Postnoon E-Paper for 15 August 2012 by Scribble Media & Entertainment Pvt. Ltd.

WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 15, 2012 HYDERABAD

WEATHER: A MIX OF CLOUDY AND CLEAR SKIES; 25°C

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32 PAGES

HYDERABAD’S FIRST COMPACT AFTERNOON NEWSPAPER

CITY CELEBRATES INDIA

The City came out to celebrate the country’s Independence Day with much fanfare. For once all the ills that plague us were forgotten in the hope that the country will heal.

YOUTH GETS FREEDOM ON I-DAY Sounds like a script of a Bollywood masala film. Only, it’s a true story that happened in Hyderabad. A 10-yearold Kannadiga boy who was missing for 12 years was traced to a dairy farm in Ameen Colony of Saidabad last night, where he was held a bonded labourer.

INDIA!

It’s been a year of spectacular highs and disturbing lows for India. If on the one hand, it has taken giant strides in science and technology, its people still continue to fight social, political and economical battles. Take a look.

P16&17

REPORT ON P5,8 &9

WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 15, 2012

city events

GRIZZLY MAN

Head to Lamakaan to witness a heartrending take on grizzly bear activists Timothy Treadwell and Amie Huguenard in Alaska in 2003. The film titled Grizzly Man will be shown at Lamakaan, Banjara Hills on August 17 at 7.30pm.

Weather for Hyderabad

Evening

overnight

Morning

Afternoon

27°C

21°C

26°C

32°C

A mix of cloudy and clear

clear with cloudy periods

A mix of cloud and sun

New Delhi Mumbai Max 37 Max 31 Min 27 Min 29 Mostly sunny

Chennai Max 38 Min 29

Thunderstorms

Bangalore Max 31 Min 20

A mix of cloud and sun

Mostly cloudy with showers

AROUND THE CITY YOUR GUIDE TO THE TWIN CITIES lingual theatre festival — Abhinaya National Theatre Festival will be held. Where: Ravindra Bharathi, Saifabad When: August 16 onwards 6.30pm onwards Contact: (040) 2323 1245

DINING Middle Eastern food fest Head to the Dining Room at Park Hyatt for the Middle Eastern Food Festival. It is open for both lunch and dinner. The food festival is on till August 20. Where: Park Hyatt, Banjara Hills, Rd No 2 When: Ongoing, 12pm onwards and 6pm onwards Contact: (040) 4949 1200 Dosa festival If you love dosas then head to this dosa festival. Idly Dosa People is hosting a food festival that is offering a variety of dosas such as palak dosa, corn dosa etc. Where: IDP, Hitec City When: Ongoing, 11am onwards Contact: (040) 6631 0300

Monsoon mania Ramoji Film City celebrates the onset of monsoon with eight weeks of activities and entertainment from July 1 to August 31. Where: Ramoji Film City, Hayathnagar When: Ongoing, 9am onwards Contact: (040) 2341 2262

ART SHOW THE WAY: Children practice for the Independence Day celebrations at the Parade Ground in Secunderabad a N SHIVA KUMAR day before the annual parade on the occasion of India’s 65th Independence Day. Smooth operators Tease Lounge at Vivanta by Taj presents Smooth Operators Night every Friday with DJ Mohit. Where: Tease Bar, Vivanta by Taj, Begumpet When: Every Friday, 7.30pm onwards Contact: (040) 6725 2626

Jash-E-Eid-Ul Fitr Break your fast with ITC Kakatiya’s special Iftar buffet which includes flavoured Sherbets, rich Haleem, malai paya, dum biryani and an assortment of Kebabs. Where: Deccan Pavillion, ITC Kakatiya, Begumpet When: August 10-20, 7.30pm onwards Contact: (040) 2340 0132

Commissioner & Spl Officer

Helpline GAS BOOKING IVRS NO HP 9666023456 Indane 9848824365 BSNL Complaints HMWS & SB Complaints

198 155313

POLICE CONTROL ROOM Hyderabad 27852435 Traffic Control Room 27852482 DCP Traffic 23234065, 23243499F Pollution Control Board 23887500 ELECTRICITY General Complaints Breakdown Section

Mongolian food festival Take a trip to Mongolia as you are introduced to their food and culture. The food festival being held at Syn is on till August 15. Where: Syn, Taj Deccan, Banjara Hills, Rd No 1 When: Ongoing, 7.30pm onwards Contact: (040) 6666 3939

155333 23431178 23431179

MUNICIPAL CORPORATION

23262266 24166666R ENC 23225267 Engineering 23220418 MCH Tankbund 23225397 Emergency MCH Circle I&II 24525842 MCH Circle III 24736912 MCH Circle IV 23326975 MCH Circle V 23326976 MCH Circle VI MCH Complaints 1100 Head Office 23225397 IVRS CUM MANUAL ENQUIRY PHONE NUMBERS (TRAIN & RESERVATION) RAILWAYS Rail Nilayam 27833169, 27824216 Railway Information 131 Reservations 135 Recorded Information 1345 Enquiry (IVRS) 1331, 1332, 1333

SHOWS

Contact: (040) 2355 4485

Play time The play Birjees Qadar ka Kunbaa will be held at Nift Auditorium on August 24. The play is in Urdu. Where: Nift Campus, Madhapur When: August 24, 7.30pm Contact: (040) 2311 4537

Shreya Ghoshal Live Popular playback singer Shreya Ghoshal will perform live at Shilpa Kala Vedika on August 18. Where: Shilpa Kala Vedika, Hitec City When: August 18, 7.30pm onwards Contact: (040) 2311 2704

Peau d’Anne Jacques Demy’s musical fairy tale Peau d’Anne (1970) (Donkey skin) will be shown at Alliance Francaise on August 17. Where: Alliance Francaise d’Hyderabad Banjara Hills, Rd No 3 When: August 17, 6.30pm onwards

Photography workshop A photography workshop will be held at Iconart Gallery on weekends. Where: Iconart Gallery, Banjara Hills, Rd No 12 When: August 12 onwards Contact: 98499 68797

WATER SUPPLY Complaint Cell Sewerage Complaint Hyd. Water Supply HOSPITAL General Hospital, Sec-bad Niloufer Hospital, Red Hills NIMS, Director, Punjagutta Osmania General Hospital Railway Hospital, Lalaguda Apollo, Jubilee Hills Care Hospital, Banjara Hills Care Hospital, Nampally Care Hospital, Musheerabad Care Hospital, Sec-bad Kamineni Hospital, LB Nagar

155313 23307328 23313163

27505566 23314095 23390933 24600146 27001134 23607777 30418888 30417777 30419000 30416666 39879999

BLOOD BANKS Blood Bank,Narayanguda Chiranjeevi Blood Bank Blood Bank Mediton Goal Red Cross, Vidyanagar ADRM Blood Bank Mythri Charitable Trust NTR Memorial Trust Care Banjara Hills

Elegance Artist Snehlatha Prasad, is presenting her interpretation of the Radha and Krishna myth through her canvas. Where: Shrshti Art Gallery, Jubilee Hills, Rd No 15 When: Ongoing, 11am onwards Contact: (040) 2752 2999

Theatre festival The seventh edition of the multi-

27567892 23559555 23226624 27633087 27035588 27550238 30799999 30418296 30417445

AMBULANCES Apollo 23548888, 23607777 Kamineni 24022222 Medwin 23202902, 23204616 Smile Line Dental Hospital 23747979 Red Cross 27627973 Niloufer Hospital 23314095 Gandhi 23320332 AIRLINES

Invisible lands An exhibition of paintings by artist Madhuchanda Majumder titled Invisible Lands is being held at Shrishti Art Gallery. Where: Alankritha Art Gallery, Jubilee Hills, Kavuri hills When: August 11 onwards, 11am onwards Contact: (040)2354 0023

Airport Director 27903785, 27906001 For Air India Flight Information Toll free (from any network) for IC Flights 18001801407 And for All Flights: 1800227722 Air India has revised its flight timings. For more information call (Toll free) 18001801407, 1800227722 from BSNL/MTNL 04023430334 from other lines and mobile Website; www.airindia.in TOURISM OFFICES AP Tourism, Hyd 23262152/53/54 Sec-bad 27893100 Dept of Tourism 23453110 India Tourism 23261360 AP Tourism information Centre (24x7) 23450444, 23455999 UK VISA OFFICE VFS India Pvt Ltd Building, 8-2-542/A, Sunil Chamber, Road No. 7

Beside Meridian School, Banjara Hills34. Working hours are from 8 AM to 1 PM And 2 PM to 3PM. MUSEUMS Salar Jung Museum AP State Museum Nizams Museum

24523211 232431300/7641 24521029

Readers’ views

We invite you to write to us comments, suggestions, viewpoint or just about anything to feedback@postnoon.com or #1246, Level 3, Jubilee Casa, Road No 62, Jubilee Hills, Hyderabad – 500 033 or even by way of a call on 4067 2222

WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 15, 2012

City

TODAY’S QUESTION

YESTERDAY’S QUESTION

ON THE 65TH INDEPENDENCE DAY, HAS INDIA MATURED?

SHOULD THE AP CM SACK ALL TAINTED MINISTERS? 92% 8%

YES (A) NO (B)

YES

To vote visit www.postnoon.com

SPECIAL

Youth gets freedom on I-Day Sounds like a script of a Bollywood masala film. Only, it’s a true story that happened in Hyderabad. SYED MAZHER ALI

Mohd SUBHAN mohd.s@postnoon.com

10-year-old Kannadiga boy who was missing for 12 years was traced to a dairy farm in Ameen Colony of Saidabad last night, where he was held a bonded labourer. To the boy, now 22, and his family, independence from colonial rule got translated into personal freedom. Saidabad police sub-inspector S Shekhar related the incredible story to Postnoon. Ten years ago, the family of Madar Patel from Karnataka had come to visit relatives in Chanchalguda. Their son, Mohd Rafiq, was playing outside but went missing. The Patel family lodged a

complaint with the police and checked with friends and relatives in Karnataka, AP, Mumbai and other places, but to no avail. Years passed and the family

believed their son would never be traced. Then, a few days ago, a relative from Hyderabad called up Patel and said he seemed to have spotted a youth

who bore resemblance to Rafiq, when he went to fetch milk from a farm. Other relatives also had a glimpse of the youth and decided it could be the missing boy. Accordingly, Rafiq’s parents came to Hyderabad two days ago with childhood photographs and birth documents. With the help of the Saidabad police, they went to the farm and confronted the owners, Sudhakar Yadav and his brothers. They denied that the boy was kidnapped. He is not Rafiq, but Raghu, they claimed. But the parents showed them the photos, birth certificates and asked Rafiq to recall his days with his parents. The youth seemed slightly disoriented. Later, it was found that he was made an alcoholic by force-feed-

ing him liquor. The youth said he was being confined to a room and was made to work on the farm under duress. “I tried to escape three times, and was caught. After every attempt, they tightened security and I was not permitted to go out. Every night, I was to drink liquor and later, it became a habit,” he said. His body bore marks of injuries and he revealed that he was being beaten up regularly to make him obey. Saidabad police inspector S Srinivas, along with the local corporator, interrogated the farm owners and the youth was reunited with the family today. The police took the Yadav brothers into custody and shifted the youth to hospital for treatment.

city WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 15, 2012 LAST YEAR... HERE Area lies in the dumps

ast year we had carried a campaign about Jawahar Nagar and its surrounding areas which are troubled by various health and sanitation issues. The area is used as a dumping ground and is home to various diseases such as dengue, typhoid and cholera. Residents are helpless and not surprisingly, the situation still prevails with no signs of improvement.

AUGUST 15, 2011

NUMEROLOGY

36.3 mu is the current power deficit in the State. Till a solution to fulfil this deficit is not reached, the State is expected to reel under the power shortage.

It’s their right to sell. It’s helping the residents, so a little inconvenience should be tolerated. Often we try removing the waste but sometimes it gets delayed by a day. Geetha R, corporator See page 6

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

Weekly markets may not always be a good thing. The weekly bazaars in the City have become a nuisance, with the vendors blocking narrow roads with their stalls and leaving a trail of garbage behind.

Under-construction bridge in troubled waters. The bridge at Lakdikapul, which will ease the trafﬁc in the area, is yet to be completed as the government scrambles to acquire land and compensate the people.

Power woes to continue in the City for more time With a power deﬁcit in the State, looks like it’s going to be some time till we get freedom from these daily power cuts.

