SPICE THINGS UP
ANCHORS AWAY We revisit the original blockbuster film Titanic as the ‘unsinkable ship’ RMS Titanic sets sail again on April 5 to theatres world-over, and this time in 3D
If the spark is missing in your relationship then it’s about time you turned up the heat P18
P16&17
FLASH
SC QUASHES GHAI PLANS The Supreme Court has upheld a Bombay HC order quashing land allotted to film producer Subhash Ghai for his film institute. The apex court also pulled up former Maharashtra CM Vilasrao Deshmukh.
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CITY COPS GET A
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AK Khan, aghast at out-of-shape policemen, has made medical checkups and parade mandatory, but there’s still 10-15 per cent flab in the force. REPORT ON PG 3
hofpqbk=pqbt^oq= WORKING ON FIRST NOVEL Twilight star Kristen Stewart has reportedly put pen to paper for her first novel. P25
BARÇA IN SEMIS Lionel Messi’s winning brace against AC Milan took him to 51 Champions League goals as Bayern Munich overcame Marseilles to also book P32 a place in the semis.
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NO TAKERS FOR GERIATRIC CARE IN CITY Osmania Hospital study reveals a shocking fact. No doctor wants to take up geriatric care as a speciality for want of popularity and glamour.
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Spirit of Twin Cities
COVER UP
Acoustic night
M ANIL KUMAR
Awma and Andy will perform live at Heart Cup Coffee. This set of talented musicians will present to you music of various genres. Where: Heart Cup Coffee, Kondapur When: April 4, 6.30PM Contact: (040) 6555 5254
Angkor Wat A painting exhibition based on the Angkor Wat in Columbia is being presented by Kalakrithi Art Gallery and ITC Kakatiya. Where: Hyder Mahal, ITC Kakatiya, Begumpet When: Ongoing, 11am- 7pm Contact: (040) 2340 0132
Easter time Godrej Natures Basket is offering Easter treats which include some delightful hot cross buns and marzipan cakes. Celebrate Easter with a variety of Easter eggs. Where: Nature’s Basket, Banjara Hills, Rd No10 When: Ongoing Contact: (040) 2335 5399
Combo platters Deli 9 is offering Combo Platters in it’s lunch and dinner menu. Choose from various salad and sandwich combos also. Where: Deli 9, Banjara Hills, Rd No1 When: Ongoing, 11am to 8pm Contact: (040) 6550 6662
Where: The Promenade, Ameerpet When: Ongoing Contact: (040) 6678 8888
Show and tell
The Siri Institute of Painting is hosting a painting exhibition for senior citizens. 50 per cent of the amount collected from the exhibition will be donated to the poor and old handloom museums. Where: Hotel Marriott, Tank Bund When: March 31- April 4, 10am to 8pm
Books n more presents Show and Tell, an activity to promote good expression and communication for 3-8 year olds. The activity aims to improve your child’s ability to communicate well in English. Where: Books n more, Sivaramkrishna Colony, Marredpally When: Ongoing, 5pm to 6pm Contact: 98859 56728
Wednesday trivia
Unique buffet
Senior citizens exhibition
Wednesday night is trivia night at the Bistro, Bottles and Chimney. Come, answer a few questions and win some great prizes. Where: The Bistro, Bottles and Chimney, Begumpet When: April 4, 8.30pm onwards Contact: (040) 2776 6464
Yellow Chilli is offering a lunch buffet which is truly different. The Buffet which costs `199 (Monday to-Friday) and `249 (Saturday and Sunday). The dinner buffet costs `299 and `349. Where: Yellow Chilli, Banjara Hills, Rd No 12 When: Ongoing Contact: (040) 2338 3838
Wraps and rolls
A suitable lunch
Rolls — boring did you say? Head to Promenade at Ameerpet for a wide variety of rolls that will suit everyone’s taste.
Syn at Taj Deccan is offering Syn-to-suit you lunches. Various lunch offers for various requirements from the quick 15 minute
CINEMAS
lunch to the healthy and long lunches. Where: Syn - Asian Bar and Grill, Taj Deccan, Banjara Hills, Rd No 1 When: Ongoing, 12 pm to 3.30pm Contact: (040) 6666 3939
Go Splash Splash lounge is the perfect leisure destination for you to unwind. There is also great music, martinis and aperitifs. Where: The Westin, Mindspace, Madhapur When: Monday - Friday, 5pm - 10.30pm Weekends, 8am - 10.30pm Contact: (040) 6767 6828
Miniature traditions Miniature Traditions — An Artistic Endeavor, will be held at Alankritha Art Gallery. Where: Alankritha Art Gallery, Kavuri Hills, Madhapur When: March 24 - April 4, 11 am onwards Contact: (040) 2311 3709
Womanhood A painting exhibition by Priyanka Poogalia is being held at Beyond Coffee. Where: Beyond Coffee, Jubilee Hills,
Rd No 36 When: Ongoing 11 am onwards Contact: (040) 2354 5359
Salt of the earth An exhibition of paintings by Tailor Srinivas titled Salt of the Earth is being held at Iconart Gallery. The exhibition is on till March 5. Where: Iconart Gallery, Banjara Hills, Rd No 12 When: Ongoing, 11.30 am onwards Contact: 98499 6879
New conceptualist Catch an exhibition of paintings by Sujatha Basu at Muse Art Gallery. Where: Muse Art Gallery, Tank Bund When: Ongoing, 11am onwards Contact: (040) 2752 2999
Silk expo The National Silk Expo is being held at Sri Sathya Sai Nigmagamam from March 31- April 6. Catch an exclusive collection of traditional and designer materials and sarees with fabrics such as Tussar, Chanderi, Kotha, Jamdani etc. Where: Sri Sathya Sai Nigmagamam, Sri Nagar Colony When: Ongoing Contact: 93688 82225
Big Cinemas, Ameerpet: 30581470; Cinemax, Banjara Hills: 44565555; Cine Planet , Kompally: 61606060; INOX, Banjara Hills: 44767777; Prasads, Tank Bund Rd: 23448888; PVR, Punjagutta: 8800900009; Talkie Town, Miyapur: 40214175; Tivoli, Secunderabad: 27844973
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Khan wants slim boys City Police Commissioner, aghast at the out-of-shape of policemen, has made medical checkup and parade mandatory, but there are still 10-15 per cent flabby men around in the force
FITNESS Mohd Subhan mohd.s@postnoon.com
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t has been pretty long since anybody saw a spirited cop chasing a thief or a thug. Even if he is on a bike, it’s becoming a strenuous effort for policeman to overtake a hoodlum and pinch him. The reason is unfitness, growing flab, no lifestyle and long hours of work. No wonder, several Assistant Sub Inspectors of Police undergoing promotional training to sub-inspector bolted from AP Police Academy recently. “Growing tummy,” The City Commissioner of Police A K Khan realised the problem of the constabulary. Being himself trim and prim, he’d never have a problem of flab and fatigue. Khan introduced a medical check-up, and he found to his dismay that some 10- 15 per cent of policemen are fat and out of shape. He need
not be told why even ‘Rakshak’ patrolling vans are seen languishing under the shade of trees instead of roaming about. There are about 10,000 policemen in the Hyderabad City. Khan ordered a regular and weekly medical
A deadly combination
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r. Arun Srivastav, surgeon and RMO Chest hospital says, “beer and biriyani are a deadly combination; In medical parlance it is called beerbelly. It happens due to excessive oil and red meat. It affects heart and raise cholesterol. Along with it if you drink and smoke, your ‘grave note’ is ready. “If you want to quicken the process, then stop walking or exercise,” the doctor said in lighter vein.
check-up and parade to those off duty policemen. Games and entertainment too have been introduced. They can also go to gym and follow any games they like. “Long hours of
duty,” said Khan, stretching to 13-14 hours a day, food at irregular times, drinking and smoking and eating too much biriyani perhaps could have contributed to flab. But the Commissioner is unwilling to accept that it is peculiar to Hyderabad police. The trend is universal. Khan claims that fitness of Hyderabad cops has increased since the medical checkup introduced a few months ago. The Commissioner has also asked for family check of policemen. “Charity begins at home,” remarked an assistant commissioner of police when told of the fitness problem and families. Interestingly, most of the City police officers who command the constabulary are fit like a fiddle. Apart from Khan, traffic police chief C V Anand, DCP Stephen Ravindra, Additional Commissioner of Police Amit Garg are examples of fitness. “They are role models for the rookie policemen,” said a circle inspector.
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Rights commission to hear astrologer’s case CRIME
Here are some of the controversial predictions made by him n A girl’s menstruation timing will determine her character and future. n If a girl were to start menstruating after sunset, then she will become a prostitute. If it were to start in the evening then the girl would become a thief. n If a girl attains puberty at midnight, she would become a widow at a very young age. n Srinivas’ almanac also mentions the ill effects of sneezing.
Rahul Ramakrishna rahul.r@postnoon.com
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rinivas Gargeya, a popular astrologer whose ‘outrageous’ predictions about women earned him the ire of various women activists is absconding, say police. Following protests, criminal cases have been filed with police charging him making obscene and immodest comments against women in the garb of astro-reading. As part of Ugadi, Srinivas’ panchangam had declared that a woman’s character is defined by the timing and occurrence of the menstrual cycle. According to him, the maturity timing would determine whether the woman would turn into a thief or a prostitute or a widow and other such things. PA Devi, a social activist said, “What he had said was absolute gibberish. There is no proof that the maturity timing of a girl determines her character. Rubbish like this will only fuel a
Astrologer Srinivas Gargeya rise in the number of harassment and dowry cases amongst women. While on one hand the Central government is trying to educate women about menstruation being a natural, biological process, there are people like Srinivas who seem to hold views diametrically opposite to known science,” Meanwhile, another case filed against him with the Human Rights Commission by the women organisation, the ADIWA, will
be taken up for hearing tomorrow. Activists say the police’s failure to trace the astrologer is surprising. “It is strange that Srinivas has been absconding. There are reports that he still practices astrology openly and answers calls from clients in spite of the police looking out for him. In fact, he was present at a political party’s panchangam ceremony where he was in attendance with some political bigwigs of the
State,” PA Devi said. So what has happened to Srinivas, who enjoyed publicity and support in both media and political parties, now that his holy garb has been ripped apart? ACP KV Ramnarsimha Reddy said, “He has been on the run since Ugadi. Our efforts are on to try and nab him.” But, activists point out that he was present on the Ugadi at the TDP office when his panchangam was read out.
‘Angrez’ producer and actor lands in jail CRIME
NIKHIL HAD TAKEN A LOAN OF `4,25,000 FROM GOUD TO MAKE A SEQUEL TO HIS FILM. HE IS ALLEGED TO HAVE PROMISED GOUD
Md Inkeshaf Ahmed ahmed.m@postnoon.com
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Nikhil Reddy, film producer and actor (Angrez fame) has been taken into custody by the Narayanguda police this morning on a charge of duping. He was picked up from his residence at Diamond Point near Sikh village in Secunderabad. Producer and hero of popular Hyderabadi movie Angrez, Nikhil
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Reddy has been charged with a crime of cheating a City-based industrialist G Vasanth Kumar Goud for `50 lakh. He has been booked Sections 420 (cheating) and 506 (threaten-
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THE COMPLETE RIGHTS OF THE MOVIE. ing) of the Indian Penal Code for deceiving Goud. According to the case, Nikhil Reddy had taken a loan of `4,25,000 on June 26, 2008 from Goud to make a sequel to his film
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Angrez. Nikhil is alleged to have promised Goud complete rights of the new movie. Consequently, Nikhil had given Goud two post-dated cheques for the loan amount. When the cheques matured, Goud presented them to the bank but was told that the account was already closed. Goud has reported the incident to the police. Goud said, “When I demanded he pay me back, he threatened to get me killed at the hands of the underworld.” Another case in Nellore district has been pending against him on a similar charge.
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NEWS BRIEFS Sangareddy: Police enquiry ordered
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aking a serious view of the sudden communal flare-up in Sangareddy on Thursday last, the DGP Dinesh Reddy has asked IGP Hyderabad Range, Rajiv Ratan, to inquire and report of the incident. The authorities have transferred the out circle inspector of Sangareddy. The Sangareddy trouble, had started after someone posted on a popular social website a heresy about a holy person. The violence that broke out as a result of the mischief led to heavy loss of property and injuries to many.
House burgled in Srinivas Nagar
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urglars decamped with gold jewellery, silver vessels, and cash from the house of Malinder, ticket inspector of APSRTC in Srinivas Nagar under the Chikalguda police station limits. The residents were not at home. Chikalguda police are investigating the case.
CM will decide on power tariff hike
F
inance Minister Anam Ramanarayana Reddy on Tuesday said that Chief Minister N Kiran Kumar Reddy would take a decision on power tariff hike as different political parties were expressing different opinions on the issue. Speaking to the media, Anam said that various organisations and political parties were expressing different opinions on the power tariff hike issue in the State. The Chief Minister would take a decision in the matter after examining their opinions.
Films made are not award-worthy: Dasari
D
asari Narayana Rao has said the Telugu films being produced now-adays were not capable to win awards. Praveen, son of Saradhi Studios manager KBR Prasad, got the ‘Best Editor’ Award for his film, Aranyakandam in Tamil. The Telugu filmmakers organised a function to felicitate Praveen. On the occasion, Narayana Rao said that award level films were not being made. He said that the Telugu film industry should encourage Telugu artists who won awards in other languages.
