Postnoon E-Paper for 18 January 2013

FRIDAY, JANUARY 18, 2013 HYDERABAD

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‘I VIEW THIS SITUATION AS ONE BIG LIE THAT I REPEATED A LOT OF TIMES’ Disgraced cycling legend Lance Armstrong’s fierce defence of his record finally collapsed on Thursday as he admitted that his seven Tour de France titles were fueled by an array of drugs. “I made my decisions. They’re my mistake,” Armstrong told US talk show host Oprah Winfrey, in his first interview since he was stripped of his record yellow jersey haul and banned from sport for life.

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HYDERABAD’S FIRST COMPACT AFTERNOON NEWSPAPER

The Union Budget is not likely to change anything for many of us, but for millions of senior citizens in India, it is a matter of life and death. Will 2013 be the year they finally receive their due?

‘DON’T FORGET US THIS TIME’ REPORT ON P8&9

P16&17

With the 28th Asia-Pacific Academy of Ophthalmology Congress (APAO) beginning in the City, we guide delegates from across the world to the beauty of Hyderabad.

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FRIDAY, JANUARY 18, 2013

city events

ITALIAN SUNDAY BRUNCH

lavish spread of antipasti, cold cuts, cheese salads, live stations, main course, decadent desserts and more. at Via Milano, Jubilee Hills, till January 20. There will also be live Live music, BBQ, grills, carving and pasta, from 12pm to 4pm.

Weather for Hyderabad

Evening

Overnight

Morning

Afternoon

23°C

16°C

21°C

30°C

Clear.

Clear.

Sunny.

Mostly sunny.

New Delhi Mumbai Max 16 Max 29 Min 5 Min 16 Sunny, clear skies.

Chennai Max 30 Min 23

Bangalore Max 28 Min 17

Mostly sunny.

Sunny, clear, skies.

Clear skies.

AROUND THE CITY: YOUR GUIDE TO THE TWIN CITIES Mukarramjahi Road, Nampally, When: Up to February 15, 4pm to 11pm Contact: (040) 2460 3015

ART Rural Excerpts An exhibition of paintings and sculptures, of village depictions and life in rural areas, by Narsimlu Kandi. The preview is on January 19.

Where: Aalankritha Art Gallery When: Up to January 30, 11am to 7pm Contact: www.alankritha.in

Shoppers Stop sale Sale up to 51 per cent off on international and Indian brands across categories at Shoppers Stop, HomeStop and Mothercare outlets with Shoppers Stop.

Where: Shoppers Stop outlets When: from January 12 Contact: www.shoppersstop.com

Diva Divine Deified An exhibition of ceramic and terrakota sculptures by artist Jayaprakash.

Where: Iconart Gallery, Banjara Hills When: Ongoing Contact: www.iconart.in Code Red Countdown Code Red Countdown is an art collection revolving around ecology, by New York based artist Asher Jay. The theme is endangered wildlife.

Where: Lalitha Kala Thoranam, Public gardens When: January 27 6pm to 9:30pm Contact: 93965 55888

DINING Hot Dog food festival ITC Kakatiya’s multi restaurant, Deccan Pavilion, is organising a hot dog festival. Hollywood hot dog, Philadelphia cheese steak dog, Garden Dog and Arizona rush are some of the items on the menu.

CELEBRATING SANKRANTI: Children fly kites at Tankbund during Sankranti.

Where: Deccan Pavilion, ITC Kakatiya When: 18-27 Contact: (040) 4008 1816

Jubilee Hills, When: Up to February 10 Contact: (040) 2355 0105

Business Lunch A three course menu with Italian cuisine prepared by chef Matteo Gradi at Park Hyatt.

Where: Tre-Forni Bar & Restaurant When: Weekdays only 12pm to 3:30pm Contact: (040) 4949 1234 Cafe Classics Month 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.

This weekend starts with Britannia restaurant & cafe located in Bombay, with delicious Parsi dishes.

Where: Truffles cafe Plot no. 376, Road no. 10,

Commissioner & Spl Officer

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

198 155313

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

155333 23431178 23431179

MUNICIPAL CORPORATION

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

SHOWS The Monsoon Oracle The Monsoon Oracle is a factual film based on ritualistic practices that take places in the country. It revolves around the rituals performed, predicting the arrival of monsoon.

Where: NIFT, Madhapur When: January 25, Contact: (040) 2311 4537 Tribute to Rajesh Khanna There will be dance performances on Rajesh Khanna’s songs to pay tribute to the superstar. The dance will be choreographed by Mahesh L Munde, who has choreographed national and international performances.

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

155313 23307328 23313163

27505566 23314095 23390933 24600146 27001134 23607777 30418888 30417777 30419000 30416666 39879999

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

M ANIL KUMAR

Where: Lalitha Kala Thoranam, Public gardens When: January 27 6pm to 9:30pm Contact: 93965 55888

MISCELLANEOUS End of Season Sale Arrow end of season sale is here.

This New York fashion with a collection of casual and work wear is available on a discount. You can walk in to any Arrow store and avail discounts up to 40% on apparel and footwear.

Where: All Arrow outlets When: Up to January 20

Nikhil Chinappa Night Sky lounge is set to host its first ever grand party on the January 23, with celebrated DJ Nikhil Chinappa entertaining the guests over a gala dinner.

Exquisite variety of food and beverages will be served, with a wide selection of alternative Tapas cuisine.

Where: Sky Lounge, Madhapur When: January 23, 8pm onwards

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

Where: Exhibition Ground,

27567892 23559555 23226624 27633087 27035588 27550238 30799999 30418296 30417445

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

The Republic Ride The biggest corporate cycling event at Hyderabad is being organized by The Atlanta Foundation on republic day. The aim is to promote educational programs for underprivileged children.

Where: Gachibowli Stadium, Hyderabad When: January 26, 6:15am onwards Contact: atlantafoundation.org

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

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

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

24523211 232431300/7641 24521029

Readers’ views

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

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FRIDAY, JANUARY 18, 2013

City

YESTERDAY’S QUESTION

IS THE GOVERNMENT FOCUSSING ENOUGH ON ADMINISTRATION? 0% 100%

YES (A) NO (B)

TODAY’S QUESTION

WILL YSRC FORM AN ALLIANCE WITH MIM? A)

YES

B)

NO

To vote visit www.postnoon.com

CRIME

Raped minor attempts suicide, cops play dumb A minor girl who was kidnapped, raped, impregnated and thrown out sought justice for six months but the Santosh Nagar police just stood by.

Mohd SUBHAN mohd.s@postnoon.com

H

ere is the story of a young girl who was picked up, forcibly married, impregnated and thrown out of her ‘husband’s’ home. The poor girl, unable to see the trauma her family suffered, recently left home and went to the railway tracks. Her brother traced her by the mobile, reached in time and saved her, but she no longer wants to live.

All this happened right here in the City, while the law and justice system acted deaf and dumb.

No community member intervened, the police played a shame-

ful game, siding with the accused.

This happened under the cover of liberal divorce prevalent in the Muslim community (Postnoon December 18 issue).

The incident took place on July 2 last year. Jawaduddin, a 30-year-old resident of Kurmaguda in Madanapet, who works as a manager at a shopping mall, had his eyes on a minor girl, who had stopped studying after Class VIII due to poverty. He asked her to marry him. She refused his offer, saying he belongs to a middle-class family and was educated while she was neither rich nor educated.

Instead of taking it in the right spirit, Jawaduddin reportedly kidnapped her while she was

The girl recently went to the railway tracks to end her life, but her brother managed to track her down through her mobile and save her in time. going shopping, and married her forcibly on the strength of a fake SSC certificate. When she got pregnant, she was turned out of his home.

Adding insult to injury, the man and his parents sent her a divorce by post. The girl’s mother said they are being denied justice because the man has the support

of a local corporator. Despite the then DCP Dr Akun Sabharwal asking Santosh Nagar inspector KM Prasad to take action against Jawaduddin, the police did nothing. Six months have passed and the man is free and enjoying life, rue the girl’s parents.

When the Postnoon correspondent visited her home on Thursday, the girl appeared a shadow of her former self. Once pretty and intelligent, she is now paranoid and wants to end her life. Her brother and mother look on in despair. They say the police are bought by Jawaduddin and his brother-inlaw, Mohd Shafi. Nobody seems to care for the plight of the girl and her family.

EYES WIDE OPEN

Postnoon had first reported the incident on December 18, 2012.

CRIME

Three homes cleaned out POSTNOON NEWS feedback@postnoon.com

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President Pranab Mukherjee addressed the 28th Congress of Asia-Pacific Academy of Ophthalmology in Hyderabad on Thursday. He spoke of the link between poverty and disability, and stressed on the burden it placed on families. He also reminded the audience of the tenets of Vision 2020 of WHO, which states that the problem of blindness can only be combated through increased political commitment, provision of high quality eye care, increasing public awareness and support of non-governmental organisations and private sector.

hree houses were burgled in different places under the Cyberabad commissionerate on Tuesday night and early Wednesday.

Thieves made away with 12 tolas of gold ornaments, 15kg of silver jewellery and `50,000 in cash from the house of one P Sudhakar in Hanuman Nagar. The residents were not in the City. The front door lock was found broken.

The second incident was reported at Sriram Nagar colony in Turkayamjal of Vanasthalipuram area. Burglars targeted the house of one D Ashok, a bakery owner, and decamped with five tolas of gold, 50 tolas of silver and `50,000 in cash.

Here too, thieves got access to the house after breaking open the lock.

The house owners were away.

The third burglary also happened at PVR Nagar in Vanasthalipuram area. Thieves cleaned out all the gold and silver of unspecified amount. Nothing else was stolen, police said.

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city FRIDAY, JANUARY 18, 2013 LAST YEAR... HERE No place to experiment

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ast year, we had reported how 60 of the 4,800 intermediate colleges in the state have no proper laboratory facilities. As a result, students are forced to give their practical exams in colleges other than their own.

However, the government was yet to clarify the ‘jumbling’ method, as it is called, leading to a lot of confusion and stress among students.

JANUARY 18, 2012

NUMEROLOGY

33%

of senior citizens in the country are below poverty line. As of now, more than three crore senior citizens subsist on a monthly token amount of `200.

Coming all the way from Pakistan to Hyderabad was not that easy for us. It’s not the common man’s fault but it’s because of the failure of both the governments.

CIVIC

MIM, TDP join hands?

MIM, a victim of its own design, seems unsure where to go. It gravitated to TDP as well as YSRC, and the two would not go well together.

Md NIZAMUDDIN nizamuddin.a@postnoon.com

A

s the ruling party in GHMC — the MIM — has sought a divorce from its partner in power, the Congress, a new friend has already occupied the slot.

The TDP, which had been strident about the ‘unholy’ alliance of the MIM and Congress, has begun to play a new tune that tells a lot about newfound love. And consequently, the TDP has given up pressure to hold the next general body meeting.

The MIM is keen to postpone the next general body meeting as long as possible only to prevent a BJP corporator from taking oath, say sources. The MIM has traditionally been seeing, without valid reason, the BJP as its enemy No.1.

According to sources, MIM and TDP leaders have had discussions at the highest levels over the general body meeting. Following the pressure brought against the

A Asif, Numaish stall owner See page 5

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mayor to conduct the meeting immediately, it is believed that the MIM chief, Asaduddin Owaisi (left), spoke to TDP chief

Chandrababu Naidu (right). A deal was struck between the two political parties to share the standing committee membership

CRIME

DROOL FEST

ITC Kakatiya’s Deccan Pavilion is hosting a hot dog festival from January 18-27. Melted cheese, crispy vegetables, tender meat and tangy sauces all stuffed in a bun — this fest will be an experience you would not want to miss. Try every hot dog on the menu at the price of `999 + taxes, while for a buffet, it will cost `1,599 plus taxes.

THINGS WE LEARNT TODAY

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

1

Is this the lucky year for senior citizens?

The elderly get a raw deal in India.

But this year, a working group on social welfare made several recommendations for senior citizens for adoption in the 12th Five-Year Plan. A glimmer of hope, most say.

2

Is the State edging towards separation?

The subdued United Andhra camp seems to be an indicator that the Centre will opt for creating a separate Telangana state soon. Leaders remain tight-lipped, though.

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for the next term. In all this, Talasani Srinivas, TDP city president, played a major role.

Following the changing political equations, it is now believed that there is also a shift in the strategy of the MIM, which has already distanced itself from the Congress on the temple-Charminar issue. “Singireddy Srinivas Reddy (TDP floor leader) giving up the demand for the general body meeting has a lot of meaning,” said a Congress corporator. Tenure of the standing committee will finish on June 20 this year and fresh elections will be held thereafter. Corporators have to elect 15 members in all, which can be easily handled by both the political parties with their strength of 44 (TDP) and 42 (MIM).

However, it is not clear if the understanding between the two parties is restricted to the GHMC. The MIM, which has landed in a soup of its own making, seems unsure as to where to go. There had earlier been talks of an MIM-YSRC tieup as well.

PHOTO BY SRINIVAS SETTY

Jagan’s custody extended T

he special court for CBI cases at Nampally on Thursday extended the judicial custody of YS Jaganmohan Reddy till January 30.

The court also extended the custody of Nimmagadda Prasad and Mopidevi Venkata Ramana, who were arrested in connection with the Vanpic case, to January 30, after hearing them through video conferencing. Minister Dharmana Prasada Rao, an accused in Vanpic case, appeared before the CBI court on Thursday. The special court extended the remand of OMC principal accused Gali Janardana Reddy till January 31.

NSS

NEWS BRIEFS

Learning to deal with natural disasters.

Cops were given tips on how to act during a disaster and save as many as possible. School and college students will be trained next.

20-year-old run over while crossing tracks

Detainees escape police custody

Pay and use power, industries told

Inspector transferred after complaints

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T

I

T

Intolerance reaches new heights in Hyderabad.

Pakistani stall owners at Numaish are heading home because right-wing groups protested their presence.

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No passes to the gods given here, if you please.

‘No temple letters issued’ reads a sign on a minister’s door, thanks to Tirumala VIP pass requests.

Prashanth Kumar, 20, who was crossing the railway tracks between Jamia Osmania and Vidyanagar railway stations on Wednesday night, was run over by a speeding train. He died on the spot. A native of Krishna district, he was working as a managing director of a dancing school in the City, police said.

wo youngsters, Edukondaloo, 24, and Praveen Kumar, 23, escaped from the Jeedimetla police station on Thursday where they were summoned for interrogation about some theft cases in the City. The police said that the two youngsters sprinted out of the police station and jumped over the wall. A manhunt has been launched.

ndustries in Andhra Pradesh will get 24-hour power supply, provided they are willing to pay for it, said the government. The power-starved industries have been issued a notification by APCPDCL inviting applications from industrial consumers to avail the Expensive Power Supply Scheme (EPSS) approved by the APERC.

he commissioner of police, Cyberabad, Ch Dwaraka Tirumal Rao, has transferred Srinivas Rao, inspector of Kukatpally police station and posted him in the control room. The action followed complaints about the inspector, who was allegedly a wheeler-dealer and conducted his unsavoury business within the police station limits.

