Epaper 30 june 2013 by Scribble Media & Entertainment Pvt. Ltd.

GAME FOR A SAFARI PG 16&17

ver 1,000 safari travellers and industry experts nominated Tanzania as the best country to go on safari. It boasts stunning scenery and some of the best wildlife viewing in the world. We take a tour. WWW.POSTNOON.COM

WEATHER: A MIX OF CLOUDY AND CLEAR SKIES; 28°C

Hyderabad’s first compact afternoon newspaper

JUNE 30, 2013 HYDERABAD

32 PAGES

ON SUNDAY

While restaurants around the City are being shut down and penalised for unhygienic conditions...

‘FILTHY’ GHMC CANTEEN REOPENS, AND HYGIENE BE DAMNED N SHIVA KUMAR

Barely a week after civic health officials shut down the GHMC’s own canteen for hygiene violations, the doors were thrown open. And what about the penalty? That seems only to be applicable to non-GHMC establishments, and that’s just the tip of the hypocrisy iceberg. REPORT ON PG 3

CITY SUNDAY, JUNE 30, 2013

N SHIVAKUMAR

NARROW ESCAPE

on. Where: Prego, The Westin When: Till June 30, 7-11pm

Art attack Aakar Art academy is conducting a painting workshop for kids above the age of 4. Where: Just Books, Jubilee Hills When: Every Friday and Saturday, Friday - 4 to 5.30pm Contact: (040) 66662323

Contact: 040 6767 6828

Kakatiya food Kakatiya food festival is on. Where: Bidri, Hyderabad Marriott Hotel and Convention Centre When: Till June 30, 6.3011.30pm Contact: +91 40 2752 2577

Sale begins AND is back with its much awaited end of season sale for its spring — summer collection. Discounts range from 20-50 per cent. Where: All exclusive AND outlets and multi-brand outlets. When: July 2 onwards

Singaporean food fest Enjoy the finest of Asian flavours at the Singaporean food festival. Chef Boon Kim from Grand Hyatt, Singapore, brings out an eclectic a la carte menu. Where: Oriental Bar & Kitchen, Park Hyatt

Weekend workshop Oakridge International Schools to host weekend experiential learning workshops — ‘Weekend Voyager’. Where: Oakridge Gachibowli and Bachupally campuses. When: Every Saturday from today, 9am to 12pm Contact: 1800-200-8171

A huge tree fell outside the Secretariat yesterday. The incident occurred when a chief secretary’s convoy was passing.

Website: www.oakridge.in

Contact: Sunil Kumar M / Sarodhya Yadav - 040- 40140753/ 9866520337/ 8686080577.

Word club A fun workshop for kids above the age of 8 will be organised. Where: Just books, Jubilee Hills. When: Every Sunday, 10am to 12pm Contact: 9849748117

Exhibition Some of India's best weavers and designers bring exclusive traditional silk, cotton collection from all over the country. Where: Sri Sathya Sai Nigamagamam, Srinagar Colony When: June 30, 10am to 10pm

My freedom story Freedom Refined Sunflower Oil in association with Red FM is organising a contest called 'My Freedom Story’. Participants can register by sending an SMS to Red FM in the format RED <space>HY<space>FREEDOM to 58585. They will get a call from Red FM for their story.

CINEMAS

Aao Bajao, an open drum circle by Drumberries is organising its 23 session. Where: Pebble Creek High Montessori School, Dr AS Rao Nagar. When: June 30, 5pm Contact: 9160001494 Website: www.drumberries.com

Let’s drum together

Food fest Home Made pasta food festival is

When: Till June 30, 12-11:30pm Contact: +91 40 4949 1204

Sunset BBQ Saturday Sunset BBQ is on. Where: The Square, Novotel Hyderabad Convention Centre. When: Every Saturday, 7pm onwards Contact: 040 6682 4422

Twisted spirits Altitude at the Hyderabad Marriott Hotel and Convention Centre has on offer cocktails and mocktails made from locally-sourced fruits and berries. Where: Altitude, Hyderabad Marriott Hotel and Convention Centre When: Till July 10, 5:30pm

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

CITY SUNDAY, JUNE 30, 2013

HMWSSB to begin Prajavani

he waterworks department will be holding weekly Prajavani programme at its divisional offices every Monday. Beginning from July 1, between 10am and 1pm, people can share their grievances at O&M divisions. The HMWSSB (Hyderabad Metro Water Supply & Sewerage Board) will not be holding Prajavani at its board office.

Permission to prosecute

Man jumps before train, dies

rime Branch CID has sought permission to prosecute former minister and MLA Shankar Rao under the Anti Corruption Act, in connection with the Green Field land scam. Authorities need government’s permission because Rao is a member of the Assembly. CBCID Chief Krishna Prasad said Rao had resorted to irregularities using his position.

ne G Harish, 23, a resident of Upperpally in Rajendra Nagar, is alleged to have committed suicide by jumping before a speeding train at Budwel railway station yesterday. He died on the spot. The victim got married only 10 months ago. It is said the marriage was against his will and the couple used to quarrel over this.

Apna canteen, no penalty

Within a week of health officials padlocking the GHMC’s own canteen for lack of hygiene, it was reopened without much ado and sans a penalty which other restaurants are made to pay. N SHIVA KUMAR

IT IS BELIEVED THAT Md NIZAMUDDIN

nizamuddin.a@postnoon.com

he reopening of GHMC’s own canteen within a week of its forced closure raised the hackles of City restaurant owners, who were hauled up for lack of health norms. “It’s their own canteen, who can question them?” ridiculed a restaurateur in Nampally. The health officials, who had made a surprise visit on Friday last to the canteen in the GHMC premises, had given 15 days’ time to fulfil its obligations. For the first time in the history of GHMC, the canteen’s doors were locked following the visit of the additional commissioner (health) Vandana Kumar along with food safety officers.

INACCESSIBILITY TO OTHER EATERIES MADE PEOPLE PUT PRESSURE ON THE HEALTH OFFICIALS TO REOPEN THE CANTEEN. According to the officials, the society’s canteen was not maintaining standards, as its kitchen and the way food items were stored were in unhygienic conditions. Cockroaches and pests were freely moving about in the kitchen and surroundings. The canteen is where the staff talks shop and whiles away lunch time. It is believed that inaccessibility to other eateries had made people put pressure on the health officials to reopen the canteen, and providing it ample time to meet the conditions. “I was told to provide floor

covering to the kitchen and to make sure customers have clean drinking water. This I shall fulfil in a few days,” says Sunnam Raj Mohan, canteen owner. GHMC officials are believed

Trio stole 280 vehicles in 30 months! PIC FOR REPRESENTATION

Mohd Subhan

11 information officers penalised Postnoon News feedback@postnoon.com

mohd.s@postnoon.com

CTV camera footage helped police nab a threemember gang of vehicle lifters, who have been charged with the theft of at least 250 bikes and 30 four-wheelers in the past 30 months from various parts of Hyderabad and Cyberabad commissionerate areas. The surprising element is that one of the three is a hardware engineer. This is by far the largest case of a single gang stealing vehicles in the City. By the time the law reached them, they had knocked down all except eight vehicles and eight two-wheelers. The gang did not bother to sell the vehicles they had stolen but dismantled them in a workshop and sold them in the scrap market. Now police know why many of the stolen

to have got a complaint from some leaders who wanted their focus to zero in on their own backyard. Each year, during the rainy season and winter, the GHMC officials carry on raids

but this year, the frequency has reduced as there are only a few officials. The position of chief medical officer of health department remains vacant for the fifth month in a row. When asked if the canteen ignored their diktat, Balaji Raju, food safety officer said, “We shall again lock it up once the deadline passes.” But the officials have waived the canteen’s penalty, while several other restaurants in the GHMC limits were facing penalisation. In the recently conducted raids in West Zone, the same officials had penalised Green Bavarchi Hotel (Deepti Sai Nagar), Kakatiya Tiffins (Miyapur), Times Tiffins, Hyderabad Restaurants (Madhapur) `10,000 and Akshaya Tiffins (Miyapur) `5,000. According to the officials, this was also part of the preventive measures for control of communicable diseases during the monsoon period.

vehicles are not traceable, said Trimulgherry inspector P Ravi Kiran. These gang members admitted to having picked up vehicles from parking lots in Secunderabad Market, Pot Market, General Bazaar,

Regimental Bazaar, Bowenpally, Mudfort, Shameerpet, Medchal, Kumpally, Shameerpet, Dundigal and many other places. The police are keeping their identities concealed for investigation and identification, the Trimulgherry police said.

ndhra Pradesh State Information Commission imposed penalties of `37,500 on eleven Public Information Officers, for “not acting reasonably and diligently” in supplying the information. State Information Commissioner C Madhukar Raj on Friday said in an official press release that 260 appeal cases were disposed in the month of June. “The disposal of these cases resulted in issuing show-cause notices to 103 PIOs, where it was found that the information was denied to the applicants for long periods without adequate reasons,” the release said. On hearing the showcause notice cases, 74 such cases were disposed of during the month, imposing penal-

74 CASES WERE DISPOSED OF DURING THE MONTH OF JUNE, IMPOSING PENALTIES TO THE TUNE OF `37,500 ON 11 PIOS, WHO WERE FOUND TO HAVE NOT ACTED REASONABLY ties to the tune of `37,500 on 11 PIOs, who were found to have not acted reasonably.

CITY SUNDAY, JUNE 30, 2013

TDP hangs on tender thread of rescue ops The main opposition party’s rescue act in Uttarakhand has rekindled hopes to gain some mileage in the local body polls. MD INKESHAF AHMED

ahmed.m@postnoon.com

he key political player in State politics — Telugu Desam Party (TDP) — is facing a tricky situation. As a political party which ruled over Andhra Pradesh for 17 long years, the TDP seems lost in the labyrinth of political mess complicated by the YSRC, TRS and the Congress. It was never the case for the party before 2004 when the ruling Congress ousted it from the seat of power with a massive majority of over 220 seats in alliance with TRS, CPI and CPM parties. The party still had hopes of coming back next time. But leaders of the party today evince a sense of dejection. Keeping its dwindling prospects in mind, the party president N Chandrababu Naidu launched a marathon padayatra (walkathon) of 207 days on October 2 last year and covered over 2,817km in 16 districts of

the State. But, according to the leaders of the party, it grossly failed in convincing people that it is the only alternative to the rival Congress and the YSR Congress.

UTTARKHAND HANDY

ISSUE COME

The only gleam of hope it achieved recently was its recent feat of rescuing some trapped Telugu pilgrims from Uttarakhand. The sudden action from the TDP had surprised politicians of other parties. The rescue operation was seen to have been undertaken only to gain sympathy of the people of the State and turn it into votes in the ensuing local body polls. “The marathon padayatra held by our party president brought us no concrete results. It seems to have failed to enthuse people of the State. We wanted to do something different to attract the attention of the public and the Uttarakhand issue had turned out to be a good weapon to win the confidence of the people of the State. “We not only acted swiftly

even before the State acted in rescuing the Telugu people but also arranged special flights to bring them back. This had forced the State government to arrange special flights too,” a senior party leader and politburo member told Postnoon.

BUOYED BY THE CONFIDENCE DERIVED FROM RESCUE MEASURES, TDP HAS DECIDED TO HOLD FIVE REGIONAL MEETINGS TO PREPARE THE PARTY CADRES TO FACE LOCAL BODY POLLS Interestingly, party president Naidu said that he himself would go to Uttarakhand to build pressure on the State government and take immediate rescue measures to save the lives of Telugu people. The party has brought back a total of 474 people so far.

LOCAL

POLLS

Buoyed by the confidence derived from the rescue measures, the party has decided to

SUMMER COACHING CAMP

hold five regional meetings across the State to prepare the party cadres to face the local body polls. These meetings are being planned to be held in all the three regions of the State.

The main objective behind organising these meetings is to bring the entire party cadres from village-level to state-level under one roof and prepare them for the all important polls.

Survey war on in AP Parties have been conducting overt and covert surveys, which by all indications are paid exercises to benefit the payer and scare rivals. Postnoon News feedback@postnoon.com

A In an exemplary show of youth power for societal good, the Secunderabad-based Karkhana Youth Welfare Association held a 45-day long Summer Coaching Camp in the Karkhana area. It imparted training to the students in computer hardware programme, calligraphy and spoken English and other job-oriented courses. It was attended by more than 300 boys and girls from different localities of Secunderabad. On Saturday, the vice-chairman and managing director, AP State Minority Finance Corporation, MA Waheed, was the chief guest on the occasion. Addressing the gathering, the VC lauded the efforts of the members for their efforts. He distributed certificates to all the students of the camp. Topper of the camp was handed over a new computer. The camp was held under supervision of the president MA Subhan and Mohammad Khaja Nizamuddin, managing director of the association. It was the fifth successful camp. PIC: S BALAKRISHNA

s the days of the next General Elections approach fast, the political parties, jittery over results, have begun indulging in overt and covert ‘surveys’ which by all indications are paid exercises to benefit the payer and scare rivals. Two recent surveys had predicted the young renegade, YSRC’s advantage over the Congress and the TDP. Rattled by this, the TDP adopted a crude method of sending SMSes saying a survey (by a nondescript organisation) had predicted the TDP a win of 117 seats. When the Assembly sitting was on,

TDP members were seen busy sending SMSes to each other and others. The latest in this score is a ‘secret’ survey by the Congress that, for a change, has made a shocking revelation — the party will lose the 2014 polls. For its consolation, its main rival, the TDP will also fall flat. The obvious winner will be the YSRC, which is billed to win 135-147 seats of the total 294. The TRS will likely get around 60 seats of the 115 from the Telangana territory. TDP should be satisfied with about 28-30 seats while Congress might win 34-39 seats mainly from South Andhra. But Congress leaders have rubbished this survey report and deny anything of the sort was conducted.

READERS’ LETTERS SUNDAY, JUNE 30, 2013

No recognition Aleena Alice's and Padmini C's articles on unrecognised schools in the City continue to get letters from concerned parents. The lack of information on the status of schools have thrown parents into a tizzy. ot allowing unregistered schools to function from July 1 is a welcome move by the government. They are charging massive fees and squeezing parents for one thing or another.

Accommodate the students in recognised schools, or else register all schools. By banning unrecognised schools, the strength will be increased in government schools automatically. The pressure will be more on the government.

BG GUPTA,

Tech goes bust!

abad-to-shut-down-but-whatabout-the-students/132282 hanks for giving the list of (unrecognised) schools, this will help the parents. But there are no schools on the list from Kukatpally, Nizampet, Miyapur and Bachupally! Does that mean all the schools here are recognised?

