Monthly Archives: May 2014

Harshika Poonacha visited brothel abroad?

In order to get into the skin of the character, actress Harshika Poonacha recently visited a foreign country to study the behaviours and mannerisms of prostitutes. The actress is said to be playing the role of a prostitute in the upcoming movie Gulaabi Street, directed by Pradeep Kumar.

HarshikaKF23may2014

Harshika, who did not wish to reveal the name of the country which she recently visited says, “When I heard about my character from the director, I thought the best way I can provide justice to the character is by studying the character. I did so by visiting some of the places where prostitution is legal.” What astonished her is the fact that most of the girls are very young. “I was embarrassed to see them asking for money and the way they smoked,” she adds.

The film’s team will soon start shooting in exotic locations of Goa. The project also has Shwetha Pandit and Bhavana Rao in the lead roles. Veer Samarth is the music director.

source: http://www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / The Times of India / Home> Entertainment> Kannada> Movies / TNN / May 07th, 2014

Tilak, Swati best Indians

Bangalore :

Indian Army’s BC Tilak, who hails from Coorg, won the men’s title for Indian athletes while finishing 12th overall in a time of 30 minutes, 26 seconds. Anish Thapa (30:38) from Meghalaya and Nitendra Singh Rawat (30:47) from Uttarakhand finished second and third respectively.

In the women’s section, Swati Gadhave (37:22), Jayashree Boragee (37:35) and Supriya Patil (37:46) finished in that order among the Indians. National camper Sini Ajit Markose finished fourth.

Results (top-10): Men: 1. BC Tilak (30:26), 2. Anish Thapa (30:38), 3. Nitendra Singh Rawat (30:47), 4. Arjun Pradhan (31:05), 5. VL Dangi (31:17), 6. Soji Mathew (31:20), 7. Ajay Bir Singh (31:24), 8. Belliappa AB (31:32), 9. Yogendra Kumar (31:43), 10. Bahadur Singh Dhoni (31:46).

Women: 1. Swati Gadhave (37:22), 2. Jayashree Boragee (37:35), 3. Supriya Patil (37:46), 4. Sini Ajit Markose (37:53), 5. Kiran Sahdev (37:54), 6. Pooja Ramesh Varde (38:14), 7. Neelam Rajput (38:31), 8. Minaxi Patil (38:39), 9. Rohini Raut (38:57), 10. Monika Raut (39:01).

source: http://www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / The Times of India / Home> Sports> More Sports> Athletics / TNN / May 18th, 2014

Supreme Uthappa guides Knight Riders to victory

Kolkata Knight Riders’ Robin Uthappa starred as Mumbai Indians’ hopes of defending their Indian Premier League title received another blow.

With only four matches remaining, Mumbai languish second from bottom in the table, four points adrift of the top-four spot that would see them qualify for the play-offs and a chance to retain the crown they won 12 months ago.

Occupying that fourth spot are their opponents on Wednesday, who were grateful to a sublime 80 from opening batsman Uthappa as they eased to a victory target of 142 with six wickets and eight balls to spare.

After winning the toss in Cuttack, Kolkata skipper Gautam Gambhir opted to field and he was rewarded early on when Chidhambaram Gautam was caught at cover off the bowling of Morne Morkel (2-35) for eight in the third over.

Lendl Simmons (12) followed soon afterwards, bowled after aiming an ugly swipe at Shakib Al Hasan.

The Bangladeshi went on to record figures of 1-21 from his four overs as he and spin partner Sunil Narine kept the Mumbai total in check.

Narine was even more economical, taking 1-18 from his four, including the prize scalp of Mumbai skipper Rohit Sharma.

Rohit, badly dropped at long on by Yusuf Pathan when on 11, played patiently for his 51 from 45 balls, before attempting an unorthodox paddle shot against the West Indian and seeing the ball crash into his stumps.

Uthappa and Gambhir got the reply off to a strong start, looking untroubled in reaching a stand of 50 before the skipper chopped a Harbhajan Singh delivery onto his stumps to depart for 14.