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city FRIDAY, JANUARY 18, 2013

POLITICS

Kin gather to pay tribute to NTR M ANIL KUMAR

POSTNOON NEWS feedback@postnoon.com

T

he party workers and cadres of Telugu Desam Party celebrated the 17th death anniversary of former chief minister and party founder NT Rama Rao today.

The party president N Chandrababu Naidu, who is currently on a padayatra, participated in the death anniversary observances at Kodad Mandal in the Nalgonda district. In Hyderabad, Tollywood actor Balakrishna and Chandrababu Naidu’s son Nara Lokesh participated in the Vardhanthi celebrations. Both the leaders also flagged off a rally of party workers entitled ‘Amar Jyothi rally’ at Rasoolpura junction in

NTR and other family members also paid rich tributes to NTR at the NTR Ghat this morning.

Jr NTR was accompanied by his wife and other family members. Addressing the media on the occasion Junior NTR said that the Telugu Desam Party would bounce back to power in the next general elections banking upon the sympathy created by the ongoing padayatra of party president N Chandrababu Naidu.

FREE EYE CAMP HELD

Secunderabad. Before flagging off the rally, the duo garlanded the statue of NT Rama Rao

amidst the chantings and slogans of party cadres.

The Amar Jyothi rally will

culminate at NTR Ghat near Necklace road. NTR’s grandson and Tollywood actor Junior

Commemorating NT Rama Rao’s death anniversary, the party cadres also organised a free eye check-up camp for the poor at the party headquarters.

Scores of leaders and other party workers participated in the camp.

TRADE FALL OUT

POLITICS

T party at last? Pakistani stalls forced to shut Leaders are keeping their fingers crossed on the T issue as the Centre is about to reveal its fate.

shop following protests

N SHIVA KUMAR

ANUBHA K SINGH anubha.k@postnoon.com

T INKESHAF AHMED ahmed.m@postnoon.com

T

he unusual calm in the united Andhra camp gives out the signal that the Telangana statehood may be a reality soon.

While the Pro-Telangana leaders and parties are exuding confidence that the long cherished dream of 4 crore people of the region would soon become reality, the Andhra-Rayala leaders appear subdued.

Till recently, majority of Seemandhra leaders and die-hard supporters of united Andhra Pradesh like minister for minor irrigation TG Venkatesh had maintained that the UPA government would never bifurcate the State as it would harm the prospects of the party in Andhra and Rayalaseema regions. But after a meeting with party high command leaders in New Delhi on Wednesday, the same minister

had publicly stated that the central government was inching towards creating the separate state. “The chances of a separate Telangana state is very bright this time. The government seems to have made up its mind,” he said while speaking to Postnoon.

Giving more credence to the reports of formation of T-state, the minister said that when compared to Telangana leaders, the Seemandhra leaders had failed in convincing the party high command on the need for a united State. “I have been fighting on the issue of Rayalaseema’s backwardness. If the centre decides to give Telangana state, it must announce a special package for the development of Rayalaseema simultaneously,” he noted.

Another minister from Rayalaseema, E Pratap Reddy made a similar statement. Now, each proponent of united Andhra is talking of a special package to this region or that.

he recent tension between India and Pakistan has already made its effect felt in the world of sports. And now it has engulfed the All India Industrial Exhibition, better known as Numaish, as well.

The much-talked about Pakistani stalls were forced to down their shutters for this season after the youth wing of the Bharatiya Janta Party staged a protest at the Exhibition Grounds, demanding that the stalls be removed.

However, this is not the first time that the Pakistani traders were forced to leave abruptly.

After the Mumbai blasts in 2006, the stall owners had chosen to return to their country of their own volition. This time however, they were given an ultimatum by activists of Bhartiya Janta Yuva Morcha, Vishwa Hindu Parishad, and Bajrang Dal. The stalls that were shut yesterday now have the police guarding the place.

“We are very disappointed at this turn of events. This incident will only bring losses to both the countries. It was not easy for us to come all the way from Pakistan. It’s not the common man’s fault but it’s because of the failure of both the governments,” said Ahmed Asif,

owner Paras Industries. “We put up stalls across India and these incidents are affecting trade. It has only been five days since we set shop. Forget profit, we have not yet been able to recover the money we spent on setting up the stalls and there is no word from the society on reimbursement,” he added.

So disappointed is he that he says he will never set up shop here again. “Unless things change at the higher level, the situation will remain tense in both the countries. Numaish was not a good experience for us. The society members told us to shut down and we did not want any fights,” he said.

The Exhibition society however claims that it was solely the decision of the stall owners.

“We did not take this decision.

If they would have approached us for police protection we

would have definitely provided them but there was no such demand from them. I respect their decision of stall owners as safety is our priority” said Sukesh Reddy, secretary Numaish.

Visitors too are disappointed at this turn of events. “We got a chance to shop at the Pakistan stall after a long gap.

Unfortunately some political parties didn't let it happen. As an Indian even I am hurt about the soldiers deaths, but that doesn’t mean all Pakistanis are bad. The exhibition society should have provided them police protection and I don’t understand how and why did they allow protestors inside the premises,” said Radhakrishna, a visitor.

Incidentally, Pakistani stalls were always a big hit with Hyderabadis.

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city FRIDAY, JANUARY 18, 2013

REPORTERS’ DIARY

‘Dude, where’s my car?’

SRINIVAS SETTY

heeded, if you care for astrology. But it is noteworthy that even a sultan had cared for the auspicious time for founding a city. “In the year 1591, when the moon was in the constellation of Leo, Jupiter in its own abode and all celestial planets favourably placed, Mohammed Quli Qutub Shah, the 5th sultan of Qutb Shahi dynasty, laid the foundation of a new city — Hyderabad,” so says Wikipedia. Now, what’s the compatible sign for Leo? “The Leo type is the most dominant, spontaneously creative and extrovert of all the zodiacal characters.

In grandeur of manner, splendour of bearing and magnanimity of personality, they are the monarchs among humans, as the lion is king of beasts.” So it is clear that only a ruler of Leo sun sign would be compatible with the City. Taurus and Scorpio are a big no-no. Incidentally, no known T-leader is a Leo! (PK)

54 SIGNS OF RIOTS

Hyderabad police commissioner’s website gives elaborate symptoms of a possible riot and how citizens can help prevent violence. Police have given 54 signs of riots as most riots are premeditated and there are telltale signs of violence in the making. But at the end, the portal

Q

ueer is the method of the GHMC. Queerer still, is its manner of conning unwary public! In the picture taken at Himayat Nagar (above), one sees a woman GHMC employee issuing tokens for vehicles parked bang under the board of ‘No Parking.’ Postnoon lensmen spotted the same game in Ameerpet, Lakdikapul and Secunderabad.

Recently, an amusing scene was witnessed. A man parked his vehicle in the above manner and got a token for `10 for three hours. When he came back, the vehicle was not there. Someone said the traffic police towed it away. But that was not true. Someone else had swiped the vehicle. Well, the poor fellow went

asks citizens to inform the police if you find any signs of unrest. A wag pointed out the difficulties of the proposition. 1.

Symptoms are often misleading, much like medical symptoms, all of which sound similar. 2. Inform police, yes, but how to do so? No phone number or tollfree number is given. Citizens know that if they call the local police station, they are in for trouble, because most phones have caller id and the police will search out the informer and make his life miserable. Come on, be smarter, police! (MS)

NO VIP PASSES PLEASE

All cabinet ministers, speaker and deputy speaker are always flooded with requests for VIP passes to Tirumala temple. To keep a check on this, the personal staff of deputy speaker Mallu Bhatti Vikramarka found an innovative way.

They put up a notice (pictured below) outside the chamber, ‘Temple letters are not issued.’ Soon, the idea spread and everyone has this notice put up to avoid trouble.

(IA) Contributed by Rahul Ramakrishna, Md Nizamuddin, Mohd Subhan, Inkeshaf Ahmed, Srinivas Setty and PK Surendran

around asking, “Hey, has anybody seen my vehicle?” No one had.

(SS)

HYDERABAD: PAN-INDIA CAPITAL!

At a recent discussion on the issue of separate statehood in Andhra Pradesh, one man made a very witty albeit sensible point. His demands, written on a pamphlet said, "I demand that Hyderabad be made the joint capital of all the 28 states in this country to respect the sentiments of people from various states living in Hyderabad. Indeed, more ideally, we should make it the common capital of all the countries whose citizens are in Hyderabad. “We should respect the sentiments of everybody living in Hyderabad." Few can disagree.

(RR)

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MEDDLING, MUDDLING MLAs

Political meddling in the civic body is nothing new, but when it comes to the GHMC, MLAs are most actively involved in messing things up. The zonal commissioners and deputy zonal commissioners are at the receiving end, as MLAs representing constituencies in the outskirts are always poking at their ribs. Even some corporators now believe that some of these MLAs are not seriously interested in public welfare, but only in ship. Meanwhile, issues get piled up.

It is believed that the recent issue of a commissioner’s transfer was also triggered by unhappy MLAs, who were not satisfied with MT Krishna Babu. For now, though the tide has receded, one knows for sure it will not be long before the process starts.

(MN)

LEO-LEO

As the talk of the town today is Telangana and its capital Hyderabad, here’s an astrological warning to be

95/s.10 /R : e c 49 r Pri Rs.5 Cove r Price: : 50% Offe l Saving Tota

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classifieds FRIDAY, JANUARY 18, 2013

CAMPUS

City, US film schools tie up

In a first of its kind initiative, AISFM ties up with Chapman University to facilitate a student exchange programme.

CLASSIFIEDS HEALTH/ CLINIC

HEMANTH KUMAR hemanth.k@postnoon.com

A

nnapurna International School of Film and Media has announced a tie up with Chapman University, one of the top film schools in the world, and as part of this initiative, a team of students and faculty members from Chapman University are in Hyderabad on an exchange program.

Kurt Inderbitzen, CEO of AISFM, Amala Akkineni, Chris Higgins, vice-president of admissions and marketing at AISFM and Alexandra Rose, chair of special projects and industry initiatives at Chapman University, California, were present at an event to commemorate the exchange programme. "2012 has been a great year for AISFM. We launched India's first degree programme in filmmaking and about a year ago, I

got a call from Alexandra Rose, who was looking for a partner in India. When I suggested that she should visit AISFM, she flew down from the United States and that marked the beginning of this partnership. I hope this is the beginning of many more projects to come,

which will benefit our students and those from Chapman University," Kurt Inderbitzen said.

Alexandra Rose is a Hollywood producer and an Oscar nominee.

Speaking at the event, she said, "I am excited about our collaboration with AISFM. When I spoke to Kurt

for the first time, he gave me a two hour short course on what to expect when we arrive in India with our students, and I must confess that without the support of Indian students at AISFM, we couldn't have completed the projects. The students from Chapman and AISFM worked together for three films and one of them features Amala Akkineni, who was kind enough to let us use Blue Cross of Hyderabad's animal shelter as a location. Another film was recently shot at the kite festival in Ahmedabad and the third one is about two mothers bragging about their sons."

Amala Akkineni said, "I played a tiny role in one of the films and it was amazing to see the students from both the universities gel well within such a short span of time.

Their focus and planning surprised me and it was really nice to see Alexandra Rose guiding the students throughout the film."

IN AN EMERGENCY

City trains in disaster response

The National Disaster Response Force is now in the City to train citizens to conduct rescue operations during disasters.

To advertise on this page, contact: 9866074747 For Secunderabad 9290204030 For H y d e r a b a d - 9866663212

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Md NIZAMUDDIN nizamuddin.a@ postnoon.com

A

25 member team from 10th battalion, NDRF, stationed at Acharya Nagarjuna University, Guntur, trained 100 police and 71 homeguards on Thursday.

They were given training to rescue people in whatever possible way, by availing basic materials in the surroundings.

The disasters can be tsunami, earth quake, gas leakage, radiological emergency, structural collapse, railway accident or any other major disasters.

After tsunami left many affected, the central government formulated the idea of NDRF under National Disaster Response Authority (NDRA) in 2006.

The 10th battalion was started on November 15, 2012.

There are 10 NDRF battalions in India and this battalion focuses on Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka. They took active part in disaster management when

cyclone Neelam hit the country.

There are 18 teams per battalion with 1,000 well trained men from paramilitary services like CRPF, CISF, BSF and ITBP. Each team has 47 members and one of the teams will be always on alert. “After children’s vacations end, we shall be visiting schools and colleges,” said subinspector Sanjay, heading the 25 member team.

The team will be training fire station, Madhapur, on Friday and NSS cell, Osmania University, on Saturday.

SRINIVAS SETTY

8

city FRIDAY, JANUARY 18, 2013

SPECIAL REPORT

DAWN OF A NEW

TOMORROW?

The Union Budget is not likely to change anything for many of us, but for millions of senior citizens in India, it is a matter of life and death. Will 2013 be the year they finally receive their due?

PADMINI C padmini.c@postnoon.com

T

he last time senior citizens in this country were truly hopeful of a better future was back in 1999, the year in which, after decades of delay, the National Policy on Older Persons was unveiled. It was even officially celebrated as the ‘National

Year of Older Persons’. The dawn of a new tomorrow, many said.

Thirteen years later, the act is all but forgotten. In 2007, the Maintenance and Welfare of Parents and Senior Citizens Act was introduced but is still in varied stages of implementation across the country. Whatever the Acts, progress has been slow and results, negligible. The story

of the 10 crore or more senior citizens is still largely that of neglect, vulnerability, destitution and despair. That is not to say, welfare schemes were not introduced. Implementation, however, is another story.

Pensions, for instance, were introduced, but are embarrassingly inadequate. Under the Indira Gandhi National Old Age Pension Scheme (IGNOAPS), more than three crore senior citizens (in the age group of 60-80) subsist on a monthly token amount of `200 a month. “Which is almost never on time, reduced to half or less, thanks to rampant corruption in the pension office and so grossly inadequate, it’s shameful,” rues Kiran Shukla, a Kanpur based advocate who specialises in cases of elderly abuse.

Predictably, the chief reason for the poor execution of the NPOP-99 and others through the years has remained the same — budgetary constraints.

Representation after representation by senior citizen wel-

fare groups were made to rectify the situation, with little luck. However, for the first time in 13 years, there seemed like a glimmer of hope when this year, a Working Group on Social Welfare was constituted by the Planning Commission

which made a series of recommendations for adoption in the 12th Five Year Plan.

“Every time we made representations, asked about why little was being done to implement the National Policy on Older Persons, the States said

Recommendations of the Working Group ignored by the Planning Commission Senior Citizen’s groups allege that only 11 out of 30 recommendations of the Working Group were taken note of while the rest were ignored.

n Providing training to care givers in 100 cities.

n To increase insurance cover under Rashtriya Swasthya Bima Yojna to `1 lakh for senior citizens from existing `30,000.

n Setting up of separate department of senior citizens.

n Make provision of 1,800 crore for setting more Geriatric Centres/Wards for Senior Citizens. n Enhancement of Pension under Indira Gandhi National Old Age Pension Scheme. n 14 Centres for assisted living for rehabilitation of elderly suffering from dementia etc. n Setting up of National Institute

of Ageing.

n Free legal service to BPL seniors.

