THE PIRATE BAY The modern pirates of Somalia are no swashbuckling buccaneers. They are maritime bandits, disrupting one of the world’s busiest shipping lanes and costing the global economy billions. Recently, they’ve stepped up their brutality. We take a look P16&17
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MURDER IN GYM A 26-year-old youth Sayyad Iliyaaz was brutally murdered at a gym near Srinivasa hospital in IS Sadan area this morning. The incident took place around 9am. He was working out at the gym when three men barged in, stabbed him to death and fled. The Kanchanbagh police sub-inspector who rushed to the spot found the man dead. A massive manhunt has been launched for the culprits.
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The State government refuses to foot the bill for the CBD, and in the bargain, the GHMC has to drop several development projects to meet the cost of decking up the City |for the gala October world meet on biodiversity in Hyderabad. REPORT ON PG 8
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TRINAMOOL SHOWS MAMATA TO TRIVEDI Trinamool Congress on Monday ruled out any action against Dinesh Trivedi, who resigned as railway minister, saying that he has been asked to attend the Parliamentary Party meeting which party chief Mamata Banerjee is expected to attend.
A PLACE WHERE DREAMS TAKE FLIGHT Students say MRCET is the place to go for those interested in aeronautics. We find P15 out why.
NAYANTHARA TEAMS UP WITH RANA P21
Page Two
MONDAY, MARCH 19, 2012
Spirit of Twin Cities
FUTURE TECHIE
Handloom expo
N SHIVA KUMAR
Gurjari handloom and handicrafts expo features handloom bandhni and patola saris, patchwork, ethnic block printed dress materials and traditional handicrafts like Kutch embroidery, leather puppets, tribal craft, wood carving and furniture. Where: Huda open auditorium When: Ongoing, 10am onwards
Sale time Good earth plays host to an end of season sale. The sale is on a variety of products such as home textiles, crockery, decor, silver plated accessories etc. Where: Good Earth, Banjara Hills, Rd No 12 When: March 21-25 Contact: (040) 23338000
Cotton and silk mela Bring out your shopping bags. Lepakshi Cotton and Silk Mela is on at Satya Sai Nigamagamam. Choose from a variety of cotton and silk sarees and dress materials. Where: Satya Sai Nigamagamam, Srinagar Colony. When: March 18 to March 25 Contact: (040) 23235028
Sacred Women On the occasion of Shrishti Art Gallery’s 10th anniversary an exhibition called Women-Sacred and the Temporal is being held. Where: Shrishti Art Gallery, Jubilee Hills, Rd No15 When: Ongoing, 11am onwards Contact: (040) 2354 0023
Bengali food festival A Bengali food festival is being held at Firdaus, Taj Krishna. Sample a variety of Bengali delicacies. Where: Firdaus, Taj Krishna, Banjara Hills, Rd No1 When: Ongoing, 11.30am onwards Contact: (040) 6666 2323
Unique buffet Yellow Chilli is offering a lunch buffet which is truly different. The Buffet which costs `199 (Monday to-Friday) and `249 (Saturday and Sunday). The dinner buffet costs `299 and `349. Where: Yellow Chilli, Banjara Hills, Rd No 12 When: Ongoing Contact: (040) 23383838
New works Lover of art? New works by artists Laxma Goud and Ramesh Gorjala will be displayed at Gallery Space. Where: Gallery Space, Banjara Hills, Rd No 12
CINEMAS
When: Ongoing, 11am onwards Contact: (040) 65541836
When: Ongoing, 11am onwards Contact: (040) 2323 6398
Acting workshop
Asian barbeque
Samahaara — an acting and dancing workshop is being held to help you hone your acting skills. The workshop focusses on a variety of topics such as understanding the basics of stage acting and character analysis, stage geography etc. Where: The Actor’s studio, Madhapur When: Ongoing, 7pm to 9pm Contact: 98854 04784
The Square, Novotel, Madhapur plays host to an Asian barbeque. Sample grilled specialities from around the world — from lebanese to Japanese to even South Indian. Where: The Square, Novotel, Madhapur When: Every Saturday, 7pm onwards Contact: (040) 6682 4422
Photo exhibition
Wraps and rolls
A photo exhibition titled Milestone is on at Iconart Gallery. The exhibition which is being held till March 19. The photographs by 16 photographers are based on the Himalayas. Where: Iconart, Banjara Hills, Rd No 12 When: Ongoing, 11am onwards Contact: 98499 68797
Rolls — boring did you say? Head to Promenade at Ameerpet for a wide variety of rolls to suit everyone from the vegetarians to the non-vegetarians. Sample sea food rolls, grilled chicken rolls,cabbage roll, stir fried vegetable wraps and much more. Where: The Promenade, Ameerpet When: Ongoing Contact: (040) 6678 8888
Reflection of women
Temple Art
Aiana — Reflection of Women, a painting exhibition is being conducted at Kala Bhavan, Saifabad. The exhibition is by Bhavana and Sindoor. Where: Kala Bhavan/ ICCR Art Gallery, Saifabad
A painting exhibition titled, Temple Town is on display at Iconart Art Gallery. The exhibition presents art work by Karunakaran and Satheesh Kanna. Where: Iconart Gallery, Banjara
Hills, Rd No 12 When: Ongoing, 11am onwards Contact: 98499 6879
Thaali festival Spice Junxion is offering a variety of favourites from different regions such as Rayalseema and Telangana. The unique aspect of the thaali is that it represents the traditional home-style cooking. Where: Spice Junxion,Banjara Hills,Rd No 1 When: Ongoing Contact: (040) 6666 3939
Go Splash Splash lounge is the perfect leisure destination for you to unwind. During the evenings, there is also great music, martinis and aperitifs. Where: The Westin, Mindspace, Madhapur When: Monday - Friday, 5pm - 10.30pm Weekends, 8am - 10.30pm Contact: (040) 6767 6828
Tradition and innovation An exhibition showcases 58 designs which are a combination of tradition and innovation. Where: Salarjung Museum, Afzal Gunj When: Ongoing, 10am onwards Contact: (040) 2452 3211
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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Mr Natwarlal in police net, at last M ANIL KUMAR
CRIME Mohd Subhan mohd.s@postnoon.com
H
ere’s the plot. You open a small shop in the City for garments. After a while, you go to Mumbai and Gujarat (Surat) and approach big cloth merchants who sell clothes wholesale. With the gift of the gab you establish friendship with the merchant and present your creditworthiness. Those merchants in Surat trust agents coming from far cities, so they give you clothes on credit, You buy cloth or readymade garments for `1 lakh and pay an advance sum of 10 or 20 per cent of the sum. The remainder would be paid after sale of the whole stock. It works well because you don’t have to take loan on Shylock’s rates. For the merchants too, it is one big sale. The clothes you bought at wholesale prices bring pretty good profits at retail prices, mainly because these clothes made in power looms unlike in large cloth mills, rarely have real MRP printed on them. Besides, the synthetic
Conning credulous wholesale cloth merchants in other States, several garment dealers operate in the City. The police found out after one of them was picked up recently after a complaint by a Surat merchant. clothes they make are light weight and are often sold by wholesale merchants in weight, not in metres. This when sold in metres bring substantial profit. In the first such transaction you play stark honest and the money owed to the merchant is paid to the last paise. But on subsequent trips
clothes worth double the sum are taken on a 10-20 per cent advance. And, this time you bolt. Not quite, you change identity and again go to the same town but to a different merchant this time. The action: MA Sami, 50, of Yakutpura found out the trick. A few years ago he opened a cloth
shop in the Old City. After making a splash of having opened a shop and having printed calling cards and a couple of references from established merchants in the City, he went to Surat and played the role of an emerging cloth agent and merchant in Hyderabad. If not all, one of the wholesale merchants fell for the bait, he knew. Unraveling the story for Postnoon, police inspector D Prasanna Kumar of Dabeerpura, said ‘Mr Natwarlal’ hooked one cloth merchant Rambhai Patel of Surat a couple of years ago. Sami bought clothes on credit and did not pay back. He did this with some other merchants of Surat too. The merchant came to the City and lodged a complaint with the Charminar police. The police arrested Sami and took him to Surat but nothing resulted because Sami pleaded his clothes were stolen from his shop. Sami reportedly resumed his activity. Each time he would change his name, visiting card, address and approach a new merchant and would do play the same trick. Merchants Mahender Bhai, Nanubhai and several others have become victims of this conman. In this manner, he is alleged to
have duped many merchants of one crore rupees. It was on a complaint of Mahender that Sami was picked up by the Dabeerpura police. Mahender was allegedly duped of `45 lakh. The merchant revealed that he came twice to trace out Sami but each time he gave slip to Mahender.
Many modus operandi On interrogation it was revealed that there are scores of smaller Natwarlals in the City who go to Gujarat, Maharashtra and Rajasthan and cheat the wholesale merchants for lakhs of rupees. These people adopt many modus operandi, inspector Kumar was told. One is to set fire to their shop and claim loss of maal and they would promptly lodge a police complaint in this regard. Another is to engineer a burglary and lodge a complaint with the police. The advantage of these methods is that they would try to corner both insurance money and merchant’s money. The third method is to close down the shop in one area and open a new one in another under a different name. Investigation has been launched to find out how many ‘Chupa Rustoms’ are still around, police said.
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Don’t get cheated, little Bonsai is outdoor plant “It takes nearly 10 years or more to give shape to any Bonsai plant. They need to be cared for just like children. Given the kind of weather in Hyderabad, it is best to plant Bonsai trees after Sankranti or in the month of February,” she adds. Since Bonsai is all about shape, anybody with knowledge of gardening can grow a Bonsai plant. The main criterion for Bonsai is the shaping. So it is all about giving your creativity a free run when designing a Bonsai. Selecting a perfect pot is very important as the plant requires lot of care. Bonsai can be created from perennial woody-stemmed tree or shrub species too.
DECOR Anubha K Singh anubha.k@postnoon.com
E
ver imagined what it would be like to pluck a mango or a guava without having to climb a tree? Or that it may be possible to grow a fruit-bearing mango tree right on your table! According to Bonsai, all fruit-bearing trees, or any other tree for that matter, need not be tall. Bonsai is the Japanese term for ‘tree in a tray.’ Though the art originated in China and reached Japan later on, not many people are aware that Bonsai plants cannot be grown as indoor plants in the Indian temperature. Considering their popularity, there are many people who sell Bonsai plants branding them as indoor plants. However, experts caution people against this and say that the Bonsai plant will wilt at room temperature in a few days. “In the Indian temperatures the Bonsai plants are best grown outdoors in full sunlight. Any Bonsai tree, either a fruit-bearing one or flowering one, needs proper sunlight to grow,” said, Sumitra Golecha, secretary, Friends of Bonsai Society. Sunita Singh, an ardent Bonsai lover who has six varieties of Bonsai in her garden, observed, “Many people are not aware about the dos and don’ts of Bonsai plants. They are different and require more care when compared to regular plants. It’s not true that Bonsai can be grown indoors; they should be outdoors in all seasons for effective growth. You can keep them indoors sometimes but not for more than a day or two. Here too they should receive enough sunlight and water. But in the long term Bonsai trees should be outside,” said.
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Tips for beginners
MANGALA RAO: BONSAI ARTIST
n Anyone who has some knowledge about gardening can plant Bonsai trees. n Choose plants according to the climatic conditions of your area. n For beginners and as per Hyderabad’s temperature the best plants are Spicus, Jade and Brogun villa as they don't require much care. n All containers or pots must have one or more drain holes otherwise the trees will not be healthy; they will soon look sickly and finally die. n A basic course for Bonsai is required to learn the art of shaping a Bonsai plant.
Friends of Bonsai Society The Friends Bonsai Society (FBS) was started in Hyderabad in 1983 by Pushpa Jayant, a Bonsai enthusiast. The group now has more than 100 members who meet once a month at Zoroastrian Club. The group is into teaching Bonsai to beginners and intermediate artistes for years and many of the students have carved a name for themselves in the world of Bonsai.
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CRIME BRIEFS Reprimanded, teen commits suicide HYDERABAD: A teenager’s life has come to a tragic end. G Srikanth, 14, is alleged to have doused himself with petrol and set himself afire on Friday last. He was admitted to Osmania General Hospital with severe burns, where he died on Sunday night. Srikanth was a contract worker with the GHMC and is said to have taken to alcohol. His parents would often reprimand him for the same, said Asif Nagar inspector JN Narsaiah.
Unidentified body found in Ghatkesar HYDERABAD: The body of a middle-aged man with bruise marks was found in some bushes in Alkapuri village under the Ghatkesar police station limits on Saturday. His neck bore marks of strangulation, police said. Nobody has been arrested yet and investigations are still on.
Cabinet meeting to be held today HYDERABAD: A cabinet meeting will be held this evening at the Secretariat. However, there will be no briefing as the Assembly is in session. It has however been reported that apart from the power problem, the results of the bypolls could figure in the discussion at the meeting. The issue of the court notices being issued to the ministers and other officials may also be brought up. The acute water shortage in many districts may be addressed.
TRS forces house to be adjourned HYDERABAD: A day after the bypolls, the TRS forced the house to be adjourned. They presented the adjournment motion on withdrawing police cases on students during the general strike. The speaker Nadendla Manohar assured them that the cases were being examined and withdrawn in a phased manner, but the members didn’t agree, leaving him with no choice.
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House jammed, adjourned As a determined Opposition ranks continue to stall legislature proceedings. Speaker finds himself in a spot over the sustained failure to transact government business. U Srinivas srinivas.u@postnoon.com
F
or the seventh day in a row the Assembly failed to transact business on agenda. Today, again soon after the House met, the TRS forced an adjournment on the Speaker. As soon as the House assembled the TRS pressed an adjournment motion to discuss the withdrawal of police cases clamped on agitating students during the general strike. Speaker Nadendla Manohar said that the cases were being examined by the government and they are being withdrawn in a phased manner as per the merits of the sections and other details. But it did not satisfy the vociferous members of the TRS. They stood firm on a discussion which the Chair was unwilling to allow. They rushed to the well and demanded that the withdrawal should be done immediately. It is not a negotiable issue, they reminded Speaker. Manohar pleaded with them that the Chief
Minister Kiran kumar Reddy has already assured the members to this effect and that the government was doing its best. All went in vain. Left with little option, the Chair adjourned the House. Today, the leadership to create a ruckus fell on TRS rather than the Opposition as both the Congress and TDP were busy with Rajya Sabha nominations. Earlier, it was the TDP that jammed the Assembly on the 26 Government Orders (GO) which the YSR government issued. The TDP wanted the GOs tabled in the House for legislators to peruse. But the government had insisted that if going through the GOs was all that the Opposition wants, they are on the government website. Why waste previous time of the House? Talking to the media after the adjournment, the leader of the TRS Eetala Rajendar said that this is the computer age and that at the push of a button the criminal cases filed against students can be withdrawn. He charged that the government was doing it
CM puts a brave face, looks ahead
Postnoon News
C
hief Minister Kiran Kumar Reddy is not worried over the outcome of the results for the by-polls to the 7 constituencies in the State. Leaders close to him told
wantonly to harass the students. This apart, he hardened the stance that a resolution on the Telangana should be taken up in this session and also the cases foisted on the students and the employees in the name of General strike must be withdrawn
Chandrababu’s T-yatra revives party and dreams POLITICS
Postnoon that he was briefed by the intelligence over the outcome of the bypolls and it is only one seat that the Congress is expecting to win and that is any one of the constituencies in Mahabubnagar that too in case of a split in vote between the TRS and the BJP. Other wise it is nil for the Congress. It is learnt that the CM and the PCC chief Botsa Satyanarayana have already prepared the AICC chief Sonia Gandhi for a debacle in seven assembly seats. But they promised that they would do well in the bypolls to the 17 constituencies that is due in the near future.
