Postnoon E-Paper for 02 January 2013 by Scribble Media & Entertainment Pvt. Ltd.

WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 2, 2013 HYDERABAD

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WEATHER: A MIX OF CLEAR AND CLOUDY SKIES; 25°C

THE FILMY ROAD AHEAD

2012 was a great year for movie buffs all over the world and 2013 promises to be as exciting. From gun slinging bounty hunters to superheroes, we are going to be spoilt for choice. Here's our list of films that you can't miss.

P16&17

HYDERABAD’S FIRST COMPACT AFTERNOON NEWSPAPER

e safe, make some noise

SRINIVAS SETTY

WATTS IN A NAME The Impossible, starring blueeyed beauty Naomi Watts and Ewan McGregor, hits the screens this weekend. Naomi Watts’ story is one of struggle and survival, and now success. We take a look at some of her films that you must revisit.

P15

REPORT ON P18 Blank Noise’s Hyderabad chapter took to the streets to raise awareness on women’s safety. From autodrivers to a couple of Chileans, everyone signed up to tackle a burning issue.

CONSUMERS ARE LEFT IN THE LURCH With over 500 pending cases, the consumer court has failed to deliver justice to aggreived complainants, who are forced to run from pillar to post for over a year.

FLASH

YV REDDY TO HEAD FINANCE PANEL Former RBI governor YV Reddy will be the chairman of 14th Finance Commission, Union finance minister P Chidambaram said today. Prior to joining RBI as its governor in September 2003, Reddy was India's Executive Director on the Board of the International Monetary Fund.

32 PAGES

WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 2, 2013

city events

CODE RED COUNTDOWN

Code Red Countdown is an art collection revolving around ecology, by New York based artist Asher Jay. The theme is endangered wildlife.. It is at Muse Art Gallery, Hyderabad Marriott & Convention Centre, from January 6-17.

Weather for Hyderabad

Evening

Overnight

Morning

Afternoon

25°C

18°C

24°C

32°C

A mix of clear and cloudy skies.

Sunny with cloudy periods.

New Delhi Mumbai Max 17 Max 29 Min 4 Min 14 Mostly clear

Chennai Max 28 Min 24

Clear skies.

Mix of sun and cloud.

Bangalore Max 29 Min 18 Partly cloudy.

AROUND THE CITY: YOUR GUIDE TO THE TWIN CITIES bull, its nature and characteristics Where: Aalankritha Art Gallery, Residence Inn, Kavuri Hills, Jubilee Hills When: Up to January 2 11am to 7pm Contact: www.alankritha.in

DINING Longest winter fest There will be live shows, carnival parade, special entertainment shows, fun rides, evening parties and buffet in this winter fest. Where: Ramoji Film City Travels Unit 5, 2nd Floor, Balayogi Paryatak Bhavan, Greenland, Begumpet, When: Up to January 6, 9am to 6pm Contact: (040) 32577654

Transpersonal counseling “Art & Science of Self-Actualization,” a foundation course in transpersonal counselling, by clinical psychologist Sujata Potay. Where: Center for Organization Dev Madhapur When: January 19-April 27 Contact: 9849453045

SHOWS Alexander Jaya Prakash Reddy is performing a 100-minute solo. He plays a retired army officer who wants to help people with their problems by starting a helpline. Where: Ravindra Bharathi, Public Gardens, Nampally, H-01, Abids, When: January 6, 7pm to 9pm Contact: (040) 2324 9045 Tribute to Rajesh Khanna There will be dance performances on Rajesh Khanna’s songs to pay tribute to the superstar. The dance will be choreographed by Mahesh L Munde, who has choreographed national and international performances. Where: Lalitha Kala Thoranam Public gardens When: January 27

FOR PEACE: World Peace Prayers by St. Francis college students at Nehru Statue, Abids on January 1.

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

198 155313

POLICE CONTROL ROOM Hyderabad 27852435 Traffic Control Room 27852482 DCP Traffic 23234065, 23243499F Pollution Control Board 23887500

155333 23431178 23431179

MUNICIPAL CORPORATION

When: January 6 5pm onwards Contact: 93965 55888

6pm to 9:30pm Contact: 93965 55888 Concert for a Cause Apna watan, MS Foundation & Hyderapals are presenting Sounds from England. The money collected will go to the MS school for underprivileged children. The passes are available at Goethe-Zentrum. Where: Vidyaranya High School When: January 5, 6pm onwards Contact: (040) 2335 0473

I Return It is an exhibition of paintings by Sisir Sahana. Where: Kalakriti Art Gallery Road no. 10, Banjara Hills When: January 4 Contact: (040) 6656 4466

A-Bong Live A-Bong is a group of music enthusiast Bengalis from Hyderabad who have formed a band and will be performing live. Where: La Makaan, Lane Adjacent To C-Bay , Banjara Hills.

Art exhibition Artist M Narayan’s work is on display. Narayan graduated from the Ken School of Art. He started work in 1991. He has participated in over 30 solo exhibitions. He is known for his rural depictions. Where: Shrishti Art Gallery,

Commissioner & Spl Officer

Helpline

ELECTRICITY General Complaints Breakdown Section

Photo competition Alliance Francaise, Hyderabad, is conducting a photo competition. The theme for the contest is Professions of the world. The winning entries will be sent to Paris. Where: http://hyderabad.afindia.org When: December 3 to January 6

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

ART

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

155313 23307328 23313163

27505566 23314095 23390933 24600146 27001134 23607777 30418888 30417777 30419000 30416666 39879999

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

Road no. 15, Jubilee Hills When: Up to January 2 Contact: (040) 2354 0023 Chai wallah art show This is an upcoming exhibition at Iconart gallery.There is an exhibition of paintings by Vijay Gille at the gallery on Chai wallah and other stories. The preview is on December 27 at 6.30pm. Where: Iconart Gallery, Banjara Hills When: Up to January 12 11:30am to 7pm Contact: www.iconart.in

Numaish Numaish is the 73rd All India Industrial Exhibition is an ongoing event in the City. Where: Exhibition Ground, Mukarramjahi Road, Nampally, When: Up to February 15, 4pm to 11pm Contact: (040) 2460 3015 New York's Quilt Fiesta Portico New York's Quilt Fiesta is at at shopper’s stop, where quilts of different designs are available Where: Shopper’s Stop stores When: Up to January 6

MISCELLANEOUS Bulls art exhibition A group exhibition by Avijit Roy, HR Das, Laxman Aelay, Nagesh Goud and Sreekanth Kurva on the animal

27567892 23559555 23226624 27633087 27035588 27550238 30799999 30418296 30417445

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

N SHIVA KUMAR

Airport Director 27903785, 27906001 For Air India Flight Information Toll free (from any network) for IC Flights 18001801407 And for All Flights: 1800227722 Air India has revised its flight timings. For more information call (Toll free) 18001801407, 1800227722 from BSNL/MTNL 04023430334 from other lines and mobile Website; www.airindia.in TOURISM OFFICES AP Tourism, Hyd 23262152/53/54 Sec-bad 27893100 Dept of Tourism 23453110 India Tourism 23261360 AP Tourism information Centre (24x7) 23450444, 23455999 UK VISA OFFICE VFS India Pvt Ltd Building, 8-2-542/A, Sunil Chamber, Road No. 7

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

24523211 232431300/7641 24521029

Readers’ views

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

WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 2, 2013

City CRIME

Doc held for giving heady injections POSTNOON NEWS feedback@postnoon.com

he Dornakal railway police have arrested a doctor, V Ramesh, on charges of selling illegal injections to public, who used them in place of drugs to get high. In the bargain, he made a huge pile, it is reported. Dr Ramesh, 36, was practicing for the past 10 years in Dornakal village. He was allegedly giving alcohol-based injections to addicts, who find them efficacious for getting high. Railway staff too were among his clients. The cops raided his dispensary and seized 7 boxes of injections. He bought these drugs from various medical stores and supplied to clients charging three-four times more, said inspector M Kantaha Rao.

YESTERDAY’S QUESTION

DO YOU THINK 2013 COULD BE A BETTER YEAR FOR WOMEN? 58% 42%

YES (A) NO (B)

TODAY’S QUESTION

IS IT RIGHT TO BLAME COPS FOR NEW YEAR EVE ACCIDENTS? A)

YES

To vote visit www.postnoon.com

CRIME

Wives on gold hunt held Two wives from Kadappa were held for burgling houses for gold ornaments. Mohd SUBHAN mohd.s@postnoon.com

wo adventurous wives from Kadappa who realised their husbands are men of straw and not much help in maintaining the family came to Hyderabad seeking better jobs but found a profitable vocation in burgling houses for gold. The two are now behind bars. The Bolarum police had no idea they were on to a big thing when they recently arrested two women, K Saroja, 32, and M Durga, 42, on charges of stealing gold from a house. It was on interrogation that the story of how the two wives, driven to penury, took up the challenge of

life and left the villages for the family’s sake, came out. They took up residence in Gayatri Nagar. Saroja is good in sales and Durga is an adept tailor. They formed the syndicate of selling saris and blouses to middle class housewives and working women. Women find it appealing to buy matching saris and blouses and getting them tailored body-fit. But the women found that they could only make a miserable profit, which was not enough for them to sustain a living in the City and also maintain the families back home. It is then that Saroja suggested that the two study closely the families they visit and watch their routine, so that whenever the

inmates are away, they can find their way to their homes and steal gold ornaments. Police said they would steal nothing but gold jewellery. When the police arrested them, they found 19 tolas of gold in their possession. ACP Begumpet Suryanarayana said the police would be able to work out several thefts and burglary cases in different parts of the City. The women reportedly made good money and would go back to

their native place once in a while, give money to their husbands and children, and come back and do the same thing again. On December 15 evening, they targeted a house located at AS Rao Nagar in Malkajgiri from where they stole nearly 19 tolas of gold jewellery from the house of S Swarjaya Laxmi, who notified the police with descriptions. Police traced them to Loth Kunta road in Secunderabad.

city WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 2, 2013 LAST YEAR... HERE Slums of Banjara Hills

ast year this time, Postnoon had reported on how thirty per cent of Banjara Hills lives in slums. These slums had burgeoned into full-ﬂedged communities. The promise of political parties and the lure of getting a job had draw them here. Local politicians encouraged them to live here with promises of good water and electricity in the interest of their own vote banks.

JANUARY 2, 2013

NUMEROLOGY

500

cases are pending at the consumer court, which has failed to deliver justice to aggrieved complainants, who are forced to run from pillar to post for over a year.

I chose to work with the PCB, despite knowing that it is not an income generating portfolio. I am 47-years-old now and cannot work with the same vigour. P Kumar, PCB scientist See page 6

THINGS WE LEARNT TODAY

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

The customer may be right, but doesn’t have rights. Consumer courts are supposed to dispose of cases in 90 days, but as most petitioners to these courts in the City can testify, justice is a long way off if you don’t have any inﬂuence.

Treating rape victims with sensitivity is paramount. The trauma of being raped can scar a woman for life if not treated physically and mentally. Counsellors talk about the tightrope walk of treating victims.

Dark days ahead for the chief minister. The CM can’t relax now that he’s ﬁnished two years in power. The Tissue and power crisis will give him sleepless nights in the days to come.

The mysterious ways of the government. No one seems to know why a social scientist has been working with the PCB for seven years.

No end in sight for Congress’s GHMC troubles. Three more Congress leaders are set to leave for YSRC soon, leaving the party in the lurch.

POLITICS

Cong sits still, flocks leave YSRC, reportedly piggy-backing on MIM, is preying on the Congress camp and is about to lure three more candidates to take its party strength to 10 at the GHMC. Md NIZAMUDDIN nizamuddin.a@postnoon.com

t least three Congress corporators are packing their bags to leave for the luring camp, the YSRC, delivering yet another blow to the Congress at the GHMC. If this happens, the YSRC will have earned a 10-member platoon in the civic body without sweat. It began over a month ago when Congress leader Kaleru Venkatesh (pictured bottom left) switched to YSRC. He bit the bait as he was offered an assembly seat, it is said. Talks had been underway with some corporators from other parties to jump over, so that the YSRC, which had no representation, can open its account with a bang. The party’s efforts to keep the flocks together, with labour

minister Danam Nagender (pictured bottom right) brokering peace, has borne no fruit. After his initial pep talks, Danam is said to have been unable to proceed further as he found each

corporator is a contestant for the floor leader post. The situation is such that three of the corporators about to say goodbye to Congress are from his constituency, Khairatabad. According to sources, these three corporators are under the influence of Vijetha Reddy, a YSRC party leader and daughter of former Congress Legislature Party leader P Janardhan Reddy. Vijetha joined YSRC after she was denied a Congress ticket in the 2009 elections. As the Khairatabad constituency was represented by her late father, she saw herself as heir apparent. Seven of the Congress corporators, including Kaleru Venkatesh, have already joined the YSRCP, apart from one from Telugu Desam Party. If three more join, the party strength would be 10.

GOVERNANCE

This RoB awaits deliverance The railway overbridge near Lakdikapul, which was to be inaugurated before CoP-11, is not yet functional, due to litigation problems and engineering flaws.

