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TUESDAY, JULY 3, 2012 HYDERABAD
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WEATHER: A MIX OF CLOUDY AND CLEAR SKIES; 26°C
‘JACKIE CHAN’ ESCAPES CUSTODY REPORT ON PG 3
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STUDENTS USE MIGHT TO REALISE RIGHTS The City has seen a sudden spurt of protests by students. While students believe that these protests are a way to stand up for their rights, college authorities opine that they are being P4 misguided by student unions.
SHRUTI HAASAN SIGNS RAVI TEJA’S BALUPU P21
In an incredulous incident, a hardcore criminal escaped from a police van while four armed escorts watched the scene unfold as mute spectators.
LAWYER ON DHARNA BEFORE SENIOR LOVER’S HOME! Street No 8 of Habsiguda today witnessed an unusual protest where a young advocate, along with women activists, sat in dharna before her senior colleague’s house for refusing to fulfill his promise of marriage. P3
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TUESDAY, JULY 3, 2012
Spirit of Twin Cities
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DOG TYRED N SHIVA KUMAR
Hyderabad Library services Library and librarian services offered to members and groups (institutions) at `3,650 per year (per member). It covers study, career, competition, business of research. Welcome to APSET enrolled. Where: Hyderabad library services, Sagar View Complex When: June 9 to July 8, Contact: (040) 2322 2247, 94412 37751
Being eunuch Being Eunuch, a play highlighting the plight and problems of eunuchs in the country will be presented by Nishumbita on July 13. Where: Ravindra Bharathi, Saifabad When: July 13, 7pm onwards Contact: (040) 2323 1245
Dragon festival Have an oriental experience as the Golden Dragon at Taj Banjara presents its Dragon Festival Feast from June 28 onwards. Where: Golden Dragon, Taj Krishna, Banjara Hills When: Ongoing Contact: (040) 6629 3309
Art-de-konj A painting exhibition depicting artist Aiyudha Pooja Kapur’s passion for horses is on display at Muse Art Gallery till July 20. Where: Muse Art Gallery, Tank Bund When: Ongoing, 11am onwards Contact: (040) 2752 2999
Art show Head to Shrishti Art Gallery, where the artworks of talent artist Farhad Tamkanat will be on display. The exhibition is on till July 4. Where: Shrishti Art Gallery, Jubilee Hills, Rd No 15. When: Ongoing, 11am onwards Contact: (040) 2354 0023
Musical evening Boondhon ka Paigam, a monsoon musical yearly event will be held on July 12 at Hyderabad Marriott and Convention centre. The musical event will feature Kavitha Seth and Jaswinder Singh. Where: Hyderabad Marriott and convention centre, Tank Bund
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When: July 12, 7pm onwards Contact: (040) 2752 2999
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Osmania University Road When: June 2 onwards, 10am-1pm Contact: (040) 6682 4422
Adam and the fish eyed poets, is a group of passionate Chennai-based musicians. Their sound is a mix of a variety of music forms. The band will be playing at Hard Rock Cafe. Where: Hard Rock Cafe, Banjara Hills, Rd No 1 When: July 5, 9pm onwards Contact: (040) 6463 6375
Pochampally mela
Theatre workshop
Akriti is organising an exhibition and sale to support the cause of charity projects. Where: Jaya Gardens, Somajiguda When: Ongoing, 10.30am onwards
A production-oriented workshop designed to introduce the art of acting on stage, focusing on learning the basics of stage acting, character analysis, stage and movement,is being held. Where: Actor’s Studio, Madhapur When: Ongoing, 7pm onwards Contact: 8341120303
Soft toy workshop A soft toy making workshop will be held at Andhra Mahila Sabha Arts & Science College for Women. Where: Andhra Mahila Sabha College for Women,
Head to the Pochampally mela for a variety of pochampally linen, dress materials, silk and cotton sarees. Where: Sri Sathya Sai Nigamagamam, Srinagar Colony When: Ongoing, 10am onwards Contact: (040) 2374 1450
Akriti Monsoon Mela
Petals exhibition Get set for yet another shopping extravaganza. Petals exhibition will be held on July 6. The exhibition which will be held will feature various new designers. Where: Taj Banjara, Banjara Hills, Rd No 1 When: July 6, 10am onwards Contact: (040) 6666 2323
Saturday night Head to Via Milano every Saturday for a musical evening. Megha Girish performs every Saturday providing the great combination of music and food. Where: Via Milano, Jubilee Hills,Rd No 36 When: Ongoing, 8pm onwards Contact: (040) 6455 6677
Akruthi Vasthra Crafts Council of India is hosting a textile exhibition from July 4 at Kamma Sangham Hall. The exhibition features artistes from across the country. Where: Kamma Sangham Hall, Ameerpet When: July 4-July 6, 10.30am onwards Contact: 92937 73970
Woodcut workshop The workshop conducted by artist M Ganghadar features various artists and is on from June 30. The exhibition will be on display at Iconart Gallery till July 8. Where: Iconart Art Gallery, Banjara Hills, Rd No 12 When: Ongoing, 11.30am onwards Contact: 98499 68797
Big Cinemas, Ameerpet: 30581470; Cinemax, Banjara Hills: 44565555; Cine Planet , Kompally: 61606060; INOX, Banjara Hills: 447677770; Prasads, Tank Bund Rd: 23448888; PVR, Punjagutta: 8800900009; Talkie Town, Miyapur: 40214175; Tivoli, Secunderabad: 27844973
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‘Jackie Chan’ escapes police custody in filmy style In an incredulous incident, a hardcore criminal escaped from a police van while four armed escorts watched the scene unfold as mute spectators
CRIME Mohd Subhan mohd.s@postnoon.com
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enkateshwar Rao alias Jackie Chan, an undertrial prisoner at Cherlapally jail to whose (dis)credit hundreds of cases have been registered in various parts of the State, escaped from a police van last night. This happened despite a four-member armed police team escorting him! The filmy style escape took place at the Cherlapally railway station gate, Kushaiguda inspector, Srikanth Goud said. The police version goes like this. Jackie, 30, was produced in the Nirmal Court during the day and the van was returning to the jail when it negotiated a
speed breaker at the Cherlapally railway station that resulted in the vehicle slowing down. Taking advantage of this and the cover of darkness, the prison jumped out in a jiffy and
bolted before the police personnel could react. The police could not explain if the prisoner was handcuffed. Also they are unable to say why Jackie, known for hundreds of
crimes, was allowed to sit near the door. So what action did the armed escorts take? “Inquiry, as usual, is in progress,” is the response. Jackie is a notorious criminal, police admit. He is involved in robbery, murder, extortion and molestation. He was convicted several times and had been imprisoned many times in different jails in the State. There are a few police stations that he is not familiar with, remarked Cherlapally superintendent KL Srinivas Rao. Jackie belongs to Prakasam district and police say his whole family is in the “crime” business. While he was making his ‘career’ in crime, Venkateshwara is said to have practiced martial arts and adored Jackie Chan for his prowess in Kung Fu. Thus he called himself Jackie Chan.
Attender commits suicide in advocate’s office feedback@postnoon.com
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earing the worst in the judgement being pronounced today against him in a dowry case, a 42-year-old man, allegedly committed suicide by hanging in the advocate’s office at Chirag Ali Lane in Abids. The man by name Srinivas Yadav and was working as an office attender in the advocate’s office.
Assistant commissioner of police Abids, B Limba Reddy said that preliminary enquiries have revealed that the man was facing a criminal case in connection with the death of his wife that had taken place around seven years ago. A case of dowry death was registered against him and the judgement was expected to be pronounced today. It is believed that he had learnt the ruling would end in his conviction.
Lawyer on dharna before senior lover’s home! Postnoon News
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treet No 8 of Habsiguda today witnessed an unusual protest where a young advocate along with women activists sat in dharna before her senior colleague’s house for refusing to fulfill the promise of marriage. The protest was in front of the senior lawyer Saibalu, an advocate in the City civil court. “He is a cheat. He promised marriage but now he refuses to honour it,” screamed Annapurna, the lawyer, amid sloganeering by activists from TRS, CPI and CPM. Saibalu’s embarrassed family, meanwhile, called the Habsiguda police.
Cops came and took both Annapurna and Saibalu to the police station. The woman advocate described how they had been working together and behaving like an engaged couple since 2008. All these years the senior kept saying they would get married but recently he asked her to forget the episode. Dejected and anguished, Annapurna sought the help of the women’s wings of TRS and the Left parties who extended their solidarity and came in for dharna. Saibalu accused Annapurna and the activists of attacking his home. Interestingly, Saibalu is 53-year-old father of two while Annapurna is 28.
NEWS BRIEFS A-320 type training course commences
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he central training establishment (CTE) commenced its Airbus A-320 type rating training course for external candidates on July 2 at the Central Training Establishment, Hyderabad. Capt RS Dhillon, general manager incharge-training, CTE inaugurated the course by traditionally lighting the lamp. The duration of the course is said to be approximately between 22 weeks and 36 weeks for the entire batch. The Airbus A320 Type Rating Course at the central training establishment will give these candidates the much needed competitive edge in todays market, stated an Air India press release.
House partially damaged after blast
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blast took place in Old City’s Ganganagar on Tuesday morning due to which the house was partially damaged after a cylinder burst. Due to the impact windows,doors and gate of the house were damaged. So far no casualties have been reported. Deputy commissioner of police, South Zone Akun Sabharwal said that this house belongs to Abdul Khader, a business man. The locals had panicked as news had spread that it was a bomb.
Two die, many injured in road accidents
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Postnoon News
On the occasion of foundation day, State Bank of India (SBI) has launched State Bank Business Debit card for its SME and business customers, which has an array of features that include cash deposit facility, option of setting up point of sale terminals. The bank will also install 1,40,000 fans in 14,000 schools as part of the occasion.
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wo people were killed while several others were injured in different road accidents in the State on Monday. The two persons riding a motorcycle were killed when a van hit their bike on the outskirts of Korutla in Karimnagar district. In the second accident, three students were injured when an autorickshaw was hit by an RTC bus near Jangareddypalli under Amanagal mandal of Mahabubnagar district. In the third accident, four students were injured when the vehicle in which they were traveling met with an accident near Thangallapalli in Karimnagar district. In the fourth accident, three students were injured when their school bus was hit by a lorry near Karunagiri in Khammam.
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Students use might to realise rights The City has seen a sudden spurt of protests by students. While students believe that these protests are a way to stand up for their rights, college authorities opine that they are being misguided by student unions M ANIL KUMAR
AGITATION Sudeshna Koka sudeshna.k@postnoon.com
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n Friday, students of Loyola Academy protested against the vice-principal, Fr Rex Angelo, after he reportedly used harsh and abusive language to reprimand a female student. The protest began with slogans and gradually took a violent turn with students breaking window panes on the campus. Years back, colleges and universities had student unions, youth wings and several such activist groups, which would constantly fight for student rights. Protests were common. However lately, this craze for revolution amongst the youth has been on the wane and protests rarely took place in educational institutions for a few years. Recently, the situation has changed in Hyderabad. Protests, dharnas and strikes are no longer alien to students and the society. Hyderabad college and university students have rekindled the passion to fight for their rights and freedom. From a national law college to a medical college, students today are more aware and believe in standing up for their rights. “Protests and strikes are more to do with a college’s rules and regulations. In our college, we have the freedom to protest in a democratic manner. Initially, when I joined English and Foreign Language University (EFLU) the whole concept of protest, rights and strikes was new to me. After staying here and observing what happens, I started to believe in and understand the importance of my rights. It’s an environment where in we all want to be a part of the culture, be a part of the larger group,” said Sri Suhith, an EFLU
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Colleges that have been in the news for protest in the last few months Loyola Academy: Use of harsh and abusive language while reprimanding a student Osmania University: Beef not being served on the campus Gandhi Medical College: Less stipend and no good hospital facilities EFLU: Against the new VC and mess food NALSAR: Several issues PG College of Law, Basheerbagh: No hostel facilities Gowtham Junior College, Karkhana Branch: Bus pass not being issued and classes not being conducted for languages. student. What is unknown to most of the society is that protests and strikes are a last resort for the students. Take for example the PG College of Law, Basheerbagh. Most of the students in the college are non-locals. Despite that, hostel accommodation was not being provided. Repeated efforts by the students failed to reap any
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results. Seeing no other way out, they filed a complaint with the Human Rights Commission. Soon after the complaint, the college registrar promised to arrange for hostel accommodation. However, the promise was not kept. This time the students approached the High Court, who ordered the VC to arrange accommodation at the earliest.
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However, students were let down again when the management did not fulfill their promise. “When they did not follow the orders of the High Court, we had no other choice but to stage a protest. A few students locked themselves in a room and refused to come out. Later, all of us boycotted classes and staged a dharna. After pressuring them, they arranged for hostels,” said Kaushik Pranav, a PG College of Law, Basheerbagh student. The management and teachers on the other hand have a completely different take on the rising protests in the City. Ganesh, director of Gowtham Institutes opines that the cause for which the students are fighting may be authentic but the method is wrong. “What we have observed is that student unions have increased in the City. These leaders are not genuine. Instead of explaining and counseling students they are instigating them. They just order and don’t give
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students time to think rationally, which is very wrong.” The State’s environment also has a major role to play. Leading student counsellor Prerna Gupta believes that students observe what’s happening around them and adapt. Perhaps it’s the Telengana effect on students. “Students are no longer submissive. They are aware of their rights and want to fight against injustice. Also today there is a lot of awareness among students; there are so many student groups that pump energy and help spread awareness. Also, when they see the results of protests they get motivated to fight for the cause.” Anushree Gupta, a final year Nalsar law students said, “We have been patient all this while, but nothing happened. It’s high time we made our voices heard. Yes, we have moved from a state of passive acceptance of our fate to a state where we know together we can and we will.”
