Postnoon E-Paper for 03 December 2012 by Scribble Media & Entertainment Pvt. Ltd.

MONDAY, DECEMBER 3, 2012 HYDERABAD

WWW.POSTNOON.COM

WEATHER: A MIX OF CLOUDY AND CLEAR SKIES; 21°C

PONTING GETS GUARD OF HONOUR

Former Australia captain Ricky Ponting was given a highly unusual guard of honour by South Africa’s players as he came out to bat in his last ever Test innings Monday. Despite a cheap dismissal, Ponting went out in style, leaving the game as Australia's all-time leading Test batsman.

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HYDERABAD’S FIRST COMPACT AFTERNOON NEWSPAPER

JUBILEE HILLS, ROAD No. 36

IT’S A KILLER! S SRINIVAS SETTY

A team of experts from Delhi, visited the arterial road and described it as one of the most dangerous places for pedestrians in the City.

REPORT ON P4 PARIS HILTON FASCINATED BY INDIAN FASHION International socialite Paris Hilton, who is set to spin the disc as a DJ on the last day of India Resort Fashion Week (IRFW), says she has always been a huge fan of Indian fashion and will walk the ramp for finale designer Shane and Falguni Peacock late Saturday.

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32 PAGES

MONDAY, DECEMBER 3, 2012

city events

FESTIVE SONGS

Christmas — the season of joy and giving is here again. Head to Park Hyatt, Banjara Hills, Rd No 2, on December 5, 7pm onwards for Festive Choristers. The event is a musical evening of Christmas songs. Be a part of the evening and sing along!

Weather for Hyderabad

Evening

Overnight

Morning

Afternoon

21°C

16°C

23°C

30°C

A mix of cloudy and clear

A mix of cloud and sun

New Delhi Mumbai Max 23 Max 33 Min 11 Min 21 Sunny

Chennai Max 30 Min 24

A mix of cloud and sun

Scattered thunderstorms

Bangalore Max 25 Min 19 Scattered thunderstorms

AROUND THE CITY: YOUR GUIDE TO THE TWIN CITIES Contact: (040) 2335 5118

SHOWS

Célimène and the Cardinal Alliance Française of Hyderabad & Qadir Ali Baig theatre foundation present Célimène and the Cardinal by Jacques Rampal. Where: Nift Auditorium, Madhapur When: December 11, 7pm onwards Contact: (040) 2355 4485

The last Christmas The last Christmas is a large-scale production featuring live singing, dancing and acting, is the heartwarming story of Retired Gen Roy who recounts his seven favourite Christmases. Where: RNR auditorium, Banjara Hills, Rd No 12 When: December 8, 9 and 10 11am onwards Contact: (040) 6515 7558

ART Tales of an idyllic world Alliance Française of Hyderabad is hosting an exhibition of paintings: Tales of an Idyllic World by Bala Abhiram. The exhibition is on till December 14. The exhibition will be inaugurated on December 6. Where: Alliance Francaise, Banjara Hills, Rd No 3 When: December 7 onwards 9am onwards Contact: (040) 2355 4485

Photo exhibition A photography exhibition of wildlife by Suheim Sheikh will be held from December 8 onwards. It will be inaugurated on December 7 at 6pm. Where: Goethe Zentrum, Banjara Hills, Rd No 3 When: December 8 onwards, 9.30am onwards Contact: (040) 2335 0473

Po10tial A show of recent works by various artistes such as Anand Bekwan, Jinson Jospeh, , Maredu Ramu, Nataraj Saraf etc is being held. Where: Kalakrithi, Banjara Hills, Rd No 10 When: Ongoing, 11am onwards Contact: (040) 6656 4466

Interactive session Manthan is hosting an interactive session on The Sacred and the Profane: Living and Dying with Blasphemy Laws with Babu Gogineni humanist, rationalist, activist. the meeting is open to all and is free-ofcost. Where: Saptaparni, Banjara Hills Rd No 8 When: December 6, 6.30pm onwards

Palette scapes An exhibition of paintings on Acrylic on canvas by artist Nupur Kundu is being held at Shrishti Art Gallery Where: Shrishti Art Gallery, Jubilee Hills, Rd No 15 When: Ongoing, 11am onwards Contact: (040) 2354 0023 A FAIR CHANCE: An event by Ability Unlimited Foundation at HICC on the M ANIL KUMAR occasion of International World Disability Day ( December 3).

Commissioner & Spl Officer

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

198 155313

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

155333 23431178 23431179

MUNICIPAL CORPORATION

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

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

Expressive art Alankritha Art Gallery presents an exhibition by Maredu Ramu, Nirmal Karmakar Nirmala Biluka and Palak Dubey. Where: Alankritha Art Gallery, Kavuri Hills, Jubilee Hills When: Ongoing, Monday-Saturday 11am onwards Contact: (040) 2311 3709 Convergence Convergence, an exhibition Of Paintings By Ananad Swaroop Manchiraju is being held. Where: Muse Art Gallery, Marriot Convention Centre, Tank Bund When: Ongoing, 11am onwards Contact: (040) 2752 2999

DINING Khamma ghani sa The Westin Hyderabad Mindspace is hosting a Rajasthani food festival from November 23 to December 7. Where: Westin Hitec City When: Ongoing, 7pm onwards Contact: (040) 6767 6838

Art show Symmetrics in the unknown, an exhibition of abstract paintings by 10

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

artists is being held at Iconart Gallery. Where: Iconart Gallery, Banjara Hills, Rd No 12 When: Ongoing, 11.30am onwards Contact: 98499 68797

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

MONDAY, DECEMBER 3, 2012

City

YESTERDAY’S QUESTION

SHOULD GOVERNMENT JUNKETS BE RESTRICTED? 80% 20%

YES (A) NO (B)

TODAY’S QUESTION

WILL YSRC MERGE WITH THE CONGRESS BEFORE THE GENERAL ELECTIONS? A)

YES

To vote, visit www.postnoon.com

CRIME

11 AP NGOs under CBI probe

They were blacklisted but continues to collect massive funds from abroad. In all, 24 NGOs from all over the Country have now been placed under the scanner. Mohd SUBHAN mohd.s@postnoon.com

he Central government has asked the CBI to probe alleged illegal activities of 24 NGOs belonging to different states including 11 from Andhra Pradesh, which have received huge funds from abroad for ‘religious and charity works.’ The minister of State for Home RPN Singh said founders of these NGOs were found to be leading a lavish life while their ‘charity’ works undertaken by them were little. They were debarred from activities but with official involvement they continued to

Fund flow to the NGOs

he minister of State RPN Singh said that altogether a sum of `10,997.35 crore was received as foreign contribution by 23,172 NGOs across India in the year 2008—09, `10,431.12 crore by 22,275 NGOs in 2009—10 and `10,334.12 crore by 22,735 NGOs in 2010—11.

collect funds, it was said. The 24 belong to Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Kolkatta, Jammu and Kashmir, AP and Rajasthan. In all, the government had

List of NGOs in AP

earlier banned 60 NGOs all over India for channelling funds purportedly received for ‘religious and charity works for dubious works.’ Of the total, inquiry is now ordered in to the doings of the 24. Right wing parties allege most of these organisations were involved in religious conversion.

n n

Anjumane Hussamia Educational Association, Hussami Manzil, Hyderabad Aware (India) foundation, Banjara Hills Road No 12, Hyderabad Christ’s Helping Hand children’s Home, Alcot, Gardens, Rajahmundry Society for People’s Action for Development, Donica Road, Chenchupet, Tenali, District – Guntur Pragati Orphan Home, Pragati Nagar, Old Town, Tanuku Matsyagandhi Mahila Welfare Association, Fisherman’s Colony, Visakhapatnam (U),

Agape Helping Ministries, 8024-4/1, Jayasri Gardens, AVA Road, Rajahmundry, John Abraham Memorial Bethany Home, House No 619, Plot No 342, Vivekanagar Colony, Kukatpally John Abraham Memorial Bethany Home,Tandur, Rangareddy district Action for Welfare and Awakening in Rural Environment (Aware), Administrative Ofﬁce, Lake Hill Road, Hyderabad Good Samaritan Evangelical and Social Welfare Association, Sathyavedu, Krishna AP.

city MONDAY, DECEMBER 3, 2012

CIVIC

LAST YEAR... HERE MLAs with benefits

ast year the Speaker Nadendla Manohar Reddy had announced that he wanted to run a paperless Assembly. However, it was discovered that the laptops given to MLAs to achieve this goal was being used by their children! A few MLAs even admitted that they were still trying to learn how to operate the gadgets that their children were now enjoying.

DECEMBER 3, 2011

NUMEROLOGY

4,300

keychains are what B Ramalingeshwar Rao, India’s top copoclepilist and numismatic, possesses and holds a record in the Limca Book of Records.

Yes, the relationship between Sabitha Indira Reddy and me is not good. She always tries to control the entire district and interferes in every matter. G Prasad Kumar, minister See page 5

THINGS WE 5LEARNT TODAY The column that teaches everyone something new about the way the City functions.

Donating to an NGO? Do a background check ﬁrst. According to minister of State for Home RPN Singh, founders of several NGOs were found to be leading lavish lifestyles, while the charity work was very little.

Want to take a walk? Stick to a park. You might be the type who wants to walk from point A to point B. However, given the rash driving and lax trafﬁc management systems, you might just want to stick to walking in a park.

Posh Jubilee Hills termed killer for pedestrians A team of experts from Delhi, visited the arterial road and described it as one of the most dangerous places for pedestrians in the City. SRINIVAS SETTY

Md NIZAMUDDIN nizamuddin.a@postnoon.com

hattering myth that a posh locality like Jubilee Hills is a well-cared for area with clean surroundings, a team of Delhi experts in capacity building, that visited Road No 36 described it as one of the most dangerous places for pedestrians in the City. “The continuous flow of traffic at Kavuri Hills junction, without any signal, rarely allows anyone to cross the road,” says Anjlee Agarwal, one of the resource people invited by GHMC for capacity building in the City. Footpaths laid are not usable by pedestrians for various reasons like unwarranted height, unruly ramps made by residents along the road, encroached by bus stops, improper manholes, cutting of footpaths by property owners, electric transformers placed on footpaths and lack of street lightning. Lack of proper signaling system at crossings and dearth of public toilets dissuade people from walking. Hence more motors on road and more pollution. National Transport Urban Policy (NTUP) of 2006, emphasises the theme, ‘make people move and not vehicles’. But Road No 36 in Jubilee Hills is the place where a pedestrian is considered to be a nuisance with arrogant drivers accelerating at crossings where police are either absent or look the other way, resource people observed. The Kavuri Hills junction is one such place where there zebra crossings are marked on only two sides, while there

tures, which would enhance traffic system. The most important component of traffic planning is pedestrians. According to her, the problem faced by Delhi a few years ago was similar and it overcame the handicap to a large extent. Implementation and enforcement are the most important aspects after the civic body considers situational analysis. But when the planning (blue print) itself is improper every stage of development would be in a mess. Unlike the general perception of removing hawkers from roadsides, the team members advocate accommodation of these petty businessmen at designated places. As these hawkers are termed as ‘eye on the streets’, she asks the authorities to allow them in places like Jubilee Hills. “It is

is no signal and a median refuge is of no use. One of the experts remarked the road invited murder. Anjlee Agarwal, executive director, Samarthyam, along with her teammates representing various organisations is on a road capacity building visit to Hyderabad. She was instrumental in transforming the way pedestrians in Delhi were treated. Now the pedestrians have more space to breathe and walk in many stretches in the national capital. She hopes that Hyderabadis too can get a similar respite in the coming years, if issue is taken seriously by government as well as by the public. The City’s civic body is lacking architects and urban planners, who should be guiding the GHMC in planning the struc-

but these people who help others, if something untoward happens on the roadside,” she points out. If the Accessibility and Walkability Audit at Jubilee Hills is taken seriously by the GHMC officials and necessary initiatives are taken as part of improving the conditions, the team from Delhi is considering proposing a cell in Hyderabad on par with Unified Traffic & Transportation Infrastructure (Planning & Engineering) Centre (UTTIPEC) of Delhi. The Centre formed during the Common Wealth Games has all the stakeholders and powerful enough to approve or reject projects. “If formed, the cell would coordinate with all the departments, including Metro Rail and will have statutory powers for which a mass awareness campaign is needed,” Anjlee says.

NEWS BRIEFS

Warring ministers? CM will broker a truce. Kiran Kumar Reddy is on a roll these days. He recently helped his two warring colleagues reach a truce.

Naidu reaches 1000-km mark today

Rescue Telugus trapped in the Gulf

Cops act on tip-off, arrest history sheeter

Apex court rejects Mopidevi’s bail plea

Take some time, spare a thought for pressing issues. Forty IT employees are using their spare time to empower the deprived using the RTI.

It’s a busy time for the family courts in the City. With awareness about rights and ﬁnancial independence, more couples are opting for a divorce.

elugu Desam Party president N Chandrababu Naidu, who is on a walkathon to shore up support will complete 1000 km today. The padayatra is presently being held in Nizamabad district. It began on October 2 and covered 26 Assembly constituencies in ﬁve districts of the state. Naidu will formally conclude his padayatra on January 26.

