MONDAY, APRIL 29, 2013
32 PAGES
WEATHER: CLEAR WITH CLOUDY PERIODS; 36°C
WWW.POSTNOON.COM
`3
IT’S NOT ‘OK’ Pg 16 & 17
Bill Gates recently triggered a huge uproar by shaking hands with the South Korean President Park Geun-hye with his left hand in his pocket. He seemed very casual in his attitude and it was depicted as an act of disrespect. Every nation has such cultural quirks, and where a gesture is positive, in other places it might be highly offensive. Here are some ‘popular’ ones.
P16&17
HYDERABAD’S FIRST COMPACT AFTERNOON NEWSPAPER
UNSAFE HYDERABAD?
Inside India’s ‘hell holes’
REPORT ON P10
Child sexual assault reaches ‘epidemic’ proportions in India, especially in juvenile justice homes, according to an Asian Centre for Human Rights report submitted to the UN.
POWER OUTAGES HIT CITY’S SURVEILLANCE
Not equipped with power backup, the City’s surveillance cams stop working when the power goes, exposing citizens to security risks.
P8
Your past could cost your job In the wake of the horrendous rape case in Delhi and national outrage, nearly 52 per cent of companies in different sectors have woken up to the need of carrying out background verification of their new and existing employees, a survey conducted by the Social Development Foundation (ASDF) of Assocham found. Corporates, in and around Delhi, have already started verifying their existing and prospective employees.
P11 one-fourth of Desertification Over India’s area is underthe process of The nation’s going desertification despite efforts to comarid future ongoing bat the problem, a govdawns ernment report says.
P12
2
MONDAY, APRIL 29, 2013
city events
FIT FOR ROYALTY
The Taj Group of Hotels is offering Royal Retreat packages for their customers till September 30.
Weather for Hyderabad
Evening
Overnight
36°C Clear
New Delhi Mumbai Max 38 Max 34 Min 29 Min 26
Morning
Afternoon
27°C
34°C
42°C
Mostly clear. Chance of a thunderstorm.
Sunny
Clear. Chance of a thunderstorm.
Clear
Chennai Max 36 Min 29
Clear
Clear
Bangalore Max 35 Min 24
Cloudy with chances of thunderstorms.
AROUND THE CITY: YOUR GUIDE TO THE TWIN CITIES WORKSHOP 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
When: Till April 30, 11 am to 7 pm Contact: 65541836
Nail art Nail art classes are on. Where: Colorama Printers, Begumpet When: Till April 29, 1.30 pm to 4.30 pm Contact: 80086-24949 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
THEATRE GAME ON: Children practise basketball at a summer camp organised at Victory Playground on Sunday. M ANILKUMAR
When: Ongoing, 2pm to 7pm
DINING
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
Summer camp Oakridge is conducting a camp for children in which they can learn story telling, clay modelling and more. Where: Oakridge International School, Nanakramguda Road When: Ongoing 9 am onwards Contact: (040) 20042460 Filmmaking workshop Yavanika Films will conduct a unique filmmaking workshop this summer vacation for children. Where: Begumpet
GAS BOOKING IVRS NO HP 9666023456 Indane 9848824365 BSNL Complaints HMWS & SB Complaints
198 155313
POLICE CONTROL ROOM Hyderabad 27852435 Traffic Control Room 27852482 DCP Traffic 23234065, 23243499F Pollution Control Board 23887500 ELECTRICITY General Complaints Breakdown Section
MOVIE SCREENING
Mango fiesta Katriya Hotel is celebrating the summer with delicacies made from the fresh mangoes.
Commissioner & Spl Officer
Helpline
155333 23431178 23431179
MUNICIPAL CORPORATION
Where: Katriya Hotel & Towers, Somajiguda When: Till April 30, 11 am
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
Movie night German movie Krabat will be screened. Where: Muffakham Jah College Of Engineering And Technology (MJET), Banjara Hills When: April 29, 8 pm Dance all night Essence of life, a dance film will be
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
screened. Where: Lamakaan, Banjara Hills When: April 30, 7 pm to 8.30 pm Contact: 96427-31329
ART 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 7 pm Contact: www.iconart.in Group show Artworks of T Vaikuntam, Fawad Tamkanath and AQ Arif are on display. Where: Gallery Space, Banjara Hills.
27567892 23559555 23226624 27633087 27035588 27550238 30799999 30418296 30417445
AMBULANCES Apollo 23548888, 23607777 Kamineni 24022222 Medwin 23202902, 23204616 Smile Line Dental Hospital 23747979 Red Cross 27627973 Niloufer Hospital 23314095 Gandhi 23320332 AIRLINES
Stage drama The Space Theatre ensemble is staging two plays Paikeachi Zor and Woman River. Where: Muffakham Jah College Of Engineering And Technology (MJET), Banjara Hills When: April 30, 7.30 pm
MISCELLANEOUS Energy talk A lecture on the necessity of renewable energy will be conducted. Where: Muffakham Jah College Of Engineering And Technology (MJET), Banjara Hills When: May 1, 5.30 pm to 6.30 pm Documentary screening Animation: First Steps In Germany: Documentary On Lotte Reiniger will be screened followed by a talk by GV Prashant. Where: Muffakham Jah College Of Engineering And Technology (MJET), Banjara Hills When: May 1, 7.30 pm Open to all
Airport Director 27903785, 27906001 For Air India Flight Information Toll free (from any network) for IC Flights 18001801407 And for All Flights: 1800227722 Air India has revised its flight timings. For more information call (Toll free) 18001801407, 1800227722 from BSNL/MTNL 04023430334 from other lines and mobile Website; www.airindia.in TOURISM OFFICES AP Tourism, Hyd 23262152/53/54 Sec-bad 27893100 Dept of Tourism 23453110 India Tourism 23261360 AP Tourism information Centre (24x7) 23450444, 23455999 UK VISA OFFICE VFS India Pvt Ltd Building, 8-2-542/A, Sunil Chamber, Road No. 7
Beside Meridian School, Banjara Hills34. Working hours are from 8 AM to 1 PM And 2 PM to 3PM. MUSEUMS Salar Jung Museum AP State Museum Nizams Museum
24523211 232431300/7641 24521029
Readers’ views
We invite you to write to us comments, suggestions, viewpoint or just about anything to feedback@postnoon.com or #1246, Level 3, Jubilee Casa, Road No 62, Jubilee Hills, Hyderabad – 500 033 or even by way of a call on 4067 2222
MONDAY, APRIL 29, 2013
news
YESTERDAY’S QUESTION
WILL MANMOHAN SINGH BECOME THE PM AGAIN? 18% 82%
YES (A) NO (B)
TODAY’S QUESTION
WILL THE CONGRESS GAIN BY APPROACHING YOUNG VOTERS ON SOCIAL NETWORKING SITES? A)
YES
B)
NO
To vote visit www.postnoon.com
CRIME
Bizman falls for sorcery On his employee’s suggestion, he paid a holy man over `16 lakh for ‘success’ mantras only to realise he had been cheated by both.
Mohd SUBHAN mohd.s@postnoon.com
A
businessman from Secunderabad has been fleeced of a huge amount by his junior colleague who promised him prosperity in business with mantras and mumbo jumbo. Pressed to return the money, the colleague is alleged to have issued him with dead cheques. In his complaint lodged with the Chikalguda police, Sudheer AROUND THE
CITY
Kumar, a contracted businessman of railways stationed at Sitaphal Mandi, said that he had been suffering losses in business for some time and his subordinate colleague, Bharat Kumar, suggested meeting a baba in the nearby area for remedial
measures. Desperate to change his luck, Sudheer is said to have fallen for the suggestion. They met the baba who assured them of spectacular progress in business through a series of mantratantra. Accordingly, it is said,
Bharat took over `16 lakh from Sudheer at various points of time to get work done by baba. Sudheer was made to undergo many rituals and recite money-making mantras for several months. Having seen no result and his business worsen,
Sudheer became restive and quizzed Bharat on the efficacy of the baba magic, to which Bharat is said to have responded with a fresh demand for `50,000 to get the result. Sudheer said in his statement that he lost his poise and picked a quarrel with Bharat on this. He also went to Bharat’s home and met his father, explaining how he was taken for a ride by his son. Bharat senior intervened and asked his son to return the money. Bharat pleaded that he had paid the baba but would issue a cheque since he felt morally responsible for the whole affair. Happy about having received the cheque, Sudheer deposited it in the bank , only to be told that there was no such account with it. It was a fake cheque and a phantom account. Dejected, Sudheer has lodged a criminal complaint with the police.
CRIME
‘No one wants Naidu as CM’ M ANIL KUMAR
Y
SRCP official spokesperson Ambati Rambabu has alleged that TDP chief N Chandrababu Naidu has brought a ‘bad mark’ to the sanctity of ‘padayatras’. Speaking to the media on Sunday, Rambabu said that Chandrababu had delivered a waste speech at the concluding meeting of his padayatra on Saturday at Visakhapatnam. He said that Chandrababu failed to mention that he will bring back
his nine-year rule again. Alleging that Chandrababu had taken up the padayatra only for the sake of CM seat, AROUND THE
CITY
Rambabu said that the former was a big ‘cheater’. He alleged that Chandrababu’s own brother Rammurthy Naidu had no belief in him and asked as to
how the people would believe in him. He said that Chandrababu had lifted the ban on liquor and abolished the former chief minister NTR’s `2 per kilo rice scheme. He said that the TDP chief had taken up the padayatra only to protect his party, which was in a dilapidated condition. He also alleged that Chandrababu used Junior NTR in 2009 elections and left him later. NSS
3
TECHNOLOGY ‘Chinese incursion a matter of perception’
T
he Chinese intrusion into Ladakh is a “matter of perception” and the stand-off would be resolved through diplomacy, minister of state for home RPN Singh said Sunday. “The Chinese think we are intruding into their territory. Forty Chinese soldiers camping in four tents is not an intrusion. We think it is our territory. It is a matter of perception. It is an over 4,000 km undemarcated border,” Singh told TV channel Aaj Tak. He said: “The army will be AROUND THE
NATION
The PM termed the incursion by Chinese troops in Ladakh as a “localised problem” and that “India does not want to accentuate the situation”. deployed only when there’s an incursion. Talks are on and the stand-off will be resolved through diplomacy.” “It is not a Chinese invasion. It is a localised problem and should not be blown out of proportion. Our foreign minister is going to Beijing and the Chinese premier will be visiting us soon,” he added. Singh also refused to be drawn into a debate on the nature of Indian response if Pakistanis had intruded 19 km inside our territory. “The border with Pakistan is demarcated, fenced and lit. There’s no controversy on this,” he said. IANS
CITY BRIEFS State’s new scheme to save the girl child
Emergency control centre in south zone
Last date for set top box registration
State removes VAT on textiles
Tolichowki flyover plans cleared
S
M
T
S
M
tate government has decided to introduce “Bangaru Talli” scheme to encourage giving birth to girls. It has been decided that the State would bear the entire expenses of education of the girl right from KG to PG. This scheme is being implemented to prevent foeticide when it is detected in the womb of the mother that the child is a girl.
ayor Mohd Majid Hussain has directed commissioner MT Krishna Babu to set up an emergency control centre in south zone while upgrading the existing control centre at central zone. The mayor said that an emergency control centre has been established in the GHMC Central Zone to take up immediate emergency services.
he deadline for set top box registration ends today. Hyderabad has 32 lakh cable connections and according to records, only 20 lakh connections for set top boxes have been made. Three lakh citizens avail DTH services. Cable TV operators however want the deadline to be extended till May 8, until all connections are digitised.
tate government has decided to remove Valued Added Tax (VAT) on textile traders. A decision to this effect was taken by CM N Kiran Kumar Reddy after the Cabinet subcommittee held discussions with textile traders on Sunday. Ministers Anam Ramanarayana Reddy, TG Venkatesh and Prasad Kumar said there would not be any alternate tax.
inistry of administration and urban development has cleared the decks for the construction of the Tolichowki flyover. An administrative sanction of `40 crore has been granted for the six-lane 650m long fly over. About 150-ft road widening works have also been planned as against the existing 100-ft road width.
4
News MONDAY, APRIL 29, 2013 LAST YEAR... HERE Exam trouble
L
ast year we had reported how students who had opted for the offline AIEEE exam had to travel all the way to Warangal, Tirupati or Guntur to give the test. They were also plagued with problems like inadequate lodging facilities, forcing them to either stay with relatives or make the journey just in time for the test. Most bemoaned the fact that the City was not a centre.
APRIL 29, 2012
NUMEROLOGY
355
traffic cameras have been installed in the City, of which 270 are working. The number of round-the-clock CCTV camera surveillance with IR sensors is 155.
Child abuse is there. You have to accept it. NGOs look at the figures through a magnifying glass... You know how jail culture is. Their job is to see prisoners don’t escape. Kismat Kumar, juvenile justice director See page 8
THINGS WE 5LEARNT TODAY The column that teaches everyone something new about the way the world functions.
1
Child abuse in juvenile homes on the rise. A 336 per cent increase in rape cases has been reported in India from 2001-11, and this is just the “tip of the iceberg,” as many cases go unreported, says a new report. Officials say it is a fact of life.
2
Under the knife for a perfect profile picture. Cosmetic suregeons say that of late, they have been receiving many requests from youngsters, who wish to go under the knife to attain that perfect FB photo.
3
India is turning into a desert, warns government. Over one-fourth of India's geographical area is undergoing the process of desertification despite ongoing efforts to combat the problem, says a new study.
4
French asexuals come out about lack of desire. It may known for the City of Love, but French asexuals are opening up about their lack of sexual feeling.
5
British parents line up to vaccinate their children. After getting a bad rap, vaccinations are back in business in UK.