Harbhajan also accounted for Manish Pandey (14) in the same manner on his way to taking 2-22, but by then the hosts were looking in control at 96-2 with almost six overs remaining and Uthappa well-set on 64.

In the next over, the wicketkeeper-batsman took the game further away from Mumbai, driving Simmons for consecutive sixes over the off side, before the West Indian had the final say, cleaning up Uthappa as he looked for another expansive stroke.

It did little to disrupt Kolkata’s charge to victory, Pathan pulling Lasith Malinga (1-30) to the fence to finish 20 not out and seal a comfortable win for the Knight Riders, while Mumbai’s hopes of play-off qualification are looking increasingly in danger.

source: http://www.sportal.co.nz / Sportal / Home> Cricket / by Sportal / May 15th, 2014

Poovamma, Ashwini in squad

Karnataka will be fielding a strong team, featuring the likes of quartermilers M R Poovamma and Ashwini Akkunji, in the National Inter-State athletics meetin Lucknow next month.
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The team will also feature sprinter H M Jyothi, and high jumper Sahana Kumari.

The squad: Men: 100M: Sanjay V, Sonith Menden. 200M: Sajjin V, Sanjay V. 400M: Sachin JP, Sajjin V, Jayaprakash Shetty. 800M: Ranjan Kariappa. 1500M: Ranjan Kariappa, Girish Ramachandran. 110M hurdles: MK Sumanth, Srikanth Madyastha. 400M hurdles: Jagadish, Prashanth Kumar. High jump: Harshith S, Chetan B, Suprith Raj. Pole vault: P Balakrishna. Long jump: Arshad, Rositto Sax. Triple jump: Karthik. 4x400M relay: Sajjin, Sachin, Jayaprakash Shetty, Jagadish, Prashanth Kumar (reserve).

Women: 100M: Jyothi HM. 200M: Jyothi HM, Poovamma MR. 400M: Poovamma MR, Ashwini Akkunji, Vijayakumari. 800M: Sini A Markose, Mahalakshmi. 1500M: Sini A Markose. 100M hurdles: Meghana Shetty, Pragna Prakash. 400M hurdles: Arpitha. High jump: Sahana Kumari. Long jump: Aishwarya GM, Pragna Prakash. Triple jump: Joyline M Lobo. Heptathlon: Sahana Kumari, Varsha Shivashankar. 4x400M relay: Poovamma MR, Ashwini Akkunji, Vijayakumari, Arpitha, Sini A Markose. Coach: BP Aiyappa; Manager: Lakshmana M.

source: http://www.deccanherald.com / Deccan Herald / Home> Sports / DHNS – Bangalore, May 13th, 2014

Vietnamese pepper lands here

Kochi :

Bold berries sieved from imported Vietnam pepper were reportedly being sold as material from Wayandu (Kerala) and Coorg area (Karnataka) in the domestic market.

Wayanadan berries are bold and that from Coorg are also almost similar and bold berries are in good demand in the domestic market, market sources told Business Line.

No activities were reported from the primary and terminal markets because of the heavy rains coupled with hartal in Kerala.

On the NMCE, there were buyers at ₹71,100 but no sellers were ready. On the IPSTA, May and June contracts moved up by ₹1,000 . On the spot, prices were notionally raised by ₹500 a quintal to a record ₹72,000 (ungarbled) and ₹74,000 (garbled) a quintal. Export prices declined to $12,800 c&f for Europe and $13,150 a tonne c&f for the US.

source: http://www.thehindubusinessline.com / Business Line / Home> Markets> Commodities / by G K Nair / Kochi – May 08th, 2014

Sunalini Menon bags Specialty Coffee Association award

Bangalore :

Sunalini Menon of Coffeelab India Limited has won the Alfred Peet Passionate Cup Award from the Specialty Coffee Association of America (SCAA) Seattle at the Washington State Convention Centre, Seattle, US.