POSTNOON NEWS feedback@postnoon.com

ost of those who pass through the Lakdikapul junction can be heard cursing the officials for the delay in the inauguration of the railway overbridge (RoB ). People who are using this route should hold on for some more time as a few litigations are yet to cleared, said the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) officials. But police butts in with a caveat. “Not yet, the road has to be

widened further on the western side before opening it.” So it is not only the litigation, but engineering flaws too that has been delaying the inauguration of the overbridge. In spite of minister for MA & UD, M Maheedhar Reddy’s instructions that it should be opened for public use before the CoP-11, the GHMC has failed to comply. Later, as reports came in that it would be inaugurated within the next few days, many hoped it to be the New Year gift to the City. But it was not. Some more lawsuits

demanding compensation are pending, it is said. Surprisingly, this three lane bridge is narrow at the ends and wider over the railway track. Even the GHMC engineers acknowledge this fact. “As per the plan, it’s only three lane, but railway engineers constructed a wider viaduct. Maybe they thought of the future,” said R Dhan Singh, engineer-in-chief in derision. What would be the consequence of this queer engineering? “It is likely that someone would stop their vehicles after finding space on the left side of

the bridge. The existing wide space in the middle would give people a chance to stop not only bikes but also four-wheelers, unmindful of the inconvenience it would cause. A traffic police will have control this,” said P Sridhar, a regular commuter. Traffic police coordinating with GHMC on various issues point out that this project is of no use without widening the road till the MJ Hostel. “Some more properties need to be cleared. Else all the vehicles would clog the road on other end,” said a senior traffic official.

NEWS BRIEFS Diddi Rambabu nominated floor leader

Medical camp to be held at Charminar

`125 crore released for metro project

APSRTC to take financial aid from Japanese

arkatpura corporator Diddi Rambabu, was nominated as ﬂoor leader of Congress at the GHMC. Standing committee member and senior party leader P Gnaneshwar Goud conﬁrmed that Rambabu was conferred the post after deliberations between Deputy Mayor G Raj Kumar and minister and City president Danam Nagender.

meeting of Minorities Development Forum was held at Siasat ofﬁce located at Abids, in which it has been decided to conduct medical camp on Sunday, January 6, from 9am to 4pm, at Sana Garden Function Hall opposite Sardar Mahal, Charminar. Earlier, the medical and cancer camp was scheduled for November 18.

he Ministry of Administration and Urban Development released `125 crore to the Hyderabad Metro Rail project as part of the second segment of funds released for construction. The ﬁrst metro rail line is expected to be up and running by 2015. It is a publicprivate partnership between the state government and L&T.

he Andhra Pradesh State Road Transport Corporation plans on requesting the Japanese International Cooperation Agency (JAICA) for ﬁnancial aid. If the deal clicks through, JAICA is expected to replace 6,000 buses in the APSRTC's ﬂeet. RTC currently operates under `4,000 crore loss besides having other bank loans to repay.

city WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 2, 2013

POLITICS

CM on tenterhooks

Unprecedented power crunch and T-issue will engage the chief minister for the most part of 2013 and all eyes are on him. INKESHAF AHMED ahmed.m@postnoon.com

hief Minister N Kiran Kumar Reddy can’t rest on the satisfying fact that he has completed two years in office and his gaddi is still secure. While numerous problems face the government which is not surprising given the complexity of a big state like AP, two issues stick out that would put his mettle to the acid test. One is the debilitating power situation where the State is accused of dancing to the tune of the central ministers by giving up its coal and gas to other states and corporate entities. The other is the perceived mismanagement and lack of vision of the government that has led to a situation where 40 lakh industrial units are rendered idle and lakhs jobless due to unheard of power crunch. The State has not gone for short term and long term plans for power self sufficiency like Tamil Nadu did. Squabbling groups and numerous political interests have no time for State’s infrastructure. The New Year will have the government glued to its chair racking its brains on how to bring immediate relief to farm and industry and plan for a more stable future with an ideal mix of conven-

CRIME

Nine held for organising gambling dens

tional and non-conventional energy sources. Raising tariff is a silly solution that will alienate masses further from the party. The second of course, is the political question. Telangana statehood demand has proved a monkey wrench for the Congress party. Give, it loses friends elsewhere. Not give, it loses precious one-third of population and seats. As this year is considered preparatory to the general elections, the issue gains big importance. Union Home Minister Sushil Kumar Shinde is not the loser for making impracticable statements on T, Kiran would be and the Congress party too. Telangana has strong roots in the massive camp of government employees. They could destabilise the government if the T is not granted. About seven lakh employees can bring the government machinery to a stop as the general strike last year had proved. As the PCC chief Botsa Satyanarayana is a secret contender for the chief ministerial post Kiran can’t hope to gain much from him either. YSRC remains another thorn which is not State’s creation but of the Centre. Thus, power and Telangana would engage the chief minister most part of the year.

OU PROTESTS

‘Murderer’ absconding, OU students agitated RAHUL RAMAKRISHNA rahul.r@postnoon.com

ducation Bandh call issued by student leaders from Osmania University demanding arrest and prosecution of Erra Shiv Kumar, Telugu MA student in OU, who is suspected to have strangled his girl friend and co-student to death after she became pregnant, evoked total response in OU. But the City educational institutions

OU offices were working though academic works could not be undertaken as students stayed away from classes. worked normally. Protesting students were seen getting ready on the campus for a dharna and burning an effigy of the suspect. Meanwhile, the Chatrinaka police have pleaded that Kumar was absconding but student leaders accused the police of colluding with the man and his family. Students are worked up at the inhuman act that stole a budding life away. Murderers should be banished from the academic world was the slogan they shouted. They said it was a shame police made profit from human misery. OU offices and departments were opened and working though academic works could not be undertaken as students stayed away from classes, said PRO Srinivasulu. Agitated students are also planning to take out a rally which the police have not given permission.

NEEDS OF INDUSTRIES A Classified Display Feature

he Commissioner’s Task Force teams on Monday raided Satta gambling dens and nabbed nine Satta gamblers at various places in the City in order to curtail gambling and seized cash of `24,195 and 53 Satta chits from them. In a pressnote the additional deputy commissioner of police, Task Force, Hyderabad stated that the South Zone team apprehended five people while they were accepting Satta betting in the limits of Bhavani Nagar, Dabeerpura, Santhosh Nagar, Falaknuma and Madannapet Police Stations and seized `6,700 and 28 Satta chits from their possession. The North Zone Team apprehended one person while he was accepting Satta betting under Gopalpuram Police Station limits and seized `615 and three Satta chits from his possession. The raids were made under the supervision of P Rameshaiah, additional dy. commissioner of police, Commissioner’s Task Force, Hyderabad, he added. NSS

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city WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 2, 2013

RTI

Man PCB can’t do without RTI activists are questioning why a social scientist, WG Prasanna Kumar, has been on deputation with the Pollution Control Board for seven years.

RAHUL RAMAKRISHNA rahul.r@postnoon.com

G Prasanna Kumar is a social scientist at the Pollution Control Board (PCB), but he holds the post of public information officer. Mysterious? Weirder still is the fact that a ‘social scientist’ has no role in a techno-scientific PCB. Kumar came on deputation to the PCB seven years ago. The deputation was for three years, but mysterious are the ways of the government. He got his position extended with government orders (GOs) amended five times (see box). And, during his sojourn, he added another feather in his cap — director of National Green Corps — which is mandated to create awareness among children on the importance of environment and its preservation. How much awareness it spreads is quite another story.

Why an official was deputed to a place where his role is not indicated is one thing nobody has explained. The story of the statutory body’s indispensable guest tumbled out when an RTI activist, Mahendar Reddy, sought information. Reddy said, “Several GOs were issued favouring his extension in the position, first from three years to seven years. The nature of my RTI was why this position was given so many amendments and changes in the GOs,” he said. Reddy discovered that GO numbers 10, 216, 333, 475 and 415 had been issued by the government of Andhra Pradesh repeatedly to extend Kumar’s period of service. Some allege that there is a nexus between the officials and the State government, which has influenced many positions and periods of service to be extended beyond normal service. Reddy is yet to

How Kumar’s posting was extended n GO (P) No.10, Fin. & Plg. (FW:FR.II) Dated 22-1-1993 n GO Rt. No.216, EFS & T (ENV) Dated 20-08-2003. n GO Rt. No.475, EFS & T (For.VI) Dated 25-9-2006 n GO Rt. NO.333, EFS & T (For.VI) Dated 29-6-2007. n GO Rt. No.415, EFS & T (For.VI) Dated 17-9-2008.

receive a reply to his RTI query. The question remained unanswered: Is there no other officer capable of filling the post that the government had to issue and amend so many GOs? Prasanna Kumar, however, says that it was an administrative decision and that he had not influenced anybody to extend his service. “I draw my salary from

A COLOURFUL BEGINNING

n RTI activists say the whole working of the PCB ought to be called to question. No wonder pollution graph goes up every time the sun goes down.

the PCB. My service with the National Green Corps has finished and it has been over a year that I am working with the PCB. My deputation was only an additional charge for which I claimed

not a single rupee as payment. Furthermore, I have no interest in continuing in that post, not when the State government was uninterested in the NGC’s activities. Unlike other states, AP’s NGC did not get much attention.” Kumar told Postnoon, “The position is yet to be replaced by another officer. I chose to work with the PCB, despite knowing that it is not an income generating portfolio. My main forte lies in awareness programmes and working with children, but now I am 47 and cannot work with the same vigour like I used to. Despite all this, accusations are being levelled against me, all of which are false.” In his defence, the RTI records on the APPCB’s website show that Kumar’s designation is “social scientist” and not PIO. As to how his change in designation from the parental authority (NGC) to the PCB has not yet affected the records is strange.

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A FRESH NEW POINT OF VIEW A Jagannath chariot procession was held at Kukatpally as part of the New Year N SHIVA KUMAR celebrations on Tuesday.

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CRIMES AGAINST WOMEN WHAT NOT TO DO

n Don’t tell them to

forget about it. Healing can take time and some people block or try to forget traumatic events. This is a way of coping with what has happened.

n Don’t ask them

why they didn’t fight back. People freeze when confronted with a terrifying situation.

n Don’t ask why

they didn’t say anything sooner. If it happened when they where young they may have tried to tell but been ignored or disbelieved.

n Don’t tell them

what to do. They need to be in control of their own decisions. You can help them explore options.

n Don’t pressure

them into doing, or talking about things they are not ready to face.

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Sensitivity is the key here There is no room for subjectivity when it comes to dealing with victims of rape. One wrong move and the healing process can come crashing down.

RANJANI RAJENDRA ranjani.r@postnoon.com

he nation reeled with the shock of the horrific rape and assault of Victim X in Delhi in December, last year. Of course there was public outrage and an outpouring of sympathy. The hospital where she was being treated was flooded with family and friends, waiting to hear about her progress. But one of the first things the victim asked when she regained consciousness was: “Why are there so many people around here?” The trauma and shock of the entire episode was of course too much to cope with. But what bothers a rape victim the most is the fact that word will spread and the subsequent pity or accusatory glances that will be thrown their way. “Unfortunately, our society is entirely focused on the victim of rape rather than the rapist. Not surprisingly the victim does not want the attention on herself. The victim does not want everybody to know what had happened to her. Also thanks to our socio-cultural set-up the victim feels a sense of shame. They’d rather have the matter hushed up, just to avoid all the social complexities that accompany such news,” says Dr Vasuprada Karthik, counselor and psychologist at Deeksha Foundation. One of the first reactions to any incident of rape or molestation is invariably that the victim was herself at fault on some level. After all who asked her to dress or behave in a manner that could provoke a sexual assault! Moral gurus don’t tire talking about the sanctity of Indian culture and where women are going wrong. In a world like ours, it is difficult for the victim to believe that the rape was in no way her fault. Apart from the initial fear and shock, the victims often end up trying to rationalise the situation by questioning themselves and their behaviour. “The victim relives the incident repeatedly, trying to analyse where she went wrong that caused the

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The onus is on the victim’s family, friends and counselor to instill in her the belief that she was in no way responsible for her rape. “When the victim displays signs of post-traumatic stress, her response to the treatment is going to be poor. This is where the family needs to step in. They have to work with the counselor in helping the woman believe that she can move on and have a better quality of life,” he says. “As counselors we have to help the victim believe that the rape was in no way her fault. There is absolutely no room for personal opinion, just an objective view of the incident. It is important that she believes that the incident was unprovoked,” says Dr Vasuprada. She adds that in most cases, rape victims don’t receive the right kind of counseling at the outset. “It is common for me to treat patients who suffered assault many years earlier, but did not receive the right

Unfortunately, our society is entirely focused on the victim of rape rather than the rapist. Also thanks to our socio-cultural setup the victim feels a sense of shame.

The victim relives the incident repeatedly, trying to analyse where she went wrong. The tumultuous emotions the victim experiences can leave them scarred for life.

incident to have occurred. What the media reports is only the tip of the iceberg. The tumultuous emotions the victim experiences can leave

them scarred for life,” says Dr Kalyan Chakravarty, consultant psychiatrist at Star Hospitals, Banjara Hills.

Dr Vasuprada Karthik, counselor and psychologist, Deeksha Foundation

Dr Kalyan Chakravarty, consultant psychiatrist, Star Hospitals

kind of support at the time. They eventually have trouble establishing relationships and suffer with confidence issues. They might go ahead and get married to appease their families, but have trouble trusting their spouse or even forming a bond with them. They are afraid of physical contact,” explains Dr Vasuprada. Marital rape is another tricky situation for the woman to deal with. Even if she does tell people about her trauma, they tend to dismiss it as an issue that has to be resolved by the couple. “As counselors we have to try and help the patient see the positive side of things. Preferably with the husband involved in the process, but that seldom happens. So we have to work with what we have,” she says.

