Postnoon E-Paper for 03 january 2013 by Scribble Media & Entertainment Pvt. Ltd.

THURSDAY, JANUARY 3, 2013 HYDERABAD

WWW.POSTNOON.COM

WEATHER: CLEAR WITH CLOUDY PERIODS; 26°C

32 PAGES

GOODBYE PS2!

Sony has finally stopped production of PlayStation 2 (PS2), in Japan, at least. Sony manufactured PS2 systems for an astounding 12 years. Few consoles have enjoyed such longevity — the Atari 2600 remains the console lifespan king with an incredible 14 years between 1977-1992. All good things come to an end, after all.

P13

HYDERABAD’S FIRST COMPACT AFTERNOON NEWSPAPER

REPORT ON P3

KIDNAPPED? The strange story of the two young girls who ‘fled’ with their male housekeeper.

LIVING IN SHACKLES

Two of the biggest recent film releases — Lincoln and Django Unchained — revolve around slavery in the US, a subject often swept under the carpet. Postnoon goes back in time to the era of slavery and charts the struggle of slaves to be treated as equal citizens.

P16&17

THURSDAY, JANUARY 3, 2013

city events

WHOLE SALE DHAMAKA

Coupon Mall is launching a wholesale price dhamaka’ for the first time in Hyderabad. It has to be has to be availed in bulk purchase. Fashion merchandise like dip-n-dye shirts, trousers and ethnic wear for women are available at wholesale prices.

Weather for Hyderabad

Evening

Overnight

Morning

Afternoon

25°C

18°C

24°C

32°C

Clear with cloudy periods.

Sunny with cloudy periods.

New Delhi Mumbai Max 17 Max 29 Min 4 Min 14 Mostly sunny, clear skies.

Chennai Max 29 Min 25

Clear, sunny skies.

Mix of sun and cloudy

Bangalore Max 29 Min 18 Partly cloudy.

AROUND THE CITY: YOUR GUIDE TO THE TWIN CITIES When: January 6 5pm onwards Contact: 93965 55888

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

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

Chai wallah art show This is an upcoming exhibition at Iconart gallery.There is an exhibition of paintings by Vijay Gille at the gallery on Chai wallah and other stories. The preview is on December 27 at 6.30pm. Where: Iconart Gallery, Banjara Hills When: Up to January 12 11:30am to 7pm Contact: www.iconart.in Code Red Countdown Code Red Countdown is an art collection revolving around ecology, by New York based artist Asher Jay. The theme is endangered wildlife. Where: Lalitha Kala Thoranam, Public gardens When: January 27 6pm to 9:30pm Contact: 93965 55888

DINING Gloria Jean’s coffee Gloria Jean’s, an international coffee chain, has introduced two new flavours for this season: Creamy Christmas Chocolate and Snowy

EXHIBITION: Children play with the replica of a cheetah at Exhibition Grounds, Nampally. Christmas Chiller. Gloria Jean’s Coffees will also give all its customers a chance to win exotic holidays in India and Thailand. Where: Lifestyle, first floor, Begumpet and Unit No.G 49 A, Inorbit Mall, Madhapur When: Up to January 15 Contact: (040) 4221 9376 Longest winter fest There will be live shows, carnival parade, special entertainment shows, fun rides, evening parties and buffet in this winter fest. Where: Ramoji Film City Travels Unit 5, 2nd Floor, Balayogi Paryatak Bhavan, Greenland, Begumpet, When: Up to January 6, 9am to 6pm Contact: (040) 32577654

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

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

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

SHOWS

N SHIVA KUMAR

Alexander Jaya Prakash Reddy is performing a 100-minute solo. He plays a retired army officer who wants to help people with their problems by starting a helpline. Where: Ravindra Bharathi, Public Gardens, Nampally, H-01, Abids, When: January 6, 7pm to 9pm Contact: (040) 2324 9045

Public gardens When: January 27 6pm to 9:30pm Contact: 93965 55888 Concert for a Cause Apna watan, MS Foundation & Hyderapals are presenting Sounds from England. The money collected will go to the MS school for underprivileged children. The passes are available at Goethe-Zentrum. Where: Vidyaranya High School When: January 5, 6pm onwards Contact: (040) 2335 0473

Tribute to Rajesh Khanna There will be dance performances on Rajesh Khanna’s songs to pay tribute to the superstar. The dance will be choreographed by Mahesh L Munde, who has choreographed national and international performances. Where: Lalitha Kala Thoranam,

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

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

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

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

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

THURSDAY, JANUARY 3, 2013

City

YESTERDAY’S QUESTION

IS IT RIGHT TO BLAME COPS FOR NEW YEAR EVE ACCIDENTS? 19% 81%

YES (A) NO (B)

TODAY’S QUESTION

SHOULD THERE BE SPECIAL LAWS TO PROTECT RTI ACTIVISTS? A)

YES

To vote visit www.postnoon.com

CRIME

TWO TEENAGERS MISSING?

Mohd SUBHAN mohd.s@postnoon.com

o much for the ‘alertness’ of our city police! Four days after a 38-year-old man hustled two teenage maids from a businessman’s house where they were all working together, the Market police is sitting pretty doing nothing on the plea that the girls might have ‘fallen in love’ with the man and gone of their own volition. Sanju, 38, is a native of Namalagundu of Chilkalguda, who was working in a jewellery shop situated at Pot Market in Secunderabad. It is owned by a man named Anil Kumar. Sanju had been doubling as a salesman in the jewellery shop and a male servant at Kumar’s residence at Hundi Bazaar. He is reportedly unmarried. Recently, Kumar had employed two 17-yearold girls, one from Nepal and the other from the State. Kumar’s complaint with the police stated that since the girls were new and juniors, he had entrusted Sanju with the overseeing of their works at home. ‘Overseeing’ probably led to attraction between the man and the girls, Kumar suspects. However, the businessman also hazarded a guess that Sanju, blessed with a glib tongue, might have sweet-talked the innocent girls with some big promises. Sub-inspector G Rajashekhar Reddy said on Sunday, the man came to the residence and called the girls who were staying in the servants’ quarters. When the two came out, he engaged an auto-rickshaw and all the three got in and left. A neighbour had been witness to the scene, SI said. Inspector Market RG Shiva Maruthi insisted that they don’t have the ‘patience’ or the time to handle such ‘silly’ cases. They might, in all probability, have gone willingly with him, he said. Meanwhile, no effort is reportedly being made to trace the minor girls, though the parents of the local girl are worried and do not know what to do. Parents of the Nepali girl have not yet been contacted, it is learnt. Parents wonder what is preventing the police from tracing the mobile tower as all the three have mobile phones. Phones are out of coverage at the moment.

The police have made no effort to trace them, saying that they might have, in all probability, gone of their own volition.

T-ISSUE

‘No’ to UT status for Hyderabad

arketing Minister Mukesh Goud today made it clear that he would not agree to Union Territory status to Hyderabad City in case the State is bifurcated. Releasing a diary and a calendar of his department at the Secretariat here on Wednesday, Mukesh said people of various

regions were living in Hyderabad and the government has a duty to ensure protection is given to them. He demanded that the government formulate a special protection policy for them. Stating that he was hoping for a separate Telangana State, Mukesh said the people would live as they were living now, in

case it was not possible to divide the State. He also condemned news reports that he was planning to join the YSRCP. He made it clear that he would not leave the Congress under any circumstances. He said that he was ready to contest in the upcoming elections from wherever the party fields him.

Mukesh Goud said the MIM was strengthened politically only after forging alliance with the Congress. Stating that the MIM would pay a heavy price for distancing itself from the ruling party, Mukesh said nothing would happen to the Congress because of MIM breaking the electoral alliance. The marketing minister said

his department has earned `142 crore this year, out of which the department presented `10 crore to the chief minister’s relief fund. He said that his department has chalked out a plan to construct godowns across the State with `105 crores of NABARD funds. The proposed godowns’ capacity would be 2.5 metric tonnes, he added. NSS

city THURSDAY, JANUARY 3, 2013

RTI

LAST YEAR... HERE A mounting threat

ast year we had reported how the Metro rail project would uproot traders in markets like Sultan Bazaar. Fearing for their livelihood, store owners in the area were up-in-arms against the project that would render them jobless overnight. Besides, with most of the buildings being heritage structures, the project would rob the City of its charm they alleged.

Land mafia targets whistle blowers in AP

JANUARY 3, 2012

NUMEROLOGY

20,000

BPS applicants could not produce documents for their buildings even after the GHMC extended the deadline.

We women instinctively fear the night because that’s what our parents, our peers and others have conditioned us to believe — nights are only for men. Tejaswini Madabhushi See page 5

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

Cops are too busy for ‘silly’ cases like missing minors. A man disappeared with two minor girls, who were working as maids in a businessman’s house. However, when their employer lodged a complaint, the cops said they had no time for such cases.

Want to ﬁle an RTI? Get security for yourself. Given the spate of attacks on RTI activists in the recent past it would make sense to get security for yourself if you plan on ﬁling one.

Two killed and three injured in the State in the past one year signals an ominous trend, and civil society ought to wake up before it is too late. RAHUL RAMAKRISHNA rahul.r@postnoon.com

histle blowers never had it easy, but the situation in Andhra Pradesh is becoming hazardous for them. Increasing incidents of attacks on RTI activists are a cause for concern to the civil society. Daring attacks on the Save Our Lakes convenor Thakur Rajkumar Singh the other day has rung alarm bells in town. Rajkumar was relentlessly waging a war against appropriation of lakes and lakefronts by landsharks. His association with Lokayukta has resulted in some steps to stem the rot which antagonised the land mafia, allegedly linked to the MLA Serilingampally circle, Bhikshapathi Yadav.

Thakur Rajkumar Singh’s consistent efforts in fighting land encroachment meant for GHMC parks and lakes in the Serilingampally circle were long being opposed by a hostile Bhikshapathi Yadav. There were several skirmishes earlier when the local MLA had asked him to stop his righteous activities in writing and through word of mouth. However, the issue was triggered when a huge gang of some 100 goons, allegedly sent by the MLA, had barged into Singh’s house and roughed up his family members including his sister and advocate Poornima, his mother Indrani and his wife. They verbally abused the family and issued death threats to the family. Thakur Rajkumar Singh was not present as he was away at the

Lokayukta. “If it were not for the media and the police who arrived swiftly, things would have taken a devastating turn. We demand that a criminal case be booked against him and his immediate suspension as MLA,” said Singh. Throughout AP, several RTI activists have been persecuted for whistleblowing. Quite recently, activist N Srinivas Rao was reportedly injected with poison near Markapuram in Prakasham district for fighting against local revenue and police officers, though the police would insist it was not the case. Last year in 2011, two activists were killed, hacked to death in similar fashion for using RTI as a weapon to counter corruption. One was P Suryanarayana, a dalit activist fighting land deal-

ings in Guntur district and the other was Sagar fighting on plot layouts. Another, Sola Ranga Rao was killed in Krishna district for seeking funds about the local water pipeline in his village in 2010. All the reported attacks were of similar fashion, were the assailant butchered with victims with knives. At least two attacks on RTI activists had been reported from different parts of the State in 2012. “It is becoming a trend for elected leaders from the local administration to attack RTI activists and threaten them into silence. We have requested Jannat Hussain repeatedly to look into this matter but all we have received are assurances and no results,” says Panasa Ramakrishna, co-convenor of SOUL.

Women have been conditioned to being scared. Join the midnight march on Jan 5 to break the patriarchal stereotype that women should not venture out after dark. It’s time things changed.

Rotary club adopts five peacocks at zoo

Harassed for dowry woman drinks poison

Two PG students knocked down, die

CM inaugurates joint collectors conference

Political parties are exempt from rules of all kinds. At least that is how it seems if one were to go by the blatant ﬂouting of the plastic ban.

The City is their garbage bin. Civic works can wait. Builders continue to dump debris on the roadside, disregarding the hazards it poses.

NEWS BRIEFS nner Wheel Rotary Club has adopted ﬁve peacocks in the Zoo for a period of one year as part of their commitment to better environment and conservation of wildlife. The zoo management said it was gratifying to see more and more conscious citizens come forward to adopt animals, which would go a long way to their preservation.

woman by name G Susheela committed suicide by consuming poison on Tuesday night at Sainagar of Vansathalipuram. She was rushed her to the hospital, where she died the next day while undergoing treatment. The 30-yearold was married to one G Dasarath for four years and she was being harassed for dowry.

wo young men, said to be post graduate students, were knocked down dead at Bungulur village in Ibrahimpatnam area this morning. According to initial reports the youth, who were on their way to work, were trying to overtake a speeding bus when the accident took place. Both died on the spot, reports said.

hief Minister N Kiran Kumar Reddy inaugurated a two-day conference of joint collectors this morning. The conference is being held at MCRHRD Center in Jubilee Hills. The conference will discuss how to effectively implement State government's welfare programmes. Land and revenue issues will also be intensely discussed.

city THURSDAY, JANUARY 3, 2013

WOMEN’S RIGHTS

Marching towards equality ‘There will come a day when women enjoy absolute freedom and equality,’ an optimistic Tejaswini Madabhushi tells Postnoon. Co-organiser of the midnight march on January 5, she talks about its conception, expectations from it and more. NIDHI BHUSHAN nidhi.b@postnoon.com

woman is raped every 20 minutes in India according to statistics given by the National Crime Records Bureau. Even though the capital city of Delhi has the worst statistics among all metros, with 635 assaults in 2012, violence against women is a problem of the nation. A simple walk down any Indian road, in the day or night, will be enough to prove that women like you and me are stared at, commented at and objectified every step of the way. It’s because of the way we dress, some say. Others blame it on the way we walk and most hold the time of the day responsible for arousing the letch in men who comment, tease and harass women. It is unfortunate that our political leaders and those expected to protect us from harm continue to hide behind these frivolous excuses. As women, we have been told countless number of times to dress ‘modestly’, to not smoke and drink, to not trust anything male and not walk out at night. Enough! We don’t want to live in fear any more. We have the right to breathe the same air as men, wear whatever we want and step out at night too. In a telephonic interaction, co-organiser of the upcoming midnight march in the City, Tejaswini Madabhushi (pictured above), says: “We women instinctively fear the night because that’s what our parents, our peers and others have conditioned us to believe – nights are only for men. The objective of the march is to take away this fear from women because the night is as much theirs.”

