed to Caucasian or African-American) day labourer with being an unauthorised alien."

8

COMMENT SATURDAY, MAY 25, 2013

EDITORIALS THE FINAL KICK-OFF for passion Tonight the football season will finally come to a close with the Champions League final being played at Wembley stadium. It’s been a tumultuous season for all the wrong reasons.

The four big leagues were wrapped up early: Manchester United in the EPL, Bayern Munich in the Bundesliga, Juventus in Serie A and Barcelona in La Liga. These teams didn’t just top their leagues, they annihilated the opposition, and what opposition it was. Apart from Borussia Dortmund (who will meet in Bayern in the final tonight) the second place finishers were all hyped clubs, and none more so than Manchester City.

Like in life, hype only works if it’s backed up with action. You can spout all you want, you can talk the talk for an eternity, but when it comes to the walk, a two-toed sloth had more swagger than Roberto Mancini’s ‘supermen’, or Jose Mourinho’s 11 bickerers.

United, Bayern and Juventus all showed that mettle and class cannot be bought, they must be cultivated over decades; the lust to win may be all-encompassing, but it is the passion to play the game that creates leaders and victors.

In the next season, United will be without their spirit guide, Sir Alex Ferguson, how much that will dampen their verve and grit remains to be seen, especially now that it’s almost certain one Jose Mourinho will be at his bull-baiting best once again at Chelsea.

If there’s one thing the 2012– 13 season taught us is that to aim for legacy does not always imply that you will have one.

Rather aim for integrity and passion, the rest will follow.

WHY WE LOVE...

The Monsoon The summer has dripped off our brows, drop by drop. It’s stuck to us like a second skin, seeping with the strain of existence, but not for long.

According to the weatherman the monsoon is round the corner and such liquid succour it will be too. Needless to say the city will flood and lives will be thrown out of gear, but for a few months we can look to the heavens and thank the darkness.

Chanting for change?

Soul Curry SUMAA TEKUR

E

arlier this week, I received an email about the Gayatri Mantra being proven to be the most divine and powerful hymn in the world. An American scientist called Dr Howard Steingeril is said to have collected hymns, prayers, mantras and invocations from all over the world and from all religions. He tested these for sound vibrations in his physiology laboratory and concluded that the Vedic Gayatri Mantra has the most positive effect on those who chant it.

The trained journalist in me promptly opened another tab on Google and checked for Dr Howard Steingeril. Apart from a Facebook page opened in the name of “Ancient Indian: Alien Science Behind Alien Gods”, there was little else. Every other post in the first few pages of Google search was a cut-andpaste version of the email I had received.

The email seems to have been forwarded multiple times through many different sources because I received it from another source as well. The Hamburg University is said to have initiated this research.

The findings were being put in practice by Radio Paramaribo, Surinam, South America, who are said to be broadcasting the Gayatri Mantra on their station for 15 minutes every day for the last two years. Normally, I would chase this source down to ascertain its validity. But this time, something stopped me.

I couldn’t quite understand the dichotomy of expectations from the heart on the one hand and the head, on the other. One of the lessons of the Gayatri Mantra, as I was taught about it in my younger days, is a prayer to remove darkness and lead us into light, showing us the path to the ultimate truth. There are many layers of meaning to this mantra. It teaches us to accept life with an open heart and power our intellect. The mantra calls to our deeper intuition to guide us in making the right decisions. Yet, we get all too caught up in proving how beneficial it is.

CHANTING A MANTRA AND SAYING A PRAYER EXPECTING THIS LONG LIST OF BENEFITS SOMEHOW SEEMS TO UNDERVALUE THE POWER OF THE MANTRA, WHICH IS SUPPOSED TO ELEVATE ONE TO A PLANE HIGHER THAN THE ONE IN WHICH WE OPERATE OUR DAILY LIVES. The email lists some material and physical benefits of chanting the Gayatri mantra, including these — bestows attractive personality; develops the power of speech; wards off poverty and insufficiency; forms a protective halo around the person; regular chanting keeps the person and his family always in prosperity and plenty, etc. It also lists some subtle and spiritual benefits like these — develops a sacred and focused psyche; allows one

to positively influence the environment and to use divine energy for welfare of the world; makes one a magnetic personality; develops a feeling of peace, makes one aware of a new power that is working within them; makes a person take interest in noble deeds, etc.

Sure, these are all attributes one would like to have without making much of an effort. But wouldn’t one want to chant a mantra first and foremost because it makes him/her feel good? Chanting a mantra and saying a prayer expecting this long list of benefits somehow seems to undervalue the power of the mantra, which is supposed to elevate one to a plane higher than the one in which we operate our daily lives. From this higher plane, we can make better sense of the world around us; make important decisions and evolve towards spiritual maturity.

In the tug of war between listening to the head and listening to the heart, the heart should always win. It seems to know better. It also doesn’t need logic to make the right decisions.

9

COMMENT SATURDAY, MAY 25, 2013

Africa to celebrate progress and 50 years of 'unity' Jenny VAUGHAN Agence France-Presse

ADDIS ABABA: African leaders gathered Saturday ahead of extravagant celebrations for the 50th jubilee of the continental bloc, with Africa’s myriad problems set aside for a day to mark the progress that has been made.

Mass dancing troupes are set to perform musical dramas to some 10,000 guests in a giant hall in the Ethiopian capital, home to the African Union (AU).

Today’s 54-member AU is the successor of the Organisation of African Unity (OAU), established amid the heady days as independence from colonial rule swept the continent in 1963.

African leaders are expected to be joined by French President Francois Hollande, China’s Vice Premier Wang Yang and US Secretary of State John Kerry.

AU Commission chief Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma said the “celebration of all Africa” was “historic”, and that it was a time to both look back at the past and consider how the continent can tackle the many challenges ahead.

“The future is in our hands, it’s bright.. the opportunities are great for the continent to be prosperous,” Dlamini-Zuma said

Urban sketches VISWAPRASAD RAJU

in a statement late Friday.

South African choreographer Somzi Mhlongo, who organised the opening and closing ceremonies of the 2010 World Cup as well as this year’s Africa Cup of Nations, said the celebrations he had organised would be “an extravaganza”.

Musicians playing include Congolese music legend Papa Wemba, Mali’s Salif Keita and British-based reggae band Steel Pulse, with giant screens set up across Addis Ababa also showing the festival.

The AU has budgeted $1.27 million for Saturday’s celebrations, according to official documents seen by South Africa’s Institute for Security Studies (ISS).

AU Commission deputy chief Erastus Mwencha said he did not have the exact figure but that some $3 million would be spent on Saturday’s festivities and on other events over the coming year.

The AU took over from the OAU in 2002, switching its name in a bid to shrug off its troubled past.

OAU non-interference in member states’ affairs allowed leaders to shirk democratic elections and abuse human rights without criticism from their

FILE PHOTO: AFP/AJESH JANTILAL

neighbours.

In recent years, the AU’s role in combat — such as its mission in Somalia to battle Al-Qaeda Islamists — has shown it can take concrete action, even if the funding for that mission comes mainly from Western backers.

But at the same time, the splits revealed by the 2011 conflict in Libya — when members squabbled between those wanting to recognise rebels and those backing Muammer Kadhafi — showed its disunity.

Kadhafi's death also stripped

the AU of a major source of funding. Leaders will discuss finding backers for the cashstrapped body at a two-day summit following Saturday’s anniversary celebrations.

Development indicators on the continent — including health, education, infant mortality,economic growth and democracy — have improved steadily in the past 50 years.

Africa is home to some of the fastest growing economies in the world according to the IMF, and has attracted huge amounts of foreign investment.

At the same time, 24 out of the bottom 25 nations at the bottom of UN human development index are in Africa, and the subsequent summit will tackle a range of crises the continent faces.

Mali is expected to be discussed: it is preparing to receive a UN peacekeeping force to support French soldiers fighting Islamist rebels in the desert north since January.

The agenda will also likely include Madagascar — in political deadlock since a 2009 coup — and the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, where United Nations-backed government soldiers are struggling to quash rebels.

Global edits

Heritage

The Guardian (UK)

Violence against women: Shifting culture

T

his week we have learned the following: the police still make catastrophic mistakes in the protection of women at risk of domestic violence; that children everywhere have access to pornography, influencing behaviour in dangerous ways; and that most parents think relationship education in schools is inadequate. In the background, Mark Bridger's trial for the murder of five-year-old April Jones is a running reminder that while rare, there is still murderous child abuse as well as the far more widespread exploitation revealed most recently by the Oxford grooming trial.

Bleak as it feels, perhaps some of this may be evidence of a long-overdue change in a moral climate which, as the Savile affair has revealed, was lethally complacent until all too recently. But it is also true that both technology and family breakdown have hugely increased the range of dangers girls and women face, and it is increasingly questionable whether either government policy or the wider culture is keeping up with the need for action.

IT IS TRUE THAT BOTH TECHNOLOGY AND FAMILY BREAKDOWN HAVE INCREASED THE RANGE OF DANGERS GIRLS AND WOMEN FACE, AND IT IS QUESTIONABLE WHETHER EITHER GOVERNMENT POLICY OR THE WIDER CULTURE IS KEEPING UP WITH THE NEED FOR ACTION. For all that Theresa May's Home Office is tackling child sexualisation and violence against girls and women with renewed energy, it hasn't gone far enough. New research has shown that buy-in from other departments is limited. At Education, Michael Gove's emphasis on schools and his political commitment to a hands-off approach militate against promoting campaigns like the Home Office's excellent This Is Abuse initiative to alert young people to respect in relationships. Schools aren't obliged to teach students about appropriate behaviour, and there is slacker monitoring of what is taught in personal health and education classes than other subjects.

10

BUSINESS SATURDAY, MAY 25, 2013

India’s growth plan praised

I

ndia's strategy of eradicating poverty by "growing the pie rather than slicing it", and fuelling the country's growth with market-based policies holds lessons for other developing countries, suggest two leading IndianAmerican economists. However, further reforms in labour and land markets are essential to translate growth into more employment, they argue.

US sober after Japan plunge

T

he 7.3 per cent plunge in Japanese stocks during the week injected needed sobriety into US markets, but they showed a resilience that cheered investors worried about protecting the year's gains. The drop in Tokyo Thursday sent other Asian and European markets sinking by more than two percent.

Informal money transfers

N

early six in ten adults in the South Asian region and Indonesia sent or received a payment or remittance in 2012 with a majority doing so informally, according to a new Gallup study. Over 800 million South Asians transferred money with 512 million people sending or receiving cash in person or sending it informally in some other way.

Helping you save In order to curtail people from unnecessary spending and guide them in achieving their financial goals in life, Nitin B Vyakaranam and Sunil Lingareddy started Artha Yantra in 2007.

PRUDHVI RAJU K

prudhvi.k@postnoon.com

M ANIL KUMAR

M

any of us commit financial mistakes in terms of unnecessary spending or buying financial products that are not really required. In order to curtail people from unnecessary spending and guide them in achieving their financial goals in life, Nitin B Vyakaranam (in pic) and Sunil Lingareddy started Artha Yantra in 2007.

The company, through its product Arthos (an online platform), aims to provide personal financial services to the huge untapped market of middleincome professionals in India.

Talking about the inception of the company, Nitin says, “We initially started Tax Yantra in 2007, India’s first online tax filing platform. Eventually, we developed Arthos application, which also integrates the tax-filing concept. This will help individuals to plan, manage and execute finances in achieving the financial goals.”

The idea took birth from a problem that Nitin encountered in terms of buying ULIP. “I was misguided into purchasing the policy. I was told something about the policy but actually it ended up as a different thing.

When I discussed this issue with other friends, they also shared similar experiences. In India, people don’t buy insurance. They are sold insurance.

It is not just misselling; a common Indian does not have access to financial knowledge or education about personal finance. Neither can they continue making financial mistakes with unnecessary investments. For instance, if an individual buys a product that he doesn’t need, the damage continues for a longer time.”

Artha Yantra started doing research in 2009 by focus group studies and producing white papers. “This research took us lot of time, effort and money to eventually create Arthos, an online product where a customer can get transparent, free and unbiased advice. Generally, the personal finance market is driven by products and not by the need. We aim to change this through this online platform.

