GOVT BUYS GANDHI’S ARCHIVE
A MATTER OF PRIDE
India has purchased a rich archive comprising thousands of letters and documents related to Mahatma Gandhi, including those on his controversial relationship with architect Hermann Kallenbach. Sotheby's said the deal was concluded in a 'private transaction'. It did not disclose the P11 amount paid.
Google has recently launched an ambitious campaign titled Legalise Love, one that is aimed to pressure countries where it has offices to give gays, lesbians, bisexuals and transgender more rights and recognition. While Legalise Love gathers steam, we look at the beginnings of the gay rights movement and its progress. P16&17 Hyderabad’s first compact afternoon newspaper
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WEATHER: A MIX OF CLOUDY AND CLEAR SKIES; 29°C
The apex body of pan-India developers and builders says pollution emanating from construction sites is not its concern.
CREDAI CREDO: WE DON’T CARE SRINIVAS SETTY
REPORT ON: PG 4
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DESI TASTE FAVOURS VIDESHI BRANDS India’s youth go for foreign brands, because they don’t trust IMFL any longer. P6
DOGS MAY PROTECT BABIES FROM SOME INFECTIONS Babies in homes with cats or dogs were about 30 per cent less likely to have respiratory infectious symptoms like cough, wheezing, rhinitis (stuffy or runny nose) and fever and about half as likely to P19 get ear infections.
KATIE’S NEXT MOVIE ROLE: SINGLE MUM Holmes will begin production next week for her project Molly, a film she co-wrote and is co-producing, about the life of a single mum. Sounds familiar? P25
Page Two
TUESDAY, JULY 10, 2012
Spirit of Twin Cities
HEAD ON A STICK
Street food festival Head to Taj Deccan for a street food festival being held at Syn— Asian Bar and Grill. The festival that is on till July 10 features food from different South-East Asian countries. Where: Taj Deccan, Banjara Hills Rd No 1 When: Ongoing Contact: 92950 06969
Art works A painting exhibition featuring the new works of artistes Laxma Goud, Vaikuntam Thota and Ramesh Gorjala is being held. Where: Gallery Space, Banjara Hills When: Ongoing, 11am onwards Contact: (040) 6554 1836
Living with the masters A painting exhibition of paintings by artistes such as Akbar Padamsee, Bikash Bhattacharjee, Ganesh Pyne, Jagdish Swaminathan, K G Subramanyan, Krishen Khanna, Ram Kumar, S H Raza, Tyeb Mehta is being held. Where: Kalakriti Art Gallery, Banjara Hills When: July 18 onwards, 11am onwards Contact: (040) 6656 4466
Art affair An exhibition featuring artistes such as Thota Vaikuntam, Rajeshwar Rao, Anjani Reddy, D. Shanti, PJ Stalin will be held on July 20. Where: Taj Krishna, Banjara Hills, Rd No 1 When: July 21, 6pm onwards Contact: (040) 6666 2323
Book reading A book reading session by Author Leni Varkey on her latest book Kuttan's Dilemma is being held at Treasure House. Where: Treasure House, Jubilee Hills, Rd No 36 When: July 10, 4pm onwards Contact: (040) 2355 0118
A double life Qadir Ali Baig Theatre Foundation presents A Double Life: An Evening with Alyque. Catch Mohammad Ali Baig in conversation with Alyque Padamsee. Where: HICC, Hitech City When: July 15, 7pm onwards Contact: (040) 6616 3000
CINEMAS
An exhibit as a part of Cloth Paper Scissors being held at Iconart Gallery.
Being eunuch Being Eunuch, a play highlighting the plight and problems of eunuchs in the country will be presented by Nishumbita on July 13. Where: Ravindra Bharathi, Saifabad When: July 13, 7pm onwards Contact: (040) 2323 1245
Rain fiesta All seasons, Banjara Hills is offering a monsoon special. Sample a variety of sizzlers and get exciting offers such as order 3 and pay for one. Where: All Seasons, Banjara Hills, Rd No 3 When: Ongoing, 7pm onwards Contact: (040) 2355 3029
Art-de-konj A painting exhibition depicting artist Aiyudha Pooja Kapur’s passion for horses is on display at Muse Art Gallery till July 20. Where: Muse Art Gallery, Tank Bund
When: Ongoing, 11am onwards Contact: (040) 2752 2999
Cloth paper scissors An exhibition featuring mixed media paintings and sculptures is being held till July 12. Where: Inconart, Banjara Hills, Rd No10 When: Ongoing, 11.30am onwards Contact: 98499 68797
Just the beat Head to Cuba Libre for Nothing but the beat with DJ Siddie Boy. Where: Cuba Libre, Banjara Hills When: July 10, 12pm onwards Contact: (040) 6776 7144
Musical evening Boondhon ka Paigam, a monsoon musical yearly event will be held on July 12. The musical event being held at HICC
SRINIVAS SETTY
will feature Kavita Seth and Jaswinder Singh. Where: Hyderabad Marriott and convention centre, Tank Bund When: July 12, 7pm onwards Contact: (040) 2752 2999
Park drama A Hindi play dealing with three men trying to find peace of mind in a park is being presented by Sifar. The play is written by Manav Kaul and directed by Feroz. Where: Lamakaan, Banjara Hills, Rd No 1 When: July 10, 5pm onwards Contact: 96427 31329
Paratha festival Haldi at Novotel Airport is hosting a parantha festival. Where: Novotel Airport, Shamshabad When: Ongoing, 6.30pm onwards Contact: (040) 6625 0000
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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Pahelwan’s bail cancelled
NEWS BRIEFS Man’s suicide blamed on co-workers
Zafar Pahelwan, who was arrested in a murder case of a history-sheeter at a gym, had flouted bail conditions, claim cops. The accused has sought two days’ time to surrender
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CRIME
OF THE FOURTEEN ACCUSED IN THE CASE, SEVEN HAVE BEEN ARRESTED. TWO MORE ARE STILL ABSCONDING.
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THE POLICE ARE YET TO FILE THE CHARGE SHEET IN THE CASE AS THE FSL REPORTS ARE AWAITED.
T
he Metropolitan Sessions Judge at Nampally criminal courts has cancelled the bail granted to a pahelwan of Old City, Hamza Bin Omer aka Zafar Pahelwan, in a murder case of a rowdy-sheeter that took place in a gym a few months ago. The judge directed the pahelwan to surrender to the Chanchalguda jail authorities forthwith. Citing health reasons, Zafar Pahelwan has sought two days to surrender. The judge has, in his order, directed the accused to sign the attendance register at Kanchanbagh police station on alternate day. The sources said that Pahelwan was irregular in reporting to the police station. “We have approached the Sessions court and sought the cancellation of bail as he flouted the conditions imposed by the court” assistant commissioner of police Santoshnagar S Sai Krishna said. On March 19, history-sheeter, Ahmed
Ali Khan aka Ilyas, was hacked to death while working out at a gym in Santoshnagar area within the Kanchanbagh Police station limits. The police, in March, arrested main accused Zafar Pahelwan on charges that he allegedly masterminded the killing with the help of his family and other followers. There are 14 accused in the case, of which seven have been arrested, namely Mohammed Bin Abdullah alias Chota Mohammed, Rashed Bin Abdullah, Wadood Bin Abdullah, Mohammed Sabir Ali and Mohammed Imranuddin. Two more accused are still absconding. However, the Kanchanbagh police are yet to file the charge sheet in the case as the FSL reports are awaited. MOHD YAHIYA KHAN
Mother-killer son in judicial custody T
he man who was arrested along with two others last week for the rape and murder of his mother has been sent to a 14-day judicial remand. E Laxmamma, a widow, was raped and murdered allegedly by her son E Srinivas and his two hired men — Bassappa and Ramesh — for her refusal to give him her 2acre ancestral land. Villagers, shocked by the cruelty of the son, have demanded capital punishment for the trio.
Case registered against minister Saraiah’s son A
case was registered against minister Basavaraju Saraiah’s son Sriman, for allegedly abusing a police officer on duty. Saraiah had participated in some official programmes along with the municipal administration minister Mahidhar Reddy on Sunday. Some TRS activists tried to obstruct the ministers. Sriman then went to the Mattevada police station and created a scene there, blaming the police for remaining mute spectators when TRS men obstructed the ministers. He also reportedly abused the SI, Ramesh, personally. The SI who was
injured in the incident has complained to the SP about the behaviour of the minister’s son. DSP Lavanyahas said that the Mattevada police have registered cases under sections 355, 448 and 294 B of the Indian Penal Code, after the SP gave clearance for the action. The SI claimed that the minister’s son was in a drunken state when he abused him. The minister, however, denied the charges and alleged that his son was deliberately being framed. He said he would apologize if the allegation against his son was proved. kpp
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young man, working in a private agency at Masabtank, committed suicide by jumping before a speeding train on Monday after leaving a suicide note stating that he was taking his own life due to painful harassment from his co-workers. Riyaz Shareef, 35, hails form Mahbubnagar and was found dead on the rail tracks at Lingampally station. Co-workers are being interrogated, police said.
Daggers found in autorikshaw
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olice were in for a surprise when they found a few brand-new daggers from the spot where an autorikshaw had overturned at Borabanda on Monday, injuring seven, including two kids. The vehicle had taken in seven against the rule of three and was coming from Erragada to Borabanda when the driver lost control and overturned. As the police reached the spot they found the driver absconding and a few daggers strewn around. A case has been registered against the driver, who hails from RR district.
School burgled, rice, gas cylinder stolen
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urglars, for a change, zeroed in on a school in NGO’s colony in Vanasthalipuram and decamped with huge quantity of rice, dal and gas cylinders on Monday night. The lock of the store room was broken open. The cleaning staff in the morning discovered the burglary. No clue of the burglars has been received yet.
Drunk attempts molestation, held
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youth, M Hari Kiran of Gandhinagar in Secunderabad, was arrested by the Musheerabad police on Monday. A knife found in his possession was seized. The man was held after he tried to attack and molest a woman who objected to his obscene remarks. He also stabbed her husband when he intervened. Kiran was creating a ruckus on Sunday night when the incident occurred.
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CREDAI credo: We don’t care
The apex body of pan-India developers and builders says pollution emanating from construction sites is not its concern SRINIVAS SETTY
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Steep hike in railway parking fee Sudeshna Koka sudeshna.k@postnoon.com
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POLLUTION Anubha K Singh anubha.k@postnoon.com
W
hen we talk about pollution the first thing that comes to our mind is vehicles letting out plumes of smoke. But many of us are not aware that the rising construction activity and commercial establishments contribute in no less measure to pollution levels. Shockingly, Hyderabad is the only City where there is no proper check on pollution levels, not to speak of unbridled noise and air pollution kicked up by thousands of building sites spread across the City. Callous handling of building materials and lack of safety measures has been killing peo-
Helpline GAS BOOKING IVRS NO: HP 9666023456 Indane 9848824365 BSNL Complaints HMWS & SB Complaints
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POLICE CONTROL ROOM: Hyderabad 27852435 Traffic Control Room 27852482 DCP Traffic 23234065, 23243499F Pollution Control Board 23887500 ELECTRICITY: General Complaints Breakdown Section
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ple but the GHMC turns a blind eye! Who to blame? Ask around and you draw a blank. The Confederation of Real Estate Developers Association of India (CREDAI), Hyderabad, too shrug off. “We are not concerned about the pollution levels, it’s the work of Andhra Pradesh Pollution Control Board to check the pollution levels and take action. We don’t have special rules and regulations regarding this. The real estate industry does not increase air, water, noise or land pollution,” said S Ram Reddy, CEO, CREDAI Hyderabad. All construction sites generate high levels of dust and noise and they care not for the neighbours. Often work goes on till late night and disturbs the residents in the locality. Despite the law that construction is not
24166666R ENC 23225267 Engineering 23220418 MCH Tankbund 23225397 Emergency MCH Circle I&II 24525842 MCH Circle III 24736912 MCH Circle IV 23326975 MCH Circle V 23326976 MCH Circle VI MCH Complaints 1100 Head Office 23225397 IVRS CUM MANUAL ENQUIRY PHONE NUMBERS (TRAIN & RESERVATION) RAILWAYS Rail Nilayam 27833169, 27824216 Railway Information 131 Reservations 135 Recorded Information 1345 Enquiry (IVRS) 1331, 1332, 1333
allowed at night, there is no authority for citizens to turn to. Experts from the medical field say that air pollution can result in serious health prob-
We don’t have a separate check for pollution at a construction site or smoke being emitted from vehicles used there, but yes pollution is high.
WATER SUPPLY: Complaint Cell Sewerage Complaint Hyd. Water Supply HOSPITAL: General Hospital, Sec-bad Niloufer Hospital, Red Hills NIMS, Director, Punjagutta Osmania General Hospital Railway Hospital, Lalaguda Apollo, Jubilee Hills Care Hospital, Banjara Hills Care Hospital, Nampally Care Hospitals, Musheerabad Care Hospital, Sec-bad Kamineni Hospital,
KV Ramani, AP Pollution Board
lems like loss of appetite, lungs and heart ailments and sleeping disorders. “In the recent years there has been a rise in the number of patients coming with respiratory problems and the major culprit is the increasing pollution. Problems include pulmonary stress, asthma, bronchitis and even cancer. On an average one in eight suffer from such problems”, said Dr Hameer Singh, pulmonologist. Shockingly, officials from the Andhra Pradesh Pollution Control Board say, “We don’t have a separate check for pollution at a construction site or smoke being emitted from vehicles used there. We have a common check for air pollution levels. But yes the pollution levels are always high near the construction sites,” said KV Ramani, senior environmental engineer, AP Pollution Board.
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AMBULANCES Apollo 23548888, 23607777 Kamineni 24022222 Medwin 23202902, 23204616 Smile Line Dental Hospital 23747979 Red Cross 27627973 Niloufer Hospital 23314095 Gandhi 23320332
ailway works on its own rules. Much etiquette is not applicable, rue commuters. They point out that the hike in platform tickets and parking lot were effected without informing the public. Even now, there is no notice to inform the public that the hourly rent for car parking has been raised to `30 from `20. Nor did the railway think it fit to announce the rise in platform ticket prices from `3 to `5. “I decided to see off my cousins at the Secunderabad station at the last moment. I forgot to carry my purse but had `20 on me which was enough to buy five platform tickets. But after we went there I was informed that it’s `5 per ticket. The rise is not the issue but failure to inform the public is,” says Raj M, a marketing professional. Satender Kumar, station master says, “The hike was put into effect with the annual budget. We have implemented it since the last two months. We have plans with the money generated. Soon we will make new changes in the station.” Another rail commuter asks, “When the train runs late by hours, who pays for the parking ? Should not the railway bear the extra expense?" “It’s not the rise alone that bites us,” Adithya T, a student says. “With the hike they hardly make the situation better. Parking is so congested that it is a risk taking one’s vehicle in and taking it out is tougher,” he points out. Vicky, manager of the parking, says the contracted amount was higher this time. He had no choice but to hike the price. As compared to last year this year the auction bid was thrice the price. “We took on lease the land for a higher price se we had to raise the rent. We need to recover the money we have invested, you know,” he said.