EXCERPTS What’s the objective of the midnight march? What are you expecting from it? And did you face any problems getting permission? Women instinctively feel insecure about walking on Indian roads at night as they are outnumbered by a big margin. The reality is that there are hardly any women on the road at night which makes it unnerving for us to walk around at that time. The objective of the march is to transform this culture so that women

don’t fear the night any more Women would feel safer during the march as there will be many participating. The objective of the march is to tell men that we, like them, are also free to walk around without fearing the night. We are expecting women from all walks of life – nurses, doctors, sweepers, journalists – to join us in this march, and though it’ll take years for our mindsets to completely change, we have to start somewhere. It is unfortunate that the Indian society needs a 23-year-old woman to get raped, suffer and die to finally wake up. We didn’t face any issue with permission from respective authorities as women groups in the City helped us immensely. However, the police asked us to change our route to avoid causing traffic jams. What triggered a concept such as this? A couple of months ago, much before the Delhi case was reported, my friend and I were

The first midnight march When:

January 5, 10pm-1am

Where:

Marriott/ Viceroy Hotel to Lumbini Park via Tank Bund.

We don’t want to live in fear any more. We have the right to breathe the same air as men, wear whatever we want and step out at night too.

harassed by a bunch of men in an SUV while we were getting out of our office. It was around 11pm when the incident took place. As usual, the road was deserted at that time of the night. While passing by, the men in the car started mouthing abuses at us and though my friend retaliated by shouting back, I thought it was best to return to office. It was after this incident that we decided to hold such an event because we wanted to build confidence in others like us who fear the night. What kind of messages are you

planning to convey through the march? We have readied at least 50-60 placards. One of them is ‘Night isn’t sexist, we are.’ Moreover, the cards have been made in four different languages – English, Hindi, Urdu and Telugu – to reach out to more people. Do you think that the recent Delhi rape case has got so much attention because it took place in the country’s capital? Yes, it’s true that the case has caused a nation-wide outcry mainly because it happened in the capital city and there would be many cases that occur in small districts that just go unnoticed. But I believe that the case has left us all shocked and hurt enough to demand justice for such criminal acts. Moreover, if the government modifies the anti-rape law because of the incident as per a rational judicial system, it’s an outcry that would not have gone in vain.

Where do you think criminals get the I-can-get-away-with-it mindset from? How can parents and school institutions contribute? I had attended Blank Noise’s Hyderabad chapter recently. I pledged that the next time I get sexually harassed, I will file a police complaint. Most of the time we ignore the nasty comments or incidents on the road because we are used to it and feel it’s not going to serve any purpose by reporting the act. However, ignoring acts like these will encourage men to continue and feel that they can get away with anything. It’s time to start taking action. Also, parents can contribute by treating their children – sons and daughters – as equals. School institutions too, can incorporate a curriculum that is more gender equal. Do you think objectification of women in Bollywood and other industries is also to blame? Yes. In fact, it’s not just Bollywood but also Tollywood that objectifies women. Most movies made in these industries portray women as damsels in distress who cannot do anything without depending on a man. Moreover, the no-will-eventually-turn-into-a-yes with persistence is an attitude inculcated by these industries. What’s the road ahead? I believe that there will come a day when women will enjoy absolute freedom and equality. After all, in comparison to our previous generations, we also enjoy many things that women had to fight for earlier.

Women would feel safer during the march. The objective of the march is to tell men that we, like them, are also free to walk around without fearing the night. Tejaswini Madabhushi Co-organiser of march

city THURSDAY, JANUARY 3, 2013

POLITICS

T leaders’ blind optimism

Inner circles of T Congress ministers and MLAs are huddled and engaged in anxious discussions as to what the Centre had in mind when it said the T solution was a month away. INKESHAF AHMED ahmed.m@postnoon.com

ot knowing exactly what the Centre has on its mind when it announced on Friday that the Telangana knot will be untied in one month, Telangana Congress ministers are going round and round in Delhi in a worked up state. Yesterday, six of them met President Pranab Mukherjee and urged him to prevail over the dispensation to solve the sixdecade old issue. Postnoon’s effort to elicit information from the T-ministers brought out two things. The Centre may not be toying with the idea of announcing another State Reorientation Committee (SRCII) even with a strict timeframe. They say no party in the State has asked for a second SRC, though unconfirmed reports said

the chief minister has suggested such a measure. “Why would the Centre announce a second SRC when it knows that it would delay the whole process and is not accept-

able to anyone? There is no scope for the second SRC at this junction as the Centre had already considered it,” senior Congress leader from Telangana region G Niranjan said.

POLITICS

Cong to hold convention

According to Niranjan, the party president Sonia Gandhi is seized on the matter and the union government does not have any option but to create a separate state. “The central govern-

ment does not have any option. It has already studied all options in detail and has come to the conclusion that the only solution to check the ongoing uncertainty in the State is to give Telangana state.” But a senior Congress MP, believed to be close to the Rahul circle, hazarded a guess that the ‘yuvraj’ might come up with a roadmap with liberal development boards and money for Telangana rather than a state. This would be shown as an interim measure till the statehood is decided. “I think the creation of a separate state would take a lot of time and it is not possible for the Centre to immediately undertake this process. Before creating a separate state, the government might announce an autonomous regional development board for the entire Telangana region to drive out social and economic backwardness in the region first.”

TO SUBSCRIBE, CALL US ON 80082 00713

or SMS „Postnoon‰ to 56161

The Congress has decided to hold a series of regional conventions this year. POSTNOON NEWS feedback@postnoon.com

he ruling Congress party has decided to hold its first regional convention in Vijayawada on January 7. The party, which has decided to hold a series of regional conventions across the State following the grand success of its State level convention held on December 16 in Hyderabad, has already engaged in preparations of the regional convention. The top brass of the party including, PCC president Botsa Satyanarayana and Chief Minister N Kiran Kumar Reddy have decided to use this meeting as a platform to reach out to the public and widely publicise the State government's welfare programmes. The regional meeting will mainly focus on strengthening the party from the grass root level by way of encouraging the ongoing membership drive and filling up of organisational posts. "We have been in power for the last nine years. We have implemented scores of welfare programmes for the people of the State. The time has come for us to tell

The top brass of the party have decided to use this meeting as a platform to reach out to the public and publicize the government's welfare programmes. the people what we have done for them. We will use these meetings to achieve our objective," senior party leader and MLA Mastan Wali told Postnoon. He further said that the party would debate on the measures required to be taken to go to the people and consolidate the party's position. "The regional meeting would also debate on the issue of organisational strengthening. The reason for this is that we do not have ample representation in some of the coastal districts. This issue needs to be sorted out immediately so as to take our government's welfare programmes to the public," Wali noted. The party leaders have been asked to mobilise huge crowds to make the regional meeting a big success in coastal Andhra region

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

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

040 - 4067 2222 subscription@postnoon.com

classifieds THURSDAY, JANUARY 3, 2013

GHMC It goes against the very tenet of law that violators are condoned with a fine. This is tantamount to mocking law-abiding citizens. CLASSIFIEDS HEALTH/ CLINIC

Violators mock rules Md NIZAMUDDIN nizamuddin.a@postnoon.com

ne dark deed of the past government continues to haunt the GHMC. The town planning wing of GHMC, whose complicity in illegal buildings is suspected, has again failed to regularise building rule violators under the Building Penalization Scheme (BPS) and Land Regularisation Scheme (LRS). Nearly 20,000 BPS applicants could not produce documents by the extended deadline — December 31, 2012. The BPS and LRS scheme was the brainchild of the YSR government which, by the strength of a government order, sought to condone illegal constructions in municipal areas existing before 2007. It followed the findings that nearly 90 per cent of the buildings were in deviation to the original plan. And, instead of pulling up

the civic officials for their laxity, the government facilitated their dark deeds with a scheme to regularise on the basis of a penalty. The reason for not producing required documents, honest officials say, is because none exist and all of them are a blatant violation of building laws. The GHMC commissioner MT Krishna Babu would again be seeking extension of a period for completing this scheme. According to officials, they may be extending the deadline by another three months. “I shall be discussing the issue with the GHMC commissioner tomorrow and a decision will be taken for writing to the government, if it should be extended,” said GV Raghu, chief city planner.

ALL IN THE GAME

Sincere citizens can’t hope to get justice because all are in the game. Even the Opposition leaders are in favour of extending the deadline.

“I wrote to the chief minister and spoke to the commissioner that the decision should be reconsidered. The GHMC should provide some more time,” says Singireddy Srinivas Reddy, TDP floor leader. The GHMC has collected `21 crore through accepting BPS applications from 6,000 buildings. But the town planning department officials feel that if it is provided more time it can collect `50 crore more. Through LRS applications the GHMC has made `9 crore, from an approximate of 6,000 applications. It is believed that even if the GHMC extends the date, people from slums may not come forward to pay for the schemes. “In the Corporation limits people construct houses, but most of these do not bother about Occupancy Certificate,” says Syed Badshah, assistant general secretary, UFERWAS (United Federation of Resident Welfare Associations).

FACT FILE

`21

collected by GHMC through BPS application for 6,000 buildings

`50

more can be collected if they’re given more time say Town Planning officials

has been made through LRS scheme from an approximate 6,000 applications

20,000

BPS applicants could not produce documents

per cent of buildings have deviated from the original plans

HOME APPLIANCES

POWER

To advertise on this page, contact: 9866074747 For Secunderabad -9 2 9 0 2 0 4 0 3 0 For H y d e r a b a d - 9866663212

For Cyberabad 9866698879

POLITICS

Targets for saving mooted S tate Energy Conservation Mission (SECM) is seriously contemplating to fix annual targets for energy savings in various departments like Energy, Municipal Administration and Urban Development (MA&UD), Industries, Agricultural, Panchayat Raj and Rural Water Supply by initiating several innovative measures of energy efficiency and better energy management to avoid wastage of power. The government is also planning

to constitute district level energy conservation committees headed by district collectors for continuous monitoring and implementing Energy Efficiency and Energy Conservation (EE&EC) measures at district level. At the present critical juncture, as the power is very precious, it is advisable for people/consumers to use it judiciously for the betterment of society. While releasing the New Year calendar of SECM for creating awareness on energy conservation measures

among the public, Minnie Mathew, chief secretary and chairperson, SECM said departments have to effectively implement EE&EC measures in co-ordination with SECM to achieve the estimated energy savings of around 15,000 MU per year as per the report of energy conservation committee. She directed all the officials to put up special focus on conservation of energy in 2013 as it benefits the individual consumers as well as power utilities. NSS

Kavuri will not leave Congress: Pitani

inister Pitani Satyanarayana has said that senior MP Kavuri Sambasiva Rao would not leave the Congress party. Talking to the media here on Wednesday, he said Congress leadership would take care of his dissidence. He said he would remain a loyal member of the party and would not join any other. He said the Congress high command had understood his anguish of being ignored after such a long service to the party. Referring to some leaders leaving the party, Pitani said defections were common in politics. Meanwhile, Parliament member JD Seelam has said that all those who left the party would come back. NSS

city THURSDAY, JANUARY 3, 2013

CIVIC

Debris dumpers to pay heavily The review meeting brought out scores of omissions of civic officials and helped speed up works. Md NIZAMUDDIN nizamuddin.a@postnoon.com

SRINIVAS SETTY

umping debris on the roadside with impunity is proving a great health hazard for citizens. Finally, the GHMC satraps have woken up to the menace and asked zonal commissioners to impose heavy fines on building contractors. In a review meeting on Wednesday, the Mayor Majid Hussain and commissioner MT Krishna Babu, were told mountains of debris thrown out by building contractors had been making civic works difficult. For instance, shifting of electric poles as demanded by APCPDCL was not done because of the debris menace. The mayor and commissioner directed zonal officers, apparently sitting pretty doing nothing, to go around and penalise the debris-dumpers. The enforcement wing seems to be doing little on this count, the mayor was told. The mayor and commissioner also directed the officials and vigilance to coordinate and oversee the enforcement team’s work as the Corporation was spending a heavy sum for

removal of debris. De-silting of nallahs too is to be taken up fast, officials were told. The commissioner also wanted the executive engineers to cancel the work permits given

to contractors who have not taken up works even 45 days after the orders were issued. The commissioner said that the guidelines will be placed before the Standing Committee to

take up works up to certain limits on nomination basis. Based on this, contractors will be empanelled and a rotation of contractors will be maintained while allotting work. The commissioner,

responding to the requests of the corporators for sanction of more mini and high mast lights said, the government has banned new mini and high mast lights in view of the prevailing energy crisis. The commissioner also said that only Self Help Group women will be given Deepam connections and all the BPL (Below Poverty Lane) women can immediately get registered with SHGs. With regard to the Pin Point Programme the commissioner directed the deputy commissioners to cover all the wards in the circle within a month’s time. The commissioner said that a proposal has come forward for a multilevel parking complex at Ameerpet market with ground floor for shops and above for parking. The commissioner directed the additional commissioner (H&S) to increase the trade licenses and directed to send the concerned inspector with handbill machines and try to get all the establishments under the trade license net. The commissioner toughened his stance against illegal structures and directed officials to take up demolition works of those whose stay had been vacated.

RTI

Parties flout rules with plastic banners The civic body turns a blind eye to this blatant flouting of norms by various political parties.

RAHUL RAMAKRISHNA rahul.r@postnoon.com

he case of ban on hoardings fails to receive any attention. Despite the blanket ban on plastic hoardings or posters or banners, the City is awash with many of the above said category. While the recent drive against illegal hoardings fetched `1.10 lakh after 81 cases were booked against them, a lot more needs to be done about this issue. More specifically, the GHMC has avoided tackling the issue of political party hoardings and posters in public spaces, allege RTI activists. According to senior officials from the GHMC, it is the responsibility of the enforcement wing to remove posters or banners from public spaces. However, some RTI activists allege that the enforcement

wing officials usually let off offenders after taking a few bribes. Mahendar, RTI activist says, “In the AmeerpetMaithrivanam area, the enforcement wing had taken off all the banners but they reappeared after a brief period of two weeks.” More importantly, the GHMC has no filed records of political party related banners being seized. When Mahendar filed an RTI about the number of political party banners or hoardings seized and what sort of punishments or fines were levied, the GHMC had no reply. Neither did they have any idea about the number of staff required for the circle wise enforcement wing divisions to take down the illegal hoardings. According to additional commissioner of advertising

wing, Jayaraj Kennedy, “The enforcement wing and the town planning section usually commission the removal works. Fines are levied on the people but I do not about political parties being fined by the GHMC.” While that may be the case, the ban on plastic (PVC Flex) hoardings and banners needs to be tackled, because more importantly than flouting the public space’s rules, the environmental hazard and risks posed by these hoardings needs to be given serious attention. “Most of the flex banners contain phthalates, which can easily disintegrate into the skin and are carcinogenic. More importantly, there are no proper measures taken by the PCB or the GHMC to recycle. It is not uncommon for sanitary workers to burn them,” says Geetha Krishnan, environmental activist.