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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
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Who’s backing Pranab? Inkeshaf Ahmed
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Declare financial emergency, says TDP
ahmed.m@postnoon.com
Postnoon News
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he recent indirect appeal by United Progressive Alliance (UPA)’s presidential candidate Pranab Mukherjee to the main opposition TDP, TRS and YSR Congress to extend their support during the presidential elections did not have any effect on these parties. While the TRS is maintaining a stoic silence on the issue, the TDP and the YSR Congress are so occupied with their personal programmes that they don’t have time to ponder on the request. Postnoon tried to gauge what these parties feel following Pranab’s appeal during his Hyderabad visit. When Pranab was in the City, TDP chief Chandrababu Naidu was highlighting the farmers’ problems during the monsoon season, the YSR Congress honorary president YS Vijayamma had gone to Vizag to extend support to the agitation launched by the fishermen community at Tikkavanipalem demanding jobs in the
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NTPC Simhadri project. Reacting to Pranab’s appeal, TDP senior leader Yerrannaidu said that the party would take a final call before the presidential election on July 20. “There is a lot of time to take a final decision on the issue. We are seriously contemplating the issue and will take a final decision two or three days before the election,” he said.
Vijayamma in Delhi Meanwhile, the honorary presi-
dent of YSR Congress Vijayamma left for Delhi along with other party leaders. The main objective of this visit is to meet PM Manmohan Singh and other UPA ministers and bring to their notice the injustices meted out to Jagan Mohan Reddy in the name of CBI investigation. During these meetings the issue of extending support to Pranab Mukherjee is also likely come up for discussion. Many party leaders did not deny this fact.
Sridhar Reddy’s urges T Cong leaders to work for separation
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enior Congress leader M Sridhar Reddy has appealed to the Congress leaders from Telangana to come out from the Andhra Pradesh Congress Committee and set up the Telangana Congress Committee to fight for the cause of a separate state. Speaking to the mediapersons, Sridhar Reddy urged the Congress leaders from the region to remain united and mount pressure on the Central government to solve the separate State issue. He wanted the leaders to achieve Telangana state as it existed prior to merger with Andhra region in 1956, and thus fulfil the wishes and aspirations of the people. He felt that a separate state could be achieved only when the Telangana Congress committee was formed.
Sridhar Reddy alleged the leaders were not sincerely analysing the party’s debacle in the recent by-elections in the State. He opined that the party would be defeated in the Telangana region in the 2014 general elections, if the high command failed to resolve the issue. Responding to the Rayala Telangana move, he said that it was not a justified demand, and the people of the region were fighting for only a separate Telangana. He said the State’s development depended on resolving the Telangana issue. He said that the Kiran Kuamr Reddy will be the last CM from Seemandhra. He said that the people of Telangana were not against Seemandhra people. They were opposing some leaders, who were opposing Telangana. NSS
he State is cooking its seeds and it will soon have to go totally hungry. It ought to declare a financial emergency, says TDP politburo member and former speaker Yanamala Ramakrishnudu. Blaming the YSR government for playing “diwali” with State finance, he said the present predicament of the Kiran government is such that while the revenue has been in the realm of `66,000 crore, the burden of debts has shot up to `63,000 crore. Both the debts and tax burden on the common man had increased to `1.16 lakh crore. The TDP leader urged the Centre to issue the order under Article 360, 360(3) of the Constitution and said the State had already slid enough to undergo wages and means advances for `1,500 crore during 2012-13 as against `1,000 in 2011-12 and `216 crore in 2010-11. He said the GSDP has come down to three per cent while the unemployment rate had gone up
by 9 to 10 per cent. “It is a shame that AP has failed to attract even `6 lakh crore investments (the figure too is cooked up) as against `28 lakh crores of Gujarat, `25 lakh crore of Karnataka, `15 lakh crore of Tamil Nadu.” All these show what the eight years of YSR and Congress regime had done to the State.” Yanamala says the farming sector of AP, which used to be robust till the new millennium, is in crisis due to the thoughtless policies of the Congress government. The State should immediately go into an austerity measure, he said.
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HC angry with CBI for frequent calls to media
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he Andhra Pradesh High Court has expressed its anger at the CBI joint director Lakshminarayana for making innumerable phone calls to the media. Questioning him about the need for the investigating agency to make so many calls to the media, the court has directed the JD to submit his explanation by July 9. One Bhavanam Bhushan filed a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) on the calls made by the JD to the media. Admitting the petition, the HC has issued a notice to Lakshminarayana. The petitioner sought action against
the JD charging him with misleading the court by informing it earlier that he had not talked to the media, while his call list, now disclosed, proved otherwise. The petitioner said that talking to the media was against the manual of the agency. He said innumerable phone calls were made and received between the JD and representatives of Eenadu and Andhra Jyothi. He has also mentioned about the SMS messages between them. The petitioner has said that the JD was not authorised to speak to any one except his higher authorities on cases under investigation. NSS
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INSIGHT INTO... Rasoolpura
TOAST TO A BETTER FUTURE Padmini C padmini.c@postnoon.com
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here are many things you can expect to see in Hyderabad’s largest slum settlement. Yet Rasoolpura manages to surprise. For youngsters in the area, there’s only one place to be from 6 to 8 in the mornings, and that’s the gym. Except, this is no commercial venture but a unique initiative floated about a year ago by the community group ‘United Rasoolpura’ along with the NGO Family Planning Association to help youngsters improve their lifestyles. Many of them in the area had been suffering due to the rampant use of addictive substances and artificial intoxicants. “Youngsters growing up in the slum don’t dream about becoming doctors or engineers as much as they aim to be their favourite heroes that they see on screen. So, they come to the gym to better themselves. Moreover, we coach them and tell them that to be at their physical best, they have to give up on harmful habits and vices like smoking, drinking, drugs etc. They do it too, because by then they are reaping the benefits of being fit. Therefore, through this gym, we are promoting healthy living,” say locals and members of United Rasoolpura. In the meantime, residents of Rasoolpura grapple with scarce water supply, poor drainage system and a general lack of sanitation system. Despite the many challenges, residents choose to focus on the brighter side.
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NAME CHANGE Kuchi Siva Narayan, R/O.Flat No. G1, Sriven Residency, Sri Hanuman Co-op Housing Society, Kakaguda, Kharkhana, Secunderabad, Andhra Pradesh, has changed his name to Kuchi Shiva Narayan. Henceforth w.e.f. 0107-2012 he has to be called and known as Kuchi Shiva Narayan
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Software banishes vermicelli The use of hand-made seviyan, for making the traditional sheer khorma during Ramazan, is on the decline as the educated youth prefer the machine-made variety M ANIL KUMAR
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MUNICIPAL APPROVAL
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Sri Lakshmi turns to philosophy
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ormer IAS officer Sri Lakshmi who was arrested in connection with the illegal mining case against Gali Janardana Reddy, appears to have turned philosophical and has been spending her time reading spiritual books. According to information, she has been refusing to meet her family members and friends. She has been meeting only her husband Gopi Krishna. She has been going for walks in the morning and in the evening. Rest of the time she spents reading books and praying. Though she has been accorded special prisoner status by virtue of the position she held, she has been leading a simple life, totally withdrawn to herself, say sources. NSS
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onalu led the season of festivals and religious observances for Hyderabad, and now it’s time for the month-long Ramzan. With just a fortnight left for the City to begin Ramzan, preparations are in full swing. Many parts of the Old City are already sporting haleem counters and shops are offering discounts and using other tactics to promote shopping. Homes are getting a fresh coat of paint and the festive spirit can be seen everywhere. But one notable aspect missing is vermicelli. Popularly known as seviyan in Hindi, it is the main ingredient during the festival. It is used to make the traditional sheer khorma . In the recent years, machine-made
vermicelli has taken over the age-old practice of making seviyan at home. The making of vermicelli can only be seen in some interior streets of the Old City. “It’s a tiresome task and not profitable unlike other businesses and that’s the main reason many families have quit making it for the market,” said Rehmat Ali a fifth generation vermicelli maker from the Barkas area. One more reason is that the handmade vermicelli is more expensive than the machine-made vermicelli. The handmade vermicelli ranges between `150 and `200 a kilogram whereas the commercial vermicelli ranges from `40 to `100 a kg. “Unlike the olden days, youngsters don’t like to involve themselves in the vermicelli making business. More and more youngsters are getting educated and prefer working in the software industry or in corporate firms. There is a huge amount of labour involved in making vermicelli and with not many people pre-
ferring to continue the business, many families have been forced to give up their ancestral business,” said Khansaab from Moosapet whose family has been in this business for 40 years. Every year Khansaab and his brothers start making vermicelli five months before Ramazan. However, there are still those traditionalists who will not compromise on the rituals. Making vermicelli manually is part of the religious fest and they want it to be continued. The handmade vermicelli is a little more salty but when prepared in milk it floats on milk and gives a better taste, old-timers point out. “For the last 25 years I have been making vermicelli with the help of my father. My forefathers used to start making the thin long noodles three months in advance and they used to earn well. But the scenario is different now. I am not sure if my kids would like to take up this business after me as they hardly get time after their regular job and are not keen to take up the business,” adds Rehmat Ali.
Political protest TDP president N Chandrababu Naidu, CPI State secretary Dr Narayana and farmer leaders were arrested at Indira Park on Monday when they tried to march towards the Secretariat, as a part of the maha dharna. N SHIVA KUMAR
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TUESDAY, JULY 3, 2012
Wings over America Rodney Stotts, a hardened former drug dealer, is using falconry to keep at-risk American youngsters off the streets and away from a life of crime
Rodney Stott, raptor programme director for Wings Over America, attempts to hood James, a Lanner Falcon following a training session at the organisation’s bird sanctuary in Laurel, Maryland AFP/KAREN BLEIER Robert MacPherson
LAUREL, MARYLAND: Benny and James are a pair of Lanner falcons, bred in Saudi Arabia, that came to the United States a few weeks ago on a mission to change the lives of inner-city youth. If that sounds unlikely, then so too is the story of Rodney Stotts, on whose gloved arm they perched one muggy summer morning in the unexpectedly lush countryside a half-hour’s drive outside Washington. Stotts, 41, is among the very few African-Americans to hold a falconry license, enabling him to trap, train and keep birds of prey. But 20-odd years ago, he was a hardened drug dealer in the roughest neighbourhoods in the US capital with little to look forward to but a life of violent street crime. “I was a typical drug dealer. Sold coke. Weed. Pills. Pretty much anything you could get your hands on to flip and make money with. Carried guns,” he told AFP. “I thought I knew everything,” added Stotts, who sports a wool cap, a Bluetooth earpiece and an engaging smile. “Conceited as all outdoors. Hard-headed. Stubborn. Would do anything I had to do to get what I had to get.” He wasn’t alone living on the edge, but he was lucky to stay alive. In 1992, the year he attended no fewer than 33 funerals of peo-
Today Stotts is raptor programme coordinator for Wings Over America, an Earth Conservation Corps offshoot that uses raptors to connect with at-risk youth and inspire them to change their lives. ple he knew in southeast Washington, he started to change his life. Step one was the non-profit Earth Conservation Corps, created under the auspices of then-president George HW Bush to undertake youth-driven environmental projects around the United States. It hired Stotts and eight others to clean up Lower Beaver Dam Creek, a tributary of the Anacostia River that runs through Washington’s east side before joining the Potomac River. “We pulled out 5,000 tires. Car engines. Motorcycles. Sofas. Couches. Dressers. You name it,” he said. “Then after, like, three weeks, we started seeing turtles and beavers and great blue herons flying back through the creek. That really made us take off, and we
couldn’t stop them.” In time, the clean-up led to the return of the bald eagle, the national bird of the United States, to the skies over Washington for the first time since 1954 — and nurtured Stotts’ keen interest in birds of prey. He reckons he has trained around 10 birds, housing them in mews he built behind his home in suburban Fort Washington, Maryland, and returning some of them to the wild.
‘Never seen a black falconer’ Not content with just trapping and training birds in the wild, Stotts took his winged friends on the road, traveling to local parks, boys and girls’ clubs, hospitals and even senior citizens’ homes to share his passion.
“I’ve done 96 days straight, no days off, just going places, taking the birds,” he said. “Walk down the street with an owl on your arm and you stop a lot of traffic.” “Most people’s initial reaction is shock, because I’m a black man and they’ve never seen a black falconer,” he said. “After they get over that initial shock, everything is pretty good from that point on.” Today Stotts is raptor program coordinator for Wings Over America (www.wingsoveramericadc.org), an Earth Conservation Corps offshoot that uses raptors to connect with at-risk youth and inspire them to change their lives. It’s off to a flying start, occupying 600 acres of woodland outside Washington plus a vintage barn under renovation to house its growing collection of birds and host a range of bird-related events. “That’s one of the things I want to do, is to give back, to give young people another alternative and to show that there is nothing you can’t do, that you’re the only one who stops you from doing anything,” he said. Reflecting on his life, he said: “Losing people to the senseless violence that you were out doing yourself, it just makes you start to realise that you’re a bigger part of the problem than anyone else — and that you can’t ask someone else to start being part of the solution if you’re not.”
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Falconry: A brief history 722-705 BC An Assyrian basrelief found in the ruins at Khorsabad during the excavation of the palace of Sargon II has been claimed to depict falconry. 680 BC Chinese records describe falconry. AD 355 Nihon-shoki, a largely mythical narrative, records hawking first arriving in Japan. 2nd-4th century The Germanic tribe of the Goths learned falconry from the Sarmatians. 818 The Japanese Emperor Saga ordered someone to edit a falconry text named Shinshuu Youkyou. 1070s The Bayeux Tapestry shows King Harold of England with a Hawk in one scene. It is said that the King owned the largest collection of books on the sport in all of Europe. 1250 Frederick II wrote in the last years of his life a treatise on The Art of Hunting with Birds. 1390s In his Libro de la caza de las aves, Castilian poet and chronicler Pero López de Ayala attempts to compile all the available correct knowledge concerning falconry. Early 16th century Japanese warlord Asakura Norikage (1476–1555) succeeded in captive breeding of goshawks. 1934 The first US falconry club, The Peregrine Club, is formed; it died out during World War II 1970 Peregrine Falcon listed as an Endangered Species in the US, due primarily to the use of DDT as a pesticide. 1970 The Peregrine Fund is founded, mostly by falconers, to conserve raptors, and focusing on Peregrines. 1972 DDT banned in the US but continues to be used in Mexico and other nations. 1999 Peregrine falcon removed from the Endangered Species list in the US, due to reports that at least 1,650 peregrine breeding pairs existed in the US and Canada at that time. 2010 Falconry is inscribed on the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity by the Unesco.