AIRLINES Airport Director 27903785, 27906001 For Air India Flight Information Toll free (from any network) for IC Flights 18001801407 And for All Flights: 1800227722 Air India has revised its flight timings. For more information call (Toll free) 18001801407, 1800227722 from BSNL/MTNL 04023430334 from other lines and mobile Website; www.airindia.in TOURISM OFFICES AP Tourism, Hyd 23262152/53/54 Sec’bad 27893100 Dept of Tourism 23453110 India Tourism 23261360 AP Tourism information Centre (24x7) 23450444, 23455999
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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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Do not undermine CBI: Chakrapani
POLITICS U Srinivas srinivas.u@postnoon.com
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ttributing motives to CBI is not correct, said A Chakrapani, chairman of the Legislative council. Talking to Postnoon Chakrapani expressed his happiness that the council deliberations were fruitful. Coming to the CBI and the delay in the arrest of Jagan and other issues pertaining to the ministers, Chakrapani said, “You cannot attribute motives to the CBI. By attributing motives particularly to the CBI you are weakening it.” Talking about the ministers and the Supreme Court notices, he said that the ministers will reply. If you get a notice you have to reply, he said. The government is also looking into the matter and they will send their reply as well, he stated. He declined to further elaborate on the matter. Talking about the state of affairs in the Congress, Chakrapani said that there are bound to be changes in the party just the seasons change. “All the days are not the same,” he said philosophically. Chakrapani was optimistic about the Congress party’s prospects in the upcoming
WEDNESDAY, APRIL 4, 2012
Campaigns, hard news and spirit of Twin Cities
bypolls in 18 constituencies. Talking about the state of politics today, Chakrapani said that earlier when politicians retired or stepped down they had little to do for survival. But these days, politicians work on an individual basis, and are more concerned about
securing their family’s and their futures. He suggested that leaders first think about the welfare of society first and then about themselves. He said that the Legislative Council took up two short debates on SC, ST sub-plan and
Excise Bill. Further, 17 Bills were also passed and two House Committees including a Joint House Committee on land allotments were constituted. The Council chairman said that from the next session, the Standing Committees would be constituted on the lines of the Parliament Standing Committee. Regarding the disqualification petitions of rebel Congress MLCs, he said he got three petitions and action would be taken only after receiving responses from the MLCs concerned. Congress whip Y Sivarami Reddy in the council had petitioned seeking disqualification of three members for anti-party activities. But, the members have sought some time. “Let me get their responses. Then I will take a decision,” Chakrapani said. While Pulla Padmavathi returned to the ruling party’s fold, the other two are Konda Murali and SV Mohan Reddy who are lending their support to YSR Congress.
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TTD to conduct mass marriages in the US
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he Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanam (TTD) has decided to conduct mass marriages of Hindus in the US. The TTD board, which met at Tirumala on Tuesday, decided to organise ‘Kalyanamasthu’ in the US from April 28 to June 2. The programme will be held at 10 different locations in the US including San Jose, New Jersey, Dallas, Arizona, Detroit and Seattle, said a statement from TTD. After successfully conducting of several rounds of the mass marriages in AP over the last four years, the TTD, which manages the affairs of the famous Tirumala temple, decided to extend it to the US and other countries. The body, which looks after India’s richest Hindu temple, also plans to hold ‘Kalyanamasthu’ in Singapore, Japan, Mauritius and Sri Lanka. It also decided to conduct ‘Kalyanamasthu’ at 11 more temples in AP on two dates a year. Launched four years ago, the programme is aimed at strengthening Hindu marriage system and to help the poor families perform the marriages of their children in accordance with Hindu traditions.
Aadhar base for disbursal of funds Subscribe Today! GOVERNANCE Postnoon News feedback@postnoon.com
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he State and Centre now want to use the new Unique Identification authority of India (UIDAI) cards, popularly known as Aadhar cards, as the base for every transaction, especially cash transactions. Banks across the State have decided to use this ID for the transfer of funds. If things go as per plan, Aadhar cards may soon replace ration cards in the future. The UID number makes it very attractive for the authorities as it cannot be duplicated. An official associated with electronic banking (e-banking) told Postnoon that the financial inclusion and payment systems initiative of the UIDAI is primarily aimed at providing all the residents with bank accounts, bringing electronic banking facility to the door steps for the common man and facilitating electronic benefit transfers by the government with full backup and visibility. To this effect NREGA payments using Aadhar payment bridge (APB) and Aadhar enabled payments systems (AEPS) are being created. Bank of India, United bank of India and ICICI have already been brought on board and they are working at different
Financial inclusion with Aadhar 1. Opening of new Aadhar enabled accounts based on the banks’ stipulations. 2. Linking the existing bank accounts with Aadhar cards and data. 3. Signing Authentication service and authentication user agency agreements with State government departments to make Aadhar enabled payments. 4. Using banks head quartered in the region for authentication user agency.
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5. One micro ATM to be stationed for every 2,000 Aadhar based accounts. 6. Initiating pilots with the banks and State government before scaling up. capabillity levels for this project. The UIDAI officials have already talked to the DGMs of Andhra Bank and SBH, UBI and BOI here in Hyderabad. Suitable pilot projects with the State government are being done by each bank so that scaling up becomes smooth across AP. The State has achieved maximum enrolments and is about to saturate the enrolment in one year’s time.
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Eamcet elbows out K-Set, T-Set EDUCATION Sudeshna Koka sudeshna.k@postnoon.com
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CM, Botsa bury differences
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mid speculations of a change in guard in the State, the Chief Minister N Kiran Kumar Reddy and PCC chief Botsa Satyanarayana, left for Delhi today. This followed former PCC Chief D Srinivas’ meeting with the party president yesterday. However, sources close to the CM said there was no immediate threat to either the CM or the PCC chief. They were asked to go to Delhi to discuss the forthcoming byelections and the miserable results of the recently concluded bypolls. It is learnt that the party high command is not amused at the games the CM, PCC chief and deputy chief minister Damodar Rajanarsimha are playing against one another. The leaders are also scheduled to meet the party’s in-charge of AP, Ghulam Nabi Azad. The transfer of ACB joint director D Srinivas Reddy last night has closed the issue between the CM and PCC chief, it is learnt. Srinivas was instrumental in digging up the list of liquor ‘mafia’ list.
ith just one month left for Eamcet, JEE and other competitive examinations, intermediate students are burning the midnight oil preparing for the all-crucial entrance tests that will decide their career path. A few years back, science students from AP would travel across South India during April and May, appearing for various engineering entrance exams. T-set (Tamil Naidu) and K-set (Karnataka) were the two most popular exams amongst students from State and they would flock in large numbers to try their luck there. However, for some time now this trend has begun to fade. Not many students from the State are now appearing for K-set and T-set exams and are instead choosing the local Eamcet. “When my elder son was in intermediate he was very keen on writing the engineering entrance exams in Tamil Naidu and Karnataka. But when my younger son recently appeared for his entrance tests, he chose to focus on Eamcet alone,” says Jayanthi K, bank employee. The reason, point out many is the fact that earlier, the demand for engineering course was much higher when compared to the number of seats available in the State. However, today the situation is different, with the State boasting of nearly 720 engineering colleges and several vacant seats. “The whole education system has changed with time. Students now have a variety of colleges to
choose from within AP itself. Besides, the standard of education has improved as well and students don’t feel the need to look elsewhere for a good college,” says Pravalika M, professor, Amina Institute of Science and Technology. Scholarships are another reason why many students are choosing to stay back in the State. AP students are not eligible for scholarships in other states. Based on the merit list in the Eamcet exam, students get good scholarships here. Apart from that, students who get above 70 per cent during the course of engineering get scholarships. AP engineering colleges also have special quota for girls. Each college has 32 per cent reservation
ICONIC CITY Charminar, Old City
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hink Hyderabad, and Charminar is probably the first thing that comes to your mind. A trip to Hyderabad is incomplete without a visit to one its iconic monuments. Not only is it a magnificent sight and an architechtural marvel, it is one of the best places to shop. The sheer variety of things available to shop for are mind boggling. All kinds of jewellery — costume, pearl, silver and gold are available. A rich variety of textiles and apparels are also up for
Aishwarya Yerra Hyderabad as a City has a lot to offer in terms of heritage and sights. We take a look at the various places that make this City so special
grabs. You can have your pick of saris, ghagras, dress materials, zari, laces etc here. Many retailers come here and buy wares at wholesale rates. Goods from here are picked up by retailers from across the country as well. For shoe lovers, Charminar would be like paradise what with stores here selling all kinds of footwear right from sandals, sneakers to ethnic designs like joothis and mojris. So, don’t waste time and get your shopping bags ready!
for girls. “Back then the standards of engineering in AP were not great. Almost 70 per cent of my batchmates went to Anna University, Chennai. But today we not only have more engineering colleges but their standards have improved as well. Student don’t need to look beyond Eamcet anymore,” says Kamalesh P, a software employee. Venu Gopal, vice principal, Sri Chaitanya College says, “Today AP has several deemed and private engineering colleges. Parents prefer sending their children to these colleges rather than to private colleges in the neighbouring states.” Though the fee in deemed colleges is very high, the promise of a fat pay cheque and 100 per cent
placement is what attracts students. Venu Gopal further adds, “The number of IITs are also increasing, I counsel my students to aim for them and then look for the top 20 engineering colleges in Hyderabad. Now we also have BITS in Hyderabad.” This year a total of 3.9 lakh students have applied for Eamcet. Prof NV Ramana Rao, Eamcet convener, says that in the next one month the number will increase by 10,000. “It’s become very easy to get admission in an engineering college in AP these days. Over the last few years the numbers of applicants have also increase.” Last year 1.5 lakh students had applied for EAMCET and in 2010 it was around 2.5 lakh N SHIVA KUMAR
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No takers for geriatric care in City Osmania Hospital study reveals a shocking fact. No doctor wants to take up geriatric care as a speciality for want of popularity and glamour of other branches of medical studies have
HEALTH Anubis K Singh anubis.k@postpone.com
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N Rai, a retired official, has been living alone since his wife passed away in 2005. He lives in a well furnished flat in Jubilee Hills with all his needs taken care of. Being well off he has the comfort and care, and his daughter, married and working in the US ensures he is well kept. He gets regular medical checkup but it is by a physician, not by a geriatric expert. Solitary living is on the rise in the City as elsewhere. The world over, geriatric wings are an in dispensable part of medical care. In India, the issue has not gained governmental attention though India’s elderly population is growing fast. A recent study by doctors’ forum of Osmaina Medical College reveals that there is urgent need of geriatric course in medical colleges. The report on “Attitudes of Medical Students towards Older Persons” conducted on 225 medical students of Osmania Medical College. Thirty-five male students and 190 female students partici-
pated in the study. The students who participated were in the early 20’s and average age of 23. The study revealed a positive attitude of students towards the elderly people. “Nearly 218 stu-
dents lived more than five years with their grandparents and they know how to care for them and behave with them but unfortunately most of them are not keen on taking geriatric course which
can add the true professional sense in them” said, Dr K Suresh, President, Osmania Medical College Doctor’s Forum. “Out of 225 students, a shocking number of 222 students are not
Percentage of elderly: By 2025:
7.5 12
keen to take geriatric course,” said Dr.Suresh. “The main reason is that the course is not famous like cardiology or any other medical course. Moreover, there is no fulltime geriatric course offered in any of the medical college in India. However, under The National Programme for the Health Care for the Elderly (NPHCE) , only eight regional centres across the country are there for Geriatrics course to train the doctors but they are not sufficient,” the doctor said. There is also no regional centre in Andhra Pradesh. If any student wants to pursue the training he needs to take up the course with the Madras Medical College geriatric centre. The doctors’ forum demands a full- fledged course in the Osmania medical College so that more students can come forward and take up the course. The study is a part of World Health Day. Every year, World Health Day is celebrated on April 7, to mark the anniversary of the founding of WHO. Each year a particular theme is selected to mark the day that highlights a priority area of concern for WHO. This year the theme is ageing and health. As a part of theme the Osmania Medical forum had conducted this study.
Christians in the City gear up for Good Friday, Easter FESTIVAL Postnoon News feedback@postnoon.com
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hristian’s in the City, like every year are set to get together on the occasion of Good Friday (March 6) and Easter (March 8). A month ago they began Lent, a spiritual preparation for Easter. Traditionally, during Lent many people fast for 40 days. As a part of this, they sacrifice any one of their favourite foods, things or habits. Lent will come to an end on Saturday, that is a day after Good Friday and a day before Easter. This week is considered to be a holy week or Passion Week for the community members with Thursday being known as Maundy Thursday, followed by Good Friday, Holy Saturday and Easter Sunday. Good Friday is also known as the day of crucifixion.
“On Good Friday, a number of services are held. A series of readings and meditations by the priest or preachers follows in which the entire congregation takes part. In the evenings, prayers are offered to remember the sacrifice made by Jesus during which the priest talks about the last seven words Christ spoke,” said Sarah Swaroop, a member from the community. In addition to the prayers, churches like St Mary’s and Assembly of God organise special plays that are an account of the period when Jesus was born till the day he was crucified. “Like every year, this year too I will attend the play being held at the Assembly of God Church on Good Friday. Earlier too, the church had organised a Good Friday Drama and a cantata service in the evening. The play is solemn and aims to create awareness of the sacrifice of Jesus. A variety of ceremonies are conducted by different sects of Christianity on this
day”, says Sarah. “The services on the day normally begin at three in the afternoon which is considered to be the time when Jesus Christ was crucified. The priests read out the four gospels from Bible. The service includes seven distinct elements as in seven utterances of Christ when he was crucified,” said, Binoy Jacob, an employee with a pharmaceutical cpmpany. “We fast for 40 days which includes Good Friday. Ever since I was my grandparents have told me about how Jesus Christ had fasted for 40 days in a desert to overcome the evil and the first day of this 40 days fast (Lent) is known as Ash Wednesday,” he adds. Traditionally, meat is not allowed on the Good Friday day. Mostly, fruits and vegetables are served in every house on the day. However, certain families abstain themselves from all forms of meat and animal products during Lent, while others made exceptions for food like fish.
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Campaigns, hard news and spirit of Twin Cities
WEDNESDAY, APRIL 4, 2012
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N SHIVA KUMAR
A wheel of life for bamboo weavers In the last 15-16 years, bamboo weavers have come from places like Vizag, Vijayawada, Guntur & Tuni to Mallakunta in Hyderabad. Their main work has been weaving bamboo baskets and making decorative Items for packaging. A large contributor to their sales are the stage decorators and event managers. In spite of their skilled labour, their daily earning is not more than `200. As they are illiterate it is difficult for them to supplement their income by doing any other job.
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5,320.20 38.30
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10g= `28,100
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1kg= `57,300
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Matters of saving and spending
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Realtors seek govt boost Demand for gated communities
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here is growing demand for gated communities in the City. The communities will facilitate networking in peer groups with community hall, club-house, swimming pool, game courts. There is 5 per cent price difference with a normal apartment with average costs of `3,000 per sq ft, said Reddy. Gated communities trend picked up in other states and will be the future of housing in the City. It gives all facilities in the colony like bank, supermarket. Residents do not need to go outside for various basic needs, points out PV Ravindra Kumar, CEO, Vasathi Housing. cult to facilitate the requirements of the government without increasing the prices other flats for the middle class, he says. However, middle class will not be ready to buy the flats if the prices are hiked. “We are ready to take the burden without increasing the prices, but requested the government at least offer the land, development and other taxes be refunded to the builders. It is important to understand the 2030 targets to meet housing demand cannot be met such measures,” he said.
