Epaper 2 june 2013

THE FRENCH QUARTER

SAFFRON TO COUNTER PINK FOR T-CAKE

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ontreal is one of the most beautiful cities in Canada. Apart from being one of the most important economic hubs in Canada, Montreal’s magic lies in its rich heritage, thanks to its French influence.

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wo champions for a separate Telangana state, the TRS and the BJP, have begun to fight for space in T-region with operation Akarsh and Atyakarsh to draw leaders from other parties.

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While government intermediate colleges face closure for want of students, the State government sanctioning 7,000 more private colleges raises questions on the rationale of the move.

IS THIS

THE END

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CITY SUNDAY, JUNE 2, 2013

GETTING IT STARTED

Candle making

SHIVA KUMAR

Candle making workshop is on.

Where: GVK One Mall, Banjara Hills When: Till June 2, 11 am

The art factor Visvarupa, an exhibition of selected works by Koeli Mukherjee is on.

Where: Poecile Art Gallery, Banjara Hills When: Till June 2, 11 am to 7 pm

Meet Chamki Meet the beloved muppet from Galli Galli Sim Sim. Where: Hitex School Expo, Hitex City When: Till June 2.

Summer camp Summer camp for kids is on.

Where: Jawahar Bal Bhavan, Nampally When: Till June 5, 10.30 am to 5 pm

Unnatural Selection Film Unnatural Selection will be screened.

Where: Lamakaan, Banjara Hills When: June 2, 7 pm to 8.30 pm

Movie mania It's A Jungle out There, a film by Hans-Christian Schmidt.

Where: Goethe-Zentrum Hyderabad, Banjara Hills When: June 6, 6 pm

Relations and Reflections Relations and Reflections, paintings of Shambu Prasad Reddy is on display.

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

A pipeline being placed at the foundation stone laying ceremony of Krishna Phase III in the City on Saturday.

Girl, film by Manoel De Oliveira will be screened.

Where: Goethe-Zentrum Hyderabad, Banjara Hills.

When: June 5, 4 pm

Movie screening Film by Leszek Dawid, My Name Is Ki will be screened.

Where: International School for Film + Media, Banjara Hills When: June 2, 2 pm

Movie mania Eccentricities Of A Blonde-Haired

CINEMAS

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

Where: Lamakaan, Banjara Hills When: June 2, 10 am

Film fest Beyond, a film By Pernilla August will be screened.

Where: Goethe-Zentrum Hyderabad, Banjara Hills When: June 7, 4 pm

Performance time Mimic and magician Hari Kishan will be performing.

Where: Ravindra Bharati, Saifabad When: June 2, 5.30 pm

Where: Lamakaan, Banjara Hills When: June 4, 7.30 pm to 9 pm

Photo exhibition Traveler's Zen, photo exhibition by Praveen Maloo will be held.

Where: Alliance Francaise, Banjara Hills When: Till June 3, 6.30 pm

Robokid Robokid 2013, robotics competition for school students will be held.

Where: Jay Robotix Private Limited, Patancheru When: June 5, 10 am

Movie time Liberal arts Twenty weeks of liberal arts will be launched.

She Gave Him Her Eyes, a film by Iciar Bollain will be screened.

Where: Goethe-Zentrum Hyderabad, Banjara Hills When: June 6, 4 pm

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

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CITY SUNDAY, JUNE 2, 2013

Blast victims get ex-gratia n ex-gratia of `1 lakh to families of victims of Dilsukhnagar bomb blasts who were residing outside the City was handed over by Mayor Mohammed Majid Hussain on Saturday. An ex-gratia of `1 lakh was also handed over to the family of baby Humera, who died in a sump due to the negligence of a contract employee on February 26, 2012.

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TRS meet starts

446 pet licences issued

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total of 446 licences were issued in veterinary hospitals for pet dogs. According to the GHMC, licences can be obtained from government veterinary hospitals, situated in Narayanaguda, Shantinagar, Seetharambagh and Langer House. Even private pet clinics offer licences. The fees are fixed at `50 for pet dogs and `1,000 for breeder dogs.

he much-anticipated TRS meeting to welcome other party leaders coming into its fold got off to a colourful start at Nizam grounds today. The high-profile inductions are: Former APCC president K Keshava Rao and sitting MPs G Vivekanand and Manda Jagannatham. The leaders said this was the beginning of the inward flow into the party from various camps.

Saffron to counter Pink INKESHAF AHMED

Two champions for T-state — TRS and BJP — have begun to fight for space in T-region with operation Akarsh and Atyakarsh to draw other party leaders.

ahmed.m@postnoon.com

F

ollowing the success of Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS) in attracting three senior Congress leaders, including two members of Parliament into its fold through operation Akarsh, rival T-champion BJP has decided to give a tough competition by launching a similar operation.

The party is planning to woo all rival party leaders from the ruling Congress, opposition Telugu Desam Party and TRS into its fold by citing its strong credentials in the ongoing struggle for separate Telangana state.

The party’s massive public meeting, being organised at Nizam College grounds tomorrow, would be used as a platform to launch ‘Atyakarsh’ (great attraction). It has already netted a big fish, Nagam Janardhan Reddy.

The public meeting will be attended by the party’s national president Rajnath Singh, to mark the entry of senior politician and former minister in TDP regime Nagam Janardhan Reddy into the party.

Nagam would merge his Telangana Nagara Samithi (TNS) with the BJP and formally announce his entry into the BJP

in the presence of Singh. Given his image as the staunch separate Telangana supporter, Nagam’s entry into the saffron party is likely to give a much needed fillip to its otherwise weak image vis-a-vis rival TRS. The party strongly feels that the public meeting would help in consolidating its position in the Telangana region as the only party which can actually create a separate state, the dream of millions of people, if it returned to power in the 2014 General Elections.

“The only alternative to Congress is BJP, and Telangana

Nephew held for raping aunt Mohd Subhan mohd.s@postnoon.com

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youth who allegedly raped his aunt has landed in jail. Karkhana police have arrested T Kartik, 25, on charge of repeatedly attempting to sexually assault his aunt.

Kartik is a resident of SK Basti in Karkhana, Secunderabad. He works in a private firm and his uncle T Madhav Rao also lives nearby. Rao, 40, married a 30-year-old woman only recently. It is said that the youth was drawn to his aunt and he allegedly used vulgar terms and abusive gestures to inveigle her. The woman had been troubled with his advances and had told Rao to rein him in, but Rao had laughed it off, police said.

Two days ago, Kartik allegedly came to his uncle’s home when he was away and misbehaved with his aunt. She raised the alarm that brought neighbours to the scene.

Police were informed and the man was arrested. The aunt has lodged a complaint with the police in this regard.

will become a reality only under the BJP. Being a sub-regional party, TRS can’t create a Telangana state even if it won 15 MP seats. We will tell this to the people of the region and seek their support to ensure our victory,” BJP leader and former minister of State for Home affairs Ch Vidyasagar Rao said.

BJP ALONE CAN TELANGANA

GIVE

On his part, Nagam Janardhan Reddy, who is joining BJP during the massive public meeting, said that being a national party,

BJP alone can create a separate Telangana state. He said it was because of this reason he is joining the saffron party.

“We have seen how the ruling Congress cheated us when it came to the cherished dream of millions of Telangana people.

Whereas the BJP is not only openly fighting for a separate state, but has also promised to create the state immediately after coming to power at the Centre. I can tell you that the BJP is the only party which is committed to the creation of a separate state,” he said.

Nagam also said the BJP

honoured its words and respected its allies while the Congress looked down upon its allies and ill-treated them. He cited examples of the Trinamool Congress and Samajwadi Party.

The saffron party has already started negotiations with rival party leaders, who are not happy in their respective parties. It is also trying to convince fence-sitters to join its fold. Plans are afoot to get mileage from fresh political developments that shook the Congress, following the desertion of its three senior leaders.

Blast info reward `20 lakh Those giving valid information that may help nail the culprits in the Dilsukhnagar twin blasts will now get a reward of `20 lakh.

Postnoon News feedback@postnoon.com

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he reward money consists of `10 lakh announced earlier by the National Investigation Agency and the State’s recently announced `10 lakh. Police said the identity of the informer will be strictly kept under wraps.

The State government has issued orders to this effect, said a statement from the office of the director general of police. The twin-blasts near Rajiv

Chowk at Dilsukhnagar killed 17 people and injured many others.

The orders recalled that two improvised explosive devices (IEDs) were suspected to have been tied to bicycles and operated using timer devices.

More than three months after the terror attack, neither the police nor the NIA have achieved any breakthrough in the case. Both the local police and the NIA had drawn a blank on the issue despite spending three and a half

months of toil.

Senior police officers allege that the key to cracking the case is local elements who helped carry out the blasts and these

elements are under political patronage, which is why there has been no breakthrough as yet. Police are maintaining silence over this allegation.

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CITY SUNDAY, JUNE 2, 2013

More the merrier, says State government While intermediate colleges are facing closure for want of students, the State sanctioning 7,000 new private colleges raises questions on the move’s rationale.

FOR REPRESENTATION ONLY

of the 5,800 private junior colleges, 4,000 are owned by two major institutions. The management of these institutions, in the name of coaching classes, have been collecting fees in lakhs.

The government also seems to be turning a blind eye by not initiating any action,” says Reddy.

ALEENA ALICE

aleena.t@ postnoon.com

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n a move which is seen to be irrational, the State government has waved the green flag to the private sector to set up 7,000 more junior colleges in the State. This will aggravate the already flagging government colleges to collapse, academics say.

There are 5,800 junior colleges, 820 of them government run, and around 178 government-aided colleges in the State.

Nearly 10 lakh students clear the SSC annually and yet hundreds of colleges report lack of viable number of students. With 7,000 new colleges, the first victim would be government colleges.

Last year, 526 government colleges faced closure due to insufficient admissions. The government had almost decided to shut them but the intervention of teachers saved the situation.

“As it is, private junior colleges have taken over government colleges, since majority of the parents prefer private colleges because they are more exam-centric. Now, with new private colleges, the number of students

GOVERNMENT

coming to government colleges will drop further. Eventually, the government will state that there are not enough students in government colleges and close them down,” says N Suresh, a government college lecturer.

P Madhusudan Reddy, general secretary, AP Government Junior College Lecturers’ Association, says, “There are nearly 60 mandals in the State which have no junior colleges.

Why is it that no interest is shown in such places? Children in these mandals have no access to higher secondary education, and thousands of seats in urban areas are lying vacant. If the

government wants the State to achieve academic progress, it should make sure there is access to education in such areas.”

ATROCIOUS

FEES

Though Board of Intermediate has directed all private unaided junior colleges to follow the fee structure prescribed by the government, most have been collecting fees at least three to four times higher than the capped sum.

The government had prescribed `1,600 tuition fee for the first year and `1,700 for the second year. However, none of the private junior colleges have been following this fee pattern. “Out

JUSTIFICATION

The government, however, is trying to wash its hands of the situation by saying that they are going to come up with 150-200 residential schools in different parts of the State. “There is a proposal to construct government residential schools from Class VI to Class XII with best of infrastructure and quality education. This way, students, once they complete their Class X, will not have to look out for private colleges for their intermediate education,” said an official from the ministry of higher education.

UNABLE

TO MEET NORMS

The Board of Intermediate has extended the last date for the payment of inspection fee for starting of new private un-aided junior colleges for the academic year 2013-14 to June 3. According to sources, 339 new colleges are not able to meet norms prescribed by the government.

CM lauds the role of Congress ministers and MLAs in speeding up Krishna-III and Godavari water projects for Hyderabad.

‘End to City’s water woes in one year’

Md Nizamuddin

nizamuddin.a@postnoon.com

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hief Minister N Kiran Kumar Reddy, who had laid the foundation stone for Krishna Phase-III, promised that denizens will be able to get sufficient water by next May. “Under GHMC limits, the City is being supplied with 1.6 TMC water. If Krishna-III and Godavari pipelines get completed, it would get an additional 1.3 TMC each month. Which means 40 per cent additional water,” Kiran said.

Kiran said it was the pressure mounted by Congress ministers and MLAs that prompted him to take up the work on urgent basis. The government will be spending `3,700 crore to bring in Godavari waters to the City in different phases. He pointed out that works to the tune of `2,000 crore have already been guaranteed by the government for Godavari.

He expressed concern at the wasting of water in cities. “No one should waste water and there must be awareness among public about proper utilisation,”

he said.

The chief minister also explained how the ORR (Outer Ring Road) took shape in the recent months. “We have completed 150-km work on the ORR. The remaining 33-km work will be finished in the last phase,” he said. The government has spent `6,700 crore on the ORR. He added that among the 33 radial roads, 16 were already completed, for which the government spent `1,500 crore.

Citing how the City successfully conducted recent events, including the CoP-11, he hoped

that it would become a top destination in the coming days for international events. The Agriculture Conference and Commonwealth Youth Conference will be organised here. “With improvement of basic infrastructure, Hyderabad shall be transformed into a top destination for international events,” he explained.

Earlier, the chief minister had laid foundation stones for four major projects to be taken up in the next two years. They include Tolichowki flyover and three road widening projects.

AP on top, JEE advanced test today Postnoon News

feedback@postnoon.com

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round 1.26 lakh students, including 21,000 from the State who passed the JEE Mains, will be appearing for the JEE Advanced exam today.

The success of the candidates in this examination will make them eligible for admission to the 16 IITs in the country. AP has the highest number of qualified students this year.

THOUGH THE TOP 1.5 LAKH STUDENTS WHO QUALIFIED WERE ALLOWED TO APPEAR FOR THE ADVANCED EXAM, NEARLY 24,000 DID NOT FILL THE JEE ADVANCED FORMS. Though the top 1.5 lakh students who qualified were allowed to appear for the advanced exam, nearly 24,000 did not fill the JEE Advanced forms for various reasons.

Around 4,000 students from AP dropped out as well. Cutthroat competition was one reason for many to drop out.

This year, candidates applying for the JEE Advanced had to register online for the exam; this led to major confusion, say experts. JEE officials, however, refute this. “Candidates were given sufficient time to register. Also, clear instructions were given on the website, so there is no reason to make this an excuse for not appearing for the exam,” said a senior official.

Meanwhile, candidates who got through the JEE Mains but scored better marks in other entrance exams for various universities decided to opt out. Since the results for JEE Advanced would be out a little late, candidates did not want to take a chance and miss out admission in other colleges.

The exam today will be held in two shifts; the first from 9am to 12pm and the afternoon shift is from 2pm to 5pm. Strict measures have been taken to make sure no cheating takes place in the exam centres.

Students reportedly have to give their thumb impressions to ensure that no imposters appear for them.

Those appearing for the examination today will have two objective-type papers each consisting of mathematics, physics and chemistry.

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READERS’ LETTERS SUNDAY, JUNE 2, 2013

No shelter to be found We have only a precious few trees in the City, but we turn a blind eye when the government or builders hack them down. PK Surendran’s May we all perish!

(May 27), prompted concerned citizens to raise their voices.

degrees are also just next to politicians in apathy. They simply are walking away with their salaries to retirement.

e need to ask how a tree, which is worth `30 lakh a year, is happily cut and the fine is only `5,000. Do you think the department can save the trees when this type of eyewash works?

