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Kareena Gives preference to work rather than relationship.

2011-04-16T23:19:00.001+05:00

Bollywood size-zero diva Kareena Kapoor is a thorough professional, who gives preference to work rather than relationship.

Apparently, Bebo has decided to shoot for Aamir`s flick rather than wrapping-up beau Saif`s ‘Agent Vinod’ for she had already given all her dates for Reema Kagti`s film, starring Aamir Khan.

Even as the actress is quite busy until June 2011, Kareena has some important action scenes pending for ‘Agent Vinod’.

Talking to a daily, a source said, “Kareena has allotted her dates in April, May and June to Reema Kagti`s film, with Aamir Khan and Rani Mukherji. Despite the fact that ‘Agent Vinod’ has been delayed many times over for various reasons and now is in its last stage of production.”

“Most of the shooting is over. But there are still songs and sequences that require VFX. And yes, a schedule with Kareena is pending. But she`s busy with another film. So, we`ll just have to wait,” added the source.

One wonders why Kareena gave priority to ‘Agent Vinod’ over Reema Kagti`s flick, to which Sriram quickly came to the actress defence, “She was committed to the other film from some time. But that`s okay. Saif and I will be busy with other scenes until she becomes free. I also have a couple of visual-effects scenes to put into place.”

Lenovo 23-Inch Tablet For Home Use

2011-04-13T17:02:00.000+05:00

Lenovo believes in the tablet PC market, so much in fact that the company is currently developing a 23-inch LCD based Tablet for home use.
Lenovo senior marketing specialist, William Cai spoke with TechRadar and revealed:

“We think that there is potential for a 23-inch tablet,” while adding, ”We’d have to take care of battery life and we are working to get the weight down.”

The basic premise for the larger-than-normal tablet is that it will be based off current Lenovo all-in-one desktop units (pictured above), while featuring a battery power supply. The device will also have the option to be used as a television or paired with a keyboard to offer a “desktop experience” according to Cai.
Specs for the unit are being kept under wraps by the Lenovo team, however the first units are expected to arrive “sometime in 2011

New Zealand won by 110 runs

2011-03-08T21:33:00.000+05:00

New Zealand 302/7 (50 ov)

Pakistan 192 (41.4 ov)

New Zealand won by 110 runs

Pakistan RR 4.60
Last 5 ovs 35/2 RR 7.00
Required RR 13.32
New Zealand RR 6.04

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Current time: 22:02 local, 16:32 GMT

ODI career

Batsmen

Runs

This bowler

Last 5 ovs

Mat

Runs

Ave

Umar Gul(rhb)

136.00

3 (4b)

27 (17b)

282

34*

9.72

Bowlers

Econ

This spell

Mat

Wkts

BBI

Econ

*Scott Styris(rm)

4.4

3.64

1.4-0-5-2

184

136

6/25

4.74

Nathan McCullum(ob)

6.0

4.66

2-0-12-0

3/35

4.62

Recent overs 4 1 1 . 1 1 | 1 . 1 . 1 1 | 1 . 1 1 1 . | W 1 . W

Last Bat Shoaib Akhtar c NL McCullum b Styris 0 (2b 0x4 0x6) SR: 0.00

Fall of wicket: 192/10 (41.4 ov); Partnership: 1 runs, 0.3 overs, RR: 2.00 (Shoaib Akhtar 0, Umar Gul 1)

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Umpire reviews remaining Pakistan 0 (0 successful, 2 unsuccessful); New Zealand 1 (0 successful, 1 unsuccessful)

41.4

Styris to Shoaib Akhtar, OUT, game over, Shoaib lasted all of two balls, another short one from Styris, Shoaib flails at it and gets a top edge that flies towards mid-on, Nathan McCullum gets across and takes a smart catch, and New Zealand get their third win of the tournament

Shoaib Akhtar c NL McCullum b Styris 0 (2b 0x4 0x6) SR: 0.00

41.3

Styris to Shoaib Akhtar, no run, Stryis may be a dibbly-dobbly bowler but he wants to send a message to Shoaib, a bouncer that sails high over Shoaib

41.2

Styris to Umar Gul, 1 run, Gul's on strike now, he swings a shortish ball towards deep square leg

Shoaib Akhtar is the last man in

41.1

Styris to Abdul Razzaq, OUT, Styris has struck, Razzaq was looking for the Hollywood hit over long-on, can't get hold of it and it balloons in the air towards Oram at long-on, Pakistan lose their ninth

Abdul Razzaq c Oram b Styris 62 (74b 9x4 0x6) SR: 83.78

End of over 41 (4 runs) Pakistan 191/8 (112 runs required from 54 balls, RR: 4.65, RRR: 12.44)

Umar Gul		33* (24b 3x4 1x6)		NL McCullum		6-0-28-2
Abdul Razzaq		62* (73b 9x4)		SB Styris		4-0-16-0

40.6

NL McCullum to Umar Gul, no run, Gul looking totally at ease here, one more ball on the pads, glanced to short fine

40.5

NL McCullum to Abdul Razzaq, 1 run, Razzaq again wanted to go for the big hit, McCullum sends it short, Razzaq checks his shot and plays it past a diving McCullum

40.4

NL McCullum to Umar Gul, 1 run, off his pads and down to fine leg, the partnership grows to 65

40.3

NL McCullum to Abdul Razzaq, 1 run, thumped past Taylor at midwicket, a misfield from the acting captain gives a single

40.2

NL McCullum to Abdul Razzaq, no run, defended back to the bowler

'One mistake will do, lads, one mistake will do,' says McCullum

40.1

NL McCullum to Umar Gul, 1 run, nudged towards deep midwicket for a single

End of over 40 (4 runs) Pakistan 187/8 (116 runs required from 60 balls, RR: 4.67, RRR: 11.60)

Umar Gul		31* (21b 3x4 1x6)		SB Styris		4-0-16-0
Abdul Razzaq		60* (70b 9x4)		NL McCullum		5-0-24-2

39.6

Styris to Umar Gul, 1 run, elegantly done by Gul, driven towards wide long-on for a single

39.5

Styris to Abdul Razzaq, 1 run, length ball this time, hammered over the bowler's head, long-on is very straight and Oram gets round to stop what looked like a boundary

39.4

Styris to Abdul Razzaq, no run, superb delivery from Styris, in the blockhole, Razzaq looking to pull the trigger every ball now, he can only block this

39.3

Styris to Umar Gul, 1 run, on the pads, Gul whips it towards short fine leg, where Southee makes a smart stop

39.2

Styris to Umar Gul, no run, short of length and outside off, defended to the off side, Razzaq wanted the single but Gul didn't

39.1

Styris to Abdul Razzaq, 1 run, muscled down to long-off, it was an overpitched ball, Nathan McCullum attacks the ball in the deep to keep the batsmen to a single

Scott Styris returns. 120 needed from 11 overs

End of over 39 (8 runs) Pakistan 183/8 (120 runs required from 11 overs, RR: 4.69, RRR: 10.90)

Abdul Razzaq		58* (67b 9x4)		NL McCullum		5-0-24-2
Umar Gul		29* (18b 3x4 1x6)		JDP Oram		10-1-47-1

38.6

NL McCullum to Abdul Razzaq, 1 run, fuller ball is thumped towards cover

38.5

NL McCullum to Umar Gul, 1 run, a bit shorter and a touch wider, Gul carves it to deep backward point

38.4

NL McCullum to Umar Gul, no run, fullish ball on the pads, driven to mid-on

38.3

NL McCullum to Abdul Razzaq, 1 run, length ball outside off, Razzaq makes room and jabs the ball towards backward point

38.2

NL McCullum to Umar Gul, 1 run, length ball outside off, dabbed towards point and a quick single is pinched

38.1

NL McCullum to Umar Gul, FOUR, full and wide outside off, Gul caresses that one past a diving cover fielder, supremely timed by Gul for four

End of over 38 (10 runs) Pakistan 175/8 (128 runs required from 12 overs, RR: 4.60, RRR: 10.66)

Umar Gul		23* (14b 2x4 1x6)		JDP Oram		10-1-47-1
Abdul Razzaq		56* (65b 9x4)		KD Mills		8-1-43-2

37.6

Oram to Umar Gul, 1 run, short of length ball, sliding into middle, worked behind square leg for a single that brings up the 50 partnership

37.5

Oram to Umar Gul, FOUR, the runs are flowing for Pakistan, finally, a bouncer down the leg side, helped along to fine leg

Seven dead in Faisalabad blast: DCO

2011-03-08T11:19:00.002+05:00

FAISALABAD: The local administration said that at least seven people have been killed and several injured in a blast near an office of law enforcement agency in Faisalabad, Geo News reported.

Nature of the explosion was still not known but initial reports suggested that it was a CNG cylinder blast reportedly at a CNG station. DCO Faisalabad has confirmed the toll. Television footage showed damaged CNG station and vehicles.

Saudi King to buy Facebook for $150 billion to end the revolt: Goldman Sachs to advise

2011-03-05T23:48:00.000+05:00

In what is being termed as pure Wall street Gordon Gecko tactics, King Abdullah of Saudi Arabia has decided to make an offer of $150 billion to buy out Facebook. Inside sources within the kingdom suggest that he is very upset with Mark Zukerberg for allowing the revolt to get out of control. In a personal meeting between Mark Zuckerberg and King Abdullah on Jan 25, 2011, Zuckerberg had promised that he would not allow any revolt pages to be formed on Facebook even while he allowed Egypt and Libya revolt pages to be formed. But little did King Abdullah know Zuckerberg. Had he seen the movie “Social Network”, he would have been better advised than to trust Zuckerberg.

Left with no option, Abdullah advised by Goldman Sachs has decided to buy out Facebook and “clean out the weeds”. The offer on the table is $150 billion. Facebook balance sheet was shown to King Abdullah and his kingdom advisors had mentioned that it is not even worth $1 billion given that it generates no profit. But the King threw the report into the dustbin and fired his advisors and decided to hand over the investment banking mandate to Goldman Sachs who put the value at $150 billion. The deal will be all cash. It is worthwhile to remind our readers that Goldman Sachs had invested into Facebook at an unimaginable $50 billion valuation.

Social networking site Facebook has raised USD 500 million from Goldman Sachs and Russian Internet investment group Digital Sky Technologies in a deal valuing the company at USD 50 billion, says a media report.

“Facebook, the popular social networking site, has raised USD 500 million from Goldman Sachs and a Russian investor in a deal that values the company at USD 50 billion,” the New York Times reported citing a source.

The deal makes Facebook now worth more than companies like eBay, Yahoo and Time Warner.

Under the terms of the deal, Goldman has invested USD 450 million, and Digital Sky Technologies, which has already sunk about half a billion dollars into Facebook, invested USD 50 million, the report noted.

According Goldman report, the many advantages of buying out Facebook far outweighs the cost of the transaction. Goldman Sachs made a presentation to King Abdullah of how the facebook could be used to cement his position for ever. Never again will his kingdom see another revolt. The presentation also involved some Facebook pages of bikini clad models profile among other profiles. Sources reveal that King Abdullah had made up his mind immediately and spoke to Lloyd Blankfein to complete the transaction as soon as possible.

