FLASH
CENTRE UNVEILS NEW TRADE POLICY
TIME FOR DAMAGE CONTROL
The Centre has unveiled a new trade policy with seven-point agenda to boost exports. As part of the new policy, interest subvention scheme has been extended by one year to cover labour-intensive sectors.
On World Environment Day, we take a look at the state of ecosystems throughout the world. The damage they have suffered and what is left of them.
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GIVING BACK THEIR CHILDHOOD Preventing child labour is no longer just an ethical issue begging our sympathy. It's now a matter of necessity. Here’s why it is time we start to take it seriously REPORT ON PG 6
HOMOSEXUALS MISS THIS TRAIN When the Red Ribbon Express arrived in Karnataka, the whole state knew about it, not just the target group. But when it came to the City, how many were aware?
NAYANTHARA, TAAPSEE JOIN AJITH’S NEXT FILM
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Ajith and Vishnuvardhan, who had earlier teamed up for the Tamil version of Billa, are back together once again for an action film. This untitled film has Ajith, Nayanthara, Arya and Taapsee in lead roles. AM Rathnam is producing the film and Yuvan Shankar Raja is composing the music.The film is expected to be dubbed in Telugu as well since the P21 lead cast is quite popular in AP.
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TUESDAY, JUNE 5, 2012
Spirit of Twin Cities
TRIBAL INSTINCTS
Library summer camp A library summer camp for parents and faculty of UG and PG students will be held from May 10 onwards. The camp will provide guidance for faculty and final year PG students for National/State lectureship and scholarship test(NET/APSET) for `3,650. Where: Hyderabad library services, Sagar View Complex When: May 10 - June 10, Contact: (040) 2322 2247, 94412 37751
N SHIVA KUMAR
The master of arts An exhibition and sale of original litho prints by artists like Rabindranath Tagore, Eshwar Das Gupta, Somnat Hore, KG Subramanyam and K Laxma Goud called The Master of Arts is on. Where: Arts Heaven Art Gallery, Lakdikapul When: Ongoing, 11am onwards Contact: 99495 71031
Graffiti workshop Love graffiti? Then this workshop is for you. learn to draw different fonts and give them a 3D effect. Also learn to use spray cans for making graffiti on walls. Where: Treasure House, Jubilee Hills, Rd No 63 When: Ongoing, 10 am onwards Contact: (040) 2355 0118
Head hunters Catch the Norwegian film Head Hunters on June 5 at Heart cup coffee. Where: Heart cup coffee, Kondapur When: June 5, 7pm onwards Contact: (040) 6555 5254
Vision of blue gold Vision of blue gold, an exhibition of paintings by Pranay will be on display at Muse Art Gallery. Where: Muse Art Gallery, Lower Tank Bund When: June 9 onwards, 6.30pm onwards Contact: (040) 2752 2999
Madhubani workshop The YMCA Secunderabad is hosting a madhubani painting workshop. The workshop is being felicitated by an artist from Madhubani. Where: YMCA Secunderabad, West Marredpally When: June 18-June 29 Contact: 98490 07736, 99595 57183
Bharatnatyam recital Connoisseur of the classical forms?
CINEMAS
Head to Ravindra Bharati on June 5 for a classical performance by Eshita Jayswal who is a disciple of Hemamalani Arni. Where: Ravindra Bharati, Saifabad When: June 5, 6.45pm onwards Contact: (040) 2323 1245
Earth witness Akanksha Joshi’s Earth Witness will be screened at Goethe Zentrum, Hyderabad on June 5. Where: Goethe Zentrum, Banjara Hills, Rd No 3 When: June 5, 7pm onwards Contact: (040) 2335 0443
Kid’s day out Oxford Bookstore is organising a unique fun-filled workshop ‘A Kid’s Day Out’ for the children. The fiveday workshop will host exciting activities and competitions like baby show, painting, clay moulding. Where: Oxford Bookstore, The Park, Somajiguda When: June 2-June 6, 11am onwards Contact: 91601 48444
Sunday brunch The Square at Novotel is host to an exciting summer brunch. Great food, beverages and games for your family. Where: The Square, Novotel, Hitech City When: Ongoing, Contact: (040) 6682 4422
Environmental day The Park, Hyderabad invites readers to suggest a green idea connected to saving the environment. Entries should be mailled to mjoshi@theparkhotels.com. The selected idea will be implemented. Where: The Park, Somajiguda When: May 5 Contact: (040) 2345 6789
Artistic exhibits On a look out for traditional prints and crafts? Head to an exhibitional of traditional handicrafts and artistic handlooms of Gujarat which has around 10 tribal craftsmen and 10 other artisans from Gujarat. Where: West Marredpally community grounds, Marredpally When: Ongoing,
10am onwards
Summer camp Annapurna International School of Film and Media will be holding a Summer Camp program in filmmaking, acting and photography. The second batch is from May 28. Where: Annapurna School, Banjara Hills When: Ongoing Contact: (040) 4914 1234
Budding entrepreneurs A unique management and entrepreneurial workshop for students of age group 11-17, at ISB Hyderabad from June 4 to June 9. Where: Indian School of Business, Gachibowli When: June 4-June 9, 9am onwards Contact: 98665 61690
Theatre workshop Samahaara is hosting special four week summer acting workshops. The workshops will be held for a duration of four weeks in three different parts of the City. Where: Vidyaranya School, The Terrace, The Actor’s Studio When: Ongoing Contact: 83411 20303
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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PCC rejig worries some POLITICS
MANY PARTY LEADERS ARE OPENLY EXPRESSING THEIR DISPLEASURE SAYING THAT THE DELAY WOULD JEOPARDISE THE PROSPECTS OF THE CONGRESS IN THE UPCOMING BYPOLLS
Md Inkeshaf Ahmed ahmed.m@postnoon.com
T
he reconstitution of the Andhra Pradesh Congress Committee (APCC) and filling up of nomination posts has become a cause of concern for party leaders, especially in the wake of the bypolls. The inordinate delay in filling up these posts since the last one year is not only leading to discontent among party leaders and activists but also forcing them to look out for alternatives like YSR Congress and TDP. The committees appointed four years back, during the term of the then PCC president D Srinivas are still continuing without any change even though PCC chief Botsa Satyanarayana completes one year in office on June 11. The most important cause of concern for the party at this juncture is that the effect of non filling up of posts would be seen in the ongoing bypolls. Many party leaders are openly expressing their displeasure and saying that the delay would
jeopardise the prospects of the Congress in the upcoming bypolls and also encourage lower level party leaders to work for the defeat of the party. “Many second grade leaders who expected that they would get elevation in the party and nominated posts in recognition of their services are left in a lurch now,” PCC leader T Seshanarayan told Postnoon. He further said that it is very common in the party as it is like
an ocean. Explaining the reasons for the delay, APCC general secretary Niranjan said, “There are many reasons for the delay in reconstitution of the party organisation in the State. Frequent by-elections are one of the prime reasons for it. The present PCC president wanted to reconstitute the committee and also prepared a list. But the prevailing circumstances stalled the whole process.” Interestingly, Botsa did the rounds of New Delhi along with the list of his team consisting of DCC presidents and other office bearers since the last one year. But he failed to get a go ahead from the party high command. The State has 23 districts
Home guard beaten up
where four-year-old committees are functioning even now. Apart from this, many of these committees exist just for the namesake with lower grade leaders ignoring programmes organised by the party. As a result many of these leaders have quit the party and joined parties like YSR Congress and TDP for their political growth. The impact has been felt in almost all the districts across the State. The recent switch of loyalties by Congress leader and former MLA Vangaveeti Radha to YSR Congress is seen as the outcome of this delay. Recognising the impact of the delay in setting things right, the leaders at the helm of affairs, are saying that the reorganisation of the party will be undertaken after the by-election. “Apart from by-election, we have crucial elections like local body elections in the coming days. Before this election it is mandatory for us to have a complete organisational structure in place to win the local body election. We are expecting that the reorganisation process to be completed before these elections,” Niranjan told Postnoon.
Stranded pilgrims return to country
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CRIME BRIEFS Auto driver beaten to death over petty issue
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n a shocking incident, an auto driver was recently beaten to death over a petty issue. On Sunday, Mohd Yaseen and his auto owner quarrelled over money matters. However, the two soon got into a heated argument. Another man, Mohsin who reached the spot at the time of the quarrel sided with the auto owner and the duo beat up Yaseen. The driver suffered grievous injuries and was shifted to a nearby hospital for treatment where he succumbed to his wounds on Monday. According to the Chandrayangutta inspector, A Srinivas Rao, the victim was a resident of Shaheenagar of Pahadishareef and he had to pay two days rent to his owner, which was the root cause of all the trouble. A case has been registered against the accused and investigations are on.
Police raid dhabas for illegal sale of liquor
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he Bowenpally police recently raided two dhabas in the area for illegally supplying liquor. The police arrested 12 people, including the managers, Shaheed Ali Khan and Balwender Singh, of Basera and Punjabi dhabas for illegally serving alcohol to their customers despite the ban on liquor being served in dhabas. The police acted on a tip off they had received and raided the said dhabas where they arrested the managers along with customers who were under the influence. They also seized alcohol from these dhabas and have booked a case against them.
Postnoon News
WHEN A TRAFFIC HOME
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GUARD ASKED AN AUTO DRIVER TO MOVE HIS VEHICLE FROM A BUS STOP AS IT WAS DISRUPTING TRAFFIC, THE LATTER GOT INTO A SCUFFLE WITH THE COP AND INJURED HIM
Mohd Subhan mohd.s@postnoon.com
D
oing one’s duty can sometimes prove to be a risky affair as was proved by some auto drivers on Monday. A traffic police home guard, who was manning the signal at Balamrai bus stop under the Begumpet police station limits, was badly beaten up by some auto drivers when he asked them not to park by the road side as it was blocking traffic. According to Begumpet sub inspector S Santosham, the home guard M Mahesh, 24, was attached to the Begumpet traffic police station for the past few months. On Monday he was manning the traffic when an auto driver parked his vehicle by the side of the road at a bus stop. This disrupted traffic and inconvenienced commuters trying to board buses. Seeing this Mahesh, asked the auto driver to move his vehicle. However, the latter picked up a fight with the home guard.
In the meantime, another auto driver passing by joined in the quarrel and the duo abused the home guard and started beating him up. The whole scuffle caused a traffic jam and a police constable attached with the Begumpet traffic police, who happened to be passing by, stopped to look into the matter. On learning what had happened, he broke up the fight and informed the Begumpet police about the incident. A police team rushed to the spot and the injured home guard was shifted to a hospital, while the auto drivers were taken into custody for attacking the home guard. They were later produced in court and remanded to judicial custody for their offence. S Santosham, the investigating officer revealed that the two accused were identified as Syed Nazeer, 19, and Mohd Jaffer, 25, both residents of Ambedkarnagar, Sikh Village. The home guard is a native of Mahbubnagar and would commute to the City everyday for his duty.
he pilgrims from Andhra Pradesh, who were stranded in Cairo, after being duped by a City-based travel agency, returned to New Delhi on Tuesday morning. Officials are arranging to send the pilgrims to their native places later this evening. The pilgrims were able to return after the government and embassy officials intervened. Travel Agency Holy Land Tours and Travels Ltd allegedly duped 65 pilgrims by promising them a tour of the holy land. They had paid the tour operator `75,000. Union petroleum minister Jaipal Reddy has announced a compensation to those who had been duped.
Motorcyslist robbed of gold bracelet
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motorist was relieved of his gold bracelet at Lalbazaar under the Trimulgherry police station limits on Monday. K Srinivas, 35, an employee with a private company was going for some work on his bike in the Lalbazaar area when a motorcyclist drew up close to him and snatched his 3 tola gold bracelet before speeding away. Srinivas lodged a complaint with the Trimulgherry police station and investigations are on.
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N SHIVA KUMAR AND AFP
Homosexuals miss this train When the Red Ribbon Express arrived in Karnataka, the whole State knew about it, not just the target group. But when it came to the City, how many were aware? AWARENESS Sudeshna Koka and Rahul Ramakrishna feedback@postnoon.com
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he Red Ribbon Express at the Secunderabad Station brings with it the awareness about HIV/AIDS. On a two-day campaign in the City, the train’s arrival marked a near festive atmosphere in the rail yard with song, dance and awareness guided tours through the train’s compartments educating the public about the importance of safe sex, health and nutrition.
Inaugurated by chief secretary Pankaj Dwivedi, there was a footfall of over 2,000 people from various walks of life. Transgenders and prostitutes were actively involved in supporting and spearheading this campaign against HIV and AIDS. The air-conditioned 8coach train has been principle in educating people of all sections of the society about the many vagaries of unsafe sex. While important subjects such as HIV, AIDS, pregnancy care and childbirth were talked about extensively, there was no mention of choice of sexuality, natural transgenderism, psychological counselling for the high risk
groups etc, all of which are important. However, the visitors at the event were happy with what they saw. Maheshwari, a domestic worker said, “I came here with my children, aged 14 and 17, to make them learn about the changes in the human body during their teenage. They don’t seem to mind it being a public affair and have participated actively in it, so far.” However, unlike in Karnataka where awareness about this campaign was high, the event saw a comparatively low turnout here, despite it being an active belt for prostitution. Although most of the visitors represented communities like MSM, transgender and homo-
sexuals, most of who fall under the high risk category, their primary aim in attending the event was to meet new people. “I have been attending these events for the last three years and I barely see new faces. But this year, there is a younger crowd. It’s an improvement, as they get to learn about safe sex and protection,” says Khushi Khan, a transgender. Incidentally, AP ranks second highest when it comes to HIV/AIDS and homosexuals form a major part of this population. However, the Red Ribbon Express organisers seem to have conveniently ignored them. “They never consider us one among them. The
whole train has illustrations of men and women but nowhere do they mention homosexuals. We form a major chunk of the population that is at a high risk of contracting HIV/AIDS, but nobody seems to care,” fumes Chandramukhi, a transgender. When asked, the organisers they said that the concept was created by a Delhi team and it was they who forgot to include homosexuals. “We have raised this issue and are hoping that changes are made. Now, there is not much we can do. We are disappointed and hope that the changes take place soon,” said Krishna, member of AP State AIDS Control Society.
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TUESDAY, JUNE 5, 2012
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Temples in exchange of votes
TDP complains to CEO
PIC FOR REPRESENTATIONAL PURPOSE ONLY
ers at Gundaipalem reportedly offered political parties an equal number of votes from their village in exchange of an equal amount of money.
POLITICS Md Inkeshaf Ahmed ahmed.m@postnoon.com
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he upcoming bypolls scheduled to be held on June 12 have come as a boon for many voters. The valuable votes of these people have not only turned them into demigods overnight but also made them dictate terms to political parties. For these voters, gone are the days of accepting inducements like liquor, sarees and cash on the sly. They have now come up with innovative demands — according to reports voters are now asking political parties to construct places of worship in exchange for votes. One such incident came to light when BJP candidate Chinna Yogaiah Yanam from Ongole constituency made a shocking revelation that many of the villages in the Ongole constituency are demanding that mainstream political parties dole out funds to construct temples, mosques and churches in
Political parties oblige Recognising the importance of each vote, the candidates of political parties like Congress, TDP and YSRC are finding it difficult to ignore the wishes of the voters. They are obliging them in order to please them. As a result even small public problems like borewell connections, sewage and other issues are being attended to immediately.