Let’s save the next tree with more awareness and ask for stringent rules and penalties. Shame on the people who do not keep strict rules. Not only politicians, now officers with great certificates and

ad days ahead. Politicians plan City development for the future. They pass this information to their kith and kin, builders’ lobby, businessmen, local MLAs, corporators, goons and mafia. They seize all available land and destroy nature within days.

Plotting done, (they put up) huge advertisement for sale and dig borewells up to 2,000 feet below and mercilessly misuse the groundwater with the

JAYAPRAKASH, via email

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blessings of the government office. With mamool flow to the cops, local leaders and ministers, government land which was given to poor people has been converted into large multi-complex and residential buildings.

Motor pumps are used to pump more and more water from these water lines.

Mamools are collected by line man on a regular basis. Street lights keep burning throughout the day.

There is no one to hear any information (complaints) passed to the official. It (the complaint) is not looked into by leaders. Mafia/government officials have so much money that they will ruin the

entire ecosystem.

KS SUDHAN,

via email

ou said it!! We will perish soon… at the rate we are felling trees, filling water bodies to quench our monetary greed, and playing with Mother Nature. We deserve to. How many have the luxury to a cool shelter when the temperature is 42..43..45 degrees? It will be too late to do anything about the damage we have caused.

Y

JAYASHREE,

via email Read the report at http://postnoon.com/2013/05/27 /may-we-all-perish/127486

Food fight

Everyone knows that Hyderabad loves its food. Which is why it came as a major blow when news came to light that 790 eateries were shut down this year in Hyderabad because of unhygienic conditions (Aleena Alice, May 27). We hope there’s some change, or we’ll all have to think twice before eating out again.

The state is constantly at war with itself over all sorts of issues.

Meanwhile, the common citizen is wondering how to get his next meal (Padmini C’s Vegetable prices are shooting up and there’s nothing we can do, May 31). hile food is not enough and water not available, our political leaders want us to fight in the name of religion…. Depressing situation.

We fight and these leaders take and loot what they like.

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VIRAL,

via email Read the report at http://postnoon.com/2013/05/31/vegetableprices-are-shooting-up-and-theresnothing-we-can-do/128169

TOP LETTER

Foodies’ dilemma hose restaurants get closed and they open again with another name.

What is the big deal?

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MAHESH,

oadside eateries’ food and beverages are also unhygienic and of poor quality. GHMC should remove these in the interest of people’s health .

R

via email

nless the names of defaulting eateries are published on the department’s website, how does this news help the customer? There is also a strong feeling that the eateries are let off soon after due to pressures and other considerations.

U

SATYA,

via email

K VENKATARAMAM,

hours after closure, buzzing with usual sales. It would be more appropriate if the authorities inform the public about the fines imposed and the corrective steps taken by the eateries to rectify the unhygienic conditions.

via email

here is no need to feel happy about the closure of the eateries after inspection. A year ago, a famous mixture shop in Anandbagh, Secunderabad, was closed after inspection by the health officials. This incident had happened just before a big festival and to my surprise, the shop was opened just within 48

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B MADHAVA MURTHY,

via email

completely agree with this.

There have been many instances where my friends and I have faced bad food inspite of paying the amount as per restaurants and eateries bill list. I would like to draw your attention to the area of Madhapur where so

I

many eateries have cropped up without basic sanitation and rats all over the place.

Also, since Madhapur has a lot of floating population, this problem gets compounded as food sellers are making brisk business at the cost of our health. Request GHMC to pay attention to Madhapur.

Thanks.

AA,

via email, Read the report at http://postnoon.com /2013/05/27/790 -eateries-shut-down-this-year-inhyderabad-becauseof-unhygienicconditions/127468

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ALSO SEND US YOUR PHOTOGRAPHS.

6

NATION SUNDAY, JUNE 2, 2013

Guided bombs for fighters

Howrah bypolls peaceful

SRINAGAR: Army has foiled an infiltra-

NEW DELHI: By the end of next year,

tion bid in Kashmir, killing three intruders. Army detected some movement in the sector in Kupwara district late last night. As the intruders were challenged by the patrol, they opened fire. Three militants were killed in the gunbattle, while Army suffered no casualties. An Army spokesman said three to four militants managed to escape.

Indian fighter planes could be equipped with indigenously-developed ‘glide bombs’, which will be guided to their targets for precision attacks. The first-of-its-kind bomb in the country, being developed by the DRDO, will boost India’s strike capabilities as targets can be hit even beyond the range of a fighter aircraft.

KOLKATA: Around 15.96 per cent

3 infiltrators killed in J&K

polling was recorded in the first two hours of voting for the bypoll to the Howrah Lok Sabha seat in West Bengal being held today. Chief Election Officer Sunil Gupta said the polling started at 7am and was being conducted peacefully. The election has been necessitated by the death of Trinamool MP Ambika Banerjee.

Uncertainty affecting biz: CII

However, a majority of the respondents in the survey expect improvement in their sales, new orders, exports and value of production in the first quarter of 2013-14 from the levels of previous quarter.

NEW DELHI: Uncertainty is still lingering among industry players regarding the country’s business prospects, a survey conducted by Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) said Sunday.

The survey result remained almost unchanged at 51.2 for April-June 2013 quarter as compared to the previous one. The reading for the January-March 2013 quarter had risen above the psychological 50-level mark to 51.3, after dipping to 49.9 in the October-December 2012 quarter.

The survey is based on the

responses from 180 members.

Most respondents (57.1 percent) belonged to largescale firms, while the rest were from the MSME sector.

The top three areas of concern for most firms were domestic economic and political instability, high levels of corruption and infrastructure and institutional shortages. But risk from exchange rate volatility was ranked as the lowest concern for businesses at this moment in the survey.

The survey indicates that most respondents (47.8 per cent)

THE TOP THREE AREAS

expect GDP growth to improve and come in a range of 6.0-6.5 percent for the current fiscal as compared to five percent in 201213. This is in line with CII’s expectations for GDP to lie

Mother’s milk bank to rescue of Rajasthan infants UDAIPUR: This bank is not about money, just goodwill. India’s fourth mother’s milk bank in this Rajasthan town is saving the lives of frail or critically ill infants whose biological mothers are unable to feed them for a variety of reasons.

The Divya Mothers Milk Bank in Udaipur, has provided 173 units of mother’s milk in about two months to infants in immediate need as they have been hospitalized with life threatening diseases or are suffering from other problems. Each unit contains 30 ml of mother’s milk.

“Mother’s milk can save the life of an infant born in some particular condition. It is like giving blood to an accident victim who needs it immediately,” Devendra Agrawal, founder of the Maa Bhagwati Vikas Sansthan, an NGO that runs the bank, told IANS. “In over two and a half months, we have collected 307 units of mother milk from 30 donors.

About 173 units were provided to infants on prescription of doctors.”

He added that the bank had provided succour to many families in this area of the desert state that has a high infant mortality rate — 63 per 1,000 live births as compared to the India figure of 53.

“As per government records, one in

eight babies is born preterm in our country and fewer than half of mothers who deliver a baby prematurely are able to provide their babies with breast milk.

Through the milk bank, we can save 16 of 100 premature infants,” Agrawal said.

A survey conducted by the Rajasthan government, he said, found that 42 per cent of newborns were undernourished and needed mother’s milk. Besides, through breast feeding and donated mother’s milk, infant mortality rate can be reduced by 22 per cent.

If a child is breastfed, her chances of survival increases six times, he added.

According to Archana Shaktawat, project coordinator for the project, several women are coming forward to donate their milk. “Women who have surplus milk or can donate mother milk due to other reasons are coming forward. We don’t financially compensate the women who donate their milk.”.

Infants in the neonatal intensive care unit, those with life-threatening diseases or conditions or those whose mothers are HIV+ are provided mother milk from the bank. Besides, milk is also provided to multiple birth babies whose mothers can’t keep up with the milk required to nourish their infants IANS or those who are on medication.

OF CONCERN FOR MOST FIRMS WERE ECONOMIC AND POLITICAL INSTABILITY, CORRUPTION AND INFRASTRUCTURE AND INSTITUTIONAL SHORTAGES. between 6.0-6.4 percent for the current year.

However, in an indication

that the downside risks to growth have not abated yet, 36 percent of the respondents expect GDP to grow below six percent in the current year.

The twin deficits — fiscal and current account — have emerged as key policy concerns lately.

The survey reveals that almost 60 per cent of the respondents expect fiscal deficit to lie in a range of 4.5 to 5.5 percent of GDP in 2013-14 as against the budgeted 4.8 percent of GDP for the year.

IANS

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WORLD SUNDAY, JUNE 2, 2013

Japan to give $1 bn to Sahel

Turkey protesters celebrate as cops withdraw

YOKOHOMA: Japan said Sunday it

ISTANBUL: Thousands of protesters in Istanbul were celebrating victo-

would give $1 billion in aid to help stabilise the Islamist-infested Sahel region of Africa, months after the deaths of 10 Japanese in a hostage crisis there. The money is part of a $14 billion aid package to be given to Africa over five years, which Abe announced Saturday at the start of the Tokyo International Conference on African Development.

ry early Sunday after police withdrew from the square at the centre of one of the largest demonstrations against Turkey's Islamist-rooted government. Amnesty International said that there had been two deaths.

Taksim Square has become the epicentre of demonstrations that have left dozens injured — hundreds according to Amnesty, which also said some protesters had been left blinded by the tear gas used by police.

The protesters danced and sang in the square after the police pullback. "Government, resign!" protesters shouted. "We are here Tayyip, where are you?" they chanted, taunting PM Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

WikiLeaks: Manning goes to trial The trial commences as Obama administration faces criticism for its purported crackdown on whistleblowers and the press, including accessing journalists' phone and email records as part of its probes into leaks.

Arthur MacMillan

SINCE TAKING OFFICE, OBAMA HAS INVOKED THE ESPIONAGE ACT, PASSED IN 1917 TO

Agence France-Presse

WASHINGTON: Three years after his arrest in Iraq for allegedly causing America's worst ever national security breach, US Army private Bradley Manning finally goes on trial Monday over his disclosures to WikiLeaks. Manning, who faces a possible 154-year jail sentence, has offered to plead guilty to several offenses but he denies prosecutors' most serious charge — that he knowingly aided the enemy, chiefly AlQaeda and Osama Bin Laden.

The trial follows an exhaustive series of preliminary hearings that outlined the government's case against Manning, 25, over leaks of diplomatic cables and war logs that caused huge embarrassment to the United States and its allies.

The soldier's supporters argue that his actions shone a light in the darkest corners of the US-led wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, as well as exposing the reasoning behind American foreign policy decisions.

His opponents, however, contend that he is a traitor whose behavior wantonly endangered the lives of people around the world, including US citizens.

The lengthy nature of the case against Manning -- he was arrested in May 2010 while serving as a military intelligence analyst near Baghdad -- has revolved around the complexity

Opening Pandora’s Box n

The first document published by WikiLeaks, on February 18, 2010, that Manning admitted to having leaked was a diplomatic cable from the US Embassy in Iceland.

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Between February 2010 and September 2011, at least 2,50,000 cables dated 1966 to 2010 were released.

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The New York Times, The Guardian, Der Spiegel, Le Monde and El Pais — collaborated with WikiLeaks to publish the material.

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Manning admitted to the "willful transmission" of a video that showed a US combat helicopter shooting at Iraqi civilians in July 2007. The video was made public by Assange in April 2010.

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Manning acknowledged he had transmitted a video of a US air strike on the Afghan village of Granai, where more than 100 civilians lost their lives in May 2009.

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At least 90,000 documents linked to the war in Afghanistan, and 400,000 connected to Iraq released. These included confidential Pentagon reports revealing abuse, torture and killings of civilians.

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Confidential files of 779 detainees who passed through the military prison at Guantanamo Bay revealed that a majority of those incarcerated there had not been charged. The documents also showed their mental state or the content of their statements.

PUNISH THOSE WHO AID

US ENEMIES, SIX TIMES — TWICE AS OFTEN AS

ALL PREVIOUS PRESIDENTS COMBINED.

of the charges he faces and his treatment in custody.

While the case has served as a cause celebre for civil liberties advocates in the US, the government contends that Manning's actions helped the nation's enemies in a political era defined by the threat posed by Al-Qaeda.

It is that charge that Manning disputes, though the soldier admitted in testimony

earlier this year, an unauthorized audio recording of which was later published online, that he did in fact pass a huge cache of files to WikiLeaks.

Manning has offered to plead guilty to 10 offenses, including breaches of military discipline and good conduct, which could see him sentenced to 20 years under the courts-martial process. However, he could face a

maximum term of 154 years in jail if found guilty of the more serious charges, including that of "aiding the enemy."

Part of the US government's case against Manning asserts that late Al-Qaeda leader Bin Laden had asked an aide to retrieve documents from the Internet that the soldier had passed to WikiLeaks.

A Navy SEAL who participated in the May 2011 raid that killed Bin Laden at his hideout in Pakistan is expected to testify, as are dozens of other witnesses.

Although dozens of reporters are covering the trial, which is expected to last 12 weeks, some evidence will be given behind closed doors for national security reasons.

Manning's pre-trial proceedings were heavily criticised by media outlets for the government's refusal to publish legal documents regarding the case, leading to allegations of unnecAFP essary official secrecy.

From analyst to whistleblower B orn in Crescent, Oklahoma to an American father and a Welsh mother who later divorced, Manning had an aptitude for computers from an early age and reportedly created his first website when he was only 10 years old.

At the age of 17, by when he was living as an openly gay man, Manning got a job with a software company in Oklahoma City, only to be fired four months later. He then migrated to computer hacking, attending events filled with other hackers, a paradoxical prelude to the

high-level security clearance he obtained when he became a military intelligence analyst.

His homosexuality and gender identity issues — Manning enlisted despite the "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" policy on gays in the military at the time — led to problems. Commanders judged him ill-suited to military life and during training, he was recommended for discharge. But his technical skills were perfectly suited to becoming an intelligence analyst and the decision was overturned.

Ultimately, he was sent to

Iraq where — appalled with what he saw in the reports he analyzed — his motivation for illicitly uploading such materi-

al and passing it to WikiLeaks appears to have taken hold.

The US Army video recording of two Apache attack helicopters gunning down a group of Iraqis in Baghdad, an attack that killed at least 12 men and wounded two children, was an incident Manning said "burdens me emotionally." "They dehumanised the individuals they were engaging and seemed to not value human life by referring to them as 'dead bastards' and congratulating themselves on their ability to kill in large numbers," Manning said. AFP

8

COMMENT SUNDAY, JUNE 2, 2013

EDITORIALS IF YOU FAIL, try again Anna Hazare has announced that he will go on another indefinite fast for Lokpal Bill. One can understand his steadfast resolve, owing to his Gandhian principle, but refusal to see the writing on the wall is a different matter all together. He keeps forgetting that he is trying to bring under one roof a selfish populace with million diverging and mutually obstructing agendas. No matter how the civil society or the politicos try to romanticise them as ‘aam aadmi’, it doesn’t change the fundamental nature of the people, the base which forms the ideal foundation for all kinds of filth in places of consequence. We choose to vote based on caste and community lines and ignore merit. We elect criminals to power and expect Ram Rajya, but get Scam Rajya.