Our tech correspondent was impressed by the Zen Ultrafone 701HD, but one unfortunate customer shared his terrible experience with the same phone.

via email Read the report at http://postnoon.com/2013/06/26/426unrecognised-schools-in-hyder-

BINDU,

via email Read the report at http://post-

DRY DAYS

noon.com/2013/06/10/check-thislist-before-getting-your-childenrolled-430-unrecognisedschools-still-flourishing-inhyderabad/129720

Hyderabad is a dry city. And what makes it worse is that the government supplies water unequally to different parts of the City. Readers responded to Md Nizamuddin's article (Water supply in Hyderabad favours few, frowns on others) and told us their woes. e booked a tanker and it took 10 days to come after repeated following up. This is at Mehdipatnam. There is a business going at these centres and tankers are sold for `1,200. In such conditions, we are exploited by the private suppliers, who bring dirty water from lake beds or construction sites or wells. I am amazed at the apathy of the government as regards this basic necessity. As you pointed out, the rich colonies

and builders exploit the government through corrupt means and make life difficult for the common man. Why are we going for development when we can't take care of our basic needs properly and efficiently? No one can save us.

has started. We are charged on par with other areas. Some areas in Malkajgiri only every fortnight, but the bill is the same.

SAHADEV,

t is true that not only houses in areas like Banjara Hills get more water but also their lawns (on road dividers, parks etc.) are supplied with tankers regularly in the middle of morning traffic. On the other

via email

RAVI PRABHALA, via email

t is true that we at Malkajgiri get water only once a week even after the rainy season

Caged and miserable Animal lovers were up in arms at the treatment of pet animals in City pet store (Why do pet stores in Hyderabad cram pets into tiny cages). One raised the issue of chicks being painted bright colours for sale.

ice story about the plight of these little souls. Request you to write a story about the colourful chicks sold by vendors in Hyderabad. These are artificially coloured in red, blue, yellow and green

and are sold at prices as low as `10 per chick. Vendors who put them in small cages visit gali mohallas on cycle and sell them to anyone, even to small children who play with them unaware that they have to give them food or water. Many simply die.

LALIT,

via email Read the report at http://postnoon.com/2013/06 /25/why-do-pet-stores-inhyderabad-cram-pets-intotiny-cages/132119

TOP LETTER

I bought the Zen Ultrafone 701 HD, after going through its specifications. It seemed to have good specifications at a good price. I ordered the phone on the website snapdeal.com with the option of cash-on-delivery. I received the phone on June 4. The screen was okay, but the phone was not detecting any micro SD card. I opened a brand new box and out comes a defective handset. Ah, the anguish! The disappointment! Then I took the phone to their service centre in Lajpat Nagar, New Delhi. They took the mobile and gave me a job card and the phone was sent to the Zen mobile company. The service centre gave me a time of 10 days. It was extended by two days.Can you imagine hoping to play around with a brand new mobile but instead having to take it to the service centre, then waiting 10 days for your baby? Then being asked to wait for another two days, knowing full well they are lying. That they would like you “to kiss goodbye to your hard-earned money and the handset that you bought and never to disturb them again”. The service centre said the handset is still at the company and that I don’t have to phone, they will phone me when it arrives. Let us see how Zen mobile responds to the defective handsets bought by irate cus-

side, people in some areas do not pay their bills at all. It is often the middle class in between these extremes that bear the brunt of our horrible public services.

ASHOK,

via email Read the report at http://postnoon.com/2013/06/2 4/water-supply-in-hyderabadfavours-few-frowns-onothers/131943

Win `500 every week

We are giving `500 to the reader who writes in the best letter every week. So get to work. You can e-mail us at feedback@postnoon.com, or write to us at Postnoon, #1246, Level 3, Jubilee Casa, Rd nos 62, Jubilee Hills, Hyderabad, 500033. ALSO SEND US YOUR PHOTOGRAPHS.

tomers. Or is it the case of another company wanting to be like Micromax, but failing.In the meantime, I would advise mobile handset buyers to buy only from stores, not on the internet. For companies like Zen, Andi, Celkon and such, buy only after thoroughly checking the handset in a physical store.

PRANJIT,

via email Read the report at http://postnoon.com/2013/06/01/zen-ultrafone-701hd-review-this-phone-iskickass/128253

NATION SUNDAY, JUNE 30, 2013

Uma certain of victory BHOPAL: BJP vice president Uma Bharti today said that she was confident of her party’s win in the Madhya Pradesh Assembly elections slated later this year. Of the numerous reasons that make her feel her party can beat Congress is that the Congress has been in opposition in Madhya Pradesh for more than nine years, adding that the Congress had become a party which cannot survive without political power.

An ‘RTI record’ for CPI

Counting on in Himachal

NEW DELHI: CPI has become the

SHIMLA: Counting of votes for the

first political outfit to respond to an RTI application after a CIC order declared parties as public authorities but underlined that it does not come under the transparency law. Responding to an RTI application, Communist Party of India has said it supplies information to I-T authorities and the Election Commission.

Mandi parliamentary bypoll in Himachal Pradesh began at 8 a.m. Sunday and the result is expected by noon, election officials said here. The fate of four candidates, including two independents, will be decided during the day. 53 per cent of the 11,24,786 electors exercised their franchise in two-phase voting on June 23 and 27.

Two youths killed in alleged army firing in Bandipora

Stranded Indian pilgrims wait in line for their turn to be evacuated in an Indian Air Force helicopter at Badrinath on June 29, 2013, as they prepare to leave the flood effected northern Indian state of Uttarakhand. AFP PHOTO/SAJJAD HUSSAIN

Ham radio turns a ray of hope After the mayhem, some ham radio volunteers rushed to the affected areas and were supported by fellow operators across the country. Surabhi Gupta

NEW DELHI: “Help us", “Can you find my aged parents” — distress messages like these are flooding ham radio operators assisting in efforts to reunite families in disaster-hit Uttarakhand. Immediately after the mayhem, some ham radio volunteers rushed to the affected areas and were supported by fellow operators across the country. Soon this mode became an important lifeline of communication in the disaster-affected areas where telecommu-

nication networks were extensively damaged during the rains. National Institute of Amateur Radio, Hyderabad, has sent a team with radio equipment to the hill state and is operating in co-ordination with Bharat Scouts and Guides, Dehradun. Jose Jacob, VU2JOS, is operating from Dehradun as the emergency communication base station. “We are flooded with distress messages of relatives of those who are missing in Uttarakhand. We are daily getting calls from

Kolkata, Delhi, Kerala, Rajkot," Jacob told PTI. “Usually, we establish two-three master control rooms linking the entire country and have local network for relief operations like providing assistance for medical camps, movement of food and other requirements. And also getting and passing on information to their relatives, providing communication for district administration to monitor smooth movement of relief operations," S Sathyapal, Director, Indian Institute of Hams, PTI told PTI.

‘The nation of Rape case: IFS man files for bail malnourished’ NEW DELHI: The Delhi High Court has sought response from police on the anticipatory bail plea of an IFS officer, currently posted in China, in a case registered by a woman last year for allegedly raping her on the pretext of marriage. Issuing notice to police, Justice Siddharth Mridul sought the reply by July 5 on the plea of the officer, a 2010 batch IFS officer who is currently a probationer in the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) and based in Beijing. In his plea, the diplomat denied the allegations.

NEW DELHI: India constitutes 40 per cent of the world’s malnourished population and the highest rate of underweight children due to improper implementation of government policies, a global health expert has said. MG Venkatesh Mannar, president of Canada-based NGO Micronutrient Initiative, said India’s condition despite being an emerging economy was bad in terms of health and nutrition as compared with other countries like Brazil, Nepal, Bangladesh and China.

SRINAGAR: Two youths were killed allegedly in army firing in the wee hours today in Sumbal area of north Kashmir’s Bandipora district, leading to protests by the local residents. “Two youth have been killed in army firing this morning. It is a very unfortunate incident," Minister for Higherv Education Mohammad Akbar Lone, who is also the local MLA, told PTI. The deceased youth have been identified as Irfan Ahmad Ganaie and Irshad Ahmad Dar, both residents of Markundal village in Sumbal area, 25 kms from here. Local residents staged a protest against the killings, which took place at around 3.30 AM, alleging that the army firing was unprovoked. The Army said while it had no hand in the killing of one youth, the other died

when troops opened fire in self-defence as a mob tried to set an army ambulance on fire. “Based on intelligence inputs about movement of militants through the area, an ambush was laid. Firing of shots were heard outside the cordon area and later it was found that one youth has been killed," an army official said. He said some time later when the army ambulance was carrying doctors and some other staff through the area, a mob attacked it and tried to set the vehicle on fire. “The troops opened firing in selfdefence, which resulted in the death of the second youth," the army official added. Police officials, who are monitoring the situation, are tight-lipped about the PTI incident.

WORLD SUNDAY, JUNE 30, 2013

2 Shebab chiefs killed MOGADISHU: Somalia’s Al-Qaedalinked Shebab insurgents have killed two of their own top commanders, one with a $5 million United States bounty on his head, the insurgents said Saturday. “We have informed their widows of their deaths, as they must now wear the clothes of mourning,” said Shebab spokesman Abdulaziz Abu Musab.

Dave backs Taliban talks

Syria: Shelling in rebel areas

ISLAMABAD: British Prime Minister

DAMASCUS: Syria’s armed forces bat-

David Cameron made a surprise visit to Afghanistan and Pakistan Saturday, backing talks with the Taliban. Cameron visited troops in the southern province of Helmand and met President Hamid Karzai as the government and international powers try to revive peace efforts that recently collapsed in ignominy.

Showdown looms as Morsi marks 1st year

tered rebel-held parts of Homs city on Saturday with air raids, shelling and a ground offensive that prompted the opposition to issue a desperate plea for foreign military intervention. Warplanes carried out two consecutive raids against areas under siege in Homs city, as well as carrying out heavy shelling against the same districts.

OLD IS GOLD: A DEBUT THAT WAS 43 YRS OVERDUE “AFTER ALL THESE YEARS THEY’VE FINALLY GOT ROUND TO ASKING US.” MICK JAGGER

The week leading up to the showdown has already seen eight people killed, including an American, and scores more injured.

Jailan ZAYAN Agence France-Presse

CAIRO: Egypt braced for mass protests Sunday with President Mohamed Morsi’s opponents determined to oust him and his Islamist supporters vowing to defend his legitimacy to the end, on the anniversary of his turbulent first year in office. The grassroots movement Tamarod — Arabic for rebellion — is behind the campaign that claims to have collected millions of signatures for Morsi’s departure and new elections. Posters calling on people to join the protests against his rule

have sprung up around Cairo, plastered on walls and stuck on car windows along with “June 30” graffiti daubed along streets. The week leading up to the showdown has already seen eight people killed, including an American, and scores more injured as protesters from both sides took to the streets. Morsi, a senior Muslim Brotherhood leader, is Egypt’s first president elected in a free vote, catapulted to power by the 2011 Arab Spring uprising that ended three decades of dictatorial rule. His opponents, who have been massing outside the

Opponents of the Egyptian president wave national flags outside the presidential palace on June 29. Egypt braced for protests against Mohamed Morsi on June 30, the anniversary of his first year in office. GIANLUIGI GUERCIA

presidential palace and in Cairo’s Tahrir Square, accuse Morsi of betraying the revolution by concentrating power in Islamist hands. In the run-up to the anti-Morsi rallies, thousands of his supporters gathered in Cairo’s Nasr City neighbourhood to listen to fiery speeches urging them to defend the president’s legitimacy. Morsi’s Freedom and Justice Party, political arm of the Muslim Brotherhood, called for a “general mobilisation” in support of the president who has said he wants to stay the course until the end of his term in June 2016. But leading opposition figure, Nobel laureate Mohamed ElBaradei, urged the president “to listen to the people” and step aside. The fervent displays of emotion from both camps highlight the deep divisions in the Arab world’s most populous country. The army, which led a tumultuous transition after the revolt that ousted dictator Hosni Mubarak, has warned it will intervene if there is major unrest. Since taking office, Morsi has battled with the judiciary, the media and the police. The economy has taken a tumble, investment has dried up, inflation soared and the vital tourism industry has been battered.

British musicians Mick Jagger (C), Ron Wood (L) and Keith Richards of the Rolling Stones perform on the Pyramid Stage on the fourth day of the Glastonbury Festival of Contemporary Performing Arts near Glastonbury, southwest England, on June 29, 2013. The festival attracts 170,000 party-goers to the dairy farm in Somerset, and this year’s tickets sold out within two hours of going on sale. The Rolling Stones performed at the festival for the first time. AFP/ANDREW COWIE

he Rolling Stones made an energetic Glastonbury festival debut Saturday after half a century in the music business. “If this is the first time you’ve ever seen the band, do come again,” an almost 70-year-old Mick Jagger told a cheering crowd, most of whom were not yet born when the Stones played their first gigs. Jagger began his highly anticipated set at the festival in southwest England in a glittering green sequined jacket with the 1968 classic “Jumpin’ Jack Flash” to a

backdrop of fireworks. The Stones’ frontman prowled and pranced around the main Pyramid stage for more than two hours of music that included crowd-pleasers from the veteran rockers’ 1960s and 70s heyday. Country-style song “Factory Girl” was given a makeover to become “Glastonbury Girl”. Jagger donned a black ostrich feather cloak for “Sympathy for the Devil” as fire burst out of the top of the pyramid and a giant mechanical phoenix atop the stage came to life.

China stages army Thousands gather for drill in Xinjiang Taksim Square protest

Anti-gay group moves SC in US

URUMQI: China staged a large military exercise in

LOS ANGELES: A group behind efforts to uphold

the ethnically-divided Xinjiang region on Saturday, after dual clashes this week branded as “terrorism” killed at least 35 people. Tanks, military vehicles, and armed personnel blocked access to streets in Xinjiang’s capital Urumqi, where at least 1,000 personnel carried out the exercise, an AFP reporter present at the scene said, with large sections of the city’s centre shut down. “Isn’t it obvious? It is being staged because of the latest terrorism attacks,” one local woman who did not give her name said of the exercise. The drill came ahead of the fourth anniversary on July 5 of riots in Urumqi between members of China’s mostly Muslim Uighur ethnic minority and its Han majority.