THURSDAY, JANUARY 3, 2013

focus

DEADLY SUPPLY CHAIN Though it is illegal to carry weapons in Mexico — unlike in the United States — Mexico has to battle with a steady influx of illegal weapons from its northern neighbour. The weapons make their way into the hands of drug traffickers and organized crime.

MEXICO VIOLENCE

Town pins hope on gun swaps Officials so far have collected more than 200 weapons but this is the tip of the iceberg in terms of the organized crime nightmare that has rocked the nation.

A citizen leaves carrying a bicycle after exchanging it for a weapon in Iztapalapa, Mexico City.

YEMELI ORTEGA LUYANDO feedback@postnoon.com

ne crime-ridden Mexico City district is getting some guns off its dangerous streets, convincing locals to swap personal firearms for bikes, tablet computers and even cash. Francisco Aro proudly shows off a 32-caliber Smith and Wesson, a collector’s item. “It belonged to my great granddad. He was in the Revolution," explained Aro, who — sentimental value aside — opts for the swap set up by Mexico City authorities trying to disarm dangerous Iztapalapa. “Now, at least I’ll get some exercise," smiled the 33-year-old as he patiently waited his turn to make a deal. There were about 60 people, all with pistols in hand,

in the line snaking out of a church in Iztapalapa. When they reach the front of the line, a small team of police and military staff collect their weapons anonymously. And the swappers get their choice of rewards, from shiny new bikes to electronics and, always popular, money. The week-long Mexico City program, called “Voluntary Arms Trade-in: It’s For Your Family," began Monday. “For every day of the program, we are spending (the equivalent of 23,000 dollars)," said a city government source, who spoke on condition they were not named.

SO WHAT ABOUT THE REAL CRIMINALS? Officials so far have collected more than 200 weapons but this is the tip of the iceberg in terms

AFP/PEDRO PARDO

of the organized crime nightmare that has rocked the nation. President Enrique Pena Nieto, who took office December 1, has vowed to improve public safety in the face of a relentless drug war that has killed more than 60,000 people in the last six years alone. Drug cartels are ruthlessly jockeying to control lucrative trafficking routes. So swaps from these folks aren’t necessarily going to solve the country’s biggest problems. “The bad guys normally have several weapons. So they might just swap one that doesn’t work, or one they don’t like, and keep the rest," said Augusto Martinez. The 79-year-old traded in a Colt 80 revolver for a bike and some cash. Skeptics also include the army personnel sent out to collect the swapped guns. “Look at the shape this stuff is in. Most of these guns are out

of order, or very old,” one commander said privately. “Most of the people who bring them in are middle-aged family men who inherited these from their grandparents.” Though it is illegal to carry weapons in Mexico — unlike in the United States — Mexico has to battle with a steady influx of illegal weapons from its northern neighbour. The weapons make their way into the hands of drug traffickers and organized crime. The federal government says however that it has seized more than 107,000 weapons just from 2006-2012 — 90 percent of which had been trafficked in from the United States. Still, lawmaker Jesus Valencia has had enough of crime in Iztapalapa — the second most violent part of the federal capital. So he told AFP it was worth a try to get some guns off the streets, so that fewer lives would be lost by people hit by stray bullets. Last month, a 10-year-old boy died in just such a tragedy, as did a woman on December 13. Authorities have also focused on children. As part of the program, they can swap violent toys for new ones that are not. Little Suriel Guadalupe, age four and dressed as Spider Man, lined up and took two plastic pistols out for a trade. “I don’t want them any more," he said, swapping them for a basketball.

Mexican marines detain gang with drugs, guns and baby

exican marines have detained a gang of 18 drug traffickers, including 12 minors, who were carrying rifles, grenade launchers, drugs, and even a baby in central Mexico, the navy said Wednesday. The group was arrested in the town of La Estacion San Jose, in the state of Zacatecas. The gang included a woman who was holding a baby girl in her arms. Authorities seized nine rifles, two smaller guns, two grenade launchers and several bags of cocaine and marijuana during the operation. Elsewhere, authorities discovered the bullet-riddled bodies of four men and a 17-year-old boyin an abandoned vehicle in the northern state of Chihuahua, the prosecutor’s office told local media. At least 70,000 people have died in drugrelated violence since 2006, when troops were deployed to battle drug cartels, according to the new government, which took over in December.

AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE

A member of the Mexican Army check guns before being destroyed in Iztapalapa, Mexico City.

AFP

THURSDAY, JANUARY 3, 2013

Business

AMAZON FENDS OFF APPLE CLAIM

A federal judge on Wednesday rejected Apple’s claim of false advertising for Amazon.com to refer to its online shop for mobile gadget applications as an “app store.”

Al-Jazeera buys US channel

RETAIL REAL ESTATE

Cities to power growth

he pan-Arab news giant Al-Jazeera bought Current TV, a struggling US cable channel, Wednesday in a deal aimed at giving the Qatarbased broadcaster the scope to challenge major

Mumbai, NCR-Delhi, Bangalore, Chennai, Pune, Hyderabad and Kolkata will see the addition of close to 9.5 million sqft of mall space in 2013. ANUJ PURI feedback@postnoon.com

n 2013, new organised retail project completions will increase significantly (by 109 per cent year-on-year). Chennai, Hyderabad, Kolkata and Pune will be among the major contributors to this increase, with a 53 per cent share of the country’s overall mall supply for 2013.

Benefits of FDI will not become fully evident in 2013, as it will take mall developers at least two years to incorporate the design elements and dimensions required to meet global standards. The primary reason is that a sizable amount of supply that was expected to reach completion in 2012 has been being pushed to 2013. Altogether, India’s major cities like Mumbai, NCR-Delhi, Bangalore, Chennai, Pune, Hyderabad and Kolkata will see the addition of close

to 9.5 million square feet of mall space in 2013. Mumbai, NCR-Delhi, Bangalore and Chennai will together contribute 70 per cent of the total retail space absorption. Other cities like Pune, Hyderabad and Kolkata will account for the remaining 30 per cent.

American TV networks. Current, co-founded by former US vice president Al Gore, announced the sale in a statement that was later confirmed by Al-Jazeera. AFP

The government’s nod to foreign direct investment (FDI) in multibrand retail will be a major driving factor for increased activity in 2013. Since the policy opens the portals to major MNC retail brands in India, the organised retail sector will see a major transformation in terms of its overall contribution in the mid-term. This, in turn, will positively impact the absorption of retail space over the next 12–24 months. The absorption is forecast to touch 6.8 million square feet and 7.1 million square feet in 2013 and 2014 respectively. That said, the benefits of the much-awaited FDI decision will not become fully evident in 2013, as it will take mall developers at least two years to incorporate the design elements and dimensions required to meet global standards. Mall developers are expecting a massive increase in demand for their projects in 2013. However, those whose shopping centres do not meet the requirements of international brands in terms of location, overall size, design, professionally managed operations will fail to see any action. The author is chairman and country head, Jones Lang LaSalle India

LIC launches two new products

POSTNOON NEWS feedback@postnoon.com

he LIC launched two new policies — New Jeevan Nidhi, a deferred pension plan and Flexi Plus, a unit linked insurance plan. ‘New Jeevan Nidhi’ is a conventional with profit pension plan, which provides for death cover during deferment period and offers annuity on survival to the date of vesting. The policy not only provides death benefit with basic sum assured along with guaranteed addition but also offers par-

ticipation in profits in the form of bonus, from the sixth year onwards. It also provides accident benefit rider. The policy term is available from 5 to 35 years with the age eligibility for the insured being 20-60 years. Flexi Plus, a unit linked insurance product, not only provides a lump sum benefit on death but also the maturity benefit. The policyholder can choose the premium he/she desires to pay, depending on which equivalent level of cover will be provided. The policyholder will have the option to choose from debt fund or mixed

fund. Mixed fund has 15 per cent to 25 per cent investments in listed equity shares and investment of not less than 45 per cent in government guaranteed securities/ corporate debts and short-term investment such as money market instruments. “LIC is aiming for `1,500 crore premium in next three months with the introduction of these new plans from the zone. We are also expecting 20-25 per cent growth rate in this financial year with the support of these policies,” said AK Sahoo, zonal manager, south central zone.

BSE 6,003.45 `54.48 5,209.05 DOLLAR`55.14 17,179.95DOLLAR NSEPOUND `86.60 `88.38 POUND BSE NSE GOLD`31,400 10g SILVER `59,400 1kg

24C

for

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

for

98.90

33.65

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

19,743.66 29.42

ANAND SHARMA, 10.20 COMMERCE MINISTER

THURSDAY, JANUARY 3, 2013

nation

UNCONTROLLED DRUG TRIALS CREATING HAVOC: SC

The Supreme Court has said that uncontrolled clinical trial of untested drugs on people is creating havoc in the country. All clinical trials of new drugs should be done under the supervision of health secretary, the apex court said in AN interim order.

HALL OF SHAME

Minor abducted, raped, 2 arrested

Accused threatens rape victim from jail PANAJI: Goa Police has registered an offence against suspected serial killer Mahanand Naik under IT Act for threatening a woman, whom he had allegedly raped, using a mobile phone from the high-security Central jail at Aguada near here. “Inquiries into the complaint made by the victim at Ponda Police had revealed that the calls were actually made to her from the mobile phone which had a location at Calangute, where Aguada Jail is located”, a state police spokesman said today. Investigations into the calls have revealed how banned articles like mobile phones were smuggled into the prison. According to police, the mobile phone number allegedly used by Mahanand in making threatening calls to the victim was regis-

tered in the name of one Wilfred Rodrigues, a resident of Nachinola village. “However, Rodrigues has said that he does not know Mahanand”, he said, adding the inquiries have revealed that the documents submitted for the SIM were forged. The investigations, he said, are surrounding the affairs within the jail and a massive search has been launched in the jail to scout for the banned substances. Mahanand had 18 cases of murders against him of which he was acquitted in 8 cases while three cases in which he is convicted are being tried in the high court following his appeal. He had been convicted in 2010 by the North Goa Sessions court for raping his wife’s friend for four years and had threatened to kill her. PTI

PUDUCHERRY: In yet another shocking incident of sexual assault of women, a minor girl was allegedly kidnapped and raped here by two persons, including a bus conductor known to her, police said today. Police have arrested the conductor and his accomplice within hours of the incident coming to their notice yesterday. The girl, belonging to a poor family and studying higher secondary in a government school here, has been admitted to the Rajiv Gandhi Government Women and Child Hospital for medical examination, police said. The victim was reported missing since the afternoon of January 1 after she left for her nearby village Kothapurinatham after attending a tuition class here. Police said Muthu, the conductor, had approached her when she was waiting for bus stating that her mother had met with an accident and that she wanted to see her. Reposing faith in his words, the girl went along with him. After making her unconscious by some means while travelling in the bus, he and his accomplice abducted her to a

3 African students arrested for eve-teasing JALANDHAR: Three Rwandan students were arrested today for allegedly misbehaving with a girl in Ramamandi area here. “The three Rwandan students of a private university were arrested after locals caught them misbehaving

with a girl in market area,” Assistant Commissioner of Police Dalvir Singh said. The locals caught Pacific, Egnis Delku and Tisanuma and called the police, the ACP said, adding a case under section 354 of IPC has been registered against them. PTI

place in neighbouring Villupuram where the duo raped her, police said. They then left her back at the bus terminal in Villupuram on Tuesday night. She contacted her parents over phone from a public booth asking them to come over there. The parents filed a complaint with police at Thirubhuvanai and rushed to

Villupuram and brought her back to Puducherry yesterday. Superintendent of Police Palanivelu said cases had been registered against the two under sections 366 (kidnap) and 376 (rape) of Indian Penal Code. He said a team headed by the Superintendent of Police (Women`s wing) Tamilarasi had been set up to look into the incident. PTI

NEWS BRIEFS Tillari stalemate ends after Pawar’s intervention

PANAJI: The water from Tillari Irrigation Project has finally reached Goa, after a dry spell of almost three weeks which affected large tracts of farmlands in the state. The stalemate over releasing water ended after Union agriculture minister Sharad Pawar intervened in the matter on Tuesday and convinced the agitators blocking the release of water to call off their protest. NCP MLA Dipak Kesarkar from Sawantwadi had requested Pawar to intervene in the matter. The sitin protest was held over alleged non-fulfilment of promises on rehabilitation made by the Goa government to the affected people during construction of the irrigation project. PTI

Businessman kidnapped for ransom in Manipur

IMPHAL: A businessman has been allegedly kidnapped at gunpoint by suspected militants from Kangla gate in the heart of the city here, official sources said today. Shankar Lal Sahi, proprietor of Mangalam Plywood factory at Kangpokpi in Senapati district of Manipur, was abducted while he was taking a stroll at Kangla gate area near the biggest Khwairamband market complex here yesterday morning, they said. The abductors have allegedly demanded a huge sum of money for his release, they added. Imphal city police have registered a case in this connection. Sahi is a native of Rajasthan. PTI

Mukesh Ambani 18th richest man in world

HOUSTON: Indian business magnate Mukesh Ambani is the 18th richest person in the world with a personal wealth of $24.7 billion in 2012, according to the Bloomberg Billionaires Index, a daily ranking of the world’s 100 wealthiest individuals. Mexican telecommunications magnate Carlos Slim remained the world’s richest person last year holding a personal fortune of more than $70 billion, it said. Ambani, 55, chairman and managing director of Reliance Industries, has also retained his position as the world’s richest Indian for the sixth year in a row and increased his ranking from 19th to 18th position and personal wealth from $21 billion to $24.7 billion in the world, the Index showed. IANS

PICK YOUR

Across Stores

ities Twin C

THURSDAY, JANUARY 3, 2013

World STORM AID Boehner vows to hold vote on stalled aid WASHINGTON: A chastened US House Republican leadership scrambled Wednesday to tamp down seething bipartisan fury over a failure to approve emergency relief for victims of superstorm Sandy, saying a vote will now occur Friday. The Senate has already passed a $60.4 billion aid package put forward by the White House to help northeast US states still reeling in the wake of the killer late October storm, which destroyed tens of thousands of homes and businesses and pummeled critical infrastructure. But, in the lower House of Representatives, Speaker John Boehner, still smarting from battle with Democratic President Barack Obama over "fiscal cliff" budget negotiations, signaled there would be no vote in the closing days of the outgoing Congress. Boehner's move sparked rage and indignation from figures in both parties, prompting the Republican speaker to announce a two-stage vote on Sandy relief. "Getting critical aid to the victims of Hurricane Sandy should be the first priority in the new Congress," Boehner and Majority Leader Eric Cantor said. Earlier, Obama and New Jersey's governor Chris Christie led the charge against Boehner's refusal to act quickly. “Our citizens are still trying to put their lives back together. Our states are still trying to rebuild vital infrastructure," Obama said in a statement. "The House of Representatives has refused to act, even as there are families and communities who need our help," Obama said. AFP

FIJI MULLS REDESIGNING NATIONAL FLAG The Fiji government has plans to redesign the country's national flag, Xinhua reported citing the prime minister's office Thursday. The move will be the latest attempt by Fiji to distance itself from its colonial past, after the country was suspended from the Commonwealth following a bloodless coup in 2006.