We destroy our environment, wipe out species and expect the perfect weather. We jump queues, jaywalk and drive like we own the roads. We refuse to follow procedure and resort to bribing to cover our misdemeanour, but we have a problem when the same conditioned officials seek bribes on other occasions. When women are violated and murdered around us we tend to blame the victims and justify the perpetrators. So in India’s case, we have rulers and officials who truly represent our real nature. Lokpall Bill or any legislation to change the system will not work till we change ourselves.

Good luck Anna!

WHY WE LOVE...

Sunil Gavaskar When given an opportunity, trust the media to gang up to flatten out the weak. Only, this gentleman is not a weak one.

Never was, when he squared up to express deliveries from Andy Roberts, or when he questioned functioning of selectors calling them “a bunch of jokers”, or today, as he explains his stand on the burning issue of spot-fixing. To accusations that he has remained silent on the matter so as not to upset his contractors, the first Little Master clarifies that he HAS expressed his views, though only through the channel that he is tied up with.

And in his typical nonchalant style calls his accusers “erroneous and downright mischievous”.

STOCKTAKING OF THE STATE OF AP From the hip SYED SHOAIB

W

hen it’s New Year we rejoice. It’s June now and a mid-year stocktaking will help to ensure that there is reason to rejoice in the coming New Year.

Having witnessed a long spell of heat wave, several areas in Andhra Pradesh got respite albeit with some damage due to rainfall this week.

Sun and rainfall bring in mixed reports. While 524 people were killed since April 1, this year due to sunstroke, there is unhappiness over the compensation of Rs50,000 as the family of a person who dies due to cold wave is entitled to ex gratia of Rs1.5 lakh from the State Disaster Response Fund contributed by the Centre!

On the political front, Chandrababu Naidu’s son Nara Lokesh’s induction into the Telugu Desam at the Mahanadu brought out the simmering differences between Naidu and his brother-in-law, Harikrishna with the latter’s son, Junior NTR alleging that nobody invited him to the two-day event.

Telangana simmers. Chief Minister N Kiran Kumar Reddy requested the Centre for AP special packages to handle the Telangana issue, not being in favour of a special status to Hyderabad for creation of a Rayala Telangana. The CM feels the situation might go out of hand if the State was bifurcated as more demands for creation of states like Rayalaseema and North Coastal AP might crop up. Reddy detailed various concerns for the Seemandhra region in respect of irrigation, industries, job opportunities, capital city etc.

On the social front, more than two-third of the NRI marriages in the State turned out to be fraudulent matrimonial alliances for the local women resulting in their desertion.

Dowry is the most commonly reported reason for the desertion of AP women. In 17 out of 23 districts across AP, women outnumbered men in seeking separation from January 1 to March 31, 2013. Around 1,356 wives and 1,202 husbands filed divorce petitions in the state in contested cases, wherein the spouse is not ready to give a divorce.

In a bid to control illicitly distilled liquor, especially on islands in Godavari, the excise authorities shaped an action

EDUCATION IS A PATH BREAKER FOR THE

STATE. IN UPSC, THE STATE BAGGED 25 RANKS. LAST YEAR, 33 CANDIDATES FROM AP WERE SELECTED TO THE CIVIL SERVICES. plan to hire boats and carry out surprise raids in East Godavari.

In positive initiatives, the Eastern Power Distribution Company of AP Limited carried out the high voltage distribution system (HVDS) from this year to eliminate line losses and power theft. This would ensure reliable power supply on rural feeders to agricultural consumers and reduce line losses

and DTR failure.

Education is a path breaker for the State. In UPSC, the State bagged 25 ranks. Last year, 33 candidates from AP were selected to the civil services, down from 55 in the previous year.

The Primary Census Abstract released by the Director of Census Operations, Andhra Pradesh, has put the State’s total population at over 8.45 crore as per Census-2011. The decadal growth rate of population in the State has decreased to 10.98 per cent in 2011 from 11.10 per cent in the 2001 Census. While the rural population accounts for 66.64 per cent, the urban population accounts for 33.36 per cent.

The male population and female population is 50.18 and 49.82 per cent respectively. The number of farmers have reduced from 22.52 to 16.47 per cent.

The State’s Socio-Economic Survey shows some surprise trends. Output of alcoholic beverages, tobacco and related products increased by 61.4 per cent over the previous year, while food products decreased by 17.1 per cent. Also, 29.60 per cent of the population was below the poverty line in 2004-05, which dropped to 21.10 per cent by 2009-10.

The crime rate in the Hyderabad commissionerate has dropped in the first quarter of this year compared to the same period last year. However, rape cases have increased by 5.8 per cent. Chain snatching cases have registered a 32 per cent jump.

The Planning Commission’s pat for AP’s social and economic development coincides with the State being placed number one in the proposed expenditure for the 12th five-year plan in India.

9

BUSINESS SUNDAY, JUNE 2, 2013

LPG scheme launched

Honda, Hyundai log growth

SBBJ to open 100 branches

TUMKUR (KARNATAKA): The ambi-

CHENNAI: Japanese and Korean car

NEW DELHI: As part of its golden

tious direct transfer of cash subsidy on cooking gas was today (Sunday) kickstarted in 18 districts with consumers being paid Rs435 directly in their bank accounts. Petroleum and Natural Gas Minister Veerappa Moily today formally launched the scheme here, which is among the 20 high Aadhaar coverage districts.

makers Honda Cars India Ltd and Hyundai Motor India Ltd registered sales growth while American Ford India Pvt Ltd saw a dip in its sales last month, officials said. Honda Cars recorded 9.8 per cent growth in sales in May in the domestic market compared to the sales registered by the company during the period last year.

jubilee celebrations, State Bank of Bikaner and Jaipur (SBBJ) plans to open 100 branches in the current fiscal. “The Bank has plans to add one hundred more branches during the current year. It will also take care of the bank’s commitment regarding financial inclusion," SBBJ said in a statement on Saturday.

Apple in court to fight ebook conspiracy US antitrust watchdogs allege Apple orchestrated a collusive shakeup of the ebook business in early 2010 that resulted in higher prices.

JOHN BIERS

Agence France-Presse NEW YORK: Apple goes on the defensive on Monday with the start of a trial in which US officials allege the company was the “ringmaster” of a conspiracy to raise prices of electronic books.

In the trial set to open in US District Court in New York, the technology icon is going solo in its fight against the US Justice Department after five large publishers named in the lawsuit settled the charges.

US antitrust watchdogs allege Apple orchestrated a collusive shakeup of the ebook business in early 2010 that resulted in higher prices.

Apple is expected to argue its actions shook up a sector that had been dominated by Amazon, and that it boosted competition and improved conditions for consumers.

Early signals suggest the three-week, non-jury trial could be a tough ride for Apple, which has been struggling of late amid a dearth of new products and recent allegations that it avoided billions in taxes.

Five publishers originally named as defendants reached settlements in which they agreed to terminate their ebook agreements with Apple.

The largest settlement was with Penguin for $75 million, while a settlement with Hachette, Harper Collins and Simon & Schuster created a $69 million fund for refunds to consumers. Macmillan settled for $26 million.

Apple chief executive Tim Cook dismissed the idea of a settlement because it would call for the company to sign an admission of wrongdoing.

“We didn’t do anything wrong there," Cook told a recent California conference. “We’re going to fight."

For Apple, the case is not as

much about money but maintaining what had been a stellar reputation and deciding its own business practices. A loss could also leave Apple vulnerable to private lawsuits.

“The Apple brand has been built magically over many years," said Roger Kay of Endpoint Technologies Associates, a technology market intelligence company, who added that a defeat “would substantially harm the company’s reputation."

The government’s case centers on a period when Amazon dominated the ebook business, selling bestseller titles for $9.99.

Leaders of the major publishing houses held “CEOs dinners” in “private rooms at upscale restaurants” at which they discussed the threat from Amazon.

Into this environment stepped Apple, which was readying the launch of its iPad. Rather than following the Amazon “wholesale” pricing

EARLY SIGNALS SUGGEST THE THREE-WEEK, NONJURY TRIAL COULD BE A TOUGH RIDE FOR APPLE, WHICH HAS BEEN STRUGGLING OF LATE AMID A DEARTH OF NEW PRODUCTS AND RECENT ALLEGATIONS THAT IT AVOIDED BILLIONS IN TAXES. model in which the retailer sets the price, Apple favored the socalled “agency model” where the publishers set the price and the seller -- in this case Apple -received a 30 percent commission.

The result was an increase in price to $12.99 or $14.99 for most books.

Apple throughout the negotiations informed the publishers

of the status of its dealings with other publishers. Apple was the “ringmaster” of the “conspiracy," the complaint alleges.

The government is expected to use emails and comments from the late Apple CEO Steve Jobs, which indicated that as part of a deal to force a new pricing model, publishers should “hold back your books from Amazon."

“The sharply higher prices consumers have paid... are the direct, quantifiable result of defendants’ conspiracy," the government said.

Judge Denise Cote, who is presiding, ordered Tim Cook to testify in a deposition, overruling protests from Apple. It was not clear if Cook will appear in the trial.

Apple’s rebuttal dismisses the “conspiracy” charge and said its negotiations with the publishers as “difficult and contentious."

Apple acknowledged that it did inform publishers about its talks with other publishers, but characterized this as a “standard negotiation tactic that incentivized each publisher to come on board with Apple."

Apple described itself as a “new entrant” to a sector that was dominated by Amazon, which was selling products below cost and endangering the health of the book publishing industry.

The company contends that its entry led to lower ebook prices and grew the market of ebooks from 400,000 when it launched the i-Pad to more than 1.7 million today.

“Ruling against Apple would create a dangerous precedent and risk deterring new entry into concentrated markets and punishing innovation," Apple said in its filing. “The antitrust laws should promote competition, not condemn it."

10

FOCUS SUNDAY, JUNE 2, 2013

An oasis for lovers and writers in the heart of Italy Ninfa, the world’s most romantic garden, combines the best of nature and careful landscaping.

NINFA, ITALY: Rare plants, enchanting ruins and the tinkle of waterfalls: the English-style botanical oasis of Ninfa near Rome is a secret idyll billed as “the world’s most romantic garden”.

The exquisite garden dates back to the late 19th century when the aristocratic Caetani family took over lands deserted for centuries including Ninfa, a town that was abandoned in the Middle Ages.

The town once had 150 homes and seven churches — a stopping off point for pilgrims and merchants — but was ravaged by a civil war before becoming an artistic haven.

“Ninfa is not just a garden, it is a long cultural history,” said Lauro Marchetti, head of the Roffredo Caetani Foundation, which manages the garden some 70 kilometres (44 miles) from Rome.

Caetani’s mother, an Englishwoman named Ada Wilbraham, was the founder of the garden.

Caetani, a musician and a protege of Hungarian composer Franz Liszt, came up with the streams and waterfalls to create bewitching melodies. “At night in the spot that we call ‘of the nightingales’, there is a real concert with the birdsong and the water,” Marchetti said.

Caetani’s American wife Marguerite Chapin added roses, irises, peonies and a bamboo pavilion to the garden and invited her literary friends.

Virginia Woolf, Tennessee Williams, Truman Capote all visited, as well as Italian writer Alberto Moravia and cult filmmaker Pier Paolo Pasolini.

Many were inspired by the ruins of the Roman bridge, the former customs house and waters teeming with rare trout and filled with aquatic flora.

Under the arched vault of the customs house — where reflections of the water dance on the walls — Italian author Giorgio Bassani wrote his famous novel “The Garden of the Finzi-Continis”.

“Shortly before his death, he came back here one last time. He

AFP PHOTO / LAURENT KALFALA

was very ill and he told me with a heavy sigh: ‘Now I can die’”, Marchetti said.

The arrangement of plants from around the world is sophisticated but natural-looking, with 1,300 different species in total.

Among the rarities on display are giant rhubarbs from Brazil, witch-hazel from the Alborz mountains in Iran and cedar trees North Africa.

Banana trees, American tulips and Japanese maple can also be seen, along with a climbing rose wrapped 21 metres (69 feet) up a cypress tree.

Borders of the garden are in

Ninfa can never be a commercial place filled with Coca-Cola cans, plastic bags and cigarette butts.

Lauro Marchetti, Head of the Roffredo Caetani Foundation

flower between April and November and were created by Lelia, the daughter of Roffredo and Marguerite Caetani, an impressionist-style painter who died in 1977. Lelia was the last of the Caetanis and she passed on to Marchetti the challenge of safeguarding Ninfa.

“This garden is one of the glories of Italy. It is very well kept, a true symphony between nature and the capacity of man to cultivate a place like this,” said Patrick Hennessy, the Irish ambassador to Rome, during a recent visit.

The Australian envoy David

Ritchie is a regular.

“In Australia, we have aquatic plants, acacias and eucalyptuses like here but there is nothing like this,” he said.

There are usually around 55,000 visitors a year.

“We have to respect the tranquillity of the birds and the butterflies,” Marchetti said.

There is no question of it ever becoming a mass market business.

Marchetti sneered: “Ninfa can never be a commercial place filled with Coca-Cola cans, plastic bags and cigarette butts.”

AFP

11

INTERVIEW SUNDAY, JUNE 2, 2013

Of a comic enterprise A young entrepreneur, a comic book nerd, and the man who brought Comic Con to India—Jatin Varma. He is the founder of Twenty Onwards Media, the company through which Comic Con is hosted.

In 2011, 26-year-old Jatin and his team organised a successful Comic Con in Delhi, bringing together publishers, artists and comic lovers. While Comic Con is ongoing in Bangalore, Postnoon speaks to Jatin Varma.

KANCHAN AGARWAL tion industry. There are only 15 regular publishers. If you want to read comics, you have no access to them. Artists either sell on online forums such as readwhere.com and flipkart.com, or at Comic Con. It is a good place to sell. It encourages people to self-publish.

What do you think has made Comic Con such a success?

How did Comic Con India come about?

It was more a matter of one thing leading to another. I was shopping for comics and could not find a few titles I was interested in at the bookstore. People at my office had also started talking about a special company trip to one of the international Comic Con events. One conversation led to another and eventually, I ended up with the idea of hosting one here. Before Comic Con, Twenty Onwards Media was running a magazine called Random (a humour magazine with illustrations, jokes). That’s how we were in touch with comic artists and writers.

With our limited event management experience, in February 2011, we held the first Comic Con in New Delhi.

What is your connection with comics?

I have always read and collected comic books. Since I was a little kid, I have read Amar Chitra Katha, Diamond, Asterix, etc. I read everything from Tinkle to Superman.

Now through Comic Con, I get

access to a lot of nice and varied stuff. It is a lot of fun!

Which artists and writers have you grown up admiring?

American cartoonist and illustrator Rick Geary. Older Amar Chitra Katha had beautiful art. Artists like Ram Varekar had a distinct style. I wish they were still alive to see how seriously comics are being taken now.

The fans.We give them as much stuff to do. Besides the stalls, we organise workshops by writers and artists in the middle of the convention. People dress up as comic characters quite enthusiastically.

They have fun. We have not charged any tickets yet. We do get support from the press but we have tiny budgets, so most of our advertising is by word of mouth. We promote the event from our side but people come because they want to come.

kanchan.a@postnoon.com

Chennai and Pune. We will know our next destination by next month.

illustrators and comic book writers?

