Postnoon E-Paper for Jan 19, 2013 by Scribble Media & Entertainment Pvt. Ltd.

A CULTURAL EXCHANGE

THE FORGOTTEN HEROINE

ollywood producer and Oscar nominee Alexandra Rose, who's currently the chair of special projects and industry initiatives at Chapman University, California, is in Hyderabad as a part of an exchange programme with AISFM. She tells Postnoon about the relevance of film schools and what students need.

uthor Kenizé Mourad brings back into the spotlight the ignored queen, Begum Hazrat Mahal. Mourad, who is the daughter of a Turkish princess and an Indian rajah of the royal family of Kotwara, first heard of the Begum from Prince Anjum, the great-great grandson of the Begum.

PG 5

PG 15

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JANUARY 19, 2013 HYDERABAD

POSTNOON EXCLUSIVE

MOMENTS IN REPOSE

nfolding moments in the lives of humans or otherwise is just one of the subjects that lensman Anil Purohit seeks to portray. We take a glance at some such instances. PGs 16&17

‘HEROISM

IS LIKE AN

ADDICTION’ REPORT ON PG 4

DIFFICULT DECISIONS

ON SATURDAY SRINIVAS SETTY

In an interview with Rakesh Reddy Dubbudu, RTI activist and member of the United Forum for RTI Awareness, we discuss the history of silent blows that the RTI Act has survived, the problems troubling it and the shape of its future in this country.

‘Q

uality of life’ is a term us humans are faced with more often than not in our lives, but when it comes to deciding the same for a pet, we often find ourselves at a crossroads. Is there an appropriate path? We seek answers.

PGs 12&13

PAGE TWO SATURDAY, JANUARY 19, 2013

LOTS OF PUPPY LOVE

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: Alankritha art gallery When: Up to January 30, 11am to 7pm Contact: www.alankritha.in

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

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

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: Nautanki Galli, Madhapur Where: Truffles cafe Plot no. 376, Road no. 10, Jubilee Hills When: Up to February 10 Contact: (040) 2355 0105

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

CINEMAS

A software employee feeds biscuits to puppies outside Annapurna Studios. monsoon. Where: NIFT, Madhapur When: January 25 Contact: (040) 2311 4537

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

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 per cent on apparel and footwear. Where: All Arrow outlets When: Up to January 20

Numaish Numaish is the 73rd All India Industrial Exhibition is an ongoing event in the City. Where: Exhibition Ground, Mukarramjahi Road, Nampally When: Up to February 15,

4pm to 11pm Contact: (040) 2460 3015

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: Ongoing Contact: www.shoppersstop.com

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 When: January 26, 6:15am onwards Contact: atlantafoundation.org

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

S BALAKRISHNA

Buy Art It is an anniversary art show of affordable art by 30 artists. All artworks are priced between Rs1,000 to Rs10,000 Where: Iconart Gallery When: January 18-February 18 11:30am-7pm Contact: www.iconart.in

Kashmiri Food Festival Wazas, who are the Master Chefs of the Wazwan cuisine, are specially flown down from Kashmir to prepare a royal Kashmiri cuisine. Where: Ohri’s Jalvihar, Necklace Road When: January 18, 1pm onwards

Musicals, play, films On 18th, a documentary, Nero´s Guests, about India’s agrarian crisis seen through the work of the P Sainath will be screened. The next day, Pyar ke Gurd Gobar Ghutaale, a play about friends who crave for love will be screened. On Sunday there will be a musical afternoon, followed by Hisdustani and Carnatic music. Where: Lamakaan, Lane next to M-Modal building Road No.1, Banjara Hills When: January 18-20

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

CITY SATURDAY, JANUARY 19, 2013

Two men assaulted

Man murdered by kin

wo youths, Mohd Zubair and Syed Abrar, were attacked by a group of men on Friday night at Afzalnagar, Amberpet, when they were returning home after purchasing medicines. A group of eight men came out and argued with them and attacked them with the iron rods and lathis. Zubair suffered head injuries and was shifted to Osmania hospital.

man was murdered by his cousin and a few others on Friday near Zoo Park road. The victim, Altaf, 24, a resident of Khaja Nagar Tadbun was studying in B.Com. He had a family dispute with his maternal uncle. His cousin, Nisar, was caught in a theft case and Nisar’s parents alleged that Altaf was behind his arrest.

Politicos turn to religion for T state As the deadline for the Centre to announce its decision on T nears, leaders from T try to appease the gods.

Swami granted bail

ampally court granted conditional bail to Swami Kamalananda Bharathi this morning. He was facing allegations of making inflammatory remarks against Akbaruddin Owaisi. The court asked the him not to leave Hyderabad. It also asked Bharathi to cooperative with the investigating officials. The arrest had led to a huge uproar.

We will protect settlers in City: TRS A confident TRS assures settlers from Andhra and Rayalaseema in Hyderabad of full security once Telangana becomes a reality.

Postnoon News feedback@postnoon.com INKESHAF AHMED

he possible realisation of a separate Telangana has led to surprising developments in the State. On one hand, the Andhra and Rayalaseema leaders have already decided to undertake a Delhi Yatra on January 21 to mount pressure on the UPA government to not go ahead with the bifurcation. On the other hand Telangana leaders, especially from Congress, are now turning to spirituality to ensure the creation of T-state. And leading these leaders, is none other than the former cabinet minister P Shanker Rao (pictured). The doctorturned-politician recently visited the shrine at Tirupati to offer prayers. Speaking to Postnoon, Rao said, “I went to Tirupati to seek the blessings of the lord. Apart from other things I also prayed that there be no hurdles in the creation of a separate state.”

ahmed.m@postnoon.com

T Rao’s brother-in-law and Congress MP G Vivek also offered similar prayers at the temple. Minister D Sridhar Babu also visited famous Basara temple on Friday. Many other cabinet ministers from Telangana are also planning to hold similar prayers in coming days as the deadline for the Centre to take a final decision is fast approaching. Leaders from other political parties are also organising pujas in various temples.

RS, the champion of separate Telangana cause, has donned a different avatar these days. The party, which stood a mute spectator to last week’s discussion between Congress leaders from Seemandhra and Telangana regions, is back in the news again. With reports of a separate state gaining steam, the party seems to have decided not to do everything possible to help achieve the long-cherished dream. In a fresh move, the TRS has offered protection to all Andhra and Rayalaseema people settled in Hyderabad, in the event of Telangana being created. "No person from Andhra and Rayalaseema should worry about their safety after the creation of Telangana. We will provide protection and create a

sense of security among them as they are also an integral part of Telangana region," TRS leader and party MLA K Taraka Rama Rao (pictured) said. KTR’s statement assumes

importance in the wake of antiTelangana propaganda by Andhra and Rayalaseema leaders, especially from Congress. They are strictly opposing the bifurcation of the State. These leaders have said that the people of from Rayalaseema and Andhra regions, who are settled in Hyderabad, will face a lot of problems including threat to their lives. The leaders have brought up this issue in their meeting with the party high command. The issue also figured prominently during a meeting of Seemandhra Congress leaders two days ago. The TRS is also planning to hold special programmes to reach out to the settlers and assure them that they will be safe in Telangana. It may be emphasised here that important areas of GHMC like Ameerpet, SR Nagar, Kukatpally, KPHB Colony Jubilee Hills, Banjara Hills, Miyapur, BHEL has a dominating population of Andhra and Rayalaseema people.

Man swindles people with fake medicines

Under the pretext of curing any ailment, including sexual problems, with his ‘ayurvedic’ medicines, a man fleeced people in Secunderabad to the tune of several lakhs of rupees before fleeing from the scene.

Mohd Subhan mohd.s@postnoon.com

n ayurvedic drug dealer has cheated many people under the pretext of offering them better treatment. The accused swindled innocent people of lakhs of rupees before fleeing and a case has booked against him with the Marredpally police. According to the police, the accused had been running an ayurvedic bhandar in Marredpally for the past few months. He claimed that he could cure patients of any illness and his unsuspecting clients people bought his story. As they trusted him, they had no qualms about paying him thousands of rupees for his ayurvedic medicines. He tricked

them saying that he was prescribing them medicines for their specific ailments, but they should not disclose it to anybody. This way, he claimed, they would feel better in a few days. He also managed to attract customers by claiming that he had medicines to help people with their sexual performance as well. Expectedly, he was flooded with requests and he charged them exorbitant rates for these ‘pills’. M Satyanarayana, a senior citizen, approacjed the accused for treatment for his chronic ailments. The accused allegedly assured him that would cure Satyanarayana within three months and charged him a whopping `1.5 lakh, that the patient paid in three instalments. However, when

Satyanarayan noticed no improvement even after three months, the accused prescribed him some more medicines. However, this too failed to cure him and an angry Satyanarayana went back to the ayurvedic centre, only to find it locked. It then came to light that the owner of the centre had fleeced several unsuspecting people and escaped with the money. Satyanarayana lodged a complaint with the Marredpally police, who filed a case against the accused. Investigations revealed that he had swindled several such people and had made a few lakhs of rupees before fleeing. Turned out the medications he had prescribed were fake. The police are investigating the matter.

CITY SATURDAY, JANUARY 19, 2013

Postnoon speaks to activist Rakesh Reddy Dubbudu from the United Forum for RTI Awareness about the challenges faced by the Right To Information Act in the country over the years, safety of RTI activists and the way ahead

statistics, they will just cook up something and use the study to suit their proposed changes in the future.

RAHUL RAMAKRISHNA

rahul.r@postnoon.com

n an interview with Rakesh Reddy Dubbudu, RTI activist and member of the United Forum for RTI Awareness, we discuss the history of silent blows that the RTI Act has survived, the problems troubling it and the shape of its future in this country.

When did you begin your work as an activist? I passed out of REC Warangal in 2005 and during college, I was not really sure of where my education was leading to, even after graduating with a State 11th rank. In 2007, I started my work with UFRTI, along with Raju Ramakrishna, who is also the coconvenor, and that is how the story began.

The RTI Act of 2005 has suffered many silent blows, the latest one being the amendment to subrule 4 dealing with the first appeal commission hearings. Throughout its history, how many such attempts have been made? The RTI Act has withstood quite a few sly attempts by the government, not so much here in AP, but at the central level. There were many disguised attempts to modify and remove a few clauses, and subrules, but thankfully, the civil societies have always pressurised them into withdrawing them. Infact, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has always been a tad bit unhappy with the usage of the RTI. He has always added that significant "but" about RTI affecting the work of the bureaucracy and how it has costed a lot to the government. In fact, one such attempt was the issue of including 'File Notings' in the RTI where every departmental head would include his/her notes about the issue. As we know, this would indefinitely affect the nature of contents in the RTI. This amendment was proposed and never withdrawn, although the parliament never approved this. Another was a study taken up by the central government with a private agency PricewaterhouseCooper, which aims at studying the nature of problems being faced by the bureaucracy in dealing with an RTI. We conducted a counter study funded by Google and other NGOs like RAAG, and took field studies from 3 districts in AP. Surprisingly, the government's study itself showed dismal results of awareness in the public and the administration.

Do you think these attempts made by the government will materialise and actually dampen the RTI Act?

â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;HEROISM IS LIKE AN ADDICTIONâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;

Well, another study proposed by the Department of Planning Technology raised this issue of RTI costing the government a lot of money and time, and in PM Manmohan Singh's words, "misuse of the RTI." Infact, if anything, the government is generating money through RTI by asking us to pay for the replies. A normal photocopy costing `1 is charged at `2 in government departments. And if they think it costs time, it is obviously because of the low levels of awareness about RTI Act among officials, some including senior IAS officers. For example, we train PIOs about RTI and it is not uncommon for us to get phone calls asking us to help them deal with RTIs. So, when this is the state of things, the proposition of taking up studies and planning to make changes is but a dangerous attempt to handcuff the Act. When they will not find any solid

You, and especially UFRTI, have been instrumental in putting pressure on the State government over the recent amendment and have most certainly thwarted their apparent mistake. Would you count this as a success story? If not, what was one success story that you have experienced so far? Well, the pressure was certain because we as activists have always been watching the government and raising alerts over things It was possible because of our wide extensive network. But it is not really a success story. Success stories are when we have helped people become aware about the RTI and use it effectively to solve a problem. When we filed an RTI in the I&PR department of the Secretariat, the officer in charge said the data required was present in a rack full of files. This was when digitalisation and keeping computer records still did not materialise. So I, along with this officer, spent two days a week and helped input everything into a computer and finally got my information. So by the time we finished, the officer too was impressed and satisfied over his work and this soon helped him start off with the rest of the records. That sort of change is always welcome.

About the security of RTI activists, what do you have to say? Considering that the number of attacks and deaths of activists have gone up, how do you deal with them? I suggest that anybody filing an RTI should keep as minimal contact with the government as possible. Never give away your address or allowing too much phone contact. It is risky. As an activist, one should be smart enough to know that heroism is like an addiction, and if taken lightly, will most certainly have repercussions. So if an officer asks you to come personally and take the required information, ask him/her to mail it to you in hard copy and pay for the postage and stationary charges. Being smart will keep one out of danger. Although there are many ways an official can trace you, considering the awareness levels about RTI, it is infact negligible.

How has the RTI actually helped the common man? And if it has, do you see higher awareness levels in the rural areas or the urban areas? Well, the RTI Act has certainly tilted the power equation in favour of the people. But that is yet to be realised because awareness levels are still quite low, although I wont say it is absolutely dismal. And as can be easily guessed, awareness is more in urban areas as compared to the rural sides. But that can be because, people in the villages and towns file RTIs mostly about personal problems regarding their farm lands or water connections. We, as people from the cities, believe in the light speed reaction of input and output, but we are yet to realise that any sort of change we see is small but significant. There is change and it will eventually help finish the bigger picture.

What are the future course of actions that you intend to take up? We have planned a two day session on RTI awareness, a massive one on February 16 and 17, at AMR APPARD in Attapur, which will be followed by a public discussion at People's Plaza. Apart from that, I am waiting for a few replies for RTIs I have filed with the UIADI about the Aadhar card and a few other issues. And not to forget, the roll back on the State government's recent amendment with the State RTI Act of 2005.

CITY SATURDAY, JANUARY 19, 2013

A cultural exchange Hollywood producer and Oscar nominee Alexandra Rose, who's currently the chair of special projects and industry initiatives at Chapman University, California, is in Hyderabad as a part of an exchange programme with AISFM. She tells Postnoon about the relevance of film schools and what students need to consider before applying to their dream schools. ally worked on a film in a really long time. Does that create a disconnect between what's being taught in the class and what's happening in film industry? I don't think so, because most people stay abreast with what's happening in the film industry all the time. The basic principles of story narratives are the same, but what changes are the delivery systems, capture systems and the platforms used to distribute the content. If you have a flair for storytelling, that knack will not vanish even when you grow old.

HEMANTH KUMAR

hemanth.k@postnoon.com Is this the first time that students from Chapman University have come to India on an exchange programme to make films? What kick started this idea? Yes, it's a first of its kind initiative which allows Chapman University students to collaborate with students at AISFM to make movies. I came to AISFM last year and I thought that it would be a wonderful place to bring my students and make films. It was a wonderful opportunity for collaboration between the two schools. Honestly, people were sceptical at first, but thankfully we had several Indian donors who came forward to sponsor the programme, so that our students get a taste of different cultures. All this wouldn't have been possible without their support. Most film school students don't have a clue what to expect when they are applying for a film school. What would you suggest they consider before applying? First of all, they must be very dedicated towards their craft. It's very difficult and requires a lot of hard work.

