Postnoon E-Paper for 01 March 2012 by Scribble Media & Entertainment Pvt. Ltd.

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CHASING THE

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IAS DREAM Times have changed, so have aspirations. If you thought that fixed timings, a relaxed weekend, on-site projects, working from home and a fat pay check have hopelessly hooked the youth to the IT industry, then it’s time for a reality check. In the State, the civil services are making a comeback, and the youth are looking at life beyond the digital domain. REPORT ON PG 8

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CROOKS DRUG, LOOT PASSENGERS FLASH

THURSDAY, MARCH 1, 2012 HYDERABAD

Passengers of an air-conditioned coach (A1) of the Hazrath Nizamuddin-Tirupati Sampark Kranthi Express were drugged by miscreants near Kagaznagar by offering them snacks laced with sedatives and relieved of their valuables, according to M Kantha Rao, SP, Railways.

Page Two

THURSDAY, MARCH 1, 2012

Spirit of Twin Cities

PLAYFUL MOMENTS

Kalighat Victoria Memorial and London’s Victoria hall and Albert museum present Kalighat, an exhibition of paintings from Kalighat.The exhibition features 100 of paintings by 15 contemporary artists currently working in rural Bengal. Where: Salarjung Museum, Charminar When: Ongoing, 10am Contact: (040) 2452 3211

SRINIVAS SETTY

Art from the heart Muse Art Gallery presents a charity art show by Anjum Mohammadi (Karachi) for Soul. Where: Muse Gallery, Tank Bund When: Ongoing, 11am Contact: (040) 2752 2999

Musical play As a part of Rangasutra, catch a musical theatre presentation, Ghalib by Pierrot’s Troupe, New Delhi. The play stars artists such as Tom Alter, Vijay Gupta, Anil George, Hareesh Chhabra. Where:Nift, Madhapur When: March 1, 7.30pm Contact: (040) 2311 0841

Violin brothers Renowed Violinists-Mysore Brothers, Nagaraj & Manjunath will perform live at Ravindra Bharati. Where: Ravindra Bharti, Saifabad When: March 1, 6pm Contact: (040) 2323 3672

Technical fest MGIT ( Mahatma Gandhi Institute of Technology) presents the first ever MICROCOSM’12, a National level technical symposium. Where: MGIT, Gandipet When: March 1-2,9am Contact: 08413 233355

Midnight Buffet

Chowrasta

Momo Cafe

Catch the painting exhibition Chowrasta featuring artistes such as Natraj S, Thirumala M Thirupathi, Srinivas Mouni and Subodh Singh. Where: Shrishti Art Gallery, Jubilee Hills When: Ongoing, 11am Contact: (040) 2354 0023

Momo Café at the Marriot presents a new A-La-Carte Menu with delicacies such as Thai,Classic Western, Oriental and South Indian. Where: Hyderabad Marriot, Tank Bund When: Ongoing Contact: (040) 2752 2999

Go Splash

Acting workshop

Midnight hunger pangs? Head to Best Western for it’s midnight buffet where you can enjoy Hyderabadi dum biryani and live dosa with chicken curry every night. Where: Best Western Jubilee Hills When: Ongoing, 10.30pm-2.30am Contact: 80083 00373

Splash lounge is the perfect leisure destination for you to unwind at the poolside. During the evenings, the atmosphere gets romantic with great music, martinis and apertifs. Where: The Westin, Madhapur When: Monday-Friday, 5pm-10.30pm Weekends, 8am-10.30pm Contact: (040) 6767 6828

Voice and Ventriloquy

Painting exhibition

Gallery Space presents Voice and Ventriloquy- a solo show by Subroto Chowdhury . The exhibition is on till March 10. Where: Gallery Space, Banjara Hills When: Ongoing, 11am to 7pm Contact: (040) 6554 1836

CINEMAS

An exhibition featuring artistes such as Konduru Nageshwar Rao, Narendranath Palala, T Nageswara Rao and Rajeshwar Nyalapali will be displayed at Inspire Art Gallery. Where: Inspire Art Gallery Hyderguda When: February 28, 11am Contact: (040) 3062 844

Samahaara- an acting and dancing workshop is being held. The workshop focusses on a variety of topics such as understanding the basics of stage acting, character analysis, stage and rehearsal terms, movement and stage geography. Where: The Actor’s studio, Madhapur When: Ongoing, 7pm to 9pm Contact: 98854 04784

Silk Utsav Madhya Pradesh Khadi & Village Industries Board, Bhopal is hosting an MP Silk Utsav.Head to the exhibition for a variety of exotic & colourful bagh Khadi sarees, Maheshwari sarees, cotton and poly khadi dress material along with quality products made by SHG’s such as spices, pickles.

Where: Institute of Engineers, Khairtabad When: Ongoing, 10am Contact: (040) 2339 4969

Royal Culinary Journey Royal Culinary Journey Of Sailana. Maharaja Vikram Singh of Sailana and Chef Sharad Dewan of The Park Hotels are giving you an opportunity to savour the treasure trove of secret recipes that have been given a contemporary treatment by The Park. Where: The Park, Somajiguda When: Ongoing, 7pm Contact: (040) 2345-6789

Through her eyes Iconart Art Gallery plays host to ‘Through her eyes’- an art exhibition by Priyanka Poogalia. The exhibition is on till March 4. Where: Iconart, Banjara Hills When: Ongoing, 11.30am Contact: 98499 68797

Basically Hyderabadi An art exhibition titled Basically Hyderabadi by artist Syed Rayees Ahmed is on at Arts Heaven, Red Hills.The Where: Arts Heaven, Red Hills When: Ongoing, 11.30am

Big Cinemas, Ameerpet, 30581470; Cinemax, Banjara Hills, 44565555; Cine Planet, Kompally, 61606060; Inox, Banjara Hills, 447677770, Prasads, Tank Bund Rd, 23448888; PVR, Punjagutta, 08800900009; Talkie Town, Miyapur, 40214175; Tivoli, Secunderabad 27844973

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THURSDAY, MARCH 1, 2012

He steals hearts, cash CRIME Mohd Subhan mohd.s@postnoon.com

n his dapper dress with a laptop carelessly slung across his shoulder, cropped beard and combed hair, shining shoes and sparkling eyes, you’d take him for a well-paid executive or an IT engineer. And, you would probably throw a second glance at him for he not only does he look as attractive as ‘Serpent’ Charles Shobraj does, he is suave and wellmannered. But, unlike Charles, he never kills, nor does he resort to violence. He only wants to share your property, and that’s that. But, police know him for what he is — an accomplished thief who has a pan-South Indian presence with scores of cases registered against him in Karnataka, Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh. K Vijay Simha, 35, comes from a good family of priests in Bangalore. After his intermediate, he did

not waste time in college where he was sent but began to chart out a more profitable crime career. Retelling his story to Postnoon is crime inspector of Musheerabad, Mohd Riyazuddin. He has been curiously interested in this criminal for his different ways. All about him came up in two instances when he was nailed in the past 18 years — once in Visakhapatnam in 1998 and once in Hyderabad by the Humayun Nagar police, again in 1998. He was convicted for two years and he went through imprisonment with his characteristic suavity. It was in these two instances, police for the first time got his finger print and other details of his exploits. In fact, it is said that, he was a highly sought after ‘star’ in prison as he would tell the ‘admiring’ jailbirds how he managed to get in and get out of homes like an eel. Now, Riyazuddin’s interest is rekindled because he was tipped off that the con artiste is again in Hyderabad. But, dammed the police know

Vijay Simha where he is camping. Police therefore have done their usual method — flashing his information and a photograph to all police stations and asking them to pick him up. “Vijay’s modus operandi is not very different from other burglars. He goes around looking casually in carefully studied localities and spot the homes where both husband

and wife are working. He enters only locked homes and preferably where every family member is working. He has a master key that unlocks most brands of keys whether they have 7 levers or 14 levers. He goes directly to the cupboards, and more often than not he usually finds a key beneath the pillow, under a flower pot or on top of the cupboard itself. It is the housewife’s psychology, he claims. Vijay is wanted in so many police stations across south India that it is difficult to count how many housebreaking are (dis) credited to him. But he has been giving the police the slip for the past 14 years. In Hyderabad alone 24 cases of thefts are registered against him in Humayun Nagar, Chikkadpally, Gandhinagar, Nallakunta, Gopalapuram, Marredpally. The Bangalore police informed Hyderabad police that his father’s name is Gururaj and he lives in Vidya Manya Nagar, Andrahalli. But he last visited his home eight years ago. His parents, natural-

Lessons for you n

Don’t keep your safe key under a pillow anymore

Nor should you keep it under the flower pot

Keep a good Indian dog if both husband and wife are away working

Double lock and put a safety bar to your front and back doors

ly, do not approve of his wayward ways. The police said it is not clear if he is married but he has a lavish lifestyle. Sadly, he is his parents only son.

Lifestyle to beat a Raja “Vijay believes in today, and living life to the fullest,” said one policeman who knew him when he was arrested by the Humayun Nagar police station 12 years ago. After a good hunt he vanishes to enjoy the exploits. He has girl friends in Goa, Mumbai, Bangalore and probably in Hyderabad too. He is not stingy when his purse is full. And, it is said, Vijay even plays bit of a Robin Hood once a while, giving a portion of the loot to poor but anonymously.

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City water supply in dire straits ANIL KUMAR

WATER Md Inkeshaf Ahmed Ahmed.m@postnoon.com

he 7.5 million residents of Hyderabad are going to face water woes this summer. Indiscriminate and illegal drawing of ground water and loss of lakes and trees apart, the five reservoirs; the City’s life savers, are drying up fast, sounding a warning signal across the Twin Cities. Officials in the know of things say illegal drawing of ground water is resulting in depleting water levels in most mandals of Hyderabad and Ranga Reddy districts. The main sources of drinking water supply for the City are Osmansagar, Himayatsagar, Manjeera and Akkampally (Krishna waters) reservoirs. The water board is sourcing 340 MGD (million gallons per day) to meet drinking water demands of the residents. The Osmansagar, Himayatsagar and Manjeera reservoirs have already recorded a severe drop in water levels even as summer is yet to begin, official sources said. The reservoir level recorded in Manjeera reservoir as on Wednesday ( February 29, 2012) is 1645.400ft. Last year, this level stood at 1648.000 ft. Manjeera reservoir alone is responsible for supplying of 179.08 MGD of drinking water every day. When it comes to Himayatsagar and Osman sagar reservoirs, both have recorded a shocking drop in water levels. While Osmansagar registered a water level of 1775.500 ft with a capacity of 1.353 TMC of water, Himayatsagar registered a level of 1748.500 ft with a capacity 0.932 TMC. Last year, the levels at both Osmansagar and Himayatsagar stood at 1788.900 and 1762.120 ft with a combined capacity of 6.273 TMC of water. There has been a decrease of 3.988 TMC of water in both these reser-

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voirs as compared to last year. But, if we look at the overall status and the capacity of our reservoirs, we can supply water till the end of May this year. If it does not rain in June, then we will face problems,” HMWS&SB director (technical and operations) S Prabhakar Sharma told Postnoon on Wednesday. He also said that they don’t have any contingency plan to face summer onslaught and added that they would make changes in schedules of drinking water supply as a precautionary measure. Urgent regulatory measures to ensure ground water is not indiscriminately exploited by profiteers ought to be in place if we want to avert a drought.

Drinking water supplied from various reservoirs on February 29, 2012 SOURCE Osmansagar Himayatsagar Manjeera-Ph-I Manjeera-Ph-II Manjeera-Ph-III Manjeera-Ph-IV Krishna-Ph-I K-Ph-II Total:

QUANTITY OF SUPPLY 23.00 MGD 16.80 MGD 16.50 MGD 27.50 MGD 36.08 MGD 41.58 MGD 90.19 MGD 91.70 MGD 343.35 MGD

voirs as on February 28. If these water levels continue to drop, the situation will go from bad to worse and lead to a huge crisis. However, water board officials insist they can supply

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drinking water till May with the present capacity in the reservoirs. If this drop in water levels continues till the month of June, a water crisis will result. “It’s true that the water levels are decreasing in some reser-

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 Hospitals, Musheerabad Care Hospital, Sec-bad Kamineni Hospital,

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AMBULANCES Apollo 23548888, 23607777 Kamineni 24022222 Medwin 23202902, 23204616 Smile Line Dental Hospital 23747979 Red Cross 27627973 Niloufer Hospital 23314095 Gandhi 23320332

AIRLINES Airport Director 27903785, 27906001 For Air India Flight Information Toll free (from any network) for IC Flights 18001801407 And for All Flights: 1800227722 Air India has revised its flight timings. For more information call (Toll free) 18001801407, 1800227722 from BSNL/MTNL 04023430334 from other lines and mobile Website; www.airindia.in TOURISM OFFICES AP Tourism, Hyd 23262152/53/54 Sec’bad 27893100 Dept of Tourism 23453110 India Tourism 23261360 AP Tourism information Centre (24x7) 23450444, 23455999

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

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Readers’ views We invite you to write to us comments, suggestions, viewpoint or just about anything to feedback@postnoon.com or #1246, Level 3, Jubilee Casa, Road No 62, Jubilee Hills, Hyderabad – 500 033 or even by way of a call on 4067 2222

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Delhi belly grips politicos Snacking netas POLITICS A Saye Sekhar and U Srinivas feedback@postnoon.com

ith minister Mukesh Goud stirring the proverbial Hornet’s nest over his proposed contest from Secunderabad Lok Sabha constituency, several Congress leaders are now angling for contesting the Lok Sabha elections, which are two years away. They are making their intentions public. And, what’s more, they don’t want anyone else to seek an election from the constituencies they propose to vacate. They wish to have their kin succeed them. Mukesh announced his intention to move to Secunderabad Lok Sabha seat, leaving Goshamahal Assembly constituency to his son. This angered sitting MP Anjan Kumar Yadav, who asserted that it wasn’t anybody’s fiefdom to contest from Secunderabad. The party high command would decide on who should contest. He rejected Mukesh Goud’s suggestion that he should move to

Mushirabad Assembly constituency. Now, the government whip Turpu Jayaprakash Reddy, who is representing Sangareddy constituency, is nursing an ambition to contest the Lok Sabha elections from Medak constituency and field his wife from his Assembly seat. She is already the president of Medak district mahila Congress. He claimed that the elections were forced by the TRS and the elections for KCR were just for collections and not for the welfare of the people. Bandari Raji Reddy, MLA from Uppal, suddenly sprang a surprise saying that Sarve Satyanrayana, sitting MP from

Malkajgiri Lok Sabha constituency, should not be fielded again, as he would lose. The legislator vowed that he would work against Satynarayana getting the ticket. Congress circles are saying that home minister Sabitha Indra Reddy is engaged in a turf war with Chevella MP and union minister S Jaipal Reddy. She wants to seek an election from Chevella this time, leaving her Maheswaram Assembly seat to her son. Elsewhere, T Subbarami Reddy is announcing time and again that he would be contesting from Visakhapatnam Lok Sabha seat and Union Minister of State D Purandeswari will have to move on, as she was a ‘non-local’. However, the minister asserted that she would not go anywhere and wanted to seek a re-election from Visakhapatnam only. Congress leaders, who used to remain tight-lipped on such issues during YSR’s regime, became more vocal and making their intent more explicit. Even J C Diwakar Reddy said on Wednesday that he wanted to move to Parliament. He is primarily angling for a Rajya Sabha seat.

freeze House work ASSEMBLY U Srinivas srinivas.u@postnoon.com

fter making some cosmetic changes on the Assembly premises, now the authorities want to revert to the time-tested practices. The dining hall in the outer lobbies of the Assembly has proved costly for the Assembly session on Wednesday. While the session was on in the evening, snacks were served for the MLAs in the dining hall. The MLAs in large numbers came out of the House and had snacks as they were hungry. This led to a lack of quorum in the House and the deputy speaker who was in the chair had no other option but to adjourn the House as the members present were less than 20. The quorum required is 30 out of the 294 members. The session was resumed only after the legislators returned. With this, the speaker decided that the dining must be

arranged for the MLAs in the inner lobbies of the House as it was done earlier. In the earlier sessions, the members used to go out and come in and participate in the discussions in small numbers and there was no problem for the quorum. But with the members now coming out to the outer lobbies for food the quorum is suddenly dropping. The air-conditioner’s temperature is set for 200 to 250 members in the House any time. But with the lesser number of members being present, those in the House are shivering due to low temperature. It is learnt that they requested the staff to reduce the cooling capacity.