We are yet to hear back from Mark Zuckerberg on the offer though. But most analysts believe that Zuckerberg will not take the offer and will wait for King Abdullah to up the offer to at least $500billion. In the meanwhile king Abdullah has now logged on the Facebook and was buzy profiling some of the models in the Goldman Sachs presentation.

via

Indian Parrot Predicted Pakistan as ICC World Cup Champion 2011

2011-03-05T23:38:00.003+05:00

Banglore (Routers) Our correspondent from India reported that an Indian psychic Parrot who’s name was Mali predicted Pakistan three times in a row as Cricket World Champion 2011.But his owner baba to make himself safe from Indian doggy party Shiv Sena killed his Parrot for predicting Pakistan.

It is also noted that Indian Media is hiding this Hot news which can show real image of Indian democracy to world.

Pakistani Nation is happy but mostly people express that they didn’t belief on any Psychic. Mamu a psychic has also predicted in T20 World cup 2010 semis that Pakistan ‘ll win but Pakistan lost that match.So we only belief on self power and we will lift cup from Mumbai. And will beat any one except Shiv Sena with our bat.

Article Source:

http://thefriendsfm.com/2011/02/26/indian-parrot-predicted-pakistan-as-world-champion-2011-times-of-india/

Pakistani Girl Kissing Cow For 5000

2011-03-05T17:13:00.004+05:00

Revealed: Hazel Keech, Salman Khan's new girl

2011-03-05T17:03:00.003+05:00

Ladies and gentlemen, Hazel Keech is the latest girl from B-town,who has caught the fancy of our very own Dabangg star Salman Khan.

The lovely lass is starring in Sallu's new film Bodyguard, directed by his brother-in-law Atul Agnihotri. The two have been seen bonding big time on the sets, so much so that Sallu miyan has been taking the pains to teach her how to ride the bike, has been giving her acting tips.

But the question everybody asking is just who is this Hazel Keech?

According to reports the starlet was born to an Indian mother and British father in Essex, north-east London. From childhood she was introduced to different dances by her mother. At ten, she was already learning Bharat Natyam.

Hazel got her first break as an extra on Harry Potter's second, third and fourth series of films as Rose Dawn. She has also performed on Brit TV shows like ‘Call The Shots’ and ‘Miss Maple’.

She made her entry into the Indian cinema at the age of 18. Not many are aware that she had appeared in the Tamil film, Billa (2007) and grabbed a lot of eyeballs with her dance in the Frankfinn Music remix item number, Kahin Pe Nigahaen.

Like Sallu’s ex Kat, Hazel too has been taking Hindi diction classes from Vidur Chaturvedi at Atul Agnihotri's office.

It seems like Salman is pretty happy with the actress, and she is the latest entrant in the Khan family.

Sonakshi Sinha has hots for Anushka's boyfriend

2011-03-05T17:02:00.003+05:00

Sonakshi Sinha has set her eyes on Ranveer Singh.

The Dabangg girl seems to have the hots for the Band Baaja Baraat munda, which was quite obvious on Koffee With Karan.

She just couldn't stop gushing about the B Town's newbie and said how she would love to date him if he was 'single'.

When KJo mentioned it to Ranveer's current girlfriend Anushka Sharma who was with him in the hot seat in the following week she retorted, "He is all yours. Please go ahead."

What say, Ranveer?

Bollywood hotties and their Dirty Dancing

2011-03-05T16:59:00.003+05:00

Be it 1950s or 2011, item songs have always been seen as the X-Factor of Hindi films. Sreya Basu finds out what makes the hip-shackers a guaranteed success at the Box Office

Back in 1960s Helen’s name on film posters used to be magnified and got more space than the heroine’s. And a dance number by Bindu or Aruna Irani was like an insurance policy for the film’s success.

The scene remains unchanged even today where Salman Khan needs a Munni Badnaam to garnish his Dabangg. Or, Sheila Ki Jawaani saves Farah Khan from being doomed by an otherwise flop Tees Maar Khan.

No matter how much film-scholars scrowl or criticize item numbers, Hindi films are unimaginable without the taadka of hip-swivelling chartbusters.

Talking about item numbers, how can we forget the ‘hottie ready to go naughty’ attitude of item girls!

Remember Nadira looking into Raj Kapoor’s eyes and singing Mudh Mudh Ke Na Dekh in Shree 420, or Helen stripping off her red gown and running to her on-screen lover in Piya Tu (Caravan), or a Bindu flaunting her yellow feathery attire before Ajit and Amitabh Bachchan and swaying to Dil Jalon Ka in Zanjeer?

While Nadira was a seductress, Helen was effortless…she was a born item girl. She had class and hence even her skimpy costumes never looked vulgar on-screen…but there was oodles of sex appeal for sure.

And whoever said you need a Size Zero figure to enter a man’s fantasy should watch out for Bindu. Despite her typical Punjabi curvaceous figure, she ruled the ‘60s and ‘70’s and how powerfully!

Sridevi was nicknamed Hawa Hawaii…thanks to her fruity item song in Mr India; Madhuri Dikshit too became the Dhak Dhak girl for her sensuous number from Beta.

“Malaika Arora was more popular as the Chaiyan Chaiyan (Dil Se) for her item number on a moving train until Munni happened. Now even a kid knows her more as Munni than Malaika,” says costume designer Ashley Rebello.

Not to forget, Rakhi Sawant owes her so-called stardom to item songs like Dekhta Hai Tu Kya and Bichua (other than her publicity stunts).

While Rekha matured from Pyaar Do Pyaar Lo (Jaanbaaz) to Kaisi Paheli (Parineeta), known for playing cerebral roles, Shabana Azmi reported danced away all night to Munni Badnaam on her 60th birthday party.

No matter how much butter item girls add, it’s the music that is the hing of a particular number.

“A film has a number of songs…romantic, tragic, soft, loud. But the item song has to be a fun number. It must have the capacity to make people jump off their seats at theatres, blow whistles and do all sorts of mad things,” says music composer Anu Malik.

And by fun, we need not mean only comedy…be it AR Rahman’s Mayya Mayya (from Guru) or Vishal Bharadwaj’s raunchy Beedi (from Omkara)…the main criteria is to make sure a saint turns Mithun Chakraborty (oops…read, disco dancer).

But then, fun songs need lyrics of equal stature. Wordings for an item number has to be wicked…something like Choli Ke Peeche Kya Hai or Pyaar Tera Dilli Ki Shardi or Main Zandu Balm Huyi Darling Tere Liye.

“I prefer lyrics that are subtly cheap as opposed to downright cheap. For item songs it’s imperative to get words that one has never heard of. Like I hit on Chamma Chamma for China Gate,” says Anu Malik.

However, it’s singers who make the songs come alive. While Asha Bhosle was brilliant with the Ahh..ahh..ahh background in Piya Tu, Sunidhi Chauhan’s high pitches are essential for songs like Sheila Ki Jawaani or Chaalia (from Tashan). Or we need Rekha Bharadwaj’s earthy flavours to spice up Namak Ishq Ka.

“I am known for soulful numbers. But in Namak Ishq, I brought out a little naughtiness…a little flirtatious quality is needed for item songs,” says Bharadwaj.

And if singers give life to a song, dance moves make
audiences go gob-smacked. Who thought Miss Prim and Proper Aishwarya Rai will turn on the heat with her Kajra Re!

Be it Yeh Mera Dil (Don), or Mehbooba (Sholey) or Ek Do Teen (Tezaab) or Mayya Mayya (Guru)…the hip movements, suggestive gestures, seducing looks, turns and twists of waist drive the masses wild.

And then of course, costumes add zing to item numbers.

“Costumes should be sensuous and sexy, rather than out and out cheesy,” says Ashley Rebello.

“I went for a complete gaonti look for Munni…flower-printed skirts, tights and jewel-studded blouse. Since Malaika’s entire torso needed to be exposed, I came up with chains that were attached beneath her blouse to the waistband of her skirt,” says Rebello.

Last, but not the least, an item song is incomplete without a complimentary backdrop.

The Babuji zara dheere chalo number won’t have been a whip-crack hit unless Yana Gupta made and entry riding on a buffalo.

The effect of Jhumma Chumma song would have been halved if Kimi Katkar won’t have been surrounded by mill-workers banging their enamel mugs in chorus.

Having said that, as Anu Malik once commented on the sets of Indian Idol-Romantic is nice, but item numbers are and will continue to be the spice of Hindi films.

Bangladesh fans throw stones at West Indies bus

2011-03-05T16:54:00.005+05:00

West Indies’ bus was struck by stones thrown by Bangladesh fans after the co-hosts were heavily beaten in the Cricket World Cup Group B match on Friday, the team spokesman told Reuters.
“A couple of fans threw stones, two hit the window and it just broke. No one was hurt and we are safe,” he said.
The crowd had reacted angrily earlier after their team were thrashed by nine wickets by the West Indies after scoring only 58 runs.

Aishwarya, Kareena, Priyanka in run for fun

2011-03-05T16:54:00.002+05:00

Bollywood beauties Aishwarya Rai, Kareena Kapoor and Priyanka Chopra are in the run for Cosmopolitan Magazine`s fun, fearless awards, to be held in Mumbai Saturday.
The three actresses are competing in Fun, Fearless Female All Time Reader`s Choice Award this year.
Other categories include – Fun, Fearless Power Couple award, for which the nominees are – Kareena Kapoor-Saif Ali Khan; Hrithik Roshan-Sussanne Khan and Arbaaz Khan-Malaika Arora Khan.
There is also a Fun, Fearless Male 2010
Reader`s Choice Award, and Ranbir Kapoor, Shahid Kapoor, Salman Khan, and Arjun Rampal are competing for the title in this category.
The event, in its third edition now, takes place annually in India, Britain and the US.
“The Fun, Fearless Female Awards is a cult, one-of-its-kind event that celebrates all that`s iconic of the Cosmo woman – her attitude, drive, and the never-say-never spirit,” Nandini Bhalla, editor of Cosmopolitan, said in a press statement.
The organisers are expecting a star-studded turnout at the event Saturday at the Taj Land`s End, Mumbai.

Veena Malik celebrates birthday with Ashmit Patel

2011-03-05T16:53:00.006+05:00

Pakistani actress Veena Malik recently celebrated her 27th birthday with her ‘best friend’ and former Big Boss housemate Ashmit Patel at a five star hotel in New Delhi.
The lavish party was given by Ashmit Patel and was glitzing with DJ Akbar Sami’s music in the background.
Talking about their relationship, Ashmit said, “I can’t label my relationship, if she wants to hug me or hold my hand, she will – people can talk all they like. She’s special to me. There’s a big ‘if’ to what happens next.”
Veena Malik added, “There is something very
special between us, a very strong chemistry. Ashmit really made my birthday very special by coming down to Delhi.”

