Postnoon E-Paper for April 26th 2013

FRIDAY, APRIL 26, 2013 HYDERABAD

WWW.POSTNOON.COM

WEATHER: A MIX OF CLOUDY AND CLEAR SKIES; 33°C

Treasure islands

32 PAGES

`3

Greece is selling its islands. So in case you have some billions to spare, join a very elite club and splash out on a private island.

Trust us, it’s all the rage.

P16&17

HYDERABAD’S FIRST COMPACT AFTERNOON NEWSPAPER

With the Wakf department sceptical about handing over restoration work of the Qutub Shahi Tombs to the Aga Khan Trust for Culture (AKTC), we issue an urgent call to save a City landmark.

REPORT ON P6&7

WE MUST RESURRECT THE TOMBS

P9

Is your child binge drinking?

Emma Stone in talks to star in Allen’s next

Drinking with the sole purpose of getting drunk is a trend rising among youngsters in the age group of 18–24 years. Postnoon reports on a city on the brink of a social disaster.

Emma Stone is reportedly in talks for the leading role in Woody Allen’s untitled next film. The 24-year-old actress has recently completed Blue Jasmine with Cate Blanchett and Alec Baldwin. Stone is currently busy with the Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu-directed dark comedy Birdman.

P28

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FRIDAY, APRIL 26, 2013

city events

A LAUGH RIOT

"It's Not Funny! - Stop Laughing!!" by clown Shiven will be organised at Muffakham Jah College Of Engineering And Technology today at noon.

Weather for Hyderabad

Evening

Overnight

33°C

26°C

31°C

39°C

New Delhi Max 36 Min 26

A mix of cloudy and clear skies.

Clear with cloudy periods

Showers are likely.

A mix of cloud and sun.

Chance of rain

Morning

Afternoon

Mumbai Max 35 Min 27

Chennai Max 33 Min 28

Clear

Mostly cloudy

Bangalore Max 32 Min 22 Chance of storm

AROUND THE CITY: YOUR GUIDE TO THE TWIN CITIES School, Nanakramguda Road, When: Ongoing 9 am onwards Contact: (040) 20042460

SHOWS

ART Art, Vivanta & Jewellery A show featuring furniture by Neeta Kumar, jewellery by Tansi and art will be organised.

Where: Taj Vivanta, Begumpet When: April 27, 7 pm The Deviant Digital art on canvas by Aekka Yadagiri Rao. Where: ICON Art Gallery, Road no 12 Banjara Hills, When: On till May 3.

11.30 am to 7pm Contact: www.iconart.in

BAL HANUMAN: A child dressed up as Lord Hanuman poses for the camera at a procession organised in the old City M ANIL KUMAR on the occasion of Hanuman Jayanthi on Thursday.

An enchanting spectacle Bharatanatyam recital will be staged

by Akhila Kovvuri.

Where: Ravindra Bharathi, Saifabad When: April 26, 6.45 pm Contact: 80080-66621 Little wonders Children’s play Amanush will be staged by Nishumbita Where: Lamakaan, Opposite GVKOne Road No 1, Banjara Hills When: April 26, 7 pm Expression of art The Physicists, radio play by The Little Theatre will be staged.

Where: Muffakham Jah College Of Engineering And Technology (MJET), Banjara Hills When: April 27, 8 pm Back to the jungle Rudyard Kipling's "The Jungle Book"

WORKSHOPS

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

198 155313

POLICE CONTROL ROOM Hyderabad 27852435 Traffic Control Room 27852482 DCP Traffic 23234065, 23243499F Pollution Control Board 23887500

155333 23431178 23431179

MUNICIPAL CORPORATION

When: Till April 27, 10 am to 1 pm The joy of reading Oxford Bookstore in association with GHAC and LICH is organising an informative, exciting and fun-filled workshop in social sciences and Humanities for kids.

Where: Oxford Bookstore, The Park When: Ongoing, Till May 12, 9:30 am to 2:00 pm Contact: 92461-12461 Summer camp Tailoring training camp for children between the age group of 6 and 16 is being organised.

Where: Shilparamam, Madhapur When: Till May 20, 11 am to 1 pm and 2 pm to 4 pm Contact: 97013-83359

Expression of art Mehendi designing workshop is on.

Where: Colorama Printers, Begumpet

Commissioner & Spl Officer

Helpline

ELECTRICITY General Complaints Breakdown Section

- children's play in Hindi will be staged.

Where: Lamakaan, Opposite GVKOne Road No 1, Banjara Hills When: April 27, 7 pm

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

Pop art Summer Jam A craft designing session for all age

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

155313 23307328 23313163

27505566 23314095 23390933 24600146 27001134 23607777 30418888 30417777 30419000 30416666 39879999

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

groups on the subject of Hyderabadi pop art will be organised.

Where: Lamakaan, Opposite GVKOne Road No 1, Banjara Hills When: April 26 Contact: 98661 63899 Filmmaking workshop for children Yavanika Films will conduct a unique filmmaking workshop this summer vacation for children.

Where: Begumpet When: Ongoing, 2pm to 7pm, Daily classes except on weekends Contact: 94901 00404 Summer camp Oakridge is conducting a camp for children in which they can learn story telling, clay modelling and more.

Where: Oakridge International

27567892 23559555 23226624 27633087 27035588 27550238 30799999 30418296 30417445

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

DINING Mangalorean food fest Mangalorean food fest is being organised at Seasonal Tastes.

Where: The Westin Hyderabad Mindspace, Madhapur When: Till April 27 Contact: (040) 6767-6888 Mega mugs TGI Friday's announced TGI Friday’s mega mugs offer to coincide with the start of the IPL..

Where: TGIF, RK Cineplex When: Ongoing Contact: (040) 4015 1925

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

For more information call (Toll free) 18001801407, 1800227722 from BSNL/MTNL 04023430334 from other lines and mobile Website; www.airindia.in TOURISM OFFICES AP Tourism, Hyd 23262152/53/54 Sec-bad 27893100 Dept of Tourism 23453110 India Tourism 23261360 AP Tourism information Centre (24x7) 23450444, 23455999

Readers’ views

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

FRIDAY, APRIL 26, 2013

news

EDITOR’S NOTE: THE NEW NEWS We live in a world where labels are increasingly frowned upon, and rightly so. With that in mind we at Postnoon, as part of our Project 2013, have decided to do away with labels in our news section too. Starting today, the weekday editions will have one comprehensive news section, carrying stories from the City, nation and the world. We strive to give you the news you want, because we believes that if it matters to you...it’s important to us.

CRIME

3

TECHNOLOGY

City gutka haul shows battle still rages

Nokia to make geekiest tattoo ever?

Around 2,149 packets of gutka, 126 packets of tobacco and `5 lakh were confiscated from 10 people who were arrested, task force sources said.

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Gutka causes... n Oral cancers — predominantly carcinomas of the lip, mouth, tongue, and pharynx n Mouth and throat cancer n Oral precancerous lesions n Cancer of the oesophagus n Increased risk of having a low birth-weight infant n Loss of appetite, unusual sleep patterns, and loss of concentration n Stained teeth

Source: wikipedia.org

Banned substances As of November 2012, gutka is banned in 17 states and three union territories, under the provision in the Food Safety and Regulation (Prohibition) Act, 2011, to ban any food product containing harmful adulterants.

The Act allows these products to be banned for a year and it can be extended every year before it lapses. The state public health ministry, FDA and the local police enforce the ban. Offenders can be fined `200 according to the Control of Tobacco Products Act (COTPA). The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) said offenders can face six months to three years in jail.

The law has provisions of imposing fines up to `25,000 on selling of products that are injurious to wikipedia.org health.

Mohd SUBHAN mohd.s@postnoon.com

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total of 10 members were arrested and gutka, cash and tobacco seized from their possession in a special antigutka drive of the task force.

Gutka is banned in Andhra Pradesh. The commissioner of task force has started a drive against gutka sold illegally.

Around 2,149 packets of gutka, 126 packets of khaini (tobacco) and `5 lakh were confiscated from those who were arrested, said P Rameshaiah, deputy commissioner of task force.

AROUND THE

CITY

Task force teams, along with the food and safety officer of GHMC, conducted simultaneous raids to seize gutka and pan masala, which contain tobacco and nicotine.

Task force (central zone) raided a shop, RK Traders, situated in Kavadiguda, and seized 96 packets of khaini and 277 packets of gukta belonging to various brands from the possession of the vendor, Palla Ravinder Kumar. Another team caught a man named Vijay Kumar when he was supplying gutka to a shop vendor and seized 173 packets of gutka from his possession.

The north zone task force

NT BALANARAYAN balanarayan.nt@postnoon.com lmost everyone had written off Nokia, but looks like they haven't given up on innovation yet.

According to a new patent filing by the company in US, they are working on an electronic tattoo that will buzz you the next time you get an alert on your mobile phone.

The 'tattoo' is a strip of magnetic ink embedded into the skin that is capable of interacting with the electromagnetic field of a mobile phone, as per the patent filing.

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SHOP

PERSON HELD

PACKETS SEIZED

Naresh Kirana & General Stores, near Langar House bus stop

Naresh Chand Sarma, vendor

26 packets of khaini and 144 packets of gutka

Bharat General Stores, Langar House Ring Road

Tej Bahadur, the vendor

101 packets of gutka

Ram Dass Confectionary, Ameerpet

Vijay, vendor

37 packets of gutka

RHM Chliya Store, behind old Vendor Raheem Shahinayathgunj police staKhan tion

383 gutka packets

Jeevan Store at Zeebabagh

Mazher Ahmed, vendor

383 packets of gutka

Caught supplying near Puranapul

Mohd Abdul Razakman, supplier

143 packets

team raided a shop, Venkata Ramana Traders, situated at Market Street, Secunderabad, and seized 435 packets of gutka of various brands from the possession of Kothamasu Srinivas, the vendor. A similar raid was

conducted at another shop, Balaji Confectioners, at Monda Market, Secunderabad, and 73 gutka packets were seized from the possession of the vendor, Appam Narsimha. Other shops raided are listed in the table.

A user can even customise the sensation created by the tattoo just as easily as changing a ringtone — at least that's the plan.

It is also likely that the company might use the technology to create a smart wristband or integrate this into a smartwatch, which co-incidentally seems to be the new hot gadget every tech company is after.

Now before you head to Google to find out more about this technology, remember that this is just a patent and that a company like Nokia files hundreds of patents a year. So it might be a few years before you see an actual consumer version of this.

There are also the health risks with embedding any such device in your skin, especially when it can interfere with electromagnetic fields.

CITY BRIEFS Summer caps in over 2k playgrounds in City

Prisoner dies due to massive heart attack

Inter second-year results today

Man ‘attacks’ wife with hockey stick over dowry

Microsoft vehicles exempt from checks

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ummer coaching camps organised by the GHMC kickstarted this morning. Mayor Mohd Majid Hussain inaugurated the camps at Victory playground. Thousands of students participated in a march past during the event. The camps are being organised in over 2,000 grounds in the corporation limits.

The camps will run till May 31.

40-year-old convict, Ravi, died after suffering a massive heart attack at Charlapalli Central Jail. He was imprisoned in a dowry offence case in October 2011. Following complaints of severe chest pain, the jail authorities shifted him to Sanjeevani Hospital.

Ravi died while undergoing treatment.

he intermediate board will announce the results of the second-year exams today at 4pm. A total of 10,10,915 candidates appeared for the exams held at 2,633 examination centers last month. The candidates can check their results on the following websites: results.cgg.gov.in, apit.ap.gov.in and vidyavision.com

esident of Tirmulgiri, 36-year-old Usha Rani, has filed a case against her husband Mohan Rao at the Tirmulgiri police station. Rani has alleged that Rao, who she married in 1997, attacked her with a hockey stick. She added that her leg and head have suffered fractures because of the attack and she is not in a condition to move.

mployees of IT giant Microsoft received special traffic stickers from Cyberabad police commissioner D Tirumala Rao this morning. The stickers exempt all Microsoft employees from vehicle checking drive of the traffic cops. Rao said that the traffic cops will not stop the vehicles of Microsoft company carrying the stickers distributed by them.

4

News FRIDAY, APRIL 26, 2013 LAST YEAR... HERE

HEALTH

CC road to be ‘relocated’

LatAm’s cancer doom

L

ast year we had reported how the City traffic police department crashed the hopes of the GHMC, which chalked out grand plans to construct an innovative one-km-long Cement Concrete (CC) road on one of the busiest stretches — Lakdikapul-AC Guards route. The traffic wing officials rejected the civic body’s request by citing the non availability of alternative routes

APRIL 26, 2012

NUMEROLOGY

20-30%

rise in number of accident cases involving college students has been recorded in the City in the last five years.

It was extraordinary to show the film to an audience whose history it tells... It felt like closing a circle, to bring it back to Bombay, to the city from which the novel was born.

Salman Rushdie, author On the movie Midnight’s Children

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THINGS WE LEARNT TODAY

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

1

City police buckle up, raid gutka joints.

Thousands of illegal gutka and tobacco packets were seized from various shops in the City and 10 people were arrested in this regard.

2

Office kitchen dirtier than toilets?

A study has revealed that office kitchen surfaces have high levels of coliforms, bacteria known to cause gastrointestinal disease.

3

Heritage sites in Hyderabad in a fix.

The Aga Khan Trust for Culture which is trying to restore the Qutub Shahi tombs is facing troubles from the Wakf department.

4

Binge drinking on rise among college students.

Studies suggest that binge drinking is worse than drinking every day. But college students in the City are increasingly adopting this trend.

5

American company develops breakthrough technology.

A company has developed a technology to convert industrial CO2 emission to diesel.

Reports say the main reason is that too many people are diagnosed with cancer at a late stage in Latin America, when the disease is much harder to treat.

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atin America faces a cancer epidemic unless governments act quickly to improve healthcare systems and treat the poor, scientists said.

