THE INFAMOUS RANKS
Sacha Baron Cohen, is back with another unsettling comedy—The Dictator, which has unsettled liberal sensibilities. We take a look some of the films that have been blacklisted. P16&17
TV HOSTESS XUXA SAYS MJ PROPOSED TO HER Brazil’s children’s television show host Xuxa has revealed that the late Michael Jackson wanted to marry her and that she had been sexually abused P12 as a child.
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TUESDAY, MAY 22, 2012
Spirit of Twin Cities
SIMMERING PATH
Library summer camp
M ANIL KUMAR
A library summer camp for parents and faculty of UG and PG students will be held from May 10 onwards. The camp will provide guidance for faculty and final year PG students for National/State lectureship and scholarship test(NET/APSET) for `3,650. Where: Hyderabad library services, Sagar View Complex When: May 10 - June 10, Contact: (040) 2322 2247, 94412 37751
The amazing summer shuttle A summer camp for children in the age group of 1-15 and for adults in Thai flowers, stocking flowers and marble painting is being held. Where: Plot-26, Gunrock Enclave, Secunderabad When: 11am-1pm, 11am-5pm Contact:98498 04416, 93921 05310
Blood song Blood Song, a radical adaptation of Federico Garcia Lorca’s "Blood Wedding"will be showcased on May 26 and 27 at the Nift auditorium. Where: Nift auditorium, Madhapur When: May 26 and 27, 7.30pm onwards Contact: 98852 88982
Picture perfect A 7-day photography workshop for children with the aim to introduce them to the basics of photography is being held at Treasure House. The workshop is open for children in the age group of 12-18 years. Where: Treasure House, Jubilee Hills, Rd No 36 When: Ongoing, 11am onwards Contact: (040) 2355 0118
Ladies Night Get set ladies for a fun evening with free drinks for the ladies as Tuesday is ladies night at Xtreme Sports bar. Where: Xtreme Sports Bar, Rd No 36, Jubilee Hills When: May 22, 8pm onwards Contact: 80086 92225
A matter of perception Juxtaposed Perceptions, a solo painting exhibition by renowned artist Ninad Jagadish. Where: Muse Art Gallery, Lower Tank Bund When: Ongoing, May 25 Contact: (040) 2752 2999
CINEMAS
The awakening A painting exhibition titled Buddha — The awakening is being held at Iconart gallery. Where: Iconart Gallery, Banjara Hills, Rd No12 When: May 7 onwards, 11.30 am onwards Contact: 98499 68797
Painting exhibition An exhibition of paintings by Lalu Shaw is being held at Shrishti Art Gallery. Where: Shrishti Art Gallery, Jubilee Hills, Rd No 15 When: Ongoing, 11am onwards Contact: (040) 2354 0023
Summer camp Annapurna International School of Film and Media will be holding a Summer Camp program in filmmaking, acting and photography. The first batch is from May 21.The second batch is from May 28 onwards. Where: Annapurna School, Banjara Hills When: May 21 onwards Contact: (040) 4914 1234
Food and cricket Great food and a great game of cricket makes for great news. Head to News Cafe to catch the IPL
matches with some great IPL inspired food. Where: News Cafe, Inorbit Mall, Madhapur When: Ongoing, 8pm onwards Contact: (040) 4010 1236
Etching prints A group exhibition of etching prints by various talented artists is being held. Where: Gallery Space, Banjara Hills, Rd No 12 When: Ongoing, 11am onwards Contact: (040) 6554 1836
Yoga Camp The last part of a series of sevenday yoga camp will be held by Yoga Healing Foundation at Saroornagar Indoor Stadium. Where: Indoor stadium lawns, Saroornagar When: May 20 onwards, 5.15 am onwards Contact: 994820 8556
Theatre workshop Samahaara is hosting special four week summer acting workshops. The workshops will be held for a duration of four weeks. The workshops are being held at three different places in
the City. Where: Vidyaranya School, The Terrace, The Actor’s Studio When: May 14 onwards, Monday-Friday Contact: 83411 20303
Summer contest Head to Inorbit mall for a summer from May 14 to May 27. Where: Inorbit Mall, Madhapur When: Ongoing Contact: (040) 4488 0000
Solo exhibition Ramakanth’s Solo Painting Exhibition which deals with loneliness of a long distance runner is being displayed at Muse Art Gallery. Where: Hyderabad Marriott, Tank Bund When: Ongoing, 11am onwards Contact: (040) 2752 2999
Mexican brunch La Cantina, at Novotel presents Sunday brunch, an interesting mexican spread, every Sunday. Where: La Cantina, Novotel, Madhapur When: Every Sunday, 12pm onwards Contact: (040) 6682 4422
Big Cinemas, Ameerpet: 30581470; Cinemax, Banjara Hills: 44565555; Cine Planet , Kompally: 61606060; INOX, Banjara Hills: 44767777; Prasads, Tank Bund Rd: 23448888; PVR, Punjagutta: 8800900009; Talkie Town, Miyapur: 40214175; Tivoli, Secunderabad: 27844973
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TUESDAY, MAY 22, 2012
Campaigns, hard news and spirit of Twin Cities
Pahelwan’s case at snail’s pace
newly-wed woman, Rekha, allegedly committed suicide by hanging herself last night at her in-laws’ house at Ambedkar Nagar under the Saroornagar police station limits. Barely 21, Rekha was married to Bal Reddy in December 2011. It is said that the husband and in-laws had been demanding cash and other things, though dowry had been given at the time of marriage. Police are yet to ascertain if it was a suicide or a murder.
Mohd Subhan mohd.s@postnoon.com
N
early two months after the chilling details unearthed in a nightlong raid on the residential premises of ex-corporator Zaffer Pahelwan of Yakutpura, police have not moved an inch. A lot of cash, vehicles, lethal weapons, and skeletons were found in his house. The raid was conducted after the then police commissioner AK Khan personally directed the South Zone deputy commissioner of police to bring the suspect to book. Former corporator of MIM Hamza Bin Omer alias Zaffer Pahelwan has, against him, several cases of business malpractices and crime registered in Reinbazaar, Bahadurpura, and Chandrayanguttta police stations but none of the cases is conclusive as yet. Zaffer was elected corporator twice under the MIM banner, in 2009 elections he had shifted his camp to MBT party. Pahelwan held that the cases are politically motivated at the instance of MIM.
2 youth held for waylaying anchor
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File photo of Pahelwan with Sultan Salahuddin Owaisi ACP Charminar M Rammohan Rao told to Postnoon that the police were still “trying to trace out 7-8 of the Pahelwan’s close associates. Asked what progress was made, the officer said as of today nothing much has been achieved. “Investigations in all the cases against him are in progress,” he said. Rammohan said the skeleton
found in his home during the raid belonged to his daughter who is a medical practitioner. When pointed out medical practitioners did not keep skeletons at home, the ACP said in this case she had received it from the Deccan Medical College from where she had graduated. There are at least six different
CM pats SC/ST students who qualified in IIT-JEE EDUCATION eing children of farmers, coolies, hamalis or an ordinary tailor is no bar to excel in education. They have proved it right. The children of coolies, daily wage earners, autodrivers and so on from Andhra Pradesh have made it. They were from the Andhra Pradesh Social Welfare Residential Junior College, New Nagole, Hyderabad who qualified in the IIT-JEE this year.” Chief Minister Kiran Kumar Reddy rewarded each of them a cash award of `50,000. Earlier, the reward was only `10,000. The students were elated and
later spoke to the media about their studies, performances and experience in the Social Welfare Residential Junior College. The 18 students, who were qualified in the2012 IIT-JEE met the CM at the Secretariat along with MLC Chukka Ramaiah, Social Welfare Principal Secretary Raymond Peter and other officials. The CM congratulated the students for their excellent performance. He also greeted the teachers and officials of the AP Social Welfare Residential Junior College, New Nagole. He said that the government was giving priority to education and spending huge amounts on scholarships, fee reimbursements and also on hostels for students.
Kiran insulting T movement, fumes KTR POLITICS
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enior TRS leader and Sircilla MLA K Taraka Rama Rao has lambasted Chief Minister Kiran Kumar Reddy for belittling the Telangana movement. He said jeeringly that Kiran was made the CM only to please a particular community. Talking to the media here on Monday, KTR said
CRIME BRIEFS Newly wed woman hangs self
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alleged that the way Kiran Kumar Reddy was talking was gross injustice to the five-decade old Telangana movement and an insult
to the people of the region. He said that Kiran was too small and immature to understand the fight for self-respect of the Telangana people. He also alleged that CM and some other Congress leaders were talking without any sense. He also demanded that Kiran Kumar Reddy should resign if the Congress party was defeated in the ensuing bypolls.
cases against Pahelwan who is currently lodged in prison. However, police say there are over a dozen other cases pending against him in various police stations. No comprehensive inquiry into all the crimes has yet been conducted. Police say investigation will take time as they are yet to get hold of the associates.
he Vanasthalipuram police have picked up two youths, Murlidhar and Sandeep Reddy, on Monday while they waylaid a television anchor, Santosha. It is said that she was returning home in her car driven by her driver. As she neared her home, the two youths stopped the car and abused the driver. She rang up the police and the police patrol reached the spot and detained the youths. Why the duo did this is yet to be ascertained.
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TUESDAY, MAY 22, 2012
Campaigns, hard news and spirit of Twin Cities
4
Paul arrested for political reasons? Md Inkeshaf Ahmed ahmed.m@postnoon.com
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ON THE
he arrest of evangelist KA Paul, whose political outfit — Praja Shanthi Party is contesting for 18 Assembly seats in the ensuing bypolls, surprised many.
CAMPAIGN
TRAIL
KA Paul with the late Benazir Butto
The reason for this is that the murder case for which he was accused dates back to January 2010 and the arrest took place after two years of the incident. Paul himself alleged that he was being arrested at the behest of CM N Kiran Kumar Reddy and YSR Congress president YS Jagan. He claims both the CM and Jagan are scared of his party’s electoral prospects during the bypoll scheduled to be held on June 12 next month. Paul was expected to
win a chunk of Christian votes which would hit both the Congress and YSRC, the two parties commanding most of the community votes. The main Opposition, Telugu Desam Party, which is contesting for the 18 Assembly and one Parliamentary seat has openly said that the arrest was done at the behest of the Congress leaders as it did not want to lose the elections. “Congress party and its lead-
KA Paul blessing Jagtguru Sankaracharya
ers are known for their opportunism. They can go to any extent to win this election. I think Paul’s arrest is also part of it,” TDP senior leader K Balaramakrishna Murthy told Postnoon on Monday morning from Ongole where Paul was arrested. Murthy said that Paul’s party can be a spoilsport for political parties in the bypoll where every vote matters. “His party can take some votes as he has followers everywhere. Even if his party gets
about 1,000 votes, it can be a disaster for political parties,” Murthy added. However, when Postnoon quizzed ruling Congress spokesperson N Tulasi Reddy , he rubbished the TDP claim and denied reports of political motive behind the arrest of KA Paul. Reddy said that Paul’s arrest was the law’s job. “Is he worthy of being talked about?” Reddy wanted to know. “Paul can’t dent the prospects of our party,”
Reddy insisted. The Congress leader compared Paul’s arrest to the arraigning of Bhanu, the alleged killer of faction leader from Anantapur district, Suryanarayana Reddy. “Look at the notorious criminal Bhanu. He was arrested after a gap of over a year. Same can be applied to Paul also. The police must have come across a strong evidence against him and arrested him,” he said. But political analysts feel that the strength of KA Paul, being a preacher, can’t be underestimated. “Paul belongs to Kapu community, a reckoning force in the bypoll bound areas. He also has a following among Christians, Political observers feel that this would definitely have impact on mainstream political parties. Paul is a preacher and as a preacher he has created his own set of followers. These followers would vote for him for the sake their love,” political analyst J Tirupathi Chari said.
Vehicle towed in the City? Get set to run TRAFFIC Rahul Ramakrishna rahul.r@postnoon.com
T
he functioning of the traffic police is intriguing, if not frustrating. A trip to the traffic control room at Nampally teaches one a lesson that the traffic police of Hyderabad do not work for compliments, literally. Their decade-old ways of trying to solve traffic issues, most notably towing away vehicles parked on the wrong side, continues to cause inconvenience to the public, who despite the awareness campaigns about traffic and police, continue to be unaware of the limits to which traffic police flout their own system. Gangadhar Rao, a businessman at Koti was shocked to see
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his vehicle missing from Bank Street late in the night. “I first thought that it got stolen, but the vendors nearby informed me that it had been towed away,” he said. Gangadhar approached the Sultan Bazaar traffic police station and was stunned to find out the workings of the system. “To get my vehicle back, they have to first issue a chalaan which needs to paid at the control room in Nampally. After that, I need to come back to Sultan Bazaar to claim my vehicle,“ he rued. The absence of the subinspector in-charge added to his many woes. This manner of enforcing law is a farce in its own way. Suppose a citizen were to illegally park his vehicle in the suburbs of Hyderabad, say Gachibowli. And after the vehicle is towed away, he or she is then required to first find
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out if it was stolen or towed away, and then search for their vehicle in the myriad police stations and then travel halfway through to the City and back just to pay a fine and claim their vehicle back. Dinkar Sharma says, “First of all, there is no clear mention of a parking or a no-parking zone in
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certain parts of the City. While they enforce their rules with utmost sincerity, they tend to blur out the bigger offenders — street hawkers, pedestrians jumping traffic signals and fake policemen. The King Koti area is the biggest hub of violators. All public space has been
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encroached, including pavements, by the motor bike shops that run their businesses there. Why is policing limited to certain parts of the City ?” Towing away vehicles is deemed redundant in many countries. Despite modernising the chalaan system, the task of paying one is cumbersome and inefficient. Commissioner of traffic, CV Anand, was unavailable for comments. However, a traffic constable at Punjagutta admitted that some vehicles are towed away to fill up cases and show that work is being done. “While checking two wheelers, we tend to leave out the middle aged men and drivers with families, as they mostly tend to abide by rules. Our focus is upon the youth, where 5 out of 10 cases will flout rules,” he says.
AIRLINES Airport Director 27903785, 27906001 For Air India Flight Information Toll free (from any network) for IC Flights 18001801407 And for All Flights: 1800227722 Air India has revised its flight timings. For more information call (Toll free) 18001801407, 1800227722 from BSNL/MTNL 04023430334 from other lines and mobile Website; www.airindia.in TOURISM OFFICES AP Tourism, Hyd 23262152/53/54 Sec’bad 27893100 Dept of Tourism 23453110 India Tourism 23261360 AP Tourism information Centre (24x7) 23450444, 23455999
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Readers’ views We invite you to write to us comments, suggestions, viewpoint or just about anything to feedback@postnoon.com or #1246, Level 3, Jubilee Casa, Road No 62, Jubilee Hills, Hyderabad – 500 033 or even by way of a call on 4067 2222
Hyper Local
TUESDAY, MAY 22, 2012
Campaigns, hard news and spirit of Twin Cities
5
Human error kills, again DEAD 21
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Compensation
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Railway authorities have announced `5 lakh compensation to the next of kin of each killed and `1lakh to each seriously injured. `50,0000 for minor injuries . Besides, Karnataka Chief Minister Sadanand Gowda announced to `1 lakh compensation to the dependents of those killed.
Poor signalling and driver negligence led to the accident Inkeshaf Ahmed ahmed.m@postnoon.com
T
he division railway manager of Guntakal Mani announced that the accident took place due to defect in signalling and negligence of the Hampi driver. He said that the department would take severe
PENUKONDA:
Twenty-one people were killed and over 70 injured when the driver of the Bangalore-bound Hampi Express apparently overshot the signal and rammed into the rear of a stationary goods train in Anantapur district in the wee hours today. Of them, 11 were charred to death in the first coach, which caught fire, while the rest were trapped to death in the third coach of the express train coming from Hubli in Karnataka. The tragedy happened at around 3.15am at Penukonda railway station. The first three coaches of the express train had derailed due to the impact of the collision. Most of the victims were labourers coming from Hubli and Hospet in Karnataka and were on their way to Bangalore. “Prima facie it seems that the driver of Hampi Express overshot the signal,� Railway spokesperson Anil Saxena said. Police have registered a case and both the driver and his assistant of the express train were injured and in hospital and not in a position to speak right now.