AIRLINES Airport Director 27903785, 27906001 For Air India Flight Information Toll free (from any network) for IC Flights 18001801407 And for All Flights: 1800227722 Air India has revised its flight timings. For more information call (Toll free) 18001801407, 1800227722 from BSNL/MTNL 04023430334 from other lines and mobile Website; www.airindia.in TOURISM OFFICES AP Tourism, Hyd 23262152/53/54 Sec’bad 27893100 Dept of Tourism 23453110 India Tourism 23261360 AP Tourism information Centre (24x7) 23450444, 23455999
UK Visa Office VFS India Pvt Ltd Building, 8-2-542/A, Sunil Chamber, Road No. 7 Beside Meridian School, Banjara Hills34. Working hours are from 8 AM to 1 PM And 2 PM to 3PM. MUSEUMS Salar Jung Museum AP State Museum Nizams Museum
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Readers’ views We invite you to write to us comments, suggestions, viewpoint or just about anything to feedback@postnoon.com or #1246, Level 3, Jubilee Casa, Road No 62, Jubilee Hills, Hyderabad – 500 033 or even by way of a call on 4067 2222
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CM earns more detractors with GO POLITICS Inkeshaf Ahmed ahmed.m@postnoon.com
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he government order issued by the State government to provide legal aid to four ministers of the State cabinet seems to have landed the Congress party in trouble. The vexed GO categorically stated that the government would provide financial help to four ministers — Sabita Indira Reddy, J Geeta Reddy, Kanna Lakshminarayana, Ponnala Lakshmaiah and Dharmana Prasada Rao — to avail legal help, leaving behind former excise minister Mopidevi Venkata Ramana Rao, who is now lodged in Chanchalguda jail. While some harsh critics of CM N Kirankumar Reddy like former minister P Shanker Rao termed it tantamount to encour-
aging corruption, opposition party leaders have said that the State has made Mopidevi a scapegoat in the whole issue. In fact, PCC president Botsa Satyanarayana openly expressed his displeasure over Mopidevi being ignored by the CM to avail legal help from the State. He said that he would write a letter in his personal capacity to the CM and request him to extend the same privilege to Mopidevi also. “This is not right. Mopidevi should also get legal support. I will write a letter to the CM
requesting him to extend support to Mopidevi,” he said. Mopidevi, also expressed his unhappiness over being ignored. He expressed his displeasure to his friend and minister for social welfare P Satyanarayana when the latter met him in jail on Monday. Mopidevi reportedly asked the minister to convey his feelings to the CM for extension of legal help to him as well. Many BC organisations have alleged that the CM’s act of ignoring BC minister Mopidevi shows that he hates the backward class community. “This is a clear case of feudalistic attitude of the CM. He wants to show that upper class always rule. I think this is the right time for BC to launch massive fight for their rights,” BC leader in Telangana and president of Telangana Jyothiba BC welfare association R Satyanarayana Rao said. He said that they would hold a brainstorming session.
Nani was sold out for `30 crore: TDP leaders
Half don’t pay, the other half pay peanuts! GHMC Postnoon News feedback@postnoon.com
I
t’s not only you — the citizens — who get a shock from various government agencies. The mayor Mohd Majid Hussain recently got a shock when he was handed an over 70-page default list of property tax payers who owed the corporation `840 crore! What surprised him was not the list, but it contained information on how the governmental agencies owed the corporation `300 crore, and more, many bigwigs have shut their eyes at the dues. But soon, he was advised by the officials who take it all in their stride, to calm down. They told him half of the 12 lakh property owners don’t pay! The mayor immediately sprang to action. He told officials to get ready for a special drive to wrest as much money
from private property owners as possible. This year the GHMC needs more money in view of the beautification it has to do to welcome the world meet on biodiversity in October. “I told the officials to get at the private property owners first,” the mayor said. The list runs into thousands or else the corporation would have published it, officials clarified. But the mayor is in favour of publishing the names to shame them. Meanwhile. the corporation has undertaken a property reassessment to update property tax. The prevailing tax rate is laughable. Some big house owners pay `160. “What a sham!” said an official.
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THE TDP LEADERS HAVE ALLEGED THAT NANI BETRAYED THE PARTY. THEY ALSO SAID THAT WHILE THE TDP HAS GIVEN HIM A RESPECTABLE POSITION HE HAS PUT HIMSELF ON SALE.
POLITICS
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DP Krishna district president Devineni Uma Maheswara Rao has alleged that the Gudivada MLA Kodali Venkateswara Rao (Nani) was sold out for `30 crore offered by the YSR Congress and left the party that gave him a ticket and helped him become an MLA twice. Talking on Monday, Uma and other
leaders of the party from Krishna district have alleged that Nani has betrayed the party within a week of his meeting the party chief N Chandrababu Naidu. They also said that while the TDP has given him a respectable position he has put himself on sale. They said betrayers like Nani have been trying to destroy the party and in the process they themselves were destroyed. They said the Krishna district party was unanimously condemning the action of Nani. They have also asked the election commission to impose a ban of five years on Nani and others who defect to other parties from contesting in elections. They have warned Nani that people would teach a lesson to people like him. They said Chandrababu Naidu has given ticket to him denying it even to Ravi Shobhanadriswara Rao because he believed his words that he was a great follower of NT Rama Rao. They said Nani should explain to the people how many crores of package he got himself sold out to the YSR Congress. NSS
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Desi taste favours videshi brands India’s youth go for foreign brands, because they don’t trust Indian-made foreign liquor any longer
TREND PK Surendran surendran.pk@postnoon.com
Growth of imported spirits is largely driven by the spurt in tendency amid young professionals and entrepreneurs to migrate from local to international brands.
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ndian middle-class, especially the young and the middleaged, are increasingly giving IMFL a miss and are going for branded foreign spirits instead. Citing India as one the most significant growth drivers, various multinational liquor companies are poised to invest hugely in marketing, brand innovations, expand to new markets within India and are managing their portfolio as per the local needs. Currently, the revenue from the alcoholic beverage market is estimated at `52,000 crore and is likely to reach about `2 lakh crore during the course of the next three years, said the study released by ASSOCHAM, a premier trade body. Data suggests that a majority of the educated young in India are becoming devotees of bacchus — but of foreign bacchus — not the Indian variety. The study says the sales of imported spirits including the duty-free travel trade in India is likely to cross the 5 million cases mark and reach about 550 lakh litres by 2015. Growing at a compounded annual growth rate (CAGR) of about 25 per cent, the imported spirits market in India is currently estimated at about 280 lakh litres and about 3.1 million cases, according to a study, ‘India’s emerging imported spirits mar-
DS Rawat, secretary general, ASSOCHAM
ket’, says the Chamber study. The overall liquor consumption in India is growing at about 30 per cent CAGR and is likely to reach about 20,000 million litres in the next three years from current level of about 7,000 million litres. “Growth of imported spirits in India is largely driven by the spurt in tendency amid young
Payment date extended HAJ
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he Haj Committee of India (HCI) has accorded an opportunity to provisionally selected Haj pilgrims and those selected under surrendered quota, who have not remitted the advance Haj amount of `51,000, in the stipulated time to enable them to undergo Haj journey, by making payment of this amount
till July 16, 2012. The chairman of the AP State Haj Committee Janab Syed Khaleeluddin Ahmed, in a press release, said that June 11 was the last date for the provisionally selected Haj pilgrims and June 30 for the pilgrims whose seats were confirmed against surrendered seats, for remitting the stipulated amount of `51,000. Such pilgrims may remit the amount in the State Bank of India through core banking system on or before July 16 to avoid cancellation, he said and added that the last date for remitting the amount of the second and final installment as per the category adopted is July 31. The chairman further said that if the pilgrims fail to remit the payment by that date the HCI will cancel their seats, which may be allotted to the waiting list pilgrims in serial order. NSS
Indian professionals and entrepreneurs to migrate from local brands to international brands,” said DS Rawat, secretary general of ASSOCHAM while releasing the findings. “With more number of Indians travelling abroad for studying and other professional reasons, their fondness for imported liquor is also rising
which is certainly leading to growth in the business as they acquire taste for imported liquor and can afford to buy the expensive spirits from duty-free shops abroad,” said Rawat. “Besides, growth in the sector has also been fueled by rising income levels, increasing young population, growing number of working women, increasing
media penetration and expanding exposure to western lifestyle amid people in the upper-middle income group in India for whom serving expensive liquor reflects their lifestyle and status symbol.” Wine consumption is achieving the gender parity. India’s wine consumption is likely to reach around 14.7 million litres by the end of 2012 from around 4.6 million litres in 2008 registering a growth of 35 per cent during the course of past four years. The percent of female wine connoisseurs is growing by 10 per cent. The vodka market alone in India is growing at about 25 per cent annually and is likely to reach 10.2 million cases by the end of 2012 as vodka is emerging as a starting drink for the youth at metros and tier II centres.
PRETTY PICTURE
With the onset of the monsoon season, a peacock spreads its majestic plumes to woo its mate at M ANIL KUMAR the City Zoo
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Bonalu fest losing its sheen? Participation of other communities in the celebrations seems to have reduced over the years N SHIVA KUMAR
FESTIVAL Anubha K Singh
Bonalu is not a panchang-based festival; it’s a community festival where people from all communities worship Goddess Kali to keep diseases away.
anubha.k@postnoon.com
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Advocates to strike on Wed, Thurs
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he Bar Council of India passed a resolution calling upon advocates to abstain from attending court on July 11 and 12 to protest the Higher Education and Research Bill, 2011. A Narasimha Reddy, chairman of the Bar Council of Andhra Pradesh, said they will observe the protest days in the state. NSS
requent troubles in the Old City seem to have taken its toll on the Bonalu celebrations here. In the recent years, the participation of people from other communities seems to have reduced drastically. “Blame it on the communal riots or the differences created by some selfish politicos in the area, but in recent years, the number of Muslim devotees in Bonalu celebrations has reduced,” said Mahesh Goud, chairman of the Mahankali Temple. Hanumanth Rao, a resident of Shalibanda who has been watching Bonalu celebrations since childhood, says, “The festival is centuries old and even the Nizams offered prayers here. Muslims from the area used to participate with the same fervour every year. I remember that one year, a Muslim was the potharaju. That is why the Old City Bonalu is known for its community spirit.” He added, “However, with changing times and the
Younus Khan, Laad Bazaar shopkeeper
worsening situation in the area, things have changed now. The spirit of unity has now reduced drastically and not even a handful of Muslims participate in the festival now. Many keep their distance in order to maintain peace in the area.” Old-timers from the area reminisce about how the festival was celebrated by people from all communities. “Akkanna Madanna Mahankali temple in the Old
City was known for Hindu Muslim unity through its existence. Bonalu is not a panchang-based festival; it’s a community festival where people from all communities worship Goddess Kali to keep diseases and bad things away. The festival is celebrated to maintain peace and happiness in the city. The celebrations at the 400-year-old temple are popular because this is the only temple where people
from both the communities can join in,” said Younus Khan, a shopkeeper from Laad Bazaar. After the Bonalu festivities at Golconda Fort and Secunderabad, it was time for the Old City residents to celebrate. The 11-day festival kicked off in the Old City on Sunday. The traditional celebrations started earlier on June 21 at Golconda Fort. There are three main temples in the Old City where
the festival will be celebrated; Akkanna Madanna temple, Muthyalu temple in Shah Ali Banda and Mahankali temple at Lal Darwaza. The festival kicked off with a mahabhishekam, kalasa sthapana and dwajarohanam. The other rituals that will be performed include Mathaji bhajan, Shakambari alankara puja, Laksha kumkumarchana, Laksha pushparchana, Chandi homam, and Thottela Uregimpu. The main event will be celebrated on July 15 and conclude with Pothraju Swagatham, Rangam and Mahankali Jathara on July 16.
Karkhana: Where water war is not rare WATER Md Nizamuddin feedback@postnoon.com
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ater wars as predicted in novels and films are not fictitious. Go to Karkhana in Secunderabad, one of the oldest settlements in Hyderabad. This season, three deaths in the area have been attributed to water woes. Coming under the Secunderabad Cantonment Board (SCB), this locality has just faced one of the worst water situations in the City’s recent history. The abject failure of the SCB to provide water to the residents is legendary. Here, you will still see hand pumps marked 1852, which, to their credit, worked for well over a century. But the new ones installed a few years ago have already conked off!
Water tankers and water taps are the only means of getting water. But tankers were hard to find this year. The desperate residents resorted to installing illegal hand pumps and digging borewells, which, more often than not, just throw up
OFTEN QUARRELS BREAK OUT WHEN THE WATER TANKERS ARRIVE; RECENTLY, A MAN DIED AFTER A FIGHT ABOUT THE WATER QUEUE
only mud. “The entire lane of Karkhana Bazar buzzes with women holding containers on the day water is released or whenever a tanker arrives,” says Mohd Nusrat, a resident. When a tanker comes or when the SCB releases
water, the whole populace of Karkhana assembles at the supply points. Often quarrels break out; recently, a man died after a fight over the water queue. In another instance, two men died of electric shock when they were trying to make electric connections for the motors without permission and precautions. Residents are demanding immediate attention of the SCB before the situation gets any worse. Most of the borewells installed few years ago remain non-functional. In addition, only a few water taps work in the entire locality of hundreds of households. Karkhana is surrounded by newer localities with gated communities, which have better access to water than the historic ‘Untonka Karkhana’ (Camel Camp). “We need at least two more hand pumps and four tap connections urgently,”
M ANIL KUMAR
stressed A Ahmed, a social worker from the area. According to him, one of the hand pumps needs repair or replacement. Besides this, setting up public water taps at several places would help. Several representations were made to the local leaders, including the MLA, but nothing has been done,
says Ahmed. When the issue was brought to the notice of SCB CEO Bala Krishna, he was not surprised. “There is a water problem everywhere in the City. Let me know the exact location, I shall try to sort out the issue with officials from Waterworks Departments”, said the CEO.
