FRIDAY, DECEMBER 21, 2012 HYDERABAD
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HYDERABAD’S FIRST COMPACT AFTERNOON NEWSPAPER
32 PAGES
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FRIDAY, DECEMBER 21, 2012
city events
MEMORIES OF ANOTHER DAY
Memories Of Another Day is an exhibition of paintings by artist Konda Srinivas. He works with acrylic and oils on canvas, specialising in semi- abstract landscapes. His work will be on display at Iconart, Banjara Hills, till December 25, from 7.30am.
Weather for Hyderabad
Evening
Overnight
Morning
Afternoon
22°C
16°C
22°C
30°C
A mix of cloudy and clear skies.
A mix of cloudy and clear skies.
A mix of cloud and sun.
A mix of cloud and sun.
New Delhi Mumbai Max 21 Max 32 Min 7 Min 22 Sunny, clear skies.
Sunny, clear skies.
Chennai Max 30 Min 24 Mix of sun and cloud.
Bangalore Max 28 Min 15 Mix of sun and cloud.
AROUND THE CITY: YOUR GUIDE TO THE TWIN CITIES Where: Secunderabad Parade Ground, War Memorial on Lamba Theatre Road Opp. cricket ground. When: December 23 6am onwards Contact: indiabikeweek.in/calendar
SHOWS Bulls art exhibition A group exhibition by Avijit Roy, HR Das, Laxman Aelay, Nagesh Goud and Sreekanth Kurva on the animal bull and its characteristics. The preview is on December 22 from 6pm. Where: Aalankritha Art Gallery When: Up to Januray 2 11am to 7pm Contact: www.alankritha.in
Photo competition Alliance Francaise, Hyderabad, is conducting a photo competition. The theme is Professions of the world. The winning entries will be sent to Paris. Where: http://hyderabad.afindia.org When: December 3 to January 6
Inertia Photography Photography exhibition on India by Lona Lohan till December 31. Where: Rajiv Gandhi Airport, Shamshabad When: Up to December 31 11am to 7pm Contact: (040) 6625 0000 Art exhibition Artist M Narayan’s work is on display. Narayan graduated from the Ken School of Art. He has participated in over 30 solo exhibitions and is known for his rural depictions. Where: Shrishti Art Gallery, Road no. 15, Jubilee Hills When: Up to January 2 Contact: (040) 2354 0023
SHOWS Musical night A night of ghazals by singer Hariharan. Where: Chowmahalla Palace, Khilwath Road Moti Gali, Charminar When: December 23 7pm onwards
Contact: 93965 55888 A-Bong Live A-Bong is a group of music enthusiast Bengalis from Hyderabad. Where: La Makaan, Lane Adjacent To C-Bay , Banjara Hills. When: January 6 5pm onwards Contact: 93965 55888 Alexander Jaya Prakash Reddy is performing a 100 minute solo. He plays a retired army officer who wants to help people with their problems by starting a helpline. It is scripted by writer Pusala. Where: Ravindra Bharathi, Public Gardens, Nampally, H-01, Abids
Commissioner & Spl Officer
Helpline GAS BOOKING IVRS NO HP 9666023456 Indane 9848824365 BSNL Complaints HMWS & SB Complaints
198 155313
POLICE CONTROL ROOM Hyderabad 27852435 Traffic Control Room 27852482 DCP Traffic 23234065, 23243499F Pollution Control Board 23887500 ELECTRICITY General Complaints Breakdown Section
PLAY TIME: A child plays with a scooter-cycle at Shilparamam park.
155333 23431178 23431179
MUNICIPAL CORPORATION
23262266 24166666R ENC 23225267 Engineering 23220418 MCH Tankbund 23225397 Emergency MCH Circle I&II 24525842 MCH Circle III 24736912 MCH Circle IV 23326975 MCH Circle V 23326976 MCH Circle VI MCH Complaints 1100 Head Office 23225397 IVRS CUM MANUAL ENQUIRY PHONE NUMBERS (TRAIN & RESERVATION) RAILWAYS Rail Nilayam 27833169, 27824216 Railway Information 131 Reservations 135 Recorded Information 1345 Enquiry (IVRS) 1331, 1332, 1333
SRINIVAS SETTY
When: January 6, 7pm to 9pm Contact: (040) 2324 9045
Begumpet When: December 24 Contact: (040) 2340 0132
Christmas carols Christmas carols will be sung by Global Edge school till the end of December at The Lobby. Where: Novotel & HICC Complex, PO Bag No 1101, Cyberabad Post Office, Near Hitec City When: December 3-31 Contact: (040) 6682 4422
Christmas brunch There is a Christmas Day Turkey Brunch at Marriott Hotel and Convention Center. Europeaninspired Ginger Bread House started from December 15. Where: Okra, Hyderabad Marriott Hotel and Convention Center When: December 25, 12.30pm to 4pm
DINING Christmas Eve buffet Traditional turkey buffet and unlimited beverages will be served at Deccan Pavilion. There will also be live entertainment. Where: Deccan Pavilion,
WATER SUPPLY Complaint Cell Sewerage Complaint Hyd. Water Supply HOSPITAL General Hospital, Sec-bad Niloufer Hospital, Red Hills NIMS, Director, Punjagutta Osmania General Hospital Railway Hospital, Lalaguda Apollo, Jubilee Hills Care Hospital, Banjara Hills Care Hospital, Nampally Care Hospital, Musheerabad Care Hospital, Sec-bad Kamineni Hospital, LB Nagar
155313 23307328 23313163
27505566 23314095 23390933 24600146 27001134 23607777 30418888 30417777 30419000 30416666 39879999
BLOOD BANKS Blood Bank,Narayanguda Chiranjeevi Blood Bank Blood Bank Mediton Goal Red Cross, Vidyanagar ADRM Blood Bank Mythri Charitable Trust NTR Memorial Trust Care Banjara Hills
Christmas hampers Taj Krishna is giving out Luxury Santa Hampers and Deluxe Santa Hampers, which include Remy Martin Xo, Lagavulin 16, luxury Canali tie, Rose petal jam with cane sugar, Kalmata Olives, assorted Christmas chocolate and plum cakes to name a few. Where: Taj Krishna When: Ongoing Contact: (040) 6666 2323
MISCELLANEOUS Chai-Pakora Run To spread the word about India Bike Week being held in Goa on 2-3 February 2013, a chai-pakora run will be organised in Hyderabad.
27567892 23559555 23226624 27633087 27035588 27550238 30799999 30418296 30417445
AMBULANCES Apollo 23548888, 23607777 Kamineni 24022222 Medwin 23202902, 23204616 Smile Line Dental Hospital 23747979 Red Cross 27627973 Niloufer Hospital 23314095 Gandhi 23320332 AIRLINES
Pochampally IKAT mela Pochampally Handloom Park is organising IKAT Mela, exhibiting handloom products like hand made bed & home linen, dress materials, home textiles, stoles , scarves, sarees, and dupatta. among others. Where: The National Small Industries Corporation (NSIC) Exhibition Center Radhika Theater Road, Kamalanagar, Kushaiguda When: December 21 to 31 from 10am to 9:30pm Contact: 95429 76567
Airport Director 27903785, 27906001 For Air India Flight Information Toll free (from any network) for IC Flights 18001801407 And for All Flights: 1800227722 Air India has revised its flight timings. For more information call (Toll free) 18001801407, 1800227722 from BSNL/MTNL 04023430334 from other lines and mobile Website; www.airindia.in TOURISM OFFICES AP Tourism, Hyd 23262152/53/54 Sec-bad 27893100 Dept of Tourism 23453110 India Tourism 23261360 AP Tourism information Centre (24x7) 23450444, 23455999 UK VISA OFFICE VFS India Pvt Ltd Building, 8-2-542/A, Sunil Chamber, Road No. 7
Beside Meridian School, Banjara Hills34. Working hours are from 8 AM to 1 PM And 2 PM to 3PM. MUSEUMS Salar Jung Museum AP State Museum Nizams Museum
24523211 232431300/7641 24521029
Readers’ views
We invite you to write to us comments, suggestions, viewpoint or just about anything to feedback@postnoon.com or #1246, Level 3, Jubilee Casa, Road No 62, Jubilee Hills, Hyderabad – 500 033 or even by way of a call on 4067 2222
FRIDAY, DECEMBER 21, 2012 HYDERABAD
CITY VIEW
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WWW.POSTNOON.COM
32 PAGES
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While last year was one full of rioting and strikes, this year some other important issues took the fore. We take a look at some of the things that affected the City in the past 11 months.
P14&15
HYDERABAD’S FIRST COMPACT AFTERNOON NEWSPAPER
‘RAYALASEEMA WON’T SIT SILENT IF T IS GRANTED’
COUNTDOWN BEGINS FOR KALMADI
A CBI court has ordered framing of charges by January 10 against sacked CWG chief Suresh Kalmadi and others in the CWG scam. He faces cheating, forgery and criminal conspiracy charges under the anti-graft law.
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REPORT ON P2
FLASH
GUV SNUBS KIRAN
Chief Minister Kiran Kumar Reddy today suffered a setback when Governor ESL Narasimhan returned R&B minister Dharmana Prasada Rao’s file. The Cabinet had disapproved prosecution of the minister by the CBI in the Vanpic project case. The Governor has suggested going for more legal advice.
MARADONA TOP IRAQ CANDIDATE
An Argentine football official says Diego Maradona is a leading candidate to take over as coach of Iraq’s national team. The Iraq football association will meet today and complete an offer to Maradona, say reports.
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TG Venkatesh, Congress leader and minister from Rayalaseema, said he would lead an agitation for a separate Rayalaseema state if statehood is granted to Telangana.
THE NEXT WEB Websites that end with .com are so 2000 as companies have started bidding on new Internet domain names that end with .shop, .hotel or .news. ICANN, which oversees the Internet’s addressing system, is leading the expansion.
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city FRIDAY, DECEMBER 21, 2012
POLITICS
LAST YEAR... HERE ‘Punish errant cops’
‘Rayalaseema won’t sit silent if T is granted’
L
ast year Postnoon reported on the incidents of policemen being involved in crimes in the City. City police commissioner AK Kahn said errant cops should be punished severely. Various cases had surfaced last year, including a constable misbehaving with a woman, another hanging himself after shooting a woman constable and an SI accepting bribes.
DECEMBER 21, 2012
NUMEROLOGY
800
Projects worth `800 crore were sanctioned by the Centre in 2005-06 under JNNURM, but the GHMC has failed to complete most of these. The deadline was this December.
In this competitive world, enrolling to regular courses is getting highly competitive, so online education is a wonderful alternative. Ramakrishna R, UoH VC See page 4
THINGS WE 5LEARNT TODAY The column that teaches everyone something new about the way the City functions.
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Use the country’s resources wisely! The GHMC has failed to utilise crores of rupees allotted to it by the central government almost six years back. It is now resorting to desperate last minute measures.
2
A word of caution before you donate. Two men have been arrested by the Kalapathar police for collecting money from the public in the name of charity and social service. Make sure your money goes into the right hands.
3
Take advantage of online courses! The University of Hyderabad is planning to offer many online courses soon.
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Indian police gets older and wiser? The AP police celebrated the 150th anniversary of the Indian Police. We will hopefully see lower crime rates in the years to come.
5
Love historical places? Head to Warangal! A three-day festival will be held at the three historic symbols of the Kakatiya dynasty.
Congress leader TG Venkatesh from Rayalaseema region says he will not mind quitting Congress if statehood is given to Telangana. INKESHAF AHMED ahmed.m@postnoon.com
‘A separate Telangana state will prove to be a death warrant for the party in Andhra Pradesh.’
C
ongress leader and minister from Rayalaseema, TG Venkatesh, said on Friday he would lead an agitation from the front for a separate Rayalaseema state if his party gives in and grants statehood to Telangana. The minister hinted that if a separate Telangana is formed, he would not mind quitting the Congress and would float a Rayalaseema front or join YSRC. Venkatesh said a united Andhra would ensure growth in all regions.
The minister said that granting of Telangana would be a folly, and the Congress will vanish from the State. “My party leaders are not fools to allow
ELECTIONS
such a thing, I am sure, but there is a chance that the party leadership may make a firm commitment on T before the general elections. But I want to sound a warning that a separate Telangana state will prove to be a death warrant for the party in Andhra Pradesh.” Venkatesh insists many Congress leaders from Andhra and Rayalaseema are of similar views.
The ensuing All Party Meeting of UPA government on the Telangana issue seems to be creating ripples in the State’s ruling Congress party. Many Rayalaseema and Andhra cabinet ministers will quit the party if it extends support to a separate telangana state at the meet. “To me, as to many leaders from Rayalaseema region, opinion of people is paramount. If they think I should leave the Congress party and join rival parties in case of creation of a separate Telangana state, I will do so,” he said. “The creation of a separate state would not be at the cost of Rayalaseema’s development.”
CHARITY AND CELEBRATIONS
State BJP cheers Modi T
he State BJP conveyed its greetings to Narendra Modi for his hat-trick win in the elections and celebrated by distributing sweets at the State BJP office, bursting crackers and dancing. In a press note issued on Thursday, State BJP president G Kishan Reddy said nations like Briton and America have been eagerly awaiting the Gujarat election results. He said the people of India wished Modi wins and the people of Gujarat gave him clear majority, though the Congress tried to malign him. Of the seven sitting MPs Congress fielded, five MPs lost. He said the Gujarat election has given direction to the 2014 general elections in the nation and also to Chattisghad, MP, Rajasthan 2013 assembly elections. NSS
On the occasion of the 40th birthday of YSRC chief YS Jagan, there were a series of public services including a blood donation camp and provision of wheelchairs for physically challenged people at party headquarters in Jubilee Hills and Moti Nagar. His family met him at Chanchalguda jail and wished him. N SHIVA KUMAR
NEWS BRIEFS Power tariff hike by coming April
Helmet, seat belt rules to be strict
Fake foreign liquor seized
Building momentum for Telugu conference
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he latest power tariff hike proposed by DISCOM will come into effect by April 2013. Domestic consumer sector will see hike of 16 per cent and industrial sector by 15 per cent. Agricultural sector will continue to get power at current tariff rates. The hike is expected to fetch around `6,000 crore and reduce the `23,000 crore debt on DISCOMs.
he traffic police have decided to strictly enforce seat belt and helmet rules from this new year. Contact and non-contact mechanism for booking violators will be introduced. The non-contact initiatives such as use of surveillance cameras and speed guns will be installed in more places to regulate the traffic.
leuths of excise department seized fake foreign liquor in Banjara Hills this morning. The sleuths have also arrested three people involved with the crime. According to the officials, the cost of the liquor in open market is `20 lakh. The investigation is on in the case to find out more details related to these fake liquors.
cycle rally, Telugu Vijay Yatra, was flagged off by AP official language commission chiarman M Bhuddha Prasad this morning at Sanjeevaiah park. The cycle rally is being jointly organized by AP Knowledge Network and Atlanta organisation. The cycle rally will reach Tirupathi, the conference venue, before December 27.