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` 349/A vendor dusts masks meant to ward off the evil eye.

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Jagan MLAs to be booted out Postnoon News feedback@postnoon.com

hat has expedited the acceptance of the resignation of Nellore MP Mekapati Rajamohan Reddy? Why speaker Meira Kumar pronounced her decision on Wednesday, after keeping the resignation submitted on August 24 last year in cold storage for a long time? There is a reason. While parliamentary procedures have duly been followed, the Congress leadership wants to send across a message to the ‘impudent’ legislators who act against the party.

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It is only a matter of time before speaker N Manohar disqualifies MLAs supporting YS Jagan. They openly threw a challenge to the party leadership by admitting that they had defied the Congress whip on the floor of the House. Election to six seats of Rajya Sabha are slated for April. The notification for this is likely very soon. The process of election of the President too would commence in May as Pratibha Patil is due to retire in July. The 17 legislators owing allegiance to Jagan would become crucial in both these elections.

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THURSDAY, MARCH 1, 2012

Campaigns, hard news and spirit of Twin Cities

Gandhi ER on the frontline

N SHIVA KUMAR

HEALTH Osama Salman and Rahul Ramakrishna feedback@postnoon.com

R REAL ESTATE GACHIBOWLI TO VATTINAGULAPALLY ORR FACING HOUSING PLOTS FOR SALE. NEAR MICROSOFT, WIPRO, ICICI, INFOTECH, KOKAPET IT SEZ. CONTACT - 9989354333

Girl student kidnapped

sixth class girl student has disappeared and parents suspect that she was kidnapped According to information, Anusha, studying in GMR school,Shamshabad had gone to school on Tuesday and had not returned. The police have registered a case.

ash driving has always resulted in serious injuries, or in worst case scenario, death. If you are one of the unfortunate victims, you will, in all probability, be taken to Gandhi Hospital for treatment. Why Gandhi Medical College and hospital? For those who came in late, it is a government hospital, where everyone who is admitted is treated for free. Statistics suggest that 10 to 15 patients injured in road accidents are admitted to the emergency ward here every day. That gives rise to a question if the hospital is equipped enough to handle so many emergency patients. Upon entering Gandhi Medical College’s emergency block, the atmosphere is gloomy. Patients lay on beds awaiting treatment and their attendants patiently consoling them standing by the side of patients. On a sunny Wednesday morning, a 108 ambulance with its siren on, sped into the porch and screeched to a halt. Doctors and nurses rushed to treat the patient. As unfortunate as it may sound, this patient was injured in the accident sans any fault of his. It turns out that he was a pedestrian and hit by a speeding car. The patient, who was profusely bleeding from his head, was taken on a stretcher into the emergency room. The doctors enquired the condition of the patient and recorded an MLC (medico-legal case). Soon, the doctors arrested excessive bleeding. Upon enquiring

C AMPAIGN further about his condition, a specialist and his team of members were called in to take over the treatment process. The patient was then moved to the operation theatre on the advice of experts. This is the procedure that an accident victim goes through if he/she is sent to Gandhi Hospital. Is the hospital equipped to handle such challenges? “Yes,” says S Mahboob, superintendent of the hospital. “We have the resources to handle treatment to patients in such emergencies. We get a large

THE FACES OF HYDERABAD Deepak Gosar, Fashion Designer, West Marredpally

number of cases every day and we handle them effectively,” he says. A doctor in the emergency room agrees, “Several accident cases are registered in the city. Most of them occur due to rash driving and negligence. We treat a patient well, but by the time they come in, they are on the verge of death and at times there is only little that we can do.” Dr Reddy, a senior doctor in the emergency room, says that accident victims lose a lot of blood and there is always an immediate requirement of blood. “Most of the times, the victims’ relatives donate blood. But in rare cases, we have to buy blood from private blood banks which can be an expensive affair,” he pointed out. Often, the fate of an accident victim revolves round the corridors AISHWARYA YERRA

of private and corporate hospitals. There have been several theories surrounding the fate of the victims with fingers pointing at the attitude of corporate hospitals that seek to maintain their ‘track record’ clean. Usually victims who can’t be saved, or are in no condition to pay the exorbitant fee of treatment, they are sent to a government hospital. Unfortunately, it is too late to save them. “The accident victims who are sent in for treatment by the corporate hospitals, are always in a bad shape. Some corporate hospitals send their patients when they are about to die or can’t afford to pay the hospital bills,” confirms the Superintendent. However, he adds that it is also the fault of the patients who wittingly or unwittingly get admitted there.

Battle of the Bands begins Postnoon News

eepak owns one of the most successful boutiques in Secunderabad and it is clear why; he has an amazing talent for designing clothes. In an age where most want to study engineering and fulfil their American dream, Deepak chose a road less travelled. He studied fashion merchandising at Illinois College of Arts and went on to work at Harley Davidson. On returning to India, he worked at Neeru’s as an operations head. When asked how fashion designing happened, he said that his

Aishwarya Yerra A city is defined by the people who live and work in it. Here we take a look at the human threads that make up our urban tapestry

mother-in-law was selling her boutique and he realised that it would be interesting to pursue a career in designing. He bought the shop and opened a boutique. According to him he wanted to be in both aspects of fashion; marketing as well as designing. His passion for his work is what drives him to work for 12-14 hours a day. On his future plans, the designer says that he wants open 5-6 more branches and in two years wants to showcase his collection at the Hyderabad Fashion Week.

or those who are always cribbing about what a dull music scene Hyderabad has, then the Hard Rock Cafe Global Battle of the Bands Competition will change your mind. There will be power-packed performances by new and upcoming talent at HRC every Thursday. The competition, will give a local band the chance of a lifetime – to be on the bill with Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band and additional headlining performers at 2012 Hard Rock Calling music festival in London’s Chokfite, Crysis and, Eclipse Alchemy will slug it out tonight. Battle of the Bands 2012, Venue: Hard Rock Cafe Time: 8pm onwards

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Need not whine over swine flu It’s evolving

HEALTH

Why does swine flu break out during summers? The H1N1 virus has developed genetic mutations and therefore is evolving. As a result a few of its characteristics are changing. Vaccinations do not work very well against mutated viruses.

Aishwarya Yerra aishwarya.y@postnoon.com

he dreaded swine flu or the H1N1 virus, whose outbreak in the City almost two years ago rattled everyone, has resurfaced. Even though it is not the ‘season’ for swine flu, it has been confirmed that two individuals have been affected by the virus and admitted to Yashoda hospital in Malakpet on Wednesday.

Fact File How does swine flu spread: Through air, nasal secretions. Symptoms: Very high fever accompanied by cough. Most importantly acute breathlessness. Precautions: Using masks and vaccinations. Usually, the outbreak of swine flu cases occurs in the monsoon and winter months. But the cases that were confirmed yesterday are just isolated instances. The City has always panicked whenever there have been cases of swine flu. But doctors and the government lament that there is no reason to worry too much over swine flu, as it is like any other virus and there is no reason to spread unnecessary panic among the public. Says Dr Lavanya Nutankalva,

infection medicine specialist, Apollo Hospitals, “These two instances are only isolated cases. H1N1 should be treated like other viruses; take prompt medical action and precautionary measures against it. There is no reason to get scared.”

People who have a history of diabetes, high fever and asthma are susceptible to swine flu as their immune system is not strong enough. The two patients who were admitted to Yashoda for contracting the virus are Ramulu, 42 and Sayyeda, 55. One

2 speed guns nab 23,000 law breakers

SRINIVAS SETTY

of them is diabetic and the other is asthmatic. So it proves that this outbreak of swine flu should be not be considered a pandemic. “Both the patients have a history of medical conditions that make them highly susceptible to swine flu. And they contracted the

TRAFFIC Anubha Singh anubha.k@postnoon.com

our itch for revving up the accelerator while zooming on a smooth, empty road runs riot occasionally. We’ve heard of speed-breakers, speed governors and speed guns. But what prevents you from speeding is a whitecoloured vehicle fitted with a speed camera. Such is the impact of the interceptor van that its mere presence is enough to get motorists to fall in line with rules. In their effort to curb accidents in the twin cities, the traffic police had procured an interceptor van and two speed laser guns in 2009. These vans keep a check on rash drivers and traffic violators. But the irony is that the City has just one such vehicle, while cities like Delhi have 10 to 12 interceptors. Worse still, one of the two laser guns doesn’t work. Growing road accidents, especially on the Outer Ring Road, are a serious concern for the denizens of the City. They could be prevented with the help of interceptor vehicles, but the single vehicle is unable to meet the requirement. GVG Ashok Kumar, DCP traffic, said, “In addition to the shortage of manpower, it’s a costly affair too. The vehicle costs around `30-40 lakhs. A team of two

virus from carriers who were not infected by it as they had healthy immune systems,” says Dr Krishna Mohan Reddy, physician, treating the swine flu patients in Yashoda. He says that they expect at least one or two such sporadic cases every month. Yashoda Hospitals is fully geared up to face any more swine flu cases. They have a special quarantine ward where the patient is isolated and doctors and nurses have to wear Hazmat suits while attending to them and even the patient’s relatives who were exposed to the infection are put under quarantine. Says Dr Krishna Mohan Reddy, “We have a special quarantine ward with a separate ventilator. We are very happy with the way the government is responding to the situation. They are providing the medication for the swine flu patients and carrying out the diagnostic tests with IPM. They are making sure results arrive within an hour.” The patients Ramulu and Sayyeda are said to be in a stable condition and will be discharged in four days.

motor vehicle inspectors, two constables, one driver and a computer expert, are required to operate the vehicle. The department cannot afford to deploy a team specifically for this purpose. However, we are planning to purchase more vehicles in the next three months,” he adds. In 2010, a total of 22,129 cases were booked for crossing the speed limit and in 2011, around 23,000 cases were booked with the help of interceptor van. Laser speed guns are the main tools of the van. If a vehicle is found to have crossed the prescribed speed limit, usually 60 kmph, the camera attached to the device captures its picture. This is usually used to prosecute the accused for dangerous driving. These vehicles are equipped with a specialised camera that rotates 360 degrees and captures the images of vehicles and persons violating traffic rules. “Once the picture is captured an echallan is sent to the owner of the vehicle which he needs to pay in a week’s time,” Kumar said. Violators will be punished under the Motor Vehicle Act for overspeeding and posing danger to others with a fine up to `200 to `1,000 and/or imprisonment of up to six months. And if the violator commits the offence twice in three years, then he/she would be levied a penalty of `2,000 and imprisonment up to two years.

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THURSDAY, MARCH 1, 2012

Campaigns, hard news and spirit of Twin Cities

Techies take IAS road Job security, authority attract IT professionals to civil services PICTURE ONLY FOR REPRESENTATIONAL PURPOSES

IAS officer THE BREAD Pay Scales IAS salary structure consists of four pay scales and candidate is eligible for promotion after 7-9 years of service. (i) Senior time scale Pay Band: `15,60039,100. Grade pay `6,600 (ii) Junior Administrative Grade Pay Band: `15,60039,100. Grade pay `7,600 (iii) Selection Grade Pay Band: `37,40067,000. Grade pay `8,700 Super Time Scale Pay Band: `37,40067,000. Grade pay `10,000

THE BUTTER

Sudeshna Koka Sudeshna.k@postnoon.com

imes have changed, so have aspirations. If you thought that the fixed timings, relaxed weekends, on-site projects, working from home and a fat pay cheque have hopelessly hooked the youth to the sunrise industry — IT — then it’s time for a reality check. Not long ago, most engineers in the City dreamt of sitting in the plush Hitec City offices, but today a chunk of them are shifting their domain to the once exalted but later downcast domain — the civil services. “One night I was driving in Mumbai and was caught by a traffic police constable, who, without any valid reason, slapped me with a fine as he found me unenthusiastic to untie my purse for him. You know it is not a good idea to argue with traffic cops and traffic court. This is when I realised the corruption levels in our system. Therefore, I decided to become part of the system and make a difference, even if it meant I had to leave my `6 lakh per annum job and try my luck in civil services exam,” says Richa Jha, who is headlong into preparations for the forthcoming prelims. Over the last one year there has been a spurt in the number of civil services exam applicants from Andhra Pradesh. Last year 35,000 individuals had applied, of which 17,000 applicants took the

(Perks, benefits and facilities) Rent free accommodation Vehicles for official and personal use Free electricity Perks of PSUs

test. Today, more and more members of the IT sector are shifting gears. There are several reasons for the changing trend. For Shiva Kumar, an AMD employee, it was a dream to make a difference to the society. “I realised a little late that our country is facing several problems. I used to read in papers about harassment of women and dowry death cases, injustice meted out to the innocent. I think being part of the system might

IT employee On an average, it takes 4 to 5 years to get promoted

THE BREAD Pay Scale Trainee: `2 to `3 lakh pa Senior: `7 to `8 lakh pa Team lead: `9 to `10 lakh pa

THE BUTTER (Perks, benefits and facilities) Cab services: Most of the IT employees get free company transport. House rent: `12,000 to `15,000 On-site projects: IT companies send employees abroad for projects on durations ranging from few months to couple of years. Medical reimbursement: `1,500 to `2,000 each month.

DUCATION XCLUSIVE

help me make a change to some degree. This is my third attempt and this year I quit my job just to prepare for the exams,” says Kumar, who is attached to RC Reddy IAS study circle. With the increase of applicants from the State, several coaching centres are mushrooming in the City. IT professionals are now quitting their jobs and are preparing seriously for the exam. It did not happen earlier, but it is happening now. “There has definitely been an increase in the number of applicants. There are several reasons for the shift, the primary reason being authority. They want to be in a position to control a large group of citizens. Another reason

seems to be the job security. With the recent up and downs in the international economies, most IT professionals want a secure job,” says Gopal Krishna, director, Brain Tree Coaching Institute. Sharing his perception and experience, Gopal Krishna said, “I have been in the coaching scene for more than 25 years and of late, a good number of students who were working with Microsoft,

Google and Adobe have resigned just to serve the society. Today the youth want to make a difference. The government has announced several openings. This is also another reason for the increased interest in IAS, IPS and IFS.” According to Yeshwant Kumar, an IAS aspirant, “I studied engineering from Muffakham Jah and did my masters from University of Leeds, UK. Despite

studying engineering, my interest had always gravitated towards the civil services. In the IT industry, by the age of 30, I can lead only a few employees but in this area I can reach out to millions.” These techies who are known for spending money lavishly, are now saving up for the long run. Most of them have their plans chalked out and have been saving up for the days of preparation.