Kadhafi regime demands UN suspend sanctions

2011-03-05T16:53:00.002+05:00

Moamer Kadhafi’s regime on Friday demanded that the UN Security Council suspend sanctions taken against the Libyan leader over his crackdown on opposition protests.
Libyan Foreign Minister Mussa Kussa said in a letter to the UN Security Council said that only “a modicum” of force has been used against opposition demonstrators and that the government was “taken aback” by the sanctions.
The regime called for the travel ban and assets freeze ordered again Kadhafi and his entourage “to be suspended until such time as the truth is established.”
Kussa demanded that the Security Council “stand up to
the states that are threatening force against it.”
The letter, sent to the UN Security Council, was the first official reaction communicated to the United Nations since the sanctions were unanimously passed by the council last Saturday.
Rights groups say 6,000 people have been killed since protests against Kadhafi erupted on February 15. The United Nations says that more than 1,000 have died.
A Security Council diplomat, speaking on condition of anonymity, said: “It’s just another example of the regime’s refusal to accept the consequences of their actions.
“However, it also shows that they are rattled by the firm and united action taken by the international community.”
China and Russia, traditional opponents of sanctions, have joined in international condemnation of violence used against demonstrators.
However Kussa said security forces had only acted against “subversive acts.”
“Where a modicum of force has been used, it has been against law-breakers that have included extremist elements who have exploited others in order to commit acts of destruction and terrorism,” said the letter.
The regime’s foreign policy chief said opponents aimed to “spread anarchy and attack and burn security locations and police stations, seize weapons and kill soldiers and civilians.”
Kussa went on: “We believed that the Security Council would understand that the measures that have been taken are consistent with the duty of a state to maintain security and were consequently taken aback by the adoption” of sanctions.
He added that the regime had instructed that “greatest restraint” be used and that “full respect” be shown for human rights.
Authorities have ordered that medical and food supplies must reach all parts of the country, Kussa said. UN emergency aid coordinator Valerie Amos said earlier there are unconfirmed reports that relief supplies are being blocked in Tripoli.
The Security Council also ordered a crimes against humanity investigation into the crackdown. The regime said that Libya is not a member of the International Criminal Court and it would only cooperate on “the principle of the primacy of national courts.”
The letter said an independent judicial committee had already been set up to investigate “events.”
Kussa said that military action against Libya would be “inconsistent” with the UN charter and international law and “compromise a threat to peace and security in the region and indeed the whole world.”

Afridi speaks up for new review system

2011-03-05T16:52:00.005+05:00

The use of technology to enable teams to challenge decisions by umpires at the World Cup is proving controversial, but Pakistan skipper Shahid Afridi wants reviews to be doubled.
The Umpire Decision Review System (UDRS) is being used for the first time at a World Cup, with some backing its use and others raising serious doubts.
But one player who does not need to be convinced is Afridi.
“I think UDRS is good,” said Afridi after Pakistan’s win over Canada on Thursday, when Pakistan picked up three dismissals with the use of the system after
umpires Daryl Harper and Nigel Llong gave batsmen not out.
“I think one decision can change the whole match, so I think UDRS should be there. It should be raised to four from two, because two are proving less for us and in bigger matches this would be beneficial,” said Afridi.
Two unsuccessful appeals mean you lose the right to any further challenges during an innings.
Canadian captain Ashish Bagai was left fuming after the Pakistan match.
“There was a bit of controversy over the use of it. Some go your way, some don?t,” said Bagai, who escaped an lbw decision before becoming a victim of the system when Afridi referred it to review.
“They (umpires) have kept a mantra of relying on technology blindly and that is their decision. We got a couple today that we were boggled with but that?s what they have chosen, can’t do anything about that now,” said Bagai.
The most vociferous opposition to the UDRS has come from India, who have resisted its use in its home and away series. The use of the system requires the consent of both teams.
Indian captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni was furious that his side were denied an lbw following a review in their epic tie with England as batsman Ian Bell was deemed too far forward even though UDRS said the ball would have hit the stumps.
The International Cricket Council (ICC) explained the Bell decision, saying the greater the distance between point of impact and the stumps the more difficult it is for the technology to provide an accurate projection.
“In the case of a not out lbw decision, where the distance between point of impact and the stumps is greater than 250 centimetres… the umpires are not obliged to follow the normal rules for using Hawk-Eye to determine whether the batsman is out or not.
“…(They) shall have discretion in determining whether or not to overturn their original not out decision.”
Australian captain Ricky Ponting said his team had not been briefed about the 2.5-metre rule.
“No, we weren?t (briefed),” said Ponting on Friday.
“I think the major reason for that is that different umpires are going to interpret it in different ways, so it?s pretty hard to put a blanket ruling on everything when it?s open to interpretation, which I think the system is at the moment.”
“There have been a couple of examples in the last couple of games…. I am not sure if the ICC are talking about it as a result of that over the last couple of days, but all we can do as players is get out there and use whatever system is in place.”
Ponting said he was surprised to see the UDRS being used without Hot Spot, an infra-red imaging system used to determine whether the ball has struck the batsman’s bat or pad.
“I was a bit surprised at the start of the tournament when we found out we were using the UDRS without Hot Spot. That was a bit of a shock to me because I think the Hot Spot part of it is probably as big a part of the system as anything.
“At the end of the day, players always have to understand that it?s not going to be perfect. But we?re still going to be getting more correct decisions at the end of a game, which is obviously beneficial for the game.”

Fans attack Al Hasan’s house

2011-03-05T16:52:00.002+05:00

Angry fans attacked the house of Bangladesh captain Shakib Al Hasan after his team crashed to a humiliating nine-wicket World Cup defeat against the West Indies, police said Saturday.
Shakib’s mother and sister were inside the three-storey house in the western district town of Magura when several motor-cycle riders stopped and threw stones at the house on Friday evening, local police chief Proloy Chisim said.
“The stones broke one window of the house. His father spoke to me after the incident and we have already
stepped up security in the area,” he told AFP.
Shakib’s father Mashrur Reza told reporters that a number of windows were shattered on the first floor, including those of the captain’s room.
Bangladesh, one of the three co-hosts of the World Cup, were bowled out for their lowest one-day-international total 58 on Friday to leave them facing a huge struggle to secure a place in the World Cup quarter-finals.
Fans also stoned the bus carrying the West Indies team as the players were leaving Sher-e-Bangla stadium after the match in what police claimed was a case of mistaken identity.
Police said fans thought it was the Bangladeshi team bus and they hurled stones at it, shattering two windows.
Police and the elite Rapid Action Battalion have arrested 38 young men in connection with the attack.
“We have filed cases against them and they have been sent to the court,” police sub-inspector Abdur Razzak said.
Up to 3,000 fans also torched Bangladesh jerseys and held protest marches on the Dhaka University campus to vent their anger at the loss.
Shakib said it was his worst performance but has insisted his side’s World Cup campaign was not over.
Bangladesh’s score was worse than their previous low of 74 against Australia in Darwin in 2008 and was also the fourth lowest total in World Cup history.
The World Cup co-hosts, with one win from three games in Group B, face England, South Africa and the Netherlands in their remaining group matches.

Atif Aslam Gets Engaged? That’s What We Are Hearing!

2011-03-04T19:13:00.001+05:00

Atif Aslam who is perhaps the most popular celebrity of the country has gotten engaged last month to a girl named, Sara Bharwana, a reliable source tells who apparently knows both of them.

Our source further adds that Aslam is going out with the lady, who is a kinnard graduate, for about 4 years and for some reason still doesn’t want to make her public. It could be because the pop star thinks he will lose his following like this.

Since it’s already been a month and the word hasn’t come out, it is obvious that the management will come with straight denial once they hear of this. Also, since the news is as big as it can get, we wanted to confirm it with another source which unfortunatly we couldn’t.

We badly wanted to get hands on some of the engagement pictures but unfortunatly since the ceremony only had immediate family, we couldn’t grab those either.

I mean I know how it’s like, “Pics or didn’t happen”, but that’s all we have on this for now. We will keep you posted as we have more.

PS: This is something we have heard from a reliable source but we are still only half-sure about it.

VIA

I want to marry six times: Priyanka Chopra

2011-03-02T12:24:00.000+05:00

Priyanka Chopra seems to have taken her role in “7 Khoon Maaf” a little too seriously! The versatile actress, who gets married seven times in the thriller, says she would love to marry at least six times in real life – but to the same man.
“I have been planning my wedding since as far back as I can remember! My ideal scenario is getting married six times (to the same man of course),” Priyanka revealed in the upcoming, second anniversary issue of fashion magazine Harper’s Bazaar.
The 28-year-old, one of the most eligible singles in
tinsel town, already has elaborate plans set in her mind about the six spots and types of ceremonies she would like to have.
“My dadaji’s (grandfather’s) house in Ambala – my ‘big, fat Indian wedding’; underwater at the Great Barrier Reef in Australia; a church in Las Vegas – wearing a short black dress and with the priest dressed as Elvis; the intimate ceremony – at a small, beautiful church in Locarno, Switzerland. It’s on top of a hill that overlooks parts of Germany, Italy, and Switzerland.
She also wants to go in for a nikah.
“Only very close family and friends will be present; a nikah – I think it’s a beautiful, romantic ceremony – the curtains, the stolen glances, the words, and finally the acceptance… ‘Kabool hai’; and lastly, the groom’s choice! If my future groom survives all that, then we’ll survive anything!” she added.
The plans are all quite set of course, but Priyanka says marriage does not figure on her priority list as of now.
“There is so much happening on the work front right now, which is my priority. I will get married, but I can’t say when. It’s not really in my control. I am a hopeless romantic, so I’m waiting for the man who is meant to be with me; he may arrive today, or five years later,” she said.
In the meantime, her hectic schedules and film promotions will keep her on her toes.
She has almost finished the shoot of “Don – The Chase Continues”. She will start work on Karan Johar’s remake of “Agneepath” and then she has Anurag Basu’s “Barfee”, Kunal Kohli’s next, as well as “Krrish 2″.
In her interview to Harper’s Bazaar, the National award-winning actress has spoken about her journey to fame, the importance of awards, industry rivalry, her style, aspirations and her much-talked about chemistry with Shahid Kapoor.
The magazine hits the stands Wednesday.

Ranveer is Yash Raj’s brand rival to Ranbir

2011-03-02T12:23:00.002+05:00

Somebody’s loss is somebody else’s gain. And here, we are talking about Ranbir Kapoor and Ranveer Singh. Buzz has it that Aditya Chopra had initially approached the Kapoor kid for his film ‘Band Baaja Baarat’. But the actor politely refused the offer.
Now Ranbir must be regretting his decision big time. Little did RK know that his refusal would give Hindi cinema a new superstar in the form of Ranveer Singh.
Adi, who was keen to have junior Kapoor on board for the film was peeved with him for declining his offer. But th
e filmmaker was determined to launch someone who could give Ranbir a good run for his money.
Talking to a daily, a source close to filmmaker Aditya Chopra revealed, “Adi couldn’t believe Ranbir had turned down the role. It was at that point that the banner decided to create another star comparable in terms of versatility, focus and youth appeal to Ranbir.”
‘Band Baaja Baarat’ sensation, Ranveer Singh must be thanking his stars and even Ranbir Kapoor for his big splash in B-Town. Seldom does an actor achieve instant stardom. But Ranveer did conveniently manage to win over audiences as well as people from the film fraternity.
The source added, “Adi had great confidence in Ranveer. That confidence has multiplied beyond all expectations. Today Yash Raj feels they’ve created Brand Ranveer to rival Brand Ranbir.”

Hoping for an on-screen comeback: Lilo

2011-03-02T12:22:00.005+05:00

Lindsay Lohan says she wants to be identified with great films in the future, not the personal problems that have stalled her career in recent years.
“I don’t want that to be what I’m known for anymore — the tabloid stuff,” she said Tuesday on the syndicated magazine show “Extra.”
The troubled starlet acknowledged that her comeback won’t be easy.
“There’s going to be a lot of steps that I have to go through to kind of prove myself again,” she said. In the
latest of her off-screen woes, Lohan is charged with the theft of a $2,500 necklace from an upscale jewelry store.
She has pleaded not guilty to that felony charge, which she did not discuss in the interview.

