Postnoon E-Paper for 25 January 2013

FRIDAY, JANUARY 25, 2013 HYDERABAD

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GUN

In the wake of several massacres, the United States, where gun ownership is guaranteed under the Constitution, is moving towards stringent gun control legislation. We take a look at some of the deadliest assault rifles on the market.

P16&17

HYDERABAD’S FIRST COMPACT AFTERNOON NEWSPAPER

ASSAD BAIL ADDS FESTIVE FERVOUR TO MILAD-UN-NABI

Few in the City heeded calls by the Darul Ifta Jamia Nizamia that singing, dancing, playing film music and bike rallies with green flags should be avoided.

N SHIVA KUMAR

WOMEN SAY GOODBYE TO UNHAPPY MARRIAGES According to advocates, these days there seems to be an emerging trend where young working women agree to a settlement with their husbands who are reluctant to divorce them. Women are ready to spend huge amounts of money to move on with their lives.

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REPORT ON P8

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FRIDAY, JANUARY 25, 2013

city events

WAHRHEIT ODER PFLICHT

This is a German film on a society obsessed with achievement. Annika, 18, is forced to leave school and she cannot bring herself to tell her parents the truth and pretends to go to school. It will be screened at Goethe-Zentrum on January 25.

Weather for Hyderabad

Evening

Overnight

24°C

17°C

Mostly clear. Windy at times.

Clear.

Morning

Afternoon

23°C

31°C

Sunny. Windy at times.

Sunny.

New Delhi Mumbai Max 20 Max 30 Min 6 Min 19 Clear skies.

Chennai Max 31 Min 21

Mostly sunny.

Mostly sunny.

Bangalore Max 28 Min 16 Mostly sunny.

AROUND THE CITY: YOUR GUIDE TO THE TWIN CITIES Banjara Hills, Hyderabad When: January 18-February 18 11:30am-7pm Contact: www.iconart.in

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

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

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

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: Up to January 27, 1pm onwards

SHOWS Just For Women Special W-Lunch for Women on Wednesdays. The menu changes on a weekly basis.

Where: Ohri’s Ruci & Idoni, Opp Rainbow Hospital, Banjara Hills When: Every Wednesday Ipm to 3:30pm Contact: (040) 6535 5018

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

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

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

ART Rural Excerpts An exhibition of paintings and sculp-

EASY WAY OUT: A woman finds a novel way to disembark a child from the bus.

M ANIL KUMAR tures, of village depictions and life in rural areas, by Narsimlu Kandi. The preview is on January 19.

Where: Aalankritha Art Gallery When: Up to January 30, 11am to 7pm Contact: www.alankritha.in Diva Divine Deified An exhibition of ceramic and terrakota sculptures by artist

Commissioner & Spl Officer

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

198 155313

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

155333 23431178 23431179

MUNICIPAL CORPORATION

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

Jayaprakash.

Where: Iconart Gallery, When: Ongoing Contact: www.iconart.in Buy Art It is an anniversary art show of affordable art by 30 artists. All artworks are priced between `1,000 to `10,000.

Where: Iconart Gallery,

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

155313 23307328 23313163

27505566 23314095 23390933 24600146 27001134 23607777 30418888 30417777 30419000 30416666 39879999

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

Uranium Film Festival The Uranium Film Festival that started in Rio, Brazil. It includes various animations, short films, documentaries and feature films on nuclear fuel chain and radioactivity.

Where: La Makaan, Banjara Hills When: January 25, 6:30pm onwards.

Contact: 96427 31329 The Monsoon Oracle The Monsoon Oracle is a factual film based on ritualistic practices that take places in the country. It revolves around the rituals performed, predicting the arrival of monsoon.

Where: NIFT, Madhapur When: January 25, Contact: (040) 2311 4537

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

Where: Landmark When: January 25-February 25

Tribute to Rajesh Khanna There will be dance performances on

27567892 23559555 23226624 27633087 27035588 27550238 30799999 30418296 30417445

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

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

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

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

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

24523211 232431300/7641 24521029

Readers’ views

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

FRIDAY, JANUARY 25, 2013

City

TODAY’S QUESTION

YESTERDAY’S QUESTION

DO YOU THINK AADHAR CARDS ARE BEING DELAYED TO BENEFIT PRIVATE GAS VENDORS?

SHOULD SCHOOLS SENSITISE STAFF TO PROTECT STUDENTS? 100% 0%

YES (A) NO (B)

A)

YES

B)

NO

To vote visit www.postnoon.com

CRIME

3

Whose baby is it anyway?

A woman gave birth after 23 years of marriage. Instead of rejoicing, her husband alleged that the child wasn’t his and threw his wife out of their home.

Mohd SUBHAN mohd.s@postnoon.com

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fter being unable to conceive for 23 years, a woman finally gave birth on December 29, 2012. But what should have been an occasion to celebrate turned sour

after her husband alleged that the child wasn’t his and threw her out of the house.

According to the Saroonagar police, the husband, Dr Ramesh, 45, is from Nalgonda district and has been running a homeopathy clinic in Nagole for the past few years. He lives in the City.

He married Yamna, a resident

of Nacharam, in May 1990.

When they got married, her parents gave Ramesh a 500 sq yard plot, `50,000 in cash, 10 tolas of gold, 50 tolas of silver and other valuable articles as dowry.

Yamna was unable to conceive. Due to this, Ramesh used to harass her mentally and physically. A few years after their wedding, he demanded more dowry from Yamna’s parents.

They then paid him `2 lakh more, the police said.

Through the years, Ramesh continued to harass Yamna and demand more dowry from her parents, using her inability to give birth to a child as his excuse. In 2008, when Yamna’s par-

The husband, Ramesh, made repeated demands for dowry and harassed his wife, Yamna, for years because she was unable to conceive. ents didn’t fulfill his demands, he tried to set her ablaze after dousing her with kerosene.

Luckily, some older family members intervened and solved the issue.

After 23 years of marriage, Yamna finally conceived and gave birth on December 29, 2012. She and her parents were ecstatic and were busy trying to arrange a grand celebration to mark the occasion. Ramesh turned up and declared that his

LAW

CRIME

Divorce: Women take charge More women seem to be willing to pay alimony to their husbands and walk out of an unhappy marriage.

ALEENA ALICE aleena.t@postnoon.com

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one are the days when divorce meant hanging around family and other successive courts to settle alimony and other matters.

According to advocates, these days, there seems to be an emerging trend where young working women agree for a

wife’s character was not good and that the baby was not his.

He then proceeded to throw Yamna out of their home.

Ramesh claimed he went to Centre for Cellular Microbiology (CCMB) and produced a certificate proving his claim that the child was not his.

Meanwhile, Yamna’s parents went to Saroonagar women’s police station and persuaded Yamna to lodge a complaint against her husband.

When the police started their investigation and summoned Ramesh, he produced the CCMB certificate and said that the child was not his. When the cops examined the certificate, they found it to be fake.

The police have now booked a case and arrested Ramesh. He was produced before a court recently.

settlement with their husbands who are reluctant about the divorce. Women are ready to shell out huge amounts to move on with their lives.

Advocates in the City have to say that many young independent women, mostly in their late 20s to early 30s, find the procedure of running around courts tedious. Hence, they are coming forward to settle and pay alimony to their husbands, who ironically are reluctant about a divorce and demand compensation.

“These days, young women think that they are being more practical and equate time with money. They don’t want to drag the case and run around courts for years. To make their lives simple, women are coming forward to pay all the legal charges and other compensations to their husbands.

Earlier, this phenomenon was the other way round, where the husband would have to pay their wives a settlement.

Now, most working women do not want the hassle of a lengthy legal procedure for

Women are reluctant to spend years running around courts to finalise a divorce and are willing to pay. years. They want to start a new life and do not mind paying a lump sum alimony to their spouse and opting for a mutual divorce,” said advocate CV Srinath.

Sangeetha (name changed), who is in her early 30s and works for a multinational, said, “Mine was an

arranged marriage. Initially, there were problems in my marriage. Later, things got worse with the involvement of my in-laws. Though I tried adjusting and compromised on various issues, it did not make the situation any better.

When things got worse, I had no option but to file for a divorce. Initially, my husband was reluctant for divorce but later we discussed and I agreed to pay the settlement.

So then we decided on a mutual divorce.”

“The trend is increasing because now more and more women are coming out of their shells. Women who are no longer dependent on their husbands see no need to continue their lives in misery.

Instead, they choose to start a new life and move on,” said a counsellor and advocate at the family court, R Jain.

Stones pelted at private bus POSTNOON NEWS feedback@postnoon.com

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nknown persons pelted stones at a private bus at Basheerbagh near Nizam Hostel on Thursday night. The windows broke, but no casualties were reported. Police suspect the involvement of Telangana activists.

The bus was travelling from Kacheguda to Bellari. Four to five men stopped the bus and began throwing stones. The 100-odd passengers in the bus escaped unhurt. The police brought the situation under control soon. The Saifabad police registered a case on the complaint of the bus driver, Shaik Mastaan. They have started their investigation, but no one has been taken into custody so far.

The police suspect that some Tactivists may be behind the attack because the bus is from Delhi. The Centre’s dilly-dallying on the T-issue and Union minister Ghulam Nabi Azad’s statements that the decision will be delayed seems to have angered them.

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city FRIDAY, JANUARY 25, 2013

CIVIC

LAST YEAR... HERE Private security

Land transfer under lens

L

ast year we had reported how most of the private security agencies that provided guards for housing societies and offices remained unlicensed. The credibility and dependability of these agencies then becomes suspect. However, many agencies say they have applied for a licence but the government has not looked at their applications.

JULY 20, 2011

NUMEROLOGY

28 lakh

people in Hyderabad and Ranga Reddy districts are yet to receive their Aadhar cards despite applying for it. The government’s gas cylinderAadhar directive has angered them.

Girls have to fight for every fundamental right that boys take for granted — the right to live, to speak, to be free, to assemble, to study, you name it.

GHMC officials have been accused of illegally transferring government and Wakf lands to third parties in newer areas like Kukatpally and Malkajgiri.

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

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Victory on T-state, but for how long?

The Seemandhra leaders are a pleased lot. They managed to get the Centre to postpone its decision on the T-state issue. But how long will this stalemate continue is what AP citizens want to know.

2

Don’t make schemes without completing another.

Aadhar cards are now mandatory for the supply of subsidised gas cylinders. Considering the State hasn’t issued cards to nearly 30 per cent of the people, is this fair?

3

involved in the scam. It is believed that government lands and those under dispute were transferred illegally to third parties. What is interesting in LB Nagar is the fact that the documents were issued but there is no entry into the register about

the transfer.

“We have submitted the report of LB Nagar and for Malkajgiri, investigation is going on,” said a senior official from the GHMC vigilance department.

Even though the circles have seen this kind of activity since 2010, it came to light only after three victims filed petitions recently. It is believed that a total of 189 properties were transferred illegally in these two to three years in LB Nagar alone.

While most believe that it could not have happened without the support of higher officials, they are certain that these officers will come out unscathed from the scandal while their juniors face the flak. The connivance of local leaders, builders and planners with the GHMC has allowed properties worth crores of rupees to be transferred illegally.

the manufacture, storage, distribution and sale of gutka or paan masala. The ban will be imposed on the entire State for one year, as these products contain tobacco and nicotine as ingredients.

Ramesh General Stores in

Fatehnagar, Vikas General Stores in BK Guda and their godowns were raided. Officials cautioned traders of kirana and general stores, paan shops and other related traders dealing with gutka items.

N

ewer localities in the City like LB Nagar, M a l k a j g i r i , Kukatpally and Qutbullapur have become a hub for illegal land transactions.

What is pathetic is the direct involvement of some GHMC officials in the transactions involving government and Wakf lands.

After the land scam was unearthed in LB Nagar circle, investigations by the vigilance department are continuing in Malkajgiri, Kukatpally and Qutbullapur circles.

GHMC commissioner MT Krishna Babu, who ordered an inquiry into the matter through the vigilance department, has issued memos to the valuation officer and deputy municipal commissioner. Three bill collec-

tors were also issued charge memos. Around six of the outsourcing employees felt the brunt of the scam, as they were removed from service.

According to senior officials, strong action would be taken against the officials who were

CRIME

GHMC raids gutka shops

Usha Devi, social worker See page 8

THINGS WE 5LEARNT TODAY

FILE PHOTO

Md NIZAMUDDIN nizamuddin.a@postnoon.com

POSTNOON NEWS feedback@postnoon.com

W

ith the ban on gutka, the additional commissioner (health and sanitation), along with GHMC officials, raided several general stores where gutka worth `1.9 lakh was seized.

The raids were conducted between 11am and 7pm near the GHMC head office and in Koti, Ameerpet, BK Guda, Sanathnagar Fateh Nagar and Balanagar by food safety designated officers of Central

The manufacture, storage, distribution and sale of gutka or paan masala is prohibited in the State for a year.

Zone and West Zone, and food safety officers of GHMC. A special team headed by chief medical officer of health, GHMC, was formed for the drive.

The order of the commissioner of food safety prohibits

NEWS BRIEFS

Women take charge in City divorce cases.

Working women aren’t willing to waste years running around courts for a divorce. Many agree to pay a settlement to their husbands.

Newborn baby girl’s body found in dustbin

Three held on suspicion of theft

Review of engineering No Viswaroopam in college admission sought Hyderabad either

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T

T

J

Congress now becomes the main entertainment.

Rival parties have been watching with glee as the Congress leaders fight among themselves over T.

5

Take a pledge to exercise your franchise.

With today being National Voters’ Day, remember to cast your vote at the next elections.

he Chaderghat police found a body of newborn girl in a dustbin near Chaderghat bridge on Thursday. The body was wrapped in a polythene cover. Local residents saw the body and informed the police. The Chaderghat police has registered a case and the body has been shifted to the mortuary at Osmania General Hospital.

he Marredpally police arrested three youths — N Kalyan from Vijayawada, M Venkatesh from Nellore and R Vidyasagar from Nizamabad — while they were moving about suspiciously. The police said they were attempting to break in and burgle a house. A case has been booked against them and they were produced in court.

ustice L Narsimha Reddy of the AP HC issued notices to the government and authorities seeking review of the admission process in engineering colleges. The notices were preceded by writ petitions filed by Telangana Professional Colleges Managements' Association about the number of vacant seats left in engineering colleges.

T

he AP government stopped the release of Kamal Haasan's film Viswaroopam in Hyderabad after Muslims organisations complained that it had hurt religious sentiments of the community. Home minister Sabita Indra Reddy directed police to stop the screening till January 28.

It is not clear whether it will be screened in the rest of the state.

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city FRIDAY, JANUARY 25, 2013

POLITICS

Their hard work paid off?