JP has urged the State government to rescue hundreds of Telugus who had gone to the Gulf countries and got trapped in huge debts due to cheating by brokers. BJP secretary Muralidhar Rao accused the State government of leaving in lurch the migrants of north Telangana, who were being increasingly cheated by brokers.

n separate incidents, Task Force sleuths arrested three historysheeters in the City and seized four daggers from their possession on Sunday. Acting on a tip-off, task force sleuths apprehended Chaderghat's history-sheeter Mohammed Osman, 23, near HiTech function hall in Wahed Nagar of Old Malakpet.

he apex court of AP rejected the bail plea of former minister Mopidevi Venkata Ramana Rao who is lodged in Chanchalguda prison today. A division bench of the court held that it cannot grant bail to Mopidevi as the CBI investigation in Vanpic case is still on. The former Excise minister has been lodged in jail for over a six months.

city MONDAY, DECEMBER 3, 2012

POLITICS

Kiran brokers peace

INKESHAF AHMED ahmed.m@postnoon.com

hief Minister N Kiran Kumar Reddy, who has succeeded in reining in his detractors, is however finding it difficult to control his cabinet colleagues. The CM’s pet programme, Indiramma Baata, is becoming a platform for his cabinet colleagues to prove their one-upmanship. Last month’s Indiramma Baata in Medak district witnessed differences between deputy chief minister Damodar Rajanarasimha, who hails from the same district and the in-charge minister of Medak, DK Aruna. This month’s Indiramma Baata in Ranga Reddy district had led to severe differences between the home minister P Sabita Indira Reddy and the handloom minister G Prasad Kumar. Both the ministers belong to RR district. The CM’s Indiramma Baata will begin from today (November 3) and conclude on December 5. According to officials and party leaders of Ranga Reddy district, both the ministers, P Sabita Indira Reddy and G. Prasad Kumar, are at loggerheads over the conduct of Indiramma Baata in the district. “Yes, both the leaders have serious differences over many issues. Almost every meeting held to make arrangements for the successful conduct of the Indiramma programme ended with both the leaders trying to outsmart each other. As Sabitha Indra Reddy is a senior minister, she wants to have control over everything related to Ranga Reddy district. This is hurting Prasad Kumar a lot as he strong-

The chief minister is doing his best to broker a truce between his two warring colleagues, Sabitha Indira Reddy and G Prasad Kumar.

CM MAKES PEACE

Quick at finding out the differences between two of his cabinet colleagues, the chief minister reportedly summoned the two leaders to his camp office and asked them to work together by patching up their differences. As part of the compromise formula worked out, it has been decided to tour the two Assembly constituencies represented by these ministers in two different days. The CM will visit Maheswaram Assembly seat represented by the home minister on Monday, the first day of the tour. On the second day, he will visit Vikarabad constituency, which is represented by Prasad Kumar. During the Indiramma Baata, the CM, apart from inaugurating and laying foundation stones at various development projects programmes, is also scheduled to interact with school and college students.

POLITICS

LAW AND ORDER

Babri Day: Police on toes

Opposition loses golden chance to spike govt

Sudden voting demand on an amendment sought on the SC, ST Bill being debated Sunday night gave a golden chance for the Opposition to put the govt in a quandary, but wanton absence gave Kiran a breather. POSTNOON NEWS feedback@postnoon.com

he third and final day of the special session of House for voting the SC, ST sub plan 2012 was a lacklustre affair in which more than half of the elected representatives stayed away. The only intervention by the Opposition TDP to amend a clause of the Bill was defeated by 69/47 votes. This apart, no party made any effort to study or come up with constructive suggestions. Shockingly, of the 294 MLAs, 178 were absent when the voting was held. Among the polled votes 69 votes

The shocking aspect of this voting is that a whopping number of 86 ruling party MLAs were absent during the voting process. belonged to Congress and remaining 47 votes came from opposition political parties. The more shocking aspect of this voting is that a whopping number of 86 ruling party MLAs including some ministers were absent during the voting process despite the fact that the bill was moved by the ruling government to make an

ly feels that his suggestions should be heard,” a leader said. Clearing the air on the issue, the handloom and textiles minister G Prasad Kumar spoke to Postnoon on Sunday and said, “Yes, the relationship between the two of us is not good. She always tries to have control over the entire district and interferes in each and every matter, which is not related to her. This is not good. As a minister I also have some powers to wield and do something good for my people.” Kumar further said that he had asked the home minister not to interfere in his Assembly constituency issues as it would send out the wrong messages to others.

exclusive legislation for SC and ST communities. Commenting on this, Congress MLA Masthan Wali reasoned that the absence of the MLAs was not deliberate. He remarked that the government did not ‘expect’ the Opposition to press for voting at the last minute. “The voting was an unexpected development. We thought that the Bill would be approved without any voting. But the opposition TDP pressed for voting at the last minute to gain political mileage. Since the discussion stretched till late night, many of our MLAs left the House without expecting voting,” he said.

Mohd SUBHAN mohd.s@postnoon.com

he City police commissioner Anurag Sharma has sounded high alert in view of the Babri Masjid demolition day, December 6.

The Task Force will conduct special drives at shopping malls, railway station, theatres, parks and government offices. Since Islamic organisations observe it as Black Day, police are on their toes to prevent untoward incidents. City situation is more fragile due to the continued skirmish at Charminar.

Naaka Bandi (vehicle checkings) are being conducted by police stations in all five zones of the City everyday as a precautionary measure. The special alert will last till December 8. The Task Force has been asked to conduct a special drive at different places like shopping malls, railway station, theatres, parks and government offices, said Additional DCP Task force B Rameshaih. Prohibitory orders will be in force from tomorrow till December 8.

city MONDAY, DECEMBER 3, 2012

RIGHT TO INFORMATION

Techies toil for common good Over 3,000 RTI applications they helped file in the past four years brought a smile to the faces of the deprived and have helped improve public service. M ANIL KUMAR

RAHUL RAMAKRISHNA rahul.r@postnoon.com

hile their colleagues are making extra money in their spare time or spending time with friends, some 40 young techies in the City devote their off duty hours to empower the deprived, using the only weapon the common masses has these days —Right to Information Act. They set apart one per cent of their salary for the cause. Even the postal order required to accompany every RTI application is borne by them. Close knit do-gooders, the It’s Time to Make a Difference (ITMD), has brought succour to many individuals besides fighting for the collective good of the City. ITMD completed four years of its commendable operations and entered 5th year yesterday. Their achievements in the outgoing year have spanned across lake restoration, consumer forum track, moving Lok Ayukta on public issues, availability of generic medicines. t was also a day to elect a new leader for the year. And the votes favoured Rahul Buddala who will now be President of ITMD. Panasa Ramakrishna, founder and spirit behind the movement has stepped down. Rahul says, “We are just responsible citizens who want the government to be a function-

al body. So far, we have seen people who have participated in meetings just for namesake. Only a handful are actually motivated enough to make a change.” So the message is clear. The leader must change and the cadres would follow. ITMD is currently working on four lines — Awareness on consumer forum, awareness and promotion of generic medicines, lake conservation and RTI. So has the group in its four year history come across self minded people who used the forum for their personal gains?

We have been helping people fight irregularities in applying for gas connections, pending passports. We are also trying to raise awareness about consumer issues. Rahul Buddala president, ITMD

“Personal issues are always given focus. But people do not realise that an RTI is a personal endeavour and making someone else address your issues is pointless. But we do help people draft an application by sponsoring it on behalf of ITMD. “We have designed templates to address the most common issues like roads, water and gas connections, passport applications etc,” says Ramakrishna. The group has been credited with bringing about change in many issues but the most prominent and long drawn battle with

the government was their fight against irregular bus shelters in Hyderabad. “We have been following the case of irregularities in bus shelters for four years and with the help of Lok Ayukta, we are positive about the results from the hearing that is scheduled after four months in 2013. “Apart from that, we have been helping people fight irregularities in applying for gas connections, pending passports, provident fund discrepancies. We are also trying to help raise awareness about Consumer Forum issues just like Jaago Grahak Jaago. Also our repeated efforts in conserving lakes has proved helpful in maintaining the Miyapur and Kothaguda lakes complete with joggers footpaths and fencing them from encroachment,” says Rahul. So do these young IT professionals who find time to strive for a social revolution have any political ambitions, on the lines of Arvind Kejriwal? “No. We are nether for nor against any political party. Our main emphasis is to get the rules implemented. As a group we do not have any political ambitions but personally we may differ about this. “Our system is more choked and polluted because of educated people who neglect social issues. This is the core of the problem we are fighting right now,” they say.

CIVIC

CM inaugurates new ORR stretch This new link connects Patancheru and Shamirpet areas N SHIVA KUMAR

POSTNOON NEWS feedback@postnoon.com

nother stretch of the mega Outer Ring Road (ORR) project between Patancheru and Shamirpet areas at Kandlakoi junction was declared opened by the Chief Minister N Kiran Kumar Reddy today. The stretch has a a 3-km diversion from the originally conceived plan. The also laid foundation for radial roads at Nagaram near Keesara junction. With this the traffic coming to the City from Mumbai-Pune can take diversion to Shamirpet. this will help them to save two hours. With the inauguration of the ORR

PICK YOUR

project, the CM also kicked off his three day long Indiramma Baata in Ranga Reddy district. It may be emphasised here , the

CM inaugurated a similar stretch between Narsingi and Patencheru last year. The total cost of the project is estimated as `2,439 crores.

Across Stores

ities Twin C

classifieds MONDAY, DECEMBER 3, 2012 COMPUTERS

LAW

Family court has its hands full With awareness about rights and financial independence powering decision-making, more couples are opting for divorce. SRINIVAS SETTY

M NAZIMUDDIN md.nazim@postnoon.com

A senior official of the family court told Postnoon that most number of divorces are sought by software firm employees.

ith around 15 cases registered every day, the Hyderabad Family Court has certainly been busy. Of the 1,600 cases registered this year till November, more than 40 per cent were for divorce, 15 per cent under the Muslim Marriage Act, and 35 per cent under the Hindu Marriage Act. Of these, 70 cases have been disposed and 1,200 cases are still pending. A senior official of the court told Postnoon that most number of divorces are sought by software firm employees. The reasons are usually the same — salary disputes, different work timings and ego. Jameela Nishat, chief functionary of Shaheen Women Research and Welfare Organisation, pointed out that in Muslim families, most women opt for khula over divorce.

Khula is when a woman choses to separate from her husband. “In our system women are oppressed by men, but this is changing slowly. With growing awareness, women

have begun demanding their rights,” she said. What the organisation also found was that harassment was more prevalent in double income

GHMC

POWER

Civic vigilance slaps penalty on 81 posters The 81 cases are for illegal pasting of posters and erecting banners across the City. S BALAKRISHNA

Md NIZAMUDDIN nizamuddin.a@postnoon.com

To advertise on this page, contact: 9866074747 For Secunderabad -9 2 9 0 2 0 4 0 3 0

For Hyderabad 9866663212

For Cyberabad 9866698879

he GHMC has levied penalty and collected an amount of `1,10,500 from 81 cases involving pasting of posters and erecting banners violating civic laws. All the 81 cases were recorded by the vigilance cell in the second half of the year starting from July 3 to November end. Apart from this two criminal cases were also booked against the offenders. The commissioner said the drive will continue and those violating the rules will be fined `1,000 for each poster. Under 421 Sub-section (1) of schedule (U) of GHMC Act 1995, the organisations were imposed fines ranging from `1,000 to `12,000 during the period. The two criminal cases Cr No.304/2012 of Chikkadpally and Cr.No.450/2012 of Saifabad under prevention of disfigure-

homes, and that the family court receives most cases from educated and well-to-do people. Other cases registered in family court: n Judicial separation n Restitution of conjugal rights n What’s and Guardians Act (Pls check if this is right) Hindu Minor and Guardianship Act n Adoption n Cases related to NRIs n Cruelty n Dissertational n Adultery n Egoism n Mutual consent between parties

ment of open places and prohibition of obscene and objectionable poster and advertisement Act 1997 were registered. These two people failed to respond to the notices issued by the vigilance Cell and pasted bulk quantity of posters on walls

at Ashok Nagar area and Lakdika-pul Railway Bridge. “The efforts are being continued by deputing the vigilance staff regularly in day and night hours to penalise the offenders who are violating the rules in this regard”, the commissioner noted.

State steps up efforts to provide relief I

n a significant development towards energy efficiency and energy conservation, which is the need of the hour in the present critical juncture, the State government was seriously contemplating to enter into a partnership programme with the industries and other key stakeholders for continuous deliberation on a long-term basis to provide some relief to all the categories of consumers, specifically to the industry. Disclosing these details, chief secretary and SECM chairperson Minnie Mathew has stated that the government has been putting all efforts to meet the requirements to the maximum extent, particularly agriculture, domestic and industry categories, by coming out with encouraging policies in respect of renewable energy sources, optimisation of generation from all the existing generating units in the State and even purchasing expensive power from outside. The government expects an addition of about 2,000 MW of power through the upcoming solar and wind units. The State was proposing an interactive workshop on accelerating energy efficiency initiatives in Industries in the State jointly organised by (CII) and Commissionerate of Industries on December 14 . NSS

city MONDAY, DECEMBER 3, 2012

EVENT SRINIVAS SETTY

LET THE

GAMES BEGIN...

‘Who is the best cook?’ kicked off yesterday with a great start . Participants put their best ladles forward to create that perfect dish. While only two out of 26 made it to the finals, it was a moment of joy and pride for all. Postnoon reports.