Entertainment. It is obviously to promote comic artists. It is a popculture event. The aim is to provide a unique experience for fans.

It is better now. Small and independent publishers are publishing more frequently. Most of them have a day job on the side but we want to make Comic Con bigger. We are hoping for a domino effect on the market through this.

Comic Con also publishes comic books.

What are your plans with Comic Con?

It does, on and off. It also gives grant out to new artists. We have also been re-publishing old ones.

For example, TIMPA has been printing regularly.

We want to expand it as much as we can. We want to reach six cities each year, i.e., an event in a different city every two months. We want to encourage local publishers and have more international exhibitors, too.

What would you say is the aim of Comic Con?

How is the market for upcoming

Do you plan to travel with Comic Con to Hyderabad?

Yes. We are looking at Hyderabad,

Who are these people who fall in the serious category?

All of us have read comics one time or another. We emotionally connect with comics. Some of us have completely lost touch, some read now and then, some are only curious onlookers and then there are the hardcore fans, who are very serious.

How has Comic Con India evolved over the years?

Initially, it was tiny. Now even international artists are taking it seriously. Each time, we go back to a city, we find new artists. There is the talent but problem with the distribu-

Pick

Initially, it was tiny.

Now even international artists are taking it seriously.

Each time, we go back to a city, we find new artists.

Jatin Varma, founder of Twenty Onwards Media

at the

airport,

-

12

ART AND CULTURE SUNDAY, JUNE 2, 2013

Bringing the greats back

Prisoner to be covered with gold

The Ashmolean Museum, one of the world's oldest public museums, has launched an exhibition of master drawings to mark its founding in 1683.

The exhibition will run till August 18, bringing together 70 pieces of works on paper, including those from Michelangelo, Da Vinci, Raphael, Durer, Rubens, Titian and Rembrandt among others, Xinhua reported.

A Danish artist says he plans to turn the body of a convicted murderer, currently awaiting execution on death row in Texas, into a work of art. Martin Martensen-Larsen intends to coat the corpse of Travis Runnels, who is incarcerated at the Allan B Polunsky Unit prison in Livingston, in gold paint and mount his corpse on a chair. Runnels, whose execution date has not yet been scheduled, has agreed to donate his body for the piece.

Statue for Ed Wood?

A man in upstate New York wants to erect a statue to the Hollywood film director considered by some critics to be the worst of all time. Ed Wood was born in 1924 in Poughkeepsie, where he became attracted to horror and science fiction films shown at the city's movie theaters. After World War II, Wood moved to Hollywood to make films.

Father of 'The Scream' finally recognised at home Long neglected at home, Edvard Munch is finally to get his due as Norway honours one of its greatest artists with the most comprehensive retrospective ever to mark the 150th anniversary of his birth.

O

pen to the public from Sunday, the “Munch 150” exhibition offers an unprecedented look into his long artistic career, from his earliest works until his death in 1944. “There have been many exhibitions on Munch in the past but for artistic or practical reasons, they generally focused on just one theme,” Audun Eckhoff, director of the National Gallery in Oslo, told AFP. This time the exhibition is designed to show the evolution and scope of work of the great artist through 270 paintings and drawings. The organisers are using two different venues. The National Gallery deals with “how Munch became Munch,” Eckhoff explains. It zooms in on the formative period from 1882 to 1903. The second venue, the Munch Museum, follows the more mature artist through the last 40 years of his life.

From his very first strokes, Munch showed a unique genius, revealing himself as a pioneer of Expressionism at a time when it was new and dangerous. Dealing with difficult topics such as The Sick Child, his contemporaries did not always understand his work, dismissing his paintings

as unfinished. His paintings on the theme of disease had very personal roots. The young artist was deeply affected by the early deaths of his mother and sister, who were both claimed by tuberculosis.

Some of the other subjects he chose to explore also shocked and provoked his contemporary: he treated taboo subjects such as puberty and the bohemian life.

An important part of his work is made up of variations on the same themes. Thus the Frieze of life series for revisited the same motifs, sometimes decades apart: the growth and decline of love in paintings such as The Kiss and Jealousy; deep and ultimately existentialist anxiety, memorably expressed in The Scream; and death, in for example The Death Bed. These are timeless

Elliot’s art collection up for auction

A

fter poet T.S. Eliot’s death in 1965, his widow Valerie devoted her life to preserving his legacy and collecting art. According to newspaper reports, her impressive art collection, including works by JMW Turner, Francis Bacon, Lucian Freud and Winston Churchill, is expected to bring in more than $8 million at auction.

Interestingly, Valerie Eliot's collection wasn't made possible by royalties from her Nobel Prizewinning husband's celebrated poetry. Instead, she was able to buy the art thanks to royalties

from the Andrew Lloyd Webber musical Cats, which was based on TS Eliot's poetry collection Old Possum's Book of Practical Cats. When 86-year-old Eliot died in November, no one inherited the collection as the couple had no children.The artworks will be sold in London on November 20.

Compiled over 20 years, the collection encapsulates the history of British art, from Hilliard to Freud via Gainsborough, Spencer, Moore and Bacon; and includes quintessentially English sea and landscapes by Constable, Turner, Atkinson

topics, as modern today as they were a century ago. This why he has maintained an important place even in popular culture, featured in everything from t-shirts to films.

And yet Munch was for years neglected in his native country.

He bequeathed his work to the city of Oslo in April 1940, to protect it from the Nazis who had invaded only a few days earlier.

But after the war ended, his work were packed off to an unexciting building in a remote district of the Norwegian capital. Visitor numbers were usually moderate, and security was sorely lacking, which helps explain how two different versions of The Scream were stolen: one in 1994 in the National Gallery, and another in 2004 in the Munch museum.

Both were later recovered.

However, the era of neglect seems about to end in Munch's home country, perhaps due to the tremendous response to recent exhibitions of his work abroad. In Paris, London and Frankfurt, a million people have recently visited “ The Modern Eye” exhibitions.

A version of The Scream, the only one in private hands, was

CATS SPONSORED

There have been many exhibitions on Munch in the past but for artistic or practical reasons, they generally focused on just one theme.

Audun Eckhoff, director of the National Gallery in Oslo, sold for a record US$119.9 million in New York last year. And the Oslo authorities, after years of rather embarrassing procrastination, finally agreed this week to build a new Munch Museum, in a more dignified building. It is scheduled to open in 2018, so seven decades after his death, Munch will finally AFP find a home.

Grimshaw and Lowry.

Remarkably, Eliot’s collection fit into the modest London apartment she lived in until her death. She spent almost four decades as guardian of her poet husband's literary legacy, refusing to cooperate with biographers. However, she did agree to what seemed an unlikely idea of a stage musical based on Old Possum's Book of Practical Cats.

The success of Cats led to an unexpected stream of royalty funds. Proceeds from the Christie's sale will go to Old Possum's Practical Trust, an arts charity Eliot set up to boost the artistic, architectural, literary, music or theatrical communities.

13

ENVIRONMENT SUNDAY, JUNE 2, 2013

H7N9 bird flu drug concern

Restoration project gets funds

T

he H7N9 virus became resistant to Tamiflu in three out of 14 patients treated with antiviral drugs at Shanghai Public Health Clinical Centre. The researchers, writing in the Lancet, said resistance emerged with "apparent ease" and was "concerning". There have been no new cases of the infection for more than two weeks.

A

project to restore tens of thousands of acres of ancient woodland has secured ÂŁ1.9m from the Heritage Lottery Fund. The five-year scheme by the Woodland Trust aims to return post-war conifer plantations to their original native woodland state, restoring natural habitat which is home to more than 250 rare and threatened wildlife species.

Old frozen plants revived

S

amples of 400-year-old plants known as bryophytes have flourished under laboratory conditions. Researchers say this back-fromthe-dead trick has implications for how ecosystems recover from the planet's cyclic long periods of ice coverage. The findings appear in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.

It's crowded at the top

It has been 60 years since the first mountaineers reached the peak of the highest mountain on Earth. But while they were all alone atop Everest, the situation is very different today.

In this file photograph taken on May 19, 2009, unidentified mountaineers walk past the Hillary Step while pushing for the summit of Everest as they climb the south face from Nepal.

AFP PHOTO/COURTESY OF PEMBA DORJE SHERPA/FILES

In this handout photograph released

by Himex, the organisers of the Tenzing-Hillary Everest Marathon on May 29, 2013, participants of the marathon are flagged off at Everest Base Camp in Nepal's Solukhumbu district. The marathon, starts near the famous Khumbu Ice Fall.

Postnoon News

feedback@postnoon.com

W

hen Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgay reached the Everest summit in 1953, they went where no man had gone before. The climb was daunting and the team was all alone on an icy mountainside. Sixty years on, the situation is very different.

More than 3,500 have successfully climbed Everest since. On May 23, 2010 alone, 169 climbers reached the peak. The highest peak is no longer an isolated destination for adventure seekers; bottlenecks and fights among competing mountaineers have become commonplace.

In 1996, nine people died due to a freak blizzard on the mountain. Since 33 peo-

ple were making the climb that day, there were bottlenecks on the way. This made the subsequent descent and taking shelter much more difficult.

The 1996 disaster prompted questions about the commercialisation of a sport that once was meant only for those who truly sought adventure. It wasn't so much about the joy of the climb any more; it was more an achievement to boast of.

Of the 33 who attempted the climb on that fateful day in 1996, only a few had mountaineering experience.

With commercialisation came environmental degradation. The sudden influx of mountaineers took its toll on the once pristine peak.

Expedition teams often leave empty oxygen canisters, tents, food, clothing and other equipment on the

In this photograph taken on May 23, 2013 unidentified mountaineers look out from the summit of Mount Everest.

AFP PHOTO/TSHERING SHERPA

mountain. The reason is not so much carelessness but for the ease of climbing; shedding unnecessary equipment will help reduce the load on the mountaineer. Human waste is also a major component of the garbage piling up on the peak. With subzero temperatures and no run-off, the waste has no way to get degraded. Most of the equipment left behind is made from synthetic materials that are anyway hard to degrade.

Some years ago, veteran Everest guide Apa Sherpa organised an expedition to remove 4,000 kg of rubbish from the lower part of the mountain and

another 1,000 kg from higher areas. Some mountaineers take it upon themselves to hold expeditions to clean up the mountain. IndoNepal military teams occasionally make the trip to collect the garbage.

While mountaineers are actively trying to reduce the garbage problem, it is not the only environmental issue that plagues Everest.

The more the visitors, the more the erosion and deforestation. Sudden deep crevices have

appeared in the recent past; the snow cover has also reduced. It's not only the mountain that has suffered — local residents too bear the brunt of the tourist flood. It's already a fight for resources like food, water and electricity at such a high altitude. The influx of mountaineers has only increased the stress on the limited resources.

When Hillary and Norgay made the trip in 1953, it was a triumph of human endurance. Today, however, Everest has fallen prey to human negligence.

Now we've managed to make the world's highest peak the world's highest dumping ground. AFP

14

FOOD SUNDAY, JUNE 2, 2013

Hands-free Whopper A video of a “hands-free Whopper” holder has been making its way around the internet these past few days, as part of a promotion for Burger King Puerto Rico to mark the chain’s 50th anniversary there.

According to the Consumerist, the item was sent to about 50 BK fans and isn’t available for purchase in stores.

Burgers all set to suit up

Child abuse linked to food

McDonald’s Hong Kong is suiting up with limited time “Black and White Burgers.” The Black Burger features a bun fashioned from black squid ink with white sesame seeds, two beef patties, mashed potatoes, lettuce, bacon and truffle sauce. The White Burger is less exciting, consisting of a white bun topped with sesame seeds with a crispy mashed potatoes and bacon.

Women who experienced severe physical or sexual abuse during childhood are much more likely to have a food addiction as adults than women who did not experience such abuse, according to a new study published in the journal Obesity. The study's findings provide valuable new information regarding potential causes and treatments for food addiction and obesity.

A WORLD OF FLAVOURS AWAITS With its rich, multi-cultural heritage, Singapore serves up a true cornucopia of flavours and food.

Purists seeking traditional dishes prepared with high quality ingredients have plenty of options at the Oriental Bar & Kitchen in Park Hyatt.

FLEME VARKEY

fleme.v@postnoon.com

C

hef Boon Kim from the Grand Hyatt Singapore has made sure that the memory of the streets of Singapore remain with you long after you are done with your meal. The chef first gave us an insight into this fascinating cuisine.

From what we gathered, it is on the whole spicy but is not unbearably hot, thanks to key ingredients like coconut milk and local spices. In fact, he tells us people back home prefer their food to be less spicy and since he is in Hyderabad, which is known for its love of spice he is planning to tweak the taste accordingly. The food has heavy influences of Chinese, Malay and Indian cuisine making it the unique mix that it is. Malay cuisine as he explained is known for its aromatic blend of spices and herbs including ginger, garlic, shrimp paste and chillies.

Our meal started off with a bowl full of prawn crackers paired with prawn sauce and paste. That set the ball rolling as next we bit into some deliciously

Where: Oriental Bar & Kitchen Place: Park Hyatt Hyderabad, Banjara Hills

fresh and crunchy appetisers in the form of a sweet green mango salad mixed with chilli onion and grated coconut. The tangy mango and crunch worked perfectly well for us. For soup we had the chicken herbal soup with red date and wolfberry. Pretty healthy as the wolfberry in it is believed to be good for the body,

especially vision, whilst red date is said to replenish and nourish the blood, both give the soup that rich, earthy sweetness that warms the heart. The chicken as the chef mentioned was boiled for five hours for it to retain its tender succulent nature. This soup is just awesome and will certainly make you ask for seconds.

Following that was the Rojak, a true-blue Singaporean dish. It is a surprising toss of pineapple, cucumber, mango with a generous sprinkle of finely chopped peanuts and poured over it is a slightly spicy

Time: Uptil June 9, 19:00 to 23:30 hours (weekdays) a la carte PRICE : `1,500 + TAXES

saucy prawn sauce. Health and taste all in one go.

For main course it was the Hainanese chicken rice and the beef rendang. Not to forget the wok fried green beans, fried tofu and chilli. The chicken rice is also the national dish of Singapore. With bite-sized, almost bland, pieces of steamed white chicken, fragrant sticky rice dressed with light soy sauce and a delicious ground paste of chilli and ginger, this dish is a must-have.

Accompanying it is achaar (pickled vegetables/fruits) and a clear chicken broth.

The Beef Rendang, a dish made of large chunks of beef cooked with spices and herbs, had quite an Indian touch to it, which endeared us to it all the more. A country that cherishes food as much as Singapore, it is the perfect place for experimentation with ingredients and styles and Chef Boon Kim too firmly believes in this. In fact, he has added his own touch to the Beef Rendang and glorious mango pudding. A meal is judged solely by what comes on the plate — fancy restaurants and big name chefs not necessary. And Park Hyatt’s Singaporean food festival, for me is the closest I could get to Singapore.

The taste remains as I end my article with the memories of the delicious mango pudding that we finished off our meal with.

12:00 to 15:30 hours and 19:00 to 23:30 hours (weekends)

A treat from the pathans The Afghani-Pathani food festival at The Green Park Hotel is quite something. One does not have to alter their taste palette to enjoy Afghani food as it is the root to Hyderabadi cuisine.