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city FRIDAY, DECEMBER 21, 2012
CRIME
Beware of ‘charity’ gangs
CRIME
Centred around places of worship are gangs that masquerade as Good Samaritans but are, in fact, only collecting funds for one Shukur, who made a lucrative business from this fraud. Mohd SUBHAN mohd.s@postnoon.com
T
hey would look genuine, what with their mien and manner. Anyone would take them for two do-gooders doing charity work, but the duo happened to be part of a big chain that played on the charitable sentiments of god-fearing people and collected large amounts. The Kalapathar police on Monday called their bluff and arrested two men — an elderly man and a youngster — who went around mosques and distributed printed material stating that they were building mosques, madrassas for the deprived and that they also married off poor girls. For all these, funds are required and the charitable public is requested to contribute. The police said Abdul Nayeem, 25, and Syed Pasha, 70, thus collected large sums as they positioned themselves at vantage points in the vicinity of mosques during namaz. Those coming out used to dole out money. But the police say it was not these two but another man who took
The two arrested would go around mosques, distributing printed material stating that they were building mosques and madrassas. away the money. It is an organised gang and the kingpin is one Mohd Shukur, who has escaped after getting news of his protégés being caught. According to details made available by the police, Mohd Shukur, 45, is a resident of Vattepally of Old City, who found that much money could
be made out of the charitable public. Poor girls’ marriage, aid to poor children, and building of mosques struck a chord with most religious-minded people, he realised. Accordingly, he organised several gangs and stationed them at various places for fund collection. What’s more, this has been going on for many years and Shukur has made a pile, while also helping the unemployed get a ‘profitable vocation.’ It was some alert devotees of Basharath Nagar, Kalapathar, who confronted the duo and searched their bags. They found fake wedding cards, a receipt book for chanda (donations) and such other materials used to trick the public. On interrogation, it was revealed that Shukur gave them `150 a day and they were collecting `800`1,000 a day. They are not sure of Shukur’s operations but it is said he has at least a dozen such gangs in various places of the City. This means, at a conservative estimate, the ‘charity’ company’s turnover would be easily `60,000 a day. Inspector Majeed of Kalapathar police station is hopeful of netting Shukur soon.
(Left) The victim, Mohd Amjad; the murder weapon
Man kills wife’s ‘lover’ Flew into a rage when he saw his close friend sneaking out of his house.
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A
n agriculturist of Guddur village in RR district, Mohd Amjad, was allegedly murdered by his close friend K Srisailam, 36, as the latter suspected Amjad, 35, of having sexual relations with his wife in his absence. Amjad and his wife had denied this. The childhood friends were both married and have children. Trouble began after Srisailam got suspicious that Amjad was having an affair with his wife when he was not at home. On Tuesday night, Srisailam reportedly spotted Amjad sneaking out of his home and he flew into a rage. Srisailam pinned
Amjad down and hit his head with a boulder. As people gathered on hearing screams and shouting, Srisailam ran to the police station and surrendered. He told the police the story of deceit his wife and his friend played on him. Amjad, with serious injuries, was shifted to a hospital, but died later. However, inspector G Venugopal, who is investigating the case, said Srisailam had borrowed `30,000 from Amjad and he could not return it. Amjad is said to have been ‘recovering the dues’ by having sex with Srisailam’s wife. During interrogation, Srisailam denied he had taken money from Amjad. They were all just baseless allegations to justify the wrong, he told the police.
CULTURE
Kakatiya celebrations kick off
The three-day festival will be held at the three historic symbols of the Kakatiya dynasty, and will feature performances by famous artistes. INKESHAF AHMED ahmed.m@postnoon.com
SRINIVAS SETTY
These celebrations are being held to mark the completion of 750 years of the reign of Queen Rudrama Devi, the ruler of Kakatiya dynasty.
T
he Telangana region is gearing up for the historic Kakatiya celebrations from today. Chief Minister N Kiran Kumar Reddy, along with Union tourism minister K Chiranjeevi, will inaugurate the three-day gala in Warangal this afternoon. These celebrations are the first of their kind in Telangana, being held by the State government to mark the completion of 750 years of the reign of Queen Rudrama Devi, the ruler of Kakatiya dynasty. The three historic symbols of the Kakatiya dynasty — Warangal Fort, Thousand Pillar Temple and Ramappa Temple — have been adorned with massive lighting systems and decorative items by the authorities of the State government.
The Thousand Pillar Temple in Warangal
As part of the programme, the first day of the celebrations will have cultural performances by famous artistes. These artists include prominent Mridangam player Ella Venkateswara Rao.
Kuchipudi danseuses Radha Raja Reddy and Kala Krishna will perform in front of the VIPs and the huge gathering of people who would converge from across the State to witness the celebra-
tions. The first day of the celebrations are being held at Warangal Fort. On the second day, the venue of the celebrations will be the famous Ramappa Temple, which stood witness to many historical developments. The third day of the celebrations will be held at the historic Thousand Pillar Temple, which attracts tourists from across the country. Speaking to Postnoon this morning, minister of IT and communications Ponnala Lakshmaiah, who hails from the same dis-
trict, said that the State government had made elaborate arrangements for the successful conduct of the Kakatiya celebrations. “We want to leave an indelible mark on the minds of the people by successfully conducting the celebrations,” he said.
YEAR-LONG PROGRAMMES PLANNED After the conclusion of the threeday celebrations, the State authorities are planning to hold yearlong celebrations in all the areas which were ruled by the Kakatiya rulers in the past. The authorities are currently in the process of figuring out the places and nature of cultural programmes to be held. According to Lakshmaiah, the year-long programmes will help the people recall the rule of Kakatiyas and bring awareness among the citizens.
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city FRIDAY, DECEMBER 21, 2012
CIVIC
Scrambling to retain funds On Thursday, Mayor Mohd Majid Hussain and GHMC commissioner Krishna Babu went into panic mode with the hope of retaining massive JNNURM funds. FILE PHOTO
Md NIZAMUDDIN nizamuddin.a@postnoon.com
Projects worth `800 crore were sanctioned under JNNURM, but GHMC has failed to complete most of these. The deadline for completion is December this year.
T
he fear of losing JNNURM (Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission) funds prompted the mayor and other officials to act in desperation. As a last ditch effort before the year ends, he convened several meetings with the officials on Thursday. As part of these hectic efforts, Majid Hussain, along with GHMC officials, inspected the Fatehnagar Nallah, where widening of the works was taken up on Thursday. According to the mayor, the nallah was actually 180ft wide, but due to some reasons, was revised to 120ft wide (read encroached). Apart from this, the GHMC was also considering taking up works related to Chemical Nallah. While interacting with the
locals, he said, “We may lose the aid.” Projects worth `800 crore were sanctioned under JNNURM, but GHMC has failed to complete most of these. Most of these works were sanctioned by the Central government in 2005 and 2006.The deadline for completion of these projects is December this year. According to some reports, it’s up to the Centre to grant or not to grant more time. But the kind of haste seen now points to the possibility
EDUCATION
UoH to go online
of losing the aid. In July this year, the GHMC commissioner decided to hold co-ordination meetings to sort out the issue with contractors, but nothing appears to have helped the GHMC. The issues with the contractors continue to be the biggest problem for the corporation. A permanent solution for solving the nallah encroachment problem was suggested by the minister for municipal administration and urban development M Maheedhar Reddy several months ago. But as the rainy season gave way to winter, the issue of nallahs was again put on the back burner. Now, with the fear of losing funds provided by the Centre, the GHMC is making frantic efforts. But many officials believe that rehabilitation of the people will be the biggest hurdle in the process.
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The university plans to offer online courses soon, and is certain that many will opt for them.
ANUBHA K SINGH anubha.k@postnoon.com
T
he internet has revolutionised education. With numerous universities and organisations offering free online courses, online learning has become popular among teenagers, collegians and working professionals. Now, the University of Hyderabad is also set to join the online education race. It will be the first central university in Hyderabad to offer online courses. “School of Education will be our new, important project. We are working on
the idea and very soon, we will finalise the subjects. Online education is fast becoming a major preferred mode of education among students. In this competitive world, enrolling to regular courses is increasingly getting highly competitive in India, so online education is a wonderful alternative and I am sure several students will opt for this,” said University vice-chancellor Ramakrishna Ramaswamy. “Thanks to Coursera (an online learning site), many are now aware about online education and it’s now catching up in India too. The main advantage of taking an online education course is students will not have to make any alteration in their daily routine. In fact, an additional degree might add an extra zing to their resume and be helpful for students in improving in their career prospects. One more advantage of the School of Education will be that students can attend the classes and learn the course by sitting in the comfort of their home. Students will not have to travel anywhere to get the degree,” he added. Though online education is yet to pick up in India as compared to other countries, the University of Hyderabad is sure that the idea will be a hit in the City.
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classifieds FRIDAY, DECEMBER 21, 2012 HEALTH / CLINIC
REPORTERS’ DIARY
Lose the trouble mongers I
there is no guessing for what his wish would be: Lord, may I be pardoned, I will do any penance.
t is sad that our democracy has degenerated to ‘vote catching’ exercise while it ignores the human values and nation’s interests. Recently a group of wellmeaning senior citizens of various communities from the Old City went to the police commissioner’s office and submitted a petition that they were facing a tumultuous situation due to mischief played by certain vested interests in both the Muslim and the Hindu communities. The citizens pointed out how the MIM MLA Akbaruddin Owaisi and the VHP leader Pravin Togadia
INTERIOR
On Tuesday those on urgent business got stuck at Nagole crossing where the road was taken over by the Vasthunna Meekosam of TDP activists. had been polluting the minds of the two communities. Owaisi has challenged the government to come without the police and the paraphernalia and face the Muslim community. The issue was the temple renovation at Charminar. Soon after Togadia came and roared about Muslim aggression and threatened to turn Hyderabad into an Ayodhya if devotees are prevented from offering puja in the temple. The petitioners said that it was not the leaders but the common man who suffered when the City was troubled. Livelihoods of pushcart vendors, daily wagers, autorikshaw drivers and small shop owners suffered losses. The ill, the elder-
DON’T DO THIS TO US, PLEASE
On Tuesday afternoon those on urgent business got stuck at Nagole crossing where the road was taken over by the Vasthunna Meekosam of TDP activists and no policemen were seen anywhere. The traffic came to a standstill and suffered. These days the sufferance is more since all vehicles keep their machine on for the airconditioner. Hence pollution increases. It’s high time political parties behaved responsibly. What’s preventing protesters from moving in a file so that traffic will not be disrupted? (SS) ly and children too undergo trauma when curfew is imposed. They wanted the commissioner to book both the leaders for instigating the public. Well said, seniors, reporter is one with them. (MS)
TOM-TOM OFFICIAL OF GHMC
The GHMC is a unique mix of additional commissioners. They come in all shapes and sizes and colours — from the most influential to the boastful and from sheepish to boisterous. But among them is one whom the media dreads. He talks all about his past services in the most glorious terms. Newsmen new to the set up fall prey to his self promotion. And, you can spot the victim easily. He will have a dazed look, someone caught in a whirlwind and later cast away. He will have a lot about the official’s biodata, his dashing adventures, his boyhood days, his chivalry. Well,
HEALTH
To advertise on this page, contact: 9866074747 For Secunderabad 9290204030 For H y d e r a b a d - 9866663212
For Cyberabad 9866698879
US FDA approved stent available in City D iabetes is a growing lifestyle disease in India; currently, over 370 million people suffer from diabetes across the globe. The number of diabetic patients are expected to increase to almost 80 million in 2030 in India with 7 million new cases registered each year. Unfortunately, in India diabetes and heart disease often go hand in hand. Diabetic patients who suffer from MI ,coronary-artery bypass grafting has been the standard of care. But minimally invasive procedures are being adopted by doctors. With the introduction of next generation stent in India, diabetic patients have new hope. The Resolute Integrity is the first stent
approved by the US FDA for diabetic patients. Resolute Integrity DES, the innovative technology used, combines the powerful clinical advantages of Resolute DES with the groundbreaking continuous sinusoid technology (CST) that encompasses one continuous, single strand of wire, making each stent comparable to a flexible spring. Dr J Shivkumar, chief of cardiology, Apollo hospitals, Secunderabad, says, “In my opinion Resolute Integrity will be a game changer. Angioplasty in diabetic patients by using FDA approved integrity stents can substitute bypass surgery.” AGENCIES
reporter believes that he is god’s creation to remind us that life is not all a bed of roses. (MN)
SARANAM AYYAPPA!
When the whole governmental machinery and judiciary failed him, he turned to God, and He helped him! This is what former excise minister Mopidevi Venkataramana must be thinking now. Mopidevi, one of the first to be lodged in the central jail in the Vanpic deal case has not been granted bail since his arrest in May this year. But now the CBI Court has granted his prayer for a 10-day interim bail to enable him to undertake a pilgrimage to Sabarimala. Mopidevi is a devotee of Lord Ayyappa and he treks the hillshrine every year during the pilgrimage season. The former minister has been observing the vrat in jail and now he is off to the Lord’s hill. And,
HYDRINGLISH!