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KCR under threat? Postnoon News
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olice sources said that K Chandrasekhara Rao, the TRS chief, has complained of getting threats to his life. During an election rally in the Ghanpur constituency, KCR claimed attempts were made on his life. He said bombs were hurled at his car. His nephew and TRS MLA Harish Rao also faced threat. Earlier, the government had stepped up his security by allotting a bullet proof Scorpio. The police also have suggested electric fencing around his house. Yakoob, a young leader of TRS told Postnoon, “KCR’s idea of making public the perception was to keep the masses informed and not that he is afraid” Rajesham Goud , another leader of TRS said, “People will protect KCR.” A round-the-clock vigilance is arranged at KCR’s home.
at the earliest. He openly said that if not they will be forced to raise the issues and stall the House to put their demands. “Running the administration and Legislature is the obligatory duty of the government, not the Opposition,” Rajender argued.
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T
DP chief Chandrababu Naidu is a very happy man these days. Not that the Congress is in shambles facing corruption charges but he was able to make inroads into Telangana for campaigning. Kadiyam Srihari the senior TDP leader says that from no entry a few years ago to entry and campaigning is a lot of progress. And if Kadiyam has to be believed, the mass response to TDP has been pretty good coming as it after his Rytu Pora Bata. Naidu is happy because this all mean the TDP will have a bright prospects in the 2014 elections. And, the that thought is making his adrenalin run faster. This, however, does not mean that the by-election results will all be in his favour. But, the roadshow was a success and it revived the drooping morale of the party cadres across Telangana. The party cadres are happy that the TDP supremo was able to move around in the Telangana region despite some resistance from small groups of Telangana workers. This is an about-turn from the 2010 elections when the TDP had a board before it, “No Entry.” G Butchiah Chowdhary a senior leader in TDP very close to Chandrababu also says the confidence of cadres in the
1 Year
` 349/party has gone up and this will reflect in the next elections. And, this is the first time after a long time, Chandrababu was able to rebuke the TRS chief Chandrasekhar Rao in the open. “Babu’s campaign has very much changed the scenario in the region,” said E Dayakar Rao, a T - TDP leader. No doubt, in some places Chandrababu faced the wrath of the TRS workers, they hurled stones, chappals and eggs at the convoy. Police and the black cats giving security to Chandrababu said that it was not easy to cover him all the time. He easily slips into the crowds and not bother about security. In Telangana it was a tough task despite giving advance information to the locals, the police they said.
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Crisis brooks no delay
Unless encroachment of lakes is stopped and the wanton exploitation of groundwater contained, water issues can’t be resolved
WATER Sudeshna Koka sudeshna.k@postnoon.com
W
COMPUTERS
Centre cheated the people
T
RS candidate from Kollapur Jupally Krishna Rao alleged that the Centre and State governments have killed democracy by deceiving people by assuring that they would carve a Telangana State. Jupally exuded confidence that the T slogan would win in the bypolls.
ater crisis threatens to become a law and order problem in the GHMC area, going by the frequent bouts of quarrels and violence in the City outskirts. The recent suicide of one Venkat Raju after he was denied an extra bucket of water is only a straw in the wind, experts say. The grim reality is not because of summer. The City has survived numerous summers but now the danger arises from the rapid depletion of ground water and polluted water. Contributing to this is the loss of trees, the roots of which go as deep as 400 feet to absorb and preserve water. “There is poor planning to match the demand of water in the City. The City is growing beyond control, literally, and this is because the government is giving permission for development and construction on the outskirts. This not an educated action from the government, they fail to realise that unplanned development will only give birth to more demand for water,” fumes Jasveen Jairath of SOUL. A primary reason for water shortage in the City is the drying up of lakes. Government statistic says earlier the City had 3,000 lakes but now it’s been reduced to 300. Lakes are the only source of fresh water in the City, but unfortunately most of the lakes are being encroached and the rest are not well maintained. “The Nizams developed the City in such a way that each lake is connected to the other, ensuring a water flow to various parts of the City. But greed-fed encroachments have broken this link and have claimed most of the City’s water bodies leading to a crisis-like situation,” laments Panasa Ramkrishna, who was instrumen-
tal in saving some lakes with RTI activism. Environmentalists say the loss of lakes is directly linked to the avarice of some local MLAs. They are of the opinion that politicians are looking at water problem only in a micro level but it’s a macro level problem. “Without the support of the politicians nothing can happen. They are aware of the encroachments and illegal activities. Recently `350 crore has been pumped into Godavari project. What is the point of starting that without completing the third phase of Krishna river project? It’s obvious that there are political interests in the Godavari project,” said Jasveen. Activists believe that the government is doing little to protect the surviving 300 lakes. “Maintenance of lakes should be given to the defence. The existing government is incompetent. The lake commission has also failed and this shows that the government is unfit to do anything,” says
THE FACES OF HYDERABAD Yadaiah, Banana Leaf Vendor, Uppal
S
outh Indian dining just can’t be complete without the dining on a banana leaf experience. Manny of us love to experience the authentic South Indian dining and Yadaiah helps us do just that. For the past 20 years he has been supplying banana leaf plates to hotels and restaurants in and around the City. So how exactly did he enter into this business? Yadaiah says that his family has been into this business for ages and it only seemed natural to follow his father’s footsteps. Today even his wife helps him in the business.
Aishwarya Yerra A city is defined by the people who live and work in it. Here we take a look at the human threads that make up our urban tapestry
They have to cut the entire banana leaf into three sections and then trim it to plate dimensions. They buy leaves in bulk from Rajamundry and sell it to hotels at 50 paise per plate. He admits that he does not earn much profit from his business but says that he has to do everything he can to educate and marry off his three daughters who are still young. He says that he will never switch professions because he is most comfortable in this business and to make a switch now would be hard for him to adjust.
Jayprakash, founder, I Go Green. The government had set up The Lake Protection Committee to protect lakes in the Hyderabad Metropolitan Region. It is mandated to the protection and improvement of lakes and their catchments. The Metropolitan commissioner of HMDA coordinates all the activities of the committee. Most thought that this would solve the water problems in the City. However, since the last two years the committee has met only five times and has done nothing productive. “The government won’t do anything productive. The civil society needs to be proactive and come on the roads and fight against this. We need to raise a hue and cry; come forward and fight as protection of water is more important than protection of religion,” said Poornima S, an environmentalist. M ANIL KUMAR
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Prices dampen the festive spirits FESTIVALS Anubha K Singh anubha.k@postnoon.com
T
he fragrance of naturally perfumed jasmine (Mallepulu) and the aroma of raw green mangoes in City markets mark the onset of Ugadi (New Year) festival. Ugadi is celebrated with much zeal and festive fervour in Maharashtra, Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh. It is called Ugadi in Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka while in Maharashtra it is known as Gudipadava.
One of the main aspects of the festival in South India is the Ugadi pachadi. The New Year celebration is incomplete without the pachadi. The dish is made with five different ingredients — raw green mangoes, jaggery, tamarind, salt and neem flowers. However, many also add coconut, bananas and red chili powder to add to the greater flavour. The pachadi reflects shadruchulu that is different flavours of life that is sweet, astringent, salty, sour, bitter, and spicy. Any Indian festival is incomplete without fruits and flowers and with just days left for the
festival the vegetable markets and flower markets are bustling with activity as the demand for green mangoes and other fruits
and flowers goes up. As expected during festivals prices discourage budget buyers. The price of one raw green mango is ranging from `20 to `30. Prices of flowers are high with jasmine costing `25 to `30 which is usually `10 to `15. At the Gudimalakpur flower market 100 gms of marigold is being sold at `35 as against the usual price of `10 to `25. Prices of fruits too are soaring high with apples costing anything between `150 and `200 a kg, pomegranate `100 to `150, while grapes cost between `40 and `80. But the show is stolen by the mangoes that cost a
whopping `200 per kg. Laxmi Reddy, a customer at Moazam Jahi market said, “I bought one mango for `20 and 1kg dusheri costs `260. This price hike is seen before every festival. Imagine how expensive things will be on the festival day itself.” Manoj Kumar, a fruit vendor in the market said, “The prices are high because of inflation. Festivals are the only time when we can expect some profit in our business as the sale is more as compare to regular days. Even if the prices are high people buy fruits and flowers to celebrate the festival.”
Hyper Local
MONDAY, MARCH 19, 2012
Campaigns, hard news and spirit of Twin Cities
8
Government snubs Majid’s men The government refuses to foot the bill for the CBD, and in the bargain, the GHMC has to drop several development projects to meet the cost of decking up the City for the gala October world meet on biodiversity in Hyderabad Md Inkeshaf Ahmed ahmed.m@postnoon.com
COUNTDOWN TO 11TH CBD
T
he GHMC can’t believe it. The adage ‘Man proposes; God disposes’ has come true. The Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation, entrusted with the onus task of sprucing up the image of the City for the world conference on Convention of Biodiversity (CBD) in October, had promptly chalked out a detailed work plan at an estimated cost of `553 crore (which was later toned down to `400.04 Crore) and sent it to the State Government. An enthusiastic GHMC Commissioner M T Krishna Babu had also waxed eloquent on how well he is going to make the City something memorable for the citizens, then the thunderbolt came: No money from the State, meet it with your own money. The Government Order numbered 336 dated March 17 to the Commissioner Commissioner stated, “The Government after careful examination accorded administrative sanction for the amount of `400.04 crore to the Commissioner, GHMC, subject to a condition that the said sum shall be met from their own funds for taking up infrastructure improvement and beautification of the GHMC for hosting the 11th meeting of the Conference of Parties (CoP 11) to the prestigious event of CBD in which there shall be a ministerial delegation of 190 countries.” The scared GHMC authorities now say that if this be so it has to postpone its massive `813 crore plan of Greater Hyderabad Development Plan (GHDP) which involves 87 development projects like construction of flyovers, link roads, Musi beautification project, expansion of roads, junctions, footpaths and parks. When Postnoon met the GHMC officials they were all dejected. Hiding his disappointment, the Commissioner Krishna Babu said, “We are still optimistic. We need government’s Approved works of GHDP which are likely to be affected due to CBD Total Number of works proposed to be executed work wise details 87
Details of the work to be undertaken by GHMC
EXCLUSIVE
NAME OF THE ROAD PROPOSED ESTIMATE
support to undertake this project. We hope that the State and the Central government will extend their helps to make arrangements for the prestigious event. We have an assurance from the State government. We will use our Works
Number
Flyovers Link roads Musi beautification Expansion of roads Expansion of junctions Expansion of footpaths Parks New council hall
8 7 16 49 5 -
cost `234 crores `94 crores `50 crore `225 crores `50 crores `30 crore `20 crores `50 crores.
resources based on the assistance received from both State and the Centre.” The ruling Congress party leaders, partner in power at the GHMC, are cautious in their reaction. When contacted deputy mayor of the corporation. G Raj Kumar was evasive. “I don’t know anything about the government’s order. So I can’t comment on it. I will have a discussion on the issue with Commissioner before making any comment,” he said. The deputy mayor also said that if the works to be undertaken for COP-11 affect the progress of GHDP, he would take up the matter with the State government. “I don’t think the government will do anything which hampers the progress of the corporation. If the GO was issued to take away corporation funds, then I will definitely raise this issue with the government.” he said.
1. Somajiguda to Ravindra Bharathi(via Raj Bhavan, NTR Marg) road `26.90 crores 2. Liberty to Tarnaka (via Himayat nagar, Fever Hospital, Tarnaka) `26.60 crore 3. Madina to ChaderGhat Road (via Salarjung Museum) `3.57 crores 4.Basheer Bagh to Chaderghat (via Abids and Koti) `21.23 crores 5.Highway beautification projectAmeerpet to Charminar(via Nampally, MJ Market) `70.60 crores 6.Telugu Talli flyover to CTO office (via Tank bund) `27.70 crores.
`158, for a prize of `10,000! Melange of Indian crafts Inkeshaf Ahmed ahmed.m@postnoon.com
G
reater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC)’s lucky draw, an initiative to encourage property owners to pay prompt taxes, brought out guffaw from the commissioner M T Krishna Babu. The one who bagged the price happens to be one of the lowest tax payers. The lot that was taken on March in the presence of Mayor Md Majid Hussain and the commissioner saw property owner from Rajendranagar circle Ahmed Hussain, a resident of Mailardevpally (HNo. 8-13-
59/2/1), winning `10,000 cash reward for prompt payment of property tax. His property tax was a paltry `158 a year! When GHMC commissioner MT Krishna Babu saw this on the computer system which was used for random selection of lucky draw winners, he laughed and remarked, “This is surprising. A property owner paying `158 towards tax is ridiculous. There is a need to reassess all properties in the City.” It was found that some `50,000 property owners pay `100 or less. This is not the fault of the property owners but the failure of the GHMC officials, Babu knew it very well.
Corporation is terribly losing revenue for lack of realistic property assessment and corruption in the revenue department. Among other winners Mohan Reddy, a resident of Chandanagar (HNO.136/1/12/214), which falls under Sherilingampally Municipal Circle, walked away with `1 lakh bumper prize by paying `1388 towards his property tax. Another property owner PM Srinivas Murthy, a resident of Bansilalpet (HNo. 6-6463/2) which come under Secunderabad circle won `25,000 cash award by paying `1,122 property tax.
Rahul Ramakrishna rahul.r@postnoon.com
T
he Lepakshi Cotton and Silk Fab exhibition cum sale held at Satya Sai Nigamagamam saw a melange of traditional handloom weaves, showcasing the rich vibrance of Indian handlooms and handricaft. It was held as a part of the initiative taken up by the AP Handicrafts Development Corporation limited for the benefit and welfare of native handloom weavers and handicraft artists. The week-long festival was inaugurated by the income tax commissioner G V Hemalatha Devi and general manager of the Lepakshi Handicrafts division, Y Madhusudan Reddy. The exhibition-cum-sale
revealed over a dozen styles of handlooms, from Gadwal sarees to Bengali cotton prints to Banarasi silks and more. The attempt to bring the weavers directly into the market, cutting out the middleman was much appreciated by all. Organiser and store Manager K Venkateshwar Rao of the Lepakshi Gunfoundry branch said, “There are nearly 80 stalls each displaying a handloom style that is native to some part of our country. We do it every two seasons, for the ashada masam and the sraavana masam as it attracts our most important customers — women. The kind of varities that we offer here attract them the most as women are very acutely aware of the changing trends in style and fashion,” he said.
17,396.40 69.80
5,297.75 20.15
BSE
NSE
Business
GOLD
1kg= `57,200
SILVER
`50.09
DOLLAR
YORK: The United
Parcel Service is close to concluding a 5.2-billion-euro ($6.8 billion) deal to acquire Dutch rival TNT Express NV and thus create a dominant packageshipping company in Europe, The Wall Street Journal reported late Sunday. Citing informed sources, the newspaper said UPS planned to pay 9.50 euros a share for TNT Express, an increase from its prior offer of nine euros per share. UPS originally offered to pay 8.25 euros a share after it first approached the company late last year, the report said. The two sides have informally agreed on a deal and have no substantial outstanding points to negotiate, the paper said. They were expected to reach a formal agreement Sunday night and announce it Monday. Last month TNT Express said it had rejected a 4.9 billion euro ($6.4 billion) unsolicited offer by the US-based parcel and logistics giant, but remained in discussions. The parties have been discussing so-called social issues, which tend to involve personnel and leadership, according to the Wall Street Journal report. One particular sticking point involved whether TNTs Dutch headquarters would serve as the base for the combined business's European operation. TNT Express operates in more than 200 countries and employs 83,000 people.
Dollar weak on murky US economic data TOKYO: The dollar moved narrowly against the yen and euro in Asia on Monday amid a mixed bag of US data that failed to give a clear picture of the health of the world's biggest economy. The dollar fetched 83.43 yen in Tokyo morning trade, almost unchanged from late Friday in New York. The euro bought $1.3165, a shade lower than $1.3175 in New York. Against the Japanese unit, the euro briefly topped 110 yen for the first time since October last year before easing slightly to 109.92 yen, against 109.82 yen.
