Postnoon E-Paper for 30 November 2012 by Scribble Media & Entertainment Pvt. Ltd.

FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 30, 2012 HYDERABAD

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WEATHER: A MIX OF CLEAR AND CLOUDY SKIES; 23°C

HYDERABAD’S FIRST COMPACT AFTERNOON NEWSPAPER

WASTING

YOUR MONEY REPORT ON P4

GHMC OFFICIALS GO ON HOLIDAY TO HELP CITY’S PEDESTRIANS! FLASH

SC WANTS ANSWERS FROM MAHARASHTRA A day after its stinging remarks on the abuse of the Information Technology Act, the Supreme Court has sought explanation from the Maharashtra government on the arrest of two girls over their comments on Facebook. Meanwhile, Attorney General G Vahanvati told the SC that the government is coming out with guidelines to ensure that Section 66A of IT Act is not misused.

32 PAGES

FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 30, 2012

city events

EYE AND DENTAL CAMP

A free eye and dental check-up camp is being held by Lodge Perfect No 264 and Lodge Deccan No 20 in association with Smile Kraft MultiSpeciality Dental Clinic at Mahbooba Vidhyalaya, Venkatpuram, Alwal. The camp is on December 2, 10 am to 1pm.

Weather for Hyderabad

Evening

Overnight

Morning

Afternoon

23°C

17°C

23°C

30°C

Clear with cloudy periods

Clear

A mix of cloud and sun

Sunny

New Delhi Mumbai Max 21 Max 31 Min 12 Min 22 Sunny

Chennai Max 29 Min 24

A mix of cloud and sun

Bangalore Max 28 Min 15

A mix of cloud and sun

AROUND THE CITY: YOUR GUIDE TO THE TWIN CITIES SHOWS

DINING

U never know The play U never know being staged at Lamakaan on December 1 revolves around a teenager Jennings and her journey to heaven. Where: Lamakaan, Banjara Hills, Rd No 1 When: December 1, 6.30pm onwards Contact: 96427 31329

Khamma ghani sa The Westin Hyderabad Mindspace is hosting a Rajasthani food festival from November 23 to December 7. Where: Westin Hitec City When: Ongoing, 7pm onwards Contact: (040) 6767 6838 Awadhi food fest Taj Krishna is hosting the Awadhi food festival at Firdaus. Where: Taj Krishna, Banjara Hills, Rd no 1 When: Ongoing, Lunch and dinner Contact: (040) 6666 2323

The last Christmas The last Christmas is a large-scale production featuring live singing, dancing and acting, is the heartwarming story of Retired Gen Roy who recounts his seven favourite Christmases. Where: RNR auditorium, Banjara Hills, Rd No 12 When: December 8, 9 and 10 11am onwards Contact: (040) 6515 7558

ART Palette scapes An exhibition of paintings on Acrylic on canvas by artist Nupur Kundu is being held at Shrishti Art Gallery Where: Shrishti Art Gallery, Jubilee Hills, Rd No 15 When: Ongoing, 11am onwards Contact: (040) 2354 0023 Art show Symmetrics in the unknown, an exhi-

OFFERING A PRAYER: Women devotees in the City carry the sacred Tulsi plants on the heads as a part of a procession for the Tulsi Pooja on November 28. N SHIVA KUMAR bition of abstract paintings by 10 artists is being held at Iconart Gallery. The exhibition is on till December 6. Where: Iconart Gallery, Banjara Hills, Rd No 12 When: Ongoing, 11.30am onwards Contact: 98499 68797 Expressive art Alankritha Art Gallery presents an exhibition by Maredu Ramu, Nirmal Karmakar Nirmala Biluka and Palak Dubey. Where: Alankritha Art Gallery, Kavuri Hills, Jubilee Hills When: Ongoing, Monday-Saturday

Commissioner & Spl Officer

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

198 155313

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

155333 23431178 23431179

MUNICIPAL CORPORATION

23262266 24166666R ENC 23225267 Engineering 23220418 MCH Tankbund 23225397 Emergency MCH Circle I&II 24525842 MCH Circle III 24736912 MCH Circle IV 23326975 MCH Circle V 23326976 MCH Circle VI MCH Complaints 1100 Head Office 23225397 IVRS CUM MANUAL ENQUIRY PHONE NUMBERS (TRAIN & RESERVATION) RAILWAYS Rail Nilayam 27833169, 27824216 Railway Information 131 Reservations 135 Recorded Information 1345 Enquiry (IVRS) 1331, 1332, 1333

11am onwards Contact: (040) 2311 3709 Convergence Convergence, an exhibition Of Paintings By Anand Swaroop Manchiraju is being held. Where: Muse Art Gallery, Marriot Convention Centre, Tank Bund When: Ongoing, 11am onwards Contact: (040) 2752 2999

ACTIVITIES Full throttle Tata Motors Presents Tata Motors Full Throttle Trails, a half day off road excursion with challenges to be completed in a stipulated time To

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

take part, mail Tata Motors at trails@tatamotorsfullthrottle.com Where: Hotel Novotel, Shamshabad When: December 2, 8am onwards Interactive session Manthan is hosting an interactive session on The Sacred and the Profane: Living and Dying with Blasphemy Laws with Babu Gogineni humanist, rationalist, activist. the meeting is open to all and is free-ofcost. Where: Saptaparni, Banjara Hills Rd No 8 When: December 6, 6.30pm onwards Contact: (040) 2335 5118

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

Punjabi food festival Head to Hotel Green Park, Begumpet for the Punjabi Food Festival. Where: Hotel Green Park, Greenlands, Begumpet When: Ongoing, 8pm onwards Contact: (040) 6651 5151 Kashmiri Wazwan nights A Kashmiri food fest based on the Wazwan cuisine is being held.The fest is on till December 2. Where: The Square, Novotel, Cyberabad When: Ongoing, 11am onwards Contact: (040) 66824422

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

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FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 30, 2012

City

TODAY’S QUESTION

YESTERDAY’S QUESTION

SHOULD GOVERNMENT JUNKETS BE RESTRICTED?

WILL THE UPA PULL THROUGH THE FDI DEADLOCK? 76% 24%

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CRIME

‘Rowdy’ Raja seeks security The TDP corporator, often accused of stirring up communal clashes, says he faces terror threats. Mohd SUBHAN mohd.s@postnoon.com

“I

am not anti-Muslim and I never became a communal leader like MIM and BJP for their vote banks. It is the MIM that portrayed me a villain,” complains Thakur Raja Singh, the TDP corporator from Mangalhat on whom the police usually dump cases of communal disturbances in the Old City. “Where injustice takes place, protests result. Ask former commissioner of police AK Khan. The MIM branded me

CRIME

Kidnappers arrested The four accused have a record for minor crimes. POSTNOON NEWS feedback@postnoon.com

he Narayanaguda police arrested four members of a kidnappers’ gang, who had demanded a ransom of `50,000 from a watchman in Himayatnagar for releasing his young son. The police, who had deployed a decoy to spot the kidnappers, caught four men: Bhawani Shankar, Raju, Mahesh, and Santosh, when they came to collect the sum. The boy was released and while the money was being handed over, the police, who were lurking nearby, handcuffed all the four. ACB B Limba Reddy said the four were identified to be unemployed youth who have a record of minor thefts and robberies. It was early in the morning yesterday that the boy was kidnapped and anonymous callers asked the watchman to come with the money for his release. The four have been remanded in custody.

communal and Khan supported them. That is how I came to be known as a don and in quick succession, they booked at least 18 cases against me,” Raja said to Postnoon today, explaining why he had been labelled a troublemaker. Raja blames the police and some politicians for the trouble in Old City. “They play votebank politics, I don’t. They are now happy I am made a history-sheeter,” said Raja. He has now approached the High Court, seeking high-security protection from terrorist threats. Raja said that he faces

Raja blames the police and politicians for the trouble in Old City, adding that he doesn’t play votebank politics. threats from more than one terror group. Raja also narrated a long story about the police playing dirty tricks to please their masters. Each case he explains with surprising clarity. But the police tell Postnoon

the other side of the story. They speak of how Raja moved around like a don and got involved in many criminal cases since 2005. “Don’t blame us,” pleaded a police officer in Mangalhat. When this reporter got back to get his side after the police comment, Raja admits he had been indiscreet in certain matters in the earlier period of his political career. But now he is a changed man who only wants to serve the public, he adds. Sources say Raja has plans to contest the Assembly elections this time and he is preening himself for the role.

POLITICS

State to give statutory status to SC, ST sub-plan With all the political parties extending support to the government’s move, the Bill is likely to be passed without any hurdles.

three-day special session of the Andhra Pradesh Legislature began on Friday to give statutory status to the scheduled castes, scheduled tribe sub-plan. Chief Minister N Kiran Kumar Reddy introduced the Andhra Pradesh Scheduled Caste Sub-Plan, Scheduled Tribe Sub-Plan Planning, Allocation and Utilisation of Financial Resources Bill 2012 in the State Assembly. After the chief minister introduced the bill and highlighted its objectives, Speaker N Manohar adjourned the house till Saturday. The bill will be discussed on Saturday and Sunday. The legislative council will take up debate on the bill during the winter session, beginning December 10. With all the political parties extending support to the government’s move, the Bill is likely to be passed without any hurdles. This will make Andhra Pradesh the first state in the

country to give statutory status to the SC, ST sub-plan. Terming the bill a historic one, Kiran Kumar Reddy said it was aimed at ensuring that the funds allocated to SCs and STs were fully utilised. “The legislation, which will

come into force from 2013-14 budget, will make sure that every rupee reaches targeted groups,” he said. The chief minister said the bill was introduced to fulfill the assurance given by the government to the Assembly in March.

The draft bill was prepared on the basis of recommendations made by a cabinet sub-committee headed by deputy chief minister Damodar Rajanarasimha. He said the law would facilitate comprehensive development of SCs and STs and provide them protection and equality on par with other sections of society. Kiran Kumar Reddy said the need for such legislation was felt as funds allocated for SC, ST subplan were not utilised fully and efficiently, irrespective of the party in power. “This is true of all the states in the country. Andhra Pradesh will become the first state to make such legislation,” he added. The SCs are allocated 16.2 per cent of the budget and STs, 6.6 per cent, but spending remained mostly on paper as the funds meant for them are diverted for other programmes. In the plan budget for 2012-13, the State had allocated `8,657 crore under the SC subplan and `4,060 crore under the ST sub-plan. IANS

city FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 30, 2012 LAST YEAR... HERE Shouldering burden

ast year, we had reported how the State Council of Educational Research and Training had suggested that the weight of schoolbags be reduced. A survey indicated that the average weight of a schoolbag is around 14kg. Government ofﬁcials and educationists suggested that a locker system be instituted so that children would not be burdened.

NOVEMBER 30, 2011

NUMEROLOGY

39mn

hectares of land in India are irrigated farm land, making it the world’s largest irrigated agri-system. China follows, with 19 million hectares of land under irrigation.

The option is made even more appealing with offers of government subsidies for energy costs of running groundwater pumps and support prices of irrigated products. Judith Renner, report author See page 8

THINGS WE 5LEARNT TODAY The column that teaches everyone something new about the way the City functions.

India’s irrigation patterns a cause for concern. India now has the world’s largest irrigated agri-system, but this is no cause for joy. Aggressive irrigation patterns deplete groundwater reserves rapidly, upsetting then ecological balance.

CM orders irrigation projects to be completed in time. The chief minister has told ofﬁcials to ensure that 86 massive irrigation projects in the State get all necessary clearances and be completed in time.

CIVIC

Footpaths in the spotlight In a City where pedestrians constitute 38 per cent of total traffic, there is a need to improve footpaths and cycle paths. M ANIL KUMAR

Md NIZAMUDDIN nizamuddin.a@postnoon.com

HMC engineers had more than they could digest on their plates during the workshop on ‘Capacity Building on Footpaths and Cycling Infrastructure’ in the City on Thursday. Often criticised by the commissioner for constructing footpaths ‘unscientifically’, the engineers were given tips from experiments in other cities, like Delhi. Resource persons included architects who transformed footpaths in the capital, making them on par with those in developed countries. With around 40 to 50 per cent road accidents in the City involving pedestrians, concerned officials, including additional commissioner (traffic) CV Anand, submitted reports to the GHMC, prompting it to take some serious steps. Engineers responsible for changing the face of footpaths and cycling tracks on some of Delhi’s main roads explained how designs could be made to accommodate various hurdles. According to Dr Anvita Arora, director and CEO, Innovative Transport Solutions (iTrans) Private Limited, there must be a major change in attitude towards those who utilise nonmotorised transport (pedestrians and bicycle users). “As long as cyclists and pedestrians are treated as second rate and are not taken seriously, things won’t change,” she noted. In Hyderabad, pedestrians account for 38 per cent of all traffic, as compared to car users, who account for only two per cent. “Until there is zero tolerance for accidents among people, the issue cannot be seriously understood,” she said. Acknowledging the conflict areas for road users, the researcher pointed out that

there was an ‘engineering solution’ for each hurdle. An important aspect that resource persons focused on was ‘accommodation’ of hawkers. They advocated providing spaces for the hawkers instead of driving them away from the footpaths. “As a place like a bus stop is a market for a hawker, he would return even after being driven away. The only solution would be to allocate a small space for the hawkers and control their numbers,” was the sentiment echoed by most of the resource persons. Sandeep Gandhi, sole proprietor and principle architect of SG Gandhi, gave a detailed presentation on constructing footpath without any obstructions, using ‘kerb ramps’. The kerb ramps, which provides a link to footpaths and roads, will allow property owners to move in and out in their vehicles. This will provide a smooth runway for vehicles and a walkway for pedestrians. The ‘table top’ crossing would provide pedes-

GHMC logic: Foreign trips essential to improve CIty

T Krishna Babu, commissioner, GHMC, while summing up the workshop on capacity building of non-motorised transport yesterday, proposed a separate pedestrian cell. This will be opened in the GHMC by involving officials from town planning, engineering, electrical, horticulture and traffic & transport wings, and will be headed by an executive engineer. All superintendent engineers of the proposed wing will be sent abroad for exposure visits. The commissioner also directed ENC (engineer-in-chief) and CE (chief

trians an elevated passageway on the road, connecting both sides of footpaths. “The footpath must be constructed in such a way that even a blind man should be able to walk without a hitch,” said Anjali Agarwal, executive director and access consultant, Samarthyam. According to her, tiles used for footpaths must be able to guide and warn visually

engineer) to prepare batches of executive engineers to visit cities in India which are taking good initiatives pertaining to footpaths. The commissioner directed the zonal commissioners, along with the engineering, town planning, horticulture and electrical wings, to personally visit a particular corridor in their zone and prepare reports for improvement. “What good is it if the officials go abroad? They get transferred soon after coming back,” remarked a senior citizen associated with Right2Walk, an NGO dealing with pedestrians’ rights.

challenged pedestrians. She elaborated on some success stories in Delhi, where visually impaired people are availing the footpaths. Romi Roy, senior urban designer, Delhi Development Authority, emphasised the need for constructing roads and footpaths like an architect does for the building, keeping various aspects in view.