Some stories need not be restricted to movies. After 12 years of captivity at a farm in Saidabad, Mohd Raﬁq from Karnataka was united with his family.

Are the Backward Class ministers being targeted? Some believe that the CBI is targeting ministers from the Backward Classes in AP.

ELECTRICITY

Power situation remains grim as gas plants starve Politicians propose, bureaucracy disposes is true for many things. Gas allocation issue is another example of this practice. RAHUL RAMAKRISHNA rahul.r@postnoon.com

he Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Chief Minister Kiran Kumar Reddy posed for the camera with smiles on their faces a fortnight ago after assuring AP that there is enough gas for its power plants has not helped to improve the power situation in the State. Adding to the woes, the monsoons have played truant and the reservoir levels are depleting. The daily load shedding extending from one to three hours or more (according to the area) will therefore continue. Officials say that while the political parties in the State vied with one another in running

The industries of AP are reeling from a three-day holiday because of power withdrawals. down Union minister S Jaipal Reddy for ‘his favouritism” of Maharashtra in gas allocation, no follow-up action was done. “The gas plants have little or no gas supply and despite the many reassurances made either by the PM or the CM, nothing has improved. We are awaiting the rise of water levels in the Srisailam reservoir to supplement the existing power supply with hydel power,” C Rama Rao, director (grid ops) said. According to Rao, as of August 13, the APTransco had recorded a supply of 223.379

Particulars of AP Grid Drawals for August 13 (mu) Thermal

89.020 CGS

40.517 Simhadri

Hydel

9.546

AP GENCO Vijjeswaram I&II

EREB

21.546

IPP

25.383

98.566 WREB (Pool) -

Others

29.568

2.913

Total AP Grid drawal

GRIDCO

MU of power against the 259.7 MU demand bar. The deficit of 36.3 mu continues to hinder power supply. And so, the power holidays have not been withdrawn to the industries.

223.379

Currently, the industries of AP are reeling from a three-day holiday because of power withdrawals. Officials at the AP Chamber of Commerce are a troubled lot. The secretary general,

Rajeshwar Rao was unavailable for comment but another official said that meetings were being convened within the Chamber to form a representation to the government over this issue. “They are planning to notify the CMO about the current status of power holidays that have affected the three main working days (Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday) of the industrial sector. As of now, the power supplied is being utilised for lighting purpose only and not exceeding 10 % of the contract maximum demand,” he said.

NEWS BRIEFS Fire in chemical factory leads to traffic jam

Patrol policemen injured Eve teasers beat up man Man found murdered in Jubilee Hills in Karwan near Film Nagar Lake

major fire that broke out at a chemical factory located in Jeedimetla created a huge traffic jam. The fire, which erupted this morning, caused traffic chaos on the roads between Balanagar and Jeedimetla. No casualty has been reported but it is said that property worth several lakh rupees were gutted, the police said.

wo policemen on patrol duty were knocked down by a speeding car last night. Constable Ch Raju, belonging to Jubilee Hills police station and Bala Peddanna, a home guard, were riding a bike while on a patrol duty when a speeding car sideswiped them. Both were injured. The driver has been arrested.

youth who objected to eve teasing by three men was thrashed by the trio at Karwan two days ago. Langerhouse police said that one Imran Ali was witness to three men teasing and troubling a girl. When he questioned them, they beat him up. The police have arrested the three who have been identiﬁed as Chennaiah, Jagdish and Mohit.

man was found murdered on the Ambedkar Smashana Vatika main road near the Filmnagar lake. According to Banjara Hills police, the body bore grievous head wounds. Going by the condition of the body, the police suspect that he was an auto driver who was murdered after a drinking session as alcohol was found in his body.

city WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 15, 2012

I-DAY CELEBRATIONS

POLITICS

CM announces stadia

Fresh from Olympic glow, CM announced all assembly segments will have one stadium each. More houses for the poor are in the offing, as per his speech.

INKESHAF AHMED ahmed.m@postnoon.com

tals. The CM also focussed on the controversial issue of fee reimbursement and said that the State had been implementing the scheme with a noble objective of providing higher education to all and needy students of the State. A total of about 25 lakh students are being benefitted by the scheme. Before his speech the CM paid rich tributes to martyrs of wars at Armed forces memorial.

hief Minister N Kiran Kumar Reddy used the flag hoisting today as a platform to roll out his government’s welfare measures. After the ritual of unfurling the flag, Kiran read out the long list of pro-people measures his government has taken in the past one and half years. “This government constructed eight lakh pucca houses for poor families and another 18 lakh houses are in various stages of construction. Nearly 1.25 lakh jobs were created for the young unemployed under the Rajiv Yuva Kiranalu,” he said. Explaining the welfare programmes being implemented for the empowerment of women of the State, the CM said that the State government is providing

interest-free loans to Self Help Group members to make them successful entrepreneurs. Kiran also announced the launch a special programme for the development of scheduled tribe community on the occasion. Talking about the Olympic success of Hyderabadi sportspersons — shuttler Saina Nehwal and Gagan Narang —

the CM announced that his government would build a sports stadium in every Assembly segment of the State to encourage sports in a huge manner. Recognising the woes of government hospitals in the State for various reasons, the CM announced the provision of adequate funds for developing infrastructure in all the hospi-

BABU HOISTS FLAG

All political parties including the ruling Congress celebrated Independence day with aplomb. While APCC chief Botsa Satyanarayana hoisted the flag at Gandhi Bhavan, TDP chief Chandrababu Naidu and YSR Congress honorary president Vijayamma, BJP president G Kishan Reddy hoisted the flag at their party headquarters.

POLITICS

BC ministers in the dock There is widespread discontent among the BC leaders of the Congress after D Prasada Rao resigned when his name figured in the CBI charge-sheet.

POSTNOON NEWS feedback@postnoon.com

he resignation submitted by Roads and Buildings minister D Prasada Rao to Chief Minister Kiran Kumar Reddy on Tuesday night, pushed the ruling Congress party to a corner for valid reasons. Dharmana is the second Backward Class minister to resign from his post after former excise minister Mopidevi Venkata Ramana Rao (now in jail), when his name figured in CBI’s charge-sheet in the disproportionate assets case on Monday. The CM and the party are already facing severe criticism from BC communities for deliberately hurting their feelings especially in the fee reimbursement issue and the handling of the Mopidevi issue. The fresh resignation of Dharmana has further worsened the crisis. The biggest fear haunting the Congress is that the Backward Class communities will desert it with the ongoing political developments. “Dharmana’s name appearing in the CBI charge-sheet is a clear sign of making a senior

minister and a prominent BC leader a scapegoat. He is the second BC minister after Mopidevi to be named in the case. This can severely harm the party’s interest and benefit TDP chief

The communtiy strongly feels that the government is only targeting BC ministers, sparing upper caste leaders. Chandrababu Naidu as he is trying to win over the BC community,” senior Congress leader and former BC commission member V Krishna Mohan Rao said. He also alleged that the CBI is not investigating the case properly and is placing baseless charges against the BC ministers. “A decision of the cabinet is a collective decision. It cannot be questioned by anybody. But the CBI seems to be bypassing all existing rules and is framing BC ministers. Not even a single charge framed by the CBI against Dharmana would stand in the court of law. This is con-

V Krishna Mohan

demnable,” he said.

TWO MORE IN LINE

The Congress crisis is likely to worsen in the coming days. Out of six State cabinet ministers who are facing CBI inquiry, four belong to the BC community. Of these ministers, Mopidevi and Dharmana have already resigned from their posts. The other two ministers are IT minister Ponnala Lakshmaiah and agriculture minister Kanna Lakshminarayana. The present political devel-

opments and the pace of CBI investigation clearly indicate that these ministers will have to follow suit like their other BC colleagues once their name is included in the CBI charge sheet. BC leaders of the party feel that if the other two ministers also resign from their posts, then the party will be left nowhere and would sink in the next assembly elections. “There is a strong feeling among the community that the State government is only targeting BC ministers sparing other upper caste leaders. This feeling will further grow if the party high command and the CM do not take any remedial steps and rout the party in the coming days,” Rao said. Many other BC leaders strongly feel that the CM, being at the helm of affairs, is deliberately ignoring the pleas of BC ministers like Mopidevi Venkata Ramana Rao who met the CM before his arrest and requested him to come to his rescue as he did not commit any mistake and only implemented the collective decisions of the cabinet. But, the CM did not extend any assurance. The BC leaders are now planning a State-wide agitation.

Botsa doubts panel continuance C

BI’s charge-sheet on Dharmana Prasada Rao has shown its impact on ministers’ committee, which was constituted by Chief Minister Kiran Kumar Reddy and PCC chief Botsa Satyanarayana, to strengthen Congress. According to Botsa, the committee has already stopped its functioning and may not exist in the future. Botsa said that the ministers’ committee never had a meeting after submitting its report. Asked whether the party will seek Dharmana’s resignation, Botsa said that he will respond only after looking at the charge sheet filed against Dharmana. NSS

TRAGEDY

Spurious toddy makes 100 ill N

early 100 persons took ill after consuming contaminated toddy in Kallakal village of Toopran mandal of Medak district. It is said that the affected people had consumed the toddy Monday night. They lost consciousness and it was found that their hands and legs were crippled. The officials have set up a health camp to treat the affected people, and then shifted 45 people to Balaji Hospital at Medchal and some more to a private hospital at Kompally. Doctors said that the condition of 15 of the patients was critical. It is said that the number of people affected by the toddy was going up in the village. Six people were arrested in connection with the incident. Excise officials were stated to have found that these people had sold contaminated toddy. NSS

city WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 15, 2012

LOCAL BAZAARS

Bazaars prove a bane

CLASSIFIEDS INVERTERS

HOME APPLIANCES

The garbage left behind by weekly market vendors troubles citizens, while vendors claim they pay the GHMC to clear the waste. M ANIL KUMAR

SUDESHNA KOKA sudeshna.k@postnoon.com

or the last one year in Hyderabad, citizens have a new facility — the weekly bazaars. Of late, local farmers and retailers are setting up a weekly market in each locality. When this system was introduced locals were happy but it has now become a nuisance due to the lack of system and discipline. They set up these markets in small lanes. It blocks the traffic on market days. They set up the market at 5pm and are open till late in the night. They also leave a trail of garbage behind. “They set it up outside my shop blocking the way for my customers. They don’t

Few popular local bazaars in the City Uppal West Venkatapuram Alwal and Lal Bazaar West Marredpally Malkajgiri RK Puram bridge Picket

MOBILES

listen. We are suffering without any solution in sight,” said Nithin Jain, owner of a shop. This situation has led to some colonies refusing permission for the market. “A group of vendors asked us permission to set up weekly market in our colony but we refused as we knew that the consequences would be bad,” said Sudha K, committee member of Yadamma Nagar colony. “It’s causing serious problems to our residents.

The vegetables they leave behind are rotten. The road gets mushy and chances of one slipping are high,” complains Sarah S, media professional. Accumulation of waste is not entirely the vendors’ problem. Vendors have a deal with the GHMC for clearing waste. Each vendor pays `4 to the GHMC for this task but the Corporation does not do its duty. “We give them money so it is their job. If they don’t, we can’t help it,”

said Malesh K one of the vendors. Vendors said in hushed tones that in some places corporators collect their ‘cut’ and so do the local police. Corporators, Postnoon contacted, said that they are aware of this issue but are helpless. “It’s their (vendors) right to sell. It’s helping the residents, so a little inconvenience one should tolerate. Often we try cleaning the waste but sometimes it gets delayed,” said Geetha Rani, Alwal corporator.

HOME APPLIANCES

CIVIC

Ambiguity mars completion Businesses uncertain about compensation and completion of bridge work N SHIVA KUMAR

Md NIZAMUDDIN nizamuddin.a@postnoon.co m

he biggest traffic bottleneck, Lakdikapul awaits the completion of the parallel bridge. While the GHMC claims to have cleared properties for ‘approach roads’, the properties on Masab Tank are yet to be acquired. A few owners were invited to the GHMC office but nothing was decided on compensation. Big businesses close to the upcoming roads are equally clueless. According to businessmen, the GHMC paid a market value of `40,000 to `50,000 per sq yard for the area where Harsha Hotel

once stood. While hotel Lucky received only `15,000 per sq yard! Markings for the Masab Tank road were made oneand-a-half months ago and the businessmen are making sure that they do not lose

much. “I am ready to give 15 feet, but the GHMC is asking for 21. This would hurt me,” says Syed Agha Asadullah, a hotel owner. A few hotel owners are yet to get a clear idea of the impact. “Earlier planning

officials assured us that no damage will be done, but we do not have any idea about the latest developments,” clarified MA Hadi, manager, Royal Residency Hotel. Loss of parking space is another worry.A senior police official admits the department is yet to figure out routing of traffic from the collectorate towards Mehdipatnam. Despite uncertainties, the GHMC is confident that the bridge will be completed in two months and properties for road widening will be acquired in four months. “Everything will be completed within three to four months,” assured K Dhananjaya Reddy, additional commissioner planning.

