Epaper 30 august 2013

FRIDAY, AUGUST 30, 2013 HYDERABAD

SOMETHING TO

TALK ABOUT P16 & 17

WWW.POSTNOON.COM

WEATHER: SCATTERED CLOUDS;

32 PAGES

28°C

Talk shows are perhaps the most notable places where famous faces can show off a different persona from what we’re used to seeing.

Sometimes, a little too much revelation ends up being a problem.

`3

OVERCOMING HER FEARS Actress Tanishaa Mukerji took to theatre this month for her debut with a play called The Verdict. She is also entering new territory by acting in a Marathi film.

P28

HYDERABAD’S FIRST COMPACT AFTERNOON NEWSPAPER

GHMC STAGES COMIC OPERA

Appoints mechanical engineers to supervise civil engineering! Probably the houses they build will be mobile, wonder many in the City. Some 51 of the 72 assistant engineers hired have mechanical background.

P4

A REGAL

TOUCH REPORT ON P5

PROBLEM OF PLENTY Ace designer Sabyasachi Mukherjee showcased an absolutely royal collection full of velvet and satin for his comeback show at the Lakme Fashion Week. The pieces were heavily embroidered with gold and copper threads.

P22 & 23

AFFLICTS YSRC After the flood, it’s the trouble. The initial influx into the fledgling party from Congress and TDP has now turned out to be a bane, leaders admit.

2

FRIDAY, AUGUST 30, 2013

city events

FLAVOURS TO SAVOUR

Unique flavours of Pondicherry.

Where: Dakshin, ITC Kakatiya, Begumpet When: August 30 Contact: 789301 3000

Weather for Hyderabad

Evening

Overnight

27°C

22°C

Chances of thunderstorms

Showers likely

Morning

Afternoon

27°C

33°C

A mix of cloud and sun

Cloudy with showers.

New Delhi Mumbai Max 32 Max 30 Min 28 Min 26 Mostly cloudy

Chennai Max 34 Min 27

Chances of storm

Cloudy with chances of storm

Bangalore Max 31 Min 22

Cloudy with chances of showers

AROUND THE CITY: YOUR GUIDE TO THE TWIN CITIES Where: Zodiac Hall, Golkonda Hotel.

When: 12 noon, Till August 31.

SHOWS

Fish fest To showcase a slice of Indian culinary heritage, Taj Krishna is hosting the Simply Fish Festival.

Where: Firdaus, Taj Krishna When: Lunch and dinner, Till August 31 Contact: +91 9246 21 5332

Art show A group show titled Krishnastuti is on.

Where: Aalankritha Art Gallery, Jubilee Hills When: Till September 6 Contact: +91-40-23113709; 40207171

LEGENDARY: On the occasion of the birth anniversary of King of Pop Michael Jackson, members of Rams Step Up Dance Company put up a thrilling performance at Prasads Imax on Thursday.

Album tour Lost Stories album launch tour will be held.

Where: Hard Rock Cafe, Banjara Hills When: August 30, 9 pm Contact: 6463-6375

Workshop for parents Handwork & Brain Development Of Kids, a workshop for teachers and parents will be held.

Where: Our Sacred Space, Secunderabad When: August 30, 10 am to 1 pm Contact: 90300-13344

Play time Barbareekudu will be staged.

Where: NTR Auditorium, Nampally When: August 31, 7 pm Contact: 2323-0641 / 2323-0435 Live performance The Last Bridge will perform live.

Where: Lamakaan, Banjara Hills When: August 31, 7 pm Contact: 96427-31329

WORKSHOPS Yoga classes Prenatal yoga classes will be held.

Commissioner & Spl Officer

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

198 155313

POLICE CONTROL ROOM Hyderabad 27852435 Traffic Control Room 27852482 DCP Traffic 23234065, 23243499F Pollution Control Board 23887500 ELECTRICITY General Complaints Breakdown Section

Where: The Birthplace, Banjara Hills When: August 31, 11.30 am Contact: 98855-69459

155333 23431178 23431179

MUNICIPAL CORPORATION

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

Story-telling workshop Creative story-telling workshop by Deepa Kiran will be held.

Where: Shwaas - Centre for Inspired Learning, Jubilee Hills When: August 30, 10 am to 1 pm Contact: Salil, at 94405-00277 or Anita, at 99593-83947

Saifabad.

When: August 31, 6.15 pm Contact: Manthan, at 6636-0000

Robot talk Robotics In The 21st Century by Dr Ayanna Howard will be held.

Where: Vidyaranya High School,

Delectable fare Oriental food festival is on.

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

155313 23307328 23313163 27505566 23314095 23390933 24600146 27001134 23607777 30418888 30417777 30419000 30416666 39879999

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

DINING

27567892 23559555 23226624 27633087 27035588 27550238 30799999 30418296 30417445

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

Tea flavours Try the tea flavours of Budlabeta, Hapjan, Khobong and Sessa. A portion of the proceeds will be contributed to WWF India's one-horned Rhino Conservation project in Assam.

Where: Oxford Bookstore, The Park, 22 Rajbhavan Road When: Ongoing Contact: 8790432354 Sizzling South This food festival will focus on South Indian specialties and gourmet delicacies from interiors of Tamil Nadu, Kerala and Andhra Pradesh.

Where: Chill Restaurant and Terrace, Radisson Blue When: Till August 30 Contact: 7799917999 India on a Platter A culinary journey across the country at The Square.

Where: The Square, Novotel When: August 31 Contact: 8686080577

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

For more information call (Toll free) 18001801407, 1800227722 from BSNL/MTNL 04023430334 from other lines and mobile Website; www.airindia.in TOURISM OFFICES AP Tourism, Hyd 23262152/53/54 Sec-bad 27893100 Dept of Tourism 23453110 India Tourism 23261360 AP Tourism information Centre (24x7) 23450444, 23455999 UK VISA OFFICE VFS India Pvt Ltd Building, 8-2-542/A, Sunil Chamber, Road No. 7

Beside Meridian School, Banjara Hills34. Working hours are from 8 AM to 1 PM And 2 PM to 3PM. MUSEUMS Salar Jung Museum AP State Museum Nizams Museum

24523211 232431300/7641 24521029

Readers’ views

We invite you to write to us comments, suggestions, viewpoint or just about anything to feedback@postnoon.com or # Plot no.550-A1,3rd floor, Road no-92, Jubilee hills, Hyderabad-500033 or even by way of a call on 4067 2222

FRIDAY, AUGUST 30, 2013

news

YESTERDAY’S QUESTION

WITH T DECIDED, WILL JAGAN’S FAST MATTER? 29% 71%

YES (A) NO (B)

TODAY’S QUESTION

WILL GHMC’S MECHANICAL ENGINEERS DO A GOOD JOB OF ROADS? A)

YES

2 oil firm staff bolt with cash

USA

AROUND THE

CITY

been marketing manager for the past three years with the firm.

Both had been living in the company quarters and are said to have developed illicit relations.

As it had been a private matter, the company did not intervene.

However, the duo seemed to have planned to con the company and escape with sufficient funds for a comfortable living.

The company officials noted that the two had not been attend-

3

Common tax laws for same sex couples The US Treasury is giving the same tax benefits to legally married same-sex couples that heterosexual couples enjoy.

Police say private companies giving their employees freedom to handle cash ought to have their antecedents verified thoroughly.

HYDERABAD: A man by name Deepak Singh and his paramour Soly Mathew have allegedly escaped with lots of cash from an oil company located at Gaganpahad Road in the city outskirts. The company officials have lodged a complaint with the RGI police.

RGI inspector B Durga Prasad said Deepak Singh, 28, is a native of Rajasthan and has been engaged for collection of bills for the past one year. He is said to have been friends with one Soly Mathew, 36, who had

NO

To vote visit www.postnoon.com

CRIME

Mohd SUBHAN mohd.s@postnoon.com

B)

WASHINGTON: The US Treasury on Thursday recognized gay marriage under tax laws, giving the same tax benefits to legally married samesex couples that heterosexual couples enjoy.

The landmark ruling applies to all lawfully married same-sex couples in the country, even if they live in states that do not recognize the marriage. Previously, legally married same-sex couples had to file their federal income tax returns declaring themselves “unmarried,” losing out on a broad range of benefits and protections, including transfers of property, gifts and inheritances.

“Today’s ruling provides certainty and clear, coherent tax filing guidance for all legally married same-sex couples nationwide. It provides access to benefits, responsibilities and protections under federal tax law that all Americans deserve,” Treasury Secretary Jacob Lew said in a statement.

“This ruling also assures legally married same-sex couples that they can move freely throughout the country knowing that their federal filing status will not change.”

Gay couples will be able to, for example, claim exemptions — which reduce taxable income — that favour married couples over single people.

A case in point: The tax code provides an automatic deduction for taxable income.

In 2012, single taxpayers

ing office for the past few days and it made them suspicious. On checking their residences, they were found to be locked. While the company is still assessing the loss, it was reported that they have gone with `15 lakh and more investigation will bring out the exact loss.

Police have been collecting details of their native places and a team has been formed to trace the two. The company manager Ramesh Kumar said the duo had their mobile phones off. Police warns said companies should thoroughly check the background of employees who are allowed to handle cash.

could take a standard $5,950 deduction. But for married couples filing jointly, even if only one person is working, the deduction was doubled to $11,900, effectively bringing down their tax bill.

The ruling came in response to a US Supreme Court decision on June 26 that AROUND THE

WORLD

struck down the 1996 Defense of Marriage Act, which denied federal benefits to married gay and lesbian couples.

As a result the federal government was allowed to recognise same-sex couples in all federal matters, such as sharing pension benefits.

Although marriage remains a legal issue governed by individual states in the US, the Treasury and the Internal Revenue Service made clear that its tax treatment of gay married couples will apply whether they live in states that recognise gay marriages or those that do not.

AFP

CITY BRIEFS Rayala, Andhra leaders will Special force to go to keep fighting for united AP Bihar to bring Bhatkal

Sharmila to start her bus Art competition for yatra from s school children by Daira

Man commits suicide out of dejection

A

Y

G

nantapur MP Anantha Venkatram Reddy has said leaders from Rayala and Andhra would not give up protests for a united AP and nothing short of withdrawal of T announcement would be acceptable. People of three regions have developed Hyderabad city and it belongs to all three regions, Reddy said.

Leaders from Seemandhra will obstruct the passage of Telangana bill.

A

special team of the city police has been despatched to Bihar to bring terrorist Yasin Bhatkal in connection with the twin blasts in Dilsukhnagar on February 21. The Commissioner of Police Anurag Sharma said the arrest of Bhatkal, who is suspected to be the brain-behind the twin blasts, would throw light on those involved in the bomb attack.

SRC leader Sharmila will start her bus yatra on September 2 from Idupulapaya in Kadapa district. YSRCP sources said Sharmila will pay tributes to her father late YSR at his Samadhi in Idupulapaya and then kick-start the bus yatra. She is undertaking the yatra with the demand that in case of bifurcation of the State, justice should be ensured to both the regions.

T

he Children’s Fine Art Gallery (a Daira initiative) is organising the Inter Affordable Private Schools (APS) art competition 2013 for the students of primary, middle and high schools. Daira would conduct the competitions regularly throughout the months of August till December 2013 and 500 schools are expected to participate.

Nagesh, 35, a resident of Kisara in the city outskirts who was working as labourer reportedly committed suicide by hanging in his home, police reported. He hails from Guntur district and had come to the City a few days ago for work. However, he could not find enough work and was dejected, it is said.

4

News FRIDAY, AUGUST 30, 2013 LAST YEAR... HERE Powerful measures

L

ast year we had reported how APTransco was trying desparate measures to save electricity. The move by them to suspend illumination for 15 days got them a lot of praise. And in fact, it has now become fashionable to say please save electricity but how many of them are actually doing it is left for one to guess.

AUGUST 30, 2012

NUMEROLOGY

$736 mn

is the amount Turkey has spent to shelter Syrian refugees, whose number has exceeded 200,000, the government statistics have revealed.

My life was once full of drama ... there were so many days when death seemed to be constantly hanging over my head.But I’ve learned to appreciate an ordinary, quiet life.

Kim Dong-Sik, spy See page 12

5

THINGS WE LEARNT TODAY

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

1

Mechanical engineers to build roads A lot of thought mechanism, it seems, has gone into recruiting mechanical engineers in place of civil engineers for building City roads.

2

There is something fishy about this man A Vietnamese man attempt to smuggle tropical fish into New Zealand in his pants floundered when he tried to get through customs with his pockets dripping.

3

Indian Ocean paradise island beset by shark controversy Since 2011, there have been 12 shark attacks in the Reunion, of which five were deadly.

4

US recognizes same-sex couples under tax laws The landmark ruling applies to all lawfully married same-sex couples in the country, even if they live in states that do not recognise the marriage.

5

Walking Pneumonia, a milder form of pneumonia It can also be called atypical pneumonia because it is caused by typical bacteria.

RECRUITMENT

GHMC stages comic opera Appoints mechanical engineers to supervise civil engineering! Probably the houses they build will be mobile, wonder many in the City. Some 51 of the 72 assistant engineers hired have mechanical background.

ALEENA ALICE aleena.t@postnoon.com HYDERABAD: Imagine getting your house built by a mechanical engineer instead of a civil engineer! Well that is exactly the situation of our engineering wing in the GHMC which maintains the roads, buildings and other infrastructure of the City.

On one hand the civic body cries sorry stating that they faced shortage of manpower and on the other hand, recruit the wrong people.

After a long the time, the GHMC recently hired 72 people for the post of Assistant engineers, however 51 people out of those hired are from the mechanical background. While the rest from electronics and a negligible number from civil engineering background. So the next time when one complains of the poor conditions of the road, the reason for the shoddy maintenance can be easily understood.

Stating that this is a complete failure and negligence of the administration, and wastage of public funds GHMC TDP Floor Leader Singireddy Srinivas Reddy says, “When the recruitments took place, the then Chief Engineer Dhan Singh, who is now the engineer- in-chief, failed to look into the matter. When the notification for recruitment was given, there was no specification mentioned about any particular field;only engineers were called in for. Hence most of them who were hired were mechanical engineers. Every

The GHMC’s officials concerned stated that, those hired have been given proper training, hence there should be no reason to complain. year a budget of thousands of crores is allocated for building and infrastructure purpose, but with such negligent ground work, all the money will go down the drain.”

The GHMC’s officials concerned stated that, those hired have been given proper train-

ing, hence there should be no reason to complain. “So far 37 assistant engineers have reported and the remainder will join soon. Vigorous training, for almost four weeks, have been given to the recent recruits.

They now know their duties, so it should not be a problem for anyone to complain,” said a senior official in the Engineering wing of the GHMC. BJP floor leader Bangari Prakash says, that instead of hiring 90 per cent of AE’s from mechanical background, the officials should have at least made sure 50 per cent were civil engineers. “Mechanical engineers too are required for vari-

AROUND THE

CITY

ous departments, but at a time when buildings are collapsing and the infrastructure maintenance is the need of the hour, this sort of changes can affect the entire functioning of the civic body. Though they are being trained, they do not have practical experience.”

Meanwhile, the training program has been completed and within two weeks, the newly appointed assistant engineers will take charge of their duties.

VENICE FILM FESTIVAL

Lifetime achievement award for Friedkin VENICE: US film-maker William Friedkin, who petrified cinema-goers with The Exorcist, was awarded a lifetime achievement award by organisers of the Venice film festival on Thursday.