Seemandhra and Rayalaseema leaders are a relieved lot after they successfully managed to persuade the Centre to put off its decision on Telangana. But for how long will they be able to stave off the issue?

INKESHAF AHMED ahmed.m@postnoon.com

The delay in decision making has irked the Telangana Congress leaders, who have been going around tellling people of the region that the Center would announce the formation of Telangana state.

C

ongress leaders from Seemandhra and Rayalaseema regions are a relieved lot. These leaders, who had been camping in New Delhi for the last four days, finally emerged victorious by successfully persuading the Center to delay its decision on the Telangana issue.

It was only after the relentless efforts of these leaders did the UPA government decide to postpone its decision on the bifurcation of the State.

According to a Seemandhra leader, who was part of the 70odd delegation that went to Delhi to put forth its views on keeping the state united, they have employed wise strategies during their meeting with scores of party high command leaders in order to mount pressure on the UPA government to not divide the State. “We left for New Delhi after formulating a pucca strategy. Our only aim was to see that the Center did not go ahead with its widely reported decision of creating a separate Telangana state. We told our

our government and the Congress. The Center has once again realised the seriousness of the matter,” he said.

T-CONGRESS LEADERS IRKED party's top brass that bifurcation would lead to the fall of the Congress government in the State and also weaken it in the Andhra and Rayalaseema regions. Our strong pitch forced the Center to extend its deadline,” he said.

It may be emphasised here that Union Home Minister Sushilkumar Shinde, after holding an all-party meet last month,

had officially announced that he would solve the Telangana issue before January 28. But the increased pressure from the Seemandhra leaders forced the Center to make another statement seeking more time to solve the issue.

Minister for minor irrigation and a strong votary of United Andhra Pradesh state TG Venkatesh, who appeared tense

about a week ago after meeting a couple of high command leaders, is a happy man now. He told Postnoon that the Center would never give a separate Telangana state as it would only mean the party’s doom in the Andhra and Rayalaseema regions. “Creation of a separate Telangana state is not a simple task. There are very high stakes involved, including the future of

On the other hand, the delay in decision making by the Centre has irked the Telangana Congress leaders, who have been going around tellling people of the region that the Center would announce the formation of Telangana state.

These leaders are finding themselves in the midst of storm with the T-JAC announcing an action plan to target the Congress leaders, especially cabinet ministers.

POLITICS

TRS attacks Congress

Following the ruling party’s announcement that it needed more time to decide upon the T issue, the TRS has launched a offensive against Congress leaders to weaken it in the Telangana region.

POSTNOON NEWS feedback@postnoon.com

T

he champion of separate Telangana cause, TRS, which is on a mission to destroy Congress in the Telangana region, has got a Brahmastra to expose the ruling party. Union Health Minister and AICC AP in-charge Ghulam Nabi Azad’s public statement that the Center will not announce any decision on January 28, which was the deadline set up by the Union government to solve the Telangana issue, has come in handy for the TRS party in accelerating its mission.

The party strongly feels that this backtracking by the Center on the Telangana issue will bring a lot of dividends for them. Recognising the importance of the statement, TRS president KCR (pictured), himself

reacted on the issue and launched an attack against the Congress.

In his attack, KCR said that he knew that the Congress would go back on its promise like it did several times in the

past and advised the Telangana Congress leaders, including State cabinet ministers to immediately quit the party and launch a separate fight for achieving a Telangana state.

Taking a cue from the party

president, the party has now decided to expose the Congress in public.

The party high command has already asked its cadres to hold special meetings in every village of the Telangana region and tell people how the Congress has cheated them once again.

“Yes, we have decided to expose the Congress at every given opportunity. Ghulam Nabi Azad’s statement will help in achieving our endeavour of killing the Congress in the Telangana region,” a senior TRS leader told Postnoon on Thursday.

TRS has also asked its students wing to confront TCongress leaders to mount pressure on them. The student wing leaders have announced that they will put up 'No Entry' boards for Congress leaders in all the villages of Telangana.

CRIME

Minor boy kidnapped Mohd SUBHAN mohd.s@postnoon.com

A

five-year-old boy, Nagoor, was kidnapped by unidentified people from his home on Wednesday. The incident came to light on Thursday night, when the boy’s father Soti Baji, a vendor, lodged a complaint with the police. The incident took place at Lalaguda in Secunderabad.

According to the police, Soti Baji and his wife, who works as a maid, had moved to the City 15 years ago to earn a living. Ever since they had been living in a slum in Lalaguda. Inspector V Srinivas Reddy said that on the evening of January 23, Nagoor was alone in his home when two unidentified people on a bike stopped by. They lured the young boy with chocolates and took him away. On returning home, Soti Baji found his son missing and went looking for him. When he didn’t find his son even the next day he lodged a police complaint. A case has been registered.

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city FRIDAY, JANUARY 25, 2013

GAS SUPPLY

Aadhar woes anger customers With the government making Aadhar cards mandatory for the supply of subsidised cylinders, denizens are an angry lot. Nearly 30 per cent of them are yet to receive their cards.

RAHUL RAMAKRISHNA rahul.r@postnoon.com

N SHIVA KUMAR

T

he decision to implement the cash transfer scheme for cooking gas connections by February 15 has come under severe public pressure. According to notifications issued by the department of Civil Supplies, Aadhar card and bank accounts are mandatory for cooking gas connections. The drawback is that out of the total population of the Hyderabad and Ranga Reddy districts, about 30 per cent of the citizens are yet to receive the Aadhar cards.

All of this turbulence began when the Central government was notified by the State government’s Ministry for Civil Supplies that 100 per cent population of Hyderabad and Ranga Reddy districts had enrolled and availed their Aadhar cards.

Following this misguidance, the

Enrolment details of the Aadhar card n The combined population of Ranga Reddy and Hyderabad districts is 93,06,634 according to the 2011 census. Thirty per cent of the population who have not received Aadhar cards equals up to 28 lakh. n Hyderabad has about 25 Aadhar enrolment centres, Ranga Reddy 6 and the rest of the districts have fewer numbers. n Fresh enrolment for an Aadhar card will take a minimum of three months for the card to be given a unique identification number and delivered to the recipient.

notifications were issued and within a few days, private gas distributors from all over the City and the Ranga Reddy district were flooded with calls from the irate public.

According to Srinivas, a pri-

vate gas dealer from Jubilee Hills, “The deadline has been fixed for February 15, by when people who do not submit their Aadhar cards along with bank details will not be able to avail gas connections. However, I

MARK OF PROTEST

think they might extend the deadline as many people are yet to receive their Aadhar cards.”

A senior official from the Civil Supplies Department said that a decision was being taken after the Civil Supplies commissioner along with district project officer discuss this matter.

However, the other extremity of this problem is the issue of a minor portion of the City population which is yet to have a bank account.

“As for that issue, we are thinking of setting up designated bank branches where people can register their accounts with the Aadhar card and avail the offer,” says an official from the Civil Supplies department.

But as to how long the deadline will be extended and whether all the Aadhar cards will then be delivered on time is a question that remains unanswered. Resident associations

from across the City say that they have already warned private gas dealers to pressurise the government into extending the deadline until at least 80 per cent of the population had enrolled and received Unique Identification numbers.

Resident associations have already warned private gas dealers to pressurise the govt into extending the deadline.

Last year, about 850 Aadhar cards were found disposed off in a garbage bin in Falaknuma.

Citizens allege that if this is the state of the services offered, then availing gas connections at market prices is the only option left.

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5

/095 Rs.1 9/: e c 4 r Pri Rs.5 Cove r Price: : 50% g e f n f i O l Sav Tota

Textile traders at Secunderabad and Madina downed their shutters on Thursday to protest against the increase in VAT on textile products. The bandh was called by AP M ANIL KUMAR Federation of Textiles Association.

A FRESH NEW POINT OF VIEW You can also call or email us at:

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7

classifieds FRIDAY, JANUARY 25, 2013 ELECTIONS

‘Please vote!’

REPORTERS’ DIARY

E

lection Watch, 2013, (EW) is observing ‘National Voters Day’ on January 25 as ‘Voters Enlightenment Day’. On the occasion, it appealed to men and women, above the age of 18, to register themselves in their respective polling centers. The objective behind the programme is to create awareness among citizens to get themselves enrolled in the voters’ list, so as to exercise their franchise in the 2014 general elections.

Dr Ambati Laxmana Rao, former chief justice, Allahabad High Court, demanded that the government take action against candidates who had indulged in corrupt practices in the past.

NSS

CLASSIFIEDS HEALTH/ CLINIC

Come for treatment?

Wait outside!

H

undreds of patients come for treatment every day to a popular cancer hospital in the City. But there are no homes in the City to accommodate the relatives of these patients, many of whom are very poor. They usually wait outside on the footpaths. Apart from a few good Samaritans who give them food once a week, there is almost no help available.

(SS)

BUREAUCRATS BLAME NAIDU

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Even as the heat over Telangana issue gains momentum, frustration among bureaucrats from coastal districts is discernible. In spite of their busy schedule, officials in top positions, including additional commissioners, can be seen spending time talking about the issue.

Water scarcity and concentration of administration in Hyderabad are some of the issues where discussions stretched for several minutes over a cup of tea, while sub-ordinates from Telangana listened.

One of the officials blamed Chandrababu Naidu for neglecting other cities, by making Hyderabad as the only destination for a job seeker. “Educated people from other areas do not have enough options, as Hyderabad is the only provider of bread and butter for the learned,” said an additional commissioner.

(NM)

According to a popular joke on Botsa’s statement on Rahul Gandhi, the people under the Congress rule have nothing but tears in their eyes.

MIM PLAYING DIRTY POLITICS?

The question that is doing the rounds in the City is why AIMIM chief MP from Hyderabad, Asaduddin Owaisi, suddenly surrendered just before Milad- unNabi. Supporters feel there are no powerful leaders after him to handle the situation in the party or to solve public issues, especially that of the minorities.

The Owaisi brothers and other MLAs, including Ahmed Pasha Quadri were booked in a case in 2005 at the Patencheru police station. A few months back, AIMIM MLA Ahmed Pasha Quadri was produced in the court, after which his peshi (summon to appear before court) was recalled.

Now the public wants to know why Asad Owaisi surrendered now and not sometime later, and why the Owaisi brothers haven’t appointed a strong advocate to argue their case. They feel Asad’s actions are just to divert attention from the Telangana issue, which is

expected to gain momentum from January 28. Asad had previously said in a statement in the Sri Krishna report that if a separate Telangana is formed, communal violence will ensue.

When Quadri was produced in court and his peshi recalled, why not Owaisi’s? People feel the MIM and the Congress are playing dirty politics for the sake of votes.

(MS)

‘CONGRESS FALLS IN ITS OWN TRAP’

entertainment to rival political party leaders, especially the main opposition Telugu Desam and YSR Congress parties.

The intensity of the high drama created by the aggressive rhetoric of the Congress leaders and the minute to minute turn of events of the last one week has forced these leaders to take a complete break from their day-t- day party activities and programmes. Majority of these leaders confined themselves to their homes and were glued to their televisions sets, munching snacks.

The situation went to an extent that the official spokespersons of TDP and YSRC parties, who always make the headlines by holding regular press conferences on various issues, including public problems, preferred to avoid press meets.

Reacting to this, a senior TDP leader said in jest that it is merry making time for them to see rival Congress leaders washing their dirty linen in public over a crucial issue.

The leader said that the Congress tried to create trouble for the TDP on the issue of division of the State. But now, surprisingly the Congress has fallen in its own trap.

(IA)

The blitzkrieg campaign between Seemandhra and Telangana Congress leaders over the separate state issue in the national capital seems to have provided full throttle

Contributed by Rahul Ramakrishna, Md Nizamuddin, Mohd Subhan, Inkeshaf Ahmed and Srinivas Setty.

FULL OF TEARS

When Botsa Satyanarayan summed up the feelings of the people reacting to Rahul Gandhi being elected as VP of the AICC, a popular joke began doing the rounds.

As one senior RTI activist put it, "Botsa has quite literally summed up the feelings of the majority of the people of this country under the Congress rule for the past few years. They have nothing but tears in their eyes." While everybody agreed about the tears part, the sharp sarcasm failed to make a few laugh. They were left to wonder what was really funny about the statement.

(RR)

8

city FRIDAY, JANUARY 25, 2013

WOMEN’S RIGHTS

‘Need a strong national policy for adolescents’

M ANIL KUMAR

A girl shares her views and experiences on National Girl Child day (left). Shanta Singh (right) gives her autograph to the children during the event.

PADMINI C padmini.c@postnoon.com

“S

top child marriage.

Provide minimum facilities such as drinking water and toilets in our schools. Build residential hostels for college going girls. Put an end to female infanticide. Fight for your rights, never stop,” were some of the rallying cries of hundreds of girl children at a congregation here in the City on Thursday, on the occasion of the National Girl Child Day. Speaking at the event as chief guest, Shanta Sinha, chairperson of National Commission for Protection of Child Rights

(NCPCR), highlighted the need for a national policy that specifically deals with the issues concerning 14-18 year olds. “There is a need for a specific policy for adolescents in our country that needs to be put into place immediately.”

Acknowledging the issues put forth by the community representatives in the gathering, Sinha promised that the NCPCR was working towards incorporating a number of solutions that it will recommend to the government. “Toilets for children and teachers are the barest of requirements. They should not come in the way of education. So there is a need to ensure these things in every school. Transport is anoth-

Girl children in several districts of AP even today have to fight for the basic necessities of life that boys take for granted. er problem. I think we should have free bus passes for college going girls. We also recognise the need for hostels and so on. We’ll

making strong recommendations to the government soon. “ Dr Muralikrishna from UNICEF, freedom fighter Mallu Swarajyam, Durga Prasad, juvenile justice board magistrate from Ranga Reddy, also attended the event as guests of honour.

They commended the children for their courage and bravery and promised to help them.

“Most of the girls you see here today had to fight in their homes to be here. In fact, they have to fight for every fundamental right that boys take for granted — the right to live, to speak, to be free, to assemble, to study, you name it (and they struggle for it). But they are not afraid. And these girls are not

just fighting for themselves; they are fighting for everyone in their sanghas (groups).

They’ve understood the power of working together at community and village levels and realise that with every girl that comes forward, a family changes for the better,” said Usha Devi, a social worker participating at the event. The convention was a part of City-based NGO MV Foundation’s social mobilisation programmes for protection of child rights. Over 500 girls from different balika sanghas (girls’ groups) across Kurnool, Mahabubnagar, Warangal, Nalgonda, Ranga Reddy and Hyderabad districts came together to participate in the event.