NIDHI BHUSHAN nidhi.b@postnoon.com

hough the first Sunday of December had all the ingredients of a typical Sunday, there was some special seasoning yesterday. It was the first out of the five Sundays in which couples across the City compete to win the ‘Who is the best cook?’ title. The first day of the competition received more than just a willing lot of ‘expert’ cooks. While it was planned that the day would be split into two parts – lunch (2 – 4pm) and dinner (6 – 8pm), the organisers www.studentmug.com had to incorporate a third part because of so many enthusiastic souls. According to the initial plan, 20 participants (singles or couples) would compete during the day and two winners would be shortlisted for the grand finale in 2013. While 10 would compete during lunch, the other 10 would battle it out at dinner time. But, thanks to the overwhelming response, www.studentmug.com gave six more a chance to participate. The first round took place between 16 participants – lunch and extended lunch – at the Shanti Shikara apartment building. The atmosphere was more festive than competitive. While husbands cheered their expert ‘home chefs’, children watched in awe as their mothers

cooked some delicious delights for judges and others in the audience. From baingan bharta to chicken dum biryani, the participants were seen cooking it all. A panel of four judges decided on who the best cook was in the afternoon. Haritha, a housewife who kept the Hyderabadi spirit high, outshone her 15 competitors by cooking a sumptuous chicken dum biryani. Haritha was more than excited about being selected. After the sun had set, organisers seemed exhausted by the excitement during lunch. But their spirits didn’t remain low for long as an even more enthusiastic crowd gathered at the Gulrez apartments in Somjiguda to battle it out during dinner. Women gathered to show off

their cooking talent while their children helped and cheered them on. Again, the mood was more fun than serious. The participants were given 45 minutes to arrange their ingredients and utensils they require to cook something delicious. While there was a variety of dishes like khandvis, pasta, paneer butter masala and so on, the participant with the biryani bagged this one too. Fatima, who cooked delicious mutton dum biryani in just 40 minutes, was shortlisted from the dinner lot to compete in the grand finale of ‘Who is the best cook?’. While Haritha and Fatima have four weeks to improve their cooking skills, Postnoon will tell you what they’re up against in the coming weeks.

city MONDAY, DECEMBER 3, 2012

HOBBIES SRIVANTH KUMAR

What started out as a ‘different’ hobby about three decades ago, has become a world record.

HOLDING KEYS TO EVERYTHING

OMAR ROY feedback@postnoon.com

Ramalingeshwar Rao, India’s top copoclepilist and numismatic, holds the Limca Book Of Records for possessing 4,300 key chains. What is unique about this feat is that these key chains were never bought in the market but gifted by people who wanted to help him pursue his passion. On taking a closer look, one sees key chains of several brands which are no longer in the market. It took Rao about 30 years to put together this impressive collection. Rao started collecting key chains as a hobby because he wanted to try something different. As he considered collecting coins a bit too common, he decided to do something innovative. So he started his new collection when customers would give him key chains of their company. Collection and maintenance

them is pretty hard, says Rao. It took him three months to sort them place them in order. He is also a member of the Key Chain Collectors International Club where they meet in the US every two years. The first key chain ever acquired by him was given by a friend with the brand named “Globac”. There is every key chain you can imagine — beer mugs, wedding invitations, tools and bottle openers. With the entire key chain collection, he virtually has the world at his home. Rao also has an equally impressive coin collection. From Indian coins of the Victorian Age, coins of every state in America, the world currencies and different Indian currencies over the last few decades; it’s all there in his collection. Pursuing his passion with patience and showcasing it for others with humility, and not for publicity and records, sets him apart.

MONDAY, DECEMBER 3, 2012

Business

2% GROWTH WOULD BE GOOD: SINGAPORE PM

Singapore PM Lee Hsien Loong has said that the government is no longer aiming for "ridiculously high" economic growth like those seen in the past years, but rather a more sustainable rate of about 2 to 3 percent per year, local media reported Monday.

TRENDS

SIA TO SELL VIRGIN STAKE

Storming the tea cup Coffee shop chains, though contributing only two per cent of overall consumption, is instrumental in providing visibility to the beverage.

PRUDHVI RAJU K prudhvi.k@postnoon.com

Number of coffee shops in India: 2,100 Percentage of consumers in India who prefer consumption at shop itself : 95%

‘A

lot can happen over a cup of coffee’, this tag line from a famous coffee shop chain reiterates the importance of coffee in a meeting. Undoubtedly, over a decade, coffee has become part of meetings of urban youths. This culture has pushed the growth of these coffee shop chains and overall consumption of coffee. “The overall coffee consumption in India doubled in last one-and-a-half decade. The per capita consumption of coffee stands at about 100 grams. In contrast, per capita consumption of tea is closer to a kilogram. This shows India still remains a tea-drinking country. However, the total coffee consumption is expected to grow at over 4.5 per cent, outpacing tea. The specialist coffee shops are growing at even higher rates — at 20 to 25 per cent. These coffee shops only account to 2 per cent of over all consumption but adds more visibility to the coffee

Percentage of consumers preferring on site consumption in the US:

Around 60% Per capita consumption of coffee in India: 100g Tea consumption: 1kg Soft drink consumption:

About 7 litres pa. Alcohol (beer and spirits) per capita consumption:

Under 2 litres

culture,” said Nitin Kalani, Beverage Analyst, Rabobank Group India. The growth in overall consumption coupled with global demand resulting in tightening stock levels will increase the

prices of this commodity. The coffee culture trend is offering numerous business opportunities. But there are also significant challenges faced by the industry such as high attrition and real estate costs that

prevents the stakeholders from exploiting the demand to its fullest potential. “Attrition and high rentals in key real estate areas are the major challenges. These coffee chains have brought in new systems to overcome these challenges. To control attrition, few players have created innovative employee retention plans (fast track career progression to managerial level, additional employee benefits). Some train potential hires (specially from rural/semi urban areas) on coffee etiquette and hospitality in their own training institutes. On high rentals, the players have tried to explore additional areas (highways, small cities) where rentals are moderate but can offer sizable revenue potential,” he said. Talking about the future of these coffee chains, he said, “We strongly believe that with the robust economic growth, decent population and per capita income levels along with consumers willingness to spend more on modern food channels in the background, the sector has favourable outlook.”

SHAKE-UP

Murdoch’s UK newspaper chief to resign NEW YORK: Rupert Murdoch’s top newspaper lieutenant in Britain is to leave his post at the end of the year, it was announced Sunday, heralding the start of a major shake-up at parent company News Corporation. The sudden departure of Tom Mockridge, chief executive since July 2011 of News International, which encompasses The Sun, The Times, and The Sunday Times in London, was made public by Murdoch him-

self. It sets the stage for a restructuring of News Corporation into two separate divisions with a publishing arm controlling newspapers and an entertainment business controlling the company’s television and film interests. That recently announced move came in the wake of heavy criticism, including from shareholders, about the company’s handling of a phone hacking scandal.

News Corp split in Dec? LONDON: Rupert Murdoch’s plans to split his media conglomerate News Corp. into two separate firms could be realised before the end of the year, Daily Telegraph reported. The tycoon’s proposal to spin off the company’s troubled publishing arm was due to be completed by June.

Mockridge’s decision to leave also comes amid much speculation that he was to miss out on the top job at News Corp’s new publishing division. The favourite for that post is reportedly Robert Thomson, the top executive at the Murdochowned Wall Street Journal and Dow Jones Newswires, and a former editor of The Times in London. AFP

GOLD`31,500 10g SILVER `62,000 1kg for

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NUMEROLOGY

£154

is what Britain will spend to target tax-dodgers companies who a shield their earnings from the government.

MINISTER TARGETS MITTAL A French minister cast doubt on Sunday on whether the world’s top steelmaker ArcelorMittal would keep its end of the bargain after a compromise deal on a key plant that Paris had threatened to nationalise. The dispute over the closure of blast furnaces at the Florange plant had risked damaging France’s image among investors, after a virulent attack by a minister on the company owned by Indian-born steel tycoon Lakshmi Mittal. “There has been an agreement but there is no conﬁdence," French Ecology Minister Delphine Batho said.

THUS SPAKE “In the long term I am deﬁnitely of the opinion that we consider how we develop legal procedures for states which do not comply with their commitments," ANGELA MERKEL GERMAN CHANCELLOR 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

19,320.32

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

Singapore Airlines said on Monday it was in talks with “interested parties” on a possible sale of its 49 per cent stake in Virgin Atlantic as media reports listed US carrier Delta Air Lines as a possible buyer. “These discussions may or may not result in a transaction," it added without naming any of the parties. Sunday Times newspaper identiﬁed Delta as one of the interested parties and reported that the US carrier had approached SIA directly over the stake, which SIA had paid 600 million pounds for in 1999. If the sale goes through, Delta’s European partner, Air France-KLM, may then buy part of Branson’s 51 per cent stake which would see him losing control for the ﬁrst time of the airline he founded, the report added.

98.90

33.65

19.58

ANAND SHARMA, 8.50 COMMERCE MINISTER

MONDAY, DECEMBER 3, 2012

nation

PARLIAMENT ADJOURNS FOR THE DAY

Parliament adjourned for the day after obituary reference to the passing away of former prime minister IK Gujral.

TRANSITION

GAY PRIDE

Uddhav holds ‘durbar’

LGBT community people during the Bangalore Pride & Karnataka Queer Habba 2012 rally in Bangalore on Sunday.

DEMOCRACY

Polling underway for J&K council seats

SRINAGAR: Amidst tight security, polling is underway today for the four Legislative Council seats in Jammu and Kashmir under the Panchayat quota. The polls for the reserved seats are being held after a gap of 38 years as the Panchayat elections in the state were held last year after a gap over three decades.As many as 33,450 panchayat members will decide the fate of 37 candidates in fray. Election officials said while polling has been brisk in some areas of Jammu, the response so far in the Valley has been poor due to cold conditions early in the morning. National Conference and Congress

— partners in the ruling coalition — are contesting the elections jointly and have fielded two candidates each for the four seats. The opposition parties, including PDP and Panthers Party, have fielded candidates on all four seats while the BJP is contesting on three seats — two from Jammu region and one from Kashmir Valley. The BSP has also fielded three candidates. As many as 15,628 panchayat members will elect two MLCs in Jammu division from a total of 21 candidates, while 17,912 members will cast their votes to elect two members from the 16 candidates in fray from Kashmir division. PTI

PTI

MUMBAI: The Shiv Sena on Monday announced that all powers of party president would now vest with executive president Uddhav Thackeray. An announcement in party mouthpiece Saamna said the decision had been taken at a meeting of top party leaders at the Thackeray residence Matoshri. "All the powers of Shiv Sena Pramukh (chief) shall be with executive president Uddhav Thackeray. This has been decided in a meeting of Shiv Sena leaders," the statement said, in a development that was anticipated. Uddhav, 52, has been the party's executive president since

2004. He will now be de facto party president. His father Bal Thackeray had founded the party and led it for over four decades till his death November 17. After Bal Thackeray's demise, a photograph with a sandalwood garland has been placed on the chair he regularly used. "The party's first meeting was held in 'Thackeray Durbar' (the room where the garlanded photograph of the late Shiv Sena chief has been placed) where all the leaders unanimously expressed confidence in Uddhav and decided to authorise him (Uddhav Thackeray) to fulfil the late Bal Thackeray's dreams," the statement said. IANS

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NEWS BRIEFS 3 killed in accident

Delhi cop commits suicide

MADURAI: Three persons were killed on the spot and another injured when the car they were travelling in rammed a roadside tree early this morning at Alagapuri, about 50 km from here, police said. The occupants of the car were on their way to Rajapalayam from Chennai when the accident occurred after the driver lost control of the car, they said. the injured car driver has been hospitalised.

NEW DELHI: A Delhi Police head constable committed suicide by shooting himself with his service revolver in a police station here Sunday evening, police said. Tejpal, 49, shot himself in his right temple in his room in Kanjhawala police station. "Tejpal received an accident call around 9.15 am and went to the spot. He returned around 3 pm, went to his room and shot himself," additional DCP Mohammad Akhtar Rizvi said.

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

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MONDAY, DECEMBER 3, 2012

World

KILLER OZ CROC WAS BEING FED BY LOCALS: COPS Hopes were fading Monday for a nine-year-old boy taken by a four metre (13 feet) crocodile in northern Australia, which police said was being fed by the local community. The child was swimming with a group of people at Port Bradshaw on Saturday when he was grabbed.

THE MAGNIFICENT SEVEN

CHANGE AT THE HELM

Rupert Murdoch’s top newspaper lieutenant in Britain is to leave his post at the end of the year, it was announced Sunday, heralding the start of a major shake-up at parent company News Corporation. The sudden departure of Tom Mockridge, chief executive since July 2011 of News International, which encompasses The Sun, The Times, and The Sunday Times in London, was made public by Murdoch himself.

(Above) US First Lady Michelle Obama and US President Barack Obama at the Kennedy Centre on Sunday in Washington, DC. (Anti-clockwise from top left) Oscar winner Dustin Hoffman, the Late Night Show host David Letterman Robert Plant, Jimmy Page, John Paul Jones of Led Zeppelin, ballerina Natalia Makarova, and Blues musician Buddy Guy were each honored for their lifetime contributions to the arts. AFP/BRENDAN SMIALOWSKI

NUMEROLOGY

SYRIAN CRISIS

15 killed in Homs blast

people have died in Somali when fierce clashes broke out between two rival clans over grazing and water rights.