India‑View

THURSDAY, MARCH 1, 2012

India unveiled

Mid sea hit-and-run: 2 fishermen killed as oil tanker rams boat THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Two fishermen were killed and two others missing when a ship collided with a boat off the Kollam coast of Kerala in the wee hours today, police said. Of the six fishermen in the boat, two swam to safety, they said. The deceased were identified as Francis Justine and Xavier, police said. Michael, a fisherman who reached ashore without any serious injuries, told reporters that their boat was hit by the ship despite the fishermen giving it sufficient signals. “The incident happened around 1 am when it was quite dark. The boat was hit by the ship despite us signaling to it about our presence. It was an oil tanker and was ill-lit at that time”, Michael said. “The boat overturned as soon it was hit by the ship. We escaped as we were able to remain afloat for half an hour,”he said. In Kochi, Coast Guard sources said the incident occurred about 15 nautical

miles off Manakkodam off Alapuzha coast this morning. A Defence press release here said a massive search has been launched by the Indian Navy and Coast Guard to locate the merchant vessel. Four ships and a Dornier aircraft have been deployed to trace the unknown merchant ship which hit the fishing vessel Don I at sea in Alapuzha district at about 3 am. Four fishermen are reportedly missing and three have been rescued by other boats in the area, it said. INS Sarvekshak from Southern Naval Command and ICGS Savitribai Phule, which were at sea, were diverted to the area while Coast Guard Interceptor Boats- C 144 from Kochi and C 143 from Vizhinjam also sailed out to augment search and rescue . A Coast Guard Dornier aircraft has been launched early this morning, while one more ship from the Southern Naval Command would sail shortly to join the search, the release said. PTI

ON A HIGH NOTE

Superintendent of Police Pranav Kumar said. The clothes of the victim and the bed sheets have also been sent for examination. “We have taken a suo-moto cognisance in the incident and we have asked for a report from the State Government about the action taken in the case,” Mamata Sharma, the NCW chairperson said. The 19-year-old girl was found lying naked in an unconscious state in the medicine department of the hospital in Bankura, about 150 km from Kolkata, where she was admitted

Brahmaputra river dries up ITANAGAR: The Siang (Brahmaputra) river originating from Tibet was suddenly found to have almost dried up at a town in Arunachal Pradesh, a state government spokesman said tonight. People of century-old Pasighat town in East Siang district found that the water level of the river receded so much this evening that it almost dried, Tako Dabi said. PTI

Man pushed by Delhi cop, dies

Punjabi singer Mika performs during the opening ceremony of PTI World Series Hockey in Chandigarh on Wednesday.

Rape victim could not scream BANKURA: In another incident of rape in West Bengal, a physically challenged woman was allegedly raped by a junior doctor in a government hospital in Bankura district, police said on Wednesday. The national women’s panel has taken cognisance of the case. “We have received a complaint that a deaf and mute woman was raped by a junior doctor of Bankura Sammilani Medical College. The victim was medical examined locally and we are taking her to Kolkata for another medical test,” Bankura

Monday night for chest pain. Following a complaint by the victim’s family, the hospital has constituted a three member committee to look into the allegations. “We have received a complaint in this regard. It is learnt that the said doctor examined the patient without being accompanied either by female hospital staff or a female attendant. The probe team will look into the allegations,” hospital superintendent Panchanan Kundu said. The incident comes at a time

PATIENT HEARING

People’s Movement Against Nuclear Energy (PMANE) co-ordinator SP Udayakumar along with PTI other activists meet Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa in Chennai on Wednesday.

when the Mamata Banerjee-led government has been facing flak over rising rape cases in the state. While an Anglo-Indian woman was raped in the heart of Kolkata-Park Street earlier this month, a ragpicker was February 24 allegedly gang raped and then murdered by a truck driver and his helper in North 24 Parganas’ Baranagar. The allegations of rape continued when a woman commuter complained that she was raped during a robbery attempt in a suburban train near Katwa in Burdwan district. IANS

NEW DELHI: A 66-year-old man lost his life allegedly after he was shoved by a police constable who was engaged in a heated argument with his son in south Delhi, police said on Wednesday. Anil Kumar Arora was travelling in a car with his 32-year-old son Mohit when the incident took place on the night of February 28/29. They were residents of east Delhi’s Geeta Colony. “Mohit was driving under the influence of alcohol and a constable, Vikram Singh stopped him for checking. He was defiant that he was sober. This resulted in a heated argument between the police officer and Arora which ultimately lead to a scuffle between them,” stated a police official. Meanwhile, Anil Kumar tried to intervene and was pushed away by Singh who lost consciousness and fell to the ground. He was rushed to Safdarjung hospital where he was declared dead. “The medical report of the deceased has not indicated any external injuries. However, the medical report of Arora has confirmed that he was drunk,” added the official. According to the police, a case has been registered and transferred to Crime Branch for their investigation. IANS

Two students who shot dead lower caste topper arrested HISAR: Two days after they allegedly shot dead their classmate in front of their college, two students of a private engineering college have been arrested by Haryana Police for the murder, police said on Wednesday. A police spokesman said here that Kalyan Singh and Raj Kumar have been arrested for the alleged murder of their classmate Pradeep Jangda here Monday. Police have also recovered the revolver used in the killing. Pradeep, who belonged to a poor family and a lower caste, was allegedly killed as the arrest-

ed youths were upset that he was a bright student and topped the class.Pradeep and the attackers were students of second year mechanical engineering at the Kalpana Chawla College of Engineering and Technology . Pradeep, whose father is a carpenter, was the only son . He had alighted from a bus when the accused opened fire, killing him. Pradeep and his family had earlier told the college authorities that the two used to harass him.The accused said that after committing the crime, they fled to Bhadra city in Rajasthan. IANS

Around the World

THURSDAY, MARCH 1, 2012

Beyond Borders

Nine dead, homes destroyed as massive storms strike US HARRISBURG: A deadly string of tornadoes cut a swath of destruction across the US midwest, killing at least nine people and threatening scores more as a massive storm pushed eastward on Wednesday. Homes were smashed to bits, cars were tossed into lakes, huge trees were torn from ground and shops were reduced to rubble in towns from Nebraska to Kentucky as the powerful system whipped up strong winds, hail and the dreaded funnel clouds. The town of Harrisburg, Illinois was the hardest hit after it was ripped apart by a deadly twister that stayed on the ground for miles, striking while most were still sleeping at

Italian ship being towed to Seychelles VICTORIA: Passengers on a stricken Italian liner were due to arrive early on Thursday in the Seychelles capital after using mineral water to wash and fight sweltering heat as the ship was slowly towed, after a fire disabled it. Seychelles authorities prepared hundreds of hotel rooms on the idyllic Indian Ocean island and secured seats on aircraft to fly the Costa Allegra’s 1,000 passengers and crew back home. Italian investigators also awaited the arrival in the capital Victoria of the liner, which belongs to the same fleet as the doomed Costa Concordia that smashed into rocks off Tuscany last month. Towed by a French tuna fishing boat and accompanied by coast guard vessels in the pirate-infested Indian Ocean, the Costa Allegra was carrying passengers spending a third night on the vessel since an engine fire knocked out power on Monday. With no electricity and no air conditioning, the passengers were crowded on decks , with the liner’s operating company Costa Crociere saying it was offering mineral water “for personal hygiene needs.” AFP

The Costa Allegra being towed by the French fishing vessel in the Indian Ocean. AFP

Vehicles and other possessions are scattered after a tornado ripped through a neighbourhood in Harrisburg, Illinois. AFP around 4.30 am. At least six people were killed and more than 100 injured in this southern Illinois town of 9,000. The monster twister packed

winds up to 170 miles per hour and damaged or destroyed up to 300 homes and 25 businesses, smashing a strip mall to bits and tearing a wall off the local

hospital. “A lot of the houses are unreal, it’s like a war zone,” fire chief Bill Summers told reporters. Rescue crews were digging through the rubble to search for survivors, but Summers said that by late afternoon all those who had been reported missing had been accounted for. Harrisburg mayor Eric Gregg called the destruction and loss of life “devastating” and vowed to protect and care for those who were hurt and displaced. “Dealing with a tornado like this is heartbreaking,” Gregg said at a press conference. “We will build this city. We will make this city strong. This will not stop us. It will make us stronger.” AFP

GLOBE AT A GLANCE Pakistani to testify against Khalid Sheikh US NAVAL BASE AT GUANTANAMO BAY: Majid Khan, a protege of September 11 mastermind Khalid Sheikh Mohammed, on Wednesday pleaded guilty at a Guantanamo military tribunal under a deal with US authorities that will require him to testify against his mentor and other terror suspects. Khan, a Pakistani national, admitted conspiracy, murder and attempted murder.

Iran’s elections blow to enemies: Khamenei TEHRAN: Iran’s Leader Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei has said that the upcoming parliamentary elections in Iran will be another blow to the country’s enemies. In Friday’s elections, Iran will serve another blow to them, which would be even harder than that February 11 rallies for the anniversary of the revolution.

Syrian troops launch assault DAMASCUS: Syrian ground troops launched a ground assault on a rebel-held district of Homs after shelling it for 26 days, said activists, as pressure grew for humanitarian access to besieged protest cities. Former UN secretary general Kofi Annan, the new international mediator for Syria, said he hoped to be in Damascus “fairly soon” with a “clear” message — that the deadly violence must end. A security source said in Damascus on Wednesday that Baba Amr was “under control,” after activists said the Fourth Armoured Division had taken up positions around the holdout district of Homs. “The army has started combing the area building by building and house by house. Now the troops are searching every basement and tunnel for arms and terrorists,” the security source said, noting a “few pockets” of resistance. But a human rights watchdog and activists in the central city denied that troops had moved into Baba Amr, insisting that clashes were taking place

Nicaraguan supporters of Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez pray during a ceremony for his health in Managua. AFP

Strong quake hits Japan BEIJING: An earthquake measuring 6.0

Syrian security forces carrying the coffin of a comrade, reportedly killed in recent violence in the Country. AFP only on its outskirts. Rebel commanders said access to Homs was now completely blocked after regular troops blew up an underground aqueduct that had been the last viable route for smuggling of desperately needed supplies. “Every move is sensitive and highly political, even the itinerary, but we are working it out and I would expect to go to

Syria fairly soon,” said Annan. “We are doing everything we can think of to influence the Russians and the Chinese,” said Hillary Clinton in Washington. “It is a very troubling and frustrating situation because the Russians continue to say, they’re for humanitarian aid, but then they don’t produce any plan that Assad will sign off on.” AFP

on the Richter scale hit near the east coast of Japan’s Honshu island Wednesday, the Hong Kong Observatory said. The epicentre of the temblor that struck at 2.33 GMT, about 150 km southeast of Tokyo city, was initially determined to be near 35.2 degrees north latitude and 141.4 degrees east longitude, Xinhua reported. There were no immediate reports of casualties or damage to property.

Monkees frontman Davy Jones dead at 66 MIAMI: Davy Jones, lead singer of 1960s made-for-TV band The Monkees whose hits included “I’m a Believer” and “Last Train to Clarksville,” died on Wednesday, the local coroner said. He was 66.The British-born star, whose TV antics drew fans but also unflattering comparisons with the Beatles, died of a heart attack in Florida, the TMZ website said.

DNA to reunite 2000 kids with parents BEIJING: The DNA database of parents of missing children in China has helped over 2,000 abducted kids return home, an official has revealed. According to Chen Shiqu, head of the Ministry of Public Security’s office, to crack down on child abductions the ministry has created a DNA

database of over 20,000 blood samples from parents who have lost their children. It is to be able to identify abducted children and fight against the crime, Xinhua reported. Since 2009, police have uncovered nearly 16,000 cases of women trafficking and

12,000 child abduction cases. Authorities rescued over 19,000 abducted children and 35,000 women, Chen said. The police, however, will keep on implementing the “zero tolerance” policy to the crime, and beef up efforts to crack down on child trafficking, he said. IANS

US President Barack Obama and first lady Michelle Obama attend a dinner with forces who served in Iraq and Afghanistan. AFP

17,602.97 149.71

5,343.20 43.00

10g= `28,300

1kg= `58,300

`49.13

BSE

NSE

GOLD

SILVER

DOLLAR

Business

Matters of saving and spending

`78.24

POUND THURSDAY, MARCH 1, 2012 11

MSMEs groping in the dark ty. There is a need to supply power continuously to process industries for uninterrupted production. The other industries should have power supply for at least two shifts, especially during peak hours to manage the crisis, he said. March is a crucial month in terms of production for all the industries as it is the end of the financial year. There is a need of 1,000-1,200MW per day for the industries to overcome the situation and there has to be one power holiday, he said. However, the government reduced power holidays to the industry from proposed three days to two days on Wednesday. State Major Industries Minister J Geetha Reddy asserted that there would be more cuts in between March 15, 2012- April 20, 2012. She said that government was enforcing these power cuts due to unavoidable circumstances. “It is too late to think of the energy needs of State for the coming summer. There are issues

Prudhvi Raju K Prudhvi.k@postnoon.com

HYDERABAD: The power crisis in the State would seriously impact micro, small and medium enterprises (MSME) as they depend on the everyday output rather than long-term returns. It would be very difficult to sustain during the crisis, as most companies do not have a power generator. Even if the companies can afford a generator, they will have to cut down their margins and have to incur losses for their sustenance. The energy costs would be four times higher with the use of the generator to these companies, said Ramesh Datla, Chairman, Confederation of Indian Industry (CII), MSME Council. There is also a serious concern with the timings of the power cut to these industries. The power cuts are mostly during the day and evening times (6 am-10 pm), when the industry runs at its full capaci-

Nebula showcases off-road vehicles HYDERABAD: Nebula Automotive has showcased its range of allterrain vehicles (ATVs), catering to the niche Indian market. The company has 12 off-road vehicles in its portfolio, ranging from 110cc offroaders for kids to 800cc amphibious ATVs for adults with showrooms in Pune and Navi Mumbai. “The off-road market in India has a huge potential. Being an automobile enthusiast myself, I thought that such vehicles should be available in India at an affordable price and started the ATV business. The growth has been exceptionally well. We plan to add a few more vehicles

in our portfolio by the next fiscal,” said Sukhdev Asnani, managing director, Nebula Automotive. These vehicles are used for recreational, sports and patrolling purposes. Nebula ATVs are assembled at Pune plant and are priced between `90,000 – `15,00,000. The marquee has sold around 1,5002,000 vehicles since inception, that includes 200 vehicles that were sold in the last quarter. Nebula Automotive also provides after sales services and repairs on a pan-India level and is currently looking at expanding its network across the country through dealerships.

Sensex down MUMBAI: The BSE benchmark index Sensex on Thursday declined by almost 185 points in early trade, as funds and retail investors booked profits after recent gains amid weakening trend on other Asian bourses. The 30-share index, which has gained nearly 307 points in the previous two sessions, fell by 184.83 points. In a similar fashion, the wide-based National Stock Exchange index Nifty shed 59.15 points, or 1.10 per cent, to 5,326.05. The rupee on Thursday depreciated by 20 paise to 49.21 against the US dollar due to fresh demand from importers for the American currency amid strong global cues.

with grid’s holding capacity to purchase power from the other states. The government has to have long-term planning in providing power supply and should at least think that such issues would not be repeated. “But, there is a grim situation in the power industry as the major power projects got stuck due to agitations. There is also shortage of gas supply, which is not letting the power plants to run at their full capacity. There is a serious need to take steps for optimal power production not only the growth of small scale industry but for the development of the country,” said Datla. The talks between the industry bodies represented by the FAPCCI, FAPSIA and CII-Andhra Pradesh with State Major Industries Minister, J Geetha Reddy failed on Wednesday. FAPSIA called for relay hunger strike from Thursday. They are also waiting for the final decision from the government on the issue.

