Back home shaken and stirred

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VOL. XXXIII NO. 141 H CHENNAI H TUESDAY 28.4.2015 (EVENING) H OTHER STATIONS WEDNESDAY 29.4.2015 (MORNING) H 8 PAGES Rs. 4.00 H Regd. No., TN/CC(S) DN/223/15-17, RNI No: 33810 / 82
T
The lowdown
hings are going from bad to worse for the quake-hit
Nepal. The death toll from the devastating earthquake could reach 10,000, the country’s Prime Minister
said today, as residents frustrated by the government’s
slow response used their bare hands to dig for signs
of their loved ones.
International aid has finally begun arriving in the Himalayan nation of 28 million people, three days after Saturday’s 7.9 magnitude quake, but disbursement is slow.
According to the Home (Iinterior) Ministry, the confirmed death toll stands at 4,349, with over 7,000
injured.
Koirala did not say on what he was estimating the leap
in the death toll, but the government has said it is still to
establish contact with some remote regions.
Meanwhile, a batch of around 40 persons hailing
from Tamilnadu arrived in Chennai here from quakehit Nepal.
They were flown in from Delhi, where they were
brought by the Indian rescue mission, and later brought
to Chennai in batches by different flights since last
night, officials said.
More than 2500 Indians have reached Raxaul on the
Indo-Nepal border from earthquake-hit Nepal since
last night even as the toll due to the high intensity
earthquake in Bihar climbed up to 58 while 180 others
were injured.
Back home shaken and stirred
q Rescued TN tourists from quake-hit Nepal reach Chennai to recount horror tale
NT Bureau
Chennai, Apr 28:
The city airport is buzzing with activity, irrespective of the time. In the last
couple of the days, there has been
hectic action. This is because tourists
from the State, who had embarked on
trips to Nepal, which is in the throes of
a crisis following the quake on Saturday, have been returning in batches
to recount horror tales.
Around 40 persons hailing from
Tamilnadu arrived here today, with
relief evident on their faces. They
were flown in from Delhi, where they
were brought by the Indian rescue
mission, and later brought to Chennai
in batches by different flights since
last night, officials said.
The tourists who were stranded in
the quake-hit Nepal were rescued,
Chennai
facing quake
danger?
NT Bureau
Chennai, Apr 28:
Even before the shock due to Nepal
earthquake could come down, experts have warned that Tamilnadu,
especially Chennai, is not safe.
On a scale of 0 to 5, Tamilnadu stands
number 3 and there are possibilities for
9-richter scale earthquake, they said.
‘If this happens, Chennai, Coimbatore, Madurai, Nagapattinam,
Thanjavur and Puducherry will be
affected,’ they said.
According to former Dean of Anna
University Santhakumar. there are
doubts over the stability of newly
constructed apartments, as most
of them have left the ground floor
vacant for parking and hence, stand
on pillars.
However, a higher official of the
Public Works Department has said
buildings in Chennai are safe and
rules were being followed.
7 shops burgled
at Teynampet
NT Bureau
Chennai, Apr 28:
In a series of thefts last night,
several shops and one church lost
valuables and cash to the tune of
few lakh rupees. According to police
sources, a row of shops selling lamps
and lights, located near Kamaraj
Arangam and close to Teynampet
police station, was looted.
Police said, valuables, including
many unique and vintage lamps were
reportedly missing from seven
shops, and added that the suspects
are yet to be identified.
The CCTV footage has been collected and a case registered.
Meanwhile, it has also been reported that unknown persons struck
at a church in St Thomas Mount and
made away with the offering box.
thanks to the Tamilnadu government’s efforts in establishing contacts
with the 387 tourists. It is said that the
whereabouts of 37 persons had not
been ascertained yet.
Meanwhile, State Revenue Minister
RB Udayakumar held discussions
with Commissioner of Revenue Administration and other officials about
the difficulties involved in the process.
An official from the Revenue department said that the facts provided by
the relatives of the tourists should be
multiple checked as the slightest miss
could lead to chaos.
‘Apart from information about their
whereabouts, compulsory verification of the date of accommodation is
important,’ he added.
A resident of Madurai, who sought
to be anonymous, said that the
HAPPY HOUR
Around 40 tourists from Tamilnadu, who were stranded in Nepal, reached
Chennai today.
country (Nepal) is in ruins. ‘We saw
‘Many Indians were in turmoil as
thousands of people walking on the it took a while for the government
road. Had the quake struck in the to establish contact with them. We
night, the situation could have been are happy to be here after going
worse,’ he said.
through the worst phase of our
lives with no food and shelter, but
loads of fear,’ he said.
Aishwarya Lakshmi, a city resident,
who had gone on a visit to the hilly
region along with her parents, expressed relief at reaching home.
‘We were left clueless after the killer
quake struck the Himalayan country,’
she said. ‘Even travelling in a cab was
a risky affair due to the aftershocks and
the vehicles used to stop frequently,’
she recalled, narrating the ordeal.
However, after being moved to safer
locations before being flown to Delhi
by Indian rescue agencies, State government officials received them there
and took care of their accommodation
and travel back home, she said.
A Chrompet-based tour operator
said the tourists from the State, who
were in Nepal during the quake, were
Toll may touch 10,000,
says Nepal Premier
Kathmandu, Apr 28:
The death toll in Nepal’s earthquake could reach 10,000, Prime
Minister Sushil Koirala told an
agency today, ordering intensified rescue efforts and appealing
for foreign supplies of tents and
medicines.
‘The government is doing all it can
for rescue and relief on a war footing,’ Koirala said in an interview. ‘It
is a challenge and a very difficult
hour for Nepal.’
A home ministry official put the
latest death toll at 4,349. If the
death toll does reach 10,000, that
would be even higher than the 8,500
killed in a massive 1934 quake, the
Himalayan nation’s worst disaster
to date.
Koirala was abroad when the 7.9
magnitude quake struck on Saturday. He returned on Sunday. He
has issued orders to his government to improve coordination of
the relief effort and will address
the nation later on Tuesday, an
aide said.
Appealing for foreign assistance,
Koirala said Nepal needed tents
and medicines. Many people are
sleeping out of doors because
their homes have been destroyed
or may not withstand the dozens
of aftershocks that have hit the
country, he said.
‘The government needs tents,
much medicine. People are sleeping in fields and rains,’ he said.
‘There are more than 7,000 people injured. Their treatment and
rehabilitation is going to be a big
challenge.’
Many people are sleeping out of doors
because their homes have been destroyed or may not withstand the
dozens of aftershocks that have hit the country: Koirala
HORROR HOUR
Armed forces carrying out relief and rescue operations in Nepal.
Rain affects rescue operations
Meanwhile, rain affected resuce
operations and Nepalis frustrated with
government’s slow response, were
digging through rubble themselves
to find remains of their loved ones.
Eighteen trucks with relief material
sent by the Uttar Pradesh government reach Nepal’s capital Kathmandu. Out of 18, 10 trucks are carrying
food, seven have mineral water and
one has medicines. A team of doctors
has also reached Kathmandu, says a
UP government official.
Officials of the Nepalese Consulate
in Kolkata have not been able to get
in touch with their families back home
since Saturday, when the massive
earthquake jolted the Himalayan
country and killed over 4,000 people.
Nepal’s Consul General in Kolkata
Chandra Kumar Ghimire said
communications lines to the Himalayan Country are in disarray due to
the earthquake.
8 million may be affected: UN
Up to eight million people have had
their lives disrupted, said the United
Nations, adding there was an
urgent need for relief materials
ranging from tarpaulin sheets
and clean water to soap and
medicines.
‘According to initial estimations
and based on the latest earthquake
intensity mapping, eight million
people in 39 districts have been
affected, of which over two million people live in the 11 severely
affected districts,’ said the latest
assessment from the UN Office of
the Resident Coordinator.
desperate and scared. He said the
government’s efforts to rescue them
need to be praised and had ensured
that Tamilnadu residents didn’t suffer
for too long in the Himalayan nation.
On Sunday, the Tamilnadu government had said 311 persons belonging
to the State were stranded in Nepal following the earthquake and that efforts
were on to bring them back safely.
‘All arrangements are in place for the
stay of stranded people in Tamilnadu
House in Delhi and for their return to
the State,’ the government had said.
A report from Kathmandu, quoting a
Nepalese police official said, at least
4,352 bodies have been recovered after
Saturday’s massive earthquake that
struck just outside of the capital, Kathmandu. A further 8,063 people have
been injured in the quake.
Centre cancels
licences of
9,000 NGOs
New Delhi, Apr 28:
The Union government has cancelled licences of nearly 9,000 NGOs
for violation of Foreign Contribution
Regulation Act (FCRA). In an order,
the Home Ministry said that notices
were issued to 10,343 NGOs for not
filing annual returns for the year 200910, 2010-11 and 2011-12.
The notices were served on 16
October, 2014 saying that the NGOs
should file their annual returns within
a month specifying amount of foreign
funds received, sources of such funds,
for which purpose they were received
and the manner in which they were
utilised. Out of the 10,344 NGOs, only
229 replied. There was no reply from
the remaining NGOs leading to cancellation of their registration.
The order, issued on 6 April, came
days before the Centre’s effort to
tighten the grip on prominent NGOs
that receive foreign funds like Greenpeace India and the Ford Foundation.
The security establishment has been
advocating a hard line on foreignfunded NGOs for years. But it was only
after a change of regime at the Centre
that the home ministry started the
groundwork for the crackdown.
As part of this exercise, the ministry
had issued notices through September and October to 10,343 organisations across the country that had not
filed their annual returns for 2009-10,
2010-11 and 2011-12.
Singapore
delegation lauds
TN on health front
NT Bureau
Chennai, Apr 28:
A Singapore delegation headed
by Consul General Roy Kho met
Tamilnadu Health Minister Dr C Vijayabaskar and lauded efforts taken
by the government.
According to an official release here today, Singapore has sent a medical team
to visit various hospitals in Tamilnadu.
The delegation headed by Roy Kho met
Vijayabaskar and other higher officials.
In the meeting, the Minister explained
the various efforts taken by State government on the health front. He listed
out programmes like Dr Muthulakshmi
records showed the name of some
university,’ the affidavit placed before
file its enquiry report against Tomar Reddy Maternity Financial Help Fund,
New Delhi, Apr 28:
versity (UP), from where the law minister
other person in a different stream of
a bench of Justice Rajiv Shakdher on
by 20 August.
said he had graduated in science.
Adding to the controversy over the
Comprehensive Emergency Obstetric
study and not that of Tomar.
Monday stated, in response to a notice
Meanwhile, the court has appointed and Neonatal Care Centres, Maternal
qualifications of Delhi Law Minister
The Bar members of Delhi, who
issued by the High Court.
‘It is respectfully submitted that on
advocate Raj Shekhar Rao as amicus Mother Nutritional Plan and Neonatal
Jitender Singh Tomar, a Bihar-based
wanted to be impleaded as a party
the basis of the enquiry report, and in
curiae, to assist the court in the mat- Ambulance service. Moreover, he also
university, where he had claimed to
in the petition, informed the court
The inquiry report filed by the
ter, after it found that the petitioner stressed due to these efforts, the govhave done his LLB, has now said that
that they have received information
the university records, the provisional
university has also alleged that the
the provisional certificate of his ‘LLB
from Avadh University that Tomar’s
certificate bearing serial number 3687
records available in the registraSantosh Kumar Sharma, who had ernment was able to reduce the infantstudies’ was also ‘fabricated and does
graduation degree is allegedly ‘fake’.
was issued on 29 July, 1999 to Sanjay
tion section appeared to have been
alleged that Tomar had enrolled mother mortality death ratio.
not exist in the institution’s record’.
Kumar Chaudhary for BA (Honours)
tampered with, and there were no
himself as an advocate on basis of a
The Bar Council of India (BCI) and
Having achieved the given target,
records available of an alleged ‘miPolitical Science examination held in
‘false and bogus’ graduation degree, Tamilnadu Government in its
Tilka Manjhi Bhagalpur University
the Bar Council of Delhi (BCD), who
gration certificate’ given for Tomar
was not present in court. It also is1998. Accordingly, the provisional cerin Bihar has filed its enquiry report
were roped in as the respondents
Health Secretary Dr J Radhakrishnan,
from the Bundelkhand University.
sued notice to Sharma, directing him
tificate in the name of the respondent
before the Delhi High Court, stating
in the plea, were today asked to file
National Rural Health Development
to appearPrinters
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on theLtd.,
nextM-7,
date Thiru-Vi-Ka Industrial Estate, Guindy,
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The court
also asked
the BCD to e-mail:
heshwaran
others
present
AAP in fresh soup as Law Minister’s
degree certificate found fake
City
2 TUESDAY
28 APRIL 2015
Centre
CHENNAI
No gold standard at
Thangam Avenue
Residents in Porur want area to be cleaned
CLEAN &
GREEEN
Civic workers cleaning the
wild growth on the streets
of Mugalivakkam.