The researchers pointed to around 13 deaths for every 22 cancer cases in the region, compared to around 13 deaths for every 37 cases in the United States and 13 deaths for every 30 cases in Europe.

The main reason, according to the study published by The Lancet Oncology, is that too many people are diagnosed with cancer at a late stage when the disease is much harder to treat and more likely to kill.

“Researchers estimate that by 2030, 1.7 million cases of cancer will be diagnosed in Latin America and the Caribbean, with more than one million

AROUND THE

WORLD

Former Venezuelan president Hugo Chavez recently died of cancer.

deaths from cancer predicted to occur annually,” said the report launched at the Latin American Co-operative Oncology Group 2013 conference in Sao Paulo.

The disease currently means losses of $4 billion a year for the

region, including not just the cost of treatment and medicine, but also the impact on businesses and the economy of lives prematurely cut short by cancer.

The report noted that “many people across the region, especial-

ly those in poor, rural, or indigenous communities, have little or no access to cancer services...”

Another factor is that more than half (320 million people) of the Latin American population have inadequate or no health insurance, the authors said.

Paul Goss of Harvard Medical School led the team of experts, predominantly from Latin America, that produced the report.

While conceding that many regional countries have managed to improve some aspects of cancer care in recent years, the study called for measures to address health inequities, rethink health infrastructure and access to drugs and increased government spending on health.

AFP

POLITICS

HAPPY FEET

BJP ropes in Nagam to keep check on KCR 18

Yesterday was World Penguin Day, but how much do you know about our Southern friends?

Nagam distanced himself from TRS as he did not like KCR’s style of functioning.

20 90 5,000 75% mph

lbs

B

JP appears to be keen on applying breaks to the aggressiveness of TRS chief K Chandrasekhara Rao (pictured left) at his Mahabubnagar Lok Sabha seat. The party is taking into its fold Nagar Kurnool independent MLA Nagam Janardana Reddy (pictured right), who left TDP to fight for Telangana.

Nagam, who hobnobbed with the TRS for some time after leaving the TDP, distanced himself from the party as he did not like KCR’s style of functioning.

He has been aligning with the BJP in recent times.

Nagam, who participated in Sri Rama Navami celebrations at the BJP office, came to Delhi along with State party president Kishan Reddy and met Raj Nath Singh, the party’s national president, and greeted him on the occasion of Hanuman Jayanti.

He felicitated Rajnath Singh with a shawl.

The three were closeted.

Talking to the media later, he said he was confi-

The number of penguin species in the world, of which 13 are declining.

The speed that can be attained by a swimming penguin.

Is how much an adult Emperor penguin can weigh. The Fairy penguin weighs only two pounds.

The number of Yelloweyed penguins in the world. They are the rarest penguin species.

Is the amount of time penguins spend in the sea.

Did you know… dent that only the NDA led

by BJP was capable of creating the Telangana state.

When asked whether he would be joining BJP, he said he never said he would not.

AROUND THE

CITY

He has explained that he would discuss with supporters of his organisation and take a decision.

Nagam said he now became sure that Congress would not concede Telangana. He said he was

even beginning to lose confidence in parliamentary democracy. He said he was confident that the BJP-led NDA would announce Telangana a day after coming to power at the Centre.

Meanwhile, it is learnt that Nagam was eying for parliament entry and might contest as BJP candidate from the Mahabubnagar Lok Sabha constituency. If this happens, he would be directly pitted against KCR, who is presently representing the constituency in the Lok Sabha.

NSS

The naturally northernmost penguin species is the Galapagos penguin, which lives year-round near the equator on the Galapagos Islands.

The light front and dark back colouration of classic penguin plumage is called countershading.

Penguins’ eyes work better underwater than they do in the air.

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News FRIDAY, APRIL 26, 2013

POLITICS

Naidu to end padayatra with public meeting He will leave no stone unturned in exposing the government’s anti-people policies after the padayatra INKESHAF AHMED ahmed.m@postnoon.com

tion of huge number of people including supporters of the party for the meeting. TDP leaders were asked by the party high command to mobilise 15 lakh people for the meeting, which is going to be a record in the history of the party.

The meeting will also kick off the virtual election campaign to return to power in 2014 General Elections. The top leadership of the party had already decided to make the glaring problems being faced

T

elugu Desam Party (TDP) is gearing up to mark the end of its president Nara Chandrababu Naidu’s historic ‘Vastunna Mee Kosam’ walkathon (padayatra) on April 27. The arduous padayatra will come to an end with a massive public meeting in Vizag on Saturday.

The party cadres have already engaged in mobilisa-

HEALTH Are canteens dirtier than toilets?

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eople fond of having lunch or dinner prepared in office canteens, beware. A study has found most of the kitchens at the workplace are dangerously dirty, to the point that they could cause illness.

AROUND THE

WORLD

The study has revealed that half of surfaces in workplace kitchens are contaminated by dangerously high levels of coliforms — the bacteria present in faeces which can lead to outbreaks of gastrointestinal disease, Daily Mail reported.

The swab results, carried out

by Initial Washroom Hygiene, showed that 75 per cent of kitchen work surfaces are home to more bacteria than an average feminine sanitary bin.

AROUND THE

CITY

by the people in the State as its agenda for the ensuing elections and it chalked out solutions to all these problems through its election manifesto.

“Our party president had observed innumerable problems being faced by the people in the State during Congress regime. These problems had not only shaken Naidu but also

helped him in finding solutions to them. So, our agenda after the padayatra would be highlighting all the public problems.

All the problems along with concrete solutions will become our election manifesto for the Assembly elections,” TDP senior leader and former minister Dr Kodela Siva Prasada Rao told Postnoon on Thursday. He added that the party would leave no stone unturned in exposing the State government’s anti-people policies.

DISCRIMINATION

India protests detention UP minister Mohammed Azam Khan is reported to have kicked up a ruckus, saying he was detained only because he was a Muslim

I

ndia has formally protested to the US over the brief detention of Uttar Pradesh Urban Development Minister Mohammad Azam Khan at Boston airport as he arrived to take part in an event at Harvard University. Khan, who is accompanying State Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav for the presentation of a Harvard study on the Kumbh Mela pilgrimage, was detained for about 10 minutes for "further questioning" at Boston Logan International Airport Wednesday, according to Indian officials. Once the visitors were cleared for entry by immigration, a woman officer of the US Customs and Border Protection wing of the Homeland Security took Khan to an adjacent room "for further questioning," sources said. Incensed, Khan is reported to have kicked up a ruckus in the Immigration area saying he was detained because he was a Muslim and sought an apology from the officer who merely said she was doing her duty. As arguments became

MARIO TAMA / GETTY IMAGES NORTH AMERICA / AFP

heated, officials from the Indian consulate in New York intervened and Khan was escorted out of the airport.

In Washington, Indian embassy spokesman M Sridharan said the mission has "taken up the issue with the State Department officially and we have conveyed our serious concern." "We have asked them to intervene and take appropriate measures to avoid recurrence in the future."

AROUND THE

NATION

At the State Department, when asked to comment on the incident, spokesman Patrick Ventrell said he was "not aware of the specifics of this case" as the Department of Homeland Security has jurisdiction over airport movements inside the US. But "I do want to underscore that we have a very important bilateral relationship with India and a very robust and thorough diplomatic exchange with our partners. We very

much value our partnership,” he said. The Azam Khan case is the latest instance of Indian VIPs being detained at US airports. Last year, Bollywood actor Shahrukh Khan was detained for over two hours by immigration officials at a New York airport. Former President

A P J Abdul Kalam was twice subjected to frisking at New York's JFK Airport by US security officials. India's then ambassador to the US Meera Shanker was patted down by a security agent in Mississippi in December 2010.

IANS

NATION BRIEFS It also showed that over a quarter of draining boards were found to have four times the safe level of coliforms. The study also revealed that the handles of shared fridge-freezers were bacteria-rife, with a third carrying high levels of coliforms, whilst 30 per cent of shared microwaves were also shown to be contaminated around the handles and buttons.

IANS

‘Centre will take steps on Italian marines’

Two fishermen killed as vessel sinks

Mixed response to 'hartal' in Odisha

HC acquits teacher of rape charges

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he Supreme Court on Friday, hearing the petition of the two Italian marines accused of shooting dead two Indian fishermen off the Kerala coast, said that the Central government would take steps in pursuance of its January 18 judgment. The National Investigation Agency (NIA) would continue its probe into the killing of the fishers.

wo fishermen were killed and four went missing when an Indian fishing vessel sank after it was hit by a large vessel off the Goa-Karwar coast in the Arabian Sea on Thursday, an official said Friday. The fishing vessel, Sea Messiah, was knocked out by the unidentified large vessel about 250 nautical miles south of Mumbai.

ormal life was partially affected today during a 12-hour State-wide 'hartal' called by the ruling BJD in Odisha demanding special category status to the State. Shops and business establishments remained closed in many places while attendance in banks, offices and other organisations was thin.

he Bombay High Court has acquitted a science teacher of charges of raping a student at his house on the ground that the prosecution had failed to establish the guilt of the accused beyond reasonable doubt. Accordingly, the court set aside the 10-year jail term imposed by a session’s court on 28year-old Dharmaraj Ganpatil.

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News FRIDAY, APRIL 26, 2013

REVIVING HISTORY

MD NIZAMUDDIN nizamuddin.a@postnoon.com

H

eritage activists yesterday held a meeting to discuss restoration of the Qutub Shahi Tombs near the Golconda fort. The Aga Khan Trust for Culture, which has been doing its homework on the restoration of the tombs for the past one year, is having a tough time convincing the Wakf department to get a go ahead.

It has been more than six years since an Iranian delegation comprising conservators and experts tried to restore the historic Qutub Shahi tombs in the City. The members of the delegation were in fact on the verge of signing a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the State government to restore the tombs. It was never done.

On the other hand, the AKTC which did sign an MoU with the State government on January 9 is facing legal hurdles now. The State Wakf department, under which the jurisdiction of the seven tombs falls, has questioned the legality of the MoU and stayed the restoration work. Unless the Wakf gives its go ahead on the project to the State Department of Achaeology, the restoration work cannot begin.

Representatives of the AKTC also attended yesterday’s meeting, which was basically held to resolve the issue.

However, the opposing party – the Wakf department – failed to send any officials.

The AKTC would have to try much harder to convince the Wakf department, especially after the Naya Qila area was slowly turned into a Golf Course when the government handed over that piece of land as a bird sanctuary. Another reason for the Wakf to be sceptical with regard to AKTC’s intentions is the fact that the restoration work is in the Public Private Partnership (PPP) model.

However, the trust which has done restoration work in the Middle East and Afghanistan apart from India, insists that it has no selfish interest in the project. “We have to intention of making profits out of this. In fact, not a penny of any of this will come to us and we are aware of that. We only want to make the tombs self sustainable by erecting an Interpretation centre which will help guide tourists,” says Ratish Nanda, project director, AKTC.

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News FRIDAY, APRIL 26, 2013

AROUND THE

CITY

IN A ‘FIX’ N SHIV KUMAR

With the Wakf department sceptical about handing over restoration work of the Qutub Shahi Tombs to the Aga Khan Trust for Culture (AKTC), we issue an urgent call to save a City landmark.

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News FRIDAY, APRIL 26, 2013

DELHI FILM FESTIVAL

KISS KISS, BANG BANG

Long kisses, provocative political issues and violence will rule the screens at New Delhi film festival Cut-Uncut.

RUPAM JAIN NAIR feedback@postnoon.com

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new film festival is to showcase for the first time scenes from Bollywood movies deemed too racy for Indian viewers, including the first attempt at an onscreen kiss, organisers say.

The ‘Cut-Uncut’ festival in New Delhi will feature unedited versions of films which fell foul of the all-powerful Indian censor board that continues to vet movies before their release.

Portrayals of sex, nudity, social unrest and violence can still be kept out of movie halls under India’s strict laws that were first drafted in 1952 and later amended in 1983.

In the year of Bollywood’s 100-year anniversary, ‘CutUncut’ is being organised by the ministry of information and broadcasting to demonstrate its more open-minded approach, a

RESCUE WORK

Toll hits 273, US vows help

Best Bollywood liplocks n Shahid Kapoor and Priyanka Chopra in Kaminey n Preity Zinta and Saif Ali Khan in Salaam Namaste Roses were Bollywood’s favourite props to symbolise kissing, the only way to escape the censor’s scissors.

ministry official said.

“We want to be more liberal, stop enforcing the old rules and instead recognise artistic endeavour,” said an official in the ministry, speaking to AFP on condition of anonymity.

Until recently, “long kissing scenes, nudity and visuals depicting acts of rebellion against the government” were all

censored, he explained.

“With changing times, we want to have a fresh approach.

Our aim is to change the old set of censor laws soon.”

The festival beginning April 25 will open with a screening of the 1933 classic Karma starring Himanshu Rai and Devika Rani, whose onscreen kiss was considered the first in a Bollywood film

n Emraan Hashmi and Mallika Sherawat in Murder

and was deleted at the time.

A 2004 documentary called The Final Solution, which looks at the highly sensitive subject of Hindu-Muslim religious rioting, will also be shown after it was banned for being “highly provocative”.

These days, Bollywood is awash with sexually suggestive material and scantily-clad lead-

ing ladies, but sex remains a taboo and films showing kissing scenes are given an “adult” certificate limiting them to viewers over 18.

The most popular films remain so-called “masala movies”, a mix of violence, romance and comedy for mainstream audiences, but there are more and more filmmakers working to reproduce the gritty reality of India on celluloid.

Star director Dibakar Banerjee ran into trouble last year with the censor board over his film Shanghai.

“I hated the idea of deleting the most powerful scenes from my movie but, well, I had to chop them otherwise the movie would have never seen the light of day,” he said.

“Censorship has the power to kill the spirit of a film. It’s high time the government stops dictating what Indians should be watching,” he added.