Friedkin’s groundbreaking 1973 Exorcist won 10 Oscar nominations, scooping two awards. He also won an Oscar for best director for The French Connection.

His most recent film, Killer Joe, a black comedy, was pre-

sented at the Venice festival in 2011 and a restored version of his 1977 thriller Sorcerer is being shown at the 70th Venice film festival, which started on Wednesday.

The festival organisers, in awarding Friedkin, 78, the Golden Lion for Lifetime Achievement, lauded the Chicago-born director, producer and screenwriter for “basically inventing the modern blockbuster”.

“William Friedkin has con-

AROUND THE

WORLD

The festival organisers lauded the Chicago-born director, producer and screenwriter for “basically inventing the modern blockbuster”.

tributed in a prominent way to the profound renewal of American cinema regarded as ‘the New Hollywood’,” the festival’s website said.

Friedkin was briefly married to French actress Jeanne Moreau in the 1970s.

In the 1990s the filmmaker turned his attentions to staging grand opera, notably Verdi’s Aida in Italy and Camille SaintSaens’ Samson and Delilah in Israel.

AFP

5

News FRIDAY, AUGUST 30, 2013

POLITICS

POLITICS

Naidu exposes YSRC on T

He said the PM had a moral responsibility to render justice to the regions concerned.

AROUND THE

CITY

POSTNOON NEWS feedback@postnoon.com HYDERABAD: Feeling the heat of the Seemandhra resentment, TDP chief N Chandrababu Naidu called the YSRC protests against Telangana political chicanery of the worst order. Naidu, at a press conference on Thursday, read out the letter the YSRC had given to the Centre consenting to the creating of T. Naidu said that only when the YSRC came a cropper in the recent panchayat polls did it take an about-turn and rejected bifurcation of the State. The TDP leader said the late YS Rajasekhara Reddy ignited separate Telangana agitation. He added that Congress president Sonia Gandhi has completed the task by announcing bifurcation of the State without ensuring equal justice to all the regions of undivided Andhra Pradesh.

The TDP chief said it was the prerogative of the Union

government to create smaller States as per Article 3 of the Constitution.

Indirectly expressing its “no-objection” to divide the State into Telangana and Seemandhra states, that party (YSRC) was throwing blame on the TDP for political gains, he added.

Naidu also read out the letter given by the YSRCP to the Union government.

Stating that Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh has moral responsibility to render justice to the regions concerned, Naidu said the former did not even try to do it.

He also alleged that the ruling Congress party had forged a secret alliance with the YSRCP for securing bail to its jailed president YS Jaganmohan Reddy and TRS for packages.

Instead of finding a lasting solution to the issue by consulting all the partners, the Congress hastily announced Telangana state without doing proper homework and was trying to provoke people of one region on the other, he added.

Reminding that his party had suggested to the ruling party to ensure equal justice to all in the event of division of the State, Naidu said his party was carrying out uncompromising political struggle against the atrocities of the Congress. “When comparing the nine-year TDP rule and nine-year rule of Congress in the State, there was no strike on a single day during our regime. But now, there is no day without strike,” he reminded.

The TDP chief said he would expose the designs of the three parties during his bus yatra to the people of the State.

Problem of plenty afflicts YSRC After the flood, it’s the trouble. The initial influx into the fledgling party from Congress and TDP has now turned out to be a bane, leaders admit.

INKESHAF AHMED ahmed.m@postnoon.com HYDERABAD: YSR Congress, angling for power in the State, is beset with a problem — too many migrant leaders and cadres.

There has been an avalanche of disgruntled elements joining the party from other parties but now it is not sure if the opendoor policy it adopted was right.

The dominant political force in the State, YSR Congress, is suffering from a tricky situation these days. The party, which had allowed many rival political party leaders to join its fold, has now come to the conclusion that entry of other party leaders would only harm its prospects in the next General Elections. Yet the party is in a fix on how to handle the political opportunists.

“Initially, we thought the entry of these leaders would help in strengthening the party. But slowly, we realised that most of these leaders would only add to our woes instead of playing a pivotal role in the party. We have come to the conclusion that these

Wherever it encouraged rival party leaders to join its fold, it led to differences among existing leaders.

AROUND THE

CITY

leaders would not be assets for us but only liabilities,” a senior party leader and central governing council member told Postnoon.

The reason for this gut feeling among the party leaders is that wherever the party encouraged rival party leaders to join its fold, it led to differences among the existing leaders and gravely affected the prospects of the party. For instance, the entry of former TDP leader Dadi Veerabadhra Rao, who hails from Visakhapatnam, into YSRC not only irritated existing leaders from the same district but also forced former Cabinet minister and senior party leader Kontala

Ramakrishna to go to the extent of quitting the party.

This is not a lone incident.

Many such incidents happened across the State and became a headache for the party. Though the party high command successfully convinced Kontala to stay, it found it difficult to convince other leaders. “The entry of other party leaders would only doom our prospects as it would become a hurdle for already existing leaders, who had put in all their efforts to strengthen the party. We have lost many good leaders in many Assembly constituencies due to the influx of other leaders,” a party spokesperson told Postnoon.

NO TO ENTRIES

Recognising the fact that huge influx of leaders is acting against its interests, the party high command decided to put a check on the influx of leaders. The party has decided to allow only those leaders who can help the party win seats in the next General Elections, both at Assembly and Lok Sabha levels.

NATION BRIEFS 5 Hizbul Mujahideen militants killed

Asaram Bapu’s police deadline ends today

UP to create land banks for development

Meet on Goa water conservation model

3 relatives of BJP MP killed in road accident

SRINAGAR: Five Hizbul Mujahideen militants were today killed in an encounter with security forces in Ganderbal district in Kashmir. “Five militants belonging to the Qadri Asadullah group of Hizbul Mujahideen were killed in a counter-insurgency operation in Preng area of Ganderbal,” a defence spokesman said.

JAIPUR: A police team has been formed to track down Asaram Bapu and take him into custody if the spiritual guru fails to appear in Rajasthan for questioning Friday in connection with a sexual assault case filed against him by a 16-yearold girl, an official said. The girl studied at Asaram’s ashram in MP’s Chhindwara region.

LUCKNOW: Uttar Pradesh has started identifying unutilised land in government departments and government controlled bodies so that it can be used for infrastructure and industrial development, an official said Friday. The official said it is being done “with an intention to use this land for infrastructure and industrial development”.

PANAJI: Officials from various bodies dealing in water conservation will meet here next month to discuss outcome of a pilot project implemented in Goa by a Japanese agency to reduce wastage of water.

Officials will participate in a seminar here on September 5-6 where a decision may also be taken to implement Goa formula elsewhere.

MATHURA: Four persons, including three relatives of Azamgarh BJP MP Ramakant Yadav, were killed in a road mishap on the Yamuna Expressway. Indradev (38), Shambhu (35) and Arvind (34) were killed along with VP Gupta (35) while they were returning to Delhi from Mathura where they had gone to attend Janmasthami celebrations.

6

News FRIDAY, AUGUST 30, 2013

CIVIC

HMDA’s big plans for ORR areas

The authority plans to use the land pooling scheme to promote sustainable development along the Outer Ring Road corridor, while safeguarding the interests of the land owners.

MOHSIN ALI ali@postnoon.com HYDERABAD: The Hyderabad Metropolitan Development Authority (HMDA) is preparing its development plan for 2031 across the Outer Ring Road corridor, which covers nearly 35 mandals in four districts — Hyderabad, Ranga Reddy, Medak and Nalgonda.

The authority is planning to take up Pilot Land Pooling Scheme on an area of 250-300 acres within a one-km area, close to the Outer Ring Road Growth Corridor.

As per the master plan, it is proposed to prepare the development to urbanise areas through the Town Planning scheme, but the final decision on the new layout is yet to be done.

To promote efficient, sustainable development in these areas, land pooling scheme as a mechanism to pool the land and to pave

Usually, people think that they lose their lands to the authority under the scheme but HMDA assured them that it will take care of their lands and their livelihood would not be affected.

way for planned development of urbanised areas as per the notified Master Plan will be used.

Elaborating about the

scheme, planning officer of HMDA Zia Uddin said that “land pooling scheme will give an opportunity to the owners of

HEALTH

Poverty saps the brain, shows Indo-US study WASHINGTON: From a shopping mall in New Jersey to the fields of India, experiments show that poverty saps people’s brainpower and may lower IQ by 13 points, scientists said Thursday.

The findings in the US journal Science suggest that being poor can drain a person’s mental resources, leaving him or her less capable of focusing on other things, like solving problems.

“Because you have all these other things on your mind, you have less mind to give to everything else,” said co-author Sendhil Mullainathan, a Harvard University economist.

Rather than blaming poverty on the individual or the environment, the study suggests the state of being poor exerts the same effect as losing a full night’s sleep or having lower intelligence.

“We’re arguing that being poor can

AROUND THE

WORLD

impact cognitive functioning, which hinders individuals’ ability to make good decisions and can cause poverty,” said co-author Jiaying Zhao, a professor at University of British Columbia.

Researchers sampled some 400 people with incomes ranging from $20,000 to $70,000 at a shopping mall.

The shoppers were asked how they would respond to a hypothetical scenario in which their car had broken down. The question was meant to evoke thoughts of a person’s own monetary condition. Some were told the fix would cost $150, others were told $1,500.

Then they were given a series of cognitive and impulse control exercises to complete, such as putting shapes in order or clicking on the correct side.

The people whose incomes were on the lower end of the scale did the worst when they were told the cost of the hypothetical repair was higher.

Researchers also gave tests to 464 sugarcane farmers in India, both before their once-yearly harvest when they were short on money and after the harvest when they had more.

They found that the same farmers did better on the tests when they had cash on hand.

AFP

the lands to participate and to become partners in this development. It is good for both HMDA and the land owners”.

He added, “Usually, people think that they lose their lands to the authority under the pooling scheme but HMDA assured them that it will take care of their lands and not deprived of their land and their livelihood would not be affected.”

“According to the land pooling projects, land owners can contribute some of the part from

AROUND THE

CITY

their land for the project, like for common roads and amenities area, in return they can get greater utility and value for the remaining portion through better access, improved public facilities and infrastructure,” the officer said.

If someone loses the land, they will get the developed land with access in same proportion.

The scheme is broadly selffinancing and can be implemented with willingness of the majority of land owners as detailed in the guidelines.

The interested land owners are requested to submit their willingness in the form of expression of interest to the metropolitan commissioner, HMDA, in the prescribed format by September 16, 2013.

7

News FRIDAY, AUGUST 30, 2013

REPORTERS’ DIARY

T

Onion beats rupee and chases dollar furiously

he humble onion is set to beat the dollar in the marathon with rupee limping miserably along. If dollar is `80, onion is catching up at `69.

It is said NRIs are now eager to courier onions to their families back home instead of money as the value of the onion was far more than the currency. After gaining much fame, onion disappeared from the house of the common man and prevailed only in the kitchen of the rich and in supermarkets.

It becomes a precious gift on the occasion of Rakshabandhan, as the Bhartiya Janata Party leaders gifted onions as valuable gifts to the sisters who tied them rakhis. The status gained by the onion is no lesser than a VIP as it is now found only in the five-star hotels.

That was not the limit for the onion. It also succeeded in entering social media and the discussions on it turned out hot — lots of comments, comics and comedy were done on the issue.

Officials from Indian markets assured that the situation will come under control within a week or two.

MA

TO BE OR NOT TO BE IS THE QUESTION Guess what is the trickiest political conundrum in India today?

You’re right, the Telangana issue.

All that happened you know, what is now happening is more important as the wag said, ‘It is not what you have but what you don’t have that makes your fate.’

The mess-up of the issue in Seemandhra apart, the question is about the TRS-Congress relationship. Would it be a contract marriage without legal validity or illicit relationship or legitimate marriage? This, besides the status of Hyderabad, continues

SRINIVAS SETTY

unawares, she screamed, startling everybody. Suddenly all eyes and cameras were on her.

Feeling the heat from the stares she got, she covered her face with her hands to save herself further embarrassment. When they learned of the cat everybody had a laugh. Meanwhile, the feline ‘reporter’ hiding under the seat sneaked away, disgusted at the poor show of the girl. AA

IS IT T OR P? We have heard of people committing suicide for or against Telangana but hardly anybody quit the service, that too a senior police position. The instance of Shaikh Mohammed Iqbal, Superintendent of Police conferred with IPS is a curious one.

Iqbal stated in his resignation AROUND THE

CITY

Apples might now be cheaper than onions, with one vendor selling them at a mere `10 each. However, he still did not have too many takers.

to give the Congress and other party leaders heebie-jeebies. It was agreed between the TRS and the Congress last year that if Telangana was given, the TRS would merge with Congress. But the Congress leaders, especially Sonia Gandhi, are said to have reservations about K Chandrasekhar Rao whose stock with her is pretty low like the exchange value of rupee. The Congress would not want him as the chief minister of the new state, point out sources. But after leading the party so long, how can he be short-changed is the

argument of those close to KCR. But how can we trust a man who had twice joined the BJP bandwagon for the sake of T is the counter argument.

As for Hyderabad, the only viable thing would be to make it a Union Territory, say many in the Congress. This would obviate the fear of those from other parts of the State and the country and also to ensure the City does not suffer in development. Now, with Kiran Kumar emerging the champion of a united Telugu Nadu, the satraps in Delhi have really got their paw in the mon-

key wrench. Should it keep the T hanging fire or should it go ahead with it is the question the Delhi Sultans are worryingly pondering over PK

FRAIDY CAT At a press conference in the City, a reporter became “the reported”. A media intern, who was listening with rapt attention to the dignitary on the dais was surprised when something soft and fluffy rubbed against her leg. She looked down to discover that it was a black cat that had been hiding under her seat. Caught

letter personal reasons but his close friends say he was disgusted at the proposal to merge his district Kurnool with Telangana.

He is a Rayalaseema man and wants to have his region intact, not cut up. While native place always makes people emotional, his case has many other twists.

Iqbal is close to N Chandrababu Naidu, and it was Iqbal who played a key role in preventing NTR leaving the Hotel Viceroy in those rebellious days when Naidu made the palace coup. Iqbal has three more years to go in service when he put in his papers. Could it be that he has political ambitions, is the question taking rounds in the police quarters.

(MS) (Contributed by Mohsin Ali, Srinivas Setty, Mohd Subhan, Aleena Alice, & PK Surendran)

WORLD BRIEFS Kim Jong-Un may have replaced army chief

Ghana SC upholds president’s win

UN calls for global efforts to ban N-tests

Al-Qaeda linked militants held in Algeria

Tropical storm kills three in Taiwan

SEOUL: North Korea's young leader Kim Jong-Un appears to have replaced his hawkish, ageing army chief in what analysts suggested Friday was a further bid to tighten control over the military. Kim KyokSik, 75, is believed to have been replaced as chief of the army's general staff by Ri Yong-Gil whohas headed the army's general staff.

ACCRA: Ghana's Supreme Court has upheld President John Dramani Mahama's win in elections last year, dismissing the opposition's case alleging voter fraud in a test for one of Africa's most stable democracies.

Thursday's decision ended a months-long saga that had riveted the nation, seen as a rare beacon of democracy in the turbulent region.

UNITED NATIONS: The UN has stressed on the importance of a global ban on nuclear tests, while calling for efforts to achieve the goal of a safer world. UN Ban Ki-moon said: “It is time to avert any more of the horrific human and environmental effects caused by N-tests through a global ban, the most reliable means possible to meet this challenge.”