The investors are hesitant to buying flats due to the political agitations. A fast decision from the government will push the sales of the flats in the sector, said Reddy. City has become a major educational capital with premier institutes like ISB, IIT, IIIT, BITS Pilani and NALSAR. Even, retired professionals are looking to Hyderabad due to excellent weather conditions. The metro rail and new phases of water from Krishna and Godavari will make it even more attractive for buyers, he claimed.
he real-estate sector is facing huge challenges with the government policies. Even though City market has been getting better in last six months, there are few developers who went for approvals. There could have been at least 10 crore sq ft property development sanctions last year. However, the developers did not go for even 1 crore sq ft sanctions, said N Jaiveer Reddy, chairman,
Confederation of Real Estate Developers’ Associations of India (Credai). He said that the banks are stringent in giving loans to the developers. They are demanding double the value of the loan amount as collateral. The other major concern is the LIG and EWS demands from the government. According to GO 45, the developers have to give 20 per cent of the constructed area to the weaker sections at a nominal price. The developers are working at almost no margins. It is diffi-
SBH launches special plan
Facebook fires back at Yahoo!
Prudhvi Raju K prudhvi.k@postnoon.com
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SAN FRANCISCO: Facebook
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tate Bank of Hyderabad, which completes 70 years of service today (Wednesday), has come out with a unique limited period fixed deposit scheme of 70:70:70. The bank is offering 0.70 per cent higher rate of interest than applicable on fresh term deposits for 70 weeks. The scheme will remain open till tomorrow, to coincide with the days of completion of 70 years and entry in to 71st year. SBH has also re-launched its Savings Bank “Plus” scheme with new add-ons to mark this occasion. It is giving the account holders option to earn term deposit interest rate with “Auto Sweep Facility” along with concessions in processing fee, if the account holder avails car or housing loan.
on Tuesday fired back at Yahoo! with a countersuit charging that the floundering Internet pioneer is violating the social network’s patents — and not the other way around. The move came after Yahoo! filed suit against Facebook in a California court last month accusing the social networking giant of infringing on 10 patents. Yahoo!, in a 19-page lawsuit filed in US District Court for the Northern District of California, accused Facebook of infringing on patents in several areas including advertising, privacy and messaging. In the suit, Yahoo! said that Facebook’s growth to approximately 850 million users “has been based in large part on Facebook’s use of Yahoo!’s patented technology.” The Sunnyvale, Californiabased Yahoo! asked the court to order Facebook to halt its alleged
`81.10
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worth of deal is bagged by Indian Space Research Organisation to launch an 800 kg French satellite.
THUS SPAKE “There are now more than 10 million HSPA (3G) connections across the country, and this is expected to grow by 900%, to more than 100 million connections in 2014,” Anne Bouverot, Director General, GSMA
WEN TALKS TOUGH China’s Premier Wen Jiabao has called for the break-up of a banking “monopoly” on lending that has squeezed private businesses as the global economy slows, state media reported. Wen said the banks’ stranglehold on lending needed to be broken to ease the flow of private capital in the world’s second-largest economy, in comments published on a state website. China has seen an explosion in underground lending fuelled by credit restrictions, raising concerns among top leaders about a surge in bad debts and defaults.
IMF CHIEF APPEAL
patent-infringing activities and to assess unspecified damages. Yahoo!’s lawsuit was filed as Facebook was poised to go public on Wall Street, perhaps as soon as May, with a valuation of up to $100 billion. Facebook recently amended
paperwork filed with the US Securities and Exchange Commission to warn potential investors that the patent lawsuit against the company by Yahoo! could deliver a significant blow to its business. AFP
IMF managing director Christine Lagarde implored the United States to help back-stop debt-ridden European countries on Tuesday, wading neck-deep into bubbling US political waters. Speaking in the US capital, Lagarde said the 187-nation International Monetary Fund needed more firepower to tackle financial crises raging around the globe, arguing it was in the US interest to pitch in and help Europe. Lagarde’s comments will be anathema to politicians in Washington, as the country hurtles toward elections this November. Washington has yet to ratify 2010 reforms which would see it send $63 billion more to the IMF’s coffers.
India‑View
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WEDNESDAY, APRIL 4, 2012
India unveiled
Maya now rushing LS polls Mohit Dubey
LUCKNOW: Humbled in the Uttar Pradesh elections, the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) has fast-tracked preparations for the general elections due in 2014. Keeping in line with the ‘prediction’ of party chief Mayawati that these polls would be held sooner than scheduled, the BSP has finalised the names of more than 35 Lok Sabha probables. In the first phase, the party has named six candidates. The announcement was done by Mayawati confidant and Rajya Sabha MP Munqad Ali in Amroha. Exhorting the party cadres, workers and supporters to work for the Lok Sabha battle “from now”, Munqad Ali told IANS that ‘behenji’ — as Mayawati is widely addressed — “almost finalised the complete list” of all the 80 candidates in Uttar Pradesh. He said the names would be announced in a phased manner “but very soon”. “We have announced candidates for Nagina, Amroha, Bijnor, Meerut, Moradabad and Sambhal and for the remaining seats we have other names in mind,” he said. According to him, the former UP chief minister has been brainstorming on the probable list ever since she came to New Delhi after her party received a drubbing at the hands of Mulayam Singh Yadav’s Samajwadi Party (SP). “A detailed analysis of the
poll outcome has been done at the highest level and the party is seriously mulling a major strategy to recapture its vote bank,” another party MP said. Though the BSP, which won a majority in the 403-member state assembly in 2007, was routed in this election, it more or less retained its Dalit vote bank and finished as the main opposition party, pushing national parties BJP and Congress far behind. And even after losing, a confident Mayawati vowed to bounce back. The BSP supremo has already dissolved all party wings and has been working overtime to name
new party co-ordinators. Informed sources say that both her closest aides — Satish Chandra Mishra and Naseemuddin Siddiqui — have lost their “pre-UP poll advantage” and the party chief is now relying more on old timers and trusted party workers. Her favourite bureaucrats, including then cabinet secretary Shashank Shekhar Singh, have been kept out of party matters. The Dalit leader has already signalled that old party hands would be used extensively for preparatory work in the run up to the 2014 Lok Sabha polls. A team of young tech-savvy Dalits has been reportedly put in
place to work on the “initial goof ups” of the Akhilesh Yadav government and to collect data on attacks against Dalits in the state since the SP took over. Close aides say the BSP leader had also instructed its Muslim leaders to get back to the roots and work on the Muslim vote bank, which drifted away from the BSP in the Assembly elections. Names of most Lok Sabha probable candidates, either formally or informally, a source said, are likely to be announced around April 14, the birth anniversary of Bhim Rao Ambedkar, Mayawati’s Dalit ideal.
Man gets 7yrs as power fence kills boy NEW DELHI: Fencing his rose field with live electric wire has proved costly for a 46-year-old man, as a Delhi court has sentenced him to seven years in jail for unintentionally killing a boy, who got electrocuted by it. Holding Anand guilty of the offence of culpable homicide not amounting to murder, Additional Sessions Judge Rakesh Tewari jailed him for seven years and also imposed a fine of `50,000 on him. “I am of the considered opinion that accused Anand’s act of fencing the field with electrically charged wire with which the boy came in contact and died, was certainly with full knowledge that such an act may cause death of any person. “In the circumstances, the convict is sentenced to undergo simple imprisonment for a period of seven years with a fine of `50,000 for the offence under section 304-II (punishment for culpable homicide not amounting to murder) of the Indian Penal Code,” the judge said. The case dated back to December 2006, when an 18year-old boy from Narela in North Delhi was electrocuted by the live wire fence of his neighbour Anand’s rose field. As per the prosecution case, lodged on a complaint by victim’s uncle, the youth had been his assaulted by Anand and his brothers and was pushed onto the fence. PTI
Taking poetry to India’s young readers Madhusree Chatterjee
NEW DELHI: Prose has for long edged poetry to the margins of contemporary Indian literature. It is only natural that the new reader is not familiar with the late Kamala Suraiyya or Kamala Das and her bold feminist oeuvre of poetry and short story that gave her cult status in India like Sylvia Plath in the West. Now a new series to promote contemporary Indian poetry by publisher Harper Collins-India has begun with a celebration of the Kerala-born bilingual poetess with a “small documentary” on her life and a panel discussion about her relevance on her birthday March 31. “This is the first of the promotion series to take poetry to young readers. On April 12, we will launch writer Tishani Doshi’s volume of poetry. We publish three volumes of poetry every year,” VK Karthika, publisher and
chief editor of Harper Collins, told IANS. Das’ life was ahead of her times. She began writing about love, freedom, sexuality, people on the sidelines and the parallel lives of women at a time when society was rigid and resisted voices of change. Later, she explored genocide and politics in
her poetry, giving her work a strident aggression and contemporary edge. After her wedding, husband Madhava Das, a bank employee in Mumbai, encouraged her to write. But Kamala’s spirit raged. She chafed against the rigid chores imposed upon her as a housewife — and began to write serious poetry to reconcile her life as a householder with the creative zeitgeist. She also served as the editor of the poetry section of The Illustrated Weekly of India. She wrote her poetry in English and short story in Malayalam. “She did not identify with the feminists of today. She said, ‘I think a woman is not complete without a man’,” filmmaker and long-time friend Suresh Kohli told. Kohli made the biopic, An Introduction to Kamala Das in 2006. “Her poetry was controversial and honest in the contemporary
times... she was the first woman in a male-dominated society to write courageously. I knew her for 40 years,” said Kohli, who had coauthored a book of poems with Das, Closure, a few months before
the death of the poetess in 2009. Son MD Nalappatt remembers Kamala as “my mother”. “And that role was everything. I have never analysed her role as a writer...,” Nalapat said.
Life lived on terms her own
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etting a man to love you is easy, Only be honest about your wants as a woman. The Looking Glass Kamala Suraiyya was honest about her feelings and did not shy away from expressing them, which led to comparisons with the likes of Sylvia Plath. Kamala Suraiyya was born Kamala Madhavikutty in 1934 to noted Malayali poetess Nalappatt Balamani Amma and VM Nair, the former managing editor of the
popular Malayalam daily Mathrubhumi. At the age of 15 she got married to Madhava Das and was the mother of three children. Her romantic dalliances were the staple of literary legend. Kamala converted to Islam at the age of 65 at the behest of her young 38-yearold Muslim paramour, Sadiq Ali, an MP of the Muslim League and became Kamala Suraiyya; she later said this was not worth it. She died at a hospital in Pune on May 31, 2009, aged 75.
India‑View
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WEDNESDAY, APRIL 4, 2012
India unveiled
GLOBE AT A GLANCE MP to confiscate five officials' properties
CRPF man injured in naxal strike DHANBAD: A CRPF personnel was today injured in an encounter between the security men and the Maoists at Bouwa Pahari in Dhanbad district, the police said here. The rebels opened gunfire when they spotted the CRPF and the district police personnel at the place, situated five km from Tundi police station and an encounter ensued, deputy SP RN Sharma said. The security forces had gone to the place early in the morning after getting a tip-off that the Maoists had assembled there, he added. PTI
Shelter for 3 million urban poor NEW DELHI: Focussing on the lack of a policy for around three million urban homeless, the National Advisory Council (NAC) has asked the government to build shelters for them in all cities and towns in the 12th Five Year Plan period from 2012-13 to 2016-17. According to the 2001 Census, India had around 1.94 million homeless people, of whom 1.16 million lived in villages and only 0.77 million lived in cities and towns. IANS
BHOPAL: An empowered panel of the Madhya Pradesh government has found assets worth over `5 crore of five corrupt officials as fit case for confiscation, officials said Tuesday. The Madhya Pradesh Lokayukta and Economic Offence Wing had conducted raids on these officials premises in 2011 and found they owned assets disproportionate to their income.
3,000 Sikhs to visit Pakistan on Baisakhi
Second nuke sub to boost naval might VISAKHAPATNAM: India's naval warfare capability will get one of its biggest boosts in decades when the 8,000-ton Russian-origian nuclear-powered attack submarine INS Chakra is formally inducted into the navy here today (Wednesday). The submarine would operate with the Indian Navy for 10 years and provide India's sea warfare a thumping capability - not just as an attack and weapons platform, but would also serve as a laboratory for researchers to study the technology of nuclear submarine warfare. With the induction, India will becomes only the sixth nation in the elite club of nations with nuclear-powered submarines that can remain underwater for
INS Chakra — the vital statistics Length 110 metres Maximum speed 30 knots max operating depth 600 metres Crew 73 max submergence period 100days Displacement 8,140 tonnes Weapons four 533mm and four 650mm torpedo tubes Deal worth $900 million several months unlike dieselpowered boats that have to surface at regular intervals. The other nations with nuclear-powered submarines are the US, Russia, France, Britain and China. India had operated a Soviet Charlie class nuclear submarine from 1988 but this was later returned. India's indigenous nuclear
submarine INS Arihant is also expected to start operational patrols soon, officials said. "Arihant is at an advanced stage and will be joining soon — maybe in months," an official in know of the development said. That would mean that India will have two nuclear submarines guarding its long maritime boundaries. IANS
US sleuths on NRI suspect’s trail FOR REPRESENTIONAL PURPOSE
WASHINGTON: The FBI and California police are looking for an Indian American, charged in a hit-and-run case that killed a 28-year-old woman. A resident of San Jose, California, the accused Pawanjit Singh, 25, has fled to India after involved in the incident. Sunnyvale detectives are currently working with the FBI and the US Marshall's Office on locating the suspect in India. The incident is reported to have happened on March 25 in the highly Indian American populated area of Sunnyvale in California. Following an emergency call at about 11.30 am they found an adult female in the roadway suffering from several injuries, police said. The victim, later identified as
28-year-old San Jose resident Jennifer Flores, was transported to a local hospital where she succumbed to her injuries. During subsequent investigation, Sunnyvale Detectives determined Flores was initially a
passenger in the vehicle, prior to being pushed out and run over by it. On March 27, detectives identified the driver of the vehicle as 25-year-old Pawanjit Singh of San Jose.