Action initiated their villages. “According to my information the villagers of Pelluru Cherukumpalem villages have received huge sums of money for construction of religious structures from political parties like Congress and YSRC. Both these villages are major gram panchayats and have a dominant number of votes,” Yogaiah told Postnoon. According to Yogaiah, voters are seeing the bypolls as an opportunity to fulfill their
requirements. “You cannot fault voters for this. They have a need and this need is being fulfilled by political parties in exchange of their votes,” he added. However, Yogaiah expressed helplessness when asked as to why he did not lodge a complaint with election authorities. “How can I raise a complaint? It’s an open secret and money is being given by middlemen in the name of donations,” he said. Reports also reveal that vot-
ON THE
TDP, Cong gear up to take on YSRC at Rajampet CAMPAIGN
TRAIL
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K
adapa district, the strong bastion of former chief minister YS Rajasekhara Reddy’s family for the last three and half decades, will witness by-elections in three of its assembly constituencies this month. Among these constituencies Rajampet assembly seat occupies an important place. Being one of the biggest towns in Kadapa district and Parliamentary constituency being represented by union minister of state A Sai Pratap, the constituency attracted lot of attention from top ruling leaders. The seat fell vacant following disqualification of die hard supporter of YSRC chief Jagan Mohan Reddy, A Amaranath Reddy. He won the seat with a majority of about 14,000 votes on the Congress ticket during the 2009 general elections. While the YSR Congress is expecting
to romp in with a huge majority riding on the sympathy created after Jagan’s arrest, the Congress and TDP are leaving no stone unturned to ensure YSRC’s defeat. While the Congress fielded MV Mallikarjuna Reddy, the TDP brought forth former MLA Brahmaiah Pasupuleti to give Amarnatha Reddy a tough fight. Speaking to Postnoon the YSRC leader expressed confidence that the people of his constituency would give a historic verdict to teach a lesson to Congress which ditched former CM YSR and was trying to portray him as corrupt. On the other hand, the TDP is trying to woo the voters and is mostly banking on backward class voters, who form the traditional vote bank. Nearly 1.86 lakh voters will caste their votes during the bypoll.
Reacting to these reports, the officials of Prakasam district ordered an inquiry into the incident. “We have initiated an inquiry into the incident. We will get the report in a couple of days. Based on this, suitable action will be initiated against the responsible persons including filing of FIRs,” Prakasam district collector Anita Rajendran said. She further informed that they have so far seized `1.6 crore from various people.
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elugu Desam Party politburo member and leader of the opposition in the council Dadi Veerabhadra Rao has complained to chief electoral officer Bhanwarlal about distribution of gold ornaments, saris and mobile phones in Payakaraopeta and Ongole Assembly constituencies. He appealed to the CEO to take effective measures to prevent distribution of these articles to voters. In a letter to the chief electoral officer on Monday, Rao stated that the police have seized a van which was transporting cell phones worth `1.7 crore. Reports revealed that the vehicle was transporting 3,356 cellphones from Hyderabad to a major electronics store at Anakapalle. The transaction of transportation of cell phones was fake and the same was meant for distribution to the electorate in Payakaraopet. In another letter to the CEP, Veerabhadra Rao urged him to take stringent steps to prevent distribution of gold ornaments to women voters in the election bound constituencies and initiate stern action against the individuals and parties indulging in the electoral offences. NSS
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Two EVMs to be used Rajampet also grabbed eye balls for forcing the election commission to use two electronic voting machines (EVM) during the bypolls. The reason for using two EVMs is the exceeding number of candidates contesting in the bypolls. While an EVM can accommodate ballots of 16 candidates, there are 19 candidates at Rajampet. YSRC candidate, alleged that the increase in number of contesting is a conspiracy by the Congress and TDP to divide votes. He asserted that he would win with a thumping majority even if 10 EVMs were used. “Let them use 10 EVMs to accommodate contesting candidates. I will emerge victorious,” he said.
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Giving back their childhood Preventing child labour is no longer just an ethical issue begging our sympathy. It's now a matter of necessity. Here’s why it is time we start to take it seriously
N SHIVA KUMAR
Padmini Copparapu padmini.c@postnoon.com
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s you read this, 215 million children around the world are at, or going to, work. They have no rights, no privileges, no holidays, no minimum wages, no concept of a childhood and no hope for the future. Most of their parents have lived and died this way. For all you know, so will they. We know this. We've seen them. On our own streets, at construction sites, in factories, at restaurants, around shops, in our offices and, needless to say, our homes. There are still others we don't see. Children forced into bonded labour, hazardous environments, or illicit activities like prostitution, drug trade or even worse. Seen or unseen, they exist. More than a billion children now live in cities and towns. Their future will define our future. Sending them to school, to see them grow up to become contributing members of the community is vital for our progress and sustenance. Eliminating child labour is no longer just an ethical duty, dependant on our sympathy, it's now a necessity.
Magnitude of Child Labour At last count, estimates show 13,64,000 children in the age group of 5-14 years were employed as labour across AP alone, the highest in the country. Even preceding Rajasthan, UP, MP and Bihar. Two-thirds of these children work in agriculture. Many many more, in hazardous environments. These numbers come from the 2001 census. No official figures pertaining to out-of-school children or child labour exist since. So where do these figure stand today? We have no way of knowing. The absence of any conclusive data means that there's no ascertaining the status quo and more importantly, the success or failure of initiatives aimed at combating and eliminating child labour.
Challenges Child protection officers,
government officials and NGOs all agree that there is no quick fix and that the issue is more complex than simply rescuing children off the streets and putting them in homes or schools. Inter-state migration,
MORE THAN A BILLION CHILDREN LIVE IN CITIES AND TOWNS. THEIR FUTURE WILL DEFINE OURS. SENDING THEM TO SCHOOL, TO SEE THEM GROW UP TO BECOME CONTRIBUTING MEMBERS OF THE COMMUNITY IS VITAL FOR OUR PROGRESS AND SUSTENANCE.
the local language; integrating thousands of these children into Telugu-medium government schools is neither an easy nor a viable solution. Tracing their home-towns require manpower, intelligence, resources, cooperation between governments and more. How to tackle these new and unprecedented challenges is something they’re learning to grapple with, say officials. Retaining first-generation learners, battling cultural stereotypes, providing for an extensive safety net for rescued children, boosting school capacities, training teachers, bringing all the laws and legislation pertaining to child protection on par with the Right to Education are stated to be the key obstacles to overcome.
The Good News for instance, is going to be the single most crucial issue that needs to be dealt with while combating child labour, they say. Orphans in an alien State, culturally lost, unable to speak
While the challenges are serious and the situation is grave, there is also a profound sense of progress and a mood of wakeful anticipation among the child protection community.
Back to School
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very child in the country will drink clean water, eat three full meals a day and sleep under a roof. Safely, contentedly and dreaming of a bright future. He will wake up each morning to go to school, not to a sweatshop. He will play, not work. He will have the same childhood that we aim to give our own children. That is an idea whose time has come. And so over the next week, The present and upcoming year bring with them many good things. The 2011 census is due to yield brand-new data, bridging the information gap that had been widening over 10 years. The Right to Education Act is slated to take full effect, requiring other laws and legislation pertaining to child labour to be amended and made up to date. New government initiatives focusing on affirmative socio-
leading up to the 10th anniversary of the World Day Against Child Labour on June 12, we will talk to experts, community leaders, NGOs, government officials, child protection officers and advocates to explore, understand and come up with a comprehensive solution to eliminate child labour. We’ll tell you what you can do to help. It’s time to give back these children their childhood. cultural paradigms are set to take off. But most vitally, there is an increasing cognisance among intra-government agencies, policy makers, and NGOs about the need to collaborate their efforts, work hand-in-hand, and treat the issue of child labour holistically and not in isolation. It is now being realised as the single-most important determinant in the road map to solving the problem. That said, its easier said than done.
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f it is not errant driving and shoddy traffic policing, Hyderabad’s has not acknowledged the pivotal role of pedestrians in its many traffic woes. While choosing to ignore the presence of footpaths or the importance and safety of traffic signals, pedestrians in Hyderabad throw caution to the wind, hindering the already dismal course of the City’s traffic. Despite the presence of zebra crossings, foot over bridges and addition of the “free left turns” to the City’s roads, pedestrians find it easier to walk and cross roads at their wish. Many of our pavements are encroached upon by business establishments of all sorts, from beggars to hawkers, but common sense takes a backseat while walking along the City’s roads. While there are challans for errant drivers, pedestrians go scot-free. Deputy commissioner of traffic police, PVS Ramakrishna explains, “ Pedestrians are not liable to get fined for crossing the road or for lacking civic sense. Their safety on the roads depends on common sense and adhering to traffic rules. But considering that the public is not really aware of these, we have planned a series of programs to spread awareness. “One particular case relat-
ed to this issue is the pedestrian movement at Rasoolpura that is well-coordinated by the local traffic constable or home guard who stop the traffic at the NTR junction for 10 minutes to allow pedestrian movement.” Most pedestrians disregard the presence of foot over bridges as well as the pedestrian crossing signals that have been installed in various parts
of the City. One such case can be seen at the NIMS hospital in Punjagutta where the signal has been lying defunct for at least five years as nobody understands its use! While on the road, “might is right” is the motto of pedestrians who walk, cross and jump signals no holds barred. A pedestrian, Mahesh, who was seen crossing the traffic signal
at Punjagutta despite the green signal says, “I crossed the road only when it was empty. How does it matter if the signal is green, when the roads are clear of all vehicles?” Mahesh’s logic is perhaps the common breeding ground of all pedestrian ignorance. If people were to apply a little more sense, Hyderabad’s roads might be a little safer after all.
A ‘not so sweet’ end to the season M ANIL KUMAR
SEASON Anubha K Singh anubha.k@postnoon.com
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DAYS TO GO
P28&29
s per the latest prediction of the Hyderabad Meteorology Department, monsoon is going to begin in Hyderabad from June 7 or June 8. The smell of the dry earth getting drenched makes monsoon a popular season. The monsoon is sure to give farmers a reason to rejoice but they are also upset with the end of mango season. This year the mango season brought disappointment. It started with shrunken arrivals and elevated prices. The vendors at the Kothapet Fruit Market say that this year the
produce was not up to the mark. They reached late because of the low yield and hailstorms that damaged the crop. “The mangoes arrived late. In fact there was short supply this year in the City. The season which usually extends till July end or first week of August is almost at the end now. The prices were high due to the shortage. The short supply have adversely affected the farmers and the wholesalers however shopkeepers and retailers made profit because of the prices,” said Ranga Raju, farmer from Chittoor. “In addition to the bad climatic conditions I faced a problem with the regular pesticides which failed to kill the pest,” he adds. Banganpalli (benishan), rasal, himayat, azil and
North Indian varieties like chousa, daseri, langra, and alphonso were in demand this time.
Hyderabadis hate two aspects of monsoon — waterlogged roads and the end of mango season. “Every summer I wait for the king of fruits to arrive, however this year I could not savour them because of the quality and prices. The season is now going to end,” said Rajendra Kumar, a buyer. “From the beginning of the season it’s a big disappointment for the farmers and wholesalers. AP being one of the main producers in the country lost its crown this year with the drop in the market. The mangoes which are usually found at during the end of the season (last week of July) have hit the market two weeks before. This is the indication that the season will end soon” said K Jaganmohan, wholesaler.
World Environment Day
TUESDAY, JUNE 5, 2012
8
Joining hands to save the environment TSS Siddharth feedback@postnoon.com
A
s part of the celebrations for the World Environment Day, IT professionals from three Ascendas IT parks organised a walk through all the major IT junctions in Hitec City. The objective of this walk was to encourage and create awareness among IT professionals. These professionals who spend half their time in front of computer screens and in conference rooms took a break from their day-to-day
activities to highlight the importance of protecting the environment. When we asked a few techies about their approach towards environment and the cause they said, “ We usually prefer to car pool, as it saves fuel, helps cut pollution and also helps our budget as the prices of fuels has risen.” “We held this walk today to commemorate the World Environment Day. It is our turn to give back to the environment what we have so generously taken. To keep the enthusiasm levels high about the environment in the IT
professionals we also have organised various other ventures like the eco bazaar, free emission tests for all the vehicles, organic week and organic food counters. I myself commit to carpooling with two more of my colleagues to help the environment. It is our time to do our part for the environment.” said Dr Razia Sultana, director at the environment protection training and research institute. Various other events were held across the City to raise awareness about protecting the environment and the need to grow more trees.
M ANIL KUMAR, SRINIVAS SETTY AND N SHIVA KUMAR
16,092.46 106.67
4,883.90 35.75
BSE
NSE
Business
10g= `30,300
GOLD
1kg= `54,400
SILVER
`55.52
DOLLAR
POUND TUESDAY, JUNE 5, 2012 9
Matters of saving and spending
Australia ‘stops the clock’ on GVK coal mine SYDNEY:
The Australian government Tuesday halted the approval process for a huge Aus$6.4 billion (US$6.3 billion) coal mine owned by Indian infrastructure giant GVK and the world’s richest woman Gina Rinehart. The Alpha Project in the northeastern Galilee Basin was given the green light last week by Queensland state authorities, who gave the federal government 30 days to approve it. But federal environment minister Tony Burke said he would not give the go-ahead until environmental concerns relating to run-off from the mine impacting the Great Barrier Reef were properly addressed. “I am today stopping the clock on the process which has been given to us by the Queensland government,” Burke said. Burke said he was in constructive talks with GVK, which has an 80 per cent holding in the project, and would be seeking more information from the Queensland government. “I intend making a decision as soon as an informed decision can be made,” he said. “I’ve given up on Queensland being sensible in respect to the Alpha Project.” The federal Labor government is at loggerheads on the issue with Queensland, which recently elected a conservative government headed by Premier Campbell Newman.
Doing her bit in the green battle prudhvi.k@postnoon.com
WASHINGTON: The Apple iPad extended its lead in the global market for tablet computers at the start of 2012 while Amazon’s Kindle Fire flamed out after a sizzling introduction, a survey showed Monday. Apple held 65 percent of the market with 11.8 million iPad shipments, boosted by the launch of a third-generation model and price reductions on the iPad 2, the report said. Samsung grabbed the number two spot with 1.1 million shipments, or six per cent of the market, overtaking Amazon, which saw an 80 per cent quarter-over-quarter drop in sales of the Kindle Fire, according to ABI. ^cm
Google buys Meebo for $100 m agreed to buy the online messaging firm Meebo, a move expanding the Internet giant’s capabilities for instant sharing of Web pages using social networks. Terms of the deal, announced Monday on the Meebo company blog, were not disclosed. But a report last month by
the Dow Jones site All Things Digital said the price would be around $100 million. Meebo, a privately held company, claims to reach almost half the US Internet population, in part with its “Meebo bar” which allows users to click to comment or share a Web page using a social network. ^cm
NUMEROLOGY
60
million
hectares of forest has been added by China in the last 20 years as part of its efforts to fight climate change. China currently has a total forest area of 195 million hectares.