ALGIERS: Two Al-Qaeda linked militants have been arrested in Algeria for their suspected involvement in an assassination bid against the country's former prime minister.

The militants, suspected of plotting an assassination attempt against Algerian former PM Ahmed Ouyahia in 2007, were arrested separately in Boumerdes and Bordj Bou Arreridj.

TAIPEI: At least three people were killed when torrential rain brought by Tropical Storm Kong-Rey caused widespread flooding in the south of Taiwan, the government said Friday. Houses and streets in the south were inundated by floodwater as deep as three metres when Kong-Rey pounded the island with heavy rains on Thursday.

8

News FRIDAY, AUGUST 30, 2013

CHANGING TACK

NEW HEIGHTS

UP orders fresh probe in Durga Nagpal case LUCKNOW: The Uttar Pradesh government has ordered a fresh probe as it was not satisfied with the written reply given by suspended IAS official Durga Shakti Nagpal to the chargesheet served on her.

CM Akhilesh Yadav late Thursday appointed Principal Secretary (home) RM Srivastava as the inquiry officer in the case and called for a report within the next 15 days.

Another official of the home department will assist him.

Officials told IANS that in her response, submitted last week to the government, Nagpal had stuck to her earlier stand that she had done no wrong.

In her reply, Nagpal had also said that the boundary wall of the under-construction mosque

AROUND THE

NATION

at Kadalpur village in Gautam Budh Nagar was being built on Gram Sabha land and not on private land. Officials said that authorities concerned had studied Nagpal’s response after which the CM decided to order a fresh probe to “get to the bottom of the episode”.

Nagpal was suspended as sub-divisional magistrate (SDM) July 27, attached with the state revenue board and served a charge sheet August 4.

The UP government had accused her of taking a hasty administrative decision that lacked foresight and imperiled communal harmony.

IANS

India’s 1st ‘military’ satellite launched

THE FALL

BANGALORE: India’s first ‘military’ satellite (GSAT-7) was successfully put into the geosynchronous transfer orbit early Friday by the European Space Agency’s (ESA) heavy rocket, authorities said.

It was launched in the early hours from its spaceport at Kourou in French Guiana.

“The advanced multi-band communication satellite was deployed in the transfer orbit, around 36,000 km from above the earth, by the Ariane-5 rocket of the ESA’s Arianespace 34 minutes after its lift-off at 2am IST,” the state-run Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) said in a statement here.

The Indian space agency’s Master Control Facility (MCF)

AROUND THE

NATION

at Hassan, about 180 km from Bangalore, acquired signals from the 2.5-tonne dedicated spacecraft five minutes before it was separated from the rocket.

The cost of the launch onboard the commercial Arianespace rocket is `470 crore.

According to defence experts, the satellite will enable the navy to acquire Blue Water capabilities and it need not depend on foreign satellites like Inmarsat, which provides communication services to its ships.

The spacecraft is equipped with transponders in Ku band, S band, C band and UHF (ultra

high frequency) band to improve the maritime communications among the Indian Navy’s warships.

“The satellite’s solar panels were deployed soon after it was placed in the orbit for generating 2,900 watt power. Initial checks have indicated its health is normal,” the ISRO statement noted.

The MCF will raise the `185crore satellite’s orbit by firing its 440 Newton liquid apogee motors from its propulsion subsystem Saturday to place it in the intended geostationary orbit

by Sep 4.

A 108 Ampere-Hour Lithium-Ion battery enables the satellite to function even during the eclipse period.

IANS

AFTER ARREST

Yasin Bhatkal restless, sleepless

Devotees collapse as they try to form a human pyramid to break the dahiAFP/PUNIT PARANJPE handi during celebrations of Janmashtami in Mumbai.

PATNA: Indian Mujahideen co-founder Yasin Bhatkal was restless and spent a sleepless night at a high-security zone here, officials said.

Yasin Bhatkal, wanted by police in twelve states for alleged involvement in a string of bombings and other terror activities in the last five years, was arrested from the IndiaNepal border Thursday. He was

AROUND THE

NATION

arrested along with Asadullah Akhtar, his terror accomplice.

After they spent a sleepless night, the National Investigation Agency (NIA) sleuths early Friday interrogated Yasin Bhatkal and Asadullah Akhtar.

Both will be taken to Delhi by special plane after a Bihar court Thursday granted the NIA three-day transit remand, police officials said.

“Both of them hardly slept at night, talked rarely but they ate food and drank adequate water...,” said a police official.

According to another police official, Bhatkal was more restless than Akhtar at night. IANS

9

News FRIDAY, AUGUST 30, 2013

SYRIAN CONFLICT

UK says no, US raring to go LONDON: British lawmakers rejected their government’s call for punitive military strikes against the chemical-armed Syrian regime Thursday, leaving the United States to act alone.

Before and after the shock House of Commons vote to defy Prime Minister David Cameron’s bid to win support for military intervention, the White House said America was ready to take unilateral action.

“We have seen the result of the Parliament vote in the UK tonight,” said Caitlin Hayden, a National Security Council spokeswoman.

“As we’ve said, President Obama’s decision-making will be guided by what is in the best interests of the United States.

“He believes that there are core interests at stake for the United States and that countries who violate international norms AROUND THE

WORLD

regarding chemical weapons need to be held accountable.”

The decision also came after the failure of an improbable eleventh-hour effort by British diplomats to win UN backing for action against Bashar al-Assad’s regime at a meeting of the permanent members of the Security Council.

“It is clear to me that the British parliament, reflecting the views of the British people, does not want to see British military action. I get that and the government will act accordingly,” Cameron said.

That, combined with deadlock at the United Nations, appeared to effectively sound the

death knell for the idea of a broad-based Western military coalition, although other American allies might still participate.

But even before the surprise British vote, the White House had signalled that it was ready to act regardless of UN or allied support.

“We certainly are interested in engaging with the global international community on this issue,” White House spokesman Josh Earnest said. “But at the same time, the president’s chief accountability is to the American people that he was elected to protect. “The president believes strongly in making the kinds of

decisions and taking the kinds of steps that are necessary to protect our core national security interests that we’ve acknowledged are at stake in this situation.”

Earlier, envoys from the permanent five members of the UN Security Council — Britain, China, France, Russia and the

United States — had met at UN headquarters in New York.

The 45-minute meeting was the second since Britain proposed a draft resolution to permit “all necessary measures” to protect Syrian civilians after a suspected chemical weapons attack last week. But none of the envoys commented as they left.

Obama weighing options: US lawmakers WASHINGTON: US President Barack Obama was weighing his options late Thursday on how to respond to Syria’s alleged chemical weapons use, according to lawmakers briefed by the administration.

Secretary of State John Kerry and Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel were among top officials who conducted a telephone briefing with 26 members of the House and Senate.

Democrats and Republicans alike stressed that Obama’s team pledged to consult more with lawmakers on the path forward, including options for a military strike.

“The president’s national security team said that he is still weighing his options and will continue to consult with Congress,” Representative Eliot Engel, top Democrat on the House Foreign Affairs Committee, said after the 90minute, unclassified briefing.

“The White House made very clear that it is beyond a doubt that chemical weapons were used, and used intentionally by the Assad regime,” he said, adding that the administration “agrees that this type of action cannot go without consequences.”

More than 140 US lawmak-

More than 140 US lawmakers have expressed reservations about Obama using executive authority to launch a military strike without congressional approval. ers have expressed reservations about Obama using executive authority to launch a military strike without congressional approval.

But Senate Foreign

Relations Committee chairman Robert Menendez said he came away believing a “decisive and consequential US response is justified and warranted” to protect Syrians. “This is not a moment to look the other way, to blind ourselves to the horrifying images in Syria, and to send the dangerous message to the global community that we would allow the use of a chemical weapons attack to take place with impunity,” he said.

But top Senate Armed Services Committee Republican James Inhofe warned that while the administration said it had a “broad range of options” for

intervention, it provided little specificity. They “failed to lay out a single option. They also did not provide a timeline, a strategy for Syria and the Middle East, or a plan for the funds to execute such an option.”

Senator Bob Corker, ranking Republican on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, said while he is “opposed to American boots on the ground in Syria, I would support surgical, proportional military strikes given the strong evidence of the Assad regime’s continued use of chemical warfare.”

AFP

10

News FRIDAY, AUGUST 30, 2013

MAN ANIMAL CONFLICT

Indian Ocean paradise island beset by shark controversy JEAN-NOEL FORTIER Agence France Presse SAINT-DENIS DE LA REUNION: The dangers of shark attacks are no secret for Georges, who as a kid was repeatedly warned to beware of the large predators lurking in the tropical waters off his native Reunion island.

That was several decades ago, and the issue since then has mushroomed in the French Indian Ocean island following several deadly shark attacks, sparking a tug of war between those who want to protect the fish and those who would like to see preventative culls.

“We always talked about sharks in the Reunion. When I was a kid, our parents were already warning us,” said Georges, who did not give his surname, as he took in the rays on a beach protected from the sea predators by a coral reef.

But the 48-year-old, who now lives in mainland France and was holidaying on the island, said the issue had become increasingly high-profile in recent years, “because the attacks have multiplied.”

AROUND THE

WORLD

Since 2011, there have been 12 shark attacks in the Reunion, of which five were deadly.

Just this year, a French honeymooner died when he was attacked by a shark as he surfed, and a teenage girl was killed while swimming just metres from the shore.

Swimmers, tourists, surfers, fishermen, politicians, authorities, activists: all have firm — and often discording — opinions on how to handle a situation that is harming the Reunion’s reputation as a paradise destination.

While none deny that shark numbers have increased, they differ on the reasons for this recent spike.

Some point to the wastewater that is discarded into the sea from ever-expanding urbanised zones, full of organic compounds that the sharks come to devour.

Others blame the 40-kilometre (25-mile) long natural marine reserve along the coast — created in 2007 — where fishing is either banned or strictly regulated.

“This reserve has become a pantry for sharks,” one surfer said.

“They settle where they know they can feed themselves.”

PREVENTIVE CULLS And aside from the reserve, professional shark fishing in general has come to a halt.

In 1999, authorities banned the commercialisation of sharks on the island as the fish was thought to be contaminated with ciguatoxins, poisonous organic compounds that cause serious food poisoning.

Then in 2004, those who traded in shark fins — a hugely controversial delicacy in some Asian countries — were banned from fishing sharks.

Faced with the increase in the sea predators and following the deadly attacks, the prefect of the island announced a slew of measures in July, including banning swimming, surfing and bodyboarding off more than half of the coast.

He also said 90 sharks would be culled — 45 bull

According to Sea Shepherd, 100 million sharks are killed each year by sport fishermen or by those who practice shark finning, which consists of catching the fish and slicing off their fins while they are still alive. sharks and 45 tiger sharks — on top of the 20 already killed as part of scientific research into ciguatera, the illness caused by eating fish flesh contaminated with ciguatoxins.

But he acknowledged the cull was not only scientific but also aimed at “reducing the shark population”.

Thierry Robert, a prominent politician on the island, has called for more “preventative culls”.

But the idea has been slammed by environmentalists keen to protect sharks, some of

which are seriously threatened worldwide.

Didier Derand of the Brigitte Bardot Foundation, an animal rights organisation, is challenging the existing cull in court.

He is being assisted by Sea Shepherd, the international marine wildlife conservation organisation, “because we need worldwide awareness of the organised massacre of sharks.”

According to Sea Shepherd, 100 million sharks are killed each year by sport fishermen or by those who practice shark finning, which consists of catching the fish and slicing off their fins while they are still alive.

The organisation says sharks are being depleted faster than they can reproduce, threatening the stability of marine ecosystems around the world.

Authorities in the Reunion island are also looking at other ways to protect swimmers, such as using aerial balloons equipped with surveillance cameras and alert systems when they detect movement in

the water.

The island’s Saint-Paul district has opted for drum lines, devices fixed with hooks that are meant to capture sharks.

Meanwhile, surfers and bodyboarders say they refuse to be sacrificed in the name of marine conservation.

“We have to stop this worldwide lobbying that advocates the protection of sharks,” says Jean-Francois Nativel, head of the Ocean Prevention Reunion association, which works on reducing the risks of shark attacks.

“We’re in the era of Flipper the shark. We have to break the taboos... We have to bring back fishing, and put the shark back in the plates of Reunion people,” he said.

But Jean-Rene Enilorac, head of the regional fishing committee, was dubious.

“Even if there is no longer a risk of ciguatera, I’m not sure the Reunion inhabitants will eat shark again,” he said.

“Who will want to eat a fish, imagining it maybe devoured a human being?”

11

News FRIDAY, AUGUST 30, 2013

COUNTDOWN TO COMIC CON

City through the comic prism Graphic novel creater Jai Undurti talks to Postnoon on the unique concept of a comic kaleidoscope of Hyderabad.

ARUN D YELLAMATY arunyellamaty@postnoon.com HYDERABAD: Just a few weeks away from the big Comic Con festival in the City, the young lovers of fun have already begun to experience the festival as they got to meet a well known Hyderabad Graphic Novel creator Jai Undurti, who interacted with a hundred-odd audience and shared his ideas of a graphic novel at the coffee cup cafe recently. Speaking to Postnoon, he shares his thoughts about his novel, the Comic Con coming to city and much more.

About their Hyderabad Graphic Novel, which will be on display at the comic con festival, creators Jai and Jasraman Grewal say that the novel is an attempt to tell the story of the City through sequential art. “We are both outsiders but we place ourselves in the long tradition of travellers writing about the City.

Great cities influence their inhabitants completely right down to the very way of thinking and perceiving the world,“ says Jai. Just as Mumbai or Paris have their own distinctive ‘voices’, the kineticism of Bombay, for example, often shows in works written there. Hyderabad too has a distinctive psycho-geographical signature.

They call the City the 0.0 Cartesian coordinate, the starting point for all explorations. Jai and Grewal worked with lead artist

BRITAIN 2 held for role in horsemeat scandal LONDON: British police investigating a scandal that saw horsemeat enter the human food chain across Europe said Thursday they had arrested two men on suspicion of conspiracy to defraud.

AROUND THE

WORLD

City of London Policesaid they had arrested two men but did not disclose the fact until now due to “operational reasons”. The men were arrested in Britain in the initial stages of the inquiry but did not give their nationalities. The pair have been bailed.

AFP

Harsho Mohan Chattoraj from Kolkata and Federico Zumel from Argentina. Colourist Neeraj Menon and letterer Aditya Bidikar completed the team for the book that will be released next month at the Hyderabad edition of Comic Con India. A digital edition is also in the works.

“It is not a respectable history, but rather a collection of the myths, legends and folklore that has surrounded the City since her birth”. “You could say we use facts as stepping stones to the truth,” says Jai. The graphic novel consists of four episodes set in different eras.

AROUND THE

CITY

Jai Undurti and Jasraman Grewal say that their novel is an attempt to tell the story of the City through sequential art.

Undurti came up a mechanism of a time-travelling auto to tie the disparate chrono-threads together. The stories span time and space: An obsessed scholar travels back in time to meet a mysterious poet.

Argentine author Jorge Luis Borges journeys to Hyderabad to hunt down a mythical beast, a ‘dreamtiger’ whose very sight leads the hunter to madness. A

man uncovers a paranoid conspiracy theory on the creation of cities themselves, uncovering their true reason for ‘living’.