Crucial issues still in debate n Enhancement of Pension under Indira Gandhi National Old Age Pension Scheme. Proposal for a universal pension of `2,000 for all BPL senior citizens with 50 per cent more for 80+. n Establishment of one Old Age Home per district. n Proper implementation of the NPOP-99.

9

city FRIDAY, JANUARY 18, 2013

they had no money, as did the government. This was because the Planning Commission did not earmark any funds for us. Due to the scale, it became challenging for us to map out the costs and estimates. So when this time, the working group made its recommendations, it rectified some of that and made an informed case,” explains RN Mittal, president of AISSCON. Among other things, the working group recommended that the New National Policy on Senior Citizens be implemented properly, health insurance cover be raised, Bureaus for Economic Empowerment of Senior Citizens at District Level and more. Senior Citizen Associations like AISSCON added their requests and asked for pension amounts, tax exemptions to be increased, setting up of

Senior Citizen Welfare Boards at Centre and State Levels, and a minimum of one old age home to be set up in each district.

But despite the initial excitement, many now believe it’s business as usual for the government. They say there’s no point getting your hopes raised over this year’s budget and that their pleas are falling on deaf ears. “Usually there’s disagreement between us on the numbers. But this time the Planning Commission’s own sub-committee has presented these recommendations and still the government has done nothing. There’s almost nothing of substance from either our representations or the group’s recommendations in Mr Aluwalia’s draft of the 12th Five Year Plan. There’s going to be little for us in this year budget,” believes Dr Vyasa Moorthi, vice president,

AP Senior Citizens Confederation.

Even as a group that currently amounts to roughly 10 per cent of the total population, at 100 million people, it’s helpless, say senior citizens.

“They have incorporated three or four recommendations. Which are all the ones

Senior Citizen Fact File n India has the second largest aged population the world. n Current number of senior citizens: An estimated 100 million n By 2050: 326 million n Below Poverty Line: 33 per cent n Within the next five years, the number of adults aged 65 and over will outnumber children under the age of 5.

Source: HelpAge India

that don’t involve money,“ remarks RTI activist MV Ruparelia. He goes on to add, “The government is complacent because they know we can’t do anything. Fine, let’s assume it has no money to allot to senior citizens. But how do you explain that it won’t even pass instructions to its officials to properly implement the existing acts and policies? It’s indifferent to our cause.”

How much, or if anything at all, of this year’s budget will go towards the welfare of Senior Citizens is still unclear.

What if it’s nothing?

“Then I guess we’ll go on a rally on August 16 when it is the Senior Citizen’s protest day and hope that someone will take notice. What else can we do?” Somaraju B, a septuagenarian pensioner asks bleakly.

It is a question that’s bet-

The `200 a month is almost never on time, reduced to half or less, thanks to corruption in the pension office and so inadequate, it’s shameful.

Kiran Shukla advocate ter suited to the government.

Because the Union Budget this year is not likely to change anything significant for many of us, but for millions of senior citizens in India, it will be a matter of life and death.

FRIDAY, JANUARY 18, 2013

Business

QANTAS CANCELS ONE DREAMLINER

Australia’s Qantas said Friday it was cutting its order for Dreamliner aircraft by one, but it still expected to take delivery of 14 of the Boeing jets as planned.

TELECOM

10

CHINA’S GROWTH SLOWS

Better ideas, more profits Innovation on the part of service providers can offset increasing input costs.

PRUDHVI RAJU K prudhvi.k@postnoon.com

T

he mobile telecommunication industry is struggling with low bottom lines, sharp reduction in ARPU (average revenue per user) and the fall in growth of new connections. However, these issues are not really worrying the industry leader, Rajat Mukarji, chief corporate affairs officer for Idea Cellular, who is quite bullish about the future of the mobile industry.

Talking about the bottom lines, Rajat said, “There are certain opportunities to reduce input costs. However, there are also costs that are going up in various areas. There is a need to reduce input costs which ever is in our control.

“For instance, there are regulatory costs, which cannot be controlled but there is a need to reduce operating costs with the effective and efficient utilisation of new products. For instance, we run about 400 generators (sites in AP) on biodiesel, where the unit cost is much lower as compared to running on pure diesel. As on the revenues side, there will be an upswing with

the increase in data usage.”

However, he ruled out the possibility to increase the mobile tariffs to increase overall revenues. “Pricing is a very competitive decision. With Mobile number portability, a subscriber has the option to shift to network that offers lower price tariff. The prices vary from the market to market and depends on local needs and competition.”

He also acknowledged that Indian ARPU is much lower than their international counterparts.

ARPU has dropped from `350 to `100 in three years.

About saturation of mobile penetration, Rajat disagreed and said, “The penetration in Delhi is as much as 185 per cent. A phone is only one part of the connectivity solution.

There are lot of opportunities that can be explored with these mobile networks. A customer can connect a dongle to his PC for data. A car owner can use GPS mechanism, which also helps in tracking a stolen car and also shuts down the engine remotely.

“The networks can also be used for electric billing in remote location. Today, there are units that are installed on the meter to generate a reading to a system with out actually going there in person.

There is potential to reach 500 times the penetration. Israel has 300 times penetration. This is very much possible in India as well.

“For example, a tablet with 3G SIM, a internet dongle for PC, and normal mobile will give

three connections from one single individual.”

Rajat is also confident that the double-digit growth in data as compared to the single digit in growth in voice will drive the revenues. Internationally, nonvoice revenues constitute 30-35 per cent. However in India, these are around 14-15 per cent, which leaves huge scope for the growth in this area. With the increase of Internet and social

Internationally, non-voice revenues constitute 30-35 per cent. However in India, this is around 14-15 per cent, which leaves huge scope for the growth. media usage, the date usage on mobile will definitely grow.

“The 3G sites will grow with the increase of user base who actually need it. We are confident that in next five years there will be seamless connectivity with 3G. (As of now around 25 per cent of the overall sites in AP are 3G sites for Idea),” he concluded.

TECHNOLOGY

Google scraps Asian app WASHINGTON: Google has removed a “Make Me Asian” app — that let players change their appearance — following an uproar by Asian American activists who said the game promoted derogatory stereotypes.

As of Thursday, “Make Me Asian” and similar apps such as “Make Me Fat” and “Make Me (American) Indian” were no longer available on Google Play.

“Make Me Asian” had billed

itself as allowing a person to “make himself a Chinese, Japanese, Korean or any other Asian.” The user was able to add features to a person’s picture, such as a conical hat or a Fu Manchu mustache.

Nearly 8,500 people signed a petition urging Google to remove the app after the blog Angry Asian Man in November drew attention to it, calling it “ridiculously racist.”

AFP

Knight grant boosts Wikipedia mobile move SAN FRANCISCO: The group behind Wikipedia on Thursday won a $600,000 Knight Foundation grant to improve access to the communally compiled online encyclopedia from mobile phones.

Wikimedia Foundation was among eight News Challenge winners awarded a

total of $2.4 million for projects ranging from turning basic mobile phones into radio stations to helping newsrooms manage content sent by people on the move.

Wikimedia won the grant to expand and improve its availability for free on mobile phones, particularly in developing countries.

AFP

GOLD`30,900 10g SILVER `59,600 1kg

24C

for

for

DOLLAR `53.92 POUND `86.15

The Chinese economy expanded 7.8 per cent in 2012, the government said Friday — the worst performance in 13 years — in the face of weakness at home and in key overseas markets.

But gross domestic product (GDP) grew 7.9 per cent in the final three months of the year, the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) said, as it snapped seven straight quarters of slowing growth. China’s GDP reached 51.9 trillion yuan ($8.28 trillion) in 2012, cementing its position as the world’s second-largest economy after the United States. Annual growth slowed for a second straight year but the figures were just ahead of expectations, with economists surveyed by AFP having projected GDP growth of 7.7 percent in 2012 and 7.8 percent in the fourth quarter.

NUMEROLOGY

$1.1

bn

is what Sony will make from the sale of its US headquarters in Manhattan as part of an overhaul

WIPRO PROFIT UP Wipro Ltd posted a net profit of `1,716 crore for third quarter (OctDec) of this fiscal (2012-13), registering 18 per cent year-on-year. In a regulatory filing Friday, the IT bellwether said its total revenue increased 10 per cent YoY to `11,025 crore for the quarter under review. As per the International Financial Reporting Standard (IFRS), net income is $313 million and gross revenue $2 billion.

The company's flagship global IT services and products business grew 4.8 per cent YoY to $1.6 billion, which is 2.4 per cent higher sequentially.

THUS SPAKE We stopped the collapse, we should avoid the relapse, and it's not time to relax. There's still a lot of work to be done, CHRISTINE LAGARDE, IMF CHIEF

BSE 6,071.85 NSE

20,093.86 126.70 32.65

11

FRIDAY, JANUARY 18, 2013

nation

ONE KILLED IN ROAD ACCIDENT One person was killed and another seriously injured when their motorbike was hit by a speeding vehicle in Jumdi village in Uttar Pradesh, police said today. Both of them were rushed to a hospital, where one was declared brought dead

26/11 TRIAL IN US

Rana gets 14-year jail for role in Mumbai attacks

File courtroom sketch of Tahawwur Rana at a federal court in Chicago.

fled at the descriptions put forward by his family of Rana as a kind, caring person, saying it was so “contrary” to the person who aided the plot on the Danish newspaper’s office. “On the one hand we have a very intelligent person who is capable of providing assistance to many people,” the judge said before announcing sentence.

“But what is difficult to understand is: a person with

Woman found raped, murdered PANAJI: The body of a young woman was found in the forest area of Assagao village near here with police suspecting it to be a case of rape. The naked body of the woman, apparently in her mid20s, was found with her head smashed yesterday, a senior police official said, adding that the suspect in the case has already been identified.

The body was found by two forest guards, who were on a routine visit to Assagao nearly 15 kms from here. The guards also saw the suspect rushing out of the forest on a scooter, the police official claimed.

The suspect has been identified as Ranjit Tuenkar, a youth living in Anjuna village, located in the neighbourhood of the place where the incident occurred. “The suspect is currently on the run,” a police official said.

PTI

that intelligence and that background and history of helping others ... how that type of person could get sucked into a dastardly plot that was proposed.”

In new evidence submitted before the hearing, prosecutors sought to undercut the depiction of Rana as a dupe by presenting a telephone intercept of Rana’s wife, saying that her husband and Headley were just alike and were both immersed

Special court to try Italian marines

in Islamic extremism.

Headley, son of a Pakistani father and an American mother, who changed his given name of Dawood Gilani to scout targets in Mumbai without arousing suspicion, pleaded guilty in both the Mumbai and Danish terrorism plots, and was the star prosecution witness at Rana’s trial. Headley would be sentenced a week later Jan 24.

A Chicago jury convicted Rana in June 2011 on the charges of providing Headley cover as an employee of his immigration business to scout targets in Mumbai and the newspaper office in Copenhagen.

In court filings this week, federal prosecutors described the alleged Danish plot involving beheading newspaper employees and depositing their heads onto Copenhagen streets as “murder on a grand, horrific scale”.

Prosecutors said Rana, who lived in Chicago and owned a Northwest Side immigration and travel service, operated the business as a front for funnelling terrorist money overseas.

NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court Friday ruled that the Kerala government has no independent jurisdiction to try two Italian marines for shooting down two Indian fishermen off the Kerala coast last year.

The apex court bench of Chief Justice Altamas Kabir and Justice J. Chelameswar held that it was only the union of India that had the jurisdiction to hold the trial of the two marines Massimilano Latorre and Salvatore Girone. However, the court said the central government, in consultation with the chief justice, will set up a special court to hold the trial.

The Italian government will be free to raise the question that it had the jurisdiction to conduct the trial of these two Italian marines in their country.

Upon raising this issue of jurisdiction, the special court will decide the question whether the government of India or the Italian government has the jurisdiction to conduct the trial of the two marines under the Marine time Law. Two Italian marines, Chief Master Sergeant Massimilano Latorre and Sergeant Salvatore Girone, on board the Italian cargo vessel Enrica Lexie had shot dead two Indian fishermen Feb 15 last year suspecting them to be pirates.

IANS

IANS

A jury had convicted Rana in 2011 on the charges of providing Headley cover as an employee of his immigration business to scout targets in Mumbai and the newspaper office in Copenhagen.

CHICAGO: Pakistan-born Chicago businessman Tahawwur Rana was Thursday sentenced to 14 years in jail for providing support to Pakistanbased terror group Lashkar-eTaiba (LeT) that staged the 2008 Mumbai terror attacks. The jail term for Rana will be followed by five years of supervised release.

Although Rana, a boyhood friend of LeT operative David Coleman Headley, was acquitted of supporting the Mumbai attacks, prosecutors had sought the maximum 30-year sentence for his role in the aborted plot to attack Danish newspaper Jyllands-Posten for publishing cartoons of Prophet Muhammad.

Rana’s lawyers, downplaying his role in the Danish scheme, sought a lighter sentence of no more than nine years, citing his poor health.

They argued Rana was kept in the dark about much of the plot. Headley, they said was a master manipulator who fooled Rana into supporting his terror activities.

But Judge Harry Leinenweber said he was baf-

FISHERMEN KILLING

NEWS BRIEFS Life haywire in Kashmir Ghats report was after snowfall comprehensive: Gadgil SRINAGAR: People in Kashmir woke up to blanket of white on Friday with the season’s first major snowfall, which disrupted electricity supply and also hit road and air connectivity. The Bannihal and Patnitop sectors of Srinagar-Jammu highway traffic remained suspended for the second day Friday, traffic officials said. Inter-district road connectivity also remained suspended in the morning. More than 100 snow clearing machines had been pressed into service to restore intra and inter district traffic, officials said. Kashmir University has postponed all its exams scheduled for Friday.

Authorities have also issued an avalanche alert in the higher reaches of the Kashmir Valley and has advised people to move about with extreme caution.

PANAJI: Scientist Madhav Gadgil, who prepared a report for the Centre on the environmental health of the ecologically sensitive Western Ghats range, Thursday defended it, saying it was comprehensive. Rejecting the report amounted to the summary rejection of a “democratically drafted documentation on one of the most sensitive and vibrant ecological hotspots in the world”, said Gadgil at a function here. “The report has incorporated views from everyone. It is wrong (of his detractors, the mining lobby and the Goa government) to say that we did not speak to the people living in the Western Ghat areas,” he said. His report calls for identifying the mountain range as ecologically sensitive, which would automatically ban mining in the area.

PICK YOUR

@

Across Stores

ities Twin C

FRIDAY, JANUARY 18, 2013

World

NASA TO SEND INFLATABLE POD TO SPACE STATION In a move that could lead to a completely new and cheaper way of conducting future space missions, US space agency NASA has said it wants to send an inflatable space pod to be attached to the International Space Station (ISS) by 2015.