Photo: K VIJAY ANAND
More than just greenery
Musical fountain, medicinal garden to come up at park in K K Nagar
A herbal garden with 20 varieties of plants will be
planted at Sivan Park, K K Nagar.
A
musical fountain, water falls, lakh for water falls.
medicinal garden and a s b e s Also a medicinal garden is
tos roof for the shuttle
being set up near the
court will come up
musical fountain at a cost
at Sivan Park, K K
of Rs 3 lakh. ‘Around 20
LAR
K PIL
Nagar.
varieties of medicinal
ASHO
plants will be planted with
Ward (131) Counnameboards displaying its signicancillor M Gunasekaran
said a sum of Rs 18 lakh has been ces,’ he said.
allotted for musical fountain and Rs 25
About asbestos roof for shuttle
court, he said regular players in the
park have requested for such facility
and it would also be helpful during
festival days to conduct cultural programmes.
Similarly, a proposal for the auditorium near the play area has been
submitted. ‘I am planning to construct
it from Councillor’s fund at a cost of Rs
20 lakh,’ he said.
Asked about other developments,
the elected member said new play
equipment for children is to come up
at a cost of Rs 4.50 lakh. ‘Ofcials
have visited the park and earmarked
a place to install it. It will attract more
children once put into use,’ he said.
Meanwhile, the work to raise the
compound wall with granite pillars is
nearing completion. ‘It is being done
to prevent people entering the park
when it is locked,’ the Councillor said.
Regular visitors to the park have
welcomed the initiatives taken by
the civic body and also thanked the
authorities for laying a walkway with
pebble stones which has acupressure
benets.
- NT Bureau
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Debirs have been left at Thangam Avenue in Kovur making the
stretch unmotorable.
'Pedestrians are the worst-affected. One
wrong step and you end up twisting your ankle.
Senior citizens prefer to remain indoors'
T
hangam Avenue in Kovur near
Mangadu Public CBSE School
has remained closed to traf c for
nearly three months, thanks to
the debris deposited on the
street.
KS Kannan a social
activist says, ‘Children
around the neighbourhood nd it tough to go to
school. The debris have
been left on the road for months.’
‘Pedestrians are the worst-affected. One step wrong and you end up
twisting your ankle. Senior citizens
prefer to remain indoors,’ adds KS
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R
Bharath adds
throughout the
stretch heaps of debris have been
deposited. ‘This has been the scenario for three months, we have
approached authorities to take up
the matter but in vain,’ says Bharath.
‘We do not expect them to make it
tar topped, the least they can do is
atten the debris and make the stretch
motorable,’ adds Bharath.
Bharath also says that due to the
- NT Bureau
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Multiplex, Abirami Theatres,
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Theatre, PVR Cinemas, Sangam, AGS, INOX National,
Abirami Theatres,
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Easy nah?
ANSWER TO
SUDOKU 3063
(27.4.2015)
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Bharath also says that things would
be much better if authorities had left
the stretch as it is.
IN THEATRES
IN
SONY PIX
‘You can always see dust in the
air, children suffer from dust allergy.
The authorities have to do something
about it,’ he says.
PORU
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debris, at anytime of the day how
much ever you clean the house there
is always dust.
Bharath a resident says, ‘The
people want authorities to take steps
to remove the debris so
that there could
be smooth flow
of trafc.’
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Kannan.
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Around Town
CHENNAI
Over 200 get
free eye-glasses
NT Bureau
Chennai, Apr 28:
As many as 318 patients were
screened at a free eye camp conducted by Singhvi Charitable Trust
at GHS School, Naickempettai,
Kancheepuram recently.
According to a press release, free
eye-glasses were given to 217
people and 11 patients were recommended for free cataract surgeries.
Also 90 patients were treated for
dental ailments.
TUESDAY
28 APRIL 2015
3
They feel the
HEAT
TOO...
q Authorities at Vandalur zoo
strive to keep animals healthy
Essay contest
Nandini Voice for the Deprived, a
Chennai-based NGO, is organising
an essay contest on ‘How to prevent
farmers’ suicides in India’ in English,
Tamil or Hindi with a maximum of
1,500 words. Essay can be sent to
nsvenkatchennai@gmail. com or
by post to: M 60/1, 4th Cross Street,
Besant Nagar, Chennai -600 090 on
or before 31 May.
For students
The Tamilnadu Science and
Technology Centre will organise a
‘Spend-a-day-in-Science-Centre’ programme on 7 May for students who
have completed class VII, VIII, IX or
X at Periyar Science and Technology
Centre, Gandhi Mandapam Road,
from 10 am to 5 pm.
A planetarium show and night
skywatch programme will also be
organised. No registration fee will
be charged.
For details, contact 2441 0025.
SHWETA V
Chennai, Apr 28:
Hot, hotter, hottest. It is often
said that Chennai has only these
three seasons. As people in these
parts gear up for the harsh summer
ahead, authorities at the Vandalur
zoo are also gearing up, to help the
animals beat the heat.
Spread over an area of 602 hectares, including a 92.45-hectare
rescue and rehabilitation centre,
Vandalur zoo is the largest zoological garden in India. There are
38 types of mammals, 20 kinds of
birds and 14 type of reptiles in the
zoo while the main attractions are
the 32 lions and seven tigers.
He is no
‘Captain cool’
NT Bureau
Chennai, Apr 28:
As soon as an aggressive DMDK
leader Vijayakanth hit out at
a reporter in Delhi on Monday,
social media such as
Whatsapp and Facebook were abuzz with
footage of the press
conference in which
the ‘Captain’ loses his
cool and is seen walking out of the meet only
to be calmed down by
his supporters. The
delegation had earlier
met the Prime Minister
to discuss Mekadatu
dam and other issues
affecting Tamilnadu.
Targeting a reporter of a private
Tamil channel specifically, Vijayakanth first refused to answer his
questions, and later threatened to
abuse him and throw the microphones at him when the reporter
persisted with his line of questioning.
Vijayakanth also walked out of
the press conference, but was then
persuaded to get back to the conference. That did not go too well either,
Railways gesture
to passengers
Vijayakanth refused to give proper
answers to almost all questions
from there on.
Captain told the reporter, ‘neenga
summa irunga illa kundaka-mandaka,
thittiruven.’ (‘Keep quite,
or I will scold with unparliamentary words.’ is a
loose translation.)
Another one, ‘Gammunu irunga marubudiyum, thooki adichirvuen
pathukonga!’ (‘Keep
shut. Or I will pick up
and throw this microphone at you’)
And then he says, ‘Ne
enna komba? Komba
mulaichiruku unaku?’
Earlier, a delegation led by Vijaykanth called on Prime Minister
Narendra Modi to raise the Mekadatu
issue, with him.
Modi gave a patient hearing to the
points on the dam issue, but did
not spell out the Centre’s stand, according to delegation members. The
Prime Minister told the leaders that
the allocation of Rs 25 crore made
by the Karnataka government was
for a feasibility study and not for the
construction of the dam.
As the mercury rises, animals are
finding it tough to cope and refuse
to come out of their spaces. Meanwhile, officials at the Vandalur zoo
are taking measures to help the
animals in this regard.
With the holiday season looming
and the zoo expected to attract an
increase in the number of visitors, the
officials are leaving no stone unturned
to ensure that the general public and
the animals don’t suffer.
While animals in the forests manage summer as they can migrate to
‘cooler’ places, at the zoo movement
is restricted. Thus, provisions are
made to overcome the odds during
the summer, when temperatures
Zoo authorities make sure that animals receive
a balanced diet and keep their bodies cool as the
summer peaks during the months of May and June
while doctors monitor health on a regular basis
are likely to soar past the 40 degrees
Celsius mark.
Authorities said animals usually
consume lesser amount of food in
summer and tend to lose weight too.
Also, in the absence of thermal comfort zone, there are many chances of
them suffering from dehydration, heat
stroke and rashes. Most of the animals
are given adequate care and protection and their diet plans have been
included with ‘cool’ food items as per
the body intake, they said.
Usually elephants love playing in
water and also their body needs to
get a shower. Keeping that in mind,
workers provide shower bath for the
three elephants here at the peak time
(which is from 3 to 4 pm) and food is
offered to them at 4.30 pm that the
visitors are allowed to see.
Monkeys are given water melons,
cucumber, lassi and honey. Small
bear, sloth bear, Himalayan black bear
and various other animals are given
melons. Everyday at noon, bear has
its favourite honey.
Venkatesan, an animal keeper said,
the chimpanzees Kombi (a 19-yearold male), Tun Tun (34, female) and
Gauri (23) are happy and hyper for
most of the day. Due to the rains in the
past week, the simians have managed
well, so far. However, on hot days,
they feel uncomfortable and make a
lot of noise.
‘A balanced diet for them include lassi
at 11 am, melons at 1 am, coconut at
2 am, guava in the evenings and and
slices of banana, cabbage and carrot
at the end of the day, he said.
That is not all, the zoo authorities
ensure that adequate number of
doctors are present to handle healthrelated issues of the animals here.
The hospital has well-equipped
operation theatre, in-patient ward,
radiology unit, laboratory, clinical
room, pathology room, quarantine
facilities and convalescent yard fully
functional.
GH treats 200 patients
per day for Vitiligo
NT Bureau
Chennai, Apr 28:
Pointing out that 12 per cent of
the population in our country are
affected by Vitiligo, doctors at
Cosmetology Department at Government Stanley Medical College
have performed the surgeries at
free of cost since 2013.
Addressing mediapersons here
yesterday, Department of Cosmetology head Dr G R Ratnavel, said
Vitilgo is a chronic skin disorder,
where portions of the skin lose
pigment, but little do people realise
that is not a communicable disease,
but a disorder.
The social stigma about the disorder still prevails in the society
that forces most of the people to
stay at home. The Cosmetology
Department at the Government
Hospital was started in December
2013 and 200 people are treated
every day, he said.
Ratnavel said the disorder is rectified through punch grafting, skin
grafting and tattooing for Vitiligo.
Most of the cases are successful
Attend school get
Re 1, girls told
‘Vitilgo is a chronic
skin disorder, where
portions of the skin lose
pigment, but little do
people realise that is not
a communicable disease,
but a disorder. It is
rectified through punch
grafting, skin grafting
and tattooing’
Government Stanley Hospital dean Dr Karkuzhali and head of
Department of Cosmetology Dr G R Ratnavel explaining about
surgeries related to Vitiligio in Chennai yesterday.
and the surgery is provided free of
cost here whereas, in private hospital the surgery would cost up to Rs
50,000 to Rs one lakh, he claimed.
The department also conducts hair
transplant, laser surgeries, cryp
therapy, mole excision, facial rejuvenation, puvo therapy, liposuction
and nail surgeries.
The hospital dean Dr Karkuzhali,
said now a days more people are
coming forward to the department
for Vitiligo and various other treatment. Surgeries like liposuction,
surgery for facial wrinkles used to
be done only by people in the film
industry and upper class, but now
this is available even for the poor
people, she said.
Bringing change
through an
NLP approach
NT Bureau
Chennai, Apr 28:
The Southern Railway has made
NT Bureau
NT Bureau,
Governor) G V Raman presided over
arrangements for passengers to take
Chennai, Apr 28:
the
function
and
gave
away
cash
Chennai, Apr 28:
print-outs of their suburban journey
A six-day programme ‘uPwithincentives to 82 students, amounting
To
stress
the
importance
of
school
tickets booked through their recently
NLP’ (Neuro-Linguistic Programeducation among girl students, im- to Rs 15,550. He also gave a speech
launched mobile app UTS on mobile.
ming)
was organised by Antano
on
the
importance
and
need
for
the
prove the attendance and reduce
According to
& Harini, known for NLP and
uninterrupted primary education.
dropouts, Lion Club of Central
a press release,
School of Excellence, a training
On the occasion, Lions Club gave
Madras, District 324 A1, organised
the facilities are
and
certification organisation for
a farewell to school headmistress
a school meet at Brinda Primary
available at most
NLP here recently.