NEWS BRIEFS

Telugu champion falls back on English. M Buddha Prasad, chairman of the ofﬁcial language commission, wants Telugu everywhere, but uses English words in his statements.

Youth attacked, seriously injured

Assembly session extended by a day

Patient’s purse stolen in Handbag containing hospital gold ornaments stolen

Not a villain, says TDP corporator. Corporator Thakur Raja Singh, accused in several cases, claims he is being targeted for no reason.

Go abroad to learn how to better the City. Apparently the only way to ensure better footpaths is to send engineer abroad to study.

youngster, Mohd Bin Khalifa, was attacked by unidentiﬁed persons wielding weapons at Barkas area last night. Mohd, now undergoing treatment for his multiple injuries, told police that he had been receiving threatening calls for some time but had ignored it. It appears to be a personal rivalry, Chandrayangutta police said.

he two-day special session of the State Legislative Assembly summoned by the governor to meet from November 30 has been extended by a day. The government would introduce the SC, ST SubPlan Implementation Bill on Friday (November 30) and the House will discuss the Bill on December 1 and 2.

purse containing `30,000 that belonged to the wife of former income tax commissioner S Venkateshwarlu, now undergoing treatment in a corporate hospital in Punjagutta, was stolen, according to a complaint lodged with the Punjagutta police. The purse was under her pillow and was stolen while she was asleep.

senior citizen, Uma Devi, was robbed of her handbag containing 12 tolas of gold chains and bangles on Thursday near Venkateshwara Colony in Neredmet. She was walking home when three men on a bike whizzed past and snatched the bag. Her struggle to ﬁght them off was in vain. She has lodged a police complaint.

city FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 30, 2012

POLITICS

EVENT

Assembly peaceful The first day of the winter session of the Assembly went off peacefully without any major disturbances. N SHIVA KUMAR

INKESHAF AHMED ahmed.m@postnoon.com

he Congress satraps in Assembly had planned the action well today. At 9 am, the Speaker sounded the gong calling the House in to order for the scheduled business of introducing the Bill on SC/ST sub-plan 2012. As the Chair invited CM Kiran Kumar Reddy to introduce the Bill,

CM said no government had implemented such a well-meant plan for SC/ST. It will be in force from the next financial year. Kiran Kumar was quickly up on his feet and did his job in less than 10 minutes. He said no

govt before had implemented such a well-meant sub plan for SC/ST. It will be in force from the next financial year. Before the Opposition benches could think about any move the whole business was over and the Assembly has been adjourned for tomorrow when the discussions will take place followed by voting. The Speaker asked the members to place their objections by 3pm today for consideration. The only opposition came from the MIM party that had sought an adjournment motion demanding the government to put up before the House the report submitted by cabinet sub-committee on SC/ST sub plan. It was rejected by the Speaker. It was the first time in the past two years the Assembly witnessed no turmoil.

IRRIGATION

Engineers to face music for Jalayagnam delay The CM recently held a review meeting and directed officials to ensure that the deadlines are met without fail. POSTNOON NEWS feedback@postnoon.com

midst reports of many of the works of irrigation projects under the prestigious Jalayagnam programme getting delayed, the Chief Minister N Kiran Kumar Reddy recently held a high level review meeting on the issue and directed officials to ensure that the deadlines set up to complete the projects are met without fail. As part of its prestigious Jalayagnam programme, the State government had undertaken constructions of 86 massive irrigations projects with the prime objective of irrigating 1 lakh acres of land across the State. The State government is spending a whopping `85 lakh crores on these projects. They are envisaged to bring into use 1,088 tmc of water which is flowing into oceans every year. Addressing the high level review meeting the CM has asked the officials to take necessary steps to get various types

As part of the Jalayagnam programme, the State had undertaken the construction of 86 irrigations projects. of clearances from different wings of union government especially the Union ministry

forests and environment. “I want you to ensure that the delays are minimised in order to complete the projects within the deadlines,” he said. He served a veiled warning that nemesis would fall on those who dilly-dallies on the project execution. The CM also directed the officials to appoint a liaisoning officer in Delhi to ensure that the files pertaining to irrigation projects got cleared without delay. Raising the issue of rehabilitation of displaced families of various irrigation projects, the CM also asked the officials to immediately implement already announced rehabilitation package.

City to host another international event After CoP-11, the City will be hosting the Metropolis World Congress in 2014.

Md NIZAMUDDIN nizamuddin.a@postnoon.com

fter CoP-11, the City will be hosting another important international event in 2014, the Metropolis World Congress. Following his recent visit to Guangzhou, China the GHMC commissioner MT Krishna Babu confirmed that Hyderabad has received the privilege of hosting another international event of the Metropolis. Around 1,200 to 1,300 participants from various countries, will be taking part in the three day event scheduled to be held in November 2014. “In the board meeting, the technical screening committee

Around 1,200 to 1,300 participants from various countries, will be taking part in the event to be held in November 2014. checked the preparedness and planning by Hyderabad for event,” he said. Krishna Babu who attended the board of directors meeting of metropolis Congress, explained that ASCI (Administrative Staff College of India) will be coordinating for developing the infrastructure and will be playing a major role during the event.

GUEST OF HONOUR

14 PROJECTS COMPLETED

Out of the total 86 irrigation projects,the state government has completed 14 irrigation projects so far. Apart from these projects, 22 more projects are nearing the stage of completion and are ready for release of water.

Former President of India Dr APJ Abdul Kalaam addresses the first IEEE International Symposium that was held at Birla Science Centre in the City on Friday, November 30. N SHIVA KUMAR

city FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 30, 2012

REPORTERS’ DIARY

Ah, the talk of cleaning up!

ny new appointment, like a New Year resolution, brings with it a promise and a whiff of fresh air, but soon, both, the promises and fresh air, evaporate. Nobody knows it better than the policemen. The new additional commissioner of crimes, Sandeep Shandiliya, a senior IPS officer tells visiting journalists he would clean the Aegean stables, in this instance the Crime Control Station which earned a nickname of crime promotion station. But he is no Hercules. And, Hercules had a comparatively easy job as he only had to deal with filth and dirt, but in a police department which has the protection of the law, it is well-neigh impossible to

Private travel agents are a law unto themselves. Their waywardness is to be experienced to be believed. clean up the stable; that too in a democracy like ours where numerous political-communal vested interests bog the uniform down. So when the well-meaning senior cop said this, reporters saw a suppressed smile of the wise men outside his room. Don’t they know! (MS)

KIRAN IN FORM, MAY BAT A CENTURY When the Chief Minister Kiran Kumar Reddy inaugurated the construction of the HMRL rail line, he was in his element. First, he stuck to his trademark habit of being 45 minutes late. Then, his inauguration ceremony threw traffic life out of gear along the usually empty road at Tarnaka. And finally, since the day of inauguration marked his 200th day as presiding chief minister, he decided to use the platform and the ceremonial function with all its extensive press coverage to throw light on his apparently “illustrious” term as the chief minister. Forgetting to talk about the issue at hand, the

chief minister’s 37-minute speech was about how he, with the blessings of the high priestess of New Delhi, will manage to retain his power over the State even till 2014. What will the chief minister do in the coming elections if he himself cannot stick to time for basic inauguration functions? (RR)

PRASAD’S ANGLICISED TELUGU The state is holding another mega event — World Telugu Conference — next month. As a precursor to it, CM N Kiran Kumar Reddy last month appointed M Buddha Prasad as the chairman of the official language commission. To prove more loyal than the kind, the chairman immediately got into action and wanted Telugu language to be spoken everywhere. Prasad, who was a minister in the YSR government is trying to speak in chaste Telugu to set an example for others. But, the irony is he often fails to do so and uses several English words to drive home his point while communicating with others. While giving an interview to

Postnoon recently, Prasad tried his best to speak in chaste Telugu. Alas! The Queen’s lingo was indispensable. (IA)

HITLER, CHANDRABABU NAIDU AND VIJAYAMMA What’s in common between Hitler and Chandrababu Naidu? They share the same birthday — April 20. Thus spake YSRC honorary president Vijayamma on Thursday. The great find she made was drummed out at a public meeting here. The question is how far can political leaders go casting slur on rivals or in assassinating character? No limit, they may say. But there is a decency in debate which leaders ought to observe if they are not to be ridiculed by the people. Vijayamma who carries a Bible with her all the time could open it once in a while and read the famous words of Jesus the Saviour: He that is without sin among you, let him first cast the first stone at her. Need one say there was none in the crowd to throw stones? (PK)

‘OUTRAGEOUS’ RING ROAD

What would you do if your car

Pick

breaks down on Outer Ring Road? Would you call a tow truck? Well if you do, they would charge a minimum of `2,000 to tow your car to your home or to the service centre. It happened to this reporter the other day. Fortunately, he flagged down a vehicle and enquired of the nearest service station. The service station was willing to help and what do you think was the charge? `50! On the way to the service centre the driver made a revelation: the folks in-charge of Outer Ring Road are supposed to have a tow truck of their own to help people like us. But it was heartening to see a police patrol helpfully enquiring what happened and tried to help. It was such a pleasant experience to see a civilised cop. (NTB)

UNFAIR PRACTICE

Private travel agents are a law unto themselves. Their waywardness is to be experienced to be believed. Our colleague who suffered their high handedness said the story of how some of them fleece hapless passengers. The trick is like this. You in your innocence ask a travel agent to

at the

book a bus ticket. The money is to be paid within a certain timeframe. If you are a bit late in making payment, a call would come saying sorry your ticket stands cancelled. If you are desperate you plead with them and they oblige, of course, with an additional charge slapped on you. The colleague whose ticket to Hyderabad from Mumbai cost `1,200 had to pay `2000 at the last moment. Little wonder overseas travellers do not trust Indian travel agents (SS)

GOOD OL’ BORIS

London Mayor Boris Johnson was as jocular, as vivacious, and as brilliant as he is reputed to be. He conquered the audience wherever he went. But at the end someone wanted to know if all these pleasant exchanges would result in anything. “Has he unwittingly imbibed our Neta’s penchant for talking nice and working vice?” asked a chap apprehensively who appeared to a have a poetic bend of mind. (MN) (Contributed by Inkeshaf Ahmed, Rahul Ramakrishna, Mohd Subhan, Mohd Nizamuddin, NT Balanarayan, Srinivas Setty and PK Surendran)

airport,

classifieds FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 30, 2012 HOME APPLIANCE

HEALTH/ CLINIC

MUSIC

That déjà vu feeling Eagles cover band Retronome which played at Hard Rock Cafe on November 29, reminded the City music lovers about the good old days. DEEPAK DESHPANDE

RAHUL RAMAKRISHNA rahul.r@postnoon.com

hese Bangalore boys call their band ‘Retronome’, which is a spinoff of ‘metronome’. They get no points for their sense of humour, but their music sure does. When the five-piece band performed in the City last night, it was a pleasant surprise to see the older generation turn up to enjoy an Eagles tribute show – another interesting observation on Hyderabad’s myriad music scene. Retrnonome, according to vocalist and frontman Chris Avinash, began when he started his restaurant in Bangalore. “We wanted a band for the restaurant and decided to form one instead of looking elsewhere.” And thus, five people soon came together to become what they call a “no-nonsense cover band”. Their songs are from the ’70s, ’80s and ’90s. Last night’s show, a tribute to the Eagles, was a mix of all the good, great and even some forgotten numbers from the yesteryears classic rock band.

COMPUTERS

INTERIOR

Part of Retronome’s set list included Chug All Night, Life In the Fast Lane and even a smooth and mellow rendition of Desperado. Of course, no Eagles tribute gig is complete without Highway Star. The second set had hits like Victim of Love and other Eagles songs between 1974 and 1976. We must give the band credit for knowing their music — from dates of release, album names, timing and part

phrasing in their songs. Apart from Avinash on vocals and guitar, Retronome has Uday Jose on keys, Ryan Colaco on drums, Trinity D’Souza on lead guitar and the very mysteriously ‘Saggy’ on bass guitar and vocal accompaniments. “This is our second show in Hyderabad, but otherwise we are the in-house band at our restaurant Kaira in Bangalore.

RESEARCH

EDUCATION

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Professor Cuie Wen have been awarded AustraliaIndia Senior Visiting Fellowships, while Dr Abirami Ramalingam has been awarded an Australia-India Early Career Fellowship informed Justine Morris. The programmes are supported by the Australia Indian Strategic Research Fund.

DJ Freeze will be playing in Spoil on December 1. Be sure to walk in for a fresh mix of US/UK house music, bar grooves and soul.

POSTNOON NEWS p to 90 per cent of school leavers in Asian cities are suffering from myopia — short-sightedness, a BBC science wing study revealed. India leads in this sphere and therefore eye correction takes up priority in a health care scheme. Taking up its social responsibility Titan Eye Care has launched a free online vision correction test which helps tracking vision problem. To take the free online test, participants could log on in at www.titaneyeplus.com. Ravi Kant, COO — eyewear division, Titan Industries said, eye care was a collective responsibility and Titan Eye care realises this. Titan eye care has announced a massive step to make lenses affordable for all segments of society. Quality is however not compromised and apart from the wide assortment of eyewear in sync with latest fashion, it has highly trained staff that could handle all eye care products, Titan’s spokesman said.

hree researchers from Swinburne University of Technology, Australia have been awarded scientific grants to undertake important research along with Indian institutions. This has been awarded by the Australian Academy fro Science. Addressing a press conference in Hyderabad, Justine Morris, associate director of Global Relations of the Swinburne University said Swinburne is a 100 year old Australian Public University. Professor Saulius Juodkazis and

WHAT TO WATCH OUT FOR

EYE CARE Free online eye care by Titan

Grants awarded POSTNOON NEWS feedback@postnoon.com

“For us music is a serious hobby; and some of us teach too,” said Avinash. Be sure to find them on social networking sites and we assure you their music will not disappoint you.

city FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 30, 2012

AGRICULTURE

A cause for no celebration

India might have beat China in terms of area of irrigated land, but on the flip side, the country’s increased irrigation is fast depleting its fresh ground water levels. Unfortunately, little is being done to contain this. POSTNOON NEWS feedback@postnoon.com

his bit of news will warm your hearts. India has pushed China back in at least one sphere: in area of irrigated land. World’s irrigated agriculture report last month prepared by Worldwatch research points out that India has emerged the top country on irrigated farming. It has 39 million hectares as compared to China’s 19 million hectares and 17 million of the US. The rest of the world trails far behind. While feeding the growing population is important irrigation leading to unbridled withdrawal of ground water source tends to prove deadly for the future. Wait before celebrating. Everything has a flip side. Increased irrigation also depletes fresh ground water. The irrigation sector claims about 70 per cent of the freshwater withdrawals worldwide. Irrigation can offer crop yields that are two to four times greater than is possible with rainfed farming, and it currently provides 40 per cent of the world’s food from approximately 20 per cent of all agricultural land, points out report author Judith Renner. Since the late 1970s, irrigation expansion has experienced a marked slowdown, more so in India. The increasing availability of inexpensive individual pumps and well construction methods has led to a shift from public to private investment in irrigation, and from larger to smaller-scale systems. The take-off in individual groundwater irrigation has been concentrated in India, China, and much of Southeast Asia. The idea of affordable and effective irrigation is attractive to poor farmers worldwide, with rewards of higher outputs and incomes and better diets.

