MONDAY, JULY 30, 2012 HYDERABAD
WWW.POSTNOON.COM
BURNING TN EXPRESS KILLS 35
WEATHER: CLOUDY WITH SHOWERS LIKELY; 23°C
32 PAGES
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At least 35 people have died and more than 20 injured when the Chennaibound TN Express caught fire near Nellore station this morning.
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HYDERABAD’S FIRST COMPACT AFTERNOON NEWSPAPER
FROM MYANMAR, WITH FEAR REPORT ON P9
Suffering privation, hunger and humiliation, some 300 Burmese have taken shelter in Hyderabad. The Postnoon team meets them.
FRANCE RELAY KINGS
China surged clear at the top of the Olympic medals table on Sunday, as two world records fell in the pool on a night when France stunned swimming’s superpowers to take a dramatic relay gold.
P31 PATTINSON COMFORTED BY KATY PERRY
Twilight star Robert Pattinson is being comforted by singer friend Katy Perry after girlfriend Kristen Stewart cheated on him with Snow White and the Huntsman director Rupert Sanders.
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M ANIL KUMAR
NORTH INDIA THROWN INTO DARKNESS
Most parts of North India reeled under severe power outages today, due to collapse of the northern electricity transmission grid early in the morning.The collapse of the Northern Power Grid impacted public transport systems including, Railways and Delhi Metro. Normalcy is likely to be restored by the afternoon. "The fault is not known as yet... Somewhere near Agra, a failure has happened. We will enquire into that," Union power minister Sushilkumar Shinde said.
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MONDAY, JULY 30, 2012
city events
ART DELIGHT
Embarking routes, a painting exhibition featuring work by final year students of MFA Program 2012 from Sarojini Naidu School of Arts and Communication and Jawaharlal Nehru Architecture and Fine Arts University, Hyderabad is on at Shrishti Art Gallery.
Weather for Hyderabad
Evening
overnight
Morning
Afternoon
24°C
21°C
25°C
28°C
Cloudy with showers likely.
A mix of cloudy with clear skies
A mix of cloud and sun
A mix of cloud and sun
New Delhi Mumbai Max 34 Max 29 Min 27 Min 26 Scattered thunderstorms
Chennai Max 36 Min 28
Scattered thunderstorms
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Bangalore Max 28 Min 20
A mix of cloud and sun
Cloudy
AROUND THE CITY YOUR GUIDE TO THE TWIN CITIES offer a variety of paranthas in both vegetarian and non-vegetarian combinations. Where: Novotel Airport, Shamshabad When: Ongoing, 6.30pm Contact: (040) 6625 0000
ART The dancing coffee An exhibition titled Dancing Coffee by Koeli Mukherjee Ghose is being held at Truffles Cafe. The exhibition is on till August 4. Where: Truffles Cafe, Jubilee Hills, Rd No 10 When: Ongoing, 11am onwards Contact: (040) 2355 0105
Kebab fest This fest is something that will surely appeal to the kebab lovers in town. Kangan at Westin Mindspace, Madhapur is hosting a Kebab fest. The fest is open only for dinner. Where: Kangan, Westinn Mindspace, Madhapur When: Ongoing, 7pm-11pm (weekdays) 7pm-12pm (weekends) Contact: (040) 6767 6838
Scaffold to infinity An exhibition of constructivist wooden sculptures by senior sculptor and artist Aekka Yadagiri Rao are being displayed. Where: Iconart Gallery, Banjara Hills, Rd No 12 When: Ongoing, 11.30 am onwards Contact: 98499 6879
SHOWS Play competition SKITS- Keep it short, a 12 minute short play competition for college students, corporates, theatre groups will be held from August 3 to 5. Where: Nift Campus, Madhapur When: August 16 onwards 6.30pm onwards Contact: (040) 2323 1245
Theatre festival The seventh edition of the multi-lingual theatre festival — Abhinaya National Theatre Festival will be held from August 16 to August 19.
Where: Ravindra Bharathi, Saifabad When: August 16 onwards 6.30pm onwards Contact: (040) 2323 1245
GAS BOOKING IVRS NO HP 9666023456 Indane 9848824365 BSNL Complaints HMWS & SB Complaints
198 155313
POLICE CONTROL ROOM Hyderabad 27852435 Traffic Control Room 27852482 DCP Traffic 23234065, 23243499F Pollution Control Board 23887500
155333 23431178 23431179
MUNICIPAL CORPORATION
fun activities for the entire family. .Where: Ramoji Film City, Hayathnagar When: Ongoing, 9am onwards Contact: (040) 2341 2262
Interactive workshops Oakridge International School launches Weekend Voyager. This is an exciting weekend activity. Where: Oakridge International School, Gachibowli and Bachupally When: July 28 onwards 9am-12pm Contact: 1800-200-8171 Monsoon mania Ramoji Film City celebrates the onset of monsoon with eight weeks of funfilled activities and entertainment with magic of cinema starting from July 1 to August 31. The event offers
Commissioner & Spl Officer
Helpline
ELECTRICITY General Complaints Breakdown Section
SUPPORT MARCH: As Anna Hazare begins his fast in demand of the Jan Lokpal Bill, his supporters in the City marched from Madhapur police station to Kothaguda junction on Sunday. SRINIVAS SETTY
23262266 24166666R ENC 23225267 Engineering 23220418 MCH Tankbund 23225397 Emergency MCH Circle I&II 24525842 MCH Circle III 24736912 MCH Circle IV 23326975 MCH Circle V 23326976 MCH Circle VI MCH Complaints 1100 Head Office 23225397 IVRS CUM MANUAL ENQUIRY PHONE NUMBERS (TRAIN & RESERVATION) RAILWAYS Rail Nilayam 27833169, 27824216 Railway Information 131 Reservations 135 Recorded Information 1345 Enquiry (IVRS) 1331, 1332, 1333
Soul cages A unique presentation of imagery and narrative told through Bharathanatyam is on August 4. Where: Bhaskara Auditorium, Birla Science Centre, Adarsh Nagar When: August 4, 7pm onwards Contact: (040)2324 1067
DINING Smooth operators Tease Lounge at Vivanta by Taj pre-
WATER SUPPLY Complaint Cell Sewerage Complaint Hyd. Water Supply HOSPITAL General Hospital, Sec-bad Niloufer Hospital, Red Hills NIMS, Director, Punjagutta Osmania General Hospital Railway Hospital, Lalaguda Apollo, Jubilee Hills Care Hospital, Banjara Hills Care Hospital, Nampally Care Hospital, Musheerabad Care Hospital, Sec-bad Kamineni Hospital, LB Nagar
155313 23307328 23313163
27505566 23314095 23390933 24600146 27001134 23607777 30418888 30417777 30419000 30416666 39879999
BLOOD BANKS Blood Bank,Narayanguda Chiranjeevi Blood Bank Blood Bank Mediton Goal Red Cross, Vidyanagar ADRM Blood Bank Mythri Charitable Trust NTR Memorial Trust Care Banjara Hills
sents Smooth Operators Night every Friday with DJ Mohit. Where: Vivanta by Taj, Begumpet When: Every Friday, 7.30pm onwards Contact: (040) 6725 2626 Festival of pasta TGIF is offering its new festival of pasta menu which includes a new selection of pastas. Where: TGIF, Banjara Hills, Rd No 2 When: Ongoing Contact: (040) 4015 1925 Parantha festival Haldi at Novotel Airport is hosting a parantha festival titled Parantha Overload. The parantha festival that will be on till August 15, promises to
27567892 23559555 23226624 27633087 27035588 27550238 30799999 30418296 30417445
AMBULANCES Apollo 23548888, 23607777 Kamineni 24022222 Medwin 23202902, 23204616 Smile Line Dental Hospital 23747979 Red Cross 27627973 Niloufer Hospital 23314095 Gandhi 23320332 AIRLINES
Ice Age festival Celebrate the Ice Age Festival at McDonalds, to celebrate the latest Ice Age film Ice Age: Continental Drift. The happy meals for this occasion offer 8 exciting toys based on characters from the movie. Where: All McDonald outlets When: Ongoing
Lift your spirits TGI Friday brings to India the tallest high spirits glass (22 inches) called Tall Boy. Three different cocktails are being offered. Where: TGIF, Banjara Hills, Rd No 2 When: Ongoing Contact: (040) 4015 1925
Airport Director 27903785, 27906001 For Air India Flight Information Toll free (from any network) for IC Flights 18001801407 And for All Flights: 1800227722 Air India has revised its flight timings. For more information call (Toll free) 18001801407, 1800227722 from BSNL/MTNL 04023430334 from other lines and mobile Website; www.airindia.in TOURISM OFFICES AP Tourism, Hyd 23262152/53/54 Sec-bad 27893100 Dept of Tourism 23453110 India Tourism 23261360 AP Tourism information Centre (24x7) 23450444, 23455999 UK VISA OFFICE VFS India Pvt Ltd Building, 8-2-542/A, Sunil Chamber, Road No. 7
Beside Meridian School, Banjara Hills34. Working hours are from 8 AM to 1 PM And 2 PM to 3PM. MUSEUMS Salar Jung Museum AP State Museum Nizams Museum
24523211 232431300/7641 24521029
Readers’ views
We invite you to write to us comments, suggestions, viewpoint or just about anything to feedback@postnoon.com or #1246, Level 3, Jubilee Casa, Road No 62, Jubilee Hills, Hyderabad – 500 033 or even by way of a call on 4067 2222
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MONDAY, JULY 30, 2012
City
HIGHWAY ROBBERS SNATCH GOLD CHAIN
Four highway robbers waylaid a couple, Narasimha and Sunita, when they were returning on their bike after attending a function, and snatched the woman’s gold chain weighing three tolas. The incident occurred at the Bonglur ORR under Vanasthalipuram police limits.
RAIL TRAGEDY
The burning train
At least 35 killed and more than 20 injured when TN Express caught fire near Nellore station this morning. RAHUL RAMAKRISHNA rahul.r@postnoon.com
Sorry track record
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ragedy struck the Cehnnai-bound Tamil Nadu Express from New Delhi in the wee hours today near Nellore railway station when a fire broke out in one coach (S11) and burnt alive at least 35 passengers, while more than 20 suffered burns. Seventeen are unaccounted for. The coach had 72 passengers. Of them, 28 were from Vijayawada, 17 from Delhi, three from Agra, seven from Warangal, one from Nagpur, six from Jhansi, and 10 from Bhopal. The fire was noticed around 4:22 am by the station master. The train had no stop at Nellore. By the time it was brought to a halt and the rescue team arrived, the conflagration had engulfed the whole bogie. If the train had not
The train was travelling at 110kmph and its high speed was why the fire was stoked. However, it was contained to S11. been stopped the fire would have spread to other coaches, officials said. The injured travellers were shifted to Bollineni, Rama-chandra, Jayabharat private hospitals and the government hospital in Nellore. The exact cause of the accident was not immediately known. While a report blamed a short circuit, another blamed inflammable material for it. However, another version reported from Nellore says the fire was first spotted at Vijaymahal crossing outside Nellore. Passengers alleged that
Special train with relatives to leave for Nellore
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special train carrying relatives of passengers of the Chennai-bound Tamil Nadu Express, in which a fire broke out leaving 30 dead, will leave here for the accident site at Nellore. doors of four compartments were stuck and that people tried to escape through the exit windows but failed. Shocked passengers have also alleged that many unreserved passengers were allowed to board the train as people were seen sleeping on the floor of the bogie and near the exits. The Ticket Collectors are alleged to have accepted bribes to allow ticketless passengers. According to Nellore district collector, B Sridhar, “The limited stop train was travelling at 110 kmph. The high speed of the train stoked the fire. The fire was
The train is expected to leave shortly, Southern Railway sources said. They said the train is expected to arrive around noon after detaching the burnt S11 coach.
Helpline numbers Chennai
044-25357398, 25330821
Nellore
0861-2345863, 864, 865, 866 0866-2576924
Secunderabad
040–27786723, 27700868, 27786539
Warangal
0870-2426232, 09701371063
Delhi
011-23342954 23341072 23341074
At least 30 passengers were killed when a fire broke out in S11 coach of the Chennai bound New Delhi Chennai Tamil Nadu Express early this morning near Nellore. PTI
stopped from spreading towards bogies S-10 and S-12. Bogie S-11 was isolated and the train with bogies S-10 was sent off to Guduru.” The railway has declared a compensation of `5 lakh each to the family of victims and `1 lakh for injured. The chief minister, home minister and minister of Revenue along with Central minister Muniyappa have left for Nellore and will reach shortly. Additional reports by, Inkeshaf Ahmed, Sudeshna Koka and Md Nizamuddin
010 recorded the worst rail accidents in the past decade with 19 major accidents. This year seems set to break the record with 10 accidents recorded by far. n March 20, 2012: 15 people were killed when a train collided with an overcrowded taxi minivan at an unmanned railroad crossing in northern Uttar Pradesh state, Mahamaya Nagar district. n May 22, 2012: The HubliBangalore, Hampi Express collided with a goods train near Penukonda in Andhra Pradesh early in the morning on its way to Bangalore. Nearly 14 people died and 35 injured in the collision. n May 31, 2012: HowrahDehradun Doon Express, derailed near Jaunpur (UP). At least 7 people were killed and 15 were severely injured. n July 7, 2011: A Mathura Chhapra Express train rammed into a bus in Thanagaon, Uttar Pradesh, killing 38 and injuring 30. n July 10, 2011: Kalka Mail derailed near Fatehpur, Uttar Pradesh, killing 70 people and injuring more than 300. n May 28, 2010: West Bengal, the Gyaneshwari Express train derailment left over 170 dead. n July 19, 2010: Sainthia train collision occurred in Sainthia, West Bengal, when the Uttar Banga Express collided with the Vananchal Express. Nearly 63 people died and more than 165 people were injured.
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city MONDAY, JULY 30, 2012
GOVERNANCE
LAST YEAR... HERE On a demolition drive
L
ast year we had reported how the GHMC had taken up a demolition drive to do away with encroachments of all kinds, especially in Srinagar Colony and Ameerpet. The encroachment cell, following an HC order, had begun tearing down illegal structures blocking footpaths. While the move was lauded then, a year later, everything is now back to the way it was.
JULY 30, 2011
NUMEROLOGY
300
EDUCATION
‘Govt schools to be developed’
Govt robs APHB, renders it pauper
C
hief Minister Kiran Kumar Reddy has said that his government was determined to develop government schools on par with the corporate educational institutions in terms of quality education and infrastructure. The chief minister continued his Indiramma Baata in the district for the third day on Sunday. He visited the Social Welfare Residential School here and interacted with the students. Speaking on the occasion, Kiran said that his government’s endeavour would be not only to improve facilities in government schools, but also get better results. He assured that he would change the shape of SC and ST hostels
Set up in 1960, the Housing Board has built 1,05,088 homes in the State. But now it is struggling to survive. PIC FOR REPRESENTATIONAL PURPOSE ONLY
foreigners are living in the City with either expired or no visas, of which some are in hiding, according to the immigration officials.
We spend so much on fertilizers and to sow the crops. But this year, there were no rains. All our time, money and hard work have gone down the drain. Lakshmi, Kadapa farmer See page 6
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THINGS WE LEARNED TODAY
The column that teaches everyone something new about the way the City functions.