ISTANBUL: Thousands gathered in Istanbul’s Taksim Square on Saturday to protest against the harsh police treatment of demonstrators whose anti-government rallies have rocked the country for nearly a month. Riot police blocked off the centre of the square, the symbolic heart of the nationwide protest movement, for some two hours as the demonstrators chanted “Government, resign!” but there was no fresh violence. The crowd also denounced the death of a demonstrator in the country’s Kurdish-dominated southeast on Friday after soldiers opened fire to disperse villagers protesting against the expansion of an army outpost. Turkey’s turmoil was sparked by a police crackdown on a small protest to save Istanbul’s Gezi Park, next to Taksim Square, on May 31.

California’s ban on same-sex marriage announced Saturday an emergency petition had been filed to the US Supreme Court to get the ban reinstated. On Friday, California’s Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals in San Francisco lifted the ban on same-sex marriages, imposed under the so-called Prop 8 ballot measure, with immediate effect. The first weddings were held within hours, notably for the two couples who challenged the ban, in high-profile ceremonies in San Fransisco and Los Angeles. Just days earlier, the nation’s top court had ruled supporters of Prop 8 lacked the proper standing to appeal a lower-court judgment that declared the measure unconstitutional.

COMMENT SUNDAY, JUNE 30, 2013

EDITORIALS PSYCHOSOCIAL CARE in disaster response National Institute of Mental Health and Neuro Sciences (NIMHANS) has been invited by National Disaster Management Authority to extend professional expertise to the Uttarakhand floods survivors suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and other psycho-social problems. NIMHANS has been providing psycho-social support in the event of disasters, which India has had her fair share of over the years. According to World Disaster Report, in 2002 alone 583 million people were affected in Asia, of which 60 per cent were Indians. The experience of frequent onslaught from natural fury has taught us to adopt a holistic approach in disaster response with medical, social, psychological and economic rehabilitation. Disaster research suggests that although a majority of people who survive natural disasters recover from early post-trauma symptoms, a considerable number of those involved in close encounters with death, live with the risk of serious emotional damage, in the absence of appropriate psychosocial response. According to a NIMHANS report, 90 per cent of survivors of disaster undergo severe emotional reactions immediately after disaster. However it reduces to 30 per cent over a period of time with psychological reactions of overwhelming stress leading to change in behaviour, relationship, physical or psychological problems. The initial depression developing into severe psychiatric problems can be prevented with timely intervention by building social support systems. A number of studies have reiterated that psychosocial care should be an integral component of disaster response in managing longterm recovery.

WHY WE LOVE... The Rolling Stones Theirs was a debut that was 43 years due, but after the Stones performed, the Glastonbury organisers were forced to say theirs was the performance that was the high point of all these years of Glastonbury — a testimony to the timeless music of the Stones.

The hopeless c-word From the hip SYED SHOAIB

ancer no longer frightens me. This is what we think. Specially if there’s been a history of it in the family or a related death in close circles, we feel we can handle the psychological trauma of the dreaded disease. When Lisa Ray or Manisha Koirala smile from those posttreatment pictures, you console that it can be won but when Steve Jobs or your own relative succumbs, you take solace in the karma theory that temporarily explains the mystery malignancy. Cancer is crazy. It took away my friend’s healthy father — a man who stayed from all vices including oily food and stressdriven lifestyle. On hindsight, I wonder if it was his absolutely healthy and clockwork lifestyle that could have caused a disorder that reiterated in his disciplined living, which the callous cells enjoyed — a routine pattern. He ultimately died of acidosis and could not handle the shock of stomach cancer hitting his sacred body at retirement. Somehow, doctors also seem so

punitive in front of this giant killer. A friend, a vegetarian and teetotaller who lived life that Swami Vivekananda prescribed, moved over to the other world, leaving behind two bewildered children and an agonised wife. About 116 cancer patients chose to end their lives last year. Of these, 84 were men and 32, women. The shocking statistics were revealed by the National Crime Records Bureau in its report for 2012. The figures also said cancer accounted for 1.4 per cent of the total suicides in Kerala against the national rate of 0.5 per cent. Kerala’s statistics are indeed shocking as the state is ranked second on the ‘cancer-suicide’ list. Andhra Pradesh leads the table with 134 suicides by cancer patients. Often financial constraints is not the only fear, social stigma can also trigger death. Earlier AIDS was believed to afflict the bad, and cancer, well you just resigned into fate, prayed and did not dare to think beyond. Cancer is not hereditary, yet parents would dare marry their loved ones into such families and when that celebrity you admire reveals he or she is safe with cancer, you wonder how the poor can manage those costly drugs. In a country where active health insurance is still a dream, a little child being

CANCER IS A SOCIAL AILMENT. FEW WOMEN KNOW THAT IF THEY MAINTAIN PERSONAL HYGIENE, PARTICULARLY DURING THEIR MENSTRUAL CYCLES, THEY CAN PREVENT MANY KINDS OF VAGINAL, CERVICAL, OVARIAN AND UTERINE CANCER. whisked in for expensive chemotherapy paints a picture of a frightful future. These videos floating about breathing deep, avoiding acidic food and living positive do not make sense as the months-old kid being wheeled in at a high-end cancer institute has not seen the stress of life enough to understand the pain it cannot tolerate. With cancer, knowledge is the difference between life and death. Cancer is a social ailment. Few women know that if they maintain personal hygiene, particularly during their menstrual cycles, they can prevent many kinds of vaginal, cervical, ovarian and uterine cancer. Breastfeeding is also believed to ward off breast cancer to an extent. Many men who chew on tobacco and smoke heavy also

know that their gambling with the inevitable absurd cell growth gets heavier. Volunteering for a day with an individual hospice called Usha in Bangalore, whose only aim was to bring sunshine into the last days of dying cancer patients was an eye opener. The painful cases to be digested in a morning’s ambulance ride included a mother of four, with two maggot-infested breasts being eaten away by cancer, a tobacco chewing grandmother with an open wound in her chin that drained out even drinking water and a farmer’s daughter whose vision in the second eye was blurred with that rare form of eye cancer. At Karunashraya, where my aunt lost her battle with cancer, the soothing music was no succour to the painful discomfort that morphine could not reduce. Despite millions of dollars being diverted into cancer research even by developed nations, I don’t think we have even gotten anywhere close to finding out why cancer comes visiting certain bodies. Maybe, a way by which God still reminds us that many strings are still operated from above and not everything can be explained by Science. When faith fails, reason begins and when reason fails, faith begins!

BUSINESS SUNDAY, JUNE 30, 2013

Nalco foundation awarded

alco Foundation has bagged a prestigious award in the category of ‘Best Corporate Social Responsibility Practices – 2013’, at the Responsible Business Summit & Awards. On behalf of the Foundation, Aswini Kumar Choudhury, Chief Operating Officer, received the award at a function held on Friday in Mumbai, a company release said here.

SIDBI to raise `13,500cr

Jewellery export on the decline

ewellery exports are likely to be hit and decline by up to 20 per cent in FY14, due to limited availability of gold inventory in the domestic market following the government’s steps to curb demand, as per export promotion body GJEPC. “It is difficult to get stocks for manufacturing jewellery and if the current situation prevails, it is going to hurt the exports by 15-20 per cent this year,” Gems and Jewellery export Promotion Council (GJEPC) Chairman Vipul Shah told PTI.

mall Industries Development Bank of India (SIDBI) plans to raise `13,500 crore through a mix of bonds and other instruments during the current fiscal to fund its business activities. Funds would be raised through various instruments including bonds, Certificate of Deposits (CDs) and fixed deposits. SIDBI recorded a 47.7 per cent jump in its net profit.

What’s up, doc? In his first year as president of the World Bank, Jim Yong Kim, or “Doctor Kim” has tried to refocus the institution on fighting poverty and climate change — but challenges lie ahead. WASHINGTON: In his first year as president of the World Bank, Jim Yong Kim has tried to refocus the institution on fighting poverty and climate change — but challenges lie ahead. The pick of the KoreanAmerican, an academic and doctor by training, marked a radical departure from other recent heads of the Washington-based global body. Both Robert Zoellick and Paul Wolfowitz — fellow Americans recruited when George W. Bush was in the White House — did not have development experience on their resumes. Less well-known and controversial than those before him, “Doctor Kim” quickly tried to make his mark on the development giant amid competition from new players, such as China, willing to drop large sums, especially in Africa. “Dr. Kim has been a welcome breath of fresh air compared to some of past World Bank presidents who had no experience in development but we can’t yet assess if he will change the bank for the better,” said Peter Chowla of the Bretton Woods Project that keeps a close eye on the institution. But according to an insider at the Bank, people are split on the director’s personality and his actions. “There are those who admire him and others feel he is too focused on talking,” the source said. Under his leadership, the Bank garnered attention when it published a report warning of “cataclysmic” climate change, unfamiliar territory usually occupied by the United Nations. “I feel that the World Bank has an enormous responsibility to first tell the world about climate change, but then really move our investments in a direction so that we can limit carbon emissions and really slow down the pace of climate change,” Kim told AFP in an

Under his leadership, the Bank garnered attention when it published a report warning of “cataclysmic” climate change, unfamiliar territory usually occupied by the United Nations.

Urban youth prefer to invest in real estate: Survey NEW DELHI: Real estate seems to be the hottest investment instrument for urban youth in India, with a whopping 85 per cent of those surveyed inclined to put their money into immoveables on hopes of higher and guaranteed returns. “Over 85 per cent of urban working class prefer to invest in real estate saying it is likely to fetch them guaranteed and higher returns,” says a survey conducted by industry body Assocham. Those surveyed also said they cautiously stay off from investing in gold, stocks and mutual funds as these instruments are found to be riskier,

No takers for gold

hose surveyed also said they cautiously stay off from investing in gold, stocks and mutual funds as these instruments are found to be riskier. A majority of urban youth surveyed believe that investing in gold is not as profitable as in real estate.

exclusive interview. This new approach is not without contradictions. Intent on helping the 1.2 billion still living without electricity, the Bank continues to finance development projects based on fossil fuels, such as a coal plant in Kosovo — much to the chagrin of environmentalists. “It’s going to be impossible for us to move right now to a completely fossil free world,” Kim acknowledged. His other big project won’t be easy to tackle either. In early April, he set the goal of eradicating extreme poverty by 2030 by reducing the proportion of people living on less than $1.25 a day from 21 percent to 3 percent. “We expected that the Bank set a strategy and refocus its mission on reducing poverty. It’s already a big success,” said

ACCORDING TO AN INSIDER, PEOPLE ARE SPLIT ON THE DIRECTOR’S PERSONALITY AND HIS ACTIONS. Nicolas Mombrial, head of the Washington office of Oxfam International. It’s an admirable goal but the challenge is immense. Going forward, the Bank has to find ways to increase economic growth to reduce poverty without further damage to the environment. Kim is “in a difficult position,” said Lawrence MacDonald of the Center for Global Development. “He’s right to sound the alarm on climate but I’m afraid that the poverty goal and climate change could be conflicting.”

The president is confident solutions exist but he has to convince the Bank’s 188 member countries and some 10,000 employees. It won’t be an easy task. In a recent internal document obtained by AFP, Kim denounced the “culture of fear” that allegedly curbs initiatives at the heart of the institution and is used to justify inaction. Certain reactions, published on the Bank’s intranet, reflect a climate of mistrust. “The bank has never been an honest organization, either with itself or with the clients,” said one unnamed Bank employee. “Is the Bank willing to take the risk of offending member nations by telling them that they are corrupt and that many nations are themselves the single biggest obstacle to developAFP ment?” added another.

the survey said. A majority of urban youth surveyed believe that investing in the yellow metal is not as profitable as in real estate since they expect gold prices to fall. Besides, global slowdown and the weak rupee have started casting a shadow on stocks, as many corporations are rationalising the salary structure of their employees with an emphasis on cost cutting which dampens the spirit of investment in the capital markets. However, a few respondents still chose to invest in stock markets, gold and mutual funds. The maximum concentration of real estate investments from urban working class and professionals is seen towards residential properties in emerging Tier-II and Tier-III cities. These include Jaipur, Bhiwadi, Rishikesh, Haridwar, Nainital, Chandigarh, Dehradun, Sonepat, Panipat, Pune and Nasik, it said. PTI

FOCUS SUNDAY, JUNE 30, 2013

IT COSTS A BOMB TO SURF IN CUBA At the cost of $4.50 an hour, down from $6 previously, the Internet remains out of reach for most Cubans whose monthly salary barely scratches the $20 mark.

Rigoberto Diaz Agence France-Presse

HAVANA: Cuban teacher Nancy Garcia would love to surf the Web at home. But since that is restricted in this communist country, she now logs on from new hotspots — at a price few can afford. "I don't stay long so as not to throw money out the window," said the 53-year-old as she checked her email near the Havana waterfront at one of the island's 118 new public access Internet points, open for several weeks now. With only doctors, journalists and certain other professionals able to connect from home, Cuba has one of the lowest numbers of Web users in all of Latin America: just 2.6 million in 2011, out of a population of 11.1 million. With few other options, Garcia and hundreds like her have been flocking to the new government-created hotspots to check email, connect to social media and browse websites. That's if they can pay for it. At the cost of $4.50 an hour, down from $6 previously, the Internet remains out of reach for most Cubans whose monthly salary barely scratches the $20 mark. "There will always be those who can afford to pay but there will always be more who can't," said Garcia, who previously trekked to one of the city's hotels to go online, forking out over $10 an hour for a painfully slow connection. "It's incredibly expensive," agreed Deisy Perez, an actress and owner of a private restaurant who came to see if she

The ‘e-lite’ With only doctors, journalists and certain other professionals able to connect from home, Cuba has one of the lowest numbers of Web users in all of Latin America: just

2.6 11.1

million in 2011, out of a population of million.

There will always be those who can afford to pay but there will always be more who can't. I don't stay long so as not to throw money out the window. Nancy Garcia Teacher could order audio and video material for her establishment. "Today I took a look at what's on offer, on another day I'll do some advertising for the restaurant," she said. "But I have to be quick, it's just too costly." Authorities say their goal is to provide home Web access. But despite the switching on of an undersea fiber-optic cable from Venezuela to replace costly satellite hookups, the government has said it is forced to "prioritize" it for it for "social use" purposes, with universities, companies and research centers given preference. Recently, a senior official insisted that limited access was due to "technological and financial" considerations. Dissidents, however, claim the government's goal has been to control access to information and that restricting Internet access is just another form of censorship in a country where all media outlets are state-controlled. At the public access point frequented by Garcia and Perez, located in the landmark FOCSA skyscraper, turnout is steady. "There's a good crowd, more than I had expected," said manager Dilia Ortega, who oversees the nine terminals. "Sometimes there's a line," she noted, adding that "clients are satisfied." Since succeeding his brother Fidel in 2006, Cuban President Raul Castro has allowed citizens to own a laptop and a cell phone, although here too, cost keeps the poor — most of the population — from partaking in this privilege. "We're moving forward," said Perez as she took a breather from her online shopping. "But even as more and more people have access to new technologies, there are still many more Cubans who don't even know it exists."