Banks will have to save autowalas Private financiers control auto credit market M ANIL KUMAR
Prudhvi Raju K prudhvi.k@postnoon.com
T
here will not be a better picture to represent Hyderabad, than a group of yellow auto-rickshaws in a crowded road. The only customised mode of transport for the middle class Hyderabadis, auto-rickshaws are almost a livelihood for 8,50,000 people — 10 per cent of the total population of Hyderabad. The GHMC limits have about 1,20,000 passenger auto-rickshaws. Mostly unemployed youths from different parts of the district come to the City to earn a livelihood. Most of them buy auto-rickshaws with loans from private finance companies at rapacious rates. “It is extremely difficult to avail loans from the bank. The banks demand financial security, which we are unable to provide. I never saw an auto financed by any government. There may be less than one per cent of autos financed by the bank. However, private finance companies filling the gap and offer loans without any hassles. “However, we are paying a high interest of 17.69 per cent. Even after paying instalment, the money paid is not subtracted from the principle to calculate interest. (Interest is calculated on a flat rate). If we miss an instalment for 45 days, the auto will be seized. There is heavy interest (almost 50 per cent) when we miss the instalments,” says Mohammed Ghuse, Secretary, Kharitabad Auto union. “We request the finance companies not to penalise us with heavy interest when we miss out an instalment. We are already taking a lot of burden in paying a lot of interest to these finance companies,” says Bikshapathy Yadav, vice-president, Hyderabad City Auto Drivers’ Union. “The banks are offering at three per cent to self-help groups. They are making rules and depriving auto owners from availing a loan. We have requested many times to the government to offer loan us at these interest rates and help the community and sector to grow, but nothing has changed till now,” he says. Even though, Auto financing
`79.3647
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Matters of saving and spending
UPS to buy Dutch rival for $6.8bn NEW
10g= `27,850
NUMEROLOGY
455
crore
is what the German banking leader Deutsche Bank has pumped into its Indian arm to fund growth plans
TROUBLED WATERS The combined market capitalisation (m-cap) of six of the top 10 Sensex bluechips declined by `25,128 crore last week, with energy major ONGC taking the biggest hit at `8,171 crores. TCS took the second biggest hit with a drop of `7,604 crore and its m-cap reached `2,28,505 crore.
CASHING IN Apple Inc, the world's most valuable company, is poised today to confront one of the biggest questions in corporate America: what it plans to do with its $98 billion cash hoard. At Friday's closing price of $585.57, Apple has a market value of about $546 billion.
THUS SPAKE
is a priority sector to offer loans but there is the high percentage of defaulters in the City. It is the responsibility of manager to collect that money, and there are instances, managers have cleared loans from their pockets for small amounts, admits a senior bank official. There is enormous pressure and accountability to the manager for ever loan he sanctions. Nobody wants to take that risk and get nagged by the head office, he says. It is not that every auto loan is a default, but when the percentage is high, there is bad name to the sector. However, bankers need to give them a chance to prove and change the image, he says. The self-help group loans
offered at three per cent interest is a huge success in various parts of the country. There is collective responsibility of the team to pay the loan. The loan amount would gradually increase based on the prompt payments of the team. Even, if a member fails to pay the instalment, the group manages for a month and the next month the group would collect from the member, he says. The same initiative can be applied for financing autos. It would be a win-win situation; he says. The government should not just think banking sector just to generate revenues. They have got much bigger social responsibility to play a crucial role for the growth of auto sector and to see 10 per cent of population of the City in prosperity.
“We are working on 18 deals and expect to consummate many of the transactions early next fiscal. We will be a zero-debt company by March 2013,” said Future Group chairman Kishore Biyani
GOOD NEWS Petrol in Goa may become cheaper by `11 per litre if the Manohar Parrikar-led BJP government abolishes the Value Added Tax (VAT) on petrol when it presents the maiden budget on March 21. The CM has indicated that the budget will recommend zero VAT on petrol which would in effect become cheaper by `11 per litre. Petrol costs `65 a litre in Panaji. The officials in the know said that the move would result into an additional annual revenue burden of around `100 crore on the State exchequer.
India‑View
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MONDAY, MARCH 19, 2012
India unveiled
Gharial battles for survival WOXYS
Rajat Ghai
NEW DELHI: A few years back, a boat trip down the Chambal river in north India would have yielded a surreal sight — groups of gharials basking in the sun on the sandy stretches, their long, slender snouts wide open. Unfortunately, such a sight is rare in the Chambal today. Not only are the gharials (gavialis gangeticus), the slendersnouted crocodilian fighting for survival, their habitat is under greater threat than ever before. Four years ago, a catastrophe of sorts befell the Chambal gharial. The river’s resident population began to suddenly die like flies, for unknown reasons. A total of 81 gharials died — a major loss for breeding individuals of an already endangered species. But now conservationists are reporting an improvement in the gharial population of the Chambal. But they say unless a concerted effort is made by all quarters, the gharial is headed for extinction. According to Colin Stevenson, Director, Madras Crocodile Bank, the reasons for the 2008 deaths were water pollution, combined with extraordinary cold weather that year, and scarcity of the fish species they eat. “But the population is stable now,” Colin Stevenson told IANS on phone. Naresh Bedi, veteran wildlife cinematographer, remembers 2008 well. “The gharial tragedy of 2008 in Chambal was witnessed and recorded by us. It was a big setback for the gharial’s breeding population. I personally believe that paucity of their preferred fish also contributed to the catastrophe of 2008,” Bedi told IANS. So, what is the current number
of gharials in the Chambal? “We don’t know precise numbers. Any total number will be a guess. We are planning surveys in Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh, which will be hopefully carried out within the next year,” says Stevenson. But the sword of Damocles continues to hang over the gharial. For starters, consider gharial numbers across India. “The gharial still remains critically endangered, with a plus minus figure of 200 breeding animals and a total population of well under 2,000,” says
Bedi. “The gharial species is teetering on the edge and could easily be wiped out with another catastrophe. Unless we take a very strong stand, there is little hope,” feels noted Bangalore-based herpetologist, Gerry Martin. “The main threats to the gharial are sand mining, fishing, and water extraction/diversion,” says Stevenson. Sand mining is a major threat as they are deprived of their critical nesting and basking sites. Fishing nets placed on the river are
a major danger as their long and narrow jaws get ensnared in fishing nets. “If trapped for long in the nets, the gharials drown; if caught, they are often maimed and left to die a slow death from starvation, or killed,” says Stevenson. Dams have resulted in rivers like the Chambal becoming a trickle in some places — which are unable to sustain a gharial population, he explains. Warns veteran herpetologist — an expert on reptiles — and
Madras Crocodile Bank founder Romulus Whitaker: “The gharial’s main hope of survival is in the Chambal river, but the pressures on that river are enormous and increasing yearly. Fantasies like the scheme to interlink rivers pose a threat to all of our aquatic wildlife and fisheries.” Conservationists feel that the government and the public should take corrective measures to manage the species. “The authorities can bring illegal sand miners and fishermen to book. There should be a complete ban on sand mining in the protected river areas with gharial populations. River pollution needs to be kept under control,” says Bedi. “Citizens should report and apply pressure to stop sand mining and illegal fishing in their areas,” says Stevenson. The Gharial Conservation Alliance which Stevenson heads is also planning projects aimed at rescuing gharials from sand mining and fishing. “Sand mining is mafia-driven, often in cahoots with politicians. This makes our job difficult. In Rajasthan, we have identified specific areas of the river, from where sand mining will be completely banned,” says Stevenson. He adds, “We are also running an awareness programme in Chambal villages which will educate fishermen that the gharial is their friend and not a competitor.” He says that conserving the gharial is a test for India. “India should be proud of its gharial. This is a prime opportunity to show what can be done in this country when everyone gets together. The world is watching.” IANS
‘Osama’ with shades of Sobhraj on stage ALIENBIRU
Pradipta Tapadar
KOLKATA: Osama Bin Laden has been resurrected in Kolkata! One of the most controversial characters of world history is now being portrayed on the popular stage theatre of Bengal. The play, christened Osama, revolves round the main protagonist Charles the crook, who considers himself an artist and believes that a man can do anything good or evil for his existence and that a human being has the right to trade himself or others for the sake of existence. Charles sells various villainous ideas to corrupt politicians, bureaucrats and influential people. His notorious ideas range from innovative tricks to deceive
people to that of spreading terror and, in a bid to sell the ideas of violence, he takes the guise of the poster-boy of terrorism — Osama. The Saudi Arabia-born Osama was hunted down by US special operation forces in a midnight raid
at a ‘safe house’ in the Abbottabad in May 2011. “It is a satirical take on society where a person by his evil ideas tries to win over the world. He sells the idea of terrorism under the guise of Osama, but when his bluff
is caught he flees,” Gautam Haldar, director and actor playing the character of Osama, told IANS. Haldar, a seasoned stage actor with over two decades of experience behind him, said the play was inspired by French philosopher Jean-Paul Sartre’s play Nekrassov (1955) — a satirical take on the anti-communist propaganda. “The idea of this play Osama came two years back. But the play is inspired by Nekrassov. The idea of Osama terrorising the entire world came to my mind in a satirical way,” the 40-year-old actor and director said. The 150-minute play, a full-on entertainment, was first staged March 14 and is receiving rave reviews. In order to make the character of Osama livelier, Haldar went
through extensive homework sessions, including Hindi-Urdu lessons and close monitoring of television footages of Osama. “Though it’s a Bengali play, for several months I had taken Hindi lessons. I have learnt a bit of Urdu too. I have used a few Urdu and Hindi dialogues in the play. For the body language, I closely monitored TV footage of Osama,” he said. Charles, the crook, however, has a human heart and never cheats the poor. But ironically he is made to do several things which hit the poor. The crook with a human heart finds himself in the mesh of profiteers and political overlords. The character of Charles has shades of a serial killer of the 20th century, Charles Sobhraj.
IANS
India‑View
India bats for generic drugs NEW DELHI: Commerce minister Anand Sharma on Sunday said that India will resist any attempt made to malign the country’s generic drugs industry as it provided a means for poor sections of the society to access cheap medicines. “There has been a major campaign by some countries which are going after multilateral regimes... TRIPS (TradeRelated Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights). If outside these multilateral forums a TRIPS plus approach is adopted, then India will resist it,” Sharma said in his address to the eighth India-Africa Project Partnership Summit being held here March 18-20. “There is a campaign to showcase generics as substandard; that they are not real. We are determined to ensure that poor people in my country and in Africa have access to these medicines.” Sharma sought support from African leadership present in the forum including Zimbabwean Vice President Joice Mujuru and Prime Minister of Central African
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Republic Faustin Archange Touadera to stand by India on the issue. According to Sharma, Indian generic drugs have significantly brought down the medicine cost for treating major diseases like cancer and AIDS. “They are doing nothing wrong. In US, American countries have the highest numbers of Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approvals followed by Indian companies which have second highest approvals.” “There was a flexibility meant for the developing countries... We will do it even for third and fourth generation drugs to fight pandemics like cancer. This is India's commitment and with us you are also secured in this sector.” Sharma said that he has informed his counterparts from African nations that a State-run Indian pharmaceutical company has got a breakthrough in antimalaria drug which has gone through extensive trials in India and is now undergoing trials in some of the African countries. It would be available within 60 days. IANS
HIGH-RISE ACTION
Ready to broker peace in Pakistan: Sri Sri LUCKNOW: Art of Living founder and spiritual guru Sri Sri Ravi Shanker has offered his “good intentions and services” to the Pakistan government and said that he was ready to broker peace between the government and Taliban. Back from a trip to Pakistan, he said that during his trip , he “could feel the urge in the Pakistan masses to find peace and get over violence”. Recalling his Pakistan trip, Sri Sri said he was overwhelmed at the response he got in Pakistan. ”We are all sufferers of stress, tension, violence and hatred — and small ways of easing out are all that you need,” he mused while discussing his experience.
Akhilesh transfers 30 UP bureaucrats LUCKNOW: In a major bureaucratic
Policemen bring down a prisoner from the top of a water tank after he attempted to commit suicide at the Central PTI Jail in Gurdaspur, Punjab on Sunday.
Trivedi sows dissent in Trinamool KOLKATA: The continuing suspense drama over the Dinesh Trivedi episode has not been the best advertisement for West Bengal’s ruling Trinamool Congress. But what could be more ominous for the Mamata Banerjee-led party is the way the railway minister is almost pushing the leadership to the wall. Initially, the Barrackpore MP, who has fallen out with the leadership after raising passenger fares in his railway budget last week, said as a loyal soldier of the party he would quit the moment Banerjee asked for his
resignation. However, on Saturday after Trinamool Parliamentary Party chief whip Kalyan Banerjee asked him to make a graceful exit as per the party's wish, Trivedi demanded a written communication from Mamata Banerjee. The reason he hinted at is “confusion”. “On the floor of Parliament it is being said no resignation has been demanded. And after that now I am being asked over phone to quit. So I should know the truth,” Trivedi told reporters in Delhi, stumping the party.
Mamata flies to Delhi KOLKATA/NEW DELHI: Amid the controversy over removal of Dinesh Trivedi as Railway Minister, Trinamool Chief Mamata Banerjee reached Delhi on Sunday night, hours after he quit. Mamata had asked the Prime Minister to sack Trivedi after he had announced hike in passenger fares and wanted him to be replaced by Mukul Roy. “Tomorrow, I will... meet my MPs,” the Trinamool chief said after arriving in Delhi where she is expected to hold discussions
with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Congress leaders. Trivedi resigned on Sunday as Railway Minister ending hisdefiance and bringing to a close five-day drama after he incurred the wrath of Trinamool Congress. Before leaving for Delhi, the West Bengal Chief Minister had said that Trivedi called her to tell her that he was resigning. “He called me and he told me that he will abide by the party decision and send his resignation,” Mamata said. PTI
NATION AT A GLANCE
The railway minister has already got open support from singer-turned-Trinamool MPturned dissident Kabir Suman, and more importantly, endorsement from some other Trinamool MPs. “I have appealed to Dineshda not to resign unless the prime minister asks him to. We need upright men like him. And every party should understand that the railway ministry is not a thing that can be fiddled with,” said Suman. But Suman, not known for his political astuteness, unintentionally
spilt the beans on Trivedi’s gameplan. “He told me that the masses needed to be told everything.” Apart from the overt backing of Suman, Trivedi is believed to have the covert support from a Trinamool MP who was earlier an organisational pillar in the Congress and a one-time béte noire of Mamata Banerjee. The MP is reportedly unhappy over being made to play a marginal role in the Trinamool organisation. A couple of other Trinamool MPs, who publicly swear by the party chief, have also been expressing their discontent in close circles. But the wily politicians they are, the duo do not want to risk their political career at this juncture by coming out into the open when the Banerjee government is yet to complete even a year in office. With the Trinamool having 19 Lok Sabha members, the magic figure for causing a split is seven as per the anti-defection law. At present, the dissidents neither have the numbers not the courage to take the final plunge, but they are hoping to strengthen their ranks as the days go by and Mamata continues to make bloopers. IANS
reshuffle by the new Uttar Pradesh government of Akhilesh Yadav, 30 officials, mostly IAS, were transferred on late Sunday. This included district magistrates of 12 districts. The district magistrates of Lucknow, Kanpur, Rampur, Jaunpur, Muzaffarnagar, Noida have been shifted to unimportant postings and have been replaced . Mayawati loyalist and chairman of the Noida Authority, Yamuna Expressway and Investment Commissioner Mohinder Singh has been shunted out and has been put in waiting list. The Lucknow DM has been made the special secretary for Handicap Welfare.