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Power tech biz for even turf Prudhvi Raju K prudhvi.k@postnoon.com
T
he transmission and distribution (T&D) equipment sector, which comprises 76 per cent of the 1,10,000 crore electrical industry has decelerated to 6.6 per cent in 2011-12, compared to 11.3 per cent and 13.7 per cent in 2009-10 and 2010-11 respectively. However the generation equipment sector which contributes to 24 per cent of the total industry and has grown at a CAGR of 31.4 per cent in the last four years. Many analysts say the fall in growth of the sector is attributed to increase in imports. Domestic electrical equipment manufacturing industry suffers a cost disadvantage of about 14 per cent compared to imports due to sales tax/VAT, entry tax/octroi, higher financing cost, lack of quality infrastructure, dependence on foreign sources for critical raw material and components. Import duties on most products are quite low and are being further lowered under the various FTAs signed by India. All this has made imported electrical equipment more attractive to the Indian market,
said Ramesh Chandak, president, Indian Electrical & Electronics Manufacturers’ Association (IEEMA). Absence of a level playing field in India for the domestic industry to compete with imported electrical equipment is a clear and present threat. During the last five years, India’s imports of electrical equipment have increased at a CAGR of 28.28 per cent and were at $11 billion in 2010-11, he said. There is a need of a holistic
Kim at helm, warns of turbulent economy growth, no matter where they emerge,” he said. “A strong global economy benefits all countries; a weak global economy makes all countries vulnerable. “It is urgent that European countries take all necessary measures to restore stability because their actions will impact growth in all regions of the world. AFP
view and action plan required to enable the active growth of the industry. The government needs to address in a concerted manner the challenges being faced by India’s power sector which are impacting the industry ability to meet power generation capacity addition targets, which in turn, are adversely impacting the downstream T&D sector. The government needs to provide fuel linkages and faster regulatory clearance for timely completion of power projects;
bring out a clear and conducive land acquisition policy; improve fund availability to power sector; accelerate renovation and modernization activities and accelerate deployment of rural electrification schemes, said Ramesh. There is need to setting up a domestic manufacturing facilities for several critical inputs used in the manufacture of electrical equipment which are not readily available domestically. The country is completely depending on imports for CRGO, which is a critical raw material for large generators/transformers. The ambitious power development projects of the government necessitate setting up of a domestic CRGO manufacturing facility, he said. To provide a level playing field, the government should immediately impose import duty on power equipment for mega and ultra-mega power projects over 1,000 MW (move recently initiated by PMO). There should be no further reduction in the present level of import duty on T&D equipment and generation equipment for non-mega projects. Domestic electrical equipment industry’s interests should be protected under different FTAs being signed, he added.
Microsoft to take $6.2 bn writeoff for online unit NEW YORK: Microsoft said Monday it would take a $6.2 billion writedown to reflect the slump in value of its online services division. The charge reflects a writedown related to the 2007 acquisition of aQuantive, a digital advertising firm aimed at helping Microsoft compete against Google and others. The charge is required under accounting rules to reflect a lower value or so-called “goodwill impairment.” “The goodwill in the Online Services Division was
substantially the result of the 2007 acquisition of aQuantive. As a result of its 2012 impairment review, Microsoft has determined that a writedown of its Online Services Division goodwill of approximately $6.2 billion is required,” Microsoft said. Microsoft announced the deal in August 2007 in a move aimed at seizing market share from rivals Yahoo! and Google in the lucrative market that tailors advertising to Internet search results. AFP
WASHINGTON: New World Bank President Jim Yong Kim warned that the eurozone crisis poses a deep threat to the global economy as he launched into his first day leading the development lender. The Korean-American physician, who won a contest against developing country candidates in April to run the bank, said the world’s economy “remains highly vulnerable.” The World Bank has “an economic and moral imperative to help address risks to global
Defends scrapping Bangladesh loan
Google talks to EU panel
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BRUSSELS: Google said
he World Bank’s decision to cancel a $1.2 billion loan to Bangladesh on corruption allegations was “appropriate,” the new chief of the bank said on Monday, his first day on the job. The cancellation, which has angered Dhaka expecting the money to help fund a $3 billion bridge, came on his predecessor Robert Zoellick’s final day.
Monday it had made proposals to EU regulators who have threatened to impose huge fines unless the Internet search giant allays concerns it has abused its dominant market position. “We have made a proposal to address the four areas the European Commission
described as potential concerns,” said Google spokesman Al Verney. The proposals, made in a letter from Google executive chairman Eric Schmidt to EU Competition Commissioner Joaquin Almunia, followed a demand by EU anti-trust officials in May to quickly respond to their concerns.
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$4.5bn is the worth of the project, for which a MoU was concluded by Nigeria with an American energy firm to build six oil refineries.
THUS SPAKE “I am disappointed because many of these behaviours happened on my watch. It is my responsibility to make sure that it cannot happen again,” Robert Diamond, chief executive, Barclays Bank
IN NEW TURF European planemaker Airbus unveiled plans to open a factory on Boeing’s home turf on Monday, a gambit that would see the firm roll out its first US-built plane by 2016. The new $600 million assembly plant, to be built in Mobile, Alabama, will produce the popular A320 family passenger planes. Airbus estimates 4,600 new singleaisle aircraft will be needed in the US over the next 20 years and the new US plant could more than double its share in the huge market. The European consortium hopes that manufacturing presence in US soil will improve the public perception about the company.
WORKSHOP Workshop on Transformational leadership and inspirational entrepreneurship is to be conducted at 9am in Avasa Hotel on July 4 in the City. Jeff Slayter and Kane Minkus of Industry Rockstar System from Australia (consultants and motivational trainers) are the key speakers for the event who will share their real life business difficulties and the steps they took to overcome them. The event will also have guest speakers that include Sangeetha Reddy, executive director, Apollo Hospitals and BVR Mohan Reddy, Chairman & MD, Infotech, according to a press release by event conductors.
India‑View
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TUESDAY, JULY 3, 2012
India unveiled
I will be next prez: Sangma F
ormer Lok Sabha speaker Purno Agitok Sangma is supremely confident of winning the presidential election to become India’s new head of state, saying if “Obama, who is a black, can become the president of America, why not a tribal in India?” “I have never lost any election in the past. In fact, every time I contested, my margins have increased with the blessings of almighty God and the people,” Sangma told IANS in an interview here. “I will get through in this election (as well),” he added, seeming-
If (Barack) Obama, who is a black, can become the president of America, why not a tribal in India ly unfazed by his rival UPA candidate, Pranab Mukherjee. Sangma is backed by the BJP, BJD, AIADMK and some other parties. Sangma, who started his political career as a Congress activist in Meghalaya, has won nine consecutive Lok Sabha elections from Tura in the state. The constituency is now represented in the Lok Sabha by his youngest daughter
Caste triggers a reverse ‘honour killing’ in Bihar
Agatha K Sangma. For a brief period from 1988 to 1990, Sangma was Meghalaya’s CM. Sangma insisted that it was the Tribal Forum of India that picked six names of tribal leaders from across the country including his and then urged political parties to back a tribal candidate for the presidency. “It was Naveen Patnaik and J Jayalalithaa who proposed my
name. Many other parties have rallied behind me now,” he said. Is it correct to seek votes in the name of his tribal identity? “What’s wrong in a tribal aspiring to be the president of the country?” he asked. “In the past, a president has been elected on the basis of caste, religion and gender. Therefore, I see nothing wrong in a tribal aspiring to be the president.”
“In America, black people have always been looked down upon. Similarly, in our country, tribals and minority communities have been marginalised and exploited to a certain extent. If (Barack) Obama, who is a black, can become the president of America, why not a tribal in India?” Sangma said he was still in touch with the Shiv Sena and the JD-U, which are backing Pranab Mukherjee for presidency. “There is still enough time for the election. Let us watch and see how things unfold.” Ditto is the case with West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee. “I am still in touch with her. Let us wait and see.” Sangma exuded confidence that the TDP would also support his candidature. Will the MPs and legislators from the northeast vote for him July 19? “I have already got the support the of regional players like AGP, MNF, UDP. I thanked them for their support.” Sangma claimed that even some Congress MPs and legislators from the region would vote for him. “I have already got feelers from them and their support is purely at a personal level as this is a secret ballot. “I believe we should leave our political differences and stand united by supporting me in this election,” he said. IANS
Row hits Pak Dilip Kumar house plan ISLAMABAD: The government's plan to turn the ancestral home of Bollywood actor Dilip Kumar in Pakistan's Peshawar city into a heritage site has come a cropper because there are too many claimants to the property. The house is located in Mohalla Khudadad near Qissa Khwani Bazaar. A dingy building, it located at the end of a narrow street. The authorities have been planning since February this year to buy the house where Dilip Kumar was born in 1922. He stayed in the house till the age of 12 before moving to Mumbai. The plan was also to bring Dilip Kumar's personal belongings to the house from India to put it on display for visitors. A library of his films was also planned. But the plan hit a roadblock as government failed to buy the house as there were many claimants. "Now there are legal complications and till the time the rightful owner is not known, we would not go ahead with the plan," Culture Director Pervez Khan said. IANS
DECEPTIVE BEAUTY
PATNA: Police arrested a teenage girl on charges of killing her father and brother who opposed her affair with a lower-caste boy, in a reversal of the usual “honour killing” scenario. According to police, the 14year-old confessed on Sunday after her arrest to mixing poison with a vegetable curry that she served to her father and younger brother who both died after consuming the dish. The incident occurred on Saturday in Malpur village, 75 kilometers (45 miles) from Patna. The girl’s mother, Sunita Devi, told police she survived because she had been ill and refused to eat the food. “The girl took this extreme step as her family members, including father, brother and mother, were... against her love affair with a boy and her plans to marry him,” senior police officer Upendra Kumar Sinha told AFP. The girl’s family, which belong to a higher caste, had previously beaten the boy when the couple were caught trying to elope. AFP
Villagers travel on a country boat through floodwaters in the flood affected area of Tataliguri in Morigoan district, some 80 km from Guwahati, Assam. At least 79 people have died and 2.2 million forced to leave their homes over the last week as torrential monsoon rains trigger floods across northeast, officials said. Assam, which borders on Bhutan and Bangladesh, has been worst hit as the massive Brahmaputra river breached its banks, while further extensive flooding has also hit the states of Arunachal Pradesh and Manipur. AFP
India‑View CAG says Maya razed heritage site LUCKNOW:
The Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) in its March 2011 report, which was tabled in the Uttar Pradesh assembly on Monday, has indicted the Mayawati regime for razing to the ground a heritage building at the Chhatrapati Sahuji Maharaj Medical University (CSJMU) here. In its report, the CAG has pointed out that the then Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) government led by Mayawati not only brought down a heritage building on the campus without informing the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) but also did not bother to secure the mandatory ‘No Objection Certificate’. The CAG has further noted that the remains of the building, which was declared a heritage building in 1920 by the ASI, were sold for a paltry `14.63 lakh. In place of the Avadh architectural design building that was constructed in 1914, the Mayawati government constructed an ultramodern building on the medical university campus at a cost of `28.30 crore. PTI
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India unveiled
India, US closer due to shared goals: Rao WASHINGTON: Indian Ambassador to the United States Nirupama Rao has said shared economic, diplomatic and security goals have brought the two nations and their peoples closer than ever. The recently concluded annual strategic dialogue between India and the US had led to several important advancements in their strategic partnership, she wrote in The Hill, an influential Washington newspaper focusing on Congressional politics. “These include enhanced cooperation on many fronts, including in health and education for sustainable development, in the effort to bolster energy security and in the quest to improve business-tobusiness relations between our two nations,” Rao said. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton had hailed a preliminary agreement between Westinghouse and the Nuclear Power Corporation of India on setting up a nuclear power project to generate electricity, in Gujarat State as “a significant step toward the fulfilment” of the landmark 2008 nuclear agreement between the US and India, she noted. “We agree, and would add that there was a
NATION AT A GLANCE Vigilance raids premises of ex-TN House officials CHENNAI: Vigilance officials on Monday conducted raids on the premises of four former officials of Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly. The raids were in progress on the premises of former Assembly Secretary M Selvaraj, then Committee Officer PSK Singaravelu, Section Officer, S Balakrishnan, and then Joint Secretary K Indira, Directorate of Vigilance and Anti-Corruption sources said.
Three killed, 63 injured in road accidents DUMKA/GIRIDIH (J’KHAND):
lot more progress to highlight in other realms, too,” Rao said underlining that India’s External Affairs Minister S.M. Krishna, emphasised that the US and India will continue to make progress and work in tandem on many issues especially in trade and business. On trade, the two leaders announced that they would work toward completing a bilateral treaty that would boost investment and trade between the US and India. Cooperation on defence-related matters, maritime and Internet security, counter terrorism and trade would also be taken forward, Rao said. Another major area of common purpose concerned
Afghanistan, she said noting the US and India have been working separately to find ways to ensure Afghanistan’s long-term peace and stability. “Today, the path is open for closer coordination as India and the US now plan to work together — along with Afghanistan — to promote improvements in Afghan farming, mining, energy and infrastructure,” Rao wrote. “This new, trilateral effort is yet another demonstration of the like-mindedness of the US and India on security issues and their joint determination to do even more to prevent the spread of worldwide terrorism.” IANS
Three persons were on Monday killed and 63 others injured in separate accidents in Dumka and Giridih districts of Jharkhand, police said. The most casualties were reported at Inderbani village of Dumka district, where two people died on the spot and 28 were hurt in a bus accident.