AFP

CRIME Dowry cases on the rise

LESSONS IN LIFE

MUNIR UZ ZAMAN feedback@postnoon.com

MOHD SUBHAN mohd.s@postnoon.com

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angladeshi rescuers pulled dozens more people alive from a razed garment factory building today as the US pressed for a crackdown on negligence of safety in the clothing industry.

The overnight rescue of 45 people provided new hope to thousands of anguished relatives at the scene, on Dhaka's outskirts, but the death toll crept up to 273 as emergency workers battled against the stench of decaying bodies.

n separate incidents in Secunderabad, two women lodged complaints against their husbands for harassment.

They approached the women’s police station in Begumpet. However, no one has been arrested yet.

The first complaint was made by 28-year-old Afreen, a resident of Bowenpally. She alleged that her husband – one Mohd Mazher Ahmed – had thrown her out of the house as her family failed to fulfil his dowry demands.

Junior lecturers protesting outside the Board of Intermediate, Nampally. The teachers were demanding promotions.

M ANIL KUMAR

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“You feel like vomiting. It's difficult to work here 20 minutes at a stretch,” said Mohammad Tareq, a garment worker himself who is one of hundreds of volunteers to have joined the rescue efforts. The hope of retrieving more survivors was driving the rescuers on, nearly 48 hours after the eight-storey Rana Plaza complex pancaked.

Senior police officer Moshiuddowla Reza said that the death toll now stood at 273, and that most of those who died were female members of the complex's 3,000-odd workforce.

AFP

CITY

THE CHA PROJECT

Kolkata’s Chinatown gets new life SAHANA GHOSH feedback@postnoon.com

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iscussions in quaint Chinese tea houses over simmering cups of green tea in the snaking lanes of Kolkata’s Chinatown may soon be a reality.

A project aimed at preserving the heritage of the Indian

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Chinese community in the city and to create an economically viable arts-heritage-food hub will provide a much-needed facelift to Chinatown. Titled ‘The Cha Project’, the venture will help preserve Old Chinatown (Tiretti Bazaar) and

will focus on developing the New Chinatown (Tangra) that houses Kolkata’s 4,000 strong Chinese community. “Apart from an urban regeneration initiative, it’s a tourism opportunity. It will also attract locals and recreate the old Chinatown days,” GM Kapur, state convenor of Indian National Trust for Art and Cultural Heritage (INTACH), said.

IANS

She added that her father had already given `10 lakh, 55 tolas of gold and other valuables during the wedding in 2005.

In another case, 26-year-old Ghousia Begum, resident of Parsigutta, filed a complaint against her husband Shaik Imroze. The two were married in 2006, during which `10 lakh was given as dowry. Begum said that Imroze started harassing her just six months into the marriage. She alleged that he beat her, had an extramarital affair and threw her out of the house when her parents didn’t fulfil his demands.

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News FRIDAY, APRIL 26, 2013

YOUNG ALCOHOLICS

Is your child binge drinking?

NIDHI BHUSHAN nidhi.b@postnoon.com

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ikipedia defines binge or heavy episodic drinking as consumption of large amounts of alcoholic beverages over a short period of time with the primary objective of getting drunk. For college students, it’s merely a ‘weekend’ occurrence.

“I mostly drink over the weekends, generally at a friend’s place,” says 19-year-old Sahil Gupta*, who’s a first-year student of Mass Communication.

Even though Gupta isn’t old enough to drink legally, he doesn’t find it hard to indulge as most pubs don’t ask for any identification. “I’ve been to almost all pubs in the City and so far, I’ve not been asked to show any ID proof.”

Drinking at a pub or a bar is not exactly an affordable affair, especially for those who have to depend on their parents for allowance. However, a few hours at any pub in the City on a Saturday night might give you another

Your child might be binging if… n He/ she isn’t talking to you directly or hesitates in making eye contact. n He/ she is irritable in the morning. n His/ her scholastic performance has become poor suddenly. n He/ she is suffering from health issues like vomiting and acidity. n He/ she smells of alcohol. n He/ she spends abnormal amounts of time with friends. n He/ she has been bunking college. n He/ she has been returning home way after curfew time. n He/ she is asking for far more money than they usually require, especially if they are studying outside of their home city.

impression altogether. Abuzz with very obvious-looking college students, these clubs and pubs – even the expensive ones – seem highly affordable. “I don’t have a fixed allowance so I ask my parents for money whenever I need to go out with friends. When I go out for drinks, I take at least `1,500,” says Gupta, who is also confident that his parents don’t have a clue about his premature exposure to alcohol. “I spray enough deodorant or perfume before returning home. My parents don’t know and since I have no curfew issues, things are pretty smooth.”

Gupta, who is just one among the thousands of students binge drinking today, says he’s not got into any trouble and says he’s not seen any of his friends get into any either. “I’ve never vomited or fallen sick even after drinking more than 500ml of hard liquor – rum, whiskey or vodka. In fact, I can drive home safely after a binge drinking session with friends,” says Gupta.

H o w e v e r, there are many who have not

Drinking with the sole purpose of getting drunk is a trend rising among youngsters in the age group of 18-24 years. Postnoon reports on a city on the brink of a social disaster.

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been as lucky as Gupta.

Dr Mahesh Joshi, group head for emergency medicine, Apollo Hospitals, says: “Though the numbers are not alarming right now, there has been a 20-30 per cent rise in the number of accidents involving college students in the past five years. Education and enforcement are the only ways out of this problem.”

Dr Praveen Chintapanti, consultant psychiatrist at Tranquil Minds, adds that binge drinking is not just growing among rich kids but also those belonging to middle-class families. “While some kids have it easy because of their rich and busy parents, some have to find ways to fund their lifestyles,” Dr Chintapanti reveals.

So, the bigger question is why is binge drinking so common among college students and young adults these days?

She says: “Most of the time, the only reason for children binging is to have fun. Moreover, this kind of lifestyle is glamourised again and again in Hindi movies. Take 3 Idiots for instance – the movie shows three engineering graduates getting drunk on top of a tank.” Another ugly aspect of binge drinking is the fact that one

loses his or her inhibitions completely. There is no understanding of good and bad, and right and wrong in that intoxicated state. “By binge drinking, youth put themselves into a vulnerable state. In fact, I had counseled a girl who had had sexual intercourse in a drunken state,” reveals Dr Chintapanti. (*Names changed to protect identities).

Consequences of Binge Drinking Death: Each year, an estimated 1,825 college students between the ages of 18 and 24 die from alcohol related unintentional injuries, including motor vehicle crashes.

Injury: Each year an estimated 5,99,000 students between the ages of 18 and 24 are unintentionally injured under the influence of alcohol.

Assault: Each year an estimated 6,96,000 students between the ages of 18 and 24 are assaulted by another student who has been drinking.

Sexual Abuse: Each year an estimated 97,000 students between the ages of 18 and 24 are victims of alcohol-related sexual assault or date rape.

Unsafe Sex: Each year an estimated 4,00,000 students between the ages of 18 and 24 have unprotected sex, and more than 1,00,000 students between the ages of 18 and 24 report having been too intoxicated to know if they consented to having sex.

Drunk Driving: Each year an estimated 33,60,000 students between the ages of 18 and 24 drive under the influence of alcohol.

(As per National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism)

Binge Drinking

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inge drinking is a pattern of drinking that brings blood alcohol concentration (BAC) levels to 0.08 g/dL. This usually occurs after four drinks for women and five drinks for men—in about two hours.

(As per National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism)

GOLD `26,700 10g SILVER `43,700 1kg

24C

for

for

DOLLAR `54.33 POUND `82.96

BSE NSE

19112.18 57.65

5812.95 21.45

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News FRIDAY, APRIL 26, 2013

INVESTIGATION

CBI ‘shared’ coal probe report Union Minister for Law and Justice Ashwani Kumar and a senior bureaucrat in the Prime Minister's Office were allowed to peruse the March 8 status report on block allocations.

POSTNOON NEWS feedback @postnoon.com

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he CBI on Friday told the Supreme Court that it shared its March 8 status report on investigations into coal blocks allocation with union Minister for Law and Justice Ashwani Kumar and a senior bureaucrat in the Prime Minister's Office.

But the investigating agen-

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cy's status report of April 26 has not been shared with anyone, including the political executive, CBI director Ranjit Sinha told the apex court.

In an affidavit filed in the apex court Friday, the CBI director said: "I submit that the draft

of the same (March 8 status report) was shared with honourable union minister for law and justice as desired by him prior to its submission before the honourable court."

The affidavit revealed that "besides the political executive, it was also shared with one joint secretary level officer each of the Prime Minister's Office, and ministry of coal, as desired by them".

Ranjit Sinha said this in

HUMAN RIGHTS

The CBI director, in his affidavit, also told the Supreme Court that the investigating agency’s status report of April 26 has not been shared with anyone, including the political executive.

response to March 12 orders of the apex court asking him whether the March 8 status report was vetted by him and whether its contents were shared with the political executive.

However, the CBI director in his affidavit also told the court that the investigating agency's status report of April 26 has been personally vetted by him, and not shared with anyone, including the political executive. IANS

BE PREPARED

Call to end sexual violence

A session by a human rights organisation decried crimes against women.

POSTNOON NEWS feedback@postnoon.com

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even out of 10 women have experienced violence in their lifetime, said member of United Nations and chairman of Human Rights Observers M Tameem, calling for people to put an end to this pandemic by making one commitment at a time.

Tameem was speaking at an interactive session on women’s safety in Basheerbagh recently.

He also added that 90,000 children go missing in India every year; more than 34,000 are never found.

Retd Chief Justice A Laxmana Rao, while referring to the latest incident, said it was a grave concern that even five-year-olds have not been spared in our country.

The speakers stressed on the fact that women’s issues should AROUND THE

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be part of the formal education syllabus. It is imperative to get men together to take a stand and to fight against sexual violence and abuse of women, they said.

The US and South Korea staged a military landing exercise as the Korean peninsula was already engulfed in a cycle of escalating tensions triggered by the North Korea's nuclear test in February.

JUNG YEON-JE / AFP

WORLD BRIEFS Russia psychiatric hospital fire kills 38

‘21st-century’ king to take Dutch throne

12 dead in Philippines political ambush

Chinese ships enter Japan territorial waters

Police teargas building collapse protesters

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fire broke out Friday in a psychiatric hospital near Moscow, killing 38 people, Russia’s health ministry said. The fire broke out on the roof and spread rapidly, the ministry said.

"According to preliminary reports, 38 people were killed, including two medical staff," said health ministry spokesman Oleg Salagai. Twelve bodies have been found so far.

he Netherlands' Willem-Alexander will become Europe's youngest monarch Tuesday when Queen Beatrix abdicates. WillemAlexander, 46 on Saturday, will be the first Dutch king since 1890. He has already said that he and his Argentine-born queen consort Maxima, 41, will not be "protocol fetishists".

welve people were killed in an ambush on a Philippines mayor, officials said Friday, in the deadliest of a string of violent incidents that have marred the campaign for May elections. Gunmen opened fire on a truck carrying Mayor Abdulmalik Manamparan on southern Mindanao island late Thursday. Several victims were relatives of the mayor.

hree Chinese government ships entered Japanese territorial waters Friday, the coastguard said, days after Japan's premier vowed to expel any Chinese landing on a chain of disputed islands. The maritime surveillance ships entered the 12-nautical-mile zone off the Senkaku islands, which China calls the Diaoyu, they said in a statement.

angladeshi police fired rubber bullets and tear gas at hundreds of thousands of garment workers Friday as they protested the deaths of some 300 workers in the latest tragedy to hit the sector. "Hundreds of thousands of workers have joined the protests. We fired rubber bullets and tear gas to disperse them," M. Asaduzzaman, an officer, told AFP.

11

News FRIDAY, APRIL 26, 2013

REPORTER’S DIARY

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Live to see another day

hat they say about a constant struggle for existence is not only limited to individuals; it also seems to be applicable to political parties.

In fact, in this State, it seems apt for the Left parties — CPI and CPM. The two parties, which wielded enormous clout in the State during their heydays, are now struggling for their existence. Among the two key Left parties, the status of CPM seems to be more weak than CPI. The CPI already has four MLAs in the AP Assembly; the CPM has only one in the present Assembly.

Despite holding continuous agitations on various public issues, CPM could not attract much support from the public. This forced the party to ponder the challenges lying ahead to keep its existence intact in the State.

The recent State committee meeting of the CPM saw leaders debating how to strengthen the party in coming days.

One senior leader who attended the meeting strongly suggested that the party's top leadership adopt the path of reforms instead of strongly advocating the implementation of communist ideologies.

Citing the policies implemented by communist nation China, the leader suggested that the CPM cannot survive unless it adopts neo-liberalistic policies. The suggestions made by the CPM leader were appreciated by many middle-

aged leaders despite receiving little support from the top leadership. IA

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ERRAND BOYS OR COPS?

Policemen in Hyderabad are already a busy lot. But when they’re not out there keeping us safe, they’re not relaxing at home. Instead, they’re being made to run errands for their superiors!

Most of the time, the policemen are reluctant to take about it. They fear that they may be punished or transferred if they complain. Even those who do speak up ask for anonymity.

Recently, an IPS officer, who was posted as a deputy commissioner of police in the City, used his subordinates to help out at his daughter’s wedding. Nearly 100 policemen, including sub-inspectors, inspectors, head constables, constables and home guards helped paint his home, allege cops.

He also roped in subinspectors and inspectors to welcome the guests and to arrange for their accomodation and transport. For nearly a week, all these cops were caught up with the marriage preparations, due to which their actual work suffered.

The home guards especially had a tough time. Apart from painting their superior’s house, they had to do manual labour, run errands, buy groceries, and do housework.

Two home guards even suffered sunstrokes and had to be admitted in hospital.