What a rape victim needs n To believe that the rape is not

her fault, no matter what the actions were leading up to the incident. She needs to realise that nothing justifies rape and she never deserved it. It is the rapist who should be ashamed and not her.

n She needs to try her best to deal

with her feelings. In order to be

a survivor she needs to face situations head on. n The last thing a victim needs to

be worried about is her family’s reaction. So family support is crucial and the focus should be on helping her overcome the trauma – not add to it with baseless judgment.

n Temporarily distance the victim

from the people who cannot be supportive. She can do without the criticism. n Find the positive in something

everyday and focus on it no matter how small it is. A lot of days you will have to dig deep to find it.

n The past cannot be changed,

so there is no point going

over what could have happened. Instead, help the victim focus on the future and bettering that. n Most importantly the victim

should rely on herself to shrug the past and move on. She needs to believe that it was not her fault and she can still lead a happy life.

city WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 2, 2013

LEGAL

Consumers left in the lurch

With over 500 pending cases, the consumer court has failed to deliver justice to aggrieved petitioners, who are forced to run from pillar to post for over a year. ANUBHA K SINGH anubha.k@postnoon.com

he consumer court’s promise to deliver justice to consumers has been belied, as there are more than 500 pending case in the City. As per the advocates of District Consumer Forum, the backlog of cases has been rising by about three per cent every year. The increase in consumer court cases shows the growing awareness among the general public about their rights but unfortunately, it seems to be of no use. On an average, 40 to 50 cases are booked every month in Forum I, II and III, but each case takes more than six months to a year to be disposed of. However, many advocates claim that it’s all a power game. If the case is lodged by an influential person or someone with political connections, the case can be disposed of in a month’s time. Ordinary citizens however, they said, would have to run

The court has ordered the company to pay back my `10,000. But I have lost more than `10,000 running around the court and advocates in these ten years. T Ramakrishna Petitioner from pillar to post for over a year. “The delay in cases is now a common problem here. Even for a simple or petty case, the consumer needs to roam here for more than a year. There are many problems like change of judges, no influence of bigwigs in your case, no proper advocates and

fering from serious ailments shall be disposed of as early as possible and should be given priority. Unfortunately, this is not happening here,” said T Ramakrishna, a petitioner in court. “I filed a case ten years back about a health club where I deposited `10,000. I later realised it was a fraud company. Not only me, but many people were cheated by the company. The company, however, got a stay order from the court, stating that the company suffered huge losses and since then, the case is going on getting delayed. Finally,

many other such problems,” said an advocate who requested anonymity. “Many a times the judge’s post lies vacant due to non-availability of judges. Most of the judges here are retired district court judges. From the past three months, the post had been lying vacant. It has only been filled recently. In the absence of a judge, many cases lie pending,” he added. “As per the consumer court’s law, the cases filed by or against senior citizens, physically challenged, widows and people suf-

today my case is disposed of and the court has ordered the company to pay back my `10,000. But I have lost more than `10,000 running around the court and advocates in these ten years,” he added. It’s not just Ramakrishna; there are many others like him who are facing similar problems. The consumer grievance redressal mechanism came as an initiative under the consumer affairs ministry in 1998, with the proclamation that all consumer complaints would be resolved within 90 days of filing the case.

EXHIBITION

Numaish opens, but stalls not ready Pakistani stalls, back after a hiatus of five years, and new joyrides are the highlights of the exhibition in Nampally. N SHIVA KUMAR

POSTNOON NEWS feedback@postnoon.com

umaish was thrown open to the general public on Tuesday, but many of the stalls are still not set up or aren’t prepared to deal with customers. Chief minister N Kiran Kumar Reddy inaugurated the 73rd All India Industrial exhibition. The first day, however, saw very few people visiting the exhibition and most of them were unaware about the increased ticket price. In addition to the Pakistani stalls, here at the exhibition after a gap of five years, the visitors can look forward to some new joyrides in the amusement park section. “I come here with my family every year. This time, I am looking for the new stalls from

Pakistan. However, there are many stalls which are yet to exhibit their products in their

stalls. I am planning to buy wooden furniture from Kashmir; they really look

The first day, however, saw very few people visiting the exhibition and most of them seemed unaware about the increased ticket price. antique and add class to your home,” said Rafeeq Mohammed, a visitor at the exhibition. This year, apart from the roller coaster, giant wheel and the octopus ride, a new ride named ‘ranger’ has been drawing crowds. Its specialty is that it revolves 360 degrees in a clockwise direction. The exhibition society has also planned to conduct many competitions like rangoli designing, Mehendi art and garland making.

For artists in the City, watercolour painting competition will be held on Artisans’ Day on January 27. A healthy baby contest will be held in the first week of February, while Women’s Day and Children’s Day will be observed on January 8 and 31. This year, the society has identified as many as ten places for parking. Chandra Vihar complex, Manoranjan complex, Government College in Nampally, Gagan Vihar complex, and the Housing Board building are some of the places. The parking fee is `50 and `20 for the first four hours for four-wheelers and two-wheelers respectively. Additional `10 and `5 will be collected for every extra hour. However, many visitors were seen grumbling about the increased ticket price.

9 PICS BY N SHIVA KUMAR

focus WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 2, 2013

People from across the State flocked to Sri Maheshwara Maha Pyramid in Kadhtal, around 50km from Hyderabad. The pyramid, which is the largest meditation pyramid in the world, was the venue of World Meditation Conference, on till December 31, 2012. Daily meditation classes led by Brahmarshi Patriji and cultural programmes were held during the 10-day conference. The event attracted people from all faiths.

PYRAMID OF

PEACE

WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 2, 2013

Business

DIRECT TRANSFER OF SUBSIDIES BEGINS

The Centre rolled out the ambitious direct cash transfer of benefits covering seven welfare schemes in 20 districts across the country on Tuesday. The scheme is aimed at cutting the bloated subsidy bill of `1,64,000 crore.

TELECOM SECTOR

It’s time to take key calls

SEOUL ON WELFARE ROAD

Improvement in infrastructure, coupled with a reasonable regulatory environment can help revive the industry. POSTNOON NEWS feedback@postnoon.com

South Korea's parliament on Tuesday approved a revised government budget for 2013 that focuses more on welfare in response to the next president's pledge to increase social spending. The legislature ratified total spending of 342 trillion won ($319.46 billion), down from the government's proposal of 342.5 trillion. It marked the first time in South Korea's history that a budget bill has been approved after the beginning of the fiscal year, which is the same as the calendar year. The revised budget calls for cutting defence expenditure while spending more on social welfare and public construction. Incoming president Park Geun-Hye, who takes office next month, has promised to expand free child care, subsidise college fees and increase support for the poor. Welfare spending will reach about 100 trillion won, higher than the government's proposal of 97 trillion won.

ast year, the telecom industry, which has been the poster boy for growth for quite some time, has not had a very encouraging year as the growth story has almost ended. The subscriber growth has come to a practical halt due to several reasons, says Debasis Chatterji, CEO, Netxcell. Saturation of pre-paid subscriber base in metros, tier 1, tier 2 cities and semi urban areas has reduced the growth in numbers Extreme competition over tariffs is hurting the bottom line of operators and therefore many of them are consolidating their operations. A general negative publicity about telecom due to scandals followed by cancellation of telecom licenses by Supreme Court has created a negative sentiment amongst the masses. Moreover the Telecom VAS (Value Added Services) Sector has also been affected due to strict regulatory practice prescribed by TRAI.

NUMEROLOGY

TECHNOLOGY NEXT

EXPECTATIONS FOR 2013 “In the new year we are expecting that a lot of clarity on key policies and decisions will come, especially for the telecom sector 2013 has a ray of hope in terms of decisions being taken at the central level and we expect the sentiment towards telecom sector to become positive.

INFRASTRUCTURE

“With prestigious national level events such as COP-11 being held in the City, the infrastructure has improved a lot. Progress in Metros is a healthy sign for the new year. The

Debasis Chatterji, CEO, Netxcell.

infrastructure at certain areas of the City has drastically developed. Having said that, we should also realise that there is always scope for improvement,” he said.

According to Rajan S Mathews, director-general, Cellular Operators Association of India, “4G is the next level in data connectivity and once efficiently set up, will definitely change the entire telecom scenario. The facilities and data access speeds on 4G will be a delight and unlock a highly advanced degree of user experience. Apart from that, it will also be a key factor in enabling and facilitating m-governance programmes like m-health, mbanking. which feature highly in the government’s agenda for the future and to take technology to rural and remote croners of the country. Conducive policy initiatives by the government and enabling market oriented regulatory environment will help the industry to move in that direction.”

Number power Tele-density (mobile connections): 74.21 Landline subscribers: 31.4 million Wireless subscribers: 933.7 million Number of device manufacturers: 150 Expected mobile device sales in 2013: 251 million Expected growth rate: 13.5 per cent over the sales of 221 million units in 2012 Data-center market: $ 4 billion MVAS market: $ 5 billion Expected MVAS market size in 2013: $ 6 billion Expected size of Datacenter market by 2014: $ 6 billion Source: IBEF

for

GOOD NEWS FOR SINGAPORE Singapore's economy grew in the fourth quarter, avoiding a technical recession despite disappointing growth ﬁgures for 2012, government data showed on Wednesday. GDP rose 1.1 per cent year-on-year in the three months to December from zero growth in the previous quarter, the Ministry of Trade and Industry said. On a quarter-on-quarter basis, the trade-dependent economy expanded by a seasonally adjusted annualised 1.8 per cent, reversing a revised 6.3 per cent contraction in the third quarter. The ﬁgures are based on estimates. Analysts feared the economy had likely slipped into a technical recession after Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong said in a New Year's Day speech that GDP rose 1.2 per cent for the full year.

BSE 5,993.35 `54.49 5,209.05 DOLLAR`55.14 17,179.95DOLLAR NSEPOUND `86.60 `88.92 POUND BSE NSE GOLD`31,100 10g SILVER `58,400 1kg

24C

GOLD `29,500 10g SILVER `53,000 1kg

$1.15

is the estimated worth of public share offering Sharp is considering early this year.

98.90

33.65

Since our country is a union of states, we abide by its federal character and, therefore, are bound by the consensus on the issue, ANAND SHARMA, COMMERCE MINISTER

19,716.51 135.70

ANAND SHARMA, 42.50 COMMERCE MINISTER

WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 2, 2013

nation

SC TO ADMIT PIL ON RAPE CASES The Supreme Court has agreed to hear a PIL seeking directions to the Centre to ensure safety of women and to conduct fast-track court proceedings in all rape cases. The court will also hear tomorrow a PIL seeking suspension of MPs and MLAs in case a chargesheet is filed against them for crime against women.

POLITICAL DRAMA

SILENT PRAYER

SC refuses to Modify Lokayukta posting Apex court judgement comes as a body blow for Narendra Modi, still basking in his electoral victory.

A woman pays tribute to the 23-year-old gang-rape victim at Jantar Mantar in New Delhi on Tuesday.

PTI

NEW DELHI: In a setback to Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi, the Supreme Court Wednesday upheld the appointment of Justice (retd.) RA Mehta as the Lokayukta of the state. An apex court bench of Justice BS Chauhan and Justice FM Ibrahim Kalifulla said Governor Kamla Beniwal appointed justice Mehta as the state’s lokayukta after due consultation with the chief justice of Gujarat High Court as provided under the statute. Pronouncing the judgement, Justice Chauhan said: “The governor has to act in consultation with chief justice of High Court which has been done in this case.” The court was hearing a petition by the Gujarat government challenging a state High Court verdict upholding Justice Mehta’s appointment. The apex court said that Justice Mehta can go ahead with his work as Lokayukta. On November 27, senior counsel KK Venugopal, appearing for the Gujarat government, told the court that Governor Beniwal refused to act on the aid

The governor has to act in consultation with chief justice of High Court which has been done in this case. Supreme Court

and advice of the state’s council of ministers and acted independently. Describing the governor’s action as an “extra-ordinary situation”, Venugopal said Beniwal consulted the leader of opposition in the state assembly but the chief minister and the council of ministers were sidelined. The Gujarat government’s

petition had contended that Justice Mehta’s appointment was “void, ab-initio as being ultra vires Section 3 of the Act (Gujarat Lokayukta Act, 1986) read with Article 163 of the Constitution.” The governor had on August 25, 2011 appointed Justice Mehta to the post of Lokayukta, which had been lying vacant for the last eight years. PTI

NEWS BRIEFS Two men rape Class XI student

Outlawed Manipuri outfit’s member held in Delhi

Fog at IGI disrupts schedule of over 30 flights

NEW DELHI: Two men were arrested here after a 17-year-old complained on New Year’s eve that she was raped allegedly by them earlier, police said today. One of the arrested is an engineer working with an IT firm and another an executive with an human resources company. The girl alleged that she was raped by one of them in 2011 and another in early 2012 and approached the Sarojini Nagar Police Station on December 31, police sources said. The victim is a Class XI student of a south Delhi school. The accused were produced before court and sent to judicial custody. PTI

NEW DELHI: A 28-year-old member of a banned Manipuri terrorist outfit was arrested here for his involvement in a number of extortion, abduction and bomb blast cases in his state, police said Tuesday. Khwairakpam Khogendro Singh alias Roshan, resident of Awangkhunou Mayai Leikai in Manipur, was arrested here Dec 20 from near JNU campus in coordination with Manipur Police, said Deputy Commissioner of Police (Special Cell) Sanjeev Kumar Yadav. Recently, the Manipur-based cadres of the outfit committed a bomb blast at the gate of government hospital at Moirang Lamkhai. “Roshan’s father is an excise inspector. He has studied up to Class XII in Manipur,” Yadav said.

NEW DELHI: Operations at the Indira Gandhi International Airport here were affected today after dense fog partially disrupted the schedule of over 30 flights, including diversion of an international flight to Mumbai. Dense fog started to descend at the airport around 11pm last night and it thickened between 3.30am and 5am this morning leading to drop in runway visibility to less than 25 metres at the third runway, forcing authorities to suspend operations on that runway, airport sources said. Operations largely remained normal as the main runway was operational through the night as visibility was above the permissible limit of 150 metres for takeoff and as it is equipped with CAT-IIIB Instrument Landing System at both ends.

PICK YOUR

Across Stores

ities Twin C

WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 2, 2013

World

COLOMBIAN ARMY KILLS 13 FARC REBELS At least 13 rebels of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) have been killed by government soldiers, an official said Tuesday. Monday's operation targeted a rebel outpost in Chigorodo area of Antioquia state.

