Postnoon E-Paper for 17 May 2012

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THURSDAY, MAY 17, 2012 HYDERABAD

SRK GETS

BANNED FOR LIFE! The Mumbai Cricket Association is to ban Bollywood actor and Indian Premier League franchise Kolkata Knight Riders co-owner Shah Rukh Khan from Wankhede stadium for life after an altercation with security and officials of the association. REPORT ON PG 29

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The Pirates are under attack The Pirate Bay (TPB) has been under attack over the last 24 hours from an unknown attacker in a distributed denial of service (DDoS) strike. At the time of going to Press the main site was still down, but a few proxies were up and running. Despite P13 early reports, Anonymous has denied any involvement.

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THURSDAY, MAY 17, 2012

Spirit of Twin Cities

MINE! MINE! MINE!

Library summer camp

N SHIVA KUMAR

A library summer camp for parents and faculty of UG and PG students will be held from May 10 onwards. The camp will provide guidance for faculty and final year PG students for National/State lectureship and scholarship test(NET/APSET) for `3,650. Where: Hyderabad library services, Sagar View Complex When: May 10 - June 10, Contact: (040) 2322 2247, 94412 37751

The amazing summer shuttle A summer camp for children in the age group of 1-15 and for adults in Thai flowers, stocking flowers and marble painting is being held. Where: Plot-26, Gunrock Enclave, Secunderabad When: 11am-1pm, 11am-5pm Contact:98498 04416, 93921 05310

Kanchi Maggaala Vaari We purchase your old Pattu Sarees,old Kanchipattu, Gadwal,Venkatagiri,Pattu Skirts,Teared Pattu Jeri Borders also Where: Kalinga Cultural Trust, Rd No12, Near MLA Colony, Banjara Hills When: May 17-May20 Contact: 98493 54166

Summer contest Head to Inorbit mall for a summer from May 14 to May 27. All through the weeks there will be a variety of contests. Where: Inorbit Mall, Madhapur When: Ongoing Contact: (040) 4488 0000

Blood song Blood Song, a radical adaptation of Federico Garcia Lorca's "Blood Wedding", directed by the internationally acclaimed David Zinder will be showcased on May 26 and 27 at the Nift auditorium. Where: Nift auditorium, Madhapur When: May 26 and 27, 7.30pm onwards Contact: 98852 88982

The awakening A painting exhibition titled Buddha — The awakening will be held at Iconart gallery. The exhibition which was inaugurated on the occasion of Buddha Purnima on May 6 will be on display . Where: Iconart Gallery, Banjara Hills, Rd No12 When: May 7 onwards, 11.30 am onwards Contact: 98499 68797

CINEMAS

Cricket frenzy Mocha and Mocha Express is hosting IPL specials with live screening of the match and various pizzas paying ode to the IPL teams and their spirits. Where: Mocha — Banjara Hills Inorbit Mall When: Ongoing, 4pm onwards Contact: (040) 2335 0144

Painting exhibition An exhibition of paintings by Lalu Shaw is being held at Shrishti Art Gallery. Where: Shrishti Art Gallery, Jubilee Hills, Rd No 15 When: Ongoing, 11am onwards Contact: (040) 2354 0023

Etching prints A group exhibition of etching prints by various talented artists is being held. Where: Gallery Space, Banjara Hills, Rd No 12 When: Ongoing, 11am onwards Contact: (040) 6554 1836

Picture perfect A 7-day photography workshop for children with the aim to introduce them to the basics of photography is being held at Treasure House. The workshop is open for children in the age group of 12-18 years.

Where: Treasure House, Jubilee Hills, Rd No 36 When: Ongoing, 11am onwards Contact: (040) 2355 0118

Time to think This — a thought provoking comedy by Sharanya Ramprakash deals with four modern thirty-year-olds. The play will be staged on May 19. Where: Nift campus, Madhapur When: May19, 7.30pm onwards Contact: (040) 2311 4537

Metamorpherscense A painting exhibition titled Metamorphescense by Pranatu Khanna is being held at Iconart Gallery. The exhibition is on display at Muse Art Gallery, Tank Bund till May 19. Where: Muse Art Gallery, Tank Bund When: Ongoing, 11am onwards Contact: (040) 2752 2999

Solo exhibition Ramakanth’s Solo Painting Exhibition which deals with loneliness of a long distance runner is being displayed at Muse Art Gallery. Where: Hyderabad Marriott, Tank Bund When: Ongoing, 11am onwards

Contact: (040) 2752 2999

Yoga Camp

The third part of a series of sevenday yoga camp will be held by Yoga Healing Foundation in Yousufguda. The last part will beheld at Saroornagar from May 20. Where: Krishnakanth Park, Yousufguda When: May13 onwards, 5.15 am onwards Contact: 98489 92354

Theatre workshop Samahaara is hosting special four week summer acting workshops. The workshops will be held for a duration of four weeks. The workshops are being held at three different places in the City. Where: Vidyaranya School, The Terrace, The Actor’s Studio When: May 14 onwards, Monday-Friday Contact: 83411 20303

Food and cricket Great food and a great game of cricket makes for great news. Head to News Cafe to catch the IPL matches with some great IPL isnpired food. Where: News Cafe, Inorbit Mall, Madhapur When: Ongoing, 8pm onwards Contact: (040) 4010 1236

Big Cinemas, Ameerpet: 30581470; Cinemax, Banjara Hills: 44565555; Cine Planet , Kompally: 61606060; INOX, Banjara Hills: 44767777; Prasads, Tank Bund Rd: 23448888; PVR, Punjagutta: 8800900009; Talkie Town, Miyapur: 40214175; Tivoli, Secunderabad: 27844973


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THURSDAY, MAY 17, 2012

Campaigns, hard news and spirit of Twin Cities

GHMC MEET TO TALK GRAFT Reddy. On the other hand BJP floor leader B Prakash, who is currently participating in the party’s election campaign in bypoll bound Parkala assembly constituency has alleged that there is a lot of corruption in engineering wing and added that the party would expose it. “We will not spare the ruling combine of Congress and MIM party. The new contract system is also a complete failure. The sanitation services have only worsened,” he said.

CIVIC Inkeshaf Ahmed ahmed.m@postnoon.com

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he general body meeting of the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) scheduled to be held on May 19 is likely to be a stormy affair. The opposition parties like TDP and BJP are gearing up to corner the ruling coalition on various public grievances. The most important among these problems are likely to be rationalisation of property tax and its subsequent effects, corruption in the engineering section and failure by the sanitation wing to keep the City clean following the introduction of the new contract system. While the TDP will corner the ruling coalition on the unprecedented hike in property tax and failure of the corporation in supplying drinking water to over 900 colonies, the BJP will attempt to expose the alleged rampant corruption in the engineering wing of the corporation during the execution of develop-

New Guests

ment works. “We will raise all the burning issues during the meeting. We have demanded the mayor to seek a special grant of `1,000 crore for the development of erstwhile municipalities which were merged in corpora-

tion. But there was no progress on that front. Apart from this, the residents are suffering from many problems like lack of drinking water supply, swine flu and stray dog menace,” said TDP floor leader Singireddy Srinivas

The general body meeting is likely to witness the entry of new guests. Actor-turned-politician Chiranjeevi and industrialistturned-politician CM Ramesh who were recently nominated to the Rajya Sabha are likely to attend this meeting. The duo have become the ex-officio members of the corporation following their nomination to the upper house of the Parliament. They gained this status as they are the residents of GHMC. The corporation officials have sent an invitation to both of them to attend the meeting.

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CRIME BRIEFS CEO requisitions 139 security companies

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he chief electoral officer (CET) Banwarlal said that the election commissioner has requisitioned 139 security force companies for the forthcoming by-elections in the State to 18 Assembly seats and one Lok Sabha seat. This is apart from the regular State police force. The elections are likely to be held on June 12.

Man kidnapped from Secunderabad

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man by the name M Srikanth, 27, was forcibly taken away from his home in Secunderabad on Tuesday. According to Srikanth’s wife, Latha, and his sister Kiran Jyoti, two men came home and took him and sped away. Srikanth is a painter.

Mobile phone charger bursts, man killed

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newly married man, Anil Kumar Billa, a resident of Budha Nagar, died early this morning after the cell phone he was charging burst and he suffered serious burns. He was a software engineer. Kumar was married only a month ago. The Medipally police are investigating.


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Bolarum Residency

A hand pulled rickshaw in 1880 ing the single city Hyderabad.

Growth P ANURADHA REDDY

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ecunderabad came into being after the subsidiary alliance of 1798 was formed, stipulating the permanent residency of the British East India Company’s forces within the Nizam’s state and granting them economic concessions. An elevated ridge, 150 feet above the river occupying a commanding position five miles north of Charminar and three miles east of the direct route to Madras, provided a healthy site for the cantonment. Soon after the treaty was signed, 5,000 British troops arrived and camped to the north of Hussain Sagar, near the village of Hussain Shah Pura. This was the beginning of the new twin settlement replac-

Trimulgherry Entrenchment

The growth of the cantonment was in two stages. Initially, an area of 6 square miles a population of 5,000 troops and civilian natives consisting of three areas, Northern-Army Barracks, Central Officers Quarters and Southern-Native settlement called General Bazaar was a compact settlement consisting of natives from the surrounding areas, drawn by the business opportunities available. Houses as old as 100 to 200 years old were found in the oldest inhabited parts of General Bazaar. After 1836, the military barracks shifted to Trimulgherry, Bowenpalli and Bolarum. The General Bazaar area expanded very fast because of the economic concessions. Business people including bankers and merchants were able to import commodities and duty free to supply the Cantonment and Hyderabad’s rich citizens. This led to a future

increase in business and rise in expansion of the natives settled area in a southernly direction. Jan Morris, in Stone of empires, says, “Cantonments were generally set up five or six miles from the subjected city. The gap was deliberately maintained. All was logic and functionalism...” Most of the buildings were variations on the standard bungalows. Winston Churchill who was there in 1880’s, reported that at least 12,000 men were based at the station ( Secunderabad), keeping guard on a city which contained “all the scoundrels of Asia”. Hyderabad city was out of bounds to British troops. Secunderabad became the symbol of Resident’s power in the State.

Culture The Secunderabad culture evolved very differently from that of Hyderabad because of the usage of English, Urdu, Tamil and Kannada. The presence of different religions led to the construction of churches, temples etc, as well, rather than only mosques. Educational intuitions also evolved differently because of the involvement of missionary organisations. The Tamil, Maharashtrian, Parsee and Komti communities along with others made their homes here. Hyderabad’s and Secunderabad’s ties with British and Muslim cultures are seen by the predominance of Urdu and English newspapers. The Englishman, the Hyderabad

Moula Ali

Bulletin, the Daily news and later on the Deccan Chronicle were some of the English languages publications available.

The twin cities After 1912, when the Nizam moved to King Kothi, the nobility and well-to-do from the walled city also moved to areas like Banjara hills, Begumpet and so another link between Secunderabad and Hyderabad was established. The advent of Railways also had a major influence in uniting the two cities, accelerating the northward expansion of Hyderabad. But, in spite of all these differences, there was a fusion of cultures between Secunderabad and socio historical associations. The combined Cantonment comprised of the areas Secunderabad, Chilkalguda, Lalaguda, Bowenpally, Begumpet, Trimulgherry, North Trimulgerry and Bolarum. The area covered 22 square miles including many interspersed villages. Shaded trees lined the road of the Cantonment. Various crops were cultivated in the villages where tanks had been constructed. As water supply from wells was insufficient, the Jeedimetla tank was constructed to provide water for the troops and civil population of Secunderabad. It is interesting to note that much income was derived from toddy liquor. The trade was flourishing even in the times of the Qutb Shahi Kings. French traveller, Tavernier, describes

I went round the Secunderabad bazaars and found the place clean and flourishing. The streets were broad and the houses handsome and well painted and done up. The main street could be surpassed by few, if any, of the military Cantonments of India. Sir Richard temple resident (1867-68) toddy and its shops in Golconda. The feudal Muslim purdah culture influenced the architecture of all the communities in the walled city of Hyderabad. The houses of the well-to-do in the Secunderabad area were chiefly built of stone and brick standing within large gardens resembling European style bungalows. British influence on the architecture resulted in the large bungalows on raised platforms approachable by stairs, surrounded by deep open verandahs, courtyards and large gardens. Vernacular architecture of the previously existing settlements co-existed with later colonial structures, lead-


THURSDAY, MAY 17, 2012

Public room at Secunderabad Club

ing to an interesting mixtures of styles.

Economy The Hussain Sagar embankment road, considered one of the finest in India, led to James Street the principal commercial and business thoroughfare of Secunderabad. All the leading Indian merchants had their shops here. AS Abdul Khader (estd 1899) supplied to all military canteens in the Cantonment. Nizam VII, Mir Osman Ali Khan visited them regularly and Salar Jung III was a Wednesday regular. The toy army in Salar Jung Museum was supplied by Khan Saheb AS Abdul Khader. This author accompanied by her late grandfather B Ranga Reddy, remembers throwing tantrums in the Toy Department because she could not take everything available home with her. Other shops in the area were Haji Zakariah (estd 1920’s). The Kathiawar Stores (general merchants) was established in 1928. Park Lane and James Street contained a very beautiful Parsee quarter including Parsee High school, the ES Chenoy Fire temple and the Vicajee & Pestonjee Fire Temple. Ibrahim

Parade Ground

4&5

Hussain Sagar

Manzil, overlooking the Secunderabad Race Course is another beautiful Parsee property. This area also had other architectural gems like Montgomery Hotel, Reid & Co, Baquer’s Auction Hall (later housing Women’s Voluntary Service), J Pile (Confectioners) the Daily News, and the famous photographer — Raja Deen Dayal & Sons. In the vicinity lies Khandoji Bazaar, where the Marathi speaking community settled. The French Embassy at Hyderabad was in a building owned by Padma Rao Mudaliar which later housed the Secunderabad Municipal Corporation. The banking family of Seth Subkaranji Malani also established business in the James Street area.