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Lessons in adversities N SHIVA KUMAR
Irrespective of their financial background, the RTE promises children an opportunity to study. However, dilapidated buildings and crumbling infrastructure are proving to be deterrents rather than catalysts for change
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Matters of saving and spending
Eurozone offers Spain 30 bn for bank bailout BRUSSELS: Eurozone finance ministers agreed Tuesday to offer Spain 30 billion euros this month to help its distressed banks as they raced to stay ahead of market scepticism. After nine hours of talks, Jean-Claude Juncker, the Luxembourg premier who also heads the Eurogroup , said a memorandum of understanding for Spain would be formally signed “in the second half of July,” with 30 billion euros ($37 billion) available by the end of the month. Juncker, who has been in the job since 2005, was reappointed by the 17 ministers during talks Monday which ended well after midnight. Spain, under increasing pressure as sceptial markets pushed its borrowing costs dangerously high again, had called for up to 100 billion euros in direct aid at a June 28-29 “breakthrough” EU summit. Ministers also agreed to extend a deadline for Spain to cut its public deficit to the EU 3 per cent limit by one year to 2014 because of the difficult economic conditions Spain faces. However, Juncker stressed that Madrid must implement measures needed to bring its public finances into line with EU norms.
Regling to head ESM bailout fund
G
ermany’s Klaus Regling, head of the eurozone’s temporary EFSF bailout fund, has been named to run its permanent successor, the European Stability Mechanism, the 17-nation group said Tuesday. Regling will head the ESM as it prepares to take on a key role in solving the eurozone debt crisis, offering direct aid to member states.
Quality at the helm decisive for growth Prudhvi Raju K prudhvi.k@postnoon.com
L
arge corporations are obsessed with leadership because they know value of it. They put their leaders through constant leadership development programmes, meetings to build leadership. Unfortunately, the small businesses do not talk about leadership because they are carried away with everyday activities and operations all the time. It is important for them to understand and devote time on build leadership to take their businesses bigger. Small business should put aside a part of their budget for mentors, consultants and trainers. However, currently they are looking these things once they come across some serious problem. They should consider it as part of their operation costs. They should have great mentors, board of advisors around them for a better growth, said Kane Minkus, co-founder of the Industry Rockstar System, USA and a multimillion dollar entrepreneur, who was in the City with Jeff Slayter to give his inspirational talk on “Transformational Leadership & Inspirational Entrepreneurship”. The key thing that small companies should primarily focus is on sales and marketing but should also seriously look at leadership once they reach size of $1 million. Leadership must become key conversation during the phase of $1-5 million size. These are very specific inflection points where the business has to move from sales and marketing focus to leadership focus. The focus has to move structural
POUND TUESDAY, JULY 10, 2012 9 NUMEROLOGY
5,00,000 electrical and hybrid cars will be produced in China by 2015 and the production is expected to grow to two million units by 2020, according to the plan unveiled by the government.
THUS SPAKE
and scalability building after $5 million, he said. Talking about how leadership can affect a company, Kane said, entrepreneurship is all about leadership and businesses rise and fall because of it. Every company is a direct reflection of the CEO which means the leader’s beliefs, mindset, capabilities, identity, behaviour and the environment in which he exist will be directly reflected in the business. Large corporations may have group of leaders at various levels where as small organisations may have one leader or founder. If a person at any position is not confident about his leadership capabilities that department will suffer in the company. Leadership is amorphous and is very concrete. If things are not working, it is the fault of
leadership. Teams, products and employees don’t fail but leaders do. The level of accountability the leader is willing to take is directly proportion to how successful the business will be. Leadership resides in five areas such as vision, communication, accountability, power to influence and building sustainability in the company. Many doubt whether leadership can be cultivated. Yes, it can. It is absolutely necessary to take things out of way which are blocking to become a leader. It is important people should connect to their own natural charisma. The world is accepting leaders as they are and the authenticity sells. The business world is not expecting one to become a Gandhi but to be oneself and get in touch with natural leadership, he added.
China is No. 2 on Fortune 500
China’s trade surplus up 43%
WASHINGTON: Two years after eclipsing Japan as the world’s second-largest economy, China on Monday stole the number-two spot on the Fortune 500 list of the biggest global companies from its Asian rival. In its annual rankings, Fortune magazine said that China overtook Japan, landing 73 companies on the list compared with Japan’s 68 companies.
BEIJING: China’s trade sur-
Royal Dutch Shell retook the top spot, knocking off WalMart from a two-year reign with 2011 revenues of $484.5 billion. The remaining members of the top 10 are, in descending order: ExxonMobil; Wal-Mart Stores; Britain’s BP; Chinese companies Sinopec Group, China National Petroleum and State Grid; Chevron; ConocoPhillips and Japan’s Toyota Motor. AFP
`86.40
plus rose 42.9 per cent yearon-year in June as demand from emerging markets offset stagnation in the eurozone and Japan, the government said Tuesday. Exports for June were $180.21 billion, up 11.3 per cent year-on-year, while imports rose 6.3 per cent to reach $148.48 billion, the General Administration of
Customs said. This brought the surplus for June to $31.73 billion, up 42.9 per cent from the same month in 2011, the administration said in a statement. Customs spokesman Zheng Yuesheng said China would be able to achieve its goal of 10-percent growth in both imports and exports this year if the financial crisis in Europe did not worsen. AFP
“I will focus on rural development, conservation of water, and my most visible goal is to do something in the field of nutrition for children and pregnant mothers in India, because that would change the mental and physical health of our population in the years to come,” Ratan Tata, chairman, Tata Group
OPTIMISM India could become a fiscal surplus nation if the government manages to bring back at least 10 per cent of the estimated `45 lakh crore black money stashed abroad, industry body Ficci said . Indian economy, currently grappling with slowdown, is likely to post a fiscal deficit of `5.13 lakh crore or 5.1 per cent of the GDP in the current financial year.
INTEL PLANS Intel on Monday announced that it will pump billions of dollars into Dutch firm ASML Holding during the next five years to speed up advances in tools for making computer chips. Intel would spend about $4.1 billion investing in research and buying an equity stake to speed development of technology for chips made on 450-millimeter diameter wafers. In the first phase, Intel will commit about $680 million for R&D of manufacturing equipment and buying a 10 percent stake in the firm for about $2.1 billion.
India‑View
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India unveiled
Expectations weigh on Junior B
eginning Monday, as Yadav junior proceeds on a four-day family vacation at Melbourne, visiting the Healesville Sanctuary and smelling the roses at the Werribee Mansion, aides believe that he would also be doing some stocktaking of his three-month tenure in the state. In the state capital, political circles are rife with discussions that how Yadav — hailed as the rising crown prince of UP politics not so long ago — was fast slipping in public ratings and losing favour with his party cadres. This is after two major flipflops — closure of all shopping malls by 7pm and the decision to allow legislatures buy cars worth `20 lakh from their Local Area Development (LAD) funds. Senior BJP leader Kalraj Mishra, while refraining from a personal attack on the 39-yearold CM, says the “rating of the SP government is on a downslide”. Vijay Bahadur Pathak, spokesman of the state BJP unit, was more vocal in his criticism of Yadav. Calling him a “roll back” CM, Pathak says Akhilesh Yadav has “earned a sorry reputation for himself”. Even party insiders feel that a spiralling crime rate, pathetic law and order and overzealous party cadres ready to claim the pie for their loyalty has sullied both — the image of the CM and the SP. Rajendra Chaudhary, a close aide of the chief minister and
95 per cent schools don’t comply with RTE guidelines: Study NEW DELHI: Over two years after the Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education Act (RTE) was notified by the central government, more than 95 per cent of schools in the country do not comply with its guidelines, a study by an NGO has found. Data compiled by RTE Forum with inputs from its members from across the country points out that only one out of 10 schools in 2010-11 had drinking water facilities, while two out of every five schools lacked a functional toilet. The report also shows lack of training facilities for teachers, adversely affecting the quality of primary education in India. Nearly 36 percent of all sanctioned posts of teachers in the country are lying vacant. The data shows that the national average for pupil to teacher ratio is worryingly high at 1:80, against the prescribed ratio of 1:30 for primary and 1:35 for upper primary level. IANS
party spokesman, however, said that in the first three months the direction of the government has been set. “In the first three months, development schemes have been rolled out and no corruption has taken place in the state,” Chaudhary said. SP chief Mulayam Singh Yadav also defended his chief minister son’s tenure and said that three months are too early to draw conclusions. He also refuted charges that the government was going soft on former chief minister and BSP chief Mayawati.
During the Budget Session, the CM on the floor of the Assembly refused probes into the sale of 21 sugar mills by her at throwaway prices and on her splurging public money on her Mall Avenue house. “Try to understand that corruption will not be tolerated by the SP government. Probes are on... By acting in haste, we do not want to send a wrong message that the government is involved in vendetta,” Mulayam added. Party insiders agree that besides the grim power scenario in the state, the law and order is both-
ering the state government too. While the monsoon, an office bearer of the SP says, might lessen worries of the state government on power front, the “public mood on law and order” was “more troubling.” DGP Ambreesh Chandra Sharma admited that there is an urgent need to tie up “some lose ends” on the crime scene. However, he is thankful to his political bosses for “minimal interference” in transfers and postings of officials in field. In view of the sensitive relationship with the SP, Congress
leaders are so far tight-lipped on the CM’s performance, especially in the run-up to the crucial July 19 presidential polls, but admit in private that the government had “fallen from grace sooner than what they had expected”. Founder of the City Montessori School Jagdish Gandhi, who is believed to have close links with the CM, is however full of praise for him. “Rather than calling it the end of honeymoon, I think he has just started,” he says. “He is accessible, he loves kids, is serious about education and appears to be making sincere efforts to bring back the state to normalcy,” he said. Industrialist Kiron Chopra, who has had few interactions with the chief minister, agreed. “It is a little too early to come to conclusions, I am sure he is making efforts to create an industryfriendly and pro-investment environment in the state,” the businessman said. Politically, however, these efforts do not seem to be paying dividends to the ruling party. In the three months since the SP came to power, the party has lost the by-election in Maant (Mathura) where the CM personally canvassed for votes and the BJP made huge gains in the recent municipal corporation and urban local body polls. The bureaucracy too feels that while Akhilesh Yadav has “matured fast”, he remains raw in his three months of rule. IANS
ON A ROLL
Tourists enjoy bubble ball rides at Khajjiar which is also known as Mini Switzerland, 25 km away from Dalhousie on Sunday. PTI
India‑View
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Mother kills girl after husband rape bid AMRITSAR: A woman allegedly hacked to death her adopted seven-year-old daughter after her husband attempted to rape the child. The woman, Sakshi, attempted suicide last night by cutting her veins after killing the child with a sharp edged iron weapon, police
SC upholds Anand Mohan’s lifer NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court today upheld the conviction and life imprisonment of exMP Anand Mohan Singh in the 1994 murder case of Gopalganj District Magistrate G Krishnaiah. A bench headed by Justice AK Patnaik dismissed the plea of Singh, a gangster-turned-politician from Bihar, who had approached the apex court against his conviction and life imprisonment in the murder case. Singh, who was the leader of the then Bihar People’s Party (BPP), was accused of inciting a mob accompanying the cortege of a BPP leader to lynch Krishnaiah on December 5, 1994. The BPP is now defunct. The officer was pulled out of a car, beaten up mercilessly and then shot dead. Singh was awarded death sentence by Additional District and Sessions Judge R S Rai had on October 3, 2007. However, the Patna High Court in its December 2008 verdict had commuted Singh’s death penalty to life sentence. PTI
said today. As the couple did not have a child, Sakshi’s husband Ramesh had adopted the daughter of his brother. Around two days ago, Ramesh had allegedly attempted to rape the child and the matter was subsequently reported to police by
Sakshi. After the arrest of Ramesh, Sakhsi was scolded by her in-laws for reporting the matter to police and bringing bad name for the family. On her way to the hospital, Sakshi told police that she was being harassed by her in-
laws for taking the matter to police. They were mounting pressure on Sakshi to withdraw the complaint when she took the extreme step. She has been booked under Section 302 of IPC (murder) and 309 of IPC (attempt to commit suicide). PTI
Thackeray terms PM ‘politically impotent’ MUMBAI: After Time magazine called Prime Minister Manmohan Singh an “underachiever”, Shiv Sena chief Bal Thackeray Tuesday termed him “politically impotent” and called for a nationwide revolution. Thackeray said people had been wondering what underachiever actually means. “In our (Thackeri bhasha) language, it implies the country’s prime minister is ‘politically impotent’,” he said in an editorial in the party’s mouthpiece Saamna. Thackeray, however, clarified that any opinion by Time magazine does not mean a person becomes big or small, since even that magazine is compelled to carry on its “business”. Some time ago, the same magazine had portrayed Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi as the “most hated” Indian politician. “But he was hated only by the anti-Hindutva forces,” Thackeray claimed. Referring to the Time article on Manmohan Singh, he said: “Until now, the domestic media was rapping on his head, now even the international media is kicking him.” In these difficult times, Thackeray contended that it was high time the prime minister and Congress chief Sonia Gandhi handed over the country to a person with a fighting spirit — “an inspiring person who can fight the corruption,
the economic woes, the terrorism, and other forces inimical to the country’s interests”. For this, Thackeray said, only the Shiv Sena’s “Shivrai” was capable of giving the right direction to the country. “Is Maharashtra ready for it, especially since it is also being taken to the dumps by a Manmohan Singh ‘copy’ (referring to, but without naming Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan). There is a need for a revolution from Maharashtra to Delhi,” he declared, sounding the bugle for the next assembly elections in the state due in 2014. IANS
India buys Gandhi-Kallenbach archives CHENNAI: India has purchased a
Pak poll panel chief is a fan ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s new Chief Election Commissioner Fakhruddin G Ebrahim was born in India’s Gujarat state where he attended lectures given by Mahatma Gandhi. He continues to be inspired
by his teachings of nonviolence and peace, a media report said. Ebrahim, born Feb 12, 1928 in Ahmedabad in Gujarat, was Monday appointed as the CEC following a parliamentary consensus. IANS
rich archive comprising of thousands of letters and documents related to Mahatma Gandhi, including those on his controversial relationship with architect Hermann Kallenbach. Auctioneer Sotheby’s said the deal was concluded in a ‘private transaction’. However, it did not disclose the amount paid. “Sotheby’s is pleased to announce that the Gandhi-Kallenbach archive, which had been scheduled for auction in Sotheby’s English Literature, History, Children’s Books and Illustrations Auction on July 10, 2012, has been sold in a private transaction to the Indian Government,” a statement by the auctioneer said yesterday. The archive was to be auctioned today, but after a contract was signed between the auctioneer and India’s Ministry of Culture on Friday, the auction was cancelled.