FISCAL CLIFF

CHAVEZ CONSCIOUS: VP

Congress averts disaster The House votes 257-167 to pass the bill with minority Democrats joining a smaller number of majority Republicans after a bitterly contested session. WASHINGTON: After fervent New Year brinkmanship, the US Congress Tuesday finally backed a deal to avert a "fiscal cliff" of tax hikes and slashing spending cuts that had threatened to unleash economic calamity. As global stock markets made their 2013 debut, the House of Representatives passed a deal between the White House and Senate Republicans to raise taxes on the rich and put off automatic $109 billion budget cuts for two months.

The vote represented a win for Obama as it raises taxes on the richest Americans in line with a re-election campaign promise. The deal passed the Senate early on Tuesday, but its fate hung in the balance for hours as House conservatives sought to amend it to include big spending cuts, which would likely have killed it. In the end, the House voted 257 votes to 167 to pass the original bill with minority Democrats joining a smaller number of majority Republicans to pass the legislation after a bitterly contested and unusual session on New Year's Day. The House vote took place after a conservative rebellion fizzled when it became clear there were not sufficient votes in the restive Republican caucus to send an amended version of the bill with spending cuts back to the Senate.

Republican party leaders ultimately feared they would carry the can if the deal collapsed, leaving Americans enraged by higher taxes and the prospect that an economy slowly recovering from crisis could be plunged back into recession. The angry political feuding which spanned the Christmas and New Year holidays reflected the near impossibility in forging compromise in Washington, where power is divided between a Democratic president and Republican House. It also was a signal that Obama may find tough sailing for his major second term legislative goals, including immigration reform, clean energy and gun control. The truce in Congress is likely to be brief, given the fight that will ensue over the spending cuts that now looms at the end of February as well as over regular budget bill extensions. Those fights will be paralleled by one over Obama's request for Congress to lift the country's $16 trillion borrowing limit. Republicans are demanding concessions on expenditures while Obama has warned he will not bargain. The vote represented a win for Obama as it raises taxes on the richest Americans in line with a re-election campaign promise — albeit above an income threshold higher than he and other Democrats had wanted. The deal also includes an end to a temporary 2 per cent cut to payroll taxes for Social Security retirement savings — meaning all Americans will pay a little more — and changes to inheritance and investment taxes. AFP

Hugo Chavez is conscious and fully aware of how "complex" his condition remains three weeks after difﬁcult cancer surgery in Havana, the Venezuelan president's handpicked successor said Tuesday. Vice President Nicolas Maduro, who accused the Venezuelan right of spreading what he described as sick lies and rumors about Chavez's health, said that he had spoken to the ailing leader twice over the past three days.

NUMEROLOGY

1,193

empty, parked cars were torched across France on New Year’s eve. US President Barack Obama speaks after House of Representatives cleared the deal to avert fiscal cliff. AFP

Obama warns of battles to come

resident Barack Obama said Tuesday he had fulfilled a campaign promise to make the US tax system fairer with a deal to avert the fiscal cliff crisis that passed after a fierce duel in Congress. "The one thing that I think hopefully in the New Year we'll focus on is seeing if we can put a package like this together with a little bit less drama, a little bit less brinksmanship, not scare the heck out of folks quite as much," he said. Obama also warned that he would not bargain with Republicans in Congress or offer spending cuts in return for lifting the government's

borrowing limit, known as the debt ceiling, in the coming months. "While I will negotiate over many things, I will not have another debate with this Congress over whether or not they should pay the bills that they've already racked up through the laws that they passed," the president said. "Let me repeat. We can't not pay bills that we've already incurred. If Congress refuses to give the US government the ability to pay these bills on time, the consequences for the entire global economy would be catastrophic, far worse than the impact of a ﬁscal cliff." AFP

NEWS BRIEFS Man arrested over N Ireland cop car bomb

27 juvenile inmates stage jailbreak in Peru

Dhaka reels under high population growth

US heiress left millions to library, parks: report

BELFAST: A third man was arrested in Northern Ireland over the attempted murder of a police ofﬁcer who found a bomb underneath his car. A 41-year-old man was detained yesterday in west Belfast, police said. A dissident republican group calling itself the New IRA claimed responsibility for the attack

LIMA: At least 27 inmates at a juvenile detention facility in Peru escaped, some staging a riot on New Year's Eve as guards prepared festivities. A group of 13 made a run for freedom, followed by 14 others who escaped late on Tuesday when a tank truck entered the prison, prosecutor Jorge Sanz said. Police have recaptured eight of them.

DHAKA: Dhaka has become one of the most crowded cities on earth, with a population density of 43,000 per square kilometre, making life harder for the residents. Dhaka is home to more than 15 million people. The high population growth has made life difﬁcult for the residents. The loss of the green cover has led to more pollution and congestion.

NEW YORK: A shy New York woman whom no one took to be wealthy left a shockingly happy surprise when she died: $20 million in donations to the city's libraries and main park. Mary McConnell Bailey lived modestly and volunteered at a hospital and schools, before dying at 88 last year, the New York Post newspaper reported Tuesday.

14 KILLED IN NIGERIA Nigerian troops clashed with militants from the Islamist group Boko Haram in the northeastern city of Maiduguri Tuesday, in an operation that left one soldier and 13 insurgents dead, the army said. According to residents and a relief source, suspected Boko Haram attackers slit the throats of 15 Christians last week on the outskirts of Maiduguri, the group's main stronghold. Violence linked to Boko Haram's insurgency in northern and central Nigeria has left some 3,000 people dead since 2009, including killings by the security forces. Nigeria is roughly divided between a mainly Muslim north and predominately Christian south.

The people re-elected a Republican majority in the House, and we will use it in 2013 to hold the president accountable for the 'balanced' approach he promised. John Boehner House Speaker

WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 2, 2013

Technology

SKY TABLET WORLD

IS THE LIMIT

The third version of India’s low cost tablet ‘Aakash’ is expected to be rolled out in the next phase and has tech enthusiasts excited. Developers are likely to equip it with a SIM slot and better apps, all within the existing price band. However, there are still a few glitches that the company needs to iron out to make Akash a truly delightful experience for its users.

NEW KID ON THE BLOCK After becoming the top seller of Android phones globally, Samsung is now planning to launch devices that run on Tizen OS. Samsung currently makes phones that run on Symbian, Bada, Android and Windows 8 operating systems. Tizen is a Linux-based operating system that emerged from the death of Nokia’s MeeGo. Intel, which originally worked with Nokia on MeeGo, and Samsung took over the development of the operating system, which is also overseen by the Linux Foundation. It is seen more open than Google’s Android, which despite its claims of openness, has irked some partners with certain restrictions.

UBUNTU FOR ANDROID?

Ubuntu is working on a touch-optimised version of their operating system and there is a countdown currently on, on their website for the launch of the new feature or version. It works like this, you need to get a special dock for your android phone and every time you connect your phone to the dock – which is in turn connected a computer running Ubuntu – it will start running Ubuntu. The feature is called Ubuntu for Android and was demoed earlier in 2012.

New Year hiccups NEW DELHI: The third version of low cost tablet ‘Aakash’ will be a delight for its users as developers are likely to equip it with a SIM slot and more exciting apps, all within the existing price band. About 50 lakh ‘Aakash 3’ tablets are expected to be rolled out in the next phase, the global tender for which may be floated in February next year. According to committee members engaged in developing the third version of Aakash, the endeavour will be to make the product as indigenous as possible and involve multiple vendors. “Our ultimate aim is to imbibe the usage of tablets in the education system and create an ecosystem for this,” said Deepak B Phatak, committee member and professor in IITBombay’s Department of

About 50 lakh Aakash 3 tablets are expected to be rolled out in the next phase, the global tender for which may be floated in February next year. Computer Science and Engineering. According to Phatak, computer giants world over are amazed with the device and there is a keen interest among several vendors to participate in this venture. Aakash 3 will have a faster processor supporting both Linux and Android operating systems and come with advanced memory, he said. “It could also have a SIM card slot so that people can use

History of Aakash Aakash Release date: December 2011 CPU: ARM11, 366 MHz RAM: 256MB OS: Android 2.2 Aakash 2 Release date: April 2012 CPU: ARM Cortex-A8, 800 MHz RAM: 256MB OS: Android 2.3 it as a communication device,” Phatak said. Apart from Phatak, Prof Ashok Jhunjhunwala of IITMadras along with hundreds of students and other partners are also involved in making the

new Aakash 3. One of the aims of students involved in the project is to develop an application for the tablet that can tell pulse rate among many others. It will also have a larger distribution and servicing system so that owners can get their tablets repaired locally.

ISSUES

People who have ordered Ubislate and made advance payments in month of Feb2012 have yet to receive the products while their online site promises a 48 hours dispatch once payment is done. Google continues to list more failures when searched for this product than success. Indian complain forums continue to get filled up with complains of either no delivery or broken delivery.

A new ad for the iPhone 5’s “Do Not Disturb” feature may have Venus and Serena Williams going for it, but some iOS users are reporting that the feature locked up on them last night. The ad features the phone’s “Do Not Disturb” feature, which users can switch on to silence in-coming calls, alerts, and notiﬁcations, or set up to perform such silencing during a preordained period of time. The slightly unfortunate aspect is that, as 9to5Mac glumly recognizes, there were reports overnight that this feature did actually disturb. The forums were adorned by iPhone users mystiﬁed that they had missed vital events because of the feature.

WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 2, 2013

Comment Men rise from one ambition to another: first, they seek to secure themselves against attack, and then they attack others.

THE NEW AMERICA

THE HUMAN CONDITION Dean Williams

decided that 2013 would be the year I gave up smoking after a deliriously happy 25-year relationship with the killer. Who would have thought that something so bad for you could bring you so much joy, eh? As I write this I can feel tendrils of carcinogenic smoke rise and wrap themselves around me in a lover’s embrace. But I shall prevail, I hope. I am arguably one of the most weak-willed people on the planet; ever ready to leap off the precipice at the slightest instigation. So technically I am doomed to failure in this latest venture of mine, but that doesn’t mean I won’t be giving it a good old college try. But why am I kicking the habit in the first place? It’s not like I didn’t know about the scandalously bad effect smoking has on your health. Au contraire I have seen them up close and personal and hated their sneering little faces, but what’s a man to do? I decided to give up smoking because I wanted to be able to taste food again; to smell my roses (literally); to be able to run with my dogs without gasping for breath after 10 minutes; to be able to play football for 15 minutes straight; to be able to wake up without a persistent hack. Hell, I gave up so I could live again. It’s been just over 36 hrs and already I feel healthier, but maybe that’s all in my mind. I hope I can beat the demon, but I’m not holding my breath. Already my mind is conjuring some superb excuses to light up, and we all know how that’s going to end.

End of the road is start for US gay newlyweds MARRIAGE OF TRUE MINDS ROBERT MACPHERSON

Niccolo Machiavelli Italian politician

Smoke gets in my eyes

HIGH-FLYING THOUGHTS Egypt prosecutors are out to get a comedian, who has been charged with insulting President Mohamed Morsi and his Islamic Brotherhood. Looks like good old days are returning to Egypt. The head of the state is above the law — and jokes.

TILGHMAN, MARYLAND: The Black Walnut Point Inn is literally at the end of the road in this Chesapeake Bay village, but for seven gay and lesbian couples Tuesday, it was the starting point for a new chapter in their lives together. Same-sex marriage came into force in Maryland on New Year’s Day, and to mark the occasion the couples exchanged vows at the 19th century farmhouse turned bed-and-breakfast adjoining a bird sanctuary with stunning sea views. “I just love him and I want to be married with him and spend the rest of my life with him,” said US Navy petty officer Dwayne Beebe, 38, resplendent in his crisp blue uniform, alongside his partner Jonathan Franqui, 28. “After 20 years in the navy, to be able to do this openly...it’s wonderful,” he said. “One day, across the country, there will be legal marriages for everyone. Yes, it is the future.” Maryland is among nine states, plus the District of Columbia, that recognize samesex marriage, and one of three that approved marriage equality by popular vote on November 6

— the same day as the presidential election. But same-sex marriage remains explicitly illegal in 30-odd states, while the federal Defense of Marriage Act, which defines marriage strictly as a union between a man and a woman, is being challenged at the US Supreme Court. In Maryland’s biggest city Baltimore, several gay and lesbian couples rang in the New Year by exchanging vows at city hall a half-hour after midnight. More ceremonies are expected Wednesday when court houses reopen for business. Out at the Black Walnut Point Inn, the first to take the plunge were the innkeepers themselves, Tracy Staples, 47, and Bob Zuber, 48, a couple for more than six years who acquired their property two

years ago. “It’s a 36 hour wedding celebration,” quipped Staples, a “fourth-generation preacher kid” who went on to preside over some of the other ceremonies on the inn’s sprawling lawn where a crucifix overlooks the sea. Michelle Miller, 45, and Nara Clouse, 52, a couple for 15 years, said they felt a rush of emotion as they held hands, exchanged rings under a gazebo and heard officiant Jen Russell say: “I now declare you married.” “I’ve been to other marriage ceremonies, but until you really look into the eyes of the one you love and you have the officiant there...that’s really special,” Miller said. “We’ve already had recognition [of our relationship] from

family and friends and even from colleagues,” added Clayton Zook, 28, after he and partner Wayne MacKenzie, 30, pledged to spend their remaining lives together. “This takes it to the next level, where we now have recognition from the state from a legal standpoint,” Zook said. “In Alabama, when we first came together, marriage wasn’t something we even thought would be possible.” Russell, married in the District of Columbia two years ago and raising two children with her wife, was thrilled at her officiating duties, which she fulfilled with a long rainbow scarf over her shoulders. “It feels like being a superpower, to be able to say, ‘You queers are married’,” she laughed. “It’s the best thing ever. I’m giddy.” Ruth Siegel, 64, and Nina Nethery, 59, a couple for 15 years, wore matching white “Just Married” caps after their ceremony. They knew the routine — both had been previously married to men — but this time was something else. “Marriage just changes things,” said Siegel. “It’s not just a piece of paper.” “And looking into your eyes, and saying those words, and knowing I meant every one of them ... it’s just wonderful,” added Nethery, turning to her wife. “And then I cried.”