Officials of Kaziranga National Park check the carcass of a rhino from neighbouring hills in Assam’s Karbi Anglong district on Monday.
No service tax for AC train travel NEW DELHI: Travelling by train in an air-conditioned class and dispatching goods through the transporter will be exempted from sales tax for the next three months, the railway ministry announced Monday. The finance ministry issued a notification Monday exempting transportation of passengers (with or without accompanied belongings) in AC coaches.
Tourist dies of heat-stroke at Taj Mahal AGRA: A 53-year-old woman tourist from Bangalore succumbed to a heatstroke at the Taj Mahal Monday, police said. “Sudha came to Agra with a 50member group. She had fever. But today (Monday) she could not bear the heat and collapsed. Her body has been sent for post-mortem,” Sushant Gaur, station officer, Tourist Thana, told media persons.
BJP national president Nitin Gadkari’s son and his wife seek blessings from Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and former president APJ Abdul Kalam at their wedding reception in New Delhi on Monday. PTI
Victims of the Paradeep Oil Refinery firing incident being taken to the SCB Medical College and Hospital in Cuttack on Monday. PTI
Around the World
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TUESDAY, JULY 3, 2012
Beyond Borders
Heaviest athlete to shed it
AN APPLE A DAY...
A
A mother and daughter play with an Apple iPad at an Apple store in Shanghai on Monday. AFP/PETER PARKS
Homeless man lives high life A
homeless man is accused by police of living the high life in hotels, racking up thousands of dollars on other people’s credit cards, according to a report in Florida. Drifter David Price was arrested on Friday and is being held at the Orange County Jail in Orlando, according to WTFV. The station said Price would apparently watch hotel guests leave their rooms before slipping inside and claiming to be the guest, calling the front desk and extending the stay, sometimes by 10 days. Despite being homeless for two
years, he had managed to stay at others’ expense in top hotels including The Ritz Carlton, Hard Rock Hotel and
Loews Portofino Bay. At the latter, Price allegedly racked up nearly $9,000 in charges on the credit card of Ohio man Joseph Barak, WFTV said. “I don’t know how he got in my room, how he got my debit card. But he got like the best wines, the best restaurants, room service. He got clothes and the whole ball of wax,” said Barak, was later able to get his money back. Police reports indicate that investigators at Walt Disney World have also looked into possible fraud by Price, the station said.
N Korean media sing new Kim hymn SEOUL: North Korea's state media has been playing a new hymn dedicated to new leader Kim Jong-Un in an apparent attempt to bolster his public support and personality cult. The title of the song, "Onwards toward the final victory", is the last phrase of Kim's speech on April 15 which marked the 100th birth anniversary of his late grandfather Kim IlSung. Ruling party newspaper Rodong Sinmun published the score on its front page last Tuesday. State broadcasters
have been playing the hymn several times a day since then, according to South Korea's Yonhap news agency which monitors the North's broadcast media. The broadcasters claim the song is generating enthusiastic responses from soldiers, workers and college students, Yonhap said. It is the first time the North has publicly promoted a propaganda song for the untested young leader since he took over power after his father and longtime ruler Kim Jong-Il died in December.
t 6 feet, 8 inches, 704 pounds, Emmanuel Yarborough sticks out in a crowd — even a crowd of Guinness World Records holders. Yarborough, 47, is an amateur sumo wrestler who has also competed in mixed martial arts judo, wrestling, and college football. His record has been inauspicious — he has a 2-4 as an MMA pro — but he dominates the field in one area: heft. Yarborough is the world's heaviest living athlete, according to Guinness World Records. It's an honor he has carried with him (along with the massive gut) since 2001. Yarborough's heavyweight achievement is one of those celebrated in a new Guinness e-book"Wacky Sporting Champions," dedicated to the more unusual sporting records ever, such as the "Fastest 100Meter Run on All Fours" (18.58 seconds) the "Highest Shallow Dive into One Foot Of Water" (36 feet, 8.94 inches) and "Fastest 100-Meter Hurdles Wearing Swim Fins" (18.52 seconds). It's been a good life that has included featured roles in Bollywood films and the HBO prison drama Oz, but one thing that has weighed on him is the lack of interaction with other world record holders. Even though Yarborough can compete at 700 pounds, he doesn't necessarily want to any more, reported the Huffington Post. "I'm trying to lose weight. I can't maintain this weight healthily and get the most out of the sport," he said.
Around the World
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TUESDAY, JULY 3, 2012
Beyond Borders
GLOBE AT A GLANCE Jan Eliasson sworn in as Ban Ki-moon’s deputy
BEATING THE HEAT
UNITED NATIONS: Jan Eliasson of Sweden was sworn in as UN deputy secretary-general. Eliasson “has had substantial experience at the United Nations serving in a number of different capacities,” a UN spokesman said and added that Eliasson has been praised by UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon for “his ‘instrumental’ leadership as president of the 60th Session of the general assembly.” IANS
Woman sits, tops test 28 hours after delivery LONDON: A determined British woman who wrote her final graduation exams from a hospital bed, just 28 hours after giving birth to her first child, has secured top marks. Isobel Cohen, 33, graduated with a first class honours degree in English from Cambridge University’s Lucy Cavendish College.
A group of kids jump into a quarry lake at the Beaver Dam Swimming Club on Monday in Cockeysville, Maryland. Residents of the Baltimore and Washington area continue to seek ways to avoid the heat with electrical power knocked out by storms 3 days ago still impacting almost half a million people. Meanwhile the death toll from the storm that hit the US has risen to 22. AFP
30 killed in Homs hit
Twitter told to hand over Occupy tweets
BEIRUT: The Syrian army kept up its bombardment of rebel neighbourhoods of the central city of Homs today, a watchdog said, while violence killed at least 30 people across the country. In the eastern province of Deir Ezzor, three civilians were killed in shelling and gunfire while four rebels were killed when a rocket hit their vehicle, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said. And in Tafas, in southern Daraa province, six people were killed including five who died when shelling hit their car. In Damascus province, three civilians were killed in shelling on the suburb of Douma and one in Al-Madamiyeh, the Britainbased group said. Shelling and gunfire killed two civilians in the central province of Hama, four in the northern province of Aleppo,
NEW YORK: A New York judge ordered Twitter to turn over data on one of its users involved in the Occupy Wall Street protest movement, in a case watched closely and widely touted as a test of online freedom of speech. Manhattan criminal court judge Matthew Sciarrino ruled that law enforcement had the right to see tweets and other user data from Malcolm Harris, who is being prosecuted for disorderly conduct in connection with the Occupy Wall Street protest on the Brooklyn Bridge last year. “If you post a tweet, just like if you scream it out the window, there is no reasonable expectation of privacy,” he said in an 11-page ruling. AFP
Syrian Opposition meet in Cairo CAIRO: Exiled opposition groups tried to forge a common vision for a transition in Syria as they met Monday in Cairo as the UN rights chief accused both the regime and opposition of “serious” violations. UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Navi Pillay also charged that weapons supplied to the government and opposition were escalating the conflict, warning that “further militarisation” must be avoided. Meanwhile, members of Syria’s opposition met behind closed doors in Cairo to chart a common vision after criticising a blueprint for transition agreed by the major powers at the weekend.
and one woman in the northwest province of Idlib. Two civilians were killed when regime forces shelled the rebel-held town of Rastan in Homs province, the Observatory said, while three civilians and one rebel were killed in Homs city. Opposition activists reported 15 villagers were killed by gunfire at dawn in a Sunni village in the central province of Hama. The Observatory cited the same figure, but said it was unable to confirm their identities. The rights group emphasised the killings occurred after the assassination the previous night of three Alawites from the surrounding area. An activist in Homs told AFP via Skype that many civilians remained trapped in the shelling of the Jurat alShiah, Khaldiyeh and Old City neighbourhoods of Syria’s thirdlargest city.
Japan, allies shoot down whale pact PANAMA CITY: Japan and its allies shot down a Latin American-led proposal Monday to create a sanctuary for whales in the southern Atlantic Ocean, reigniting international tensions over Tokyo’s whaling. The International Whaling Commission, which has long been torn by disputes, fell into familiar divisions just hours after officials opened the main session of their week-long annual meeting in Panama City.
Argentina, Brazil, South Africa and Uruguay put forward a proposal to declare the southern Atlantic a no-kill zone for whales, a largely symbolic measure as whaling ended there long ago. Thirty-eight countries voted in favor of the measure and 21 voted against, with two abstentions. Under commission rules, proposals need to enjoy a “consensus” of 75 percent support for approval. AFP
A full size gound test article of NASA’s new Orion spacecraft is seen on Monday at Kennedy Space Center, Florida.
Mexican Prez poll runner-up alleges fraud MEXICO CITY: The runner-up in Mexico’s presidential election late Monday rejected the “fraudulent” victory of rival Enrique Pena Nieto, raising the spectre of protests that rocked Mexico City when he lost six years ago. When Lopez Obrador lost the 2006 election by less than one per cent he claimed fraud, and organized mass protests that virtually paralyzed Mexico.
Bird flu attack in China: 1,50,000 chickens culled BEIJING: Authorities in China’s remote northwestern region of Xinjiang have culled more than 1,50,000 chickens following an outbreak of bird flu, officials said, which was done as part of the quarantine efforts. The outbreak of the H5N1 strain of avian flu initially killed 1,600 chickens and sickened about 5,500, the agriculture ministry said late on Monday.
Melinda Taylor (R) and her interpreter from Lebanon, Helen Assaf (L), who were part of an ICC legal team which was detained in Libya. They have been released.
Comment
TUESDAY, JULY 3, 2012
Fair, free and forthright
Talk back Champs talk by deeds Where are the critics that have been foulmouthing the Spanish style of play? Where are those who said Spain was too rigid? The current Spanish team is right there at the top along with the Pele’s Brazil of 1958 and Beckenbauer’s Germany of 1972. They have the perfect team and the perfect style of play. That they should destroy a team that is notorious for its overly defensive game, scoring four goals in the final is just astounding. It was simply a one-sided affair. It was a bit cinematic, too, as they saved all the fireworks for the final, keeping mum to all the criticism that their detractors poured on them. Despite playing crucial roles in most of Spain’s victories Xavi and Iniesta had never got the praise they deserved. It was Pirlo till the semis and Balotelli before the final. Well, now there are no doubts about the Spaniards. That’s how true champs reply to critics — by deeds. T. Siddarth Sainik Puri
An inspiring journey There was a lot to learn from Akhileshwari Ramagoud's life. As a mass communication student, I look forward to work in newsrooms and her perspective on what it takes to be a journalist was quite an interesting read. Nowadays, there's a lot of commotion in media houses that journalists often cross the line while trying to report the news. I believe it's extremely crucial that young minds should be trained right from the college level before they go into the field. It would certainly help a lot of us if you interview a lot more well-known journalists who can give great insight into journalism. Suresh Krishna Begumpet
The new son-rise TDP's image has taken a beating and it'll take them something remarkable to make a strong comeback. Except for Chandrababu Naidu, there's hardly anyone left in the party who has any crowd pulling capacity. Balakrishna and NTR haven't involved themselves in the activities of the party as much as the party cadres would have expected them to. Under these circumstances, Lokesh's entry into active politics is a welcome move. Although we don't know anything about his political achievements so far, I believe that he's a visionary like his father Chandrababu Naidu. The question is whether he can connect to the TDP activists at the grassroute level like Akhilesh did in Uttar Pradesh. Pavan Kumar Banjara Hills
Readers’ views We invite you to write to us comments, suggestions, viewpoint or just about anything to feedback@postnoon.com or #1246, Level 3, Jubilee Casa, Road No 62, Jubilee Hills, Hyderabad – 500 033 or even by way of a call on 4067 2222. Editor: Dean Williams
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Astrology: At times right, at times wrong Hard Talk PK Surendran
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he pleasure of astrological forecast is when you look back and see whether the predictions have come true or not. I read them for their entertainment value, for I believe no man on earth can foresee what lies ahead. If so, he is no longer a human made of flesh and blood and five senses: he's divine. Nevertheless, curiosity is in the human gene. So we pursue the game. There are entertaining predictions that give you a vicarious pleasure in anticipating things. Here I reproduce the prediction that was posted on March 25 this year by an illuminator Varenya: AP Chief Minister change before August 2012 "As Saturn goes back into Virgo from midMay and comes back into Libra on August 2, 2012, it will cause change of chief ministers in some states, particularly in Andhra Pradesh; possibility of this change is more, as Saturn is transiting this state's moon sign." (Posted on 25-3-2012 at 7.21am) New CM will be a low profile person. (Make a list of low-profile persons— it's fun) Some predictions give you a shock, and you wonder at its uncanniness. For instance, this one was posted on the counting day of the 18 Assembly by-polls early in the morning. See how one part of the prediction proved true and the later part went phut. "In today’s by-elections, YSRCP will win about 15-16 seats and remaining 2 seats may go to Telugu Desam party. Congress may not win even one seat. There will be at least one surprise/shocking victory out of 18 seats." — Bhavani (Posted on 6-12-2012 6.30am) Here, again, Chief Minister gets another eerie prediction: "New CM Kiran Kumar Reddy born on September 13, 1960, Hyderabad in Makara Lagna is now running Saturn dasa, Rahu bhukti since last year. He will not survive in his post till 2014 elections, as upcoming Saturn-Jupiter bhukti will cause downfall. AP horoscope shows political crisis soon." (Posted on 8-5-2010 at 12.19pm)
Editorials
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LIKE GOD AND GHOST, ASTROLOGY REMAINS A CONTENTIOUS ISSUE, YET THERE IS NO OTHER BELIEF THAT CONTINUES TO MYSTIFY MANKIND, AS A WISECRACK GOES: "I DON’T BELIEVE IN ASTROLOGY. I'M A SAGITTARIUS. SAGITTARIANS ARE SKEPTICAL!"