1
You’re not the only one bearing the inflation brunt. With the skyrocketing inflation and drought, vegetables are getting dearer. But farmers are hit hardest, with the limitation on how much they can charge.
2
City is immigrant-friendly. Be it legal or illegal. Despite stringent laws, there are several such people, from various countries, taking refuge in the City, giving immigration officials a hard time.
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We never learn from our mistakes. Ever! Despite several train and bus accidents in the past, safety is the least of our concerns. After all, human life comes cheap in this country.
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Who wants a DJ when you have an autorickshaw! The next time you travel by an auto, do carry ear plugs to dull the loud music they play. Repeated requests are simply shrugged off.
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Water is not that expensive after all. Nandi foundation provides potable water for a mere `5 per 20 litre can, unlike private players.
INKESHAF AHMED ahmed.m@postnoon.com
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tate-owned Andhra Pradesh Housing Board, the pioneer of real estate business concept and affordable houses scheme in the State, is struggling for its existence now. Stiff competition from private real estate majors coupled with the lackadaisical government attitude are causes for it, sources say. The Board which earned profits and had surplus funds till 2005 is now looking eagerly for help. The problems for the corporation began when the State government took off about `2,700 crore from its coffers since 2005. The board had earned this amount through its profit making business of construction and selling of houses, commercial complexes and plots.
Stiff competition from private real estate majors coupled with the lackadaisical government attitude are causes for the Board’s troubles. The Board was set up in the year 1960, almost 52 years ago, with the sole objective of providing affordable houses to middle income and marginal people in the State. Within a span of few years, it earned a good name for itself with its revolutionary practices in the realty sector. Since its inception the board had constructed a total of 1,05,088 units in all 23 districts of the State. These houses are constructed in various categories and formats keeping in mind the affordabili-
ty factor. In Hyderabad alone, the board has so far constructed a total of 16,601 houses for the public.
SITUATION GRIM But now the situation seems to be grim for the corporation as many of its ongoing projects are in trouble. While many completed projects have no takers for various reasons like inflation and recession, the ongoing projects have been stalled for want of funds from the State government. Commenting on the status of the board, one senior official said that the board is in debt. “We took a loan of `175 crore from Hudco to clear our earlier debts. Now our situation is such that we are finding it difficult to pay this debt,” he said. Frequent requests from the board to the government did not evince any response from the government.
within two years. He had breakfast along with the students of Pedapadu Social Welfare hostel which he visited. Several local leaders and officials were with him. The chief minister was scheduled to visit the RIMS hospital. He had a review meeting at the ZP office with people’s representatives. In the evening, he concludes his programme and then heads to Visakhapatnam from where he would fly back to Hyderabad. NSS
NEWS BRIEFS E-Seva centres to issue EPIC cards
Municipal corporation on a mending spree
Killer ambulance claims one life, injures two
Opposition slams govt over train accident
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he EPIC (Electronic Photo Identity Card) will be issued to electors through all citizen service centres of GHMC circle offices under the jurisdiction of Hyderabad district. It will also be issued in e-seva centres of respective constituencies. The voters who have shifted will have to submit form 7 for deletion of their names at the previous address.
he HMWS&SB undertook a major repair and mending works on sewage lines in the City. Some 308 missing manholes covers have been replaced. For water starved areas 835 free water tanker trips have been made. Further, 270 free water tanker trips per day is being supplied specially to mosques on account of Ramzan.
speeding ambulance, belonging to a private clinic, ploughed through a bus stop in Miyapur on Sunday, killing one person on the spot and injuring two others. Nearly fifteen people had a narrow escape, as onlookers alleged that the driver was in an inebriated condition and sped away after hitting the people. A case has been booked.
he Opposition leader and TDP chief Chandrababu Naidu today denounced the government's apathy towards rail passengers and said frequent accidents taking place in Andhra Pradesh points to the State government's failure too. Meanwhile, YSRC working president YS Vijayalakshmi has reached the spot of accident.
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city MONDAY, JULY 30, 2012
POLITICS
Separatist calls resound again Leaders make a vociferous case for a separate Telangana state following media reports on a purported ministry of home affairs document; a Rayalaseema movement is gathering steam. INKESHAF AHMED ahmed.m@postnoon.com
fillip to the morale of the pro-T leaders but also renewed their efforts to intensify their voice in a more holistic manner.
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fter a lull of almost five months, the divisive politics of separate Telangana and united Andhra Pradesh are back with a bang in the State. This time around, the trigger was a report purportedly prepared by the Union ministry of home affairs (MHA) on the separate Telangana issue. A section of the media in the State widely reported that the MHA report, which was prepared to brief the new President of India, Pranab Mukherjee, on the Telangana issue, ruled out the possibility of creating a separate state. The media reports created a flutter in political parties, especially Telangana champions like TRS and pro-Telangana organisations. Reacting to the reports, senior TRS leader and party
SEPARATE RAYALASEEMA CALL GAINS MOMENTUM
(Left) B Vinod Kumar; (right) TG Venkatesh
politburo member B Vinod Kumar alleged the media reports were the handiwork of the antiTelangana media. He also questioned the veracity of the purported MHA report. “We have many media organisations which are opposed to the Telangana state. I think the articles they published are baseless
and far from the truth,” he said, while speaking to Postnoon. Kumar added that the ministry of home affairs does not have powers to submit a report directly to the President and all reports have to be sent to him by the cabinet headed by the Prime Minister. The reports not only gave a
The results of the by-elections also led to a division of United Andhra leaders. Leaders belonging to Rayalaseema have given up the call for united Andhra Pradesh and are making attempts to renew the erstwhile separate Rayalaseema movement. Minister for minor irrigation, TG Venkatesh, who was in the news for his controversial comments against IAS officers, reiterated his demand for a separate Rayalaseema state. The minister, who hails from Kurnool district, said it is high time that a separate Rayalaseema state was created. “Rayalaseema is the most backward and neglected region in the State. All our
attempts so far were in vain. This time, we will fight for our rights,” he said. The minister has received unexpected support from the opposition Telugu Desam Party. Senior TDP leader from the same district, Baireddy Rajasekhara Reddy, defying his party, announced that he would lead a massive agitation to demand for a separate Rayalaseema state. “If the Centre wants to divide the state, it should be divided into three states — Telangana, Rayalaseema and Andhra. Otherwise, there should be no division. We (Rayalaseema people) cannot live with the Andhra people as we have huge cultural differences,” he told Postnoon. The leader held a few meetings with leaders of Rayalaseema regions and separatist groups to drive home his demand. The State is likely witness heightened political activities on the issue.
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city MONDAY, JULY 30, 2012
CIVIC
Farmers hit by food inflation Due to fixed prices at rythu bazaars, farmers are unable to sell their meagre products at a remunerative price, while consumers are feeling the pinch with food prices sky-rocketing. SUDESHNA KOKA sudeshna.k@postnoon.com
Selling to wholesale dealers is a bigger loss. They exploit us and give us less than market price. Here, we have our space and our regular customers
F
ood inflation has hit the country like never before. Our agrarian society is now suffering the effects of a patchy monsoon. Last week, prices of widely consumed vegetables sky-rocketed. Tomatoes, which were `12 a kg are now being sold for `45 per kg. Undoubtedly, the common man is suffering the effects of this but more than anyone else, it’s the farmers who are suffering the pinch of no rains. In Andhra Pradesh, rythu bazaars were introduced in January 1999 during the regime of Chandrababu Naidu, then chief minister of Andhra Pradesh. This system was introduced to avoid the business of middle-men and to help the farmers directly sell their produce to the consumers. However, it seems to have become more of a bane than a boon for agriculturists. The inadequate rains this year have resulted in poor yields of crops. Farmers are not importing vegetables from other cities, but cannot sell the vegetables at higher prices as they have fixed rates at the rythu bazaar. “We spend so much on fertilizers and sow the crops. But this year, there were no rains. All our time, money and hard work have gone down the drain. Now, we ourselves buy the vegetables being sold here, but unlike other markets, we can’t charge high rates,” said Lakshmi Amma, a farmer from Kadapa district. Food inflation has been the highest this year as compared to previous years. When asked why they don’t sell their products at regular bazaars and weekly colony markets, farmers said that
Srinivas V farmer, Shamirpet
Vegetable
Prices 2 months back
Tomatoes Carrots Potatoes Beans Broad beans Product
Now in Now in regular market rythu bazaars
`20 `25 `10 `20 `16
`45 `45 `25 `40 `26
`24 `35 `18 `40 `12
Before
Now
Sugar
`28
`38
Yellow pigeon peas
`60
`73
Bengal gram
`45
`60
Black chickpeas
`48
`63
would be a bigger loss. “Selling to the wholesale dealers is a bigger loss. They exploit us and give us less than the market price. Here, we have our space and our regular customers, which is why we are staying here despite the losses,” said Srinivas V, a farmer from Shamirpet district. The supervisor of the rythu bazaar, Bala Raj, agrees. Talking to Postnoon, he said, “What can we do? The government has a fixed price and farmers have to sell vegetables for that. But as compared to the outside market, the rates are subsidised here.”
The common man who buys from local markets and vegetable stores is feeling the pinch. The rates at the market is double that in rythu bazaars. “Every year during monsoon, the prices of vegetables go up, but this year, the prices have gone up like never before. We know the prices are cheaper at rythu bazaar but unfortunately, there are barely any rythu bazaars in the City. Most are badly maintained. Hence, we have reduced the quantity of our consumption,” said Kusuma K, a senior citizen. Wholesale market dealers, on the other hand, are selling the products at thrice the price. “During the summer, there was no electricity, hence the work at the mills had slowed down. So we had to increase the price of pulses and rice. Now it’s the rains. As there are no rains, we need to import vegetables,” said Kishan K, a wholesale merchant. Looks like the middle-men are the only ones enjoying the benefits of a self-created crisis.
NEWS BRIEFS Chief minister sanctions `145crore for works in Srikakulam
BC students defend secondary education minister
Two identified in couple harassment case
All political parties cheating T-people: Kantham
Chief minister N Kiran Kumar Reddy has said that he has sanctioned different works worth `145 crore during his three-day visit to Srikakulam as past of Indiramma Baata. Addressing a district-level review meeting with the collector and other officials on Sunday, Reddy directed district collector S Soloman Raj to ensure there was no shortage of plates, tumblers and blankets for the inmates of Social Welfare hostels. Directing the wardens to stay in the hostels, the collector warned that action would be taken for non-compliance. Additional joint collector Venkata Subba Reddy and JC Vinay Chand also participated in the meeting. NSS
BC students’unions protested at Old MLA quarters in Hyderguda on Sunday in support of secondary education minister K Parthasarathi. Tension prevailed for some time when the police prevented the activists from gate-crashing the MLA quarters. The protesters burnt effigies of the leaders of the Left parties and the TDP. The BC student leaders questioned the Left and TDP parties as to why they did not demand the resignation of home minister Sabita Indra Reddy and law minister Erasu Pratap Reddy, who are facing allegations. They also criticized the TDP for targeting BC ministers like Mopidevi Venkataramana and Parthasarathi. NSS
The police have identified two persons who allegedly harassed a couple at Bhavanapadu in Santabommali mandal on Saturday. The accused have been identified as Komara Ravi and Adla Durvasulu and the police are looking for them. The two are accused of making the girl undress before her boyfriend. According to the police, Ravi and Durvasulu tied the boy to a tree and undressed his girlfriend. The duo reportedly snatched some money that the couple was carrying and their cellphones. With the phones they seized, they recorded their act. By the time the angry villagers reached the beach, the accused had fled the spot. NSS
Telangana Praja Sanghala JAC convener Gajjela Kantham said that all political parties were deceiving the people of Telangana region by using the Telangana sentiment to strengthen their ground in the region. He said the people would be disappointed if they believed political parties on the separate Telangana issue. Kantham accused Telangana Political JAC chairman Prof. Kodandaram of diluting Telangana agitation, saying he has become an agent of petroleum minister S Jaipal Reddy. He demanded that Telangana Congress MPs immediately resign from their posts and plunge into the Telangana movement instead of posing before the media on the issue. NSS
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City MONDAY, JULY 30, 2012 CLASSIFIEDS
FURNITURE
HOME APPLIANCES
SAREES
EDUCATION
TRANSPORT
APSRTC to observe safety weeks
REAL ESTATE BHASHYAM DEVELOPERS “FORTUNE CITY”,HMDA approved nr.JP DARGAH,Bangalore highway,Rs.2250 per sq.yard EMI available. Ct:8142398989, 9652042015, Email: ksbhashyam@gmail.com DTCP Approved Fast growing development area
Fortune Infra Developers Pvt Ltd
The RTC will now focus on raising its revenues by cashing in on its safety.
3600 acres integrated township and open plots Rs.1600/- onwards.
Villas Rs 17 lacs to 27 lacs
Wanted Marketing Executives
Mr Rajeshwar Rao 9393492378 / 9885218470
AK Khan, managing director, felicitates APSRTC staff members
Md NIZAMUDDIN nizamuddin.a@postnoon.com
HEALTH
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he APSRTC concluded ‘Accidentree Week’ with two casualties, but earned a lot of confidence in the attempt to bring accidents to zero level. During the week, two accidents involving RTC bus have taken place in the City, and in yet another, a psycho stabbed to death three passengers in AP-TN border. The RTC will now be focusing on raising its revenues by cashing on its safety records. Following good response to the week, AK Khan, MD, said that various other weeks like Courtesy Week and Grievances Week will follow. He said the RTC will continue to project itself as the safest transport system and increase its revenues. “We have paid `68 crore as accident relief this financial year. We will bring it down. If we attain 0.08 per cent accident rate, this means saving 30 more lives to that of the existing accident rate of 0.09 per cent, which also means less compensation in accidents”, said Khan.
During the programme, the RTC honoured seven veteran drivers who controlled the monster for more than three decades. Mohammed Ibrahim, with 36 years of accident-free service, stood on top. According to him, one of the biggest problem amongst drivers was habit of drinking that leads to all problems of borrowing money and absenteeism. If this was controlled, the monster on wheels will be under control. M Satyanarayana Rao, chairman, asked the young drivers to learn from the experiences of the veterans who drove the vehicles without a scratch. Executive director (operations), GV Ramana Rao, said that activities included medical checkups, individual counselling for 1,052 drivers and repairs done for 4,083 buses. In the blood donation camp held, 714 employees came forward and many of them gave their blood for the first time. “We shall surely grab the national award this year also. What is important is to stay focused”, Rao noted.
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city MONDAY, JULY 30, 2012
CHARITY
Service with a pot of water Charity is quenching the thirst of parched throats. Here is a case of exemplary service initiated by Naandi Foundation to help provide people with purified water. RAHUL RAMAKRISHNA rahul.r@postnoon.com
Through their unique model, the foundation has set standards on water management, albeit in a small way.
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heirs is a story worth repeating. In times of droughts, floods and inconsistent monsoons, all leading to potable water crisis, work done by the Naandi group is worth emulating.
