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THURSDAY, MAY 24, 2012 HYDERABAD
COPS GEAR UP FOR JAGAN DEPOSITION An urgent meeting of all City police officers is in progress at the DGP office where a strategy is being devised to cover YSRC chief Jagan Mohan Reddy who has been asked to depose before the CBI tomorrow. Sec 144 of CrPC banning the assembly of five or more people is already in force. Police expect an emotional eruption. Meanwhile, it is learnt that Jagan has applied for anticipatory bail. P5
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The highly inflammable petrol hike will hit the common man hard, while the government is oblivious to their plight.
he recent petrol hike has triggered protests and strikes all over the country. The OU JAC and TS JAC will kick-start the City’s protests. Students of OU will take out a rally from the OU campus with the slogan ‘you burn our pockets, we will burn your government’. Their subjects of ire are Sonia Gandhi, Manmohan Singh and Jaipal Reddy. Posters and banners were put up all over the campus last night.
ZOHAL HAMID TO WITHDRAW MOLESTATION CASE
REPORT ON PG 4
American woman Zohal Hamid has decided to withdraw the molestation case against Australian cricketer Luke Pomersbach after both the parties reached an out-of-court settlement. P32
Page Two
THURSDAY, MAY 24, 2012
Spirit of Twin Cities
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A BUCKETFUL OF HAPPINESS
Library summer camp
SRINIVAS SETTY
A library summer camp for parents and faculty of UG and PG students will be held from May 10 onwards. The camp will provide guidance for faculty and final year PG students for National/State lectureship and scholarship test(NET/APSET) for `3,650. Where: Hyderabad library services, Sagar View Complex When: May 10 - June 10, Contact: (040) 2322 2247, 94412 37751
The amazing summer shuttle A summer camp for children in the age group of 1-15 and for adults in Thai flowers, stocking flowers and marble painting is being held. Where: Plot-26, Gunrock Enclave, Secunderabad When: 11am-1pm, 11am-5pm Contact:98498 04416, 93921 05310
Numerology Logically numerological, numerologically logical. Everything of you, based on DOB. For appointments call Appaaji, numerologist. Contact: 95734 11255
The inner me A force to reckon when it comes to dance music, Ashley Walbridge will be playing live at Cuba Libre Where: Cuba Libre, Banjara Hills When: May 24, 10 pm onwards Contact: (040) 6776 7114
German film Catch the German film Head-On (Gegen Die Wand) which is being screened at Goethe Zentrum Zentrum. Where: Goethe Zentrum, Banjara Hills, Rd No 3 When: May 25, 6pm onwards Contact: (040) 2335 0040
Blood song Blood Song, a radical adaptation of Federico Garcia Lorca’s “Blood Wedding”will be showcased on May 26 and 27 at the Nift auditorium. Where: Nift auditorium, Madhapur When: May 26 and 27, 7.30pm onwards Contact: 98852 88982
Fame live Western classical band Fame will be
CINEMAS
perform at Hard Rock Cafe on May 24. The band made it;s debut in the year 1999. Where: Hard Rock Cafe, Banjara Hills, Rd 1 When: May 24, 9pm onwards Contact: (040) 2354 0023
Ladies night India’s top DJ, DJ Kanna aka Kanwill be playing for ladies night at Bottles ‘n’ Chimney. Where: Bottles ‘n’ Chimney, Begumpet When: May 24, 8pm onwards Contact: (040) 2776 6464
A matter of perception Juxtaposed Perceptions, a solo painting exhibition by renowned artist Ninad Jagadish. Where: Muse Art Gallery, Lower Tank Bund When: May 25 Contact: (040) 2752 2999
Metamorphosis This workshop aims to help child gain confidence so as to participate in a group , perform on stage through it’s fun-filled play methodology. Where: Treasure House, Jubilee Hills,
Rd No 36 When: Ongoing, 2.30pm onwards Contact: (040) 2355 0118
When: Ongoing, 5.15 am onwards Contact: 994820 8556
Summer camp
Theatre workshop
Annapurna International School of Film and Media will be holding a Summer Camp program in filmmaking, acting and photography. The first batch is from May 21.The second batch is from May 28 onwards. Where: Annapurna School, Banjara Hills When: Ongoing Contact: (040) 4914 1234
Samahaara is hosting special four week summer acting workshops. The workshops will be held for a duration of four weeks. The workshops are being held at three different places in the City. Where: Vidyaranya School, The Terrace, The Actor’s Studio When: Ongoing , Monday-Friday Contact: 83411 20303
Food and cricket Great food and a great game of cricket makes for great news. Head to News Cafe to catch the IPL matches with some great IPL inspired food. Where: News Cafe, Inorbit Mall, Madhapur When: Ongoing, 8pm onwards Contact: (040) 4010 1236
Yoga Camp The last part of a series of sevenday yoga camp will be held by Yoga Healing Foundation at Saroornagar Indoor Stadium. Where: Indoor stadium lawns, Saroornagar
Summer contest Head to Inorbit mall for a summer from May 14 to May 27. Where: Inorbit Mall, Madhapur When: Ongoing Contact: (040) 4488 0000
Water colours A painting exhibition featuring new water colour works by Sunil Lohar called Narrations, Connotations and Interpretations is on display Where: Kalakrithi Gallery, Banjara Hills, Rd No10 When: Ongoing, 11.30 am onwards Contact: (040) 6656 4466
Big Cinemas, Ameerpet: 30581470; Cinemax, Banjara Hills: 44565555; Cine Planet , Kompally: 61606060; INOX, Banjara Hills: 447677770; Prasads, Tank Bund Rd: 23448888; PVR, Punjagutta: 08800900009; Talkie Town, Miyapur: 40214175; Tivoli, Secunderabad: 27844973
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THURSDAY, MAY 24, 2012
Campaigns, hard news and spirit of Twin Cities
City fails SSC exams Postnoon News feedback@postnoon.com
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fter keeping anxious students and parents waiting for a whole day, the Andhra Pradesh SSC Results 2012 were declared this morning. Nearly 12,74,047 regular and private candidates appeared for the examinations held on March 2012. Of this 10,49,689 were regular students and 2, 24,358 were private candidates. The State pass percentage for regular candidates is 87.84, of which the girls’ pass percentage is 88.76 and boys is 86.97. However, 15 schools this year secured a zero pass percentage of which 12 were private schools and two were Zilla Parishad schools. Karimnagar district secured the highest pass percentage of 93.38 while Hyderabad secured the lowest with only 76.94 percentage. Incidentally, this is the first time that the SSC Board announced the results in grad-
F
ive persons were grievously injured when a police jeep ploughed into the convoy of deputy chief minister C Damodar Rajanarasimha in Warangal district on Wednesday. When his convoy reached Kothagattu outskirts , an uncontrolled police jeep rammed the minister’s convoy and overturned after hitting a roadside tree. Five persons who were injured in the accident were admitted to Parakal government general hospital.
Gali Janardhana’s bail suspended
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ing system and grade point average (GPA) instead of the usual marks, as it is following the CBSE and ICSE systems from this year on. On a positive note, the pass percentage this year increased by 4.74 per cent to 87.84 per cent, as compared to last year’s 83.10. Even the pass percentage of the private candidates increased by 4.8 per cent to 44.83 per cent, when compared to March 2011’s 40.03 per cent.
The number of privately appeared students this year were 2,27,327, out of which 1,01,903 passed the examination. The girls performed better than the boys with 51.93 per cent girls securing pass marks compared to 41.43 per cent of the boys securing pass marks. This year 3,588 schools have secured 100 pass percentage, an increase of 1,026 in number from March 2011. While the government schools have done well
as compared to last year, the Zilla Parishad schools have seen an increase of almost double the number of students passing the Class X examinations this year. In the meantime, minister for secondary education K Partha Sarathy announced that the supplementary examinations would be conducted from June 20 to July 3. The fees for this will be `500 per subject and the last date of submission of forms is June 11.
An innovative way to cheating CRIME Mohd Subhan mohd.s@postnoon.com
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heating has myriad faces, and like a mutative gene, it changes its shape and tenor everyday with the ingenuity of the cheats who abound in our midst. Here, a pliable 17-year-old boy who was new to his job and was entrusted with the task of depositing `20,000 in a bank lost it to crooks. D Srinivas was a part-time employee of a company. He had joined recently. Coming from a poor family, he had to supplement his family income. A few days ago his boss gave him `20,000 in cash to be deposited in the State Bank’s Shahpur
NEWS BRIEFS Police jeep hits Deputy CM’s convoy M ANIL KUMAR
EDUCATION
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branch. The boy went to the bank. He was unaccustomed with filling up forms and other formalities for depositing cash. Two men watched his helplessness. They struck a friendly
chat with him and they filled up the form. Meanwhile, they told the boy they had come to deposit `1 lakh but such a huge sum is not accepted from one person. So they need four people
for that. The boy was one of them. Another friend would soon come, they told him. They said they will deposit his money first and took his `20,000. They moved to the counter after asking Srinivas to take care of their bag containing `1 lakh. The unwary youth sat there with the bag and the duo moved to the cashier and then moved out. After a while the boy looked around for the two and he could not find them. He opened the bag and to his horror found only two genuine `100 notes and the remainder was plain paper cut out like currency note. The boy weeping profusely approached the police. Sub inspector G Nagaraju of Jeedimetla police station told Postnoon that the cheats have been captured on the CCTV and soon the duo would be caught.
he Karnataka High Court has suspended the bail issued to former minister Gali Janardhana Reddy till June 5. Janardhana Reddy, who has been facing charges in the Obulapuram Mining scam was recently granted bail by the CBI court. The High Court has suspended the bail after the CBI has informed that it got key evidences and argued that if Janardhana Reddy was allowed bail, he would influence and tamper with the evidence.
CM violated code, complains TDP
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he TDP has complained to the chief electoral officer that Chief Minister Kiran Kumar Reddy has violated the model code of conduct by making promises to the electorate of Macherla during his recent poll campaign. The CM had participated in the election campaigning on behalf of the Congress candidate of Macherla on May 19, where he promised to take immediate steps to complete various irrigation and drinking water projects.
79 nominations filed on Wednesday
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tate election officer Banwarlal on Wednesday said that a total of 141 nominations were filed till date for the June 12 by-elections in 18 Assembly constituencies and one Lok Sabha seat. Banwarlal said that 79 nominations were filed on Wednesday alone. The election officer explained that three nomination papers were filed for the Nellore Lok Sabha constituency and 76 nominations for the 18 Assembly constituencies.
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THURSDAY, MAY 24, 2012
Campaigns, hard news and spirit of Twin Cities
Raj Ramanna, lawyer Latha Manchanda, teacher 100
The fuel price has become a joke. The petrol price should be linked to the stock I have sold my car and have now bought a two-wheeler. Now, I am not bothered. At exchange so that we know how it bobs up and down everyday. Doesn’t the least it will not kill me. This government ought to be thrown in the Arabian Sea! government have a social responsibility? How will production and marketing be possible if fuel prices are raised every week? `63.38
80
`53.66
60 `40.08 40
(price of
Potato
petrol)
Rice Masoori
`20 g ak 4.05 kg
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CHAOS IN THE CITY AS PETROL PRICE RISES
`51.65
5 `3 g ak 2.31 kg
Tuvar dal `75 g ak 1.08 kg
Onion
Osama Salman
.44
`81
A bus ride (ac) from Koti to Patancheru e on 2 `4 way Return ticket
`11 g a k 7.30 kg
salman.o@postnoon.com
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here was utter chaos once again on the streets of Hyderabad on Wednesday night as soon as the Petroleum minister, S Jaipal Reddy, announced that effective midnight (Thursday), the petrol prices would increase by `7.50 a litre. People rushed to fill fuel resulting in heavy traffic jams. For motorists, it took nearly two hours to cover a distance as less as 2kms. There were long queues and the average waiting time was 20 minutes. “It took me about an hour and a half to travel from Punjagutta to Kompally. On regular days, it does not take me more than 40 minutes,” said M Shaji, a resident of Masab Tank. B Vishal, a businessman, said that he was stuck in bumper-to-bumper traffic for an hour when he was returning home. “I wanted to fill petrol, but when I saw that there were at least 20 cars in the queue, I decided against it,” he said. By 10.30pm, most of the petrol pumps put up a sign that read ‘no petrol’. Denizens were left surprised by the sharp price rise. “If the petrol prices were hiked by `3, it would be understandable. This will increase my travel expenses by at least 10 per cent,” said JL Kamesh, an IT professional. Ekta G, a teacher says, “With such a high increase, a lot of other things will increase, especially the autorickshaw fares.” However, Anand Reddy, an Chocolate economics professor, pointed biscuit out that the hike was inevitable. for `5 gm “The rupee is 85 dipping dangerously. 16.20 pkt The hike was on the cards, but I did not expect it to be so soon,” he said.
2004 June
SARKARI
LOOT If you are alone and cook your own food, you could have two sumptuous meals a day with `81.44 — today’s price of a litre of petrol after the latest hike. Postnoon presents 10 items vis-à-vis the price of petrol that you can buy. It all shows the government has only oonche log on its mind and not the aam aadmi
Mineral water Bread 13 loaves `16 kt a p 5 pkt (apprx)
2006 June
r pe s 5 `3 litre 5
11.5 litres 2008 February
Cooking oil
5a `8 itre l 952 gm
Milk
7a `1 0ml 50 4.75 litre 2010 December
2012 May
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THURSDAY, MAY 24, 2012
Campaigns, hard news and spirit of Twin Cities
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Section 144 imposed in City
Chiru undergoes test in Tirupati constituency T C
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plishment in solving this crucial popular woe. The Congress candidate, says a political observer, has at least charisma but others have to hope on Balaji alone. YSR candidate Karunakar Reddy uses the three-letter-YSR — to do the magic on voters. And, not surprisingly, all the leaders from atheists to believers and the middle-pathwalkers had competed to have darshan of the Balaji who, they believe, will bless them.
