Postnoon E-Paper for 02 February 2013

CLIMBING THE LADDER

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colleague once told him, “You should try out at one of the reality shows like Indian Idol. You will become popular and get noticed quickly.” An advice singer Javed Ali’s was given when he was only a few songs old in the Hindi film industry.

Cut to today, Javed is performing alongside some notable performers and is the toast of the town.

TAKEN BY STORM

W

e caught up with one of the world's biggest b-boying artists Storm, who recently performed in India.

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enélope Cruz and Javier Bardem's little tyke Leo is getting a sibling! Two years after welcoming their son, the gorgeous A-list couple are now expecting their second child, a source confirms exclusively to E! News.

Reportedly, the 38-year-old actress is "around three months" pregnant, a source said.

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FEBRUARY 2, 2013 HYDERABAD

100 per cent placement! The ultimate goal!

Your foundation for the future! All this and much more appear in advertisements of B-schools posing as the last word in business management. But what is the reality?

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PAGE TWO SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 2, 2013

CULTURAL FEST

Urban Ballet A French dance show blending classical and hip hop Where: Shilpa Kala Vedika When: February 6, 7pm onwards Contact: (040) 2355 4486

Hyderabad 360 Live virtual and visual music by Puce Muse.

Where: Qutb Shahi Tombs When: February 17, 7pm onwards Contact: (040) 2355 4486

French Film Festival Six French films will be screened with English subtitles.

Where: Prasads IMAX When: February 19-21 Contact: hyderabad.afindia.org

End of Season Sale Splash has announced its end of season sale of up to 60 per cent off.

Where: Oasis Centre, Lifestyle, Inorbit Mall When: Ongoing Contact: splashfashions.com

The Last Nizam Oxford Bookstore Hyderabad and Australia - India Council present the launch of the titles,‘The Last Nizam: An Indian Prince in the Australian Outback’ and ‘The Mysterious Mr Jacob: Diamond Merchant, Magician and Spy’ by John Zubrzycki Where: Oxford Bookstore, The Park 22 Rajbhavan Road When: February 3, 6pm onwards

Urban Stampede Chitrangda Singh, PUMA and Runners for Life came together to announce the opening of registrations for PUMA Urban Stampede 2013. The run is aimed at encouraging amateurs and seasoned runners alike to take part in a sport that is enjoyable and beneficial.

Teams comprised of four members each compete for the title of the fastest corporate running team.

Deadline to register in February 17.

Where: CBIT, Gandipet When: March 3 Contact: urban-stampede.com

Yudh Sai Shree Arts presents Yudh, a Bharathanatyam solo by Savitha Sastry on war.

Where: Ravindra Bharathi When: February 19, 7pm to 8:15pm Contact: (040) 2323 1245

Confluence Perfect Harmony Productions and

CINEMAS

Students of Sri Chaitanya Techno school perform at the annual day celebrations.

Cisne for Arts bring together Zakir Hussain, Bela Fleck & Edgar M for a trio concert.

Where: Shilpa Kala Vedika, Hitec City When: February 8, 6:30pm onwards Contact: (040) 2311 2707

For 'HER'

Gujarati and Rajasthani food fest, which includes dishes like Ram Khichdi, Dhokla, Angoori Basundi, and Barfi Choorma.

Where: Kailash Parbat, Road No. 36, Jubilee Hills When: Up to February 3 Contact: (040) 2355 8857

A tribute to Victim X, raising the conscience to respect womanhood through art. Exhibition of installations and mixed media art by a variety of artists. The preview is on February 4 at 6:30pm.

Where: Ravindra Bharathi, Saifabad When: February 4-14, 11:30am to 7pm Contact: www.iconart.in

Cafe Classics Month

Dakshin Ruchulu

The River Moving Within

GreenPark brings all the South Indian cuisines under one roof. It includes dishes from Kerala, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka and Tamil Nadu.

Where: Once Upon A Time, Hotel GreenPark, Greenlands, Begumpet When: February 1-10 7:30pm to 11pm Contact: (040) 6651 5151

Kailash Parbat food fest Kailash Parbat, a vegetarian multicuisine restaurant, is organising a

Truffles cafe pays tribute to some selective cafes and restaurants in India and the world. The cafe will be serving some of their special dishes.

Where: Truffles cafe Plot no. 376, Road no. 10, Jubilee Hills When: Up to February 10 Contact: (040) 2355 0105 The River Moving Within is an exhibition of art work by Koeli Mukherjee Ghose. It is inspired by the works of Rumi and 'Narda Bhakti Sutra' and reflects a love for life.

Where: Truffles Cafe, Jubilee Hills When: Up to February 8

Buy Art It is an anniversary art show of affordable art by 30 artists. All artworks are priced between `1,000 to `10,000.

Where: Iconart Gallery,

M ANIL KUMAR

Banjara Hills When: January 18-February 18 11:30am-7pm Contact: www.iconart.in

The Landmark sale Landmark announces its sale of Up to 70 per cent off. Bestselling books starting at `49, 3 for 2 on the top 500 new releases are just some of the offers.

Where: Landmark When: January 25-February 25

Numaish Numaish is the 73rd All India Industrial Exhibition is an ongoing event in the City.

Where: Exhibition Ground, Mukarramjahi Road, Nampally When: Up to February 15, 4pm to 11pm Contact: (040) 2460 3015

Titan sale Titan is offering its customers up to 40 per cent off on a wide range of its watches at all Titan outlets.

Where: Titan outlets When: Ongoing

Shoppers Stop sale Sale up to 51 per cent off on international and Indian brands across categories at Shoppers Stop, HomeStop and Mothercare outlets Where: Shoppers Stop outlets When: Ongoing

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

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CITY SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 2, 2013

‘Extend Aadhar deadline’

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inister Sridhar Babu wrote to union petroleum minister Veerappa Moily seeking an extension of the deadline imposed over the Aadhar card cash transfer scheme. This request was followed by an announcement by oil companies that domestic LPG gas cylinders will be available without market subsidy at `1,030 from February 15.

Woman raped, murdered

Man murdered, body burnt

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man was murdered on Friday night and his body was burnt.

The charred remains, found in a pit, are yet to be identified. Police say he must be around 35 to 40 years old.

Shamshabad police have registered a case of murder. The murderers are yet to be identified. The body has been sent for identification and postmortem.

Man held for bike theft A man who stole bikes from parking areas in the City confessed to his crime after arrest.

Mohd SUBHAN

mohd.s@postnoon.com

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ive stolen bikes worth lakhs of rupees were recovered by the Bahadurpura police from a motor mechanic-turned-thief.

Mohsin bin Sayeed, alias Hassan Sayed, 26, is a resident of Najam Nagar Kishan Bagh in Old City.

It is said that Sayed, who runs a mechanic shop at

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n unidentified woman, aged around 20, was found dead on the railway tracks at Yakuthpura railway station with partial burns. The police found blood stains on her body and suspected rape. Her body has been shifted to Osmania hospital for autopsy and identification.

A case of rape and murder has been registered.

Tappachabutra was an alcoholic, gambler, and also a regular customer at brothels.

He could not sustain a living with his current job and decided to steal bikes.

He stole five bikes from different parts of the City like Bahadurpura, Bhawani Nagar and Nampally from parking areas using duplicate keys.

He then sold these bikes at a very low price and without proper documentation. He was arrested by the police.

The assistant commissioner of police said that Sayed confessed to his crime after he was arrested.

He was then produced in court and sent to prison.

Friends kill man over prostitute Postnoon News

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he Secunderabad police have arrested one of two men accused of killing their friend over a sex worker.

Mallesh, the second accused, is on the run.

The victim, Syed Pasha, 35, a resident of Jayanagar Colony in Malkajgiri, worked as a labourer at the Dayanand Nagar railway station.

The accused, B Balanna and Mallesh, also worked on the same platform and knew Pasha well.

Railway SP Dr M Kantha Rao said that on Wednesday night, Pasha went to the home of a sex

worker. Meanwhile, Balanna and Mallesh also reached her house.

All three were inebriated and soon a quarrel erupted. Pasha insisted he was there first and thus the other two must wait their turns.

This enraged Balanna and Mallesh, who attacked Pasha with a lathi, knife and finally a boulder.

Pasha died on the spot. The duo then dumped his body on the railway tracks and fled.

Balanna was tracked down by the railway police and nabbed a day later. He has been produced in court and sent to prison. Rao said that the hunt is still on for the second accused, Mallesh.

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CITY SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 2, 2013

T-ministers to start protests

While T-ministers decide to start agitations from within the party, legal experts call this unconstitutional.

Md INKESHAF AHMED

ahmed.m@postnoon.com

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he State cabinet ministers from Telangana region, who have decided to launch a fight to mount pressure on the Central government to create the separate state by keeping themselves within the party, will formally begin their agitation after the conclusion of cooperative and MLC elections.

A decision to this effect has already been taken during the recent meeting of these ministers after the centre’s backtracking on solving the T-issue.

Interestingly, perhaps for the first time in the history of the Congress party in Telangana region, these ministers are likely to don the role of protesters and hold public agitations like hunger strike, road blockages and dharnas, along with

Congress activists.

“Yes, we have unanimously decided to mount pressure for the creation of separate state on the party high command, continuing in the party. We are planning to organise various protest programmes, including sitting hunger strikes in personal capacities,” a young Telangana

minister of CM Kiran Kumar Reddy’s cabinet told Postnoon on Friday.

The idea of these ministers is to counter the bitter criticism of rival political parties like TRS, TDP, BJP and T-JAC, headed by Prof Kodandaram. “Our rival parties are trying to mislead the Telangana people by lev-

eling baseless and false allegations against us. Through our direct involvement in holding agitations, we will prove that we are also equally committed for the T-state. This would help us in telling the Telangana people that we are also agitating along with them for a separate T-state and also bolster the confidence of party cadres,” the minister added.

However, legal experts said that the minister’s decision is unconstitutional. “Agitations by State cabinet ministers while continuing in office are unconstitutional. These ministers have taken oath of office in the name of the constitutional emblem that they will uphold the constitution come what may. It is the duty of these cabinet ministers to protect the people of the entire State. If any minister wants to hold an agitation he or she should first quit, not only from the cabinet minister’s post, but from their MLA post also,” High Court advocate Gopalakrishna Kalanidhi told Postnoon on Friday.

LAWYERS SAY THESE MINISTERS SHOULD GIVE UP THEIR CABINET POSTS AND RESIGN AS MLAS BEFORE TAKING PART IN THE TELANGANA AGITATIONS. He further said that Representation of People’s Act 1961 also prevents public representatives like MLAs and ministers from undertaking any agitation while continuing in their posts. If any MLA resorts to such acts, the Act empowers the respective assembly speaker to suo moto take action, he said.

“The agitation by cabinet ministers, apart from being unconstitutional, will set a precedent, which is bad for a democratic country like ours. If any minister wants to agitate for achieving his goal, he should first quit from his post before undertaking his act,” a TDP senior leader said.

N SHIVA KUMAR

GHMC pact affects sanitation workers Employee unions demand that the GHMC rolls back its agreement with Ramky Enviro Engineers.

Md Nizamuddin

nizamuddin.a@postnoon.com

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ollowing the GHMC’s agreement with Ramky Enviro Engineers to start door-to-door garbage collection in the City and other waste management projects, the GHMC employee unions have launched an agitation directing their ire at the mayor.

They demanded that the agreement be rolled back, as it would affect the livelihoods of lakhs of sanitation workers in the City.

TDP and BJP’s floor leaders

Singireddy Srinivas Reddy’s and Bangari Prakash’s attempts at consoling the agitating unions failed to have an effect, as the unions threatened to stop garbage collection and disposal works if their demands were not heard.

Additional commissioner for sanitation, L Vandan Kumar, was reportedly fuming over the inconvenience the strike would cause to the public and expressed his frustration while speaking to the media.

The employee unions made it clear that the entire workforce of the sanitation department would

be involved in the strike.

However, there are some speculations that this could be the handiwork of Mayor Majid Hussain himself, who has allegedly triggered this event in order to sideline and stop the GHMC council meeting today.

As part of the solid waste management project taken up by the GHMC, Ramky Enviro Engineers, the private partner in the project, was asked to prepare an action plan within two weeks for door-to-door collection of garbage in the City.

Other reports also suggest that trial runs in the east and

RAMKY ENVIRO ENGINEERS, THE PRIVATE PARTNER OF THE GHMC’S SOLID WASTE MANAGEMENT PROJECT, WAS ASKED TO PREPARE AN ACTION PLAN FOR DOOR-TODOOR COLLECTION OF GARBAGE WITHIN TWO WEEKS.

west zones, slated to begin a while ago, got delayed due to various reasons.

Except the MIM, all other floor leaders expressed support and tried to pacify the agitating unions.

During the course of the agitation, the police tried to stop the employee unions from blocking the entry and exit points of the GHMC office.

A few scenes of manhandling and rough behaviour by the police were witnessed.

The mayor had reportedly attended the Council hall but no decision has been taken as yet.

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CITY SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 2, 2013

B-schools fast losing shine in India?

100 per cent placement! The ultimate goal! Your foundation for the future! All this and much more appear in media advertisements of B-schools posing as the last word onbusiness management but what is the reality? Read on....

Postnoon News

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t’s a wake-up call for unscrupulous management institutes, incompetent faculty and lacklustre students!

Barring graduates from IIMs, the B-schools are losing the shine that attracts corporate India Inc. for campus recruitment and are increasingly facing their survivals, only 10 per cent of the graduates are actually employable despite the robust demand for MBAs, says an Assocham survey.

Its paper on “B-schools and Engineering colleges shut downBig Business Struggles" reveals that since 2009, the recruitments at the campus have gone down by 40 per cent in 2012. As a result the B-schools and engineering colleges are not able to attract students. More than 180 Bschools have already closed down in 2012 in the major cities Delhi-NCR, Mumbai, Bangalore, Ahmedabad, Kolkata, Lucknow, Dehradun etc. Another 160 are struggling for survival.

DS Rawat, secretary general of the Chamber said that there was no quality control, the placements are not commensurate with fees being charged, the faculty is often below par and infrastructure poor.

“The biggest reason for the gap is the rapid mushrooming of tier-2 and tier-3 management education institutes that have unfortunately not been matched by commensurate uplift in the quality of management education. Most students prefer to choose cheaper AICTE approved programmes rather than Bschools,” said Rawat. “The need to update and re-train faculty in emerging global business perspectives is practically absent in many B-schools, often making the course content redundant,” he says.

About 160 schools offering Master of Business Administration (MBA) courses are expected to close this year.

Only 10 per cent graduates from Indian business schools excluding those from the top 20 schools get a job straight after completing their course, compared with 54 per cent in 2008.

MBA SCHOOL MYTH IN INDIA

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Jobs and promise of high pay packages became distant dream Course

Percentage of employable

Duration of the course (Year)

Amount spent on the course

CurrentMonthly salary

MBA

10 to12

2 years

`3 lakh to `5 lakh

`10,000 to `15,000

MCA

8 to 12

3.5 years

`3 lakh to `6 lakh

`15,000 to `25,000

Some students expressed that the business schools promote their brands only on placement and by boasting about high salaries. They offer theoretical courses which lacks practical skills required by the corporate sector today, mentioned the paper.

In the last five years, the number of B-schools in India

Many private schools are just business models launched by management gurus looking to make a fast buck.

has tripled to about 4,500 amounting to as many as 3,60,000 MBA seats, collectively. The demand has begun to deflate now, as economy growth rate hit its slowest in the last nine years and the quality of education provided by B-schools came under the radar.

The paper also stressed that nowadays students are not con-

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cerned about the quality of education in an institute, they only want to know the placement and salary statistics and discounts offered on the fee structure and this has spoiled the entire education system, adds secretary general.