NOBLE EFFORT
Naandi group in collaboration with the Rajiv Gandhi National Drinking Water Mission has been doing a quiet, yeoman’s service for the parched populace of the City, supplying purified water at cheap rates. The foundation has been active in tackling ever present drinking water woes in the State. Water sold at the Naandi units is easy to avail. For a mere `90 one can register and avail a water card that entitles the customer to 20 litres of water a day for a month. Otherwise, one can also pay `5 a day and take away 20 litres. Every Naandi area unit has a reverse osmosis unit that keeps
A man quenches his thirst. Naandi foundation, a City-based NGO, in collaboration with the Rajiv Gandhi National Drinking Water Mission, has set up units in different parts of the City and State.
the quality of water in check. It is therefore not surprising to see this holistic service being availed by one and all.
RELIEVED RESIDENTS
Rajeshwari N, a resident of Somajiguda says, “Our drinking water supply is irregular and
what we receive is muddy or dirty. The municipality should learn something from this.” Sukumar Goud, a resident of
a nearby slum says, “This season we have been getting very dirty, coloured water that tastes of chemicals. Instead of relying on tankers, this option is better.” When asked as to the average number of people who come here to collect water, the unit operator says, “We have at least 200 people coming here. While most enrol for the monthly card, which works out cheaper, some prefer to spend `5 per can and take them thrice a week.” Through their unique model of public private partnership, the foundation has set standards on water management, albeit in a small way. Perhaps the Water Board and the GHMC ought to follow the work being done.
RESIDENTS’ WOES
Music for some, noise for others Speeding autorickshaws blaring loud music are proving to be a menace for the residents of East Marredpally.
Md NIZAMUDDIN Nizamuddin.a@postnoon.com
P
laying loud music, several sharing autos plying through residential localities of East Marredpally are proving to be a menace.
MUSIC MENACE
While autorickshaws can be of great convenience for many City commuters, the loud music is a concern for the residents.
“Look another one is passing, with loud music,” cries N Ramanathan, secretary, Marredpally Residents Welfare Association. He counts the number of autos passing through the small lane connecting to the main lane towards Tukaramgate. Hundreds of autos coming from Secunderabad station use the small lane near Hanuman Temple as a shortcut. For senior citizens like Ramanathan, it has become a routine to complaint to the traffic authorities on the situation. On getting complaints from residents, sometimes the cops engage constables to control the problem, but it is only a knee-jerk
reaction. According to residents, these autos should be taking the curve towards East Marredpally Road through Ratnadeep super market. These autos are plying on the well laid tar roads at Teachers colony. This makes the distance very short for them, but at the same time proving to be a menace for others.
DISTURBED RESIDENTS
“I being an octogenarian could not digest the prevailing situation. Think about the children , how disturbed they would be ?”, asks Ramanathan. Sharing autos in Secunderabad, particularly in East Marredpally area, has become a phenomenon and easy way to make money for autos, as very few buses ply on this route. “I have no other option, but to avail the service which is readily available,” points out, Shiva Ram, a student. Earlier traffic cops used to control the number of autos, but with many of these autodrivers
are adopting strategies like taking short-cut routes, it has become tough. After trying out various measures to control the flow of traffic, the residents asked the GHMC to put speed-breakers in the lanes connecting Teachers colony to Tukaramgate, but to no effect. As the officials did not find it fit to place speed-breakers, the matter could not be pushed by the residents. “We have asked the GHMC at least to put some speed breakers but they are not interested,” says PV Rao, a resident of Teachers colony. Many residents like Ramanathan, however feel that if the traffic cops are able to stop the music blaring from the autos it will be better. When contacted Padmanabha Reddy, DCP Traffic Secunderabad, assured action against the auto drivers on the stretch towards Tukaramgate. “I shall tell the area cops to take action against the errant autodrivers”, said Reddy.
9
city MONDAY, JULY 30, 2012
REFUGEES IN THE CITY
Fleeing Burmese land in City Suffering privation, hunger and humiliation, some 300 Burmese have taken shelter in Hyderabad. The Postnoon team meets them. M ANILKUMAR
Mohd SUBHAN AND SRINIVAS SETTY feedback@postnoon.com
T
T
hey don’t know how many have left their native villages in the Arakan region of Western Burma where they have been living since the 8th Century. Some 300 Burmese who were driven out following ethnic strife in the past few years are given shelter in the Royal Colony’s Balapur Dargah where a businessman, Syed Basheerudddin, has made available to them a building. Some others are staying in Hafibaba Nagar in the Old City. There are youngsters, children, women and seniors. The able-bodied work as labourers. With the help of one among them, Arafat, a bilingual, Postnoon gathered their traumatic experience. “We are rendered stateless in Myanmar. We Rohingyas have been targeted by the ethnic Buddhists who are supported by the government,” he explained. “They have taken our property and driven us out. Many were killed. We were asked to convert or leave. We preferred to leave because atrocities would continue anyway,” he said, Nearly seven lakh Rohingyas have run away. Of them some 2.5 lakh have fled to Bangladesh. The flow, it seems, continues. Hyderabad is seemingly attracting more from across the border.
A free-for-all City?
After being rendered stateless, refugees from Burma have now made the City their home. They have taken refuge in areas like Balapur and Hafibaba Nagar (Old City). M ANIL KUMAR
Praveen Akthar who reached on Friday says that the situation is turning from bad to worse. The 300-odd Burmese camping here have not come on a particular day. They came in groups of three or five or 10 in different periods. One Mohd Jaleel among them said through the interpreter that he was among a few hundred who left in June and they walked for eight days and reached West Bengal. Fifty of them were caught by the police while others escaped. “Some viewed us with sympathy and let
The 300-odd Burmese have not come on a particular day. They came in groups of three or five or 10 over different periods. us proceed,” he adds. “It was ethnic cleansing,” they chorused. “We have no hope of returning,” said Mohd Subair. They said that initially
they faced resistance but people now treat us with sympathy. The locals in Balapur now knows they have cheaper labour, said a resident Rahmatulla, “They work for `200 a day while the locals demand `350. ”Seventy of them have acquired refugee cards.” Incidentally, one Saif Ali Khan reports from Chittagong, Bangladesh, that there is opposition to Rohingyas in Bangladesh, which stems from reports that some Rohingya bosses are drug runners.
ragic as is the tale of the Burmese who fled their homes to save their lives, their status in Hyderabad remains mysterious. Neither the police nor the collectorate says anything. While Postnoon’s query to commissioner of police Anurag Sharma drew a blank, the joint collector E Sridhar said his office had no information. More worrisome is that to the MLA, D Sudheer Reddy, their presence was news. “I have no information. If they are refugees we will treat them sympathetically on humanitarian ground. I am away at the moment but the first thing I will do when I am back is to visit these people and gather information.” The issue puzzles one more when the DCP South Zone, Akun Sabharwal, says his office had information about 30 Burmese families who have taken shelter in Hafizbaba Nagar since three years! “They have refugee cards which are valid up to 2015-16.” Does this mean the refugee flow continues to happen without the knowledge of the authorities? The immigration officials have a figure of 300 foreigners living in the City whose visa had expired or are staying in hiding. But they are not from Myanmar. Some officials in the district administration said on condition of anonymity that a ruling party in the City is sheltering them and it has kept this issue under wraps.
Burmese melting pot
M
yanmar’s ethnic-religious internecine war is driving thousands out to the neighbouring India, China and Bangladesh. In focus is the triangular conflict between Kachen (mostly Christian), Rohingya (Muslims) and Rakhine (Buddhists). The flare up of ethnic strife last month in the
western Arakan state has driven out another swathe of refugees to India and Bangladesh. Reports say some 7,000 have fled to China, India and Bangladesh, said Lahkang May Li Awng, director of a local NGO. But UN observers say that though the Rohingyas are branded ethnic Bangladeshis,
the refugees fleeing on boats and on foot were driven back by the BDR. Only India continues to absorb the fleeing Rohingyas.. Writing about the conflict on June 20, the World Refugee Day, Angeline Loh, executive committee member of Aliran, Justice and Freedom solidarity
Pick
noted, “The international community should be aware that the ongoing denial of human rights in Myanmar and the apparent singling out of minorities may raise the possibility of the start of religious and ethnic cleansing, akin to what happened in BosniaHerzegovina in the 1990s and
at the
the tragedies in Rwanda and Burundi in Africa.” “Allegations that they originated from Bangladesh appear to have no basis, and the Bangladesh government has refused to accept them even as refugees. China is pressing for the return of the refugees while India is silent.” PK Surendran
airport,
-
MONDAY, JULY 30, 2012
Business
LARGEST SOLAR PLANT OPERATIONAL
With a capacity for evaporation and condensation of one lakh litres of waste water per day, India's largest industrial solar plant became operational in Ludhiana on Sunday.
MOTORBIKES
10
BOEING LAUNCHES PROBE
Power push for sales Companies are also constantly working on research and development to bring out bikes with better features. PRUDHVI RAJU K prudhvi.k@postnoon.com
Bajaj had launched DTSi technology in its pulsar which brought fuel efficient 150 cc engines to the market.
stantly working on research and development to bring bikes with better features. Bajaj has launched Pulsar 200 NS with triple spark technology, which increases the power of the bike without compromising on the mileage. Generally, the increase in power for the bike decreases the fuel efficiency. However the company maintained to offer same mileage as previous pulsar model. Earlier in 2004,
M
otorcycle buyers are slowly shifting to powerful bikes with a moderate mileage. The rise in sales of 125 cc bikes show mere mileage is not just enough to sell the bike. Even the manufactures are also launching new models and variants around 125 cc, making the customers to choose only from powerful bikes. Two years ago, 100 cc bikes used to enjoy the market share of 73 per cent, which over time declined to 66 per cent. The growth rate of the 100 cc bikes in last fiscal had hovered around 9 per cent while the B and C segment (125 cc and above) had 18 per cent growth while the industry grew only by 6 per cent. The B-segment bikes (125cc) alone grew by 38 per cent and remained to be the fastest growing segment. “A lot of customers who are purchasing their second or third bike want to upgrade to a bike with better features (125cc and above),” said K. Srinivas, President, Bajaj Two-wheelers. The companies are also con-
Top Companies n Hero Motocorp n Baja Auto n HMSI (Honda) n TVS Motors
The R&D in the motorcycle industry has brought many value added features but could not produce high fuel efficient bikes in the A segment. The best of the vehicles at 100cc only give 70 km per litre in the city traffic roads. The rising petrol costs also burning the pockets of the middle class. “The petrol price is beyond any manufacturer. People will continue to go to office or for leisure even at the high fuel prices. These prices may hit the car market but not the two wheeler market,” said R Chandrasekhar, general manager, marketing and sales, Bajaj Auto. The industry for the first time sold 1 crore bikes in last fiscal with a 6 per cent growth rate. “The motorcycle segment base has increased over time and continuing the growth rate after reaching certain volumes is difficult. Even the macro economic conditions like slowdown in the growth of economy and overall spending of the consumer has also decreased. However, for the customers who want better bikes, the economy doesn’t matter which is why we are launching new models,” he added.
BATTLING THE BUGS Huawei routers exposed
Microsoft shells out big bucks to strengthen software defence LAS VEGAS: As hackers from around the world converged on Las Vegas, Microsoft doled out a quarter million dollars in prize money to researchers who found ways to thwart attacks on its software. The winners of Blue Hat prize were unveiled at a hip club at a mobbed party complete with dancers, highenergy DJ, and explosions of shimmering confetti. A top prize of $200,000 went to doctoral student Vasilis Pappas for an advance in countering "the most popular attack techniques we're seeing today,"
said Microsoft security response center senior director Mike Reavey. Microsoft awarded $50,000 to the second-place finisher, and a fortune in software to the researcher who placed third out of the 20 submissions. Technology from the finalists has been integrated into a software toolkit for protecting against threats. AFP
GOLD `30,100 10g SILVER `53,500 1kg for
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Huawei routers are widely used in Asia, Africa and the West Asia
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LAS VEGAS: Hackers at an infamous Def Con gathering on Sunday were shown how to easily slip into computer networks through some routers made by Chinese electronics colossus Huawei Technologies. "For the 20th anniversary of Def Con the gift his China," Recurity Labs chief Felix "FX" Lindner said as he opened his presentation. "Nobody needs a back door; this is plausible deniability," he quipped as he detailed weaknesses in three small Huawei routers that
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could be exploited using basic hacking techniques. "You get what you pay for. Sorry." Huawei routers, equipment that connects networks to the Internet, are widely used in Asia, Africa and the Middle East and the company has been striving to gain ground in US and European market. Lindner and his teammate Gregor Kopf were particularly troubled that Huawei has not issued any security advisories about its routers to warn users to take precautions. AFP
NSE
5,157.15 57.30
Boeing said on Sunday it had launched an investigation after an "engine issue" hit a test flight of the 787 Dreamliner a day earlier in South Carolina. "A 787 experienced an engine issue July 28 while undergoing preflight runway testing in North Charleston. Boeing and GE are working closely with the NTSB (National Transportation Safety Board) and are committed to resolving the issue appropriately," the aviation giant said in a statement. US media reported that a brush fire was set off, apparently by the debris, at the Charleston airport, which had to be shut down for more than an hour.
NUMEROLOGY
$4.7
bn
is what Australian shopping centre giant Westfield will spend to expand in Britain.
GERMANY-ITALY PLEDGE German Chancellor Angela Merkel and Italian Prime Minister Mario Monti pledged to do everything necessary to shield the debt-wracked eurozone from the crisis, a statement said. In a telephone talk on Saturday, they "agreed that Germany and Italy will do everything to protect the eurozone," said the statement. The statement followed a similar pledge by the leaders of France and Germany on Friday and remarks on Thursday by the head of the ECB, Mario Draghi, in which he vowed to "do whatever it takes to preserve the euro."
THUS SPAKE
We have come to a crucial point. But we have to outline the pace and scope. We will act together with the ECB JEAN-CLAUDE JUNCKER, EUROGROUP CHIEF
DOLLAR`55.42 POUND `87.13
11
MONDAY, JULY 30, 2012
nation
TWO BODIES FOUND ON RAIL TRACKS Bodies of a man and his nephew were found on the rail tracks at Srirampur village under Udwantnagar police station of Bihar’s Bhojpur district today, the police said. The police suspected that they were killed somewhere else and the bodies dumped on the track.