Dissidents, however, claim the government's goal has been to control access to information and that restricting Internet access is just another form of censorship in a country where all media outlets are state-controlled.

INTERVIEW SUNDAY, JUNE 30, 2013

ENVIRONMENTAL SAMARITAN Arun Krishnmurthy, a 26-year-old environmentalist quit a stable career at Google to found his NGO Environmentalist Foundation of India (EFI) in Chennai, active in three Indian cities. Under their Lake Biodiversity Restoration Project, he has already restored six lakes. Postnoon finds out more about the young environmentalist and his noble lake restoration project. KANCHAN AGARWAL to revive it. This included the desilting part, then strengthening the bunds followed by fencing the lake.

Whose duty would you say it is to take care of lakes? Is it not the job of a governmental body?

What is the problem that our lakes face? Urban development is taking its toll on our water bodies. There is little or no concern to protect lakes/ponds or rivers. Water is the base for all life forms, we abuse the resource and encroach upon our water bodies, this has a negative impact on the water source and impacts all life forms dependent on it. From the dumping of religious waste, construction debris, household and industrial waste, these water bodies have become mere dump yards.

What essentially is the nature of your work with lakes? We at Environmentalist Foundation of India focus on wildlife conservation and habitat restoration. As part of our habitat restoration work, we adopt lakes and ponds to restore them. We

clean a lake/ pond of all its physical garbage, post clean up, we start restoration which involves, desilting-dredgingbund strengthening and protective fencing of the waterbody. This ensures the protection of the water body there by creating a biodiversity within the urban nerve centre.

Tell us the story of how you went about restoring six lakes. A clean up looked as the ultimate project initially in order to revive the water bodies. However, through the process I realised that changing people's mindset and understanding of the lakes is much more significant. So, we started mass sensitisation and public awareness campaigns. With the campaigns in place and volunteers cleaning the lakes, we had to do a lot more

Every citizen in this country needs to take up the responsibility of building a green India where all life forms can live in harmony. The government definitely has an edge with the authority and the financial clout. What India as a country lacks is a strong-able leadership which has a vision for a green future. There are government initiatives but most of them fail to reach the set goal. This is partly because of the lack of people's participation. We always wait for somebody else to do something, itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s time we became that somebody and participated in such initiatives.

What were the challenges you faced in the process? Changing people's mindset and getting them to understand that we as Indians have strong environmental values and we need to get back our value-based life system, is the biggest challenge. There would be no need for an EFI to clean lakes if all of us didn't dirty it.

Why did you feel the need to quit a full-time, well-paying job at Google so as to pursue your NGO? Google as an organisation taught me important life lessons such as thinking out of the box and getting out of one's comfort zone. I always have been drawn to the environment and quitting my job responsibilities at Google for the sake of my passion was thus not a difficult choice.

You must lead a very simple lifestyle considering you chose to let go of the luxuries that a corporate job promises, would you say it takes the sacrifice of one in 100 youngsters for the betterment of society, environment and life? Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s no sacrifice, these are values and principles. Life is much simpler, happier this way. For the kind of damage we are doing to the environment today, one in 100 is too less a number, however getting that one in 100 is equally

kanchan.a@postnoon.com

difficult.

What is it that we as conscious citizens can do to reduce that harm? We can make responsible choices in life. We can follow the simple Indian Value System like living in harmony with all life forms, reducing the amount of waste generated at the individual level. And we have to stick to appropriate utilisation of any given resource.

Tell us about your childhood, college life, etc. and how you developed the spirit for environmentalism? How would you describe yourself as a person? I am one of the happiest persons on the face of this planet. I draw inspiration and courage from every single volunteer who joins us at

EFI. My school and college groomed me to love and work for the environment and I am glad I took this path.

How much does it cost to restore one lake, and how do you manage to procure that amount? Depending on the size of the lake, the area covered and the extent of damage, the cost would vary. We self fund a part of the project and take grants from Corporates as part of their CSR. We use any award money that EFI wins and now we are also seeking grants from the government too, which we are yet to get.

To know more about Arun and EFI, contact: Email: arun@indiaenvironment.org FB: www.facebook.com/indiaenvironment

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ART AND CULTURE SUNDAY, JUNE 30, 2013

Oldest US cave art found

Unseen pop art unveiled

Jan Simek, leader of the team that discovered the oldest known cave art in the United States, says he is far from finished. The 60-year-old science professor still plans to belly crawl through caves or climb atop bluffs in the hope of finding more art in his cave-rich state. Cave locations are kept secret because of concerns that looters could damage any archeological treasures that may be inside.

The Comprehensive Conservation Management Plan (CCMP) has been prepared to serve as a blueprint for all future constructions needed to restore the President’s Estate.

n a bid to restore Rashtrapati Bhavan “to the best extent possible” and send a strong message about the importance of preservation and protection of the country’s glorious heritage, a conservation plan that would serve as a blueprint for all future constructions in the 330 acre President’s Estate has been submitted to President Pranab

A painting by pop artist Roy Lichtenstein, which has not been seen in public for more than 30 years, and a massive pearl once owned by Mary Tudor have been unveiled as the highlights of London’s Masterpiece art fair. The artwork, Puzzle Portrait, was created by Lichtenstein (1923-1997) in 1978, before being sold directly to its current owner, who kept it out of the public eye for decades.

New wing just for art The new wing at the St. Louis Art Museum was not designed to make a flashy architectural statement but instead to display more of the museum’s large — and largely unseen — collection, said architect David Chipperfield. “What we tried to hold tightly to here, always, was to make good space for art,” said Chipperfield.

Blueprint to conserve Rashtrapati Bhavan

Mukherjee. The Comprehensive Conservation Management Plan, as desired by Mukherjee was submitted to him by Indian National Trust for Art and Cultural Heritage (INTACH) at a function in the Rashtrapati Bhavan, a statement issued Thursday by the president's office said. “President Mukherjee after

assuming office had personally instructed that a CCMP be prepared to serve as a blueprint for all future constructions so as to restore the President’s Estate to the best extent possible, to its original plan as outlined by Sir Edward Lutyens and others who planned the complex,” said the statement. INTACH was then engaged as consultant for the purpose

and the convenor of its Delhi Chapter AGK Menon, constituted a team of over 40 experts in the field of conservation, urban design, landscape, disaster management, infrastructure and services, among others for preparing the report. “INTACH’s mandate was to identify the original planning principles of Rashtrapati Bhavan and its relation to the

overall master plan of New Delhi in terms of urban and landscape design, establish the significance of existing layout vis-a-vis the original design intent, define view corridors, spaces and other features that establishes the heritage characteristics of the area to be conserved, provide guidelines for future development and draft a CCMP for the Rashtrapati Bhavan,” said the statement. Determined to send a strong message across the country that efforts should be made to “preserve and protect the country’s glorious heritage”, Mukherjee asked the secretariat to examine the report and draw up a time bound programme for the implementation of its recommendations. According to the president’s secretary, Omita Paul, the work to implement the report’s recommendations has already begun. Meanwhile, the CCMP has noted that while the status of Rashtrapati Bhavan as a Grade 1 heritage building defines the limits of intervention to conserve the building and the site, it also accommodates the highest office of the government, including the residence of the president. It took eight years, from 1921 to 1929, to build the 340 room red IANS sandstone mansion.

Brazil set for Frankfurt fair B

razilian literature and arts will this year come under the spotlight at the world’s biggest book fair, which annually attracts hundreds of thousands of visitors in the western German city of Frankfurt, organisers said. After New Zealand was last year’s guest of honour, Brazil takes centre stage at the 2013 Frankfurt book fair, with 70 of its authors as well as artists and others expected to showcase the country’s literary and cul-

tural traditions. “We want to show how culture feeds Brazilian life, especially when one sees what’s happening currently in Brazil,” fair director Juergen Boos told a news conference, referring to a two-week wave of street protests in Brazil. Brazil’s organising committee head Renato Lessa said there was a lot of expectation from the fair and that it was important for the country to trumpet its own language internationally.

The authors selected to take part and represent “an excellent and vivid assortment,” he said. “The current selection, although committed to giving a broad sense of the literary variety of the country, aims to show the link between Brazilian contemporary literary trends and the international ones,” he added. The book fair, which runs from October 9 to 13, will also stage Brazilian concerts AFP and exhibitions.

ENVIRONMENT SUNDAY, JUNE 30, 2013

Rare breed of killer whale

New bird found in Phnom Penh

A group of killer whales once thought to be genetic anomalies may in fact be a species all their own, according to a recent study in the journal Polar Biology. The rarely-seen "type D" orcas—which live in the Southern Ocean—are one of four varieties of killer whale. Researchers recently sequenced type D's genome using material collected from a museum skeleton from 1955.

A little thought is all it takes to make a change. Neehar Cherabuddi and Mansi Gandhi the makers of a film The Green Bandits do their bit for the environment. Kanchan Agarwal kanchan.a@postnoon.com

he Green Bandits is an independent environmental and political drama woven into the real events of the BP oil spill. This independent film produced by Mansi Gandhi and written/directed by Neehar Cherabuddi is about three crazy people who are outraged by what’s happening in the world, and decide to rob a bank. “The backdrop of the film is the BP oil spill. The bank in question funds an oil company which has an oil spill, bears no harsh consequences, provoking three green bandits to rob the bank,” explains Neehar. Born and brought up in Hyderabad, Neehar and Mansi were working at Oracle, San Francisco while making films. They have currently moved back. The idea for The Green Bandits occurred to him at his workplace. “A huge number of people used to wait for

There are 1.5 million people living in Cambodia’s capital city, Phnom Penh, so secluded hiding places for a loud-voiced bird are few and far between, you might think. Not so!Scientists have just discovered a species of bird with distinct plumage and a loud call living right in the city. They have named it the Cambodian tailorbird. Its scientific name, Orthotomus chaktomuk, reflects an old Khmer word meaning four faces.

Merkel ‘blocks’ EU plan German chancellor Angela Merkel personally thwarted plans this week to improve the fuel efficiency of European cars, in order to protect luxury marques including BMW, Audi and Daimler. Supporters of the policy, which had been agreed by officials from the 27 EU nations, say it would save motorists in the UK £400 a year in fuel costs.

Fiction for green the elevator rather than take the stairs even to the first floor, which would have been quicker. I thought of a short film where bank robbers use the stairs to escape while cops waited for the elevator.” The project was meant to be 20 minutes long in 2009 but evolved into a feature. The movie was finally ready only a few months back. Thanks to the vibrant indie films com-

munity that San Francisco has, pre-production was much easier. “We shot in a real bank, with real but blank guns and real cop cars,” says Mansi. As they were shooting during recession, there were four closed banks to choose from. “One of the crew members was a stunt director who was also head of security at a company and had these boxes full of guns,” she describes. The biggest crew that Neehar had handled before this indie was of five until he found 40 people on the set of The Green Bandits waiting for his instructions. Quite overwhelming! The two of them have learnt much while researching and making the film. On filmmaking, of course, and a considerable bit on environment, too. “We learnt more on how our daily activities affect the environment. For example, when computers or televisions are on standby, there is this small red light which alone makes five per cent of electricity consumed,” shares Neehar. Speaking on the subject of oil, they say how when oil is pumped out, it is N SHIVA KUMAR

A huge number of people used to wait for the elevator than taking the stairs even to the first floor, which would have been quicker. I thought of a short film where bank robbers use the stairs to escape while cops waited for the elevator. Neehar Cherabuddi, Writer

replaced with water which decreases density and changes the earth’s composition. “It is about money. It is a profitable and easier solution,” they comment. They insist on how our lifestyle’s impact on environment is evident in the weather. Deeply influenced and convinced that the way of life at the moment has to be sustainable, Mansi and Neehar are looking for such options in the city. “It is better to buy locally produced food. That cuts the energy wastage of shipping and supports local agriculture of every region. While they distribute this one, they have a startup shoutt.com and many scripts to choose from for their next project.

FOOD SUNDAY, JUNE 30, 2013

Ice cream similar to cocaine According to American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, ice cream is as addicting as cocaine. The clinical study reported that people build up a tolerance to ice cream in the same way they build up a tolerance to addictive drugs such as cocaine.The high fat and sugar content in ice cream causes chemical changes in the brain. Samosas: This evergreen Indian snack doesn’t disappoint on any occasion. Ingredients: For the cover: 1 cup maida, 2 tbsp of oil, salt and oil. For the filling: 2 boiled potatoes, crumble 1/4 cup of boiled peas, 1/4 tsp of grated ginger, 1 tsp of red chilli powder, 1/2 tsp of coriander powder, one pinch cumin powder, one pinch of kasuri methi, a dash of lemon, a pinch of garam masala, chopped coriander leaves and salt to taste. Method: Mix maida with salt, oil, ghee, combine to form a crumbly mixture. Now slowly add enough water to make a

pliable dough. Divide the dough and shape into balls. Keep aside covered with a moist cloth for 15-20 minutes. Heat a vessel, add oil, add cumin seeds and add the ginger, spice powders and a tbsp of water and saute. Add the crumbled potato and boiled peas and cook over medium flame for a few minutes. Add kasuri methi and lemon juice. Add the coriander leaves. For the outer layer of samosas. Roll into a slightly thin puri. Divide the rolled puri into two by cutting through the centre. Now take a semi-circle piece of the roti, and make a fold in the shape of a triangle. Seal along the fold. Place this cone between your thumb and index finger and put a ball of stuffing. Wet your finger and run it along the edges of the dough to enclose the stuffing. Press the ends firmly so that the filling does not come out during the frying.

Selling ice-cream is service

Ben & Jerry in trouble

The tax authorities in India feel that the ice-cream served by the likes of Amul, Vadilal, Kwality Walls, Baskin Robbins and a host of others retail vends or parlours constitute a service and should be taxed accordingly. The logic — it is served from air-conditioned facilities. The budget this year brought under tax the services provided in relation to food or beverages served by a restaurant.

Consumer watchdog group Center for Science in the Public Interest (CSPI) is calling out popular ice cream maker Ben & Jerry's for using artificial and chemically-altered ingredients in its "All Natural" premium ice creams. According to CSPI at least 90 percent of the flavours used in "All Natural" Ben & Jerry's ice cream are not actually natural.