AUTOMOTIVE

BJP demands counselling

tate BJP president G Kishan Reddy demanded the government conduct engineering counselling. Reddy said he will take up hunger strike if the State government failed to respond. NSS

classifieds WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 15, 2012 WORK SHOP

EDUCATION

HEALTH

HOME APPLIANCES

INTERIOR

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city WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 15, 2012

CITY CELEBRATES

Grand festivities mark I-Day

Kiran Kumar Reddy felicitates IPS officers at Parade Grounds.

Chandrababu Naidu at the I-Day celebrations at the TDP office.

Chief Minister Kiran Kumar Reddy hoists the national flag at the Independence day celebrations conducted at the Parade Grounds in Secunderabad.

CPI leader Narayana hoisted the flag at the party office.

8&9

Srinivas Setty, N Shiva Kumar & Deepak Deshpande

As the country celebrates Indiaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s 65th Independence Day, the City was not to be left behind. Right from the CM unfurling the tricolour at the Parade Grounds to the longest flag being unveiled at KBR Park, Hyderabad witnessed a large number of people joining hands to showcase their patriotism. Political parties like CPI, BJP, TDP and YSRC too held their own celebrations at party offices. A vintage automobile rally at Lumbini Park was the highlight of the day.

Snapshots from the various Independence Day celebrations held across the City today. (top right) A flag measuring 10,266ft, touted to be the world's longest, was unfurled at KBR Park.

PICK YOUR

Automobiles on exhibit at the vintage car and motorcycle rally held at Lumbini Park on the occasion of Independence Day. The exhibition saw a large number of vintage automobiles being put up for display.

Across Stores

ities Twin C

WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 15, 2012

Business

CHILE, INDIA TO HOLD FREE TRADE TALKS

Chile and India will begin negotiations on a free trade agreement at the end of the year, Chilean foreign minister Alfredo Moreno said. The agreement will “include goods, services, investment and all the control elements, such as tariff barriers,” Moreno said.

CONSTRUCTION

NEW UPLOADS

Readymade buildings By opting for a pre-fabricated building one can save about 60 per cent construction time and 30 per cent of costs. PRUDHVI RAJU K prudhvi.k@postnoon.com

building is simple and takes around 15 per cent charges of the project costs. It is also very useful to construct these buildings at leased sites. Wherein the owner of the building will not lose the building if he has to leave the property.

o you want to construct an industrial godown or shopping mall in less time and lower cost? Here is something that you need to look at. The trend of pre-fabricated buildings for large constructions is catching up in the City. Pre-fabricated buildings are movable buildings where the complete design is made and construction material is fabricated accordingly at a plant and delivered to the site. Only fixation and erection happens at the site. Conventionally, customers and engineers direct welders to fabricate the material in the site according to the needs. The chance of human error and consumption of labour time is more in that case. However, with the new pre-fabricated buildings, consultants go to the customer and give fabricated drawings and finalise the design in two or three phases. There are lot of benefits for industrial customers opting for pre-fabricated buildings. For

Various purposes n Cinema Halls n Industrial godowns n Supermarkets n Colleges and Schools

Most of the new buildings for various purposes like hospitals, cinema halls and supermarkets are constructed using this technology. The trend is picking up in the City for large buildings like godowns and cinema halls. These technologies can be used for smaller buildings too, which is yet to catch up in the City. For instance, a small pre-fabricated building like a pizza shop an be erected in three-four days in developed countries and the technologies will be soon coming to India, he said. Relocating and moving this

instance, if a conventional concrete building takes a year, the pre-fabricated building can be completed in three-four months. This means that there is a saving of 60 per cent construction time. It is also cost effective and the building can be constructed at 30 per cent lesser price. Even after 10 years, these buildings are movable to another place while using 80 per cent of the same material, said Chiranjeevi Guntapalli, executive director, Nirmaan Engineering Structures. This trend started in Europe and USA around 25 years ago.

IRAN DEALS Standard Chartered fined $340m NEW YORK: Standard Chartered on Tuesday settled allegations that it helped Iranian clients dodge US sanctions, announcing a fine of $340 million from a New York banking watchdog. The “civil penalty” came amid allegations that the London-based bank hid 60,000 transactions with proscribed Iranian clients worth $250 billion over 10 years. Under the terms of the settlement, the bank agreed to house a government anti-laundering monitor for two years at its New York branch.

for

n Children’s playing rooms.

Buildings of up to six floors with mezzanine floors can be erected with this technologies, said Chiranjeevi. The pre-fabricated buildings are even used for residential purpose in developed countries. Wood and steel are used in the construction which not only saves the construction time but also gives aesthetic appeal. Raising costs of cement and scarcity of sand may push the customers for such buildings in future, he added.

NATURAL DISASTERS

Asian economies at high risk The list is headed by Bangladesh and followed by Philippines. India is also among the top 10 in the list. PARIS: Asian countries dominate a league table of economies most at risk from earthquakes, floods, storms and other natural hazards, according to research published on Wednesday. In an assessment of 197 countries, British risk consultancy Maplecroft said six Asian countries were among the 10 countries whose economies were most vulnerable to catastrophes. The list is headed by Bangladesh and the Philippines, which along with

GOLD `30,324 10g SILVER `53,750 1kg for

n Clubhouses

BSE

It also noted the consequences of drought in India, which this year is likely to shave 0.5 per cent off the GDP. Myanmar are considered to be at “extreme” risk. Only one other country, the Caribbean state of Dominican Republic, falls into this category, and was rated third overall. The other countries in the

17,728.20 94.75

top 10 were India, Vietnam, Honduras, Laos, Haiti and Nicaragua. The “Nature Hazards Risk Atlas” looks at the impact of natural disasters on a country relative to its economy, taking into account preparedness to deal with such events and social ability to rebound. It also noted the consequences of drought in India, which this year is likely to shave 0.5 percent off the country’s gross domestic product (GDP).

NSE

AFP

5,380.35 32.45

Megaupload boss Kim Dotcom has announced plans to launch a new online music venture this year as he prepares to ﬁght a US attempt to extradite him from New Zealand to face online piracy charges. Dotcom’s original plans for the service, called Megabox, were disrupted in January when New Zealand police arrested him as part of a major US probe into alleged copyright theft. He faces up to 20 years jail if convicted in a US court. Dotcom did not reveal a speciﬁc launch date or details of how the service would work. He had earlier said that Megabox would allow artists keep 90 per cent of earnings from their songs by letting them sell directly to consumers, bypassing record labels.

NUMEROLOGY

$7.4

is the net profit registered by Australia’s biggest bank, the Commonwealth.

NEW ROLE FOR MARK The New York Times backed up its push for a digital future Tuesday by naming Mark Thompson, the outgoing director general of the BBC, as the paper’s new president and chief executive. The Times issued a statement saying: “BBC Director-General Mark Thompson will become its next president and CEO. He will also become a member of the company’s board of directors.” Thompson, 55, will start work in November.

THUS SPAKE

There is a downturn in India but if India itself recovers, the impact (of Europe) will more than offset RATAN TATA, TATA STEEL CHAIRMAN

DOLLAR`55.52 POUND `87.01

WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 15, 2012

nation

PM MUST HELP ASSAM’S DISPLACED: ADVANI BJP leader LK Advani on Wednesday urged Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to ensure the rehabilitation of the many thousands displaced by Assam’s ethnic violence. Advani said the attacks on Bodo tribals in Assam should be seen as an attack against all Indians.

INDEPENDENCE DAY

PM worried over lack of consensus Manmohan vows to fight graft, expresses hope that the Rajya Sabha would soon pass the Lokpal and Lokayukta Bills already cleared by the Lok Sabha. NEW DELHI: India’s economic growth has been hurt due to lack of political consensus on many issues, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh declared on Wednesday. Addressing the nation on India’s 66th Independence Day, Manmohan Singh also vowed to battle corruption while ensuring that sincere officials were not affected by baseless allegations of wrongdoing. He made no reference to Pakistan or any other country. The prime minister said India was unable to create the environment for rapid economic growth “because of a lack of political consensus on many issues”. “Time has now come to view the issue which affect our develop-

CRIME

Student gang-raped in Assam SILCHAR (ASSAM): Close on the heels of molestation of a girl outside a Guwahati bar, another student from the city was allegedly gang-raped in Silchar, police said today. The first year degree student of Silchar Women’s College was going for private tuitions from her hostel when she was forcibly picked up by four persons in a car on the night of August 11. They took her to the remote Kumbhirgram Airport road and allegedly raped her. The girl, hailing from Uzan Bazaar area of Guwahati, has filed an FIR with the Silchar police station yesterday naming the four accused including an advocate Dibyendu Jyoti Konwar. The accused had threatened her of “dire consequences” if she goes to the police but after getting support from her mother and sister, who rushed from Guwahati, they filed the FIR. Police has launched a manhunt to nab the culprits. Civil society activists expressed concern over the rising cases of sexual violence against women in the region. PTI

‘PM’s I-Day speech uninspiring, lacklustre’

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh addresses the Nation from the ramparts of Red Fort on the 66th Independence Day, in New Delhi on Wednesday. PTI

ment processes as matters of national security.” He did not dwell on the issues that were eluding a political consensus. He referred to

“domestic developments which are hindering our economic growth”. “We will continue our efforts to bring more transparency and

NEW DELHI: BJP today described Prime Minister Manmohan Singh’s Independence Day speech as “lacklustre” and “uninspiring”, saying it did not address issues facing the nation like corruption and price rise. “The dream of touching 12 per cent growth rate seems to be impossible and it looks that it will be less than 5 per cent which is a cause of concern,” said BJP president Nitin Gadkari. accountability in the work of public servants and to reduce corruption,” he said. “But we will also take care that those measures do not result in a situation in which the

morale of public functionaries... gets affected because of baseless allegations and unnecessary litigation.” India, he said, cannot escape the global economic crisis. But the country’s GDP growth would still be “a little better” than last year’s 6.5 percent. The 12th Five Year Plan would lay down measures to increase the economic growth rate from 6.5 to 9 percent in the last year of the Plan, he added. Manmohan Singh, however, warned that controlling inflation would had become tougher because of this year’s poor monsoon. But this would not lead to problems in foodgrains availability as “we have a big stock of foodgrains”. IANS

NEWS BRIEFS Khasi rebel outfit ready for talks SHILLONG: The Hynniewtrep National Liberation Council (HNLC), an outlawed Khasi militant group in Meghalaya, has offered to hold talks with the government. “We are ready to come to the negotiating table,” HNLC general secretary Cheristerfield Thangkhiew said in a statement Tuesday night. HNLC, which stages hitand-run attacks from its hideouts in Bangladesh, also celebrated its 25th raising day Tuesday.

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US seeks stronger military ties with India WASHINGTON: Taking the US militaryto-military relationship with India to the next level is a big focus of US Pacific Command (PACOM) as it builds stronger alliances and partnerships across the region, according to its new commander. Admiral Samuel J. Locklear III, who took command of PACOM in March, says he is following the new defence strategic guidance announced in January resetting US priorities toward the region.

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

Villagers observe ‘black day’ against N-plant CHENNAI: People in some villages in Tamil Nadu’s Tirunelveli district Wednesday observed a ‘black day’ to protest against the Kudankulam Nuclear Power Project, an activist said. Villagers in Idinthakarai, Kudankulam, Perumanal, Kootapulli and Kuthenkazhi hoisted black flags at their homes, streets and fishing boats, activist M. Pushparayan told IANS.