Railway and local police along with fire fighting men soon brought the flames under control. Rescue as well as relief operations are on, officials said. The injured have been shifted to Penukonda, Hindupur and Anantapur hospitals. Railway Minister Mukul Roy, who was in Kolkata, has rushed to the site of the accident and ordered an inquiry into it. Commissioner Railway Safety (Southern Circle), SK Mittal will conduct a statutory inquiry and has been asked to submit a report at the earliest. Roy also announced a compensation of Rs five lakh to the next of kin of the deceased, `1 lakh for those who sustained grievous injuries and `50,000 to those who received minor injuries. An auxiliary rescue train and medical relief van were sent from nearby Dharmavaram to help is rescue and relief operations Railway officials said the neighbouring railway track has been restored and traffic has almost become normal from the affected section. PTI
A
fter expressing his shock over the ghastly accident, CM Kiran Kumar Reddy is flying down to Penukonda and will inspect the site. He will also visit the injured at the local hospital. He will hold a meeting with the railway officials. The railway officials have identified some of the deceased. The names include , Muttanana, Pavani Bai, Rudrappa, Hemabai, Venkatesh Pawar, Laxmamma, Mallesh, Veerama Satyanarayana and Punyamurthi.
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Case booked against driver Mohd Subhan mohd.s@postnoon.com
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dditional director general of police (railway) VSK Kumudi told Postnoon a case has been booked in Hindupur railway police against the Hampi Express driver MY Ratnam and assistant driver Balaraju who are prima facie responsible for the mishap, crime number 31/2012, under section 337,338,304A and 175 of the Railway Act has been
registered on the complaint of Peenukonda station manager M Sriramlu. So far 21 bodies have been recovered from the scene, Kumudi said. The DG said that the bodies were recovered with the help of gas cutters. He said DIG Charu Sinha and his team are on the scene working. The toll is likely to go up as some 40 of the 70 injured are in a critical condition, he said. The railway police chief said a comprehensive inquiry would be ordered later.
Chronology of rail accidents since January 2012 January 11, 2012: Five persons were killed and nine others, including a child, injured in a collision between the Delhi-bound Brahmaputra Mail and a stationary goods train. February 26, 2012: Three people died and one man was injured, when Kozhikode-bound Jan Satabdi Express ran into a crowd of people who were watching Uthralikkavu pooram sample fireworks standing on the railway track. March 19, 2012: Seven persons
CAG had raised red flag ailways has been unable to develop a robust and reliable anti-collision device to prevent train mishaps despite carrying out field trials for over a decade, the Comptroller and Auditor General has observed in its latest report. The device's field trials are being carried out since 2000-01 and site acceptance tests and modifications are being done since November, 2006 in the 1,736 km-long Katihar-Guwahati-Ledo/Dibrugarh section of Northeast Frontier Railway at a cost of `158.67 crore. "But despite the long trial, a reliable anti-collision device (ACD) is yet to be developed so far. The ACD was not in a position to judge whether the inputs derived from the signalling systems were dependable," the report pointed out.
action against officials found guilty of dereliction of duties. Meanwhile the total number of deaths reached 21 while the state of another 70 persons, who are undergoing treatment, are said to be critical. The injured have been admitted to various hospitals of Hindupur, Penukonda and Bengaluru.
It also noted out that there was no system to detect whether the ACD installed in locomotives and guard vans were defective or not. Similarly, the CAG has found despite commissioning of the train protection warning system (TPWS) in Southern Railway as a measure to prevent accident in May 2009 at a cost of `49.49 crore, the trial reports indicated various failures of the equipment requiring modifications in the software. "The performance efficiency recorded during trials was between 77 and 90 per cent as against the acceptable level of 99.9 per cent...The TPWS work commenced in 2005 in North Central Railway had not yet been completed despite incurrence of expenditure of Rs 41.54 crore," the report said. PTI
were injured when the IslampurPatna MEMU passenger train dashed against a truck at a manned level crossing near Daniyawan. March 20, 2012: Nearly 15 people were killed when a train collided with an overcrowded taxi minivan at an unmanned crossing in northern Uttar Pradesh. March 26, 2012: A loco pilot of a Mainline Electric Multiple Unit (MEMU) train and a truck driver were killed when the speeding passenger train rammed into a boulder-
ferrying truck at the Kannamangala gate on the outskirts of Bangalore. May,2012: Six coaches of Mumbai Bound 12138 Firozpur Mumbai Punjab Mail Derailed in Haryana. Coaches from S5 to S11 and even general coaches had derailed. No deaths are reported. May 19, 2012: Three bogies of the empty passenger train caught fire at Falaknuma Sation in Hyderabad. Fire started from the train engine and the flames soon spread to other bogies.
Hyper Local ‘Reports are false’: Mopidevi E
xcise Minister M o p i d e v i Venkataramana has said that the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) did not ask him to appear before it for an enquiry in connection with Vanpic case. Ve n k a t a ra m a n a expressed displeasure over the news in a section of the media that CBI called him for interrogation and the stage was set for his arrest. There was no iota of truth in the reports in the media, he said, adding that the media was making a hue and cry on the matter. He reminded that he had already appeared before the CBI earlier. “I am ready to appear before CBI again if the agency called him”, he added. The minister made it clear that no irregularities had taken place in the allotment of lands to Vanpic. He said that he was ready to face any action if it was found that irregularities had occurred. Speaking after the Cabinet sub-committee meeting, Venkataramana said that the sub-committee has initiated preliminary discussions on finalising new liquor policy. AGENCY
Five killed in road accident F
ive persons were killed and eight others seriously injured when a tipper collided with an auto rickshaw in Arnakonda village, police said today. The incident took place last night under the Choppadandipolice limits, 25 km from here. The auto driver and fourpassengers were killed in the mishap. According to police, the driver of the tipper was under the influence of alcohol and has been arrested. The injured were shifted to the district headquarters hospital at Karimnagar, where their condition is reported tobe stable. A case has been registered and investigation is on the police added. AGENCY
TUESDAY, MAY 22, 2012
Campaigns, hard news and spirit of Twin Cities
6
Lost charm of single-screens Till ten years back, Secunderabad had the best single screen theatres in the City. Even today, regulars look back and remember those glorious cinematic outings N SHIVA KUMAR
Bhavneet S and Sneha M feedback@postnoon.com
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he saying ‘Old is gold’ fits perfectly when we discuss about single-screen theatres of Secunderabad. Ten years back the best theatres of the twin cities were located in here and people came here from Hyderabad to watch a movie. “When we were young, Sangeet and Anand were the equivalent of today’s Prasads and PVR. I live in Jubilee Hills and we would go all the way to Secunderabad to watch movies. In fact, during college days, all the major hang-outs — be it movies or restaurants — were located in Secunderabad,” says Dr Krishna J. The first theatre in Secunderabad was Manohar, located adjacent to the railway station. Tarun Malhotra, a businessman, recalls, “When I was in college, single-screen theatres were hangouts for students. I still remember how everybody rushed to these single-screen theatres.” However, with time, these single theatres have evolved too. They have given way to lavish multiplexes. Most renowned single-screen theatres of Secunderabad such as Sangeet and Anand are under renovation and are being converted into multiplexes. The reason for this change is competition from the multiplexes. The singlescreens have no choice but upgrade to multiplexes or face shut down. “We never had multiplexes in my time, all we had single-screen
theatres. The ambience of the single-screen theatres gives you the feel of the movie, they were made for the masses. Not everyone can afford the multiplex charges,” laments Anuradha Reddy, a retired school teacher, who misses the old world charm. Not just the older generation but the young ones too miss single screen theatres “I feel so bad when my college bus passes by the Anand theatre which is closed for renovation, I'm sure that in a year or two we wouldn't have any single screen theatres left. I would miss them a lot as they are very economical,” says Pruthvi Polimera, student of St Peter’s College of Engineering. Vijender Reddy, president of
Telangana Film Chamber of Commerce, explains the reason for the transition, “If you compare today’s situation to that 15 years ago, the percentage of audience watching films in theatres have dropped drastically as the films are readily available on the internet. So we try to attract the audience by adding other facilities such as shopping area and play
ICONIC CITY Pista House, Charminar
W
hen the season of Ramzan is around the corner, one delicacy every Hyderabadi looks forward to is the mouth watering haleem of Pista House. If you are on a trip to Hyderabad, this place deserves a visit. It has many varieties in haleem from the vegetarian haleem to the special dry fruit haleem. The price ranges from `70 to `150 which would definitely make you come back for more. It is also
Sneha Mashetty Hyderabad as a City has a lot to offer in terms of heritage and sights. We take a look at the various places that make this City so special
famous for the Chicken Biryani. The best thing about it is that you can select the level of spice you would wish to have in the biryani. For all those with a sweet tooth, it also serves amazing sweet dishes like kurbani ka meetha and kaddu ka kheer The good news for all the non-hyderabadis is that Pista House has now gone global, you can order haleem online and it will be delivered to your doorstep.
area and convert them into multiplexes.” Despite all odds a few theatres are fighting against the current and sailing smooth. Manohar, Manju, Raja Rajeshwari and Prashanth have managed to tackle the competition from multiplexes and have stuck to single-screens making profits. “Despite the comforts of plush multiplexes, I prefer theatres like Manju and Prashanth when I go with family,” says Upender Rao a real estate agent. Even if our City theatres transform from samosa and coffee to combo meals of multiplexes, there are definitely many who still love and cherish watching films in single-screen theatres. M ANIL KUMAR
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f they could speak, the poor creatures would have said, “we too have a black coat. We are the oldest residents of this area. You deal with justice. What justice is this?” The AP High Court complex has hundreds of bats that have been there for centuries. With rapid urbanisation changing the face of the City, the bats face the threat of eviction. The main reason mentioned is that their dropping generate odour. Perceived as a nuisance, and often disturbing, the sight and presence of
known to travel as far as 20 kilometres to feed. The fact that there is not one single animal rescue team that is interested in bats speaks volumes about the impact of popular culture on this particular species. “Apart from urbanisation, the unreal myths and farce surrounding these creatures have led to their steady decline. Loss of tree cover, heavy construction has had a severe impact on their numbers. Even natural causes such as an average increase in climate change are leading to their gradual extinction,” he says. Dr Srinivasulu is a bat biologist and a member of the AP Biodiversity Board, whose discovery of a new subspecies of bats in the Nallamalla forests has been much celebrated. After what has been done to the vultures, wantonly or out of ignorance, perhaps the bats are next in line to be wiped away from the face of our city. “At this rate it is going to be man the next in extinction list,” said RC Rajmohan, a lawyer who objects to the plan of banishing the bats.
bats has never interested the High Court judiciary, or for that matter any animal welfare organisation. A close look into the life of these bats reveals their important place and role in the bio-diversity. C Srinivasulu, professor of Zoology, Osmania University says, “These bats live in roosts that are a colony of trees spread over a wide area. Hyderabad, over the last 15 years has lost 3 roosts, particularly the one at Pahadi Shareef that was famous for its thousands of bat sightings.” The fruit-bats help germinate certain plants and trees that can only grow after being passed and dispersed through the bats guts. Dr Srinivasulu says, “These bats help in pollination and seed dispersion. The main thing that puts people off bats is the myth that they are rabid creatures. I have come across many medical students who have refused to handle bats during training, fearing rabies. Although, there has not been one bat related death in India so far, popular myth and misconceptions tend to paint bats in a bad light.” These bats are
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Nobody to bat for bats in HC premises
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TUESDAY, MAY 22, 2012
Campaigns, hard news and spirit of Twin Cities
Fruits bats factfile
FABRICATION
n There are two main types of fruit bats: old world fruit bats and new world fruit bats. The former are found in Africa, Southeast Asia, and Australia, while New World fruit bats, such as leaf-nosed bats, are found in North and South America. n Fruit bats are in many sizes. The Malayan flying fox is the largest bat in the world. Its wingspan measures around six feet across. The fruit bat family is also home to several very small species of bats. The several species of long-tongued fruit bats have a head and body length of only around five to six centimetres. n Fruit bats have been known to drink the nectar from flowers, and some seem to prefer this, but all have fruit in their diets. n Fruit bats are not carnivores and will not eat insects. n The teeth of fruit bats are specially designed for biting through the tough skins of fruit, and thus can eat some that other animals cannot. n Despite the old saying “blind as a bat,” the fact is that fruit bats are not blind at all. Bats have decent vision and fruit bats have colour vision.
Hyper Local
TUESDAY, MAY 22, 2012
Campaigns, hard news and spirit of Twin Cities
For the love of ‘metal’ Tooth and Nail productions is working to promote metal bands in the City
inding people to play metal music in Hyderabad ranks as a difficult task. But an event management company does exactly that in a City where all music is either film music or “rock band music”. Tooth and Nail Productions, is an event management company based in Hyderabad that caters to the metal music demands in the City along with Metamorphik Productions of Bangalore. Postnoon catches up with the people behind the metal scene of Hyderabad and discuss the many facets of metal music in the City. Swapna Kutcherlapati, the backbone of Tooth and Nail Productions has been actively involved in featuring bands across the country and has associated with a few international acts since its inception in May 2011. In association with Metamorphik Productions, Sumeeth Suvarna from Bangalore and Swapna have been instrumental in organising shows for the many deserving metal bands in the City. About Hyderabad and its crowd here Swapna says, “There are a lot of bands that deserve attention from this City. I have come across some amazing
bands that would be a runaway hit if they were promoted properly. As opposed to Bangalore, the scene in Hyderabad is nascent and still growing. Hence there’s a lot of optimism when it comes to the City.” Sumeeth Suvarna says, “At any gig here, we can easily expect about 120 people. Besides, the technicians here are really decent and there is no dearth of providing good sound in the City. This provides for all the right kind of encouragement for local bands to get noticed.” Sumeeth and Swapna have collaborated together for the Xtreme Sports Bar metal wave concert that was a runaway hit with the local crowd. About the difficulties in organising a metal gig for Hyderabadis, Swapna says, “The crowd here loves it. Because we don’t have many people playing regularly, a decent avenue like this draws in a lot of crowd. With Hyderabad, we can never predict a number.” Sumeeth agrees. “I have been travelling throughout the country, putting together people and music and nothing comes close to Hyderabad’s crowd. This is definitely the place to be in a couple of years, considering the kind of talented crowd and bands we have here. The scene has changed compared to the two gigs a month that we have here in the City right now. Things are definitely looking up,” he says.
learning accessible to anyone and bridge the gap. The main intention is to bring out the hidden talent and knowledge in every individual” he adds. There is no criteria for learning or teaching. A teacher should have theoretical and practical
knowledge about the subject. There is no need of a degree or certificate to join learnsocial. Any one above the age group of 15 can register. The office is located at Madhapur but classes can be conducted from anywhere in Hyderabad as per the students
MUSIC Rahul Ramakrishna rahul.r@postnoon.com
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Green Talents sought T
he German Federal Ministry of education and Research (BMBF) is holding it’s fourth Green Talents competition under the patronage of the federal minister Annette Schavan. Young international scientists who are working on cutting-edge projects in research fields that are related to sustainable development are being invited to apply for ‘Green Talents — The International Forum for HighPotentials in Sustainable Development.” In all, 25 ‘green talents’ will be selected every year. Winners will be selected by a high-calibre jury of experts that includes academia, public institutions and industry. Relevance of the research field of the candidate and his/her scientific merits will be taken into. The jury nominates excellent scientists with a research focus on eg renewable energies, environment protection, urban development, mobility research or climatology. The awardees will be taken on a two-week tour visiting outstanding German research institutions and gaining first hand insights into sustainability research in Germany. Details and forms are available at www.greentalents.de. AGENCY
Learn socially INITIATIVE Anubha K Singh anubha.k@postnoon.com
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ou have always dreamt of becoming an actor, but didn’t know where and how to start? Are you interested in drawing? Do you want to bring out your creative side but don’t know how? Then learnsocial.com is the perfect place for you where you can learn something new everyday. It is a social learning platform which envisions to transform every individual into a teacher and student. It is an innovative platform which allows you to teach anything, learn anything from anyone, anywhere in the world. It’s not just acting or drawing but you can learn many other subjects from different categories such as business, creative
arts, culinary arts, entrepreneurship, lifestyle and technology. You can join the club as a teacher or as a student. “Learnsocial is a social learning platform that enables rich peer-to-peer real world learning. It intends to democratise learning by creating an open marketplace for anybody to teach and learn. We strongly believe that every individual has unique knowledge which will be enhanced by sharing it with others,” said Satya Krishna Ganni founder of learnsocial. “We have tried our best to build a platform that makes it easy for anyone to create a class, promote and reach the right audience. You just need to sign up on our website and go ahead. Learners can take courses from various categories such as entrepreneurship, language, music, games, technology, art and more,” he adds. “Through learnsocial we want to make
and teachers feasibility. Subjects range from filmmaking to acting. While some may be paid classes, the fees are a nominal `200 or `250. Learnsocial.com envisions to transform every individual into a teacher and student.