Delhi can’t run without Bihar, says Nitish NEW DELHI: Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar said on Sunday that the people of his State were a necessity for Delhi and the Indian capital couldn’t run without Bihar.” Speaking at a function in Capital, celebrating 100 years of establishment of Bihar as a separate state, Kumar said: “Biharis are not a burden on Delhi, Biharis are the necessity of Delhi.” He advised political parties to respect the Bihari prominence in the capital. “If Biharis in Delhi stop working for one day, the capital will come to a standstill,: he claimed. Following his victory in 2005 elections, Kumar has been credited with the turnaround in the State’s fortunes.
BSY sets reinstatement deadline for Tuesday BANGALORE: Leadership tussle in the faction-ridden ruling Bharatiya Janata Party in Karnataka on Sunday reached a breaking point with scam-hit former chief minister BS Yeddyurappa setting a 48hour deadline to Tuesday evening for his re-instatement.”Wait for 48 hours my friends, you will know,” he told reporters on Sunday evening ahead of the Assembly’s Budget session beginning on March 20. Chief Minister DV Sadananda Gowda is to present the budget on Wednesday but Yeddyurappa seems determined to prevent this. Gowda took over August 4 last year from Yeddyu rappa, who quit on July 31 over corruption charges.
Around the World
Pope’s damage control visit to Mexico and Cuba
VATICAN CITY: From the war on drug cartels in Mexico to reviving faith in Cuba, Pope Benedict XVI will address a series of burning issues in his first trip to Spanish-speaking Latin America beginning this week. On his 23rd visit abroad, the pontiff will tackle the declining number of Catholics in the region, the rise of rival religious movements such as Pentecostalists and what the church sees as the threat to family values. The six-day programme, starting in Mexico on Friday, takes into account the frailty of the aged pope, who will conduct both political meetings and religious rites focusing on the marian figures of Mexico’s Our Lady of Guadalupe and Cuba’s Our lady of Charity. Benedict, 84, is likely to face criticism over the clerical abuse scandal and the Vatican’s management of Mexico’s most famous offender, Marcial Maciel, the founder of the Legion of Christ, who was accused of molesting eight minors. The Vatican has already ruled out a meeting with victims of pedophilia. One of the trip highlights will
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Beyond Borders
be a large mass next Sunday in front of hundreds of thousands of people in the Bicentennial Park in Leon, which sits at the foot of Cubilete Mountain, the site of the towering Christ the King statue. A reproduction of Our Lady of Guadalupe will be presented to the crowds and Catholics from all 91 of Mexico’s dioceses are expected to attend. Benedict XVI’s globe-trotting predecessor Jean Paul II visited Mexico five times but never made it to Leon. The Vatican chose the site because it is central and 70 per cent of the population can travel there in under four hours. The pope will meet children and faithful in Guanajuato before presiding over vespers in Leon Cathedral with bishops from South and North America. In the overwhelmingly Catholic country — where 83 percent of the population has been baptised — the pope is expected to condemn the drug wars between cartels and security agents which have killed tens of thousands of people. He is also likely to speak about the mass migration of LatinAmericans, particularly from Central America, to the United States. Many fall victim to drug traffickers and there are widespread claims of abuse by border guards. In Cuba, Benedict XVI hopes to encourage religious fervour in this secular state and a big turnout is expected from the Catholic community — which forms around 10 percent of the populace — at masses in Santiago de Cuba and Havana. This year marks the 400th anniversary of Our Lady of Charity, a statue of Mary found in the sea and Cuba’s patron saint, who is revered for her miracle. AFP
HK top job contenders embarrass Beijing
AFP/ LAURENT FIEVET
HONG KONG: Ordinary Hong Kongers will have no say in who becomes their next chief executive on March 25. Instead the ‘election’ will be decided by a carefully selected committee of 1,200 pro-Beijing business and professional elites. That detail aside, the main candidates have turned on a political spectacle that analysts say the former British colony has never seen. “This is the first real contest between two pro-establishment candidates,” Chinese University of Hong Kong history professor Willy Lam said. “It’s very entertaining but at the same time people are quite frustrated because both candidates have shortcomings, scandals and potential problems.” Henry Tang, 59, the heir to a textile fortune and the city’s former Number Two, was reportedly Beijing’s man and a shoo-in for the job until his campaign veered dramatically off course almost from day one. It started with an emotional public admission of marital infidelity, lurched through a series of verbal gaffes and blunders, and burst spectacularly into flames with the discovery of a massive illegal underground entertainment den at his home, which he blamed on his wife. His popularity rankings plunged to a low of 16 per cent. Tang’s main rival, Leung Chun-ying, 57, is a former government adviser who has consistently led opinion polls but trails where it matters — in the regard of Beijing’s partners among the city’s super-rich tycoons. Despite questions over an alleged conflict of interest in a
Protesters at a demonstration in Hong Kong on Sunday. property project a decade ago, and reports that he dined with triad figures, his promises to boost social welfare and public housing have proved popular with ordinary citizens who are angry over the yawning gap between rich and poor. Beijing has appeared taken aback by the intensity of the contest. And it has not come to the rescue of Tang with a public statement of endorsement, which could have inflamed antimainland sentiment. But premier Wen Jiabao set a cat among the pigeons last week when he said he was confident outgoing chief executive Donald Tsang would be replaced by a leader who has the support of the “vast majority” of the people. Political analysts pored over the premier’s comment. Was it a sign that Beijing was shifting its support to Leung? Analysts say Beijing has been embarrassed by the noisy ruckus which has disturbed the carefully crafted political consensus it
Uproar over $250K ‘dole’ to Prachanda’s son KATHMANDU: Nepal’s ruling Maoists were accused of corruption on Sunday after it was revealed they had granted the son of their leader $2,50,000 to climb Mount Everest. Opposition activists burned effigies of Prime Minister Baburam Bhattarai and warned they would stage “massive” protests across the impoverished nation if the government did not withdraw the cash offer. Maoist party chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal’s son Prakash has been quoted as saying his team is taking up the challenge “for the sake of the country, the people and peace and constitution”, sparking widespread derision. “This is the worst kind of
immoral decision taken by this government. There cannot be any financial irregularities greater than this,” said Ramesh Lhekhak, leader of the opposition Nepali Congress, accusing the Maoists of “nepotism”. “Many common people are forced to live in poverty due to poor economic conditions but the government ignores them and wastes money in an unmeaning initiative like this.” Dahal senior, who goes by the nom-de-guerre Prachanda (The Fierce One), has been accused of pressuring Bhattarai to release the funds to the 11-man Maoist expedition team, which sets off later this month. “How could the government’s decision to empty the
Students burn effigies of PM Baburam Bhattarai and Maoist Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal.
has cultivated in the semiautonomous territory of seven million people. “Beijing felt it has lost face because the two people they have groomed for so long have failed to stand up to the test,” said Lam. Many observers also spy greater Chinese issues at play, as the mainland’s reformers led by President Hu Jintao’s faction do battle with conservatives in the Communist Party ahead of a 10yearly leadership transition. But Albert Lai of the prodemocracy Civic Party said that at the end of the day both Tang and Leung “will be serving the same set of vested interests”. “They are appointed by the same set of autocrats — Beijing plus the tycoons,” he said. The pro-democracy camp is represented by a third candidate, lawyer and lawmaker Albert Ho, but analysts say he has no chance of winning the backing of the electoral committee. AFP state coffers for these new princelings help achieve peace and constitution? This is an example of institutional corruption,” National Students’ Union coordinator Ranjit Karna was quoted as saying. Pranchanda, who led a 10-year “people’s war” against Nepal’s royal family and political elites which left 16,000 people dead, came under fire in January after it was revealed he had moved into a lavish mansion in Kathmandu. His son was expected to give a press conference on the grant later on Sunday. “This is not the first time the government provided such financial support to those aiming to scale the world’s highest peak,” said Bhattarai’s spokesman Ramrijan Yadav.”The money is not provided just because there is the son of the party chairman, it is provided to a team.” AFP
Around the World Britain to continue aid to India LONDON: Britain on Sunday reassured India it had no immediate plans to end its aid handouts, despite reports that it is about to pull the plug due to India’s rising wealth and a series of perceived snubs. International Development Secretary Andrew Mitchell told the Sunday Times newspaper that Britain was now “walking the last mile” with India, cheering critics who have called for the aid package to be axed. But the Department for International Development (DFID) later insisted the current programme would run its course. Britain has spent £1 billion ($1.6 billion, 1.2 billion euros) on aid programmes in India over the past five years, with another £600 million committed until 2015. Prime Minister David Cameron has faced calls to cut the handouts in light of India’s economic boom and after it appeared to spurn trade deals with Britain. “We are walking the last mile with them,” Mitchell said. “I completely understand why people question the aid programme to India, and we questioned it ourselves. “That’s why we reviewed every aspect of it when we came into government (May 2010) and changed it fundamentally. The fact is we didn’t mess around. ... We won’t be there forever.” AFP
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MONDAY, MARCH 19, 2012
Beyond Borders
North developing nuke missile, says S Korea SEOUL: South Korea accused North Korea on Monday of trying to develop a nuclear-armed missile through a satellite launch next month, after Pyongyang dismissed international calls to abandon the exercise. “Our government defines North Korea’s so-called working satellite launch plan as a grave provocation to develop a long-distance delivery means for nuclear weapons by using ballistic missile technology,” said presidential spokesman Park Jeong-Ha. The North announced on Friday it would launch a rocket between April 12-16 to put a satellite into orbit for peaceful purposes. The United States and other nations see the launch as a disguised long-range missile test, which would breach a United Nations ban and violate last month’s denuclearisation deal with Washington. The North is thought to have enough plutonium for perhaps six to eight nuclear weapons, but it is unclear whether it can build a nuclear warhead for a missile. The South issued its latest condemnation after President Lee Myung-Bak chaired a meeting of foreign and security ministers. It said it would work closely with the United States, Japan,
AFP/JUNG YEON-JE
A S Korean activist protests against N Korean new leader Kim Jong-Un. China, Russia and the European Union to handle the issue during next week’s nuclear security summit in Seoul. The North Sunday rejected international appeals to call off the launch, timed to mark the 100th anniversary of the birth of founding president Kim IlSung. Its official news agency called the criticism “a base move... to encroach upon our sovereignty” and accused the United States and Japan of “space espionage” by monitoring other nations with their own satellites. The launch by the impoverished but nuclear-armed
Romney bags Puerto Rico SAN JUAN: Mitt Romney scored a resounding win in Sunday’s primary race in Puerto Rico to pick a Republican nominee to take on President Barack Obama in November’s election. With the final tally in late Sunday, the former Massachusetts governor had more than 83.4 per cent of the vote, according to the State Elections Commission, or CEEPR, in the US territory. His chief rival, Rick Santorum, stood a distant second with 7.7 per cent. Former House speaker Newt Gingrich had two per cent, just ahead of Representative Ron Paul’s 1.1 per cent. The US commonwealth in the Caribbean has only 20 delegates at stake for the Republican National Convention in August but has been courted vigorously by contenders in part because the broader US Hispanic vote is seen as crucial to the election outcome. The primary came just two days before a major battle in Illinois, where 54 delegates are at stake and polls show Romney and Santorum in a tight race. AFP
state seems likely to kill off a February 29 agreement with Washington, which had raised hopes of eased tensions under Pyongyang’s new young leader Kim Jong-Un. The North agreed to suspend its uranium enrichment programme, along with longrange missile launches and nuclear tests, in return for 240,000 tonnes of much-needed US food aid. It maintains that a satellite launch is not a missile test. But the US State Department has called the plan “highly provocative” and voiced doubt over providing the food if the launch goes ahead. Japan, Russia and UN Secretary General Ban Kimoon have called on the North to change its mind and even China, the North’s closest ally, expressed concern. Pyongyang’s last longrange rocket launch on April 5, 2009, also purportedly to put a satellite into orbit, brought UN Security Council condemnation and tightened sanctions. The North quit six-party nuclear disarmament talks in protest at the censure and conducted its second atomic weapons test in May that year. Some analysts saw a similar scenario developing this time. AFP
‘12 Republican race nastiest ever’: McCain
GLOBE AT A GLANCE Tonga in mourning after king dies aged 63 NUKA’ALOFA: Tonga was plunged into mourning on Monday after the death of King George Tupou V, an eccentric reformer who brought democracy to the impoverished South Pacific nation. The death aged 63 of the monacle-wearing king, who had a penchant for flamboyant military uniforms had engulfed the country in a “black stormcloud”, Prime Minister Lord Tu’ivakano said.
Nurses charged in 16 mercy killings MONTEVIDEO: Prosecutors in Uruguay filed murder charges on Sunday against two nurses for at least 16 mercy killings, and jailed the suspects, the judge in charge of the case said. The male nurses, 39 and 46, were charged with homicides of patients at a private Neurological Intensive Care Center.
A Libyan minister with British journalists Nicholas Davies and Gareth Montgomery-Johnson after their release on Sunday in Tripoli. AFP
Two die in Bosnian war era landmine explosion SARAJEVO: Two men in their twenties died on Sunday when a landmine left over from the 1992-1995 Bosnian war exploded while they were cutting wood in a zone clearly marked as dangerous, local authorities said. The fatal accident took place near the northeastern town of Lukavac, national television cited the local civil protection authority as saying.
WASHINGTON: The
Mitt Romney during a New Progressive Party rally on the North Side of the Capitol building in San Juan last week. AFP/CHRISTOPHER GREGORY
Republican campaign to choose a candidate to take on President Barack Obama in November is “the nastiest” ever, presidential campaign veteran John McCain said today. In an interview he blamed the mudslinging on the so-called “super PACs,” which can raise and spend unlimited sums in support of a candidate so long as their campaign activities are not directly coordinated. He called the US Supreme Court decision that made super PACs possible in 2010 “the worst decision the United States Supreme Court has made in many years,” saying it was the outcome of “naivety and sheer ignorance.” “This is the nastiest (campaign) I have ever seen,” McCain added. AFP
Asia is world top weapon importer: SIPRI STOCKHOLM: Asia tops other regions when it comes to weapon imports, according to a study released by the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI). Over the past five years, Asia and Oceania accounted for 44 per cent in volume of conventional arm imports. That compared with 19 per cent for Europe, 17 per cent for the Middle East.
A Kurdish protester escapes tear gas used by Turkish police to halt Navroz celebrations in Istanbul on Sunday. AFP
Comment
MONDAY, MARCH 19, 2012
Fair, free and forthright
Editorials IT’S TIME BJP CUT Yeddyurappa to size
F
ormer Karnataka chief minister BS Yeddyurappa has thrown yet another challenge to the BJP central leadership and his successor Sadananda Gowda by setting Tuesday deadline for his reinstatement as CM. With Gowda ministry set to present the Budget on Wednesday, the Lingayat strongman is making a last ditch attempt to thwart it and regain the reins of power. This is not the first time Yeddyurappa threatened of rebellion. His previous reinstatement deadline and threat of splitting ranks failed to convince the party leadership and Yeddyurappa had to back down. The ruling party in Karnataka has taken enough flak and loss of face after multiple scams that surfaced during Yedyurappa’s rule. It is sad that a national party is being subjected to blackmail by a leader who is neck-deep in corruption allegations. If the saffron party wants re-establish its credibility before the public, it needs to put its foot down and tell Yedyurappa that he can’t have the gaddi till corruption charges are cleared.
WHY WE LOVE ethical companies
W
hile no company is found wanting on principles when drawing up ‘vision’ and ‘mission’ ideologies, few translate these into action. Hitherto, judgment on prestigious parameters like ethics has only thrown up companies from elite nations. Sure, Tata and Wipro warm our cockles.