On the other side of the fence, the science buffs castigate astrology. But here is a more reasonable self-assessment of astrology. Sunil Sharma, director of the Astrological Research Centre wrote in 2009: After 1992 elections, our institute sought the birth details of some politicians for research purposes, and to our surprise, the details received for the then prime minister PV Narsimha Rao mentioned his date of birth as June 28, 1921, between 12 noon and 1pm and the place of
birth as Karim Nagar, Andhra Pradesh (the letter received from PMO). In a letter signed by Atal Behari Vajpayee, leader of the opposition in 1994, mentioned that he was born on December 25, 1926, in Gwalior at about 5pm. The time of birth was approximate. In both of the abovementioned cases, when politicians themselves are in doubt of their birth details, it would be sheer dishonesty to even imagine being able to come up with accurate predictions and any results can only be predicted in terms of approximations. Like God and Ghost, astrology remains a contentious issue, yet there is no other belief that continues to mystify mankind, as a wisecrack goes: "I don’t believe in astrology. I'm a Sagittarius. Sagittarius are skeptical!" Wash this all down with a quote of Francis Bacon: “The root of all superstition is that men observe when a thing hits, but not when it misses.” The writer works for Postnoon.
WILL IT BE THE SAME AS IT WAS Once upon a time in Mexico?
he Mexican people had expected a fraud in the presidential polls much before it happened and the runner-up in Mexico's presidential election has the slammed the victory of Enrique Pena Nieto of Institutional Revolutionary Party (PRI) as fraudulent. Last time when Lopez Obrador from the Party of the Democratic Revolution (PRD) made similar claims in 2006, his margin of defeat was one per cent. This time it is seven, a wider margin. The PRI has been synonymous with the nation once, as it ruled it for seven decades till 2000 by rigging polls, repression and bribery. Twelve years ago PRI coming to power was unimaginable — such was the degradation that party was responsible for. However, the presidency of Felipe Calderon, from the conservative National Action Party (PAN), has been a failure in the war against the drug cartels — 50,000 people were killed in the last 12 years. Though the economy grew, so did poverty, another reason why PRI could make a comeback. Obrador says he will wait before deciding to repeat 2006, when the protests he led lasted for a month and rocked Mexico City. Hope that won’t happen.
WISDOM COMES late sometimes
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yrian President Bashar al-Assad was quoted as saying by Turkey's Cumhuriyet newspaper that he regrets "100 per cent" the shooting down of a Turkish jet. He claims the plane was in an area previously used by Israeli air force. Sometimes wisdom comes late… sometimes too late.
At the workplace
TUESDAY, JULY 3, 2012
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Fun at the workplace HR consultant Supretha Amancherla
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Age vs Ability Indira Atluri indira.a@postnoon.com
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t is almost like a bygone era, when we talk about employees spending a decade or more in a company. These endangered species or may be extinct (in all probability) gained immense respect among colleagues, bosses, and society, needless to mention the rise to senior positions in the company. Today, boundaries have faded, and it is no longer experience that counts – evidently. How many young, comparatively inexperienced professionals are we seeing rising to high positions in companies, sometimes dictating much senior and experienced employees the ‘tricks of the trade’? Welcome to the new age corporate. Looks like it is a war of the experienced and the capable junta of the corporate world. To the young turks, it is the ability that matters. Vimal Sonar, manager of litigation services in a legal firm in Hyderabad, says,
Today’s recruiters when searching for candidates are looking both at experience and the ability to do a job. But given a choice what takes precedence, we find out “Post my education in law, I joined as an apprentice in my firm and the management recognised my capabilities and gave me jobs that suited my interest and ability. And when my team expanded, I but naturally became the first choice for the managerial post.” Happy with the rise in status and his pay, Vimal is all gung ho about how ability wins over experience. “After all, we are all well- trained right from our university days to be able to tussle with the biggies of the industry,” he says. There is however another breed of employees who scorn at those who believe it is sheer abil-
ity that makes them think they have arrived in life. Madhukar Gollapudi is the vice president of a medium-sized outsourcing company in Hitech City. He cites the example of an incident in his division which he thinks sets an example for those who live in ‘a fantasy world’. Says he, “I do agree that ability is a crucial factor and means a lot to the company. But is it all that matters? I don’t think so. To dismiss off years of experience is like saying the final output of your tasty chicken curry has happened without marinating the chicken, grinding the masalas and knowing the right recipe to cooking
the chicken to perfection. And that comes with experience. Nothing happens overnight, and it takes time to build relationships with clients, and create a trust that brings business to the company for years. And that is why we matter. We once sent our youngest and the smartest team member to the California branch to negotiate a deal with the client, as I was not able to travel. Having known the client for years, we thought we made the safest bet by sending him, but the client was far from convinced at his ability to seal the deal. We managed to do it over a video conference later, by giving the client our best assurances. That is where experience counts,” he says matter-of-factly. The debate obviously continues, and there is no definitive answer. But what is definite is that in the end, both hold equal importance and it is rather immature to dismiss one aspect over the other. After all, being ably experienced is as important as having the ability to do whatever the job demands.
orking people can be broadly categorised into two, tired and active. This could be the result of how the work place treats an employee of the company. Taking the time out for your employees and making the work environment smooth and easy by incorporating certain small changes will make a world’s difference. A lot of big companies, IT firms, and many more upcoming private companies seem to understand this need and are reaping the benefits. While on the other hand, those oblivious to this concept have been losing out on a lot more than they might be realising. Incorporating weekly contests, games, or monthly rewards and regular incentives is one way to go about it. A recreational area to spend time during the employees breaks, gymnasiums to make sure the employees have a healthy lifestyle even while they are at work, are some of the others. By doing so the employees will not only be motivated to work harder but will look forward to the many fun aspects about it other than making money. Fun at work is very important and essential for a healthy work environment. There are certain things which will prove to be relatively less expensive yet fun for the workers like music. Music is known to have curative powers, something playing in the background during work would lighten everyone’s day and act as a stress buster. Making humour a part of your workplace would work wonders to keep the employees happy all day long. Apart from all the changes that companies and HR’s can make to keep their employees happy and incorporating ideas to make work environment more fun, it will be dependent on the employee to enjoy work, to make new friends to have fun at what they do,and the workplace will seem more lighter automatically.
H‑Factor
TUESDAY, JULY 3, 2012
Holistic view of mind, body and soul
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Coffee lowers the risk of common skin cancer WASHINGTON: Drinking more coffee could lower the risk of basal cell carcinoma, the commonest form of skin cancer, according to a new study. “Our data indicate that the more caffeinated coffee you consume, the lower your risk of developing basal cell carcinoma (BCC),” said Jiali Han, associate professor at Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston. “I would not recommend increasing your coffee intake based on these data alone. However, our results add basal cell carcinoma to a list of conditions for which risk is decreased with increasing coffee consumption,” said Han, the journal Cancer Research, reported. Even though BCC is slow-growing, it places a burden on health care systems. Though the cancer
THERE IS HOPE YET
AML is one of the most common types of leukaemia. Though treatment is aggressive and expensive, certain sub-types have a better survival rate Anishaa Kumar anishaa.k@postnoon.com
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rom Sleepless in Seattle to Julie and Julia, Nora Ephron had created a permanent place in all our minds. Her recent death shocked many admirers of her work. Nora Ephron, 71, had been diagnosed with myelodysplastic syndrome that ultimately turned into acute myeloid leukaemia.
AML According to Dr Satya Dattatreya Palanki, consultant medical oncologist, Omega Hospitals, “Acute myeloid leukaemia (AML) is cancer that starts inside the bone marrow. The cancer grows from cells that would normally turn into white blood cells.” Dr Niti Raizada Narang, consultant medical hemoncologist, Fortis Hospitals and Vikram Hospitals, Bangalore adds that AML is a blood cancer in the myeloid cells of the blood cells. Although the specific cause cannot be determined it could be due to radiation,
chemicals, weakened immune system and blood disorders, explains Dr Dattatreya. Talking about the occurrence, Dr Niti says, “AML can be seen in any decade of one’s life but it usually can be seen in people in the age group of 50 and above.” Dr Dattatreya mentions that this type of cancer is more common in men.
Symptoms Talking about diagnosis, Dr Niti says, “AML does not have specific symptoms. One may notice symptoms such as fever that is taking time to be cured and is not being cured by regular medication. During such a situation the doctor may advice for a blood test that reveals an unusual WBC count. The other symptoms could be bleeding manifestations, bone pains and fatigue.” Dr Dattatreya adds, “The other symptoms could include bleeding from the nose or gums, bruising, bone pain, fever, heavy menstrual periods, pallor, shortness of breath, skin rash, swollen gums and weight loss”
Diagnosis Dr Niti says, “A bone marrow test can help diagnose AML.
But AML as such is a crude diagnosis. A genetic subtype test is done to find out what kind of AML it is. AML can be of different. Thus the treatment will also vary on the type of AML.” There are a total of eight types of AML. The type depends upon what kind of blood cell is abnormal.
Treatments Dr Niti says, “In case of AML we see a 20-30 per cent chances of complete curability. The treatment for AML itself is very intensive. Many a times in High Risk AML, stem cell transplant is required.” In most cases chemotherapy is the basic treatment for the various types of AML. Dr Dattatreya mentions that the other treatments for AML could include antibiotics, RBC transfusion and platelet transfusion. He says, “When the signs and symptoms of AML go away and the bone marrow examination reveals normalcy, the patient is said to be in remission. Complete remission occurs in most patients. With treatment, younger patients with AML tend to do better than those who develop the disease at an older age. The 5-year survival rate is much
lower in older adults than younger persons. Experts say this is partly due to the fact that the body of a younger person can better tolerate strong chemotherapy medicines.” By 5-year survival rate, it means that if the cancer does not come back within five years of diagnosis the person is completely cured. Dr Dattatreya mentions that M1, M2 and M4 are the most common types. When it comes to AML-M3 patients have a more than 75 per cent chance of complete cure unlike all the other AMLs where the cure rates are between 25 – 40 per cent. Dr Niti mentions that in many cases because of the absence of clear symptoms by the time the patient comes to the hospital they are in a poor condition and treatment is aggressive and expensive. It is important that the hospital where the patient is treated has adequate and good facilities. Mortality in AML can be because of the illness itself or because of treatment. Although the ailment cannot be prevented Dr Dattatreya says, “If you work around radiation or chemicals linked to leukemia, you should wear protective gear.”
rarely kills, it can cause significant destruction and disfigurement by invading surrounding tissues. “Given the large number of newly diagnosed cases, daily dietary changes having any protective effect may have an impact on public health,” said Han, according to a university statement. Of the 112,897 participants included in the analyses, 22,786 developed basal cell carcinoma during the more than 20 years of follow-up in the two studies. “These results really suggest that it is the caffeine in coffee that is responsible for the decreased risk of basal cell carcinoma associated with increasing coffee consumption,” said Han. IANS
H‑Factor
TUESDAY, JULY 3, 2012
Holistic view of mind, body and soul
EASTER ISLAND DRUG boosts memory, learning
origin has shown exciting results in improving memory and learning, which diminish with age but hit rock bottom in Alzhemier’s patients. University of Texas School of Medicine researchers added rapamycin, a bacterial product first isolated from soil on Easter Island, to the diet of healthy mice. The drug enhanced learning and memory in young mice and improved these faculties in old mice. “We made the young ones learn, and remember what they learned, better than what is normal,” Veronica Galvan, assistant professor of physiology under Texas Health Science Centre, who led the study, was quoted as saying in the journal Neuroscience. “Among the older mice, the ones fed with a diet including rapamycin actually showed an improvement, negating the normal decline that you see in
THE REDUCTIONS OF ANXIETY AND DEPRESSIVE-LIKE BEHAVIOUR IN RAPAMYCINTREATED MICE HELD TRUE FOR ALL AGES TESTED, FROM FOUR MONTHS OF AGE TO 12-MONTHS-OLD (THE EQUIVALENT OF MIDDLE AGE) TO 25-MONTHSOLD
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Fidgeting could add years to your life LONDON: Fidgeting could add years to your life just as being sedentary could be harmful for your health. ‘Fidgeting’ may include activities that are unlike exercise, such as standing up and bouncing on your heels, wiggling your hips to some music or sauntering around the house during a TV commercial break. Although doctors still recommend more than 150 minutes of moderate to vigorous exercise weekly to keep fit, they said less strenuous activities could also be beneficial, the Telegraph reports. Wilby Williamson, a National Health Service expert in sports and exercise medicine, said: “People are watching television for up to four hours a day and spending 60-70 percent of their time being sedentary, and that is because of our lifestyle and occupations.” “Reducing our sitting time makes us better at breaking sugars and fats down, which can help reduce our risk of metabolic diseases like diabetes and cardiovascular disease,” Williamson said. “The risk factors for cardiovascular disease and longevity start to increase above two hours of television watching per day. If you can make your TV watching or screen time more active that could be beneficial,” said Williamson. IANS
BERLIN: A drug of Polynesian
these functions with age,” said Galvan. It also lowered anxiety and depressive-like behaviour in the mice, Galvan added, according to a university statement. Anxiety and depression are factors that impair human cognitive performance. Jonathan
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Halloran, who conducted the tests to accurately measure these cognitive components in the rodents, said: “We observed that the mice fed with a diet containing rapamycin spent significantly more time out in the open arms of the catwalk than the animals fed with a regular
diet,” Halloran said. The second test measured depressive-like behaviour in the rodents. “We found rapamycin acts like an anti-depressant -- it increases the time the mice are trying to get out of the situation,” Galvan said. “They don’t give up; they struggle more.”
The reductions of anxiety and depressive-like behaviour in rapamycin-treated mice held true for all ages tested, from four months of age (college age in human years) to 12 months old (the equivalent of middle age) to 25 months old (advanced age). IANS
HOUSECALL
APP-LY YOURSELF
DID YOU KNOW?
Bunion
Daily Ab workout
Your bed is full of fungi
f you’re the kinds who loves to wear narrow closed shoes, you might want to do a rethink. A bunion is an abnormal, bony bump that forms on the joint at the base of your big toe. Bunions form when your big toe pushes up against your other toes, forcing your big toe joint in the opposite direction, away from the normal profile of your foot. Over time, the abnormal position enlarges your big toe joint, further crowding your other toes and causing pain. Bunions can occur for a number of reasons, but a common cause is wearing shoes that fit too tightly. Bunions can also develop as a result of an inherited structural defect or stress on your foot or a medical condition, such as arthritis.