CIVIC
INVESTIGATION
Mayor decides to make corporators work-literate
Five Brazilian cops held for journo killings
F
ive Brazilian police officers have been arrested for their suspected role in the murders of journalist Rodrigo Neto de Faria and press photographer Walgney Carvalho, the daily Folha de Sao Paulo said. The five officers are members of the civil police in the region known as Vale do Aço in the central part of Minas Gerais state, and are suspected of belonging to militia groups that
He believes that lack of knowledge of engineering works and financial matters put corporators at a disadvantage. Md NIZAMUDDIN nizamuddin.a@postnoon.com
T
o overcome this difficulty, the mayor has proposed a two-day workshop for corporators next month to understand the nitty-gritty of City engineering works so that they could not be easily fooled. One question, for instance, what is the ideal mix of cement and sand and crushed stones for construction? Are the contractors following the quality standards or not? How are the officials supervising? These will be some of the things on which the corporators are likely to be trained in the sessions. The corporators will also be provided information on how to control the trend provision of low-quality electric materials being supplied to their areas. On this issue, the mayor has written a letter to the GHMC commissioner recently. “When corporators will have an idea about the works in their divisions, the entire area will have quality projects. Both the contractors and officials will feel accountable. The work can
AROUND THE
WORLD
be completed effectively and with efficiency. People will get their due and it will help in the overall development for corporation,” said the mayor. Experts from other cities AROUND THE
CITY
across India are likely to be invited for the training programme to be held next month. However, standing committee members from the Congress feel this to be eyewash. They say it is a bid to give a clean chit
operate in the area, the newspaper said. Rodrigo Neto, who worked for the Vale do Aço newspaper, was slain March 9 at the door of his home, and at the time was specifically working on an investigative report about the activities of those militias. Carvalho, from the same newspaper, was shot dead April 14 at a restaurant. The press watchdog group Reporters Without Borders, known by the French initials RSF, has slammed the murders and demanded that Brazilian authorities investigate the possible involvement of police in these cases. IANS
to elected representatives. “If a corporator is not efficient enough in handling issues pertaining to civic works, he or she should step down,” says a senior Congress corporator who does not wish to be named. Whether the training helps or not is another question. When a week-long workshop was held on solid waste management a few months ago, only 20 to 30 of the 150 corporators made themselves available. “Even among those present, only a handful knew the technicalities of the subject,” recalls a corporator.
INTERVIEW
You, in a nameless city To allow his readers to feel more, Lahore-based author Mohsin Hamid left the characters in his new novel unnamed and in an unspecified location. AP
ZAFRI MUDASSER NOFIL feedback@postnoon.com
AROUND THE
NATION
M
ohsin Hamid wanted his readers to feel like the characters of his new novel How to Get Filthy Rich in Rising Asia and hence left them unnamed. “I wanted the reader to play a part. Keeping characters nameless allows the reader to feel more,” the 42-year-old Lahorebased writer says about the second person narrative in his new novel, which is a love story disguised as a self-help guide. “The main character is ‘you’. A novel is about containing two people’s thoughts in your head at one time. When you are reading a novel, it’s very interesting because you are yourself but you also have somebody else’s thoughts there. It’s blurring. I
“A novel is about containing two people’s thoughts in your head at one time.”
think writing a novel in second person about a character who is you is also blurring. Is it you the reader; you the character; me the writer; how are we blurring together? That’s what I think the second person makes possible.”
The city in the book is also nameless. “I think we in south Asia sometimes tend to think our part of the world as some exotic, peculiar area. But I was wondering why don’t we think that this
is a universal place? “Keeping the city nameless is a way to de-exotify that mine is not a story about some funny exotic place but a story of human beings in the world today,” Hamid told PTI. Hamid’s first two novels established him as a radically inventive storyteller with his finger on the world’s pulse. His debut work Moth Smoke (2000) was a finalist for the PEN/Hemingway Prize. His next, The Reluctant Fundamentalist (2007), was shortlisted for the Man Booker Prize and has been made into a movie by Mira Nair, soon to be released in India. PTI
5
News MONDAY, APRIL 29, 2013
POLITICS
Cong targets young geeks Congress leaders will soon reach out to youngsters through social networking sites.
INKESHAF AHMED ahmed.m@postnoon.com
A
ICC vice-president Rahul Gandhi’s directive to strengthen the party in Andhra Pradesh has begun to have its impact. In a fresh move that could be seen as the fulfilment of Rahul’s desire, the district and block level offices of the party will have fully equipped computers with internet connection. The main objective is to reach out to young voters, besides having uninterrupted access to the party-based programmes conceived by the high command. According to party leaders, first-time voters generally have active accounts on social networking sites like Facebook and Twitter and use these communication channels on regular basis. “The computerisation of all
grammes to identify Facebook and Twitter users who are above 18 years or enrolled as voters in all the Assembly constituencies of the State. The party committees will then make an attempt to befriend them for the party’s sake.
Congress party offices was a policy decision of the party. The computer facilities at district and block level offices of the party are being conceived to have roundthe-clock access to the party headquarters and its nationwide programme and policies. “Our objective is to strike a permanent connection with the local youth, young voters and educated people of the State by leveraging the benefits provided by the IT gadgets. Our leader Rahul Gandhi also thinks that social networking sites are powerful weapons in attracting the youth to the Congress party by widely promoting its welfare programmes and policies,” said a senior leader. The block and district level offices will undertake special pro-
THE NEW ORIENTATION Gay sitcom goes viral
COMMITTEES TO BE FORMED NEXT MONTH As per the directions of Rahul Gandhi, the AP Congress committee has also hastened the process of formation of block and grassroot level committees. The formation of these committees is likely to take place in the first week of May. The Congress committees of all the districts except West Godavari, Chittoor and Anantapur have already
AROUND THE
CITY
The main objective is to reach out to young voters, besides having uninterrupted access to the party-based programmes conceived by the high command. sent a list of the grassroot level committees comprising the names of party leaders for the approval of the State party. “Our party-vice president Rahul Gandhi had asked us to immediately complete the formation of these committees. The names of the leaders nominated will be announced next month,” a party leader said.
French asexuals have their say
V
ietnam’s first gay sitcom has become a YouTube sensation, racking up millions of views as support for legalising same-sex marriage strengthens. The success of “My Best Gay Friends”, a low-budget series about three people sharing an apartment in southern Ho Chi Minh City, has taken even its creator by surprise. “I thought it would only interest Vietnam’s gay community — but we’re hearing that parents, grandparents, families watch and love the shows and long for new episodes,” Huynh Nguyen Dang Khoa, told AFP. While it is not illegal, homosexuality has long been a taboo in Vietnam, where Confucian social morals, with emphasis on tradition and family still rule. AFP
After years of shying away, asexuals in France are coming together to celebrate the country’s first Asexuality Day on Friday,
issue with the country’s first Asexuality Day on Friday. Asexuality is still largely misunderstood, particularly in countries where sex is splashed all over magazines, films and TV. Paul, vice president of the Association for Asexual Visibility (AVA) which is organising the awareness day, explained that it is different to abstinence. “Asexuality is a form of sexuality. It belongs to the
diversity of human sexuality and it’s important to recognise its existence than to try and criticise.” The term entered the mainstream at the beginning of the noughties, with the emergence of the Internet, which made it easier for asexuals to find each other and exchange experiences. It has since gathered strength, and since 2010, an international asexual awareness week has been organised every year with events taking place all over the world. But this is the first time that a special day for asexuality has been organised in France. AFP
MARIANNE BARRIAUX feedback@postnoon.com
J
ulien has had girlfriends, it’s just that he has never felt any desire for them. Men don’t do it for him either. Instead, he says he has found happiness by coming out as asexual. According to studies, people who have no or little sexual appetite could make up one per cent of the global population. That equates to hundreds of thousands of people in France alone and a newlyformed association is attempting to raise awareness of the
AROUND THE
WORLD
What is asexuality?
Asexuality pride flag
A
sexuality is the lack of sexual attraction or low or absent interest in sexual activity. It is distinct from abstinence or celibacy and is believed to be enduring. One per cent of the world’s population is deemed to be asexual.
NATION BRIEFS Fire breaks out at DRDO magazine store
Teenager shot dead by classmates
Srinagar police patrol escapes grenade attack
Cop hammered to death by second wife
Vaiko vows closure of TASMAC outlets
A
A
A
A
M
fire broke out at a magazine store of the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) at Chandipur in Odisha Monday. It was brought under control in five hours, officials said. No loss of life was reported. There was no electrical circuit in the building. A probe has been ordered to find out the exact source of the fire.
teenager was shot dead allegedly by his classmates in a town in Rohtak, Haryana, on Sunday. Nitin, 15, was taken to a hospital but was declared dead. A mob later went on a rampage setting a car on fire and vandalising the house of an accused. Police said the killing was the fallout of an old rivalry between two groups of boys.
police patrol party in Srinagar had a narrow escape Sunday after a grenade was hurled at it from a speeding car but did not explode. A senior police officer said the attack occurred when the patrol signalled a speeding Maruti car to stop at the Nowgam road crossing, 12 km from city centre Lal Chowk, in the evening.
43-year-old policeman was killed allegedly by his second wife at their residence in Marol, Andheri (east) around 3pm on Sunday. Assistant inspector Nandkishor Taksalkar, posted with the Mumbai police’s local arms division, and his second wife, Parvati, 36, had an argument a little earlier. He was attacked in his sleep.
DMK will continue its fight till total prohibition is achieved in the state, party chief Vaiko has said. Concluding the third phase of his padayatra against alcohol here last night, Vaiko said he would strive to create awareness about evils of alcohol among the rural people and he would continue his fight to make Tamil Nadu ‘alcohol free.’
6
News MONDAY, APRIL 29, 2013
RETURN OF THE NATIVE
ANIMAL RIGHTS
Animal care to be part of syllabus PETA’s humane-education programme will be included in NCERT textbooks from the next academic year. AMY ROSE THOMAS amyrose.t@postnoon.com
B
TDP activists welcome Chandrababu Naidu, who returned to the City after seven months of Vastunna Meekosam padayatra. A huge rally was held through Mehdipatnam, Lakdikapul and NTR Ghat. M ANIL KUMAR
HEALTH
Lack of sleep may reduce sperm count L ack of sleep can reduce a person’s sperm count by up to a fourth in addition to reducing their quality, a new study warns. Researchers found that men who slept poorly had lower sperm counts and fewer sperm that had formed correctly, compared with men who slept better. “Given that approximately 20 per cent of all young men may have reduced semen quality, and that sleep disturbances are common and increasing in industrialised countries, the results of this study may have important public health implications,” researchers said. They said future studies should look at whether interventions aimed at improving sleep might also improve semen quality, MyHealthNewsDaily reported. The researchers used data from 953 young men who were mostly in their late teens and early 20s. They asked the men how well they had slept in the previous four weeks, conducted blood tests to measure their hormone levels and analysed their semen. As many as 15 per cent of the men said they had found it difficult to fall asleep, and 13 per cent of them reported sleeping restlessly. Men who had slept the poorest had a 25 per cent reduction in sperm count,
AROUND THE
WORLD
and had 1.6 per cent fewer sperm that were morphologically normal, compared with men who reported low levels of sleep disturbances. The researchers accounted for factors that could affect the results, such as alcohol consumption, smoking and age. They said there were no differences in hormone levels across the groups. The study does not prove that there is a cause-and-effect relationship between sleep quality and sperm counts, but there are plausible ways to explain the link, researchers said. Sleep disturbances may alter night time testosterone rhythms, without affecting overall testosterone levels. PTI
e it at a zoo or on the streets, many people tease, beat or ill-treat animals. The only solution is to target children and change their mindsets so that they can, in turn, inspire elders to follow suit. As a step in this direction, People for Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) has approached the ministry of human resources development, Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) and National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT) to incorporate their humane-education programme, Compassionate Citizen, in textbooks. These bodies have in turn issued notifications to use it as part of the syllabus. “Most children are naturally
affectionate towards animals, but learn cruelty from the society and often lose sight of their compassion. A lack of respect for other species can translate into insensitivity and cruelty towards fellow humans too. With this initiative, we will be targeting children between the age groups of eight and 12,” Puja Mahajan from PETA says. AROUND THE
NATION
Compassionate Citizen entails four sections: Amazing world of animals, animals have feelings, changing times and changing lives, and humane choices. It is provided to schools free of cost and has already been used by 1.4 million children in more 7,000 private and government schools in the country.
7
News MONDAY, APRIL 29, 2013
CM-DCM RIFT
TOURISM
Narasimha flies off to skip CM fete INKESHAF AHMED Ahmed.M@postnoon.com
I
n what could be seen as a sign of the widening rift between the chief minister and his deputy, the latter left for Hong Kong on Sunday on a three-day tour — so that he could skip the chief minister’s pet programme Indiramma Kalalu in his native district Medak that starts today. Party sources said the DCM Damodar Raja Narasimha is very
AROUND THE
CITY
upset over the treatment meted out to him in the promotion of the State government's welfare programmes, especially Indiramma Kalalu, meant for the promotion of the historic SC and ST Sub Plan. What hurt the DCM the most was excluding his photographs
on the promotional materials of Indiramma Kalalu programme, which was conceived under his chairmanship. “Being a Dalit leader, Narasimha was the architect of the historic SC and ST sub plan. He worked round the clock till the sub plan legislation was passed. But in the end, he felt slighted,” a close aide of the DCM said. The DCM would return to Hyderabad on May 1 after the conclusion of CM's programme in Medak.
KARNATAKA POLLS
Mining lords rule the roost The Gali brothers may have gone, but influence of mining lords has not diminished going by their presence in the fray for the May 5 polls. BELLARY (KARNATAKA): The fall of the once powerful and mighty Reddy brothers is evident in the infamously called 'Republic of Bellary' but the influence of mining lords has not diminished going by their presence in the fray for the May five Assembly polls. Flashback 2008. The BJP made a clean sweep of Bellary district, winning seven of the nine seats in a region where the Congress had traditionally maintained an unbroken hold. The Reddy brothers, G Janardhana Reddy, G Karunakara Reddy and G Somashekara Reddy, ruled the roost then with their unchallenged supremacy, mostly attributed to the BJP's strong emergence in the district. Now, Janardhana Reddy is cooling his heels in a jail in Hyderabad since September 2011 in connection with an illegal mining case in Andhra Pradesh. Karunakara Reddy has moved to Harapanahhali in neighbouring Davangere district. Somashekara Reddy is with BSR Congress of former Minister B Sriramulu, a trusted lieutenant of the Reddy triumvirate, who
AROUND THE
NATION
The numbers
E
ight men who are facing questions over mining business are seeking entry to the Assembly.
floated his outfit after breaking from BJP. Somashekara Reddy, who won from Bellary city in 2008, is not contesting. At the height of their influence, the Reddy troika — two of whom were ministers and the third Somashekara Reddy Chairman of Karnataka Milk Federation — were often accused of running the BJP government. Their clout has vaporised later. The mining mafias strangle-
hold and blatant flouting of rules had prompted the then Lokayukta Santosh Hegde to refer to Bellary district as "the Republic of Bellary." But the Reddys' downfall has by itself not broken the hold of mining barons, reflected across the political spectrum in this election too in mine-rich Bellary and elsewhere. Eight men who are facing questions over mining business are seeking entry to the
Assembly. The opposition Congress which let no opportunity go to haul the government over the coals on illegal mining, has fielded Rajya Sabha member Anil Lad, causing consternation among some vocal local partymen who were in the forefront against illegal exploitation of iron ore. Lad managed to convince the party leadership to allot him a ticket. He was in BJP earlier but the overbearing presence of the Reddy brothers led to his exit from the party and joining Congress. Another mining baron, Anand Singh, has been fielded as a candidate in Vijayanagar by the ruling BJP which managed to retain him in its flock after he had almost quit BJP.