Alexandra Rose (left), Oscar nominee as producer of Norma Rae (1979), and Amala Akkineni at the announcement of the student exchange programme. There's no slacking and you have to also understand that it's difficult to move ahead in a creative field. Moreover, you have to make the best use of creativity, relationships and collaborate more with the people you meet early in your career. Do you expect them to have a natural flair for story telling? It helps if they have a good understanding of literature, narrative and characters, because those are the essential parts of any film, which gives the audience something to identify with in the film.

It's a whole new world out there once students graduate from a film school and not many students make it as big as they would want to. Do students get disillusioned and question the whole point of joining a film school? I don't think so. Not every student who studies engineering or law becomes a top engineer or a lawyer. A film school is no different and it all depends on the level of talent, dedication and perseverance you have to make it big. There's always a debate over the relevance of film schools these days. Of late, anyone

with a digital camera and a story to tell is making a film. Where does that leave a film school in the bigger picture? The role of film schools is essentially to create an environment where anyone can make films. It's like the craft of engineering has been around since the time of Egyptian civilisation, but does it stop students from learning engineering now? It's like any other profession, although it's different in terms creativity and how the industry is structured. A lot of professors in film schools might not have actu-

American films made in 70s were greatly influenced by Vietnam War, and on a similar note, each decade had a definitive trend. Have you spotted a defining trend in contemporary cinema? I think we are in a post modern era today. We are seeing a lot more new versions of the old films, which is very derivative. There's a lot of personal work as well. I think there are lot of niche films being made these days and they are all finding their audience, along with the big blockbuster movies. You have been in India for a couple of weeks now. What has been the biggest learning experience so far? (Smiles) It is to be ready for the unexpected, move ahead and cherish every moment of it.

Will Gatka die out in a few years? Gatka, earlier used by Sikh armies and soldiers to fight against the Mughals, is now given used to stay physically and mentally fit. But the number of takers for this traditional martial art form has fallen in recent years. Anubha K Singh anubha.k@postnoon.com

atka is a Sikh martial art form which is performed during religious processions in the community. “The main aim of learning Gatka is to stay fit and healthy and lead a disciplined life. Unfortunately, the number of children training in Gatka is decre-asing every year,” said Ranjit Singh, member AP Sikh community. “Parents are keener on higher education. Educating your children is not wrong, but physical training is also necessary. Gatka can be introduced in physical training periods in schools, so that kids stay in touch with their traditions.” Worried about the decreasing number of Gatka learners,

the Sikh community in the City is now planning to start many programmes to motivate kids to learn this martial art form. “Learning Gatka is the need

of the hour in our country and it should not be restricted only to boys. Women are being assaulted and harassed mentally and physically every day. If girls are

trained in Gatka, it can be useful for self defence and it will boost their confidence level,” Ranjit Singh said. “It might so happen that the next generation is totally unaware of the art of Gatka,” said Bachanjeet Singh, Prabhandak committee member. “The training not only gives confidence and a positive attitude, but will also give practitioners complete control over body movements and mind. The problem in our country is that other games like cricket and football are given more importance, and as a result, children are moving away from their own traditions and culture. There is no need to go to the gym to maintain your physique if you practise Gatka. Also, the younger generation gets connected to the society by

participating in such games.” Unfortunately in our country, most parents give more importance to their children’s academic achievements than physical fitness. “I agree that physical training is important but where is the time? These days school timings are from 8am to 8pm. There is hardly any time left for any other activity. If you want name and fame in this society, you have to be well educated. And to get a good job in the future, a higher percentage is required. Gatka or any other cultural activity will not fetch a good job,” said Puja Sethi, mother of two kids and a corporate employee. Gatka is kept alive in Sikh communities, where the techniques have been passed down through generations.

NATION SATURDAY, JANUARY 19, 2013

Woman beaten to death

55-year-old tribal woman was beaten to death by her in-laws after they branded her a witch in Rajasthan’s Banswara district, police said Saturday. The incident took place Friday night at Moti Timbi village in the district, some 500 km from here. “Veeta Devi was sleeping in the house when her brotherin-law and his family members barged inside and dragged her out,” police said.

Man kills wife in Noida hotel

1,900 cops face disciplinary action

lose to 2,000 Delhi police personnel faced disciplinary action last year. A total of 1,968 police personnel faced action and out of which 112 were dismissed, terminated or removed from the force. Another 345 had to forfeit service. “Several claims are made that there is no accountability. But we take strict action in such cases and our vigilance teams will continue surprise checks,” Delhi Police Commissioner Neeraj Kumar said.

24-year-old woman was murdered by her husband in a hotel in Noida, police said. Akansha Khosla, a resident of Delhi, was found dead last evening. SSP Praveen Kumar said the hotel staff found the woman around 6.30pm. Initially, police thought that she had committed suicide however, her husband Ishan Khosla turned up at the police station and confessed to his crime.

India welcomes positive statements

ALL LIT UP

India welcomed the “positive statements” coming from Pakistan on talks to defuse the tension.

NEW DELHI: India Friday welcomed the “positive statements” coming from Pakistan on talks to defuse their border tension and said the border flare-ups of the past 10 days, including the Jan 8 brutal killing of two Indian soldiers, would not undermine their peace process. The statement by External Affairs Minister Salman Khurshid (pictured) came even as Congress president Sonia Gandhi said India was for close relations with neighbours but the dialogue must be based on “accepted principles of civilized behaviour”, while Prime Minister Manmohan Singh said India

must have friendly relations with all but did not elaborate. A day after Pakistan Foreign Minister Hina Rabbani Khar offered talks at the foreign ministers level to defuse the stand-off, the country’s envoy in New Delhi Salman Bashir condemned the Jan 8 brutal killing of two Indian soldiers, including the beheading of one, and their two armies should probe the incident. But Bashir stated that “We are absolutely clear, that at no point in time did Pakistani forces cross the LoC.” In an interview, Bashir, taking note of the stern Indian stance, said: “Unfortunately, I must say that it has almost become fashionable, that Pakistan-bashing has become fashionable whenever there is an issue.” Former Pakistan president Pervez Musharraf, in an interview, said he could not believe that Pakistani soldiers could have crossed the LoC and killed and beheaded Indian soldiers. “I just can’t imagine any soldier doing this. If anyone has done it the strongest punishment should be given to him,” Musharraf said. He termed the beheading of an Indian soldier as a “terrible, wild act” and said anyone found guilty would be court martialled and punished. Musharraf said peace must prevail on the border and the escalation of violence was not in anyone’s interest. IANS

Cong takes on Punjab speaker

‘Will take Sena ahead’

CHANDIGARH: The Congress in

MUMBAI: Amid reports of power

Punjab has got involved in an unlikely dispute with the state assembly speaker over the screening of a video clip in which revenue minister Bikram Singh Majithia is seen abusing a Congress legislator inside the house. Speaker Charanjit Singh Atwal had issued a gag order to the print and electronic media against writing about or airing the video clip. The video, which has gone viral on the internet, shows Majithia, brother-in-law of Akali Dal president Sukhbir Singh Badal, using abusive language and expletives against Congress legislator and industrialist Rana Gurjeet Singh. While the speaker suspended Rana after unruly scenes in the house Dec 19, no action was taken against Majithia. But a defiant Congress is in no mood to oblige the speaker. It is screening the video.

tussles within Shiv Sena, its executive president Uddhav Thackeray today said he would take the party “one step ahead”. “I am Balasaheb’s son. He brought the party to this level. I assure you that I will take Shiv Sena one step ahead than my father,” Uddhav said at function here. Internal power tussles have been witnessed in the Sena units at Nashik, Kolhapur and Auranagabad in the last few weeks, putting a question mark on the party’s prospects. Referring to the tussles, Uddhav said: “Some people are saying that Shiv Sena will end... but I am saying I will not sit quiet till it is taken one step ahead.” Stating that Shiv Sena was playing a role in national politics too, he reminded that the party opposed the visit by Pakistani women cricket team.

Fireworkds erupt over the illuminated Golden Temple in Amritsar on January 18. Sikhs are celebrating the 348th Birth Anniversary of the tenth Sikh Guru Gobind Singh. AFP PHOTO/NARINDER NANU

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WORLD SATURDAY, JANUARY 19, 2013

Lira looks to pip Monroe

158 cops held in Mexico

uthorities arrested 158 police officers in two northern Mexican towns over alleged links to drug traffickers Friday, forcing the army and state police to fill the security void, prosecutors said. The army, federal and state police rounded up 110 municipal officers in the town of Lerdo and another 48 in neighboring Gomez Palacio, including their two chiefs.

Indonesia flood toll at 15

outh Africa’s Lira will be one among many performers at Barack Obama’s inaugural celebrations Monday, but she is determined to rival Marilyn Monroe’s for John F. Kennedy. The artist hopes to give Obama at the Ambassadors’ Inaugural Ball in Washington something as memorable, but perhaps not as racy, as Monroe’s “Happy Birthday, Mr President” to JFK.

he death toll from floods in Indonesia’s capital Jakarta has risen to 15 after rescuers found another four bodies, a police spokesman said Saturday as floodwaters receded. Jakarta police spokesman Rikwanto said that three bodies were pulled out of the water on Friday while a body was found trapped since Thursday in a parking lot.

Algeria: US hostage dead as confusion reigns

DAMASCUS: An American hostage was confirmed dead Friday amid uncertainty over the fate of other foreigners held at an Algerian gas plant, with their captors demanding a prisoner swap and an end to French military action in Mali. The Al-Qaeda-linked gunmen, cited by Mauritania’s ANI news agency, said they still held seven foreigners at the site deep in the Sahara desert near the border with Libya. An Algerian security official put their number at 10. “This is an extremely difficult and dangerous situation,” US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said in Washington at a joint news conference with an equally concerned Japanese Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida. “The United States extends our condolences to all the families who have lost loved ones in this brutal assault and we remain deeply concerned about those who remain in danger. Utmost care must be taken to preserve innocent life.” State Department spokeswoman Victoria Nuland identified the dead American as Frederick Buttaccio amid reports that a total of five Americans were initially taken hostage. The UN Security Council “condemned in the strongest terms the terrorist attack in In Amenas, Algeria”, said a statement agreed by the 15-member panel. The council also expressed “deep sympathy and sincere con-

WH, Pentagon differ over Mali

This photo released by EADS’ Astrium Press on January 18, 2013, shows a satellite view of the In Amenas gas field in the Sahara desert. dolences to the victims of these heinous acts and their families and to the people and governments of Algeria and those countries whose nationals have been affected”. International criticism of the haste with which Algeria launched a dramatic military assault to rescue those held has been mounting, after an Algerian security official said it had left dead 12 hostages and 18 kidnappers. Kishida urged Algeria to

place the “utmost priority” on ensuring the hostages’ safety. In Tokyo, Prime Minister Shinzo Abe ordered his government to do everything possible to ensure the safety of 10 Japanese nationals unaccounted for. Abe attended a meeting of a government task force shortly after arriving in Tokyo after cutting short a trip to Southeast Asia. “I would like you to do your best to confirm the safety of the Japanese and rescue them by using every possible means.”

he White House and the US Defense Department are at odds over the danger posed by radical Islamic groups that have taken control of parts of Mali and are stirring up trouble in other parts of West Africa, The Los Angeles Times reported late Friday. Citing unnamed US officials, the newspaper said the events in Mali and neighboring Algeria have prompted sharp debate within President Barack Obama’s administration over whether these radicals present enough of a risk to warrant a military response. Islamist militants associated with Al-Qaeda have seized control of a significant part of northern Mali, prompting France to launch a military operation there a week ago to prevent the rebels from capturing Bamako, the capital. French Defense Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian said Friday that Paris had increased its troop numbers by 400 in a single day, from 1,400 Thursday to 1,800, “and the progress on our presence on the ground continues.” France plans to deploy 2,500 soldiers in the AFP country.

Japan to sign child US House Reps for abduction treaty 3-month debt limit rise WASHINGTON:

Japan’s foreign minister said Friday his country’s new government would sign a treaty on child abductions, addressing one of the few rifts in relations with its main ally the United States. Japan has not signed or ratified the 1980 Hague Convention, which requires the return of wrongfully held children to the countries where they usually live, but a previous left-leaning government had said it planned to do so. Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida, whose conservative Liberal Democratic Party returned to power last month, said on a visit to Washington that Prime Minister Shinzo Abe’s government would take the same stance. “The government of Japan is intending to go through the necessary procedures for early signing of the treaty,” Kishida said.

WASHINGTON: Republicans proposed a three-month

increase to the US debt ceiling Friday as they mulled breaking a protracted fiscal impasse, but warned any long-term deal would require Congress to pass a budget that cuts spending. The Republican-led House of Representatives will hold a vote next week on the temporary measure, Majority Leader Eric Cantor announced. The move could help defuse a fiscal time bomb that Congress and the White House face in late February and early March with the nation hitting its debt ceiling, looming automatic federal spending cuts. The threemonth extension of US borrowing authority would buy time for the Senate to pass a non-binding budget, Cantor said.

Chinese poet recounts moments of horror in prison Marianne Barriaux

PARIS: Liao Yiwu clearly recalls the moment when he first stepped into a Chinese jail. He was stripped naked by inmates who then violated him with chopsticks — the beginning of a four-year prison ordeal. “I only stayed naked in front of everyone six to seven minutes, but I felt I had lost all dignity,” the author and poet said about the start of his 1990 imprisonment after the bloody crackdown on Tiananmen pro-democracy protests. More than two decades on and despite intense police obstruction, the 650-page account of those four years -a rare depiction of life in a Chinese jail -- has finally come out in France after first being published in Germany and Taiwan. The book was a long time in the making and has come at huge personal cost. Faced with the threat of more prison if he had it published abroad, the 54-year-old decided to flee China in 2011, leaving his mother and others behind. AFP

Katrina-era mayor indicted for graft WASHINGTON: Ray Nagin, who served as mayor of New Orleans when Hurricane Katrina battered the city in 2005, was indicted Friday by a federal grand jury on corruption charges, US law enforcement officials said. The indictment claims that Nagin handed lucrative city contracts to consultants and contractors in exchange for more than $230,000 in bribes and kickbacks, including free granite for his family business, personal services and free trips. Nagin, 56, is also charged with money laundering conspiracy and filing false tax returns from 2005 to 2008. He faces between five and 20 years behind bars if convicted, along with hundreds of thousands of dollars in fines. Nagin was said to have accepted $72,250 from Rodney Williams and his company, Three Fold Consultants, LLC.

COMMENT SATURDAY, JANUARY 19, 2013

Another golf special

Dark, deep and beautiful

he spread about golf was grand. I do not know why people don’t dig golf. It is such a wonderful sport. Of course, people who have no clue how the game’s played and other trivia may not like it. Perhaps another golf special, this time about the rules and its idiosyncracies? Girish Kumar Via email

f there is anyone who should win the Oscar for music, it is Adele. Her rendition and the mood she created for the song go perfect for the movie, deep, dark and beautiful which Skyfall was actually unlike the many before the Daniel Craig starrers. Vijayanand Gachibowli

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

The enigma

ne wonders what to make of Tahirul Qadri. He is Pakistanborn, but a Canadian. he comes back, triggers a people’s movement, professes to hate al-Qaida and love the Army, and now has made the government bend before him. What does this presage for Pak? Varun Sharma Gachibowli

EDITORIALS NOT HEARD OF ‘Live and Let Live?’ They prowl the street of London, clad in hooded jackets. Their intention is to educate people about the right way to live. But when Muslim Patrol insists that people do as deemed right by their religion, they cross a line. Because saying something to people and insisting that something be done are different. And when religion is involved, things get murky. Members of Muslim Patrol have uploaded videos on YouTube where women have been asked to cover up and do not expose themselves outside the mosque. In another, they ask a person who was drinking beer that it is a vile drink and not to drink it. Now are they not creating existential issues for themselves by imposing on the humour of others asking to follow diktats and practices of their religion? Why must they interfere in other people’s lives when it is least expected and invited? Why is it so hard to understand that “live and let live” could make life so easy for everyone despite people belonging to different religions.First of all, most likely, Muslim Patrol could be immigrants. Now when you go to another country and bully the natives, you are begging for trouble.