The archive, which is likely to be a rich resource for researchers and historians, was recently examined by a team of experts from the Ministry of Culture, who reportedly described it as “very well preserved and of inestimable value”. The archive includes several letters that throw fresh light on the controversial relationship between Gandhi and Kallenbach, one of the foremost associates and friends of Gandhi during his time in South Africa. The auctioneer’s Catalogue Note on the archive said that it “is richly informative of the important (and occasionally misunderstood) friendship between the two men, and is a key biographical source for Gandhi”. The archive includes “poignant letters” by the deeply troubled Harilal, Gandhi’s first son, and reveals Kallenbach’s deep friendship in particular with Gandhi’s sons Manilal and Ramdas. PTI
NATION AT A GLANCE Gowda camp fires salvo at BJP leadership BANGALORE: In a last minute hitch, the ruling BJP Legislature party meeting to elect Jagadish Shettar as its leader was delayed this morning with outgoing Chief Minister DV Sadananda Gowda’s camp insisting on their demands being met. Ministers and MLAs loyal to Gowda are believed to be pushing for making him the party’s state unit president, and KS Eshwarappa deputy chief minister.
Four members of marriage party killed KRISHNAGAR (WB): Four members of a marriage party were killed and six others injured when their jeep collided with a truck on NH 34 in Nadia district early today. The accident occurred at about 1.30 am when the jeep was coming from Debagram to Badkulla after attending a marriage ceremony.
A man who was arrested for carrying a gun in his vehicle parked outside the ‘janata darbar’ of Bihar CM in Patna on Monday. PTI
Sangma in Mumbai; meets BJP legislators MUMBAI: Presidential hopeful PA Sangma, who is in the city as part of his campaign, today met BJP legislators. Sangma was also felicitated by Leader of Opposition in Maharashtra Assembly, Eknath Khadse at the latter’s official residence in South Mumbai. He is expected to address a meeting of BJP legislators later in the day.
Formation of proposed Tiger Reserve justified CHENNAI: DMK’s elected representatives will meet next week for a consultation on the July 19 presidential poll, party chief M Karunanidhi said today. DMK has 23 MLAs in the AIADMK-dominated Tamil Nadu Assembly. It has 18 MPs in Lok Sabha and seven in Rajya Sabha. DMK, which was among the first UPA constituents to back Pranab Mukherjee.
Bangladesh’s Chief of the Naval Staff Vice Admiral Zahir Uddin Ahmed presents a momento to defence minister AK Anthony. PTI
Around the World
Aussie Casey wills crocodile to his children! W
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Beyond Borders
hen Australian farmer John Casey "kicks the bucket" — or dies, rather — he will be leaving a strange and treasured inheritance for his three adult children — his 10-foot crocodile, Charlene. Casey, a sugar cane grower from Mackay in the tropical northern state of Queensland, has told the Murdoch media that: "I am 50 and Charlie turns 50 next year so she will outlive me. It got me thinking about what to do with her because she is not just some piece of furniture or antique vase. You can't just pop her on the mantelpiece and give her a good dusting every six months or so." Charlene — or Charlie as the saltwater croc is known to the family — has been with Casey for the past 48 years, having been brought home by his father, Alf, after "her mother had been shot by a hunter." The family almost had to give up the animal in 1986 when she "accidentally" bit off Alf's hand after he returned from a fishing trip. Then in November 2010, according to the Queensland Times, Casey was informed by Queensland's Department of Environment and Resource Management (DERM) that the conditions for owning a crocodile had changed. After his father had died, Casey had wanted to have Charlene's permit transferred to his name but it would cost him $10,000 in legal fees. He would also be required to put up a second fence around the enclosure Charlene lives in on the family's at their O'Connell River property, at a cost of $5,000. "In the end DERM and I came to an agreement," Casey told the Queensland Times. "A local crocodile handler [Peter Basso] came forward and said he would also help me out with some more formal training," he added. Charlie, whom Casey refers to as his "little sister," having grown up with her, has often accompanied the family on holiday. Casey told the Murdoch press that the ongoing challenges of keeping Charlene and his advancing age had forced him to think about the croc's future, and so write her into his will. "It was fairly upsetting that I might have had to get rid of her," he said. "She's a good pet, easier to keep then a dog or cat. She is quiet and doesn't bark at anyone. I try to have as much contact with her as I can... She is a family heirloom."
East Timor’s
STOLEN CHILDREN
DILI, EAST TIMOR, AND JAKARTA, INDONESIA: Not until she was at the deathbed of the man presumed to be her father did Alexhia Cordova da Silva’s life start to make sense. Raised by an elite political family in Jakarta, da Silva had endured years of hushed rumours about her dark, Melanesian features at social events. On the street, “slumdog” and “monkey” were regular taunts. And then in his last breaths, her father revealed the secret: She was East Timorese, snatched away from her mother and father when she was only 24 days old. From 1975 to 1999, Indonesia fought a brutal war to suppress East Timor’s independence movement and control the former Portuguese colony. A reported 183,000 died from fighting, starvation and disease during the war and human rights abuses were widespread. But this had little relevance to da Silva until her family bombshell hit. And at 19, she reacted as any angry and emboldened teenager might. She ran away from home, left her law degree and Islam in the dust and made contact with the East Timorese Prime Minister Xanana Gusmão via Facebook. He became personally involved in locating her family. “It was like an electric shock,” says da Silva of first meeting her mother. “She told me she always knew I would come home.” With family connections in the banned independence group Fretilin, da Silva’s illiterate parents say they feared for their lives if they didn’t sign a document handing over custody of their daughter. “They were under pressure,” she tells me in a café near her Jakarta university, “My mother said to me, ‘I knew you’re were going to be a smart girl so I wanted you to have a good future, that’s why I gave you to someone rich.’ And OK, I can accept that.”
Educated abroad and blessed with political connections that, somewhat ironically, led her back to her East Timorese family — da Silva is one of the lucky ones. Some 4,000 children were transferred from East Timor during the 24-year occupation. Many of the Indonesian soldiers, civil servants and religious organizations that took in the children were motivated by altruism, genuinely wanting to help. But some were treated as pseudo-slaves, raised by soldiers who had murdered their parents. Others were confronted with the unfamiliarity of strict Islamic boarding schools. Many of the children sent to Islamic boarding schools in Indonesia were very young and from poor and remote parts of the country. In many cases, their parents were coerced into handing them over on the promise they would receive a good education. Sjamsul Bahari's mother permitted him to be sent to an Islamic boarding school in Bandung, West Java, in 1998. Nine years old at the time, Bahari was able to remember
his mother and send her annual letters, but many others were too young. “Lots of the children were only 2 or 3 years old, so they found it difficult to tell who they were,” he explains during a tense interview overseen by two East Timorese Islamic leaders at Dili’s An Nur Mosque. Getting an Islamic organization to acknowledge that children were contentiously removed from their parents, forced to convert to Islam, and then shipped off to Indonesia is an undeniably fraught exercise. The issue is even more sensitive because East Timor is predominately Catholic. But Bahari admits that in Indonesia, many of the East Timorese were stressed and unhappy. In the mid-1990s, he wrote to the organization that had sent them, the Nasrullah Islamic Welfare Foundation (Yakin) in Dili, for help. They never replied. No one helped and no one was ever responsible for the ones that ran away. “That is the tragedy of it. In a lot of cases [the children] just disappeared and nobody knows where they are,” writes Helene Van Klinken in her recently published book, "Making Them Indonesian: Child Transfers out of East Timor," which offers the first comprehensive account of East Timor’s so-called "stolen children." A secret military document suggested that soldiers should help promote the transfer of children in order to spread Islam in East Timor and that such “suggestions” were difficult for parents to deny. Dr Klinken also notes that the transfers were “conducted in a low-key, almost secretive manner” and almost certainly would have raised eyebrows if the children transferred were from wealthy and influential families.
Around the World ‘Gabo illness reports wrong’ BOGOTA: The head of a foundation created by Colombian Nobel literature laureate Gabriel Garcia Marquez on Monday refuted claims from the author’s brother that he is suffering from dementia. “I will not argue or comment on interpretations of Gabo’s private affairs and health, but I assert there is no medical diagnosis of senile dementia,” the director of the New Journalism Foundation, Jaime Abello, wrote on Twitter. “Please, enough messages of solidarity: Gabo is not insane. He’s just an elderly person who has lost a bit of memory. I still have the pleasure of being his friend,” he added. The author’s brother Jaime Garcia Marquez told Mexican newspaper El Universal in an interview published online last week that the 1982 Nobel winner is suffering from “senile dementia.”
Homeless couple turn over $10K found on street RIO DE JANEIRO: A homeless couple turned over to police a bag containing about 20,000 reais ($10,000) that they found abandoned on a street in Brazil’s largest city, authorities said. The couple, who have been living together for about four months under a bridge in eastern Sao Paulo and support themselves by selling recyclable trash, approached a security guard in the early hours Sunday and asked him to call the police to report the find. The couple said they saw the bag with the money lying near a bus stop on a main thoroughfare in the eastern part of the city.
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Beyond Borders
38 killed in Syria as army besieges Homs QUSAYR:
Syria’s army pounded besieged rebel-held areas of Homs today, monitors said, as troops also shocked Qusayr residents with a morning bombardment and 38 people were killed across the country. The Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said those killed were 21 civilians, 13 regime troops and four rebels. Qusayr in the central province of Homs near the Lebanese border, pounded continuously for three months in a bid by regime forces to wipe out the revolt there, suffered renewed shelling early on Monday. “When they attack in the morning their objective is to cause as many casualties as possible, because they know that’s when people are on the streets,” an activist who identified himself as Hussein told AFP, adding that the army’s goal was to “terrorise the
SEOUL: Park Geun-Hye, the daughter of a former South Korean dictator, Tuesday formally announced her bid to become the country’s first woman president and vowed to work for a fairer economy. Park is widely expected to secure the ruling conservative New Frontier Party’s nomination at its primary next month. She is also considered the front-runner in the December 19 election.
Iraq frees Saddam’s interior minister BAGHDAD: Authorities have released
town.” “The result is that people hate the regime more, because that’s when the children are playing on the streets and the elderly are having tea at the doors of their homes,” he said. An AFP correspondent saw several members of one family being treated for wounds, including a 13-yearold boy, after a shell exploded 10 metres (yards) away from
them. The boy’s T-shirt was soaked in blood as his head bled from a deep cut. Elsewhere, regime forces pressed their campaign against the Khaldiyeh, Jurat al-Shiah and the Old City neighbourhoods of the central city of Homs, said the Observatory. “Most residents have fled the Old City neighbourhood, and we only get a few hours of electricity a day,” an activist said.
Asean seeks China’s OK ISLAMABAD: The Association of South East Asia Nations (Asean) is to seek China's agreement on rules governing maritime issues, after it adopted key elements of a code of conduct, officials say. The pact agreed on Monday will address the resolution of disputes in the contested South China Sea, reported the BBC. China and several countries in the 10-nation bloc lay claim to disputed waters in the South China Sea. Tension in the area is top of the agenda for a regional forum this week. Foreign ministers of the
GLOBE AT A GLANCE Daughter of SKorean dictator to run for Prez
SOUTH CHINA SEA CODE
the country’s former interior minister Mohmoud Dhiyab al-Ahmed from prison, according to an official with Ministry of Justice. “We have released Mohmoud Dhiyab al-Ahmed, who served as interior minister for the former regime, after he served his seven-year sentence,”he said.
Vladimir Putin has listed India and China among his foreign policy priorities and vowed to deepen ties with the two nations.
Compensation sought for forced abortion BEIJING: The husband of a Chinese
group are meeting in the Cambodian capital before the arrival of their regional counterparts from 16 countries, including China. US Secretary of State Hilary Clinton will also join the meeting in Phnom Penh later in the week. Mrs Clinton, who will be leading a trade delegation, has called for ''progress'' on the code. Asean officials will meet with Chinese officials to discuss and seek agreement on the code, said a senior official
at the Cambodian foreign ministry. Speaking at the opening of the meeting on Monday, Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen said the code of conduct was a priority at the meeting. China's Foreign Ministry said on Monday that it was willing to discuss the code of conduct. "When conditions are ripe China would like to discuss with Asean countries the formulation of the COC [code of conduct]," spokesman Liu Weimin said.
Tomkat agree on split terms LOS ANGELES: Tom Cruise and Katie Holmes have reached a “private” settlement less than two weeks after she announced their bombshell divorce — and vowed Monday to honor each other’s beliefs over their daughter. The Hollywood pair issued a joint statement pledging to act in the “best interests” of six-yearold Suri, and to take account of their “respective beliefs” in her upbringing — an apparent reference to Scientology.
The announcement heads off what some had expected could be acrimonious haggling over the divorce, amid reports Holmes was concerned about the role of the Church of Scientology in their daughter’s life. “The case has been settled and the agreement has been signed. We are thrilled for Katie and her family and are excited to watch as she embarks on the next chapter of her life,” her lawyer Jonathan Wolfe said. AFP
woman whose forced abortion triggered outrage has headed to Beijing and is working with lawyers to seek compensation, a human rights activist said. Chinese authorities last month forced Feng Jianmei, seven months pregnant, to undergo an abortion after she failed to pay a hefty fine.
Al-Qaeda leader released from jail NOUAKCHOTT (MAURITANIA): The family of Abu Hafs al-Mauritani, who was a senior adviser to al-Qaeda, confirmed that he was released from prison over the weekend. Sidi Ould Walid said his brother was released after renouncing his ties to the terror network and condemning the September 11 attacks.
A mysterious young woman at the side of North Korea’s Kim Jong Un has set off speculation that she could be his sister or wife.
Comment
TUESDAY, JULY 10, 2012
Fair, free and forthright
What’s up with the nice, green Alberta?