Similarly, the Master of Computer Application (MCA) course, nearly 95 colleges

Many media-savvy MBA schools take page after page of ad space in leading newspapers to declare their achievements.

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stopped offering the programme this year and only 25 have started MCA courses.

MBA seats in India grew almost four-fold from 95,000 in 2006-07 to 3,60,000 in 2011-12— resulting in a five-year compounded annual growth rate of 30 per cent. Unfortunately, job opportunities for MBAs have not grown in the same proportion.

The MBA capacity in the country was built based on the projection of a 9 to 10 per cent economic growth rate.

Assocham has advised to improve the infrastructure, train their faculty, work on industry linkages, spend money on research and knowledge creation, as well as pay their faculty well in order to attract good teachers.

(Compiled by PK Surendran)

Don’t take an MBA as a mandatory requirement for success in your career: If you really want to take an MBA course, evaluate your current position, your long-term goals, and your finances.

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NATION SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 2, 2013

2 dead, 16 injured in mishap

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wo people were killed and 16, including 15 NLC football players, injured when two buses collided near here today, police said. The driver and assistant driver of the public sector Neyveli Lignite Corporation bus died in the mishap, Salem superintendent of Police Aswin Kotnis said. The NLC players were going to Ooty to play a football match today.

Fake note printing unit busted

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Gangrape accused to be charged The counsels for accused and prosecution have concluded their arguments on charges against five of the six accused in the gang-rape. Police have charged the accused under 13 sections of the IPC. Death for rapists in extreme cases

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he Delhi gang rape case had its first major impact on Friday as the cabinet approved the death penalty for rapists who cause grievous physical or mental damage to their victims — such as leaving them in a permanent vegetative state — among a host of changes to laws on crimes against women.

Showing unprecedented urgency by choosing not to wait for Parliament's budget session that is 20 days away, the government approved an ordinance that includes key recommendations of the Justice JS Verma panel, and went beyond it to bring in the death sentence — the demand of millions of protesters in the wake of the brutal crime.

NEW DELHI: A fasttrack court here is likely to frame charges Saturday against the five men who brutally assaulted, murdered and gang-raped a young woman in Delhi December 16, who died 13 days later in Singapore.

The counsels for accused and prosecution have concluded their arguments on charges against five of the six accused in the gang-rape.

The Juvenile Justice

Board (JJB) declared the sixth accused a minor last month, and his case will be heard by the board.

The five accused are: bus driver Ram Singh, his brother Mukesh, fruit seller Pawan Gupta, gym instructor Vinay Sharma and bus cleaner Akshay Thakur. All of them are now in Delhi's Tihar Central Jail.

The hearing in the case had started January 21 at the fast-track court

which was set up to try the case that had led to a nation-wide outrage against crimes against women.

The accused were formally charged in the Saket court 18 days after they gang-raped and tortured the 23-year-old physiotherapy intern in a moving bus, causing multiple-organ failure that led to her death.

They also assaulted her 28-year-old male friend. Both were thrown out of the bus after around 40 minutes, naked, bleeding and shivering. The friend is the main witness in the case.

The chargesheet, runs into thousands of pages and includes the victim's statement, details of the accused, evidence and forensic reports. Police have charged the accused under 13 sections of the IPC. All the accused were arrested between December 17-21 following a nationwide outcry over IANS the crime.

Cardinal in Vatican

Indian scientist honoured

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Pope

WASHINGTON: US President Barack Obama, presented the prestigious National Medal of Technology and Innovation to eminent Indian American Rangaswamy Srinivasan for his groundbreaking work with laser. Rangaswamy received the award along with Samuel Blum and James Wynne, for the pioneering discovery of excimer laser ablative photodecomposition of human and animal tissue, laying the foundation for PRK and LASIK laser refractive surgical techniques, that have revolutionised vision enhancement.

Benedict XVI has nominated Cardinal Mar Besalios Cleemis from India in two important panels, including the Pontifical Council for Inter-religious Dialogue, of the Vatican. Cardinal Cleemis, head of Kerala-based Syro Malankara Catholic Church, was also made a member of the Council for Eastern Congregations which oversees the affairs of those hierarchies in the Catholic-fold that follows eastern traditions including Syro Malankara and Syro Malabar churches.

Doc’s statement recorded

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olice have busted a counterfeit currency notes-printing unit in Odisha's Bargarh district and arrested three people for circulating the notes in nearby areas, an official said Saturday. Acting on a tip-off, the police team Friday raided the unit at Barpali town, about 400 km from here. A computer, a colour printer and other material used to produce the fake notes were seized, district superintendent of police Anoop Krishna told IANS.

he statement of Dr Dinesh Kumar was today recorded at a special CBI court here today in the Aarushi-Hemraj murder case. Dr Kumar of Maulana Azad Medical College told the court about the syllabus of BDS course. The CBI today produced him as a witness. CBI special judge S Lal fixed February 4 as the next date of hearing in the case.

BJP to boycott Shinde NEW DELHI: The BJP Friday decided it will boycott public programmes of Home Minister Sushilkumar Shinde and not respond to any communication from him as leader of house in Lok Sabha over his "Hindu terrorism" and "saffron terrorism" remarks at the Congress conclave in Jaipur last month.

The decision was taken at the party's core group meeting. BJP leader Ananth Kumar said after the meeting that the core group observed that Shinde's remarks have hurt Hindu sentiments.

He said the party leaders also condemned his comments linking BJP and

Rashriya Swayamsevak Sangh training camps to terrorism.

"The party has decided that its members and workers will boycott all public programmes in which Shinde is taking part. He will be shown black flags," Ananth Kumar said.

He said BJP will also

not respond to any communication or request for meetings from Shinde to the party's senior leaders.

Rajnath Singh said BJP will raise Shinde's controversial remarks in parliament, but said his party does not intend to disrupt proceedings when Shinde IANS rises to speak.

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WORLD SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 2, 2013

Manga legeng honoured

Bush-era First dog dies

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ormer first dog Barney, George W. Bush’s black Scottish terrier has died at the age of 12 after losing a battle to lymphoma, the ex-president said Friday. A fixture throughout the presidential grounds during Bush’s term, Barney had starred in “Barney Cam” holiday specials in which he gave a dog’s eye view of even the most cold-faced White House staff.

US top secret cop retires

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he head of the Secret Service — the police agency that protects US President Barack Obama — is retiring, a spokesman said Friday, less than a year after the elite squad was hit by a sex scandal. Mark Sullivan is “retiring as of the 22nd of February,” Secret Service spokesman Brian Leary told AFP, noting he had overseen 23 national security events.

apanese Manga legend Leiji Matsumoto celebrated 60 years in the business at France’s international cartoon festival, and confessed that the experience left him feeling like a time traveller “with the strange sensation of finding myself in one of my stories”. The author of numerous cult works such as “Captain Albator” and “Galaxy Express 999” was on Friday feted at the festival in southwestern Angouleme.

UN expresses shock over alleged atrocities in Mali

UNITED NATIONS: The United Nations expressed alarm Friday over reported mob lynchings and other reprisal killings of Tuaregs and Arabs as the Malian army retakes control of the north of the country.

Adama Dieng, a special adviser to UN leader Ban Kimoon on the prevention of genocide, said there have been “serious allegations” of summary executions by the Malian army, which could amount to “atrocity crimes.”

French forces intervened in Mali three weeks ago to halt an Islamist advance on the capital and, with the Malian army, have taken back large chunks of territory from the militant groups.

The Islamists have already been accused of brutal killings and dismemberments as they imposed a harsh sharia law during their nine months in control.

The International Committee of the Red Cross has sought access to prisoners taken by the Malian army and the Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International groups have demanded an inquiry into reports of reprisal killings.

“While the liberation of towns once under the control of the rebel and extremist groups has brought hope to the populations of northern Mali, I am deeply concerned at the risk of reprisal attacks against ethnic Tuareg and Arab civilians,” Dieng said in a statement.

“There have been serious allegations of human rights vio-

Hollande goes to Mali President Francois Hollande was set to visit Mali Saturday as French-led troops worked to secure the last Islamist stronghold in the north after a lightning offensive against the extremists. Hollande will travel to Timbuktu and hold a working lunch with Mali’s interim president Dioncounda Traore.

US praises the French

A Malian child stands in front of the black board of his school on February 1, 2013 in Timbuktu, indicating the last day of class on March 22, 2012, as the school re-open today after 10 months of islamists ruling in Northern Mali. Frenchled troops worked today to secure the last Islamist stronghold in the north after a lightning offensive against the extremists.

AFP/FRED DUFOUR lations committed by the Malian army, including summary executions and disappearances, in Sevare, Mopti, Niono and other towns close to the areas where fighting has occurred,” he added. “There have also been reports of incidents of mob lynching and looting of properties belonging to Arab and Tuareg communities. These communities are reportedly being accused of supporting

armed groups, based simply on their ethnic affiliation.”

The special envoy said the Malian army has a “responsibility to protect all populations, irrespective of their race or ethnicity.”

“I am deeply disturbed by reports of violations committed by the army, and by reports that the armed forces have been recruiting and arming proxy militia groups to instigate

attacks against particular ethnic and national groups in northern Mali.” The envoy added that targeting “ethnic or religious groups in an armed conflict and if such abuses are carried out in a widespread and systematic way, could constitute atrocity crimes.”

The International Criminal Court has said it will open an investigation into events in Mali.

AFP

French forces have rolled back Islamist militants in Mali “much faster” than the United States expected but now face the daunting task of building long-term security in the region, US Defense Secretary Leon Panetta said.

“They have made tremendous progress, I give them a lot of credit,” Panetta said.

‘No role for Nato’ NATO chief Anders Fogh Rasmussen said Friday he saw no role for the Western defence alliance in Mali, but hailed allies who moved to assist the French-led operation. "NATO as such is not engaged in the Mali operation and I don't see a role for NATO as such in Mali," Rasmussen said.

1 shot dead during palace protests

Twitter hammered by Syria: US hits out sophisticated cyber hit at Iran, Russia

CAIRO: An Egyptian was shot dead as security forces battled petrol-bomb throwing protesters at the presidential palace in Cairo on Friday and President Mohamed Morsi vowed “decisive” police action, a senior medic said. The 23-year-old died of a gunshot wound, said Ahmed al-Ansari, the deputy head of Egypt’s medic authority, as police fired birdshot on the protesters who targeted the palace amid rallies in several cities against the Islamist leader. Police said they arrested 20 protesters, and were filmed on live television beating and dragging a naked man to an armoured vehicle, outraging Morsi’s critics who compared the incident with police practices under deposed leader Hosni Mubarak.

SAN FRANCISCO: Twitter said Friday it was hammered by a “sophisticated” cyber attack similar to those that recently hit major Western news outlets, and that the passwords of about 250,000 users were stolen. “This attack was not the work of amateurs, and we do not believe it was an isolated incident,” Twitter information security director Bob Lord said in a blogpost. Lord referred to an “uptick in large-scale security attacks aimed at US technology and media companies” as he told of Twitter detecting attempts this week to get unauthorized access to data in the firm’s network. Also, The New York Times and The Wall Street Journal said this week that they had been hacked, and pointed to hackers from China.

DAMASCUS: US officials said Iran is stepping up its support for the Syrian regime and that Russia is still arming it while Israel has fired missiles into the country, heightening fears that the conflict may spill over Syria’s borders. The assessments came as US Vice President Joe Biden prepared to discuss the crisis at meetings with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, Syrian opposition chief Moaz al-Khatib and UN-Arab League envoy Lakhdar Brahimi.

Fresh concerns about the 22-month conflict drawing in the wider region arose after Damascus threatened to retaliate over a reported Israeli air raid and key ally Iran warned the attack would have “grave consequences.”

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COMMENT SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 2, 2013

Highly unfair

Beyond expression

T

T

he ban on Vishwaroopam is highly unfair. People should take cinema in the right spirit and should not go overboard over flimsy suspicions that it affects communal harmony. If there’s nothing in the movie that offends Muslims in India, why must this nonsense go on?

Varun Sinha via email

here is nothing more atrocious than attacks on the creative freedom of an artist. Kamal Haasan has not purposely cooked up slander against any community, buy only reflected what he sees about and what we have been seeing as true. This sort of touchiness is beyond expression.

Sandhya K Gachibowli

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

Pusillanimous party

T

The Congress is playing with fire if it did not realise it yet by delaying a decision on Telangana. You cannot procrastinate over an issue like this for ever. It only proves that the Congress is yet that pusillanimous party that it always was. And they promise to take us forward?

Nathan Kumar via email

EDITORIALS

BITTER-SWEET T for ministers The pro-Telangana leaders are in a fix, but we are not sure they know it yet. Bloodied by attacks of rival parties over the separate statehood issue, these ministers have announced that they will take up various protest programmes to show that they too are for a separate state.

However, they are to go forward with their plans their actions would be in violation of the constitution, for when they took oath, they vowed they would uphold the constitution come what may; now the spoiler: the constitution stipulates that public representatives like MLAs and Ministers are not to take up agitations or protest while continuing in their posts. As mentioned in out report on Page 4, if any minister wants to hold agitation he or she should first not only quit from his cabinet minister’s post but also from their MLA post. Howzzat! Now either these T-lovers either will have to quit their posts before going on protests or they stand to violate provisions of the constitution which they had sworn to uphold.

This is the real test: would they quit their seats of power to go on protest and prove to all their T credentials or would they shoot down their protest plans.

Perhaps the only option left is to put pressure on their party high command and the high and mighty in the Centre not to delay making a decision.

THE WORLD’S NEVER safe enough Hillary Clinton who has stepped down from the position of secretary of state claims she leaves office with the world a safer place. Really? What about Syria, Egypt, Turkey, Iran, N Korea, Libya and the alleged hub of global terrorism Pakistan, the US bum-chum,where Laden was holed up?

A mela of seekers Soul Curry SUMAA TEKUR

C

an a dip in a river wash away all your sins? It can, if you believe it can.

Millions, who gather at the Maha Kumbh Mela in Allahabad for the greatest spiritual spectacle on earth, believe it can. These scores of believers fight all odds to visit the Kumbh Mela to bathe in the Ganges.

Faith does not discriminate between the rich and poor. If there were believers who travelled in overloaded trains and buses, there were saints who chartered private helicopters to the Kumbh Mela.

There were sadhus who couldn’t afford a meal a day and there were sadhus who brought along a troop of assistants to make the experience comfortable. Some believers put up in makeshift tents and survived

the cold with blankets donated at the mela. They warmed themselves around campfires set up randomly across the mela venue. Some others got cosy in their private quarters with hot food, a clean place to shower and retire for the night.

Rich or poor, the believers all eventually take a dip in the same waters.

Age is no barrier to faith either. Though media images perpetuate the old-sadhu-inochre-robes-with-flowing-whitebeard stereotype, there are many believers young in biological age (but perhaps older in soul age) who undertake the rituals that they may not necessarily have been taught by anyone.

They go by the intuitive feel of the ritual and somehow know deep within that it will benefit them in some unseen ways.

Faith doesn’t have a ruralurban divide either.

Though curious tourists are known to have visited from urban areas, many were not any less of believers. Faith has little to go with being educated or uneducated.

FAITH DOES NOT DISCRIMINATE BETWEEN THE RICH AND POOR. IF THERE WERE BELIEVERS WHO TRAVELLED IN OVERLOADED TRAINS AND BUSES, THERE WERE SAINTS WHO CHARTERED PRIVATE HELICOPTERS. Faith can move locals and foreigners alike. It is that unflinching belief in something sublime. The tourist camp is said to have hosted over 1,000 foreigners at the Kumbh Mela this year, from Europe and South America. Many of them were first-time visitors to India while others were repeat visitors who came back for the cultural experience that only a country like India can provide.