EDITORIALS It’s fishing time in T-waters Don’t name rape victim

hen Union home minister Sushil Kumar Shinde made the announcement that a decision would be made on Telangana in a month, one couldn’t help but sense a feeling of déjà vu. It was, similarly, on a December night in 2009 that his predecessor P Chidambaram has announced that Centre has set in motion the process for the formation of a separate state. This statement came at a time when the party unit in the State was devoid of direction and leadership after the unexpected demise of chief minister YS Rajashekhar Reddy. The Rosaiah government was anything but effective. The subsequent backtracking of the Centre and ambiguity in Congress response resulted in the resurgence of the movement as force to reckon with. The bandhs, strikes and violent protests have cost the State a lot in lives, property, reputation, production loss and, above all, liveability. As a rudderless lame duck government in the Centre takes gambles and strikes hard bargains to stay in power till 2014, the waters are being muddied and there are ﬁsh to be caught. The question is; whether the people of Telangana will be taken for a ride by their leaders again?

READERS’ VIEWS

e understand the candour Shashi Taroor has shown in asking why the proposed law on sexual violence shouldn’t be named after the victim — given his exposure to a much civilised international polity. However, even the slightest lenience allowing naming of a victim will empower unscrupulous elements in police, politics and media to exploit the victim’s suffering and further their vested interests. So let things be.

WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 2, 2013

Cinema UNDERRATED STAR

A LOSS FOR THE INDUSTRY

Mike Hopkins, the Oscar-winning sound editor behind King Kong and The Lord of the Rings trilogy, died in a drowning accident in New Zealand on Sunday. He was 53. Hopkins was rafting with friends through the Tararua Range on New Zealand’s North Island when the raft capsized, throwing him into the Waiohine River, according to the Australian.

Watts in a name

The Impossible, starring blue-eyed beauty Naomi Watts and Ewan McGregor, hits the screens this weekend. Naomi Watts’ story is one of struggle and survival, and now success. We take a look some of her films that one must revisit. THE PAINTED VEIL

takes place. Naomi handles the role brilliantly. The always surprising Watts creates a woman at once contemporary and retro.

21 GRAMS

aomi Watts received her only Best Actress Oscar nomination to date for playing Christina Peck, a woman who loses her husband and two daughters in a hit-and-run accident. Naomi’s Cristina Peck is locked in grief and unable to see clearly. With good reason, fractured by her grief, she falls back into the clutches of her old demons of addiction. Cristina’s role as a broken woman, tormented and bitter, is played to perfection, her oscillating emotions and expressions make this movie a must-watch.

couple with a broken relationship learns some valuable lessons about love, life, and sacrifice in this romantic drama based on a novel by W Somerset Maugham. Naomi played Kitty, a woman ahead of her time, or at least, she thought she was in refusing to conform to conventions, swept along by the frivolity of the world. Looking for an escape route, the proposal by another man just thrills her. But then her husband, played by Edward Norton, whisks her off to China, where she learns to accept her flaws and then a complete transformation

Rajdhani Express Rajdhani Express: Point Blank Justice is a socio-political drama directed by Alok Kohli.The ﬁlm features Leander Paes in the lead role and marks the Bollywood debut of the tennis ace. Keshav (Paes) wants to break away from the shackles of a gun-runner, his godfather, and seeks freedom for a digniﬁed life. But denied and prevented, he escapes by stealing a bag of arms and a ticket from Delhi to Mumbai on the Rajdhani Express, with the intention to encash it and lead a better life.

DID YOU KNOW... FAIR GAME

EASTERN PROMISES

MOVIE OF THE WEEK

aomi Watts and Sean Penn star in a riveting conspiracy thriller based on the outing of CIA agent Valerie Plame in the run-up to the Iraq war. The movie begins with the 40-year-old Valerie Plame (Naomi Watts), an attractive, power-dressed blonde, up to her neck in deception on a mission in Kuala Lumpur. Naomi Watts looks uncannily like the real life Plame and doesn’t see herself as a heroine but as a skilled operative. Watts makes Plame an ideal spy: secretive, concealing, under the radar.

$10.84bn The amount collected from tickets sold by theatres in the US in 2012, beating the previous record of $10.59 billion set in 2009 (when Avatar led a late-December surge), and marking a new record in terms of revenue earned in a single calendar year. All told, the 2012 box office finished 6.6 per cent ahead of 2011′s $10.17 billion take and 2.5 percent of 2010′s $10.57 billion take.

TRENDING...

hen a Russian teenager dies in childbirth, nurse Anna (Watts) is determined to find her family and save the baby from foster care. The girl’s diary leads her to enigmatic ‘driver’ Nikolai (Viggo Mortensen) and the bloody underworld of the Russian Mafia. Watts is at the top of her game as a single woman whose motherly instinct propels her into dicey situations. The scenes involving Watts and Mortensen are truly dynamic.

MULHOLLAND DRIVE

compellingly dark fable about how the beautiful dreams that draw hopefuls to Hollywood can turn out to be blistering nightmares. In the film, Watts plays two roles, polar opposites, both of which reflect the LA experience. In part one, she is perky blond Betty who lands at LAX in wide-eyed wonder, a budding young actress ready to conquer Hollywood. In part two, Watts becomes Diane, an embittered also-ran in the Hollywood race, overlooked in more

ways than one. She’s a wretch of a human being, as mired in despair as Betty was flying on the wings of hope. The two characters are so distinct and expertly played that it’s difficult to accept that both are played by the same actress. Watts didn’t go entirely unnoticed in film. She won the Chicago Film Critics award for Best Actress, the National Board of Review’s award for Breakthrough Performance and her career took off in part thanks to the buzz Mulholland Drive generated.

Actor Matt Damon, whose ﬁlm Promised Land focuses on social and environmental issues, said that the movie is not profracking. In the ﬁlm, the 42-year-old actor plays a corporate salesman, who tries to buy a land in a rural US town to drill oil with a controversial method known as "fracking," reported Ace Showbiz.

Twilight stars Robert Pattinson and Kristen Stewart are reportedly spending New Year together. Stewart, 22, who famously cheated on Pattinson with married movie director Rupert Sanders, jetted to London to ring in the New Year with her partner, reported Showbiz spy.

WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 2, 2013

spotlight

HAPPY HOURS

Get your drinks at 1+1 between 12pm and 8pm, everyday of the week! Bottles & Chimney begins the year with a promise to spoil its patrons. The offer is on till January 31.

SPEAKING OUT

SAFEGUARDING

THE FUTURE The Hyderabad chapter of Blank Noise's #Safe City Pledge was organised outside GVK One Mall in Banjara Hills on Tuesday. The demonstrators stood holding posters, pledging to work for gender equality.

SRINIVAS SETTY

WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 2, 2013

health

POOR BRITISH YOUTH MORE DRUNK THAN THE RICH Poor youngsters in Britain are more likely to get drunk and end up in hospital than their rich counterparts, official figures have revealed. A total of 1,784 drunk youths from the country's most deprived areas ended up in hospital in 2012, compared to 710 from posh areas, The Sun reported.

ORGANIC PRODUCE

GOING BACK IN TIME

Organic food is not a new concept. This trend, that reached its peak in the last few years and continues to grow, merely takes us back to where we come from. RDEEPASHRI V

deepashri.v@postnoon.com

orld over, there has been an increase in the demand for organic food. People have started running organic farms. In India, the horticulture department of various states helped farmers put up a mela of their produce which was grown organically, to motivate and encourage them. According to the Union of Concerned Scientists, organic dairy farming is a $750 million industry. US organic milk sales increased 12 per cent in 2010, 13 per cent in 2011, and 5 per cent in the first seven months of 2012, according to the site. Though the organic food trend continues to be at its peak, not everybody understands why or what the fuss is all about. “I don’t find any difference. I buy food that is labeled ‘organic.’ I don’t even know if it really is organic or not,” said Madhu, a resident of West Marredpally. Many people have come to perceive organic food as some sort of miracle food that is supposed to have immediate health benefits upon consumption. The sudden craze and increase in demand for it over the years make it look like a concept that just evolved. Food that is grown naturally, like how it was grown by man since the beginning of civilization, is organic food. It is what you can grow in your terrace garden or backyard by using kitchen wastes as manure, and substances like neem extracts to keep pests away. We

intervened and introduced harmful chemicals, pesticides, genetically modified organisms and chemicals for artificial ripening of fruits. Crop cycles failed, chemicals were secreted into the soil and into our food

ANEWS PP-LYBRIEFS YOURSELF

chain. Genetic modification spread to non-target species, possibly irreversibly altering our eco system. So what we are seeing is not a new concept, but an increased awareness of how food must be produced.

Organic foods are priced higher than ordinary foods. There are a few people who grow essential day-to-day vegetables and medicinal plants in their own rooftops or gardens. But that still doesn’t cover the

entire spectrum of food we eat. Not everyone can afford to buy everything organic. TLC, a discovery communications company, posts a few tips about this. According to the website, foods like asparagus, avocado, banana, papaya and kiwi, don’t absorb too much of pesticide or are peeled before eating. If the claims are to be believed, it’s alright to get these from any store. But it warns that foods like dairy products (pesticides can get secreted in milk), eggs (chemicals can be transferred from hen to chicken), peaches (TCS cites

We intervened and introduced harmful chemicals, pesticides, genetically modified organisms and chemicals for artificial ripening of fruits. Environmental Working Group or EWG as declaring peaches as the food with highest concentration of pesticides), potatoes, peppers and a few others must be purchased form organic stores or outlets. The reason is simple. Most of these are what we consume every day, and the pesticides can enter our system over time. So at least with frequently consumed foods, we need to make sure we eat healthy. On a positive note, more people are now aware of what they buy and the harm that comes from chemicals. The demand for organic food will continue to grow. This trend, or rather awareness, is here to stay.

HOUSECALL

DID YOU KNOW?

PIONEERS

Similac Baby Journal

Marburg virus

How much do you shed?

Jean-Michel Dubernerd

You can track your baby's feeding, sleeping, diaper changes and growth in this convenient application. You can also see tips and advice from the makers of Similac and other Moms and Dads like you, view graphs that show your baby's development over time and easily share this information with your family and pediatrician via email.

Marburg virus is a severe and highly contagious form of haemorrhagic fever caused by a virus from the same family the ﬁloviruses - as Ebola haemorrhagic fever (EHF), although it's not as deadly as its cousin. Once a human is infected they can pass the virus on to others through their body ﬂuids, most commonly blood but also faeces, saliva and vomit. The virus may also possibly be spread via aerosols of infected droplets.

Your pet isn't the only one in the house with a shedding problem. It is found that humans shed about 600,000 particles of skin every hour. Imagine that! That works out to about 1.5 pounds each year. Going by this calculation, the average person will lose around 105 pounds of skin by the age of age 70.

Jean-Michel Dubernerd is a medical doctor specializing in transplant surgery, as well as a former deputy in the French National Assembly. He is most famous for performing the first successful hand transplant on September 23, 1998, the first successful double hand transplant shortly thereafter, and assisting Prof Bernard Devauchelle perform the first partial face transplant on Isabelle Dinoire on 27 November 2005.

health WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 2, 2013

SURVEY

RESEARCH

It’s official!

Middle age starts at 40: study This survey also shows there is significant age discrimination and outdated attitudes among younger people – and that is worrying. LONDON: The exact age at which people should stop calling themselves young is 40 years, eight months and two weeks, according to a government poll in the UK. While men believe being young stops at 38 and a half, women are in no hurry to age as the cut-off for them is delayed until 42 years, nine months and three months, the poll found. Britons surveyed also said that old age begins when people reach the age of 59 years, two months and two weeks, the ‘Daily Mail’ reported. The poll, for the Department for Work and Pensions, spoke to 2,171 people aged 16 or over and uncovered stark variations in the views of men and women and different age groups. Old age, according to women, begins at 60 years, four months and two weeks, but for men, it is much earlier at 58. The gap may be down to men placing more

Class and income may also be factors. The unemployed said being young ends nine years earlier than those with full time jobs. emphasis on diminishing strength as a mark of ageing, or because women tend to live longer. Under-50s said old age begins at 46 years and nine months. For those age 50-plus, old age starts at 62 years, seven months and two weeks. While 16- to 24year-olds said being young ends at

32, for those aged 80-plus the answer was 52. This is not far short of when the youngest group said old age begins at 54. The Department for Work and Pensions said “the disparity in perceptions” showed “the potential for age stereotypes to be applied in very inconsistent ways”. Class and income may also be factors. The unemployed said being young

ends nine years earlier than those with full time jobs. People who lived in council houses tended to believe old age started five years earlier than those who owned their home outright, the poll found. “These surveys show that the older you get, the later you think old age begins. What is happening is that people are suddenly getting to an age and thinking: no, I’m not old actually. I might have thought I would feel old at this age, but I do not,” Ros Altmann of over-50s group Saga said. “This survey also shows there is significant age discrimination and outdated attitudes among younger people – and that is worrying,” Altmann said. “Youngsters tend to think people who are older are not up to much. It’s just not true,” Altmann added. PTI