The army hammered rebel positions around Damascus

DAMASCUS: A car bomb rocked Syria’s third largest city Homs on Sunday killing 15 people, state media said, as the army hammered rebel positions around Damascus in a strategic assault aimed at securing the capital. Shell fire from Syria, meanwhile, hit a Turkish border town late Saturday, without causing casualties. It was the first crossborder shelling since Ankara requested that NATO deploy Patriot air defence missiles on the restive frontier. “A terrorist attack struck the Hamra district of Homs,” the state SANA news agency said, adding that it killed 15 people and wounded 24 in the government-held neighbourhood. State television said

Delay for Patriots

Chem weapon fears

urkish officials say they have evidence Assad regime could resort to ballistic missiles if air campaign against rebels fails. A request by Turkey for Nato Patriot missile defences to be deployed on its territory followed intelligence that the Syrian government was contemplating the use of missiles, possibly with chemical warheads. Bashar al-Assad’s regime might resort to missiles and chemical weapons in a desperate last effort to survive, sources said.

ven if NATO foreign ministers approve Turkey’s request to deploy Patriot missiles on the border with Syria as expected, it will still take some weeks to get them in place, a top US official said Monday. The United States was “hopeful that NATO will be in a position to respond positively and agree to help Turkey bolster its air defences,” a senior official said. but added that, “it wouldn’t be an absolutely immediate deployment,” hinting at the delay.

told AFP. Amateur video footage posted online by opposition activists showed the bodies of at least three victims, including a woman buried in the rubble of a building as a car burned not far away. Another video showed an injured child lying in hospital, wailing in pain. Straight after the attack, hundreds of people started to protest against President Bashar al-Assad, according to activists, with some blaming the regime for the bomb attack. Homs was one of the cradles of the armed uprising against Assad’s rule, earning it the monicker of “capital of the revolution” from opposition activists.

it was a car bombing. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights also reported a car bombing in Homs. “The blast hit an area where there is a large vegetable mar-

ket,” the Britain-based watchdog said. “The Hamra neighbourhood has been under regime control throughout the revolt,” its director Rami Abdel Rahman

Colombia gives FARC one year for peace deal

War-era shell kills four Vietnamese children

Pak seizes 14 tonnes of bomb-making chemical

Jailed Cuba contractor’s wife pans ‘negligent’ US

BOGOTA: President Juan Manuel Santos on Sunday warned Colombia’s Marxist FARC rebels they have less than a year to strike a deal under recently opened peace talks aimed at ending Latin America’s longest-running insurgency. “This has to be a process of months, rather than years,” the president said at an event.

HANOI: A shell from the Vietnam War killed four children and seriously injured four other villagers when it exploded at a family party, police said Monday. The children, a girl and three boys aged between four and 11years-old, died on Sunday after finding the unexploded shell while they played in a garden.

QUETTA, PAKISTAN: Pakistani authorities seized nearly 14 tonnes of potassium chlorate, a key ingredient in bomb-making, from a bus in the country’s violent and unstable southwest on Sunday, officials said. The haul was made when officials acting on a tip-off stopped a bus just outside the city of Quetta loaded with the substance.

WASHINGTON: Three years after Cuba arrested American contractor Alan Gross, his wife is blaming a “totally negligent” Washington for his plight and fears the Castro regime has no concern for his future. Judith Gross protested in front of the Cuban Interests Section in Washington on Sunday.

AFP

NEWS BRIEFS

AFP

THE UNSTABLE SUSPECT The US military held WikiLeaks suspect Bradley Manning under strict “suicide watch” partly because his gender identity struggle showed he was mentally “not stable,” a witness said Sunday. Manning, a former army intelligence analyst in Iraq, is accused of the biggest intelligence leak in American history for allegedly passing a massive trove of classiﬁed documents to Julian Assange’s anti-secrecy website. Manning’s purported gender struggle came up at a pre-trial hearing as his defense urged a military judge to dismiss the case.

The world said in a loud voice... yes to the state of Palestine, yes to Palestine’s freedom, yes to Palestine’s independence, no to aggression, no to settlements, no to occupation. Mahmoud Abbas Palestine leader

MONDAY, DECEMBER 3, 2012

Technology THE RISE AND FALL OF GROUPON GROUPON ACQUISITIONS

MyCityDeal , ClanDescuento, Qpod.jp, Darberry.ru, Beeconomic.com. Groupon bought the Indian deal-of-theday website SoSasta.com in January 2011, and re-branded it as "Crazeal by Groupon Inc". Groupon also acquired GroupsMore.com in Malaysia to expand its business there. Prior to these acquisitions, Groupon had bought out the mobile technology company Mob.ly. In January 2012, the company acquired Mertado, a social shopping service based on the Facebook platform. In May 2012, Groupon acquired Breadcrumb, a point of sale system and iPad app that targets local restaurants.

THE OFFERS

In October 2010, Yahoo! was rumoured to have offered over $3 billion to acquire Groupon. On November 30, 2010, it was reported that Google offered $5.3 billion with a $700 million earnout to acquire Groupon and was rejected on December 3, 2010.

THE FALL

In early November of 2012, Groupon reported they had missed their third quarter revenue estimates, posting a revenue of $586.6 million while estimates were at $591 million. This caused Groupon's stocks to fall to as low as $2.93/share early in the trading day. Groupon has said to have lost 80% of its value since its initial public offering over one year ago. Since Groupon’s IPO on November 4, 2011 the company continues to see a number of Groupon management staff leaving the company. On April 13, 2012, Groupon announced that Groupon Head of International Marc Samwer was leaving the company, and on May 31, 2012, it was reported that Groupon Australia and New Zealand Head of Marketing Elisa Chan had left Groupon. Shortly after Groupon's lock-up period expired on June 1, 2012, it was reported that Daniel P Glasner (co-founder and managing director at Groupon GmbH) and Philipp Magin (CEO & co-founder at CityDeal GmbH) were leaving Groupon. In August, 2012, two of Groupon's key sales executives left the company. On August 21, 2012, it was reported that Groupon’s top saleswoman and vice president of business development Jayna Cooke had left Groupon. Later the same week, on August 24, 2012, it was announced that Senior Sales Executive Lee Brown would be leaving Groupon.

Andrew Mason, who founded Groupon, the online discounter, has seen his company's stock take a nosedive since its IPO last year. We take a look at the company’s stratospheric rise and catastrophic fall.

MASONARY

POSITION $1bn

Startup Village, a mobile startup incubator in Kochi, Kerala became the first place in India to get 1 Gbps internet connection and the team behind the venture is aiming to incubate 1,000 startups in 10 years. This venture proves that it is actually possible to roll out high-speed broadband in India, but it needs to be seen if a mass roll out of such a service is feasible. India currently lags behind in Internet adoption and those who do have access get a very low speed in comparison to most countries. Other Indian states especially Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka needs to learn from this initiative and start rolling out similar services.

LOST THEIR ZING?

Groupon was worth $1 billion after just 16 months in business. The only website to reach that number faster was YouTube, which reached that number in 12 months.

350 2008

The number of people employed by Groupon within 18 months of operations beginning.

PHEW THAT’S FAST!

Groupon is launched. The idea that would eventually evolve into Groupon was born out of the frustration site founder Andrew Mason felt when trying to cancel a mobile phone contract.

HOW DOES GROUPON MAKE MONEY?

Groupon makes its money by taking a commission on every “Deal of the Day” that gets triggered. A predetermined number of shoppers have to purchase the deal before money changes hands.

I just thought there has to be a large number of people with these same problems, and if we were united in some way, we could leverage our collective power. Andrew Mason

Zynga and Facebook parted ways earlier this week and their stock prices have been diving since then. The company’s stock prices have been on the decline for a while because of a decline in the number of people playing Farmville and other games by the company. Zynga is hoping that it will have more success as a standalone, but everyone else believes they will have more success if they shift their focus entirely to mobile. Whatever be the case, Facebook users can rejoice that they’ll be getting fewer Farmville requests from their friends.

BITTORRENT GOES LEGIT BitTorrent, the company behind the infamous torrent ﬁle sharing system wants to go legit. They announced their plans to tie-up with the entertainment industry. BitTorrent says that there is a chance that the industry might use torrents to distribute their work at a low cost to its 40 million users — more than Hulu, Netﬂix, and Spotify combined. The company’s plan sound a little too ambitious considering how much Hollywood hates torrents, that too at a time when they are trying unsuccessfully to shut down Piratebay. The company has no plans to set up a store and will only offer the technology needed to distributed the content.

MONDAY, DECEMBER 3, 2012

Comment Every great dream begins with a dreamer. Always remember, you have within you the strength, the patience, and the passion to reach for the stars to change the world. Harriet Tubman Humanitarian

The death of Entertainment THE HUMAN CONDITION Dean Williams

y now, most of you will have realised that BBC has shut down its BBC Entertainment channel in India. No longer will we able to watch Top Gear, Come Dine With Me, Dr Who, or the Graham Norton Show; all we’re left with is highly-censored drivel courtesy the other channels. BBC’s reason is that it couldn’t monetise the channel and hence took what seems to be a purely financial decision. But on the forums people are upset. One irate lass wrote that now she finally understands why people download programmes off the internet and that she would be doing that in the future too. India has some very good English TV channels, showing some great shows. But with the censors running amok, almost all of them have become unwatchable. My question is why bother showing programmes that have nudity and bad language if all you’re going to do is edit the offending scenes (many times extremely important to the narrative). In India we will never have the pleasure of watching Homeland, Shameless or Breaking Bad simply because someone’s moral compass twitches wildly at the sight of skin. With the demise of BBC Entertainment we’ve lost a great channel, one that hovered above the Reality TV trash that passes for entertainment. We will miss it, and I only hope that at some point in the future the BBC decides that its fans are more important than money. Delusional? Yes. Hopeful? Most certainly. After all, it is the BBC.

HIGH-FLYING THOUGHTS It’s a bit hard to describe people who did many things in their life. How would you describe Harriet Tubman? Abolishionist, humanitarian, Union spy? The only perfect description is that she was a good woman, nothing more, nothing less.

POLITICS

REIN OF YSR II SOON HARD TALK

PK Surendran

seasoned political observer needs no research or astrological acumen to predict political behaviour. I would humbly claim credit for foreseeing the Congress game long ago. In the plural democracy of India it has always been the practice of the disgruntled or the righteous to leave the parent party, float a chota party, and swim or sin. If swims, he’ll be welcomed into the parent fold terming it a ‘home coming.’ The only exception to this general behaviour has been the Marxist Communist party which once chucks a leader out haunts him to his grave. The only one to survive this cruelty has been veteran communist MV Raghavan of Kerala who on parting ways with the CPM floated a CMP and survived all these years. Jagan Mohan’s YSRC is no exception to the rule of ‘happy homecoming.’ Efforts credited to the ‘young brigade’ of Rahul Gandhi are in full swing trying to ‘assess’ public opinion on the advisability of welcoming the YSRC back to the Congress. It is clear to all had Jagan been proved a flop, he’d be resting in the nearest municipal dustbin. Postnoon also claims credit for pointing out there exists a quid pro quo when the YSRC voted Pranab Mukherjee for

president. The Congress had sent the MIM leader Asaduddin Owaisi with a nosegay to meet Jagan. It was only to be believed that Jagan had extracted a price

for his support, only it should not be seen so soon. The game of the Congress therefore is clear as follows. The party would have an electoral

understanding, or even embrace Jagan back to the fold before the general elections saying a ‘prodigal son has returned home.’ This would give teeth to the tottering Congress all through the state except in Telangana. The only other thorn would then be the TRS, which the Congress plans to have a bait before the elections. Since the Congress has many tongues, one of them will speak of the deadline for creating T which, after the elections will be termed, a slip of tongue. The Congress knows too well that the TDP has lost its steam. The only time TDP stirred the state’s political pot was when Chandrababu Naidu announced 50 per cent seats to SCs. Suddenly, the Congress remembered the SCs along with STs and came out with a Bill that had been gathering dust in the party attic. If the YSRC and Jagan are able to bring home bacon, the Congress, say political leaders, would not hesitate to hand over the rein to the YSR II. With this the ‘glorious’ period of YSR would return which is characterised by many acts that have not been publicly audited. Where will Kiran be? Well, he himself knows and has said on occasions, power comes and goes. He only has to wait for a while before meaty assignments came searching for him. And, Botsa, thanks to his caste vote bank will be protected. All will sing tumty..tumty..tum. Happy days are here again!!!!

EDITORIALS Stronger gun laws needed His last bow

hen we debate about the need for the right to keep guns, we must consider the following incidents: the Colorado shooting, the Gurdwara shooting, and the incident where an NFL player shot himself in the head after gunning down his girlfriend. The earlier ones have been discussed in detail, but the last one is the latest. All who know Jovan Belcher remembers him to be a nice fella with an infectious smile, and good with kids. Everything seemed promising with a pretty girlfriend, a two-year old kid with her and a very successful career. All of this crashed to the ground when he shot her multiple times after an argument with her. And after that he drove off to his training facility and while thanking everyone around for what they did for him, walked away and shot himself in the head. A tragic end to a wonderful life. Another incident is reported from France where a man miffed with his neighbours for their loud partying unleashed havoc after walking into their house and opened ﬁre. Two died. Words fail to describe such lack of compassion where the ﬁrst resort when we feel wronged is to eliminate the source. Do we need more reasons for stronger gun laws, be it in America or anywhere in the world?

READERS’ VIEWS

nd so a grand era in world cricket has ended. Ponting just made eight runs before walking away unable to do anything to plug the Proteus’s pommelling like he used to in his heydays. Everyone has their prime and he has had his and now it’s time to call it day. Despite all that, he will be remembered for his pullshots and a terriﬁc cricketing brain.