Md Inkeshaf Ahmed
ahmed.m@postnoon.com
Castes to play key role
ON THE
hiranjeevi has portrayed numerous characters on celluloid, fighting for people and getting things done after dispatching baddies with a flourish. But he will have to drink gallons of water to win this prestigious constituency, Tirupati, which he had vacated when he was elevated to the Rajya Sabha. Consequently, the hero of the screen is sweating it out in the holy hills to wean away the doubting Thomases. It is rumoured that Vayalar Ravi told Chiranjeevi that getting the seat for the Congress was Chiru’s primary responsibility. Balaji’s abode, Tirupati’s marked bane is acute shortage of drinking water. And the cine hero could do little to redress the popular grievance. But, now the onus is on him to ensure that the seat goes into the Congress account. The problem the other three candidates now face is that they have plenty of resources but can’t buy
CAMPAIGN
TRAIL
enough water for the thirsty constituency. The Congress party’s M Venkata Ramana, TDP’s Chadalavada Krishnamurthy, and YSRC’s B Karunakar Reddy are all well-healed and have no problem with resources. None of them can show any accom-
Since the formation of Tirupathi constituency in 1955, caste played a crucial role in Tirupathi. Reddy and Balija communities are in large numbers in the constituency. Barring the exceptions like Vijaya Sikhamani (1972), NT Rama Rao (1982) leaders of these two communities are representing this constituency since its inception. While the Reddys are known to be financially strong, the Balijas have a dominant presence in the constituency. Whoever charms the Balijas has a chance.
he police commissioner, Anurag Sharma in a release announced that Section 144 will be imposed in the City from 6am on May 24 till 6am on May 29. This is being done keeping in mind the upcoming by-elections where there is a possibility of political parties organising supporters for political reasons. The Section 144 which was implemented as a precautionary measure in order to maintain law and order in the City and prevent danger to human life and property prohibits the assembly of five or more people in public and also prohibits processions, rallies and public meetings. The display of symbols, flags
and banners, which could cause any religious animosity, is also prohibited. This is applicable to all and those who violate the same are liable for prosecution. The order exempts political officers, home guards and military officers on duty, bonafide funeral professions and people exempted by an authority.
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THURSDAY, MAY 24, 2012
Campaigns, hard news and spirit of Twin Cities
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A different ‘school’ of thought Secunderabad has been home to some of the best schools that the City has to offer. But some parents complain that the dipping standards are forcing them to shift their children to corporate institutions N SHIVA KUMAR
Sudeshna Koka Sudeshna.k@postnoon.com
A
popular Hindi saying Angrej chale gaye, angrezi chod gaye refers to how the Britishers brought English to the country. No matter how this saying is interpreted, we Indians should be grateful for the ‘education system’ that was introduced to us by the Britishers. In Secunderabad too it was the Britishers who established schools which are till date counted among the best educational institutions in the City. Through the ages, schools in Secunderabad have seen students not just from Secunderabad but also from Hyderabad. “I completed my schooling 30 years ago. At that time, the best of the best students from Hyderabad would come to this side of the town to study. It was like a rule that all the girls
would go to St Ann’s School and boys to St Patrick’s. The best part was that no one would carry any baggage of being rich and influential; all of us would share the same platform. Even today we
meet in Secunderabad,” says Jayanthi K, a bank employee. With the recent developments, schools have seen a dip in the number of students attending these convent schools. Most par-
ents who themselves have studied in these schools prefer corporate school as they promise better results. “My sons went to St Andrews High School till class five. This is the time when their concepts are strengthened. Now, we have transferred them to Gowtham Model School as its closer and will help then in the long run to clear their competitive exams.” says Venkat N, an IT professional Just like Venkat, there are several parents who do just the same. They believe that over the years the standards of these schools have diluted. “I never
went to these schools but always wished that my daughter studied in one of those schools. However, after two years at St Ann’s we realised that the education standard had fallen down and we had to send her for tuitions after school. To avoid the wastage of time and money we shifted her to a corporate school. Not just parents, but students themselves prefer corporate institutions. “I am from St Patrick’s High School and always wished my son went to a convent school and college but post his boards he insisted that he wanted to go to a college which was air conditioned and prepared him for the IIT entrance.” says Vinod Kumar, a marketing professional. This is the present condition of the schools which at one time were the best in Secunderabad with huge play grounds, science lab’s and libraries which is just not a part of the new corporate schools.
Down memory lane
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n an article, P Anuradha Reddy, convener, Intach Hyderabad, writes, “ St Ann’s Convent (established in 1856) was one among the many excellent educational institutions set up in Secunderabad. The original building housed an Irish Regiment. A high school was started in 1861 by Somasundaram Mudaliar and was mainly funded by the government. It was on this account that it was named Mahboob College after the Nizam VI. Girls’ Patashala was established as a primary school by A Venugopal Pillai in 1881. Subsequently, due to the untiring efforts of Padma Rao Mudaliar, this school was upgraded and shifted to a new location in 1932 and was renamed as Keyes High School after the then Resident of
Hyderabad, Lt Col Terence Keyes, Who arranged for grant of land and funds. Padma Rao Mudaliar also raised funds for construction of Sir William Barton School. Due to his efforts, three new blocks were added to the Mahboob College High School. The Hindu Boys Hostel (established in1907), which was closed down, was revived by Padma Rao. This is now the Centenary School near the Parade Ground. The Islamia High School for Boys (established in 1882), St Mary’s High School (established in 1885), and St Patrick’s High School, were amongst the others. Bolarum had a medical school as early as 1841. The highly qualified staff also taught students of Hyderabad Medical School.”
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THURSDAY, MAY 24, 2012
‘Paul’s arrest will harm party prospects’
S
tating that he was constrained to criticise his party, former minister Dr P Shanker Rao questioned the State government as to why it arrested evangelist and Prajashanthi party founder KA Paul. He said that Paul’s arrest at this juncture would harm the interests of the Congress party. Speaking to the media at the CLP office, Dr Rao condemned the news against TNGOs’ leader Swamy Goud and clarified that house sites were allotted to gazetted officers when they were non-gazetted officers. Calling upon the people to ensure victory of the Congress party in the by-elections, Dr Rao said that he never asked anybody to invite him to participate in the campaigning for the upcoming byelections. “I repeat I am ready to participate in the by-election campaigning if invited by anybody,” he added.
he illegal gas refilling practice in Singareni Colony and the consequent disaster on Sunday sheds light on the many methods of making fast money. This trade is controlled by local mafias, a network of people that hamper the supply-demand chain of domestic gas consumption in the city for their nefarious purposes. Hyderabad is home to at least a dozen or more such thriving rackets that puts at stake the lives of innocents. In over five years, there have been more than a dozen raids on illegal gas refilling rackets. These rackets supply domestic gas to vehicles at a price higher than the normal market rate, given the frigid availability of LPG gas in the city. Areas like Indiranagar, Balanagar, RTC Nagar, Gandhinagar, Nizampet are among the many hubs of this trade in the City. The modus operandi involves a network of people who cut deals with agencies, procure cylinders and sell its contents at double the price. With no regard for safety con-
cerns, the apparatus involved in transferring the gas cylinders are crude motor pumps, specially pierced valves that perpetuate the transfer of gas from cylinders into the gas kits of vehicles. The profit margin is high and the money is made quickly. A normal gas cylinder that costs `410in the market is sold at `800, which is used to fill up the gas tanks of autorickshaws and other vehicles. Last year alone, the Hyderabad police along with Vigilance
and Enforcement and Civil Supplies Officials seized over 1,500 cylinders that were being illegally used to pump into vehicles at various parts of the City. Sub inspector S Shekar Reddy of Saidabad police station said, “An FIR has been booked in connection with Sunday’s gas explosion under Section 337 and Section 338. Investigations are on.” MS Seshagiri Rao, assistant supply officer said, “They earn over five times the actual
amount of the gas cylinder and make a clean cut out of the profit while putting people’s lives at stake. Criminal cases under Section 6A of the Essential Commodities Act will be booked against them.” The demand for these cylinders sold secretly has gone up as the availability of gas at petrol stations is limited. Cashing on this, the trade continues to thrive especially in the slums of the City where palms are greased and every one benefits.
Desi life with a foreign touch COMMUNITY Anubha K Singh anubha.k@postnoon.com
T
hey are just a handful in number now as compared to a few decades ago. The Anglo-Indian community living in the twin cities are also nicknamed Little England. Old timers from the community say that more youngsters are looking for greener pastures abroad — a major reason for the community’s dwindling population in the City. “The priorities of the youth have changed now. The old timers used to work in either railways, army or in the mechanical sector but now youngsters are more interested in call centre jobs, computers, IT Sector and teaching. Youngsters from the society are also settling abroad for a better future,” said Maria Cook, a community member. Nevertheless, they make their presence felt in the City’s diverse culture. Anglo-
Indians are a fun-loving and vibrant community. However, the move by the State government to ban wine making at home has angered Hyderabad’s Anglo-Indians, who have been brewing red wine — a tradition that they are very popular for — at their homes for generations during the Christmas season. However, today many Anglo-
Indian households refrain from doing so due to the prohibition by the excise department. They say it costs about `150 to `200 to make a litre of wine at home, but wine of the same quality in the market is priced at `600 per 800ml bottle. “We have more than 60 branches all over the nation and our community members
from other cities like Chennai, Kolkata and other cities make wine at home. However, in Hyderabad some people from the community started selling wine throughout the year and commercialised it. Due to the greediness of a few, the whole community is now suffering,” Waren La Touche, president, Anglo Indian Association, Twin Cities. There are nearly 2,000 Anglo Indian families residing in the City, mainly in the Secunderabad and Lalaguda areas. “While we still love to celebrate festivals the Western way and value our culture, at the same time we are Indians. Christmas and New Year are our major festivals but we also celebrate Holi and Diwali too,” said Sandra, a community member. The only association of the community conducts monthly meetings and gatherings during festivals, which gives them an opportunity to interact with other community members. Of late, intercommunity marriages are also becoming common.
Egypt Elections
THURSDAY, MAY 24, 2012
8
Hope Springs Eternal
World waits as polling enters second day
TUNISIA
AFP/MAHMUD HAMS
US leaders are hoping for another ‘old guard’ ruler, here are three likely outcomes
The event that started waves rippling throughout the Arab world occurred in December 2010 when Mohamed Bouazizi, a young Tunisian who could find no other job than selling fruit set fire to himself in frustration after he was harassed by the authorities. His death the following month set off revolts throughout the small north African country, which were soon picked up in Egypt and elsewhere. On January 14, 2011, Tunisia's longtime autocratic ruler Zine el Abidine Ben Ali fled to Saudi Arabia. Tunisia has since adopted a new democratic constitution and held elections.
LIBYA The revolt in Libya, the only major oil producer to have been turned upside down by the Arab Spring so far, quickly turned into a civil war. When longtime ruler Muammar Gaddafi sent troops to crush a nascent revolt in the east of the vast territory, the main Western powers decided to use force to stop him. The intervention of mainly French, British and US air forces was decisive in overthrowing Gaddafi, who was captured and killed by rebels in October last year. The country is planning elections for a constituent assembly in June.
SYRIA Like Libya, Syria has seen a descent into major civil violence since protests began against President Bashar al-Assad in March 2011. However unlike Libya, Syria has not seen military intervention by Western powers, and the popular revolt appears to be stalemated.
The New Pharoahs Charles M Sennott
I
t is unwise to try to predict anything in Egypt these days, but there are several safe assumptions that can be made as Egyptians went to the polls Wednesday and Thursday to elect a civilian president in the first open and fair elections in Egypt’s 7,000 year history. With so much at stake, it is almost impossible to predict where this still ‘unfinished revolution’ is headed right now. But at the risk of being wrong, here are three safe assumptions: The first is that this election will not produce a winner. The contest is almost certainly headed for a run-off vote starting June 16. Some analysts would argue that current polling, if it is even remotely accurate, mathematically guarantees that no candidate can receive the required 50 per cent of the vote to win in this round of voting. If a candidate fails to take 50 per cent, as the election rules state, then the two top candidates are to face each other in a run-off. So don’t hold your breath. Just wait for June. The second is that this will ultimately be a contest between the old guard and the Islamists. Although there are five leading candidates among the 13 names on the ballot, there are really only two choices available in this election. That is the “falool”, Arabic for “a remnant” of the old regime. Or there are the Islamists who have emerged from the vast power base of the Muslim Brotherhood. The third assumption is that the struggle for the future of Egypt has always been about the powerful grip the military holds over the country and has held for
the last 60 years. So even the most optimistic of souls presume the Supreme Council of the Armed Forces, the group of generals who have been handed the direct rule of Egypt and its 80 million people during the period of transition from the uprising to this election, will not let go of its power — and its sprawling financial empire — any time soon. Okay, so to get back to what is going to happen in this election. Counting all of the paper ballots by hand is expected to take closer to a month. On the ballot, there are three leading “falool” candidates who represent the old guard. They include: AMR MOUSSA, 75, a former foreign minister under Mubarak and a former secretary-general of the Arab League. He has pitched himself as an elder statesmen who has sufficient separation from Mubarak. AHMED SHAFIK, 70, a former Air Marshal in the military and the last Prime Minister to serve under Mubarak in the dying days of the regime. He proudly boasts that he is on good terms with the Supreme Council of the Allied Forces and has vowed a strict crackdown on protesters. HAMDEEN SABAHI, 57, leader of the Dignity Party, which harkens back to Gamal Abdel Nasser and his pan-Arab nationalism. And there are two leading Islamist candidates: ABDEL MONEIM ABOUL FOTOUH, 60, a doctor and former head of the Arab Medical Union, who is campaigning as a more liberal Islamist and who parted ways with the Muslim Brotherhood to run back when the Muslim Brotherhood was vowing not to seek the presidency. MOHAMED MURSI, 60, of the
Muslim Brotherhood is the more conservative Islamist candidate who the Brotherhood put up after rethinking the idea of holding back to consolidate its power in parliament and trying to appear not to be coming on too strong. Neither one of these two choices – not the old guard nor the Islamist – bodes particularly well for the Egyptian people who came to the streets demanding change and the end of a police state. The choices before the electorate also seem to run up against American diplomacy in the region which should be aligned with the prodemocracy yearnings of the protest movement. I would emphasise the word “should” be aligned with the pro-democracy movement when speaking of American diplomatic interests. It is not clear that American foreign policy “is” aligned with these forces. The US has been fairly criticised for being late in recognising the sweeping call for change in the Arab world. But it remains to be seen whether the US will push the military to relinquish its grip on government as it has vowed to do when a new president is sworn in. It also remains to be seen whether the US will engage with the Muslim Brotherhood if they take the executive branch. So right alongside the three presumptions, there is also one great but fading hope. That is, that the Egyptian people, who have seen the life sucked out of this revolution upon which they had hung so many hopes, will find a way to restore their faith in their country’s capacity for change, perhaps further down the road, by turning out in huge numbers at the polls. The writer is the vice-president, executive editor and co-founder of GlobalPost
YEMEN In Yemen, a major protest movement was launched in January 2011 to demand the ouster of longtime leader Ali Abdullah Saleh. In November, after months of violence, Saleh finally agreed to step down, and in April this year he was replaced by his former deputy, Abdrabuh Mansur Hadi.