THUS SPAKE
F
amily values and culture did not let Namita Banka to work with any other company. That did not stop her to get in to any profession. She started off her career with jewellery design and manufacturing. She moved with her husband to different parts of the country doing successful business in jewellery everywhere. Eventually, she had come to the City with the transfer of her husband and created Banka enterprises, which manufactures bio-toilets. Talking about the idea, she says, “I always wanted to do something for the environment. After shifting here, I don’t want to continue the jewellery business but want to get in to the business that can create difference to the public life. To pursue the dream, I joined a course in NGO management in 2009 in Centre for Social Initiative and Management (CSIM). After completion, I started my own company which initially worked as a service agent for Vibhu Composite works and Aikon Technologies, orginal equipment manufactures (OEMs) of controlled discharge toilets.” The initially challenge for the company is to make sure the toilets sold to Indian railways by the OEMs were functioning properly.
iPad is king of tablets, says survey
SAN FRANCISCO: Google has
M ANIL KUMAR
Prudhvi Raju K
`85.51
“We knew very well there were no issues with manufacturing of the toilets but it is the faulty usage which created problems. We worked the round the clock with our team to make 90 per cent of the toilets fully functional with our training. “This helped us to gain expertise in the area and later got the technologies from DRDO to build bio-toilets. This is a great solution for people who could not construct toilets for various reasons. These bio-toilets can be placed tanywhere; fitting does take more than a day, does not need huge space. More important of all, it can be used in the areas where there is no connection to the sewage systems. The outlet water that comes from the bio tank can be used for gardening purposes,”
she says. This technology helped the company to turn as manufacturer and make it stand among major companies to whom it provided services. Talking about the challenges, she says, it is very difficult to compete with big companies and win orders. The bureaucracy also doesn’t support small companies.” The company aims to cater these toilets at public places, rural areas, and construction areas, hilly areas and the areas where there is no sewage connection. The company which has a turnover of `75 lakh last fiscal is aiming for `2 crore this year with the increasing awareness of bio-toilets. It also started offering services in Nairobi by providing 27 bio-toilets.
Microsoft links Xbox with smartphones, tablets LOS ANGELES: Microsoft on Monday stepped up its quest to be at the heart of home entertainment by synching Xbox 360 videogame consoles to smartphones and tablets while adding more blockbuster content. Microsoft unveiled Xbox Sm-
artGlass software for linking the world’s leading consoles to iPhones, iPads, Android-powered gadgets and, of course, devices powered by the US technology titan’s new Windows 8 operating system. The Smartglass application to be released worldwide by the end of the year could drain some of the enthusiasm that rival Nintendo has been working to build for its next generation Wii U console featuring a tablet-style GamePad controller. GamePads, the price of which is expected to be revealed on Tuesday, are an extra gadget gamers would need to incorporate into their lives while Smartglass will let them use gadgets they already own. ^cm
“It is very important to give ... now some signals ... that we believe and will do whatever is neccesary to ensure the stability of our currency. That is why we need to speak about the future of our union,” Jose Manuel Barroso, European Commission chief
STAKE PURCHASE Etihad Airways, one of the Gulf region’s fast-growing carriers, said on Tuesday it has bought a 3.96 per cent equity stake in Virgin Australia. Etihad said it built its holding over recent weeks through on-market share purchases. The two airlines are already part of an alliance which features codesharing on each other’s flights, reciprocal frequent flyer recognition and joint bidding for corporate accounts.
MORE BAD NEWS Embattled Australian flag carrier Qantas on Tuesday warned its full year profit could dive by up to 90 percent, with its international arm posting steep losses. The airline said it expects underlying profit before tax — its preferred measure of financial performance — in the year to June 30 to be Aus$50-100 million, compared with Aus$552 million in the previous year. In a statement to the stock market, the carrier blamed a deterioration in global operating conditions driven by the European economic crisis and its highest ever jet fuel bill. Qantas’s international business is expected to post a loss of more than Aus$450 million.
India‑View
10
TUESDAY, JUNE 5, 2012
India unveiled
FOR HIS BLESSINGS
Software to the rescue of girl child TIRUCHIRAPALLI: Implementation of Pre Natal Diagnostic Technique software (PNDT) for the first time in the country in this district would force scan centres across India to strictly follow the Pre Natal Diagnostic Technique Act-1994 (PNDT), a top official said. “The software will help authorities maintain a complete computerised record of ultrasound scan centres and monitor their functions. It will also allow public to contact them to complain about erring scan centres,” Mohana Sundaram, joint director of medical services, said. Chennai-based TAG Technologies Ltd has produced the software, which gives details of application of new centres, renewal/change of machines, details of taluk and district level officers monitor-
Rohtang tunnel runs into rivulet MANALI: A geological surprise in the form of a rivulet has sprung up during work on a tunnel below the 3,978-metre Rohtang Pass in Himachal Pradesh. Engineers involved in the digging of Rohtang tunnel Monday spoke of a torrential inflow, like that of a rivulet, into the tunnel. The 8.8-km tunnel, an engineering marvel and a strategic project, will ensure all-weather connectivity to Keylong in Lahaul and Spiti district of Himachal Pradesh. The work is being undertaken by the Border Roads Organisation (BRO) in collaboration with Strabag-Afcons, a joint venture between India’s Afcons Infrastructure and Strabag SE of Austria. “A flow of 30 litres per second of the Seri rivulet is entering the tunnel and its volume can increase to 200 litres per second,” BRO Chief Engineer P.K. Mahajan told IANS. The Seri is a tributary of the Beas river and flows down the mountain. “The tunnel alignment is crossing beneath the rivulet. High water seepage may be encountered as we move further,” he added. Mahajan said the engineers were taking various measures like rock grouting and bolting and using special chemicals to counter and pump out the flow, and that more geological surprises could be in store. IANS
ing the scan centres. Mohanasundaram said the software, prepared for this district for now, could be expanded to other districts and even other states, if they so desired. He said in the first phase, government proposed to computerise all 224 ultrasound scan centres in the city. “As we are involved in the process, we decided to expand the software facility to the centres and made a web based one,” he said. The software also contains details of Prenatal diagonostic technique act,1994,amended in 2002 and also Details of the District and Taluk Level appropriate authorities. The software is available in windows based version and Web Based online version, he said. PTI
Veteran actor Ranjit Mallik with his daughter actor Koel Mallik offer puja to Lord Jagannath at Rajapur in Nadia district of West Bengal on Monday on the occasion of Snanyatra of Lord Jagannath. PTI
Heat has no rich-poor bias NEW DELHI: For Pushpa Rani, 38, a labourer who works a 16hour day, seven days a week, the blistering heat that keeps most Delhi citizens indoors is no reason to stop working. “My husband died due to cancer five years ago and I have three kids at home. If I don’t work daily, they will go to bed hungry which is not acceptable to me,” says the sole bread winner. With much of the nation in the grip of a scorching heat wave, few people are hit as hard as the poor, who have no concrete roofs over their heads and struggle to sleep at night. “There are frequent power outages and no proper water supply,” Rani, who resides in an east Delhi slum cluster, told IANS. While some would argue that one should remain indoors during daytime to avoid the heat, for 34-year-old Sheela, a housemaid, and her children, that is not an option. “We don’t get water supply and our house has tin roofs so it is like a furnace in the afternoon... Hence, both my kids are forced to stay outside,” said the resident of west Delhi’s Todapur area. “Both of them are ill due to dehydration and this happens almost every year,” added Sheela, who hails from Harayana and came to the Capital 12 years ago in search of greener pastures. Poverty and lack of resources
force the not so privileged to tread on despite the rising mercury. Balraj Yadav, 50-year-old
autorickshaw driver and a father of three, would love to rest during a scorching afternoon, but needs the extra money to treat
his ailing father. “My father has not been keeping well for past several months back home in my village in Bihar and I need all the extra cash,” said Yadav. “On days when the heat is unbearable, many of my friends park their autos under some shade and doze off but I cannot afford that luxury now,” added Yadav, as he wiped the sweat from his forehead. While the poor have little or no choice, the situation is not so comforting for the average middle class as well. Anjana Sharma, a 28-yearold receptionist in a private firm in east Delhi, says she commutes around 30 km daily to her office and back home on her scooty. The heat has tanned her skin. “My whole face and arms are tanned and there is pigmentation on my skin. The dry wind and the harsh sun rays are unbearable, but what choice do I have,” she says. The power outages is a hassle for the middle-class too. “It’s impossible to sleep without the air conditioner on and when at 2am there is a power cut your sleep is obviously broken. And if the power cut is a couple of hours long, it means your next day’s routine will go for a toss,” said Pradeep Manchanda, a salesman. “I roam around the city all day and at night all I ask is for a few hours of peaceful sleep in an air conditioned room. Summer is a torturous time for the average Delhiite,” Manchanda adds. IANS
India‑View
Spider invasion spooks village in Assam GUWAHATI: Panicked villagers in Assam complained on Monday of an invasion of giant venomous spiders that resemble tarantulas but are unknown to local specialists. The media said that a dozen people had been bitten and treated in hospital, with two unconfirmed deaths reported. “Initially we thought it was a prank, but later on we saw swarms of this peculiar kind of spider biting people,” Ranjit Das, a community elder in the town of Sadiya in Assam, said. Authorities have swung into action by fogging and spraying insecticides in the area, 600 kilometres east of Assam’s main city of Guwahati, and a team of scientists have been dispatched to investigate. “We visited the spot and found it akin to the tarantula, but we are still not sure what this particular species is,” said LR Saikia, a scientist from the department of life science of Dibrugarh University in Assam. “It appears to be an aggressive spider with its fangs more powerful than the normal variety of house spiders,” he told AFP. Specimens have been sent outside Assam for identification by arachnologists, he said. AFP
11
TUESDAY, JUNE 5, 2012
India unveiled
India for bigger role
NATION AT A GLANCE Maoists kill village head, two others
NEW DELHI: With India increasingly looking to Central Asia for its energy security needs, external affairs minister SM Krishna left today (Tuesday) for Beijing, where he will pitch for a bigger role for New Delhi in the six-nation Shanghai Co-operation Organisation (SCO). Krishna will also hold bilateral talks Wednesday with his Chinese counterpart Yang Jiechi during which they are are expected to review the progress of some of key initiatives like firming up the contours of a maritime dialogue. Krishna is accompanied by senior officials of the external affairs ministry, including Syed Akbaruddin, the ministry spokesperson, and Ajay Bisaria, joint secretary in charge of the Eurasia region in the ministry.
MUNGER: Armed Maoists killed three persons, including a village head, by chopping off their heads in Vimbandh forest area of Bihar’s Munger district early today. The Maoists had a couple of days ago kidnapped the village head of Murade Sanjay Paswan, two villagers Pramod Paswan and Sourav Das, police said. Their bodies were recovered by police from near Rameshwar ‘kund’ inside the Bhimband forest.
Shanghai Co-operation Organisation Beijing is hosting the 12th SCO summit June 6-7, which is expected to map out the future of this influential organization that brings together Russia and China, the two permanent members of the UN Security Council, and the energy-rich Central Asian states, including
Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan. India, Pakistan, Iran and Mongolia are currently observers in the SCO. At the summit, Krishna is expected to underline the importance of the SCO region for India’s energy and security and pitch for an enhanced role for New Delhi in the grouping which is traditionally dominated by Russia and China. India has been seeking full membership in the SCO for some time, but opinion is divided among Russia and China, the two giants of the SCO, on this issue. While Russia has backed full membership of India in the SCO, China says that those desirous of joining the SCO have to work harder to satisfy strict criteria for the membership.
PANAJI: The Goa government is working on a package for poor tribals living in the state’s lesser-developed areas in order to provide them financial help to tackle problems like crumbling houses and low fertility rate. State tribal welfare minister Ramesh Tawadkar said the situation of several tribals, living in the forest areas was poor.
IN GOOD COMPANY
Women commandos train at Bahadurgarh Commando Training Centre in Patiala on Monday. PTI
42 fall sick after eating in marriage feast MEDININAGAR (JHARKHAND): Forty-two persons, including nine children, fell sick after eating at a wedding feast at Singrakala village in Palamu district, official sources said. The affected, including four women, were rushed to Medininagar Sadar Hospital today, where the condition of four persons was stated to be serious, official sources said.
Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi interacts with My Home India awardee of Arunachal Pradesh, Nabam Atum in Mumbai on Monday during the award function. PTI
Is there any hope left for Yamuna? T A he present state of the Yamuna river from Delhi to Agra, a distance of roughly 250km, is alarming. Described now as a huge sewage canal, Yamuna water is unfit for human consumption. It cannot even support bacteria or aquatic life. Yamuna finds mention in the Rig Veda. The founder of the Mughal dynasty, Babar, was lyrical about the quality of Yamuna water. It was Yamuna water that compelled Shah Jahan to build his dream monument the Taj Mahal along the river bank. But what of today? How do we describe Yamuna today? A sewer canal, a drain, a big gutter, a civilisational sink? In the past 25 years govern-
Goa designs financial package for tribals
What can be done?
ment agencies have spent over `800 crore to clean up many Indian rivers. The latest report of the Ministry of Environment and
Forests, however, candidly admits that the two great rivers Ganga and Yamuna continue to flow dirty.
large number of NGOs, pressure groups, ecoclubs, citizens’ movements, have been active, doing their bit to clean up the Yamuna, but given the dimension of the problem, these piecemeal and sporadic efforts cannot yield any tangible benefits. One way to resolve the problem could be to use the Indian armed forces to desilt, dredge and clean up the river between Delhi and Agra. At the same time the laws relating to water pollution need to be given teeth and implemented rigorously.
Buses off Himachal roads, commuters hit SHIMLA: Employees of the state-run Himachal Road Transport Corporation (HRTC), which has a fleet over 1,900 buses, on Tuesday went on a day-long strike, hitting the commuters hard. Protesting employees said the buses that operate within and outside the state would remain off roads throughout the day.
Policemen inspect a hole in the wall used by eight undertrials to escaped from police custody in Farukhabad, UP on Monday. PTI
Around the World
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TUESDAY, JUNE 5, 2012
Beyond Borders
Earhart did the Crusoe Amelia Earhart mystery solved: She died on a Pacific island
A
partners’ location could be traced to a tiny Pacific “atoll.” The atoll known then as Gardner Island but is known Nikumaroro Island, is a tiny Pacific reef that would have been washed away by a rising tide. According to UPI, Earhart apparently sent out 57 signals for help, most of which were previously dismissed as bogus. Discovery reported that further evidence of Earhart’s demise on the tiny strip of land was the discovery of a cosmetic jar of antifreckle cream. The jar was found on the island and it is well-known that Earhart had freckles that she detested. It was previously believed that Earhart has simply “vanished” on July 2, 1937 while she made her way around the world. GLOBALPOST
merlia Earhart lived with navigator Fred Noon for days or longer on a Pacific island, ending the theory that she simply vanished, new evidence suggests. The International Group for Historic Aircraft Recovery, the group investigating the disappearance, said on Friday that new evidence of SOS signals and artifacts had been found on the island. The group presented the new evidence on Friday at a three-day conference that presented new research about Earhart’s expedition across the globe. The researchers says that previously dismissed distress signals may have actually been real, reported the Christian Science Monitor, and that Earhart and her
The real life hero BEIJING: A Chinese bus driver, who was badly injured by a piece of metal that flew in through the windshield, stopped the bus, turned on the hazard lights, advised the passengers to remain seated and then collapsed. He died in hospital three days later. The bus driver may have saved the lives of his 24 passengers despite being fatally injured. Wu Bin, 48, died of his wounds on Friday, three days after a sheet of metal flew through the windshield of his bus while he was driving from Wuxi in Jiangsu Province to Hangzhou in Zhejiang Province. A surveillance video shows Wu stopping the bus, switching on hazard lights, applying the parking brake and advising the passengers to remain seated before collapsing. “I didn’t realize what had happened until I saw the bloodcovered driver and the smashed windshield,” a passenger was quoted as saying. “The incident could’ve turned into a traffic accident resulting in major casualties without his heroic efforts and professional ethics,” the passenger added. Millions of netizens showed respect to Wu on microblogging sites like Weibo.com and QQ.com. They demanded that authorities find out how the accident happened. Fang Zheng, a doctor, was taken aback that Wu was able to stop the bus and direct the passengers. IANS
Celebrating donuts N
ational Donut Day, which falls on the first Friday of June every year, isn’t all sugar and spice and everything nice (though it does involve hefty doses of the first, and a sprinkle of the second.) Founded in 1938, National Donut Day commemorates the women who tirelessly offered up donuts to soldiers during World War I. The sugary-sweet pastries first became popular with troops in 1917, after a nurse named Helen Purvience served the first donut to a man in uniform from the Salvation Army.