It’s the Atheist Particle, actually
Sandro Contenta feedback@postnoon.com
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hree oil spills in a month isn’t the track record Alberta wanted while peddling a major tar sands pipeline to Americans. The spills have the provincial government and the oil industry scrambling to control the damage to both the environment and their credibility. As many as 400,000 gallons of oil have leaked in three separate incidents from the end of May to the end of June. The worst has been a pipeline rupture near Sundre in central Alberta in mid-June, when some 132,000 gallons spilled into the Red Deer River and tainted a reservoir that provides drinking water to thousands of people. The spills come as the Alberta and federal governments are lobbying for US approval of the KeystoneXL pipeline, which would transport up to 900,000 more barrels of Alberta’s tar sands oil a day to US refineries in the Gulf of Mexico. Both governments are also pushing to build the Northern Gateway pipeline. That would bring tar sands oil to a proposed supertanker port on the Pacific coast of British Columbia, and from there to markets in Asia and the United States. The pipeline would be built by Enbridge, which owns a pumping station where one of the Alberta spills occurred. The proposed pipelines already face determined opposition from environmentalists on both sides of the border. They denounce Alberta’s massive tar sands development — bitumen collected from open pit mines that destroy huge tracts of forests, produce millions of gallons of toxic sludge and increase greenhouse gas emissions — as “dirty oil.” The Alberta spills give opponents further ammunition to describe pipelines as unsafe, and government oversight as lax. “When it comes to pipelines the question is not if they will spill but when they will spill and create the next ecological disaster,” argues Mike Hudema, of Greenpeace Canada. GLOBAL POST
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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Human Angle Babu Gogineni
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n 1977, the distinguished physicist Leon Lederman and his colleagues at the Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory in the US believed that they were on the verge of discovering a new elementary particle. An elementary particle is a fundamental building block of the universe and Lederman and his team predicted that this sub-atomic particle would have a mass of about 6.0 GeV or Giga Electron Volts, the units of mass used in particle physics. They even decided to call it the Upsilon Particle, after the Greek Letter Upsilon (Υ) – but realisation came that this was a wrong call, and the non-existing particle was promptly renamed ‘Oops-Leon!’ Leon Lederman is a Nobel Laureate and an important participant in the global race to discover elementary particles: It was a race that began after Sir J.J. Thomson discovered the electron in 1897, thus showing that John Dalton’s 1803 theory that the atom was the basic unit of matter was wrong. Since then there have been a string of discoveries of subatomic particles, some composite and some elementary. Many of these were first predicted by theory and when the evidence was produced, the validity of the theory was confirmed. Based on the work of thousands of theoretical and experimental scientists, modern science has developed an idea of the universe: the universe is made up of 4% atoms and 20% dark matter & 76% dark energy that we cannot observe. There are four fundamental forces in the universe: the weak nuclear force, the strong nuclear force, electromagnetism and gravity. The universe started with a big bang some 14 billion years ago when all these forces were unleashed. The universe continues to expand. The observable universe is made of 18 fundamental particles: 6 kinds of quarks, 6 kinds of leptons and 6 kinds of force carriers. These 18 different particles fit into two categories: bosons, named after Satyendranath Bose, which have a full integer spin and transmit force (photons and gluons) and fermions,
Editorials
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named after Enrico Fermi, which have an integer spin and make up matter (electrons, protons and quarks). This standard model explains many phenomena but there are many riddles too. How are the four fundamental forces to be brought together in one single theory which can explain everything? What is dark matter exactly? What happened at the time of the big bang? When the big bang happened why did some of the particles acquire mass while others did not? In there were nothing that enabled mass, all the elementary particles would keep travelling at the speed of light and would not come together and there would be no atoms, elements, planets or solar systems. In 1964, François Englert and Robert Brout from Belgium and Peter Higgs from Scotland proposed that a boson which endowed mass to other particles would be the answer. This boson soon came to be called the Higgs boson and is the most fundamental particle that could explain the universe to us. At least six Nobel Prizes have been awarded for work related to the Higgs boson so far, but Peter Higgs and his fellow theorists did not themselves get it! That is set to change now that the Higgs Boson has been detected after two years of observation as protons collided 40 million times a second for two years in the giant 27 km-long Large Hadron Collider
at the Centre Européen de Recherce Nucléaire (CERN) in Geneva. In an astonishing achievement, scientists at CERN recreated the early conditions of the big bang and have 99.9% certainty that the particle exists! Nearly twenty years ago, when the Higgs Boson was still an elusive particle, Leon Lederman wrote that it was “so central to the state of physics today, so crucial to our final understanding of the structure of matter, yet so elusive.” He even called it the ‘Goddamned particle’ because it was not to be found! Disastrously, he then had his second ‘Oops-Leon!’ moment when he allowed his publisher to call it the God Particle in the title for his 1993 best seller on the global search for the boson. Leon Lederman is himself an atheist and he regrets the term, and Peter Higgs who is an atheist too, has expressed his displeasure, but the damage has been done! The God particle is today the most popular name for the Higgs boson. If anything, the discovery of the Higgs boson and the confirmation of the Standard Model of the Universe make God even more unnecessary to explain the universe. In the universe are inscribed laws by which the big bang was initiated and the functioning of the universe sustained. Since we have the Higgs boson we do not need God anymore! If ever there was a Godless or an atheist particle, it is the Higgs boson!
ROME WAS NOT BUILT IN A DAY So give Singh some time
hiv Sena supremo Bal Thackeray has ridiculed Prime Minister Manmohan Singh describing him as politically impotent. His jibe is based upon the Time magazine calling the PM an underachiever. Their report says that Singh is not doing enough to reverse India’s slowing down economy. “Voters too are losing confidence, as rising inflation and a litany of scandals chip away at the government’s credibility,” the magazine says apart from listing a huge fiscal deficit and a falling rupee as signs of Singh’s incompetency. Well, as the head of coalition government there’s no need to say that Singh has limitations — having to deal with a coalition partner like Trinamul Congress, Mamata Banerjee, is more than enough. Bal Thackery may rave and rant as he pleases, for his interests never crossed the borders of Maharashtra and he is known for punching under the belt. As for Time calling Singh names, it may as well remember that their President Barack Obama had called up Singh a week before the G-20 summit to confer on economic issues — mind you, Barry knows the people he mingles with. So give Singh some time to set things right.
IS IT ANOTHER OF Gabo’s miracles?
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his is certainly a miracle, or is it another hoax? While Jaime Garcia Marquez claims that his brother suffers from senile dementia, the director of the New Journalism Foundation, created by Gabo himself refutes this. As ardent followers of the literary genius we cannot but be happy with this development. Viva Gabo!
At the workplace
TUESDAY, JULY 10, 2012
Rolling Stones Indira Atluri & Padmini C feedback@postnoon.com
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rinal Gupta has just finished five years in her job. While all her colleagues clamour for a treat, she’s secretly miserable. At 25, this is her first and only job, having jumped into it straight after college. As a Business Partner who also handles HR and communications portfolios, she carved herself a niche in the MNC she works in. And, takes home a pay cheque that’s best in the market. But her coveted profile is also her curse. No other company in the city or anywhere, offers her this choice of responsibilities. Quite simply, her “loyalty” is really, her fear to leave. “I don’t think I’ll ever find anything like this anywhere. So whether there’s growth or not, whether I like it or not, I have no choice,” she rues. Mrinal is not alone. Contrary to popular assumptions, many youngsters are defying the job-hopping route and are staying put at a place, focussing their energies instead on climbing up the ladder. Vishal Sonar has been a Senior Analyst with Deloitte, Hyderabad for over three years now. Resisting lucrative offers, he has opted to carve a niche for himself in his present company and hopes to become a manager in the next few years. He says, “More and more people are now staying back at their current
Great boss, perks and benefits, job satisfaction or simply security, whatever their reasons might be, today’s professionals choose stability over quick bucks
jobs because they have realised that companies too reward loyalty. For me, it’s about security and good work culture. That is a great combination for those who seek long-term innings in the corporate world. There is nothing better than the feeling of working with a ‘secure’ organisation.” Industry experts usually observe that there is a high
attrition rate among recent graduates and entry-level employees, who change jobs as quickly as they change their clothes. But even that too is slowly changing. Sober Emanuel, a
Transaction Risk Investigator is an example. Having been with Amazon for two years now, he intends to stay put for a while. Not one to be distracted by superficial gratifications, he believes that a good work atmosphere takes precedence over a better salary. Emmanuel says, “Good colleagues and a good boss are a great reason why I am in the company. Perhaps I could earn better if I go to another organisation, but I choose to be here as the environment is perfect for me to be my best. There is no way I am going to test unknown waters just to earn better, and realise I have taken the wrong decision.” Vijay Ramanan, who has just moved from a start up to a city-based MNC, says that there’s always the two kinds of people, “the rolling stones” and “the growing roots.” While he admits growing roots is the current trend, he is also quick to point out that longevity should not be confused with loyalty. “Let’s be honest, it’s not for the love of any company that we stay. At the end of the day, each of us has our own agenda. And the current market is not the best time to make jumps. So that explains the status quo. But that said, there’s an increased awareness among youngsters, that if you want to get to the top of the game, you have to know your field well and that takes time. Staying and moving, it’s all a matter of strategy,” he concludes.
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Real assets PR TALK Madhu Joshi feedback@postnoon.com
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e have seen companies allocating huge budgets to external communication and devising strategies for strengthening customer relations. However, successful companies are the ones which consistently work towards implementing the best practices in employee relations. Internal public relations is a special PR discipline which concentrates on enhancing companies’ relationships with the employees by facilitating good communication among the management and the employees, boosting their morale and giving them the right information at the right time. People in organisations communicate, irrespective of their designations and the more we keep them engaged, the better it is for the success of the organisation. An engaged employee is one who is enthusiastic about work, and thus will act in a way that furthers their organisation’s interests. And why is it important to focus on internal PR? Because employees are the main brand ambassadors of your organisation and it is important to keep them abreast with company’s objective and the vision. There are several ways to keep employees engaged with the organisation/brand. To begin with, communicate through emails and forums. Being transparent also earns a lot of respect from employees. Employee newsletter is also an effective method of motivating and engaging employees. Featuring employee columns, highlights of the organisation, employee achievements, etc works very well as an internal PR tool. With the advent of social media, tools like Facebook, Twitter, Linkedin and YouTube are popular employee engagement mediums. These channels allow for innovative ways of communicating with employees, more so because each one of us are hooked on to these mediums. Events aimed at involving employees helps in keeping them motivated. Especially if events are organised with a social objective, CSR as they say. These initiatives not only motivate employees, but also provide them a deeper meaning to life. As it is rightly said that a happy employee means a happy customer. So charity begins at home for sure! Practice effective internal PR and see effective external PR results.
H‑Factor
TUESDAY, JULY 10, 2012
Holistic view of mind, body and soul
Feet firmly on the ground Anishaa Kumar anishaa.k@postnoon.com
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iya was walking down the road when she suddenly lost her balance and fell down. This wasn’t the first time when this had happened. As a child, the doctor had informed her that hers was a case of flat feet. But luckily it wasn’t a serious case that required surgery. Problems such as flat feet, knock knees, Pigeon toes and bow legs though in most cases does not have a major impact on a person’s active life, many times it may cause excessive pain and may require surgery.
that it is not necessary that the problem should exist in both feet. There is usually a degree of variation when it comes to flat feet; even if it is slightly collapsed or completely collapsed, both are considered as cases of flat foot.” Dr Somasekhar says, “A normal variation need not interfere in the person’s abili-
PROBLEMS SUCH AS FLAT FEET, KNOCK KNEES, PIGEON TOES AND BOW LEGS IN MOST CASES DO NOT HAVE A MAJOR IMPACT ON THE PERSON’S LIFE BUT MAY CAUSE PAIN AND INCONEVENIENCE
Flat feet Flat feet is a condition in which the arch of the foot collapses. Dr H Kalyan Kumar, consultant, department of orthopaedics, Manipal Hospital explains, “The normal foot has supporting arches on the medial and lateral side. This can be seen with the human footprint in which the medial side of the foot does not touch the ground. This condition is common among women as well as children and neonates.” Dr N Somasekhar Reddy, consultant orthopaedic surgeon, Apollo Hospital adds, “Flat feet is a problem that exists in 1:3 children. It may be on either foot. This implies
ty to walk or play sports. Only a small percentage of those affected by flat feet may be due to some pathological reason. These reasons could include neurological problems, problems since birth, bone deformation and muscular dystrophy. Bone deformities refer to conditions such as those in which the one or two bones may get fused thereby making it difficult for them to move independently.” Dr Somasekhar adds that women may also develop flat feet at the age of 40 or 50. The arches may collapse due to obesity. If the obesity is not controlled it may be painful.
From your clothes to the way you walk, everything comes together to create your appearance. But unsteady gait and problems such as flat feet, knock knees, bow legs and pigeon toes can also cause many long-term inconveniences
These patients are advised minor shoe modifications or exercise.
Treatment Dr Somasekhar says, “In regular cases we usually reassure parents that it isn’t much of a problem. Sometimes minor shoe modifications are advised. For certain cases surgery is advised. Surgery can be done either before the child attains puberty ( 9-12 years of age) or when the child starts to develop adult size bones( age 16 years and above).” Talking about treatment Dr Kalyan says that when it comes to adults, arthrodesis (a procedure to fuse the joints) is advised while for children medial arch support systems are advised.
Knock knees, bow legs Dr Kalyan explains, “clinically termed as Genu Valgum, knock knees occurs due to outward bending of the tibia bone resulting in both knee joints coming together. This usually occurs due to a vitamin D deficiency resulting in rickets. Bow legs on the other hand is clinically termed as Genu Varum. Here the legs are bowed at the knee joint.” According to Dr Somasekhar, “Cases of knock knees and bow legs are rarely seen. They used to exist 30-40 years ago when malnutrition used to be common. If it occurs now, we need to look at other reasons.
If for example a 13-year-old is diagnosed with knock knees and a kidney problem is the issue, that can be treated but the bent in the knees cannot. In such a case we will require to realign the bones with the help of a surgery.” Talking about the conditions Dr Kalyan explains that knock knees is common among adolescents and children. Bow legs on the other hand are common in osteoarthritis of the knee joint and effects elderly with joint pains. The treatment for bow legs could be either high tibial osteotomy or joint replacement.
Pigeon toes Pigeon toes is a condition in which the toes point inwards when a person walks. Dr Somasekhar says, “When we are in the womb we all have pigeon toes. They usually become normal by the time the child reaches two years of age. The problem occurs only when the child starts to walk. By the time the child reaches the age of 8-9, if it is still prominent it may cause the child to trip or have difficulty in walking.” “Rheumatoid arthritis causing tethering and contracture of tendons is a common cause,” mentions Dr Kalyan. Complete recovery from surgeries usually takes around three months. but again treatment is usually not required unless it is interfering in the persons day-to-day activities.