SHOOTOUT

HILLARY DISCHARGED

Gunman kills three in Swiss village: Police The man, who had been drinking before the shooting, was armed with an assault rifle when he launched the attack.

US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton has been discharged from a New York hospital, three days after she was admitted for treatment of a blood clot in a vein between her skull and brain. "Her medical team advised her that she is making good progress on all fronts, and they are conﬁdent she will make a full recovery," Philippe Reines, deputy assistant secretary of state and Clinton spokesperson, said in a statement announcing her release.

NUMEROLOGY

60,000

GENEVA: A gunman has opened fire in a village in southern Switzerland, killing three people and wounding two others, police said on Thursday. The man, who had reportedly been drinking heavily before the shooting and was armed with an assault rifle, launched the attack in the village of Daillon late Wednesday. As police rushed to the scene to stop the attack, they exchanged fire with the gunman and wounded him, police said. He had been taken to hospital, they said. "Three victims died at the scene. Two other people were wounded and hospitalised," said police in the canton of Valais, which borders Italy and France. They did not identify the attacker and his motives were

not immediately clear. At around 8.50pm (1950 GMT) "the cantonal police headquarters was told that an individual was shooting at residents of the village," police said in a statement Thursday. They were told that "several injured people are lying on the ground," adding that police accompanied by special units "immediately intervened and neutralised the suspect," the statement added. The police came under threat and there was an exchange of fire, resulting in the suspect being wounded, cantonal police spokesman Jean-Marie Bornet told AFP. None of the police were hurt. The public prosecutor of Valais went to the scene and an inquiry was opened. Internet site 20Minutes.ch said the shooter was armed

with an assault rifle. He was a resident of the village aged around 30 who had drunk a lot before the shooting, 20Minutes.ch said, quoting a local restaurateur. Marie-Paule Udry told the site: "He had been in the Channe d'Or earlier in the evening. He had drunk a lot." In Switzerland, where men are allowed to keep their weapons at home outside periods of military service, the law allows any Swiss citizen aged over 18 to possess arms under certain conditions. The defence ministry says there are some two million weapons in private hands among Switzerland's eight million inhabitants. But the authorities say there are also some 240,000 unregistered weapons. AFP

NEWS BRIEFS British comedian Davidson arrested

Opposition demands 'truth' on Chavez health

Iran unveils indigenous combat chopper

Pakistani warlord killed in US drone strike

LONDON: British television presenter Jim Davidson on Wednesday denied claims made against him after becoming the latest celebrity to be arrested by police investigating historic sexual abuse allegations. Metropolitan Police said ofﬁcers from Operation Yewtree had detained two men in their 50s on suspicion of sexual offences.

CARACAS: Venezuela's main opposition movement demanded Wednesday that the government tell "the truth" about President Hugo Chavez's health as one of his closest allies said his condition was "very worrying." "Let's hope our prayers will be effective in saving the life of President Chavez," Bolivian President Evo Morales sai.

TEHRAN: Iran has unveiled its latest combat chopper Toufan II that features the country's "latest achievements in electronics, optics, laser and armament capabilities", state media reported. The chopper was unveiled Wednesday at a ceremony attended by Defence Minister Brigadier General Ahmad Vahidi, Xinhua reported citing Press TV.

MIRANSHAH: Pakistani warlord Mullah Nazir, who sent men to fight NATO in Afghanistan, was killed in a US drone strike in Pakistan along with five loyalists, local security officials said Thursday. The missiles struck the vehicle in Mubarak Shahi village, 20 kilometres (12 miles) east of Miranshah, the main town in the North Waziristan tribal district.

At least 60,000 people have been killed in the Syria conflict, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Navi Pillay has said.

RAPIST TO BE CASTRATED A South Korean court Thursday ordered chemical castration of a repeat child sex offender in a ﬁrst such decision given in the country. According to the Seoul Southern District Court's verdict, the 31-yearold man surnamed Pyo will be sentenced to 15 years in jail and given medication which inhibits sexual urges, Xinhua reported. Pyo, who the court said, is "incapable of selfcontrol", has been convicted with raping ﬁve teenagers between November 2011 and May 2012. He had threatened to circulate sex videos online.

We are continuing to urge the government of Burma and the Kachin Independence Organization to cease this conflict, to get to a real dialogue. Victoria Nuland State Dept spokeswoman

THURSDAY, JANUARY 3, 2013

Technology THE END OF AN ERA

GOODBYE PS2!

Take time to blow some dust off your PS2, fire up Snake Eater, and enjoy one of the greatest home videogame consoles of all time.

ony has finally stopped production of PlayStation 2 (PS2), in Japan, at least. The rest of the gaming universe, technically, will continue to enjoy PS2 hardware manufacturing, but it's obvious that Sony's most beloved console isn't long for this world, but that's okay. Sony manufactured PS2 systems for an astounding 12 years. Few consoles have enjoyed such longevity—the Atari 2600 remains the console lifespan king with an incredible 14 years between 1977-1992. All good things come to an end, after all.

Sony manufactured PS2 systems for an astounding 12 years. Few consoles have enjoyed such longevity. The PS2 was a great console that saw groundbreaking sandbox action in Grand Theft Auto III, post-modern hijinks in the form of Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty, a handful of Final Fantasy games, and cult classics like God Hand. There was a lot to like, and if you're looking to get into PS2 action, you can purchase a new console for $99.99. It didn't start all aces, though. The PS2 lacked a strong, centralised online component unlike the Dreamcast and original Xbox, and its disc-read errors flaw was so prevalent that Sony was sued (and lost). On top of that, the PS2's launch was quite unremarkable. It was headlined by Dead or Alive 2: Hardcore, Madden 2001, Ridge Racer V, and others. Still, the console was able to squash the incredibly innovative Sega Dreamcast (with lots of help from Sega shooting itself in the foot several times since the 16-bit days), Xbox, and GameCube thanks to strong brand recognition, backwards compatibility with the original PlayStation, and its true killer app: The Matrix. Keanu Reeve's rock'em

sock'em cyberpunk flick was a must-purchase DVD in 2000, the year of the PS2's debut. The $299 system was on a par, price wise, with DVD players on the market, so many people who purchased the PS2 had their hybrid movie player/ game machine. It's rivals—the Dreamcast, GameCube, and Xbox—either couldn't run DVDs, or did so with an adapter. It was an immensely smart, game-changing move that Sony tried to emulate by including Blu-ray in the PlayStation 3. Sony sold over 150 million PS2 units — that's a big deal. The snarky among us will attribute the large numbers to gamers buying the system multiple times due to hardware issues, but even if that were true, the fact that people would double-dip speaks volumes. As Sony, and the gaming world, looks toward the future where the PS4 resides, take time to blow some dust off your PS2, fire up Snake Eater, and enjoy one of the greatest home video game consoles of all time. The PS2 may not have topped the hardware and software charts in years, but it's truly the end of a video game era.

R2 IS MICROSOFT'S

Microsoft has acquired R2 studios ahead of their launch of next Xbox console in 2013. R2 Studios was created by Sling Media founder Blake Krikorian in May 2011. According to WSJ, R2 Studios has been working on ways to display content on televisions, which could coordinate with Xbox's focus of adding TV entertainment to its gaming console. It needs to be seen if any technology from R2 will make its way into the next console or if the deal is purely for the patents alone.

Snapchat flaw Snapchat, the smartphone app widely regarded as being "sexting friendly", exposed users' email addresses since at least midDecember until the flaw was fixed on Thursday. The revelation of users' email addresses being exposed comes as security experts have figured out a way to capture videos sent via Snapchat and rival app Facebook Poke before they self-destruct. Experts also warn that not many Snapchat users are aware that people can see who they have been chatting to on the service by typing a forward slash and their username after the snapchat.com URL in a web browser.

Discontinued:

2000 Launched in

APPLE TO BUY WAZE? Apple might acquire crowdsourced mapping platform Waze according to Techcrunch. The mobile and computer giant has been struggling to get its Maps application in shape after it replaced Google Maps with their own in iOS6. Apart from incorrect locations, it shot to notoriety after it gave people incorrect directions, which in one case almost ended up killing people in Australia. Waze is available for iOS and Android and is slowly becoming popular across the world and its data is based on actual people who move around and not on the basis on checkin information that was used by Apple.

December

2012

2,016

Total games available for

PS2:

THURSDAY, JANUARY 3, 2013

Comment I fear not the man who has practiced 10,000 kicks once, but I fear the man who has practiced one kick 10,000 times. Bruce Lee Actor

Of crime and punishment THE HUMAN CONDITION Dean Williams

he Delhi Six are going to be almost certainly charged with abduction, rape and murder, and already the hounds are baying for their blood. In spite of my abhorrence of capital punishment, I completely understand the clamour for the death penalty for these criminals. If, after all, we’re going to condone state-sponsored murder then these men most certainly should hang. But we should be very careful what we wish for. The death penalty in this country is given only in the ‘rarest of rare’ cases and unfortunately, the rape and murder of Victim X was not rare at all. Across the country, every day, women are subject to violation on a scale that would make a Hun cringe. Victim X’s case happened to be the one that enraged the nation, it most certainly isn’t an exception; sadly it’s the rule. If the six are going to hang from the rafters of our chagrin then a precedent will be set: every rapist must henceforth be sent to the gallows, no matter what his socio-economic status. That would also mean that politicians convicted of rape should hang too. And as with all capital punishment you can expect a few innocents to meet their maker as well. So are we ready to join the barbarians in Saudi Arabia, Iran, China and the US and send hundreds, if not thousands, of people to their deaths? It might seem like a swell idea now, but just wait until someone powerful is convicted. The rich don’t swing, at least not how you intend. Death will be applicable only to the poor. If you’re OK with that then hang ’em high.

HIGH-FLYING THOUGHTS

Afghan warlord describes Prince Harry as a ‘drunk jackal’ as the UK royal wreaked havoc on Taliban with his Apache gunship. At least the fighting mullah got the first part right. British troops are lucky he did not see those famous party pictures, or there would have been more attacks to capture Harry.

COMPLICATED WORLD

I’M CLEAN… SMELL ME! BUT SERIOUSLY

Ajay Hotchandani

or as long as men and women have walked this earth there has been a debate about the differences between men and women. Topics of discussion covers just about every aspect of life from food to bodily functions. One area where there is usually a clear difference between men and women is in the bathroom. Case and point: My shower has two items — a bar of soap and a bottle of shampoo ( I think it might be the “2 in 1” bottle). Why isn’t there anything else? Because a guy doesn’t need anything else! If you walk into a guy’s bathroom and his shower has more than 3 items then he is has overdone it. A girl’s shower will have 12 plus bottles and that is considered normal. You have your shampoo, three types; conditioner, three types; body wash, two types; facial scrub, three flavours (and whatever you do guys, don’t taste the facial scrubs, yes it smells nice but it taste like sand and butter mixed), aroma therapy oil, special type of sponge to clean yourself and exfoliating stuff to help exfoliate things that need to be exfoliated. Let’s move on to the bathroom countertop. Guys bathroom countertop: toothpaste, toothbrush, soap, razor and shaving cream (maybe one hair

product, but that’s it). Girl’s bathroom countertop — looks like it threw up everything all over the place. Bottles, make up, hair dryer, hair products and this is the best part, girls with straight hair will have a curling iron because they want curls, while girls with curly hair, you guessed it, have some gadget to straighten their hair because they believe it makes them look better. It’s a world gone mad, I tell ya. So this morning I’m getting ready for work when I squeeze the toothpaste tube only to see bubbles come out and right at the end just enough toothpaste to get me through the morning. So I make a mental note to pick some up after work. To make sure I remembered I asked my

co-worker to remind me, a request she found a bit odd. What kind of world are we living in when we can’t ask our coworker to remind you to pick up toothpaste? So I’m at the grocery store standing in front of the toothpaste section. Since when is there a hundred different options of toothpaste? I stood there reading the different things they offered and that got me thinking, if this toothpaste fights tartar what will it do for my cavity protection? At this age should I be more concerned about my enamel or preventing cavities? What if I don’t get enough tarter control, will the tartar get out of control and take over my mouth? Then there are the dif-

ferent flavours, wintergreen, mint, spearmint, peppermint, cinnamon, bubble gum (which isn’t all that bad) and the white colour toothpaste flavour. Lucky for me I found a “Triple Action — Strong/White/Fresh Breath”. But what if it only does some of all three, but not enough? Am I taking a chance on it not being fresh enough? Are my teeth going to look like I ate curry for breakfast, lunch and dinner? At this point I really don’t care as long as I got toothpaste – it could be curry flavoured for all I care. Then I had to buy soap — that was simple. Three bars of the cheapest soap that didn’t smell like perfume or a fruit salad. And that’s it folks… I’m clean like a politician!

EDITORIALS Stop this rot Mamata’s bold strokes

ndhra Pradesh has done nothing recently to refurbish the image of the constabulary which is the face of any government. Police can make or mar the image of a government is still not understood properly. If the workings of a police of any state are put to scrutiny they will emerge bruised and ugly. The main reason is that there is no attempt to make the uniform a professional force. And, this is possible if they are ﬁrst of all professionally recruited and trained. Rather what we see today is ﬁlling up quota rather than making professionally competent forces. The Delhi gang rape, which symbolises the society’s rotten attitude towards woman and her rights, is only one of numerous cases happening every day. If workings of the Hyderabad City police are to be audited properly, much horrible stories would tumble out. It is here that a woman sub-inspector was caught taking bribe from a dowry case-accused. What more do we have to say? That defacing and denigrating uniform will only boomerang on the government and ultimately on society is a lesson we must all remember and act.

READERS’ VIEWS

amata Banerjee is set to auction her paintings to raise funds for Trinamool Congress. Considering the growing line of people who wants to please the whimsical CM, there is no doubt the exhibition-cumsale will rake in some serious moolah. One can’t help but recall how paintings by wives of top Chinese leaders are lapped up for astronomical sums by ‘anonymous’ businessmen, who later land massive government contracts. Now, did anyone say Didi is not smart.