Educational institutes In 1851 a civil hospital was constructed on Subhash Road, later named King Edward Memorial Hospital (KEM). The highly qualified staff also taught students of Hyderabad Medical School. Bolarum had a medical school as early as 1841. Among the many excellent educational institutions was the St Ann’s Convent (estd 1856 by Italian order). The original building housed an Irish Regiment. A high school started in 1861 by Somasundaram Mudaliar and was mainly funded by the government. It was on this account that it was named Mahboob College after the Nizam VI. “Girls’ Patashala” was

established as a primary school by A Venugopal Pillai in 1881. Subsequently, due to the untiring efforts of Padma Rao Mudaliar, this school was upgraded, shifted to a new location in 1932 and was renamed as Keyes High School after the then resident of Hyderabad, Lt Col Terence Keys, who arranged for grant of land and funds. Padma Rao Mudaliar also raised funds for construction of Sir William Barton School and due to his efforts three new blocks were added to the Mahboob College High School. The Hindu Boys Hostel (estd 1907), which was closed down, was revived by Padma Rao building. This is now the Centenary School near the Parade Ground. The Islamia High School for Boys (estd 1882), St Mary’s High School (estd 1885), and St Patrick’s High School, amongst others. The citizens of secunderabad enjoyed the Cantonment Garden which had a band stand, tennis courts, children’s playground which was established on the road leading to Trimulgherry. The Military detention barracks, architecturally resembling Windsor Castle, were constructed in Trimulgherry. The British Resident used both Bolarum and Hyderabad Residency. Alwal, the prosperous village in the pre-Qutb Shahi period has a temple built by Maharaja Chandulal when he was Prime Minister of Hyderabad. Maharaja Sir

James Street

St John’s Church Kishen Pershad built a small palace there in his estate.

Walker Town WalkerTown, part of the Chilkalguda Cantonment, housed many military residences and establishments. Old no 10 (now Swarajya Press) was a Army mess with a wooden dance floor. No 12, the author’s residence, belonged to Nawab Fakhr-ul-mulk, and later to Faridoon Chenoy and finally to Bhoopal family. Lt Col Hankin, who was the LGP of the State Police for over two decades, lived until 1909 in No 14 (now Sardar Patel College). After 1920, Padma Rao Mudaliar and others purchased Somasundaram Garden with a view to encourage people from the crowded Kalasiguda to move to a healthier area. However, due to the proximity of Musheerabad Jail and the supposed isolation of Walker Town, people were reluctant. It was developed into a magnificent family

estate. Because of his contribution to the community, WalkerTown was renamed Padma Rao Nagar. On 1st December 1945, when Sir Arthur Lothian was Resident at Hyderabad and Nawab Chattari was the President of the Executive Council of the State, the southern area of the Cantonment under British administration, was restored to the Nizam, through the “Rendition Agreement”. The Northern part under the title “Retained Area” was kept back for Army purposes. The administration of this “Retained Area” after Indian independence passed on to the Indian Army. The “Restored Area” was administrated by the Municipal Committee. In 1951, the Secunderabad Municipal Corporation came into being and was merged with greater Municipal Corporation of Hyderabad in 1964. (The writer is the convener of INTACH, Hyderabad)


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THURSDAY, MAY 17, 2012

Campaigns, hard news and spirit of Twin Cities

Too little, too late After parents and students protested against not being issued hall tickets, the Intermediate Board took heed, but by then the exam was almost over N SHIVA KUMAR

EDUCATION Sudeshna Koka sudeshna.k@postnoon.com

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he high court order to ensure hall tickets to all students came too late to be of any use to the 20,000 odd students who lost the chance to appear in the inter-supplementary examinations on Tuesday. The Intermediate Board, like the proverb ‘To put the cart before the horse’, sent a mail at 3.30 pm to colleges to forward names of the students. The examination was almost over by then. “We will take this government to court,” a frustrated parent was heard shouting at the Vidya Bhavan yesterday. The students who lost the chance have asked for a re-examination but it would not be possible, it was clarified. The supplementary examination was granted after 31 per cent of the students failed in physics. Nearly three lakh students had applied for the physics exam to improve their

score, while another 1.5 lakh failed students had also applied to clear the paper. Of these, 20,000 could not write and will have to wait for a year to rewrite the exam. All India Students Federation, meanwhile, asked the chief minister to sack Intermediate minister K. Parthasarathy. B Anjaneyulu, state president of the AISF, squarely blamed the government for the mess

up. “One day before the exam they charged `1,000 and gave hall tickets for EAMCET. Then why don’t they do the same for the inter exam? It’s a supplementary exam and they had all the data from the main exam data. They could have issued the hall ticket and later charge a fine from colleges,” he said and added it was regrettable that the minister had not bothered to enquire about what happened.

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Robo sand to replace river sand U Srinivas srinivas.u@postnoon.com

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inister for mines Galla Aruna Kumari said that earnest efforts were being taken to find solution to the serious shortage of river sand which is no more available. Besides, law forbids indiscriminate sand mining on river beds. On Wednesday the minister held discussions with robo sand (rock power) producers to explore the possibility of meeting the sand requirement. It is said that robo sand was better than river sand in its strength and versatility. This comes in the wake of a Supreme Court order that calls for strict restrictions on sand mining that kills rivers and damn environment. The minister said a sand policy will be announced soon. Meanwhile, at 14 places sand was found under water and APMDC will do the mining that would give employment to lakhs of people, she said. Several other areas are also being identified for the sand mining, she revealed. Agreeing that the price of sand was going up abnormally, alternatives to sand and alternative sites are also being identified, she said.

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The Topiwalleh have arrived! Bangalore’s folk-rock band Swarathma is in town

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n a ten-city tour to promote their brand new album Topiwalleh, Bangalore’s folk-rock band Swarathma are here to take centrestage at Hard Rock Cafe tonight. Best known for their eponymous debut album, and more recently for their

What: Swarathma – Restless Tour When: 9pm Where: Hard Rock Cafe stunning performance on The Dewarists, Swarathma is among the most popular live acts in the country today.

Continuing with their signature style of folk rock, tracks embedded with social statements, not to mention their spectacular visual extravaganza, the tracks from Topiwalleh promise to be an absolute firecracker. Watch them live tonight if you don’t believe us.

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Hyper Local CLASSIFIEDS REAL ESTATE 100 Acres farm land@ Warangal Highway in Bhongir, 20 Fruit Plants & Resort Membership for more details Contact: Sri Hema 7386064709

HEALTH Millennium Dental Clinic, film nagar main road, opp: cafe melange, jubilee hills, HydPh: 040-31000889

SEMINAR To Get Guidance and free solutions for all your problems connect with angels. To join this new world of meditation attend angel therapy workshop. For registration: 9393858950 www.turya.co.in

FABRICATION

THURSDAY, MAY 17, 2012

Campaigns, hard news and spirit of Twin Cities

Neutering your dog leads to a healthy, happy animal Pruthvi R and Sukriti S feedback@postnoon.com

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paying or neutering pets is an important decision for pet owners. As animal lovers who value their pets, it is important to understand the impact of this decision. The single most important thing that we can do to save dogs from all the suffering and death that their overpopulation causes is to spay and neuter them. Spaying and neutering are routine, affordable surgeries that can prevent thousands of dogs from being born, only to suffer and struggle to survive on the streets, be abused by cruel or neglectful people, or be euthanised in animal shelters for lack of a loving home. Spaying and neutering makes a big difference: Just one unaltered female dog and her offspring can produce 67,000 puppies in only six years. Neutering, the most common sterilising method, is the surgical removal of a male dog’s testicles for canine population control, medical health benefit, genetic-disease control and behavioural modification. Neutering is a general term to describe the castration of male dogs. In female dogs, spaying involves abdominal surgery to remove the ovaries and uterus. Spaying in female dogs removes the produc-

tion of progesterone, which is a natural calming hormone and a serotonin up lifter. “We recommend that the dog owners wait until after its first heat to get the dog spayed. This is because many people believe that a female dog is not fully grown until her first heat, when she becomes an adult and by spaying too early, you prevent growth,” says Dr Santosh Giri, veterinarian. Some pet owners are not aware of the advantages of spaying or neutering. A spayed or neutered pet does not become fat or lazy. In addition to the obvious advantage of preventing unwanted pregnancies, there are health and behavioural

benefits. “He’s less likely to get certain diseases, such as testicular cancer and most prostate diseases. He will be calmer with less testosterone in his system, and thus you’ll be calmer too. The lower level of testosterone can improve if not eliminate roaming, aggression, humping, and other behaviours. In females, spaying prevents pregnancy and the complications arising from pregnancy and delivery, sexual discomfort, distress, or distraction thus, making your pet happier,” he added. Spaying and neutering dogs has many advantages. “Your female pet will live a longer, healthier life,” he says. Spaying helps prevent uterine infections and breast cancer, which is fatal. Spaying a dog before her first heat offers the best protection. “Neutering provides major health benefits for

your male,” he says. Besides preventing unwanted litters, neutering the male prevents testicular cancer, if done before six months of age. “Your spayed female won’t go into heat,” he said. While cycles can vary, female felines usually go into heat four to five days every three weeks during breeding season. In an effort to advertise for mates, they’ll yowl and urinate more frequently. An intact male will do just about anything to find a mate. That includes digging his way under the fence to escape from the house. And once he’s free to roam, he risks injury in traffic and fights with other males. “Your neutered male will be much better behaved,” he added. Many aggression problems can be avoided by early neutering. “Spaying or neutering will not make your pet fat,” he said. Lack of exercise and overfeeding will. The pet will remain fit and trim as long as one continues to provide exercise and monitor food intake. “Spaying and neutering helps fight overpopulation,” he says. Millions of pet deaths each year are a needless tragedy. By spaying and neutering, you can be an important part of the solution. Contact your veterinarian today and be sure to let your family and friends know that they should do the same.

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ne of the oldest Indian restaurants in Hyderabad, Taj Mahal is truly an iconic place in the City. The hotel is located in three parts of the City — Secunderabad, Narayanguda and Abids. Taj Mahal has been evolving over the years but their basic ideology to serve good quality food to the masses remains the same. Over generations, people have been going to Taj Mahal Hotels to have their

Aishwarya Yerra Hyderabad as a City has a lot to offer in terms of heritage and sights. We look at the various places that make this City so special

typical south Indian tiffins and meals and not to forget, the filter coffee. For many families, their Sundays are not complete without going to Taj Mahal for breakfast. It is a ritual for many morning walkers to round off their walk with a cup of coffee. It is said that Abids Taj used to be the ‘hang out’ place for journalists who would come here to gossip about everything under the sun over endless cups of tea. Many office goers throng Taj for lip smacking yet economical plate meals or thalis.

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Sakshi moves HC on freeze S

akshi group on Wednesday challenged the CBI act of freezing its bank accounts in connection with the disproportionate assets case faced by the group’s chief Jagan Mohan Reddy. The group, which suffered a setback on a similar petition, has approached the HC. The petition may be taken up later in the day. The CBI had frozen the accounts of Jagati Publications, Janani Infra and Indira Television in the SBI, Oriental Bank of India and Indian Overseas Bank. AGENCY

CM to visit Kurnool, Anantapur

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hief Minister N Kiran Kumar Reddy will leave Begumpet Airport at 10am on Thursday and reache GTR Degree College at 11.15am. He will attend programmes till 2pm. The CM will reach the Nayak Nagar Extension helipad, Anantapur at 3.50 pm. On Friday, he will leave Nayak Nagar Extension and reaches Kothapally village. He will later leave Bommanahall by helicopter and reaches Bengaluru from where he will take a regular flight to the City. AGENCY


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THURSDAY, MAY 17, 2012

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8

A HERO FOR THE HOMELESS

Inspired by the teachings of Swami Vivekananda, Rajesh Kothwal is working towards living his life with dignity. He runs an ashram where he provides medical treatment to the poor and destitute

INSPIRATION Anubha K Singh anubha.k@postnoon.com

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hile we walk down a street many of us notice beggars or disabled destitutes lying on the pavements but not many of us notice that they are in need of help. One of the brutal truths of today’s society is the lack of humanity. Despite noticing them, we never turn up to their rescue but thankfully Rajesh Kothwal is not one among us. Rajesh is striving hard to rescue these people and make their life better. From the age of 14, Rajesh started social work. He used to volunteer for NGOs. In 2009, he started his own organisation in his mother’s name — Bharathi Memorial Foundation. Rajesh was recently featured on CNN IBN India Positive show for his work. Rajesh has been responsible for saving the lives of several destitutes in the twin cities. In addition to providing medical facility he also provides them shelter and food. The ashram is now home for nearly 70 destitutes including 14 children who are infected with HIV, leukemia and other disorders. “My parents were government school teachers and they always followed the teachings of Vivekananda they use to give me preachings of Swami Vivekananda. I am inspired by his teachings and my aim is to lead a life with some dignity. Time to time, I visit various temples, bus stops and railway station to check if anyone is in need of treatment and bring them to the ashram to provide the best medical treatment,” says Rajesh Kothwal. “The irony is that we are only two people even after placing so many advertisements no one comes forward to help us. I am ready to pay `8,000-`10,000 as salary but still no one is ready.

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

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

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MOST OF THE INMATES SUFFER FROM DISEASES LIKE AIDS, EPILEPSY, POLIO, TUBERCULOSIS, CANCER AND HEART AILMENTS. IN ADDITION TO PROVIDING THE BEST TREATMENT TO THOSE INMATES, HE ON MANY OCCASIONS, HAS PERFORMED LAST RITES TOO.

Even after placing so many advertisements no one comes forward to help us. I am ready to pay `8,000-`10,000 as salary. Many of them think this work is unhygienic.

Rajesh Kothwal assisting the inmates

Rajesh Kothwal Many of them thinks this work is unhygienic. Sometimes it becomes tough for me to visit my patients admitted in City hospitals. Many of my patients are been treated in Gandhi, Osmania, NIMS and AP Chest Hospital. Depending on the condition of the destitute we shift them to these hospitals for better treatment. It becomes tough to manage time between the ashram and hospitals alone,” he adds. Most of the inmates of the ashram suffer from diseases like Aids, epilepsy, polio, tuberculosis, cancer and heart ailments. In addition to providing the best treatments to those inmates many a times he also performs the last rites of inmates who die and it is

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done according to one’s individual religious practices. Recalling his journey he says, “Prior to the ashram I was an attender to 15 patients in different City hospitals around 14 years ago. I use to maintain their body

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hygiene and serve food and medicine to them, but as the number of patients increased my work became more difficult. Then I built a shed next to my house as a temporary shelter and use to treat most of my patients there. But my

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neighbours were against the idea as they were afraid of the spread of the infection. Adding to woes my mother K Bharathi, a government school teacher, died of a heart attack, and that’s when the idea to start an ashram named after her came to be.” But paying doctor’s fees and medical bills was one big problem for him and that’s the reason he took up a male nurse training course from the Indian Red Cross Society for a year. He then obtained legal permission to inject or dress their wounds. However, Rajesh makes sure that he doesn't get infected while treating them. He takes all kinds of vaccinations. Bharathi Memorial Foundation has become Rajesh’s mission. He utilises his parents’ pension to meet the ashram’s medical expenses. He might lack financial support but this obstacle has not deterred him from his mission.