FESTIVITIES

Grand un-Nabi celebrations in City

ANUBHA K SINGH anubha.k@postnoon.com

M

ilad-un-Nabi is that time of the year when the Old City is decked up like a bride. The lanes and nukkads of Old City are decked up with green flags, balloons and lights. This year, the celebrations are grander.

However, three days back the Darul Ifta Jamia Nizamia, Hyderabad, had issued a fatwa against singing, dancing, bike rallies with green flags and playing film music, which they said degrade Islam. But not many in

seem to be taking it seriously.

“This year, the celebrations are grander and in addition to the prophet’s birthday, the reason is the bail of our leader Asaduddin Owaisi. You can’t stop anyone from celebrating their happiness and success. So, releasing fatwa at this point of time is wrong,” Ahmed Asif, local leader from Darussalam.

Stages and loudspeakers were set up and music was played. Despite the fatwa, many youngsters were seen going on bike rallies, carrying green flags and shouting political slogans.

“Every year, we celebrate this

N SHIVA KUMAR

Despite a fatwa issued against bike rallies and loud music, people painted the City green. day in this way only. So why not this year too? We are not damaging any public property or creating any public disturbance. So why the restrictions?” said Md Nazimuddin, who was rallying on a bike.

Meanwhile, Mazher Hussian, director of the Covenant of Voluntary Associations, said, “The main reason for the fatwa was to stop youth setting out on bikes carrying green flags and shouting slogans on such a peaceful occasion. Many youngsters don’t realise that ‘Kalim Tayeba,’ the words printed on the flag, are allowed to be uses

only if their sanctity is maintained”.

Elderly people were seen distributing food and clothes to the poor. “As per the teachings in Islam, this day is celebrated by distributing food, clothes and other basic needs to the poor. It’s the day of happiness and spreading joy. Use of loudspeakers, bike rallies, flags can only cause public disturbance and communal fights. This has been happening for last five to six years, mainly because of youngsters from the community. It is only degrading the religion” said Abdul Rameez, a businessman from the area.

FRIDAY, JANUARY 25, 2013

focus BANE OF BEAUTY

APILAPORN VECHAKIJ feedback@postnoon.com

F

rom breast-slapping and gold thread face-lifts, to vaginal whitening soaps and olive oil penis enlargements, image obsessed Thais are going to ever increasing extremes in the quest for beauty.

The colourful self-proclaimed pioneer of breast-slapping says her unusual technique allows clients to boost their bust by at least one bra size without surgery.

“This is the beauty by nature — one million percent guaranteed," the eccentric 46-year-old, who has changed her name to Khunyingtobnom or Madam breast-slapper, told AFP. Her work is also extremely lucrative, charging $600 for two 15 minute sessions covering one breast each and a premium faceslapping service — which she claims can induce slimness — costing about $1,000.

Having slapped her customers for 28 years, Khunyingtobnom said that her own small breasts prompted her late-grandmother to pass on the little-known art, which she applies to about 20 customers each day.

In a country where ideals of beauty carry particular weight, even in notoriously image-conscious Asia, it is not only women who are seeking to enhance what nature has provided.

Alarmingly high numbers of Thai men inject olive oil, beeswax, silicone and even paraffin into their genitals, in a misguided bid to enlarge their penises, according to one Bangkok urologist.

Skin lesions or serious infections are commonly the result, said Surat Kittisupaporn of the Police General Hospital, which sees up to 300 patients a month after botched penis treatments.

“The body reacts to the foreign substances. When there is chronic irritation or infection, it’ll be very hard to cure... it’ll be hard to even walk or take a shower," he said, making surgery inevitable.

In the worst case, Surat was forced to remove a 50-year-old man’s genitals in November after he repeatedly injected olive oil into his penis.

The pursuit of an ideal beauty has a long history in the nation, according to Professor Suwirakorn Ophaswongse, of the Dermatological Society of Thailand.

“It starts from the belief that aristocrats should have white skin and people with dark skin are lower class," she said.

The influence of Korean pop culture has hastened the pace — and boosted the numbers — of those dashing to the cosmetic surgeon, she said, as Thais now seek to recreate the surgically enhanced, doll-like appeal of their ‘K-pop’ idols.

Illegal, backstreet cosmetic surgery clinics are cashing-in on that desire and increasing the risks.

A product promoter, or a so-called “pretty", died in October when a gel-like filler meant to make her buttocks more shapely was injected into her bloodstream.

PRICE OF STAYING BEAUTIFUL

Thailand’s looks-seeking elite shell out anywhere between $13,000 and $200,000 for pay for gold thread face implants, a tradition apparently stretching back to ancient Egypt which its adherents believe tightens and brightens the skin.

SYRINGES, SURGERY AND SLAPS

9

a Thai woman walking past a body treatment shop in Bangkok.

Her friend and fellow “pretty", Nutchanunt Angkuttarothum, 25, said the tragedy had not deterred her from further surgery to add to a litany of procedures, including a nose job she has already undergone.

“We have to always take care of ourselves and look good, otherwise we wouldn’t look different from others", she said after pouting for the cameras at a recent motorcycle launch event in Bangkok.

For women, the quest for bigger eyes, noses, breasts and bums is just one step in a wider bid to transform themselves.

Off-the-shelf skin whitening creams, including vaginal bleaching soaps, abound in the kingdom with many believing that a lighter skin reflects higher status and is more attractive to the opposite sex.

It is an image of desirability reinforced by the legions of models and actors who adorn Bangkok’s billboards and star in the country’s wildly popular television dramas.

For the city’s strutting elite, known as Hi-Sos (High Society), more upmarket treatments are widely available, for the right price.

Anywhere between $13,000 and $200,000 will pay for gold thread face implants, a tradition apparently stretching back to ancient Egypt which its adherents believe tightens and brightens the skin.

Speaking at a upmarket Bangkok clinic, husband and wife Patcharat and Itsaraporn Rattanasuthaphaboon said they have both undergone the costly procedure.

“I used to have wrinkles and dry skin under my eyes but it has been a lot better since I did it last time," said 51-year-old Itsaraporn.

“It’s okay by me," her husband said. “I just want my wife to look good."

The treatment involves strips of nearpure gold being sewn into the skin forming a mesh which stimulates the body to produce collagen, thus keeping the skin supple, says Maciej Lichaj, a Polish gold thread aesthetician at the clinic.

“People in Asia love gold... they want to have gold outside and inside", he explained, adding the results can be seen within months.

But not everyone is convinced by the scramble to be young, fair-skinned and beautiful.

“People don’t have to be white to be beautiful — good personality, having knowledge and other capacities are much more important," Professor Suwirakorn said. “It’s better to have beauty from within."

AFP/ PORNCHAI KITTIWONGSAKUL

AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE

Thais suffer for beauty From breast-slapping and gold thread face-lifts, to vaginal whitening soaps and olive oil penis enlargements, image obsessed Thais are going to ever increasing extremes in the quest for beauty.

10

FRIDAY, JANUARY 25, 2013

Business

ARCELORMITTAL CUTS 1,300 BELGIAN JOBS

Steelmaking giant ArcelorMittal announced Thursday that it would shut down six cold-processing facilities in the Liege region of eastern Belgium, eliminating 1,300 jobs and triggering a strike call by trades unions.

MANUFACTURING

SAMSUNG IN RECORD PROFIT

Biz rendered powerless

Small-scale entrepreneurs sell personal belongings to repay loans and stay afloat.

PRUDHVI RAJU K prudhvi.k@postnoon.com

M

anufacturing industry continues to face a testing environment with power crisis, increase in input costs with power surcharge (FSA), property tax and heavy interest rates. Adding to this, there is dearth of human resource. Small scale entrepreneurs are selling their personal belongings repay loans and some are thinking of shifting to other states.

“Government is concentrating on business summits rather than making the environment conducive for industries. It is the conducive environment that attracts human resource (labour) or investors,” says an industrialist.

“There were labourers from Orissa, who used to come to work here. They cannot afford this environment as power crisis and bandhs snatch their daily bread,” he rues.

AB Kulkarni, founder, Nirmala Pet A Pack, gives an example of the dire situation.

“In Kukatpally industrial estate, almost many small scale businesses are looking for employees — reflected by the boards on their gates saying ‘Wanted:

helpers, fitters’. The migration from coastal Andhra may also have come down due to these agitations.

“This crisis has been continuing for last three years with out any relief. Earlier, we used to have power cuts only during summers and one power holiday, which could be easily managed. Now, you can’t run your industry even in the evenings.

For instance, by mistake, if any body switches the machine on around 6pm to fulfil an order deadline, the business has to pay heavy fines in the power bills,” he said.

About start-up environment,

he said, “The power crisis has completed eclipsed the start-up environment. New units would only come with expansion or growth of existing units. When the survival is big question for existing units, who would dare to think of expansion.

Manufacturing has a long gestation period.

“With this ever-growing interest rates, inflation, human resource, it is impossible for a young entrepreneur to set up a manufacturing unit. Even, reputed national companies has decreased their product portfolio from units in the City and shifted to other cities,”

“A manufacturing unit could only work 10-12 days with holidays, power holidays and festivals. Any form of business cannot survive with shutting down for 18 days in a month. Debt servicing, salaries or the other overheads cannot be reduced with this shutdown.

Over time, the company’s brand image is also at stake in front of clients for leaving most of orders unfulfiled.

“Some companies are even looking at purchasing power at a higher price to run with out any margins rather than keeping their units idle and putting hard-earned image at stake.”

The units also reduced their marketing budgets drastically in this situation. For the first time, industries are worried about getting more orders. “It is absolutely difficult for us to serve new orders when industries’ struggling hard to fulfil the existing orders within deadlines,” he said. “There is uncertainty in the industry and it should be cleared. The government is not making it clear when this power crisis will end.

We cannot bear this uncertainty any further. Industry has lost a lot from last three years and it is not in a position to stretch itself any more,” he concludes.

Andhra Bank posts `257 cr profit A ndhra Bank reported 15.2 per cent decline in net profit to `257.09 crore for the third quarter ended December 2012 due to higher provisioning for bad loans. The state-owned bank had posted a net profit of Rs 303.17 crore in the same period a year ago.

However, the total business crossed the `2,00,000 crore mark registering a 14 per cent growth. (YoY) Total income of the bank rose to `3,469.21 crore during OctoberDecember period, from ` 3,158.26 crore

over the same quarter a year earlier.

During first nine months, the net profit of the bank declined by 6 per cent to `944.55 crore from Rs 1,005 crore in the year ago period.

The bank made a provision of ` 149 crore for non-performing assets (NPA) or bad loans during the quarter under review, against that of Rs 39 crore in the year-ago period. The net NPAs of the bank rose to 2.29 per cent of the total advances as of December 31, from 1.21 per cent a year ago.

PTI

10g GOLD`30,748 10g GOLD`31,100 `60,100 1kg SILVER `59,253

24C

forfor

for for

DOLLAR `53.79 `53.69 `85.15 POUND `84.68

South Korea's Samsung Electronics said Friday net profit soared 75.6 per cent to a record 7.04 trillion won ($6.6 billion) in the fourth quarter of 2012, driven by strong smartphone and memory chip sales. The world's largest technology firm by revenue and top smartphone maker also saw a record operating profit in October-December of 8.84 trillion won, up 89.7 percent from a year earlier. The figures were largely in line with Samsung's guidance released earlier this month. For all of 2012, Samsung logged a net profit of 23.8 trillion won, with revenue and operating income reaching 201.1 trillion won and 29.05 trillion won respectively. The company said growth in the fourth quarter was mainly driven by "solid sales" of its flagship Galaxy S3 and Galaxy Note 2 smartphones. IT and Mobile Communications accounted for the lion's share of operating profit in the fourth quarter.

NUMEROLOGY

$10

bn

is the worth of the shale gas production sharing agreement Ukraine and Shell has signed.

MS PROFIT DECLINES Microsoft on Thursday said its profit dipped slightly from a year earlier but posted record revenues in the past quarter, getting a lift from sales of its new Windows 8 operating system.

Profit dipped 3.7 percent from 12 months ago to $6.38 billion, better than most forecasts, while revenues rose 2.7 percent to $21.46 billion, a record for the US tech giant. Microsoft said the boost in revenues came from pre-sales and upgrades of Windows 8, recognized in the quarter, and gains in business software and other segments. The second fiscal quarter statement, however, did not offer specific sales data for the Surface tablet launched late last year by Microsoft or its new Windows Phone 8 system, two keys to the company's future.

BSE 6,057.70 6,027.05 NSE

20,025.67 19,975.42 44.10 50.89 9.20 7.70

11

FRIDAY, JANUARY 25, 2013

nation ACCIDENT

Six killed in Mumbai slum fire

39 ARRESTED FOR FISHING IN TURTLE SANCTUARY Forest officials on Thursday arrested 39 men for fishing near a turtle nesting site in Odisha's Kendrapada district, an official said. The accused were nabbed near the Gahirmatha marine sanctuary. Four mechanised trawlers used by the accused in fishing were seized, he said.

HEADLEY SENTENCE

‘AIR INDIA THIRD WORST’

Extradition request stands: Khurshid Headley’s 35-year sentence would be followed by five years of supervised release.

MUMBAI: At least six people were killed and seven injured in a fire that gutted over 50 hutments in southern Mumbai’s Mahim area early Friday, officials said.

According to the BMC Disaster Control Centre, the fire broke out around 5 am in the Nayanagar slums in Mahim and quickly spread, catching the occupants unaware in their sleep.

Seven fire engines and eight tankers rushed to combat the blaze and finally managed to control it after four hours. The cause of the fire is not yet known.

Congress MP from the area Eknath Gaekwad said the slum is a thickly populated and there was a possibility of the casualty figures going up.

“The narrow lanes in the congested locality prevented quicker rescue operations, but the city fire brigade did a commendable job and prevented higher casualties,”Gaekwad told IANS from the scene.

NEW DELHI: India would have sought “much more”punishment for Lashkar-e-Taiba operative David Headley had he been tried here, External Affairs minister Salman Khurshid said on Friday.

The Pakistani American, who played a key role in the 26/11 Mumbai terror attack, was Thursday sentenced to 35 years in prison by a US court.

Union home secretary RK Singh also said that India will continue push for Headley's extradition to face trial here.

“Had we tried him we would have sought much more,”Khurshid said when asked whether the 35-year sentence was adequate.

Under a plea deal, US prosecutors “had agreed not to seek the death penalty against him and to not extradite him to Pakistan, India or Denmark for the offences to which he pleaded guilty”.

Air India has been rated world's third least safe airline after China Airlines and TAM Airlines, according to a report from a website that monitors plane crashes around the world. India's national carrier is ranked 58th among 60 listed airlines by Hamburg based Jet Airliner Crash Data Evaluation Centre (JACDEC). Finnair is now the world's safest airline, followed

by Air New Zealand, Cathay Pacific and Emirates, according to JACDEC Safety Ranking 2012.