Pawanjit is described as being 5-feet 5-inches tall, weighing 145 pounds with black hair and brown eyes. Detectives have discovered, Singh boarded a flight for Dubai, then India, on Monday March 26. A local district court on March 28, issued an arrest warrant for homicide against Pawanjit with a bail amount of $1 million, as well as a search warrant for the suspect's residence. During the search of the residence, detectives discovered the location of the suspect's vehicle. The vehicle has since been seized and is being processed for evidence related to the crime. Investigations by Sunnyvale police have revealed that Pawanjit knew Flores. PTI
ISLAMABAD: Around 3,000 Sikh devotees from India will visit Nankana Sahib, the birthplace of Guru Nanak which is now in Pakistan, to celebrate Baisakhi festival. Sikh devotees would travel via the Wagah border April 10 through three special trains, the Online news agency reported.
External affairs minister SM Krishna shakes hands with his Maldives counterpart Abdul Samad Abdulla in New Delhi. AFP
Goa cancels 450 iron ore trading licenses PANAJI: The Goa government on Tuesday cancelled the licenses of nearly 450 iron ore traders registered here in a bid to check extraction and export of iron ore. The order suspending the licenses was issued late on Tuesday by the mines ministry which is headed by Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar.
Shirdi temple earns `3.9 cr in a week SHIRDI: The Shri Saibaba Samadhi
temple has received `3.9 crore in the form of cash donations during the Ram Navmi festival that was celebrated last week, sources said. The devotees donated 696 grams of gold and three kilograms of silver ornaments during the festival. The temple also earned `60 lakh through the sale of prasadam.
Indian fishermen sit in a police station following their arrest by the Maritime Security Agency in Karachi on Monday. AFP
Around the World
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WEDNESDAY, APRIL 4, 2012
Beyond Borders
Arabs spring a laugh AMMAN: Week after week
Saar Szekely is pictured in a tv grab of Big Brother
Israeli Big Brother in political soup D ebate about the IsraelPalestine conflict has moved to prime time television in Israel. The hugely popular Israeli version of the reality show Big Brother has turned into a hotbed of political debate since the 27-year-old Tel Aviv-based artist, Saar Szekely, arrived on the show in January. In a recent clip, Szekely debated co-stars about the moral position of the Israel army and even Israel itself. “Israel doesn’t want peace,” he said. “It wants land.” According to the Guardian, Szekely was a wildcard choice to enter the house, a left-wing voice in what has typically been a house full of ‘reactionaries’ watched by a more right-leaning audience. It was predicted that Szekely would not last and that his views would alienate him both from the audience and from the last remain-
ing members of the show. The contrarian has done neither, befriending a more right-wing contestant and a former Israeli army officer while nearly making it to the final round. His views have even become a centerpiece of the show. According to +972, Facebook pages calling for his expulsion, who was called “traitor” and a “terrorist,” started appearing soon after his arrival. Among the contestants, Szekely was constantly attacked for his views. The producer of the Israeli Big Brother, Yoram Zak, said, according to Guardian, that he had no regrets including Szekely on the show “I just really liked his style. When I asked him why he wanted to join the house he said, ‘If you’re going to broadcast this garbage the least I can do is bring some real content to it.’ I liked that.” GLOBALPOST
Jordanians pack the Concorde theatre in Amman where they shed their usual reserve to laugh uproariously at the shortcomings of their government and regional politicians still resisting the Arab Spring. The two-hour play Now I Understand You was inspired by the infamous words of Tunisia’s ousted dictator Zine El Abidine Ben Ali, a day before a revolt that forced him to flee his country and triggered uprisings across the region. The main character Abu Saqr, played by popular Jordanian comedian Musa Hijazin, portrays an oppressive father of four who rules his household with an iron fist, dismissing the needs of his wife and children and denying them any rights of expression. With the domestic edicts he imposes on his family, Hijazin parodies the authoritarian regimes that have prevailed across the Arab world. “The play is a message to Arab regimes that they need to learn lessons from the Arab Spring. Regimes needs to listen to people and their demands before losing control,” scriptwriter Ahmad Zubi told AFP. “It tells the story of Arab people and expresses their feelings. I did not hesitate or fear anything when I wrote the script. But no matter how bold we are, we can-
Australians sprint to rescue aborigines from ‘sweet’ death SYDNEY: Running a marathon was not something Nat Heath had thought about — until he heard about a pioneering project to find Australia’s Aboriginal long-distance star and something clicked. The tall and lanky 26-year-old knew that indigenous people were dying at too young an age,
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boriginal men have a life expectancy 11.5 years lower than non-indigenous men, while among women the gap is 9.7 years, with chronic disease linked to smoking, poor nutrition, obesity and a lack of activity often to blame.
and the programme appealed to his desire to contribute in some small way to improving the appalling state of Aboriginal health. Heath was one of about 50 young people attending try-outs around the country in the hope of becoming chosen for the Indigenous Marathon Project.
Nat Heath, 26, one of about 50 young people attending try-outs around the country. Founded by former world champion marathon runner Rob de Castella, the programme scouts for talent around the country, from cities to remote outback and desert communities, to select runners to train for the New York City marathon.
It coaches them for the race, with the hope that running one of the world’s most famous marathons changes the lives of the those involved and helps promote healthy lifestyles in indigenous communities, many of which are mired in poverty and disadvantage. De Castella, a two-time Commonwealth Games gold medallist and a 1983 world champion, said he was excited by the impact of the programme which began some three years ago. Australia has had its fair share of indigenous sporting heroes, from 400 metre runner Cathy Freeman who won gold at the Sydney Olympics to tennis champion Evonne Goolagong-Cawley, to countless talented football players. But it has struggled to find a champion indigenous long-distance runner, and de Castella is hoping his programme helps fill that space by providing talented young runners with the training and mentoring needed to complete a marathon. AFP
A scene from Now I understand you not be bolder than the millions of people who demonstrated for freedom.” Wearing a traditional redand-white keffiyeh, or headscarf, and sporting a thick moustache, the stocky government employee Abu Saqr bans his family from doing many things. “What’s this nonsense talk I keep hearing about dignity and freedom? Where did you hear it? That’s it, no more satellite television channels,” he tells his wife and kids, to eruptions of laughter from the audience. The play has drawn a diverse audience — even King Abdullah II and his wife Queen Rania have attended, as well as government officials, who were seen delighting in its satirical humour. “His majesty attended the
AFP
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rab Spring is a wave of revultionary protests that rose and spread across many Arab countries and displaced the tyrannical rule of leaders of Egypt, Tunisia, Libya and Yemen. The protestors, mostly youth used internet and the likes of Facebook to spread the message and gather support.
play and he burst into laughter. He told us ‘I support you and I am happy,’” Hijazin told AFP. The audience was thrilled. “I heard a lot about the play but I did not expect to be that good. I enjoyed it. It was very funny,” said Jamal Ahmad, 25. Others praised the performance for its more sober message. GLOBALPOST
Show me the cows JOHANNESBURG: Swaziland’s King Mswati III is celebrating a birthday this month, and he has ordered up some gifts from the subjects of his impoverished mountain kingdom: cows to be slaughtered for the celebrations. Mswati, Africa’s last absolute monarch and one of the world’s richest royals, has demanded that chiefs from Swaziland’s Shiselweni region, where his 44th birthday party is to be held, canvas their subjects for cattle, AFP reported. The order comes at a time of continuing economic crisis in the landlocked southern African country, where two-thirds of the 1.4 million population live on less than $1 a day. While ordinary Swazis are suffering, Mswati, his 13 wives and sprawling family have apparently remained unscathed by the government’s severe budget shortfall. Gcokoma told AFP that the country’s dire financial situation means the government doesn’t have enough money in the budget to pay for the event to mark Mswati’s April 19 birthday, although it will be contributing about $650,000 from the public coffers.
File picture of Swaziland’s King Mswati III.
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ing Mswati III likes to live large. He has a $500,000 DaimlerChrysler's flagship Maybach 62 luxury automobile among others. He is one of the world's richest royals — he is worth a reported $200 Million USD. Currently he has 14 wives.
Last year, birthday celebrations were canceled because of Swaziland’s financial crisis, “a decision that was applauded by many,” the Swazi Observer noted. GLOBALPOST
Around the World
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WEDNESDAY, APRIL 4, 2012
Beyond Borders
Romney scores a triple WASHINGTON: Republican Mitt Romney notched a huge presidential primary triple win on Tuesday, strengthening an already compelling case that he is the presumptive nominee in the battle for the White House. Romney thumped main rival Rick Santorum in Maryland and the US capital Washington, and won a tighter but more important race in Wisconsin in a pivotal night for the party’s frontrunner. “Thank you to Wisconsin, Maryland and Washington, DC. We won them all! This really has been quite a night,” Romney told supporters in Wisconsin. Impressive as the Romney victories were, Santorum insist-
ed the Republican race to see who will challenge President Barack Obama in November was merely at “halftime,” and that he would carry on at least into May, when there will be a
series of primaries in states more favourable to his candidacy. “The clock starts tonight,” Santorum told supporters in his home state of Pennsylvania, which votes later in April.
But Santorum must feel the sting of a loss in Wisconsin, where he campaigned heavily over the last week. With nearly 90 percent of precincts reporting, Romney had 42 per cent of the vote to Santorum’s 38 per cent. In Maryland, Romney was on 48 per cent to Santorum’s 29 per cent, with former House speaker Newt Gingrich and Texas congressman Ron Paul far off the pace, according to partial results. The trifecta puts Romney more than halfway to the magic number of 1,144 delegates needed to be crowned the Republican flag-bearer at the party’s national convention in Tampa, Florida in August. AFP
GLOBE AT A GLANCE Massive storm leaves four dead in Japan TOKYO: A huge storm left at least four people dead in Japan, officials and reports said on Wednesday, as violent wind and rain battered the nation. The storm is covering all of the north of Japan’s main island of Honshu and much of the northernmost island of Hokkaido, buffeting the region with strong winds caused by what meteorologists say is a severe low-pressure system.
Syria steps up assault inspite of truce pledge DAMASCUS: Fierce clashes erupted after Syria’s regime sent reinforcements into rebel areas despite a truce pledge, as the UN said it was rushing a team to Damascus to pave the way for peace monitors. The surge in violence on Tuesday killed at least 38 people, including 25 civilians, mostly in north and central Syria.
Texas ripped apart by tornado fury S
A woman talks on her phone outside a house where two cars had been blown against it after a tornado ripped through neighbourhoods in Lancaster, Texas.
Sex-change model in war of words with Trump LOS ANGELES: A sex-change model barred from Canada’s Miss Universe contest demanded that Donald Trump clarify her position despite a U-turn by organizers, sparking a colourful exchange about the tycoon’s manhood. Jenna Talackova, 23, had complained after being disqualified from the contest, which chooses Canada’s candidate for the Miss Universe Competition — co-owned by Trump — because she used to be male.
everal powerful tornadoes have touched down near Dallas, in the US state of Texas, flipping trucks, wrecking homes, uprooting trees and grounding planes. Dallas-Fort Worth Airport cancelled flights and moved passengers away from glass windows for their safety. Meteorologists estimated that six to 12 tornadoes had touched down in North Texas. Police reported several injuries but no fatalities so far. US TV footage showed images of houses with roofs and second storeys missing. Some properties were almost completely blown away. The National Weather Service at first reported at least two large and extremely dangerous tornadoes. One of the tornados touched down in a parking and vehicles were seen flying through the air.
Murdoch quits BSkyB J
ames Murdoch has resigned his role as chairman of UK satellite broadcaster BSkyB, but will remain on the board. His father Rupert founded News Corporation, which had to drop its bid for BSkyB amid the phone-hacking scandal at the News of the World. James Murdoch stood down as chairman of the Sunday paper’s publisher, News International, last month. John Whittingdale is the chair of the Culture Select Committee and he told the BBC “This is about severing the linkage between BSkyB and News International’’.
According to his colleagues he is jumping, rather than being pushed. The independent non-executives of BSkyB might at some stage have asked him to step down, but that hasn’t happened yet. He is going because he expected criticism would con-
tinue to be relentless of his failure to prevent or expose serious wrongdoing at News International. Murdoch has denied any contemporaneous knowledge of phone hacking by News of the World reporters or alleged bribes by News International reporters of public officials. He has also insisted that he was never involved in any cover up of the alleged criminal acts. But it is profoundly embarrassing for him that it was not till the end of 2010 that — on his own account — he began to learn of the scale of malpractice at newspapers that were his responsibility.
A child wearing a flower hat at the Yuyuan Tan Park during the start of the cherry blossom season in Beijing. AFP
Clinton warns of destabilising Iran options WASHINGTON: Secretary of State Hillary Clinton warned on Tuesday that a nuclear-armed Iran or a conflict over its ambitions would both destabilise the region as she pressed Tehran to make progress in key talks. Clinton credited US sanctions with inflicting pressure on Iran but warned of the “very difficult situation that the world faces” moving forward.
Police probe death of French academic in NY NEW YORK: New York police on Tuesday were investigating the death of a prominent French academic and the director of one of France’s most elite colleges after his naked body was found in his hotel room. “The hotel had checked earlier in the morning at nine, and he was asleep, at one he was found dead,” deputy commissioner Paul Browne said.
A women is comforted by attendees of the memorial service for the Oikos University shooting victims in Oakland, California. AFP
Comment
WEDNESDAY, APRIL 4, 2012
Fair, free and forthright
Editorials TERRORISTS DON’T bother about Akulas
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hile our navy celebrates the commissioning of its first Akula II Class nuclear-powered submarine, and the nation coos over the latest addition to our armed forces, it must be remembered that this sort of military hardware is more a status symbol than any real protector of our borders. In this day and age where terrorism is the main threat to global stability a nuclear-powered submarine will have as much impact as a German Shepherd asked to guard a house against flies. Borders can no longer be protected by lumbering behemoths, we need swift small boats that patrol the myriad of coves and inlets along our coastline. We need high-tech listening posts to pick-up chatter; satellites hovering above tracking persons of interest, and we need an army of soldiers trained at fighting insurgents rather than an organised army. The Americans and Nato have found out the hard way that no amount of technological superiority in weapons can win the New Wars: Super Hornets and stealth bombers are no match for a militant armed with an Ak-47 and an RPG.