Until there is a need, we don’t recommend buying a product.

We recommend a product in a democratic way, wherein the customer has a choice to buy one among the best. As of

In India, people don’t buy insurance. They are sold insurance. It is not just misselling; a common man does not have access to financial knowledge about personal finance.

Nitin B Vyakaranam Founder, Artha Yantra now, we are selling personal finance products offline but soon will bring them online.”

Talking about the industry, he says, “Generally, an HNI (high networth individual) has access to personal advice and a normal middle-class man does not have access to this personal advice due to its costs. Being online helps us reach the untapped masses that need advice even to the corners of the country. The company has developed Arthos through proprietary service personal financial lifecycle management (PFLM) through a well-designed

algorithm.”

The platform was launched in November 2012 and got its first 300 customers in January.

Today, the company has 10,000 customers from 350 cities.

“There are not many businesses, where you get well-wishes and blessings from the customers. In a way, this is a democratisation of personal finance solutions wherein quality advice is offered to numerous people irrespective of their income, race or locality through this online platform,” he adds.

Nitin says that the accolades from the middle-income people keeps them moving. “We have customers who bought 36 insurance policies. They were sold and mislead in the name of tax saving without the real need for it. A typical employee loses `30,000 per year in terms of wrongly investing in personal finance instruments without proper planning. This number grew with the increase in income levels. However, the application plans, executes and manages it with a feedback loop that effectively guides in renewing the investments. The platform suggests, recommends in fulfilling the financial goals by guiding in terms of spending and savings,” he explains.

“In terms of value, we can make the customer save whatever he spends or invests unnecessary. That can be anywhere from `30,000-40,000 for a normal employee. The proper guidance in terms of investing the saved income will lead to huge returns over time for the customer,” says Nitin.

The company has plans to convert this free platform to a paid platform over time. “We want to charge nominally from the customers and do not want to price it in a such way that prevents customers in using this platform. As of now, we also provide Arthos lite and Arthos plus products wherein we charge customers `2,500 and `10,000 per year respectively.”

11

FOCUS SATURDAY, MAY 25, 2013

Fighting racism in Brazil... with hairdos

Ditched is the popular conception in this South American powerhouse that afro-style hair will get you nowhere, thanks to a chain of parlours that emphasises natural beauty.

Laura Bonilla feedback@postnoon.com

RIO DE JANEIRO: Nothing like a good hairdo to fight deeply entrenched racism in one of the world’s emerging economic giants.

The tools of battle, such as scissors and conditioners, are being wielded on the outskirts of Rio in a chain of beauty parlours that cater to black and mulata women of limited means.

Rather than straighten out their afro-style hair, as many blacks around the world like to do, this chain called Beleza Natural, or natural beauty, transforms it into soft curls. And business is booming.

Ditched is the popular conception in this South American powerhouse that afro-style hair will get you nowhere.

About 51 per cent of Brazil’s 194 million people are black or mulato (mixed race), and the owners of Beleza Natural estimate that 70 per cent of women in Brazil have afro-style hair.

“This beauty salon is for the forgotten consumer, the invisible one, to raise the self esteem of low-income customers. Women who are used to serving but deserve to be served and served well,” said company chairwoman Leila Velez, a mulata of 38 who at the tender age of 16 was already managing a McDonald’s.

Velez struggled to set up Beleza Natural 20 years ago with

relatives. Today she runs its 13 beauty parlours plus a factory that makes hair care products and provides work for 1,700 people.

Every month, the plant produces 250 tonnes of hair care products, including the relaxing agent for curling hair. It was created by Velez’s sister-in-law Zica Assis, a former household maid who played around with tropical fruit for 10 years on the porch of her home in a Rio slum to come up with the right formula.

Revenues at Beleza Natural, most of whose outlets are on the outskirts of Rio, have grown at an annual rate of 30 per cent over the past eight years, says Velez. She will not talk about profits.

The success is such that buses lined up bumper to bumper and packed with women with afro hair arrive at the salons every Saturday from far away cities.

NO PLACE TO BE TREATED ‘LIKE A PRINCESS’ “One hundred per cent of the success of this store is linked to the issue of race,” said Victor Cunha da Almeida, a professor at the business school of the Universidad Federal in Rio de Janeiro.

“In Brazil there is cultural baggage among black women who do not like their hair because it is not straight, which is the best known standard of

beauty”, said Almeida, who coauthored a thesis on Beleza Natural and its support for the bottom of the social pyramid.

“And that is the difference with Beleza Natural, which does not want to straighten hair. It

There is cultural baggage among black women who do not like their hair because it is not straight, which is the best known standard of beauty.

V Cunha da Almeida, professor

This beauty salon is for the forgotten consumer, the invisible one, to raise the self esteem of lowincome customers.

Women who are used to serving but deserve to be served and served well.

Leila Velez company chairwoman

wants to relax it, to soften the curls. It says this to a woman: ‘You are beautiful because you are black. You are beautiful because you have hair like this.’”

Bruna Mara, a customer in Cachambi, a working class neighbourhood north of Rio, confirmed this. “I always straightened my hair,” she said.

“Here they convinced me that my curls would look pretty, and it is more natural,” said the 24year-old secretary.

“There was no place that treated a black woman with afro hair like a princess,” said Cunha.

Walk into a Beleza Natural outlet and indeed it is easy to feel like a queen for a day.

Everything is decorated in red and pink, there are mirrors everywhere and spotlights, with fresh cut flowers and free coffee.

You could be some place posh anywhere in the world, or on stage in a soap opera.

“There are full length mirrors because many clients do not have them at home,” said Velez.

Jose Jorge de Carvalho, an anthropologist at the University of Brasilia, says that even though Brazil is held up as an example of harmonious racial diversity it is actually “very racist”.

“These hair salons are part of an effort to fight racism, to lift the self-esteem of black women of the working class,”

said Carvalho.

He deplored the use of irons to straighten hair, some of which are heated right over open fires and can “fry the hair”.

As it stands, Beleza Natural says it styles the hair of 90,000 Brazilian woman per month.

“This is the new middle class, producing for the new middle class,” said Marcelo Neri, acting minister of Strategic Issues, in comments to AFP. The incomes of blacks and mulatos grew more between 2001 and 2009 than those of other races — at 43 and 48 per cent respectively, compared to 21 per cent for whites, said Neri, Brazil’s leading expert on the middle class.

But the inequities are still howling. Whites in Brazil earn on average nearly twice as much as blacks.

“The lower middle class learned for a long time to live with little, and now they have a little bit extra that lets them do what they want,” said Neri.

Getting your hair done at Beleza Natural is affordable but not cheap. It costs 38 dollars (29 euros), which is 10 per cent of the minimum monthly wage, and maintaining the look at home requires products that cost $25 a month.

Still, most customers pay in cash — yet another sign of the real increase in purchasing power of the new Brazilian midAFP dle class.

PICK YOUR

@

Across Stores

ities Twin C

12

TECHNOLOGY SATURDAY, MAY 25, 2013

WEBSITE OF THE WEEK www.allthingsdigital.com he Wall Street Journal’s tech blog hub continues to provide us with hard-hitting, far-reaching news, opinion and commentary on the tech industry.

T ELIZA Eliza was one of the first AIs that got the attention of the public and one of the first ones that ended up being more than a research project. It was the first AI that could carry on human-AI interaction beyond a few awkward hellos.

JABBERWACKY This was the first AI created by a human being that was intended to be fun and not meant for use by corporate customers. It was made with an intention of passing the Turing test, which unfortunately it did not. The AI has gone through various rounds of evolution and the latest one is called Cleverbot.

ALBERT ONE It was one of the first chatterbots to be able to pull off a conversation that involved different topics intermingled with each other. Albert One went on to win Loebner prize two years in a row and the developer, Robby Garner, was mentioned in the Guinness Book as being the creator of most

MOBILE GAME REVIEW

APP OF THE WEEK

PUNCH QUEST

Keek

A

BB take on Vine, capture a short video — no more than 36 seconds — and share it with your Keek mates or on more populated social networks.

human AI.

Punch Quest was marvellous fun on iOS, and looks just as good on Android. It's also the first game that lists one of its key features as the ability to "punch an egg that turns you into a magical gnome". It's quirky and creative.

Special mention

ULTRA HAL This chatterbot was created with the intention of being a personal assistant and won the Loebner prize in 2007.

Unlike a lot of bots you didn’t have to follow a syntax for it to comprehend your message.

HAL could easily understand natural language, both written and spoken.

HAL 9000

T

hough fictional HAL is the most famous chatterbot ever. The depiction of HAL in 2001: A Space Odyssey, made in 1968 based on a novel of the same name, was on the numerous speculations expressed by several scientists of that time. HAL has since defined and set the goal of an ultimate AI, hopefully when that happens it won’t be evil.

GLADOS

T

his snarky passive-aggressive AI from the videogame Portal was built for testing and maintenance of the fictional Aperture Science research facility. However, the bot turns against human beings after a few lines of code driving becomes corrupt. GLaDOS is the opposite of what an AI is and it is considered to be one of the best villains in a videogame.

SIRI Thought not a chatterbox by traditional standards, Apple sneeds to be credited for popularising the concept. Siri, like Ultra HAL, is a personal assistant, but bulk of its work is natural language processing. Conversations with Siri are very limited in comparison to many other chatterbots, but it was capable of doing much more than many other bots at the time of its launch.

NT BALANARAYAN

balanarayan.t@postnoon.com

MASTERMINDS IBM has made its ‘Jeopady’ winning Artificial Intelligence (AI), Watson, available for brands. It will now be able to interact with customers and solve any problem they might be facing with a product or service. That being the case we take a look at some of the best AI chatterbots till now.

How do you judge an AI? A

lan Turing, who is considered the father of computer science and artificial intelligence, proposed an experiment that would be used as a standard to figure out the intelligence of a computer or an AI. The idea was that a computer could be said to "think" if a human interrogator could not tell it apart, through conversation, from a human being. CAPTCHA, the most basic security protocol used by websites these days to figure out if you're human or not is a reversed form of the Turing test.

In 1991, an American inventor Hugh Loebner started a competition where researchers and developers could showcase their programmes. These AIs would then be put through a version of Turing test and to date none of the AIs have won a gold or silver medal at the event.

13

ANIMAL KINGDOM SATURDAY, MAY 25, 2013

PET NEWS Why penguins don’t fly

P

enguins lost their ability to fly millions of years ago, and now a new study explains why — the birds became lean and mean diving machines, trading flight for such skills.

Dog reunited with owner

A

dog found guarding a deceased body on Monday among the rubble of tornado-ravaged Moore, Okla., has been reunited with its owner. It is still unknown why Susie had stood guard over a stranger.

IMPORTANT NUMBERS

Goats recover from neglect

G

oats have moods too, and a new study suggests that their sense of optimism surges after rescue from neglect. The study looked at 18 goats living at a goat sanctuary in the United Kingdom.

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

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

PETS’ DAY OUT

If your pet interacts only with your family, it tends to be more highly strung. We take a look at the need for arranging animal play dates.

AMY ROSE THOMAS

amyrose.t@postnoon.com

J

ust as humans, dogs and cats are social beings too.

They are much happier and receptive when in the company of others of their kind.

Tension in the air is apparent when you take your dog for a walk and he sees another dog.

He goes crazy, relentlessly pulling on the leash, barking and dragging you along to run after the other dog. This behaviour can be an inconvenience and can later lead to reluctance on your part to take your dog to places where he may meet other dogs.

This is where play dates, where you socialise your animals, come in handy.

Dr Kadambari V, a veteri-

narian in the City, says, "Dogs and cats that only interact with the family tend to be vocal when they come in contact with other people and animals. Arranging play dates with other dogs and cats can solve this problem.

However, there are many points to keep in mind before arranging such a date since there are chances that animals might not get along and end up fighting. It is important to know your animal and understand his signals before letting it be in contact with another animal."

The reason why dogs go berserk in the company of other dogs is their pack nature.

Dogs are either submissive or dominant and in any group of canines, there is an alpha dog which controls everyone else.