Kolkata: City of joy, Tagore and poetry
SASWAT
Quirky-side-Up Arpita Bhawal
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hen you first breathed the communist air of hope and brotherhood, you were in your mother’s womb. You made a pledge unto me then... that you would never forget my ideals nor stop trying to make them your own. You would enjoy the revelries of Durga Puja and Diwali with equal fervour. You would continue to cherish the old-world charm including the fatherly Ambassador taxis. I am Kolkata. Through the gullies of Burrabazaar, and the posh lanes of Ballygunge Phari, my soul found its multitudinous avatars just like you did during your childhood years, mingling with neighbours of various castes and communities from all over India. Sometimes you played in the well-manicured parks of Auckland Square and Minto Park with children you didn’t know, sometimes you admired the sunset at Outram Ghat with friends. Every time your cousins visited from other countries, you brought them to see the Victoria Memorial or the Indian Museum — as if their tribute would have to be still paid to Her Majesty of England for 300 years of British Rule. I am Kolkata. Sometimes the lethargy of the city got into your bones also, and you preferred to spend hours at the college canteen just like your uncles did at the Coffee House in Dharamtalla. At other times, you were content roaming the SS Hogg Market with your mother bargaining hard for great deals. Not a single day went by during your college days at St Xavier’s without a visit to Park Street, dotted and knotted with bars and restaurants, now a bit tired and rusty. But your favourite stop was always Flury’s with its fifth generation Butter cream pastries and Chicken patties. I am Kolkata. You loved me and I loved you — without any conditions or notions. But then you had to grow up, leaving your teens behind and eager to explore the other worlds. Even the candlelight dinners at Peter Cat, or the charm of the Academy of Fine Arts hosting art exhibitions, or the spicy Jhalmuri and pungent Phuchkas at Victoria Maidan couldn’t lure you back. Marxism, which was your favourite subject at
City in ‘play’ful mood
Confessions of a writer
Ratna Pathak Shah is an amazing actress. Probably not much unappreciated onscreen but much loved on stage. Her play was a treat to watch. It was done beautifully. Though I really wish I could have had a word with her but I could not. The interview was a really good read. Very informative. I also would like to point out that Hyderabad as a city is growing in leaps and bounds with the number of plays happening in the city. Hyderabad woke up too late but it definitely is part of the revolution in re-vamping theatre on the whole.
Confessions of a Writer by Hemanth Kumar about Nasreen Munni Kabir made for an interesting read. Movies from the yesteryear have always been worth watching as compared to the ones now. At present, Bollywood feeds on glamour and money. Even if an actor goes ahead and hits someone, he isn't blamed for it but the other innocent guy who isn't as popular as him, is. I would like to pick up her book and read about it. It sounds interesting. There should be more such people like her. Rita G Somajiguda
Mir Asad Ali Banjara Hills
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the college canteen debates, took a backseat. You no longer understood the philosophy of the Naxalites and wondered why there wasn’t ever going to be any new jobs or industries here. I am Kolkata. Our love affair ended on a bitter note — because I didn’t want you to leave but you did anyway, and chose not to return for many years. My streets didn’t want to change, or the colours of my springs or winters. I still felt proud of the aged Bihari rickshaw puller who earned hardly a hundred rupees every day. I still loved the dancing fountains with their newly-installed coloured halogen lights at Victoria Memorial. I still embraced the beautiful sunrise over the Howrah Bridge. I still liked that tiny earthen tumbler of chai being offered for just one rupee! True, now there are some new shopping malls and fancy public transportation, but I still wake up more relaxed than other cities. I am in no hurry. I am Kolkata. Your return was a surprise to me — and how do you think I felt? With your fancy clothes, your foreign accent and new money, all of
TALK BACK Readers’ views We invite you to write to us comments, suggestions, viewpoint or just about anything to feedback@postnoon.com or #1246, Level 3, Jubilee Casa, Road No 62, Jubilee Hills, Hyderabad – 500 033 or even by way of a call on 4067 2222
which is against the ideology of our combined destiny, you came to see me again but no humility. Am I not your favourite love story then? Could there be another one like me? Now you love New York City I hear, but does it have a rich heritage like mine to offer you or the precious memories of childhood? Have you forgotten the best of the Raj that I shared with you and still hold dear... including the innumerable clubs in the city? I am Kolkata. Where have you been all these years, my beloved? The soul which you have today belongs to me, you know, full of all the poetry and romance, love and passion which people want to be a part of! Your education went beyond Shelley and Keats, and your social acclimatisation wasn’t all about Deen Mistry and Lillete Dubey’s famous English plays at Kala Mandir. You have as much of Tagore in your blood as I have a loving tendency to give sanctuary to Bangladeshis. I am Kolkata. Accept it. Your love affair with me can never end. Because I am YOU. (The writer is a communication specialist)
Taking pride being me
Leadership
Thanks for reminding me that my country is very beautiful and that I need not look beyond it to spend my summer holidays visiting. Places outside of it have always been made out to be out of the ordinary, and that is more a publicity gimmick in order to enhance number of tourists and consequently their revenue. When it comes to natural beauty, there is nothing to we lack. Also, I would feel like an alien anywhere else, but in any place in India, I would feel at home… home away from home that is.
This is with reference to your editorial article on leadership and obedience published on Sunday. I agree that the society has evolved to ingrain obedience to secure social order among many other factors to maintain order. However, as a society we have become way to subservient to authority, which is usually arbitrary in its actions. One issue that is dragging down our country, which has plenty of resources, is the lack of good leaders. Only when visionary people take initiative and see to it that their ideas are implemented can a society progress. Sujith Singh Secunderabad
Niharika Rao Sindhi Colony
Campus
MONDAY, MARCH 19, 2012
Students Speak 1. Coolest hangout on campus You can frequently find us in the college canteen or hanging out on the lawns of the campus 2. Coolest hangout outside college CINEPLANET, popularly known as CP, is the place we go to catch new releases 3. Music playing on your iPod ‘I wanna party’ from Ishq is a rage amongst the students at the moment, and the title song of Ek main aur ekk Tu is also on everyone’s iPod 4. Fashion trends in college The girls here at Malla Reddy wear a diverse variety of clothes, from funky jeans to sober salwaars. We’re frequently experimenting with different hair styles to look trendy. 5. What would you like to change about the college? The timings which can get taxing. We want the college timings to be cut by an hour or two.
LECTURER TALK For how long have you been teaching in this college? I started my career as an Assistant Professor five years ago. I have always wanted to teach engineering, as I am very passionate about the subject. I believe that it can provide young people with a real insight into the broad range of industries that make up this sector. How serious are students about your subject? The students take it pretty seriously. Engineering subjects make the students enthusiastic about learning, as they deal with practical applications. What are the prospects of the subject you teach? Aerospace propulsion opens up careers in the design, development, operations and maintenance of different types of propulsion system for aerospace applications. Is there a dearth of good teachers in aeronautics? Yes. We need more dedicated teachers to teach Engineering... those who teach by choice not by compulsion. Is the subject gaining popularity? Yes. Because now civil aviation and space missions demand the development of propulsive engines. T. Tirupati Associate Professor and Head of Aeronautical Engineering Department. Malla Reddy College of Engineering & Technology.
Students say Malla Reddy College of Engineering & Techonology is the place to go for those interested in Aeuronautics. We find out why
A place where dreams take flight Maryam Sultana feedback@postnoon.com
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mong the engineering students of Hyderabad, the name Malla Reddy itself is synonymous with Aeronautics. Affiliated to JNTU, the college was recently granted permanent affiliation and an autonomous status. And very soon the college is likely to receive a University status. “I joined Malla Reddy only for the Aeronautical Engineering course. The most striking feature about the college was the lab facilities it offered. The placements here are very impressive too. For instance, this year we have placements in Safran, an Italian aerospace company. Students also usually go to TATA Aeronautical. Fourth year they send us to Hindustan Aeronautical Limited, where we work and study,” says Soumya Das, a second year student. Their placement records boast of students being recruited into top notch companies like Dell, United Teleco, HCL, Satyam Computers, Genpact, Infosys, Cognizant Technologies, HAL, TCS,
Verizon, WIPRO, NCCL, Infotech, Mahendra Satyam among others. The infrastructure of the college is a great source of pride for its students. “We have state-of-the-art lab facilities here. The aerodynamics and propulsion lab is the best. The management has spent a huge amount of money on the equipment. We have big air tunnels to evaluate the pressure patterns of air on the aircraft. Many professors from abroad come over here to check out our labs,” says Shrikar Dhatrak, a second year student of Aeronautical
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Engineering. The students relish each and every moment spent in the college. “It’s been a great journey in Malla Reddy. It’s a huge campus, that’s the best thing about it. A diverse population helps us know about people from different backgrounds. There was never a boring moment in my student life,” says Preetham Raghu, an alumni of the college. The college is also simultaneously progressing towards various Academic and Industry Collaboration agreements with foreign Universities such as University
of Northern Arizona, USA, University of New Orleans, USA, Cambridge University, UK, Nalsar University, Hyderabad, Cisco Systems and ISRO for facilitating both student and faculty development programmes in order to improve the quality of students’ education. “The faculty comprises talent from academic institutions and reputed R&D organizations. We share a great rapport with the lecturers. Some of them are ex-students of the college, so its a very informal relationship,” says Satya Maheshwar Reddy.
H‑Factor
MONDAY, MARCH 19, 2012
Holistic view of mind, body and soul
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Make your summers cooler Skin problems are common this season, causing you more stress than you’d like. Here are ways to keep them at bay and enjoy a hassle-free summer Due to sun exposure Ranjani Rajendra ranjani.r@postnoon.com
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inter’s gone and it’s time to bring out those shorts, tank tops and flip flops. But what about all that skin damage the sun might do? No matter how much you’d like to kick back and relax by the beach and make the most of the holidays, it’s also time you gave your skin some TLC. Because it is not just the usual tanning and sun burn that can take a toll (not that they aren’t bad enough) but there are a host of skin problems that can rear their ugly heads with the onset of the long summer months.
Be smart n Limit the amount of time of
sun exposure. n Avoid the worst sun hours
— from 12 pm to 4 pm. n Wear hats, they are stylish
plus they protect. Invest in cotton gloves or a jacket to cover your arms. n Sunburns can occur on cloudy days and when you’re in the water as well. So wear a sunscreen all the time. Don’t forget to reapply it every two hours.
Sun tans and sun burns are common problems due to over exposure to the sun. Nobody likes a darker complexion, pigmentation or angry red rashes across the skin. What’s worse is the results of sun exposure take weeks, sometimes months, to wear off. So it helps to pay heed to your mother’s advice and slather on that sunscreen. Not that it is 100 per cent protection against the harmful rays but it does to quite an extent minimise the effects of sun damage. Just ensure that you use a good quality sunscreen lotion and it is a broad spectrum one to offer protection against both UVA and UVB rays. Reapply every two hours. “Freckles, allergies and wrinkles are also problems that occur due to sun exposure. There are several topical creams available that can be used to treat a sun tan. These should ideally contain Kojic acid, vitamin C, arbutin or licorice. For sun burns there are steroid based creams that can be used as per a doctor’s guidance,” says Dr Radhika R, a dermatologist.
in. “Ringworms, infection between the toes, severe dandruff due to the sweating and a flare up in acne due to increased oiliness of the skin can also be issues to worry about,” says Dr Sunitha Shekar Reddy, a dermatologist at Adi Clinics.
TAME THE SUN
Banish the tan
n Make a mixture of some milk, honey and lemon juice and apply to the face or affected area. Leave it on for 15 minutes and wash off with cold water. This works for oily skin. n Make a paste of some curd, honey, turmeric powder and lemon juice. Apply on tanned area and leave it on for 5 minutes before washing it off with cold water. This works well for all skin types.
Excessive heat But skin darkening is not the only thing to guard against this summer. Thanks to our love for synthetic materials in clothes and excessive sweating most of us end up battling heat rashes,
bacterial and fungal infections that not just leave you with an embarrassing urge to itch but also leave ugly scabs on your sk-
Fertility and breast cancer
What you can do Take cool showers at least twice everyday. You could also use an antiseptic soap to cut down the risk of bacterial infections. For fungal infections there are always anti fungal creams to come to your rescue. “When it comes to battling the dandruff wash your hair regularly. If you sweat too much then you can wash your hair everyday too. Use a good anti dandruff shampoo (with ketoconazole) around twice a week for two months for maximum efficacy,” says Dr Sunitha. It also helps to wear cotton clothes during the summers, simply because they help your skin breathe better and dry quickly cutting down the risk of infections. Besides, most stores stock up on some great designs and cuts using cotton material in the summers. Take your pick. So before you bring out those teeny shorts, tank tops and flip flops, arm yourself with some sunscreens, wide brimmed hats and gloves if you’re riding a bike. Not to forget… the Indian summer loves cotton clothes.
Dr P Raghu Ram and Dr S Vyjayanthi
C
hemotherapy is the treatment that is the most likely to have a direct impact upon fertility. Temporary or permanent infertility can be a side effect in premenopausal women (women who have not been through the menopause). Chemotherapy can affect the function of the ovaries resulting in less or no eggs being produced. The likelihood of becoming infertile depends on the type of drugs used, the dose given and the age of the patient. The chemotherapy drugs most likely to cause infertility are a group called the ‘alkylating agents’, one of which (cyclophosphamide) is commonly used in combination with other chemotherapy drugs to treat breast cancer. The effect that other drugs, such as the taxanes (docetaxel and paclitaxel), have on fertility has not been widely studied. Chemotherapy can cause periods to stop (amenorrhoea) and this may be temporary or permanent. Generally, women who are over 35 develop permanent amenorrhea following much lower doses of chemotherapy drugs than women who are under 35. This means those over 35 are more likely to lose their fertility by having an early menopause. It is possible for women to stop having periods temporarily during treatment and to start their periods again later, even months or several years after treatment has finished. Possible ways to preserve fertility before treatment begins If one wants to look at ways of trying to preserve fertility, it is important for the patient and her spouse to talk to the specialist team before treatment begins. This is generally only an option for women under the age of 40 as fertility declines naturally in women beyond this age. There are a number of possibilities that may be appropriate, although some of these are only in the very early stages of research. (This column will continue next week. Dr Vyjayanthi is the HOD and consultant fertility specialist at KIMS Fertility Centre. Dr Raghu Ram is director and consultant oncoplastic breast surgeon at KIMS-Ushalakshmi Centre for Breast Diseases)
H‑Factor
MONDAY, MARCH 19, 2012
Holistic view of mind, body and soul
19
PREGNANCY SIMPLIFIED
Exercise during pregnancy
P
Climate change will also worsen respiratory diseases WASHINGTON: Global climate change magnifies the effects of pollution and will worsen the incidence of asthma, allergies, infections and cardiovascular diseases worldwide, says a study. “Since my research focuses on environmental air pollution and its impact on the respiratory system, my biggest concern has been with issues of air quality,” said Kent Pinkerton, professor of paediatrics at the University of California, who co-authored the study. “These include more smoke and particulate matter from more wildfires, which are known to increase in frequency as the climate warms, and the presence of airborne particles from dust storms caused by desertification,” added Pinkerton. The study outlines a complex web of interrelated respiratory health effects from global climate change, the journal Proceedings of the American Thoracic Society reports. For example, mould spores that were previously seen only in Central America have been found as far north as Vancouver,
British Columbia, promoting increases in allergy and asthma, with climate-change conditions implicated, according to a
California statement. “There are certain vectorborne diseases caused by certain types of parasites or organisms
whose range has expanded and that has been associated with increases in temperature,” Pinkerton, who co-authored the study with William Rom, professor of environmental medicine at the New York University, said. Pinkerton said some prospective respiratory health impacts from global climate change will be direct, such as more asthma due to increases in particulate matter in the atmosphere because of desertification, or increases in pollen because of more and extended plant blooms. “There are individuals who will be much more susceptible to the effects of global climate change than will the members of the general population,” Pinkerton said. “In particular, we know that infants and young children, people with asthma or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), and those who are elderly or who have compromised immune systems will have more difficulties when air quality is poorer,” Pinkerton added. IANS
regnancy is the time when women are asked to sit back and relax as any pressure or strain is not good for them. Modern day research on the other hand emphasises on the importance of exercise. It is said to have a number of benefits such as shorter labour, better sleep, more energy etc. Some common myths are n If you haven’t been active during your pre-pregnancy days, don’t try to exercise now. It is said that if you exercise carefully and under your doctor’s guidance, then it doesn’t matter if you haven’t been very active prior to your pregnancy. By exercise it doesn’t mean weight training. A simple walk has also proven to be a great form of exercise. n When you exercise your heart rate should not exceed 130-140 beats per second More than the heart beat one should measure the level based on exhaustion. If you are able to continue without feeling breathless, the minute you start to feel the exhaustion is when you should slow down or stop. It is also important to keep yourself hydrated. n Avoid abdominal exercises during pregnancy Strong abdominal muscles are said to be helpful for labour, delivery, and recovery hence it is important that during pregnancy these muscles are kept strong. When it comes to abdominal exercises, it is advised to avoid exercises that require you to lay down on the floor, especially after your 16th week but simple exercises can be done such as standing pelvic tilts and holding your muscle while you breathe. n Avoid stretching during pregnancy as your joints are looser. Although your joints do become slightly loose during pregnancy, excessive stretching may cause a joint injury it is good to do stretch within limits. n Exercising is not good for the baby, it deprives him/her of vital nutrients. During pregnancy it is important that you eat well so that your baby gets the required nutrients. The body is made in such a way that it can protect the baby from losing out of the nutrients when you exercise as it takes the nutrients that your body has already stored. Source: www.voices.yahoo.com
Spotlight
MONDAY, MARCH 19, 2012
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DEEPAK DESHPANDE
Coming together TUSKON and the Indo-Turkish Business Association collaborated their efforts to organise Turkey World, a meet on business opportunities in Turkey at the Park hotel, Somajiguda on Sunday. Shyam Prasad
Faiz Khan & Nida
Muffakham Jah
Dr Burak Akcapar, Turkish Ambassador to India
Naser Ali DEEPAK DESHPANDE
Yoganand DEEPAK DESHPANDE
Choli ke peeche kya hai... Tollywood actress Shraddha Das was all smiles when she was asked to display the choli collection by Chennai-based designer Usha Raghunathan on Sunday. The collection was presented by Singhanias located at Banjara Hills. DEEPAK DESHPANDE
Beating the heat!