So next time you start to complain about our policemen, spare a thought for the poor guys. After all, they are not only serving the public, but also their superiors. MS

CROSS-BORDER HUMOUR

MADE IN CHINA SHAMEFUL NEGLIGENCE

The social media community has no fears about an imminent war or potential face-off with the Chinese. Among the younger section of the community, who have a keen eye for news and taste for satire, the joke doing the rounds is, “We are not afraid about a war with China because all weapons are made in China.”

As if that was not enough, one girl was cheeky enough to say, “Even all our weapons are made in China.” RR

When Chandrababu Naidu was chief minister, he had inaugurated an electronic tourist guide near NTR Ghat on Necklace Road. The unusual device would provide information about City monuments, travel and landmarks to make it easier for tourists to enjoy the City. But ever since the Congress took over, the tourist guide has fallen silent. Even though your political opponent inaugurated it, surely no politician should object to a novel method of helping citizens and tourists? SS

During a meeting of RWAs (Residential Welfare Associations) with a GHMC zonal commissioner, one of the concerned representatives raised the issue of uncontrolled selling of water by some private agencies and its direct impact on depleting water resources.

“Are they selling to Pakistan? They were only selling it to denizens,” was the quip from the zonal commissioner.

The concerned citizens were not just surprised but completely taken aback at the insensitivity with which the senior official responded to the question. The argument of representatives was that even though the land was private, the resources beneath were public.

Therefore, they do not have the right to sell water at will, risking everyone in the area.

This should be controlled by civic authorities. MN With contributions from Inkeshaf Ahmed, Mohd Subhan, Md Nizamuddin, Rahul Ramakrishna and Srinivas Setty. Photo by Srinivas Setty.

TECHNOLOGY

Breathe out and motor on!

NT BALANARAYAN balanarayan.nt@postnoon.com

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n American company has developed a technology that will convert industrial waste CO2 into diesel with some help from the Sun. The good news doesn’t end there; the company claims that it will sell a barrel (a little more than 100 litres) of this fuel for $50.

Joule Fuels, based out of Cambridge, Massachusetts, claims it can produce more than 20,000 gallons of fuel per acre per year using a revolutionary platform that converts CO2 emissions directly into fuels that will meet the fast-growing demand for ethanol and diesel.

Helioculture uses photosynthetic

organisms, but is otherwise distinct from the process that makes fuel from algae. Oils made from algae usually have to be refined into fuel following a batch process, but helio-

culture produces fuel directly that do not need refining. The Helioculture process also does not produce biomass.

This process is enabled by the discovery of unique genes coding for enzymatic mechanisms that enable the direct synthesis of both alkane, olefin, ethanol, and other key molecules.

Earlier this week, the company announced that it has adapted its method to create jet fuel that is sulphur-free from emissions. The lower sulphur content will also improve efficiency of engines many fold, according to the company.

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12

News FRIDAY, APRIL 26, 2013

THE SCREENING ROOM WITH HEMANTH KUMAR

YOU’RE THE WRITER There’s something magical about love which cannot be expressed in words. Here’s one such story about Gautham, who never fell in love, until he met...

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Scene I

autham is day dreaming again. The gentle breeze and the aroma of coffee have had a magical effect on him and all of a sudden he seens an old friend Rashmi, who walks up to his table at the coffee shop.

Gautham: Wow! You have changed so much. I couldn’t recognise you at all. How have you been? How is your boyfriend (Rahul) doing?

Rashmi: You don’t check Facebook, do you? We broke up ages ago. I am in Hyderabad for a couple of days and after that I am heading to a long trip to South-East Asia to teach English at a school. We dreamt of doing this, a long time ago.

You remember?

Gautham: Of course, I do. It was me who planted the idea of travelling around the world and doing something before we “settle” down. Wasn’t it?

(Smiles) Rashmi: Yes man. Too bad. You seem to be doing something else these days. I have been wanting to get in touch with you for a very long time, but I just couldn’t get over my guilt.

Gautham: What guilt? That you chose Rahul over me? Haha..forget it. That was a long time ago.

We were too naive back then. Both of us have moved on...

Rashmi: That’s what I thought too, until I came across your blog. You keep writing about your first love. How could I not notice whom you were referring to?

Gautham: I knew you would get the reference... (smiles)

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A FRESH START

Sirish teams up with Maruthi

This is a fictional story of how Gautham met Rashmi after a long time. Based on the first two scenes in this short story, now it is your turn to stir your imagination and continue the narrative. Send us your entries about what you think would happen in the next two scenes. The best entry will be published next Friday. You can mail me at hemanth.k@postnoon.com.

The wait was worth it...

After the debacle of Gouravam, Sirish is now teaming up with Regina Cassandra for a comedy film which will be directed by Maruthi. Will this be a fresh start for Sirish?

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t looks like Sirish is no mood to brood over the debacle of his debut film Gouravam which released just a week ago. The film was panned by critics and it couldn’t click at the box office either.

Now, he’s teaming up with Maruthi, who’s on a roll with back-to-back hits.

The film has been titled as Kottha Janta and it also stars Regina Cassandra in the lead role. Bunny Vas is going to produce the film under the Geetha Arts banner.

Talking about the film, Maruthi says, ”It’s an honour to direct a film under the Geetha Arts banner. It’s a dream for most directors to work along with Allu Arvind and I am thrilled that I have got the chance so early in my career. I have known Sirish for a very long time and the film is going to suit his body language. Not many people know that he has an impeccable comic timing. Kottha Janta is going to be a fullfledged comedy film and we are all quite confident of the film’s success.”

Richard Prasad, who received rave reviews for his work in Swamy Ra Ra, has been roped in as the cinematographer. The film will be officially launched on May 11.

Scene II

ashmi tells Gautham that she would love to spend some time with him, if he isn’t too busy. The two have a lot to talk about.

Gautham has always had a crush on Rashmi and for him, this seems like a great opportunity for him.

Rashmi: So what do you have in mind? I have got 48 hours and you are the only person I want to hang out with before I go to Thailand.

Gautham: I have a plan, but you’ll have to do exactly as I say. I am not going to tell you what it is right now. Are you game for this?

Rashmi: Oooo...I love surprises. Just promise me that you’ll not take revenge for what I had done to you. (smiles) Gautham: Hahaha...don’t worry about that. I’m not that crazy.

Rashmi: You always had a good heart. Gosh. I can’t believe someone can be as sweet as you are.

Gautham: Anything for you. I have always...

NEWSMAKER

RUMOUR HAS IT ...

There’s a lot more to this pirate...

F ew days ago when the anti-video piracy cell raided a DVD store in Yousufguda, they were shocked to see that the shop owner had a stock of close to 9,480 pirated DVDs from various languages. It’s one of the biggest piracy raids in recent years and the shop owner Devasa Anil Kumar has been charged under the Copyright Act and the anti-piracy cell, in association with the police department, is taking legal action against him. When the sub-

inspector, who conducted the raid, weighed the total number of DVDs seized from the raid, it came to a whopping 0.8 tonne. While it’s a matter of great relief for the antipiracy cell, we hear that

there’s a lot more to Anil Kumar than what meets the eye. Not only did he sell and rent pirated DVDs, he was a quite a useful resource to several aspiring writers, directors and action choreographers who lived in the adjoining areas. We hear that Anil Kumar used to recommend several films to writers and action choreographers, who found ‘inspiration’ from these films. After this incident, we wonder what’s going to happen to Anil’s elite customers?

Follow Hemanth on Twitter @crhemanth or email: hemanth.k@postnoon.com

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very one is talking about Nithin, Nithya Menen and Isha Talwar starrer Gunde Jaari Gallanthayindhe these days.

It’s one of the good romantic comedy films to have come out in a long time and a major credit for the film’s success goes to its director Vijay Kumar Konda. He had been waiting for the big break for nearly four years and finally the script fell into Nithin’s hands. Born and brought up in Bhadrachalam, Vijay Kumar Konda made a huge splash and the way he has moulded the film puts him in the league of Nandini Reddy and Vikram Kumar, who made two of the finest romantic comedies in recent years — Ala Modalaindi and Ishq respectively. We can’t wait to watch what his next film is going to be about, but in him we have found a good director.

WEEKEND WATCH Not in a mood to go to a theatre this weekend? Here’s a brief list of films you can watch in your home.

1

The Man from Earth (2007) The film, directed by Richard Schenkman, is about a college professor John Oldman (David Lee Smith), who claims that he’s a pre-historic caveman. It’s as interesting as a drama can be. Highly recommended.

2

Usthad Hotel (2012) The film is about a young man whose life changes after he starts living with his grandfather. Directed by Anwar Rasheed, it stars Dulquer, Thilakan and Nithya Menen.

3

Side By Side (2012) It is a fabulous documentary about the evolution of digital cinema and features several top directors about the current trend.

FRIDAY, APRIL 26, 2013

Comment Happiness cannot be traveled to, owned, earned, or worn. It is the experience of living every minute with love, grace and gratitude.

Denis Waitley American author

Bad year for Bangla sweatshops SHAFIQ ALAM Agence France-Presse

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lame for a string of tragedies in Bangladesh’s garment industry must be shared between ruthless factory bosses, a negligent government and Western retailers who place cost above safety, say activists.

At least 190 have died in the latest disaster to befall the sector, which generated $20 billion in exports for the impoverished South Asian country last year. The collapsed Rana Plaza near the capital contained five garment factories where workers paid as little as $37 a month were cutting clothes for low-cost British retailer Primark, Spanish retailer Mango among many other brands. In November a fire at a factory in the capital Dhaka killed 111 workers. “The government of Bangladesh has been promising for years to take meaningful steps to improve safety in apparel factories and they have never delivered on those promises," said Scott Nova from the Worker Rights Consortium.

Years of double-digit growth and its 4,500 factories have turned the nation into a global heavyweight and helped reduce poverty at a faster rate than neighbouring India. Meenakshi Ganguly, South Asia director for Human Rights Watch, says consumers could help pressure retailers to switch orders from Bangladesh, which would bring about change. “Garment entrepreneurs are above law here. There is hardly any example of an owner being prosecuted for this kind of outright murder," he told AFP.

HIGH-FLYING THOUGHTS

In 1999, a man in the U.S challenged his friends that he would keep a Mc Donalds burger uneaten for a month and that it would remain the same, because it was full of preservatives. Fast forward 14 years, the burger is almost unchanged. Guess he won the bet. Hungry for more? Not really.

A DECADE LATER

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Iraq bloodshed stokes fears of sectarian conflict THE INSIDE STORY W.G. Dunlop

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he deaths of more than 100 people in violence between Iraqi security forces and Sunni Arab protesters and their supporters have raised fears of a return to all-out sectarian conflict.

The trouble began on Tuesday when security forces moved into an area near the northern town of Hawijah where Sunnis had been holding protests since January, sparking clashes in which 53 people died.

That fighting set off a wave of revenge attacks that hit five different Sunni-majority provinces, killing dozens more people, and which saw gunmen take control of the town of Sulaiman Bek. The violence is the deadliest so far linked to demonstrations that erupted in Sunni areas of the Shiite-majority country more than four months ago.

The Sunni protesters have called for the resignation of Shiite Prime Minister Nuri alMaliki and railed against the alleged targeting of their community by the authorities.

“This is the deepest and most dangerous crisis... since 1921," former national security

adviser Mowaffak al-Rubaie said, referring to the year in which the state of Iraq was established.

He warned that the current situation “could lead to a sectarian conflict, and then division."

Sectarian violence, including bombings and death squad murders that peaked in 2006 and 2007, claimed tens of thousands of lives.

The security situation has since improved markedly, but sectarian tensions remain.

Hamed al-Juburi, a spokesman for the Hawijah protesters, vowed revenge on Thursday for the “massacre” near the the town.

Protesters have pledged their loyalty to a Sunni militant group called the Naqshbandiya Army “so we can be an armed wing related to it, working on cleaning Iraq from Safavid militias," he said, using a pejorative term for Shiites.

On Wednesday, Abdulghafur al-Samarraie and Saleh al-Haidari, top clerics who respectively head the Sunni and Shiite religious endowments, held a joint news conference in which they warned against sectarian strife.

Samarraie said there were “malicious plans... with the goal of taking the country towards sectarian conflict", and that he and Haidari agreed “to move quickly to extinguish the strife

That fighting set off a wave of revenge attacks that hit five different Sunnimajority provinces, killing dozens more people, and which saw gunmen take control of the town of Sulaiman Bek. and stop the conspiracy."

US State Department spokesman Patrick Ventrell told reporters that Washington con-

demns the violence in Iraq and that “there’s no place for sectarian conflict in a democratic state."

An earlier statement from the US embassy said that “US officials have been in contact with senior Iraqi leaders to help defuse political and sectarian tensions."

John Drake, an Iraq specialist with risk consulting firm AKE Group, said the government’s ready use of force in recent days highlighted shortcomings in the its response to protests.

“I think the government response indicates that it has a long way to go in terms of its policies for dealing with protest movements in the country," Drake said.

“The use of force so readily, including firearms, at protest camps and the bombing of settlements where militants are believed to be sheltering, is going to bring a very high risk of collateral damage," he said.

“An ‘all-out’ sectarian conflict is still unlikely," Drake said.

“But the fact that this is a predominantly Shiite government and it’s predominantly Shiite security forces opening fire on predominantly Sunni individuals (civilians or militants) is going to have an impact on sectarian relations and could prompt a rise in sectarian violence as a result.”

EDITORIALS Didi cool

M

amata Banerjee’s a ‘fixer’. No, please, we do not mean that Didi is someone who brokers underhand deals. When there’s a problem, she has a solution. Look how she proposes to find funds to compensate those who invested in the shady Saradha chit fund that’s gone bust: by increasing taxes on cigarettes by 10 per cent to raise 150 crore of the 500 cr relief fund and exhorting smokers to smoke more. But she is quite unapologetic about it. There would not be a better joke than the chief minister of a state exhorting citizens to smoke more while the Centre goes on with its awareness programmes to spread the word of the ills and dangers of smoking and using tobacco-based products.