Laptop tracks gaze, taking eye-tracking out of lab

2011-03-02T12:22:00.002+05:00

Ever wish your eyes were lasers? A laptop prototype brings that wish closer to reality.
It tracks your gaze and figures out where you’re looking on the screen. That means, among other things, that you can play a game where you burn up incoming asteroids with a laser that hits where you look.
In another demonstration this week, the computer scrolled a text on the screen in response to eye movements, sensing when the reader reached the end of the visible text.
In the future, a laptop like this could make the
mouse cursor appear where you’re looking, or make a game character maintain eye contact with you, according to Tobii Technology Inc., the Swedish firm that’s behind the tracking technology.
The eye tracker works by shining two invisible infrared lights at you. Two hidden cameras then look for the “glints” off your eyeballs and reflections from each retina. It needs to be calibrated for each person.
It works for people with or without eyeglasses.
Rather than a replacement for the traditional mouse and keyboard or the newer touch screen, the eye-tracking could be a complement, making a computer faster and more efficient to use, said Barbara Barclay, general manager of Tobii’s Analysis Solutions business.
Tobii has been making eye-tracking devices for researchers and the disabled for nearly a decade. The laptop is its way of showing that eye-tracking could expand beyond those niches, Barclay said, calling it an “idea generator.”
The laptop is made by Lenovo Corp., and incorporates Tobii’s eye-tracking cameras in a “hump” on the cover, making the entire package about twice as thick as a regular laptop. But future, commercial versions can be slimmer and are perhaps two years away, Barclay said.
Lenovo and Tobii made 20 of the laptops and planned to demonstrate them at the CeBIT technology trade show in Hanover, Germany, on Tuesday.
Tobii’s current, standalone eye-trackers cost tens of thousands of dollars, but Barclay said the cost of adding consumer-level eye-tracking to a commercial laptop could be much less.
New ways to use computers have been proliferating in recent years.
Touch screens are becoming popular on smart phones and tablet computers such as the iPad. Nintendo Corp.’s Wii game console brought motion-sensing technology to the masses. Microsoft Corp. released an accessory for its Xbox games console last year that uses an infrared camera to sense the movement of bodies in three dimensions.

US warships set to enter Suez Canal

2011-03-02T12:21:00.002+05:00

Two US warships would be entering Egypt’s Suez Canal on Wednesday morning as the threat of military intervention in Libya looms large, an Egyptian official says.
Earlier on Tuesday, US Defense Secretary Robert Gates said the USS Kearsarge, an amphibious ship capable of carrying up to 2,000 Marines, and the USS Ponce assault ship will be passing through the Mediterranean shortly, it reported.
According to top US military officials, the Kearsarge warship will be carrying 400 Marines from the United States and will be joining the USS Enterprise, which is in the
Red Sea en route to the Suez Canal.
On Monday, the United States positioned naval and air forces around crisis-hit Libya as the Libyan regime’s bloody crackdown on anti-government protests continue to rage in the North African country.
The United States, along with Britain and France, has also sent hundreds of Special Forces to Libya’s east. The forces are setting up bases in the cities of Benghazi and Tobruk.
The move comes against the backdrop of heated discussions over the possibility of imposing a no-fly zone on Libya, and a NATO-backed military intervention. The potential intervention, on which no unanimous decision has been made, has raised concerns over dire consequences it might have in Arab states.
However, British envoy to the United Nations Mark Lyall Grant stated that the 15-member UN Security Council, which slapped sanctions on the Libyan regime last week, may decide to put up a no-fly zone in the North African country.
“We will look at what is happening on the ground, and we will look to take whatever measures we consider necessary to respond to events on the ground,” said Grant after the UN General Assembly suspended Libya from the UN Human Rights Council.
On Tuesday, the 57-member Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC) placed heavy emphasis on the need to tackle the growing crisis in Libya through peaceful means.
The organization also said it was against any military intervention in Libya by the United States and its Western allies.

Breaking News Shahbaz Bhatti ‘assassinated’

2011-03-02T11:48:00.000+05:00

ISLAMABAD: Federal Minister for Minorities, Shahbaz Bhatti was assassinated in a firing incident in Islamabad, Geo News reported. Close aides of the minister told Geo News that the minister succumbed to the injuries.

He was rushed to the hospital. Unknown assailants shot the minister when he was leaving from his house in Sector I-8.

First Look: Meet Salman's new British girl Hazel

2011-03-01T19:45:00.003+05:00

Actor takes Hazel, a British model under his wing

Salman Khan loves to play Godfather to newcomers. He has now taken an actress called Hazel not to be confused with Hazel from Mera Pehla Pehla Pyaar under his wing.

She plays the role of Kareena Kapoor's friend in Atul Agnihotri's Bodyguard.

The star is seen giving her a lot of tips on how to handle her career. She is of course grateful for his time and attention. They are often seen chatting on the set, and they even went for a bike ride.

She's tomboyish

A source informs, "Hazel is a British model and has a very heavy Brit accent. She is full of attitude, just like Sallu. They hit it off well from the word go. She is very tomboyish and rides dirt bikes."

One day after finishing the shoot, the
actor decided to bike ride with her from Symbiosis Lavale to their hotel in Pune, Marriott. Hazel was riding the bike and he sat behind her.

Their chemistry is visible even in the pictures.

Atul says, "All I know is that her name is Hazel and her mother is Indian and she has moved to Bombay. She plays one of Kareena's friends in the film and will be seen in the college sequences."

When asked about the bike ride with Salman, he adds, "No, in fact, she doesn't know how to ride a bike. Salman was teaching her. In fact, she banged the bike into the wall."

Courtesy: Mid-Day.com

Ranbir-Katrina caught kissing on a flight

2011-03-01T19:44:00.003+05:00

Couple seen getting cosy on flight

Ranbir Kapoor and Katrina Kaif have always denied being involved. But they can't do so anymore. The duo indulged in some serious PDA on an international flight LH 576 from Frankfurt to Mumbai on Sunday night.

Radio One Host Malini Agarwal reports on her blog (www.missmalini.com) that her friend witnessed the lovebirds first hand, as she was also seated in the same row of the first class cabin.

Ranbir and Katrina were seen holding hands and they even exchanged a kiss.

According to the eyewitness report, "The first class had many European businessmen, and not too many passengers recognised them. Katrina was wearing a casual T-shirt and jeans and had no make up on.

Initially she kept looking around to see if
there would be any familiar Indian faces, but when she saw that wasn't the case, she got comfortable in her seat and started talking to Ranbir.

After the flight took off, they cosied up and RK was seen planting kisses on her cheek and she didn't seem to mind at all."

Apart from enjoying the first class services, they also used the time to get some work done. "There were a couple of scripts piled up on their table.

They both engrossed themselves in them. At one point they were even reading out their parts out loud, as though they were rehearsing. Ranbir later called for some blankets, but neither of them were seen taking a nap."

RK was in Amsterdam shooting an ad for a newly endorsed product, while Kat had joined him to spend some time. The two were planning to get away from the city for a while, and this seemed like a perfect opportunity.

Especially since Salman Khan is out of the country shooting in Bangkok for a 50-day schedule.

Katrina gives Anuhska a ride? Read on to find out how...

2011-03-01T19:44:00.000+05:00

Anushka Sharma gets a lift on Katrina's Kaif's chartered flight. Read on to find out how...

Since debuting in Boom (2003), Katrina Kaif has remained more or less aloof from and reserved with other actresses.

That attitude seems to be changing, beginning with Anushka Sharma.

You'd expect the senior actress to snark at the new actress, given that she is slowly but surely trying to step into Sheila's shoes.

Not only was Sharma's last release with Kat's fav actor Akshay Kumar, but the Band Bajaa Baraat girl was boldly trying hard to cosy upto Ranbir Kapoor, in the presence of Kat at a party last month!

Me, too?

On Thursday, the two girls were in Dhaka (Akki and Salman Khan were also present) for the Tri-Nations
show. Kat had to rush back to Mumbai to shoot for her YRF film Mere Brother Ki Dulhan.

Since no commercial flights were available, she booked a chartered flight for her and members of her staff to fly back.

When Anushka heard of it, she hesitantly asked if she could bum a ride. Kat immediately yes."

The YRF factor

Anushka Sharma is a Yash Raj Films protegee (Rab Ne Bana Di Jodi, Band Baaja Baraat) while Katrina has worked in New York, and is now acting in the banner's film opposite Imran Khan.

Presently, they are Aditya Chopra's favourite leading ladies (even Rani Mukerji seems to have taken a backseat).

Up until the plane ride together, they hadn't interacted with each other. But on flight the two girls had a party. They were seen enjoying each other's company, chatting like long-lost friends.

Priyanka-Shahid: Why they broke up this time

2011-03-01T19:43:00.002+05:00

Friends say this time there's no going back. Ah well, we've heard that one before

Who: Star-crossed lovers Shahid Kapoor and Priyanka Chopra have added yet another break up to their constant on-off two year relationship.

When: It happened almost two weeks ago. When the couple got into a huge argument and decided to part ways. What happened? It was too good to last? Shaks and PC for the first time in their relationship, were close to going 'official.' Their appearance on Koffee With Karan, was the first step in that direction.

But soon after they took several steps backwards. Always a volatile couple, their fight and arguments multiplied of-late.

The last time, it was he, who called it quits, this time it was Pranks who decided she'd had enough. A source close to the duo spills the beans, "The biggest problem between them was lack of communication.

As it is things were bad, with Shahid shooting
non-stop for his dad's film. He gets completely involved with his work, and forgets everything else.

Which isn't easy for any girlfriend to deal with, and it held to a lot of squabbles. What made is worse was that after every fight, he would go into a shell and refuse to talk about things.

She would try and reach out, but he would put her on ignore alert, blocking her out completely." Finally... After their last fight he decided to end to their lovestory without even letting her know. The insider adds, "Things got really bitter.. He stopped taking her calls. It was extremely frustrating for her.

She even landed up at his doorstep but was turned away. He's asked his help to tell her that he wasn't at home. That was the ultimate humiliation."

Also their values and basic morals were constantly clashing. While Priyanka is a non-vegetarian, Shahid is a true blue vegetarian.

He trying to pressure her to follow his life style and dabble with spirituality. But she is too much of party girl to adapt to his ways.

Birthday Bash: It is now being speculated if she will attend Shahid's birthday party on Friday. He's invited everyone and wants to make it a grand affair. But PC has taken off to New York with friends. Right in time to coincide with his bash.

The common friend adds, "Staying away from the country gives a good alibi not to attend his party. She's having a good time on her own and trying to keep her chin up."

PC even attended Lady Gaga's Madison Square Garden concert in NY with some close friends. The chances of her flying down to attend his party are rare. Is it final? While friends say its very unlikely they might patch up, going by their history maybe it's too early for them to sing the blues.

Kareena and Saif go into hiding. Nobody knows where to.

2011-03-01T19:42:00.005+05:00

Go off-grid to spend time weekend together. Nobody's know where to.
PS: Our bet's on the jungles in Madhya Pradesh

She's the busiest actress this with a lineup of films most actresses would kill for but Kareena Kapoor has always made sure that she spends ample time with her family and her love, Saif Ali Khan and her close friends.

Yesterday, she left for an undisclosed destination to be with Saif for a couple of days.

Says a source, "Bebo and the chota nawab are a couple who always make sure that one is there for the other.

While Saif spent Valentine's Day with Kareena and then left in the evening for his Aarakshan shoot in Bhopal, she has now squeezed some time out from her hectic schedule to spend the weekend with him.