PARTY OF Paradox Is Sonia Gandhi on the defensive or offensive when it comes to the corrupt government? Her recent remarks on “public being rightly fed up” on corruption levels, and the pompous display of wealth by leaders, might leave one wondering why politicians charged on various grounds of corruption and crime and still in her party. Is this a desperate last minute effort to get back the “middle class” voters whom she fears are drifting away? Well, sorry to say, it’s a bit too late.

Power of acceptance Soul Curry SUMAA TEKUR

t’s the people that make a place beautiful. People make a culture meaningful, and people make an experience memorable. During my recent travels, I met an interesting man, who knew how to live in the moment, value relationships, fight the odds that life threw at him and balance his desires and aspirations. That Chaminda S Leelan is a PADIcertified scuba diving instructor in the island nation of Sri Lanka perhaps has a lot to do with his unique characteristics. He knows how to navigate life in the deep end, and values the opportunities that come his way. Between managing the daily chores at the dive centre and comforting first-time snorkelers and divers, Chaminda is a walk-

ing example of how travelling can change one’s worldview. He has been a diving instructor for the last 14 years and took over the reins of his father’s diving school, Poseidon Diving Station, in Hikkaduwa and Trincomalee, Sri Lanka. Like a fish taking to water, Chaminda admits that he’s most comfortable in water. He can stay in water, swimming, diving, snorkeling, or just floating, for as long as he can. On one evening, when dark grey clouds broke into sheets of rain, the rest of the swimmers rushed to the shelter by the seaside but Chaminda went in the opposite direction and dove right into the sea for a swim. It doesn’t take a lot to get Chaminda talking. You only need to express and honest curiosity to get to know him through his experiences. He has travelled the world, diving in different seas, different environments and with different groups. The main life takeaway from all these rich experiences, he says, is to be true to yourself

IT’S NOT WHAT HAPPENS TO US BUT HOW WE REACT TO IT THAT MAKES US WHO WE ARE. and to whoever you’re interacting with. From a distance, it looks as though his life is one big vacation day after day. He does enjoy the travels, meeting people and the diving world with its inherent nature of enjoyment and exploration of another world. It reminds him every day that there’s also another world out there, and perhaps many more that we aren’t even aware of. This has, to a very large extent, shaped his worldview – as also the tsunami of 2004 that wreaked havoc on the coastal areas of Sri Lanka. Chaminda’s eyes reflect the horror, the depth of which only he can ever understand. He lost his diving centre to the wrath of

nature. He remembers vividly that the black t-shirt and an underwater watch he was wearing at the time was all he was left with. This, to Chaminda, was the life-changing moment. He directed all his energy and motivation to re-building his father’s diving centre. He picked up new skills and learnt how to manage people and businesses. Post this experience, his life has been one big discovery — of people and experiences. He’s more alive every moment, opens his heart out to people more easily, is more curious to learn about other countries and cultures, is committed to preserving nature, and is eager to live in the moment always. It’s not what happens to us but how we react to it that makes us who we are. Chaminda has made nature his best friend and he’s ever ready and willing to be part of the ebb and flow that is nature’s way. This is the true meaning of acceptance and the power of a meaningful existence.

COMMENT SATURDAY, JANUARY 19, 2013

A liar, and a despicable man The Human Condition

Armstrong must be banned for life, and more than that he should now face criminal charges which, if convicted, should see him do at least 10 years in prison. Not for doping, but just for being such an ass.

DEAN WILLIAMS

omeone asked me yesterday what I thought the difference was between Lance Armstrong (who I consider the lowest of low forms of human life at the moment) and Tiger Woods (who is still my favourite golfer). The answer may sound simple, but the thought process is complex; let me venture an explanation. Where Woods was broken post his sex scandal; Armstrong is smug and arrogant. Woods never claimed to be the epitome of human decency; Armstrong built his reputation on being the North Star to our moral navigators. Woods apologised without reservation and paid a heavy price, literally; Armstrong gave the sort of apology a child would when he believes it is not all his fault. The only crime Woods committed was shattering a social barrier; Armstrong broke the law, indulged in a crime involving drugs and shattered millions of dreams (many of them belonging to people who did not have long to live). Armstrong’s statement in his interview with the saccharine and hopelessly patronising Oprah Winfrey that he did not

Urban sketches VISWAPRASAD RAJU

believe he should be banned from sport for life personifies the gall of a person who believes he is better that everyone else. Michael Specter, writing in the New Yorker, said that while everyone lies, Armstrong’s were worse because he “earned 30 million dollars a year, nearly all of it from endorsements based not just on athletic prowess but on the golden aura of a man pure”. Armstrong deceived an

ideal, and still continues to do so, with nary a care for all but himself. Not only did Armstrong constantly lie under the most (now in retrospect) hypocritical situations, he bullied those who attempted to call him out on his cheating ways. His constant harassment, legal and verbal, of those who knew the Real Lance shows a man with a tyrannical streak so large it would make

most dictators proud. His visage on Oprah rarely cracked, and even when it did it looked feigned and pained: Not because he was coming clean about decades of doping, but rather because he had to come clean to the people he had so effectively hoodwinked for all this time. Armstrong also refused to name-and-shame the rest of the cartel responsible for destroying

the beautiful sport of cycling, but he consistently refused to take sole blame for his actions. Human beings are deceiving monsters at the best of times, but our ability to apologise unreservedly (for what it’s worth) and feel true remorse is what stops us from becoming Hitlers and Stalins. I’m not saying that Armstrong is anywhere near those two genocidal maniacs, but his lack of penitence smacks of a deeper moral disease. Armstrong must be banned for life, and more than that he should now face criminal charges which, if convicted, should see him do at least 10 years in prison. Not for doping, but just for being such an asshole. Ironically, as Armstrong was faffing in Oprah’s chair, rumours were doing the rounds that Tiger Woods was seeking reconciliation with his ex-wife Ellen Nordegren. A few weeks ago, Ellen might have shot him down, metaphorically speaking, but if she watched Armstrong on Thursday night, she might just rethink that. Woods may be a philandering waste of space, who if taken back by Ellen, deserves to be her loyal servant for the rest of his life, but compared to Armstrong he’s a veritable saint. Think hard Ellen, it could be worse; you could have been married to Lance. The writer is editor, Postnoon

Global edits

Journey

The New York Times (US)

The Starry Messenger

his is a month when anyone with a telescope or good binoculars can gaze up at one of the brightest objects in the night sky and revisit a staggering achievement in astronomy: Galileo’s discovery, over several January days in 1610, of Jupiter’s four largest moons. At first, Galileo thought he was seeing stars. But watching them move in relation to Jupiter, he figured out what they really were — an epiphany that began to upend the given view of the universe. Here was a celestial body with other celestial bodies circling it. For a biblical cosmology that placed Earth at the center of all that moved, the implications would prove devastating. The Morgan Library and Museum in Manhattan has a beautifully preserved relic of that scientific triumph: the scrap of an envelope on which Galileo, in 1611, tracked the shifting positions of the Jovian moons. He had published his findings about the moons the year before in “The Starry Messenger,” and he was working, night after night, to better define the periods

GALILEO’S ACHIEVEMENT WAS THE END OF GEOCENTRISM, BUT IT WAS HARDLY THE END OF IGNORANCE AND MAGICAL THINKING. IT TOOK JUST A WOODEN TUBE AND SOME POLISHED LENSES, A CRITICAL AND INQUISITIVE MIND, AND FOUR POINTS OF LIGHT. of the moons’ orbits. In his (literally!) back-of-the-envelope jottings and little pictures, one can sense a great mind puzzling out a perplexing story. Galileo’s achievement was the end of geocentrism, but it was hardly the end of ignorance and magical thinking. When obstinacy places reason under siege, as it does to this day — when fundamentalism defames biological science in the classroom, or the politics of denial prevent action to deal with a changing climate, it helps to recall our debt to a man who set a different example more than 400 years ago. It took just a wooden tube and some polished lenses, a critical and inquisitive mind, and four points of light that didn’t behave the way they were supposed to.

BUSINESS SATURDAY, JANUARY 19, 2013

Apple, Google questioned

pple chief Tim Cook and Google chairman Eric Schmidt are expected to face questioning in a lawsuit accusing Silicon Valley giants of secretly agreeing not to “poach” one another’s workers, according to officials and court documents. Plaintiffs’ attorneys said US District Court Judge Lucy Koh endorsed questioning Cook and Schmidt.

Honda recalls vehicles

HSBC to pay $249 mn fine

onda is recalling about 748,000 Pilot and Odyssey vehicles in the US because of a potential flaw in the driver’s side airbag, the company said. Honda said the airbags may have been made without the rivets that secure its plastic cover. “If the rivets are missing, the airbag may not deploy properly, increasing the risk of injury in a crash,” the company said.

SBC has agreed to pay $249 million in compensation to homeloan borrowers hurt in the mortgage and foreclosure scandal, officials said Friday. The Federal Reserve and the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency announced the deal, saying HSBC had to compensate borrowers affected by its “deficient practices in mortgage loan servicing.”

Boeing suspends 787 deliveries

In-production Boeing 787 Dreamliner aircraft sits under construction at the Boeing production facilities and factory at Paine Field in Everett, Washington, February 17, 2012. The European Aviation Safety Agency said on January 17, 2013 it has adopted a directive by the US Federal Aviation Administration to ground all Boeing’s 787 Dreamliners pending a AFP PHOTO / SAUL LOEB safety review.

Paul Handley Agence France-Presse

WASHINGTON: The American aerospace giant Boeing halted deliveries of its 787 Dreamliner on Friday but said it would continue to build the aircraft while safety experts examine its battery and electrical systems. The announcement capped a week in which all 50 787s in service around the world were grounded on orders from multiple aviation authorities to investigate the cause of two incidents, including a fire, linked to its batteries. “We will not deliver 787s until the FAA approves a means of compliance with their recent Airworthiness Directive concerning batteries and the approved approach has been implemented,” a Boeing spokesman said. “Production of 787s continues,” he said. Dreamliners had been flying in Chile, Ethiopia, India, Japan, Poland, Qatar and the United

States until their flights were stopped after a global alert issued by the US Federal Aviation Administration. Boeing’s chairman and chief executive Jim McNerney in a statement to employees defended his company and the aircraft against “the negative news attention over the past several days.” “As everyone inside the company knows, nothing is more important to us than the safety of the passengers, pilots and crew members who fly aboard Boeing commercial and military aircraft,” he said. “We have high confidence in the safety of the 787 and stand squarely behind its integrity as the newest addition to our product family.” His comments came as US and Japanese experts began examining an All Nippon Airways 787 forced to make an emergency landing at Takamatsu in southwest Japan on Wednesday because of a smoke alert apparently linked to

a lithium-ion battery, the plane’s main electrical power unit. “We removed the battery yesterday and are today inspecting the plane and its components, alongside the US officials,” said Japan Transport Safety Board spokesman Mamoru Takahashi. A picture released by the JTSB showed scorch marks on the blue casing of the battery. Much of what looked like wiring around the eight cells of the battery -- the plane’s main electrical power unit -- was disfigured. It was the second incident involving the battery, and one of several problems since the beginning of the year, including a taxiing 787 sprouting a fuel leak in Boston. The problems have cast a cloud over the aircraft heavily dependent on pioneering electrical systems and lightweight composite materials that is meant to be Boeing’s future. No airline has canceled purchases for the 787, but with 850 of the ambitious $200 millionplus aircraft on order, a fortune

is at stake. McNerney stressed that since they entered service in October 2011, 787s have completed 18,000 flights and 50,000 flight hours with no serious problems. But US Secretary of Transportation Ray LaHood told NBC television that the 787 would have to prove itself again to US inspectors. “Those planes won’t fly until we’re 1,000 percent sure they are safe to fly,” said LaHood on Friday. The focus of investigators was on batteries supplied to Boeing by Japan’s GS Yuasa through France’s Thales, two of many firms in a complex global chain of suppliers for the 787 program. JTSB investigator Hideyo Kosugi said one theory was that there may have been insufficient protection offered by the batteries’ surrounding electrical system. “I’m sure that too much current or too-high voltage has gone to the battery,” Kosugi told reporters. Loren Thompson, an aviation analyst at the Lexington Institute, said Boeing was under heavy pressure “to find a solution as soon as possible,” or else it will stop receiving payments for the aircraft on order. “It’s a question of weeks, not months,” he said. Boeing’s engineers union, representing 23,000 staff, raised the stakes in the case on Friday as its representatives rejected the company’s “final” contract offer and blamed the 787 problems on the manufacturer’s outsourcing strategy. The union members will likely vote next week on whether they agree to reject the contract offer, and that ballot could include a vote on whether to go on strike. “Boeing corporate created the 787 problems by ignoring the warnings of the Boeing technical community,” said Joel Funfar, one of the union negotiators. “Now, they propose to double down on their failed outsourcing strategy by outsourcing the engineering work required to solve the problems caused by previous rounds of outsourcing.”

SBH cuts interest rates The bank is also offering a 50 per cent concession in processing charges up to March 30. Postnoon News feedback@postnoon.com

fter the sucess of its recent housing and car loan campaign, the State Bank of Hyderabad has launched a new campaign — SBH Gruhamela and SBH Grab & Drive. Under this attractive benefits are being offered to customers up to March 30, 2013. The bank has slashed interest rates by up to 50 basis points both for home and car loans from the normal rates and is also offering a 50 per cent concession in processing charges during the period. In the Gruhamela scheme, interest rate for the loan is fixed as low as 10.25 per cent per annum, irrespective of the amount. The rate of interest is on a floating basis and is applicable for all tenures and the interest is calculated on a daily reducing balance. For instance, for `1 lakh loan amount, the customer has to pay an EMI of `896 for a 30 year tenure. In the Grab and Drive scheme, interest rate on loans for seven year period is 10.50 per cent per annum.The rate of interest is on floating basis and applicable for all tenures and the interest is calculated on daily reducing balance. The customer has to pay `1,686 EMI for every one lakh for a seven year tenure. The bank is also offering one year free personal accident insurance cover of `4 lakh and an SBI credit card without the first year fee to customers who avail these loans during the campaign period.

TECHNOLOGY SATURDAY, JANUARY 19, 2013

WEBSITE OF THE WEEK

APP OF THE WEEK

GameHuddle ameHuddle is a gaming social network that allows you to share your gamer ids, show off your collection, review games and find gamers. A great way to hook up with people to play Call of Duty IV Modern Warfare.

G NT BALANARAYAN

balanarayan.nt@postnoon.com

t is a good time to be a tech-enthusiast in India now. Everyone wants to set up a startup, or be part of one. However, no one has been able to come up with a good streaming service for TV in India. Yet, we don’t know whom to blame — the cable channels or the distributors. Either way, we, as an audience, are at the losing end. Sling Media, that launched their products in India in 2011, has a solution for this problem. Their devices won’t let you stream video in the traditional sense, but what they offer instead is video place-shifting. You can connect your set top box to Slingbox that is in turn connected to the Internet at home when you leave home. You’ll be able to watch TV via a browser or from an app and even switch between channels using a virtual remote that is part of the interface. Whether it be streaming or video place-shifting, bandwidth is always an issue in most parts of India, so Slingbox is built to work even with 300Kbps connections, says Raman Venkatachar, general manager at Slingmedia India. The other issue with video being transmitted via Internet is latency, a delay between the actual event and the time the user gets to see it. In case of Slingbox, there is a lag of 5-6 seconds while watching video at 300Kbps and that is similar to the one we experience while watching a live match online on ESPN or StarSports website. The lag, however, increases a little bit while changing channels and this will be very minimal if the quality of the connection is very good at both ends. “Though we built the product for those who want TV while on the move, several innovative use cases have come up over time. A lot of people use it to view CCTV footage of their businesses from their home using Slingbox. Traditional offering for

The Moron Quiz

VIDEOGAME REVIEW SUPER HEXAGON

eaturing obvious queries and trick questions, this game is more of a prank than a test of knowledge. In 21 question rapid fire-style matches, answer each multiple choice question as quickly as possible.