BEST IN CLASS

Sudhir Sinha, president and COO of Best Western India was presented the ‘Most outstanding hotel chain 2011 mid segment’ award at the Travel and Hospitality awards function organised by Swift Media International at Ashok Hotel, New Delhi. The award was presented by Nazma Heptulla, former Deputy Chairperson of Rajya Sabha.

FDI down 33% in Dec to $1.35bn NEW DELHI: Foreign direct investment (FDI) in India declined about 33 per cent to $ 1.35 billion (`7,124 crore) in December 2011, over the same month in the previous year, an official said. FDI inflows in December 2010 totalled $ 2.01 billion (`9,094 crore). However, cumulative the flows during April-December moved up 51 per cent to $ 24.18 billion, from $ 16.03 billion in the same period last year, mainly due to higher FDI inflows during the April-June quarter.

The cumulative figure has crossed $ 19.43 billion which came in the full fiscal of 2010-11, according to the official. In April, May and June, the country received FDI worth $ 3.12 billion, $ 4.66 billion and $ 5.65 billion, respectively. Analysts say that FDI in the current financial year will cross $ 30 billion, which will have a positive impact on rupee in the foreign exchange market. The rupee had fallen 15 per cent last year due to the FII selling pressure in the stock market

and rising trade deficit. The trend has reversed since the start of this year. “Despite decline in December 2011, FDI will cross $ 30 billion...but government should take steps to boost investors confidence,” an economist said. The sectors that have received large foreign inflows during the 9month period this fiscal are: services sector ($ 4.57 billion), pharmaceuticals ($ 3.19 billion), telecom ($ 1.98 billion), construction ($ 1.60 billion), power ($ 1.44 billion) and metallurgical industries ($ 1.49 billion).

Comment

THURSDAY, MARCH 1, 2012

Fair, free and forthright

Editorials N KOREA OFFER test for new leader

n the first major decision of international consequence after the ascension of the new leader, North Korea has agreed to suspend its nuclear weapons programme in return for international aid. The impoverished nation with its million-plus army desperately needs food grains, medicines and other vital supplies to keep its population alive. The North had come to the negotiation table earlier also, but after the leeway allowed it to re-stock, it went back on its promise. This time the international community is cautious and has refused to sing kumbaya till Pyongyang comes out with credible steps for nuclear disarmament. This offer is also an acid test for Kim Jong-un to prove his credibility in the domestic and international arena. It has to be seen if the 28-year-old head of state will be able to take the allpowerful military and the party along on a new path that would end his country’s isolation and economic woes.

WHY WE LOVE Davy Jones

ost of us grew up with the strains of Daydream Believer ringing in our ears as we made our way through to adulthood. The thing about the Davy Jones-led Monkees is that those very same tunes were ringing in our parents’ ears too. Such is the longevity of the band and its lead singer. He may not have been the most recognisable star, but in Davy Jones’ locker lies the secret to an innocent age. We are most certainly believers.

Why do we assume the poor are miserable? Point Blank Padmini C

went to a J school that prided itself on having a social conscience. It meant that the highlight of our programme was ‘Covering Deprivation’ — a module that required all students to travel to 'backward' parts of the country to study and report on, as the name suggests, deprivation. It was easier said than done. The group which went to Wayanad, Kerala came back stumped. The most they found was that the area was susceptible to an agrarian crisis. But then, so is most of India. Otherwise, Wayanad is among the least populous districts in Kerala and the most prosperous, blessed with nature's bounty. My own trip was to Thiruvallur district, about 30 kilometres northeast of Chennai. The intrepid reporters that we were, we searched everywhere for absolute destitution, then poverty and then just well... anything. How were we supposed to make a report on people who seemed to have stable houses, access to electricity, education, healthcare, satellite dishes and tough-but-feasible ways of livelihood? It's then that we realised the error of our ways. We had counted on the fact that rural would automatically mean poor. And, that farmers were a safe bet when it came to attaching problems with. But what we overlooked was that if we sought real deprivation, it had been staring us in the face all along, right in the cities that we came from, among the ‘invisible’ people — the slum dwellers. There's little sympathy among us yuppies for the people who have slowly taken over our cities. Rightly so. The slums are perfect breeding grounds for crime, trafficking, disease among other evils. Not to add, that they have not been able to get their act together despite the government having targeted schemes and programmes to improve slum conditions since 1960s. Starting again in 1996, it spent close to Rs3,100 crore of the tax payers’ money over nine years on the National Slum Development Programme before it was dis-

Help for the homeless

Postnoon is different

I subscribe to your paper and have observed that you’ll are during a series of articles on shelters for the homeless. I have to say you’ll are doing a very good thing because the rest of us who have all the comforts in life, have no clue about the problems homeless people face. The reporter has compiled all the important details about the shelters and painted the right picture about them. It would be nice if you can print the contact numbers of these shelters as many of us are interested in donating few household items to them. Meena, Mayuri Marg.

I avidly follow the Tollywood news section of your paper. I am very impressed with the news that you print because it is very different from what the other papers publish. Each and every other paper in the market have the same old Tollywood news. So your content comes as a refreshing change. But the only complaint I have against your news paper is that your party pages have pictures of very random people in B-grade pubs. I think this can be done away with. But overall your paper is surely unique.

Ashok, Punjagutta.

continued. In 2005, GoI rolled out the Jawaharlal Nehru Urban Renewal Mission (JNNURM) with a budget of Rs1,50,000 crore to encourage reforms and development of certain cities, much of which was earmarked for slums. There is little doubt that the fate of our cities now rests in the hands of these not-soinvisible people. Ironically, it is said the slumdwelling population is the ‘fastest-growing social class’ on the planet. UN reports now estimate that one billion people worldwide live in slums, a number that will likely double by 2030. A lot of that will no doubt be from India, as a UNICEF report recently concluded that we are home to over to 50,000 slums. Our apathy and outrage, however justified, do not negate the facts. Among the urban poor, the slum dwellers are the poorest. They have little or no access to basic healthcare, clean water, sanitation, education, stable housing or employment. We need to care, if not for their survival, for our own. Millions more will move to cities in the future in the hope of a better life. And we can't stop them. But what we can do is to stop wasting time, effort and money on ludicrous plans that have already proven to be utterly ineffective.

TALK BACK Readers’ views We invite you to write to us comments, suggestions, viewpoint or just about anything to feedback@postnoon.com or #1246, Level 3, Jubilee Casa, Road No 62, Jubilee Hills, Hyderabad – 500 033 or even by way of a call on 4067 2222

Instead, why not try to tweak the ubersuccessful Hong Kong or Singaporean housing models to our needs and replicate them? From a country whose majority population was squatting on city fringes fifty years ago, Singapore is now among the cleanest and most advanced cities in the world. All credit, they say, is to their HDB’s Home Ownership Programme. In lieu of our persistent plans to distribute land, their model encourages leasing, and promotes ownership by granting property rights, backed by a clear and transparent legal system. Their public housing is heavily subsidised but never free thereby discouraging hand-outs and freebies like we do. Moreover, there is a housing hierarchy that targets the aspirational tendencies of the dwellers inspiring them to work hard enough to climb up the ladder enough at some point to melt into mainstream middle-class or lower middleclass. Our policy makers need to sit up and take notice. We are running out of time and options. If we don't act now, our cities are sure to implode. And, we'll have nowhere to go. Because to paraphrase Lex Luthor from Superman, “If there's one thing they're not making any more of, it’s land.”

Tripped me, you did

Great travel guide

You guys love to push yourselves to creative limits really. Your Tripping into Tollywood article obviously could not have used any celeb pictures because of the ‘offending’ comments! Just kidding, but the story was pretty interesting — as were the pictures too. It was a neat perspective on the Tollywood industry that is swarmed with imports from the North — it was really funny. Keep coming up with your ideas — I think time and again you guys do a good job of it. Interesting and informative — what else do you need from a newspaper I say?! Sharan K Madhapur

Your weekend story on Denmark was simply superb. I look forward to reading your travel pages as they are visually so appealing and informative that I feel like jet-setting to one of the places. I have been to Denmark, but your article reminded me of my travel. And yes, as you mentioned, Noma is a must-visit. And the best way to enjoy it, is to not expect anything out of it. It’s amazing how a little warehouse became one of the best restaurants in the world! The food is out-of-the-world, and the service — exceptional.

Karthik Soman Aadarshnagar

H‑Factor

THURSDAY, MARCH 1, 2012

Holistic view of mind, body and soul

The V word In many countries, where the concept of a virgin bride still plays a very important role hymenoplasty has slowly started to become very common.

Anishaa Kumar anishaa.k@postnoon.com

s the prospective bridegroom looked at the girl, he was thrilled. She was everything he wanted, when suddenly his mother asked, “So is your daughter a virgin?” The girl’s parents were appalled but confidently said yes. It was the girl’s biggest fear coming true... “What should I do. What if they get to know of my past?”A quick online search and a result — Hymenoplasty. “Hymenoplasty in simple terms is a revirginasation procedure,” explains Dr Sudhakar Prasad, senior consultant cosmetic surgeon. Hymenoplasty is the surgical reconstruction

of a torn hymen. He explains, “ Hymen ruptures are usually due to sexual contact or due to a variety of sanitary issues.” Dr Sudhakar adds that this procedure is more common in the Middle East where a virgin bride is the norms.

The procedure “The procedure is very simple and has no side effects. People are under the misconception that as it is a cosmetic procedure gynaecologists cannot do it. But on the other hand the fact is that capable gynaecologists are qualified to do such procedures,” says Dr Divya T Sudershan, gynaecologist, Happy Women’s clinic.

Vaginoplasty Vaginoplasty is a procedure by which you can tighten and tone a women’s vagina which

becomes loose after childbirth. “While younger women come for Hymenoplasty a larger number of older women come in for Vaginoplasty which is either for a loose vagina or a tight vagina,” explains Dr Divya. “Vaginoplasty apart from it’s short term benefits helps in the long term too. Over the years the axis of the vagina changes, a vaginoplasty helps in the long run.”

In the City “Hymenoplasty is not very common in Hyderabad but is prominent in other countries,” says Dr Divya. “People these days are more open to getting these procedures done, both doctors and patients are open about it. People have started to accept this.” she adds. However, Dr Sudhakar admits that he doesn’t get too many

cases for hymenoplasty and he doesn’t believe in the reason behind these procedures. “Hence, I would not agree to do a hymenoplasty even if I was approached,” he says. On the other hand many people do come for vaginoplasties.

Stem cells are the new saviours

Kids and Hymenoplasty The hymen can tear due to various other reasons too, the most common being due to sports or exercise. “In younger girls, sports injuries or games such as basketball etc can cause an injury/tear in the hymen. When it comes to children hymenoplasty is done for actual injuries,” says Dr Divya. The question of these procedures being right or wrong have always been there and the answer for which will perhaps continue to be unknown.

Dr Divya T Sudershan

reviously, there have been many instances when people have had a second child to use as a bone marrow donor for an ailing first child (stem cells from a sibling have up to 60 per cent and one’s own stem cells have 90 per cent chances of recovery). I would strongly encourage soon-to-be parents to give it a thought, and think of it as a health insurance for their child (and any older siblings at whose birth these options did not exist!) The reason stem cell researchers zoned in on the bones and cord was, both these structures create new cells prolifically, which was when they had a hunch that stem cells may aid in rapid expansion of the uterus lining during a woman’s monthly period. To investigate this, they collected a small amount of menstrual blood from healthy women. The Wichita researchers Meng and Ichim were successful in isolating a new type of adult stem cell. Experiments in lab dishes showed that under the right conditions, the menstrual stem cells could turn into more different tissue types — including bone, blood vessel, fat, brain, lung, liver, pancreas and heart — than other adult stem cells. The new stem cells also grow readily and rapidly, which is an important advantage because it is difficult to get some types of adult stem cells to give rise to enough cells to be of any medical value. (The concluding part will appear next week. The writer is a gynaecologist and obstetrician practising at Happy Women Clinic. You can write in to her at happywomenclinic@gmail.com)

H‑Factor

THURSDAY, MARCH 1, 2012

Holistic view of mind, body and soul

SYDNEY: Psychostimulant drug Ritalin could be a boon for people who commit mistakes habitually, even without being aware of them, says an Australian study. A single dose of the drug makes people far more aware of their omissions and commissions, opening the way for self-correction, which is the key to success in the long run. The study, led by psychologist Rob Hester and colleagues at Melbourne University’s Queensland Brain Institute, found that a single dose of Ritalin (methylphenidate) perks up the brain’s error monitoring network and improves volunteers’ awareness of mistakes. The drug works by increasing the activity of the central nervous system and produces such effects as increasing or maintaining alertness, combating fatigue, and improving attention. Diminished awareness of performance errors limits the extent to which humans correct their behaviour and has been linked to loss of insight in a number of clinical syndromes, including Alzheimer’s Disease, schizophrenia and Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder. Critically, researchers showed that a single dose of methylphenidate, which works by increasing the levels of catecholamines in the brain, dramatically improved error awareness in healthy adults, according to a Melbourne statement. Hester said failure to recognise errors was related

to poor insight into a person’s clinical condition, which can impair treatment. “For example, in conditions such as schizophrenia and Alzheimer’s Disease, poor error awareness has been associated with delusions, paranoia and has been the cause of considerable distress to patients,” he said. “Failing to recognise your own error at the time can account for the difference between your recollection and the reality that confronts you,” said Hester. “Understanding the brain mechanisms that underlie how we become conscious of our mistakes is an important first step in improving error awareness, and potentially reducing these symptoms,” concluded Hester. IANS

Ritalin for people who make mistakes

SKIN DEEP

Dr Priti K Shukla, Plastic Surgeon, Ambrosia Clinic

A good diet works for good hair Ranjani Rajendra

Cold air bad for heart patients WASHINGTON: Cold air is bad for heart patients, especially when they are undertaking physical activity, because they are unable to cope with the higher oxygen demanded by the body. “This study can help us understand why cold air is such a trigger for coronary events,” said Lawrence I Sinoway, professor of medicine and director of the Heart and Vascular Institute, Penn State College of Medicine. Breathing cold air during exercise can cause uneven oxygen distribution throughout the heart. But a healthy body generally corrects for this problem and redistributes blood flow, making

sure the heart continues to function properly. In people with heart problems, such as coronary artery disease, this may not be the case, said Sinoway, the Journal of Applied Physiology and American Journal of Physiology, Heart and Circulatory Physiology report. “If you are doing some type of isometric work and you’re breathing cold air, your heart is doing more work -- it’s consuming more oxygen,” said Sinoway, according to Penn State statement. Isometric work includes such activities as shovelling snow and

carrying a briefcase or laptop bag. The heart works harder when exerted in cold temperatures and the number of deaths due to cardiac arrest peaks during the winter. “There are two different things going on here — demand and supply,” said Matthew D Muller, postdoctoral fellow at the Heart and Vascular Institute, Penn State College of Medicine. “We thought that oxygen demand in the heart would be higher with cold-air breathing and we also thought that oxygen supply would be a little bit impaired. And that’s generally what we found,” added Muller.