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


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GOLD

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SAN FRANCISCO: Mobile phone sales worldwide suffered a rare dip in the first quarter of 2012 on softened demand in Asian markets, industry tracker Gartner reported on Wednesday. Approximately 419.1 million mobile phones were bought worldwide during the quarter in a two per cent decline from the same period a year earlier, Gartner said. It was the first quarterly decline since early in 2009. South Korean consumer electronics titan Samsung became the top mobile phone seller in the quarter, bumping Nokia from the leading position it had held since 1998. AFP

FB offers IPO investors 25% more shares NEW YORK: With investors hungry for Facebook shares ahead of a hotly anticipated offering, the social network unveiled a 25 per cent increase on Wednesday in the number of shares to be sold at the market debut. The increase comes from current shareholders, who had previously obtained stock in private offerings, seeking to cash in on the hefty price amid a Facebook frenzy. The move by the Internet giant comes one day after it filed paperwork with the US Securities and Exchange Commission raising its IPO share price from a range of $28 to $35, to between $34 to $38.

`86.46

DOLLAR

Matters of saving and spending

Samsung shines but market dips

POUND THURSDAY, MAY 17, 2012 9 NUMEROLOGY

Rising income to 27 boost PC market

million

cars have been built by Russian auto major AvtoVAZ. The milestone car was a Lada Priora hatchback.

THUS SPAKE

Prudhvi Raju K prudhvi.k@postnoon.com

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echnology is becoming cheap and affordable day by day. India is one of the fastest growing markets for technology adoption from smartphone to PC. People’s income is getting doubled every decade enabling them to move into the next income spectrum. Both factors have increased the affordability of the customer in buying a PC. Today, the PC is hardly a four to eight weeks of income for an average Indian customer. There are about 100 million households in India that have the potential to buy a PC, said B Suryanarayanan, director, sales (South), Intel South Asia. He said that internet has become the main driver for the growth of PCs. The customers are using PCs mainly for education.

The market is set to see more potential in the field with three million graduates coming to the market, who want to update their skills and knowledge. The other factors are productivity, relevance

5 billion Number of computing devices

15 billion Number of computing devices by 2017

Internet usage (world) 247 billion emails sent in a day 2 billion videos watched in a day 2.5 billion pictures uploaded on Facebook every month

Internet usage (India) 100 million internet users 22 million users accessing social networks (March 2011) 45 million social network users by 2012

Google searches get smarter SAN

1kg= `52,700

FRANCISCO: Google on Wednesday began making its search engine smarter, in what the Internet giant called a major upgrade that looks beyond query words to figure out what people are actually seeking online. “Knowledge Graph” technology built to recognize people, places or things signified by keywords took its fledgling steps in the US with the hope of eventually extending it to Google searches worldwide,” said Google fellow Ben Gomes, who has worked on search at Google for more than a decade. Gomes envisions Google search being able to eventually answer tricky questions such as where to attend an outdoor Lady

Gaga concert in warm weather or the location of an amusement park near a vegetarian restaurant. For now, people using US Google search in English will start seeing on search pages boxes suggesting what they are interested in finding. A demonstration showed that searching on the word “Kings” in California, for example, prompted the search engine to point out that one is likely interested in a hockey team, basketball team, or film. Using the keyword “Andromeda” prompted Knowledge Graph to note one might be interested in a galaxy, a television series, or a Swedish rock band. AFP

of usage, social engagements like Facebook also pushing the customer to buy PCs. Not only there is potential market, India also ranked fourth in the world by crossing 100 million internet users. It is one of the biggest internet markets in the world. India will also touch the mark of 45 million social network users this year, he said. However, there are challenges; the usage of PC is not simple, there is fear of technology among certain sections and age groups. Lack of English knowledge and relevant usage models is also another drawback for the growth of the PC market. To overcome the challenges, Intel has launched Project Darpan, which is free downloadable software across the platforms. This customised language interface that helps simplify the PC by enabling the consumption of content in the local language as well as put the navigation of the PC at ease. This user interface is currently available in English, Hindi, Telugu, Marathi, Gujarati and Tamil and will be extended to other languages going forward.

Smart Devices Computing is moving beyond the PC into a wide range of smart devices, driven by the Internet and the need and desire to be “always connected.” Consumers ultimately want to have consistency and interoperability across all of their devices, from phone to PC to tablet to TV to gadget, making computing a seamless experience.

“We reiterate that we have not done any illegal activity nor connected with any wrongdoing. We have full faith in the judicial process and our books are open to scrutiny,” JSW Steel Ltd. spokesman

RISING SUN Japan’s economy grew by a faster-than-expected 1.0 percent in the latest quarter, figures showed on Thursday, as rising domestic demand and a boost in exports kept it on the recovery path. economy minister Motohisa Furukawa said the world’s third-biggest economy, hit hard by last year’s quaketsunami and a surging yen, was likely to see further expansion in April-June, but warned growth could be hampered by turmoil in Europe. Preliminary figures from the Cabinet Office showed 1.0 per cent growth in January to March gross domestic product from the previous three months, slightly above expectations for a 0.9 per cent rise.


India‑View

10

THURSDAY, MAY 17, 2012

India unveiled

Design for cyber security is on: NSA NEW DELHI: India is creating a “coherent and comprehensive” security policy to deal with the “anarchic new world” of cyber threats, National Security Adviser Shivshankar Menon said here on Wednesday. “(The) government is in the process of putting in place the capabilities and the systems in India that will enable us deal with this anarchic new world of constant and undeclared cyber threat, attack, counterattack and defence,” he said at the release of a report on “India’s Cyber Security Challenge” by the Institute of Defence Studies and Analyses (IDSA).

Mumbai attack plan used Google Earth: US chief WASHINGTON: Citing the example of the 26/11 Mumbai attack, a top US military commander has warned of the dangers posed by “democratisation” of technology in future

warfare. “Now, in many ways, technology has been democratised,” Marine Corps Lt Gen George J Flynn said at the 6th annual 2012 Joint Warfighting Conference at Virginia Beach on Tuesday. Referring to the greater availability of information potentially empowering conventional and non-traditional state actors, he cited a Harvard Business Review article detailing the November 2008 Mumbai terrorist attack as an example. “All the mission planning was done via Google Earth,” he said. IANS

HC opts out of fashion show tax involvement NEW DELHI: Declining to interfere with the imposition of entertainment tax on ramp shows organised by the Fashion Design Council of India, Delhi High Court has said it is for the government to decide whether full or part exemption can be given to similar events held in the capital. Judicial review was limited only to the examination of the decision-making process and not to look into the correctness of the decision of the executive, observed a division bench consisting of Justice Sanjiv Khanna and Justice RV Easwar.

“It is a matter which is within the domain of the executive, and judicial review is limited to examining whether the relevant criteria have been kept in view and whether the decision making process has been just and fair,” the court held in its ruling April 13 which has been made available only now. The court’s directions came on a plea filed by the FDCI challenging a Sep 10, 2009, government order rejecting its request for 100 per cent exemption from entertainment tax on its all fashion shows. IANS

This will be a step toward the “coherent and comprehensive cyber security policy” that the report calls for, he added. Menon noted in this context that while the National Technical Research Organisation is tasked to deal with protecting India’s critical security cyber infrastructure, institutions like CERT-IN (Computer Emergency Response TeamIndia) “have proved their worth during events like the 2010 Commonwealth Games when a staggering 8,000 cyber attacks were warded off. “We are making a beginning in putting in place a

system of certification and responsibility for telecommunication equipment and are working on procedures and protocols which will rationalize communication interception and monitoring,” he said. Simultaneously, “we need to harden our critical networks. And, we will develop matrices to certify and assure that our critical cyber networks, equipment and infrastructure are secure”, he added. He pointed out the need to “create a climate and environment within which security is built into our cyber and communications working methods”. IANS

Rural restaurants for food security — and jobs too Anil K Rajvanshi

I

n every religion, culture and civilization, feeding the poor and hungry is considered amongst the noblest deeds. However, large-scale feeding will require huge investment in both resources and time. A better alternative is to create conditions by which proper wholesome food is made available to all the rural poor at affordable price. Getting this done will be the biggest charity! Most of these rural poor are landless labourers. After working the whole day in the fields in scorching sun they come home in the evening and have to cook for the whole family. The cooking is done on the most primitive ‘chulha’ (wood stove), resulting in tremendous indoor air pollution. Many of them also have no electricity and so they use primitive and polluting kerosene lamps. WHO data has shown that about 300,000 deaths a year in India can be directly attributed to indoor air pollution in such huts. The pollution also results in many respiratory ailments and these people spend close to `200400 a month on medical bills. Besides the pollution, rural poor also eat very poor diet. They buy whatever is available at Public Distribution System (PDS) shops and most of the time the shops are out of rations. Thus they cook whatever is available. The hard work, together with poor eating, takes a heavy toll on their health. This malnutrition also affects the physical and mental health of their children

and may lead to creation of a whole generation of mentally challenged citizens. Poverty to my mind is not an absence of material goods but not getting enough wholesome food. We are what we eat!

Rural Restaurants So I feel that the best way to provide adequate food for the rural poor is by setting up rural restaurants on a large scale. These restaurants will be similar to regular ones but they will provide meals at subsidised rates for people below poverty line (BPL). These citizens will pay only `10 per meal and the rest, which is expected to be quite small, will come as a part of government subsidy. Our calculations show that this subsidy will be only `2.50 per person per meal.

The buying of meals could be facilitated by the use of UID (Aadhar) card by rural poor. The total cost should be `30 per day for three vegetarian meals of breakfast, lunch and dinner. With an average wage of labourer being `100 a day, the cost of meals will be 30 per cent of his wages. Since the food will not be cooked in huts, this strategy will result in less pollution in rural households, thereby reducing women’s chores. The spare time can be used in gainful activities like teaching children. Besides giving nutrition and tasty food, these restaurants will also provide a meeting place. Eating in restaurants will also require fewer utensils in the house and hence less expenditure. IANS


India‑View Criminals run truck over UP sub-inspector LUCKNOW: In yet another evidence of the rampant criminalisation of Uttar Pradesh and their brazen functioning, suspected criminals ran a truck over a police sub-inspector in Deoria district, killing him and critically injuring a police constable, police said. The incident took place late Wednesday night when a small police team was checking vehicles near the Phulwaria Chauraha in Deoria district, some 290km from here. According to police, SubInspector Uday Pratap Singh while checking vehicles got suspicious on a truck and signalled the driver to slow down. The driver, however increased the speed of the vehicle and ran over the subinspector. Another cop standing on the road was also hit. The truck sped away. The sub-inspector and the constable were rushed to a nearby medical facility, Station Officer Bhatparrani Gopal Tripathi told IANS.

11

THURSDAY, MAY 17, 2012

India unveiled

RAILWAYS MAY LEASE OUT 50 LOCOS TO PAK NEW DELHI: As part of efforts to strengthen Indo-Pak trade ties, Railways is mulling to provide 50 diesel locomotives on hiring basis to Pakistan. As per the plan,a railways is likely to give at an approximate rate of `1,500 per hour per locomotive of 3,000 HP to Pakistan for leasing purpose. Besides leasing out, railways will also provide training facilities for Pakistan railwaymen to run Indian locomotives. “The Ministry of External Affairs has already okayed the proposal and now the modalities of supplying locomotives are being worked,” said a senior Railway Ministry official. “If the supply takes place then it will be for the first time that Indian Railways will come to the aid of Pakistan,” the official said. Though railways regularly supply locomotives to Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Vietnam, Myanmar, Mozambique, Tanzania and Ghana, it will be for the first time that railways will supply locomo-

BEAUTY TO BEHOLD

Raids in 16 premises of former minister CHENNAI: Vigilance officials today conducted raids at 16 premises belonging to former DMK minister Veerapandi S Arumugam and his relatives in Chennai and Salem. Directorate of Vigilance and Anti Corruption personnel raided the residences after it filed a case charging him with amassing over `2.88 crore during his tenure as agriculture minister.

Ministry convenes meet of AI unions NEW DELHI: With no end in sight to the pilots' strike that entered 10th day today, the civil aviation ministry has convened a meeting of all recognised trade unions of Air India next week to discuss issues relating to career progression and pay-scales. tives to Pakistan, said the official. “Railways supply about 10 locomotives on an average in a year. Generally, we sell locos on outright purchase basis to other countries but this will be for the first time that we are considering to give it on hiring basis because Pakistan Railways is preferring leasing to buying,” said the official.

Currently, railways manufacture about 250 diesel locomotives in a year. With the continuous growth in traffic volume, there is a demand for the production of more locomotives. While Pakistan is facing an acute shortage of locomotives as it has about 520 locomotives out of which about 450 are under repair. PTI

‘Oil import from Iran reducing’ WASHINGTON: India has made a considerable progress in reducing its dependence on Iranian oil, a top Obama administration official has said. “Progress is being made,” on India reducing its dependence on Iranian oil, Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asia, Robert Blake told lawmakers during a Congressional hearing. Responding to questions from Congressmen, Blake said India is

making progress in this regard not because of any pressure from the US, but because of “financial considerations”. As a result of the US sanctions on Iran, it is becoming tough for countries to do business with Iran. Many Indian companies have pulled out of Iran because of market considerations. So percentage of Indian import of oil from Iran is going down, Blake said, adding

that the United States welcomes this. Referring to the recent visit of Secretary of State, Hillary Clinton to India, Blake said that Clinton herself had welcomed the progress that India has made in reducing its dependence on Iranian oil. During her India trip, Clinton noted that both the US and India share the same goal on Iran to prevent Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons. PTI

Chaurasia’s flute charms Poles Surender Bhutani

Actress Freida Pinto arrives for the opening ceremony and screening of Moonrise Kingdom at the 65th Cannes International Film Festival, southern France on Wednesday. AP/PTI

NATION AT A GLANCE

WARSAW: The profile of Poland has gone up by many notches as a cultural destination for Indian artists. After Bollywood films and translations of Urdu masters into Polish language, Pandit Hari Prasad Chaursia, one of the doyens of Indian classical music maestro, enthralled the Polish crowd in three cities — Wroclaw, Krakow and Warsaw. In all these places, Chaursia won the hearts of the audience with his spell-binding flute recitals.