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10g= `29,400
GOLD
1kg= `54,600
SILVER
`54.97
DOLLAR
POUND TUESDAY, MAY 22, 2012 9
Matters of saving and spending
he Life Insurance Corporation of India launched a new single premium non-linked policy, Jeevan Vaibhav on the traditional platform. The risk cover of the policy is the sum assured, which is almost double the premium paid by the customer and also offers guaranteed returns at maturity. This is the limited period plan, which is available for maximum of 120 days. The minimum age entry for the plan is eight years (completed) and the maximum age is 65 years (nearer birthday). The policy term is 10 years (fixed), where the minimum premium paid to be is of `95,210 without any upper limit, for which the sum assured is `2 lakh along with loyalty addition depending on corporation’s experience after 10 years. In the event of unfortunate death, the sum assured (`2 lakh) will be paid without any loyalty addition, if it is before eight years of the commencement of the policy. The corporation will also consider loyalty addition if the death occurs during the last two years of the policy term. LIC is offering liquidity for the plan, by providing 65 per cent of the premium paid as a loan amount after the first year.
‘Success in business is never a cakewalk’ Prudhvi Raju K prudhvi.k@postnoon.com
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ducation, experience and commitment to the business helped Rashmi Rajpal to be a successful entrepreneur. She never got disheartened with a lot of challenges on her way but waited for three years to fall things in place. Talking about her background and business, she says “I am cosmetic engineer by profession. I have graduated in cosmetology engineering from the University of Nagpur in 1994. I worked with Dabur and Hindustan Lever limited as a research trainee. I also formulated hair oil at the age of 19 for an exporter, who did not credit me for my work. After getting married, my husband supported me to grow in the profession. “Initially, I used to formulate and provide these unique herbal cosmetics to the patients depending on their need at my clinics. I felt that my research and products should not limit to the few people who come to me. I want to grow and reach masses by starting a Klienz Herbals, a manufacturing unit. I have started the business with mere `50,000 at 600 sqft location in Bowenpally with one helper in 2007. “Marketing was a great challenge. I have the expertise in the research field but as small scale entrepreneur, I had to do marketing, administration and distribution by myself. I had many odds like shops did not want to market my product and at times even they used to make me wait for long hours for giving me the
NUMEROLOGY
$376
million
SRINIVAS SETTY
LIC launches Jeevan Vaibhav T
Employees: 6 Revenues: 2009-2010 `15 lakh 2010-2011 `22 lakh 2011-2012 `35 lakh Margins for own products: 10-15 per cent Contract manufacturing margins: 6 per cent money for the sold out products. At times, I felt that my old profession (cosmetologist) is better than getting in to business. But every small scale entrepreneur should realise there is success waiting beyond all the odds that you are facing,” says Rashmi. Talking about the growth of the company, she says, “I moved to ALEAP industrial estate with office space of 2,500 sq ft in 2010. I also expanded the employee base to six people according to the need of the work. Today, company also does contract manufacturing for around 14 herbal products for various Tier 2 and Tier 3 herbal
companies. My education and experience helped me. Today 70 per cent of the revenues come from contract manufacturing. I have started weight loss massage oil and slowly expanded to four different oils.” “The Indian hair oil is `3,500 crore industry and even if I can tap one per cent of the market with my quality products, that would bring in huge revenues for the company. I never did business for huge profits. I compromised on my margins which may range from 10-15 per cent, to reach to masses and create brand. The volumes and growth can only be attained by building trust among the customer by offering quality products at reasonable price,” she says. The company is building a manufacturing plant at 100 sq yard land in Patancheru to get more contract manufacturing orders from MNCs and also want to introduce one minute fairness products. The company also aims to go for an IPO in next five years.
Youth joblessness back at crisis peak: ILO GENEVA: Youth joblessness is almost back at its peak following the outbreak of the global economic crisis and is unlikely to ease until at least 2016, the International Labour Organization warned Tuesday. The ILO said nearly 75 million youths or 12.7 per cent of people aged 15 to 24 will be out of work this year, up from 12.6 per cent in 2011. The jobless total is creeping towards the 75.4 million unemployed in 2009 when the financial crisis caused the number to soar. The picture is more gloomy if the millions who have put off or given up looking for a job are included: this would put the 2011 figure at 13.6 per cent.
Youths opting to prolong their education will meanwhile enter the labour market in the coming years, putting continued pressure on the jobless rate. "By 2016, the youth unemployment rate is pro-
jected to remain at the same high level," said the ILO. In its Global Employment Trends for Youth report, the body suggests offering tax and other incentives to businesses hiring
Japan chip maker Renesas to cut 6,000 jobs TOKYO: Struggling Japanese microchip maker Renesas Electronics plans to cut 6,000 jobs, or about 15 per cent of its workforce, as it struggles to turn a profit, Japan's biggest daily reported on Tuesday. The firm, which employs about 42,000 people worldwide, also plans to raise 50 billion yen ($630
million) in fresh capital, the Yomiuri Shimbun said without citing sources. The job cuts will be mainly through voluntary retirements, it added. Renesas, which lost 62.6 billion yen in the year to March, declined to confirm the report, adding in a brief statement that it has not made any announcements on job reductions.
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young people and more entrepreneurship programmes to help youths kick-start a career. More than a quarter (27.9 per cent) of youths were unemployed in North Africa last year following the Arab spring uprisings, an increase of five percentage points on 2010. The Middle East figure stood at 26.5 per cent in the report's regional breakdown. In Europe the unemployment rate dropped slightly to 17.6 per cent in 2011 and Latin America and the Caribbean also saw a small decrease to 14.3 per cent. In Sub-Saharan Africa, the rate stood at 11.5 per cent compared to 13.5 percent in south-east Asia and the Pacific. AFP
is the pay package of Apple CEO Tim Cook. Oracle CEO Larry Ellison comes second in the list of top paid CEOs, published by the Wall Street Journal, with a pay cheque of $76 million.
THUS SPAKE "Compromises are possible, notably on boosting the capital of the European Investment Bank, the mobilisation of unused structural funds and the creation of a European tax on financial transactions," French Finance Minister Pierre Moscovici
GAMBLING MEET Casino industry leaders gathered in the world's gambling capital of Macau on Tuesday for the Global Gaming Expo Asia, a three-day feast of gambling innovations at the glitzy Venetian hotel. No expense or kitschy extravagance has been spared for the largest gaming event in Asia, showcasing the industry's latest products, services and technologies. The casino business has boomed in Asia, and especially in the former Portuguese colony of Macau, over the past 10 years.
TRACK CHANGE Embattled Australian flag carrier Qantas said on Tuesday it will split its international and domestic arms into separate businesses as part of its plan to transform the airline. Each of the two entities, currently combined as Qantas Airways, will have its own chief executive and report its financial results separately, effective from July. Meanwhile, chief executive of Qantas Airways budget offshoot Jetstar Bruce Buchanansaid he was leaving the group to focus on helping other companies succeed in the Asian market.
India‑View
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TUESDAY, MAY 22, 2012
India unveiled
BSP-SP war set to get shriller Mohit Dubey
LUCKNOW: When BSP supremo Mayawati two days back made a scathing attack on the SP government, little did Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav know that his predecessor sitting in the cool confines of a luxury hotel in New Delhi was adding heat to the already scorching summer in the state. It is not without reason that the state government has expedited cases against the alleged irregularities. In the last two days, the otherwise mellow chief minister has begun to “pay back” the Dalit Diva in the same coin. Usually his usual calm self, Akhilesh has criticised the BSP leader twice within three days and has taken decisions which are sure to further ruffle the feathers of Mayawati. The state government Sunday pulled out the 3,000-strong maintenance and cleaning staff deployed at various monuments and parks made by the Mayawati government and said that they would now be deployed to clean up the city. “The city is in a mess and we cannot allow such wanton waste of resources,” said a close aide try-
AKHILESH HAS CRITICISED THE BSP LEADER TWICE WITHIN THREE DAYS AND HAS TAKEN DECISIONS WHICH ARE SURE TO FURTHER RUFFLE THE FEATHERS OF MAYAWATI. THE STATE GOVERNMENT SUNDAY PULLED OUT THE 3,000-STRONG MAINTENANCE AND CLEANING STAFF DEPLOYED AT VARIOUS MONUMENTS AND PARKS MADE BY THE MAYAWATI GOVERNMENT. ing to justify the pull-out, while admitting in private that the “lady had called for such retribution.” Akhilesh on Sunday lashed out at the former CM and said, without naming her, that people were feeling left out as their statues were not being erected any more. “She is in opposition, her statues are no more coming up, people have punished her for her misdeeds, I have nothing more to add but that the SP government would work for the welfare of the people of the state,” Akhilesh said.
Not only the chief minister but his close aides and senior cabinet ministers have also stepped up attacks on the BSP president. Urban development and parliamentary affairs minister Mohd Azam Khan on Sunday said that the loot and plunder of Mayawati would be exposed before the people at “all costs.” Khan says this is just the beginning of a larger probe after which many more skeletons would tumble out of the cupboard of the BSP supremo.
In his own imitable style, Azam Khan said he himself is shocked at the scams: “Itna paisa to kisi Mughal shehzaadi ne bhi apne mahal ko khoobsurat karne pe nahin lagaya hoga (No Mughal princess would have spent so much money to beautify her palace).” He was referring to a recent RTI (Right To Information), which had disclosed that Mayawati had spent `86 crore to redo her house, which is allotted to her as a former chief minister of the state.
Reacting to the BSP supremo’s ascerbic comment that transfers had become an industry under the Akhilesh government, Azam Khan said he found the charges of large scale transfers by the Yadav government “funny” and asked whether Mayawati expected them to run a government through the BSP’s handpicked officials. “Is it not fair that these officials are just being transferred and not being sent to jail?” the minister questioned. Other than this, “a quiet missive has been sent to ministers and party legislators, asking them to expose the misdeeds of the Mayawati government and not let people be carried away by the attacks of her party men,” senior legislator told IANS. “There is no point in being quietly watching as she and her leaders accuse us of political vendetta,” the legislator added. With both sides hardening their stand and the first session of the newly formed Vidhan Sabha (state Assembly) slated for later this month, the war of words between the two arch rivals — the BSP and the SP, is only going to get shriller. IANS
The crocs of Bhitarkanika: A problem of plenty?
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t is a tiny piece of heaven on the Odisha coast. The Bhitarkanika Wildlife Sanctuary is where the world’s largest living reptile, the estuarine crocodile, is thriving amidst sylvan surroundings after having been brought back from the brink. But now there is trouble with the reptile population booming, posing a threat to the natural balance. From a strength of 96 crocodiles in 1976, the population now stands at 1,646. A boat ride in some areas can yield crocodile sightings as frequent as one crocodile a minute, according to a conservationist. An increasing number of cases of saltwater crocodiles straying into human habitations have been recently reported from Bhitarkanika, in Kendrapada district about 130 km from Bhubaneswar. “In Bhitarkanika, some areas are well-populated with crocodiles since on a boat ride you spot a crocodile every minute. In other parts of the sanctuary, you don’t see crocodiles at all,” Bivash Pandav, scientist at the Wildlife Institute of India (WII), said. The human-crocodile encounters have mostly ended with tragic results for either side. In the latest incidents, a crocodile that wandered into a village
killed a 13 year-old-boy while in another hamlet frightened villagers hacked a 7.8 metre crocodile to death. It all boils down to space, feels Pandav. “Around 1,646 crocodiles now inhabit nearly 175 sq km of forested habitat in Bhitarkanika. But if you critically analyze their distribution, you will find them densely packed in the Bhitarkanika river system. Abundance of crocodiles is much less in rivers like Maipura and Baunsagada,” he says. Indeed, it is this confinement of the crocs in the 26 to 30 sq km of water bodies in the sanctuary that is leading to conflict. “The crocodiles regularly stray out of the sanctuary, not because of food but due to overpopulation. There is no problem of food here. This is a very rich estuarine river ecosystem. They are well stocked with fish. Every village near the sanctuary has aquaculture farms and small ponds. The crocodiles usually enter these areas. Conversely, people enter the forest and wade in croc-infested waters and get into conflict with crocodiles,” explains Pandav.
What then is the solution? “The problems in predatorhuman relations always arise from too little space. Especially
so with crocs because under good conditions, they reproduce rather quickly. And in Bhitarkanika the conditions are good. There is no easy solution,” Montana-based American nature writer David Quammen, who has worked in Bhitarkanika, said. In the past, experts have recommended translocation of crocs to other areas . But Quammen does not agree. “It’s not at all so crucial, I would say, to move crocs from Bhitarkanika to somewhere else, because the species Crocodylus Porosus already exists in many other populations in other areas, throughout Indonesia, New Guinea, and Australia,” he says. Pandav has another suggestion. “The management needs to consolidate rivers like Maipura and Baunsagada by preventing illegal fishing so that crocodiles can take shelter in these areas.” What about translocating people who live near the sanctuary? “Translocating people is always difficult politically and in human terms. I suspect that would not be a workable approach. If they are inside the sanctuary itself, yes, require them to move. Prevent further incursion. But when crocs venture outside the sanctuary, it might be best to translocate the crocs,” feels Quammen. IANS
India‑View
11
TUESDAY, MAY 22, 2012
India unveiled
NATION AT A GLANCE 25-year-old man shot at over parking space
BATTLING IT OUT
GURGAON: A 25-year-old man was shot and wounded by two youths on Monday after a heated argument over parking space for their cars in sector 55, police said. According to police, some people, who were in a Tata Safari car, shot at Sachin twice when he objected to their parking of the car at his place. The victim runs a cab service in the area and hails from neighbouring Rithoj village.
Civil aviation minister meets union leaders NEW DELHI: Civil aviation minister, Ajit Singh met the leaders of the various recognised unions and association of Air India on Monday. He emphasised that all employees must maintain peace and harmony to ensure the success of the turn around plan and the financial restructuring plan for the revival of the airline. (Left) A policeman scuffles with women during a protest over alleged corruption in the Patna Municipal Corporation (PMC) PTI elections in Patna on Monday. (Right) Women chase a policeman during the protest.