KANCHAN AGARWAL kanchan.a@postnoon.com

T

he dinner buffet starts with simply delicious kebabs: lamb, chicken, hara masala paneer and rajma paneer. A bowl of hot Subz badami shorba blends you with your mood, and makes you wonder what it must be like to eat at an Afghani household. Of the remaining spread of tamatri machli, karhai murgh, afghani pulao, batanjan pulao, ande ka kheema there is much for non-veg-

Name: Once Upon a Time Place: Green Park Hotel, Begumpet Time: 7.30pm-11.30pm till June 9 Price per head: Rs 600 ++ taxes (buffet)

etarians to relish. Once I was done attending to each of them, I dug into my favourites — Afghani pulao and qurbani ka gosht. The pulao swiftly appeals to all your senses. It is aromatic, pleasant to the eye and a gratifying delight as you munch on it. In desserts, they have gulathy, sewaiyon ki barfi, ananas muzaffar and ande ka halwa. The spread has been designed by freelance chef M Rehman. Residing in Lucknow, chef has been travelling and picking recipes of kashmiri, mughlai, awadhi and hyderabadi cuisines from households and local chefs.

This festival, too, is a result of his months spent in Dubai. Well, well.

A lavish spread, indeed.

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FOOD SUNDAY, JUNE 2, 2013

'Synful' delight

Mango pickle

The North Indian way.

Noor Kitchen NOOR JAFRI

NIDHI BHUSHAN

nidhi.b@postnoon.com

T

ucked away in a corner of Taj Deccan, Syn boasts a character of its own. Unlike other restaurants at the hotel, Syn experiments with different cuisines every now and then to keep the culinary excitement alive. Even in terms of decor and ambiance, the restaurant stands out with its night-clubish look. The blue tint in the lighting also adds to one’s mood and sets the tone for a great afternoon or evening.

The restaurant, also the go-to place for those who fancy pan-Asian cuisine, recently launched its Sunday brunch. From Korean salads to Thai main course along with the standard unlimited alcohol (a feature common to most brunches), Syn is definitely competition to others in the market.

Though the spread at the brunch is not as elaborate as it typically is, it makes for a hearty meal. The first thing that catches your eye at the brunch is the sinful salad

Taj Deccan gives you yet another reason to drink and make merry on Sundays. Their recently launched brunch at Syn guarantees a holiday well spent.

What: Sunday brunch Timings: 12-3.30pm spread. Colourful with spinach, potatoes, Singapore noodles and much more, the salad spread takes the centre stage. The flavourful mashed potato salad is one of the must-haves of the sections.

Also, it’s fun to scoop out the salad from a watermelon.

Though the chef at Syn says the watermelon casing serves only an aesthetic purpose, we

Where: Syn, Taj Deccan Price: `1,150 plus taxes believe that the faint fruit flavour does much more.

Another must-have from the salad bar is the vegetarian Singapore noodle salad.

Prepared with a dash of Chinese rice wine and Oriental greens, the salad is refreshing and great for the summer. Other items that made it to this main bar were vegetarian and non-vegetari-

an sushi, probably because it looks so good. Even though sushi isn’t my thing, I took at least four servings of it here.

While the salmon and tuna sushi was neatly tucked in the sticky rice and crispy tempura, the asparagus sushi was a perfect blend of the spring vegetable and sticky rice.

The salad bar ends with a row of freshly chopped vegetables that are on display for the live teppanyaki counter.

Thought the texture of the teppanyaki (broccoli, mushroom and carrot) was perfect, its natural flavour was compromised with too much salt.

Guests are also offered two kinds of fried snacks like veg wontons and chicken dimsums. The wonton was pretty regular with its small minced veggie core, the dimsums were very different – and, not in a good way. Instead of wrapping the minced chicken in dough made with white flour, the chefs at Syn used soft bread, something like a pizza base. Not a great idea, we say.

While Syn has many things on offer to turn your Sunday into something special, the main course is not their strong point. Another drawback is the jarring music, especially if you’re not a house or hip-hop fan.

Health and taste on my plate Healthy food at your fingertips, that’s what Soups n Salads promises its visitors.

Kanchan Agarwal kanchan.a@postnoon.com

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f all the places I have eaten at, it gave me immense pleasure to eat at Soups n Salads, which serves simple, delicious food, and does it with all its heart.

When you meet Soujanya (the owner), it does not take long to see how she loves to feed people good food. From cooking for her family, to establishing Soups n Salads, Soujanya’s story is a great example. “I was unhappy

Name: Soups n Salads Location: 1st floor, Jubilee towers, Road no 36, Jubilee Hills Meal for two: `500

working as an IT analyst in the US. My son was six and my daughter was two when I decided to pursue a culinary course. I worked at a few Italian restaurants there before moving back here,” she says. Why not venture into a fancy Italian restaurant, I ask her. “There are so many of those already. I wanted to do something different,” she said.

Items vary every two weeks, however, some elements remain the same. The price ranges and the balance of nutrition and calories are

constant. We had cream of spinach which will be a relief to mothers who can’t get their kids to eat healthy. The clear water soup of chicken and mushroom flavoured with lemon and thyme is a delight.

In salads, you have Oriental chicken salad tossed in ginger soy with toasted peanuts. The wraps prepared in spinach puree are light and yummy.

The fillings are quite generous, too. Knowing that all you have eaten is healthy and fresh generates immense and long lasting happiness.

Ingredients Quantity n Raw mangoes (medium-sized) 6 pieces n Mustard oil 1/2 litre n Whole dry red chillies 6 to 8 n Garlic (big size) 1 pod n Aniseed 2 tsp n Kalonji seeds 1 tsp n Fenugreek seeds 1/2 tsp n Dry kabuli chana 1 tbsp n Turmeric 1/2 tsp n Whole black pepper 1 tsp n Salt 2 tsp n Chickpeas (kabuli chana) washed and clean(optional) 2 tbsp Procedure n Wash and clean raw mangoes. n Cut them along with the skin, length wise into 4 to 5 pieces. n Slit the red chillies length wise. n Peel the garlic and remove the skin. n Add salt, and all the other ingredients with the mango pieces. n Mix them well and fill into a clean, tight lid jar, leaving up to 3/4th space free on top. n Fill up the jar with the fresh raw mustard oil. n Mango pieces should remain immersed under the oil. n Keep the jar for 5 to 6 days under the sun. n It'll be ready to use.

Contact us @ Noor kitchen Mobile + 91 9441282318 Residence + 91 40 23356947 Like us @ https://www.facebook.com/Noorkitchen follow us @ https://twitter.com/NoorKitchen

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HISTORY SUNDAY, JUNE 2, 2013

June 4

1975: Academy Award-winning actress Angelina Jolie (Voight) is born in Los Angeles, California.

June 5

1968: At 12.50 am, PDT, Senator Robert F Kennedy, a presidential candidate, is shot three times in a hail of gunfire in the Ambassador Hotel in Los Angeles.

June 6

1944: D-day was the day when Allied powers crossed the English Channel and landed on the beaches of Normandy, beginning the liberation of Western Europe from Nazi control during World War II.

June 6

1984: Indian army troops fight their way into the besieged Golden Temple compound in Amritsar—the holiest shrine of Sikhism— and kill at least 500 Sikh rebels.

June 6 June 4

1989: Chinese troops storm through Tiananmen Square in the center of Beijing, killing and arresting thousands of pro-democracy protesters. The brutal Chinese government assault on the protesters shocked the West.

June 7

1893: Mohandas K Gandhi, a young Indian lawyer working in South Africa, refused to comply with racial segregation rules on a South African train and is forcibly ejected at Pietermaritzburg.

June 8

1948: A hand-built aluminim prototype labeled "No. 1" becomes the first vehicle to bear the name of one of the world's leading luxury car manufacturers: Porsche.

June 9

1956: One of the world’s top-selling crime novelists, Patricia Cornwell, best known for her forensic pathologist character Dr. Kay Scarpetta, is born in Miami, Florida.

1998: HBO aired the pilot episode of Sex and the City, a new comedy series chronicling the lives and loves of four single women living in New York City.

June 9

1973: With a spectacular victory at the Belmont Stakes, Secretariat becomes the first horse since Citation in 1948 to win the coveted Triple Crown— the Kentucky Derby, the Preakness, and the Belmont Stakes.

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SPOTLIGHT SUNDAY, JUNE 2, 2013

JAZZING IT UP

1

Actors Ravi Teja, Shruti Haasan and director Gopichand Malineni were in attendance at the music release ceremony of their upcoming movie Balupu. Also spotted at the do were Nandini Reddy, Ajay and others.

2

3

4

5

7

6

8

1 Shruti Haasan 2 Gopichand Malineni 3 Ravi Teja, Anjali

4 Venkateswara Rao 5 Prasad V Potluri

7

Ajay, Nandini Reddy

8 KS Rama Rao

6 Brahmaji

MOVIE TALK The release of Mere Haule Dost, a light-hearted film set in Hyderabad, was announced at an event attended by director Nitin Raghunath and actors. Movie will release across the country on June 7.

A fitting tribute Minister Geetha Reddy, Dr Vijay Anand Reddy along with cancer survivors lighted candles at an event organised by Apollo Cancer Hospitals on the eve of Cancer Survivors Day.

Game set match Devraj Lath and Depali Lath were declared the winners of Landmark India Quiz that was held at Landmark Store, Banjara Hills on Saturday.

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CINEMA SUNDAY, JUNE 2, 2013

Rajamouli denies joins approaching Muni 3’s Sonakshi Sinha cast T Pooja

here seems to be no dearth of rumours about SS Rajamouli's upcoming film Baahubali. Right from the film's budget, casting to its story, everything has become a target for gossipmongers, although the ace director has been issuing an official statement on most of the rumours. Now, he has denied rumours that he's in talks with Sonakshi Sinha for a role in the Hindi version of his upcoming film, Baahubali. Earlier this year, Sonakshi had revealed that she's going to team up with Mahesh Babu in a period film to be directed by Krish; however,

there has been no other confirmation about her projects in South. No wonder Rajamouli was surprised with the rumours about Sonakshi being part of the film. Buzz is that the makers are most likely to retain the cast for all the three versions. So far, Prabhas, Rana and Anushka have been cast for the three most prominent roles in the film, apart from Nazar. More names are likely to be revealed soon. Art director Sabu Cyril is working along with his team to erect a huge set for the film in Ramoji Film city and the principal shooting is likely to begin in July.

IDDARAMMAYILATHO

makes a flying start at the BO

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ooja Ramachandran, who was last seen in Swamy Ra Ra, has bagged another bilingual project. Soon after her previous film released, Raghava Lawrence roped her for an important role in his upcoming film Muni 3. Lawrence and Taapsee are playing the lead roles in this horror comedy.

Pooja, who’s playing the role of a TV show host, has already joined the cast of Muni 3 and she has been shooting for the film, primarily in Chennai. She first came to limelight in Love Failure, where she played Siddharth's friend; however, it was her role in Swamy Ra Ra which made everyone take notice of her. Muni 3 is said to be on the lines of Lawrence's previous film Kanchana, although the director and actor has promised that this film will be made on a much larger scale.

We hear that he'll be sporting six different avatars in the film.

Bellamkonda Suresh is producing the film and Anirudh is scoring the music.

llu Arjun's latest film Iddarammayilatho is off to a flying start at the box office. Directed

by Puri Jagannadh, the film also had Amala Paul and Katherine Tresa in lead roles.

Although the film received mixed reviews, sources say that the reviews have had no impact on the box-office collections on the opening day. Moreover, we hear that the film registered the best ever first day figures for an Allu Arjun's film. On the other hand, even in the US, the film did extremely well on the first day of its release. The overseas distributor has stated that the film collected $88,000 from the premieres in close to 50 locations on Thursday night and surprisingly, Iddarammayilatho was ranked eighth in the list of top 10 films in the US on Thursday, in terms of box-office gross.

Iddarammayilatho is expected to beat the collections of Arjun's previous film Julayi by a comfortable margin, at least in its opening weekend. The latter film went on to rake in a share of over `40 crore last year and with absolutely no competition for the next few days, Iddarammayilatho is expected to continue its good run. The film is set in Barcelona and narrates a story of a street performer whose life takes a drastic turn after his girlfriend gets into trouble. Bandla Ganesh has produced the film and Devi Sri Prasad scored the music.

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CINEMA SUNDAY, JUNE 2, 2013

I don't understand the TRP game:

KARAN JOHAR

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e's the man behind many a Bollywood hit and has also been a success in his avatars as judge and talk show host on television. But Karan Johar says categorically that he won't be delving into fiction on the small screen because he can't find the right connect.

The director, who connected with the young with his first film Kuch Kuch Hota Hai in 1998 and continues to narrate young stories like Student of the Year even after 15 years, says candidly that he's unable to understand the nittygritty of fiction shows and their rating systems.

“I am not interested in producing fiction for Indian television at all, the reason being that I don't understand the medium. I can be a judge or a host; I can do that as an individual. But to produce TV content, you have to know the game,” Karan said.

“You have to know how to cater to the TRPs and I think I will be the wrong choice for it. I don't get it and I don't belong to it,” he added.

Although the 41-year-old fights shy of creating fiction shows for the small screen, he has produced and hosted three successful seasons of chat show Koffee With Karan for TV. Later, he made Lift Kara De. And judged reality shows like Jhalak Dikhhla Jaa 5 and fourth

season of India's Got Talent.

The filmmaker says he admires people who understand the TRP game and keep up with it.

“Hats off to those who can go through the stress. The ratings go up and down every week and changing your content as per that (is tough). It is bad enough that we have to combat box-office pressures, I don't want to play the TRP game and ruin things for myself.”

There was a time when TV produced stars like Smriti Irani, Sakshi Tanwar, Ram Kapoor and Ronit Roy, but not any longer.

“The popularity quotient of TV stars is diminishing. We don’t have the Ram Kapoors and Ronit Roys any more. Besides Ram and Sakshi, who are still very popular, I guess our quotient of popularity has reduced. I think the whole impact of creating a star on TV is not there too much. I don’t think that mania for TV stars is there,” he said.

An overdose of the same genre is the reason, feels Karan.

“I think there was an overdose for a certain kind of TV and finally people are catching up and maybe they are up for a new kind of genre. 24 produced by Colors might be a game changer,” he said.

Karan takes his stint on TV forward as a judge on the sixth season of Colors' dance reality show Jhalak Dikhhla Jaa. IANS

TV actor Ayaaz Ahmed in no hurry to do films T

V actor Ayaaz Ahmed says he is happy to be on the small screen at the moment and is in no rush to enter Bollywood. Ahmed, who rose to fame after participating in popular youth-based reality series Roadies, will be seen in a new romantic saga Do Dil Ek Jaan and he said that the experience he had during the shoot of the show was no less than working in a film.