HOSTAGE CRISIS

‘CHAVEZ STILL THE BOSS’

Several hostages die in Algeria rescue raid The kidnappers said 34 captives had died in the assault. They said they would ‘kill all the hostages’ if the forces succeed in entering the complex.

ALGIERS: Western governments voiced alarm over the fate of dozens of foreigners seized by Islamists at a gas plant in the Algerian desert after several hostages were killed in a dramatic rescue operation.

The Algerian military assault left “several people” killed or wounded but freed a “large number” of hostages, according to Communications Minister Mohamed Said, as special forces took control of a residential compound at the complex.

Hundreds of hostages were being held at the compound, part of the sprawling In Amenas site, after Islamist militants took control of the gas plant on Wednesday purportedly to avenge a French-led offensive in Mali.

Algerian officials said soldiers were still surrounding the site’s main gas facility, which was yet to be secured in the air and ground assault.

Algerian reports said nearly 600 local workers and four foreigners — two from Britain, one from France and one from Kenya — were freed during Thursday’s operation.

One man from Northern Ireland escaped. According to his brother, Stephen McFaul fled when the convoy in which he was travelling came under fire from the army, and had earlier “had explosives tied around his neck”.

A total of 41 foreigners had

12

Venezuela’s foreign minister said on Thursday the decree that installed him in office is proof that ailing President Hugo Chavez is still in control of the oil-rich country. Elias Jaua was named in a decree signed by Chavez, who remains gravely ill in a Havana hospital some five weeks after complications arose during his fourth round of cancer surgery. “If I am the foreign minister, it is because President Chavez is governing and making decisions,” Jaua told a Colombian radio station. The decree has been heavily criticized by Venezuela’s opposition, who have cited its publication in Venezuela’s official government gazette as further reason to demand that the absent president clarify how sick he is and what he can and cannot do.

FLAWS IN $20 BN PROJECT The site is run by British oil giant BP, Norway’s Statoil and Algerian energy firm Sonatrach.

Japanese construction company JGC said it had confirmed the safety of three out of its 17 Japanese staff, and one Filipino.

The chief hostage taker on the ground, Abu al-Baraa, was reported killed in the Algerian operation by ANI, which often carries reliable reports from AlQaeda linked groups.

“We demand the Algerian army pull out from the area to allow negotiations,” Abu alBaraa had earlier told Al-Jazeera news channel.

But Algerian government insisted it would not negotiate with “terrorists”.

been reported among the hostages. The huge plant employs workers from Britain, France, Italy, Japan, Norway and the United States among others, and there was widespread anxiety at the fastmoving developments.

British Prime Minister David Cameron, who cancelled a key speech on European policy to monitor the crisis, described a “very bad situation” at the site near Algeria’s border with Libya.

“Already we know of one (Briton) who has died,” Cameron said. “It is a very dangerous, very uncertain, a very fluid situation, and I think we have to prepare ourselves for the possibility of bad news

ahead.”

Foreign governments said Algeria gave them no prior warning of the raid. A senior US official said Washington “strongly encouraged” the authorities to make the safety of the hostages their top priority.

Japan’s government also urged Algiers to protect the hostages, arguing that the army raid was “regrettable” and that there was no clear information emanating from the scene.

The kidnappers said 34 captives had died in the assault, but this was impossible to confirm.

They told Mauritanian news agency ANI they would “kill all the hostages if the Algerian forces succeed in entering the complex”.

Eight dead in small plane crash in Mexico

UN team returns from Iran without deal

Seoul to deploy guided missiles at sea border

Eleven dead as floods swamp central Jakarta

TUXTLA GUTIERREZ: A small private airplane crashed shortly after take-off in the southern Mexican state of Chiapas on Thursday, killing at least eight people and sending a plume of black smoke over the airport, officials said. Preliminary reports indicated that three adults, three minors, the pilot and co-pilot died in the crash.

VIENNA: The chief UN nuclear inspector was due back from Iran Friday without a hoped-for deal on investigating its nuclear programme, dampening hopes of progress in renewed talks between Tehran and world powers.

Diplomats said that the International Atomic Energy Agency and Iran still had “differences”.

SEOUL: South Korea plans to deploy Israeli-made precision guided missiles near its tense sea border with North Korea next month, including an island shelled by the North in 2010, a report said. The South will deploy 50 to 60 Spike anti-tank missiles to two border islands on the Yellow Sea to guard against potential attacks.

JAKARTA: Floods in Indonesia’s capital Jakarta have left at least 11 people dead, authorities said Friday as murky brown waters submerged parts of the city’s business district, causing chaos for a second day. The capital’s worst floods in five years have also forced 18,000 people from their homes, the nation’s disaster agency said.

AFP

NEWS BRIEFS

South Korean President Lee MyungBak’s $20 billion effort to dredge, dam and beautify four major rivers is riddled with flaws that could cost a fortune to maintain, the state auditor said on Friday. Revitalising the Han, Nakdong, Geum and Yeongsan rivers was the centrepiece of the outgoing president’s “Green New Deal”, a bold plan to create jobs after the 2008 global downturn.

Started in 2009, the $20.1 billion project involved the construction of 16 weirs and dams along the four rivers that were straightened and dredged to improve water quality and prevent flooding. But a report by the Board of Audit and Inspection suggested the three-year effort had fallen far short.

It is a very dangerous, very uncertain, a very fluid situation and I think we have to prepare ourselves for the possibility of bad news ahead.

David Cameron British Prime Minister

13

FRIDAY, JANUARY 18, 2013

Technology THE DEATH OF A GENIUS

UNRATED IN NOT FINE

Did US prosecutors kill Aaron Swartz?

An online petition calling for the removal of the prosecutors in his case garnered more than 31,000 signatures and some of Swartz’s supporters blamed a 1986 computer crimes statute for his suicide.

ROB LEVER Agencie France-Presse WASHINGTON: As funeral services were held for Internet activist Aaron Swartz, the debate intensified over what some called a “draconian” US computer crime law used by allegedly overzealous prosecutors. An online petition calling for the removal of the prosecutors in his case garnered more than 31,000 signatures Tuesday and some of Swartz’s supporters blamed a 1986 computer crimes statute for his suicide.

Swartz, who was just 14 when he co-developed the RSS feeds that are now the norm for publishing frequent updates online and went on to help launch social news website Reddit, hanged himself in his New York apartment on Friday.

He was 26 and reported to have been battling depression.

Swartz had pleaded not guilty to charges of computer fraud, wire fraud and other crimes carrying a maximum sentence of 35 years in prison and a $1 million fine, charges

I want the death of Swartz, and the prosecution that helped produce it, to hang around the neck of the state for a very long time.

Robin Corey Political scientist, Brooklyn College dismissed after his death.

“Aaron Swartz faced a more severe prison term than killers, slave dealers and bank robbers,” said Ian Millhiser of the Center for American Progress Action Fund. “Whatever one thinks of Swartz’s actions, which were likely illegal and probably should be illegal, it is difficult to justify treating him as if he were a more dangerous criminal than someone who flies into a rage

and kills their own brother.”

Marcia Hofmann, of the Electronic Frontier Foundation, said that to honor Swartz, it would be best to fix a “draconian computer crime law”.

“The government should never have thrown the book at Aaron for accessing MIT’s network and downloading scholarly research. However, some extremely problematic elements of the law made it possible,” Hofmann wrote.

“But Aaron’s tragedy also shines a spotlight on a couple of profound flaws of the Computer Fraud and Abuse Act... [whose] vague language, broad reach, and harsh punishments combine to create a powerful weapon for overeager prosecutors to unleash on people they don’t like.”

Marcy Wheeler, who writes a blog called “emptywheel”, blamed the Department of Justice for being “ruthless against just about everyone who is not a Wall Street executive”.

A separate petition to the White House with 23,000 signatures called for reform of the

1986 law. A third petition calling for a posthumous pardon of Swartz generated mixed responses along with some 21,000 signatures.

“Pardoning Swartz also would allow the government, effectively, to pardon itself,” said Robin Corey, a Brooklyn College political scientist.

“I want the death of Swartz, and the prosecution that helped produce it, to hang around the neck of the state for a very long time.”

Danah Boyd, a Microsoft researcher who is a visiting scholar at Harvard Law School, said she was angry at the government’s conduct.

“When the federal government went after him — and MIT sheepishly played along — they weren’t treating him as a person who may or may not have done something stupid. He was an example,” she said in a blog.

Swartz’s family and partner posted a comment on a memorial website saying his death was “the product of a criminal justice system rife with intimidation and prosecutorial overreach.”

Another year, another congressman proposing legislation demanding some sort of label on video games. This time around it’s Rep Jim Matheson (D-Utah), who introduced HR287, the Video Games Ratings Enforcement Act for consideration by the House Energy and Commerce Subcommittee. The act as written would require all games sold at US retailers to have a “clear and conspicuous” rating label from the Entertainment Software Rating Board (ESRB,) and to give customers information on what they mean. This will have little practical effec, as most retailers already refuse to carry games that don’t sport an ESRB rating.

STILL RISING After weeks of accusations that Instagram has seen a sharp drop in its user numbers, the photo-sharing service released new data that gives better insight into the actual number of people using the service on a regular basis. At last count, more than 90 million people use Instagram on a monthly basis, the company said on Thursday.

Moreover, the company is seeing growth rather than decline; that number is up 10 percent, month on month, in the period from December to January.

Mega awesome Kim Dot Com of Megaupload has announced a new online storage service that will offer up to 50GB of space for free, making it the highest such free service globally.

The site will be hosted at the New Zealand based domain mega.co.nz and will go live tomorrow. This is a huge amount of free storage. It’s easily more than the 2GB offered by Dropbox, the 5GB by Google Drive, or the 7GB from Microsoft’s SkyDrive.

Premium users of Megaupload will also receive some additional perks according to him. They are currently trying to “transfer” all those users to the new service, Kim said on Twitter.

FRIDAY, JANUARY 18, 2013

Comment When you say you agree to a thing in principle you mean that you have not the slightest intention of carrying it out.

SOCIETY

THE HUMAN CONDITION Dean Williams

Q

: What’s the new French flag look like? A: A white cross emblazoned on a white background!

That joke, along with hundreds other like it, have always done the rounds of pubs and barracks across the world. The French armed forces, wrongly one might add, have always been associated with abject surrender.

But as nearly 2,000 French soldiers get set to entrench themselves in Mali it behoves us to remember the millions of French soldiers that have died fighting to defend their country and their ideological interests around the world. The fields of Verdun and Ypres are soaked in the blood of nearly 500,000 French soldiers who died in the trenches of World War I. And who can forget the supreme bravery of the French Resistance in World War II, not to mention the hundreds of thousands of French soldiers who lost their lives as they marched with Napoleon across Europe and North Africa.

There is a vein of bravery running through the French, no matter what Americans and Britons say. But at Dien Bien Phu in Vietnam there is also a bloody legacy of French interference in a foreign war. It was at this site that 2,200 French soldiers lost their lives when 10,800 of them came under attack from 48,000 Viet Minh. The loss was devastating and forced the French out of Indochina. The Mali operation may not see another Dien Bien Phu, but that’s a risk the French are taking. Whatever happens next in West Africa, one thing’s for certain, French bravery is not in question.

14

REARRANGING ARRANGED MARRIAGES ANONYMOUS ALIEN

Otto von Bismarck German statesman

Memories of Dien Bien Phu

HIGH-FLYING THOUGHTS The Centre has gone out of its way to justify the necessity of multi-layer security cover for VIPs. When the politicians are rupee millionaires and billionaires, why should public foot their protection bill. At least that will free up policemen to do their primary duty — protecting public.

A

woman is gangraped and murdered on a bus in Delhi, and a country looks at its soul.

States and the federal government start revamping rape laws and commissioning fast-track courts. All good stuff.

But to really get at what’s going on in India, you have to dig deeper. What exists in the culture that allows not just this rape, but also thousands of rapes each year and the nearly systemic physical and sexual abuse of women in India.

You have to look at the schools. At the police. At religion. At families and villages and social norms.

And you have to look at one of the most revered institutions in India, the arranged marriage.

As a westerner, when I first encountered the practice of arranged marriages, I was stunned. Really? Your parents go into a backroom somewhere and choose a mate for you?

That seemed nuts to me. How could somebody trust selecting their life partner to their parents, rather than to their heart?

Then it turned out, the practice wasn’t quite what it seemed

to be, at least not among the wealthy Indians I met. With many of them, the parents of, say, a potential bride, would over the course of many months introduce her to multiple potential grooms. The prospective couple would go out on a few dates and then decide if a life partnership was desired.

This really didn’t seem much different than the standard “fix up” that friends and relatives and even parents sometimes do in the West. No biggie.

But of course, that’s among the wealthy Indians. A tiny fraction of India’s population.

Among the non-wealthy — among the poor — arranged marriage seems to be something entirely different. It’s not a fixup. In fact, it appears to be more like a cast-off.

The stats are bleak. About 95 per cent of marriages in India are arranged, and virtually all of them are arranged for the poor.

Some 50 per cent of these arranged marriages are for bridges under the age of 18.

How many of these brides end up in bad marriages?

Perhaps as many as 70 per cent are beaten by their husbands.

Based on seeing the poor Indian women I have employed, I would bet the percentage is much higher. Some additional brides end up with alcoholics.

Does anyone think a 16-year-old

girl is willingly choosing to marry an alcoholic wife beater?

And what’s their recourse, if they don’t want to be beaten or have the family’s earning consumed through alcohol?

Virtually none. Since these women were forced into an arranged marriage by their parents, they usually can’t turn to their parents for support.

What about divorce as an escape? The stigma, price and laws make it so difficult to divorce for the poor that less than 1.1 per cent of them ever do. That’s compared to a nearly 50 per cent divorce rate in the West.

Now there are those that argue that the low divorce rates in India and the high rates of

arranged marriages proves that arranged marriages work better than love marriages. Don’t buy it. Indian divorce rates are climbing fast, and they are climbing fastest among urban Indians who have the financial wherewithal to pull off a divorce. What does this tell us?

That when Indian women have the means to divorce abusive men, they will.

How does this relate back to a gang rape on a bus in Delhi?

Well, I ask you to consider this: when a 16-year-old girl is married off by her parents to a 24year-old man, do you really consider the consummation of their marriage a willing act on the part of the girl? Or is it something else entirely?

EDITORIALS Weary Congress huddles for brainstorming session

A

s Congress begins its ‘Chintan Shivir’ today, India’s Grand Old Party finds itself staring at an uncertain future. If BJP’s lack of unity and internal squabbles were reasons to relax, Narendra Modi’s emphatic return to power has upset their calculations. The Congress heir apparent Rahul Gandhi has zero administrative experience, and wherever he has led the poll campaign against seasoned veterans, the party has come a cropper. Allies are sticking to UPA only because they stand to gain more from keeping Congress in power. DMK under Stalin will not get pushed around like it was during Karunanidhi’s time at the helm. Regional parties are gaining in strength, so are the caste-based parties. The minorities do not vote for the Congress en masse like in the good old days. The party’s obsession with Gandhi-Nehru family has resulted in scuttling the ascent of several quality leaders — who eventually have been reduced to inconsequential roles. Boy, that Shivir will have to do some serious Chintan.