Honorary degree for Amartya Sen Nobel WASHINGTON: Laureate and eminent IndianAmerican economist Amartya Sen will receive an honorary degree from the prestigious Johns Hopkins University. Apart from Sen, five other persons including Myanamar’s prodemocracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi, environmental microbiologist Rita R Colwell, Canadian diplomat-politician Stephen H Lewis, American businessman and philanthropist John C Malone and IBM chairman Samuel J Palmisano have also been chosen for the prestigious citation. They would receive the degrees later this week. Suu Kyi would be given her degree in absentia. The degrees would be awarded at a ceremony in the university on May 24. While Colwell is well known for her efforts to ensure safe drinking water for all, Lewis holds a distinguished place in the field of humanitarian service. Similarly, Malone is the head of media conglomerate Liberty Media Corporation which provides broadband distribution and video programming in Europe, Latin America and Australia. PTI
Yet another principal lynched in Bihar PATNA: The principal of a government-run school was beaten to death by some villagers on Tuesday over a land dispute in Bihar’s Samastipur district, police officials said. Pramod Kumar Jha, principal of a middle school under Ujiyarpur police station in Samastipur, about 100 km from here, was beaten to death by some villagers when he was on his way to the school, police said. Jha was attacked with bamboo sticks and iron rods till he died, allegedly by some people who were involved in a land dispute with him, police officials said.
Former President APJ Abdul Kalam receives his portrait at a function by the Moradabad Institute of Technology on Monday. PTI
NCP minister arrested for housing scam JALGAON: Jalgaon Police on Monday
The principal had lodged an FIR against them in connection with a land dispute. Soon after the incident, angry villagers blocked the road and demanded the arrest of the accused in the case.Police have lodged a case and begun investigations.
This incident comes a day after Ashok Kumar, headmaster of the Bhadwakol government middle school in Munger, was beaten to death by some men, who allegedly demanded tax from him for construction of the school building, police said. IANS
arrested Minister of State for Transport and senior Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) leader Gulabrao Deokar for his alleged involvement in a 1997 housing scam for construction of 11,000 low-cost houses in the city. He was, released on a surety of `30,000 after being remanded to judicial custody till May 30.
Head of Madurai Adheenam to meet CM KUMBAKONAM:Facing a volley of
Paddy to ‘rescue’ elephants SEIJOSA:
The humble paddy has come to the rescue of elephants facing retaliation from villagers during human-elephant conflict in and around the Pakke Tiger Reserve in Arunachal Pradesh. The state forest department and Wildlife Trust of India (WTI) on Monday distributed around 10,000 kg of rice among 100 families living near the reserve in East Kameng district, around 100 km from the state capital Itanagar, under the grain-for-
grain programme. “People residing in the vicinity of Pakke are highlyaffected by wildlife crop depredation problems. In 2011-2012, wild elephants extensively damaged crops of around 100 families,” divisional forest officer of the reserve Tana Tapi said. “The grain is being distributed among these families as a measure to provide them relief,” he added. The villages near the reserve fall in one of the worst humanelephant conflict zones in
the northeastern region . Some people even lose their houses when elephants enter human habitations. The grain-for-grain programme, conceptualised by WTI under a study funded by the US Fish and Wildlife Service, aims to reduce human retaliation against the pachyderms during human-elephant conflicts. “The programme had been successful in the past. So we are continuing this for the current year also,” said a WTI official. IANS
protests over choosing controversial godman Nithyananda as his successor, the head of ancient Madurai Adheenam (mutt) plans to meet Chief Minister Jayalalithaa and apprise her of the developments. The appointment of Nithyananda as head of the Madurai Adheenam has triggered protests from several quarters.
A man takes a bath on the banks of the river Yamuna near Taj Mahal in Agra, to beat the heat on Monday. AFP
Around the World
12
TUESDAY, MAY 22, 2012
Beyond Borders
TV hostess Xuxa says MJ proposed to her
A supporter of Abdel Moneim Abul Fotouh, candidate in Egypt’s presidential election, sails on a boat depicting his candidate, on the Nile river, in Cairo. AFP/ MAHMUD HAMS
Egypt’s youth divided ahead of landmark poll Ines Bel Aiba
CAIRO: They came out in droves united in their desire to overthrow Hosni Mubarak, but on the eve of Egypt’s landmark presidential election, the youth that spearheaded that revolt are divided over how to keep it alive. After a tumultuous, sometimes bloody, transition following the strongman’s fall, activists say they are tired of the constant struggle with those left behind from the old regime, but vow to return to Tahrir Square if their revolution is threatened. They are disappointed at seeing their spectacular uprising hijacked by the ruling army or by Islamists whose power has since risen, and as Egypt prepares to choose its next president, they find themselves leaderless. Esraa Abdel Fattah, who in 2008 created the Facebook page “April 6” in support of striking workers and to call for political reforms, admits the youth are divided. The 33-year-old activist, whose Facebook page turned into a political movement and whose name was floated as a possible Nobel prize winner in 2011, told AFP she is now an “honorary member” of the April 6 movement, lending the group support and attending their events. “Of course there are divisions and this weakens us. But this is a phase,” said Abdel Fattah who remains “optimistic despite the fact that some of the old regime is still there.”
“With a new president, we will start the real transition and the Egyptian people will be watching,” she said. In recent weeks, the debate has particularly crystallised around whether or not to vote in the election and if so, for which candidate.
‘Campaign silence’ CAIRO: A ban on presidential campaigning entered into force on Monday with two days to go for Egypt’s first election since a popular uprising ousted longtime president Hosni Mubarak. According to the electoral rules laid down by the Supreme Presidential Election Commission, candidates may no longer appear on television, give media interviews or conduct any public activity that may influence those voting in the May 23-24 election. Candidates have been crisscrossing the country in past weeks in an unprecedented exercise in democracy made possible by the 2011 popular uprising that ousted Mubarak. The main contenders in the race are former foreign minister and ex-Arab League chief Amr Mussa; Ahmed Shafiq, the last premier to serve under Mubarak; the Muslim Brotherhood’s Mohammed Mursi and independent Islamist Abdel Moneim Abul Fotouh. A run-off is scheduled on June 16-17 should there be no outright winner.
Abdel Fattah has picked Hamdeen Sabbahi, a pan-Arab Nasserist who joined the Kefaya (Enough) protest movement that spearheaded anti-Mubarak protests in 2005. Wael Ghonim, who shot to fame during last year’s revolt when he came out publicly as the creator of the “We are all Khaled Said” Facebook page — another site that helped launch the uprising — is supporting moderate Islamist candidate Abdel Moneim Abul Fotouh. Others like longtime leftist activist Mohamed Waked, are boycotting the poll altogether. “I know we are a minority and that most people won’t boycott the election, but it’s about exposing the sham that these elections are,” Waked told AFP. Others are suspicious of the ruling military’s intentions to cede power. “The elections are a complete farce. Nothing about this is legitimate. (The ruling generals) derive their legitimacy from Mubarak, who was deposed and had no legitimacy to confer on anybody,” wrote activist Omar Kamel on his blog KarmaMole. There are also heated exchanges around how to deal with the ruling army, and whether or not to keep up the protests just weeks before the army is to cede power to civilian rule. Earlier this month, at least a dozen people were killed in clashes in Cairo’s Abbassiya district, after a sit-in by Salafist activists was attacked. AFP
RIO DE JANIERO: Brazil’s children’s television show host Xuxa has revealed that the late Michael Jackson wanted to marry her and that she had been sexually abused as a child. Maria da Graça Meneghel, better known as “Xuxa,” made the surprise disclosure in a television interview that shocked the country late Sunday. “The entourage of Michael Jackson wanted him to marry, have children. They were looking for someone. I was working in Spain, they invited me to see his show several times,” she told TV Globo’s Sunday program Fantastico. “Later they called me to invite me to Neverland (Jackson’s ranch). He knew everything about me, he read everything about me. I had dinner with him,” Xuxa said. “And later came a proposal from his impresario asking me whether I would consider living with him because he wanted to have children, marry. They thought marriage with a person concerned about children in Latin America would be a good thing,” she added. “For me (Michael Jackson) was an idol, but from idol to something else there is a difference. My answer, obviously, was no,” she noted. In the 1990s the television
actress and singer made headlines for, among other things, dating football legend Pele and the late racing ace driver Ayrton Senna, who died in a crash during the 1994 San Marino Grand Prix. Xuxa shocked the television audience on Sunday when she revealed that she had been sexually abused until the age of 13. “I was abused in my childhood until the age of 13,” a tearful Xuxa said. “I know what a child feels (when abused). We think it’s our fault. I was ashamed, I kept quiet, I felt bad, dirty,” she added, without giving further details on the abuse. Now 49, Xuxa is Brazil’s richest woman with a fortune estimated at $1 billion. AFP
REVELATIONS OF ROY
A woman examines Pop art icon Roy Lichtenstein’s “Nudes with Beach Ball” during a preview of the first retrospective since his 1997 death at the Art Institute of Chicago. More than 160 works — including never-before-seen sculptures, drawings and paintings — are collected in a major exhibit that opens in Chicago on Tuesday. AFP/Mira Obermann
Around the World
13
TUESDAY, MAY 22, 2012
Beyond Borders
Nato charts Afghan exit
WASHINGTON: The US Justice Department on Monday acknowledged an intrusion in its computer network as the notorious hacker collective Anonymous claimed to have obtained large amounts of data from it. “The department is looking into the unauthorised access of a website server operated by the Bureau of Justice Statistics that contained data from their public website,” a statement said.
Laurent Thomet and Jo Biddle
CHICAGO: Nato leaders Monday mapped a path out of the unpopular war in Afghanistan, backing plans to hand Afghans the combat lead from mid-2013 while vowing to stand by them as they seize their own destiny. In a Chicago summit declaration, US President Barack Obama and his NATO military allies ratified an “irreversible” roadmap to “gradually and responsibly” withdraw 130,000 combat troops by the end of 2014. But they also ordered military officers to begin planning a post-2014 mission to focus on training, advising and assisting Afghan troops to ensure the government can ward off a stubborn Taliban insurgency. “As Afghans stand up, they will not stand alone,” Obama told the gathering of more than 50 world leaders, focused on ending a decade of war that has left over 3,000 coalition soldiers and tens of thousands of Afghans dead. Afghan President Hamid Karzai, who attended the talks, sought to reassure nervous allies that the sacrifices made on all sides would not have been vain, maintaining Taliban Islamic militants could not recapture power.
Corrupt Philippines’ top judge to be ousted MANILA: The Philippines’ top judge Renato Corona was due to testify at his impeachment trial Tuesday to save his job, with President Benigno Aquino saying his ouster is key to an anti-corruption drive. Corona is accused of protecting graft-tainted former president Gloria Arroyo, and of allegedly amassing a personal fortune.
Chancellor of Germany Angela Merkel and Prime Minister of Denmark Helle Thorning-Schmidt confer in Chicago, Illinois, during the Nato 2012 Summit. AFP “The Taliban may have the ability to launch attacks, to explode IEDs (improvised explosive devices), to send suicide bombers. But for them to come and take over the country, no,” Karzai said. But in a sign of growing frustrations with the dragging conflict, France’s new President
Francois Hollande said his country had done “more than its duty” since the 2001 US-led invasion ousted the hardline Taliban leadership. A calendar for withdrawing French troops by the end of 2012 — a year early — would be drawn up within the next 10 days. The 28 Nato leaders issued a
final statement saying Afghans will be in “lead for security nationwide” by mid-2013. Though Nato troops will gradually shift focus to training and support, alliance officials stressed foreign soldiers would still participate in combat operations when needed until late 2014. AFP
Michelle Obama gives new French first lady tips
New Zealand troops to leave Afghanistan early
Pakistan, US signal cautious optimism on supply routes
CHICAGO: France’s new first lady, Valerie Trierweiler, Monday said she had been given some precious tips on her new role by Michelle Obama, as she eyed a future as an ambassador for equality. “What interests me, is the beginning, the children, equal opportunity,” she told reporters. “There is an expectation and we are getting letters from associations. I’ll look into it, little by little.”
WELLINGTON: New Zealand said Tuesday it will withdraw its 145 troops from Afghanistan in late 2013, a year ahead of schedule, after paving the way for an early handover to local authorities. Foreign minister Murray McCully said the success of the provincial reconstruction team (PRT) in central Bamiyan province meant the troops were able to leave next year, rather than 2014.
CHICAGO: US and Pakistani leaders Monday signaled optimism that a deal on reopening vital supply routes to Nato convoys was within reach as Islamabad ordered negotiators to seal an agreement. President Barack Obama told reporters the US and Pakistan were making “diligent progress” on an accord, after he briefly met Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari.
Chinese fake parts ‘flood’ US military WASHINGTON: More than a million Chinese counterfeit electronic parts are estimated to be in use in US military aircraft, according to a US Senate report released Monday saying the discovery jeopardises safety and national security. The Senate Armed Services Committee said its year-long investigation launched by Democratic chairman Carl Levin and ranking Republican John McCain uncovered 1,800 cases of bogus parts, including on the US Air Force’s largest cargo plane, special operations helicopters and Navy surveillance planes. The 112-page report “out-
GLOBE AT A GLANCE Hackers hit US Justice Department, again
lines how this flood of counterfeit parts, overwhelmingly from China, threatens national security, the safety of our troops and
American jobs,” Levin said. “It underscores China’s failure to police the blatant market in counterfeit parts — a failure
China should rectify.” The report also said the Chinese government denied visas to committee staff to travel to the Asian giant as part of the committee’s probe, with a Chinese embassy official saying the issue was sensitive and that a negative report could “damage” US-China relations. While the senators lay the blame squarely on China, the report said US authorities and contract companies contributed to the vulnerabilities. “The failure of a single electronic part can leave a soldier, sailor, airman or Marine vulnerable at the worst possible time,” the report said. AFP
Britain’s Prince Charles and his wife Camilla watch Victoria Day fireworks with Ontario Premiere Dalton McGuinty in Toronto. AFP
US Senate approves sanctions against Iran WASHINGTON: The US Senate on Monday approved new sanctions against Iran aimed at convincing the Islamic Republic to suspend its uranium enrichment, which western powers say is a cover for developing nuclear weapons. The measure was approved ahead of talks in Baghdad between Iran and representatives of the world’s main powers.
Colombian rebels kill 12 soldiers in clashes BOGOTA: At least 12 army soldiers were killed in clashes with rebels in northern Colombia Monday, officials said. The fighting between Colombian Army soldiers and the rebel of the Revolutionary Armed Forces (FARC) erupted in the northern Guajira department near the Venezuelan border. President Hugo Chavez has ordered increased security along the border.