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

040 - 4067 2222 subscription@postnoon.com

nation WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 15, 2012

GREEN BATTLE

Whistleblowers with a difference

Armed with whistles, the squad of five — dressed in red — are on the prowl these days, ready to catch and teach violators a lesson.They can even impose a fine.

heir mission is to clean and they too are whistleblowers — literally. Shimla’s new cleanliness wardens have been given the job of blowing the whistle on anyone found littering in this hill town that was once the summer capital of British India. Armed with whistles, the squad of five - dressed in red are on the prowl these days, ready to catch and teach violators a lesson. They can even impose a fine. “To keep the streets clean and to develop waste disposal sense, we have deputed five employees, known as wardens. They keep tabs on violators, especially the casual visitor,” Shimla Municipal Corporation health official Omesh Bharti told IANS. Spot a person littering the area and just blow hard on the whistle, is their mandate. Initially, the wardens have been tasked with catching people who dump polythene bags, sachets and empty liquor bottles in the open in the Mall Road and the Ridge areas. These places are frequented by a large number of tourists, who are among the major polluters.”If the experiment is successful, they would be deployed in other areas of the town,” he added. The corporation started the campaign on a pilot basis Friday

last. It is aimed at ensuring cleanliness in the historic area of this Himachal Pradesh capital, a major draw for tourists with its mix of heritage buildings and scenic beauty. Deputy Mayor Tikender Panwar added that the wardens would be deputed around popular eateries and fast food joints where the problem of littering is more acute. “On seeing somebody strewing waste in the open, they will blow the whistle. Then they will

The wardens have been tasked with catching people who dump polythene bags, sachets and empty liquor bottles. persuade violator to retrieve the waste and dump it at a proper place. If repeated requests fail to relent the violator, he/she would be issued spot fines,” Panwar

said. He said the basic purpose of the campaign was to educate local people, vendors and tourists about the scientific disposal of waste. The civic body is also going to put up notices warning the visitors that open littering is a punishable offence and urge them to use the dustbins. On an average, corporation officials said, three to four people are caught daily but nobody has been fined. Said local resident Baldev

Thakur: “It’s a good initiative. Throwing waste in public has always been an offence but never implemented. The problem is more acute during the weekends when the footfall of tourists suddenly spiked.” “At least, one embarrassment publicly is enough to teach a lifelong lesson,” he added. Abhinav Duggal and his wife Monica from New Delhi said: “It’s a good drive to keep the city clean. Other civic bodies should also follow it.” The Himachal Pradesh government has already banned the production, storage, use, sale and distribution of all types of polythene bags and disposable plastic products. But still a large number of tourists, coming from nearby states, are leaving behind a huge trash of polythene bags. To scientifically dispose nonbiodegradable waste, including carry bags, disposable cups and laminated plastics like pouches of chips, pan masala and aluminium foil, the government is using them in surfacing roads. Shimla, a village that between 1864 and 1939 served as the summer capital of British India, is a popular tourist destination. According to tourism representatives, the town attracts 15,000 to 20,000 tourists in weekends during the peak tourist season — from May to July and November to December. IANS

LGBT STUDIES

DANCING WITH THE STAR

US man gets funds for India gay music The shortfilm version of his project has won a prize at an LA film festival.

Actor Shahrukh Khan performs with dancers during the announcement of a partnership at a function in Mumbai.

PTI

n American scholar from the University of California has been granted the prestigious Fullbright-mtvU Scholarship to study music of the gay and lesbian community in India. Jeffrey Roy from the University of California in Los Angeles is currently in post-production of his feature-length documentary film, entitled “Rites of Passage,” following the gender transition of an Indo-Muslim transsexual female. The short-film version of

the project (already completed) won “Audience Choice - Best Short” at the Los Angeles Transgender Film Festival. Besides English and French, Roy knows Hindi and Urdu. The US Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs and mtvU yesterday announced the 2012 winners of the Fulbright-mtvU Fellowship to study, for an academic year, aspects of international musical culture in Barbados, Botswana, India and Kosovo. PTI

WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 15, 2012

World HYPERSONIC TRIP

Waverider hypersonic jet targets Mach 6 T

he US military has conducted a test flight of its hypersonic jet Waverider, aiming to reach Mach 6 (4,300mph; 6,900km/h) above the Pacific Ocean, reported the BBC. At that speed it could travel from London to New York in about an hour. Results from the test flight have not yet been released. Pentagon and Nasa hope to use the project to develop faster missiles. During a test in June 2011, Waverider travelled at Mach 5, but failed to reach the target speed. It is one of several projects currently under way to create a hypersonic aircraft. The research could also be used to build a commercial plane, able to reach much higher speeds than today’s jets, after Concorde was decommissioned in 2003.

MAGIC MACH The Mach number is the ratio of the speed of an object to the speed of sound. Mach 1 is the speed of sound — approximately 768mph, depending on various factors including temperature and altitude.

JULIAN ASSANGE WILL BE GRANTED ASYLUM Ecuador’s president, Rafael Correa, has agreed to grant Julian Assange asylum, officials within Ecuador’s government have said, The Guardian reported. The WikiLeaks founder has been holed up at Ecuador’s London embassy since 19 June, when he officially requested political asylum.

SYRIAN CRISIS

ELVIS FANS AT MEMPHIS

OIC mulls Syria suspension The move, which Iran is against, would further isolate President Bashar al-Assad’s embattled regime MECCA: An emergency summit of the 57-member Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) began late Tuesday with a proposal to suspend conflict-wracked Syria, a move strongly opposed by Iran. A draft final statement obtained by AFP said the summit “approves the suspension of Syria’s membership,” a measure recommended by a preparatory ministerial meeting held Monday in the western Saudi city of Jeddah. The move would further isolate President Bashar alAssad’s embattled regime, after Syria was suspended from the Arab League last year over its brutal crackdown on an Arab Spring-inspired revolt launched

The OIC represents 1.5 billion Muslims worldwide, and its suspension of Syria would heap pressure on Assad. in March 2011. The OIC represents 1.5 billion Muslims worldwide, and its suspension of Syria would heap pressure on Assad, who has characterized the uprising as a plot by Western and rival powers to overthrow his Iranallied regime. Saudi King Abdullah — who initially proposed the suspension of Syria — is presiding over the meeting held in Mecca,

the holiest Islamic city. Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, whose country has openly criticised the push to suspend Syria, is attending the extraordinary meeting and was expected to strongly oppose the move to suspend Damascus. The draft statement says Syria should be suspended over “the obstinacy of the Syrian authorities in following the military option” to solve the crisis and the failure of a UN-Arab League peace plan brokered by Kofi Annan. It demands that Assad’s regime “immediately end all acts of violence” while defending Syria’s “unity, sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity.”

ran is helping to build and train a militia in Syria to prop up embattled President Bashar alAssad, America’s top military officer says. Gen Martin Dempsey said the militia was intended to take the pressure off battleweary Syrian regime forces, BBC reported. Iran has described Syria as part of a vital regional alliance that Tehran will not allow to be broken.

SYRIAN REGIME ON BRINK OF COLLAPSE, SAYS EX-PM: Bashar al-Assad’s former prime minister Riyad Hijab urges forces loyal to regime to follow his lead and defect ‘for the good of the people’. AFP

NEWS BRIEFS Philippines hit by another tropical storm

2 Japanese ministers 90-yr-old Nazi suspect visit controversial shrine escapes extradition

Egypt court sentences 14 Islamists to death

SYDNEY: A tropical storm slammed into the Philippines Wednesday, dumping heavy rains and causing renewed ﬂooding and landslides in a nation hit by weeks of destructive monsoon weather. Tropical Storm Kai-tak made landfall in Luzon before dawn, packing powerful winds and dumping up to 35 millimetres of rain an hour.

TOKYO: Two Japanese cabinet ministers visited a controversial war shrine Wednesday on the anniversary of Tokyo’s World War II surrender, a move set to heighten South Korean anger over an island dispute. The visits are also likely to provoke outrage in China, as pro-Beijing activists approach a different set of islands.

CAIRO: A criminal court in Egypt has sentenced 14 Islamists — members of the Tawhid and Jihad movement — to death, after convicting them of attacking a police station and a bank last year, Xinhua reported. The Criminal Court in Ismailia issued death sentences to 14 out of 25 accused. The verdict for the other 11 accused will come later.

SYDNEY: A 90-year-old man accused of being a Nazi war criminal on Wednesday won his ﬁght to stay in Australia, after the High Court blocked his extradition to Hungary. Charles Zentai was allegedly one of three Nazi-backed Hungarian soldiers who tortured and murdered a Jewish teenager in Budapest in 1944.

Fans of Elvis Presley are ﬂocking to his Graceland estate for Thursday’s 35th anniversary of his death. Organizers of the annual Elvis Week expect this year’s edition to be the largest ever, with Presley’s widow Priscilla and daughter Lisa Marie Presley participating. “Elvis is fan-driven,” Joe Guercio, Presley’s musical director from 1970 until the star’s sudden death on August 16, 1977 at the age of 42, told AFP.

NUMEROLOGY

militants

and five soldiers were killed in a clash and subsequent shelling in the upper Orakzai Agency in Pakistan on Tuesday, official sources said.

MAKE IT PLAIN, MATE! Global tobacco ﬁrms lost a “watershed” court challenge to Australia’s plain packaging laws for cigarettes on Wednesday in a closely-watched case health advocates said will have a worldwide impact. The High Court of Australia ruled the measures, forcing cigarettes and tobacco products to be sold in drab, uniform packaging with graphic health warnings from December 1 this year, did not breach the country’s constitution. Four companies led by British American Tobacco (BAT) had challenged the law, claiming it infringed their intellectual property rights.

I’ve said this before, I’ll say it now — I don’t believe they (Israel) made a decision as to whether or not they will — they will go in and attack Iran at this time. Leon Panetta CIA Chief

WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 15, 2012

Comment The faults of a superior person are like the sun and moon. They have their faults, and everyone sees them; they change and everyone looks up to them.

MERA BHARAT MAHAN

anny Smith’s long list of grievances starts with the two years since he’s been paid to pick up his drumsticks. So it’s no surprise the unemployed musician is unimpressed by the government’s decision to abandon what promised to be one of its signature achievements: reforming the House of Lords, the unelected, somewhat anachronistic upper chamber of parliament that has long been a target for democracy campaigners. “I couldn’t care two hoots, to be honest,” said Smith, 58, after another fruitless visit to a staterun job center in northwest London. “Those bastards are just looking after themselves.” He is right to an extent. Last week’s announcement by Nick Clegg, the deputy prime minister, that his Liberal Democrats are shelving their campaign to overhaul the House of Lords revealed a government hobbled by competing self-interests. It also spoke volumes about the fragility of the alliance between Clegg’s centrist LibDems, as they’re known, and their senior coalition partners, the right-wing Conservatives of Prime Minister David Cameron. Some now question whether their unlikely marriage, made in 2010, will last until elections in 2015. Lords are currently appointed after being nominated by the prime minister or other political leaders. Their main role is to examine and revise legislation approved by the Commons. The LibDems have long harbored ambitions to overhaul the chamber by introducing elected seats and making it easier to kick out idle members who have helped keep Liberal ideology on the fringes of British politics for nearly a century. GLOBAL POST

India’s independent, but Bharat’s still a mess FUSILLADE

Confucius Chinese philosopher

London falling?

HIGH-FLYING THOUGHTS

There are fears that Israel is preparing for an attack on Iran. Though CIA chief denies that Israel may actually do it, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s saying that time “is running out” for a peaceful solution to Iran’s atomic program makes one wary. Hope they show better sense.