Hi-tech city, but low-tech English, that is Hyderabad. Look at the picture where the GHMC board (pictured) miserably tries to convey something to public and ended up in knots! It’s “Charminar Pederation Project Works” and, it’s “inauguration of Street escaping of old city roads.” Well, if anyone could decipher this for us, we would be grateful. The reporter hopes this has not caught the camera of foreign visitors who will have a hearty laugh at our cost! (MS) Tail Piece: Heard in Gandhi Bhavan about the Congress convention on Sunday, “It was a brain-damaging, not brainstorming session. I have a hearing problem after listening to the high-pitched sound pollution for three hours.” (Contributed by Mohd Subhan, Inkeshaf Ahmed, Srinivas Setty and Md Nizamuddin)
HEALTH
Revolutionary
POSTNOON NEWS pollo Hospitals, Hyderabad performed the first coronary angioplasty in India, using Absorb– BVS, on Thursday. The surgery was performed by Dr PC Rath, senior interventional cardiologist, Apollo Hospitals. Absorb-BVS is a revolution-
A
ary device which is made of dissolvable material and is a natural substitute for the metallic stent, currently used to prop open the artery at the site of blockage after an angioplasty. Unlike a metallic stent which remains in the body for lifetime, Absorb-BVS dissolves. The metallic stent being a foreign body sometimes creates side effects. To suppress these side effects the patient has to be on drugs lifelong. Dr Rath and his team implanted Absorb-BVS on a 35year-old male patient, who suffered a massive cardiac arrest 10 days ago. He had a 99 per cent block in one of the main arteries. The patient is recovering well and will be discharged in a couple of days.
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city FRIDAY, DECEMBER 21, 2012
CELEBRATIONS N SHIVA KUMAR
GUARDIANS CELEBRATE 150 YEARS
A
ndhra Pradesh Police celebrated the 150th anniversary of the Indian Police (1861-2011) at a grand event on Thursday at the Parade Grounds in Secunderabad. Chief Minister N Kiran Kumar Reddy was the chief guest at the event and home minister P Sabita Indra Reddy was guest of honour. Director general of police V Dinesh Reddy and other senior officers participated in the event. The CM inaugurated the ninemonth long induction training of stipendary constables on the occasion. Police commandos put up some daredevil acts and a wide array of skills of the police personnel were on display during the event. Khukhri dance by the West Bengal Armed Police and two song and dance sequences by the students of St Francis College for Women and St Ann's College for Women enthralled the audience.
FRIDAY, DECEMBER 21, 2012
focus
EXPONENTIAL GROWTH OF PERMISSIVE GUN LAWS
The number of states with permissive gun laws — which typically only prohibit felons, drug addicts, children and the mentally ill from carrying concealed weapons — expanded from three to 41 in the past 30 years.
US gun lobby in the crosshairs after school massacre
7
The NRA was apolitical until a lobbying branch was formed in 1975 in response to gun control efforts. MIRA OBERMAN feedback@postnoon.com
B
y the time Charlton Heston warned politicians they’d have to pry his guns from his cold dead hands, the National Rifle Association was one of the most powerful lobby groups in the United States. The horrifying slaughter of 20 six- and seven-year-old children and six staff members at a Newport, Connecticut school last week has presented a serious challenge to the NRA’s domination of the gun control debate. After years of insisting that “guns don’t kill people, people kill people," the previously uncompromising group plans to offer “meaningful contributions to help make sure this never happens again” at a press conference Friday. Yet that is unlikely to be a shift from the NRA’s core philosophy that people have a God-given right to defend themselves and that any attempt at serious gun control is a violation of the
Constitution’s Second Amendment. The NRA has long argued that giving law-abiding citizens guns helps to deter crime and that laws will never stop criminals or crazy people from getting or using deadly weapons. NRA newscast host Ginny Simone on Tuesday characterized efforts to renew a ban on assault weapons in the wake of the shooting as something “we all know was a failed experiment from the start." Meanwhile, a number of progun state lawmakers have repeated a solution that critics say is tantamount to giving up on civilized society: arming teachers as the best defense against school shootings.
“THEY CAN SWAY AN ELECTION ONE WAY OR ANOTHER” Founded in 1871 to teach Americans how to use rifles after the general poor level of skill was revealed in the Civil War, the NRA evolved into a popular sportsman’s association that promoted gun safety and training.
The NRA was a rather apolitical organization until a lobbying branch was formed in 1975 in response to gun control efforts. It has become a powerful and feared force in Washington and in state capitols, as have the grades and endorsements it gives lawmakers. “They can sway an election one way or another," Gregg Lee Carter, a sociology professor at Bryant University and author of “Guns in American Society," told AFP. Its success lies not just in the power of about four million card-carrying members and the financial backing of the gun industry, but also in the efficiency and reach of its organization. “If in the state of Rhode Island in conference room 2A they’re going to discuss gun control, the NRA has their members there," Carter told AFP. The number of states with permissive gun laws — which typically only prohibit felons, drug addicts, children and the mentally ill from carrying concealed weapons — expanded from three to 41 in the
past 30 years. The NRA has also helped enact controversial “Stand Your Ground” laws in 25 states that grant immunity from prosecution if people use deadly force because they felt threatened. Its power is also derived from the romanticization of guns in American history and culture. From the American Revolution to the pioneers staking out land on the frontier, guns have long been associated with the American ideals of individualism and self-reliance. As the nation became more urbanized, they also began to be seen as a symbol of a more idyllic rural lifestyle and a rejection of the liberalism of cityfolk. The crime epidemics of the 1970s, 80's and 90's helped the NRA expand its reach by attracting people who sought guns for self-protection.
“EVEN GUN ENTHUSIASTS ARE SAYING THINGS ARE OUT OF CONTROL”
Twenty-seven angel wood cut-outs are set up on hillside in memory to the victims of the elementary school shooting in Newtown, Connecticut. AFP/EMMANUEL DUNAND
The NRA is currently training about 750,000 people a year how to properly handle a gun — many because the courses are required in order to get a permit. They are taught that they cannot count on police for help and must take personal responsibility for the safety of their family.
“From this perspective, the banning of guns translates to the banning of the last line of defense against crime amid what many gun carriers see as crumbling public infrastructure," said University of California, Berkeley sociologist Jennifer Dawn Carlson. “They view the colonial tradition as meaning that if they see the government as becoming tyrannical then by gosh they have the right to pick up their guns and rebel," said Robert Spitzer, author of “The Politics of Gun Control” and a professor at State University of New York at Cortland. The NRA needs to soften its hardline positions if it hopes to survive, said Douglas Kellner, an expert on school shootings and domestic terrorism at the University of California, Los Angeles. “Even gun enthusiasts are saying things are out of control," Kellner told AFP. “We have to get these assault weapons off the streets and be more careful about background checks." Americans spend an estimated $3.5 billion annually on guns and critics say that appetite is largely fueled by the NRA. America has suffered an epidemic of gun violence over the last three decades, including 62 mass shooting sprees since 1982, three of the deadliest in the second half of this year alone. AFP
8
FRIDAY, DECEMBER 21, 2012
Business
S&P CUTS CYPRUS RATING TO CCC+
Standard and Poor's slashed Cyprus' credit rating Thursday by two notches to CCC+, saying the eurozone member was facing increasing financial pressure, with bailout negotiations still unfinished.
BANKING
PAY FOR FB MESSAGES
KYC norms eased
After complaints piled up over the hassles of Know Your Customer norms, the Reserve Bank of India has issued clarifications — a much-needed relief. NUPUR PAVAN BANG AND PURVEE HETAMSARIA
“T
he KYC (Know Your C u s t o m e r ) Guidelines were formulated to protect the financial system against threat of money laundering/terror financing and frauds”, said Prof Nicky, when she was asked about their purpose by one of the new first year student. Prof. Nicky: But why do you ask? Student: I have been trying to open a savings bank account in a bank which has a branch just outside my home. The executive wanted a host of documents which I provided to him. But he is asking for separate identification and address proofs. I gave him my passport which also has my address. But he says that
he needs an electricity bill or a bank statement as an address proof. Now where do I get that from? There is no separate electricity bill for me. It's on my father's name. Also, I want a bank account because I don't have one. Prof. Nicky: Oh! In that case you need not worry any more. Just a couple of days back, the Reserve Bank of India, the regulator for all banks in India, revised the guidelines for KYC. To ease the burden in complying with the KYC requirements for opening new
TECHNOLOGY BlackBerry maker RIM manages $9 mn profit NEW YORK: BlackBerry maker Research in Motion on Thursday reported a small profit after three consecutive quarterly losses, offering some optimism for the struggling smartphone maker. The Canadian based firm posted a net profit was $9 million in the fiscal third quarter ending December 1 despite the loss of one million subscribers.
accounts, RBI has now notified that if the address on the document submitted for identity proof is same as that declared in the account opening form, the document may be accepted as a valid proof of both identity and address. Student: Ah... that solves at least part of my problems. Prof. Nicky: You must keep in mind though, that this happens only if you give the same address in the form as mentioned in the proof that you have provided. Student: Ok. That is what I have done. Though I have another problem. P r o f . Nicky: A n d that is?
RBI has notified that introduction is not necessary any more under the KYC guidelines. Student: The executive has also asked me for an introduction from an existing customer. My parents have accounts in a different bank. I do not know of anyone who has an account with this bank. What am I to do? Prof. Nicky: You are in luck lady! Seems like RBI has been taking note of your prayers! RBI has notified that introduction is not necessary any more under the KYC guidelines. So the bank should not insist on introduction for opening an account. So call back the executive and ask him to update himself with the newest changes and then open your account. Student: I must thank RBI for these changes. This problem was being faced by a few of my other friends too. I must go and inform them too about these developments. Thank you, as usual!
Google Play growing fast
That profit compared with a loss of $235 million in the second quarter and a gain a year ago of $265 million. RIM said a more accurate picture comes after adjustments to the net figure to reflect various tax and restructuring costs, which results in an adjusted loss of $114 million. AFP
SAN FRANCISCO: Google's online Play shop of applications for Android-powered smartphones or tablets is growing fast, a report released Thursday by market tracker Distimo said. The aggregate daily revenue at Google Play shops across the 20 largest countries where they are available climbed 43 percent during the past four months, while sales
at Apple's online App Store increased 21 percent. "Google Play is just starting to rival the Apple App Store in a few countries on a worldwide scale, even though it is still losing in terms of daily revenues," Distimo said in the report. Daily revenue at Google Play was just shy of $3.5 million, according to Distimo.
NUMEROLOGY
$400
for
for
DOLLAR `55.13 POUND `89.55
mn
is the credit Russia's Vnesheconombank will provide to Indonesia to finance purchases of aircraft and related equipment from Russia's arms export company.
RAIDS AT DEUTSCHE BANK Deutsche Bank offices have been searched for the second time in a week, the German bank said on Thursday, adding the latest were linked to a legal battle with the heirs of late media mogul Leo Kirch. A spokesman for Germany's biggest bank said the raid at its headquarters in the western city of Frankfurt were part of a probe into alleged false statements under oath by former members of the board of directors. "The bank continues to be convinced that these accusations are going to prove unfounded," a spokesman said.
THUS SPAKE The President will work with Congress to get this done and we are hopeful that we will be able to find a bipartisan solution quickly that protects the middle class and our economy,
AFP
GOLD`30,880 10g SILVER `57,871 1kg
24C
Facebook on Thursday began testing the feasibility of charging to guarantee that messages from strangers make it into inboxes of intended recipients at the social network. Dabbling with getting people to pay to connect with Facebook members comes as the social network strives to tap the potential to make money from its membership base of more than a billion people. The Facebook Messages test, limited to the US, lets a sender pay a dollar to make sure an electronic missive is routed to someone's "inbox" even when the person isn't in their circle of friends.
BSE NSE
JAY CARNEY, WHITE HOUSE PRESS SECRETARY
19,336.60 117.32
5,874.70 41.70
9
FRIDAY, DECEMBER 21, 2012
nation
TWO HELD IN MATA MATHA FIRING
A week after a businessman was killed and his father critically injured at Mata Matha, two persons have been arrested. The police claimed that the motive behind the incident was robbery.