And she was quite prompt in denying any link to the management of the chit fund, justifying her intervention saying that it becomes her duty to help the many who lost their savings. Her notions are noble, but her plan to find the dough is not. How can she justify taxing the taxpayer for the fault of a fraudster, as her critics rightly ask?

READERS’ VIEWS

Suárez victimised by FA?

V

ictimesed! Brendan Rodgers has hit back at the Football Association for victimising Luis Suárez, insisting that his 10-match ban for biting Branislav Ivanovic is a punishment “against the man rather than the incident", reports the Guardian. Well, what else would he get for punching people on the sly, and then biting opponents on the arm? Is he in his right mind when he’s playing?

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

Editor: Dean Williams

FRIDAY, APRIL 26, 2013

Living spaces FACTS ABOUT GACHIBOWLI (IT BELT) SCHOOLS:

Phoenix Greens International School, Jayabhery Valley, Gachibowli Oakridge, Khaja Guda, Gachibowli Samashti international school, Gachibowli

COLLEGES: National Institue of Tourism and Hospitality Management, University of Hyderabad, Indian School of Business, IIIT

THE PLACE WHERE HI-TECH

Infrastructure

ROAD Connected to Patancheru (28 min) Connected to ORR (5-10 min) Connected to Jubilee Hills checkpost (40 min) RAIL

Lingampally MMTS at Hafizpet Hitec City AIR

Shamshabad Airport (34 km) ENTERTAINMENT AND SHOPPING

Inorbit Mall and Mega Mall (under construction)

Hyderabad’s IT corridor becomes the new hotspot for young people looking to lay down roots. All this thanks to the excellent connectivity, amenities and infrastructure.

PRUDHVI RAJU K prudhvi.k@postnoon.com

P

roperties around the IT belt such as Gachibowli and Kondapur continued to grow over years. Even during recession, they achieved significant growth and brought decent returns to buyers. However, today these property values have reached sky high and are only affordable to higher income groups.

“Flats range anywhere between `3,500- 6,500 per sft depending on the quality of

construction.

There is also property appreciation over the years. For instance, individual villas that were once priced around `80 lakh eight years ago today cost around `4 crore in these areas,” says G Hari Babu, chairman, Lahari Group.

The development of infrastructure in these areas has added further impetus to the growth, say developers. “Ring roads, radial roads, connectivity to the airport sets it apart from other regions. Also, universities, schools, hotels, retail stores here are top notch and superior com-

pared to other regions in the city,” says Sunil, assistant manager marketing, Aparna constructions.

Another reason cited for the gradual rise in the value of these properties is said to be Hyderabad's increasing IT population. “Undoubtedly, the growth of IT industry in the City pushed the growth in this area too. Around 3,50,000 IT employees work in this part of the City.

With more than 10 per cent growth in the IT industry every year, further growth will continue to take place in the area.

APARNA SAROVAR GRANDE n Located at Nallagandla n F lat size —1920-3750 sft n A world class fully-fledged club house with state-of-the-art amenities n Table Tennis, GYM, Library, Crèche n Open Party Area, nSwimming Pool n Indoor games, n Shuttle Courts n Squash Court, Restaurant, SPA n Guest Rooms, Yoga/Meditation n Home Theater, Aerobics, Shallow pool n Grocery/Pharmacy, Multi purpose Hall n 24-hour Power back-up n 24-hour Surveillance and Security n Basic Price: `3849 per sft

Retail and entertainment also flourished with the growth of residential and commercial real estate,” explains Hari Babu.

One may assume that there cannot be further growth in this area as the values of villas in these areas almost reached that of the properties in Jubilee hills and Banjara Hills. However, real estate developers in the area disagree and claim that they can indeed expect further growth.

“The prices in Hyderabad are low as compared to other metropolitan cities due to political agitation. Once there is clari-

RAJAPUSHPA CANNON DALE n Located at Kokapet n 37 high end triplex villas n Plot area 322 sq yards n Buildup area 4200 sft n Luxury gated community n An exclusive clubhouse n Indoor Games facilities n Health spa n 24 hour security with intercom n Solar water heating n Piped cooking gas n 37 high end triplex villas n Vaastu compliant n Swimming pool n Jogging track n Basic Price: `2.5 crore

YOUR WEEKLY GUIDE TO HYDERABAD REAL ESTATE

14&15

SRINIVAS SETTY

Due diligence a must for buyers C SHEKAR REDDY

feedback@postnoon.com

M

MEETS THE HIGH LIFE

ty on the T issue, there can be further push to these prices,” he says.

Once considered suburbs, areas such as Gachibowli, Nanakramguda and Kokapet have now assumed the status of prime localities. Large swathes of barren land have now given way to acres of gated communities which are increasingly becoming the preferred choice of property for the HNIs and NRIs. Developers further add that unlike other matured premium localities in the city, these up and coming properties offer unmatched amenities further upping their price tags.

“Usually, surrounding areas bring value to a property. If there is a property in a premium locality which is closer to the

Areas around IT belt Gachibowli Kondapur Madhapur Nanakramguda Kokapet Manikonda Narsingi

slum, its value gets affected.

However, there is a fixed standard and quality in large gated communities. The surroundings, green cover and other world-class amenities in the gated communities have an edge over premium localities of the City. The availability and quality will make these properties an obvious choice for the customers in the near future,” According to the Hari, there

are around 12-15 major projects with huge acreage that are set to come in between Cyberabad and Tellapur that will aim to be self-sufficient. “Entertainment, education and all retail needs will be taken care in these highend gated communities.”

But still, these areas are not without problems. One major limitation is underground water, especially in summers when the underground levels touch bottom. Major realtors are drilling around 700 -1000 feet for water. And the residents can't rely on Manjeera water either as its frequency is limited to 2-3 times in a week. Proper rainwater harvesting systems, recycling and purification are the only ways forward to solve this issue, say developers.

RAJAPUSHPA OPEN SKIES n Located at Kokapet n Plot area 450 sq yards n Buildup area 5100 sft n Gated community with round the clock security n Air-conditioned club house with Gym n Indoor Games facilities n Health spa n Amphitheatre n Tennis courts n Children’s play area n Air-conditioned guest suites n Mirror effect Swimming pool n Well-stocked library n Basic price `4.35 crore

any buyers ask how they can assess the developer’s credibility before purchasing the property.

Any reputed developer has at least completed a project after the introduction of occupancy certificate in 2006 by the government. So, the buyer should ask for the developer’s occupancy certificate for his previous projects. If he is able to produce it, that acknowledges credibility of the developer.Buyers can also check his previous track record with earlier projects and his reputation in the market. When a reputed builder constructs the project, the price is always high as compared to other projects in that area. A reputed developer strictly follows all the rules and regulations by paying taxes,

hires professionals, and doesn’t deviate in any way from the proposed plan. On the other hand, an unorganised developer is a self-employed person who tries to manage everything by himself without hiring professionals and may even escape taxation.This will enable him to offer a flat at a cheaper price. However, it is always better to buy a 1200 sq ft flat from a reputed developer than to buy 1500 sq ft flat from an unorganised developer so as avoid hassles in the future.A buyer should also check the title deed of the developer and whether the project is approved

by HMDA. If he doesn’t have

proper permissions or title deeds, it's a sure shot sign warning to invest with him. At times, the property can also fall under illegal construction. If the developer deviates from the proposed plan and could not get the occupancy certificate, the buyer may end up paying more for water and electricity as per the perennial clause.In terms of future prospects, the real estate industry is reviving its lost glory.

The developers increased their revenues by almost ten times last year by clearing the stock that was left out from 2009.

There is also escalation in prop-

A reputed developer strictly follows all the rules and regulations, hires professionals, and doesn’t deviate in any way from the proposed plan.

erty values by 15-20 per cent due to inflation. Although developers did not make any profits in recent years due to global economic slump and political agitations, this benefited the buyers.

The properties in the City were very much affordable in last few years (2007-2011) and people who bought properties in this timeframe have got at least 50 percent appreciation. This growth is going to continue in 2013 and is likely to create a healthy environment for investors and buyers.

The writer is the national president of CREDAI.

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FRIDAY, APRIL 26, 2013

spotlight

ROCK N ROLL

Electronic Friday Fest 2013 will be held today at Liquids. Get to the pub before 3 pm to have a blast.

S BALAKRISHNA

FITTING TRIBUTE 1

2

3

4

5

PARTY DOLLS After a tiring day at work, party peeps headed to Bottles & Chimney to cut loose. Spotted at the pub were Shiney, Alekhya, Ritesh and others.

1

2

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A grand affair Panache hosted a high-tea party at Radisson Blu in honour of Dilmah founder Merrill J Fernando who was present at the do. Guests were seen bonding over sumptuous snacks and tea.

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8

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10 1 Raksha, Pooja 2 Nicy, Ankita

1 Sherry Zaveri 2 Dona 3 Karishma 4 Ruvini

5 Varsha 6 Nisha, Juhi 7 Poonam, Amrutha 8 Jasmine

9 Kavita, Karen 10 Darlim 11 Laila

FOOD TALK

3 Alekhya, Abhinaya,

Shiney

4 Akhil, Onchu 5 Ritesh, Jyoti

A cooking workshop was organised at The Square Hyderabad Hotel, Begumpet where participants were given valuable insights on Indian cooking.

FRIDAY, APRIL 26, 2013

health

GATES AND SLIM JOIN FORCES TO ERADICATE POLIO Billionaires Bill Gates and Carlos Slim said that they plan to join forces to eradicate polio in six years. Slim, the world's richest person, and Gates discussed their plans with EFE in the first-ever joint interview they have granted.

IANS

MYTHS

MYTH: DRINK LOTS OF WATER AFTER VOMITING. Fact: This may actually worsen the situation.

Anything that does not sit well with the stomach during acute bouts of nausea can aggravate the problem.

Give your stomach a rest for few minutes after you throw up. Experts advise you to take electrolytes and oral rehydration to compensate for lost fluids and salts.

MYTH: TAKE A MEDICINE TO STOP VOMITING

FACT: The body is protecting itself by vomiting. If you ate some food and got food poisoning, why would you want to keep that food in your system? The body doesn't and it is trying to get it all out. Remember, the body generally knows best and if left alone, will heal itself much faster than if we take the wrong medication.

MYTH: DRINK SODA IF YOU FEEL NAUSEOUS FACT: Experts say soda causes acidity, especially when taken at night. Procter and Gamble, in their website pgbrandsampler.com warn that caffeinated soda aggravates the problem.

Guidelines issued by nhs.uk say that carbonated drinks cannot be used as a substitute for oral rehydration solution.

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MYTH: AVOID SOLID FOOD.

FACT: It is about eating the right kind of food, and not altogether avoiding it. Bland food that is easy to digest and light on the stomach is recommended. According to roswellpediatrics.com, if the child is suffering from diarrhoea, cereal, mashed potatoes, strained banana and strained carrots can be given.

‘Eat this, not that!’

When you have gastroenteritis, the wrong home remedy or self-medication can make the situation worse. Here are some common misconceptions that you need to be aware of.

POSTNOON NEWS

Feedback@postnoon.com

MYTH: CERTAIN FOODS CAUSE GASTROENTERITIS FACT: Inflammation of the stomach and small intestinal tract is gastroenteritis, caused mostly by viruses and bacteria. It spreads through contaminated food, water, or faeces of infected person. So maintaining personal hygiene becomes important.

According to health.com, when treating a child with gastroenteritis, especially after changing diapers, you must clean yourself up properly.

ANEWS PP-LYBRIEFS YOURSELF

HOUSECALL

Zumba Fitness

Dementia

Find everything related to the Zumba program for free in the new, easy-touse mobile app. Search classes by location and facility name, view locations in list or map view, share classes and invite your friends to join your fitness-parties. You can save and easily access your favourite Zumba classes using this app. itunes.apple.com

As you get older, you may find that memory loss becomes a problem. It's normal for your memory to be affected by age, stress, tiredness, or certain illnesses and medications. This can be annoying if it happens occasionally, but if it's affecting your daily life or is worrying you or someone you know, you should seek help from your GP. Your risk of developing dementia increases as you get older. nhs.uk

DID YOU KNOW? Drinking chocolate milk makes you fit.

Ron Maughan, professor of exercise nutrition at Loughborough University, says: If you drink milk, you are getting a consistent source of protein... chocolate provides useful carbohydrates and even the relatively high sugar content is an acceptable means of restoring energy." bodyandsoul.com.au

PIONEERS Michael E DeBakey Michael Ellis DeBakey is a lebanese cardiac surgeon, innovator, scientist, medical educator, and international medical statesman. DeBakey was the chancellor emeritus of Baylor College of Medicine in Houston, Texas, director of The Methodist DeBakey Heart & Vascular Center, and senior attending surgeon of The Methodist Hospital in Houston. He received his BS degree from Tulane University, New Orleans. en.wikipedia.org

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FRIDAY, APRIL 26, 2013

Technology MORE OPTIONS

SPOT ON!

NEXTBOX COST? There is a lot of hype around the price tags of next generation consoles from Sony and Microsoft as both of them share very similar specs. So the latest rumour is that the successor of Xbox 360 will cost $499 and that there will be another model that will sell for $299 that’ll need a Live subscription to get it running.

The new Xbox will be revealed in mid-May and is expected to come with a Kinect sensor inbuilt. The company has also replaced good old DVD drive with a Blu-Ray drive according to various sources. There are talks about it running a variant of Windows 8, but that still remains a rumour.

THAT WAS UNEXPECTED!

An Apple 13-inch MacBook Pro has been nominated the “best-performing” Windows laptop by a PC services company that has done “frustration analytics” on some of the best-selling models. The MacBook Pro won out over established PC makers like Dell, Acer, and Lenovo, according to Soluto, which was quick to explain its finding. A main factor is the fact that every Windows installation on it is clean.