South Africa wants a slice of Bollywood AROUND THE
NATION
MUMBAI: As Indian cinema celebrates completion of 100 glorious years, South Africa has drawn up plans to attract Bollywood by offering its scenic landscapes to shoot films and extending special facilities. "We are already in the process of identifying their (Indian filmmakers') requirements to be able to enhance our offerings and facilitate greater support and value addition when they come to our country for film shootings," Arts and Culture Deputy Minister Mathume Joseph Phaanla told PTI in an interview here. "Going forward, we would definitely like to attract more and more Bollywood producers to our country. We hope that locals are also taken into consideration
South Africa’s assurance assumes significance as Bollywood, which churns out the largest number of movies, is going global and becoming bigger. when Bollywood films are made," he added. The South African Minister's assurance assumes significance as Bollywood is going global and becoming bigger. The Hindi film industry, which churns out the largest number of movies per year, has now also set a new trend christened as '100 Crore Club' with some of the blockbusters netting Rs 100 crore or more in box office collection. The Indian film Industry is considered as a complete package of entertainment, drama, emotion, love, action, thrill and adventure.
WORLD BRIEFS Iran ready to host meet on Syria
Five killed in Thailand bridge collapse
Greece passes bill to dismiss 15,000 officials
Gunmen attack northern Mexico bar; 5 killed
3 die in French building collapse after blast
I
A
T
A
A
ran is ready to host the next meeting of the quartet group on Syria set to begin in near future, the country's foreign minister Ali-Akbar Salehi has said. Salehi, during a joint press conference with visiting Guinea- Bissau's foreign minister, here Sunday said that he had contacted his counterparts in the group over the issue.
t least five people were killed and 45 injured, five of them seriously, when a bridge collapsed in Thailand's central province of Ayutthaya Sunday evening, local media reported. The suspension bridge, located in Tha Rua district over the Pa Sak river, collapsed in the middle as its main cables that support the deck snapped.
he Greek parliament has voted to adopt a law that provides for the dismissal of 15,000 civil servants as part of austerity measures imposed by the country's international creditors. After heated debate, 168 deputies voted for the bill yesterday, with 123 voting against and one abstaining. The move has triggered protests.
uthorities say gunmen have attacked a bar near the northern Mexico city of Monterrey, killing at least five people. A police official in Nuevo Leon state says at least seven people arrived by taxi at the Jhonny's Place bar in the municipality of Guadalupe and opened fire late yesterday night. They then fled in the same taxis.
possible gas explosion ripped off the side of a five-story residential building in France's Champagne country today, killing at least three people and injuring 14 others, officials said. More than 100 rescue workers, firefighters, snifferdog squads and bomb and gas experts were deployed to the gutted building.
8
News MONDAY, APRIL 29, 2013
CHILD ABUSE
Inside India’s ‘hell holes’
Child sexual assault reaches ‘epidemic’ proportions in India, especially in juvenile justice homes, according to an Asian Centre for Human Rights report submitted to the UN. DEEPASHRI V deepashri.v@postnoon.com
A
336 per cent increase in rape cases has been reported in India from 2001-11, and this is just the “tip of the iceberg,” as many cases go unreported, notes ACHR in its report, India’s Hell Holes: Child Sexual Assault in Juvenile Justice Homes, published in March 2013. “Yes; Child abuse is there. You have to accept it,” said Kismat Kumar, AP juvenile justice board director. “NGOs look at the figures through a magnifying glass.” Kumar said most of the staff treat children like they treat prisoners. “You know how jail culture is. Their job is to see prisoners don’t escape.” He said training is given to the staff to change their attitude and treatment towards these children. The ACHR report alleges that while in government-run homes, the perpetrators are the caretakers, cooks, security guards or senior inmates, in the privately-run ones the managers, directors, owners, founders, their relatives and friends, and staff members, among others, were involved in the crimes. In one of the homes in Andhra Pradesh, a child was found to be involved in sodomy. The case was referred to the child welfare committee (CWC) of Chittoor. But unable to handle the child, the staff at the juvenile home “ill-treated him
10000
The report highlights four major failures
The ACHR report alleges that in government-run homes, the perpetrators are caretakers, cooks, guards or senior inmates; in the privately-run ones they are the managers, directors, founders, their kin and friends, and staff.
n Most state governments have not formed inspection committees. n There are hundreds of unregistered child care homes across the country. n Verification by CWCs exists only on paper. n I many homes, there are no separate facilities for boys and girls, according to age.
AROUND THE
NATION
child than the supervisor,” said Meera. “In boys’ home, they are treated very badly. In girls’homes there is no security.” She said there is one full-time doctor, and a part-time counselor. Checks are conducted regularly but the staff do not reveal all the information to CWC members, telling them it is not in their purview to interfere in those matter. In January, Postnoon had carried an interview with Lopa Bhattacharjee, child protection officer at an international child rights NGO Terre Des homes , on child abuse and how accountability is low in India. Each department or NGO functions separately and there is not co-ordination between them. Meera said CWC is not paid to conduct these regular checks, but are eligible for transport allowances, which they never receive.
constantly, beating him up”.
‘BARELY TAUGHT TO HANDLE CHILDREN’ “In juvenile homes, most of these children come from slums; they are neglected or have dysfunctional families, or they are the children of sex workers,” said R Meera, CWC chairperson for Chittoor district. “The service providers (in the homes) also come from the same background. Around 50 per cent (of staff) are there because they did not get any other job.” These caretakers and supervisors are “barely taught to handle children,” and a one or two training sessions are not enough. “Every child needs physical and emotional security as they grow up. For these children, this is not fulfilled,” Meera said, adding that proper full-time
UNREGISTERED HOMES
9465
8000
6868
States with highest number of cases reported 5949
6000
3977
4000
3688
2000 0 Madhya Pradesh
Maharashtra
Uttar Pradesh
Andhra Pradesh
Charrisg argh
staff cannot be recruited due to lack of funds, as “child protection does not attract a lot of money.” So one person, who may not be qualified or had any prior training in handling children with special emotional needs, is in-charge of two or three posts at the homes.
39 cases of systematic sexual offenses Govt-run juvenile justice homes
11
MALE STAFF IN GIRLS’ HOMES “From the watchman to the superintendent, they should employ female staff in girls’ homes. But that is not so,” said Ram Mohan, secretary of HELP, and NGO that rescues trafficking victims. “I don’t know why so many men are employed in girls’ homes. Men hold positions of power. It is easier to blame the
27 privately/NGO-run juvenile justice homes
CWC member accused of assault during counseling
1
“We have no idea how many orphanages are there in the area. No one come forward to register,” said Padmavati, CWC of Ranga Reddy district. Last month, following media reports of a girl running away from a home in the district, CWC members went to conduct a check, only to find that the NGO was not registered under the licensing Act. The place was “poorly maintained.” The ACHR report says there is no action against un-registered homes and orphanages, but authorities can take action against abuse and neglect. Social workers say there has to be changes made at the policy level and the entire system has to be well integrated for there to be a change in the present scenario.
9
News MONDAY, APRIL 29, 2013
BANGLADESH FACTORY COLLAPSE
MEASLES SCARE
‘LAST SURVIVOR’ SNUFFED OUT IN FATAL INFERNO
UK parents queue for vaccines
The ‘last survivor’ of the horrific factory collapse in Bangladesh was killed after a fire engulfed the wreckage. Shahnaz had waged a 110-hour battle as rescue workers struggled to reach her.
F
SHAFIQ ALAM feedback@postnoon.com SAVAR, BANGLADESH: A blaze broke out in the wreckage of a Bangladesh factory block Sunday, killing a woman whose 110-hour battle for survival had touched the nation following its worst industrial disaster, the country's fire chief said. Earlier, the owner of the complex, property tycoon Sohel Rana, was detained as he attempted to cross into India and was flown back to Dhaka where he will face charges over the building's collapse which
ears about the purported side effects once sent British parents running from vaccinations against measles. But now an outbreak of the disease in one city has brought them back in droves. As others went about their weekend activities in Swansea on the south Wales coast, a steady stream of parents brought their children to Singleton Hospital to receive emergency vaccines, hoping to protect them from an epidemic that shows no signs of easing. Since November, almost 1,000 people have contracted AROUND THE
WORLD
AROUND THE
WORLD
has so far claimed 381 lives. Fire fighters were seen weeping live on television after failing to save the female garment worker, a widowed mother-of-one identified as Shahnaz, whose courageous struggle became a symbol of hope in the wake of the catastrophe, across the nation. "The fire broke out as we were cutting a beam to bring out what we believe was the last
RUTH HOLMES feedback@postnoon.com
Bangladeshi soldiers assist rescuers to look for survivors, on April 28, 2013 in Savar, four days after an eight-storey building collapsed. AFP/MUNIR UZ ZAMAN
remaining survivor from the collapsed building. We managed to douse it, but as we came back we saw her dead," Ahmed Ali told AFP. "She was a brave lady and fought until the end. We worked for 10-11 hours today just to try to bring her out alive. We took the challenge but we lost." Three rescuers were also
She fought until the end. She clung on for her son. She told me you’re my brother, please don’t leave me alone. Abul Khayer, firefighter
injured in the blaze which was put out in a matter of minutes, fire service director Zihadul Islam said. Fire fighter Abul Khayer, who spoke to Shahnaz throughout the rescue attempt, said she had an 18-month-old son. "She clung on for the boy... She told me you're my brother, please don't leave me alone." AFP
measles, with children aged 10 to 18 affected the worst. Health officials unequivocally attribute the outbreak to a now widely discredited study by Andrew Wakefield published in 1998 linking the measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) vaccine to autism — the legacy of which is now emerging as unvaccinated people fall ill. Authorities have launched a £20-million “catch-up” programme aiming to issue one million doses of MMR. Qualms about the vaccine appear to have subsided, with England seeing its highest-ever take-up last year. AFP
OLD WORLD CHARM
A ‘Bombay’ bastion slowly fades High taxes, inflation and the reluctance of the next generation to continue the family business has sounded the death knell for many an Irani cafe in Mumbai.
W
ith street-food like vada pav, sandwich and panipuri coming to dominate the culinary landscape of Mumbai, Irani cafes, which lent a charm to the city in the old days, are fast fading out. There was a time when there were about 400 Irani cafes in Mumbai. Now only about 30 survive, some of them more than a hundred years old. Owners say the reason behind the decline of Irani cafes is due to various factors, including shortage of workforce, inflation, high taxes and reluctance of the young generation to continue
in the business. An Irani cafe was a place where people could sit for hours and chat or read newspapers while music played in the background. “The place was the AROUND THE
NATION
‘Barista’ of those times,” says Rafiq Bagdadi, an expert on Mumbai heritage. Kayani & Co, opposite Metro cinema in south Mumbai, is one of the most popular Irani cafes and a heritage landmark. But the
third generation is not too keen to take over, says Farooq Shokri, owner. “Majority of them have migrated abroad,” he said. Some cafes have switched over to permit rooms and beer bars. “The government is also insensitive to problems faced by the Irani cafes. We have been a part of Mumbai’s heritage for over a century,” Shokri said. Overheads are high, and the 12.5 per cent service tax is killing the business, he added. Changes were inevitable: “We cannot survive on bun-maska and chai alone, so had to add new items on our menu,” he said. PTI
10
News MONDAY, APRIL 29, 2013 SUICIDE NURSE
Prank DJ to attend inquest
SKIN DEEP
THE RECORD-BREAKER
‘Arm-lift’ ops gain foothold
A
P
n Australian radio DJ linked to the suicide of a British nurse after a royal prank call said she would attend the London inquest and answer any questions. Radio jockey Mel Greig issued a statement through her
lastic surgery to remove fat and excess skin on the upper arms has gained appeal in the US, where the procedure has exploded in popularity since the year 2000, experts said Monday. More than 15,000 US women AROUND THE
AROUND THE
WORLD
WORLD
lawyers after The Sunday Times reported that nurse Jacintha Saldanha left a suicide note blaming her and fellow 2Day FM host Michael Christian. Greig has been granted permission to appear as an individual at the inquest into Saldanha's death, the statement said.
Emeli Sande now holds the new record for the most consecutive weeks in the UK's Official Albums Chart Top 10 of any debut album. The 26-year-old singer has overtaken British music icons The Beatles who previCINDY ORD/GETTY IMAGES/AFP ously held the record for almost 50 years with Please Please Me.
had the procedure known as arm lifts, or brachioplasty, done last year, at a cost of $61 million nationwide, according to the American Society of Plastic Surgeons. The surgery is most popular among women over 40, but a few hundred men had the operation last year.
FIGHTING CRIME IN HYDERABAD
A GAPING HOLE IN CITY SURVEILLANCE
Not equipped with power backup, the City’s surveillance cams stop working when the power goes, exposing citizens to security risks.
RAHUL RAMAKRISHNA rahul.r@postnoon.com
A
fter the Dilsukhnagar bomb blasts, the city police have tried in vain to pitch for new CCTV cameras in the city. With no response from the top brass or the government, they seem to have resigned themselves to their fate. While new gadgets are a long way away, what about existing ones? Most of the cameras go blank during power outages, leaving the city police with little technical assistance at times of emergency.
Among the 355 cameras installed in the city, 270 are working. These cameras run on power supplied by the APCPDCL through underground power cables. With every power cut, the cameras go black. This problem has been solved only for a few cameras. PVS Ramakrishna, DCP of
Solar panel installation is very expensive, due to lack of subsidy. We will provide UPS power for the cameras in a phased manner by next year. Senior traffic official
AROUND THE
CITY
Hyderabad Traffic Police explains: “Around 30 to 40 cameras do not function due to maintenance issues — like filament or signalling problems. To beat power cuts, we have roped in a private agency to supply UPS power to 88 surveillance cameras in the city. There is now a proposal to install new cameras with solar power for traffic signals and CCTV cameras.” A private agency (Matrix CCTV Surveillance) was allotted this task through tenders issued in the early weeks of March. The cost of UPS power for these 88 CCTV cameras totals `38 lakh. At the same time, proposals were made to the in-charge ministry ( J Geetha Reddy being the in-charge minister for Hyderabad zone) to install 3,550 cameras at a total cost of `450 crore. Lack of action from the government has foiled all plans for surveillance. “Solar panel installation is very expensive. We will provide UPS power for the remaining cameras in a phased manner by next year,” a senior traffic official said, “The option of installing solar-powered CCTV cameras is too expensive as there is no subsidy on solar panels right now. “
Big brother in numbers Total number of CCTV cameras in the City
355
In working condition
270
Round-the-clock CCTV surveillance with IR sensors
155
Proposal to introduce new cameras
3,550
Within Cyberabad limits
1,000
Within Hyderabad limits
2,000
Expected cost of the project
`450 crore The power scenario While power cuts in the City have been reduced to one-hour spells, many parts of the City still continue to reel from unofficial power cuts of over one-hour duration. Estimates from APCPDCL show that the power demand was about 297 million units per day and it peaked to 310 million units in March last year. The demandsupply gap increased from 35MU per day in March last year, to 60 to 70MU in March this year. Officials predict that the power cut spells are only going to get worse in the months of May up until early June.