HC RAPS CUSTOMS

In this courtroom sketch, David Coleman Headley appears before US District Judge Harry Leinenweber at federal court in Chicago on Thursday.

Asked whether Headley would ever be tried in India, Khurshid said: “The question could only be answered by the prosecuting authorities I cannot speculate.”

Khurshid, however, said the sentence handed over to Headly was a "beginning". "The 35 year sentencing and what the judge said is a beginning. We under-

stand there are legal procedures in the US but nevertheless the position we have, the request (extradition) that we have made remains intact," Khurshid said.

Headley’s 35-year sentence would be followed by five years of supervised release. There is no federal parole and defendants must serve at least 85 percent of their sentence.

PTI/IANS

NEWS BRIEFS BBA student arrested for molesting two minors

Fog in Uttar Pradesh, rail and flight schedules disrupted

Hindu religious leader jailed in US for visa fraud

NAMAKKAL: A final-year BBA student has been arrested for allegedly molesting two minor girls, both sisters, under the pretext of giving them tuition, at Chamundinagar area, police said.

The girls, aged eight and six years, were playing in front of their house last night while their daily wage earning parents were away at work when the student enticed them to his house, saying he would teach them lessons and molested them, they said.

LUCKNOW: Rail and air services were hit Friday as a thick fog blanketed many parts of Uttar Pradesh. The fog, which began late Thursday, led to the cancellation of two flights — the LucknowDelhi Indigo and Jet Airways flights. Hundreds of passengers were stranded at the airport; protests broke out against the airlines as passengers alleged they had been kept in the dark about the cancellations. More than three dozen trains were also reported running late.

WASHINGTON: A Hindu leader from India, who had established a temple in Milwaukee city, has been jailed for 37 months for religious visa fraud and would be deported after serving his sentence. A Milwaukee court gave its sentencing order after it found Sagarsen Haldar, who is the founder of Gaudiya Vaisnava Society, guilty of fraudulently obtaining religious worker visas — known as ‘R-1’ visas — for Indian nationals in exchange for substantial cash payments.

Pick

at the

The Bombay HC has come down heavily on the Customs department for failing to comply with an order passed last year directing it to initiate action against its own prosecutor for causing delay in filing of appeal against an acquittal in a gold smuggling case.

Justice RC Chavan was hearing an application filed by Customs seeking leave to appeal against the acquittal of one Vinod Kumar Samson Michael, accused of smuggling gold. Michael was arrested in 1990 but was acquitted by the chief metropolitan magistrate in 2010 due to lack of evidence.

The Centre cannot shirk its responsibility and pass on the burden of their own financial mis-management to the States and impose untold hardship on the citizens.

airport,

J Jayalalithaa Tamil Nadu CM

-

FRIDAY, JANUARY 25, 2013

World UNITED STATES

Censorship: Bindi Irwin slams Hillary editors

SYDNEY: Teenage conservationist Bindi Irwin, daughter of late “Crocodile Hunter” Steve Irwin, has revealed her shock that an essay she penned for Hillary Clinton was edited so heavily that her words were “twisted”.

Iriwn, 14, was reportedly invited to write for US Secretary of State Clinton’s e-journal about why she had chosen to work in wildlife conservation and wrote 1,000 words that largely focused on the issue of overpopulation.

But she told Sydney’s Daily Telegraph that when the piece had been edited and returned

I hadn’t said anything they had put in... my words were twisted and altered and changed. I was a little bit shocked to tell you the truth

CLINTON BATS FOR STRONGER TIES Greeting people of India on the occasion of its Republic Day, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton has said that her three trips to the country as the top American diplomat reinforced her “unyielding belief” that the Indo-US strategic partnership is making the world “more united, prosperous and secure.”

KOREAN CRISIS

12

XI GETS ABE LETTER

North warns South ‘Sanctions amount to a declaration of war against us,’ said a high-powered North Korean committee.

SEOUL: North Korea on Friday threatened “physical counter-measures” against rival South Korea — the latest in a series of bellicose warnings sparked by a tightening of UN sanctions against Pyongyang.

“If the South Korean puppet regime of traitors directly participates in the so-called UN ‘sanctions’, strong physical countermeasures would be taken,” the North’s Committee for Peaceful Reunification of Fatherland said.

The warning, carried by the official Korean Central News Agency, came a day after North Korea’s top military body threatened to conduct a third nuclear test and boost its ability to strike the United States.

The latest warning refocused Pyongyang’s anger from Washington to Seoul.

China media threatens aid cut over atomic test BEIJING: North Korea’s sole major ally China will decrease aid to Pyongyang if it goes ahead with a planned nuclear test, staterun media said in an unusually frank warning on Friday. China is the North’s leading energy supplier and trade partner and is seen as one of the few nations able to influence Pyongyang’s behaviour, with the comments adding a distinctive edge to its typical official calls for stability and dialogue.

“If North Korea engages in further nuclear tests, China will not hesitate to reduce its assistance to North Korea,” the Global Times, which is close to the ruling Communist Party, said in an editorial.

IANS

“Sanctions amount to a declaration of war against us,” said the committee, which is the prime state body responsible for inter-Korean dialogue and exchange.

“As long as the South Korean puppet traitors’ regime continues with its antiDPRK (North Korea) hostile policy, we will never sit down with them,” it said.

The current upsurge in tensions has its roots in Pyonyang’s defiant decision to push ahead with a long-range rocket launch on December 12 — insisting it was a peaceful mission to place a satellite in orbit.

The rest of the world saw it as a banned ballistic missile test and on Tuesday the UN Security Council unanimously adopted a resolution that expanded sanctions imposed on North Korea after its nuclear tests in 2006 and 2009.

The United States, supported by Japan and South Korea, spearheaded the UN resolution.

AFP

to her for approval, it had been altered so much she felt she had to withdraw it from publication.

“When I got the essay back after they edited it, it was completely different,” the newspaper cited her as saying. “I hadn’t said anything they had put in... my words were twisted and altered and changed. I was a little bit shocked to tell you the truth.”

Her essay described Earth’s expanding population and the planet’s struggle to support it, using the simple analogy of a child’s birthday party in which 15 people were invited and catered for and 70 turned up. AFP

NEWS BRIEFS Attack on Afghan NATO convoy kills civilians

Yen manipulation claims French planes destroy ‘off the mark’: Aso Islamist bases in Mali

Senate passes watered down filibuster reform

KABUL: A suicide car bomber attacked a NATO convoy in Afghanistan’s strategic Kapisa province northeast of Kabul Friday, killing at least four civilians, officials said. “There was an insurgent attack on an ISAF convoy in Tagab district with a vehicle-borne improvised explosive device,” a spokesman for NATO told AFP.

TOKYO: Japan’s Finance Minister on Friday rejected claims Tokyo was orchestrating a slide in the yen, a day after German leader Angela Merkel voiced concern over the new government’s exchange rate policy.

“The criticism that (the government) is manipulating the currency rate is completely off the mark,” Taro Aso was quoted as saying.

WASHINGTON: The US Senate voted to remove some longstanding procedural hurdles that have stalled debate and left Congress mired in gridlock in recent years. The changes will help legislation reach the floor of the chamber more quickly by barring a senator from using filibuster, at the beginning of debate on a bill.

BAMAKO: French warplanes have destroyed two Islamist bases in northern Mali as an Al-Qaeda-linked group there split, with the splinter group calling for talks to end the offensive against the militants.

There were also reports of Malian troops carrying out summary executions, with one rights group saying at least 31 people had been killed.

An envoy from Tokyo handed Chinese leader Xi Jinping a personal letter from new Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe on Friday, in a meeting aimed at smoothing relations amid a bitter territorial row.

Natsuo Yamaguchi, head of the New Komeito party, the junior partner in Japan’s ruling coalition, is the most senior Japanese parliamentarian to visit China since the long-running row over disputed islands intensified last September. At the Great Hall of the People in Beijing both sides expressed appreciation for the trip before beginning private talks.

Pole sails from PNG to Aus Island on twig raft SYDNEY: A Polish man was lucky to be alive Friday after sailing from Papua New Guinea to a north Australian island on a raft made of twigs and sticks, through crocodile and shark-infested waters, during a cyclone.

The man was found washed up in mangroves on Saibai Island in the Torres Strait, a treacherous stretch of water that lies between the two countries.

What made his survival even more miraculous was that he attempted the trip in the aftermath of Cyclone Oswald, with 1.5 metre (five foot) swells and 40 knot winds, rescue authorities said.

Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA) spokeswoman Jo Meehan told AFP that the flimsy raft was held together with string.

AMSA was alerted when residents of Saibai, which is part of Australia but only four kilometres (2.5 miles) from Papua New Guinea, spotted the man offshore on Thursday.

They sent a helicopter and a customs ship but failed to find him, so they called in local police who discovered the exhausted man in the mangroves.

AFP

13

FRIDAY, JANUARY 25, 2013

Technology FOX THIS! Mozilla has finally demoed two of their upcoming Firefox OS on a low-end device in partnership with a Spanish company.

SHORT AND SWEET?

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rowser maker Mozilla introduced two phones powered by its open source Firefox OS platform with focus on low-end markets.

In partnership with a Spanish start-up named GeeksPhone and Spanish telecommunications provider Telefonica, Mozilla unveiled two 3G phones, Keon and Peak, for its mobile system, reported Xinhua.

Rather than catering for mainstream customers, the two phones are for developers preview, enabling them to develop apps and improve the operating system.

"This week we are announcing our new Firefox OS developer preview phones because we believe that developers will help bring the power of the web to mobile," Mozilla said in its official blog.

The "Keon" model features a small 3.5-inch screen, 1 GHz processor and 4GB storage, making it barely comparable to a cheap

Android phone in the US market.

Rather than taking on major market players like iPhone, Mozilla plans to focus initially on developing markets where customers started to upgrade to smartphones from feature phones. The company plans to debut its Firefox OS-powered phone in Brazil later this year.

At the Mobile World Congress in Spain last year, Telefonica, with half of its customers in Latin America, said it hoped to bring smartphones to the masses in developing countries with Mozilla's browserbased operating system with a price "ten times cheaper than iPhone".

With the first official version not yet available, Firefox OS is a browser-

in Mountain View in the US state of California, is a global, non-profit organization dedicated to creating open source products like the Firefox browser.

WHY DEVELOP AN APP FOR FIREFOX OS?

based open source operating system for smartphones and tablet computers.

Launching the development project in July 2011, Mozilla touted the system as more accessible and completely open, compared to "walled gardens" of Apple iOS and Google Android.

Mozilla, headquartered

Keep the web open.

Support the open web and help make sure the power of the web is available to everyone – even on mobile devices.

Simplicity. Develop on a single technology stack (HTML5/CSS/JavaScript/n ew WebAPIs) and deliver across the web and devices.

Freedom. You’re not locked in to a vendor-controlled ecosystem. You can distribute your app through the Firefox Marketplace, your own website, or any other store based on Mozilla’s open app store technology.

IANS

Twitter has today introduced Vine, an app that allows you to share six-second looping videos on the service and in embedded tweets. The app is simple, allowing you to tap the screen to record video and lift your finger to stop. Chaining those clips together allows you to create short sound-optional movies that can be shared on Twitter. They play back directly inside tweets on Twitter an in the newly expanded embeds that the service offers. A Vine blog post confirms for the first time that it was acquired by Twitter. It was used

by Hofmann to tweet out a 6-second clip yesterday morning. That clip was then shared by Twitter CEO Dick Costolo.

RUN LOLA RUN After releasing the sequel to Temple run - named "Temple Run 2" - for iOS, Imangi Studios, the makers of the game, has now released the new version of the popular game for Android. The new game - Temple Run 2 - is now available on Google Play for free on Android app store. The new features include beautiful new graphics, gorgeous new organic environments, new obstacles, more powerups, more achievements, special powers for each character, and bigger monkeys. The game has already been download 1mn times on Android and iOS combined.

THAT’S CHEAP Lava announced that it’ll be coming out with cheaper phones that run on Intel’s chip over the coming weeks. Lava X500 will run on Atom Lexington Z2420 chip and will have ICS version of Android. It will have 3.5-inch screen with a resolution of 480X320 and the processors will be clocked at 1.2GHz. The Internal storage will only be 4GB and the device will have 512MB RAM. The Xolo X500 will come with a 5-megapixel auto focus rear camera and it’ll be priced at `8,999.

FRIDAY, JANUARY 25, 2013

Comment I know that I am intelligent, because I know that I know nothing.

Socrates Philosopher

The Hazard of kicking THE HUMAN CONDITION Dean Williams

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hey tell us never to kick a man when he’s down, but in the Swansea versus Chelsea game a couple of days ago, Chelsea star Eden Hazard paid that adage scant attention. Anyone who watched the match live or has seen the clip on YouTube will know what happened. Basically, Chelsea, playing at Swansea, were 2-0 down with 12 minutes to go. The ball was kicked behind the goal and as Hazard went to get the ball, the ball boy (some moron named Charlie, who is rumoured to be the Swansea director’s son) fell on the ball hoping to buy his side some time. The red mist descended on Hazard, who attempted to kick the ball out from under the 17year-old, only to kick him instead. Cue much moaning and groaning from Charlie and a red card for Hazard, now, it seems, the police may get involved.

Was Hazard right in hoofing the prat? Well no, he really shouldn’t have done that, but how many times have we seen red when being obstructed from doing something incredibly important. I empathise with Hazard and believe that Charlie (who tweeted before the game that he was required for ‘timewasting’) should also pay a penalty, possibly forcing him to get a real job.

Footballers have enough stress during the game that they don’t need pissant ball boys adding to it. To Swansea fans Charlie may be a hero, but he contributed as much as Hazard in bringing the game into disrepute.

Tweet of the event: Torres would have missed.

HIGH-FLYING THOUGHTS Kalam goes gaga on how India had foxed eyes in the sky and in preparation for the nuclear test. The scientist may consider that skill as an achievement, but HFT finds it difficult to ignore the fact that the country had no cojones to tell the US that we have nukes and they can stuff their objections.

CAPITAL PUNISHMENT

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THE DEATH OF RAPE ANONYMOUS ALIEN

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he Chief Justice of the Supreme Court in India has ruled against the death penalty in the case of rape. This will no doubt infuriate some. It doesn’t infuriate me.

As readers of this column know, I am vehemently opposed to anything about culture, laws or education that contributes to the systemic abuse and rape of women in India.

And I am definitively for long prison sentences for rapists and, in some cases, even life imprisonment.

But the Justice got this right…the death penalty is NOT the way to go.