MONSOON MUNCHING

The rainy season is here and, like always, it has brought along with it a whole lot of food cravings. Devouring hot, spicy and crunchy snacks along with the perfect masala chai or a warm cocktail by the window is something very few people don’t like. This monsoon, Postnoon gives you a few finger food options that you can prepare and relish, if you haven’t already. Masala chai: Your snacks would be incomplete unless accompanied by the perfect masala chai. Ingredients: 1.5 cup water, 1 cup whole milk, 5 cardamoms, 15 peppercorns, 1 stick of cinnamon, 5 cloves, 2.5 teaspoons black tea

powder (aka, loose leaf tea, like Lipton), sugar, spice grinder, strainer, measuring cup, and cooking pot. Method: Grind the spices. Add them to 2.5 tea-

NIDHI BHUSHAN

Bhajjis (potato, onion and green chilli): This fried snack is another must-have this monsoon. Ingredients: For the covering: 3/4 cup of besan, 1/2 tsp of red chilli powder, 1/4 tsp of asafoetida, a pinch of

turmeric powder, a pinch of baking soda, salt to taste and oil for deep frying. Method: Marinate thick green chilli, onion slices or potato slices in the mixture and deep fry. Enjoy with mint chutney.

spoons of tea powder, and 1.5 cups of water in the cooking pot. Boil. Once the mixture is boiling, add milk. Continue heating till it starts boiling. Pour the tea into serving cups through a strainer.

Vada pao: If you’re looking for something to snack on this season, nothing much comes close to this Mumbai street snack. It’s spicy, it’s easy to make and it’s filling. Ingredients: For the vada filling: 1 and a 1/2 cups of boiled and mashed potatoes, 2 green chillies, chopped 1 and a 1/2 tbsp of grated garlic, 1 tsp of mustard seeds (rai/ sarson), 1/4 tsp of asafoetida (hing), 6 to 8 curry leaves (kadi patta), 1/2 tsp of turmeric powder (haldi) and 1 tbsp of oil. For the outer covering: 3/4 cup of besan (Bengal gram flour), 1/4 tsp of turmeric

powder (haldi), a pinch of baking soda, 1 tsp of oil, salt to taste and oil for deep frying. Method For the vada filling: Pound the green chillies, ginger and garlic using a mortar and pestle. Heat the oil and add the mustard seeds. When they crackle, add the asafoetida and curry leaves and sauté. Add the pounded mixture and sauté again. Add the potatoes, turmeric powder and salt. Cool it and shape the mixture into eight rounds. For the outer covering: Combine all the ingredients in a bowl and make a batter using approximately 1/3 cup of water. Dip each round of the vada filling into the batter and allow it to coat the mixture well. Deep fry. Sandwich between bread or pav and eat with chutney.

nidhi.b@postnoon.com

Doctor’s recipe: For those who enjoy their drink warm, Doctor’s Recipe at `400 is a perfect cocktail this monsoon. So, a fine-dining restaurant in the City, gave us the recipe. Ingredients: 90 ml of warm water, 60 ml of any brandy, lime juice, 15-20 ml honey

(depending on one’s sweet requirement), 7-8 pieces of cloves and a cinnamon stick. Method: Add the brandy to the water. Mix honey and add a dash of lime juice. Crush the spices and mix with the drink. Serve warm in a wine glass.

FOOD SUNDAY, JUNE 30, 2013

Spirited evenings Nidhi Bhushan

ingredients include a dash of lime, a pinch of black salt, chaat masala and 80-90 ml of coke. Priced at `550, the masala rum is a must-have from the special menu. It’s refreshing, fizzy and finished perfectly — none of the flavours overpower the other. The next round was of a

KANCHAN AGARWAL

NOOR JAFRI

If you like your drinks fresh and fruity, Altitude is your go-to bar. Using flavours from local fruits and berries, the bar’s two-week long Locally Sourced festival is a delight for the palette and the eyes.

Kashmir Heights takes you on a true gastronomical journey to Northern India. A meal at the restaurant is sure to leave you happy and satiated. utton rogan josh, marchiwagan korma, gushtaba, tabakh maaz, kashmiri pulao...the menu at Kashmir Heights gets you excited instantly. For those who’ve eaten in the northern part of the country, Kashmir Heights passes the mutton rogan ghosh test. We opted for the Wazwan platter which accommodates the best at `450. As mutton is mostly consumed in Kashmir to fight the cold, the platter too

Noor Kitchen

EE CH R

From the northern ‘paradise’ kanchan.a@postnoon.com

A good substitute of commercially-prepared mango jam!

ot many go beyond usual suspects like Bloody Mary, Screwdriver or Pina Colada when it comes to fruity cocktails. However, with Altitude’s introduction of a range of alcohol infused with local flavours of jamun, coriander, orange and much more, it’s time to go beyond. From white rum to sparkling wine, bar in charge Alok Kar has successfully blended all kinds of spirits with a variety of locally sourced fruits and berries. “Fruits take only a day to blend in the alcohol, berries take about a week. I’ve used coriander, curry leaves, oranges, jamun, rose petals, etc to give a twist to the drinks,” he says. Our spirited journey began with a white-rum based cocktail called Masala Rum. Infused with coriander leaves, the lightly green rum sat prettily along with other similar concentrates — yellow, pink, burgundy and many more colours dressed up the special shelf at the bar. With 45 ml of the infused rum — standard measure of liquor in any cocktail, other

Altitude also has something for the whiskey lovers. Named Whiski Whiski, the cocktail is made with orange infused Bourbon. TO “Even though A GOOD TI Bourbon is a blended whiskey, it is made with a single grain. I chose this particular brand so that its flavour doesn’t interfere with the intended taste of the cocktail,” says Alok. Like with all other drinks, Alok was right about this one too. My favourite on the menu, Whiski Whiski, priced at `650, is a delight even for nonwhiskey drinkers. Apart from the orangish whiskey concentrate, the cocktail is made with fresh orange wedges, an orange peel and sugar syrup. While lightly rubbing the glass with an orange wedge, Alok says: “You’ll be left with an orange fragrance even after the drink is over.” pretty-in-pink Jamuntini, Another cocktail that priced at `650. Shaken well deserves a special mention is and double strained, the the Giggly Rosa Rosa, made jamun infused gin was worth with rose confit, sparkling the wait. wine and rose-infused vodka. Garnished with two The prettiest drink on the jamuns, the slightly sweetish menu, it’s a steal at `750. drink was a refreshing change The 13 special cocktails on from the usual, lip-balm like the menu are sure to leave you Cosmopolitans. in high spirits. Cheers!

Aamee Murabba

nidhi.b@postnoon.com

S BALAKRISHNA

What: Locally Sourced Where: Altitude, Hyderabad Marriott and Convention Centre

Place: Kashmir Heights Location: Opposite Hockey stadium, Begumpet Meal for two: `1,000-1,200 Tel: 9989291519 is dominated by the red meat. However, the spice factor has been modified to suit our palette. The starters included tabakh maaz — crunchy lamb ribs, seekh kebab, meethi maaz and a chunk of waza

chicken. The seekh kebab tastes fairly different from the ones you find at popular local kebab joints. The second course of the platter included four main course dishes. We were served gushtaba, rista,

rogan josh and marchiwagan korma. Rista is balls of tender chicken/mutton; it is cooked in spices from the valley. Although the quantity is just about two-four pieces in each dish, three of us had our stomachs and hearts full. You can also try traditional Kashmiri harisa (haleem) served only on Sundays. To conclude your scrumptious meal, ask for a cup of Kashmir-special kehwa. For me, Kashmir Heights is good news as I’ve been craving north Indian flavours for a while now.

Ingredients Quantity n Mangoes (big-sized, pulpy and ripe) large n Sugar 700 gms n Salt to taste n Preservative (optional) n Lemon juice (optional citric acid) 1/2 tsp Procedure n Peel and finely chop the mangoes till they are pulpy. n Take a thick-bottomed vessel and pour the pulp into it. n Cover and cook it on a slow fire, till they are soft and tender. n Add the sugar, and cook it till it becomes thick and has jam-like consistency. n Add a pinch of salt and lemon juice or citric acid. n Mix it well and remove it from the fire to bottle it. Chef's Note n It’s a delicious, simple and quick-to-prepare dish. It will be liked by everyone. n Mostly served for breakfast, you can spread it on toasts, chapatis and paranthas. Contact us @ Noor kitchen Mobile + 91 9441282318 Residence + 91 40 23356947 Like us @ https://www.facebook.com/Noorkitchen follow us @ https://twitter.com/NoorKitchen

HISTORY SUNDAY, JUNE 30, 2013

July 1

July 2

July 3

1997: At midnight Hong Kong reverts back to Chinese rule in a ceremony attended by British Prime Minister Tony Blair, Prince Charles of Wales, Chinese President Jiang Zemin, and US Secretary of State Madeleine Albright.

1992: Theoretical physicist Stephen Hawking breaks British publishing records on this day in 1992. His book A Brief History of Time has been on the non-fiction bestseller list for three and a half years, selling more than three million copies in 22 languages.

1962: Thomas Cruise Mapother IV is born in Syracuse, New York. After his breakout role in the 1983 film Risky Business, Cruise went on to become one of the biggest stars in Hollywood.

1940: Operation Catapult is launched British naval forces to destroy the French fleet at Mers-el-Kebir, a port in Algeria, in order to prevent Germany from co-opting the French ships to use in an invasion of Britain.

July 4

July 5

July 6

1997: After travelling 120 million miles in seven months, Nasa's Mars Pathfinder becomes the first US spacecraft to land on Mars in more than two decades.

1946: Louis Reard unveils a daring two-piece swimsuit at the Piscine Molitor, a popular swimming pool in Paris. Parisian showgirl Micheline Bernardini modelled the new fashion.

1957: Althea Gibson claims the women's singles tennis title at Wimbledon and becomes the first African American to win a championship at London's All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club.

1935: An infant named Tenzin Gyatso, future leader of Tibet and bestselling author, is born to a peasant family in Takster, Tibet. At age two, he will be declared the Dalai Lama. In 1999, he will have two bestsellers on the non-fiction lists.

July 7

1930: On this day in 1930, construction of the Hoover Dam begins. Over the next five years, a total of 21,000 men would work ceaselessly to produce what would be the largest dam of its time, as well as one of the largest manmade structures in the world.

SPOTLIGHT SUNDAY, JUNE 30, 2013 1

Happy birthday

Jayesh Mulani celebrated his birthday at Syn, Taj Deccan, on Friday. Friends and family members turned up looking their best at the pan-Asian restaurant. Hereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a sneak peek. S BALAKRISHNA

Bridal style

Designer label Kavitha and Dhanya released its latest bridal collection in Jubilee Hills yesterday. Dr Akkineni Nageshwar Rao, M Murali Mohan and Dinaz Vervatwala attended. 5

1 Raaga

3 Dhanya

2 Valli

4 Honey

5 Kalyan, Reshmi

6 Dr Akkineni Nageshwar Rao

7 Shravya 8 Amulya

9 Swamya 10 Jyothi

CINEMA SUNDAY, JUNE 30, 2013

Sekhar sets a record

ekhar Kammula is setting a new record, of sorts, in his career. His upcoming film Anamika, which is a remake of Vidya Balan starrer Kahaani, is going to be wrapped up by the end of July. So far, 36 days of shooting have been completed. The entire film’s shooting will be completed in the next three weeks. Nayanthara is playing the lead role in this film. In the past, most of Sekhar Kammula’s films were shot for almost a year.

‘I NEVER GOT WHAT I WANTED’ Former Miss India, Universe, Simran Kaur Mundi gets talking about her modelling days, stepping into films and her debut film in Telugu.

Hemanth Kumar hemanth.k@postnoon.com

ix years ago, Simran Kaur Mundi, who had been working as a guest relations executive at a leading multiplex in Mumbai, came across a life changing moment, which completely caught her offguard. One day, she met Bharat and Dorris, two of the top makeup artists in Bollywood, who encouraged her to take part in Femina Miss India contest — she had no idea how much her life was going to change. Putting things into perspective, Simran recalls, “I had no plans to act in films, but the day I was crowned Miss India, Universe in 2008, life changed completely. Suddenly, I became someone whom a lot of

people looked up to and everything I did back then became news. Winning that title gave me an individuality and it has certainly made me more responsible.” Much to our amusement, she reveals, “I was a tomboy in college and I had to go through a lot of grooming during the Miss India competition to change my personality. Everything I’m today is because of winning the crown.” After modelling for several years, she finally made her onscreen debut in Jo Hum Chahein, which released in 2011. So, what is it about film industry in India which attracts so many beauty pageant winners? It’s almost like a natural progression. She concurs saying, “It’s more like taking the next step

and films definitely give us a bigger platform. But honestly, I love the idea of modelling. I might be on stage for just 30 seconds, but it gives me an instant high. I feel like a princess when I’m walking the ramp.” So does it mean that she’ll not quit modelling even after taking up acting? “Absolutely. I enjoy doing it and it was my first love, much before movies happened. In fact, I never got what I wanted, but in return, I got something better,” she quips. Although her debut film tanked at the box office, she avers that the industry responded in a good way. This year, she has three films in the pipeline, including her debut films in Telugu and Punjabi. She’s playing one of the lead roles in Manchu Manoj’s

upcoming film Potugadu. Ask her how it feels to share screenspace with three other heroines in the same film, she says, “I have no insecurities. I concentrate on what I can do and more than anything, it’s my character and script which I’m interested in. In Potugadu, I’m playing a traditional Brahmin girl. I could never imagine looking like that. The transformation was quite amazing and for a moment, I couldn’t recognise myself. Manoj is a natural actor and I had a great time working with him.” What’s next? “I have a deep fascination for all things south. I would love to act in more Telugu films. I’m even reading How to Learn Telugu in 30 Days,” she laughs.

Last round of shoot

am Charan, Shruti Haasan and Amy Jackson starrer Yevadu is in its last leg of shooting. Currently, a song is being filmed on Ram Charan and Shruti Haasan at Annapurna Seven Acres Studios in Hyderabad. “The kutthu song in yevadu is sooooo much fun!!! Getting ready for the audio launch on the 1 st! See you there tweeps xoxo (sic),” Shruti Haasan posted on Twitter. Vamshi Paidipally is directing the film and it’ll release on July 26.