WHY WE LOVE Timbuktu
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he fighting in Mali threatens one of the world’s most iconic cities. Timbuktu has been part of global culture for generations. Let’s hope that the words “going to Timbuktu” will remain a possibility for centuries to come.
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Uncle Sam roars at terror, India purrs Fusillade Arun Koshy Philip
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he US announcement of $10 million bounty on Lashkar-e-Taiba chief Hafeez Sayeed has sent the entire Indian government, security and diplomatic circles into an applause overdrive. Little time was lost in appreciating the US gesture while reiterating New Delhi’s demand to Pakistan to bring the mastermind of 26/11 attacks to justice. However, India’s reaction and subsequent rhetoric from various quarters resembles a kitten baring its claws in the shadow of a roaring lion and expecting to generate equal amount of awe. Global diplomatic circles and definitely Pakistan are not fooled by the Indian sabre rattling. India has an abysmal record of following up its threats of punitive action and retaliation. This was last evident when Pakistani terrorists attacked the Parliament in 2001. India mounted its biggest ever mobilisation, termed Operation Parakram, threatening to react with force if Pakistan did not rein in the terror operatives. However, India chickened out in the face of Pakistani threat of first use of nuclear weapons. The massive operation which saw almost half-a-million troops and war equipment moved to forward offensive positions fizzled out — the balance sheet was thousands of crores wasted, several lives lost in accidents and loss of face in front of the international community. More than a decade has passed and there has been no dearth of Pakistan-sponsored terrorist attacks on Indian soil. India has been liberally handing out warnings and threats at each occasion — hot pursuit a favourite phrase. Even on this doctrine, the Indian establishment has not been able to speak in one voice. When a General talks about targeting militant camps across the border, the bureaucratic and political leadership openly declare their commitment to self-restraint. The ultimate result of lack of political will to pursue the country’s national interests is that neither Pakistan nor the terrorists
Suicide is no solution
Lifestyle matters
It really is a sad state of affairs with the ones trying to protect us going ahead and trying to commit suicide. Isn’t there an organisation that helps police officers and their families with financial difficulties? Why should people living under the poverty line be driven over the edge to be taking such harsh measures? More than being punished, I think he needs help, mentally and financially. Such a young man trying to take his life! God only gives us problems equal to the ones we can face. Shanti Mullick Ameerpet
Your health story titled A matter of lifestyle made for an interesting read. I agree with the judge when he said that sex is the foundation of marriage and marriage without sex is like anathema. It’s not just the physical factors that come into play when one wants to have sex. There should be some sort of intimacy involved as well and both husband and wife should be attracted to each other. In a lot of arranged marriages, there is no real love, just compromise.
Mehar Khan Banjara Hills
groups it nurtures take India seriously. And we have an inglorious legacy of letting every terrorist group to slaughter and walk away with impunity. The chiefs of all Pakistan-based terrorist outfits have been travelling all over Middle East raising funds and the super-secretive RAW’s operatives have not even plucked a hair of any one of them. Indian public could watch only with helplessness when Dawood Ibrahim and his confidants, who engineered the 1993 Mumbai serial blasts, were seen LIVE on TV cheering during a Sharjah Cup match. This was at a time when Indian sleuths and international agencies such as the Interpol were following every procedure in the book to get him extradited (if they could locate him in the first place) for crimes committed in India. No country allows terrorists to mess with it and walk away unscathed. After 9/11, the Americans launched a global war on terror
TALK BACK 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
and did not rest till Osama bin Laden was killed. The Russians, the French, the British and the Israelis go to any extent to seek and destroy the elements who threaten national security. However, India is content with cumbersome procedures and strict adherence to international covenants, and that too in a complacent manner which would make the techniques of the 19th century Congress moderates look like militant nationalists. After begging all over the world for information and extraditions, our result is always blank. India’s ‘most wanted’ criminals and terrorist operatives continue to ply their trade without any interruption. At times one can’t help but wonder if our government is waiting for god to punish them. For all the touting of our military might and the elite special forces, we remain toothless by choice while the enemies of the country continue to bleed us through a thousand wounds.
Features that interest
Talent is what matters
The picture feature on Darga-e-Shareef Hazarath Sayed Suleman Baba looked good. It’s interesting that devotees feed cats milk if their wishes are fulfilled. I did not know of the existence of this place. Thanks for featuring it, as I may now go and visit it next time I am in old city. I am intrigued to know how this practice of feeding cats came to be. There would be an interesting story behind this practice which you guys did not tell. It would have made the feature more interesting. Perhaps when you feature such places next time you could bear this in mind. Kamala Menon Secunderabad
I would like to say something about the IT manpower story. The truth is graduation or no graduation, talent should also matter. One can find skilled professionals despite having a graduate degree and while they languish in poverty their bosses who have two, three degrees to show off but are worthless at work earn all the money and accolades. This at least is true in the animation industry in Hyderabad. So skilled manpower should not be the case, according to me, talent is what is lacking. Ashutosh G Hi-tech City
Cinema Paradiso With James Cameron’s Titanic being released in 3D, we take a look at some of the iconic films which are already using this technology and movies which would look great in this avatar Hemanth Kumar hemanth.k@postnoon.com
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ames Cameron’s Titanic has kick-started yet another trend which might very well take Hollywood by storm. The film, which originally released in 1997, has been converted to 3D and is slated for release across the world on April 5. When asked why he embarked on this project, Cameron once told journalists in Hollywood that there was a whole generation that has never seen Titanic as it was meant to be, on big screen. It is an interesting perspective and if other Hollywood directors like Steven Spielberg and Peter Jackson also follow suit, we’ll even get to see some of our favourite films in 3D. James Cameron’s team spent more than two years to convert Titanic to 3D. Given enough time and
WEDNESDAY, APRIL 4, 2012
Three times the
entertainment
resources, converting films from 2D to 3D might not be that bad at all, although there’s always a film like Wrath of the Titans to remind us to be wary of such conversions. Considering the list of films including Avengers, Prometheus and Hobbit which will be released in 3D later this year, a pattern emerges as to what sort of films work best in this format. In most cases, it’s an action-adventure or a fantasy film. Peter Jackson’s Lord of The Rings is one of the finest trilogies ever made in the history of cinema. Imagine watching the epic battle sequences or the breathtaking landscapes of Middle Earth as Frodo and Sam march towards
Mordor, in 3D! Though Peter Jackson has not yet revealed his plans to convert Lord of the Rings to 3D, it might all change with his upcoming film Hobbit which will hit the screens in December later this year. Going back in time, another film which deserves a 3D conversion is Steven Spielberg’s Jurassic Park, which by the way, Universal Studios are already working on, after Spielberg himself evinced interest to convert the first installment of Jurassic Park to 3D. The film is slated for release in
July, 2013. With James Cameron and Steven Spielberg on the same boat, how can George Lucas be far behind? He has announced that all the six parts in the Star Wars franchise will be converted to 3D. Even Dreamworks has announced that it is converting the first three installments of Shrek to 3D. Many of us may have not have had the chance to watch Stanley Kubrick’s masterpiece 2001: A Space Odyssey, on the big screen. The very thought of converting it into 3D might infuriate a lot of fans; however, we would still buy the ticket for its 3D version and wonder what was it all about. Two of James Cameron’s epic films Aliens and The Abyss, if converted to 3D, will guarantee a breathtaking, edge of the seat experience for
MOVIE OF THE WEEK
A comic misadventure
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eft on a nun's doorstep, Larry, Curly and Moe grow up finger-poking, nyuk-nyuking and woo-woo-wooing their way to uncharted levels of knuckleheaded misadventure. Out to save their childhood home, only the three stooges can become embroiled in an oddball murder plot while also stumbling into starring in a phenomenally successful TV reality show. As they try and save the day, Larry, Curly and Moe engage in plenty of their trademark antics, including a saturating situation involving bundles of
wet diapers in a hospital nursery; more hallmark hilarity at a private, black-tie party at a splashy mansion; and Moe’s newfound stardom.
Movie: The Three Stooges Director: Peter Farrelly, Bobby Farrelly Cast: Sean Hayes, Will Sasso, Chris Diamantopoulos, Jane Lynch, Jennifer Hudson, Sofia Vergara, Craig Bierko, Stephen Collins, Larry David
movie buffs, although both these films throw a lot of challenges. One of the major problems with 3D films is that the images appear to be quite dim when compared to a normal two dimensional image. When most of the action takes place at night or in dark places, it’s extremely difficult to make out what is happening on screen. But considering that it’s James Cameron, we have fewer reasons to worry. Filmmakers like Christopher Nolan and Steven Spielberg don’t believe that 3D is the future of cinema while on the other hand, we have James Cameron and Martin Scorsese who can’t get enough of this technology. Whatever the case may be, thanks to newer formats like IMAX and 3D taking centre stage, the future of movie experience is bright, even after 3D conversion!
H‑Factor
WEDNESDAY, APRIL 4, 2012
Holistic view of mind, body and soul
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SPICE THINGS UP
If the spark is missing in your relationship then it’s about time you turned up the heat Postnoon News feedback@postnoon.com
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o sex with your partner simply fails to excite you and the two of you are at a loss. Either your partner is unwilling or you’re just too exhausted. While a marriage may not be just about sex, physical intimacy definitely is an important aspect of it. And this lack of action in bed is driving you two apart, to the point that spending time together is turning to be a nightmarish affair. If this sexless marriage is driving you up the wall, then it’s about time you did something to reignite that spark. After all it’s not worth breaking up the marriage, when all else is hunky dory. So go ahead light some candles, set the mood and turn up the heat.
Make it new Remember how it felt when you met your spouse for the first time? The racing hearts and batting of eyelashes. Go ahead, rewind to the good old times. Pay extra attention to the way you dress, just like you did during your courtship. Work to impress your partner. If you’re a woman, invest in some racy lingerie that is sure to get his pulse racing or if you’re a man then plan elaborate surprises for your girl. A woman loves being pampered, so pay her that extra bit of attention, like you used to.
MI symptoms can come and go
Dr Sunil Kapoor
Ease the tiredness Agreed you’ve both put in incredibly long hours at work and are exhausted at the end of the day. Intimacy might just not be your scene after those marathon presentations and a constantly bickering boss. But getting some action with your loved one may just make things a lot better. After all everyone can do with a little loving. So go ahead, run your partner a warm relaxing bath. And while you’re at it, you can make it a deal for two. Or just arrange for the two of you to
trade massages and while you’re at it, turn on the seduction.
Bring out the food Certain foods can be great aphrodisiacs. So go grocery shopping and load up on the strawberries, chillies, oysters, asparagus or honey. Not to forget, chocolate. You could either plan to cook a gourmet meal for your partner using some of these ingredients or you could just treat him/her to a great meal at a fine dining restaurant. And while you’re at it, save some of the champagne and
strawberries for later.
Set the mood While it may not take much for man to get into the mood, women on the hand like the whole flowers and romance deal. Not that men don’t appreciate the whole ambience either. So plan ahead and stock up some candles (scented work great), compile a list of your favourite music, get some new bed linen and flowers and you’re set. You could probably plan a surprise for him/her once they get back after a long day at work.
What are the symptoms of myocardial infarction? Myocardial infarction (MI) symptoms are typically sudden, and often persist for more than 20 minutes. Occasionally, symptoms can ‘come and go.’ Typical symptoms include: n Chest pain or pressure n Chest tightness n Chest pain, pressure, or tightness that extends from the chest to the neck, throat, jaw, shoulder and/or arm n Chest discomfort just below the breastbone n Chest burning, similar to heartburn or indigestion n Shortness of breath Because it usually occurs without warning, it can cause severe anxiety and symptoms like nausea, light headedness, fainting, or profuse sweating. Many people having symptoms are reluctant to seek medical attention because they think the pain is due to something else, are afraid or unwilling to admit that it could be serious, or are reluctant to ‘cause a scene’ by calling an ambulance, going to the hospital, and discovering it is a false alarm. By delaying attention and treatment, patients are at a higher risk for permanent heart damage and death.
Risk Factors MI result from coronary artery disease (CAD). The common risk factors include: n Smoking n Having high cholesterol levels n Not exercising regularly n Hypertension or high blood pressure n Diet high in saturated fat and cholesterol n Having diabetes mellitus n Being more than 30 per cent over one’s ideal weight n Using stimulant or recreational drugs n Having family members (parents or siblings) who have had CAD, myocardial infarctions, or strokes. (The writer is a senior consultant cardiologist at Care Hospital, Hyderabad)
H‑Factor
WEDNESDAY, APRIL 4, 2012
Holistic view of mind, body and soul
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Kids who drink soda at increased risk of heart disease which can lead to heart disease and diabetes. “Even one soda per day is said to increase your risk of developing metabolic syndrome by about 50 per cent,” said the lead author, Ramachandran Vasan, according to a report on the WebMD website. However, according to NineMSN , the Westmead study is the first to show that soft drinks and carbohydrates in childhood are linked to narrower retinal vessels. About 2,000 12-year-olds took part in study, which was an extension of another research project which found similar eye damage in children who watched too much television. The damage to the eye did does not affect vision. Institute spokesman Bamini Gopinath reportedly said in a statement: “Children with a high consumption of soft drinks and carbohydrates had a more adverse microvascular profile compared to those who did not drink so many soft drinks or eat so many carbs.” Gopinath said the results of the study have reinforced the importance of a healthy diet among children. “This is just another piece of evidence to show that fizzy drinks really aren’t that good for the health of our children,” Gopinath said. “More studies like this would build a strong evidence base to perhaps bring about change in policy and practice and in the way foods are products are marketed or advertised to our children.” GLOBAL POST
Children who drink sugar-laden fizzy drinks may be at greater risk of developing heart disease later in life, a new study suggests.