I’ve watched the death penalty be used in my country for years, and I’ve seen use of it slowly wane because of the inherent problems with this form of punishment. And the problems are many.

First off, the death penalty is permanent. Which is to say, if the convicted later turns out to be innocent, there is nothing that can be done to undue some of the damage. The executed cannot be compensated, or released from prison, or brought back to life. They are dead. Is this a small problem? Not really.

In my country, with a very thorough, deliberate court system, some 150 people have been exonerated from crimes in the last 40 years for which they were convicted and sentenced

to death. This number has been increasing in the last decade or so since the use of DNA became widespread in crime investigations.

Second, a dead man can’t be a witness. Imagine a convicted rapist is put to death, and the next day we learn that he was part of a gang rape years earlier and could have provided key evidence and testimony in convicting other rapists. Obviously, if he’s dead, that’s not happening.

Third, the death penalty isn’t really the deterrent most people think it is. In study after study, in countries or states that switch from not having the death penalty to having it, crime rates don’t go down. And that makes sense. Rape isn’t usually a planned activity. It’s spontaneous, and violent, and I doubt in the midst of that spontaneity and violence that the attacker is going to think, “Gee, wait a second, before, when this might have gotten me 25 years in jail, no big deal. But now, I might get the death penalty, so I better stop.” It just doesn’t work that way.

Fourth, it’s almost impossible to draw up any reasonable guidelines about who should get executed, and who shouldn’t. Take the Delhi gang rape, for example. From all accounts, as heinous a crime as you could have, and let’s say you back the death penalty for all the perpetrators. Okay, but what if one of the perpetrators was 19? Or 17? Or 15? At what point is a minor NOT responsible for his actions? Or what if you learned that one of the per-

petrators was mentally challenged? Does an IQ of 70 get you the death penalty, but an IQ of 68 doesn’t?

There are many more reasons why I don’t believe the death penalty is any kind of answer to society’s ills. But perhaps the biggest one is this: the death penalty is inherently political. That is, it’s easy for politicians to look at the abuse of women in India, stand up on their soap boxes and proclaim, “We’ve got the death penalty for rapists, so we are on top of this problem.” When in reality, the problem with rape in India stems from a systemic culture of abusing women.

If you really want to reduce rape, start by teaching kids in school to respect girls, and to respect the word “no.”

Start by educating cops and doctors and nurses and lawyers and judges to treat victims of sexual assault like victims, rather than like prostitutes. Start by enforcing equal pay for women in the work place, and equal rights for women in divorce cases.

Start by treating women at every level of society with the same rights and respect and dignity as men, and you will be doing a million times more to reduce rape than by executing one single rapist.

EDITORIALS Collect tax before talking super tax Mumbai khap in uniform

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inance minister P Chidambaram has set the ball rolling with his comments on taxing the rich more. May be the man was inspired by US President Barack Obama, whose attempts at the same has won him lot of popular support — and popularity is something that the Congress desperately needs. However, the FM is deliberately ignoring the elephant in the room — tax evasion. If the government uses its machinery effectively to realise the tax every individual and business owes to the exchequer, the government would find itself flooded with cash. Chidambaram may also want to look into how the PSU banks that make ‘aam admi’ run from pillar to post for loans have no qualms in lending hundreds of crores of rupees to private companies with dubious collaterals. Then they go on to write off these nonperforming assets (NPAs)... hello, that’s my money too. And don’t forget that businesses have no friends, only interests. They might think it is wiser to bankroll parties that would implement policies helping the rich to get richer. PC, what happened to your grasp of realpolitik.

READERS’ VIEWS

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his is so novel an idea and it is amazing that it comes from a police officer. Dr Satyapal Singh, Commisioner of Police, Mumbai has issued a circular to his team that if couples be spotted on seashores and promenade they be shooed away. The reason is that women found at isolated places could fall prey to sexual offenders. And if such an incidents happen, protests like that happened in Delhi could take place which could cause a law and order situation in Mumbai. Won’t it be better than women don’t leave their homes at all, sir?

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

Editor: Dean Williams

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FRIDAY, JANUARY 25, 2013

Music

BIEBER TAKES ILL

Singer Justin Bieber, who has been entertaining fans on his Believe tour, is feeling unwell.He battled through illness to play in Charlotte, North Carolina Tuesday night. He revealed on Twitter that he has been feeling unwell and is planning to rest to ensure he gets better.

OLD SCHOOL SINGING

Hitting the right notes RAHUL RAMAKRISHNA rahul.r@postnoon.com

This trio might be just a month old but their tastes in music and their ambitions run deep.

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he first thing about this band that surprises anybody, including this reporter, was the absence of a name. “We have been thinking about this for quite a while and the word “Reverb” seems like a nice name,” says Zervan Lakdwalla.

Zervan, along with Varoon Behramsha and Meghna Dindi, are a three piece who sing play and bring back some of the best music from the ‘60s to the ‘90s.

As Zervan says, “I grew up listening to country artistes like Jimmy Reeves right through childhood and eventually started playing at private weddings and at the Parsi Club in Hyderabad.” The band, which is one month old, is already quite popular at a star hotel where they play every Sunday.

But Meghna, the vocalist disagrees. “Most of the people do not really understand what we are playing so at the most we get a few polite smiles and scattered applause,” she says.

Apart from the music, two of them, Varoon and Meghna are engineering students and Zervan studied aviation.

Ask the band, which is a three piece with the absence of a drummer or a rhythm section, as to why they are so minimal and pat comes the reply. “A wide set-up will mean higher cost and people won’t take us in. So it’s better to be minimal and make good money,” laughs Zervan.

So has the Parsi heritage helped in moulding their tastes in music?

Certainly. Zervan says, “Only very few people like

our music and in fact we were given a roaring applause by a group of gentlemen who accidentally landed at our gig on Sunday. Apart from the music, there are things like these that cheer us up.”

If one were to line up the band with respect to what they’d play on stage, it would be difficult to keep track of them, as all three keep shifting with their instruments.

Zervan is a keyboard player and also hits the djembe for a beat, Meghna sings and is also a keyboard player and Varoon is on electric guitars. Both Zervan and Meghna were trained classically on the keyboard with certifications from the Trinity College of Music, London.

iTUNES Top 10 songs 1 I KNEW YOU WERE 5 SUIT & TIE TROUBLE Justin Timberlake Taylor Swift 6 HOME 2 HO HEY Phillip Phillips The Lumineers 7DAYLIGHT 3 DON’T YOU WORRY Maroon 5 CHILD 8 BEAUTY AND A BEAT

Swedish House Mafia Justin Bieber

9 SWEET NOTHING 4 LOCKED OUT OF Calvin Harris HEAVEN 10 GIRL ON FIRE Bruno Mars Alicia Keys

Top 10 albums

Impressed by Sachin

“Also, it’s been quite a leap for us that we get to play at a star hotel just within a month of our formation. And that too, the kind of music we like and love to make people listen to,” says Varoon. Both Varoon and Zervan harbour hopes of playing music not just as a hobby but also professionally. “In fact, we would like to open a restaurant and serve Parsi food in Hyderabad while we do the music there ourselves,” says Varoon.

The trio play at the Ista Hotel on Friday nights and Sunday afternoon.

Catch Zervan’s solo perfromance at Coco’s on Sunday nights.

Bollywood Top 10 1. LAT LAG AGAYEE

2 NOTES FROM THE 7 WRETCHED AND DIVINE UNDERGROUND Black Veil Brides Hollywood Undead 8 THE LUMINEERS 3 LES MISERABLES The Lumineers original soundtrack 9.SIGNED AND SEALED IN 4 RED BLOOD

2. INKAAR THEME

Taylor Swift Dropkick Murphys

5 PITCH PERFECT 10. TAKE ME HOME Soundtrack One Direction

Singing legend Asha Bhosle is impressed with the humility of ace cricketer Sachin Tendulkar, who launched the music of her debut movie Mai, and says he's always been there for her. "He has so much respect for me that whenever I called him, he never said that I cannot come. 'Sachin ek aise ped ki tarah hain jis par phal hai aur woh jhukta hi jaa raha hai'. (As he is growing in life, Sachin is becoming more and more humble)," said the singer.

DID YOU KNOW...

One Direction

the British band, has reportedly hired a top firm to manage their finances. The band, which comprises Niall Horan, Zayn Malik, Harry Styles, Liam Payne and Louis Tomlinson, is said to have enlisted the services of company Grant Thornton, who will take care of their wealth, reports mirror.co.uk.

TRENDING...

1 BURNING LIGHTS 6 UNORTHODOX JUKEBOX Chris Tomlin Bruno Mars

FROM CRICKET TO MUSIC

Race 2 Inkaar

3. KAUN MERA Special Chabbis

4.BE INTEHAAN Race 2

ki Bijlee ka Mandola

6. DARMIYAN Inkaar

7. MUJH MEIN TU Special Chabbis

8. MANN MERA Table 21

9. TUJH SANG LAGEE

5 MATRU KI BIJLEE KA Special Chabbis MANDOLA 10. OYE BOY CHARLIE

Matru Matru ki Bijlee ka Mandola

Aretha Franklin has r-e-s-p-e-c-t for Beyoncé's decision to use a "beautiful" pre-recorded rendition of the national anthem during President Barack Obama's inaugural ceremony on Monday. Franklin who sang My Country 'Tis of Thee during Obama's inauguration in 2009, said that the cold weather warranted Beyoncé lipsyncing he StarSpangled Banner.

Screams of joy could be heard from Adeletes around the world this morning after the Academy announced that Adele would perform during this year's 85th Academy Awards.

Adele, along with co-writer Paul Epworth, is nominated in the best original song category for Skyfall the title track of the 2012 billion dollar blockbuster.

FRIDAY, JANUARY 25, 2013

spotlight

THE MONSOON SAGA

NIFT campus, Madhapur will be playing host to the The Monsoon Oracle, a factual film, which presents shocking ritualistic practices that are performed every year in India. Set in Hyderabad, this film narrates stories of people, whose lives are connected with the ritualistic practice of predicting the monsoon. Be there at 7.30pm. Entry: Rs 250.

S BALAKRISHNA

AFTERNOON TALKIES

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2

3

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Get shopping

S BALAKRISHNA

Actress Madhulagna Das(L) of Mr Rowdy fame was spotted at a fashion and lifestyle exhibition being held at Sri Satya Sai Nigamagamam, Srinagar Colony on Thursday. The exhibition boasts of a variety of stalls that will interest any fashion-loving woman.

FUN FOR BRUNCH 5

SVM Mall on Thursday afternoon was choc-a -bloc with beautiful women. The mall was the venue for a bubbling brunch hosted by the Young Ladies Club.

6

S BALAKRISHNA

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Pick and choose

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Popular textile exhibitors Lepakshi, are organising a silk, cotton and jewellery exhibition at the Kalinga Culture Hall, Road no 12, Banjara Hills. The event will be on till February 3.Lepakshi brings with it loads of colours and stylish clothes.

Here, there is something for everyone.

1 Diksha

4 Hina

7 Stuti

2 Prerna

5 Ishita

8 Shobha

3 Kashish

6 Ritu

FRIDAY, JANUARY 25, 2013

health

OVER 5,000 KIDNEY TRANSPLANTS IN FOUR DECADES Cuba has successfully performed over 5,100 kidney transplants since February 24, 1970, an achievement on par with that of developed nations.

In a 42-year period, Cuban surgeons have undertaken 4,751 kidneys transplants with dead donors and 397 with living donors, all free of charge.

FITNESS

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Who said exercise is for young?

Fitness is not just for the young. According to research senior citizens should get their daily dose of exercise as well to stay energetic and healthy. So go on, take your pick.

RANJANI RAJENDRA

ranjani.r@postnoon.com

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or all those who thought that it was now time to sit back and relax once they reached that ‘age’, you couldn’t be more wrong.

Growing older does not mean taking it easy and simply snoozing away afternoons. It is all the more reason to stay active and fit. After all exercise is the key to healthy aging. Who wants to be a flabby old person or for that matter one who cannot perform even basic chores without getting breathless?

Doctors agree that exercise is the best way to stay in shape — and no we don’t mean just weight-wise — as on gets older.

Exercising regularly can help boost energy levels and also take care of a lot of those aches and pains. Research has claimed that exercise can also reverse some symptoms of aging and go to great lengths when it comes to lifting moods — thanks to all those endorphins exercise releases.

“Exercise helps elders maintain their ideal weight. This is especially important since an individual’s metabolism slows down with age, making it harder to stay fit. Being overweight only escalates health problems.

Exercise also reduces the impact of many chronic ailments and improves one’s immunity,” says Dr Prameela G, general physician.

Exercise also helps seniors maintain their bone density and improves digestion. So even

Exercise you can try n n n n n n n n

Yoga Tai Chi Swimming Cycling Pilates Circuit weight training Stretching Water aerobics

people with arthritis should exercise, in order to stay fit. “Of course it is advisable to first check with one’s doctor about what kind of exercise and how much one can do. But there is absolutely no reason why one should not exercise once they are old. In fact, even heart patients benefit greatly from regular exercise,” she says.

For seniors who have never exercised before, it is never too late to start. However, it would be a great idea if they started off slow. So a gentle walk for a couple of days that is stepped up to a more brisk pace and extending the duration over a period of time would help. Lifting weights is also not a problem, as long as it is within limits. So for starters one could start off with a 1kg dumb-bell for some simple hand and leg exercises and slowly step it up.

“Needless to say breathing and stretching exercises are great options for seniors. They help keep them calm and improve agility,” says Dr Prameela.

So while, exercise is a good idea, it is also advisable to exercise caution and do things in moderation. The goal here is to stay fit.

ANEWS PP-LYBRIEFS YOURSELF

HOUSECALL

DID YOU KNOW?

PIONEERS

Juice

Molar pregnancy

Saliva quantity

Edwin Cohn

Juice is an energy and activity tracker that helps you connect the dots between your daily routine and your energy. You can keep track of your sleep, diet and exercise to identify the behaviours that zap your energy. Juice is simple to use and can be completed in under a minute a day. It also provides relevent energy tips.

A molar pregnancy is one condition in a range of problems known as trophoblastic disease, where a pregnancy doesn’t grow as it should. It's sometimes called a hydatiform mole. There are two types of molar pregnancy, which differ in how they form and how they need to be treated. Complete molar pregnancies develop as a mass of rapidly growing cells but without a foetus – it cannot therefore develop into a baby.

You may not want to swim in your spit, but if you saved it all up, you could. In a lifetime, the average person produces about 25,000 quarts of saliva -enough to fill two swimming pools!

Saliva comes from three glands situated in front of the ears, in the lower jaw and under the tongue.