Choices galore Shopaholics were spoilt for choice at the ongoing Lepakshi Exhibition at Sri Satya Sai Nigamagamam.
Cream Stone Creations launched their fourth icecream parlour at Himayatnagar on Sunday.
Magic Screen
MONDAY, MARCH 19, 2012
The glamour behind the glitz
NAYANTHARA
T-TOWN TWEETIES
teams up with Rana
@me_sushanth Near perfect b’day!! Met wellwishers at Annapurna, good film work at the office, lunch with family at thatha’s... lots of chocolate cake :)
@actressanjjanaa
N R
am is reportedly in talks for the sequel of Kandireega. Santosh Srinivas had directed the film which went on to become a hit in 2011. Post the success of the film, several producers approached Santosh Srinivas; however, a source tells us that Santosh Srinivas has a two film contract with producer Bellamkonda Suresh and now he has decided to make Kandireega 2 with Ram in a lead role. Ram, Hansika, Sonu Sood and Aksha had played the lead roles in the first project. Currently, the film is in the pre-production stage and might go on floors later this year. Meanwhile, Ram is busy wrapping up A Karunakaran's Endhukante Premanta and after that he'll star in Bommarillu Bhaskar's film.
ayanthara has signed yet another film in Telugu. She'll soon join the cast of Krish's upcoming film Krishnam Vande Jagadgurum in Hyderabad. Rana is playing the lead role in this film which is touted to be an action adventure. For the past few months, Krish was searching for a new actress for his film and in the end, he decided to approach Nayanthara for the lead role. M M Keeravani is composing the music and Sai Babu Jagarlamudi is producing the film. This is the third film which Nayanthara has signed after her breakup with Prabhudeva. Apart from Krishnam Vande Jagadgurum, she's also playing the lead role in Nagarjuna, Dasarath's untitled film and Vishnuvardhan's film in Tamil.
NTR’s Baadshah launched
N
TR's upcoming film Baadshah was launched yesterday in Ramanaidu Studios, Hyderabad. Kajal is paired up with NTR in this film. Srinu Vaitla is going to direct Baadshah and Ganesh Babu is the producer. While NTR and Srinu Vaitla are teaming up for the first time, what caught everyone's attention yesterday was Ram Charan Tej's presence at the movie launch. He was one of the guests at the event and he even clapped the clapper board to officially launch the film. Venkatesh, Ramanaidu, S S Rajamouli, Vamshi Paidipally, Boyapati Srinu, Harish Shankar, Dil Raju and Sravanthi Ravikishore were some of the guests who graced the launch. S S Thaman is going to compose the music and Gopi Mohan, Kona Venkat have written the script. The film is likely to go on floors in April and we hear that the film unit will head to Seoul for the first schedule.
The match felt grt 2day, virat is d greatest example of pure honest hardwork n dedication!! Bow down to the future captian of indian cricket
@vennelakishore What a chase!!! Pakis outnumbered n outgunned!!! Cleanly slaughtered with 13 kills sorry balls left... heading down for a midnight snack..
@LakshmiManchu What a celebration it is every year at our school to bring in dad’s bday. Proudest of @themohanbabu for all he does for these children.
@RanaDaggubati DEEPAK DESHPANDE
Ram in talks for Kandireega 2?
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Great evening at the Chaitanya College. Students in terrific numbers, great response.Will put up the link to the new cut of the song tomm.
@PriyaWajAnand “How do you look at the person you Love & tell yourself it's time to walk away?” — The Vow. Loved it!
@Actor_Siddharth Can somebody please stop AC salesman from entering the commentary box at a cricket game?
@shrutihaasan I’m not just under the weather I'm being squished mercilessly :( #hatebeingsick.
Magic Screen
MONDAY, MARCH 19, 2012
The glamour behind the glitz
Hockey player Rajrani wins 'Survivor India' H
ockey player Rajrani was declared the winner of Survivor India Saturday night. Haryana-based Rani beat TV producer J.D. Majethia and Canada-based RJ Stithpragya Mohan to walk away with the winner's trophy and a cash prize of `1 crore. The show started off with 22 contestants — 11 celebrities and 11 non-celebrities — who
were left marooned on a secluded island in the Philippines for 45 days, where even the basic amenities weren't available. Among the celebrity contestants were Rajesh Khera, Abhinav Shukla, Priyanka Bassi, Payal Rohatgi, Sangram Singh, Munisha Khatwani, Karan Patel, Sylvie, Shilpa Saklani, Rohit Narang and Majethia. IANS
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B-TOWN TWEETIES
@realpreityzinta What a fab cricket game between India & Pakistan today. Loved the way Virat Kohli & the boyz in blue played ! Absolutely Stunning:-) Ting!
@rampalarjun Driving back to Mumbai, beautiful highway Nasik-Mumbai, also roads to Shirdi were fab. Feels good to tweet about good roads. Rare Reality.
@kjohar25 Its my moms birthday 2day!!! And my oldest and closest friends birthday too!! @apoorvamehta18...
@RGVzoomin
Shashi Kapoor turns 74 V
Agent Vinod in Mumbai underworld, the game A
gent Vinod releases next week, but if you just can’t wait to see it in theatres, you may want to consider passing the time by playing the game on Ibibo.com. Tanaaz Bhatia, Managing Director, Bottomline Media: “With the sheer power and reach of social gaming and the already popular Mumbai Underworld, partnering with the famous and dynamic Saif Ali Khan with his home production Agent Vinod, we thought it would be an apt
association with Ibibo.com, providing a platform for gamers to engage with Agent Vinod.” In the Mumbai Underworld game, Ibibo has introduced the characters of Agent Vinod and Agent Iram – Vinod is the protection agent while Iram is the collection agent. If you hire these two in the game, you can win exclusive movie merchandise, and if you’re the player who hires them for the longest duration, you stand to win a Kindle Fire.
eteran actor Shashi Kapoor turned 74 on Sunday. Megastar Amitabh Bachchan, who worked with him in films like Deewar and Namak Halaal, wished him good health and happiness. "Shashiji's birthday today...spent some of the most wonderful moments in films we did together...good health and happiness to him," the 69-year-old Bachchan tweeted. Shashi Kapoor, who started his acting career as a child artist with the film Aag, made a mark with his work in films like Jab Jab Phool Khile, Kanyadaan, Pyar Ka Mausam, Ek Shriman Ek Shrimati, Haseena Maan Jayegi and Sharmeelee. The ailing actor was last seen in public in a wheelchair at the prayer meet of his brother Sh a m m i Kapoor, who died August 14 last year. - IANS
The amount of love celebs donate to their twitter followers will be directly proportional to how well they want ther film to do.
@NeilNMukesh The kids are back in the hotel. Sleeping already. They were tired. So only the adults are there and one kid ! ME :D
@SrBachchan T 687 — And Saina Nehwal .. wins Swiss Open Championship Badminton... Another great win for India ... well done Saina !! Well done India !!
@AnupamPkher Wake up with a smile and go after life... Live it, enjoy it, taste it, smell it, feel it. Life is Beautiful.:)
@Riteishd Met SHASHIJI a few months back — 2 get his hand impressions 4 The LEGEND’S WALK initiative. He gracefully obliged us.
Magic Screen
D I S P L A YA
D S RATE ` 150 sq. cm
For Further Details Please Contact Abhinay 9989399972 Nandlal 9951467988 Ravi Chander 8106039919
MONDAY, MARCH 19, 2012
23
Magic Screen
The glamour behind the glitz
New Prometheus trailer unveiled
T
he fight for the human race has officially begun! Michael Fassbender and Charlize Theron, along with director Ridley Scott, debuted a new trailer for their upcoming flick Prometheus at WonderCon 2012 in California. The highly anticipated prequel/spinoff to Alien, which also features Noomi Rapace, Guy Pearce and Idris Elba, revolves around a team of explorers who discover a clue to the origins of mankind on Earth. This knowledge in turn leads them on a journey to the darkest corners of the universe where they fight
No annulment for Kris and Kim
A
lthough they called it quits last October, Kim Kardashian and Kris Humphries still haven’t been able to annul their marriage. Sources say Kim is willing to annul the marriage as long as Kris admits he defrauded her by promising to live in Los Angeles and then demanding that she move to his hometown of Minnesota. Humphries also wants Kim to admit to fraud -claiming she never had any intention of staying married to him, which Kim denies. Humphries is reportedly demanding $7 million from Kim.
a terrifying battle for the future of the human race. Although this second trailer reveals a bit more information for fans than the first teaser trailer, Charlize, Michael, and Ridley didn’t take questions from the crowd at WonderCon. But Ridley did reveal not only his hopes for a sequel, but the flick’s need for one as well. Ridley shared:”If we’re lucky, there will be a second part of this [film], [as] the film does leave you with some nice big open questions.” Prometheus hits theaters June 8th.
MONDAY, MARCH 19, 2012
24
Mommyhood incredible for Charlize
Magic Screen
C
MONDAY, MARCH 19, 2012
The glamour behind the glitz
harlize Theron and co-star Michael Fassbender hit the WonderCon convention in Anaheim, CA to talk about their exciting new sci-fi movie Prometheus, and new mom Charlize told ET that the experience of being a parent is “overwhelmingly incredible.” Earlier this week, it was revealed that the 36-year-old Oscar winner had adopted a baby boy named Jackson, and she told ET that every day there is always something new. Because of the adoption journey that she decided to follow, she said that it’s evident that she reallywanted to be a mom,
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and she is really overjoyed and very happy that it all worked out. So how did she keep it a secret? Charlize said she has really good friends: It’s all about whom you decide to tell -- and then them not telling! When asked by co-star Michael, “Why is everyone congratulating you?” Charlize joked, “Haven’t you heard? I got a new puppy.”
21 Jump Street takes the lead
21
Jump Street is off to a very promising start – commercially and critically. Earning an estimated $13.1 million on Friday from 3,121 locations, the big screen adaptation of the former Fox TV series has also put up one of the most impressive Rotten Tomatoes scores of 2012 at 87% fresh. As the only wide release of the weekend, box office watchers were pretty sure that the R-rated comedy was headed for number one, especially considering it stars two of the most popular young actors of this moment – Channing Tatum and Jonah Hill. With John Carter continuing to disappoint (off 60% from its less-than-stellar debut last weekend), the only challenge for Jump Street was conquering family-friendly holdover The Lorax. 21 Jump Street is now projected to take in $35 million this weekend; little wonder that a sequel is already in the works. We’ll have details and analysis tomorrow.
Marriage is spiritual HILLARY
H
SCOTT
illary Scott has revealed that she is enjoying married life. The Lady Antebellum singer announced her engagement to musician Chris Tyrrell in July 2011. The pair tied the knot in New York in January 2012. Scott has revealed that she feels fulfilled in the role of wife and treasures the deep connection she shares with Tyrrell since walking down the aisle. “I think my favourite part is feeling that bond for a lifetime,” she explained. “There is something spiritual and beautiful about it. We give ourselves personal time to find inspiration.” In February, Lady Antebellum announced plans to embark on a summer tour around the UK.
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
MONDAY, MARCH 19, 2012
Take a shot at the brain game while sipping your cuppa
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QUICK CROSSWORD ACROSS 1 Throw with great effort 6 Received 9 Like some wits or cheeses 14 Harold who composed “Over the Rainbow” 15 Stat for a clean-up hitter 16 Bear's treat 17 Saber fish? 19 Rarin' to go 20 Altoids containers 21 Sculpture material, sometimes 22 Alla ___ (cut time, in music) 23 Down greedily 25 Fluffy scarf 27 “Superman” baddie Luthor 28 Amazonian shocker 29 Hawaiian porch 31 Large lunch sandwich, for short 34 Done before an operation 38 Heel wheel 40 Take in, as a movie 41 Yard neatener's tool 42 Like overt crimes 47 Young male 48 Immune-system unit 49 Shepherd's milieu 50 Poetic work 52 “King of the Cowboys” Rogers 53 Footrest 58 ___ Gras 60 “The Iron Horse” Gehrig 61 “___Jail” (Monopoly directive) 62 1966 Michael Caine title role 63 Colorful squawker 65 Wheels at sea 66 Grow older 67 Pasta in tubes 68 Up until now 69 Peas' package 70 A lot of assessments? DOWN 1 Cause of waste? 2 “Desert Fox” Rommel 3 “All ___ the
Watchtower” (Jimi Hendrix hit) 4 Left page, in a manuscript 5 Beginning's counterpart 6 Without poise 7 Theater award 8 Up to, briefly 9 “Whole” thing 10 Coating of frost 11 Opposite of devilish 12 “Superman” actor Christopher 13 Beaker material 18 Princeton mascot 24 Salesman, briefly 25 Aristocratic 26 It may go for a dip in the ocean 30 Every breath you take 31 180 degrees from NNE 32 Certain news agency (Abbr.)
33 Swimming stroke 35 ___ of Galilee 36 “Alias” equivalent 37 Batted first (with “off”) 39 GOP fund-raising org. 43 Spooky to the max 44 ___-mo (replay feature) 45 Rain more gently 46 “Put some meat on those bones!” 50 Largest city of Nebraska 51 Evans and Carnegie 54 Baddies in many bedtime stories 55 Daybreaks, poetically 56 When the
SUDOKU
mouse ran down the clock 57 Classroom jottings 59 Two-fifths of one quarter 60 Building block for kids 63 Music style 64 “Great” creature PREVIOUS PUZZLE ANSWER
THOUGHT OF THE DAY It is impossible to defeat an ignorant man in argument. – William Gibbs McAdoo
Chai Time STAR POWER
MONDAY, MARCH 19, 2012
Your tomorrow today̶Star Power and Tarot THIRUVAIKUMAR
As per Hindu panchang
FOR 20-3-2012
thiruvaikumar@yahoo.co.in 040-27177230 / 9177596118
TAURUS
GEMINI
You will struggle hard to complete the work undertaken. With influx of friends and relatives at home, your house will be filled with joy. Though financially a deficit situation, help will make it easy.