A public phone booth decorated as a brain in Brazil. A hundred booths are being replaced with art work by a local company. AFP
Comment
TUESDAY, MAY 22, 2012
Fair, free and forthright
Talk back Chargers win in style I don’t know what and how but its great to see the Chargers finally come out of the shackles of defeats at hime and win two in a row. This certainly has given a ray of hope to the local fans for next year and we might see more people turning out at the Uppal stadium next year. All is well that ends well! BK Singh Secunderabad
Not austerity, surgery is indicated
Whistle-blower killed
Hard Talk
Indian democracy has become a one that just exists for name’s sake! anyone who expresses something is either killed in an accident or somehow dies naturally. There is no protection for them and all our judiciary and government do is extend the hearings where nothing is done and no one is punished. Sanjay R Malakpet
PK Surendran
Interesting series The recent series you’ve begun on Secunderabad makes for an interesting read. The piece written by the historian on Secunderabad’s glorious past especially, was good and the photographs that went along with the article gave the reader a good insight into the past. As a resident of Secunderabad I can identify with most of the important landmarks. You should also write a bit about the lung space in the area and how joggers and the fitness conscious use the army area as their jogging track each morning. There are also various joggers’ clubs here that you could write about. The subsequent article on the realty boom in the area was informative too. However, you should’ve included information about other areas in Secunderabad like Kowkoor, which is picking up as well and has some pretty good constructions. Ankita Sharma Sainikpuri
Strange rankings I was quite surprised to see Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s Devdas being listed as one of the “Top 10 films made since 2000”. What was even more surprising was that the ranking came from Time, which is usually a very well researched. While I personally do not have anything against any movie, to find it as the best Hindi movie that could make it to the list was not something that anyone would expect. The Indian movie Industry has progressed over the decade and has produced some excellent movies such as Hazaaron Khwaishein Aisi, Lagaan, Taare Zameen Par and Life in a Metro. What made this over the top garish presentation one of the best is the question. A Kumar Begumpet
Readers’ views We invite you to write to us comments, suggestions, viewpoint or just about anything to feedback@postnoon.com or #1246, Level 3, Jubilee Casa, Road No 62, Jubilee Hills, Hyderabad – 500 033 or even by way of a call on 4067 2222. Editor: Dean Williams
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“T
hese announcements of austerity measures give me a sense of deja vu, as I am on the wrong side of 80. I have been hearing about the need to tighten our belts right from 15th August 1947 when we woke to keep our ‘tryst with destiny’ which turned out to be a ‘tryst with dynasty,” scribbled a worldly-wise reader under the news that appeared on Wednesday that said Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee hints at austerity measures to stem the runaway inflation and devaluation of Indian currency. On May 25 last, thousands of Greeks gathered at Athens and clashed with riot police. A bank was set aflame and riots broke out against Greek govt. signing austerity measures imposed on it following a $110 billion IMF bailout. A strong economy in 2000, Greek slipped to a pauper status in 10 years due to profligate spending through market borrowing. Austerity, public said, hit the amenities and stifle economy. Cutting down on expenses alone would not save Greece, say pundits. Shorn of economic garb the austerity measures mean bringing expenditure in line with revenue. And, it is always welcome as unplanned expenditure, often siphoning out money by crooks in government, has been the bane of all economies that face credit crisis. But the question in Indian context is where to begin. If charity begins at home, austerity must also begin at home. This means, the FM must look inward for austerity steps than looking outward. If he does, he will immediately see there is an easy solution. ‘Easy’ to a law-abiding tax payer, not to the political parties. Austerity mantra would spell out each department should prune and prim the expenses especially on air travel s, purchase of vehicles, advertisements etc. But, we could do all this jolly well and still have a buoyant economy. How?
Austerity? A wrong diagnosis First of all, it is not austerity India needs, it is merciless surgery to remove rotting flab. It’s
Editorials
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an improbability. But we must do it, sooner the better. First, the Rajya Sabha. Every sensible Indian knows it is a mere ornament, where a political party ‘rehabilitates’ those troublesome or out rightly barter the seats for money. Ask a political boss in private, he will quote the sum. If the 250 members are dispensed with, the country would be immediately saving `88 crore (approx). When UK which gave us the improbable parliamentary democracy and its edifice could dispense with House of Lords, what is preventing a poor country from doing this? But the political bosses ever agree? Never, but however unpleasant the country has to do it. Second, Railway, the largest monopoly transport in the world is causing to itself an annual loss of `1,436 crore (News April 16) just because of ‘freebies—free passes to myriad categories and its 11 lakh-strong employees. The simple fact that there is no free lunch anywhere the world is to be remembered. Air India: This winged white elephant has been eating into the country’s vitals for far too long. The annual ‘diwali’ it brings on the treasury is `6,850 crore (News)! In these days of
scores of private carriers where is the need to keep this beast alive? Calculate just three wastes: the sum total saved would be `8,374 Crore. There are many others. But this would suffice for the country to run its affairs for now. Instead of being penny wise and pound foolish, the FM could think of lasting solutions. It is no good saving on a writing paper and ink while splashing money on babus and political bosses travelling abroad that bring only debt on the tax payers. Tailend: When AK Antony (now defence minister) became chief minister of Kerala in 1995, the ‘St. Antony,’ as he is known in the close circles, ordered to stop giving biscuits with tea being served to the media persons at the weekly cabinet briefing (Incidentally, in Kerala, the cabinet briefing is always done by the CM). The saving was a few hundred rupees. But, the grumbling media corps that was denied the pleasure of a bite, later brought out the colossal waste caused to the exchequer by bureaucrats and politicians on many foreign jaunts. Antony had no answer to that because many parts of the government machinery moved mysteriously, even unknown to the steward.
A DRAGNET THAT TRAPS SMALL FRY, but lets sharks swim right through
hile appreciating the Mumbai cops for their swift action that netted quite a big catch at the rave party they busted, one can’t help but wonder how massive consignments of drugs reach their destinations uninterrupted. Since 26/11, the enforcement agencies have been awash with funds for adding more teeth to their capabilities. The drugs that originate abroad or elsewhere in the country make their journey across hundreds or thousands of kilometres, through several layers of distributors before reaching the users. How is it that the supply chain remains uninterrupted despite the presence of multiple government agencies? For all the hype that is generated every time a rave party is raided, only the ones at the bottom of the pyramid are netted. The big operators who ferry the intoxicating material continue their operations uninterrupted. The cops get their photo ops, the media get their bytes and the moral guardians of the society gets to lament about the eroding values of the society. Only the powers that be can explain the working of the net that traps sardines but allows sharks through.
WHY WE LOVE... the BJP
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hen it comes to ‘constructive’ criticism no one can beat the saffron party. Jaswant Singh termed the White Paper on black money as a bikini — that hides the essentials. Now one can understand the general sphere of thought when more legislators are caught watching porn in public.
At the workplace
TUESDAY, MAY 22, 2012
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Adventure AT SEA our family most of the time and hardly get a chance to speak to them.” Despite all these problems, youngsters do prefer this as a lucrative profession. Initially you only had to be fit to get through and there was no proper selection process as well. Upender Chadha, who has been in this field for over 35 years recalls his entry into the profession. “I remember my friend telling me about the selections for merchant navy. I went for the selection and they asked me to fill a mug of sea water and drink it. And after that, we were kept under observation for three days. And the person who remained healthy at the end of that was selected,” he says. Now, the times have changed. There are proper institutes that offer a degree for merchant navy. It’s a three year graduation course which inclu-des one year out at the sea. The career is a fast
One of the most underrated but lucrative professions in the market today— have you considered the Merchant Navy? money I get covers up for all makes Merchant Navy an everthe problems.” green option. There is more to merchant “Adventure, that’s the word navy than loads of mofor it!,” says Jaspal Singh f you thought that being a ney and adventure. Thwho has been working chartered accountant or in ere are many risks invon the ship for the past the corporate world can olved in it. “There is a two years. “It was more make your pockets heavy, constant threat of piof a decision on impulse then think again! You missed rates these days,” says initially. Once I stepped out on the Merchant Navy. We Vipul Deodhar, a Deck into it, I have managed to speak to a cadet. “When I joined, been enjoying it. few people in this the problem of pirate I’m happy that ‘unknown territory’ and Vipul invasions wasn’t as big unlike my friends here’s what they had to as it is now. We have to vigilant who are doing the rousay. always.” Recalling an incident, tine things, I am doing The first thing that he says, “We were once spotted something different. we need to know is that by a pirate ship when we were While they are happy even though it says on our way to South Africa. racing around in the ‘navy’, it is not at all Jaspal But thankfully, a Sudanese streets, I rule the related to it. The work Navy ship came to our waves!,” says Jaspal on his of the merchant navy is to rescue and we escaped experience in this field. On transport huge shipments without much damage. asking about how is the work from one continent to another. But the one lament is on the ship, “It is tough at There is no alternate way to that we stay away from times, but then the amount of transport the goods, which
Bhavneet Singh
feedback@postnoon.com
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MINI SINGH
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Snapshot: A yoga teacher educates their students about the mind-body-spirit connection; and teaches them to relax and stretch so that they can do yoga poses which help them to lead a healthier and more balanced lifestyle; physically, mentally and spiritually. Qualifications: There are several yoga institutes in India and other countries, such as the Ashtanga Institute at Mysore, Parmarth Niketan at Rishikesh, Krishnamacharya Yoga Mandiram at Chennai, Bihar School of Yoga at Munger, Sivananda Vedanta Centre at Trivandram, and the Yoga Institute at Santacruz in Mumbai.
Tolani Maritime Institute Pune Samundra Institute of Maritime Studies Mumbai International Maritime Institute (IMI) Delhi/ NCR Marine Engineering & Research Institute (MERI) Mumbai Institute of Technology & Marine Engineering (ITME) Kolkata moving one and the chances of growth are phenomenal. Even though many are not aware of this field, it remains as one of the highest paying profession, and ruling the sea is not what everyone dreams of. So for those of you who aim to do something different, this is worth a shot.
The mind-body connect A yoga teacher guidance is must for anyone who takes up yoga. You can be that person
Yoga Guru n
Institutes that offer maritime courses
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Specialised courses for Iyengar Yoga, Bikram Yoga, Power Yoga etc. are also available at various locations. Job Description: Yoga is the ancient Indian practice of physical, mental, and spiritual discipline. It aims at the attainment of a state of perfect spiritual insight and tranquility while meditating; but is widely used as a means to attain health and fitness in the modern context. The word yoga means union, and practicing yoga aims to create a union between mind and body. As a yoga instructor, you will lead your students through postures or asanas that will help them improve flexibility, strength and
balance in their bodies. You will also guide them through a variety of breathing exercises including pranayama, to help them de-stress and balance their blood pressure, among other things. You will provide hands-on direction to make sure students are performing movements properly and applying the breathing techniques. In addition, you will offer dietary advice , encouraging them to follow a satvik diet. You may work in a class or in a one-on-one setting.
ODD JOBS
Skills: n
Extensive knowledge and experience: You need to have practiced yoga for years before you
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even apply to qualify as a yoga instructor. You need to be an expert practitioner in yoga, and need to be in great shape yourself. Interpersonal and communication skills: You need to have a good rapport with your students, and keep in mind their age as well as health issues before you recommend asanas for them. Also, while performing a particular asana, you need to ask students to exercise caution, or push them to do better, depending on the needs and limitations of each student. Ultimately, yoga gurus lead society towards a healthier, more balanced lifestyle that counters the ill-effects of a sedentary and stressful routine.
H‑Factor
TUESDAY, MAY 22, 2012
Holistic view of mind, body and soul
Prenatal exposure to pollution harmful
You’ve just had a baby but you are down in the dumps. Why? We talk to experts about postpartum blues
qÜçëÉ=Ä~Äó=ÄäìÉë Ranjani Rajendra ranjani.r@postnoon.com
Y
ou’ve just had your baby and should ideally be jubilant, excited and thrilled about holding your bundle of joy. But all you seem to be feeling these days is exhaustion, irritation, frustration, anger and you also seem to want to turn on the water works at the drop of a hat – nothing like the joy of motherhood you’d anticipated. Far from being happy you’re a picture of misery. While this might have been the last thing you expected, experts point out that it is quite common for women to feel blue following the birth of their child. The reasons for postpartum blues could be many ranging from hormonal changes to lack of ‘me’ time. “Nearly 10 per cent of the women suffer from postpartum blues following the birth of their children. While for some it
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could be the more severe postpartum depression, for others it could be the mild to moderate blues,” says Dr Minhaj Naseerabadi, consulting psychiatrist at Apollo Hospital.
NEARLY 10 PER CENT OF THE WOMEN SUFFER FROM POSTPARTUM BLUES FOLLOWING THE BIRTH OF THEIR CHILDREN. WHILE FOR SOME IT COULD BE THE MORE SEVERE POSTPARTUM DEPRESSION, FOR OTHERS IT COULD BE THE MILD TO MODERATE BLUES
Symptoms Symptoms of baby blues usually show up a few days after delivery. Most of the symptoms include n Mood swings n Crying spells n Sadness
n n n n n n
Insomnia Irritability In more severe cases it could include Lack of interest in your baby Suicidal thoughts An urge to harm the child Lack of concern for self
psychosis find it hard to care for their babies. They often refuse to accept the child as their own or look after it. They neglect their own nutrition, especially when it comes to the nutrition they require as lactating mothers,” says Dr Naseerabadi.
Causes
Treatment
According to experts, postpartum depression is a normal part of parenthood and usually occurs due to various reasons like, hormonal factors, changes in your body from pregnancy and delivery, changes in work and social relationships, lack of time for yourself, lack of adequate sleep etc. According to studies people are more likely to be prone to postpartum blues if they are younger (below age 20), are addicted to substances, had an unplanned pregnancy, are prone to depression and bipolar disorders or had a stressful pregnancy. “Often women who suffer from postpartum depression or the more severe postpartum
“In case of baby blues we prescribe low doses of antidepressants and counselling for the mother. We are very careful about the dosage of medication as it can affect the baby as well. Ideally a mother should not feed her baby for at least seven hours after having taken the medication. In case of patients with postpartum psychosis we suggest that the mother and child be separated, because in her condition the mother may harm the baby. They are then put on antipsychotics. Usually baby blues clear out within a month or so, but in case of postpartum psychosis it could take the mother nearly a year to get back to normal,” says Dr Minhaj.
WASHINGTON: Prenatal exposure to air pollution through the mother can be especially serious for asthmic children, says a new study. Researchers looked at several pollutants, including carbon monoxide, nitrogen dioxide, ozone and particulate matter. Exposure to nitrogen dioxide during the first and second trimesters was tied with lower pulmonary function growth in both girls and boys. “We found that prenatal exposures to airborne particles and the pollutant nitrogen dioxide adversely affect pulmonary (lung) function growth among asthmatic children between six and 15 years of age,” said Amy Padula, post-doctoral fellow at the University of California Berkeley, who led the study. The study was conducted as part of the Fresno Asthmatic Children’s Environment Study (FACES), which examines the influence of prenatal exposure to a number of ambient air pollutants on the growth of lung function during childhood and teen years in a high pollution area, said a university statement. Researchers included repeated evaluations of 162 asthmatic children aged between six and 15 years and their mothers. The mothers’ residences during pregnancy were geocoded and pollutant concentrations were obtained from the Aerometric Information Retrieval System supported by the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). “This finding adds to the evidence that current air pollution levels continue to have adverse effects on human health,” Padula said. “Few studies have examined prenatal exposure to air pollution and subsequent lung function in childhood. These results suggest that we need to be doing a better job to reduce traffic-related air pollution,” Padula added. The study will be presented at the ATS 12 International Conference in San Francisco. IANS
H‑Factor
TUESDAY, MAY 22, 2012
Holistic view of mind, body and soul
NOW, A ROBOTIC WAY TO HASSLE-FREE SURGERIES NEW DELHI: Four finger-tip sized incisions, four robotic arms, including a camera eye snaking inside, the magnified image of the visceral organs being watched on a screen outside as the surgical instrument arm moves deftly to remove the tumour or blockage. Minimal blood loss, no long hospital stay — welcome to the revolutionary world of robotic surgery that is gaining in popularity in India. Some of the major hospitals in the capital, including the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), are performing complex surgeries the robotic way. Major procedures such as removal of tumours, heart surgery and gynaecological surgery that would traditionally require the scalpel to make large and deep cuts in the body and consequent blood loss are now being done with robotic arms. “Robotic surgery allows us to do many complex operations that would require large incisions,” Sudhir Srivastava, chairman, CEO and managing director, Fortis Healthcare International Centre for Robotic Surgery in New Delhi said. Srivastava said conventional cardiac surgery requires splitting of the sternum, but in robotic surgery, using a robotic surgical system called Da Vinc, just fourfive finger-tip sized incisions are all it requires. “The tips of the robotic arms behave like human wrists and allows us to do complex surgeries through tiny holes,” he said. The camera arm of the robot allows surgeons to see
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inside the body in 3D. The image of the internal organs — magnified up to 10 times in high definition — shows up on a screen at the surgeon's console. Using hand and foot controls, the surgeon directs the robotic arms with the surgical tools to perform the required procedure. “The camera acts as the eyes, while the instruments act as the arms of the surgeon,” said Srivastava, adding that the surgery is “very precise, the incisions are tiny, there is little trauma and the patient can return home in a day or two. There are less complications, less blood transfusion and it is cosmetically preferable”. What about the cost? The cost varies between `60,000 and `1.5 lakh (approx
$1,000-$2,700), depending on the procedure, he says. “It works out more expensive than the conventional surgery, but the benefits are huge because of all the advantages,” Srivastava said. He says the cost is due to the technology, as each machine costs about Rs.8-10 crore (approx $1.4-1.8 million), depending on the model. He says that robotic surgeries abroad are “10 times more expensive”. Fortis has two robotic systems and the hospital performs cardiac, thoracic, urology, gynaecology, general, head and neck and orthopaedics procedures. At AIIMS, robotic surgery is done in the field of urology, ENT cardiac, thoracic and in general surgery, says P.N. Dogra, professor and head of
HOUSECALL
APP-LY YOURSELF
Atherosclerosis
First aid
hen any form of fatty material such as cholesterols gets deposited on the walls of the arteries, they from plague and block the normal blood flow. This is known as Atherosclerosis. Because of this blockage of arteries, not enough blood reaches different parts of the body that in turn results in problems such a stroke and heart attack. This narrowing of the blood vessels may also cause various other problems such as peripheral vascular diseases, impotency and high blood pressure. Smoking, cholesterols, diabetes, inactivity are some of the causes apart from certain genetic causes and also a family history of Atherosclerosis. Treatment for the ailment includes certain lifestyle changes. People suffering from Atherosclerosis may also require an angioplasty to help open up the narrowed arteries.