DELHI BUS RAPE
REMEMBERING SHANKAR
Fifth accused arrested from UP With this, four persons have been arrested in connection to the incident which sparked a nation-wide outrage. NEW DELHI: The fifth accused in the brutal gang-rape of a young paramedical student here was arrested from Uttar Pradesh, police said today. “The fifth accused has been arrested in the rape case. His age is being verified before giving details. If minor, we have to hold back his particulars as per law,” Delhi Police Commissioner Neeraj Kumar said on Twitter. With this, four persons have been arrested in the Sunday night incident which sparked widespread outrage across the country. Sources said the fifth accused was arrested from Badaun in Uttar Pradesh even as there were reports that the sixth accused has been picked from Bareilly. However, police is yet to confirm it. Yesterday, one of the four accused in the case was “identified” by the victim’s friend during a Test Identification Parade (TIP) at Tihar Jail here. The 23-year-old victim’s male friend, an engineer in a software company, identified Mukesh during TIP, a senior police official said. Out of the four accused, only
CRIME
Four officials kidnapped IMPHAL: Four officials, including a section officer of the Manipur electricity department, have been kidnapped by suspected Kuki militants for a ransom of `5 lakh in Chandel district bordering Myanmar. Reports from the district said the gunmen barged into the office of the state electricity department at Tengnoupal hill area on Wednesday and kidnapped the section officer and his subordinate staff members. The abductors also took away Singh’s official vehicle. The kidnappers rang up members of the staff and demanded a ransom of `5 lakh for the safe release of the officials. PTI
The accused face charges under sections 365 (kidnapping or abducting), 376 (2)(g) (gang rape), 377 (unnatural offences), 394 (hurting in committing robbery) and 34 (common intention) of IPC. Mukesh had agreed to TIP when he was produced before a court here yesterday. Other accused — Ram Singh, Pawan and Vinay — had refused to undergo TIP. According to the official, the positive identification of Mukesh by the friend, who was also beaten up by the gang before the men allegedly raped the girl, is a shot in the arm of the prosecution as it would help them nail the rest. Investigators had earlier pressed charges against them under sections 365 (kidnapping or abducting), 376 (2)(g) (gang rape), 377 (unnatural offences), 394 (hurting in committing robbery) and 34 (common intention) of IPC. PTI
Olivia Harrison, widow of the late ex-Beatle George Harrison, looks skyward following her words to those in attendance for the Ravi Shankar Memorial at the Self Realization Fellowship grounds in Encinitas, California on Thursday. At a memorial service near his southern California home in Encinitas, his wife Sukanya and daughters Anushka and Norah Jones were joined by hundreds of people as well as other music greats like Zubin Mehta. AFP/FREDERIC J BROWN
CWG SCAM
Court orders charges against Kalmadi NEW DELHI: A Delhi court today ordered framing of charges against sacked CWG organising committee Chairman Suresh Kalmadi and others for offences of forgery, cheating and conspiracy in a Games-related graft case. Special CBI Judge Talwant Singh passed the order on framing of charges against Kalmadi, former OC secretarygeneral Lalit Bhanot and nine others for illegally awarding a contract to a Swiss firm. The court said “prima facie” charges of cheating, forgery, criminal conspiracy and for offences under the provisions of the Prevention of Corruption Act are made out against eight accused persons and three firms. The accused have been charge sheeted by the CBI for “illegally” awarding a contract to install Timing, Scoring and Results system for the 2010 CWG to Swiss Timing at an inflated rates causing a loss of over `90 crore to the public exchequer. The other accused are: OC’s VK Verma, Surjit Lal, ASV Prasad and M Jayachandran. Promoters of two construction firms — PD Arya and AK Madan of Faridabad-based Gem International and AK Reddy of Hyderabad-based AKR Constructions are also accused in the case. PTI
POLITICAL DRAMA
Digvijay granted bail in Gadkari defamation case
NEW DELHI: Congress leader Digvijay Singh was today granted bail by a Delhi court in connection with a criminal defamation case filed against him by BJP president Nitin Gadkari. Singh appeared before Metropolitan Magistrate Sudesh Kumar in pursuance to the
summons issued against him by the court on November 17 and the judge granted bail to him on a personal bond of`50,000 and a surety of the like amount. Outside the court, Singh told reporters that he will now prove all his charges against Gadkari. “Now I can say everything in front of the court the way Gadkari has worked as a businessman and how he has links with various other businessmen, which all companies of his were fake and how he earned profits,” he said. The court after finding “prima facie” evidence against Singh had directed him to appear before it to face trial. PTI
PICK YOUR
@
Across Stores
ities Twin C
FRIDAY, DECEMBER 21, 2012
World Girl held for threatening slaughter
PETER MADOFF SENTENCED TO 10 YEARS Peter Madoff, brother of shamed US financier Bernard Madoff, was sentenced Thursday to 10 years in prison for cooking the books at the family investment firm. Peter Madoff, 67, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit securities fraud during his role as book keeper for Bernard’s once widely heralded but in fact fraudulent Wall Street firm.
MARITIME DISPUTE
GOP DROPS PLAN B
China ships return to troubled waters The move is a setback to hopes that Beijing might use the poll as a chance for a fresh start after months of bitter wrangling.
LOS ANGELES: Police in Arizona said they arrested Thursday a 16 year-old female student who threatened in an online video to “kill everyone” at her high school then kill herself. The young woman was a student of Red Mountain high school, in Mesa, a suburb of Phoenix, the office of Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio said in a statement. “The threat was posted on a YouTube channel owned by a transgender community in Toronto, Canada,” the statement read. The channel owner contacted Toronto police, who tracked the person that posted the video to the suburbs of Phoenix. Canadian police then contacted the sheriff’s office late Wednesday, and within three hours they were able to find the suspect’s home in Mesa. Detectives went to the home, questioned the teen in the presence of her parents, then arrested her “after she admitted to posting the threat.” The YouTube post alludes to the Sandy Hook Elementary School massacre, but said that she had planned her attack “well in advance” of the shooting there. AFP
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House Speaker John Boehner, the top Republican in Congress, scrapped a vote Thursday on a back-up plan to avoid the fiscal cliff crisis, acknowledging he did not have sufficient support. “The House did not take up the tax measure today because it did not have sufficient support from our members to pass,” Boehner said in a statement shortly after calling a snap meeting of his Republicans ahead of a floor vote.
NUMEROLOGY
$22.7
TOKYO: Chinese state-owned ships entered the territorial waters of disputed islands Friday, Japan’s coastguard said, in the first intrusion since a new government was elected in Tokyo. The move is a setback to hopes in Japan that Beijing might use the poll as a chance for a fresh start after months of bitter wrangling and rhetoric over an issue that neither side is prepared to budge on. “Three Chinese surveillance ships entered the territorial waters near Kubajima,” said a Japanese coastguard official, referring to one of the islands in the Senkaku chain, known as Diaoyu in China. The coastguard said three Chinese ships were spotted northwest of Kubajima island at
China has sent its official ships into the islands’ waters 19 times since Tokyo nationalised the chain in September, the coastguard said. around 10.20am (0120 GMT). A fisheries patrol ship was also in contiguous waters 37 kilometres (23 miles) westnorthwest of Uotsurijima island, it said. China has sent its official ships into the islands’ waters 19 times since Tokyo nationalised the chain in September, the coastguard said, with analysts saying Beijing intends to prove it can come and go as it pleases
in the area. The ante was upped last week when a Chinese plane overflew the area, in what Japan said was the first time Beijing had breached its airspace since at least 1958. Tokyo scrambled fighter jets in response. But the State Oceanic Administration vessels have remained outside the 12-nautical-mile ring of the archipelago’s territorial waters since Sunday’s election, in which Shinzo Abe swept to power. “Japan and China need to share the recognition that having good relations is in the national interests of both countries,” he said. “China lacks this recognition a little bit. I want them to think anew about mutually beneficial strategic relations.” AFP
NEWS BRIEFS Nuclear reactor shut after Slab of Barrier Reef sea sea water infiltration floor breaking off
US House approves defense spending bill
More doomsday sect arrests in China
STOCKHOLM: A reactor in Sweden’s biggest nuclear plant was stopped Thursday after an infiltration of sea water, the operator Vattenfall and the national nuclear industry watchdog said. “There is no safety problem” at Reactor 4 at the Ringhals plant near Gothenburg in the country’s southwest, nuclear authority inspector Jan Gällsjo said.
WASHINGTON: The US House passed a $633 billion defense authorisation bill Thursday that includes fresh sanctions against Iran and funds the war in Afghanistan, while offering compromise language on military detention of US citizens. In addition to covering standard security expenses, it also provides a 1.7per cent pay raise for the military.
BEIJING: China has detained more than 100 members of a Christian sect accused of predicting doomsday, state media said, taking the total held beyond 1,000 as officials denied cold weather was apocalypse-related. More than 90 members of “Almighty God”, the Christian sect were detained in the central province of Henan.
SYDNEY: A huge slab of sea floor near the Great Barrier Reef is in the early stages of collapse and could generate a tsunami when it finally breaks off, researchers warned Friday. Marine geologists from Australia’s James Cook University have been using advanced 3D mapping techniques on the deepest parts of the reef since 2007.
million
Britain has paid out $22.7 million to Iraqis who accuse British troops of illegally detaining and torturing them following the 2003 invasion, the Ministry of Defence said Thursday.
INTERVENTION APPROVED The UN Security Council on Thursday unanimously approved sending an African-led military force to help reconquer northern Mali from Islamist militants. A Security Council resolution gave the force an initial one-year mandate to use “all necessary measures” to help Mali’s government take back territory from “terrorist, extremist and armed groups.” But the 15-member council said military force can only be used after political efforts are exhausted and insisted that military plans will have to be refined and approved before any offensive starts.
In recent days we have had moments of worry, uncertainty and pain... because a leader like Hugo Chavez comes along just once every 200 years. Nicolas Maduro Venezuela vice-prez
11
FRIDAY, DECEMBER 21, 2012
Technology BEYOND .COM MOST COMPETITIVE gTLD NAMES Because two or more applicans can’t be granted the same top-level domain name, certain strings end up being more contentious than others. In these cases, applicants have the option to partner up with other competing applicants, file a formal objection if rules apply, or let the gTLD go to auction where competitors can bid on the name. Nearly 40 per cent of all submissions have more than one applicant. The following are the names with at least 7 applicants each.
INDI-GENIUS THE BASICS
Domain names will soon end with fancy names instead of the good old ‘.com’
THE NEXT WEB
DRDO, the same folks who make nuclear-capable missiles are working on an operating system and it'll be ready in three years according to latest reports. They are working on the new OS because of the increasing threats of cyber attacks world over. They believe that having a proprietary OS will keep their assets secured against malware creators. As of now 150 engineers are working on creating ‘Indian OS’ and it will most probably work on servers and networking components that are created domestically. While a good idea in its own right, it needs to be seen if the government organisation can pull off this move.
CHEAPER TABLETS PLEASE
Keeping in mind the success of their Nexus 7 tablet, Google is currently working on cheaper versions of the tablet that’ll cost as low as $99. Tablets are currently available at that price in India, but most of them are manufactured by smaller companies and there is no guarantee of their quality over time. With a cheaper Nexus 7, users will be able to get a version of Android that has been customised for lowend hardware and that’ll benefit everyone in the long run. The only question is when will it launch.
A GLANCE AT THE APPLICATIONS
Good move FB
W
ebsites that end with .com are so 2000 as companies have started bidding on new Internet domain names that end in .shop, .hotel, .news. The Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN), which oversees the Internet’s addressing system, is leading the expansion. ICANN refers to the process as the New generic Top-Level Domain (gTLD)
Program, and its purpose is to “allow for more innovation, choice, and change to a global Internet presently served by only twenty-one generic toplevel domain names,” according to a company statement. The fee for each domain application was $185,000 and ICANN received 1,917 applications. The organisation held a lottery earlier this week in Los Angeles to determine the order in which ICANN will evaluate the applications.
WHERE ARE THE APPLICANTS? In total, 60 different countries around the world submitted applications for an Internet domain name extension. The US submitted the msot, with 885 applications, followed by the Cayman Islands, with 91 applications.
Facebook is notorious for the way it handles privacy, but now the winds of change are blowing. Those who logged into Facebook on Thursday were pleasantly surprised to find privacy settings on the top right. These settings were earlier buried under settings option and a lot of people found it difficult to figure out how to change them. The changes are designed to give users easier access to and awareness of ways that they can control the privacy of their information on the site. In short, this is a move that will go some way to cutting through the clutter and confusion of Facebook’s numerous menus and settings,
FRIDAY, DECEMBER 21, 2012
Comment The only means of strengthening one’s intellect is to make up one’s mind about nothing, to let the mind be a thoroughfare for all thoughts. John Keats English Poet
Hungry, homeless in US
H
unger and homelessness are on the rise in the US, and cash-strapped cities and social services are being forced to turn needy people away empty-handed, a study found. The number of homeless people seeking help had increased seven per cent from 2011, according to a survey of social service operators in 25 of the nation’s large cities. Even though food pantries and soup kitchens have cut back how much people received in an attempt to make their limited resources go further, the survey found that about 19 percent of the people asking for help didn’t get any. “In Philadelphia, I see people who are hungry and in need of shelter on a daily basis,” said the city’s mayor Michael Nutter. “Explaining to them that Congress is cutting funding for the help they need is not acceptable. What they need are jobs so they can support their families, and Congress can help to create those jobs if it passes a fair and balanced budget with investments in infrastructure, innovation, and real people.” The most striking increase in homelessness was among families, and shelters had to turn away about 17 per cent of people seeking a place to sleep due to lack of space. A lack of affordable housing was the most common reason for homelessness among families with children, followed by poverty, unemployment, eviction and domestic violence. The survey found that 30 per cent of homeless adults were severely mentally ill, 18 per cent were physically disabled, 17 per cent were employed, 16 per cent were victims of domestic violence, 13 per cent were veterans, and four percent were HIV-positive. AFP
HIGH-FLYING THOUGHTS
When it comes to dealing with disaster, you have to give it to the Congress. Despite getting a black eye from Narendra Modi (actually, for the third time in a row), the party spin doctors have no qualms in terming their performance in Gujarat as a victory.
SOCIAL ISSUES
12
DIVORCE, INDIA-STYLE ANONYMOUS ALIEN
A
woman I know was placed into an arranged marriage several years ago. The marriage was a reasonably good one, she basically liked her husband and he didn’t drink too much or physically abuse her. But then he started cheating on her. She didn’t like it, and demanded he stop. He agreed to, but soon the cheating resumed. This time, when she confronted him, he said he wouldn’t stop, and instead offered this counter-proposal:
In short, her life is completely on hold, with no hope of romance or marriage, her financial picture murky at best; she has done nothing wrong. Yet, she is being punished... for life. his mistress would move in with them, and the three of them would live happily ever after. This, you may be surprised to learn, didn’t sit well with his wife. So she filed for divorce. He contested.
Here is her current and future situation: The divorce could take years, many years, to be granted. During those years, she will not date, or even be seen with another man. He, meanwhile, will be living quite happily with his mistress. Why the difference? Because she believes (and I think rightly so) that the court’s perception of her in a romantic relationship outside of the marriage would be vastly different from the court’s perception of him in a romantic relationship outside of the marriage. During those years, also, she will have no access to any of their marriage’s assets: their house, their money, nothing. So, while he lives comfortably in their three-bedroom house, with a car and TVs and a nice kitchen, she is sleeping on the couch in a friend’s studio apartment. During those years, her husband will no doubt take the necessary steps to hide their assets, so that if the divorce is ever granted, she will receive practically nothing. In short, her life is completely on hold, with no hope of romance or marriage, her future financial picture murky at best, and this all because her husband broke their original agreement, of engaging in a long-term, monogamous relationship. In short, she has done nothing wrong. Yet, from any reasonable perspective, she is being punished. For life.