READERS’ VIEWS

The shameless

F

irst it was racism. Now it’s diving. And Luis Suarez has no shame telling that “football is like that”. In an interview, he has admitted to diving in a match against Stoke, for which after the game he was panned for. His coach then was all out supportive, saying that his boy was being ‘vilified’. No, Mr Rodgers, Suarez is a proper villain, who has no shame admitting that he would do anything to win, even if that would defile the ways of the most beautiful game.

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

Editor: Dean Williams

15

FRIDAY, JANUARY 18, 2013

Music

K-POP EXTRAVAGANZA

South Korean rapper Psy's quirky viral hit "Gangnam Style" took the prize for top song at the 27th annual Golden Disk Awards, a Korean pop event dubbed the "Korean Grammys." The tune won the Song of the Year award, the final prize.

FOR THE PLAYLIST

ALBUM OF THE WEEK

The Oscar song list While Adele is waiting for her Oscar win with the Skyfall theme this year, we give you some of best songs that have won Oscars over the years.

T

he race for the 85th Academy Awards, this year is hotting up, what with movie analysts dissecting each and every movie and declaring their worthiness to win the coveted prize.

Lincoln, Argo, Anna Karenina, Skyfall and Life of Pi will be battling it out for the Original music score, while songs from Les Misérables, Life of Pi, Ted, Chasing Ice and Skyfall will be in the race for Original music. May the best song win. Meanwhile, take a look at the some of the songs that have already pocketed the prestigious award.

SOMEWHERE OVER THE RAINBOW: WIZARD OF OZ

This is a classic Academy Award-winning ballad song with music by Harold Arlen and lyrics by EY Harburg. It was written for the 1939 movie, The Wizard of Oz, and was sung by actress Judy Garland in her starring role as Dorothy Gale. Over time it would become Garland's signature song.

BORN FREE: BORN FREE

Born Free is a popular song with music by John Barry, and lyrics

by Don Black. It was written for the 1966 film of the same name and won an Academy Award for Best Original Song.The film dealt with how a couple helped rehabilitate a lioness back into the wilderness. This title song is a perfect ending to the film.

RAINDROPS KEEP FALLIN’: BUTCH CASSIDY AND THE SUNDANCE KID

iTUNES Top 10 songs 1 SUIT & TIE CHILD

Swedish House Mafia

Justin Timberlake

6 DON'T STOP THE PARTY

2 I KNEW YOU WERE Pitbull TROUBLE 7 HOME Taylor Swift

3 HO HEY The Lumineers

4 LOCKED OUT OF HEAVEN Bruno Mars

5 DON'T YOU WORRY

Phillip Phillips

8 BEAUTY AND A BEAT Justin Bieber

9 SWEET NOTHING Calvin Harris

10 DAYLIGHT Maroon 5

The theme song known as Arthur's Theme not only won an Oscar for 1982, but also the Golden Globe. The song was performed by Christopher Cross who was the winner of the 1980 Grammy for Album Of the Year.

UP WHERE WE BELONG: AN OFFICER AND A GENTLEMAN

Up Where We Belong was written

by Jack Nitzsche and Buffy Sainte-Marie, with lyrics by Will Jennings. Musicians Joe Cocker and Jennifer Warnes performed the song. The movie stars Richard Gere in the lead along with Debra Winger and Louis Gossett Jr. Raindrops Keep Fallin' on My Head is BJ Thomas's #1 song, written by Hal David and Burt Bacharach for the 1969 film Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid. It won an Academy Award for Best Original Song. David and Bacharach also won Best Original Score.

WINDMILLS OF YOUR MIND :THE THOMAS CROWN AFFAIR The Windmills of Your Mind is a song with music by French composer Michel Legrand and English lyrics written by Americans Alan Bergman and Marilyn Bergman. In the original 1968 film the song was performed by Noel Harrison who took the song to #8 in the UK Singles Chart. It won the Academy Award for Best Original Song in 1968.

BEST THAT YOU CAN DO: ARTHUR

Top 10 albums

JAI HO: SLUMDOG MILLIONAIRE

Jai Ho is a song composed by Indian composer AR Rahman.

Rahman and Gulzar, who cowrote the lyrics to the song, felt that the song had "immense potential". The song features vocals from Sukhvinder Singh, Mahalaxmi Iyer and Vijay Prakash in three Indian languages: Hindi, Urdu and Punjabi. Singer Tanvi Shah wrote and provided vocals for a Spanish section of the song.

Les Miserables Bruno Mars

2 BABEL 7 PITCH PERFECT Mumford & Sons Soundtrack

3 RED 8 THE LUMINEERS Taylor Swift The Lumineers

4 THE WORLD FROM... 9 GIRL ON FIRE Phillip Phillips Alicia Keys

5 TAKE ME HOME 10 THE TRUTH ABOUT One Direction LOVE P!nk

DID YOU KNOW...

Gaga

is teaching her dog to draw. The eccentric singer is proud mom to pet pooch Fozzi, a cute, curly-haired labradoodle. Whereas most dog owners teach their furry friends simple commands, it seems the 26-yearold has bigger plans for Fozzi. The unusual method seems to be working, with his pieces in high demand.

TRENDING...

THE WAY WE WERE: THE WAY WE WERE

The title song to the 1973 movie The Way We Were, starring Barbra Streisand and Robert Redford was written by Alan Bergman and Marilyn Bergman (lyrics) and Marvin Hamlisch (music) and performed by Streisand.

SOURCE: WIKIPEDIA

Bollywood Top 10

1 LES MISERABLES 6 UNORTHODOX JUKEBOX

Lysandre Christopher Owens looks artistically dishevelled, his face framed by the kind of lank blond hair last seen on Kurt Cobain. Owens's debut solo album is rather better than these factoids would suggest. His backstory exercises the eyebrows more than that of your average louche indie musician's too, a backstory that can't help but frame Lysandre, with its mixture of innocence and experience, weariness and perk.

1. JEE LE ZARA Talaash

2. HOOKAH BAR

Dabangg 2

6.BALMA Khiladi 786

Khiladi 786

7 DAGABAAZ RE 3. MATRU KI BIJLEE KA Dabangg 2 MANDOLA 8. OYE BOY CHARLIE Matru ki Bijlee ka Matru ki Bijlee ka Mandola Mandola

4. ISHQ WALA LOVE 9. THE DISCO SONG Student of the Year Student of the Year

5.FEVICOL SE 10. LONELY

Khiladi 786

Justin Timberlake released Suit & Tie featuring Jay-Z and within hours, the song had topped the US iTunes chart. The new single also came with the announcement of a new album, The 20/20 Experience, to be released later this year. The new songis produced

by Timberlake's long-time collaborator Timbaland.

Jessica Simpson is set to star in a television pilot in development for NBC that is loosely based on her life. The comedy could be Simpson's first step back into a major acting role in more than five years. Simpson, will play a celebrity who must balance life as a mother and a public figure.

18

FRIDAY, JANUARY 18, 2013

spotlight 1

FUN & FROLIC

Head to Tease where the in-house DJ promises to play the latest favourites and set the mood for the night.

MUSICAL TREAT 2

A NIGHT OF

GLAMOUR

Stars were in full attendance at the audio launch of Ongole Githa organised at Annapurna 7 Acres.

3

4

5

6

1 Kriti Kharbanda 2 Ram 3 SS Rajamouli 4 Sravanthi Ravikishore 5 Ali 6 Bommarillu Bhaskar 5 BVSN Prasad

7

1

DISCOVERING THE DECCAN

2

A PROUD PARTNERSHIP

7

Annapurna International School of Film + Media (AIFSM) announced a tie up with Chapman University, a private American varsity in Los Angeles at Annapurna Studios on Thursday.

An illustrated presentation on the deccan region by Dr Helen Philon and George Michell was held at The Park.

Princess Esra Jah was the chief guest at the event.

4

5

S BALAKRISHNA

6

3

1 Raunaq Yar Khan 2 Rekha Reddy 3 Salma Farooqi 4 Fiaz and Nida Khan 5 Helen Philon 6 Manisha Kapoor 7 Princess Esra Jah

FRIDAY, JANUARY 18, 2013

health

SALMONELLA CASES DROP AFTER VACCINATION DRIVE

Mass vaccination drives have brought about a sharp drop in salmonella cases since the late 1990s, according to the latest finding. Salmonella, a food-borne pathogen, causes diarrhoea, vomiting, nausea, fever and abdominal pain.

GYNAECOLOGY

19

Out of place?

Most people know little about ectopic pregnancies although they account for nearly two per cent of all pregnancies. What most don’t realise is that it is the mums who are in danger.

I

t was just another day for Radhika. She’d had a busy day — dropping of her son at school, wrapping up important deals at work and a family dinner in the evening. But just as she was getting ready to head to dinner Radhika felt a piercing pain in her lower abdomen.

Surprised at this intense pain she took a few moments to catch her breath. However, the pain didn’t really subside.

With her husband and son waiting to leave she grit her teeth and went ahead with them.

ANEWS PP-LYBRIEFS YOURSELF

HOUSECALL

RANJANI RAJENDRA

ranjani.r@postnoon.com

The real trouble however, began once they reached the restaurant. The searing pain overwhelmed Radhika so much that she found it hard to even breathe and soon passed out. She was rushed to the hospital, where doctors examined her and concluded that she was pregnant. But instead of rejoicing, there was pall of gloom since the couple were informed that it was an ectopic pregnancy and Radhika’s tube had just ruptured. She needed immediate surgery.

Surprisingly, most people are not even aware about ectopic pregnancy. “The incidence rate is nearly one to two per cent though,” says Dr Leela, consultant gynaecologist and obstetrician.

Ectopic pregnancy is a pregnancy that occurs outside the uterus, she explains. The foetus could be implanted in the belly, cervix and most commonly in the fallopian tubes. “Causes for this are many. In case of tubal preg-

nancy, it could have occurred due to a past infection of the tube, damage in the structure of tube etc. Infertility is also a major cause for this. Ectopic pregnancy can affect women of all ages and is usually seen in the early stages of pregnancy,” says Dr Leela.

In a normal pregnancy the fertilised egg travels through the fallopian tube and gets implanted in the uterus, where it develops into a foetus. However, in ectopic pregnancy the egg attaches itself outside the uterus. If it attaches in the fallopian tube itself there is a high risk of the tube rupturing as the foetus grows.

This in turn can lead to complications like internal bleeding and can be deadly.

The most common symptoms of an ectopic pregnancy are intense abdominal pain and vaginal bleeding. When one is diagnosed with this condition, treatment needs to be quick as it is rather dangerous. The pregnancy however, cannot be saved. “We have to abort the pregnancy in these cases. The woman can be treated either medically or surgically. If surgical, then depending on the situation we do a laparoscopic or open procedure,” says Dr Leela.

Women who have suffered an ectopic pregnancy are at risk of having more ectopic pregnancies or might have trouble conceiving.

DID YOU KNOW?

PIONEERS

Relax Melodies

Milia

Bacteria on your skin

Alberto Houssay

Relax Melodies is a personalized relaxation and sleep assistance app. You can custom mix your favourite high quality sounds from a selection of 46, then slip naturally into a relaxed state or a deep, rejuvenating sleep. It also has multiple alarms and timers system. You can use your own favorite alarm to wake up slowly.

Milia are small, white (or sometimes pale yellow) spots that usually appear around the eyes, on the cheeks and on the eyelids. They're a type of cyst filled with a substance called keratin, a protein that provides strength to the skin. Apart from making people worry about their appearance, milia aren't harmful and don't need to be treated in any way. No one really understands why they appear or why some people get them.

This will really make your skin crawl: Every square inch of skin on the human body has about 32 million bacteria on it, but fortunately, the vast majority of them are harmless. There are up to 100 times more kinds of bacteria thriving in "vibrant communities" in healthy skin than previously know, say researchers.

Bernardo Alberto Houssay, born in Buenos Aires, Argentina, was a doctor by the age of 23. Following his education, he founded an Institute of Physiology, but would be dismissed by President Juan Peron. His research on the role of pituitary hormones in the regulation of blood sugar won him a Nobel Prize in 1947.Throughout his career, Houssay was interested in research and wrote more than 500 papers.

20

health FRIDAY, JANUARY 18, 2013

RESEARCH

STUDY

Light in womb necessary for

healthy eyes

A research found that mice spending pregnancy in complete darkness had babies with altered eye growth.

The also study showed that the light was activating a protein in the mice.

LONDON: Scientists have discovered that light passing through the body and into the womb has an important role to play in the development of eyes.

US researchers found that mice spending pregnancy in complete darkness had babies with altered eye development.

This indicated tiny quantities of light were needed to control blood vessel growth in the eye, the BBC News reported.

Scientists - at the University of California, San Francisco, and Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center - believe that body-penetrating light can alter

the development of the eye, at least in mice.

Normally, a network of blood vessels known as the hyaloids vasculature is formed to help nourish the retina as it is constructed.

However, the blood vessels would disrupt sight if they remained, so they are later removed - like scaffolding from a finished building.

The researchers said this did not happen when the pregnancy was spent in total darkness.

The critical period was around 16 days - which is very late in mouse gestation, but cor-

responds to the first trimester in people.

“It’s not something subtle here, it’s a major effect on the way the retina develops that requires light going through the body,” said Professor Richard Lang, from Cincinnati Children’s Hospital.

He said it was a “huge surprise” that this was happening.

The researchers hope their findings may aid understanding of human diseases of the eye, as many are down to blood vessels. Some babies born prematurely develop “retinopathy of prematurity”, when the blood

vessels in the eye grow abnormally resulting in damage to the retina and a loss of vision.

“In retinopathy of prematurity there is overgrowth of blood vessels and that’s what you see in these mice,” Lang said.

The researchers showed that light was activating in the mice a protein, melanopsin, which also has a role in regulating the body clock, and is present in people.

However, whether the same processes take place in people or other animals is unknown.

The study was published in the journal Nature.

PTI

Walking prevents early death LONDON: A short walk just four times a week can reduce the risk of early death in older people by a staggering 40 per cent, a new study has claimed.

Each walk only needs to be a 15-minute stroll in the open air, said Italian researchers.

Allowing for a host of other factors from smoking to diet, the walking elderly had a 40 per cent better survival rate than those who did not, the study found.

For ten years, medical experts monitored over 200 residents of an old folks’ home.

Their average age was 80 and every aspect of their lifestyle, health and habits were noted, the Daily Mail reported.

Most (around 80 per cent) of the subjects were physically active, said the researchers.

During the decade of study, two in three of the volunteers died, researchers reported in the journal Maturitas, allowing them to look at the differences between them and the survivors.

The fresh air and exercise can increase the efficiency of the immune system to ward off viruses, strengthen bones and reduce obesity. There are also healthy side effects. Old folk who walked regularly were also more likely to eat healthily and less likely to be depressed, researchers said. Although the figures were adjusted to take these factors into account, it does suggest that encouraging elderly to walk more would have a variety of benefits, they said.