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the Department of Urology, adding that the urology section gets around 130-140 patients every month. But AIIMS does not charge anything from general patients. “During the hospital stay, even the meal charge is not taken from some patients,” Dogra said. One major advantage of the robotic system, he says, is the “tremor filtration” in which the “unintentional movement of the doctor is not carried over to the patients during the operation as the doctors are behind the operation table monitoring the robot”. Arvind Kumar, a former professor of surgery at AIIMS, who is now heading the Institute of Robotic Surgery at Sir Gangaram Hospital, says the hospital performed “Asia' first vascular surgery” using the robotic system. Explaining the high costs, Kumar says the robotic technology is in evolution. “As its uses become more, the prices will crash, like in the case of mobiles,” Kumar said. IANS
issed your first aid classes at school and can’t bother to scan through the million of tips online? This app is for you. Just as the name suggests, First Aid is a free health app, which uses text, videos and images to explain first aid techniques such as CPR. Apart from providing information about what to do in an emergency, it also provides what not to do. It's first aid myths section deals with myths about first aid which is important as you don't want to be causing more harm to someone when your only intention was to provide relief. Another interesting feature is that it provides an option for you to enter in emergency numbers that you can call in such a situation.
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Arthritis drug effective against parasites PARIS: A cheap off-patent drug that is commonly used for arthritis could be a wonder treatment for amoebic parasites that infect 50 million people each year, 70,000 of them fatally, a study on Sunday said. Researchers in California found that auranofin, an oral therapy for arthritis that has been around since 1985, is highly effective against the parasite Entamoeba histolytica. Carried in water and food, the parasite is a major but often neglected hazard in poor countries, causing amoebic dysentery and liver abscesses. Auranofin was found thanks to a hi-tech programme to screen potential drugs for orphan diseases. It was tested on parasites in a lab dish, then in mice with amoebic colitis and on hamsters with amoebic liver cysts, according to the study, published in the journal Nature Medicine. The experiments suggest auranofin would be 10 times more effective than metronidazole, the current medication for amoebic infection, which means that it could be used in very small doses or even as a one-off tablet. Better still, the drug has long been recognised as safe. At recognised dosages, it has few side effects, whereas metronidazole can cause nausea, vomiting, dizziness and headaches. “This is a drug that you can find in every country,” said Anjan Debnath of the University of California at San Francisco in a press release. “Based on the dosage we’re seeing in the lab, this treatment could be sold at about $2.50 per dose, or lower. That cost savings could make a big difference to the people who need it the most.” The discovery was made thanks in part to US federal funding to identify drugs which tackle a neglected, or orphan, disease. This definition applies to a disease with fewer than 200,000 cases in the United States or a drug which is effective but whose costs of development and marketing are unlikely to be recovered. AFP
DID YOU KNOW? Laughing is exercise
W
e all love a good laugh. At some point of time we all have been reprimanded for sitting at home and laughing along with our friends or cousins for no reason instead of going out and playing. But now we have an alibi. Laughing 100 times is said to be roughly equal to 15 minutes of routine on an exercise bike. It is said that vigorous laughter increases the heart rate and deepens the breathing rate. It uses muscles in the face, stomach, and the diaphragm. So while laughter not only helps to make your mood better and makes you feel happier it’s also great form of exercise. So laugh out loud — to your heart’s content.
Spotlight
TUESDAY, MAY 22, 2012
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Artist Hari Srinivas unveiled his 22nd solo exhibition at the Synergy Hall, Taj Deccan titled Vermillion Reds. This is a charity show in aid of Basavatarakam Indo-American Cancer Hospital and Research Institute.
Shades of red SRINIVAS SETTY
Naturally good Naturals Family Salon & Spa launched its 147th salon at Street No 8, Habsiguda. The models there also displayed some trendy hair patterns to add to the glitz. The salon was inaugurated by Prasad Kumar, Minister for Textiles.
Magic Screen
TUESDAY, MAY 22, 2012
The glamour behind the glitz
DARUVU
set to release on May 25
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T-TOWN TWEETIES
@shraddhadas43 Just had some typical Kerala food, a dish cld fish moilee! Inspite of bein a bengali, I like this preparation of fish better thn bong style!
Mani Ratnam’s Gharshana to be remade
@actressanjjanaa Landed in goa, enroute ankola,gona finish wid a lottta unattended calls and hear my fav music on d way in my car!
O
ne of Mani Ratnam’s classic films, Gharshana is going to be remade in Telugu and Tamil. The film, titled Agni Natchathiram in Tamil, had Prabhu, Karthik, Amala and Nirosha in lead roles. Thandra Ramesh, the producer of films like Osthe, Uthamaputhiran and the upcoming Gopichand, Nayanthara’s film, has bought the remake rights of Mani Ratnam’s Gharshana. He’s is in talks with some of the top actors, actresses and directors in Telugu and Tamil to remake the evergreen classic. Interestingly, the film is also going to be remade in Hindi. Ajay Devgn is going to reprise Prabhu’s role and ace director Rohit Shetty was roped in to direct the film.
Shruti Haasan is all smiles S
hruti Haasan is elated post the stupendous success of her recent Telugu film Gabbar Singh.She has been promoting the film for the last couple of days in Hyderabad and she has been inundated with congratulatory messages from everyone. “Had such a fab day celebrating GS talking to callers!!I feel so blessed thankyou all so much for all the <3 and support I can’t say it enuf (sic)” Shruti Haasan posted on Twitter. At a success meet held yesterday in Hyderabad, Harish Shankar, the director of Gabbar Singh, said, “I have never seen such a professional actress like Shruti Haasan. She’s extremely dedicated towards her job and she is the lucky charm of Gabbar Singh.” Meanwhile, her recent Tamil film 3 has been selected for the prestigious New York Indian Film Festival. Shruti Haasan, who played the lead role in 3, surprised everyone with her performance and even after two months of the film’s release, she has been getting rave reviews. It’s going to be a busy year ahead for Shruti as she’s planning to launch her music album soon, apart from her acting commitments.
R
avi Teja, Taapsee starrer Daruvu is all set to hit the screens on May 25. Directed by Siva, the film is a socio-fantasy with a political twist. The film has been given a U/A certificate by the censor board. Sources say that the film has shaped up quite well and Ravi Teja will be seen as a Home Minister in the film. Prabhu, Vennela Kishore, Jayasudha
and Brahmanandam are playing important roles. Talking about the film,Taapsee said, “It was fun working with Ravi Teja. We got along quite well on the sets and both of us used to pull pranks on others. I play the role of a girl who’s always scared. Daruvu is a fun film.” Burugupalli Shivaramakrishna has produced the film. Vijay Anthony has composed the music.
@RanaDaggubati Wrapped day1 of the second schedule of #KVJ. In martial arts training for a bit and then to heading to lift some steel.
@shrutihaasan Celebratory Lunch with my manager hair dresser and makeup artist... They take care of me so well while I work so I can work peacefully :)
@LakshmiManchu In Chennai for the logo launch of Varuvaan Thalaivan Balakrishna, @HEROMANOJ1 and moi here :) will post pics this evening.
@Snehaullalheart Happy bday Saumi... glad and lucky to be ur younger sista... can’t say “I love u” to family so whatever... haha.
@RGVzoomin Whatever else happening to Department I am supremley happy tht I don't nd 2 see the faces of Sanjay dutt nd Dharam Uberoi fr rest of my life.
@vennelakishore GabbarSingh collects 52+ Crores in 10 days —All Time Record — PERIOD!!!!!
Magic Screen
TUESDAY, MAY 22, 2012
The glamour behind the glitz
Kareena Kapoor will always be my first choice: Shabina
D
esigner-turned-producer Shabina Khan says that Kareena Kapoor will always be her first choice for the films she would be producing. Kareena appears in a song in Akshay KumarSonakshi Sinha starrer Rowdy Rathore, co-produced by Shabina. “I wanted her to be a part of my first film for emotional reasons. She is my close friend. Obviously I wanted her to be a part of my first film but she had three-four films with her. I wanted to start my film, so if she could not be a part of the film then I thought she can be a part of the song,” Shabina said. “I would definitely offer her every film, it is up to her whether to do it or not. Our friendship does not mean she has to do every film that I offer to her. If she likes the script I am sure she will do it.” Rowdy Rathore, jointly produced by Sanjay Leela Bhansali and Shabina, is set to release on June 1. PTI
Kalki is ‘vulnerable and awkward’ in Shanghai
K
alki Koechelin had to go through quite a transformation for her role in Shanghai as director Dibakar Banerjee wanted her to look ugly yet adorable.The brief given by her director was quite simple ‘Look ugly’. However, it was nothing short of a nightmare to actually realise the filmmaker’s vision. “Dibakar wanted me to look ugly and vulnerable. The first thing that he did was chop my hair and make it really short.Then he gave me these clothes that were really grungy with jagged T-shirts and all. I wasn’t allowed to look very comfortable or feminine,” she says. Dibakar encouraged the actress to change her looks by giving the examples of Emraan Hashmi and Abhay Deol who have gone through a similar transformation for their roles.
Shilpa claims innocence T
V actor Shilpa Saklani claims innocence after she was detained along with her husband Apurva Agnihotri at a rave party, busted by the Mumbai police. They insist
they weren’t aware it was a rave party. “It was a nice sundown party and we had gone there for a date. We didn’t know it was a rave party,” Shilpa told reporters on Monday.
The couple was caught in the raid late Sunday night at Oakwood Premier Hotel in Juhu along with nearly 100 others, including IPL players Rahul Sharma and Wayne Parnell. “We were hardly there for 25 minutes and were sitting outside. There were journalists and scientists as well. We saw cops had come to the hotel and we were sent for medical examination,” she added. The actress, who was seen as Ganga in Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi, says they hardly ever party. “It was after a long time that we had gone out together. And this is what happened. How are we supposed to differentiate which party is safe and which unsafe,” she said. The couple was taken to a government hospital to take their blood sample, but she was upset with the way the procedure took place. “The cops were very supportive but what hurt
It was a nice sundown party and we had gone there for a date. We didn’t know it was a rave party,
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B-TOWN TWEETIES
@SrBachchan T 751 - ‘Gatsby’ my half blink and you miss role, friendly appearance !! But with giants of Hollywood — Leonardo di Caprio, Tobey Maguire !
@singer_shaan Have been totally useless with getting a gift 4 Wify... The shopping plan flopped... luckily she’s not Mad at me... At least not showing ;)
@NeilNMukesh 5 consecutive days of 16hrs on the set and 3 full nights of shoots. Finally a day off today thought I’d sleep longer but the sun hits hard.
@TheShilpaShetty Can’t believe am a mother now!Ecstatic is an understatement :)Thanku so much fr all the good wishes nd luv all of u have bestowed us n Baby K.
@sonamakapoor I suggest that people don’t believe everything you read or hear or see, till there is proof!
@kunalkohli #jubse mere dil ok ufff trending at No2 in India. Audio out online. Promo out on Wednesday. Thanx for pre trending it :-)
Shilpa me the most was that the hospital staff was not supportive at all. My blood sample were taken but wasn’t labelled for almost 45 minutes. “I requested them to do so as I didn’t want my blood sample to be swapped, but they were very rude. I told them if the labelling is not done properly, the results can put us in grave trouble,” she added. However, Shilpa is sure that they will come out clean. “There is no way my test can be positive,” she said. IANS
@realpreityzinta Love being on set! Chillin n playing with my phone as Rekhaji (my hairdresser) is styling my hair! After cricket acting feels like a luxury!
@Riteishd Congratulationnnsss to @TheShilpaShetty and @TheRajKundra on the arrival of the bundle of joy —lotsa love.
Magic Screen
D I S P L A YA
D S RATE ` 150 sq. cm
For Further Details Please Contact Abhinay 9989399972 Nandlal 9951467988 Ravi Chander 8106039919
TUESDAY, MAY 22, 2012
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Magic Screen
TUESDAY, MAY 22, 2012
The glamour behind the glitz
Robert Pattinson, Scarlett Johansson
to star in Hate Mail “T
wilight star Robert Pattinson is reportedly set to star opposite Scarlett Johansson in Hate Mail. The casting rumour first began at the ongoing Cannes Film Festival, when producer Michael Benaroya promoted his latest project. Benaroya himself is expected to finance Hate Mail which is projected to be made with the budget of $11 million, reported Aceshowbiz. Further details of Hate Mail are still to come. It is said that it “will feature interweaving stories about several Manhattanites who encounter various iterations
The Wolverine begins filming in August T he Wolverine, Fox’s long-gestating sequel to X-Men Origins, looks to be inching ever closer to our screens with Hugh Jackman announcing that filming is set to begin on the project in August. The star took to Twitter to answer a question from a fan, confirming, “starts shooting in August!!!” when asked for an update on the film. That’s all he
had to say on it detail-wise, so let’s just hope that nothing else happens to postpone that schedule. The film has been delayed by everything from directorial changes to adverse weather conditions, so it’s encouraging to see things finally moving in the right direction. However, we won’t be fully satisfied until those cameras actually start rolling.
of hate mail and grapple with the subsequent fallout of their relationships.” It is unclear what character Pattinson and Johansson would play. It was said that Phillip Seymour Hall was also included in the cast ensemble. PTI
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Magic Screen
TUESDAY, MAY 22, 2012
The glamour behind the glitz
25
Saoirse Ronan to star in Testament Of Youth
T
he 17-year-old Atonement actress is attached to the David Heyman-produced Testament Of Youth, an adaptation of Vera Brittain’s World War I memoir. Brittain served as a nurse in the British armed forces during the war and became a prolific author afterwards as an advocate for peace and feminism. Recently Ronan has starred in a string of action films, including Hanna, The Order of Seven, and The Host, but it seems she’d like to revisit to her British period drama roots. Either genre has to be better than falling victim to Stanley Tucci at his creepiest.