CINEMA SUNDAY, JUNE 30, 2013

Prakash Jha's Satyagraha to release on August 30 F

ilmmaker Prakash Jha's socio-drama Satyagraha starring biggies like Amitabh Bachchan, Ajay Devgn and Kareena Kapoor will hit the screens on August 30. UTV Motion Pictures and Jha announced the release date of the multistarrer with an impressive cast including Arjun Rampal, Manoj Bajpayee and Amrita Rao among others, a statement issued here said. "August is a very crowded month with three big movies releasing back-to-back. We have a two-weeks clear window now for Satyagraha and all three much-awaited movies in August will get their due breathing space," said Jha. PTI

ISSAQ

is a masala entertainer:

Manish Tiwary

V star Rohit Roy, the wild card entrant in Jhalak Dikhla Jaa, hopes to please Remo D'souza as he believes the choreographer is hard to impress. The sixth season of the talent hunt is being fter making Dil, Dosti judged by dancing diva Madhuri etc, director Manish Dixit, filmmaker Karan Johar and Tiwary is adapting D'souza. "Remo is a very old William Shakespeare's friend of mine, but I'm scared of him as Romeo and Juliet but the he is the toughest one to please on the director says his Banarasshow," Rohit told PTI. Rohit and D'Souza had based love story has all worked together in many films including the elements of a typiKaante, Just Married, Delhi Heights and Ek cal Bollywood Khiladi Ek Haseena. masala entertainRohit, 44, will be entering Jhalak Dikhla Jaa next er. week. Manish, The actor would be performing a free-style dance on his 40, said first day and is excited to be on the show. his "I love dancing. Usually, all my friends say I'm the life of every party, but that kind of dancing is different from the one we do on the show. In my first performance, I will perform free style, incorporating different styles of dancing," he said.

I am scared of Remo D'souza: Rohit Roy

PTI

adaptation will see the classic love story in a new avatar. "I wanted to make a typical Bollywood masala film after Dil, Dosti etc. When I decided to adapt the Shakespeare classic, I thought I will reinterpret it in my way because it was not possible to adapt the complete text in today's time. I just redefined the things and gave more details and background," Manish told PTI. Films like Ek Duuje Ke Liye, Ishaqzaade and more recently Raanjhnaa explored the story of tragic love but Manish is confident that his movie will stand out. PTI

CINEMA SUNDAY, JUNE 30, 2013

Vir Das to add ‘madness’

to IIFA

Sonakshi

A new look for Mumbai Film Festival T he 15th edition of the Mumbai Film Festival; the premier film festival of the country organised by the Mumbai Academy of Moving Image (MAMI), will sport a new look. Just as the ever evolving art and industry of cinema, Mumbai’s most eagerly awaited cultural event has grown in both size and power over the years. To represent this fact and the strong association with the most important centre of the Indian film industry, the festival has created a new visual identity. The icon is a contemporary and edgy interpretation of the city’s iconic monument, the Gateway of India and is a carefully crafted homage to Mumbai’s art deco era of talkies. The new identity is fluid

is a grown up girl

with a dazzling array of colours, each one representing a particular category at the festival while at the same time reflecting the diverse cultural mosaic of the financial capital of India. The logo by which the festival will be known is a rendition of the coveted Golden Gateway Award, the premier award recognising the best film at the festival, to give it a familiar albeit modern feel.

hotgun Junior’s (as she likes to call herself) progression in Bollywood has been a subject of interest to all, especially since she has to compete with the new crop of actors like Parineeti Chopra and oldies like Priyanka, Deepika and Anushkha. She’s been the favourite subject for the media. Recently there were reports in the press that Sonakshi’s mum Poonam Sinha used to drop in on the sets of Lootera and sometimes even supervise the shots. The reference was to the intimate scenes between Ranveer Singh and Sonakshi. And to prove that she has the same famous temper as her dad’s, Sonakshi made it clear to the press that she will not speak anything about her talent or her family. She clearly denied the involvement of Poonam Sinha and also said that she has complete faith in her directors and does not require anyone’s supervision. She clearly knows what she has signed up for. We get the message.

tand-up comedian and actor Vir Das is looking forward to “Punjabify” the forthcoming International Indian Film Academy (IIFA) weekend and awards in Macau, along with his Santa Banta co-star Boman Irani. Vir and Boman will host the Grey Goose IIFA Rocks, a music and fashion event, on day two of the Bollywood extravaganza, which starts on July 4. They will also host a media briefing on the first day of the event. Vir is excited about the whole affair. “I think that IIFA is a great and sophisticated institution. That needs to change. I’m looking forward to bringing some madness, misbehaviour and eventual apologies to this glorious institution. Sorry in advance, but IIFA is about the get Punjabified,” said Vir. IANS

CINEMA SUNDAY, JUNE 30, 2013

Selena Gomez, ‘just friends’ Austin Mahone

inger Selena Gomez and Austin Mahone have been linked romantically, but a source says they are merely good friends, who “have a lot of fun together". Selena, 20, has been linked to the 17-year-old singer following her split from Justin Bieber. But sources close to them insist the duo are simply close friends, reports contactmusic.com. “They’re really good friends and have a lot of fun together,” said a source. Gomez recently ended her on-andoff relationship with Bieber once and for all after he was spotted hanging out with Miley Cyrus, who is engaged to Liam IANS Hemsworth.

Ryan Gosling and Eva Mendes

Julianne Moore offered The Hunger Games... A ctress Julianne Moore has been reportedly approached to be part of The Hunger Games: Mockingjay, the final, two-part film in the Hunger Games franchise. The 52-year-old is offered to play manipulative President Alma Coin in the big screen adaptation of author Suzanne Collins’ novel Mockingjay, reports deadline.com. If Moore agrees to play the offered role, she will share screen space with Josh Hutcherson, Liam Hemsworth and Jennifer Lawrence among others. IANS

to soon be married?

yan Gosling is currently on a hiatus from acting, which means he’s been spotted around Hollywood a whole lot less. During that time to himself, reports have it that he’s grown much closer to his longtime girlfriend Eva Mendes. In fact, ShowBizSpy says the couple has grown so close that they’re already ready for marriage. Why the rush? Mendes, who turned 39 in March, allegedly wants to get a ring on it by the time she hits the big 4-0. “Eva told Ryan that she wants to be engaged by the time she’s 40,” a source says. “But Ryan was already planning a proposal. He’s been in secret talks with ring designer Neil Lane." Gosling, 32, and Mendes first started dating in September 2011. If this rumour is true, this would be a first marriage for both of them. However, we’re still a bit skeptical that Mendes is hoping for a proposal any time soon.

CHAI TIME SUNDAY, JUNE 30, 2013

SUNDAY CROSSWORD

ACROSS 1 Silents’ Theda — 5 Good brandy 11 Go downhill fast 17 ‘Iron Man’ Zatopek 21 Slugger Moises — 22 It multiplies by dividing 23 On time 24 Autobahn vehicle 25 Mongolia’s — Bator 26 Party in Britain 27 Nanny from abroad (2 wds) 28 Malamute’s load 29 Aramis’ friend 31 Reads intently 33 Early astronomer 35 Placid 36 Beam 37 Type of knife 38 Disney subsidiary 41 Kind of agent 42 Hospital staffer 43 Thai temple 44 Glacial ridge 48 Like a sheep 50 ‘48 Hrs’ lead 51 Goddess of dawn 52 Whole 53 Long-plumed heron 54 Henry VIII’s six 55 Weasel relatives 57 Nope 58 Island off Scotland coast 59 Tight-fisted 60 Carried to and fro 61 Inventory wd 62 Onetime telecom giant 63 Tumbledown cabin 64 Informer 65 City near the mouth of the Amazon 66 Tools 68 Yrs and yrs 69 Trouser part 70 Kitchen gadgets 71 Jazzy refrain 72 Delt neighbor 73 Infuriated 74 Dale’s partner 75 Lock horns 78 Scenery chewer 79 Fleshy mushroom 80 Forks over (2 wds) 84 All things 85 Bet 87 UFO passenger 88 Bracket type 89 Rockers — Straits 90 Political thaw 91 Bridge support 92 — -majeste 93 Hairpin curve 94 Schedule again 95 Palm off 96 Terra- — 97 Uncle’s kid 99 Jr naval officer 100 Thin-barked tree 101 Reduces to pulp 102 Toll 103 Billings hrs 104 Cosmic principle 105 German article 106 Sooner than

107 Low voices 109 Ms Zellweger 110 Wars against Carthage 112 Bureau 115 Halloween costume 116 Trifle 120 Klutz’s cry (hyph) 121 Meal 123 Ballpark event 125 Overcharge 126 Singer — — King 127 Cry and whine 128 Unruffled 129 Irish Rose’s guy 130 Get fresh 131 When mammals became dominant 132 Aerie hatchling 133 Split DOWN 1 Modem-speed unit 2 ‘It was — — mistake!’ 3 Bleachers sound 4 Em, Bee, and Polly 5 Big rodeo town 6 Muscat natives 7 Curdle, as milk (2 wds) 8 Gaudy sign 9 UAE capital — Dhabi 10 Vehicle shelters

11 Meager 12 Vinegar bottle 13 Beer ingredient 14 Ms Thurman 15 Tap 16 Chaff 17 Least involved 18 Reflect deeply 19 — fixe 20 Chic beach resort 30 With lance in hand 32 Seine tributary 34 Mortgages 36 Minty quaff 37 Loose stitches 38 ‘Anchors —!’ 39 Andean capital 40 Where walls meet 42 Kim of ‘Picnic’ 43 Anxious 45 Arouse, as interest 46 Whiteboard needs 47 Does a sewing chore 49 Actress — Thompson 50 Reunion attendee 51 Cap feature 52 Wind up 54 Pier 55 Encountered 56 Mouse alert 59 Cause a blister 60 Groupie

61 — Haggard of music 63 — chard 64 VCR button 65 Actress Ina — 67 Male honey bee 68 Paving materials 70 Cone bearers 72 Beauty contest 73 Avg size 74 Raise, as a sail 75 Up next (2 wds) 76 Venom 77 Chase 78 Bareheaded 79 Fair grade 80 Deep-piled fabric 81 Smolder 82 Long overcoat 83 Polite word 85 Craven or Unseld 86 Hwy 87 Chile-Peru border city 90 Bear’s refuge 91 ‘The Velvet Fog’ 92 — Alamos 94 Small brooks 95 Hydrant hookup 96 ‘Oh, shut up!’ (2 wds) 98 Hacks 100 Judge’s court seat 101 Muezzin’s post

103 Rita of ‘West Side Story’ 104 Stovetop whistler 105 Writer — O’Neill 108 Succinct 109 Ready to bake 110 Kind of truck 111 Romero or Chavez 112 Works on sound tracks

113 Ostrich kin 114 Practically forever 115 Ocean motion 116 Freighter hazard 117 Brain part 118 Anagram for nail 119 Made do 122 Snapshot 124 Legume PREVIOUS PUZZLE ANSWER

CHAI TIME SUNDAY, JUNE 30, 2013

STAR POWER Date 1-7-2013

As per Hindu panchang

THIRUVAIKUMAR

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

TAURUS

GEMINI

Employees are happy as management accepts demands. Those in export/ import can expect a windfall. Self-confidence levels increase. Real estate deals end with decent gains.

Favourable court verdict likely. Expected money will come. Success certain as you work hard. VIPs befriend you. Politicians move into the limelight. Employees get proper recognition.

You face all challenges with self-confidence. Politicians advised to stay away from internal politics. Some undertake pilgrimage. Speculation yields decent gains. Minor accident likely.

CANCER

LEO

VIRGO

Talks of marriage progress well. Children make you proud. Responsibility makes you complete all work. Govt sops likely for businessmen. A strong financial position lets you relax.

Those deprived of children receive good news. You receive appreciation for innovative approach. Swift actions keep a check on enemies. Maturity and good knowledge shows in your talk.

Your bold decisions are well received by all. Marriage talk resumes. You involve yourself in new efforts that lead to success. A property deal brings success. Good news awaits job seekers.

LIBRA

SCORPIO

SAGITTARIUS

Confusion gives way to clear-cut vision. Held-up work resumes and gets completed. Misunderstanding with a neighbour ends. In exchange of an old property, you purchase a new one.

You adopt the slow and steady policy to complete all work. Influence is set to improve. Money from expected sources comes. Your clever talk and creativity earns you appreciation.

Heat-related ailments likely; take good care through treatment. Avoid commitments to anyone for now. Avoid talking harshly. Though inflow of money is good, expenses too increase.

CAPRICORN

AQUARIUS

PISCES

Real estate transactions bring gains. Some have a bright chance to go abroad. You strictness gets work done. Blood relatives extend financial, physical help, and you take up challenging tasks.

Travel yields desired results. Expected money comes your way. You are generous as well as stubborn in decisions. Worrying about the future does not help, action does; do something.

Spouse’s health needs attention. Happy atmosphere prevails at home. You might be deprived of sleep due to certain unexpected tension; keep your cool and practice meditation.

SUMAA TEKUR

tarotreadhyd@gmail. com

ARIES

TAURUS

GEMINI

Seven of Wands – You’re in the mood to be impulsive today. You get the opportunity to fulfil some teenage fantasies. Go on, indulge, but within limits.

Page of Wands – You may have to stick your neck out and insist on something you really want. In an office environment, especially, you have to stick your ground.

Nine of Swords – Do not take sides in a fight. Stay as neutral as you possibly can, even if it upsets both parties. They will eventually see light.

CANCER

LEO

VIRGO

Ten of Pentacles – There may be some problem with salary. Sort this by going to the right channels and putting across your problem in the correct way.

Page of Pentacles – You’re missing the humour in life. Laugh a lot, be around people who remind you of the simpler joys of life. Everything will look up.

The Lovers – You may come across as formal in your demeanor. Loosen up a little and be more casual in your approach. This will make you more believable.

LIBRA

SCORPIO

SAGITTARIUS

Queen of Pentacles – Everything you do today will have some difficult consequences. Be prepared to face these, or just don’t do or say anything drastic today.

Eight of Cups – This is a good time to do some charity work. Pick a social issue that truly stirs you and make a plan to give back in a consistent manner, actively.

King of Swords – You have stopped working on a very important project. It’s time you picked up the pieces and started work on it in earnest.

CAPRICORN

AQUARIUS

PISCES

Ace of Swords – There are gaps in your life that need filling. Singles must actively try and look for companionship, however tempting it might be to stay in with a book.

Four of Cups – Take a breather. You may not be enjoying your current job. Something else will come up soon. Bide your time and wait for the tide to change.

Strength – You’re bothered about welfare of those around you. While this is a great quality that attracts people, it can also make you seem restless the whole time.

NON SEQUITUR PEARLS BEFORE SWINE POOCH CAFE

STRIP TEASE

AGNES

ARIES

TAROT READ Date 1-7-2013

The lighter side of life You know you're a high-tech worker if... Free food left over from meetings is your main staple. Weekends are those days your spouse makes you stay home. Being sick is defined as can't walk or you're in the hospital. You work 200 hours for the $100 bonus check and jubilantly say "Oh wow, thanks!" All real work gets started after 5pm or on weekends. Dilbert cartoons hang outside every cube. Plants in your cube are healthier than your plants at home.