Arun Koshy Philip

The woods are lovely, dark, and deep, But I have promises to keep, And miles to go before I sleep, And miles to go before I sleep. — Robert Frost

nother Independence Day has come, actually the 65th one, and as usual the nation has been served its regular dose of an inspiring speech by its prime minister. However, the questions remain about what it has done for the countrymen. At least Manmohan Singh has shown enough sense in not bragging about 'India Shining' like his NDA predecessors and has been realistic in saying that true independence will come only when we “banish poverty, illiteracy, hunger and backwardness”. I wouldn't show the audacity to advise the economist on how to steer the economy through these turbulent times of Eurozone crisis, but I definitely know his team should do more to keep my food and fuel bills down. True that poor monsoons

have played truant so far and it will impact the food stocks. But that doesn't justify close to 40 per cent of foodgrains rotting away due to lack of storage infrastructure. Unless this massive hole is plugged, the effect of all subsidies and special packages will be negated. While rapid economic growth is being encouraged, little is being done to check the irreversible damage it is doing to the ecology and the people. Special Economic Zones on farmland; hydel projects drowning swathes of forest; toxic emissions that pollute and the millions who are displaced, deprived of dignity and condemned to lives of penury. Those who champion people's causes and come to power turn even worse oppressors and exploiters. Corruption is endemic. Central ministers to office attendants in villages; Generals to traffic cops; judiciary, bureaucrats, doctors and scientists... there is no end to the list. And, of course, the 'enterprising' politicians who turn multi-billionaires in few years by 'serving the people'. Anti-corruption crusaders have fallen to the lure of political power and a 'guru' with dubious credentials is hogging the limelight. Society is in tatters. Caste system continues to condemn hundreds of millions to sub-

human conditions. Caste kangaroo courts run their writ of murders, gangrapes and ostracism campaigns, and the official machinery only pays lip service to protection of human rights. Reservations that were instituted to promote integration have turned into a major divisive factor. Sex crimes against women and minors are skyrocketing while thousands of female foetuses are killed through selective abortion. Manual scavenging continues and a majority of villages still don't have toilets. Unless these fundamental issues are resolved, whatever progress we claim to make will remain tall claims. The GDP share for healthcare remains dismal and social security a distant dream. Dozens of key legislations including Women's Reservation Bill, Lokpal Bill and

Whistleblowers Bill have not been passed as politicians continue to squabble and waste the time of Parliament. Security remains a major concern. A substantial part of the country is literally under Maoist control and separatist insurgencies continue to take toll on lives in several states. The latest spell of violence in Assam shows fundamental flaws are yet to be rectified. Terrorist attacks continue across the country even as plan after plan and agency after agency are announced to tackle the menace. All we ask of the leaders of this country is to show some real commitment to the original purpose for which the people put their faith in them and the institution of democracy. The writer works for Postnoon.

EDITORIALS Mob justice must be curbed Why we love... India

here may be attempts to not view seriously the incident in which a Tibetan was stabbed in Mysore, but it must be, as the police suspect that he was attacked by people who mistook him to be from the North East. The violence in Assam has triggered a spate of such incidents all over the country where anyone with oriental features has cause to fear for his life. People from these areas are leaving in large numbers after such incidents and the situation is shocking. As efforts are on to get to the root of the ethnic violence in Assam and resolve it, it is quite astounding that people in rest of the nation could be persuaded to take up arms and attack innocents who may not even harbour thoughts on the lines of those causing the violence in Assam. As we celebrate another Independence Day, we must introspect about such incidents and practice tolerance.

READERS’ VIEWS

ecause it's the largest democracy, a manifestation of unity in diversity; because we are ‘modern’ in approach, yet in reality antediluvian, because we have the right to speech, yet most of the times we can't voice our opinions lest we hurt the sentiments of some brother from another mother, because we may speak the truth, but cannot speak the obvious; because we have Right to Education, yet there's a sizable number of "tomorrow's citizens" sweeping ﬂoors and tables in shacks today without a glimmer of hope for a better tomorrow. Despite the endless list of paradoxes, we exist and are poised to become a superpower. Hopefully...

WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 15, 2012

Cinema

STUDIO RESULTS

DreamWorks Animation SKG Inc. says net income fell 63 percent, to a level below analysts' expectations. Revenue fell 25 percent. Results for the movie studio were driven by the box office receipts from the movie Madagascar 3: Europe's Most Wanted. The movie has grossed more than $500 million in theaters worldwide since its June 8 release.

WHAT IT TAKES TO HIT THE MARK

MOVIE OF THE WEEK

Chasing the golden goose With Salman Khan’s Ek Tha Tiger poised to smash records, Postnoon finds out what has changed in the past few years that is setting the cash registers ringing HEMANTH KUMAR hemanth.k@postnoon.com

The Expendables 2

he race to be the new king of box office in Bollywood is at its prime now. With Salman Khan, Shah Rukh Khan and Aamir Khan continuing to outdo each other every year, it’s anybody’s guess who’ll reign supreme in the end. Aamir Khan, Madhavan, Sharman Joshi starrer 3 Idiots, which collected `202 crore nett in 2009, might have set the bar too high for others, but three of Salman Khan’s recent films Dabangg, Ready and Bodyguard managed to find place in the elite `100 crore club in Bollywood. Shah Rukh Khan isn’t far behind either. So what does it take to smash the `200 crore mark at box office? Over the past few years, productions houses in Bollywood have been quite careful when it comes to planning a film’s release. Today, there’s absolutely no chance that a Salman Khan’s film will clash at the box office with a Shah Rukh Khan or Aamir Khan’s film. It hurts both the parties and to put it in simple terms, it’s bad business. No matter what the film’s content is, publicity and advertising of big budget films featuring A list actors begins months in advance. More than any other regional film industry in India, Hindi film industry has figured out a way to exploit every possible medium to reach out to a wider audience ahead of a film’s release. Right from the launch of the first look, to giving inter-

The Expendables are reunited when Mr. Church enlists them to take on a seemingly simple job. When things go wrong, the Expendables are compelled to seek revenge in hostile territory, where the odds are stacked against them. Hell-bent on payback, the crew cuts a swath of destruction through opposing forces, wreaking havoc and shutting down an unexpected threat in the nick of time - ﬁve tons of weapons-grade plutonium, more than enough to change the balance of power in the world. But that's nothing compared to the justice they serve against the villainous adversary they seek revenge from.

DID YOU KNOW...

Sly Stallone views and touring several cities promoting their film, stars these days haven’t been leaving any stone unturned to pull the audiences to theatres. This is the age of multiplexes, especially in the west and northern part of India. Five years ago, the multiplex boom was just picking up, but today, ticket sales at multiplexes account for bulk of theatrical collections of most Bollywood films. Today, Salman Khan’s Ek Tha Tiger is releasing in more than 200 screens in Delhi/NCR

Multiplexes and overseas markets have changed the game for Bollywood ensuring higher rate of returns to the producers region and across the world, the film will be screened in more than 3,300 screens which is phenomenal. Getting a huge release, especially during a long festival weekend, is like win-

ning a lottery for production houses. Perhaps, there’s nothing much to discuss about a film’s content especially for such big budget films. No matter what Salman Khan or Shah Rukh does on screen, there’ll always be people to watch them onscreen. So what does it take to be in the `200 crore club? A gargantuan release of any of the three Khans, along with a stroke of luck might do the trick. The content is just icing on the cake.

wrote and starred in Expendables 2, unlike his duties in the previous installment as an actor, co-writer, co-producer and director. The actor unfortunately had to cancel his promotional tour for this film after his son Sage was found dead on July 13, this year.

ICONIC QUOTES

For what it's worth: it's never too late or, in my case, too early to be whoever you want to be. You can change or stay the same, there are no rules to this thing. We can make the best or the worst of it. I hope you make the best of it. Benjamin Button

The Curious Case of Benjamin Button

I'm dishonest, and a dishonest man you can always trust to be dishonest... Honestly, it's the honest ones you want to watch out for, because you can never predict when they're going to do something incredibly...stupid. Jack Sparrow

Pirates of the Caribbean

WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 15, 2012

spotlight

PLAY AT LA MAKAAN

Head to La Makaan today at 7.30 pm today for Siyaah Haashiye. A play which focuses on vignettes of the partition of India; black borders written with the same dark blood that oozed from both sides on a land that was ripped to pieces and has never quite managed to pull itself together yet.

TO MORE SUCH EVENINGS

LADIES NIGHT OUT Club Se la Vie’s held an event for the ladies of the club at the Radisson Blu Hotel on Tuesday.

THE TASTE OF GOODNESS

Actor Sanjanna was spotted at a press conference held by Sarvi on Tuesday. The owners claim that their brand of Haleem is the most preferred in the city.

SRINIVAS SETTY

1 Manognaya 2 Cindy

3 Melanie 4 Sean, Sybel

AS SHE TURNS ONE

Sean and Sybel held their daughter’s ﬁrst birthday party at the RAC Club, Alwal on Tuesday. The theme for the party was the smile emoticon. SRINIVAS SETTY 1 Prakruthi 2 Neha 3 Venni Singh

4 Mansi 5 Nikitha, Sheetal,

Sudha Reddy

6 Pupal 7 Karishma, Swetha 8 Payal

9 Preeti 10 Priyanka 11 Pavani

SRINIVAS SETTY

WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 15, 2012

health

'YOUNG WOMEN PLACE LOOKS ABOVE HEALTH' College age women place looks and counting calories above health, say US researchers. Researchers studied how women view their bodies. "We learned that young people don't think about nutrition when it comes to eating," they said. "They think more about calorie-counting."

LARYNGITIS

Have you lost your voice? Laryngitis refers to a condition caused by the inflammation of the larynx. This results in the hoarseness of the voice and in severe cases, a complete loss of voice. Remedies for laryngitis

ANISHAA KUMAR

anishaa.k@postnoon.com

n n

ou have a big presentation and have been practising for days, but unfortunately on the day of the meeting you notice a sudden change of voice and develop pain while swallowing. This could be a case of laryngitis which is common among people of all age groups. According to Dr Rani George, a Bangalore-based ENT, “Laryngitis refers to a condition in which there is an inflammation of the larynx.” The larynx refers to the voice box. The term laryngitis comes from two words — Larynx (the voice box) and itis (any inflammation). Dr EC Vinaya Kumar, consultant ENT, Apollo Hospitals says, “Laryngitis can be of two kinds acute and chronic. Acute laryngitis may occur due to a viral infection or bacterial infection while chronic may occur due to vocal abuse and acid reflux. Acid reflux is one of the most common causes. By acid reflux one implies a condition in which the acid from the stomach reaches the throat. This may occur due to irregular food habits, eating too fast, alcohol, chocolates and even sleeping immediately after eating.” Vocal abuse can be seen among teachers or anyone who is in a situation in which they scream too much such as those who have returned from a match or a concert.

n n n n

Avoid alcohol and smoking Cut down the intake of caffeinated products such as coffee, tea and soft drinks Drink adequate water Rest your voice and speak in a moderate tone, not too softly or too loud Stay away from dusty areas Warm water gargles and steam inhalation may help

when it comes to chronic laryngitis, the cause of the inflammation will have to be understood and treated. Some patients may require to undertake speech evaluation by a speech therapist and also may require treatment for acid reflux in case that is the cause for the problem. Chronic laryngitis takes more time for recovery than acute laryngitis and will vary from person to person.” Talking about the importance of being well hydrated Dr Vinaya explains that it helps lubricate the vocal chords as if there is dryness it may cause an inflammation.

INCIDENCE SYMPTOMS When it comes to laryngitis hoarseness of voice is the most common symptom. Dr Vinay adds that in case of acute laryngitis patients may also lose their voice completely. The other symptoms could include swol-

ANEWS PP-LYBRIEFS YOURSELF

len lymph nodes, fever and dryness in the throat. In case acute laryngitis is not treated properly and on time then it may develop into chronic laryngitis. Pain while speaking and swallowing is also common mentions Dr Rani.

HOUSECALL

TREATMENT Talking about the treatment for laryngitis, Dr Vinaya Kumar says, “Acute laryngitis usually subsides within four to five days if the patient takes medication, adequate voice rest and is well hydrated. On the other hand,

DID YOU KNOW?

Laryngitis is common among people of both genders and may also be seen in children. It is also common among woman during their menstrual cycle as there is a hormonal imbalance. According to Dr Rani, cases of laryngitis are common during the cold seasons.

PIONEERS

Mobilyze

Emphysema

Your brain is nocturnal

Girolamo Fracastoro

Launched by researchers at Northwestern University, the app tracks users' behaviour and moods to identify states that trigger depression before it happens. The app gathers data from sensors combined with information users supply about their mood, identiﬁes situations in which people are likely to get depressed.

Emphysema is a disease of the lungs. It is one of the diseases that make up COPD. Emphysema is most often caused by smoking but can be caused by other diseases or have no known cause at all. It occurs when the very small air sacs (called the alveoli) at the ends of the airways in the lungs start to break down from many sacs to form much bigger sacs. There is no cure at the moment for emphysema.

The brain is much more active at night than during the day. Logically, you’d think that complicated calculations, tasks and general interaction we do on a daily basis during our working hours would take a lot more brain power than lying in bed. Turns out, the opposite is true. When you turn off your brain turns on.