Kristen Stewart’s mum makes directorial debut
JUSTIN BIEBER TAKES HIGH SCHOOL STUDENT TO BILLBOARD MUSIC AWARDS
J A
fter 30 years of working in Hollywood, the mother of the On the Road star finally makes her directorial debut, telling the tale of a secure unit of the LA. County jail for transgender, homosexual and transexual inmates. Filmmaker Jules Stewart is in Cannes to support the market debut of her directorial debut K-11. Jules has spent more than
30 years in Hollywood as a script supervisor and editor with a resume boasting movies including Little Giants, The Phantom and The Flintstones: Viva Las Vegas, and her debut “introduces” her son Cameron as an actor. That, and her daughter also happens to be Twilight star Kristen Stewart, who is due in Cannes later this week to support Walter Salles’ On The Road in competition.
ustin Bieber isn’t her “Boyfriend,” but he was Cady Eimer’s date for a night at the Billboard Music Awards on Sunday. Who is Cady Eimer? The 18-yearold Virginia high school student had been asking the superstar to go to her senior prom with her for several years via her website, but Bieber had to decline the invitation because of prior obligations. But Bieber had another idea. “I couldn’t make it [to prom] so I said I need you to fly to the Billboard Awards and you can be my date,” he told PEOPLE. “She’s a big fan and I thought it would be fun.” Not bad for a modified senior prom. Bieber, however, did forget one prom staple. “I didn’t get her a corsage,” he said.
Chai Time
KAKURO
How to Play Kakuro Kakuro is a popular game similar to sudoku in some ways. But is also suitably different. The key question: “How do you play Kakuro?”, well here are the rules of kakuro. The answer: The kakuro grid, unlike in sudoku, can be of any size. It has rows and columns, and dark cells like in a crossword. And, just like in a crossword, some of the dark cells will contain numbers. Some cells will contain two numbers. However, in a crossword the numbers reference clues. In a kakuro, the numbers are all you get! They denote the total of the digits in the row or column referenced by the number. Within each collection of cells - called a run - any of the numbers 1 to 9 may be used but, like sudoku, each number may only be used once. Let’s have an example to explain this concept more clearly: In the image above, which shows a section of a kakuro puzzle, you will see the numbers ‘26’ and ‘14’ in the top row. Look at the 14. This means that the total of the three cells underneath must sum to 14. Therefore 9, 4, 1 could be the answer, or perhaps 7, 4, 3 and so on... So, how do you work out the actual combination? Well, this is done through elimination and cross-referencing. For instance, as you work out the answers for other kakuro clues, this will naturally limit the valid combinations, and hence the answer for this particular run. Note the second cell in row two - it contains two numbers, 30 and 11. The 30 refers to the vertical run underneath the number 30 and the 11 refers to the two cells to the right, horizontally, of the number 11.
SCRIBBLING PAD
TUESDAY, MAY 22, 2012
Take a shot at the brain game while sipping your cuppa
26
QUICK CROSSWORD ACROSS 1 Sign on a staff 5 Pro ___ (proportionally) 9 Role model? 14 Omani's currency 15 Grand in scale 16 City in central Utah 17 Field measure 18 Retina receptor 19 Mountain cats 20 Association of military brass? 23 Like a hard-to-fill order 24 Picked-up item 25 Handle clumsily 28 Act mawkishly 31 Org. in "Burn After Reading" 34 Plumed avian in Florida 36 Fleming or McEwan 37 "Friends" character 38 "Keep Out!" follower 42 Best of the Beatles 43 State of rage 44 Orchard fruit 45 Si or oui 46 Certain railroad worker 49 It's all love at the start 50 Driving need 51 Hieroglyphic bird 53 Entertainment draw 61 Czar's decree 62 Mature male red deer 63 Wanton once-over 64 Cat's nine 65 Burn-soothing plant 66 Shad delicacies 67 Establish as law 68 Uncool student 69 Winged god of love DOWN 1 Rugged rock 2 They cause head-scratching? 3 Deserve 4 Admiral's charge 5 Detroit headache 6 Historic Harlem theater
7 "30 Rock" first name 8 Gets an A+ 9 Become visible 10 Bit on a fairy-tale trail 11 Pyramid, to a pharaoh 12 Not quite round 13 Cheerful 21 Dreadlocked Jamaican, for short 22 One subject to a dictator? 25 High-spirited 26 Find common ground 27 Court orders 29 Two-footed animal 30 Grill's go-with 31 Marine body 32 Cordage fiber 33 Up to the present time 35 First fruit-picker 37 Street cred
39 Princess topper 40 Make a faux pas 41 Lose one's cool 46 Most dexterous 47 "Snow White" fairness judge 48 Diminished 50 Sine's reciprocal, in trig. 52 Shopaholic's haunt 53 Symbol of stubbornness 54 Similar in nature 55 Coffee, in slang 56 Word used in many comparisons 57 Old wives'
SUDOKU
production 58 "Young Frankenstein" assistant 59 Yellow spread 60 Crimefighter of early '60s TV PREVIOUS PUZZLE ANSWER
THOUGHT OF THE DAY Sex is more exciting on the screen and between the pages than between the sheets. – Andy Warhol
Chai Time STAR POWER
TUESDAY, MAY 22, 2012
Your tomorrow today̶Star Power and Tarot THIRUVAIKUMAR
As per Hindu panchang
FOR 23-5-2012
thiruvaikumar@yahoo.co.in 040-27177230 / 9177596118
TAURUS
GEMINI
Health problems will be over. Your approach should be polite. Talking nicely will yield better results. You will help relatives in their business devel‑ opment.
Income and expenses will increase. Politicians to be careful while making public speeches. You will look active and act shrewdly. Avoid interfering in othersʼ personal issues.
Financially a good position likely. Old dues will be repaid. A happy atmo‑ sphere will prevail in the family. You will get good support from relatives. Writers will get appreciation.
CANCER
LEO
VIRGO
Family members will be happy. Finances likely to be good. Disputes in the family will disappear. You will take active part in organising blood rela‑ tive's wedding.
You will complete the commitments given by you without fail. Success will happen in all the works undertaken. Sportsperson likely to create world records.
Works undertaken with a view about the future will be successfull. Anyone running business in mother's name wi‑ ll flourish financially. If mother is an artist, she will achieve great success.
LIBRA
SCORPIO
SAGITTARIUS
All the works undertaken will be suc‑ cessful. Financial flow will be steady. You will plan to purchase valuable assets. Hurdles faced in the purchase or construction of house will be over.
A steady flow of income likely. Family members will be cheerful. Your savin‑ gs will improve. Journeys will be bene‑ ficial. You will help your blood relati‑ ves to come out from a financial crisis.
Good opportunities will knock your door. It is upto you to make use of them. Financial transaction will take place without any hurdles. Problems and tensions in family will end
CAPRICORN
AQUARIUS
PISCES
Unwanted expenses will reduce and you will be able to start saving. You will fulfill the wishes of your family. A good news is on the cards from a friend or relative who is abroad.
Unexpected financial fortune likely. Sportepersons and artists will earn well. Harmony will prevail in the fami‑ ly. Financial flow will be steady. Expected financial help will come by.
Unexpected blames and legal issues likely. Expressing opinions might bring you trouble. You will get opportunities to improve your comforts by buying a house and vehicle.
SUMAA TEKUR
FOR 23-5-2012
tarotreadhyd@gmail.com
ARIES
TAURUS
GEMINI
Five of Cups – You are frustrated when things donʼt work out and is blaming the irresponsible system. Donʼt let your anger get the better of you.
The Tower – Memories can play havoc if you let them take control of your mind. Only with conscious self‑ control will you be able to get out.
Five of Pentacles – Eating the wrong foods could be very detrimental to your health despite exer‑ cising right. Think of ways to restore and maintain the balance.
CANCER
LEO
VIRGO
The Moon – Take care of your skin as rashes caused by pollution and bad diet can cause trouble. Donʼt hesitate to consult a dermatologist if in any doubt at all.
Four of Pentacles – Your self control, decision making abilities and sociabil‑ ity are in focus. These are all directly linked to your imme‑ diate career choices.
Death – Too much of something is too bad. Even too much of a good thing can be harmful. Watch your diet, especially if you aim for weight loss/gain.
LIBRA
SCORPIO
SAGITTARIUS
Knight of Wands – Good time to take a solo journey, inner spiritual journey, too. You feel strongly inclined to find the true purpose of your life.
The Sun – You will get help if you ask for it but ultimately, the legwork will have to be done by you. Stay motivated and get it done sooner.
The Empress – You need to invest time in learning tools that make your chosen path both affordable and easy to under‑ stand. Thereʼs no doubt about it.
CAPRICORN
AQUARIUS
PISCES
Four of Swords – You may be spending too much time online and this is affecting your real social life, as this can blur the lines of real and virtual. Get out and meet people.
Queen of Wands – You have the tenden‑ cy to invest in costly playthings that you get bored of within days. Arenʼt you adding to a lot of junk?
Six of Cups – Donʼt be taken in by the tantalizing promises someone makes. Wait for the offer letter before you plan your next steps. Stay positive!
For Better or for Worse Stone soup
SOLUTIONS
Boggle KING PIWN QUEEN KNIGHT BISHOP
Number game
Suduko
Scrabble
Ink pen
COMICS
Fred Basset
ARIES
TAROT READ
27
Vol: 1, No. 310 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 040-40672222, Fax: 040-40672211
Playing Field
TUESDAY, MAY 22, 2012
The games people play
28
Paul secures elusive win DEBRECEN: German swimming star Paul Biedermann ended years of frustration by finally being crowned European 400 metres freestyle champion here on Monday. The proceedings had been marked by a moving tribute to Norway’s 200m breaststroke world champion Alexander Dale Oen, who died of unknown causes on April 30 and who would have been 27 on Monday. Biedermann, 25 the 2009 world champion and world record holder in the 400m freestyle, drew a blank in terms of titles at last year’s world championships - having to be content with bronze in both the 200 and 400m freestyle so he was delighted to lay down a marker just two months away from the Olympics. However, his time of 3min 47.84sec was outside the qualifying time for the Olympics set by his federation. While he made the time for the 200m at the national trials last week he has only made the 400m at the Olympics because the federation have selected him on the basis of his bronze medal at last year’s worlds. “I started too slowly,” said Biedermann. “I must work some more on this point. I am really happy to have the European title but unfortunately once again I didn’t get the required Olympic qualifying time. “Now I’m going to have to probably accept the ticket offered by the federation,” he added. The other men’s final the
Gold medallist Paul Biedermann (C), silver medallist, Gergo Kis (R) and bronze medallist, Samuel Pizzetti pose after the final of the 400metre freestyle swimming event in the 31st European Swimming Championships in Debrecen on Monday. AFP/BEN STANSALL 4x100m freestyle relay saw the French quartet win the title for only the second time and first in 50 years.
There was joy for the home crowd too as another world champion from 2009 Hungary’s Katinka Hosszu who led home a
Hungarian 1-2 in the women’s 400m medley - Zsuzsanna Jakabos taking silver. “I only had two or three days
Brandon helps sink Sixers BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS:
Boston Celtics’ Rajon Rondo (9) and Brandon Bass (30) score against Philadelphia 76ers in the semifinals in the NBA Playoffs on Monday.
Brandon Bass scored a game-high 27 points as the Boston Celtics defeated Philadelphia 101-85 in crucial game five to take a 3-2 lead in their best-of-seven Eastern Conference series. Kevin Garnett scored 20 points, Paul Pierce had 16 and Rajon Rondo finished with 13 points and 14 assists for the Celtics who outscored the Sixers 28-16 in the third quarter of Monday’s game. “When you have a point guard like Rondo the ball has a way of finding you,” Bass said. “I was able to knock them down.” Game six of the best-of-seven series takes place Wednesday back in Philadelphia, with a seventh game, if necessary, in Beantown on Saturday.
Forward Bass scored 18 of his 27 points in the third for the Celtics who were given the day off Sunday by coach Doc Rivers so several of their banged up veterans could heal their wounds. The 34-year-old Pierce has been dealing with a sprained MCL is his left knee, while Ray Allen, 36, is playing with bone spurs in his right ankle. Garnett turned 36 on Saturday. Allen had just five points on Monday. To make matters worse, guard Avery Bradley is playing with a left shoulder that needs surgery. It has popped out of the socket at least four times this season. With so many stars playing hurt the Celtics needed some help from an unlikely source and Bass provided the answer on Monday. AFP
rest before the championship,” she said. “The 400m medley is an event that really pushes you to the limit.” AFP
Li moves two places in rankings PARIS: China’s Li Na moved up two places to seventh in the latest WTA rankings released on Monday despite losing the Rome WTA final at the weekend to Russian Maria Sharapova. Li will begin her French Open title defence next week in Paris. Serena Williams, who already moved up three places last week, advanced a further spot to take the fifth place from Samantha Stosur. Williams withdrew ahead of the Rome semifinal with back problems.
Rankings 1. Victoria Azarenka (BLR) 9020 pts 2. Maria Sharapova (RUS) 8390 3. Agnieszka Radwanska (POL) 7080 4. Petra Kvitova (CZE) 6275 5. Serena Williams (USA) 5695 6. Samantha Stosur (AUS) 5440 7. Li Na (CHN) 4965 8. Marion Bartoli (FRA) 4870 9. Caroline Wozniacki (DEN) 4586 10. Angelique Kerber (GER) 3560
64 DAYS TO GO
29
TUESDAY, MAY 22, 2012
Technical hitch leaves Ennis angry A
technical hitch in the 100m hurdles left Jessica Ennis frustrated here on Sunday after the poster girl for the London Games thought she had run a personal best, only to discover that officials had laid out only nine hurdles on the track running through the centre of Manchester instead of 10. According to The Guardian the 26-year-old heptathlete had been delighted on crossing the line, punching the air to celebrate a new best time of 12.75sec, having beaten two world class hurdles specialists in the defending Olympic champion, Dawn Harper, and the world silver medallist, Danielle Carruthers, at the Powerade Great CityGames. But within minutes suspicions arose that something was amiss as Ennis’s British rival, the Olympic bronze medallist Kelly Sotherton, tweeted: “Thought 100m hurdles was great but I’m sure that there was only nine hurdles not 10.” “I feel let down,” said Ennis, in a rare show of frustration. “I felt like it was a good race, I was running well, I was obviously coming through at the end, stick another hurdle on there it would have been the same outcome but, argh, I’m so annoyed. What can I say? I’ve still had a good competitive race but I’ve just not got the result that I wanted.”