"Early socialisation can help matters. If introduced while they are puppies, they will get along well even in adulthood. Another way dogs get along well is when one is a puppy and the other is a grownup. The puppy will continue to dominate the grownup throughout its life. After early socialisation, puppies will grow to be more amiable and friendly towards other people and animals," she says.

If your dog is grown up and hasn't been socialised yet, you can start slowly. Walk him through the process and get him accustomed to having other fellow doggie friends. It might be difficult, but your pet is sure to be in a happy place after making friends with others of its kind.

BEFORE AN ANIMAL PLAY DATE Tip No. 1: Start young.

Adult animals can also be socialized — they simply must be introduced to their new animal friends more slowly Tip No. 2: Take your dog out to observe Allow your dog to watch other pups and observe their behaviour. If your dog reacts aggressively towards the dogs in the park, move further away and slowly move up until he is quiet.

Tip No. 3: Find a neutral territory.

A neutral territory is a place neither dog has been. When neither dog has claimed a place as its own, you can expect less territorial and adversarial behaviours.

Tip No. 4: Make slow introductions.

Experts ask you to always go slow. Relaxed owners should introduce cats gradually, over a period of days or weeks.

Begin with complete separation, which means the cats are occupying different rooms in the same house.

Then allow the cats to make visual contact.

Tip No. 5: Be casual.

By acting as if your dog's behaviour is no big deal, you're creating a calmer environment and, thus, a calmer dog. source: www.canidaepetfood.com, www.thedailycat.com

14

BOOKS SATURDAY, MAY 25, 2013

SHORT READS Title: The Fall of Arthur Author: JRR Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien Publisher: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt JRR Tolkien’s only attempt to write the epic story of King Arthur was abandoned by the author. The poem is a brilliant example of Old English alliterative meter and the book comes with several manuscript pages.

Title: SmartTribes: How Teams Become Brilliant Together Author: Christine Comaford Publisher: Portfolio Hardcover The author Christine Comaford explains how to transform teams into something exceptional. She shows readers how to achieve clarity, accountability, and develop a sustainable culture.

Title: Psych's Guide to Crime Fighting Author: Shawn Spencer, Burton Guster Publisher: Grand Central Publishing If you haven’t watched the TV series Psych, watch it! Or if have the time read this helpful guide they’ve put together for unqualified crime fighting.

You’ll want to open a detective agency of your own soon.

Title: She Left Me the Gun Author: Emma Brockes Publisher: Penguin Group British journalist Emma Brockes’ mother had always been secretive of her childhood in South Africa. When she bequeathed Emma a gun and died soon after of cancer, Emma decides to find out more about the woman her mother was before she was born.

Strangers in the mirror This isn't your average rags to riches tale. The protagonist has everything — riches, love and fame — but the past isn't done with him yet. novel but a series of short biographies, but you soon realise that the novel is not so much about a story but about the people. Patel makes a confident debut as a novelist, and Mothers, Lovers and Other Strangers is a good indicator of his stories to come.

JYOTSNA NAMBIAR

jyotsna.n@postnoon.com

A

nyone who has ever tried to escape his or her past feels constantly hunted.

There might not be a crime in the past, just embarrassment, but forgetting is much harder than escape.

Bhaichand Patel's first novel, Mothers, Lovers and Other Strangers, explores the tried and tested rags to riches tale, in a very different way. The struggle is there, the drama is high, but the changing focus of narrative and the non-linear progression of the story makes it a good read.

The protagonist, Ravi, has managed to break his ties. His beginnings lie in abject poverty, but no one close to him knows how far he has come. A muchlauded music composer, Ravi now lives the high life in Mumbai. But he lives in the constant fear of being discovered, of slipping up, of showing the world his true identity. So when his past comes knocking on his door, he accepts it with a weariness born of running too long.

Sixteen memories and sixteen stories by debutant author NC Joshi fill the pages of Buddhu’s Legacy. We learn more about his book.

Keerthana Muralidhar feedback@postnoon.com

N

avin Chandra Joshi, a firsttime author recently launched his book Buddhu’s Legacy and other short stories.

The book is a collection of 16 short stories, which are inci-

His childhood is poor but idyllic, until his father contracts leprosy and his mother runs away with another man. Life gets tougher till he decides that his destiny lies in Mumbai. The city of dreams allows him to shake off his old skin and don a new, glamorous identity. His transformation, at least on the outside, is complete.

The author has cleverly structured his book to keep the reader hooked. He keeps switching between narrators and in time, allowing the reader to hate and sympathise with the characters in turns. The language is simple, clear and compelling.

Patel manages to bring alive situations as disparate as a village hovel and a Mumbai cocktail

party with few words. The plot might sound like a cliché, but the characters are painfully real, making this a much better book than one could have imagined.

There isn't a clear line demarking the good and the evil; the author is all too aware that everyone has their dark side. It is initially disconcerting that the story does not seem to be one

Reliving fond memories dents the author came across in his real life.

“I have chosen each story judiciously, with an attempt to sketch a few incidents involving people who influenced me the most,” says the author, NCJoshi.

The author from his early childhood, keenly observed the uniqueness in every situation and the people in them, along with his father and mother. This was one of the main reasons for writing the book.

The name in the title of the book, Buddhu, is the central character of the very first story.

Buddhu was a perfect craftsman who made watches, and believed that if watches stopped, then the

world would come to a standstill.

With this thought, when he grew old, he handed over the papers of his shop to the author asking him to ensure that the shop and his craft go on, even after his death. This was one character that stood as a source of inspiration for the author to pen down a book like this.

Similarly, a beggar who proved to be pure by not stealing, an eight-year-old tribal boy who ran away from home to work as a waiter in Madhya Pradesh and how he kept away from temptation, a neighbour who as a dutiful father stayed with his son affected with the contagious disease of small pox

Name Mothers, Lovers and Other Strangers Author Bhaichand Patel Pages 246 Publisher Pan Macmillan

and treated him were the other people whose stories affected the author and are included in this book.

“Apart from these, I have also included stories of the preIndependence British era in India which my father had told me and also the story of my Maths teacher because of whom I still haven’t forgotten the subject even after years of leaving school,” adds Joshi. The book is intended to reach out to the age group of 17 to 80 year-olds and the messages conveyed are many.

He now plans to write his second book soon, which is all about the random thoughts in his mind.

Pages 198 Publisher Notion Press

15

BOOKS SATURDAY, MAY 25, 2013

The killing fields of power “He was not merely killing himself, he was killing the farmer in himself.” These lines from Neelima Kota’s book Shoes of the Dead highlight the pathos that the book conveys in its 274 pages.

FLEME VARKEY

fleme.v@postnoon.com

P

olitics is deeply entrenched in the heart of this book.

The author talks of power, the lack of it, and inherited power in modern India — a story which reflects the current state of the country. Strung along is another of the country's problems which politicians have brushed under the carpet — that of farmer suicides.

The book tells the story of a man's struggle to bring justice to his dead brother, a farmer, and the story of how a young man groomed by his father to enter politics faces the first crisis in his constituency — farmer suicides.

It is as written, “A brilliant farmer (Gangiri Bhadra) battles his inheritance of despair, while the arrogant politician (Keyur Kashinath) fights to keep his inheritance of power.”

The author also makes no bones about the fact that her story is set in the backdrop of the Vidarbha farmer suicides.

Neelima explains what she means by this ‘inheritance’: “It is the idea of inherited power in a democracy that I seek to challenge. My book deals with dynasty politics and the inheritance of poverty. The story is of the farmer who lives in inheritance debts, a son that inherits the hopelessness from the parents. The son of a politician can easily walk in the shoes of his dead father. For the son of a debt-ridden dead farmer, it is a dilemma.”

From the bottom level of governments, political dynasties are involved. Precedents are already set. The only hope is that we realise as voters to refuse the legacy of hereditary power, she says. Gangiri and

some of the youth in the book represent what she noticed during her research on the subject.

“The rural landscape is changing, gone are the days of typecasting the villagers as backward or unaware. Today they are asking uncomfortable questions like, ‘why is our destiny different from those of the youth in the urban areas? Why do we have to struggle to live while our counterparts in the cities thrive?’ The focus has always been on urban problems, from flyovers, hospitals and roads.

The focus should shift to the villages,” she explains.

Gangiri, one of the main characters in the book, questions and challenges the authority, the sarpanches and the corruption-ridden committees in Gopur village.The questioning, needless to say, shakes some very powerful people in the cities, (here, Keyur) who want to hush up the matter. Keyur and his party, in collaboration with the important people in the suicide committee, want to make sure that nothing jeopardises his taking over the party’s reins from his father and farmer suicides were proving to be a difficult thorn to remove.

The author then goes on to make a very pertinent point.

“The focus is always on the City, because that’s where the protests are, that’s where the politicians live, but the youth in the villages are equally angry yet their protests remain outside the

Name Shoes of the Dead Author Neelima Kota Pages 274 Publisher Rainlight by Rupa publications

limelight.”

Central to the plot is the suicide committee in Gopur. It is the one which decides whether a farmer’s death was due to debtrelated distress or other reasons.

Based on their votes, the compensation to the widows would be awarded. Gangiri fights his way through into the committee and his reason — the one which Neelima feels is the most important — is that there is no one to represent the farmers themselves on the committee which includes the maha sarpanch, a cunning moneylender, the vil-

lage doctor, banker and a woman sarpanch among others.

“It’s ironical. In life, the farmer suffers because of debts and poverty and in death, he is denied justice. No government wants this blot on their head and so they try their best to bury the actual farmer suicides. I have quoted some of the actual solutions given by farmers. One said, ‘Many of the farmers commit suicide due to the humiliation and insults they face when they fail to repay loans to the banks or moneylenders. Private loan recovery agents make lives miserable for us. So it is advised that a panchayat member be present when the loan recovery agents come, so that at least their dignity is maintained’. The suicide committee in the book argues that a farmer who died of alcoholism or heart attack or depression is not eligible for compensation, but the truth is that it is debt-ridden lives, the humiliation and the desperation which leads them to commit suicide,” adds Neelima.

The desperation is carried on from father to son. On a visit to Vidarbha on New Year’s Day, Neelima saw the stark contrast.

“While the cities were brightly lit and there was celebration in the air, in the villages in Vidarbha there was calm. There was intense anger. I asked the children if they would become farmers. Some said yes because they felt they were more educated than their parents, they would not make the same the mistakes as their fathers and that they would try and make a difference. Those who refused said they would not because of their parent’s fate. My heroes are the ones who are willing to farm again,” she says.

There are no solutions that she gives but suggestions plenty.

A hard-hitting narrative of the rivers of blood that flow down the corridors of power, whom none but the poor can see.

WHAT’S SELLING Landmark’s best in fiction

Landmark’s best in non-fiction

New York Times’ best in fiction

New York Times’ best in non-fiction

n Someone Like You

by Durjoy Datta

n Power-UK Edition

by Rhonda Byrne

n Happy, Happy, Happy by Phil Robertson

n 3 Mistakes Of My Life by Chetan Bhagat

n The Magic by Rhonda Byrne

n Dead Ever After

by Charlaine Harris

n Asura Tale Of The Vanquished by Anand Neelakantan n Chanakya’s Chant

by Ashwin Sanghi n Arjuna by Anuja Chandramouli

n What Young India Wants by Chetan Bhagat n Please Don’t Buy This Book by Gobinath n My Life, My Rules

by Sonia Golani

n Silken Prey by John Sandford n 12th of Never by James Patterson n The Hit by David Baldacci n A Step Of Faith

by Richard Paul Evans

n Lean In by Cheryl Sandberg n Let’s Explore Diabetes With Owls by David Sedaris n Cooked by Michael Pollan n Dad is fat by Jim Gaffigan

18

WOMEN SATURDAY, MAY 25, 2013

WEBSITES OF THE WEEK Soulpancake: Their brain batter of art, culture, science, philosophy, spirituality and humour is designed to open your mind, challenge your friends, and feel damn good.

Trendland: Trendland aims to be the source for trend forecasters, professional and otherwise while redefining web media and becoming a techno-savvy hybrid of a magazine, art gallery and television all in one.