verybody loves a mane of lustrous hair. But what happens when one fine day you realise that your crowning glory has begun to thin? “Female pattern baldness is common. It could be due to various factors like pollution, lifestyle habits, stress and hormonal imbalance. However, we also see plenty of people who worry too much about their hair,” says Dr Priti K Shukla, plastic surgeon at Ambrosia Clinic. She goes on to add that hair fall can be arrested with the right kind of treatment. “Usually medication can help. In case, nothing does then hair transplant is a good option. In this procedure we take hair from the back of the head (where it exists in abundance always) and transplant it on the crown or wherever there is thinning. Within a few months the hair begins growing in that region and is just like natural hair,” explains Dr Shukla. In case, the hairfall is due to factors like thyroid, PCOD or anaemia, then Dr Shukla, recommends treating the underlying condition first. “It also helps to follow a nutritious diet one that is high in proteins. Regular hair washes and special vitamins help as well,” she says. The other common procedures that people seem to opt for these days are non-surgical procedures to help brighten and lighten their skin. “Peels and fillers are a common option for most people. People always want to look more youthful and fillers can be used to erase fine wrinkles, reshape lips and nose, fill in the hollow beneath the eyes, ease out laugh lines etc. Peels on the other hand are used to minimise scars and pigmentation. These days, we can reshape the entire face using fillers and Botox,” she says. Dr Shukla adds, that after any cosmetic procedure it is important for a person to use a broad spectrum sunscreen and cover the face. This is because, the skin is sensitive and can damage easily. “Doing too many procedures on the face can also leave the skin very sensitive. So it would be wiser to follow your doctor’s advise.” (For more information log on to www.ambrosiaclinic.com)

Telly Tales

Small screen, big idea

THURSDAY, MARCH 1, 2012

British drama at its best With engaging plots, gorgeous sets, insightful characters and above all, stellar acting by a fantastic cast, Downton Abbey is a series you cannot afford to miss

STAR OF THE WEEK

– RASHMI GAUTAM

rom impressing the audience in Yuva to performing daredevil stunts in Super, Rashmi Gautam has come a long way on TV

Tell us about yourself and your first stint on TV I was born and brought up in Vizag. After finishing my schooling in Delhi Public School, I decided to continue my education through correspondence. Back in 2007, I met Sabia Sultana through a common friend and she liked me a lot. I was offered a role in Yuva and it was being produced by Annapurna Studios. I couldn’t say no to it. l

Padmini C padmini.c@postnoon.com

he first episode of Downton Abbey opened to an audience of 9.2 million viewers in the UK last year. If that seemed like an impossible feat to repeat, it was beaten by the very next episode with an estimated total viewers of 11.8 million. Unsurprisingly, Downton is being popularly touted as the “most critically acclaimed” of any television series since the ‘80s. Consistently maintaining those impossible numbers, the second season of Downton ended with its finale posting the biggest viewership PBS has seen in over three years. It has swept the BAFTAs, the Emmys and the Globes. And, at last count, over 100 countries have acquired the rights to broadcast Downton. We can go on..and on.. but you get the idea. It’s making buzz everywhere it goes. But, in light of the overwhelmingly positive reviews from audiences and critics alike, it’d be the most natural thing for you to be skeptical and wonder if it really does live upto its hype. Short answer? Absolutely. The show’s creator and head writer, Julian Fellowes, manages to brilliantly capture the great divide between the lives and loves of the upstairs and downstairs inhabitants of Downton Abbey, a home in Yorkshire. At the head of Downton Abbey is the Earl of

You never thought of going to college like most other people? How did your parents react? I got into acting at a very young age and attendance was always an issue for me. Moreover, I hated the concept of wearing uniforms in college. My parents didn’t accept my decisions initially because my family members were mostly into academics. But then I persisted as I always had a problem following rules and regulations. I think I have always been a free spirit and wanted to pursue my passion. l

l Was acting on your mind since childhood? I don’t know when the acting bug bit me, but I do remember imitating one of Sridevi’s songs from Mr.India in front of a mirror. Truth is, I feel normal when I am acting.

Yuva was a trendsetting serial and it must have opened a lot of doors for you in the industry. Isn’t it? Yes. A lot of offers did come my way and after Yuva, I acted in another serial named Love which had the same team which made Yuva. I didn’t sign anything after that because I really wanted to do something like Yuva or Love, but not many serials are being made on those lines. Maybe five years down the lane, I might do daily serials. l

Grantham, Robert Crawley,(Hugh Bonneville) and his American wife Lady Edith Crawley with his three daughters Mary (Michelle Dockery), Sybil (Jessica Brown) and Isobel (Penelope Wilton). Not having a male heir means that according to an entail, his beloved home must go to a distant cousin, Matthew (Dan Stevens). Maggie

Smith as Violet, the Dowager Countess of Grantham will do everything she can to prevent it. The travails that ensue makes for the crux of the series. It’s a world removed from the life of downstairs in the cramped servant’s quarters, all of whom believe that serving the Crawleys was what they were born to do, and is

among the greatest privileges life could have offered. The two classes and ways of life, inhabiting the same house makes for a cutting contrast and taps into cultural zeitgeist of the WWI era. With gorgeous sets, incisive characters and stellar acting by a fantastic cast, Downton Abbey is a series you must watch.

Jodi maker or Jodi breaker? Reality Bites Shiba Minai

f late watching television had become a task and I had taken to channel surfing a lot. But one fine day I stumbled upon a show called Super Santas on UTV Stars. This show is surely absorbing and I think it’s because of the two main ingredients — a new celebrity every time and secondly, it’s a peek into relationship issues of commoners. Sometimes it makes you relate to them or makes you realise what to or what not to do! Come to think of it, it’s more

refreshing than any of the recent shows on air. What I love about the concept is that here superstars are acting as agony aunts. They hear, analyse and help to get at that ‘happy ending’. One of those conspiracies where everyone wants you to believe that ‘happily ever after’ is a true phenomenon. Also one of the interesting things about this show is that it’s not just estranged lovers, but also friends, cousins, neighbours, etc On the flip side a new ‘santa’ in every episode and their abilities in tackling the problems or issues, may not, necessarily be right. I thought their first episode with Sonam Kapoor was silly. Sonam came across as an immature, presumptuous and judgmental

person. She didn’t seem to have the patience to even listen to the both sides. Every time the contestants on the show spoke she jumped to conclusions. Thank God for the moderator, otherwise the show would have been rechristened to ‘Superstar jodi breakers’! On the other hand I loved the valentine special episode with Raveena Tandon who had the task of helping a boy patch up with his ex. The girl just didn’t seem to want to give her ex, a chance, but Raveena handled the situation with patience and immense maturity without being biased. While this show is interesting to watch, I have a question for the contestants —Have you ever heard of terms like family counselling or couple counselling?

l What were your recent projects? I hosted couple of dance reality shows on MAA TV, Asianet Sitara and now, I am part of a reality show named Super which is aired on ETV.

How was the experience being part of Super? What’s the craziest thing you did in the show? We had to do extreme stunts in Super. I was totally fine with jumping from one truck to another or dangling in the air. The craziest thing was having to pick up crabs. I totally freaked out. I didn’t know if I had a phobia and believe it or not, I dreamt about snakes for almost a month. l

l What do you do when you aren’t shooting? I sleep so much that my brother calls me a polar bear (laughs).

HEMANTH KUMAR

F‑Folio

THURSDAY, MARCH 1, 2012

Because you are what you wear

Indian women’s right to

RED soles

Daffodile Strass Gold

Surabhi Chauhan feedback@postnoon.com

t had been two hours since the store opened its door for the first time in the country, which posed as an inspiration for its founder for many years. A woman with flat loafers and clean denim jeans walks in exclaiming with joy that her favourite shoe store has finally opened in her hometown New Delhi. “Now we do not have to travel abroad to get our pair of Louboutins! You will be seeing much more of me from now on,” she yelped at the store manager. That is the thing with Louboutin. He understood the woman’s need for heels as more than just a utility accessory, but a means to feel more womanly, sexy and powerful. Women and now men (the Louboutin men’s line is a sellout in most stores) find the shoes a fantasy footwear that would transform them the moment they put on

their ‘Loubis’. The story behind the coveted heels began in 1992 when young footwear designer Christian opened a shop under his own name selling heels with the instantly recognisable red colour found on the sole of all its designs. Born in Paris in 1963, he credits his upbringing by his mother and three sisters as inspiration for much of his work. As a child, Louboutin discovered a 1950’s drawing at the Museum of African art, which showcased a woman’s sharpheeled shoe, crossed out with a vivid red line. The image left a longing impression and was the vision that gave birth to the signature red soles that embodies all Louboutin footwear today. His upbringing in Paris introduced young Christian to the Paris nightlife and built a fondness for ‘Le Palace’, a former theatre that had been transformed into a night-club. He frequented the music halls and theatres by day, which paved for his earliest designs that were intended for the feet of the stage dancers. In

1982, he went on to work with the house of Christian Dior, which led to subsequent freelance opportunities for various prestigious design houses including Maud Frison, Chanel, and Yves Saint Laurent (whom he first saw dancing at Le Palace). Though the flat shoes sell well, the ones that make the Louboutin brand famous are the high heels. The ‘Décolleté’ heels that come in classic skin tone are one of the most popular styles which gives the illusion of endless legs on a woman, so he says, “...the shoe can completely disappear and it’s just about the legs.” There is even a series of heels inspired by India in the latest collection for Spring Summer 2012. The ‘Mikaraja’ shoes for example, he created for his friend and pop star Mika, has a bejewelled turban with handcrafted tassels detailing over the rich leather base brogues making it the footwear fit for a king. The ‘Mikaraja’ inception happened when the brand collaborated with the reputed embroidery atelier Lesage who has a workshop in Chennai, India. In the book launched by the brand celebrating his 20 years designing under his name, there even is a sketch by Christian of a heel with hand detailed embroidery, which is titled ‘Hyderabad’. These Indiainspired shoes are not just created for the Indian market and are sold from all Louboutin stores

Christian Louboutin makes his debut in India and so ladies, Delhi should be your next destination in case you want to lay your hands on those oh-so-sexy red heels

worldwide. Similarly the pair inspired by Egypt can be bought from the Delhi boutique. Walk into any of his store and it is evident that Christian creates designs inspired by his travels, experiences and most uniquely from showgirls. “Nobody wears shoes like a dancer on stage,” says Christian, who will soon be the first ‘Guest Creator’ for the legendary cabaret ‘Crazy Horse’ in Paris. The result of this collaboration will preview on Sunday, March 4, 2012 and will remain in the repertoire of the celebrated Paris institution until May 31, 2012. Today no red-carpet is complete without the A-list wearing the red sole heels. Victoria Beckham famously wore her 6.5-inch Louboutin heels whilst being several months pregnant. Actress Penelope Cruz, writer Danielle Steele, singer Beyonce, burlesque dancer Dita Von Teese all have been photographed time and again in various Louboutin heels. From ‘Bollywood’ to ‘Pigalle’ (Paris’ sex district and home to the Moulin Rouge), Christian Louboutin has introduced the world of fashion to forms of inspirations unique to his personality and zest for living. His passion for the arts — from landscape architec-

ture to cinema — fuels his imagination making each pair a unique form of artwork. For women who particularly wear Louboutins, the heels encompass the entire look of the attire. It is no wonder most women also don’t stop at one pair even when on an average a pair of heels cost `35,000. Surabhi Chauhan is a fashion blogger (www.lovestruckcow. blogspot.com) who attempts to bridge the gap between creator and consumer. As a fashion writer, she hopes to promote Indian fashion amongst Indians and on a global level too.

The Christian Louboutin Boutique is located on the ground level of DLF Emporio Mall in New Delhi.

Mikaraja

Bollywood Pink

Spotlight

THURSDAY, MARCH 1, 2012

DEEPAK DESHPANDE

Congratulations! All eyes were on Vivek Kesare and Malvika Apasani, the blushing bride-tobe, at the coupleâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s engagement party at the ITC Kakatiya on Wednesday.

Ruchi

Komal

Rummy Azad & Parvathi

Apoorva,Sneha & Geethika Anju, Sumi & Sarita

Sailakshmi & Ravi Kumar Apasani, Murali Mohan, Vivek Kesare, Malavika Apasani & Vishnu Vardhan Ditha & Rajani

Bobby & Swati Reddy

Nandita & Tasnip

Aarti & Usha Badruka

Devi

Harsha & Shiisha

Rilekha

Madhuika

Samiya Khan

An Italian do Usha and Aarti Badruka sure know how to throw a party in style. The ladies and their guests spent Wednesday afternoon, bonding over pizzas and pasta at the Aqua in The Park.

Lavina

Magic Screen

THURSDAY, MARCH 1, 2012

The glamour behind the glitz

Naa Ishtam audio launch on March 4 T

he audio of Rana, Genelia starrer Naa Ishtam is going to be launched on March 4 at the Ramanaidu Studios, Hyderabad. Already, the film’s promotions are in full swing and recently Rana had toured colleges in Hyderabad and Vizag to launch the teasers of the film. The film’s first look and clips of all the songs will be showcased at the audio launch. This is the first time that Rana is acting in a commercial film. “I am playing a character named Gani who’s extremely selfish. The audience will fall in love with the characters,” Rana told Postnoon recently. Prakash Tholeti is directing the film and Parachuri Kireeti is producing the film. Chakri has composed the music and the film is going to hit the screens on March 23.

Kajal teams up with Akshay Kumar K

ajal has finally signed her second Hindi film after more than seven months since her debut film Singham hit the screens. She’s all set to team up with Akshay Kumar in Neeraj Pandey’s Special Chabbis which is reportedly based on a real life jewellery heist which occured in 1987. Post the success of Singham, Kajal didn’t sign a single film for a long time; however, we hear that Akshay Kumar recommended the actress to Neeraj Pandey. Kajal is going to join the film’s cast later this week. She’s one of the busiest actresses in Telugu and Tamil with four big projects in hand including NTR’s film, Ram Charan-V V Vinayak’s film,Suriya’s Maatran and Vijay’s Thuppaki.

Ishq’s magic works at the box office

ithiin, Nithya Menen starrer Ishq is working its magic at the box office. After a long time,Nithiin has tasted success and thanks to positive word of mouth right from day one, the film is poised to do quite well in almost all the areas in Andhra Pradesh. Trade sources are predicting that Ishq will collect a total share of `2 crore in Nizam alone and in the Ceded Area , Ishq has already been termed as the biggest hit in Nithiin’s career. In the US, the distributors have

added more prints to encash the demand for the film. Directed by Vikram K Kumar, the film boasts of top notch cinematography by PC Sreeram and good music. Moreover, the onscreen chemistry between Nithiin and Nithya worked wonders for the film. Post the success of the film, Nithiin has signed two more films which will go on floors later this year.

T-TOWN TWEETIES

@actressanjjanaa Gona miss d cast n crew of sagar, n ofcourse Singapore too,was grt fun to b workin fo d film, lovely memories.

@actor_Nikhil Had a super blast last night... met up with my Yuvatha movie Director Parasuram , music dir Mani sharma sir... and loads of old frenz... :-)

@richyricha I’ve loved Coldplay for as long as I can remember... Dying to go to one of their concerts.