MONDAY, DECEMBER 3, 2012

campus

STARTUP FUNERAL

A conference Startup Funeral will held at Lamakaan on December 6 at 5 pm. Startup Funeral celebrates failure and provides you a place where you can share stories of your failure and commemorate your startups with others so that others could learn valuable lessons from it.

BEHIND THE SCENES

IT’S FESTIVAL TIME

GAME ZONE

Featuring performances of A-list celebrities and budgets touching `40 lakh, college fests are getting bigger and better with each passing year

OutTh!nk OutTh!nk is a student driven initiative at the Indian Institute of Management, Calcutta, that encourages and induces rational and strategic thought through game play. We focus on Game Theory, Strategy and Fun and consistently try to increase the fun quotient in the campus by organizing various events. Visit https://www.facebook.com/OutTh ink.IIMC/app_190322544333196 to register.

COLLEGE OF THE WEEK

Symbiosis

AMY ROSE THOMAS amyrose.t@postnoon.com

ome January and the fest season in colleges begins. College campuses are now abuzz with preparations which commence two months before their annual fest. These events test students’ managerial skills since they plan everything from the sponsors to the events. CBIT's Carpediem, Arthashastra in St. Francis, Summons of Nalsar, Elan in IIT Hyderabad, Arora College's Abhiyaan and Felicity in IIIT have been some of the fests that have made a name for themselves in the city. These fests has students from across the state and also from other parts of the country taking part in them. College fests are a platform to showcase their talent with events such as dance, music, quizzes, debates and literary competitions and more being conducted during the fest. But more importantly, the entrepreneurial and managerial skills of the students are also tested as they are the ones

who raise the big bucks (running into lakhs), organise the events and manage the publicity of the fest. Since funds and sponsorships determine the extravagance of the fest, the fund raising bit begins early on. Some colleges in the city are also coming up with unique strategies that help in raising more money. For instance, for Spectrum organised at National Institute of Fashion Technology, each student was promised a share of the amount of sponsorship that they raised. Utkarsh Kumar who is part of the organising committee of Spetctrum says, “It is only after we raise enough money that we decide on the events and the celebrities that we'd call for the function. Also the student who succeed in getting sponsorship from a company gets to keep ten per cent of the money. So if a student manages one lakh then he/she will earn 10 per cent of it which is `10,000. This way, more students will be encouraged in trying their luck at convincing people to donate for the fest. We have to approach clients with a

Fests test students’ managerial skills since they have to organise everything from scratch and raise money for the event. letter issued from the college which states the budget of the fest. Our work of finding sponsors becomes all the more easier if we find media partners. They give us free publicity and there are times when people get to know about the fest through the articles and posters and come forward to donate money. Apart from the fund raising, another programme we start early, is the auditions for the students who would want to participate in the fest. Since it is an open event, we select students from other colleges to be models in the fashion show that is organised as part of the event.” The head of the organising committee of Carpediem, which is the fest organised at Chaitanya Bharathi Institute of Technology

once in two years, Sahidh Reddy says that most of the money goes for roping in artists. Last Carpediem saw Parikrama and Vishal and Shekhar performing at the do. “Most of the guests who grace the occasion during the fest come without charging money since the funds raised during the fest are donated to NGOs. However, artists refuse to come without the money. And usually it is due to this that we need to raise big bucks.” He goes on to add that there around 200 students who are involved in the event. “There is a core team that comprises of 20 students. And each of them would be heading a different department which includes publicity, management, events and sponsorship. The toughest part of the fest is managing studies and fest together. Two months before the fest we tend to miss a lot of classes since we have to manage everything from scratch,” he says. These fests provide students with real life experiences where they could think beyond classrooms and get a taste of the real world.

International University is a private coeducational, multi-institutional university located in Pune. It has been given official recognition by the UGC and the AICTE. National Assessment and Accreditation Council has conferred an 'A' grade to the university. Symbiosis offers a total of 71 programmes with 117 courses. Symbiosis International University has 19 academic institutions spread over nine campuses in Pune, Noida, Bengaluru and Nashik.

TRENDING...

Day One — Journal: College is stressful, and there’s no better way to vent stress than to write in a journal. Day One is an app that allows you to enter thoughts, memories, and photos, and then sync them to the cloud so you’ll always have access to them.

PicPlz: Any student with a Facebook account knows that photos are the lifeblood of the online college experience. PicPlz boasts an impressive array of hip, professional photo ﬁlters which instantly polish up your pictures.

MONDAY, DECEMBER 3, 2012

spotlight

BOLLYWOOD MASALA

Spoil is hosting Bollywood Night tonight. So, head to the pub and dance to the latest Bollywood chartbusters.

S BALAKRISHNA

ADRENALINE RUSH

RacerS S P E E D

Theatre lovers in the city were treated to Salt n Pepper, a play starring Mandira Bedi, Kuki Grewal, Darshan Jariwala and Vikram Kochhar. The play was staged at Shilpakala Vedika on Sunday night. Spotted were Archie Paranji, Rimly and others.

Volvo Auto X â&#x20AC;&#x201D; 2012 organised by Talwar Volvo Cars at GMR Arena was a hit among youngsters and they were seen cheering for their favourites.

1 Manzoor Ali khan, Samya Alanka 2 Arpeta Talwar 3 Bulbul

TAKING CENTRE STAGE

4 Nisha 5 Neha, Karam 6 Farad

1 Shruthi, Khushboo 2 Abhishak, Kiran 3 Rimly 4 Salina, Manish 5 Sara, Jyothi, Mansi

MAKING A SPLASH

Members of Choco Boys club were seen having a merry time at a pool party that was held at Amrutha Castle. The event was organised by Kalahari Reddy.

1 Deepthi, Abhishek 2 Sreelekha, Mona

S BALAKRISHNA

MONDAY, DECEMBER 3, 2012

health

LONGER SLEEP LOWERS SENSITIVITY TO PAIN Longer hours of snoozing for those who are mildly sleep deprived helps promote daytime alertness and reduces pain sensitivity, says a study. "We were surprised by the magnitude of the reduction in sensitivity, when compared to the reduction produced by taking codeine," said a researcher.

SKIN CARE

Banish dry skin this winter The weather outside might be dry and dull, but your skin need not. Winter skin care might seem challenging, but if you know exactly what your skin needs, it can be a breeze. Read on. Hyderabad we don’t have severe winters, but the dry air is enough to complicate matters for the skin. Also the extra long hot baths that we take in winters causes the skin to dry out even faster.

RANJANI RAJENDRA

ranjani.r@postnoon.com

WHAT YOU CAN DO

inter is here and you’re all excited about bringing out those stylish woollens and mits. But you’re lacklustre and dry skin is leaving you looking horrible. Winter skin care is always a bit of a pain isn’t it? Try as you might there are always patches of white, dry skin. And if luck is really not on your side, then the dry skin can flare up into rashes, leaving you with an extra problem to deal with. However, it is really not all that impossible to have soft and supple skin this winter. You just need to know how.

WHY DRY SKIN In winter the low temperatures, low humidity and harsh winds rob the skin of its natural moisture content leaving it dry and patchy. True that in

Be battle ready n

Check with a specialist: A dermatologist will analyse your skin and prescribe the right moisturiser to help you sail through winter, dry skin-free.

Moisturise more: You’ve got to change your skin care routine. It can’t be an all-season fits one. So come winter find a moisturiser that works best for you and ensure that you use it at least twice a day.

Use sunscreen: Just because it is winter you can’t ditch the sunscreen. Please slather it on to prevent any skin damage.

Pamper your hands: They are the most neglected parts of the body. Since the skin on your hands is thinner it needs more moisturising. Use a good hand cream to keep them soft and supple.

Grease your feet: You need a stronger foot cream in the winter. So slather on and wear a sock to seal in the moisture for pretty crackfree feet.

ANEWS PP-LYBRIEFS YOURSELF

“Products with harsh chemicals do more harm than good when it comes to dealing with dry skin. Use a mild body wash instead, preferably one that has phetyl alcohol. Moisturising is extremely important during winter. One should carefully choose a moisturiser depending on their skin type. For instance, there are moisturisers with glycerine, paraffin, petroleum and even aloe. It depends what suits an individual,” explains Dr Sunitha Sekhar Reddy, dermatologist at ADI clinic. She adds that it is necessary to moisturise skin twice daily as sometimes the dry skin can flare up in to an eczema, especially in the elderly. “In case of eczema, a doctor will prescribe a topi-

WINTER CARE cal steroid for a few days to reduce the rashes. Some people might not respond to this treatment and then we look for other possible causes like haemoglobin levels and hormonal issues,” says Dr Sunitha. “Since children’s skin is more sensitive, it is advisable to make them wear clothing that covers up a larger surface area and prevents dryness. Avoid using besan etc on their skin as it further dries the skin. Also oil hair regularly to prevent dryness,” she says.

HOUSECALL

DID YOU KNOW?

PIONEERS

HIV Aids gallery

Klinifelter’s syndrome

Body gives off heat

George H Hitchkings

For people living with HIV/Aids, this cab prove to be an all-time mobile glossary that helpc explains the disease in simple language. AIDSinfo Glossary contains more than 850 complex terms defined in English and Spanish. The iPapp is also a useful resource for healthcare providers, caseworkers, and community organisations.

Klinefelter's syndrome is a chromosomal abnormality which affects males who carry an extra one or more X chromosomes. Females have XX chromosomes and males have XY chromosomes. A male with Klinefelter’s would have XXY or XXXY. This can lead to a variety of physical and physiological characteristics. The genetic variation is irreversible.Testost erone treatment is given before the onset of puberty itself.

Your body gives off enough heat in 30 minutes to bring half a gallon of water to a boil. If you’ve seen the Matrix you are aware of the energy potentially generated by the human body. Our bodies expend a large amount of calories keeping us at a steady 98.6 degrees, enough to boil water or even cook pasta.

George Herbert Hitchings was an American doctor who shared the 1988 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine with Sir James Black and Gertrude Elion Hitchings was known specifically for his work on chemotherapy. In 1967 he became Vice President in Charge of Research of Burroughs-Wellcome. He became Scientist Emeritus in 1976. He also served as a faculty member at the Duke University School of Medicine.

health MONDAY, DECEMBER 3, 2012

RESEARCH

STUDY

‘Genome mapping may stop superbug deaths’ According to Australian researchers, genome mapping could prove key in preventing superbugs in hospitals . This could prevent countless deaths in the future. SYDNEY: Genome mapping could prove key in preventing superbugs in hospitals, an Australian researcher said, urging its use to prevent countless deaths from antibiotic-resistant infections. Mark Walker, director of the Australian Infectious Diseases Research Centre at the University of Queensland, said the technology would allow medical staff to determine whether patients had contracted identical bugs. Tracing the source of an infection would then become simpler and health workers could concentrate their resources on controlling its spread. “What we’ve done is demonstrated that the technology is able to answer questions that could not previously be asked,” Walker told AFP after his research was published in the US journal Science. “That has potential to answer specific questions in the hospital setting that will help in controlling... hospital acquired infections.” Until now, he said, it had been impossible to know whether closely-related bacteria causing infections were transferred from patient to patient, or were being passed on by poor clinical practice, a carrier, a contaminated instrument or something else. By taking a bacteria sample from an infected patient and sequencing the genome, a researcher ends up with some two or three million base pieces of paired genetic information. They can then compare the

sequence to that of a sample taken from another patient and determine whether or not they have an identical bug. “If you know that the bacteria is absolutely identical, then that really confirms that what you’re seeing in a hospital where people are getting sick is that the bug is transferred,” he said. He said in one instance in Britain this type of approach determined that cases of a bug in a neo-natal ward were identical, prompting the hospital to test all health workers.