With PC manufacturers loading so much crapware on laptops, this is a bit of an unfair competition.

US army seeks new technology to replace GPS. WASHINGTON: The US army is working to limit its dependence on GPS by developing the next generation of navigation technology, including a tiny autonomous chip, the director of the Pentagon’s research agency said.

DARPA, the research group behind a range of spy tech and which helped invent the Internet, was also the driving force behind the creation of the Global Positioning System, director Arati Prabhakar said at a press conference.

“In the 1980s, when GPS satellites started to become widely deployed... it meant carrying an enormous box around on your vehicle,” she said.

“Now it’s got to the point where it’s embedded not just in all our platforms but in many of our weapons,” as well as in many civilian devices, she said.

But “sometimes a capability is so powerful that our reliance on it, in itself, becomes a vulnerability,” she added.

“I think that’s where we are

Piracy = virus?

GPS Alternatives n GLONASS

n GAGAN

Developed by Russia, GLONASS is the only competing/complementary system to GPS that is both fully operational and provides complete global coverage.

India has begun the process for its autonomous satnav, with a goal of completion some time in 2014.

Devices that use GPS n BeiDou

(Compass) BeiDou, currently covers China and neighbouring regions and began operations in 2000.

n Galileo

(European Union) Intending to be the first non-military global satnav is Galileo, currently being built by the European Space Agency.

Designed specifically for civilian use, Galileo will include a global search-and-rescue function.

today with GPS.” Among the fears: The GPS signal could be scrambled by an adversary, as happened recently in South Korea. Starting in 2010, DARPA has been working on a variety of programmes aimed at developing new navigation and positioning technology — at first with the goal of extending their reach to places where satellites don’t work, such as underwater.

But now, amid fears of overreliance on — and possible vulnerabilities with — global positioning satellites, experts are looking to create not just a companion, but an alternative to GPS. To that end, researchers at DARPA and the University of Michigan have created a new system that works without satellites to determine position, time and direction, all contained with-

n n n n n n

Smartphone Navigation devices Smartwatch Smart Cameras Dog collars High-end golf balls

in a eight-cubic-millimeter chip.

The tiny chip holds three gyroscopes, three accelerometers and an atomic clock, which, together, work as an autonomous navigation system.

DARPA envisages using this technology to replace GPS in some contexts, especially in small-caliber ammunition or for monitoring people.

Another approach would use existing signals, such as those generated by broadcast antennas, radios, telephone towers and even lightning to temporarily replace GPS. AGENCIES

Anti-virus company McAfee has filed a new patent that aims to identify and remove pirated content from a computer. While a lot of malware is spread via pirated content, removing the complete file because it is shady might just be a bit too much. McAfee says the technology will help steer consumers to authorised services and thereby prevent costly lawsuits. For years, copyright holders have urged search engines and Internet providers to make it harder for users to access infringing content online. This new patent seems to be a step in that direction, but it needs to be seen if the company will actually push this out or not.

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FRIDAY, APRIL 26, 2013

Entertainment CINE BYTES

HIGH HOPES

I'm confident of

TADAKHA’S success: NAGARJUNA

Welcome Obama nears completion

T

he principal shooting of Singeetham Sreenivasa Rao's upcoming film Welcome Obama is nearing completion. The final schedule began recently and the entire shooting is expected to be wrapped up by May 3. Welcome Obama is the remake of a Marathi film and it deals with the theme of surrogacy. The film stars Rachel, Urmila, Sanjeev and Niranjani.

Gopichand to get married on May 13

A

ctor Gopichand is going to get married to his fiance Reshma on May 13 in Hyderabad. Reshma happens to be actor Srikanth's niece.

Gopichand and Reshma had got engaged in December last year. Meanwhile, Gopichand's upcoming film Sahasam is expected to hit the screens later this summer.

Balakrishna’s Ruler to go on sets in May

B

oyapati Sreenu has officially confirmed that his upcoming film titled Ruler will go on sets in May. Balakrishna is playing the lead role in this film. “Balakrishna will sport a new look in the film and I can promise you that it's going to be as good as Simha. It's not a full fledged political film,” Boyapati Sreenu said. The lead actress and rest of the crew haven't been finalised yet.

T

he first teaser of Naga Chaitanya, Tamannaah, Sunil and Andrea Jeremiah starrer Tadakha, which is slated for release later this summer, when it was unveiled at the film's audio launch couple of days ago. It's the first time Naga Chaitanya is doing a full fledged action role in quite sometime and the entire team of the film couldn't stop praising the action sequences featuring Naga Chaitanya in the film. ANR and Nagarjuna, who were chief guests at the event, expressed their confidence in the film's success and praised the film's director Kishore Pardasany for giving an entirely different look to Naga Chaitanya.Talking about Tadakha, Nagarjuna said, “Last year was pretty good for our family both per-

sonally and professionally, but deep down in my heart I was concerned about Naga Chaitanya's career. I was even thinking about producing a film with Naga Chaitanya in lead role but it didn't materialise. When Bellamkonda Suresh approached me with the idea of remaking Vettai in Telugu, I was confident that the film will work quite well in Telugu. When Bellamkonda Suresh told me that Sunil is going to reprise Madhavan's role, I was all the more happy since most of my films which had Sunil had become big hits. After seeing the rushes and the trailer, I am all the more confident of Tadakha's success. Tamannaah has done extremely well in the film and if all goes well, I would love to act in a film with her.” Naga Chaitanya recalled how thrilled he was while watching Vettai. “Any hero would want to play a

role like what Arya did in Vettai. We have changed the script for the Telugu version and Kishore has made it in how own style,” he said.

Bellamkonda Suresh, who produced the film, was so confident of the film's success that he stated that he's ready to face dire consequences in case Naga Chaitanya's fans don't like the film.

On the other hand, Tamannaah said, “The entire film unit was like a family. It's my second film with Naga Chaitanya and Kishore Pardasany. Naga Chaitanya is so humble and down to earth that I always feel like he's my friend from college. I am glad that I worked along with Andrea Jeremiah in the film. I have found a new friend in her and we even share our birthdays on the same day.”

Thaman has scored the music and Arthur Wilson is the lensman.

FRIDAY, APRIL 26, 2013

fashion 's ese gly y y sa e str i n i n s t f th du Ch em r e o i n e se or p f h h Ex uc tch to t nd tite m a e t a e s. w s s du cen app ood s i i re le g w S th r's ia b r y ow me sat u x u r l g su i n n co

S I

r a w p e e k s r e ak m h c t a w

S

T

FORMER ANGEL SLAMS VICTORIA’S SECRET

FORMER model Kylie Bisutti has clarified the reasons why she quit as one of the faces of Victoria's Secret. The US beauty left the fashion industry for religious reasons in February 2012, following a risqué underwear shoot for men's magazine FHM when a photographer told her that posing seductively in lingerie "is what Victoria's Secret models do".

W

he world's biggest watch fair is set to open this week in Basel amid growing uncertainty over whether the industry can keep up its momentum and rake in another year of record sales in China.

"The question at Baselworld will be to understand what is happening in mainland China," Kepler Capital Markets analyst Jon Cox told AFP ahead of the event, warning that the Chinese market prospects now seemed increasingly fragile.

The Swiss watch industry has been on an unprecedented roll over the past three years, with sales systematically beating expectations and putting to shame naysayers urging it to brace for the pending crisis.

Experts agree that much of the growth can be attributed to the Chinese consumer's recent and seemingly insatiable appetite for luxury goods.

In 2012, Swiss watch exports soared to historic altitudes, for the first time passing the 21-billion Swiss franc ($22-billion, 17-billion-euro) mark, with exports to China accounting for 6.0 billion francs, or 28 percent of the total.

But since late last year there have been numerous signs that the Chinese bonanza is

a n i h C n o e y e y

S

winding

down, as growth in the world’s second largest economy has slowed.

Nick Hayek, the head of Swatch Group, which in addition to the famous brightly-coloured plastic watch brand also owns a long line of high-end, luxury brands, like Breguet and Blancpain, cautioned investors at the beginning of March that the growth rates up to 30 percent they had grown accustomed to could not last in the long run.

Financial analysts are meanwhile grappling to get a full picture of what is happening in the Chinese market, since Asian retailers in recent months have been working to lighten their inventories, possibly skewing the picture.

Despite the vibes of uncertainty in the

industry, the 1,460 exhibitors, including leading watch brands like Rolex, Patek Philippe and Omega, and some of the some of the biggest names in jewellery such as LVMH's Bulgari and Harry Winston, which was recently acquired by Swatch Group, are expected to put on a dazzling show.

"This year at Baselworld, I think we'll again see a big push on technological innovation, with more and more complications on the prestigious watch brands, and on new materials, Vontobel analyst Rene Weber analyst told AFP. A highlight of this year's event, which is expected to draw some 100,000 visitors, could come from LVMH's high-end brand Hublot, which has partnered with prestigious Italian carmaker Ferrari to make its new Masterpiece LaFerrari.

The watch sets a new world record in mechanical movement, only needing to be wound every 50 days, or around 1,200 hours, easily beating the previous record of 40 days, the brand told AFP. Hayek of Swatch Group, the world's leading watchmaker, is meanwhile tightlipped about the Swatch brand's promised "revolutionary innovation", which will go on display at this week's show.

AFP

DONATELLA VERSACE: GIANNI WOULD HAVE LOVED LADY GAGA

DONATELLA VERSACE believes that if her brother Gianni was still alive, he'd have loved Lady Gaga. The designer is close friends with the singer, and has worked with her creatively on several occasions. The pair most notably collaborated on Gaga's The Edge of Glory music video - for which Donatella opened up the fashion house's archives.

22&23

d~ääá~åç=áåîáíÉÇ to teach master class at Parsons D

isgraced fashion designer John Galliano, who has kept a low profile since his 2011 conviction in France over an anti-Semitic rant, has been invited to give classes at a top New York school.

The Parsons School of Design in Manhattan said Wednesday that the British couturier, whose legal problems led to his sacking at Christian Dior, would speak about the challenges of leading a fashion house in the 21st century.

The three-day master class given by Galliano in the coming weeks would provide a "dynamic and intimate opportunity for our students to learn from an immensely talented designer," the school said in a statement.

"We believe that over the past two years, Mr Galliano has demonstrated a serious intent to make amends for his past actions."

The 52-year-old Galliano, who spent nearly 15 years at Dior, is widely considered to be one of the most brilliant fashion minds of his generation.

He blamed the anti-Semitic outburst on drink and drug problems and went into rehab for two months.

But Galliano again created buzz in February at New York Fashion Week, when the collection of Oscar de la Renta — who had invited the Briton to spend time in his workshop — was seen as including a few Galliano-esque flourishes.

The New York Post caused a stir by publishing a photo of Galliano in what appeared to be a very trendy version of the ultra-orthodox Hasidic Jewish garb, suggesting the designer was trying to insult Jews.

But others quickly interpreted the get-up as a fashionista's way of paying homage, and the Anti-Defamation League, which is always on the lookout for anti-Semitism, declared the story entirely concocted. AFP

Entertainment FRIDAY, APRIL 26, 2013

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Entertainment FRIDAY, APRIL 26, 2013

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FRIDAY, APRIL 26, 2013

Chai Time

THOUGHT OF THE DAY

Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has.

Margaret Mead

KAKURO

QUICK CROSSWORD

26

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

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

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

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

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

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

ACROSS

PREVIOUS PUZZLE ANSWER

SCRIBBLING PAD

1 Short-sighted person 6 Former Israeli prime minister Yitzhak 11 Poet’s meadow 14 Install replacement parts again 15 Roomy dress 16 Leg partner 17 What the fire department recommends 19 Dip, as bread in gravy 20 Afternoon brew 21 Mountain ___ (brand of soda) 22 Follower of Mao? 23 Checkbook column 27 Made a show of being unimpressed 29 Term before ‘carte’ or ‘mode’ 30 ‘How do you like ___?’

32 The Magi, by census 33 Article for ‘Alamos’ 34 Sunset, in Los Angeles 36 Miniature racing autos 39 Broadway backgrounds 41 Barbershop band 43 Fork-tailed shore bird 44 Not dormant 46 Group of six 48 By way of 49 Poems of praise 51 The Chrysler Building’s style, briefly 52 Chang’s twin 53 Keyboard instrument 56 Granada gentlemen 58 Number in the ‘Pledge of Allegiance’ 59 William Tell’s home 60 T ___ (‘Jurassic Park’ beast) 61 Gp that might support summer reading 62 Tenet of chivalry 68 Gun at a red light 69 Stadium levels

70 Ancient Greek theater 71 ‘That’s What Friends ___ For’ 72 Bug in one’s throat 73 Give a counterargument

DOWN

1 Half a married couple 2 Word of support 3 ___ and running 4 Madonna-and-child artwork 5 Degrees or magnitudes 6 WWII flying group 7 Boxing legend Muhammad 8 Feathered friends 9 Bug or fly 10 Like some television 11 Endure for all eternity 12 Notched, like a maple leaf 13 Overexcited, slangily 18 Extremely pricey vessels 23 Wood for model airplanes 24 Emollient sources 25 Final one to exit 26 Busy planet 28 Formal decree 31 Out of breath 35 Disastrous evils 37 Threefold 38 Unexpected obstacles 40 Fries, often 42 Erstwhile AMC autos 45 Outcomes 47 Kaput 50 Narrow waterway for ships 53 Dried coconut meat 54 Gain access 55 One lending a helping hand, essentially 57 Zinc ___ 63 Intense emotion 64 Clairvoyant’s claim 65 Hardly a Yankee fan?

66 1/20 of a franc, formerly 67 Blasted stuff

Chai Time FRIDAY, APRIL 26, 2013 Thiruvaikumar

STAR POWER for 27-4-2013

27

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

ARIES

TAURUS

GEMINI

CANCER

LEO

VIRGO

LIBRA

SCORPIO

SAGITTARIUS

CAPRICORN

AQUARIUS

PISCES

Your influence is set to increase and all work will get completed.