PTI

BREAKTHROUGH

Scientists decode mystery of brain WASHINGTON: Scientists, using a new combination of neural imaging methods, have discovered exactly how the human brain adapts to injury.

When one brain area loses functionality, a “back-up” team of secondary brain areas immediately activates, replacing not only the unavailable area but

also its confederates, researchers led by the Carnegie Mellon University’s Center for Cognitive Brain Imaging (CCBI) found. “It is now clear how the brain can naturally rebound from injuries and gives us indications of how individuals can train their brains to be prepared for easier recovery,” said

researcher Marcel Just.

Researchers used functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) to study precisely how the brains of 16 healthy adults adapted to the temporary incapacitation of the Wernicke area, the brain’s key region involved in language comprehension.

They applied transcranial mag-

netic stimulation (TMS) in the middle of the fMRI scan to temporarily disable the Wernicke area in the participants’ brains.

The research team used the fMRI scans to measure how the brain activity changed immediately following stimulation to the Wernicke area.

The results showed that as

the brain function in the Wernicke area decreased following the application of TMS, a “back-up” team of secondary brain areas immediately became activated and coordinated, allowing the individual’s thought process to continue with no decrease in comprehension performance.

PTI

21

FRIDAY, JANUARY 18, 2013

Entertainment CINE BYTES

Varun Tej’s debut confirmed?

T

he stage is all set for the onscreen debut of Varun Tej, son of Nagababu. Post the success of Seethamma Vaakitlo Sirimalle Chettu, Sreekanth Addala is reportedly in talks with Nagababu to launch Varun Tej. An official announcement is likely to be made soon.

Swamy Ra Ra to release in mid-Feb

Karthi, Hansika sizzle in Biriyani

K

arthi and Hansika will soon be seen in Venkat Prabhu’s upcoming Tamil film Biriyani. The film’s first look was unveiled recently on Twitter and all the posters have got tremendous response. KE Gnanavel Raja is producing the film under Studio Green banner.

N

ikhil, Swati starrer Swamy Ra Ra is gearing up for release on February 14.

Sudheer Varma has directed this film and it’s being touted as a crime comedy. The entire film revolves around the theft of a Lord Ganesha’s idol. Ravi Babu has played an important role.

PINNING ALL HOPES

ONGOLE GITHA is the biggest mass film of my career: Ram

T

he audio launch of Ram, Kriti Kharbanda starrer Ongole Githa was a low key affair with only a few members from the film unit and SS Rajamouli gracing the event. Bhaskar has directed the film and BVSN Prasad, Bapineedu have produced it. The producers decided to keep it simple since there were several last minute changes in the schedule. Moreover, Ram and Kriti were busy shooting for a song for the past few days. SS Rajamouli unveiled the audio and said, “If I am not wrong, it looks like Bhaskar has made this film to prove that he can make films beyond family entertainers. I remember when we were shooting a small action sequence for Vikramarkudu, we found it extremely difficult to withstand the strong smell of chillies. When I heard that this film was shot in the Mirchi yard in Guntur for over a month, I felt that it really was a remarkable achievement.”

Ram praised Bhaskar for coming up with a fabulous script and said, “I didn’t have any pre-conceived notions when we began shooting the film. All I can say is that I have put my heart and soul into my character. It was a difficult film to shoot, but I must thank my director and producers for being a pillar of strength to me. Ongole Githa is the biggest mass film of my career. Although Bhaskar comes across like a soft spoken guy, he shocked me with his insights in handling a mass subject like this one. He’ll surprise you all.” Kriti Kharbanda, Kona Venkat, Ali, Bhaskar Bhatla, Vanamali, Sravanthi Ravikishore also graced the event. The film has a special song sung by a group of folk singers, which in itself a big feat in recent times in Telugu cinema.

FRIDAY, JANUARY 18, 2013

fashion

CONSTANCE JABLONSKI SUED BY FORMER AGENCY

CONSTANCE JABLONSKI is being sued by her former agency, Marilyn Model Management, who claims that she terminated her contract too early in order to join new representation. The Victoria’s Secret model has reportedly been served a $3.3 million (£2.1 million) lawsuit after joining rival agency DNA Model Management.

ALL EYES Fashionistas from across the world descended at Italian fashion capital to witness the trends and ideas showcased by the fashion trend-setters.

D

olce&Gabbana kicked off Milan menswear fashion week with their winter-autumn 2014 collections, as 10,000 fashionistas turned up for the shows. Jil Sander, Ermenegildo Zegna, Costume National, Frankie Morello and Burberry also showed off their collections on the first day. The Dolce&Gabbana collection drew religious and nostalgic inspiration from Sicily — the native island of Domenico Dolce, one member of the fashion duo.

The models were all ordinary Sicilians, not professional models.

The catwalks featured a backdrop with a Virgin Mary and Child and a lot of the fashion house’s signature black, along with their famous embroidery.

German designer Jil Sander, who returned to the catwalks in 2012 after seven years of absence, went for what she called “epic mas-

culinity”. The queen of minimalism went for finely defined silhouettes and controlled volumes, as well as a multitude of trompe l’oeil geometric motifs.

Costume National stylist Ennio Capasa went for something completely different, picking up on the “angry young men” of the hippy years.

Bottega Veneta, Salvatore Ferragamo, Vivienne Westwood, Prada, Roberto Cavalli and Missoni took to the catwalks on Sunday.

There have been doubts about whether Missoni will take part this year following the disappearance of Vittorio Missoni, commercial director and son of the fashion house’s founders, whose plane went missing last week in Venezuela.

John Richmond, Emporio Armani, Gucci, Etro and Fendi showed on Monday and the week concluded on Tuesday with Dsquared2 and Giorgio Armani.

SELFRIDGES LAUNCHES BESPOKE SERVICE

SELFRIDGES will launch a bespoke service on February 4, allowing customers to buy unique and customised pieces. Renowned Savile Row tailor Henry Rose joins the iconic store as its tailor in residence - creating women’s and menswear suits from his workshop.

22&23

ON MILAN Giorgio Armani unveiled a largely military-inspired collection which he said created “a strong, precise image... and a pure and essential style which creates a virile silhouette, defined by ample jackets and coats paired with closely-fitting trousers.” Impeccably-tailored grey suits were spiced up with pinkand-black striped ties and handkerchiefs peeking out of top pockets. Slim black velvet jackets were edged in blue silk and worn with a silver tie, while luxurious fur-lined grey overcoats were worn with blue suit trousers and large hand-held

snakeskin bags.

The collection’s trousers were worn short, to mid-calf — a trend of the season. Jeans — the fashion house’s speciality — were worn with three-quarter length camel or bottle-green coats, and hats made a big appearance, in reds, greens and pinks.

But it was the show’s finale that drew gasps from fashionistas in the audience: models in skin-tight white tops and boxers sauntered down the runway before stripping off and throwing their tops into the crowd, muscles rippling in the spotlights. — AFP

AFP

Entertainment FRIDAY, JANUARY 18, 2013

24

Entertainment FRIDAY, JANUARY 18, 2013

25

FRIDAY, JANUARY 18, 2013

Chai Time

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.

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

Some cells will contain two numbers.

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

QUICK CROSSWORD enced by the number.

Within each collection of cells — called a run — any of the numbers 1 to 9 may be used but, like sudoku, each number may only be used once.Let’s have an example to explain this concept more clearly: In the image above, which shows a section of a kakuro puzzle, you will see the numbers ‘26’ and ‘14’ in the top row. Look at the 14. This means that the total of the three cells underneath must sum to 14. Therefore 9, 4, 1 could be the answer, or perhaps 7, 4, 3 and so

on...

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

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

Play & Win

voucher from VENKEY’S VEG Restaurant, Nampally

ACROSS

SCRIBBLING PAD

Play & Win voucher from VENKEY’S VEG Restaurant, Nampally

SUDOKU

PREVIOUS PUZZLE ANSWER

26

Play & Win voucher from VENKEY’S VEG Restaurant, Nampally

1 Make sense 6 Extinct New Zealand birds 10 Allied nations, collectively 14 Kentucky explorer Daniel 15 Language in Lahore 16 The L of L-dopa 17 Ham it up as Hamlet 18 ‘Love handles’ material 19 The last word in worship 20 Large reptile 23 Braying animal 25 Tombstone acronym 26 ‘Nevertheless ...’

27 Uncomfortable underclothing condition 30 A snake charmed her 31 Be of use to 32 Medicinal amount 34 Italian sports car, for short 38 Some band members 41 Ancient Irish language 42 What’s built by lifting?

43 Buddhist priests 44 It’s right under your nose 45 Done with the

evening commute 46 Glossy fabric 50 Indiana Jones pursued it 52 Servers try to clear it 53 Part of a PC’s innards 57 Make muddy 58 Beep the horn 59 Sandcastle setting 62 Noted first name in jazz 63 Front end of China?

64 Medal-worthy behavior 65 Droop in the sun 66 ___ and terminer 67 West Point rookie

DOWN 1 Bart Simpson’s grandfather 2 Champagne title 3 Times to be judged 4 ‘Do ___ others ...’

5 Ball-___ hammer 6 Civilian clothes 7 Lowermost ship deck 8 Month in the Hebrew calendar 9 Type of mining 10 Fire engine destination 11 Lake ___ (Lake Geneva) 12 Do-___ (replays)

13 Apartment that’s owned 21 Anger 22 Suffix with ‘direct’ or ‘detect’ 23 On one’s toes 24 Break off completely 28 Mocking remark 29 Worldwide workers’ grp 30 Glimpse from afar 32 Send by parachute 33 Somewhat strange 34 Indian nanny 35 Fish restaurant offering 36 Set up for a crime 37 Valuable quality 39 From the beginning 40 Space bar neighbor 44 Romanian currency 45 Alias preceder 46 Threaded fastener 47 Garlic-flavored mayonnaise 48 Bird warble 49 Razzle-dazzle 50 Habitat 51 Helicopter topper 54 Broadway prize 55 Say if you’ll be there 56 Indian dish made with stewed legumes 60 Hold up 61 ‘... ___ he drove out of sight’

Chai Time FRIDAY, JANUARY 18, 2013 Thiruvaikumar

STAR POWER for 19-1-2013

27

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

ARIES

TAURUS

GEMINI

CANCER

LEO

VIRGO

LIBRA

SCORPIO

SAGITTARIUS

CAPRICORN

AQUARIUS

PISCES

Long-term plans will get fulfilled now. Money will come from the expected sources but at the same there might be a gap for the plans you wanted to implement. Keep your cool and avoid venting anger on others, which might worsen things.

STRIP TEASE AGNES

Avoid unwanted arguments as you might get upset due to the outcome. Some are likely to fall in love and feel happy. Employees will have a favourable time at workplace. Money will come from multiple channels.

Debts will get cleared.

Financial problems you faced will come to an end and you now work with self-confidence and a clearcut vision. You win over enemies and march ahead.

As the torturing superior gets transfer orders, those employed will heave a sigh of relief.

Employees feel comfortable but will face deficiency in finances.

Avoid new debts; try earn-andthen-spend policy. Financial planning is a must or consequence will be bad. Businessmen will get good opportunities through new contacts.

You travel to other states or even abroad on work. Some have bright chances to receive part of the ancestral property, which will cheer them and strengthen them financially. Separated couples can come together if elders step in wisely.

You will feel upset as expenses overtake income; this situation will not continue and soon you will be in a comfortable financial position. Health looks fine.

Expected pay hike and elevation for employees likely. Businessmen will buy equipment.

Prestige and respect, rather than financial position, are important for you. You will succeed in all efforts and march ahead with willpower and self-confidence. Employees will be entrusted with additional responsibilities; superiors will support.

Irrespective of facing any sort of trouble, you will take a clearcut and bold decision that will yield desired results. Those who are worried about postponement of their marriage will get favourable news. Entire family will be in a cheerful mood.

Confusion in the family might depress you; keep your cool and solve the problem wisely as you are capable to do so.

Trust yourself than others and avoid a third person’s interference in family issues. Businessmen need to put in hard work.

TAROT READ

Sumaa Tekur

tarotreadhyd@gmail. com

ARIES:

GEMINI:

Queen of Swords – You have the tendency to isolate yourself from groups. You want to work alone. But beware what impression of you it will leave.

LEO:

Five of Pentacles – Take care of your finances. Don’t invest in policies you haven’t checked out completely. Run a good background check before investing.

LIBRA:

PEARLS BEFORE SWINE

Six of Cups – You have a chance meeting with someone from you past. You will get nostalgic and go down memory lane.

Enjoy the feeling.

SAGITTARIUS:

The High Priestess – Your intuition is heightened. You may have been confused or nervous. Those thoughts are put to rest and you power forward.

TAURUS:

Five of Wands – Avoid all kinds of conflict, especially at the work place. You will be out to prove a point but don’t be stubborn about it. It’s not worth it.

CANCER:

Nine of Swords – This is a difficult time when nothing seems to be going as per your plan.

Don’t fret. Just go with the flow and it’ll work out fine.

VIRGO:

Page of Wands – Some good news is on the way. It may pertain to your career or something to do with a study course you may have applied for.

SCORPIO:

The Star – There are clouds of confusion around you but you need to have faith in your own abilities to make sense of your thoughts and get clarity.

CAPRICORN:

Ace of Wands –You have some ideas to make a creative project work even better. Have the confidence that you have it in you to make it a success.

PREVIOUS SOLUTIONS

PISCES:

The High Priest – Things around you are working like magic. Close friends and family will shower their love on you, making you feel extra special.

NUMBER GAME

ge is on the cards. There will be drastic change in your living and working situation. This is a karmic time and you need to adjust to these changes.

SCRABBLE

AQUARIUS: Death – Chan-

POOCH CAFE

Your determination to win in all undertaken tasks will make you successful. Courage and self-confidence levels will increase. You will be cheerful as you have found a way to solve debts. Those looking for work will get a good chance.

for 19-1-2013

Six of Pentacles – A senior in your profession or in your family will come to your rescue at a difficult time. He/she will tell you what you need to know now.

NON SEQUITUR

Delay in financial help is inevitable, but this will upset you.

Talks regarding marriage might not yield favourable results, but will soon change; better postpone efforts in this regard. You face criticism on your inefficient handling of family affairs.

SUDUKO

The good phase of your life has started, hence good events will take place. Success is certain in all undertaken work. Those who await marriage will get favourable news soon. Happy atmosphere will prevail at home. The jobless will get career opening.

Boggle NEON RADON HELIUM HYDROGEN NITROGEN Vol: 2, No 182 RNI No: APENG/2011/39337 Published for the proprietors, Scribble Media and Entertainment Pvt Ltd, by V Harshavardhan Reddy, at #1246, Level 3, Jubilee Casa, Road No 62, Jubilee Hills, Hyderabad – 500033 and printed by him at Jagati Publications Ltd, Plot No D-75&E-52, APIE Industrial Estate, Balanagar, Ranga Reddy Dist, Hyderabad – 500037, Editor: Dean Williams – Responsible for selection of news under the PRB Act All rights reserved.