PostDesk: Following in the footsteps of recent long-form journalism start-ups, the PostDesk online platform is a winner. It is the place to discuss, debate and read free, independent longformcontent.

COVERING GREAT DISTANCES

From detesting athletics to becoming the first Asian to participate and stand 6th in Ultraman World Championship, Anu Vaidyanathan has come a long way. Sports has now become an intrinsic part of her life. A part she is willing to share with others.

KANCHAN AGARWAL

kanchan.a@postnoon.com

W

hen Anu Vaidyanathan was in school, she could hardly care for sports. Riding a bicycle to school and back home, was her only serendipitous fitness regime. “I hated athletics in school. I thought athletes only cared about being cool. I was a nerd in school. All my friends were like that too. But now that I am an athlete, they wonder what went wrong with me in college,” says Anu. From detesting athletics to becoming the first Asian to participate and stand sixth in Ultraman World Championship, Anu has made quite a transition. Although she always loved being outdoors indulging in gardening or cycling, it was in the college days that she took seriously to sports, and eventually partici-

pated in small championships including Half-Ironman and Indian Ironman Triathlon.

“We face so many stereotypes but it doesn’t make sense to live only by them. These limits had to fall. I decided that I was going to do what I wanted to, which was sports,” explains the triathlete.

I wondered what made her accept such an arduous challenge of accomplishing 10K swim, 420K bike ride and 84.4K

run in three days. Ultraman, for her, was only a matter of going a step ahead. No drama there. She trained for six years. “Cycling was always a part of my life. Running was my favourite hobby, anyway.

Every year, I practised them a lot more and more.”

In 2009, at the age of 29, she was the first Asian to participate, and even stand sixth in the Ultraman championship. As physically fit she

was, the mental stress had to be dealt with.“My mum was suffering an injury then. I was trying to believe that things would go easy. I was trying to stay focussed. There was no pressure from my family. If I won or lost, all they would care about is if I ate or not.

The legacies given to me by my family gave me strength, and I managed,” she recollects.

Just when you let her athletic side settle in, she says she is the CEO of a company too.

She is also an Inktalks fellow.

Anu was pursuing a masters in electrical engineering when she had to find a lucrative way to pay her bills. That’s when she set up PatnMarks. It deals with filing patents and registering trademarks in India.

She could have looked for a job but she felt more comfortable with the system of patents.

“My mother is the second woman to be a registered patent agent. I have heard people talk about it for as long as I can remember. I built this company along with my partner David and my parents’ support. We scrambled initially, at first we floundered, now we are doing just fine.”

If I may, I would call Anu a ‘doer’. “I don’t think much about things. I am doing what I love. When people appreciate, it is fantastic. I do feel elated, to be honest. All my plans are basic . I would much rather do my thing than overdo things,” she reasons.

What does she think of women in sports. “As women, if we are not going to work, if we are not packing lunch for our kids, we need to know who we are outside the house. I think investing about 40-45 minutes in sports, makes us stronger role models. It is nice to have a goal to be healthy in life. It is nice to do what you want, and be healthy, along the way.”

Hoping to hear of a bigger championship on cards, I am rather quite pleased when she says, “My future plan is to be an awesome mum and wife, a decent daughter and a sexy grandma. I want to be the best looking grandma!”

The India at Cannes All About Eve

KUBRA FATIMA

T

he world famous and extremely prestigious Cannes Film festival recognises and awards the best movies made in every film industry around the world and this year has honoured 100 successful years of Indian Cinema.

With Amitabh Bachchan and Sonam Kapoor declaring the festival open and a tribute to the film fraternity with a special screening of Bombay Talkies, the film fraternity has placed itself beautifully in the world cinema arena.

Although, despite Indian Cinema coming so far from its award-winning Pather Panchali days, today it seems that its importance at Cannes is shown through the fashion sense of our Bollywood stars rather than by the films of the industry.

Sonam Kapoor was the sole person to represent India on the opening night of Cannes. The actress in her short time spent in Bollywood has delivered films like Aisha, Delhi-6, Mausam etc which did not create any visible impact at the box office neither did it help her establish her career as a serious actress in the industry. The only factor which keeps her in the limelight is her exquisite fashion sense.

This raises the big question: Is India’s representation at Cannes governed by its fashion sense rather than by its film fraternity? Despite Cannes paying a tribute to Bollywood this year, none of the films of the Indian film industry have made it to the major competitive sections. The talks and discussions majorly revolved around Sonam Kapoor’s nose ring, Vidya Balan’s ghostlike lehenga with dupatta and Amitabh Bachchan’s ill-fitting bathrobe. The discussions, article, debates and reports have all been about the stars creating a faux-pas this year rather than discussions about the few Indian films which have gained recognition like Monsoon Shootout, Ugly and Dabba, which actually define cinema as compared to the loud Bollywood.

Reputed film critic and journalist, Anupama Chopra rightly tweeted, “Our films have to speak louder than our fashions!”

19

SPOTLIGHT SATURDAY, MAY 25, 2013

FASHION FINALE

Graduating students from National Institute of Fashion Technology put up their final show at N Convention on Friday. Ladakh, Mughal architecture and caves were some of the themes.

Movie mania As part of European Union Film Festival, 24 ďŹ lms will be screened in the City. The festival will kick off with the screening of The First Assignment today.

Lap of luxury Darpan, an interior and furnishing brand, unveiled its logo and launched its third showroom at Chanda Nagar on Friday.

A bigger stage Uninor CEO Satish Kannan announced Uninor's next phase of expansion in Andhra Pradesh at a press conference in the City on Friday.

20

RELATIONSHIPS SATURDAY, MAY 25, 2013

I AM ALL EARS

I

am 30. It is quite embarrassing for me to even ask advice for this problem but I need a bit of help. My husband of one year is not interested in sex with me.

I have tried all the tricks in the book. Taken advice from my friends but of no avail. I am beginning to feel something is wrong with me.

Dear embarrassed girl, Your relationship does lack spice. For newly-weds this should be the most exciting period of your lives. If this behaviour continues then it will harm the both of you. Have you just tried telling him about the way things lie as of now. Tell him that despite the love you share, things are just not enough and ask him if he is shy of telling you anything. Does he want to do things differently.

There is nothing to shy about now.

T

he best workout partner may be one who understands that silence is golden, according to one Kansas State University researcher in the College of Human Ecology.Brandon Irwin, assistant professor of kinesiology, recently found that individuals tend to work out longer when their partner was perceived to be more skilled and was one who kept verbal encouragement to a minimum.

The childhood connection Looking back at childhood, you are sure to have some memory or the other associated with your grandparents.

For some, it might be the stories they shared with you while for others the pampering.

KEERTHANA M

feedback@postnoon.com

T

he bond shared by grandparents and grandchildren is something very special and despite the changing family scenario, it still remains strong across generations. For most of us, our grandparents were our first best friends, the ones with whom we shared our inconsequential secrets, our mischieves and our pain. With newer generations has that relationship changed?

We take a look.

In majority of the cases, grandparents would have babysat their grandchildren while parents were busy work-

ing and didn’t have much time for their children. Even as a kid grows up, the love and affection for grandparents never dies, and for many teens, visiting grandparents or living with them in the same house is pleasurable.

Kedar Patwary, a mass communication student, says, “I often end up having lengthy conversations with my grandfather about the evolution of Indian society and I really admire him for the patience with which he answers all my questions.”

Many teenagers feel that their parents treat them as grown-ups, while their grandparents are more liberal and pamper them.

Leela Narayanan, a grandmother, says that she loves to pamper her grandchildren and cook favourite dishes for them.

She further adds that her eldest grand daughter, who is now 19,

FOR MOST OF US, OUR GRANDPARENTS WERE OUR FIRST BEST FRIENDS, THE ONES WITH WHOM WE SHARED OUR INCONSEQUENTIAL SECRETS, OUR MISCHIEVES AND OUR PAIN. MANY TEENAGERS FEEL THAT THEIR PARENTS TREAT THEM AS GROWNUPS, WHILE THEIR GRANDPARENTS ARE MORE LIBERAL.

was brought up by her till she was four and the closeness they shared remains the same even now.

At times, the gap in generations plays a negative role, when grandparents find it difficult adjusting to the modern lifestyle. Technology is another culprit that works against this relationship. Youngsters’ obsession with gadgets leaves them

with no time for their loved ones.

Maria Kutty, is a grandmother to 12 kids. Her face lights up every time her grandchildren are mentioned. But she has one grouse. “All my children stay close to me but when they come visiting and I want to spend time with them, I can’t find them anywhere. They no longer have the time to sit by me or even go for a walk in the fields. They only have time for clickety-clackety things in their hands.

Sometimes they listen to loud music and talk about things I don’t understand. I feel very sad when I think of all those times,” she says.

However, there are others who bond well with their grand parents.

Pranav Ramaprasad, an engineering student says, “My grandfather talks to me about

his fun times as a child and asks me to keep away from certain things and not repeat his mistakes. My grandparents are very modern and adaptive. My grandmother uses her iPad with better ease than me.”

Apart from being a friend to you, grandparents share their experiences in the form of stories and incidents, which the children love listening to. Rahim Ukani, an animation student says that he loves and respects his grandparents for the knowledge and experience they have about the world.

As we grow up, we must ensure we spend time with our grandparents and support them as they get older. Similarly, even after getting a job and taking on other responsibilities, one surely must take some time out to spend with grandparents and never make them feel neglected.

21 RAVI TEJA TURNS SINGER!

CINEMA SATURDAY, MAY 25, 2013

SRI Prawin’s next film titled Bhajrang

R

avi Teja is all set to sing for the first time in his career and he’ll be crooning a song in his upcoming film Balupu. Directed by Gopichand Malineni, the film has Ravi Teja, Shruti Haasan and Anjali in lead roles.

Lakshmi Rai is going to make a special appearance and recently, a song was picturised on her and Ravi Teja in Bangkok.

The film’s first look was launched a long time ago and it marks the return of Ravi Teja as a full-fledged mass entertainer after a long gap. His recent films like Sarocharu, Devudu

ANAIKA’S next is Kaaviya Thalaivan?

A

fter Gaayam 2 and Kaalicharan, Sri Prawin is gearing up to direct yet another political drama. We hear that he has registered a title Bhajrang for one of his upcoming films and it’s expected to be another explosive film based on real incidents. More details about Bhajrang will be announced soon. Few months ago, he had announced that he’ll be directing a crime thriller titled Charminar Gangster. He claimed that this film is inspired from the life of Maddelacheruvu Suri whose rivalry with Paritala Ravi hogged the limelight for nearly a decade. In fact, this rivalry between Suri and Paritala Ravi was the central theme of RGV’s Rakta Charitra.

Prawin Sri’s latest film Kaalicharan is reportedly inspired from the life of erstwhile political leader Erra Satyam. The film starring Chaitanya Krishna, Chandini, Kavita Srinivasana and Pankaj Kesari has already turned a lot of heads because of the depiction of violence, although we hear that film itself is not as violent as shown in the trailer.

A

naika, who’ll soon be seen in RGV’s Satya, has reportedly signed her second film even before her debut film hits the screens. Buzz is that she’s going to play the lead role in Vasanthabalan’s upcoming bilingual film Kaaviya Thalaivan. Siddharth is playing the lead role. The film, which is set in 1920s, is inspired from the lives of legendary singers SG Kittappa and KB Sundarambal.

A little birdie reveals that Anaika will be playing the role of a princess in the film.

“Anaika is quite excited about working with a critically acclaimed director like Vasanthabalan and more so because AR Rahman is going to score the music. She’s a big fan of Rahman. The role will require her to undergo a major transformation and she’s quite determined to walk the extra mile,” a source adds. A formal announcement about the cast and crew is expected to be made soon. On the other hand, Siddharth is keeping his fingers crossed about the film. “Getting into preproduction tomorrow for my most difficult film yet. Vasanthabalan’s Kaaviya Thalaivan. It’s going to be a special journey (sic),” he had posted on Twitter few days ago. It’s his first period film and stepping into the shoes of SG Kittappa, who was one of the most revered singers and stage actors in the pre-independence era, sounds like a daunting task by all means.