“I was looking for opportunities to work in films and then Do Dil Ek Jaan was offered to me. I felt like a movie star while shooting for this show. We had a 30-day outdoor schedule in Kashmir. I shot a scene where I had to jump from a chopper, I did skiing. I have a lot of action scenes in the serial. It was no less than a film shoot. So, I am

DO DIL EK JAAN WILL CAPTURE THE TRAVAILS OF TWO LOVERS, WHO ARE BROUGHT TOGETHER

BY DESTINY BUT THEIR JOURNEY IS MARRED BY ORDEALS. THE SHOW WILL ALSO MARK THE DEBUT OF MODEL NIKITA SHARMA. very content right now and have no plans to do films,” Ahmed said. Do Dil Ek Jaan will capture the travails of two lovers, who are brought together by destiny but their journey is marred by testing ordeals. The show will also mark the television debut of PTI model Nikita Sharma.

Remo wants Prabhudeva to do same role in ABCD2 C

horeographer-director Remo D'Souza, who is planning a sequel to ABCD: Any Body Can Dance, says that he wants to cast Prabhudheva in the same role as before.

Praising Prabhudeva as a fantastic human being apart from being a choreographer, actor, and director, he said: “I love spending time with him. My equation with him is fantastic. He knows what I want. In the sequel also I will try to give him the same character.” Shooting for the sequel is likely to start at the end of this year.

The director also confirmed that the sequel will be in 3D format and added: “Yes, all my 'ABCDs' will be in 3D.” According to reports, Remo had plans to direct Madhuri Dixit with whom he will be seen co-judging Jhalak Dikhhla Jaa 6. The director said they are in talks at the moment.

“Let's see... we are just talking at the moment and nothing is finalised,” he said. IANS

22

CINEMA SUNDAY, JUNE 2, 2013

Ram Sampath is a genius, says Pulkit Samrat

M

usic pulls in the audience for films, and actor Pulkit Samrat gives full credit to composer Ram Sampath for creating killer tunes for the forthcoming movie Fukrey. He calls Sampath a genius. “ (The music of the film) is killer. Ram Sampath is a genius,” Pulkit said on Friday on the sidelines of an event celebrating the success of the film's music.

Co-produced by Excel Entertainment, Fukrey has six tracks — Fuk fuk fukrey, Beda par, Lag gayi lottery, Jugaad kar le, Rabba and Ambarsariya. Of these, Fuk Fuk Fukrey and Ambarsariya have struck the right chords with the music lovers.

While Fuk fuk fukrey is sung by debutant Amjad Bagadwa, Sampath's wife, singer Sona Mahapatra has sung Ambarsariya.

Both Ram and Sona are partners in their music production house OmGrown Music. The two have earlier given successful music for Excel Entertainment's last venture Talaash and Aamir Khan's show IANS Satyamev Jayate.

Producers, actors don't like my voice anymore, says

SHAAN P

roducers, actors don't like my voice anymore, says Shaan. With the new crop of playback singers on the music scene, there is very less we get to hear from Shaan and he says it is the producers and composers who are no longer interested to have his voice in their projects. The singer has churned out hits like Koi Kahein Kehta Raahein from Dil Chahta Hai, Chaand Sifarish from Fanaa, Jab se tere Naina from Saawariya, Behti Hawa Sa from 3 Idiots. But now his songs and offers are dwindling.

“It is about offers. It is not that I am choosy or have increased my budget. If people are not calling me then what to do. May be people still like my voice but producers, actors or music directors don't like it (voice) any more. May be my voice is not suitable for the kind of songs that are coming out with today,” Shaan said.

The 41-year-old says he has always been co-operative and never had difficulty in terms of money matters. The singer seems disheartened but hopes to get good work.

PTI

Pooja Kumar performs own stunts for

VISHWAROOPAM 2

A

ctress Pooja Kumar, who has featured in films like Flavors and Anjaana Anjaani, has performed her own underwater stunts for Kamal Haasan's upcoming multi-lingual action-drama Vishwaroopam 2. “(I) just arrived back to New York City (NYC) from shooting in Bangkok with Vishwaroopam 2 team. I did all my underwater stunts as I am a certified scuba diver,” Pooja posted on her Twitter page. In the film, Pooja plays Nirupama, a nuclear oncologist and wife of Kamal Haasan's character, a RAW agent. The movie is currently being shot in Bangkok. The film is the sequel to highly controversial yet successful Vishwaroopam, also written and directed by Kamal Haasan. While the prequel was shot in Afghanistan and the US, the sequel is said to be predominantly shot in India, including few IANS places abroad.

CINEMA SUNDAY, JUNE 2, 2013

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CINEMA SUNDAY, JUNE 2, 2013

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CINEMA SUNDAY, JUNE 2, 2013

A

ctress Isla Fisher admits she received “no helping hand” when she was trying to carve a niche as an actress in Hollywood.

The Confessions of a Shopaholic actress admits she struggled to gain recognition when she first moved to Hollywood, and that she was even turned down by her husband Sacha Baron Cohen's agent, reports contactmusic.com.

“I really have had no help. In fact, the one time I did ask for help was after my agent

I had no helping hand in Hollywood:

ISLA FISHER in LA fired me. I was auditioning for all sorts of things but kept getting told 'no', so she just fired me,” she told Britain's Cosmopolitan magazine.

“So anyway, I said to Sacha, who was my boyfriend at the time, 'Can you ask your agent if they'll represent me?” And his agent said, 'No way'. It was the only favour I'd ever asked, and I was like, ‘OK... great’. But it spurred me on.

“I've had no helping hand in Hollywood. But in general I've found that when it comes to getting jobs, what's meant for you can't pass you by,” she added. IANS

Johnny Depp exits White Bulger biopic

Has Star Trek 3 found a new director?

T

he mission is approved, the next Star Trek film will be heading into unknown territory while producer-director JJ Abrams is off fighting the Empire in the adjacent Star Wars galaxy.

However, rumours are stirring about who may be in line to be the new captain of “Trek.”

Reports are circulating that Attack the Block helmer Joe Cornish is in the running to direct the possible threequel.

It’s strictly in the rumour stages now, prompted by a tweet from Latino Review's El Mayimbe, which stated that

Black Mass

Cornish is among "numerous" names being floated around at Paramount. Cornish also cowrote The Adventures of Tintin and the upcoming AntMan with Edgar Wright, who has worked with Abrams several times before. Cornish also has an established relationship with Paramount, where he's also attached to direct an adaptation of Neal Stephenson's heady SF novel Snow Crash.

Star Trek Into Darkness has so far earned $164 million domestically, which likely won't equal the $257 earned by its 2009 predecessor.

J

ohnny Depp is leaving the world of crime behind. The Lone Ranger actor has exited the long-gestating Black Mass, the biopic of infamous Boston gangster White Bulger. Depp signed on to star in the Barry Levinson-directed film in February. There's no official statement as to why he exited the high-profile project, but there's been speculation that he balked at the idea of cutting his $20 million fee, according to Variety. Bulger was the head of Boston’s Winter Hill Gang, and was on the run for 16 years after being indicted for federal racketeering in 1995.

He was finally captured in 2011 in Santa Monica, and is currently awaiting trial in Boston on charges related to 19 murders.

Black Mass will reportedly shoot later this year, so Depp's replacement will likely be announced soon. Joel Edgerton will co-star as an FB agent.

26

CHAI TIME SUNDAY, JUNE 2, 2013

SUNDAY CROSSWORD

ACROSS

1 Goes underground 6 Flips pages 11 Dutch export 16 Full of pep 21 Florida horse town 22 Own up to 23 Wading bird 24 Quebec school 25 Red Sea republic 26 Beauty pageant prize 27 Muezzin’s deity 28 Decides, as a jury 29 Amusing story 31 — nous 33 Retro art style 35 Homer Simpson’s dad 36 Michelangelo’s chapel 37 Homophone of bowls 38 ‘I came,’ to Caesar 39 Warmonger of myth 40 Help-wanted abbr 41 Dealt with it 42 Posed a threat 44 Later 47 Deck out 48 — St Laurent 49 Consecrate 53 Uh-uhs 54 Thrash about 55 Struts along 56 Homer epic 57 Dressy accessory 58 Piano pieces 59 Cushions 60 Weather grp 61 Drink slowly 62 Show rainbow-like colours 64 Luigi’s dollar, once 65 Gourmet mushrooms 66 Bedroom slipper 67 Sombrero go-withs 68 Duke or count 69 Pasture plaints 70 Speculate 71 Pass near Pikes Peak 72 Vocal interpretation 74 April 15 org 75 Large chunks 78 Herbal soothers 79 NE state 80 Patella 84 Holds gently 85 Clump 86 Take a stroll 87 Fries or slaw (2 wds) 88 Santa — winds 89 Underhand throws 90 Slowly vanish 91 Made cow sounds 92 Bout ender 93 Variety of sugar 95 — majeste 96 Spiral or coil 97 Caught red-handed 98 Moralize 99 Word of contempt 100 Treasures 101 ‘Angie Baby’ singer 102 Chewing gum bases 104 Nuisances 105 TV knob 106 In that case (2 wds) 109 Meadow murmurs 110 Ocean crosser 111 Bread baker 115 Even as we speak

116 Not fem 117 Magazine stands 118 Good-looking 119 Orchard 121 Texas river 123 ‘No problem!’ (2 wds) 125 Mme Curie 126 Horrible bosses 127 Degrade 128 Wed impulsively 129 Change a bill 130 Hen’s lack 131 Oar propeller 132 U-Haul competitor 133 Monterrey moola DOWN 1 Georgetown gridders 2 Boudica’s people 3 Slangy ladies 4 Those voted in 5 Grittier 6 Starbucks order 7 Adams or Brickell 8 GP group 9 Rare gem (2 wds) 10 Mr Kubrick 11 Transmission parts 12 Give a wolfish look 13 WWW find 14 Makes numb

15 Minerva, in Greece 16 Operator’s number 17 RN posting 18 Totally opposite 19 Annapolis frosh 20 ‘Oui’ and ‘ja’ 30 Musician Yoko — 32 Actor — Danson 34 Shrill insects 37 Mr Yeltsin 38 Plunging necklines 39 Turmoils 41 Jalopy 42 Baseball honourees 43 ‘Paint the Sky With Stars’ singer 44 Those opposed 45 Laissez- — 46 His and hers 47 Baldwin and others 48 The Force was with him 50 Publish 51 Young and Simon 52 Hunts and pecks 54 Road flare 55 Block off 56 ‘Sorry!’

58 Govt agencies 59 Dappled 60 Flashy sign

63 Smears 64 Hubble component 65 Maine — (large cat) 66 Ruminated 68 Turf 69 Luxury fur 70 Avarice 72 Umps 73 Enameled metal 74 Kind of fund 75 Cut too short 76 The L in LEM 77 Posthaste 78 Skimpy top 80 Fruits or birds 81 Quoted 82 Inquired 83 Bogus 85 Sony rival 86 Do the dishes 87 Loafer parts 89 — Ness monster 90 Parker who played Boone 91 Crowbar 94 Tortilla snack 95 Whoppers 96 Frankly 97 Identical 99 Unmedicated pill 100 Rangier

101 Gas station buy (2 wds) 103 — Milquetoast 104 Razor brand 105 Max — Sydow 106 Gold brick 107 Counterfeit 108 Prepared to testify 110 Hologram maker 111 Kobe or Pau

112 Sponge features 113 PABA part 114 More than wants 116 Chicken wire 117 Light pink wine 118 Optimistic feeling 120 Herriot, for one 122 Harsh call 124 Grass PREVIOUS PUZZLE ANSWER

27

CHAI TIME SUNDAY, JUNE 2, 2013

STAR POWER Date 3-6-2013

As per Hindu panchang

THIRUVAIKUMAR

thiruvaikumar@yahoo. co. in 040-27177230 / 9949870449

TAURUS

GEMINI

You will be accepted by all because of your soft and wise approach. Those wishing to go abroad either can start planning as the time is ripe. Some have a bright chance to buy jewels.

You march ahead by keeping enemies at bay. Administrative skills will bring you name and fame. Many friends and well wishers seek your advice. Those in love will succeed. Enter a new venture.

Your administrative abilities will be appreciated by all. Unexpected financial gain likely. Creative skills will be at its high and you receive overwhelming response. Your charisma improves.

CANCER

LEO

VIRGO

Romantic relationships will get closer bringing cheer. Surprisingly you will gain through enemies. Be alert and clear obstacles that come your way when carrying out bigger assignments.

Sports persons shine and break records to get rewards. Health needs to be taken care of immediately and properly to avoid major problems. Insurance and FMCG agents make good gains.

Employees discharge duties successfully and get recognition from management. Professionals have a flourishing time. Some forced to change residence will move to a comfortable place.

LIBRA

SCORPIO

SAGITTARIUS

Students do well. You will look active, hale and healthy. Your influence will see an upward trend. Travel will bring desirable results. Admission for you in an institute abroad seems likely now.

Health looks fine. Those in foreign trade will be big gainers. Media persons and artists have plenty of opportunities and move forward with determination.

Businessmen likely to face minor losses.

Promotion on the cards for employees.

Your kind gesture and timely help to friends, wellwishers and close relatives will help you in a difficult phase. Couples advised to support their children.

CAPRICORN

AQUARIUS

PISCES

A delayed foreign trip will materialise now. Businessmen have a flourishing time as profits likely to jump. You involve yourself in devotional and charitable activities that bring you a good name.

Professionals in social work will be appreciated for their good work. Businessmen will do well by putting in their best efforts. You will be attracted by members of the opposite sex.

Marriage talks resume and end favourably. You take bold but wise decisions that yield good results. Relatives and wellwishers appreciate your actions.

Your pleasant ways bring success.

SUMAA TEKUR

tarotreadhyd@gmail. com

ARIES

TAURUS

GEMINI

The Fool – This is a great time to start a new hobby or learn a new skill. It will help balance all the areas of your life really well.

Don’t give it too much energy, though.

King of Swords – You are in a position of power and control.

However, it puts you in a bit of trouble because you feel cut off from the rest of the group.

The Devil – You’re tempted to do what your heart says. But logic is winning because of current financial circumstances. Be practical and do what’s best.

CANCER

LEO

VIRGO

Justice – Water the plants and tend to the garden. Take care of pets. Do things that connect you with nature and you feel better about your emotions.

Page of Swords – When you are out shopping, watch out for all items you are putting in the basket.

You may want to cut down on the chips and fatty foods.

The Lovers – Passions run high and you feel a strong emotional connection to someone you met recently. Think about what you want to do with your feelings.

LIBRA

SCORPIO

SAGITTARIUS

The Magician – Intuition is good. You feel like taking a left turn – then left turn is the right one to take! Listen to your gut feeling and go with your emotions.

The Wheel of Fortune – What goes around comes around.

Remember that bad times don’t last, nor do good times. Take care, have a good friend to share with.

The High Priest – If it’s a bright and sunny day, it’s perfect to head out and experience the joy of walking aimlessly without a real destination in mind.

CAPRICORN

AQUARIUS

PISCES

Death – Changes about to turn your world around. These will be good so long as you keep an open mind. By being too rigid, you make life difficult for yourself.

Two of Swords – A juggling act can save yourself from being overly stressed out. It will be difficult. A sense of humour will truly help you tide over this time.

Five of Wands – Not everything is well at the office. You feel like people are talking about you behind your back and you feel horrible about being left out.

NON SEQUITUR PEARLS BEFORE SWINE

Thoughts to ponder over Was learning cursive really necessary?

What disease did cured ham actually have?