Edwin Cohn (born December 17, 1892) received his Ph.D. from the University of Chicago in 1917. He studied the components of protein molecules, correlating their structures with their physical properties and laying the foundation for the further study of proteins. In WWII he headed a team that devised methods of large-scale production of human plasma fractions for treating the wounded.

20

health FRIDAY, JANUARY 25, 2013

RESEARCH

BREAKTHROUGH

PREDICTIVE MEDICINE

Genes may identify potential addicts KOLKATA: Predicting one’s predisposition to addiction and warning potential victims to stay away from certain substances may become a reality in the near future, Indian scientists say.

New avenues in predictive medicine have also opened up with scientists at the Indian Institute of Chemical Biology identifying the presence of genetic mutations (or abnormal changes in the genes) responsible for addiction.

“This is a study in the area of predictive medicine. If we can identify the mutation in a gene which has association with addiction and if it’s present in an individual, then we can predict that he or she is prone to addiction,” Sumantra Das of the Neurobiology Division at the Indian Institute of Chemical Biology (IICB), told IANS. IICB comes under the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR).

Several mutations are known to exist in genes encoding certain proteins called opioid receptors through which narcotics like morphine and heroin exert their effects.

These receptors are of several classes. Two of them - mu opioid receptors (MOR) and kappa opioid receptors (KOR) have been known to be associated with drug addiction.

While morphine, which acts through the mu opioid receptor, is widely used in controlling chronic pain, it leads to addiction in individuals in several cases.

The group of scientists had previously identified preva-

lence of a mutation in MOR in addicts in Kolkata. This mutation, A118G, is found in various populations all over the world.

In a recent study published in Progress in NeuroPsychopharmacology & Biological Psychiatry Journal, the group has also identified a mutation in the KOR gene.

“KOR mutations are thought to be effective only when present with the MOR mutations,” co-researcher Deepak Kumar explained.

With this, individuals and relatives can be warned that the person is prone to addiction and needs to take necessary precautions.

According to researchers, the presence of certain mutations in the gene increases the likelihood that the individual will be prone to substance abuse.

we know both mutations are present, we can warn the individual or his relatives that he or she should be kept away from drugs and precautions have to be taken,” said Das, who feels further research into the mechanism of action is needed to augment the study.

Speaking about the importance of such research, Kedar Ranjan Banerjee, founder of Kolkata’s National Institute of Behavioural Sciences, said: “Genes have been associated with addiction and other mental health disorders for a long time. Studies like this will open up new frontiers in predictive medicine which is important.”

IANS

According to the researchers, the presence of both mutations increases the likelihood that the individual will be prone towards substance abuse.

The MOR mutation was detected by a process called RFLP and confirmed by a gene sequencing method called Sanger sequencing, whereas the presence of the KOR mutation was shown by the sequencing method.

“Now we have a tool in our hands. If

‘Oxygen reverses brain damage’ TEL AVIV: High levels of oxygen reverse brain damage caused by a stroke, traumatic injury or metabolic disorder even years after the event, an Israeli study says.

Shai Efrati of Tel Aviv University’s Sackler Faculty of Medicine and colleague Eshel Ben-Jacob, professor of physics and astronomy, recruited poststroke patients for hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) - sessions in high pressure chambers that contain oxygen-rich air which increases oxygen levels in the body tenfold.

Analysis of brain imaging showed significantly increased neuronal (brain cell) activity after a two-month period of HBOT treatment, compared to patients who did not undergo treatment, says Efrati, the journal Public Library of Science ONE reports.

Patients experienced a reversal of paralysis, increased sensation, and renewed use of language.

According to Efrati, there are several degrees of brain injuries.

Neurons impacted by metabolic dysfunction have the energy to stay alive, but not enough to fire electric signals, he explains.

HBOT aims to increase the supply of energy to these cells.

The brain consumes 20 percent of the body’s oxygen but that is only enough oxygen to operate five to 10 percent of neurons at any one time. The regeneration process requires much more energy.

The tenfold increase in oxygen levels during HBOT treatment supplies the necessary energy for rebuilding neuronal connections and stimulating inactive neurons to facilitate the healing process, explains Efrati.

The researchers based their study on post stroke patients whose condition was no longer improving.

IANS

STUDY

Fruits, vegetables better emotions

WELLINGTON: Eating more fruits and vegetables each day has a direct bearing on emotional well-being, suggests a new research from New Zealand.

Psychology researchers Tamlin Conner and Bonnie White and nutrition researcher Caroline Horwath from New Zealand’s University of Otago

teamed up to investigate the relationship between day-to-day emotions and food consumption.

A total of 281 young adults (average age 20 years) with eating disorders were asked to complete an internet-based daily food diary for 21 consecutive days. Participants had earlier completed a questionnaire giv-

ing details of their age, gender, ethnicity, weight and height, the British Journal of Health Psychology reports.

On each of the 21 days, participants logged into their diary and rated how they felt using nine positive and nine negative adjectives.

Specifically, participants

were asked to report the number of servings eaten of fruit (excluding fruit juice and dried fruit), vegetables, and several categories of unhealthy foods.The results showed a strong day-today relationship between more positive mood and higher fruit and vegetable consumption, but not other foods.

IANS

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FRIDAY, JANUARY 25, 2013

Entertainment CENSORING BEYOND LIMITS

CINE BYTES

Ban on VISHWAROOPAM

draws public ire The interim ban on Vishwaroopam by TN government has come as a rude shock to not only Kamal Haasan but also to thousdands of fans who were eagerly awaiting the film’s release.

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he interim ban imposed by the Tamil Nadu government on Kamal Haasan’s Vishwaroopam has come as a rude shock. The film was all set to hit the screens, after a hard-fought battle between theatre owners in Tamil Nadu and Kamal Haasan, on January 25, but several Muslim groups alleged that the film projects their community in a negative light and they also stated that the film will disturb social harmony. Bowing to their demands, the Tamil Nadu government led by Jayalalithaa banned the film for 15 days, for the time being. Kamal Haasan, in an open letter to the media and his fans, thanked the film fraternity and his fans for supporting him on the Internet and claimed that he’s being used as a vehicle by small groups who seek political profile. “Now I will rely on law and logic to come to our support. This kind of cultural terrorism will have to stop,” Kamal Haasan wrote in his letter. Soon after the ban was imposed, several celebrities came out in support of Kamal Haasan and criticised the government for banning the film. “Ban on Viswaroopam is a regressive, back to the dark ages blow to Tamil cinema by the Tamil Nadu government…how do we make a change? (sic)”

Siddharth posted on Twitter. On the other hand, Prakash Raj questioned the logic behind the ban when countries like Malaysia had no issues with screening the film.

“BAN on vishwaroopam .

NOT FAIR. This cultural terrorism should stop.

We should stand for the right to express.

We are with you kamal sir. When Tamil , Telugu n Hindi three censor boards of this democratic country has cleared vishwaroopam. Where does this ban come from??? (sic),” Prakash Raj said.

When Kamal Haasan approached the Madras High Court yesterday morning, there was a glimmer of hope that the court would allow the film to be released in Tamil Nadu. After much deliberation, the court decided to postpone its verdict to January 28.

The ruling came as a big shock to the entire Tamil film industry. Meanwhile, Dasari Narayana Rao, who’s distributing the film’s Telugu version in Andhra Pradesh confirmed that the film will be released across the state as per schedule. Now, all eyes are on the high court’s final verdict.

Shruti Haasan joins Yevadu’s cast

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hruti Haasan has begun shooting for her upcoming Telugu film Yevadu. She’s going to play the lead role in this film opposite Ram Charan. “On the sets of yevadu! 2013 has been super fab only January and soooo much happening (sic),” Shruti said. The film also stars Amy Jackson, Allu Arjun and Kajal. Vamshi Paidipally is directing this action thriller.

BBS’s promo song launched

A

promotional song sung

by Anirudh Ravichander for Madhura Sreedhar’s upcoming film Backbench Student was launched yesterday in Sreenidhi Engineering College in Hyderabad. Anirudh and Simbu have sung a couple of songs in this romantic entertainer. Mahat, Piaa Bajpai and Archana Kavi have played the lead roles.

No audio launch for Jabardasth

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he audio of Siddharth, Samantha and Nithya Menen starrer Jabardasth will be directly released in the market on January 27, instead of a grand ceremony since Siddharth will not be in town on that day. Nandini Reddy has directed the film and SS Thaman has scored the music.

The film will release in February.

FRIDAY, JANUARY 25, 2013

fashion

RAF SIMONS RETURNS TO COSTUME DESIGN

RAF SIMONS will make the costumes for Sigourney Weaver and Isabelle Huppert in their upcoming film project. The Christian Dior creative director will design the outfits worn by the actresses in Body Art — explaining the appearance of both women on the front row of his Dior Couture show earlier this week.

Models in vibrant colours, sporting heavy kohl-lined eyes

D

esigner Jean Paul Gaultier turned to the gypsies of Rajasthan for inspiration for his 2013 spring-summer couture collection in a show dominated by the embroidery and vibrant colours of the famous Indian desert state.

Models sported heavy kohl-lined eyes, beehive hair and towering platforms for the show attended by veteran French actress and Gaultier regular Catherine Deneuve.

The eastern Indian state’s influence was clearly visible in a string of bright and extravagantly embroidered looks including an orange patchwork halter neck dress worn with flowing pink shawl and a selection of swirling multi-tiered skirts.

Other looks standing out included

a tight-fitting black and silver off the shoulder evening dress that flared from just above the knee and a tiny pale-coloured mini dress with sheer pleated skirt and Gaultier’s iconic conical bra, much worn by Madonna.

For the finale, Frenchman Gaultier gave full rein to his Rajasthani fantasy with a vast fullskirted embroidered wedding dress perfect for the dramatic denouement of any Bollywood extravaganza.

Chinese-born French designer Yiqing Yin, meanwhile, sent out an avant-garde collection described as developing her thoughts about how time makes “things grow and decompose, and about ties that bind and break”.

The enigmatic young designer, one of 11 taking part in the couture shows

LOEWE COLLABORATES WITH JUNYA WATANABE

LOEWE is collaborating with Junya Watanabe. The Spanish brand and the Tokyo-based label are joining forces to create capsule collections of clothing and accessories for both men and women. The programme coincides with Loewe's 40th anniversary in Japan.

22&23

Jean Paul Gaultier

brings Rajasthani colours onto the ramp and beehive hair walked the ramp for Jean Paul Gaultier's couture collection at the Paris Fashion Week. as invitees, certainly avoided playing it safe with necklines that plunged to the waist and one top that was completely transparent save a few sequins.

“Clothes fit the body like a second skin, as if they come from the body itself. Flesh and fabric entwine, embroideries with crystals and beads appear as precious growth from the skin, revealing a new reality,” the house said.

Picking up the designer’s focus on the symbolism of thread, models faces were partially obscured by long white strands.

A floaty sheer pale pink dress was draped vertically in red thread while white thread

covered a high-necked black robe in an irregular skeletonlike horizontal pattern.

Rather more wearable designs included a long grey jacket with layers of fabric to one side forming a wave-shaped pattern, and a long blue one-sleeved dress slashed to the thigh.

For the piece de resistance, however, Yiqing Yin took the thread theme to an extreme with the long white strands trailing from hoops creating a six-foot (1.8-metre) wide headto-toe structure almost completely concealing the model.

Earlier, Lebanese designer Elie Saab went for a more conventional look, with a succession of long, often sheer, dresses

embroidered with floral motifs, sequins and lace petals to produce what the designer called a “fragile elegance”.

Saab sought to explore “degrees of transparency”, the house said, in a show attended

by Swedish Little Dragon singer Yukimi Nagano and US burlesque performer Dita Von Teese.

Catering to no more than 200 of the world’s richest women, the label “haute couture” is protected in France, awarded based on strict criteria such as the amount of work carried out by hand and in-house.

Four days of spring-summer 2013 haute couture shows wrapped up on Thursday.

AFP

Entertainment FRIDAY, JANUARY 25, 2013

24

Entertainment FRIDAY, JANUARY 25, 2013

25

FRIDAY, JANUARY 25, 2013

Chai Time

Play & Win

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

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

Some cells will contain two numbers.

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

QUICK CROSSWORD enced by the number.

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

on...

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

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

Play & Win

voucher from VENKEY’S VEG Restaurant, Nampally

ACROSS

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

SUDOKU

PREVIOUS PUZZLE ANSWER

SCRIBBLING PAD

26

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

1 Installed, as carpet 5 Horror 9 Microfilm sheet 14 In times past 15 ‘Green Gables’ girl 16 Corbeled-out window 17 Superimposed 18 Swimmer’s slot 19 Started from scratch 20 Part of a pianist’s studies 23 Suffix with ‘ethyl’ or ‘methyl’ 24 Plum pudding ingredient 25 One on the way up?

27 Stickball venue, usually 30 Black Hawk part 32 ‘Caught you!’

33 Quartet minus one 35 Poke fun 39 Learn through trying different things 43 ‘Wake Up Little ___’ 44 Bit of medicine 45 Drivel 46 Added cold protection 48 Barnyard enclosure 51 Chess move 54 ___ no good (scheming)

55 ‘What was ___ think?’

56 AA feature 62 Projections from a hub 64 What a band may have planned 65 Account 66 Gold-rush purchase 67 Legally qualified 68 Tied 69 Famous spokescow 70 Coveted role 71 Far from frowsy

DOWN 1 Potting soil 2 Prefix for ‘freeze’ 3 Clickable desktop image 4 Kick out of office 5 High voice 6 Pass, as a law 7 Role for Jodie Foster 8 React to a punch, maybe 9 ‘Truly,’ old-style 10 More than displeasure 11 ‘Hard’ apple drink 12 ‘Book of Songs’ author Heinrich 13 Person to respect 21 Regret bitterly 22 Better-than-all-the-

others suffix 26 Circle statistic 27 Bends under stress 28 You, formerly 29 ‘Peanuts’ expletive 30 Laxity’s opposite 31 ___ and aahs 34 Disrespectful 36 Coiled killers 37 Plane assignment 38 Catch sight of 40 To the ___ (maximally) 41 Hours actually elapsed 42 Seasoned, in a way 47 Bow wood 49 Part of TGIF 50 Obtained 51 Enchantress who turned men into swine 52 In no time ___ (instantly) 53 Carbonated quaffs 54 Soft palate feature 57 ‘Too many more to mention’ abbr 58 Lung section 59 Gutter place 60 Urgent request 61 Mailed off 63 Super Bowl in which Joe Namath was the MVP

Chai Time FRIDAY, JANUARY 25, 2013 Thiruvaikumar

STAR POWER for 26-1-2013

27

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

ARIES

TAURUS

GEMINI

CANCER

LEO

VIRGO

LIBRA

SCORPIO

SAGITTARIUS

CAPRICORN

AQUARIUS

PISCES

Employees to stay patient at workplace as superiors may not be in their favour. They might create indirect trouble; support from colleagues also is not likely. Money will come from expected sources. Avoid interfering in others’ financial issues.