He was an Italian physician, poet, and scholar. On account of his eminence in the practice of medicine, he was elected physician of the Council of Trent. In 1546 he proposed that epidemic diseases are caused by transferable tiny particles that could transmit infection by direct or indirect contact or even over long distances. His theory remained inﬂuential for nearly three centuries, before being displaced by germ theory.

health WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 15, 2012

PAEDIATRICS AND PATERNAL FACTORS RESEARCH

STUDY

Chemical in soap, paste impairs muscle strength Researchers used data from the US National Birth Defects Prevention Study and found that men with certain jobs had higher chances of having kids with defects. WASHINGTON: Triclosan, an antibacterial widely used in soaps, deodorants, toothpastes and other body-care products, reduces muscular strength, according to a mice study. “Triclosan is found in virtually everyone’s home and is pervasive in the environment,” said Isaac Pessah, professor and head of molecular biosciences in the University of CaliforniaDavis School of Veterinary Medicine and principal study investigator. “These findings provide strong evidence that the chemical is of concern to both human and environmental health,” Pessah was quoted as saying by

the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. Triclosan is commonly found in antibacterial body-care products such as hand soaps as well as deodorants, mouthwashes, toothpaste, bedding, clothes, carpets, toys and trash bags, according to a California statement. The Environmental Protection Agency in 1998 estimated that more than one million pounds of triclosan are produced annually in the US. Traces are present in waterways and aquatic organisms, from algae to fish to dolphins, as well as in human urine, blood and breast milk.

Investigators performed several experiments to evaluate the effects of triclosan on muscle activity, using doses similar to those that people and animals may be exposed to during everyday life. In “test tube” experiments, triclosan impaired the ability of isolated heart muscle cells and skeletal muscle fibres and muscle movements, including heartbeats to contract. Besides, the mice had an 18 percent reduction in grip strength for up to 60 minutes after being given a single dose of triclosan. Grip strength is a widely used to measure of limb strength.

The team also found that triclosan impairs heart and skeletal muscle contractility in living animals. Anaesthetised mice had up to a 25 per cent reduction in heart function measures within 20 minutes of exposure to the chemical. “The effects of triclosan on cardiac function were really dramatic,” said Nipavan Chiamvimonvat, professor of cardiovascular medicine at California-Davis and study coauthor. “Although triclosan is not regulated as a drug, this compound acts like a potent cardiac depressant in our models,” concluded Chiamvimonvat. IANS

Snoring kids at risk of behavioural problems Children who snore are at a higher risk of behavioural problems, says study. AMY SILVERSTEIN oddlers who snore loudly may be at risk for behaviour problems, a new study has found. The study, published in Pediatrics, says that heavy snoring affects 9 per cent of children 2 to 3 years of age. “Kids are going to snore sometimes, especially when they have a cold,” Dean W Beebe, of Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center, told Reuters. “It’s when the snoring persists that it gets concerning.” To conduct the study, researchers looked at 249 mother/child pairs at 2 and 3 years of age, ABC news reported. The researchers found that kids who persistently snored were more likely to suffer from hyperactivity, depression and inattention by age 3. Overall, 35 per cent of the snorers were found to be at risk. The researchers aren’t sure why snoring would be linked to problems, and they said more research is needed to answer that question. But possible reasons could be that snoring causes poor sleep. Heavy snoring has also been linked to tonsil problems and exposure to cigarette smoke. While the study could not prove that snoring actually causes specific problems or offer solutions on how to treat it, Beebe warned parents to keep an eye out for heavy snoring, because it is “not normal,“ Reuters reported. The study says that children who are breastfed are at lower risk of becoming snorers.

GLOBAL POST

BRAIN MATTERS

Brain protects sense of smell when blocked

WASHINGTON: Once our nostrils become free of stuffy summer colds or mould allergy, our brains work overtime to keep our olfactory sense as sharp as ever, compensating for the interruption of this vital sense. A new Northwestern University Medicine study shows that after the human nose is experimentally blocked for one

week, brain activity rapidly changes in olfactory brain regions. This change suggests the brain is compensating for the interruption of this vital sense. It returns to a normal pattern shortly after free breathing has been restored, the journal Nature Neuroscience reports. Previous research in animals

has suggested that the olfactory system is resistant to perceptual changes following odour deprivation. This new paper focuses on humans to show how that’s possible. “You need ongoing sensory input in order for your brain to update smell information,” said Keng Nei Wu, who led the study. For the study, Wu completely

blocked the nostrils of a group of participants for a week while they lived in a special low-odour room. At night, participants were allowed to breathe normally while they slept in the room. After the smell deprivation, researchers found an increase in activity in the orbital frontal cortex and a decrease of activity in the piriform cortex. IANS

WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 15, 2012

Entertainment A GOOD BEGINNING

Shadow’s first look out on Sept 19

he first teaser of Venkatesh’s upcoming film Shadow is going to be unveiled on September 19, on the eve of Ganesh Chathurthi. Meher Ramesh is directing this action entertainer. After a long time, Venkatesh will be seen in an action packed role and the buzz is that he’s playing the role of a don in the film. His new look has already become a hit among his fans. Some part of the film has been shot in Hyderabad and Switzerland. Recently, the film was shot

for over three weeks in Malaysia where some action episodes were canned. The film’s next schedule is going to start from August 19 in Mumbai. Taapsee is going to join the team towards the end of September and this is her first film with Venkatesh. Srikanth and Madhurima Banerjee are also playing important roles in the film. Gopi Mohan and Kone Venkat have written the script. Parachuri Prasad is producing it. S S Thaman is composing the music. The film is expected to hit the screens in January, 2013.

CINE BYTES Pawan Kalyan, Trivikram team up again

Caribbean Calypso for Rey

awan Kalyan and Trivikram Srinivas are going to team up for the first time since Jalsa. BVSN Prasad is going to produce this film which is likely to go on floors in September after Pawan Kalyan wraps up shooting for Cameraman Ganga Tho Rambabu. More details will be announced soon.

VS Chowdhary’s Rey starring Sai Dharam Tej, Saiyami Kher and Shraddha Das is the first Telugu film to be shot in Caribbean Islands. The film’s team is shooting in Trinidad and Tobago and next week they’ll go to New York and Las Vegas to complete the schedule.

Rajamouli heads to Goa

wo years after Rajamouli began working on Eega, he has ﬁnally kept his promise of taking his entire family out on a vacation. The ace director is off to a short holiday to Goa. “Family Holiday at last! After a gap of 2 years! Many promise Goa in monsoon is a gr8 experience Let's see.:) Off twitter 4 a week guys Bye (sic)” he posted on Twitter.

Entertainment WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 15, 2012

SALIM’S WORD

Kabir Khan D passes the test

irector Kabir Khan says that when renowned screenwriter and Salman Khan's father Salim Khan okayed Ek Tha Tiger without any changes, he felt he has passed an important exam. "When we were in film school, we used to read Salim saab's screenplay to know how to write a good screenplay. So obviously, when we showed this film to Salim saab, I was a bit nervous. We didn't show him the print but on the editing machine because I wanted to incorporate his inputs or any changes," Kabir said in an interview. "But when he saw the film, he was very happy. He hugged me and said the film is very beautiful as it is. Don't change anything and release it as it is. I felt like I had cleared my final exams and I was not bothered about anyone else's opinion after that," he added. IANS

CINE BYTES

Anubhav to make erotic film as tribute to Bhatts

nubhav Sinha is set to produce his first "erotic" film as a tribute to his mentors for successfully creating "a genre" in the main stream Bollywood. It will be shot in 3D. "My erotic thriller goes on floors in December or by January. This erotic thriller is my official tribute to Mahesh Bhatt and Mukesh Bhatt with no humour attached to the statement," Sinha said. IANS

Balki jealous of wife Gauri

is directorial debut starred Bollywood megastar Amitabh Bachchan, but still R Balki is jealous of his wife Gauri Shinde for working with Sridevi and choosing English Vinglish as her directorial debut. "I am actually jealous of her (Gauri). I had thought of this idea, but I didn't do, so it made me feel jealous," he said. IANS

I am in a happy space now: Anurag Kashyap

or someone whose first film Paanch was banned for being too violent, Anurag Kashyap has come a long way with his revenge drama Gangs of Wasseypur. He is once again rewriting the rules of movie making with his two part GoW. The director says he is finally in a happy space. "Now am getting to make the kind of films I always wanted to make and I am making them freely. I am in a happy space," Kashyap said. PTI

Entertainment WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 15, 2012

BACK ON THE JOB

CINE BYTES

Pattinson praises Cronenberg

obert Pattinson has praised his Cosmopolis director David Cronenberg. When asked if Cronenberg is an “odd duck”, Pattinson responded: “Absolutely not, the opposite. He’s the sweetest man in the whole world.” Pattinson also said that he thought the plot of Cosmopolis — based on the Don DeLillo novel of the same name — is difﬁcult to describe.

Hillary Duff returning to TV

his mama is ready to get back to work. Actress Hilary Duff announced on Twitter today that she has closed a deal to star and produce in an upcoming television series. “Ok it’s official! Very excited about my development deal with 20th century fox!! t.v. here I come! :),” she tweeted. Hilary Duff’s post-baby bikini bod is on point! According to Deadline, Duff has signed a talent and development deal which requires the studio to develop a half-hour comedy vehicle for her, but if for whatever reason the project falls through, the studio can cast her in another comedy or drama series. It’s basically a win/win for Hilary. But TV isn’t the only thing on this new mum’s to-do list. In June, Duff said that she was jumping back in the music studio. “I’m getting kind of nervous,” she dished. “Next week I have all these meetings set with different producers and writers. I’m excited to start that process and I’m so nervous.”

Kardashians have ‘zero talent’: Renner

he Bourne Legacy actor Jeremy Renner has dismissed the Kardashians as talentless “stupid people”. The 41-year-old hit out at the family — who have their own reality TV show, Keeping Up with the Kardashians — for being in the limelight just to be famous rather than be appreciated for their skill.

“Glee” is hopping on the Carly Rae Jepsen bandwagon

he cast of the Fox series will cover the singer’s smash summer tune Call Me Maybe on the Season 4 opener, making them just the latest interpreters of the ubiquitous radio hit. The upcoming season will see the New Directions gang tackling life after high school graduation. The news was broken by Entertainment Weekly.

WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 15, 2012

Chai Time

THOUGHT OF THE DAY

Husbands are chiefly good as lovers when they are betraying their wives. Marilyn Monroe

KAKURO

QUICK CROSSWORD

SUDOKU 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.

ACROSS

PREVIOUS PUZZLE ANSWER

SCRIBBLING PAD

1 Things measured in yards 5 Aura of doom 9 Like dry mud on cleats 14 Wolfe of mysteries 15 Medicinal balm 16 Wonderful way to walk 17 Worse than knavery 18 Speckle-coated horse 19 It may require a fee 20 Not come in first 23 Nonkosher 24 11-point blackjack card, at times 25 Merry 28 Red, as a steak 30 Arachnid structure 33 A landlord may do this 34 Fancy tie material 35 Made an appearance 36 Become unsteady 39 What polygraphs detect 40 "My Cup Runneth Over" singer Ed 41 Autumn bloomer 42 Some EMT cases 43 Wading bird sacred to Egyptians 44 Uses swear words 45 Yoko of music 46 "Why, certainly!" 47 Set limits 54 Plants and animals of a region 55 Seem to go on forever 56 Act amorously 57 Animated bunny hunter 58 Brute of folklore 59 Kinks hit of 1970 60 Adrenal, e.g. 61 Audiotape holder 62 "While" attachment

DOWN

1 From a fresh angle 2 Strauss of jeans 3 "Happy Days" actress Moran 4 Summer and winter events 5 Postal delivery 6 Above it all 7 Temporary gift 8 Advance on credit 9 Compel by force 10 Wide-eyed orphan 11 '90s TV toon therapist 12 St. Patrick's land 13 Alcohol-free 21 Certain Greek Muse 22 Arctic coat 25 Unstable dessert product 26 Egg-shaped 27 Carpentry clamps 28 "The Sun Also ___" 29 Clerical clothing 30 Desires 31 Awards-night host 32 Apt rhyme for "Cheers" 34 "Circle" or "final" start 35 Potluck dinner staple 37 Wealthy, powerful person 38 Bush with twin daughters 43 Introspective 44 Stick used as a weapon 45 Made of a certain grain 46 Type of drum 47 Herb in a pickle 48 "Arrivederci ___" 49 Stinkbug's defense 50 Be an advocate 51 Humpbacked helper of film 52 Some building wings 53 Air traveler's assignment 54 Whine for table scraps

Chai Time WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 15, 2012 Thiruvaikumar

STAR POWER for 16-8-2012

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

ARIES

TAURUS

GEMINI

CANCER

LEO

VIRGO

LIBRA

SCORPIO

SAGITTARIUS

CAPRICORN

AQUARIUS

PISCES

Be careful while driving. Chances of works getting delayed and wasteful expenditure might upset you. Employees may face a deficit financial situation.Minor misunderstanding come and go between couple.