“He creates magic with his flute and we simply feel enchanted with his performance. It was once in a lifetime event and so memorable that we would love to remember him for a long time to come,” Janusz Krzyzowski, president of the IndiaPoland Cultural Committee in Warsaw, told IANS. Chaurasia was jointly sponsored by the Pandit Chaturlal Memorial Society of New Delhi along with its sponsors the Indian Council for Cultural Relations (ICCR) and the Embassy of India.

Social activist Anna Hazare addresses a public rally in Nagpur on Wednesday. PTI

10-year-old boy sentenced for rape GURGAON: A Juvenile Justice Board here sentenced a 10-year-old boy for sexually abusing a fouryear-old girl last year, a lawyer said on Wednesday. Principal magistrate Ashu Kumar Jain on Monday sent the boy, who cannot be named for legal reasons, to three years in a special home.

5 arrested at fake medicine factory GHAZIABAD: Five men were today arrested from a factory in Modinagar where a fake variant of Unani medicine ‘Safi’ was allegedly manufactured. Harish Goyal, Amit, Shivam, Tiloo and Sanju were taken into custody and 400 bottles of the fake medicine recovered, SSP Preshant Kumar said.

Police arrest activists of Chatra Parishad during a protest against the West Bengal chief minister at Writer’s Building in Kolkata on Wednesday. PTI


Around the World

12

THURSDAY, MAY 17, 2012

Beyond Borders

Lions stalk Nairobi’s suburbs Tristan McConnell

NAIROBI: Lions prowled through posh suburban gardens here recently, frightening residents and reminding them that they live in Africa, after all. In the latest incident of growing conflict between humans and wildlife in East Africa, a lion stalked an upmarket suburb of Nairobi for months before being shot dead by park rangers. The lioness was one of a group of six that in January left Nairobi National Park, a 30,000acre nature reserve surrounded on three sides by the city, and took up residence in Langata, a smart neighborhood of big houses and large fenced gardens. Langata is fast being engulfed by Nairobi’s unstoppable urban sprawl, but only 20 years ago it was almost rural. A few decades before that it was lions and other wildlife, not people, to which the area was home. “The lions have not strayed from anywhere, it is people who have moved into their area,” said Paul Udoto, a spokesman for Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS), the national authority responsible for the country’s parks and animals. Nevertheless, KWS announced this month that it had been forced to shoot dead one of the lions. “The lioness that has created

fear among residents of Mukoma Road adjacent to Nairobi National Park has been killed,” KWS said in a statement. Langata residents are more sanguine than most about having lions loose in their neighborhood. Dick Hedges, who has lived in Langata for half a century and writes a blog for Old Africa, a magazine website, said he was “fairly used to it”. Udoto is primarily concerned about the welfare of the lions. “The lions are not a threat, it is the people who are a threat,” said Udoto. “Lions have been there for many, many years but people have moved in and blocked the areas the wildlife was using," he said. In a two-week period late last year, at least three lions were killed on the Kitengela plains southwest of the park after they mauled cattle. “The indigenous people had been living with these animals,” he said referring to the Maasai who traditionally roamed the Nairobi plateau with their cattle, “but it is the rest of us who have moved in and now are crying foul.” Confronted with reduced hunting grounds and fewer antelope to eat, Kenya’s lion population of 2,000 may become extinct in less than 20 years, according to the New Scientist.

Harnessing viral energy Washington is 1st US city to allow turbaned Sikh police Shaun Tandon

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cientists at the US Department of Energy‘s Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory have harnessed the energy producing power of a harmless phage virus. According to Forbes.com, "The scientists coated a postagestamp-sized electrode with specially engineered, harmless viruses that, when tapped, generated enough electricity to power a small LCD display." The power produced by the resulting viruses didn’t generate a huge amount of electricity, Forbes.com noted. In fact they produced, "just six nanoamperes, the equivalent of about one-quarter the voltage supplied by a AAA battery — but it was a start." In the group's abstract published in Nature Nanotechnology they said, "we develop a phagebased piezoelectric generator that produces up to 6 nA of current and 400 mV of potential and

use it to operate a liquid-crystal display. Because biotechnology techniques enable large-scale production of genetically modified phages, phage-based piezoelectric materials potentially offer a simple and environmentally friendly approach to piezoelectric energy generation." The scientists explained Piezoelectricity is, "the accumulation of a charge in a solid in response to mechanical stress." In short, a harmless virus produces energy by converting mechanical energy into electricity. In the future, every time you take a walk, the movement of your feet could be transformed into electricity to charge your cell phone by paper thin sheets of the virus in the sole of your shoe. Corresponding author SeungWuk Lee said in a statement, "More research is needed, but our work is a promising first step toward the development of personal power generators.”

WASHINGTON: Washington’s police chief on Wednesday gave the green light for turbaned Sikhs to serve as officers, making the capital the first major US city to accommodate the religion’s articles of faith. The police department said that 4,000 officers have gone through cultural training to sensitise them to the Sikh faith and that the first Sikh American keeping his turban and beard was expected to join the force in August. “It is difficult enough to find highly qualified police officers. There are very rigid standards,” Cathy Lanier, chief of the Metropolitan Police Department, told a news conference. “Then to think about something as simple as appearance or a grooming standard that would prevent somebody who is talented enough to meet all that other criteria, it really just doesn’t make sense,” she said. Sikh men are required by faith to wear a turban and beard and carry a ceremonial sword. The requirements have often conflicted with codes in Western countries that call for men to be clean-shaven or wear assigned headgear. Since 2010, the US military has made exceptions to allow observant Sikhs to serve.

The Trailblazer: Baltej Singh Dhillon, the first Royal Canadian Mounted Police officer to be allowed to wear a turban, speaks at an event. After joining the Mounties in 1990, Dhillon sparked a heated national debate simply because he wanted to maintain his turban — a symbol of his faith — as part of the historic RCMP uniform. He won the right to do so, leading the way for many other young Sikh officers to follow suit. Turbaned Sikhs already serve as police officers in several other countries including Britain, Canada and India, where the religion was founded. But New York City, which has a large Sikh community, maintains a prohibition on turbans. In 2003, a Sikh traffic officer filed a discrimination lawsuit but the police department reverted to its former rules after he left the force. Los Angeles County has allowed Sikh Americans to serve with turbans but only in the sheriff department reserves, not on active duty, according to

activists. The US Sikh community, estimated by activists at around 700,000 strong, has endured harassment and sporadic violence since the September 11, 2001 attacks as assailants mistakenly associate their turbans with Islamic extremism. Jasjit Singh of the Sikh American Legal Defense and Education Fund, which partnered with Washington’s police department, hailed the US capital for “affirming that religion is no bar in public service.” AFP


Around the World

13

THURSDAY, MAY 17, 2012

Beyond Borders

Senate rejects Obama budget, GOP options

GLOBE AT A GLANCE Child porn: Ex-bishop stripped of rights

WASHINGTON: The US Senate

convicted of importing child pornography — including some laced with religious imagery — into Canada has been stripped of his religious duties, the church said Wednesday. “The Holy See has dismissed Raymond Lahey from the clerical state, one of the most serious penalties that the church can impose,” said a statement from Brian Dunn, the new bishop of Antigonish.

unanimously rejected President Barack Obama’s proposed 2013 budget Wednesday and shot down a series of Republican alternatives, assuring a prolonged election-year fiscal battle. The Democratic-controlled chamber has not adopted in three years a budget resolution, which lays out spending and revenue targets for the year ahead, and Republicans repeatedly highlight the fact as they hammer Obama’s administration for failing to take a proactive approach to fiscal responsibility. The Senate voted 99-0 against Obama’s $3.8 trillion budget request, with Democrats stressing that the vote was unnecessary because lawmakers wrote spending caps into a deal agreed last summer to raise the nation’s debt ceiling. In March, the House of Representatives rejected Obama’s budget proposal in a 414-0 vote. The campaign of Mitt Romney, the Republican challenging Obama for the White House in November, immediately seized on Wednesday’s vote as exposing Obama’s “unserious” efforts to combat budgetary challenges. AFP

Service denial attack hits Pirate Bay ops WASHINGTON:

File-sharing website The Pirate Bay (TPB) has been mostly inaccessible for the last 24 hours following a Distributed Denial of Service (DDoS) attack. The Pirate Bay, confirming the attack on its Facebook page, said it did not know who was responsible, but it "had its suspicions". It has asked its visitors to use proxies to access the site. The name that has come up responsible for the attack is that of Anonymous, a hacktivist group, but it has denied the any role. The Pirate Bay allows users to search for and access copyrighted content including movies, games and TV shows.

OTTAWA: A former Catholic bishop

UN pulls out of Syria town after massacre DAMASCUS: Syrian forces were Newly appointed caretaker Prime Minister Panagiotis Pikrammenos (right) is welcomed by outgoing Prime Minister Lucas Papademos at the PMO in Athens on Wednesday. AFP

No tweaking bailout deal, Greece told BRUSSELS: European leaders want Greece to stay in the eurozone but partners will not change their bailout deal, the head of the EU executive said Wednesday while pledging investments to nurture growth. “We want Greece to remain part of the family, of the EU and the eurozone,” said Jose Manuel Barroso as he outlined a new push for growth across the eurozone on the day Athens set repeat elections for June 17. “But the ultimate resolve to stay in the euro area must come from Greece itself,” Barroso said. “There is no way of changing the commitments taken by Greece and also by the

other 16 euro area member states.” In Berlin, German Foreign Minister Guido Westerwelle issued a blunt warning to Greek voters, indicating that the next election could be a referendum on their euro membership. “The Greek people should know what they are voting about. It’s not about party politics, but about Greece’s future in Europe and the euro,” Westerwelle said in a statement. “We hope and also at the same time expect that everyone in a decisionmaking capacity in Greece is aware of his responsibilities,” Westerwelle said. He reiterated that Germany felt “solidarity” with

the Greeks but that “solidarity is not a one-way street”. Amid deep uncertainty, there is no guarantee that the second vote will produce a viable government, after May 6 polls handed a majority to anti-austerity or antiEuropean Union parties. Syriza, the main opponent to the deal reached with the EU and the International Monetary Fund, is currently tipped to win the biggest vote. Meanwhile, news that about 700 million euros ($894 million) had been withdrawn from Greek banks on Monday raised the stakes for all eurozone partners, amid fears of contagion hitting banks in Spain especially.

Hollande govt to take pay cut

Greek exit may cost EU $1 tn

PARIS: France’s new government, under

he British government is making urgent preparations to cope with the fallout of a possible Greek exit from the single currency. Reports from Athens that massive sums of money were being spirited out of the country intensified concern in London about the impact of a splintering of the eurozone on the UK economy that is stuck in double-dip recession. One estimate put the cost to the eurozone of Greece making a disorderly exit at $1 trillion, The Guardian reported.

President Francois Hollande, gets down to business on Thursday with the first order of business on their agenda being a pay cut for themselves. Hollande unveiled a government of mainly moderate Socialists and longtime allies on Wednesday as his new prime minister vowed to work quickly to put the country back on its feet. The new lineup also meets a promise to appoint an equal number of men and women in his cabinet.

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accused on Wednesday of summarily executing 15 civilians, as members of a UN team of observers were evacuated from a shelled town the day after a bomb blast hit their convoy. Syria’s President Bashar al-Assad, however, accused the West of ignoring violence by “terrorists”.

Russian policemen detain an opposition supporter during a rally in Moscow on Wednesday. AFP

Apache ‘drops’ missile into field, triggers scare WASHINGTON: A US Army Apache helicopter accidentally dropped an inactive missile over central Texas, forcing dozens of homes to be evacuated, officials said Wednesday. No one was injured in the incident in which residents in Killeen told police they saw an object falling from an AH-64 into a field late Tuesday, according to a statement from Fort Hood.

2 US Navy ships collide in Pacific; no injuries SAN DIEGO: A US Navy amphibious assault ship and a refueling tanker collided in the Pacific Ocean but there were no injuries and no fuel spills, the Third Fleet said. The collision between the assault ship USS Essex and the oiler USNS Yukon occurred yesterday at midmorning about 120 miles off Southern California, according to a statement.

24 Indians held for practicing sorcery in Oman DUBAI: Police in Oman have arrested 24 Indians, including 13 women, in a raid for allegedly practicing sorcery and cheating people. The police reportedly seized skulls, bones, magic stones and chains during the raid. The alleged sorcerers were staying in a residential flat near the Muttrah round-

about and were luring clients by offering them fortune and relief. Apparently, they were practicing this as ‘business’ by staying in Oman on shortterm visas, the Times of Oman reported. Their flat was raided after a ‘betrayed’ client lodged a complaint with the police,

said the report. “One of my friends was lured into their den and he shelled out around 2,250 Omani riyals to buy ‘magic stones’ and ‘magic powder’. Finally, when he realised that he was betrayed, he approached us and we filed the complaint,” the victim’s friends told the newspaper.