Your boss' favourite lines are "when you get a few minutes," "in your spare time," "when you're freed up," and "I have an opportunity for you." Vacation is something you rollover to next year or a check you get every January. Your relatives and family describe your job as "works with computers" or "does something with telephones". Change is the norm. Nepotism is encouraged. You only have makeup for fluorescent lighting. You read this entire list and understood it.

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CINEMA SUNDAY, JUNE 30, 2013

Alec Baldwin apologises for using gay slurs

Sam Mendes still won’t confirm Bond 24

lec Baldwin had some cleaning up to do after spewing vitriol all over Twitter two days ago. The 30 Rock star, who deleted his entire Twitter account after going off on a Daily Mail writer who reported that Baldwin’s wife, Hilaria, was tweeting “upbeat posts” during James Gandolfini’s funeral, has issued an apology for making anti-gay remarks in his captured-inscreengrabs rant. In the tweets in question, Baldwin called reporter George

kyfall director Sam Mendes helped steer the James Bond franchise to an all-time high at the box office, and the series’ producers have made it clear they want him to call the shots on the planned Bond 24. For several months now, reports have gone back and forth about whether Mendes will return or not, and director still isn’t making it any easier on Bond fans who are on the edge of their seat. At the West End premiere of

I’m in discussion over the ‘B’ word and I won’t make any decision until this [Charlie] is open. Sam Mendes, Skyfall director

My anger was directed at Mr. Stark for blatantly lying and disseminating libelous information about my wife and her conduct at our friend’s funeral service. Alec Baldwin Stark a “toxic little queen,” repeatedly referred to him as a “little bitch” and threatened to “f—k [him] up.” A cooler head seemed to prevail Friday. “My ill-advised attack on George Stark of the Daily Mail had absolutely nothing to do with issues of anyone’s sexual orientation,” Baldwin said in a statement to GLAAD. “My anger was directed at Mr. Stark for blatantly lying and disseminating libelous information about my wife and her conduct at our friend’s funeral service. As someone who fights against homophobia, I apologize.”

Mark Wahlberg Actor, rapper, coke dealer, in American Desperado

he star has signed on to star in the new film from director Peter Berg (Friday Night Lights, Battleship), based on the book American Desperado: My Life — From Mafia Soldier To Cocaine Cowboy To Secret Government Asset by former criminal Jon Roberts and Evan Wright (Generation Kill). Roberts was an NYC-based gangster who smuggled guns, cocaine and cash for the Medellín Cartel in the ’80s, and was later linked to the CIA. He was the subject of the documentary Cocaine

Cowboys. Oscar-winning The Departed screenwriter William Monahan adapted the book. Paramount Pictures is hoping for a start early next year, according to Deadline. Wahlberg and Berg recently worked together on the upcoming war film Lone Survivor, which will hit theatres sometime in 2014. Wahlberg was recently seen in Michael bay’s Pain and Gain and will reunite with the director for Transformers 4.

his new musical Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, Mendes spoke to Hey U Guys, but seemed reluctant to discuss Bond 24. "In answer to the question you’re going to ask I don’t know yet," he said. “I’m in discussion over the ‘B’ word and I won’t make any decision until this [Charlie] is open. It’s taken a long time to get this open and this has been my focus.”

SPORTS SUNDAY, JUNE 30, 2013

Bylsma to coach US team

Monsoon Regatta from Tuesday

Hamilton takes pole

ittsburgh Penguins coach Dan Bylsma will guide the US men's ice hockey team at the 2014 Olympics in Sochi, USA Hockey announced on Saturday. Bylsma has been in charge of the NHL's Penguins for 4 1/2 seasons and built a solid resume. He took over behind the bench midway through the 2008-09 season and led the Penguins to the Stanley Cup title that season, then won the Jack Adams Award as the NHL's top coach for the 2010-11 campaign.

he fifth edition of the Monsoon Regatta is set to kick start from July 2 in Hyderabad. The Regatta which is organised by the Yacht Club of Hyderabad, will see around 150 sailors, from different parts of the country, participating. This year’s Regatta will also include the Topper Class Championship. The topper which is considered to be suitable for Indian conditions, will have 16 sailors participating in this category.

ewis Hamilton resisted pressure from his Mercedes team-mate Nico Rosberg and the speed of both Red Bulls to claim pole position on Saturday for Sunday's British Grand Prix. Hamilton gave his home fans good reason to cheer — as they gave him a standing ovation — with a fastest lap of one minute and 29.607 seconds, fourtenths of a second quicker than his German partner who wound up second on the grid as Mercedes locked out the front row.

Katie claims third title

INDIANAPOLIS: Olympic gold medallist Katie Ledecky claimed her third title Saturday at the US Swimming Championships with a dominant victory in the 1500m freestyle. On the final night of competition, the 16-year-old flirted with the world record through the first half of the women’s 1500m free before finishing with a world-leading time of 15min 47.15 sec. Throughout the race, it was Ledecky against the clock. Chloe Sutton was the runner-up in 16:07.75. “I just wanted to do my own thing and see how fast I could go,” Ledecky said of her approach to the event, which isn’t raced by women at the Olympics. “I blanked out pretty badly on that swim. “I don’t even remember what I was thinking about — just keep going, get into a rhythm in my breathing, sort of let the sounds of the water and the crowd take over from there.” The performance was the fourthfastest all-time, a meet record and a personal best for the high school student from Bethesda, Maryland, who

Katie Ledecky celebrates after winning the women’s 1500m freestyle finals on AFP/STREETER LECKA Saturday. won the 800m free at the London Games. Ledecky is now eligible for five events at the World Championships in Barcelona, July 18-August 4. She won the 800m free on Tuesday and finished first in Friday’s 400m freestyle. Her second-place finish on Wednesday to Missy Franklin in the 200m free earned her a spot in that

PERFECT POISE

National badminton coach Pullela Gopichand (L) and Saina Nehwal play against Parupalli Kashyap and P.V. Sindhu (unseen) in a friendly match at the Film Nagar Cultural Club (FNCC) in Jubilee Hills in Hyderabad on Saturday.

event, as well as 4x200m free relay berth. “I’m excited to represent the US in a number of events,” said Ledecky. “I’m really excited about being on a relay. “It’s something I’ve dreamed about.” However, Ledecky was undecided on which events she’ll swim at Barcelona. “I’m going to be talking to my coach (Bruce Gemmell) later tonight or tomorrow and we’ll make a decision,” she said. Joining Ledecky as triple winners as the national championships concluded on Saturday were Ryan Lochte and Connor Jaeger. Lochte, who bagged five Olympic medals last year — two gold, two silver and one bronze — won the 200m individual medley in 1:55.44 — the fastest clocking of 2013. Second in 1:57.74 was Conor Dwyer. Lochte had already won the 200m free and the 200m back. He’s eligible for seven events at worlds, including AFAP the 100m fly and three relays.

Cavendish leads chorus of anger Andy Scott

BASTIA: Mark Cavendish was among the most outspoken in his criticism as members of the Tour de France peloton turned their anger towards race organisers after Saturday’s opening stage was marred by a series of crashes. The 213-kilometre ride from Porto-Vecchio to Bastia, the first stage ever to be held on the Mediterranean island of Corsica, was won in a sprint finish by Germany’s Marcel Kittel of the Argos-Shimano team. But his victory became something of a footnote at the end of a chaotic final 20 kms as the peloton flew along the narrow roads leading in to Bastia. The confusion was caused when the bus of the Orica-GreenEdge team became stuck under the gantry at the finish line, forcing organisers to propose moving the line forward three kilometres before it was eventually moved into a safe position. As the peloton approached the finish, they began to up the pace in preparation for the new conclusion to the stage, only to be caught out by the AFP decision to revert to the original plan.

Park stretches lead

SOUTHAMPTON: World number one Park In-Bee was the only player to break par in the third round of the US Women’s Open on Saturday, stretching her lead to four strokes over compatriot I.K. Kim. Park, seeking a slice of LPGA history as she chases a third major title in as many major championships this season, birdied the 18th hole at Sebonack Golf Club to cap a one-under par 71 that gave her a 10-under total of 206. “I’m just going to try to do the same thing that I did for the last three days,” Park said of her chance on Sunday to become the first LPGA player to win the first three majors of a season in which there were more than three. “It will be a big day, but it’s just a round of golf, and I just try not to think about it so much.” Kim, who trailed Park by two going into the third round, posted a one-over 73 for 210. England’s Jodi Ewart Shadoff carded a two-over 74 and had sole possession of third place on three-

under 213. American Angela Stanford (74) and 2011 champion Ryu So-Yeon of South Korea (73) were at one-under 215 through 54 holes. “I think I played very good today, especially after the three bogeys,” Park said. “I came back very strong. I probably putted the best out of all the three days.” Park said the windy conditions and some testing pin positions made for a difficult day — typical of a US Open. “It was a very grinding day,” she said. The second round was completed earlier Saturday after being suspended due to fog on Friday. Park had just managed to complete her second round on Friday evening. She got off to a steady start in the third round, with pars at her first eight holes before her first birdie of the day at the ninth, where she hit a wedge to three feet and made the putt.

Inbee Park of South Korea gestures after holing a putt during the third round of the U.S. Women’s Open on Saturday. AFP

Park’s pursuit of a slice of LPGA history was looking a little shaky, however, when she bogeyed three straight holes starting at the 11th. But the South Korean superstar responded with birdies at 14 and 15, before finishing her round with a flourish. AFP

SPORTS SUNDAY, JUNE 30, 2013

New look Wimbledon last-16 Novak Djokovic returns against Jeremy Chardy in their third round men’s singles match of the Wimbledon Championships on Saturday. AFP/GLYN KIRK

Dave JAMES

LONDON: Novak Djokovic and Serena Williams cruised effortlessly into the Wimbledon fourth round Saturday as the first week’s shockwaves left just eight of the top 20 seeds still standing. World number one Djokovic, the 2011 champion, destroyed French 28th seed Jeremy Chardy, 6-3, 6-2, 6-2 in just 86 minutes. He fired 38 winners, eight aces and committed just three unforced errors. Meanwhile, women’s defending champion Serena Williams was equally ruthless taking just over an hour to carve out a 6-2, 60 win over Japanese 42-year-old Kimiko Date-Krumm. It was the 600th win of Williams’s career as the American continued her gentle cruise towards a sixth Wimbledon title and 17th Grand Slam crown.

She will face German 23rd seed Sabine Lisicki for a quarter-final place where victory will also give her a 35th successive win, taking her level with sister Venus’s record set in 2000. “Wow, 600 wins. I had no idea. What better place than under the roof at Centre Court to achieve it,” said the 31-yearold American. Only four of the top 10 men’s seeds and four of the top 10 in the women’s draw have made it to the second week after the Grand Slam heavyweights of Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal, Maria Sharapova and Victoria Azarenka had all exited by Wednesday. Laura Robson took full advantage by becoming the first British woman to make the last 16 for 15 years when she came from a set and 3-5 down to defeat New Zealand’s Marina Erakovic, 1-6, 7-5, 6-3.

Robson ends British wait

aura Robson (below) became the first British woman for 15 years to make the fourth round. Robson came from a set and 3-5 down to defeat New Zealand’s Marina Erakovic, 1-6, 7-5, 6-3 and goes on to face Kaia Kanepi of Estonia, a former quarter-finalist. Robson, currently ranked 38 in the world, will also move into the top 30 after the tournament, the first British woman to break that barrier since Jo Durie in April, 1987. “I was getting my butt kicked in the first set,” said Robson. “But I told myself just to keep working hard, she will get nervous and that’s what happened.” The men’s fourth round will feature five men making their maiden appearance at the fourth round stage. France’s Kenny De Schepper, the 26year-old world number 80, beat Argentine 22nd seed Juan Monaco, 6-4, 7-6 (10/8), 6-4 to book a last-16 spot at a major for the first time. Poland’s Lukasz Kubot, ranked 130, also made the fourth round in 2011, and is the second Pole to reach the last-16 after 24th seed Jerzy Janowicz also booked AFP his place on Friday.

The first week’s shockwaves left just eight of the top 20 seeds still standing. The 19-year-old goes on to face Kaia Kanepi of Estonia, a former quarter-finalist. Robson, currently ranked 38 in the world, will also move into the top 30 after the tournament, the first British woman to break that barrier since Jo Durie in April, 1987. The men’s fourth round will feature five men making their maiden appearance at the fourth round stage. France’s Kenny De Schepper, the 26-year-old world number 80, beat Argentine 22nd seed Juan Monaco, 6-4, 7-6 (10/8), 6-4 to book a last-16 spot at a major for the first time. Poland’s Lukasz Kubot, ranked 130, also made the fourth round in 2011, and is the second Pole to reach the last-16 after 24th seed Jerzy Janowicz also booked his place on Friday. Kubot beat 25th seed Benoit Paire 6-1, 6-3, 6-4 and next faces

French world number 111 Adrian Mannarino who has made the last-16 at a major for the first time in 14 attempts. Left-hander De Schepper will face experienced Fernando Verdasco after the Spanish former top 10 player, now at 54 in the world, cruised past temperamental Latvian Ernests Gulbis, 6-2, 6-4, 6-4. Russian 20th seed Mikhail Youzhny, a quarter-finalist in 2012, defeated Serbia’s Viktor Troicki 6-3, 6-4, 7-5 and goes on to face British second seed Andy Murray. Spanish fourth seed David Ferrer, a quarter-finalist last year, managed to escape the caranage. But he needed five sets to beat Ukraine’s Alexandr Dolgopolov 6-7 (6/8), 7-6 (7/2), 2-6, 6-1, 6-2. Ferrer will face Croatia’s Ivan Dodig, the world 49, for a place in the quarter-finals. AFP

Djokovic peaking at right time LONDON: Novak Djokovic believes he is peaking at just the right time as he prepares to step up his bid for a second Wimbledon title. Djokovic took the express route into the fourth round on Saturday as the world number one thrashed Jeremy Chardy 6-3, 6-2, 6-2. The Serb, who faces German 13th seed Tommy Haas for a place in the quarter-finals, played a flawless first two sets without a single unforced error, and eventually hit 38 winners and served eight aces in one hour and 26 minutes of total dominance on Centre Court. While several of Djokovic’s title rivals, including Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer, have fallen foul of the shock defeats and injury withdrawals that have rocked Wimbledon, the 26year-old has progressed serenely into the last 16 without dropping a set. “My results are getting better and better, so this is very encouraging going into the second week,” Djokovic said. “Now every match I’m going to play, every opponent I’m going to face is going to be more difAFP ficult.”