Donut stores across America are marking the dessert’s holiday by handing out free donuts: Krispy Kreme is offering one free donut per customer, no purchase necessary, while Dunkin’ Donuts
locations are dishing out free donuts with the purchase of a beverage, according to the Monitor. New York City is celebrating the donut in Madison Square Park, after Mayor Bloomberg declared the day “NYC Donut Day.” Bloomberg took the sugary celebrations in stride, however, as they come one day after the New York Mayor proposed a ban on the sale of large sodas and other sugary drinks in restaurants, delis and movie theaters, in a bid to fight obesity in the American city. GLOBALPOST
ON MY FINGER TIPS
A billboard of an image of a woman’s ten perfectly manicured and jeweled fingers, detached from their hands hangs in Chelsea neighbourhood of New York. The image created by artist Maurizio Cattelan and photographer Pierpaolo Ferrari as part of Toilet Paper, a two-year-old art magazine AFP/ TIMOTHY A CLARY founded by the two men.
Does he really need it?
T
he son of hip hop mogul Sean “Diddy” Combs is attracting criticism for accepting a $54,000 athletic scholarship from UCLA, Reuters reported. Justin Dior Combs, who will be a defensive back on UCLA’s Division I football team starting this fall, is one of about 285 students to earn a full ride to the university this year, according to the Los Angeles Times. A private school grad with a 3.75 GPA, Justin was also offered scholarships at Illinois, Virginia and Wyoming, the LA Times reported. The 18-year-old doesn’t need financial aid. His father has a net worth estimated at $550 million, according to Reuters. Justin reportedly drives a Maybach car worth about $360,000. Now critics are questioning whether it was appropriate for him to accept the scholarship — or for UCLA to have awarded it to him. “Unlike need-based scholarships, athletic scholarships are awarded to students strictly on the basis of their athletic and academic ability, and not on a student’s financial need,” UCLA spokesman Ricardo Vazquez said in a statement, according to the LA Times. Vasquez told the LA Times that money used for meritbased athletic scholarships does not come from state funds and is not drawn from the same pool as need-based scholarships, so it does not reduce the money set aside for needy students. Yet, blogger Jay Anderson argued on TheGrio.com, “by taking a scholarship that he earned, but could likely afford on his own, (Justin) Combs is taking a spot away from a player who might elect to go elsewhere ... which in theory would hurt the team as a whole.” After a CNN ran a story on Justin’s scholarship, the teenager defended himself on Twitter, Reuters reported. “Regardless what the circumstances are, I put that work in!!!! PERIOD,” he tweeted.
Around the World
13
TUESDAY, JUNE 5, 2012
Beyond Borders
Tripoli airport ‘liberated’ TRIPOLI, Libyan authorities wrested back control of Tripoli International Airport from exrebels who seized the runway on Monday, surrounding planes and grounding all flights after their leader’s apparent arrest, officials said. It took until evening for the authorities to regain control of the airport when loyalist forces stormed it after negotiations with the militiamen broke down, deputy interior minister Omar al-Khadrawi told journalists. Flights were not expected to resume for at least 24 hours because of the damage caused
to the airport’s infrastructure. The assault by the militiamen on the Libyan capital’s main gateway to the outside world underlined the massive task facing the authorities in reintegrating the disparate armed groups that took part in the overthrow of now slain dictator Moamer Gadhafi’s regime last year. The raid was carried out by gunmen who fired into the air and slightly wounded an airport employee, causing panic among travellers, according to the official LANA news agency. “It is total confusion.
Everyone is fleeing,” an official at the airport told AFP, adding that several armoured vehicles were positioned on the tarmac blocking traffic. “Cars mounted with antiaircraft guns and armed men are surrounding the aircraft and preventing them from moving,” another official said, adding that some passengers were forced to leave planes. The motive of the gunmen was to pressure the government to explain the whereabouts of their leader, Abu Ajila alHabshi, according to LANA. Tripoli’s security commis-
sion, which answers to the interior ministry, said it had nothing to do with “the disappearance and abduction of Colonel Abu Ajila al-Habshi” and that it was still tracking those responsible. Loyalist forces took action after negotiations broke down, the deputy interior minister said. “The authorities have complete control over the airport,” Khadrawi told reporters after the operation, adding that dozens of assailants were arrested and stripped of their weapons. AFP
MUSICAL EXTRAVAGANZA AT ROYAL JUBILEE
GLOBE AT A GLANCE Romney would be calamitous: Bill Clinton NEW YORK: Former US President Bill Clinton has warned Americans that picking up Mitt Romney would be “calamitous” for the country and the world as he derided the Republicans’ policies and strongly endorsed Barack Obama for a re-election this year. Clinton, who occupied the White House from 1993 to 2001, said that the incumbent president has the right economic policies and political approach.
Colombian rebels kill three in ambush attack BOGOTA: Colombian rebels have ambushed a police convoy and killed at least three people, authorities said. They were attacked Monday by the guerrillas of Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) when they were taking a pregnant woman to a hospital, Xinhua reported.
Riot police run past a burning barricade during a miner’s strike in Vega del Rey, Spain on Monday. AFP
5 minor planets named after Chinese scientists BEIJING: Five minor planets have been named after top Chinese scientists with the approval of the International Astronomical Union (IAU). The five minor planets were discovered between 1997 and 2000 by the Beijing Schmidt CCD Asteroid Program at the Xinglong observation station in northern China.
Clockwise from top left: Elton John, Sir Paul McCartney and Stevie Wonder perform during the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee Concert at Buckingham Palace in London on Monday. Prince Charles kisses the hand of Britain’s Queen Elizabeth II on stage. The star-studded musical extravaganza comes on the third of four days of celebrations to celebrate Queen Elizabeth II’s 60 years on the throne. AFP
Spanish police bust Chinese sweat shop MADRID: Spanish police have busted a
Police kill bear after tub attack MONTREAL: A wild black bear attacked a man relaxing in a hot tub at a ski resort in Canada, with a swift whack to the head, police said Monday. The 55-year-old man from Coquitlam, British Columbia, felt a heavy blow to the back of his head which propelled him forward in the hot tub. He turned around and found himself face to face with a black bear. He yelled at the bear and ran inside the resort. The police later killed the bear. IANS
Madge faces suit over swastika MOSCOW: France’s National Front party has threatened to sue American pop diva Madonna over the use of Nazi swastika in depiction of party leader Marine Le Pen. Madonna kicked off her MDNA Tour in Israel’s Tel Aviv last Thursday to promote her new album as well as peace between Israelis and Palestinians. An image of Le Pen with a swastika on her forehead appeared on a giant screen during the concert, France 3 television reported. Officials from the National Front, which has frequently been linked with anti-
Semitism and racism but won a fifth of the popular vote during the first round of presidential elections in April, said Madonna had offended all of its members and supporters. Le Pen, who has toned down the party’s extremist views since taking over the leadership from her notorious
father last year, commented on Madonna’s provocative stunt by saying: “We understand how old singers who need to get people talking about them go to such extremes.” Her deputy, Louis Aliot, was more blunt, stating that the party will look into the possibility of filing a law suit against Madonna if she repeats her stunt during a concert in France. Madonna will stage a concert at the Stade de France in Paris July 14 when France celebrates Bastille Day. AFP
ring that operated three sweatshops in Madrid, arresting four Chinese nationals who ran the operation, the interior ministry said on Monday. Police found 15 workers at the three sweat shops, all of them Chinese nationals, who would stitch clothes “in appalling conditions of hygiene and sanitation,” it said in a statement.
Ministry of health staff carry a wounded colleague during a car bomb attack at the department in Baghdad on Monday. AFP
Comment
TUESDAY, JUNE 5, 2012
Fair, free and forthright
Aamir’s ‘talkathon’ and my take
Talk back Stop dowry menace It’s pathetic! The dowry nuisance is just not leaving us. So what if you're a man. You don't come with a price tag, do you? You are marrying the girl to live with her on the basis of love and not for how much she and her family can give you. It’s astonishing to see marriage become a business, especially in this part of the country. I just don't understand why things like this happen even after strong rules imposed against them. We cannot be considered a cultured country till we put an end to this madness. AN Gayatri Rao Ameerpet
Bottleneck should go It’s true that roads in the city are a pain to travel on. It’s because of these roads that even a place which is very close also looks like a long journey away. There is heavy density of traffic particularly in the stretch near the Saptagiri towers and Nagarjuna circle between Jubilee Hills Crossroads and Secunderabad. This is because of a few bottlenecks, once passed these, the road becomes wide again and the traffic disappears. So, if the authorities can somehow widen the road over here, it would be a great relief for road users. Prashanth Vaidya Hitech City
Order is the need I fully agree. But Ameerpet is not the only area with these problems. The transport problems in the city need to be experienced to be believed. There are many more areas which are just neglected and in fact have none or very few buses running. The inner parts of Trimulgherry, old Bowenpally, Sikh Village, etc, do not have enough buses for the number of people that travel in these areas because of which having to travel in overcrowded buses becomes an everyday affair. An orderly usage of the world’s biggest fleet of public buses should help ease out this problem. Nisar Ahmed Khan Mallepally
Stars that lost out Stars that shone bright in a movie or two and then faded away, which Hemanth Kumar wrote about made me nostalgic. It goes to show that the stars control even our film stars. They were destined only for that amount of glory, but to give them their due, they enthralled us in that little time. It also goes to show that movie making is a team effort. Swati Neharika Begumpet
Readers’ views We invite you to write to us comments, suggestions, viewpoint or just about anything to feedback@postnoon.com or #1246, Level 3, Jubilee Casa, Road No 62, Jubilee Hills, Hyderabad – 500 033 or even by way of a call on 4067 2222. Editor: Dean Williams
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Hard talk PK Surendran
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ndia is the most noise-rich country in the world. None, I repeat, none can shout an Indian down, so much he talks that his rival will vanish without trace. Think of our politicians and the sound pollution they make, you get the idea. If talks could solve issues that are essentially a sick social psyche, India’d have solved all her problems long ago. The Biblical Tower of Babel is what India resembles to today. Too much talk and too many laws are the cardinal banes of this country. So, when the cerebral hero Aamir Khan began his talk show on social issues on television and radio recently, I thought of all those billions of words our netas and celebrities uttered all these years, and yet the debilitating corruption, the cruel killing of females in womb and in in-laws’ homes, irrational umbrage at gays, lesbians, neuters, all continue unabated. Why? Any right-thinking person will know the answer: The system. It is the system of governance; law and justice have led us to this pass. We have made the system a sieve where all the nails, pebbles, and thorns escape but the grains are captured. We have made the justice system so long winding and expensive that no ordinary injured man can seek redress. The rationale of law and justice is fear that proves a deterrent to crime. But we have, by abuse, erased the fear of law. This, in essence, is the reason for the continuing female foeticide, though it is not all. The other reason is insatiable greed — from the alms-seeker on the street to the mantri in the mantralaya — are all greedy beyond words. This is what gets reflected in dowry demand and torture of mothers. Filmmaker Madhur Bhandarkar was not off the mark when he said, “Indian audiences don’t like to see reality on screen. They see enough of that in life.” That Aamir gets `30 million per show is besides the point, that he vows to donate the money spun through SMS to Snehalaya, an NGO working towards eradi-
Editorials
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cating female foeticide, is heartening. But the point is that reality shows have never changed the reality based on facts like unworkable system (like ours), morally bankrupt but a staunchly religious society (like ours) and absence of fear of law. This will change only on two counts: n Stringent punitive action n Positive incentives Carrot and stick, both are necessary in good governance which our rulers have forgotten. Those indulging in female foeticide must be punished ruthlessly and those having only girl children, ought to be protected with incentives. The token sum deposited in a poor girl’s account, as is done today, is of no use on maturity, which is 20 years, because in all probability `2,000 deposited in a poor girl child’s account will, if we count the present inflation rate, buy her a 50g packet of peanuts! Incentive has to be in providing higher
education and jobs, everything else will be ineffective. And, so should a small family be rewarded for the sacrifice it makes. Nothing of this sort is considered by our politicians because more heads to them mean more votes. Here, therefore, I plead — let us change this head count and do away with the parliamentary system. You may quiz, then what? Ask the pundits, not me. Tailend: Commenting on the Aamir Khan show, one wag on Net wants to know if Aamir Khan will do a talk show on the tonnes of money our netas and babus and criminals have stashed away in various proprietary banks in the world? Another bird is eager to know Aamir will also talk of the deep-rooted corruption in cricket and also on massive black-money generation in each election. If he does, they say, Aamir will need no more films because he will himself be in the Forbes rich list soon! The writer works for Postnoon.
DEREGULATION OF PETROLEUM PRODUCTS will only add to inflation
overnment is trying to battle out the inflation, and oil companies decided and succeeded in hiking the prices, adding to the inflation. The big three oil companies — Hindustan Petroleum, Indian Oil and Bharat Petroleum — have jointly given notice justifying the petrol hike. This could be a prelude to another hike in domestic gas, diesel and kerosene. While the rollback on petrol prices by `2.02 has been attributed to the fall in international crude oil price (not due to BJP’s partially successful Bharat Bandh), the big-3 claim huge revenue loss due to subsidies given by the state to domestic gas and kerosene. The fact is the international crude oil price has fallen by 8.3 per cent this year while in India the prices have gone up by 8.3 per cent, taking into consideration the 2.7 per cent rollback. There has been a raging debate if the government should regulate fuel prices as global fuel market is quite volatile. In today’s scenario the government regulation on fuel prices has been of benefit to the consumer. Government can continue with fuel regulation till the global market stabilises, if at all.
WHY WE LOVE... CBI
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country that is ruled by politicians and babus needs an honest and powerful system ot protect the interest of the common man. That is what the Central Bureau of Investigation does in India. With the national security agency of late reigning in corrupt politicians by the hordes, there is hope after all.