CAUTION CALLED FOR

“The option is often made even more appealing with offers of government subsidies for energy costs of running groundwater pumps and support prices of irrigated products,” said Renner. If groundwater resources are over exploited, aquifers will be unable to recharge fast enough to keep pace with water withdrawal. It should be noted that not all aquifers are being pumped at unsustainable levels — in fact, 80 per cent of aquifers worldwide could handle additional water

withdrawals. One troubling aspect of groundwater withdrawals is that the world’s major agricultural producers (particularly India, China, and the United States) are also the ones responsible for the highest levels of depletion. Caution and prudence are the key. Another problem with pumping water from aquifers and redirecting flows for irrigation is the impact on delicate environmental balances. Salinisation occurs when water

moves past plant roots to the water table due to inefficient irrigation and drainage systems; as the water table rises, it brings salts to the base of plant roots. Plants take in the water, and the salts are left behind, degrading soil quality and therefore the potential for growth.

DRIP IRRIGATION ADVISABLE

A potentially better alternative is drip irrigation, a form of microirrigation that waters plants slowly and in small amounts

either on the soil surface or directly on roots. Using these techniques has the potential to reduce water use by as much as 70 per cent while increasing output by 20-90 per cent. Within the last two decades, the area irrigated using drip and other microirrigation methods has increased 6.4-fold, from 1.6 mn hectares to over 10.3 mn hectares. With predictions of a global population exceeding 9 billion by 2050, demand for higher agricultural output will put

In Gujarat state energy subsidy is so structured that farmers pay a flat rate, no matter how much electricity they use. But with rising numbers of farmers tapping groundwater resources, more and more aquifers are in danger of overuse. Judith Renner report author

more strain on already fragile water reserves. Even without the effects of climate change, water withdrawal for irrigation will need to rise by 11 per cent in the next three decades to meet production demands. Reconciling increasing food demands with decreasing water security requires efficient systems that produce more food with less water. Intelligent water management is crucial especially in the face of climate change, which will force the agriculture industry to compete with the environment for water.

HIGHLIGHTS

n The share of the area equipped for irrigation that is actually under irrigation ranges from 77 to 87 per cent in Asia, Africa, the Americas, and in Oceania, but is only 59 per cent in Europe. More reliable rainfall allows farmers in northern and eastern Europe to rely less on existing irrigation infrastructure than is the case in drier or more variable climates. n Worldwide, the most commonly used irrigation technique is flood irrigation, although plants use only about half the amount of water. n India claims the lead in irrigated area worldwide, irrigating almost 2 million hectares of its land using drip and micro-irrigation techniques. (Compiled by PK Surendran)

FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 30, 2012

Business

JAPAN CLEARS $10.7-bn STIMULUS PACKAGE The cabinet of Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda on Friday approved a $10.7 billion economic stimulus package, reports said, ahead of elections that his ruling party is widely expected to lose.

BANKING

GEF India bags top certifications

emini Edibles & Fats India (GEF India), the makers of Freedom Refined Sunflower Oil, have been awarded the HACCP (Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points) and FSSC 22000 certification for its

Debit cards, credit convenience

Krishnapatnam plant. This certification recognises its compliance to stringent and internationally recognized food safety norms. The plant is the first and the only edible oil plant in the state to be adjudged with the dual honour.

ATMs double as one-stop-shop for most bank transactions. MONEY MATTERS Nupur Pavan Bang

axmiamma was a happy soul. Instead of keeping her savings under the mattress, she had opened up a bank account and had started a recurring deposit on my insistence. The obligation of putting aside the money for the deposit every month, made her save more. Also, she had no choice when tempted to buy unnecessary food or household articles as there was no money lying around at home to do so. Now she had accumulated enough money to buy back her jewellery from the jeweller, which she had sold way back in 2002, when her husband died and she needed some money to tide over the bad times. She invited me home to celebrate the liberation of her jewellery, over a cup of Irani chai and biscuits. While chit chatting with her about the weather, she told me that she needs to go to the bank to withdraw some cash the next day. I was surprised. In this day and age, who goes to the bank to withdraw cash, unless the amount is very large? On being asked, she said, “then how else does one withdraw cash?” Nicky: Haven’t you seen ATMs around? Laxmiamma: I have heard about them, but I thought that those are not for people like us. I thought those are for the rich. Nicky: Nonsense. It’s for everyone who has an account with the bank. Laxmiamma: How? And what is an ATM? I have seen the large box like things around, but don’t know how that shells out cash! Nicky: An ATM or an Automated Teller Machine is a

You can use ATM card to withdraw and deposit cash, transfer money, pay your bills and transaction statements. machine which counts and gives out the amount of cash that you want, after ensuring that your bank account has the desired amount. Did you get a small card when you opened an account? Laxmiamma: Yes I did. But I just kept it away safely. Nicky: That is a Debit Card. The card carries a unique number, which is linked to your savings account. You can use this card to withdraw and deposit cash, transfer money to other accounts, pay your bills, look at your account balance and statement for the last few transactions, all through the ATM. You can even use this card at shops to pay. The money will be directly debited to your account, provided you have enough

money in the account. So, you do not need to carry cash with you when you go shopping. But of course, you can’t use it when you shop at smaller establishments like kirana shops or vegetable carts. Laxmiamma: Ah see, its of no use to me then! I don’t go to the malls like you. Nicky: You miss the point. Apart from shopping, there are so many other uses of debit cards and ATM. You conveniently ignored that! Laxmiamma (sheepishly): Uh...hmmm...I heard. I’ll use this card to withdraw cash from now on. But what about safety? Can anyone with my card withdraw money from my account? Nicky: No. There will be a 4 digit password given to you from the bank. You need to key in that password for authenticating the transaction. Also, you can change this password if you want. Don’t share the password with anyone. Laxmiamma: Ah...I forgot to tell you about this new recipe for karela burji...you might want to try it out!

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Since our country is a union of states, we abide by its federal character and, therefore, are bound by the consensus on the issue, ANAND SHARMA, COMMERCE MINISTER

19,256.30 85.39

ANAND SHARMA, 22.45 COMMERCE MINISTER

FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 30, 2012

nation

UK CITIZEN ROBBED IN GOA

A British national was robbed of `1 lakh at knife-point outside a foreign exchange outlet near here, police said. Inspector Tushar Vernekar said the British citizen had just exchanged euros to rupees and was exiting the store when a man armed with a knife accosted him and snatched the bag.

POLITICS

EX-IAF OFFICER HELD

‘Back-stabbed’ BSY walks out of BJP in tears He will formally join the Karnataka Janatha Paksha at a public rally in Haveri on December 9.

BANGALORE: Estranged Karnataka BJP strongman B S Yeddyurappa, who is set to resign from primary membership of the party, today became emotional as he recalled his long association with the party even as he trained his guns at BJP leaders for hatching a “conspiracy” against him. “The party has given everything to me. And I have sacrificed my life to build my previous party (BJP)”, he said, fighting back tears. Yeddyurappa said he is leaving the party “because of our own (BJP) people. They don’t want me to continue in the party; that’s why I am resigning from the primary membership as also MLAship”.

ECONOMY

Growth down to 5.3% NEW DELHI: The Indian economy grew by 5.3 per cent in the July-September period of the current financial year (2012-13), pulled down by poor performance of manufacturing and agriculture sectors, showing persistent signs of slowdown. The gross domestic product (GDP) had expanded by 6.7 per cent in the same period of last fiscal. It had grown by 5.5 per cent in the first quarter (April-June) of 2012-13. PTI

Yeddyurappa urged MLAs and ministers supporting him not to resign as he wants the government to complete its full term.

He is slated to tender his resignation to Speaker KG Bopaiah this afternoon. Yeddyurappa would also fax his resignation from the primary membership, sources said. “Some people (in BJP) did not want to me to continue as

Chief Minister. They tried to put me in the dock. I tolerated in the past one year with a lot of patience”, Yeddyurappa said. “I am leaving the party with deep sadness”. Without naming anybody, he said some state leaders “stabbed me in the back”. Yeddyurappa said he resigned as CM following the direction of the party high-com-

mand last year as the “disciplined soldier” of the party. “They mistook my goodness as a weakness”. He said he would formally join the Karnataka Janatha Paksha at a public rally in Haveri on December 9. Yeddyurappa urged MLAs and ministers in the Jagadish Shettar Cabinet supporting him not to resign as he wants the government to complete its full term and he does not want to rock the boat. “I have asked them not to resign for the time being”, he said. Yeddyurappa said he is not leaving BJP for any selfish reason. He wants to develop Karnataka as a model and welfare state. PTI

GUJARAT POLLS Sanjiv Bhatt, in an affidavit in the SC last year, had alleged complicity on the part of Modi in the 2002 riots. and to restore it, everyone has to do whatever they can. Fighting election against Modi is the logical step in our quest for democracy and to curb anti-democratic forces,” she

said. Shweta said she will be filing her nomination papers shortly. Sanjiv Bhatt, in an affidavit in the Supreme Court last year, had alleged complicity on the part of Modi in the 2002 riots. He also deposed against Modi before the Nanavati Commission, probing the riots. Bhatt, who was the Principal, SRP Training School, was later suspended by the state government. PTI

NEWS BRIEFS AMU suspends three Maoists torch eight students for harassment vehicles in Jharkhand

Srinagar reels under curfew for third day

Bajpayi likely to be Uttar Pradesh BJP chief

ALIGARH: Aligarh Muslim University on Thursday suspended three students for allegedly trying to harass women students, beating up staff and ﬁring gun shots in the campus earlier this week. The university has also ordered an inquiry into the incident and lodged a police complaint against the trio and another person.

SRINAGAR: Curfew continued for the third day in most parts of summer capital Srinagar, as authorities feared sectarian violence after Friday prayers. Srinagar District Magistrate Basheer Ahmad Khan told reporters that curfew would continue in nine police station areas on Friday. The curfew was imposed on Wednesday.

LUCKNOW: The state unit of the BJP is set to elect its new president in the next two days. Insiders say that the election of Laxmikant Bajpayi to the post is a forgone conclusion. As part of the organisational polls which are underway, voting to elect the president is scheduled for December 2, after nominations are ﬁled on Saturday.

RANCHI: Maoists torched eight vehicles of a private company involved in road construction work in Jharkhand’s Dumka district, police said on Friday. According to police, 30 to 35 Maoists guerrillas attacked the ofﬁce of the private company Thursday night and torched eight vehicles including dumpers and tractors.

NUMEROLOGY

is the number of times Orissa Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik has listened to public grievances since 2011.

SAHARA MOVES SC

Bhatt’s wife to take on Modi AHMEDABAD: Shweta Bhatt, the wife of suspended IPS officer Sanjiv Bhatt, today announced that she will contest the state Assembly elections on a Congress ticket against Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi from Maninagar constituency in the city. “Yes, I will be fighting against Modi from Maninagar on a Congress ticket,” Shweta Bhatt said. “We have moved far away from democracy in Gujarat

CBI has arrested a retired Wing Commander of Indian Air Force for his alleged involvement in leaking confidential documents, which were later provided by estranged associate of arms dealer Abhishek Verma to the agency. CBI sources said the retired official of IAF was taken into custody late last night in connection with leaking the documents related to the force. The agency sources said the retired officer is being questioned.

Sahara Group today moved the Supreme Court against the order of the Securities Appellate Tribunal dismissing its appeal against market regulator SEBI in a case involving refund of about `24,000 crore with interest to about three crore investors. A bench headed by Chief Justice Altamas Kabir listed the matter for hearing on Monday. The counsel for Sahara told the bench that the company was ready with a draft of `5,100 crore for deposit in the apex court’s registry. The SAT had said that any further direction in the case could be sought and granted by the SC alone.

There is a decent and respectable way to express one’s point of view. This behaviour of the MPs reminds me of animals screaming in a well. Mani Shankar Aiyar Congress leader

FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 30, 2012

World

Weapons stolen from Australian navy vessel In a major security breach, an intruder robbed an Australian navy vessel of a cache of weapons on Friday after overpowering military personnel on guard, the defence department said.

World upgrades Palestine

Palestine has no vote in the General Assembly but is able to join UN agencies and potentially the International Criminal Court (ICC), where it could ask for an investigation of Israeli actions. Tomorrow we begin the real war. We have a long road and difficult road ahead of us. I don’t want to spoil our victory tonight but the road ahead is still difficult, Mahmoud Abbas Palestine Authority TIM WITCHER Agence France-Presse UNITED NATIONS: The UN General Assembly on Thursday overwhelmingly voted to make Palestine a non-member state, inflicting a major diplomatic defeat on the United States and Israel. The victory for president Mahmoud Abbas triggered scenes of joy in the occupied West Bank where thousands celebrated with bursts of gunfire and cheers in the city of Ramallah. Abbas claimed what he called a UN “birth certificate” for a Palestinian state and got the backing of 138 countries in the 193 member assembly. Nine voted against and 41 abstained. Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu condemned what he called a “venomous” speech by the Palestinian leader. The vote lifts the Palestinian Authority from an observer entity to a “non-member observer state” on a par

Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas at the UN General Assembly. AFP

with the Vatican. Palestine has no vote in the General Assembly but is able to join UN agencies and potentially the International Criminal Court, where it could ask for an investigation of Israeli actions. The Palestinian leadership says it wants to use the vote as a launchpad for renewed direct talks with Israel, which have been frozen for more than two years. Abbas told the assembly the resolution was “the last chance to save the two-state solution.” In a 22-minute speech laced with references to Israel’s operation against Gaza this month, Abbas said time for an accord is running out. “The rope of patience is shortening and hope is withering.” Afterwards, he said the vote had been “historic”. “Tomorrow we begin the real war,” Abbas said at a celebration reception. “We have a long road and difficult road ahead of us. I don’t want to spoil our victory tonight but the road ahead is still difficult.” The United States and Israel immediately condemned the vote, which US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton called “counterproductive.” US ambassador Susan Rice sternly told the General Assembly that the resolution would be “an obstacle to peace” because it would not lead to a return to direct talks between the Israelis and Palestinians. “Today’s grand pronouncements will soon fade. And the Palestinian people will wake up tomorrow and find that little about their lives has changed, save that the prospects of a durable peace have only receded,” she said. Netanyahu slammed Abbas. “The world watched a defamatory and venomous speech that was full of mendacious propaganda,” his office said.

Today’s grand pronouncements will soon fade. And the Palestinian people will wake up tomorrow and find that little about their lives has changed, save that the prospects of a durable peace have only receded,

(Recognisin g Palestine) will place further obstacles and preconditions to negotiations and peace,

Susan Rice US ambassador

Ron Prosor Israel envoy

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FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 30, 2012

focus

EGYPT'S DRAFT CONSTITUTION ADOPTED, GOES TO REFERENDUM

AEgypt's constituent assembly early Friday adopted a draft constitution that will be put to a referendum, replacing the one abrogated after the fall of Hosni Mubarak last year, chairman Hossam el-Ghiriani announced. The Islamist-dominated assembly approved the 234 articles in a marathon meeting that started shortly after noon on Thursday and went on all night.