Li vows to ‘fight like crazy’ LONDON: China’s tennis star Li Na (in pic) vowed to “fight like crazy” at Wimbledon to keep alive her bid to win a second Grand Slam crown. The 2011 French Open champion is one of only five seeds left in her half of the draw — though those remaining include the only two ranked above her: title holder Serena Williams and last year’s beaten finalist Agnieszka Radwanska. However, the Chinese sixth seed in in buoyant mood and insists she will never roll over in the face of a challenge. The dearth of seeds is “good for me”, the 31-year-old said. “At least I am still in on Monday,” she said, when she faces Italian 11th seed Roberta Vinci for a place in the quarter-finals. “Now we have a lot of young players coming up. Of course, we can see so many young faces, as well. “This is tennis.

You can imagine always to have some players on the draw. That’s why this is an amazing sport because you never know who can be in the next round.” Li is in combative mood going

into week two of the tournament. She went out in the second round on her previous two Wimbledon outings, though her best performances were in 2006 and 2010 when she reached the quarter-finals. AFP

Deaf player laments not hearing crowd roar LONDON: Rafael Nadal draws inspiration from Lee Duck-Hee, a 15year-old tennis junior who is completely deaf but does not see it as a hindrance on court — except that he will never hear anyone cheering him on. The South Korean, making his debut at Wimbledon in the boys’ events, was born deaf and however far his career takes

him, his achievements will always be played out in silence. Painstakingly conversing through lip-reading with his father, some writing in Korean, and then into English through his agent, Lee said he relies on instinct to compensate for being unable to hear his opponent striking the ball. On court, he cannot hear the

line calls nor the umpire, how loudly the ball comes off the racquet or the grunt of his opponents when they hit the ball, but does not view it as a handicap. “When I play tennis, my hearing doesn’t give me any difficulty. No problems at all,” he told AFP. “If I was to hear, I want to hear the fans cheering,” he added.

SPORTS SUNDAY, JUNE 30, 2013

India wary of West Indies KINGSTON: Exactly one week after clinching the Champions Trophy in a dramatic, rainaffected finale in Birmingham, undisputed world one-day champions India take on a confident West Indies team on Sunday at Sabina Park in the second match of the Tri-Nation Series. Fresh from a convincing tournament-opening victory over Sri Lanka at the same venue on Friday, home captain Dwayne Bravo is nevertheless mindful that Mahendra Singh Dhoni's side are an altogether different proposition given their considerable strengths in all departments of the game. India trounced the West Indies by eight wickets at the group stage of the Champions Trophy, yet Dhoni has been publicly advising caution over the expectation of continuous success, given the different context

Indian cricketers Rohit Sharma (L) and Virat Kohli (C) practice along with their teammates during a training session at the Sabina Park stadium in Kingston on Saturday. AFP/JEWEL SAMAD

and different conditions presented by each succeeding competition. "What is very important for us is not to look too far ahead," he said on the eve of this series. "The demands (of the fans) remain the same. The expectation when it comes to the Indian cricket team has always been the same." In conditions quite similar to what they are accustomed to at home, the Indians are not expected to tinker too much with a combination that proved so successful in England. They will obviously be conscious of the ever-present threat of rain at this time of the year in the Caribbean in determining their final eleven, although the inclement weather thankfully stayed away for the West Indies' six-wicket whipping of Sri Lanka, a result that also brought

them a potentially crucial bonus point. Bravo effectively set the stage for this impending showdown immediately after the win on Friday in urging Jamaican fans to turn up in huge numbers for a clash that offers the prospect of a number of appetising possibilities, not least the continuation of the match-winning form shown by hometown hero Chris Gayle. His 109 turned a potentially tricky target against the Sri Lankans into a canter. Yet the West Indies are acutely aware that in the likes of Virat Kohli and rising star Shikhar Dhawan, the Indians have the sort of firepower to respond in kind, suggesting that the often overlooked bowlers on both sides may be the ones making the critical inputs in this eagerly anticipated duel.

England to stage first Wonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t take Aussies Test Championship lightly: Flower LONDON: England coach

LONDON: England and Wales will stage the inaugural World Test Championship in June and July of 2017, the ICC announced on Saturday following the conclusion of its annual conference in London. India will host the T20 World Cup in 2016 and World Test Championship (second edition) in 2021, both for the first time, and the 50-over World Cup in 2023 for the fourth time. The World Test Championship will replace the Champions Trophy, recently won by India this month. "We are delighted to confirm the exciting schedule of events through to 2023," ICC chief executive David Richardson said in the statement. "The ICC Champions Trophy in England and Wales was highly acclaimed and appreciated by all. "However, the principle of one pinnacle global event for each of the three formats (Test,

One-Day and Twenty20) over a four-year cycle is a good one and, as such, the ICC board has agreed to replace the Champions Trophy with the ICC World Test Championship," the former South Africa wicketkeeper added. "Now that the ICC World Test Championship has been confirmed, we'll work on the playing conditions and qualification criteria, and will submit these to the ICC board for approval in

due course." The ICC had planned to stage the first Test Championship in England this year but existing commercial agreements meant it had to stage a one-day international tournament instead, hence the last edition of the Champions Trophy. Saturday's announcement regarding the World Test Championship was part of a package of global events due to take place between 2015-2023. However, the ICC raised doubts about Bangladesh's suitability to stage next year's World Twenty20. "The IDI (ICC Development International) board reviewed an inspection report by the ICC venue consultant on the venues for the ICC World Twenty20 Bangladesh 2014 and expressed its concern regarding the progress of construction and improvements to playing facilities in Cox's Bazar and Sylhet.

Andy Flower has insisted his side won't take Australia lightly when they face the "different challenge" of starting the Ashes as firm favourites. England have won the last two Ashes series, with their most recent success a 3-1 series win in Australia in 2010/11. Now, on home soil, against an Australia who on Monday sacked coach Mickey Arthur and have been beset by problems on and off the field, with David Warner suspended until the first Test following his Birmingham bar attack on England's Joe Root. Without Ricky Ponting and Mike Hussey, Australia are struggling to re-assert themselves following a 4-0 series loss in India. But Flower believes that England aren't as good as some have suggest-

ed while Australia are certainly not as bad as those who've labelled Michael Clarke's men the worst Aussie outfit to come to England in 30 years have suggested. "The 2009 Ashes were probably won against expectation and winning away was again I'd say won against expectation because Australia had such an amazing record at home before we beat them there," Flower told Saturday's Daily Mail. "Now we're expected to win and that does bring a different challenge," he added. "Yes, we go into this series as favourites but anyone who knows about the game would also admit that we aren't as good as some people are saying and the Australians are not as poor as some people AFP are saying.â&#x20AC;?

PTI

Srinivasan attends ICC meeting via video-link

ICC to strengthen anti-corruption approach

No discussion on DRS, 5-run penalty for ball change

NEW DELHI: BCCI president N Srinivasan on Satur-

LONDON: The International Cricket Council on Saturday agreed to strengthen the sport's approach towards fighting corruption in the wake of the recent spotfixing scandals in domestic Twenty20 events like the Indian Premier League and Bangladesh Premier League. In the ICC Annual Conference 2013 which concluded here today, the chairman of the world body's Anti-Corruption and Security Unit (ACSU), Ronnie Flanagan, presented his annual report in a joint session that was attended by the ICC Board and the ICC Chief Executives' Committee (CEC). The report included a number of recommendations for dealing with anti-corruption matters, a statement from the ICC said. PTI

LONDON: The BCCI again had its way as there was

day put an end to all speculations by making his presence felt at the ICC annual conference in London by attending one of the sub-committee meetings via video-link. "Yes, Srinivasan attended the Finance and Commercial Affairs Meeting of the ICC via video-conference. He took active part in that meeting as it is one of the most important as well as powerful sub-committee of the ICC. Srinivasan attended the meeting by virtue of being a member on individual capacity," a BCCI official said. Thus both interim in-charge Jagmohan Dalmiya and Srinivasan attended the meet albeit in different capacities. PTI

no specific discussions during ICC Cricket Committee Meeting on uniform implementation of DRS but recent ball change controversy during Champions Trophy prompted the parent body to take some strong measures. "There was no specific discussions on the DRS issue," an ICC official told PTI on Saturday. However the recent incident where umpire Aleem Dar hanged the ball during an ICC Champions Trophy match between England and Sri Lanka when the home team was bowling might have prompted the Cricket Committee to recommend some strong measures including five-run penalty to batting team.

SPORTS SUNDAY, JUNE 30, 2013

Spain good but hosts can win: Scolari

Brazil’s coach Scolari says that Spain is a good team but they have faults too.

Chris Wright

RIO DE JANEIRO: Brazil and Spain will play out the climax of the Confederations Cup in what promises to be a spectacular final at Rio’s Maracana stadium, the hosts insisting they can deny the world champions. “Spain are spectacular — but like any team they have their faults,” Brazil coach Luiz Felipe Scolari insisted on Saturday. “I don’t consider Spain the favourites.” Organisers and participants will be hoping the occasion is not marred by the social unrest that has dogged the tournament. Demonstrations that were originally over rising transport fares snowballed into a more general protest against what activists say is government maladministration and poor public services. In that context, say proteste-

rs, the massive sums spent on staging sports events are indefensible. More than 1.5 million citizens of the host nation have taken to the streets to protest so far and campaigners have called for fresh demonstrations on Sunday. Back on the field, the finalists have only met on eight occasions before: Brazil winning four to Spain’s two with two matches drawn. Their most recent encounter was a 1999 friendly. But if history favours the South Americans, Spain have not lost a competitive match in 29 games, since their shock reverse to Switzerland at the start of the 2010 World Cup. Since winning the Euro 2008 tournament, breaking a trophyless streak dating back to 1964, they have swept all before them. Their 2008 success came under Luis Aragones, but his

Brazil’s goalkeepers Jefferson (L) and Diego Cavalieri stand under a system of artificial lights during a training session at the Maracana stadium in Rio de Janeiro, on Saturday. AFP/PABLO PORCIUNCULA

Brazil have sufficient armoury: Dani Alves RIO DE JANEIRO: Brazil’s Dani Alves said his compatriots have sufficient weapons in their armoury to deny Spain glory in Sunday’s Confederations Cup final. Drawing on his experience as a Barcelona player Alves said the fact that the Catalan club had failed to land Champions League glory was an indication that teams have managed to find a remedy to the pass and move, possession-keeping style which Spain and Barca favour. “All teams have their weak points and so do they,” Alves told reporters as he looked forward to the showdown. AFP

successor Vicente del Bosque has refined their approach to near perfection. Spain’s 2010 World Cup triumph and their Euro 2012 win made them the first national side to win three successive major international events. In the years when Brazil was accumulating a total of five World Cups from 1958, Spain, their Euro 64 triumph aside, were suffering a catalogue of misfortune. The last time the two sides met in a match with anything at stake was in the early stages of the 1986 Word Cup. Brazil won by a single goal in a match in which Spain had one effort controversially disallowed. Scolari sees a positive omen in the date of Sunday’s match: June 30 is the date his old Brazil side won the 2002 World Cup Del Bosque however is quietly confident, even if his players have clocked up 22,000 km since

World champs look threatening RIO DE JANEIRO: Spain coach Vicente Del Bosque on Saturday suggested that Brazilian fans see the world champions as a threat in the final of the Confederations Cup — and said he expected “la Furia Roja” to storm the Maracana stadium on Sunday. Spain go into the game unbeaten in 29 competitive games stretching back to the 2010 World Cup. But they are up against a footballing nation that has been five-times world champions. The showdown between the Spain and Brazil will either give Del Bosque’s men an unprecedented fourth straight tournament win or see Brazil carry off the Cup for the third time in a row. And he even suggested Brazil were seen as the underdogs for the final. “It is normal for the fans to side with the weaker (team),” said Del Bosque mischievously. “They see us as a threat.”

Spain’s coach Vicente del Bosque (C) heads the ball during a training session in Rio de Janeiro, on Saturday. AFP/PABLO PORCIUNCULA Spain have had a day less to prepare as they look to win the competition for the first time. They had to go to extra-time and penalties to wrestle Italy out of their way in the semifinals. On top of that, they have travelled some 22,000 km and

spent 30 hours in a plane since leaving home: first to play friendlies against Haiti and Ireland in the United States; then at different stadiums in Brazil on their road to the final. But Del Bosque is not looking for excuses as his superstars take on a Brazil side

boasting 74 wins in 104 matches played to date at the Maracana. “We are not complaining about having a day’s less rest,” he insisted. “I believe my players are prepared for the final as they are in great shape. “I think we are having a great Cup after a long season,” said the former Real Madrid handler. Spain have won praise from Brazil for providing their own version of the “jogo bonito” or beautiful game over the past five years. Their midfield star Xavi insisted Spain would not change up their style when they go up against the original model on Sunday. “Spain’s (playing) philosophy is clear and we have been successful with it,” the Barcelona star declared. “In other words, to enjoy possession and dominate the match. “Brazil is the most successful team in the history of football so it will be a special evening with both sides on AFP form.

leaving Spain and have had a day less to prepare after their shootout semi-final win over Italy. “We are not complaining about having a day’s less rest. I believe my players are prepared for the final as they are in great shape,” he said Midfield pearl Xavi insists Spain will play their possession game. “Spain’s (playing) philosophy is clear and we have been successful with it. In other words, to enjoy possession and dominate the match,” the Barcelona star declared. Del Bosque would not be drawn on his line-up as Gerard Pique, Sergio Ramos and Cesc Fabregas battle minor injuries. The Spanish manager is already the only coach to win the World Cup, the European Championship and the Champions League. Adding the Confederations Cup would be a major AFP additional achievement.

Marchisio joins Italian absentee list SALVADOR: Italy’s attacking midfielder Claudio Marchisio will miss Sunday’s third place playoff match with Uruguay at the Confederations Cup in Salvador with a bruised leg, team sources said Saturday. The Juventus player joins an absentee list which has now grown to fivei Fellow midfielder Andrea Pirlo and defender Andrea Barzagli are also out, joining striker Mario Balotelli and defender Ignazio Abate, who had had already left the squad through injury after their group loss to Brazil. The loss of Balotelli and Abate left the Italians having to reshuffle the pack for a semi-final against world champions Spain which they lost on penalties. Three other players are meanwhile nursing knocks — defender Giorgio Chiellini, midfielder Daniele De Rossi and striker AFP Alberto Gilardino.