The accused claimed that the stones they possessed were collected from sacred places in India and had magical powers. The report said that the passport details of the alleged sorcerers show that they have visited Singapore, Qatar, China and other countries. Some had visited Oman earlier too. PTI

UN peacekeepers from India man an armored light tank in Bunagana, Congo, on Wednesday. PTI


Comment

THURSDAY, MAY 17, 2012

Fair, free and forthright

Half of a theory

Talk back State lagging behind Not only is our secretariat ill-equipped with security gadgets, the shortcomings are also made public now. When it comes to equipping itself with modern technology and being staying ahead in the field of state of the art apparatus, our state seems to go the hare’s way in the hare and the tortoise story. While our state had a head start on the technology front, it seems to be falling behind on all fronts. We can’t wait for another Chandrababu Naidu to surface and show us this way; we have been given a start and we must forge ahead on that. Mohan Cherian Venkatapura

Plight of students Why are we insensitive to the hardships that students go through before and through an examination? After all that we go through to prepare for an exam, when we are denied a chance to convert our efforts into marks, it will tell on our future. To again prepare for a paper and come back to write the exam is like studying for another subject altogether. And the worst hit are the studious students who prepare in all earnest and sincerity and make a lot of adjustments in order to do well. To have to repeat the effort is like going through hell. Stop this now. Minapriya Uma Nagar

Afgan not fit to rule Nato leaders are to meet to discuss a smooth transitional process in Afghanistan. However, I fear Afghanistan is a far cry from getting anywhere near becoming a nation. The nation reeks of corruption and I think not much headway has been made in curbing the curse that Taliban is. Hameed Karzai is not the right man to lead a nation that is ‘purportedly’ undergoing a complete makeover. And India must be wary when the Nato forces leave, as ours is the country that faces the wrath of terrorists holed up in Afghanistan the most. Mohd Ishaaq By email

Caring of dogs I am very fond of pets and always have at home even there is a lot of opposition from my mother. But most of them fall ill and then pass away. I had no idea that we needed to take so much care of them. I still wonder how all these stray dogs survive. Thanks for the information. Nalini L Ameerpet

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

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But... Seriously Ajay Hotchandani

T

he theory of the Black Hole states that in the Hole, time and space don’t exist. So if you’ve entered this hole, you can take as long as you want to get ready, and you can store as many suitcases, with clothes you will never wear, above the cupboard (don’t deny it; if you are Indian, you have them somewhere in the house). Another theory that seems to exist along these lines is the Theory of Halves. In a recent trip to India, I came to develop this theory. At meals, we all know that the cook would be insulted if the food was served cold. So of course at breakfast when she made the paraathas (Indian breakfast tortilla for you non-Indian people) she would bring them out one by one. With three of us at the table the first paraatha came out and it started on cue, “No, no you take the first one,” the first person insisted, while the second retaliated with, “It’s okay, I’m not that hungry. You can start,” gesturing with the two hands forward as though pushing the plate away. Now that both polite excuses have been made, the third person then jumps in with his Noble Peace Prize for humanitarian effort idea of, “Okay you split it in half and I’ll wait for the next one.” Not to be outdone, the other two parties join forces and jump in shaking their head and finger vigorously indicating this is unacceptable and then insist that the paraatha be split into three pieces. At this point we have one minute remaining before the next paraatha comes out and the cook discovers that the first one has been untouched and getting cold, which insults her no end. A quick executive order is issued and it is split into three pieces and distributed for immediate consumption. The three-piece split was done because as Indians we are a polite bunch of people, and we would hate for anyone to think otherwise of us! As the meal went on the paraathas just kept on coming, and we kept eating. Half hour had passed by and we were still eating. Now estimate that she takes two minutes to make one paraatha. At the end of half hour she would have made 15, and between three of us, that would... uh hold on: 30 minutes/ 2minutes per paraatha = 15 paraathas 15 paraathas/ 3 of us = 5 paraathas per person

Editorials

F

Figure 1: Calculation of Paraatha Consumption per person within 30 minutes. Wow, I can’t ever recall eating this much and still not feeling as though my mother was behind me putting food in my plate, complaining that I don’t eat enough and that I have lost weight. The following morning the same occurred, and so it went on for the duration of the trip. At first I came to the conclusion that it must have been that the paraathas were either really small or we were really hungry, because in India you just get hungrier than you normally would (please refer Theory of Getting Hungrier in India). But my conclusions were laid to rest after I returned home.

WE NEED TO PACK SOME PUNCH BEFORE trying to stop PLA picnic

or all the gung ho about nuclear arsenal, ICBMs and Sukhoi squadrons, the People's Liberation Army has been freely roaming in our territory near the Line of Actual Control. A reply by the government in Parliament yesterday revealed that there have been at least 500 such incidents since 2010. In the last 10 years, India has been wooing China's friendly and hostile neighbours — looking for defence and business tie-ups. However, the attempt to use the 'string of pearls' policy to contain China has failed to work due to lack of political will and overwhelming Chinese economic, political and diplomatic clout. The recent leak of the Army chief's letter to the prime minister shows the pathetic state of our military preparedness. Indian troops are outnumbered and outgunned by their far better equipped Chinese counterparts who also have the advantage of all-weather infrastructure on the rugged terrain. Till we stop vacillating over defence purchases and make ourselves a force to be reckoned with, we can only watch helplessly when PLA boots move across our territory.

Having eaten paraathas for an extended period of time, when I was back home I suffered Paraatha Withdrawals — a stiff elbow from not constantly moving it as you dip your paraatha into the yogurt or pickle, the slightly burnt fingertips from trying to pick up and tear off a piece of the hot paraatha and constantly salivating while waiting for the next one to be brought in. I decided to cook some to address my withdrawals (Yes, I can cook. Okay they were frozen, but I still had to cook ‘em). Hmmm, three paraathas... hope it’s enough! As I began to eat, there was something mysterious in the air. No, it wasn’t something I released ‘accidentally’. I was half way through the first paraatha and I was getting that feeling again, that feeling of my mother standing behind me dishing food into my plate against my will. I was getting full. Nearing the end of the first one, I found myself struggling to finish it. This was impossible, I thought! How could this be? This is only a fraction of what I have been able to consume in the past. What was the reason behind the loss of appetite? As a skilful trained scientist (PhD from the prestigious Lady of No Hope Institute of Higher Learning), I started to investigate. What parameters had remained the same was the issue I first wanted to address. Was it the size of the paraathas? Using the International Paraatha Measuring Device, implemented at the last International Paraatha Convention held in Phagawara, India, I deduced that the paraathas were of the same size and thickness. Next I had to address the fact that I was not in India. However, my kitchen, like any other Indian’s kitchen, smelt like India. You know the smell; garam masala, curry powder and dhania. With the scent of mother India reminiscent in the air, my mind was convinced that I was still in India. So with that in mind, I was able to rule out that as being the cause of my instant satiety. Feeling like an anorexic at an eating convention, I was lost. I still hadn’t half an idea or even half a clue. I would give half of anything for half a shot at half of an idea. As I rubbed my fingers together to gather inspiration, half of the skin came off as a result of being burnt. Then it hit me. I was a polite Indian, and being a polite Indian meant I had to share, which means I had to tear it in half! I was not getting full fast back there because I was eating in halves! That, my fellow readers, is how I arrived to my “Theory of Half”. So if you want to cut down on the amount you eat it is advised best not to cut in half otherwise you will eat more than you should.

AMERICANS SHOULD stick to baseball

T

he sacking of Kenny Dalglish as Liverpool’s manager is a kneejerk reaction of epic proportions. The US-based Fenway Group, which owns the club are now left with little room to manoeuvre after showing the Anfield icon the door. Sure, Dalglish’s big money signings failed to perform, and his handling of the Luis Suarez affair was pathetic, but he provided cohesion and stability to a team that was foundering under Hodgson.


Telly Tales

Small screen, big idea

THURSDAY, MAY 17, 2012

15

dlla_vb=`pf=jf^jf After 10 years and as many seasons, the immensely popular CSI Miami has finally called it a day. Here’s one last look at the characters that made it quite the show Horatio Caine

Eric Delko

H

P

oratio Caine (played by an increasingly ginger David Caruso) was a masterclass in schtick. The aviator-sporting detective was the head of the CSI Miami outfit and delivered lines so cheesy that they were positively cheddar. He had us in splits when he delivered: “You lie down with the Devil, you wake up in Hell.” We’ll miss his faux machismo as much as we will his ability to turn even the darkest scene into a laugh-fest.

layed by Adam Rodriguez, Eric was probably the only one in the series who gave off a sense that he was taking it all quite seriously. He started off as the tagalong-schlong but soon broadened his repertoire to encompass at least four expressions (that’s three more than Keanu Reeves)

Ryan Wolfe

J

Calleigh Duquesne

P

layed by Emily Procter one never knew if Calleigh was going to solve a crime or break into a cheerleading routine. The blonde bombshell had a voice that bordered on squeaky but was helped by a sizzling brain. Every time she headed to the scene of a crime you guaranteed she’d be competing with Horatio for smarmy excellence.

Alexx Woods

K

handi Alexander’s brooding medical examiner is one of the most irritating members of her field you will ever find on TV. Her empathy with her dead clients borders on the perverse and she’s the only one who can make Horatio look positively Olivier-esque.

onathan Togo’s character was more Detroit than Miami. He was often left paddling in the wake of his more ridiculous colleagues and was never given any of the great lines that made the series so ‘memorable’. He’s definitely one of the cast members most likely to succeed in a non-law enforcement field. Why? Because he’s rubbish at that.

HOME IMPROVEMENT Tim Allen as Tim Taylor

Where are they now?

T

im stars as a stereotypical American male, who loves power tools, cars and sports (especially the local Detroit teams). He is a former salesman for the fictional Binford Tool company, and is very much a cocky, accident-prone know-it-all. Now you can catch him on ABC with the Last Man Standing where he plays a married father of three tries to maintain his manliness in a world increasingly dominated by women.

IN LOVE WITH TOOLS

Zachery Ty Bryan as Brad Taylor

B

rad, popular and athletic, was often the moving factor, who engaged before thinking, a tendency which regularly landed him in trouble. Zachery remained active on the acting front till 2009 and in 2011 produced two movies The Grief Tourist and The Cock Chronicles.

Home Improvement showed the daily trials and tribulations of Tim Taylor, a TV show host raising three mischievous boys with help from his loyal co-host, domineering wife, and genius neighbour

Jonathan Taylor Thomas as Randy Taylor

Earl Hindman as Wilson Wilson Jr

R

H

andy, a year younger to Brad, was the comedian of the pack, known for his quick-thinking, wisecracks, and smart mouth. He had more common sense than Brad but was not immune to trouble. The teen heartthrob has had a chance to take a break from acting (and earn a degree from Columbia University). Whether he returns to the entertainment is yet to be seen.

e best known for his role as the kindly neighbour (whose lower face was always hidden from television viewers) Wilson W. Wilson Jr. on the sitcom. A long time smoker, Hindman became ill in 2003 and died of lung cancer on December 29, 2003 in Stamford, Connecticut.




H‑Factor

THURSDAY, MAY 17, 2012

Holistic view of mind, body and soul

18

Sugar reduces brain power, scientists warn

fíÛë=åçí íÜÉ=ÉåÇ Could having sex trigger another heart attack? We speak to experts about how safe it is to get back in action after a heart attack Ranjani Rajendra ranjani.r@postnoon.com

I

t’s only been a few months since you had a heart attack and you’re just about beginning to limp back to a normal life. And now that you’re back to doing most of the things you used to before your health scare, you wonder if hitting the sack with your partner might just trigger another heart attack. Your fears aren’t unfounded. Several people are worried about the same thing. Where you once used to enjoy physical intimacy, you’re now afraid that it might tell on your already weak heart. But do you really need to lead a life of celibacy due to one incident? While it is true that people with a heart condition need to make adjustments in their existing lifestyles to rule out future attacks, it is not the end of the world and they can safely resume most of the activities they did before the attack. In fact, according to a research conducted by Harvard, it proved that sex is safe on people with a history of severe heart attack. If you have an

existing coronary heart problem and had one or a few heart attacks before, the chance of having a heart attack during and after sex is about 1 in 50,000. On the other hand, in people with healthy heart, the chance is much smaller, 1 in 500,000. Although the risk is 10 times higher than people who never experienced heart attack,

PATIENTS WITH A HEART CONDITION ARE ADVISED TO STEER CLEAR OF DRUGS LIKE VIAGRA OR OTHER VIRILITY BOOSTING MEDICATIONS. WHEN THESE COMBINE WITH THE HEART MEDICATION THEY CAN CAUSE SEVERE COMPLICATIONS LIKE A SUDDEN DROP IN BLOOD PRESSURE

many doctors believe that the risk is still very small. One of the most commonest fears most heart patients have is that indulging in sexual activity can stress their heart

and trigger a heart attack. But the truth is less than 1 per cent of the heart attacks are triggered due to sex. “Many patients who have had a myocardial infarction (heart attack) are concerned about whether sexual activity endangers their heart. Contrary to a popular belief, sexual activity does not cause myocardial infarctions. As a general rule, most people can resume sexual activity within four weeks after being treated for a mild to moderate heart attack. If the heart attack was particularly severe or the heart is very weak then the patient should wait for three months before resuming sexual activity, “ says Dr Sunil Kapoor, senior consultant cardiologist at Care Hospital. “It is however, advised that patients discuss resuming sexual activity with their physician before doing so,” explains Dr Sunil. According to guidelines laid down by the American Heart Association, if patients can engage in moderate exercise — such as walking up a couple of flights of stairs — they are generally healthy enough to have sex. Now, a new study has found that patients who were

sexually active before suffering a heart attack were one and a half times more likely to recapture their sex lives if they received guidance on the topic before leaving the hospital. However, a few precautions like avoiding sex after a big meal, reducing your consumption of alcohol and ensuring that you don’t stress too much over things can help. Also ensuring that you take your medications regularly and find a comfortable position for yourself during lovemaking can help ease the stress. “Patients are also advised to refrain from using Viagra or similar drugs to boost their virility. For these drugs when combined with their heart medication can create problems like a sudden fall in blood pressure,” warns Dr Sunil. While most patients are wary of discussing matters like these with their doctors, most medical practitioners ensure that their patients are in the know of such things. “As part of the rehabilitation programme we do discuss topics like resuming of sexual activity and also tell our patients what they can or cannot do,” says Dr Sunil.

WASHINGTON: Eating too much sugar can eat away at your brainpower, according to US scientists who published a study Tuesday showing how a steady diet of highfructose corn syrup sapped lab rats’ memories. Researchers at the University of California Los Angeles (UCLA) fed two groups of rats a solution containing high-fructose corn syrup — a common ingredient in processed foods — as drinking water for six weeks. One group of rats was supplemented with brain-boosting omega3 fatty acids in the form of flaxseed oil and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), while the other group was not. Before the sugar drinks began, the rats were enrolled in a 5-day training session in a complicated maze. After six weeks on the solution, the rats were then placed back in the maze to see how they fared. “The DHA-deprived animals were slower, and their brains showed a decline in synaptic activity,” said Fernando Gomez-Pinilla, a professor of neurosurgery at the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA. “Their brain cells had trouble signaling each other, disrupting the rats’ ability to think clearly and recall the route they’d learned six weeks earlier.” A closer look at the rat brains revealed that those who were not fed DHA supplements had also developed signs of resistance to insulin, a hormone that controls blood sugar and regulates brain function. “Because insulin can penetrate the blood-brain barrier, the hormone may signal neurons to trigger reactions that disrupt learning and cause memory loss,” Gomez-Pinilla said. In other words, eating too much fructose could interfere with insulin’s ability to regulate how cells use and store sugar, which is necessary for processing thoughts and emotions. High-fructose corn syrup is commonly found in soda, condiments, applesauce, baby food and other processed snacks. While the study did not say what the equivalent might be for a human to consume as much high-fructose corn syrup as the rats did, researchers said it provides some evidence that metabolic syndrome can affect the mind as well as the body. The study appeared in the Journal of Physiology.