Growing pains

e are moving to a new City. While my husband and I are excited, my 8-year-old is very upset as she will leave her friends and the house where we are living now. We are shifting in two weeks and I am worried. what should I do. For a child, their world is made up of the things they are around, thus when a child is told of a move away from the things they hold dear to them, life can feel like its falling apart. Moving

One was revealed to be the carrier of a reservoir of a bug which ended up causing infections in babies from time to time. The worker, who was not sick, was treated and the out-

Mark Walker, said the technology would allow medical staff to determine whether patients had contracted identical bugs.

break cleared up. “This is where this type of technology is really powerful,” said Walker. He said genomics had been around for some time but it was only recently that the technology had become available to allow genome sequencing rapidly and in an almost costeffective manner. “This is a new way of doing it that needs to be taken up,” he said.“It’s another way and improved way to help prevent infections.” AFP

Salty reason to go easy on cheese LONDON: High salt levels in cheese may be fuelling an epidemic of high blood pressure (BP) linked to strokes, heart attacks and thousands of premature deaths, claims a group that works towards greater awareness of the effects of salt on health. Cheese can contain as much salt as junk food products, says Consensus Action on Salt and Health (CASH). A bit of cheddar was found to have a greater amount of salt than a bag of crisps, while feta, halloumi and other popular types contain higher levels of salt than seawater. CASH chairman Graham MacGregor, professor of cardiovascular medicine at the Wolfson Institute here, said: “We urge the government to stop dragging its heels and set new, lower, targets for cheese manufacturers to work towards. Even small reductions will have large health benefits.” “For every one gram reduction in population salt intake, we can prevent 12,000 heart attacks, stroke and heart failure, half of which would have been fatal,” McGregor added, the Daily Mail reports. Cheese, which also usually carries high levels of saturated fat, is the third-biggest contributor of salt to the national diet, after bread and bacon. Together, these alone are responsible for the recommended daily intake of six grams about a teaspoon - being exceeded by over a third. The average intake is 8.1g a day. Doctors say salt is a major factor in high blood pressure. A survey of products by CASH found that the saltiest option on the high street was roquefort, with one gram in a typical portion of 30g. However, CASH did find that it is possible for shoppers to switch to relatively low-salt or even salt-free cheese for a healthier option. IANS

Dr Diana Monteiro

‘MOVING IS DIFFICULT FOR CHILDREN’ away from extended family, close friends, school teachers, and their school is very hard for a child. Often thus, children will react with anger, irritability, tearfulness and will withdraw in an attempt to express how upset they feel. It is normal for a child to feel this way at first. In order to help a child, there are a few things you can do to make them feel better and help by

making their transition smoother. Start by letting them know the about the move as early as you can. Once you tell them about the move, make sure you allow them to have any reaction that they might have. Usually children have lots of questions when presented with new information. If your child has questions, answer the questions as honestly as possible. If

you don’t know an answer them as best you can. While you should allow them to express their feelings and allow them to be upset if they need to be, it is also important to make sure you make it clear that the move is happening and there is not going to be change of plans. If you child doesn’t want to talk, allow them the space they need while also letting them know

that you are there for them. Given that you have to move, go ahead with your plans and try to involve your child in the packing and decision making to the extent possible. Stay positive and eventually your child will accept the decision. After the move, ensure that you help bring life back to a routine. The writer is a counselling psychologist at the Hyderabad Academy of Psychology. You can write to her at askdrdiana@gmail.com

MONDAY, DECEMBER 3, 2012

Entertainment

SAROCHARU’S AUDIO OUT ON DEC 5 Aditya Music is going to launch the audio of Ravi Teja’s upcoming film Sarocharu on December 5. Kajal and Richa have played the lead roles. Parasuram has directed the film.

CONTROVERSY KING

CINE BYTES

Tamannaah signs Ajith’s film

amannaah is all set to make her comeback in Tamil and she has signed Ajith’s upcoming film. This is her first Tamil film since Venghai, which released back in July, 2011. Shouryam Shiva is going to direct this mass entertainer. Devi Sri Prasad will be composing the music and this untitled film will go on floors in March 2013.

SVSC’s audio launch on Dec 15

VISHWAROOPAM courts big trouble in TN

Theatre owners are up in arms against Kamal Haasan who’s planning to air Vishwaroopam on DTH services on the day of the film’s release

amal Haasan is once again courting controversy in Tamil Nadu and if the issue is not resolved soon, there’s a chance that his upcoming film Vishwaroopam might even be banned by theatre owners. The film’s first look was launched earlier this year and since then Kamal Haasan had been waiting for the right moment to release the

film. In Vishwaroopam, Kamal Haasan has played the lead role in, apart from writing, producing and directing the film. Last week, he announced that the film will be released on January 11 and just when he was about to strike a deal with a prominent distributor in Tamil Nadu, the latter was shocked to hear Kamal Haasan’s plan to air the film directly on DTH services like Tata Sky,

Airtel right on the day of its theatrical release. Apparently, Kamal Haasan has struck a `50 crore deal with various DTH operators to air the film in Telugu, Tamil and Hindi right on the day of its release. While this is a big step forward in terms of how films are going to be distributed in future, the theatre owners are extremely upset since they’ll have to suffer

heavy losses due to a significant drop in theatrical collections, if Kamal Haasan has his way. We hear that they have urged Kamal Haasan to drop his idea and if not, they might even have to ban the film from releasing in theatres in Tamil Nadu. The controversy is still raging and a final decision is expected to be taken later this month. Shankar Ehsaan and Loy have composed the music

he audio of Mahesh Babu, Venkatesh starrer Seethamma Vaakitlo Sirimalle Chettu is going to be launched on December 15. Samantha and Anjali are also playing lead roles. Srikanth Addala is directing the ﬁlm and Mickey J Meyer has composed the music. The ﬁlm will release on January 11.

Nagarjuna heads to Bangkok

agarjuna is going to join the team of his upcoming film in Dasarath’s direction in Bangkok. The film will be shot there for the next 25 days and most part of the film will be wrapped up in this schedule. Nayanthara is paired up with Nagarjuna in this film. D Sivaprasad Reddy is producing this love story and Thaman is scoring the music.

Entertainment MONDAY, DECEMBER 3, 2012 ‘Paani’ is a mission: Shekhar Kapur

cclaimed director Shekhar Kapur, who is known for making films like Masoom, Mr India and Bandit Queen, has termed his new work Paani a mission. “Paani is a film, but much more. Paani is a passion, but much more. Paani is a mission,” Kapur tweeted Saturday. The film is based in a future world where wars over water have broken out. IANS

‘If your heart is clean, your actions are clean’

nlike other Bollywood celebrities, Karan Johar is hardly involved in any controversies. The filmmaker says all of it depends upon how clean a person is at heart. “If you are clean in your heart, you will be clean in your actions as well,” he says.

BREAKING THE NORM

Post Talaash, Saif plans to throw party for

KAREENA

areena Kapoor is getting rave reviews for her performance in Reema Kagti’s Talaash, and husband Saif Ali Khan is planning to throw a small party to celebrate the actress’ success. “Saif is still in Lucknow shooting for his film. He is very excited as he has been receiving messages from our family and friends about my performance in Talaash,” Kareena. “He was happy about the fact that this is my first big film after our wedding and we have broken the norm to prove that even married women can get the box office going. Saif and I are quite thrilled about this and Saif is planning for a small party with friends and family as soon as he is back. He wants to have a small get together, now let us see how things fall in place,” she added. Kareena and Saif exchanged wedding vows last month in an intimate ceremony. A decade after Chameli, Kareena once again plays the role of a prostitute in Talaash. The actress is delighted that her performance in the new film has been accepted well by the audience. “It’s quite ironic that I did Chameli when I was 22 and I did Talaash when I am 32. So exactly after a decade I played a prostitute’s role and both my roles were accepted well by the audience,” Kareena said. “It is easy to do song and dance, though it is a part of me and my USP, but I feel really blessed to play something like this on screen,” she added.

‘There is cynicism in everyone’s life today’

ctor Vivek Oberoi, who has been a part of many social causes, believes that cynicism has become a part of everybody’s life today. “It (book) addresses the cynicism, unfortunately which is growing so fast, whether it’s the kids today, whether its our television hosts— everybody has a slice of cynicism in their life today,” he says.

Entertainment MONDAY, DECEMBER 3, 2012

Entertainment MONDAY, DECEMBER 3, 2012 CINE BYTES

SYMBOL OF LOVE

ctor Brad Pitt has reportedly spent a whopping 75,000 pounds on a Noddy car painting by iconic artist Bambi as a gift to his partner Angelina Jolie on Christmas. Pitt commissioned an oil painting of him, Angelina and their six children in a bright red and yellow Noddy car. The couple and their six kids, Maddox, 11, Pax, eight, Zahara, seven, Shiloh, six, and fouryear-old twins Knox and Vivienne, love the Noddy and Big-Ears stories by Enid Blyton. “The Jolie-Pitt children love Noddy; they each have a Noddy car,” dailystar.co.uk quoted a source as saying. “Brad wants the painting to be a surprise Christmas present to hang in the kids’ playroom. The artwork titled The Rainbow Family will show all six children squashed into a Noddy car with a shadowy Brad and Angie in the background. Brad asked if there could be extra space left for future children,” the source added. IANS

Casablanca sequel: here’s looking at you, kid

ccording to a planned sequel to the 1942 classic, the couple, played by Ingrid Bergman and Humphrey Bogart, had a child together who was brought up in America by Lund and her husband, the principled humanitarian Victor Laszlo. The sequel, Return to Casablanca or As Time Goes By, is being developed in Hollywood.

Dennis Quaid files for divorce

ennis Quaid is pulling his half of the plug. About a month and a half after wife Kimberly ﬁled for a legal separation, the Vegas star has ﬁled for divorce, citing irreconcilable differences and requesting joint legal and physical custody of their 5year-old twins. He also expressed his willingness to pay spousal support.

Miley Cyrus loves honest Osbourne

inger Miley Cyrus believes she and singer Kelly Osbourne are such good friends because they share an honest nature. “I like it when people are honest. Like, if I look bad, I want you to tell me if I look bad. I’ve always been that person,” okmagazine.com quoted Cyrus as saying. ‘’I really like honest people and I think that’s why me and Kelly get along so well,” she says.

Pitt splashes 75,000 pounds on Noddy car painting

MONDAY, DECEMBER 3, 2012

Chai Time

Play & Win

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

KAKURO

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

QUICK CROSSWORD

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

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

Play & Win

voucher from VENKEY’S VEG Restaurant, Nampally

ACROSS

SCRIBBLING PAD

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

SUDOKU

PREVIOUS PUZZLE ANSWER

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

1 Best toys in the whirl? 5 Sound of shock 9 Casino moneymakers 14 Friend in war 15 Bit of fishing gear 16 Horse-drawn cart 17 Lender's security 18 Vicinity 19 Vital artery 20 2005 Samuel L Jackson biopic 23 Clairvoyance, briefly 24 To this day 25 Poetry foot 27 Filmdom's Fernando or Lorenzo 31 Countless centuries 33 Yemen neighbor 37 Prayer 39 Wacko 40 ‘Living’ payment 41 It may take place in the conference room 44 All set for slumbering 45 ___ Dee River (Carolinas waterway) 46 Oakland pro 47 Far from plentiful 48 Add to the kitty 50 Bas-relief medium 51 Go it alone 53 Costa del ___ 55 ‘___ the ramparts ...’

58 Most severe, or least severe 64 Decisive evidence 66 Like many a chocolate cake 67 Covering of an orange 68 Bone below the femur 69 East Asian weight unit 70 On the edge of one's seat 71 Fishhook-to-line connection 72 Navy rival in football 73 Foundation

DOWN 1 The softest mineral 2 Eclectic assortment 3 Answer to a judge 4 In ___ (harmonized) 5 What's said before dinner 6 Make soda water, eg 7 Person with a vision 8 What a Top 40 hit goes, often 9 Act like the birds in ‘The Birds’ 10 Doctor in a 1964 movie 11 Folklore meanie 12 Tater tasties 13 Break under strain

21 Green tea type 22 A time to dye 26 The Cat in the Hat wore one 27 Pneumonia type 28 Caribbean island 29 Cheap so-and-so 30 Actors' lines to no one in particular 32 Beginning 34 Female domestics 35 Mother Teresa's real first name 36 United ___ College Fund 38 Katmandude? 42 Madrid mademoiselle 43 Image on pre-1999 quarters 49 Hold in regard 52 Butcher's scraps 54 In a strange manner 55 Gets off the metaphorical fence 56 ‘___ go bragh’ 57 Father Time's garb 59 Appendectomy evidence 60 Snatch 61 Capital in the Baltics 62 One of the first people mentioned in Genesis 63 Sword feature 65 Crude in a tanker

Chai Time MONDAY, DECEMBER 3, 2012 Thiruvaikumar

STAR POWER for 4-12-2012

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

ARIES

TAURUS

GEMINI

CANCER

LEO

VIRGO

LIBRA

SCORPIO

SAGITTARIUS

CAPRICORN

AQUARIUS

PISCES

You will not go against the truth and do anything. ‘Truth will triumph’, is your policy and you follow it sincerely. Though difficulty likely in receiving expected money, unexpected financial inflow will solve your problem. Happy atmosphere will prevail.

STRIP TEASE AGNES

Your self-confidence level will be at its high with which you will complete all work as per plan within the scheduled time. Court verdict will go in your favour. Minor tensions and expenses likely. Don’t go too far in any sort of spending.

You will be cheerful and also cheer others. Your influence is set to raise. You will get closer to famous industrialists, which will prove beneficial. Expected money will come from all the expected sources. You will find a way to come out of debts.

Politicians will be in the limelight. Money inflow is good, which makes you financially comfortable. You will clear a portion of your old major debt. Favourable verdict awaits you in a court case. Visa for your foreign trip will come through.

You will never look back once a decision is taken and implemented. As time is favourable, you will be successful even in completing challenges that look like uphill tasks. A strong financial position likely. Friendship with VIPs likely.

You adjust well with all and get your work done wisely. Your skills will be exposed from the way you handle the issues. Expected money will come. Your social status is set to improve. Children might argue causing you to get upset.

You understand the intentions of those who are closer to you very well and act accordingly. Ins and outs of life is understood well by you. Held-up house construction will resume and pick up speed and get completed soon.

You are appreciated well by all as you will solve all problems by finding out the root cause and hence they will not recur. Your opinions will be well received and you will gain an upper hand in all issues. House construction will resume now.

You will help those in trouble and shoulder their problems. Administrative capacity and commanding power will increase considerably. Govt work will end favourably and fast. Good support likely from political VIP friends.

TAROT READ

Sumaa Tekur

tarotreadhyd@gmail. com

ARIES:

GEMINI:

Seven of Cups – You seem obsessed with money. You are caught in the trap of the material world and all that it has to offer. Let not your obsessions overtake you.

LEO:

Six of Pentacles – You feel emotional, and not always for a reason. Accept that you’re feeling out of sorts and stay with emotions rather than forcing yourself out of them.

LIBRA:

PEARLS BEFORE SWINE

The Hanged Man – you think differently from others in your group and team in the office and this is your biggest strength. Use this talent to better your prospects.