At the workplace
TUESDAY, JUNE 5, 2012
The money or the boss? It’s a choice we all have to make at some point in our careers. On one side, there is a lucrative job offer ready for your approval, on the other, you are faced with the dilemma of leaving a good boss. What would you choose? Indira Atluri indira.a@postnoon.com
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aven’t we all come across far-from-easy decisions to make in our lives, especially in our fast-paced careers? The choice of leaving a satisfying job to opt for a better paying one, but with no knowledge of your new boss is indeed stressful. These decisions are indeed very individualistic. Sonali Mahapatra thought no further when she received the call that she thought would ‘make her life’. An HR professional called her for an interview for a senior position with a private company looking for a capable and experience operations resource to run their organisation. After a few rounds of ‘highly inspiring and promising’ round of discussions, Sonali was on the job. She recalls, “A better pay,
MINI SINGH
feedback@postnoon.com Personal Shopper Snapshot: A Personal Shopper is a professional who is paid to help another to purchase goods, either by accompanying them while shopping or by shopping on their behalf. Qualifications: Great taste in selecting items and clothes. Although formal schooling isn’t required to be a personal shopper, it helps to take classes in styling. Some art schools offer fashion departments that have styling classes. In these classes, you’ll learn all aspects of the styling industry including how to style people on photoshoots and for television and film, and you will also
bigger team to manage, and seemingly fine bosses. What else could I ask for really? Or so I thought. Soon, I found myself trading my life for work long hours, putting up with stubborn subordinates who behaved like they worked for free, and with unreasonable bosses to who, all that mattered was numbers and nothing else.” The sea of opportunities today is too tempting to resist in the global work scenario. Ajay Nirlekar, a career counsellor tells us, “A lot of placement cells offer jobs in massive numbers. To them, it is more important to sell the position to an employee looking for a change, than to see if the company offering the position is as ‘multinational’ as it
claims to be.” He then advises, “One needs to do a reality check to see if the money is worth it. Even with demanding financial pressures, I would strictly advise against getting into jobs just for the pay. What matters is the quality of time one spends in improving the work processes, which only happens if you have a good boss. In the process, you are only ensuring yourself a steady, yet promising career ahead. Never go for the sheen — instead, try to sharpen your skills and build professionally rewarding relationships.” Like Sonali, Sushmita
Narayan, an editor with a citybased advertising firm, was on the lookout for jobs. A very enticing offer was placed before her by a company in Mumbai. The pay was to be double of what she earned and all other amenities were also included. One would think it was a job tailor made for her. However, before she took up the offer, Apeksha did some background research. “ When I enquired about the company, I found many people had left the firm in a short span of three months, the reason being their over demanding and horrible boss. He was a slave-driver with no manners whatsoever. I am glad, I did not take the job. My pay may not be great here but my boss gives me a lot of space and allows me to develop my creativity, so I thought staying back would be a wise thing to do.”
Shop and earn This is one job, that requires nothing but a great taste in fashion. Put your shopping skills to best use learn how to style different body types. This can be extremely beneficial when working with private clients who come in all shapes, sizes and height. Job Description: As a personal shopper, you will help people select and purchase clothing and other merchandise. You will select and purchase merchandise for department store customers, according to mail or telephone requests. You may also visit wholesale establishments or other department stores to purchase merchandise which is out-of-stock or for stuff which stores do not carry. The scope of the job ranges from gift buy-
ODD JOBS
ing for your clients to providing advice for a complete change of image. The specifics of your job will vary depending on your employer. If you are employed with a department or specialty store, you may be required to coordinate items from several departments within the store to save the clients time. If you work for a consulting firm or are self-employed, you will meet clients to learn their needs, budget requirements and professional status, and to analyse their current wardrobe. You will then research which stores have the clothing and
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Keeping the nosy ones out HR consultant Deepak Karamungikar
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e all have colleagues who peep into your monitor first before speaking to you when they arrive at your cubicle. They are more interested in your affairs than you. And when you are having a discussion about a movie or a restaurant with your cubicle-mate, they jump into the conversation and make sure they tell you they have been there, done that and seen it all in blood and flesh. At the end, your conversation is hijacked and so is your enthusiasm. This is the nosy lot of corporate India. People are objectionably inquisitive for various reasons. It is very logical to ask them to mind their own business, but then, that doesn’t achieve anything except unhealthy atmosphere and friction. A few things you can do to keep the nosy lot away are — Silence: Silence sends the signal loud and clear that they are overstepping the line. Ignore: Just at the moment you feel an inquisitive question is coming up, look into your monitor or your phone and ignore the question. Comic Approach: Sometimes when people overstep the mark, you could retort with a joke. Straight-forwardness: When nothing else works, it is better to shed the hesitance and tell your colleague to mind his/her business. accessories that will suit your client best. After that, you can either take the client shopping to make final selections, or buy the selections yourself. You may also offer advice on make-up, hairstyling, and colours; in addition to shopping assistance. As a personal shopper, you can even provide an entire ‘makeover’ service, including posture and public speaking skills, for clients who wish to change their image.
Skills: You should be goal-oriented, self-motivated, patient, flexible and dependable. Integrity and tact are important, as employers and clients alike will expect nothing less. You need to be flexible in terms of schedule, because this career is mostly appointment-driven, which makes for an inconsistent schedule.
H‑Factor
TUESDAY, JUNE 5, 2012
Holistic view of mind, body and soul
CATCHING THEM YOUNG Ranjani Rajendra ranjani.r@postnoon.com
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n a world where most people have barely any time to pay any attention to their healths, sit at a computer almost all day long, have just enough time to grab a bite on the go, work terribly long hours and compromise heavily on sleep, lifestyle diseases are but inevitable. An alarming number of youngsters these days are being diagnosed with diabetes, hypertension and heart ailments. Following close on the heels of these ailments are chronic kidney diseases, that now seem to be affecting a much younger population when compared to a few years back. According to a recent study conducted by doctors from Hyderabad and Visakhapatnam, it is revealed that most of the Indians are becoming vulnerable to chronic kidney diseases (CKD) at a very young age. As per the earlier trend people above the age group of 65 were more prone to CKD. But these days people as young as 35 have begun displaying symptoms of kidney problems and by the age of 45 or 50 it turns into chronic kidney disease.
The multi-city survey also found that 35.5 per cent of young patients suffering from CKD are from the South while 27.9 per cent patients are from the North. Alarming isn’t it? “It is true that South Indians are more prone to kidney diseases especially, chronic glomerulonephritis (CGN). This
is the advanced stage of kidney disorders. This could occur due to an infection, bacterial or viral, that affects the nephrons in the kidney and gradually affect the organ itself. This is commonly seen in youngsters, especially in South India,” says Dr Dilip Babu, consultant nephrologist at Apollo Hospital. “Kidney stones are also common in patients and we often observe that people try to put off treatment for this till it gets so bad that there’s little we can do. Lifestyle ailments like diabetes and hypertension (which are on the rise in youngsters in India) are also precursors to kidney diseases,” adds Dr Dilip. Experts blame the rise of these ailments on the current lifestyles people lead these days. “People should realise the toll the current lifestyles are taking on them and should actively try to change them. For instance since diabetes and hypertension are responsible for kidney disease, cutting down on our sugar and salt intake can help. Lifestyle changes like leading a more active life and identifying symptoms of kidney diseases early on can help. Most importantly, patients with kidney disease should be referred to experts by their primary physicians in the early stages itself when the disease can be easily controlled with medications,” adds Dr Dilip.
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Alcohol can trigger dangerous palpitations WASHINGTON: “Holiday heart syndrome,” first coined in 1978, refers to patients who experience a potentially dangerous form of palpitation after excessive drinking, especially during winter holidays. The symptoms usually went away when revellers ceased drinking. Research from University of California San Francisco, builds on that finding, establishing a stronger causal link between alcohol consumption and serious palpitations in patients with atrial fibrillation, the most common form of arrhythmia (erratic heartbeats). California researchers report that people with atrial fibrillation had almost a four and a half times greater chance of having an episode if they were consuming alcohol than if they were not, the American Journal of Cardiology reports. “One of the remaining big unknowns is why or how this happens,” said senior author Gregory Marcus, assistant professor of medicine at California, according to a California statement. In the study, conducted from September 2004 to March 2011, researchers interviewed 223 patients with documented cardiac arrhythmia. They asked patients: “Does alcohol trigger your heart palpitations?” Participants ranked their symptoms on a scale from one to five (ie never, rarely, sometimes, frequently, and always). “We defined ‘yes’ as frequently or always versus the rest of the responses,” Marcus said, “and found that, after adjusting for potential confounders, atrial fibrillation patients had statistically significant greater odds of reporting that alcohol would trigger their symptoms.” The mean age of the study participants was 59 years. Eighty per cent were Caucasian; 11 per cent were Asian; five per cent Latino, and four per cent declined to state their ethnicity in the atrial fibrillation group. IANS
H‑Factor
TUESDAY, JUNE 5, 2012
Holistic view of mind, body and soul
Research shows promising treatments against skin cancer CHICAGO: Two new experimental treatments against advanced melanoma have shown promise in keeping the deadly skin cancer at bay, according to research presented in the United States on Monday. The agents, known as Dabrafenib and Trametinib, are being developed by the British pharmaceutical firm GlaxoSmithKline, and were tested in clinical trials against standard chemotherapy treatments. The trial on Trametinib included 322 people, of whom 214 took the experimental drug while the rest did standard chemotherapy, researchers said at the American Society of Clinical Oncology meeting in Chicago. More than 22 per cent of those on Trametinib responded to treatment compared to eight percent in the chemo group. The Trametinib group also experienced a median 4.8 month period in which the cancer did not advance, and saw their risk of dying from skin cancer diminish by 46 percent compared to the chemo group — 81 per cent were still alive after six months of treatment compared to 67 per cent. The phase III trial was the first to evaluate a treatment against melanoma that inhibits a protein known as MEK, and may help about half of all melanoma patients who have a mutation in the BRAF gene that fuels growth. “This is the first in a new class of targeted drugs that could benefit patients with melanoma who have BRAF mutations,” said Caroline
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Robert, head of Dermatology at the Institute Gustave Roussy in Paris, France. “The findings show that targeting the MEK molecular pathway is a viable strategy for treating many people with the disease,” Robert added. “Trametinib is likely to become another first-line treatment option for patients with advanced melanoma.” One other therapy on the market, vemurafenib (Zelboraf), is currently approved in the United States and Europe for advanced melanoma. The second trial involved Dabrafenib, which also targets cancers with the BRAF mutation, and showed a 70
percent lower risk of cancer progression compared to those treated with chemotherapy alone (5.1 months versus 2.7 months. The phase III trial included 250 participants who had not been treated with any drug prior to enrollment and who had been diagnosed with inoperable melanoma, 187 of whom took the experimental drug while the rest were given standard chemotherapy. Half of patients in the Dabrafenib group responded to therapy, compared to six percent of patients treated with a chemotherapy treatment known as dacarbazine. The median time in which the cancer did not progress
HOUSECALL
APP-LY YOURSELF
Bornholm’s disease
Itriage
ornholm’s disease is a viral infection of the intercostal muscles. The intercostal muscles are the muscles in the chest wall and join the ribs together. The pleura, which is the lining of the lungs the pleura, may also be affected. The disease is named after the Danish island where the first documented case was detected. As the disease can occur as an epidemic and is also known as epidemic pleurodynia, and devil’s grip. When it occurs as an epidemic it can effect those in close contact with others in settings such as nurseries and schools and usually occurs during summer and autumn. A person suffering from Bornholm’s disease exhibits flu-like symptoms which include fever and pain in the chest or upper abdomen. People of any age can be affected, although it’s more commonly seen in those above 30 years of age.
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was 5.1 months in the Dabrafenib group compared to 2.7 months in the control group. More study is needed to determine the overall survival rate, researchers said. “These findings represent another advance for melanoma and form the foundation for further studies to evaluate the role of Dabrafenib in combination with other drugs,” said lead investigator Axel Hauschild, a professor of dermatology at University of Kiel in Germany. According to the US National Cancer Institute, there are about 76,000 new cases of melanoma diagnosed each year in the US and more than 9,100 deaths. IANS
riage was founded by two emergency room physicians. With the help of the homescreen users of the app can find providers in their area based on their symptoms using the Symptom-to-Provider option. The app offers decision support, directing users to emergency rooms, urgent cares, community health centers, retail clinics, pharmacies, outpatient clinics, or individual physicians, depending on the medical requirement. It also provides a list of medications. Users can also make appointments through the app, as well as keep their detailed medical record through the app. The free of cost app is available for both iphone and android.
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Women who smoke give birth to lighter babies MADRID: Women who smoke during pregnancy give birth to lighter and smaller babies, says a Spanish study. The findings were borne out by research conducted by the University of Zaragoza in Spain on 1,216 newly born babies. Such babies were between 180 and 230 grams thinner than the offspring of non-smoking mothers, which averages 216 grams, the journal Early Human Development reports. Furthermore, subcutaneous (below the skin) skin folds, which show the amount of fat, are lower in children born of mothers who smoked, according to a Zaragoza statement. “Given the scarce bibliography on the subject, we had to assess the impact of tobacco on the body composition of babies born to mothers who smoked during pregnancy,” Gerardo Rodriguez from Zaragoza who led the study, told SINC, Spain’s public scientific information service. The experts analysed the newly-born full-term babies with a gestational age of 37 weeks of 1,216 mothers (22.1 per cent of whom smoked an average of eight cigarettes daily) at the University Clinical Hospital. The children of those mothers who had admitted to consuming alcohol or taking illegal drugs during pregnancy were excluded from the study. IANS
DID YOU KNOW? Sugar as bad as cigarettes
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e all love those sugar treats. When we are happy we love to gorge on sweets, when we are sad, sugar forms an essential part of our comfort food. But have we ever thought that sugar could be as injurious to your health as a cigarette. According to research that was conducted by a University of California team, sugar is as damaging as both alcohol and cigarettes and, according to the researchers, should therefore be regulated to control consumption. Although the effects of both are different, the concluding fact is that both are not good for your health as you may want to believe.
Spotlight
TUESDAY, JUNE 5, 2012
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SRINIVAS SETTY
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LITTLE PRINCE 3
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Manikonda Suresh celebrated the first birthday of his son Atharv at N Convention. Seen at the party were Jwala Gutta, TRS president KCR and family and many others. 1. JC Pavan Reddy 2. Sudheer Babu 3. Vedavyas 4. Jwala Gutta 5. Abhiram 6. Sirisha 7. Shobha(L) (KCR’s wife) and daughter-in-law 8. KT Rama Rao 9. K Chandrasekhar Rao TRS president 10. Manikonda Suresh celebrating son Atharv’s birthday 6
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SPECIAL DESIGNS
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Actor Rajani inaugurated the Trendz bridal collection at Sri Satya Sai Nigamagam.