H‑Factor

THURSDAY, MAY 17, 2012

Holistic view of mind, body and soul

HOUSECALL

APP-LY YOURSELF

Addison’s disease

Nexcercise

A

ddison’s disease is basically a rare ailment that occurs in the adrenalin glands. This damage of the adrenalin glands results in a distrusting of the hormone known as corticosteroid. The insufficient amount of hormone results in disturbance of the body chemistry. The symptoms for addisons disease do not appear till quite late and may include nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea, headache and sweating. Patients suffering from addison’s disease also experience pigmentation of certain parts of the body. These symptoms if not treated on time can worsen and result in death of the patient. Once it has been identified that a person is suffering from addison’s disease, treatment involves replacing the insufficient hormones. If a person is treated at the right time they can fully recover from this ailment.

Y

DID YOU KNOW? Weight loss is economical

ou’ve decided to fight the flab but just can’t get yourself to visit a gym. You have even tried to exercise at home but still don’t feel motivated enough. Nexercise is a an app which motivates you to lose weight and stay fit. The app in simple terms is a community based motivational coach as well as a training tool for those ona fitness or weight loss programme. You can track a number of activities such as basketball, baseball, hoola hoop, yoga, wrestling, swimming and many more. The app follows the philosophy of being your exercise buddy that gives you that extra push to fulfil your exercise plans. This free of cost app is compatible with iPhone and iPad.

W

e all know that maintaining a balanced diet and staying food has various health benefits. But have you ever realised that losing weight can actually save you a lot of money? According to homeremediesblog.com, it is believed that on an average overweight americans spend $485 more on clothing, another $828 more for additional seating in an airplane and $36 more on gasoline, than people who are slim. It’s quite true after all those ill-fitting clothes, problem of seating can be quite disheartening and quite a costly affair and not to forget disheartening. So get out those jogging shoes, exercise, stay fit and save money. Perfect!

NOT GETTING THERE? IT’S FSAD Dr Divya T Sudarshan feedback@postnoon.com

“F

emale sexual arousal disorder (Fsad) really)really ?? what are you talking about... the woman just has to be there... its the man who does all the work ...” is a very common and rather ill informed comment. At the risk of sounding crude we have to start thinking of women as more than a receptacle and then probably one would not have so many unhappy couples in the clinic. What is FSAD?? It is commonly referred to as frigidity, and basically means the woman does not attain sexual arousal .or it is inadequate, with no lubrication till the end of sexual activity. This lack of response may be lifelong, or acquired, generalized or in certain situations, with certain partners. It has both psychological and physiological causes, and is not the figment of her imagination as most husbands think. Since sexual intercourse can be painful,women will try to avoid it only making things worse.A recent review of the medical literature, however, found that 22 — 43% of women experience some form of sexual dysfunction. William Masters and Virginia Johnson were the first researchers to examine extensively the physical components of human sexual arousal. They

recorded four stages of sexual response: desire (arousal) excitement, plateau, climax (or orgasm), and resolution. FSAD affects arousal and excitement in a woman. Normally, when a woman is aroused and sexually excited, the first physiological change that she experiences is expansion of the blood vessels in the pelvic region, allowing more blood to flow to her lower abdomen and genitals. Some women notice this as a feeling of fullness in the pelvis and either consciously or involuntarily contract the muscles in the genital area. The increased blood flow also causes a phenomenon called transudation, which refers to the seepage of fluid through the walls of the blood vessels. Lubrication of the vagina can happen very rapidly, within a minute. For a woman with

FSAD, these responses may either be lacking, or be incomplete, thus making her sexual involvement dull and painful. Much as husbands like to think the wife is avoiding sex, there are quite a few physiological (functional) causes that may bring this about over the years. It could be due to any damage or injury to the pelvic areas, any surgeries,lactation, menopause, hormonal disturbances like thyroid, medical conditions like coronary artery disease, reducing blood to the pelvis, or hypertension or as a side effect to certain medications (anti depressants, anti psychotics). Treatments for this condition may vary from estrogen based hormone gels, to various lubricants to be used around intercourse. There are small clitoral pumps available for stimulation, and yet all these are off label treatments no one has yet

19

understood a woman’s arousal! One interesting point to note is a diagnosis of FSAD is not appropriate if problems with arousal are caused only by physiological factors thus there has to be a psychological element to it too. Looking at the social conditioning of indian women when for any unmarried girl sex is taboo, and suddenly expecting her to accept and endure a physical relation ship with someone she has just met ,may itself be traumatic, and cause her to freeze — Both physically and emotionally. To women who seem to clamp down on their sexuality, talk therapy and psycho therapy have known to help. Traditional psychotherapy focuses on problems in relationships, seeking to clarify problems, identify emotions, improve communication. couples are also motivated to interact with each other on a non sexual level to promote confidence and involvement. Male sexuality is universal and has made Playboy and Victoria’s Secret a multi-billion dollar businesses, women though are not so forthright it may help to remember.. she has her fantasies too! If the male partner has the patience and the understanding that not all of a woman’s physical responses are in her control and seek medical attention in time maybe both their fantasies could come true! (The writer is a gynaecologist and obstetrician practising at Happy Women Clinic. You can write in to her at happywomenclinic@gmail.com)

Office-goers at risk of blood clot LONDON: Sedentary routine of young office-goers may be doubling their risk of suffering from a dangerous blood clot, according to a new survey. Deep vein thrombosis (DVT), linked to cramped long-haul flights, can affect anyone who sits for prolonged periods without getting up to move around. DVT is a blood clot that forms in a deep vein, most commonly in your leg. It may cause no symptoms at all or cause swelling, redness and pain. If a clot becomes dislodged and passes through the blood vessels, it can reach the lungs. Symptoms include coughing, chest pain and breathlessness. A survey of 1,000 people under 30 years found that young office goers sat still for an average of three hours and three quarters, and ate lunch at their desk instead of taking the opportunity to move around, which would reduce their risk of a clot, the Telegraph reports. For every hour spent sitting, the risk of a blood clot increases by 10 percent and there are around 60,000 potentially fatal blood clots recorded in Britain each year, according to research the survey conducted by lifeblood. Richard Beasley, director of the Medical Research Institute of New Zealand, said, “People know that a sedentary lifestyle increases the risk of obesity, diabetes and cardiovascular disease in later life.” “However, very few are aware of the fact that prolonged immobility in the workplace also poses an immediate threat. It is vital that this potential risk is recognised in both the office and at home,” he added. IANS


F‑Folio

Because you are what you wear

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or Monday night’s show, Chanel had for its venue the Le Bosquet des Trois Fontaines, a water-garden grove in the grounds of Versailles, designed by Louis XIV in 1677, and only recently restored. Shown to only 200 guests (a few journalists, a smattering of celebrities including Vanessa Paradis, Tilda Swinton and Sam Taylor-Wood, and a host of its best customers from around the world), the Cruise collection is Chanel’s most theatrical show. Staged in a different spot every year, past venues include Los Angeles, Venice, and Cap d’Antibes. Its function, says Lagerfeld, is to appear as lavish as possible. “Liberty, equality, frivolity” seemed to be Chanel’s message, as the models walked


THURSDAY, MAY 17, 2012

sbop^fiibp=ql=`bib_o^qb=irurov=^ka=pqvib out in casual, often mannish clothes, but with tweed dripping rivulets of lace and flower-strewn jackets with portrait necklines. There was plenty of attitude in platform sneakers and circular straw hats that were matched by big panniers on a knickerbocker skirt. It was a feast of embellishment, although, at its calmest, the Chanel show had the serene beauty of the surrounding classic statues, as when a dress with the skirt standing away from the body was sculptured with pleats. The Cruise season, which arrives in stores at the end of fall (and is also known as Resort), has become an essential addition to the fashion industry calendar, providing a segue into spring, as well as lighter wardrobe options for those who winter in balmy, beachside locales. PICS: PIERRE VERDY/ AFP

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Magic Screen

THURSDAY, MAY 17, 2012

The glamour behind the glitz

Naga Chaitanya, Sunil team up for Vettai ’s remake?

T

he latest buzz in film industry is that Naga Chaitanya and Sunil are going team up for an action entertainer. This untitled film is touted to be the remake of Madhavan- Aarya starrer Vettai, which was a big hit in Tamil earlier this year. Initially, Bellamkonda Suresh had bought the remake rights but dropped the idea few weeks later. Then UTV Motion Pictures decided to dub the film and release it this summer. Now Bellamkonda Suresh has once again bought the remake rights and he roped in Naga Chaitanya and Sunil to reprise the roles of Aarya and Madhavan respectsively. Dolly, who had made Koncham Ishtam Koncham Kashtam couple of years ago, is going to direct the film which will go on floors in the last week of June. Currently, Naga Chaitanya is acting in Deva Katta’s Autonagar Surya and he will also be seen in Vikram Kumar”s Trayam. On the other hand, Sunil is starring in the Telugu remake of Tanu Weds Manu.

Eega buzzing in Tamil Nadu

S

S Rajamouli”s upcoming film Eega is making waves in Tamil Nadu. The bilingual film, titled Naan Ee in Tamil, is being produced by Prasad V Potluri under PVP Cinemas banner in Tamil. The theatrical rights of Naan Ee were reportedly sold for `5 crore but what really caught SS Rajamouli off-guard was the buzz it generated in Kollywood. “When Eega

Tamil rights were sold for 5 crores, I was a bit worried that we are overselling. Tamil satellite rights were sold for a whooping 3.35 crores!! We are left wondering whether we undersold the rights...:) (sic)” Rajamouli posted on Twitter. This figure is the highest ever for a bilingual film in Tamil and what surprised most people is the fact that SS Rajamouli never made a straight

DCM to be shot in Italy P

uri Jagannadh’s upcoming film Devudu Chesina Manushulu will soon be shot in Italy. Except for three songs, the principal shooting of the remaining film has been completed. We hear that the core team of Devudu Chesina Manushulu will fly to Italy on May 19 to shoot these songs. Ravi Teja and Ileana are playing lead roles in the film which is touted to be a satire on God. Raghu Kunche is scoring the music and the audio might be launched in the first week of June. BVSN Prasad is producing the film and it is expected to hit the screens in July.

Tamil film. Now, Rajamouli and Prasad V Potluri are planning to go all out with the promotion of the film in Tamil Nadu as well and the buzz is that it will release in almost 300 screens in Tamil Nadu alone. Nani, Samantha and Sudeep have played lead roles in the film. MM Keeravani has composed the music. The film is all set to fly onto the screens on May 30.

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T-TOWN TWEETIES

@ramsayz “FIGHT” against Piracy isn’t enuf... v need “WAR”! & that will happen only with the help of the State Govt... Piracy in AP is at its peaks! #SAD

@shraddhadas43 This year is the best year for me... with respect to everything in life... very happy!

@actressanjjanaa So wana watch so many new films,been living outa a suitcase frm past 45 days N goes on fo another month atleast!

@sundeepkishan Finally Caught Gabbar Singh... Kekkkoooo Kekkkkaaaa... unmatchable charm... couldn take my eyes of PowerStar... Full Justification to his title :)

@shrutihaasan “wild horses” by tori Amos is one of the most beautiful songs ever... Sigh. I <3 tori

@RanaDaggubati “@funnyoneliners: Hard to believe that the newest version of the game “Monopoly” doesn’t come with a government bail-out option. RT @MDHOY”

@themohanbabu Unfortunate that Mr Nimagadda Prasad has been arrested by the AP Govt. A wonderful human being and Philanthropist.

@ssrajamouli Watching department premiere tomorrow night. Eager to see RGV’s rouge methodology. Wonder what challenges he’s gonna throw at the directors!


Chai Time

KAKURO

How to play Kakuro Kakuro is a popular game similar to sudoku in some ways. But is also suitably different. The key question: ‘How do you play kakuro?’, well here are the rules of kakuro. The answer: The kakuro grid, unlike in sudoku, can be of any size. It has rows and columns, and dark cells like in a crossword. And, just like in a crossword, some of the dark cells will contain numbers. Some cells will contain two numbers. However, in a crossword the numbers reference clues. In a kakuro, the numbers are all you get! They denote the total of the digits in the row or column referenced by the number. Within each collection of cells — called a run — any of the numbers 1 to 9 may be used but, like sudoku, each number may only be used once. Let’s have an example to explain this concept more clearly: In the image above, which shows a section of a kakuro puzzle, you will see the numbers ‘26’ and ‘14’ in the top row. Look at the 14. This means that the total of the three cells underneath must sum to 14. Therefore 9, 4, 1 could be the answer, or perhaps 7, 4, 3 and so on... So, how do you work out the actual combination? Well, this is done through elimination and cross-referencing. For instance, as you work out the answers for other kakuro clues, this will naturally limit the valid combinations, and hence the answer for this particular run. Note the second cell in row two — it contains two numbers, 30 and 11. The 30 refers to the vertical run underneath the number 30 and the 11 refers to the two cells to the right, horizontally, of the number 11.