BEYOND STREAMING There is a problem for netizens in India; it’s difficult to catch up on your TV shows online. Now, US-based Sling Media, which has a 200-member strong R&D centre in India, has a solution for you.

Playing Super Hexagon for more than five seconds is enough to spark your interest, its simplistic premise drawing you in. It speaks to that ability of computer games to present ultra-difficult logic puzzles that are surmountable with practice.

CCTV footage requires people to have a static IP, which is an additional expense. So, a lot of smaller businesses use our device and due to this, we also support some of the CCTV remotes. This use case came up in US a couple of years back and it has caught on here,” Raman says. There are a few media server options that provide something similar to Slingbox, but what differentiates Sling Media’s offering is the absence of a server in middle. “The place shifting happens between the two devices and there is no push server in the middle,” Raman says. Another field where place shifting is being looked into actively is gaming. However, Raman cautions that a lag can be a major issue for gaming via Slingbox and is not recommended. He says that

Whether it be streaming or video place-shifting, bandwidth is always an issue in most parts of India, so Slingbox is built to work even with 300Kbps connections. In case of Slingbox, there is a lag of 5-6 seconds while watching video at 300Kbps. the company is now concentrating on building up the environment, improving usability of product while improving connection rate among others. “We have a market share of around 95 per cent as of now, but the market is very small. We are working on improving awareness among people at this point,” he says. The company sells two models in India currently — 120 and Pro-HD — and both sell almost the same volumes here, according to Raman. Among Indian cities, the device is most popular in Mumbai and Bangalore, followed by cities such as Hyderabad and Pune. The R&D centre that the company has here in India deals with hardware, software and embedded software.

ANIMAL KINGDOM SATURDAY, JANUARY 19, 2012

DIFFICULT ‘Quality of life’ is a term humans are faced with more deciding the same for a pet, we often find ourselves at

FLEME VARKEY

fleme.v@postnoon.com

hen a human being loses motor co-ordination or a vital organ in the body malfunctions, it is considered a great source of discomfort for the person and their family members. Euthanasia is not an option for us, but what is the way out when one’s pet suffers a similar fate? Most pet owners advocate putting the pet down, citing decreased quality of life as the reason. However, there is also a segment of people who contend that despite their pets’ disabilities or discomfort, they should be given utmost care. Tanya Goel was 12 when her dog was euthanised. On growing up, she came to know that her pet of 14 years had lost sight and hearing, was epileptic and therefore, the vet had suggested that it be put down. Tanya, however, is of the opinion that though old age had caught up with her pet, the doctor should not have put it down and instead allowed it to live its last days with the family. Emotional attachment, as in the case of Tanya, has often been the bone of contention for those who root for quality of life in a pet. Aakash Grewal, a photographer based in Shimla, owned a majestic St Bernard. A freak accident caused his pet to be paralysed hip down. Though a very young dog, the vet asked him to consider euthanising it as it would be more of a hindrance. Incontinence and immobility of the dog would be the two major points that could affect his schedule, but Aakash decided against it. He decided

to let his pet live and even got specially designed wheels for it. He made all the efforts to rescue his dog from the situation, yet owing to the pet’s bulk and weakening body, his dog died. Most would argue that in this case, Aakash, instead of prolonging the pet’s pain and misery, should have put the dog down. But Dr Debashish Deb, veterinary surgeon, argues, “No vet would recommend putting a pet down unless it involves terminal illness. The reason we humans give ourselves is that the animal is suffering, but quite the opposite, it is the unwillingness to take care of the pet in this condition that drives us to think this way. Paralysis or a broken limb is not loss of quality of life, at most if it’s a dog, it will stay at home instead of bounding and playing about and if it is a cat, then there is nothing different with it, it will be at home. As long as the animal can live properly and breathe properly, we avoid suggesting euthanasia.” The Animal Welfare Act, 2011, states that “incurably ill animal” means an animal that is fatally wounded or sick beyond recovery as certified by a veterinarian or SPCA or an animal welfare organisation. One may then think fit to ensure that incurably ill or injured animals are destroyed by competent veterinarians, by humane methods of euthanasia. Dr Muralidhar of Dr Dog says, “If there is a way for living for the animal, then certainly I would not recommend putting the dog down. If there is a fatal injury and there is no chance for the pet to recover, or if the dog has become rabid, then I would advice putting it down. “Often I have encountered owners who come even at the

OUR VIEW

e must aim to do for animals what we cannot do for ourselves, guarantee a dignified and painless death. Far too often it is our own conscience that forces us to keep a suffering pet alive long after veterinary science has given up all hope. Too many people cite miracles

and leave the decision up to god, while allowing their animals to suffer their way to an eventual death. Of course we do believe that every medical avenue must be explored before a decision to end the life of an animal is taken. But every avenue does not entail walk-

ing down those that will merely increase the animal’s suffering. Quantity of life should never override quality, be it in the case of a human or animal. Just because we feel bad taking this major decision is no justification to keep an animal suffering.

ANIMAL KINGDOM SATURDAY, JANUARY 19, 2013

DECISIONS

often than not in our lives, but when it comes to a crossroads. Is there a right decision? We seek answers.

slightest pretext, like maybe a broken leg, or maggot infestation and ask me to put it down, saying that their ‘dog is suffering’ and they want to alleviate its pain. In such cases, I do not entertain the requests. Since such cases can be put right with treatment,there is no need to go through that procedure. If one can’t save a life, one has no right to take it even.” Dr Lakshmi S Ramana of Animal Care Clinic feels euthanasia is a grave decision and is often misused or used as an escape or relief. She says, “I believe in both quantity and quality of life. Everybody wishes to have a good quality life, so why should it be different with animals? Dignity of life means the ability to live life fully, with or without assistance. In case the animal is suffering from a terminal illness or is totally dependent on a human for its survival, and cannot even drink water/eat food or relieve itself, then it’s just living a wretched life, waiting for death.The best option, then, is to put it down, unless there is a very committed person caring for it. “Many owners just leave a suffering pet on the streets when they can no longer take care of it and when they do not want to take any responsibility. I always reserve euthanasia as the last option, and it is an option for terminally ill and uncared for diseased pets,” she said. Animals, unlike humans, have no means of communication, they cannot exhibit their pain and even if they do, their owners are not receptive to it. Base your decision on what’s right for the pet and not what’s right by you.

Reasons for concern n Mobility: Changes in normal activity can be due to mobility problems, pain, illness, paralysis or ageing. n Appetite: Is your pet able to eat? Does it regurgitate immediately after eating? Does it enjoy eating, or do you have to coax every bite past its lips? A pet that is unable to eat or gain sufficient nourishment from its food is on a slow road to starvation. n

Discomfort: It can be difficult to determine whether a pet is in pain, as animals instinctively mask discomfort as much as possible. You can pick up clues, however, by watching its posture and expression.

n Incontinence: Many pet owners feel terribly guilty over the natural annoyance they feel when a pet becomes incontinent. Incontinence, however, can also be stressful for the pet, who usually does not like to soil the place where it sleeps. n Response to Treatment: Changes in normal behavioural patterns are often a key indicator of how well an animal feels. Drugs have side effects, repeated trips to the vet cause emotional distress, and more invasive treatments take a physical toll. Eventually, we may conclude that our efforts to treat a pet’s illness are more stressful to the pet than the condition itself.

BOOKS SATURDAY, JANUARY 19, 2013

SHORT READS Title: Mrs Lincoln's Dressmaker Author: Jennifer Chiaverini Publisher: Penguin Group Elizabeth Hobbs Keckley, a former slave, spent most of her adult life as a seamstress to Mary Todd Lincoln, wife of Abraham Lincoln. Part historical fact and part imagination, Jennifer Chiaverini spins a beautiful tale of an unlikely friendship.

Title: My Beloved World Author: Sonia Sotomayor Publisher: Knopf Sonia Sotomayor, the first Hispanic woman to be appointed to the US Supreme Court, comes from surprisingly humble beginnings. In My Beloved World, the judge opens about how the hurdles in life equipped her to excel in life and law, leading her to where she is today.

Title: The Aviator's Wife Author: Melanie Benjamin Publisher: Random House Melanie Benjamin brings to life the marriage of ace aviator Charles Lindbergh with quiet Anne Morrow. The shy, retiring young girl becomes in turns a grieving mother, a great pilot in her own right and a writer before she stands up to her husband and his controversial ideas.

Title: The Painted Girls Author: Cathy Marie Buchanan Publisher: Penguin Group Two sisters in 1870s Paris find that the best way to earn a living would be to join a ballet company. One goes on to model for Edgar Degas. The other falls for a questionable young man, who is later arrested for murder. As the years pass, the sisters realise that their lives are too entwined.

Going out with a bang Manil Suri's trilogy comes to a satisfying end with The City of Devi, an unusual love story set in Mumbai just before an apocalypse.

Jyotsna Nambiar jyotsna.n@postnoon.com

ntolerance and love run hand in hand in Manil Suri's The City of Devi, the final in his 'triptych' evoking the gods in very human terms. Departing from the traditional trinity of Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva, Suri replaces the creator with Devi, easily more popular in the Hindu pantheon than Brahma. He uses this overwhelming fervour for the goddess to great effect in his novel, while strengthening the tie with Mumbai, which derives its name from an avatar of Devi. The city is in upheaval because of two of the strongest passions in India — cinema and religion. Superdevi, a movie about a goddess who saves the world, causes right-wing elements to demand the ouster of

minority communities, while demanding that everyone bow to Superdevi. The major fundamentalist group, run by charismatic leader Bhim, claims to have found the actual Devi and commits genocide in her name. Meanwhile, Pakistan threatens to bomb India to save Indian Muslims from annihilation, causing widespread panic. The rest of the world seems to be in chaos as well, though the reasons aren't articulated. Two tracks run parallel in the novel — that of meek statistician Sarita and flamboyant Jaz — until their paths collide, quite dramatically, as a result of a train accident. Both are looking for their loves; Sarita seeks her husband while Jaz is looking for his estranged boyfriend. They team up to get through the city divided along communal lines; Jaz aka Ijaz ensures that Sarita

Name The City of Devi Author Manil Suri Pages 381 Publisher Bloomsbury India

makes her way through Muslimdominated Mahim, while she saves him from a lynching by Hindu fanatics. Telling the story alternately from Sarita's and Jaz's points of view, Suri navigates their very different voices with aplomb. While most of the novel is taken up by their reminiscences, the author manages to convey the horror of the current situation. What is especially frightening about the novel is how close to reality the story is, especially given the country's situation today. Religious intolerance runs high, people are offended by lyrics in popular songs, extremists riot at the slightest provocation. Suri's vision can almost be seen as a cautionary tale; if we don't return to a more tolerant society, an apocalypse is just waiting to happen.

Suri has matured since The Death of Vishnu and The Age of Shiva — his characters have become more nuanced, his plots more ambitious. He has replaced his usual middle-class housewives with a slightly more progressive woman, albeit one who has trouble deciding whether she is a mousy sati savitri or a more assertive person. It is in Jaz that he makes his mark; rarely does a confident gay character have so much print space in Indian books. While the author may have named his books after the gods, the protagonist in all of them remains Mumbai, with its many moods and characteristics. In this book, too, Suri composes his ode to the city even as it teeters on the edge of disaster. Though far from perfect, The City of Devi is an unusual tale that begs to be read.

BOOKS SATURDAY, JANUARY 19, 2013

The forgotten heroine

Author Kenizé Mourad brings back into the spotlight the ignored queen, Begum Hazrat Mahal. S BALAKRISHNA

great-great grandson of the Begum. “The royal families in Lucknow have many stories to tell about the Begum’s courage and valour,” she says. “But I was amazed that apart from those in Lucknow and the royal families there, there were not many who could tell me about this brave woman.” The book is the effort of three years of research and it took Mourad two years to write it. “The research was difficult as there were not many documents about her to be found, but for a few in Delhi and Lucknow.” Breaking the general perception about Muslim women was a great inspiration to tell this story, says Mourad. “I wanted to show that there were Muslim women who were not submis-

RAJESH RAVINDRAN

rajesh.r@postnoon.com

ime is fickle. As it chugs on, it pushes some names into the vortex of oblivion, and spares others. Time is fickle, as after years of oblivion, it employs some means to bring back those forgotten that truly deserve a mention, because their actions are such that even the vortex of oblivion cannot keep them submerged forever. Begum Hazrat Mahal. Rings no bell? Nana Sahib… Tatya Tope… Jhansi ki Rani Laxmi Bai… these are the names that pop up when we think of the First War of Independence, or the mutiny of 1857. Along with them, Begum Hazrat Mahal, or the Begum of Awadh, also played a key role in that massive yet doomed enterprise against the British. Yet it’s inexplicable why she was never accorded a proper place in the pantheon of freedom fighters. Here, in this case, time employed Kenizé Mourad to bring Begum Hazrat Mahal back from the vortex of oblivion. “It’s just unfair,” said Mourad, author and journalist, who was in Hyderabad to talk about her novel about the Begum, In the City of Gold and Silver. “Everyone remembers Jhansi ki Rani, but no one remembers Begum Hazrat Mahal. She too deserves the same standing that the Rani holds, maybe more, because the Rani was involved in the fighting for six months and Hazrat Mahal fought the British for two years.” Mourad, who is the daughter of a Turkish princess and an Indian rajah of the royal family of Kotwara (Muzaffar Ali, revered filmmaker, is her halfbrother), first heard of the Begum from Prince Anjum, the

BREAKING THE GENERAL PERCEPTION ABOUT MUSLIM WOMEN WAS A GREAT INSPIRATION TO TELL THE BEGUM’S STORY, SAYS AUTHOR KENIZÉ MOURAD. sive to men, who were rulers in their own right.” For instance, the Begum then; in modern times, Benazir Bhutto, whom Mourad knew well. Though this is a novel, Mourad’s work is based on facts. “I have invented nothing, but only recreated,” she says; but she confesses she has taken one liberty. “When Wajid Ali Shah (the ruler of Awadh and husband of the Begum) was sent on exile to Kolkata, the matters of the state had to be looked after by Hazrat Mahal. When she had to stand up to the British, she may have had to confer with Raja Jai Lal Singh, who managed the forces, upon these issues,” Mourad says and adds, smiling, “She was extremely beautiful and he was a handsome man. So there could have been something between them.”