BAHRAIN In February-March 2011, the small kingdom was shaken by protests calling for political reforms, with members of the Shiite Muslim majority playing a major role in opposition to the Sunnidominated regime. Bahrain continues to simmer, with allegations of human rights abuses.
The facts lUprisings and civil war have driven from their posts the authoritarian leaders of Tunisia, Egypt, Libya and Yemen. lMajor unrest has also taken place in Bahrain and in Syria, where the regime of Bashar alAssad is embroiled in a nascent civil war. lTwo of the countries whose leaders have departed have since held successful elections: Tunisia and, today, Egypt. Others, notably Libya, are planning elections. lRevolts have spread from country to country, winning concessions in some places and sparking violent repression in others. lAlmost everywhere, crowds have rallied to the slogan "The people want the fall of the regime." lIn many cases, the use of mobile phones and social media via the Internet has been credited with a role in the uprisings. The release of secret diplomatic files on some countries via the WikiLeaks website also played a part.
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Matters of saving and spending
Kill bill with ‘star’ power Prudhvi Raju K
POUND THURSDAY, MAY 24, 2012 9 NUMEROLOGY
$7.7
billion
is the worth of a deal to be signed by South Korea’s Hanwha Group to build 100,000 homes and lay infrastructure such as roads, water supply and sewer systems in a Baghdad suburb.
prudhvi.k@postnoon.com
A
re raising electricity bills bothering you? Do you want to be one among the crowd, who are getting a cheaper electricity bills? You can save almost `8,000 in a year on your power bill if you are running a split AC in the commercial space. Consumers are increasingly showing interest on energy efficient air condition systems with better star ratings while buying ACs. The five-star 1.5 ton split AC with usage time of eight hours a day and 252 days year in a commercial office space can see a saving in operating costs of around `8,000, compared to onestar AC with similar usage. The market is dominated by split ACs of three-star and fourstar ratings. Over 70 per cent of the people buying splitting ACs choose three-star and four-star ratings. ACs with five-star ratings are chosen by 25 per cent of the people, whereas less than five per cent choose a one- or two-star ACs. One-star and two-star ACs have almost vanished from the market with the increasing awareness among people, said SP Garnaik, energy economist, Bureau of Energy Efficiency. Energy consumption has also become an important factor while choosing an AC over factors such as cost and brand. An independent consumer survey has reported that 85.4 per cent of the people know about the energy star rating system, compared to 12 per cent in 2008, said Deepak Takkar, senior vice president (Sales) and GM (cold chain), Emerson Climate
`88.34
THUS SPAKE “President Obama has decided to attack success. It's no wonder so many of his own supporters are calling on him to stop this war on job creators, Mitt Romney
HP JOB CUTS
Technologies. “Most of the customers are very keen and demanding about star rating. Three-star to five-star ACs make up significant part of our sales. Because of hike in power tariffs, people are looking at higher star ratings. “The higher the number of stars, the cheaper electricity consumption. However, few people who are looking at shorter usage (three months) are opting for two-star because of the price factor. There is also growth in terms of people asking about star ratings year on year. Especially with refrigerators segment in 250-345 litres, the market is dominated
Google cleared in Oracle suit on patents SAN FRANCISCO: Google won a major victory Wednesday as jurors sided with it in a high-stakes court battle over patents with business software titan Oracle. In a unanimous decision, 10 jurors agreed that Oracle had failed to prove its claims that Google infringed on Java software patents in Android operating software for smartphones and tablet computers. The jury verdict thwarted Oracle's quest to get more than a billion dollars in damages from Google. Oracle accused Google of infringing on Java computer programming language patents and copyrights Oracle obtained when it bought Java inventor Sun Microsystems in a $7.4 billion deal in 2009. AFP
five-star ratings, said P Anand, store manager, Ramakrishna Teletronics.
Products with mandatory star ratings n n n n
Frost-free refrigerators Tubular fluorescent lamps Room split air conditioners Distribution transformers
However, if a customer buys a fiver-star split AC, compared to one-star split AC, it may cost him an extra price of around `8,000. The significant part of the invest-
Yahoo! Axis to challenge Google SAN FRANCISCO: Yahoo! on Wednesday set out to reclaim the Internet search crown from Google with the release of software that transforms the way users explore the Web using Apple's coveted gadgets. A Yahoo! Axis application was introduced for iPhones, iPads, and iPod Touch devices and also as "plug-in" software for Chrome, Internet Explorer, Firefox and other Web browsers featuring HTML-5 graphics capabilities. Axis does away with the blue links that have defined Internet query results for a decade and replaced them with previews of pages that might provide the information being sought. AFP
ment comes in the first few years based on the usage. He can save on electricity bills over the period of time, with a typical AC life being 10 years. The sales person also plays a key role in making a customer chose star rating AC. “We are intensifying the consumer awareness programme. We will train sales people in 100 cities over next five years, covering 20 cities every year,” added Garnaik. The consumers can calculate their energy needs by visiting http://www.saveenergy.co.in/ or by ‘AC Power Saver’ mobile app for Android users.
Hewlett-Packard said on Wednesday that it plans to cut 27,000 jobs, or eight per cent of its global workforce, by 2014 in a major restructuring effort for the computer giant. The world's biggest personal computer maker said the move was part of "a multi-year productivity initiative designed to simplify business processes, advance innovation and deliver better results for customers, employees and shareholders." The restructuring is expected to generate annualized savings of $3-3.5 billion by the end of the 2014 fiscal year for HP, which is struggling amid a move to mobile devices and tablet computers.
India‑View
10
THURSDAY, MAY 24, 2012
India unveiled
Loos to varsity desk: Doodles rule Japjeet Duggal
CHANDIGARH: We’ve seen them on monuments, trees and toilet walls. But the art of doodling has taken on a new meaning in Panjab University with messages and graffiti scrawled on desks and sometimes read years later — some witty, some banal and others profound. ‘Overnight success normally takes 15 years’, said one message engraved on a desk in one of the classrooms of the department of law. It may scare some young minds on the long road to success, but, for optimists, the message for hard work has to be read between the lines. Hundreds of students, who have attended lectures, ‘Sometimes interesting, sometimes boring’ in that classroom, may have read the engraved phrase but not many would have remembered it. Certainly, not more than a handful would have spared a thought to the soul who took the time to carve it in. Doodling, the art of writing aimlessly, but sometimes with a lasting meaning, is something that most students may have attempted during their student years. According to the dictio-
nary, it is a pattern, writing or picture that one makes when one is too bored or the mind is thinking of other things. At the AC Joshi library at university, the study tables have interesting things written on it. ‘You may be disappointed if you fail, but you will be doomed if you do not try’, is one pearl of wisdom left behind by a student. “The art of doodling does not require any equipment. You just need to have a pen, a permanent marker or any pointed thing to do that easily. The victim is the table or desk in front of you. The
Doodlers turn intellectual n ‘Overnight success normally takes 15 years’ n ‘Sometimes interesting, sometimes boring’ n ‘You may be disappointed if you fail, but you will be doomed if you do not try’ n ‘It is not a disgrace to fail; failing is one of the greatest facts of the world!’ n ‘Luck is what happens when preparation meets opportunity’
Iraqi blood cancer patient finds hope in India Azera Parveen Rahman
NEW DELHI: The last six months have been a constant struggle and an endless journey for Abdul Ameer Ismail Yakoob. A citizen of Iraq, he travelled from one country to another seeking treatment for his multiple myeloma, or blood cancer, until he came to India where he finally found what he was looking for and more — hope. Yakoob, 40, was just 32 when he was detected with cancer. What made his case unusual was that multiple myeloma generally affects people above 50, and he being affected at such an early age hinted at random genetic changes. Multiple myeloma is cancer of plasma cells in the bone marrow. One in 10,000 people in India is generally affected by it. “Cancer was a big blow to me and my family. I was in consultation with my doctor there, but just as I had started believing that it was over, the cancer relapsed in August last year. I was devastated and the question — how much time have I left? — started gnaw-
ing us all,” Yakoob told IANS. Adding to the difficulty, Yakoob realised that the required treatment was not available in Iraq. He then started looking elsewhere for treatment. “I first went to Saudi Arabia.
A friend of mine works in Delhi as a translator and he told me that the treatment was available here, and at a much lesser cost. It was like a ray of hope. The hospitals there offered the treatment, but I just could not afford it. It was too expensive. Then I went to Turkey, but it was the same situation. The treatment cost was around $150,000,” he said.
Just when dejection was setting in, especially seeing the faces of his wife and children, Yakoob came to know about the treatment in India. “A friend of mine works in Delhi as a translator and he told me that the treatment was available here, and at a much lesser cost. It was like a ray of renewed hope,” he said. So in January this year, Yakoob and his brother packed their bags and reached Delhi. They took on rent a small accommodation in Saket in south Delhi and visited Rahul Naithani, a consultant at the Bone Marrow Transplant and Hematology Department in Max Super Speciality Hospital. “When Abdul came to me in January last week, he was in average health but de-motivated. I knew it was an unusual case and that the cancer was aggressive. We had counselling sessions and I advised him two rounds of chemotherapy and then stem cell therapy. If the stem cell transplant was not done, his lifespan would be limited,” Naithani told IANS.
impression you leave could be there for years,” second year science student Radhika Kumar told IANS. Some have even made a habit of it. A student of the political science department, Stanzin Kanzary, has written many such words with permanent markers at different places. Sample some of his one-liners — ‘It is not a disgrace to fail; failing is one of the greatest facts of the world!’ or ‘Luck is what happens when preparation meets opportunity’.
Ratika Thakur, a student of masters in anthropology, was quite intrigued. “These caught my eye the moment I sat down to study,” she said about Stanzina’s writings. There are also those who make for a good laugh. Apurva Gautam, a microbiology student, said, “Once, I read a very witty quote written by someone on the table when I sat to study. Therefore, I keep searching for more whenever I sit down to study. The table is the first thing I read now. They make a good Facebook status.” One of the quotes that Apurva read was, ‘Love is as private as a toothbrush’. At times, there are messages addressed from a boy to a girl. One such message read: ‘I saw you studying Hindi. Please do come on Thursday at 6pm here only — Gaurava’. Udit Dureja, a final semester student of the University Institute of Engineering and Technology (UIET), said, “In our college people have signed wills. This scribbling was one reason that our tables are being replaced from wood to black marble and tiles. Now only pencils are used by some to write pointers to recall answers during exams.” IANS
COSYING COUPLE
A fawn and a cat bond in Feench, a village near Jodhpur dominated PTI by the Bishnoi community, on Wednesday.
India‑View
11
THURSDAY, MAY 24, 2012
India unveiled
Joshi ‘quits’ to mollify Modi MUMBAI: BJP leader Sanjay Joshi, bete noire of the Gujarat Chief Minister, today resigned ahead of the party National Executive meeting beginning here, a move seen as an effort by the party president to buy peace with Narendra Modi. "Joshi, who was invitee member of the National Executive, has in a letter to party president Nitin Gadkari said that he is relinquishing his post in the larger interest of the party," BJP sources said hours before the inauguration of the two day conclave. The move by Gadkari is significant as the shadow of Modi could have hung over the conclave as speculation had mounted over the Gujarat strongman's absence amid no official word from Gandhinagar. Modi had also not attended the last meeting of the National Executive held in Delhi in December apparently peeved over the induction of Joshi into Uttar Pradesh election campaign by Gadkari. He had also
NDA opposes petrol price hike, calls for all-India bandh on May 31 NEW DELHI: Opposing the
not campaigned in the UP polls. As per official programme, Modi will be in Udaipur in Rajasthan today to attend the birth centenary celebrations of Maharana Pratap and will be returning to Ahmedabad. As per his associates in Gandhinagar, Modi could make it to Mumbai tomorrow in view
of the development. The Executive meeting is significant as it would be the first major gathering of the BJP top brass ahead of the Assembly elections in Gujarat and Himachal Pradesh, the two party-ruled states, scheduled by the year-end. PTI
steep hike in petrol prices and spiralling prices of commodities, NDA has called for a nation-wide bandh on May 31. DA convenor and JDU President Sharad Yadav said that all the partners of the opposition alliance have been consulted in this regard. The alliance will also be talking to other parties for their support to the Bharat bandh. Rejecting Government's argument that the hike in petrol prices has been done by petroleum companies as the pricing of petrol stands deregulated, Yadav said, "This is an eyewash... We are going to observe a Bharat bandh on May 31." He asked why the hike was not announced earlier.
India, Pak top secretaries talks begin ISLAMABAD: The Home and Interior Secretaries of India and Pakistan began crucial two-day talks here today, with the discussions expected to focus on a relaxed visa regime and the prosecution of the perpetrators of the 2008 Mumbai terror attacks blamed on the Lashkar-eToiba. The Indian delegation led by Home Secretary RK Singh and the Pakistani team led by Interior Secretary Khwaja Siddique Akbar gathered at a hotel in the heart of Islamabad for the talks. The last round of talks between the Home and Interior Secretaries was held in New Delhi in March last year. Ahead of the talks, Indian officials said the two sides had given the finishing touches to a new relaxed visa regime that will for the first time include tourist visas, visas on arrival for senior citizens and children and year-long multipleentry visas for businessmen. The two secretaries are expected to ink the pack by the conclusion of the talks tomorrow, official sources said. However, some reports in the Pakistani media claimed that the visa agreement is unlikely to be signed. PTI
NATION AT A GLANCE Italy says India dispute hurts anti-piracy efforts UNITED NATIONS: Italy's foreign minister says India's arrest of two Italian marines accused of killing two Indian fishermen they mistook for pirates is having "a very, very negative effect" on international efforts to combat piracy. Giulio Terzi said the UN Law of the Sea treaty is "very clear" that jurisdiction over events on the high seas belongs to the flag nation of the ship involved, in this case Italy.
`5 crore power theft detected in MP CHHINDWARA: A 12- member team of the vigilance department of the Madhya Pradesh State Electricity Board today detected power theft worth `five crore following raids on offices of the Western Coalfields Limited (WCL) at Kanhan, Pench, Chandameta and Moadi and mines of the Prism Cement Company at Umred.