SCRIBBLING PAD

THURSDAY, MAY 17, 2012

Take a shot at the brain game while sipping your cuppa

26

QUICK CROSSWORD ACROSS 1 Not verbose 6 Kind of rap 9 Small songbird 14 Flip ____ (see who goes first) 15 Comparison phrase 16 Lobe at the middle of the soft palate 17 A thousand bucks 18 Turned chicken 19 The largest asteroid in the solar system 20 Oceanic operator? 23 Prepared to play piano 24 Computer-sharing setup 25 Stern in appearance 27 Strength of an electrical current 32 Slant or prejudice 33 Hawaiian garland 34 Not at all serious 36 Buddhist in Nirvana 39 Distiller's grain 41 Partner of ‘ranted’ 43 Fictional story 44 Sleeping noise 46 Departments with slicers 48 ‘Cocoon’ director Howard 49 Oceanmotion 51 Bicycle part 53 Timber processing site 56 ‘My ___’ (Mary Wells classic) 57 Bethesda, Md health org 58 ‘Instrumental’ underwater creature? 64 Animal with a striped rear 66 Mispickel or cinnabar 67 Cream of society 68 Give a false impression of 69 Dog with a wrinkly face 70 Edible lily bulbs 71 Look of disdain 72 ‘It was 20 years ___ today ...’ 73 Sandy places on the golf course DOWN 1 Yard sale labels 2 Unflashy colour 3 Panther sound

4 Census form check box 5 Makes precious 6 Owl's haunt, perhaps 7 Thunderbirds' org 8 Psychiatric disorder 9 Dark purple-red 10 ‘Now ___ seen everything!’ 11 Shallow-water predator that provides TLC? 12 Cloudless 13 Proverbial waste maker 21 Studio warning 22 Voyager to the bottom of the sea 26 Fruity pastry 27 Funds for the less fortunate 28 Villainous 29 Flying underwater creature? 30 Pleased as Punch 31 Santa's little helpers

35 Fox-hunt cry 37 Ingredient in hand cream 38 Camp shelter 40 In fighting shape 42 Funeral song 45 One who strengthens by moral instruction 47 Mostill-tempered 50 Whitney who invented the cotton gin 52 Tour de France competitor 53 Hoity-toity sorts 54 ‘American Idol’ success Clay 55 Parkinsonism treatment

SUDOKU

59 Pharmaceutical 60 Toy building-block brand 61 Baltic state capital 62 At the high point of 63 A Truman 65 Lemon meringue, for one PREVIOUS PUZZLE ANSWER

THOUGHT OF THE DAY When they asked George Washington for his ID, he just took out a quarter. – Stephen Wright


Chai Time STAR POWER

THURSDAY, MAY 17, 2012

Your tomorrow today̶Star Power and Tarot THIRUVAIKUMAR

As per Hindu panchang

FOR 18-5-2012

thiruvaikumar@yahoo.co.in 040-27177230 / 9177596118

TAURUS

GEMINI

New opportunities will come your way. You need to make use of them proper‑ ly to enjoy the benefits as much as possible. You will undertake a jolly pic‑ nic with your family and feel charged.

Family will be cheerful. There will be harmony between family members and happy events are to take place at home which will make the atmosphere pleas‑ ant. You get to meet old friends.

Health looks fine. Your stock is set to pile up and your importance will grow in all circles. You will also use opportu‑ nities suitably and behave like a VIP. Politicians' ideas will be accepted.

CANCER

LEO

VIRGO

Avoid magnifying children's mistakes. Politicians will be invited to preside over important meetings. By announc‑ ing different and attractive schemes, businessmen will smash competition.

Finally you have succeeded in making your move to go abroad. Visa too will be come without tensions. But beware, you have to keep anger in full control; otherwise you will land in trouble.

Your attraction will increase your imp‑ ortance. As you get work done perfect‑ ly, it will be appreciation at workplace and also recognised. Marriage talk will end favourably. Careful in govt issues.

LIBRA

SCORPIO

SAGITTARIUS

Students will complete backlogs succes‑ sfully. Dues of employees held up since long, will come and make them happy. A superior who troubled you at the office will be transferred immediately.

Never get influenced by anyone's swe‑ et talk. Your services will be made use of tactically but you will not be benefit‑ ted in any way; don't allow such situa‑ tion. Sort out ego clash with spouse.

Drive away your apprehension of office work; they are easy when you properly plan and attend to them. Official trips will be success and bring cheer. You get opportunity to show your skills.

CAPRICORN

AQUARIUS

PISCES

Avoid being overconfident and headstr‑ ong. Act with patience will make things move smoothly. Blood relatives might misunderstand you. Unexpected prob‑ lems will surface in property matters.

Your mother will feel happy to see your achievements. You too will feel satisfied for having completed your duties in time and with perfection. Religious interests will occupy your mind.

Success has not gone to your head, this is great; keep it up. Employees may have to accept transfer to an unknown place; but a you have a bright future if you accept it.

SUMAA TEKUR

FOR 18-5-2012

tarotreadhyd@gmail.com

ARIES

TAURUS

GEMINI

Four of Wands – The day will go very fast there will be little ti‑ me to reflect on any‑ thing. This is one of those days when not‑ hingʼs in your cont‑ rol. Go with the flow.

The Hermit – It see‑ ms as though you ha‑ ve only been running from pillar to post these days. You need to take a break and ruminate on your needs and self, too.

The Chariot – You ne‑ ed to focus on your‑ self in order to get the negativity out of your system. Make sure to exercise regu‑ larly and meditate to keep energy flowing.

CANCER

LEO

VIRGO

Queen of Wands – An important meeting today will go well. You will feel relieved that itʼs over because you have been tense about it. Meditate before the meeting.

Page of Cups – You are most likely to be the one with the he‑ artiest laughter in y‑ our group of friends. For it to stay that w‑ ay, donʼt bother abo‑ ut what others say.

King of Swords – Evenings are when youʼre feeling most energetic these days. Make use of this sunset time to jot down new ideas and work on fresh plans.

LIBRA

SCORPIO

SAGITTARIUS

Ten of Swords – Th‑ ere is someone from the past who is not letting you move on. This is a dangerous nostalgia, which up‑ sets you and makes you uncomfortable.

Eight of Pentacles – Not everything will go as per your plan. So donʼt be upset that your ideas did not work out. Use this as a learning time, get on to the next ideas.

Two of Wands – You and your partner may be going through a rough patch but there is visible love for each other. Re‑visit the rea‑ sons you both got to‑ gether before deciding.

CAPRICORN

AQUARIUS

PISCES

Knight of Wands – Get out of clichéd ways of thinking and acting. Do something different. You have one life to live, and you need to be confi‑ dent in everything.

The Sun – Learn to be grateful for all your blessings. There are many people aro‑ und you who support you and work with you to make things happen for you.

The Emperor – If you believe in keeping your fingers crossed for something to wo‑ rk out, you better cr‑ oss your fingers (toes too). The ride is not going to be easy.

For Better or for Worse Stone soup

SOLUTIONS

Boggle KAYAK RADAR MADAM TENET

Number game

Suduko

Scrabble

Ink pen

COMICS

Fred Basset

ARIES

TAROT READ

27

Vol: 1, No 305 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


Magic Screen

The glamour behind the glitz

Post motherhood, Lara returns to acting

W

hile actresses take their own suitable time to return to silver screen post motherhood, Lara Dutta stands exceptional. Lara who is blessed with a girl child is keen to make her comeback. Lara had the feeling that actresses with kids need not have to sit at home. Lara informs that she will be signing her next film in a day or three. “I will be signing my next film in two-three days. It will be an easy role for me to jump back to. My own production will be later,” Lara told reporters on Tuesday during the launch of her DVD - Parental Yoga With Lara Dutta.Married to ace tennis player Mahesh Bhupati in 2011, the actress gave birth to her daughter Saira in January this year.” So many actresses have become mothers. They have all taken their time to come back. So, I think this is an outdated concept that if someone has become a mother, so she will sit at home. I can’t wait to come back,” she said. IANS

THURSDAY, MAY 17, 2012

28

B-TOWN TWEETIES

@SrBachchan T 746 — Interesting sms: Till last night standing of IPL teams was in keeping with their STD numbers — DD 011; MI 022; KKR 033; CSK 044... !!

@AnupamPkher Landed back in Amchi Mumbai. It feels wonderful to be back. There is great sense of belonging coming back to your own country. Jai Ho. :)

@realpreityzinta Army Bro tryin to install discipline in my & my staff’s civilian lifestyle! Security already been pulled up 4 being unfit n slow :-) Ting!

@imarshadwarsi

UP farmers seek Big B’s aid to end debts

Dubbing of JOLLY LLB is done, just have the deleted scenes to dub. Doing a photo shoot with my kids n the talented @DabbooRatnani tomorrow

@kunalkohli

D

ays after Amitabh Bachchan wrote off the debts of 90 farmers in Maharashtra’s Vidarbha region, those in Uttar Pradesh’s Bundelkhand area have written to the Bollywood star in the hope that he would do the same for them. In a letter to Bachchan, the Bundelkhand Kisan Sangharsh Samiti (BKSS) has reminded the star he comes from Uttar Pradesh and that debt ridden farmers of Bundelkhand were looking to him to come to their rescue. Ram Surat Chaudhary, BKSS president, said Bachchan was known to be a kind hearted man and it was heartening for the farmer community that he had come to the rescue of their debt-ridden comrades in Vidarbha. “Amitabh-ji hails from Uttar Pradesh and we are sure that the pain and plight of the farmers in his homeland would not miss him and he would chip in with help,” Chaudhary said. IANS

Aarav is happy to have a younger sibling, Akshay

T

winkle Khanna is expecting her second child in September and papa Akshay is full of excitement. Eleven years after the birth of their first child Aarav, Twinkle and Akshay again set to become proud parents. Highly excited Akshay said that nowadays, he spends most of the time with Twinkle at home. He added that his son Aarav is too happy to have a sibling at home. “Aarav is too happy now as he will have a sibling at home,” he said. Akki who is next going to be seen in Rowdy Rathore said that he finds difficult to shake a leg with director-choreographer Prabhu Deva in the film. “It was definitely difficult to work under his choreography. There is a South Indian touch in the film, with 70s style action and heavy dialogues. I just followed my director in the movie. They had this sketch in their mind for the role and I acted accordingly,” he said. IANS

Nice day, Radio Interviews,got feedback on how much you all loving Mukhtasar and Hume pyaar kur le. Feels good! Relieved :-) thank you

@GulPanag You know when you turn on the cold water tap for a bath at the end of a long day and the water is hot? That. #summer

@NeilNMukesh The unit is strong with some really strong technicians. The direction department of #3Gthemovie is great

@kalkikanmani Off to Dhaka with ‘hamlet the clown prince’. Where has this play not taken us?


29

THURSDAY, MAY 17, 2012

S

6 611

METER

I don’t think there was much fault in the wicket, I think we need to sort out our technique and how to bat in the first six overs. We haven’t been playing great cricket. Harbhajan Singh MI Captain

Chris Gayle (RCB) 578 runs

M Morkel (DD), L Malinga (MI), S Narine (KKR) 21 wickets

BCCI begins corruption probe T

he BCCI has begun its investigation of the corruption charges against five players, with Shalabh Srivastava deposing before its inquiry commission in New Delhi, according to the website, cricinfo.com. The hearing was conducted by Ravi Sawani on Saturday. Sawani, whose last job was heading the ICC’s ACSU, has been given 15 days to carry out his investigation and report to the BCCI. Srivastava, part of the Kings XI Punjab squad before his suspension on Tuesday, was allegedly caught on tape negotiating a fee for bowling a no-ball; India TV, which carried out the sting, ran the audio of the tape and showed footage of a player bowling a big no-ball in a limited-overs match.

Chris Gayle (RCB)

44 4S 1672

Ajinkya Rahane (RR)

70

W 10 9 9 8 7 7 7 4 2

L 4 5 6 6 6 7 7 11 11

N/T 0 1 0 1 1 0 0 0 1

Rohit Sharma (MI)

BEST BOWLER

G Aparna Sai

feedback@postnoon.com

T

he Mumbai cricket association is to ban Bollywood actor and Indian Premier League franchise Kolkata Knight Riders co-owner Shah Rukh Khan for an altercation with security and officials of the association. “He (Khan) misbehaved and abused the MCA security personnel as well as MCA officials, including our president Vilasrao Deshmukh, after the IPL match (between KKR and Mumbai Indians). We have decided to ban him for life from entering the stadium in future,” MCA treasurer Ravi Savant said. Giving the background to what happened after the KKR’s 32-run rout in the hands of MI at the Wankhede, Savant said Shahrukh and his posse of bodyguards had gone up to the teams’ dressing room and then came down and started to go on to the ground. “The MCA security personnel told them they cannot do so as the match was over which led to Shahrukh abusing them as well as the MCA officials. There was manhandling too by his people. We have decided to ban him from all

I

future matches at the stadium. We are also going to lodge a police complaint against him,” Savant said. Asked whether the MCA would lodge a complaint with the BCCI over one of the IPL team owner’s behaviour, “Of course we will lodge a complaint with the BCCI also,” Savant said. PTI

SCORECARD KOLKATA KNIGHT RIDERS VS MUMBAI INDIANS Kolkata Knight Riders innings G Gambhir b Pollard 27 B McCullum lbw b Singh 1 J Kallis b Singh 0 M Tiwary c Malinga b Patel 41 Shakib Al Hasan b Smith 13 Y Pathan not out 21 DB Das run out (H Singh/Smith) 2 R Bhatia c Karthik b Malinga 12 S Narine not out 9 Extras (b 1, lb 5, w 7, nb 1) 14 Total (7 wickets; 20 overs) 140 Bowling O M R W Econ M Patel 4 0 17 1 4.25 RP Singh 4 0 33 2 8.25 L Malinga 4 0 32 1 8.00 K Pollard 3 0 20 1 6.66 Harbhajan Singh 3 0 24 0 8.00 D Smith 2 0 8 1 4.00

Mumbai Indians innings (target: 141 runs from 20 overs) H Gibbs lbw b Iqbal Abdulla 13 S Tendulkar b Narine 27 D Karthik† c Pathan b Balaji 21 R Sharma c †McCullum b Narine 12 Rayudu st †McCullum b Shakib Al Hasan 11 K Pollard c †McCullum b Kallis 8 D Smith lbw b Kallis 0 Harbhajan Singh c Tiwary b Narine 1 L Malinga c Tiwary b Balaji 8 RP Singh c Iqbal Abdulla b Narine 3 M Patel not out 0 Extras (lb 2, w 2) 4 Total (all out; 19.1 overs) 108 Bowling O M R W Econ L Balaji 4 0 11 2 2.75 Shakib Al Hasan 4 0 25 1 6.25 S Narine 3.1 0 15 4 4.73 Iqbal Abdulla 4 0 23 1 5.75 J Kallis 4 0 32 2 8.00

PT NRR 20 0.715 19 0.478 18 -0.160 17 0.214 15 -0.072 14 0.335 14 -0.293 8 -0.477 5 -0.680

P-played; W-win; L-lost; N/T-no result/tie;NRR-net run rate; PT-points

109*

4-13

Ajit Chandila (RR)

Good night turns Battle of the Kings sour for King Khan

Kolkata Knight Riders won by 32 runs

P DD 14 KKR 15 MI 15 CSK 15 RCB 14 RR 14 KXIP 14 PWI 15 DC 14

HIGHEST SCORE

KKR’s Sunil Narine (R) celebrates as Brendon McCullum dives to take a catch of MI’s Rohit Sharma during their IPL match on Wednesday. AFP/INDRANIL MUKHERJEE

t will be a battle of the Kings when Punjab and Chennai clash today in Dharamshala. The match will see brothers, KXIP skipper David Hussey and CSK’s Michael Hussey take on each other for the first time this IPL season. This will be the last league match this IPL edition for the Super Kings from Chennai. It will be a do-or-die situation for both the teams as a loss can spell doom for the sides. Chennai are on a high winning their previous two matches while Punjab have had a roller coaster ride in their previous two encounters. In their clash against Deccan Chargers, Punjab managed to snatch victory from the jaws of defeat when they won the match in the last ball but they faltered when they played Delhi

Daredevils to find themselves staggering at the seventh position on the points table. Parvinder Awana did seem to apply the brakes on the Daredevils innings but the table-toppers saw to it that they won the match and confirmed a berth in the play-offs. Meanwhile, defending champions, Chennai Super Kings would hope to thrash the Kings from Punjab and improve their chances of making it to the play-offs. While a victory today does not guarantee them a place in the play-offs, but it certainly will give them an edge considering that they have a fairly good net run rate. Skipper, Mahender Singh Dhoni would hope that his teammates rise to the occasion and give the team the much required boost to win the clash. If players like Albie Morkel, Michael Hussey, Faf du Plessis and Ravindra Jadeja have a good day at office, then there is no stopping them.