Magic Screen
Shriya is a travel junkie
Nithin teams up with Gautham Menon
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hriya has been flying high, quite literally, for the past few days.While many were wondering where she had been for the past few weeks, the actress revealed on Twitter that she had gone to attend the Cannes filmfestival last month, followed by a trip to London. “Went to Cannes to visit the festival. Had a blast watching movies. Met people from around the world passionate about movies.(sic)” Shriya posted on Twitter. She went through tense moments during this trip when someone stole her purse which had all her money, creditcards, driving license. Luckily, she managed to go to London with the help of few of her friends and she seemed to have a ball in London. “London was super fun. Met some interesting people. Went to Tate, design museum, music festival come rugby match in Richmond and globe. One full day I cycled around in London.To Notting hill, parks etc! Had brunch @ electric. My fav. Ate @ James street ,dinner @ novocove. Ohhh went for the ColdPlay concert @ Nice. That was the best part of my holiday. The lights, the fire works. Production value was superb.(sic),” she tweeted. Later this week, she’s heading to Singapore to attend IIFA. Meanwhile, she has wrapped up shooting for Sekhar Kammula’s upcoming Telugu film Life is Beautiful and Deepa Mehta’s Winds of Change is lined uprelease later this year.
TUESDAY, JUNE 5, 2012
The glamour behind the glitz
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ithin’s career post the success of Ishq is on a high. He had already signed a two film deal with Bellamkonda Suresh and now we hear that he has signed a new film which will be produced by Gautham Menon under Photon Kathaas Production Limited. Debutant director Prem Sai is going to helm this project.The film is expected to be officially launched on June 15. There’s also a buzz that Shruti Haasan is going to team up with Nithin for a new film; however, neither the actress nor the actor have officially spoken about their upcoming projects.
Nayanthara, Taapsee join Ajith’s next film
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T-TOWN TWEETIES
@actor_nithiin I may sound very clichéd bt this film is really going to b a different commercial film... not d regular commercial film types.
@Actor_Siddharth If you want a pet, get one. It’s an experience you will never regret. I had a cat too when I was a kid. Thomasina. 9 lives and all ;)
@shraddhadas43 Getting a haircut done at home today! Been unwell since last night, but this makes me feel great! All set for my aunt’s bday party tonight :-)
@tashu_02 Had a super long day... aftr shoot met couple of people too... got free nw n tmrw 6am agn... dead tired! Wil sleep for watevr hrs I can... gudnite
@taapsee Shot 1 of d most amazing songs of my career so far. D title track of shadow. Wid a never dun b4 kind of look for me. Too happy wid it. Pack up.
@sundeepkishan Starting with my 5th Telugu project and 7th film on the whole today... working with my most ‘favouritest’ ppl... details soon :)
@ssrajamouli
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jith and Vishnuvardhan, who had earlier teamed up for the Tamil version of Billa, are back together once again for an action film. This untitled film has Ajith, Nayanthara, Arya and Taapsee in lead roles. The principal shooting of this film began earlier this month in Mumbai and we hear that Nayanthara and Taapsee flew to Mumbai to take part in the first schedule. AM Rathnam is producing the film and Yuvan Shankar Raja is composing the music.The film is expected to be dubbed in Telugu as well since the lead cast is quite popular in Andhra Pradesh.
I’ve seen many occasions where super hits got average reviews. But this contrast of BB getting a turkey is a point to ponder...
@shrutihaasan Such a hot day I refuse to constantly turn on the Ac because when I step out I feel like I’m from another planet.
Magic Screen
TUESDAY, JUNE 5, 2012
The glamour behind the glitz
India’s young musicians áÖåçêáåÖ=íê~Çáíáçå~ä=ãìëáÅ L yricist Prasoon Joshi is impressed with the young crop of eager and innovative musicians but he feels that they are in too much of a hurry and that in the race to be in the reckoning they are ignoring traditional music. “The young musicians today are very talented. They like to experiment with their music and are also technically well-versed. They are open to accepting what is right and what is wrong,” Joshi said. However, he rued that youngsters are less aware of traditional Indian music. “Everything has its negatives and positives and something similar is happening here too. While youngsters are experimenting, they are less aware of the traditional part of the music culture, which is important for them to know,” he emphasised. “It’s good to see how technological advancements have helped, but one can’t completely depend on technology. Youngsters today are in too much hurry,” he added. Joshi, who is associated with ad agency McCannErickson, has been behind various successful advertising campaigns including Coca-Cola, Cadbury and Close-up. In 2001, he took up a parallel career as a lyricist with the song Kaun dagar, kaun shaher in Lajja and tried to break away from the cliched lyrics by penning songs like Apni toh paathshala
Today’s young breed of musicians are no doubt innovative but traditional music seems to figure nowhere on their list feels lyricist Prasoon Joshi
and Maa. He has also been part of various non-film albums with numbers Ab ke sawan and Mann ke manjeere. Asked about the evolution of music, Joshi said:
“Every era is different. People who are working in it — whether it was the time when Shailendra Singh created music or Kaifi Azmi wrote lyrics — create an era. An era gets defined with leg-
ends like these.” The 40-year-old, who is gearing up to conduct music workshops to be held at the forthcoming 13th International Indian Film Academy (IIFA) weekend and awards in Singapore, feels it is important to have such a forum for discussions. “It is important to have discussions with some legendary people who have given some of the great music of their times. There are less number of such forums to exchange ideas unlike earlier when a lot of interactions used to happen,” said Joshi, who will also unveil an anthem celebrating 100 years of Indian cinema at the three-day cine event. “And of course specialists are required, but they come with a certain understanding. Everybody was young at a time and have done some interesting work themselves, which if shared with youngsters can help them in a great way,” he added. Despite his experience, he doesn’t shy away from following others’ suggestions. “I’ve been fortunate enough to have entered the industry at a time when veterans like Gulzar and Javed Akhtar, who are double my age, are still working. They have supported me and given me great confidence. Javedji often calls me up and tells me ‘this is not right, you can change it’ and then I change it. Such guidance really helps,” he said. IANS
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B-TOWN TWEETIES
@priyankachopra Hey guys... Pls do your bit for those affected by #BreastCancer, join @sonamakapoor’s initiative! This one is special.
@iamsrk On a reading spree... Martial writes: Only the dead do honours gain, I prefer to carry on Alive and without acclaim.
@SrBachchan T 764 — The winner always gets the glory, deservedly so, but it is heart breaking to see the face of the one that lost...
@AnupamPkher Met Cressida Cowell, the incredible author of How to Train Your Dragon at Hay Festival. Jai Ho. :)
@sonamakapoor To all my friends who want 2 gift me on my bday on 9th June pls do so by donating 2 my cause! (Breast cancer awareness)
@bomanirani At DID Little masters. All set tom meet Mithunda, Marzi and Geeta. Here to promote Ferrari Ki Sawaari. Those kids can give u a complex.
@GulPanag You know when you were in school, and had an unexpected half day? That. Wrapped work way before schedule today :) #win
@bipsluvurself This last month has been so physically demanding! Wish I had superpowers sometimes :)
Magic Screen
D I S P L A YA
D S RATE ` 150 sq. cm
For Further Details Please Contact Abhinay 9989399972 Nandlal 9951467988 Ravi Chander 8106039919
TUESDAY, JUNE 5, 2012
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Magic Screen
TUESDAY, JUNE 5, 2012
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Magic Screen
TUESDAY, JUNE 5, 2012
The glamour behind the glitz
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The Hunger Games scores four at MTV movie awards THE WINNERS OF THE 2012 MTV MOVIE AWARDS ARE AS FOLLOWS: n Movie of the Year The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn Part 1 n Best Male Performance Josh Hutcherson (The Hunger Games) n Best Female Performance Jennifer Lawrence (The Hunger Games) n Breakthrough Performance Shailene Woodley (The Descendants) n Best Cast Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2 n Best On-Screen Transformation Elizabeth Banks (The Hunger Games) n Best Fight
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he Hunger Games stars Josh Hutcherson and Jennifer Lawrence have been crowned the king and queen of the 2012 MTV Movie Awards after landing the two top acting accolades on Sunday. The action blockbuster earned a total of four honours, including Best On-Screen Transformation (Elizabeth Banks) and Best Fight, but the coveted Best Movie title went to The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn - Part 1. The vampire franchise also claimed victory for Best Kiss - Robert
I was offered the role of Doctor Who
n n
n n n
Jennifer Lawrence and Josh Hutcherson vs. Alexander Ludwig (The Hunger Games) Best Hero Daniel Radcliffe (Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2) Best Kiss Robert Pattinson and Kristen Stewart (The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn Part 1) Best On-Screen Dirtbag Jennifer Aniston (Horrible Bosses) Trailblazer Award Emma Stone Generation Award Johnny Depp
Pattinson and Kristen Stewart made it four years in a row, but the 22-yearold beauty was left to collect the award on her own as the British hunk was unable to attend. The wizards weren’t left out either — the stars of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2 walked away with Best Cast. Emma Stone’s co-stars and friends Viola Davis, Mila Kunis, Jim Carrey and Steve Carell all hailed the actress with funny tributes as she was presented with the inaugu-
ral Trailblazer Award, and Johnny Depp was saluted by Aerosmith legends Steven Tyler and Joe Perry as they presented him with the Generation Award. Depp also showed off his rock ‘n’ roll credentials by jamming with The Black Keys for a performance of Gold on the Ceiling before collecting his honour, and the actor admitted he was flattered to receive the accolade. Accepting the Golden Popcorn prize, he joked, “This is quite an amazing honour, truly. It’s like a ‘Get out of the business’ award, basically. It’s like, ‘Alright, you’ve done too much...’ It’s an honour to be presented by these two legends, Steven and Joe, and these up-and-coming legends, The Black Keys, so thank you very much.” Depp’s collaboration with The Black Keys was the musical highlight of the night, but rapper Wiz Khalifa showed the crowd at Los Angeles’ Gibson Amphitheatre a good time as he performed his new single, Work Hard, Play Hard, and fun. and Janelle Monae opened the show by performing their smash hit We Are Young. Comedian Russell Brand provided the tongue-in-cheek laughs as the host of the ceremony, while guest presenters included Charlie Sheen, Charlize Theron, Mila Kunis, Jessica Biel and Mark Wahlberg.
B
ill Nighy has revealed that he was once asked to take on the role of The Doctor on Doctor Who. According to The People, the Love Actually star says he turned down the offer as he was not ready for the intense media attention it would entail. Nighy is quoted as saying: “I was offered the role once, I won’t tell you when because the rule is that you’re not allowed to say you turned that job down because it’s disrespectful to whoever did it. I will say that I was approached. But I didn’t want to
be the Doctor. No disrespect to Doctor Who or anything. I just think that it comes with too much baggage.” Nighy appeared in a small uncredited role in the Doctor Who episode Vincent and the Doctor two years ago, playing an art gallery curator opposite current Doctor Matt Smith. Christopher Eccleston, who left the show after one season, also suggested that the media attention associated with the role was too much for him. Eccleston has ruled out a return for the 50th anniversary of the show next year.
Chai Time
KAKURO
How to Play Kakuro Kakuro is a popular game similar to sudoku in some ways. But is also suitably different. The key question: ‘How do you play Kakuro?’, well here are the rules of kakuro. The answer: The kakuro grid, unlike in sudoku, can be of any size. It has rows and columns, and dark cells like in a crossword. And, just like in a crossword, some of the dark cells will contain numbers. Some cells will contain two numbers. However, in a crossword the numbers reference clues. In a kakuro, the numbers are all you get! They denote the total of the digits in the row or column referenced by the number. Within each collection of cells — called a run — any of the numbers 1 to 9 may be used but, like sudoku, each number may only be used once. Let’s have an example to explain this concept more clearly: In the image above, which shows a section of a kakuro puzzle, you will see the numbers ‘26’ and ‘14’ in the top row. Look at the 14. This means that the total of the three cells underneath must sum to 14. Therefore 9, 4, 1 could be the answer, or perhaps 7, 4, 3 and so on... So, how do you work out the actual combination? Well, this is done through elimination and cross-referencing. For instance, as you work out the answers for other kakuro clues, this will naturally limit the valid combinations, and hence the answer for this particular run. Note the second cell in row two — it contains two numbers, 30 and 11. The 30 refers to the vertical run underneath the number 30 and the 11 refers to the two cells to the right, horizontally, of the number 11.
SCRIBBLING PAD
TUESDAY, JUNE 5, 2012
Take a shot at the brain game while sipping your cuppa
26
QUICK CROSSWORD ACROSS 1 Wayward muscle movements 5 Pinball-machine foul 9 ‘If it doesn't fit, you must acquit’ evidence 14 Pass the breaking point 15 Musical miscellany 16 Batpole user 17 A buck abroad 18 Opposite of loose-lipped 20 Part of a cavalry regiment 22 Argon and xenon, for two 23 Voluntarily assumed or endured 26 Butter unit 29 It makes fat fast 30 An empty bottle is full of it 31 Real bundle of energy 33 Clothing line 36 Cleveland's waterfront 37 Like stumped solvers? 42 Standing in the military? 43 Sift 44 Coats' milieu 47 Common connector 48 Unwanted guest in a pantry 51 Cooped-up layer 52 Court-appointed guardian? 56 Comparatively likable 57 ‘You've got some ___!’ 58 Dumb-founded, say 63 Satisfy one's wanderlust 64 French painter Matisse 65 Look ___ (investigate) 66 Legendary queen of Carthage 67 Problem for a grain farmer 68 Week links? 69 One at the top of the bill DOWN 1 Feared fly 2 Toughens by exposure 3 December ditties 4 Parody 5 Two-year-old, eg
6 Geneva-based workers' grp 7 Jargon of a particular field 8 Roman senators' attire 9 Moneygrubbing 10 Development sites 11 It's tied in the back 12 Strive for superiority 13 Come to a conclusion 19 Pre-owned 21 Grand or spinet 24 One way to waste ammo 25 Squeeze juice from 26 Henry VIII's last wife Catherine 27 At the center of 28 The 10 in ‘hang 10’ 32 Bright light type on Broadway 33 Types
34 Back of a boat 35 Aesop's lesson 37 Half of the McDonald's symbol 38 Old wives' production 39 Author unknown (Abbr) 40 Deliver a diatribe 41 Make broader 45 Draw forth 46 Computer pro 48 Far from all thumbs 49 The Silver State 50 Small earthquake 53 Very cold 54 Place of sporting action 55 ‘The Big
SUDOKU
Bang Theory’ males 56 Fiddle-playing emperor 58 The lady in question 59 Part of mph 60 Chang's twin 61 It's fit for a pig 62 Ship's distress call PREVIOUS PUZZLE ANSWER
THOUGHT OF THE DAY Whoever said, 'It's not whether you win or lose that counts,' probably lost. – Martina Navratilova
Chai Time STAR POWER
TUESDAY, JUNE 5, 2012
Your tomorrow today̶Star Power and Tarot THIRUVAIKUMAR
As per Hindu panchang
FOR 6-6-2012
thiruvaikumar@yahoo.co.in 040-27177230 / 9177596118
TAURUS
GEMINI
All your expected wishes will get ful‑ filled. Financial flow will improve and keep you happy. You will make friends with persons of high esteem. Marriage talks will end favourably.
You will approach with perfection and get things done successfully. Renova‑ tion of ancestral property is planned and implemented successfully. Recently married ones will receive good news.
You will take bold decisions which will yield better results. Court verdict will go in your favour. Administrative skills will increase. Property will be renovat‑ ed. You purchase household items.
CANCER
LEO
VIRGO
You will be a successful person in all challenges accepted by you. Your soc‑ ial status is set to increase. You will be entrusted with important responsibili‑ ties with powerful position.