The film is expected to hit the floors in July this year.

Chesina Manushulu and Daruvu failed to click at the box office and quite surprisingly, he hasn’t had a hit in more than two years now.

Considering all these facts, Balupu is turning out to be the most crucial film in his career post Mirapakay.

SS Thaman is scoring the music and the song which Ravi Teja has sung in the film could add the much needed zing in the album.

The audio will be launched on June 1 in Hyderabad and the film will hit the screens in the second half of June.

22

CINEMA SATURDAY, MAY 25, 2013

Ranbir stays away from networking sites

H

aving accepted the fact that rumours about his private life are "part and parcel" of the film industry, Barfi! star Ranbir Kapoor maintained that he would stay away from social-networking sites to shield his offscreen life.

"I feel that my personal life should be guarded.

I am not on any social networking sites and I don’t intend to be on them," Ranbir said at a promotional event for his forthcoming film Yeh Jawaani Hai Deewani.

Directed by Ayan Mukerji, the movie, releasing on May 31, is produced by Dharma Productions and stars Ranbir's former girlfriend Deepika Padukone along with Kalki Koechlin and Aditya Roy Kapur.

"I work very hard as an actor and I try out roles that entertain the public. I used to feel awkward when asked about my private life. But now I have understood that it's part and parcel of our film industry," he said.

Last movie, Ranbir and Deepika acted in was Bachna Ae Haseeno which released in 2008.

"I and Deepika did not have any problem working together," Ranbir confirmed.

IANS

SRK to promote Chennai Express during IPL final B

ollywood superstar Shah Rukh Khan, co-owner of Indian Premier League (IPL) franchise Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR), will appear on Extraaa Innings T20 during the cricket extravaganza's final face-off to promote his forthcoming film Chennai Express.

The actor has come up with a promotional trailer for his appearance on the show as well and has urged his fans to "express yourself". The title track of the Rohit Shetty directorial plays in the background of the promo.

"Watch the IPL finals with me and express yourself," says Shah Rukh in the promo for the show. He might even launch the official trailer of the movie during the IPL finale on Sunday.

Chennai Express, which also features Deepika Padukone, will hit the screens in August. Deepika wrapped up the film's shoot on Thursday.

IANS

ISHKQ IN PARIS IS FEEL GOOD, FROTHY L

ove, as the sages say, is a many-splendoured thing.

You can look at it as an occasion for stress and heartbreak (which is why we fall, never rise, in love). Or love can be a celebration of life.

Director Prem Raj's debut film Main Aur Mrs Khanna took a quaint capricious look at love during times of adultery. On this occasion (Ishkq In Paris) he takes flight in a Parisian paradise where two strangers, both single attractive and commit-phobic, spend the night together.

No, not doing what you think in your dirty minds. They roam the cobbled mysterious pleasurable lanes of Paris in pursuit of a good time and then decide "never" to meet again.

If you've seen how Kareena Kapoor affects the sober, staid and repressed Shahid Kapoor in Jab We Met, you'd know that feminine exuberance is a hard aphrodisiac to resist, specially if you are a closet-romantic like Akaash (Rhehan Maliek) who in no time at all (first five minutes of this crisp and delightful slice of lovelife comedy) is eating out of Ishkq's lovely hands.

Ah, Ishkq! She is that kind of a girl. Half-French and fully desi,

Movie: Ishkq in Paris Cast: Preity Zinta, Rhehan Malliek, Isabelle Adjani, Shekhar Kapur Directed by: Prem Raj Ishkq fills up the frames with an unbridled joie de vivre. I can't think of a role better written for Preity Zinta. Missing from the screen for a couple of years, she bounces back with a performance that derives its zing and sparkle from the actress' inbuilt zest for life.

Preity takes her character Ishkq beyond her own personality. From Frame one we see Ishkq as a girl trapped in self-deceptions that leave her unnecessarily wary of relationships. Ishkq hides her real emotions in romantic nonchalance. Here in this Parisian homage to all things romantic, Preity's character blossoms before us without props and yet looking immensely fetching.

It is a non-accessorised performance, very basic and liberated from humbug.

Preity brings out the highs

and lows in her emotionally awash character without taking flamboyant leaps of on-camera conceit. It's a beautifully written and directed Rhehan as Preity's 'other' gives the actress just the right cues. Confident and yet not cocky, Rhehan seems poised for a satisfactory innings in Hindi films.

Prem Raj allows the couple plenty of space to let their feeling breathe freely and easily into the narration. The two protagonists may be in a hurry to get somewhere, the film is not.

The exquisite camerawork by Manush Nandan sweeps languorously through the neon-lit seductive night-life of Paris and the daytime bustle of the streetside cafes without getting into touristic awe.

Preity, Paris and Prem Raj whip up a souffle romance. Fresh, frothy feel good and, yes, look good, and with a solid undercurrent of emotional frisson to guide the love story to its heart-warming culmination Ishkq In Paris makes you thankful for that thing called love. The tone of narration is unmistakably European.

Welcome back, Preity. And yes, bon appetite to all moviegoIANS ers. Go, tuck in.

CINEMA SATURDAY, MAY 25, 2013

23

CINEMA SATURDAY, MAY 25, 2013

24

25

CINEMA SATURDAY, MAY 25, 2013

lost and curious

F

ast & Furious 6 evokes diverse reactions. With a wafer-thin plot and a lot of sleek action, Fast and Furious 6 is definitely a test of patience.

Reason? The audience is thrown into the conflict of the story with great speed and velocity. Chances are that if you blink, you may miss the crux of the story and worst is that if you are not an F&F fan, then you’d definitely be lost in the rigmarole of the speeding cars and crashes, handto-hand combats and snappy one-liners.

Unlike the franchise’s previous films, which focused on cars and their different makes, this one focusses on cars, an army tanker and a cargo plane — brought in to deliver a mega climax. It also leans heavily on family ties and bonding.

In the sixth instalment, the franchise’s favourite car

thieves, who are scattered across the globe, leading a luxurious life after their successful heist in Fast & Furious 5, join forces to take down an international criminal.

The film begins with Domnic Toretto (Vin Diesel) along with his best pal and brother-in-law Brian (Paul Walker) flaunting the speed and vigour of their cars in the scenic Canary Islands.

Domnic’s sister Mia (Jordana Brewster) is expecting Brian’s child.

Domnic assures him that nothing will make them go back to their old lifestyle.

Meanwhile, there is a blast in Moscow. Federal Agent Hobbs (Dwayne Johnson) is investigating the case. He has been tracking an organisation of lethal, ruthless and skilled mercenary drivers. He learns that the leader of the organisation, Owen Shaw

(Luke Evans) is accompanied by a fearless second-in-command revealed to be none-other than Domnic’s ‘dead’ lover, Letty (Michelle Rodriguez).

Hobbs knows the only way to outmatch this rugged team is to assemble a team

Movie : Fast & Furious 6 Cast : Vin Diesel, Paul Walker, Dwayne Johnson, Gina Carano, Luke Evans, Michelle Rodriguez, Tyrese Gibson, Jordana Brewster, Sung Kang, Ludacris and Gal Gadot Director : Justin Lin Rating :

JENNIFER

enjoys being in own skin

J

ennifer Love Hewitt feels people will never stop commenting — whether you’re thin or voluptuous. But she says it is more important to feel good in your skin, and she does so with her regular dose of running, yoga and Pilates.

“I’m an actress, I live in L.A., I work in Hollywood. But I’ve learned that if you’re too skinny, they’ll say something about it. If you’re

not skinny enough, they’ll say something about it,” usmagazine.com quoted the 34-year-old actress as saying.

“I just try to feel good in my own skin as much as I can,” she added.

To stay in shape, Hewitt does a combination of yoga, Pilates and she runs on an incline.

“I try to go back and forth between all those things,” she added.

IANS

with just as much will and drive. Knowing Letty’s a key-player, Hobbs lands up in Canary Island to recruit Domnic. Everything changes thence, a reluctant Domnic gets on board to prevent any more Interpol buildings from being blown up. He assembles his team in London and they go ahead to complete the mission. While every character with their action and agility fit the block, it’s the emotions that are missing.

Especially the bromance between Dom and Brian looks forced and the conversations between them lacks its initial spark. Similarly, the romance between Domnic and Letty is devoid of luster, particularly in the scene where he reminds her of the past, which appears really silly.

Beefed-up Dywane Johnson walks through the scenes like a robotic GI Joe.

While the first half of the film rushes through, it’s the second half that gives some semblance of sense to the narrative. But there are moments when you feel exhausted with the chases and explosions that you have to sit through.

Nevertheless, it’s the well-choreographed action sequence by Olivier Schneider that is brilliantly captured by cinematographer Stephen F. Windon and the snappy edits that make Fast & Furious 6 a thrilling adventure.

The story might be simple, but director Justin Lin and writer Chris Morgan fail to pay attention to the holistic logic of the sequences in the film.

The climax has a major twist that works in making the next sequel and don’t miss the trailer of Fast & Furious 7 after the end credits.

Eva Longoria gets her Master's degree

A

ctress Eva Longoria gladly flaunted a graduation gown after picking her Master's degree from the California State University. The 39-year-old star qualified in Chicano studies from the university.

The Desperate Housewives star took to Twitter to share her joy, and wrote: “Big day today! Very excited to graduate for my Master's degree in Chicano Studies! You're never too old or too busy to continue your education!”

She posted photographs of herself in the gown, and even posed with her parents, cousins and friends before the ceremony. She

says she felt like famous fictional character Harry Potter. "In my cap and gown with mum and dad! I look like Harry Potter," she added.

IANS

26

CHAI TIME SATURDAY, MAY 25, 2013

SUDOKU

THOUGHT OF THE DAY To enjoy the things we ought and to hate the things we ought has the greatest bearing on excellence of character.

– Aristotle

KAKURO

How to play kakuro

SCRIBBLING PAD

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

QUICK CROSSWORD ACROSS 1 November birthstone 6 Nebraskan city 11 Clothe 14 Oater ‘necktie’ 15 Former ‘American Idol’ judge 16 Small bill 17 Miscellany 19 ‘The Bridge of ___ Luis Rey’ 20 Chicken ___ king 21 Country hit ‘___ Been Everywhere’ 22 Jagger’s title 23 At the very back of the boat 27 Proclaim 29 Chinese ‘way’ 30 Cuisine featuring lemongrass 32 Indian flatbread 33 ___ City (Las Vegas nickname) 34 Acting litigiously 36 Bumps on a log 39 Beginning for ‘while’ 41 Danger signal 43 Hobo concoction, in stereotypes 44 Asian nannies 46 ‘... dish ran away with the ___’ 48 William Tell’s canton 49 Captures a fish, say 51 ‘And miles ___ before I sleep’ 52 Van Winkle of legend 53 Bistro patron, eg 56 Daytime theatrical performance 58 Go bad 59 ‘___ you with me?’

60 Canal zone?

61 ‘Don’t mind if ___’ 62 Simple breakfast 68 Nighttime, poetically 69 Quitter’s cry 70 Ho-hum feeling 71 ___ Alamitos, Calif 72 Allocated (with ‘out’) 73 Accelerating forces DOWN 1 This puzzle’s explosive

theme?

2 ‘How exciting!’

3 Maui mouthful 4 Tea-growing area of the Himalayas 5 Absolute fanatics 6 Not original 7 Clever comment 8 Destructive insect 9 Pearly Gates locale 10 From the halls of Montezuma 11 Sleep restlessly 12 Where an elated person walks 13 Jazz or opera, eg 18 New Hampshire city 23 On the ocean blue 24 Baby-tooth taker 25 Great quantities 26 Top hat accompaniment

63 Guinness 28 ‘Land of a million elespecialty phants’ 64 Flanders on ‘The 31 Not up to the task Simpsons’ 35 He gets toasted at a 65 ___ Arbor, Mich wedding 66 ‘Peggy ___’ (Buddy 37 Creepy Holly song) 38 Rip off 67 ‘Whether ___ nobler 40 ‘You,’ old-school 42 Attired for a PREVIOUS PUZZLE ANSWER frat party 45 Bedrock, eg 47 Written, as music 50 Tranquil 53 Built-out window 54 Beverly Hills drive 55 Be moved by a stimulus 57 Device of the wryly humorous

27

CHAI TIME SATURDAY, MAY 25, 2013

Aries

Taurus

Gemini

Cancer

Leo

Virgo

Page of Wands

Six of Swords

Queen of Wands

Six of Pentacles

Nine of Wands

Seven of Cups

W

ork – Avoid being ambiguous when you communicate with coworkers. If you aren’t sure of an idea, flesh it out in your head first before presenting it to all.