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esearchers at the University of Sydney found that the children who drank one or more soft drinks each day tend to have narrower arteries in the back part of the eye — a factor associated with increased risk of heart disease and high blood pressure, reported the Australian Broadcasting Corporation. That was a potential marker for future cardiovascular disease and high blood pressure, researchers from the Westmead Millennium Institute for Medical Research at the University said. The report echoed what had been concluded in a 2007 study that was conducted on people who drank soda every day. It concluded that those who had soda everyday ( which included diet soda) — were more likely to develop risk factors associated with heart disease. That study, by the Boston University School of Medicine researchers, found out that regular soda consumption increased the risk of developing a condition called metabolic syndrome,
Home remedies to prevent hairfall MOTHER W KNOWS BEST
ho doesn’t want their hair to be long, lustrous and healthy? Pollution, stress, chemicals and many illnesses can cause hairfall. Tried out all the products in the market? Here are some simple home remedies to help you tackle hairloss. n Here’s one technique that has been followed by many over the years. Take a raw egg and apply the white of the egg to your hair. Leave it on for 30 minutes and then wash it off with a shampoo. Apply egg white combined with lemon juice to strength-
en the roots of the hair. n Hot oil massage with an
oil such as olive oil for about 15 minutes followed by shampooing your hair is said to be effective. n Mix lemon juice and juice of amla and apply the mixture to the scalp. Apart from hairloss it also helps prevent dandruff. n Neem is one of the most commonest home remedies. Boil neem leaves in water for
an hour and then let it cool. Wash your hair with this water. Alternately neem oil can be mixed with coconut oil and massaged in the area where there is hair fall. n The juice of fresh coriander can be massaged onto the scalp to reduce hair loss. n Eat plenty of nutritious food, with leafy vegetables. You can also have a soya milk drink. The best thing would be to eat a healthy breakfast. It helps prevent hairloss and is also good for your health too. n Apply conditioner only to your hair not to the scalp or
hair roots. The conditioner could damage your hair. n This is a common scene in many households. Young girls and their love for henna. Henna (mehendi) can be applied to the hair. After some time wash it off. This will also help control hair loss. n The best way is to learn how to relax. Stress can also be a major cause of hair loss. Relax, put your feet up and play some great music once in a while. Source: http://wellnesstalk.org/hairfall.html
Spotlight
WEDNESDAY, APRIL 4, 2012
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DEEPAK DESHPANDE
Night-time revelry If it’s ladies night at Cuba Libre, you would know not to miss it. The youngsters there made sure they celebrated a groovy Tuesday. DEEPAK DESHPANDE
Smita
BIG achievers
Pragathi &Nisha
Merci & Aachaqn
Habib& Aarushi
Sana,Chrisyan & Jessica
Faezeh & Amire
Sid & Tina
It seems the awards season is back in the city. On Tuesday Bharathi Cements and 92.7 FM announced the second edition of the BIG Telugu music awards. The event was held at the Marriott Hotel.
Clean and smooth
Geeta Madhuri
Bhargavi Pillai
Madhu
Hemachandra
Actor Malaika Arora Khan on Tuesday launched a No shaveno lipstick campaign in the city. Now, if the men want to be kissed by their women they had better be sporting the clean-shaven look.
Magic Screen
The glamour behind the glitz
WEDNESDAY, APRIL 4, 2012
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T-TOWN TWEETIES
@RanaDaggubati
Teja’s NNDD set to release on April 12
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eja, the director of films like Chitram and Jayam, is making a comeback to the big screen after a gap of four years. His upcoming film Neeku Naaku Dash Dash starring Prince and Nandita is slated for release on April 12. The film is a love story set against the backdrop of liquor mafia and it has caught the attention of quite a few people since the issue of liquor mafia is in news these days. Rasool Ellore is the cinematographer of the film and we hear that it’s the first Telugu film to be shot with a Red Epic camera. Yashwant Nag has composed the music and Anup Rubens is composing the background score. The film’s post-production is over and it will be censored soon.
Tamannaah’s ordeal with leeches
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amannaah has been globetrotting for the past six months thanks to couple of her projects Endhukante Premanta and Racha. While Endhukante Premanta was mostly shot in France and Switzerland, Racha took Tamannaah to new shores towards the East. “I had a great time shooting for Racha and I have visited so many places that I wanted to go to including China and Sri Lanka. However, it wasn’t a cakewalk. Once we were shooting a scene in a forest and it was filled with so many leeches that I couldn’t put my foot down, but thanks to my team we managed to pull off that scene,” Tamannaah recalled. At a recent press conference, when she was asked to pick who was the better dancer between Ram Charan Tej and Allu Arjun, she replied, “Honestly, I don’t know how to dance. I am still trying to learn a bit from both of them.”
Rana defends himself on twitter
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day after Rana Daggubati’s vanishing act, from an event held in support of Earth Hour, made headlines, the actor decided to reveal his version of the story. He clarified saying that he had informed the media well in advance about his absence. “Just to clear confusion and assumptions made about the Earth Hour and my association with WWF. I was never going to be at the event as I was shooting in the hills outside of Ramoji Film City. This was also informed to media and press weeks before the actual event. The Earth Hour and the timing was followed by all around me and companies I'm associated with. Hope my association helped in sme ways. (sic),” Rana posted on Twitter. Sources say that Rana was shooting for Krish’s Krishnam Vande Jagadgurum, which also stars Nayanthara. Meanwhile, Rana’s upcoming Hindi film Department is in the final stages of production and it’ll hit the screens later this summer.
The EarthHour and the timing was followed by all around me and companies I’m associated with. Hope my association helped in sme ways.
@sundeepkishan Thank Ashok Raja master, all the dancers,juniors & the entire technical crew for being so supportive & pure awesomeness to work with :)
@richyricha Tasted an amazing biryani at #Namasteplaza in Detroit when I was home. I’m really picky when it comes to biryani and its the top of my list!
@shrutihaasan Thankyou tweeple for all the love on NVOK :) I had such a fun time!! The money really does go to charity btw :)
@LakshmiManchu Early wrap. Rushing to see #ishq at our very own dasari theatre in palakolu... Yippee
@Actor_Siddharth The chargers begin their campaign in Vizag on the 7th... see you in the stadium:) go chaaaaaargers!!
@me_sushanth Didn’t enjoy the 2011 IPL as I wanted the World Cup hangover to last longer. 2012 IPL should be a relief after a disastrous overseas stint.
@tashu_02 Its a very hot day... have loads of things lined up... hope I finish everything on time... all set to face the sun n get some vitamin D ;-)
Magic Screen
I’m very religious: Mugdha M
The glamour behind the glitz
Prabhu Deva star at RR’s trailer launch
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odel-turned-actress Mugdha Godse reveals that she is a very religious person and believes in universal power. “I’m a very religious person," said Mugdha who was seen in films like Fashion and Jail. Commenting upon religion and conflicts over it in the country, she said: “I believe in universal power and positive energy. I’m a follower of Lord Shiva. I don’t follow any philosophy or a religious guru. Hinduism has the freedom to look up to any religion or philosophy, so whatever I find positive, I try to learn from it.I think religion is a man made thing. We should believe that religion is made for human kind and by following it we can be happy, so rather than fighting over it, we should focus on happiness by practicing it," she added. Asked if she will be interested in doing religious movies in future, she said, “Of course, if I get a role, I would love to do it.” IANS
irector Prabhu Deva was the show stealer at the trailer launch of his film Rowdy Rathore. The trailer of the film was launched in a unique way. It was launched in an open ground at Worli. Despite the presence of stars Akshay Kumar and Sonakshi Sinha, the crowd went gaga over Prabhu Deva. Prabhu on public demand was asked to show his dance moves. Prabhu danced with Akshay Kumar and Sonakshi Sinha as the crowd applauded his act with whistles and cheers. Akshay Kumar, who is making a comeback to action films with Rowdy Rathore said he feels like a newcomer again. “I am very excited about the film because I am making a comeback in action films after seven years. I am in this film industry because of my action films. It feels like I am a newcomer who is trying action for the first time," Akshay Kumar said. Produced by Sanjay Leela Bhansali and directed by Prabhu Deva, the film features Akshay Kumar and Sonakshi Sinha in the lead. The film is scheduled to release on June 1, 2012. IANS
Katrina is a stupendous actor, says SRK
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ctor Shah Rukh Khan, who will be sharing screen space with Katrina Kaif in their maiden romantic film by Yash Chopra says that his co-star is a stupendous actor and that he tried to adapt himself to her work approach. After a gap of eight years, Yash Chopra has returned to direction with this untitled film, which also stars Anushka Sharma. The shoot started in February in London. “I got to shoot with Katrina Kaif for the first time,
which was wonderful. I do a couple of films a year and I haven’t worked with her. I think she is a stupendous actor. Everyone says about her being hardworking and very talented. Its more important how we work together..how we work as a team," Shah Rukh said. The model-turned-actress has been in Bollywood since nine years and all those who have worked with her have always praised her. “When I work with a lot of young actors, I learn a lot as they have a dif-
ferent way of doing scenes. I have worked now for 21 years, they have been working for 10 years. When Katrina is doing a scene, she has a different way of approaching it. And when she approaches it differently, as a co-actor I also try to think if she is doing it differently, there must be a reason so let me also try it and adapt myself to do it differently. So that give and take has been absolutely fantastic," Shah Rukh said. PTI
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B-TOWN TWEETIES
@realpreityzinta Thanx guys 4 da good wishes 4 Ishkq In Paris! Yes, I’ve co written it wid Prem Raj but its directed ONLY by Prem Raj. #purefacts that's all!
@kjohar25 Using their hired PR machinery and hiding behind so called “friends” to get news into tabloids is nothing but spineless and lame!!!
@rampalarjun Bhopal for a few days and then Pachmadi,guess its like going back into time,when we didn’t have this technology, 2 much to do 2 little time.
@reddysameera Shooting in Bangalore !! Weather Much cooler here than Mumbai! Lovin the green city !
@NeilNMukesh SMALL opportunities are often the BEGINING of great ENTERPRISES. Never think anything is small when it comes to work. Work hard.
@akshaykumar To the great Director, to the Amazing dancer, to the wonderful maker of Rowdy Rathore. Happy Birthday Prabhu Deva !!
@FarOutAkhtar Hello all. Thank you so much for the positive vibes you’re sending re the Milkha Singh look. It’s adding more zip to our stride.
@SrBachchan T 702 - What an evening!! Meeting all the cricket greats !! Just such a privilege and honor... They are the true icons of the nation !!
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The glamour behind the glitz
Kristen and I play different characters: Lily Collins
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ctress Lily Collins, who is making her acting debut with Mirror Mirror, has denied rumours that there is a war between her and Kristen Stewart regarding the character they are playing in their respective films. The 23-year-old plays the fairytale princess in her film as Stewart in Snow White and the Huntsman and Collins said fans should not compare them, Showbizspy reported. "They're so different that I think there's going to be an audience for both. I'm excited to see the other one, as well, because it is so different from mine which is kind of the first time she's been taken from an animation to a real-life action film. I don't know if it's necessarily beneficial to be the first one that comes out," Collins said. PTI
Dumb & Dumber 2 confirmed
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or a while, it seemed like a sequel to the 1994 hit comedy Dumb & Dumber was one out of a hundred, or even one out of a million. But it turned out there was a chance. And at a junket for The Three Stooges, the original film's co-director Peter Farrelly said that not only is a sequel set to go into production this September, but original stars Jim Carrey and
Jeff Daniels will reprise their roles as Lloyd Christmas and Harry Dunne. According to ComingSoon.net, who broke the story, Farrelly was clear about the reality of the sequel. "We're getting set to shoot Dumb & Dumber 2 in September," he told the website. "It's the first sequel we've ever done and we've got Jim Carrey and Jeff Daniels back."
WEDNESDAY, APRIL 4, 2012
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Kristen Stewart working on first novel
T
wilight star Kristen Stewart has reportedly put pen to paper for her first novel. The 21-year-old actress is said to have taken up writing and has been busy working on her debut book while on the set of her latest movie Snow White And The Huntsman, reported Mail online. Stewart has enlisted the help of her screenwriter mother Jules Stewart to help her find a publisher. "Kristen began by writing short stories. She has been working on her novel while filming and has almost finished it. She's desperate to be a published writer in her own right," a source said. PTI
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
WEDNESDAY, APRIL 4, 2012
Take a shot at the brain game while sipping your cuppa
26
QUICK CROSSWORD ACROSS 1 Quibbling quarrels 6 After-dinner wine 10 Not at all bright 14 Shop talk 15 Olympic weapon 16 Sported 17 Madame Curie 18 Take in a paper 19 ___ mater 20 ‘It's a ___ after all’ 22 Vintage SpeedWagons, eg 23 Moongoddess 24 Earnestattempt 26 One of the three wise men 30 Trucking factors 32 Suit to ___ (fit perfectly) 33 Songwriter Silverstein 35 One dayat ___ 39 Purplish shade 41 Homes of the rich and famous 43 NovelistHarriet Beecher ___ 44 Strongly advise 46 Alternative to stairs 47 Two under, on the links 49 Go to a better place, so to speak 51 Judge's chamber 54 Nisanpreceder 56 No way to run? 57 Johnny Carson impersonator of note 63 Garment that sounds apologetic? 64 Pooch on the yellow brick road 65 Scattered, as seed 66 College on the Thames 67 Chemical compound 68 Heavy-duty thread 69 Minor dent 70 Pink, to a chef 71 ‘Uncle Vanya’ playwright Chekhov DOWN 1 ___ Club (Wal-Mart offshoot) 2 Baby carriage, across the
pond 3 Pearl Mosque site 4 ‘Bubble, bubble, ___ and trouble ...’ 5 ‘A Streetcar Named Desire’ heroine 6 Argentinian president 7 Emulate Christiaan Barnard 8 Actual 9 Hay spreading machine 10 Observatory sightings 11 Lumberjack's tournament 12 Galahad's strong suit? 13 Admirer of Beauty 21 ‘Knock’ or ‘brat’ attachment 25 Noteworthy accomplishment 26 Rotating engine disks 27 Rat ___ (gun sounds)
28 Bell-shaped lily 29 ‘Slow Poke’ bandleader 31 ‘Shake ___!’ 34 Take by truck 36 Take ___ it comes 37 Bulletin board notice 38 Sports cable channel 40 Practically touching 42 Part of a calyx 45 Nuclear plant feature 48 Harmless snake 50 Label founded by Clive Davis 51 Checked out 52 Celebrated Italian violinmaker 53 Definitely no
SUDOKU
Einstein 55 Wild dog of Asia 58 Macbeth's burial place 59 It's larger than a village 60 Bozo, in Bath 61 Last name in late night TV 62 Biblical paradise PREVIOUS PUZZLE ANSWER
THOUGHT OF THE DAY When a woman tells you her age, it’s always right to look surprised, but don’t scowl. – Wilson Mizner
Chai Time STAR POWER
WEDNESDAY, APRIL 4, 2012
Your tomorrow today̶Star Power and Tarot THIRUVAIKUMAR
As per Hindu panchang
FOR 5-4-2012
thiruvaikumar@yahoo.co.in 040-27177230 / 9177596118
TAURUS
GEMINI
Politicians will be in limelight. Students will concentrate, study and score well. Peaceful atmosphere will prevail in fam‑ ily. Cold war between couples will go. Avoid travelling during nights.