People burn an effigy representing the UPA government during a protest against the rise of petrol price, in Moradabad on Wednesday. PTI
Indian aircraft carrier's sea trials postponed MOSCOW: Sea trials of the Admiral
Dreamliner for Air India successfully test flown Lalit K Jha
A new WASHINGTON: Boeing 787 Dreamliner aircraft — which is to be delivered to Air India — has successfully completed its first test flight in South Carolina, the plane manufacturing company has said. "The airplane will now be
flown to Texas to be painted with Air India's livery before returning to Boeing's South Carolina plant for a mid-2012 delivery," an official statement said. This is the first Dreamliner built in Boeing's South Carolina plant. Test pilots Tim Berg and
AI introduces interim schedule Due to the continued agitation of the Indian Pilots Guild pilots, Air India has drawn an interim schedule from June 02 to 30, 2012. Under the interim schedule, Air India will operate 38 international flights per day instead of 45 international flights that it
operates under normal conditions. All flights to UAE, Oman, Bahrain, Kuwait, Singapore, Thailand and SAARC countries are being operated as per normal schedule. The only destinations not covered under the interim schedule are Hong Kong, Osaka, Seoul and Toronto.
Randy Neville flew the plane successfully during the fivehour test flight. More than 5,000 Boeing employees watched a live broadcast of the aircraft as it took off from Charleston International Airport. "This is a proud moment for our Boeing South Carolina team and for Boeing," said Jack Jones, vice president and general manager, Boeing South Carolina. "In April, we gathered on the flight line to watch this plane roll out of final assembly. Today, we watched as this aircraft successfully completed its first production flight — one step closer to delivering our first South Carolina-built 787 Dreamliner to our customer," Jones said. IANS
Gorshkov aircraft carrier, which is being overhauled for the Indian navy in Russia, have been postponed until beginning of June, the Sevmash shipyard said on Wednesday. The vessel was originally scheduled to sail for trials in the White Sea and the Barents Sea May 25. Its refurbishing is being carried out at the Sevmash.
India test-fires medium range Akash missile BHUBANESWAR: India today (Thursday) successfully test-fired its medium-range Akash surface-to-air missile from a base in Odisha, Defence Research and Development Organisation spokesperson Ravi Gupta said. The indigenously developed missile, which has a range of 27km and an effective ceiling of 15 km, was test-fired from the Integrated Test Range of Chandipur.
Students of a medical college participate in a face painting competition during a cultural programme in Kota on Wednesday. PTI
Around the World
12
THURSDAY, MAY 24, 2012
Beyond Borders
China takes aim at foreigners Host in China's state-run TV calls foreigners bitches, goes unpunished HONG KONG, CHINA: When the buttoned-up host of a TV program that is supposed to showcase intelligent dialogue with foreigners begins calling foreigners “trash,” “spies” and “bitch,” you might think that the host’s job would be in trouble. Not so for Yang Rui, the usually prim and stolid host of Dialogue, a high-profile Englishlanguage show on China’s statecontrolled CCTV International. His program is intended to be part of China’s soft-power mission to the rest of the world. In a recent post on Weibo, China’s equivalent of Twitter, he unleashed a rant following the announcement of a crackdown against illegal foreigners in Beijing that so deeply alarmed expats — including former guests on Yang’s show — that some have begun calling for a boycott against his program. In his tweet, as translated by Brendan O’Kane, Yang called for China’s Ministry of Public Security to “clean out the foreign trash” and “protect innocent girls,” urging the public to root out “foreign spies who find a Chinese girl to shack up with.” Most viciously, he celebrated the expulsion of American reporter Melissa Chan, calling her a “shrill foreign bitch.” “We should make everyone who demonizes China shut up and f**k off,” he concluded. He continued in this vein over several messages, in one of them telling non-Chinese, “don’t try to mess with us; or it’ll be no more Mr. Nice Guy.”
When Charles Custer, an American editor and resident of Beijing, circulated a flyer calling for Yang’s firing, the host threatened to sue him and accused him of “inciting racial hatred.” Those remarks have since been deleted, but Yang’s original posting is still visible on his microblog account. While all countries have hotheaded, xenophobic pundits, what many China watchers found most disturbing about Yang’s outburst was that it came from a man who has tried to cultivate an image as the reasonable, international face of China’s state-run media. The fact that his comments went unpunished by his supe-
riors has also raised suspicions that they tacitly condone his views. The last several weeks have been a delicate time for foreigners in China. In addition to the 100day crackdown — in which police are urging the public to report foreigners to a hotline — two videos showing expats behaving terribly have infuriated ordinary Chinese. In one, a drunk British man appeared to molest a local woman, and in the other, a Russian cellist rudely berated a woman on a high-speed train. Still, many Chinese netizens reacted harshly to Yang’s tirade. Charlie Custer collected and translated some of the more sar-
castic replies: “There is a reason fewer and fewer people are watching TV,” wrote one user. “Haha, so Yang Rui is really this big a dumbass. A dumbass pretending to be cool but actually a Boxer ” wrote another. Yang has since tried to explain away the controversy, saying that he was sorry for his “strong” language, while noting that he was not “beating a retreat from the principles” of his original post. But the damage may already be done. A number of Western journalists have vowed not to appear on Yang’s Dialogue again, and have urged other guests to follow suit. GLOBALPOST
CHILE’S ‘BLINK AND MISS’ LAKE I
n less than 24 hours Lake Cachet II in Chile's southern Patagonia vanished, leaving behind just some large puddles and chunks of ice in the vast lake bed. The lake's water comes from ice melting from the Colonia Glacier, located in the Northern Patagonian ice field, some 2,000 kilometers south of Santiago. The glacier normally acts as a dam containing the water, but rising temperatures have weakened its wall. Twice this year, on January 27 and March 31, water from the lake bore a tunnel between the rocks and the glacier wall. The result: Lake Cachet II's 200 million cubic litres of water gushed out into the Baker river, tripling its volume in a matter of hours, and emptying the five square kilometer lake bed. Cachet II has drained 11
In less than 24 hours, Lake Cachet II in Chile has completely vanished
The lake's water comes from ice melting from the Colonia Glacier, located in the Northern Patagonian ice field. times since 2008 — and with global temperatures climbing, experts believe this will increase in frequency.
"Climate models predict that as temperatures rise, this phenomenon, known as GLOFs (Glacial Lake Outburst Floods),
will become more frequent," said glaciologist Gino Casassa from the Center for Scientific Studies (CES). Casassa, a member of the 2007 Nobel Peace P r i z e - w i n n i n g Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, said there have been 53 similar cases of lakes draining in Chile between 1896 and January 2010, with increased frequency in the later years. CES research assistant Daniela Carrion was camped out with a small research team taking measurements of the Colonia Glacier when the lake drained in March. The lake dropped 31 meters when the water drained out, according to a report from the General Water Directorate, which monitors lake levels in Chile using satellite data. AFP
Beam me up Scotty! One last time T
he SpaceX company's Falcon 9 rocket has blasted off with supplies for the International Space Station, in the first commercial space venture. Falcon 9, carrying a capsule named Dragon packed with 1,000 pounds of space station provisions, took flight at 3:44am from Cape Canaveral, the Associated Press reported. An earlier launch of the Falcon 9 rocket was aborted early on Saturday in the final seconds before liftoff from Cape Canaveral. The real test comes on Thursday when the Dragon gets close to the space station. It will undergo practice manoeuvres from more than a mile out. If all goes well, the docking will occur on Friday. Until now, only major governments have launched a vessel to the space station. NASA has stressed that SpaceX was a demonstration flight, one of 12 planned SpaceX flights designed to establish whether SpaceX can deliver cargo to the space station, CNN reported. Currently, NASA has to rely on
the Russian space agency to ferry US astronauts to orbit. Meanwhile, ABC news reported that the rocket carried not only the ashes of Mercury astronaut Gordon Cooper, but also of actor James Doohan, who played Scotty on the original Star Trek series and the remains of 306 other people. For the most part, their families paid space services company Celestis between $1,000 and $13,000 to organize sending their ashes into orbit. According to ABC, the family of Brady Watson Kane, who died last year in a skydiving accident in Colorado, remembers when he told a teacher: "Some day I will take my family to space!" His parents said they will watch the launch on Saturday at Cape Canaveral in Florida. The ashes are in a canister stored in the second stage of the Falcon 9 rocket, designed to separate from the Dragon capsule nine minutes into flight and orbit the Earth for up to a year before it re-enters the atmosphere and burns up. GLOBALPOST
Around the World
13
THURSDAY, MAY 24, 2012
Beyond Borders
Hollande draws first blood
GLOBE AT A GLANCE Syria assails rebel town, admits sanctions hurting
BRUSSELS: French President
DAMASCUS: Syrian forces tried to storm the rebel bastion of Rastan on Wednesday under cover of gunfire and shelling, reports said, as Damascus admitted sanctions were biting and the head of the main opposition bloc resigned. There was no word on any Rastan casualties, but Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said 15 people were killed nationwide, including seven troops shot dead at Qalamun.
AFP/ JOHN THYS
Francois Hollande stepped up his crusade on Thursday to convince eurozone nations to share debt between rich and poor despite resistance from Germany. Boarding a train rather than a plane to attend his maiden EU summit, the socialist leader marked a clean break from the “Merkozy” years when his predecessor Nicolas Sarkozy was Chancellor Angela Merkel’s closest ally. Fighting Germany’s insistence on budgetary discipline as the prime remedy to the debt crisis, Hollande quietly but firmly pushed for growth-oriented policies to re-balance austerity. The freshly-elected Socialist leader came “floating ideas ... not coming to Brussels with a Kalashnikov”, said a member of his entourage. But after five hours of talks, Hollande said he wanted to see eurobonds — pooled eurozone debt — “written into the agenda” of the European Union as it went forward though Merkel disagreed. Amid mounting worries over Greece’s future in the eurozone and the fate of troubled Spanish banks, the gamechanging notion won wide backing from his peers, according to Italian leader Mario Monti, who quoted “a majority” in favour. As the 27-nation bloc prepares for major decisions on growth at an end-June summit,
Briton to boot mayor in trouble
LONDON: A mayor of a British town has landed herself into trouble by wearing footwear carrying print of the Union Flag. She is now facing angry calls to resign. Councillor Trudy Offer chose to wear the trendy Union Flag shoes as a mark of respect when 200 troops accepted the freedom of Warwick last Friday. But her fashionable footwear outraged a number of bystanders who said military traditions state that the Union Flag should never touch the ground. AFP
French President Francois Hollande is seen after a meeting of European Union leaders in Brussels earlier today.
New Zealand curbs spending
Euro stays weak after EU summit
WELLINGTON: New Zealand said on Thursday it would contain spending to try to put the government’s books back in the black within three years, while also fostering growth in the struggling economy. Unveiling his annual budget, finance minister Bill English said he had rejected a “slash and burn” approach to achieving a surplus, mindful of the social and economic costs that radical measures would have.
TOKYO: The euro remained under pressure against other currencies in Asia on Thursday with European Union leaders’ pledge of united fight against the debt crisis failing to impress market players. The euro, which hit a 22month low of $1.2545 on Wednesday, bought $1.2579 in Tokyo morning trade against $1.2582 in New York late on Wednesday.
Hollande said eurobonds would enable countries “to access financing more easily on (money) markets”. This would allow governments to finance investments that could create jobs in the short-term and underpin economic growth down the line, while helping countries paying high borrowing costs. Spain and Italy currently pay as much as five times more interest than Germany in issuing national bonds. “A majority of countries said they were in favour of eurobonds, even those not in the eurozone, like Britain,” said Monti, whose caretaker leadership of Italy piloting radical economic reforms has seen him emerge as a key EU powerbroker. With stated support from the Netherlands, Finland and Sweden, Merkel said afterwards that there had been a “balanced” discussion on eurobonds, and that several participants expressed doubts about the benefits of unified eurozone interest rates. Berlin fears eurobonds would only result in German taxpayers permanently underwriting the public finances of weaker eurozone economies. EU president Herman Van Rompuy said the subject was “briefly touched upon” by several leaders “in the framework of deepening the monetary and economic union”, but that noone was seeking “immediate introduction”. AFP
Philip Philips is 11th Idol
Tokyo raises ¥1bn to buy China dispute islets TOKYO: The Tokyo city government said members of the public had pledged almost one billion yen ($12.5mn) to its drive to buy a group of uninhabited islands at the centre of a row with China. About 864mn yen has already been sent to a bank account Tokyo’s metropolitan authorities opened a month ago to accept citizen donations.
US President Barack Obama arrives at Mountain View, California, on Wednesday to attend campaign events in California. AFP
8 people killed, 33 wounded in Iraq attacks BAGHDAD: Attacks in Iraq killed eight people and wounded 33 on Wednesday, security officials said, as Baghdad hosted key nuclear talks in its latest effort to emerge from decades of isolation. Three people were killed and 14 wounded in a shooting and three roadside bombings in Baquba, capital of Diyala province north of the capital.
MARK DAVIS/ GETTY IMAGES/ AFP
LOS ANGELES: American Idol declared guitar-strumming Phillip Phillips the winner of its 11th season on US television today after viewers cast a record 132 million votes. “All the fans out there, thank y’all for voting for us,” said the boyish 21-year-old from Georgia before host Ryan Seacrest announced the result at the end of a two-hour gala season finale. Runner-up was Jessica Sanchez, 16, a southern Californian of Filipino and Latino heritage whose prospects, critics say, dimmed with a less-thanimpressive performance during Tuesday’s pre-vote sing-off. The show ended with Phillips playing his countryinflicted first single Home, but — clearly overcome with emotion — he broke off before the end to hug his family. Though its ratings have waned over the years, notably
Yemen gets $4bn aid, bulk of it from Saudi RIYADH: Donors, with Saudi Arabia in the lead, pledged $4 billion in aid to impoverished Yemen on Wednesday as it grapples with a fragile political transition and struggles to contain a growing threat by Al-Qaeda. At the opening of the meeting, Saudi Arabia said it would give neighbouring Yemen $3.25 billion, and urged other nations to follow suit.