Indians have often boasted to me of their low divorce rate. They cite it as an example of a more stable society, of better marriages, even as evidence that arranged marriages are more successful than love marriages. I see it differently. I see a low divorce rate as evidence that in a society where women must risk losing everything to divorce an abusive, drunk, or philandering husband, many will choose to stick it out and be miserable,
rather than risk financial destitution and years of loneliness. Or, put more simply, I see it as another way for men to dominate, subvert and control women. Yuck. The Anonymous Alien…A Foreigner’s Observations on Living, Working, Surviving and Thriving in India. You can reach The Anonymous Alien at AnonymousAlieninIndia@gmail.com
EDITORIALS
A
ALIVE AND KICKING!
s this piece is being written, there are no signs yet of the impending end of the world, as per the Mayan Calendar. The sun is shining as usual, accentuating the splendour of the green of the trees making it golden, and as the day approaches night, a slight chill has set in, again the usual in December. The past couple of weeks, there was a plethora of reports and stories about the Mayan prediction and how people across the world are preparing for it. However, there have been no warnings about a meteor tearing towards our dear earth, bringing with it death and decimation, neither have been reported any major natural catastrophes that could possibly trigger something like what’s shown in the movie 2012. Sites like December212012.com have an array of survival tips for the cautious and believers and the site is splattered with advertisements of survival kits to see through
READERS’ VIEWS
the doom. Maybe the guy or guys who made the calendar got bored and decided to do something else and left it at December 21, 2012. Or maybe, like some Mayans who live in the city of Merida, Mexico think, the doomsday date is in truth the last day of an era and from then starts a new one. “It’s an era. We are lucky to see how it ends,” says wood carver Santos Esteban in Yaxuna, a sleepy village of fewer than 700 Mayans, located in a territory that once belonged to the ancient kingdom founded around 2000 BC, while speaking to CNN. He, as well as many living there, are not afraid the world’s gonna end. The funny thing is the hullaballoo, the fear, the dread, the poignancy of everything coming to an end have impinged everyone but the Mayans. So if it’s a new era, let’s hope that the world becomes a better place to live in. Else it’s better it’s doomsday.
We invite you to write to us comments, suggestions, viewpoint or just about anything to feedback@postnoon.com or #1246, Level 3, Jubilee Casa, Road No 62, Jubilee Hills, Hyderabad – 500 033 or even by way of a call on 4067 2222. Editor: Dean Williams
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FRIDAY, DECEMBER 21, 2012
Music
BRITNEY SPEARS TO RENEW ROMANCE
Britney Spears and Jason Trawick will reportedly "renew" their relationship during their Christmas vacation. The pair got engaged over the holidays last year and are yet to set a date for their wedding. There has been speculation they have been experiencing some difficulties in their relationship .
TALK IT OUT
ALBUM OF THE WEEK
MAKING A POINT How a rap video that does not mention drugs, sex or violence became a viral hit.
NT BALANARAYAN balanarayan.nt@postnoon.com
R
ap music is generally associated with drugs, sex and violence but social entrepreneur Abhaey Singh has used the genre to highlight the importance of civil debate and his video has become a viral hit. Abhaey, whose musical influences range from Jagjit Singh’s ghazals to Mozart’s symphonies, and from Eminem’s rap to Guns & Roses’ rock, decided to combine “alluring entertainment with a meaningful, heartfelt message about debate” in a music video to show the best face of our great culture and style in the process. “The creative process started with the lyrics, which came to me very quickly, mostly in one
moment of inspiration. Everything else flowed from there," he says. “It (lyrics) was a moment of inspiration. I think it may have been one of those (many) nights when I suddenly woke up and started writing. However I did some fine tuning here and there over time thereafter — but the basic body was done in one quick sitting," says Abhaey whose video Talk it out has received more than 1.5 million views in one week. Most of the viewers are from the US, followed by Canada and UK according to him. “We are starting to see some traction in India now and it’s beginning to snowball overall. Just in the last 24 hours, for instance, there have been more than a thousand more Facebook shares," he adds. "I am a little old fashioned,
iTUNES Top 10 songs 1 CRY 6 OVER YOU Cassadee Pope Cassadee Pope
2 LOCKED OUT OF HEAVEN 7 BEAUTY AND A BEAT Bruno Mars (FEAT. NICKI MINAJ) 3 I KNEW YOU WERE Justin Bieber TROUBLE 8.DIAMONDS Taylor Swift Rihanna
4 HO HEY 9 HOME
The Lumineers
5 BROKEN WINGS Terry McDermott
Phillip Phillips
10 GANGNAM STYLE Psy
and like organic and Indian and Western classical music most of all but overall, I really do like any great music and am not limited by genre. When I compose songs, I always ensure that at least one Indian instrument is included in my music. Ours is a very special culture and heritage, and I always hope to be able to present its best face through my work, including my music. I hope that comes across in Talk It Out," he says. The rap in the video is very unlike anything you would hear, it starts off highlighting the importance of debate in society and even touches upon the unparliamentary behaviour of our politicians. He made the video to spread word on Indian Debating Union, he is part of. "We have a large number of new likes on
Top 10 albums 1 RED
Bollywood Top 10 Ke$ha
Taylor Swift
2 O.N.I.F.C. 7 GIRL ON FIRE
Wiz Khalifa Alicia Keys
3 MERRY CHRISTMAS, 8.CHEERS, ITS CHRISTMAS Blake Shelton BABY 9 THE WORLD FROM THE Rod Stewart SIDE OF THE MOON 4 TAKE ME HOME Phillip Phillips One Direction
5 CHRISTMAS Michael Buble
6 WARRIOR
our Facebook pages and this will help us greatly when we launch the international debating series next year. So yes, it is helping us gain a broader and bigger audience whom we can share our debating content with," he says. So does he plan to come up with more such songs in the future? "This is just the beginning of what I hope will be a meaningful journey in socially-focussed entertainment (in addition to the debating itself). I view the arts as a powerful medium for social change, as well as of course providing alluring, captivating entertainment. It seems people are as fond of the entertainment factor of Talk It Out as they are the message and meaning — so that tells us that we have a good model and can expand on it.
10 HERE'S TO THE GOOD TIMES Florida Georgia Line
1. JE LE ZARA
Khiladi 786
Talaash
7. THE DISCO SONG
2. HOOKAH BAR
Student of the Year
Khiladi 786
3. FEVICOL SE
8. LONELY Khiladi 786
9. MUSKAANEIN 4 DAGABAAZ RE JHOOTI HAI Dabanng 2
Dabanng 2 Talaash
5. ISHQ WALA LOVE 10. VELE Student of the Year
6. BALMA
Student of the Year
Unorthodox Jukebox Bruno Mars, author of 2010's hugely successful Doo-Wops & Hooligans, has often been criticised for aping his heroes. Listening to his second album, you can easily see why this capable, versatile man is so successful; the most famous thing out of Hawaii since Barack Obama. In the fraught, loud, ADD world of pop production, Mars's songs value narrative arc and internal logic; his soundscapes have three dimensions.
DID YOU KNOW...
Adele
notched another accolade on Thursday as iTunes announced that her Grammy-winning album 21 was the top-selling record of 2012 in its US store, extending the disc's successful run almost two years after it was released. 21, released in February 2011, has performed strongly in the US music charts this year.
TRENDING...
The juvenile who was arrested for phoning in crank 911 calls — claiming there was gun violence at the homes of Justin Bieber and Ashton Kutcher — is only 12 years old ... TMZ has learned. Sources connected to the boy tell... he lives in California with his mum. He refuses to go to school and sits at his computer all day, communicating with other hackers. He is antisocial, preferring the keyboard to personal contact.
Less than 24 hours after performing Diamonds during season finale of The Voice, Rihanna was spotted off the coast of Barbados today. She slipped into a sexy gold bikini and relaxed under the sun with a beer in hand. She's back at home in Barbados ready to spend the holidays with friends and family after a busy year of topping the charts, touring the globe, and launching a new fragrance.
FRIDAY, DECEMBER 21, 2012
spotlight
BOLLYWOOD MAGIC
If you love Bollywood music then Spoil pub is the place to be for you tonight. You dance to the latest Bollywood chartbusters belted out by DJ Manish.
YOUTH FIESTA
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Josephiesta, two-day cultural fest of St Joseph's Degree & PG College ended with a bang on Thursday. Students put up various performances during the occasion. M ANILKUMAR
BLING IT ON Bismillah ceremony of Alina Fatima Khan, daughter of Mir Nasir Ali Khan, held at Park Hotel saw a slew of friends and relatives turning up at the do.
One for the album 2
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1 Fatima, Harshad 2 Asra, Asif 3 Ilyas, Shahid
S BALAKRISHNA 1
4 Anisha 5 Fatima 6 Samina 7 Alina Fatima Khan 8 Saleha, Rana Khan 9 Meher Fatima Khan, Mir
Nasir Ali Khan
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A RIOT OF COLOURS
Actress Sanjana inaugurated Funival, international carnival organised at HITEX Grounds. The carnival features hot air balloon ride, games, international cuisines and juke box.
FRIDAY, DECEMBER 21, 2012
health
‘ULTRA-FINE SOUND BEAM CAN WORK LIKE SCALPEL’ Focusing high-pressure sound waves to ultra-fine points can work like a scalpel for non-invasive surgery, say University of Michigan engineers, who pioneered the new technology. The ultrasound technology enables far more than glimpses into the womb.
ADDICTIONS
DEEPASHRI V
deepashri.v@postnoon.com
T
attoos are cool to get and fun to flaunt! More often than not, there’s a story behind every tattoo. They say a lot about your ideology, love, attitude, belief, or simply reflect your likes. There are a lot of strange things people can get addicted to, due to various underlying reasons unique to each person. What seems utterly strange to you might be something another
It’s a one way street Addicts have a craving for tattoos or piercings. Once they get it done, the craving starts again and they go back for more. Some of the reasons people get addicted to tattoos could be addiction substitution (substitute one addiction with another), need for attention or pain substitution. (New Look Houston, a tattoo removal and skin care blog) Once the person wants to get rid of the tattoo, but realises he is stuck with it for the rest of his or her life, anxiety and depression set in. Doctors use a combination of medications and counseling to treat patients, addressing the underlying reason for addiction.
person craves for. Anything that is not done in moderation, which becomes an obsession, leads to an addiction. Have you ever seen people with so many piercings in every inch of body visible that it crosses the line between creative and grotesque? Postnoon ends this week on strange addictions by taking a look at an addiction to tattoos and piercings. "Teenagers try to imitate their idols (idol worshiping). They want to experiment. During Michael Jackson’s time, a lot of youngsters dressed like him,” said Dr Minhaj Nasirabadi, consultant psychiatrist at Apollo Hospital and professor of psychiatry at Shadan Medical College. Though this, and motivation by peer groups could be a reason for tattoo craze, it’s not the same as addiction, he said. “Only a few people are prone to addiction. They have obsessive personalities or tendencies. They feel uneasy till they get their body part pierced. After that they go again for more.” And there are a few who are addicted to the pain of tattooing. “There are some people with borderline personality disorder who enjoy pain being inflicted on them. Excessive tattooing or piercing is possible in them,” Nasirabadi said “Fashion addiction is so much, that even after knowing the associated problems, people still go ahead,” said Kalyan Chakravarty, psychiatrist at Mediciti hospital, who has treated patients in the age group of 25-30, who had three-fourths of their body tattooed. “They are left with the tattoo for the rest of their lives. Suddenly, when they feel awkward and want to get rid of it, the problem starts.” They are first counseled to not go for further tattooing, and then to accept what has already been done. Antidepressants and anti-anxiety medicines are also given, Chakravarty said.
ANEWS PP-LYBRIEFS YOURSELF
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The body art addict
Researchers found tattoos on mummies that are thousands of years old. Can this art, which is a part of many cultures and traditions, modern and ancient, become an addiction?
HOUSECALL
DID YOU KNOW?
PIONEERS
EPA AIRNow
Lung cancer
Everybody first a cell
Stephen Fodor
The Environmental Protection Agency's AIRNow is especially useful to those living in large cities, where air quality is often poor due to ozone and fine-particle pollution. The iPhone and iPad app provides real-time information on air quality, including location-specific forecast reports and air quality maps from AIRNow's website.
Lung cancer is the malignant change and growth of lung tissue. It causes 1.3 million people to die each year, more than any other cancer. The number of cases in women has been increasing in the last few decades, which has been blamed on the rising ratio of female to male smokers. However, certain types of lung cancers appear in otherwise healthy patients who have never smoked.
Every human spent about half an hour as a single cell. All life has to begin somewhere, and even the largest humans spent a short part of their lives as a single celled organism when sperm and egg cells first combine. Shortly afterward, the cells begin rapidly dividing and begin forming the components of a tiny embryo.
Stephen PA "Steve" Fodor is the founder of Affymetrix, a company that produces DNA microarrays to screen gene expression and genetic variations in large portions of such genomes as human, rat, and mouse. He was awarded the Association of Biomolecular Resource Facilities Award for outstanding contributions to Biomolecular Technologies in 2005, and was elected to the National Academy of Engineering in 2009.
