Brazil have World Cup work to finish Monday

RIO DE JANEIRO: The World Cup groups enter their sudden death phase on Monday with Brazil still having work to do against Cameroon at 1am PST (Tuesday) to qualify for the last 16 while Netherlands and Chile battle for pole position at 9pm PST.

Group A will be finished when Brazil play Cameroon in Brasilia, while simultaneously Croatia play Mexico in Recife at 1am PST (Tuesday)

Netherlands play Chile in Sao Paulo to see who wins Group B at 9pm PST -- both have already qualified. At the same time, Australia take on Spain in Curitiba in a match of honour.

Swiss man breaks world record for 8,000m jump without oxygen

GENEVA: A Swiss man set a new world record on Sunday when he leapt from a hot-air balloon from an altitude of 8,000 metres (26,200 feet) without oxygen, the ATS news agency reported.

Remo Lang, 38, threw himself out of the balloon early in the morning and landed around 10 minutes later at Aarberg, in the Berne canton of Switzerland. Wearing a "wingsuit", his freefall lasted five minutes.

Lang´s team said he prepared himself for the jump by taking in oxygen from a tank intensively for half an hour before the stunt. (AFP)

World media bodies, rights watchdog slam Geo’s closure

WASHINGTON/PARIS/ISLAMABAD: Rights watchdog Amnesty International and international media organisations on Friday condemned the suspension of Geo News licence by the Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (Pemra) and termed it politically-motivated and an attack on the freedom of press.

The New York-based Committee to Protect Journalists condemned the Pemra’s decision and termed it politically motivated and against the commitments made to it by the Nawaz government. “We are troubled by the decision by Pakistan’s regulator to suspend the Geo News’ licence,” said CPJ Executive Director Joel Simon.

“The move to shut down one of Pakistan’s largest media outlets is short-sighted and politically motivated and runs counter to the spirit of commitments Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif made to the CPJ,” the CJO statement said.

A CPJ delegation met with Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif in April and secured commitments to combat risks to journalists in Pakistan. Other US-based news organisations also expressed their shock and decried the Pemra decision.

Reporters Without Borders condemned Friday’s decision by the Pemra to suspend all broadcasting by the Geo News for 15 days.

The decision was taken in response to a Defence Ministry’s complaint to Pemra, accusing Geo News of waging a “vicious campaign, libelous and scandalous in nature” after its star talk show presenter Hamid Mir was badly injured in a targeted shooting on 19th April.

“Suspending a TV station’s licence is a grave violation of freedom of information especially when it is the country’s leading news channel,” Reporters Without Borders said.

The suspension follows a major smear campaign against Geo News that began after it broadcast claims that the intelligence agencies were behind the attack on Mir. Both the defence ministry and the Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) responded by accusing the Geo News of being “anti-state.”

On 20th May, several Pemra members ordered the closure of Geo News and two of its sister channels, Geo Tez and Geo Entertainment, and the withdrawal of their licences, but they were immediately overruled by other Pemra members.

Amnesty International said the Pakistan government’s suspension of Geo TV, the country’s largest private broadcaster, was a politically motivated attack on the freedom of expression and the media.

“The suspension of Geo TV is a serious attack on press freedom in Pakistan. It is the latest act in an organised campaign of harassment and intimidation targeting the network on account of its perceived bias against the military,” said Amnesty International’s Asia Director Richard Bennett in a statement on Friday.

“The Pakistani authorities must immediately reverse this ban. If there are concerns about the content of Geo TV broadcasts, the authorities should address this in line with international human rights standards – not simply move to silence a critical voice.

“The suspension of Geo TV sadly fits an all too familiar pattern in Pakistan. State authorities and other political actors use any means they can to silence critical reporting, from the use of anti-state and anti-religion provisions of the law to physical attacks and violence,” said Richard Bennett.

In a report released on 30 April, Amnesty International documented how media workers in Pakistan live under the constant threat of harassment, violence and killings from a range of state and non-state actors.

Several Jang Media Group journalists have told the Amnesty International that they have received daily threats and harassment by unknown individuals by phone and in person.Many said they dare not enter their offices or identify themselves as belonging to Geo TV or other Jang Media Group outlets for fear of being attacked.“Pakistan’s vibrant media scene deserves better protection, and journalists must be able to carry out their legitimate work without fear or interference,” said Richard Bennett.

Aussies make successful start to World Cup title defense

HAGUE: Title defenders Australia have started their hockey World Cup campaign in the Netherlands with a 4-0 win over Malaysia in the opening match on Saturday.

Playing in The Hague, Glenn Turner put the Kookaburras ahead in the 25th minute before three goals in a four-minute spell in the second.

Eddie Ockenden doubled the lead on 50 minutes and Jamie Dwyer put his name on the score sheet a couple of minutes later.

Turner added his second goal when converting a penalty corner to extend the lead to 4-0.

Later on Saturday, Belgium will take on India with England playing Spain in the men's competition.