The project began as a photodocumentation on the ‘base of the pyramid’petty entrepreneurs and street vendors. Gradually it evolved into an archival effort. At this point the duo approached Yugantar, the NGO which had commissioned the photo-project. Despite

initial skepticism Yugantar agreed to put down the seed money for the first episode and graphic novel was born.

When asked why they chose this medium, Jai, replies, “Comics have been with us ever since the first cave-man sketched on the walls of his abode. Comics have a 40,000 year history - to tell stories through pictures is one of the most deeply ingrained traits of being human. It was out of our

respect for the power of this medium that made us choose it”.

Words can be an extremely limiting factor in writing certain things. And when you need to convey an idea in a single stroke rather than serpentine descriptions: a picture is magic. “The Hyderabad we are interested in is long gone, only comics could bring to life this vanished city”.

Talking about the speciality of the novel, he says, “there is no novel that just talks about the City.

There are two types of novels mostly in the county, either superhero or mythology. These Citycentric is new.” He adds, “we invited people to tell us there locality stories and we would make them into a graphic story. We have been getting few and we are encouraging it and might come up with every locality story.”

How comic con will help City Comic fans, he says, “the festival is already creating a lot of buzz, more than 100 turned up to the workshop, when we expected 25.

After the festival there will more groups and many people will start talking about comics and find many like minded people and will start hanging out with each other.”

The Comic Con festival is scheduled to begin on 21st September, you will find the Hyderabad Graphic Novel team at the venue.

WHACKO CRIMINAL

NZ nets wildlife smuggler with fish in pants WELLINGTON: A Vietnamese an unidentified species of cichlid, man’s attempt to smuggle tropical secreted away in two plastic bags in fish into New Zealand in his pants his pockets. He told officers he was floundered when he tried to get bringing them to New Zealand for a through customs with his pockets friend.

MPI spokesman Craig Hughes dripping water, officials said Friday. said the man will The man arrived at face charges under Auckland airport from AROUND THE the Biosecurity Act, Australia this week WORLD which carries maxiand officials suspected mum penalties of something was fishy because liquid was seeping from the five years’ jail or a NZ$100,000 (US$78,000) fine. bulging pockets of his cargo pants.

“This appears to be a deliberate The man initially said he was carrying water from the plane because attempt to smuggle fish into the he was thirsty but a subsequent country without any consideration grilling uncovered the presence of of the biosecurity risk involved,” he said in a statement. “That’s somethe fish, the MPI said.

It said the man had seven fish, all thing we take very seriously.”

AFP

PICK YOUR

@

Across Stores

ities Twin C

12

News FRIDAY, AUGUST 30, 2013

ESPIONAGE

Pyongyang spy tells his tale He was among 200 students selected after a national search that took into account looks, family background, school grades and, above all, unquestioning loyalty to the regime.

JUNG HA-WON Agence France-Presse SEOUL: As well as the obvious classes like bomb-making, Kim Dong-Sik’s intensive spy training in North Korea included memorising hundreds of South Korean pop songs and dance moves.

Such strategies for assimilating into South Korean society were considered essential to avoid suspicion, Kim revealed in a recently-published memoir that lifts the lid on some of the workings of the North’s spy agency.

Now 51, Kim was captured in the South in 1995 and spent years undergoing interrogation before renouncing communism and joining the South’s intelligence authorities as an analyst.

In his memoir, he recalls being handpicked when he was 17, and entering the Kumsong political military university in Pyongyang which specialised in nurturing secret agents to run covert operations in the South.

He was among 200 students selected each year after a national search that took into account looks, family background, school grades and, above all, unquestioning loyalty to the North Korean leadership.

The elite trainees were not allowed to leave the campus or contact anyone outside its walls — including their families.

The only exceptions were New Year greetings cards they were allowed to send home, but with no return address.

Days were filled with intense training in a large range of skills from martial arts, weapons and bomb-making to wall climbing, geology, Morse code and marine navigation.

All these were fitted around mandatory ideology classes.

In an interview in Seoul with AFP, the stocky, soft-spoken Kim said the course instructors repeatedly hammered home the idea that he and his classmates must always be prepared to sacrifice their lives for their mission.

If faced with capture, they should swallow cyanide pills rather than allow themselves to be taken alive and interrogated.

“The thought of death always weighed on our shoulders ... it was a very heavy burden for a bunch of 20-year-olds,” he said.

Dozens dropped out of the high-pressure course, but Kim persevered, lured in part by the

AROUND THE

WORLD

prospect of quick promotion within the ruling Workers’ Party.

After graduation, the focus switched to training the agents to pass as locals.

South Koreans abducted and smuggled back into the North were among those who instructed them in mastering the right accents and understanding the social and political culture of the capitalist South.

This “enemization” process gave them their first real taste of life outside the isolated North, as they consumed a daily diet of South Korean TV shows, movies, magazines, newspapers and books. Popular songs and dance moves were memorised, along with the names and careers of prominent TV celebrities and sports stars.

The course material suggested that the life of South Koreans was very different from the image portrayed in the North’s official propaganda of “impoverished puppets suffering under US imperialism”.

But Kim said he and the other

trainees saw nothing amiss.

“We were too loyal to be shaken up by things like that,” he said. “We were told that only rich capitalists could enjoy all the good things in the South, and we never questioned that.”

After nearly 10 years of training, Kim was finally given his first mission and sent to the South in 1990 to try and recruit some left-wing activists, and help bring back Ri Son-Sil, an elderly agent who ran a vast network of spies in the South.

Two years later, Ri’s name would make headlines in the South when dozens of leftwing activists were arrested and accused of cooperating with her to spy for the North in the 1980s.

“The activists were important targets because they could provide valuable inside information and help shape public opinion in our favour if they got into politics,” Kim said.

His mission was successful and he was awarded the prestigious “Hero of the Republic” medal on his return to North Korea. In 1995, he was sent back as part of a two-man team to bring out — by force if necessary — a spy posing as a monk who

After capture, he learned his parents in the North had been “purged” after his arrest, meaning they had either been sent to a prison camp or executed. was suspected of working as a double agent with the South Korean intelligence service.

The mission was compromised and the two were tracked down by South Korean security forces. In the ensuing gun battle, Kim’s fellow agent was killed and he was wounded and captured.

Kim declined to comment in any detail about the four years he spent in the custody of military intelligence, saying only that it was “quite difficult.”

In the end, he was not imprisoned, but taken on as an intelligence officer having renounced any loyalty to the North.

“Apparently they thought that, with all the experiences and information I had, I had more value as an intelligence analyst

than something else,” Kim said.

The North Korean authorities were not so forgiving. Kim later learned his parents in the North had been “purged” after his arrest, meaning they had either been sent to a prison camp or executed.

“In their eyes I had failed twice — both with the mission and in not killing myself before being arrested,” he said.

He started a new life in South Korea, marrying and having two sons, and earning a Ph.D with a thesis on the North’s spying strategy.

“My life was once full of drama ... there were so many days when death seemed to be constantly hanging over my head,” he said. “But I’ve learned to appreciate an ordinary, quiet life. I wish I could grow old and die that way.”

Kim, who still guards his privacy and refused to be photographed front-on, said he had written the book for his sons, so that “they can someday understand my past.”

“I also wanted to get things off my chest ... and put this piece of history people don’t really know into the record,” he added.

FRIDAY, AUGUST 30, 2013

Business TAX EVASION PURSUIT

Swiss banks to pay large fines in US deal WASHINGTON: Swiss banks will pay significant fines to avoid US penalties under a deal announced Thursday which forces them to begin disclosing the offshore accounts of American clients.

The US Department of Justice said the agreement with Switzerland will advance Washington’s campaign against tax avoidance by US citizens hiding funds offshore.

But it also made clear that Switzerland would no longer be able to offer secret banking facilities to Americans out of reach of US tax authorities.

The deal offers individual Swiss banks the opportunity to avoid US prosecution if they

The fines will be assessed at 20-50 per cent of the aggregate value of any undeclared accounts held by Americans. agree to pay “substantial fines”, disclose all of their cross-border activities, provide details on the accounts of US citizens, and give information on the sources and destinations of transferred funds in relation to secret American accounts.

Each bank will set its own non-prosecution agreement or deferred-prosecution agreement with the US authorities under those terms. The fines will be assessed at 20-50 percent of the aggregate value of any undeclared accounts held by Americans, depending on the time they accounts were open — before 2009 or since then.

An unspecified number of Swiss banks already under formal criminal investigation by US authorities are not eligible for the deal. The department would only say that 14 financial institutions are currently under investigation for their activities in Switzerland.

AFP

FRANCE WINS SAUDI DEFENCE DEAL: REPORT

France has won a billion euro defence contract with Saudi Arabia to overhaul four frigates and two refuelling ships. The upkeep deal involves French weapons and systems makers, Thales, DCNS and MBDA and would overhaul vessels that date back to the 1980s.

EXCHANGE RATES

13

HELP FOR KPN

Rupee resumes fall

The rupee — Asia's worst-performing currency this year — was at 67.37 against the dollar in morning trade.

MUMBAI: India's rupee resumed its downward trend against the dollar on Friday, after strong gains in the previous session, as dealers await GDP growth data and a statement from the prime minister on the ailing economy.

The rupee — Asia's worstperforming currency this year — was at 67.37 against the dollar in morning trade, after closing at 66.55 on Thursday.

However, it is much stronger than the record around 69 it touched on Wednesday.

The currency gained sharply on Thursday after the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) moved to lend it support by providing dollars directly to three major oil importing companies through a separate bank.

It was the latest in a string of measures by the RBI to try and stabilise the currency market, where the rupee has lost about a fifth of its value against the dollar since the start of 2013.

Attention turns to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh later in the day who is expected

make a statement after official growth data for the April-June quarter is released, with analysts predicting of another weak set of figures.

Investors want to hear Singh's plans to kickstart the sluggish economy, which is suffering decade-low growth — it expanded 5 per cent in 2012/13, compared with 9.3 per cent two years earlier — while government is also battling a gaping current account deficit.

He told parliament on

Thursday that the country was faced "with a difficult situation".

His job is made all the harder because of a plunging stock market and rupee caused by a huge outflow of foreign cash as investors bet the US Federal Reserve will soon wind down its stimulus programme.

In morning trade the benchmark Sensex index was up 0.54 percent at 18,500.45, although it is down about five percent this month.

AFP

AI resumes direct flights to Oz SYDNEY: An Air India Dreamliner touched down in Australia Friday, marking the resumption of direct flights by the carrier after a 16-year gap as it seeks to tap a potentially lucrative market.

Air India’s country manager Ravi Bodade said he is confident of regularly filling the daily services that also go via Melbourne on the 256seat Boeing 787-880 Dreamliner planes.

According to Sydney Airport, India has been Australia’s largest unserved market, with 140,000 passengers last year travelling between New Delhi and Sydney via Asian hubs.

Diplomatic ties between India and Australia have been strained in recent years after a spate of violent crimes against Indian students prompted street protests, but the country remains a key destination for both foreign students and tourists.

The Air India arrival was the first in Australia by a Boeing 787 Dreamliner, which has suffered a series of problems since coming into service, including a global grounding of its fleet this year after overheating problems.

AFP

GOLD`33,150 10g SILVER `54,370 1kg

24C

for

for

DOLLAR `66.68 POUND`103.510

THE HAGUE: An independent foundation linked to Dutch telecom company KPN moved Thursday to block a takeover by America Movil, the Mexican operator owned by the world’s richest man Carlos Slim.

Foundation Preference Shares B KPN said it exercised a call option to acquire preferred shares giving it around 50 per cent of voting and issued shares and enabling it to block the Latin American mega offer.

America Movil already has a 29.77 per cent stake in the Dutch telecoms company after launching a hostile partial take-over in the summer of 2012.

Slim’s company announced on August 9 its intention to make a public offer for the rest of the shares in KPN, valuing the Dutch company at $13.6 billion. The foundation said it considered the offer a hostile takeover bid because America Movil had not consulted and attempted to negotiate a merger protocol prior to the bid.

NUMEROLOGY

$3.1

bn

is what Chinese oil giant Sinopec will pay for a one-third stake in the Egyptian oil and gas business of US firm Apache Corp.

VIRGIN AUSTRALIA IN RED SYDNEY: Virgin Australia on Friday posted an annual net loss of Aus$98.1 million (US$87.5 million), a sharp reverse as high fuel costs and intense competition led by Qantas hurt the bottom line. The country’s second biggest carrier after Qantas said the result in the 12 months to June 30 compared with a Aus$22.8 million profit in the previous corresponding period. It is in contrast to its major rival, which announced Thursday it had bounced back into the black with a Aus$5 million profit over the same period following a Aus$245 million loss in the previous year. Despite the disappointing numbers, Virgin won support from its three main shareholders, with Singapore Airlines, Air New Zealand and Etihad giving commitments Friday for unsecured loan facilities totalling Aus$90 million.

BSE NSE

18564.42 160.79

5450.95 41.75

FRIDAY, AUGUST 30, 2013

Comment When a true genius appears, you can know him by this sign: that all the dunces are in a confederacy against him.

Jonathan Swift Writer

Italy takes back seathe launch on pad Syria for the

ENVIRONMENT

14

A DEAD, RED ROW

IDO LIVEN

Agence France Presse

A

plan to link the Red Sea with the shrinking Dead Sea could save it from total evaporation and bring desalinated water to thirsty neighbours Israel, Jordan and the Palestinians.

But environmentalists warn that the “Red-Dead” project could have dire consequences, altering the unique chemistry of the landmark inland lake at the lowest point on earth.

Jordanian Prime Minister Abdullah Nsur said on Monday that his government had decided to press ahead with the 980million dollar project which would give the parched Hashemite kingdom 100 million cubic metres of water a year.

“The government has approved the project after years of technical, political, economic and geological studies,” Nsur told a news conference.

Under the plan, Jordan will draw water from the Gulf of Aqaba at the northern end of the Red Sea to the nearby Risheh Height, where a desalination plant is to be built to treat water.

“The desalinated water will go south to (the Jordanian town of) Aqaba, while salt water will be pumped to the Dead Sea,” Nsur said.

The Dead Sea, the world’s saltiest body of water, is on course to dry out by 2050.

It started shrinking in the

T

bombing of Libya, Italy is now marking itself out from key allies with a stand against participation in military action in Syria.

Foreign Minister Emma Bonino has ruled out taking part without a UN Security Council mandate and says it would not be “automatic” even with such approval.

Government sources quoted in local media say Italy would also likely bar the use by third countries of air bases that played a pivotal role in Libya.

Italy is calling for UN inspectors to complete their work and anyone responsible for last week’s alleged chemical weapons attack to be brought to justice.

“This very legalistic position is a departure from Italy’s tradition of loyalty to Atlantic allies,” said Jean-Pierre Darnis, an expert on Italian defence.

“Italy is prudent because it is weak,” Vincenzo Nigro, a foreign policy specialist, said in an interview on the website of the La Repubblica daily.

“The slogan of (US President Barack) Obama seems to be: ‘We have to do something, even if mistakes are made along the way’,” Nigro said.

“Italy’s is: ‘It’s better not to do anything even at the risk of mistakes and distancing ourselves from our traditional allies,” he said.

Another factor behind the diplomatic caution could be because Italy is very involved in Lebanon, where it heads up the United Nations Interim Force.