Debt problems which were haunting you will start reducing from now. as you are in a position to start clearing the same. Adjust well with the spouse. Now’s the time for estranged couple to make up.

A cheerful situation will prevail at home. Self confidence, courage and will power will be more which will prepare you take bold decisions and results too are favourable. Even enemies too will become friends.

QUICK CROSSWORD FRED BASSET

You will perform the marriage of your daughter or son in a grand manner. Some might change to their own built house from rented premises. Though money inflow is comfortable, expenses too will be more. Minor misunderstanding likely.

Those who are worried about delay in marriage settlement will hear a good news soon. Employees will feel happy as they will get their unpaid salaries soon. Though work burden is likely to increase, they will work cheerfully.

Happy events to take place at home.Debts will get cleared soon. Those jobless for quiet sometime will get a favourable news very soon.Orders will pour in for businessmen without putting much efforts.

You will be upset as money will not come by from the expected sources. Couple need to adjust well between them, as minor problems too might become a problem of large magnitude. Be cordial and avoid arguments.

A good news to arrive for those who were planning to go outstation or abroad for job. Held up marriage of your daughter or son will materialise and get performed soon. Debt problems will be under control.

Influx of relatives and friends likely. Some will face problem in the property they own. Businessmen need to struggle a lot to achieve their targets and financial situation too is not comfortable. Avoid talking harshly with anyone.

TAROT READ

Sumaa Tekur

tarotreadhyd@gmail.com

ARIES:

GEMINI:

Five of Pentacles – Value your friends, family and other close relationships. They will support you unconditionally. Stay with them and heed their advice.

LEO:

Ten of Cups – You need to juggle around your daily schedule in such a way that boredom does not set it. You need to rotate the tasks in an interesting way.

LIBRA:

STONE SOUP

Ten of Pentacles – There is a raw beauty in nature and you want to capture that in creative and innovative ways. Let your creative juices flow. Paint, write poetry.

SAGITTARIUS:

Two of Pentacles – Balance is an art you need to develop. Do not get over-excited about something in the immediate future. It will not last long.

TAURUS:

King of Cups – You may want to cut down on unnecessary expenses. You have a tendency to have a very philosophical attitude towards money.

CANCER:

Four of Pentacles – You have done some good work but may need to promote yourself in a good way. Campaign for a good cause.

VIRGO:

Nine of Cups – There will be more opportunities later in life. So, do not cry over what you may have missed in the last few days. You will get what is due to you.

SCORPIO:

Five of Wands – You will have to mend a fight with a close friend. You cannot stay in a state of conflict for a long time. It will ruin your peace of mind.

CAPRICORN:

King of Pentacles – You can look forward to launch a parallel career in an area that’s very different to your current career. You will discover a new talent.

SOLUTIONS

PISCES:

Four of Wands – A new vehicle purchase is on the cards. You may take this vehicle out on a long drive. Enjoy the attention but also stick to traffic rules.

NUMBER GAME

Queen of Pentacles – You tend to have a very sharp tongue. You will hurt friends with your arrogance and inability to be sensitive to others’ feelings.

SCRABBLE

AQUARIUS:

INK PEN

You will undertake pilgrimmage with family members. Though money will come by, from expected sources , you will not be happy due to very high expenses with which you will be upset. Your children will not understand you well.

for 16-8-2012

The Magician – Someone will make a suggestion, which will be very useful for you. Do not allow ego to come in the way of a good idea.

FOR BETTER OR FOR WORSE

Employees feel happy as their superiors will support them well. Some will be happy to get their expected transfer and pay hike. Businessmen will be successful in purchasing the machinery and equipments which require.

SUDUKO

Those who were lazy and inactive will become active and work sincerely. Businessmen also who faced dull trend for quiet some time will see a rapid momentum in their business and do well.Troubles faced from enemies will end.

Boggle DOC HAPPY DOPEY SLEEPY GRUMPY Vol: 2, No 29 RNI No: APENG/2011/39337 Published for the proprietors, Scribble Media and Entertainment Pvt Ltd, by V Harshavardhan Reddy, at #1246, Level 3, Jubilee Casa, Road No 62, Jubilee Hills, Hyderabad – 500033 and printed by him at Jagati Publications Ltd, Plot No D-75&E-52, APIE Industrial Estate, Balanagar, Ranga Reddy Dist, Hyderabad – 500037, Editor: Dean Williams – Responsible for selection of news under the PRB Act All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or in part without written permission of the publisher is prohibited. For feedback, please write to: feedback@postnoon.com and for subscription, please call 040-4067 2222, Fax: 040-4067 2211

Entertainment WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 15, 2012

STICKING THROUGH THICK AND THIN

CINE BYTES

Jolie, Pitt order rings

e a b n r o e p v t e

ollywood couple Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie have reportedly enlisted the services of luxury jeweller Robert Procop to craft two custom-made matching wedding bands worth $1 million. Procop has been busy all year making the wedding rings, a source said. They are matching rose gold bands with a tablet-cut diamond in them and their vows to each other engraved in them, reports showbizspy.com. IANS

for Gaga ion

Divorce wi ll n

inger Lady Gaga believes in a life-long relationship. She says whenever she gets married, she will stick through the relationship even when the going gets tough. "Divorce is not an option. I'm going to get married and that's it, he's stuck with me. I want to find a man that feels the same," thesun.co.uk quoted Gaga as saying. The singer, who has been dating Taylor Kinney for over a year, has vowed to make any marriage of her own work, especially after seeing her parents go through a rocky patch. IANS

Zoe Saldana taking role in developing Nina Simone biopic

he seemingly foreverdeveloping Nina Simone biopic is still moving, though it has been quite a while since there was been any substantial news. IOTG reports that Zoe Saldana is now up for a role in Nina, though that's about all the info there is at the moment.

The Tall Man stars Jessica Biel

hile the summer has been awash with big action films, a heaping help of sci-fi and a trio of superhero movies, The Tall Man is coming to lead us into the fall. Director Pascal Laugierâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s horror thriller centers on Julia Denning (Jessica Biel), the nurse in a small town plagued by disappearances of its children. Julia, who had not been bothered by the incidents, is shaken into action when her own son goes missing.

sports

WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 15, 2012

SOUTH AFRICA IN ENGLAND

Kevin’s absence casts shadow JULIAN GUYER

Yorkshireman arrives at Lord’s on the back of 139 for the England Lions against Australia A. Fast-medium bowler Tim Bresnan did his best to stick up for county colleague Bairstow by suggesting England could be an improved side without Pietersen. “It may be an even better side, it’s one of those things where a talented player is being replaced by another talented player,” Bresnan said. “So why should we miss a certain individual because he’s unavailable for selection?” But even those closest to Bairstow might struggle to believe that — at least for the time being. There were reports late Tuesday that Pietersen and the England hierarchy were close to

LONDON: Rarely has all the talk in the build-up to a Test been dominated by a man who will not be playing in the match. Yet England’s dramatic decision to drop Kevin Pietersen from the third Test at Lord’s starting Thursday, allegedly over text messages he sent to South African players during the drawn second Test at Headingley, has inevitably put the focus on their absent star batsman. The South Africa-born shotmaker averages nearly 50 in Tests and made a superb 149 at Headingley, where he drove South Africa fast bowler Dale Steyn back over his head for six. By contrast Jonathan Bairstow, the man who will replace Pietersen, was dropped after playing his first three Tests against the West Indies earlier this season and has an average of under 13 with a top score of 18. Yet England have decided there are bigger issues than the possible loss of their world number one Test ranking, which they will surrender to South Africa unless they win at Lord’s. Bairstow struggled with the short ball against the West Indies a fact sure to have been noted by Steyn and fellow fast bowler Morne Morkel, even if the

League Cricket A 2 & 3 Divisions Two Days Kosaraju 293/8 bt Galaxy 205 (Naveen Chary 4/56) Team Speed 295 bt Gemini Friends 185 (T Shiva Prasad 5/74) Vijay Hanuman 299/9 decl lost to MCC 301/6 (Rana Thakur 66, Prince Ojha 114 n.o.) Hyderabad Titans 221 lost to Budding Stars 223/6 (Md Ateeq 64) AOC 392/5 Osmania (Nandkumar Sachin 3/15)

decl

bt 104 3/16,

Cambridge XI 250 bt Telangana 171 (S Ramesh 43, Md Akram 44, Moinuddin 3/20).

Probable Teams: England: Andrew Strauss (capt), Alastair Cook, Jonathan Trott, Ian Bell, James Taylor, Jonathan Bairstow, Matt Prior (wkt), Stuart Broad, Tim Bresnan, Graeme Swann, James Anderson, Steven Finn, Graham Onions. South Africa: Graeme Smith (capt), Alviro Petersen, Hashim Amla, Jacques Kallis, AB de Villiers (wkt), Jacques Rudolph, JP Duminy, Vernon Philander, Dale Steyn, Morne Morkel, Imran Tahir

resolving their differences ahead of Saturday’s squad announcement for the World Twenty20 in Sri Lanka next month but any ‘peace deal’ will come too late for the third Test. “I’ve always got on with Kevin,” said England captain Andrew Strauss. “That’s why this has all been a bit of a surprise to me. “It’s about mutual respect and trust, and that is a core issue that is central to resolving this.” Meanwhile South Africa allrounder Jacques Kallis said England would be a weaker side without Pietersen. “He’s a world-class player ... England losing him is a big loss for them. Any time he’s not in your side it does make a big difference.” However, Kallis added: “Cricket’s not a one-man sport. There are 11 guys who can take a Test match away from us.” The match will see Strauss make his 100th Test appearance and lead his country in Tests for the 50th time. Strauss who eight years ago marked his debut with a century against New Zealand at Lord’s, would dearly love to match the achievement of Proteas skipper Graeme Smith, who marked his 100th Test with a century at the Oval to help put the tourists 1-0 up.

Strauss speaks out on KP controversy LONDON: England captain Andrew Strauss entered the debate over the controversial omission of Kevin Pietersen from this week’s third Test on Tuesday, saying he regretted “dirty laundry” being aired in public. Last weekend, Pietersen was dramatically dropped from England’s squad, despite scoring a superb 149 in the second Test at Headingley, after failing to reveal the contents of text messages allegedly sent to South African players during that match. Some of those texts are said to include derogatory comments about Strauss and England coach Andy Flower. Pietersen’s inability to either say whether the messages were true, or indeed apologise for them if they were, led England to omit him from the third Test which starts at Lord’s on Thursday. It is a game England, 1-0 down in the three-match series,

Pietersen apologises

evin Pietersen has apologised to the ECB for text messages sent to South African players during the drawn second Test at Headingley, it was reported on Tuesday. Last weekend, Pietersen was dramatically dropped from England’s squad for this week’s final Test at Lord’s, despite scoring a superb 149 at Headingley, after failing to reveal the contents of those text messages. Some of those texts are said to include derogatory comments about England captain Andrew Strauss and coach Andy Flower. must win if they are to prevent South Africa replacing them as the world’s number one Test side. The match also marks Strauss’s 100th Test and his 50th

as captain, with the fixture taking place on his Middlesex home ground. Tensions between Pietersen and the England hierarchy have been escalating all summer, with

the South Africa-born batsman retiring fron limited overs internationals after England refused his wish to opt out of 50-over matches while still playing Twenty20s. Then came his extraordinary press conference after the Headingley Test, where he speculated the match at Lord’s might be his “last Test”. And last week, on the eve of the squad announcement for Lord’s, he took to YouTube to insist he was now available to play for England in all formats. But it appears the text issue was the final straw for the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) although Strauss, in an interview with Sky Sports on Tuesday, insisted he’d always had good relations with his Pietersen, his predecessor as England captain. “I’ve always got on with Kevin,” he said. “I’ve tried to be honest with him; he’s been honest with me. AFP

sports

WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 15, 2012

DISABLED SWIM

All set for Strait swim

Philippe Croizon and Arnaud Chassery, both from France, are all set to swim across the Bering Strait where the temperature of the water is not more than 3-4 degrees centigrade. PATRICK FILLEUX WALES, ALASKA: Two silhouettes cut through the water a few hundred yards (metres) from a rainy, windswept beach bordering the flat grasslands near the small Inuit community of Wales, in the far west of Alaska. Through the mist on the horizon, the islands of Little Diomede and Big Diomede — the remote front line of the 40year Cold War between the Soviet bloc and the United States — emerge from the freezing seas like insurmountable walls. On Little Diomede it is Saturday but across the Bering Strait it is already Sunday. From the beach, the two swimmers could easily be mistaken for seals. Frenchmen Philippe Croizon (in pic) and Arnaud Chassery are hoping that the killer whales that frequent these waters will not make the same mistake. Croizon and Chassery are

preparing to make the crossing between the two islands as the last stage of a challenge that has already seen them swim between Oceania and Asia, Africa and Asia then Europe to Africa since May. The distance between Little

From the beach, the swimmers could easily be mistaken for seals. But they hope that the killer whales wont make the same mistake Diomede and Big Diomede may only be 3.5 kilometres (2.2 miles) but these waters are no warmer than three or four degrees C (37.4-39.2 F) and often have strong counter-currents. Then there is also the fact that Croizon, 44, is a quadruple amputee, having lost his arms and legs seven years ago after

suffering a 20,000-volt electric shock as he tried to dismantle a television antenna from a roof. Over the last three months, both men have swum from Papua New Guinea to Indonesia, across the Red Sea from Taba in Egypt to Aqaba in Jordan and from Tarifa in southern Spain to Tangiers in northern Morocco across the Strait of Gibraltar. The aim of the challenge is to spread a message of “peace, solidarity and partnership”, proving that disabled and non-disabled people can achieve the same goals.