Winner Phillip Phillips performs onstage during Fox’s American Idol 2012 results show at Nokia Theatre, LA. since the departure of British music mogul Simon Cowell from the panel of judges, American Idol remains one of the mostwatched shows of any genre on US television. For the season finale, Phillips
and Sanchez shared the stage at the Nokia Theatre in Los Angeles with a galaxy of stars from Neil Diamond to Rihanna, as well as other top 12 season contestants with whom they will now embark on a national tour. AFP
The corpse of an unidentified woman remains in a clandestine cemetery in Colon near El Salvador. AFP
Comment
THURSDAY, MAY 24, 2012
Fair, free and forthright
Space for rent!
Talk back RGV’s controversies Gone are the days when people would await to watch a Ram Gopal Verma film; calling his movies of today disastrous is an understatement. Trying to show his tricks with the 60D and all the other sophisticated cameras didn't improve the film even a bit. In fact, it has made it even worse. Now he has started blaming his cast and other team members for the disaster of the movie Department. Seriously, give me a break man! RGV u suck! It is high time you made a sensible movie now. I genuinely hope he comes up with another Rangeela! Bhavya Chandan Langar Houz
Adventure at sea This article of yours has definitely helped people like me understand that there is a world beyond engineering and CA. Now, I, being a student of the 12th standard, would surely count Merchant Navy as a career perspective. I was oblivious to the fact that these guys are paid so heavily! If you are a fan of water, adventure and of course money, this is a career option you should surely consider instead of being stuck with age-old ideas; Merchant Navy, as it gives you everything you can ask for. What also comes with all this is supreme status and an elite lifestyle. Ehsanuddin Amin Banjara Hills
Playgrounds, a must One thing that there is a severe dearth of in the more developed areas of Twin Cities is play area for our children. A healthy body makes for a healthy mind and lifestyle. And regular and enough exercising is a key to a healthy body. But this remains a myth in areas that have left no room for even trees, let alone for playgrounds. Not having playgrounds is resulting in unhealthy growth of children, earlier onset of diseases making them obese couch potatoes. Agreed, to get maximum out of city life, Secunderabad is the area to live in. Niti Sunder East Maredpally
Address human error Loss of many lives because of laxity of engine drivers of Humpi Express should serve as an eye opener to us all. To hold the drivers responsible and punishing them is not the complete answer. One main aspect of their functioning needs to looked into — their working hours. Jyothi Meera Kukatpally
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. Editor: Dean Williams
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But... Seriously Ajay Hotchandani
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recently stumbled upon an article in the Postnoon regarding Hyderabad and the increase in surrogate mothers being sought out there. One of the principal reasons behind this is the economics of it all... it’s pretty much one of the best and cheapest places to ‘rent a womb’. Essentially that is what it’s all about. “Excuse me ma’am but does that uterus come with a place to park a placenta? It does. Great, we will rent it for the next nine months.” One of the good things about surrogate, and the whole concept of procreation, is it insures the survival of humanity and the creation of more people who will cause even further traffic delays once they learn to drive. One of the things that always intrigued me about the process of surrogacy is how did someone determine the price? Did they compare it to the price of real estate in the local market? Did they calculate how many shoes and handbags they could buy? I could never really figure out what price a uterus goes for, especially in this economy. Imagine you are flipping through the classifieds and you came across: ‘For Rent: One uterus. Almost like new. No previous occupants. Access to plumbing and power. Spacious interior (it can grow to suit your needs). Ideal for one but can fit up to eight. Ideal neighbourhood. Interested parties please apply by presenting an application, two letters of reference and first and last month's deposit.’ Then you have to ask yourself, do you hire a woman who has done this before and has experience or do you get a girl who has never had to deal with stretch marks, swollen ankles, abstaining from alcohol and hormonal mood swings. Can you imagine that advertisement: ‘For Rent: One uterus. Four previous occupants. All occupants gave a 5-Star rating. Accommodations include a Jacuzzi, 24-hour concierge and security. Prospective tenants please fill out and submit FormUBNME with a non-refundable $75 fee. Successful applicants will be notified via Facebook.’ This got me thinking even more... what if, as a guy, I had the opportunity to rent out bits and pieces of my body. What would I rent and what would I charge? So I came up with the following possibilities:
Editorials
I
Body Part
Cost
Brain
`1,000/ $20 (per day) Assuming it works, it can be used to answer questions regarding anything it can process without crashing.
Use(s)
Ears
`280/ $5 (per hour)
Listen to whatever you say and agree with you, even if you are talking bad about us.
Mouth
`500/ $10 (per day)
We will keep it shut and only speak when you want us to.
Hands
`100/ $2 (per day)
Price is per bag you make us hold with your hand. Extra for hold purses.
Finger and Toe nails
`500/ $10 (per day)
You can paint them any nail polish colour to test and see how the colour looks.
Feet
`750/ $15 (per day)
Stretch out shoes too tight for you.
While the above spreadsheet serves to demonstrate as an example of what little is available to rent and at what cost, it is by no means my attempt to publish or establish
MODIFYING TOP COUNCIL TO MOLLIFY Modi will not help BJP
n a move that is likely to mollify a miffed Narendra Modi, BJP chief Nitin Gadkari's Man Friday Sanjay Joshi has 'quit' as the party national executive. Joshi has, on several occasions, gone hammer and tongs against Modi — with the silent blessings of Gadkari. However, the swayam sevak chief minister is not someone you slight and walk away. The party found itself in an embarrassing position after its poster boy for governance and prime minister probable deciding to give their top decision-making meet a miss. With its Karnataka strongman BS Yeddyurappa on the verge of floating a new party, it's not surprising that the BJP leadership chose a path of compromise to appease Modi. The infighting in the party has severely undercut its abilities to project itself as a credible alternative to the Congress. The massive hike in fuel prices has provided the saffron party a stick, if not a mace, to beat the Congress with. Unfortunately, the party finds itself without a leader who can unify other Opposition parties and lead an effective charge that can shake the foundations of the Centre.
rates for the rental of male body parts. I am sure that nail polish will suit me but no thank you; I am not going to try on anymore nail polish!
RISING PETROL PRICE could be a boon
W
elcome to a world where the price of one litre of petrol has crossed the `81 mark. Welcome to a world where driving or riding anywhere becomes increasingly expensive. Welcome to the future. Rather than bemoaning the rise in petrol prices we should be applauding the fact that people may now very well be forced to use public transport or opt for greener modes of conveyance. Hail the rise!
Telly Tales
Small screen, big idea
Kenan and Kel
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his show used to air on Nickelodeon. A show about two American teenagers Kenan Rockmore and Kel Kimble. Every show started off and ended with Kel breaking the fourth wall and interacting with the studio audience. Every show of theirs managed to put them in some insane amounts of trouble with equal amounts of humour. In short it was a laugh riot.
THURSDAY, MAY 24, 2012
lia phlli Today’s TV shows for kids do not match up to the ones we saw in the 90s. We look at some shows that could come back for a re-run and still be a whopping hit with the kids Siddharth TSS feedback@postnoon.com
T
he 1990s was the era when television was filled with entertaining and enthralling shows for kids and teenagers. A myriad of shows have cropped up
T
T
o say the least, Captain Planet was the first animated eco activist. Even the show’s villains were named quite cleverly like Duke Nukem, Hoggish Greedly and Looten Plunder. Gaia, the spirit of the Earth sends five rings with powers of the elements to five chosen youth in the world. This show was a hit with children and provided a lot of messages especially that the responsibility of protecting the environment lies with each one of us. A few of the episodes also touched topics like drug abuse and HIV-Aids .
Conrad Bain
Global Guts
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n action sports competition show where children from all parts of the world took part in teams of three representing their own respective countries. Every task given to them had the viewers sitting on the edge of their seats. The major driver of this show was to see which team could win the final task the ‘Super Aggro Crag’ which was an assortment of various obstacles tumbling down an incline.
since then but why does one keep going back to the old? What did those shows have that the new ones seem to lack? Is it a question of animation, originality or just the plain sense of innocence? We find out the secret to their success.
Swat Kats
he ‘radical squadron’ as the tagline suggest was truly one of its kind. The theme, the animation and the storyline was way beyond its time. The legendary protagonist duo of T-bone and Razor had many kids mimicking their antics. The Turbo Kat, the duo’s jet their technology and their get out of trouble, gadgets were quite the rage. Not to forget the villains like Dark Kat, Doctor Viper and the Pastmaster.
Captain Planet and the Planeteers
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Legends of the Hidden Temple
egends of the Hidden Temple is an action-adventure game show for children. The show centres around a Temple that is filled with lost treasures protected by mysterious Mayan Temple Guards. In this game six teams of two would take part to see which team was worthy enough to enter the temple filled with lost treasures to regain the lost treasure of the particular episode.
Where are they now?
Then: Phillip Drummond is a wealthy white widower, who runs the Trans Aillen Co. Housing Development. Phillip has a daughter, named Kimberly, and two adopted African American sons, 12-year-old Willis, and 8year-old Arnold Jackson. Now: He basically retired from the business since Diff’rent Strokes ended in 1986. He guest starred as Mr. Drummond on a May 20, 1996 episode of the Fresh Prince of Bel Air. He was last seen on the 2011 TV series Unforgettable where he played the role of a Priest.
Gary Coleman Then: Arnold Jackson is the younger brother of Willis Jackson. Arnold is a “precocious moppet”, who was known for his catchphrase, “Whatchoo talkin’ ‘bout Willis?, which became part of popular culture. Now: Coleman became a popular figure, starring in a number of feature films and made-for-TV movies including On the Right Track and The Kid with the Broken Halo. The latter eventually served as the basis for the HannaBarbera-produced animated series The Gary Coleman Show in 1982. Coleman died at on May 28 at the age of 42 due to a seizure.
DIFF’RENT STROKES D
iff’rent Strokes is an American television sitcom that aired on NBC from November 3, 1978. The series stars Gary Coleman and Todd Bridges as Arnold and Willis Jackson, two African
Todd Bridges: Then: Willis James Jackson is the older brother of Arnold. Willis was portrayed alternately as rebellious and responsible.
Now: Bridges participated in the 2006 celebrity episode of Fear Factor, but was eliminated after the first stunt. In March 2008, Bridges appeared on World’s Dumbest Motorheads. His association with the show still continues.
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American boys from Harlem who are taken in by a rich white Park Avenue businessman named Phillip Drummond and his daughter Kimberly, for whom their deceased mother previously worked.
Dana Plato Then: Kimberly Drummond is the only daughter of Philip Drummond. Kimberly was shown as a caring, loving big sister to both Willis and Arnold, but as a coming of age teenager, she suffered from various problems.
Now: After leaving Diff’rent Strokes, Plato attempted to establish herself as a serious actress. However, Plato died on May 8, 1999, when she took an accidental drug overdose of Lortab.
H‑Factor
THURSDAY, MAY 24, 2012
Holistic view of mind, body and soul
Body in over drive?
Patients with hyperthyroidism often find that their racing metabolic rate also leaves them with excessive sweating and pulse rates
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Be cautious with cats when pregnant
Dr Divya T Sudarshan
Ranjani Rajendra ranjani.r@postnoon.com
T
he whole world is going nuts trying to curb the number of calories they consume and is weight watching, but not you. Seemingly blessed with a wonderful metabolic rate, you can eat just about anything you want and yet stay as slim as ever. At the same time you are prone to having a faster pulse rate, nervous spells, mood swings and at times also face trouble getting to sleep no matter how tired you are. Ever wondered why this is happening? There’s probably more than just a splendid metabolic rate at play here. A medical check could probably throw up the possibility of you suffering from hyperthyroidism. While for most people the first thing that strikes them about thyroidism is an overweight woman with several
issues, what most forget is that there are two kinds of thyroidism – hypothyroidism (the thyroid gland is sluggish) and hyperthyroidism (an overactive thyroid gland). The thyroid hormone, which is released by the thyroid gland (situated in the neck), helps regulate the body metabolism rate. In patients with hyperthyroidism, the gland is overactive and releases too much of the thyroid hormone, which in turn speeds up the metabolic rate. So no matter what you eat, you’re bound to burn up those calories faster than you’d realise. On the flipside though, since the thyroid gland is over active it releases so much of the hormone that your system goes into an over drive. Everything in the body speeds up. People who have hyperthyroidism face symptoms that are the opposite of those associated with hypothyroidism. The only common
symptom is the irregular menstrual cycle. Patients with hyperthyroidism will find that they have an increased appetite and eat a lot, yet they lose weight. They will also suffer from insomnia, faster pulse rate, tremors in the limbs, have bulging eyes, pass stools frequently and have excessive sweating. While hypothyroidism may be rather common in women, the incidence of hyperthyroidism is quite less. Hence, the lack of awareness and the common misconception that people with thyroid will put on weight and don’t lose weight. In fact, if 5 per cent of the population suffers from hypothyroidism then only around 0.5 to 1 per cent them will suffer from hyperthyroidism. “Women can be affected by thyroidism at any age. It is most commonly seen in women between the ages of 18 and 30. When reported, we usually prescribe drugs that
can suppress the over active thyroid gland and halt the excessive production of the hormone,” says Dr Prasun Deb, endocrinologist. Initially, the lack of iodine in a person’s diet was considered to be the cause for thyroid problems in people. However, with the government having made it mandatory that all common salts be iodised, this problem has come down tremendously. “However, having a thyroid problem can affect pregnancy. Which is why when a thyroid patient is pregnant she should be treated carefully as it is important for the growth of the baby. It is essential that they consult a specialist for treatment of thyroidism especially during pregnancy,” says Dr Prasun Deb. In extreme cases, surgery is also suggested for patients with hyperthyroidism. If the thyroid must be removed with surgery then thyroid hormone replacement pills will be prescribed as well.