W
ho doesn’t love a flat stomach? An unsightly paunch is everybody’s worst nightmare, but lack of time and guidance can be a challenge most people face. But you could use the Daily Ab workout health app available for iOS, Google and Android phones. It’s the perfect app to help you strengthen and tone your abs. Daily Ab Workout is a great five to ten minute daily routine for men and women that steps you through 10 of the best ab-sculpting exercises. These proven exercises, demonstrated by a certified personal trainer, target all major abdominal muscles. Spending just a few minutes a day can strengthen your core and tone your abs.
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on’t you just love climbing into that cozy bed each night? But what if we told you that your bed had 16 species of fungi? The average pillows and mattresses contain millions of fungi cells from as many as 16 fungi species. These fungi come from the routine night time sweating. The average person sweats about a 100 liters each year. In addition to fungi, other bed partners are dust mites — mattresses gain a pound or more each year from dust mites. But remember most germs are harmless, and can actually help strengthen your immune system. That in no way means that you don’t wash your sheets!
Spotlight
TUESDAY, JULY 3, 2012
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SRINIVAS SETTY
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WEDDING BELLS 5
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Newly weds Abbas and Aleiya held their wedding reception at the Le Palais in Secunderabad on Monday.
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1. Abbas 2. Aeliya 3. Hussain Saberi 4. Firoz 5.Mariyam 6. Rashid Hussain and friend 7.Laila and Ruchita 8. Hussain and Farheen 9.Jabran and Gavin 10. Sanjay
Creative bazaar
SRINIVAS SETTY
Fun days ahead
The Akritti ladies organisation held an exhibition at Jaya Gardens, Somajiguda on Monday.
JWT Hdyerabad, in a unique initiative has started the trend of ‘The 5’o clock office bandh’ on the last Friday of every month, to help employees unwind and have some fun. The group plans to have fun and leisure sessions every month, with a few surprises in store for its staff.
Magic Screen
TUESDAY, JULY 3, 2012
The glamour behind the glitz
Shruti Haasan signs Ravi Teja’s Balupu
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hruti Haasan is all set to join the cast of Ravi Teja’s upcoming film titled Balupu. Gopichand Malineni is directing the film and Prasad V Potluri is producing the film under PVP Cinemas banner. For the past few weeks, several names of actresses were being considered before Gopichand Malineni finalised Shruti Haasan. He confirmed the news on Twitter saying, “Yes Balupulo heroine Sruthi hassan ..(sic).” This is the first film which Shruti Haasan has officially signed after her recent Telugu film Gabbar Singh turned out to be a blockbuster. There’s also a buzz that Puri Jagannadh and Shankar are in talks with her for their upcoming films; however, nothing has been confirmed so far. Thaman is composing the music for Balupu and Kona Venkat is penning the script.The film is likely to go on floors later this year.
Ram Charan heads to Bangkok
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am Charan is back on the sets of Zanjeer after a brief hiatus. He had begun shooting for the film in mid-April in Mumbai and then came back to Hyderabad to shoot for Vamshi Paidipally’s Yevadu and V V Vinayak’s film before taking a threeweek break for his wedding. Now that he’s back in action, we hear that he flew to Bangkok to shoot for his debut film in Bollywood. Priyanka Chopra is playing the lead role in the film and Amitabh Bachchan will be making a cameo. Apoorva Lakhia is directing this film which will be released in both Hindi and Telugu. Devi Sri Prasad is going to compose the music.
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T-TOWN TWEETIES
@tashu_02 Hope u guys welcomed the Director of my new #Telugu film here in our twitter family...Raj Sir...u'l find him @ijar96 :-)
@snehaullalheart If you do good...publicize it so others will know too and may follow...whenever I fed, rescued, sheltered etc a person or an animal I never told.
@taapsee Just saw barfi's trailer.1st time ever RK luks cute to me,@priyankachopra I'm in love wid ur presence all over again, ileana looks gorgeous!
@actressanjjanaa I am performing for a noted award function ..which latest song/dance number u all think I should perform for ?? Bring it on ...
The search is still on T
he search to find the lead actress for Balakrishna’s upcoming film Aditya 999 is still on. The film is a sequel to Singeetham Srinivasa Rao’s Aditya 369 which had Balakrishna and Mohini in lead roles. Vinod is producing the film and Konda Krishnam Raju is presenting this sequel. Initially, there was a buzz that Anushka was being considered to play the lead role. When she couldn’t sign the film due to lack of dates, Taapsee’s name began doing the rounds. However, the actress has categorically denied that she has signed the film contrary to the rumours. Now, Singeetham Srinivasa Rao is searching for other leading actresses for this prestigious project. More details about the film will be revealed soon.
@Actor_Siddharth Laboured through von trier's 'melancholia'. As annoyed with it as I was intrigued! In Peter Gabriel's words "this time you've gone too far!"
@shrutihaasan I keep getting links to the gabbar Singh theatre reaction for 50 days! Omg!! Overwhelmed Thankyou! To the GS pawan Garu.
@ssrajamouli Finally locked the sound in dts. will lock picture in di in another 2 or 3 hrs That will be the conclusion of the 2 year project "eega" :)
@trishtrashers Happy Bday 2 d most gorgeous woman I kno,d nicest n d only human being I truly can’t do without. Love u MOM..
Magic Screen
TUESDAY, JULY 3, 2012
The glamour behind the glitz
Women not playing diverse roles on TV
B-TOWN TWEETIES
@SrBachchan T 792 - I have pride. I have the will to express it. I will express it, even though I do not mostly. I have prayer. I have faith. I wait!!
petbq^= qft^of
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he enjoyed being the favourite nextdoor-girl in Kasautii Zindagii Kay, the first female winner of reality show Bigg Boss and now a strict mom in Parvarrish Kuchh Khattee Kuchh Meethi. But Shweta Tiwari feels women do not get to play diverse roles in TV shows. “What I see is that women are not portraying too many characters or shades on screen. They are playing sweet, simple and nice roles. That is the only thing they do until they play a negative role,” Shweta said. “If you see Balika Vadhu she is the same. Byaah Hamari Bahoo Ka is also the same. If you see any other show, all the leads look identically the same. No one is doing anything different,” she said. However, Shweta feels that her character of Sweety in Parvarrish..... is true to real life and has all the shades of life. “Sweety is at times mean and selfish but at
times she has her own rules. She will not do wrong to you but will also not let anyone do wrong to her. Such characters are real characters, which are not shown on television any more. It is there in Bollywood, but no one likes them in this industry (television). I think this change should be there.” The 31-year-old was also part of the reality show Bigg Boss 4 and when asked if there is an overdose of reality, Shweta feels otherwise. “I think there was an overdose of reality shows, but now it is less. Now there are just a few selected ones left which have established themselves; and if people need fiction then they also need reality. I guess there is Big Boss, Dance India Dance and shows like Indian Idol. The rest of them have fizzled out. IANS
@RGVzoomin It might be true that the pen is mightier than sword but what’s even more true is that most pens these days are run by swords.
@deespeak Sean Penn you are a GENUIS. What a fearless man you are. Just watched MILK. Salute! #betterlatethannever.
@realpreityzinta I love being able 2 pick fruit off a tree & eat it right then n there. Oh! These simple pleasures are becoming rare as time goes by...
@kunalkohli #TeriMeriKahaani didn’t do as well as we expected. You have to take the audience reaction on your chin. For those who liked it, thank you.
Aftab back with Aamir gets 1920: Evil Returns homesick A
ctor Aftab Shivdasani, who has been missing in action for sometime now, will be seen in Vikram Bhatt’s 1920: Evil Returns. “To all those who asked about my next film, it’s ‘1920: Evil Returns’ releasing October 2012,” tweeted Aftab. A supernatural thriller, directed by Bhushan Patel, the film also features actress Tia Bajpai and Vidya Malvade. The 34-year-old made his Bollywood debut as a child actor with 1987 sci-fi comedy Mr. India. He made his debut as a hero with Mast (1999) opposite Urmila Matondkar and later did films like Kasoor, Lov Ke Liye Kuch Bhi Karega, Hungama and Masti. IANS
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ctor Aamir Khan, who will leave for Chicago soon for the shoot of Dhoom 3, says he gets homesick while travelling for work. In an interview with 92.7 BIG FM, Aamir confessed to being “homesick” while away on shoots and specially during the first week. He will be in the US for three months and will be accompanied by better half Kiran Rao and son Azad all through the schedule. Produced by Aditya Chopra, Dhoom 3 is the third instalment in the popular Dhoom series”. Besides Aamir, another new entrant in the cast is Katrina Kaif, while Abhishek Bachchan and Uday Chopra will reprise their original roles.
@kjohar25 Ok!!!! Cinema lovers, synics, cryptics and everyone seeking a brilliant new face of the Indian movies...please see the promo of BARFI!!!
@priyankachopra Team #Barfi! All smiles!! http://img.ly/khSu Ranbir, me @basuanurag and Ileana... They said thank U to u all for ur support to Barfi!
@AnupamPkher “Sometimes We are so vain that we even care for the opinion of those we don’t care for.” :)
Magic Screen
TUESDAY, JULY 3, 2012
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Magic Screen
TUESDAY, JULY 3, 2012
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Magic Screen
The glamour behind the glitz
TUESDAY, JULY 3, 2012
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Cruise to file for divorce in Los Angeles
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ctor Tom Cruise was deeply saddened by Katie Holmes decision to end their five-year marriage when she filed official papers in New York but he will now hit back and ask for the proceedings to continue in LA where they are based. He will also ask for joint custody of the couple’s sixyear-old daughter Suri, despite Holmes requesting she had sole custody. “Tom will file a response in New York, asking that the divorce proceedings be halted in the Big Apple because California is the proper venue for the matter to proceed. Team Cruise is going to assert that Katie doesn’t meet the residency require-
ments to file in New York, and that both live full time in California, specifically Los Angeles. “At the same time, Tom will file for divorce in California, and will most request joint custody of Suri. There is absolutely no way that he is going let Katie have sole custody. The lines are being drawn, and this is going shape up to be a very contentious custody battle,” femalefirst.co.uk quoted a source as saying. Holmes, who has spent a the majority of her time over the past few months living in the couple’s New York home with Suri, is thought to have filed the papers in New York because she had a better chance of gaining sole custody of Suri. IANS
táääçï=pãáíÜ=
releases new video W illow Smith has released a music video for a new track called I Am Me. The 11-year-old performer broke into the music scene in 2010 with her hit single ‘Whip My Hair. In her new video, posted on her official YouTube account, the young entertainer sings: “I am me/Your validation is just not that important to me.” Smith recently came under fire for get-
ting a tongue ring, which was later proved to be fake. The daughter of Will Smith and Jada Pinkett Smith, Willow is tipped to star in an upcoming remake of the Broadway musical Annie.The movie will be produced by Will Smith and Jay-Z for Sony Pictures.Her brother Jaden Smith released his own music video for rap track Gonzoes earlier this week.
Daughters helped Melanie go to rehab M
elanie Griffith has revealed that an intervention from her daughters was the final push she needed to check into rehab. The Working Girl actress recently admitted to a severe dependency on painkillers, which daughters Stella and Dakota insisted she seek help for. Griffith told the Los Angeles Times: “[It] was the tipping point for me. It was when I finally went, ‘Oh, okay, I get it. The family intervention?’ “My daughters really sat me down and said, ‘Look, mum, this is what it is’. I don’t want to say what really happened, but they were the ones who said, ‘You really need to get help’, and I heard them and knew what they meant. “I couldn’t have done it without them and I’m so grateful. I see now I just didn’t get it before. It doesn’t mean that I’m stupid. It’s just that that’s what the disease is.” Griffith recently joined the cast of an upcoming Lifetime pilot which also stars Body of Proof and Once and Again actor Jeffrey Nordling.
Chai Time
KAKURO
How to Play Kakuro Kakuro is a popular game similar to sudoku in some ways. But is also suitably different. The key question: ‘How do you play Kakuro?’, well here are the rules of kakuro. The answer: The kakuro grid, unlike in sudoku, can be of any size. It has rows and columns, and dark cells like in a crossword. And, just like in a crossword, some of the dark cells will contain numbers. Some cells will contain two numbers. However, in a crossword the numbers reference clues. In a kakuro, the numbers are all you get! They denote the total of the digits in the row or column referenced by the number. Within each collection of cells — called a run — any of the numbers 1 to 9 may be used but, like sudoku, each number may only be used once. Let’s have an example to explain this concept more clearly: In the image above, which shows a section of a kakuro puzzle, you will see the numbers ‘26’ and ‘14’ in the top row. Look at the 14. This means that the total of the three cells underneath must sum to 14. Therefore 9, 4, 1 could be the answer, or perhaps 7, 4, 3 and so on... So, how do you work out the actual combination? Well, this is done through elimination and cross-referencing. For instance, as you work out the answers for other kakuro clues, this will naturally limit the valid combinations, and hence the answer for this particular run. Note the second cell in row two — it contains two numbers, 30 and 11. The 30 refers to the vertical run underneath the number 30 and the 11 refers to the two cells to the right, horizontally, of the number 11.