@sneha_ullal “If you include one tsp of Flax seed oil in your meals everyday everyday... there won't be any sickness”

@shrutihaasan The weather in chennai really isn’t so bad this time around:) happiness has happened.

@Actor_Siddharth The gadget companies of the world need to come together, make their peace and ensure that every device has the same charger... it’s only fair!

@LakshmiManchu I just bumped into Aravind swamy(Roja,bombay). Sooooo handsome he looks. Sigh. Childhood crush :)

@RanaDaggubati #NaaIshtam audio launch @ Ramanaidu Studios on the 4th of March! Will be showcasing clips of all the song and the first look of the film.

Magic Screen

THURSDAY, MARCH 1, 2012

The glamour behind the glitz

LOVE STORIES: REAL TO REEL

On-screen romances are good but off-screen ones are even better. Here’s looking at Bollywood’s famous couples whose love stories could well do for some great potboilers

Isha Mukoo isha.m@postnoon.com

or Bollywood, there has been no dearth of inspiration. Novels, poems, real life incidents and movies from other parts of the world have all been sources of inspiration. But rarely has the story of a person from industry been the inspiration. The latest news is that director Prashant Chaddha plans to make a movie on the love story of Deepika Padukone and ex-flame Nihar Pandya. This leggy lass has been a newsmaker. Her soaring modelling career, her dream debut with Shah Rukh Khan, her break-up with Nihar Pandya to embark on something special

with Ranbir Kapoor, breaking up with him and then getting into a relationship with Siddarth Mallya and another break-up ... she has always been talked about. We take a look into real love stories that involve some of our top stars that could and have become inspiration for excellent reel love stories.

Amitabh-Rekha-Jaya No one brings it up, perhaps out of respect, but everyone knows what happened among these three who are among the finest actors India has produced. Their story was nothing less than a love-triangle with lots of drama, despair, suffering and love. Yash Chopra's Silsila is said to be based on this episode in Big B's life.

Salman-AishwaryaVivek It was big news when it emerged that the world's most beautiful woman had fallen for the bad boy of Bollywood. So was their break-up and action and drama in its wake. Yes, we were refering to the incident in which a drunk Salman Khan went late in the night and banged on Aishwarya Rai's apartment door, and then about the brawl he had with her then new beau Vivek Oberoi. Eventually, the girl with the beautiful eyes proved smarter and married another. Do you know any story with a better climax?

Shahid-Kareena-Saif A four-year-old relationship of love and friendship with a viral MMS that testifies the passion in it ... still, Shahid Kapoor and Kareena Kapoor called it quits. While the heroine in this love story has moved on and found her prince charming, the hero is still searching for the right one.

Ranbir-DeepikaKatrina Everything was going fine for Ranbir and Deepika till “Sheila's entry”. Deepika could not take it and bid goodbye to Kapoor boy. Seems like there's still something in the air when the two are around, but both claim to have moved on.

Magic Screen

THURSDAY, MARCH 1, 2012

The glamour behind the glitz

I would’ve loved to be a footballer: Ranbir Kapoor

f it had not have been showbiz, it would definitely have been football, says the actor Ranbir Kapoor, who is endorsing a campaign on the sport. “Football is life for me and if not an actor, I would have loved to be a footballer. It teaches team work, determination and discipline apart from being such an exciting sport,” Ranbir said in a press statement. The 29-year-old

B-TOWN TWEETIES

@realpreityzinta Am exhausted now.... 1 more day 2go and then Holiday ! Even though it’s 4 a week before its time to work on the film and then ofcourse IPL !

@RGVzoomin

is the face of a new campaign by Pepsi. The campaign begins with a football-themed ad featuring Ranbir. The television commercial, to go on air this Saturday, will see a young football enthusiast giving a cheeky reply to Ranbir, who questions his passion for football. It ends with a delightful take of Ranbir displaying his football skills, with hilarious results. IANS

All truths are taken in 3 stages... at first they are ridiculed. Then they are opposed nd then are accepted as a matter of fact.

@NeilNMukesh Church weddings are so lovely ! :) love the idea of the bride walking down the isle and the groom waiting there and they taking their vows!

@bipsluvurself

Department will be RGV’s most stylish film: Rana

am Gopal Varma’s past few projects have failed to rock the box-office, but actor Rana Daggubati, who has teamed up with the director in Department, is confident that this film will turn out to be one of his most stylish movies. “Ramu (Varma) dabbles in a lot of genres of films. He is very good with his work, and has a wonderful storytelling pattern, which is most often trendsetting. His film Satya broke stereotypes, and Company gave Vivek Oberoi such a great launchpad... I think Department will be one of his most stylish films ever

shot,” Rana said. In Department, the southern star will be seen as a grungy policeman — a role that was earlier reserved for Abhishek Bachchan. The film’s characters include a don, a gangster, a gangster-turnedpolitician, and shootout specialists. No wonder it was exciting for Rana to work in it! “I think Ramu is one filmmaker who has complete understanding of the subject he tackles in his films and likes to accumulate extensive knowledge before venturing out into each theme. Be it underworld or any other subject, his films speak of the research he does.” IANS

Hollywood trainer wants to work with Farhan

ollywood trainer Ed Chow, who trained celebrities like Clive Owen and Lucas Till, says he would love to work with Farhan Akhtar, who has been training hard for his next film Bhaag Milkha Bhaag. “I was really lucky to meet Aishwarya Rai when she was working on The Last Legion with Colin Firth. There are actors like Katrina Kaif, Kareena Kapoor and Sara Khan. And I’d like to work with Farhan Akhtar — I’ve seen some of his work and I really liked it,” Chow said in an email interaction. Bhaag Milkha Bhaag is a biopic on the legendary athlete Milkha Singh and Farhan is currently undergoing special training for his lead role in the movie. IANS

The best feeling comes when you realize that you are perfectly happy without the things once you thought you needed the most.

@SrBachchan T 669 - Must keep repeating to self... “every day in every way I am getting better and better...” It works most of the time .. !!

@DuttaLara Time management skills being put to test!! What fun!! Now I understand why a mothers work is never fully done!:-)

@priyankachopra Headin home today..After almost a month... something amazing about bein told ure loved... when ure welcomed with a hug, the world seems beautiful.

@sonakshisinha Back home after a MONTH! Ma came to pick me up at the airport, how cute is that?? Ghar ka khaana aur maa ka taana...

Magic Screen

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D S RATE ` 150 sq. cm

For Further Details Please Contact Abhinay 9989399972 Nandlal 9951467988 Ravi Chander 8106039919

THURSDAY, MARCH 1, 2012

Magic Screen

THURSDAY, MARCH 1, 2012

The glamour behind the glitz

Johnny Depp’s Lone Ranger starts shooting in New Mexico

‘Never want to be as famous as A Kristen Stewart’

merican actress Jennifer Lawrence says she would never want to be as famous as Twilight star Kristen Stewart. The 21year-old is eagerly waiting for her forthcoming movie The Hunger Games. “I look at Kristen Stewart now and I think, ‘I’d never want to be that famous’. I can’t imagine how I’d feel if all of a sudden my life was pandemonium,” contactmusic.com quoted Lawrence as saying. IANS

Marilyn Monroe is Cannes’s new postergirl

he Cannes Film Festival is paying tribute to Marilyn Monroe by selecting her as the icon of the 2012 festival, festival organisers said on Tuesday. The festival is featuring the late star on its new poster. "The festival poster captures Marilyn by surprise in an intimate moment where myth meets reality — a moving tribute to the anniversary of her passing, which coincides with the festival anniversary," according to a festival statement. According to festival organisers, "the festival is a temple of glamour and Marilyn is its perfect incarnation. Their coming together symbolises the ideal of simplicity and grace."

fter a close call where a soaring budget nearly killed it, Johnny Depp’s $215 million update on The Lone Ranger begins shooting on Tuesday in the desert of New Mexico. If only the title character had some kind of catchphrase to mark this auspicious event! EW spoke with Johnny Depp previously about what he had planned for the film — which features him as Tonto, taking the reins as the lead character while Armie Hammer’s Lone Ranger becomes the sidekick. “I remember watching it as a kid, with Jay Silverheels and Clayton Moore, and going, ‘Why is the f—ing Lone Ranger telling Tonto what to do?’” Depp told EW last year, recalling the 19491957 TV show, which was seen for many more decades in reruns. “I liked Tonto, even at that tender age, and knew Tonto was getting the unpleasant end of the stick here. That’s stuck with me.”

Magic Screen

THURSDAY, MARCH 1, 2012

The glamour behind the glitz

Oscar statues auctioned

JENNIFER GARNER

and Ben Affleck welcome third child

ennifer Garner and Ben Affleck are proud parents for the third time. The couple has welcomed a son in Santa Monica, a source confirms to People. The new addition joins big sisters Seraphina, 3, and Violet, 6. The couple

announced they were expecting in August, with Garner telling Jay Leno in January that they knew the sex of the baby, but weren’t sharing. “It would be so weird to have a boy,” the

actress told Ellen DeGeneres, but also said the experience would be “cool and different”.

ifteen Oscar statues were auctioned for a stunning $3 million in a sale by Beverly Hills auctioneer Nate D Sanders, the company announced on Tuesday. The highest bid went to the Academy Award for writer Herman Mankiewicz’s 1941 Best Screenplay for Citizen Kane, which sold for $588,455. Christie’s previously sold the Academy Award in 1999 for $244,500. In December 2011, Nate D Sanders sold Orson Welles’ Academy Award for the film for $861,542.

Chai Time

KAKURO

How to play Kakuro Kakuro is a popular game similar to sudoku in some ways. But is also suitably different. The key question: “How do you play Kakuro?”, well here are the rules of kakuro. The answer: The kakuro grid, unlike in sudoku, can be of any size. It has rows and columns, and dark cells like in a crossword. And, just like in a crossword, some of the dark cells will contain numbers. Some cells will contain two numbers. However, in a crossword the numbers reference clues. In a kakuro, the numbers are all you get! They denote the total of the digits in the row or column referenced by the number. Within each collection of cells - called a run - any of the numbers 1 to 9 may be used but, like sudoku, each number may only be used once. Let’s have an example to explain this concept more clearly: In the image above, which shows a section of a kakuro puzzle, you will see the numbers ‘26’ and ‘14’ in the top row. Look at the 14. This means that the total of the three cells underneath must sum to 14. Therefore 9, 4, 1 could be the answer, or perhaps 7, 4, 3 and so on... So, how do you work out the actual combination? Well, this is done through elimination and cross-referencing. For instance, as you work out the answers for other kakuro clues, this will naturally limit the valid combinations, and hence the answer for this particular run. Note the second cell in row two - it contains two numbers, 30 and 11. The 30 refers to the vertical run underneath the number 30 and the 11 refers to the two cells to the right, horizontally, of the number 11.

SCRIBBLING PAD

THURSDAY, MARCH 1, 2012

Take a shot at the brain game while sipping your cuppa

QUICK CROSSWORD ACROSS 1 Crime scene barrier 5 Reclusive Garbo 10 Partner of 6-Down 14 More than bad 15 A noble gas 16 Perform some pressing work? 17 Bad title choice for a Lucas remake? 20 Prefix for "season" or "tend" 21 Add to the pot 22 Used the phone 23 Castaway's home 25 Mall unit 27 Patella's joint 29 Bill with a pyramid 30 "Rumble in the Jungle" fighter 33 Military training group 36 Curl up with a good book 38 Sermon response 39 Bad title choice for a Sinise remake? 42 Algerian port 43 Not cluttered 44 Dump emanations 45 Plaything 46 Overhead trains 47 Pinch pennies 49 Mine entrances 51 Jimmy's predecessor as president 55 Makes butter 58 Land on the Caspian 60 "Mamma ___!" (Broadway musical) 61 Bad title choice for an Anthony Quinn remake? 64 ___-ran (loser) 65 Sharp-eyed bird 66 Fairy-tale heavy 67 What a frightened horse may do 68 Fencing tools? 69 Office bigwig DOWN 1 Adagio, allegro, moderato, etc.

2 Says assuredly 3 Computer-screen dot 4 Bulldog booster 5 It's big in Latin America 6 Go on and on 7 Borders 8 Rocky hill 9 Powerful snake 10 Annie Oakley's firearm 11 Nutmeg skin 12 Cast a ballot 13 Geraint's spouse 18 Type of meat or laughter 19 Cab charge 24 "Rubber Capital of the World" 26 Glass-clinkers' proposals 28 Author Hemingway 30 Firing-range rounds 31 Lounge lizard's look 32 Stopovers for the roadweary

33 Crotchety old-timer 34 Spherical hairstyle 35 Heavy, low cart 37 In-flight announ cement 38 Calculating reptile? 40 New face on base 41 Recitation of prayers 46 Novelist Ferber 48 Some colorful marbles 49 Garden spot 50 Prolonged battle 52 Southwest sidekick 53 Whopper tellers 54 Hamlet and Ophelia, e.g. 55 Pre-Comm

SUDOKU

unist Russian ruler 56 Flag location, on a golf course 57 Heavenly bear 59 Get one's goat 62 Prefix for "hazard" 63 Certain tennis shot PREVIOUS PUZZLE ANSWER

THOUGHT OF THE DAY It's no use saying, "We are doing our best." You have got to succeed in doing what is necessary. – Winston Churchill

Chai Time STAR POWER

THURSDAY, MARCH 1, 2012

Your tomorrow today̶Star Power and Tarot THIRUVAIKUMAR

As per Hindu panchang

FOR 2-3-2012

thiruvaikumar@yahoo.co.in 040-27177230 / 9177596118

TAURUS

GEMINI

Administrative skills will increase. Fina‑ ncial position looks strong and com‑ fortable. Loan for buying a new house or for construction will get approved. Expected foreign trip will materialise.

Govt ofﬁcials in powerful position will become friends. Enemies will be inac‑ tive. You will plan your son's future now itself. Some pay advance for new assets. Chances of indirect opposition.

Held up construction will resume and get completed. Children will co‑operate very well. You will identify real and loyal frie‑ nds. Persons of other states will be added to your friends' list. Employees do well.

CANCER

LEO

VIRGO

Long pending wishes get fulﬁlled. You might start getting income from ances‑ tral property. You will feel cheerful as there are chances to meet your old friends and important relatives.

Sudden fortune expected. Your inﬂuence is set to increase. Friends from abroad will help you as expected. Relatives mi‑ ght be jealous of you. Be careful. Busine‑ ssmen will sell through new technology.

You will achieve a lot with your good approach. Debts will get cleared, which brings you cheer. You will exchange o‑ ut of order electronic gadgets with ne‑ w ones. Blood relatives might trouble.

LIBRA

SCORPIO

SAGITTARIUS

Your stock is set to pile up. Happy eve‑ nts to take place at home. Some have bright chances to buy house or plot. Differences in family will disappear. Businessmen will expand their horizon.

Money from expected sources will co‑ me. You will support children by join‑ ing them in training courses that they wanted to join. Minor accidents likely; be careful while driving.

New efforts will yield results. A strong ﬁnancial position likely. New and impo‑ rtant responsibilities will be entrusted to you. Sudden travels and expenses for happy events at home likely.

CAPRICORN

AQUARIUS

PISCES

Introduction to VIPs likely, which will prove beneﬁcial. Renovation of ancestri‑ al property on the cards. Expected mo‑ ney will come. Vehicles will need repairs. Verdict in court cases may get delayed.

You will take clear cut and bold deci‑ sions, which will yield desired results. Manage your financial problems well. Children will change their attitude and follow in the right direction.