Reproduction in whole or in part without written permission of the publisher is prohibited. For feedback, please write to: feedback@postnoon. com and for subscription, please call 040-4067 2222, Fax: 040-4067 2211

28

Entertainment FRIDAY, JANUARY 18, 2013

VALENTINE’S DAY GIFT

AKSHAY DEDICATES A ‘SPECIAL CHABBIS’ SONG TO TWINKLE

ctor-producer Akshay Kumar has added one more feather to his cap by singing a song in his next film Special Chabbis and says he wants to dedicate the song to his wife Twinkle Khanna. “I would want to dedicate this song to my wife Twinkle Khanna since Valentine’s Day is coming

along,” Akshay said.

“I rehearsed for three hours before recording.

However, the song will not be used in the film. I did it just as a passion,” he said.

MM Kreem has composed the music for Special Chabbis. Akshay sung the song, Mujme tu..., at the launch.

When asked about his

film, Akshay said: “I can’t reveal much. There are lots of twists and turns so if I talk much, you will miss the fun.”

The film had an unusual music launch at Regal Cinema— a prime spot for film premieres in the 1980s.

Actor Anupam Kher, who was also present at the music launch.

IANS

CINE BYTES Irrfan fine, back to shoot ‘Sahib Biwi...’

I

rrfan, who fell while shooting a polo scene for Sahib Bibi Aur Gangster Returns, is fine, the film’s director Tigmanshu Dhulia says.

“Irrfan will be fine.

He picks up fast. Besides he’s halfway a polo player already.

He is an expert horse rider.

The rest will just follow,” said Dhulia.

IANS

I still need to be mollycoddled

Honey Singh to sing for Willis’ ‘Diehard 5’?

I

f things will work out, Honey Singh may end up singing for Diehard 5.

“They need the song in a week. I take at least three weeks to write and compose a song. If it’s my first international song and that too for a franchise as wellknown as Diehard’ I’ve to make sure it’s worth listening to,” said Honey.

N

eil Nitin Mukesh may have turned 31 but says that at heart he’s “still a 16-year old mama and papa’s boy.” “At heart I am still that 16-year old Mama and Papa’s boy. I still need to be mollycoddled. I don’t take any decisions without taking them into confidence,” said Neil.IANS

sports

29

FRIDAY, JANUARY 18, 2013

SL VS OZ ODIS

DAKAR RALLY

Roma survives blowout

ABU DHABI GOLF CHAMPIONSHIP

Rose blooms, McIlroy and Woods struggle

Nani Roma survived a late puncture on his Mini to claim his third stage win of the Dakar Rally.

Sri Lanka bowl out Aussies for 74 BRISBANE: Australia were all out for 74 inside 27 overs, one of their lowest ever one-day international scores, after Sri Lanka swung the ball at the Gabba on Friday.

Nuwan Kulasekera (above) took five wickets for 22 and Lasith Malinga three for 14.

Australia won the toss and opted to bat but fell to an inswing onslaught in the third match of a series of five which stands level at 1-1.

Australia’s historic lowest ODI score is 70 against New Zealand in 1986 and the same 70 against England in 1977.

Brief scores Australia innings 74/10 (MA Starc not out 22, XJ Doherty 15, AD Mathews 1/10, KMDN Kulasekara 5/22, SL Malinga 3/14) Sri Lanka innings 33/2 (TM Dilshan 22, HDRL Thirimanne not out 6, CJ McKay 1/15, MG Johnson 1/3

COPIAPO (CHILE): Spanish driver Nani Roma survived a late puncture on his Mini to claim his third stage win of the 2013 Dakar Rally on Thursday while Stephane Peterhansel stayed comfortably on course for an 11th title.

Roma won the 319km timed section from Fiambala in Argentina to the Chilean town of Copiapo in 3hr 36min 34sec, a lead of 4min 18sec over America’s Robby Gordon in a Hummer, and a 4min 25sec advantage on South Africa’s Toyota driver Giniel De Villiers.

But Peterhansel, who was fourth on the stage, six minutes behind Roma, stayed in overall charge with a 50min 21sec lead over de Villiers with two stages left.

Roma had a scare in the closing minutes on Thursday with a worrying blowout, but it was not enough to derail him. “To start there were some dunes, some very fast parts, but in the last dunes we got stuck and we lost around 8 or 10 minutes, I don’t know exactly,” said Peterhansel, the defending champion.

“We got a bit stressed inside the car, but then it was OK. Yes, for sure we can smell victory, but I can remember two times when I have lost the Dakar just on the last day, so we know that anything can happen.

“I could make a mistake, we could have some technical problems. So, there are still two days

left.”

In the motorcycling section, Frans Verhoeven won his fourth career stage in 3hr 49min 15sec, but defending champion Cyril Despres, on a KTM, stayed on course for a fifth title.

Despres leads the overall standings by 5min 39sec from Ruben Faria, who was second on Thursday.

AFP

HYDERABAD TRACK WORK

Ashwa Shakti, Specialist impress

HYDERABAD: Ashwa Shakti, Specialist, Precisely That, Racing Ahead and Windsor Manor caught the eye when horses were exercised here this morning (Friday) at the Malakpet racecourse.

Sand track 800 metres Lady Luck (apP) 56.5, 600/43 Moved well. Major Luck (rb) 57.5, 600/44 Easy.

Havok (app) 1-2, 600/46 Moved freely. Bernabeu (rb) 59, 600/43.5 Moved freely.

Precisely That (Josi) 54, 600/41.5 Pleased. Prayer Call (app) 57, 600/42 Moved well. Racing Ahead (Joshi) Play the Music (app) 56.5, 600/43 Former finished a length in front. Indian Epic (Sai Kumar) Home Town Girl

(N Rawal) 1-1, 600/46 They moved together. San Ramon (S Nayak) 1-3, 600/46 Easy. Jabel Queen (Joshi) 57, 600/43 Moved on the bit. Windsor Manor (Ravinder Singh) 52, 600/39 Caught the eye. Komo Komo Komo (NS Parmar) 10, 600/45 Easy. Enrapture (Chary) 56, 600/42 Moved well. Shimmering Ice (Anil) Hamilton (App) 56, 600/40 Former finished two lengths in front. Chal Bhai Chal (Imran Khan) 57, 600/43 Speedy. Power Drive (Tograllu) 59, 600/44 Moved freely.

Sand track 1000 metres Ashwa Shakti (Joshi) 1-9, 800/54, 600/41 Impressed.

Dauntless (app) 1-11,

800/56, 600/42 Moved well.

Star Experience (rb) Over Look (rb) 1-15, 800/58, 600/42.5 Former finished in front. Staying The Best (N Rawal) Star Prospcet (Sai Kumar) 1-15, 800/59, 600/43 They finished together.

Sand track 1200 metres Amber Flame (NS Parmar) 1-32.5, 1000/1-16, 800/1-1, 600/46 Easy.

Sand track 1400 metres Specialist (Tograllu) 1-42.5, 1200/1-27, 1000/1-11, 800/55, 600/41 Impressed.

Gate practice 1000 metres (Monsoon race grass) Turf Attack (Sai Kumar) Art Connoisseur (Ravinder Singh) Staminoized

(Ramana) 1-3, 800/48, 600/35 They jumped out well and finished in the same order. Kohinoor King (app) Inner Strength (Imran Khan) Queen Major (Chary) Tamanna (Sreekant) Speedtosucceed (app) 1-5, 800/50, 600/38 They took a level jump. Strides Of Glory (Sai Kumar) Star Sensation(Sai Vamshi) Flower Drum (M Mark) Cannon Nine (N.Rawal) Mr.Glorious (Tograllu) Chief Executive (B.Shinde) 1-1, 800/46, 600/34.5 They jumped out well. Baba’s Gift (Ravinder Singh) Merry Maid (Ravinder Singh) 1-3, 800/50, 600/38 They jumped out well.

ABU DHABI: Justin Rose grabbed a share of the first round lead in the Abu Dhabi Golf Championship on Thursday on a day when both Rory McIlroy and Tiger Woods struggled to get their seasons into gear.

Rose, whose last visit to the Gulf in December for the World Tour Championship in Dubai saw him close with a 62, took off where he left off as he went out in four under 32 en route to a fiveunder 67. That put him alongside Welshman Jamie Donaldson, with rising Dane Thorbjorn Olesen and Spain’s Pablo Larrazabal third equal a further stroke back.

On 69 were a quintet comprising George Coetzee of South Africa, China’s Liang Wen-Chong, Englishman David Howell, Henrik Stenson of Sweden and Michael Campbell of New Zealand.

Woods had four birdies set off by as many bogeys for a level par 72, while McIlroy’s first competitive outing with his new Nike clubs ended in frustration as he struggled to a 75.

Rose said that his bogey-free 67 in tough conditions on a tough course had been a “perfect start to the season” but that he would not read too much into the eight-stroke gap that separates him from McIlroy and the five strokes lead he has over Woods.

LEAGUE CRICKET City hammers Kerala South Zone Interstate Under-14 Cricket tournament Round 3, Day 2 Hyderabad 242 for 9 in 90 overs Beat Kerala 125 in 76.3 overs (Ashwin Anand 33, Surya Teja 4 for 48, Revanth 2 for 17 Andhra Vs Tamil Nadu Played at Gymkhana Andhra 293 for 7 in 90 overs Beat Tamil Nadu 225 in 82.2 overs (Ryan Jebaraj 42, U Mukilesh 118, T VAmshi Krishna 3 for 54, P Surya Charan 2 for 55 A1 and A2 One-Day Knockout tournament Team Speed 286 for 7 (Ravi Kumar 100, Rahul Patangey 44, Mahesh Goud 72 no) Beat Falaknuma 97 (Mahesh Goud 4 for 23,N Bharath 3 for 21)

CHESS RD Trophy up for grabs

H

yderabad Chess Academy will conduct the 6th HCA Junior Chess Tournament Republic Day Trophy on Sunday. Girls and boys below 20 years of age are eligible for this tournament. For details, call 92479 79886.

sports

30

FRIDAY, JANUARY 18, 2013

AUSTRALIAN OPEN

Top seeds in cruise mode The women’s top seeds cruised through in straight sets Friday with Agnieszka Radwanska, Angelique Kerber and Li Na leading the drive into the Australian Open fourth round MARTIN PARRY Agence France-Presse MELBOURNE: The women’s top seeds cruised through in straight sets on Friday with Agnieszka Radwanska, Angelique Kerber and Li Na leading the drive into the Australian Open fourth round.

Seeded four, five and six respectively, they were joined by Ana Ivanovic who won a battle of former world numbers ones by beating Jelena Jankovic.

World number two and second seed Maria Sharapova plays a blockbuster evening match on Rod Laver Arena against seventime Grand Slam champion Venus Williams later on Friday.

Poland’s Radwanska is the form player this year, winning

Poland’s Agnieszka Radwanska (R) receives treatment from a trainer during her women’s singles match against Britain’s Heather Watson on the fifth day of the Australian Open in Melbourne on Friday.

AFP/WILLIAM WEST

her 12th match in a row without dropping a set in her best ever start to a season, something she put down to a new-found confidence. The world number four proved too strong for Britain’s Heather Watson in a 6-3, 6-1 thumping as she searches for her first Grand Slam title.

“I think I’ve never won 12 matches in a row,” the Pole said.

“I’ve never played two tournaments before Australian Open. It was my first time I played Auckland and Sydney and it was a good start. I can’t complain.”

She said she changed nothing in her game during the off-season, but felt more confident about herself. “I’m very confident from the beginning and just happy that I can play really my best tennis from the beginning of the

Federer, Tomic shape up

ROBERT SMITH Agence France-Presse

MELBOURNE: Brash young Australian Bernard Tomic gets the chance to back up his big talk in his much anticipated showdown with the great Roger Federer in the third round of the Australian Open on Saturday.

Tomic, who won his first Tour title last week, has spruiked his chances of upsetting the greatest Grand Slam winner of them all in what is shaping as an electric evening.

Federer has done it all before with four Australian titles among his record collection of 17 major wins, and he gave Tomic a straight sets lesson when they met in the fourth round in

Tomic fancies his chances of a rare early round win over Federer, who has reached the quarter-finals at the last 34 consecutive Grand Slams.

Melbourne a year ago.

But Tomic fancies his chances of a rare early round win over Federer, who has reached the quarter-finals at the last 34 consecutive Grand Slams.

Confidence is not in short supply with Tomic, who goes into Saturday’s duel the winner of his last 10 singles matches and talking up his chances against

31-year-old Federer.

“Ten out of 10 now with matches. I feel so confident. This is the perfect time to play him.

I’ve got a good attitude to win,” Tomic said after his second round win over Daniel Brands.

“I’ve beaten a lot of good players over the last past two weeks, especially Novak Djokovic (at the Hopman Cup). I think I can do it. I’m ready. I do have the belief now. It’s possible.

I showed that in Perth, that you can beat these players. Now I’m going to try to beat him.”

Phlegmatic Federer has taken it all in his stride and far from being provoked by the presumptive Aussie’s mind games, he says he hopes the match won’t be anti-climatic.

TENNIS BRIEFS Molik named Australia’s Fed Cup captain

British teen Robson riding wave of confidence

Nadal forwards comeback to Chile event

MELBOURNE: Former Grand Slam doubles champion Alicia Molik has been named as Australia’s new Fed Cup captain, Tennis Australia said on Friday. The former world number eight will replace Dave Taylor at the helm of the Australia’s national women’s team. Taylor has chosen to focus on his coaching of 2011 US Open champion Sam Stosur, ending seven years in charge after lifting the Australians into the elite World Group last season. “Alicia has a wealth of experience at the top level and in Fed Cup and will be a great leader for this team,” Tennis Australia’s Todd Woodbridge said, announcing the appointment. Australia are away to defending champions Czech Republic in the opening round of this year’s competition in Ostrava from February 9-10.

MELBOURNE: British teen sensation Laura Robson is riding a wave of confidence and says her gruelling Australian Open upset of world number eight Petra Kvitova was one of the best, and toughest, of her career. The 18-year-old kept her composure in a 94-minute third set as the 2011 Wimbledon champion lost hers in a threehour match that finished in the early hours of Friday morning, winning 2-6, 6-3, 11-9. It builds on a breakthrough 2012 for Robson, who defeated Kim Clijsters and Li Na during an impressive run to the US Open fourth round, and won Olympic silver in the mixed doubles with Andy Murray. She also became the first British woman since Jo Durie in 1990 to reach a main tour singles final, at Guangzhou in China in September.

SANTIAGO: Rafael Nadal, out of action since the middle of last season because of injury, will now make his return at next month’s ATP claycourt event in Vina del Mar, Chile, a week earlier than expected, he revealed on Thursday. Nadal’s camp had announced on Tuesday that the Spaniard would make his long-awaited comeback at the Brazil Open in Sao Paulo, scheduled February 11-17. But the seven-times French Open champion said Thursday he would in fact return to action in Chile on February 4. “I am pleased to confirm my participation at the Vina del Mar tournament in Chile,” Nadal posted on his Facebook page. “I would like to thank the tournament organisers for the invitation and to say that I have many fans in (Chile).”

year.”