11
News MONDAY, APRIL 29, 2013
WORKPLACE SECURITY
FACEBOOK FACELIFT
A nip/tuck for that ‘perfect mug’
Your past could lose you a job Similar to the character verification by defence forces, corporates begin background checks on employees.
I
n the wake of the horrendous rape case in Delhi and national outrage, nearly 52 per cent of companies in different sectors have woken up to the need of carrying out background verification of their new and existing employees, a survey conducted by the Social Development Foundation (ASDF) of Assocham found. A large number of corporates, in and around Delhi, have already started verifying their existing and prospective employees at all levels based on the responses received from human resource officials representing more than 1,500 small, medium and large businesses. Companies in Mumbai, Kolkata, Chennai, Bangalore, Ahmedabad, Hyderabad, Pune, Dehradun, Kochi are following suit. The survey mainly focused on broad sectors such as BPO, IT/ITes, financial and other services, construction, real estate, hospitality, tourism, FMCG and infrastructure, media & advertising, manufacturing and textiles, logistics, transport operators, etc. Over 50 per cent of the HR officials of various companies are now cross-checking every detail of job applicants, mainly in the construction, catering, exporters, event management, merchandising, hospitality, Medicare, logistic, housekeeping, and security.
HR RISK TO BE MINIMISED
“Companies are fast realising the benefit of background checks of prospective employees or risk hurting their brand image in a fraud case. Screening of job candidates at all levels, and even vendors and contract staff is preferred. Previous employment details, academic and professional certificates, identity, criminal records, and credit risk, among other information are checked thoroughly for authenticity and veracity, adds the survey. While releasing the survey D S Rawat, Secretary General Assocham said, background
NEW DELHI: College student Shayna John was not happy with her nose. And to give it the perfect shape, she recently underwent nose correction surgery — all this for her profile picture on Facebook. Cosmetic surgeons said an increasing number of people, especially school and college students, across India are going under the knife to get that perfect face for their Facebook account. The trend is growing as social media, along with online dating, has today become the common trend. The way one looks AROUND THE
NATION
checks by specialists adds a big ‘preventive’ dimension which could greatly cut the risk of engaging with the ‘wrong’ people. The Assocham advocated the need for verification which must be enhanced so that the anti-social elements are weeded out. The employee verification process includes finding out the genuine-
AROUND THE
NATION
Steps to be taken n Character verification made mandatory n Checking on certificates from educational institutions. n In future, checking to be linked with Aadhaar details n Those involved in police case to be dropped or prosecuted n Companies to operate a network to weed out shady elements ness of work experience, educational documents and whether the candidate has any criminal record or not. Corporates are becoming more careful and cautious when recruiting junior, middle and senior level
Pick
employees, the survey finds. The survey says many companies haven’t done any form of background check before hiring people mainly at junior levels. Nearly 25 per cent of the companies that can’t do the process are outsourcing it to specialised agencies which cross-check every detail of the applicant. Rawat said for jobs involving working with children, or in healthcare, criminal record check is mandatory, and also suggested an appropriate legislation for the entire country. “Background checks conducted by specialist screening companies can more likely provide information of any history of misrepresentation, or crime by individuals seeking jobs. Even a small incident of misrepresentation may be sufficient in predicting the larger threat ahead,” a survey official said. Companies are cooperating on verification. Police records are scanned and a lot more is being done to prevent suspicious characters from entering service. Security consciousness has to be a ‘movement’, born from a collective sense of responsibility, so that it can filter out people with poor credentials or wrong intentions, and show that crime does not pay, highlights the survey. Compiled by P K Surendran
at the
online is considered to be the first impression of one's overall image and personality. Popularly known as 'Facebook Facelifts', aesthetic plastic suregons said it is equally common among men. According to Anup Dhir, chief cosmetic surgeon, Indraprastha Apollo Hospital, good looks are desired by all humans and cosmetic surgery is an effective tool to fulfill this desire. "People want to look attractive on social sites. This trend is gaining popularity. Many girls and boys are coming forward for Facebook Facelift — a term coined in West — to acquire aesthetically pleasing looks," Dhir told IANS. Dhir said young women mostly opt for rhinoplasties or nose jobs, lip injections or brow lifts, while young men prefer laser treatments to remove unwanted hair and scars. Women also go for chemical peeling, botox and body contouring to get those attractive looks, the doctor added. "An interesting trend I have noticed is that men are more conscious about their looks. I get 30 to 40 queries in a month and 50 percent of them opt for procedures," he said. The treatment varies as per
airport,
Young women mostly opt for rhinoplasties or nose jobs, lip injections or brow lifts; young men prefer laser treatments to remove unwanted hair and scars. the recipient's age, genetics and lifestyle, Dhir said. "The people coming for such treatment are in the age group of 20-40 years and the majority of them are in their late 20s or early 30s," Dhir said.
THE ‘IN’ THING
Annie Singh, a first year Delhi University student, said she went under the knife to get the perfect mugshot for her profile photo. "I hated my nose. So I decided to undergo rhinoplasty. I also went for chemical peeling to remove pigmentation and get a glowing spotless skin. I have got so many compliments from my friends on Facebook and it feels good," Annie Singh said. John, a final year English student, said looking good on Facebook is the new 'in' thing. "It is not just a platform to meet new friends or keep a tab on existing ones it but can also be used for professional work," she said. "Through Facebook one can get so many opportunities like modeling, acting or even marriage proposals. So, if I put up my best picture with a perfect face, it will do no harm. I am very happy after getting rhinoplasty," the 23-year-old said. IANS
-
12
News MONDAY, APRIL 29, 2013
ENVIRONMENT
TOURISM
De
the report says. According to the environment ministry, the total area undergoing the process of land degradation in the country is estimated at 105.48 million hectares, which constitutes 32.07 per cent of India’s total land area.
India has a total geographic area of 328 million hectares, out of which drylands constitute an area of 228.3 million hectares (about 69.6 per cent). The new report says that major challenges remain in the area of land use planning, management o f
f i i c t a r t e sIndia’s arid
ion
NEW DELHI: Over onefourth of India’s geographical area is undergoing the process of desertification despite ongoing efforts to combat the problem, a government report says. The environment ministry report submitted to the United Nations Convention to combat desertification said the problem of land degradation and drought continues in India, which has a total geographic area of 328 million hectares. Desertification, land degradation and drought (DLDD) has hit 7,91,475 sq km of the territory, covering almost all states and union territories of the country, it says. "... The problem of land degradation continues to be a major source of environmental concern in India with consequent implications for its sustainable development,"
future dawns
A report says desertification, land degradation and drought has hit almost all states and union territories.
AROUND THE
NATION
waste and degraded land, and efficient use of water resources. “There is an inherent and urgent need for establishing a clear monitoring mechanism of the impacts of all these programmes and schemes in terms of improving the livelihood and socio-economic conditions of the people as well as improvement of the ecosystem in the affected areas and regions," it says. India has taken several steps, including Integrated Watershed M a n a g e m e n t Programme, National Rural Drinking Water Programme, MNREGA, National Rural Livelihood Mission and Green India Mission to address the problem. PTI
Forget Kerala! Sri Lanka in ayurveda tourism surge MR NARAYAN SWAMY feedback@postnoon.com
S
ri Lanka is steadily emerging as a major competitor to Kerala’s ayurvedic system of medicine, an industry expert says. But officials say as long as Kerala sticks to its pristine form of ayurveda school, no challenge from anywhere can upset it. "...I estimate they have taken away 30-40 per cent of our business," says Sanjeev Kurup V, secretary of Kerala Travel Mart Society. He also runs the Paithrukam Hospitality Group. Almost 70 per cent of the foreigners and 30-40 per cent of AROUND THE
NATION
Indian tourists come to Kerala for ayurvedic treatment. “After the war ended in 2009, ayurveda business is picking up rapidly in Sri Lanka," he said. Ayurvedic treatment is cheaper there as the Sri Lankan rupee is weaker than its Indian counterpart. Another reason, Kurup says, is that in Sri Lanka many clinics allow men to provide ayurvedic massage to women. “Well, ladies from countries like Germany, even if they are 45 years of age or more, are pretty strong physically, and they somehow don’t seem happy with our women," he said. IANS
CONSERVATION
Oz ‘failing’ to protect natural wonder Nearly 91 per cent of Australians think protecting the reef if the country’s greatest environmental challenge.
C
onservationists accused Australia of failing to protect the Great Barrier Reef from massive industrial development as they launched a multimillion dollar campaign to drum up awareness. The move follows Unesco demanding decisive action to protect the world’s largest coral reef from a gas and mining boom and increasing coastal development, or risk the embarrassment of seeing it put on its danger list. The government says it is “absolutely committed” to the reef and outlined its protection plan to Unesco. Unesco’s World Heritage Committee will consider the response at its annual meeting in Phnom Penh in June.
AROUND THE
WORLD
23.5mn
Is the tonnage of dredge spoil that will be dumped into the Great Barrier Reef by 2015. In the lead-up to the meeting and in an election year, the Australian Marine Conservation Society and WWF-Australia launched an advertising blitz to highlight increased “dredging, dumping and shipping in the marine park". “The reef is one of the seven
natural wonders of the world, but our governments seem to have forgotten that fact," said Bob Irwin, father of late “crocodile hunter” Steve Irwin. The Australian Marine Conservation Society’s Felicity Wishart said, “In 2012, less than half a million tonnes of dredge spoil was dumped in the Great Barrier Reef World Heritage Area. In 2015 it’s predicted that figure will explode to 23.5 million tonnes — a massive 50-fold increase.” A recent polling conducted by WWF-Australia showed that 91 per cent of Australians think protecting the reef is the country’s most important environmental challenge in 2013. AFP
MONDAY, APRIL 29, 2013
Business
‘RESOLVE TRADE IMBALANCE WITH CHINA’ India and China need to further boost bilateral business ties and resolve strategic issues, including trade imbalance and dumping of goods, during Chinese Premier Li Keqiang's visit here next month, industry body Assocham has said.
WATER PURIFIERS
13
GREECE TO CUT JOBS
Purify as per your needs When a consumer is looking at investing in a water purifier, the water condition and source of the input water should be kept in mind. PRUDHVI RAJU K prudhvi.k@postnoon.com
technology for your homes. Not only will you get safe drinking water but you will also avoid wasting water using the wrong technology. For instance, if you receive water from the corporation and the total dissolved salts (TDS) level is below 200 mg/lt, then a UV purifier will be the most apt technology. But if the source of your water is borewell or the TDS level is higher than 200 mg/lt, then RO technology will be the best solution to your water woes,” Shroff says.
A
plethora of advertisements on various media platforms about different water purifiers and their technologies are leaving customers more confused, rather than helping them choose the right one. First, the customer has to see the real need for a water purifier before deciding on the technology. The taste, colour, smell and TDS levels can easily determine the quality of water. “The quality of water being supplied to our homes is deteriorating day by day. With all kinds of new chemicals being produced in the industries, sooner or later, they make their way into the water supply and pose a risk to health,” says Marzin R Shroff (in pic), CEO (direct sales) and senior vice-president (marketing), Eureka Forbes. In most areas, the water we get at the turn of the tap is not safe for consumption and can lead to water-borne diseases such as diarrhoea, cholera or jaundice. To make it potable, it is mandatory to treat it for the present impurities such as bacteria, virus, volatile organic compounds and heavy metals. Water purifiers not only eliminate chemicals from the water but also retain the minerals essential for safe drinking water. “Water is healthy when it has the right amount of minerals and nutrients that will help our body,” he says. When a consumer is looking at investing in a water purifier, the first thing to be kept in mind is the water condition and source of the input water. “Knowing the condition of your water input will help you choose the right purification
The Greek parliament voted late Sunday to adopt a law providing for the dismissal of 15,000 civil servants as part of austerity measures imposed by the country's international creditors. After heated debate during an emergency session, 168 deputies voted for the bill, with 123 voting against and one abstaining as the opposition proved powerless to stop cuts the government insisted were needed to keep the country afloat. The new law overturns what had been a guarantee of a job for life for workers in Greece's bloated civil service. Around 800 people turned up to protest against the measure.
NUMEROLOGY
$4.98
bn
is South Korea’s biggest current account surplus in four months, posted in March.
WORKERS LEAVE ZONE
Technologies and their uses 1) Ultraviolet (UV) Technology: Purifies the water to prevent contamination and keeps it pure and fresh. UV purifies water by removing all disease-causing microorganisms. It is the most appropriate and effective technology for water that has low TDS (under 200 mg/lt). Consumers whose source of water is from the municipal/corporation should use an UV water purifier. 2) Reverse Osmosis (RO) Technology: Removes all harmful chemicals, water-borne disease-causing bacteria and heavy metals like lead and iron
from water. This technology is best used when the TDS level of water is high (more than 200-500 mg/lt). When the source of water is borewell, consumers should opt for RO purifiers to remove the excess TDS, pesticides and other impurities from water. 3) Ultra Filtration (UF) Technology: Is a type of membrane filtration which is employed in water purifiers to remove bacteria and other microorganisms, particulate material, natural organic material, which imparts colour, taste and odours to the water.
He further adds, “Another aspect to keep in mind while purchasing a water purifier is whether there is constant supply of running water and if there are power shortages in your area. If there is an erratic supply of water, you can consider a storage water purifier, which can provide you with drinking water constantly.” “The customer can choose one or combination of technologies based on his need. For the quality of water, Eureka Forbes has mapped over 7,000 pin codes, and the information is available on www.waterwonderfulworld.org. The site recommends the best water purification technology suited for a consumer based on his area of residence,”said Shroff.
GOLD `27,500 10g SILVER `45,600 1kg
24C
for
for
DOLLAR `54.32 POUND `84.33
South Korea was due Monday to pull out its last remaining workers from a factory zone in North Korea — a rare symbol of cross-border cooperation now crippled by the stand-off on the Korean peninsula. The move raises the prospect of the permanent closure of the Kaesong complex, the last point of contact between the two Koreas and a key source of income for Kim Jong-Un's isolated regime. South Korean companies with factories at the site have expressed shock at the sudden evacuation, which saw 126 workers return on Saturday in dozens of vehicles loaded with assembled goods and other materials.