They were thrown out of their comfort zone to such an extent that it became spiritual because they had no choice but to deal

with the change. The Kumbh Mela has no dearth of experiences for the novelty seekers.

Devara Baba, a saint who is believed to be over 200 years old was a tourist draw at the mela.

Devara Baba is said to be a celibate yogi who has lost count of how many years he has lived.

He says that he bathes only in the Ganges and drinks only water from the Ganga. And this is his secret to long life. He is a strict vegetarian and believes in soaking the sunlight during the day. Many walked the long walk to his ashram to get his blessings or to just be photographed alongside this old baba.

All visitors to the mela, whether tourists or devout believers, travelled with the same intention of getting something out of visit. Some wanted great photographs and stories to enrich their cultural experience. Some others wanted salvation, which they believe can be theirs with a dip in the holy river. The desire to rid oneself of bad karma is universal. If there was a sure way to do it, who wouldn’t want to?

9

COMMENT SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 2, 2013

I for imaginary tolerance Quirky-side-Up ARPITA BHAWAL

I

n the past five days, the average Indian like me may not have managed to read the newspaper in the morning but may have still got a clear sense of what really matters today for millions of us in India, thanks to Twitter: Integrity of spirit, thought and action.

Technology is a wonderful thing when it brings people together in support of another person and his dream. I have to admit that somewhere between the horrific rape incident of December, and the slow start to January with the worst rapist being declared juvenile, like many patriotic Indians, I was losing hope.

But this sudden brouhaha over Kamal Hassan’s epic creative venture Vishwaroopam which cost him `100 crores wakens the sleeping giant in me again.

It should, if you ask me, because like you, even I am rapidly losing that sense of pride in “the idea of India” (NDTV). But then, that is exactly the problem! We are now living in the “idea”, our lives far removed from ground reality.

Scapegoats like us are suspended in a dream world where only

Urban sketches VISWAPRASAD RAJU

what politicians and their pet groups will allow or approve come into existence.

So India is no longer a country or a democracy; it is reduced to being an “idea” as it was before Gandhi, or Independence.

Is it any wonder that this “idea of India” now changes each day? It is changing its stance on diversity and secularity; it is changing its views on women and religion; it is even changing its stance on the border situation!

But do you know what the aam aadmi wants? Right now, the aam aadmi wants to welcome the genius writer Salman Rushdie to India for the premier

of Midnight’s Children and watch Kamal Hassan’s magnum opus without censorship-ondemand.

I am sorry if that is not deep enough for you but movies really do it for me (because it takes us to a place where we are not targeted, judged, raped or stalked).

And oh, if the aam aadmi has more time or energy, he probably wants an extra hour of sleep in the weekend!

So how do ‘normal’ people like you and I function in an “idea” and not India? Bad enough we have no social security like our fellow brothers in America, nor do we stand a chance to benefits in millions

via some scam or another — and yes, we still have to work and pay taxes. Do we pretend that our alternate-religion-race-color neighbor is invisible just because he is eating a different curry or using another set of swear words in his mother tongue unlike mine? Or to make things even more interesting, do we now request for a new word to replace ‘democracy’ because this India in which we are living is really imaginary?

Maybe if we ban all religions, robotise our people, and homogenise creativity and productivity, we’d get Gandhi’s India back. Obviously, that is a joke! India really is all of a melting pot of cultures, cuisines, terrains and languages. Can you imagine what would happen to our colorful tourism brochures if otherwise? Since I vote for Gandhi’s secular and clever India, I am pleased to support all the actor-Khans in the movie business more than the Kapoors.

Besides, they far hotter!

Anyway, so here comes Vishwaroopam giving us all a wake-up call to stop “cultural terrorism”. Whether it is a case of Salman Rushdie (another favorite of mine!) or Kamal Hassan, the objection I am told is on the creation of art that questions or quotes the Koran.

But really, aren’t there millions of people in this world who make fun of the Bhagvat Gita in which a blue-colored God gets busy giving sermons to a war-

WE ARE NOW LIVING IN THE “IDEA”, OUR LIVES FAR REMOVED FROM GROUND REALITY. SCAPEGOATS LIKE US ARE SUSPENDED IN A DREAM WORLD WHERE ONLY WHAT POLITICIANS AND THEIR PET GROUPS WILL ALLOW OR APPROVE COME INTO EXISTENCE. rior in the midst of a raging battle?

Let us face the truth.

Everyone has a problem with everyone on this planet at some time or another. Nobody loves all their neighbors. Holy books are guidance, not an absolute.

Tolerance is paper thin — besides bans and effigies, we are ready to see rapists burn. And — despite all of this, we have to remember that none of us are perfect. Yet in our imperfection, we don’t base our reactions towards any art or person or religion on the basis of our own.

Keep it that way.

However, if you are one of those who think that culture is the right of a handful and this stupid idea called India was a mistake to begin with, how about going to Greenland or Alaska? There the only culture you have to deal with is survival.

Global edits

Heritage

The Independent (UK)

Chilling echoes of history in Greece

R

ecent months have seen a marked calming of the crisis that, as recently as last summer, threatened to pitch Greece out of the eurozone and its remaining members – if not the entire world – into chaos.

While austerity is still biting hard across much of southern Europe, confidence is nonetheless rising and there is some stability, at last, in the financial markets. It is of no mean significance that Greek bond yields this week fell below 10 per cent for the first time since October 2010.

The eurozone’s problems are far from over, however. Indeed, the danger now is that the breathing space bought by the European Central Bank’s unlimited bond-buying scheme, unveiled in September, will be used by policymakers to duck both the unpopular structural reforms and the moves towards closer fiscal union needed to put an end to the crisis.

Nor has the spectre of political breakdown receded. Far from it. In a chilling echo of history, extremist political parties across the Continent are

feeding on the instability and hardship caused by the euro crisis. And nowhere is the phenomenon starker than in Greece.

There can be no doubt of the Golden Dawn party’s toxicity. Its symbol is uncannily close to the swastika; its members use the Nazi salute, and there are reports of black-shirted vigilantes attacking immigrants and those from ethnic minorities. Worse still, as Greece grinds through its fourth year of recession, Golden Dawn is going from strength to strength.

And, as we report today, the party is drawing ever larger numbers to its poisonous agenda, using social networking technology specifically to target young people.

Alarmingly, the strategy is working.

Three years ago, Golden Dawn was a political non-entity. In last summer’s general election, it won nearly 7 per cent of the vote and secured 18 seats.

Now, some polls rank it in third place.

For all the apparent calm, then, the eurozone still faces colossal risks. A slide back to business as usual by the political classes will not only drag the bloc back to the brink of market meltdown, but it will also be grist to the mill of the far right. The stakes could hardly be higher.

10

BUSINESS SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 2, 2013 N SHIVA KUMAR

CBOI sees 59% jump

New BB scalped online

T

hough yet to be launched in North America, BlackBerry's new smartphones were already for sale online Friday, stirring bidding frenzies. Sellers claimed they obtained the sleek new handsets at launch events in New York, Toronto, Dubai, London and Johannesburg. Journalists who attended the events were given a BlackBerry Z10, which retails for $599.

US stocks flirt new records

C

U

entral Bank of India reported a 59 per cent jump in net profit at `179.94 crore, for the third quarter ended December 2012. The public-sector bank's net profit stood at `113.24 crore in the year-ago period.

Net interest income rose by 19.6 per cent to `1,409.7 crore from `1,179 crore during the same period in the previous year.

S markets pushed close to new records, a stunning rebound after the steep crash of 2008 wiped trillions of dollars of wealth from Americans accounts. The thrust past 14,000 by the Dow Jones Industrial Average Friday, the first time that level has been seen since October 2007, underscored the spectacular recovery US stocks have made.

HACKING TO PROTECT

Hacking is an important tool for data security, if used correctly. Two young businessmen in the City use ethical hacking to expose the vulnerabilities of a website and offer solutions for security.

SRINIVAS SETTY

es), but takes place from a human side, without the person’s knowledge. To protect the data environment one should know how a hacker works and see what the vulnerable targets are and then secure them.

The duo wants to build Entersoft on ethics and credibility and not on mere revenues. For instance, they get a lot of

K PRUDHVI RAJU

prudhvi.k@postnoon.com

D

o you want to secure your company’s precious data by not letting it get into the wrong hands?

Do you want to make your web portal rugged enough so it will not fall prey to external threats?

A team of ethical hackers from Entersoft are here to help you to do just that.

Nityanand N and Mohan Gandhi started Entersoft Information Systems in February 2012 to fulfil the security needs of businesses. The company has instantly left a mark and is expecting to rake in around `1.5 crore as revenues in its first financial year.

The business idea took shape in Gandhi’s mind while he was studying computer science engineering at JNTU. And the idea came from a simple truth – that unlike the developed world, India doesn’t protect its resources. Thus, there is a huge need for businesses to maintain and protect its invaluable data.

Talking about his exposure to ethical hacking, he says, “My friend Chaithanya Padi and I learnt ethical hacking from Nityanand, who was the first guy to start a training centre on ethical hacking in the City and most likely in all of South India.

The joy of learning and our passion showed us the path to start the business. In 2012, Nithyanad and I co-founded the business.

Chaithanya helps build the company and is the head of the product development team,” says Gandhi.

On the business environment, he says, “Although, there were many security information companies, they failed as they looked only at temporary benefits. In contrast, we are working on building our credibility and we also work on the annuity model, which gives holistic solutions for businesses.”

The young businessman gives credit to his internship while at IIM-Ahmedabad for instilling the confidence

REVENUE SHARE n n n

Consulting: 60 per cent Training: 40 per cent Product: Investment phase will be launched in April Consulting revenue share n Pharmaceutical companies: 20 per cent n E-commerce companies: 20 per cent n Financial sector: 10 per cent n Education: 50 per cent

required to set up his own business. He says that one must understand and develop a proper business ecosystem for a sustainable security company.

Both Gandhi and Nityanand’s parents pitched in with `4 lakh to start Entersoft.

The initial idea was to target revenues to build the business rather than look for funds.

Nityanand’s expertise, along with that of the IIM managerial degree, helped him build a training centre and get the initial revenues to suffice the business needs. Entersoft also trained corporates and students on security and ethical hacking. Gandhi feels that in a way, students learning this alongside programming can help develop robust products, which will not fall prey to any security threats.

But ethical hacking hasn’t been taken too kindly to in India, as Gandhi says that there has always been a stigma attached to it. “Good program-

mers mature into hackers in western countries. However, good programmers here opt to work for Facebook or Google and don’t choose hacking or want to term themselves ethical hackers.

Even the cultural environment doesn’t support hacking. For instance, we are always constructive in nature and want our children to grow up to be engineers or doctors. We never question the reason for existence, challenge or destruct something, which is so important for ethical hacking,” notes Gandhi.

But ethical hacking plays a vital role in modern businesses.

Data is a big part of sectors like pharmaceuticals, e-commerce, finance and education.

For instance, if a pharmaceutical company loses all its research data to a competitor, the company may goes back about 15 years in time and the competitor can move ahead 15 years. This way, data security plays a crucial role in shaping the course of the company as well.

Gandhi explains that most of the times, the security threat doesn’t arise from the physical or transport layer levels (firewalls and antivirusMohan Gandhi, co-founder, Entersoft

offers to hack certain email ids, which they reject outright as they feel any such comprise will spoil their work culture. In fact, they sign a Non-Disclosure Agreement (NDA) for every project that they undertake and thus work on building their credibility.

Entersoft is building a firstof-its-kind product in India which can hack websites and expose the sites vulnerabilities to its owner without the need of human intervention. “The client can take the suggestions from the application and solve those issues or simply approach us to do the same. Our team has been working on the product for the last eight months and we plan to launch it by April,” says Chaithanya.

With the launch of the new product alongside the growth in services and training, Entersoft aims to become a $1 million company in the next fiscal. There are also plans to tie-up with various web-hosting and web and mobile development companies where there is possibility of security threats.

11

FOCUS SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 2, 2013

As Indian art world meets, prices stay depressed The fair offers global exposure to local artists and a chance for overseas galleries to woo clients.

Visitors look at artworks displayed at the India Art Fair in New Delhi on January 31.

Penny MacRae

Agence France-Presse

NEW DELHI: India’s art world has converged on New Delhi for the industry’s biggest annual event where upbeat talk and parties are likely to disguise a market that is still in the doldrums since crashing in 2008.

Indian art auction prices are down 70 to 75 per cent from their peak, when speculation driven by new prosperity in cities such as Delhi and Mumbai pushed them to “unsustainable levels”, says art analyst Anders Petterson.

Petterson, managing director of London-based global art market analysis firm ArtTactic, says India is still suffering from the after effects of the 2008 global financial crisis, but says he sees signs for cautious optimism.

“We glimpse a market gradually turning around,” he said.

The three-day India Art Fair — now in its fifth year and featuring 105 art houses — offers valuable global exposure to local artists and a chance for overseas galleries to woo India’s increasingly affluent population with international works.

However artists and galleries still face a battle to restore confidence among buyers who are worried about the “sustainability of art values”, according to veteran art critic Kishore Singh.

“People want to know that if they buy a work at least it will be worth the same next year or in a few years and perhaps a little more,” he said. The price of top works by India’s Modernist masters — the

late MF Husain and others from the Bombay Progressive Artists’ Group — are returning to pre-crash levels, said Singh, but rich collectors are still nervous about taking risks.

A canvas by Tyeb Mehta, a top member of the Progressives’ group, fetched a record price of $3.24 million in 2011, but the high price paid was seen as a one-off.

Works by the younger contemporary school of artists are still overpriced by around 30 per cent, estimates Kapil Chopra, editor of Indian e-art magazine Wall, noting large gallery stockpiles.

The woes of the Indian art world, however, look unlikely to dim enthusiasm for the fair among the public who have flocked to the event, which was launched by 32year-old marketing graduate Neha Kirpal in 2008.

“The fair has grown exponentially in India, which is a country deprived of seeing art,” said Kirpal, who told AFP she has kept tickets at an affordable 200 rupees ($3.75) — below the price of a cinema ticket — to “ensure accessibility”.

For collectors and art lovers alike, the fair is regarded as the best chance to get a handle on India’s hugely varied art scene — from paintings to sculpture, multi-media installations and interactive projects — in a country where there are few state-funded museums.

“Every serious collector, scholar and curator makes themselves available for this event, it’s an amazing platform,” Amin Jaffer, a leading expert on Asian art at London auction house Christie’s, told AFP. Visitor numbers have risen 10-

AFP PHOTO/ SAJJAD HUSSAIN

fold to over 100,000 since the show’s launch, while the size of the venue — a huge tent designed by top Indian scenographer Sumant Jayakrishnan — has mushroomed seven-fold.

But critics say increased visitor footfall does not equate to buyers, making it an expensive venture for galleries.

Twenty foreign galleries are present this year, the same tally as in 2012. Key dropouts include Europe’s Hauser and Wirth and London’s Lisson Gallery, although they have been replaced by others including London’s Scream.

“It’s a classic case of musical chairs. The foreign galleries are drawn by the hype of the ‘Great Indian success story’ but then get disappointed because they don’t sell," says Chopra.

The fair has works on offer ranging from an affordable few thousand dollars to $1 million.

Experts say India’s market is still in its infancy and is far behind that of China. “The Chinese market is much larger and of much longer standing with a highly developed auction house culture and no end to government-endorsed museums," said Christie’s Jaffer.

Fair founder Kirpal insists long-term prospects for the market are bright as India’s population grows richer.

“With India’s young population, who are increasingly wealthy and well travelled, art is becoming a global contemporary language,” she said.

“In five to 10 years everyone will want to be showcased here.”