LEVESON ENQUIRY

British newspapers back PM’s opposition to Press laws

LONDON: Britain’s newspapers on Friday praised senior judge Brian Leveson’s report into media ethics but warned its recommendation to introduce new laws could “suffocate the free press”. Leveson, who led an eightmonth inquiry sparked by the phone-hacking scandal at Rupert Murdoch’s News of the World tabloid, said there should be an independent self-

regulatory body, underpinned by legislation. But Fleet Street mostly backed Prime Minister David Cameron’s response, which indicated he would oppose any state regulation of the press. “We agree with Lord Justice Leveson: a free press is one of the safeguards of our democracy,” said the Daily Telegraph’s editorial.

“Where we part company with the learned judge... is in his belief that either of these two bulwarks of British liberty would be served by a regulatory body for newspapers that is underpinned by legislation.” The Guardian praised the 2,000-page report’s “detail and clarity” but gave only conditional backing to proposals for a statutory framework. “Clearly... the drafting of

the Leveson statute requires great care, real deliberation and cross-party support to avoid endless amendments and additions that move it from light touch to something more sinister,” said its editorial. But it called on Cameron to “think carefully before dismissing significant parts” of the report. Centre-left publication The Independent said there was

The key recommendations A major inquiry called for new laws to underpin a tougher watchdog for Britain's ‘outrageous’ newspapers. Here are some of the key points of the Leveson Report.

REGULATIONS

The press should establish a new independent regulatory body to set and enforce press standards, hear individual complaints against its members and provide a cheap, quick and fair arbitration service for disputes. It should be governed by an independent board, which should not include any serving editors or politicians, although one serving editor could be on the panel that appoints its chairman. The board will be able to impose fines up to £1 million ($1.6 million, 1.2 million euros). The newspapers’ code of conduct should be thoroughly reviewed and subject to public consultation. Newspapers that do not sign up could be penalised in any court cases against them, for example by having to pay costs even when they win. Leveson recommended a new law to recognise this system of self-regulation, but the legislation would not give politicians the right to block publications and would enshrine for the first time the government’s duty to protect press freedom.

ON THE PRESS AND THE PUBLIC Leveson accepted that newspapers have a vital role in a democracy, “as guardians of the interests of the public, as a critical witness to events, as the standard bearer for those who have no-one else to speak up for them”. They also have an important job in educating, informing and entertaining — and their role must not be jeopardised, he said.

However, he warned that many newspapers had ignored their responsibilities, which has “damaged the public interest, caused real hardship and on occasion wreaked havoc in the lives of innocent people.”

ON THE PRESS AND POLITICIANS Relations between politicians and journalists are in “robust good health”, Leveson said, but on occasions they have been “too close”. “Over the last 30-35 years and probably much longer, the political parties of UK national government and of UK official opposition, have had or developed too close a relationship with the press in a way which has not been in the public interest,” the report says. Leveson recommends senior politicians publish meetings with media executives, whether they are official or personal, and regularly publish details of other communications by email, phone or text, although not their content. Kate McCann, the mother of abducted toddler Madeleine McCann, arrives to attend the publication of the Leveson report into press ethics in central London on November 29, 2012. AFP/CARL COURT

Who is Brian Leveson?

rian Leveson, or Lord Justice Leveson as he is formally known, is one of Britain’s most senior judges. The 63-year-old was appointed by David Cameron in July 2011 as chairman of an inquiry into the ethics of the press following the phone-hacking scandal at

Rupert Murdoch’s News of the World tabloid. The judge was the lead prosecutor in the 1995 trial of serial killer Rosemary West, who was convicted of murdering 10 women with her husband Fred West in their “House of Horrors” in Gloucester, western England.

ON THE PRESS AND THE POLICE “I have not seen any evidence to suggest that corruption by the press is a widespread problem in relation to the police,” Leveson said. He backed the decision not to extend the 2006 investigation into phone hacking that led to the jailing of the News of the World’s royal reporter and a private detective but criticises later decisions not to re-open the probe until 2011. He recommends that senior police officers record all contacts with the media.

“only one flaw in Lord Justice Leveson’s epic verdict — but it’s a crucial flaw. Mr Cameron is right: legislation would be unnecessary, complex and slow,” it concluded. Leading business title the Financial Times called the report “a damning indictment of the culture and practices of the newspaper industry”, but stopped short of calling for state-backed regulation.

Timeline 2007

JANUARY 26: The royal editor of the News of the World, Clive Goodman, and private detective Glenn Mulcaire are jailed after they admit hacking the phones of royal aides.

2011

JANUARY 21: Andy Coulson, who quit as editor of the News of the World when Goodman was jailed, resigns as Prime Minister David Cameron’s communications chief amid new claims about hacking at the tabloid. JANUARY 26: Scotland Yard re-opens investigation into phone hacking. JULY 4: Milly Dowler, a schoolgirl murdered in 2002, is revealed as one of the hacking victims, causing public outrage. JULY 6: Cameron announces a public inquiry into the way the press operates, led by former judge Brian Leveson. JULY 7: Rupert Murdoch shuts the News of the World. The Sunday tabloid had been operating for 168 years. JULY 17: Britain’s top police officer, Scotland Yard chief Paul Stephenson, resigns over the force’s links to the News of the World. . JULY 19: Rupert Murdoch, his son James and Brooks are grilled by Britain’s parliamentary media committee over the scandal. A protester attacks Murdoch senior with a foam pie. NOVEMBER 14: The Leveson inquiry begins formal hearings. NOVEMBER 29: Leveson delivers his report.

FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 30, 2012

Technology MUSIC ON DEMAND

Carrying the tune

TAG, YOU’RE IT American Conservatives have finally discovered that a Tweet is more than just a sound a bird makes. Geek-in-chief Barack Obama’s Twitter hashtag #My2K used to push his tax cuts plan was quickly appropriated by a conservative think tank. The hashtag was so successful that the think tank bought the Tweet. The purchase meant that everyone who searched for the hashtag on Twitter would also see the organisation's ad promoting a blog post titled “4 reasons why Warren Buffett is wrong on tax hikes!” Buffet is now planning on buying the conservative movement and firing Donald ‘Who’s a big Duck?” Trump.

iTunes 11 is set to release over the next few days. But if you’re not an Apple fan are there other Social Music options for you on the Web? There are loads, we guide you through the best of them.

fter a month-long delay, the next generation of Apple's popular iTunes music software could launch as early as today. iTunes 11 could soon be making its long-awaited debut, The Wall Street Journal reported. Originally slated for release in October, the program was delayed, a company spokesman told CNET earlier, because Apple "wanted to take a little extra time to get it right”. The new iTunes is expected to come with an entirely revamped user interface, Facebook and Twitter integration, and deeper iCloud support. "We look forward to releasing this new version of iTunes with its dramatically simpler and cleaner interface, and seamless integration with iCloud before the end of November," Apple spokesman Tom Neumayr said at the end of October.

Spotify

App type: Desktop/Mobile Number of users: 10 million + How it works: Users can search Spotify’s library and stream songs on demand. Can users add to library: No Is a paid version available: Yes Price: $10 per month Paid features: Ad-free, access to mobile apps, high quality sound.

Pandora

App type: Web/Desktop/ Mobile Number of users: 35 million How it works: Users can pick an artist, song or genre and Pandora will generate a random playlist of similar artists. Can users add to library: No Is a paid version available: Yes Price: $36 per year

Paid features: Ad-free, high quality sound, access to desktop app, access to skins.

Grooveshark

App type: Web/Mobile Number of users: 35 million How it works: Users can search Grooveshark’s library and stream songs on demand. Can users add to library: Yes Is a paid version available: Yes Price: $8 per month Paid features: Ad-free, access to mobile apps.

Soundcloud

App type: Web/Mobile Number of users: 10 million How it works: Users can easily record their original music and share it with social networks and

GOOGLE + 1

Putting the ‘G’ in Gall, Bradley Horowitz, the Google vice-president of product for Google+ has said that Facebook is a thing of the past. Completely ignoring the fact that Google + has 12 users, Horowitz went on to say: “In designing Google+, we keep thinking about the real world.” Not content with bashing Facebook, Horowitz said that people wanted to have real conversations, not 140-character blurbs (a bird died somewhere). But now that the world has a collective IQ of 27 can anyone think beyond 140 characters? Horowitz certainly can’t.

related music apps. Can users add to library: Yes Is a paid version available: Yes Price: $38 to $657 per year Paid features: Increased upload-download limits, tracking of downloads and privacy settings.

Rdio

App type: Web/Mobile Number of users: 100,000 How it works: Users can search Rdio’s library and stream songs on demand. Rdio also enables users to store these songs locally for offline listening. Can users add to library: No Is a paid version available: Yes Price: $18 per month Paid features: Unlimited streaming, access to mobile apps.

MOG

App type: Desktop/Mobile Number of users: 10 million + How it works: Users can take any music in MOG’s library on the go with their mobile device. Can users add to library: No Is a paid version available: Yes Price: $10 per month Paid features: Access to mobile apps, high quality sound.

Rhapsody

App type: Web/Mobile Number of users: 1 million How it works: Users can take music on the go. Can users add to library: No Is a paid version available: Yes Price: $10 per month Paid features: Unlimited streaming, access to mobile app.

IMPATIENT PATENTS There’s no ‘I’ in patent, but that seems to be lost on the world’s tech giants who are bufﬁng up for the latest round of patent battles. Not willing to let Apple and Samsung bleed it out on the danceﬂoor, Ericsson (remember them?) and Nokia have also stepped into the ring. While Ericsson is punching above its weight and taking on Samsung for “long-standing infringements”, Nokia has decided to stick the boot into blithering RIM. The oncemighty Finns and the Canadian has-beens are going to war over "standards-essential" patents (SEPs). Nokia wants to ban the sale of BlackBerries…umm, is anyone still buying them?

FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 30, 2012

Comment Infatuated, half through conceit, half through love of my art, I achieve the impossible working as no one else ever works. Alexandre Dumas Author

Palestinians beware UN THE HUMAN CONDITION Dean Williams

ast night, when Palestinian president Mahmoud Abbas heralded his state’s “UN birth certificate” he failed to mention that if the Palestinians were badly off the day before, they’re pretty screwed tomorrow. Everyone knows that the decision by the UN General Assembly to make Palestine a non-member state is a token gesture without any real meaning. Of course, ostensibly Palestine can now apply for membership to the International Criminal Court and bring up perceived or real (depending on which side of the fence you sit) ‘crimes’ committed against the Palestinian people by Israel. I personally don’t think we’ll be seeing Benjamin Netanyahu in The Hague any time soon. The problem with the hubris surrounding the UN’s gesture is that it isolated Israel and the US so blatantly that a backdraft is not only inevitable but will carry with it the weight of a giant and his proxy spurned. Israel will use this humiliation if not to demolish but at least to derail the peace process. Even Obama (who heads one of the more pragmatic US administrations, and one more than capable of going to toe-to-toe with Israeli hawks) will now feel the need to show Congress that he’s not a pushover and won’t stand for such ‘outrage’. Once the celebrations have died down in Palestine and the backslapping ends, Abbas and company will have to find a way to explain to Palestinians why their dream of an independent state is now further away than ever before.

HIGH-FLYING THOUGHTS Wisdom seems to be dawning on our leaders, finally! With stringent provisions of many laws, and the IT Act in particular, being misused as tools of harassment, the judiciary and executive are finally moving to bring in some desperately needed change.

‘CRACKING’ THE WHIP

BANG, BANG, BANG THE ANONYMOUS ALIEN

aboom!!! Followed by bright flashes of lights and sometimes a genuine jolt of movement in the earth that can rock you to your core. It’s exciting. Breathtaking. Magical, even. Now look, I like a good explosion as much as the next guy. In fact, in my own country, it’s an annual ritual to go out on its day of independence and watch the sky lit up with fireworks and feel the air shake with the sounds of firecrackers. But, for the most part, these fireworks are sent blasting into space with a special permit that allows a select few trained fireworks professionals the right to explode things once a year, under certain circumstances and with safeguards in place, without them getting arrested for “disturbing the peace” or “endangering public safety.” And that of course, brings us to last night. Or the night before. Or any night going back to this year’s Diwali Festival. But, for the sake of simplicity, let’s focus on last night. At 11 pm, outside my apartment building in Hyderabad, someone lit 10,000 firecrackers. Okay, I don’t know that it was actually 10,000 firecrackers, but they exploded like machine gun

fire for a full minute, so it sure did seem like it. And these 10,000 firecrackers seemed to get others on roll, as for the next two hours or so it was a nonstop barrage of boom, bang, boom coming from every corner of my neighborhood. Let’s break this down. I would guess that there were five to 10 individuals setting off these fireworks. These five to 10 individuals probably kept several thousand people awake who really didn’t want to hear machine gun fire on a Wednesday night and had to get up early the next day and try to work. These five to 10 individuals probably terrorised dozens of little kids who are too young to understand that boom, bang, boom doesn’t mean the world is about to end.

These five to 10 individuals probably traumatized several hundred dogs, cats, rats and birds that can’t comprehend or process this kind of bombardment of noise. Stretch this out, on a nationwide basis, and you have tens of thousands of people keeping millions of people awake, terrorising millions of kids and traumatising millions of animals. Add to that the hundreds of people who suffer debilitating injuries each year from these firecrackers — many of them little kids – and it all adds up to a noisy, ridiculous, dangerous mess. And for what? So that a small percentage of the population can get some cheap thrills every night for weeks around Diwali?

If the nation as a whole elects to set off fireworks on Diwali so be it. I’d love to see some serious (and enforced) laws restricting minors from setting them off, but a national celebration is certainly fine by me. But the other 364 days a year, well, let’s just say it’s time for the police to start issuing tickets and arrests on a vast scale, putting an end to this ridiculous and seemingly endless onslaught of late night boom, bang, boom. Am I overreacting? Maybe. Or maybe I’m just a grump. Then again, I was up til 1 am last night, listening to you know what. You can reach The Anonymous Alien at AnonymousAlieninIndia@ gmail.com

EDITORIALS What goes around, comes around

he nation received a jolt when reports emerged that 10 infant deaths happened at a single hospital in West Bengal in a span of 24 hours, taking the death toll in the month of November to 62. The usual reaction followed: TV channels telecast the news with damning headlines and catchlines, pulling up the whole administration, and the totem that was used to represent the government was obviously Mamata Banerjee, the chief minister. Now the hue and cry is understandable and the flak too must be taken by the administration, but has anyone bothered to check why a rerun happened in Bengal? Official reaction has absolved the hospital staff concerned of neglect. But it is “alarming” that health department spokesperson Asit Biwas said there was “nothing alarming” about the crib deaths, which were due to asphyxia and septicaemia. Also astounding is the flippant way he gave split the numbers: 28 infants have died between November 16 and 26, he said, of which 18 of them were neo-natal cases, nine of them were

READERS’ VIEWS

underweight — weighing below 1.5 kg — as if it’s the way it’s supposed to be. All of this point fingers at condition of healthcare in West Bengal. Infant health is directly linked to the mother’s health: if she is not healthy, the life of the unborn is in jeopardy. Why is she not healthy and not taken care of when she is carrying? Firstly, for lack of proper welfare schemes and the second poor investment in healthcare system, which would ensure well-equipped hospitals, and the services of competent doctors and nurses. Why can’t the state find investment? Because it has no money. Why has it no money? Because of bad fiscal policies and its reputation for being anti-industry, which drives away investors. Now at a recent investors conclave, Mamata almost sounded like begging: “Please invest in Bengal.” But all who where there would not forget the Singur agitation she spearheaded that played a major role in her wresting power from the Left. Apologies, Didi if it’s too hard, Didi, but what goes around comes around.

FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 30, 2012

Music

KE$HA AND BIEBER Ke$ha would consider sleeping with Justin Bieber. Rumours surfaced earlier this year that the 18-year-old heartthrob had cheated on Selena Gomez with the quirky singer. “Would I consider sleeping with him now? Sure. Wait, is he even legal? Could I go to jail for this?” she joked to Rolling Stone magazine. “[He’s 18?] OK, then I would.”

PRIMAL SCREAM

LIFE AT THE FRONT

ALBUM OF THE WEEK

With Axl Rose and Guns ‘N Roses set to rock Bangalore on December 7 we take a look at the frontmen who put the glam into rock! Jani Lane Band: Warrant In a genre of music where survival of the fittest is not just a cliché but a way of life, Jani Lane embodied the spirit of a decade of excess, hedonism, and rock ‘n’ roll. As the lead singer of Warrant, he helped to propel the band into the upper stratosphere with hits like Heaven, Down Boys, and Cherry Pie. Lane was found dead in a Los Angeles hotel room on August 11, 2011; he was 47 years old. Cause of death was acute alcohol poisoning.

Sebastian Bach Band: Skid Row Bach, with his wildman persona and photogenic looks, quickly emerged as the focus of fan and media attention, a situation compounded in late 1989 when, during a concert in Springfield he was hit in the head by a bottle thrown onstage; the singer proceeded to hurl the bottle back into the crowd, where it hit the face of an innocent girl. Sentenced to three years probation, Bach then appeared on MTV wearing an offensive Tshirt emblazoned with the slogan “AIDS Kills Fags Dead,” prompting outcries from the gay community. Despite the bad publicity, Skid Row’s second album, 1991’s Slave to

iTUNES Top 10 songs 1 HOME Phillip Phillips

Cassadee Pope

6 DIE YOUNG

2 LOCKED OUT OF Ke$ha HEAVEN 7 TOO CLOSE Bruno Mars Melanie Martinez

3 HO HEY 8 I CRY

The Lumineers Flo Rida

4 GANGNAM STYLE 9 DIAMONDS PSY

5 ARE YOU HAPPY NOW?

Rihanna

10 OVER YOU Cassadee Pope

the Grind, debuted at number one. In September of 2011, the perennial front man released his fourth solo album, Kicking & Screaming.

Stephen Pearcy Band: Ratt Stephen Pearcy jet-rocketed to multi-platinum success in the mid-’80s as the lead vocalist for hair metal band Ratt. By the time hair-metal began to fade away, Pearcy had slowly descended into relative obscurity, but he refused to quit. He released a slew of solo albums, that were helped eventually by a retro interest in hair metal bands of the 80s. His latest album, Under My Skin, which featured a guest spot from the Donnas, was released in 2008.

Bret Michaels Band: Poison After Axl Rose, the most famous of all hair metal frontmen. Poison have sold over 30 million records worldwide and 15 million records in the United States alone. The band has also charted 10m singles to the Top 40 of the Billboard Hot 100, including six Top 10 singles and the number-one single, Every Rose Has Its Thorn. In conjunction with his new single Michaels also released another single

Top 10 albums 1 TAKE ME HOME BABY One Direction Rod Stewart

2 RED 7 LOTUS

Taylor Swift Christina Aguilera

3 THE TWILIGHT SAGA 8 NOW 44

Soundtrack Various Artists

4 TRILOGY 9. DOS!

The Weeknd Green Day

5 KING ANIMAL 10. PARADISE (EP) Soundgarden Lana Del Rey

6 MERRY CHRISTMAS,

titled Get Your Ride On (featuring Phil Collen) on January 10, 2012. Michaels toured with Def Leppard and Lita Ford in 2012.

Jack Russell Band: Great White It’s hard to believe that the glam metal band Russell founded in 1981 is still going strong. As of 2010, Jack has been on hiatus from Great White, due to a perforated bowel. Now fully recovered, he formed his own faction of Great White with a brand-new lineup in December 2011. To avoid confusion, he named the band Jack Russell’s Great White. As of September 2012, Russell continues to tour with Jack Russell’s Great White.

Tom Keifer Band: Cinderella By far the hardest rocking of all the glam bands courtesy the brilliant Tom Keifer. Discovered by Bon Jovi Cinderella went on to great things. Unfortunately, after the Heartbreak Station tour Tom lost his voice. He underwent several operations to no avail. Eventually it was determined that he had nodules on his vocal cords and paralysis of the left cord. By 1994, Cinderella had managed to release their fourth album, Still Climbing, which received little attention. The band broke up in 1995.

Bollywood Top 10 1. HEER HAI Jab Tak Hai Jaan Talaash

2. JEE LE ZARA 7 LSTCK THEME Talaash Luv Shuv Tey Chicken 3. CHALLA Khurana

8 DAGABAAZ RE

Jab Tak Hai Jaan Dabangg 2

4 APNA MUJHE TU LAGAA 9. FEVICOL SE 1920- Evil Returns Dabangg 2

5. JIYA RE 10. LAAKH DUNIYA KAHE

Jab Tak Hai Jaan Talaash

6. MUSKANEIN JHOOTI

Right Place, Right Time Murs is one of the biggest pop stars, with two platinum-selling albums under his belt since doing X Factor time in 2009. This third album makes his success a mite more palatable — there’s less of the pop-ska pabulum and more Will Young-style balladeering, mixed in with up-tempo, perky numbers. The lyric got ketchup on my trousers and my cheeks are going red is enough to prompt corresponding blushes of embarrassment in the listener.

DID YOU KNOW

One

Direction believes the likeness of their upcoming line of figurine’s are pretty accurate. The group, which is comprised of Harry Styles, Zayn Malik, Louis Tomlinson, Liam Payne and Niall Horan, are preparing for the release of a series of dolls based on each member of the band. The British boy band officially reached international superstardom following the release of their albums Up All Night and Take Me Home.

TRENDING...

Ashlee Simpson has reportedly split from her boyfriend. The American singer-andactress had been dating Boardwalk Empire star Vincent Piazza for around 18 months. It’s been claimed they decided to go their separate ways over the Thanksgiving holiday last week.

With a plane packed with 150or-so journalists and a group of hand-picked fans, Rih Rih rocketed around the globe for a week in advance of the release of her seventh album, Unapologetic. But she is drawing complaints from some journos that she had no interaction with them during the journey.

FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 30, 2012

spotlight GLAMOUR GIRLS 1

BOLLYWOOD MAGIC

Spoil is hosting a Desi Fry Day tonight and DJ Daman will be belting out the latest Bollywood chartbusters.

THE RIGHT MIX Ladies came in droves to Aqua - The Park, where a session on mocktail mixing was organised. Spotted were Manisha Kapoor, Archana and others.

2 1 Rachana 2 Preeti, Reena 3 Manjeri 4 Megha 5 Neeti 6 Monica 7 Sheetal, Radhika

INSPIRING TALK

A workshop on Sustainability Reporting was organised by the FICCI Sustainable Development Subcommittee at Taj Krishna. Commissioner of Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation Hyderabad MT Krishna Babu was the chief guest at the event.

OUT OF THE ROUTINE

Cast of Routine Love Story including Sundeep Kishan and Regina Cassandra and director Praveen Sattaru visited Testa Rossa, Jubilee Hills to speak about their ďŹ lm.

18 DEEPAK DESHPANDE

FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 30, 2012

health

ROSEMARY HERB COMPOUND PROMOTES EYE HEALTH Rosemary herb has yielded a compound — carnosic acid — that promotes eye health, according to researchers at Sanford-Burnham Medical Research Institute. Stuart A Lipton's team at the institute found that carnosic acid protects retinas from degeneration and toxicity in cell culture and in rodent models of light-induced retinal damage.

WORLD AIDS DAY

The UNAIDS mission report has revealed a 50 per cent drop in cases of Aids across various countries. This Aids day we look at the situation in AP.

Is the end in sight? ANISHAA KUMAR

anishaa.k@postnoon.com

ou would think that in today’s world when everyone claims to be progressive and broad minded, people with HIV would be better accepted. But only recently, a family in Jodhpur was mercilessly beaten up and thrown out of their homes when their neighbours discovered that the parents were HIV positive. Shocking as it may sound, it is a harsh reality the hapless family has to deal with as they are now forced to sleep outside the railway station. Incidents like these are still prevalent, despite numerous efforts being made to spread awareness about HIV and to bring down its incidence. In fact, the UN theme for this year’s World Aids Day is Zero new HIV infections, zero discrimination, zero Aids related deaths. According to the UNaids report, “there has been more than 50 per cent reduction in new HIV infections across 25 countries as 1,000 countries approach Aids targets.” The aim of various organisations over the years has been to bring about an intervention and reduce the number of cases. If these figures are to be believed such as situation may be a reality in the future. Dr K Jayakrishna, epidemiologist, APsacs, says, “The number of cases have decreased. According

to data from National Institute of Medical Statistics and Naco, the estimated adult prevalence has come down from 0.94 per cent in 2008 to 0.90 per cent in 2009 when it comes to Andhra Pradesh. Adult HIV prevalence in India has come down from 0.32 per cent in 2008 to 0.31 per cent in 2009.” The data is collected based on findings in pregnant women as a proxy for the whole population in two ways either through the ICTC data or surveillance data. The latter helps provide a more accurate figure, he explains. Dr Jayakrishna believes that there has been a change for the better as more number of people are now coming forward for tests. He adds, “The NACP (National Aids control project) is divided into various phases. While the previous phases were about tackling stigma and discrimination the fourth stage aims at reversing the epidemic.”

THE NEED FOR AWARENESS Mondira Jaisimha, senior advocacy director, Heroes project, believes that one cannot say that HIV is definitely coming down as she believes many sections of the society are still missing from the

PPTC Dr Jayakrishna explains that PPTC (prevention of parent to child transmission) aims at intervention to prevent the mother transmitting the virus to the child. The single dose intervention helps reduce the child’s chances of developing AIDS to 12 per cent. This medication is given to the mother immediately after delivery and for the baby within the first 72 hours after birth. According to the latest clinical trials, it has been said that a triple drug regime may help bring down this rate to around 3 per cent.

ANC prevalence over the years 2004- 1.69 per cent 2005- 1.67 per cent 2006- 1.40 per cent 2007- 1.07 per cent 2008- 1.22 per cent (The increase appears as the methodology of calculation was changed to match with international standards.) 2010-2011- 0.77 per cent

study (due to the limited testing centres) and that it rarely includes the private sector. “Discrimination against people living with Aids is still there. In the 20 years that we have been working in this field not much has changed.” Mondira says that in the corporate sector too it is prevalent as many MNCs check potential employees for Aids along with several other health ailments. When it comes to empowerment of people living with HIV/Aids, Mondira says that many of them have been empowered by their own communities but the families and society is still associating the stigma with them. Even the well-educated continue to feign ignorance about the ailment in terms of how it spreads. Apart from the ailment, people living with Aids are faced with depression, suicidal tendencies, running away etc. Mondira says, “The biggest fear now is that Aids has begun to spread to the general population while earlier one considered only sex workers to be affected.” Mondira reiterates the need for continuous information till it becomes naturalised in society and people are never questioned.

HOUSECALL

DID YOU KNOW?

Vitogo

Legionellosis

Tears are powerful

Michael E Phelps

Vitogo is a fun and simple way to get in shape. Just like a personal trainer, Vitogo assesses your ﬁtness level and goals to give you a tailored workout programme that evolves with you. Vitogo coaches you through every step of your workout, tracks your progress, and keeps you motivated with the support of your friends and other users.

Legionellosis is a potentially fatal infectious disease caused by gram negative. Over 90 per cent of legionellosis cases are caused by Legionella pneumophila. Legionellosis takes two distinct forms — Legionnaires' disease, is the more severe form of the infection and produces high fever and pneumonia; Pontiac fever is caused by the same bacteria but produces a milder respiratory illness without pneumonia.

Tears and mucous contain an enzyme (lysozyme) that breaks down the cell wall of many bacteria. This is to your advantage, as the mucous that lines your nose and throat, as well as the tears that wet your eyes are helping to prevent bacteria from infecting those areas and making you sick.

The PET Scan was invented in 1973 by Michael E Phelps, a University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), medical examiner. Phelps was one of the ﬁrst to show how different parts of the brain are activated when performing mental tasks. Phelps helped to advanced medical imaging by producing four generations of PET scanners. These included the prototypes that all modern-day PET scans are based on.

ANEWS PP-LYBRIEFS YOURSELF

PIONEERS

health FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 30, 2012

RESEARCH

BREAKTHROUGH

Belly fat can put you at risk According to a study conducted at Massachusetes General Hospital, men with belly fat are ripe candidates for bone loss and decreased strength.

WASHINGTON: Men with belly fat are ripe candidates for bone loss and decreased bone strength, says a new study. "It is important for men to be aware that excess belly fat is not only a risk factor for heart disease and diabetes, it is also a risk factor for bone loss," said Miriam Bredella, radiologist at Massachusetts General Hospital and associate professor at Harvard Medical School, Boston. More than 37 million American men alone over 20 years are obese, according to official statistics. Obesity is tied to cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, high cholesterol, asthma, sleep apnea and joint diseases.