STRIP TEASE AGNES

Couples deprived of children for a long time can expect news of an offspring soon.

Romance is on the cards for some. Employees are likely to get rewarded with promotion and pay hike. Businessmen will get co-operation of the staff.

Avoid arguments and discussions that may not go in your favour. Spouse’s change of mind might disturb you. Even you might face trouble from close friends. Court case on ancestral property will go in your favour, bringing cheer.

Expenses will overtake inflow of money, which will put you in a deficit situation. Minor tension through blood relatives could depress you. Be alert as you may be linked with certain problems not connected to you.

Handle debt issues carefully.

You need to take proper and immediate steps to clear debts, else there might be a major problem in the near future. Delay in marriage might depress you; it will settle soon. Financial inflow is more than expectations, expenses too increase.

Postpone a new effort for a couple of days till you feel that the time is ripe it. Businessmen advised not to sign any new contract for the time being.

Unwanted travel, work burden, frustration and reduced confidence will depress you.

Misunderstanding between couples will be over and they will be very peaceful. A major debt issue will be cleared, which will cheer you. Those with chronic disease will have major relief. Employees will get support from their colleagues.

Mixed results are likely, hence you need to be alert and careful for getting good results as much as possible. Held-up marriage talk will resume and progress towards finalisation. Relationship between couples looks cordial. Son may embarrass you.

Minor health issues like cold and flu likely; take good care.

Expected money will be received and hence a comfortable financial situation likely.

Those who were planning to buy house, land or vehicles will be successful in their goal.

TAROT READ

Sumaa Tekur

tarotreadhyd@gmail. com

ARIES:

GEMINI:

The High Priest – You have the key to happiness within you. All you need to do is open the lock and find yourself on the highway to bliss.

LEO:

Nine of Pentacles – You like to be surrounded by things you like – books, art, music, movies, etc. Make the effort to socialise once in a while so you’re connected.

LIBRA:

PEARLS BEFORE SWINE

Three of Cups – Celebration time! A project you worked on has done well and the bosses are happy with your contribution. Take your team out for a celebration.

SAGITTARIUS:

Page of Swords – You’re young at heart and adventurous. You also have an intellectual streak, which few people know of. This streak is out in the open today.

TAURUS:

Seven of Pentacles – There is some form of secrecy and conspiracy going on around you. Be on your guard and don’t trust easily. Don’t be rude or aloof.

CANCER:

The High Priestess – Your intuition is heightened.

But learn to store this powerful energy by keeping it close to you. Speaking about it openly may not be good.

VIRGO:

Queen of Pentacles – Finances need your attention. You may have enough for your needs but your portfolio can be improved upon by moving your investments.

SCORPIO:

Judgement – A raise or promotion are in the offing.

It is not totally unexpected either.

But you decide to either stay in the current job or move based on this.

CAPRICORN:

Ten of Wands – You may be feeling burdened by the amount of work you have on your plate. Make a list and organise yourself better. It’ll work out fine.

PREVIOUS SOLUTIONS

PISCES:

The Moon – Pay attention to your moods. Are they swinging because of something that happened a long time ago and you haven’t come to terms with yet?

NUMBER GAME

– The tendency to stick to extremes and avoid the middle path or a practical compromise may be causing you more harm than you know.

SCRABBLE

AQUARIUS: Two of Swords

POOCH CAFE

Financial and other help will come from expected sources and let you relax. Businessmen will be able to make profits hence, need not worry. Misunderstanding with spouse likely to keep you sad but don’t worry; situation will change soon.

for 26-1-2013

Four of Cups – A job offer will set you thinking about choices before you. Don’t jump into something new without first checking out what you’re expected to do.

NON SEQUITUR

Avoid confusions that are putting you in a dilemma and march forward with clearcut decisions. Employees might face a disturbed situation at workplace due to which their confidence of getting promotion and pay hike will reduce.

SUDUKO

Those who await marriage will get favourable news. Litigations in ancestral property will be resolved smoothly. Businessmen might have minor differences with their partners but they will be resolved soon and hence need not worry.

Boggle ONE TEN TWO FIFTY SEVEN TWENTY ELEVEN SEVENTY Vol: 2, No 189 RNI No: APENG/2011/39337 Published for the proprietors, Scribble Media and Entertainment Pvt Ltd, by V Harshavardhan Reddy, at #1246, Level 3, Jubilee Casa, Road No 62, Jubilee Hills, Hyderabad – 500033 and printed by him at Jagati Publications Ltd, Plot No D-75&E-52, APIE Industrial Estate, Balanagar, Ranga Reddy Dist, Hyderabad – 500037, Editor: Dean Williams – Responsible for selection of news under the PRB Act All rights reserved.

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

28

Entertainment FRIDAY, JANUARY 25, 2013

TENSION IN THE AIR?

PENÉLOPE Cruz

on pins and needles

I

t looks like Penélope Cruz has got herself on pins and needles!

The actress showed up to the Venuto Al Mondo premiere in Spain earlier this month with four very tiny friends that almost went unnoticed. After a close-up on this photo of the star on the red carpet, it turns out she was sporting some acupuncture pins in her left ear.

Apparently, the celeb is practising a form of acupuncture called auriculotherapy, which is most commonly used to relieve chronic pain, detoxification from addictive drugs, relief of nausea and reduction of hypertension.

Along with those uses, auriculotherapy also helps with

those who are trying to quit smoking, lose weight and get pregnant.

Cruz never spoke out about why she's choosing this treatment, but don't let that stop you from placing your guesses.

CINE BYTES Shakira's boyfriend posts baby pic

S

hakira and Gerard Pique welcomed their first child, Milan Pique Mebarak yesterday. Mother and child were said to be in "excellent health" after the birth yesterday in Barcelona, Spain. Before going into labour, Shakira tweeted fans, asking that they "accompany [her] in [their] prayers on this very important day of [her] life.”

Justin Timberlake returns to stage

'jOBS' gets release date

M

ark your iPad: jOBS, the biopic about Apple co-founder Steve Jobs’ life, is coming to theatres on April 19.

Open Road Films will release the picture, which stars Ashton Kutcher as the late tech giant. The movie will trace the major events in his life.

J

ustin Timberlake will return to the stage for his first concert in five years when he performs at DIRECTV’s Super Saturday. The private party, co-hosed by Mark Cuban’s AXS TV, will benefit the Shriners Hospital for Children, a cause with which Timberlake has long donated his time and money.

sports

29

FRIDAY, JANUARY 25, 2013

REVERBERATION

No Wiggins pity for Armstrong After watching the Oprah interview, Team Sky star Wiggins still does not believe Armstrong is telling the truth about his return and as such has no sympathy for the disgraced man.

LONDON: Tour de France champion Bradley Wiggins (right) on Thursday admitted he has no sympathy for Lance Armstrong and slammed the disgraced rider’s claims that he was clean when he returned to the sport in 2009.

Armstrong last week admitted in an interview with Oprah Winfrey that he used performance-enhancing drugs during his record run of seven Tour de France wins.

The 41-year-old American has been stripped of all results from August 1, 1998, which resulted in British rider Wiggins’ finish in the 2009 Tour de France being upgraded from fourth to third.

Armstrong claims he did not dope in that event, which marked his return to competitive cycling, despite evidence to the contrary in the United States Anti-Doping Agency report which resulted in his downfall.

Irked readers sue Armstrong after drugs admission

“What upset me the most was about 2009/10 - I thought you lying bastard,” Wiggins said.

“I can still remember going toe to toe with him and watching the man I saw on the top of Verbiers in 2009 to the man I saw on the top of Ventoux a week

later when we were in doping control together. It wasn’t the same bike rider.

“You only have to watch the videos of how the guy was riding. I don’t believe anything that comes out of his mouth anymore.”

AFP

SACRAMENTO, CALIFORNIA: Two readers once inspired by Lance Armstrong’s books and now irked by his confession of doping are suing the disgraced cyclist in a California court.

Public affairs consultant Rob Stutzman and chef Jonathan Wheeler say they want their money back in the wake of Armstrong’s “ignominious public exposure and fall from glory,” in a lawsuit filed in a US district court on Tuesday.

The two claim they and others “would not have purchased the books had they known the true facts concerning Armstrong’s misconduct and his admitted involvement in a sports doping scandal.”

The lawsuit also names several publishing firms

involved in the production of Armstrong’s books “It’s Not About the Bike” and “Every Second Counts”.

“Stutzman bought the book in California and read it cover to cover,” the lawsuit said.

“Although Stutzman does not buy or read many books, he found Armstrong’s book incredibly compelling and recommended the book to several friends.”

Armstrong was banned for life last year and stripped of his seven Tour de France titles after the US anti-doping agency said he was at the heart of one of the biggest doping scandals in sports history.

The American had always vehemently denied using performance-enhancing drugs.

TURBANED TORNADO TO EBB NBA Marathoner to retire at 101 Duncan, Bosh head

NEW DELHI: A 101year-old Sikh regarded as the world’s oldest marathon runner will quit after one final run at next month’s Hong Kong race, media reports said on Thursday.

Indian-born British national Fauja Singh (pic) admitted age was finally catching up with him and he had decided not to compete after the Hong Kong

Marathon on February 24, five weeks before his 102nd birthday on April 1.

“But I will keep running for at least four hours daily after that,” Singh, who lives in Ilford, England, told a leading newspaper during a visit to his home state of Punjab. Running is my life. I will keep running to inspire the masses.”

AFP

All-Star reserves NEW YORK: San Antonio’s Tim Duncan (right) and the Miami Heat’s Chris Bosh headline the 14 players selected by NBA coaches as reserves for the 2013 All-Star Game next month.

Duncan was selected to his 14th All-Star Game and he’ll be joined by Spurs teammate Tony Parker, who was also named a reserve on Thursday.

The Chicago Bulls, keeping themselves in the playoff hunt

in the Eastern Conference despite the prolonged injury absence of Derrick Rose, also had two players named as reserves in Joakim Noah and Luol Deng. Noah is among five first-time All-Stars among the Eastern Conference reserves along with Tyson Chandler of the New York Knicks, Cleveland’s Kyrie Irving, Philadelphia’s Jrue Holiday and Indiana’s Paul George.

AFP

HYDERABAD

Vijays Triumph puts on good show

HYDERABAD: Vijays Triumph, Vijays Champ, Superb, The Leader and Win and Enjoy pleased when horses exercised here this morning at the Malakpet racecourse.

Sand track 800 metres Tejaswini (Trainer) 1-0, 600/44 Moved freely. Dauntless (Sreekant) Galiant (Imran Khan) 1-0, 600/46 They moved together. Regal Groom (K Alam) 56, 600/42 Pleased.

Jamie (Parmar) 56.5, 600/42

Mved well. True Friend (M Mark) 57, 600/42.5 Moved well.

Magical Punch (S Nayak) Golden Rule (Kuldeep Singh) 56, 600/42.5 Former finished a length in front. Golden Palace (Christopher) 57, 600/42.5 Moved well. Deal Maker (Anil) Flip Side (rb) 58, 600/43.5 Former finished in front.

Dazzling Prince (M Mark) 58.5, 600/44 Easy. Win And Enjoy (Tograllu) 56, 600/42 Pleased.

Khalis Gold (ap) 1-2.5, 600/46 Easy. Ice Lolly (rb) 59, 600/44

Un-extended. Noble Honour (K Alam) 1-1, 600/45 Moved freely.

Dream Deal (rb) 1-2.5, 600/46 Easy. The Leader (Imran Khan) 56, 600/42.5 Maintains form.

Marquise (rb) 1-2.5, 600/46 Easy.

800/55, 600/40.5 Moved attractively. Don Valentino (Chary) 113.5, 800/58.5, 600/44 Moved on the bit. Original Gladiator (app) 1-13, 800/58, 600/44 Easy.

Ciel Blu (P Trevor) 1-18, 800/13, 600/48 Easy.

Sand track 1000 metres Viijays Champ (Ravinder Singh) 1-10, 800/54, 600/41 Pleased.

Rose Queen (rb) Roma Rouge (Nitin Singh) 1-12, 800/56, 600/42 Former finished in front.

Vijays Triumph (Joshi) 1-10,

Sand track1200 metres August Kranti (Harinder Singh) Natalia (Trainer) 1-30, 1000/114, 800/58, 600/42.5 They finished together. Looking For Love (Ramana) 1-35, 1000/1-19, 800/1-3, 600/48 Easy. Superb

(rb) Energetic Lass (Nitin Singh) 1-26.5, 1000/1-10.5, 800/55.5, 600/42.5 Former finished 3 lengths in front.

Sand track 1400 metres Royal Bird (Ravinder Singh) 148, 1200/1-31.5, 1000/1-15.5, 800/58.5, 600/43.5 Pushed in the last part.

Sand track 1600 metres Specialist (P Trevor) 2-1, 1400/1-46, 1200/1-31, 1000/113, 800/58, 600/44 Moved on the bit.

sports

30

FRIDAY, JANUARY 25, 2013

AUSTRALIAN OPEN

Djokovic glad to carry lighter load

ROBERT SMITH Agence France-Presse MELBOURNE: Supremely confident Novak Djokovic (above) says he is feeling fitter and fresher than he did carrying last year's leviathan workload as he sits back and waits for Sunday's Australian Open final.

The Serbian world number one has the benefit of an extra day's rest and is in prime position to go after his fourth

Australian title against either Roger Federer or Andy Murray, who play their semi-final later Friday.

Djokovic demolished Spanish world number four-elect David Ferrer in less than 90 minutes in Thursday's one-sided semi-final to clinch his third straight Australian final appearance.

It is in stark contrast to 12 months ago, when Djokovic had to dig deep to win the title after fighting off Murray in a five-set semi-final over 4hr 50min ahead of his 5hr 53min final triumph over Rafael Nadal, the longestever match at Melbourne Park.

Djokovic, who taken to the brink in a five-hour five-setter with Swiss Stanislas Wawrinka in the fourth round, has bounced back with untroubled wins over fifth seed Tomas Berdych and Ferrer.

The defending champion's confidence is sky-high as he builds towards a shot at his sixth Grand Slam crown.

Record beckons Bryans MELBOURNE: America's Bryan twins beat Italians Simone Bolelli and Fabio Fognini Thursday to reach the Australian Open final and move one victory from a record 13th Grand Slam doubles title.