POWER BLACKOUT
Tripped North falls on its face Even though the exact reason for the grid failure is yet to be ascertained, official sources said that many lines tripped, possibly due to high usage of power by some states. NEW DELHI: Most parts of north India reeled under severe power outages today, due to collapse of the northern electricity transmission grid early in the morning. The collapse of the Northern Power Grid impacted public transport systems including, Railways and Delhi Metro. Normalcy is likely to be restored by the afternoon. “The fault is not known as yet...Somewhere near Agra, a failure has happened. We will enquire that,” Power Minister Sushilkumar Shinde said. Even though the exact reason for the grid failure is yet to be ascertained, official sources said
INSURGENCY
Naxals, govts target civil society, says HRW report Aid delivery to people in conflict zones affected. RANCHI: Both Maoists and Indian authorities have threatened and attacked civil society activists, Human Rights Watch said in a report released Monday. The report documents human rights abuses against activists in Orissa, Jharkhand and Chhattisgarh states. Human Rights Watch found that grassroots activists who deliver development assistance and publicize abuses in Maoist areas are at particular risk of being targeted by security forces and also Maoist insurgents. Maoists frequently accuse activists of being “informers” and warn them against implementing government programme. Police demand that they serve as “informers”, and those who refuse risk being accused of being Maoist supporters and subject to arbitrary arrest and torture. IANS
Delhi Metro services came to a grinding halt for several hours.
that many lines tripped, possibly due to over-withdrawal of power by some states. “A lot of load has been
restored, especially for the essential services such as Railways. The connectivity of thermal plants (supplying power to
northern region) to the grid is expected to be fully restored in the next four to five hours,” POSOCO Chief Executive Officer S K Soonee told PTI. Power System Operation Corporation Ltd (POSOCO), part of state-run Power Grid, manages the transmission grids in the country. “Emergency transmission services are being restored. The work is on and in a few hours, the National Grid would be completely restored,” Power Secretary P Uma Shankar told PTI. According to officials, electricity from the Eastern and Western Grids is being diverted
to the Northern Grid. The Northern Grid, which is estimated to cater to around 28 per cent of country’s population, had failed due to fog moisture in January 2010. One of the largest in the country, it covers nine regions — Punjab, Haryana, Rajasthan, Delhi, Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh, J&K and Chandigarh. Officials said that services of about 200 trains were affected due to the power failure. Most parts of Delhi went without electricity for about eight hours due to the grid collapse. PTI
NEWS BRIEFS 25 pilgrims killed in Haryana accident BHIWANI: At least 25 pilgrims on their way
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back from Rajasthan were killed in a head-on collision between two trucks in Haryana’s Bhiwani district Monday morning, police said.Twenty-two people died on the spot, while three others succumbed to their injuries in hospital, a police officer here said. Police officials in Bhiwani and Hisar said nearly 25 people were injured in the accident. They were shifted to hospitals in Hisar town, 15 km from the accident site.
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Four children killed as local train rams into school bus AMRITSAR: Four children were killed and 19 were injured when a speeding mini local train rammed into their school bus at an unmanned railway crossing near here today. The mini local train was moving from Beas Railway Station to Goindwal when it rammed into the school bus. Deputy Superintendent of Police Suba Singh said the school bus carrying students was crossing the unmanned railway crossing when it was hit by the ‘small rail bus’.
/095 Rs.1 9/: e c 4 r Pri Rs.5 Cove r Price: : 50% g e f n f i O l Sav Tota
Two securitymen, boy injured in Manipur encounter IMPHAL: Two Assam Rifles personnel and a five-year-old boy were injured in a fierce gunfight between paramilitary forces and insurgents in Manipur’s Chandel district bordering Myanmar, official reports said today. The suspected People’s Liberation Army militants were detected by personnel of the Assam Rifles on patrol and there was an exchange of fire lasting an hour last evening, the reports said. A house was destroyed in a grenade explosion during the encounter.
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12
nation MONDAY, JULY 30, 2012
RAINFALL DEFICIT
EMPTY SKIES WORRY INDIA The spectre of drought looms over major parts of northern and western India and Karnataka following a poor monsoon threatening kharif crop output and leaving farmers and livestock in distress.
S
hortage of drinking water and an adverse impact on the prices of fruits, vegetables, pulses, sugar has been felt in several areas. Livestock has been hit due to fodder shortage. Inputs gathered by PTI bureaux across the country suggest that Punjab, Haryana, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, Gujarat, Maharashtra, Karnataka, Bihar, Odisha and Jharkhand have been hit by deficit rainfall. Sowing of pulses and coarse cereals (like maize, jowar and ba-
jra) has been affected the most. Although paddy area is also down by 18 lakh hectares so far, there is still hope that shortfall will be made up as paddy season extends till August. A worried Union agriculture minister Sharad Pawar has called a meeting of Empowered Group of Ministers (EGom) here on Tuesday to deal with the situation, while states are working on their own contingency plans. The government has conceded that production in 2012-13
Punjab and Haryana Situation aggravated due to power shortage. Farmers are spending an extra sum of money varying from `1,500 to `2,000 per hectare on paddy crop for irrigation. Paddy sowing in Punjab is almost on the verge of completion with 98 per cent of the Targett area being covered. In Haryana, it has touched 9.87 lakh hectare, against a target of 12 lakh hectare. Punjab expects fall in area under crops like cotton, maize and oilseeds. Haryana is foreseeing a drop in land under bajra and cotton.
Rajasthan 36 per cent deficit in rainfall Sowing of kharif crops have shrunk by almost half to 77 lakh hectare against a target of 150 lakh hectare. State has sought increase in employment for workers under MGNREGA to 200 from 100 at present.
would be lower than the last year's record output. "It is certainly not possible to achieve 257.44 million tonnes of foodgrains production this year. It is too early to say how much would be the actual fall in output," Agriculture Secretary Ashish Bahuguna said last week. The shortfall in paddy sowing is mainly in Nadia, South 24 Paragana, Murshidabad, Birbhum, Bankura and West Midnapore districts in West Bengal. Of the 18 lakh hectare drop in pad-
ry", have managed to cope with the situation by using the ground water. Their acreage of paddy are almost at last year's level. As farmers are investing more on diesel and power to irrigate their land, the measures which may be considered by the EGoM include giving diesel subsidy to farmers. "Diesel subsidy was introduced in 2009 in Bihar and Tamil Nadu. It was continued in 2010. It can be put up...it could be an issue in the EGoM," Bahuguna said. PTI
dy area across the country, 7 lakh is in West Bengal. Likewise, in pulses and coarse grains, Rajasthan is contributing to the maximum of shortfalls. Of the 13.64 lakh hectares drop in pulses cultivation, Rajasthan contributes 11.32 lakh hectares. In coarse cereals, the countrywide drop is 34.4 lakh hectares of which the state accounts for nearly 20 lakh hectares. However, the saving grace is that Punjab and Haryana, considered as "food bowl of the count-
External stakeholders Banks fear drought would have impact the loan repayments of the farm credit, which was 4.76 lakh crore in 2011-12. "If the Monsoon fails, it will have a cascading impact on credit growth as well as the economy, which in turn, will impact the repaying capacity of borrowers," SBI chairman Pratip Chaudhuri said. The industry too is tensed as the rural demand will be hit. The leading business chambers, CII and Assocham, have asked for immediate government intervention to mitigate the impact.
Uttar Pradesh The situation has improved due to arrival of late monsoon from July 5. There is no drought like situation," Agriculture Production Commissioner Alok Ranjan said.
Bihar Facing 32 per cent of rainfall deficit Chief Minister Nitish Kumar has rolled out a `200 crore for diesel subsidy. The government has also made provision for 5-8 hours of uninterrupted electricity in rural areas.
West Bengal 26 per cent deficit of rainfall in the South Bengal, while in north Bengal the rainfall is normal.
Jharkhand 25 per cent of rainfall deficit Expecting more rains in a couple of weeks. No cause for worry about drought-like situation.
Gujarat 65 per cent deficient rainfall Area under kharif crops has dropped 24 per cent to 45.55 lakh from 60 lakh hectares a year ago Saurashtra and Kutch regions, that account for nearly 70 per cent of the total cotton production in the state, reports 77 per cent deficit rainfall.
Orissa 10 out of 30 districts have rainfall deficit up to 40 per cent Paddy planted in 90 per cent of target area
Maharashtra 21 per cent deficit in rainfall 102 talukas have less than 50 per cent sowing A contingency plan of `2,685 crore has been readied to tackle the situation
Chhattisgarh The state has disbursed subsidised loan worth `1,272 crore so far to farmers for cultivation of kharif crops. The state government has set a target to disburse loan totalling `1,700 crore to farmers during in the kharif season.
Karnataka 22 districts out of 30 have been affected. Sugarcane, paddy and maize hit hard "The state has only 11 weeks of fodder stocks left has demanded a package of`5,800 crore from the Centre for crop loss due to poor monsoon," state agriculture minister U Katti.
Tamil Nadu Situation aggravated with Karnataka not releasing its due share of water from Cauvery. Farmers fear for damage to 47.5 lakh hectare of short-term kuruvai crops and also samba crop that will be taken up in August.
Andhra Pradesh Shortfall (On July 27) All-India Saurashtra & Kutch Haryana, & Delhi Punjab Western Rajasthan Southern Karnataka
: 21% : 78% : : : :
71% 67% 64% 44%
A Hyderabad report said that with the rainfall improving significantly during the second half of July, AP government is hopeful that the state would not face drought situation.
Decrease in sowing area
Total Coarse cereals Pulses Paddy Cotton
: : : : :
10% 23% 18% 9% 7%
MONDAY, JULY 30, 2012
World
NEXT PAKISTAN POLLS TO BE FREE AND FAIR: ZARDARI Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari has promised that the next general elections in the country will be free and fair, and that the ruling Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) would once again be victorious. The president also said all the chief ministers in the country will be from the PPP.
SYRIAN CRISIS
200,000 flee Aleppo as fighting enters Day 2 The SNC urged the UN to hold an emergency session to discuss ways to protect civilians caught up in the conflict. DAMASCUS: Around 200,000 civilians have fled fighting in Syria’s most populous city Aleppo and many more were trapped, the UN said as a fierce government offensive against rebels entered a second day. The opposition Syrian National Council (SNC) on Sunday accused the government of preparing to carry out “massacres” in the northern city and pleaded for heavy weapons to enable rebels to meet the regime onslaught. The SNC also urged the UN to hold an emergency session to discuss ways to protect civilians caught up in the conflict. Syrian Foreign Minister Walid alMuallem, on a surprise visit to key ally Iran, said the rebels “will definitely be defeated” in Aleppo, even as a Free Syrian Army (FSA) commander boasted the city would become a “graveyard” for the army’s tanks. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said Sunday’s fighting was focused around the southwestern neighbourhood of Salaheddin, where rebels repulsed a ground assault on Saturday. “There are clashes on the edges of... Salaheddin” which regime forces were pounding with helicopter gunships, the Observatory’s Rami Abdel Rahman told AFP, describing the situation as “a full-scale street war”.
And in many ways, if they continue this kind of tragic attack on their own people in Aleppo, I think ultimately it will be a nail in Assad’s coffin. Leon Panetta US Defense Secretary An image grab taken from a video uploaded on YouTube shows crowds greeting Syrian rebels as they parade through a street atop a tank in AlBab in the northern province of Aleppo on Sunday. Fierce fighting raged for a second straight day in Syria’s commercial capital Aleppo as troops pressed an offensive against rebel-held areas of the city, sparking fears for trapped civilians. AFP
locations. She said that many people in Aleppo had sought shelter in schools and other public buildings. “They urgently need food, mattresses and blankets, hygiene supplies and drinking water,” she said. Colonel Abdel Jabbar alOqaidi, FSA commander for Aleppo, said the rebels had inflicted heavy losses on the army in Salaheddin but that there had been many civilian deaths. “Aleppo will be the graveyard of the tanks of the Syrian army,” Oqaidi told AFP in an interview at an isolated farmhouse surrounded by olive groves near the city. AFP
After massing for two days, troops backed by tanks and helicopters on Saturday launched a ground assault on Salaheddin, where rebels concentrated their forces when they seized much of Aleppo on July 20. Both sides claimed to have made advances, but an AFP correspondent reported rebels had largely repulsed the army when it launched its first onslaught. Civilians in the city of some 2.5 million crowded into basements seeking refuge from the
intense bombardment by artillery and helicopters, the correspondent said. UN humanitarian chief Valerie Amos said in a statement that an estimated 200,000 people had fled from Aleppo in two days and an unknown number were still trapped in the city. Amos said in New York that she was “extremely concerned by the impact of shelling and use of tanks and other heavy weapons” on civilians in Aleppo, Damascus and other
62 held over Ramadan bar attack in Jakarta
Iran to complain over sanctions
Mexican prison’s chief gunned down
Oz man burns bum as party trick goes wrong
JAKARTA: Indonesian police said Monday they had arrested 62 people, most of them minors, involved in attacking a bar in south Jakarta for serving alcohol during the holy Muslim month of Ramadan. A group of 150 youths — some as young as 13 and carrying swords and golf clubs — raided the De Most bar late Saturday.
MOSCOW: Iran will file a complaint against the US and the European Union (EU) for imposing unilateral sanctions on the country without the approval of the UN Security Council. “The complaint will be registered based on international regulations,” said Majid Jafarzadeh, head of the Presidential Centre for International Legal Affairs.
CALIACAN: The security chief of the prison in Culiacan, the capital of the northwestern Mexican state of Sinaloa, has been gunned down, police said. Alejandro Osuna Rios was murdered Friday in front of his house, police said. Osuna Rios, 36, had been in charge of security at the prison for four months.
SYDNEY: An Australian man suffered severe and painful burns to his bottom after he placed a firework between his buttocks in a misconceived party trick, a report said Monday. Police in the sparsely populated Northern Territory said the man was taken to hospital after the stunt backfired at Darwin’s Rapid Creek around midnight on Saturday.
NEWS BRIEFS
13
SKIRTS ARE OK AT OXFORD
In a move to please its transgender student community, the Oxford University has introduced a new academic dress code which allows men to wear skirts or stockings to exams and formal occasions while women can wear suits or white bow ties. The university’s council, headed by Vice-Chancellor Andrew Hamilton, has dropped any distinction between the sexes by deleting all references to men and women.
NUMEROLOGY
45.9%
is the Romania’s election bureau estimated turnout on a referundum seeking the impeachment of its president Traian Basescu, which he survived as the required count is 50 per cent.
MINERAL TREASURE South Korea said it has won the exclusive right to exploit a deep-sea mine in the Indian Ocean that could produce more than $300 million worth of minerals a year. The 10,000-square kilometre (4,000 sq mile) site has hydrothermal vents that could yield metals including gold, silver, copper, zinc and lead, the maritime ministry said. The general assembly of the International Seabed Authority last Friday voted to give Seoul the exclusive right to develop the area — around 2,500 kilometres southwest of Sri Lanka — from 2013 to 2027, it said.
In the final analysis, of course no option should be excluded. We recognise Israel’s right to defend itself, and it is right for America to stand with you. Mitt Romney GOP prez candidate
MONDAY, JULY 30, 2012
Comment Nothing in life is to be feared, it is only to be understood. Now is the time to understand more, so that we may fear less. Marie Curie Nobel winner
Italy’s gelato generation Italians are expecting the opening of their country’s first ice cream museum, but forget any ideas that gelato, as it’s called here, is frozen in the past. A new wave of iconoclastic ice cream makers is revolutionizing the scene in Rome with flavors such as gorgonzola, mushroom and lobster with vodka. "There are no limits," says Claudio Torce as he hands over a scoop of habanero chili-flavored gelato at the headquarters of his ice cream store company in the modernist EUR neighborhood in the south of the city. "We’re working toward a future where gelato is no longer identified purely as something fresh and sweet for summer." Torce has become a major influence on Rome's new gelato generation since he opened his first shop in 2003. At the launch of his eighth outlet in Rome this month, ice cream was served with a selection of savory antipasti: spicy salami with pear salad accompanied by scoops of gelato flavored with celery, parmigiano and those picante habanero peppers. Although Torce's combinations are raising eyebrows among traditionalist gelato aficionados, savory ice cream is hardly new. In the new museum, exhibits will include a recipe for black truffle gelato dating from 1808. Established by Carpigiani, a company that manufactures ice cream machines, the museum will trace the history of the cold stuff from the days when teams of runners delivered mountain snow for chilling wine at ancient Mesopotamian banquets.The La Repubblica reported on the museum’s upcoming opening under the headline, "The coolest museum of all." GLOBAL POST
High-flying thoughts
Define close shave? Romanian President Traian Basescu can. Accused of exceeding his authority and of meddling in government affairs, the opposition had called for a referendum seeking his impeachment. The voter turnout was 45.7% and the required was 50%. That’s a close shave.