THURSDAY, JANUARY 3, 2013

tELEVISION

NO REALITY SHOW FOR KIM’S BABY Socialite Kim Kardashian has reportedly no plans to introduce her unborn child to reality show after birth.Kim, 32, who is expecting her first child with boyfriend Kanye West, is seen in her reality show Keeping Up With Kardashians and her family members including sisters Khloe, Kourtney and mother Kris Jenner.

OFFICE TALK

A TRIBUTE

NBC's new sitcom 1600 Penn goes behind the doors of the Oval Office and delves into the dynamics of America's First Family.

Rocking Dick Clark ABC’s Rockin’ block of New Year’s Eve programming dominated the Monday ratings, delivering a few superlatives along the way.From 8 to 10 pm — and with no rivals breaking a 1.0 rating — the Alphabet network’s tribute to dearly departed December 31 ringmaster Dick Clark averaged 9.4 million total viewers and a 2.6 rating.The primetime hour of ABC’s Ryan Seacrest-fronted New Year’s Eve programming at 10 o’clock swelled to 13.3 million (its largest audience ever, since 2000) and a 4.1 demo rating.

DID YOU KNOW...

20.3 mn

HEMANTH KUMAR hemanth.k@postnoon.com

merican Politics has been a staple subject for scores of writers for many years now, but there hasn't been a show like 1600 Penn in recent times. The TV show, created by Josh Gad, Jason Winer and Jon Lovett, is a comedy which is set in the White House and delves into the lives of The President and his dysfunctional family. Bill Pullman plays President Gilchrist, who has to juggle between his work and family which is anything but perfect. His second wife Emily (Jenna Elfman) finds it easy to address the media over several issues, but she has a tough time at home due to her uneasy relationship with her step daughter Becca, played by Martha MacIsaac. Gilchrist's eldest son Skip (Josh Gad) is a man-child

1600 PENN GOES BEYOND POLITICS

who always ends up in trouble and sometimes he even puts his father's job in jeopardy. If this wasn't enough Gilchrist and Emily also have to deal with their preteen daughter Marigold (Amara Miller) and elementary-school-age son Xander (Benjamin Stockham). The pilot episode of 1600 Penn, at best, gives a gist about what to expect from the series. The premise of the show is indeed quite promising and the insight into the normal lives of

the most powerful family in the world is a welcome change from the political dramas we have seen in the past. Josh Gad walks away with all the honours as the standout performer of the show and it wouldn't a far fetched conclusion if one were to compare him with the incredibly funny Zach Galifianakis. Josh Gad ends up setting things on fire and almost kills the chances of America signing an important trade deal, but much to our surprise, every

viewers is the number of hits the first-run shows of The Big Bang Theory. received and with repeats, it has been averaging 19.5 million. The comedy series could turn out to be the most watched sitcom since Friends went off the air in 2004. The final season of NBC’s Friends wound with an average of about 20.8 million, Zap2it observed, while the biggest comedy since has been Everybody Loves Raymond, with 17.4 million viewers in its final season.

time he goofs up, it turns out to be for the greater good. In another scene Emily and Becca indulge in a war of words right in the middle of an interview, but they decide to bury the hatchet when Becca (Martha MacIsaac) confesses that she's pregnant. As if the family couldn't get anymore dysfunctional, the writers of the show add another twist by suggesting that Marigold has a crush on another girl. Bill Pullman keeps it simple and the show hasn't yet gone into a patriotic mode yet. Despite its setting, the political overtones in the show remain minimal and the gags are just about fine. It's not a laugh out loud comedy, but we are curious to see how the series turns out to be in the next few episodes. Watch out for Josh Gad, Martha MacIsaac and Elfman in the show. Watch the episodes online

TRENDING...

Hollywood veteran Judi Dench is in line to play Sherlock Holmes' housekeeper in a new TV adaptation of Arthur Conan Doyle's classic stories.The Oscar winner is in talks to portray the super snoop's loyal employee Mrs. Hudson in a new show based on her journals, called A View From The Landing At 221B Baker Street.

Once Upon a Time is adding Sonequa Martin-Green to its ranks for Season 2 — if not beyond. TVLine has learned that the actress, will appear this season in multiple episodes as Tamara.TVLine’s previous intel indicates that Once was initially angling to cast an African-American with a British accent in the part.

THURSDAY, JANUARY 3, 2013

spotlight

A MUSICAL EXTRAVAGANZA

Head to Hard Rock Cafe where Mumbai-based alternative pop-rock band Spud in the Box will be performing. The show starts from 8 pm.

LATE-NIGHT REVELRY

1 Geeth 2 Barat, NIsha 3 Sharon, Aureen, Gabrie 4 Neetu with a friend 5 Dolly 6 Pinky, Sana 7 Ksenis, Novlik

FUN & FROLIC

Partying on a weekday is no longer an odd idea. Party peeps turned up in droves at Kismet on Wednesday night and danced the night away. 6

7 2

1 Shobha Naidu 2 K. Rosaiah 3 Puradeshwari

Enchanting moves Dancer Shrita Pendekanti performed Kuchipudi Nrityanjali at Ravindra Bharati on Wednesday. K. Rosaiah, governor of Tamil Nadu graced the event.

TEST OF LUCK Chairman of Bajaj Electronics Pavan Bajaj announced the bumper draw winner of `25 lakh cash prize at a gala event on Wednesday. M. Vijay Kumar of Manikonda won the prize.

THURSDAY, JANUARY 3, 2013

health

OVER 1.1 MN BRITONS HIT BY WINTER SICKNESS Over 1.1 million Britons have been affected by norovirus, also known as the winter vomiting bug, BBC reported. The Health Protection Agency said there were 3,877 lab-confirmed cases till December 30, 2012, but for each confirmed case there are 288 more infections which go unreported.

FITNESS

Do-it-yourself exercises

In today’s rat race, lack of time is a common excuse, even when it comes to hitting the gym. But there is no reason why you cannot set aside at least 20 minutes each day to do a few exercises at home. We speak to City experts to see what they recommend. BURPEE

RANJANI RAJENDRA

ranjani.r@postnoon.com

THE PLANK The plank (also called abdominal bridge) involves maintaining a difficult period for extended periods of time. “It basically involves supporting your entire body weight on the forearms and toes. This exercise is very good because it helps build a strong core and helps strengthen the entire body’s postural muscles. Beginners and people with a back problem can do this exercise by holding their body weight on their knees instead of toes. As you advance you can increase the period of time that you hold this position for and also move on to using your toes to support your body. You can start off by holding this position for 10 seconds and then progress

to 30 seconds, one minute etc,” explains Kuldeep Sethi, director 360 Degree Fitness. There are many variations to this like side plank and reverse plank. How it is done: n Lie on your face down on an exercise mat with your elbows under your shoulders. n Slowly lift your torso and thighs off the mat. Keep your torso and legs rigid. Do not allow any sagging in your ribcage or low back. Avoid hiking your hips into the air or bending the knees. Keep the shoulders away from the ears. The shoulders should be directly over your elbows with your palms facing down through the entire exercise. Try holding this position for 5 seconds or more. n Keep the torso and legs stiff as you slowly and gently lower your body back towards the mat or floor.

ANEWS PP-LYBRIEFS YOURSELF

Burpee is the perfect way to strengthen all the major muscles and help you stay on track in terms of fitness. “It is a sequence of push-ups, squats and pull ups and if done everyday can help strengthen the core muscles as well as all the major muscles. It is also a great cardiovascular workout and helps boost your metabolism rate. One can start from the beginner level and progress to the advanced level for added benefits. And all it takes is 15 minutes each day,” says

HOUSECALL

Chandrashekhar Reddy, master trainer at Helios Fitness Centre. How it is done: n Begin in a standing position. n Drop into a squat position with your hands on the ground. n Extend your feet back in one quick motion to assume the front plank position. n Return to the squat position in one quick motion. n Return to standing position. Note: There are various types of Burpees.

LEG EXTENSIONS Leg extension is a resistance weight training exercise that targets the quadriceps muscles. Usually done using a leg extension machine, it can just easily be done at home using a regular chair/bench and some weights. “I see a lot of people complaining of knee pain and leg pain these days. Given the knee joint is the weight bearing joint it is essential that it is kept fit. This exercise is perfect for people these

days as it helps keep the synovial fluid flowing and the knee in a good condition. So doing two sets of 15 reps each every day should help keep the legs strong,” says Dinaz Vervatwala of Dinaz Fitness Studio. How it is done: n Sit on a chair or bench. n Select a light weight for starters. n Place it on your legs a little above the ankle. n When set, extend your leg straight with effort but not too much strain. n Hold the position for a bit and bring your leg back down.

DID YOU KNOW?

PIONEERS

iBrush

Mastitis

Yawning is contagious

Laurent Lantieri

iBrush teaches how to effectively and properly brush your teeth. You have 60 seconds to clean as many dirty spots as possible. Raise your score by cleaning the dirty spots and see the teeth go from yellow to white. Get into the right habits quickly and offer your children a fast and fun way to learn about dental hygiene.

Mastitis, or inflammation of breast tissue, is a miserable condition that often adds to the stress of motherhood. It can occur in women at other times, but is more likely to develop during breastfeeding. There are three principal causes: infection, engorgement and blocked ducts. An infection is almost always bacterial, sometimes as a result of a cracked nipple, and antibiotics may be needed.

Although the contagious nature of yawning is well established, we know less about why this is so. Researchers are currently giving the topic some serious attention. One theory suggests it's a holdover from a period in evolutionary history when yawning served to coordinate the social behaviour of a group of animals.

Professor Laurent Lantieri, is a French plastic surgeon who is a pioneer in the field of face transplantation. He performed the first second and third full face transplants. According to media reports, rivals called the French operation, similar to one carried out in Barcelona in April, a new achievement that further advances efforts to provide faces and new lives for the disfigured.

health THURSDAY, JANUARY 3, 2013

STUDY

RESEARCH

Bottled water is much more likely to be contaminated or become a source of infection than tap water, experts warn. LONDON: Far from being healthier, the bottled variety is subject to far less stringent safety tests than tap water, a UK research has found. On an average, Britons drink 33 litres of bottled water annually, whether ordinary mineral, fizzy, or ‘purified’ tap water, the Daily Mail reported. Almost a quarter of people who drink bottled water at home say they do so because they believe it is ‘better for them’ than tap water, according to market researchers Mintel. But what these consumers may not realise is that tap water must be checked daily under a rigorous inspection regime, researchers said. It also contains trace amounts of chlorine that prevent the spread of anything harmful such as bacterial infections. By contrast, makers of bottled water are only required to undertake monthly testing at source. Once filled and sealed, a bottle of water might remain in storage for months before it is sold. Bottled water contains no disinfecting additives such as chlorine. After a bottle of water is opened it has no way of remaining sterile, and so must be drunk within days. “Water coming from UK taps is the most stringently tested in the world. People think there must be something wrong with tap water because it is so cheap and plentiful. But from a safety and price perspective, tap water is better for you,” Professor Paul Younger of Glasgow University said. “If the bottle is accidentally opened or someone tampers with it, then it can easily get contaminated,” added Younger, author of Water: All That Matters. “There’s certainly a greater chance you could find something harmful in bottled water than from your taps. Ideally it should be drunk on the day it is opened, as it can easily pick up bacteria from someone’s hands or face,” Younger said. Sue Pennison of the Drinking Water Inspectorate, which audits household supplies, said out of more than four million samples of tap water last year, 99.96 per cent passed strict standards. “Tap water is safe to drink, everything else is a personal lifestyle choice,” she said. Jo Jacobius, director of British Bottled Water Producers, said all water available in the UK is “highly regulated and generally of good quality”. She added that most bottled water companies test on a daily basis. Natural bottled mineral water must come from an officially recognised underground spring, be bottled at source and cannot be treated or filtered. PTI

MENTAL HEALTH Smoking doesn’t relieve stress, quitting does!

Plump people live longer

BOTTLED WATER

‘less safe’ than TAP WATER

LONDON: British researchers measured anxiety levels in almost 500 smokers – before and after they tried to give up and found the claims of benefits associated with nicotine are a myth. One in five people said they smoked to help them deal with stress, the Daily Mail reported. All took part in an National Health Service smoking cessation programme, which involved being given nicotine patches and attending two-monthly appointments. Six months after signing up for

the course, 68 of the 491 participants were still abstaining - and they were less anxious than before. However, those who tried to give up and failed were more stressed than in the beginning, according to the findings published in the British Journal of Psychiatry. “The belief that smoking is stress-relieving is pervasive but almost certainly wrong,” researchers, from Oxford University and King’s College London, said. “The reverse is true: smoking probably causes anxiety and smok-

LONDON: Being plump may not be so bad after all! US researchers analysed results of almost 100 studies and found that those judged to be slightly overweight were 6 per cent less likely to have died by the end of the study period than those of normal weight. However, those who were any bigger were around a third more likely to die during the months or years they were being studied than those of normal weight, the Daily Mail reported. The analysis is not the first to suggest that a bit of extra weight is actually good for health. Explanations for this include the possibility that those who start out slightly heavier will have more fat reserves to call on should they lose weight due to ill health as they get older, researchers believe. It is also possible problems linked to overweight, such as high blood pressure and diabetes, are more likely to be spotted and treated, improving that person’s overall health. It has also been suggested that some people’s genes may help them escape the health consequences of being slightly overweight, while a bit of extra padding could help the elderly to survive falls unscathed. Another theory is that some of those who are overweight may actually exercise more and eat better than thin people who starve themselves or smoke to suppress their appetite. PTI

ers deserve to know this and understand how their own experience may be misleading,” they said. Researchers believe the confusion has arisen because one of the withdrawal effects of nicotine is edginess. Smokers in need of a topup will repeatedly suffer this feeling and find it eases when they have a cigarette, the report said. This increase in stress levels was particularly high in those with depression and other psychiatric problems and the researchers said doctors should be aware of this. PTI

THURSDAY, JANUARY 3, 2013

Entertainment LOOKING AHEAD

SIDDHARTH

IS A BUSY BEE

013 is going to be quite a hectic year for Siddharth. He already has three films lined up for release in the next three months in Telugu, Tamil and Hindi and on top of that, he’s going to start shooting for four more films later this year. First among the lot is Sundar C’s upcoming Tamil film titled Theeya Velai Seiyyanum Kumaru in which he’s teaming up with Hansika and Santhanam. This film will go on floors next week and in the meantime, he’s also working on the pre-production of another film which will be directed by Vasanthabalan. “It’s official. My next film is directed by the acclaimed Vasanthabalan. Music by the one & only AR Rahman. Produced by Y Not studios. We start shoot later in the year. Working with AR after so long. Boys, Ayutha Ezhuthu, Rang de… and finally our new film. What a feeling!!! (sic),” Siddharth posted on Twitter. Meanwhile, Siddharth’s next Telugu film Jabardasth is expected to hit the screens later this month and David Dhawan’s Chashme Baddoor will release in late February. “Jabardhasth, NH 4, Chashme baddoor ready for release soon…Vasanthabalan’s and 2 more new films getting ready to kick off. 2013…You beauty! (sic),” Siddharth added.