Close friends and blood relatives will help you on their own in the time of need. You are likely to take bold decisions, which will be appreciated by all as desired results are achieved.

STRIP TEASE AGNES

Employees might face minor tension at workplace. Your enemies get inactive and you gain an upper hand. Do not force decisions on your children. Politicians get into good books of high command. Be careful and act with patience.

Unmarried women advised to stay away from romance acts.

Money likely to come from all expected sources. Employees will be entrusted with challenging tasks and they will prove their skills. Solve the family issues without involving outsiders.

Your children will do well in studies and make you proud.

Delayed marriage proposals will resume and progress well.

Employees march forward by discharging their duties well and get rewarded. Purchase or construction of house likely.

Politicians advised to stay away from unwanted discussions and not take a controversial stand on important issues. Chances are that they might be warned by the high command. Keep a vigil on your children’s activities as there are chances of trouble.

Women advised to stay away from those who behave with them with wrong intentions.

Family looks cheerful as happy events are to take place at home in a line. Businessmen sign new and promising contract agreements.

Mother’s health will be a cause for concern; take care. Real estate deals might not go as expected. Misunderstanding with maternal relatives likely to upset you. Politicians do well in sorting out certain major issues within the party.

Mother’s health problem gets over and she recovers fully.

Those trying for a job will get a promising career opportunity.

Some are fortunate to go abroad for higher studies or a job.

Financial position is strong.

Misunderstandings will end.

You try to stand apart from others and this will be successful. Businessmen flourish well and earn good profits exceeding expectations. Some have a bright chance to buy a house or land as per their choice. Be careful while driving.

TAROT READ

Sumaa Tekur

tarotreadhyd@gmail. com

ARIES:

GEMINI:

Three of Swords – A heartbreak is likely. Don’t be upset about it. This is a test to strengthen your emotions and make you immune to the disappointments of life.

LEO:

The Magician – Intuition plays an important role today.

You will figure out what may happen next without really putting all the pieces together in a logical manner.

LIBRA:

PEARLS BEFORE SWINE

Three of Pentacles – Your skills will come to good use. A foreign trip is in the offing. It will happen quickly and you may be expected to make a longish trip abroad.

SAGITTARIUS:

The Devil – You’re tempted to take a shortcut. Not a good idea because you run the risk of putting all your good work down the drain in no time. Think carefully.

TAURUS:

Page of Cups – Pay attention to your health. Drink lots of water and eat fresh fruits to stay upbeat and feel healthy from within. Avoid fried foods.

CANCER:

Ten of Swords – Dreams hold the key to understanding true feelings. When you wake up, try to remember your dreams. Talk it out with someone to feel better.

VIRGO:

Two of Wands – This is a waiting period. Not much may move ahead and things may get delayed or postponed. Use this time to prepare yourself. Read a lot.

SCORPIO:

Three of Wands – Success is just around the corner.

Be patient and don’t get overly excited about reaching the destination.

Enjoy the journey as much as well.

CAPRICORN:

Nine of Pentacles – There are times when you feel like you want to be left alone and don’t want to socialise or take the trouble to be around other people.

PREVIOUS SOLUTIONS

PISCES:

Six of Pentacles – An elderly person in your industry is going to come to your rescue and help you understand difference between being professional and pushy.

NUMBER GAME

– Some conflict is likely. You should not get into a brawl. Stay away from all kinds of politicking. Put your ego aside and do what’s best for you.

SCRABBLE

AQUARIUS: Five of Swords

POOCH CAFE

Employees advised not to take freedom with superiors as setbacks are possible. Also, adjust with colleagues cordially even though they might misbehave with you. Politicians advised not to blame the opposition without proper evidence.

for 27-4-2013

Three of Cups – A celebration is about to take place. You will be excited about an achievement, however small that may be. But it’s important you celebrate it.

NON SEQUITUR

Enemies become inactive and you gain an upper hand. Court verdict will go in your favour in a legal issue. Your in-laws extend support and help you as per expectations. Housing loan will get approved and construction will start soon.

SUDUKO

Minor misunderstanding with spouse is likely; avoid this. Your harsh talk, with which you have been facing trouble, will change and you become approachable.

Politicians to be conservative and not to spend extravagantly to be seen in good light.

Boggle ONE TWO SIX TEN FOUR TWENTY Vol: 2, No 280 RNI No: APENG/2011/39337 Published for the proprietors, Scribble Media and Entertainment Pvt Ltd, by V Harshavardhan Reddy, at #1246, Level 3, Jubilee Casa, Road No 62, Jubilee Hills, Hyderabad – 500033 and printed by him at Jagati Publications Ltd, Plot No D-75&E-52, APIE Industrial Estate, Balanagar, Ranga Reddy Dist, Hyderabad – 500037, Editor: Dean Williams – Responsible for selection of news under the PRB Act All rights reserved.

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

28

Entertainment FRIDAY, APRIL 26, 2013

NEW FILM

CINE BYTES

EMMA STONE

in talks to star in Woody Allen’s next

T

he Amazing Spider-Man star Emma Stone is reportedly in talks for the leading role in Woody Allen’s untitled next film.

The 24-year-old actress has recently completed Blue Jasmine with Cate Blanchett and Alec Baldwin, reported Deadline.

Stone is currently busy with Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritudirected dark comedy Birdman, Cameron Crowe’s untitled next .

Stone will reprise her role as Gwen Stacy in The Amazing SpiderMan 2. The film is a sequel to the 2012 film “The Amazing SpiderMan". The film is slated for a release on May2.

PTI

Zach Braff’s Kickstarter project hits $1 million

Z

ach Braff is halfway to his Kickstarter goal. Following in the footsteps of Veronica Mars series creator Rob Thomas, the Scrubs star’s campaign to finance an original film has hit $1 million in pledged funds. Braff said the reason why he launched a Kickstarter was to maintain a degree of creative control for his new film, titled Wish I Was Here.

Paltrow “embarrassed” by new title

W

hat does it feel like to be named People magazine’s World’s Most Beautiful Woman? Just ask Gwyneth Paltrow. “Oh, lord," the 40-year-old mum of two said at tonight’s Iron Man 3 premiere in Hollywood. “It’s very sweet and I’m so embarrassed, but I’m so happy." “It’s so weird," Paltrow continued.

“It’s crazy. It’s very sweet.

I’m so flattered. I’m thrilled."

Armie Hammer joins Tom Cruise in new film

P

ost-Lone Ranger Armie Hammer is apparently set to be a big enough name to co-star with Tom Cruise in The Man from U.N.C.L.E., Guy Ritchie’s remake of the sixties TV show. Hammer will play “a version” of the Napoleon Solo character originated by Robert Vaughan in the series.

Does that mean Cruise will be Illya Kuryakin, the Russian half of the secret agent duo?

sports

29

FRIDAY, APRIL 26, 2013

NBA

SPORT SNIPPETS

HEAT PUSH BUCKS TO BRINK,

BULLS WIN

LeBron scored 22 points, Chris Bosh notched a doubledouble and Ray Allen added 23 points and set a record for three-pointers in the post-season in the win.

MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN: The 2012 NBA champion Miami Heat moved within one game of ousting the Milwaukee Bucks from the first round of the 2013 playoffs Thursday, closing strong in a 104-91 victory.

No NBA team has come back from an 0-3 deficit to win a best-of-seven series.

The game was one of two Eastern Conference contests on Thursday. In Chicago, the Bulls held on for a 79-76 victory over the Brooklyn Nets to take a 2-1 lead in their series.

After a late-game collapse in game two in Miami, Milwaukee seemed buoyed by the home crowd.

They led much of the first half, and after Miami seized the lead early in the third quarter Milwaukee engineered a 9-0 scoring run to regain the advantage.

In the end, however, the Bucks couldn't hold off the Heat, who closed the third quarter on a 23-7 scoring run and kept their foot on the gas in the fourth. Overall, the Heat out-scored the Bucks 5641 in the second half en route to the key victory.

James connected on 9-of-14 from the field, and Bosh added 16 points with 14 rebounds. Allen went 5-for-8 from three-point range and now has 322 three-pointers in the post-season in his career.

That surpassed the playoff record of 320 held by Reggie Miller.

"It just came out of nowhere, just thinking about it the past couple games when I was made aware of it," Allen said of the record. "There's so

The game was one of two Eastern Conference contests. In Chicago, the Bulls held on for a 79-76 victory over the Brooklyn Nets. many great players, great shooters, great athletes that came into this, and I've been able to leave my mark."

Dwayne Wade had a disappointing shooting night, connecting on just one of 12 shots. But he contributed 11 assists, nine rebounds and five steals.

AFP

Lebron James #6 the Miami Heat drives to the hoop while Ersan Illysova #7 of the Milwaukee Bucks defends in the game.

UNITED 4 WRESTLING

US, Iran make Olympic bid LOS ANGELES: Wrestlers from political foes Iran and the United States will compete in a friendly international meet in Los Angeles on May 19 as part of an international push to keep the sport in the Olympics.

Dubbed "United 4 Wrestling," the freestyle event is being organised by USA Wresting and youth development agency Beat the Streets-Los Angeles as part of World Wrestling Month, which was declared by the international wrestling federation (FILA) in April after the February 12 recommendation by the IOC Board that wrestling not be a core sport at the 2020 Olymplic Games. AFP

AFP

143-POUND CATCH-WEIGHT FIGHT PREVIEW

Khan thinks big in his next Khan was elevated to #2 in the WBC welterweight rankings recently.

Ahmed signs with Victoria SYDNEY: Pakistani Fawad Ahmed has signed to play with Australian state side Victoria for the next three seasons, Cricket Victoria said on Friday.

Leg-spinner Ahmed, who could be in contention to play for Australia in the Ashes series in England in July if he is granted citizenship on time, was named in Victoria's squad for the next Australian season.

"Fawad Ahmed was our success story from last year," Victoria coach Greg Shipperd said in a statement.

AFP

Oz names 2 coaches SYDNEY: Michael Bohl and Rohan Taylor have been appointed as Australian team coaches for the Barcelona world championships in July, Swimming Australia said on Friday.

Bohl, who coached medley swimmer Stephanie Rice to triple gold at the 2008 Beijing Olympics, will take charge of the Australian women's team, while Taylor will work with the men, Swimming Australia (SA) said.

AFP

‘UCI did nothing to fight doping’ PARIS: World cycling's governing body, the UCI, has contributed nothing to the fight against doping in the sport, the head of the US Anti-Doping Agency told the French Senate on Thursday.

Travis Tygart said the UCI "did everything to put obstacles in our way" over the Lance Armstrong affair.

He added: "They refused to send us the results of tests and they are still refusing to supply us with those of three of Armstrong's team-mates."

AFP

NICK PARKINSON Agence France-Presse

Trainer gets 8-year ban

LONDON: Amir Khan (right) has not been dissuaded from thinking big by two defeats in his last three fights and claims victory on Saturday will give him the opportunity to become undisputed world light-welterweight champion later this year. The 26-year-old must first come through a catchweight (143 pounds) 12-round nontitle contest with Mexican Julio Diaz at the Motorpoint Arena in his home city of heffield, northern England.

LONDON: British racing's governing body on Thursday banned trainer Mahmood Al Zarooni for eight years for his role in a doping scandal that has rocked the sport.

Al Zarooni, 37, was given the punishment after a disciplinary hearing at the BHA headquarters in London, revealed 11 of the horses he trained for Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum's Godolphin stable had tested positive for anabolic steroids.

AFP

British boxer Amir Khan takes part in a training session at The English Institute of Sport in Sheffield, England, on Thursday.

AFP/ PAUL ELLIS

sports

30

FRIDAY, APRIL 26, 2013

STUTTGART’S WTA TOURNAMENT

Sharapova toils into quarters Maria Sharapova, who won last year’s Stuttgart title en route to her Roland Garros victory, needed three hours, nine minutes to down claycourt specialist Lucie Safarova 6-4, 6-7 (3/7), 6-3 in the second round.

RYLAND JAMES Agence France-Presse STUTTGART, GERMANY: French Open champion Maria Sharapova (right) admitted she had dug deep to reach the quarter-finals of Stuttgart’s WTA tournament after her three-hour marathon victory over claycourt specialist Lucie Safarova on Thursday.

Sharapova squeezed past her Czech opponent for a 6-4, 6-7 (3/7), 6-3 second-round victory.

With a 5-2 lead in the third set and serving for the match, Sharapova squandered three match points as Safarova broke her, before the Russian returned the compliment to claim the

BARCELONA OPEN

match.

“I’ve had a few three-hour games in my career, so I knew I just had to keep fighting until the end,” said the statuesque

get the game-plan going and calm down a little bit.

“Clay is one of her favourite surfaces and I knew this was going to be a tough game, so I am glad to get through.

“The first match of the claycourt season is always tough, it’s nothing like practising.”

Sharapova’s last eight opponent Ivanovic beat Russia’s Nadia Petrova 6-4, 6-3 in her second round game, having dropped to 17th in the world rankings.

Earlier second-seed China’s Li Na has admitted she has one eye on a brand new sports car, the winner’s prize here, as she prepares to face Petra Kvitova in the quarter-finals.

With a 5-2 lead in the third set and serving for the match, Sharapova squandered three match points as Safarova broke her.

Russian, who faces former world number one Ana Ivanovic in Friday’s quarter-finals.

“That’s when it’s the time to

NORTH TEXAS LPGA SHOOTOUT

NY DIAMOND LEAGUE

German rookie leads

Rain ends day early with Nadal waiting BARCELONA: Spanish seed Nicolas Almagro reached the quarter-finals of the Barcelona Open on Thursday before rain wrecked more than half of the third-round programme.

Second seed Rafael Nadal was due to face French 13th seed Benoit Paire but never got started due to the weather.