Unexpected expenses will scare you. Your spouse is capable enough to man‑ age the situation, hence you can feel relaxed. Help from maternal relatives will reach you at an appropriate time.
Businessmen will see a good growth. Situation will gradually improve towar‑ ds the best. Avoid giving commitments to anyone. Women might be upset as they are forced to spend their money.
CANCER
LEO
VIRGO
Family will remain peaceful. Children will do well in studies and make you happy. Financial situation may not be so good. Some have chances for an unexpected fortune income.
Businessmen need to be careful with partners. Women will have a role in averting major misunderstandings that were to crop up in the family. Pregnant women need to be careful.
Women will manage problems well and bring peace in the family. Influx of rela‑ tives will bring happiness to family. Th‑ ough financially hardships are not likely, steps to control expenses are a must.
LIBRA
SCORPIO
SAGITTARIUS
Some have bright chances to receive unexpected fortune. Students will be active, study well and earn a good name and score. No problems in the family atmosphere. Women will act wisely.
Artists can get promising opportunities by putting in their good efforts. Stunt artists need to be careful in actions. Th‑ ose planning to start house construction, are advised to postpone it for a while.
Employees will see problems solved at work place. Superiors too will favour them. Businessmen will see good prof‑ its, especially biz of ready‑made gar‑ ments and innovative products.
CAPRICORN
AQUARIUS
PISCES
Minor health problems likely but will be alright soon. Children will put you in a fix and you might get upset with the turn of events; but you are capable enough to solve the issue.
Brothers will extend help and support. Unexpected expenses due to influx of relatives, but a happy event taking place will balance that. Govt sops likely to come through. Students will do well.
Minor tensions expected in ancestral property but will get resolved soon. Artists will get promising opportuni‑ ties, but competition by co‑artists will make you struggle hard.
SUMAA TEKUR
FOR 5-4-2012
tarotreadhyd@gmail.com
ARIES
TAURUS
GEMINI
Ten of Pentacles – Finances are in focus. Theyʼre doing extre‑ mely well and you need to figure out ways to protect what you earn. Consult a good tax man.
Page of Pentacles – This is an ideal time to launch new pro‑ jects and start off on ideas youʼve always wanted to. An entre‑ preneurship project works wonders.
Page of Wands – Youʼre in the begin‑ ning stages of a fruit‑ ful career path. Your inquisitiveness and creativity will put you on the right road. Ask lots of questions.
CANCER
LEO
VIRGO
Nine of Cups – You want to set out on a spiritual journey of self discovery. You want to be able to be more sensitive to eve‑ rything around you – to awaken the senses.
Five of Pentacles – This card stands for misery and some form of loss. Keep a positive outlook and donʼt give up on your own beliefs. Yet, stay practical.
Four of Wands – Good fortune strikes and you deserve it. Youʼve been working very hard lately and luck has been eludi‑ ng you. Now, sheʼll give you all you want.
LIBRA
SCORPIO
SAGITTARIUS
King of Pentacles – Finances will stabi‑ lize. You need to stop worrying. Get a pen and paper and chart out the right course of action at this time.
Five of Swords – Donʼt trust anyone whoʼs volunteering help. Ask yourself whatʼs in it for them, and find out if youʼre a pawn in a larger scheme.
CAPRICORN
AQUARIUS
For Better or for Worse Stone soup
The Sun – Some navi‑ gation of a difficult problem may require your immediate attention and time. These are the chal‑ lenges that keep you engaged in your job.
Justice – A hike or a promotion is in the offing. Your bosses recognize your good work and make an offer. It sets you thinking about your future course.
Three of Wands – Creativity is at its peak. You find solu‑ tions to seemingly nonnegotiable prob‑ lems at work, and your seniors are mighty impressed.
PISCES
Eight of Pentacles – Learn a new skill. Start now and do not procrastinate becau‑ se youʼll always have lots of work. Volun‑ teer work does you a great deal of good.
SOLUTIONS
Boggle MARS EARTH URANUS SATURN NEPTUNE
Number game
Suduko
Scrabble
Ink pen
COMICS
Fred Basset
ARIES
TAROT READ
27
Vol: 1, No 262 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
Augusta Masters Special
WEDNESDAY, APRIL 4, 2012
28
FORE! IT’S THE MASTERS There’s an intensity at Augusta far beyond the heat that has led flower blooms to fall early, diminishing the course’s natural beauty but removing none of the stern tests offered by the year’s first Major DAY 1 PAIRINGS
THE WINNERS 2011 Charl Schwartzel (RSA) 2010 Phil Mickelson 2009 Angel Cabrera (ARG) 2008 Trevor Immelman (RSA) 2007 Zach Johnson 2006 Phil Mickelson 2005 Tiger Woods 2004 Phil Mickelson 2003 Mike Weir (CAN) 2002 Tiger Woods 2001 Tiger Woods 2000 Vijay Singh (FIJ) 1999 Jose Maria Olazabal (ESP) 1998 Mark O’Meara 1997 Tiger Woods 1996 Nick Faldo (ENG) 1995 Ben Crenshaw 1994 Jose Maria Olazabal (ESP) 1993 Bernhard Langer (GER) 1992 Fred Couples 1991 Ian Woosnam (WAL) 1990 Nick Faldo (ENG) 1989 Nick Faldo (ENG) 1988 Sandy Lyle (SCO) 1987 Larry Mize 1986 Jack Nicklaus 1985 Bernhard Langer (GER) 1984 Ben Crenshaw 1983 Seve Ballesteros (ESP) 1982 Craig Stadler 1981 Tom Watson 1980 Seve Ballesteros (ESP) 1979 Fuzzy Zoeller 1978 Gary Player (RSA) 1977 Tom Watson 1976 Raymond Floyd 1975 Jack Nicklaus 1974 Gary Player (RSA) 1973 Tommy Aaron 1972 Jack Nicklaus 1971 Charles Coody 1970 Billy Casper 1969 George Archer 1968 Bob Goalby 1967 Gay Brewer, Jr. 1966 Jack Nicklaus 1965 Jack Nicklaus 1964 Arnold Palmer 1963 Jack Nicklaus 1962 Arnold Palmer 1961 Gary Player (RSA) 1960 Arnold Palmer 1959 Art Wall, Jr. 1958 Arnold Palmer 1957 Doug Ford 1956 Jack Burke, Jr. 1955 Cary Middlecoff 1954 Sam Snead
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Jim Slater
AUGUSTA, GEORGIA: Tiger Woods and Rory McIlroy have brought extra attention from beyond the typical golf fans to the 76th Masters, but they are far from the only players with a chance to win the green jacket. There’s an intensity at Augusta National Golf Club this week far beyond the heat that led flower blooms to fall early, diminishing the course’s natural beauty but removing none of the stern test offered by the year’s first Major. “With the top players winning big events and Tiger coming back into form, it has whipped up a bit of a frenzy,” World No. 3 Lee Westwood said. Tension comes from an onform field of top contenders that also includes World No. 1 Luke Donald, England’s Westwood, three-time Masters winner Phil Mickelson, defending champion Charl Schwartzel and a host of others. “A lot of people can win this week,” McIlroy said. “There’s a lot of great people in this field and a lot of people with great chances to win. I’m just looking forward to hopefully getting in contention and giving myself a chance.” Westwood, a top-three finisher in five of the past 10 majors still seeking his first
major title at 38, says nearly one-third of the field of 96 have a solid chance to capture the title. “You can narrow it down to 30 people probably whose games are suited,” he said. “Rory has never won here. Tiger has not won here since 2005. So I think everybody would have to be naive to think it was a twohorse race. “I think Phil might have a little bit of something to say about that. Luke might. I might.” Woods, a 14-time major winner chasing the all-time record of 18 majors won by Jack Nicklaus, snapped a 2 1/2-year US PGA win drought two weeks ago at Bay Hill but has not won a major title since the 2008 US Open. “It’s great for the game of golf that Tiger is back,” McIlroy said. “He creates excitement that no one else in the game can. “A lot of people want to see him make history and it looks like he’s back on track to maybe going and doing that.” World No. 2 McIlroy led the first three rounds last year and at the 10th tee on Sunday before a nightmare finish, only to bounce back and win the US Open at Congressional two months later for his first major title. But the 22-year-old
Northern Irishman has a score to settle with Augusta National. “Obviously there are memories that come back and memories you don’t probably want,” McIlroy said. “It wasn’t the end of the world. It’s only golf. It’s not like anyone died out there. It’s fine. I got all of that out of the way. “Just looking forward to this week, trying to put myself in contention to win this thing. I’m coming back a much more experienced player and feel like a much better player than the player who came here last year.” Woods missed last year’s US Open because of left knee and Achilles tendon injuries suffered at last year’s Masters, but he gained respect for McIlroy watching him win in overwhelming fashion. “He can move the ball out there. I used to move it like that back in yesteryear,” Woods said. “The way he plays, and the way he handles himself on the course, how competitive he is, he’s very feisty. It’s what you have to be. He has all the makings of being a great champion for a long period of time.” Donald, the Englishman who won last year’s US and European money titles in an unprecedented feat, takes no extra motivation in the “Tiger versus Rory” talk as he seeks his first major title.
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Craig Stadler, Brendan Steele, Tim Clark Jose Olazabal, Robert Garrigus, Randal Lewis Larry Mize, Paul Lawrie, Anders Hansen Ross Fisher, Ryan Palmer, Harrison Frazar Ben Crenshaw, Robert Karlsson, Bryden Macpherson Adam Scott, Bo Van Pelt, Martin Kaymer Steve Stricker, Padraig Harrington, Stewart Cink Aaron Baddeley, Kim Kyung-Tae, Lucas Glover Kyle Stanley, Jason Day, Bill Haas Trevor Immelman, Rickie Fowler, Justin Rose Tom Watson, Johnson Wagner, Hideki Matsuyama Matt Kuchar, Geoff Ogilvy, Yang Yong-Eun Gary Woodland, Henrik Stenson, Alvaro Quiros Charl Schwartzel, Keegan Bradley, Kelly Kraft Tiger Woods, Miguel Angel Jimenez, Bae Sang-Moon Luke Donald, Francesco Molinari, Nick Watney Scott Verplank, Sean O’Hair, Gonzalo Fernandez-Castano Mark O’Meara, Chez Reavie, Martin Laird Sandy Lyle, Simon Dyson, Corbin Mills Ian Woosnam, Edoardo Molinari, Kevin Chappell Louis Oosthuizen, Mark Wilson, Graeme McDowell Zach Johnson, Ian Poulter, Patrick Cantlay Kevin Na, Fredrik Jacobson, Ben Crane John Senden, Jonathan Byrd, Paul Casey Bernhard Langer, Jason Dufner, Charles Howell Mike Weir, Brandt Snedeker, Webb Simpson Vijay Singh, Lee Westwood, Jim Furyk Thomas Bjorn, Scott Stallings, Rory Sabbatini Fred Couples, Darren Clarke, Ryo Ishikawa David Toms, KJ Choi, Sergio Garcia Angel Cabrera, Rory McIlroy, Bubba Watson Phil Mickelson, Hunter Mahan, Peter Hanson
Playing Field
WEDNESDAY, APRIL 4, 2012
The games people play
29
Williamses do the Charleston GB cycle team out to defend title MELBOURNE: Britain’s Laura Trott, Dani King and Joanna Rowsell will look to take a step towards Olympic team pursuit gold by defending their title at the world track cycling championships Thursday. The second day of the fiveday competition also features the start of the women’s sprint tournament as well as the men’s nonOlympic event of the kilometre time trial and the women’s points race, also a non-Olympic event. With hosts Australia also looking to put in some strong performances in the women’s 12lap endurance event ahead of the summer Olympics, the team pursuit is likely to take centre stage in Melbourne. Trott and King were part of the three-woman team that, with the help of Northern Irish veteran Wendy Houvenaghel, won the world title in the Netherlands in 2011. Australia won the title in 2010, ending two years of British domination in the 3km event, which only made its worlds debut in 2008 and will make its Olympic debut at the London Games. At the final World Cup leg of the season in London in February, Trott, King and Rowsell underlined their Olympic ambitions by winning gold and setting a new world record of 3min 18.148sec. Houvenaghel has provisionally lost her place in the team, having been replaced by King, but while she has not been ruled out it is a setback she accepts if it means Britain keep on getting faster as the Olympics approach. “It was a fabulous achievement and it would’ve been great to have been part of that performance,” she said of the team’s winning performance in London last February. “But I’m convinced we’re going to go much faster in the months leading up to the Olympic Games. There are big things to come.” On Thursday the women’s sprint tournament also begins with a timed 200-metre flying lap. It continues with first and second
Rugby sevens legend Tietjens to coach All Blacks WELLINGTON: Rugby sevens legend Gordon Tietjens will coach New Zealand at the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Olympics after signing a four-year contract extension, officials said Wednesday. Tietjens, the most successful coach in sevens history, would remain at the helm until 2017, meaning he will travel to Brazil when the short form of the game makes its Olympic debut, the New Zealand Rugby Union (NZRU) said. “One of the key components of our Olympic campaign is to have the very best coaches on board -- we now have that in Gordon, who is without a doubt the world’s best Sevens coach,” NZRU chief executive Steve Tew said. Tietjens has coached the New Zealand sevens team since 1994, winning nine IRB world sevens titles and four Commonwealth gold medals. “Taking part in the Olympic Games will be the pinnacle of my career and something that all coaches and athletes aspire to,” the 57-year-old said. “I still have the same passion and enjoyment for the game of sevens that I had when I began coaching and I am incredibly proud of the role sevens has played in the development of rugby players in New Zealand.”
rounds before moving on to the quarter finals. It will conclude Friday, with Australian Anna Meares out to defend her title against British Olympic champion Victoria Pendleton. China’s Guo Shuang, who beat a tiring Meares 2-0 in the final of the London World Cup, and Lithuania’s Simona Krupeckaite are also tipped to make it to the final four.