WHAT’S SELLING Walden’s best in fiction

Landmark’s best in non-fiction

New York Times’ best in fiction

New York Times’ best in non-fiction

n The Racketeer by John Grisham

n The Day I Stopped Drinking Milk by Sudha Murty

n Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn

n Killing Kennedy by Bill O'Reilly and Martin Dugard

n Love Stories That Touched My Heart by Ravinder Singh n Forgotten by David Baldacci

n Turning Points by APJ Abdul Kalam n Dongri to Dubai by Hussain Zaidi

n Red Sorghum by Mo Yan

n What Young India wants by Chetan Bhagat

n The Bankster by Ravi Subramanian

n Bal Thackeray and the rise of the Shiv Sena by Vaibhav Purandare

n Empire and Honour by WE B Griffin and William E Butterworth IV n The Racketeer by John Grisham n The Forgotten by David Baldacci n Threat Vector by Tom Clancy

n Thomas Jefferson by Jon Meacham n The World Until Yesterday by Jared Diamond n No Easy Day by Mark Owen with Kevin Maurer n Killing Lincoln by Bill O'Reilly and Martin Dugard

WOMEN SATURDAY, JANUARY 19, 2013

WEBSITES OF THE WEEK You’d be lying if you say that you’ve never, ever, snapped a single bubble! Although the sound of this is not like the real one, at least there’s an alternative to it during bubble wrap scarcity right?

JYOTSNA NAMBIAR

jyotsna.n@postnoon.com

curious thing happened in Mumbai last year. There were sightings, people said, of a woman dressed in cane armour, standing silently near iconic sites in the city. This year, her delicate armour popped up once again in Mumbai’s biggest museum, propped alongside historic artefacts, ancient sculptures and ornate weaponry. For viewers, this sort of art intervention was radical and thought-provoking. For Shakuntala Kulkarni, it was just another of her experiments with creation.

WOMEN ARE OFTEN BLAMED FOR CRIMES THAT HAPPEN AGAINST THEM; THE MEN ARE SET FREE AND WALK AROUND WITH THEIR HEAD HELD HIGH. MORALITY, OR NORMS, MAKE A WOMAN LOSE POWER Kulkarni is a difficult artist to categorise. Since she began, she has worked with two-dimensional canvases, mixed media, films, sound and fabric. The underlying theme of her work though, she says, has always been women’s spaces and the unequal distribution of power between genders. “For long, I have been making inquiries into body violence, atrocities and experiences of women in different spaces. The impact of these atrocities against women are uncertainty and loss of freedom and power. Women are often blamed for crimes that happen against them; the men are set free and walk around with their head held high. Morality, or norms, make a woman lose power,” Kulkarni says. That said, she doesn’t see women as weak. “I never show women as victims,” she says emphatically. “They are victimised. They are not completely weak. I show how they fight it out, how they deal with it. My question is simple: This is how society is. How do I, as a woman, live powerfully?” About her latest exhibition, Of bodies, armour and cages, she explains, “We’re not safe. There’s a lot of fear. So how do

According to other people Hell.com is a place where artists meet. Over time the flash at Hell.com changes, before this maze-like logo there was an ominous vampire-like eyes.

Into piano but you don’t own one yet? Easy, with Virtual Piano all you need is a computer with an internet connection and you’re good to go. Who knows, a Bach might be inside you all along.

Caged and free

Shakuntala Kulkarni is a difficult artist to categorise. Through her experiments with art and its mediums, she tackles society’s underlying issues.

we deal with that? I used the armour as a metaphor to explore how I could protect my body. I borrowed from all kinds of cultures; Naga masks, Rajasthani ghagras, hair styles from Bollywood in the 1960s — my pieces have no cultural, geographical or religious boundaries. I made the cane armour sometimes humorous, sometimes glamorous, in order to attract people. I used cane because I am comfortable with it; also, it is linear, delicate and looks grand. There are rings, bangles, flared skirts; it is very feminine.” Sure the structures are beautiful, but how do they feel when worn? “As soon as I wore it, it felt uncomfortable. It looks like a cage. It doesn’t move the way you want it to. You create a structure for safety, but it causes a lot of discomfort,” Kulkarni said. “The work was my comment as a woman, pointing to the female body in common spaces. By standing in places where ruthless redevelopment has occurred, I’m extending the idea of protection to the city.” After the Delhi gang-rape, many people have approached Kulkarni and told her how relevant her work is. “When people tell me this, I think, ‘But I have been doing this for long!’” she laughs. On a serious note, she says, “When people saw the exhibition in August (2012), they got

SHIVANI GUPTA

it. The thing is, something like the Delhi gang-rape happens, it really hits you. Someone from Amsterdam told me how relevant my work was now. There is an urgency; to declare our freedom and work towards it.” She adds, “Women are going ahead. You can’t not address the atrocities. You cannot ignore the invasive male gaze, the violation.” So can art bring change? “I’m for equality and freedom. I need to say it, even if no one hears it. It is my responsibility to create a little voice,” Kulkarni says. ANIL RANE

SPOTLIGHT SATURDAY, JANUARY 19, 2013

Art for a cause Upasana Kamineni inaugurated an art exhibition of Hari Srinivas at Taj Krishna. The exhibition is being held to support an eight-year-old girl suffering from leukemia.

S BALAKRISHNA

Eternity on a canvas

Artist Dipak Banerjee (below) was the star of the evening at the preview of his exhibition, Saswat-The Eternal. The show of graphics and paintings is on at Kalakriti Art Gallery. S BALAKRISHNA

1 Upasana Kamineni

3 Hari Srinivas, Vijayanand Reddy

2 Shilpa Reddy

4 Hari Srinivas

SRINIVAS SETTY

Writer’s block

Writers and readers came together to discuss their first love — books — at Maulana Azad National Urdu University as part of the Hyderabad Literary Festival. S BALAKRISHNA

Let the fest begin St Francis College’s annual fest, Arthasastra-2013, was inaugurated on Friday by the principal, Alfanza, who seemed every bit as enthusiastic as her students.

Meet the creator

Artist KR Santhana Krishnan stands beside one of his exquisite creations. His artwork is on display at Shrishti Art Gallery on Road No 10, Jubilee Hills.

RELATIONSHIPS SATURDAY, JANUARY 19, 2013

I AM ALL EARS

am a 26-year-old woman. I am about to be married soon. My to be mother-in-law is very close to me. But of late my boyfriend have been having silly tiffs and we often end up fighting. I am having second thoughts but I do not want to upset her. What do I do?

Dear sad kid, Well kid, you should be thanking your stars. Most of the women dread their mum-in-laws, even our serials depict the mother-in-law as an ogre, but here the case is different. You are best pals with your in-law. What happens in your relationship remains between you two. But if there is a breakup the repercussion will be felt in your other one too. So think over it, if you want some help maybe you could let her on this and find a way.

new survey from Rasmussen shows that 27 per cent of Americans say elections have negatively affected their personal relationship with friends or family. Around 45 per cent say they’ve gotten into a heated argument over it. And it’s happened to more men than women. The survey shows 53 per cent men argued compared to 39 per cent of women.

THE HONEST TRUTH NIDHI BHUSHAN

nidhi.b@postnoon.com

relationship, especially one between a man and a woman, is built on many things — trust, love, compassion, respect and compatibility. Without these basic ingredients, sustaining a healthy connection might become impossible. The one factor that is above all these is transparency or honesty. However, the definition of honesty among men and women varies greatly. “Honesty is different for men and women. In most couples, women tend to perceive honesty as loyalty. In other words, as long as their husbands or male partners stand up for them, talk on their behalf when needed, defend them, they are honest. However, for men, honesty refers to openness,” said counselling psychologist Dr Sucharita N, adding, “Women also feel they invest more in the relationship by sharing everything with their

partners. For example, telling their spouse what her family thinks of him. In return, she expects the man to tell her what her in-laws feel about her. However, most times, men don’t think it’s necessary. That’s where the concept clashes in a couple. For men, being honest means being able to co-ordinate with one another practically, while for women, it is to co-exist emotionally.” Someone once said honesty is the best policy. However, in a relationship, that might not always work. “If the intention of the spouse is to enhance his or her partner’s personality, honesty can be rewarding. For example, a man can politely tell his wife about a dress that may not suit her and suggest something else. However, there is a fine line between nitpicking and being honest. Belittling a partner is not healthy. The tone, intent and the way of communication make all the difference. If the intention is to hurt someone by being honest, there is no need for it,” said Dr Sucharita. Another

While honesty is equivalent to loyalty for women, for men, it simply means transparency. Postnoon speaks to City experts to find out how the two genders co-exist in spite of this difference.

tricky aspect of a relationship is the constant fear of betrayal. “In a situation where a partner has cheated on his or her spouse, it is important to come clean if the partner wants to give the relationship another chance. While being honest about an affair might at first be perceived as betrayal, the fact that a spouse spoke the truth will eventually build trust among the two parties,” she said. “Theoretically speaking, it is believed that women feel more betrayed if their partners connect with someone else emotionally and men are unable to forgive physical intimacy. However, in practical life, both the genders have similar reactions to a cheating spouse. They feel betrayed and hurt, it is hard to say if an emotional connection outside the relationship is more hurtful than physical intimacy or vice versa.”

While the expectation of a 100 per cent honest partner is high on the charts, it is never truly possible, feels Dr Praveen Chintapanti, consultant psychiatrist at Tranquil Minds. “People should not expect their partners to be 100 per cent open books as it may not always be healthy or even practical,” he adds. Giving the example of one of his patients, Dr Chintapanti added that it is not always wise to come clean about infidelity. Depending on the sort of relationship one shares with his or her partner, sometimes it is more important to just move on. “One of my patients, a woman, had consulted me regarding an affair she had. Because most of our therapy sessions include just listening to our patients, most of the times, patients know exactly what their solutions are. Even this particular woman was sure that telling her husband about her fling would not benefit either party in any way as they had two young children who would suffer the consequences too. After a couple of sessions, she decided to put the fling in her past and move on. I respected her decision,” he said.

CINEMA SATURDAY, JANUARY 19, 2013

Ongole Githa

to release on Feb 1?

fessed that, after Orange, he wanted to make a film which everyone will enjoy. The film is set in the backdrop of a chilli yard in Guntur and Tanuku which is a first in recent years. G V Prakash has scored the music and Mani Sharma has composed the background music. A Venkatesh is the cinematographer.

am, Kriti Kharbanda starrer Ongole Githa is expected to hit the screens on February 1. The film's audio was recently unveiled at Annapurna Seven Acres Studios. Bhaskar has directed the film and BVSN Prasad has produced it. It's the first mass entertainer in Bhaskar's career and he recently con-

Nag-Dasarath film titled Greekuveerdu?

ABCD to be dubbed in Telugu

he first look of Nagarjuna’s upcoming film under Dasarath’s direction is going to be unveiled on January 26. Earlier, rumours were abuzz that Love Story and Sari Leru Neekevvaru were the titles under consideration for the film and that latest buzz is that the film might be named as Greekuveerudu. Incidentally, this term has been used for Nagarjuna in a song in Krishna Vamsi's Ninne Pelladutha with a direct reference to Nagarjuna’s charming looks. It's been 17 years since that film release and it doesn't look like Nagarjuna has aged at all. In fact, his new style for the film came as a big shocker for everyone and he looks younger than ever. The film's first look, teaser and logo will be launched officially on the same day. Nagarjuna is playing the role of an NRI in this film and Nayanthara is paired opposite him. Most part of the film has been shot in Bangkok, Hyderabad and Switzerland. Thaman has scored the music. D Sivaprasad Reddy has produced the film and it’s likely to hit the screens in March.

rabhu Deva starrer ABCD Any Body Can Dance, India's first 3D dance film, is going to be dubbed in Telugu and it'll simultaneously hit the screens along with its Hindi and Tamil versions on February 8. Remo D'Souza has directed the film and UTV Motion Pictures has produced it. The film also stars Ganesh Acharya and Kay Kay Menon in key roles. Sachin-Jigar have scored the music and recently a promotional song, a remix of Muqabla Muqabla, featuring Prabhu Deva was shot. The film's Telugu version's audio will be launched next week.

CINEMA SATURDAY, JANUARY 19, 2013

umbai, as now the cinema goers know has been the subject of many a director's fancy. Here's another one. Fresh from the oven. Oh and the cop routine thanks to Dabangg, Singham, Khiladi 786 seems to be really catching on. Here we have a defiant cop Sachiin Joshi ruffling some unwanted feathers as he exposes the nexus between corrupt dance bar owners and the police. Add to it the usual dollops of side stories like drug mafia, human trafficking and prostitution. These three factors have like become symbols of Mumbai's dirty underbelly. Sachiin is a six-pack toting cop who bashes up rogues like we swat flies. He remains the focus of practically every shot in the film while other characters Prakash Raj, Mahesh Manjrekar, Aditya

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Pancholi, Prashant Narayanan, Sudesh Berry just come and go. In case you are wondering who Sachiin Joshi is â&#x20AC;&#x201D; he appeared last in Aazaan.

Movie: Mumbai Mirror Cast: Sachiin Joshi, Gihani Khan, Prakash Raj, Vimal a Raman, Prashant Narayanan Directed by: Ankush Bhatt Rating: Abhijeet Patil (Joshi) is a debauched cop who loves woman and hates woman abusers. When a local don Shetty (Prakash Raj) tries

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to operate illegally in his area, Abhijeet stops his activities. Shetty uses his clout to get him out of the way. Suspended from his job, Abhijeet plans to outwit his detractor. Same old story (yawn). But Bhindi Bazaar director Ankush Bhatt loses the plot somewhere down the line. Sachiin lacks the ability to carry the film on his shoulders, whereas talents like Prakash Raj and Prashant Narayanan seem wasted. Their roles seem quite a like a copy of the previous roles they have played.

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Story could have been more tighter, confrontation sequences between Abhijeet and Shetty are a great watch. A couple of item numbers here and there, humour through a Bihari accented English speaking cop (Sudesh Berry)...that's about it. The issues what the director wants to portray are out there, but we cannot say we saw it here first.

mai

ns r out

Riveting treatise on gender roles The dynamics of office politics have never been more dynamic.

hamoshiyan awaaz hain labzon mein bass inkaar hai" Sameer Anjaan's evocative lyrics and Shamir Tandon's compelling composition follows you out of this searing, probing drama on work ethics in corporate places. There are no item songs in Inkaar. The female form is here objectified not through celebratory songs but in the gender perceptions that often distinguish the male viewpoint from the female. The songs and music (largely by the talented Shantanu Moitra) seem to mock the sexual frisson between the two protagonists as they circle each other in a moral pugilism that can break both or

one of them. It is not easy being ambitious and true to the conscience. Towards the end of this riveting drama, Chitrangda con-

Movie: Inkaar Cast: Arjun Rampal and Chitrangda Singh Directed by: Sudhir Mishra Rating: fronts Arjun in a washroom where the light flickers menacingly on her ravaged face. "Can people like you and I who want more from life than love, ever be happy?" she wonders in a choked voice. That versatile and vigorous

storyteller Sudhir Mishra, doing yet another thematic flip-flop after the edgy crime drama Yeh Saali Zindagi, provides no easy solutions to the question of the male gaze and the female perception. Inkaar makes you stop and think about that diaphanous divide between consensual flirting and sexual harassment. Arjun, in fact, grows better with each film, so much so that nowadays a film featuring him is an assurance of innovative aesthetics. Chitrangda is, in one word, a revelation. The coming-ofage of the working-class heroine who can be ambitious without the fear of being a b**** reaches a IANS culmination in Inkaar.

ING ine.

CINEMA SATURDAY, JANUARY 19, 2013

Too intimidated to kiss Gosling: Elle

Sheen for gun control

harlie Sheen has revealed that he is in favour of stricter gun control. The Anger Management star appeared on CNN’s Piers Morgan Tonight to share his views on the recent school shootings. Sheen discussed his former love of collecting vintage weapons and target practice, but is now in favour of tighter gun control in the wake of the recent school shooting in Newtown, Connecticut. “If anybody from the NRA wants to look any of those parents in the eyes from that school and tell them that guns are still necessary, then I urge them to, and see how that goes,” the actor said in preview footage from his interview. “We’re not supposed to bury our children.”

lle Fanning has claimed that Ryan Gosling “stares into your soul”. The 14-year-old actress recalled an encounter she had at an Academy Awards after-party a few years ago with the actor. She told W magazine’s February The Movie issue: “I love Ryan

Gosling! I met him at the Governors Ball after the Oscars two years ago, and I freaked out. He stares into your soul. He’s really tall, and the boys in my grade are all shorter than I am. He was looking down at me, which was a first, in a weird way. He shook my hand and said,

‘It’s so nice to meet you’.” The younger sister of Dakota Fanning — who will celebrate her 15th birthday in April — admitted that she wanted to give him a kiss but couldn’t bring herself to do it. She lamented: “I didn’t kiss him goodbye. I didn’t have the confidence.”