TUGLUQUESQE POLICIES
14
A TOTAL WASTE!
HARD TALK
PK Surendran
T
he other day a friend asked, "Do senior journalists invariably become cynics?" Yes, they do, after seeing the unmasked faces of movers and shakers and moralists — sometimes at close quarters — for years, they must become cynics, else they are not entitled to the title of senior journalists. So, with no apology, allow me to give you yet another cynical view this week, too. Why do you expect the GHMC, the Hyderabad's Sircar, to be any different from the national one, infamous for quack governance that smacks of scandal? It is unfair. They (GHMC rulers and city fathers), too, are human, you know. To begin with a small thing, I felt a stab of outrage when I saw last week labourers digging up a well-laid, well-kept divider strip on the arterial Road Number 36. I asked the labourers why were they digging this strip; the labourers did not know. I traced out one minion who said it was being done as part of the 'beautification' ahead of the world biodiversity meet in October! Add to this the madness in having state-hired gardeners lovingly weeding and clipping grass in preparation for the rains. What a waste! You will see many such Tughlakesque acts of gover-
nance in the days to come because the GHMC has to account for the `125 crore aid it got from the State government for sprucing up the City for the world CBD (bio diversity) which will see people from 190 countries descending on the City for the fortnight-long conference. However, let me add that Muhammed-bin Tughluq was a sincere, cultured scholarly man who had a penchant for introducing novel methods to help his subjects, which to his discredit did more harm than good. I doubt the same can be said of the GHMC, but the effects of their policies are the same. There is hardly an all-stakeholders meeting in such events. If the GHMC invites urban planners (working or retired, green activists and residents' rep, they will have a better idea of how to go about decking up the City for an occasion as this. But such all-round involvement
will mandate transparency.
TAX THE SOURCE
There is only one way to keep the City clean and end the plastic menace. There is something called the producers' social responsibility. Each one of us is responsible for the waste we make. The GHMC must tax producers of packed goods who invariably use plastic wrappers and covers in abundance with abandon. They must get their waste back and jointly set up treatment plants as how industrial units are asked to set up cluster treatment plants (that they too pollute nalas and rivers is another issue). Littering the city should attract spot penalty like traffic violence. But police can't be trusted to do this job. For this the City should set up a voluntary agency fiercely committed to hygiene and environment. They could issue challan to peo-
ple who dirty their surroundings. Even if the instances are random, it will have a salutary effect on others.
TAILEND
A meeting of women's libbers was in progress where the society ladies were practising their oratory skills, panning men for their discriminatory ways. "Men,” shrieked the president of the club, “leave all unpleasant tasks to us and we suffer silently. Why? We don the roles of home managers, office assistants, mothers, cooks, washerwomen…We must stand up and say: thus far, no further." Thunderous applause followed. When it died down, a voice from the backbench was heard that asked the beaming president if it was not she who gave him a plastic cover full of kitchen waste at dawn every day to be dumped on the way. Do you know what followed? Take a guess.
EDITORIALS ‘Heart of darkness’
S
even states including UP, Punjab and Haryana, and all of Delhi, the national capital, in darkness for half a day, 300 million people affected… what to speak of the shame caused by the incident due to the failure of the Northern Grid? Train, metro services affected, traffic signals in Delhi dysfunctional leading to huge traffic jams and chaos on the road… Whoa! That’s quite a lot. This incident speaks a lot about what we are as a nation. These things could be imagined had a cyclone ripped through. But all due to some technical flaw in Agra? Power Minister Sushil Kumar Shinde has said a committee with three members will investigate what happened. What India needs is a comprehensive back-up plan that forsees every exigency of this sort. And, please, we need to think of alternate sources of power generation if the existing methods can’t meet our needs. It’s nice to hear the world speak of your country as the next big thing. But our leaders need to plan with vision if we be worthy of such admiration and must become a superpower.
READERS’ VIEWS
La Roja fades
M
onths after every newspaper in the world christened the current Spanish football side as the greatest in the world, the team was kicked out of the 2012 Olympics by... Honduras. Apparently, the team that had bulldozed Italy, Germany and the Netherlands found it hard to overcome a tiny Central American country. While Spain will try to bury this defeat under their World Cup and Euro Cup victories, Hondurians will remember this Olympics as the year they shamed La Roja.
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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MONDAY, JULY 30, 2012
campus
ANKIT FADIA TALKS ETHICAL HACKING Independent computer security consultant, TV host and author Ankit Fadia will give tips on ethical hacking in a workshop that will be organised on 25th and 26th August at Oakridge Gachibowli campus.
DISCIPLINES OF SCIENCE
COURSE OF ACTION
NEW COURSE
There’s more to Engineering than just the usual choices. Here are a few off-beat courses you should take a look at POSTNOON TEAM feedback@postnoon.com
DUAL DEGREE PROGRAMMES IITs and BITS-Pilani offer dual degree programmes through which students can earn two degrees from engineering and science streams. Instead of the conventional four year programme, a dual degree program lasts for five years and students take up courses in both the degree programmes in their third and fourth year. In BITS – Pilani, a combination of M.Sc (Hons) Economics and Engineering courses like Chemical, Computer Science, EEE and Mechanical Engineering are usually the most sought after. IITs offer a B.Tech-M.Tech five integrated programme in various streams. A dual degree programme opens up innumerable opportunities for students during placements, depending on what courses they have taken up.
ELECTRONICS AND TELEMATICS Electronics and Telematics (ETM) is a branch of engineering which sees the culmination of electronics and telecommunication using informatics (telematics). Students who take up this course analyse and design different telecommunication protocols and their applications in different technologies like – Telemedicine, Vehicle tracking, Telemetry & Telecontrol in industries. The course is considered to be similar to ECE but ECE students study convectional Electronic Communication subjects where as in ETM emphasis is laid on computer communication
BELLA’S FOLLY
Boutique design A one-year course Boutique Management and Design will be introduced in NIFT this year on. The course will include pattern making and illustrations for Indian apparel like salwar kameez, sari and kurti. “We have had many requests from students during the time of admissions to include this course,” one of the faculty members Fatima says.
COLLEGE OF THE WEEK
CBIT
subjects like computer networks, ISDN, ATM networks, Advanced Telecommunication Technologies and its applications. This course is offered in the state only at G Narayanamma Institute of Technology & Science
METALLURGICAL ENGINEERING This distinguished field of engineering was born out of mankind’s earliest professions — the craft of metal working. As a course of study, Metallurgical Engineering offers the study and production of metallic components. It is a practical application of the science of metals. Presently, this course is offered at Jawaharlal Nehru Institute of
Technology, Hyderabad and also at MGIT, Hyderabad. The university offers an intake of 40 students, while MGIT provides 60 seats for the course.
CHEMICAL ENGINEERING This branch of engineering deals with physical science and life sciences and is involved in converting raw materials or chemicals into more useful or valuable forms. Chemical engineering as a course is offered at very few colleges in the city. Aurora’s Scientific and Technological Institute, Bhoj Reddy College of Engineering for Women and CBIT offer Bachelor’s Degree in chemical engineering. Their current intake is 60 students.
ENGINEERING PHYSICS Engineering Physics is a combination of physics, engineering and mathematics. Very few colleges in India like IITMumbai, Delhi, Chennai and ITBHU offer this programme. It offers an in-depth study of applied physics with a speciality in areas like optics, quantum physics, materials science, nanotechnology, microfabrication, aerodynamics and energy. Apart from a Bachelors Degree, the Department of Physics at IITMumbai also offers a Master and PhD in Engineering Physics. Students can sit for placements for organisations like ISRO, DRDO, Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre.
When trouble sparked between Robert Pattinson and Kristen Stewart, the world cried. Proof of Kristen Stewart’s liaison with Rupert Sanders is out and Robert has left the mansion he shared with his girlfriend. What do youngsters in the city think about it?
A publicity gimmick
No more Kristen movies
All for money & fame
The release date of Breaking Dawn 2 is just around the corner and this incident seems to me as a publicity stunt. Filmmakers go to any length to get their film enough eyeballs and publicity. This controversy is sure to attract non-Twilight fans too to the theatres.
I am a big fan of Robert Pattinson and I was heartbroken when I heard about Kristen Stewart cheating on him. I used to like Kristen Stewart in her Twilight movies. But, I don’t think I will be watching any of her movies from now on.
I think Kristen Stewart hooked up with Robert Pattinson only for the fame and money. When she found a wealthier and more successful person in director Rupert Sanders, she moved on.
Disha Singh, St. Francis College alumnus
Ruchika Singh, CBIT student
Ajab Ali Akbar, NIFT student
Chaitanya Bharathi Institute of Technology (CBIT) established in 1979 is an engineering college located in Gandipet. The college is affiliated to Osmania University and accredited by the National Board of Accreditation. Students of CBIT were involved in the design and successful launch of a satellite, STUDSAT, with the Indian Space Research Organisation.
TRENDING...
Check In app on Facebook has become a rage among collegians. Letting the world know of the places they are visiting is their favourite pastime. “We do not have to call to check if friends are in college. Their updates of them “checking in” into college would have reached you before that,” Meenakshi Dixit of CBIT, says.
Youngsters are not sticking to denim blue but thinking red, bright blue, yellow and pink while picking jeans. It’s time to get creative and the city is not one to be left behind. College campuses have become all more colourful thanks to the bright-coloured jeans that youngsters are sporting.
MONDAY, JULY 30, 2012
spotlight
WHERE’S THE PARTY TONIGHT?
Take a chill pill as DJ Shafi gets you grooving with his mixes.Be there to experience the dhamaka at Firangi Paani, Banjara Hills tonight. The party starts at 9pm.
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SRINIVAS SETTY
ADP’S ANNUAL BASH
Rockin’& Rollin’ ADP celebrated its 13th Company Day with much fanfare at Novotel on Sunday. With a live gig from ADP’s rock band Rave and dance performances by the company’s employees, it was an evening to remember.
OF SUSPENSE & THRILLS
On an all-India tour, Director Aamir Raza Husain & Virat Husain’s latest play Murder arrived in the city on Sunday. The suspense-filled play had audiences at Fortune Manohar captivated till the end.
FOR YOUR EYES ONLY
Now there is one more reason to shop at Parklane. An exclusive optical store, K.S.R Eyewear was launched by Tollywood actress Niti Taylor on Sunday.
SRINIVAS SETTY
MONDAY, JULY 30, 2012
health
LACK OF SLEEP CAN SLOW YOU DOWN Experts recommend eight hours of sleep for ideal health and productivity. Researchers at Brigham and Women's Hospital (BWH), a teaching affiliate of Harvard Medical School, have found that regardless of how tired you think you are, lack of sleep can influence the way you do certain tasks.
OCD MISCONCEPTIONS BUSTED
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Stop obsessing over OCD Obsessive compulsive disorder is one of the most commonly misconstrued ailments. One needs to understand the difference between obsession as a personality trait and a disorder. ANISHAA KUMAR
anishaa.k@postnoon.com
“O
h I love to have everything spic and span. My family thinks I have an OCD for cleanliness,” laughed Riya as she showed a guest around her house. It’s an oft heard statement. For a layperson OCD refers to an obsessive characteristic but the disorder has much more to do than a simple obsession. According to Dr Minhaj Nasirabadi, consultant psychiatrist, Apollo Hospital, Hyderabad, “OCD stands for obsessive compulsive disorder. This refers to an ailment in which people have recurrent thoughts and images. For example if a person has an obsession with washing their hands they will do it again and again even if her/his hands are clean.” Dr Shobha Krishna, a Bangalore-based consultant psychiatrist explains that the action brought out from this obsession refers to as compulsion. One could take for example people who are nervous about locking doors. Normally we might go and check the door once of perhaps twice. But if this goes on for another 5-10 times and not doing that action makes the person anxious and slows down the pace of their other work then it refers to OCD. Dr Minhaj explains, “People can have an OCD for cleanliness in terms of washing clothes or
Celebs with OCD
M
any well known people are said to have suffered from OCD. n Jessica Alba n Cameron Diaz n David Beckham n Justin Timberlake n Martin Scorsese hands again and again. A second type can be an OCD for counting things. The third type can be excess doubt. This implies that the person may have the habit of rechecking latches, doorknobs and switches. Dr Minhaj explains that it is not always OCD, some
ANEWS PP-LYBRIEFS YOURSELF Deep Sleep with Andrew Johnson Those elusive 40 winks are leaving you disturbed and tired? Try the Deep Sleep with Andrew Johnson app. Available on android and iPhones, this app helps you get the best sleep with a relaxing guided meditation, meant to clear your mind and facilitate deep and restful sleep.
people have an obsessive compulsive trait. This implies that they are just obsessed with perfection and do not like a deviation from certain things. This is not at a disorder.
CAUSES According to Dr Shobha, “The causes for OCD are multi-factorial. Sometimes there is no cause at all. There have been certain reports wherein viral infections have led to OCD. People who have suffered from stressful circumstances also may be suffer from OCD. Sometimes OCD may occur along with other psychological illnesses such as schizophrenia or other
HOUSECALL Diphtheria Diphtheria is an acute infectious disease caused by the bacteria Corynebacterium diphtheriae. Diphtheria spreads through respiratory droplets of an infected person or someone who carries the bacteria but has no symptoms. Diphtheria can also be spread by contaminated objects or foods. The throat infection causes a gray to black, tough, fibre-like covering, which can block the airways.
MISCONCEPTIONS CLEARED
ailments like thyroid.”
TREATMENT In most cases, the best treatment is a combination of psychological therapies and medicines. Medicines usually refer to antidepressants as OCD is usually the result of a chemical imbalance in the brain. These antidepressants help restore the balance, explains Dr Shobha. Dr Minhaj says, “Psychological treatments could include cognitive behaviour therapy and exposure and response therapy. In extreme cases, ECT may be used. This is in extreme cases wherein the patient is suicidal.”
DID YOU KNOW Eating candy slowly causes cavity The chances of getting a cavity are higher if it is eaten slowly throughout the day when compared to eating it all at once and then brushing your teeth. Some people take several minutes eating a candy. There lactic acid bacillus in people’s oral cavity, can make the candy ferment to tingle.
According to Dr Shobha, “The most important factor to differentiate between regular obsessive trait and OCD is that a person suffering from OCD will get distressed and suffer from anxiety if the the particular action is not done. They have difficulty adapting to changes. One can take a certain example of someone who is scared of using public toilets may avoid travelling.” The difference between just an obsession and the disorder is that the person is wasting their time doing one particular activity and which is affecting their life then they must visit a psychiatrist, says Dr Minhaj.