CHARLESTON: Serena and Venus Williams made a successful transition to clay on Tuesday, easing through their opening matches with straight set victories at the WTA Tour’s Charleston tournament. Fifth seed Serena, the 2008 Charleston champion, hammered 11 aces in overpowering last year’s runner-up Elena Vesnina, 6-3, 6-4, in a second round match at the $740,000 clay court event. World No. 87 Venus, who returned to the tour last month in Miami after being out seven months due to illness, needed just 79 minutes to dispatch qualifier Iveta Benesova of the Czech Republic, 6-4, 6-3, in a first round match. Seven-time Grand Slam champion Venus is fresh off an impressive comeback showing in Miami where she won her first four matches of her return. “Miami was definitely a whirlwind,” Venus said Tuesday. “A lot of times I ended up the victor at the end of these matches and I didn’t really know how it happened.” The Williams sisters did not play in last month’s prestigious Indian Wells tournament because of a boycott that began in 2001 when fans booed them. Venus received a wild card invitation into the draw of the Charleston event, which she won in 2004. She booked a clash with seventh-seeded Serbian Jelena Jankovic, who enjoyed a firstround bye. Venus will be put to the test on Wednesday as Jankovic has won their last four matches on clay and holds a 6-5 lead in career contests. Jankovic routed
Venus, 6-0, 6-1, in their most recent meeting two years ago in Rome on clay. “It’s a great surface for her, and she always gets comfortable on clay, so I know I have to play well,” Venus said. “We’ve had some things we’ve been dealing with, with injuries, so it’ll be an important match for both of us,” she added. “I’ll definitely have to be patient and try to move forward the best I can.” Venus finished out of the top 100 in the world last year for the first time in 15 years after a season plagued by injury and illness. Venus withdrew from the second round of the US Open, where she revealed she had been diagnosed with the auto-immune disorder Sjogren syndrome, and did
not play again until making it to the quarter-finals at Miami. Serena, who was given a bye through the first round, saved six of seven break points chances and won 73 percent of her first-serve points in the 85-minute match. Vesnina was runner-up to Denmark’s Caroline Wozniacki here last year. Serena advances to the third round where she will play either 17th seed Marina Erakovic of New Zealand or unseeded Anna Tatishvili. In other matches Tuesday a pair of Aussies won their secondround contests in straight sets. Second seeded Samantha Stosur beat American Jamie Hampton, 6-0, 7-5 and Anastasia Rodionova surprised 10th seeded Anabel Medina Garrigues, 7-5, 6-3. AFP
THE FOUR MUSKETEERS
(LtoR) France’s national tennis team captain, Guy Forget and his players Jo Wilfried Tsonga, Julien Benneteau and Michael Llodra pose before a press conference, on Tuesday in Monaco. Gael Monfils has pulled out of France’s Davis Cup quarter-final clash against the United States and will be replaced by Gilles Simon, the French tennis federation (FFT) said on April 2. AFP/VALERY HACHE
Playing Field
WEDNESDAY, APRIL 4, 2012
The games people play
30
CLASH OF THE CHAMPIONS G. Aparna Sai feedback@postnoon.com
D
efending champions Chennai Super Kings (CSK) take on present Champions League T20 title holders Mumbai Indians (MI) in the first match of IPL’s fifth season. The two teams will clash at the MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai today. Last year, around this time, India was reeling with joy after their World Cup victory as well as gearing up for IPL’s fourth season. But unlike the previous IPL seasons, the fourth season seemed to have lost is charm as the event began just a week after the World Cup final making it seem like an overkill of the game. The present season, which began on a grand note with a star-studded inauguration, also seems to be carrying the same burden giving it an overdose of cricket feel as well as with India having played back to back series with unfortunate results. But if most matches prove to charm the audience the way T20 cricket usually does; quick fire runs, showers of sixes, quick wickets, music, dance etc, then there maybe a different tale to narrate. Chennai would hope to repeat what the Australian’s had done with the World Cup (a hattrick of wins). Having taken home the trophy on two consecutive occasions, it remains to be seen if CSK still have the spark to defend their title. Dhoni who was consider usually lucky, seems to have
run out of his Midas’s touch as his performance as the Indian team’s captain seem to have taken the down-hill course. Ravindra Jadeja, who was bought for two million US dollars, would have to prove his mettle and show he was worth every penny. Having been in and out of the Indian team, the young lad would want to rubbish his critics and prove he was worth what he
got. Murali Vijay would be another player to watch out for. Although he failed to make his presence felt in the Indian team,
CSK vs MI 8:00 pm on Set Max his earlier performances in the previous IPL seasons would be a morale booster and could see him deliver the goods for CSK.
Meanwhile, the Mumbai camp would be bustling with energy with the ‘century man’, Sachin Tendulkar confirming his availability for the IPL. Having stepped down from captaincy and handing over the responsibility to the Harbhajan Singh, the master blaster would be hope to garner as many runs possible for his team. On the other hand, donning
the role of a captain, Harbhajan would hope to give the team the required motivation and help his side make up for the missed chance of securing a berth in IPL’s last season final. With both the teams having squads to be proud off, the game promises to be a neck-to-neck battle with adrenal levels running high amongst both the players and the spectators.
Philadelphia feel the heat MIAMI: The Miami Heat won their 16th consecutive home game, beating the Philadelphia 76ers 99-93 on Tuesday to clinch their fourth straight National Basketball Association playoff berth. LeBron James scored a season-high 41 points for the Heat who are an NBA best 22-2 at home this season. James also had six rebounds, four assists and three steals for the Heat, who have not lost at home since January 22 against
Milwaukee. The Heat's longest home winning streak is 18 games set between January and April of 2005. Miami continues their fivegame home stand against the Oklahoma City Thunder Wednesday before taking on Memphis, Detroit and Boston. Mario Chalmers had 19 points, six rebounds and four assists as Miami rebounded from a one-sided 19-point loss to the Celtics in Boston on Sunday. James scored 14 consecutive Heat points in the fourth quarter.
Chris Bosh finished with 17 points and Udonis Haslem had 11 rebounds. Miami played without all-star guard Dwyane Wade, who missed the game with an injured left knee. The Heat are 9-1 without Wade, who could return to play against the Thunder. Evan Turner finished with 26 points and eight rebounds for the 76ers, who are 1.5 games back of Boston for first place in the Atlantic Division. Philadelphia has lost five of its last half dozen road contests. AFP
Playing Field
WEDNESDAY, APRIL 4, 2012
The games people play
31
Olic scripts Bayern’s victory Bayern Munich reached the Champions League semi-finals after Croatia striker Ivica Olic netted both goals in a 2-0 win over Marseille in Tuesday’s quarter-final second leg.
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ith the Bavarians having won 4-0 on aggregate, Bayern will host the first leg of their semi-final on April 17, most likely against Real Madrid, who host APOEL with a 3-0 lead in the second leg of their last-eight match on Wednesday. Olic was back in the hero role, two years after his hat-trick in Lyon put Bayern through to the 2010 final, where they lost 2-0 to Jose Mourinho-inspired Inter Milan in Madrid. Bayern are now within touching distance of the final that Munich’s Allianz Arena will host on May 19 as they look to win the Champions League trophy for the second time and claim their fifth European Cup title overall. “We were very concentrated, despite the amount of games we are playing at the moment,” said Bayern coach Jupp Heynckes, whose side are in contention for a Champions League, Bundesliga and German Cup treble. “In the first half, (goalkeeper) Manuel Neuer rescued us a few times. After that we came back stronger and deserved the win. “Marseille weren’t in the quarter-finals for nothing and they tried everything.” Having lost the first leg 2-0 in Marseille last Wednesday, the visitors were always facing an uphill
Croatian striker Ivica Olic celebrates after scoring Bayern Munich’s second goal against Olympique in the second leg of the UEFA Champions League quarterfinals on Tuesday. AFP/THOMAS KIENZLE task to win in Munich. “At half-time, I didn’t ask my players to score four goals,” said Marseille coach Didier Deschamps. “We had to show honour and pride in the last 45 minutes. Of course we tried to score, but we
had to stop them playing too.” First-choice goalkeeper and captain Steve Mandanda was back from suspension and endured a busy night, while midfielder Alou Diarra was suspended. He was replaced by Benoit Cheyrou, with Brazilian striker
Brandao up front and top scorer Loic Remy on the right flank. “We lost to a great team, but we did not give up,” said Remy. “Hats off to Bayern, I hope they go all the way. We still have the League Cup final to look forward to and we want to do well in the
league.” Bayern were missing suspended Germany star Bastian Schweinsteiger and Heynckes opted to leave in-form pair Mario Gomez and Arjen Robben -- the goal-scorers from the first leg -- on the bench. Germany’s Thomas Mueller started on the right, with Olic in front of Toni Kroos in the attacking midfield role. Marseille had a good early chance when Cheyrou found his way through the Bayern defence and teed up Jeremy Morel to shoot, forcing Neuer into a low save. The opening goal came on 13 minutes when Franck Ribery found space down the right wing and his cross was converted by Olic for his first goal for two months. Marseille refused to lie down and Cameroon midfielder Stephane Mbia forced Neuer into another fine save on 18 minutes. At the other end, Mandanda was kept busy as Kroos and Anatoliy Tymoshchuk both tested him, while Olic managed a shot with two defenders shadowing him. The 32-year-old was rewarded with a second goal on 37 minutes after some fine play by Marseille old boy Ribery allowed Austria’s David Alaba to fire in a cross for Olic to convert again. AFP
Europa semis could be a Spanish affair T
hree Spanish clubs will seek on Thursday to reach the Europa League semi-finals and build on the impression that whilst their country is in a financial crisis their football fortunes are in rude health. Athletic Bilbao should progress at home to German side Schalke 04 having won 4-2 away last week while 2010 winners Atletico Madrid hold a 2-1 lead as they travel to German side Hanover while Valencia host AZ Alkmaar having lost 2-1 in the first leg.
Sporting Lisbon will be bidding to make it an all-Iberian quartet in the semis as they take a 2-1 lead to Ukraine side Metalist Kharkiv.
The size of the task facing last season’s Champions League semifinalists Schalke is illustrated by the fact that Athletic Bilbao have only ever lost 3-0 once in
European competition - to another Bundesliga side Werder Bremen in 2009. Both sides failed to win at the weekend, Bilbao losing 2-0 to Barcelona while Schalke had to rely on an 80th minute penalty by Klaas-Jan Huntelaar to force a 1-1 draw with Hoffenheim. The German side will be looking to the in-form Dutch star for an early goal on Thursday and maintain his rich vein of scoring form that has seen him net 23 in the Bundesliga this term. However, Athletic will be
encouraged they can also score several more goals with the visitors probably forced to play fourth choice goalkeeper Mathias Schober as number one Timo Hildebrand was injured in the first leg and the other two goalkeepers are on their way back from injury. The hosts’ leading striker Fernando Llorente has warned his team-mates that they would be foolish to already be thinking of the semi-finals where they will play either Sporting or Metalist. “We can’t get carried away and relax,” he told UEFA.com. AFP
Playing Field
WEDNESDAY, APRIL 4, 2012
The games people play
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‘Ref helped Barça’ BARCELONA: AC Milan striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic sparked controversy after his side’s Champions League elimination by Barcelona suggesting the holders receive a helping hand from referees at the Camp Nou. However, Barcelona coach Pep Guardiola responded saying the achievement of reaching the competition’s semi final for the fifth consecutive
SPAIN, Barcelona : Barcelona’s Argentinian forward Lionel Messi scores a penalty against AC Milan’s goalkeeper Chistian Abbiati (R) during the Champions League quarter-final second leg football match FC Barcelona vs AC Milan on April 3, 2012 at Camp Nou stadium in Barcelona. AFP PHOTO / LLUIS GENE
Barça in semis Lionel Messi’s brace against AC Milan took him to 51 Champions League goals — at 24 the youngest player to achieve the feat.
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ionel Messi scored two first-half penalties in a 3-1 win over AC Milan at the Nou Camp Tuesday to propel holders Barcelona to a fifth successive Champions League semi-final. Messi’s brace in the quarterfinal second leg took him to 51 Champions League goals - at 24 the youngest player to achieve the half century landmark - and a record total this season of 14, bettering the previous mark held by himself and Ruud van Nistelrooy of 12. Andres Iniesta’s well-taken goal early in the second-half wrapped up the match and they will face wither Chelsea or Benfica in the semi-finals as they bid to become the first team to retain the trophy since it became the Champions League in the 1992/93 season. Antonio Nocerino had pulled a goal back for Milan to level briefly in the first-half but in the end there was no stopping Barcelona emulating the great Real Madrid side of the 1950’s in reaching five successive semifinals. Barcelona’s 3-1 win saw them comfortably through to the semis after a 0-0 draw in the first leg in Italy. The Milan coach Massimiliano Allegri and players
INIESTA’S GOAL EARLY IN THE SECOND-HALF WRAPPED UP THE MATCH AND THEY WILL FACE WITHER CHELSEA OR BENFICA IN THE SEMIFINALS AS THEY BID TO BECOME THE FIRST TEAM TO RETAIN THE TROPHY SINCE IT BECAME THE CHAMPIONS LEAGUE IN THE 1992/93 SEASON. hit out at the referee over the penalty decisions but Barca coach Pep Guardiola claimed that they were clear cut.
“They were two penalties, if you pull someone in the area then that is what happens,” said Guardiola. “We deserved to go through and I was very happy with the performance for the way that we were able to control the game especially after the third goal. “To have reached the semifinal for the fifth time is something special and shows the strength of the club. To achieve it for one or two years is excellent but to do it for five is really amazing. “I feel the same about my players whether they had qualified for the next round or not because they have already achieved so much they do not need to do more to prove themselves to me. “We were against a team with a lot of experience and prestige so it was never going to be easy and there were always going to be talking points but they were two penalties and we did not complain about the ones that weren’t given in the first leg.” However Allegri felt that his side were unlucky. “The penalties were decisive and the second which was very debatable. It is never easy to play against Barca but overall they deserved to win,” he said. AFP
time — emulating the feat of the great Real Madrid side in the late 1950’s — speaks for itself. Real Madrid coach Jose Mourinho says it is impossible to beat Barca at the Camp Nou and an angry Ibrahimovic, who spent a disappointing season with Barca during the 2009-10 campaign, claimed the same after the 3-1 defeat on Tuesday. AFP