Malarvizhi, who served the school for
School at Gopalapuram recently.
of the stations
According to a press release, NLP
the past 32 years. She will be retiring
According to a press release, Lions
on the Chennai
is
a world-wide practised methodolby
the
end
of
this
academic
year.
Club has taken up the project aimed
Beach-Tambarogy of modeling a genius and using
Exnora Greater Chennai presiat reducing the dropouts among girl
am route and also on select stations
their skills to bring out the best in
dent R Govindaraj, Lions Club
students for the last seven years.
on other suburban stations.
a person. It is a connection beTo encourage school attendance, members
For passengers booking tickets
tween the neurological processes
Andal Rajaram, P K Chandrasekathey informed the students that they
Professor K P Aravanan giving away a degree certificate to a student
on Chennai Egmore - Tambaram
(‘neuro’), language (‘linguistic’) and
ran, H Raghothaman, S N Hariwill get an incentive of Rs One for
during the fifth graduation day of Tamil Isai Kallori held at Sir Raja
sector, virtual ticket (in the form
behavioral
patterns
learned
through
narayanan and Venkat Rajaram
everyday’s attendance.
Annamalai Mandram, Broadway on Monday. Industrialist A C Muthiah,
experience (‘programming’) and
of an SMS) will be permitted and
were among those participated.
Lion Club (District 324A1 Past
Justice P R Gokulakrishnan and Principal Lakshmi Poduval
that these can be changed to
hence they need not take print-outs.
are present.
achieve specific goals in life.
A one-time-password sent through
SMS has to be used for taking the
School of Excellence co-founder
printout of ticket from the Automated
Harini Ramachandran said ‘NLP
Ticket Vending Machines. This ATVM
was earlier only available to a handticket print-out should be shown to
ful of people in the country. Today
checking staff.
through uPwithNLP programme
we offer this technology to every
Arrangements for taking print-outs
individual to bring out an abunof the tickets have been made at
NT Bureau
certificates and shields in the fields of
dant change in their lives which
Beach, Central, Fort, Park, Egmore,
nagasuram, bharathanatyam, violin,
Chennai, Apr 28:
happens naturally and grows with
Nungambakkam, Kodambakkam,
veena and mirudhangam.
As many as 62 students received
time’.
Mambalam, Saidapet, Guindy, St
Every year, industrialist A C MuthThomas Mount, Pazhavanthangal,
‘Through uPwithNLP, we install su- degrees at the fifth graduation
iah provides scholarship fund to
day of Tamil Isai Kallori held at
Pallavaram, Chromepet, Tambaram
perior capabilities; that bring about
Sir Raja Annamalai Mandram, students who excel in thahvil and
Sanatorium, Tambaram and Peruna striking change in an individual’s
nagasuram.
Broadway on Monday.
galathur.
personality. The change is such
Over 350 students are studying fine
The convocation function was
that is becomes an intrinsic part
Similar facilities have also been
g r a c e d b y J u s t i c e P R G o k u - arts in both morning and evening colof their life, being able to achieve
created at Perambur, Tiruvottiyur,
lakrishnan, Professor K P Ara- lege at Tamil Isai Kallori. This year
desired goals and having a natural
Ambattur, Minjur, Tiruvallur and
R Vijayan, aIndustrial
student Estate,
of Bachelor
of
v
aFrontline
nan and
P r i n cPrivate
i p a l L aLtd.,
kshm
i Thiru-Vi-Ka
Published
by
K.
Balakumar
on
behalf
of
News
Today
Media
(P)
Ltd.,
from
85,
Mount
Road
(GST
Road),
Guindy,
Chennai
600
032
and
printed
by
him
at
Printers
M-7,
Guindy,
ability to build a strong character’,
Gummidipoondi and also on MRTS
Music won
first1111.
place Fax:
in the4212
Chennai
Members
of Lions
ClubEditorial/Admn
addressing students
at Brinda Fax:
Primary
Chennaiat600
032. Ph: 4202
1111. Editor:
K. Balakumar.
Phone:
/Advt: 22504000,
2250School
1800 (Editorial)/2250
1200/2250
0101 (Advt/Admn).
e-mail: newstodaydaily@gmail.com, Circulation:
4202
0000.
said School
of Excellence
co- Poduval.
stations
Chepauk
Thirumyilai
62 students get
degrees in music
Blend
4 TUESDAY
28 APRIL 2015
CHENNAI
WHAT
WH
AT NEW
N
NEWS
EWS
EW
S TODAY
TODA
TO
DAY
DA
Y PR
PRIN
PRINTS
INTS
IN
TS IS
IS NE
NEWS
WS TTHA
THAT
HAT
HA
T CO
COUN
COUNTS
UNTS
UN
TS
Jolt from the blue
T
here are certain things where man is still helpless and cannot
determine the course of events. What happened in Nepal on
the weekend certainly falls in the above category. A very severe
earthquake measuring 7.9 on the Richter scale has unsettled the
Himalayan Republic and sent shockwaves even in large parts of
India, including Delhi. Death toll hovered over 3000 with the
number of those missing and seriously injured also running close
to that figure. Kathmandu, the capital of Nepal, bore much of the
brunt, though fuller reports from the interior of the country are still
awaited. Communications links are still very tenuous with the fear
of aftershocks keeping everyone on tenterhooks.
Notably, the Modi Government rose to the occasion in Nepal’s
hour of need and showed extraordinary dispatch in offering all
possible assistance for rescue and relief operations. Both the Indian
Air Force and the National Disaster Agency were up and running,
with the first relief teams reaching Kathmandu within a couple of
hours of the earthquake. Prime Minister Modi himself summoned a
meeting of his senior ministers and officials to personally direct the
relief operations. Given the close citizen- to-citizen ties between the
two neighbouring countries, it was only to be expected that India
should come to the aid of its distressed northern neighbour hit by a
huge natural calamity.
Rebuilding life and restoring normalcy would take time and
money. And in this, aside from the Government, ordinary citizens,
including the vast private sector, in this country must contribute
liberally. For, aside from being a humanitarian cause, India has a
special relationship with the people of Nepal. A good percentage of
Nepali citizens are permanently settled in this country while a bigger
chunk of the population works here and sends money home to their
families in Nepal. It is notable that the Rashtriya Swayamsewak
Sangh has rushed one of its senior-most functionaries to Kathmandu
for coordinating relief and rescue operations undertaken by it in
Himalayan Republic.
Admittedly, human tragedy would not have been as severe had
there been some quality control in building construction. Haphazard
construction without any prior soil testing and material and structural
controls coupled with a total absence of town and country planning
have contributed further to the tragic loss of life and materials. Given
that Nepal is an earthquake-prone zone, basic minimum norms to
minimize the impact of earthquakes ought to have been in place (just
as the Japanese have successfully enforced them over the years).
Despite big strides made by science, it is still not possible to predict
with any degree of certainty as to when the tectonic plates underneath
the earth would collapse or clash deep under the surface to cause a
huge human disaster.
God bless our armed forces
and the armed forces of Nepal!
Heartbreaking to see the despair
of people in Nepal. But hope
arriving in a uniform
Lara Dutta Bhupathi
@LaraDutta
Dr Harsh Vardhan
@drharshvardhan
Indo-Nepal civilsational links
strengthened by ordinary
Indians’ sympathethic response
to ‘quake. Let all of us join hands
to help Nepal.
Baltimore in state
of emergency
15 officers injured in riot Mandatory curfew imposed
BALTIMORE:
Fifteen police officers were injured
during riots on Monday, Col. Darryl
D DeSousa, Baltimore Police chief
of patrol, said at a news conference. Two remain hospitalised, and
the others have been released, he
said. Most were injured by flying
debris, according to DeSousa.
Baltimore City Public Schools
will be closed Tuesday, according
to schools spokeswoman Edie
House-Foster.
Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake
announced that the city will impose
a mandatory curfew from 10 pm to
5 am daily, effective for one week
starting on Tuesday. She noted that
the city already has a mandatory
curfew for juveniles.
‘What we see tonight that is going
on in our city is very disturbing,’ said
Rawlings-Blake. ‘Too many people
have spent generations building
up this city for it to be destroyed
by thugs who in a very senseless
way are trying to tear down what so
many have fought for.’
The mayor said it’s not clear
whether an enormous fire at a senior center under construction was
Freddie Gray, the
young man whose
death after an
arrest by police in
Baltimore sparked
a new wave of
protests, was
remembered at his
funeral
related to riots Monday night. She
said the cause of the fire is under
investigation.
Chaos and violence erupted on
the streets of Baltimore late Monday as protesters clashed with
police. More than two dozen people
have been arrested.
Maryland Gov Larry Hogan declared a state of emergency and
activated the National Guard.
‘A group of outrageous criminals
attacked our officers. Right now,
we have seven officers that have
serious injuries, including broken
bones, and one officer who is unconscious,’ Capt. Eric Kowalczyk
told reporters.
He vowed to find the attackers
and put them in jail.
Video showed police in riot gear
taking cover behind an armored
vehicle, as protesters pelted them
with rocks.
At one point, it looked like officers used tear gas. The Baltimore
Police Department said it had
heard reports of protesters setting
White House faces
new racial crisis
WASHINGTON:
Newly sworn-in Attorney General Loretta Lynch said Monday
night the Justice Department will
continue its investigation into the
death of Freddie Gray and send
two top officials to Baltimore in
an effort to quell the riots unfolding there. Lynch met with President Barack Obama to discuss
the riots in Baltimore. The meeting was not called specifically as a
result of the situation in Baltimore,
the White House said, but Lynch
told Obama she’d be monitoring
the situation there.
‘As our investigative process
continues, I strongly urge every
member of the Baltimore community to adhere to the principles of
FIGHT WITH FIRE
nonviolence,’ Lynch said in a statement. ‘In the days ahead, I intend
to work with leaders throughout
Baltimore to ensure that we can
protect the security and civil rights
of all residents. And I will bring the
full resources of the Department
of Justice to bear in protecting
those under threat, investigating
C
wrongdoing, and securing an end
to violence.’ Obama also spoke
with Baltimore Mayor Stephanie
Rawlings-Blake on Monday, while
his senior adviser, Valerie Jarrett,
spoke with Maryland Gov Larry
Hogan, the White House said. The
growing violence in Baltimore, just
40 miles from the White House,
represents another challenge for
the Obama administration in addressing racial unrest across the
country.
Since the police killing of an
unarmed teenager in Ferguson,
Missouri, last summer, the administration has worked to acknowledge deep frustrations in minority
communities while also supporting
law enforcement.
small items on fire, and footage
showed a cruiser in flames.
Video also showed people
looting local stores, and an area
CVS Pharmacy was set on fire after
it was ransacked. Thick dark smoke
filled the streets.
‘This is not OK,’ Kowalczyk said.
‘You’re going to see tear gas.
You’re going to see pepper balls.
We’re going to use appropriate
methods to ensure that we’re
able to preserve the safety of that
community.’ There were no immediate reports of injuries among
the protesters. There were also no
immediate reports of arrests.
Who was
Freddie Gray?
BALTIMORE:
Freddie Gray, the young man
whose death after an arrest
by police in Baltimore sparked
a new wave of protests, was
remembered
at his funeral
on Monday
as ‘loving,
caring and
respectful’ as
speakers led
rousing calls
for justice.
Freddie Gray
His neck was broken a week
earlier at some point during his
arrest and transportation in a
police van.
He had been chased by several
officers for ‘catching the eye’ of a
senior officer and running away.
A criminal inquiry into his death
is under way.
L ICK
PIC
Smartphones pack
‘huge’ batteries
WASHINGTON:
Lenovo and Acer have both unveiled smartphones with much larger
than normal batteries.
A total of three devices from the two
companies contain cells with 4,000
milliamp-hour (mAh) capacities.
That is more than a third higher
than the components used in Samsung and Apple’s latest flagship
phones.
Customer surveys have repeatedly
highlighted a desire for improved bat-
ing more video content, thanks to
the spread of 4G networks, meaning
phone battery life is really getting
hammered.
‘With the bigger brands people are
willing to accept some trade-offs for
the phones to appear as slim and
slick as possible.
‘But everyone else is looking for
a way of trying to differentiate their
devices. And Lenovo and Acer, in
particular, have an eye on the business market where employers want
Farmers and Youth Congress party activists burn destroyed wheat as they protest against the government in New Delhi. In the other photograph,
a truck that was torched by protesters burns near the main entrance of the state congress building in Chilpancingo, Mexico.