POOCH CAFE

STRIP TEASE

AGNES

ARIES

TAROT READ Date 3-6-2013

Women are angels. And when someone breaks our wings, we simply continue to fly... on a broomstick. We're flexible like that.

Yesterday I lost all self-control, but I found it today. It was under the couch.

Your child needs your love the most when they deserve it the

least.

If there are only two people in a locker room, they will have adjacent lockers.

The chances of an open-faced jelly sandwich landing face down on a floor covering are directly correlated to the cleanliness (newness) and cost of the carpet/rug.

As soon as you find a product that you really like, they will stop manufacturing that very product.

Vol: 2, No 317 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

CINEMA SUNDAY, JUNE 2, 2013

NEVER CHASE A BOY, SUGGESTS

TAYLOR SWIFT Heather Graham was nervous at Hangover 3 premiere

A

ctress Heather Graham says she was not comfortable wearing the red carpet outfit that she wore during the premiere of The Hangover Part III in Paris, and so, she was nervous.

The actress usually opts for wearable and glamorous gowns with plunging necklines. But she felt out of her comfort zone in a high-necked monochrome Talbot Runhof outfit.

“This was such a couture dress. I was nervous. I’ve never worn anything like it before,” femalefirst.co.uk quoted Graham as saying.

“But I think of Paris as the home of couture fashion shows and people who wear really glamorous outfits. I thought, ‘I’m going to dress up’,” she said.

The actress said her new stylist, Tara Swennen, advised her to wear the dress and to tone down the rest of the look.

The actress pulled her hair into a sleek ponytail and accessorised with an elegant Jacob & Co. bracelet, so as to not draw attention away from the asymmetrical neckline.

“It’s hard to be objective about yourself; I’m really grateful that I have people giving me good advice. I thought, ‘Wow, I love this elegant version of myself that I haven’t gotten to express much in the past’,” she said.

IANS

James Bobin to direct Alice in Wonderland 2?

T

he Muppets director James Bobin is reportedly in early talks to direct the sequel to Disney’s Alice in Wonderland.

Disney is keen to rope in Bobin for the sequel to the hit 2010 blockbuster, reports hollywoodreporter.com. The discussions with the filmmaker are said to be in the early stages and he has yet to meet with producers Joe Roth, Suzanne Todd and Jennifer Todd.

Alice In Wonderland was directed by Tim Burton, and IANS starred Johnny Depp.

S

inger-songwriter Taylor Swift says she won’t mind giving hints to boys she likes, but she is sure she will never chase a boy.

“I ran into this problem a lot when I was in Junior High because the guy I liked never noticed me. The best thing to do is give little hints. Go up and talk to him. But don’t seem desperate. And never chase a boy,” contactmusic.com quoted Swift as saying.

“I think it’s always good to be somebody’s friends first. If it escalates into something more, that’s awesome. If not, now you’ve got another friend,” she said. “Never be jealous.

You can be competitive, but never be jealous. If you’re jealous in a relationship, it’s because you’re not confident in yourself.”

Swift revealed she shared her first kiss when she was 15.

“I was one of the last of my friends to ever kiss a guy. It wasn’t a bad kiss. I think it was cute. We ended up dating for a year,” she said.

The We Are Never Getting Back Together hitmaker earlier dated several men including Joe Jonas, Harry Styles and Jake Gyllenhaal.

IANS

29

SPORTS SUNDAY, JUNE 2, 2013

Feng takes lead

Beckham has Miami buzzing

Conway claims second title

C

D

B

hina’s Feng Shanshan, who next week defends her first major title, fired a four-under par 67 on Saturday to seize a three-stroke lead after the second round of the ShopRite LPGA Classic.

Feng, who ran off four birdies in a row on the back nine, stood on six-under 136 after 36 holes in the $1.5 million event that concludes Sunday, with South Korean Kang Hae-Ji and Thailand’s Moriya Jutanugarn sharing second on 139.

avid Beckham’s tour of Miami-area stadiums has the city buzzing about the possibility the newly retired former England football star could be set to bring a Major League Soccer club to the area. The 38-year-old former England captain, one of the most high-profile players to shuffle between football and celebrity, made his final home appearance for French Ligue 1 champions Paris Saint-Germain before heading into retirement last weekend.

ritain’s Mike Conway captured his second IndyCar title with a victory in Saturday’s first Indy Duel in Detroit race, a triumph that came only hours after winning the pole for Sunday’s event.

Conway, whose only prior IndyCar victory came in 2011 at Long Beach, signed a oneoff deal to drive for car owner Dale Coyne and had never seen the vehicle or his pit crew until this week. “All thanks to the team,” Conway said.

Pacers down Heat

Veteran Hill retires

Indiana Pacers exploded in the second half en route to a 91-77 victory over Miami to force a deciding seventh game in their NBA Eastern Conference final series.

INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA: The Indiana Pacers exploded in the second half en route to a 9177 victory over Miami on Saturday to force a deciding seventh game in their NBA Eastern Conference final series.

Paul George led the Pacers with 28 points, Roy Hibbert added 24 points and grabbed 11 rebounds, and Indiana held off the reigning NBA champion Heat in the fourth quarter to knot the series at three games apiece.

The Pacers still face a tough task if they want to deny the Heat a return to the NBA finals, with Miami having the luxury of hosting game seven on Monday.

The winners of the series will face Western Conference champions San Antonio in the NBA championship series starting on Thursday.

The Spurs will be well-rested against either opponent, thanks to their four-game

David West #21 of the Indiana Pacers dunks against Norris Cole #30 of the Miami Heat in Game Six of the Eastern Conference Finals during the 2013 NBA Playoffs on Saturday at Bankers Life Fieldhouse in Indianapolis, Indiana.

AFP/NBAE/NATHANIEL S BUTLER

Pistorius to return to court for murder JOHANNESBURG: Murderaccused paralympic star Oscar Pistorius returns to court on Tuesday for a scheduled pretrial hearing while detectives wrap up their investigations.

The case comes up just days after photographs of the blood-spattered murder scene emerged for the first time since he shot his model girlfriend at his upmarket Pretoria home in the early hours of February 14.

Defence lawyers and the prosecution have agreed the case will be postponed, but the date is to be set by the court.

The state wants a bit more time to wind up its investigations and hopes to finalise its case by August.

The 26-year-old double amputee known as “Blade Runner” for his trademark carbon fibre prosthetic limbs is charged with murdering Reeva

MURDER-ACCUSED PARALYMPIC STAR OSCAR PISTORIUS RETURNS TO COURT ON TUESDAY FOR A SCHEDULED PRETRIAL HEARING WHILE DETECTIVES WRAP UP THEIR INVESTIGATIONS. Steenkamp on Valentine’s Day. Pistorius, who is out on bail, will personally appear in court, according to one of his lawyers, Kenny Oldwage.

“The case is not likely to go ahead. We will have a postponement,” said Oldwage said.

Pistorius claimed he shot Steenkamp through a locked bathroom door with a gun he kept under his bed after mistaking her for an intruder. AFP

sweep of Memphis in the Western Conference finals.

“This is where you have to compartmentalize in the playoffs and focus on the main thing,” Heat coach Erik Spoelstra said after his team failed to wrap up the series.

“We work all season long for game seven, home court.

Regardless of how you get to that point — play well, don’t play well, win a game, lose a game — it all builds up to this.

“It’s an incredible opportunity for a professional athlete to be part of a game seven, and that’s why our guys are looking forward to this even after a disappointing loss.”

The Pacers led by as many as 17 points in the third quarter. Miami whittled the deficit to four midway through the fourth and were down 77-68 when Heat superstar LeBron James drove to the rim guarded

by Hibbert.

AFP

LOS ANGELES: Veteran NBA forward Grant Hill said Saturday he was retiring from the league after a career in which he was named an All-Star seven times.

Hill, who shared the league’s Rookie of the Year Award with Jason Kidd for the 1994-95 season, averaged double-figure points in each season until the 2012-12 campaign, when the 40year-old contributed 3.2 points per game over 29 contests with the Los Angeles Clippers.

The former Duke University stand-out came into the NBA with the Detroit Pistons as the third overall selection in the 1994 draft.

He averaged 21.6 points, 7.9 rebounds and 6.3 assists over six seasons in Detroit, then joined the Orlando Magic before the 2000-01 campaign. He played just four games that season because of a chronic ankle injury that affected him for a significant portion of his career.

During his seven seasons in Orlando, Hill participated in more than 29 games just twice over that span and was forced to sit out the entire 2003-04 schedule after undergoing major AFP ankle surgery.

AP girls clinch title The Andhra Pradesh girls U-12 team emerged victorious at the AITA Inter State Nationals when they defeated Karnataka 2-1.

NEW DELHI: The Andhra Pradesh girls clinched the title of the AITA Inter State Nationals for boys and girls under-12 tournament when they defeated Karnataka 2-1 at the RK Khanna Tennis Stadium here on Saturday.

The same was not the result in the boys event as they lost 1-2 to Delhi.

RESULTS:

Girls: Andhra Pradesh bt Karnataka 2-1 Prathyusha Rachapudi lost Prarthana Prabhakar 5-7, 6-4, 57; S Rachana Reddy bt Pratibha N Prasad 6-1, 6-0; Amineni Shivani/S Rachana Reddy bt Annika/Prarthana Prabhakar 61, 6-1.

Boys: Andhra Pradesh lost to Delhi 1-2 Menga Rohit lost Vipul Mehta 6-

The Andhra Pradesh girls team (l to r) Prathyusha Rachapudi, S.Rachana Reddy, D.R.C.Kiron (Non-Playing Captain/Coach) and Amineni Shivanip pose after defeating Karnataka in the finals.

7 (5), 6-2, 4-6, B Rithvik Choudary bt Sacchit Sharma 63, 6-2; Teertha Shashank/B

Rithvik Choudary lost Vipul Mehta / Sacchit Sharma 4-6, 6-2, 7-10.

30

SPORTS SUNDAY, JUNE 2, 2013

Jose exits with win, boos

Real Madrid manager Jose Mourinho was booed by the majority of a sparse home crowd as he ended his controversial three-year spell in charge of Real Madrid with a 4-2 win over Osasuna.

Kieran CANNING

MADRID: Real Madrid manager Jose Mourinho was booed by the majority of a sparse home crowd as he ended his controversial three-year spell in charge with a 4-2 win over Osasuna.

Champions Barcelona rounded off their campaign with a 4-1 win over Malaga to match Real’s league record of 100 points from last season on the final day.

Mourinho’s name was met with a chorus of whistles when it was read out before kick-off, but he did receive support from a small group of the club’s ultra fanbase who chanted his name throughout.

The 50-year-old, widely expected to return to Chelsea, did not appear at the post-match news conference, leaving veteran defender Alvaro Arbeloa to have the final say on the controversial manager.

“We respect his decision, the club’s too, and wish him well.

We all know that we have taken

a major leap in competitiveness and we knew we could have achieved a lot, but due to small details or bad luck it was not to be," he said.

“He has had his successes and failures, as we have all had but he gave his all and defended Real Madrid above everything".

On the field it looked as Mourinho would be given a good send off as first-half goals from Gonzalo Higuain and Michael Essien gave Madrid a comfortable 2-0 lead.

However, Osasuna struck back with two goals in 11 minutes just after the restart through Roberto Torres and Alvaro Cejudo to level matters.

But Mourinho was able to sign off with a win as further goals from Karim Benzema and Jose Maria Callejon ensured Real ended the season unbeaten at home in the league.

With the Portuguese’s appearance on the touchline for the final time the main attraction, the game even had to be

Real Madrid’s coach Jose Mourinho waves after the Spanish League football match between Real Madrid CF and Osasuna at the Santiago Bernabeu stadium in Madrid Saturday.

AFP/DANI POZO stopped after barely a minute as photographers and cameramen spilled over onto the pitch.

Barcelona rounded off their championship winning season

in style as a first-half blitz saw them dispose of Malaga 4-1 at the Camp Nou. Goals from David Villa, Cesc Fabregas and Martin Montoya

in the opening 16 minutes got the hosts off to the best possible start.

Andres Iniesta then made it 4-0 seven minutes into the second-half before Pedro Morales got a consolation goal five minutes later.

Elsewhere, Real Sociedad qualified for the Champions League for the first time in a decade. Their 1-0 win over Deportivo La Coruna, combined with Valencia’s 4-3 defeat at Sevilla, meant they claimed fourth place at the expense of Valencia.

“We are very happy and satisfied because it is the second time in the last number of years that Real Sociedad have reached the Champions League with a French manager," said Sociedad boss Phillippe Montanier.

“It was a very hard game, above all in the second-half when Deportivo gave everything to win the game and they didn’t deserve to lose."

Kuchar grabs Memorial lead

Ilonen fires 65 at Swedish Masters

DUBLIN, OHIO: Matt Kuchar fired a two-under par 70 to seize a twostroke lead over fellow Americans Kevin Chappell and Kyle Stanley after Saturday’s third round of the $6.2 million US PGA Memorial tournament.

In a round where world number one Tiger Woods struggled to a 79 to stand 16 strokes off the pace and second-ranked Rory McIlroy settled for a 75 and stood 14 strokes back, Kuchar offset back-nine stumbles with long birdie putts.

Kuchar birdied the par-3 fourth and par-5 seventh but closed the front nine with a bogey.

He responded with a 19-foot birdie putt at the par-4 10th, then sandwiched two birdies between

STOCKHOLM: A masterful round of 65

Matt Kuchar reacts after missing his birdie putt on the par 4 18th hole during the third round of the Memorial Tournament presented at Muirfield Village Golf Club on Saturday AFP/ANDY LYONS

bogeys at the par-3 12th and par-5 15th.

Kuchar dropped an 11-foot birdie at the par-4 13th and followed by sinking a 17-foot birdie putt at the par-4 14th at the Muirfield Village layout where 18-time major winner Jack Nicklaus is the tournament host.

After 54 holes, Kuchar was on eight-under 208 with Stanley and Chappell both on 210. Stanley stumbled to a 73 on Saturday while Chappell fired a 68.

“I played some steady golf. I got the wind figured out as best as possible and I’m driving it well," Kuchar said. “You can play some moderately aggressive golf out AFP there."

Qatar’s Barshim impresses with 2.40m EUGENE, OREGON: Qatar’s Mutaz Essa Barshim (right) posted the best outdoor high jump since 2000 on Saturday with a winning leap of 2.40m at the Prefontaine Classic Diamond League meeting.

The Qatari’s performance was the most impressive in a spate of seasonleading efforts produced in the fourth of 14 stops in the IAAF’s elite Diamond League series. The 2012 Olympic bronze medallist is now tied with four other athletes as the fourth-best performers all-time out-

doors in the discipline and his clearance was the highest indoors or out since the 2.40 of Russian Ivan Ukhov indoors in February of 2009.

He improved on the Asian continental record of 2.39 that he shared with China’s Zhu Jianhua, Zhu setting the mark in 1984 and Barshim matching it in Lausanne in 2012.

Olympic gold medallist Renaud Lavillenie was also impressive, winning the men’s pole vault in a season-leading 5.95m.

As at the London Games last year and the European

Championships, the Frenchman finished ahead of Germans Bjorn Otto (5.90) and Raphael Holzdeppe (5.84).