It will now be moved to Friday though forecasts remain grim for the ensuing days, with more rain likely.

In a match stranded on court, Slovak Martin Klizan leads German eighth seed Philipp Kohlschreiber 6-1, 6-7 (2/7), 4-3.

Beside Nadal, third-round matches involving seeds including number three Tomas Berdych, number five Milos Raonic and number six Kei Nishikori were all postponed. AFP

IRVING, TEXAS: German LPGA rookie Caroline Masson (in pic) fired a seven-under 64 on Thursday to grab a twoshot lead after the first round of the inaugural North Texas LPGA Shootout.

Masson, who has missed the cut in four of her five prior starts this season, posted her best score on the LPGA tour, and had a two-stroke lead over Spain’s Carlota Ciganda -- last year’s rookie of the year on the Ladies European Tour.

World No. 1 Park In-Bee of South Korea carded a fourunder par 67 to head a group sharing third place that also included compatriot Hur MiJung, England’s Felicity Johnson and Americans Mo Martin and Kristy McPherson.

Amateur Taylor Coleman carded a three-under 68 to share eighth place with South

Korean Park Hee-Young and American Christina Kim. Coleman, 16, qualified for the tournament via a High School Shootout qualifier on Monday.

Masson nabbed seven birdies without a bogey, and was unfazed by the north

Texas wind.

“For some reason I feel like I’m playing pretty good in the wind,” Masson said. “My win on the LET in South Africa was also in really, really windy conditions.

“And yeah, I’m hitting it well, so I think the wind doesn’t affect my ball too much, and that will definitely help me throughout the week.

“But it’s just also important to just make some putts on these greens because without putting well, I think you have no chance to shoot a really good round here. So it’s just all coming together, really.”

Stacy Lewis, the world No. 2 who must finish fifth or better to have any chance of supplanting Park atop the world rankings this week, bogeyed two of her last three holes en route to a one-over 72.

AFP

US PGA TOUR’S ZURICH CLASSIC OF NEW ORLEANS

Barnes ahead by one shot NEW ORLEANS: Ricky Barnes (in pic) had an eagle and seven birdies in an eightunder par 64 on Thursday to seize a one-shot lead in the first round of the US PGA Tour’s Zurich Classic of New Orleans.

Barnes matched a course

record at TPC Louisiana, where the water-logged course saw players allowed to lift clean and place their balls in the fairway.

The American golfer, who has missed the cut in seven of his last nine starts, had a oneshot lead over former US

Open champion Lucas Glover and Boo Weekley.

It was a further stroke back to DA Points and Morgan Hoffmann on sixunder 66, with South African Ernie Els heading a group of 10 players on 67.

Merritt will compete

NEW YORK: World recordholder and Olympic gold medallist Aries Merritt will race the 110m hurdles at the New York Diamond League athletics meeting on May 25, organisers said Thursday.

Merritt, 27, heads a 110m hurdles field that also includes fellow American David Oliver, the 2008 Olympic bronze medallist.

After winning Olympic gold at the London Games last year, Merritt clocked 12.80sec in Brussels to shatter the world record. He’s among four Olympic gold medallists who are slated to compete, along with long jumper Brittney Reese and Croatian discus thrower Sandra Perkovic.

Participation of US women’s pole vaut star Jennifer Suhr, Kenyan middle distance runner David Rudisha and US sprinter Tyson Gay, had been announced previously by organisers.

AFP

IPL 6

31

BATTLE OF THE TITANS

METRE

6 S 270

34 4S 907

Chris Gayle (RCB)

40

Michael Hussey (CRK)

HIGHEST SCORE

175*

FRIDAY, APRIL 26, 2013 Chris Gayle (RCB)

BEST BOWLER

4-13

Sunil Narine (KKR)

KKR in search of victory It is very difficult to take a bowler out of our combination because every bowler has actually performed.

Ray Jennings RCB coach

Chris Gayle (RCB) 432 runs S Narine (KKR), AMishra (SRH), D Bravo (CRK) 14 wickets

Highlights of CSK and SRH match n Amit Mishra became the third bowler to complete 14 wickets (ave.13.78)in the sixth edition of the IPL. n Dwayne Bravo became the first Chennai bowler to bag 14 wickets (ave.16.64) in eight matches in the current competition.

Sunil Narine was the first to complete 14 wickets at 11.35 runs apiece in six IPL games. n Mishra (88 at an average of 19.57 in 67 matches) has equalled Malinga's tally of 88 (average 17.09) in 61 games, sharing a record for claiming most wickets at the IPL. n Dhoni has become the first batsman to complete 2000 runs as captain at the IPL, totalling 2017 (ave.37.35), including eleven fifties, in 86 games. PTI P

W

L

T PT

RCB

8

6

2

0

12 +1.254

CSK

8

6

2

0

12 +0.591

SRH

8

5

3

0

10 -0.112

RR

7

4

3

0

8 +0.588

KXIP

7

4

3

0

8 +0.343

MI

7

4

3

0

8 -0.135

KKR

7

2

5

0

4 -0.014

PWI

8

2

6

0

4 -1.467

DD

8

1

7

0

2 -0.954

P-played; W-win; L-lost; T-tie; NR-net run rate; PT-points

NR

G APARNA SAI

aparna.s@postnoon.com

D

efending champions, Kolkata Knight Riders have put up a contrasting performance this season in comparision to the manner in which they played last year.

The Kolkata side has managed to earn only four points after they won two matches of the seven they have played.

They are currently at the seventh position on the points table.

The Knights, who look formidable on paper with the likes of skipper Gautam Gambhir, Jacques Kallis, Eion Morgan and Yusuf Pathan in the team, have failed to live up to the expectations and have fumbled on more instances than one.

They came close to victory in their last match against Mumbai Indians, but ended up

on the losing after the latter defeated them by 5 wickets with a ball to spare.

Kolkata Knight Riders are set to meet Kings XI Punjab today at the Eden Gardens.

Meanwhile, the Kings have had a better run this season than the Knights. They have won four matches from the seven they have played and are at the fifth position with eight points.

SCORECARD

A win in this match could see them catapult to the third spot, going ahead of the Sunrisers Hyderabad and the Rajasthan Royals.

The Adam Gilchrist-led side have put up some splendid performances though they have not been consistent this season.

KKR VS KXIP AT 8PM ON SET MAX

Gilchrist is yet to come up with a match-winning knock and he has admitted that his position is under scrutiny.

However, the others players have put up a decent show.

Harmeet Singh claimed the man-of-the-match award in their previous clash against Delhi Daredevils while David Hussey, Praveen Kumar, David Miller and the others have managed well.

WHEN IT RAINS (INJURIES), IT POURS

CHENNAI SUPER KINGS V SUNRISERS HYDERABAD Sunrisers Hyderabad innings (20 overs maximum)

Chennai Super Kings innings (target: 160 runs from 20 overs)

Q de Kock† c Vijay b Sharma

4

MEK Hussey c †de Kock b Mishra

45

63

M Vijay st †de Kock b Mishra

18

GH Vihari run out (Raina)

2

SK Raina c Sammy b Mishra

16

CL White* c †Dhoni b Sharma

2

MS Dhoni*† not out

67

S Dhawan not out

A Mishra c Bravo b Ashwin

15

Thalaivan Sargunam c & b Bravo 10 DJG Sammy c Morris b Bravo

19

A Ashish Reddy not out

36

Extras (lb 5, w 3)

8

Total (6 wickets; 20 overs)

159

DJ Bravo c Ashish Reddy b I Sharma

7

RA Jadeja c Mishra b Steyn

1

CH Morris not out

0

Extras (lb 1, w 4, nb 1)

6

Total (5 wickets; 19.4 overs)

160

Bowling

O

M R

W Econ

Bowling

O

M R

W Econ

MM Sharma

4

0 33

2

8.25

DJG Sammy

3

0 31

0 10.33

JO Holder

4

0 31

0

7.75

I Sharma

4

0 34

1

R Ashwin

4

0 21

1

5.25

DW Steyn

4

0 45

1 11.25

CH Morris

3

0 24

0

8.00

KV Sharma

4

1

8

0

2.00

DJ Bravo

4

0 37

2

9.25

A Mishra

4

0 26

3

6.50

RA Jadeja

1

0

0

8.00

Ashish Reddy 0.4

0 15

0 22.50

8

8.50

Chennai Super Kings won by 5 wickets

Sunrisers Hyderabad's Shikhar Dhawan (C) is helped back to the pavilion after he got injured by Chennai Super Kings’ D Bravo (L) during their IPL 6 match at the MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai on Thursday.

FRIDAY, APRIL 26, 2013

sports LEWANGOALSKI’S FUTURE

Dortmund face fight to retain hero DORTMUND, GERMANY: His four goals in the Champions League rout of Real Madrid and expiring contract make striker Robert Lewandowski (below) a hot target for Europe’s top clubs but Borussia Dortmund have vowed to fight to keep their Poland star.

His record haul against Real at Signal Iduna Park in Wednesday’s 4-1 first-leg win made him the first player to score four goals in a Champions League semi-final and left Dortmund on the verge of their first Euro final since 1997.

The 24-year-old’s Dortmund deal expires in June 2014 and he has already said he will not be signing an extension, having joined Borussia in 2010, but his advisor, Maik Barthel, has said Lewandowski will leave in June.

“We are in agreement with a club and have the right to change this summer,” Barthel told Sport Bild online.

“There is a very interesting offer for Robert, which corresponds to the obligations imposed by BVB in full and satisfies Robert’s demands.

WENGER PLANS TO UPSET UNITED'S TITLE PARTY Arsene Wenger insists he has no problem asking his Arsenal players to form a guard of honour for Manchester United on Sunday, but the Gunners boss is determined to send the newly-crowned champions home empty handed as the race for the top four heats up.

EUROPA LEAGUE SEMI-FINAL REVIEW

32

SUAREZ SAGA

Luiz helps Chelsea win Deep into injury time, David Luiz drove a 25-yard free-kick beneath the Basel wall into the right corner of the goal.

TOM WILLIAMS Agence France-Presse

Rodgers slams FA over ban

BASEL, SWITZERLAND: David Luiz (right) scored with the very last kick of the game to earn Chelsea a dramatic 2-1 win at FC Basel in the first leg of their Europa League semifinal on Thursday.

Basel, who were appearing in their first European semi-final, looked set to earn a draw after a contentious 87thminute penalty from Fabian Schar cancelled out Victor Moses’ early opener.

Thursday results FC Basel (SUI) 1 (Schar 87-pen) Vs Chelsea (ENG) 2 (Moses 12, Luiz 90) Fenerbahce (TUR) 1 (Korkmaz 72) Vs Benfica (POR) 0 “We played against a good team. You could see the intensity and the pace of the game, but we had enough chances to score and the penalty, which was a surprise for everyone, could have made a difference,” interim manager Benitez told ITV. “It is always important to win. To score an away goal is important, but to score two and win is even better.”

In the end, the only sour note for the visitors was a yellow card for Ashley Cole that rules him out of the second leg, although Basel will also be without centre-back Aleksandar Dragovic for the same reason.

Chelsea had welcomed Cole back after a three-week absence due to a hamstring injury, but their wariness was demonstrated by interim coach Benitez’s decision to deploy centre-back Luiz in a midfield holding role.

Basel eliminated Hotspur on penalties in the quarterfinals, having knocked Man

United out of last season’s Champions League, and they served early notice of their threat when Mohammed Elneny curled a cross onto the roof of the Chelsea net.

It was Chelsea, however, who took the lead in the 12th minute, to the disappointment of watching Basel native Roger Federer.

FOOTBALL BRIEFS Euro stars Bayern, Dortmund set to rotate

Napoli look to cement second, Juve await title

Hillsborough disaster inquests set for 2014

Brazil unveils its version of the vuvuzela

BERLIN, GERMANY: Bayern Munich and Borussia Dortmund get back to Bundesliga business on Saturday, fresh from their midweek Champions League semi-final triumphs, and with both teams set to rotate their squads ahead of the return legs. Bayern have long-since been confirmed as the league champions.

MILAN: Napoli have all but given hope of snatching the Serie A title from Juventus, but have no intention of giving up a coveted runnersup spot that would guarantee their return to the Champions League next season. Juventus are assured what would be their 29th league title, their second under coach Antonio Conte.

LONDON: Fresh inquests into the deaths of 96 football supporters in the Hillsborough disaster will be held in 2014, the coroner presiding announced on Thursday. Justice John Goldring, making a statement at a pre-inquest hearing at the High Court in London, told relatives of the victims that the inquests would not amount to a trial apportioning guilt.

BRASILIA: Move over vuvuzela.

Brazil has unveiled the ‘caxirola’, a yellow and green percussion instrument set to supplant the distinctive drone of the South African plastic horn at next year’s football World Cup. “I am convinced that the caxirola is not only compatible with football, but it is also a symbol of our country’s innovative capability.

LONDON: Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers (above) has slammed the Football Association for prejudicing the hearing that resulted in a 10-match ban for Luis Suarez.

Reds striker Suarez was hit with the suspension on Wednesday after biting Chelsea defender Branislav Ivanovic during Sunday’s 2-2 draw at Anfield.

The Uruguay international will miss the rest of this season and the first six games of next season and it has been reported that Suarez is now considering whether to quit English football in protest at the severity of the punishment.

“We need to understand what an independent panel is,” Rodgers said. “We had been given clear indications by the FA that there was going to be an independent - or so-called independent - case put together and then we would receive what that sanction would be.

“If you are an independent panel and yet the day beforehand the FA come out and say he (Suarez) will serve more than three games it is not independent because they are already putting pressure on the sanction.

“There is a prejudice there straightaway. Everyone has their opinion - which is normal.” AFP

We need to understand what an independent panel is. It is the first time I have ever heard of an independent inquiry being dictated to by so many people.

Brendan Rodgers Liverpool manager