Radwanska, who won leadup tournaments in Auckland and Sydney, next faces 13th seed Ivanovic who eased past Jankovic 7-5, 6-3.

Ivanovic won the French Open in 2008, but has failed to make any significant impact at a Grand Slam since. But she proved too hot to handle for Jankovic, who has also struggled to recapture her best form in recent years.

China’s Li is also a former winner at Roland Garros, in 2011, and she breezed past Romania’s Sorana Cirstea 6-4, 6-1.

The sixth seed, a finalist at Melbourne Park in 2011, next plays 18th-seeded German Julia Goerges, who beat Li’s compatriot Zheng Jie 6-3, 1-6, 7-5 in their third round clash.

‘Big Three’ dominate at Open WILL SWANTON Agence France-Presse MELBOURNE: Men’s tennis has the “Big Four”, but do the women now have a “Big Three”? A series of lopsided scorelines at the Australian Open suggests they do.

Maria Sharapova became the first woman in nearly 30 years to “double bagel” two Grand Slam opponents in a row, while Serena Williams achieved the same 6-0, 6-0 scoreline despite hobbling around on a twisted ankle.

And world number one Victoria Azarenka dropped only one game in her second round match against Eleni Daniilidou as the top seeds flew through the tournament’s early stages.

After a period of flux for women’s tennis, the top three, with 20 Grand Slam titles between them, are establishing themselves ahead of the rest of the tour with short odds on one of them winning in Melbourne.

Last year Azarenka beat Sharapova for the Australian Open title during a 26-match winning streak, and the three women shared the four Grand Slam titles between them.

They have picked up in similar vein this season. Sharapova’s drubbings of Olga Puchkova and Misaki Doi bordered on the farcical, and the Russian, who did not play a warm-up tournament, is into the third round without dropping a game this year.

sports

31

FRIDAY, JANUARY 18, 2013

ARMSTRONG ON OPRAH

‘My decisions, my mistake. I’m sorry’ REBECCA BRYAN Agence France-Presse

LOS ANGELES: Disgraced cycling legend Lance Armstrong’s fierce defence of his record finally collapsed Thursday as he admitted that his seven Tour de France titles were fueled by an array of drugs.

“I made my decisions.

They’re my mistake,” Armstrong told US talk show host Oprah Winfrey, in his first interview since he was stripped of his record yellow jersey haul and banned from sport for life.

“And I’m sitting here today to acknowledge that and to say I’m sorry for that,” he said. “I view this situation as one big lie that I repeated a lot of times.”

“Certainly, I’m a flawed character,” said Armstrong, who was once revered as a cancer survivor who beat the odds to succeed on cycling’s greatest stage, then used his fame to help others fighting the disease.

“It’s just this mythic, perfect

Confession ‘small step in right direction’ COLORADO SPRINGS, COLORADO: US Anti-Doping Agency chief executive Travis Tygart on Thursday called Lance Armstrong’s admission of doping “a small step in the right direction,” for the shamed cyclist.

“Tonight, Lance Armstrong finally acknowledged that his cycling career was built on a powerful combination of doping and deceit,” said Tygart, who guided the USADA probe that led to Armstrong being stripped of the record seven Tour de France titles and banned from the sport.

Armstrong had previously dubbed USADA’s investigation a “witch-hunt” and accusing Tygart and his colleagues of pursuing a “vendetta” against him and going so far as a lawsuit questioning their jurisdiction.

Tygart’s brief statement made reference to none of that, nor did it address any details of Armstrong’s confessions and which USADA charges Armstrong verified or challenged.

“His admission that he doped throughout his career is a small step in the right direction,” Tygart said.

AFP

A photo illustration shows a man watching a TV showing disgraced cycling star Lance Armstrong being interviewed by Oprah Winfrey on Friday in Kensington, Maryland.

AFP/MANDEL NGAN

story,” he said. “And it wasn’t true.” Winfrey’s much-anticipated interview opened with a rapid-fire series of “yes” or “no” questions that saw Armstrong admit to using the blood-booster EPO, blood-dop-

ing transfusions, testosterone and human growth hormone.

All were listed by the US Anti-Doping Agency in the damning report on which it based the 41-year-old American’s life ban.

AFP

The truth at last THE ADMISSION: “I view this situation as one big lie that I repeated a lot of times.”

THE FLAW: “Certainly, I’m a flawed character. I am flawed, deeply flawed.”

‘I’M SORRY’: “I made my decisions. They’re my mistake. And I’m sitting here today to acknowledge that and to say I’m sorry for that.”

THE DRUGS: “My cocktail, so to speak, was only EPO, but not a lot, transfusions and testosterone.”

THE CHEAT: “And I went in and I just looked up the definition of cheat.

“And the definition of cheat is to gain an advantage on a rival or foe, you know, that they don’t have or that they -- you know, I didn’t do it that way. I viewed it as a level playing field.”

THE BULLY: “I was a bully in the sense that I tried to control the narrative and if I didn’t like what somebody said... I tried to control that and say that’s a lie, they’re liars.”

THE SPORT: “I didn’t invent the

culture, but I didn’t try to stop the culture, and that’s my mistake and that’s what I have to be sorry for, and the sport is now paying the price because of that.”

THE WRONGED WOMAN: On team-mate’s wife Betsy Andreu, who Armstrong smeared in a bid to silence her: “Well, let me clarify something. I did call her crazy.

I did.”

THE COMEBACK: “The last time I crossed the line, that line, was 2005,” -- Armstrong denies doping in his comeback Tour de France races in 2009 and 2010.

THE RULES: “I disrespected the rules, regardless of what anybody says about the generation.

That was my choice.”

THE TRUTH: “If there was a truth and reconciliation commission... and I’m invited, I’ll be the first man in the door.”

THE PROBE: On the US Department of Justice deciding last year not to pursue a case against him: “It’s hard to define victory, but I thought I was out of the woods. And those were some serious wolves.”

INTERVIEW TIMINGS (IN INDIA) Part 1: Today 1pm and 10pm on Discovery Channel Part 2: on Saturday 1pm and 10pm on Discovery Channel

‘Disappointed’ by deception WASHINGTON: Livestrong, the cancer charity founded by disgraced cyclist Lance Armstrong, said Thursday it was “disappointed” that he had misled it and many others about doping.

“We at the Livestrong Foundation are disappointed by the news that Lance Armstrong misled people during and after his cycling career, including us,” it said after the broadcast of Armstrong’s interview with Oprah Winfrey.

Armstrong, 41, used the interview to come clean for the first time about his use of per-

formance enhancing drugs to win successive Tour de France races, after a decade of strident denials.

Prior to recording the interview Monday in his hometown of Austin, Texas, he personally went to Livestrong headquarters to apologize to its staff -and in the interview, he wore its iconic yellow rubber wristband.

“We accepted his apology in order to move on and chart a strong, independent course,” the charity said in its statement, received 40 minutes after the conclusion of the first part of the broadcast that continues Friday.

IOC asks Armstrong to return Olympic medal

Armstrong ‘in the past’: Tour de France organiser

LAUSANNE: The International Olympic Committee (IOC) on

LEEDS, UNITED KINGDOM: Tour de France organiser Christian Prudhomme said Thursday that disgraced rider Lance Armstrong, who was stripped of his seven Tour titles because of doping, “was already in the past”.

Prudhomme added that it was a surprise that Armstrong had given a television interview in which he admitted doping. “No one could have imagined only a few weeks ago that Lance Armstrong would make his confession publicly, that he would confess in public to having been doped,” he said. “It’s obviously something very important but I can’t say more than that, I don’t know more than you. I don’t know what he’ll say. For us, Lance Armstrong is already in the past.” The International Cycling Union (UCI) late last year effectively erased Armstrong from the cycling history books when it decided not to appeal sanctions imposed on the Texan rider by the United States Anti-Doping Agency (USADA). A damning USADA report, including hundreds of pages of eyewitness testimony, emails, financial records and laboratory analysis of blood samples, said Armstrong helped orchestrate the most sophisticated doping programme in the history of sport.

Thursday asked disgraced American cyclist Lance Armstrong to return the Olympic bronze medal from the time-trial event at the 2000 Games in Sydney. The IOC had written to Armstrong late Wednesday to ask him hand back the medal, IOC spokesman Mark Adams told AFP. The Lausanne-based body had to wait for world cycling’s governing body to sanction Armstrong, which it did on December 6, and the following three weeks in which the Texan had recourse to appeal at the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS). The US Olympic Committee, to which Armstrong must theoretically return the medal, has also been informed, Adams added. Armstrong was stripped of his seven Tour de France titles and banned from the sport for life in October after the US Anti-Doping Agency (USADA) produced evidence of widespread doping by him and his former team-mates. “The decision was taken in principle at the IOC Executive Board meeting in December, but its implementation required the expiration of the appeal deadline,” the IOC said in a statement.

FRIDAY, JANUARY 18, 2013

sports

WIGAN SIGN 'KEEPER ROBLES ON LOAN Premier League strugglers Wigan signed Spanish goalkeeper Joel Robles, 22, on loan from Atletico Madrid until the end of the season on Thursday.

Robles initially joined Wigan for a trial period and Latics manager Roberto Martinez was impressed enough to bring him into his first-team squad.

PREMIER LEAGUE PREVIEW

LA LIGA

City plot Utd assault Man City think match against Fulham is a good chance to reduce their 7-point deficit.

TOM WILLIAMS Agence France-Presse

Saturday fixtures (1500GMT unless otherwise stated) Liverpool Vs Norwich City, Manchester City Vs Fulham, Newcastle United Vs Reading, Swansea City Vs Stoke City, West Ham United Vs Queens Park Rangers, Wigan Athletic Vs Sunderland, West Bromwich Albion Vs Aston Villa (1730GMT) Top10 (played, won, drawn, lost, goals for, goals against, points) Man Utd Man City Chelsea Tottenham Everton Arsenal West Brom Liverpool Swansea Stoke

22 18 1 3 22 14 6 2 22 12 6 4 22 12 4 6 22 9 10 3 21 9 7 5 22 10 3 9 22 8 7 7 22 7 9 6 22 6 11 5

56 29 43 19 45 21 39 27 35 26 40 24 31 30 35 28 31 26 21 24

55 48 42 40 37 34 33 31 30 29

32

LONDON: With Premier League leaders Manchester United not playing until Sunday, champions Manchester City can close to within four points of their title rivals by beating Fulham on Saturday. United have looked imperious in recent weeks, picking up 31 points from a possible 33 to establish a sevenpoint lead over second-place City, who have let 10 points slip over the same period.

However, on Sunday United visit Hotspur, who have lost just once in 10 matches and who won 3-2 at Old Trafford when the sides last met in September. Whereas United and Chelsea were both in action in mid-week -United edging West Ham United in an FA Cup third-round replay and Chelsea drawing 2-2 at home to Southampton in the league -- City have benefitted from a week off.

Roberto Mancini's side have also been boosted by captain Vincent Kompany's (player getting a red in pic) successful appeal against the red card he was shown in last weekend's 20 win at Arsenal, which would have ruled him out of the home game with Fulham.

HISTORIC BARCA SHOW NO SIGNS OF EASING UP TIM HANLON Agence France-Presse MADRID: The records continue to tumble for Barcelona, who finished the first half of the season with the highest ever points total in La Liga.

But talisman Lionel Messi (below) is still not taking the league for granted as they now prepare to take on Real Sociedad.

Their remarkable total of 55 points from a possible 57 is three more than Pep Guardiola's Barca side managed in the 2010-11 season after 19 games and gives them an 11-point lead over Atletico Madrid while Real Madrid languish a mighty 18 points adrift.

On a personal level, Messi has hit an unrivaled 28 goals in the first half of this campaign and he faces Sociedad knowing that a goal would see him equal the Barca record of scoring in 10 consecutive games set by Ronaldo, in the 1996-97 season and Mariano Martin, in the 194243 campaign.

"We are in a strong position in the league but we cannot ease off,” he said.

Suarez dives into trouble again LIVERPOOL: Luis Suarez (left) could face sanctions from Liverpool after re-opening the controversy over his alleged diving, as the team prepares to face Norwich City at Anfield on Saturday.

Suarez's season has been dogged by accusations of cheating, and Liverpool manager Rodgers is ready to punish his star player after he confessed in an interview to diving during a match against Stoke in October.

Suarez admitted to "falling" in an attempt to win a penalty during the goalless draw at Anfield.

AFP

Bites, dives and handballs – the Suarez rap sheet Recent Suarez incidents November 2010: Given a seven-game suspension for biting Otman Bakkal on the shoulder during a match.

October 2011: Now at Liverpool, he causes controversy with a dive that results in a red card for Everton's Jack Rodwell.

- Accused of racially abusing Man Utd left-back Patrice Evra.

December 2011: Handed a further one-match ban after mak-

ing an offensive hand gesture towards Fulham supporters.

February 2012: Sparks controversy after refusing to shake Evra's hand before a match.

October 2012: Celebrates a goal against Everton with a comedy dive in front of Toffees manager Moyes, who had claimed "divers" like Suarez were turning people away from the game.

January 2013: Handles the ball and then scores winner.

FOOTBALL BRIEFS Bayern vow to send off Heynckes with titles

Remy hopes it's not game over for QPR

United's Fletcher ruled out for rest of season

Nowhere safe from fixers: FIFA's policeman

BERLIN: With Pep Guardiola confirmed as Bayern Munich's coach for next season, the club's stars have vowed to see off current boss Jupp Heynckes with trophies. Bayern host Greuther Fuerth on Saturday at the Allianz Arena, nine points clear at the top of the table and the football world buzzing over the arrival of exBarcelona coach Guardiola in July.

LONDON: Loic Remy has revealed how a session of video game FIFA 2012 helped convince him to make the move to Queens Park Rangers. The France international will make his debut for the Premier League's bottom club at West Ham United on Saturday after completing a switch from Marseille for a $12.8-million fee.

LONDON: Manchester United midfielder Darren Fletcher has been ruled out for the rest of the season after undergoing surgery to cure his chronic bowel condition. Fletcher has been struggling with ulcerative colitis for nearly two years and missed the majority of last season as a result. This season he had hoped to resume in United's midfield.

ZURICH: FIFA corruption-buster Ralf Mutschke admits that no football league in the world is safe from the grim spectre of match-fixing, a global problem made worse by the influence of organised crime.

Mutschke, a former Interpol executive and a police officer for 30 years, said the problem of corruption is global and exists at all levels.

SERIE A NAPOLI WIN 2-POINT APPEAL, BOOSTS TITLE HOPES MILAN, ITALY: Napoli's Serie A title hopes received a boost on Thursday when they had a twopoint sanction overturned by the Italian football federation (FIGC).

The decision allows Napoli to move into second place in the table on 42 points, three behind leaders Juventus.

Napoli captain Paolo Cannavaro and teammate Gianluca Grava, suspected of playing a role in a match-fixing affair, were also cleared, according to the FIGC. A statement said: "The twopoints penalty deduction has been annulled and Paolo Cannavaro and Gianluca Grava have been acquitted.”