Yet it was commonly accepted that men with increased body weight were at lower risk for bone loss. "Most studies on osteoporosis have focused on women. Men were thought to be relatively protected against bone loss, especially obese men," said Bredella, who and her team evaluated 35 obese men with a mean age of 34 years, according to a Massachusetts statement. But not all body fat is the same. Subcutaneous fat lies just below the skin, and visceral or intra-abdominal fat is located deep under the muscle tissue in the abdominal cavity. Genetics, diet and exercise are all contributors to the level

Belly Fat risks n

Belly Fat risks

Heart disease

High blood pressure

Stroke

Some types of cancer

Type 2 diabetes

Insulin resistance

High triglycerides

Low levels of high-density lipoprotein (HDL), or "good," cholesterol

Metabolic syndrome

Sleep apnoea

Source: www.mayoclinic.com

of visceral fat that is stored in the body. Excess visceral fat is considered particularly dangerous, because in previous studies it has been linked to heightened risk for heart disease. After the Osteoporotic Fractures in Men Study â&#x20AC;&#x201D; a multi-centre observational study designed to determine risk factors for osteoporosis â&#x20AC;&#x201D; indicated that male obesity was linked with fracture risk, the researchers wanted to quantify belly fat and study its impact on bone strength. These findings were presented at the annual meeting of the Radiological Society of North America (RSNA). IANS

Washing combo to rid spinach of E.coli WASHINGTON: Scientists using an ultrasound-chlorine washing combo, made a clean sweep of the deadly E.coli pathogen from spinach leaves. This way "we can reduce the total number of food-borne pathogenic bacteria by over 99.99 percent", said Hao Feng, professor of food science and human nutrition, University of Illinois. "Combining technologies is the key to bridging the gap between our current capacity and what USDA (US Department of Agriculture) would like to see. The use of ultrasound exposure during chlorine washing gives the industry a way to significantly enhance microbial safety," he said. The USDA is looking for proposed technologies that can achieve a four- to six-log reduction in pathogen cells (a six-log reduction would achieve a million-fold reduction in such bugs), the journal Innovative Food Science and Emerging Technologies reports. The food processing industry can presently achieve a one-log or tenfold reduction. In comparison, the Illinois technique yields a four-log reduction, according to an Illinois statement. If even part of a leaf escaped the full ultrasonic treatment, it could contaminate the rest of the produce, he said. Hao Feng and team have used the technique on iceberg and romaine lettuce as well as spinach with similar results. IANS

STUDY

Dog virus to help develop super potent vaccine WASHINGTON: A canine virus could be the springboard for developing a super potent human vaccine, thanks to a University of Georgia discovery. "We can use this virus as a vector (delivery vehicle) for all kinds of pathogens that are difficult to vaccinate against," said Biao He, principal study investi-

gator and professor of infectious diseases at University of Georgia College of Veterinary Medicine. Georgia researchers said this virus could also help protect humans against diseases that have eluded vaccine efforts for decades, the journal Public Library of science ONE reported. Although harmless in

humans, PIV 5, is believed to contribute to upper respiratory infections in dogs. PIV5 does not cause disease in humans, as our immune system is able to recognise and destroy it. "We have developed a very strong H5N1 flu vaccine with this technique, but we are also

working on vaccines for HIV, tuberculosis and malaria," added He. By placing antigens from other viruses or parasites inside PIV5, it effectively becomes a delivery vehicle that exposes the immune system to important pathogens and allows it to create the antibodies that will protect against future infection. IANS

FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 30, 2012

Entertainment A BIG-BUDGETED FILM

TAAPSEE TEAMS UP WITH RAGHAVA LAWRENCE

aapsee is going to team up with Raghava Lawrence in the latter's upcoming film Muni 3. Bellamkonda Suresh is going to produce the film and it'll go on floors in January, 2013. In fact, Raghava Lawrence had announced that he has already written the script for Muni 3, back when Kanchana had released last year; however, he moved on to direct Prabhas, Tamannaah starrer Rebel first. Raghava Lawrence had roped in Lakshmi Rai as the lead actress in Kanchana and it went on to be a huge hit and now he's moving a step above buoyed by the success of Kanchana. Muni 3 is expected to be made on a bigger canvas and Bellamkonda Suresh is betting big on the film's success. Vijay Anthony is going to

compose the music and Kiccha is the cinematographer. Muni 3 is the only film which Taapsee had signed in recent few months, although she has at least five films lined up for release over the course of next few months including Gundello Godari, Chashme Baddoor, Shadow, the untitled Vishnuvardhan's film and another Telugu film under Chandrasekhar Yeleti's direction.

CINE BYTES Nayak nears completion

he principal shooting of Ram Charan, Kajal and Amala Paul starrer Nayak is almost complete except for the climax and a song. The last schedule will begin from December 3 onwards. VV Vinayak is directing the ﬁlm and Thaman is scoring the music. The ﬁlm is gearing up for a release on January 9.

Varun Sandesh, Haripriya in ACAM

arun Sandesh and Haripriya will soon be seen in a film titled Abbayi Class Ammayi Mass. Koneti Srinu is directing the film. So far, 90 per cent of the film's shooting is complete and the rest will be shot in Hyderabad in December.

Salman Khan invites Siddharth

iddharth was in for a big surprise recently when he got a call from Salman Khan to play for the Mumbai Heroes team at the Celebrity Cricket League next year. Although the actor was delighted about the offer, he had to politely turn him down since he's recovering from a shoulder injury. Bad luck, Sid!

FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 30, 2012

YUMI KATSURA DESIGN

JUNKO SHIMADA CREATION

fashion

EXPANDING THE PPR UMBRELLA

ACCORDING TO industry sources, luxury fashion group PPR is interested in investing in Christopher Kane. PPR, helmed by Francois-Henri Pinault, includes fashion houses such as Yves Saint Laurent, Gucci, Stella McCartney and Alexander McQueen within its portfolio -is apparently looking to expand to incorporate more British-based brands, reports WWD.

GUO PEI DESIGN

The Singapore Couture show put the spotlight on Asian couture labels from Bangkok, China, Hong

THE ASIAN

FLAVOUR

FASHION HOTSPOT

JUN

SHIM

ADA

CRE ATIO

JUNKO SHIMADA CR

EATION

LONDON VICTORIA is set to become the one of the capital's busiest fashion hubs, thanks to new investment and an influx of luxury labels moving their headquarters to the neighbourhood. Although most commonly known as a stopoff for commuters, in recent years, the area has attracted Burberry and Tom Ford.

ROSLAN RAHMAN/AFP

Kong and Mongolia, and to make it more dramatic Japanese couturiers were also added to the line-up.

he Singapore Couture Week opened Tuesday night at the Marina Bay Sands with a dramatic show by Beijing-based couturier Guo Pei. She showcased her complete "Legend of the Dragon" collection in combination with her retrospective collection. Pei's ode to Imperial China in 'Legend of the Dragon' was as dramatic as it sounds. And it

made all those in the front row seats exclaim in astonishment at the detailing and beauty of the creations. Thailand's Asava by Polpat Asavaprapa showed his Autumn/Winter 2012-13 Collection, Barney Cheng from Hong Kong meanwhile showcased his creations, and Mongolia's Torgo by Bold Ochirjantsan and closed the evening with his couture collection. And as per tradition of the

organisers, Asian fashion got a nod in the form of a special Japanese Couture Showcase, which was held just before the start of Haute Couture Week on November 28 and it featured featuring three of Japanâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s most respected fashion designers â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Junko Shimada, Somarta and Yumi Katsura, who also showed at the recent Asian Couture Fashion Week 2012 in Bangkok. AFP

22&23

Entertainment FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 30, 2012

FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 30, 2012

Chai Time

Play & Win

Please send in your filled-in entries to Postnoon, #1246, Level 3, Jubilee Casa, Road No 62, Jubilee Hills, Hyderabad – 500033. The winners will be announced on this page in Sunday’s edition.

KAKURO

How to play kakuro Kakuro is a popular game similar to sudoku in some ways. But is also suitably different. The key question: ‘How do you play kakuro?’, well here are the rules of kakuro. The answer: The kakuro grid, unlike in sudoku, can be of any size. It has rows and columns, and dark cells like in a crossword. And, just like in a crossword, some of the dark cells will contain numbers. Some cells will contain two numbers. However, in a crossword the numbers reference clues. In a kakuro, the numbers are all you get! They denote the total of the digits in the row or column refer-

QUICK CROSSWORD

enced by the number. Within each collection of cells — called a run — any of the numbers 1 to 9 may be used but, like sudoku, each number may only be used once.Let’s have an example to explain this concept more clearly: In the image above, which shows a section of a kakuro puzzle, you will see the numbers ‘26’ and ‘14’ in the top row. Look at the 14. This means that the total of the three cells underneath must sum to 14. Therefore 9, 4, 1 could be the answer, or perhaps 7, 4, 3 and so

on... So, how do you work out the actual combination? Well, this is done through elimination and cross-referencing. For instance, as you work out the answers for other kakuro clues, this will naturally limit the valid combinations, and hence the answer for this particular run. Note the second cell in row two — it contains two numbers, 30 and 11. The 30 refers to the vertical run underneath the number 30 and the 11 refers to the two cells to the right, horizontally, of the number 11.

Play & Win

voucher from VENKEY’S VEG Restaurant, Nampally

ACROSS

SCRIBBLING PAD

Play & Win voucher from VENKEY’S VEG Restaurant, Nampally

SUDOKU

PREVIOUS PUZZLE ANSWER

Play & Win voucher from VENKEY’S VEG Restaurant, Nampally

1 Frome of fiction 6 Song of exultation 11 Mrs Sprat’s fare 14 Dern of ‘Blue Velvet’ 15 Blackest part of a shadow 16 ‘Christ the Redeemer’ locale 17 Restrictions or shortcomings 19 Clairvoyant’s skill 20 Break bread 21 ‘Believe It Or ___!’ 22 Publican’s pour, perhaps 23 Did a lawn chore 27 Rain gear 29 ___ Royal Highness 30 Egress 32 It may stock lox 33 Roth acct 34 Kmart merger partner 36 The Olympic logo’s five 39 Drinks a little? 41 Slumber 43 Stare at flirtatiously 44 Proctor’s handouts 46 Throat problem, briefly 48 This won’t fill a filly 49 Cattle rancher’s unit 51 Charlie Brown’s refrain 52 William Tell’s canton 53 Somewhat seared 56 Render pancake-

shaped 58 Language spoken in Vientiane 59 Heredity helixes 60 Commit a blunder 61 Boston timepiece setting 62 Make contact on the subway? 68 Devoured 69 Decorate with ornaments 70 Walking ___ (euphoric) 71 Black roofing gunk 72 Birthplace of Columbus 73 Winkler of ‘Happy Days’

DOWN

1 Wall-bracket shape 2 ___ chi 3 ‘Dinger’ or ‘drum’ starter 4 Present itself as a need 5 Temperaments 6 ‘To ___ it mildly ...’ 7 ‘Where ___?’ (disoriented person’s question) 8 Black hues, in old poems 9 Schwarze-negger of film and politics 10 Less pleasant 11 Suddenly becoming extremely paranoid 12 Flight attendant’s

beat 13 Barfly 18 Uppermost points 23 Bridge forerunner 24 Eagle’s nest 25 One aiming at clay pigeons 26 Antique phone features 28 It goes to the best spot 31 Old waste allowances 35 Sans ___ (type type) 37 Dazzling driving hazard 38 ___ stone (unchangeable) 40 Crock pot dinner 42 Captain Ahab feature 45 Flood prevention item 47 Exodus tyrant 50 Strip, as bark off trees 53 Talk sheepishly? 54 Reggae musician, perhaps 55 ‘Good Will Hunting’ star Matt 57 Threefold 63 Voting ‘yea’ 64 California Santa 65 Palindromic Bobbsey twin 66 Churchill’s title 67 Attempt

Chai Time FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 30, 2012 Thiruvaikumar

STAR POWER for 1-12-2012

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 reach expected heights by planning all jobs perfectly and approach them slowly and steadily. Never be in a hurry or act in haste, which will spoil all efforts and upset you. Those who talk bad about thier friends should be kept away.

STRIP TEASE AGNES

You are financially strong but still take necessary steps to keep expenses under control. Your energy level will be so high that you keep on working without slowing down, which will surprise others. Real-estate deals will bring good gain.

Expenses need to be monitored and kept under control. Businessmen will see a steady growth. They need to involve directly in signing contracts to avoid loss of investments. Be careful of new friends. Avoid sharing secrets with them.

You will have to spend more but for good events to take place at home. Expected good news will come and make you happy. Students will get promoted to the next level by scoring high marks. Employees' pay hike and promotion on the cards.

Certain work you thought will not happen will take place now to your surprise. Though financially a sound position is seen, expenses also will be equal to the income. Blood relatives will help you in time. Pregnant women need to be careful.

Do your duty without expecting result and things will go smooth. Don't give up because you face tensions. Avoid expressing opinions and keep quiet for the time being. Strained relationship will resume. Self-confidence level will be at a high.

Enemies will become inactive. Politicians will be in the limelight. Written-off old dues will come to your surprise. You will understand the real characters of your relatives and change accordingly. Tensions will disappear and your path clears.

You will enjoy life to the fullest possible extent. All expected wishes will get fulfilled. Happy events will come up in a line at home. Held-up construction will resume with the sanction of a bank loan and get completed without any more obstacles.

All hurdles, delay and tension faced by you will disappear. Unknown persons will help you in a big way. Debt problems will be under control. Businessmen will see their profits soar. Social status is set to improve. Employees will be comfortable.

TAROT READ

Sumaa Tekur

tarotreadhyd@gmail. com

ARIES:

GEMINI:

Nine of Swords Nightmares, restless sleep and anxiety are all taking a toll on you. You feel scared and unsure of what’s to come. Talk to someone about it.

LEO:

The Empress – There are no rules on how you should lead your life. Yet, you get a strong feeling that going to a self-help book or consultant will help. Suit yourself.

LIBRA:

PEARLS BEFORE SWINE

Ten of Wands – You feel burdened by your own expectations. You have set very high standards for yourself and it hurts you that it’s difficult to meet them.

SAGITTARIUS:

Five of Cups – There is some loss indicated. It may be that you held someone in very high esteem and they have let you down by exposing their chinks.

TAURUS:

Nine of Pentacles – Don’t ignore aches and pains, even if they don’t come in the way of your daily work. Consult a doctor. You never know what it might be.

CANCER:

Ace of Pentacles – There are times when you feel disconnected with the work that you do – simply because you are looking at it purely from the monetary angle.

VIRGO:

Three of Cups – All your hard work is paying off. You may have to wait a little longer to get what you deserve. Enjoy this time and celebrate your work and life.

SCORPIO:

The Moon – Mood swings are likely today. You feel upbeat one minute and very low the second minute. Stay with it and don’t do anything important today.

CAPRICORN:

Judgment – The time has come for all your work to be recognized. You will be given your due very shortly. A complete Uturn on a decision is highly likely.

PREVIOUS SOLUTIONS

PISCES:

Knight of Pentacles – Money’s on your mind. You want to focus mainly on making more money. While this may give you a goal, it may not make you happy.

NUMBER GAME

– You are in conflict with your inner self. You feel deeply about a principle and yet you cannot let go of your ego. Something’s got to give.

SCRABBLE

AQUARIUS: Five of Swords

POOCH CAFE

You get good support from relatives, friends and wellwishers. Avoid reacting emotionally while implementing your plans as you might face hurdles. Starting a new and joint business venture will benefit some. Creativity will work very well.

for 1-12-2012

Eight of Swords – Your intellectual capabilities are heightened and you feel like you are thinking fast and people are finding it difficult to keep up with you.

NON SEQUITUR

Those trying for a new job will be favoured with a good offer from an MNC company. Politicians will be awarded a new post with additional responsibility. Some might get a chance to go abroad. Sudden trips and huge expenses will upset you.

SUDUKO

You will spend happy and valuable time with family. Happy events to take place at home in a line. Friends and wellwishers will help you a lot. A loan will get sanctioned without any difficulty. Stomach upset likely. Stay away from junk food.