Top-seeded Bob and Mike Bryan (right) won 6-4, 4-6, 6-1 to set up a final against Robin Haase and Igor Sijsling, the Dutch duo who ousted Spanish third seeds Marcel Granollers and Marc Lopez 7-5, 6-4 in the

Azarenka defends controversial timeout MELBOURNE: Victoria Azarenka

defended herself against a storm of criticism Thursday after she took a medical timeout at a crucial stage of her Australian Open semi-final defeat of teenager Sloane Stephens.

Azarenka's surge into the final against China's Li Na was overshadowed by a controversial 10m break when she left Rod Laver Arena for treatment on a rib complaint that was giving her back pain and breathing difficulties.

semi-finals. The Bryans, 34, are gunning for their 13th Grand Slam title and sole ownership of the all-time record. They are currently on 12 alongside Australia's John Newcombe and Tony Roche.

Jarmila Gajdosova and Matthew Ebden kept Australian

hopes alive in the mixed doubles as they beat Nadia Petrova and Mahesh Bhupathi 6-3, 3-6, (13/11) in the quarter-finals.

Czech pair Lucie Hradecka and Frantisek Cermak are also through after beating Bob Bryan and India's Sania Mirza 7-5, 6-4.

AFP

GETTING INTO THE THICK OF ACTION

Five ball boy controversies

Chelsea midfielder Eden Hazard has apologised after he was sent off for kicking a ball boy in a League Cup game at Swansea City on Wednesday. Here, AFP Sports looks at some other sporting controversies featuring the boys and girls employed to help keep the action going:

OVER-EAGER BALL BOY STOPS PLAY

HENMAN TAKES ANGER OUT ON BALL GIRL

CABAYE LOSES PATIENCE AT GOODISON PARK

BALL BOY LOSES BEARINGS

An inattentive ball boy sparked confusion during a match between Andy Murray and Victor Troicki at the 2011 French Open by running onto the court mid-point. As Troicki lined up a smash, the boy dashed onto the court in the mistaken belief the ball had gone out, before retreating sheepishly to his position by the umpire's chair. The umpire ordered the point, which Troicki won, to be replayed, and Murray went on to win the match.

Newcastle United midfielder Yohan Cabaye, a team-mate of Hazard's at Lille, got involved in an altercation with a ball boy in a match at Everton last season. With Newcastle trailing, Cabaye was seen to angrily wrench the ball from the hands of a pitch-side ball boy. The incident sparked jeers from the home fans, but Cabaye sought the boy out at half-time to apologise.

Before Tim Henman had won the hearts of British tennis fans with his string of near-misses at Wimbledon, he landed himself in hot water in 1995 for angrily hitting a ball at a ball girl during a doubles match. The ball struck the girl on the face and Henman was disqualified from the tournament along with his partner, Jeremy Bates. He later apologised and planted a kiss on the girl's cheek that one tabloid newspaper dubbed: 'the Hen-peck'.

A ball boy (C) picks himself up off the ground after being involved in an altercation with Chelsea's Eden Hazard during an English League Cup semi-final football match between AFP Swansea City and Chelsea at The Liberty stadium in Cardiff on Wednesday.

BRAZILIAN BALL BOY SCORES GOAL

A Brazilian referee was left red-faced after allowing a goal scored by a ball boy to stand in a regional tournament in Sao Paulo in September 2006. Standing behind one of the goals, the boy fielded the ball after a wayward shot and then casually kicked it into the goal when the referee's back was turned. The referee, Silvia Regina de Oliveira, said she had awarded the goal on the advice of one of her assistants.

A ball boy displayed too much eagerness to retrieve the ball during a league match between Tottenham Hotspur and Bolton Wanderers in May 2010 when he ran on the pitch to collect it before it had even gone out of play.

Bolton left-back Paul Robinson looked incredulous when the boy stopped the ball as he moved in to play it, and play was restarted with a drop-ball.

AFP

sports

31

FRIDAY, JANUARY 25, 2013

WEST INDIES TOUR OF AUSTRALIA

INJURY WOES

Aussies bring back Finch Hussey made way for Finch, paying the price for what selectors said were ‘concerns’ with the batting performance in the ODIs against Sri Lanka.

SYDNEY: Australia brought batsman Aaron Finch (right) back into the one-day squad unveiled on Friday for the first two internationals against the West Indies next month.

Australia levelled the series 2-2 in Hobart on Wednesday but struggled against Sri Lanka's swing bowlers and looked to have been saved by the rain in Sydney last Sunday.

"A top four of (David) Warner, Finch, (Phillip) Hughes and (Michael) Clarke has good balance and the team looks forward to getting better starts than has been the case recently," said national selector John Inverarity.

"David Hussey has been dropped from the squad as the NSP (National Selection Panel) keeps a constant eye on the future."

Inverarity said skipper Clarke was making steady progress with the ankle he twisted last Tuesday in training and should be fit

Australia ODI squad

M

ichael Clarke (capt), George Bailey, Ben Cutting, Xavier Doherty, Aaron Finch, Moises Henriques, Phillip Hughes, Mitchell Johnson, Glenn Maxwell, Clint McKay, Mitchell Starc, Matthew Wade, David Warner.

to play the opening game of the series of five on February 1 at the WACA. Perth also hosts the second game two days later.

"James Pattinson came under consideration for this squad but, at the time of the selection meeting, he had not bowled a ball in interstate or international cricket since 24 November," Inverarity said. "It is anticipated that James will go to Perth to practise with the squad."

The West Indies also take on Australia at Canberra on February 6, at Melbourne two days later and Brisbane on February 13.

NEW DELHI: Olympic silver medallist Sushil Kumar (above) will have to wait for some more time to get back to action as the unhealed neck injury has forced him to opt out of the upcoming Dave Schultz tournament, where he was expected to defend his title.

A 33-member Indian contingent had left for a training camp in the United States on last week to prepare for the event, beginning January 31.

PTI

AFP

HOCKEY INDIA LEAGUE

FARMERS INSURANCE OPEN

Snedeker, Choi share lead

LA JOLLA, CALIFORNIA: Defending champion Brandt Snedeker (left) fired a sevenunder par 65 to share the firstround lead with South Korea's KJ Choi at the Farmers Insurance Open at Torrey Pines on Thursday.

Snedeker finished without a bogey on Torrey Pines' more forgiving North Course, while Choi had eight birdies and one bogey on the South Course.

Tiger Woods, making his US PGA Tour season debut in the $6.1 million event, emerged from an erratic round on the

Sushil to skip Dave Schultz tournament

South Course three off the lead on 68.

Snedeker and Choi were one stroke in front of a group of eight players sharing third place on 66. Former Masters champion Mike Weir of Canada headlined the group, which also included England's Ross Fisher and American Charles Howell — who lost in a playoff on Sunday at the Humana Challenge.

Canadian Adam Hadwin, Billy Horschel, Josh Teater, Luke List and Scott Stallings were also in the group at six-

under. Nine more players, including Bo Van Pelt and England's David Lynn, were tied on five-under 67.

Woods headlined another big group on 68 that also included Japan's Ryo Ishikawa, Fiji's Vijay Singh and South Korea's DH Lee. He opened his 2013 season at the European Tour event at Abu Dhabi, missing the cut after taking a penalty for an improper drop.

Woods started promisingly with a birdie at the first, where he won the most recent of his 14 majors at the ’08 US Open.

Punjab add to Mumbai gloom JALANDHAR: Mumbai Magicians' woeful run in then inaugural Hockey India League continued as they suffered their fifth straight defeat in the tournament after losing 3-4 to Jaypee Punjab Warriors in a league match here today.

Mumbai started on a bright note and opened the scoring but lost the steam as the match progressed.

Captain Sandeep Singh gave Mumbai the lead in 14th minute before a self goal by custodian P R Sreejesh (30th) levelled the scoreline.

PTI

ADIOS CHIEF

I’ve been privileged, says IOC president Rogge The 70-year-old Belgian, who steps down in September, said being in such a position had given him the power as a sports lover to achieve dreams and aspirations for all sports.

PIRATE IRWIN Agence France-Presse PARIS: International Olympic Committee president Jacques Rogge told AFP he had been privileged to be in charge of global sport's most powerful body for the past 12 years.

The former Olympic yachtsman, whose understated style contrasted with his predecessor Juan Antonio Samaranch who was responsible for turning the

Games into a huge commercial success, admitted when he hands over to his successor he will have achieved his goal of passing on a healthy legacy.

"It is a privilege when you love sport like I do. It gives you the means to fulfil the dreams and aspirations of sports," he told AFP in an exclusive interview at IOC headquarters in Lausanne, Switzerland.

"I believe I will be regarded as a president who has done his

work. My goal was always to transfer to my successor a solid and effective IOC. "I believe I have done enough and been sufficiently tough against doping, also for the youth of the world with the introduction of the Youth Olympic Games and that I have placed the athlete at the centre of attention. All the Olympic Games I have overseen, from Salt Lake City to London, have been of the highest quality.”

I believe I will be regarded as a president who has done his work. My goal was always to transfer to my successor a solid IOC. Jacques Rogge International Olympic Committee president

FRIDAY, JANUARY 25, 2013

sports LA LIGA Stars deny seeking Mourinho sacking CHRISTOPHE LEHOUSSE Agence France-Presse MADRID: Real Madrid stars Iker Casillas and Sergio Ramos denied reports that they had demanded the club fire coach Jose Mourinho before next season.

Top sports paper Marca, a pro-Real daily, splashed a claim that Casillas and Ramos had given the club management an ultimatum at a meeting, headlined “It’s Mou or us." Casillas and Ramos, two influential members of the Real squad who have reportedly clashed with the Portuguese coach, rejected the report and president Florentino Perez branded it an attempt to “destabilise” the club.

“No kind of ultimatum was ever made by us concerning our coach” at the meeting, the duo said.

NEWCASTLE FRENCH SPREE CONTINUES

Newcastle United continued their French shopping spree on Thursday as Nancy defender Massadio Haidara completed his move to the struggling Premier League club for an undisclosed fee.

ENGLISH LEAGUE CUP

Barça looking to bounce back Last weekend’s set-back saw the Catalans lose a twogoal lead and it should serve as a wake-up call.

DERMOT LEDWITH Agence France-Presse MADRID: Top of the league Barcelona face struggling Osasuna at home on Sunday bidding to bounce back from a first league defeat of the season, 3-2 at Real Sociedad, last Saturday.

Barca’s record breaking first-half of the season, which saw them drop only two points, means Tito Vilanova’s side sit eight ahead of Atletico Madrid in second with Real Madrid a further seven points back in third.

However, last weekend’s set-back saw the Catalans lose a two-goal lead in San Sebastian and it should serve as a wake up call with 18 league games still to play.

Despite that defeat, Barcelona showed in midweek that there was no long-term damage when they beat Malaga

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WEEKEND MATCHES Saturday: Celta Vigo v Real Sociedad, Levante v Valladolid, Zaragoza v Espanyol, Deportivo La Coruna v Valencia; Sunday: Real Madrid v Getafe, Rayo Vallecano v Betis, Barcelona v Osasuna, Mallorca v Malaga, Athletic Bilbao v Atletico Madrid Monday: Sevilla v Granada

4-2 in the Spanish Cup quarterfinals to set-up a semi-final clash with Real Madrid.

Both Madrid sides won their games last Sunday to cut the deficit at the top, but have lost key players, Iker Casillas for Real and Radamel Falcao for Atletico, in the past week.

Barca will themselves be without new father Gerard Pique (left) on Sunday after his red card against Sociedad.

Atletico Madrid go to Athletic Bilbao, also on Sunday, without top-scorer Falcao who picked up a muscle problem in his left thigh in Sunday’s win over Levante.

Real Madrid face neighbours Getafe on Sunday without goalkeeper and captain Iker Casillas who fractured a bone in his left hand after a collision with teammate Alvaro Arbeloa in Wednesday’s Spanish Cup quarter-final second leg in Valencia.

Ghana lay their penalty ghosts to rest Penalty kick gives Ghana victory over Mali.

DAVID LEGGE Agence France-Presse JOHANNESBURG: Ghana put a series of penalty heartaches behind them, Mali seethed over a controversial decision, Niger collected their first point and DR Congo disappointed Thursday in the Africa Cup of Nations.

Mubarak Wakaso from Spanish Liga outfit Espanyol converted a 38th-minute spot kick to give Ghana a 1-0 victory over Mali and DR Congo and Niger drew 0-0 in a Port Elizabeth double-header that offered little excitement.

As in Group A, there is all to play for in the final matches next Monday when leaders Ghana face bottom team Niger at the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium while second-place Mali and DR Congo travel east to square off in Durban. Niger and DR Congo must win to survive the firstround cull while draws will suffice for Ghana and Mali, the beaten semi-finalists at the 2012 tournament in Gabon/ Equatorial Guinea.

United, Arsenal seek elusive FA Cup United have gone nine years without winning the FA Cup, while Arsenal, without a trophy of any description since 2005, will hope to carry forward their mid-week momentum.

FA CUP LINE-UP

TOM WILLIAMS Agence France-Presse Manchester United will hope there are no lingering ill-effects from their recent Premier League setback at Tottenham Hotspur when they host Fulham in the FA Cup fourth round on Saturday.

United conceded an injurytime equaliser in a 1-1 draw at a snowy White Hart Lane last weekend, allowing champions Manchester City to breathe new life into the title race by cutting their rivals’ lead to five points.

United have gone nine years without winning the FA Cup, leading manager Alex Ferguson to state that he wants his side “to try and have a go” at it in the cur-

Friday: Millwall v Aston Villa; Saturday: Stoke City v Man City, Bolton Wanderers v Everton, Brighton and Hove Albion v Arsenal, Derby County v Blackburn, Huddersfield Town v Leicester, Hull v Barnsley, Macclesfield v Wigan, Middlesbrough V Aldershot Town, Norwich City v Luton Town, Queens Park Rangers v Milton Keynes Dons, Reading v Sheffield United, Manchester United v Fulham; Sunday: Brentford v Chelsea, Leeds United v Tottenham Hotspur, Oldham Athletic v Liverpool

rent campaign. To that end, he will find little discouragement in Fulham’s recent form.

The United squad have spent the week in Qatar (above) for a

warm-weather training camp ahead of Saturday’s reunion with former striker Dimitar Berbatov.

Arsenal, without a trophy of any description since beating

United on penalties in the 2005 final, will hope to carry their mid-week momentum into the cup when they visit second-tier Brighton and Hove Albion.

“I never felt that the players didn’t know how important it is," said Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger.

“I was more worried that they are a bit sometimes inhibited in the recent big games from the start. But this team has a fantastic mentality and good quality.

That’s what we want to show until the end of the season now."

As in the previous round, the draw for round four was low on all-Premier League confrontations, with Manchester City’s trip to Stoke City the only other tie to feature two top-flight clubs.

Stoke were thrashed 4-0 by Chelsea in their last home game but they boast an excellent home record against City.