SCRIBBLING PAD
TUESDAY, JULY 3, 2012
Take a shot at the brain game while sipping your cuppa
26
QUICK CROSSWORD ACROSS 1 Zoo denizen 4 Kind of center or duty 9 Source of activity 14 ‘Do the Right Thing’ pizzeria owner 15 Upstate New York city 16 What an active volcano may do 17 Stops, as a speeder 19 Love of fine art 20 ‘Silas Marner’ author George 21 Chief port of Yemen 23 Compact clump 24 Gangster's gun, in slang 26 Apt to cause the willies 28 Miscellany 32 Afternoon indulgence 35 Kennel sounds 36 Authenticated 38 Computer or chess group 40 One of the five senses 43 Beer choice 44 Amend, as an atlas section 46 ___ Orange, NJ 48 Autograph hound's necessity 49 Periods of seedings and plantings 53 Asian part of Egypt 54 Moral principles 58 Silly fellow 60 1816 Austen novel 63 Hindu noblewoman (Var.) 64 Munchhausen's title 66 Display anger, perhaps 68 Isolated from others 69 Antelope on the Serengeti 70 After-hours school gp 71 Begin again 72 Pastry shop choices 73 Simple ending? DOWN 1 On the say-so of 2 Saint in Brazil 3 American Immigrant Wall of Honor's island
4 Guardianship 5 ‘What was ___ think?’ 6 ‘___ Las Vegas’ (Presley flick) 7 Clinched, as a victory 8 Drive recklessly 9 ‘My Name is Asher ___’ (Potok novel) 10 Not a fake 11 Elvis facial feature 12 ___ no good (scheming) 13 Bang, as one's toe 18 Plumb crazy 22 One of Hollywood's Beattys 25 Work on a rough cut 27 Speed a motor 29 Aromatherapy locale 30 Worthwhile thing 31 Lot or spot 32 Big ATM manufacturer 33 Tavern potables 34 Works out with weights
37 Where Daniel prevailed 39 Choir member 41 Mai ___ (cocktail) 42 Salinger's ‘For ___ 3 With Love and Squalor’ 45 Wrestling victory 47 Groups of four 50 Scottish rejection 51 Cocktail made with lime juice and vodka 52 Ayatollah's predecessor 55 Unsuitable 56 Poem composed of quotations 57 Alternative to a sport utility vehicle 58 Ski lift
SUDOKU
59 Cloth ridge 61 ‘___ 18’ (Leon Uris novel) 62 Out yonder 65 Also improved, presumably 67 Razer's supply PREVIOUS PUZZLE ANSWER
THOUGHT OF THE DAY A leader is one who knows the way, goes the way, and shows the way. – John C Maxwell
Chai Time STAR POWER
TUESDAY, JULY 3, 2012
Your tomorrow today̶Star Power and Tarot THIRUVAIKUMAR
As per Hindu panchang
FOR 4-7-2012
thiruvaikumar@yahoo.co.in 040-27177230 / 9177596118
TAURUS
GEMINI
Travel and tension likely. Employees will have increased work load. Politi‑ cians will meet senior party men and discuss important issues. Women will be successful in their higher studies.
Avoid taking important decisions in a hurry. Politicians need to be alert as there are chances of facing internal dissidence. Businessmen will face com‑ petition with innovative techniques.
Politicians need to take care of the wel‑ fare of their constituency. Unmarried girls need to postpone their romance proposal for a while. Businessmen need to plan fresh investments to do well.
CANCER
LEO
VIRGO
You will involve in religious activities like renovation of temple and earn appreciation from all. Be in harmony with all and avoid enmity with anyone. Politicians need to be careful.
Politicians will be favoured by high command and important responsibili‑ ties will be entrusted to them. Girls who completed their studies will get a job soon. Businessmen will shift place.
Politicians' suggestion will be accept‑ ed by the high command and imple‑ mented. Women will get support of parents. Businessmen advised to keep away those who leak information.
LIBRA
SCORPIO
SAGITTARIUS
Parents will become happy as you ful‑ fill their wishes. You will have appre‑ hensions about future and unwanted tension but they will disappear soon and the situation will return to normal.
Those planning to go abroad will get the visa without much efforts. You will perform marriage of your sister or daughter in a grand way. Politicians get good co‑operation from party men.
You will understand strengths and weaknessess of your close friends and relatives. Politicians advised not to dis‑ obey the orders of high command. Wo‑ men need to control their emotions.
CAPRICORN
AQUARIUS
PISCES
Speculative deals in share market will yield decent gains. Politicians will be invited as chief guest for important function. Women's long‑term wishes will get fulfilled. Business will pick up.
Income will be good but savings will be a distant dream. Unwanted appre‑ hension and tension likely. Politicians are advised not to blame or criticise opposition without proper evidence.
Politicians will be in limelight and very active. Businessmen will get their dues collected without much effort and be happy. New clients will join their list. Workload will increase for employees.
SUMAA TEKUR
FOR 4-7-2012
tarotreadhyd@gmail.com
ARIES
TAURUS
GEMINI
Eight of Cups – Som‑ ethingʼs missing fro‑ m your life despite taking all your needs into account and going as per plan. Try and find time to meditate regularly.
Page of Wands – Your problem is that you tend to get too emotional about the people you meet and the jobs you need to complete. Take a chill pill and rest.
Seven of Wands – Temper tantrums are not right today. Stay away from people if you cannot keep yo‑ ur temper in check. You may create a lot of negative energy.
CANCER
LEO
VIRGO
Ten of Pentacles – Finances are on con‑ trol and this gives you the confidence to do as you please and take off on the road less travelled. Time for socialising.
Nine of Swords – Yo‑ uʼre extremely anx‑ ious about the future. The way to deal with this is to stop worrying. You need to find other distrac‑ tions to do that.
Eight of Wands – Go‑ od luck favours you. When fortune knoc‑ ks on your door, you better be prepared for the opportunity. Success is when luck meets hard work.
LIBRA
SCORPIO
SAGITTARIUS
Ace of Wands – The‑ re are times when you come across flashes of brilliance but self‑doubt pre‑ vents you from exe‑ cuting ideas. Have faith in your ideas.
King of Swords – Being in a position of control now sits well with you since you are able to manage power and the exe‑ cution of ideas to near perfection.
Nine of Pentacles – You like to be left alone. But be true to your own feelings. Is it a projection to the world that you like to be alone or do you really feel that way?
CAPRICORN
AQUARIUS
PISCES
Six of Wands – Career matters are in focus and they go extreme‑ ly well. You feel confi‑ dent about your choices and want to take care of the future and secure it.
Queen of Wands – Innovative ideas cross your mind. You feel tied down since you cannot execute these ideas really well. You are unable to manage them.
For Better or for Worse Stone soup
The Devil – You are tempted to take the easy way out but is this right for you and your family? You need to settle some scores but at what cost?
SOLUTIONS
Boggle LUTE OBOE PIONO CELLO FLUTE VIOLIN
Number game
Suduko
Scrabble
Ink pen
COMICS
Fred Basset
ARIES
TAROT READ
27
Vol: 1, No 351 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
2012 LONDON OLYMPICS
60 59 58 57
28
DAYS TO GO
DID YOU KNOW...? n Around 800 Water Polo balls will be used during the competition. n Water Polo developed in England in the nineteenth century. Great Britain won four of the first five Olympic Water Polo tournaments.
56 55
LEGENDS OF THE SPORT Brenda Villa (born April 18, 1980) One of the most decorated players in women’s water polo, Brenda Villa has won a medal at each of the three competitions since it was introduced to the Games in 2000. Villa scored nine goals in 2000 (silver). In ‘04, Villa was the US’ top scorer with seven goals (bronze). In 2008 the US team were narrowly beaten 9-8 in the final by Netherlands.
Dezső Gyarmati (born October 23, 1927) is widely considered one of the greatest water polo players. He won Water Polo medals at five successive Olympic Games from 1948– 1964, including gold medals at Helsinki 1952, Melbourne 1956 and Tokyo 1964. An excellent swimmer with a best time of 58.5 seconds for 100m, Gyarmati was known as the ‘world’s fastest water polo player.
SHOOT AS YOU SWIM
54 53 52
TUESDAY, JULY 3, 2012
n Only the goalkeeper may handle the ball with more than one hand.
51 50
TALLY 2008
49 48 47 46 45 44
HUNGARY 1 NE’LANDS 1 USA 0
0 0 2
0 0 0
MEDAL EVENTS August 9 Women’s Water Polo August 12 Men’s Water Polo
43 42 41 40
Field of play
39 38 37 36 35 34 33 32 31
WATER POLO: Water Polo developed during the 19th century as an aquatic version of rugby, played informally in rivers and lakes. The version of the game that survives today is closer to Handball: a fast, tough and demanding sport, it has featured on every Olympic programme since the Paris 1900 Games.
The Baulking tactic Baulking is a feinting tactic for outside water shots where the player gets in position to shoot but stops halfway through. This puts the defense on edge, causes the defenders to stand lower and lower in the water as their legs fatigue, and partially immobilizes the goalie by wasting his blocking lunge. This can be repeated until the player decides to release the ball. A good baulk takes a great amount of hand/arm and leg strength to maintain a high position in the water and the ball aloft in the shooting stance. The goalkeeper is particularly vulnerable to baulking as he must extend both his arms wide out of the water, which is intended to make him/her appear bigger and more imposing, thus, more difficult to beat.
The Water Polo pitch at London 2012 Olympics Games is 20m wide and 30m long for the men’s event, and 25m long for the women’s event. It is 2m deep (there is no shallow end). The goals at either end are 3m wide and 90cm high.
qeb=sbkrb
D
istinguishable by its silver-coloured wrap and inflatable roof, the temporary Water Polo Arena is located in the south-east corner of the Olympic Park, alongside the Aquatics Centre. It is the first dedicated Water Polo venue to be built for
THE LINGO Ball under a foul called on a player for taking or holding the ball underwater when an opponent tackles the player Dry pass a pass in Water Polo that is designed to be caught before the ball hits the water Eggbeater a powerful way of treading water, used in Synchronised Swimming and Water Polo
Archery at Games Developed during the 19th century, men’s Water Polo has featured on every Olympic programme since
the Paris 1900 Games. Women’s Water Polo was introduced at the Sydney 2000 Olympic Games.
The basics Played by teams of seven in a pool with a goal at each end, Water Polo is a thrilling sport. Matches are divided into four periods of eight minutes. Starting with a race to the ball at the centre of the pitch, each team has only 30 seconds to attempt to score before the ball is returned to the opposition. Players aren’t allowed to touch the sides or the bottom of the pool during play, and may swim as much as three miles during a match. It allows unlimited substitutions, although substitutes may enter the water only in a designated area near each team bench.
Competition format The men’s and women’s competitions at London Games will both begin with group play. The teams are divided into two groups, and each team will play every other team in its group. In the preliminary rounds teams receive two points for a win, one for a draw and nothing for a loss. From here, the competitions progress through quarterfinal and semi-final rounds before the top two teams go head to head for the gold.
Officials There are two referees, one on each side of the pitch and two goal judges, one at each end. They are assisted by two timekeepers and two secretaries.
WATER POLO ARENA an Olympic Games. The London 2012 Water Polo Arena is the first bespoke Water Polo venue for an Olympic Games. The venue has a 37m competition pool plus a smaller training pool, and capacity for 5,000 spectators. It is one of the first
venues seen by spectators as they enter the Park. To give visitors to the
Park a clear view, the architects proposed a unique sloping design, which slopes upwards from 6m to 25m. It also means the referee’s raised table used in Water Polo does not obscure the view of spectators, who sit on the opposite side of the pool.
TUESDAY, JULY 3, 2012
29
DAYS TO GO
Hardy wins 50m free Rebecca Bryan
OMAHA, NEBRASKA: Jessica Hardy won the 50m freestyle at the US Olympic swimming trials Monday as Dara Torres was denied in her bid to make a sixth Olympic team. Torres, 45, finished fourth in the final behind Hardy, Kara Lynn Joyce and Christine Magnuson. Hardy clocked 24.50sec to add the 50m to her surprising 100m free triumph with Joyce second in 24.73. In the only other event on the final night of the trials, Andrew Gemmell won the 1500m freestyle in 14:52.12 with Connor Jaeger nabbing the second ticket to London in 14:52.51. On the day when the last four spots on the US team for London were decided, Olympic superstar Michael Phelps made news by surrendering one of his. Phelps, who won an unprecedented eight gold medals in Beijing and qualified to swim the same events in London, said he wouldn’t swim the 200m freestyle in his fourth and final Games, giving him a seven-event slate. Torres was trying for just one and when the effort was done she said her swimming career was over. “This is really over,” Torres said as she held 6year-old daughter, Tessa, in her arms. Torres lingered at the
finish, hugging Hardy and Joyce in the lanes to either side of her and taking a long look around as she exited the pool. “That’s it. I’m going to enjoy some time with my daughter, have a nice summer and cheer the US team on from afar.” Torres had already become the oldest woman swimmer to compete in the Games when she won three silver medals in Beijing at 41. Since then she has undergone reconstructive surgery on her left knee, and coped with the death of German-born coach Michael Lohberg, who helped guide her to a fifth Olympics eight years after her fourth.
This is really over. That’s it. I’m going to enjoy some time with my daughter, have a nice summer and cheer the US team on from afar. Dara Torres Lohberg was diagnosed with aplastic anemia shortly before the Beijing Games and died in April of 2011 and Torres teared up as she spoke of him. “I was very emotional before my swim,” Torres said. “When I was putting
my suit on with my trainer, Anne Tierney, we started crying because I started thinking about Michael. In July of 2010, he had said to me, ‘Let’s go for this.’ “I really wanted to finish the story that I started with him. I didn’t make it, but I know he would have been proud.” Hardy, the 100m breaststroke world record-holder who was shut out of the top two in that event, was astonished to add the 50m free to the 100m free she won in the wake of her breaststroke disappointment. “I didn’t have any cognitive thoughts during the race,” Hardy said. “I was just ‘Go! Go! Go!’ “I couldn’t have predicted this,” added Hardy.
Blake, Bolt prepped for centre stage Luke Phillips
PARIS: The doping-tarnished world of athletics needed a boost at the 2008 Beijing Olympics and duly received a massive one from Jamaican sprint star Usain Bolt, who changed the face of track and field as we know it. The good news for organisers of next month’s London Games is that the ebullient 25-year-old remains in tip-top form and professes himself desperate to defend his double sprint gold medal-showing
from four years ago. But he will have a battle on his hands, having recently been pipped in both the 100 and 200m in the Jamaican Olympic trials by training partner Yohan Blake, crowned world champion in Daegu last year after Bolt sensationally false started in the final. “I am the Olympic champion and I have to show the world I am the best,” Bolt said after his double losses in the trials to Blake. “I will always make a comeback. It is not like I was blown away.”