Boggle MASSAGE PEDICURE MANICURE Vol: 2, No 134 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

Entertainment FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 30, 2012

BEST COMPLIMENT

JOHN flattered by Priya’s compliment

CINE BYTES

Himesh’s ‘surprise’ role in Khiladi 786

imesh Reshammiya is not only co-producing Khiladi 786, but even has a role in the movie. “My role is a surprise. This is the ﬁrst time I am playing the role of a Gujarati boy, Mansukh Desai. And the story is mine. The music is mine. This is my ﬁrst joint venture with Akshay (Kumar),” said Himesh. IANS

ctor John Abraham, named the sexiest man alive by People magazine, says his girlfriend Priya Runchal’s first reaction was one of disbelief. But she followed it up with a flattering compliment. “She said, ‘Are you serious they gave it to you this year? You should have been getting it every year!’ I think that’s the best compliment I got,” the 39-year-old said here Wednesday while unveiling the magazine’s cover. John says it is good to have an appreciative partner like Priya. “I asked her (how she feels about it), and she said ‘Oh, that’s good.’ That is it, she is very reserved and her answers are very limited. “Well, I am sure she is very happy. It is nice to be appreciated for your work and when your partner is appreciative, I think it is very special,” he said. John broke up his nine-year-long relationship with Bipasha Basu in 2011. IANS

Naseeruddin Shah in Pakistan

aseeruddin Shah has arrived in Lahore to participate in a programme, a media report said. Shah along with his family arrived in Lahore, reported the News International. “Why would I come to Pakistan if I had no ‘Aman ki Asha’ (desire for peace)?” Shah said. He would be staying in Pakistan for a week. IANS

More guns for Kangna

alk about being a director’s actor. Gangster actor Kangna Ranaut is still stuck in the gangster zone as she takes up the role to play a gun-toting gangster in her next ﬁlm, Revolver Rani and word is that she will be sitting for a 12hour make-up session daily to get her appearance right! Previously Amitabh Bachchan had to sit for extended make-up sessions for his character in Paa. The ﬁlm will be directed by Sai Kabir and produced by Tigmanshu Dhulia.

sports

FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 30, 2012

NBA

WTA TOUR

Serena Williams is player of year

Rondo banned two games for fight He will miss Friday’s home game against Portland and Saturday’s contest at Milwaukee. hard foul on Boston’s Kevin Garnett. Rondo charged at Humphries and swung at him, although the scuffle involved mostly pushing and shoving. No one was injured. Rondo was thrown out of the game, ending his streak of consecutive contests with double-digit assists at 37. Garnett was assessed a technical foul, while Humphries and Nets forward Gerald Wallace both received second technical fouls with the result they were also ejected.

She started the year poorly amid concerns over her fitness and lost in the fourth round of the Australian Open. PARIS: Serena Williams (right) has been named WTA Tour Player of the Year for the fourth time after winning Wimbledon, the US Open and Olympic gold in a stunning summer of success, though she started the year slowly. Back-to-back tournament wins in Charleston and Madrid in April and May marked a remarkable change in fortune for her. Williams, who turned 31 in September, went on to win 48 of 50 matches, landing Grand Slam titles at Wimbledon and the US Open and taking gold in London where she defeated Maria Sharapova 6-0, 6-1 in the final. She then finished the year in fitting style by winning the WTA Tour Championships in Istanbul although she remained ranked third in the world behind Victoria Azarenka and Sharapova. After her win in Turkey she said: “I’ve always said if I’m playing well and doing everything right, it’s really difficult to beat me. “I still believe that, which is great that I can still play that way. I feel like there are always ways to improve, but

I think it’s a true statement, without trying to sound really full of myself or anything.” Williams was previously honoured with the WTA award in 2002, 2008 and 2009. In the 36 years of the award, Williams is one of only three players to win it more than twice, alongside eight-time winner Steffi Graf and seven-time winner Martina Navratilova.

2012 Serena Williams 2011 Petra Kvitová 2010 Kim Clijsters 2009 Serena Williams 2008 Serena Williams 2007 Justine Henin 2006 Amélie Mauresmo 2005 Kim Clijsters 2004 Maria Sharapova 2003 Justine Henin 2002 Serena Williams 2001 Jennifer Capriati 2000 Venus Williams 1999 L Davenport 1998 L Davenport 1997 Martina Hingis 1996 Steffi Graf 1995 Steffi Graf 1994 Steffi Graf 1993 Steffi Graf 1992 Monica Seles 1991 Monica Seles 1990 Steffi Graf 1989 Steffi Graf 1988 Steffi Graf 1987 Steffi Graf 1986 M Navratilova 1985 M Navratilova 1984 M Navratilova 1983 M Navratilova 1982 M Navratilova 1981 Chris Evert-Lloyd 1980 Tracy Austin 1979 M Navratilova 1978 M Navratilova 1977 Virginia Wade

US Czech Rep Belgium US US Belgium France Belgium Russia Belgium US US US US US Sw’land Germany Germany Germany Germany FR Yug SFR Yug Germany W Germany W Germany W Germany US US US US US US US Czech Czech UK

Kevin Garnett #5, Jason Terry #4, and Rajon Rondo #9 of the Boston Celtics get into a fight with Kris Humphries #43 of the Brooklyn Nets during their game after Garnett was fouled on a play on Wednesday at TD Garden in AFP Boston, Massachusetts.

NEW YORK: Boston Celtics point guard Rajon Rondo was suspended for two games by the NBA on Thursday, a day after he was ejected from a game against the Brooklyn Nets for fighting. Rondo was deemed the instigator of the brawl, which sent players sprawling into court-side seats as the first half of the clash between the Atlantic Division rivals was winding down. Rondo took exception to Nets forward Kris Humphries’s

HYDERABAD TRACK WORK

Sand track 800 metres 2y. Musical Note (Ravinder Singh) 58.5, 600/44 Moved freely. Noble Honour (K Alam) 56, 600/43 Pleased. See My Style (Deep Shanker) 1-3, 600/47 Easy. Hamilton (Dileep) 2y. Rave Debut (Anil) 57.5, 600/42.5 Former finished in front. 2y. Ahorsewithnoname (rb) 1-0, 600/43.5 Urged. Vijays Pride (Togrolu) 54.5, 600/40.5 Caught the eye. 2y. Fearless Moment (Mukesh) 59, 600/42.5 Moved well. 2y. Nano Belle (Ait Kumar) 55, 600/42.5 Pleased.

Genius Empress (Ravinder Singh) 59. 600/43 Un-extended. Flower Drum (Mark) Khabza (app) 1-0, 600/46 They finished together. Sporting Star (app) 56, 600/43 Moved well. Winning Tactics (Ravinder Singh) 56, 600/42 Strode out well. Alexander Square (Imran Khan) 55.5, 600/42 In fine form. True Friend (M Mark) 57.5, 600/42.5 Easy. True Haven (Ravinder Singh) 57, 600/44 Easy. Cristiano (Chary) Invincible India (Kiran Naidu) 55.5, 600/41 Former finished 2 lengths in front. Rose Queen (app) 59, 600/43.5 Easy. 2y. Lovely Angel (M Mark) Great Guns (rb) 1-1.5, 600/45 They moved freely. Pantita (rb) Jaz Elle (rb) 1-2, 600/45 They moved together. Exclusive Lady (Chary) 56.5, 600/43 Moved well. Inner Strength (Imran

Rondo was deemed the instigator of the brawl, which sent players sprawling into court-side seats in the first half of the match. Wallace was handed a $35,000 fine on Thursday for escalating the altercation, with Garnett receiving a $25,000 penalty for his involvement. Humphries was not punished by the league for the incident. “Just a hard foul,” Garnett himself said. “I thought the antics after it were a bit extra, but it was a hard foul.” Even Celtics coach Doc Rivers didn’t seem to think Humphries’s initial foul on Garnett was that hard. AFP

LEAGUE CRICKET

Vijays Pride in rousing form

HYDERABAD: Vijays Pride, Specilist, Machiavellianism, Winning Tactics, Glorious View and caught the eye when horses were exercised at the Malakpet racecourse in the City this morning.

Khan) 56, 600/42.5 Pleased. Pacific Star (K Naidu) 58, 600/42 Moved well. Anacostia (rb) 57, 600/43 Moved on the bit. Dark Avanger (Imran Khan) 1-1.5, 600/45 Easy. 2y. Rebut (K Alam) 2y. Well Wisher (Alikhan) 1-2, 600/45 Former finished in front. Sand track 1000 metres Glorious View (K Alam) 1-11, 800/55, 600/41 Impressed. 2y. Snow Fall (Kiran Naidu) 2y. Golden Arrow (Chary) 1-14, 800/58.5, 6 00/42.5 Former finished in front. Sheridan (Deep Shanker) 1-14, 800/58, 600/42 Moved well. Sand track 1200 metres Specialist (Togrolu) 1-28.5, 1000/1-13.5, 800/59, 6 00/45 Easy. Machiavellianism (Ravinder Singh) 1-29, 1000/1-12, 800/57, 600/43.5 Moved on the bit.

Sand track 1400 metres Bernabeau (rb) 1-46.5, 1200/130, 1000/1-14, 800/59, 600/45 Easy. Ashoka Chakra (Chary) 145.5, 1200/12-8 1000/1-13, 800/58.5, 600/43.5 Moved on the bit. Crown Crystal (Ravinder Singh) Thirteen Black (Imran Khan) 1-44.5, 1200/1-29, 1000/1-13.5, 800/57,600/42.5 An impressive pair. Monsoon Inner Race grass 800 metres Romantic Champ (Mukesh) 2y. Amicable Advisory (rb) 50, 600/37 They moved well. 2y. Goldie (Togrolu) 55, 600/42 Easy. Monsoon Inner Race grass 1000 metres Handsome Hawk (Ravinder Singh) 1-4.5, 800/50, 600/36 Moved well.

Sayi Satya lose to Zinda HYDERABAD: CCOB 327 (Shaik Mohammed 103, Akber Khan 40, Abdul Manan 50, Mohd Siddiq Afsar 30, Vikas Mohan 4 for 66) bt Gemini Friends 229 (Pradeep 36,Navdeep Singh 71, Poojith Vamsi 52, Syed Muzammil 6 for 76, MAR Arshad 4 for 75) Sayi Satya 200 (AP Aakarsh 34, K Rakesh 69, Avinash 5 for 82, Md Faraz 3 for 25) lost to Zinda 202 for 9 (Kalim Khan 61, Surya 54no, Mohit Soni 3 for 36) A4-11 Division One Day League Championship Concord 85 (Syed Asif Mehmoodi 5 for 11) lost to Golconda 86 for 2 (Mohsin 56).

sports

FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 30, 2012

WORLD CHALLENGE INVITATIONAL

Nick leads by two strokes Watney had five birdies in his bogey-free, five-under 67 and was two strokes in front of Bradley, Graeme McDowell and Jim Furyk. REBECCA BRYAN Agence France-Presse THOUSAND OAKS: Nick Watney, trying to keep the momentum of his recent Malaysian victory going into 2013, seized a two-shot lead Thursday in the World Challenge invitational hosted by Tiger Woods. Watney, who finished last in the field of 18 in this unofficial event last season, had five birdies in his bogey-free, fiveunder 67 at Sherwood Country Club and was two strokes in front of Keegan Bradley, Graeme McDowell and Jim Furyk. Bradley hit 17 of 18 greens in regulation, his only miscue of the day a bogey at 18. The American, whose 2011 PGA Championship triumph made him the first player to win one of golf’s major titles using a long putter anchored on his midriff, admitted he was fired up by the reaction to the announcement on Wednesday by global governing bodies the Royal & Ancient and the US Golf Association that they proposed to ban the technique in 2016.

Nick Watney hits his tee shot on the sixth hole during the first round of the Tiger Woods World Challenge at Sherwood Country Club on Thursday in Thousand Oaks, California. STEPHEN DUNN/GETTY IMAGES/AFP

THOUSAND OAKS: Keegan Bradley can’t do much about those bashing his use of the belly putter on Twitter, but when his fellow pros were pouring it on, he took action. “There was a lot of joking around, a lot of ribbing and I finally had enough of it on the putting green the other day,” Bradley said Thursday, after carding a threeunder par 69 in the first round of the World Challenge invitational hosted by Tiger Woods. “I was putting with Tiger, and I grabbed Tiger’s putter, and all of a sudden I see everyone start to walk around and start to look,” said Bradley, who went into golf’s history book as the first player to win a major using a long putter “anchored” on his midriff with his triumph in the 2011 PGA Championship. “I took his putter, which is about the opposite of what I putt with -it’s upright, it’s light, it’s a blade -and I made three out of four putts from 10 feet. So I made sure to remind those guys every time I see them that I made those putts.” On Wednesday, golf’s global governing bodies announced a proposal to ban putting techniques in which the putter is anchored on the body, intensifying scrutiny of a practice that had been criticized despite being permitted by the rules of golf. AFP

VETTEL TROUBLE

TOUR DE FRANCE

Contador needs time to prepare

MADRID: Spanish cyclist Alberto Contador said Thursday he planned not to extend his exhausting career “too much” longer and insisted he needed lots of notice if he is to race in the next Tour de France. Contador played down earlier comments that suggested he may not take part in the 2013 Tour de France if his team Saxo Bank is not given ample notice of whether it is accepted in the race. “I am not thinking of extending my sporting career too much,” said Contador, who has three years left on his current contract with Saxo Bank, during a promotional appearance. I give practically everything for cycling and it takes a lot of time in my life. I spend more than 200 days a year away from home. It’s really hard and wears you out

“I’ve been catching such flak on Twitter and these other places, it would be good to kind of quiet them a little bit,” Bradley said. He was pleased to have a chance to show there was more to his game than the long putter. “I had a guy yesterday telling me to send my application in to Burger King for 2016,” Bradley said of the type of blasts he’s been getting via Twitter, although he added he’d had support on the social networking site and from the Southern California galleries as well. Bradley said he felt the timing by the R&A and USGA, with no actual rule change anticipated until 2016, put him and others who “anchor” putters to their bodies when they putt in a difficult position since for now it remains legal. “I feel like the USGA has really put an X on our back,” he said. “I don’t know if that’s exactly fair. “When we started putting with it, they were legal and they still are. It’s a sticky situation and I hope people can see through that.”

Bradley ready for challenge of putter switch

a lot.” Contador, two-time champion of the Tour de France, won his second Tour of Spain crown in September, a month after returning from a twoyear doping ban. He lost his third Tour de France title and his 2011 Giro title after being banned for testing positive for the banned substance clenbuterol during the 2010 Tour. Contador insisted on Thursday he had not been trying to put pressure on Tour organisers with his comments last week, saying he needed to have sufficient notice to prepare. “Not at all. Everyone knows how it is when you’re preparing for a Grand Tour, especially the Tour de France. You have to be thinking about that race from the very start of the season.” AFP

Ecclestone blasts row as ‘joke’

F1 supremo Bernie Ecclestone blasted the controversy surrounding Vettel’s Brazilian GP overtaking manoeuvre as a “joke”. LONDON: F1 supremo Bernie Ecclestone on Thursday blasted the controversy surrounding world champion Sebastian Vettel’s Brazilian Grand Prix overtaking manoeuvre as a “joke”. Ferrari had contacted Formula One’s governing body, the FIA, concerning the move by the Red Bull driver during last weekend’s season-ending Brazilian Grand Prix that won him a third successive title. There had been speculation that the manoeuvre could have been illegal and, if so, Vettel could have been sanctioned and thereby stripped of his title in favour of Ferrari’s Fernando Alonso who missed out on the championship by just three points. But Formula One ringmaster Ecclestone said it was a shame that the climax to the season had been overshadowed by the row.