Top 5 Indian Paintings Artist Name

Title

Year of sale

Price

SH Raza

Saurashtra

2010

`16,51,34,000

Tyeb Mehta

Figure on Rickshaw

2011

`14,40,00,000

Tyeb Mehta

Bulls

2011

`12,43,66,000

Tyeb Mehta

Untitled

2012

`11,84,73,000

FN Souza

Birth

2008

`11,25,00,000

Source: www.theartstrust.com

PICK YOUR

@

Across Stores

ities Twin C

12

TECHNOLOGY SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 2, 2013

WEBSITE OF THE WEEK

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mageShack®is a free image hosting solution. It can be used to share pictures with friends, as well as post images on message boards and blogs.

It can also be used to direct link images from your personal website or online auction.

MOBILE GAME REVIEW

APP OF THE WEEK

After a while no amount of backgrounds or ticking timers can distract from the nagging sensation that you're playing a gimped gallery shooter with a slightly defective gun. Stay Alive isn't dead on arrival, but it does come with a limp.

STAY ALIVE

Buffer

W

ith the calorie counter app for android you can easily keep track of all the calories you eat.

You can also keep track of your weight loss with the help of a food diary and exercise diary.

Honey I shrunk the PC Compiled by

GRAPHIC CARD

NT Balanarayan balanarayan.nt@postnoon.com

N

ow since this is a gaming PC, it needs to have a good graphic card, but it shouldn’t be too big that it can’t fit in the case either. For such a scenario GeForce 660ti is the best solution. This card can run Crysis 2 at full HD though it may slow down a bit if you try to display the game over multiple monitors. However since you’ll have this system in your living room, connected to your TV, this card will work really well.

Cost: `20,000-`23,000 (depending on the manufacturer)

CASE - BITFENIX PRODIGY

T

his one might be bigger than other Mini ITX cases out there, but the extra room will come handy when trying to fit in that graphic card of yours. The space will also make it easier for you to manage your cables. It also has one 5.25" drive bays, five modular 3.5" drive bays, one 9 2.5” drive bays. Oh, it’s also available in different colours.

Cost: `5,000 approx.

T

he rest of the components — processor, hard disk, RAM, etc. can be bought according to your preference and budget. If your budget allows it, invest in an SSD instead of a traditional hard disk. Apart from improving the time it takes to boot and copy data, it'll also

run silently in the background. Traditional harddisks make a lot of noise and SSDs can definitely keep a check on that. You could also add a Blu-ray or DVD drive to the system, we didn't recommend them as games are much cheaper to buy online and download.

Gaming PCs cannot afford to be the towering behemoths anymore as the trend of PC gaming is slowly moving to the living room. Valve is working on Steambox, a console-like PC, but if you don’t have the patience to wait for such a device, you can build one yourself. So let’s get you started.

Advantages of having a console PC n n n

Small form factor and hence less intimidating.

Hardware components can be upgraded over time unlike consoles.

Take advantage of the Steam Big Picture mode.

n n n

You might be able to convince your friends to get back to PC gaming.

PC games are cheaper than console versions.

You can use keyboard and mouse to game.

MOTHERBOARD - ASUS P8B75-V

Cost: `6,500 approx.

T

his Mini ITX card has all the bells and whistles of most big motherboards. It uses socket type LGA 1155, which means you can use the high-end i7 or i5 processors in it. It supports up to 32GB of DDR3 memory and has 2 USB 3.0 slots.

13

ANIMAL KINGDOM SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 2, 2013

PET NEWS

IMPORTANT NUMBERS

Dolphin accepted

Labrador on top

Know your dog

E

T

T

cologists of the Leibniz-Institute of Freshwater Ecology and Inland Fisheries discovered that a group of sperm whales — animals not usually known for forging bonds with other species — had taken in an adult bottlenose dolphin.

he Labrador retriever held its 22-year reign as America's top dog, but a determined bulldog is gaining ground in the popularity stakes. The American Kennel Club's annual ranking of most popular dog breeds on Wednesday showed Labradors in the lead.

he Schapendoes or Dutch Sheepdog, is a breed of dog originating in the Netherlands. The Schapendoes was originally a herding dog and a general farm dog. It is friendly, high-spirited and affectionate.

On a wing and a prayer J

Birding hot spots

VD Moorthy, the vicepresident of BSAP, suggested some of the best places in and around the City to spot birds. Head here between November and March to see what Hyderabad's avian life looks like. n Narsapur Reserve Forest, on Medak Road n Chilkur n Manjira river n The backwaters of Himayatsagar (especially for water birds) n Tank Bund n Nehru Zoological Park (for forest birds) n Indira Park n Sanjeevaiah Park n KBR Park

Get ready for a one-day crash course in bird watching with the fourth edition of the Hyderabad Bird Race.

JYOTSNA NAMBIAR

jyotsna.n@postnoon.com

A

s you read this, binoculars are being dusted off, laces tightened and reference books flipped through, because it's that time of the year again. The HSBC Hyderabad Bird Race is back for the fourth year in a row, and City birders are all set for a day of spotting winged beauties.

This year, the bird race is being organised jointly by the Birdwatchers' Society of Andhra Pradesh (BSAP) and the Great Hyderabad Adventure Club (GHAC). Teams of four or five will set off early in the morning for around 12 hours of birding, at the end of which they will submit their logbooks to the organisers, who will determine the winners based on the number of birds spotted.

Participation in the event

has increased, says Aasheesh Pittie, president of BSAP. Pittie adds, “We've stopped registrations prior to the closing date this year, as there has been an overwhelming response. We may not be able to accommodate all those who have registered, as the event has a budget.”

The teams are free to go anywhere within a 50-km radius of the City to make their lists.

Parks, water bodies and areas under the AP forest department are favourites for the sheer variety of bird life they host.

Unfortunately, this year, the ICRISAT campus, a place where birders usually make a beeline for, will not be participating in the event. Pittie, though, believes this will only challenge the participants to explore other spots. Amar Deep, an organising volunteer with GHAC, said that 25 teams of four to five members have registered for this year's race. “It's a great opportunity for photographers and people who want to learn about birds and to connect with nature. It's also a great way to discover the green spots of the City, which have

now been reduced to islands in the midst of the urban jungle.”

He adds, “You can get a general idea of the biodiversity of these areas. With so many teams, the lists become a good reference for the species of birds in the area.”

However, Pittie cautions that the data from the bird race cannot be constituted as a census of bird species in the City. “One cannot enumerate numbers from the results of an event like the bird race, nor will it be fair to judge the number of species on this one event, for such data is arrived at by repeated surveys and a relatively high level of skill in identification.”

The beauty of the bird race is that everyone is welcome to participate, even amateurs.

Amar Deep explains, “Even laymen, with no knowledge of birdwatching, can take their first steps at the bird race. What we do is we make an experienced birder the team captain, so it is a learning opportunity for amateurs. They can learn to spot and identify birds — you can almost call it a one-day crash course!”

CATS AND DOGS The Animal Care Clinic 040-2335 2474 Pet’s World Dog Clinic 98856 46259 Blue Cross of Hyderabad 040-3298 9858, 23544355/ 5523 Vet-N-Pet 040-6553 9535, 93463 05890 Bluplus Pet Clinic 040-2712 1739, 2716 2636 Sri Sai Pet Clinic

040-2779 7458, 9848645350 Claws & Paws 98662 82772 All Creatures Animals Clinic 040-2773 0885 BIRDS Govt Veterinary Hospital 040-2331 9656, 2753 5755 Bird Watcher’s Society 040-2355 6166 Friends of Birds9391048315 SNAKES Friends of Snakes 8374233366

14

BOOKS SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 2, 2013

SHORT READS Title: Remembering Whitney Author: Cissy Houston Publisher: Harper Collins A year after legendary singer Whitney Houston died, her mother, Cissy, opens up about her talented and troubled daughter. The book offers insights into Whitney's childhood and teen years, along with never-seen-before photographs of the singer who died too young.

Title: Speaking From Among The Bones Author: Alan Bradley Publisher: Random House Eleven-year-old Flavia de Luce, amateur detective and dedicated chemist, is back with another mystery. When the body of the church organist is found buried in an ancient tomb of a patron saint, Flavia is determined to find out how he ended up there.

Title: Quiet Author: Susan Cain Publisher: Broadway Introverts have often been shunned in a world where we're constantly told that you must make yourself heard.

Susan Cain talks of the power and capabilities of introverts, if only they are given the space and time to fulfil their functions.

Title: The Hour of Peril Author: Daniel Stashower Publisher: St Martin's Press The book reads more like a thriller than a historical novel, but the facts are true. The Hour Of Peril unveils the Baltimore plot to assassinate Abraham Lincoln on the eve of the Civil War and how a detective and his team managed to foil the attempt.

Wirelessly glued APARNA SAI

aparna.s@postnoon.com

I’

ve been asked this question on numerous instances; would the world have been the same had Adam and Eve not tasted the forbidden fruit? Would we have been this smart or would we have contin-

Uday Prakash’s latest novel revolves around three stories that pertain to caste in the slums of Delhi. An excellent translation brings the book to wider audiences.

Anubha K Singh anubha.k@postnoon.com

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he Walls of Delhi tells you three different stories which connect caste and society. In the opening tale, a sweeper, Ramnivas, discovers a room full of money and he stuffs a few handfuls of cash

ued living aimlessly and in utter ignorance of our surroundings?

I remain clueless without any awareness about the above mentioned event, whether it was a mere story or a matter of reality. But what I do know is that our world today has certainly progressed by leaps and bounds in the field of technology.

Countless research papers, super minds of ordinary beings and humongous amounts of

human efforts have gone into shaping our world the way it is today and several books have been written, spreading the word about the growth and outcome of technology.

One such book that throws light on one of man’s experiments with technology is the Cell Phone Nation, which from its name itself suggests that it is about the petite gadget ruling our lives. While the book does not exactly go into the details of the evolution of cell phones, it highlights the manner in which this device has changed the lives of Indians which in turn has altered the fabric of the country’s economy.

The book has been compiled by two authors — Robin Jeffrey and Assa Doron — who, through their observation of the changing face of the country, have accumulated interesting and factual data making the book worth a read.

Jeffrey and Doron’s study has been documented in a well defined manner under three major titles namely controlling, connecting and consuming.

They draw parallels between the rich and the poor and in a well scripted way narrate the importance of the cell phone in every Indian

household.

The book begins with a trip down memory lane. It then catches pace and goes on to explain the controlling part of the whole episode wherein we are introduced to the ones running the whole system.

They follow this up with the connecting part of their whole exercise. Here they begin with explaining how the cell phones have become Man’s best friend, and their talk oscillates between the nuances of owing a cell phone, like the talk time and the people involved in the mechanics of the device.

They then talk about the consumption part, which covers a major chunk of the real pros and cons of the existence and influence of cell phones.

All the major uses and misuses (read influences) of the gadget have been narrated with well-scripted detailing about the presence and influence of the device in politics, households, terror, pornography, health and the like. They complete the research with a compilation of photographs over the years — some which speak a million words.

Overall, the book is a smart compilation, well written and one that throws light on many nuances of the influence of cell phones in the subcontinent, which otherwise, tend to go unnoticed.

These walls have ears into his pockets and escapes to see the Taj Mahal with his underage mistress.

The second story tells us about Mohandas, a young man who works hard to deny his lowcaste fate through education.

Who strongly believes that only education can fetch him a good job and he and his family can get rid of poverty. But he gets brutally disavowed at every turn, only to find that his rightful job at the local coal mine has been usurped by a higher-caste rival who has stolen his identity.

The third, and the most tragic one, is about a slum baby, Mangosil. Chandrakant, the servant of a disgusting

Name The Walls of Delhi Author Uday Prakash Pages 224 Publisher Hachette India police inspector, runs away with Shobha who has suffered brutal abuse. They both start a new life and after a lot of praying and pleading to the gods, they finally become parents, only to find that the child is born with a condition that poverty has caused and that only the rich could hope to cure. Mangosil is born

One petite gadget and look at the lives it has changed.

Cellphone Nation tells us more about the march of technology.

Name Cell Phone Nation Author Robin Jeffrey and Assa Doron Pages 293 Publisher Hachette India

with a rare disorder that causes his head to grow bigger and bigger as he turns smarter and smarter while his family is trying to find a cure.

Though set in similar backgrounds, all three stories are different. The author, Uday Prakash, has portrayed the slum life of India well. The translation, by Jason Grunebaum, is done so nicely that you get connected to the slums in Delhi. The book has also been shortlisted for the DSC Prize for South Asian Literature 2013.

These stories not just showcase the tragedy of poverty but they are compelling and full of life. Uday Prakash is a controversial figure in Hindi literature and known for his political debates, and his nuanced book hits all the right notes.

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BOOKS SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 2, 2013

Can there be a perfect crime?

You can’t tell who the killer is till you know how the murder was done. After The Devotion of Suspect X, Keigo Higashino’s much-awaited Salvation of a Saint, lives up to expectations.

Deepashri Varadharajan deepashri.v@postnoon.com

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nlike Sidney Sheldon’s or Robin Cook’s novels, where you can, after reading a couple of them and getting used to the way the story is knitted, make a sure shot guess of who the killer is, and all you have to do is wait for the mystery to eventually unfold, Higashino takes a different approach.

More than who committed the crime, how the crime was committed takes the front seat.

Even as the book begins, the wife’s intentions to murder the husband become an open secret, in the very first chapter, making you feel like you know the prima facie killer; making you wonder what the whole point of the novel is in the first place if it’s such a simple case with a clear motive. But can you prove it? If you can’t then is it the perfect crime? Or do you just have the wrong person?

Crimes of passion are the most intriguing; how far betrayal can push you, how much love can change you, and how the line between love and hatred can become blurred. It can defy logic, defy all reasoning.

Yoshitaka is discovered dead at his home by his wife’s apprentice. A story of love, betrayal and ‘salvation’, begins to unfold.

The crude outlook towards marriage and women by Yoshitaka in the beginning gets to your nerves. But that’s exactly what it’s meant to do. Detective Kusanagi tries his best to not let his feelings for Ayane, one of the prime suspects in the case, cloud his decision. Does he succeed?

His physicist friend’s ‘scientific’ approach and Utsumi and Kusanagi’s typical “detective’s” approach contradict and coincide as twists and turns keep you guessing and re-guessing who the murderer is and how it was carried out so skilfully.

Intuition and facts contradict and agree with each other.

Name Salvation of a Saint Author Keigo Higashino Pages 377 Publisher Hachette India The dialogues in the last but one chapter send a hard hitting message. It leaves you wondering what is right, what is wrong, who is right, and you wonder if it truly was the salvation of a saint.

What stands out in the narrative style adopted by Higashino (originally written in Japanese, translated by Alexander O Smith and Elye J Alexander), is that it is largely conversational, which makes it very easy to read.

There are no unnecessary descriptions or melodramatic verses to set up the mood of a murder mystery for the readers.

The to-the-point and on-yourface approach is a very rare, unique storytelling style, which definitely has worked in Higashino’s favour. In some parts, it is quite obvious that it’s a direct translation from a foreign language, but the simple, no-drama English makes it even more engaging.

You can’t put the book down once you start reading, because you really want to get to the bottom of it. And you won’t be disappointed with what you find.