Family income sources will increase. You will encourage and support kids to develop their abilities. Real‑estate deals will end favourably. Travel will bring beneﬁts. Avoid ﬁnancial help to anyone.

SUMAA TEKUR

FOR 2-3-2012

tarotreadhyd@gmail.com

ARIES

TAURUS

GEMINI

King of Pentacles – Youʼre good at macr‑ o‑managing. Delegate as much work as you can so you can stay focused on the big picture. Donʼt sweat the small stuff.

Five of Cups – You may lose some money because of market ﬂuctuations or just plain bad investments. No point crying over spilt milk. Move on.

Page of Pentacles – You make new fri‑ ends who may be yo‑ unger to you but as mature as you. You realise the importan‑ ce of keeping an open mind and not judging.

CANCER

LEO

VIRGO

Knight of Swords – You may be approach‑ ing a problem too mu‑ ch from the head. Use your emotions to gui‑ de you. Act on the bas‑ is of how you feel also.

The Chariot – Be careful while on the road. Donʼt drive or ride too fast. Travel is a possibility. It will give you a much needed break and you de‑stress.

Three of Cups – An assignment you wor‑ ked on has been suc‑ cessful and your bos‑ ses are happy with the results. They may be thinking of a raise/ promotion.

LIBRA

SCORPIO

SAGITTARIUS

Queen of Pentacles – You have the perfect combination of the feminine and practi‑ cal aspects of life. You can marry the two beautifully, and get the best out of it.

Nine of Pentacles – Are you spending too much time watching TV and not enough time talking to your family? Get out of this island youʼve created for yourself.

Six of Wands – Family life is in focus. Singles crave to be with someone and want to experience family life in its entirety, including the stability and security.

CAPRICORN

AQUARIUS

PISCES

Queen of Cups – You wear your heart on your sleeve. New rela‑ tionships work very well. Youʼre discover‑ ing new passions and sensuality in a new partnership.

Eight of Wands – This is a lucky phase. Everything that you do works in your favour. Donʼt take praise too seriously. People say things for a reason.

Two of Pentacles – You need to do a bit of juggling act. Two or three jobs may come your way. Manage them all and break up your time accordingly.

For Better or for Worse Stone soup

SOLUTIONS

Boggle IDAHO MAINE OREGON FLORIDA MONTANA

Number game

Suduko

Scrabble

Ink pen

COMICS

Fred Basset

ARIES

TAROT READ

Vol: 1, No 228 RNI No: APENG/2011/39337 Published for the proprietors, Scribble Media and Entertainment Pvt Ltd, by V Harshavardhan Reddy, at #1246, Level 3, Jubilee Casa, Road No 62, Jubilee Hills, Hyderabad – 500033 and printed by him at Jagati Publications Ltd, Plot No D-75&E-52, APIE Industrial Estate, Balanagar, Ranga Reddy Dist, Hyderabad – 500037, Editor: Dean Williams – Responsible for selection of news under the PRB Act All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or in part without written permission of the publisher is prohibited. For feedback, please write to: feedback@postnoon.com and for subscription, please call 040-4067 2222, Fax: 040-4067 2211

Chai Time 1400 Naadi Aadajanme 1430 Pavitra 1500 Movie 1800 Kodala Kodala Koduku Pellama 1830 Vasantha Kokila 1900 Chinnari Pelli Kuturu 1930 Anna Chellelu 2000 Missamma 2030 Edureetha 2100 Challenge 2200 CID 2300 Challenge 0730 Maa Shakti 0800 Ayurvedam 0830 Chaganti Sanatana Dharmam 0900 Money Money 1000 Chinnari Pelli Kuturu

1400 Kannavaari Kalalu 1430 Maavichiguru 1500 Sumangali 1530 Movie 1800 Jai Shri Krishna 1830 Shraavani Subramaniam 1900 Mandhara 1930 Auto Bharthi 2000 Swathi 2030 Mogali Rekulu 2100 Aparanji 2130 Devatha 2200 Mamathala Kovela 2230 Nippu Special 2300 Gemini Vaarthalu 0800 Gemini Talkies 0830 Movie 1130 Aha Emi Ruchi 1200 Jeevitha Chakram 1230 Maa Inti Aada Paduchu 1300 Chittemmaa 1330 Gorintaku

1400 [V] Vignettes 1430 [V] D3 Dil Dosti Dance 1500 [V] Humse Hai Life 1530 [V] Trailers 1600 [V] Dare 2 Date 1700 [V] Zabardast Hits 1800 [V] Fresh Songs 1830 [V] Humse Hai Life 1900 [V] D3 Dil Dosti Dance 1930 [V] Humse Hai Life 2000 Love Kiya To Darna Kya 2100 [V] Vignettes 2130 [V] Trailers 2200 [V] Steal Ur Girlfriend 2300 [V] Humse Hai Life 2330 [V] D3 Dil Dosti Dance 0700 [V] Trailers 0730 [V] Zabardast Hits 0800 [V] Mind Blasting Mornings 1100 [V] Fresh Songs 1200 [V] D3 Dil Dosti Dance

‘[V] Humse Hai Life’ at 1930 Hrs on CHANNEL [V]

1300 News Now at 1 1330 News Now 1800 6 PM 1830 Live Report 1900 Primetime 1930 The Game 2000 News Now at 8 2030 Live Report 2100 The Newshour 2200 The Newshour - Plus 2230 E Now 2300 News Now at 11 0800 The Morning News 0900 News Now 1200 Live Report 1230 News Now

‘The Newshour’ at 2100 Hrs only on TIMES NOW

THURSDAY, MARCH 1, 2012

Telly sitcoms, news and movie listings

1400 Abhishekam 1430 Aadade Aadharam 1500 Antahpuram 1530 Aakasa Ganga 1600 Prema Mandiram 1630 Jagadeeswari 1700 Genes 1800 Devimahathyam 1830 Puttadi Bomma 1900 Kumkuma Rekha 1930 Manasu Mamata 2000 Chandra Mukhi 2030 Bharyamani 2100 Etv News 2130 Super 2245 Movie 0800 Subhamastu 0830 Jeevanajyothi 0900 Movie 1130 Abhiruchi 1230 Star Mahila

1400 Nagani 1430 Movie 1800 Meera 1830 Kalavari Kodallu 1900 Chinna Kodalu 1930 Pasupukunkuma 2000 Muddu Bidda 2030 Radha Kalyanam 2100 Kanyadanam 2130 Luckku Kickku 2230 Shree 2300 Bindass 2330 Latest Songs 0800 Subhamastu 0830 Bhakti Samacharam 0900 Sri Raghavendra Vybhavam 0930 Mahadevi 1000 Bindass 1030 Chittam Chittam Prayaschittam 1130 Jeevana Vignanam 1200 Mee Inti Vanta

‘Global Business Report’ at 1900 Hrs only on ET NOW 1400 The F And O Show 1430 Closing Trades 1530 Tomorrow's Trades 1600 Business Day 1730 Markets Tomorrow 1800 Rush Hour 1830 Starting Up 1900 Global Business Report 1930 Business Express 2000 Business First 2030 Markets Tomorrow 2100 Business Tonight 2200 Top 10 At 10 2230 Brand Equity 2300 Investor's Guide 0900 First Trades 1000 Hot Stocks 1100 Buy Now Sell Now - The Stock Game 1130 Buy Now Sell Now 1200 Market Sense 1300 Business Day 1330 Markets Now

‘Wildest India’ at 2000 Hrs on DISCOVERY CHANNEL 1400 Rampage 1600 Swords 1700 Man Vs Wild 1800 Wild Discovery 1900 Man Woman Wild 2000 Wildest India 2100 Breaking Point 2200 One Man Army 2300 The Survivors 1000 Belly Of The Beast 1100 How Do They Do It? 1130 Million 2 One 1200 Walking The Amazon 1300 Food Detectives

1440 Whacked Out Sports 1510 Wipeout 1605 Mondo Magic Singapore 1635 Magic Asia - India 1700 Supernatural 1800 Chuck 1900 Wipeout 2000 Supernatural 2100 Minute To Win It 2200 Fear Factor 2300 Top 20 Countdown 0700 Infomercial/30 Min 0730 Sky Teleshopping 0830 Infomercial/30 Min 0900 Sky Teleshopping 0930 Whacked Out Sports 1000 Dating In The Dark 1055 Minute To Win It 1150 Got To Dance 1300 The Voice 2

‘Supernatural’ at 2000 Hrs on AXN

‘Haar Jeet’ at 1900 Hrs on IMAGINE 1400 Haar Jeet 1430 Jamuna Paar 1500 Baba Aisa Varr Dhoondo 1600 Mi Aaji Aur Saheb 1630 Jamuna Paar 1700 Mi Aaji Aur Saheb 1730 Sawaare Sabke Sapne – Preeto 1800 Jamuna Paar 1830 Mi Aaji Aur Saheb 1900 Haar Jeet 1930 Gyaan Guru 2000 Dwarkadheesh - Bhagwan Shri Krishn 2030 Sawaare Sabke Sapne – Preeto 2100 Jamuna Paar 2130 Mi Aaji Aur Saheb 2200 Baba Aisa Varr Dhoondo 2230 Haar Jeet 2300 Jamuna Paar 2330 Mi Aaji Aur Saheb

1400 Parichay 1430 Balika Vadhu 1500 Na Bole Tum Na Maine Kuch Kaha 1530 Uttaran 1600 Phulwa 1630 Parichay 1700 Sasural Simar Ka 1730 Na Bole Tum Na Maine Kuch Kaha 1800 Uttaran 1830 Balika Vadhu 1900 Hawan 1930 Sasural Simar Ka 2000 Balika Vadhu 2030 Veer Shivaji 2100 Phulwa 2130 Parichay 2200 Uttaran 2230 Na Bole Tum Na Maine Kuch Kaha 2300 Na Aana Is Des Laado 2330 Balika Vadhu

‘Veer Shivaji’ at 2030 Hrs on COLORS

‘Hitler Didi’ at 2000 Hrs on ZEE TV 1400 Hitler Didi 1430 Mrs. Kaushik Ki Paanch Bahuein 1500 Afsar Bitiya 1530 Yahaaan Main Ghar Ghar Kheli 1600 Pavitra Rishta 1630 Dance India Dance 1800 Hitler Didi 1830 Punarvivah 1900 Afsar Bitiya 1930 Choti Bahu 2 2000 Hitler Didi 2030 Yahaaan Main Ghar Ghar Kheli 2100 Pavitra Rishta 2130 Ram Milaye Jodi 2200 Mrs. Kaushik Ki Paanch Bahuein 2230 Punarvivah 2300 Afsar Bitiya

1400 Saas Bina Sasuraal 1430 Bade Achhe Lagte Hai 1500 Kuch Toh Log Kahenge 1530 Crime Patrol - 4 1800 Saas Bina Sasuraal 1830 Bade Achhe Lagte Hai 1900 Crime Patrol - 2 1930 Shubh Vivah 2000 Kuch Toh Log Kahenge 2030 Dekha Ek Khwaab 2100 Saas Bina Sasuraal 2130 Parvarrish - Kuchh Khatti Kuchh Meethi 2200 Kyaa Hua Tera Vaada 2230 Bade Achhe Lagte Hai 2300 Kuch Toh Log Kahenge 2330 Crime Patrol - Dastak 0900 Parvarrish - Kuchh Khatti Kuchh Meethi 0930 Dekha Ek Khwaab 1000 CID 1200 Shubh Vivah

‘Kuch Toh Log Kahenge’ at 2000 Hrs on SONY

‘Mann Ki Awaaz… Pratigya’ at 2230 Hrs on STAR PLUS 1400 Sajda Tere Pyaar Mein 1430 Mann Ki Awaaz… Pratigya 1500 Navya 1600 Ek Hazaaron Mein Meri Behnaa Hai 1630 Sasuraal Genda Phool 1700 Saath Nibhaana Saathiya 1730 Iss Pyaar Ko Kya Naam Doon 1800 Navya 1830 Ruk Jana Nahin 1900 Saath Nibhaana Saathiya 1930 Sasuraal Genda Phool 2000 Iss Pyaar Ko Kya Naam Doon 2030 Ek Hazaaron Mein Meri Behnaa Hai 2100 Diya Aur Bati Hum 2130 Yeh Rishta Kya Kehlata Hai 2200 Sajda Tere Pyaar Mein 2230 Mann Ki Awaaz… Pratigya 2300 Maryaada ... Lekin Kab Tak?

MOVIES OF THE DAY AND OTHER HIGHLIGHTS

1410 Batman Begins 1700 Blade 1900 Poseidon 2100 Harry Potter And The Order Of The Phoenix 2345 Ocean's Thirteen 0740 Nikita1 0830 Sweeney Todd - The Demon Barber Of Fleet Street 1040 Ocean's Thirteen 1305 Outsourced

1420 2 Fast 2 Furious 1635 Next 1840 Transporter 3 2100 Running Scared 2330 The Mummy Returns 0740 Platoon 1005 The Dream Team 1225 The Mummy Returns

1400 My Kitchen Rules 1500 Keeping Up With The Kardashians 1530 America's Funniest Home Videos 1600 Scrubs 1630 The Big Bang Theory 1700 Rookie Blue 1800 The Tonight Show With Jay Leno 1900 Outsourced 1930 The Big Bang Theory 2000 Keeping Up With The Kardashians 2030 America's Funniest Home Videos 2100 My Kitchen Rules 2200 Rookie Blue 2300 Outsourced 2330 Scrubs 0900 America's Funniest Home Videos 1000 Outsourced 1100 My Kitchen Rules

‘Rookie Blue’ at 2200 Hrs on ZEE CAFE

Hawaii 5-0 Storyline - Five-0 joins the Honolulu Police Department in a high-speed police chase that ends with the driver fatally injured, and a gruesome discovery by the team. ‘Hawaii 5-0’ at 2100 Hrs on BIG CBS PRIME

‘The Shield’ at 2200 Hrs on STAR WORLD 1400 Supernatural 1500 Charlie’s Angels 1600 The Big Bang Theory 1630 The Simpsons 1700 The Shield 1800 Supernatural 1900 Desperate Housewives 2000 Two And A Half Men 2030 The Simpsons 2100 Supernatural 2200 The Shield 2300 The Big Bang Theory 2330 Two And A Half Men 0700 The Shield 0800 Las Vegas 0900 Achievers' Club 1000 The Shield 1100 Desperate Housewives 1200 Two And A Half Men 1230 The Simpsons 1300 The Big Bang Theory 1330 Friends

Saas Bina Sasural Storyline - Chhedi will realise his mistake. Kiya will be thrown out of the house. Now it will be time to take action and Chhedi along with Toasty will have a plan to return all the happiness in Ved’s life. ‘Saas Bina Sasural’ at 2100 Hrs on SONY

1400 Taarak Mehta Ka Ooltah Chashmah 1430 R. K. Laxman Ki Duniya 1500 Lapataganj 1530 F.I.R 1600 Taarak Mehta Ka Ooltah Chashmah 1630 I Luv My India 1700 Gutur Gu 1730 Taarak Mehta Ka Ooltah Chashmah 1900 R. K. Laxman Ki Duniya 1930 Lapataganj 2000 I Luv My India 2030 Taarak Mehta Ka Ooltah Chashmah 2100 Chidiyaghar 2130 R. K. Laxman Ki Duniya 2200 Lapataganj 2230 F.I.R 2300 Taarak Mehta Ka Ooltah Chashmah 2330 Chidiyaghar 0900 Taarak Mehta Ka Ooltah Chashmah 1030 I Luv My India