Sudan Prez wins re-election
Extends his 25-year rule despite international war crime charges
VOICE
MAIL
Dangerous
stretch
the vote after the government refused
KHARTOUM:
to postpone elections until a national
Sudan’s President Omar al-Bashir
Sir,
unity government could be formed to
won re-election with 94 per cent of
CTH Road is a locality in Villiensure their fairness. In a joint statethe vote, according to official results
vakkam neighbourhood where traffic
ment released Sunday, the opposition
announced on Monday, extending
seldom remains orderly. The stretch
said it will not recognize the election
his 25-year rule despite international
from K4 police station to junction
war crimes charges and multiple
results. It called upon the Sudanese
with Reddy Street in particular is
insurgencies. The head of the Elecpeople to join ranks to ‘topple’ ala fine example in this regard. This
tion Commission, Mokhtar al-Assam,
Bashir. The opposition had issued
stretch is a place where neither
announced the results to reporters.
similar calls in the run-up to the vote.
motorists nor pedestrians adhere
their workers to be available for as
tery life at the top of shopper’s most
He said turnout was 46.4 percent,
The vote was the second multi-canto safety only to leverage problems.
many
hours
as
possible.’
wished for smartphone features.
insisting that widespread reports of
didate election to be held in Sudan
Police personnel most of the time
China-based Lenovo says its new
But until now, batlow participation were ‘not accurate.’
since al-Bashir came to power.
Omar al-Bashir
prefer to remain mute spectators to
K80 offers up to 33
teries of this size
He said al-Bashir won 5.58 million
The election generated little exciteviolations in this stretch. ICF signal
Al-Bashir, who took power in a
hours of talk-time
have been more
votes. The other 14 presidential bloodless Islamist coup in 1989, is ment in Sudan, but was not entirely
on the same road is another spot
and its A5000 up
commonly found
candidates were virtually unknown the only sitting head of state facing insignificant. Al-Bashir must remain
where regulation is minimal only givto 35 hours. Both
in tablets rather
to the public.
in
offi
ce
to
ensure
ing scope for more violations.
genocide
charges
fi
gures
are
based
than 5.5in (14cm)The four-day vote began 13 April. at the International
he is never sent to
G Udayakumar,
on the use of a 2G
screened phones.
MAKER the Hague to face
Nearly 13 million people were regis- Criminal Court. The
Villivakkam
network, which is
People are contered to vote at some 11,000 polling charges stem from
the
war
crimes
less
energy-intensive
than
a
3G
or
stantly engaged with their screens
centers. Polling stations in the capital, the conflict in Darcharges, and
ADDRESS YOUR LETTERS TO :
4G connection.
and the screen uses the most
Khartoum,
were
largely
deserted.
The Editor, News Today, 85, Mount
needs
at least the
fur,
where
300,000
Taiwan’s Acer has yet to provide a
power,” explained Ben Wood from
Al-Assam said turnout was lowest people were killed and 2 million veneer of legitimacy to attract badly
Road, Guindy, Chennai - 600 032.
comparable figure for its Liquid X2,
the tech consultancy CCS Insight.
or e-mail to : letters@
in Khartoum, at 34.48 per cent, while displaced during the government’s needed foreign aid and investment
which is also unusual for supporting
‘And the biggest challenge right
newstodaynet.com
/
Kasala
state
in
eastern
Sudan
led
Published
by
K.
Balakumar
on
behalf
of
News
Today
Media
(P)
Ltd.,
from
85,
Mount
Road
(GST
Road),
Guindy,
Chennai
600
032
and
printed
by
him
at
Frontline
Printers
Private
Ltd.,
M-7,
Thiru-Vi-Ka
Industrial
Estate, Guindy,
brutal
response
to
an
armed
rebellion.
after
the
2011
secession
of
oil-rich
up to three Sim cards at once.
now is that people are also consumwith22504000,
66.1 per cent
Chennai 600 032. Ph: 4202 1111. Editor: K. Balakumar. Phone: Editorial/Admn /Advt:
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boycotted e-mail:
The Sudanese
opposition
Southnewstodaydaily@gmail.com,
Sudan.
NEWS
of the day
Enterprise
CHENNAI
Profitable
quarter for JSW
Energy
NT Bureau
Chennai, Apr 28:
JSW Energy on Monday reported
nearly four per cent jump in net
profit at Rs 234.29 crore for the
fourth quarter ended 31 March,
2015 mainly due to decline in fuel
cost.
According to a press release, the
company had reported net profit
of Rs 225.65 crore in the same
quarter of the last financial year
(2013-14).
However, total income from operations was down 6.9 per cent to
Rs 1,420.04 crore in the reported
quarter from Rs 1,525.29 crore in
the fourth quarter of 2013-14.
The fuel cost of the company
came down to Rs 793.96 crore
during the January-March 2015
quarter, compared to Rs 917 crore
in the same period last fiscal.
It also reported a net profit of Rs
994.55 crore for the fiscal ended
31 March, 2015 as compared to
Rs 602.48 crore in the last fiscal,
up 65 per cent.
Total income from operations of
the company during the fiscal rose
by 9.1 per cent to Rs 6,331.95
crore from Rs 5,802.61 crore in the
previous financial year (2013-14).
Will net neutrality
have Indian version?
As debate rages, TRAI receives suggestions from industry body
New Delhi, Apr 28 (PTI):
Jumping into the debate on ensuring
non-discriminatory Internet access,
industry chamber Asscoham on Monday said it has suggested to telecom
regulator TRAI to come out with an
‘Indian version of Net Neutrality’.
Without elaborating on what it
means by the ‘Indian version’, Assocham said it supports a ‘special type’
of net neutrality and wants TRAI to
frame rules that support investments
and policy objectives of the country.
However, it has supported plans like
Airtel Zero and Facebook’s Internet.
org, which have been criticised by
the advocates of free Internet, who
accuse these platforms of giving preferential treatment to partner service
providers.
‘We favour net neutrality but of a
special type, one that is optimised for
the maximum welfare of its citizens.
Give us Indian version of net neutrality’, Assocham’s National Council on
What telcos want?
To have a level-playing field, telecom operators have proposed a
licencing regime for over-the-top (OTT) players like WhatsApp and
Skype, a view which is opposed by internet firms and associations.
‘There is a pressing need to find a fair regulatory and commercial
solution especially for VOIP telephony services, which if not addressed could endanger the entire Digital India programme of the
government’, Vodafone India said.
‘While TSPs (telecom service providers) are subject to a number of
regulatory and licensing requirements, such as payment of licence
fee, taxes, security conditions, among others, OTT communication
service providers have no such obligations’, Airtel said.
Telecommunications chairman TV Ramachandran said
here.
In its submission to TRAI,
Assocham said it would be
‘retrograde for India’s economic development and harmful to our citizens to impose a
Westernised Version of Net
Neutrality and thereby, damage our
No more ‘Midas
touch’ for Mallya?
New Delhi, Apr 28 (PTI):
Things appear to be going from
bad to worse for Vijay Mallya, once
known as ‘King of Good Times’, with
the board of a company he nurtured
into India’s largest liquor maker asking him to quit.
Mallya, already fighting on a number
of other fronts including the ‘wilful
defaulter’ charges, recently also saw
one of the Kingfisher aircraft being
sold to a scrap dealer in Mumbai,
who sold it after tearning it apart into
pieces.
This followed lenders taking possession of Kingfisher House near airport
in Mumbai, on which tax department
has also staked its claim to recover
its own dues.
Mallya, however, continues to strike
a defiant note and has refused to step
down while taking refuse in ‘certain
contractual obligations’ that require
United Spirits’ current owner Diageo
UAE to host WTO
trade meet
The UAE will host a WTO meeting
focusing on reforms of the global trading system in October in Abu Dhabi.
The round-table meeting will be
led by WTO Director of Trade and
Development, Shishir Priyadarshi.
The preparation of WTO Ministerial Talks will see participation from
1000 trade leaders from government
and private sector who will represent
their nations at the forthcoming WTO
Ministerial Talks being held in Nairobi
in December this year. The meeting
in Abu Dhabi would be held on 28
October.
Google sets up
marketplace to
buy patents
Google announced on Monday it is
setting up an online marketplace for
those who want to sell patents to the
Internet giant.
‘We invite you to sell us your patents’, Google patent deputy counsel
Allen Lo said in a blog post.
Lo said the ‘Patent Purchase Promotion’ is an ‘experimental marketplace for patents that’s simple, easy
to use, and fast’. He noted that patent
owners who want to sell often face
difficulties. ‘The usual patent marketplace can sometimes be challenging,
especially for smaller participants
who sometimes end up working with
patent trolls’, he said.
TUESDAY
28 APRIL 2015
Taking a stand
On the latest developments at USL, Mallya
has said that the company’s has ‘parroted’
an inquiry report submitted by PwC, whose
finding itself was based on ‘half truths and
twisted facts against the previous management’. PwC has defended its report.
to back his position as Chairman.
While Diageo is yet to make its position public, sources have said that the
UK-based liquor giant, which spent
$three billion (about Rs 20,000 crore)
to buy 55 per cent stake in USL, may
invoke ‘certain defaults’ on the part of
Mallya and his UB Group to support
the board resolution of his ouster if
shareholders are required to vote on
the same.
Mallya has been in the dock ever
since his ambitious airline venture
Kingfisher landed in financial troubles
and got eventually grounded in October 2012.
Thereafter, Mallya had to sell some
of his assets, including controlling
stake in USL to Diageo.
Now, the aviation venture is grounded since 2012, a takeover battle is
on for fertilisers arm, while control or
major stakes have passed away to
new owners at some other entities
including the group’s erstwhile flagship firm USL.
Apple posts
healthy figures
New York, Apr 28:
Apple sold 61.2 million iPhones in
first three months of 2015, reporting
revenues of $58 billion as strong
sales from China propelled the tech
company to another record quarter.
The Californian tech giant was aided
by strong sales of the new iPhone 6
Revenue from China rose 71 per
cent to $16.82bn.
That compares with $21.3bn in the
Americas region, which was up 19
per cent. Tim Cook, Apple’s chief
executive, has previously predicted
that China will become Apple’s largest market.
‘We are thrilled by the continued
strength of iPhone, Mac and the App
Store, which drove our best March
quarter results ever,’ said Cook
and the larger iPhone 6 Plus in China
during February’s Chinese New Year.
Analysts polled by Bloomberg had
expected Apple to sell 58.1m iPhones
and for the company to report revenues of $56bn. The number far exceeded the 43.7m iPhones that Apple
sold in the same period a year ago.
‘Tech talent
difficult to
procure’
‘We are thrilled by the continued
strength of iPhone, Mac and the App
Store, which drove our best March
quarter results ever,’ said Cook, announcing the company’s latest quarterly results after US stock markets
had closed.
vision of Digital India’. Ramachandran said Assocham
has submitted its response
to TRAI and made suggestions that would help the
industry in meeting goals of
National Telecom Policy of
universal connectivity and
affordability and broadband
availability.
‘Our need for enormous investments of over Rs five lakh crore
over the next five years for creating
infrastructure to bridge the digital
divide. We have asked regulator to
ensure level-playing field for all and
avoidance of discrimination between
players with Same Service-Same
Rules’, he said. Assocham, in its
submission to TRAI, said smart data
pricing practices, sponsored data and
zero pricing (or zero rating) can help
create a win-win for both consumers
and network operators.
In zero rating plan, partner service
providers pay the charges on behalf
of the customers, who can then access these websites or applications
for free.
‘Facebook’s Internet.org and Airtel
Zero are useful initiatives in this direction as they will foster greater competition between content providers
and subsidise user’s access costs’,
Assocham said.
5
AI continues
flights to
Kathmandu
NT Bureau
Chennai, Apr 28:
Air India was able to operate four
flights to Kathmandu on the third day
after Nepal was hit by a severe quake.
A press release here said, out of the
four flights, three were from Delhi and
one from Varanasi to Kathmandu.
A total of 361 passengers reached
India on three flights that were able to
land at and take off from Kathmandu.
The airline also operated two flights
from Kolkata. But due to the nonavailability of parking bays, one was
forced to divert to Patna and after
refueling, had to return to Kolkata.
The second flight carrying 3.5 tonnes
of relief material was yet to land at
Kathmandu.