PIONEERS Rhazes Rhazes was a prominent Persian alchemist, physician and chemist from the year 865 to 925. Numerous “firsts” in medical research, clinical care, and chemistry have been attributed to him, including being the first to differentiate smallpox from measles, and the discovery of compounds and chemicals including kerosene. Rhazes made contributions to the field of medicine, alchemy, music, and philosophy.
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health MONDAY, JULY 30, 2012
WORK AND HEALTH
Shift can affect health
LONDON: Shift work can dramatically increase the risk of heart attacks and strokes, warn researchers. A study of two million people found shift workers are almost 25 percent more likely to suffer, the Daily Mail reported on Friday. Night shift workers run the highest risk of 41 per cent, says a study published on the British Medical Journal website bmj.com. People working shifts also have higher levels of unhealthy behaviours such as eating junk food, sleeping badly and not exercising, which are linked to heart problems. But researchers said they took this into account — and the excess risks remained. The latest study is the biggest analysis of shift work and likelihood of vascular problems, including heart attacks, strokes and angina. Shift work has long been known to disrupt the body clock and be linked to high blood pressure, high cholesterol and diabetes, but the overall impact on cardiovascular health has been unclear. A team of international researchers analysed the results of 34 studies involving 2,011,935 people to investigate whether shift work was associated with major vascular events, the newspaper added. IANS
The latest study is the biggest analysis of shift work and likelihood of vascular problems, including heart attacks, strokes and angina.
Growing pains
I
have a 1.5-year-old son and find that he is very clingy. He always wants me around. In fact, even taking a shower with him around is a challenge as he’ll keep crying and banging on the bathroom door. I’m a working mother and this habit is making it difficult. Being clingy is normal and seemingly goes away at first and then appears again when a child turns 18 months and can last till 24 months of age.
Performance issues
n Gastrointestinal symptoms like upset stomach, nausea, diarrhoea, constipation, n Increased risk of injuries and accidents n Insomnia n Decreased quality of life n General feeling of being unwell n Long term effects n Cardiovascular disease
n Diabetes and metabolic syndrome n Obesity n Depression and Mood Disorders n Serious Gastrointestinal Problems n Problems with Fertility and Pregnancy
Source: www.webmd.com
RESEARCH
Dementia drains ability to recognise words? SYDNEY: Dementia can impair one’s ability to recognise words describing feelings such as ‘thrilled’ and ‘annoyed’, according to the latest research. Sharpley Hsieh and colleagues from Neuroscience Research Australia (NRA) explored how people with different types of dementia comprehend words describing sentiments such as ‘doubt’ and ‘hopeful’. “People use emotion words in everyday conversation and don’t realise it. How often do we use sentences such as ‘I’m frustrated’ or ‘she’s impressed’? These are key words and you have to know them to understand a sentence,” Sharpley was quoted as saying in the journal, Neuropsychology. “Losing the concept of a toaster, for example, will impact upon a person’s quality of life, but the prevalence of words used to communicate feelings and emotion in our language must make the lack of understanding of these words so devastating for patients and their carers,” Sharpley said, according to a university statement. Sharpley found that people with Alzheimer’s disease are still able to understand these kinds of words, but people with other types of dementia are not. People suffering from semantic dementia — the second most common in people under 65 — experience a severe loss of word and conceptual knowledge. “You can easily show a picture of a car to test this word, or a smiling face to show happiness. But feelings such as frustration or embarrassment are difficult to depict and so until now we haven’t been able to look at whether these concepts are lost in people with different dementias,” Sharpley added. IANS
Dr Diana Monteiro
Separation anxiety is normal During this time children experience ‘separation anxiety’ which is a normal developmental stage. This is because they are developing their thinking ability as well and start to learn that objects/people that they cannot see still do exist. Thus, it’s normal for a baby to suddenly start getting clingy because they are upset at the possibility of being separated
from their parents. Thankfully, this stage passes with time. Let your child practice with you being gone to learn to cope with your absence. For example, tell your child that you will be going to the other room for two minutes and that you will be back. Knowing that you are going and will be back helps ease the anxiety. Always say goodbye to
your child when you are leaving and tell him where you are going and when you will return. Once you say goodbye, leave and don’t sneak back in because you feel bad. Leave your child with someone you know for a 15 minute period and slowly work up to increasing it to one hour. When you have to leave, give him something of yours to have until you
return as a way to calm him as a comforting object. If your child is clingy while you are home, use a simple reward technique, where you tell him that you are going to the bathroom and will be right back and if he plays with his toys, he will get a piece of candy or a game with you.
The writer is a counselling psychologist at the Hyderabad Academy of Psychology. You can write to her at askdrdiana@gmail.com
MONDAY, JULY 30, 2012
Entertainment
JULAAYI’S CENSOR IN AUGUST Allu Arjun, Ileana starrer Julaayi is expected to be censored in the first week of August. Currently, the film is in DTS Mixing stage. Trivikram has directed this film which will release on August 9.
TWO-YEAR HIATUS
S
undeep Kishan is excited about his comeback after a gap of almost two years. “I haven’t had a single release in Telugu since Prasthanam, which released back in 2010. I kept listening to several scripts after Prasthanam; however, it took me a while to sign the kind of films which I wanted to do,” Sundeep Kishan says. This year, he’ll soon be seen in Gundello Godaari and Routine Love Story. Apart from these two films, he is part of Raj & DK’s Dopidi and a Tamil film named Yaarudha Mahesh. “I am extremely excited about my role in Gundello Godaari. I can’t tell you much about my role, but I play the role of a guy who loves rooster fighting. It was quite a challenging role and I am glad I am part of a fantastic team who put in their best efforts to make this film,” he adds. Kumar Nagendra has directed this film and it stars Lakshmi Manchu, Aadhi Pinisetty, Taapsee and Sundeep Kishan. The film’s trailer, which was recently released, has got a very good response. Set against the backdrop of 1986 floods in Godavari region, the film is about how the lives of these principal characters get affected. Ilayaraja has composed the music.
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CINE BYTES
Sundeep Kishan is excited about his comeback
Nani, Amala Paul in Janda Pai Kapiraju
N
ani and Amala Paul will soon begin shooting for Samuthirakani’s upcoming bilingual film. The Telugu version has been named as Janda Pai Kapiraju. The shooting is going to begin from August 1. After the success of Eega in both AP and TN, all eyes are on Nani who’s teaming up with Amala Paul and Samuthirakani for the first time.
‘My film is not based on Jagan’
K
rishna Vamsi has clarified that his upcoming film starring Nani, Katherine Teresa and Lucky Sharma is not based on Jagan or any political party. “It’s a thriller set in the current political scenario. It is about the extent to which people stoop for money,” he said. Ramesh Puppala is producing the film.
NTR gifts a Breitling watch to Sreenu Vaitla
N
TR has gifted an expensive Breitling watch to Sreenu Vaitla, who’s currently directing Baadshah. The film stars NTR and Kajal in lead roles. “Baadshah gifted a watch to our dir &in return Vaitla ji want to give a BlockBuster as a gift to Baadshah. He is totally dedicated on that.:) (sic)” Gopimohan, one of the writers of the film, said.
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Entertainment MONDAY, JULY 30, 2012
SPECIAL APPEARANCE
CINE BYTES
SONAKSHI, PRABHU DEVA in Oh My God
S
onakshi Sinha and Prabhu Deva will be seen dancing to the tunes of Go Go Govinda for Akshay Kumar’s home production, Oh My God directed by Umesh Shukla. The two are making a special appearance for the song but are not a part of the film, Akshay clarified. “Sonakshi and Prabhu sir are not in Oh My God. They are doing a short cameo role in the film,” he said at the DVD launch of his previous film Rowdy Rathore held on Saturday. There were also speculation about Sonakshi hurting herself during the shoot. The actress, who was also present at the event, clarified that it was just a minor ”neck sprain” and she is fine now. Directed by Prabhu Deva, Rowdy Rathore was well-liked and managed to cross the `100 crore limit as well. Talking about his director, Akshay said that Prabhu Deva is a very shy person and doesn’t say much. “He gets angry if someone does not give a good shot or doesn’t do his work properly. He is very shy otherwise and does not talk too much,” he said. The actor marked his re-entry into the genre of action with Rowdy Rathore and plans to do more action films from now on. “I enjoy action and I will continue to do it,” he said. Remakes of south Indian films seems to have become the trend in the industry now. Akshay calls them a “tried and tested” path to success and says that he doesn’t feel there is anything wrong with it. “They take our films, we take theirs. It’s like a give and take relationship,” the actor said. IANS
“I’ve never been conscious of my body”
B
ipasha Basu, who has posed in itsy-bitsy clothes for a bold poster of Raaz 3, says she had no reason to hire a body double for the shoot as she is comfortable with her toned body. “I have always been comfortable in my skin and never been conscious of my body,” Bipasha said. Raaz 3’s trailer is scheduled to release alongside Jism 2. IANS
Sunny Leone is a star in making: Arif Zakaria
A
ctor Arif Zakaria, who has worked with Sunny Leone in Jism 2, says that the Indo-Canadian porn star is a dedicated actress and he foresees a bright future for her. “The obvious fact is that she is attractive, but she is a dedicated professional. She is very easy to work with. I think she is a big star in the making," Zakaria told.
Sridevi goes for an Indian representation at International Toronto.
T
oronto is going to see Sridevi in her gorgeous Indian avatar specially designed by the ace designer Sabyasachi. The directorial debut of Gauri Shinde, wife of film-maker R.Balki English Vinglish has been selected to be premiered at the world-prestigious Toronto International Film Festival.
Entertainment MONDAY, JULY 30, 2012
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Entertainment MONDAY, JULY 30, 2012
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Entertainment MONDAY, JULY 30, 2012
KATY PERRY TO THE RESCUE
T
wilight star Robert Pattinson is being comforted by singer friend Katy Perry after girlfriend Kristen Stewart cheated on him with director Rupert Sanders. The 26-year-old actor, who has moved out of the Los Angeles home he shared with Stewart, had supported Perry when she went through her own split with comedian Russell Brand last year, reported Daily Star online. “She has reassured him she is very much there for him just as he was for her when she split from Russell. She has urged him to take a break with her,” a source said.
CINE BYTES
Pattinson being comforted by Katy Perry
Bond-inspired fragrance to be launched
A
scent inspired by the James Bond series, titled ‘James Bond 007’, is being released in September ahead of Skyfall. The aftershave is inspired by the 60s and in addition to notes of apple and sandalwood, it will have a retro feel, reports Femalefirst. Bill Brace, VP of P&G Prestige, said that it will be a “much more modern and sophisticated shell.” PTI
Elton lauds Jay-Z’s pro-gay statements
E
lton John will give rapper Jay-Z a hug after he said he was pro-gay marriage. "Jay-Z, who's probably the most respected African-American artist, came out and said not only is it wrong to not have gay marriage, but any discrimination in life is wrong. It was an incredibly moving statement. I phoned him up and said ‘you have no idea what you’ve just said,” John said. PTI
Baldwin’s stalker faces new charges
A
ctor Alec Baldwin's female stalker has been hit with 20 new counts of harassment. The stalker, Canadian actress Genevieve Sabourin, was arrested in April after allegedly turning up outside Baldwin’s home here. Baldwin has admitted he enjoyed a night out with Sabourin in 2010, but claimed he has received several unwelcome messages from her ever since. IANS
MONDAY, JULY 30, 2012
Chai Time
THOUGHT OF THE DAY
Natural ability without education has more often attained glory and virtue than education without natural ability. — Cicero
KAKURO
QUICK CROSSWORD
26
SUDOKU How to play kakuro Kakuro is a popular game similar to sudoku in some ways. But is also suitably different. The key question: ‘How do you play kakuro?’, well here are the rules of kakuro. The answer: The kakuro grid, unlike in sudoku, can be of any size. It has rows and columns, and dark cells like in a crossword. And, just like in a crossword, some of the dark cells will contain numbers. Some cells will contain two numbers. However, in a crossword the numbers reference clues. In a kakuro, the numbers are all you get! They denote the total of the digits in the row or column referenced by the number. Within each collection of cells — called a run — any of the numbers 1 to 9 may be used but, like sudoku, each number may only be used once. Let’s have an example to explain this concept more clearly: In the image above, which shows a section of a kakuro puzzle, you will see the numbers ‘26’ and ‘14’ in the top row. Look at the 14. This means that the total of the three cells underneath must sum to 14. Therefore 9, 4, 1 could be the answer, or perhaps 7, 4, 3 and so on... So, how do you work out the actual combination? Well, this is done through elimination and cross-referencing. For instance, as you work out the answers for other kakuro clues, this will naturally limit the valid combinations, and hence the answer for this particular run. Note the second cell in row two — it contains two numbers, 30 and 11. The 30 refers to the vertical run underneath the number 30 and the 11 refers to the two cells to the right, horizontally, of the number 11.
ACROSS
PREVIOUS PUZZLE ANSWER
SCRIBBLING PAD
1 Cause for stitches 5 Arena equipment 9 Walking with a sprained ankle, eg 14 Kind of sax 15 A drawbridge may span one 16 Egglike 17 ‘Children playing’ sign word 18 Plant with sword-shaped leaves 19 Caffeine-rich nuts 20 Place for memos and such 23 ‘All bets ___ off’ 24 ‘I see,’ at sea 25 Using a skillet 28 ‘Homo,’ for humans 30 Heaviest US president 32 By means of 33 Able to bear 36 Took a tumble 37 They may get you off the grid 39 That alternative? 41 Ill-starred lady of Celtic legend 42 ‘… a man Bojangles and ___ dance for you’ 43 ‘Runaround Sue’ singer 44 Speeder catcher 48 Curved high-back bench 50 Sentimental drivel 52 New Haven college student 53 Iowa city 57 Accumulate for later use 59 African plant 60 Cause of getting stuck 61 Dismantle, as a sailing vessel 62 ‘About the author’ pieces 63 Samuel Adams product 64 Hermann who wrote ‘Steppenwolf’ 65 ‘If it’s all the ___ to you …’ 66 Ends’ counterparts
DOWN
1 Long-winded one 2 Glamour competitor
3 ‘Hot,’ as loot 4 Banshee’s cry 5 ‘Jaws’ resort 6 Plucky courage 7 Unpleasant sensation 8 Attempt 9 Amusement park racing vehicle 10 ‘Coast’ or ‘tower’ preceder 11 Nation made up of more than 1,000 islands 12 ‘Every child One voice’ org 13 ‘Agreed!’ 21 Art student’s prop 22 Affront 26 Zero, in soccer 27 Hoedown lady 29 ‘Close Encounters of the Third Kind’ sightings 30 Easy basket 31 Apple chemical banned in the 1980s 34 Angle measurement 35 Palm smartphone introduced in 2002 36 Bloodsucking annoyance 37 Motorcycle attachments 38 ‘Captain Blood’ star Flynn 39 Common article 40 Baneful spell 43 Menial worker 45 Openly resisted 46 ‘Batman’ butler 47 Platforms for choirs 49 ‘Everybody Loves Raymond’ actress Roberts 50 ‘... nor ___ of night...’ 51 Beyond chubby 54 Cars for hire 55 Hipbone parts 56 Boss on a shield 57 ‘’Scuse me?’ 58 ___-track mind
Chai Time MONDAY, JULY 30, 2012 Thiruvaikumar
STAR POWER for 31-7-2012
27
As per Hindu panchang thiruvaikumar@yahoo.co.in, 040-27177230 / 9177596118
ARIES
TAURUS
GEMINI
CANCER
LEO
VIRGO
LIBRA
SCORPIO
SAGITTARIUS
CAPRICORN
AQUARIUS
PISCES
You will have a good time with your family. Those planning to buy a house or land can initiate efforts as time is favourable. Employees feel comfortable at workplace. They will be able to get their expectations fulfilled with the help of superiors.