I am 6 months pregnant and have a pet dog that I love to play with. But a friend of mine said that it isn’t such a great idea to be in close proximity with a pet cat (as it can be harmful for my baby and me. Does the same apply to dogs? I can safely say dogs usually are safe in pregnancy. They tend to be a bit boisterous and slobbery, try and jump on you and your growing belly. They can also be a handful, especially large dogs, (when they drag you during their walks). So try and leave the strenuous care taking to others. They also have a tendency to carry parasites, which may cause skin rashes etc. The best way to be safe is to treat the dog early on, ask your vet for any preventive medications that you can take. Cats though have had bad press. House cats rarely cause any problems. Yes, it is true that a parasite called toxoplasma gondii is transmitted through them, which is known to cause miscarriages. It is estimated that more people are infected with T Gondii by eating raw meat, than by cats! Cats are not the primary carriers. They get infected and once they form antibodies against it they do not transmit. You need to beware of cats that are outdoors. Also be very careful in cleaning cat faeces. Keep your house cat away from strays and always wash your hands thoroughly after playing with pets! Once the baby is born never leave the child alone with the animal, no matter how even tempered. And when they are crawling make sure to wash their hands and keep an eye out for animal faeces etc. Our pets don’t know that the owner is pregnant. They will show their love in the only way they know, by licking, biting, playing and snuggling up. We, as the smarter beings have to take that extra step to keep ourselves safe without shunning our furry friends! (The writer is a gynaecologist and obstetrician practising at Happy Women Clinic. You can write in to her at happywomenclinic@gmail.com)
H‑Factor
THURSDAY, MAY 24, 2012
Holistic view of mind, body and soul
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No study linking mobile tower radiation with cancer: Experts Medical experts who came together for a conference in the Capital say that there are no conclusive studies to prove that radiation from cellular towers causes cancer NEW DELHI: There are no conclusive scientific studies anywhere to prove low radiation emitted from cellular towers can cause cancer in human beings, and authorities must gear up to tackle other environmental issues that cause the lifestyle disease, experts said at a conference here. “There is no conclusive scientific fact which can directly link cellular tower radiation with cancer. There are various other environmental risk factors also which could be responsible for increasing cases of cancer and authorities should look into it,” said Ajay Kumar, the sole
THERE HAS BEEN A MASSIVE PUBLIC OUTCRY OVER THE HEALTH HAZARDS OF CELLULAR TOWER RADIATION IN ALL MAJOR CITIES. PEOPLE ACROSS THE COUNTRY HAVE LOT OF CONFUSION ABOUT RADIATION IN ALL MAJOR CITIES
Indian member on the World Medical Council. “Till the theory of the health hazards of cell phone radiation and towers gets a reliable backup of scientific proof, it would be highly unfair to censure the most wonderful technological advent of the 20th century for health risks and diseases as serious as cancer,” Ajay said. There has been a massive public outcry and protests over the health hazards of cellular tower radiation in all major cities. People across the country have lot of confusion and misconception about radiation and it’s effects which includes them of suspecting mobile towers for increasing cancer risk. India has roughly 400,000 towers according to the Telecom
Regulatory Authority of India. Several organisations and citizens groups across the country have been protesting over the years against radiation from mobile towers, pointing out that
these pose a health hazard. After a string of street protests over cellular towers during the past few weeks in Jaipur, experts gathered for a conference on “Cellular towers
and radiation — What’s true & what is not”. Hemant Thacker, a consultant at Mumbai’s Jaslok Hospital, who has come across a case where more than two residents in the same building developed cancer after the mobile tower was set up on the building, said: “There is no study prima facie which directly co-relates the two.” According to the World Health Organization (WHO), “considering the very low exposure levels and research result collected to date, there is no convincing scientific evidence that the week radio frequency signals from base stations and wireless network cause adverse health effects”. “There is no scientific study or proof till now, which can conclusively say that cell tower radiation cause cancer. People have more of misconception than understanding over the issue,” DP Singh, a senior radiation oncologist with Jaipur’s SMS Hospital, said. Subir Ganguly, head of radiotherapy at Kolkata’s NRS Medical College and Hospital, said: “It is very important to have conclusive scientific proof on the issue. This calls for immediate research to find out links, if any, between cellular tower radiation and increasing incidences of cancer.” The Cellular Operation Association of India (COAI) conducted a study last year on electromagnetic radiation from cell towers. The study that was conducted by IIT-Madras and Thiagarajar College, Madurai, found that cell phone tower radiation at 96 locations in Mumbai was within the permissible level of 4,500 mW/sq m. In front of Nehru Science Centre it was 20 times lower, in Phoenix Mills 144 times lower, in Bandra’s Kala Nagar 17 times lower, in Oberoi Mall 64 times lower and at JJ flyover 29 time lower. IANS
Musical device to help babies feed WASHINGTON: Many premature babies face typically unpleasant medical procedures, long hospital stays and increased chances of chronic health issues throughout their lives. To help address one of their biggest problems, learning how to suckle and feed, the Florida State University has announced the availability of a Pacifier Activated Lullaby (PAL) device to hospitals around the world. The innovative device, which uses musical lullabies to help infants quickly learn the muscle movements needed to suckle, and ultimately feed, is being sold through a partnership with Powers Device Technologies Inc. Research studies have shown that PAL can reduce the length of a premature infant’s hospital stay by an average of five days. “Unlike full-term infants, premature babies come into the world lacking the neurologic ability to coordinate a suck/swallow/breathe response for oral feeding,” said Jayne Standley, professor of music therapy at Florida and inventor of the PAL. “The longer it takes them to learn this essential skill, the further behind in the growth process they fall. PAL uses musical lullaby reinforcement to speed this process up, helping them feed sooner and leave the hospital sooner,” adds Standley. PAL uses a specially wired pacifier and speaker to provide musical reinforcement every time a baby sucks on it correctly. The musical lullabies are gentle and pleasant to the baby, making them want to continue the sucking motion so they can hear the lullaby. The study showed that infants will increase their sucking rates up to 2.5 times more than infants not exposed to the musical reinforcement. IANS
F‑Folio
Because you are what you wear
GUCCI
Men
B
Models
ritish actor and this year’s jury member Ewan McGregor chose a midnight blue Dior tuxedo. Brad Pitt to mesmerise the crowd with his Gucci casuals for the press call of his film Killing them softly. While Alec Baldwin looked dapper in a classic navy suit and red tie, Gael Garcia Bernal put his fashion foot forward in a Dior look.
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nother common site at the Cannes Film Festival are the supermodels appearances at film premieres and photo calls. Spotted at Cannes were British model Lara Stone, Russian model Natasha Poly, Czech models Petra Nemcova, Karolina Kurkova, and Eva Herzigova.
DIOR
Surabhi Chauhan feedback@postnoon.com
The writer is a fashion blogger (www.lovestruckcow.blogspot.com) who attempts to bridge the gap between creator and consumer. As a fashion writer, she hopes to promote Indian fashion among Indians and on a global level too.
Cannes Red Carpet
THURSDAY, MAY 24, 2012
Freida Pinto
B
esides being L’Oreal Paris ambassador, Freida is at Cannes for the promotion of her film ‘Desert Dancer’. One to put brown girls on the fashion forefront, Pinto is always discussed for her red carpet moments besides her now cemented berth as an actress to reckon with in Hollywood. Left: Freida wearing an Atelier Versace
J
Jane Fonda
ane Fonda also a spokesperson for L’Oreal Paris looked stunning in the floor length, form-fitting gowns from the likes of Stella McCartney, and Roberto Cavalli. Jane’s healthy body and fit frame is hard to miss on the Festival de Cannes red carpet.
P
20&21
Diane Kruger
art of this year's jury, the Troy actress has been giving the shutterbugs high fashion looks at each red carpet event during the Festival de Cannes."She wore fashion’s best like Calvin Klein, Balmain, Jason Wu & Vivienne Westwood. Left: In a Giambattista Valli. Above: In a Vivienne Westwood gown.
Cannes Film Festival is an annual event which started in 1946. It previews films from all around the world and this year, Anurag Kashyap’s film Gangs of Wasseypur and Ashim Ahluwalia’s Miss Lovely are being premiered at the event. Besides the invitation-only film premieres, the Cannes is also known for the stellar red carpet sightings. L’Oreal ambassadors like Freida Pinto, Aishwarya Rai, Eva Longoria, Sonam Kapoor, and Jane Fonda dress up in glamorous gowns and make for memorable red carpet moments. Here are a few red carpet images from Cannes 2012 festival so far. (More images from the festival next week.)
Spotlight
THURSDAY, MAY 24, 2012
22
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The coffee club
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Magic Screen
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THURSDAY, MAY 24, 2012
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Magic Screen
THURSDAY, MAY 24, 2012
The glamour behind the glitz
Halle Berry miffed at paparazzi H alle Berry has taken aim at Hollywood’s paparazzi again, insisting it’s time for the “creepy” snappers to stop hanging around outside the schools which celebrities’ young kids attend. The Oscar winner was caught on camera clashing with photographers as she was picking her daughter Nahla up from a Los Angeles school on 10 May. Screaming obscenities, the angry actress told the snappers,
“I’m doing something honourable. I’m not harassing people!” The Monster’s Ball star has since apologised for the way she handled the situation, but she’s still adamant that schools should be paparazzifree zones. She tells US news show Access Hollywood, “We’re stooping to a new low when we prop up our children and we exploit them like this, and people can’t wait to open magazines
Channing Tatum on stripping for Magic Mike
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atthew McConaughey and Joe Manganiello joke around about what went into preparing for their roles as strippers in Magic Mike – but Channing Tatum, who actually worked as one in real life, says there really wasn’t anything fun about it. “You’re just a guy taking off his clothes, looking like a fool in a stupid outfit,” Tatum, 32, tells Out magazine in its June/July cover story. The toughest part for the actor was the actual removing of the clothing. “I never enjoyed the taking-the-clothes-off part,” he says. “You are on a stage with people yelling at you and you feel like you’re a rock star, but you’re nothing.” And as for his role in Hollywood, “I’ve been acting for eight years now, and I feel I’m just starting to understand things,” says Tatum. “I want to keep finding people I can learn from.”
to see what four year olds are wearing. There’s something fundamentally wrong with that and our children should be off-limits. “They are innocent little babies that don’t need to be exploited all over these magazines. “I’m fair game, I get it. But my kids and the kids at my daughter’s school should not be harassed like that. It’s just wrong, wrong, wrong and wrong.”
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Magic Screen
Sudheer Babu gets busy A
fter making his debut in SMS, Sudheer Babu is gearing up to shoot couple of films simultaneously this year. His next film, titled Aggipulla,is a complete action entertainer and it is going to be directed by Vamsi Krishna Akella, who had earlier made Raksha. To prepare for this role, Sudheer Babu has hit the gym and has reportedly taken the help of professional trainers to tone up his body. Apart from this film, he has also signed another film tentatively titled Gali. Rajesh, a former associate of Ee Rojullo’s director Maruti, is going to direct the film. Maruti is writing the story, screenplay and dialogues for the film. More details about the cast and crew of both these films will be made soon.
Priya Anand in talks for an Arya film?
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THURSDAY, MAY 24, 2012
The glamour behind the glitz
riya Anand might soon team up with Arya, if all goes well. Buzz in Kollywood is that she’s in talks with Atlee, a former assistant of Shankar, for an untitled film. The talks are still in the initial stages and sources say that a formal announcement about the lead cast will be made soon. Priya Anand was last seen in Jayendra’s bilingual film 180 and since then she has been extremely selective about her projects. Apart from Gauri Shinde’s English Vinglish, she didn’t sign any film in Telugu or Tamil. She was recently news for her association with PETA after she urged the citizens of Chennai to write to the Mayor to call off his plans to round up and jail stray dogs.
Kochadaiyaan is Vikram Simha in Telugu
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T-TOWN TWEETIES
@shrutihaasan CSK :D whissssstle podu !! Ok now off to zzzz much work to be done tomorrow toodles tweeps! Xoxo
@pnavdeep26 soaring at 800feet above d ground.... alone watchin d sunset...! no words can express that feelin..... #loveparagliding
@ramsayz
R
ajinikanth’s upcoming film Kochadaiyaan has been titled as Vikram Simha in Telugu. Lakshmi Ganapati films had bagged the dubbing rights of the film for a record price and given the incredible buzz surrounding the film, the production house seems to have big plans for this film. In the past, they had distributed 2012 which was a blockbuster. Vikram Simha stars Rajinikanth,Deepika Padukone, Shobana, Sharath Kumar, Jackie Shroff, Aadhi and Rukmini in lead roles. The film was recently shot in Trivandrum and Hong Kong. Soundarya R Ashwin is directing the film and AR Rahman has scored the music. Vikram Simha is the first Indian film to be shot using performance capture technology and it is expected to hit the screens for Deepavali.
Here’s wishing one of the most important person in my lifeYVS Chowdary garu a very Happy B’day!
@trishtrashers SAMAR finally a wrap in Bangkok for me... Had so much fun with d team n had my first combination with Sunaina as well :) Twas a blast !!!
@shraddhadas43 Came to chennai travelling 8 hrs from kerala,taking a day off from shoot, just for my bestest friend @LoOoneyI wedding!Gav her a surprise!
@taapsee So finally d guest book on my website is functional. Feel free to post ur comments, compliments, queries n anything u wanna tell or ask me.
@actressanjjanaa No aam junta in india, None of us should survive n the goverment should jus kill one another instead of increasing atyachar wid hikes!
@RanaDaggubati Is the planet allowed to get this hot!! I’m melting, so is the unit, shooting for some extensive action sequences outdoor!! #KVJ
Chai Time
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 referenced by the number. Within each collection of cells — called a run — any of the numbers 1 to 9 may be used but, like sudoku, each number may only be used once. Let’s have an example to explain this concept more clearly: In the image above, which shows a section of a kakuro puzzle, you will see the numbers ‘26’ and ‘14’ in the top row. Look at the 14. This means that the total of the three cells underneath must sum to 14. Therefore 9, 4, 1 could be the answer, or perhaps 7, 4, 3 and so on... So, how do you work out the actual combination? Well, this is done through elimination and cross-referencing. For instance, as you work out the answers for other kakuro clues, this will naturally limit the valid combinations, and hence the answer for this particular run. Note the second cell in row two — it contains two numbers, 30 and 11. The 30 refers to the vertical run underneath the number 30 and the 11 refers to the two cells to the right, horizontally, of the number 11.