She didn't have any dates to spare but was
missing Saif a lot so she asked her business manager Zahid Khan to squeeze out some time.

And this time, Kareena has not told anybody about where she's going."

No media spotlight

The source adds that Saif is a very private person and hates the media spotlight on him every time they go on holiday. "He has strictly forbidden her to tell anyone where they are headed for.

Saif likes to rough it out in the wild so most probably it will be somewhere in the jungles of Madhya Pradesh. Kareena flew down last evening to Bhopal after which the couple drove down to their secret hiding.

She will come back on Sunday night and begin shooting on Monday for an ad film. She shot for two endorsements already this week one for a shampoo ad and the other for an international luggage brand."

Courtesy: Mid-Day.com

Anushka-Ranveer kiss in public, shock guests

2011-03-01T19:42:00.002+05:00

Anushka Sharma and Ranveer Singh go public with their relationship, share liplock at Shahid Kapoor's birthday party, shocking guests

Looks like Anushka Sharma and Ranveer Singh have decided not to hide their relationship anymore. At least that's what their antics at Shahid Kapoor's birthday bash on Saturday night suggests.

The pair, who came together, were holding hands, and had their arms around each other for the better part of the night. Later into the night, they burned up the dance floor together.

There was no doubt in anyone's mind that they are more than "just friends", as they claim. A few glasses of wine later, they threw caution to the wind, and were seen smooching in an uninhibited manner.

Their public displays of affection shocked everyone present, and their devil-may-care attitude was the talk of the town the following morning.

Ek aisa bhi waqt hua karta tha ki...

The pair was last seen together leaving Karan Johar's party at Four Seasons last month. At the time, Anuskha had tried to hide her face from the paparazzi. This time, however, they seemed oblivious to the media, as they were too busy looking into each other's eyes.

US measles outbreak feared after infected woman travels

2011-03-01T14:35:00.002+05:00

CHICAGO: State, local and federal health agencies are working to prevent an outbreak of measles after a woman carrying the contagious infection traveled widely within the United States, federal officials said on Sunday.

The woman contracted the airborne virus in the United Kingdom and arrived in the United States last week, passing through three US airports on her way to New Mexico, where she is believed to reside, said Tom Skinner, a spokesman for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in Atlanta.

"The work is going on to reach those individuals that were sitting in close proximity to the infected person," Skinner said. "We need to reach those that were within five rows in front and five rows behind the infected
person."

The woman, who some media reports have identified as a US resident in her twenties, arrived at Washington Dulles International Airport on Tuesday, February 22, from London.

She then flew to Denver International Airport and ended at Albuquerque International Airport in New Mexico, Skinner said.

The CDC is still looking to see if other infections have occurred in connection to this exposure.

"Measles is a highly contagious disease and for some people it can be pretty serious. So we need reach out to those that are at risk," Skinner said.

In a separate incident, about 180 people have been vaccinated in a Boston office building where another infected woman traveling from France went to work while contagious with measles.

Those infected will experience a fever, runny nose, cough and develop a rash, according to the CDC's website.

Measles is a virus that kills nearly 200,000 people each year around the world and is a leading cause of death among children in the developing world. Those who have had an active measles infection or who have been vaccinated against the measles have immunity to the disease.

In the US and Canada, childhood vaccination reduced the number of measles cases to nearly zero in recent decades, but rates have begun to rise again recently, according to the National Institutes of Health.

More than 130 cases of measles were reported in 15 US states in 2008, the most recent large outbreak in the US, according to the CDC. (Reuters)

Belgium: Wheelchair record fails

2011-03-01T14:34:00.005+05:00

BELGIUM: Dismal weather conditions have prevented a bid by 75 wheelchair-users to set a world record by tugging a Hercules C-130 plane more than 100 metres at Melsbroek military base in Belgium.

After two attempts under heavy skies on Saturday, the participants gave up the challenge, having pulled the military plane over 40 metres along the airstrip.

According to Guinness World Records' rules, they had to drag the Hercules at least 100 metres to claim the world record.

The plane, which was carrying a crane, a crew and a full tank of fuel, weighed 67 tonnes.

The world-record attempt was organised by "Blijf Actief"
("Stay Active"), a Belgian association for disabled people, to show that wheelchair-users are capable of extraordinary feats, if they combine their strength.

Although the participants were disappointed not to have broken the record, they were glad to have taken part.

Anita Verschueren, a resident of Flanders, said the point was that "we are together, we have seen everybody again, and I hope everybody sees that we can do a lot."

Next time, Verschueren said, they would be sure to break the record.

OGRA hikes fuel prices

2011-03-01T14:34:00.002+05:00

The Oil and Gas Regulatory Authority (OGRA) on Monday increased petrol prices by 9.9 percent, reflecting the global rise in oil, the state OGRA said, in a move that could create fresh problems for the government.
The OGRA has increased price of petrol (motor spirit) by Rs 7.23 per litre; Diesel by Rs 7.76 per liter.
Light diesel prices rose by 9.9 percent to 73.21 rupees a litre, an increase of 6.60 rupees.
The increase on Monday saw the price of petrol raised to 80.19 rupees ($0.93) a litre from 72.96 rupees, the OGRA said in a
statement.

Abdul Rehman to miss Canada match

2011-03-01T14:33:00.002+05:00

Abdul Rehman, Pakistan’s left-arm spinner, has been ruled out of World Cup match against Canada on Thursday after suffering a leg injury.
National team manager, Intikhab Alam said that Rehman sprained his leg while fielding in the match against Sri Lanka and had to put on a strapping in order to bowl. It’s an adductor muscle rupture.
“We don’t want to risk Rehman and will wait for him to recover”, said Alam.
Rehman’s absence is likely to mean a chance for
offspinner Saeed Ajmal.
Misbah-ul-Haq has also picked up a minor hamstring strain but isn’t too much of a concern.

Happy Birth Day To You Shahid Afridi – 1st March 2011

2011-03-01T14:28:00.002+05:00

Happy Birthday to Shahid Khan Afridi, its 1st March and its his birthday. May Allah Subhan Wa Ta’Ala bless him with long and perfect life, and also World Cup

Shaid Bahi We all Love U

Sahibzada Mohammad Shahid Khan Afridi (Urdu: صاحبزادہ محمد شاہد خان آفریدی) (born 1 March 1980 in Khyber Agency of the Federally Administered Tribal Areas, Pakistan^[2]), popularly known as Shahid Afridi (Pashto: شاهد ‏افریدی) is a Pakistani cricketer and current One Day International (ODI) and Twenty20 captain of the Pakistani national team in the international circuit. He made his ODI debut on 2 October 1996 againstKenya and his Test debut on 22 October 1998 against Australia.^[3]

He is known for his aggressive batting style, and holds the record for the fastest ODI century which he made in his first international innings, as well as scoring 32 runs in a single over, the second highest scoring over ever in an ODI.^[4] He also holds the distinction of having hit the most number of sixes in the history of ODI cricket.^[5] Afridi considers himself a better bowler than batsman, and has taken 48 Test wickets and over 300 in ODIs. Currently Afridi is the leading wicket taker in the Twenty20 format taking 53 wickets from 41 matches.

In June 2009 Afridi took over the Twenty20 captaincy from Younus Khan, and was later appointed ODI captain for the 2010 Asia Cup. In his first match as ODI captain against Sri Lanka he scored a century however Pakistan still lost by 16 runs. He then also took over the Test captaincy but resigned after one match in charge citing lack of form and ability to play Test cricket; at the same time he announced his retirement from Tests. He retained the captaincy in limited-overs form of the game and led the team in the 2011 World Cup.

Personal information
Full name	Sahibzada Mohammad Shahid Khan Afridi
Born	1 March 1980 (age 30) Khyber Agency, FATA, Pakistan
Nickname	Boom Boom Afridi^[1]
Height	1.8 m (5 ft 11 in)
Batting style	Right-handed
Bowling style	Right arm leg spin
Role	All rounder

Save the shalwar!

2011-02-28T16:59:00.003+05:00

As summer approaches I see colourful billboards everywhere! Skinny models in glam make-up are wrapped in designer fabric – all to impress female consumers. The models wear long qameezes and short ones, baggy shirts and tight ones – what they do not wear are shalwars
.

The traditional shalwar has all but disappeared from the modern silhouette. It has been replaced by the more Western inspired pants, capris, trousers and churidaars. The shalwar suit that was once a cultural icon is now, nowhere to be seen!

The dupatta has met a similar fate. Not so long ago, the dupatta was a cultural symbol worn by Pakistani women and was considered an accessory that was necessary to complete your outfit. Today, it is worn only by a particular segment of society who wear it for “modesty” not for fashion.

Fashion designers scoff at the traditional shalwar and embrace hybrid East meets West outfits which they label ‘shalwar kameez’. But really? Who are they kidding? The latest designs have little to do with the traditional outfit.

Pakistani women rely on fashion designers to make shalwar kameez fun and new – for some reason this mean Western and foreign. Cut off the sleeves! Do away with the dupatta! Who need a shalwar?

Designers have not given the national dress the prestige it deserves.

I won’t lie – my own wardrobe has been updated with new outfits and the shalwar is missing along with traditional kameezes and dupattas. Instead, I have capris and trousers which go well with the baggy shirts which are now referred to as kameezes.

This cultural corruption should not be acceptable. Saris remain popular in India, even though people wear skirts, jeans and trousers there too. Arabian maxis are worn by Arab women in addition to the long abaayas; Malay women prefer to be comfortable wearing silk wrappers along with scarves covering their hair. Multicultural and secular nations give their women the privilege to wear whatever they want – what they don’t permit is cultural exploitation.

New things should not come at the cost of old ones. Let’s save the shalwar, our culture and the livelihood of the poor street guys who once used to sell azaarbands and elastics on streets!

The views expressed by the writer and the reader comments do not necessarily reflect the views and policies of The Express Tribune.

Pakistan’s ‘ad-woman’ stuck in a time warp

2011-02-28T16:58:00.001+05:00

Most ads in Pakistan show women as maids. Their major worries seem to be their family’s health, their complexion, hair and aging skin. All they do is cook, wash and their whole lives revolve around their family. But is this a true reflection of Pakistani women today
?

Gone are the days when men were capricious and women servile. Today, Pakistani women are empowered and active in every arena including government, military and sports. The concept of a joint family is fading in our society and women are (or aspire to be) as independent as men.

But our ads continue to remain stuck in another century. In ads, if a woman is successful she belongs to showbiz or is a doctor. There is no concept of a third successful profession in the world of advertisements. An ad showing a corporate environment will rarely feature a woman.

Advertisers have not broken free from ads which sell the idea of the perfect bahu rather than the brand. Most cooking oil, soap and washing powder brands show women as the sole givers of love and care for the family -they simultaneously do house hold chores and care for their family’s well being. A woman’s role today is so much more than this.

These ads mar the image of Pakistani women. While there are some ads that deserve to be praised for portraying a positive image of the Pakistani woman, they are few in number. A Mobilink ad with Pakistani athlete Naseem Ahmed is one good example. Tapal has also done good work in this regard with their recent ad in which a daughter convinces her reluctant father to allow her to work in a company.

The target market for many of these brands is educated women between the ages of 20-40 years. These women are least likely to relate to the women shown in the ads.