People link women with lighter colours LONDON: Scientists have found that women are really seen as the ‘fairer sex’ since people subconsciously associate lighter colours with female names and qualities, and darker shades with more masculine attributes. As a result, most assume that a waiter carrying two glasses of wine would almost certainly give the red to the man and the white to the woman, said Dutch psychologists. Researcher Gun Semin from Utrecht University began by showing a group of volunteers a selection of male and female names printed on a grey background. Some were in white text and others in black. The men and women had only three-quarters of a second to decide whether each name was male or female, the Daily Mail reported. The results, presented at the British Science Festival, were clear cut. “I have never seen such a beautiful result. The male names in black were processed significantly faster than those in white. And the reverse was true for the female names. Those in the white typeface were processed much faster. It was a very strong effect,” Semin said. In another experiment, volunteers were shown adjectives before the names flashed up. The words ‘soft’, ‘submissive’ and ‘weak’ sped up the processing of female names, while ‘assertive’, ‘strong’ and ‘weighty’ aided the sorting of male ones. Volunteers were also asked to imagine a waiter bringing a couple’s order to the table. Eighty per cent said that if he had a glass of red wine and one of white, he would give the red to the man and the white to the woman. Semin said that it seems that both sexes link brighter, lighter colours with women and darker ones with men. PTI

STUDY

Girls outdrink boys but not mums

LONDON: A British study has found that girl students drink more than the boys but not nearly as much as their middleclass mothers. According to a study, over half of the women studying at university binge drink compared to 41 percent of the male students, Daily Express reported. But another research found

older women are drinking more than teenagers for the first time. The student survey looked at all aspects of the young people’s lives, including alcohol and drug consumption, food and sport. Jose Cancela Carrall, co-author of the study, said: “The amount drunk per unit of time is higher in women. In other words, even though males

drink more often, females do drink more intensively in shorter periods of time, which is known as binge drinking.” British experts, meanwhile, have warned that older women are becoming the biggest burden on the NHS because of alcohol related conditions. A UK-wide survey found that women aged between 45

and 64 drink, on an average, 8.8 units of alcohol a week - the equivalent of a bottle of wine. Middle-class professionals are even more likely to unwind with alcohol at the end of the working day, drinking 9.1 units a week on average. These figures were highlighted by Labour’s health spokeswoman Diane Abbott. IANS

WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 2, 2013

Entertainment A NEW MEDIUM

An unstoppable force “Y ou can stop me, but can you stop change?” That was Kamal Haasan’s reply when he was asked about his decision to screen Vishwaroopam on DTH ahead of the film’s theatrical release. He was in Hyderabad for the audio launch of the film and told the media, “I knew that a day like would come almost 10 years ago, but we didn’t have the technology back then. A lot of people threatened that they’ll stop my film from releasing and quite a few were upset that my move to screen the film on DTH will hamper theatrical revenues. I don’t think DTH is going to be an alternative to watching a film on theatres. Compared to the revenue we lose due to piracy, this is negligible. I believe that the number of people who’ll watch the film in their homes will be as less as 3%, but the point is that I want to reach out to those who don’t want to come to theatres to watch a film for various reasons. Watching a film on big screen is an unparalleled experience and nothing is going to change that in the near future.” Kamal Haasan and Pooja Kumar have been touring India and other countries like Singapore and Malaysia to promote the film for the past few days. In Andhra Pradesh, the film is going to be distributed by Dasari Narayana Rao. The film has been written and directed by Kamal Haasan. Shankar, Ehsaan and Loy have composed the music. The film will hit the screens later this month and it’ll be aired on various DTH services including Tata Sky on January 10.

CINE BYTES

Bhai is ready to go on floors

agarjuna’s upcoming film Bhai is set to go on floors on January 4. Veerabhadram, who had earlier directed Poola Rangadu, is going to direct the film and Nagarjuna is producing the film. Richa Gangopadhyay is playing the lead role opposite Nagarjuna. Sonu Sood has been cast in an important role in this action entertainer.

Baadshah’s audio launch in March

he audio of NTR’s upcoming film Baadshah is going to be launched in the first week of March. Srinu Vaitla is directing the film and Bandla Ganesh is producing it. NTR and Kajal are playing the lead roles. The film’s shooting is currently going on in Hyderabad. Thaman is scoring the music. The film is slated for release in summer.

Nani, Amala back on JPK’s sets

he new schedule of Nani starrer Jenda Pai Kapiraju began recently in Hyderabad. Amala Paul, who was shooting for Iddarammayilatho in Bangkok, flew to Hyderabad a couple of days ago to join the film’s shooting. Samuthirakani is directing the film and KS Srinivasan is producing this bilingual film. GV Prakash is going to score the music.

Entertainment WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 2, 2013

FAMILY TIME

CINE BYTES

ctress Deepika Padukone can't thank her Ram Leela co-star Ranveer Singh enough for giving her time off to visit her parents for the New Year. Each year Deepika likes to be with her family at this time of the year. However, this time she was committed to shoot for Sanjay Leela Bhansali's Ram Leela with Ranveer. Ranveer has lately been running from the sets of Ram Leela in Gujarat to the sets of Gunday in Kolkata. The actor injured himself on the sets of Gunday, which eventually affected Bhansali's Ram Leela also. "Ranveer Singh was shooting simultaneously for Gunday and Ram Leela. In fact, the whiskered look that he sports for Sanjay Bhansali's film has been incorporated into his personality in Gunday. Remember back in 1969 how Rajesh Khanna's bearded look in Ittefaq had to be incorporated into Do Raaste as the superstar shot simultaneously for both," said a source. Bhansali was all set to complete the shooting of some dramatic scenes between Ranveer and Deepika, but Ranveer's accident forced the director to postpone the shoot. And Deepika has quietly taken off to Bangalore to be with her family. IANS

Sonakshi Sinha has her plate full for 2013

fter a successful 2012,the new year also looks quite promising for actress Sonakshi Sinha. "In 2013 I have Lootera, Once Upon a Time in Mumbaai 2... I am going to start shooting for Bullet Raja, Rambo Rajkumar 'with Prabhudheva and Shahid (Kapoor) and the Thuppakki remake. So yeah, hands are pretty full," the 25-year-old said. IANS

Salman becomes inspiration for Anirudh

nirudh Dave takes inspiration from Salman Khan to play cop. TV actor Anirudh Dave is smitten by superstar Salman Khan's eccentric 'Dabangg' character and in his next venture Housewife Hai... Sab Jaanti Hai to play a cop like Chulbul Pandey. Anirudh will be seen in bodyhugging police uniform with rippling biceps and triceps and shades that hang from his belt. PTI

Sunny Leone regales audiences in Delhi

DEEPIKA SPENDS TIME WITH FAMILY, THANKS TO RANVEER

unny Leone turns crowd-puller on New Year's Eve. IndoCanadian porn star Leone, who turned to Bollywood with Jism 2, regaled the capital's party lovers with a live wire performance on New Year's Eve. She was blown over by the warm reaction of the audience to her dance numbers. Over 2,000 people are said to have been present at the event at The Lalit Hotel. IANS

Entertainment WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 2, 2013

BACK TOGETHER

CINE BYTES

Watts finds playing Princess Diana tough

aomi Watts has said that playing Princess Diana was her most challenging role. “It was the hardest thing I’ve done because of the pressure of everyone’s beliefs about who she was, and the fact that it was just really hard to claim her as my own, since everybody else feels they know her,” she explained.

Samuel L Jackson talks on meeting Leo

amuel L Jackson has said that he got on well with Django Unchained star Leonardo DiCaprio. Jackson revealed to Flicks and Bits that the ﬁlm allowed him to get to know DiCaprio, whom he’d only met in passing previously. “We developed a rapport very quickly,” he recalled. “Having never been in the acting arena together before we’d seen each other before socially and we knew each other, but it was great to start the rehearsal period with him.”

Macpherson reconciles with ex? S

upermodel Elle Macpherson has reportedly reconciled with her ex-boyfriend Jeffrey Soffer after he narrowly escaped death in a helicopter crash. Soffer, who split from Macpherson in March this year after a two-year relationship, was heading to a luxury resort in the Bahamas for America’s Thanksgiving holiday on November 22 when the helicopter crash-landed. One American passenger, believed to be the owner of the aircraft, was killed and the pilot was seriously injured, while Soffer survived along with three others. “The accident, although horrific, has reunited Elle and Jeff. She is very pleased,” dailymail.co.uk quoted a source as saying.

Scarlett in no mood for another marriage soon

carlett Johansson is in no rush to make her way down the aisle again. The 28-year-old Avengers star dishes that the idea of an ofﬁcial legal union “has no relevance to me right now.” “I got married when I was young and it was incredibly romantic and I liked being married, actually,” she recalls. “But it is different. To me, being in a functioning relationship doesn’t mean you have to be married.”

WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 2, 2013

Chai Time

Play & Win

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

KAKURO How to play kakuro Kakuro is a popular game similar to sudoku in some ways. But is also suitably different. The key question: ‘How do you play kakuro?’, well here are the rules of kakuro. The answer: The kakuro grid, unlike in sudoku, can be of any size. It has rows and columns, and dark cells like in a crossword. And, just like in a crossword, some of the dark cells will contain numbers. Some cells will contain two numbers. However, in a crossword the numbers reference clues. In a kakuro, the numbers are all you get! They denote the total of the digits in the row or column refer-

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

on... So, how do you work out the actual combination? Well, this is done through elimination and cross-referencing. For instance, as you work out the answers for other kakuro clues, this will naturally limit the valid combinations, and hence the answer for this particular run. Note the second cell in row two — it contains two numbers, 30 and 11. The 30 refers to the vertical run underneath the number 30 and the 11 refers to the two cells to the right, horizontally, of the number 11.

Play & Win

voucher from VENKEY’S VEG Restaurant, Nampally

ACROSS

SCRIBBLING PAD

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SUDOKU

PREVIOUS PUZZLE ANSWER

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1 Gem unit 6 Owned, in the Old Testament 11 Diane in “The Godfather” 14 Subject of a Middle Eastern sultan 15 ___ Bath (prank call name) 16 Retirement resource (abbr.) 17 Boss in charge of lots of dough 19 Daily temperature extreme 20 Dawson of football fame 21 Final, for short 22 Mischievous type 23 Dried (off) 27 Some TVs 29 Melodramatic cry 30 Wall St. letters 32 Geometric determination 33 Pencil-parking place 34 Sarcastic taunts 36 Surrealist Max 39 Bugs 41 Like a volume measurement 43 Just shy of shut 44 Appoints 46 Birthplace of Columbus 48 ___ carte 49 Corrosive battery

chemical 51 Barbell exercise 52 Enormous mythical bird 53 Lantern parts 56 Any individual 58 Spots before your eyes? 59 Quick to get things 60 Word in the Postal Service creed 61 Biomedical research agcy. 62 Etiquette 68 Bloomers around the neck? 69 Overthrow, e.g. 70 Earth you should replace 71 Rebuttal to “nope” 72 Reverses deles 73 In sorry shape

DOWN

1 Post-picnic trash, maybe 2 “I ___ Rock” (Simon & Garfunkel song) 3 Bled in the laundry 4 House arrestee’s bracelet site 5 Delay of a sort 6 Solo in “Star Wars” 7 Santa follower 8 Excavate 9 “A Streetcar Named Desire” woman 10 Steak style

11 Highest peak in Africa 12 Fragrance 13 Hound calls 18 Iron-poor 23 Wheel alignment service 24 Leigh’s 1939 Oscar role 25 Artisan’s skill 26 Fix a computer program 28 “Will Be,” in a Doris Day song 31 Small three-masted vessel 35 Oft-congested spot 37 Establishment with hair dryers 38 Use a stencil 40 Splintered church group 42 Blunt-ended cigar 45 Stored fodder piles 47 Some candy bar ingredients 50 Expel from a country 53 Macho 54 Toulouse “Toodle-oo” 55 Shopaholic’s haunt 57 Bert’s “Sesame Street” buddy 63 Part of email addresses 64 Post-wedding title 65 First lady? 66 Lightning attractor 67 It’s fit for a pig

Chai Time WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 2, 2013 Thiruvaikumar

STAR POWER for 3-1-2013

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

ARIES

TAURUS

GEMINI

CANCER

LEO

VIRGO

LIBRA

SCORPIO

SAGITTARIUS

CAPRICORN

AQUARIUS

PISCES

Govt officials will be of great help. You spend good time with family members. With good faith you will involve in religious activities. Employees will be favoured with expected transfer and promotion. Colleagues too will help and co-operate.

STRIP TEASE AGNES

You spend good time with family and children which cheers them. Relationship with blood relatives looks cordial. Practice yoga and paranayamam to get rid of tension and confusion in your mind. You will do well in all undertaken tasks.

You help blood relatives and wellwishers. Travel may be beneficial to some extent. Employees will get appreciation from superiors as they work hard and complete their duties in time. Their wishes also will be fulfilled as a reward for their work.

Expected govt sops might not come through. However, businessmen are advised to keep their records clean since there is a chance of getting into trouble. Income will be satisfactory. Politicians advised to stay away from the inter-party conflicts.

Blood relatives will help you perform good events at home. Employees will complete all work and satisfy their superiors. Workload might increase slowly but income will also look up. Businessmen will get plenty new customers and do well.

Financial position will be satisfactory. Your subordinates will be happy as they get support from you. Good events like marriage to take place. You will take part in religious and temple-renovation activities. Tension at workplace possible.

Parents will support you and extend help. Avoid intention to change place of residence for now. Employees need to work with caution. Avoid handing over important work to colleagues, which were to be executed by you.

You adjust well with blood relatives. You start getting income through ancestral property. Employees will manage problems wisely. Deficit is not ruled out though good inflow of funds is certain. Some will get a transfer to their choice destination.

Chances of theft or loss. Carefully protect your household items and movable assets. Avoid being headstrong in talks. Family members will co-operate well with you. Employees will get promotion and their inferiority complex will vanish.

TAROT READ

Sumaa Tekur

tarotreadhyd@gmail. com

ARIES:

GEMINI:

The Magician – Everything that you thought of magically fits into place, and you wonder if plans really work out without that magic touch of synchronicity.