SCRIBBLING PAD
THURSDAY, MAY 24, 2012
Take a shot at the brain game while sipping your cuppa
26
QUICK CROSSWORD ACROSS 1 Company with a spokesduck 6 Pillow coverings 11 Light toss 14 2005 Oscar winner for Best Picture 15 Citrus fruit 16 ‘Ear’ anagram 17 A pageant winner's title 19 ‘Gidget’ actress Sandra 20 ‘Put some meat on those bones!’ 21 ‘Norma ___’ (Sally Field film) 22 Wax drawing stick 24 Ceylon, today 27 ___ mater 28 Asner and Harris 29 Members of rhythm sections 33 Disorderly struggle 36 Small South American monkey 37 ‘Go no further!’ 38 Words that will definitely get you a kiss 39 Ancient Athenian statesman 40 Dinghy tool 41 Taped-eyeglasses wearer 43 ___ and proper 44 Long-winded 46 Vulgarly dressed 48 Pompom waver's cry 49 Alliance of countries 50 Suitable person? 55 Most happy-go-lucky 57 Ticket- window transaction 58 Legendary actress West 59 ‘___ the fields we go ...’ 60 Address for Obama 64 Sibling of sis 65 Caravan's stopover 66 ‘Don't ___ words!’ 67 Charged-up particle 68 Snail's trail 69 Concluded DOWN 1 High points 2 Cloister denizen 3 ‘That's the ___ heard’
4 One at a brayer meeting? 5 Blatant deception 6 Built for speed 7 That girl yonder 8 Little Jack Horner's last words 9 Casual shoe 10 Entangles 11 First woman to sit as a member of Parliament 12 Classic Nabisco snack 13 Has-___ (former star) 18 ‘... on a dead ___ chest’ 23 ‘Lucky Jim’ author Kingsley 25 Peggy or Pinky 26 Skill or know-how 30 Electron's home 31 Pond critter 32 Nimble 33 Type of bus 34 ‘East of ___’ 35 ‘She Walks in Beauty’
poet 36 Divided 39 Ghostly 42 Editorial strike-out 44 1941-45, for the United States 45 Fun-house cries 47 Interest of astronomers 48 Has second thoughts about 51 Like a competitor on ‘The Biggest Loser’ 52 Make scholarly corrections to 53 Jousting weapon 54 Wined and dined 55 Mongolian
SUDOKU
desert 56 Prefix with ‘dynamic’ 61 Trident-shaped Greek letter 62 Slam-dunk circle 63 Tumultuous noise
PREVIOUS PUZZLE ANSWER
THOUGHT OF THE DAY Whoever said that nothing was impossible obviously never tried slamming a revolving door. – Jenny
Chai Time STAR POWER
THURSDAY, MAY 24, 2012
Your tomorrow today̶Star Power and Tarot THIRUVAIKUMAR
As per Hindu panchang
FOR 25-5-2012
thiruvaikumar@yahoo.co.in 040-27177230 / 9177596118
TAURUS
GEMINI
Businessmen will announce new and attractive schemes to attract custome‑ rs. Employees' work burden will redu‑ ce and the cold war between them and the immediate superior will be over.
Artists will get promising opportuni‑ ties. Some have bright chances to go abroad. Employees might be faced with challenges and must accept and complete them successfully.
Employees will be overburdened but complete work successfully and earn confidence of management. Artists' will have improved creative thoughts and will realise them.
CANCER
LEO
VIRGO
Negligent attitude of employees will change for better. Artists will get income from multiple channels and improve their financial position. Govt officials will gain importance.
Artists will learn and improve their kn‑ owledge with the help of seniors. Avoid unwanted arguments and harsh beha‑ viour with friends and relatives. Waste‑ ful expenditure will cause trouble.
Family will remain in cheerful mode. Avoid putting restrictions to children as they will listen to you very well even if you tell them with love and affection in a convincing manner.
LIBRA
SCORPIO
SAGITTARIUS
Parents will understand their daugh‑ ters' mind well and encourage her with support. Businessmen will earn bumper profit by changing their approach to a better one.
Employees with their best performance and perfection will earn appreciation from their boss. Artists who were dragged into controversies and unwan‑ ted rumours will come out of them.
Expenses and income will be at par with each other; this will upset you. Never hurt feelings of family members in front of unknown persons. Busines‑ smen will grow as expected.
CAPRICORN
AQUARIUS
PISCES
Politicians are advised to maintain a neutrality without joining any group. Dreams of women will get fulfilled, which will make them happy. Business‑ men will experience a boom time.
Women will get support from parents. Businessmen act shrewdly and face competition easily and march ahead without difficulties. Employees will get a good opportunity to use their skills.
Peaceful atmosphere will prevail in family. To avoid any confusion in the family, you have to adjust well and be flexible with family members. Give respect to suggestions from spouse.
SUMAA TEKUR
FOR 25-5-2012
tarotreadhyd@gmail.com
ARIES
TAURUS
GEMINI
The Lovers – Forgiv‑ eness and love are key themes today. You will experience these emotions or be in a vantage point and see these play out in someoneʼs life.
Seven of Cups – You do not tolerate dis‑ crimination of any kind – even if it is a VIP cutting the queue to get special treatment. Keep a tab on your anger.
Eight of Wands – Itʼs tempting to take a peek into the lavish world of material we‑ alth. As long as your roots remain intact and you know what youʼre getting into.
CANCER
LEO
VIRGO
Queen of Cups – You will be surprised by the kind gesture of someone you thought was rude or harsh. There are all kinds of people. You never know a person fully.
Knight of Pentacles – You look up to those who achieve success despite odds. Youʼre in a position to achieve some‑ thing on your own. Make full use of it.
Seven of Pentacles – You have struggled for a long time to get a foothold in an industry that doesnʼt welcome strangers. Money has stopped motivating.
LIBRA
SCORPIO
SAGITTARIUS
Page of Swords – Cir‑ cumstances force yo‑ u into making a mor‑ e daring choice desp‑ ite your heart not be‑ ing fully into it. Donʼt worry about what people will think.
The Hermit – A sur‑ prise gift is in store. Itʼs not so much the gift but the packag‑ ing, timing and the surprise element that make you feel so wo‑ nderful and wanted.
King of Cups – A stro‑ ng conviction in your ideas will take you the distance. You will be excited to share de‑ tails of a new project with someone but you should wait a while.
CAPRICORN
AQUARIUS
PISCES
Temperance – You get unnecessarily stressed over small details. Itʼs just the way you func‑ tion, and itʼs not always a bad thing. People make fun of you for this.
Page of Pentacles – Y‑ ou are focusing on fin‑ ishing off some long‑ pending tasks. No poi‑ nt putting it off if you can work a few extra days and remove them from your to‑do list.
Ace of Cups – Your skills have been underrated for a long time now. But times are changing and the same skills will help you bag some good projects.
For Better or for Worse Stone soup
SOLUTIONS
Boggle ITALY EGYPT JAPAIN ANGOLA
Number game
Suduko
Scrabble
Ink pen
COMICS
Fred Basset
ARIES
TAROT READ
27
Vol: 1, No 312 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
Magic Screen
THURSDAY, MAY 24, 2012
The glamour behind the glitz
Deepika says Cocktail is different D
reporters on Wednesday. "Yes, it is a love story, but it is also about friendship, betrayal, fun and trust. So I think in terms of the film, it is very, very different," she insisted. The promos show Deepika, mouthing some bold dialogues. She clarified: "I am not the film's writer. The dialogues were written based on the character that I am playing. Veronica is a very confident girl. She is very selfassured. I am so glad I went with Veronica because when the trailer released two days ago, the response was fantastic. What people are also reacting to is the fact that they have not seen me play something like this or look like this on-screen," she added.
B
eautiful Nandana Sen shot bold scenes for Rang Rasiya unabashedly, but she feels boldness is treated with double standards in the industry. The daughter of Nobel laureate Amartya Sen, Nandana, who has never feared skin show, says it is important for filmmakers to portray intimacy and women in an artistic way. "I do
think boldness is a complicated issue, and needs careful consideration and treatment. Female bodies are often ruthlessly and ingloriously treated as objects in showbiz, and I'd never agree to that. It would take away my humanity by turning me into a commodity," Nandana told IANS in an email interview. She says it is high time women are treated with respect.
B-TOWN TWEETIES
@ActorMadhavan Hmm.. Took my first shot on my knee.. Was not painful at all as it was done by a super expert Doc.. Feeling a lil ginger but better.
@SrBachchan T 753 - It is late .. but its not, where I am ... so shall talk to a few in absentia .. and hope by the time you wake, I shall be asleep !!
@deespeak Most numbers (money) announced today have been depressing except for the impressive amt distributed to erstwhile cricketer's by the BCCI.
Boldness is a complicated issue: Nandana Sen
eepika Padukone returns with Cocktail and clarifies that both her character in the forthcoming film and the theme of the movie are different from Love Aaj Kal. The doubts about the similarity between the two films and her character arose after the first promos of Cocktail came out. She has teamed up with Saif Ali Khan in Cocktail, which is written by Imtiaz Ali and directed by Homi Adajania. "The minute people see Saif and me together, they will think about Love Aaj Kal," Deepika told
28
@NeilNMukesh Back on the sets of #3Gthemovie. The location is stunning. Beautiful , windy and the blue ocean all around
@AnupamPkher "A patriot must always be ready to defend his country against his government." Edward Abbey
@realpreityzinta Long day today! 4rm da Sets of IIP 2 the Sony Extra Innings Set ! Finally home now & chilling on the couch watching the #IPL MI Vs CSK game
@kapoorkkunal
Shooting intimate scenes with Randeep Hooda for Ketan Mehta's Rang Rasiya didn't come as an easy decision for Nandana. "I could take that decision only after discussing it at length with my family, who were very supportive," she said. Nandana says she is delighted Rang Rasiya will finally release this year. IANS
Petrol is up to 78 rs per litre!!! Forget cars, banks need to come up with EMI schemes for petrol as well now!!!
@sonusood18 Had a great press conference in delhi for#iifa with the first look of #maximum .The countdown begins.29th June here we come :-)
62 DAYS TO GO THURSDAY, MAY 24, 2012 Jamaican sprinter Usain Bolt flashes the victory sign during a press conference on Wednesday, prior to the Zlata Tretra (Golden Spike) athletics meeting in the eastern Czech city of Ostrava.
Unfair draw for London Olympics: Charlesworth SYDNEY: Australian men’s
AFP/ROBERT MICHAEL
‘On the right track’ by Luke Phillips
OSTRAVA: Usain Bolt will open his European track season here on Friday full of confidence, in top shape and eyeing the ultimate prize - more Olympic medals. The talk in athletics in any Olympic year is of the revered Games themselves, when track and field take centre stage at the world’s largest sporting event. Bolt revolutionised sprinting, and indeed athletics, four years ago in Beijing, setting world records when winning the 100 and 200m titles, and also starring in a record-breaking Jamaican quartet in the 4x100m relay. Bolt left the Chinese capital as one of the most recognisable figures in world sport, unbelievably going on to beat both his individual sprint marks with new times (9.58 and 19.19sec) in the Berlin worlds in 2009. He takes to the track in this
29
eastern Czech city for the sixth time on Friday, seemingly brimming with confidence that he will be unbeatable come the London Games (and before) given his recent injury-free run and impressive form. “I’m definitely on the good path, the right track. I’ve been injury free and I’m looking to doing extremely well at the Olympics,” Bolt said. The Jamaican will be up against, among others, Dwain Chambers, the Briton having served a drugs ban and now cleared to race in the Olympics after the Court for Arbitration in Sport (CAS) overturned a British Olympic Association bylaw that banned doping cheats for life. “For me, rules are rules,” said Bolt, a one-time training partner of Chambers, albeit for a very short period. If the rules say it’s okay for him to compete, who am I to say otherwise?” Bolt’s 200m meeting record of
19.83sec, set before his Beijing heroics in 2008, could come under threat from American duo Walter Dix and Wallace Spearmon. “I’m really looking forward to running for the first time in Ostrava,”said Dix, the reigning double world sprint silver medallist whose personal best is 19.53sec. I’ll look to try and continue as the season progresses towards London. Hopefully I can lower the meet record.” Other mouth-watering duels in Ostrava include that between Olympic winner and newlycrowned world indoor champion Pamela Jelimo against 2009 world champion and Daegu silver medallist Caster Semenya, of South Africa, in the 800m. Jarmila Kratochvilova will be present to watch the showdown, something not lost on Semenya, currently coached by Maria Mutola, herself the meet record holder with 1:57.72 from 2004.
field hockey team head coach Ric Charlesworth says his world number one side have been disadvantaged by an unfair draw at the London Olympics. Charlesworth said the 2004 Athens Olympic champions had been disadvantaged by the scheduling, while key competitors would benefit. Australia will play three early morning games against Spain, Argentina and Pakistan, while their biggest rivals, world number two Germany, play no 8:30am matches, which require players to get up some hours beforehand. “I don’t expect special treatment, I expect not to be disadvantaged, out of five matches you may expect one 5am start
for our athletes not three,” Charlesworth said in a Hockey Australia statement late Wednesday. “It interferes with momentum as major finals won’t be played at that hour and it interrupts our routine over two weeks. Early games should be fairly distributed between all teams.” Hockey Australia chief executive Mark Anderson said the Kookaburras wanted to compete on a “level playing field” at the July 27-August 12 Games. “When you look at the schedule it is patently unfair in our opinion,” Anderson said. “None of the teams want to play in this early morning time slot.”
Glamour couple clinch gold and silver medals DEBRECEN: Swimming’s glamour German couple Paul Biedermann and his girlfriend Britta Steffen took gold and silver medals here at the E u r o p e a n Championships on Wednesday. Biedermann, the 2009 400m freestyle world champion and world record holder in the event as well, added the 200m freestyle crown to the 400m he won on Monday while world record holder Steffen had to be content with second in the women’s 100m freestyle.
Biedermann, 25, showed great tenacity to hold off perennial French rival Amaury Leveaux and win in an unremarkable time of 1min 46.27sec. “I wasn’t at 100 percent but the time isn’t too bad,” said Biedermann. Amaury Leveaux and myself know each other well, we are old acquaintances.” Steffen had to give second best to Sweden’s 100m butterfly European and world champion Sarah Sjoestroem, who was winning her first title in the event.