Air India had planned to operate
seven flights during the day but
paucity of parking bays at Tribhuvan
International Airport at Kathmandu
hindered landing of flights and reaching of relief material.
Air India has already announced
waiver of cancellation charges to/
from Kathmandu on Air India tickets
till 2 May 2015. One way, all-inclusive
fare of Rs.4700 for travel from Delhi,
Kolkata and Varanasi to Kathmandu
and vice-versa has been offered to
facilitate the stranded.
Puravankara
takes to private
equity
NT Bureau
Chennai, Apr 28:
The Puravankara Group has entered into Private Equity Partnerships
for its new acquisitions.
According to a press release, the
group has now commenced its foray
into strategic Private Equity partnerships to meet its growth objectives,
strengthen its balance sheet and
leadership position.
The group has acquired around
31.69 acres of land in Poonamallee
with a developmental potential of
3.3 million square feet. The project
will be developed under the brand
‘Provident’ in three phases, to provide
premium affordable housing.
The acquisition cost of land stands
at Rs 110 crore.
The project is expected to be
launched with all statutory approvals
by the end of this financial year, with a
target construction completion within
60 months.
The average selling price of the
units would be in the range of Rs
4,500 per square feet, and the project
is expected to generate revenues of
Rs 1,500 crore.
Joint managing director Ashish
Puravankara said, ‘We are excited
to enter into our first strategic private
equity partnership and is a key milestone for the Puravankara Group. The
deal is the culmination of the long
term partnerships with our Investors
and demonstrates their confidence
in the group’.
ICICI net up 13.2%
NT Bureau
Chennai, Apr 28:
ICICI Bank on Monday reported
a 13.24 per cent increase in its
March quarter and consolidated
net profit at Rs 3,084.92 crore
even as bad loans and provisions
increased.
According to a press release,
on a standalone basis, the net
profit rose 10 per cent to Rs 2,922
crore on lower loan growth and
the resulting net interest income.
Consolidated total income has
increased from Rs 21,652.96
crore for the quarter ended 31
March, 2014 to Rs 24,914.26
crore for the quarter ended 31
March,2015.
The bottom line would have
been much lower but for a near
threefold rise in forex gains at Rs
726 crore from Rs 245 crore in
the year ago period.
The gross non-performing assets ratio zoomed to 3.78 per
cent from 3.03 per cent a yearago. Accordingly, the
provisions for bad assets almost doubled to Rs 1,344.73
crore from Rs 713.78 crore a year
ago.
The core net interest income
was up 17 per cent to Rs 5,079
crore, while non interest income
was up by a similar quantum
to Rs 3,496 crore during the
quarter.
Andhra Bank Q4 net doubles
Andhra Bank on Monday said
its net profit more than doubled
to Rs 185.24 crore in the fourth
quarter of last fiscal on account
of higher yield on advances and
low cost of deposits.
It had posted net profit of Rs
88.08 crore in the JanuaryMarch period of 2013-14 financial year, Chairman and Managing Director C V Rajendran, said.
The bank’s total income during
the fourth quarter of 2014-15
rose to Rs 4,699.16 crore, from
Rs 4,057.89 crore in the yearago period.
‘This is one of the best quarters we have had in the recent
months. Cost of deposits has
come down by 33 basis points
and at the same time yield on
advances has grown by 67 basis
points. Both have contributed
to higher Net Interest margin
translating into higher net profit’,
he said.
Ambani at it again
New York/Mumbai, Apr 28 (PTI):
Industrialist Mukesh Ambani on
Monday regained his position as
the world’s richest Indian with a
networth of $19.6 billion, as pharma
tycoon Dilip Shanghvi slipped to the
second place after remaining on the
top for about seven weeks.
Shangvi-led generic drug maker
Sun Pharma saw its share price
dip by over two per cent in a weak
market on Monday, but loss was
much lower at 0.55 per cent for
Ambani-led business conglomerate
Reliance Industries Ltd (RIL).
Zoomcar comes to city
Dilip Shanghvi slipped to
the second place after
remaining on the top for
about seven weeks
As a result, Shanghvi saw his
networth dip by over $450 million
-- the third biggest loss among the
world’s billionaires ranked by business magazine Forbes in its annual
rich list.
According to a ‘real-time’ update
provided by Forbes, Shanghvi
NOTICE
My client Mr.M.RAMANAN, Son of
Mr.M.Ramalingam,
residing
at
Door
No.38/15, Ramanathapuram 3rd Street,
Ernavur, Chennai-600 057, he has lost his
bag. While travelling from Theradi Bus Stop
to Rajakadai Bus Stop in 56c Bus at about
11.00 a.m on 24.04.2015 in the mean time
my client has lost the Original Sale Deed
in respect S.No.279 New S.No146/3 an
extent 0.80 Cents, while S.R.O.Sembium
D.Nos.95/1955 and 100/1955. which was
kept the said bag. Any person found the said
bag and the documents may kindly handover
the same to me.
J.BALAMURGAN M.A.B.L.,
Advocate
23/8, Market Lane, Kaladipet,
Thiruvottiyur, Chennai-19.
Cell : 9282113553
slipped to the second position with
a networth of $19.3 billion among
the richest Indian billionaires, while
Ambani returned to the top.
On the global list, Ambani was
ranked 46th, while Shanghvi was
48th- the only two Indians among
the top-50.
NAME CHANGE
I, K.S. RAMJI, son of
Thiru Kannan, born on 30th
December 1970 (native
district: Chennai), residing at
Old No.81, New No.5, Vedha
Street, Kulasekarapuram,
Chennai-600 091, shall
henceforth be known as
K.RAMAN
K.S.RAMJI
Chennai, 15th April 2015.
PANASONIC CARBON
INDIA CO. LIMITED
CIN: L29142TN1982PLC009560
Regd Office: Pottipati Plaza, 3rd Floor,
77, Nungambakkam High Road,
Nungambakkam, Chennai 600 034
Tel: 044-28275216, 044-28275226,
Fax: 044-28263010
Web: www.panasoniccarbon.co.in
NOTICE
Pursuant to Clause 41 of the Listing
Agreement, Notice is hereby given that
a Meeting of the Board of Directors of
the Company has been scheduled to
be held on Thursday, at its Registered
Office, the 7th May, 2015 to consider
among other things the Audited
Financial Results for the year ended
31st March, 2015.
For Panasonic Carbon India
Co.Limited
Chennai
R. MANORANJAN
27th April, 2015 Company Secretary
NT Bureau
volvement. The car you booked
Chennai, Apr 28: can be opened by sending a
India’s first self-driven car message from your phone and
New Delhi, Apr 28 (PTI):
rental company, Zoomcar, was the ignition keys can be found
Technical talent in India is ‘notorilaunched in Chennai yesterday. in the glove box. There is no
ously’ difficult to access and recruit as
Speaking at the launch here, hassle of taking the key from
one in two employers in the country
CEO and co-founder Greg Mo- a person. Money can be paid
struggle to hire such personnel, a Monran said that customer satisfica- through credit or debit cards’,
ster.com survey says. According to
tion was the main priority and he added.
the online career recruitment solutions
The company has also planned
explained Zoomcar’s special
provider, around 55 per cent of the
features which include its GPS to enter Bangalore, Pune and
respondents said their recruitment detracking system and its driver Delhi.
partment needs 5-10 man hours to hire
NAME CHANGE
It offers a wide array of cars
performance tracker.
a
technology
professional.
Moreover,
What are Maruti
ranging
from
Ford
Figo
to
Mer72 per cent highlighted that only two
‘All the cars come equipped
My son, G.SAIRAM, born on
India’s plans?
out of 10 of their correspondences with
with a blackbox which contains cedes-Benz. Zoomcar has
27-6-2000, residing at
Maruti Suzuki India plans to invest job seekers actually convert into hiring.
the tracking device inside it. The an official app where one can
No.9, Second Cross
Rs 4,000 crore this fiscal on capital
difference between Zoomcar register with a photo of original
‘Technical talent is notoriously difficult
Street, Mahalakshmi
expenditure in order to enhance its to access and recruit. Many are not
and other companies like Ola license which will then be veriNagar, Adambakkam,
fi
ed
by
authorities.
leadership position in the market.
and Uber is that you will get
active job seekers, and therefore are
Chennai-600 088, shall
Read
The car can then be booked
a personal satisfaction with
The company, which reported its unlikely to have uploaded a resume
henceforth be known as
Zoomcar cause it breaks the picked up from specific locations
highest ever annual profit and sales in to a database or created a web promonotony of chauffer-driven given in the app.
the fiscal concluded 31 March, 2015, file, which makes them unfindable’,
G A SAIRAM A KRISHNAN
cars’ said Greg Moran.
Currently, there are three picksaid the amount would be utilised on Monster.com MD (India/Middle East/
SS. GHANESH
evening
up points
spread
the city,
enhancing by
marketing
infrastructure,
Southeast
Asia/Hong
Sanjay
quirky(GST
feature
is that
Published
K. Balakumar
on behalf of
News Today
Media Kong)
(P) Ltd.,
from 85, ‘Another
Mount Road
Road),
Guindy,
Chennai
600across
032 and
printed by him at Frontline
Printers Private Ltd., M-7, Thiru-Vi-Ka Industrial Estate, Guindy,
(Father)
it
is
learnt.
launching
new
products
and
on
R&D.
there
is
no
second
person
inModi
said.
Chennai 600 032. Ph: 4202 1111. Editor: K. Balakumar. Phone: Editorial/Admn /Advt: 22504000, Fax: 2250 1800 (Editorial)/2250 1200/2250 0101 (Advt/Admn). e-mail: newstodaydaily@gmail.com, Circulation: 4202 1111. Fax: 4212 0000.
Every
6 TUESDAY
28 APRIL 2015
Sports
CHENNAI
Misfiring top-order to
blame, says Bailey
Fleming praises Nehra’s
brilliance & Mohit’s rise
NT Bureau
Chennai, Apr 28:
Chennai Super Kings coach
Stephen Fleming is happy to see the
Indian pacers do well for the team
and praised veteran Ashish Nehra
for his incisive spells in the matches
so far. However, the team was keen
to monitor his workload with a packed
schedule ahead in the IPL.
Fleming said it was good to see Mohit Sharma and Ishwar Pandey to be
competing hard for a spot. ‘They
have been pretty good for us so far,’
he told mediapersons on Monday
ahead of tonight’s game against KKR
at the M A Chidambaram stadium
here.
He said Nehra’s standout performances had intensified the competition
between Mohit and Ishwar (Pandey).
‘We are just trying to pick each
team based on the conditions that
we have to play with and look for
each chance for winning the game.
We got the same team rolling it out
and we are not going to complicate
things. And, sometimes in the IPL you
if you complicate things, you end up
in a big mess.
‘Each game is very important to
us and we try to play the best team
possible. So, we want Mohit Sharma
and Pandey to be competing hard for
a spot. They have been pretty good
for us so far,’ he added.
On the fitness of new recruit Irfan
Pathan, who is yet to play in the
tournament, Fleming said: ‘Irfan is
coming back to full fitness. He has
assured us of match fitness. It is
hard to give players a match in the
middle of the tournament. Next eight
days is one of the key times and we
have to manage the players with the
scenarios popping up.’
He expected defending champs
KKR to put up a stiff battle and said,
‘they are an excellent side. They have
some good batters. We have played
them last in couple of finals and in
the recent Champions League. So,
we have a very healthy respect of
the KKR squad. They play a brand
of cricket that is not not similar to us.
We will identify a brand of cricket for
the match.’
CSK have five wins from six games
while Knight Riders have three wins
from six games, having shared a
point against Rajasthan Royals after
a washout in Kolkata on Sunday.
There has been suspense over
participation of Knight Riders’ premier
spinner Sunil Narine, who is eligible to
bowl in the coming matches despite
being reported again for suspected
illegal action.
Fleming said his team is not concerned about Narine’s participation.
‘The whole thing I find confusing.
Let us wait and see. They (KKR)
will obviously be concerned and no
one likes to see a player put under
pressure. It is not in our hands and
our control but we deal with the day
when he does play,’ said the former
New Zealand captain.
Warner hails Hyderabad bowlers for defending low total
Mohali, Apr 28:
Kings XI Punjab captain George
Bailey blamed the top order for the
20-run defeat against Sunrisers
Hyderabad in Mohali on Monday
night. Chasing a modest 150,
Kings XI Punjab got off to a bad
start and half of their side was back
in the dugout with just 72 runs on
the board in the 13th over.