“Syria is a piece in the puzzle that includes Lebanon, Jordan and Iraq and any action in Syria could destabilise Lebanon,” said Silvia Colombo from the Institute for International Affairs in Rome. AFP

HIGH-FLYING THOUGHTS Finally, the tail wags the dog! British PM David Cameron had his bubble burst when the House of Commons vehemently opposed British involvement in any military action against Syria. He has now quietly agreed to respect the wishes of the Parliament and keep his ideas on Syria to himself.

1960s when Israel, Jordan and Syria began to divert water from the Jordan River, the Dead Sea’s main tributary.

Israel and Jordan’s use of evaporation ponds for extracting valuable minerals from its briny waters has only exacerbated the problem. With a coastline shared by Israel, the Palestinian Authority and Jordan, the Dead Sea’s surface level has been dropping at a rate of around a metre a year. According to the latest available data form Israel’s hydrological service, on July 1, it stood at 427.13 metres below sea level, nearly 27 metres lower than in 1977.

Under the plan most of the desalinated water would go to Jordan, with smaller quantities transferred to Israel and the Palestinian Authority.

But Friends of the Earth Middle East (FoEME) and other environmental groups have called on the three partners to reject it on environmental grounds.

FRAGILE ECOSYSTEM The main concern, they say, is that a large influx of water from the Red Sea could radically change the Dead Sea’s fragile ecosystem, forming gypsum crystals, and introducing red algae blooms.

In addition, leakage from the pipeline could contaminate groundwater along its route through southern Israel’s Arava Valley.

The Israeli ministry of environmental protection says that studies so far leave “vast uncertainty” and it is calling for a

pilot project to be run on a limited scale to study the potential implications.

But critics contend that a small-scale pilot might not carry enough water to trigger the effects that it is intended to examine.

And for the Palestinians, the joint project raises more basic political issues such as Israel allowing them to develop that part of the shore which lies within the Israeli-occupied West Bank. “We would like to be in this cooperative project,” says Shaddad Al-Attili, head of the Palestinian Water Authority.

“We would like to be treated equally as well as the Jordanians and the Israelis, we would like to benefit from the outcome.

“But before all of that we would like to get access to the Dead Sea, not only to get water and to swim in the sea, but also to build hotels and to develop a tourist area.”

The Dead Sea’s mineral-rich waters and mud are considered therapeutic, while visitors love the novelty of floating in the

brine which does not allow a person to sink. Israelis operate a number of tourist hotels and beaches along the western shoreline.

FoEME has called on the three partners to endorse a set of integrated actions including water recycling and conservation, rehabilitation of the lower Jordan River and even importing water from Turkey — one of three alternatives in a World Bank study that is estimated to be cheaper and have much less environmental impact than the Red-Dead option.

Nsur said Jordan wanted water to supply its northern regions, while Israel needs water in the south. Jordan had initially agreed in principle to build, along with the Palestinians and Israelis, a $11billion pipeline from the Red Sea to resolve the problem.

But Water Minister Hazem Nasser said that due to the high cost of that project Jordan had decided to opt for its alternative plan, “which we call the ‘first phase’.”

EDITORIALS

Is there a government?

I

nsensitivity of our political parties to common man’s problem comes glaringly out today as they all keep a deafening silence over the galloping vegetable prices and tumbling rupee value. If the government of the day has abjectly failed in doing anything on this count, the opposition spectrum is no less guilty keeping their mouth shut.

Imagine the degrading times we live today. No political party thought it fit to raise the issue of onion commanding Rs.70 a kilo while an upswing of the onion price during Morarji Desai’s reign almost bought the government down. It is not onion alone all vegetable prices have gone through the roof. While one could argue that seasonal fluctuation in vegetable prices are nothing new, the persistency of it is worrying. Hoarding can’t be blamed as vegetable being perishable stuff can’t be stacked away for long like grains. The other

READERS’ VIEWS

explanation is more plausible. Land under crop is shrinking in the country due to conspiracy of the political-bureaucacy alliance that deprive the farmers of their land for industrial projects. It is well known that the SEZ has proved a criminal act where the wily government suddenly announce projects that force people out of home and cultivable land. The government compounds its crime by handing over prime land to industrial giants after paying pittance to the land owners. The country must set its priorities first. Should we, as a nation, allow a government to trample people’s right to hold on to their land and make a living? Whose development is it talking when it announce projects? It is obviously for politicians’ own benefits. The unabashed way the Centre now trying to overcome judicial hurdles to their selfish acts must sound a warning bell across the country.

We invite you to write to us comments, suggestions, viewpoint or just about anything to feedback@postnoon.com or # Plot no.550-A1,3rd floor, Road no-92, Jubilee hills, Hyderabad-500033 Landmark - Volkswagen showroom or even by way of a call on 4067 2222. Editor: Dean Williams

15

FRIDAY, AUGUST 30, 2013

music IN THE CITY

SOAK IN THE INDIE SPIRIT

Off the record @Rowson’s Reserve Smooth Spaces, a one-of-its-kind platform that supports original and experimental forms of alternative music in an easy going setting is bringing the trend to Hyderabad on a monthly basis. Here’s all you need to know.

K

Tickets

ick starting on August 31, the first edition of ‘Off the record @Rowson’s Reserve Smooth Spaces will enthrall music lovers in the City with live performances by The Family Cheese, Mad Orange Firework and The Upper Basement. As indie as they are, influences such as funk, jazz, rock and roll mixed with garage band rawness

It has always been a delight to be in Hyderabad and we are extremely thrilled to perform here. It is a fantastic new platform for emerging indie talent.

We are also launching our newest album at the gig.

Apurv Issac The Family Cheese

T

he tickets for ‘Off the Record’ are priced at `200 and the event will be held at The Shed: Potens Crossfit Centre (situated behind Inorbit Mall, Durgam Cheruvu Road, Hitex City), an eclectic atmosphere lending an industrial, grunge and minimalistic vibe to the event.

give these bands its unique upbeat soul.

Off the Record aims to capture the essence of the indie scene with bands that have been playing extensively across the country and have made waves for being extremely talented and entertaining. The event is targeted at music lovers seeking to find alternative ways to express themselves, living up to the multiethnic spirit of the city.

Commenting on the initiative

Bhavesh Somaya, Marketing Director, Diageo India said, “Rowson’s Reserve Smooth Spaces wishes to create a trendy, laidback and easy going atmosphere for alternative forms of entertainment in the country. We are thrilled to take ‘Off the Record’ to music enthusiasts in Hyderabad. This is our endeavour to promote the new and emerging talent pool by giving them a unique platform while capturing the essence of the growing ‘indie scene’ in India.”

UNEARTHING THE TALENT

n The Family Cheese The Family Cheese is a jam band from Chennai. The band consists of Apurv Issac (guitars, vocals), Homi Rustumji (bass) and Yohan Marshall (drums, vocals). The Family Cheese set out to silence the critics and give the people a fresh exciting experience in the Indian music scene and it shall never be the same again. They are also releasing their album on the August 28 in Mumbai and will be promoting the same at the gig.

n Orange Fireworks Orange Fireworks is a Bangalore-based rock band who play their own special brand of music that they call 'Orange Rock' — drawing influences of Jazz, Funk, Pop & Rock. They are picking up wide critical acclaim and are said to be quite an entertaining act. n The Upper Basement The upper basement is one of Hyderabad’s rarest no cover Alternate rock band with a genre still left hanging off the balance. Jam sessions bring in musical tales right from funk, blues, grunge and good ol rock n roll. They have been really getting around a few major gigs across the city as being one of the only all original acts.

18

FRIDAY, AUGUST 30, 2013

spotlight 1

SPARKLE & SHINE

FUN UNPLUGGED

6

Members of Se la vie club were in attendance at Taj Krishna for a get-together. Spotted at the do were Shilpa, Priyanka and others.

2

7

3

4

5

8

9

10

1 Anisha 2 Arpita 3 Shilpa 4 Neha, Shivani 5 Priyanka 6 Prakruthi 7 Priyanka 8 Preeti, Mansi 9 Anju 10 Jhansi

MONEY TALK

Celebrating generosity

The launch of the Joy of Giving Week 2013 at Sapphire, Marriot Hotel was a well-affair event. Spotted were actress Lakshmi Manchu, designer Shilpa Reddy and others.

Chairman & Managing Director of SMR Holdings S Ram Reddy and Executive Director of SMR Holdings Pruthviraj Reddy addressed the media at Hotel Taj Banjara on Thursday.

FRIDAY, AUGUST 30, 2013

health

MALARIA RESEARCHERS PROPOSE TARGETING BREEDING SITES

A new report says targeting mosquito breeding sites is likely to be increasingly necessary to reduce cases of malaria in Africa and Asia. Researchers say that with mosquitoes becoming ever more resistant to insecticides, new approaches will be needed to help control the disease.

BREATHING IN

19

Walking pneumonia sounds like it could be a character in a sci-fi horror flick. Although this form of infectious pneumonia can make you miserable, it's actually the least scary kind of pneumonia. Here’s what you need to know about it.

LUNG

POSTNOON NEWS feedback@postnoon.com

CARE

a few days.

Many over-the-counter medicines used for colds and flus may not help with complete relief of symptoms of walking pneumonia. It's important to talk with your doctor about any medicines you are taking or planning to take. It's also important to drink plenty of fluids and to give yourself time to rest.

I

t’s the least infectious because it's a mild pneumonia and does not generally require hospitalization.

In fact, you could have walking pneumonia and not even know it.

Walking pneumonia is a non-medical term to describe a mild case of pneumonia. It can also be called atypical pneumonia because the disease is different from more serious cases of pneumonia caused by typical bacteria.

Can I get it again?

There is a certain level of immunity that occurs after someone has a case of

CAUSES Pneumonia is a disease of the lungs that often results from a lung infection.

Lots of things can cause pneumonia, including: n Bacteria n Viruses n Fungi n Other infectious agents, such as mycoplasma n Chemicals n Inhaled food Walking pneumonia is often the result of a lung infection from a bacterial microorganism called Mycoplasma pneumoniae.

People who have walking pneumonia are seldom confined to bed or need to be hospitalised. Some may even feel well enough go to work and carry on with other regular routines, just as they might with a cold.

Who gets walking pneumonia and how is it spread?

Anyone at any age can get walking pneumonia. Walking pneumonia from mycoplasma is most common, though, in older children and adults younger than 40.

People who live and work in crowded places, such as schools, homeless shelters, and prisons have a higher risk of contracting the disease. That's because walking pneumonia is contagious. It's spread when someone comes in contact with droplets from the nose and throat of someone who has it. That commonly happens when the person with walking pneumonia sneezes or coughs.

Cases of walking pneumonia are most common in the late summer and fall. But infections can occur with no

walking pneumonia. It isn't permanent, though, and it's unclear how long it lasts. So you could at some point develop walking pneumonia again.

When it does recur, it may be milder. particular pattern throughout the year.

And, even though the disease is contagious, it spreads slowly.

What are the symptoms of walking pneumonia?

Symptoms generally appear 15 to 25 days after exposure to the mycoplasma and develop slowly over a period of two to four days. Symptoms include: Cough that may come in violent spasms but produce very little mucus Mild flu-like symptoms such as fever and chills n Sore throat n Headache n Tiredness n Lingering weakness that may persist after other symptoms go away n Some people with walking pneumonia may also have an ear infection, anaemia, or a skin rash.

How is walking pneumonia treated?

Walking pneumonia is generally treated with antibiotics. Mild infections are often not treated because they tend to clear on their own. With treatment, most people begin to feel better within

Can walking pneumonia be prevented?

There is no vaccine for mycoplasma infections, so there is no way to prevent it. There are things you can do, though, to reduce your chances of getting it: Exercise, eat a well-balanced diet, and get adequate sleep. Exercise, rest, and proper nutrition help keep your body healthy. A healthy body is better able to resist infection.

Wash your hands frequently. Hand washing is one of the best ways to prevent germs from spreading.

Don't smoke. Smoking damages the lungs, and damaged lungs are more susceptible to infection.

Cover your mouth with your sleeve when you cough or sneeze. And, urge others to do the same. Coughing and sneezing are the primary ways infectious agents are spread.

Webmd

20

FRIDAY, AUGUST 30, 2013

Technology HACKING

Kim Dotcom blasts New Zealand police ‘cover-up’ Prime Minister John Key last year acknowledged the spy agency had overstepped its limits and issued a public apology to Dotcom, who is free on bail and fighting extradition to the United States.

FILE PHOTO

WELLINGTON: Megaupload founder Kim Dotcom accused New Zealand police of selectively applying the law Friday after they opted not to prosecute intelligence officials who illegally spied on him.

Police reviewed the actions of the Government Communications Security Bureau (GCSB) after it was revealed last year that the agency unlawfully spied on Dotcom before his arrest for alleged online piracy in January 2012.

They said on Thursday that the investigation had found GCSB staff illegally intercepted an unspecified communication from Dotcom in breach of the Crimes Act. However, police said they would not prosecute because they could not prove there was a deliberate intent by the intelligence officers to break the law.

Dotcom dismissed the argu-

ment and said he never intended for copyright material to be exchanged on his Megaupload file-sharing site but he was still facing charges of online piracy.

“One law for them, another for us,” he tweeted. “Where was

Police said they would not prosecute because they could not prove there was a deliberate intent by the intelligence officers to break the law. my ‘criminal intent’ when some #Megaupload users shared copyright infringing material?”

He said he was not surprised at the police’s refusal to prosecute.

“This decision smells like conflict of interest and cover-

up,” he told TVNZ. “I didn’t expect anything but a whitewash. It’s the police investigating the police.”

Dotcom is a German national but has New Zealand residency, meaning he should have been off-limits to the GCSB under laws banning the agency from spying on locals.

Prime Minister John Key last year acknowledged the spy agency had overstepped its limits and issued a public apology to Dotcom, who is free on bail and fighting extradition to the United States.

Key also introduced legislation allowing the GCSB to spy on residents and citizens for the first time, which passed through parliament earlier this month.

He said on Friday that the police investigation showed the GCSB had made a simple mistake that did not warrant prosecution.

The opposition Labour Party said the decision raised doubts over whether government agencies would be held to account if they breached surveillance laws.

“How can the public have confidence their privacy will be respected if there are no consequences when the GCSB breaks the law?” deputy leader Grant Robertson said.

The US Justice Department and FBI allege Dotcom’s Megaupload sites netted more than US$175 million in criminal proceeds and cost copyright owners more than US$500 million by offering pirated copies of movies, TV shows and other content.

Dotcom, who plans to sue the police and GCSB for damages, argues that Megaupload simply offered a data storage service and was not responsible for content that users placed there.

AFP

NEW DIRECTION

Google Android exec poached

by Xiaomi NEW YORK CITY: China’s Xiaomi has poached a key Google executive involved in the tech giant’s Android phones, in a move seen as a coup for the rapidly growing Chinese smartphone maker.

Hugo Barra, who was Google’s vice president in charge of Android product management, said in a blog post late Wednesday that he is joining Xiaomi to help them expand their business outside China, where they already have some market share, but are well behind Samsung and Apple.

“After nearly 5 1/2 years at Google and almost 3 years as a member of the Android team — the most amazing group of people I’ve ever worked with in my life — I have decided to start a new career chapter,” Barra wrote.

“In a few weeks, I’ll be joining the Xiaomi team in China to help them expand their incredible product portfolio and business globally - as Vice President, Xiaomi Global.”

“I’m really looking forward to this new challenge, and am particularly excited about the opportunity to continue to help drive the Android ecosystem.”

Android is the Google-developed smartphone operating system that is battling with systems from Apple and Microsoft for dominance in the market.