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World’s first anti-obesity shot promising
WASHINGTON: The world’s first anti-obesity vaccine has shown promising results in boosting weight loss, according to a study. Keith Haffer from Braasch Biotech LLC, south Dakota, who developed the vaccines in two versions JH17 and JH18, derived from a peptide hormone somatostatin, tested them in two groups of diet induced obese male mice, and compared with a group of mice that received saline injections. Somatostatin inhibits the action of growth hormone (GH) and insulin like growth factor (IGF1), both of which increase metabolism and result in weight loss. Obesity and obesity related disease is a growing health issue worldwide. Mice in all groups had been fed a high fat diet for eight weeks prior to the study and continued to eat the same food for the duration of the six week study. The vaccinations were administered twice at the start of the study followed by a booster vaccination on day 22, the Journal of Animal Science and Biotechnology reported. Four days after the first injection of modified somatostatin, the vaccinated mice had a 10 per cent drop in body weight (not seen in the mice receiving saline shots), said a university statement. Later, results showed that both vaccines induced antibodies to somatostatin and significantly reduced body weight, sustaining the lower body weight, without affecting normal levels of the growth hormone IGF1, or insulin levels. “This study demonstrates the possibility of treating obesity with vaccination,” Keith explained. “Treatment of human obesity with vaccination would provide physicians with a drug and surgical free option against the weight epidemic.” Braasch Biotech LLC is a privately held company that specializes in the development of bio pharmaceutical vaccine products for the human and veterinary health care markets. Specifically, Braasch has developed the world first anti-obesity vaccine. IANS
H‑Factor
TUESDAY, JULY 10, 2012
Holistic view of mind, body and soul
Dogs may protect babies from some infections WASHINGTON: Babies who spend time around pet dogs have fewer ear infections and respiratory ailments than those whose homes are animal-free, said a study released on Monday. The study, published in the US journal Pediatrics, did not say why but suggested that being around a dog that spends at least part of its day outdoors may boost a child’s immune system in the first year of life. Cats, too, seemed to convey some protection to babies, though the effect observed was weaker than with dogs. The research was based on
BABIES IN HOMES WITH CATS OR DOGS WERE ABOUT
30 PER CENT LESS LIKELY TO HAVE RESPIRATORY INFECTIOUS SYMPTOMS LIKE COUGH, WHEEZING, RHINITIS (STUFFY OR RUNNY NOSE) AND FEVER AND ABOUT HALF AS LIKELY TO GET EAR INFECTIONS.
397 children in Finland whose parents made diary entries each week recording the state of their child’s health during the infant’s first year, from nine weeks to 52 weeks of age. Overall, babies in homes with cats or dogs were about 30 per cent less likely to have respiratory infectious symptoms — which included cough, wheezing, rhinitis (stuffy or runny nose) and fever — and about half as likely to get ear infections. “If children had dog or cat contacts at home, they were significantly healthier during the study period,” said the study led
by experts at Kuopio University Hospital in Finland. The most protective association was seen in children who had a dog inside at home for up to six hours a day, compared to children who did not have any dogs or who had dogs that were always outside. “We offer preliminary evidence that dog ownership may be protective against respiratory tract infections during the first year of life,” said the study. “We speculate that animal contacts could help to mature
HOUSECALL olitis is an ongoing digestive disease. The main symptom of the disease is swelling of the colon. Other symptoms include: high amounts of pain, tenderness in the abdomen, depression, large amount of weight loss, fatigue, and other, more severe symptoms. Colitis is treated through the use of antibiotics if it is found early, or surgery if it is caught too late. Colitis can have many different causes, including; infections, including those caused by a virus, parasite, and food poisoning due to bacteria, inflammatory disorders (ulcerative colitis and Crohn’s disease), lack of blood flow (ischemic colitis) and past radiation to the large bowel.
tended to need fewer courses of antibiotics compared to those who were reared in pet-free households, it said. Previous research has shown conflicting results, with some studies finding no benefit for young children being around furry pets and others finding that animal contact appears to offer some protection. The study authors said their research differs from previous analyses because it focuses solely on the first postnatal year and does not include older children. AFP
APP-LY YOURSELF
Colitis
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the immunologic system, leading to more composed immunologic response and shorter duration of infections.” The improvement was significant, even after researchers ruled out other factors that could boost infection risk, such as not having been breastfed, attending daycare, being raised by smokers or parents with asthma, or having older siblings in the household. In addition to having less frequent ear infections and respiratory infections, babies near dogs
ho doesn’t like a pair of gorgeous pins? Toned and shapely legs is everyone’s dream especially if you want to flaunt them. The Daily Leg Workout app is a great 5 to 10 minute daily leg routine that steps you through ten of the best lower body exercises. This workout is developed and demonstrated by a certified personal trainer, and spending just minutes a day can strengthen and tone your legs. The routine’s simple interface, complete with video and timer, allows you to easily follow along and understand each exercise.
Bugs spread urinary infections WASHINGTON: Bugs causing serious urinary tract infections stay ahead of the immune system by filching copper to prevent the metal from being used against them, says a study. Copper has been known as a potent weapon against infection for centuries. Blocking this thievery with a drug may significantly improve patients’ chances of warding off infections, according to Washington University School of Medicine researchers. “While some patients are able to clear these infections without issue, in others the infection persists or recurs despite antibiotic therapy,” says senior study author Jeff Henderson, assistant professor of medicine and of molecular microbiology at Washington. “In some cases, the infection spreads to the kidney or the blood and becomes life threatening. We’ve been investigating what’s different about the bacteria that cause these more trouble some infections,” Henderson said. Scientists have known for years that E. coli makes a molecule called yersiniabactin that takes iron from host cells. The bacteria need the iron to grow and reproduce. Researchers placed yersiniabactin in urine samples from healthy patients. They found the molecule bound iron as expected but also picked up copper. Next, they conducted the same analysis in samples from urinary tract infections, treated at the University of Washington in Seattle. IANS
DID YOU KNOW?
Daily Leg Workouts Free
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Your stomach lining is wrinkled
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he lining of the stomach is a rather unique feature. The stomach is essentially an enlarged area of intestines turned into a bag. The stomach lining is responsible for secreting substances used in digestion, and for protecting the rest of the body from the highly acidic environment of the stomach. Some people are surprised to learn that the lining of the stomach is actually highly wrinkled in a series of structures known as rugal folds. As the stomach fills, these folds flatten out, allowing the stomach to expand. Rugal folds allow the stomach to be flexible while keeping it strong so that it will not rupture, although if someone eats enough food, it is in fact possible to cause the stomach to break. The stomach lining is replaced every three to four days. If you didn’t, the strong acids your stomach uses to digest food would also digest your stomach.
Spotlight 1
TUESDAY, JULY 10, 2012 N SHIVA KUMAR
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More than just dance N SHIVA KUMAR
Parvathi Reddy, executive director, NAR Infra, inaugurated a painting exhibition by Pradeep and Sushma at Beyond Coffee, on Monday. The exhibition has been titled Culture Within Nature.
Nature meets Culture
The students of Noopura Kuchipudi Academy performed at the academy’s annual celebration at Ravindra Bharathi on Monday.
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1 Ramya & Sushma 2 Anuttam & Ruchita 3 Parvathi Reddy,Anil Reddy and NR Pradeep
A joyous feast
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The wedding reception of Najaf Ahmed and Sana Siddiqui was held at Le Palais, Secunderabad on Monday. Seen at the event were Asaduddin Owaisi and Mayor Majid Hussain among others. 1
1 Asaduddin Owaisi, Najaf
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SRINIVAS SETTY
Ahmed and Mohd Shafiuddin
2 Sana Siddiqui 3 Zhareen, Amreen & Soha 4 Mayor Majid Hussain 5 Abdul Jabbar 6 Sania
Towards a bright future
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The Pratibha group of companies celebrated their fifth anniversary at the Sri Sathya Sai Nigamagamam, Srinagar Colony on Monday. The chief guest at the event was minister Ponnala Lakshmaiah.
Magic Screen
TUESDAY, JULY 10, 2012
The glamour behind the glitz
Julaayi ’s release date Rana heads to postponed to August? Kerala for KVJ
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ana Daggubati flew to Palakkad, Kerala to shoot for his upcoming film Krishnam Vande Jagadgurum. For the past few weeks he had been shooting continuously for the film in Hyderabad and we hear that some action sequences are going to be shot in Palakkad. After attending the Filmfare Awards in Chennai, along with Trisha, Rana headed to Palakkad to join his film’s crew. “A big Hello from the “Dhoni forest” in a Palakaad!! Super locations and getting some superb stuff together!! #KVJ. Rain, Green, Smoke, Fire, Guns, Leeches, Bugs, Wild Animal noises, Vijayan, Nayan, Krish and I all this on Day 1. Madness to the fullest!! (sic),” he posted on Twitter. Nayanthara is playing the lead role in the film. Krish is directing it and Y Rajeev Reddy and Saibabu Jagarlamudi are jointly producing the film. Mani Sharma is composing the music.
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T-TOWN TWEETIES
@actor_Nikhil Just met The Legend Ramanaidu sir... He looks forever jolly and youthful... He blessed me 4 my new movie... Thank u Naidu sir...
@prakashraaj CGRB...worked with pawan on puri s sets after Badri. It was sheer magic. Get ready for a sensational film to hit the Telugu screen from Puri.
@tashu_02
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n a dramatic turn of events, Allu Arjun’s Julaayi has been postponed. The film starring Allu Arjun and Ileana was all set to hit the screens on July 13. Trivikram Srinivas had directed the film and N Radhakrishna produced it. “The official date of release hasn’t been confirmed yet. The makers are planning to release the film’s Telugu and Malayalam version in a big way in Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Chennai and Kerala. Moreover, Ramzan season is just around the corner. After delib-
erating on all these factors, the producer will make an announcement soon,” a source informs us. DSP has composed the music. Meanwhile, S S Rajamouli’s Eega is doing roaring business in Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu. Surprisingly, the opening box office figures are on par with numbers which are usually associated with a big hero’s release. Sai Korrapati and Suresh Babu haven’t officially announced anything but if the buzz is anything to go by, Eega is poised to be one of the biggest hits of the year.
I’ll always be loyal to TDP
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TR has reiterated once again that he’ll always remain loyal to Telugu Desam Party (TDP). His statement comes close on the heels of his long time friend and former TDP MLA Kodali Nani’s decision to join YS Jagan’s YSR Congress party. Couple of days ago, TDP suspended Kodali Nani and all eyes were on NTR to make a statement regarding these developments. “I am not the script writer or director for Kodali Nani’s political moves. I am with Telugu Desam Party and will continue with the party that was established by my grandfather,” NTR said in a press conference, clarifying his stance on the issue. The actor flew to Italy last night to join the cast and crew of his upcoming film Baadshah. Sreenu Vaitla is already in Italy and we hear that the film’s principal shooting will begin as soon as NTR joins the team. Kajal is playing the lead role. Thaman is scoring the music and Ganesh Babu is producing it.
Humble request— plz read all earlier tweets before asking smthin dat I already mentioned..Ask abt smthin I dint mention, instead wat u skipped!
@me_sushanth Ok so federer is world no.1... Now that order is restored, I’m back to normal life and more importantly, back to work! Lots to do...
@taapsee Just can’t stop admiring @iHrithik whenever I c jodha Akbar. How can a man possibly b so perfect looking! Wonder how will I react wen I c him.
@ssrajamouli Rajani sir’s comment to @kicchasudeep With his trademark guffaw.. “I thought I was the best villain to date. But you beat me to it”.
@richyricha Homemade chocolate shops in every nook and corner in Ooty! Along w special Nilgiri teas and essential oils 4 health :)
@RanaDaggubati Rain, Green, Smoke, Fire, Guns, Leeches, Bugs, Wild Animal noises, Vijayan, Nayan, Krish and I all this on Day 1. Madness to the fullest!!
Magic Screen
TUESDAY, JULY 10, 2012
The glamour behind the glitz
Rating films tough: Big B
B-TOWN TWEETIES
@SrBachchan
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T 799 - Brand Name Blog is ‘Bachchan Bol’... nothing to do with the film with Abhishek. ‘Bol’ is Bachchan on line... Cool eh!
ating a movie or predicting its fate at the box office is not easy for trade pundits, says Bollywood megastar Amitabh Bachchan, who admires the work put in by trade magazines. Talking about the importance of such magazines in the industry, the superstar said: “Today, this is yet another example of how important news about trade is for us, producers and people in general. I know it is a very difficult task to be able to give opinion and ratings...to say what is going to work and what is not going to.” The actor was speaking at the launch of new trade magazine — Blockbuster — by producer TP Agarwal. Big B unveiled its first edition on Sunday. “Whatever you write in these magazines is going to influence the thinking of billions of people across the world. Therefore, I really admire people who go through the process of wanting to initiate something like this because I know how difficult a task it is. My very best wishes for the magazine,” said Big B. Sanjay Dutt, Jaya Prada and Prachi Desai among others were present at the event. IANS
I hope I can do romantic films even at 50: Saif
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e is in his 40s and will be seen in romanticcomedy Cocktail soon. Actor Saif Ali Khan says that he hopes do a romcom even when he is ten years older. Saif has tasted box office success and audience appreciation whenever he did a romcom: Kal Ho Na Ho (2003), Hum Tum (2004), Salaam Namaste (2005), Love Aaj Kal (2009). “I hope I can do romantic films at the age of 50. There is no age for romance. If the story is nice and the character suits you then why not do it. It is not like you can do only action films at a certain age. As long as you look good doing the part, there should not be any problem,” Saif said in an interview. In Cocktail, he plays a flirt, opposite Diana Penty and Deepika Padukone. PTI
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@iamsrk Now that finally Higgs Boson has been found, let’s turn our attention back to the most important human quest! The cure for the common cold...
@GulPanag Tonight we’re hosted by the Fauj. Looking forward to a good night’s sleep. It’s been a long tumultuous day. #roadtrip
@priyankachopra
Kunder plans to shoot Kick from November
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ditor-turn-director Shirish Kunder, who is now working on post-production of Joker, says he plans to shoot Salman Khan-starrer Kick from November. The filmmaker said, “My film ‘Kick’ will go on the floors from November. We have not decided the exact dates yet...it also depends on Salman’s dates.” As far as the leading lady is concerned, “It is not yet finalised. It will take some time,” he added. Kunder had teamed up with Salman and Akshay Kumar in his directorial debut Jaan-EMan. Released in 2006, it also featured Preity Zinta, but despite big names it didn’t click at the box office. Right now Kunder’s focus is on Joker, which has Akshay and Sonakshi Sinha in the lead roles. “Currently, I am completely involved with my project Joker. It is in the post-production stage and I am busy with Joker,” he said. IANS
Sitting by the pool before studio n thinking what kind of song to make today... it used to fascinate me when dad wud talk about how musics made
@deespeak Federer’s grit, resilience, his STAMINA (which in my opinion is his weapon of mass destruction!) is what FAITH is about. Faith is not blind.