CINE BYTES

Mirchi’s audio to be launched on January 5

rabhas, Anushka and Richa Gangopadhyay starrer Mirchi is gearing up for its big release in the first week of February. Kortala Shiva has directed the film and Vamshi and Pramod have produced the film. DSP has scored the music and the audio will be launched in Nanakramguda on January 5.

Adda’s shooting nears completion

fter a brief hiatus, Sushanth will soon be seen in a romantic entertainer titled Adda. Except for three songs, the ﬁlm’s principal shooting has been wrapped up. Shanvi is playing the lead role opposite Sushanth. The music is expected to hit the stands in early February. GS Karthik is directing the ﬁlm with music by Anup Rubens.

Manchu Manoj signs a new film

ommadevara Ramachandra Rao, who had earlier produced Anushka starrer Panchakshari, is going to produce a big budget film with Manchu Manoj in lead role. The film is expected to go on floors in February. More details about the film will be announced soon. Apart from this film, Manchu Manoj will also play the lead role in G Nageshwara Reddy’s next film.

Entertainment THURSDAY, JANUARY 3, 2013 Priyanka, Ram Charan’s chemistry refreshing

he on screen chemistry between Priyanka Chopra and Ram Charan Teja in the Zanjeer remake is surprisingly refreshing, says filmmaker Apoorva Lakhia. “The chemistry of Priyanka and Ram Charan Teja is looking 2,000 times better than what I had expected. They both are looking surprisingly refreshing onscreen,” IANS Lakhia said.

Hunt on for actress opposite Sunny Deol

fter Ameesha Patel walked out of Singh Saheb The Great, director Anil Sharma says the team is on the lookout for a replacement. “We have not finalised the leading lady yet. Once we are done with his shoot, we will hunt for the leading lady,” Sharma said. IANS.

A TOTAL REVELATION

NARGIS

WILL SURPRISE EVERYBODY IN ‘MADRAS CAFE’: SHOOJIT SIRCAR

argis Fakhri, who made her acting debut with Rockstar, will now be seen in Shoojit Sircar’s Madras Cafe. The filmmaker says she will surprise everyone in the role of a journalist. “Nargis suited the role and I can assure you that she is going to surprise everybody with Madras Cafe. She is playing a journalist in the film,” Sircar said. The film was earlier titled Jaffna. Nargis will be seen opposite John Abraham in the movie. An unusual pairing indeed. No? “I can’t reveal the story, but it was the demand of the script. You will get to know once you see the film. I hope the audiences like this pairing,” said Sircar, known for films like Yahaan and Vicky Donor. The first schedule of Madras Cafe is over. It has been shot extensively in south India. The second schedule will commence from March and will be shot in Mumbai, south India and abroad. Sircar says the team has plans to rope in southern superstar Mohanlal for a particular role in Madras Cafe. “We are in talks with him. There is a very important role in the film for which we need Mohanlal. Now let us see how things fall in place. Nothing has been finalised right now,” he added. IANS

Honey Singh-Jazzy B song gets 1 mn views

peppy Punjabi number by singers Jazzy B and Honey Singh has notched up over one million views online in just 80 hours. The song This Party Gettin Hot, is ranked among the world’s Top 10 shared videos across networking platforms. “ It is now being ranked as the No.1 most watched video in India on YouTube.” IANS

Entertainment THURSDAY, JANUARY 3, 2013

HUSH-HUSH AFFAIR

CINE BYTES

Swift won’t dye hair

inger Taylor Swift is in no mood to take any risks with her look, and so she insists she would never change her look in a drastic way. Asked if she has had any beauty disasters, the blonde singer said: “Not really! I’ve never dyed my hair and I’m not sure I ever will. I’m careful not to get red lipstick on my teeth. However, she admits she likes to “experiment” with her hair and enjoys having someone look after her make-up and styling.

I was loathed in past: Affleck

Brad Pitt, Angelina Jolie already married

rad Pitt and Angelina Jolie are rumoured to have tied the knot on Christmas day in the Caribbean, reports have claimed. The Hollywood super couple apparently married in an intimate ceremony on the Turks and Caicos Islands, according to The Telegraph. The pair have been spending the Christmas and New Year holiday at the private Parrot Cay estate of fashion designer Donna Karan with their six children, Pitt’s parents Jane and William, his brother Doug and sister Julie. News of their reported nuptials comes eight months after Pitt, 49, and Jolie, 37, announced their engagement in April 2012 after seven years together. Speculation they had finally wed comes after a magazine report in early December claimed the pair had picked up their wedding rings from celebrity jeweller Neil Lane. PTI

ctor Ben Afﬂeck says there was a phase in his life when he felt nobody liked him. “Unfortunately there’s an aspect of that that’s like one of those ﬁghts you see on YouTube where one of them falls down and then a bunch of people who were standing around come over and kick the person. “They recognise a moment that they can get a free shot in, and it’s just too much to resist,” he said. IANS

Paparazzo killed while snapping Bieber’s Ferrari

photographer was hit and killed by another car while trying to take photographs of Justin Bieber’s Ferrari. The 18year-old Canadian singer was not in the car when the accident took place. He had reportedly loaned out the car to a friend.

Entertainment THURSDAY, JANUARY 3, 2013

THURSDAY, JANUARY 3, 2013

Chai Time

Play & Win

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

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

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

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

Play & Win

voucher from VENKEY’S VEG Restaurant, Nampally

ACROSS

SCRIBBLING PAD

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

SUDOKU

PREVIOUS PUZZLE ANSWER

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

1 Below-the-knee skirt 5 “Ain't ___ truth?” 10 Make quite an impression? 14 Frequently clicked image 15 French philosopher Georges 16 ___ En-lai (Chinese leader) 17 Small religious group 18 King in “The Iliad” 19 Tenant's expense 20 Pretty easy to see or understand 23 Nome dome home 24 Word with “Big Band” 25 Sharpshooter's asset 28 Football holder 29 Reason for a cram session 33 Bring into harmony 35 Trout's home 37 Large vases 38 A paint primer may be used as one 43 Bright thing that comes to mind 44 Mexican state on the Gulf of California 45 Window-glass darkener 48 Cab 49 Massachusetts cape 52 “How was ___

know?” 53 ___ Gatos, Calif. 55 Ringo of the Fab Four 57 Gardening or furniture-making, for some 62 Bay at the moon 64 Enter one's user name and password 65 Two fives, for one 66 Mashhad is its second-largest city 67 Quarter-round molding 68 Word with “bump” or “ran” 69 Red Cross inventories 70 Unlikely prom kings 71 Performers in a play, say

DOWN

1 Social dud 2 Animated film with Manny the mammoth 3 Like petting-zoo animals 4 Emcee's delivery 5 Kids' guessing game 6 Spanish bull 7 Chi-town paper (with “the”) 8 Mighty toss 9 Twain's home in New York 10 Neutral stocking

color 11 Roget editions 12 Debate side 13 Crude shelter 21 It has regular drawings 22 Morsel for a horse 26 Rustic lodgings 27 Go well together 30 Write down the wrong answer, e.g. 31 They can be pirated 32 Fortune-teller's deck 34 Albacore or bluefin 35 Tiff 36 Chatty bird 38 Small, furry monkey 39 Cut, paste, or delete, e.g. 40 Combat ships 41 Actor Michael J. 42 From Dublin 46 Right-angled bend 47 Eco-friendly deodorant applicator 49 Beach dressing-room 50 Circles, as Earth 51 Timber problem 54 Cooking apparatus 56 Documentary subject 58 Arm bone 59 Frankenstein's helper 60 Penicillin source 61 Son of Seth 62 Word on a towel 63 Fruit of a miner's labors

Chai Time THURSDAY, JANUARY 3, 2013 Thiruvaikumar

STAR POWER for 4-1-2013

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

ARIES

TAURUS

GEMINI

CANCER

LEO

VIRGO

LIBRA

SCORPIO

SAGITTARIUS

CAPRICORN

AQUARIUS

PISCES

Avoid speculative deals as chances of loss is certain. A peaceful atmosphere will prevail at home. Politicians will be in the forefront in agitations or public meetings. More customers will be added for the businessmen.

STRIP TEASE AGNES

Pregnant women need to be very cautious. Take care of your belongings during travel. Tensions will disappear. Real estate deals will be profitable. Businessmen will foil competition with new and innovative schemes.

Employees will work hard with perfection and get closer to the mangement and superior. Women will plan new and innovative techniques which are supported by parents. Artists will be flooded with good opportunities.

Financial situation will be tight but you will be able to handle the situation wisely. Women's wishes will be fulfilled.Those planning to go abroad will get their visa in time. Politicians are advised not to blame co-partymen as that might boomerang.

Avoid taking important decisions in a hurry. Marriage talks will progress well. Businessmen will be able to handle labour problem wisely and find a suitable solution. Spouse's health will be a cause for concern, take good are of her.

You will face hurdles and succeed with your self confidence and boldness. Financial position will improve. Some govt officials might get transfer of their choice. Software professionals are likely to get promotion and pay hike.

Heat related ailments might affect you. Businessmen will see a good rise in their profits. Politicians will have to struggle to fulfill their commitments. Women need to keep away the persons who befriend them with bad intention.

You will take important decisions very boldly and results will be in the expected lines. Some have bright chance to buy immovable assets. Son will get a prosperous career opening. Some will try to provoke you but keep your cool.

Children's adamant attitude will change and they will cooperate. Politicians will win the confidence of their high command and will be entrusted with plum post. Before investing, businessmen need to study market condition.

TAROT READ

Sumaa Tekur

tarotreadhyd@gmail. com

ARIES:

GEMINI:

Page of Swords – There are clouds of confusion and you may feel like you’re stuck between a rock and hard place. Don’t fret, because there is always a way out.

LEO:

Temperance – You’re feeling on the edge today, and in a bad mood with a short temper. Stay away from people if it will help you focus and not get too emotional.

LIBRA:

PEARLS BEFORE SWINE

Nine of Cups – This is the wish card. But it comes with a warning – be careful what you wish for, it may actually come true.

SAGITTARIUS:

Page of Cups – You’re feeling like a teenager in love, all over again. Enjoy and don’t think about it too much. Go with the flow. Your heart will guide you.

TAURUS:

The Fool – You’re feeling adventurous and are in the mood to try the new. It can be new food, new forms of travel, new wines, etc. Enjoy the spirit of discovery.

CANCER:

Four of Swords – Stability is very important to you. Try to maintain a daily routine that provides the comfort of familiarity. This will also bring about stability.

VIRGO:

Three of Cups – Your plans have worked out beautifully and you’re on your way to success. It’s important that, if this was team work, you celebrate with them.

SCORPIO:

Ten of Cups – Family bonding is on the cards. You will benefit from spending time with them. You may also find solutions to problems in other areas of your life.

CAPRICORN:

Six of Pentacles – An older person is helping you by going out of his/her way. Appreciate it and be grateful for the gesture.

PREVIOUS SOLUTIONS

PISCES:

Knight of Wands – You’re charging ahead with some brilliant ideas, and want to be recognised for them. Your enthusiasm will be appreciated by seniors.

NUMBER GAME

Some form of partnership is on the cards. It could be a business or marriage partnership. It is beneficial and will give you a new lease on life.

SCRABBLE

AQUARIUS: Two of Cups –

POOCH CAFE

Govt works will end without any delay and favourably. Recently graduated women will get a promising career opening. Businessmen are advised to postpone signing contracts. Employees will be given new opportunities.

for 4-1-2013

The Chariot – Travel is indicated. It may be work related or to re-connect with old friends. It will open new perspective and you begin to discover yourself.

NON SEQUITUR

Held up works will resume and end favourably. Businessmen will sign promising contracts with the help of their closefriends and well wishers. VIP friends will help you achieve your goals. Employees’ demands will be accepted.

SUDUKO

Govt officials might get upset as they are promoted without much benefits. Politicians are advised not to waste time on unwanted discussions. Marriage talks might be delayed. Debt issues might put you in a fix.

Boggle LUTE CELLO BANJO BANJO GUITAR VIOLIN Vol: 2, No 168 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 THURSDAY, JANUARY 3, 2013

MEDIOCRE SINGING?

CINE BYTES

Antoine Fuqua defends Quentin Tarantino

irector Antoine Fuqua has defended Quentin Tarantino and his western Django Unchained against Spike Lee and other critics. Fuqua spoke out in support of Tarantino on Sunday during an appearance at the Hollywood Film Festival in Capri, Italy. Tarantino's ﬁlm has come under ﬁre for its controversial content including violence, strong language and the sensitive subject of slavery.

Winslet, hubby relocate to Sussex

inger Adam Lambert has slammed Tom Hooper’s new movie musical Les Miserables insisting the film “suffered massively” due to its all-star cast “pretending to be singers”. The former American Idol star, took to Twitter to voice his disappointment, reported Daily Star. “Les Mis: Visually impressive (with) great emotional performances. But the score suffered massively with great actors PRETENDING to be singers... It’s an opera. Hollywood’s movie musicals treat the singing as the last priority... Anne Hathaway as Fantine and (Aaron Tveit as) Enjolras were the exceptions for me. Helena B (Bonham) Carter and Sacha B (Baron) Cohen were great too,” he said. “With that cast, they should have studio recorded and sweetened the vocals. Eponine’s (Samantha Barks’) voice was cool too... I felt like I should ignore the vocals and focus on the emotional subtext - but the singing was so distracting at times it pulled me out. “The industry will say, ‘These actors were so brave to attempt singing this score live’ but why not cast actors who could actually sound good? Sorry for being so harsh but it’s so true!” PTI

‘Les Miserables’

SUFFERS DUE TO BAD SINGING: ADAM LAMBERT

ate Winslet and Ned Rocknroll have reportedly moved to Sussex. The couple, who married during December in a small New York ceremony, have now reportedly relocated to a £2 million home near Midhurst, West Sussex. According to The Argus, Winslet's uncle Mark Bridger conﬁrmed the news of the move.