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health FRIDAY, DECEMBER 21, 2012
STUDY
BREAKTHROUGH
WASHINGTON: Making small changes in our diet over a stretch of 25 days or more every month, goes a long way in helping shed the extra pounds, says a new study. Led by Brian Wansink, professor at the Cornell University’s Food and Brand Lab, researchers launched the National Mindless Eating Challenge (NMEC), an online healthy eating and weight loss programme that focused on simple eating behaviour changes, instead of dieting. NMEC participants, after answering questions about their eating goals, background and wellbeing, were sent three customised tips to follow for a month. All tips were founded on research and based on Wansink’s book Mindless Eating: Why We Eat More than We Think (Bantam, 2006). Participants could download a checklist to track their adherence to tips and receive email reminders to keep them on track. At the end of each month, they were expected to send in a follow-up survey, the Journal of Medical Internet Research reports. Of the 504 participants who completed at least one follow-up survey, more than twothirds either lost weight (42 per cent) or maintained their weight (27 per cent). Weight loss was highest among people who made changes consistently, according to a Cornell statement. Those whose adherence was 25 or more days per month reported an average monthly weight loss of two pounds or roughly one kg, and those who stayed in the programme at least three months and completed at least two follow-up surveys lost on average one percent of their initial weight. Common barriers that prevented people from making changes included personally unsuitable tips, forgetting, being too busy, unusual circumstances such as vacations and emotional eating, according to the study. “These results confirm that small, consistent changes in our daily eating behaviour can result in gradual weight loss and in developing healthier eating habits," said Wansink, marketing professor at Cornell’s Dyson School of Applied Economics and Management. IANS
SMALL CHANGES IN DIET HELP SHED EXTRA POUNDS: STUDY Not-so drastic changes for 25 days or more can help people shed the extra kilos according to researchers.
Synthetic drug reverses serious liver damage WASHINGTON: Scientists have developed a synthetic drug that can reverse fatty liver disease, a serious metabolic condition involving an abnormal build-up of fat in the liver, which damages the organ. Fatty liver, which often accompanies obesity and type-2 diabetes, frequently leads to more serious conditions including cirrhosis and liver cancer, according to a 2003 study reported in GUT, the journal of gastroenterology and hepatology. The compound known as SR9238 is the first to effectively suppress lipid or fat production in the liver, eliminating inflammation and reversing fat accumulation in animal models of fatty liver disease, the journal Chemical Biology reports. Researchers from the Florida campus of the Scripps Research Institute (TSRI) found the new compound also significantly lowered total cholesterol levels. “We’ve been working on a pair of natural proteins called LXR alpha and LXR beta that stimulate fat production in the liver, and we thought our compound might be able to successfully suppress this process," said Thomas Burris, professor at TSRI, who led the study, according to a Scripps statement. “Once the animals were put on the drug, we were able to reverse the disease," added Burris. Burris and his colleagues designed SR9238 so that it would be quickly metabolised in the liver to minimise migration of the drug into the bloodstream. In the study, mice were fed a high-fat diet for 14 weeks prior to treatment with SR9238. After one month of treatment, the scientists found that the liver’s fatproducing genes were repressed and fat expression in the liver was reduced up to 90 per cent. IANS
TREND
Solo pop stars more likely to die young PARIS: Solo rock stars are twice as likely to die prematurely as counterparts who perform in groups, a study published in the journal BMJ Open said Wednesday. British researchers examined the fate of 1,489 rock and pop performers who had risen to fame in a
study period that spanned half a century, from Elvis Presley in 1956 to the Arctic Monkeys in 2006. A total of 137, or 9.2 percent, died prematurely, at 45.2 years of age on average for North American stars and 39.6 for those in Europe. Substance abuse and car crash-
es accounted for nearly 40 per cent of deaths, according to the probe. The difference in life expectancy was huge when it came to solo performers, it found. Among the 114 US soloists documented in the study, 23 per cent died at a younger age than the general population.
In Europe, too, 9.8 per cent of soloists died young, compared to 5.4 per cent group performers. Stars who became famous before 1980 were much likelier to have died young. Nearly half the stars who died from substance abuse had suffered childhood traumas.
“This study raises some important issues relating to protecting both stars’ and would-be stars’ acute and long-term wellbeing in an industry that has turned recruitment of the next generation of celebrities into a global business," said the report. AFP
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FRIDAY, DECEMBER 21, 2012
Entertainment LOVE IN THE JUNGLE
CINE BYTES
Chammak Challo to release soon
V
arun Sandesh, Sanchita Padukone and Catherine Tresa starrer Chammak Challo is gearing up for its release soon. The film was recently censored and it got a U/A certificate. Neelakanta has directed the film and this is his first romantic entertainer. Kiran Varanasi has composed the music. The film is expected to hit the screens in January.
A soulful love story
Gajaraju is a soulful love story which narrates the tale of a mahut who goes way too far and ends up putting the lives of his elephant and others who depend on him in danger. HEMANTH KUMAR hemanth.k@postnoon.com
G
ajaraju starring Vikram Prabhu, Lakshmi Menon is a beautiful love story about a mahut and a tribal girl and it's set against the backdrop of an imminent danger from a wild elephant which has been wrecking havoc in the forest. Directed by Prabhu Solomon, the film keeps you hooked on to the proceedings to a large extent. The biggest strength lies in its screenplay and breathtaking cinematography, along with some good performances from its lead cast. Bopanna (Vikram Prabhu) is a mahut who travels from town to town along with his elephant named Manickyam, Konangi (Thambi Ramaiah) and their assistant named Hundi.
Bopanna treats Manickyam like his brother and their special bond is a delight to watch on screen. One day, when Bopanna sees that his friend is in trouble, he promises to go to Devangiri along with his elephant to guard the village from a wild elephant named Kapali. Here, he meets Sanghi (Lakshmi Menon), the daughter of the village's headman and instantly falls in love with her. The problem is that Manickyam is not trained to ward off wild elephants and Bopanna doesn't heed to Konangi's multiple requests to leave the place before they get into trouble. Soon, Bopanna realises that it'll be a tough task for him to convince Sanghi's father as the latter puts the honour of his family and the traditions of his village before everything else. The rest of the story is about
Movie: Gajaraju Cast: Vikram Prabhu, Lakshmi Menon, Thambi Ramaiah Directed: Prabhu Solomon Rating:
Bopanna’s relentless pursuit to win Sanghi's heart and gearing up to fight against Kapali. Vikram Prabhu delivers a good performance as the mahut who is head over heels for a tribal girl. It's his debut film, but at no point of time does he come across as a reluctant actor. Some of the best scenes in the film involve Bopanna trying to teach his elephant Manickyam about how to attack and each time, his uncle Konangi becomes a scapegoat. Thambi Ramaiah, who won a National Award for his role in Mynaa,
lightens up the mood with his hilarious antics. Lakshmi Menon, on the other hand, is a revelation and she's the personification of innocence in this film. While it's difficult to pinpoint where the film veers off its track for most part of its runtime, the climax is a big letdown. It lacks the grandeur and intensity which we are promised and CGI could have been much better. The film's music composed by Imman is good and it's stunning cinematography by Sukumar makes Gajaraju a visual delight. Prabhu Solomon, who had earlier made Mynaa (dubbed as Prema Khaidi in Telugu), takes us deep into the forest once again and preserves the innocence in the hearts of his lead characters. Thumbs up for Gajaraju. Go watch it.
Nagarjuna's film wraps up Bangkok schedule
N
agarjuna and Nayanthara's upcoming film has wrapped a major schedule in Bangkok. This untitled film was shot for nearly 20 days in various locales in Bangkok. Meera Chopra is playing a special role. The film will release in early 2013.
Brindavanam to be remade in Kannada
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TR, Kajal and Samantha starrer Brindavanam, which had released in 2010, will soon be remade in Kannada. Darshan is going to play the lead role in the film's Kannada version and it's set to go on floors in early 2013. The Telugu version was one of the biggest hits in NTR's career and it was directed by Vamshi Paidipally.
FRIDAY, DECEMBER 21, 2012
feedback@postnoon.com
SURABHI CHAUHAN
fashion
HAUTE COUTRE STATUS FASHION HOUSES Maison Martin Margiela and Alexis Mabille have been awarded haute couture appellation by the Chambre Syndicale, French fashion's governing body, reports WWD.The change in status means that although both brands already show couture creations, they are now can now officially call themselves couture houses.
A SEASON
Joy could mean different things to different people. Here is a small
1. Perfume: An eau de parfum is a classic gifting item that reflects a lot on the giver’s taste. The Paul Smith Rose is a beautiful floral scent which will make any girl feel special. AVAILABLE AT: WWW.JABONG.COM `3,399
2. Saffron facial cleanser: This works as a great gift for all special ladies in your life – from grandmother to daughter. The Forest Essentials Kashmiri saffron and neem delicate facial cleanser will leave her skin pure and radiant, any time of the year.
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AVAILABLE AT: WWW.FABULLOSO.COM `775
3. High heels: Secretly all girls want to own a pair of fabulous heels and the ones on ASOS.com are perfect for the party season.This pair is unusual with a touch of feather trim on the front and suede make. Named the Hurricane heeled sandals, these will cause look backs in any room.
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AVAILABLE AT WWW.ASOS.COM `4,300
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4. Blue jeans: Blue jeans are a staple in a wardrobe yet we are always on a lookout for a fresh new pair. New online brand bhane.com offers basics altered to fit the forward thinking customer’s needs. Pick from great quality fitted jeans for her to wear all year round.
Gifts
AVAILABLE AT: WWW.BHANE.COM `1,800
5. Gold member: Its tricky to wear metallic tones in fashion without fear of looking like a Christmas tree ornament. This Calvin Klein handbag is an exception with deep metallic tone and versatility to wear for day or night look.
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AVAILABLE AT: CALVIN KLEIN
6. Cocktail dress: Show your special woman you
for her
understand latest trends and gift a cocktail dress in print or pattern that will make her stand out and fashionable at the party. This FCUK dress is a flattering fit and festive season appropriate with gold and blue pattern.
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AVAILABLE AT FCUK
7. Luxurious lingerie: Gifting your girlfriend or wife lingerie designed by Rosie Huntington-Whiteley is in a way saying they are as beautiful as the Transformers actress and model. The Rosie for Autograph Collection comprises of pieces that include luxurious silk lingerie sets, cami and French knicker sets, a teddy and a kimono style robe. AVAILABLE AT: MARKS AND SPENCER
8. Red jumper: A cozy sweater is an essential for this winter season. A bright tone like cobalt, orange or red is on trend and Christmas season appropriate. What’s great about a good wool jumper is that the sizes usually fit different shapes easily.
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AVAILABLE AT UNITED COLORS OF BENETTON
9. Tarun Tahiliani: Women have the gift to recognise designer wear especially when it comes to couture items. Tarun Tahiliani has a great selection of saris, lehngas, suits, kaftans, gowns for her to treasure. A gift from his Hyderabad store in Banjara Hills will be a guaranteed hit.
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AVAILABLE AT TARUN TAHILIANI
10. Sunglasses: Versace relaunched their medusa emblem and the sunglasses collection is a great gift for your fashion forward lady. They come in a variety of colours and been seen on pop stars like Lady Gaga, Rihanna and Rita Ora already. The medusa collection is a hot retro style made famous by Gianni Versace drawing inspiration from the famous tale of Greek Mythology. AVAILABLE AT LEADING OPTICAL SHOPS
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20&21
HIRST PACKS FOR THE ROW ARTWORKS BY agent provocateur Damien Hirst are routinely accompanied by a price tag of several million dollars. But the British artist has lopped off quite a few extra zeroes for his latest project, a design collaboration with CFDA 2012 winners of fashion label The Row — founded by Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen,
TO GIVE
The writer
is a fashion blogger (www.lovestruckcow.blogspot.com ) who attempts to bridge the gap between creator and consumer. As a fashion writer, she hopes to promote Indian fashion among Indians and on a global level too.
list of fashionable items that should bring joy to the stylish person you love. 1. Perfume: A great perfume can speak louder than any expensive branded fashion item. The Gucci Sport Eau de parfum is a cool and fresh scent with flavours consisting of juniper berry, vetiver, grapefruit, ambrette, cypress, cardamom, fig, mandarin, and patchouli
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AVAILABLE AT WWW.JABONG.COM `3,499
2. Shoe bags:
Shop for Things offers some great gifting ideas for him like the shoes and sneakers bag for him to keep his footwear clean and tidy in. These individual bags allow him to carry footwear easily in a suitcase while travelling for work or vacation. AVAILABLE AT WWW.SHOPFORTHINGS.IN `100
3. Herbal beauty: Give a gift of natural beauty to him in the form of methi shikakai shampoo. Enriched with wheat germ oil, lecithin, and neem and methi seeds – this specially formulated shampoo penetrates the hair shaft, strengthens the roots, nourishes the scalp and brings out the bounce and volume in your hair without stripping off its natural oils.
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Gifts
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AVAILABLE AT: JUST HERBS HTTP://WWW.FABULLOSO.COM `225
4. Boots: Men usually fall short on winter footwear and a sturdy pair of boots is the perfect solution for that. This season gift him a neat black pair which is versatile enough to wear with wool trousers or denim jeans. These suave pair should last many years till he wears them off.
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for him
AVAILABLE AT: WWW.ASOS.COM `6,000/-
5. Burberry Gold Pheasant Umbrella: For the daring and fashion forward men, the Burberry gold pheasant umbrella is like the classic umbrella never seen before. With a rich gold ornate detailing and large black shade, this is a wardrobe classic and yet will make him stand out.
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AVAILABLE AT WWW.BURBERRY.COM
6. Toga coat: This plaid toga coat is not like your grandfather’s. Though it would look amazing on your grandfather or younger brother alike! In harsh winters when he is bundled in a warm jacket like this he will have only one person to thank.
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AVAILABLE AT CALVIN KLEIN JEANS
7. Chivas Regal Limited edition pack by Rohit Bal: Chivas Regal, one of the leading super-premium blended Scotch whiskies in the world collaborated with India’s leading couturier Rohit Bal for a limited edition design bottle. Imagine his glee seeing this under the tree. No packaging required. AVAILABLE AT: ALL PREMIUM OUTLETS IN INDIA
8. Lumberjack shirt: No, his occupation is not to chopping woods. Yet a winter staple for men is the lumberjack shirt that gives a rugged casual look. Something he can easily pair with already owned denims or trousers.