WHAT’S SELLING Landmark’s best in fiction

Landmark’s best in non-fiction

New York Times' best in fiction

New York Times' best in non -fiction

n Immortals of Meluha by Amish

n What young India wants by Chetan Bhagat

n A memory of light

by Robert Jordan and Brandon Sanderson

n My Beloved World

by Sonia Sotomayor

n Secret of the Nagas by Amish

n The Day I stopped drinking milk by Sudha Murty

n Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn

n Killing Kennedy by Bill O'Reilly and Martin Dugard

n Turning Point by Dr APJ Abdul Kalam

n The Fifth Assassin

by Brad Meltzer

n Going Clear by Lawrence Wright

n The Secret Wishlist by Preeti Shenoy

n Dongri to Dubai:Six decades of the Mumbai mafia by Hussain Zaidi

n Tenth of December by George Saunders

n No Easy Day by Mark Owen with Kevin Maurer

n The Racketeer by John Grisham

n The Sanjay Story by Vinod Mehta

n The Third Bullet by Stephen Hunter

n Killing Lincoln by Bill O'Reilly and Martin Dugard

n Love Stories that touched my heart

by Ravinder Singh

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WOMEN SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 2, 2013

WEBSITES OF THE WEEK InStyle: The official InStyle magazine website provides a sneak peek view on celebrity style and easy tips to get it yourself. The website caters to women of all ages.

Ms. Magazine: The Web presence of feminist frontrunner Ms. magazine, the website boasts the most extensive coverage of US and international women’s issues.

Mummy Track: This ‘multi-tasking’ website is for the modern moms out there and provides a fresh take on motherhood with sharp columns and commentary.

COMBAT over career While women in the US Army will be allowed to enter ground combat from this year onwards, in India, their counterparts have a long way to go. We find out why.

FLEME VARKEY

fleme.v@postnoon.com

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n article written in a popular national magazine last year stated very categorically, “The Army has stressed that women cannot be granted permanent commission in the force because the bulk of the army’s Junior Commissioned Officers (JCOs) and other ranks hail from rural India who are not yet ready to accept a woman as their leader in combat situations.”

Further mentioned was an affidavit, dated September 12, from the Army Headquarters which stated, “The interface between the leader and the led must be without any reserve or preconceived notions, especially in battle conditions where jawans repose full faith in decisions/orders of the leader who is their role model and are prepared to make the supreme sacrifice in the line of duty.”

Implying in no less words that ‘the leader’ can only be male and that a role model too could only be male. Compare that with the decision taken by the US Armed Forces recently and one will notice the huge gap between the thought processes of the two nations. US Secretary of Defense Leon Panetta recently announced the end of a 1994 policy that banned women from direct

ground combat. Whereas the aforementioned affidavit did not mince words when it stated, “The combat role of woman officers must be excluded not only for the present but as a matter of policy for all times.”

Judging by what the Army has to say on this subject, women entering combat troops is next to impossible. So let’s get to the next glaring gap that the Army here has failed to address — permanent commission. While their counterparts in the US Army are going to be right in the midst of action alongside men, women officers here are only recruited for Short Service Commission and permanent commission is a distant dream. On asking women who have served in the Army whether they would like to get involved in combat, there was not one who gave an answer in the negative. However, the next question asked was, “Is it possible?”

The answer is ‘No’.

CURRENTLY, THE HIGHEST RANK A WOMAN CAN RISE TO IN THE INDIAN ARMY IS THAT OF A LT COLONEL, AND THEN SHE CAN BID HER CAREER GOODBYE. Why? Because women are way on the backfoot here when it comes to even thinking of the Army as a career. For most women who receive Short Service Commission, the doors of the Army are only open for a maximum of 14 years and only few officers of certain corps can think of a permanent commission. An advertisement for the Indian Army runs with this tag line, “Be an army man, be a winner for life”. Can the same be said for women?

For a young girl who joins the

army with fervour and zeal to serve the nation, her dreams are cut short when she is asked to leave at the end of completing service of five, 10 or 14 years, whichever is applicable. The highest rank she can rise to is that of a Lt Colonel and then she can bid her career goodbye.

An engineering corps officer narrates how, after five years, she was asked to leave as her tenure was over. That’s it. Five years of her prime were dedicated to the service of the country and then she is jobless. Then she can either go and study further or start a family. Training is the same for both men and women — from physical training, combat training to everything — then why the discrimination when it comes to fighting alongside colleagues?

The answer from most was that men are not very happy taking orders from a woman. She goes on to say how though one enters the profession with much

zeal, women are soon relegated to the back, be it in the case of training or any other sphere. For a commanding officer who is a woman, she has to work 10 times harder than her male counterparts to prove that she is capable of commanding men. Even levels of promotion are different; for women, there is only stagnation, nothing to look forward to, while a man can look forward to a pensioned future. For those working for 14 years too there is no pension. Only the lucky few — the ones in medical or education corps — manage to work up to 20 years and claim a pension.

The Army also reflects the social way of life and it is wrong to assume that societal rules are different there. The Army has argued that the prolonged absence of woman officers from a unit due to inherent family-related issues was also highly detrimental “to the overall efficiency of the unit” as a cohesive fighting force. The Army also seemed unhappy with women officers requesting for choice/spouse postings.

To this, women officers said that it is only because there is no one to take care of children at home. If there are elders to look after affairs at home, then women can be as efficient. In fact, more than efficient, as she is running home and the hearth. Change is required in the mindset of authority, in men and women themselves. Changes are difficult, but a start has to be made somewhere. For Indian Army women, it's not the question of combat, but of career.

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SPOTLIGHT SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 2, 2013

FLORAL FAD

S.BALAKRISHNA 6

Dressed in floral dresses, ladies turned up in droves at the Ikebana demonstration session by Anita Tandon, chief editor of Ohra School of Ikebana newsletter. Spotted were Meher, Shikhar and others.

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1 Anita Tandon

3 Rajmeet

5 Neeta

7 Sonia

9 Shikha

2 Bhavana

4 Pooja

6 Rheya

8 Meher

10 Sweeta

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S.BALAKRISHNA 1

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PEARLS OF

WISDOM 5

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Indian talk show host, anchor and producer Pratibha Advani addressed the members of FICCI Ladies Organisation at Radisson Blu on Friday.

1 Ishita 2 Sunita with

a friend 3 Ritu, Salia

4 Pratibha 5 Kavitha 6 Manisha 7 Manjula

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RELATIONSHIPS SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 2, 2013

Q

ALL EARS

. My husband and I work in the same firm. Ours was a love marriage and as a result the whole office knows of it. He has been promoted at work, which requires me to report to him. My colleagues have already started saying that I will be getting favours. Where is my credibility? I am at my wits end.

Dear depressed kid, Work spouses usually complement each other in skill and ability at the workplace, making a successful and productive team. Surely your management knows that and hence the promotion. Colleagues will obviously say the grapes are sour and many a time your achievements could be construed as something you got with the help of your husband. My advice, let barking dogs bark, keep working to your full potential and keep bringing the big bucks home.

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y allowing employees to participate in a work-sponsored internal social networking site, a company can improve morale and reduce turnover, according to a Baylor University case study published in the European Journal of Information Systems. The study also found that participation led to a greater sense of well-being and organisational commitment and better employee engagement.

Hopping from one serious relationship to another may be a boost to one’s self worth, but it can be damaging in the long run.

While it’s good to have someone to share every feeling with, it’s important to know the single you too. Postnoon speaks to experts about serial committers.

SERIALLY COMMITTED NIDHI BHUSHAN

nidhi.b@postnoon.com

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an is, indeed, a social animal. He needs a partner to sulk with and to cry on. While it’s important to have someone besides you, it’s equally important to know who the real you are. If you find yourself getting into a romantic relationship after you've barely ended the previous one again and again, you might be in trouble. Not that there is any specific time period one can allot to people to move on from one relationship to another, a little ‘alone-time’ is necessary.

“I had my first relationship when I was 12 years old. I've never

looked back at a failed relationship since then,” says a now married, 36-year-old Rajesh Gupta. By definition serial committers are those who give themselves completely to what they’re doing, until it’s time to move on to something else. We often find people who give everything to a relationship but don’t pause if it fails — they simply move on to the next romantic possibility.

“I’ve been in eight serious relationships. While each relationship typically lasted for more than four years, there has never been a gap between any two relationships — not even a day’s gap. I usually had a back-up plan ready before ending a relationship,” says Rajesh, who likes the knowledge that there is someone to turn to. “According to my shrink, I have a need to be needed. I constantly need validation. Even though my friends persistently advised me to try and stay single

After a break up... n Surround yourselves with friends n Don’t play the blame game n Heal Resentments and Hurts n Reconnect with Yourself n Clarify What You Are Looking For n Appreciate the Lessons before jumping into the next commitment, I ignored their suggestions,” adds Rajesh.

Rajesh, who has been brought up by his grandmother and mother, adds that he has always felt comfortable in the company of women. “Mostly, it was my grandmother who raised me. Probably, this is why I’ve always felt more at ease in the company of women,” he says, adding that despite being

in so many relationships he’s never looked back. “Out of sight is out of mind. I've never revisited any of my previous relationships.”

Like Rajesh, there are many who don’t remember the feeling of singlehood any more. They've been so occupied in finding someone that they've forgotten how to find themselves now. While Rajesh might think he’s leading a healthy, hearty life, consultant psychotherapist at Live Life Hospital Dr Vasuprada Kartic feels otherwise.

“It is important to stay single after getting out of a serious relationship because you need to know yourself as someone sans the relationship. While in a relationship, we become used to seeing ourselves vis-à-vis the relationship we’re involved in.

Moreover, it is important to analyse the failed relationship and look at it objectively,” says Dr

Kartic. “Because, many of us attach our self-worth to the relationship we’re in, we depend on being part of a romantic involvement for an ego boost. However, because we are emotionally vulnerable after a break up, getting into something in that state is not advisable.”

“Either way, whether you are dumped or are the one to end the relationship, you are emotionally vulnerable,” says Dr Kartic, adding that factors like social acceptance and societal pressure also play a major role. “Being in a relationship, especially for those in their mid 20s, becomes integral according to the people around them.”

When asked if people seek help for being serial committers, Dr Kartic says: “No. The pattern is usually discovered in context to a relationship crisis they seek help for. While they should, people don’t directly seek help for this.”

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CINEMA SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 2, 2013

Ongole Githa lacks punch HEMANTH KUMAR

Hemanth.k@postnoon.com

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haskar’s latest film Ongole Githa starring Ram, Kriti Kharbanda and Prakash Raj in lead roles is yet another mass entertainer where the hero seeks revenge for the injustice done to his father. The only difference this time is that the story is set in a chilli yard in Ongole.

Movie : Ongole Githa Cast : Ram, Kriti Kharbanda, Prakash Raj, Prabhu Director : Bhaskar Rating : An orphan boy arrives in the chilli yard in Ongole and soon he convinces the yard’s chairman Aadikeshavulu (Prakash Raj) to let him work at the chilli yard as a trader. He calls himself as White (Ram) and within ten years, he climbs up the ladder

and becomes extremely popular among the traders. The local MLA wants to strike a deal with Aadikeshavulu to shift the chilli yard to the town’s outskirts but White opposes the move. In an interesting turn of events, White convinces Aadikeshavulu to let him marry his daughter Sandhya (Kriti Kharbanda). Why does White want to marry Sandhya and does he succeed in stopping the local MLA’s plan to shift the chilli yard? That forms the rest of this story.

Ram almost carries the entire film on his shoulders and he’s extremely good in his role.

At no point does he seem to be overwhelmed by the character he plays in the film and that’s quite an achievement for a story where he’s required to command the affection and respect of his fellow traders. The track between Ram and Kriti Kharbanda is a delight to watch and the latter comes up with a chirpy performance. In terms of characterisations, Prakash Raj has the most interesting of them all and he outshines everyone with his subtle nuances as he gets trapped in an image he creates for himself in the society.

Bhaskar’s latest film Ongole Githa packs no surprises, except for an interesting characterisation written for Prakash Raj. But is it enough?

Not really...

One of the major subplots in the film featuring Ram and Prabhu doesn’t quite work emotionally, although the reason behind why White wants to salvage his father’s honour is justified. One of the biggest problems with the film is that a major twist involving Prakash Raj is revealed quite early in the story from there onwards Bhaskar embarks on an arduous journey to keep the proceedings on a

gripping note. The film’s second half, in particular, drags a lot and the comedy scenes featuring Ali are a big bore. Bhaskar desperately tries to crack the code of making a mass entertainer, but the stakes aren’t high in Ongole Githa and as a result, the film doesn’t quite stand out in this genre. A Venkatesh’s cinematography and GV Prakash’s music are good.

Ongole Githa is not a bad film but, apart from few moments here and there, it’s not the kind of film which will blow you away either.

The Road to Mr Pellikoduku’s Redemption audio launch today M T ani Ratnam’s latest film Kadal starring Gautham Karthik, Thulasi, Arjun and Arvind Swami released in theatres yesterday. The film is primarily a battle between good and evil and how a boy finds the road to redemption with the help of a girl and a Church’s father he meets. Gautham’s performance, Rajeev Menon’s cinematography and AR Rahman’s music have got good response; however, the film is largely underwhelming.

The film opened to a poor response at box office and it remains to be seen how it fares over the weekend.

he audio of Sunil, Isha Chawla starrer Mr Pellikoduku is going to be launched later today in Annapurna Seven Acres studios. Sunil plays the role of an NRI who comes to India to meet his prospective bride. The film is a remake of Tanu Weds Manu. Devi Prasad has directed the Telugu version. NV Prasad and Paras Jain have produced the remake and SA Rajkumar has scored the music.

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CINEMA SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 2, 2013

CLIMBING THE LADDER Humble, down-to-earth, singer and host Javed Ali is in the City. We catch up with him to know more about his musical journey.

Fleme Varkey fleme.v@postnoon.com

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is colleagues had once told him, “You should try out for one of the reality shows like Indian Idol. You will become popular and get noticed quickly.” This was the advice singer Javed Ali’s colleagues had given him when he was only a few songs old in the Hindi film industry. Cut to today, Javed is performing alongside these very colleagues and in fact is the toast of the singing industry at the moment.

His repertoire of songs just keeps growing day by day.

“When my friends told me that I had just smiled, I never said anything. I was waiting for the right time. Now guess who is having the last laugh?” he says with a smile.

Javed is one who you can call a versatile singer and he is only happy to wear this badge of honour. He is not one to be bound by constraints of one specific style. The reason being his musical upbringing. Javed is trained in classical music, received instruction in Qawwali from his father Ustad Hamid Hussain, and then his musical education was furthered under the tutelage of famous ghazal exponent Ustad Ghulam Ali. Today Javed is happy that he has sung in almost all styles and that he has been approached by music directors

to sing ghazals, melodies and even item numbers. With the 2007 hit Ek Din Teri Raahon Mein composed by Pritam for the movie Naqaab, his singing career took off. From then on his discography boasts of a number of hit songs like Tu Hi Haqeeqat (Tum Mile), Guzaarish (Ghajini) and Jashn-e-Bahaara (Jodha Akbar). He has also received some prestigious awards for his songs in Ishaqzaade, Rockstar and Jodha Akbar.

For a singer who entered the industry in 2000 Javed has

unique styles. Yuvan Shankar for melodies, Harris Jayraj for item songs and Rahman sir gives me all kinds.”

Bollywood is not the only place where Javed has made a name for himself. He has a growing number of hit Tamil, Telugu and Kannada songs to his name. Though most people in the South complain of diction being a problem for singers from the Hindi film industry, Javed says otherwise. “ I fell its baseless, as long one learns the proper diction, there can be no

JAVED HARBOURS ONE WISH — TO SING FOR SHAH RUKH KHAN. HE SANG FOR SHAH RUKH KHAN’S LATEST JAB TAK HAI JAAN BUT THE SONG WAS NOT PICTURISED ON HIM.

problems. How do Southern singers then sing Hindi songs?

Everybody needs a new flavour once in a while and my singing gives that newness, so why not?” asks the singer.

While he has the nation swinging to his tunes, Javed harbours one wish — to sing for Shah Rukh Khan, since he has already sung for some of the biggest stars in the industry. He’s a big fan of Shah Rukh. He sang for Khan’s latest Jab Tak Hai Jaan but the song was not picturised on

an enviable track record. He has sung for some famous music directors like Yuvan Shankar Raja and Harris Jayraj from the south, AR Rahman in the north.