Housing loan applied will get sanctioned and construction will start. Employees will have increased workload. Businessmen will not be able to mobilise required investment for expansion. Business is brisk, margins are likely to reduce.
Couples need to adjust with each other as minor misunderstandings could be magnified and create trouble. Businessmen face a dull trend; staff might create tensions and they don't co-operate. Avoid issuing cheques in advance.
QUICK CROSSWORD FRED BASSET
Businessmen will be cheerful and active; as self-confidence level are high, they take bold decisions, which will yield good results. Profits will increase as business will grow well. Hurdles in ancestral property related issues will get resolved.
Your approach will be so good that you will get appreciation from all around. House construction will resume and progress well. Employees will get into good books of their superiors and hence their demands will be fulfilled.
Avoid harsh talk with anyone as you might get into trouble. Employees might face unexpected tensions; be firm in your efforts so that time will change. Financially satisfactory situation likely. Business transaction might face trouble.
Employees will see a comfortable situation at workplace as superiors and colleagues will be co-operative. Good events will take place in the family with the help of friends. Travel to increase. Exporters succeed after some delay.
A debt issue that haunted you all these days will be cleared because of which you will relax. Your son's marriage will get settled with a matching bride. Bondage between couples will increase. New efforts by businessmen will yield good results.
Those with BP and diabetes are advised not to undertake any journey at present. Minor misunderstanding with spouse likely. Avoid arguments and criticising others as it might create problems in future. Pay dues to bank in time.
TAROT READ
Sumaa Tekur
tarotreadhyd@gmail.com
ARIES:
GEMINI:
The Star – In relationships, you need to take the route of subtlety, especially when dealing with sensitive matters like how to take the relationship forward.
LEO:
The High Priestess – You need to learn how not to put all your eggs in one basket. You have the tendency to focus only on one thing or person. Avoid doing this.
LIBRA:
STONE SOUP
Two of Pentacles – You may have stopped something very important – like a personal project or a health regimen – because of laziness or lack of time.
SAGITTARIUS:
The Fool – You need to be a team player and know that your decisions cannot be unilateral. Learn from managers and leaders about handling team affairs.
TAURUS:
The Chariot – You may find yourself stammering in front of large groups or in front of your bosses. This may be because you’re quite insecure.
CANCER:
Three of Cups – Change your approach for better results. Your plans will bear fruit and it will soon be time to celebrate your success and work.
VIRGO:
King of Pentacles – At the office, try changing the format of a work project and you will be surprised with the results. By changing something small, you get big results.
SCORPIO:
Five of Wands – Respect hierarchy and work towards integrating yourself in the team better. You cannot always be unhappy with your bosses.
CAPRICORN:
Ace of Pentacles – You find someone with interests much similar to yours. You never thought this would be possible. You find healthy companionship.
SOLUTIONS
PISCES:
The Hanged Man – Spiritual awareness is the need of the hour. You need to unwind and do what’s required to see the big picture.
NUMBER GAME
Justice – The day you stopped comparing yourself to others, you will find peace. Others’ circumstances are different from yours. Understand this and move on.
SCRABBLE
AQUARIUS:
INK PEN
Sudden finalisation of marriage proposal likely for some. Interview calls likely for those who are in search of a new job. Some will get honorary post in a social organisation. Some have bright chances to buy a new vehicle.
for 31-7-2012
Ace of Wands – The to and fro commute is taking a lot of energy from you. Try figuring out ways to cut down on the pressure. Plan your time better.
FOR BETTER OR FOR WORSE
Misunderstanding between couples will be over. You will fulfill wishes of your children and make them happy. Some will get involved in romance and look cheerful. Marriage will be finalised for those it is been delayed since long.
SUDUKO
Women need to take good care of their health. Even minor problems should not be neglected and to be treated immediately. Employees will be in comfortable atmosphere and good effects are likely to take place. Businessmen do well.
Boggle CAR BUS VAN TAXI TRUCK HEARSE Vol: 2, No 13 RNI No: APENG/2011/39337 Published for the proprietors, Scribble Media and Entertainment Pvt Ltd, by V Harshavardhan Reddy, at #1246, Level 3, Jubilee Casa, Road No 62, Jubilee Hills, Hyderabad – 500033 and printed by him at Jagati Publications Ltd, Plot No D-75&E-52, APIE Industrial Estate, Balanagar, Ranga Reddy Dist, Hyderabad – 500037, Editor: Dean Williams – Responsible for selection of news under the PRB Act All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or in part without written permission of the publisher is prohibited. For feedback, please write to: feedback@postnoon.com and for subscription, please call 040-4067 2222, Fax: 040-4067 2211
MONDAY, JULY 30, 2012
Vos claims title
MEDAL TALLY
CHINA USA ITALY S KOREA FRANCE N KOREA KAZA’TAN AUS BRAZIL HUNGARY NE’LANDS RUSSIA GEORGIA S AFRICA JAPAN BRITAIN COLUMBIA CUBA POLAND ROMANIA TAIPEI AZERBAIJAN BELGIUM CANADA MOLDOVA NORWAY SERBIA SLOVAKIA UKRAINE UZB’STAN
G 6 3 2 2 2 2 2 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
S 4 5 3 1 1 0 0 1 1 1 1 0 0 0 2 1 1 1 1 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
B 2 3 2 2 1 1 0 1 1 1 0 3 0 0 3 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1
T 12 11 7 5 4 3 2 3 3 3 2 4 1 1 5 2 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1
NEWS BRIEFS Jordyn’s dream ends Jordyn Wieber’s dream of emulating her World Championship title with Olympic gold ended in tears on Sunday as she failed to qualify for the women’s artistic gymnastics individual all-around final. While the United States shone in qualifying for the team event, the 17-year-old from Michigan sobbed as she missed out on a place in the individual final by the narrowest of margins at London’s North Greenwich Arena.
LONDON: Cycling sensation Marianne Vos handed the Netherlands their first gold of the 2012 Olympics here on Sunday, and was promptly feted by her country’s royal family. Prince of Orange WillemAlexander, an International Olympic Committee (IOC) member, watched former world champion Vos beat Britain’s Lizzie Armitstead in a sprint finish on The Mall -- in front of Buckingham Palace, the home of Queen Elizabeth II -- to take gold in the 140 km women’s road race. Despite lamenting the fact he had to watch the event on television because much of the action in the Olympic road races happens outside London, he was quick to applaud Vos’s triumph. “An early medal is always important, whether it’s gold or silver. We are very grateful to Marianne Vos and her team,” said the Prince, the heir apparent to the Dutch throne. “Without the team she (Vos) would never have made it, they fought for her, helped her and did everything they could to win the gold medal.” The women’s peloton
Netherlands’ Marianne Vos (R), Russia’s Olga Zabelinskaya (C) and Britain’s Elizabeth Armitstead (L) cycle during a heavy downpour in the women’s cycling road race on Sunday at the 2012 Olympic Games. Marianna Vos won the gold. AFP/STEFANO RELLANDINI/POOL
were forced to put up with the spells of heavy rain that hit the British capital on Sunday. For the cyclists, however, it is all just part of the job. “Rain or no rain, you do the race,” said bronze medallist Olga Zabelinskaya of Russia. Prince Willem-Alexander
added: “These few drops of rain, that’s nothing. This (the gold medal) makes up for everything.” But he lamented the fact that cycling fans in the British capital did not get a chance to see the peloton pass more regularly on a city circuit. AFP
Sania cruises, Jwala, Diju disappoint LONDON: India’s ace shuttler Saina Nehwal, who made a rousing start to her Olympic campaign today, reckons that the 2008 Beijing Olympics experience will be of great help in this edition of the sporting extravaganza. “It’s a dream for every player to take part in the Olympics. I’m happy with the way I’m playing but we’ll just have to wait and see,” said Nehwal who defeated Switzerland’s Sabrina Jaquet in her first singles match of Group E. On her contrasting Olympic Games experiences, she said “It’s been good. It’s my second Olympics and last time I was only 18 years old. Now people expect a lot because I’m the fourth seed so it’s been difficult.” There is a lot of pressure on her to deliver a medal for India and Saina said she was prepared to slog it out to achieve that goal. Meanwhile, India’s mixed doubles pair of Jwala Gutta and V Diju are virtually out of the London Olympics as they suffered yet another straightgame defeat in their second group game in the badminton competition at the Wembley arena here today. PTI
OUR MAN IN LONDON In London, the Olympics have their own ‘space’ DEV S SUKUMAR
I
t’s quiet on the trains and the streets. Out there, it’s hard to make out there an Olympic Games on in London. The Olympics might conjure several images in our minds, especially of celebration, pomp and colour, but the London Games has little of that. In public spaces, the only evidence of the Games is in the pink signs and posters on the trains and stations, and in the pink jackets worn by volunteers. There is no festivity, no gaiety in public places and outside the venues. One gets the feeling of being part of a big conference that has to be transacted efficiently. Efficiency is priority — espe-
cially in preventing surrogate advertising — and one cannot, for instance, even sneak in food covers bearing the logos of non-sponsors.
In public spaces, the only evidence of the Games is in the pink signs andposters and in the pink jackets worn by volunteers There are volunteers of many ages and ethnicities. It isn’t unusual to find volunteers over 50 or 60; most have taken time off from work just for the pleasure of being part of the Games.
Inside the venues the scene is different. Thousands of people pour in to watch the action, and athletes of all nationalities are cheered. Comparisons with the Commonwealth Games in Delhi inevitably arise. There was a buzz in Delhi; the city was chattering about the Games. People were huddled around small TVs at petty shops and street corners. The excessive security, with all the gun-toting cops and armymen, put you on edge, but the thing that haunted you most was the mind-numbing scale of corruption and the serene manner in which officials indulged in it. The army is helping out with the security here, but
they’re not conspicuous. One doesn’t find oneself staring down the barrel of a gun. During rush hour, Londoners commute as they have always done — quickly and quietly, and keep their thoughts to themselves on the trains. There is no chatter. What is one to make of these contrasting images? Obviously, a lot of the difference is cultural, but we have also developed stereotypical images of what the Games must mean to a host city. A city’s engagement with sport runs deeper than just hosting a mega event. On that scale, perhaps the average Londoner doesn’t believe in making a song and dance to celebrate the event...
28-29
Room for improvement LONDON: Serbia’s Novak Djokovic admitted he has plenty of room for improvement after the world number two struggled to secure a 6-7 (7/9), 6-2, 6-2 win over Italy’s Fabio Fognini at the Olympics Sunday. Djokovic made a sluggish start in his first match since losing to Roger Federer in the Wimbledon semi-finals, but he was eventually able to find enough momentum to see off the world number 65 in a rain-interrupted first round tie on Court One at the All England Club. After winning a bronze medal at the 2008 Games in Beijing, Djokovic is keen to bring home gold this time, but the 2011 Wimbledon champion, who faces Andy Roddick or Martin Klizan in the second round, plans to go back to the practice courts to fine-tune his game after a performance which featured 23 unforced errors. “I haven’t played an official match since Wimbledon so it took me a set-and-a-half to really get into the rhythm,” Djokovic said. “Obviously the rain delay affected the match. I wasn’t sharp enough after that. This is a specific surface, everything happens very fast and I didn’t start off well after that delay. “He made some great winners and he was a set up.
NEWS BRIEFS GB loses to Romania Olympic Games water polo results on Sunday: The US narrowly beat Montenegro 8-7. Romania thrashed a hapless Great Britain 13-4. Elsewhere Hungary couldn’t find a way past Serbia and lost 10-14. In other matches, the Italy beat Australia 8-5 in a closefought encounter. Kazakhstan lost to Spain 6-14 and Croatia beat 8-6.
Japan in dressage lead Olympic Games equestrian results: Three-day eventing - Individual Dressage 1. Yoshiaki Oiwa (JPN/NOONDAY DE CONDE) 38.10 pts 2. Stefano Brecciaroli (ITA/APOLLO WD WENDI KURT HOEV) 38.50 3. Mark Todd (NZL/NZB CAMPINO) 39.10 4. Ingrid Klimke (GER/BUTTS ABRAXXAS) 39.30. 4. Sara Algotsson Ostholt (SWE/WEGA) 39.30.
Oz media slams team Then I had to be really focused for each game and the second and third (sets) went my way.” While Djokovic was disappointed with much of his display, he insisted it was still a thrill to successfully represent his county at the Games. “It’s an incredible feeling. It’s really an honour and a privilege to be part of the Olympic Games,” he added. Djokovic had broken for 5-3 lead in the first set but then carelessly dropped his own serve as he tried to close
Ramirez: US hopes for another gold LONDON: Jose Ramirez is seen as the man who can finally deliver USA’s Olympic lightweight gold 20 years after the great Oscar de la Hoya did in Barcelona and on Sunday he did little to discourage that notion. He overcame early nerves to edge his French taxi-driving opponent Rachid Azzedine, 10 years the American’s senior, 2120. Ramirez’s win took the Americans to an impressive 3-0 in their bouts so far and shortly afterwards Errol Spence made it four from four with victory over Brazilian Myke Ribeiro de Carvalho in their welterweight clash. AFP
out the set. The tie-break was delicately poised at 7-7, with both players having wasted set points, when the rain returned to force a lengthy delay. Djokovic was caught cold immediately after the resumption and Fognini took full advantage, snatching the two points needed to take the set. Meanwhile, India’s Somdev Devvarman failed to provide cheers to the Indian camp as he bowed out of the men’s singles event with a
straight-set defeat against Jarkko Nieminen, here today. Somdev lost the rain-hit first round match 3-6 1-6 to his Finnish rival, who is ranked 41st in the world as against 418 of the Indian. Meanwhile, India’s Vishnu Vardhan made the draw after Germany’s Philipp Kohlschreiber withdrew dew to a hamstring injury. India’s medal hopes rest on the doubles pair of Mahesh Bhupathi and Rohan Bopanna, who will open their campaign today. AGENCIES
ROWING TO SAFETY
Australian media Monday lashed out at their world champion men’s 4x100m freestyle relay team’s failure to win an Olympic medal, calling it one of the country’s greatest swimming disasters. The Sydney Daily Telegraph lamented a “dark day”, with James “Missile” Magnussen, the fastest man in the world this year, singled out after swimming a sluggish first leg.
Olympic cauldron off The elaborate cauldron lit at the London Olympics opening ceremony has been extinguished while it is relocated to another part of the stadium, AFP confirmed. The Olympic cauldron — which traditionally burns for the entirety of each Games — was seen unlit within the Olympic Stadium. Jackie Brock-Doyle, director of communications for the London Olympics organisers confirmed to AFP the cauldron had been put out.