You will manage any issue with wise action. Those in search of new jobs, will get favourable news. Financial position will be very strong. Good and sudden turning points and travel on the cards.
You are going to be a successful person in managing new challengeful work un‑ dertaken. Children will be happy with your support in the field of their educa‑ tion. Inlaws will praise you.
CANCER
LEO
VIRGO
Good events to bring cheer to the family. Chances of renovating ancestral property. Wandering likely with regard to child‑ ren's education. Necessary efforts will be taken to conduct daughter's marriage.
Expected money will come. Visit to holy places likely. Friends and relatives will understand your kindhearted activities. Keep anger under control. Health needs to be taken care of. Sudden travel likely.
You will not worry about troubles and face them with a bold face. Financial sit‑ uation looks more than satisfactory. Anger and mental tension likely, but you have to keep them under control.
LIBRA
SCORPIO
SAGITTARIUS
Even enemies will become friends. Govt sops likely. Your social status is set to go up. Health problems likely; take immediate and good care. Busi‑ nessmen will be able to collect dues.
Challenges are like eating cakes for you and you will taste great success. Unex‑ pected help will come. Blood relatives will extend their help in time. Sudden travel might burn a hole in your purse.
Your confusion will come to an end and administrative capabilities will increase. Chances of buying a new asset by selling the old one. Spouse will be very co‑operative with you.
CAPRICORN
AQUARIUS
PISCES
You will feel active and cheerful to take up various responsibilities and complete them without difficulty. Even the speed at which you complete them will receive everyone's appreciation.
Your approach will do the magic. All tasks undertaken will be completed successfully. Expected financial assis‑ tance will come. Children will make you feel happy and proud.
Old problems will settle. Housing loan will get the approval nod. Family will remain peaceful. Some have bright ch‑ ances to go abroad. Customer network base will increase for businessmen.
SUMAA TEKUR
FOR 20-3-2012
tarotreadhyd@gmail.com
ARIES
TAURUS
GEMINI
Nine of Pentacles – Youʼre happy in your own comfortable spa‑ ce created by things you hold dear. You donʼt want this to be disturbed. Youʼre not lonely, but alone.
Page of Cups – Mat‑ ters of the heart are in focus today. If yo‑ u have been putting off some relation‑ ship‑based decision, today may be a good day to decide.
The Empress – Love is in the air. You make a deeper commitment to an existing rela‑ tionship – you decide to move in together or get engaged. Itʼs good for stability.
CANCER
LEO
VIRGO
The Moon – Headach‑ es and other minor health irritants will make you restless and moody. Be patient, treat health problems before they get out of hand.
Page of Wands – Good news about a young person in your family is going to surprise you. You dis‑ cover that he/she has a rare talent which you want to hone.
Ten of Pentacles – You wish to have all that happiness and joy that is the stuff of happy joint family stories. You dream of making it happen.
LIBRA
SCORPIO
SAGITTARIUS
Page of Pentacles – You get some good news at work. Youʼre up for a promotion or the bosses are considering you for an important role in a prestigious project.
Six of Swords – Ex‑ pect an email or pho‑ ne call from a friend or contact who lives overseas. Likely to get ideas on further‑ ing your business through this contact.
Nine of Swords – Bad dreams may be mak‑ ing you feel restless. Your fears and con‑ cerns are throwing up images in your dreams that may also have the solutions.
CAPRICORN
AQUARIUS
PISCES
Eight of Swords – Some bonds from the past are being sev‑ ered. You may not see it yet but it is for yo‑ ur own good. Youʼre able to see things more clearly now.
Ace of Pentacles – Youʼre at the right place at the right time. Synchronicity has a way of making good things happen. You find solutions to long‑ sought problems.
The Sun – Thereʼs positive energy within you and youʼre putting that out for those around you to utilise. Youʼre brimming with ideas and charging ahead.
For Better or for Worse Stone soup
SOLUTIONS
Boggle HONDA MAZDA NISSAN TAYOTA
Number game
Suduko
Scrabble
Ink pen
COMICS
Fred Basset
ARIES
TAROT READ
27
Vol: 1, No 246 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
Chai Time 1400 Naadi Aadajanme 1430 Pavitra 1500 Movie 1800 Kodala Kodala Koduku Pellama 1830 Vasantha Kokila 1900 Chinnari Pelli Kuturu 1930 Anna Chellelu 2000 Missamma 2030 Edureetha 2100 Bhale Chancele 2200 CID 2300 Challenge 0730 Maa Gramadevatalu 0800 Ayurvedam 0830 Chaganti Sanatana Dharmam 0900 Challenge 1100 CID
1400 Kannavaari Kalalu 1430 Maavichiguru 1500 Sumangali 1530 Movie 1800 Jai Shri Krishna 1830 Shraavani Subramaniam 1900 Mandhara 1930 Auto Bharthi 2000 Swathi 2030 Mogali Rekulu 2100 Aparanji 2130 Devatha 2200 Mamathala Kovela 2230 Heartlo Battery 2300 Gemini Vaarthalu 0800 Gemini Talkies 0830 Movie 1130 Aha Emi Ruchi 1200 Jeevitha Chakram 1230 Maa Inti Aada Paduchu 1300 Chittemmaa 1330 Gorintaku
1430 [V] Humse Hai Life 1500 [V] D3 Dil Dosti Dance 1530 [V] Humse Hai Life 1600 [V] Trailers 1630 [V] Zabardast Hits 1830 [V] Suvreen Guggal 1900 [V] D3 Dil Dosti Dance 1930 [V] Humse Hai Life 2000 [V] Suvreen Guggal 2030 [V] Nokia India Fest 2012 2130 [V] Trailers 2200 [V] Vignettes 2230 [V] Humse Hai Life 2300 [V] Suvreen Guggal 2330 [V] D3 Dil Dosti Dance 0700 [V] Trailers 0730 [V] Zabardast Hits 0800 [V] Mind Blasting Mornings 1100 [V] Fresh Songs 1200 [V] D3 Dil Dosti Dance 1230 [V] Suvreen Guggal 1300 [V] Humse Hai Life
‘[V] Suvreen Guggal’ at 1830 Hrs on CHANNEL [V]
1300 News Now At 1 1330 News Now 1800 6 Pm 1830 Live Report 1900 Primetime 1930 The Game 2000 News Now At 8 2030 Live Report 2100 The Newshour 2200 The Newshour - Plus 2230 E Now 2300 News Now At 11 0800 The Morning News 0900 News Now 1200 Live Report 1230 News Now
‘The Game’ at 1930 Hrs only on TIMES NOW
MONDAY, MARCH 19, 2012
Telly sitcoms, news and movie listings
1400 Abhishekam 1430 Aadade Aadharam 1500 Antahpuram 1530 Aakasa Ganga 1600 Prema Mandiram 1630 Jagadeeswari 1700 Adurs 1800 Devimahathyam 1830 Puttadi Bomma 1900 Kumkuma Rekha 1930 Manasu Mamata 2000 Chandra Mukhi 2030 Bharyamani 2100 Etv News 2130 Paduta Teeyaga 2245 Movie 0800 Jeevana Jyothi 0830 Tollywood Time 0900 Movie 1130 Abhiruchi 1230 Star Mahila
1400 Nagani 1430 Movie 1800 Meera 1830 Kalavari Kodallu 1900 Chinna Kodalu 1930 Pasupu Kunkuma 2000 Muddu Bidda 2030 Radha Kalyanam 2100 Kanyadanam 2130 Comedy Club 2230 Shree 2300 Bindas 2330 Latest Songs 0800 Gopuram 0830 Bhakti Samacharam 0900 Sri Raghavendra Vybhavam 0930 Mahadevi 1000 Bindass 1030 Luckku Kickku 1130 Jeevana Vignanam 1200 Mee Inti Vanta
‘Business Tonight’ at 2100 Hrs only on ET NOW 1400 The F And O Show 1430 Closing Trades 1530 Tomorrow's Trades 1600 Business Day 1730 Markets Tomorrow 1800 Rush Hour 1900 Global Business Report 1930 Business Express 2000 Business First 2030 Markets Tomorrow 2100 Business Tonight 2200 Top 10 At 10 2230 Investor's Guide 2300 Zigwheels 0900 First Trades 1000 Hot Stocks 1100 Buy Now Sell Now - The Stock Game 1130 Buy Now Sell Now 1200 Market Sense 1300 Business Day 1330 Markets Now
1245 Movie - Shooter 1510 The Rachel Zoe Project 1605 The Challenger Muaythai 1700 Breaking The Magician's Code 1800 Chuck 1900 Wipeout 2000 Supernatural 2100 David Blaine - Drowned Alive 2200 Fear Factor 2300 Movie - Shoot 'Em Up 0930 Whacked Out Sports 1000 The Rachel Zoe Project 1100 David Blaine - Drowned Alive 1200 David Blaine - Street Magic 1255 Movie - Shoot 'Em Up
‘David Blaine - Drowned Alive’ at 2100 Hrs on AXN
‘Mi Aaji Aur Saheb’ at 2130 Hrs on IMAGINE 1400 Baba Aisa Varr Dhoondo 1430 Jamuna Paar 1600 Mi Aaji Aur Saheb 1630 Jamuna Paar 1700 Mi Aaji Aur Saheb 1730 Sawaare Sabke Sapne – Preeto 1800 Jamuna Paar 1830 Mi Aaji Aur Saheb 1900 Baba Aisa Varr Dhoondo 1930 Gyaan Guru 2000 Dwarkadheesh - Bhagwan Shri Krishn 2030 Sawaare Sabke Sapne – Preeto 2100 Jamuna Paar 2130 Mi Aaji Aur Saheb 2200 Baba Aisa Varr Dhoondo 2230 Haar Jeet 2300 Jamuna Paar 2330 Mi Aaji Aur Saheb
1400 Parichay 1430 Balika Vadhu 1500 Na Bole Tum Na Maine Kuch Kaha 1600 Uttaran 1630 Parichay 1700 Sasural Simar Ka 1730 Na Bole Tum Na Maine Kuch Kaha 1800 Uttaran 1830 Balika Vadhu 1900 Hawan 1930 Sasural Simar Ka 2000 Balika Vadhu 2030 Veer Shivaji 2100 Chhal Sheh Aur Maat 2130 Parichay 2200 Uttaran 2230 Na Bole Tum Na Maine Kuch Kaha 2300 Na Aana Is Des Laado 2330 Balika Vadhu
‘Na Aana Is Des Laado’ at 2300 Hrs on COLORS
‘Choti Bahu 2’ at 1930 Hrs on ZEE TV 1400 Hitler Didi 1430 Mrs. Kaushik Ki Paanch Bahuein 1500 Afsar Bitiya 1530 Choti Bahu 1600 Pavitra Rishta 1630 Mrs. Kaushik Ki Paanch Bahuein 1800 Hitler Didi 1830 Punar Vivaah 1900 Afsar Bitiya 1930 Choti Bahu 2000 Hitler Didi 2030 Yahan Main Ghar Ghar Kheli 2100 Pavitra Rishta 2130 Ram Milaayi Jodi 2200 Mrs. Kaushik Ki Paanch Bahuein 2230 Punar Vivaah 2300 Afsar Bitiya 2330 Hitler Didi
1400 Saas Bina Sasuraal 1430 Bade Achhe Lagte Hai 1500 Kuch Toh Log Kahenge 1530 Crime Patrol - 2 1600 Crime Patrol - Dastak 1800 Saas Bina Sasuraal 1830 Bade Achhe Lagte Hai 1900 Crime Patrol - Dastak 1930 Shubh Vivah 2000 Kuch Toh Log Kahenge 2030 Dekha Ek Khwaab 2100 Saas Bina Sasuraal 2130 Parvarrish - Kuchh Khatti Kuchh Meethi 2200 Kyaa Hua Tera Vaada 2230 Bade Achhe Lagte Hai 2300 Kuch Toh Log Kahenge 2330 Crime Patrol - Dastak 0900 Kahani Comedy Circus Ki 1030 CID 1200 Shubh Vivah
‘Kyaa Hua Tera Vaada’ at 2200 Hrs on SONY
28
‘Iss Pyaar Ko Kya Naam Doon’ at 2100 Hrs on STAR PLUS 1400 Ek Hazaaron Mein Meri Behnaa Hai 1500 Navya 1530 Diya Aur Bati Hum 1600 Ek Hazaaron Mein Meri Behnaa Hai 1700 Saath Nibhaana Saathiya 1730 Star Parivaar Awards 2012 – Aapka Star Aapke Shehar 1800 Navya 1830 Ruk Jana Nahin 1900 Saath Nibhaana Saathiya 1930 Sasuraal Genda Phool 2000 Iss Pyaar Ko Kya Naam Doon 2030 Ek Hazaaron Mein Meri Behnaa Hai 2100 Diya Aur Bati Hum 2130 Yeh Rishta Kya Kehlata Hai 2200 Sajda Tere Pyaar Mein 2230 Mann Ki Awaaz… Pratigya 2300 Maryaada ... Lekin Kab Tak?
MOVIES OF THE DAY AND OTHER HIGHLIGHTS
1410 Rise 1550 The Devil's Tomb 1725 Rush Hour 1920 Crank 2100 Bloodsport 2250 Deep Blue Sea 0810 Friends 0840 One Missed Call 1015 Bloodsport 1200 Executive Decision 1435 Duma
1340 Enter The Dragon 1555 Ip Man 1815 Sherlock Holmes 2100 Iron Man 2 2340 Open Water 0715 Dragonfly 0925 Elizabeth 1155 Sherlock Holmes 1440 Crocodile
‘Deception With Keith Barry’ at 2100 Hrs on DISCOVERY
1400 My Kitchen Rules 1500 Keeping Up With The Kardashians 1600 Scrubs 1630 My Wife And Kids 1700 Rookie Blue 1800 The Tonight Show With Jay Leno 1900 Outsourced 1930 My Wife And Kids 2000 Keeping Up With The Kardashians 2030 America's Funniest Home Videos 2100 My Kitchen Rules 2200 Rookie Blue 2300 Outsourced 2330 My Wife And Kids 0900 America's Funniest Home Videos 0930 Keeping Up With The Kardashians 1000 Outsourced 1030 My Wife And Kids 1100 My Kitchen Rules
1400 Human Body 1500 My Naked Secret 1600 Swamp Brothers 1630 Factory Made 1700 Rhodes Across India 1800 Wild Discovery 1900 I Almost Got Away With It? 2000 Food Detectives 2030 Massive Engines With Chris Barrie 2100 Deception With Keith Barry 2200 Dual Survival 2300 Tattoo Hunter
‘Keeping Up With The Kardashians’ at 2000 Hrs on ZEE CAFE
Yeh Rishta Kya Chhal – Sheh Aur Maat Kehlata Hai Storyline - Gayatri and Akshara take Naksh to the park for an outing. Gayatri sees Akshara talking to the lady from the publishing house and gets worried.
Storyline - Rishi and Neha are on their honeymoon at Dhaulganj where they check into Jaiswal Hotel. Neha and Rishi are having their fun time together.