Works will gain momentum with your speedy action and shrewdness. You take innovative decisions which will be well received by all. Written‑off old dues will come and surprise you.
Your confidence will be high so you wi‑ ll achieve anything, come whatever ma‑ y. Friendship with VIPs likely. Some are likely to get social posts with good res‑ ponsibility. You improve your comforts.
LIBRA
SCORPIO
SAGITTARIUS
Your experience will help you in tak‑ ing right decisions. Financial position will improve very well. Work help up for long will resume and end without difficulty. Seekers will get a new job.
Unexpected fortune likely. Your admini‑ strative power will show a good impro‑ vement and work will be done with pe‑ rfection. Marriage of brother or sister will be finalised with a good partner.
Failures will not deter you from mov‑ ing ahead. Your positive approach will bring success. Major projects of busi‑ nessmen will achieve huge success. Enemies too will become friends.
CAPRICORN
AQUARIUS
PISCES
You will be prepared to face any type of result in work undertaken. Basic comforts will improve. Marriage of son or daughter will be performed grandly. Employees will work with enthusiasm.
You will think different and innovative; also put in sincere efforts to get them i‑ mplemented. Satisfactory financial posi‑ tion will keep you relaxed. Recently ma‑ rried will be blessed with an offspring.
Expectations will get fulfilled without any obstacle. You will get political fri‑ ends of the ruling party. Govt sops like‑ ly. Job hunters will be favoured with good news. You work with interest.
SUMAA TEKUR
FOR 6-6-2012
tarotreadhyd@gmail.com
ARIES
TAURUS
GEMINI
Six of Wands – The‑ re are some favou‑ rite jobs, which you donʼt like trading for something else. Get over your inhibitions. Theyʼre only holding you back.
The Devil – You need to reason with yourself more than anyone else about why you donʼt need to make an expen‑ sive purchase at this time. Be practical.
Seven of Cups – Itʼs not a good idea to b‑ et on something you know you cannot be absolutely sure of. Losing decreases your self‑esteem and confidence.
CANCER
LEO
VIRGO
Six of Pentacles – If youʼre not comfortab‑ le in one diet routine, itʼs not a bad idea to switch to another one as quickly as possible so you get the bene‑ fits from it faster.
Six of Swords – Wh‑ en you visit the bank, make sure your pap‑ ers are in place and your signatures are at all the right plac‑ es. Changes could put you in trouble.
Knight of Cups – You get very fidgety today and fiddle with all kinds of things to deal with your restlessness. Try meditation. Calm down.
LIBRA
SCORPIO
SAGITTARIUS
Five of Wands – A friend may need you to reassure him/her that everything will be alright. You need to see the bright side and create a positive picture.
Five of Cups – Be careful of health issues like fever or water contamination. These are not seri‑ ous but they can set you back in terms of time and energy.
Knight of Pentacles – Time to share some new ideas at the work place. You may be holding back only because you feel someoneʼs going to steal your idea.
CAPRICORN
AQUARIUS
PISCES
For Better or for Worse Stone soup
Ace of Pentacles – T h‑ e pace of work today will be excellent. You are in a great mood and are willing to ma‑ ke compromises to fi‑ nish tasks for the con‑ venience of everyone.
Page of Swords – Keep a watch on the spending. You may not have accounted for something and it may be making you wonder where the moneyʼs going.
Two of Cups – The home is in focus. Marriage and mat‑ ters of the heart will call out for your attention. You have some tough deci‑ sions to make today.
SOLUTIONS
Boggle COLON COMMA PERIOD HYPHEN
Number game
Suduko
Scrabble
Ink pen
COMICS
Fred Basset
ARIES
TAROT READ
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Vol: 1, No 324 RNI No: APENG/2011/39337 Published for the proprietors, Scribble Media and Entertainment Pvt Ltd, by V Harshavardhan Reddy, at #1246, Level 3, Jubilee Casa, Road No 62, Jubilee Hills, Hyderabad – 500033 and printed by him at Jagati Publications Ltd, Plot No D-75&E-52, APIE Industrial Estate, Balanagar, Ranga Reddy Dist, Hyderabad – 500037, Editor: Dean Williams – Responsible for selection of news under the PRB Act All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or in part without written permission of the publisher is prohibited. For feedback, please write to: feedback@postnoon.com and for subscription, please call 040-4067 2222, Fax: 040-4067 2211
2012 LONDON OLYMPICS
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TUESDAY, JUNE 5, 2012
28
DAYS TO GO
DID YOU KNOW...? n The first known Archery competition was organised in Finsbury, London, in 1583. It attracted 3,000 participants. n In the 14th century, archery was considered so important to the defence of the nation that an English law made it compulsory for every man aged between seven and 60.
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LEGENDS OF THE SPORT Darrell Pace (born October 23, 1956) is a former archer from the US, who won two individual Olympic and World Championships titles each during his career. In 2011, he was declared as the Men’s archer for 20th century by the International Archery Federation (FITA). Pace is one of only two people to win a gold medal in both the 1976 and 1984 Olympics, Edwin Moses is the other.
Kim Soo-Nyung (born April 5, 1971) was a member of the South Korean Olympic archery team in 1988, 1992, and 2000. She has earned a total of four gold medals, including the individual gold medal in 1988. At the 2000 Summer Olympics she won the individual bronze medal and her third team gold medal. She is the most decorated Olympian in Korean history.
X MARKS THE SPOT
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n Hollywood actress Geena Davis took part in US trials for the Sydney 2000 Olympic Archery team.
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TALLY 2008
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KOREA CHINA UKRAINE
2 1 1
2 1 0
1 1 0
MEDAL EVENTS July 28 July 29 August 2 August 3
Men’s Team Women’s Team Women’s Individual Men’s Individual
41 40
INDIA’S HOPE
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Archery at Games
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Field of play Athletes shoot from the shooting line to the target, 70m away. For the elimination rounds, there are two targets, with each archer or team assigned to one target.
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ARCHERY: Dates back around 10,000 years, when bows and arrows were first used for hunting and warfare, before it developed as a competitive activity in medieval England. A tense and testing sport that requires immense reserves of skill and nerve, Archery is now practised in more than 140 countries around the world.
Archery made its Olympic
Deepika Kumari Deepika Kumari is an athlete who competes in the event of Archery. The 17-yearold was born in the city of Ranchi, in the state of Jharkhand, India. She is a budding archer and a huge prospect for India in the upcoming London Olympics 2012. She has won the gold medal in the 2010 Commonwealth games in the women’s individual recurve event. She also won the gold medal in the same competition in the women’s team recurve event along with compatriots Dola Banerjee and Bombayala Devi.
qeb=sbkrb
L
ord’s Cricket Ground has been a venue for top-class sport since the late 19th century. Named after its original founder, Thomas Lord, the ground moved to the site in St John’s Wood, northwest London, in 1814. Now home ground of
THE LINGO Boss the target, usually a square black block made of compacted foam, to which the target face is attached Bowman an athlete Draw the act of pulling back the bow string in preparation for shooting Nock a notch at the end of an arrow that attaches to the bow string debut at Paris 1900, was dropped from the programme after the London 1908 Games, and then returned for a single appear-
ance in 1920. After a 52-year gap, the sport was reintroduced at Munich 1972 and has remained on the Olympic programme ever since.
The basics The object of the sport is simple: to shoot arrows as close to the centre of a target as possible. Olympic Archery targets are 122cm in diameter, with the gold ring at the centre (worth a maximum 10 points) measuring just 12.2 cm. Athletes shoot at the target from a distance of 70m. Athletes compete with recurve bows, distinctive as the limbs curve outwards at the top.
Competition format All four Archery events are played in a head-to-head elimination format. At the
start of the competition all athletes take place in a ranking round. Athletes must shoot 72 arrows in 12 phases of six arrows each, with each athlete allowed four minutes per phase. The total score of all 72 arrows determines the rankings of each athlete. These are used to make the seedings for both the Individual and the Team events.
Officials Scoring judges sit in a protected area or blind behind the targets, and come out to score when shooting is complete. Sitting at the opposite end of the range by the shooting line are two spotters, who record each archer’s arrow values with the aid of a telescope.
THE LORD’S CRICKET GROUND Middlesex County Cricket Club, the venue regularly hosts both test and oneday international matches. The ground moved to the site in St John’s Wood, north-west London, in 1814. In the 2012 Olympics Archery competition, archers will shoot from
the front of the 19th century Pavilion — a Grade IIlisted building that under-
went an extensive refurbishment programme in 2004–05 — and across the hallowed cricket square towards the Media Centre. Although temporary structures such as seating are being installed to enable spectators to get closer to the action.
TUESDAY, JUNE 5, 2012
29
DAYS TO GO
Evans wins, Sanchez falls SAINT-VALLIER: Tour de France champion Cadel Evans of Australia won a sprint finish to claim the first stage of the Dauphine Libere race here on Monday, as Britain’s Bradley Wiggins took the overall leader’s jersey. BMC rider Evans, 35, outsprinted France’s Jerome Coppel and Kazakh Andrey Kashechkin over the final 4km in the 187km stage, with Luxembourg’s Andy Schleck falling off on the final climb to finish three minutes off the pace. “I’m arriving at the Dauphine after a long period of training,” said Evans. “It’s a bit of a surprise to win so soon but it’s obviously a good surprise. It’s good for me and for the team. We come to the Dauphine every year for a test, to work together and get into rhythm. Spain’s 2008 Olympic road race champion Samuel Sanchez sustained a heavy fall but was able to continue riding, in what is a key warm-up race for the Tour de France. The 34-year-old, who was on Friday named in the Spanish team for the London Olympics, came down in a mass crash 47km into the first stage from Seyssins.
SNOWSILL FOR OMISSION FROM OZ GAMES TEAM SYDNEY: Defending Olympic triathlon champion Emma Snowsill said Tuesday she would appeal her omission from Australia’s team for next month’s London Games. Snowsill missed out on the threestrong women’s team after Emma Jackson and Erin Densham were chosen by Triathlon Australia to join early nomination Emma Moffatt in London. “I will be appealing my non-nomination to the Australian Olympic team,” Snowsill said on her website. “Please understand that I have not taken this decision lightly. “I recognise that my decision affects people other than myself and I’m sorry for any hurt that my actions might cause, but I personally feel it is a matter of importance that I take all avenues available to me to achieve my dream of competing at a second Olympic Games. “Whatever the outcome, I will attempt to take all endeavours to see that the process is resolved as quickly as possible to hopefully serve as small a disruption to the team’s preparation.” Snowsill, who won Australia’s only Olympic triathlon gold medal in Beijing in 2008, has been hampered by illness and injury. She has hardly raced over the past two years but had still looked likely to go to London early this year until Densham hit form. Densham, 27, made strong
I will be appealing my non-nomination to the Australian Olympic team.
Pele raps Brazil, Neymar for loss against Mexico SAO PAULO: Former star Pele on Monday criticised the Brazilian Olympics squad saying he felt they “are not ready” for the event on the evidence of a 2-0 weekend loss to Mexico and also lambasted starlet Neymar for overly hugging the left wing. “I think it’s good this (defeat) happened as it does away with the feeling that this is a marvellous team, that it’s doing fine,” opined Pele of the loss to the Mexicans in Texas which came on the heels of a much more impressive 4-1 win over the United States. Coach Mano Menezes hopes to lead the Brazilians to their first Olympic title in London in August but Pele says they have some way to go yet. “It is a good team, with good players but not yet ready to overcome difficulties” when they arise,” said Pele, who indicated he felt Neymar “has difficulty playing against a European or latin American” defender - more so than against Brazilian league rivals. “He stays stuck out there on the left but that doesn’t just happen in the national side but also with Santos,” Pele charged.
was so pleased – something she discovered the painful way. On Sunday Adlington pasted a message that has been sent to her on Twitter, prefacing it with: “I had a perfect example of what has been said in the papers this week tweeted to me this morning. I apologise for the swearing when I RT it!” She then posted: “How lovely is this person… ” before retweeting a message to her which read: “@BeckAdlington you shark fin nosed d*******, you belong in that pool you f****** whale.”
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claims for selection by winning the Mooloolaba World Cup in Queensland and Sydney world series races and finishing second in the San Diego round of the world series. The appeal is likely to be heard by an independent three-person Olympic Appeals Tribunal later this week.
Rebecca Adlington has been receiving abusive messages on Twitter after revealing “nasty comments” meant the double Olympic champion would be using it sparingly during London 2012. The 23-year-old was catapulted into the public eye after her triumphs in the 400 metres and 800m freestyle in Beijing, with the Mansfield-born swimmer feted on her return to Great Britain. However, not everybody
2
16
Snowsill
Adlington gets nasty tweets again
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Bellamy says he will be called for Olympic duty LONDON: Liverpool striker Craig Bellamy claimed on Monday that he will be included in the Great Britain men’s football squad at the London Olympics later this year. Team GB coach Stuart Pearce can name three players over the age of 23 in his squad for the tournament and 32-year-old Bellamy insists he has been told he will be one of those over-age stars. AFP
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TUESDAY, JUNE 5, 2012
BEAUTY
ALL YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT ENGLAND Best EURO performance: 1968, 1996 Coach: Roy Hodgson Leading scorer: all-time – Bobby Charlton (49); current – Wayne Rooney (28)
THE BEST
&
Most appearances: all-time – Peter Shilton (125); current – Ashley Cole (94) Association formed: 1863 Nickname: Three Lions
ENGLAND’S FIXTURES
EURO STATS
Monday 11 June: France v England, 18.00CET, Donetsk Friday 15 June: Sweden v England, 20.45CET, Kyiv Monday 18 June: England v Ukraine, 20.45CET, Donetsk
MATCHES PLAYED Overall: P113 W63 D31 L19 F221 A83 Final tournament: P23 W7 D7 L9 F31 A28 Qualifying: P90 W56 D24 L10 F190 A55
On Her Majesty’s service After missing out on a place at UEFA Euro 2008, England will be hoping to make amends in Poland and Ukraine having eased to first place in their qualifying section this time round. PARIS: England will enter UEFA EURO
POSTNOON PREDICTION
2012 having missed out on the last European finals and with a new coach in Roy Hodgson after Fabio Capello resigned four months before the tournament. England had finished third behind Croatia and Russia in their UEFA EURO 2008 qualifying group, and they will also want to improve on their last major championship showing – under Capello at the 2010 FIFA World Cup. They won just once in South Africa before exiting the event with their heaviest World Cup defeat, 4-1 against Germany in the last 16. Qualification for this tournament went smoothly, however, as they topped their section with an unbeaten record. England comfortably booked their place in Poland and Ukraine, finishing six points clear at the top of Group G. Ever-present goalkeeper Joe Hart kept five clean sheets, while at the other end the goalscoring duties were shared around as England had four players level on three strikes. The national side also reached a milestone against Montenegro in their final qualifier. The game in Podgorica, which finished 2-2 and secured England's qualification, was considered the 900th match in their history. They say England are the second best team in this Euro edition, but with Gareth Barry, Frank Lampard and Gary Cahill forced out of the competition, it will be a tall order for them.