‘Taarak Mehta Ka Ooltah Chashmah’ at 2030 Hrs on SAB

‘Masti’ at 2300 Hrs on ZOOM 1230 Movie - Masti 1600 Letz Go! 1700 Zabar 10 1730 Star Bonanza 1800 Letz Go! 1900 Planet Bollywood News 1930 Link'D 2000 Tentalize 2030 Letz Go! 2100 Zooming In With Omar 2130 Link'D 2200 B - Tonite 2230 Link'D 2300 Bollywood Bonanza 0700 Fresh Mornings 0800 Red Carpet 0805 Fresh Mornings 1100 Your Likes 1200 Planet Bollywood News

‘Running Scared’ at 2100 Hrs on HBO

1430 Food Detectives 1500 Deconstructed 1530 Mummy Autopsy 1630 Rising - Rebuilding Ground Zero 1730 Showdown - Aircombat 1830 Frontline Battle Machines With Mike Brewer 1930 Paleoworld 2000 Megascience 2030 Heavy Metal Taskforce 2130 Extreme Engineering 2230 Surviving The Cut 2330 Everything You Need To Know About 1030 Rising - Rebuilding Ground Zero 1130 Food Detectives 1200 Deconstructed 1230 Some Assembly Required 1330 Paleoworld

‘Surviving The Cut’ at 2230 Hrs on DISCOVERY SCIENCE

‘Dead Zone’ at 2300 Hrs on BIG CBS PRIME 1400 Frasier 1430 Jerry Springer 1530 Big Wheels 1600 Galileo Extreme 1700 Survivor 1800 Entertainment Tonight 1830 Galileo Extreme 1930 Frasier 2000 Entertainment Tonight 2030 Galileo Extreme 2100 Hawaii 5.0 2200 Jerry Springer 2300 Survivor 0700 Big Wheels 0730 Aspire 0800 Galileo Extreme 0900 Survivor 1000 Bellator 1100 Jerry Springer 1200 Big Wheels 1230 Entertainment Tonight 1300 Galileo Extreme

Playing Field

THURSDAY, MARCH 1, 2012

The games people play

Another chance for Rory to be No1

PALM BEACH GARDENS: Northern Ireland’s Rory McIlroy could get another chance to seize golf’s number one world ranking when he tees it up at the US PGA Tour Honda Classic this week. McIlroy had the opportunity to supplant England’s Luke Donald atop the rankings at the World Golf Championships Match Play Championship last week, but his runner-up finish to Hunter Mahan wasn’t enough to boost him to the top. Despite falling to America’s Mahan in the championship match, McIlroy said the event in Arizona “was a very positive week”. McIlroy’s victories at Dove Mountain included a semi-final triumph over England’s Lee Westwood, who also could have taken the number one ranking last week with a victory. “I felt like I didn’t play my best golf at the start of the week,” McIlroy said. “But when I needed to up my game a little bit, for more the most part on Saturday and Sunday, I played really good golf. “Just got off to a bit of a slow start on Sunday afternoon against Hunter and left myself a bit too much to do,” he added. “Felt like I played the back nine pretty well and obviously pretty confident coming into here this week.” While Donald is absent, McIlroy will be able to renew his rivalry with Westwood.

Bernie doubtful about Oz GP MELBOURNE: Formula One ringmaster Bernie Ecclestone has warned the Australian Grand Prix is the “least viable” race on the calendar and could be under threat if it does not become a night event. The sport has a deal with Melbourne until 2015 but beyond that it is up in the air, with others cities lining up to take its place, he said. “We have a contract which we will respect -- so up until 2015 we are in good shape,” Ecclestone was quoted as saying Thursday by Fairfax Media ahead of Melbourne hosting the opening race of the season on March 18. “After then, we really don’t know. If we were to have a divorce from our friends in Melbourne we would probably be walking away from Australia. “Because I can’t see how Adelaide could make it happen, or anywhere else, if Melbourne can’t. The race itself, from our point of view, is probably the least viable of all the races we have.” Last year’s Grand Prix cost taxpayers Aus$50 million (US$53.6 million) -- more than the revenue it generates -- with at least AUS$25 million of that reportedly going to Ecclestone

for the right to host the contest. Negotiations for a new contract are expected to begin in late 2013 or early 2014 and Ecclestone said with other countries keen to replace Australia, a night race would go a long way to helping save it. “I wish we could have a night race in Australia,” he said. “We have other races ready to take the place of Australia, which we don’t

want to happen. “But it would be wrong of me to have to report to our board, ‘Terribly sorry about this but we have to walk away from wherever to retain Australia’.” Ecclestone is keen on a night race so it can be watched at a suitable time in Europe, which would help selling television rights to a continent where the sport is hugely popular.

But it is likely to be opposed by residents who live around the Albert Park circuit, as well as costing the Victorian state government more to stage. Ecclestone suggested changing to a night race could allow more flexibility in the terms with the state government. “We would have a look, maybe we could help subsidise that a little bit.” AFP

Tiger gets testy over ex-coach’s new book PALM BEACH GARDENS: A testy Tiger Woods shut down questions about former coach Hank Haney’s book about him on Wednesday in a sometimes contentious pre-tournament press conference at the Honda Classic. “I’ve already talked about everything,” Woods said in a terse exchange with a reporter who pressed him on Haney’s claim that Woods considered giving up golf to pursue a military career. “You’re a beauty,” an irked Woods said. “Have a good day.” Woods’ agent, Mark Steinberg, said this week after excerpts of Haney’s book “The Big Miss” were released that the coach had twisted Woods’ admiration for the military “into something negative”. In January, Woods criticized Haney, telling ESPN the coach’s decision to write the book was “unprofessional and very disappointing.” Woods worked with Haney from 2004 to 2009, during which time Woods won six of his 14 major titles. “It’s still the same,” Woods said Wednesday of his attitude toward Haney. AFP

Playing Field

THURSDAY, MARCH 1, 2012

The games people play

Murray retains Oz Open form

ndy Murray was in a good mood while talking to the press after his victory over Marco Chiudinelli, the third best Swiss player, by 6-3, 6-4. He has been able to retain his good form in the Australian Open Australian and has brought it to the Dubai Open. “I played well throughout today,” the third seed said. “So that’s progress. Now I just need to keep that going.” He served better and moving more easily than the previous day against Michael Berrer. Murray was also in better humour. A boxing fan, he was asked what he thought of the rumpus at the Dereck Chisora and David Haye press meet. “Yeah, I saw that this morning when I got up. It was not great, was it?” he said. “But, yeah, I guess you can’t really be acting like that. I don’t really want say too much more, or one of them will come to me.”

Top seed Isner beats Sweeting in Round 2

Fedex on course for Djoker duel Richard Eaton

DUBAI: Grand Slam record-holder Roger Federer kept on course for a Saturday showdown with top-seeded Novak Djokovic after winning a quarter-final repeat of the 2004 Dubai Open final against Feliciano Lopez. However Federer needed a tight mind and some outstanding serving to win 7-5, 6-3 against the fluently aggressive Spaniard who is at a career-high world number 15 and enjoyed the fast conditions here Wednesday. Lopez often attacked the net threateningly, created difficult angles with his laeft-handed game, and forced his legendary opponent to play somewhere near his best. “I just tried to focus on my own

serve,” said Federer, who lost only nine points behind his delivery all match. “And then in the end you get a bit of a read on his serve. “But it almost went to a tiebreak in the first set. I’ve played him since we were about 14 years old and I know he can be very dangerous.” The most notable moments were a 20-point tenth game in which Lopez saved three set points but which may have softened him up for Federer’s breakthrough two games later, and a sensational rally in the final game. This saw Lopez twice force Federer back from the net with stomach-stretching lobs, and, after attacking forays by both from baseline and forecourt, the crowd were cheering on their feet.

Novak Djokovic of Serbia reacts by throwing his racket in the air after playing a point against Sergiy Stakhovsky of Ukraine.

DELRAY BEACH: Top seed John Isner saved all five break points he faced en route to a 63, 6-4 win over Ryan Sweeting in the second round of the Delray Beach Tennis Championships on Wednesday. In a battle between two of the biggest men on the ATP Tour, the 26-year-old Isner bombed 10 aces and won 78 percent of the first-serve points to beat Sweeting in the first career meeting between the two Americans. The 206-centimetre tall Isner won for the second time in as many days as the world number 11 saved five set points in a 32-point second set tie breaker to eliminate Jesse Levine 6-4, 7-6 (17/15) on Tuesday. Isner, who is looking for his fourth career title and his first of 2012, made quick work of Sweeting. He recorded just one double fault in the 67 minute match to reach the quarter-finals for the first time at this event. AFP

Playing Field

THURSDAY, MARCH 1, 2012

The games people play

Lin saves the day again NEW YORK: Jeremy Lin’s New York Knicks kicked off the second half of their season in winning style Wednesday, by rallying from a 12 point halftime deficit to rout the Cleveland Cavaliers 120-103. Lin finished with 19 points, 13 assists and five rebounds for the Knicks who scored 71 points in the second half at Madison Square Garden arena. Guard Lin also had just one turnover Wednesday, the fewest he has had in a start this season. “It is unbelievable what he is doing,” Knicks coach Mike D’Antoni said of Lin. D’Antoni said the coaching staff must take some of the blame for the high number of turnovers Lin had been recording in some of the games this season. “One turnover tonight. Once we get other people to help him out he is not going to have eight turnovers. He he has had one bad game so this is unbelievable,” D’Antoni said. Carmelo Anthony, who recently returned from injury, scored 22 points and forward Steve Novak came off the bench to score 17 points, including five three pointers, for the Knicks who had six players finish in double figures. “It was a great comeback,” said Anthony, who has struggled through an injuryplagued season. “In the first half we still had our all-star break legs, but in the second half we made some adjustments and went after it.”

Former NBA player Stephon Marbury (centre) in action as he leads his team the Beijing Ducks to beat Zhejiang 10591, sweeping the three-game quarter finals 3-0, in Beijing on February 26. AFP

‘Ugly duckling’ starts to fly BEIJING: Stephon Marbury was supposed to be washed up after 13 gruelling years in the NBA, but the one-time bad boy point guard has reinvented himself in China as the superstar of this season’s revelation, the Beijing Ducks. The 34-year-old New Yorker is averaging about 22 points and six assists a game, leading the Ducks to a seven-win, no-loss record including victories over defending champions Guangdong and last season’s number two team, Xinjiang. Not only has he become the most talked about former NBA player in the Chinese Basketball Association (CBA), but he is regularly on national TV, has over 163,000 followers on his Twitterlike microblog and pens a column in the China Daily newspaper.

After three years in the CBA, Marbury is not quite an overnight sensation, but since joining the Ducks this season he’s brought instant success, helping them to their best start yet and raising hopes of their first ever title. And the sudden rise in fortunes is well-timed for Marbury, whose brand of low-cost “Starbury” basketball shoes are expected to hit Chinese stores in time for Christmas. “He may be the best player in the league the way he is playing... if he keeps this up, (Beijing) is going to have an incredible season,” said Bob Donewald, coach of both the Xinjiang Tigers and China’s national team. “Steph has brought a lot of confidence, he has brought determination and he has got them playing really good right now. It is his leadership as much as anything else,”

STEPHON MARBURY WAS SUPPOSED TO BE WASHED UP AFTER 13 GRUELLING YEARS IN THE NBA, BUT THE ONE-TIME BAD BOY POINT GUARD HAS REINVENTED HIMSELF IN CHINA AS THE SUPERSTAR OF THIS SEASON’S REVELATION, THE BEIJING DUCKS.

the former NBA assistant coach said. An NBA contract dispute has brought more American players to China than ever before, but Marbury has outshone all comers, including Xinjiang’s Kenyon Martin and Patty Mills, previously

of the Denver Nuggets and Portland Trailblazers respectively. In his third CBA season and with his third team, Marbury signed with Beijing, bringing his game to a major Chinese city that also serves as a base to market his footwear. After Beijing’s 99-97 nail-biting win over Xinjiang on Friday, the former New York Knick downplayed his role and deferred to his team-mates. “Our defence is the key to our success, our defence has been really good. Not only have we been playing hard defence, but our defence has been translating into getting a lot of easy baskets,” Marbury told AFP. “For the most part I continue to do the little things, rebound the ball, try to get deflections, steals, try to get guys open shots, doing things to win the game.” AFP

Playing Field

The games people play

Netherlands Rob(ben) England LONDON: England, playing their first match of the post-Fabio Capello era, looked to have snatched a draw after goals in the final five minutes from Gary Cahill and Ashley Young cancelled out efforts from Robben and Klaas-Jan Huntelaar. But just as Young’s injury-time equaliser had sent a 76,283 Wembley crowd into raptures, Holland swept forward and Robben latched onto a Mark van Bommel pass to curl a superb winner beyond Joe Hart. It was the dramatic final act of a memorable game which had seen England haul themselves back to parity after Holland had appeared to be coasting to victory. England caretaker manager Stuart Pearce said his youthful side’s “naivety” had been responsible for the defeat. “We probably showed a little bit of naivety and a slight lack of belief,” Pearce said. “That’s something we’ve got to get into the squad, going forward. “Once we’d got ourselves back into the game, we’re disappointed to have been beaten. But there were a few good showings, we learned a lot and that was the exercise.” Dutch coach Bert van Marwijk meanwhile praised his side’s perfor-

mance as they banished the memory of their last international, a 3-0 defeat to Germany. “We lost against Germany on the counter-attack and we didn’t want to lose on counter attack here...you have to defend against England as they have a lot of very fast players and that’s a weapon. “But we were happy to play our football, and the pitch was unbelievably good,” he added. Earlier, Robben and Huntelaar struck inside the space of a minute to puncture the optimism surrounding Pearce’s squad. Pearce had named an experimental side, opting for Tottenham’s Scott Parker as captain ahead of Steven Gerrard while handing starts to international novices Danny Welbeck, Chris Smalling, Cahill and Leighton Baines. But England were exposed early in the second half as the Dutch cut loose with deadly accuracy, Robben and substitute Huntelaar scoring in rapid succession. Robben drew first blood with a superb individual effort on 57 minutes. The Bayern Munich winger picked up a stray England pass inside his own half, surged forward and as Cahill and Smalling backed off, fired an unstoppable low shot beyond Hart.

Parker keen to remain skipper

LONDON: England captain Scott Parker admits he is desperate to lead his country at Euro 2012 after getting a first taste of the job in the 3-2 friendly defeat against the Netherlands at Wembley. Parker only discovered he would be skipper when caretaker boss Stuart Pearce revealed his decision after a team meeting just hours before kick-off on Wednesday

morning. The Tottenham midfielder was a surprise choice given the presence of Steven Gerrard in the team and he admitted hearing the news was one of the best moments of his life. Even the disappointment of Arjen Robben’s stoppage time winner for the Dutch couldn’t ruin Parker’s day. Now his attention will turn to holding onto the armband and, asked if he would like to keep the armband, Parker said: “Of course I would. I would like more really. I am going to keep working hard. “I also understand there’s many a player — no-one more than Steven Gerrard and a couple of others — who’ve obviously been there before and done it. “It’s going to be difficult for me but I would obviously relish the chance to lead the country out again and take it into the Euros.

THURSDAY, MARCH 1, 2012