‘I’M READY’

The two men swim at the same sustained rhythm, Croizon instantly recognisable from a distance by the windmill movements of the front crawl stroke that he makes with the remainder of his upper arms. When he gets out of the water, towelled dry by Chassery and the expedition doctor

WELCOME BACK

LONDON 2012

Grand reception for Oz

Australia’s Olympic athletes were welcomed home by a big crowd at Sydney airport. SYDNEY: Australia’s Olympic athletes were welcomed home by a big crowd at Sydney airport on Wednesday, with Prime Minister Julia Gillard defending their achievements despite a poor medal haul. Recriminations have begun in Australia after they finished only 10th at the London Games, down from sixth in Beijing, with just seven golds for their worst victory tally in 20 years. It was well below expectations, lagging the likes of Hungary and Italy, and a massive 22 gold medals behind traditional arch-rival Britain, the host nation. Gillard led hundreds of family, friends and wellwishers in

Arnaud de Courreges, Croizon is triumphant despite the signs of his efforts, cold and fatigue. “I’m ready,” he says breathlessly. “We have now been in the crossing conditions of cold and counter-currents. We’re going to have to get across very quickly to avoid the eddies between the islands. But the Bering, I want to eat it up...” Croizon’s partner, Susana Catarino, 44, busies herself with the details. For every swim, she helps him into his wetsuit and fixes the prosthetic flippers to his thighs. “I’m involved on all fronts: personal assistant, nurse, bag carrier, dresser, masseuse, psychologist, supporter,” said Catarino, a secretary-accountant who met Croizon seven years ago. Together they arranged Croizon’s first big challenge of crossing the Channel between France and England,bringing worldwide fame and hope to other amputees facing a similar predicament.

Australian Olympians disembark from a Qantas 747-400 plane at the Sydney Domestic Airport on Wednesday. Australia’s Olympic athletes were welcomed home by a big crowd. AFP/GREG WOOD

welcoming home the athletes and said they deserved praise. “For those who have been quick to rush out with criticism, London 2012 has been a remarkable result by any measure,” she said. “Our nation is still in the top 10, still fighting, still striving. “No matter what medal you’re wearing around your neck today, or whether you’re not wearing a medal at all, you are carrying the greatest of honours, you’re Olympians,” she added. Chef de mission Nick Green highlighted the “golden double” of cyclist Anna Meares and hurdler Sally Pearson, who both won events on August 7, as standout performances. AFP

Guineans among missing players LONDON: Athletes from Guinea and Ivory Coast have joined several other Africans who have gone missing following London 2012, officials said on Tuesday. Three Guineans and three Ivorians disappeared, adding to the 11 Congolese and Cameroonians already unaccounted for. “Three members of the delegation have not returned to the Olympic village,” said Adama Doumbia, the technical adviser at the Ministry of Sports and Leisure in Ivory Coast. He did not give the names of the missing members of the delegation but said they contained two swimmers and a wrestling coach. AFP

sports

WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 15, 2012

IN A FIX

Djoker in time spin Djokovic says he has to remind himself which continent he is on as his fast-paced schedule spins swiftly making him lose track of time. SCOTT WILLIAMS CINCINNATI: ATP Cincinnati Masters second seed Novak Djokovic says he has to remind himself which continent he is on as his fastpaced schedule spins swiftly with the Olympics done and the US Open near. "If you don't keep track of time and places where you are, it happens — sometimes you wake up and say, 'OK, which time zone am I in right now?,'" Djokovic said. Djokovic made the quickchange from Wimbledon Olympic grass to Toronto hardcourts last week to win Canada's Masters event. "It's the way it is for everybody, mostly for top players," he said. "We are aware of the fact that Olympic Games are going to make our schedule more difficult and busier than previous years. That's what happens always in the tennis schedule when you have Olympic year coming up. We all tried to work our schedule around that. For now, I'm

hand and the back kind of goes out or spasms a little bit. It got progressively worse," Roddick said. "I feel a lot better about where my game is at now — today was just one of those things, what are you going to do about it?" German Tommy Haas continued his fighting return

If you don't keep track of time and places, sometimes you wake up and say, ‘ok, which time zone am I in right now?’

feeling good." Djokovic will play his opening match on Wednesday against Italian Andreas Seppi, with top seed Roger Federer and Olympic gold medalist Andy Murray also opening then. In Tuesday first-round

matches, US 10th seed Mardy Fish ousted Spain's Feliciano Lopez 6-2, 6-3 while longtime friend and two-time tournament champion Andy Roddick lost to Frenchman Jeremy Chardy 7-6 (7/4), 6-3. "I felt fine early on, and then I had one lunge fore-

to top form by outlasting Argentine David Nalbandian 6-7 (0/7), 7-6 (7/4), 6-3 in a match lasting almost 3.5 hours. Haas won the Halle title in June on grass over Federer and played in finals at Hamburg and Washington. He reached the quarter-finals last week in Toronto and has lined up a Cincinnati date with Juan Martin del Potro.

CINCINNATI MASTERS

Tomic likely to meet Federer The Australian’s 6-4, 6-3 victory over American Brian Baker sets up the possibility of a likely meeting with current World Number 1, Roger Federer. CINCINNATI: Australia’s Bernard Tomic booked a third-round spot at the ATP Cincinnati Masters on Tuesday. The teen's 6-4, 6-3 defeat of American Brian Baker sets up a possibility of a likely meeting with World Number 1, Roger Federer. The top-seeded Swiss, going for a fourth trophy in the US Midwest, still has to win his opening encounter Wednesday against Alex

Bogomolov of Russia. But German-born 19year-old Tomic, who advanced with seven aces, saved all six break points he faced and finds the challenge is still inviting. "If I get the chance to play Roger, It will be very interesting," said the World No. 49, the only teen in the top 50. "I played him in the Australian Open fourth round and learned a lot from that match. "I'm improving my game

and getting stronger. People expect a lot from you and you have to keep working hard. But I think mine is paying off. "I've still got a few more years to reach the peak of my game." Women's third seed Samantha Stosur worked for 2 1/2 hours before finally overcoming Anabel Medina Garrigues of 6-3, 6-7 (6-8), 6-4 to reach the third round after a bye. AFP

Hewitt, Blake among US Open wild cards NEW YORK: Former US Open champion Lleyton Hewitt (in pic), US veteran James Blake and Frenchman Guillaume Rufin were among eight wild card entries named to the US Open field on Tuesday by the US Tennis Association. Former World No. 1 Hewitt, 31, captured the 2001 US Open title and 2002 Wimbledon crowns among 28 career singles crowns while Rufin, 22, reached the second round at Wimbledon this year and is ranked a career-best 127th. Blake, 32, reached the last eight in the 2005 and 2006 US Opens and has taken 10 ATP career titles to lead six US wild cards in the field. Others given a pass into the draw by the US sport governing body include reigning US college singles champion Steve Johnson, 100th-ranked Rajeev Ram, 2010 US Open boys winner Jack Sock and runner-up Denis Kudla and Russian-born reigning USTA boys singles champion Dennis Novikov. AFP

Malaysian great, Gunalan, dies AKUALA LUMPUR: Former Malaysian badminton star G u n a l a n Panchacharan, who was one of the world's finest players in the 1970s, died on Wednesday at the age of 68, a report said. "Punch", as he was known in badminton circles, and his doubles mate Ng Boon Bee were a force in world badminton in the early 1970s, winning the prestigious AllEngland championship and other major titles in 1971. Gunalan also won singles titles at the 1970 Asian Games and 1974 Commonwealth Games. He later served as a top official in Malaysia's badminton governing body and the Badminton World Federation, and was elected the latter's vice president in 1997. The Star newspaper reported he passed away Wednesday. It did not give a cause of death but local media reports had said previously Gunalan had been battling liver cancer. AFP

WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 15, 2012

sports

VAN GAAL OPTS FOR SNEIJDER

Holland's freshly appointed coach Luis Van Gaal has named Inter Milan's Wesley Sneijder as his new captain for Wednesday's friendly against Belgium and for the upcoming World Cup qualification campaign, he said Tuesday.

PREMIER LEAGUE PREVIEW

LA LIGA PREVIEW

Persie saga goes on Kompany wants Van Persie for company.

Barcelona's defender Jordi Alva (C) takes part during a training session, on Tuesday at the Sports Center FC Bacelona Joan Gamper, in St Joan Despi, near Barcelona. AFP/JOSEP LAGO

Barca, Real set to resume battle Champions Real Madrid will begin with almost the same squad that won La Liga. DERMOT LEDWITH MADRID: Arch rivals Real Madrid and Barcelona are the obvious candidates to battle it out for La Liga bragging rights, as a host of pretenders attempt to put pressure on the outright favourites when the new campaign kicks off on Saturday. The two sides finished 39 and 30 points ahead of third-placed Valencia last season and with no challengers having significantly strengthened, the battle at the top is likely to have a familiar look to it.

Mourinho fended off early interest in his Argentine striker Gonzalo Higuain. Champions Real Madrid will begin with almost the same squad that ended Barcelona’s run of three consecutive titles last term. Coach Jose Mourinho fended off early interest in his Argentine striker Gonzalo Higuain from big

spenders Paris SaintGermain, while Raul Albiol, Alvaro Arbeloa and Angel Di Maria have all signed extensions to their contracts. Barcelona finished nine points adrift last season and the team will have a brand new look as Tito Vilanova replaces Pep Guardiola as coach after four glittering years at the Camp Nou. The only addition so far to their squad is the return of full-back Jordi Alba from Valencia for a fee of 14 million euros.

CRIME

Ribery, Benzema on trial

PARIS: French international footballers Franck Ribery and Karim Benzema are to face trial for allegedly soliciting an underage prostitute, judicial sources said on Tuesday. The footballers are among eight people that investigating magistrate Andre Dando has sent for trial as well as the Zaman Cafe on Paris’ Champs

Elysees where the meetings with Zahia Dehar took place. Some of the defendants will be prosecuted for “aggravated pimping”, according to judicial papers. Paris prosecutors had in 2011 requested that the case against the two French football stars be dropped on the grounds that they did not know

that Dehar was aged under 18. Dehar, now 20, told police she was paid for sex with Ribery in 2009 and Benzema in 2008 when she was aged 16. She claimed that both players were not aware that she was under age. The affair broke during 2010 and tarnished the image of the France football team just weeks ahead of the World Cup.

LONDON: Manchester City captain Vincent Kompany (right) has no doubt the arrival of wantaway Arsenal striker Robin van Persie would make the English Premier League champions a stronger side. With just days to go until the start of the new season, Arsenal’s reported £20 million asking price for the striker, who scored a mammoth 37 goals last term, has yet to be met. Manchester United

appear to be leading the chasing pack for the Gunners captain but City skipper Kompany said the 29-year-old van Persie would be more than welcome at Eastlands. “It’s very easy to say you want to play next to Robin van Persie,” Kompany told Sky Sports News. “He’s a great player. He’s proved it so many times last season and any team he would play for he’d make it stronger.”