It’s do or die for RCB

T

he Royal Challengers face a daunting challenge. If they need to stay afloat they have to beat Delhi Daredevils today and then in the coming week beat Deccan Chargers. What a turn of events when considering their winning three matches in a row before their luck changed. Now

Robin blames batsmen

B

laming the batsmen for surrendering meekly to Kolkata Knight Riders’ varied bowling attack in their IPL match, Mumbai Indians coach Robin Singh said that terming the team’s batting as “extremely poor” is an understatement on this Wankhede wicket. Chasing a modest 141, the Mumbai outfit lost wickets at regular intervals to be shot out for 108 in 19.1 overs to go down to the Knight Riders by 32 runs last night, their second lowest total of the season after the paltry 92 made against Delhi Daredevils at this venue. “The batting has been extremely poor. That’s an understatement on a wicket like this. I think we should have scored the runs,” he said. PTI

even if they do win these two matches, it may just not be enough if matters are to be decided upon net run rates. Today’s match is at the Feroz Shah Kotla, where the home team rule with their explosive batsmen and their fierce pace bowlers. For RCB, it’s a killer of a challenge. Rajesh Ravindran


79 DAYS TO GO

30

THURSDAY, MAY 17, 2012

The fastest man in Laos

When it comes to the Olympics, there are the strong nations, the less good, the weak and the abject. Communist Laos is in the last category Talek Harris

VIENTIANE: The sun is setting over the scruffy outdoor stadium as Kilakone Siphonexay, the fastest man in Laos, lies on the home-made, wooden weights bench, raises both arms and grips the When it comes to the Olympics, there are the strong nations, the less good, the weak and the abject. Communist Laos is in the last category. But with facilities like this, it’s hardly a surprise. The landlocked country, which was extensively bombed during the war in neighbouring Vietnam and ranks as one of the world’s poorest states, has not only never won an Olympic medal — it hasn’t even come close. “We’re not strong like the USA or the British,” chef de mission Kasem Inthara tells AFP, as he sits in a dingy stadium office. “We’re in a group like Brunei or East Timor. We’re a small country.” Even getting to London would be a victory after not one Laotian qualified for the 2012 Games by right, leaving them waiting for special dispensations to compete in athletics, swimming and taekwondo.

Laotion athletes Kilakone Siphonexay (R) and Lealy Phoukhavont (L) are seen during their training session at the stadium in Vientiane. AFP/ROSLAN RAHMAN Kilakone, wearing an Arsenal football team shirt and tight running trousers, trains for three hours each evening in Chao Anouvong Stadium, an ageing facility in the heart of the capital, Vientiane, which dates back to

pre-communist 1961. For Kilakone, and female 100m hopeful Lealy Phoukhavont, 16, it’s a simple routine consisting mainly of sprinting and acceleration work. Weight training is minimal, and

specialist nutrition is non-existent. According to Kasem, the challenges facing Laos’s athletes are simple: no facilities, few competitions, and the weather is too hot. Plus, the people are too short, he says.

David hopes squash makes it Richard Eaton

LONDON: Nicol David (left) reckons this week’s revived British Open championships will provide an outstanding example of why the sport of squash has qualities uniquely designed for a successful Olympic bid. David, who achieved a record sixth World Open title in November, hopes to aim for an Olympic medal in 2020, and believes that the famous venue for this year’s British Open shows why she may get that

chance. The O2 arena, with its twelve 100-metre high masts, 70 kilometres of cabling, dramatic lighting and smoke reservoirs, claims to have overtaken Madison Squash Garden as the world’s most popular entertainment venue. “With this British Open being within a couple of months of the 2012 Olympics, and its location close to the Games’ main stadium, it helps squash make its point,” said David. “This is a fantastic event, and the O2 is spectacular. We have to perform in a venue like this. I

am talking to people at home and telling them about the event,” said the remarkable Malaysian, who missed the Asian team championships in Kuwait in order to prepare for her bid to recapture the British Open title. David also feels squash has improved its Olympic bid from the one of three years ago. On that occasion the sport came the closest to getting into the 2016 Games in Rio without actually doing so, finishing third behind golf and rugby sevens, the two successful new entrants.

Taylor, Jonas book Games berths QINHUANGDAO, CHINA: Irish star Katie Taylor and Britain’s Natasha Jonas on Wednesday booked their places at the London Olympics but there was controversy as both boxers called for an overhaul of the qualification process. World number one lightweight Taylor sealed a semifinal place and ticket to London at the World Women’s Boxing Championships in China after Romania’s Mihaela Lacatus pulled out with injury. Fellow lightweight Jonas comfortably defeated Norwegian Ingrid Egner to book her place for the Olympics on home soil — women’s boxing will make its debut as a full Olympic sport in July. “There are so many great boxers out there who deserve to be in the Olympics and we need to showcase the best boxers,” said Taylor, 25, the three-time world champion. “It’s so important for the audience to see the best female talent in the world at the Olympics.” Twelve places are up for grabs in each of the Olympic weight categories — flyweight, lightweight and middleweight. Boxers at the World Championships are duelling for eight Olympic slots with the rest going to wildcards given to developing countries in Asia, Africa and Oceania. The complicated qualifying process has caused disgruntlement among many in the amateur boxing community with some claiming too many places are being given to fighters who do not make the Olympic grade. “I don’t want to get into the political side as I am just here to box but I do believe that some boxers haven’t got as far as others in the qualifying process,” said Jonas. “And it’s obviously a bit of a shame that some of the best boxers can’t get to London.”


Playing Field

THURSDAY, MAY 17, 2012

The games people play

Drogba to wipe out Moscow misery LONDON: Didier Drogba has vowed to make amends for his Moscow misery by ending Chelsea’s long wait to be crowned kings of Europe in Saturday’s Champions League final against Bayern Munich. Drogba has nothing but bad memories of his only previous appearance in the final of Europe’s elite club competition after being sent off in extra time as the Blues lost the 2008 showpiece to Manchester United in the rain-soaked Russian capital. Drogba’s dismissal came late in extra-time when he slapped United defender Nemanja Vidic after a mass confrontation between players from both teams. With Drogba unable to take a penalty in the shoot-out, the Ivory Coast striker had to watch from the sidelines as John Terry and Nicolas Anelka’s spot-kick misses gifted the trophy to United. As Chelsea laboured in vain to return to the Champions League final over the intervening four years, it seemed Drogba would never get the chance to erase that

bitter memory. But against all odds, Drogba and the rest of Chelsea’s collection of aging stars have somehow made it back to the final after dramatic victories over Napoli, Benfica and Barcelona in the knockout rounds. Now the 34-year-old plans to turn his Moscow pain into a moment of sweet redemption when Roberto Di Matteo’s side face Bayern in their own Allianz Arena in Munich this weekend. “I’ve got a lot of disappointments but I’ve also had a lot of great moments in finals and I’m going to try to make sure for my teammates this is a good one,” Drogba said. “After Moscow, most of us thought we were going to get into the final the next year. But you can see it’s very difficult to reach a final. “It shows how much we deserve to be there this time because it’s been a few years. “We did a great job to get past Barcelona but we have to do one more.”

Indonesia’s Papua province. It followed several days of delays in getting official permission for the 20-25 kilometre (12.4-15.5 miles) swim to Pasar Skow village, near Mabo, with the aid of special prostheses. “He’s in the water now and feeling very good,” his spokesman Robert Iseni, who is travelling on the support vessel, told AFP. AFP

Manny in anti-gay row Philippine boxing icon Manny Pacquiao denied Wednesday he is homophobic, after he was banned from an upmarket Los Angeles shopping complex for comments about gay marriage. “Based on news reports of statements made by Mr. Pacquiao, we have made it be known that he is not welcome at The Grove and will not be interviewed here now or in the future,” the complex said in a statement on its Twitter feed.

Boxing

It seems that Ferguson is the president of England. Each time he speaks badly of a player or talks nonsense of me no-one comes out to say he has to apologise. Carlos Tevez

Fast Josef spins out of race US rookie Josef Newgarden spun his car and tapped the pit lane wall on Wednesday after clocking the fastest Indianapolis 500 practice speed for the third time in five days. The 21-year-old newcomer to the famed 2 1/2-mile (4km) oval set the practice pace with a top lap at 40.3977 seconds, 222.785 mph, but suffered the month’s first incident when he lost control with 16 minutes remaining in the session.

Indy 500

Euro 2012

SYDNEY: A limbless Frenchman planning to make four challenging swims around the world finally got his epic journey under way Thursday after sorting out paperwork problems in Papua New Guinea. Philippe Croizon, who lost both his arms and legs in an electrical accident in 1994, entered the water in the Pacific country’s remote west at 6am (2000 GMT Wednesday) on his way to

SPORT SNIPPETS

“ Soviet legend Blokhin inspires Ukraine’s bid

An epic journey has begun

31

KIEV: Oleg Blokhin takes Ukraine into its home European championships as manager, hoping to inspire the team with his successes from the glory days of Soviet football in the 1970s and 1980s. “This tournament is very important for all of us and very special for me personally as I never played at the European championships during my playing career,” Blokhin said. The 59-year-old — who set an impressive series of records in his playing days with Dynamo Kiev and the USSR — took over Ukraine’s national team for the first time in December 2003 in the midst of a dreadful run of form. So, when Blokhin promised at his first press conference to “qualify for the 2006 World Cup by winning our group”, few people took him seriously. But he kept his word by leading his side all the way into the 2006 World Cup quarter-finals, where they were eliminated by eventual champions Italy.

NMTJVN=

is the score by which Boston Boston cruised past Philadelphia 107-91 on Wednesday to grab the lead in their NBA playoff series. Kevin Garnett scored 27 points while Paul Pierce added 24 and Rajon Rondo had 23. Garnett, who made 12-of-17 shots, also grabbed 13 rebounds.

Scott ready after slow start Adam Scott has played only five US PGA events in the season’s first 4 1/2 months, but the Australian who shared eighth at the Masters hopes to boost his results at the Byron Nelson Championship. Scott shared 13th at Doral, 15th at last week’s Players Championship, 17th at Los Angeles and made a first-round exit at the World Golf Championships Match Play event as well, trying to trim his schedule to improve his game.

Golf


Playing Field

The games people play

Ox, Welbeck make England squad Hodgson confirmed Liverpool’s Steven Gerrard would captain England Rob Woollard

LONDON: Roy Hodgson has defended his decision to pick John Terry, saying his looming court case had not figured in his calculations. "If we take the court case first of all — we must emphasise at first that he's an innocent man until such time as he's been proven guilty," Hodgson said. "I realised when I selected him [Terry] there would be people who would raise their eyebrows. But I think he's played well and he's played an important part in their FA Cup victory and reaching the Champions League final. "I'm hoping he will help us win matches." Hodgson meanwhile confirmed Liverpool's Steven Gerrard would cap-

tain England at the Euros. "I will be counting on him to help me as much as he can, to build the team unity, and build the type of environment to give us a chance to thrive at this tournament," Hodgson said of Gerrard. "He merits this distinction. I know him as a person, a player, I know how com-

Euro 2012 mitted he is to England." Other notable selections on Wednesday saw Arsenal teenager Alex OxladeChamberlain earn his first senior call-up after a promising first season with the Premier League giants. Liverpool striker Andy Carroll's reward for a strong finish to the season is a place among the pool of four strik-

England squad for Euro 2012 Goalkeepers: Joe Hart (Man City), Rob Green (West Ham), John Ruddy (Norwich) Defenders: Glen Johnson (Liverpool), Phil Jones (Man United), John Terry (Chelsea), Joleon Lescott (Man City), Gary Cahill (Chelsea), Ashley Cole (Chelsea), Leighton Baines (Everton) Midfielders: Theo Walcott (Arsenal), Stewart Downing (Liverpool), Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain (Arsenal), Steven Gerrard (Liverpool), Gareth Barry (Man City), Frank Lampard (Chelsea), Scott Parker (Tottenham), Ashley Young (Man United), James Milner (Man City) Forwards: Wayne Rooney (Man United), Danny Welbeck (Man United), Andy Carroll (Liverpool), Jermain Defoe (Tottenham) Standby: Jack Butland (Birmingham), Phil Jagielka (Everton), Jordan Henderson (Liverpool), Adam Johnson (Manchester City), Daniel Sturridge (Chelsea).

ers. With Wayne Rooney suspended for England's opening two Group D games, Carroll is now a strong candidate to lead the attack in the Three Lions' opening game against France in Donetsk on June 11. Rooney's Manchester United colleague Danny Welbeck and Tottenham's Jermain Defoe complete the line-up of forwards. In midfield Hodgson has opted for an experienced pool of players with several veterans of England's illfated 2010 World Cup campaign in the frame, including Gerrard, Frank Lampard, James Milner and Gareth Barry. Meanwhile Norwich goalkeeper John Ruddy has also forced his way into the squad after an acclaimed season for the Canaries.

THURSDAY, MAY 17, 2012

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