SAGITTARIUS:

Six of Swords – Your biggest strength is your ability to be dynamic and change your thoughts according to the changing circumstances around you. Bosses love you.

TAURUS:

Eight of Pentacles – If you are determined to get something, you can. You will do whatever it takes, going the extra mile to find what will make you happy.

CANCER:

Nine of Wands – Your biggest strength is the number of options before you. You can plan and execute ideas better than ever before without success pressure.

VIRGO:

Seven of Swords – You are a believer in working towards gaining better social status. It may not necessarily be a bad thing because it motivates you to achieve more.

SCORPIO:

The Fool – Research thoughts and ideas well and make sure you are not wasting time by working on things with no real value. Do your groundwork well.

CAPRICORN:

Page of Cups – You’re at your creative best and must work at putting ideas to test. Talk about these to bosses and do something different off the cuff.

PREVIOUS SOLUTIONS

PISCES:

The Wheel of Fortune – It has been a long journey and it bothers you that you do not yet have a clear roadmap for the future. Keep working at it. Don’t give up.

NUMBER GAME

Keep it simple, stupid. No other advice is better suited to you at this point. You have complicated life by your thoughts that serve no real purpose.

SCRABBLE

AQUARIUS: Temperance –

POOCH CAFE

New thoughts and efforts will be implemented well and bring desired results. Though financial position is comfortable, saving will be a distant dream. Blood relatives will help and support you well for your growth and development.

for 4-12-2012

Ten of Wands – It’s alright to be average and not to be pressured by the thought of being the best all the time, every time. You cannot excel each time. So relax.

NON SEQUITUR

Swift actions will put you in the forefront. You will be successful in any type of challenge or assignment undertaken. Those who opposed you will keep quiet now. Housing plan will get approval and work will start soon and complete soon.

SUDUKO

You will gain in all areas with a change in approach. All works get completed successfully due to this drastic change in you. VIP friendship likely. A cheerful atmosphere will prevail at home. Friendship circle will expand with which you beneficial.

Boggle GERMAN POLISH ENGLISH ITALIAN SPANISH Vol: 2, No 137 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 MONDAY, DECEMBER 3, 2012 CINE BYTES Jessica Chastain's terror research

ctress Jessica Chastain read books on the covert operation to kill Osama bin Laden to prepare for her role in a controversial new ďŹ lm Zero Dark Thirty. The actress plays CIA agent Jen, who had a crucial role in tracking bin Laden to a compound in Abottabad, Pakistan, where he was killed on May 2nd, 2011.

Styles set to perform with Swift

Rihanna reveals next single as Stay

inger Rihanna revealed her next single in the album Unapologetic after Diamonds will be Stay. Stay will be released January 7 next year. Unapologetic, is Rihanna's seventh album. It recently became her fourth U.K number one album when it climbed to the top of the charts.

IANS

inger Harry Styles, who is reportedly dating singer Taylor Swift, has invited her to perform with his boy band One Direction at a Christmas show. "It's such a momentous time for the boys and they want their girlfriends by their sides. Seeing Zayn with Perrie and Louis with Eleanor made Harry realise there's a person he wants to be there with him, too. Taylor," contactmusic.com quoted a source as saying.

PARISâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; TRYST WITH INDIA

PARIS HILTON

fascinated by Indian fashion

nternational socialite Paris Hilton, who is set to spin the disc as a DJ on the last day of India Resort Fashion Week (IRFW), says she has always been a huge fan of Indian fashion and will walk

the ramp for finale designer Shane and Falguni Peacock late Saturday. "I was always fascinated by Indian fashion and whenever I visit, I make sure to buy something for myself. Last time it was sari that I tried and this time I am walking for Shane and Falguni's show at the fash-

ion event," Hilton said, while addressing the media here. She wore a wide-slit printed dress by the designer duo. This is Hilton's second visit to India. She visited the country last year to launch her range of handbags and accessories. The 31-year-old is set to sashay down the Indian ramp for the first time in Shane and Falguni Peacock's creations during the ongoing India Resort Fashion Week Saturday.

"I love their (Shane and Falguni Peacock) designs and this is the reason why I am walking for them. Since my childhood, I was accompanied by my mom to several fashion weeks and that is when I started getting used to fashion. I love everything that is beautiful and this is the reason why I love India for its vivacious and bright colours and designs," she said. Apart from catwalk, Hilton is looking forward to her performance Saturday and says she has a bag full of surprises

for her Indian fans. She has been brought to India by E-sense Entertainment. "I am playing electronic, pop and some fun music that I have remixed myself. I am excited to perform in the country that has huge music lovers. Obviously there are some surprises in store but for that you have to wait and watch," she said. Hilton also took some time out for shopping. "I went to spice market and bought some spices. I love Indian food. I also bought trinkets from the local market here for my family and they are just beautiful," she said. IANS

sports

MONDAY, DECEMBER 3, 2012

FAILED DOPE TEST

Dettori set to learn cost Racing’s most well-known personality failed a dope test after riding in the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe trials at Longchamp on September 16.

PIRATE IRWIN Agence France-Presse PARIS: Legendary jockey Frankie Dettori will on Tuesday learn his fate for failing a drugs test when French racing’s ruling body France Galop issue their verdict at a disciplinary hearing. Through his lawyer, Christopher Stewart-Moore, the jockey admitted to testing positive for a non-performance enhancing product. But both France Galop and Dettori’s legal team have steadfastly refused to identify the substance. British media have reported that it was a recreational drug which could see him receive a six-month worldwide ban. However, a more run-of-themill product, such as treatment for a common cold, would see him escape with a reprimand. The feeling from racing

damaging ban of several months. It will be especially damaging for the exuberant Dettori because he recently had his lucrative contract with the

While it would see him back in the saddle by June 4, he will have missed all the main European Guineas classics.

insiders is that with the dossier having been handed on to the stewards by the medical commission, after they heard Dettori’s account a fortnight ago, is that he is facing a highly-

Dubai-based Godolphin Operation terminated after 18 years of success for both parties. The final straw for both sides came not with the dope test failure — though they may have already been aware of it — but when Dettori accepted the ride on Epsom and Irish Derby champion Camelot for

Godolphin’s bitter rivals Coolmore Stud in October’s Arc. It brought to a head the deterioration in the relationship between both Godolphin — the brainchild of Dubai ruler Sheikh Mohammed bin al-Maktoum — and the jockey. Ironically it was a previous drugs offence that had seen him able to sign for Godolphin after a high-profile contract in Hong Kong fell through when he received a police caution in 1993 for possessing a small amount of cocaine. A six-month ban for Dettori when he has become a freelance rider will be costly. While it would see him back in the saddle by June 4, he will have missed all the main European Guineas classics (over a mile) as well as the blue riband Epsom Derby and the Oaks (both run over 1 1/2 miles).

SNOOKER CHAMPIONSHIPS

Allen faces ban as Fu ‘cheat’ row goes on YORK, UK: Northern Irishman Mark Allen could be banned from snooker for three months after his “cheating” row with Hong Kong star Marco Fu overshadowed the UK Championships on Sunday. The 26-year-old Allen, the world number eight, is in trouble after repeating allegations he first made during the world championships in Sheffield in April. Following his first-round defeat to China’s Cao Yupeng at the world event, Allen accused his conqueror of playing a banned push shot. He also named Fu as a player he believed to have broken the rules in the past. Fu, 34, has denied all allegations of cheating and took out his frustrations later Sunday by beating last year’s UK runner-up Allen 6-3 in their first-round clash. AFP

DISTRICT-LEVEL CHESS

VOLVO AUTO X 2012

Tanveer, Soha youngest champs

A car races in the dirt track of the GMR Arena in the Volvo Auto X – 2101 at Shamshabad in the City on S BALAKRISHNA Sunday.

HYDERABAD: A one-day district-level chess tournament was held at Bullayya College by Mother Chess Academy on Sunday. Winners of the different categories were declared as under. Under-8 Boys: 1. Tanveer Suhan, 2. Ram Vasanth 3. Rushivarun Girls: 1. Soha Tripathy 2. Rishitha Under-10 Boys: 1. Surya Dhanush 2. Saketh 3. Sai Lochan Girls: 1. Vinitha Under-12 Boys: 1. Goutham k, 2. Mallikarjun, 3. Sai Vardhan Girls:

Participants take part in the event on Sunday.

1. Deekshitha, 2. Shreya Under-16 Boys: 1. Abhiram 2. Sreekar, 3. Sridhar Girls: 1. Yamuna 2. Sukanya

LEAGUE CRICKET

Youngmaster get the better of Green Turf

A4-11 Division One-day League Championship New Star 211 (Mohsin 67, Muzzamil 38, SA Aziz Quadri 5 for 72) lost to Boys Town 212 for 4 (Abdul Khaled Al Qureshi 51, Mohammed Saleh Amoodhi 64) Team Kun 137 (Luvakush 58no, Md Baseeruddin 3 for 17) lost to Victory CC 141 for 3 (Jeeth 68no) Navjeevan Friends 134 (Harry

Francis 3 for 14, Lesley Daniel 3 for 30, Alex M 3 for 16) lost to Sacred Heart 135 for 4 (James Anthony 54) Youngmaster 191 (Yaseen Khan 41, Isaac 30, Mohd Muzzamil 5 for 48) bt Green Turf 75 (Ibrahim 5 for 34, Mubeen 3 for 14) SK Blues 213 for 3 (Suman 100, Ashwin 39) bt Sportive CC 174 (Vishawak 53, Ramu 39, Imtiyaz 3

for 37, Affan 3 for 35) AB Colony 128 (Rehman 39, Ranjan Das 5 for 25, T Rahul Yadav 4 for 29) lost to Southend Raymonds 129 for 6 (A Ranjan Das 36, Dhruv 3 for 50) HPS B 154 (Dheeraj 38no, Durga 3 for 35, Abhiram 3 for 24) lost to Natraj CC 155 for 2 (Md Siddique 62no, Nawaz 57) HCA Academy 236 for 8 (MSR

Charan 127, K Ashish 53, Shilpi B 3 for 25) bt ML Jaisimha 182 (Junaid Ali 37, Varun Goud 4 for 49, Yash Kapadia 5 for 48) RR Dist 70 (TV Vardhan 5 for 16) lost to Royal CC 71 for 4 (Abhishek 3 for 9) Concorde CC 140 (Ali Bin Abdullah 52, Aejaz 4 for 27, Junaid Shaik 5 for 27) lost to Hyd Wonderers 142 for 4 (Afzal 70,

Akhid 44) Vijayanand 113 (Shilpee 6 for 49) lost to ML Jaisimha 114 for 5 (Vignesh 30) Lucky XI 84 (Shajeel 5 for 26) lost to Golconda CC 87 for 1 (Md Mohsin 32) HGC 226 for 6 (Randheer 89, Bhaskar 49) lost to Walker Town 230 for 2 (Chenniah 41, Sridhar 96no, Ameenuddin 41no)

sports

MONDAY, DECEMBER 3, 2012

WORLD CHALLENGE

TENNIS

2013 my last year on tour: Bhupathi Mahesh Shrinivas Bhupathi has won 12 Grand Slam titles in a glittering career.

First win in two years for McDowell Tiger Woods finished with two bogeys, a birdie and an eagle to be placed joint fourth.

REBECCA BRYAN Agence France-Presse THOUSAND OAKS, CALIFORNIA: Northern Ireland’s Graeme McDowell ended a two-year victory drought Sunday with a three-shot triumph in the World Challenge hosted by Tiger Woods. McDowell, who capped a stellar 2010 season that saw him win the US Open with a victory in this unofficial post-season invitational, hadn’t won anywhere in the world since then. He carded a four-under par 68 on the soggy Sherwood Country Club course for a 72hole total of 17-under 271 and a

three-stroke victory over Keegan Bradley. Bradley, the 2011 PGA Championship winner who started the day two shots off McDowell’s lead, posted a 69 for 274. “Just over the moon to get the job done,” said McDowell, who took the lead in the second round on Friday and held on. The 18-man event offers world ranking points and while it isn’t part of any tour McDowell said the win added a nice flavor to a sometimes frustrating season that included a tie for second at the US Open, and a tie for fifth at the British Open.

KOLKATA: Indian doubles tennis ace Mahesh Bhupathi today said 2013 would be his last year on tour as he has retirement in mind. “I’ve had a great career. I don’t enjoy leaving my baby alone and going for tours so much. I am happy to call it a day,” Bhupathi, who has a career Grand Slam in mixed doubles, said here today. In the city for a promotional programme, the 38year-old said, “I’ve had the opportunity to play alongside many great players...

“From Todd Woodbridge to Max Mirnyi to Leander Paes to Mary Pierce to Martina Hingis, it has been a great ride for me,” he said. He also spoke about the Sachin Tendulkar and said the critics should leave the Little Master alone. “He does not need to prove anything to anybody. He has scored 100 centuries. The people in the media writing about him have no idea. He will take the right decision at the right time,” Bhupathi said. PTI

‘I was offered live snake for dinner in China’ Participating in a chat show organised in connection with the release of a book on cooking recipe titled ‘Cooking on the Run’ written by journalist Boria Mazumdar, tennis ace Mahesh Bhupathi, said “Indian food is a luxury on tour.” The tennis star said he usually takes pasta which is mostly available abroad or settle for a staple died that

is available on the tour. Mahesh said choice of food in China is “pathetic.” He also once faced a weird experience while in China during a Davis Cup tie. During the dinner at a Chinese restaurant a live snake was brought to their table and they were asked whether they would like it to be cooked. They somehow ﬁlled their stomach with some other dishes.