To me, the primary reason that ads are stuck in a time warp is that advertising professionals are reluctant to depict the new Pakistani woman. They still cannot relate to her. Secondly, the male dominated ad industry has resulted in chauvinistic ads. Perhaps, advertisers don’t want to break this stereotype at all.

Facebook posting: Video clip captures mock suicide missions

2011-02-28T16:57:00.001+05:00

A young boy dressed in black bids farewell to other children standing in a queue. The boy, around 12 years old, has his face covered with a black cloth. The children standing in the queue appear to be around four to 10 years of age

After embracing those bidding him farewell, the young boy walks on. A few steps later, a man dressed in white gestures for him to stop. The boy impersonating a suicide bomber lifts his shirt and the man trying to stop him flees the scene. The young boy then proceeds towards a group of three boys, where another boy tosses dust in the air, creating an illusion of smoke, following the ‘pretend’ blast.

The boys then fall to the ground acting as though they were dead. Other boys rush to the scene to help the ‘injured’. A Pashto Jihadi poem blares in the background.

This is how the one-minute-24-second-long video that is making the rounds on Facebook kicks off.

The video was posted on Facebook last week. The person who posted it for the first time, Ahsan Masood, when contacted through Facebook, said he was unsure about the origins of the video. There is no clear indication of where it had been filmed.

Masood, a resident of Tank district, currently living in the UAE, told The Express Tribune that he had uploaded the video on Facebook through a cell phone that belonged to a taxi driver in Ajman.

Masood said that the taxi driver was a Wazir tribesman, but was uncertain whether he belonged to South or North Waziristan.

The video highlights the impact of violence and insurgency on children, and is the first of its kind. It shows that the militancy of the Taliban has scarred the culture of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, going so far as to seep into the games children play with each other.

Adnan Rashid, a resident of Swat told The Express Tribune that Fauji and Talib is a game that is extremely popular with the young ones. Rashid said two of his nieces regularly play a game of ‘curfew and operation’ at home.

Last year, on the eve of Eidul Azha, many children in Peshawar went around impersonating the military and militants on the streets.

World Cup 2011: Why isn’t India prepared?

2011-02-28T16:56:00.001+05:00

If India has one thing to learn from the Commonwealth Games debacle in New Delhi last year, it is to improve organisational skills before hosting a mega event.

And if you think India has learned a thing or two before hosting the ICC Cricket World Cup 2011 to avoid a similar embarrassment, you should think again. Since the start of the tournament, controversy has followed the Indian administrators running the World Cup.

Indian cricket is a gold mine which is as deep as the Earth’s core. Immense fan interest, competitive advertisements and media attention has given it more money than anyone could have imagined. However, if the people in charge are not diligent enough to do their job, it makes the whole event go from magnificent to mediocre in quick time.

As a diehard cricket fan, I was looking forward to the World Cup in India simply because of the hype and buzz created by Indian fans and media. In 2007, I was lucky enough to see a Pakistan vs India match in Mohali so I know how passionate the fans are and how different the atmosphere is from anywhere else in the world. But after a flurry of news reports, I am doubtful about India meeting the expectations.

Unprepared stadiums

India’s most historic and prolific cricket ground Eden Gardens in Kolkata is still under construction and was declared off limits by ICC’s inspection team. This was the first big blow.

Eden Gardens can hold a capacity crowd of up to 90,000 spectators. It is a sight to behold and an experience to remember for all those who are attending any high profile match.

While the ICC is positive now that Eden Gardens will be ready by March, it has lost the important game it was meant to host between India and England. The Kolkata fans have been deprived by their own administrators who failed to meet deadlines.

The Wankhede Cricket Stadium in Mumbai which was scheduled to host the World Cup final has failed the fire safety test. According to the fire chief, there are “numerous loopholes in the newly renovated stadium”.

There is still uncertainty surrounding what will be the outcome of this issue. Another question that needs to be asked is the choice of Mumbai hosting the final. Despite the extended renovations, the stadium is still one of India’s two smallest cricket grounds with a capacity of only 33,000.

This is ridiculously small for a cricket World Cup final by Indian South Asian standards! A country that boasts much bigger and more glorious stadiums, the Wankhede is a mere minnow among giants.

Tickets are for VIPs

If the average fan felt aggrieved about the limited tickets available for general public, their grief was not alleviated when they went online to the official partner’s (KyaZoonga.com) website to purchase tickets.

Only 4,000 seats are being sold to the general public. The remainder is going to the ICC and Mumbai Cricket Association Member’s Club.

Ten minutes after the tickets went up for sale, the website crashed as up to 10 million people were logged on to compete for the 1,000 tickets available online.

I presume the KyaZoonga did not understand the passion for cricket in India and underestimated the hits they would receive. Millions of fans were left frustrated and angry at the handling of tickets for the final.

Cricket fans get beaten

In Bangalore, fans lined up to get their hands on available tickets for the India versus England contest which was originally scheduled to be played in Kolkata.

The stadium in Bangalore can hold 38,000 fans, but only 7,000 tickets were available for the general public, leaving a big question mark over what happened to majority of the tickets.

While former cricketer and board chief Anil Kumble was nowhere to be found, majority of the fans who turned up and waited in line for hours were unable to get their hands on any tickets, while many of them returned home with painful bruises thanks to the police baton charge .

As videos of police brutality become viral on news channels, this questions is rightfully being asked: is this World Cup for VIPs only?

The fiasco in Bangalore finally prompted the ICC to send a letter to BCCI via its legal aide David Becker, expressing concerns over sales and distribution of World Cup tickets. As the ICC faces compensation threats from event sponsors, BCCI (naturally) rejects all blame.

Keeping in view that BCCI is blessed with enough resources to make the impossible happen, the fans should not be compelled to expect anything less.

However, one thing is certain; being filthy rich can’t save you if the people in charge are incompetent. If majority of the tickets for most important games have indeed gone to the VIPs, it is a worrying sign since I don’t think the smug elite of Mumbai or Bangalore will match the passion, intensity and loud cheering of the general public.

After all, it’s the general public that makes most of the noise at cricket matches in the subcontinent.

Let’s hope these matters are resolved and we don’t have to see anymore incidents of mishandling cricket fans. Aside from these organisational problems dogging India since the Commonwealth Games, I think they can still deliver the best World Cup.

Afridi, Pakistan fined for slow overs

2011-02-28T16:55:00.001+05:00

NEW DEHLI: Pakistan captain Shahid Afridi has been fined 20 percent of his match fee and his team mates will lose 10 percent for their slow over rate in Saturday’s 11-run win against Sri Lanka, the ICC said on Sunday.

Match referee Chris Broad imposed the fine after Pakistan were one over short of their target at the end of the match in Colombo when time allowances were taken into consideration, the International Cricket Council said in a statement.
According to the ICC Code of Conduct governing minor over-rate offences, players are fined 10 per cent of their match fees for every over their side fail to bowl in the allotted time while the captain is fined double that amount.
“The penalty was accepted by Pakistan without contest so there was no need for a hearing,” the ICC statement read.
Having beaten Kenya and Sri Lanka, Pakistan take on Canada in their next Group A fixture on Thursday.

10 things I hate about World Cup fever

2011-02-28T16:54:00.000+05:00

1. The hokey advertising. Not only do I have to endure endless matches endlessly playing themselves out on TV, I also get to watch cricketers mock-pensively recall how one bank changed their lives forever.
2. That we bank all our hopes for redemption on the promise of winning the World Cup. Pakistan’s name has been besmirched by ball-biters? That’s ok, a world cup win
will make it better. Corruption in the religious affairs ministry? Don’t worry, that golden cup will save us from ourselves.
3. Cricketers-turned-politicians-turned-team advisors. When they started running political parties we wished they’d go back to playing cricket. Now that they’ve started commenting on team morale-building, we wish they’d go back to politicking.
4. Cricketers-turned- match fixers-turned TV pundits. Just when we thought we didn’t need more Butticisms in our lives, someone decides to try and make the man an expert.
5. The new wave of nationalism. Patriotic fervour will unite the nation for the next month or so, as fundos, liberals, lefties and righties all rally behind the cricket team. The squabble that reignites after the Cup is just another reminder of our comically short-term memories.
6. New room for debate. Rampant cricket fever means that every man has an opinion on the team’s performance, stamina, groin injuries etc — and will not be afraid to express said opinions.
7. If this wasn’t bad enough, religious commentators have jumped on the bandwagon, and will once again claim the team performed poorly because the soles of their sneakers are painted green — the colour of Islam, remember?
8. The social exclusion. If you aren’t a member of the I-love-WorldCup club, your social calendar for the next month will start looking rather bleak. Ah well, more time to huddle up with that anniversary edition of Ballet Mecanique you’ve been meaning to see. Goody.
9. The ebb and flow of self-righteous smugness. If you hate on cricket madness and the team loses a match, you’re in the clear. But if the team wins, you’ll find your narrative quickly collapses, leaving you to eye celebrating fans with jealousy and wistfulness.
10. The anticipation. Not for the win, but for the scandal — because I can just smell the bookies closing in for the kill.

YouTube video of the day: Snowfall in Lahore!

2011-02-28T16:52:00.002+05:00

The weather took a turn for the unexpected when a hailstorm which lasted for nearly half an hour left much of Lahore covered with a layer of ice on Saturday.
The heavy hail, unusual for Lahoris, left most residents of the city astonished by the change in weather. However, many residents took to the street to enjoy the
rare view of a ‘white Lahore’.
This is a video made by one such Lahori while driving around in the Gulberg II area of Lahore. The excitement in the driver’s voice as he comments on the situation and the look on his face shows that, if no one else, at least he found the change in weather to be a welcome happening.
Video Rating: Thumps up for the effort, the excitement and amazing commentary.

Shabana Azmi’s emotional reunion with Faiz’s daughters

2011-02-28T16:42:00.005+05:00

It was a tearful moment for actress Shabana Azmi, as she walked across the Wagah border into Pakistan and had an emotional reunion with famed Pakistani poet Faiz Ahmed Faiz’s two daughters.
Shabana and husband Javed Akhtar went across the border this week along with 10 theatre artists including M.S. Sathyu, Shama Zaidi, Atul Tiwari, Rajendra Gupta and Lubna Arif on an invitation from the Faiz Foundation for the Faiz Ahmed Faiz Centennial.
“Faiz is my most favourite poet of all and even
‘abba’ (father Kaifi Azmi) accepted that without qualms. Faiz’s completed works ‘Saare Sukhan Hamare’ accompanies (me) wherever I go,” she said.
About her indelible bonding with Faiz’s daughters, Shabana says, “Salima and Moneeza Hashmi and I came together because we share a common heritage having been raised as children of the Progressive Writers Movement.”
Shabana made history with Javed by crossing the Wagah border on foot.
“Since I was shooting in Colombo the fastest way of reaching Lahore was across the Wagah border. It was the first time for me. To see India on one side and Pakistan on the other with just a thin line separating the two countries is overwhelming. Faiz’s daughters were waiting on the other side with outstretched arms and garlands of roses. We ran across with open arms and tears flowed down our eyes as we hugged each other. Not a single eye around us was dry,” the actress said.
Shabana wishes that the ill-will between the two countries ends.
“Our fathers (Azmi and Faiz) struggled all their lives for social justice and empowerment of the underprivileged. They dreamed of a harmonious world,” she said.
“Artists can only speak the language of peace and sisterhood because art knows no boundaries. Javed’s song ‘Panchi nadiya pawan ke jhonke koi sarhad na inhe roke’ from the film ‘Refugee’ had never sounded more relevant.
“In Lahore, we were welcomed and feted with all the warmth of Pakistani hospitality. I sang Faiz’s poem ‘Bol’. Javed read a paper and Ila Arun regaled them with Faiz’s song in Rajasthani folk style. And we ate the best food in the world.”
Shabana wants the animosity across the border to end.
“We must encourage people-to-people contact. Today is the time of not only countries but of regions. If the European Union can come together why can’t our subcontinent? We should come together for art and trade and set the agenda for our respective governments – that people in both countries want peace, not enmity. We should have joint ventures in film co-productions. Youth need to make exchange trips.”