THUS SPAKE (Enrico) Letta and his government will have full support from the European institutions for the continuation of the necessary reforms for growth and jobs. HERMAN VAN ROMPUY EUROPEAN COUNCIL CHIEF
BSE NSE
19371.22 81.57
5893.70 22.25
MONDAY, APRIL 29, 2013
Comment You will never do anything in this world without courage. It is the greatest quality of the mind next to honor.
MYANMAR
ANNABELLE LIANG Agence France-Presse
W
ith its gay bars and same-sex couples publicly displaying affection, the Tanjong Pagar district offers a glimpse of a Singapore whose outlook contrasts with its more conservative image. Located in the city’s central business area, it is also home to offices and government buildings. Its bars come to life at night, part of a gay scene that continues to evolve. But while gay and lesbian couples openly live together and are gaining social acceptance, a law whose origins go back to the 19th century when Singapore was a British colony is still seen as a threat by the community. A provision in the penal code known as Section 377A makes it a crime for men to have sex with each other. Even though it is not enforced actively by Singapore authorities, campaigners are demanding its repeal. Gary Lim, 44, and his 37-year-old partner Kenneth Chee, both graphic designers, say they decided to challenge the law’s constitutionality because they did not want to continue living in fear of being prosecuted someday. The High Court recently ruled against them but the couple decided to elevate it to the Court of Appeal for a final ruling. No hearing date has been set as their lawyers are still in the process of filing the appeal papers. Section 377A states a maximum of two years in prison for “any male person who, in public or private, commits... or procures or attempts to procure the commission by any male person of, any act of gross indecency with another male person”.
14
Suu Kyi’s ‘rule of law’ mantra is a distant hope THE INSIDE STORY
Aristotle Greek philosopher
In a spot over an old law
HIGH-FLYING THOUGHTS
For the Greeks, they are masterworks depicting athletes in an exhibition dedicated to the Olympic games, in Qatar. For Qataris, they are just nude statues, which they feared would offend female spectators and so had it covered up. Now the nude exhibits are back in Athens where they belong. Greece learned a lesson, too: money is not all.
Aidan Jones
I
t is Aung San Suu Kyi’s mantra for embedding democratic reform, but for many who endured Myanmar’s authoritarian and deeply corrupt former junta the “rule of law” remains a distant hope. Flashpoint issues such as land grabbing have intensified fears that the country’s anaemic legal structures are failing to protect the poor and vulnerable despite sweeping reforms. Rights groups also say impunity for recent outbreaks of communal unrest — and alleged army abuses in ethnic conflicts -have shown the law is struggling to keep pace with tumultuous political, social and economic change. “We are still fighting for a fair system that applies to everybody... the law must be king,” said Khin Maung Win, a former political prisoner who was jailed for three years in 2002 for distributing anti-state leaflets while he was a law student. Now secretary of advocacy group the Myanmar Legal Aid Network, he told AFP that his country’s legal system remains arbitrary, unprofessional and corrupt. “We have had a bad history,”
he said. “In order to move on, ordinary people now must be entitled to legal rights and be involved in the process of change.” During the ulcerous junta era, experts say secret and summary jail terms were commonplace, deaths and disappearances blamed on the state went unpunished and courts were in cahoots with vested interests, including the brutal army rulers who milked the country’s wealth. Judges could be easily bought or cowed by powerful businessmen and politicians, while prosecutors and police wielded unconstrained power. A fledgling parliament now debates legislation under changes imposed by a quasi-civilian government which took power in 2011, but the operation of the courts remains opaque and analysts say legal institutions are too weak to underpin reforms. The law must quickly win legitimacy in the eyes of the public, said veteran lawyer Aung Thein, who is representing villagers who say they were forced off land near a controversial Chinese-backed copper mine in central Myanmar. That issue, which saw Suu Kyi face accusations that she had sided with the mine owners in a report on the project, fired concerns that laws will be strengthened to reassure investors, rather than protect the rights of Myanmar’s people.
“The administration still pressures the judiciary to act on its behalf,” Aung Thein told AFP, warning that the country “will not advance” if political interference continues. President Thein Sein has stressed his commitment to fixing the legal system and echoes Suu Kyi’s clarion call for the rule of law to be binding. Some repressive laws have been repealed or their enforcement eased. The press has been freed from the harshest rigours of the censor’s pen and protest is now allowed — albeit with police consent. Efforts are also under way to retrain some district judges and local police officers, to educate them about their duties and the limits of their powers.
Even the powerful military has pledged accountability before the law — although ongoing allegations of rights abuses during ethnic conflict in northern Kachin State and BuddhistMuslim violence in western Rakhine state cast doubt over its sincerity. Authorities have also released hundreds of political prisoners in amnesties — a key demand of the West as it boosts engagement with the former pariah. Dozens of jailed dissidents were pardoned last week, but rights groups say scores remain behind bars, accusing the government of using headlinegrabbing prisoner releases for political gain and failing to address the question of accountability for their imprisonment.
EDITORIALS Stop this rot One and only Obama
A
multi-ethnic society like India has a special problem not yet addressed by the Constitution or the ruling elite: collective bargain by castes and communities and the resultant corruption. It is this corruption that pushes the expenses of elections prohibitive. The consequence is that well-meaning persons whose agenda does not include making moolah hardly get a chance to represent people. Little wonder electoral expenses are going through the roof. Everyone knows that not even a panchayat election can be fought without considerable expenses. How sad a commentary on a country aged 65 years! One has to point a finger at the Congress party which played a pivotal role in independence and post independent India. If it had tried to heed Gandhiji’s words and followed accordingly, the situation would not have come to this pass, though a growing economy does throw out fats around. The debate whether the government should fund electoral expenses makes little sense in India today since the disease is far greater than commonly understood. Making communal and caste wooing of electorate unlawful can bring down this malaise a lot but who will bell the cat remains unanswered.
READERS’ VIEWS
O
nly he could have done that: being the perfect goof and keeping to the decorum required of a President. At the White House correspondent’s dinner, he was the perfect host, also the funniest. He took swipes, but ruffled no feathers. He was too good that he got more claps than the professional talent who were on the spot.
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
MONDAY, APRIL 29, 2013
campus
MOVIE MATTER
German movie Krabat will be screened at Muffakham Jah College Of Engineering And Technology on Monday from 8 pm.
NEW AGE ARCHIVES
15
STAND FOR CHANGE
BOOKLESS LIBRARIES Colleges today are opting for archives of digital material over print-heavy traditional libraries.
FAUSTINA JOHNSON feedback@postnoon.com
A
ll across the city, the library is receiving an upgrade and colleges are shifting their archives to the digital medium. A library is not just a physical collection anymore. This virtual elevation not only tweaks definitions and boundaries but also comes in rather handy for all concerned. When hardrives and terminals are guzzling up the volumes on the shelves, it frees up much space, and comes with much more. Storage is almost limitless. College subscriptions can give direct access to those journals and annuals you only heard about. Maintenance is eased up. Shelf life need no longer be dictated by the limitations of paper or any other physical medium. The best advantage, a student would argue, is organisation. For within the vastness of a library, one is not always assured of finding what they're looking for — even if it IS there. Most students’ first reaction to an assignment is to Google. Research often throws one into uncertainty about where to start looking. The e-library should take care of all that for good. Within the cosy confines of a computer terminal, keyword searches bring up any relevant information. They can also be
Priyanka
Eshwar H
highly customised if you're rummaging for a specific something. A digital archive would allow you to look for information by date, popularity, and just about any appropriate construct. How many city students walk under the hallowed assurance of a digital library? Many, it turns out. “My college has had one since sometime,” says Priyanka K, a student of Kasturba Degree College. City engineering colleges are also accelerating to keep up. “We do have digital libraries which are accessible throughout college timings,” says Eshwar Harsha, who studies in Joginpally BR Engineering College. The Loyola Academy library opened its digital section at the beginning of the year. Students are, however, required to pay a small amount in the beginning to use the facility. Many other city colleges also boast thriving digital archives. Within the dimensions of vir-
Vidya Nair
tual space, it is easy to lose scope. Naturally, such an upgrade does not come easy. Colleges wishing to undertake the task will need to hire several extra hands to collect, organise, even retrain. An onhand professional for resolving technical issues that may crop up from time to time is also a requisite. And then there are copyright issues, and the related entailment hours of research and permission seeking. After the gathering comes painstaking cataloging. However, after the initial hassle, digital libraries are known to function smoothly. A thoroughly executed upgrade, then, ensures robust cost-benefit ratios. How many colleges are willing to take the big leap? And how many would do it simply in the name of progress? “Although we have a digital section in the library, there are only three computers,” says Vidya Nair, a student of Bhavan's Degree College. This has
obvious repercussions on functionality. So just installing a digital section to the library is not enough. How far would educational institutions go to warrant optimum usage? It is plausible, for instance, to introduce full time accessibility regulated through a digital student portal. The students can literally have information come to them anywhere, than make excursions to the library for it. E-libraries also act as repositories of information in assorted formats- video, audio, HQ images etc promise a denser wealth of knowledge. This may also contribute to the general appeal. Are digital pages killing off print to take its place? For what are libraries without the books? This is goodbye to good ol' library benches, frantic referencing, communal study space. Surely, pangs of loss will find their way into student sentiments? Not likely, from what we find. “Traditional libraries were never very attractive to the majority of students, anyway,” Vidya tells us. Most prefer the net for research. “This is great. Digital access to information makes everything easier. It's also a boon to those who do not have PCs at home,” Eshwar says. For a progressive generation that values functionality and efficiency over anything else, the move could not be more appropriate.
Save India for the 5-year-old girl is an event that was organised at Peoples Plaza, Necklace Road on Sunday morning. The event saw students from different colleges in the City taking part in the walk.
COLLEGE OF THE WEEK
Berkeley
The University of California, Berkeley is a public research university that offers approximately 350 undergraduate and graduate degree programs in a wide range of disciplines. Established in 1868 as the result of merger of the private College of California and the public Agricultural, Mining, and Mechanical Arts College in Oakland, Berkeley is the oldest of the ten major campuses affiliated with the University of California.
TRENDING...
Two mime skits titled Struggle to Success and Who Gets her Boss were staged by students of Annapurna International School of Film and Media at Lamakaan on Friday. The first skit depicted the hardships one goes through to achieve success in life and the second one was a comedy play that showed the struggle of two soldiers trying to win the heart of Colonel's daughter. The event was free to all.
MONDAY, APRIL 29, 2013
spotlight LOUD & CLEAR
1
2
DESI BEATS RULE
Party peeps can ring in the week by dancing the night away at Cuba Libre. DJ duo will be belting out the latest bollywood chartbusters at the pub.
7
Musical treat
8
A galaxy of stars made their presence felt at the audio launch ceremony of Allu Arjun’s upcoming movie Iddarammayilatho. Spotted were Ram Charan Tej, Amala Paul, Charmee and others. 4
5
6
3
9
1 Sneha Reddy
3 Dil Raju
5 Allu Arjun
7 Puri Jagannath
2 Charmee
4 Amala Paul
6 Catherine Tresa
8 Ram Charan
S BALAKRISHNA
9 Allu Aravind
WEDDING CARNIVAL
Kalanikethan launched its new wedding collection in style. Actresses Manasa, Ritika Sheru, Annie and Swati Deekshit were present at the do.
FRESH BLAST OF FASHION
Exhibition and sale of Shruti Chopra's fashion line Selvaggio Moda is on at Nasaf Apartments, Banjara Hills. Actress Amala Akkinenini turned up for the launch. Shruti Chopra is known for her wild fashion choices.
18
MONDAY, APRIL 29, 2013
health
WEB-BASED PROGRAMMES FOR WEIGHT-LOSS For those attending face-to-face weight loss programmes, barriers can include travel, conflict with work and home, need for child care, and loss of anonymity. Web-based programmes are the new effective measures in weight loss and weight management, according to a study. IANS
VITAMIN DEFICIENCY
19
Are you getting your vits?
As a first in the series of vitamin deficiencies, we start off with vitamin E. Though not very common, vitamin E deficiency affects the nerves and muscles. DEEPASHRI VARADHARAJAN
deepashri.v@postnoon.com
E
veryone knows vitamin E is good for the skin. Several beauty care products contain the vitamin. Be it dryness, scars, stretch marks or cell renewal, this vitamin seems to hold the solution. “It is an anti-oxidant and prevents wrinkling, aging and gives the skin a glow,” said Dr Radha Shah, consultant dermatologist at Apollo Hospitals, Jubilee Hills. But more than just your skin is affected when there is a deficiency of vitamin E. Dr Shah said she doesn’t come across vitamin E deficiency cases as the vitamin is abundant in vegetable oils that we consume every day. But in those in whom it occurs, it hits the nervous system. Some of the reasons that could lead to deficiency of vitamin E are low birth weight and malabsorption syndrome, according to rightdiagnosis.com (Health Grades Inc). In patients with malabsorption syndrome, the small intestine does not absorb nutrients properly from the food you consume. In the initial stages, vitamin E deficiency affects the peripheral nervous system. “The most common symptom is numbness and tingling of feet and hands. As it pro-
Foods rich in vitamin E n n n n n n n n
Sunflower seeds Almonds and some other nuts Vegetable oils Spinach Papaya Swiss chard Cereals Broccoli
gresses, it affects the central nervous system, said Dr Sudhir Kumar, senior consultant neurologist at Apollo Hospital, Hyderabad. “The cerebellum, which is at the back side of the brain, is responsible for co-ordination. Those with deficiency of vitamin E will experience imbalance while walking.” Dr Kumar said it then affects the vision nerves as it progresses, resulting in dim vision or blindness. Apart from shaky movements and eye sight problems, it also affects the muscles. Myopathy is a condition where the fibers of the muscle do not function properly and the muscles become weak. It has also been linked to anaemia. According to livestrong.com (Demand Media Inc), the deficiency, leads to fragility of red blood cells, apart from degeneration of nerve cells. The underlying cause for deficiency has to be addressed first, after which your doctor will prescribe the necessary diet or medication.