Romance – A road trip with music you like will bring back the dying romance. Passions are high when you do things you enjoy. Health – Avoid eating street side food. Eat healthy, exercise right and think positive. Money – You may not know the whole story about an investment. You may be aware only of the tip of the iceberg, which is insufficient to take a call.

Tarot message – Overseas contacts bring new experiences and a cultural fusion you cannot ignore. Learn, adapt, grow and experience the new.

W

ork – Life is a playground and you can choose to play fair or foul. Either way, your past will return to take stock with you, sometime in the future. Romance – You and your partner can consider getting a pet, if you haven’t one already. It will focus your love for each other.

Health – Eat healthy nuts and snack on fruits and organic foods that will add extra energy to your body and mind.

Money – You benefit from the investments you have made so far. You will be in a position to decide what you wish to do with your money now.

Tarot message – Emotions are strong, and you cannot escape from them. But do think about the future, practically.

W

ork – There are ways to put across your idea without seeming too bossy or authoritative. You can adopt a consensual approach to team-handling.

Romance – You radiate a beautiful sensual energy, which is great for attracting good vibes. Continue to do things you enjoy and you can make the most of it.

Health – Although porridge and oats may seem boring, they have the ability to restore the balance in your body. Don’t shun healthy foods. Money – While taking a loan, make sure you are aware of the market conditions. Also, consider your own finances before deciding. Tarot message – Growth is indicated. You learn and grow at the same time by meeting new people and picking up new information from them.

W

ork – The amount of work you put in simply cannot be measured by the number of hours you spend at the office. It has everything to do with quality.

Romance – Singles may walk down the altar very soon. It may happen suddenly and unexpectedly.

But then, such is life.

Health – An icon in the health field inspires you to take better care of your health and you match step to step.

Money –Travel to foreign shores is indicated. It may be on work or some special assignment. You end up spending a lot on food and shopping. Tarot message – Don’t isolate yourself in the quest for creativity. You can be creative even while working in a group.

W

W

ork – You need to log in the required number of hours. But more than that technical detail, make sure you stay disciplined and stick to a schedule expected of you.

Romance – You enjoy some rib-tickling laughter moments with your loved one. This is the trick to keep the romance alive.

Laugh together and enjoy your time. Health – Avoid putting that packet of chips in your shopping cart as you wheel it down the supermarket aisle.

Add fruits, instead, to your basket. Money – There will be ups and downs. A fall in stocks may only be temporary.

Don’t panic yet. Tarot message – You have many creative ideas and need to put them to good use.

SUMAA TEKUR tarotreadhyd@gmail.com

Libra

Scorpio

Nine of Pentacles

The Devil

W

ork – There are many different sections within your office or profession where you can explore new work. Do this with the intent to learn and not just to make more money. Romance – A smile can erase many negative feelings and also clear your mind instantly. Smile often and when with members of the opposite sex. Health – Be aware of pollution-related health issues like a sunburn or stroke or asthma.

Protect yourself against harsh weather conditions.

Money – Limit your spending when out with friends. You tend to get carried away and spend more when with other people.

Tarot message – Temptations are hard to resist. But you ought to try for your own good.

ork – Document all your work in a neat way so you can present it to seniors in the industry when asked to share your work. Romance – You may have to make decisions very quickly when it comes to personal relationships. Don’t procrastinate or dilly-dally too much.

Health – Hop across to a health store and stock up on healthy snacks instead of picking up fried foods and unhealthy ready-to-eat mixes. Money –By withdrawing limited amounts of money from the bank you can try to put a limit on your excessive spending. Tarot message – By being in the clear and doing what needed to be done from your end, you allow for good vibes to come your way.

W

Sagittarius Ace of Wands

W

ork –File all your work and achievements in a place that is convenient for you to share with others. As you grow in the career, you would need to manage this more professionally. Romance – Some strong wooing is on the cards. You miss your partner when away and cannot wait to get back together to spend more time. Health – There are some harmful bacteria in the air, water and food. Don’t take it lightly and avoid unhealthy food habits. Money – Only when you trust a person completely should you lend money. Be fully aware of your actions with money.

Tarot message – This is an intuitive time and you will do whatever needs to be done without anyone telling you.

Capricorn

Date 26-5-2013

Aquarius

Six of Wands

Eight of Wands

W

W

ork – There is no guarantee on what happens on the job front, especially in these economically volatile times. Stay positive. It will all be fine.

Romance – Give your partner a good body massage. It not just increases passion between you two it also burns calories for the person giving the massage.

Health – You create barriers for yourself in the choices you make. Being healthy is a lifestyle choice and does not end when you enrol in a gym. Money – You may have gotten some insider information on investments. Verify it carefully before you jump in with your savings. Tarot message – There is need to balance the different aspects of your life. No point sticking to one perspective.

ork – It’s a pleasure to have the remote control in your hand, for once. But this also adds tremendous responsibility on you.

You’ll be expected to behave maturely.

Romance – A foreign holiday with a loved is on the cards. You discover new places and each other through this journey. Health – If digestion is a problem, it will be a good idea to treat it well. Use laxatives or natural treatment. Don’t ignore it. Money – There is red-tape-ism in the companies where you have invested. And this is bothering you no end. Be patient. Tarot message – There is bound to be confusion even as you seek to clear your mind and find the right answers.

ork – When you have stray bits of information from here and there, you should make the effort to string the pieces together for it to make sense. Romance – When in a fight with a partner, don’t focus on whose fault it is. Instead, focus on what you can do to make the situation better. Health – In fitness levels, you are like a caterpillar waiting to become a butterfly. You’re on the right track and only need to continue working. Money – Make a concrete pension plan so you get the money you need for a rainy day. You shouldn’t have to worry later in life. Tarot message – This is a lucky phase when situations go in your favour.

Pisces King of Swords

W

ork – There is a rat race in the office you have to deal with. You are in a position of power and need not worry. It will settle itself. Romance – You need an escape to a better place with your romantic partner. Take time out for each other, even if you don’t physically get away.

Health – Focus on what you eat because it will determine how your health improves. Don’t ignore any aches and pains. Consult a doctor.

Money – Time is money.

If you are in business, make each meeting count.

Be professional in your approach to work. Tarot message – You are in a position to take important decisions. This is a fortunate time when plans fall in place.

Vol: 2, No 309 RNI No: APENG/2011/39337 Published for the proprietors, Scribble Media and Entertainment Pvt Ltd, by V Harshavardhan Reddy, at #1246, Level 3, Jubilee Casa, Road No 62, Jubilee Hills, Hyderabad – 500033 and printed by him at Jagati Publications Ltd, Plot No D-75&E-52, APIE Industrial Estate, Balanagar, Ranga Reddy Dist, Hyderabad – 500037, Editor: Dean Williams – Responsible for selection of news under the PRB Act All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or in part without written permission of the publisher is prohibited. For feedback, please write to: feedback@postnoon.com and for subscription, please call 040-40672222, Fax: 040-40672211

28

THE SATURDAY QUIZ SATURDAY, MAY 25, 2013

TEST YOUR KNOWLEDGE

IN THE NEWS

11. Lira is the currency of which country?

12. According to the Chronicles of Narnia it is always winter but never what?

13. Who won the first nobel prize for literature?

14. In what year was the last Turkish sultan expelled from his country?

15. With what number does the Croatian dvjesto correspond to?

16. How many umpires are there on the field for a cricket match?

17. Leo Tolstoy died in which year?

18. What is the measure of optical power of lens?

19. Which president appeared on the poster 'Would you buy a used car from this man'?

TEST YOURSELF

IDENTIFY THESE COUNTRY SINGERS

CURRENT AFFAIRS 1

1 2 3 4 5

Answers

Carpathian mountain range?

7. How many wheels does a bob sleigh have?

8. What type of production is Avenue Q? 9. Which continent is Philippines located in?

10. How many daughters of Adam and Eve are mentioned in the Bible?

1. Owl 2. 1 3. Yes 4. 5 years 5. No 6. 1,500 7. 0 8. A musical 9. Asia 10. 0 11. Turkey 12. Christmas 13. Armand (Sully) Prudhomme 14. 1922 15. 200 16. 2 17. 1910 18. Diopter 19. Richard Nixon.

1. Which animal's eyes are bigger than its brain?

2. How many placenta does a pregnant woman have?

3. Is mercury a metal?

4. How many years does a coffee seed take to yield consumable fruit?

5. Is O3 paramagnetic?

6. How many kilometres long is the

2

Which country has offered to support Pakistan and will help in realising its stability and better development?

1 2

How many colours can a butterfly see?

Which three mammals go through menopause?

Who became the world's oldest person to reach the summit of Mount Everest this week?

3

Who is being declared the winner of the fifth 60,000 pounds Man Booker International Prize?

How many muscles does a cat have in its ear?

4

What body part does a kangaroo use to balance?

Which soldier was killed in a London attack this week?

Which company acquired US company Makani Power that generates power using turbines mounted on tethered kites or wings?

How much do you know about animals?

5 6 7 8 9

Which is the only mammal that can fly?

3

4

Which bird can run faster than horses?

What is the lifespan of a housefly?

What is a group of cats called?

1. China 2. Eighty year-old Japanese Yuichiro Miura 3. American short story writer Lydia Davis 4. Drummer Lee Rigby 5. Google

Which is the strongest animal in the world?

4

How many Nigerians are India training for vocational jobs?

PICTURE PUZZLE 68 with Santosh Ghule What all can you see on this tabel?

Answer for 67:

3

The country's first amputee to conquer Mt Everest, will soon be a police officer. Who is she?

WHO AM I? I am an Indian technology businessman who was the Chief Executive Officer of iGate Corporation. I was in news recently for allegedly getting Araclea Roizj, the company's head of investor relations, pregnant.

Answer : Phaneesh Murthy

Which two blackberry phones are made available in India through its EMI schemes?

The word sneaker and a man.

2

Answers: 1. Carrie Underwood 2. Luke Bryan 3. Taylor Swift 4.

Kenny Chesney

Which Indian origin actor was honoured in New Zealand recently?

Answers

Answers

1

1.Red, green and yellow.

2. Elephants, humpback whales and human females.

3. 32 4. Its tail 5. Bats 6. Ostrich 7. 14 days 8. Clowder 9. Copepods are a group of small crustaceans found in the sea.

These are 1 mm long and are also the world's fastest animal.

KNOW YOUR COUNTRY

1.Jacob Rajan 2. BlackBerry Z10 and Curve 9220 3. Arunima Sinha 4. 500

Answers

29

SPORTS SATURDAY, MAY 25, 2013

Memphis guard Allen fined

Nationals from Tuesday

NEW YORK: Memphis Grizzlies guard

PUNE: The 3rd Hockey India senior

Tony Allen has been fined $5,000 for violating the NBA's rule against flopping, the league said Friday. The infraction occurred late in the fourth quarter of game two of the Western Conference finals, when Allen was fouled by San Antonio's Manu Ginobili while trying to complete a fastbreak layup.

men's national championship is to be held here at the Shiv Chattrapati Sports Complex and Major Dhyan Chand Hockey stadium in nearby Pimpri town from May 28 to June 10.

The participating teams, numbering 37, have been divided into 8 pools and the toppers of each pool will make it to the quarter finals.

Stage 19 has been cancelled because of snow, while stage 20 has been re-routed; Danilo Di Luca was out of the race after testing positive for a banned drug.