But Xiaomi staked out in just two years a 2.5 per cent share in the coveted Chinese market, according to Analysys International, with a strategy of discount prices for phones with high-end features.

Xiaomi was co-founded by a former Google executive, Lin Bin. “We wish Hugo Barra the best,” Google said in an email response to an AFP inquiry.

“We’ll miss him at Google and we’re excited that he is staying within the Android ecosystem.”

AFP

21

FRIDAY, AUGUST 30, 2013

Entertainment CINE BYTES We need to look at music as a profession

O

scar-winning composersinger AR Rahman says that despite India being a musical nation, music is yet to be taken as a serious profession. He will propagate the same through his city tour “RahmanIshq” in October. IANS

PINNING HOPES

A special 100th film coming up

N

agarjuna who turned 54 says that his 100th film will be special. He has so far acted in 90 movies. “It is so fast that I am reaching 100. Well, definitely plan my 100th film as a special movie. It will be big,” he said.

Geetha is a bride-to-be

G

eetha Madhuri is a busy-bee nowadays. The rising singer busy preparing for her wedding.

She will be marrying actor Nandu soon. She has also acted in a short film. Some of her popular songs include Parvaledhu (Manasara) Top Lechi Poddi (Iddarammailatho) and Darlingey (Mirchi).

TAAPSEE PANNU to dub for Riddick M

ultilingual actress Taapsee Pannu will dub in three languages — Hindi, Tamil and Telugu — for Hollywood actress Katie Sackhoff’s character in sci-fi action film Riddick. She is excited about the first-time opportunity.

PVR Pictures is releasing the Hollywood film in India on September 6 in three languages, apart from English.

The distributors were on the lookout for a voice that would go well with Sackhoff’s character, and the search eventually stopped at Taapsee.

Confirming the development, Taapsee said in a statement: “Yes, I have been approached by PVR to dub for the India release of Riddick in three languages. They have asked me to dub for Katie Sackhoff, who plays the female lead alongsideVin Diesel.”

“This will be a first for me, hoping that I will be able to do it given the fact that I have a packed shoot schedule till end of this month,” added the actress, who has featured in Tamil, Telugu and Malayalam movies, and made her Bollywood debut with David Dhawan’s Chashme Baddoor ealier this year.

IANS

FRIDAY, AUGUST 30, 2013

fashion

JULIA RESTOIN ROITFELD’S FASHION ADDICTION

MARQUES’ ALMEIDA JULIA RESTOIN ROITFELD has a fashion confession to make — an obsession that she indulges in no matter what time of day, or where she is.

“I’m addicted to online shopping,” she said.

TRADITIONAL VIENNA

goes brand crazy in luxury facelift H alf a dozen new fivestar hotels, flagship stores for Louis Vuitton, Prada and Emporio Armani: Vienna is undergoing a luxury facelift that is delighting Arab, Asian and Russian tourists, as well as locals.

Always the epitome of elegance and culture, the Austrian capital was long set on tradition.

Grand hotels like the famous Sacher, Bristol and Imperial dated back to the Austro-Hungarian empire and on the limited luxury shopping mile — the Kohlmarkt — internationally recognisable brand names jostled for space with local businesses.

But walk through the city centre now and sleek window displays boast the latest Miu Miu handbag or Vivienne Westwood fashion.

A new bloc called the Golden Quarter houses a three-storey Vuitton shop as well as Roberto Cavalli and Mulberry, and will soon welcome the first Yves Saint Laurent store in Austria.

Three five-star hotels — including a Ritz Carlton and a Kempinski — have also opened their doors in the last nine months. A Four Seasons, a Park Hyatt and a third top-ranked hotel are to follow by next year.

“There is hardly a brand that isn’t present in Vienna... there is no reason to go anywhere else anymore for high-end shopping,” Helmut Schramm, head of the Vienna Economic Chamber’s fashion division, said.

The growing number of highspending tourists from Russia, Asia and the Gulf — including Saudi Arabia, UAE and Qatar — certainly contributed to this trend.

“For them, it’s very much about prestige, about brands. So we’re working in that direction,” said Vienna Tourist Board director Norbert Kettner.

Those most often seen toting large Chanel or Gucci shopping bags around the city centre are indeed Asian couples or Arab families.

“Salespeople in the shops say they have the feeling Austrians were only waiting for the chance to buy colourful fashion,” Daniela Steurer from Signa Holding, the group behind the Golden Quarter luxury bloc, said.

With some 77,600 millionaires,

according to Liechtenstein-based investment firm Valluga, Austria has plenty of wealthy locals able to splurge.

— “Still room for growth” — The timing of this luxury drive may seem odd, so soon after the financial crisis and amid continuing austerity.

But “the super-rich are totally unfazed by the global crisis,” Kettner said.

If anything, the surprising thing is that a luxury boom did not occur sooner in a city decked out with grand palaces and ele-

gant cafes, where waltzing at a ball is still a popular pastime.

“Vienna was always a bit of a Sleeping Beauty,” said Paul Dutschmann, marketing chief at the recently opened Palais Hansen Kempinski, which boasts the city’s most expensive suite at 15,000 euros per night.

“Vienna really only started growing in the last 10-20 years,” thanks in part to the opening up of the former Soviet bloc and a boom in Asian travel.

Even with the latest offerings, the Austrian capital pales in com-

parison with other European cities, with just 19 five-star hotels.

Prague, a smaller city, has 42 and Barcelona 24, noted Kettner.

“For a city of this size... there is still room (for growth),” he said.

With new five-star hotels offering iPads in every room, personal trainers and even the use of a rented Jaguar, classic establishments like the Hotel Sacher have also launched massive refurbishments to keep up.

Rather than crowding the market, the arrival of so many big names “is revitalising the sector:

there’s something for everyone,” said Dutschmann.

Last year, Vienna had twice as many five-star hotel guests as in 2002.

After Germans and Italians, Russians were the third-largest group of foreign tourists.

Overnight stays meanwhile jumped by 63 percent from 2011 for guests from Saudi Arabia, 40 percent for China and 39 percent for Brazil, the next big market.

“People won’t come here for luxury alone. But it’s a plus, to satisfy a class of people who would come to Vienna anyway but not necessarily for shopping,” said Steurer. Frequent international conferences here also attract generous visitors — they spend almost twice as much as the average tourist — according to the Vienna Tourist Board.

For the Vienna Economic Chamber’s Helmut Schramm, the booming luxury sector is a priceless asset to the city.

“It is still just a small percentage, but it greatly enhances Vienna’s status.” AFP

SIENNA’S AUDITION ADVICE TO POPPY

POPPY DELEVINGNE has revealed that Sienna Miller gave her invaluable insider advice about breaking into acting. “She gave me good advice on casting, saying, ‘Just remember they really want you to get this role and they want you to be there’. With that, I just became a lot more open.”

22&23

A REGAL TOUCH A

ce designer Sabyasachi Mukherjee showcased an absolutely royal collection full of velvet and satin for his comeback show at the Lakme Fashion Week on Tuesday night. He presented a line at the extravaganza after five years, and what a grand finale it was!

The show, sponsored by Lakme Absolute Royal, was inspired by the royal era of queens, and it was indeed classy.

The apparels were heavily embroidered with gold and copper threads, giving them a regal touch. The designer showcased unique saris with distinct designs on the pleats

and pallu.

There were also floorlenth anarkalis, short kurtas with churidars, while the men’s collection included heavy sherwanis with turbans.

The colours used for the collection were also majestic cream, red, black, cream and even peach.

The clothes were royal indeed, but even the ramp and the stage were aptly decorated with grand chandeliers suspended from the cieling, and flowers adorning the entry of the ramp.

The show also began on a different note, with a woman singing live. Thereafter, two to three models walked simul-

taneously to showcase attires of a similar kind together.

Celebrities including actors Shraddha Kapoor and Milind Soman, as well as designer Rohit Bal attended the show, which turned to be a fitting end to the LFW Winter/ Festive 2013.

The event began August 23.

IANS

Entertainment FRIDAY, AUGUST 30, 2013

24

Entertainment FRIDAY, AUGUST 30, 2013

25

FRIDAY, AUGUST 30, 2013

Chai Time

THOUGHT OF THE DAY

Three Rules of Work:Out of clutter find simplicity;From discord find harmony; In the middle of difficulty lies opportunity.”

Albert Einstein

KAKURO

QUICK CROSSWORD

26

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

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

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

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

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

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

ACROSS

PREVIOUS PUZZLE ANSWER

SCRIBBLING PAD

1 Bamboo muncher 6 Gives careful attention to 11 Last name of a famous plane 14 French love 15 Detach by tearing 16 Line that has a ring to it?

17 Certain participant in a chorus line 19 Expunge 20 Org. with crowning achievements?

21 Greek X 22 Spike in production?

23 Allow to deteriorate 27 Full of malice 29 Punk/folk singer DiFranco 30 Bedding item 32 “The Ghost and Mrs. ___” 33 “... ___ a lender be” 34 Bartender’s supply 36 Defeated king of Troy 39 “... o’clock and ___ well” 41 Church council 43 Borderline 44 Vaults for valuables 46 Felt green around the gills 48 “What ___ the chances?”

49 Gather, as grain 51 Divas’ deliveries 52 “Despite that ...”

53 Struck sightless 56 Alters 58 Doctored account 59 “Cash” add-on 60 Half a score 61 ___ Arbor, Mich.

62 Lana Turner was one 68 Firecracker with no fire 69 ___ hole in (rip) 70 Like a hot fudge sundae 71 Back-and-forth curve 72 Auto suggestion?

73 Exercise by Chopin

DOWN

1 Apartment, slangily 2 Org. for doctors 3 Alternative to “smoking” 4 Fit for a nobleman 5 Having the least rainfall 6 Show of affection 7 Twin connected to Chang 8 “Love Story” novelist Segal 9 Currency in the U.A.E. 10 Divide 11 Some aides 12 Farewell abroad 13 Make some music in Interlaken 18 Tex-Mex appetizer 23 Grandmothers, affectionately 24 First name of a famous plane 25 What many young men seek 26 Roberts of TV’s “Charlie’s Angels” 28 Cork is found here 31 Smaller versions 35 What the retina’s cones distinguish 37 Feel the same way 38 Athletic contests 40 “As ___ on TV!” 42 Get rid of, electronically 45 Followers of the cruel Marquis 47 Branch off 50 Teeny-tiny 53 Duelist’s weapon 54 “Peanuts” boy 55 Pre-tax-audit feeling 57 Bar in Fort Knox 63 Palindromic constellation 64 Make into leather 65 Short person’s slip?

66 Suggestion by a sommelier, perhaps 67 Caustic soda

Chai Time FRIDAY, AUGUST 30, 2013 Thiruvaikumar

STAR POWER for 31-8-2013

27

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

ARIES

TAURUS

GEMINI

CANCER

LEO

VIRGO

LIBRA

SCORPIO

SAGITTARIUS

CAPRICORN

AQUARIUS

PISCES

You are likely to take many bold decisions which will be appreciated by all as desired results are likely to be achieved. Your influence is set to increase and all the works will get completed.

Close friends and blood relatives will help you.

STRIP TEASE AGNES

Politicians will get into the good books of high command.

Be careful, act with patience to avoid trouble. Employees might face minor tension at workplace. You will gain upper hand over enemies. Do not force your decisions on your children.

Unmarried women are advised to keep away from romance.

Money is likely to come from all the expected sources.

Employees will be entrusted with challenging tasks and will get appreciation. You will solve family issues on your own.

Your children will do well in studies and make you proud and happy. Delayed marriage talks will resume. Employees will do well and get suitably rewarded. Some have bright chance to purchase or construct their own house.

Politicians are advised to keep away from unwanted discussions and taking controversial stand in important issues. Chances are likely that they might be warned by the high command. Keep a vigil on your children’s activities they may go in a wrong route.

Businessmen will be signing new and promising contracts.

Your long pending wishes will be fulfilled. Women are advised to keep away from those with wrong intention. Family will look cheerful as happy events are to take place at home.

Mother’s health will be a cause for concern, take good care.

Real estate deals might not be successful as expected.

Politicians will earn the trust of high command. Misunderstanding with maternal relatives is likely to make you upset.

Financial position looks very strong. Misunderstanding with relatives will be over. Mum’s health problem will be over and she will be fine. Those trying for new job will get a promising one. Some may go abroad for higher studies or for job.

You will try to stand above others and efforts towards such an activity will be successful.

Businessmen will flourish and earn good profits. Some have a bright chance to buy a house or land. Be careful while driving to avoid minor accidents.

TAROT READ

Sumaa Tekur

tarotreadhyd@gmail. com

ARIES:

GEMINI:

Two of Wands – You have laid the foundation for a very successful future. You are ready.

You only have to wait for the right opportunity to come along.

LEO:

The Empress – There are many conditions in the fine print, which you may be missing out on.

Before you sign any important document, read everything carefully.

LIBRA:

PEARLS BEFORE SWINE

The Hermit – Travel is on the cards. You may have to take a trip on your own. You meet interesting people on the way, though.

SAGITTARIUS:

The High Priest – Listen to some good music and spend time pursuing a favourite hobby. You will be more relaxed and can think clearly when back to work.

TAURUS:

The Emperor – You may encounter some trouble from those who report to you at work. Things are not going to be very smooth when you’re in power.

CANCER:

King of Cups – You are a voracious reader and you have the knack of guessing the end to a mystery. That does not mean you know where life will take you.

VIRGO:

Nine of Pentacles – In order to cut a real estate deal, you need to gather more information about the location where you intend to buy property in. Research well.

SCORPIO:

The Devil – Your nesting instincts are high. You look for a comfortable place you can make home. You want to be surrounded by things you love. Make it happen!

CAPRICORN:

King of Pentacles – Spend some quality metime today. Sit and mediatate or reflect on your life and its general direction. But do not brood.

PREVIOUS SOLUTIONS

PISCES:

Strength – You’re in for a pleasant surprise today. An old friend may drop in, unannounced, to say hello, or you may bump into someone interesting.

NUMBER GAME

Pentacles – Give advice freely, especially if you’re concerned. Do not hold back your thoughts. It’s up to them if they want to use your advice.

SCRABBLE

AQUARIUS: Page of

POOCH CAFE

Employees are advised not to be too free with superiors as there might be sudden setbacks. Also adjust with colleagues cordially despite problems. Politicians are advised not to blame the opposition without proper evidence.

for 31-8-2013

The Moon – You are flirting on the fringes of where you really want to be. Life has thrown you there and you may have no choice, really.

NON SEQUITUR

You will gain upper hand over enemies. Court verdict will go in your favour in a dragged legal issue. Your in laws will extend you good support. Take care of your health. Housing loan applied will get approved and construction to start soon.

SUDUKO

Minor misunderstanding with spouse is likely; try and avoid.

Your harsh talks with which you have been facing troubles will change and you will become approachable to all. Politicians are advised to be conservative and not to spend extravagantly.

Boggle CAR BUS VAN TRUCK HEARSE Vol: 3, No 40 RNI No: APENG/2011/39337 Published for the proprietors, Scribble Media and Entertainment Pvt Ltd, by V Harshavardhan Reddy, at # Plot no.550-A1,3rd floor, Road no-92, Jubilee hills, Hyderabad-500033 Landmark - Volkswagen showroom and printed by him at Jagati Publications Ltd, Plot No D-75&E-52, APIE Industrial Estate, Balanagar, Ranga Reddy Dist, Hyderabad – 500037, Editor: Dean Williams – Responsible for selection of news under the PRB Act All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or in part without written permission of the publisher is prohibited. For feedback, please write to: feedback@postnoon. com and for subscription, please call 040-4067 2222, Fax: 040-4067 2211

28

Entertainment FRIDAY, AUGUST 30, 2013

INTERVIEW

CINE BYTES

Overcoming her fears Actress Tanishaa Mukerji took to theatre this month for her debut with a play called The Verdict. Following which she is also entering new territory by acting in a Marathi film.