ANEWS PP-LYBRIEFS YOURSELF
HOUSECALL
Leg Workouts Free
Quinsy
This app has easy leg exercises with steps and animations, pre-set workouts with four difficulty levels and an inapp trainer voice. You can also design your own custom workouts and get your own personal e-trainer via email. Lose weight, look better, feel healthier and more confident with this simple, free app. itunes.apple.com
Quinsy, also known as a peritonsillar abscess, is a complication of tonsillitis that is left untreated. The abscess (collection of pus) forms between one of your tonsils and the wall of your throat. This can happen when an infection spreads from an infected tonsil to the surrounding area. If quinsy is suspected, you will be referred immediately to an ear, nose and throat specialist who will carry out further investigations. nhs.uk
DID YOU KNOW? You must always flush with the lid down Microbiologist Dr Charles Gerba, from the University of Arizona, warns that you should always flush the toilet with the seat lid down. If you don't, polluted water particles float for a few hours around your bathroom before they all land, some on your toothbrush. bodyandsoul.com.au
PIONEERS Gerbrand Bakker Gerbrand Bakker (November 1, 1771 June 1, 1828) was an eminent Dutch physician, professor at the University of Groningen. Bakker was distinguished most for his great skill and knowledge in midwifery and practical surgery. On the former he published several works in Dutch and Latin. Bakker occupied himself also with zeal on comparative anatomy, and particularly on the anatomy of the brain. en.wikipedia.org
MONDAY, APRIL 29, 2013
20
THE PAGE DEDICATED TO WOMEN AND THE ISSUES THEY FACE ACROSS THE GLOBE
VANGUARD OF CHANGE
Advertising change
Victory for worship
T
he Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has issued its first anti-domestic abuse advertisement, an unexpected move in a country that isn’t really known for its women-friendly laws. The advertisement simply shows a hijab-clad woman, with only her eyes visible through her veil. One eye is shown blackened and bloodshot. The slogan reads “Some things can’t be covered — fighting women’s abuse together.”
A
Indigenous pride
n Israel court recently ruled that women can pray at the Western Wall while wearing prayer shawls. The verdict comes as a major relief for women, as several had been arrested in the past few weeks for wearing prayer shawls, reading from the Torah and entering certain areas near the wall. Orthodox rabbis have been attempting to curb women from worshipping at the Western Wall, one of the holiest places in Judaism. The judge also ruled that the grounds on which the women were detained are flimsy and the police’s request for restraining orders can’t be granted.
I
ndigenous women in Brazil are coming together to tackle cases of violence and rights violations. Project Cuña, set up by UN began with a programme for young indigenous women, which encouraged them to take an active role in tackling rights violations in their communities, reports unwomen.org. The women received training in human rights, gender issues and local culture.
JORGE GUERRERO/AFP
40 years after the SC affirmed a woman's right to privacy, we shouldn't have to remind people that when it comes to a woman's health, no politician should get to decide what's best for you.
It is a medieval bullying stick the bishops used to keep control over people and to keep the voices of women silent. I am way beyond letting octogenarian men tell us how to live our lives.
Barack Obama US president
Rosemarie Smead Priest
WORKING WOMEN
UNDER ATTACK
Women’s presence low in venture capital field
Wikipedia under fire for novelist classification
W
ikipedia has found itself in the eye of the storm after it classified major American writers like Harper Lee under the category of ‘American woman novelists’, while the male authors were simply under the category ‘American novelists’. The female authors were removed from the general category recently, prompting feminists and liberals to question why the online encyclopedia felt the need to classify the authors when no such distinction was made for male writers.
A CHANGE IS COMING NIRANTAR
N
irantar,a centre for gender and education, works in north India to empowering women and children from marginalised communities through education. Since its inception in 1993, Nirantar’s work involves capacity building, research and advocacy, and educational materials in the fields of women’s literacy, young people’s education and gender and sexuality education.
A young girl wearing a traditional dress of Valencia takes part in the Romeria de la Virgen de la Cabeza.
Women opt out of frontline combat Fewer than 20 of the 8,000 women in the Australian defence forces have applied for the newly opened direct combat roles.
F
ewer than 20 women have applied for frontline combat roles in Australia since new policies allowing all military positions to be filled on merit rather than gender, officials said recently. The defence force opened up its most demanding and dangerous frontline jobs to women in January in a move hailed as an important step in improving a military culture tarnished by sex abuse and harassment allegations. In doing so Australia became one of only a few countries to do so. But the take-up has been low so far, with fewer than 20
of the 8,000 women in the defence force applying, said Major General Gerard Fogarty, who is managing the five-year plan to bring women into direct combat roles. Part of the reason is the hard physical and mental requirements for elite jobs that both men and women have to satisfy. “Now we’ve only started since the first of January this year but we were expecting, you know, the type of response that we have received,” Fogarty told ABC radio. “Women who are serving in a particular employment category who would now wish to transfer and apply would have to pass the new physical
employment standard, and that would be demanding.” The roles are mainly as frontline infantry and artillery soldiers, naval clearance divers and airfield guards. Women are also allowed to lead infantry units or work as snipers and commandos. Sex Discrimination commissioner Elizabeth Broderick, who oversaw a review into the treatment of women in the military, said, "It is about ensuring that the environment, which has always been very maledominated, is conducive to the inclusion of women, so I think the way they're progressing is the way to go about it," she said. AFP
W
omen represent less than 10 per cent of high-level venture capitalists, and they have been leaving the industry at twice the rate of men, according to a report titled Gatekeepers of Venture Growth: The Role and Participation of Women in the Venture Capital Industry. The study seeks to determine whether having more women in decision-making roles in the venture capital industry would provide greater access to women entrepreneurs.
ON THE FRONTLINES SAVITRIBAI PHULE
S
avitribai Phule was a social reformer, who, along with her husband, Mahatma Jyotirao Phule, played an important role in improving women's rights in India during the British Rule. Savitribai was the first female teacher of the first women's school in India and also considered as the pioneer of modern Marathi poetry.
21
MONDAY, APRIL 29, 2013
Entertainment CINE BYTES Dasari announces six new films
V
eteran director Dasari Narayana Rao has announced that he’ll direct and produce six films over the span of next few months. His next film has been titled as Vaddi Kasula Vaadu and it’s said to be a political satire. Apart from this film, he’ll also direct a film with Vishnu Manchu in lead role later this year.
GJG’s dream run at the BO continues
N
ithin, Nithya Menen and Isha Talwar starrer Gunde Jaari Gallanthayindhe is doing extremely well at the box office in its second week. Nithin revealed that, in just nine days, the film has already grossed more than what his earlier Ishq managed to gross after 100 days.
Ram Charan’s next film set to take off soon
R
am Charan is all set to join the principal shooting of his next film which will be directed by Koratala Siva. Bandla Ganesh is going to produce this film and rumours are rife that the film will be launched in the second week of May. More details about the film will be announced soon.
ALL FOR AN IMAGE
RUDRAMA DEVI
T
he principal shooting of Gunasekhar’s upcoming magnum opus Rudrama Devi finally began on April 27 near Hyderabad. Anushka is playing the title role and the film also has a galaxy of stars including Rana, Krishnam Raju and Prakash Raj who’ll be portraying important roles
based on real life people in Kakatiya Dynasty during Rani Rudrama Devi’s reign as the Queen. Talking about the film, Gunasekhar said, “Art director Thota Tharani has constructed a magnificent arena set for the film and we will be shooting the film with the entire cast in this set for the next few days. The VFX work
GOES ON FLOORS
has already begun and I can assure everyone that this will be a film to remember and we’ll leave no stone unturned to recreate the grandeur of Kakatiya dynasty.” The entire film is expected to be wrapped up in five schedules which will go on till December this year. Gunasekhar is working closely with German technicians to
make this film in 3D. Ilayaraja is scoring the music and Ajay Vincent is the cinematographer. Neeta Lulla is the costume desginer. Gunasekhar has written the story and dialogues and he’s also directing and producing the film. Rudrama Devi stars Anushka, Rana Daggubati, Krishnam Raju, Prakash Raj, Nathalia Kaur, Aditi
Chengappa, Zara Shah, Baba Sehgal, Suman, Aditya Menon and Hamsanandini among many other actors. The entire cast has been trained in horse riding. Looking at the star cast and scale at which the film is going to be made, Rudrama Devi is going to be one of the most expensive films ever made in Telugu cinema’s history.
22
Entertainment MONDAY, APRIL 29, 2013 CINE BYTES
THE NEW ERA
F
Would love to make action film
F
ilmmaker Nagesh Kukunoor has tried his hands at romantic, high on emotions and outof-the-box cinema, and says now he dreams of making a big-budget action movie. “The genre that attracts me the most and the one I have not dabbled in is a big budget action film. It would be great to actually try my hand at one,” Kukunoor said. IANS
Acting like an extra curriculum: Riya Vij
R
iya Vij, who is debuting with Gippi, says acting is like “an extra curriculum”. Studying to become a dentist, she would take up movie assignments as long as it doesn’t affect her academics. Riya told: “When the opportunity came, I grabbed it. I want to become a dentist, but this (acting) is like an extra curriculum, but I am really enjoying it.” IANS
Preity’s big secret!
A
ctress Preity Zinta is keen on making a big announcement to her fans but has her lips sealed until April 30. “A very long day comes to an end! Exhausted and super excited because I’m dying to tell you all something but have to keep my mouth shut till Tuesday,” Preity posted on Twitter. The 38-year-old is expected to hit the silver screen with her production venture Ishkq In Paris, in May. IANS
or filmmaker Karan Johar, 2001 was the turning point in Hindi cinema as two unique films — Dil Chahta Hai and Lagaan: Once Upon A Time In India — truly set the ball rolling for change. “I think there are a lot of decades of brilliance. The 1940s and 1950s are considered golden ages of Hindi cinema. But for me, the most important year was 2001 when Lagaan and Dil Chahta Hai released,” the 40year-old said at a special screening of Bombay Talkies, a film made to pay tribute to 100 years of Indian cinema. “The golden age, the new age started from there,” added the son of late filmmaker Yash Johar. Bombay Talkies consists of four short films made by Dibakar Banerjee, Anurag Kashyap, Zoya Akhtar and Karan. Karan has directed Rani Mukerji, Randeep Hooda and Saqib Saleem for his short film, and he is all praises for all of them. “Rani is an amazing actor. She is one of the most outstanding acting talents and it was my honour to work with her,” Karan said. “It was great to work with Randeep and Saqib and I want you all to see the film to know that all three of them have put in really sincere performances,” he added. Karan’s debut directorial venture Kuch Kuch Hota Hai released in 1998. It starred Rani along with Shah Rukh Khan and Kajol.Bombay Talkies hits the theatres on May 3. IANS
i~Ö~~åI= aáä=`Ü~Üí~=e~á= marked new period of Indian cinema
Entertainment MONDAY, APRIL 29, 2013
23
Entertainment MONDAY, APRIL 29, 2013
24
25
Entertainment MONDAY, APRIL 29, 2013
STUCK IN A RUT?
CINE BYTES
Hard for DANIEL RADCLIFFE to get rid of Potter tag I think it’s important to be your own toughest critic because that way you’ll always be driven to get better. But it’s important to temper that with being able to give yourself credit for something you’re pleased with
A
T
he night before her 34th birthday, Kate Hudson told Us Weekly she had only one wish. “I just want to hang out with my family,” the actress said. Imagine Hudson’s reaction two days later when her fiance, Matthew Bellamy, organised a secret bash in his bride-to-be’s honour! “Kate was totally surprised,” a source tells of the soiree, held at a friend’s place in New York City’s West Village neighbourhood.
Marriage on the rocks for Eastwood
C
Daniel Radcliffe
ctor Daniel Radcliffe, who rose to fame as Harry Potter, hopes one day he would be known just as an actor, with no “Potter” tag trailing him. The 23-year-old started with Harry Potter franchise in 2001 and stayed associated with it for almost 10 years. “I do think it will be another few years before we see an article that won’t mention Potter. I’m not sure that will happen,” contactmusic.com quoted him saying. He added: “The goal isn’t to stop Harry Potter being written about; that’s unachievable. The goal is
Surprise party for Kate Hudson
to make myself an actor rather than just one character. I think that’s starting to happen.” The actor, who was last seen in horror film The Woman in Black, believes in self-criticism. He said: “I think it’s important to be your own toughest critic because that way you’ll always be driven to get better. But it’s important to temper that with being able to give yourself credit for something you’re pleased with.” “I was very bad at that before. I was unable to see anything good, but now I’m starting to,” he added. IANS
lint Eastwood’s wife Dina entered rehab for depression and anxiety because she says her marriage is on the rocks... and the possibility of divorce sent her over the edge. Sources close to the couple tell TMZ, Clint and Dina — who’ve been married since 1996 — have been having serious marital issues for months.
Taylor Swift buys $17.7 m house with cash
S
inger Taylor Swift not only bought a Rhode Island mansion for over $17 million after driving a hard bargain, but also made a cash payment. Swift was eyeing the mansion for a few weeks now, having toured the place back April 15. TMZ reports that real estate sources said that the asking price on the house, spread in 5.23 acres, was around $20 million, but Swift got it for $17.75 million. IANS
MONDAY, APRIL 29, 2013
Chai Time
THOUGHT OF THE DAY
We could have bought a small yacht with what we spent on our dog and all the things he destroyed. Then again, how many yachts wait by the door all day for your return? John Grogan
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 Between the foul lines 5 ___ corgi (dog breed) 10 Covered with soot, eg 14 Russian-spacecraft series 15 Die down 16 Allegro con ___ 17 Covetousness 18 Gift recipient 19 Represent by drawing 20 What a driver grips 23 Believer in sacred cows 24 Mineo of the silver screen 25 Key below Z, on PCs 28 ‘Despite that ...’ 29 One younger than ewe? 33 Separate chaff from grain 35 Accepted doctrine 37 Gumbo pod 38 Directing off the straight and narrow 42 Adds lubrication 43 Boredom 44 Atomic particle 47 Outdoor accommodation 48 Amount of hair cream 51 Sunbather’s desire 52 Subway alternative 54 Mock 56 Shining beacons 61 Become dry and cracked 63 Silly as a goose 64 On the protected side 65 Gridlock component 66 Tales of heroism 67 Gossip material 68 ‘Has’ attachment 69 Waters gently 70 ___ serif
DOWN
1 Full of pulp, as fruit
2 ‘___ Mame’ 3 Emulate Edison 4 Spread outward, as black-eyed Susans 5 Dry African riverbed 6 Black, to bards 7 ‘Shadowland’ singer KD 8 Bouillabaisse and hasenpfeffer, for two 9 Donkey’s declaration 10 Having the means 11 Colombo’s country 12 That guy 13 Over there, old-style and briefly 21 Wielded the scepter 22 Wallach of ‘The Tiger Makes Out’ 26 Kind of parrot 27 Defunct airline 30 Winner of ‘The Thrilla in Manila’ 31 Common toothpaste flavour 32 Bring about 34 ‘Cheers’ barfly 35 Rope fiber 36 Become less bright 38 Italian coin of old 39 Stretch out or lengthen 40 It can be deadly or mortal 41 ‘___ Frutti’ (Little Richard tune) 42 Choose 45 Part of a geisha’s garb 46 Activity in which nothing is going on? 48 Popular garden flower 49 Back, in a boat 50 Assails 53 Biblical mount 55 Mild expletive 57 ‘Once ___ a time ...’ 58 Track has-beens 59 Teeny biter 60 Minus 61 It’ll give you a fare deal 62 Peach, amber or plum
Chai Time MONDAY, APRIL 29, 2013 Thiruvaikumar
STAR POWER for 30-4-2013
27
As per Hindu panchang thiruvaikumar@yahoo. co. in, 040-27177230 / 9177596118
ARIES
TAURUS
GEMINI
CANCER
LEO
VIRGO
LIBRA
SCORPIO
SAGITTARIUS
CAPRICORN
AQUARIUS
PISCES
Avoid minor ego clashes with spouse so as to be happy. Work with full focus on your priorities as the time is favourable and success will be yours. Work must be planned properly to ensure successful completion. Couples need to be cordial.