@RahulBose1 Off to conduct a 2day acting workshop and rugby clinic at Sahyadri School near Pune. If you can’t get a double role on screen...
@bipsluvurself So I missed Avengers, GOW and The Amazing Spiderman! Need to see these films!
@shreyaghoshal Well its being 3 amazing yrs here on twitter for me... The love that u have shown all this while is incredible. I love you so much. Thank u: D
Magic Screen
TUESDAY, JULY 10, 2012
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Magic Screen
TUESDAY, JULY 10, 2012
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Magic Screen
TUESDAY, JULY 10, 2012
The glamour behind the glitz
i~Çó=d~d~ My new album will lack maturity
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Disney passes $1bn mark in 2012 US box office
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ady GaGa has hinted at the tone of her next album, saying it will “lack maturity.” The Marry the Night singer is currently on her Born This Way ball tour, and gave the brief titbit while performing in Perth on Sunday. During an interlude, GaGa addressed the crowd: “Let’s just say I feel, I feel that when I wrote Born This Way, I demonstrated a sense of maturity. “And I feel that, on the next album, there’s a lack of maturity, it’s a tremendous lack of maturity or sense of responsibility.” The 26-year-old performer then launched into her controversial new song Princess Die. Last month, GaGa announced that she will reveal more details on her upcoming album in September.
Katie’s next movie role: Single Mum
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D
isney has passed the $1 billion (£645.5 million) mark this year in the American movie box office. The studio’s summer releases have lent to stellar earnings, with films such as Brave drawing in millions of dollars. Marvel’s The Avengers earned its parent company over $600 million (£387.3 million), becoming the third highest-selling movie of all
his is some serious method acting. We’re assuming life is pretty hectic for Katie Holmes right now, but the actress is continuing to take on different movie roles to kick her career into full throttle. Even if the part plays a little close to home. According to People magazine, Holmes will begin production next week for her latest project Molly, a film she cowrote and is coproducing, about the life of a single mum and her daughter. Sound familiar? Yeah, kinda makes us wonder just how long this Tom Cruise divorce drama has been brewing, but anyway... Filming will be in New York City, close to Katie’s new digs, and is scheduled to last until August.
time. This is Disney’s seventh year in a row breaking the $1 billion benchmark. Other blockbusters expected to bring in big money for the company later this year include Tim Burton’s upcoming animated feature Frankenweenie, starring Winona Ryder and Catherine O’Hara. Another animated film, Wreck-It Ralph, is due for release in November this 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, JULY 10, 2012
Take a shot at the brain game while sipping your cuppa
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QUICK CROSSWORD ACROSS 1 Deep sleep state 4 Court awards 11 ‘Boom-bah’ lead-in 14 ‘What ___ supposed to think?’ 15 Steep part of a glacier 16 Explosive trio of letters 17 Ultimate moment of truth 19 Santa ___ winds 20 Extremely light wood 21 ‘The drink of the gods’ 23 Ahead of schedule 25 Accountant, briefly 28 Bus driver's circuit 29 Alternative to JVC or Panasonic, once 30 Adult elvers 32 Bee ___ (‘Stayin' Alive’ group) 33 To feel sorrow 37 Give someone a shake, say 39 Pressure time for many salespeople 43 ‘Violet’ or ‘sound’ introduction 44 Slithering squeezer 46 Campus marchers (Abbr) 49 Drinks daintily 51 ‘ ___ I saw Elba’ 52 April Fools' Day sign 54 Tire inflation meas 55 ‘Custer's Last ___’ 57 Straight shooting, so to speak 59 ‘Billboard’ feature 61 Type or kind 62 Period immediately before Easter 67 ‘The Sum of ___ Fears’ 68 ‘M*A*S*H’ corporal 69 Is for a few? 70 Strong sodium solution 71 Words before ‘wear’ or ‘serve’ 72 Provide staff for DOWN 1 The Brits in colonial India 2 Aussie bird that can't fly 3 Cerebrum's neighbour
4 How haunted houses are lit 5 Prized blackjack cards 6 Dennis of the comics, for one 7 Away from the bow 8 ___ about (roam) 9 Dash and splash 10 More crafty 11 Pigeon's park perch 12 Evident since birth 13 Fixed gazes 18 Word with ‘Friday’ or ‘pal’ 22 Compelling, as an argument 23 Work measurement unit 24 Farmland unit 26 ‘Could be’ 27 Lotion ingredient 31 Drainage pump 34 Brought forth 35 TV control (Abbr)
36 Baby newts 38 Chop suey sauce 40 Business undertaking 41 '80s TV adventure series 42 Unicorn feature, eg 45 William in ‘Body Heat’ 46 Kind of equality 47 Aloud 48 Bell sound 50 Catania locale 53 Profoundly deep sleep 55 Big name in electronic products 56 Credit reporting co now known as Experian 58 Far from well done 60 ‘Remington
SUDOKU
Steele’ character Laura 63 ___ of Tranquility 64 A famous Caesar 65 Important time in history 66 ‘One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest’ author Kesey PREVIOUS PUZZLE ANSWER
THOUGHT OF THE DAY A positive attitude may not solve all your problems, but it will annoy enough people to make it worth the effort. – Herm Albright
Chai Time STAR POWER
TUESDAY, JULY 10, 2012
Your tomorrow today̶Star Power and Tarot THIRUVAIKUMAR
As per Hindu panchang
FOR 11-7-2012
thiruvaikumar@yahoo.co.in 040-27177230 / 9177596118
TAURUS
GEMINI
You might come to know about your son or daughter's love affair. Avoid anger and analyse the pros and cons to take a suitable decision. Take care of your health; do not get emotional.
You will reap benefits for good things done in the past. Family will be in happy atmosphere and prosper steadi‑ ly. Financial situation will look up gradually. Tensions will disappear.
Good news on the cards. Artists will get good opportunities and earn name and fame with improvement in finan‑ cial situation. Blood relatives will ben‑ efit. Employees might get upset.
CANCER
LEO
VIRGO
Children will make you proud and happy. Happy events taking place at home will bring cheer to the family. Held‑up good events will resume and take place without any further hurdles.
Romance matter will gain importance but be careful about future conseque‑ nces and take appropriate decision. Encourage children and support them well to achieve their goals.
Businessmen will prosper well. Be flex‑ ible and adjust with blood relatives. Be careful while expressing opinions and never hurt anyone. Avoid unwanted arguments. Couple advised to adjust.
LIBRA
SCORPIO
SAGITTARIUS
Your charisma will increase. Chances of buying more movable and immov‑ able assets. Your self‑confidence and skills will help you in achieving goals. You will undertake a journey.
Health problem likely. Take care with‑ out negligence. Couple are advised not to magnify minor issues and get into misunderstandings. Some get a good opportunity to go abroad.
Be prepared to go abroad as opportu‑ nity is expected any moment. Employ‑ ees will be relaxed as problems at workplace will disappear. Friends and well‑wishers will extend support.
CAPRICORN
AQUARIUS
PISCES
Regarding matters related to foreign trip, don't act in a hurry. Speed alone does not work as matters are related with govt office. Family members will support you; do not hurt anybody.
Regarding efforts to go for a new job; postpone this for sometime as time is not favourable. You will become more active and complete all work well within the scheduled time.
Applied loan will get sanctioned. Un‑ expected fortune likely. Things will work out fast and successful beyond expectation will surprise you. Postpone plans to buy a vehicle for a while.
SUMAA TEKUR
FOR 11-7-2012
tarotreadhyd@gmail.com
ARIES
TAURUS
GEMINI
Four of Pentacles – If you havenʼt worked on filing your taxes yet, you should start. Itʼs not difficult. It just takes time com‑ mitment. The sooner you do it, the better.
Eight of Wands – Fo‑ reign travel is in the offing. You may be apprehensive about travelling alone. But you will actually enjoy the experience. Do stop worrying.
Ten of Pentacles – Your emotions are not in control. You may feel very strong‑ ly about something just because you feel a certain way and not because it affects you.
CANCER
LEO
VIRGO
Nine of Pentacles – You want to be left alone. You need your own space and time and will do anything to get that – even be rude to people close to you.
Seven of Wands – You are tired of the politics in your office and want to take a break. This is like being on a treadmill and able to get out only when you leave.
Page of Swords – Your brain is on overdrive. You have some excellent ideas and want to share these with the boss‑ es. They may no take you seriously.
LIBRA
SCORPIO
SAGITTARIUS
Nine of Cups – This is an amazing card of luck and intuition. It tells that you are on the right track, and knowingly or unkno‑ wingly will end up doing the right thing.
Five of Swords – Some miscommuni‑ cation is likely. You may have to deal with coworkers who donʼt buy in com‑ pletely to your way of doing things.
Ten of Swords – You are entering a period of turmoil and uncer‑ tainty. The one thing that will help you through this period is positive thinking. Believe in yourself.
CAPRICORN
AQUARIUS
PISCES
Three of Pentacles – You have been work‑ ing very hard, and this is about to pay off. A contact with a famous person will earn you a fantastic job, your dream job!
The Lovers – Try not to be too selfish in your attitude while dealing with people in office and home. You want to be loved and appreciated. You must also give love.
The Hierophant – Use prayer and med‑ itation to calm you down. You have been desperate about get‑ ting something for a while now. You will get that in time.
For Better or for Worse Stone soup
SOLUTIONS
Boggle DAY YEAR SECOND MINUTE DECADE CENTURY
Number game
Suduko
Scrabble
Ink pen
COMICS
Fred Basset
ARIES
TAROT READ
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Vol: 1, No 358 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, JULY 10, 2012
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DAYS TO GO
DID YOU KNOW...? n The IAAF announced on 12 August 2008 that they had rescinded the world record of 2:54.20 set by the USA 4x400m team (Jerome Young, Antonio Pettigrew, Tyree Washington, Michael Johnson) on 22 July 1998 after Pettigrew admitted to using human growth hormone and EPO between 1997 and 2003.
LEGENDS OF THE SPORT Evelyn Ashford (born April 15, 1957) is a 1984 Olympic champion in the 100 m as well as 4x100m relay. She has run under the 11 second barrier over 30 times and was the first to run under 11 seconds in an Olympic Games. She has four Olympic gold medals (one 100m and three 4x100m relay) and one Olympic silver medal (100m) to her credit.
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Michael Johnson (born September 13, 1967) won four Olympic gold medals and eight world championship gold medals. Johnson currently holds the world and Olympic records in the 400 m and 4 x 400 meters relay. He formerly held the world and Olympic reco-rd in the 200 m, and the world record in the indoor 400 m. His 200 m time of 19.32 at the 1996 Games stood as the record for over 12 years.
BATON ROUGE
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n The women’s 4x100m world record stands at 41.37 seconds, set by East Germany in 1985. n In the women’s 4x100m event, the United States was considered by many to be the strongest team after years of East German domination, but failed to make it to the finals in the 2008 Olympic Summer Games when they dropped the baton during the transfer from Torri Edwards to Lauryn Williams during the semifinals.
46 4X100M RELAY, 4X400M RELAY: Each of
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the four athletes in the team must run with a baton in his hand, passing it on to the next athlete in the team until the final athlete crosses the finishing line. Each athlete runs one 100m leg of the track. The changeover is the crucial point in the Relay race. In case of the 4x400m relay, the distance run by each athlete is 400m. The key is for both athletes to be running at speed while passing the baton within the defined zone.
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TALLY 2008
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Competition format
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USA 7 RUSSIA 6 JAMAICA 6
9 5 3
7 7 2
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The medals are for all the athletic events at the 2008 Games
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MEDAL EVENTS
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August 10 Women’s 4x100m Relay Men’s 4 x 400m Relay
August 11 Women’s 4x400m Relay Men’s 4 x 400m Relay
The format is same for both the events, the only thing that varies is the distance covered by each athletes in
THE LINGO Anchor: The last runner in a relay race. Breakline: An arc across the track denoting the point where runners may leave their original lane and use any part of the track, which is normally the inside lane. Crouch start: The crouched position all sprinters must assume before starting a race. Changeover: The passing of the baton from one runner to the next. the respective events. While the each athlete covers 400 meters in the 4x400m relay, In the 4x100m relay, every athlete has to cover a dis-
tance of 100 meters. Both the competitions start with heats. The number of heats present as well as the number of teams which progress to the next round depends on the number of teams competing. In each heat the best-placed teams go through, as well as a set number of the fastest losing teams across all the heats. The following rounds run on the same format, until eight teams qualify for the final. The draw to determine which heat teams run in is decided by their initial seedings (based on previous performance) for the first round, and then their performances after that. This ensures that the highest seeded teams are not drawn in the same heat.
Keys to success A good start for the first athlete is vital. The winning teams also pass the baton in the most efficient manner – with both athletes maintaining as near to top speed as possible. An athlete who starts running too early risks having to slow down again or run out of the changeover zone, and an athlete who leaves it too late loses momentum
Breaking the rules Although it is not against the rules to drop the baton, crucial time is lost picking it up, and if in doing so one team obstructs another team, they are disqualified. The baton must also be passed within the designated zone.
THE ROLE OF THE BATON
A
relay baton is carried by each runner and must be passed within a 20 m changeover box which extends 10 m on either side of each 100 m mark. Another line is marked 10 m further back, marking the earliest point at which the outgoing runner
may begin. Transferring of the baton in this race is typically blind. The outgoing runner reaches a straight arm backwards when they enter the changeover box, or when the incoming runner makes a verbal signal. The outgoing runner does not look backwards, and it
is the responsibility of the incoming runner to thrust the baton into the outstretched hand, and not let go until the outgoing runner takes hold of it. Runners on the first and third legs typically run on the inside of the lane with the baton in their right hand, while
runners on the second and fourth take the baton in their left. Polished handovers can compensate for a lack of basic speed to some extent, and disqualification for dropping the baton or failing to transfer it within the box is common, even at the highest level.