“I feel extremely lucky and blessed to have worked with such big names so early on in my career. I cannot point out my favourite as all three music directors have their own

A VISUAL TREAT Experimenting with out-of-the-box stories is a knack director Bejoy Nambiar seems to have had perfected. David is just another example of its implementation.

N

eil Nitin Mukesh, Vinay Virmani and Vikram play David.

Bejoy unfolds stories of

the three protagonists of the film who share a common name. The times they belong to are different and so are the places they hail from. Neil is born in London 1975 under the shadows of a dreaded gangster.

Vinay Virmani hails from a lower-middle class Christian family in Mumbai in 1999 and is an aspiring singer. And then comes Vikram, a fisherman from Goa in 2011. The movie plays around with a wide range of emotions, from the extremely intense to the oddly comical, from the flightily romantic to the strictly familial. Visually, too, David isn’t run of the mill, with each of the three stories projecting a distinct feel, texture and colour. Neil Nitin Mukesh, in Johnny Gaddar

Movie: David Cast: Neil Nitin Mukesh, Vinay Virmani, Vikram, Tabu, Isha Sharvani, Monica Dogra Directed by: Bejoy Nambiar mode, delivers a performance that is restrained and yet forceful. Vikram eases into his character. Vinay Virmani too delivers the goods. The supporting cast too is a notch above the rest.

Nambair with his second Hindi movie David, is certainly one to watch out for in future.

him. So his wish remains unfulfilled. We sure wish he gets it soon.

For now, Javed is looking to be on the horizon for quite some time. He says he has got started only now. His only wish is to be able to entertain audiences with his singing forever. For those youngsters who are looking for a foothold in the music industry his only advice is to remain grounded, believe in oneself and work hard. “When you are fresh, you will not be shy of asking people for help or learning from others,” he signs off.

Catch the singer live today at Royal Stag MTV Unplugged. Concert is organised at Jubilee Hills International Centre from 7.30 pm.

Special Chabbis to be promoted in Hyderabad A

fter Singham, Special Chabbis will be Kajal Aggarwal’s second tryst with Bollywood. This time, she is acting opposite Akshay Kumar. Knowing her fans in Hyderabad will love a treat she requested the film’s team that the film be promoted in the City as well. Being the

gentleman that he is, Akshay Kumar managed to convince the crew to fulfil the actress’ request. So on February 4, Hyderabad will see stars like Akshay, Anupam Kher and Manoj Bajpayee here. Surely considering the fan following Kajal has in the City, it’s going to be one packed promotion.

CINEMA SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 2, 2013

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CINEMA SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 2, 2013

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ENTERTAINMENT SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 2, 2013

ELIZABETH SOUMYA

elizabeth.s@postnoon.com Even after so many years your love for breaking and b-boying hasn’t changed. How have you been able to sustain and grow in your dance form?

I feel very enthusiastic when I see people move in a nice way. It is my passion to train as well. To experience the feeling when you realise movements and methods nobody ever worked on and master them is unbeatable.

What is it about this dance form that has kept you inspired and going?

I grew up reading superhero comics. Until this day, b-boying is a super hero dance in my eyes.

The dynamics of the dance are what I like the most. At the same time it does take a toll on your body. So I am trying to live as healthy as I can to maintain myself.

In what way does this art form express you?

In the 30 years of being in the game, I developed many methods and moves that are pretty much common these days. But still, when it is you, that shaped something, it will always belong to you. Every movement has a story and a meaning. When it is told by someone else the meaning might change due to the intonation and accentuation.

TAKEN BY STORM

Postnoon caught up with one of the world's biggest b-boying artistes, Storm, who recently performed in India.

developed on the street. They need to look at the term street rather like in streetwear. Are people wearing streetwear only on the street or everywhere?

B-boying and related styles of dancing from being considered cool went through a phase of being viewed as obsolete. What are the challenges these dance forms have faced?

Since 1991 our dance culture grew without letting the media control it. There was a moment in 1984 when the media totally exploited a very young generation of artistes and called them wrongly as ‘breakdancers’. The danger in anything is half knowledge and the greed for capital.

Europe, Germany in particular, is viewed as a good place for street art. What do you think is the reason for this and has it been true in the case of your art?

What are the common misconceptions and limited views that you have encountered about your art?

I feel the same way. But I have to say that other places are not any worse. It is rather that in Europe people have more possibilities to market themselves. More importantly, the already existing infrastructure for art of any kind helps fairly.

To top that, the social system in Europe is that good artistes don’t need to starve, even if they are not really successful. That gives a sense of security.

The worst is when people call it street dance and they think it is danced on the street, or even

About Storm: German artiste Niels Robitzky aka Storm has been representing HipHop and Funk styles since 1983 and is one of the leading artistes and pioneers in this field. Popping, locking and b-boying, made him world famous. In the ‘90s he kind of won every competition there was.

By 1991 his group The Battle Squad was one of the leading b-boy groups worldwide. He started dancing as a little child, but seriously caught on to these forms at 14. His first tours were for "Bravo Breakdance Sensation 84". Soon after that, the big fashion of 'breakdance' died out. Nevertheless, he didn't stop studying styles, got connected with other bboys and stayed creative and productive throughout the times when breaking was considered obsolete. Because of the struggle in times when b-boying was out of fashion and the fact that he'd been dancing for so long, he decided to establish hip hop culture in the theatre world, forming a dance company in his hometown Berlin, which was called the Storm and Jazzy Project.

What is the future of this form of art?

I cannot really foresee the dynamics of every hot spot on the planet. With the help of the Internet it will continue to grow and hopefully stay free without a concrete format. Even though all dancers treat it as a neo-classical art form, where each one puts utmost work into shaping the dance day by day, the dance bares history, codes and a certain approach that is needed to be understood. It is always open to new impulses.

B

-boying or breaking, often called breakdancing, is a style of street dance that originated as a part of hip hop culture among African-American and Latino youths in New York City during the early 1970s. A practitioner of this dance is called a b-boy, b-girl, or breaker. Although the term "breakdance" is frequently used to refer to the dance, "b-boying" and "breaking" are the original terms.

No learning from the book This Deepa Mehta film is an example of how translation from books to the screen can be disappointing.

M

idnight's Children is a loose allegory for events in India both before and, primarily, after the independence and partition of India. The protagonist and narrator of the story is Saleem Sinai, born at the exact moment when India became an independent country. He later discovers that all children born in India between midnight and 1 am on that date are imbued with special powers.

The story is reflective of the issues

Movie: Midnight’s Children Cast: Siddharth, Ronit Roy, Rahul Bose, Shabana Azmi, Soha Ali Khan, Seema Biswas, Rajat Kapoor, Anupam Kher, Shahana Goswami, Darsheel Safary Director: Deepa Mehta India faced in its early statehood concerning its cultural, linguistic, religious, and political differences.

Salman Rushdie may be the stalwart of magic realism when it comes to books, but you can’t say the same about his skills on the big screen. The adaptation of his Booker Prize winning novel with the same title does not work.The narrative is rambling and is flawed, too many characters floating in and out. Watch it if you are a fan of the book.

26

CHAI TIME SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 2, 2013

THOUGHT OF THE DAY

SUDOKU

Do what you feel in your heart to be right - for you'll be criticised anyway. You'll be damned if you do, and damned if you don't.

Play & Win

Play & Win

voucher from VENKEY’S VEG Restaurant, Nampally

voucher from VENKEY’S VEG Restaurant, Nampally

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

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

Within each collection of cells — called a run — any of the numbers 1 to 9 may be used but, like sudoku, each number may only be used once. Let’s have an example to explain this concept more clearly: In the image above, which shows a section of a kakuro puzzle, you will see the numbers ‘26’ and ‘14’ in the top row. Look at the 14. This means that the total of the three cells underneath must sum to 14. Therefore 9, 4, 1 could be the answer, or perhaps 7, 4, 3 and so on... So, how do you work out the actual combination? Well, this is done through elimination and cross-referencing. For instance, as you work out the answers for other kakuro clues, this will naturally limit the valid combinations, and hence the answer for this particular run. Note the second cell in row two — it contains two numbers, 30 and 11. The 30 refers to the vertical run underneath the number 30 and the 11 refers to the two cells to the right, horizontally, of the voucher from VENKEY’S VEG Restaurant, Nampally number 11.

Play & Win

Play & Win

Please send in your filled-in entries to Postnoon, #1246, Level 3, Jubilee Casa, Road No 62, Jubilee Hills, Hyderabad – 500033. The winners will be announced on this page in Sunday’s edition.

QUICK CROSSWORD ACROSS 1 Org for doctors 4 Overthrow plotters 9 ‘Li'l’ guy of Dogpatch 14 Yule drink 15 The ___ of defeat 16 Hillary preceded her 17 Three clubs 20 Cream-filled cookie 21 Posh retailer 22 Spins the same yarn 26 Night time, poetically 27 ‘You never ___ it so good!’

30 Sitcom interruptions, sometimes 31 Cry of distress 33 Type of auto collision 35 Defeat an incumbent 37 Arm bone 38 Two clubs 42 It's picked from a pocket 43 Rancher's rope 44 Couple with sixteen arms?

47 At hand 48 Place of therapeutic waters 51 Make tracks on a mountainside 52 Reel companion 54 Supports a charity 56 Falter on your feet 59 Shopper's

reminder 60 Three clubs 65 More than fat 66 Place with an eagle's-eye view 67 ‘A Nightmare on ___ Street’ 68 Used hip boots 69 Cake segment 70 ___ of Galilee DOWN 1 Goat or rabbit wool 2 Secured 3 Metal lace ends 4 It may be called on account of rain 5 Earlier 6 ‘You stink!’

7 Egyptian symbol

of enduring life 8 French high school 9 College fundraising targets 10 Cause of ruination 11 Few words, figuratively 12 Miscalculate 13 Manta ___ (large fish) 18 Opponent 19 Rock groups?

23 Loretta of song 24 Be an unsuccessful gambler 25 Inflate with pride 28 First-rate 29 Modern means of ID

32 Jacob's father-in-law 34 Tear conduit 35 ‘Do ___ others ...’

36 Out of breath 38 Rifle's recoil

PREVIOUS PUZZLE ANSWER

KAKURO

How to play kakuro

– Eleanor Roosevelt

39 Privileged 40 Goodbye, in Genoa 41 Kitten's plaything 42 Article for ‘Alamos’ 45 Victimised (with ‘upon’) 46 Smidgen 48 Subway station sights 49 Grinding tool used with a mortar 50 Breathing inhibitor 53 Car window decoration 55 Pie ___ mode 57 'What ___ can happen?'

58 Flightless South American bird 60 Respond to an ovation 61 Org for attorneys 62 Make the effort 63 Move quickly 64 Suffix for ‘command’ or ‘profit’

27

CHAI TIME SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 2, 2013

Aries

Taurus

Gemini

Cancer

Leo

Virgo

Queen of Pentacles

Nine of Pentacles

Six of Wands

Seven of Cups

Knight of Wands

Two of Cups

W

W

W

ork – The focus is on making money and you’re now making all career decisions based only on the monetary returns. Romance – Love is in the air. Passions run deep. Though you and your partner discover each other, there is confusion about where the relationship is headed.

Health – Confusion, anxiety and worry may be giving you sleepless nights.

Don’t punish yourself by over thinking your actions. Money – With your focus on material possessions, you do well to amass whatever it is that you need at this point in your life. Tarot message – De-stress and do what it takes to see things clearly. Develop a healthy relationship with yourself first.

W

W

W

ork –You will have to deal with some jealousy from a coworker about you getting lots of pats on your back for a job well done.

Romance – Your emotions are concentrated on making a good career path right now. Though you have it in you to be warm and caring, your partner may be feeling left out. Health – Watch the weight. Pay attention to diet and avoid bingeing, no matter how stressed you may be.

Money – Finances are in great shape. You are managing your bank accounts and assets rather well and know how to manage money and time. Tarot message – Balance the different aspects of your life to experience it fully.

ork – You like to work alone but circumstances are forcing you to work with a team.

Treat this as a learning experience. Romance – The significant other may be feeling left out and may want more attention from you. Carve out time to do things you both like.

Health – In order to maintain good mental health, you need to socialise and talk to new and different people.

Don’t get stuck in a rut.

Money – Finances are good. The bank balance is healthy and it gives you the confidence to take a few risks with your career. Tarot message – In order to experience life fully, you need to sometimes get out of your comfort zone and do different things.

ork – This is the victory card and whatever it is you have been waiting for is now yours. Treat yourself for a job well done and celebrate! Romance – A chance meeting turns passionate and you two hit it off big time. It may even go on to turn serious with a deepening of commitment. Health – If you need to quit smoking and drinking, this is the time to put yourself on a regimen and do it. Money – That freelance project you work on brings in more money than you had imagined. A book sells well or a stock market investment grows. Tarot message – When the times are good, you look back and congratulate yourself on hanging in there.

ork – This is a creative time and since the work review results have been good, you also begin to plan your next moves. Romance – You may come across as quite the unscrupulous monster when it comes to expressing your feelings. You’re unable to do it with sensitivity. Health – You’re high on energy and feel the need to continue to march ahead on that adrenaline rush. Rest and relaxation are also equally important. Money – You’re creating the road to better financial security. In the process, you may have to make a few compromises.

But the path is clear.

Tarot message – There may be a few distractions but as long as you are focused on your goal, nothing can stop you.

ork – A business partnership will be more successful than you can imagine, especially if you thought you’re not cut out for business.

Romance – Commitment in a relationship deepens and you decide to get engaged, move in together or tie the knot. Emotions run high. Health – Get a second opinion if a persistent health problem is refusing to let go.

Alternative therapies may help. Money – Opening a joint account with a business partner or wife can bring in more luck. Try it out and see how it works.

Tarot message – Two minds can do better what one mind can. Explore the possibilities of teaming up and the pleasures of working together with a like-minded person.

SUMAA TEKUR tarotreadhyd@gmail.com

Libra

Scorpio

Three of Wands

The High Priestess

W

ork – You may be asked to work with a lot of women around you.

So much feminine energy may be clashing with your own energy. Romance – Love is in the air. A lot of romance, wining, dining will take up your time.

Enjoy it while it lasts.

Nothing will stay the same forever. Health – Look out for minor issues like sleep irregularities, acidity or throat infection. Take medication and do what’s necessary to correct it.

Money – A freelance opportunity will help you make some extra cash.

This will help reduce the stress with the EMI payments. Tarot message – Use your intuition to the maximum. Go by what you feel and not what other people will think.

ork – Don’t spend too much time gossiping about unnecessary people and topics at the work place. You have to focus on more important things. Romance – Singles will find someone attractive and want to make the first move. Have some harmless fun but don’t get too emotionally attached.

Health – Health is fantastic. You feel good about the choices you’ve made and where your life is right now. It reflects on your health. Money – You’ve made the right investments or are in the right direction putting your money in the right places.

Good going! Tarot message – You have waited a long time for things to move. It is all going as per plan now. Don’t look back.

W

Sagittarius The High Priest

W

ork –You have the solution with you but you may be afraid to voice it out. Speak bravely in meetings and let your bosses know of your ideas. Romance – A romance with an older partner is likely. This will work very well as you will complete the limitations in each other. Health – Beware of over-eating and putting on weight. Watch your diet but also indulge once in a while. Don’t binge. Money – You have the answers to what needs to be done to improve finances. You just need to put it to action. Tarot message – There are times when you have the answers but time or fear stops you from going down that road. Be patient.

Capricorn

Date 3-2-2013

Aquarius

The Sun

Seven of Pentacles

W

ork – You need to attend a workshop or seminar that will enhance your knowledge in your field. Pay attention to what industry leaders are saying. Romance – You may be neglecting your partner.