Tokyo, Istanbul, Madrid in ’20 Games bid by Michel Comte
QUEBEC CITY: Istanbul and Madrid made the first cut among bidders to host the 2020 Olympics, as the International Olympic Committee announced on Wednesday that Baku and Doha were dropped from the running. The IOC will decide which city will host the 2020 Olympics in a final vote on September 7, 2013, at Buenos Aires. That gives the remaining hopefuls more than 15 months to make final
impressions upon the IOC to boost their candidacy. Tokyo 2020 bid chief Tsunekazu Takeda said being on the short list would help boost the spirits of the Japanese people after last year’s devastating earthquake and tsunami, which killed about 19,000 people. “I think this will be a big help for the Japanese people,” Takeda said. “I think it will give big, big power to the people who suffered the disaster.” Tokyo is the only one of the candidates to have hosted the
TOKYO 2020 BID CHIEF TSUNEKAZU TAKEDA SAID THAT BEING ON THE SHORT LIST WOULD HELP BOOST THE SPIRITS OF THE ALL THE JAPANESE PEOPLE AFTER LAST YEAR’S DEVASTATING EARTHQUAKE AND TSUNAMI, WHICH KILLED ABOUT 19,000 PEOPLE
event, doing so in 1964, and with a sound plan for hosting the Games and a powerful message, many see Tokyo as the pacesetter. Hosting the 2020 Olympics is seen as an opportunity to help rebuild the country and bring some much-needed joy to its people. Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihiko Nodo said hosting the Games would “serve as a symbol of Japan’s recovery from last year’s tragedy. With the Japanese government’s full support for Tokyo’s bid, our nation greatly desires to achieve the goal of
hosting the Games,” he said. Tokyo is again as in 2008 considered the frontrunner with the best technical file, but is facing fewer rivals this round, with the total number of candidate cities down from five last time. With the 2018 Winter Olympics being held in Pyeongchang there may be an unwillingness to hold back-toback events in Asia. Ordinarily Madrid would be seen as running close with Tokyo, having beaten them in the race for 2016 only to finish a runnerup to Rio de Janeiro.
THURSDAY, MAY 24, 2012
BEAUTY
ALL YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT CZECH REPUBLIC Best EURO performance: winners 1976 Coach: Michal Bílek Leading scorer: all-time – Jan Koller (55); current – Milan Baroš (39)
THE BEST
&
Most appearances: all-time – Karel Poborský (118); current – Petr Čech (88) Association formed: 1901 Nickname: Národní tým (National side)
CZECH’S FIXTURES
EURO STATS
Friday 8 June: Russia v Czech Republic, Wroclaw Tuesday 12 June: Greece v Czech Republic, 18.00CET, Wroclaw Saturday 16 June: Czech Republic v Poland, Wroclaw
MATCHES PLAYED Overall: P67 W46 D9 L12 F136 A51 Final tournament: P17 W8 D2 L7 F24 A22 Qualifying: P50 W38 D7 L5 F112 A29
Perennial dark horses Michal Bílek’s side overcame teething problems to continue the Czech Republic’s proud record of gracing every UEFA European Championship final tournament since independence Jan Flemr
POSTNOON PREDICTION
PRAGUE: The Czech Republic have made it to their fifth straight Euro tournament, hungry for success after renewing the team that now relies largely on players from their home league. Runners-up at Euro 1996 in England and third at the 2004 edition in Portugal, the Czechs are far from being odds-on favourites at the tournament co-hosted by Poland and Ukraine and starting on June 8. The team will once again rely on Chelsea goalkeeper Petr Cech, Arsenal midfielder Tomas Rosicky (right, on injury watch), Bordeaux midfielder Jaroslav Plasil and Galatasaray striker Milan Baros. These four are all that is left from the 2004 team that stunned Europe with its offensive style before being stopped by ultimate winners Greece in the semifinals. The rest will be brand new even compared with Euro 2008, where the Czechs, missing an injured Rosicky and retired stars Pavel Nedved, Vladimir Smicer and Karel Poborsky, bowed out after the group stage. It was a painful revamp as Bilek, now 47, took over the team in 2009, before the Euro 2012 qualifying campaign. The Czechs got off to a stumbling start with a 1-0 home defeat to They have all the pedigree of a thoroughbred, and the passion to win, but the Czech’s have never lived up to their billing. Now with a largely untested side, they could top their group.
Lithuania, then upset fans with two timid performances resulting in losses to group winners Spain. But they regained momentum in the play-offs, beating Montenegro 2-0 at home and 1-0 away to clinch a Euro berth. A month before the tournament, the in-form Cech and Rosicky are all but certain to shine -- and seem the only names so far assured of a spot in the squad. Unlike in 2008, when only two players were recruited from the Czech league, Bilek's team is expected to largely rely on men plying their trade at home. Based in the southern Polish city of Wroclaw, not far from the Czech border, the national team will bet on fans clad in red, white and blue shirts and travelling to the city on special trains.
30
CZECH REPUBLIC GROUP A At a glance After failing to reach the 2010 FIFA World Cup — and suffering a group stage exit at UEFA Euro 2008 — coach Michal Bílek sought to introduce a new generation to play alongside the likes of Tomáš Rosický, Petr Čech and Milan Baroš. They made an inauspicious start to Euro 2012 qualifying, losing at home to Lithuania, but ultimately came good, beating Montenegro 3-0 on aggregate in the play-offs.
PLAYER TO WATCH
A diminutive Pilar supports Czech hopes Jan Flemr
PRAGUE: Vaclav Pilar may only be 5ft 6in tall but he is fast building a reputation of being one of the most promising attacking midfielders in European football. The 23-year-old — due after a unwholesome wrangle to play for Bundesliga side Vfl Wolfsburg next season — has already earned high praise from former Barcelona coach Pep Guardiola, which should be warning enough for the Czechs Group A rivals. The winger will swap Czech topflight side Viktoria Plzen in the summer for Wolfsburg to join his former Plzen teammate Petr Jiracek who moved in the winter. Plzen, who have five players in the preliminary Euro squad, were also contenders for the title this year but finished third after being held to a goalless draw by champions Slovan Liberec on May 12. For Pilar, this was the last game for Plzen. Before the move to Wolfsburg, Pilar said he would "pursue success rather than money" when he moved abroad. "If I had a chance, I would work hard and I'd want to succeed... I'd be happy in a foreign team playing European cups, the Champions League. Barcelona is a different class, I'd love to play for them, but I'd also go to another team in the Spanish league," said Pilar.
Playing Field
THURSDAY, MAY 24, 2012
The games people play
Convergys crush Yashoda Hospitals M ATCH-1
M ATCH-2
ZONAH vs AUTOSELECT BLAZERS
CONVERGYS vs YASHODA HOSPITALS
ZONAH innings: 119 all out in 14.5 overs. Akshay 45(33),Kaleem 27(22). Siddiq 3 overs 25 for 3, Rehman 3 overs 26 for 3 Autoselect Blazers innings: 120/7 in 17.5 overs. Nomaan 56(47), Rehman 14(20). Hasan 4 overs 19 for 33, Akshay 0.5 overs 4 for 2 UTOSELECT BLAZERS won by 3 wickets
Yashoda Innings: Ravi Shankar 23(34), Anjani Kumar 26(37). Rachit Chaddha 4 overs 21 for 2, Naresh 2 overs 12 for 2. Convergys innings: Jahar 40(24), Naresh 38(33). Siraj Pasha 3 overs 23 for 2 Convergys won by 6 wickets
M ATCH-3
HCCL vs DW PRACTICE HCCL Innings: Habeeb Ali 43(30), Yaqub Maqsusi 51 (34), Ali Khan 32(20), Qutub Alam Khan 35 (13). Shashi 4 overs 16 for 3 DWP Innings: Leeland Reddy 16(8), Suresh 24(24), Vivekanand 24(21). Ali Khan 4 overs 10 for 3, Yaqub Maqsusi 4 Overs 17 for 3, Habeeb Ali 3 overs 11 for 2. HCCL won by 63 runs
Lin survives QF scare
Superstar shuttler Lin Dan defeated Liew Daren 17-21, 21-9, 21-5 to help China reach the semifinals of the Thomas Cup in Wuhan Emilie Bickerton
WUHAN, CHINA: Superstar
Lin Dan of China smashes a shuttlecock against Daren Liew of Malaysia during their quarterfinals at the Thomas Cup world badminton team championships on Wednesday. AFP PHOTO / LIU JIN
shuttler Lin Dan survived a scare in the Thomas Cup quarterfinals in Wuhan on Wednesday, as China qualified for the semis in an event seen as a key test ahead of the London Olympics. Malaysian youngster Liew Daren faced the daunting task of replacing injured world number one Lee Chong Wei in the first singles against the hot favourites, and the 33rd-ranked player rose to the occasion, taking a surprise one-game lead. But the scare sparked Lin into action and badminton’s most decorated player upped the tempo to win 17-21, 21-9, 21-5. “I had some problems at the start. I wasn’t pleased because I couldn’t adjust,” he said. Lin and Daren have never met on the tour, and the Malaysian said this worked in his favour: “I think he was a bit confused in the first game. It is the first time he plays me. I had no fear, I just went in and played. I didn’t think I could cause an upset, but maybe take one game.” Lin’s teammate Chen Long had few problems in seeing off the challenge of Muhammad Hafiz Hashim to secure China’s 3-0 victory, which takes the home nation into a semi-final clash against Japan.
31
England look to make it 2-0
England cricketers celebrate taking the wicket of West Indies’ in London. England won the match to lead the three test series 1-0. AFP PHOTO/GLYN KIRK Julian Guyer
NOTTINGHAM, ENGLAND: England will take an unbeatable lead in their three-match series against the West Indies if they win the second Test at Trent Bridge starting here on Friday. And, after a five-wicket victory in the first Test at Lord’s, few would bet against Andrew Strauss’s number one ranked side going 2-0 up in Nottingham. The West Indies did take the first Test into the fifth day and twice had England wobbling as they pursued a modest target of 191. But England were only ever one decent partnership away from victory, which came courtesy of Alastair Cook (79) and Ian Bell (63 not out). Well though Shivnarine Chanderpaul, officially the world’s best batsman, played in scoring 87 not out and 91 at Lord’s, the fact he came in with the total on 86 for three and then 36 for three was a testament to the failings of West Indies’ top order. The likes of opener Adrian Barath, Kieran Powell and Kirk Edwards can expect their techniques to be tested again by James Anderson and Stuart Broad, man-of-the-match at Lord’s with an 11-wicket haul, at a Trent Bridge ground renowned for aiding swing
Kevin fined for Knight comment
K
evin Pietersen was fined an “undisclosed sum” by the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) on Wednesday following a Twitter attack on former England batsman Nick Knight. Last week, England batting star Pietersen took to Twitter to question the credentials of Knight, who averaged just 23.96 in 17 Tests with one hundred, as a Test match commentator for Sky Sports. “Can someone please tell me how Nick Knight has worked his way into the commentary box for the Tests? Ridiculous,” said Pietersen, who has 19 Test hundreds to his credit. The ECB held a disciplinary hearing Wednesday, with managing director Hugh Morris and team director Andy Flower present, and opted to impose an undisclosed fine on Pietersen, part suspended for 12 months.
bowling. West Indies have won just twice in their last 31 Tests and are without a win in 15 Tests in England, a run including 13 defeats. They badly need someone in the top order to lend more support to Chanderpaul and Marlon Samuels, who made 86 in the second innings at Lord’s.
Playing Field
THURSDAY, MAY 24, 2012
The games people play
32
Zohal to withdraw molestation case against Luke NEW DELHI: American woman Zohal Hamid tonight decided to withdraw molestation case against Australian cricketer Luke Pomersbach after both the parties reached an out of court settlement. Hamid’s lawyers will soon move the Delhi High Court seeking withdrawal of the case registered against Pomersbach who was arrested last Friday and later granted bail. Pomersbach, is playing for Royal Challengers Bangalore in the ongoing Indian Premier League. She will also drop legal pro-
ceedings against RCB director Siddharth Mallya for casting aspersions on her character through tweets after she complained to police about molestation by the cricketer. “Yes,” Rajneesh Chopra, Hamid’s lawyer told PTI in a text message when asked whether the American national was withdrawing case against Pomersbach and legal proceedings against Mallya. In a late night Tweet siddharth Mallya said, “So glad that all charges have been dropped and Luke can return down
under A FREE MAN!” “I’ve always been a very loyal person who stands up for friends. The tweets/comments made were unfortunate, being the product of stressful circumstances & I realise people drew meaning and connotations other than and beyond what was intended against Zohal,” he tweeted. Royal Challengers player Luke Pomersbach was arrested last Friday after American national Zohal Hamid alleged he molested her and hit her fiance Sahil when he objected to
Djoker, Fedex: trouble for Nadal by Dave James
PARIS: Rafael Nadal could become the first man to win seven Roland Garros titles, but Novak Djokovic and a rejuvenated Roger Federer are braced to slam the door shut on the Spaniard’s history-making campaign. Ever since the early, members-only French championships were thrown open to foreign players in 1925, no man has won the title more than six times, a feat Nadal shares with Bjorn Borg after his 2011 victory. Widely-regarded as the most gruelling of the four majors, only one woman, Chris Evert, has achieved the magic seven. Ten-time a Grand Slam title winner, Nadal, 25, has a remark-
Rafael Nadal able CV at the French Open -- six titles in 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2010 and 2011 and a 45-1 match
Sixers defeat Celtics, keep hopes alive PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA: , The Philadelphia 76ers kept their season alive with a 82-75 victory over the Boston Celtics on Wednesday to force a seventh game in their Eastern Conference playoff series. Jrue Holiday finished with a team-high 20 points and six assists and Elton Brand had 13 points and 10 rebounds for the Sixers who evened the series at three games each and are now 5-0 in the playoffs in games following a loss. Philadelphia once again rebounded from a 101-85 loss in game five by rallying in the second half to beat the favoured Celtics. It wasn’t a work of art but the eighthseeded Sixers got the job done. Philadelphia missed 11 free throws, hit just one-of-nine from three-point range and were outrebounded 48-37. But the Sixers had five players reach double figures in scoring.
record. His only blip, a 2009 fourth round loss to Robin Soderling,
came at a time when he was plagued by the acute knee problems which have often threatened to overwhelm him. This season, Nadal has, once again, been surpreme on clay and will arrive in Paris boasting a 16-1 record on the surface. After losing the marathon Australian Open final to world number one Djokovic, his seventh sucessive defeat to the Serb, Nadal has now triumphed twice on the trot against his rival. A straight sets victory for his eighth Monte Carlo title in April gave him the early psychological edge, an advantage hammered home by his 7-5, 6-3 win in Monday’s Rome final. Not that the ever-modest Nadal will be singing his own praises.
the cricketer’s behaviour. Pomersbach was arrested and a court granted him bail later. The first indication to this out of court settlement came earlier in the day when Sahil’s brother Feroz claimed they did not want to pursue the case. Feroz said that Pomersbach should not have done what he did. “He should have respect for women. Luke has done a blunder. He should apologise and we should also forgive and forget. We don’t want to pursue against Luke. We have not been pressurised by anyone.”