‘Top order again. I
have to take the
responsibility.
Me and Vijay
were getting
a partnership, but I
‘Last season the batsmen were getting to fifties. with 58 off
41 balls, was happy with the way
This year we haven’t had those many fifties his bowlers defended what wasn’t
even a par score.
and we haven’t been able to build partnerships ‘It was a fantastic effort by the
We thought 160 was a par
as well. There have been some wrong shots boys.
score on that wicket. I got out at
wrong time and the boys did
played’ - Wriddiman Saha on Kings XI team’s the
well to reach 150,’ Warner said.
Warner, who hit Mitchell Jonhinconsistent performances in IPL 2015
Indian women
crush Poland
NT Bureau
Chennai, Apr 28:
Gandhi Nagar defeated Suguna
Vilas Sabha by five wickets in the
final of the Lumia 535 Prince of Arcot
Trophy cricket tournament held here.
Special prizes: Best batsman: Varun
Anand (Gandhi Nagar); Best bowler:
P R Venkata Subramanian (T. Na-
gar); Man of the Series: V S Vignesh
(Suguna Vilas Sabha); Promising
youngster: Rakesh (SVS).
Scores (final): Suguna Vilas Sabha
121 in 20 overs (Ajoy Kumar 56,
Nishanth 3 for 25, Susheel 3 for 21)
lost to Gandhi Nagar 125 for 5 in
19.5 overs (Kumara Velu 42, Varun
Anand 40 n.o).
Girish, Vijay lose
on day of upsets
NT Bureau
Chennai, Apr 28:
On a day of upsets, Girish of Railways was beaten by an unseeded
Jagan Williams (CDBSA) and Vijay
Nichani (CDBSA) was defeated by
Prabhu (MGC) in the ongoing SVS
Abdul Hadi Open Snooker Tournament 2015 at SVS Club here.
Results: Group G: Jagan Williams
(CDBSA) bt Girish (Rlys) 3-0 (72-21,
76-66, 57-26); Girish bt S H Kamaraj
(SVS) 3-0 (76(72)-0, 64-43, 56-47);
Group E: Rafath Habib (Rlys) bt Vinay
Kothari(SVS) 3-0 (65-17, 78(78)-2,
102(73)-9); Rafath Habib bt Sajiv
Mathew (TC) 3-0 (95(54)-0, 114(84)12, 70(54)-1).
Goup F: Vijay Nichani (CDBSA)
bt Vinod (SIAA) 3-0 (61-15, 76-13,
88-1);
Prabhu (MGC) bt Vijay Nichani 3-1
(69-18, 43-61, 78-40, 53-42); Group
H: Freddy (CB AY) bt Dilip Kumar
(Rlys) 3-2 (88-54, 49-52, 64-58,
54-59, 86-4); Dilip Kumar (Rlys) bt
Naresh (CUE BALL) 3-0 (60-26, 6815, 94-10).
Yogit wins title
year and we are not trying any
less,’ Bailey, whose team
suffered its fifth loss in
seven games, said
at the post-match
presentation.
Sunrisers Hyderabad captain
David Warner,
who topscored
son for four fours and a six in the
tearaway pacer’s first two overs,
spoke about the duel that gave
Sunrisers Hyderabad plenty of
edge after being put into bat.
‘We face him (Johnson) a lot
at home, my focus was to use
his pace. I got the better of him
today, but he might get me the
next time,’ Warner said.
David Warner celebrates with SRH players at
the fall of a wicket against Kings XI Punjab.
Gandhi Nagar reigns supreme
Nawabzada Mohammed Asif Ali, Dewan to the Prince of Arcot, Bharat Joshi, British
Deputy High Commissioner, Nawab Mohammed Abdul Ali, Prince of Arcot and Anantha
Padbanabhan, chairman, Vedaanta Senior Living, at the valedictory of the Lumia 535
Prince of Arcot Trophy cricket tournament in Chennai.
got out. The bowling was good to restrict them to 150. We are just trying
to get a combination that works.
I
think
no
t e a m
is trying any
harder
than
l a s t
Chengdu (China), Apr 28 (PTI):
With medal out of contention, the
Indian women’s team came up with a
superlative performance to win 3.5-0.5
against a strong Polish team in the
8th and penultimate round of World
Women team chess
championship here yesterday.
D Harika drew on the second board
while Koneru Humpy scored a remarkable victory over Monica Socko to
stamp India’s authority over a strong
team that has found the going tough.
What mattered most from the Indian
perspective was the performance of
Soumya Swaminathan on the third
board and Mary Ann Gomes’ on the
on the fourth.
With the victory the Indian eves
jumped to fourth place, a place they
are likely to keep unless something
dramatic happens against Armenia in
the last round.
Koenru Humpy and Harika have
given it all to the team. Harika even
stepped out of the game against Egypt
to risk her personal gold medal.
Georgia meanwhile continued their
stint at the top taming Armenia 3-1.
The Georgian women took their tally
up to 15 match points and only a loss
in the last round can produce some
permutations and combinations for a
fight for the gold for them.
‘PM didn’t propose
India’s Olympic bid’
Anurag Thakur hits
back at ICC charges
Bengaluru, Apr 28:
Board of Control for Cricket in
India (BCCI) secretary Anurag
Thakur has hit back at International Cricket Council’s (ICC) allegation of his socialising with a
supposed bookie Karan Gilhotra
and requested the ICC to make
public the complete list of bookies
under possession of the cricket’s
governing body. ICC’s advisory
board, on Sunday, had sent a later
based on ‘unverified information’ to
Thakur about his acquaintance with
Gilhotra, a man whose name features in the latest database of the
ICC Anti-Corruption and Security
Unit (ACSU).
In a strongly-worded letter addressed to the ICC Chairman N
Srinivasan, Thakur mentioned that
Gilhotra has been actively involved
in the political and cricketing activities of Punjab and neighbouring
states and that he had no knowledge about Gilhotra’s activities as
a suspected bookie. Thakur also incriminated a certain Neeraj Gunde
for allegedly feeding information
to Srinivasan about his critics and
that the advisory board letter was
issued on Srinivasan’s behest.
Early exit for Kuznetsova
Prague, Apr 28:
Two-time Grand Slam champion
Svetlana Kuznetsova of Russia was
eliminated in the first round of the
Prague on Monday on a day of upsets. The fourth-seeded Kuznetsova
was lost 6-4, 6-3 to Shuai Zhang, the
Chinese player’s first win over the
Russian in five meetings. Another
unseeded player, Katerina Siniakova of the Czech Republic, upset
sixth-seeded Irina-Camelia Begu
of Romania 6-3, 6-3 to advance to
the second round. The 18-year-old
Czech will play Polona Herzog of
Slovenia, who overcame Heather
Watson of Britain 7-5, 3-6, 7-6 (5) in
a match that took more than three
hours. Also, fifth-seeded Alize Cornet
of France advanced to the second
round by defeating wild-card entry
Kristina Schmiedlova of Slovakia 6-3,
6-3. Cornet plays Denisa Allertova of
the Czech Republic, who upset Coco
Vandeweghe of the United States
6-4, 6-1.
Sathiyan enters
main draw at Worlds
Suzhou (China), Apr 28 (PTI):
India’s G Sathiyan continued his
good show and qualified for the main
draw of the men’s singles event at the
World Table Tennis Championships,
here today. Sathiyan, ranked 188
in the world, beat Felipe Olivares of
Chile 11-7, 11-8, 11-8, 11-4 in his final
qualifying round match to earn a
place in the main draw. But a tough
opening round match awaits Sathiyan
in the main draw as he is set to face
Sweden’s world number 64 Gerell
Par. However, it was curtains for Sanil
Shetty as he crashed out in the last
round of the qualifiers, losing to higher
ranked Elia Schmid of Switzerland.
Shetty was leading at one stage before
losing 12-10 13-15 11-9 6-11 11-7 1315 9-11 to Schmid. India’s top ranked
player Achanta Sharath Kamal will take
on lower-ranked Park Sin Hyok of North
Korea in the first round. Meanwhile,
India’s female paddlers have their task
cut out as all of them are drawn against
higher-ranked opponents in the first
round of the women’s singles event.
Federer still ‘fears’
Nadal at French Open
New Delhi, Apr 28 (PTI):
International Olympic Committee
president Thomas Bach laid to rest
speculations about India’s possible
bid for 2024 Olympics, saying that
Prime Minister Narendra Modi did not
propose it in their meeting here.
Istanbul, Apr 28 (AFP):
Federer said he believed that Nadal
‘It’s about getting used to the slidBach also said that IOC thought that
Switzerland’s 17-times Grand was still the man to beat on the red ing, deciding how aggressive I want
it would be too soon for the country Slam winner Roger Federer said he clay of Roland Garros, along with the to play,’ said the world number two.
to host a successful Games as the still believed Rafael Nadal was the in-form Serbian world number one
‘I have been on hard courts for
national Olympic body has come out favourite to win the French Open Novak Djokovic.
seven-eight months so it needs some
of suspension only last year.
next month despite the Spanish
‘At the French Open, Rafa for adjustments. My game is going to get
me is still the favourite along- better and better as we move along.’
Visiting India for the first time after star’s troubled start to the clay
Winners of various events with AICF secretary V Hariharan,
side Djokovic who has been
Federer, who so far has been unbeing elected as IOC chief in 2013, court season.
Prathyusha Institute of Technology and Management principal P
playing so well.
Federer, who took his sole
able to add to his sole French Open
Bach met the Prime Minister at his ofM Beulah Devamalar and Tiruvallur District Educational Offficer
‘Even though his (Nadal’s) win in 2009 and won his last grand
ficial residence here yesterday during French Open title in 2009,
Malarvizhi Hariharan at the valedictory.
form is not as good as in previous slam at Wimbledon in 2012, acknowlthis week is refining his own
NT Bureau
(PSBB) 7.5; u-15: M Hemanth Raam his brief one-day stay in the country.
years, I still believe when the edged that this year’s French Open
He also had separate meetings with clay court game at the IstanChennai, Apr 28: (Velammal Vidyalaya) 8; u-17: C Sai
French Open rolls around he ‘is clearly a big goal of mine.’
S Yogit of Maharishi Vidya Man- Vishwesh (National Public School) top officials of the Indian Olympic bul Open, the first ATP World
is going to be very difficult to
‘But to play well at the French Open
dir and P Bala Kannamma (MOP 7.5; u-19: S Yogit (Maharishi Vidya Association and the Sports Ministry Tour event to be held in Turkey
and
the
fi
rst
time
that
Fed
beat,’ he told a news confer- I need confidence. I hope that I can
Mandir)
6.5.
earlier in the day, besides attending
Vaishnav College) clinched the
ence in Istanbul.
pick that up in Istanbul.’
Girls: under-9: V Harshini (PSBB) a lunch hosted by Sports Minister erer has visited the country.
under-19 boys and girls titles in the
But Nadal, who with the exception
Federer, 33, is himself looking for
Federer, who celebrated his arrival
Prathyusha Institute of Technology 8; u-11: S P Kirtana (Chinmaya Vidya- Sarbananda Sonowal at a city hotel.
and Management State-level chess laya) 7.5; u-13: C Lakshmi (Bhavan's
Bach, who hails from Germany and of Federer’s win has taken every his own form on the slower clay after in Istanbul by thumping a ball into
Rajaji Vidyashram) 7.5; u-15: G P S is himself an Olympian fencer, said French Open since 2005 to make a long hard court season, having lost the Bosphorus that divides Europe
tournament.
<B>Results (winners only): Boys: Sneha (Jawahar HSS) 7.5; u-17: P at a press conference that he was nine in total, has shown a dip in form in the third round to Gael Monfils at and Asia, is the star attraction in
under-9<P>: D Gukesh (Velammal Thamarai Selvi (Velammal) 6; u-19: surprised by the speculation in the over the past weeks, failing to get the Monte Carlo Masters this month. the Turkish mega city along with the
Vidyashram) 7.5; u-11: A Sarvesh Ku- Bala Kannamma (MOP Vaishnav media that India may bid for 2024 past the third round at last week’s But he said the Istanbul event was Bulgarian world number 11 Grigor
Barcelona
ideal for his
preparations.