Take a weekend off or spend a day with each other doing things you both like. Health – There’s some worry or anxiety that needs tackling. Take up a meditation course or something to de-stress.

Avoid alcohol at all costs.

Money – Your focus has been on making more money for some time now and it is working well.

Don’t worry about the bank balance. Tarot message – You will get stuck in a rut if you do not get out of your comfort zone and move ahead full steam.

ork – You are likely to get a little flirtatious with a coworker.

Don’t take it to extremes, and don’t lead the other person on. Romance – This is a great time for sensual pleasures and all kinds of passions. You’re in the mood to explore all sensory pleasures. Health – You have a youthful energy and verve which will take you through even the most difficult times. Stay cheerful and spread that energy.

Money – Finances are in good shape. Though you have little to worry about, keep checking in on your bank balance and assets once in a while. Tarot message – When the going is good, everything falls into place. Reflect on your life goals.

W

Pisces Three of Cups

W

ork – A project you worked on was successful. This gives your bosses more confidence in your ability and you’re able to pull off more than they thought you could.

Romance – In a marriage be careful of the intervention of a third person. It could be an extra marital affair. It could also be a pesky in-law. Health – Your feelings of contentment spill over and your body responds in a positive way to the call of immediate needs. Money – A raise or promotion is likely. A celebration of some kind is indicated.

You may even get a job offer from a rival company.

Tarot message – Success is important to know you’ve done well and to know your own ability.

Vol: 2, No 197 RNI No: APENG/2011/39337 Published for the proprietors, Scribble Media and Entertainment Pvt Ltd, by V Harshavardhan Reddy, at #1246, Level 3, Jubilee Casa, Road No 62, Jubilee Hills, Hyderabad – 500033 and printed by him at Jagati Publications Ltd, Plot No D-75&E-52, APIE Industrial Estate, Balanagar, Ranga Reddy Dist, Hyderabad – 500037, Editor: Dean Williams – Responsible for selection of news under the PRB Act All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or in part without written permission of the publisher is prohibited. For feedback, please write to: feedback@postnoon.com and for subscription, please call 040-40672222, Fax: 040-40672211

28

THE SATURDAY QUIZ SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 2, 2013

TEST YOUR KNOWLEDGE

IN THE NEWS

a Mockingbird, contained a character based on her real-life childhood friend, another famous writer. Who is it?

7. Which British writer was Princess Diana's step-grandmother?

8. Who invented the bikini?

9. Which Michael Jackson song entered straight at #1 position

on the Billboard 100 Singles Chart?

10. Around the World starring Raj Kapoor, Rajshri,and Mehmood is the only Indian movie dedicated to a cricketer. Name him.

11. Which author said: "Life's a bitch. You've got to go out and kick ass"?

Answers

movie went on to become one of the biggest hits of the year.

4. Which two members of *N SYNC were mouseketters on the new Mickey Mouse Club?

5. Who designed Liz Hurley's famous safety pin gown in 1994?

6. Harper Lee's only book, To Kill

1. Planet of the Apes 2. Johnny Walker 3. Reshma Aur Shera 4. Justin Timberlake and JC Chasez 5. Versace 6. Truman Capote 7. Barbara Cartland 8. Louis Réard 9. You are not alone (Year 1995) 10. Frank Worrell.

11. Maya Angelou

TEST YOURSELF

IDENTIFY THESE CELEBRITY COOKS

CURRENT AFFAIRS 1

1 2 3 4 5 6

2

Name the two new smartphones launched by BlackBerry this week.

How much do you know about World War II?

1

Which country had the largest number of casualties after WWII?

Which social networking site introduced the idea of gift cards by which consumers can buy cards for their friends on the site?

2

Which was the longest battle of WWII?

Which famous sportsperson has, this week, pledged to donate his entire salary to a children's charity ?

3

A South African cricketer became the first cricketer in history to captain in 100 tests this Friday. Who is he?

3

4

Whom did author Ian Fleming base his character 007 on?

Which software did Apple ban on Macs after security concerns?

6

A country introduced paratroopers for the first time during the war. Which is the country?

1. BB Z10 and BBQ10 2. Facebook 3. David Beckham 4. Graeme Smith 5. Barbra Streisand 6. Java software

Answers

KNOW YOUR COUNTRY

1

Which Guinness records holder from India broke his own record by punching 387 punches in one minute?

3 4

Answers:

2

Answers: 1. Julia Child 2. Nigella Lawson 3. Wolfgang Puck 4. Mario Batali

Which Indian cricketer scored her maiden century which resulted in the country's win against West Indies at the ICC Women's World Cup?

4 5

When and where did WWII end?

1.Russia with 21 million 2. Battle of Atlantic that lasted from 19391945 3. Explosion-affected people 4.On September 2, 1945, when Japan signed a surrender agreement on the USS Missouri in Tokyo Bay.5.Yugoslavian-born spy Dusko Popov. He obtained information that the Japanese were planning an air strike on Pearl Harbor, but the FBI did not act on his warning. 6. Russia

Which singer will be performing at the Oscars after a gap of 36 years?

Niju Hibakusha is the name given to the survivors of both atomic bombings in Japan. What does that mean?

PICTURE PUZZLE 52

How much has India pledged to the African-led International Support Missions to Mali?

with Santosh Ghule

A sociologist was arrested for allegedly making anti-dalit remarks. Who is he?

There’s more than the two faces here.

What’s that?

WHO AM I?

I am an Indian actor who is running from pillar to post to get my dream movie released in my home state.

The film was banned after some Muslim communities complained.

Who am I?

Evil.

Answer : Kamal Haasan

1. Which film had the largest make-up budget, about 17% of the total production cost?

2. Which Bollywood actor's original name is Badruddin Kazi?

He started off as a bus conductor. Name him.

3. Name the movie in which Amitabh Bachchan did not get to speak a single line. The

Answer for 51 :

1. Thirush Kamini Murugesan 2. Abhijit Baruah 3. 1 million dollars 4. Ashis Nandy

Answers

29

SPORTS SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 2, 2013

Froch-Kessler re-mach fixed LONDON: IBF super-middleweight world champion Carl Froch's muchanticipated re-match with Denmark's Mikkel Kessler will take place at London's 02 Arena on May 25, organisers revealed on Friday. British fighter Froch will bid to avenge a unanimous points loss to Kessler after a titanic tussle between the pair in their first meeting in Denmark in April 2010.

Waveriders beat Rhinos 5-2

LeMond injured in accident

RANCHI: Table leaders Delhi

WASHINGTON: American cyclist

Waveriders today extended their invincible run in the Hockey India league as they trounced Ranchi Rhinos 5-2 at the Astroturf Hockey Stadium here. Delhi Waveriders have nearly sealed their place in the semi-finals with 39 points, 10 more than second-placed Rhinos.

Rhinos’s defence, without Birendra Lakra, had an off day.

Greg LeMond, winner of three Tours de France, suffered a back injury and was hospitalised after a car accident near his home in Minnesota, Internet site Velonation reported Friday. The 51-year-old former world champion has no memory of the accident, which occurred on Tuesday while he was driving to the dentist in icy weather.

Force India to power ahead The team’s brand new car promises to make the forthcoming season a winning one.

LONDON: Force India unveiled their new car for the forthcoming Formula One season at Silverstone on Friday, but they are still to confirm the identity of British driver Paul di Resta’s teammate.

The vacancy next to Di Resta is one of only three across the grid for the 2013 season, which begins with the Australian Grand Prix in Melbourne on March 17.

French driver Jules Bianchi, the team’s third driver in 2012, was expected to be announced as Di Resta’s teammate.

However, he was present at the launch of Ferrari’s new F1 car on Friday as he is a member of the Italian team’s academy.

Former driver Adrian Sutil and ex-Sauber man Kamui Kobayashi have also been linked with the role.

Force India team principal

Robert Fearnley refused to be drawn on the identity of the new driver at the launch, telling reporters: “We do not want to confuse the two stories.”

The VJM06 is the third of four cars unveiled so far for the 2013 season that have jettisoned the stepped nose design that featured widely in last year’s world championship.

The Indian team finished seventh in last season’s constructors’ championship, but saw German driver Nico Hulkenburg leave to join rivals Sauber at the end of the year. Despite the uncertainty over the team’s line-up, Di Resta is confident that Force India will

FORCE INDIA FINISHED SEVENTH IN LAST SEASON’S CONSTRUCTORS’ CHAMPIONSHIP. make a stronger start to the season than they did last year.

“I think the pressure is on all the departments to make sure we start better,” said the 26-year-old Scottish driver.

“Last year we underperformed, certainly until the European season kicked in.

NBA players’ chief lands in soup NEW YORK: The NBA Players Association said Friday that union chief Billy Hunter (right) has been placed on indefinite leave following an independent report detailing shoddy business practices on his part.

“Unfortunately, it appears that union management has lost sight of the NBPA’s only task, to serve the best interests of their membership,” said union president Derek Fisher, a veteran guard who signed with Dallas as a free agent this season but was released on December 22.

Fisher, who was among those calling for the review into Hunter’s management of

the union, said the findings “confirm this unfortunate truth and we must now move forward as players.” The report issued by the law firm of Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton and Garrison found no evidence of illegal use of union funds, but found that Hunter withheld knowledge that his contract wasn’t properly approved.

The review also found that he used poor judgment in hiring and spent improperly on travel and gifts. The union said that it will form an interim executive committee to “ensure an orderly and appropriate meeting of the player representatives at All Star Weekend.”

“We did get some good results before that, in the rain in Malaysia and in Bahrain, where we just got everything together and managed to achieve something remarkable that early in the season.

“We need to launch a car, understand it, and bring a race package to it that needs to make the car quicker than when it is rolled out on

the first day.”

Force India have described the VJM06 as a “brand new car from the ground up” and Di Resta hopes it will allow him to improve on his careerbest fourth-place finish in Singapore in 2012.

“I’m feeling very good, I must say,” he said. “I’m working very closely with my team of people. We’re all trying to do the best job possible.” AFP

AP crush Pondicherry in lopsided Twenty20 match HYDERABAD: Players representing the State in the National Deaf Twenty20 Cricket Championship being played here made short work of their match against Pondicherry on Friday.

Rahim scored half a century and Anil scored 30 runs for AP. National deaf Twenty20 cricket championship Quarter finals Pondicherry 104 in 18 overs Lost to Andhra Pradesh 105 for 3 in 11.2 overs (Anil 30, Rahim 51) Karnataka 120 in 20 overs (Tariq Dar 5 for 29) Bt J & K 98 for 6 in 20 overs (Haroon 31) Kerala 133 for 8 in 20 overs

(Sibi R 34, Santosh Mithari 4 for 22) Bt Maharshtra 109 in 18 overs (Pradeep S 5 for 13) Tamil Nadu 162 for 9 in 20 overs (SV Kumar 35, GS Kumar 44, Lucky Singh 3 for 15) Bt Delhi 80 in 15 overs (Arun 3 for 16) HCA under-25 inter-district T20 cricket tournament Mahbubnagar 122 for 8 in 20 overs (Shiv 36, Mahesh 45, Rajeshkar Reddy 3 for 23) bt Adilabad 82 for 9 in 20 overs (Feroz Baba 4 for 17) Nizamabad 81 in 19.4 Overs (Sajid 30, M Rehman 4 for 19) Lost to Medak 86 for 6 in 17.4 overs (Wajid 3 for 14)

30

SPORTS SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 2, 2013

Djokovic cruises

Serbia’s Novak Djokovic celebrates after winning his Davis Cup World Group first round tennis match against Belgium’s Olivier Rochus on Friday in Charleroi.

AFP/JOHN THYS

Dave James

PARIS: World number one Novak Djokovic steered Serbia to the brink of the Davis Cup quarter-finals Friday, easing past Belgium’s Olivier Rochus on a makeshift court he described as the worst he’s ever encountered.

Australian Open champion Djokovic needed just an hour and 39 minutes to beat 32-year-old Rochus 6-3, 6-2, 6-2 to give Serbia a 2-0 lead in their

World Group first round tie after Viktor Troicki took five sets to defeat David Goffin.

Twenty-four hours earlier, Djokovic had lambasted the clay court laid out over the parquet floor at the Spiroudome de Charleroi.

“It’s the worst court I have ever played on. It’s very, very dangerous,” raged the world’s top player.

But the International Tennis Federation said that the court was

Bartoli, Kvitova bow out Martyn Wood

PARIS: French number one

France’s Marion Bartoli leaves the court on Friday after losing her match against Germany’s Mona Barthel at theParis WTA Open .

AFP/KENZO TRIBOUILLARD

Marion Bartoli bowed out in the quarter-finals of the Paris Open on Friday after a 7-6 (9/7), 6-4 defeat to Germany’s Mona Barthel.

Bartoli was aiming to cap her recall to the Fed Cup team this week after a nine-year exile with a maiden triumph in the French capital, but the world number 10 came up short as she faltered badly at key moments.

The third seed, runner-up in last year’s tournament, led 6/2 in the first-set tie-break but squandered four set points as Barthel, ranked 45th, escaped from a perilous position to move in front.

playable, insisting that they had laid 12 temporary clay courts on wood since 2009 without problems.

“It wasn’t easy playing on clay after a long time indoors and coming from Australia quite late,” said Djokovic.

“At the start I had trouble with movement and getting used to the conditions but I managed to play my best tennis when I needed to.”

Troicki battled back from two sets down against Goffin to win 1-6, 3-6, 7-6 (7/5), 6-4, 6-4 as Serbia, the 2010 champions, eyed reaching the World Group quarter-finals for a fourth consecutive year.

Sam Querrey and John Isner powered the 32-time champion United States to a 2-0 lead over Brazil in Jacksonville, Florida. Querrey fired 15 aces to beat Thomaz Bellucci 6-3, 6-4, 64 in the opener.

Isner, who missed the Australian Open with a knee injury, then pounded 32 aces past Thiago Alves in a 6-3, 7-6 (7/4), 6-3 victory.

With their formidable doubles duo of Bob and Mike Bryan due up on Saturday the United States looked to be in prime position to advance to face either Belgium or Serbia.

Spain, winners three times in the last five years, were on the ropes in Vancouver where Canada seized a 2-0 lead over the injury-depleted visitors, who were making do without Rafael Nadal, David Ferrer and Nicolas Almagro.

PATTAYA, THAILAND:

her slip out of the top 50.

“I didn’t serve perfectly,” Lisicki said. “My service games were always close, but I was also almost always holding. That gave me a lot of confidence later when I was a break point down or at 1530, that I could serve my way out of it. Sometimes the negative, you can turn into a positive.”