Arnold does not regret playing Mr Freeze

ctor Arnold Schwarzenegger says he did not regret doing the negative role of Mr Freeze in 1997 movie Batman And Robin despite the bad reviews it earned.Schwarzenegger, 65, found his role as a villain very interesting in the movie directed by Joel Schumacher. "In most cases I don't regret the movies that failed or were not as good. It's always easy to be smug in hindsight, right?," he said. IANS

sports

THURSDAY, JANUARY 3, 2013

HYDERABAD TRACK WORK

Musical Note, Vijays Triumph impress

HYDERABAD: Musical Note, Vijays Triumph, Winjoy, Santa Monica, Toli ToliToli, Vijay Shaurya and Ashok Chakra impressed when the horses were excercised here this morning:

SAND TRACK 800 METRES:

Ocean Side (Kuldeep Singh) San Ramon(M.Marjk) 57, 600/43 They finished together. Beau Ideal (Kuldeep Singh) Prince of Arabia (M.Mark) 58, 600/43 Former finished a length in front. Pakat Pakat Pakat (rb) 1-2, 600/46 Easy. Hidden Destiny (Deep Shanker) 1-0, 600/45 Moved on the bit. Sprorting Star (app) 53, 600/40 Caught the eye. Santa Monica (Kuldeep Singh) Rio Grande (M.Mark) 56, 600/40 Former finished in front. Exclusive (rb) 59, 600/44 Easy. Best Pal (Anil) 1-0, 600/47 Easy. Shades Of Victory (rb) Anagalekha (rb) 1-2, 600/46 They moved freely. Toli Toli Toli (M.Mark) 54, 600/40 Moved attractively. Azaiba (Ravinder Singh) 58, 600/41 Pleased. Vijays Triumph (Joshi) 55, 600/41 Impressed. Rustic Gal (Sreekant) Most Impressive (rb) 1-0, 600/44 They finished together. Ice Barrier (Anil) Handsome Hunk (app) 1-3.5, 600/46 They moved freely. Blue Diamond (rb) 1-2, 600/46 Easy. Win And Enjoy (Tograllu) 57, 600/43 Slgithly pushed. Genius Empress (rb) 58.5, 600/44 Easy. Speed Striker (K.Alam) 55, 600/41 Moved well. Lots Of Love (Chary) 58, 600/44 Easy. Hurricane Dancer (rb) 59, 600/42.5 Moved on the bit. Symbol Of Beauty (rb) 1-2, 600/47 Unextended. Corvette (K.Alam) 54.5, 600/41 Urged. Lily Marlene (Chary) 1-2.5, 600/46.5 Easy. Young Power (Harinder Singh) 58, 600/44 Moved well. Gold Medal (Anil) Paying Guest (Deep Shanker) 1-1, 600/47 They moved freely. Anacostia (Kuldeep Singh) Ann Arbor (rb) 1-2.5, 600/47 They moved freely. Bel Ami (K.Alam) Mystic Deer (app) 1-2, 600/46 They were ppushed and finished level. Deal Maker (Anil) Flip Side (Deep Shanker) 1-3, 600/46 Former finished in front. Stamp Of Class (rb) 1-0, 600/45 Moved well. Key Note (rb) 57, 600/43 Pushed in the last part.

SAND TRACK 1000 METRES:

Lumier Blanche (Trainer) 1-16, 800/1-0, 600/45 Easy. Fighting Fit (rb) Goldie (rb) 1-14, 800/58, 600/42 Former finished a length in front. Winjoy (Joshi) 1-10, 800/55, 600/41 Pleased. Racing Queen

SPORTS BRIEFS Greipel eyes hat-trick

SYDNEY German’s Andre Greipel will

vie for a third Tour Down Under victory when he returns to Australia with the Lotto Belisol team, organisers said. Mike Turtur said Lotto Belisol would be one of the strongest teams in the Tour, raced around Adelaide in South Australia. AFP

(Tograllu) 1-14, 800/57, 600/43.5 Moved on the bit. Musical Note (Joshi) 1-11, 800/54, 600/40 Impressed. Big Boss (Kuldeep Singh) 1-15, 800/59, 600/43.5 Moved freely. Smashing Beauty (rb) Star Experience (app) 1-15, 800/57.5, 600/43 Former finished in front. Bloody Mary (M.Mark) Pam Springs (Kuldeep Singh) 113.5, 800/57, 600/43 Former finished in front. Magical Punch (rb) Par Excellence (Ravinder Singh) 1-18, 800/1-1, 600/45 Former finished a length in front. Vijayshaurya (Joshi) 1-10, 800/55, 600/41 Moved on the bit. Prince Prashant (M.Mark) Sherman Oaks (Kuldeep Sinngh) 1-12, 800/55, 600/42 Former finished 2 lengths in front. Ashok Chakra (Joshi) 1-9, 800/52.5, 600/40 Caught the eye. Over Look (Anil) Colorful Trip (rb) 1-17.5, 800/1-1, 600/46 They moved freely.

SAND TRACK 1200 METRES:

Over Shadow (rb) Big Move (Sreekant) 135, 1000/1-19, 800/1-3, 600/48 They were easy. Bernabeu (Henrique) Kohinoor Wish (Ajit Kumar) 1-26, 1000/1-11, 800/57.5, 600/44 Latter toyed with the companion and finished together.

SAND TRACK 1400 METRES:

Dauntless (rb) 1-45, 1400/600 in 57.5 Urged. Noted on 02/01/2013.

SAND TRACK 800 METRES:

Baba’s Gift(rb) Saint Luis (rb) 59.5, 600/44 Former finished a length in front. Perfect (rb) Golden Rule (Kuldeep Singh) 1-1, 600/46 Former finished in front. Home Coming (rb) 1-2, 600/46 Easy. Noble Honour (Khurshad Alam) Street Magic (Alikhan) 59.5, 600/43 Former finished a length in front. Heart N Soul (Ajit Kumar) 1-0, 600/45 Easy. Dark Avanger (Chary) 12.5, 600/46.5 Easy. Tillcowscomehome (rb) 1-0, 600/45 Moved freely. Aphrodisiac (rb) 57, 600/43.5 Moved well. Deal Maker (Anil) Flip Side (rb) 1-3, 600/47 They moved freely. Don Valentino (rb) 1-2.5, 600/46 Easy. Kohinoor Vikrant (app) 59, 600/42.5 Urged. Advisor (Anil) Flamboyant Star (rb) 1-2.5, 600/46 They moved freely.

SAND TRACK 1000 METRES:

Jaden Gil (Alikhan) Jamie (K.Alam) 1-13, 800/56.5, 600/42.5 They moved together. Stamp Of Class (rb) 1-16, 800/1-1, 600/46 Easy.

NBA

Mavs continue to struggle

SAND TRACK 1200 METRES:

Strides Of Glory (N.Rawal) 1-26, 1000/110, 800/54, 600/41 Impressed.

WINTER OUTER RACE GRASS 800 METRES:

Blitz (rb) Filed Commander (Sreekant) 56, 600/42 Former finished in front. Kallu Mama (Joshi) Vijays Best (P.Venkat) 49, 600/37 Former impressed while finishing level. 2y.Princely Heir/Equal right (Ajit Kumar) Maths Professor (Uday Kiran) Equalizer (rb) 54, 600/40 First named finished well in front.

GATE PRACTICE 1200 METRES (WINTER RACE GRASS)

Any Given Time (app) Fairy Emperor (M.Mark) 1-20, 1000/1-6, 800/51, 600/38 They jumped out well and finished together. Mystical Knight (P.Venkat) Wow O Wow (Joshi) 1-24.5, 1000/1-9, 800/54.5, 600/40.5 They took a level jump. August Kranti (app) Wendy Gilr (Harinder Singh) Natalia (Deep Shanker) 1-22, 1000/1-7.5, 800/54.5, 600/41.5 They jumped out well. Mahardahi (M.Mark) Kathakali (app) 1-23, 1000/1-8, 800/55.5, 600/43 They jumped out well and former finished well in front. Tico Tico (Kiran Naidu) Dancing In The Rain (Chary) 1-16, 1000/1-2.5, 800/51, 600/39.5 They jumped out well and former finished in front. True Haven (Kuldeep Singh) Marquise (rb) 1-20, 1000/1-6, 800/54, 600/40.5 They took a good jump. Vijays Victory (Harinder Singh) Black Bolt (Deep Shanker) 1-25, 1000/1-10, 800/56, 600/42 They jumped out well. Rjakumar ( Ex Dastaan) (Sreekant) Ancillary (Tograllu) 1-16.5, 1000/1-2.5, 800/50.5, 600/39 They jumped out well.

TURF ATTACK

(Tograllu) Supreme Secret (N.Rawal) Elora (Kuldeep Singh) 1-22, 1000/1-7, 800/54.5, 600/42 They jumped out well. Midnight Paradise(K.Alam) Original Gladiator (app) 1-22, 1000/1-7, 800/53.5, 600/40.5 They jumped out well. Yet Again (Tograllu) Galiant (Sreekant) 1-17.5, 1000/1-2.5, 800/50.5, 600/39 They jumped out well. Shadow In The Mist (M.Mark) Amazing Power (rb) 1-20, 1000/1-5, 800/53, 600/41.5 They took a level jump. Wolverton (K.Alam) Mullf Of Kityre/Serous Trouble (Alikhan) 1-29, 1000/1-11, 800/53, 600/40 They jumped out well.

Dan Hunt joins Team Sky

LONDON: The coach of Britain's triu-

mphant Olympic pursuit team, Dan Hunt, has joined Team Sky as sporting director, the British stable announced Wednesday. Hunt, who helped guide Team Sky riders to gold in August, previously worked with the outﬁt in their inaugural season.

MIAMI: The Miami Heat edged the struggling Dallas Mavericks 119-109 in overtime Wednesday behind 32 points from LeBron James who flirted with a triple double. James finished with 12 rebounds and nine assists for Miami who won their secondstraight game in overtime and extended the Mavericks woes in extra time. Miami ended a two-game losing skid with a 112-110 overtime victory on Monday against Orlando. Dwyane Wade finished with 27 points and 10 rebounds for the Heat, who handed Dallas their ninth-straight overtime loss dating back to the 2011-12 season. Chris Bosh and Ray Allen had 17 and 15 points respectively as Miami started the overtime with a 7-0 run and never looked back. The Mavericks lost their seventh game of their last eight despite 30 points from O.J. Mayo and a season-best 19 points from Dirk Nowitzki. Nowitzki, who also had six rebounds, was playing in just his sixth game since returning from right knee surgery. The German star played a total of 29 minutes Wednesday at the American Airlines Arena. Dallas' Chris Kaman finished with 14 points and 10 rebounds. Nowitzki scored 15 of his points in the second half. He nailed a clutch two pointer from 15 feet with just four seconds left on the clock to send the game into overtime. But Miami's Allen began the extra session with a three-pointer and James sank a jumper off a Dallas turnover for a 108-103 Heat lead. Dallas' Vince Carter then tried an ill-advised inbounds pass that was picked off by Wade who went in for the dunk, giving the Heat a comfortable seven-point lead just over one minute into the overtime. AFP

sports

THURSDAY, JANUARY 3, 2013

HOPMAN CUP

Djokovic suffers shock loss Djokovic suffered a shock defeat at the hands of Bernard Tomic which happens to be the Serbian’s first defeat on Australian soil since 2010.

PERTH, AUSTRALIA: Serbia beat Australia at the Hopman Cup despite world number one Novak Djokovic suffering a shock defeat at the hands of Bernard Tomic on Wednesday. It was Djokovic’s first defeat on Australian soil since 2010, with the Serbian aiming for his third straight Australian Open title in Melbourne later this month. With the 20-year-old Tomic showing the undoubted talent he has only displayed in flashes so far in his short career, a rusty Djokovic was broken in the ninth game of each set, losing 64, 6-4. Tomic applied great pressure to the Djokovic serve throughout, holding 13 break points during the match. He also hit 25 winners, to

Novak Djokovic goes to one knee after attempting a return against Bernard Tomic during their eighth session men’s singles match on day five of the Hopman Cup on Wednesday. AFP/TONY ASHBY

just 12 from Djokovic. It was the first time the Serbian had been beaten by Tomic, ranked 52nd in the

BRISBANE INTERNATIONAL

Azarenka in last eight

BRISBANE, AUSTRALIA: , Jan 2, 2013 (AFP) World number one Victoria Azarenka moved into the quarter-finals of the Brisbane International with a hard-fought 6-3, 6-3 win over German Sabine Lisicki on Wednesday. Azarenka was made to work hard for her win by the hard-hitting Lisicki, who traded punishing ground strokes with the top seed but was let down by a high error rate — 36 unforced errors compared with only nine from her opponent. In a match much closer than the score suggests, Lisicki had her chances but was unable to take them. She had eight break points on Azarenka’s serve but was only able to convert three, whereas Azarenka — who won her maiden WTA title in Brisbane in 2009 — broke Lisicki six times to seize the advantage. She also served poorly, landing only 52 per cent of her first serves and sending down five double faults. But she stayed in the match thanks to the quality of her hitting from the baseline. AFP

ATP CHENNAI OPEN

world, in four official meetings. Djokovic, 25, dismissed the setback, having arrived in Perth only a few days ago after win-

ning in Abu Dhabi. “I knew I was coming here to Australia very late and it takes me time to get used to it,” he said. “I know I am not close to my maximum, but I expected that. I was always on the back foot and he was the better player.” Djokovic said he was fully aware of Tomic’s talent, the Australian reaching a careerhigh ranking of 27 at June. Tomic was a quarter-finalist at Wimbledon in 2011 and made the fourth round at last year’s Australian Open. “He is right up there with the up-and-coming players, he is very talented,” Djokovic said of Tomic. “He knows the game well and tactically plays very well for someone his age. He definitely has the game.” AFP

Isner upbeat even after withdrawal

PERTH, AUSTRALIA: World number 14 John Isner expects to be fit to play at this month’s Australian Open, despite being forced out of the Hopman Cup by a knee injury. The towering American withdrew from the mixed team event Thursday, having looked restricted in both his singles matches for the United States, losing in straight sets to South Africa’s Kevin Anderson and Jo-Wilfried Tsonga of France. After his defeat to Tsonga in Perth on Tuesday, the 27-year-old American number one conceded his right knee was sore but said it was not affecting his play. However, Isner, six feet nine inches (2.06 metres) tall, conceded on Thursday that his knee was hampering him. “Well I don’t actually know if it’s tendonitis, it’s just sore,” he said. AFP

QATAR OPEN

Monfils impresses on return

DOHA: Gael Monfils, the former world No.7 from France who is trying to resurrect his career after a knee injury, scored arguably his best win for nearly a year to reach the Qatar Open quarter-finals in his comeback tournament. It was hard to believe that Monfils is now down at 77 in the rankings and has gone two and a half months without a match, for he looked mobile, motivated, and unusually pragmatic while beating Philipp Kohlschreiber, the third-seeded German, 6-4, 2-6, 6-4 in two hours of absorbing, varied rallies. These suggested Monfils may have rid himself of his chronic ailment. They also hinted at enduring potential for an unpredictably gifted 26-year-old player still with enough speed, serving ability, and inspirational flair to make the later stages of Grand Slams.