TUESDAY, JULY 10, 2012
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DAYS TO GO
DAI TO CAPTAIN BRITAIN SIDE LONDON: World 400 metres champion Dai Greene will captain Great Britain’s athletics team at the 2012 London Olympics which is to be held this month, it was announced on Monday. The 26-year-old is one of Britain’s best hopes for winning the track gold as he looks to complete a clean sweep of major titles by adding an Olympic gold to his world titles, European and Commonwealth honours. The Welshman said: “It is an incredible privilege to be asked to captain the British athletics team at any time, but to be given the honour at a home Olympic Games is just incredible.” Greene’s appointment will also go some way to ensuring there is no repeat of the ‘Plastic Brits’ controversy which overshadowed Britain’s involvement at the World Indoor Championships in March when United States-born Tiffany Porter was named as the captain of the team. The indoor 60 metres hurdler — who won the silver medal in the indoor final — was asked by a reporter to recite the first verse of ‘God Save the Queen’, the British national anthem, but declined. She insisted she did know the words but did not want to sing in public. Porter is one of a handful of athletes dubbed ‘Plastic
Brits’ because they switched allegiance to represent Britain. Another is Havana-born triple jumper Yamile Aldama, who had been spoken of as a possible London 2012 team captain The 39-year-old, world indoor champion, competed for Cuba at the 2000 Olympics and for Sudan four years later. But she is married to a Scot and has lived in Britain for over a decade. Aldama gained British citizenship in 2010. Greene previously captained the team last year at the European Team Championships in Sweden and UK Athletics head coach Charles van Commenee said: “Dai was a stand out
It is an incredible privilege to be asked to captain the team at any time, but to be given the honour at an Olympic Games is just incredible. Dai Greene, British athlete candidate for the London Olympic Games 2012 captaincy. “He is a very professional athlete who is both liked and respected by the rest of the team,” van Commenee, him-
self a Dutchman went on to added. “He knows what it takes to win at the highest level and that is a valuable experience to share with the team.” Greene made a slow start to the season, following a knee operation. However, he produced a personal best of 47.84 seconds,just 0.02secs outside Kriss Akabusi’s 20-year-old British record, to finish second to this season’s world number one Javier Culson at the Diamond League meeting on Friday which was held in Paris. And the way Greene closed on the Puerto Rican in the final stages, indicated he could be quicker still at the Olympics. AFP
Lithuania loses berth over doping VILNIUS: Lithuania has lost its slot in the London Olympics weightlifting competitions after an athlete from the Baltic state failed an anti-doping test, the team coach said on Monday. “Certainly we won’t be participating at the Games. The reason is doping,” Bronislovas Vysniauskas, who is also vice-president of the Lithuanian weightlifting federation, told AFP. He said that one team member had tested positive for a banned substance in
the wake of April’s European championships in Turkey, but refused to disclose the name or any other details, saying the investigation was still underway. Lithuania was stripped of its berth on July 2, another federation official said. It had only qualified for one slot in London. Among the country’s biggest names are Aurimas Didzbalis and the coach’s son Ramunas Vysniauskas, 35. Didzbalis won silver at the European championships in the 94kg category while Ramunas finished 11th in 105 kg category. AFP
Radwanska to carry Poland’s flag at the Olympics
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WARSAW: Defeated Wimbledon finalist and world number two Agnieszka Radwanska, one of Poland’s highestprofile sports stars, is to carry her country’s flag at the opening ceremony of the London Olympics. The Polish Olympic Committee made the announcement on Monday, two days after the 23-yearold — a Wimbledon junior champion in 2005 — lost 6-1, 5-7, 6-2 to five-time title winner Serena Williams. Radwanska, the first Polish Grand Slam finalist for 73 years, is one of seven Poles competing in the Olympic tennis tournament. Both she and her 21-year-old sister Urszula, who ranks 54th in the world, will compete in the singles. They will also be linking up for the doubles tournament, with Klaudia Jans-Ignacik and Alicja Rosolska forming the second Polish women’s pair. World number 68 Lukasz Kubot will compete in the men’s singles. Madrid Open doubles winners Mariusz Fyrstenberg and Marcin Matkowski — will represent Poland in their favored discipline.
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v
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Solo only warned after testing positive COLORADO: Hope Solo, the starting goalkeeper for the defending champion United States women’s Olympic football squad, has been given only a warning after a positive doping test. The US Anti-Doping Agency (USADA) announced the violation and punishment on Monday, 16 days before the Americans are set to open their Olympic campaign against France in Glasgow, Scotland.
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Playing Field
TUESDAY, JULY 10, 2012
The games people play
30
Choosing the right frame G Aparna Sai aparna.s@postnoon.com
H
e manoeuvres the ball perfectly with his cue to see it land in the expected pocket. He does it with superb poise and his focus never shifts from the table at any point in the game. While the spectators watch with batted breath, Lucky Vatnani maintains his calm and gently shifts the game in his favour. The 26-year-old Snooker player is currently ranked number 3 in the country. With his present form it seems highly likely that he would make his way into the squad which will represent the country at the World Cup in November in Egypt. Winner of numerous titles, Lucky’s first tryst with the sport came at the age of 13. “I used to accompany my elder brother to a pool parlour in Banjara Hills. That was how I actually got involved with this game,” Lucky
told this newspaper. He soon developed an interest in the game and followed his passion. Recognising his talents, the Karvy Group came forward to sponsor him. They have been sponsoring him since five years and this, Lucky feels has helped in giving shape to his dreams. An alumnus from the Sheffield Hallam in the United Kingdom, Lucky did exceptionally well at the University level. “I played at an inter-university level when I was pursuing MBA in UK. It involved many colleges from all across Europe. I won that tournament and it was a big boost for me,” he said. He gives credit to Peter Ebdon, a former world champion, who supported him during his days in UK. The newly wed groom who tied the knot on June 20 this year, is very extremely sure about his goals. Unlike many sportsmens who pursue a job alongside their sporting career, Lucky chooses to stick by his game and make that his career. “I am happy playing Snooker and that is what I shall do. I do
Selected Results Himangshu bt Manan Chandra
3-2 2-1
Neena bt Chithra
Arantxa Sanchis bt Keerath Bhandal
2-0
Shahbaaz Adil Khan bt Himangshu
3-2
not have any other job and this is my career,” says the Liverpool fan who turned a pro last year. When asked about what he thought about India’s chances were at the upcoming World Cup, the young cueist sounded positive. “All the participants are mentally very strong. Whoever is selected, will surely put their best foot forward and we hope to do extremely well at the tournament,” he added.
“The growth of the game has increased over the past few years. Many youngsters are taking up the game and with the backing that is present, people can even purse it as a career,” said the Ronnie O Sullivan fan on the state of the sport in the country. “If the number of tournaments held are a little more, then there would be more match practice and this would improve our chances of doing even better at the international level.” Not only does he have an interest in the games, he enjoys learning new things. One of his latest interest is dancing. “I learnt dancing for my wedding which was in Shimla and I enjoyed it throughly,” he concludes with a smile.
Playing Field
TUESDAY, JULY 10, 2012
The games people play
31
Mancini extends Man City stay
STANFORD:
Serena Williams, who seized her 14th Grand Slam singles title at Wimbledon on Saturday, was preparing for a change of scene this week with her hard-court WTA title defence at Stanford. Organisers said topseeded Williams would launch her Stanford campaign on Wednesday, giving her a bit of time to catch her breath after defeating Poland's Agnieszka Radwanska in the women's singles final on the grass courts of the All England Club. Williams, who also teamed with sister Venus to win the Wimbledon women's doubles title, suffered through two foot surgeries and blood clots on her lungs in 2010-2011 before returning to tennis just over a year ago. And she seemed eager to ride the momentum of her Wimbledon triumph at the famed Californian university. "Just let me do a little bit at a time," she said. "I have never felt better." Williams, who has a first-round bye as one of the top four seeds, will face either US wild card Nicole Gibbs or Thai qualifier
Non-stop Serena set to go at Stanford One in four Brits watched men's final LONDON: More than a quarter of the British population tuned in to watch home favourite Andy Murray in the Wimbledon men's final, figures released Monday showed. Murray's failed bid Sunday to become the first British Wimbledon men's singles champion since 1936 drew the highest domestic television audience for a Wimbledon final since at least 1990, the BBC said. The British Broadcasting Corporation said viewing figures for the nailbiting match peaked at 16.9 million. The Office for National Statistics' latest population estimate, for mid-2010, gives a figure of 62.262 million, meaning that around 27 percent of the British population tuned in to watch the match. Murray, the first British Wimbledon men's finalist since 1938, was beaten 4-6, 7-5, 6-3, 6-4 by Swiss great Roger Federer, who won his seventh Wimbledon crown and returned to the top of the world rankings. Noppawan Lertcheewakarn in her second-round opener. The 30-year-old American, who has risen to number four in the world rankings, was booked for her first practice session early Tuesday as she makes
a brief switch from grass to hard courts. Later this month she will return to London where the 2012 Olympic tennis competition will be held at Wimbledon starting on July 28 — one day after the Games' opening ceremony.
Sandwiched this season between Wimbledon and the Summer Games, Stanford has suffered a rash of withdrawals. France's Marion Bartoli, the 2009 winner, is the second seed, followed by Slovakia's Dominika Cibulkova and Serbian Jelena Jankovic. Williams beat Bartoli 75, 6-1 in last year's Stanford final. Wimbledon semi-finalist Angelique Kerber pulled out with a lower back complaint and fellow German Sabine Lisicki — a Wimbledon quarter-finalist, withdrew citing an abdominal strain. China's Peng Shuai, Romanian Monica Niculescu, Wimbledon semi-finalist Tamira Paszek and Americans Christina McHale and Varvara Lepchenko also pulled out citing injuries or illness. AFP
MANCHESTER: Manchester City manager Roberto Mancini has agreed terms on a new deal that will keep the Italian at Eastlands for another five years, the English Premier League champions said Monday. "Manchester City Football Club today are pleased to announce that a new contract has been agreed with manager Roberto Mancini," said a club statement. "The deal, which runs until the summer of 2017, follows the club's most successful season in more than four decades, which concluded in the most dramatic of circumstances in the team's thrilling 3-2 win over Queens Park Rangers in May this year." That victory, on the final day of the season, saw City crowned champions of England for the first time in 44 years as they pipped local rivals and defending title-holders Manchester United to the Premier League trophy on goal difference. Former Inter Milan boss Mancini replaced Mark Hughes, now in charge of top-flight rivals Queens Park Rangers, when the Welshman was sacked in December 2009. In his first full season with City, Mancini ended the club's 35-year wait for major silverware by guiding the team to the FA Cup and also secured Champions League football with a third-place finish in the Premier League. "I am delighted to be able to give all of my efforts to Manchester City for a further five years," Mancini told City's official website on Monday. "The opportunity which exists to build on our recent success is enormous," he added. AFP
Playing Field LONDON: McLaren are relying on major upgrades scheduled for the German Grand Prix to reignite their world title chances after failing to match the pace of rival teams at Sunday’s British Grand Prix. McLaren duo Lewis Hamilton and Jenson Button could only manage eighth and tenth respectively at Silverstone and were a long way off matching the lap times set by frontrunners Red Bull and Ferrari. McLaren boss Martin Whitmarsh admitted it was now left to the team to react positively and pinned the team’s hopes on a significant upgrade package scheduled for Hockenheim in two weeks time to get them back on track. “We weren’t quick enough, period,” said Whitmarsh. “It is always disappointing if you are not competitive and certainly at the end of the race we were not, and through no fault of the drivers - both of them did a good job. “We’ve got a decent, bigger, more visible upgrade package for Germany and we’ve got to deliver that and make that stick. It’s the same old game, we have got to develop the car, and we have got to make sure we use the tyres better.” Whitmarsh added that he was happier with the team’s improved
TUESDAY, JULY 10, 2012
The games people play
McLaren hope to upgrade show
Armstrong lawsuit against USADA rejected AUSTIN: A federal judge dismissed a lawsuit filed Monday by Lance Armstrong against the US Anti-Doping Agency (USADA) but said the seven-time Tour de France winner can refile it within 20 days. US District Judge Sam Sparks criticized Armstrong’s lawyers for the 80-page filing in tossing it out, saying it smacked of a public relations move rather than a challenge to the body that imposes doping sanctions on US athletes. But Sparks also said that he was not ruling on the merits of the lawsuit and that the US legend could present it again. AFP
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consistency and pit stops, which have blighted their race chances on several occasions this season, but underlined that ultimately their car was just not fast enough. “The average of all three pit stops was sub three seconds, which is something we have been working on,” he said. “But fundamentally, good pit stops, a good couple of drivers, solid drives, bad qualifying, but no events upon which we could capitalise. Just not quick enough is the school report.” The 54-year-old also played down rumours that 2008 champion Hamilton, whose contract is up for renewal at the end of the season, had been affected by the team’s slump in form and was considering a move to a rival team. Whitmarsh suggested that the 27-year-old, now fourth in the title-race and 37 points behind championship leader Fernando Alonso of Ferrari, would be able to overlook the team’s current slump. “I think he is smarter than that” said Whitmarsh, “and he knows that racing is highs and lows. This hasn’t been one of the highs this weekend, four weeks ago it was a different situation, two weeks’ time it could be a different situation again. He knows that, I know that.” AFP
Hurt Boucher’s tour in limbo LONDON: South Africa wicket-keeper Mark Boucher’s hopes of featuring in the upcoming Test series against England were put on hold after he suffered a potentially career-ending eye injury on Monday. The 35-year-old, who had hinted this could be his final campaign before retirement, was hit in the face when a bail ricocheted off the stumps after Gemaal Hussain was bowled by Imran Tahir during the first day of the Proteas’ tour opener against English county Somerset at Taunton. Boucher, as would be expected for leg-spinner Tahir, was standing up to the stumps, but he was wearing a cap rather than a helmet. After treatment on the field, Boucher was helped off with blood coming from his left eye and taken to hospital His place behind the stumps was filled by AB de Villiers, who has kept wicket in international matches for South Africa. Were Boucher to feature in all three Test this series, he would reach the coveted 150mark but at the close of play South Africa team manager Dr Mohammad Moosajee said that was unlikely. “I don’t think he will be
ready for the first Test (at The Oval starting on July 19), if the series, but I would like to wait for the information the surgery gives us.” Moosajee, explaining the
extent of the damage done to Boucher, added: “It is a significant injury. “Mark sustained a direct blow to the left eye, which resulted in a laceration to the
white part. “It is what we call an eyeball rupture. “The ophthalmic surgeon had a look at him at the Accident and Emergency Unit and decided that he needed to undergo exploratory surgery to identify the extent of the damage. “He will need a general anaesthetic so there has to be a six-hour gap since he last ate a meal. That means the operation will be performed at around 7pm (1800GMT). “After the operation we will talk to the surgeon again. With eye injuries one cannot make predictions. “From a medical point of view a lot depends on whether there is damage to the retina, which allows us to see and focus. We won’t know about that until after the surgery. “The surgeons will be able to give us a better indication of the damage after the operation. Then it will take 48 to 72 hours for the swelling to start going down,” Moosajee added. Boucher has been a mainstay of the South Africa side for 15 years, appearing in 147 Tests and becoming the first wicket-keeper to take 500 catches in Test cricket; he has also scored five hundreds. AFP