Lara Dutta poses with husband Mahesh Bhupathi in a recent film premier in Mumbai. AFP

CYCLING

Stage set for Tour De India in Kashmir As many as 120 cyclists of international repute are expected to take part in the second leg of ‘Tour De India’ here. The Kashmir leg of the race will have seven 26-kilometre laps — a total distance of 168km SRINAGAR: The stage is set for Kashmir to host its first-ever international cycling race as the authorities here have completed all the arrangements for the mega-event to be held on Tuesday. The race will be held on the banks of world famous Dal Lake and will be telecast live. Twenty international media channels are expected to cover the event, they said. The race will start from Royal Springs Golf Course to Kashmir University via Foreshore Road and back to

Hotel Lalit Grand Palace. The race is being held in three cities of the country. The first leg of the race was held today in Mumbai while the third and final leg will be held on December 9 at the Buddh International Circuit in Greater Noida. Reputed teams like Astana and Lotto have confirmed their participation in the event. The state government is hopeful about showcasing the beauty of Kashmir before the world during the race. Meanwhile, traffic authorities have asked people liv-

ing along the route of the cycling race to travel early towards Srinagar city before the commencement of the race. “All type of vehicular movement going towards Nishat, Shalimar and Harwan will be diverted at Badyari towards Khanyar-Rainawari while the traffic coming towards Srinagar from Harwan-Shalimar will be diverted towards Tailbal. Besides traffic coming from Ganderbal towards Srinagar will be diverted at Zakoora crossing,” an official of the traffic department said. PTI

sports

MONDAY, DECEMBER 3, 2012

AUSTRALIA VS SOUTH AFRICA

Proteas have Oz on the mat

Australia's Ricky Ponting leaves the field after being dismissed for 8 runs in his final Test cricket innings on day four of the third cricket Test against South Africa at the WACA ground in Perth on Monday. AFP/G WOOD

PERTH: Veteran Ricky Ponting fell for just eight runs in his final Test innings as South Africa closed in on victory in the third and deciding Test at the WACA Ground on Monday. Set a mammoth target of 632 runs to win, Australia lost three wickets in the opening session on day four, reaching lunch at 110 for three, with opener Ed Cowan unbeaten on 37 and skipper Michael Clarke on eight. Resuming at 40 without loss, the home team lost David Warner (29) to the second ball of the day, caught at first slip by Graeme Smith off Vernon Philander. Shane Watson made 25 before he was also caught by Smith, from the bowling of

Morne Morkel. That brought Ponting, the second-highest scoring batsman in Test cricket history behind Sachin Tendulkar, to the crease for the last time at the top level, in his 168th match. The South Africans formed a guard of honour when he strode to the crease, with the Tasmanian shaking hands with Proteas skipper Smith as he came out. Ponting got off the mark with a trademark pull shot for four off Morkel. However, he lasted only 23 deliveries before falling to spinner Robin Peterson just minutes before lunch. He was caught at first slip by Jacques Kallis attempting to force Peterson off the back foot.

Ponting stopped his walk back to the pavilion to raise his bat and acknowledge the cheering crowd, while the Proteas halted their celebrations to offer more applause. He finishes his career with 13,378 Test runs at 51.85, including 41 centuries. Ponting also shares the record for Test appearances for his country with his predecessor as Australian captain, Steve Waugh.

HIS LAST BOW

Despite a cheap dismissal on Monday, Ricky Ponting went out in style, leaving the game as Australia's all-time leading Test batsman after a poignant guard of honour from the South Africans.

Scorecard South Africa 1st Innings: 225 Australia 1st Innings: 163 South Africa 2nd innings 569 Australia 2nd innings (overnight 40 for no lose) EJM Cowan c Elgar b Steyn 53 Warner c Smith b Philander 29 SR Watson c Smith b Morkel 25 RT Ponting c Kallis b Peterson 8 MJ Clarke* not out 26 MEK Hussey not out 7 Extras: (lb 3) 3 Total: (4 wickets ) 151 Fall of wickets: 1-40, 2-81, 3-102, 4-130 Bowling O M R W DW Steyn 16 4 48 1 VD Philander 17 6 32 1 M Morkel 10 2 34 1 RJ Peterson 7 0 34 1

INDIA VS ENGLAND

India should focus on the game There has been a lot of head-spinning stuff floating about on the eve of the third Test. TWELFTH MAN

Babu Kalyanpur

oremost has been the spat between Eden Garden curator Prabir Mukherjee and Indian captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni. Mukherjee has point blank refused to prepare a rank turner at Eden Gardens as per the instructions of Dhoni. He feels cricket should be played on fair pitches. Dhoni has been thinking otherwise. Then there is much hue and cry over Sachin Tendulkar. The cries for his retirement are growing ever so loudly. Again, the fickle minded Indian fans and critics have been at work. Tendulkar has played cricket for India now over two decades with great honour and pride. Why can’t the people let him alone? Tendulkar has never been selfish throughout his career. And he is man enough to go when the time comes. And what have many of the others done to deserve their places? Instead of focusing on such trivial matters, India should be working on their so-called mastery of spin. They should take a leaf out of England’s book on grit, determination and will to win.

Dhoni’s wish for a rank turner was granted in Mumbai. And England thrived on it. The answer was simple. India’s spinners misjudged the pitch badly and sadly did not learn from the English spinners. A certain amount of pace was needed to extract bounce and sharp turn in Mumbai. Monty Panesar and Graeme Swann got to know of it easily and took all the wickets bar one in the Test. India’s spinners bowled untidily and paid the price. And the trend conituedbin the second innings. India’s batsmen fell to injudicious shots and lack of footwork. Indians are supposed to play the spinners well. Instead they hovered most times on the backfoot and were undone by the turn. A certain amount of aggression was also required. This surfaced only when India’s top batsman at the moment, Cheteshwar Pujara, was batting with Ravchandran Ashwin. Pujara showed fine temperament. He was rarely troubled by the English spinners. India seemed to lack the fight which made them the No 1 side in the world. They seem to give in when the going gets tough. This was illustrated in the way the tailenders just wafted their way back to pavilion. The body language is so poor too when under pressure. India

need a dose of positivity more than ever before. All we hear is we did okay and were outplayed. Or the umpiring is blamed. And India are to blame for that too as they are firm opponents of the DRS system. England will look to Kolkata in a better frame of mind. Their

trump card, Kevin Pietersen, is back among the runs. His innings in Mumbai was a masterclass on how to play spin. Alistair Cook has become a run machine. He is very clever and learns from his mistakes. He is a complete product now and will go on to break many records.

Matt Prior has also played the spinners well, employing the sweep shot to good effect. England’s batmen have long last learnt the art of playing spin. They used simple tactics like the sweep and use of the feet to negate spin. Panesar should have played in the first Test too. But England stuck to the old formula of three pacemen and the lone spinner. Now the think-tank has realised that they must be a little more flexible and the old horses for courses policy works under such conditions. Andy Flower, one of the best players on spin and a terrori n Indian conditions, got the grey cells working again. Panesar bowled beautifully and was always hungry for wickets. This helped Swann a lot too. England are worried about Stuart Broad’s form. Steve Finn, if fit, may come in for him. The Eden Gardens curator has promised a used wicket which will help all kinds of bowling. India may opt for just two spinners and get in another pace bowler. India will be facing a test of credibility once more. And now is the time to get their act together and show their true mettle. Or else they will tumble lower in the rankings. Test matches count the most in cricket. Let’s hope for an Ah Kokata instead of O Kolkata.

MONDAY, DECEMBER 3, 2012

sports

AVRAM COULD BE OFFERED CONSULTANCY AT CHELSEA

Avram Grant could be offered a consultancy role with Chelsea. The Israeli's return to the club would represent further antagonising an increasingly disillusioned fanbase, though that he is under consideration reflects the chaos currently gripping the European champions.

CHAMPIONS LEAGUE PREVIEW

SERIE A

Arsenal must banish fear Arsenal, languishing in 10th place, have made their worst start to a Premier League season in Arsene Wenger’s 16-year reign. ATHENS: Arsene Wenger (right) has told his Arsenal stars to banish the fear factor as the struggling Gunners try to secure a first place finish in their Champions League group. Wenger’s side travel to Olympiakos on Tuesday in desperate need of a morale-boosting victory after Saturday’s 2-0 home defeat against Swansea left the north London club teetering on the brink of a fullblown crisis. Arsenal, languishing in 10th place, have made their worst start to a Premier League season in Wenger’s 16-year reign and the sense that their club is in decline has prompted a furious response from Gunners fans. Some supporters staged a protest march before the Swansea match to underline their frustration at the Arsenal board’s failure to back Wenger in the transfer market, while many more unleashed a torrent of abuse at the Frenchman and his players after the final whistle. In the circumstances, Arsenal could do with a win in Athens which, combined with a

CL tables ahead of Tuesday’s matches Group A FC Porto PSG Dynamo Kiev D Zagreb Group B Schalke Arsenal Olympiakos Montpellier Group C Malaga AC Milan Z. St. Petersburg Anderlecht Group D Dortmund Real Madrid Ajax Man City

draw or defeat for Schalke at Montpellier, would allow Wenger’s men, who have already qualified for knockout stages, to snatch top spot and secure a potentially easier draw in the last 16. But to achieve that goal the Gunners will need a stronger mental approach after crumbling too easily under pressure

in recent weeks. “At home, we look like we play a little bit with the handbrake. It is not fluent, there might be a psychological component in there as well,” Wenger said. “There was no movement in our passing and we looked laboured, not sharp. While Wenger would love to finish top of the group, he

P W D L GF GA Pts

2 13 Q 2 12 Q 9 4 13

541 540 511 500

09 1 12 35 50

532 531 520 501

0 9 5 11 Q 1 9 6 10 Q 37 8 6 4 5 11 1

532 522 511 511

0 10 3 11 Q 1 7 58 Q 3 5 94 3 2 74

532 522 511 503

0 10 5 11 Q 1 11 8 8 Q 3 7 12 4 2 7 10 3

(Q = qualified for knock-out phase) (played, won, drawn, lost, goals for, goals against, points)

acknowledges that Schalke are likely to win their tie against a Montpellier side already eliminated from the tournament and, with that in mind, he may not send out a full-strength team.

FA CUP REVIEW

AFC Wimbledon proud of draw DARREN WITCOOP Agence France-Presse

AFC Wimbledon’s Toby Ajala (L) vies for the ball against Milton Keynes Dons’ Anthony Kay (R) during the match at Stadium MK in Milton Keynes, England, on Sunday. MK Dons won the game 2-1. AFP/ ADRIAN DENNIS

MILTON KEYNES, UK: AFC Wimbledon coach Neil Ardley expressed pride in his team after seeing them lose to an injurytime goal in their FA Cup grudge match at MK Dons. AFC were formed by protesting fans 10 years ago after the Football Association sanctioned plans to move Wimbledon, the 1988 FA Cup winners, 56 miles north from south London to the Buckinghamshire town of Milton Keynes. Sunday’s second-round tie was the first ever meeting between the clubs and the animosity was apparent throughout. Fans brandished posters, sang derogatory songs and even

hired an aircraft to fly over Stadium MK trailing a banner that read: ‘We are Wimbledon’. AFC’s directors, meanwhile, shunned their hosts’ hospitality to sit among the 3,000 travelling fans, while many supporters simply boycotted the game altogether. League One MK Dons eventually prevailed 2-1 through a fine stoppage-time back-heel by Jon Otsemobor, but Ardley said his players had no reason to feel downhearted. “I’m proud of the club for where they’ve come in the last 10 years,” he said. “This is a celebration of us and the way we have handled the week. This moment, which a lot of our fans dreaded, has come and gone. I’m relieved we have done the club proud.”

Juventus’ midfielder Claudio Marchisio (R) tackles defender Valerio Di Cesare.

Juve tighten grip but rivals follow JUSTIN DAVIS Agence France-Presse MILAN: Juventus boosted their morale ahead of a crucial Champions League clash away to Shakhtar Donetsk with a 3-0 rout of city rivals Torino, but the Old Lady of Turin has plenty of company at the top of Serie A. Claudio Marchisio (two) and Sebastian Giovinco scored second half goals as Juventus humbled 10-man Torino to rack up their 60th win in the 135th ‘Derby della Mole’ on Saturday. Juventus dominated throughout but apart from a solid performance from French midfielder Paul Pogba the bianconeri’s first half display lacked real bite and even included a penalty miss from Andrea Pirlo. Antonio Conte’s side made amends in the second half, with Giovinco’s 67th minute goal sandwiched by Marchisio’s brace on 57 and 84 minutes after the expulsion of Torino defender Kamel Glik. A week after suffering their second defeat of the season, at AC Milan, Marchisio said: “It’s good to get back to winning ways. “It wasn’t as easy as it looked, the derby is always a particular match but thankfully we came out on top and that will build our morale for the match in Donetsk.” Juventus’ 11th win in 14 games took their lead to five points over Napoli, who thanks to a brace apiece from Gokhan Inler and Edinson Cavani and Marek Hamsik’s goal on the quarter hour demolished basement side Pescara 5-1. Napoli’s win in Sunday’s early game heaped the pressure on third-placed Inter Milan, who were made to sweat at the San Siro by a stubborn Palermo side which gave the Nerazzurri their match winner. After their 10th win in 15 games Inter remain third on 31 points.