Olympics more exciting than Wimbledon: Peng LONDON: China’s Peng Shuai said the Olympic tennis tournament will be much more exciting than the regular Wimbledon as it is a one-off special with national pride at stake. Peng will be back at the All England Club later this month preparing to play her part in the London 2012 Games. The national number three is looking forward to transforming a large house in the plush Wimbledon area into the headquarters for China’s Olympic tennis dreams. Peng said the thought of competing in an event that comes around once every four years was more gripping than regular majors, which come once a month this time of year. It’s more exciting and it’s also more pressure because it’s not like a regular tournament,” she told AFP. “Every year we have large events, every year we have four Grand Slams. “But this one is different and it’s on grass rather than hard courts.”
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21
Phelps settles for seven in London OMAHA, NEBRASKA: Michael Phelps won’t try to replicate his glittering eightgold haul of 2008 at the London Olympics, coach Bob Bowman said on Monday. “No one should be expected to do that twice, once was more than enough,” Bowman said of the US superstar’s punishing programme in Beijing, where he eclipsed Mark Spitz’s record of seven golds at one Games. Bowman said Phelps wouldn’t swim the 200m freestyle.
22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30
Playing Field
TUESDAY, JULY 3, 2012
The games people play
30
Giant fiesta greets Euro heroes Elodie Cuzin
MADRID: Spain’s triumphant Euro 2012 heroes parted a redand-yellow sea of fans in central Madrid on Monday in a giant, deafening national fiesta that swept aside all thoughts of economic crisis. An open-top double-decker bus ferried the team like a small boat picking its way through a vast ocean of hundreds of thousands of adoring Spaniards waving flags, cheering and dancing to thumping rock music. Helicopters hovering above filmed a crowd that seemed to carpet the entire heart of the capital to rejoice in Spain’s historic 40 thrashing of Italy in the Ukrainian capital Kiev. At the climax of the party, the players basked in glory in the central Plaza de Cibeles square, where Queen’s “We are the Champions” blared from loudspeakers. In the centre of the square, a huge Spain flag was draped around the neck of an emblematic stone fountain of the goddess of nature riding a chariot hauled by lions. The team joined a rock group to sing and dance on a huge stage in the square, with towering video screens behind. Rappers blared out the song “No hay dos sin tres (You can’t have two without three)” in praise of Spain’s unprecedented third straight title and the team danced along, wearing red Tshirds reading “Champions of Europe.”
“For me it is a great pride to be able to captain this team of great players and great people,” Spain goalkeeper and captain Iker Casillas told fans from the stage. “Thank you for being here!” Left winger Andres Iniesta, who was crowned the player of the tournament, said he was humbled to be part of a leg-
endary squad. “But more than anything I feel very proud to see your expressions of joy in these difficult times for us — it is a matter of pride to see you happy,” he said. During the victory parade, Spaniards packed the streets from the buildings right to the edge of the bus, which was escorted by mounted police as it
gingerly made its way to the city centre. Leaning over the edge of the bus, forward Cesc Fabregas brandished the silver trophy, adding to an unprecedented collection that includes the 2008 Euro and the 2010 World Cup. Residents hung from apartment balconies to get a glimpse of their heroes, waving wildly as
the team passed and throwing buckets of water to cool fellow party-goers on the street below. Giant red balloons bobbed above supporters’ heads. One fan, 42-year-old Jaime Barea, brought a group of 14 children, his own and his friends’ offspring. “It will give them an unforgettable memory,” he said.
Beaten but unbowed, Italians return home ROME: Italy’s footballers were welcomed back by a small group of just a few dozen fans on Monday after defeat by Spain in the Euro 2012 final but said they were already looking forward to the World Cup in 2014. Arriving on a flight from Krakow in Poland at Rome’s Fiumicino airport, the footballers dressed in suits and ties were greeted with shouts of encouragement and later attended a high-pomp ceremony with President Giorgio Napolitano. Fans chanted the national anthem and asked the players to
AT THE CEREMONY IN THE PRESIDENT’S QUIRINALE PALACE, PRANDELLI SAID HE WAS GRATEFUL TO NAPOLITANO FOR COMING TO SUPPORT THE TEAM.
autograph a placard reading “Go Italy” before the footballers boarded their buses. One player, Leonardo Bonucci, admitted to AFP before getting on that there was an over-
whelming feeling of disappointment among his team mates. “There is always sadness because we were there — one step away from the dream, from realising something important,” he sighed. “Unfortunately we did not manage to impose ourselves against a great team. Now we are leaving this Euro with the will to put into practice the tactics that (coach) Cesare Prandelli taught us,” he said. “We’ll prepare well for the World Cup” he added, as focus turns towards the qualifiers for
the 2014 tournament in Brazil. At the ceremony in the president’s Quirinale palace, Prandelli said he was grateful to Napolitano for coming to support the team in its first match against Spain in Gdansk and for inviting them over “whatever the result”. Napolitano was Italy’s “biggest fan” and had helped the team get over their crushing 4-0 defeat, Prandelli said. Team captain Gianluigi Buffon (in pic) later presented the other members of the team to the 87-year-old president, who stood up one by one as a sign of respect.
Wimbledon 2012
Mobbed Serena wants security probe after crowd scrum
Steve Griffiths
LONDON: Serena Williams called on Wimbledon chiefs to beef up their security after the four-time champion’s 6-1, 2-6, 7-5 victory over Yaroslava Shvedova was marred when she was mobbed by frenzied fans on the way back from Court Two on Monday. Serena had to run the gauntlet of autograph-hunting fans eager to get close to the sixth seed as she walked to and from one of Wimbledon’s outer courts. Although Serena was escorted by a posse of security guards, she admitted the journey through the All England Club’s crowded walkways got a little intimidating after her fourth round victory. It is not the first time in her illustrious career the 30-year-old American has been scheduled outside Wimbledon’s show courts and she believes security must be improved. “I was totally mobbed. I literally was almost knocked over after the match,” Serena said.
TUESDAY, JULY 3, 2012
LONDON: Defending champion Novak Djokovic reached the Wimbledon quarter-finals with a 6-3, 61, 6-3 win over fellow Serb Viktor Troicki on Monday. Djokovic will face either Richard Gasquet or Florian Mayer for a place in the semi-finals. Meanwhile play on outside courts at the Wimbledon was abandoned due to rain. As such Wimbledon chiefs face a fixture backlog after heavy rain forced play to be abandoned on every court expect the covered Centre Court on Monday. The constant downpours in south-west London caused two delays, with the second coming just before 5pm (1600GMT), and at 7.45pm (1845GMT) it was announced that there would be no further play. That left five men’s singles matches to be completed on Tuesday, including world number four Andy Murray’s clash with Croatia’s Marin Cilic, which had been called off with the Scot leading 7-5, 3-1 on Court One. French fifth seed JoWilfried Tsonga was trailing 6-4, 1-1 against America’s Mardy Fish when play was suspended, while Richard Gasquet, the French 18th seed, was 6-3, 2-1 down against Germany’s Florian Mayer. The remaining men’s last 16 matches — Spain’s David Ferrer against Argentina’s Juan Martin del
31
Djokovic into quarters on rain-hampered day
Potro and America’s Brian Baker against Germany’s Philipp Kohlschreiber — were cancelled before play was able to start.
Federer, defending champ raise the roof Roger Federer insisted it was right to keep the Centre Court roof open as long as possible, saying the rain intensified the Wimbledon drama despite it playing havoc with the men’s fourth
round on Monday. Six-time winner Federer and reigning champion Novak Djokovic were home and dry in the quarter-finals, having completed their matches on Centre Court under its translucent roof. But the persistent drizzle in southwest London meant that only one match was completed on the outside courts in the men’s last 16.
Swiss great Federer said Wimbledon officials were right to keep the roof open for as long as they felt able during his 7-6 (7/1), 6-1, 46, 6-3 win over Belgium’s Xavier Malisse. It seemed somewhat of a volte face from the All England Club, having kept the roof closed on Friday as a preventative measure — to the annoyance of some — despite the gloomy skies never breaking. AFP
Federer salutes Wimbledon old boys club LONDON: Roger Federer saluted the Wimbledon old boys club on Monday when five men aged over 30 featured in the fourth round, the highest number since 1975. Federer, who turns 31 in August, defeated 31-year-old Belgian Xavier Malisse 7-6 (7/1), 61, 4-6, 6-3 to reach a 33rd successive Grand Slam quarter-final and praised the longevity of his generation. “We had a good generation. Think back 10 years ago when we were all coming through. My junior year back in 1998 was unbelievable,” said Federer.
Roger Federer
Mikhail Youzhny
“Whoever I played in almost every match made it on tour after that. I think we had a record in Paris with the number of over 30year-olds in the main draw, which
Mardy Fish
I’m happy to see. But I am also happy that I’m not the only guy left. I see familiar faces left and right everywhere I go at every tournament.”
David Ferrer Federer’s opponent in the quarter-finals will be fellow 30year-old Russian Mikhail Youzhny, who he has defeated 13 times in 13 matches since their first meeting
in 2000. America’s Mardy Fish and Spain’s David Ferrer are the other two 30-year-old players in the last 16. At the start of Wimbledon last Monday, there were 34 men aged 30 or over in a total main draw of 128 which was an Open era record for the tournament. The previous best was 33 in 1978. Spain’s Ruben RamirezHidalgo, who lost to Fish in the first round, was the oldest at 34 years and six months. This year’s French Open saw a record for Grand Slams — 37. AFP
Playing Field
TUESDAY, JULY 3, 2012
The games people play
32
Yellow up for grabs on Tour TOURNAI, BELGIUM: Frenchman Sylvain Chavanel (in pic) and other attack-minded riders should be looking longingly at the third stage of the Tour de France and the possible capture of the fabled yellow jersey. Held from the northern town of Orchies in the region of the famous cobbled classic ParisRoubaix, the stage ends 197km later in the seaside town of Boulogne-sur-Mer. Neither the distance nor the intensity of racing should be a problem for a well-conditioned peloton, for whom far bigger challenges lie ahead. But for those with victory in mind, the five ‘Boulonnais’ climbs — out of a total of six on the stage
— squeezed into the last 35km provide a perfect springboard. Sandwiched between the second and fourth stages, which are both designed to finish in bunch sprints, this stage is one for attacking riders who can get over a climb, attack some more and keep on climbing. For Omega-Pharma’s Chavanel, stage three is a godsend. He won the 2011 national title at Boulogne-sur-Mer after negotiating many of the climbs that will feature on the stage, and the Frenchman has shown his ambitions in the opening days of the race. Chavanel came close to causing an upset in the opening prologue when he finished only seven seconds adrift of Swiss Fabian
Cancellara, who took the race’s first yellow jersey. On Sunday’s opening stage the Frenchman launched an attack early on the climb to Seraing, which was finally won by Slovakian Peter Sagan. Director Christian Prudhomme said the stage is open to a thrilling, attacking race. “I spoke with (former French champion) Thomas Voeckler after the Tour presentation. He knows the terrain well and he told me it should be a real battle that will leave its mark on the peloton,” said Prudhomme. “The final 50km would, at least if Bernard Hinault was still racing, have the potential to split the peloton to pieces.” AFP
ROYAL ATTENTION
King Albert II of Belgium (R) receives a yellow jersey as he attends the second stage of the Tour de France cycling race, 207km from Vise to Tournai, Belgium, on Monday. AFP/ NICOLAS LAMBERT
Australia to play Afghanistan in ODI Top-ranked SYDNEY: Australia will play emerging cricket nation Afghanistan for the first time in a one-day international in the Middle East next month, Cricket Australia (CA) said on Monday. The game will serve as a warm-up for Australia’s series against Pakistan in the United Arab Emirates, which immediately precedes the ICC World
Twenty20 tournament in Sri Lanka in SeptemberOctober. CA chief executive James Sutherland said Australia had been looking for a chance to play Afghanistan and saw the opportunity once details of the Pakistan ODI and Twenty20 series in the UAE had become clear over the weekend. While no venue has been yet finalised for the
Afghanistan ODI, CA said the game was being scheduled to allow the Australian team time to acclimatise before taking on Pakistan in three ODIs and three T20s in August. “Everyone in world cricket have been really impressed with how cricket has flourished in Afghanistan, despite its pressing national problems,” Sutherland said in a statement.
Sagan ends loan spell to secure green jersey TOURNAI, BELGIUM: Slovakian champion Peter Sagan made the Tour de France green jersey his outright, at least temporarily, after a sixth place finish on the race’s second stage on Monday. But the Liquigas ace admitted taking part in his first bunch sprint on the world’s biggest bike race had been a hair-raising affair. “It’s the first time that I’ve done a sprint on the Tour de France and I have to say it is a lot different from everything I’ve experienced before,” said Sagan. “The fight for position is very hard and it’s also dangerous.” Sagan, who claimed his maiden stage win on the world’s biggest race at his first attempt on Sunday, was one of the favourites for victory at the end of the mainly flat 207km ride from Vise to Tournai. In the end of a classic bunch sprint Britain’s Mark Cavendish
It’s the first time that I’ve done a sprint on the Tour de France and I have to say it is a lot different from everything I’ve experienced before. Slovakian champion Peter Sagan (Sky) surged out from behind the wheel of German rival Andre Greipel (Lotto) to claim the 21st win of his career on the race. Sagan had been well positioned, but a moment’s lapse of concentration proved costly.
Mughal rally: Navigator dies SRINAGAR: The death toll in the car crash during the Mughal Road rally here today rose to two as the navigator of the vehicle, Ashish Mahajan, succumbed to injuries at a hospital here. Mahajan, admitted to the intensive care unit of the Sher-i-Kashmir Institute of Medical Sciences Hospital following the crash on Sunday, died this morning, an official of the disaster management cell said. Mahajan had suffered grievous internal injuries in the crash at Simthan was on life support system. PTI