Chaotic end as Giro hit by snow, doping positive A snowplough at work in Passo del Tonale after cancellation of the 19th stage of the 96th Giro d'Italia from Ponte di Legno to Val Martello on Friday in Passo del Tonale. AFP

Justin DAVIS

VAL MARTELLO, ITALY: The 96th edition of the Giro d'Italia is facing a chaotic finale as wintry weather in the Dolomites forced the cancellation of Friday's stage and changes to Saturday's final day in the high

‘Strong academies needed’ NEW DELHI: Indian football needs

mountains. Despite the whiteout, it proved something of a black Friday for organisers who woke to the news that 2007 race winner Danilo Di Luca was out of the race after reportedly testing positive for the banned blood booster EPO (erythrpoietin).

Race director Michele

Acquarone insisted: "We don't want this isolated case to overshadow what has so far been an exciting and spectacular race."

However Acquarone admitted Friday had been a "unique and strange day".

Amid unseasonably cold conditions and fears for rider safety, organisers had announced an alternative route for Friday's stage from Ponte di Legno to Val Martello in Italy's far north-east after heavy snowfall and subzero temperatures left the Gavia and Stelvio mountain passes unraceable.

The Tonale and Castrin passes were brought in as replacements but they too were hit with heavy snowfall, forcing organisers to cancel.

strong infrastructure in terms of training, stadiums and youth academies to create a team that is capable of competing in the Asian level, said Wim Koevermans, coach of the national football team. At a discussion organised by the German Embassy Koevermans, he also said India needs a lot of youth development programmes.

Prost rejects calls for F1 overhaul Tim Collings

MONACO: Formula One legend Alain Prost (right) went some way on Friday to calming the storm that threatens to rock the sport by rejecting the idea that an overhaul is needed.

As the Formula One teams enjoyed some intermittent sunshine in the famous Mediterranean harbour on the traditional rest day at the Monaco Grand Prix, the four-time champion Frenchman provided a sense of balance and perspective.

After weeks of in-fighting over the fast-wearing tyres supplied by Pirelli this year and a seemingly insatiable desire for more and more pit-stops and contrived spectacle, Prost suggested a moderate approach to fine-tuning 'the show' was needed.

Indeed, he suggested that F1 should celebrate the fact that there is so much incident and that there is more uncertainty now than there was in the past.

"At the end of the day, you must remember that people criticised a lot when one driver made the pole position, led the race and then nothing happened," he said.

"You want it somewhere in the middle and I think the compromise today is not bad —

because at least we have a show.

We have a long season, with a lot of uncertainty — and that is the most important for F1."

Prost, a four-time winner of the Monaco race, said it is too easy this season for people inside and outside the paddock to criticise the racing without stepping back and looking at a bigger picture.

And he suggested that next year's switch to a new 1.6-litre V6 turbo engine will also be a boost to F1, in providing another talking point for fans.

"If you have this new technology, it means you have something to sell also that is different to today," he explained. "And if you still have the show, that's even better."

‘Istanbul bid is about building bridges’ Hasan Arat, a former top level basketball player turned successful businessman, is the frontman for what is Istanbul's strongest bid yet of the five times they have tried to host the quadrennial sporting extravaganza.

Pirate Irwin

PARIS: Istanbul winning the right to host the 2020 Olympic Games would help bridge the gap between different cultures and religions, the bid's chief executive Hasan Arat (right) told AFP. Turkey is a fiercely secular state, despite being a majority Muslim country.

Arat said the International Olympic Committee (IOC) members would be making an historic choice if they voted for Istanbul ahead of Madrid — second to Rio de Janeiro for the 2016 Games — and Tokyo, the only one of the three to have previously hosted the Games in 1964, on September 7 in Buenos Aires.

"Istanbul 2020 would be the first Olympics in the region," Arat told by telephone from Istanbul.

"It would be a bridge to excel-

lence. A bridge to a new culture.

"A bridge to an historic impact. It will unify the Olympic movement by bridging together different cultures, religions and

generations. Istanbul is already the fifth most visited city in the world."

A more physical version of a bridge was also at the forefront of Arat's belief that Istanbul could prevail: a third bridge along with two tunnels would alleviate some of the traffic problems that weigh heavily on IOC members' minds when it comes to voting.

Those construction projects along with a recently-proposed third airport have also reinforced the impression that the Turkish Government led by Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan is fully behind the bid.

"The airport will be new (and at 22.15bn euros the biggest ever tender in Turkey). We will

It will unify the Olympic movement by bridging together different cultures, religions and generations.

Hasan Arat, Istanbul 2020 Bid committee chief have three airports," said Arat.

"We didn't mention the third bridge and third airport in the bid book as they were not tendered at that time.

"The Eurasia tunnel will be opened on October 29. Trials will begin on August 1. It is good for the bid,” he added.

30

SPORTS SATURDAY, MAY 25, 2013

Kuchar leads at Colonial Kuchar was atop the leaderboard of the Crown Plaza Invitational.

FORT WORTH, TEXAS: Matt Kuchar moved atop the leaderboard of the weather-hit Crown Plaza Invitational at Colonial on Friday, moving to 10under through 15 holes when play was halted for the day.

Kuchar was one shot in front of clubhouse leader Graham DeLaet, who played early and completed a threeunder par 67 for a nine-under total of 131.

Canada’s DeLaet finished his round before a delay for threatening weather halted play for more than two hours.

He teed off on 10 and his round included three straight birdies at the 18th, first and second before he made three bogeys at Colonial’s “Horrible Horseshoe” of holes three, four and five.

“It definitely got me today," DeLaet said of the stretch of holes that is traditionally Colonial’s toughest.

He capped his round with birdies at eight and nine, however.

At the eighth, his 17th, DeLaet drained a 28-footer for birdie, then poured in an 11-footer at the ninth.

“I played well on my first nine. I stumbled a bit on the second nine, and just wanted to make a par at the sixth ... to calm the nerves," he said. “Great birdies at eight and nine to finish."

His nearest rivals in the clubhouse were Jordan Spieth (67), Josh Teater

It’s no from Noah for French hopes PARIS: Yannick Noah believes that none of the current crop of French tennis players are capable of matching his exploit in winning the French Open 30 years ago.

The dreadlocked star’s straight sets win over Mats Wilander in 1983 remains the last male home title win, coming as it did 37 years after the previous one by Marcel Bernard in 1946. In that time, only Henri Leconte in 1988 has managed to reach the final for France and he lost in straight sets to Wilander.

But hopes were raised when the current generation of French players arrived on the scene a few years back, with JoWilfried Tsonga, Gael Monfils and Richard Gasquet all touted as potential Grand Slam winners.

To date none have done so and the annual consecration of the claycourt season in the Paris springtime has become something of a cross to bear for the home players.

Noah, who became a reggae singer when he retired in 1996, and who still performs on stage at 53, believes that it has been their bad luck to be competitive at a moment of exceptional qualAFP ity at the top of the sport.

Matt Kuchar hits his tee shot on the eighth hole as his caddie Lance Bennett looks on during the second round of the Crowne Plaza Invitational at Colonial at Colonia Country Club AFP/SCOTT HALLERAN on Friday in Fort Worth, Texas.

(67) and Steve Flesch (64) on eightunder 132. Ryan Palmer was eightunder through 12 holes when play was halted for a second time late in the day, with organizers opting to suspend the round for the night.

Palmer, the overnight leader after a sizzling 62 on Thursday, was at nineunder for the tournament until a double-bogey at the par-four fifth, where

he had to take a penalty shot after a wayward shot off the tee.

He then followed with a bogey at the sixth, but got back on track with birdies at 10 and 12.

Kuchar was a bogey-free five under through 15 holes for the day.

Kuchar opened his round with a two-putt birdie at the first, and made a AFP short birdie putt at the second.

Molinari ahead at Wentworth WENTWORTH, UNITED KINGDOM: Italy’s Francesco Molinari leads the way after two rounds of the European PGA Championship here at Wentworth but several of his European Ryder Cup team mates missed the cut.

Molinari shot a second round 68, four-under par, to head the field after making four birdies in his last eight holes to be sitting pretty in the clubhouse by lunchtime.

A cluster of players finished a shot back from Molinari, whose brother Edoardo was two-under, including South Africa’s George Coetzee, Marc Warren of Scotland, Mark Foster from England and Spain’s Alejandro Canizares.

A grandstand finish from English youngster Eddie Pepperell, who birdied the last four holes, got himself to four-under alongside another Italian, Matteo Manassero.

The deteriorating weather meant few players were likely to challenge Molinari’s mark at the top of the leaderboard in the afternoon and Graeme McDowell, Rory McIlroy, Ian Poulter and defending champion Luke Donald all failed to make the weekend.

The cut fell at two-under par and Justin Rose birdied the par-5 18th to just get in on the mark but 75s for McIlroy and McDowell scuppered their chances.

The pair finished on 149, five over par with another Ryder Cup player, Paul Lawrie two shots better off on 147 but still heading home.

Lee Westwood, however, was another early finisher who made the cut easily finishing on three-under par, the same score as Ernie Els and the winner here in 2010, Simon Khan.

McIlroy missed the cut here last year and never looked happy in miserable rainy conditions.AFP

Djokovic in Nadal’s path Dave JAMES

PARIS: Rafael Nadal can become the first man to win the same Grand Slam title eight times at the French Open, but the Spaniard may have to get past Novak Djokovic before he even contemplates history.

Having pulled clear of Bjorn Borg’s record of six wins at Roland Garros with a seventh championship in 2012, the 26-year-old has already confounded the critics who had written him off during a seventh-month injury absence.

Since his return to the tour in February, Nadal has shaken off the heartbreak of

missing the Olympics, as well as the US and Australian Opens, to collect six titles from eight finals.

But he is keen to play down the hype at the French Open, especially after Friday’s draw placed him in the same half as top seed Djokovic, which means that one of them will definitely not be playing in the June 9 final.

“To talk about numbers, to talk about history, you have to analyze when somebody finishes his career, not in the middle," said Nadal at a chilly, damp Roland Garros where he is the third seed.

“To play at Roland Garros always is a special feeling and

I feel very emotional every time that I am back here."

No man has ever collected more than seven titles at the same major.

Roy Emerson, with six, is the Australian Open’s most successful while William Renshaw, Pete Sampras and Roger Federer all triumphed at Wimbledon seven times each.

Bill Larned, Bill Tilden and Richard Sears were seventime winners at the US Open.

Since his French Open debut in 2005, Nadal has only lost once in Paris — an injuryhit fourth round exit to free-hitting Robin Soderling in 2009. His

Selected draw’s of the French Open men’s singles Novak Djokovic (SRB x1) v David Goffin (BEL) Jiry Vesely (CZE) v Philipp Kohlschreiber (GER x16) Tommy Haas (GER x12) v Guillaume Rufin (FRA) Carlos Berlocq (ARG) v John Isner (USA x19) Nicolas Mahut (FRA) v Janko Tipsarevic (SRBx8) Rafael Nadal (ESP x3) v Daniel Brands (GER) Jesse Levine (CAN) v Kei Nishikori (JPN x13)

Stanislas Wawrinka (SUI x9) v Thiemo De Bakker (NED) Sergiy Stakhovsky (UKR) v Richard Gasquet (FRAx7) Tomas Berdych (CZE x5) v Gael Monfils (FRA) Andreas Seppi (ITA x20) v Leonardo Mayer (ARG) Andreas Haider-Maurer (AUT) v Nicolas Almagro (ESP x11) Milos Raonic (CAN x14) v Xavier Malisse (BEL) Marinko Matosevic (AUS)

v David Ferrer (ESP x4) Jo-Wilfried Tsonga (FRA x6) v Aljaz Bedene (SLO) Juan Monaco (ARG x17) v Daniel Gimeno-Traver (ESP) Philipp Petzschner (GER) v Marin Cilic (CRO x10) Gilles Simon (FRA x15) v Lleyton Hewitt (AUS) Lukas Lacko (SVK) v Sam Querrey (USA x18) Pablo Carreno-Busta (ESP) v Roger Federer (SUI x2)

record stands at 52 wins against just that single blip against the Swede.

This year, Nadal may have lost his Monte Carlo Masters title to Djokovic after an eightyear monopoly, but he swept to victory on clay in Madrid and Rome, where he allowed Federer just four games in the final.