‘Yeh Rishta Kya Kehlata Hai’ at 2130 Hrs on STAR PLUS
‘Chhal – Sheh Aur Maat’ at 2100 Hrs on COLORS ‘Iron Man 2’ at 2100 Hrs on HBO
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‘Taarak Mehta Ka Ooltah Chashmah’ at 2030 Hrs on SAB TV
1430 How It's Made 1500 Dean Of Invention 1530 Discovery Science Classics 1630 Ufo 1730 Frontline Battle Machines With Mike Brewer 1930 Junkyard Wars 2030 Heavy Metal Taskforce 2130 Sports Science 2230 Weapon Masters 2330 Industrial Revelations 1030 Ufo 1130 How It's Made 1200 Dean Of Invention 1330 Junkyard Wars
‘Click’ at 1230 Hrs on ZOOM 1230 Movie - Click 1600 Let'z Go! 1700 Business Of Bollywood 1730 Star Bonanza 1800 Let'z Go! 1900 Planet Bollywood 1930 Link'd 2000 Telly Talk 2030 Let'z Go! 2100 Style Strip 2130 Let'z Go! 2200 B - Tonite 2230 Business Of Bollywood 2300 Bollywood Bonanza 0700 Fresh Mornings 0800 Red Carpet 0805 Fresh Mornings 1100 Your Likes 1200 Planet Bollywood
‘Industrial Revelations’ at 2230 Hrs on DISCOVERY SCIENCE
‘The 4400’ at 2300 Hrs on BIG CBS PRIME 1400 Frasier 1430 Jerry Springer 1530 Aspire 1600 Galileo Extreme 1700 The 4400 1800 Entertainment Tonight 1830 Galileo Extreme 1930 Frasier 2000 Entertainment Tonight 2030 Galileo Extreme 2100 Hawaii Five - 0 2200 Jerry Springer 2300 The 4400 0700 Big Wheels 0730 Aspire 0800 Galileo Extreme 0900 The 4400 1000 Bellator 1100 Jerry Springer 1200 Aspire 1230 Entertainment Tonight 1300 Galileo Extreme
Playing Field
MONDAY, MARCH 19, 2012
The games people play
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AFP/MATTHEW STOCKMAN
Fedex, Azarenka are champs Greg Heakes
AFP/ROBYN BECK
W
orld No. 3 Roger Federer beat John Isner 7-6 (9/7), 6-3 in the Indian Wells final Sunday to capture his third tournament in a row and a record fourth Indian Wells title. In the women’s singles section, world No. 1 Victoria Azarenka routed world No. 2 Maria Sharapova 6-2, 6-3 and stretch her 2012 win streak to 23 matches. Federer has been battling a flu bug all week and said he was close to pulling out of Indian Wells. It limited his practice time early in the event but he said he was feeling much better after beating American 11th seed Isner. “Sometimes just have to play a bit sick,” said Federer, who earned $1 million for the victory. “I am happy to come through at the end. It makes me really happy beating the best. “I’ve really played amazing these last three matches in particular. I couldn’t be more happy. They were really great wins.” One of the hottest players on the ATP Tour, Federer has now captured three consecutive events after winning back-to-back finals in Rotterdam and Dubai. The Swiss star’s fourth Indian
Wells title is one more than the old mark he had shared with Jimmy Connors and Michael Chang. He clinched Sunday’s contest on the first match point when Isner smacked a forehand into the net. Federer’s road to the finals included wins over hard-serving Canadian Milos Raonic, Brazilian No. 1 Thomaz Bellucci, former US Open champ Juan Martin del Potro and Spanish rival Rafael Nadal in the semi-finals. “Honestly, I never looked one match ahead of me,” Federer said. “I thought del Potro was going
INDIAN WELLS
Roger Federer (above) and Victoria Azarenka (top) celebrate with their trophies after winning the men’s and women’s singles section respectively at the Indian Wells tournament on Sunday. AFP
to be extremely difficult. Once I got through that one, I only thought of the Nadal match. “So for me, maybe mentally because of what happened, it was a bit of an easier tournament. “I played with an attitude that I can only win here. I don’t favor myself because I have not felt great. It would be a surprise to come through. “That’s how it feels now. I was able to come through, and so convincingly at the end is amazing. I’ve really played amazing these last three matches.” Federer also avenged a loss to
Isner earlier this year in Davis Cup play. Meanwhile, Azarenka said she was really nervous before the final. “It is important for me to try and put as much pressure on her and not let her into the match. “I really had to stay on my feet and keep playing my game. “It was little hard with the wind but I am happy I went through with this determination.” Azarenka’s victory comes just six weeks after she beat Sharapova in straight sets in the Australian Open final to win her first Grand Slam title. The 22-year-old from Belarus hit one ace, had two double faults and won 71 percent of her first serve points in collecting her fourth title of 2012 and a $1 million winner’s check. Azarenka clinched the crown on her first match point when Sharapova made a stab at a shot but her lob sailed long, ending the 86-minute match. Earlier in the draw at Indian Wells, she passed Serena Williams’s 2003 win streak of 21 matches and now has her sights set on catching Hingis. “I never dreamed about that. It is amazing,” she said of the win streak. “It is a position I worked really hard to be in.” AFP
Playing Field Nick D’Arcy seeks public support ADELAIDE: Controversial swimmer Nick D’Arcy said Monday he would love to have the Australian public behind him after qualifying for the London Olympics but accepts that he is a divisive figure. D’Arcy booked his ticket for London with a commanding win in the 200-metres butterfly in 1min 54.71secs at the Australian selection trials in Adelaide on Sunday. D’Arcy also qualified for the Beijing Olympics but was kicked off the Australian team after he assaulted fellow swimmer Simon Cowley in a Sydney bar on the night he was selected for the 2008 Games. He pleaded guilty in a 2009 criminal court case to recklessly causing grievous bodily harm and was given a suspended 14-month jail sentence. A court subsequently awarded the damages to Cowley, who needed corrective surgery to his face to repair fractures including the insertion of titanium plates, and who quit his job with a financial firm after the incident. D’Arcy was ordered to pay Aus$180,000 ($188,000) in damages for his victim’s pain and suffering, but he subsequently filed for bankruptcy last November, citing debts, including the money owed to Cowley. The Australian Olympic Committee announced last month that D’Arcy would be allowed on to the team should he qualify at the Adelaide trials, ending speculation over his availability for London. D’Arcy said he accepted that people had mixed feelings about him. “How I’m perceived in the public is not something I have control over,” he told reporters. “It would be great to have everyone behind me. But, I’m realistic. Obviously people’s opinions are going to be divided. AFP
MONDAY, MARCH 19, 2012
The games people play
30
No more ‘crooked fingers’, vows Button
McLaren-Mercedes driver Jenson Button (L) celebrates on the podium with second-placed reigning World Champion and Red Bull-Renault driver Sebastian Vettel (L) of Germany. MELBOURNE: Jenson Button warned Sebastian Vettel on Monday that he plans to end the days when the German’s trademark bent-finger salute is seen at the end of Formula One grands prix. The 32-year-old Englishman cruised to victory himself in Sunday’s season-opening Australian race — and admitted his new celebration, in which he forms a ‘W’ for winner with his hands, needed some practice. “Yes, it was not ideal was it — but I am planning to have a lot more practice. We don’t want to see the crooked finger any more this year and I hope that we can see the end of that,” Button said. Vettel’s celebration, in which he raises his slightly bent right index finger to signify number one, was widely used last year as he took his second title in a row. He finished second on Sunday but never looked likely to win. The good-natured Vettel laughed and warned: “I want to win, everyone does, and I don’t think it will be too long before I do again. “This race proved that after all the worries on Saturday we still
have the pace. Everyone said we were in trouble, but if we were there are plenty of others in much worse and deeper trouble than we are. “And I am pretty sure we can go well at Sepang next race. There is no doubt that Jenson deserved to win this time — we could not catch him — but it will be different in Malaysia.” Sunday’s opening
showdown proved that McLaren and Red Bull will be the two main forces in the early part of the season — and that Button is in excel-
lent form already. His composure and technique saw him take the lead at the opening corner and leave McLaren team-mate Lewis Hamilton frustrated at failing to exploit his pole position. Victory brought Button his third win at Albert Park and his 13th in all, proving beyond doubt that he will be a serious contender for his second world title, providing he and Hamilton do not take too many points from one another. “It is too early to talk about that and we shall just have to see how it pans out over the next few races,” said Button. “Lewis was very fast in qualifying and he was unlucky in this race. That can change. We know what Red Bull can do and we are not discounting anyone at all.” While Vettel talked of bidding to bounce back, it is more likely that Hamilton will find some luck in Malaysia next weekend. Hamilton admitted he was not sure why he wheel-spun at the start, allowing Button to take charge, but he was also unfortunate when a safety car intervention allowed Vettel to take second spot. “I feel pretty disappointed for myself, but the team have done a great job over the winter and we are both on the podium at the opening race,” Hamilton said. “That tells me we are going in the right direction and now it is up to me to work hard.”
Playing Field
MONDAY, MARCH 19, 2012
The games people play
Malaga draw cuts Real’s lead
Muamba’s condition still critical
MADRID: Real Madrid’s lead at the top of La Liga was cut to eight points on Sunday when a dramatic injury time goal from Santi Cazorla earned Malaga a 1-1 draw at the Bernabeu. The home side had been heading for their 12th successive win following a Karim Benzema header after 35 minutes until a Cazorla free-kick flew into the corner in the 92nd minute. The result left Real eight points clear of Barcelona after the defending cham-
LONDON: Bolton Wanderers’ Fabrice Muamba remained in a “critical condition” as he continued his fight for life on Sunday. Muamba was rushed to hospital after collapsing towards the end of the first half of an FA Cup quarter-final at Tottenham on Saturday. It was later confirmed the 23-yearold had suffered a cardiac arrest. A joint statement issued by the hospital and Bolton at 8.30pm local time (2030GMT) on Sunday said: “Fabrice
pions had beaten Malaga 2-0 on Saturday, a victory that did nothing to force Barca coach Pep Guardiola to alter his opinion that Madrid will still take the title. Real coach Jose Mourinho chose not to rest players after the Champions League victory over CSKA Moscow in midweek, other than bringing Lass Diarra in for Alvaro Arbeloa at rightback while Benzema was preferred to Gonzalo Higuain in attack.
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Muamba remains in a critical condition in intensive care in the Heart Attack Centre at the London Chest Hospital. “There will be no further update tonight (Sunday).” Bolton chairman Phil Gartside, after visiting Muamba in hospital with manager Owen Coyle on Sunday, released a statement, which read: “On behalf of our club, I would like to thank the Premier League, the FA and all the clubs who have been in touch to offer support.”
Liverpool book semi berth LIVERPOOL: Liverpool booked their second Wembley appearance of the season by beating Stoke 2-1 in the FA Cup quarter-finals at Anfield on Sunday. Stewart Downing’s second half strike settled the last eight tie after Liverpool striker Luis Suarez had seen his opener cancelled out within a matter of minutes by former Reds forward Peter Crouch. Now Liverpool, who earlier this season won the League Cup final at Wembley, will be heading back to the north London ground for what could be a Merseyside derby semi-final next month if Everton win their replay with Sunderland. After a clinical derby win over Everton on Tuesday, Liverpool came into their first FA Cup quarter-final since 2006, when they last won the competition for the seventh time, in confident mood but they had to dig deep in what was a
FA CUP
Liverpool’s English midfielder Stewart Downing celebrates after scoring during their FA Cup quarter-final football match against Stoke City. AFP/ANDREW YATES
hard-fought victory over a resolute Stoke. Tony Pulis’s side, last season’s beaten finalists against Manchester City, travelled to Liverpool for their fourth away tie of this season’s competition and were out for revenge after the Reds knocked them out of the League Cup in October. And it was the visitors who got off to a brighter start with Crouch wasting a glorious opportunity to head Stoke in front early on. Ryan Shotton easily broke away from Jose Enrique to cross for Crouch but the former Liverpool front man was caught in two minds about whether to head at goal or across the area and his tame effort was easily collected by Pepe Reina. Liverpool had made just a solitary change from their impressive derby win over Everton with Jordan Henderson making way for Maxi Rodriguez and it was the Argentine who helped prize open Stoke’s defence. After a somewhat scrappy start for the hosts, Suarez broke the deadlock in the 23rd minute as the Uruguayan played a tidy one-two with Maxi before finding the bottom corner with a perfectly-placed curling effort. AFP
Liverpool’s Uruguayan forward Luis Suarez celebrates after scoring the opening goal against Stoke City in their FA Cup quarter-final at Anfield. AFP/ANDREW YATES
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MONDAY, MARCH 19, 2012
The games people play
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Berbatov set to leave Old Trafford SOFIA: Manchester United’s
Manchester United’s Mexican striker Javier Hernandez (R) vies with Wolverhampton Wanderers’ Welsh goalkeeper Wayne Hennessey during their English Premier League football match at Molineux Stadium in Wolverhampton on Sunday. AFP/GLYN KIRK
Man Utd tear apart Wolves in their lair LONDON: Reigning champions Manchester United won 5-0 away to 10-man Wolves on Sunday, moving four points clear of Manchester City at the top of the English Premier League. Goals from Jonny Evans, Antonio Valencia, Danny Welbeck and Javier Hernandez’s second-half double sent Wolves, already in the relegation zone, to the bottom of the table. The heavy defeat for the Molineux club was made worse by the 39th-minute red card shown to defender Ronald Zubar for two bookable offences. However, United manager Sir Alex Ferguson put his team’s performance in perspective by telling Sky Sports: “It was okay, I don’t think it was anything special. I think we’ve taken our goals well. “The finish from Valencia was fantastic. Antonio is back in the team and his form was fantastic. He’s made one for Danny Welbeck before half-time that killed the match. “It’s difficult for them (Wolves) with 10 men, they were honest and kept plugging away but the 3-0 advantage was too much for them.” Asked about the title race, Ferguson added: “Hopefully we
THE VICTORY LEFT UNITED FOUR POINTS CLEAR OF TITLE RIVALS CITY BEFORE THEIR CROSS-TOWN FOES’ MATCH AT HOME TO CHELSEA ON WEDNESDAY. ASKED ABOUT THE TITLE RACE, FERGUSON SAID: “HOPEFULLY WE ACHIEVE WHAT WE WANT TO ACHIEVE.”
achieve what we want to achieve. “What’s significant today is it’s reduced the goal difference by five goals and that’s down to three now and it may make a difference at the end of the season,” he added. “I expect it to go to the wire.” Central defender Evans scored his first goal for United in the 21st minute with a close range shot after being teed up by Michael Carrick following a United corner. At 1-0 down, Wolves were not yet out of the game but they then saw Zubar, already shown a yellow card for a heavy challenge on Wayne Rooney, sent off
by referee Anthony Taylor after diving in on Welbeck. United made Wolves pay by scoring two more goals before the break for a 3-0 half-time lead, with the unchallenged Valencia netting before setting up Welbeck for United’s third goal in first half stoppage-time. Hernandez, completely unmarked, made it 4-0 with a close-range header in the 56th minute and minutes later he scored his second and United’s fifth with a half-volley at the far post after getting on the end of Valencia’s cross. Victory left United four points clear of title rivals City before their cross-town foes’ match at home to Chelsea on Wednesday. Sunday’s other Premier League match saw Newcastle win for the first time in five league matches as they reignited their push for a Champions League spot by beating Norwich 1-0. Papiss Cisse scored the only of the game in the 11th minute but Newcastle keeper Tim Krul had to save from Anthony Pilkington and Zak Whitbread before Steve Morison missed a late chance for Norwich. Victory left Newcastle five points behind fourth-placed Arsenal.
Bulgarian striker Dimitar Berbatov will leave the club at the end of this season to play elsewhere in Europe, his agent Emil Danchev said on Sunday. “I had three meetings with (Manchester United manager) Alex Ferguson. We accept that he is trying to build a new team, change the playing style, introduce more speed,” Danchev told Bulgarian Canal 3 television. “Manchester United’s future does not include Berbatov,” he added. Danchev said that the 31year-old striker will most probably leave England for another top European team but added “there will be no cosmic transfer fees.” He said Manchester United would not oppose Berbatov’s move in the summer even if
they chose to extend his contract by an extra year. Berbatov joined Manchester United from Tottenham Hotspur in 2008. But he has recently lost his prime spot on the squad and speculation has been rife that he is set to leave the club. AFP