Silva hits back Brazilian environmentalist Marina Silva, a political foe of President Dilma Rousseff, hit out at the government’s reaction to her appearance at the Olympics opening ceremony, a report said Sunday. Silva carried the Olympic flag around the stadium in London late Friday, alongside UN Secretary General Ban Kimoon, Israeli conductor Daniel Barembloim and legendary Ethiopian distance runner Haile Gebrselassie.
India’s Sawarn Singh competes in the men’s singles sculls (repechage) of the rowing event during the London 2012 Olympic Games, at Eton Dorney Rowing Centre in Eton, west of London, on AFP/FRANCISCO LEONG Sunday. Sawarn performance saw him qualify for the next round.
MONDAY, JULY 30, 2012
GAMES BRIEFS US, Spain win US NBA stars and European champions Spain each overcame slow starts to win their Olympic openers with ease. Kevin Durant scored 22 points and grabbed nine rebounds to lead the Americans to a 98-71 win over France. Nigeria beat Tunisia 60-56 and Argentina defeated Lithuania 102-79. Brazil defeated Australia 75-71, and Russia routed Great Britain 95-75.
Oz, Russia triumph Here are the collated Olympic Games men’s volleyball results: the United States beat Serbia 3-0 and Australia found themselves flundering against Argentina in a match the Aussies lost 3-0. Meanwhile a dominant Russia beat Germany 3-0 and Bulgaria beat Great Britain 3-0. Elsewhere Poland beat Italy 3-1 and Brazil beat Tunisia 3-0.
Murray the hero Andy Murray believes his tearful reaction to losing the Wimbledon final has won him a place in the hearts of the British public after years struggling for their affections. Murray sobbed openly during an on-court television interview in the immediate aftermath of his four-set defeat against Roger Federer in his maiden Wimbledon final earlier this month.
Robson enraged Angry Brazilian boxer Robson Conceicao claimed he was robbed of victory because his Olympic Games opponent was Briton Josh Taylor in their lightweight first round encounter. The Brazilian lost the fight 13-9, having trailed in every round, but he believed he had clearly been the superior fighter and had lost because of home bias.
Chinese dive into pool of gold In the first of China’s quest for all eight diving gold medals at London, Wu and He dominated the women’s synchronised diving. ROBERT SMITH Agencie France-Presse LONDON: China’s diving diva Wu Minxia captured her third synchronised three-metre springboard Olympic gold medal with victory in the final with He Zi on Sunday. In the first of China’s quest for all eight diving gold medals at London, Wu and He, the reigning world champions from Shanghai last year, dominated the competition with 346.20 points to claim victory. The US pair of Abigail Johnston and Kelci Bryant took silver with 321.90 with Canada’s Emilie Heymans and Jennifer Abel claiming bronze with 316.80. The Chinese pair’s highlights were a competition-high 80.10 points for a reverse 2.5 somersault and a back 2.5 somersault. They led after all five rounds of dives and gradually extended their advantage with the Americans receiving a 74.70 for their forward 2.5 somersault with one twist. Wu said the key to Sunday’s triumph was her coordination with He, who is making her Olympic debut.
Lasha, An triumph in the ring BARNABY CHESTERMAN LONDON: Georgia’s Lasha Shavdatuashvili and North Korean An Kum-Ae both claimed gold at the Olympic judo competition. Shavdatuashvili won the men’s under-66kg division, and An went one better than four years ago in Beijing as she added under-52kg gold to the silver already in her trophy cabinet. But it was a day marked
It was a day marked by the failure of the top seeds, as well as a row over Ebinuma and Cho’s under66kg quarter-final.
China’s Wu Minxia and He Zi dive during the women’s synchronised 3m springboard event AFP/FABRICE COFFRINI
by the failure of the top seeds, as well as a row over Masashi Ebinuma and Cho Jun-Ho’s under-66kg quarter-final, which was awarded first to Cho, and then to the Japanese. Cho was awarded a judges decision before the IJFRC reminded them about an Ebinuma attack that should have been scored.
Spain crash out of Games After a shock loss to Honduras in a fractious match — that saw 13 bookings — much-fancied Spain were dumped out of the Olympics. JULIAN GUYER Agencie France-Presse LONDON: Spain’s bid to add Olympic gold to their world and European titles ended in failure on Sunday with a shock 1-0 loss to Honduras. Jerry Bengtson’s seventhminute header at St. James’
Park, the striker’s third goal in two games, condemned Spain to an early exit following their opening defeat by Group D leaders Japan. Brazil came from a goal behind to beat Belarus 3-1 at a packed Old Trafford.Meanwhile Great Britain beat the UAE 3-1. Ten-man Senegal recorded a shock 2-0 win over
Uruguay. Japan qualified for the quarter-finals with a 1-0 win over Morocco. South Korea also enjoyed a 2-1 win over Switzerland to draw level with Group B leaders Mexico, who beat Gabon 2-0. Egypt’s last-eight hopes suffered a setback when they were held to a 1-1 draw by New Zealand.
30-31
France relay kings Records tumbled in the pool once more before France surged to the country’s first ever gold in the prestigious 4x100m freestyle relay. ROB WOOLLARD Agencie France-Presse LONDON: China surged clear at the top of the Olympic medals table on Sunday, as two world records fell in the pool on a night when France stunned swimming’s superpowers to take a dramatic relay gold. Day two of the swimming competition saw another thrilling night of action, where records tumbled once more before France surged to the country’s first ever gold in the prestigious 4x100m freestyle relay. The French quartet of Amaury Leveaux, Fabien Gilot, Clement Lefert and Yannick Agnel clocked 3:09.93, Agnel coming from behind on the last leg and overtaking American anchor
France’s Clement Lefert, Amaury Leveaux and Fabien Gilot celebrate after winning the men’s 4 x 100m freestyle relay final swimming event at the Olympic Games. AFP/FABRICE COFFRINI
Ryan Lochte for the triumph. Russia took the bronze but the much-fancied Australia, who had led off with James Magnussen, trailing home in fourth. American Dana Vollmer
won the women’s 100m butterfly gold medal, clocking a world record of 55.98sec for a crushing victory over China’s Lu Ying. Vollmer became the first woman to break through the
56-second barrier as she added Olympic gold to the world title she claimed last year. “I just relied on my strengths,” Vollmer said. “Just set it up well, passed a few people and charged it home.” South Arican Cameron van der Burgh won the men’s 100m breaststroke gold in a world record of 58.46sec before dedicating his win to late former training partner, Norway’s Alexander Dale Oen who died from heart failure in April. “I just have to pay tribute to Alexander Dale Oen tonight, I know he has been with me this year, I think he helped me finish the race in such a strong manner,” van der Burgh said. France’s Camille Muffat won the women’s 400m freestyle gold with Britain’s Rebecca Adlington in third.
Om lifts win, nation
NEWS BRIEFS Dutch start with win The Netherlands eased to a 3-0 win over Belgium and Argentina crushed South Africa 7-1 on the opening day of Olympic women’s field hockey. New Zealand pulled off a 1-0 victory over Australia, while hosts Great Britain hammered Japan 4-0. Germany clinched a hard-fought 2-1 victory over the United States and China outplayed South Korea 4-0.
France on spree Results in the Olympic Games Men’s handball tournament played on Sunday. In the preliminary rounds France 44 beat Great Britain 15; Spain fought hard to hold of a resurgent Serbia and win 26-21. Meanwhile Sweden beat Tunisia 28-21 and Croatia thrashed South Korea 31-21. Elsewhere Iceland beat Argentina 31-25 and Hungary lost to Denmark 25-27.
S Korea win gold Olympic Games men’s archery results on Sunday: Women’s teams final South Korea (Ki Bobae, Lee Sung-Jin Lee, Choi Hyeonju bt China (Cheng Ming, Fang Yuting, Xu Jing) - 210-209. Bronze medal Japan (Kaori Kawanaka, Miki Kanie, Ren Hayakawa) bt Russia (Ksenia Perova, Inna Stepenova, Kristina Timofeeva) - 209-207
The North Korean thanked his country’s late ‘Great Leader’ Kim Jong-Il and ‘Great Comrade’ Kim Jong-Un.
Colossus Rhode wins JOHN WEAVER Agencie France-Presse LONDON: World record-equalling shooter Kim Rhode (above) earned a place in the US record books after destroying the field to win women’s skeet gold as China fired an ominous warning to their rivals. China won their second shooting gold, when Guo, with her final effort, shot a 10.8, just 0.1 points short of a maximum.
LUKE PHILLIPS Agencie France-Presse LONDON: The second day of Olympic weightlifting action on Sunday was one of records as North Korean Om Yun-Chol (right) produced a stunning upset and Kazakh teenager Zulfiya Chinshanlo turned on the style in front of Sebastian Coe. Om was left thanking his country’s late “Great Leader” Kim Jong-Il and “Great Comrade” Kim Jong-Un after claiming gold in the men’s -56kg class with a world record-
equalling clean and jerk, although the competition went down to the wire. And Chinshanlo powered to gold in the women’s -53kg category after setting a new world record of 131kg in the clean and jerk.
In a tactical move to put pressure on two-time world champion Wu Jingbiao of China, the eventual silver medallist. Om recorded a combined total of 293kg thanks to 125kg in the snatch and an Olympic record of 168kg in the clean and jerk. In the women’s competition Chinshanlo beat Asian champion Hsu Shu-Ching of Taiwan who took silver with a total of 219kg (96, 123), on countback from Moldova’s Cristina Iovu, who took bronze with 219kg (99, 120). “I want to celebrate by drinking a glass of beer,” said Chinshanlo.
Ding Ning stars China’s Ding Ning beat Daniela Dodean, a former European doubles champion from Romania, by 11-4, 11-3, 11-9, 11-6. Her compatriot Li Xiaoxia beat the young American Ariel Hsing, 11-4, 9-11, 11-6, 6-11, 11-8, 11-9. In the men’s Jorgen Persson, Jean-Michel Saive, and Zoran Primorac, the old musketeers of table tennis, were all bundled out.
MONDAY, JULY 30, 2012
sports
NIKHAT BANU WINS, VIGHNEY & SOMNATH IN FINALS
Nikhat Banu (GSM) beat Saira Banu 4-1 in the women’s finals of the St Paul’s School Table Tennis Tournament. I the youth boys finals Vivek Vardhan (VJA) beat SFR Snehit (GTTA) 4-0. In the junior boys final Jagadish Krishna (AWA) beat Hari Krishna (GSM) 4-1.
NEW ZEALAND vs WEST INDIES: 1st TEST
Five-star Roach sends Black Caps crashing A five-wicket haul for Kemar Roach and an unbeaten 64 from Chris Gayle saw West Indies beat New Zealand by nine wickets in the first Test. NORTH SOUND, ANTIGUA AND BARBUDA: After dismissing New Zealand for 272, hosts West Indies raced to their target of a measly 102 for the loss of just Kieran Powell as Assad Fudadin hit the winning single to put the West Indies 1-0 up in the two-match series. Chris Gayle, who returned to the five-day version of the game after 18 months out, followed up his 150 with 64 off 49 balls and although Doug Bracewell took the wicket of Powell for 30, Dean Brownlie taking the catch, Fudadin bagged the winning single in the 20th over at the Sir Vivian Richards Stadium. Despite Kemar Roach’s (extreme right) and Gayle’s efforts it was Sunil Narine who bagged the man of the match honours with his 3/91 giving him match figures of 8/223. The Black Caps, just 28 ahead overnight after the West Indies pummelled their way to 522 in response to the visitors’ first innings tally of 351, only added 26 more runs before lunch and their chances faded away as Roach dismissed captain Ross Taylor and Kane Williamson in the morning session.
CHAMPIONS LEAGUE FOOTBALL Champions League qualifying set to begin
PARIS: The London Olympics have barely begun, but qualifying for next May’s Champions League final at London’s Wembley Stadium is already underway, and some major names enter the fray this midweek. Former European champions Celtic and Feyenoord are in action in the third qualifying
round, along with distinguished names such as Dynamo Kyiv, Panathinaikos and Anderlecht. There are effectively two separate qualifying stages for the Champions League these days, with domestic champions kept together and clubs who failed to win their national titles facing off against each other.
US MOTO GP
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Stoner completed the 32 laps, 3 seconds ahead of Lorenzo, who started from pole.
Stoner wins US GP MONTEREY, CALIFORNIA: Casey Stoner (right), of Australia, claimed his second consecutive Moto GP US Grand Prix at Laguna Seca Raceway, finishing ahead of Spaniards Jorge Lorenzo and Dani Pedrosa. Reigning world champion Stoner completed the 32 laps in 43 minutes, 45.961 seconds, finishing three seconds ahead of Lorenzo, who started from the pole. Stoner, 26, earned his fourth win of the season on the same circuit he was crowned champion in 2007 and 2011. Stoner was the lone top rider to choose the soft-compound Bridgestone tyre. “With the soft tyre, we knew that we would have to be a little bit gentle on it,” he said. “If we pushed on it very hard the whole way through the race then it wouldn’t last.” The podium spots were identical to last year and like 2011 Lorenzo was leading the race before being overtaken by Stoner. Lorenzo couldn’t hold off the Aussie eventually surrendering the lead on lap 21. “Casey was the best, fastest and most consistent,” Lorenzo said. “It was not my day, it was the day of Casey. “ Pedrosa placed third -- as in 2011 -- crossing the finish line more than seven seconds behind the winner. The World Championship
STONER, 26, EARNED HIS FOURTH WIN OF THE SEASON ON THE SAME CIRCUIT HE WAS CROWNED CHAMPION IN 2007 AND 2011. ranking positions remain unchanged with Lorenzo in first place with 205 points followed by Pedrosa (182) and Stoner (173). This was Stoner’s fourth win of 2012 to go with victories in the Grand Prix of Spain, Portugal and the Netherlands. Laguna Seca is known for it tricky sections, including the “corkscrew” and those resulted in several spills on Sunday. American Ben Spies crashed with 11 laps remaining and Italy’s Valentino Rossi did the same with three laps left.
The Schedule Tuesday July 31: Motherwell (SCO) v Panathinaikos (GRE); Dynamo Kyiv (UKR) v Feyenoord (NED) August 1: Maribor (SLO) v Dudelange (LUX); BATE Borisov (BLR) v Debrecen (HUN); CFR Cluj (ROM) v Slovan Liberec (CZE); Anderlecht (BEL) v Ekranas (LTU) Slask Wroclaw (POL) v Helsingsborg (SWE); Ulisses (ARM) v Dinamo Zagreb (CRO); Celtic (SCO) v HJK Helsinki (FIN)
Molde (NOR) v Basel (SUI); Kiryat Shmona (ISR) v Neftci (AZE; AEL Limassol (CYP) v Partizan Belgrade (SRB); Fenerbahce (TUR) v Vaslui (ROM); FC Copenhague (DEN) v Bruges (BEL) Clubs already qualified for play-off Malaga (ESP); Borussia Moenchengladbach (GER); Udinese (ITA) Lille (FRA); Spartak Moscow (RUS); Sporting Braga (POR)