The woman who dons the hat of both actor and producer gives us a teaser into what her current schedule is like.

FLEME VARKEY fleme.v@postnoon.com

No changes were made in Satyagraha

D

irector Prakash Jha Wednesday said his Satyagraha will hit the screens without any cuts as the censor board did not cut or ban any scene from the political thriller.

“They (censor board) said that you have made the film in a very sensitive way and there are parts we cannot cut. So, the film came out the same way we presented it,” Jha said.

IANS

We have not approached Katrina

T

B

eing away from the big screen did not mean that she was away from her passion as well.

Tanishaa had not gone anywhere and nor is she planning to pack her bags soon. In fact, in the little sabbatical that she took from films after Be Careful in 2011, she has done a lot more work than what meets the eye.

Her production assignments, her decision to enter into theatre and now even Marathi films.

Theatre for her is a means of achieving an end: Overcoming the fear of performing in front of a live audience. You would not believe it came from an actress. She says, “Honestly, I have had a fear of performing in front of live audiences. And I have always believed in facing my fears head on. This is something I wanted to overcome. I don’t like feeling that I cannot do something. In The Verdict I play a character with shades of grey.

She’s a woman who will do anything for love.”

The play was performed in Mumbai on Independence Day. Speaking about her theatre debut, she tells us how it all came into place. “Divya Palat, the director of the play called me. And I was instinctively comfortable with her. It’s an

English play based on a book

by Ayn Rand, who also happens to be one of my favourite authors as well. After reading the script I loved the strength in my character. We are a family of strong women and I guess I look for those qualities even in the characters I play. We rehearsed vigorously for six months, Divya and I. In the meantime I also took some diction classes for the Marathi movie I’m doing and I felt that this has helped me a lot with my stage debut,” she added.

Theatre for her is a means of achieving an end: Overcoming the fear of performing in front of a live audience.

Never one to be shy about her famous lineage, Tanishaa, as a matter of fact, credits her aunt Alak Nanda for inspiring her to take up this new vocation. “I look up to my aunt Alak Nanda who got a full scholarship to the Royal Academy of Dramatic Arts in London. She

is a huge theatre personality and has been very inspiring to me. Also Shabana Azmi in Tumhari Amruta was one of my inspirations,” she says.

Telling us a little bit about her role in the Marathi film, she says, “The character I play is a very real one. It’s like any intelligent Indian girl today influenced by the west, but with strong Indian values. Bharti Achrekar plays my mum in the film and it’s so much fun working with Bharti aunty because she has such a great relationship with my mum. My character is of a Marathi girl who has grown up in London and so to get the accent right, I took diction lessons.”

Doing all these new things, it has certainly affected her, for she says that her outlook towards cinema has changed.

“As a producer I look at it more as a business. So my creative decisions are also financially sound,”she reveals.

As to which role she likes best, she answers diplomatically, “Sometimes I like being in front of the camera and when I’m producing then behind the scenes is the place for me. I like to switch things often to keep myself interested.

I’m a creative person and I get bored easily. So I like doing many things.”

here were reports that Atul Agnohotri will rope in Salman Khan and Katrina Kaif for a song in the film, but the filmmaker refutes these reports. Ohh Teri has newcomers in the cast and it will come out next year. “It’s too early right now as we are still working on the song track.

We have not approached Katrina, but Salman has been involved with the project right from the beginning,” Atul said. IANS

Himmatwala failed as 80s not shown as modern

A

ctor Ajay Devgn, who played the lead in Himmatwala remake, says he knew that the film would tank, primarily because the period of 80s, in which it is set, was not shown in a contemporary way. Ajay stepped into the shoes of veteran Jitendra for the remake of the 1983 Hindi blockbuster of the same name, directed by Sajid Khan.

PTI

sports

29

FRIDAY, AUGUST 30, 2013

INDIAN BADMINTON LEAGUE

Sindhu, Kido put team in final PV Sindhu and doubles specialist Markis Kido carried Awadhe Warriors into the final of the Indian Badminton League as their team edged out Mumbai Masters 3-2 in the semifinals. nering Baun who seemed to be nursing a hamstring problem, and promptly lost to World No.9 pairing of Kido and his younger sister Pia Bernadeth 21-19.

Earlier, World No.1 Lee Chong Wei gave Masters 1-0 lead by easily winning the first men’s singles 21-15, 21-17 against Gurusai Dutt, but Sindhu put

BANGALORE: Teen sensation PV Sindhu and doubles specialist Markis Kido carried Awadhe Warriors into the final of the Vodafone Indian Badminton League as their team edged out Mumbai Masters 3-2 in the semifinals, here Thursday.

The Warriors, who take on Hyderabad Hotshots in the final Saturday at Mumbai, rode on Sindhu’s crucial win in the women’s singles against Tine Baun and then Kido won both his doubles matches, men’s and mixed, to power the Lucknowbased team into the title round.

The Masters, who had lost to Warriors by the same margin in the league phase at this very venue last week, paid dearly for getting their mixed doubles combination wrong.

Vladimir Ivanov, after winning a tough second men’s singles against K Srikanth to tie the match 2-2, had just five-minute break before he came back on court for the mixed doubles part-

The Warriors rode on Sindhu’s crucial win in the women’s singles against Tine Baun and then Kido won both his doubles matches; men’s and mixed.

Warriors on even terms by outclassing a wayward Baun 21-16, 21-13.

In the men’s doubles, Kido, combined brilliantly with Mathias Boe brushed aside Suneeth Reddy and Pranav Chopra 21-15, 21-10 as Warriors

LEAGUE CRICKET

SWIMMING

A division two days Day 1 Osmania 130 (Ramprasad 61, SS Bharat 5/30) lost to Jai Bhagwathi 131/4 (Rahul Patangay 31, Abhinay 42) Gujrathi 106 (Arjun Kumar 7/38) vs Continental 45/3 HBCC 219/7 (Yudish 80, Abhishek 74,Vijay Singh 4/42) vs Venus Cybertech SA Amberpet 156 (Paramveer Singh 45, Yaseen Bahamaid 80, Pargat Singh 5/41, Mark G Reynolds 3/41) vs Khalsa 83/5 Zinda CC 243 (Kaleem Khan 56, Md Asaduddin 34, Ahmed 4/54, Jitu 3/23) vs Charminar CC 21/2 Galaxy 188/3 (Ruthwik Reddy 88, Rajendra 33no) vs Saleemnagar New Blues 231 (Bhagath 53, Vallabh 50, Tanay Thayagarajan 4/55) vs Cambridge XI A division one day Boys Town 284/3 (Pragun Dubey 134no, Azmath Khan 90) bt Dhruv XI 98 (Md Kashifuddin 3/28) Consult 36 (Ajay Dev Goud 6/9, Varun Reddy 4/27) lost to Young Citizen 37/3)

Greenlands 228/7 (Sricharan 36, Sundar 66, Kaushik Bhandari 3/39) bt Satya CC 136 (Kaushik Bhandari 50, M Pratyush 3/41, Ashish 3/2) Vijayanand 148 (GN Vikranth 37, KVI Satwik 7/45) lost to Manikumar 151/3 (P Siddhartha 60, B Sai Ramdev 39, J Rahul 33) Inter district two days Warangal 112 (T Vikram 34, Nitin 5/37, Suraj 3/27) vs Nizamabad 253/9 (Suraj 55, Eshwar 54, Wajidinn 53no, Shahrukh 3/69) Coca Cola under-16 inter school Semifinal St Johns Church Junior College 198/6 (Mikhil Jaiswal 51, K Bhagath Varma 80, Vamshi Srivastav 4/38) bt All Saints High School 37 (Rajamani Prasad 6/15) Bhavans Sri Aurobindo Junior College 197 (P Sai Vikas Reddy 100no, Amrit Yadav 54no) lost to Wesley Boys Junior College 121/4 (B Srinath 39, Chandan Sahani 45) Wesley Boys Junior College won on Spin of Coin as play was suspended due to rain. Revised Target for Wesley Boys Junior College was 128 in 20 overs.

AKSHATH REDDY TO LEAD SIDE HYDERABAD: P Akshath Reddy is set to lead the Hyderabad which will participate in the All India Coromandel King Moin-UdDowlah Gold Cup Invitation Cricket tournament form September 2 to 12. All the

moved to a 2-1 lead only to see Srikanth losing 20-21, 19-21 to Ivanov as Masters drew level at 2-2.

Ivanov, who had to work hard for his win over Srikanth, had not much left in the tank for the mixed doubles tie along with Baun as Kido and Bernadeth came through 21-19, 21-15 to help Warriors wrap up the tie.

The opening tie lasted barely 39 minutes with Wei, who was ranked No.1 for 199 consecutive weeks over a four-year period, in a different league, though Dutt put on a brave front to keep pace with the Malaysian ace in the first game. However, Dutt flattered only to deceive as Wei raced through the second game to wrap up the match with comfort. Wei gave a grand exhibition of his stroke-play as he seemed to have so much time to play his shots. Dutt, despite a decent defence, could not really counter the Malaysian’s attacks that were cleverly masked.

IANS

players should report to the coach for practice on August 31 at the Gymkhana Grounds at 6am.

Teams: P Akshath Reddy (captain), T Suman, GH Vihari, B Sandeep, B Anirudh, CV Milind, Pragyan

Ojha, Amol Shinde, Habeeb Ahmed (wicket keeper), Anwar Ahmed Khan, A Ashish Reddy, Danny Derek Prince, AM Rajender, Rahul Singh, Nimeesh Reddy.

Coach: Sunil Joshi

Bertrand to head Swimming Australia SYDNEY: Swimming Australia has moved to restore its damaged reputation with the appointment Friday of decorated sailor and businessman John Bertrand as its new president.

Bertrand, 66, of America’s Cup yachting fame, replaces Barclay Nettlefold, who resigned in June after claims that he made inappropriate remarks towards a female team consultant.

The appointment of the respected Bertrand is seen as a positive step for Swimming Australia after a tumultuous year following poor results at the London Olympics.

Bertrand is a dual Olympian, world champion sailor, respected international business leader and renowned philanthropist. He was made a Member of the Order of Australia in 1985.

He is best known as the skipper of Australia II, which won the America’s Cup for Australia in 1983, ending 132 years of American domination.

Bertrand represented Australia in five America’s Cups and at two Olympic Games (1972 and 1976).

In this file photo Denmark’s Crown Princess Mary (L) is seen with John Bertrand of Australia in Copenhagen’s Harbour.

AFP/KELD NAVNTOFT

“I am honoured to have been selected to preside over Swimming Australia,” Bertrand said.

“I’ve had an association with high performance sport and high performance teams for more than 40 years and this appointment is one of the highlights of my career.”

The Australian Olympic Committee welcomed the move, saying, “John has a proven track record in high performance sport.” AFP

sports

30

FRIDAY, AUGUST 30, 2013

AUSTRALIA VS ENGLAND T20

Finch stars in Australia win

JULIAN GUYER Agence France-Presse

SOUTHAMPTON: Aaron Finch’s record-breaking innings saw Australia to a first competitive international win in 200 days as they beat England by 39 runs in the first Twenty20 international at Southampton on Thursday.

Man-of-the-match Finch’s stunning 156, the highest individual score in all Twenty20 internationals, was the cornerstone of Australia’s 248 for six, itself the second-highest team score at this level.

England, who wrapped up a 3-0 Ashes series win with a draw at The Oval on Sunday, unsurprisingly lost early wickets when faced with such a colossal chase and finished on 209 for six in this day/night fixture. Victory saw Australia go 1-0 up in a twomatch series that concludes in Durham on Saturday.

Australia hadn’t won a major international match since a 17run one-day international victory over the West Indies at Melbourne on February 10.

Finch’s runs came from just 63 balls and the 26-year-old Victorian opener, playing just his

ASHES

Greenway stars as England win women’s title SOUTHAMPTON: Lydia Greenway was England’s heroine as the women’s team made it an Ashes double with a fivewicket win over Australia in the second Twenty20 international at Southampton on Thursday.

Greenway produced a superbly composed innings of 80 not out from just 64 balls faced as her side, chasing 127 for victory, won with an over to spare.

Her composed innings was all the more impressive as England had collapsed to nine for three.

But a partnership of 67 between Greenway, who should have been stumped on 10 by Australia skipper and wicketkeeper Jodie Fields, and England captain Charlotte Edwards revived the reply.

This victory — England’s fourth of the series — came four days after the England men’s team completed a 3-0 Ashes Test series win over Australia at The Oval in south London.

But, unlike the men’s Ashes, the women’s series was a multiformat contest with points awarded for each win.

AFP

seventh match at this level, comfortably surpassed the previous Twenty20 world record of 123 set

by New Zealand’s Brendon McCullum against Bangladesh at Pallekele in September last year.

“I have been with the Australia A side all summer, so I brought a bit of form into the game,” said Finch at the presentation ceremony.

“The wicket was flat and it was one of those days. There was no seam or spin so it was nice to get a few early boundaries and I took it on from there.”

Australia Twenty20 captain George Bailey said the only innings to compare with Finch’s was West Indies star Chris Gayle who in April scored the fastest century in all professional cricket, off 30 balls, during his 175 not out for the Royal Challengers Bangalore against the Pune Warriors in the Indian Premier League. “It was a pretty extraordinary knock and the only innings that came close was Chris Gayle’s in the IPL,” said Bailey.

“We knew it was going to be a good wicket and history says it is tough to defend on this pitch but given it’s been so long since we had a win we’ll take it,” he

Australia’s Aaron Finch celebrates scoring his century during the T20 against England at the Ageas Bowl in Southampton on Thursday.

AFP/GLYN KIRK

added of a match where the teams’ combined 457 runs was also a Twenty20 international record. Finch got off the mark, reached his fifty, hundred and 150 with sixes.

Indeed his 14 sixes were also a world record for an individual T20 international innings, with Finch also striking 11 fours.

Finch’s century was only the 10th in all T20 internationals, the

ZIMBABWE VS PAKISTAN

BONUS PROBLEMS

Hafeez, Junaid wrap big win HARARE: A commanding century by Mohammad Hafeez and a four-wicket haul from left-arm seamer Junaid Khan (right) led Pakistan to a series-levelling victory over Zimbabwe in the second one-day international on Thursday.

After Hafeez had carried Pakistan to an imposing total of 299 for four with an unbeaten 136, Junaid stubbed out a promising run chase by the Zimbabweans to secure a 90-run win and set up a series decider on Saturday.

Captain Brendan Taylor led Zimbabwe’s reply from the front with an assured 79, but his dismissal saw the hosts collapse from 200 for four in the 39th over to 209 all out in the 43rd as Junaid finished with figures of 4 for 15.

Taylor had shared partnerships with Hamilton Masakadza, Sean Williams and Malcolm Waller as Zimbabwe laid a platform for what would have been the highest successful run chase at Harare Sports Club, only for Junaid and Saeed Ajmal to snuff it out.