Gaddafi unflinching as rebel city fears counter-attack

2011-02-28T16:42:00.002+05:00

Rebels awaited counter-attack by Muammar Gaddafi’s forces on Monday, after the Libyan leader defied calls for him to quit in the hardest-fought of the Arab world’s wave of uprisings so far.
Rebels holding Zawiyah, only 50 km (30 miles) west of Tripoli, said about 2,000 troops loyal to Gaddafi had surrounded the city.
“We will do our best to fight them off. They will attack soon,” said a former police major who switched sides and joined the rebellion. “If we are fighting for freedom, we are
ready to die for it.”
Residents even in parts of the capital have thrown up barricades against government forces. A general in the east of the country, where Gaddafi’s power has evaporated, told Reuters his forces were ready to help rebels in the west.
“Our brothers in Tripoli say: “We are fine so far, we do not need help’. If they ask for help we are ready to move,” said General Ahmed el-Gatrani, one of most senior figures in the mutinous army in Benghazi.
Analysts say they expect rebels to eventually take the capital and kill or capture Gaddafi, but add that he has the firepower to foment chaos or civil war — a prospect he and his sons have warned of.
Monday looked likely to see nervousness in oil markets. NYMEX crude for April delivery was up $1.12 at $99.00 barrel in Globex electronic trading by 2308 GMT on Sunday. Libya only pumps 2 percent of world oil and Saudi Arabia has boosted output, but traders fear turmoil intensifying in the Arab world.

Portman wins best actress Oscar for Black Swan

2011-02-28T16:41:00.005+05:00

Natalie Portman won the Oscar for best actress Sunday night, a credit to her terrifying portrayal of an obsessed, paranoid ballerina in “Black Swan.”
It was Portman’s first win in two nominations and follows her supporting actress nomination for “Closer,” which was made in 2004.
Portman, 29, who lost 20 pounds in the year she prepared for the film, is in the midst of a new transformation — she wore a deep purple off-the-shoulders dress on the red carpet to accommodate her growing baby bump.

In December, Portman and her fiance Benjamin Millepied, the choreographer of “Black Swan,” announced that she was pregnant. They met on the set of the film, a psychological thriller that verges into horror territory, directed by Darren Aronofsky.
Millepied helped her up the steps to the stage of the Kodak Theatre to accept her award. Portman called him “my beautiful love,” who “has now given me my most important role.”
Backstage, the actress said her baby kept her centered amidst the glamour of the award.
“It feels like a protection against all of the hoopla,” she said, adding that she did not know her child’s gender.
“The next dream I have, in terms of a very short term future, is staying in bed and not having to do makeup or hair and keeping my sweats on, relaxing,” she said. “And for my child to be happy and healthy.
Whatever any parent could only wish for.”
Portman had been the heavy favorite to win, having swept the awards season in earlier match-ups such as the Screen Actors Guild Awards when she was up against Annette Bening in the same category.
Bening, 52, did not capitalize on her fourth Oscar nomination for her portrayal of a stern but over-drinking lesbian mother whose partner cheats on her in “The Kids Are All Right.” She has been nominated three times for best actress and once for supporting.
Others nominated for the prize were Nicole Kidman, with her third nomination for playing a bereaved mother in “Rabbit Hole”; Michelle Williams, with her second for a woman whose marriage is on the rocks in “Blue Valentine”; and Jennifer Lawrence, with her first for playing a woman who fights a rural meth-cooking community to save her family in “Winter’s Bone.”

Milan fashion awaits Chinese design boom

2011-02-28T16:41:00.002+05:00

Chinese designers will drive catwalk trends more than deep-pocketed Asian buyers as China’s creativity becomes fashions’ next big thing, top fashion executives and designers said at Milan fashion week.
Chinese newly-rich fueled a record year for sales at luxury goods makers such as LVMH, with designers such as Ralph Lauren, Ermenegildo Zegna and Prada drawing inspiration from oriental prints and crystals to cater to Asian shoppers.
“The next big issue for fashion is not China’s economic boom but Chinese creativity,” Italian trend-setter designer and retailer Elio Fiorucci said on the sidelines of a Dolce and Gabbana show.

“We know little about Chinese sense of beauty. Chinese designers have got talent, they know all about us and they will be the next big surprise,” he said.
China is predicted to become the world’s biggest luxury market with sales of $14.6 billion in the next five years, according to the World Luxury Association.
However, economists say the Chinese economy’s booming growth rate is bound to ease, after capping a decade of expansion at an average annual rate of more than 10.5 percent.
MIDDLE EAST CONCERNS
Mature markets like the United States are recovering after being hit hard by the worst slowdown in decades.
“The U.S. grew more than China in January and February for us,” Versace’s Chief Executive Gian Giacomo Ferraris told Reuters before their womenswear show on Friday.
Swiss luxury group Richemont, British handbag maker Mulberry and Italian leather goods group Tod’s are all optimistic about 2011.
But political turmoil in the Middle East, a key emerging market, could weigh on the sector, Roberto Cavalli Chief Executive Gianluca Brozzetti said.
“The first months were positive, but we can’t drop our guard,” Brozzetti said at the Florentine designer’s show. “We are all seeing what is happening in the Middle East,” he said.
Cavalli reported revenues of 176.2 million euros ($242 million) in 2010, down 6 percent on lower license royalties, but retail sales grew 28 percent as customers were back in stores.
“Beyond China? India and Latin America coud be even bigger markets, but they should cut their custom duty,” Brozzetti said.
Brozzetti said Chinese designers have creativity but not enough economic power to compete with established brands.
“Their culture and creativity will certainly be appreciated in the West,” he said. “But it will take time.”

Petroleum dealers announced to end strike in Karachi

2011-02-28T16:40:00.002+05:00

Abdul Sami Khan, the president of Petroleum Dealers Association, on Monday announced to end the ongoing strike.
The delegation of Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) met with Petroleum Dealers in Karachi. During the meeting, the senior leader of MQM, Farooq Sattar talked with Abdul Sami Khan on telephone.
President of Petroleum Dealers Association, Abdul Sami said during talking to media that Farooq Sattar ensured to discuss the issues with federal government.
Earlier, hundreds of people staged protest against the closure of petrol pumps in different areas of Karachi.

Several petrol pumps were closed on the call of Petroleum Dealers Association in the commercial hub.
People protested against the unavailability of petrol and blocked roads in various areas including Gulistan-Jauhar and Liaquatabad.
Hundreds of motorcyclists on main arteries of Karachi, including M A Jinnah Road and Sharahe-Faisal, faced a nightmarish situation, when their bikes ran out of petrol due to crawling for hours in one of the worst traffic jams of the history of Karachi.

Stars gather as 'King's Speech' eyes Oscars crown

2011-02-27T22:23:00.005+05:00

HOLLYWOOD: British royal drama "The King's Speech" got another boost on the eve of what supporters hope will be its Oscars coronation Sunday, as stars gather for the climax of Tinsel Town's annual awards season.

The movie, nominated for 12 Academy Awards including best picture and best actor for Colin Firth, won best foreign film at the Spirit independent movie awards, barely 24 hours before the main Hollywood show.

Ballet thriller "Black Swan," nominated for five Oscars, won best film at the Spirits as well as best actress for Natalie Portman -- who is frontrunner in that category on Sunday.

With less than 24 hours to go before the annual awards mega-bash, stars were fine-tuning their acceptance speeches -- fingers crossed -- and
preparing to don their gowns and tuxedos for the Oscars red carpet.

While "The King's Speech" is the frontrunner, no one is taking anything for granted as rivals including Facebook movie "The Social Network," classic Western remake "True Grit" and boxing movie "The Fighter" vie for Oscars glory.

That said, Firth is considered all but certain to be named best actor for his portrayal of Britain's King George VI, helped by Australian voice coach Lionel Logue -- played by Geoffrey Rush -- to overcome his crippling stammer.

David Fincher could well be named best director for "The Social Network," which tells the story of how Mark Zuckerberg created the game-changing website from a controversial start while a Harvard student, some critics say.

"The Social Network" started the awards season as favorite, taking four Golden Globes in January. But the British royal film has since swept up a series of prizes, in the US as well as at Britain's BAFTAs.

On Sunday the 10-strong shortlist for best film also includes hi-tech thriller "Inception," "127 Hours" -- about a hiker forced to amputate his own arm -- and "Toy Story 3," widely tipped as best animated feature.

Others hoping for a touch of Oscars gold include Britain's elusive graffiti artist Banksy, whose film "Exit Through the Gift Shop" is nominated for best documentary Oscar. The movie won the Spirit awards prize Saturday.

The best foreign film contest is between Mexico's "Biutiful" -- whose star Javier Bardem is also up for best actor -- "Dogtooth" from Greece, Denmark's "In a Better World," "Incendies" from Canada and Algeria's "Outside the Law."

Actors James Franco and Anne Hathaway will host the Oscars show, while organizers this week released more details of who will present awards, the latest including Helen Mirren, Bardem, Mila Kunis and Amy Adams.

The Oscars weekend also provides an excuse for endless festivities, ranging from Elton John's traditional bash in west Hollywood to one reportedly co-hosted by Madonna and Demi Moore.

Once the big show is over, the real fun starts: Oscars after parties -- and after parties -- go on well into Monday, as Hollywood recovers from its annual awards season binge.

Before that, though, some of the Hollywood's finest were preparing to cringe Saturday night when the traditional Golden Raspberry Awards -- or Razzies -- were to be revealed.

Stars including Jennifer Aniston, Ashton Kutcher, Robert Pattinson, Miley Cyrus and Barbra Streisand are on the shortlist for the Razzies, billed as "saluting the worst that Hollywood has to offer each year."(AFP)

Fox enjoys high life on Britain's tallest tower

2011-02-27T22:23:00.002+05:00

LONDON: A death-defying fox clambered up Britain's tallest skyscraper and lived the high life on the 72nd floor of the tower in central London for nearly two weeks, officials revealed.

The intrepid animal climbed to the top of the Shard, which is more than 288 metres (945 feet) high and still under construction, where it enjoyed panoramic views over the British capital and lived off builders' scraps.

It managed to outfox its captors for almost a fortnight until February 17 when it was finally put into a cage and brought down from the tower, which will be the tallest skyscraper in Europe when it is complete.

It is believed the fox climbed up the building's central stairwell.

The fox, dubbed "Romeo" by his rescuers, was
caught by a local authority pest control team and taken to an animal rescue centre on the outskirts of London, said officials from Southwark Council in central London.

After a medical check-up, he was found to be unhurt and was released back into the neighbourhood surrounding the tower, close to his den and family.

"We were delighted to find that Romeo was in good health other than for the fact that he clearly hadn't found quite enough to live on," said Ted Burden, founder of the Riverside Animal Centre.

"We gave him a thorough medical, a few good meals and explained to him that if foxes were meant to be 72 storeys off the ground, they would have evolved wings."