Dimitrov. Industrial Estate, Guindy,
Published
by K.7;Balakumar
on Kalyan
behalf of College)
News Today
Mount Road
(GST Road), Guindy, Chennai
600 Open.
032 and printed by him at Frontline
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Mixed Bag
CHENNAI
TUESDAY
28 APRIL 2015
7
Despite quake Everest height unchanged: Experts
Kathmandu, Apr 28:
An earthquake that devastated
Nepal and left thousands of people
dead shifted the earth beneath Kathmandu by up to several metres south,
but the height of Mount Everest likely
stayed the same, experts said today.
The massive 7.8-magnitude quake
on Saturday was the Himalayan
nation`s deadliest disaster in more
than 80 years, killing more than
4,300 people and causing massive
destruction.
According to early seismological
data obtained from sound waves
which travel through Earth after an
earthquake, the ground beneath the
capital Kathmandu may have moved
about three metres (10 feet) southward, said University of Cambridge
tectonics expert James Jackson.
His analysis was similar to that of
Union Ministers
to vist
quake-hit Bihar
New Delhi, Apr 28 (PTI):
Union Ministers J P Nadda and
Ananth Kumar have been deputed by
the government to visit Bihar to take
stock of relief and rescue efforts in the
aftermath of Saturday’s earthquake.
Nadda and Kumar will visit quakehit areas of Bihar, particularly the
northern part of the state, and assess
the situation there, official sources
said.
The two Union Ministers are expected to hold a meeting with Chief
Minister Nitish Kumar and will take
stock of the rescue and relief efforts.
Nadda and Kumar are likely to
submit their report to Prime Minister
Narendra Modi after the visit.
Bihar accounted for the highest 51
casualties so far out of the 72 deaths
reported in India and there have been
extensive damage to the houses and
other properties in the State.
‘Gajendra was
instigated to
climb tree’
New Delhi, Apr 28:
In a significant development in the
case of a farmer’s suicide at an AAP
rally here last week, reports claimed
today that the Delhi Police have
been told by two eye-witnesses that
Gajendra Singh was instigated into
committing suicide.
As per reports, Gajendra was
provoked by some people present
at the rally to climb the tree.
The rally at Jantar Mantar was
held to protest against the Central
government’s Land Acquisition
Ordinance.
Sources say police could now
make the two witness in the case.
It is being claimed ever since
Gajendra committed suicide last
week that he was provoked to take
his own life.
His family members in Rajasthan’s Dausa have also claimed
that Gajendra had come to Delhi
to make his voice heard and that
he was in touch with Deputy Chief
Minister Manish Sisodia.
Sandy Steacy, head of the physical
sciences department at the University of Adelaide.
‘It`s likely that the earthquake occurred on the Himalayan Thrust fault,
a plate boundary that separates
the northern moving Indian subcontinent from Eurasia,’ said Steacy.
‘The fault dips about 10 degrees
to the north-northeast. The relative
movement across the fault zone was
on the order of three metres at its
greatest, just north of Kathmandu.’
The fault lies between two tectonic
plates -- one bearing India pushing northward into a plate carrying
Europe and Asia at a rate of about
two centimetres (0.8 inches) per
year -- the process that created the
Himalayas in the first place.
Mark Allen, from the Department of
Earth Sciences at the University of
Durham in Britain, explained that the
rocks on top of the fault moved southwards over the rocks underneath it,
causing an overall shortening of the
Earth`s crust in the region.
‘It would be simplistic to say that
Kathmandu was relocated by three
metres,’ he said.
‘There may have been three
metres of slip on the fault at the
earthquake nucleation point at 15
kilometres depth. But this dies out
in all directions, including upwards
to the surface.’
It remains unclear whether the
shifts may be large enough to
necessitate adjustments to highprecision world maps.While Kathmandu moved, it is unlikely that the
height of Mount Everest -- the highest peak in the world -- changed
more than a few millimetres, with
the mountain not directly above
the faultline.
‘The main slip was west of Everest, the mountain was not directly
above the fault plane,’ said Steacy.
‘In addition, the dip of the fault is
very shallow so three metres in a
horizontal direction doesn`t mean
Over 70,000 autos to stay
off city roads 30 Apr
Trade unions protest Road Transport and Safety Bill
NT Bureau
Chennai, Apr 28:
Opposing the draft Road Transport and Safety Bill 2014, members from the All India Trade Union
Congress (AITUC) today lent their
support to a 30 April strike called
by transport sector workers.
Speaking to News Today, AITUC
State general secretary - Auto
Workers Federation J Sesha
Sayanam said that awareness
campaigns among auto drivers
on the Bill were conducted at 11
places across the city.
The campaigns were conducted
at Vyasarpadi, Egmore, Nungambakkam, Koyambedu, Choolaimedu, Thiruvanmiyur, KK Nagar
and Saidapet.
He pointed out that the State has
around 2,40,000 autorickshaws
and the city has around 74,000
autos that will go off the road on
30 April.
‘On Sunday, posters announcing
the strike were pasted in
the city, and today pamphlets were handed over
to the public as well,’ he
added.
He said if the Bill is
passed then there will
not be any automobile
mechanic, spare parts
shops. The Draft Bill proposes heavy penalties for
traffic violations. It envisages penalties along with
a minimum seven-year
imprisonment in case of
an accident. The bill will
affect the daily life of the
people, he added.
The day-long strike has been
called jointly by national-level road
transport organisations -- rep-
BJP, Cong spar
over Modi’s remark
Jaitely defends ‘scam India to skill India’ comments
New Delhi, Apr 28:
The Rajya Sabha today witnessed
huge uproar as Congress MPs created a ruckus over Prime Minister
Narendra Modi ‘scam India to skill
India’ remarks, which he made in
Toronto earlier this month.
As per reports, the issue was
raised in the Upper House
by Congress leader Anand
Sharma, which prompted
Finance Minister Arun Jaitley
to defend Modi by saying
that he is entitled to say
whatever happened in the
last 60 years.
The Congress had earlier
given a notice for discussion on Prime Minister’s remarks,
which was rejected by the Rajya
US, India to ink
defence pact
The Upper House was
adjourned thrice as
pandemonium continued due to huge uproar by the Opposition
members
Sabha Deputy Chairman.
The Upper House was
adjourned thrice as pandemonium continued due to
huge uproar by the Opposition members. The Prime
Minister, while addressing
over 10,000-strong Indian
diaspora at Ricoh Coliseum in Toronto earlier this
month, had attacked the previous
Paralympic Panel
suspended
governments saying, ‘Jinko gandagi
karni thi, gandagi kar ke chaley
gaye, hum safai karke jayengey
(Those who had create a mess, they
have done so and left. We will go
after cleaning it up).’
‘India will provide the workforce to
power global growth. Our mission
is ‘skill India’, not ‘scam India’,’ he
had said.
Taking an apparent dig at the previous Congress regime, Modi said
that he had started a cleanliness
drive in the country.
‘Earlier, the country was known
as ‘scam-India’. We now want it to
be known as ‘skilled-India’,’ he had
said while talking about the various
initiatives taken by his government.
resenting both public and private
sector workers -- which are affiliated
to central trade unions like All India
Trade Union Congress (AITUC),
Centre of Indian Trade Unions
(CITU), BMS, INTUC, HMS, AICCTU, LPF and State-level outfits.
AITUC alleged that the NDA dispensation’s plan to go ahead with
the Bill was aimed at helping it
take over the transport sector from
the State governments. The move
smacks of a kind of ‘authoritarianism’ and is an ‘attack’ on federalism,
it said.
The strike is against the retrograde/anti-people Road Transport
and Safety Bill, 2015, prepared by
NDA government. Most of the State
governments and road transport
undertakings have also opposed it.
much vertically.’
Allen concurred, adding that ‘there
may be an effect if an avalanche
has dislodged some of the snow
cover on the summit’.
Ian Main, a professor of seismology and rock physics at the University of Edinburgh, said there may
have been a small change in height
but it was too soon to tell.
‘We will know soon if any detectable height change has occurred,
when those working on satellitebased `synthetic aperture radar`
look at the difference in snapshots
of the ground surface position before and after the event,’ he said.
Everest stands at 8,848 metres
(29,029 feet) above sea level, with
Saturday`s quake triggering an avalanche on the mountain that killed at
least 18 people at base camp.
LeT to launch
terror
attacks in Delhi?
New Delhi, Apr 28:
Intelligence agencies have alerted
the Delhi Police over a possible
terror attack using drones in the
national capital by militant groups
Lashkar-e-Toiba (LeT) and Jaishe-Mohammed, as per news reports
on today.
Agencies have reportedly asked
the police to be on alert about likely
aerial attacks using unmanned
drones.
The Delhi Police is now monitoring all aerial aircraft fl ying in the
national capital as a precautionary
move.
They have also been asked to
identify people who have bought
and sold drones.
Security agencies have been on
high alert following the release of
26/11 Mumbai attacks mastermind
Zaki-ur-Rehman Lakhvi from a Pakistani jail.
According to news reports, Lakhvi is staying is a safehouse near
Lahore and is being guarded by
Pakistan Army commandos.
SC stays notice
to Shobhaa De
New Delhi, Apr 28 (PTI):
The Supreme Court today stayed
the breach of privilege motion notice
issued against author Shobhaa De by
Maharashtra Assembly Speaker for
her tweets on the State government’s
decision to make it mandatory for
multiplexes to screen Marathi movies
during prime time.
A bench of justices Dipak Misra and
Prafulla C Pant also issued notice
to the parties concerned and sought
their response within eight weeks on
the plea of De.
The socialite-columnist had moved
the apex court against the notice issued by the Assembly Speaker following a complaint against her by a Shiv
Sena law maker alleging that her series
of tweets insulted Marathi language
and Marathi speaking people.
Senior advocate C A Sundaram,
appearing for De, said, ‘Comments
were made against the decision of the
government and it does not breach any
privilege of the Assembly’.
He also said that the apex court in
its various decisions
has described the
privileges of the Assembly and the writer
has not breached
any.
Earlier this month,
Legislature Principal Secretary Anant
Kalse had issued a notice to De asking her to explain her tweets about the
decision to make it mandatory for multiplexes to screen Marathi movies during
prime time. The notice was issued after
Shiv Sena MLA Pratap Sarnaik
moved a breach of privilege motion in
the State Assembly against De.
The columnist had tweeted, ‘Devendra ‘Diktatwala’ Fadnavis is at it again!!!
From beef to movies. This is not the
Maharashtra we all love! Nako!Nako!
Yeh sab roko!’
De had tweeted that it was nothing
but hooliganism. ‘I love Marathi movies. Let me decide when and where to
watch them, Devendra Fadnavis. This
is nothing but Dadagiri.’
RR seeks revenge
in ‘royals’ encounter
New Delhi, Apr 28 (PTI):
The Paralympic Committee of India (PCI)
New Delhi, Apr 28 (PTI):
that he was looking forward to the next
has been suspended with immediate effect
The new US Defence Secretary Ash- high-level dialogue between the two
for an unlimited period of time following
governments in June. He said Carter
ton Carter will be visiting India in June
poor management in the conduct of 15th
will be here in early part of June and US
and will sign the enhanced Defence
National Para Athletics Championship
was looking at signing a new 10-year
Framework Agreement for the next
Bengaluru, Apr 28 (PTI):
2015.
defence agreement, agreed to during
ten years between the two countries.
Sports Minister Sarbananda Sonowal Humiliated in their previous faceObama’s visit. ‘We are looking to do
Also on the agenda will be the nearly
said the PCI was fully responsible for the off this season, table toppers Ramore in terms of exercises and joint
$2.5-billion deal for 22 Apache and 15
lack of facility required for differently-abled jasthan Royals will be desperate to
training,
interoperability
with
our
Indian
Chinook heavy-lift helicopters besides
athletes such as ramps, disabled-friendly seek revenge against a resurgent
counterparts and hopefully provide
taking forward the talks on proposed
toilets, lodging facilities etc., during the Royal
more in terms of increasing India’s
co-development and co-production
Challengers Bangalore in the Indievent
held in Ghaziabad recently.
indigenous
capability
to
make
defence
of military technology, ranging from
‘There was total lack of planning in con- an Premier League, here tomorrow.
products right here in India,’ he said at
aircraft carrier launch systems to mini
ceptualisation and conduct of the event. It In the earlier meeting between the
the first US-India Think Tank Summit.
drones.
was completely sorry state of affairs. There two teams last week, RCB mauled
Verma
said
that
during
Obama’s
visit,
Pointing out that India and US are
were mismanagement, negligence and Rajasthan Royals by nine wickets
tracking some 77 different line of ef- both countries have reoriented how
completely
irresponsibility on the part of with 23 balls to spare after restrictthey
cooperate
with
each
other.