Nadal, playing in his first Grand Slam event since a shock second round exit to Lukas Rosol at Wimbledon last year sent him home to Manacor for lengthy rehabilitation, begins his campaign against Germany’s Daniel Brands, who is ranked world number 60.

Australian Open champion Djokovic, beaten in last year’s final

by Nadal, starts against Belgium’s David Goffin, who reached the last 16 in 2012 after coming through qualifying. AFP

IPL 6

METRE

If a owner of an IPL team is engaged in betting, the contract clearly states that there is a suo motu right to cancel the agreement of the team and that should be done right away.

Lalit Modi Former IPL chief

Michael Hussey (CSK) 732 runs

Dwayne Bravo (CSK), James Faulkner (RR) 28 wickets

Terminate CSK from the IPL: Lalit Modi

F

31

BATTLE OF THE TITANS

ormer IPL chairman Lalit Modi today demanded that Chennai Super Kings be terminated from the League after the arrest of the team’s owner Gurunath Meiyappan.

Asked to react on the course of action after the arrest of Gurunath, Modi said “CSK should be terminated” immediately and fresh auction be held.

“If a owner of an IPL team is engaged in betting, the contract clearly states that there is a suo motu right to cancel the agreement of the team and that should be done right away,” he said.

“They (Chennai Super Kings) should not exist. There contract should be cancelled and a new auction should be held for the franchise,” Modi told TV channels.

“Betting is a strict no no. It is against the constitution of IPL. It is against the constitution of BCCI”, he said.

Modi questioned BCCI president N Srinivasan’s conflict of interest in the game and said Meiyappan is very much an owner of the team unlike what Indian Cements, owner of CSK, claim.

“When I was IPL chairman, passes were issued only after team owners gave us the names and after all documentation,” he said. To a question about the future of IPL, Modi said the only way forward for it to continue is that the team owners should come forward to run PTI the competition.

6 S 665

Chris Gayle (RCB)

51 4S 2025

Michael Hussey (CRK)

81

HIGHEST SCORE

SATURDAY, MAY 25, 2013

175*

Chris Gayle (RCB)

BEST BOWLER

5-16

James Faulkner (RR)

Guru to be taken to court MUMBAI: After spending a night in the crime branch lockup, Gurunath Meiyappan, sonin-law of BCCI chief N. Srinivasan is likely to be produced before a magistrate for remand here Saturday afternoon, police sources said.

Joint Commissioner of Police (Crime) Himanshu Roy said early Saturday that Meiyappan, who was arrested around midnight, would be produced before a court within 24 hours.

“We have sufficient evidence to conclude his involvement in the spot fixing case,” Roy told media-persons.

Since Saturday is a public holiday on account of Buddha Purnima and tomorrow being Sunday, Meiyappan is likely to be produced before a special holiday magistrate Saturday afternoon.

Meiyappan, who was summoned to appear before Mumbai police investigating spot fixing, wanted time till Monday, but the plea was rejected.

He rushed here post-haste by a chartered flight from Madurai and walked into the arms of the waiting team of

Indian Premier League’s Chennai Super Kings’ owner Gurunath Meiyappan surrenders at the Crime Branch in Mumbai on Friday.

PTI/SANTOSH HIRLEKAR crime branch sleuths at Chhatrapati Shivaji International Airport domestic terminal.

Subsequently, he was taken to the Crime Branch headquarters near Crawford Market in south Mumbai and grilled for three hours.

Among other things, he was questioned about his role and involvement in spot fixing, his betting habits and links,

SCORECARD

whether he indulged in betting and had reportedly lost around Rs.10 million at the behest of Bollywood actor Vindoo Dara Singh Randhawa, who is also in police custody.

He was also confronted with the evidences available with the police and the details of investigations of Vindoo and other bookies already in custody.

Meiyappan’s arrest marks a course-changing twist in the

ongoing IPL-6 spot fixing case busted with the arrest of three Rajasthan Royals cricketers S. Sreesanth, Ajit Chandila and Ankeet Chavan, by the Delhi police in Mumbai.

Moving swiftly, the Mumbai police last week nabbed six bookies - Ramesh Vyas, Pandurang Kadam, Pravin Bera, Pankaj Shah, Ashok Vyas and Neeraj &ndash, who IANS remain in custody.

Srinivasan in a tight spot

MUMBAI INDIANS VS RAJASTHAN ROYALS Rajasthan Royals innings (20 overs maximum) R Dravid* c Sharma b H Singh 43 AM Rahane b Harbhajan Singh 21 SR Watson c Sharma b H Singh 6 SV Samson c H Singh b Malinga 0 STR Binny c H Singh b Pollard 27 BJ Hodge not out 19 K Cooper c Smith b Pollard 4 DH Yagnik† not out 3 Extras (lb 4, w 8, nb 2) 14 Total (6 wickets; 20 overs) 165 Bowling O M R W Econ MG Johnson 3 0 23 0 7.66 R Dhawan 4 0 30 0 7.50 PP Ojha 4 0 36 0 9.00 H Singh 4 0 23 3 5.75 SL Malinga 4 0 43 1 10.75 KA Pollard 1 0 6 2 6.00

Mumbai Indians innings (target: 166 runs from 20 overs) DR Smith c Samson b Binny 62 AP Tarec Samson b Cooper 35 KD Karthik† c Rahane b Cooper 22 RG Sharma* b Trivedi 2 KA Pollard c Cooper b Faulkner 11 AT Rayudu b Watson 17 Harbhajan Singh not out 6 R Dhawan not out 4 Extras (lb 6, w 4) 10 Total (6 wickets; 19.5 overs) 169 Bowling O M R W Econ VS Malik 4 0 26 0 6.50 JP Faulkner 4 0 36 1 9.00 SR Watson 2.5 0 34 1 12.00 SK Trivedi 4 0 23 1 5.75 K Cooper 4 0 33 2 8.25 STR Binny 1 0 11 1 11.00

Mumbai Indians won by 4 wickets (with 1 ball remaining)

NEW DELHI: N Srinivasan’s days as BCCI President seem to be numbered as a faction within the Board is planning to initiate suspension proceedings against him if he refuses to step down in the aftermath of the IPL spotfixing scandal that has thrown Indian cricket into disarray.

Srinivasan’s son-in-law Gurunath Meiyappan, who was till recently referred to as Chennai Super Kings CEO before being disowned by the franchise, was yesterday arrested for alleged involvement in betting.

The development has left Srinivasan cornered and there is a growing clamour for his removal from the top post. But the Tamil Nadu strongman has not given any indication of stepping down on his own despite the growing crisis.

Rattled by his continued defiance, some top Board officials have started the process to oust him by getting him suspended and using the services of his predecessor Shashank Manohar, who has a clean image.

According to a top BCCI official, Manohar has agreed to take up the position on an interim basis till elections are held for a new President.

When contacted, no BCCI official was willing to come on record on this development.

Srinivasan’s term will end in September 2014 as per a new amendment in Board’s Constitution, which provides for a 2+1 tenure for the President. It is learnt that four top BCCI officials have already spoken to Manohar on this proPTI posal.

32

SPORTS SATURDAY, MAY 25, 2013

Bayern, Dortmund relax amid fraught build-up Two German teams to fight for Champions trophy tonight.

Tom WILLIAMS

LONDON: Bayern Munich and Borussia Dortmund fought traffic and driving rain on Friday as they got their first taste of Wembley, 24 hours before they were due to lock horns in the Champions League final.

It is the first time that two German clubs have contested the showpiece occasion but both sides seemed more concerned by the miserable weather and traffic congestion on route to the stadium.

Rain battered down on northwest London for much of the afternoon, with a sudden torrent curtailing Dortmund’s pre-match training session shortly before 20:30 local time.

Bayern’s pre-game press conference was delayed by half an hour after the team bus got caught up in traffic and Dortmund coach Jurgen Klopp joked that his side would require a police escort to Saturday’s game.

“If we’re going to have to get to the match punctually tomorrow, they’ll have to put those blue lights on," he said.

“If someone knows a policeman, please ask him."

Klopp’s mood had been lifted by the news that key central defender Mats Hummels will be fit to play despite injuring his ankle in a 2-1 loss to Hoffenheim last weekend.

Dortmund, the 1997 champions, will nonetheless be without star playmaker Mario Goetze, who will join Bayern after the game in a 37 million euros (£31.7 million, $47.8 miln n n

Watch the big game on TV tonight Bayern Munich Vs Borussia Dortmund 12.15am (Sunday) on Ten Sports

lion) transfer that has rocked German football.

With Robert Lewandowski, who scored four goals against Real Madrid in the semi-finals, also reported to be in Bayern’s sights, Hummels has urged his team-mates to prove that Dortmund have a bright future of their own.

“It’d be fantastic if we could (win), and it might show the players who were thinking about

going to Munich what they’d be missing out on,” he said.

The former Bayern defender added: “The question of pressure doesn’t arise because we have an opportunity here to win the greatest cup of all.

“It’d be the most fantastic story in the world so I’m just not thinking about losing."

Klopp’s lighthearted press conference featured a meandering discourse on the relative merits of Munich and Dortmund as tourist destinations, but his opposite number, Jupp Heynckes, was no less relaxed.

The 68-year-old, who enters retirement at the end of the season, to be succeeded by Pep Guardiola, hopes to lift the European Cup for the second time in his career, after a 1998 success with Madrid.

Bundesliga champions by a record 25-point margin and scheduled to face Stuttgart in the German Cup final, Bayern are closing on a unique treble, but Heynckes dismissed talk of pre-match nerves.

“We have a generation of players who are a bit older — 28, 29, 30 — and for those players it would be the crowning glory of their careers," he said.

Dortmund out to scale ‘Everest’ of Euro final Ryland JAMES

LONDON: Borussia Dortmund coach Jurgen Klopp (in pic) has said his team face their “Everest” in Saturday’s Champions League final, describing their showdown with Bayern Munich as the “perfect game in the perfect stadium".

Bayern walked away with this season’s Bundesliga title by a 25-point winning margin and are the clear favourites to win at Wembley in what will be a first all-German European Cup final.

While Klopp admits Dortmund will be the underdogs, this is their chance to scale the heights of European football and return to the Ruhr valley with their first Champions League title

SOLUTIONS

Boggle

since 1997.

“People have tried to reach Everest in the past and had to turn back with 10 metres to go, it could be the same for us but this is our chance," said the 45-year-old.

“No one is so good that they can be sure, Dortmund may reach other finals, whether I am part of the story, I don’t know. But we have to win the final.”

DOC DOPEY HAPPY BASHFUL

Bayern Munich’s Brazilian defender Dante jumps for the ball during a training session at Wembley Stadium in London on Friday, on the eve of their Champions League final match against Borussia Dortmund.

AFP

Penalties won’t bother Bayern LONDON: Germany star Thomas Mueller (in pic) has insisted the prospect of Saturday’s Champions League final being settled by penalties will not bother Bayern Munich, despite suffering the heart-break of losing the 2012 final in a shoot-out.

Bayern take on Bundesliga rivals Borussia Dortmund at Wembley in their third Champions League final in four years, having lost last season’s showcase finale ‘dahoam’ — at home — to Chelsea in Munich, two years after falling at the final hurdle to Jose Mourinho’s Inter Milan.

In the 2012 final, Mueller put Bayern ahead on 83 minutes, only for Didier Drogba to equalise two minutes from time from Chelsea’s first corner of the game.

Europa League winners into CL

Suduko

Number game

LONDON: The winners of the Europa

Scrabble

The Ivory Coast striker then fired home the decisive spot-kick to win the shoot-out 4-3 and ruin the Munich party, but Mueller insists there will be no worried looks in the Bayern camp should the Wembley final go to penalties.

"I don't think it is to do with self-confidence but we had the history of the shootout,” he said.

League will automatically qualify for a place in the lucrative Champions League from 2015, UEFA announced on Friday.

UEFA president Michel Platini said the winner of the 2014-15 Europa League would play in the 2015-16 Champions League.

The move comes in a bid to boost the appeal of the second-tier tournament.

“As was proven with this year’s magnificent final, the UEFA Europa League has gone from strength to strength, but we wanted to give clubs a further incentive, so that all of them play with a desire to win the competition," Platini AFP said.