Swift is Gomez’s go-to girl

elena Gomez has a good friend to turn to for relationship advice — Taylor Swift. “We both experienced the same things at the same time,” she says. “But we’ve never once talked about our industry. She just became the person I’d go to for an issue with my family or boyfriend,” Selena told Nylon magazine, which features the actress and singer on its February 2013 cover. “It’s so hard to trust girls, so I’m lucky to have her.” Selena and Justin Bieber reportedly split again just a few weeks ago, but in the

interview, conducted before their latest breakup, the actress addressed her then-relationship with the Canadian pop superstar. “I’m

having fun,” she told the magazine of her relationship status. Selena said she is surprised by the headlines her love life inspires, but she doesn’t have a different definition of what love is, just because she’s a star. “At the end of the day, love is such a normal thing, and everyone deals with it,” she said. “Just because it’s a different lifestyle doesn’t change the meaning of what I’ve been raised on, which is fairy tales,” the young star claimed.

CHAI TIME SATURDAY, JANUARY 19, 2013

THOUGHT OF THE DAY

SUDOKU

Purity, patience, and perseverance are the three essentials to success and, above all, love.

Play & Win

voucher from VENKEY’S VEG Restaurant, Nampally

Kakuro is a popular game similar to sudoku in some ways. But is also suitably different. The key question: ‘How do you play Kakuro?’, well here are the rules of kakuro. The answer: The kakuro grid, unlike in sudoku, can be of any size. It has rows and columns, and dark cells like in a crossword. And, just like in a crossword, some of the dark cells will contain numbers. Some cells will contain two numbers. However, in a crossword the numbers reference clues. In a kakuro, the numbers are all you get! They denote the total of the digits in the row or column referenced by the number. Within each collection of cells — called a run — any of the numbers 1 to 9 may be used but, like sudoku, each number may only be used once. Let’s have an example to explain this concept more clearly: In the image above, which shows a section of a kakuro puzzle, you will see the numbers ‘26’ and ‘14’ in the top row. Look at the 14. This means that the total of the three cells underneath must sum to 14. Therefore 9, 4, 1 could be the answer, or perhaps 7, 4, 3 and so on... So, how do you work out the actual combination? Well, this is done through elimination and cross-referencing. For instance, as you work out the answers for other kakuro clues, this will naturally limit the valid combinations, and hence the answer for this particular run. Note the second cell in row two — it contains two numbers, 30 and 11. The 30 refers to the vertical run underneath the number 30 and the 11 refers to the two cells to the right, horizontally, of the voucher from VENKEY’S VEG Restaurant, Nampally number 11.

Play & Win

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

QUICK CROSSWORD ACROSS 1 Is shown on TV 5 ‘Eureka,’ to California 10 Still in the sack 14 Palindromic ship deck 15 One of the tribes of Israel 16 Slim and muscular 17 Tolstoy heroine 18 Morning rouser 19 Mean monster of fairy tales 20 What happens when a tremor hits a bakery? 23 Japanese threeline verse 24 Pub beverage 25 ___ Chi (Chinese martial art) 28 Yachter’s heading, sometimes 29 Unable to hear 33 Free, as from ropes 35 Encircled and attacked 37 Teenage facial problem 38 What happens when a tremor hits a malt shop? 43 Volcano’s discharge 44 Tennis player Nadal 45 All-points bulletins, eg 48 Short-tailed wildcat 49 Touch of frost 52 Part of mpg 53 Dinghy director 55 Draw forth 57 What happens when a tremor hits Massachusetts?

62 Island south of Borneo 64 Small donkey 65 Move like a butterfly 66 Eve’s husband 67 A&M student 68 Have hands-on experience? 69 You may make it walk the dog 70 Oozes 71 Father a foal DOWN 1 Attack helicopter 2 Sea between Greece and Italy 3 Country music’s Milsap 4 Apply corporal punishment 5 Term of respect

for women 6 Scandinavian capital 7 Comparison word 8 ___ cotta 9 Imitation gold decoration 10 Off the reservation, GI-wise 11 What Teddy Roosevelt said to carry 12 Goof up 13 Stuff in a robberfoiling pack 21 The signal with the sound 22 Novelist Deighton 26 ‘Interview With the Vampire’ author Rice 27 Bad times for

Caesar 30 ‘Electric’ fish 31 Bacterial culture base 32 In the womb 34 Deity worshiped by Canaanites

PREVIOUS PUZZLE ANSWER

KAKURO

How to play kakuro

– Swami Vivekananda

35 Swordfight reminder 36 Go against 38 Abrupt bit of thunder 39 Far from sickly 40 Exaggerate one’s acting 41 ___ Marcos, Calif 42 Spellcaster 46 Santa’s offering 47 Brazilian ballroom dances 49 Cell centers 50 More likely to gross out 51 Grinding tool used with a mortar 54 Cheek cosmetic 56 Removes, as a hat 58 Car rented on prom night 59 Do some prodding 60 Ballroom blunder 61 Weed removers 62 Sight from the Golden Gate Bridge 63 ‘Without further ___’

CHAI TIME SATURDAY, JANUARY 19, 2013

Aries

Taurus

Gemini

Cancer

Leo

Virgo

Queen of Pentacles

Judgement

Six of Swords

Knight of Pentacles

Four of Swords

The Hanged Man

ork – Foreign contacts are in focus. You will get only good news. Someone is likely to tell your boss they’re impressed with your work. Romance – Singles will likely meet someone on a long distance flight. Or you will connect with someone at a conference or seminar. Health – There are many options to better your health. You need to choose from any of the new ones that you haven’t tried. Explore the new. Money – A new job offer will be quite irresistible. Though it will be different, the monies will be pretty good. Tarot message – A trip overseas is in the pipeline. It may open up more opportunities for you. You may get a new job offer, something totally different.

ork – Money is your main focus and you bargain and work every single day just so your appraisals will reflect the hard work and, therefore, the raise. Romance – You weigh romance also in terms of how much you spend to show your loved one you care. Learn to separate the material from the emotional. Health – You’re young and adventurous and may get into new exercise routines in enthusiasm. Make sure your adventures are all done under supervision. Money – Finances are in good shape. Bank balance is looking fine and you have enough for your every need. Tarot message – You charge ahead with the practicality and the ambition of a young go-getter. Don’t trample upon others’ feelings.

ork – You need stability at the work place, and this cannot happen if you are tempted to join every job that comes your way. Romance – Singles will find stability through a fairly new romantic partner, who will bring out the best in them. You discover new worlds with each other. Health –Keep a regular time to exercise every day. Eat at the same time every day. Money – Make sure to lock a basic percentage of your savings so you don’t risk much in the market. Finances are stable. Tarot message – Although the physical and material aspects of your life are taken care of, you need to do something about keeping your mind busy and sharp.

ork –You’re getting paid handsomely for your job. But if the job is not satisfying you and giving you a sense of achievement at the end of the day, then is it worth it? Romance – Love is in the air. You and your significant other discover many joys together and your relationship matures. Health – Get a diet consultant and control your food intake. If you pay a dietitian, you’re more likely to listen. Money – You are shrewd when it comes to money. You’ve saved enough for a rainy day. Don’t be afraid to take some risks. Tarot message – Your priorities are changing now and you feel torn between two philosophies. Choose wisely.

ork – After a long wait, you will be given a project to work on that will inspire you. Be patient and when it comes to you, don’t feel cocky about it. Romance – A troubled relationship may not be worth holding on to. Let go. If it’s yours it will come back. Health – You need to make some drastic changes to your lifestyle and get into a healthier regimen. You will begin to feel good about you. Money – Review your finance portfolio and remove policies that have matured. Reinvest them wisely. Try some new policies. Tarot message – Times are going good. How well you maintain your dignity at this time will determine how further ahead you move.

SUMAA TEKUR tarotreadhyd@gmail.com

Libra

Scorpio

Ace of Pentacles

Nine of Wands

ork – New ideas, opportunities and the birth of new projects will keep you intellectually stimulated. The money is good, too. So you feel confident about your choices. Romance – You and your significant other find exciting and passionate ways to discover each other. Your love only grows with each passing day. Health – You may be worried about something connected with your job. This anxiety is showing on your health. Stop worrying, start working. Money – Finances are in excellent shape. You have everything organised and your savings are also exceeding your expectation. Tarot message – This is the perfect meeting of the mind and heart. The intellect and emotions are well balanced.

ork – One last test is left before you get the successful results of your hard work. The trick is to stay patient and continue working. Romance – You and your significant other have settled into a very comfortable relationship. You understand each other instinctively. Health – Consider getting on a different health regimen – something that suits your body type better. What you’re on now may not be giving you the best results. Money – You get opportunities to make some extra money through freelance projects. The money is good and you feel confident about your finances, too. Tarot message – Be patient. One last test remains before you reach your goals. Don’t jump the gun.

Sagittarius Justice

ork –A project you have been eyeing falls in your lap. You have waited for a long time for this. Now, go ahead and work magic with it. Romance – Heartbreak is round the corner. Don’t take life so seriously that you begin to lose the thrill of its spontaneity. Take it in your stride. Health – How you have taken care of your health is how the results will show. Diet and exercise need more attention. Money – Inflow and outflow of money can be controlled if you managed your finances better by making notes. Tarot message – This is a karmic time and you are only getting what is yours. Don’t cry over what was perhaps not yours.

Capricorn

Date 20-1-2013

Aquarius

Four of Cups

The World

ork – You may be asked to step up in an unfamiliar area, or cover for someone. Don’t reject a new opportunity however uncomfortable you may be. Romance – Singles are likely to meet someone attractive. The chemistry is immediate, powerful and passionate. Those committed will find bliss. Health – Health is looking good. Your diet and exercise regimen is doing wonders to your inner and outer beauty. Money – Consult a good tax advisor and do not get stingy in selecting one. You need good investment ideas and someone in the know of the market fluctuations would help best. Tarot message – You have the world at your feet, but don’t be scared to move forward with your own ideas.

ork – A new job offer will set you thinking although you may not be in the mood to shift jobs just yet. A counter offer will confuse you further. Take time to decide. Romance – Don’t be in a hurry to make a commitment yet. Check out more potential partners. Those committed will be on a journey of discovery. Health – A chronic health problem may need a new outlook in order to heal. Consider new medicines and therapies you may not have considered before. Money – Finances are in control but double check that your returns are worth locking your money in these places. Tarot message – Don’t lock yourself into a corner and think you have no options.

ork – The job is giving you focus and making you understand the importance of discipline and being centred. Romance – You and your partner connect at a deeper level. You grow with each other as you explore the inner spiritual world together. Health – You discover newer, alternative methods of healing. You find out more about other forms of meditation, reiki and some different de-stress methods. Money – Finances are in place. You have enough for all your needs. This is not your priority right now either. Tarot message – This is a time to focus on spiritual awareness. You are in the mood to discover more about a higher plane. The timing is just right.

Pisces The Tower

ork – Your boss may ask you to work on a new project. You may be uncomfortable working on it since it’s a new area. Romance – You and your partner need to develop a deeper understanding of each other. Spend time together to make this happen. Health – Alternative healing techniques may come to your rescue where regular medication may be failing. Take a second opinion. Money – Rejig your finance portfolio as per the stock market situation. Take fewer risks but ensure you’re avoiding losses. Tarot message – A lot of action and change is on the cards. Keep an open mind and accept all that is happening around you.

Vol: 2, No 183 RNI No: APENG/2011/39337 Published for the proprietors, Scribble Media and Entertainment Pvt Ltd, by V Harshavardhan Reddy, at #1246, Level 3, Jubilee Casa, Road No 62, Jubilee Hills, Hyderabad – 500033 and printed by him at Jagati Publications Ltd, Plot No D-75&E-52, APIE Industrial Estate, Balanagar, Ranga Reddy Dist, Hyderabad – 500037, Editor: Dean Williams – Responsible for selection of news under the PRB Act All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or in part without written permission of the publisher is prohibited. For feedback, please write to: feedback@postnoon.com and for subscription, please call 040-40672222, Fax: 040-40672211

THE SATURDAY QUIZ SATURDAY, JANUARY 19, 2013

TEST YOUR KNOWLEDGE

IN THE NEWS

playing for Abahani Club? 11. Where did Yuvraj Singh make his ODI debut? 12. Reena Roy the Indian film actress married a cricketer? 13. What jazz musician got his nickname by shortening "Satchel Mouth"? 14. Who's "Monk" to jazz buffs?

DO YOU KNOW YOUR MUSICALS?

CURRENT AFFAIRS

1 2 3 4 5

'Sweet Child O' Mine'? 7. ‘Dizzy' is the nickname of what Australian player? 8. In what year was the first international cricket match held? 9. Which former Indian cricketer was nicknamed 'Tiger'? 10. Which cricketer died on the field in Bangladesh while

According to astronomical studies, which asteroid will supposedly hit earth in 2036?

TEST YOURSELF Where are these famous universities located?

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9

Technische Universität München (TUM)

What new version of search has been introduced on Facebook this week?

University of Amsterdam

In which tournament is Rafael Nadal making his comeback after a gap of more than six months?

Trinity College Dublin

Lund University

Kyoto University

Which country has been accused of using chemical weapons against the rebels this last month?

Yale University

Which phone company announced about the Jelly Bean updates that would be rolled out to the users next month?

Answers

production sedan on earth.Name it. 4. Who was the first country music artist who has a record of selling more than 10 million units of an album? 5. What is the name of the studio where 'The Beatles' recorded most of their songs? 6. Which band wrote the song

1. Daimler-Benz 2. C. Lee Iacocca 3. Bentley 4. Garth Brooks 5. Abby Road 6. Guns N Roses 7. Jason Gillespie 8. 1844 between Canada and the USA 9. Mansur Ali Khan Pataudi 10. Raman Lamba 11. Nairobi, Kenya. 12. Mohsin khan 13. Louis Armstrong. 14. Thelonious MOnk.

1. Which automotive manufacturer developed the first automobile? 4. He is referred to as the Father of the Mustang. He was later fired from Ford and was hired by the Chrysler Corporation. Who is he? 7. It is the fastest

Stanford University

Imperial College

Who stars in the new Nike ad centered on golf along with Tiger Woods?

Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT)

1. Asteroid Apophis 2. Graph Search 3. Brazil Open 4. Syria 5. Samsung Galaxy S II 5. Rory McIlroy 6. World No.3

Answers

Which politician was convicted by a special CBI court in the JBT scam this week?

Answer for 49:

What is the current rank of Indian badminton player Saina Nehwal?

Do coyotes/wolves howl at the moon? How many are there here?

Aaron Swartz

with Santosh Ghule

WHO AM I?

I am an Internet activist. I was arrested by federal authorities in connection with systematic downloading of academic journal articles. Later I was found having committed suicide. Who am I?

Answer :

Where were two Indian army jawans brutally killed and beheaded this week?

PICTURE PUZZLE 50

You had to place a scale to believe it, right?

3 4

With which state does Britain have keen interest in forging a health sector partnership with?