He
fort that came out of President Barack
PCI,’ he said during question hour in the ing the Shane Watson-led side to
said it was not just about cooperation
Obama’s visit here, US Ambassador
Lok Sabha.
a paltry 130.
in South Asia but both countries now
to India Richard Verma said.
Sonowal
said
the
Sports
Authority
of
India
And come tomorrow, the crushing
have
a
“very
robust
architecture”
for
‘We have re-energised or launched
had conducted an enquiry and on the report defeat would be high on the minds
30 new initiatives, 30 different dia- East Asia as well.
submitted by it, a show cause notice was of Rajathan Royals players.
He said the two countries will work
logue’.
issued to PCI. The government received Rajasthan Royals are presently
together
on
maritime
cooperation,
He said that the US Embassy here
a
letter on 15 April from the International sitting atop the table with 11 points
Rahane, the leading run-getter
als look a menacing outfit. On
has every element of American gov- keeping sea lanes open, combating
Paralympic
Committee
suspending
PCI
this
season,
and
Australian
Steve
the bowling front, 43-year-old
from
eight
games
with
fi
ve
wins,
weapons of mass destruction, supernment and at any given day, they
with immediate effect for an unlimited pe- two loses and one no result. RCB, Smith have been in fine form with
leg-spinner Pravin Tambe has
porting
humanitarian
assistance
to
are interacting with some element of
riod of time. ‘Keeping in view the serious on the other hand, are lying fourth
the bat and the team would look- impressed all and sundry and
disasters as well as increasing trade
the Indian government, adding ‘we
complaints from different quarters including with six points from as many games. ing upon the duo to post a big total
has picked up six scalps so far
are not going to let the momentum go’. and economic integration across Asia.
players and media, alleging poor manage- After registering five consecutive
tomorrow.
this season.
‘The strategic premise of that is that if
‘I think that is a very good thing and a
ment in the conduct of the 15th National wins, Rajasthan Royals suffered
To add to it, skipper Watson’s
With the presence of Chris MorUS and India are the closest of partners,
very positive thing. We are not going
Para Athletics Championship 2015, enquiry
all-round
finesse
and
Deepak
ris
and James Faulkner, Rajastwo
back-to-back
defeats
and
not
just
in
South
Asia,
but
across
Asia
to let the momentum go and and we
report submitted by SAI and suspension
than Royals pace department also
would be keen to return to winning. H o o d a ’ s b l a z i n g s t r i k e - r a t e
and globally, the world would be a safer
are not going to slow down what has
of PCI by the concerned international
(208.92)Printers
make Rajasthan
look in safeIndustrial
hands. Estate, Guindy,
For600
Rajasthan
Ajinkya
more
prosperous
Published
by K. Balakumar
behalf ofand
News
Today
Mediaplace.
(P) Ltd., from 85, federation.
Mount Road (GST Road), Guindy, Chennai
032 andRoyals,
printed by
him at Frontline
Private Ltd.,RoyM-7, Thiru-Vi-Ka
been accomplished,’
he said,onadding
Chennai 600 032. Ph: 4202 1111. Editor: K. Balakumar. Phone: Editorial/Admn /Advt: 22504000, Fax: 2250 1800 (Editorial)/2250 1200/2250 0101 (Advt/Admn). e-mail: newstodaydaily@gmail.com, Circulation: 4202 1111. Fax: 4212 0000.
8TUESDAY
28 APRIL 2015
, CHENNAI
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WHERE THEY STAND
TEAMS
Lloyd wants more
England players in IPL
NEW DELHI:
Very few men have experienced
cricket in their lifetime from as
many perspectives as David Lloyd
has. After a decade-long first-class
and Test career, Lloyd has been
involved in the game as coach,
umpire, journalist, author, and
continues to be one of the leading
voices behind the microphone.
After 50 years of close affiliation
with cricket, David ‘Bumble’ Lloyd
is in India on ‘a two-week adventure’ called the Indian Premier
League 2015. On the sidelines of
his second IPL match in the commentary box, in Bengaluru, Lloyd
shared his thoughts on the tournament and offered his opinion on
England Cricket’s stand towards
the Twenty20 format. The former
England all-rounder also listed out a
number of England players who he
would like to see in the IPL.
Asked what he thought of the IPL
after the first up-close experience
with the tournament, Lloyd said,
‘I have watched it from afar for
years. I have watched it develop
and evolve. There have been some
great points in the tournament. My
first experience was in Delhi and
the enthusiasm of the crowd was
awesome. At the toss the moment
you say MS Dhoni is in the house,
there is an enormous eruption of
noise from the spectators. I think
David Lloyd
‘Test cricket is
classical music and
T20 is rock-and-roll.
It is impact and
emotion. You have
got to make it rock.
In a Test match
you can be quite
reflective, tell stories,
reminisce and get
nostalgic. T20 is all
action.’
the IPL is a fantastic concept. It continues to attract the best players in
the world because of how well they
are paid. It is not only great for India
but world cricket in general.’ About
the transition in commentating in Test
matches to the IPL, he said Test
cricket is classical music and T20 is
rock-and-roll. It is impact and emotion.
‘You have got to make it rock. In a
Test match you can be quite reflective,
tell stories, reminisce and get nostalgic.
T20 is all action. But commentating
on T20s you have to be careful about
not going on the high pitch too early,
because then you will have nowhere
to go. You have to build the tempo and
gradually get to the crescendo.’
‘Commentating on a Test match is
more like drinking fine wine; you savour
it slowly and sophisticatedly. T20 is more
like drinking beer with tequila shots.’
To a question as to whether he
would you like to see more England
players playing in the IPL, the former
coach said, ‘well, first, they have to be
good enough to get into a franchise.
We only have maybe six cricketers
who the franchises would be interested in. I am getting a bit technical
here but a major reason why we lag
behind in the shorter formats of cricket
is because we have not grasped bat
speed. Going back to the World Cup
and here in the IPL, you watch guys
like Brendon McCullum and AB de
Villiers and you see their bat speed
is tremendous.
Mat
Won
Lost
Tied
N/R
Rajasthan Royals
8
5
2
0
1
Chennai Super Kings
6
5
1
0
0
10
Kolkata Knight Riders
6
3
2
0
1
7
6
3
3
0
0
6
Sunrisers Hyderabad
7
3
4
0
0
6
Delhi Daredevils
7
3
4
0
0
6
Mumbai Indians
6
2
4
0
0
4
Kings XI Punjab
7
2
5
0
0
4
TOMORROW’S MATCH
RCB vs Rajasthan Royals at Bangalore, 8 p.m (IST)
Ït was a rather hot day but
Chennai Super Kings players
were toiling in the nets at the M
A Chidambaram stadium ahead
of a crucial game against Kolkata Knight Riders on Monday.
The stars Suresh Raina, Dwayne
Bravo and Mike Hussey were
among the early birds as the
players hit the ground running.
Photos:
A R JAYAKUMAR
NET
EFFECT
consistent show in the ongoing tournament having lost five out of their
seven encounters.
They have legends Sachin Tendulkar, Ricky Ponting, Anil Kumble as
part of the team as icon, coach and
mentor. But still their performances
have been average.
But Rohit is not losing sleep over it
and is looking forward to the coming
matches.
‘We have to accept our performance
has been poor. Winning two matches
out of seven we know we have not
performed well. But nothing’s over
yet. In 2014 we were in the same
situation losing earlier matches and
then qualified for play-offs,’ he said.
What led to
Trisha-Varun
split?
I
t seems all is not well between
Trisha and her fiancé, businessman and producer Varun Manian.
The couple got engaged in January
this year after a whirlwind courtship.
However, now one hears that there
may not be a wedding as Trisha
and Varun are believed to have hit a
rough patch in their relationship. The
two used to be very active on social
media, retweeting each other’s updates and pictures, but this interplay
stopped over the last month, which
led to some amount of speculation.
Fuelling doubts was the fact that
Trisha did not attend an important
function in the Ma-
nian household recently.
Sources said that Varun was unhappy about Trisha committing to do
more films before the wedding, and
when he expressed this, it did not go
down well with her. This slowly led to
their break-up, sources said. It is also
being said that their common friends
are trying for a patch-up.
— NT Bureau
11
RCB
Learning a lot from
Ponting, says Rohit
MUMBAI:
Mumbai Indians skipper Rohit
Sharma said on Monday that having
two-time World Cup-winning captain
Ricky Ponting in the side as coach
helps him learn a lot about leadership
skills and qualities.
‘Whenever I get the opportunity to
captain a side, it is a learning process
for me. Also I am working alongside
a great skipper Ponting who has
led-Australia to two World Cup wins.
He has lot of ideas, how to win big
tournaments. The way he monitors
the team, talks to the team is a great
learning experience,’ Rohit said at a
promotional event here.
Mumbai Indians are yet to put up a
PTS
Call from
Kamal
Rukmini, the voice behind
Uttama Villain’s Iraniya Nadagam
Kamal with Rukmini Ashok Kumar
R
ukmini Ashok Kumar is
a software engineer by
profession and a singer by
passion. ‘To hear that I had made
my debut in the Tamil film industry
as a singer in Kamal Haasan’s
Uttama Villain was something that
I could not believe at first. The
special thing with the song is that
Kamal sir has sung it along with
me. It’s called ‘Iraniya Nadagam’
where I sing the part of Prahladhan
and he did the part of Iraniyan. I feel
blessed’, she starts off excitedly.
It all started when she met music director Ghibran at an audio
launch function few months ago. ‘I
went up to him and told him that I
am a singer and would like to sing
under his baton as I have always
admired his way of composing
the tunes. He told me to send
my demo CD to him. After a few
days, I got a call from his office to
come to the recording theatre in
Valasaravakkam. He asked me
whether I knew Carnatic music. I
told him I have learnt it and that I
have also been learning Hindustani
music too for some time now. He
gave me a few lines to sing and I
just sang it the way he told me to,
without knowing what it was for’,
she recollects with a laugh.
Ghibran later told her that he liked
her singing but the director would
have to approve of it before going
further. ‘Though I called many
times, I didn’t even get a hint of
what was happening. One fine
day, they called me to the office
and asked me how I wanted my
name to be printed on the music
CD. I was shocked to learn that my
debut song was a part of Uttama
Villain. I thanked the music director profusely for giving me such
a big break in my singing career’,
Rukmini says like a happy child.
Ashok Kumar, Rukmini’s father
says, ‘When we met Kamal sir he
was surprised to learn that she was
my daughter. My father SDS Yogiar
was a freedom fighter, poet and a
renowned film director under whom
Kamal’s brother Chandra Haasan
worked as an assistant director. He
was very happy for my daughter’.
She has sung for music director
Deva for a Sai Baba album and
also sung for S S Kumaran for his
Malayalam movie ‘Kerala.Com’
and a Tulu number too. She has
lent her voice for music directors
V Thashi, Faisal, Prem, Manikanth Kadhri and LV Ganesan.
She learnt Carnatic music from
Hemalatha Narismhan and Padma Chandilyan and is currently
pursuing Hindustani vocal training
from Pandit Ballesh master and
his sons, Krishna and Prakash.
‘My father, mother and husband
have been a great source of
support for me towards pursuing
my music career as well as my
engineering one. I would love to
work under Rahman sir, Raja sir,
Harris Jayaraj, Imman and Vijay
Antony’, she says with a smile.
‘Drunk’ Urvashi
creates ruckus in
Assembly event
Actress Urvashi was reportedly in
a drunken state while attending an
inauguration function outside Kerala
Legislative Assembly, Thiruvananthapuram, a few days ago.
The meeting was organised by
LDF’s female legislative staff association. According to reports, the actress
had arrived at the venue very late and
was seen faltering while coming to
the stage.
During the meeting, the actress even
said that she didn’t know whether it
was BJP or LDF’s meeting.
Popular media personality Parvathy
Devi, who also attended the event later inaugurated the function as Urvashi
was unable to continue her speech.
The National Film Award-winning
actress had earlier made headlines
after being spotted drunk at the family
court in Ernakulam.
After splitting with Malayalam actor
Manoj K Jayan in 2008, Urvashi married a Chennai-based businessman
Shivaprasad in 2013.
Meanwhile, the actress will next be
seen in Kamal Haasan starrer Uttama
Villain.
— NT Bureau
— NT Bureau
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