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AVAILABLE AT FCUK
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9. New launch Lacoste live collaboration with Micah Lidberg: Lacoste launched a great collection in collaboration with famed American illustrator Micah Lidberg to create an exclusive capsule line for Fall Winter 2012-13. Micah has featured his signature illustrations on men’s polos and shirts, which makes them a perfect gifting item for Christmas. AVAILABLE AT LACOSTE
10. Play Clan: Indian label play clan has been introducing funky t-shirts which men will love to dress in. The Jodhpur collection brings colours, tradition, pop culture all together in collections of T-shirts, mugs and coasters. AVAILABLE AT WWW.THEPLAYCLAN.COM
Entertainment FRIDAY, DECEMBER 21, 2012
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Entertainment FRIDAY, DECEMBER 21, 2012
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FRIDAY, DECEMBER 21, 2012
Chai Time
Play & Win
Please send in your filled-in entries to Postnoon, #1246, Level 3, Jubilee Casa, Road No 62, Jubilee Hills, Hyderabad – 500033. The winners will be announced on this page in Sunday’s edition.
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 refer-
QUICK CROSSWORD enced 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.
Play & Win
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ACROSS
SCRIBBLING PAD
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SUDOKU
PREVIOUS PUZZLE ANSWER
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1 Horseracing’s smallest winning margin? 5 Barrel strip 10 Nozzle streams 14 See at a distance 15 Not as tan 16 Norse god of war 17 Ship’s direction 18 In solitary confinement 19 Taro root 20 Volatile situation 22 Basketmaking material 23 Gaggle formation 24 Most unworldly 26 Mud-baked brick 30 Involuntary move 32 Beach-club building 34 Gloomy fellow? 35 One of the Three Bears 39 Flower or part of the eye 40 Writing points 42 ‘06 class member, e.g. 43 Kind of calendar 44 Domino’s spot 45 Set up a bivouac 47 Turns inside out 50 Creole veggies 51 Frequent restaurant freebie
54 ‘___ not making myself clear?’ 56 Use a pattern 57 Convenient oil holder 63 Civil rights pioneer Parks 64 Basketball infractions 65 Of the finest quality 66 ‘Daniel Boone’ actor Ed 67 Fails to include 68 Followers of the Pied Piper of Hamelin 69 Ending for ‘glass’ or ‘metal’ 70 Harold Robbins novel (with ‘The’) 71 Leave a building DOWN 1 Twice-monthly oceanic event 2 Capital of Norway 3 Belch forth 4 Black-___ Susan 5 Tire in the trunk 6 Person who yaks 7 Balm for your skin 8 Vindictive 9 Poet’s palindromic ‘before’ 10 Average guy, to some politicians
11 Murphy of ‘48 Hours’ 12 Ebb and 1-Down 13 Bullish comment 21 All square 22 It’s all in your mine 25 Borden beast 26 Battery or folic 27 ‘Truth or ___’ 28 Asian sashes 29 Hopeless one 31 Land with pyramids 33 Upscale ski resort 36 Wing-shaped 37 Large feline 38 Sound boosters 41 Yawn-inducing 46 ‘Chinatown’ film genre 48 Join the competition 49 Rapids in some rivers 51 Scarecrow stuffer 52 Smell from a bakery 53 Modern surgical tool 55 Young girl 58 Withdraw 59 Button on a butcher’s scale 60 Sweet-talk 61 Prefix meaning ‘against’ 62 Home for hatchlings 64 ___ off (foist)
Chai Time FRIDAY, DECEMBER 21, 2012 Thiruvaikumar
STAR POWER for 22-12-2012
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As per Hindu panchang thiruvaikumar@yahoo. co. in, 040-27177230 / 9177596118
ARIES
TAURUS
GEMINI
CANCER
LEO
VIRGO
LIBRA
SCORPIO
SAGITTARIUS
CAPRICORN
AQUARIUS
PISCES
Even challenging tasks will be dealt by you wisely and successfully. Held-up house construction will resume and get completed. Govt officials will extend help. Court verdicts will end in your favour. Portion of the debt will be cleared.
STRIP TEASE AGNES
All undertaken work will end successfully. VIPs will help with wholehearted support. Share in ancestral property will come without much difficulty. Those seeking a job will get favourable news. Newlyweds will be blessed with an offspring.
You will march ahead by applying your experienced abilities. You might be forced to sell old property. Elder brother will extend support. Avoid fighting for ancestral property. Do not be worried about higher studies of your children.
Your list of adventures will keep growing. You will get closer to persons of high esteem and VIPs. Money will come from all expected sources. Help and support likely from spouse's relatives. Elder brother too will extend his support to you.
Administrative abilities will increase. Financially, a sound position is seen. Those awaiting a job call will get a favourable one. Govt sops will come. Bank loan and paternal property share likely. Innovative and fresh approach success is yours.
Your approach will help get all work done without hurdles. A peaceful atmosphere will prevail at home. Powerful officials will extend help. Your influence is set to rise. You march ahead unmindful of hurdles. Court case will take favourable turn.
Anger will spoil your reputation and earn enemies. Avoid it as much as possible. Nerve and skin problems likely; take immediate treatment. Avoid wasteful expenditure as income will be just about enough. Self-confidence set to increase.
New efforts will be successful. Those awaiting visa will get favourable news. Renovation and expansion of house likely. Applied loan will get a green signal. Be cautious while expressing opinions. Cautiously deal with court cases.
You will look cheerful. Ancestral property will come through. Good news on the cards through spouse. Your social status is set to improve. Some have a bright chance to buy a new vehicle. Renovation of house will materialise.
TAROT READ
Sumaa Tekur
tarotreadhyd@gmail. com
ARIES:
GEMINI:
Knight of Wands – Your inquisitive nature is what’s taking you places. You keep your eyes and ears open and this observation skill is keeping you in good stead.
LEO:
Nine of Swords – Some disappointment is indicated. You may be feeling let down by someone you trusted very deeply. Get over it and move on.
LIBRA:
PEARLS BEFORE SWINE
Nine of Pentacles – You’ve created a comfort zone which you don’t want to get out of. There are times when you don’t even want to know what’s happening around.
SAGITTARIUS:
Knight of Swords – Though the environment all that positive, you charge ahead with optimism and this positive energy spreads to everyone around you.
TAURUS:
The Devil – Don’t yield to temptation, especially if it’s going to upset a marital issue. Things are not going so smooth on the marriage front. Be patient.
CANCER:
Knight of Pentacles – You’re feeling adventurous and in the mood to charge ahead with your ideas. What’s more, they all seem to work well, too.
VIRGO:
Seven of Swords – You might need to use crooked means to get some work done because it’s not getting done otherwise. Be true to yourself, whatever you do.
SCORPIO:
Strength – You have it in you to prove your innocence. Someone has accused you of being something you’re not. It’s your time in the sun to prove otherwise.
CAPRICORN:
Justice – A hike or a promotion is in the offing. Your bosses recognize your good work and make an offer. It sets you thinking about your future course.
PREVIOUS SOLUTIONS
PISCES:
The High Priestess – Approach issues in an intuitive way and you won’t have to worry whether you’re doing the right thing. Your inner voice guides you.
NUMBER GAME
– You have everything when it comes to material comforts, yet there’s something missing. You wish you had someone to share all this with.
SCRABBLE
AQUARIUS: Eight of Cups
POOCH CAFE
You will become emotional often and talk under that influence. Try to control this. You might be reprimanded by family members because of your angry. Marriage efforts will be successful. Indirect opposition likely. Businessmen do well.
for 22-12-2012
Queen of Cups – You think with your heart and are jumping in to thoughts and beliefs merely by how they make you feel. This approach may not always work.
NON SEQUITUR
Financial situation will improve. Some have a bright chance to go on a pilgrimage. You might be busy in making necessary arrangements for son's higher studies. Expenses might upset you. Friends staying abroad will extend their help.
SUDUKO
You will struggle as hard as possible and succeed. Friends will extend help and support at the right time. Sudden trips will be beneficial and make you cheerful. Avoid anger and fear. Financial flow will improve. Marriage talks will be favourable.
Boggle LOYAL LOCAL LABEL LEGAL LAWFUL Vol: 2, No 155 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
26
FRIDAY, DECEMBER 21, 2012
Entertainment CINE BYTES
Dabangg 2 and the national emblem
T
hough the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) was happy with Dabangg 2’s content, some members thought that the national emblem framed on the wall of Chulbul Pandey's police station was being depicted incorrectly and therefore decided blurring the screen wherever appears would be the solution. IANS
SRK to pay tribute to Yash Chopra hah Rukh Khan will pay tribute to legendary filmmaker Yash Chopra through a performance at the 13th Zee Cine Awards in Mumbai. "I will pay tribute to Yashji by dancing with the leading ladies of his films. However, we are still in the stages of finalising things," Shah Rukh said. IANS
GROWING UP A STAR KID
Being Anil Kapoor’s daughter is a privilege...
B
eing a star kid has its positives, but the pressure to perform that comes with it can be challenging, says Sonam Kapoor, daughter of actor Anil Kapoor. However, no matter how challenging the situation is, the actress admits she is proud to be his daughter and says she has learnt a lot from him. "It is much easier in the industry for a star kid, but everyone has their own struggle. It is easier to join (the industry) and people look at you differently, but then they also come with their own baggage of comparisons," Sonam said."I think it is a privilege to be Anil Kapoor's daughter because he is such a good artist and it is great to be associated with him in any way," she added. After making her debut with Saawariya, the actress has essayed integral parts in movies like Delhi-6, "Aisha", Players and Mausam. Sonam says she would love to be a part of a remake of any of her father's past films, provided she gets to play the role her dad essayed. "I like a lot of his films... as long as I get to play the hero! I love Lamhe and Mr. India, I don't mind playing Sridevi's character there... I love Tezaab and Ram Lakhan. If I get to do any remakes of films from the 1980s an 1990s, where it was more male-dominated, I would rather be the hero," she said. IANS
S
Muqabla song to be used in ABCD
P
rabhudheva's hit song Muqabla will be used to promote Remo D'Souza's directorial venture Anybody Can Dance. "It is an iconic song and Prabhudheva's dancing in the song made it a rage. We have got the rights of the song and we are using it” Remo said. IANS
27
Entertainment FRIDAY, DECEMBER 21, 2012
NH7
CINE BYTES
More about the jazz We caught up with the generously smiling, Nigel Rajaratnam, singer, songwriter and multi-instrumentalist as he talks about his solo project, SkyDrops and more...
ELIZABETH SOUMYA elizabeth.s@postnoon.com
I
t seems like Nigel Rajaratnam likes to do many things. While packing up his instruments after his NH7 gig in Bangalore, he reveals that he plays a few instruments — flute, melodica, piano, saxophone and the guitar. As for music projects, Rajaratnam is busy with his solo experiment, SkyDrops, but also lends his talent to outfits such as Dischordian, Fahrenheit, Depth and Pradakshinam. He has also performed with the ‘comedyrock band’ Alien Chutney at the Delhi NH7 festival and was on
the keys for Karsh Kale on Coke Studio. While confessing he likes Jazz more than Electronica, he explains that SkyDrops is a combination of these two genres. “I try to put in a lot of ambient music,” he adds, further explaining, “Ambient music is where you create space, fill the frequencies. This means lot of echos, reverbs and interesting sounds.” He says he samples sounds and then uses them in different ways so one doesn’t recognise them. These can be sounds of whirring fans, stomps of footsteps, fleeting trains and just about anything. When growing up in
Mumbai, it really didn’t seem like he’d have anything to do with music. I don’t think I ever liked listening to it even, till I was in class five,” he recalls. “Nobody in my family has ever done anything in music.” He was around ten when he started playing an instrument and got interested in how it all works and why it sounds the way it does. So his ability to play multiple instruments was a result of his own desires and not family pressure. “I just started borrowing instruments and it wasn’t till much later that I had money to even buy one,” he
says. In 2008, he won a scholarship to study Jazz, musical production and performance in Northeastern University, Boston. A fan of Radiohead, he takes time out to listen to Flying Lotus, Aphex Twin, Pat Methney, Chick Corea and Jazz pianist Bill Evans, he says. At the festival, his set comprised of Epileptix, a self composed track, Hide and Seek by Imogen Heap and a personal jazz and electronica take on the Christian classic, Mosh Devious, Amazing Grace, that he performed with Ishan.
Ben Affleck talks Justice League
A
n overzealous report emerged put Ben Affleck in the driver’s seat of the planned Warner Bros. team-up film Justice League. The report was soon shot down and forgotten about, but in a recent interview about his work on Argo, Affleck said he hated talking about it in the media at all because the eventual stories shed a negative light on the project.
ELIZABETH SOUMYA
SkyDrops on Soundcloud: https://soundcloud.com/nigel rajaratnam
Perry cheers ex-hubby Russell Brand
K
aty Perry has reportedly written an email to exhusband Russell Brand congratulating him for staying clean. Brand, 37, was a drug and sex addict and has had many legal issues. He recently celebrated his drug-free decade and wrote on Twitter: “Ten years clean... thanks for all your messages of love... anyone can get clean, one day at a time.” IANS
Dannii says no to Simon
S
inger Dannii Minogue has rejected Simon Cowell’s offer to judge Britain’s singing competitionThe X Factor again and instead has signed a rival channel. Minogue, 41, was on The X Factor judging panel from 2007 to 2010. Now she has signed to judge a show for Sky Living channel. Titled Britain and Ireland’s Next Top Model, it will see her hunting for top models along with host Elle Macpherson and model Tyson Beckford.
sports
28
FRIDAY, DECEMBER 21, 2012
ENGLAND IN INDIA
NBA
‘We hope to carry momentum forward’
Yuvraj promises good display against visiting Pakistan after India’s win over England. role, taking 3 for 19 to half England’s progress in batting and then smashed 38 in 21 balls with three sixes and two fours to help India overhaul the visitors’ score of 157 for 6 with five wickets to spare. India will take on Pakistan in a two-match T20 series commencing at Bangalore on December 25. The second game of that series is scheduled at Ahmedabad on December 28. This would be followed by a three-match ODI series against the neighbours from December 30 this year to January 6, 2013
MUMBAI: Off to a good start in Twenty20s after the “shattering” Test debacle, India batsman Yuvraj Sigh (right) said he was confident that the team would carry the momentum not only into the second and final tie against England here tomorrow but also into the upcoming series against arch-foes Pakistan. “In Twenty20s and ODIs, we have done well against them Hopefully, we can carry the momentum, particularly with the important series against Pakistan coming up,” said Yuvraj. The all-rounder played a key
after which India would engage England in a best-of-five ODI series from January 11 to 27. “Losing 4-0 (in Test series in England last year) and 2-1 (recently in the four-match Test series at home) was quite shattering. England played better cricket but we beat them 5-0 in the one-dayers (last year),” said Yuvraj who was part of the Test squad that got beaten by England. Yuvraj said the younger lot of players improved the fielding of the team.