STRIP TEASE AGNES
Avoid giving impractical commitments to anyone and maintain a cordial relationship with all. Long-pending wishes and innovative ideas will get implemented to cheer you. Some will be involved in romance and go steady and strong.
Financially, a very strong position is likely, which lets you relax. Comforts set to increase. Creativity will reach greater heights and earn you appreciation. Your charisma is likely to improve, favouring getting work done without much efforts.
Businessmen advised to postpone expansion for some time. VIP friendship might materialise and you will be benefit by it. Businessmen need to be polite with staff and get work done by patting them. Employees need to focus on their work.
Businessmen come out of the dull phase and do brisk business. Delayed work will resume and progress exceedingly well and get completed soon. Those in search of job after graduation will get favourable news. Old debt issues will resurface.
Employees need to put in their best efforts in completing duties to taste success. Your way of dealing with issues will be appreciated by all. Health needs to be taken care of. Friends extend wholehearted support if you are frank with needs.
You attend a gettogether at your VIP friends’ place and feel cheerful on meeting close friends and relatives. Obstacles in the way of important work vanish. Help and financial assistance will come from all the expected sources.
Avoid trusting new friends as they might land you in trouble. You need to get into important work yourself as you may not succeed if you entrust the responsibility to others. Change the approach as soon as possible so that you achieve your goals.
Realtors advised to keep a low profile for the time being. You feel frustrated at certain unexpected events. However, with patience, wise action and unrelenting efforts you will be able to handle the issues well and complete all undertaken work.
TAROT READ
Sumaa Tekur
tarotreadhyd@gmail. com
ARIES:
GEMINI:
Six of Cups – Don’t go back on your word, no matter how difficult it may be to follow it through. Keeping promises also increases your status in your peer group.
LEO:
Three of Cups – Take all aspects of an issue into consideration before a decision. There is going to be confusion since you may not have all the information on you.
LIBRA:
PEARLS BEFORE SWINE
King of Pentacles – You are likely to get friendly with a member of the opposite sex. You find immense intellectual pleasure in talking things through and sharing ideas.
SAGITTARIUS:
The World – Finances are in great shape and you’re in a position to plan the future. Take all possibilities into account and plan for the future is uncertain.
TAURUS:
Knight of Wands – Factor in protests to your ideas by colleagues. There are likely to be unsure of what you have in mind. This does not mean they don’t trust you.
CANCER:
The High Priest – Vendetta is on your mind. Are you sure this is the right way to go? Ask yourself what revenge will achieve? You can use that energy elsewhere.
VIRGO:
Nine of Cups – It may be practical to distance from an issue that is emotionally strong. Though you want to help the situation, it may not be wise to react.
SCORPIO:
Three of Swords – Be prepared for some chaos today as members of a group disagree with each other’s ideas and go about voicing their protest very strongly.
CAPRICORN:
The Magician – You will be appreciated for professionalism and, despite the confusion around you, your bosses recognise your good work and reward you.
PREVIOUS SOLUTIONS
PISCES:
Three of Wands – You may have a brush with people who are not exactly cultured. They may have different ideas and philosophies from yours and you.
NUMBER GAME
Though things have been rough the past few months, it is all about to change and you are in a better position to bargain for a good post.
SCRABBLE
AQUARIUS: The Star –
POOCH CAFE
Bold decisions taken by you yield desired results. You encourage subordinates and get work done smoothly and successfully. Dull period for businessmen will come to an end and brisk business will start with their good efforts.
for 30-4-2013
Four of Swords – You seek equality and feel very strongly about belonging to a group and being part of it without any bias to your background or skills.
NON SEQUITUR
Tensions and worries likely from which you can get relief with the help of yoga and meditation. Businessmen can plan to expand business as the time is favourable. Don’t hesitate to take decisions as per your intuition as it will bring success.
SUDUKO
Avoid unwanted and heated arguments with friends and relatives. Professionals will enjoy a good phase and prosper well. Take care of health of your spouse as there is a cause for concern. Taking emotional decisions might land you in trouble.
Boggle ALPHA BETA DELTA GAMMA ESPILON Vol: 2, No 283 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 MONDAY, APRIL 29, 2013
WHEN BEAUTY MET TALENT
PICK OF THE WEEK
Two for the Road (1967) Stanley Donen’s Two for the Road is a road movie about a couple trying to examine where their marriage failed. The film starring Albert Finney and Audrey Hepburn is remarkable in the way it juxtaposes past and present to narrate how relationships change over time. It’s easily one of the best films made on relationships, love, marriage and even after so many years, its charm is still intact. Henry Mancini’s music is another high point in the film. Hepburn received a Golden Globe nomination and writer Frederic Raphael was nominated for Best Original Screenplay at Oscars.
The Timeless
BEAUTY
E
arlier this month, in an interview to Vanity Fair magazine, Luca Dotti, the son of Audrey Hepburn said, “She thought she had a big nose and big feet, and she was too skinny and not enough breast. She would look in the mirror and say, ‘I don’t understand why people see me as beautiful.’” This revelation by Luca Dotti comes as a big surprise for anyone who has seen Audrey Hepburn’s films. From Roman Holiday (1953) to Wait Until Dark (1967), the impact which Audrey Hepburn left on film-goers and fashion enthusiasts was exceptional. Even after all these years, she’s rated as one of the most beautiful and talented actresses to have graced the silver screen. Having spent most of her childhood in Netherlands, her first tryst with entertainment industry was through stage performances as a ballet dancer.
It’s been almost sixty years since Audrey Hepburn shot to fame and memories of her grace will continue to linger in our minds for ages to come. What made her so enchanting? Everything. HEMANTH KUMAR
When she was offered to play the lead role in a stage play named Gigi in 1951, little did people realise that one day she would become one of the most popular movie stars of all time. William Wyler, the director of Roman Holiday, once said, “She had everything I was looking for: charm, innocence, and talent. She also was very funny. She was absolutely enchanting and we said, 'That's the girl!’” That she managed to pull off her
Hemanth.k@postnoon.com
roles in films like Roman Holiday, Breakfast at Tiffany’s, My Fair Lady, Two for the Road and Wait Until Dark with equal panache is proof enough of what William Wyler had to say about her before she became a star. Between 1952-1988, she acted in nearly twenty two films, although she devoted most of her time to her family and humanitarian work as a Goodwill Ambassador of UNICEF post 1967.
Audrey Hepburn was a style icon in every sense of the word. Whether it’s her hairstyle in Breakfast at Tiffany’s or the clothes she wore in films like Charade and How To Steal A Million, she always managed to make a style statement that would inspire generations to come. A lot of that credit goes to fashion designer Hubert de Givenchy who designed Audrey Hepburn’s wardrobe from the days of Sabrina. Talking about her association with Hubert, she once said, "He gave me a look, a kind, a silhouette. He has always been the best and he stayed the best. Because he kept the spare style that I love. What is more beautiful than a simple sheath made an extraordinary way in a special fabric, and just two earrings?” On May 4 this year, she would have turned 84. How would she react to all adulation now? With a smile, perhaps.
An audience is never wrong. An individual member of it may be an imbecile, but a thousand imbeciles together in the dark that is critical genius. Billy Wilder Director
DID YOU KNOW? Howard Hughes, a billionaire, aviator and filmmaker is the original inspiration behind Iron Man. Stan Lee, who created Iron Man, based on the character’s playboy looks and personality on Howard Hughes and said, “Without being crazy, he was Howard Hughes.” Tony Stark’s father is named Howard Stark as a tribute to Howard Hughes.
Before he became a cult figure in Hollywood, George Lucas wanted to direct a film adaptation of the Flash Gordon series. When he failed to obtain the rights, he wrote another story on the lines of Flash Gordon and that went on to be the biggest hit of all time. The film we are talking about is Star Wars. Amazing, isn’t it?
sports
CHAMPIONS LEAGUE PREVIEW
SPURRING ON
Bale is Player of the Year LONDON: Tottenham Hotspur’s jet-heeled midfielder Gareth Bale was on Sunday honoured by his fellow players, winning the Professional Footballers’ Association Player of the Year and Young Player of the Year at a London ceremony. The former Southampton player becomes only the third player to win both awards in the same season and the fifth to claim the main prize twice. “It’s a massive honour,” said the 23-yearold. “To be voted by your peers is one of the biggest things in the game. “When you look at the list there are some massive
names on it and the other nominees have been unbelievable this year, but I couldn’t have done it without the team. “They have been fantastic this year and so has the manager (Andre VillasBoas). I couldn’t have won it without them, so I would like to give them all a big thank you as well.” PFA chairman Gordon Taylor said: “Gareth has had the same impact on Welsh football as Ryan Giggs did.” Bale, who has scored 19 Premier League goals this season, faced stiff competition from Luis Suarez and Robin van Persie.
LEAGUE CRICKET U-22 camp starts tomorrow
T
29
MONDAY, APRIL 29, 2013
he following under-22 players, who will be coached by R Harinarayan Rao and Chetan Joshi have been selected to attend the summer coaching camp to be conducted by the Hyderabad Cricket Academy. Anurag Haridas, Chintala Satish, GH Vihari, K Sabarish, Mahesh Kumar Goud, Meher Prasad, Mohan Muzammil, PB Parashar, Parth Jhalla, Raja Venkatesh, Ranjith Kumar, Ratan Sharma, Rohan Yadav, Saketh Sai Ram, Shashidhar Rao, Surjeet Parbhatani, Tarun Yadav, Vivek Krishna. The players should report at HCA, Gymkhana Ground, Secunderabad on Tuesday before 6.30am.
TIT FOR TAT
Van Persie has last laugh TOM WILLIAMS Agence France-Presse
Ronaldo injury worry cools Real revival hope KIERAN CANNING MADRID: Real Madrid are sweating on the fitness of Cristiano Ronaldo as they go in search of an unlikely comeback in the second-leg of their Champions League semifinal against Borussia Dortmund on Tuesday. The Germans are huge favourites to progress to the final at Wembley on May 25 after four goals from Robert Lewandowski handed them a 4-1 win over the Spanish champions in the first-leg at Signal Iduna Park last week. And any hope of a Madrid revival would seem to depend on their talisman overcoming a thigh strain he suffered in the first-leg. The Portuguese has scored 50% of Real’s 24 goals in the competition so far this season, but missed Saturday’s 2-1 win over Atletico in the Madrid derby and also took part in
a solitary training session with physical trainer Carlos Lalin on Sunday. However, midfielder Angel di Maria believes Jose Mourinho’s men can take heart from the way in which they started last season’s semi-final, secondleg against Bayern Munich. Trailing 2-1 from the first-leg, Real stormed into an early 2-0 lead on the night and although they ended up going out on penalties, Di Maria said they have to start with the same intensity on Wednesday. “We have a great chance of going through,” he told reporters after scoring the winner against Atleti on Saturday night. “Last year, against Bayern, we started well and were 2-0 up. We hope that this year we can turn it around, but we need to give everything. In football anything can happen.” AFP
LONDON: Robin van Persie returned to punish his former club by scoring an equaliser as newly crowned Premier League champions Manchester United compromised Arsenal’s Champions League hopes in a feisty 1-1 draw on Sunday. Back at Arsenal for the first time since his £24 million ($37 million, 28 million euros) transfer to Old Trafford in 2012, Van Persie netted a cool penalty just before half-time to cancel out Theo Walcott’s early opener. It could prove a costly goal for Arsenal, who failed to reclaim third place from Chelsea and now find their hold on the fourth and final Champions League qualifying place under threat from Tottenham Hotspur. A r s e n e Wenger’s side trail Chelsea by one point a n d
lead Spurs by two, but they have played a game more than both their London rivals. “We will only know at the end of the season (if it was a good result),” Wenger told Sky Sports. “But it keeps our unbeaten run going. We put a lot of energy into this game, and that’s very positive.” The draw left United 14 points clear of Manchester City, although they can no longer fulfil manager Alex Ferguson’s wish of breaking Chelsea’s Premier League points record of 95 from the 2004-05 campaign. “We always looked a bigger threat, but that’s not taking away the fact that Arsenal put a lot into the game today,” said Ferguson. Fresh from scoring the hat-trick against Aston Villa that gave United the title, Van Persie got a hostile reception in his first game back at the Emirates Stadium since his acrimonious d e p a r t u re last year.
NBA
Spurs sweep Lakers out of playoffs Tony Parker led five San Antonio players in double figures on Sunday.