Ajmal induced a top-edge

from Taylor that was taken one-handed by seven-foot Pakistan bowler Mohammad Irfan, and in the next over Junaid dismissed both Waller and Elton Chigumbura to end any hopes of victory for Zimbabwe. Pakistan’s batsmen had struggled in the first ODI on Tuesday, which they lost by seven wickets, leading captain Misbah-ul-Haq to call on them to end a prolonged run of substandard performances in 50-over cricket.

Hafeez answered that call with a superb knock, hitting five sixes but also showing restraint after Pakistan had stuttered to 84 for three in the 22nd over.

first by an Australian and the first by any batsman in England.

“It was incredible striking from Aaron Finch — 14 sixes in an innings is incredible,” said England Twenty20 captain Stuart Broad. “Sometimes you have to say you were outplayed and we were outplayed by one man.”

Finch’s extraordinary innings ended when he was bowled by seamer Jade Dernach who, in the midst of the mayhem, took three wickets for 34 runs in four overs.

In view of the run-spree to come, England, who won the toss, started well when dangerman David Warner lost control of his bat as he holed out off Broad for one.From then on, the innings belonged to Finch who struck an extraordinary six over cover on one knee off medium-pacer Ravi Bopara.

His 50 came off 27 balls, with a straight six off Bopara, and he appeared on course to beat South African Richard Levi’s record 45ball century. Finch had to be content with a 47-ball hundred, going to the landmark with a top-edged six, while McCullum’s previous record was surpassed with yet another six, this time over cover off Broad.

AFP

The 32-year-old gained control of the innings in a 129-run stand with Umar Amin, who recorded his maiden half-century.

Although the pair added just 66 runs over their first 23 overs together, they cashed in on the batting powerplay when they hammered 43 runs in five overs.

Amin was brilliantly run out by Tendai Chatara soon after, but Hafeez went to his century in the following over and was well supported by Shahid Afridi in the final stages of the innings.

“We were not thinking to score 300 to be honest, we were thinking of about 260, but the two partnerships with Umar Amin and Shahid Afridi really made the difference,” said Hafeez.

Afridi clubbed three sixes on his way to 39 not out as Pakistan took 64 runs from the final five overs of the innings, leaving Zimbabwe with a target that proved well beyond them. “They just ran away from us, and scoring 300 against that attack is always going to be difficult,” Taylor said.

AFP

Majola fails to get post back JOHANNESBURG: Former chief executive Gerald Majola lost an appeal against his dismissal for paying himself and others unauthorised bonuses, a Cricket South Africa (CSA) statement said Thursday.

The Labour Court in Johannesburg dismissed a move

by Majola to overturn his firing and the findings of CSA disciplinary proceedings against him last year.

He was axed after paying himself $195,000 and other staff $540,000 without authority after South Africa hosted the 2009 Indian Premier League (IPL) tournament.

The IPL was moved because it clashed with elections in India and there was insufficient personnel to provide security for the polls and cricket fixtures.

Haroon Lorgat succeeded Majola last July and said the national body must put the bonus scandal behind it and move on. “We need to acknowledge there were mistakes in the past, but also that Majola deserves some credit for good things that were done,” he told reporters.”

AFP

MEADOW

MAGIC

31

FRIDAY, AUGUST 30, 2013

Nadal, Federer near showdown Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer moved closer to a first-ever US Open meeting with second-round triumphs while Serena Williams and Victoria Azaranka also advanced.

JIM SLATER Agence France-Presse NEW YORK: Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer moved closer to a first-ever US Open meeting with second-round triumphs on Thursday while women’s top seeds Serena Williams and Victoria Azaranka also advanced.

Spanish second seed Nadal beat Brazilian qualifier Rogerio Dutra Silva, 6-2, 6-1, 6-0 in 92 minutes at Arthur Ashe Stadium.

“I was solid with my serve,” said Nadal, who hit 69 percent of his first serves. “I played well. I started a little slower but when the match was coming on I felt I played better and better. I am trying to play more aggressive.”

Swiss 17-time Grand Slam champion Federer, who at the seventh seed is in his lowest spot at the US Open since 2002, fired

37 winners in beating Argentina’s 48th-ranked Carlos Berlocq, 6-3, 6-2, 6-1 after 95 minutes.

“I was pretty comfortable out there, so that was a good sign,” Federer said. “It’s one of those matches I expect myself to win in straight sets and gain confidence in the process. All those things happened so I’m pleased about it.”

Federer, who swept the New York hardcourt crowns from 2004-2008, and Nadal, whose 2010 US Open title completed a career Grand Slam, could meet for the first time at the US Open in the quarter-finals.

“I hope I’m going to be there,” Federer said. “The biggest mistake I can do is focus on Rafa right now. Clearly I would love a match with Rafa.”

On the women’s side, defending champion Williams

Serena, Ivanovic to Errani’s rescue NEW YORK: Serena Williams and Ana Ivanovic sprang to the defense of Sara Errani (in pic) on Thursday after the Italian made a tearful US Open exit, claiming she had been overwhelmed by the stress of being fourth seed.

“I’m feeling too much pressure. I don’t know why, but I’m not enjoying going on the courts, and that is the worst thing a player can have,” said Errani, who was defeated by compatriot Flavia Pennetta, 6-3, 6-1 in the second round.

Errani had been bumped up to the fourth seeding after the injury-enforced withdrawal of Maria Sharapova.

“I know the situation. I know all the players are expecting from me,” said Errani, who despite the pressures has remained level-headed enough to gather $2 million in her career.

Williams, the world number one who is chasing a fifth US Open title and 17th major in all, is having no such problems in New York, dropping just four games en route to the third round. But the American believes Errani should not get too down on herself.

“It’s hard but I think she’s doing a good job,” Williams said. “I mean, sometimes you have a tough day at the office, and it doesn’t mean that you didn’t handle the pressure well.

I think she’s a good player.”

Ivanovic can sympathise with Errani.

When she captured the French Open title in 2008, the Serb ascended to the world number one spot but has endured a roller-coaster career ever since, struggling to live up to expectations. AFP

Roger Federer returns a shot during his men’s singles second round match AFP/CLIVE BRUNSKILL against Carlos Berlocq at the US Open on Thursday.

‘Take pleasure from pain’ NEW YORK: Rafael Nadal admitted that he has learned to enjoy suffering the pain of constantly battling the knee injuries which have threatened to derail his career.

He moved comfortably into the US Open third round with a 6-2, 6-1, 6-0 win over Brazilian journeyman Rogerio Dutra Silva and has been the form player of 2013, claiming nine titles and building a 55-3 winning record.

But he spent seven months on the sidelines until February this year because of a knee injury that had caused him to miss the Olympics, last year’s US Open and the Australian Open.

It was a familiar story of misery for Nadal, who was out of action for nine weeks in 2009 after he suffered his only career loss at the French Open and was forced to walk away at the Wimbledon.

Nadal says the pain has only made him stronger.

“When you are coming back after a hard times, after an injury, after moments that you are not well, so when you are having the chance to be back, is true to be back you need to work hard,” he said. “You need to work with the right attitude every day. You need to be ready to suffer, to enjoy the suffering, and to be able to change the situation.”

AFP

downed 77th-ranked Galina Voskoboeva 6-3, 6-0, and Belarus second seed Azarenka beat Canada’s Aleksandra Wozniak 63, 6-1. But Italian fourth seed Sara Errani made a tearful exit, the 2012 US Open semi-finalist and French Open runner-up falling to friend and compatriot Flavia Pennetta 6-3, 6-1.

“It was difficult,” Errani said.

“The worst thing was the ‘fight.’

Normally it’s the best thing I do on the court and today it was not good. I don’t know why. I think it’s the pressure. Everything was very difficult for me.”

After being eliminated in the second round last month at Wimbledon in his earliest Grand Slam exit since the 2003 French Open, Federer is going for more than a simple showdown with Nadal in the Flushing Meadows fortnight.

AFP

Evans takes revenge DAVE JAMES Agence France-Presse NEW YORK: Dan Evans’ magical US Open journey hit new heights Thursday when he beat Bernard Tomic, the Australian firebrand who once refused to practice with him claiming the British player wasn’t good enough.

The 23-year-old world 179, who had never won a Grand Slam match before this week, took revenge for that slur by seeing off the 52nd-ranked Tomic 1-6, 6-3, 7-6 (7/4), 6-3 to make the third round. It was a win which followed his shock straight-sets win over Japanese 11th seed Kei Nishikori in the first round, having also played three tough qualifying matches.

The triumph was fueled at

resentment of Tomic’s controversial father John, who refused to allow his son to hit with Evans in Miami last year, insisting the Briton was not a worthy opponent.

“His dad sort of fobbed me off and said I wasn’t good enough to practice with him,” said Evans.

“We went to practice. It was all booked. Got to the court. In Miami, there’s a little practice hut. I got to the practice hut. No, no, he’s a qualifier, I’m not hitting with you. A bit embarrassing, but hey. “I don’t think it was Bernard’s doing. He wasn’t there.” Evans’s previous record at the majors was woeful — two first round losses at Wimbledon in 2009 and 2011.

But he went into Thursday’s clash buoyed by having practiced with Roger Federer 24 hours earlier. AFP

Dan Evans celebrates winning his men’s singles second round match against Bernard Tomic at the US Open on Thursday. AFP/DAN ISTITENE

FRIDAY, AUGUST 30, 2013

sports

KAKA WANTS TRANSFER BEFORE DEADLINE DAY Real Madrid midfielder Kaka has said he is looking to agree to a move away from the Spanish giants before the transfer window closes on September 2. He has failed to make much of an impression in the Spanish capital since his 68 million euro move from AC Milan in June 2009.

ENGLISH PREMIER LEAGUE

FOOTBALL BRIEFS

Transfers cloud derbies Tedious transfer sagas will make way for the fire and commitment of a local derby match for four of the Premier League’s leading lights on Sunday.

LONDON: Tedious transfer sagas will make way for the fire and commitment of a local derby match for four of the Premier League’s leading lights on Sunday.

Liverpool, Manchester United, Arsenal and Tottenham Hotspur have had very different experiences over the past three months, but all will have reason to feel relieved when the transfer window finally closes on Monday.

Liverpool and United resume one of the fiercest rivalries in European football at Anfield, with both clubs hoping their battles to retain the services of unsettled strikers are at an end.

Both Luis Suarez and Wayne Rooney (left) looked destined to leave their respective clubs a few weeks ago, but the two giants from the English northwest girded their loins and refused to yield to their demands.

Having briefly been forced to train with the Liverpool reserves, Suarez has now been reintegrated into the squad, while Rooney demonstrated his

commitment to the United cause with a determined display in Monday’s 0-0 draw with Chelsea. Suarez will not feature on Sunday due to his ongoing ban for biting Chelsea’s Branislav Ivanovic, but he could yet make his return against United after the teams were drawn together in the third round of the League Cup. Rooney should play, howev-

er, having taken to Facebook to thanks United’s supporters for the rousing reception he received against Chelsea.

“It was an unbelievable reaction from the fans, so thank you,” he wrote. “I really appreciate your support. It means a lot.”

Liverpool have enjoyed successive 1-0 wins over Stoke City and Aston Villa in the league, although they needed extra time

to see off third-tier Notts County in the League Cup on Wednesday.

Arsenal and Tottenham have had starkly contrasting experiences during the transfer window, which has witnessed Spurs doggedly clinging to their star player in a manner more typically associated with their north London rivals in recent times.

Spurs manager Andre VillasBoas has since admitted defeat in the club’s attempts to fend off interest in Gareth Bale (right) from Real Madrid, but they continue to invest money in their squad.

Argentine forward Erik Lamela and Romanian centreback Vlad Chiriches are both poised to arrive at White Hart Lane, following the signings of Paulinho, Nacer Chadli, Roberto Soldado and Etienne Capoue.

Were it not for the enmity that exists between the teams, Arsenal’s fans might sympathise with their Spurs counterparts over the Bale saga, but the days of their own leading players being courted by Europe’s top clubs are fading.

AFP

SUPER CUP

‘Munich defeat to Chelsea doesn’t bother Bayern’

PRAGUE: Thomas Mueller has said Bayern Munich are out to prove themselves as worthy European champions in Friday’s Super Cup final rather than avenge their 2012 Champions League final

defeat to Chelsea.

Pep Guardiola’s Bayern take on Jose Mourinho’s Europa League-winners Chelsea at Prague’s Eden Arena stadium on Friday looking to win the Super Cup at

32

the fourth attempt after losing the 2001, 1976 and 1975 finals.

Having suffered the heartbreak of losing to Chelsea in a penalty shoot-out at their own Allianz Arena stadium in the 2012 Champions League final, Bayern bounced back with a 21 victory over Borussia Dortmund at Wembley in May to claim their fifth European Cup. Few Bayern fans need reminding of the heartbreak of losing the Munich final 15 months ago, when Mueller’s 83rd-minute goal was cancelled out by a Didier Drogba header two minutes from time before the Ivory Coast star hit the winning spot-kick.

Mueller said Bayern exorcised the ghosts of their Munich defeat by winning last season’s treble of Champions League, Bundesliga and German Cup, and now aim to prove themselves as deserving European champions.

“Last season is still fresh and it was very positive, there is no lingering bitterness (from the 2012 Champions League final),” said Mueller.

“Of course, we were able to compensate for that bitter defeat, we just want to show May’s win was no coincidence, we want to prove ourselves and it’s the best motivation for Friday’s final.”

AFP

Teen star Deulofeu eyes Everton bow CARDIFF: Everton forward Gerard Deulofeu has told boss Roberto Martinez he is ready to make his Premier League debut against Cardiff City on Saturday.

The 19-year-old is at Everton on a season-long loan from Barcelona and made an eye-catching first start for the club against Stevenage in the League Cup second round in midweek.

Deulofeu scored the opening goal in Everton’s 2-1 victory and Martinez could hand him his first taste of league action at the Cardiff AFP City Stadium.

Bayern to face City, stiff test awaits Arsenal PARIS: Reigning European champions Bayern Munich were paired with Manchester City for this season’s Champions League group stage, while the draw was particularly unkind for Arsenal and Celtic. The draw, made in Monaco on Thursday evening, threw up several mouthwatering ties as well as bringing together plenty familiar foes. Under Pep Guardiola, Bayern are looking to become the first club to retain the European Cup in the Champions League era. They were drawn in Group D along with Manchester City, the Premier League giants.

AFP

Lescott motivated by City contract flux MANCHESTER: Manchester City centre-back Joleon Lescott says his current contract situation will not affect his mindset when called upon by manager Manuel Pellegrini this season. The England international is in the last year of his current deal and is keen to remain at the Etihad Stadium, although he has yet to be offered new terms by the club.

City are expected to bring in defensive reinforcements before the transfer window closes on Monday, with a deal for Atletico Madrid’s Argentina international Martin Demichelis reported to be close.

AFP

Pardew tells Newcastle fans to forgive Cabaye NEWCASTLE: Newcastle manager Alan Pardew hopes supporters can forgive and forget as unsettled French midfielder Yohan Cabaye prepares to make his return against Fulham on Saturday. Cabaye is set to end his controversial ‘strike’ by facing Fulham, in a major U-turn after downing tools in a bid to push through a move to Arsenal, even though the Gunners haven’t been back since an initial £10 million offer, immediately dismissed as ‘derisory’ by the NorthEast club. With time running out to resurrect a deal before Monday’s deadline, Pardew expects the unsettled 27-year-old to be part of his plans for the Premier League clash.

AFP