Answers: 1. Les Miserables 2. Mamma Mia 3. Rock of Ages 4. Tangled

Whom did chess champion Viswanathan Anand beat to jump into lead with two others in the Tata Steel chess tournament?

Answers:

1. Germany 2. Netherlands 3. Ireland 4. Sweden 5. Japan 6. United States 7. United States 8. London 9. United States

KNOW YOUR COUNTRY

1. Former Haryana chief minister Om Prakash Chautala 2. Levon Aronian of Armenia 3. Kerala

Answers

SPORTS SATURDAY, JANUARY 19, 2013

Bulls win thriller over Celtics

Despres on verge of 5th title

BOSTON: Marco Belinelli’s turnaround

COPIAPO, CHILE: France’s Cyril

jump shot with 3.1 seconds left in overtime lifted the Chicago Bulls to a 10099 National Basketball Association win over the Boston Celtics on Friday. Richard Hamilton scored 20 points and Carlos Boozer and Joakim Noah notched double-doubles for a Bulls team that claimed a third-straight win and their fifth successive win on the road.

Despres virtually wrapped up a fifth Dakar Rally motorcycling title on Friday when he finished second on the penultimate stage to open an overall lead of over eight minutes. The 38-year-old was 5min 25sec behind Chile’s Francisco Lopez, but with Ruben Faria slipping into third in the standings, Despres has the overall lead.

Rose goes in the clear ABU DHABI: Justin Rose went three shots clear at the top of the Abu Dhabi HSBC Golf Championship leaderboard on Friday at the start of a season he hopes will see him win his first major. The world No 5 from England carded a second round, three-under 69 in perfect morning playing conditions, to go with the 67 he fired the previous day.

Oasis Vision eyes feature

LVR Deshmukh-trained Oasis Vision, who has improved since her 4th in her last run, can make amends in The Telangana Cup, the feature event of Sunday afternoon races at Malakpet in the City. 1st Race:The Adler Plate (about) 1200 Metres,Cat-III; A handicap for horses, 4 year olds and upward, rated up to 50. 1-45pm 1 Confidential 60 (Kassam) Christopher 1 2 Crimson Look 59.5 (S’narayan) Khurshad Alam3 3 Hidden Power 59.5 (N Rao) AM Tograllu 4 4 Pakat Pakat Pakat 54 (Srinagesh) Ravinder Singh 5 5 Skander 53 (Laxman S) Deep Shanker 6 6 Catalina 52 (Netto) P Venkat 2 Selections: 1 Hidden Power 2 Crimson Look 3 Skander 2nd Race:The Telengana Cup (about) 1200 Metres,Cat-II; Temrs for horses, 4 year olds and upward. 2-15pm 1 Odalis 59.5 (Silvester) Christopher 4 2 Rajkumari 59.5 (Netto) A Imran Khan 1 3 Oasis Vision 57.5 (Deshmukh) AM Tograllu 5 4 Strides Of Glory 57.5 (Prasad R) N Rawal 2 5 Silver Crown 56.5 (S’narayan) NS Parmar 3 Selections: 1 Oasis Vision 2 Silver Crown 3 Rajkumari 3rd Race:The Dark Angel Plate (about) 1400 Metres,Cat-III; Ahandicap for horses 4 year olds and upward, rated up to 50. 2-45pm 1 Airborne Magic 60 (A Sharma) Nitin Singh 1 2 Spanish Conquest 59.5 (Deshmukh) A Joshi 4 3 Chemeli 55.5 (N Rao) G Sai Vamshi 6 4 Symbol Of Beauty 55 (A sharma) C Henrque 2 5 Hamilton 51 (Satheesh) K Anil 3 6 Lady Luck 51 (Netto) N Rawal 7 7 Cherry Hill 50.5 (D’Siulva) A Ramana 8 8 Silver Arnage 50 (Kassam) P Venkat 5 Selections: 1 Lady Luck 2 Symbol Of Beauty 3 Chemeli 4th Race:The Naloma Plate (Div-I) (about) 1400 Metres,Cat-II; A handicap for horses, 5 year olds and upward, rated up to 75. 3-15pm

1 Aegis 61.5 (Deshmukh) P Venkat 7 2 Garcia Marquez 61.5 (D’Silva) Christopher 3 3 Qinghuangdao 60 (A Sharma) C Henrque 6 4 Kohinoor Victory 58.5 (Vatsalya) Ajit Kumar 9 5 Winning Strides 58 (Sequeria) N S Parmar 8 6 Aarohan 55 (Prasad R) N Rawal 10 7 Audacious 54 (Netto) S Sreekant 4 8 Queens Craft 53 (Z Shaikh) Harinder Singh 2 9 Betty Prior 50.5 (S’nrayan) Ravnder Singh11 10 Bound For Glory 50.5 (Srinivas R) A M Tograllu 12 11 Thirteen Black 50.5 (S Abbas) Ch K Chary 1 12 Ziglar 50 (Vatasalya) J Vikas 5 Selections: 1 Audacious 2 Thirteen Black 3 aegis

3 Greek Star 55 (N Rao) G Sai Vamshi 6 4 Amazon Princess 53.5 (Z Shaikh) Ch K Chary 7 5 Power Drive 53.5 (Netto) A M Tograllu 5 6 Rainbow In The Sky 53.5 (S’narayan) Khurshad Alam2 7 Hometown Hero 50 (Prasad R) N Rawal 8 8 Vocation 50 (Satheesh) Ravinder Singh 1 9 Ray Of Hope 48.5 (Laxman S) N S Parmar 9 Selections: 1 Rainbow In The sky 2 Power Drive 3 Amazon Princess 7th Race:The Naloma Plate (Div-II) (about) 1400 Metres,CatII; A handicap for horses, 5 year olds and upward, rated up to 75. 4-45pm 1 Chal Bhai Chal 61.5 (Netto) A Imran Khan 9 2 Jewel In The Crown 61.5 (NRao) G Sai Vamshi 4 3 Suchiman 59 (A Sharma) J Vikas 12 4 Ponte Verdi 57.5 (D’Silva) Christopher 2 5 Young Sapper 55.5 (Srinivas R) NS Parmar 1 6 Star Prospect 54.5 (Prasad R) N Rawal 7 7 Handsome Hunk 53 (Satheesh) DeepShanker 8 8 Crown Castle 52 (S’naryan) Ravindeer Singh 6 9 Vijaysjyoti 51 (Deshmukh) AMTograllu 10 10 Kohinoor King 50.5 (Vatsalya) Ajit Kumar 11 11 Devils Advocate 49.5 (Silvester) Nitin Singh 5 12 Citi Supreme 49.5 (Hassan) Harinder Singh 3 Selections: 1 Chal Bhai Chal 2 Vijaysjyoti 3 Young Sapper

5th Race:The Starsky Plate (about) 1000 Metres, Cat-III; A handicap for horses 4 year olds and upward, rated up to 50. 3-45pm 1 Victorous Sally 60 (Kassam) Christopher 3 2 Inner Strength 59.5 (S Abbas) A Imran Khan 1 3 Part Time Lover 54.5 (Satheesh) K Anil 5 4 Queens Necklace 54.5 (Netto) AM Tograllu 2 5 Ceremonious 53.5 (Netto) S Sreekant 4 6 Homely Helo 53 (Laxman S) Deep Shanker 7 7 Camacho Speed 51.5 (Prasad R) N Rawal 8 8 Komo Komo Komo 50 (Sequeria) NS Parmar 9 9 Break Away 49.5 (Satheesh) Nitin Singh 6 10 Moghul Emperor 49.5 (Laxman S) Harinder Singh 10 Selections: 1 Queens Neckalce 2 Inner Strength 3 Homely Helo

Days Best: Chal Bhai Chal

6th Race:The Raja Sitharam Bhupal Of Demakonda Samasthan Memorial Cup (about) 1400 Metres,Cat II; Terms for horses 3 year olds only. 4-15pm 1 Chocolate Soldier 55 (A Sharma) C Henrique 3 2 Field Smasher 55 (N Rao) Christopher 4

Jackpot Race Nos: 3, 4, 5, 6 and 7 1st Treble Race Nos: 2, 3 and 4 2nd Treble Race Nos: 5, 6 and 7 Tanala pool will operate on all races where there are five or more starters. False rails are Up.

Fearless Moments electrifies Fearless Moments, Lovely Angel, Rocking Racer, Stamp Of Class and Equalizer impressed when horses were exercised here this morning (Saturday) at the Malakpet racecourse in the City. SAND

TRACK

800

METRES

Plenipotent (Joshi) 55, 600/41 Pushed. Musical Note (app) 1-2, 600/46 Easy. Shadow In The Mist (Chary) 58, 600/44 Moved freely. Bel Ami (Harinder Singh) Oscar Royal (Deep Shanker) 1-2, 600/46 They moved together. Khabza (rb) Any Given Day (M Mark) 57.5, 600/43 A fit pair. Scubarioo (rb) Palm Springs (Christopher) 57.5, 600/43 They finished together. Golden Jewel (Ajit Kumar) 1-0, 600/44 Easy. Gold Medal (rb) 58, 600/42 Moved well. Ace Star (rb) Lona Dona (rb) 58, 600/44 Former finished in front. Any Given Time (Tograllu) 56, 600/41 Moved well. Think Twice (rb) 1-1, 600/45 Easy. Great Guns (rb)

Macintosh (app) 59, 600/43 Former finished a length in front. Ice Mountain (Anil) 59, 600/44 Easy. Wedding Gift (rb) 58.5, 600/44 Easy. Lucy Diamond (Ramana) Fashionista (rb) 57.5, 600/42.5 Former finished 3 lengths in front. Askioz (app) 55, 600/41 Moved well. True Scholar (Christopher) 58.5, 600/44 Unextended. Surya Lakshmi (Ravinder Singh) 54, 600/40.5 Pleased. Deal Maker (Deep Shanker) Just Once (Anil) 58, 600/43 Former finished a length in front. Rocking Racer (Harinder Singh) 55, 600/42 Moved well. Stamp Of Class (Chary) Equalizer (rb) 55.5, 600/41 Former finished in front. Decathlon (Joshi) 57,

600/43 Moved on the bit.

SAND

TRACK

1000

METRES

Fearless Moments (Imran Khan) 1-9, 800/54.5, 600/41 In rousing form. Ice Barrier (Anil) 1-11.5, 800/57, 600/43.5 Moved well. Aneres (app) 1-15, 800/58.5, 600/45 Moved freely. Dauntless (Sreekant) Winning Shot (Imran Khan) 1-15, 800/58, 600/43.5 They finished together. Ruffiano (rb) 1-11.5, 800/57.5, 600/44 Moved well. Dazzling Prince (rb) Fairy Emperor (Tograllu) 1-11, 800/55, 600/41.5 They moved together.

SAND

TRACK

1200

METRES

Vijayshaurya (Joshi) 1-27, 1000/1-11.5, 800/57.5, 600/43 Moved on the bit. Vijays

Triumph (Joshi) Silver Lid (app) 1-30, 1000/1-13, 800/58, 600/44 Former easily finished 2 lengths in front. Al Sarraah (app) 1-35, 1000/1-18.5, 8001-3, 600/48 easy. Dream Deal (rb) Lovely Angel (Tograllu) 1-29, 1000/1-11, 800/55, 600/40.5 They impressed.

SAND

TRACK

1400

METRES

Golden Queen (Trainer) Whats Up (Harinder Singh) 143.5,1200/1-28.5, 1000/1-13, 800/59, 600/45 They finished together. Castle Town (Ravinder Singh) 1-47.5, 1200/132, 1000/1-16, 800/59, 600/45 Moved freely. Nasheeta (Sreekant) 1-47, 1200/1-31, 1000/1-15, 800/1-0, 600/45 Moved well.

Selection for T-20 women’s tourney on HYDERABAD: An open selection for woman cricket players will be held today (Saturday) at the HCA Gymkhana Ground, Secunderabad from 2.30pm onwards to select the HCA Twenty-20 women’s cricket team for the forthcoming South Zone Interstate Twenty-20 Women’s Cricket Tournament to be held at Chennai. Five players from each HCA-affiliated district will be considered for selection.

SPORTS SATURDAY, JANUARY 19, 2013

Serena cruises, Azarenka struggles Serena Williams eased into the Australian Open fourth round on Saturday but defending champion Victoria Azarenka was made to work hard and play ‘ugly’ to stay in the tournament.

Martin Parry

FIVE-TIME CHAMPION WILLIAMS POWERED PAST JAPAN’S AYUMI MORITA 6-1, 6-3 AFTER A MINOR SECOND-SET WOBBLE.

MELBOURNE: Third seed Serena Williams eased into the Australian Open fourth round Saturday but defending champion Victoria Azarenka was made to work hard and play “ugly” to stay in the tournament. Five-time champion Williams powered past Japan’s Ayumi Morita 6-1, 6-3 after a minor second-set wobble, but it was much tougher for the top seed who survived a scare before beating injured American Jamie Hampton in three sets. The Belarusian came through the match on Rod Laver Arena 6-4, 4-6, 6-2 to set up a clash with either 16th-seeded Italian Roberta Vinci or unseeded Russian Elena Vesnina. But it was much harder than the scoreline suggested against a player who was wincing in pain from a back problem that needed treatment in the second set. “I don’t think it was the best

Serena Williams of the US (R) shakes hands after her victory in her women’s singles match against Ayumi Morita of Japan on the sixth day of the Australian Open in Melbourne onSaturday. AFP PHOTO/PAUL CROCK

Murray can stand Oz heat MELBOURNE: Players cramped up in the heat and one was stretchered off on an IV drip but Britain’s Andy Murray, who moved into the fourth round of the Australian Open on Saturday with a straightsets victory over (3, 6-4, 7-5) Lithuanian qualifier Ricardas, says the Australian Open does not have the worst weather conditions on tour. Murray draped himself in ice packs and then headed straight for the ice bath after his sweltering win over Joao Sousa on Thursday, when temperatures soared to 41 degrees Celsius (106 Fahrenheit). With Melbourne Park basking in intense sun, Blaz Kavcic collapsed and needed morphine after his nearly five-hour win over Australia’s James Duckworth on the same day. But Murray, in a column for The Australian Saturday, said he found it tougher to play in humid conditions, such as

performance, honestly, today; but in another way I can say I can play better, so that’s a positive note from there,” said Azarenka, who beat Maria Sharapova in the final last year. “You know, these kind of matches sometimes bring better things for you in the future, because winning ugly always means that you overcame something, that you weren’t feeling great, you weren’t feeling all your shots. So I take it as a positive at the end of the day.” The plucky Hampton had never played a Grand Slam third round before, and gave it her all

No Australians to cheer? Try ‘Aussie Ana’ MELBOURNE: Faced with a

in New York where he won his maiden Grand Slam title at the US Open in September. “One thing about playing in Melbourne is that while it can get really hot at times it does not have the humidity of some of the other tournaments — it is the sweaty conditions

that can really test you,” he wrote. “New York can be really taxing if you get a warm and sweaty day.” Murray said his most taxing match was played in Paraguay, in 44C heat and more than 90 percent humidity. “It was hard. Really hard,” he wrote.

dwindling number of local stars, Australian fans are turning to imported players — with “Aussie Ana” Ivanovic the latest adopted heroine. Ivanovic, a former world number one and sometime girlfriend of Australian golfer Adam Scott, also has an uncle living in Mentone, a suburb of Melbourne.With no home-grown women left in the Australian Open’s third round, Ivanovic was asked if she’d like to stand in as an honorary Aussie. “Thank you for the offer. I’d be happy. I think people here are so lovely so I love coming here,” Ivanovic said. “It’s my favorite Grand Slam. I’m so happy it’s the beginning of the year so I can come even earlier.” Ivanovic follows in the tradition of “Aussie Kim” Clijsters, who was taken to Australian hearts during her relation-

Armstrong should ‘suffer’: Djoker MELBOURNE: World number one Novak Djokovic said Lance Armstrong should “suffer for his lies” after finally admitting doping Friday, as top players insisted tennis was a clean sport with adequate testing. Djokovic, speaking after Armstrong confessed to cheating his way to his seven Tour de France victories, said the American’s behaviour reflected badly on all athletes and should be pun-

in a match packed with quality rallies and tight games. Azarenka was given a thorough test and was soon pumping her fist and shouting “C’mon” as her emotions showed. Neither player was serving well and Hampton left the court for treatment on a lower back problem, but despite being in obvious pain she returned to take the second set, with Azarenka slamming her racquet in frustration. It was much easier for Williams who followed Azarenka onto centre court. With sister Venus out of the tournament after being crushed in straight sets by Sharapova in the third round Friday, she was in no mood to be detained longer than necessary. There was no stopping her, with Williams firing down the fastest women’s serve of the tournament so far at 128 mph. But the 15-time major winner, wavered on her serve in the second set and Morita raced to 3AFP 0 lead.

ished. “I think it’s a disgrace for the sport to have an athlete like this,” Djokovic said at the Australian Open. “He cheated the sport. He cheated many people around the world with his career, with his life story. I think they should take all his titles away because it’s not fair towards any sportsman, any athlete. “It’s just not the way to be successful. So I think he should suffer for his lies all

these years.” Djokovic also supported tennis’s current anti-doping regime, which relies heavily on urine rather than blood tests, which are more accurate, despite fears it is not stringent enough. “The results are showing that. In the last few years there maybe has been one or two cases, but those players were more or less outside of the top 100,” said AFP the Serb.

ship with Lleyton Hewitt and remained feted by the crowds until her retirement last year. After the departures of Hewitt and Stosur, the only Australian left standing is Bernard Tomic, whose brash manner and run-ins with the police have not endeared him to all sections of the public. Australian fans could also look to Laura Robson, who was born in Melbourne, while many view Roger Federer as AFP one of their own.