LEO:

The Emperor – This is the card of control and also of love. You juggle the two sides very well. Power gives you the confidence to go through with your decisions.

LIBRA:

PEARLS BEFORE SWINE

Knight of Cups – You’re an emotional person and feel strongly about things that matter to you. But this may or may not mean that you’re in touch with emotions.

SAGITTARIUS:

Ace of Swords – You may be talking extremes a little too harshly. It’s all or nothing for you at the moment. But life is never so cut and dried.

TAURUS:

Five of Cups – Some form of loss is indicated. Something may not have quite worked to your expectation. Get over it and move on. There’s more to life.

CANCER:

Death – There will be some unexpected changes in your life and outlook. You’ll be seeing life from a whole new perspective. Prepare for a fruitful time.

VIRGO:

Seven of Cups – Material possessions are your main focus. Also, there is a lot of confusion in your head about the right decisions to make right now.

SCORPIO:

The Sun – You don’t lack options, you only need to make a decision – and that is the difficult part for you right now. Sit with pen and paper and make a list.

CAPRICORN:

Queen of Wands – You’re in a creative phase when good ideas come to you. You have all the qualities of caring and nurturing that makes life interesting.

PREVIOUS SOLUTIONS

PISCES:

The Lovers – Decision time! The decision may or may not have to do with a relationship. The cards are telling you that you need to prepare to take a call.

NUMBER GAME

– You may feel as though everything has come to a standstill, and that nothing is moving. Do not worry too much about the stagnation period.

SCRABBLE

AQUARIUS: Two of Wands

POOCH CAFE

Those suffering a chronic disease will get relief. By making relevant exercise, keep good health. Employees might get overloaded and unwanted transfer too likely. Be cordial with superiors to avoid stringent action against you.

for 3-1-2013

Page of Pentacles – You’re feeling adventurous, and are in the mood to try something new in order to make money. New business ventures may work out at this time.

NON SEQUITUR

Blood relatives will be more affectionate towards you. You will get the due share of ancestral property without much efforts. Employees will get income in line with their hard work. Businessmen will get support of customers.

SUDUKO

You will be happy as parents will support you completely. Self-confidence level will increase. Health will be fine. Avoid unwanted fear. Share problems with blood relations. Employees be happy as all wishes get fulfilled. Politicians thrive.

Boggle TIN LEAD GOLD IRON SILVER COPPER Vol: 2, No 167 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

Entertainment WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 2, 2013

COUNTING HER BLESSINGS

CINE BYTES

DEMI LOVATO

LOOKS BACK

ounding primed to ring in 2013, Demi Lovato, singer and X Factor judge, took to Twitter to count her blessings and compare where she is now to where she’s been. “Two years ago, I watched the ball drop on TV in rehab and cried my eyes out,” Lovato tweeted Monday evening, referring to her much publicised stay in treatment back in 2010. “Tonight I’m on the beach with my closest, most loyal friends... sipping coffee and sharing how beautiful life is and how far we’ve come. Recovery is a beautiful thing friends. Life is good, God is great!” The 20-year-old role model to many added: “Set goals and dream big #2013...”

Jay-Z composing original score for Great Gatsby

f you liked the music in the trailer for Baz Luhrmann’s The Great Gatsby, you’ll be happy to hear Jay-Z isn't just lending a few of his songs to the soundtrack, he’s composing the upcoming ﬁlm’s entire original score. The rapper is, apparently, hard at work to accomplish the task with another artist, who goes by the name The Bullitts.

Hefner, Harris wed at Playboy Mansion

ugh Hefner and Crystal Harris have ﬁnally tied the knot. A year and a half after she broke off their ﬁrst engagement, Harris married the Playboy founder on Monday, New Year’s Eve, at the Playboy Mansion. “Today is the day I become Mrs Hugh Hefner. Feeling very happy, lucky, and blessed,” Harris, who was Playboy's Miss December 2009, tweeted earlier in the day.

Anne Hathaway spends New Year with Valentino

undled up in coats and turtlenecks, actress Anne Hathaway and her mega-watt smile were spotted with famous fashion designer Valentino and his partner Giancarlo while strolling the streets of Gstaad in Switzerland. Hubby Adam Schulman will soon be joining them. Anne was to sing at a New Year’s Eve bash held at Valentino's cottage, along with Madonna and her daughter Lourdes.

sports

WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 2, 2013

NBA

BRISBANE INTERNATIONAL

Knicks fall short in Stoudemire season debut Amare Stoudemire made his NBA season debut but couldn’t help lift the New York Knicks over the Portland Trail Blazers. NEW YORK: Amare Stoudemire made his NBA season debut and Carmelo Anthony made a big contribution after a two-game injury absence Tuesday but couldn’t lift the New York Knicks over the Portland Trail Blazers. Portland’s French Olympian Nicolas Batum scored 26 points — draining six three-pointers — to help the Trail Blazers open the new year and their four-game road trip with a 105-100 victory. Damian Lillard added 21 points for the Trail Blazers, including a threepointer after the Knicks had cut a double-digit deficit to three points in the final minute. Stoudemire, playing his first game since having knee surgery shortly before the start of the season, wasn’t a factor. Stoudemire ruptured a cyst behind his left knee in a pre-season game on October 19 and had a procedure two days later to remove unhealthy tissue from the knee. Despite his absence the Knicks have thrived, and coach Mike Woodson said before Tuesday’s game

that he would go slow with the sixtime All-Star. We’ve just got to gauge his minutes and work him slowly back in,” Woodson said. Stoudemire came off the bench and played just over 16 minutes, scoring six points on 3-of-8 shooting and grabbing one rebound. Stoudemire received a standing ovation when he entered the game with 3:31 to play in the first quarter. He missed his first five shots but his production included two impressive dunks. “It’s been a long time coming,” he said before the contest. “I’ve been so ready to play, put in so much hard work this off-season, and then to have to sit out for the first half of this season... I’m so ready to go. I’m ready to provide whatever my team needs to improve.” Anthony, who missed two games with a hyperextended knee, matched his season high with 45 points. But he missed a potential gametying three-pointer with less than 16 seconds to play.

SPORTS BRIEFS Gang-rape victim will RIP if we don’t rest in peace: Gambhir NEW DELHI: Senior India batsman Gautam Gambhir has expressed his anguish at the Delhi gang-rape and the subsequent death of the victim which has created an outrage in the country and urged the people to continue to fight against the heinous crime. “Stressed to call it a Happy New Year after another blot on Delhi and how we treat our women...Shame!,” Gambhir tweeted on his new handle @5gautamgambhir. PTI

Philander set to play in first Test CAPE TOWN: South African bowler Vernon Philander is “provisionally fit” for the first Test against New Zealand starting at Newlands on Wednesday. “He’s come through his fitness test well,” said Graeme Smith on Tuesday. “Unless he stiffens up later today or tonight he’s fit to play.” Philander has not bowled in a match since breaking down with a hamstring strain in a franchise match 12 days ago. Smith said they were eager to get into action in their first home tie since taking the number one world ranking. AFP

LEAGUE CRICKET Cooch Behar Trophy Himchal Pradesh 505 & 161/6 (A.R. Kalsi 97, Sharavan Kumar 3/37) drew with Hyderabad 388 (K.S.K. Chaitanya 61, Tanay Thygarajan 57, P.P. Jaswal 2/97, Dheeraj Thakur 3/77, V.P. Kumar 4/93) and 30/1.

AFP

Amar’e Stoudemire #1 of the New York Knicks shoots the ball over LaMarcus Aldridge #12 of the Portland Trail Blazers on Tuesday. ELSA/GETTY IMAGES/AFP

Serena stamps authority with crushing win BRISBANE, AUSTRALIA: Serena Williams stamped her authority on the Brisbane International on Tuesday when she crushed Frenchwoman Alize Cornet 6-2, 6-2. On a day that saw second seed Maria Sharapova withdraw with an injured collarbone and fifth and sixth seeds Sara Errani and Petra Kvitova bundled out, Williams was all business as she disposed of Cornet in exactly one hour. The 15-times Grand Slam winner broke Cornet in the first game of the match and was never troubled after that, as she broke the Frenchwoman once more in the first set and twice in the second for a comprehensive victory. Williams had far too much firepower for Cornet, hitting 25 winners to four including six aces. One in the second set was clocked at 200 kmh (125 mph). The third-seeded American stepped up a gear from her opening-round win over fellow countrywoman Varvara Lepchenko. “She’s (Cornet) a former top 15 player and we’ve had a tough three-set match before, so I knew I had to play really well,” she said. “I tried to be more aggressive and tried to be more consistent.” Sharapova was earlier forced to withdraw with a right collarbone injury. The Russian world number two sent scans of her injury to her doctor in New York, who advised her not to do any overhead training for at least a week. “So to be fair I haven’t really given myself a chance to pretty much hit any serves or anything over my head, I’ve just been practising ground strokes. So I just kind of ran out of time here,” she said. AFP

OBITUARY

Martin-Jenkins dies of cancer, aged 67

Journalist and commentator Martin-Jenkins died of cancer on Tuesday morning. LONDON: Respected English cricket journalist and commentator Christopher Martin-Jenkins (in pic) has died of cancer at the age of 67, his former colleagues announced on Tuesday. Popularly known as ‘CMJ’ in Great Britain, Martin-Jenkins was one of the voices of Test Match Special on BBC Radio and previously worked for the Daily Telegraph and the Times. “Desperately sad to tell you that CMJ died peacefully this morning,” his friend and colleague Jonathan Agnew said on Twitter. Martin-Jenkins also served as the president of Marylebone Cricket Club in 2010 and 2011. The official Twitter account of Lord’s, the home of English cricket, wrote: “Former MCC President Christopher Martin-Jenkins has died. Sad, sad news to start the new year.” Martin-Jenkins’ son, Robin, played

professional cricket for Sussex and made 162 first-class appearances for the country before retiring in 2010. Martin-Jenkins was diagnosed with terminal cancer in January 2012 and released his memoir, entitled

‘CMJ: A Cricketing Life’, the following April. Former England all-rounder and current broadcaster Ian Botham tweeted: “Very sad to hear of the death of the ‘Major’... Christopher Martin Jenkins. Our thoughts are with the family . A true Gentleman !!” Agnew, a long-term collaborator with Martin-Jenkins at the BBC, praised his colleague for having earned the respect of the cricketing world despite having never played at the top level. “He was one of cricket’s most respected writers and broadcasters,” Agnew told BBC Radio 5 Live. With modern media now preferring the views and experiences of former Test cricketers, Christopher’s authority and respect was gained not through a highprofile playing career, but a deep-rooted love of the game. AFP

sports

WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 2, 2013

ATP QATAR OPEN

Ferrer avoids falling into a hole RICHARD EATON Agencie France-Presse DOHA: Top-seeded David Ferrer (in pic) started the new season with a dropped first set here Tuesday to Dustin Brown, a qualifier outside the world’s top 150, and a damaged court which opened like a crater on the moon. Repairs appeared to involve tape and glue on a tear about five feet behind the baseline where Ferrer’s heel had ripped into the surface.There was also an anxious-looking conference and a ball-boys’ impromptu Gangnam-style dance session on the playing area during a delay which lasted more than an hour.

It was eventually two and a half hours before the world number five from Spain survived his first round in the Qatar Open by 57, 6-3, 6-2 against Brown who is a tall, Jamaica-based German nicknamed “Dreddy,” with impressive locks flying down to the small of his back. “None of it was easy,” said Ferrer, which was an understatement. Brown was unusual for his aggressive serving, eager forward movement, and willingness to volley, and other circumstances must have seemed to Ferrer bizarrely familiar. Two years ago he and Andy Roddock were forced off their court at the US Open by a crack near the

baseline which let the water through, and required them to change courts, and last year at New York a tornado forced Ferrer and Novak Djokovic to interrupt their semi-final by an entire day. Roddick tweeted a solution for Doha, suggesting they should “move Ferrer to court 13” — the court number where the American completed his 2011 US Open win over the Spaniard. Ferrer chortled his laughter when he heard. Later Ferrer commented on the oddities which had afflicted him in the last two years by saying: “Yeah — so many things, yeah. Too many things.”