The citation at the ceremony was read by Donald Schoenholt, one of the Founders and past President of the SCAA, who also presented the award to Sunalini Menon.

Sunalini Menon began her journey with coffee in 1971 and has been at the heart of India’s speciality coffee revolution since her early days as an assistance cupper at the Coffee Board of India.

In 1996 she set up a consulting service for the Indian coffee growers called Coffeelab Ltd.

Each year, the SCAA honours outstanding achievements in the speciality coffee industry and unique contributions to the association. Leaders have made contributions to the industry, resulting in the development and promotion of coffee excellence and sustainability.

source: http://www.thehindubusinessline.com / Business Line / Home> Markets> Commodities / by The Hindu Bureau / Bangalore – May 12th, 2014

Blossom showers raise hopes of higher coffee production

The crop is estimated to be higher by 10-12% at 310,000 tonnes
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Widespread blossom showers in major coffee-growing regions in south India have raised hopes of a better crop this year. Most of the growing regions in Chikmagalur, Kodagu and Hassan districts of Karnataka, which account for 70 per cent of India’s coffee production, received good rain in March and April.

Planters say satisfactory blossom showers in these two months is crucial for a good crop, adding the growing regions, except parts of south Kodagu, received 20.3-25.4 cm of rains. Going by current trends, the 2014-15 coffee crop could stand at about 310,000 tonnes, a 10-11 per cent rise compared to last year.

While the Karnataka Planters Association (KPA), an organisation of coffee growers, has estimated the harvested crop for 2013-14 at 280,000 tonnes, coffee traders have estimated it at 290,000 tonnes. The Coffee Board is yet to come out with its estimate for the harvested crop.

“The growing regions have, more or less, received satisfactory rains. Currently, the plantations are in the pinhead development stage. The conditions are favourable for the robusta crop and, compared to last year, when we witnessed very high temperatures during April and May, the situation is better this year,” said Nishant R Gurjer, a coffee grower and former chairman of KPA.

He added though it was premature to estimate the production for this year, current conditions pointed to a better crop than last year. Production for 2014-15 could be about 310,000 tonnes, he said, adding what had dampened the picture was a white stem borer pest attack at many growing regions.

CoffeeOutputKF17may2014

“As this year is an ‘on-year’ for coffee, robusta production could stand at 230,000 tonnes, while the output of arabica will be about 80,000 tonnes,” Gurjer said.

Analysts say a better crop in India will not have any significant impact on Global prices. Usually, Brazil, which accounts for the majority of global coffee production, dictates global prices. For this year, the prospects of a worse-than-expected crop in Brazil, owing to prolonged dry weather in that country, have led to an upward momentum in prices. Arabica prices for July delivery stand at 183.90 cents a pound, compared with 125.97 cents a pound in December 2013, a rise of 46 per cent.

“The price impact will be negligible, as coffee prices are dictated by Brazil. Indian coffee growers have already seen a price rise of about 50 per cent to Rs 11,000 a bag (ex-farm gate) since Brazil reported its crop for 2014 would be lower than expected. Higher production in India will not have any significant impact except the fact that exporters will have a little more to export than last year,” Gurjer said.

source: http://www.business-standard.com / Business Standard / Home> Markets> Commodities> Food & Edible Oils / by Mahesh Kulkarni / Bangalore – May 13th, 2014

When a cup of coffee gets costly

The price of the beans, now at Rs. 440 – Rs. 450, has gone up due to an increase in exports — / Photo: K. Pichumani / The Hindu
The price of the beans, now at Rs. 440 – Rs. 450, has gone up due to an increase in exports — / Photo: K. Pichumani / The Hindu

The prices, industry sources say, have gone up due to an increase in exports.

If you haven’t yet noticed, your morning cup of coffee is now costlier. The prices of coffee beans have gone up in the past few weeks and a kilo of premium powder now costs Rs. 440 – Rs. 450.