Tirunesh Dibaba won the women’s 5,000 in a world-leading 14min 42.01sec, Francine Miyonsaba clocked a season’s best of 1:57.72 in winning the 800m and the women’s triple jump saw winner Caterine Ibarguen of Colombia with a leap of 14.93 and Ukraine’s Olga Saladukha with a runner-up clearance of 14.85 both improve on the previous best this year. AFP

AFP

propelled Finland’s Mikko Ilonen into a two-shot lead at the Stockholm Masters on Saturday heading into the final round in the Swedish capital. He finished the day 18under on 198.

The 33-year-old continued his rich vein of form after finishing second in China and Morocco earlier this season with five birdies and an eagle to overtake overnight leader Matteo Manassero, who slumped to a one-under-par round of 71 and slipped to joint third alongside Swede Jonas Blixt and four shots off the pace. Ilonen started confidently with a birdie on the second hole and followed it up with birdies on six and nine as he staked his claim for the lead in a bid to win his first tournament in six years and third on the European Tour.

“I need to shoot another low score and I can do it, but we’ve got 18 holes to go and lots of other guys are still hunting me," said Ilonen, who won both his tournaments in 2007 including a win in Stockholm.

Home hopeful Alexander Noren and 2011 champion is alone in second and two shots back after sinking a mammoth 80 foot putt on the fourth hole during a round that included seven birdies and an eagle.

Ilonen struck a superb approach to three feet at the 13th to set up a birdie, sank another from five feet at the 14th, and then saw a sand wedge spin back in at the 15th and drop for eagle.

“It was a bit of a funny yardage for me," he said of the eagle. “It was raining and I just tried to squeeze it in there and got lucky with it a bit," he said about a marvellous back nine.

Manassero, who became the youngest winner at the EPGA Championship last weekend at the age of 20 failed to take advantage of the favourable conditions and will begin Sunday’s final round with plenty to do in a bid to make it back-to-back wins.

31

SPORTS SUNDAY, JUNE 2, 2013

Srinivasan may quit today NEW DELHI: An emergency meeting of the BCCI will be held in Chennai today in which beleaguered President Srinivasan (in pic) may announce his resignation from the post after he has been virtually isolated by his team in the Board.

As pressure mounted on him to quit in the wake of the IPL spot-fixing scandal and the arrest of his son-in-law on betting charges, the BCCI has advanced the Working Committee meeting which Srinivasan had planned to convene next Saturday.

“An emergent Working Committee meeting will be held in Chennai at 11 am”, BCCI Game Development Manager Ratnakar Shetty said in an announcement that came hours after Vice-President Arun Jaitley and Joint Secretary Anurag Thakur told reportes to wait for a “significant” development in a day.

Sources in the Board said Srinivasan may announce his decision to quit the post and he has discussed this with some of the officials.

In an indication that the resignation might come today, IPL Chairman Rajeev Shukla said “some announcement is likely to be made. Wait for a day”.

The meeting of the all-powerful Working Committee may decide on the interim chief for the Board till a new President is elected.

The under-fire Srinivasan’s adamant stand of sticking to the post of BCCI President despite the damaging scam last night prompted Board Treasurer Ajay Shirke and Secretary Sanjay Jagdale to resign in protest.

The crisis in the BCCI has deepened with every passing day after Srinivasan’s son-inlaw and Chennai Super Kings Team Principal Gurunath

MUMBAI: Distressed by the IPL

Shukla quits IPL before BCCI emergency meet NEW DELHI: Hours after the Indian cricket board called an emergency meeting of its working committee on Sunday to decide the fate of its chief, N. Srinivasan, IPL chairman Rajeev Shukla quit, citing the controversy surrounding the Twenty20 tournament.

Shukla’s decision on Saturday evening was on expected lines after he had

Meiyappan was arrested for alleged involvement in betting.

Srinivasan, whose company India Cements owns CSK, refused to resign despite repeated calls for his ouster, insisting that he did no wrong.

Watson century sinks WI CARDIFF, UNITED: Shane Watson blasted a brilliant century as Australia started their preparations for the Champions Trophy with a four-wicket victory over the West Indies in Cardiff on Saturday.

Australia were set 257 to win after Darren Bravo’s 86 helped the West Indies post a respectable 256-9 in their 50 overs. Initially it seemed that total may be beyond them as David Warner and Phillip Hughes were quickly dismissed to leave the Australians struggling at 4-2.

But opener Watson snatched the momentum back from the West Indies with a superb innings of 135 in just 98 balls as he peppered the boundary with 15 fours and four sixes.

Watson’s flamboyant dis-

Scandal has become very disgraceful: Shah

play put Australia firmly on course for victory, with Adam Voges (43) and Mitchell Marsh, who smashed eight fours in his 19-ball 39 not out ensuring there would be no late revival from the Windies.

Australia, who are in Champions Trophy Group A along with England, New Zealand and Sri Lanka, play their second warm-up fixture against India in Cardiff on Tuesday. After winning the toss and electing to bat, West Indies lost opener Devon Smith for just seven when he was caught by wicketkeeper Matthew Wade off the bowling of Mitchell Starc.

However, Australia failed to take advantage of that early breakthrough and Bravo combined with Johnson Charles (55) to give the AFP Windies renewed hope.

expressed his unwillingness to continue in the next season following the IPL spot fixing controversy that has hit the sixth edition of the cash-rich league. Shukla was unavailable for comment.

His resignation came after the BCCI called an emergency meeting in Chennai to decide Srinivasan’s fate in the wake of the alleged spot fixing in

Srinivasan, however, convened an Emergency Working Committee meeting on June 8 hours after information spilled out that the ICC had warned Meiyappan to keep away from bookies at the start of IPL.

the IPL. Pressure to resign is mounting on Srinivasan, whose son-in-law Gurunath Meiyappan was arrested by Mumbai Police May 24 for his alleged involvement in spot fixing.

BCCI joint secretary Anurag Thakur said: “An emergent meeting of the working committee of the BCCI will be held at 2.30 p.m. today in Chennai. IANS

Thakur had reiterated this morning that Srinivasan should resign in the interest of fairness.

“He should step aside for a transparent and fair probe,” he PTI said.

spot-fixing scam, BCCI Vice President Niranjan Shah on Saturday said the scandal has become increasingly “disgraceful” but stopped short of demanding under-fire President N Srinivasan’s resignation.

“It is much regrettable and distressing that the situation is getting aggravated in increasingly disgraceful manner...the matter pertaining resignation of BCCI’s president Mr. Srinivasan should rather be a matter between himself and the rules and regulations of the Board,” Shah said in a statement.

Srinivasan’s adamant stand of sticking to his position despite the controversy, on Friday nght prompted Board Treasurer Ajay Shirke and Secretary Sanjay Jagdale to resign in protest.

The crisis in the BCCI has deepened with every passing day after Srinivasan’s son-in-law and Chennai Super Kings Team Principal Gurunath Meiyappan was arrested for alleged involvement in betting. Srinivasan refused to resign despite repeated calls for his ouster.

“It should be a concern of all concerned that neither the police investigation nor the judicial proceedings, and nor the proceedings of inquiry commission appointed by the BCCI be adversely affected in any prejudicial manner,” said Shah.

“Objective spirit as also patience and placidity would rather be meaningfully helpful to inquiry and investigations.

The culprits will of course be punished under applicable rules and laws. But it should be a prime concern that the spirit of cricket and people’s faith, interest and involvement should not PTI be jeopardised,” he added.

India win warm up tie BIRMINGHAM: Virat Kohli and Dinesh Karthik both hit centuries as India warmed up the forthcoming Champions Trophy with an impressive five-wicket win against Sri Lanka at Edgbaston on Saturday.

Mahendra Singh Dhoni’s team looked up against it when Sri Lanka posted an imposing total of 333-5 after being put into bat.

But Kohli smashed 144 from 120 balls and Karthik blasted 106 not out from only 81 balls to lead India to victory with one over to spare.

India were struggling at 62-3 in the 13th over and then 110-4 in the 21st over before Kohli and Karthik came to the rescue.

Kohli hit 11 fours and three sixes, while Karthik notched up 12 fours and two sixes as he and Dhoni, who scored 18 not out, helped India finish on 337-5.

India play their second warm-up game against Australia on June 4 in Cardiff before opening their Champions Trophy campaign against South Africa at the same venue two days later.

Kusal Perera and Tillekaratne Dilshan had caused plenty of problems for the Indian bowling attack in a blistering start for the Sri Lanka AFP openers.

India’s Virat Kohli batting during the warm-up cricket match ahead of the 2013 ICC Champions Trophy against Sri Lanka at Edgbaston in Birmingham, central England on Saturday.

AFP/ANDREW YATES

32

SPORTS SUNDAY, JUNE 2, 2013

Kei to gatecrash party

PARIS: Japan’s Kei Nishikori aims to gatecrash seven-time French Open champion Rafael Nadal’s 27th birthday party on Monday and write another chapter in Grand Slam history.

The 23-year-old Nishikori is already the first Japanese man to make the last 16 at Roland Garros since Fumiteru Nakano in 1938.

Victory on Monday would put him into a second career Grand Slam quarter-final after having reached the last eight at the Australian Open in 2012.

But the odds are stacked against the Florida-based world number 15.

Nadal is bidding to become the only man to win the same Grand Slam title on eight occasions, having won 55 of his 56 matches in Paris and also having defeated Nishikori four times out of four.

“I almost hear every tournament, if I do well, that I make history, but for me it’s almost normal to be here,” said Nishikori.

Nadal has yet to peak at this tournament, needing to recover from first set deficits in the opening two rounds for the first time in his Roland Garros career.

He has also been unsettled, lashing out at the tournament schedulers in midweek who he branded “a joke”.

But when the sunny, dry conditions replaced the cold and wet of the first week on Saturday, the Spaniard was transformed, seeing off colourful Italian Fabio Fognini in straight sets to reach the fourth round.

Nadal, an 11-time Grand Slam title winner, has won his last three meetings with Nishikori in straight sets after the Japanese player had managed to take a set in their first clash at Queen’s Club in London in 2008.

The champion admits he has great respect for Nishikori who, like him,

Japan’s Nishikori Kei celebrates after winning his French tennis Open third round match against France’s Benoit Paire at the Roland Garros stadium in Paris on Saturday.

AFP/MARTIN BUREAU

KEI NISHIKORI AIMS TO GATECRASH FRENCH OPEN CHAMPION RAFAEL NADAL’S 27TH BIRTHDAY PARTY AND WRITE ANOTHER CHAPTER IN GRAND SLAM HISTORY. has battled a series of injuries in recent years.

Nadal missed seven months with knee trouble before returning in February, since when he has captured six titles in eight finals.

Nishikori, who showed his love for the big stage by beating Roger Federer in Madrid on the eve of Roland Garros, was sidelined from August 2009 to April 2010 to undergo elbow surgery.

An abdominal injury forced him to skip last year’s French Open.

“He’s a big talented player. I know how hard it is to come back after an injury. Now he’s back and he’s in his highest ranking. He’s playing great, having very good results,” said Nadal.

“Always I play with big respect against Kei. He’s a fantastic player. He can play very aggressive.”

AFP

Fedex, Serena target place in quarters PARIS: Former champions Roger Federer and Serena Williams will look to continue their untroubled progress at the French Open on Sunday as they go hunting quarter-final places.

Federer, the 2009 winner, faces French 15th seed Gilles Simon, a player against whom he has a 3-2 record, including a victory on clay in Rome just two weeks ago.

A win for Federer will give him a 58th career victory Paris — level with the record held by Guillermo Vilas and Nicola Pietrangeli.

The 17-time major winner has also been boosted by enjoying his best ever start to a French Open. The 31-year-old has dropped just 23 games in three rounds compared to 24 in 2007 and 27 in 2010.

Although Simon has two wins against the great Swiss, the last of those came five years ago. French sixth seed Jo-Wilfried Tsonga, his country’s leading hope of ending France’s 30year wait for a men’s champion, faces Serbia’s Viktor Troicki.

Tommy Robredo takes on Spanish compatriot Nicolas Almagro for a place in the quarter-finals. Robredo missed the 2011 and 2012 French Opens because of a leg injury which sent his world ranking plummeting to 471 just 12 months ago.

The former world number five was a quarter-finalist in 2003, 2005, 2007 and 2009.

Kevin Anderson, the first South African since Wayne Ferreira in 1996 to get this far, tackles Spanish fourth seed David Ferrer.

In the women’s fourth round, world number one Williams, who is on a 27-match winning streak, faces Italy’s Roberta Vinci.

Former champion Svetlana Kuznetsova faces German eighth seed Angelique Kerber.

Carla Suarez Navarro meets Sara Errani, last year’s runner-up from Italy, while Polish fourth seed Agnieszka Radwanska plays anothAFP er former champion Ana Ivanovic.

US women on Djoker mourns death of coach 9-year high PARIS: It’s official, there’s more to US tennis than just Serena Williams after four American women reached the French Open fourth round, the country’s best such run since the 2004 US Open.

Williams, the top seed, an overwhelming favourite to lift a second Roland Garros title, and a 16th major, had made the last 16 on Friday, losing just six games in three matches.

But the 31-year-old will now have company in the second week after 17th seed Sloane Stephens, Bethanie Mattek-Sands and Jamie Hampton all progressed on Saturday.

There are still plenty of challenges ahead as no US woman has made the semifinals in Paris since Jennifer Capriati in 2004 while Williams remains her country’s most recent

champion thanks to her 2002 triumph.

Last year, Stephens and Varvara Lepchenko perished at the fourth round stage after Williams had suffered her worst defeat at a major, losing in the first round to France’s Virginie Razzano.

“I think there are a lot of young guns coming up that will be dangerous,” said world number 67 Mattek-Sands, who made the last 16 for the first time by beating Argentine qualifier Paula Ormeachea. The 28-yearold had already done the hard work by knocking out sixth seed, and 2011 champion, Li Na in the second round.

“To have 13 women in the main draw here at the French Open, more than any other country, is aweAFP some. I’m proud.”

PARIS: World number one Novak Djokovic (in pic) cancelled his post-match press conference at the French Open on Saturday in tribute to his first coach, Jelena Gencic, who has died aged 77.

The top seed completed an impressive 6-2, 6-2, 6-3 win over rising Bulgarian star Grigor Dimitrov before tournament organisers announced that he would be unavailable for the customary post-match interview as a sign of respect for his fellow Serb.

Gencic noticed Djokovic’s talent when he was six years old and with the agreement of his parents trained him for five years before he left for further coaching in Germany.

“When I met him I knew immediately that he was different. I told his father that he was an exceptional talent and that one day he will be a big champion,” she said in an interview.

After winning Wimbledon in 2011, Djokovic visited her in Belgrade to celebrate the win with his former coach.

Gencic, a retired handball and tennis player, has also trained other former top world

players Monika Seles and Croatia’s Goran Ivanisevic.

Djokovic, who is seeking in Paris to become just the eighth man to win all four Grand Slam titles, was never troubled by Dimitrov, who beat him in the second round of the Madrid Masters last month.

It was the 500th win of his professional career which start-

ed in 2003, but there were concerns late on in the match against Dimitrov when he needed treatment for a pain in his right arm.

Djokovic will go up against Phillip Kohlschreiber of Germany for a place in the quarter-finals in a match scheduled for Monday.

AFP