ATP CHENNAI OPEN

Taiwan’s Lu falters in first round

CHENNAI: Seventh seed Lu Yen-hsun of Taiwan began the new year on the wrong foot as he crashed to a first-round defeat in the $430,000 ATP Chennai Open on Tuesday. Lu, the 29-year-old veteran ranked 59th in the world, failed to shrug off the rustiness of the off-season to lose to number 123 Matthias Bachinger of Germany 6-4, 3-6, 6-4. “It took me time to settle down. I made too many mistakes,” said Taiwan’s premier player who finished in the top100 for the fifth straight year in 2012. The big-built Bachinger next plays Roberto Agut of Spain, who beat Blaz Kavcic of Slovenia 7-6 (8/6), 6-2. There was no early trouble for fifth-seeded Benoit Paire of France, who brushed aside Italian Flavio Cipolla 6-3, 6-4 . Paire, one of the most improved players on the circuit who rose from number 95 to 47 last year, was delighted to get his first match out of the way. “It is nice to start the season with a win,” said the 23-year-old from Avignon, France. “It is not easy to adjust to this hot weather, but I hope to play better in my next match.” Indian wildcard Somdev Devvarman, fit again after an injury-prone year that saw him slip to 663 in the rankings, beat

Paes, partner crash out

CHENNAI: Unseeded Thai brothers Sanchai Ratiwana and Sonchat Ratiwana dashed the hopes of defending champion Leander Paes and Edouard Roger Vasselin of France 7-6 (7) 6-1 to breeze into the quarterfinal of the Aircel Chennai Open Tennis tournament here on Tuesday. Paes, who had won the doubles title here on five occasions in the company of Mahesh Bhupathi, was partnering Vasselin for the first time and the Thai duo steamrolled the rival in the second set completely. Vasselin was broken in the very first game and then Paes and his partner managed to return the compliPTI ment in the sixth game.

number 106 Jan Hajek of the Czech Republic 6-3, 6-3. “A real positive was that I felt good out there, both physically and mentally,” said Devvarman, who faces Tomas Berdych in the second round on Thursday. “Playing Tomas will obviously be tough, but I am confident I can put up a good show. Besides, I will have the Chennai crowd behind me. They are always so supportive.” There was further good news for the hosts as qualifier Prakash Amritraj came from behind to defeat Frenchman Guillaume Rufin 6-7 (4/7), 6-2, 6-3 in a tough centre-court match. AFP

HOPMAN CUP

John Isner, Serena lead US fightback PERTH, AUSTRALIA: Venus Williams (right) lifted the United States to victory in their Hopman Cup tie against France on Tuesday. The USA pairing of Williams and John Isner beat the French team of Jo-Wilfried Tsonga and Mathilde Johansson 2-1 to remain unbeaten in the mixed teams tournament, but only after a remarkable comeback led by Williams when the Americans twice appeared on the brink of defeat. After Tsonga beat an out-ofform Isner in straight sets, Williams looked down and out when she dropped the first set to Johannson and trailed 4-1 in the second. The seven-time Grand Slam champion was all at sea against the 87th-ranked Johansson, appearing restricted in her movement and lacking the usual power in her game. But just when the cause looked lost, the world number 24 climbed off the canvas to win in three sets, 3-6, 7-5, 6-4. Johansson was breaking the Williams serve almost at will for most of the first two sets, but the American found her service

range just in the nick of time and turned the match on its head. The Americans then claimed the tie with a come-from-behind 6-7 (5/7), 6-2, 10-8 win in a match tiebreak in the deciding mixed doubles, where Williams again lifted them to victory as Isner continued to struggle with his game. Williams, who has been troubled by injuries and illness in recent years, dismissed any suggestion she was off colour during the match against Johansson. However, Williams admitted even she thought the match had slipped away. “I was thinking that if I am going to lose this match, let me at least try to work on my game with the Australian Open coming up,” she said of the second set. “Mathilde is a good player and she was determined to seal the win for her team. “She was playing well and not making a lot of errors.” The eighth-ranked Tsonga made a perfect start to the new

year by demolishing world number 14 Isner in under an hour, 6-3, 6-2. Tsonga easily blunted the power serving of the lanky American to win in just 55 minutes. Isner had strapping on his right knee and didn’t always appear to be moving totally freely, but later said he only had some lingering soreness in the knee and that it didn’t affect his game. Tsonga, now coached by Australian Roger Rasheed, went into the match with just one win in his four previous clashes with the American. AFP

sports

WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 2, 2013

AUSTRALIA VS SRI LANKA

DISCIPLINARY ACTION

Oz aim to bid Hussey farewell in style Michael Clarke vowed to strive for a 3-0 clean sweep against Sri Lanka in the final Test to give retiring batsman Michael Hussey a fitting send-off. SYDNEY: Australia captain Michael Clarke vowed Wednesday to strive for a 3-0 clean sweep against Sri Lanka in the final Test starting Thursday to give retiring batsman Michael Hussey a fitting send-off. Clarke has opted for a four-man pace attack after Australia’s crushing innings victory against the tourists in last week’s second Test at the Melbourne Cricket Ground. Mitchell Starc returns after being rested, joining quicks Peter Siddle, Jackson Bird, and MCG man-of-thematch Mitchell Johnson on a green Sydney wicket. Clarke declared himself fit and will bat at four in place of Shane Watson, ruled out with a calf injury. All-rounder Glenn Maxwell was named 12th man, meaning Usman Khawaja misses out. Although a dead rubber, Clarke said the game had taken on special significance after veteran middle-order batsman Hussey declared it would be his final Test, with the squad determined to see him off with a flourish. “When guys retire it’s extra special to get a win in that last game for them and I’m certain this Test match will be no different in regards to Michael

Australia’s Michael Hussey (R) speaks with former captain Steve Waugh on the eve of the third cricket Test against Sri Lanka in Sydney on Wednesday. AFP/GREG WOOD

Hussey,” Clarke said. “I think a lot of guys will be emotional that Mr Cricket’s finishing up in Test match cricket after this game... we

RANJI TROPHY

want to make sure that we send him out on a high,” he added. “Our focus is to win this Test match and to have beaten Sri Lanka 3-0 in this series.” Clarke said his own hunger for success had increased with news of Hussey’s retirement and he was confident of a big score after making 106 in Melbourne, adding his hamstring had improved. The skipper said he also hoped that Hussey, 37, who has been in exceptional form, averaging 180.00 in the past two Tests, would make one final Test ton. Hussey is the second experienced hand to vacate Australia’s middle order this summer, with Ricky Ponting recently calling time on his 17-year career. The departures come ahead of a critical 12 months for Australia, with a tour of India starting in February followed by Ashes series in England and Australia. Clarke denied there was new pressure on him with the loss of Ponting and Hussey. He predicted a new generation of leaders would emerge in the squad. AFP

Lee misconduct charges dropped SYDNEY: Misconduct charges against veteran Australian fast bowler Brett Lee for criticising administrators have been withdrawn and a compromise agreed, cricket officials said Wednesday. Cricket New South Wales (NSW) reported Lee to Cricket Australia for alleged code of conduct breaches after he claimed that dumped NSW coach Anthony Stuart had been made the scapegoat for failings of the state’s cricket hierarchy. The former Test quick, who still plays in the domestic Big Bash League, said in an interview that NSW had “seriously dropped the ball” and Cricket NSW chief David Gilbert “should have been made to go” instead of Stuart. Lee attended a disciplinary hearing of governing body Cricket Australia in Sydney over the comments on Wednesday, where charges of unbecoming behaviour and detrimental public comment were dropped and a compromise brokered. Instead of being disciplined, Lee was invited to address a new committee established to address his concerns about the future of cricket in NSW. “Both parties are very pleased to have found a way forward and at having arrived at a very positive mutual outcome,” Cricket NSW said in a statement. “Brett Lee looks forward very much to working constructively with Cricket New South Wales into the future.” Lee had been unapologetic about the comments despite the disciplinary threat, saying he stood by them as being “in the best interests of NSW cricket” and was looking forward to stating his case to officials. AFP

NEW ZEALAND’S TOUR OF SOUTH AFRICA

Tendulkar to play in Brendon’s double challenge quarters for Mumbai COLIN BRYDEN Agence France-Presse

MUMBAI: Mumbai’s Ranji Trophy campaign would be boosted by the availability of Sachin Tendulkar (in pic) to play in their quarter final game against Baroda here from January 6-10. “He will play against Baroda

and the team will be selected the day after tomorrow,” informed MCA’s joint secretary and meeting convener Nitin Dalal. Tendulkar has retired from the ODI format and is free to play all the knock-out games for Mumbai provided Mumbai make it to the summit clash. It would be Tendulkar’s second outing for his state this season after having played against Railways in the lung opener here at the Wankhede Stadium in November. The semi finals are scheduled from January 16-20 and the final is slated from January 26-30. Meanwhile, Mumbai are yet to know whether key speedster Zaheer Khan would be available for selection against Baroda. The senior left arm bowler injured his leg while batting in their last league game against Gujarat. PTI

CAPE TOWN: New Zealand captain Brendon McCullum will face a double challenge when his team take on world champions South Africa in the first Test at Newlands on Wednesday. Handed the captaincy in controversial circumstances, McCullum confirmed on Tuesday that he will also open the batting in the absence of the injured Peter Fulton. “Peter was going to open but he has been struck down by an injury. That gives an opportunity to Dean Brownlie,” McCullum said. “I’ll come back to the top of the order and Dean will come in at number four. I’ve been opening the batting for the last little while and you’ve got to bat at some point,” he said of the challenge of facing South Africa’s formidable pace trio of Dale

Steyn, Vernon Philander and Morne Morkel. Told that Philander had passed a fitness test after being a doubtful starter because of a hamstring injury, McCullum said: “He’s an excellent bowler. His stats have been phenomenal but from our point of view we’re playing against a very good cricket team so we expect them to have very good cricketers in their side.”

New Zealand’s three leading batsmen will fill the first three positions in the order. Martin Guptill will open with McCullum, while Kane Williamson will bat at number three. “Martin’s been in good form and hopefully we can establish a pretty good partnership up front,” said McCullum. He praised Williamson, who scored a century in the final Test in Wellington last year, as one of New Zealand’s up and coming stars. “He’s got a lot of cricket intelligence for a young guy. He’s popular in the team and he works hard on his game. He ticks a lot of boxes and we’re hopeful that he’s going to have a big series.” McCullum acknowledged that his team had a difficult task with a side weakened by injuries to several players and the absence of former captain Ross Taylor, who withdrew from the tour.

WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 2, 2013

sports

SPURS MOVE INTO THIRD SPOT

Tottenham Hotspur leapfrogged Chelsea to claim third place in the Premier League by coming from behind to win 3-1 at home to secondbottom Reading on New Year’s Day.

EPL REVIEW

Gunners ring in 2013 with frustration Arsene Wenger left fuming as Southampton hold Gunners to a 1-1 draw at St Mary’s. NICK SZCZEPANIK Agencie France-Presse SOUTHAMPTON: Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger expressed frustration with his side’s inconsistency and criticised their mental sharpness after they needed an own goal to snatch a draw from Southampton only three days after beating Newcastle United 7-3. But he confirmed that his search for a remedy will not include bringing back the club’s former striker Thierry

Henry for a second comeback season. “We didn’t create a lot after having scored five at Reading, seven against Newcastle,” the Frenchman complained. “The goal chances we created were not a lot and our game lacked purpose, lacked penetration, lacked speed — all the qualities that we usually have and that we didn’t see tonight. “It is frustrating. It is nothing to do with the physical side. In a game of that magnitude against a

Southampton team that was really highly determined, I felt we lacked purpose in our game, and it was more mental than physical. We lacked sharpness. “There is no specific reason. We prepared normally, we prepared well, and, maybe Southampton deserve some credit as well. They fought for every single ball until the last second.” It was Theo Walcott’s free kick that was put into his own net by Guly Do Prado, but

END OF THE FERGUSON ERA?

Retirement? Bah, humbug! Ferguson, who has been in charge at Old Trafford since 1986, marked the new year by making it clear he won’t be leaving United for some while. LONDON: Alex Ferguson (right) has quashed retirement talk by revealing he has no plans to step down as Manchester United manager in the near future. Ferguson, who turned 71 on Monday, has been forced to deal with questions about his retirement plans since the time he reversed his decision to leave the club in 2002. With Pep Guardiola due to end his post-Barcelona sabbatical in a few months, Jose Mourinho tipped to leave Real Madrid and David Moyes’ Everton contract close to expiring, three of the main candidates to replace Ferguson could be available at the end of the season, prompting a new round of speculation about the Scot’s future. But Ferguson, who has been in charge at Old Trafford since 1986, marked the new year by making it clear he won’t be leaving United

for some while. “I’m hoping to stay on for a bit of time,” he said in an interview with the Abu Dhabi Sports channel. It is widely accepted few will get to know when Ferguson is ready to call it a day, with chief executive David Gill the man tasked with advising the Glazer family about a replacement. And, though Guardiola, Mourinho and Moyes are bound to be at the top of the list if they are available, Ferguson knows plenty of other candidates are likely to have emerged by the time he finally quits. “It’s very difficult,” Ferguson said. “Over the years, names have been bandied about but football is such a precarious industry. “The sack race is horrendous. Sometimes a manager can only survive four games if he doesn’t win a match.” AFP

EPL REVIEW

Aguero injury boon for Balotelli?

Aguero was forced from the fray against Stoke in the 76th minute after apparently injuring his hamstring.

IAN WHITTELL Agencie France-Presse MANCHESTER: Sergio Aguero’s loss could be Mario Balotelli’s gain, after the Argentine striker went off injured during his side’s

3-0 win at home to Stoke City. It came at a cost, however, with Aguero forced from the fray in the 76th minute after apparently injuring his hamstring. Manager Roberto Mancini predicted on

Tuesday that Aguero would be out for around 10 days, ruling him out of Saturday’s FA Cup tie with Watford and placing his participation in the league game at Arsenal the following weekend in doubt.

otherwise Walcott was anonymous after his hat-trick on Saturday. Wenger explained: “Overall, nobody was put in good positions to express something offensively.” Wenger also ruled out resigning Henry for a second time after bringing him back on a temporary deal a year ago. “He is going away somewhere,” he said. “For the moment we are not on that case.” But he confirmed that he hopes to be active during the transfer window.

LA LIGA

Iker vows to return to goal Casillas tried to calm a storm of speculation after Mourinho dropped him last month. MADRID: Real Madrid captain Iker Casillas admitted Tuesday the players are unhappy after dropping 16 points behind La Liga leaders Barcelona but denied any tensions in the changing room and vowed to fight to regain his spot after being unexpectedly left on the bench last month. Casillas tried to calm a storm of speculation over splits in the club after coach Jose Mourinho dropped him from the starting line-up on December 23 against Malaga at La Roselada, a game Real Madrid lost 3-2. Mourinho insists the decision was taken on technical grounds alone. Asked about any tensions in the dressing room, the 31-year-old keeper said: “The word is not tension. The situation in the league, when we have had certain defeats, is not what we want. We all want to win and when things don’t turn out well we are sad because we want to win for ourselves and our fans.” In his first news conference of 2013, the Real Madrid captain said he hoped the Christmas break would help the team recover, recalling their defeat to Malaga and the number of points they have now allowed to ratch up behind the first division leaders. “We cannot carry on like that and it is not what we expected. We must not give up. Now, in 2013 we have to try to catch up points and know that the situation is difficult but not impossible.” AFP