Following his release, the fox simply "glanced at the Shard and then trotted off in the other direction," added Burden.(AFP)

Tea improves brain power, alertness

2011-02-27T22:22:00.002+05:00

AMSTERDAM: Natural ingredients found in a cup of tea can improve brain power and increase alertness, according to the latest study.

Researchers looked at the effect of key chemicals found in tea on the mental performance of 44 young volunteers.

The effects of these ingredients, an amino acid called L-theanine – which is also found in green tea – and caffeine at levels typically found in a cup of tea, were compared with a dummy treatment.

The active ingredients significantly improved accuracy across a number of switching tasks for those who drank the tea after 20 and 70 minutes, compared with the placebo
.

The tea drinkers’ alertness was also heightened, the study found.

Tea was also found to reduced tiredness, according to the Dutch researchers reporting on their findings in the journal Nutritional Neuroscience.

Imran wants Younis, Misbah to bat at 3-4 spots

2011-02-27T22:12:00.002+05:00

The former Pakistan Captain Imran Khan believed that experienced batting duo of Younis Khan and Misbah-ul-Haq should bat at number three and four spots in ongoing Cricket World Cup (CWC) would be more fruitful and benefitting.
“Younis and Misbah are our best Pakistan batsmen and should bat up in the top order instead of batting in a crisis situation down,” he told a private Television Channel in his comments. Younis and Misbah have to bat under pressure situation if wickets fell early,” he said.
“War is always fought from the front and we
should use our best batman upfront for the job,” he said. We must set-up our batting order right for better batting show,” he said.
“I am surprised that why Younis and Misbah were kept away from cricket for quite some time. It did a great harm and damage to Pakistan cricket,” he said.
He said Kamran Akmal can bat at the top if he shows consistency. However he described his keeping against Sri Lanka as horrible. Despite vital lapses Pakistan team was lucky to win close the game,” he said.
Imran Khan under whom Pakistan won the 1992 World Cup at Melbourne complimented Pakistan’s 11-run victory over Sri Lanka in the second league round. However he said the real competition starts from the quarterfinals.
“Pakistan will easily reach the quarterfinals. But real competition starts from the knock-out round. You can afford mistakes in league matches but pressure in knock-out stage will altogether different and a small mistake can prove fatal,” he commented.
Cricketer-turn Politician, Imran Khan was of the view that pressure situation starts from the quarterfinals and Shahid Afridi led Pakistan team must prepare themselves to handle the pressure. Without handling pressure Pakistan team can not succeed.
He said this World Cup open and any of six teams are capable of winning it. “You can afford mistakes in league matches but teams can not afford mistake from the quarterfinal round,” he pointed out. Teams having killers’ instinct will ultimately emerge winner in this World Cup,” he added.
Another former Pakistan Captain Wasim Akram lauded the triumph at the home of Sri Lankan cricket. “I enjoyed the Pakistan win infront of the packed R.Premadasa Stadium, who played a vital role in 1992 World Cup and lead Pakistan in 1999 World Cup in England, said.
He credited Shahid Afridi for his outstanding bowling show after taking five wickets in the opening game against Kenya. Afridi also completed the 300 wicket during the match.
Wasim Akram expressed his surprise over none inclusion of off-break bowler Saeed Ajmal in the team. “Saeed could have proved dangerous against Sri Lankan left handed batsmen,” he stressed.
But Imran Khan and Wasim Akram were of the view that both spinners Abdur Rehman and Saeed Ajmal should have be inducted in the playing XI against Sri Lanka.
“I am surprised at the bowling of Umer Gul. He did not bowl a single slower delivery during the match,” he remarked.
Former Indian Opener Novjot Sidhu while praising Pakistan’s fighting show added like always Pakistan is consistent with their surprised inconsistencies.

BREAKING NEWS: England and India play out an epic tie at Bangalore. India remain top of Group B

2011-02-27T22:10:00.000+05:00

India 338 (49.5 ov)

England 338/8 (50.0 ov)

Match tied

England RR 6.76
Last 5 ovs 51/3 RR 10.20
India RR (6.78) 6.76

Refresh scorecard

Current time: 22:38 local, 17:08 GMT

ODI career

Batsmen

Runs

This bowler

Last 5 ovs

Mat

Runs

Ave

*Graeme Swann(rhb)

166.66

8 (6b)

15 (9b)

314

13.08

Ajmal Shahzad(rhb)

300.00

6 (2b)

7.60

Bowlers

Econ

This spell

Mat

Wkts

BBI

Econ

*Munaf Patel(rmf)

10.0

7.00

2-0-17-1

4/29

4.83

Piyush Chawla(lb)

10.0

7.10

1-0-15-1

4/23

5.05

Recent overs 1 1 2 1^lb 2 1 | 1 1 W 1 1 1 | . 6 1 2 6 W | 2 1 6 1^b 2 1

Current partnership 13 runs, 1.0 overs, RR: 13.00 (Swann 6, Shahzad 6)

Last Bat TT Bresnan b Chawla 14 (9b 0x4 1x6) SR: 155.55

Fall of wicket: 325/8 (48.6 ov); Partnership: 18 runs, 1.3 overs, RR: 12.00 (Swann 9, Bresnan 9)

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Umpire reviews remaining England 1 (0 successful, 1 unsuccessful); India 1 (0 successful, 1 unsuccessful)

End of over 50 (13 runs) England 338/8 (1 run required from 0 balls, RR: 6.76)

GP Swann		15* (9b 1x6)		MM Patel		10-0-70-2
A Shahzad		6* (2b 1x6)		PP Chawla		10-0-71-2

Match tied Well well well. Zaheer pretty much got India back into that match on his own but it was his short run from the last ball of India's innings that has ended up costing them the match!

49.6

Patel to Swann, 1 run, It's a tie! 100 overs of scintillating ODI cricket and the scores are level! That's what World Cup cricket is about! Swann drives hard as Munaf finds a perfect line and length, hit it cleanly but straight to mid-off.

49.5

Patel to Swann, 2 runs, Swann miles down the track, wants the boundary to finish it but finds an inside edge. Manic running and slow fielding have him back for a second. One to tie, but two for a famous, unbelievable win

49.4

Patel to Shahzad, 1 bye, Shahzad misses outside off but Swann has called through for a bye! Nearly there now. Oh Shahzad what a ripper!

49.3

Patel to Shahzad, SIX, Strauss is on his feet, Swann is screaming! What a shot from Shahzad! So clean! Just got his front leg out the way, got the half-volley he wanted and murdered it straight down the ground for six!

49.2

Patel to Swann, 1 run, wonderful stuff from Munaf, perfect slower ball, nothing for Swann to work with and he can only outside edge to third man. Shahzad hits a long ball though...

49.1

Patel to Swann, 2 runs, Swann gives himself room outside off to drive towards cover, doesn't get the boundary he needs but a misfield allows him to keep the strike

So, after 99 overs England need 14 to pull off a historic victory. India favourites, Munaf to bowl it...

End of over 49 (15 runs) England 325/8 (14 runs required from 6 balls, RR: 6.63, RRR: 14.00)

				PP Chawla		10-0-71-2
GP Swann		9* (5b 1x6)		MM Patel		9-0-58-2

48.6

Chawla to Bresnan, OUT, Chawla strikes back! One way and another this match is going! Bresnan tried again to to find the boundary, he had to, but it's quicker and flatter and through him onto off stump

TT Bresnan b Chawla 14 (9b 0x4 1x6) SR: 155.55

48.5

Chawla to Bresnan, SIX, Bresnan has nailed this! Not another twist, surely! Down one knee, clearing his front leg and thrashing the life out of it, to send it rocketing over midwicket once more

48.4

Chawla to Bresnan, 2 runs, ooh, Bresnan trying to match Swann but can't quite time it as well. Pressure on though and a misfield allows him to come back for a second

48.3

Chawla to Swann, 1 run, Swann down the wicket now to try and swing a similar shot, this one skews off the leading edge and looped towards third man on the bounce

48.2

Chawla to Swann, SIX, absolute silence as Swann is on the sweep again. This time getting all of it and it shoots flat, hard over the midwicket rope!

48.1

Chawla to Swann, no run, big slog sweep attempted, but Swann only finds fresh air

Righty, Chawla on. Now or never. I suspect the latter.

End of over 48 (5 runs) England 310/7 (29 runs required from 12 balls, RR: 6.45, RRR: 14.50)

GP Swann		2* (2b)		MM Patel		9-0-58-2
TT Bresnan		6* (6b)		Z Khan		10-0-64-3

47.6

Patel to Swann, 1 run, lovely slower ball from Munaf. Saw Swann advancing, slipped it in slower, Swann ended up pushing back to him and there could well have been a run out but Munaf opted not to shy at the stumps

47.5

Patel to Bresnan, 1 run, Bresnan heaving but just can't get the timing or elevation to drag England back into this

47.4

Patel to Swann, 1 run, more canny work from Munaf, full and straight, Swann times his drive nicely but all along the ground to the long-off fielder

Graeme Swann is the new man. Tough day he's had.

47.3

Patel to Yardy, OUT, Yardy is out, and England must be as well now. Strauss has his head in his hand, he deserved more. Yardy tried to flip this over short fine leg but couldn't get enough on the slower ball and it spooned straight to the man

MH Yardy c Sehwag b Patel 13 (10b 1x4 0x6) SR: 130.00

47.2

Patel to Bresnan, 1 run, Munaf is full and straight, you know what you'll get and Dhoni has set the field for it. Try as he did, Bresnan heaving through the line can only earn a single down the ground

47.1

Patel to Yardy, 1 run, Yardy looking for something expansive but only finds a thickish edge that runs away to third man. Somehow a boundary has got to come

Munaf now into the attack, he's canny but this has to England's target.

End of over 47 (8 runs) England 305/6 (34 runs required from 18 balls, RR: 6.48, RRR: 11.33)

MH Yardy		12* (8b 1x4)		Z Khan		10-0-64-3
TT Bresnan		4* (4b)		Harbhajan Singh		10-0-58-1

46.6

Khan to Yardy, 1 run, ooh, top fielding at point saves four here. Yardy squeezed out a fullish ball and timed it well but diving fielding prevented damage. What a Powerplay for India, just 25 runs and four,four wickets. Zaheer's work is done.

Zaheer Kahn is now trending on Twitter. He's be thrilled I'm sure...

46.5

Khan to Yardy, 2 runs, Yardy playing this nicely, slicing out to deep point. Hares back for a second but England need boundaries soon

46.4

Khan to Bresnan, 1 leg bye, another slower ball but Bresnan doesn't pick this. Swings again, but too early on the shot and it bobbles off the arm

46.3

Khan to Bresnan, 2 runs, Bresnan still believes, he's had such a good game. Sees a slower ball and slugs it around the corner, scampering hard for a second

A stunning effort from Yahya Firoze: u knw how i said world cup dreams are dead our bowling is too weak! in need of a miraculous streak, i take it back cuz we still got zak!

46.2

Khan to Yardy, 1 run, Yardy needed more from that, really misdirected, fired down the leg side, but Yardy couldn't get much bat on it and it dribbled out to Harbhajan at fine leg

46.1

Khan to Bresnan, 1 run, Bresnan clears his front leg and tries to pierce the offside ring, swings hard but without much timing and can only find a single to mid-off

Here is Zaheer to finish off. Looks like a matchwinning spell, will it be?