They had previously played 897 completed internationals, plus two that were abandoned. England's encounter with Wales at the Millennium Stadium was the 100th time that the two nations had met. England recorded their 65th victory against their neighbours, adding the 66th in the return fixture at Wembley in September. Ashley Cole, now capped 93 times, surpassed Gary Neville's record of 85 outfield appearances without a goal during the campaign. "Our goal was to qualify first in the group; we have qualified and we'll play the EURO so we are happy," said Capello after the closing draw with secondplaced Montenegro.
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PLAYER TO WATCH
Welbeck’s hale and hearty and up for it
I
t would have been too much for Danny Welbeck if he were left behind by the England national squad and left for Euro duty that begins against France in Donetsk on 11 June Monday. Till the Manchester Derby, he had no such fears till Nigel de Jong wrecked his ankle in a mean tackle. His pain was already compounded by Utd's loss that day, but it would have been triple whammy if he were to sit back at home and nurse his ankle while his teammates try to make up for 2008's shame where they did not qualify.
ENGLAND GROUP D At a glance England have not taken part in the tournament since 2004 thanks to their failure in UEFA EURO 2008 qualifying. Home and away losses to Slaven Bilić's Croatia and a defeat by Russia in Moscow proved costly as Steve McClaren's men came third behind their conquerors. England's overall UEFA European Championship record is a tale of disappointment. Their 2008 setback was the fifth time they had failed to get to the finals.
But that the 21-year-old’s selection to the 23-man squad shows the how important he is to England manager Roy Hodgson’s plans. And he was rewarded for his trust when Welbeck struck against Belgium at Wembley; he surged past the Belgian rearguard to meet a slide-rule pass from Ashley Young before demonstrating his predatory instincts with a cool chip over advancing goalkeeper Simon Mignolet. Though England’s chief striker Wayne Rooney has been banned for the first two games, he has full faith that Welbeck will fire in his absence.
Playing Field
TUESDAY, JUNE 5, 2012
The games people play
Gayle gets recall C
hris Gayle’s 15month international exile is over after he was formally recalled to the West Indies ODI squad for the forthcoming series against England, starting in Southampton on June 16, reported espncricinfo. In keeping with the fractious and drawn out nature of the dispute that kept Gayle out of the team, his recall was confirmed after a meeting of more political than selection nature in St Vincent. Gayle and his agent Michael Hall spoke with an array of political and cricket figures including the island’s prime minister Ralph Gonsalves, Antigua and Barbuda prime minister Baldwin Spencer, WICB president Julian Hunte, WICB director Elson Crick and the WICB’s legal officer Alanna Medford. The meeting, devised to smooth over any “residual matters” between Gayle and the WICB, was followed by the announcement of the squad for the limitedovers segment of the England tour, with Gayle returning to the ranks for the first time since the 2011 World Cup. West Indies ODI squad Chris Gayle, Johnson Charles, Lendl Simmons,
‘Sugar’ Shane retires The 40-year-old LOS ANGELES: “Sugar” Mosley’s career included a Shane Mosley announced MOSLEY, OF THE US, IS memorable welterweight his retirement on Monday, championship win in 2000 ending a brilliant 19-year ONE OF THE FEW BOXboxing career that earned ERS OF HIS ERA TO HAVE over Oscar De La Hoya. He now plans to him five world titles in NEVER BEEN KNOCKED became a trainer to his 21three weight classes. year-old son. “I’m going Mosley’s announce- OUT. HE FINISHED WITH into the promotional ment comes one month A 46-8-1 RECORD, BUT world, I’m training my after he lost a unanimous WAS 0-3-1 OVER HIS son. It was a helluva decision to junior midcareer. I’m happy for all dleweight champ Saul LAST FOUR FIGHTS. the great memories and all “Canelo” Alvarez of Mexico. “Good morning everybody. Just the great fighters that I fought. Now it’s want to thank you for showing me so time give back. I’m ready to train my son much love,” Mosley wrote on his social full-time now,” Mosley told ESPN.com. Mosley, of the US, is one of the few networking Twitter site. “Had a great career and loved every moment of it, boxers of his era to have never been knocked out. AFP win, lose or draw.”
Darren Bravo, Kieron Pollard, Marlon Samuels, Dwayne Bravo, Denesh Ramdin (wk), Darren Sammy (capt), Dwayne Smith, Andre Russell, Tino Best, Fidel Edwards, Ravi Rampaul, Sunil Narine “Directors of the West Indies Cricket Board recently met by teleconference and are pleased that consistent with his previous commitment Mr Chris Gayle has made himself available for selection to the West Indies team,” a WICB statement had said of the meeting. “The board believes that Mr Gayle’s stated commitment to West Indies cricket will be an asset to the team and looks forward to his contributions in that regard.” Gayle’s recall was first mooted during West Indies’ earlier home series against Australia, when he met with WICB officials to repair a relationship that had deteriorated around the emergence of Twenty20 and the rise of the Indian Premier League. It then dissolved entirely when the former captain criticised the coach Ottis Gibson and the WICB during a radio interview last year.
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SPORT SNIPPETS Row over unseen Uzbek goal Football chiefs have ruled out taking action after Uzbekistan were denied a legitimate goal during their 1-0 World Cup qualifying loss to Iran. FIFA said the referee's decision was final despite TV replays which indicated the ball crossed the line deep into the second half of Sunday's game in Tashkent. Uzbek coach Vadim Abramov later complained that Japanese referee Yuichi Nishimura missed what should have been a goal.
Football
“
"I think it's a little unjust: he is no longer the Ronaldinho of ten years ago but he is talented... Flamengo aren’t doing well and as a result neither is he. Pele of Ronaldinho‘s form
Kings a step away from title Jonathan Quick made 22 saves for his third shutout of the postseason as the Los Angeles Kings moved a step closer to their first Stanley Cup in history with a 4-0 win over New Jersey on Monday. Anze Kopitar, Alec Martinez, Jeff Carter and Justin Williams scored for the Kings, who now have a commanding 3-0 lead. The Kings overtime hero in game two, Carter, scored in the third period Monday to make it 3-0.
NHL
ANRMh=
is the pay that 2002 world cup winner Ronaldinho will recieve as basic pay from Atletico Mineiro, his new club. He had quit Flamengo last week amid claimed that they owed him some 20 million dollars in salary. At Flamengo, his salary was $600,000.
Love, Pampling qualify US Open Davis Love and Rod
Pampling were two of 16 players who qualified for the 23rd US Open on Monday. Others notable golfers who qualified included Charlie Wi, Kevin Streelman, DA Points and Steve Marino. Love, who is captain of the 2012 USA Ryder Cup team, qualified by playing 36 holes in two-under at the Scioto Country Club and Ohio State's Scarlet Course. The 48-year-old Love is the 1997 PGA Champion.
Playing Field
TUESDAY, JUNE 5, 2012
The games people play
Murray has eyes on Ferrer Allan Kelly
PARIS: Andy Murray will be the odd man out in Wednesday’s two remaining quarter-finals at the French Open. The Scot will be corralled by three Spaniards, with, at their head, the imposing figure of six-times former champion Rafael Nadal. But Nadal’s steely focus will be riveted on Nicolas Almagro as the Majorcan continues his quest to become the first man to win seven French Open titles, breaking him out of the tie he is in with Swedish legend Bjorn Borg. Murray will have his eyes on David Ferrer, one of the finest claycourters of the last few years, but who has yet to make it past the last eight at Roland Garros. The Scot, who came good in his fourth round tie against Richard Gasquet of France after an abysmal start that saw him once again bothered by pain in his lower back, has never beaten Ferrer on clay
and he is full of admiration for his 30-year-old opponent. “I think he’s one of the toughest guys to play on any surface,” Murray said. “He’s number five in the world, and he’s been there for a long time now. He’s had a good clay court season so far. “I’ve always found it tough against him on clay in
IBAYS Suzuki Cup (Round 3) Group A n
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Pegasystems 156 (Kartik Maddali 36, Praneeth Purigalla 26, Nagaraju 36\3 beat Prime KI 122 all out (Praveen Kumar 21, Suneel Sundaraneedi 17/3, Anupam Hyanki 20/3). R&I 206 (Vishal Kumar 80, Omkar Avhad 94, Ajit 36/3) lost to HSBC GLT 207 (Vikram Kuntamukkala 51, Prasanna 42, Abheek Chateerjee 32/2). SQ Consulting 75 all out (Chris Ganta 28, Sahil Gupta 10/3, Bhaskar Ramudu 17/3) lost to Qualcomm 78 (Vamshidhar 32, Paravada Surendra 14, Chris Ganta 15/1).
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Autoselect 150 (Imad Farooqi 31, Shanawaz 26, Karnakar 19/3) beat DWP 134 (Raja 30, Leelanand Reddy 21, Amer 21/1). HCCL 184 (Qutub Alam Khan 48, Habeeb Ali 30, Hasnain Ali 25, Naresh 20/1) beat Convergys 92 all out (Sandeep 37, Ali Khan 8/4, Habeeb Ali 3/2). Zonah 159 (Osama Azam 54, Abdul Wahid 27, Satish Reddy 15/3, Ravi Kumar 16/2) beat Yashoda Hospitals 56 all out (Ravi Kumar 35, Abdul Wahid 11/5, Muneer 40/2.)
matches and in practice. I train with him quite a lot, and I get on very well with him. “We know each other’s games very well, and he’s one of the best players in the world on any surface, so it’s going to be a tough match.” Murray made the semifinals here last year before losing in straight sets to
Nadal and now has in his corner Czech legend Ivan Lendl, who finally made his Grand Slam breakthrough here in 1984 with his famous five-set win over John McEnroe. Murray’s former coach Alex Corretja is now close to Ferrer as Spain’s Davis Cup coach, but Murray is not too concerned about him giving away any insights into his game. “It will be up to who plays the better tennis on the day. I don’t necessarily think that Alex will be able to help him a lot,” he said. Almagro’s hopes against Nadal, on the face of it, look slim to say the least. The defending champion leads their head-to-heads by 7-0, including two straight sets wins here in 2008 and 2010. And Nadal, bouncing back from his Australian Open final loss to Novak Djokovic, has looked well nigh unbeatable in Paris losing just 19 games in four rounds for his best ever start at Roland Garros.
French Open Results Men’s singles: 4th rd: n Jo-Wilfried Tsonga bt Stanislas Wawrinka 6-4, 7-6 (8/6), 3-6, 3-6, 6-4 n Juan Martín Del Potro bt Tomas Berdych 7-6 (8/6), 1-6, 6-3, 7-5 n David Ferrer bt Marcel Granollers 63, 6-2, 6-0 n Andy Murray bt Richard Gasquet 1-6, 6-4, 6-1, 6-4 n Nicolas Almagro bt Janko Tipsarevic 6-4, 6-4, 6-4 n Rafael Nadal bt Juan Monaco 6-2, 60, 6-0 Women’s singles 4th rd: n Yaroslava Shvedova bt Li Na 3-6, 6-2, 6-0 n Petra Kvitova bt Varvara Lepchenko 6-2, 6-1 n Kaia Kanepi bt Arantxa Rus 6-1, 4-6, 6-0 n Maria Sharapova bt Klara Zakopalova 6-4, 6-7 (5/7), 6-2
Men’s doubles: Quarter-finals: n Maxim Mirnyi/Daniel Nestor bt Matthew Ebden/Ryan Harrison 64, 6-4 n Daniele Bracciali/Potito Starace bt Ivan Dodig/Marcelo Melo 6-2, 6-4 Women’s doubles: Quarterfinals: n Nuria Llagostera/Maria Jose Martinez bt Jarmila Gajdosova/Anastasia Rodionova 6-2, 6-3 n Sara Errani/Roberta Vinci bt Ekaterina Makarova/Elena Vesnina 6-4, 5-7, 6-4 Mixed doubles: Quarter-finals: n Sania Mirza/Mahesh Bhupathi bt Kveta Peschke/Mike Bryan 6-2, 6-3 n Klaudia Jans-Ignacik/Santiago Gonzalez bt Natalie Grandin/Paul Hanley 6-4, 3-6, 1-0
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SPORT SNIPPETS Euro 2012
Security concers for Poland
WARSAW: As its team prepares to take to the pitch at Euro 2012, tournament co-host Poland is bracing for its biggest security challenge in decades. With hundreds of thousands of fans from across Europe set to flood in, Poland is sanguine about heading off risks ranging from hooligan brawls to terrorism. As the first edition of the 16-nation tournament behind the former Iron Curtain, Euro 2012 is a crucial showcase. Terrorism fears swirling around major events such as the quadrennial European championship have led host nations to boost security over the years. That’s not to say that the Poles see a major risk. “There is no sign of the existence of any real external threat concerning the security of our country during Euro 2012,” President Bronislaw Komorowski said after a recent meeting of his National Security Council. Euro 2012 kicks off in Warsaw on June 8 and ends on July 1 in Kiev, capital of fellow host Ukraine. Safety in the skies is a major plank, with a total of 2,300 charter flights and 13,800 scheduled aircraft due to land in Warsaw alone. “We’re expecting to break all records for volume of traffic in June,” said Andrzej Ilkow, head of flight security at Warsaw’s Chopin Airport. We’re ready to handle up to 60,000 people a day, arrivals and departures combined.” Ex-communist Poland joined NATO in 1999, and has held Euro 2012-related air exercises with its US allies.
NBA
Lakers exercise Bynum’s contract option
LOS ANGELES: The Los Angeles Lakers on Monday picked up all-star centre Andrew Bynum’s $16.1 million contract option for the 2012-13 National Basketball Association season, the Los Angeles Times reported. Bynum, 24, appeared in 60 games for the Lakers during the lockout-shortened 2011-12 regular season. He averaged 18.7 points and 11.8 rebounds while making 1.9 blocks per game. Both the points and rebound totals were career highs. In the playoffs, Bynum averaged 16.7 points, 11.1 rebounds and 3.1 blocks but the Lakers were eliminated in five games in the second round by the Oklahoma City Thunder. Los Angeles made Bynum the 10th overall pick in the 2005 entry draft.
Sharapova, Shvedon going strong Dave James
PARIS: Global superstar Maria Sharapova and unheralded Yaroslava Shvedova attempt to setup a French Open semi-final date on Wednesday spurred on by having conquered career-threatening injuries. Sharapova, who needs a Roland Garros title to complete a career Grand Slam, saw her meteoric rise halted by shoulder surgery which sidelined her for
almost a year until mid-2009. Shvedova, meanwhile, injured her knee while on Hopman Cup duty for Kazakhstan in January 2010, and missed the Australian Open. Although she won the women’s doubles at Wimbledon with Vania King, her singles ranking collapsed to 206 from a place in the top 30. That condemned her to play qualifiers at this French Open and if she makes it to the last four, she will be the first qualifier to reach
the semi-finals. Sharapova, the world number two, is now the overwhelming favourite to capture the title after the early exits of top seed Victoria Azarenka, defending champion Li Na and former winner Serena Williams. Her 2004 Wimbledon triumph, 2006 US Open victory and 2008 title at the Australian Open all came before her shoulder surgery. “I think I’m just much more grateful today for what I’m doing and what I have, more than any-
thing,” said Sharapova, who for the first time faces Estonian 23rd seed Kaia Kanepi for a place in the last four. “So now when I’m playing, I really feel like I’m much more positive. Overall, I see my career much more positive than I looked at it back then, especially during the tough days. In the past I would always have to save myself, because knowing that it’s seven matches. I never felt like I recovered that well.”