The prices, industry sources say, have gone up due to an increase in exports. “We expect prices to touch Rs. 500/kg before coming down,” said an expert.

Raji Gopalan, a homemaker from Tambaram, said for a family consuming four kilos of coffee powder a month, the hike in price translates to an extra Rs. 200 a month.

“Though the amount may seem small, if you also take into account the price of milk, which was only revised recently, and the cost of chicory, then the real picture will emerge. A litre of full-cream, private-brand milk is priced at Rs. 44 in the city,” she said.

A kilo of coffee powder will produce decoction for 60 cups of coffee, and with a litre of milk you can make 10 cups of coffee, explained a coffee-master of a leading hotel.

R. Srinivasan, secretary, Tamil Nadu Hotels Association, said that coffee bean was a part of the forward trading market, another reason for the increase in prices. “If someone corners a bulk lot, the prices will shoot up and, once he off-loads it in the market, it will come down. The association has been urging the Central government to ban forward trading, but nothing has happened,” he said.

Hotels, however, are not considering increasing their coffee prices. T.R. Srivathsan, managing director, Only Coffee India Pvt Ltd, said they had no plans, for now, of increasing the prices.

“We will bear the increase and not pass it on to customers. We saw some additional income a few months ago when premium beans were sold at Rs. 350/kg. We will manage with that,” he said.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> Cities> Chennai / by Deepa H. Ramakrishnan / Chennai – May 16th, 2014

Teenager leaves behind bitter past, clears SSLC

MYSORE: An orphan girl, who was once forced to work as a domestic help at HD Kote, has cleared the SSLC exam, the results of which were announced on Monday.

Pavithra D, 17, a native of Hardenahalli in Davanagere, was taken to HD Kote and made to toil till city-based Juvenile Home for Girls rescued her in 2009. She continued her studies from Class 5 at People’s Park School. Now, she has scored 302 marks in SSLC. Pavithra told TOI: “After PU, I will pursue higher studies in a fine arts college. I also want to be a singer.”

Siblings Chubbakki, 17, and Mallige, 16, who hail from Kushalnagar in Madikeri, have been the inmates at Juvenile Home for the past two years. They have scored 318 and 297, respectively. Kavya, 15, from Hassan, has scored 297, while Hema, 16, from Madikeri, has scored 283 marks.

Juvenile Home has another reason to cheer. One of its inmates passed SSLC exam in first class. Chaudamma, 16, of Malligehalli in Shimoga, said: “I have scored 399. I had chicken pox during exams. I would have scored well had I been well then.” Speaking about her future plans, she said she aspires to become a “good teacher” to teach poor students. Sahana, 18, of Mandya, has scored 365, just 10 marks short of being first
class.

source: http://www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / The Times of India / Home> City> Mysore / TNN / May 13th, 2014

Nagamma J H, probationary officer of Juvenile Home, said that this is the first time that they have achieved 100% results with seven inmates clearing the exam.

Shubra Aiyappa is on cloud nine

Shubra-AiyappaKF16may2014

Shubra Aiyappa’s happiness knows no bounds now-a-days. The Bangalorean actress, who made her T-Town debut with Prathinidhi, seems pretty excited with the response her movie received. Sharing her excitement, Shubra says, “I’m thrilled with the amazing response I’m getting for my role. I got a good start in Tollywood and I thank the audience and entire team for giving me this opportunity.”

The glam diva will soon be seen playing Arvind Krishna’s romantic interest in her next Telugu film, a rom-com directed by Veera Prasad. “The film is about a young couple, in which the hero realises the value of true love because of me. It’s a new age love story and I’m very happy with the way my character has been chalked out,” Shubra says.

The former model, who is currently in talks with a few filmmakers, says, “I’m reading a few scripts in Telugu and Tamil and I will finalize on a couple of them soon,” signs off Shubra.

source: http://www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / The Times of India / Home> Entertainment> Telugu> Movies / by Sashidhar AS, TNN / May 12th, 2014