LOS ANGELES: Tony Parker led five San Antonio players in double figures Sunday as the Spurs beat the depleted, dispirited Los Angeles Lakers 103-82 to knock them out of the NBA playoffs. Parker scored 23 points as San Antonio completed a fourgame sweep in the best-ofseven Western Conference firstround series — the first time the Lakers had been swept in a first-round series since the playoffs expanded to 16 teams in the 1983-84 season. “It was just a weird feeling,” Parker admitted after the Spurs posted their fourth straight double-digit victory
Big man Dwight Howard was ejected from the game after receiving a second technical foul shortly after halftime. over the Lakers — who scraped into the playoffs but had to make do without superstar Kobe Bryant, who tore an Achilles tendon in the final week of the regular season. “Obviously, I’m happy we won, but it’s just weird,” Parker said of facing a Lakers team that by Sunday was miss-
ing not only Bryant but also injured point guard Steve Nash, Steve Blake, Jodie Meeks and veteran Metta World Peace. To make matters worse, big man Dwight Howard was ejected from the game after receiving a second technical foul shortly after halftime. He had been whistled for his first technical with 50.3 seconds left in the first quarter for elbowing San Antonio guard Cory Joseph and was slapped with the second for arguing with an official. He finished with seven points, eight ebounds and five turnovers before exiting.
sports
30
MONDAY, APRIL 29, 2013
NORTH TEXAS LPGA SHOOTOUT IRVING, TEXAS: World number one Park In-Bee drained a birdie putt at the final hole Sunday to win the inaugural North Texas LPGA Shootout, holding off Spain’s Carlota Ciganda by one stroke. Park claimed the sixth LPGA title of her career and her third this year, a run of success that saw her rise to number one in the world this month — one week after her major victory at the Kraft
Nabisco Championship. The South Korean played steady golf, posting four birdies without a bogey, her four-under 67 at Las Colinas giving her a 13-under total of 271. Ciganda, who kept the pressure on Park with her own birdie at 18, finished with a one-under 70 for 272. “Today coming into the final round, I was two shots back, and I didn’t really think about winning,” she said. AFP
World number one Park wins title
ZURICH CLASSIC OF NEW ORLEANS
Horschel’s dramatic birdie lands title NEW ORLEANS: Billy Horschel waited out a storm delay to sink a 26-foot birdie putt on the final hole and claim his first US PGA Tour title on Sunday at the $6.6 million Zurich Classic of New Orleans. Horschel, who earlier birdied six holes in a row, fired an eightunder par 64 in the final round to finish on 20-under par 268 after 72 holes, one stroke ahead of fellow American D.A. Points in a dramatic back-nine duel. “This one means a lot. It’s something I’ve worked so hard for," Horschel said. “Man, for that putt to go in — I said, ‘I’m due for a long one.' It came off the putter so good and I’m so glad it went in." Horschel, the US PGA’s sixth first-time winner this year, had his best prior PGA result last month with a runner-up effort at the Houston Open behind Points, whose only prior PGA title came in 2011 at Pebble Beach. Horschel, whose 22 made cuts in a row is the longest active
COMEBACK FIGHT
Haye to take on Charr LONDON: Controversial boxer David Haye (right) will take on German Manuel Charr in his comeback fight on June 29, the Briton announced on Sunday. Lebanon-born Charr, who also has Syrian heritage, has twice already called out Haye as both men lost a world title fight to one of the dominant Klitschko brothers. And the 28-year-old has got his wish as Haymaker Boxing released a statement saying: “Former WBA world heavyweight champion David Haye
will go head-to-head with next opponent Manuel Charr at a press conference this Wednesday, after agreeing a deal to fight the top 10-ranked contender on June 29 in Manchester.
“The much talked about heavyweight showdown will be televised live on Sky Sports and promoted as part of a new longterm relationship between Adam Booth of Hayemaker and Eddie Hearn of Matchroom Sport. It will mark Haye’s first appearance in the ring since knocking out domestic rival Dereck Chisora in July 2012." Haye is looking for another shot at a Klitschko brother and believes a victory over Charr could put him back in line for a title tilt. AFP
tour streak, enjoyed his third straight top-10 finish while Points, who missed seven of his first nine cuts this year, missed a chance for a second triumph in four starts. One stroke ahead of Points at the tee on the par-5 18th,
Horschel found the right rough while Points found the fairway just before the weather warning horn sounded and forced the final nine players off the course. When play resumed, Points left himself a six-foot birdie putt while Horschel had at a 26-footer. After he watched the ball fall into the cup, Horschel pumped his fists and yelled with joy. “It’s unbelievable right now," Horschel said. Points sank his birdie putt to finish off a round of 65 and stand on 269, two strokes ahead of compatriot Kyle Stanley in third with Lucas Glover and Bobby Gates sharing fourth on 273. Chinese schoolboy Guan Tianlang, the youngest starter in Masters history earlier this month at age 14, fired a 74 to finish 71st on four-over 292. Horschel matched the longest birdie streak on tour this year with six in a row starting at the par-5 seventh, a run that included the last three holes of the front nine and the first three on the back nine. AFP
BARCELONA OPEN Nadal wins record eighth title in Barcelona SCOTT WILLIAMS Agence France-Presse BARCELONA: Rafael Nadal (right) extended his record number of Barcelona titles to eight as he brushed off a slow start to beat Spanish compatriot Nicolas Almagro 6-4, 6-3 on Sunday. Last weekend’s Monte Carlo runner-up regained his accustomed position on an ATP winner’s podium with his fourth title of 2013 and his third on clay for the year.
He rallied from two breaks down on a day of drizzle and heavy conditions, beating Almagro for the tenth time without defeat.
ROBBED OF HER SELF-CONFIDENCE
20 years on Seles still carries attack scars
RYLAND JAMES Agence France-Presse BERLIN: The knife attack on Monica Seles (in pic), which took place in Hamburg 20 years ago on Tuesday, not only dictated security at sports events over the last two decades, but changed the vic-
tim’s life forever. A similar attack must rank as every sports stars’ worst nightmare and any harmless fan, waiting for hours simply for their idols’ autograph, is now viewed as a potential threat by security staff. French Open champion Maria Sharapova, who won her
20th consecutive clay-court match when she defended her Stuttgart WTA title on Sunday, is renown for having scores of bodyguards in the wings when she steps on court. “It’s not something I worry about, the security guys would be pretty quickly onto it if there was a problem," she said
on the subject. But Seles is the first to admit the attack robbed her of her self-confidence. She had finished both 1991 and 1992 as the world’s top ranked female player and in 1990, aged just 16, she had become the youngest-ever French Open champion.
IPL 6
31
BATTLE OF THE TITANS
METRE
6 S 319
It's true that I have got wickets with the new ball in Test matches but that doesn't mean that I can't bowl with the old ball. I have full confidence that I can be equally effective with the old ball too
35 4S 1074
Michael Hussey (CSK)
54
HIGHEST SCORE
175*
Chris Gayle (RCB)
BEST BOWLER
aparna.s@postnoon.com
R
Chris Gayle (RCB) 450 runs
James Faulkner (RR) 16 wickets
Dhoni fined for slow over rate
CHENNAI: Chennai Super Kings captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni was today fined after his side maintained a slow over rate during their Pepsi IPL match against Kolkata Knight Riders here. At the end of the match, Chennai Super Kings were assessed to be two overs behind the required rate after allowances were taken into consideration. Since it was his first offence of the season under the IPL's Code of Conduct relating to minimum over-rate offences, Dhoni was fined $20,000. Chennai won the match by 14 runs. PTI
P
W
L
T PT
NR
CSK
9
7
2
0
14 +0.609
RCB
9
6
3
0
12 +0.784
RR
8
5
3
0
10 +0.631
MI
8
5
3
0
10 +0.248
SRH
9
5
4
0
10 -0.197
KXIP
8
4
4
0
8 +0.217
KKR
9
3
6
0
6 -0.016
DD
9
2
7
0
4 -0.761
PWI
9
2
7
0
4 -1.386
5-20
James Faulkner (RR)
Clash of the Royals
G APARNA SAI
Bhuvneshwar Kumar Pune Warriors India
P-played; W-win; L-lost; T-tie; NR-net run rate; PT-points
Chris Gayle (RCB),
MONDAY, APRIL 29, 2013
ajasthan Royals are set to clash with Royal Challengers Bangalore on the former’s home turf in Jaipur. The previous time these two sides had clashed, the Royals from Bangalore drew first blood. They restricted Rajasthan to a paltry 117 and then reached the target in just 17.5 overs with seven wickets remaining. The Virat Kohli led side have been having a good run in the recent past. They won six off the nine matches they played and are currently placed second on the points table. Hard hitter Chris Gayle’s unbeaten knock of 175 will remain in people’s memory for a long time to come. But the big man faltered in RCB’s previous clash when they lost to Mumbai Indians.
RR VS RCB AT 4PM ON SET MAX
KXIP run into MI
SCORECARD CSK VS KKR
Although RCB failed to post a victory on Saturday, they will still be looking at getting back to their winning ways. With Gayle, Kohli, AB de Villiers and Vinay Kumar among the others in the side, RCB look to be a difficult team to defeat. Meanwhile, Rajasthan Royals, who are placed a rung below RCB on the points table, cannot be taken lightly. They have performed well this season and have clinched five victories from eight matches. If Rajasthan manage to win today’s match, they stand a chance of swapping places with the Royal Challengers Bangalore on the table. While the odds are nearly equal for both the teams, the fact that the Royals would be playing at home, just happens to tilt the balance a little more in their favour. While RCB have Gayle’s force with them, RR have an equally competent player in Shane Watson. May the best player and his side win.
DD V PWI
Chennai Super Kings innings (20 overs maximum) WP Saha c Morgan b Bhatia 39 (23) MEK Hussey c Das b Narine 95 (59) Raina run out (Das/Balaji) 44 (25) MS Dhoni*† not out 18 (12) RA Jadeja not out 1 (1) Extras (b 1, w 2) 3 Total (3 wickets; 20 overs) 200 Bowling O M R W Econ YK Pathan 2 0 18 0 9.00 Shami Ahmed 2 0 20 0 10.00 L Balaji 4 0 45 0 11.25 SP Narine 4 0 35 1 8.75 JH Kallis 4 0 50 0 12.50 R Bhatia 4 0 31 1 7.75 Kolkata Knight Riders innings (target: 201 runs from 20 overs) MS Bisla† run out (Hussey) 92 (61) G Gambhir* b Morris 14 (8) BB McCullum b Sharma 6 (7) JH Kallis c Nannes b Bravo 19 (20) EJG Morgan not out 32 (22) YK Pathan not out 3 (3) Extras (b 4, lb 4, w 11, nb 1) 20 Total (4 wickets; 20 overs) 186 Bowling O M R W Econ DP Nannes 4 0 50 0 12.50 MM Sharma 4 0 23 1 5.75 CH Morris 3 0 29 1 9.66 RA Jadeja 2 0 13 0 6.50 R Ashwin 3 0 26 0 8.66 DJ Bravo 4 0 37 1 9.25
Delhi Daredevils innings (20 overs maximum) Jayawardene* c Wright b Dinda 12 (17) Sehwag c †Uthappa b Dinda 28 (26) U Chand c †Uthappa b Sharma 17 (19) DA Warner not out 51 (25) BJ Rohrer c †Uthappa b Nayar 13 (13) KM Jadhav† c Manhas b Dinda 25 (19) IK Pathan not out 4 (1) Extras (lb 2, w 12) 14 Total (5 wickets; 20 overs) 164 Bowling O M R W Econ B Kumar 4 0 30 0 7.50 Richardson 4 0 38 0 9.50 AB Dinda 4 0 31 3 7.75 R Sharma 3 0 23 1 7.66 LJ Wright 1 0 16 0 16.00 Yuvraj Singh 2 0 9 0 4.50 AM Nayar 2 0 15 1 7.50 R Challengers Bangalore innings (target: 153 runs from 20 overs) RV Uthappa† c Chand b Pathan 37 (33) AJ Finch* c †Jadhav b Pathan 37 (33) Yuvraj Singh c Rohrer b Yadav 31 (24) LJ Wright c Warner b Yadav 19 (18) SPD Smith not out 17 (8) M Manhas not out 2 (4) Extras (lb 3, w 3) 6 Total (4 wickets; 20 overs) 149 Bowling O M R W Econ IK Pathan 4 1 29 2 7.25 UT Yadav 4 0 24 2 6.00 M Morkel 4 0 36 0 9.00 A Nehra 4 0 27 0 6.75 S Nadeem 4 0 30 0 7.50
Chennai Super Kings won by 14 runs
Delhi Daredevils won by 15 runs
SYED SHOAIB shoaib.s@postnoon.com
T
he Mumbai Indians have hit top form in the middle of the tournament, and this is going to make it tough for others to make it to the top four. Whether the Mumbai Indians win the Indian Premier League is another matter all together, so is the unpredictability of Twenty20 matches. Royal Challengers Bangalore were flying high on day with Chris Gayle becoming the top scorer in T20 one match and in their next they were handed out a drubbing, and the team to do that the Mumbai Indians seems unstoppable, particularly after Dwayne Smith has joined it.
Smith has gone on to win two consecutive man-of-thematch awards, and this shows his dominance in these matches. He managed to find a place in the team thanks to the
MI VS KXIP AT 8PM ON SET MAX benevolence of their captain Ricky Ponting, who sat out because he wasn’t scoring the runs. That is the bench strength of this team. Kings XI Punjab are not going to be any pushovers though. They are coming into this match with two consecutive wins under their belt, against Pune Warriors India and Delhi Daredevils and are hungry for more.
MONDAY, APRIL 29, 2013
sports ASSEN TT CIRCUIT
Mahi Racing Team continues fine display The superbike team co-owned by Nagarjuna, Mahendra Singh Dhoni and Nandish Domlur continues to do well across the globe on the Kawasaki motorcycles.
NEW DELHI: Mahi Racing Team India riders continued their fine display at World Supersport Championship with a second and third place finish in a closely fought third race at the TT circuit in Assen, Netherlands on Sunday. Reigning world champion Kenan Sofuoglu, who began the race in second position, finished second as he came home just .026 seconds behind eventual winner Sam Lowes of Yakhnich Motorsport to earn his second podium finish in two races. Last race winner from Aragon, Fabien Foret fin-
ished third to maintain his pole position in the overall standings with 54 points from three races. Foret has not finished outside the top four in any of the three races and enjoys a five point lead over Michael VD Mark in the overall standings. On the other hand, Sofuoglu, who had won the first race in Philip Island, Australia, is currently fourth with 45 points. The Turkish rider was involved in a fierce battle for the top spot with Lowes with both riders sharing the lead between them throughout the 21 lap race, which Lowes won by a whisker. “We have had podium finishes in the last two races and now a second and third position. Over all this is a good beginning. Moreover, one of our rider still continues to lead the race standings, we will be doing everything to get the riders to continue the lead,� team chairman and managing director Arun Pandey said in a release. PTI
MAHI RACING RIDER BRINGS LAURELS TO TEAM
Kenan Sofuoglu, the Turkish professional motorcycle racer, who won the Supersport World Championship title three times in 2007, 2010 and 2012 leads the pack in the hunt for the title this year too.
WORLD SUPERSPORT CHAMPIONSHIP World Supersport championship points 2013 before the start of the Assen race:
32
1 Kenan Sofuoglu, (Mahi Team Racing, 25 points) 2 Sam Lowes, (20) 3 Michael van der Mark, (16) 4 Fabien Foret, (Mahi Team Racing, 13) 5 David Salom, (11) 6 Luca Scassa, (10) 7 Andrea Antonelli, (9) 8 Lorenzo Zanetti, (8) 9 Massimo Roccoli, (7) 10 Jack Kennedy, (6)