Gael Monfils returns the ball to Philipp Kohlschreiber during the 2013 ATP Qatar Open on Wednesday. AFP/KARIM SAHIB

“I didn’t know what to expect (from myself), but I produced good tennis,” said Monfils, “I am physically a hundred percent,” he insisted. “My knee is fine, and I moved well

and I ran fast. I am very happy. Tonight I am pleased with my game.” It is almost three and a half months since Monfils produced a similar win in Metz over Kohlschreiber, a top 20 player, and eleven and a half since he beat his compatriot Gilles Simon, who was then world number 12, in Montpellier. This time it was new-found tactical flexibility and consistency which enabled Monfils to prevail, as he snatched the only break of serve in the very last game. “I was a bit scared when he (Kohlschreiber) was hitting the ball very fast and I had to adapt and change my tactic,” he said. “I tried to play a bit more loopy, to give me time and to make him play up there (higher bounce) because he has very very clean winners when I was playing under his belt.” AFP

Serbia’s Tipsarevic advances CHENNAI, INDIA: Janko Tipsarevic opened his campaign in the ATP Chennai Open on Wednesday with an emphatic win that lifted him into the quarter-finals. Tipsarevic, seeded second behind Tomas Berdych of the Czech Republic in the event, brushed aside Frenchman Edouard Roger-Vasselin 6-2, 6-3 in a second-round match. Tipsarevic, who lost to

Canadian Milos Raonic in last year’s final, was delighted at winning his first match in the tournament after being given a bye in the first round. “It is never easy to win the first match, but I think I played reasonably well to win in straight sets,” he said. “I did not drop my serve and took advantage of the unforced errors my opponent made, especially in the first set. AFP

Bopanna-Ram in quarterfinals CHENNAI: India’s Rohan Bopanna and India-born American Rajeev Ram progressed with ease into the doubles event quarters of the Chennai Open tournament. The third seeded pair took just an hour to dispose off Lu Yen-Hsun (Tpe) and Go Soeda (Jpn) 6-4, 6-3 and they will take on Benoit Paire of France and Stanislas Wawrinka (Sui) in the quarterfinal tie. PTI

sports

THURSDAY, JANUARY 3, 2013

SRI LANKA’S TOUR OF AUSTRALIA

Mahela half-century boosts SL

SYDNEY: Mahela Jayawardene scored his first Test 50 outside Sri Lanka in more than three years on Thursday on the opening day of the final Test against Australia. The skipper led from the front with 72 as the injury-hit tourists reached 169 for four at tea after being sent in to bat by

the home side, who lead 2-0 in the three-Test series. The last time he had passed 50 outside home was way back in November 2009 in India, although he has continued to score at home. He went 26 innings outside Sri Lanka without a half-century. At the interval Lahiru

Oz, SL players remember Tony Greig SYDNEY: Australian and Sri Lankan players paid their respects to Tony Greig in a moving farewell to the former England captain before the start of play in the third Test on Thursday. A minute’s silence was observed by players wearing black armbands and fans in honour of Greig, who died at the weekend aged 66 from a heart attack while battling lung cancer. A trademark Greig sunhat was placed symboli-

cally on the stumps at the Sydney Cricket Ground before being taken away by his sons, Mark and Tom. The sons embraced and headed from the ground before the start of play. Greig’s family and the Channel 9 commentary team were invited by opposing captains Michael Clarke and Mahela Jayawardene to join the players and officials on the playing arena before the match started. AFP

Sri Lanka’s Mahela Jayawardene (L) with Lahiru Thirimanne, waves his bat after reaching 50 against Australaia on Thursday. AFP/GREG WOOD

Thirimanne, who only arrived in Australia this week to cover for the injured Kumar Sangakkara, was on 37 not out after having a leg before wicket dismissal overturned on review on the first ball he faced. Angelo Mathews was yet to score. After his close shave Thirimanne knuckled down to play straight and add some solidity to the Sri Lanka batting, woefully missing in Melbourne last week where they lost by an innings and 201 runs after being routed for 103. Australia removed both openers in the morning session. Michael Clarke looked for a quick return on a bold decision to bowl after going into a Test with four quicks for the first time since the third Test against India

NEW ZEALAND IN SOUTH AFRICA

McCullum praises Vernon CAPE TOWN: New Zealand captain Brendon McCullum acclaimed the bowling of Vernon Philander and bemoaned his side’s performance after they crashed to 45 all out on the first day of the first Test at Newlands on Wednesday. Philander took the first five wickets as New Zealand were bowled out before lunch after winning the toss and batting on a well-grassed pitch. That the surface contained no real demons was shown as South Africa reached 252 for three, a lead of 207, by the close, with Alviro Petersen making 103 not out. “It’s a bitterly disappointing day,” said McCullum. “It was a poor batting performance coupled with an outstanding bowling performance. The spell by Philander was as good a spell as you will see in Test cricket. He never missed his length, he asked questions in terms of defending the stumps and managed to get the odd ball to kiss away as well. It was a world-class spell.” Philander took the first three wickets ithout conceding a run and finished with five for seven as New Zealand

Brief Scores New Zealand 45 All out (K. Williamson 13, Steyn 2/18, Philander 5/7, Morkel 3/14) South Africa 252/3 (A. Petersen not out 103, H. Amla 66, J. Kallis 60, A. de Villiers not out 19, Boult 1/53, Bracewell 1/77,Franklin 1/23)

South Africa’s Vernon Philander successfuly appeals against New Zealnad’s Martin Guptill, during their first Test match aCape Town on Wednesday. AFP/ALEXANDER JOE

collapsed to their third-lowest total in Test cricket and the joint 12th worst by any team.

New Zealand, fielding a team hit by injuries and controversy, contributed substantially to their collapse with uncertain foot movement against Philander, who stuck to his tried and tested method of bowling in a tight channel at a lively pace, able to make the ball deviate in either direction. McCullum admitted: “We weren’t anywhere near where we wanted to be with the bat.” Asked whether he had considered bowling first on his first day as Test captain, McCullum said: “I definitely thought about it. I had a long, hard look at the pitch yesterday and again after it was cut this morning.

Scorecard Sri Lanka 1st Innings Karunaratne c Hussey b Bird 5 T. Dilshan c Wade b Bird 34 Jayawardene c Clarke b Starc 72 L. Thirimanne not out 37 T. Samaraweera lbw b Siddle 12 A. Mathews not out 0 Extras (lb6, w2, nb1) 9 Total (4 wkts, 54 overs) 169 Fall of wickets: 1-26, 2-72, 3134, 4-167 Bowling: Starc 11-0-48-1, Bird 14-7-29-2, Siddle 11-2-35-1, Johnson 8-1-27-0, Lyon 8-1-23-0, Hussey 2-1-1-0

in Perth a year ago. Jackson Bird snared the wicket of Dimuth Karunaratne but Australia had to wait until 20 minutes before lunch for a second. AFP

INDIA VS PAKISTAN

India need genuine all-rounder: Dhoni KOLKATA: Mahendra Singh Dhoni said that his side was finding it increasingly difficult to win matches with part-timers and would now need a genuine all-rounder keeping in mind the recent changes in ODI rules. He said the new ODI rules which stipulate five players to remain inside the circle for full 50 overs have created problems for a side like India who used to rely on part-timers. “We are used to play with part-timers. Now it’s difficult for part-timers to bowl with five players inside the circle. If there’s dew, then you don’t get turns as well. It becomes more difficult,” Dhoni said at the pre-match press conference ahead of the second ODI. “With the new rules, you’ve to assess whether six batsmen are enough or seven. It’s very difficult to play with the part-timers and expect them to bowl 10 overs,” he said. “What we’re looking at is somebody who can fill in the gap — a genuine all-rounder to bring in the balance in the side. Lower order contribution is also very important especially when you’re chasing.” Dhoni, however, said under the new rules the batsmen would stand a chance to score big runs if they are set. PTI

AFP

CRICKET BRIEFS Miandad granted visa, to watch final Indo-Pak ODI ISLAMABAD: Javed Miandad confirmed that he has been granted an Indian visa that will allow him to attend the final one-dayer of the ongoing limited-over cricket series between the two countries in New Delhi on January 6. “I am going to New Delhi on January 5 to watch the cricket match between India and Pakistan the following day. I also have a visa for Ajmer Sharif and will go there as well,” Miandad told PTI. Due to Miandad’s family ties with Dawood Ibrahim, India’s most wanted terrorist, there had been reports bef-

ore a series in 2005 that any requests for a visa by the batting great could be turned down by the Indian government. Miandad’s son Junaid is married to Mahrukh, the daughter of Dawood, who is wanted in India in connection with the ‘93 Mumbai blasts case. Miandad, however, brushed aside the impression that India was “out of bounds” for him.”Why should anybody be bothered about me in India with regard to Dawood Ibrahim? His (Ibrahim’s) family members are there and they should be quizzed first,” he said. PTI

Armstrong will remain my hero: Yuvraj Singh KOLKATA: Seven-time Tour de France champion, Lance Armstrong’s great fall from the grace is not enough for India all-rounder Yuvraj Singh to change his opinion about the American cyclist who had been slapped with a ban for use of performance-enhancing drugs. “I’ve read everything that has come out on him. I sent him a New Year message saying that he would always be my hero no matter what the world says. “Coming back from cancer and achieving so much makes him

great. He is an idol. You see super heroes in fiction, he’s a real life hero,” Yuvraj, who also survived cancer after undergoing three cycles of chemotherapy, said here today. Armstrong was earlier this year stripped of his seven Tour titles and lost most of his sponsors after the US Anti-Doping Agency said he had been at the front of a systematic doping program. Yuvraj, meanwhile, said he always looked up to Sachin Tendulkar as an elder brother and his retirement from ODIs has made him very sad.

THURSDAY, JANUARY 3, 2013

sports

RONALDO PROMISES BETTER YEAR FOR REAL

Real Madrid’s star striker Cristiano Ronaldo vowed on Wednesday that the faltering Spanish title holders would fight back in 2013 and played down reported tensions in the club.

EPL REVIEW

QPR shock Chelsea, as Everton continue good run Liverpool also reinvigorated their push for European football by sweeping Sunderland aside 3-0 at Anfield to climb two places to eighth. Chelsea drop to fourth. TOM WILLIAMS Agencie France-Presse

Liverpool’s Uruguayan striker Luis Suarez celebrates scoring their second goal during the English Premier League football match between Liverpool and Sunderland at Anfield in Liverpool, north-west England on Wednesday. AFP PHOTO/PAUL ELLIS

Blues set for Ba bid LONDON: Chelsea have been given permission to approach Newcastle United striker Demba Ba (right) after making an offer that triggered a release clause in his contract, Newcastle confirmed on Wednesday. Chelsea can now open talks with the 27-year-old Senegal striker after meeting the £7 million asking price stipulated in his contract. Ba, who joined Newcastle in 2011, was subsequently withdrawn from manager Alan Pardew’s squad for the 2-1 Premier League loss at home to Everton on Wednesday evening. “Newcastle United can confirm that Chelsea Football Club has made an official offer for Demba Ba which has triggered the release clause in the player’s contract,” Newcastle said in a statement.

“The club has given the player permission to speak to Chelsea FC and therefore he will not be included in the squad for tonight’s (Wednesday’s) game against Everton.” Although Chelsea are yet to conclude a deal for Ba, Pardew expects the transfer to be completed shortly. “It’s done. He will go to Chelsea with our blessing,” Pardew told Sky Sports, shortly before kick-off in the game against Everton. “He has done fantastic for us and it’s not a bad thing, all the uncertainty is now done and we can move on. This club is bigger than any player for sure.” Chelsea interim manager Rafael Benitez refused to confirm his club’s approach for Ba, but he did concede they were in need of extra options up front.

Chelsea can now open talks with the Senegal striker after meeting the $11.4 million asking price stipulated in his contract.

LONDON: Chelsea old boy Shaun Wright-Phillips stunned his former club with a 78th-minute winner as bottom side Queens Park Rangers shocked the European champions 1-0 in the Premier League on Wednesday. The 31-year-old drove home from the edge of the box at Stamford Bridge to move Harry Redknapp’s side to within five points of safety and prevent Chelsea from reclaiming third place from Tottenham Hotspur. Meanwhile, Everton bolstered their bid for Champions League football by coming from behind to win 2-1 at Newcastle. Liverpool reinvigorated their push for European football by sweeping Sunderland aside 3-0 at Anfield to climb two places to eighth. Teenage winger Raheem Sterling opened the scoring in the 19th minute, galloping onto a pass from Luis Suarez and calmly lobbing the advancing Simon

EPL table (top 10) P W L D GF GA Pts Man Utd 21 17 1 3 54 28 52 Man City 21 13 6 2 41 19 45 Tottenham21 12 3 6 39 27 39 Chelsea

20 11 5 4 39 19 38

Everton

21 9 9 3 35 26 36

Arsenal

20 9 7 4 40 22 34

West Brom21 10 3 8 29 27 33 Liverpool 21 8 7 6 34 26 31 Swansea 21 7 8 6 31 26 29 Stoke

21 6 11 4 21 20 29

Mignolet. Suarez added a second in the 26th minute, shrugging off Carlos Cuellar before beating Mignolet at his near post, and the Uruguayan made it 3-0 from Steven Gerrard’s pass seven minutes into the second half. Suarez’s brace took his tally of league goals to 15, while Liverpool are now only seven points beneath the Champions League places.

Sturridge heads to Anfield The 23-year-old joined Chelsea from Manchester City in 2009, but was unable to impose himself at Stamford Bridge. LONDON: Liverpool announced on Wednesday that they have completed a deal to sign England international forward Daniel Sturridge from Chelsea on a long-term contract. The 23-year-old joined Chelsea from Manchester City in 2009 but was unable to impose himself at Stamford Bridge and has been predominantly used as a substitute this season. “I am humbled and happy to be here,” Sturridge told the Liverpool website. “[Liverpool manager] Brendan Rodgers said he sees me here for a long time, and I also see myself here for a long time. I’ve not signed here to play for a couple of years and then move on. “I’ve signed to be

here for as long as possible. It’s a humongous club — for me, one of the biggest in the world — and to have the fans and worldclass players we have here is amazing.” Speaking after his side’s 3-0 win at home to Sunderland on Wednesday, Rodgers said he was excited about adding Sturridge to his squad. “I have known Daniel since he was 12 at Coventry and then coming through the ranks at Man City. He can score, he has pace and power,” said Rodgers. “He is also hungry and what we need at Liverpool is players hungry to do well. He recognises this might be his chance at a big club and he has to produce.”