T-wolves snap Thunder’s 12-game streak MINNEAPOLIS: Kevin Love scored 28 points and grabbed 11 rebounds to lead Minnesota over Oklahoma City 99-93 on Thursday, snapping the Thunder’s team-record 12-game NBA win streak. Montenegrin Nikola Pekovic added 24 points and 10 rebounds for the Timberwolves, who seized a 30-18 lead after the first quarter and held off the Thunder down the stretch for the win.
PTI
INDIAN PREMIER LEAGUE FRANCHISE
A new sun rises over Hyderabad G APARNA SAI
feedback@postnoon.com HYDERABAD: The Hyderabad IPL franchise which was recently named the Sunrisers Hyderabad by its new owners, Sun TV Network, named former Australian all rounder, Tom Moody, as the coach of their team here on Thursady while Kris Srikkanth and VVS Laxman as their mentor and mentor-ambassador respectively. The franchise which was earlier called Deccan Chargers, under the ownership of Deccan Chronicle, also launched the team’s logo at the same ceremony.
While Srikkanth, Moody and Shanmugam, CEO, Sunrisers attended the occasion, Laxman could not make his presence felt as he had to attend a family event. Moody, who earlier coached Sri Lanka, said he was glad to be associated with the new franchise. “It is a challenge that any coach relishes to be a part of a new franchise and associated with a company which has so much experience,” said the Australian. “It is also a great opportunity to be working with Kris, the players and Laxman,” he added. The management retained 20 players from the previous team, which included Kumar Sangakkara, Dale Steyn and Shikhar Dhawan among the others. Srikkanth express confidence
The franchise, earlier called Deccan Chargers, under the ownership of Deccan Chronicle, also launched the logo.
Australian all-rounder Tom Moody, who will coach the team, speaks at the event. S BALAKRISHNA
in the side and said they were sure of doing well in the upcoming season. “We are confident of reaching the semi-finals and
hopefully make it to the finals too,” the former Indian player said. Talking about the selection of the remaining players, the management expressed their keen interest in players like Ambati Rayudu, who would come into the auctioning window in case he gets to play among the playing 11 in the national side, and also the release of Steven Smith from Pune Warriors India. “Since many players would
be retained by their franchises, our choices may be limited during this auctioning side,” Srikkanth said. “As on today, [Kumar] Sangakkara is the captain. The final decision will be taken later,” he added.
LIST OF PLAYERS RETAINED BY SUNRISERS Indian: Abhishek Jhunjunwala, Akash Bhandari, Akshath Reddy, Amit Mishra, Anand Rajan, Ankit Sharma, Bharat Chipli, Biplab Samantray, Shikhar Dhawan, Veer Pratap Singh, Parthiv Patel, Ashish Reddy, DB Ravi Teja, Ishant Sharma. Foreign players: Kumar Sangakkara (capt), Cameron White, Dale Steyn, Chris Lynn, Jean-Paul Duminy, Juan Theron.
HYDERABAD TRACK WORK
Viays Triumph, Fastest Finger in fine fettle HYDERABAD: Vijays Triumph, Fastest Finger, Elzzam, Skander, Melody Queen and Fortunate Pleased caught the eye with impressive runs when horses were exercised at the Malakpet racecourse in the City this morning. Sand track 800 metres Specialist (Joshi) 54, 600/41 Impressed. Strides Of Glory (Sai Kumar) Staying The Best (N Rawal) 58.5, 600/42 They finished together. Handsome Hunk (Dileep) Snow Bird (Anil) 55, 600/41 They moved together. Dauntless (rb) 1-0, 600/44 Easy. Big Boss (rb) Lurel Canyon (Kuldeep Singh) 1-0.5, 600/44 Former finished 3 lengths in front. Ponte Verdi (S Nayak) 11.5, 600/45 Easy. Exclusive Lady (Kiran Naidu) 1-1, 600/45 Easy.
Sugar Deal (rb) Any Given Day (M Mark) 58, 600/43 They finished together. Comanche Gold (Sai Kumar) Star Sensation (B.Shinde) 1-3, 600/48 They moved freely. Shadow In The Mist (rb) Chetak (rb) 58.5, 600/43 Former finished in front. Genius Empress (C Henrique) 57, 600/40 Pleased. Melody Queen (N Rawal) Fortunate (Sai Kumar) 55, 600/40 They moved well and finished together. Green Bay (S Nayak) 58, 600/43.5 Unextended. Bold Attack (rb) Smart Striker (rb) 12, 600/46.5 Former finished in front. True Friend (M Mark) 57, 600/43 Moved well. Kohinoor Punch (app) 1-0, 600/45 Easy. Fenway Court (S Nayak) Sea Runner (Kuldeep Singh) 56.5, 600/41 Former easily finished 3 lengths in front. Desert Bloom
(Joshi) 59, 600/43 Moved freely. Tico Tico (Chary) Roses In Bloom (Kiran Niadu) 58, 600/43 They finished together. Sand track 1000 metres Architect (rb) Blue Diamond (rb) 1-18.5, 800/1-2, 600/46 They moved freely. Ashwa Shakti (Togrolu) 1-15, 600/1-0, 600/46 Easy. Vijays Triumph (Joshi) Aegis (app) 1-11, 800/56, 600/42 They finished together. Fastest Finger (Joshi) Play The Music (P.Venkat) 1-10, 800/53.5, 600/40 Former impressed while finishing a length in front. Vijayshaurya (Joshi) 1-16, 800/1-1, 600/45 Easy. Spirited (Chary) Ciel Blu (Kiran Naidu) 113.5, 800/56.5, 600/41.5 Former finished in front. Royal Revive (rb) 1-17, 1000/400 in 43 Easy. Ice Barrier (Anil) Paying Guest
(Dileep) 1-16, 800/1-0, 600/46 They moved together. Dandelion (N Rawal) Bold Reason (Sai Kumar) 1-15, 800/59, 600/43.5 Former finished a length in front. Flying Spur (Imran Khan) 1-17, 800/12, 600/46 Easy. Shemmering Eyes (Dileep) Advisor (Deep Shanker) 1-18, 800/1-1, 600/46 They moved freely. Sand track 1200 metres Super Duper (Togrolu) 1-30, 1000/1-15, 800/1-0, 600/45 Moved on the bit. Flowers Of Music (Ramana) 1-35, 1000/120, 800/1-5, 600/49 Easy. So Super (Kiran Naidu) 1-25, 1000/1-11.5, 800/58, 600/44 Pleased. Monsoon race inner grass 1200 metres Elzaam (Harinder Singh)
Skander (Deep Shanker) 1-20, 1000/1-5.5, 800/52, 600/38 They finished together. Gate practice 1200 metres Cristiano (Imran Khan) 1-15, 800/1-0, 600/47.5 Jumped out well and moved very easy. Great Guns (rb) Aware (M Mark) 1-7.5, 800/51, 600/38 They took a level jump and finished together Meri Merzi (Ali Khan) Alankrita (Chary) 1-16.5, 800/1-0, 600/46 They jumped out well and moved freely. True Haven (app) Scubarioo (Kuldeep Singh) Goldie (S Nayak) 1-20, 1000/51, 600/38.5 They jumped out well. Zero Tolerance (Nitin Singh) 1-5.5, 800/50, 600/37 Jumped out well. Merry Maid (Nitin Singh) 1-6, 800/52, 600/41 Jumped out well.
sports
29
FRIDAY, DECEMBER 21, 2012
PREMIER LEAGUE PREVIEW
City launch Utd pursuit City can close to within three points of top spot if they beat Reading, with United not in action until their lunchtime trip to Swansea City on Sunday. TOM WILLIAMS Agence France-Presse LONDON: Manchester City’s bid to reel in Premier League leaders Manchester United has been jeopardised by injuries to key players as they prepare to open their Christmas campaign at home to Reading on Saturday. Six points off the pace after their 3-2 loss in the Manchester derby on December 9, the champions could be missing captain Vincent Kompany (right) and midfielder Samir Nasri for the Royals’ visit to the Etihad Stadium. Kompany limped out of the derby with a groin injury, forcing him to miss last weekend’s 3-1 win at Newcastle United, and he is a major doubt for Saturday’s game. Nasri picked up a similar injury in the game at St James’ Park and looks set to be out for two weeks, potentially ruling him out of City’s entire festive programme.
To compound matters for coach Roberto Mancini, central midfielder Jack Rodwell has revealed that he will probably be out of action until the beginning of 2013 due to a hamstring injury that he sustained in October. “I’ve just had a little bit of a setback with my hamstring injury,” Rodwell told the club website. “It will probably be another few weeks, so I’m looking into the new year.” Injuries aside, Mancini will expect his side to take all three points at home to a Reading team who sank to the foot of the table last weekend and were thrashed 5-2 at home by Arsenal on Monday. The festive season is a pivotal period in the Premier League, with teams facing four games in the space of only 12 days. Arsenal kick off the weekend programme at home to third-bottom Wigan Athletic on Saturday, when victory would provisionally propel them up to third place.
NATIONAL FOOTBALL COACH
Maradona top Iraq candidate Maradona was fired in July this year as the coach of Dubai club Al Wasl. BUENOS AIRES: An Argentine football official says Diego Maradona (left) is a leading candidate to take over as coach of Iraq’s national team. Hernan Tofoni was quoted by Argentina’s state-run news agency Telam as saying the leadership of the Iraq football association was to meet today and complete an offer to Maradona. Tofoni told Telam that Iraq had
wanted to hire an Argentine coach and Maradona’s name surfaced as a candidate. Tofoni is the general manager of World Eleven, which organises international friendly matches for Argentina’s national team. He confirmed on Twitter that the Iraqi federation was dealing with World Eleven over the possibility of signing Maradona. PTI
Defiant Arsene backs Arsenal to improve IAN WINROW Agence France-Presse LONDON: Arsene Wenger has rejected claims the Arsenal board have failed to back him in the transfer market and indicated he is only interested in signing ‘exceptional’ players in January. Alisher Usmanov, the club’s second-largest shareholder, claimed Wenger, whose side travel to Wigan this weekend, should have been given more finances for new signings after Robin van Persie became the latest high-profile player to leave the north London club in the last transfer window. Yet after recovering from the humiliating League Cup quarterfinal defeat to League Two minnows Bradford by beating Reading 5-2 this week, Wenger reiterated his belief that Arsenal’s current crop of players are good enough to have a successful season.
FIGHTING CANCER Barca coach vows quick return from surgery BARCELONA: Barcelona coach Tito Vilanova Thursday (right) vowed a swift return from cancer surgery that may sideline him for six weeks in a shock for the Spanish league leaders. “I will be away for a while but I will be back soon,” Barcelona sports newspaper Mundo Deportivo quoted Vilanova as telling his players the night before he went in for surgery to his salivary gland. AFP
CHAMPIONS LEAGUE DRAW
Prestigious games line up to treat spectators NYON, SWITZERLAND: Barcelona versus AC Milan and Manchester United against Real Madrid were the pick of the ties in the Champions League last 16 draw on Thursday, as the knock-out phase of this year’s competition took shape.
REACTIONS TO THE DRAW
Galatasaray Vs Schalke 04 “In the Champions League’s last 16, there is no easy opponent. But obviously, I see chances for us to reach the quarter-final if we put in a good performance.”
– Jens Keller (Schalke coach) Celtic Vs Juventus “In terms of glamour it is great. In terms of qualification it is going to be very tough. But we will take it as it comes and our supporters will be looking forward to this match. – Neil Lennon (Celtic coach) to Sky Sports News “Celtic are the only team to have beaten Barca this season. We’ve definitely got a good chance of get thing through but we’re going to have to show total concentration, especially in Glasgow, where we’re
Dates for matches in the last sixteen February 12 Celtic (SCO) Vs Juventus (ITA) Valencia (ESP) Vs Paris SaintGermain (FRA) February 13 Shakhtar Donetsk (UKR) Vs Borussia Dortmund (GER) Real Madrid (ESP) Vs Manchester United (ENG) February 19 FC Porto (POR) Vs Malaga (ESP) Arsenal (ENG) Vs Bayern Munich (GER) February 20 Galatasaray (TUR) Vs Schalke 04
(GER) AC Milan (ITA) Vs Barcelona (ESP) March 5 Manchester United Vs Real Madrid Borussia Dortmund Vs Shakhtar Donetsk March 6 Paris Saint-Germain Vs Valencia Juventus Vs Celtic March 12 Schalke 04 Vs Galatasaray Barcelona Vs AC Milan March 13 Malaga Vs FC Porto Bayern Munich Vs Arsenal
expecting a very heated atmosphere.” – Pavel Nedved (Juventus director) Arsenal Vs Bayern Munich “They played in the final in 2010 and last year. It is a big club, but we have the chance to win against Bayern Munich. They have (Mario) Gomez up front, they have (Franck) Ribery, (Bastian) Schweinsteiger, Philipp Lahm, Manuel Neuer. But there are two matches, one at home (and) one away, so both teams have the chance to win.” AFP