Jessica Ennis of Britain (C) celebrates after beating Dawn Harper (R) and Danielle Carruthers of the US (L) during the womens 100m hurdles during the Great City games in Manchester north-west England on Sunday. AFP/ANDREW YATES Neither Ennis nor her coach, Toni Minichello, had had any inkling of a mistake following the race, with the Sheffield athlete confirming that she had never experienced such an error, even at school-level competition. “I can’t believe that. It’s a great event but that’s a massive, massive mess-up …As an athlete you expect that everything should be
set up properly and there should be no mistakes like that so I am pretty disappointed with that.” “I was just talking to Dawn Harper and to me it didn’t feel any different but Gemma Bennett was saying she felt that it was a long run off, but you just run, don’t you? You expect that all the hurdles will be out and everything’s the way it should be
and you just run as fast as you can and get across the line and that’s what I did but unfortunately it wasn’t set up right.” Ennis later joked that she would be counting the hurdles at her next competition, the IAAF multi-event challenge in Götzis, Austria, this weekend. Sotherton, 35, who had entertained hopes of competing
British rowing on a high Zac Purchase
I
t has been a fantastic few days for British rowing. In the first World Cup event of the season in Belgrade, the GB Rowing Team won 12 medals in Olympic classes – four golds, six silvers, two bronzes – the best ever result for a British team in a World Cup event. In doing so, we also sent a strong statement to every other country out there. Indeed, while it is still early days and we are not resting on our laurels, there are signs that this rowing team could be truly astonishing; the best Great Britain has ever put out. Here’s hoping. Certainly my rowing partner Mark Hunter and I were delighted to notch another win in the lightweight double scull, holding off a slightly unexpected challenge from a new Greece team to take gold. We started the race fast, like we always do, seeking to establish control
Zac Purchase and Mark Hunter, (c) celebrate after winning gold in the men's lightweight double sculls in Belgrade. early, and held it together in the middle part of the race before holding on in a sprint finish. It has been a hard few months of training so having postponed my 26th birthday celebrations – due to be held on 2 May – until after the final, I decided to let my hair down a little. Immediately after the race I had five burgers and eight
slices of baklava to celebrate, then at the airport while the other guys had a beer or two I preferred a slice of chocolate cake. Of course we’re already back into hard training so the any weight I’ve put on will soon come off. It’s always good to get the first race of the season out of the way because it’s some-
times hard to know precisely where you are in terms of training. Obviously you have a fairly good idea, but there’s nothing like the thrill and pain of six minutes of racing, flat out, heart beating like a drum, to find out for sure. We’ve done lots of fitness work over the past few months, so it’s good to know that all the hard work is paying dividends in racing. So what next? Well, four years ago, we won every World Cup event in the run-up to the Olympics, before taking gold in Beijing, and that’s our plan this time around too. Being the best in the world brings certain pressures and obligations – we are expected to rise to the occasion and to consistently beat the best in the field. But Mark and I thrive on such challenges. However while it was great to lay down a marker to show that we are fit, fast and strong, this year is all about London 2012.
at the London Olympics in one final heptathlon, which looks unlikely after she withdrew injured this month from her first multi-event competition in four years, tweeted her regret over alerting the organisers: “I feel bad! People probably think I’m being a cow bag!” The 35-year-old had a similar experience before the Beijing Olympic Games when the third hurdle in the race at Crystal Palace was positioned wrongly forcing her to pull up and the race to be annulled and eventually re-run at the end of the night. the event organisers, Nova International, issued a statement to apologise. “We can confirm that due to human error only nine sets of hurdles rather than the required 10 were put out on track for the women’s 100m hurdles event this afternoon. “ Dwain Chambers was greeted with applause from the Manchester crowd at his first appearance in the UK since the court of arbitration for sport ruling that cleared him to compete at the Olympic Games in London. After getting a great start the 34-year-old faded to finish runner up in the 150m race with a time of 15.27sec. The US sprinter Wallace Spearmon, took the victory in 14.87sec, half a second off Usain Bolt’s 2009 record mark of 14.35 sec.
Palestinian makes history JERUSALEM: A judo champion from east Jerusalem has become the first Palestinian to qualify on points for the Olympics, winning entry to the London Games, the Palestinian Olympic Committee told AFP on Monday. Maher Abu Rmeileh, 28, who comes from Jerusalem's Old City, will join the Palestinian delegation heading to London this summer. "Abu Rmeileh qualified on points and not by invitation like the others," said Hani al-Halabi, who will head the Palestinian squad. "He deserved to qualify," Halabi told AFP, saying Abu Rmeileh's success raised to five the number of Palestinian representatives to the Games. Until now, Palestinian athletes have participated in the Olympics by virtue of honorary invitations from the Olympic Commitee which are extended to countries which fail to reach qualifying standards.
TUESDAY, MAY 22, 2012
BEAUTY
ALL YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT RUSSIA Best EURO performance: winners 1960 Coach: Dick Advocaat Leading scorer: all-time – Vladimir Beschastnykh (26); current – Roman Pavlyuchenko (20)
THE BEST
&
Most appearances: all-time – Viktor Onopko (109); current – Sergei Ignashevich (71) Association formed: 1912 Nickname: none
RUSSIA’S FIXTURES
EURO STATS
Friday 8 June: Russia v Czech Republic, 20.45CET, Wroclaw Tuesday 12 June: Poland v Russia, 20.45CET, Warsaw Saturday 16 June: Greece v Russia, 20.45CET, Warsaw
MATCHES PLAYED Overall: P63 W37 D12 L14 F124 A60 Final tournament: P11 W4 D1 L6 F13 A20 Qualifying: P52 W33 D11 L8 F111 A40
From Russia, with love After topping a major tournament qualifying group for the first time in five attempts, Dick Advocaat's Russia go to Poland and Ukraine looking to better their 2008 run to the semi-finals Alexander Fedorets
POSTNOON PREDICTION
MOSCOW: Russia enters the Euro 2012 championships seeking to repeat the success of reaching the semi-finals in 2008 and erase the nightmare of failing to qualify for the 2010 World Cup finals. Boasting an array of established talent drawn from Russian clubs and abroad, Russia could be a threat for any national side but are currently battling a list of injury worries and lack of solid match practice. Without any trophy since the Soviet Union won the European Championships in 1960, Russia unexpectedly lit up the 2008 championships with a glittering performance from a then young side including star forward Andrei Arshavin. Russia have been drawn with cohosts Poland, the Euro-1996 finalists Czech Republic and the 2004 European champions Greece in Group A, with anyone's guess as to who will qualify for the knock-out stages. Russia's Dutch national manager Dick Advocaat (pictured) — who is leaving after the championships — said that any two of the teams are capable of reaching the last eight. Russia finished top of their qualifying group, two points ahead of runnersup Republic of Ireland, and won 2-0 their only friendly match since against The Russians topped their qualifying group and are favourites to top Group A as well. If Arshavin and Pavlyuchenko fire then they could be the surprise package. Plus they’re playing for Advocaat.
their fellow Euro-2012 finalists Denmark in February. "We are not the favourites for the upcoming event," said Advocaat, whose late announcement that he will not be renewing his contract caused some disquiet in the Russian camp. He will have to make up for the dismal failure of the side led by his predecessor and fellow Dutchman Guus Hiddink to make the World Cup finals after being eliminated by minnows Slovenia. The recent injuries of several of his front-line players may change the plans of the Dutch coach, who said he has already chosen the majority of his players. The return of CSKA goalkeeper Igor Akinfeyev who overcame a knee injury has been welcomed.
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RUSSIA GROUP A At a glance Semi-finalists in 2008, Russia approach Euro 2012 confident after topping a major tournament qualifying group for the first time in five attempts. That ensured no repeat of two years ago, when Slovenia claimed a surprise away-goals triumph in the World Cup play-offs. Unbeaten on their travels this time round, Dick Advocaat's side conceded four goals in ten qualifiers. It was their attack that illuminated Euro 2008, and Andrey Arshavin in particular.
PLAYER TO WATCH
Andrei Arshavin hopes to regain his lost spark Stuart Williams
MOSCOW: Russia's captain and star striker Andrei Arshavin is hoping at Euro 2012 to show the blazing inspiration that set the last tournament alight after his insipid stint with English Premier League giants Arsenal. The 30-year-old — who has only ever played for two clubs — rejoined Zenit in February on a loan deal from Arsenal and will stay at the Russian club until July. Arshavin's dashing runs and flashing strikes at goal were one of the highlights of Euro 2008 and a memorable goal by him against the Netherlands took Russia to the semi-finals where they lost to eventual winners Spain. It was the need to ensure a firstteam place for Euro 2012 that encouraged Arshavin to move back to Russia from London and he scored his first international goal in several encounters during a friendly with Denmark in February. Clearly relieved after scoring, he ran towards Russian team coach and his former Zenit mentor Dick Advocaat who kissed Arshavin on the forehead. But a cloud was cast ahead of the Euro when Advocaat announced he would be leaving the national team after the championships. "Speaking frankly I'm upset with his decision," Arshavin said. But he added that Advocaat was a "professional" and he and the team would be working together to achieve a good result.
Playing Field
TUESDAY, MAY 22, 2012
The games people play
Strauss hopes century proves ‘run catalyst’ Julian Guyer
LONDON: England captain Andrew Strauss hopes his longawaited 20th Test century will provide the spark for a successful season with the bat. Strauss had gone 18 months without a Test hundred heading into the series opener against the West Indies at his Lord’s home ground. However, the left-handed opener reached the coveted three figures with a score of 122 in England’s first innings 398 that took him to within two of the England Test record of 22 hundreds shared by Walter Hammond, Colin Cowdrey and Geoffrey Boycott. “You don’t want to have to justify your place in the side as a captain,” said Strauss after leading England to a five-wicket win on Monday that put them 1-0 up in this three-match series heading into Friday’s second Test at Trent Bridge. “Thankfully that takes the monkey off my back, but I’m really conscious of the need to use that as a catalyst to have a really good summer. “I hope this is a bit of a breakthrough mentally and allows me to stay fresher and go on and score some more hundreds in the rest of the games.” England endured a torrid
winter tour, losing four out of five Tests against Pakistan and Sri Lanka before finishing with victory in Colombo. But there was plenty of home comfort on offer at Lord’s where Tim Bresnan extended his perfect Test record with a 12th win in the 12th Test of his career. However, it was fellow England seamer Stuart Broad, the man-of-the-match, who took the bowling honours with a return of 11 for 165 that featured a Test best seven for 72 in West Indies’ modest first innings 243. Meanwhile Ian Bell weighed in with fifties in both innings, including a valuable 63 not out in England’s pursuit of a victory target of 191 that was in danger of being derailed at 57 for four. However, opener Alastair Cook (79) and Bell’s stand or 132 got England back on track. “Whenever you’re chasing there’s a bit of pressure, so it was an outstanding effort from Cook and Bell,” said Strauss. “They played in a very classy manner. “It was getting a bit harder, but we had faith the wicket would stay flat and slow. Our plan was just to negotiate the new ball, and things would become more simple. That’s one of our real strengths. It is reassuring — with Cook and (Jonathan) Trott at the crease, and shot-players further down.
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Woods’ niece tees off NEW
YORK: Cheyenne Woods, the 21-year-old niece of 14-time major winner Tiger Woods, has signed with her uncle’s agent, Mark Steinberg, and is set to start playing in LPGA Tour events this year. In a Monday statement posted on the Excel agency website, Cheyenne Woods said she plans to play in LPGA events this year on sponsor exemptions and seek a full-time spot on the women’s golf tour through the qualifying tournament. “I am really looking forward to pursuing my goals and dreams to compete on the highest level,” Woods said. “As I begin my professional career, I am confident and excited about working with Excel as they help shape my future.” Woods posted the lowest scoring average at Wake Forest University and has graduated with a communications degree. The daughter of Tiger Woods’ half-brother Earl Woods Jnr missed the cut at the 2009 Wegmans LPGA while playing on a sponsor’s exemption. AFP
Singapore approves $ 2.5 billion Formula 1 float Philip Lim
SINGAPORE: Singapore has cleared the sale of Formula One shares for more than US $2.5 billion in one of the world’s biggest flotations this year, reports said on Tuesday, with pre-marketing to begin immediately. Private equity firm CVC Capital Partners, which has a majority stake in the glitzy motor sport’s holding company, will gauge interest among investors and fund managers with a view to selling part of its stake at the end
of June. Dow Jones Newswires said the Singapore Exchange had approved a listing by Formula One. A spokesman said, “It is not our practice to publicly comment on our dealings with listing aspirants.” Reports of the initial public offering (IPO) could raise as much as $3 billion. It would be the biggest IPO this year in Singapore, which also approved a float by Manchester United in September, according to sources. The English Premier League football club is said to be
As a businessman I think if public money can improve the sport, and accountability and transparency, then we should certainly go for it Tony Fernandes, Caterham boss
awaiting better market conditions. Some companies are looking at Asia’s cash-rich markets to raise funds as Europe grapples with a debt crisis and the United States pursues a fragile recovery. Singapore also hosts a popular Formula One night race. Dow Jones said order-taking international roadshows would begin next month. But the suggested timing of the IPO is brave after turbulence returned to global financial markets last week. “Look at the muted first-day response to Facebook’s $18.4 bil-
lion IPO last Friday. The F1 listing is not nearly as attractive and long-awaited as that,” an investment banker said. Reports of a possible share float broke in March and received a generally cool response among team principals in the sport. But Caterham boss Tony Fernandes, backed the plan spearheaded by Bernie Ecclestone. “As a businessman I think if public money can improve the sport, and accountability and transparency, then we should go for it,” Fernandes said.
Playing Field
TUESDAY, MAY 22, 2012
The games people play
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Sammy open to Gayle’s return Julian Guyer
Acid test begins G Aparna Sai aparna.s@postnoon.com
T
able-toppers Delhi and Kolkata Knight Riders are set to take on each other in the first qualifier today. Unlike the other teams which qualified (Mumbai Indians and Chennai Super Kings), both Delhi and Kolkata were not dependent on any other team's “under-performance” to make it to the play-offs. The Daredevils, in contrast to their form last year, have been exceptional this season. The side began the season as underdogs but they proved otherwise and silenced their critics committing hardly any errors.
Pak’s chief to watch IPL final KARACHI: Pakistan’s cricket chief said on Monday he had accepted an invitation to watch the IPL final and would use the visit to discuss reviving cricketing ties between the rivals. Pakistan Cricket Board chief Zaka Ashraf said he had received an invitation from the BCCI and would watch the IPL final more than three years after ties were suspended. “It is a positive step forward in further normalising bilateral cricket ties between the two countries. The invitation will allow me to undertake a twoday visit and I plan to use this visit to have informal discussions with the BCCI officials regarding chances of restoring bilateral cricket ties,” he said.
Since the beginning of the season, they have been bang on target. All the players have played their roles to perfection. Morne Morkel has no doubt been the pick of the bowlers having claimed 25 wickets — making him the leading wicket taker at the moment. Skipper, Virender Sehwag had the orange cap a few occasions this season. Kevin Pietersen, though no longer with the team because of his commitments to his national side, was exceptional with the bat. He even scored a century this season and his presence in the team only strengthened the batting line-up. Meanwhile, the Kolkata Knights Riders have maintained their momentum through out the tournament. They certainly did start the season on a losing note
but were soon back to their winning ways. The Gautam Gambhir led side, have put up an amazing display of cricketing skills. The skipper led from the front as his willow silenced the opponents while the other players did their expected bit. A special mention has to be given to Sunil Narine. The West Indian cricketer has certainly been the feather in the Knights cap. He currently has 22 wickets in his kitty with his best figures reading 5 for 19 and continues to confuse the opponents. On the two occasions that the Daredevils and the Knights clashed, Delhi drew first blood while Kolkata won the second encounter. It remains to be seen who has the final say and passes the acid test.
LONDON: West Indies captain Darren Sammy left the door open for former skipper Chris Gayle to return in the remainder of the Test series against England after the tourists' defeat in the opener at Lord's. West Indies went down to a five-wicket loss here on Monday to fall 1-0 behind in the three-match series. They did so without dynamic opening batsman Gayle, who has not played international cricket for more than a year following a dispute with the West Indies Cricket Board (WICB). But Gayle said earlier this month he would not be honouring his contract with county side Somerset so as to make himself available to the West Indies during this tour of England. As he was not chosen in the Test squad, it had been thought Gayle would return to the side for the one-day series against England, which starts in Southampton on June 16. Gayle has been playing in the lucrative Indian Premier League Twenty20 competition but his IPL commitments have finished after the Royal Challengers Bangalore were eliminated from the tournament. Although his fraught relationship with the WICB means it is unlikely Gayle will feature in the Test series, especially as the second match starts on Friday at Trent Bridge, Sammy refused to rule him out completely. "Whatever happens outside
this squad takes its own course," Sammy told Sky Sports. "Whoever comes in we will welcome them into the team and hopefully they will help. It is up to the selectors to select the team." West Indies have suffered a series of top-order collapses in Gayle's absence and twice did so again at Lord's. Sammy said the left-hander's experience and undoubted talent would be welcomed by the squad and West Indies coach Ottis Gibson. "I think Chris has said he is available for Test cricket, oneday cricket and T20 so it is up to the selectors," Sammy said. "We have been having some difficulties at the top of the order and if he comes in we would all welcome him, myself, Ottis and all the guys," he added. Another change the West Indies are more likely to consider at Trent Bridge is the inclusion of specialist spinner Shane Shillingford.