Kirilenko rings in new year with Ovechkin MELBOURNE: A beaming Maria Kirilenko showed off her new engagement ring at the Australian Open on Saturday after she got engaged to ice hockey star Alex Ovechkin. The Russian, when asked about her impending nuptials after her third-round win over Yanina Wickmayer, was at first coy but she then reached into her tennis bag and pulled out the sparkler, to applause from the crowd. However Kirilenko, 25, said she had not yet set a wedding date with NHL player Ovechkin, who is also Russian. “Not yet — we’re still thinking about it,” said the blonde world number 15.

SPORTS SATURDAY, JANUARY 19, 2013

‘I want to compete again’ Shamed cyclist Armstrong, shorn of cycling’s greatest prizes and expelled from sport, wants to compete again and doesn’t believe he deserved the life ban.

Rebecca Bryan

LOS ANGELES: Shamed cyclist Lance Armstrong (in pic), shorn of cycling’s greatest prizes and expelled from sport, wants to compete again and doesn’t believe he deserved the “death penalty” of a life ban. “Hell yes, I’m a competitor,” Armstrong told talk show host Oprah Winfrey when asked in the second installment of their televised interview aired on Friday if he wanted to compete again. “It’s what I’ve done my whole life. I love to train. I love to race. I love to toe the line,” said the 41year-old Texan. “Not the Tour de France, but there’s a lot of other things I could do. “I made my bed,” he said. “But if there was ever a window, would I like to run the Chicago Marathon when I’m 50? I would love to do that.” In the opening segment of the interview shown Thursday, Armstrong confessed that his record seven Tour de France titles were fueled by drugs, confirming much of the US Anti-Doping Agency’s findings about his use of bloodboosting EPO, blood transfusions,

Armstrong interview pulls 3.2 million in US LOS ANGELES: Some 3.2 million viewers in the US tuned in to see fallen cyclist Lance Armstrong confess to Oprah Winfrey that he was a drug cheat, the TV interviewer’s cable channel said Friday. It was the most-watched show ever on the fledgling OWN network after Oprah’s March 2012 conversation with the family of late singer Whitney Houston, the channel said in a statement. The figure does not include viewers in other countries, or the 1.1 million who watched a repeat immediately after the initial broadcast of the 90-minute special that was also streamed live on Oprah.com.

cortisone, testosterone and human growth hormone. When Winfrey noted that virtually every article on the once revered cyclist now begins with the word “disgraced” Armstrong said he felt it fit. “But I also feel humbled. I feel

ashamed. This is ugly stuff,” said Armstrong, whose critics point not only to his cheating but to his vitriolic attacks on those who questioned him. I’m deeply sorry for what I did,” Armstrong said. “I can say that thousands of times and it may never be enough

‘Claim tarnishes all Tour champs’

Armstrong confession WASHINGTON: Fallen cycling legend Lance Armstrong took a major legal risk in confessing to drug use in a television interview and has exposed himself to significant litigation, lawyers warned Friday. He faced several potential lawsuits from former teammates and sponsors who claim they were hurt by his doping and by his ferocious but ultimately unsuccessful attempt to cover it up. Yet by appearing with talk show queen Oprah Winfrey and bluntly admitting to taking a cocktail of banned substances over a decade and a half while bullying those around him, he may have put more than his reputation at risk.

to get back.” Even so, Armstrong said he believes he should have a chance to return to competition. “I don’t expect it to happen,” he acknowledged. “Frankly, this may not be the most popular answer, but I think I deserve it,” he said, telling Winfrey that former team-mates who implicated themselves in testifying against him received lesser punishments. “I deserve to be punished,” Armstrong said. “I’m not sure that I deserve a death penalty.” Thursday’s first installment of the interview was a ratings winner for Winfrey, with its estimated 3.2 million viewers in the United States making it the second-most-watched show ever on her fledgling OWN network. However, it left many still skeptical of Armstrong’s motives and methods, doubtful that he felt real remorse. Genuine emotion seeped through on Friday. Armstrong’s eyes reddened and his voice cracked as he described telling his 13-year-old son Luke: “Don’t defend me anymore” when his transgressions at last caught up AFP with him.

“I think it’s going to be a big judgment against him. I think he’s going to have a gigantic money judgment,” said Peter Keane, a law professor at Golden Gate University in San Francisco. His admission of guilt could force him to pay substantial out of court settlements to many of his detractors, and may encourage US authorities to add their weight to one of the most serious cases against him. Meanwhile, his aggressive demeanor and perceived lack of contrition in the interview could turn judges and jurors against him if cases come to court, and will increase the determination of AFP those seeking to sue him.

WASHINGTON: Three-time Tour de France winner Greg LeMond, the cycling race’s only American champion not to be disqualified for doping, says Lance Armstrong’s claim he had to cheat to win hurts all winners. “I get p****d off when I hear that you can’t win the Tour without doping,” LeMond told Cyclingnews, saying that Armstrong’s notion that he needed to be a cheat to win tarnishes every other Tour de France champion. Ar mstrong confessed to using performance-enhancing drugs when he won the Tour seven times in an interview broadcast, saying he did not think he could win the event without banned substances such AFP as EPO or blood doping.

Lance set to focus on victims of his lies Rebecca Bryan

LOS ANGELES: The harm that Lance Armstrong caused his family, sponsors and fellow cancer survivors by years of lying and denials of doping will be revealed Friday in part two of his interview with Oprah Winfrey. The disgraced American cyclist, confessed to doping in part one of the interview on Thursday. Winfrey ensured a double ratings boost for her self-named cable network by breaking the video into two parts. Clips showed he would talk about his future, how his family

Victim not ready to forgive CORTINA D’AMPEZZO: During Lance Armstrong’s reign, riders would bow to the superiority of the man labelled the ‘Boss’ because of his iron-fisted rule on the Tour de France peloton. Arguably, only Filippo Simeoni can claim to have lost his livelihood as a direct result of Armstrong’s actions - but the Italian is not sure he can ever forgive him. “I acknowledge Armstrong’s confession on tele-

vision but he put me through such a humiliating experience and damaged me so much, in terms of sport, morale and finances that I don’t know if I could ever forgive him,” Simeoni told. Despite winning two stages at the Tour of Spain, Simeoni will forever be remembered for a feud with Armstrong that was played out to a global audience at the 2004 Tour de France.

had to face the truth, his reaction when sponsors dropped him after evidence of his drug taking emerged and the most humbling moment of his epic fall from grace. “I will spend the rest of my life trying to earn back trust and apologize to people,” Armstrong said. Armstrong has withdrawn from his roles with Livestrong, the cancer charity he founded. The patients he inspired with his rise from cancer survivor to Tour de France winner, meanwhile, are dealing with the admission that the cyclist’s fairy-tale story was built upon “one big AFP lie”.

KEY QUOTES Competing again: “Hell, yes. I’m a competitor. It’s what I’ve done my whole life. I love to train. I love to race. I love to toe the line. Not the Tour de France, but there’s a lot of other things I could do.” Death Penalty: “I deserve to be punished. I’m not sure that I deserve a death penalty.” The Taunts: “I told Luke (his son), I said, ‘Don’t defend me anymore. Don’t. Some kid says something, do not defend me. Just say, ‘Hey, my dad said he was sorry.’” On former self: “That is a guy who felt invincible... Truly believed he was invincible. That’s who that guy was. That guy’s still there. I’m not going to lie to you.” His children: “The older kids need to not be living with this issue in their lives. That isn’t fair for me to have done to them. And I did it. And also for the little ones who have no idea. They’re 2 and 3. They obviously have no idea. But they will learn it. This conversation will live forever.” Therapy: “I’m the type of person that needs to not do it sporadically. It needs to be consistently. I’ve had a messy life.” Uneasy Rider: I can look at what I did — cheating to win bike races, lying about it, bullying people. Of course you’re not supposed to do those things. There’s another moral to this story. I just think it was about that ride and about losing myself and getting caught up in that and doing all of those things along the way.” The remose: “Do I have remorse? Absolutely. Will I continue to? For me, this is just the first steps in. I’m paying the price, but I deserve it.” Stepping down from Livestrong: “It was the best thing for the organization but it hurt like hell... That was the lowest.” Losing his sponsors: “You could look at the day or those two days or the day and a half where people left. That was a $75 million day.” The Apology: “I am deeply sorry for what I did.” Shame: “I also feel humbled. I feel ashamed. Yeah, this is ugly stuff.”

SPORTS SATURDAY, JANUARY 19, 2013

Wenger hopes to add to Chelsea’s home sickness

Walcott agrees new Arsenal deal

Benitez, a hate figure at the Bridge following his time with Liverpool, has been unable to win over his club’s fans.

AVB: Rooney is Man United’s driving force

obin van Persie has been widely hailed as the crucial figure in this season's Premier League title race but André Villas-Boas believes Wayne Rooney is still "the player who makes Manchester United tick". The Tottenham Hotspur manager also said the pair were the best striking duo.

Football corruption as evil as drugs: Interpol ROME: Global football corruption helps drive the criminal underworld’s domination of prostitution, drug-trafficking and gun-running, an international symposium into match-fixing heard on Friday. Around 200 delegates attending the FIFA, UEFA and Interpol meeting into corruption in the sport, were told that it was crucial the match-fixers felt the full force of the law when cases are prosecuted. However, it was acknowledged that football needs to convince hardpushed judicial bodies that illegal betting and results-rigging should be pursued with the same vigour reserved for other high-profile crimes. “We must convince the authorities,” said Interpol secretary-general, Ronald Noble. “When a prosecutor tells me: ‘I have more important things to do -prostitution, drugs, gun-running. I can’t just concentrate on a fixed third division game’, I tell him that this is not just a small investment by organised crime. “It is also reinvested in prostitution or drugs...” Delegates from 50 countries also heard that players, officials as well as leading international companies involved in the game need to work together to rid the sport of a problem that costs “hundreds of billions” of

euros. The conference, titled “Matchfixing: The ugly side of the beautiful game”, also illustrated the need for thorough investigation techniques, like those used to track down doping cheats, as well as vigilance over betting patterns. UEFA currently monitors 32,000 matches a year in Europe while FIFA is working on an early warning system to alert authorities into betting anomalies before and during games. “It is true that it is very difficult to investigate because you can bet from anywhere in the world,” said Noble. FIFA general secretary Jerome Valcke underlined the importance of a “strategic alliance with Interpol.

heo Walcott (R above) ended months of speculation on Friday by signing a contract extension with Arsenal. The 23-year-old England forward’s former deal was due to expire at the end of the season and he could have left the London club on a free transfer. But it is understood he has now agreed a new three-and-a-half-year deal worth £100,000 a week.

Walcott, who joined the Gunners from Southampton as a teenager seven years ago, told Arsenal’s website on Friday: “I have made it clear from the start that I wanted to stay at Arsenal, so I am pleased we have agreed a deal that everyone is happy with.” Now Walcott has set his sights on helping Arsenal end their eight-year wait for a major piece of silverware.

Extra-time goal over Iraq lands UAE Gulf Cup MANAMA: United Arab

while Iraq captain Younis Mahmoud Khalaf equalised nine minutes from time. “My wish was to see our team perform at a high level, and they did so in this competition,” said UAE coach Mahdi Ali. “The team is progressing -- hopefully we still have a chance to be better in the future.” Iraq coach Hakeem Shakeer hailed the champions as “The Dream Team”. “We ourselves have a golden generation right now and they contributed a lot to our success in the tournament,” said Shakeer. “I congratulate all the Iraq players for their outstanding performance in AFP the competition.”

Emirates defeated former Asian champions Iraq 2-1 in extra-time to claim their second Gulf Cup title in a thrilling final on Friday. Substitute Ismail alHammadi (right) scored the winner in the 107th minute as thousands of UAE fans, flown in by chartered flights specially for the title showdown, roared in celebration. Al-Hammadi, who replaced Ali Mabkhout in the 62nd minute, latched on to a pass from Amer Abdulrahman and neatly slid the ball past the right of Iraqi goalkeeper Noor Sabri. Omar Abdulrahman had conjured the lead for the UAE in the 28th minute

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Suduko

(right) believes Arsenal can exploit the uncomfortable relationship between Rafael Benitez and Chelsea’s supporters when the Gunners head to Stamford Bridge for Sunday’s crucial London derby. The stormy relationship between Benitez and home fans hit a new low on Wednesday when the Blues squandered a two-goal lead in a 2-2 draw against Southampton, a result that continued Chelsea’s miserable form at the Bridge this season. Chelsea have won just one of their last seven home league matches. That sole success was an 8-0 win over Aston Villa under Benitez’s guidance, but the Spaniard has also overseen embarrassing defeats against QPR and Swansea. In constrast, the Blues have chalked up six wins on the road during Benitez’s reign, a pattern that suggests the pressure of playing in the current toxic atmosphere at the Bridge is

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LONDON: Arsene Wenger

affecting Chelsea’s players. And Wenger hopes Chelsea’s home sickness makes this the perfect time to travel to west London. With Arsenal six points behind fourth-placed Tottenham, who host Manchester United on Sunday, and eight adrift of thirdplaced Chelsea, a victory would be a major boost to Wenger’s hopes of qualifying for the Champions League. “The confidence of the crowd in the team plays a big part, but let’s not hope on any weakness of Chelsea, let’s just focus on our strength,” Wenger said. “You want to go there and be at your best, that is all you can do because you never know how your opponent will turn up.” However, Benitez remains convinced he can win over the fans with a more positive run of results at home. He insists the negative atmosphere hasn’t distracted his players and instead blames Chelsea’s problems on the defensive approach of recent opponents. “The atmosphere doesn’t affect the players,” he said.

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Steve Griffiths