“It’s a shame because everything had gone so well,” he told the Daily Telegraph. “It was a super race, a super championship. Now everyone is talking about this. The problem is that no-one knows what is going on.” Earlier Thursday, the respected Autosport magazine said there was “no doubt” at the FIA

that Vettel had overtaken legitimately on lap four of the race because a green flag had already been displayed in the yellow flag sector, allowing drivers to resume passing. No team had asked for a review of the incident, it added. “In the rules and regs normally you have to protest,” added Ecclestone. “They (Ferrari) missed that time. Then there is the fact that a green flag was shown, which nobody seems to dispute. It’s a complete joke. What they are saying in that letter is wrong. I don’t think there needs to be any action taken. It’s completely and utterly wrong.” On Wednesday, footage emerged on YouTube which appeared to show Vettel, the youngest triple world champion in history, overtaking Toro Rosso’s Jean-Eric Vergne under yellow flags. AFP

sports

FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 30, 2012

SOUTH AFRICA IN AUSTRALIA

WI VS BANGLADESH

SA pushed on backfoot Australis’s pace attack took honours on the first day of a match that will decide the top-ranked side in Tests, claiming vital wickets including that of Smith and Kallis. PERTH, AUSTRALIA: South Africa were in a tight spot in on the first day of the final Test match against Australia as they were struggling at 104 for six at the WACA Ground on Friday. The home side’s new pace attack took the honours during the opening session of a match that will decide the top-ranked nation in Test cricket, claiming the vital wickets of Graeme Smith, Alviro Petersen and Jacques Kallis. Hashim Amla was 11 not out at lunch, with AB de Villiers yet to score. Australia were forced to completely revamp their attack with their three pacemen from the second Test in Adelaide — Peter Siddle, Ben Hilfenhaus and James Pattinson — all ruled out. Mitchell Johnson was recalled for his first Test in 12 months, Mitchell Starc was promoted

Australia’s Mitchell Starc (2nd-R) takes the wicket of South Africa’s Alviro Petersen (L) on day one of the third Test at the WACA ground in Perth on Friday. AFP/GREG WOOD

after being 12th man for the first two matches, and John Hastings was handed his Test debut. Starc (2-32) almost claimed the wicket of Petersen when on

four, the opener adjudged lbw by umpire Richard Kettleborough only for the decision to be overturned after a review.

It was the returning Shane Watson (1-9) who claimed the first wicket to fall, having Smith caught at first slip by Michael Clarke for 16. Watson made a welcome return from a calf injury, having missed Australia’s last eight home Tests, finding a thick outside edge from Smith to remove the Proteas skipper. Just before lunch, Starc struck two telling blows. He removed Petersen when he bowled him for 30 with a full delivery, although he again had to wait until after a review, with Kettleborough wanting to check it wasn’t a front-foot no-ball. He then found a way through the defence of Kallis (2), who overcame a hamstring injury to take his place in the match, with a similar delivery, collecting the veteran’s off stump. AFP

WI win toss, elect to bat KHULNA, BANGLADESH, West India’s Darren Sammy won the toss and opted to bat in the first one-day international against Bangladesh at Sheikh Abu Naser Stadium here on Friday. The five-match series followed the two Tests which the West Indies won 2-0. Bangladesh have handed debuts to four players after their star all-rounder Shakib Al Hasan was ruled out of the first two matches. Sohag Gazi, Abul Hasan, Anamul Haque and Mominul Haque are playing their first one-day internationals. Bangladesh: Mushfiqur Rahim, Tamim Iqbal, Anamul Haque, Naeem Islam, Mohammad Mahmudullah, Mominul Haque, Nasir Hossain, Mashrafe Mortaza, Sohag Gazi, Abul Hasan, Abdur Razzak West Indies: Darren Sammy, Kieron Pollard, Darren Bravo, Chris Gayle, Devon Thomas, Sunil Narine, Ravi Rampaul, Kemar Roach, Andre Russell, Marlon Samuels, Lendl Simmons

PONTING RETIREMENT

A memorable last hurrah?

Ricky Ponting will walk into the blue yonder at the same ground where it all began 17 years ago. TWELFTH MAN

Babu Kalyanpur

he Punter won’t be gambling with his skill or luck in a few days. Ricky Ponting, batsman supreme, will walk into the blue yonder at the same ground where it all began 17 years ago. He timed his exit probably a year too late. Back then, he had rediscovered the golden touch which made him such a heavy scorer in the game. But this season has been bad. Though he claimed his form was good, the scoreboard did not show it. His dismissal to a yorker, falling flat on his face, in the second Test against South Africa caused mirth. Mr Consistent was “not being consistent enough”. The decision took his teammates by surprise. They were in tears as was Ponting. Captain Michael Clarke’s eyes welled up during the announcement. It just proved what Ponting meant to them and Australian cricket. He could have stretched it on

and had one last crack in the Ashes next year. But if you have to go then you have to go. There are two more chances possibly for Ponting to sign off on a high note. His fans will be hoping for a fairy-tale ending. There are already 13,366 runs and 41 centuries in the bag. That in itself justifies the greatness of the batsman. A century in his last Test would satisfy him and complement the 96 scored on his debut against Sri Lanka in 1995. Ultimately his one major weakness proved his downfall. The leaden footed approach at the start of the innings became a big issue. He shuffled across, playing with hard hands and this was easily exploited by the bowlers. He was always a big leg before candidate. But if he managed to play out the first few overs, then the magic began to flow. Ponting’s trademark shots were the hook and the pull. He was one of the finest exponents of these strokes. It was pure joy watching him swivel and crack the ball between mid-on and fine leg. He was equally adept and

playing strokes either side of the wicket off the front and back foot. What made Ponting exceptional was he was an aggressive competitor who never gave an inch. At times his aggression was taken to the extreme and he got into trouble with the authorities. The unsavoury incidents involving India, particularly between his long time tormentor Harbhajan Singh and Andrew

Symonds, had left a bad taste. Ponting was earmarked for bigger things since his first class debut at age 17. He was the youngest player for his state Tasmania and also score a century. The selectors hemmed and hawed over his maturity before handing him a first Test cap against the touring Sri Lankans in 1995. Though coming in with Australia on a comfortable score, he got to 96. But he never had a settled place until 1999 against the West Indies. Then the hundreds began to flow, He had a great Ashes in 2003 against the touring English side. The good batsman was becoming great. He could play the fast bowlers well until he started to show a little weakness against the short stuff later in his career. Spin was not his cup of tea. He has a poor record in India until his last tour. His tormentor was Harbhajan. Ponting was lucky to captain Australia when they were the best team in the world. This made his job easy. But once the stars began to age, Ponting began to face prob-

lems. The twin Ashes losses in England rankles in the mind of the Australian fans. Ponting’s captaincy came under scrutiny. He proved to be unimaginative and sometimes distracted when the pressure mounted. The 2007-2008 season saw the retirement of two ace bowlers, Glenn McGrath and Shane Watson. This loosened Australia’s grip as the undisputed No 1 side. Ponting was in charge when the downslide started. This has taken away something from his captaincy. Though Ponting preferred the five-day variety of the game, he was a superb one-day player. He was also one of the best slip fielders in the world. The history books will always rate him as a cricket legend. In Australia, he probably is the second best player after the great Don Bradman. The figures won’t lie on that. Ponting marked his 100th Test with twin centuries. It will be poetic justice if he gets one at Perth and silence his critics a final time and have a memorable last hurrah.

FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 30, 2012

sports

Lee Keun-Ho crowned Asian player of the year Ulsan Hyundai winger Lee Keun-Ho was crowned Asian footballer of the year Thursday as officials bent their strict rules on attendance by giving an award to Manchester United’s Shinji Kagawa in absentia.

PREMIER LEAGUE PREVIEW

BALLON D’OR

Carrick: Cutting edge must The midfielder says his club Manchester United lacks the killer instinct. CHRIS MCKENNA Agence France-Presse MANCHESTER, UK: Michael Carrick (right) believes it is time Manchester United rediscovered their ruthless streak as they bid to regain the English Premier League title. Alex Ferguson’s side visit strugglers Reading on Saturday looking to maintain their one-point advantage over rivals and defending champions Manchester City at the top of the table. United had conceded the first goal in their previous five games before Wednesday’s 1-0 win over West Ham when it took striker

The top 10 ahead of this weekend matches Man Utd 14 11 0 3 33 18 33 Man City 14 9 5 0 27 10 32 Chelsea 14 7 5 2 24 13 26 West Brom 14 8 2 4 24 18 26 Tottenham 14 7 2 5 25 23 23 Everton 14 5 7 2 24 18 22 Arsenal 14 5 6 3 24 14 21 Swansea 14 5 5 4 21 17 20 Stoke 14 4 7 3 13 12 19 West Ham 14 5 4 5 16 16 19 (played, won, drawn, lost, goals for, goals against, points)

Robin van Persie just 33 seconds to find the back of the net. But United’s failure to add a second goal which ensured a nervous finish for the record 19-times league winners. Now Carrick has called on United to show the same sharp edge they demonstrated when last winning the Premier League title in the 2010/11 season. “We had a spell, a year or two ago, when we were starting games really well and killing teams off really early,” Carrick said. “We want to get back to that. “We want to make it that way, certainly in the games that are to come because going a goal down has made things a lot harder for us than they should have been,” the United and England midfielder added. “Keeping a clean sheet gives us something to build on in the future. “The clean sheet is something to build on because the performance needs to be better,” he insisted. “We’re still in a good position at the top of the league. We are quite satisfied.” Carrick admitted United’s performances had to improve after they struggled against Norwich, QPR and West Ham in their last three outings.

MANCHESTER, UK: Manchester City defender Matija Nastasic has called on the Premier League champions to add more clean sheets in December as they bid to overtake leaders Manchester United.

The 19-year-old made his eighth successive appearance for City against Wigan on Wednesday as they kept hot on the tails of Premier League leaders United with a 2-0 win. Roberto Mancini’s side welcome Everton to Eastlands on Saturday and Nastasic wants the champions to keep it tight at

the back even though they will have their hands full with Nikica Jelavic and Marouane Fellaini in town. Serbian centre-back Nastastic has been impressive since linking up with Vincent Kompany in the heart of City’s defence and Mancini’s team have conceded just one goal in

Messi, Ronaldo, Iniesta up for award Previous d’Or winners

Nastasic wants champs City to tighten up CHRIS MCKENNA Agence France-Presse

their last six league matches. Nastasic was largely unknown in English football when he arrived from Fiorentina in pre-season but now he has City fans singings his praises. And he is keeping Kolo Toure and Joleon Lescott on the bench for the side with the best defensive record in the league.

BRIEFS Scolari is back as Brazil coach

Beckham not ready to retire yet

Ronaldinho to stay with Atletico Mineiro

Give me back my boots, player begs fans

SAO PAULO: Brazil on Thursday officially announced Luiz Felipe Scolari as their coach to lead them through to the 2014 World Cup finals on home soil, replacing Mano Menezes, sacked last week. The Brazilian Football Confederation named 2002 World Cup winner Scolari for a second spell at the helm.

LOS ANGELES: David Beckham says he’s not ready to retire just yet, but when he does Major League Soccer will be standing by to help him take up his option to buy into the league whose horizons he helped expand. His deal with the Los Angeles Galaxy entails him the right to exercise an option to become an owner.

RIO DE JANEIRO: Former Brazil star Ronaldinho has extended his contract with modest top flight side Atletico Mineiro for one year, the president of the Belo Horizonte club announced on Thursday. “You wanted him. He is staying,” Alexandre Kalil tweeted. Ronaldinho is a World Cup winner in 2002.

MBABANE, SWAZILAND: Swaziland striker Mfanzile Ndzimandze has begged disgruntled fans to return his football boots which were seized after his team's worst drubbing in decades. The boots were taken away when fans of Ndzimandze's team the Mbabane Highlanders went berserk after a recent match.

1956: Stanley Matthews (ENG) 1957: Alfredo Di Stefano (ESP) 1958: Raymond Kopa (FRA) 1959: Alfredo Di Stefano (ESP) 1960: Luis Suarez (ESP) 1961: Omar Sivori (ITA) 1962: Josef Masopust (CZE) 1963: Lev Yachin (URSS) 1964: Denis Law (SCO) 1965: Eusebio (POR) 1966: Bobby Charlton (ENG) 1967: Florian Albert (HUN) 1968: George Best (NIR) 1969: Gianni Rivera (ITA) 1970: Gerd Mueller (GER) 1971: Johan Cruyff (NED) 1972: Franz Beckenbauer (GER) 1973: Johan Cruyff (NED) 1974: Johan Cruyff (NED) 1975: Oleg Blokhin (URSS) 1976: Franz Beckenbauer (GER) 1977: Alan Simonsen (DEN) 1978: Kevin Keegan (ENG) 1979: Kevin Keegan (ENG) 1980: Karl-Heinz Rummenigge (GER) 1981: Karl-Heinz Rummenigge (GER) 1982: Paolo Rossi (ITA) 1983: Michel Platini (FRA) 1984: Michel Platini (FRA) 1985: Michel Platini (FRA) 1986: Igor Belanov (URSS) 1987: Ruud Gullit (NED) 1988: Marco van Basten (NED) 1989: Marco van Basten (NED) 1990: Lothar Matthaeus (GER) 1991: Jean-Pierre Papin (FRA) 1992: Marco van Basten (NED) 1993: Roberto Baggio (ITA) 1994: Hristo Stoichkov (BUL) 1995: George Weah (LBR) 1996: Matthias Sammer (GER) 1997: Ronaldo (BRA) 1998: Zinedine Zidane (FRA) 1999: Rivaldo (BRA) 2000: Luis Figo (POR) 2001: Michael Owen (ENG) 2002: Ronaldo (BRA) 2003: Pavel Nedved (CZE) 2004: Andrei Shevchenko (UKR) 2005: Ronaldinho (BRA) 2006: Fabio Cannavaro (ITA) 2007: Kaka (BRA) 2008: Cristiano Ronaldo (POR) 2009: Lionel Messi (ARG) 2010: Lionel Messi (ARG) 2011: Lionel Messi (ARG)

CHRIS WRIGHT Agence France-Presse SAO PAULO: Lionel Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo and Andres Iniesta were on Thursday shortlisted for this year’s Ballon d’Or, football’s world governing body FIFA and sponsors France Football magazine said. Barcelona forward Messi, 25, has already won the title three times and the Argentine is again favourite to win the prize.