Lisicki will face Nina Bratchikova, for a spot in

At Vancouver: Canada 2 Spain 0 Milos Raonic (CAN) bt Albert Ramos (ESP) 6-7 (5/7), 6-4, 6-4, 6-4 Frank Dancevic (CAN) bt Marcel Granollers (ESP) 6-1, 6-2, 6-2 At Turin: Italy 1 Croatia 1 Marin Cilic (CRO) bt Paolo Lorenzi (ITA) 6-1, 67 (6/8), 4-6, 6-3, 6-2 Andreas Seppi (ITA) bt Ivan Dodig (CRO) 6-2, 6-7 (2/7), 6-4, 6-4 At Charleroi: Belgium 0 Serbia 2 Viktor Troicki (SRB) bt David Goffin (BEL) 1-6, 3-6, 7-6 (7/5), 6-4, 6-4 Novak Djokovic (SRB) bt Olivier Rochus (BEL) 6-3, 6-2, 6-2 At Jacksonville: USA 2 Brazil 0 Sam Querrey (USA) bt Thomaz Bellucci (BRA) 6-3, 6-4, 6-4 John Isner (USA) bt Thiago Alves (BRA) 6-3, 76 (7/4), 6-3 At Rouen: France 2 Israel 0 Jo-Wilfried Tsonga (FRA) bt Amir Weintraub (ISR) 6-3, 6-3, 4-6, 7-5 Richard Gasquet (FRA) bt Dudi Sela (ISR) 6-3, 6-2, 6-2 At Buenos Aires: Argentina 2 Germany 0 Carlos Berlocq (ARG) bt Philipp Kohlschreiber (GER) 3-6, 7-5, 2-6, 6-4, 4-5 - retired Juan Monaco (ARG) bt Florian Mayer (GER) 67 (4/7), 6-3, 6-3, 6-4 At Astana: Kazakhstan 2 Austria 0 Andrey Golubev (KAZ) bt Andreas HaiderMaurer (AUT) 7-6 (7/2), 6-3, 7-6 (7/5) Evgeny Korolov (KAZ) bt Jurgen Melzer (AUT) 7-6 (7/4), 6-3, 6-2 At Geneva: Switzerland 1 Czech Republic 1 Stanislas Wawrinka (SUI) bt Lukas Rosol (CZE) 6-4, 6-3, 6-4 Tomas Berdych (CZE) bt Henri Laaksonen (SUI) 6-3, 6-2, 6-7 (5/7), 6-1.

Phil leads despite bogey SCOTTSDALE, ARIZONA: Phil Mickelson (right) maintained a four-stroke lead at the Phoenix Open on Friday, despite denting an otherwise strong second round with a double bogey at the 18th hole.

Mickelson, who missed shooting golf ’s magic number 59 in the first round by only one shot, followed up with a six-under 65 for a 17-under total of 125.

His stumble at the finish, however, meant he missed out on the US PGA Tour’s 36-hole scoring record.

Although he was disappointed to drop two shots at the TPC Scottsdale’s par-four finishing hole — where he hit his tee shot into the water — Mickelson said the wobble

Lisicki powers into Pattaya semi-finals Sabine Lisicki reached her first semi-final in two years on Friday when she clawed her way past New Zealand’s Marina Erakovic 5-7, 6-3, 6-2 at the Pattaya Open.

Lisicki’s last semi-final spot was at this same venue , the same year she reached the Wimbledon last four.

That helped her to a ranking of 12 in the world, but an injury-hit 2012 saw

Davis Cup Results

the final. Saturday’s other semi-final will see fourth seeded Romanian Sorana Cirstea take on second seed Maria Kirilenko of Russia.

Cirstea recorded a 6-3, 60 victory over Latvia’s Anastasija Sevastova while Kirilenko fought off two set points in the first set tiebreak and reeled off five straight games to get past compatriot Elena Vesnina, AFP 7-6 (8/6), 6-3.

could help him in the long run.

“It’s very possible that’s going to help me because it’s got me refocused, that I cannot ease up on a single shot,” he said. “These guys are going to make a lot of birdies and I’ve got to get after it and cannot make those kinds of mistakes.”

Mickelson was one stroke off the US tour’s record for 36 holes of 124, set by Pat Perez at the 2009 Bob Hope Classic and matched by David Toms at the 2011 Colonial.

His second round included six birdies and an eagle at the par-five 15th and left him four strokes in front of Bill Haas.

Haas carded a seven-under 64 that included seven birdies AFP for 129.

Hurts to see your country lose: Yuki NEW DELHI: Left on the sidelines after AITA refused to meet their demands, Yuki Bhambri said it was painful to see India lose against Korea in the Davis Cup Asia/Oceania Group I tie, on Friday. Bhambri, who was one of the rebel tennis players to have revolted against the AITA, said they would have played the match only if the AITA had accepted all their demands in writing.

“We were ready to play if AITA had given us in writing that it will accept all PTI our demands.” said Bhambri

31

SPORTS SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 2, 2013

Part-timers ruin Smith’s day

Part-time bowlers, Younis Khan and Mohammad Hafeez, spoiled Graeme Smith’s big day as South Africa were bowled out for 253 in the first Test against Pakistan.

Colin Bryden

JOHANNESBURG: Two parttime bowlers spoiled Graeme Smith’s big day as South Africa were bowled out for 253 on the first day of the first Test against Pakistan at the Wanderers Stadium on Friday.

South Africa were dismissed after Smith, celebrating 100 Tests as captain and his 32nd birthday, won the toss and decided to bat in what were always likely to be challenging conditions on a pitch with pace and bounce.

Pakistan survived two overs at the end of the day, finishing on six for no wicket.

The South African batsmen did well enough against Pakistan’s front line bowlers, but lost five wickets to parttimers Younis Khan and Mohammad Hafeez and another to a run-out.

Younis took only his eighth

Pakistan’s players celebrate the wicket of Hashim Amla on day one of the first Test match between South Africa and Pakistan at the Wanderers Stadium in Johannesburg on Friday.

AFP PHOTO / STRINGER1 wicket in an 80-Test career to dismiss Hashim Amla, while offspinner Hafeez did even better, taking four for 16 after only

being introduced in the 71st over.

Hafeez, who had taken 29 wickets in 29 Tests before Friday, had AB de Villiers caught

behind off his first ball.

Remarkably, Hafeez was given the second new ball and struck again four balls later when Robin Peterson paddedup and was bowled by a straight delivery.

He then had Dean Elgar caught behind playing down the legside and wrapped up the innings by bowling Morne Morkel.

The other four wickets fell in more conventional fashion, with opening bowlers Umar Gul and Junaid Khan taking two each.

South Africa’s last five wickets fell for 21 runs.

“It was not the easiest pitch to score on," said South African batsman Faf du Plessis.

“There was movement for the seam bowlers and the ball was holding up a bit. For a day one pitch there was a lot happening out there. Looking at the cracks on the pitch there are AFP good signs for us."

Scorecard South Africa G. Smith c S Ahmed b Gul 24 A. Petersen c Hafeez b Khan 20 H. Amla c Ali b Younis Khan 37 J. Kallis c Shafiq b Umar Gul 50 A. de Villiers c S Ahmed b Hafeez 31 F. du Plessis b Junaid Khan 41 D. Elgar c S Ahmed b Hafeez 27 R. Peterson b Hafeez 0 V. Philander run out (A Shafiq) 1 D. Steyn not out 12 M. Morkel b Hafeez 0 Extras (b4, lb4, nb1, w1) 10 Total (85.2 overs) 253 Bowling: Umar Gul 19-2-56-2, Junaid Khan 18-8-33-2, Rahat Ali 14-0-56-0, Saeed Ajmal 23-4-680, Younis Khan 4-0-16-1, Mohammad Hafeez 7.2-1-16-4 Pakistan Mohammad Hafeez not out 6 Nasir Jamshed not out 0 Extras 0 Total (0 wkts, 2 overs) 6 Bowling: Philander 1-0-6-0, Steyn 1-1-0-0

Bowlers’ day out at Barabati

Sri Lanka rout defending champs

CUTTACK: It was a bowlers’ day out at the Barabati Stadium as 20 wickets fell and only 259 runs were scored during the ICC Women’s World Cup group B match between Pakistan and Australia here on Friday.

Sadia Yousuf (3/30), Asmavia Iqbal (2/36) and SumaiyaSiddiqi (1/27) shared six wickets among them as Pakistan dismissed title contenders Australia for 175 in 46.1 overs after they decided to bat first.

But the Australians returned to shot out Pakistan for a paltry 84 in 33.2 overs, thanks to some good bowling from SJ Coyte (3/20), EA Perry (2/18), LC Sthalekar (2/19) and HL Ferling (2/10).

However, despite the loss, Pakistani bowlers earned praise PTI from both the teams.

Sri Lanka caused the biggest upset of the WC as they defeated defending champions England.

Brief Scores

MUMBAI: Minnows Sri Lanka caused the biggest upset of the ICC Women’s World Cup as they defeated defending champions England by one wicket off a last-ball six in a thrilling Group A encounter at the Brabourne Stadium here on Friday.

After drawing level with England off the penultimate ball, Sri Lanka’s Dulani Manodara pulled Georgia Elwiss over mid-wicket for a superb six to complete their first-ever win over their fancied rivals in any form of the game.

Chasing 239 for a win, the Lankans got off to a flying start with a record century partnership between Chamari Athapaththu and Yasoda Mendis, but PTI soon slumped to 157 for 5.

ONE FOR THE CAPTAIN

South Africa’s Graeme Smith takes a bite out of a cricket-themed cake as he poses for a photograph while celebrating his birthday on day one of the first Test match between against Pakistan at the Wanderers Stadium on Friday.

AFP/STRINGER

In Mumbai Group A England 238/8 in 50 overs (Jenny Gunn 52) lost to Sri Lanka 244/9 in 50 overs (Chamari Atapattu 62, Eshani Kaushalya 56)

The Sri Lankan women’s team celebrates after defeating England in their ICC World Cup Group A match in Mumbai on Friday.

ICC

CSK may not go for foreign player

CHENNAI: Chennai Super Kings coach Stephen Fleming on Friday indicated that his team may not look for foreign players in Sunday’s IPL auction here as he felt “looking for new overseas players will lose fan base". Asked about continuing with the existing players in the CSK squad, Fleming said, “We would like to continue with the players. We associate with those quality players and develop them and plan our strategies. It is dangerous situation when you are looking for new overseas players as you will lose the fan base. “We want to develop our relations with the same players as they would have understood the needs of the team and the management. The fans expect consistency from the players and performance and we need to deliver that," he said at a PTI press conference.

In Cuttack Group B New Zealand 320/5 in 50 overs (Sophie Devine 145, Suzie Bates 72) bt South Africa 170 all out in 41 overs (Sian Ruck 4/31, Morna Nielsen 3/34).

Australia 175 all out in 46.1 overs (Sadia Yousuf 3/30) bt Pakistan 84 all out in 33.2 overs (Sarah Coyte 3/20).

End Pakistan isolation: Afridi KARACHI: Shahid Afridi has made an emotional appeal to the cricketing world to end Pakistan’s four-year isolation over terror attacks.

No international cricket has been played in Pakistan, which suffers near daily Taliban and Al-Qaeda-linked violence, since gunmen attacked the Sri Lankan team bus in March 2009, killing eight Pakistanis and wounding seven visiting players. Minnows Bangladesh twice called off tours last year over security fears and the head of the Federation of International Cricketers’ Associations (FICA) has warned players not to take part in an inaugural T20 tournament in March. Former captain Afridi said Pakistan has been sidelined and had “suffered because of being the frontline state in the war” against Islamist militants. AFP

32

SPORTS SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 2, 2013

Chris McKenna

MANCHESTER, UK: Manchester City manager Roberto Mancini (left) has warned his players that Liverpool are capable of dealing another major blow to their title hopes in Sunday’s showdown at Eastlands.

The reigning Premier League champions wasted a chance to keep the pressure on Manchester United when they were held to a 0-0 draw by struggling QPR in mid-

LONDON: Wayne Rooney (above) admits he told Manchester United manager Alex Ferguson he wanted to stop taking penalties because he was fed up with missing from the spot.

Rooney smashed his last spot-kick well over the crossbar in an FA Cup tie against West Ham in January.

That was the second time this season he had failed from the spot and it proved the last straw for the England star.

When United got another penalty against Fulham last weekend, it was Ryan Giggs who stepped up to take it and the Welsh veteran showed Rooney how to do it as he scored to put his side ahead.

But Rooney has revealed Robin van Persie, who did not start against Fulham, is now United’s number one taker after he decided to quit the role.

Beckham to start training on Feb 13

Sunday fixtures West Bromwich Albion Vs Tottenham Hotspur (1330GMT), Manchester City Vs Liverpool (1600GMT) week and they could be 10 points behind the leaders by the time they face Liverpool this weekend.

If United beat Fulham at Craven Cottage on Saturday, City’s title defence will be in serious danger and Mancini is well aware that Liverpool have the individual talent to add to his team’s problems.

While Reds manager Brendan Rodgers has endured mixed results this season as he tries to develop a new system at Anfield, Mancini believes Liverpool will always be a threat while they can call on the likes of Luis Suarez and Steven Gerrard.

“When you want to change like Liverpool have

Beautiful game is ticket to riches for Rio’s poor Javier Tovar

A woman looks at children’s jerseys bearing the name of PSG’s latest recruit British football player David Beckham, at a Paris SaintGermain store in Paris on Friday. Beckham has signed a five-month deal with the French Ligue 1 football club PSG. AFP/ P KOVARIK

PSG celebrate Beckham arrival with Toulouse rout

RIO DE JANEIRO: On a muddy pitch in a Rio slum, a skinny 17-year-old with big dreams of football stardom struts his stuff to attract the attention of talent-spotters watching a local tournament. Alan Viera is one of 800 teenagers taking part in the Favelas Cup, a tournament that draws players from 80 local shantytowns.

In this soccer-mad nation of 194 million people, which will host the 2014 World Cup, “the beautiful game” is a ticket out of poverty for millions of poor youths.

Viera lives in Mata Machado, a small favela nestled in the Boa Vista district near the Corcovado Mountain and its iconic Christ the Redeemer statue.

Waiting to be bussed to the stadium, he and his team-mates trade jokes and horse around to relieve the tension ahead of the big game. Victory would ensure a semi-final spot.

“I think that for all of us, the goal is to become a professional player, to wear

Martyn Wood

PARIS: Paris Saint-Germain celebrated David Beckham’s arrival in the French capital with an emphatic 4-0 rout of 10-man Toulouse on Friday that provisionally pushed the title favourites three points clear at the top of Ligue 1.

Javier Pastore, Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Mamadou Sakho and Gregory van der Wiel were all on target for Paris Saint-Germain at Stade Municipal as Carlo Ancelotti’s side capped a memorable 24 hours in style.

A seventh win in eight games for PSG moved them onto 48 points with second-place Lyon away to Ajaccio on Sunday and Marseille, who are on 42, at home to basement side Nancy. after being unveiled as a PSG player on a five-month deal on Thursday.

“Our agreement happened quickly and he had things to do.”

Leonardo then shrugged off the doubts of employing a 37-year-old outfield player.

“He is going to be a huge surprise for you,” said the Brazilian.

SOLUTIONS

Boggle Number game

Beckham won’t start training with Paris Saint-Germain until February 13, the French club’s sporting director Leonardo said Friday.

“He will come with us to Valencia for the Champions League game the day before, but will not play. The idea is that he will start training on February 13,” said Leonardo after PSG beat Toulouse 4-0 on Friday to extend their lead at the top of Ligue 1.

Leonardo confirmed that Beckham had returned to London immediately

Scrabble

TOULOUSE, FRANCE: David

it is difficult sometimes,” Mancini said.

“Rodgers did some good results but Liverpool always is a strong team. It will be a dangerous game on Sunday.”

City have yet to concede a goal in 2013 and have kept seven straight cleansheets in all competitions but Mancini feels they have to start scoring more if they are to close the gap on United.

“I think we improve a lot with our defence because all the team works hard,” Mancini added. “It is important to keep this but to score also. We maybe should have seven to nine goals more.”

Mancini is also hoping United’s busy February and March, during which they face Real Madrid in the last 16 of the Champions League, will cause them to drop points in domestic action.

“They are two important games for United so I think that February and March could be the time.”

the national squad’s jersey,” said Viera, who like all local youths, wears earrings.

His life is a constant struggle.

“At times we eat only rice and beans.

I have to work hard to become a football player and help my family,” he added.

Every Brazilian kid dreams of being the next Zico, Ronaldo or Neymar and the Favelas Cup is the perfect stepping stone for them.

SUNDAY MONDAY TUESDAY THURSDAY SATURDAY

Suduko

Rooney passes penalty duty to Van Persie

Mancini warns City to respect Liverpool