World media body warns of taking Geo issue to UN, EU

 

PARIS: International organisation Reporters Without Borders has expressed grave concern over the illegal closure of Geo TV in different cities of Pakistan, warning that if the Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (Pemra) did not stop unilateral action against Jang and Geo, they would raise the issue at the United Nations (UN) and the European Union (EU).
The Reporters Without Borders Asia Desk in-charge has said that a remedy must be found to counter the dangers faced by the staff of Jang and Geo.

“In our view, the prime minister and the government must take some solid steps to provide protection to journalists. We have already reacted to the notice issued by Pemra to Geo,” he said.

In an interview with this correspondent in Paris, he said, “In Pakistan there are laws and an authority to regulate the media and they should work in accordance with the prescribed rules, and the rules should be implemented in accordance with democratic principles. It is totally against principles if five members of Pemra recommend the closure of Jang and Geo. Moreover, it is never commendable to threaten the media on one pretext or the other. We are reviewing the situation in the wake of pressure on Geo and the Jang Group from different angles.”

He said: “It is more than one month but no progress seems to have been made in the assassination bid on senior anchorperson Hamid Mir. People should be kept on board in this connection. We are waiting for the report of the commission in this regard.”

He said that he was confident that the Supreme Court would provide justice to Jang and Geo. He said that they were much concerned with the situation.

Jedinak named Australia´s World Cup captain

SYDNEY: Crystal Palace midfielder Mile Jedinak was Wednesday named captain of Australia´s World Cup squad following the axing of Lucas Neill.He will be backed by vice-captains Tim Cahill and Mark Bresciano.

"It is a privileged position and an accolade he richly deserves after the incredible job he has done at Crystal Palace in the toughest club competition in world football -- the English Premier League," coach Ange Postecoglou said.

"Mile Jedinak embodies everything that is great about Australian football and Australia as a nation.

"He has risen to the top of world football and done it the hard way from humble beginnings where he has battled and believed in himself to overcome the odds with an enormous work ethic and passion for what he does.

"I have no doubt he will lead the team with distinction in Brazil and we will have two of our greatest-ever football players in Tim Cahill and Mark Bresciano giving the team what I believe is strong leadership."

His promotion comes after Neill, who played for Australia 96 times and captained the side on 60 occasions, was dumped from the squad with Postecoglou saying the 36-year-old did not have the form or fitness to justify going to Brazil.

Australia are taking an inexperienced group to the tournament following the recent international retirements of goalkeeper Mark Schwarzer, forward Harry Kewell and midfielders Brett Emerton and Brett Holman.

Their provisional 30-man squad features 10 locally based players, two uncapped, 19 with 10 caps or fewer and with an average age of just 25.5 as Australia face world champions Spain, runners-up Holland and Chile in Group B.

Jedinak, who is struggling with a groin strain he picked up in Crystal Palace´s final game of the season, said he was honoured to be made captain.

"To be handed the responsibility of captaining my country at the World Cup is humbling, yet incredibly exciting," he said. "Just pulling the Socceroo shirt on fills me with pride but to be leading out my country and these players at the World Cup on behalf of all Australians is special."

He follows Peter Wilson (1974), Mark Viduka (2006) and Neill (2010) as Australians who have captained the Socceroos at the world´s biggest football tournament. (AFP)

Selby beats O´Sullivan to win World Championship

SHEFFIELD, United Kingdom: Mark Selby beat two-time defending champion Ronnie O´Sullivan 18-14 in the World Championship final at Sheffield´s Crucible Theatre on Monday.

Victory in the all-English clash saw Selby, who was 10-5 down, win his first world title after losing in the 2007 final.

For O´Sullivan, a five-time world champion in all, this was his first defeat in snooker´s showpiece match.

Selby sealed victory in an often gruelling contest by holding his nerve to clear all the colours in the 32nd frame.

This success for Selby, now the new world number one, saw him avoid an unwanted hat-trick of defeats in the finals of snooker´s three major tournaments this season, having lost to Australia´s Neil Robertson --- the man he defeated in his Crucible semi-final -- in the climax of the UK Championship and going down 10-4 to O´Sullivan at the culmination of the Masters.

Selby is renowned as one of the grittiest players on the professional circuit and showed his match-toughness as he came from 8-3 and then 10-5 down on Sunday.

Trailing 10-7 overnight, he won Monday´s first three frames and squared the match at 10-10 with a break of 74. O´Sullivan was well short of the form that sees him routinely described as the most naturally talented player top-class snooker has known.

´The Rocket´ missed what would have been a frame-winning pink to the middle pocket, his power pot rattling the jaws before bouncing out and Selby, showing plenty of composure, made the most of his chance to go 12-11 ahead leading into the concluding session.

The interval gave O´Sullivan the chance to consult with sports psychiatrist Dr Steve Peters, whom he credits for revitalising his career, but it was Selby who proved the stronger come the finish. (AFP)

Nigeria promises adequate security for World Economic Forum

Nigeria on Friday assured that it will provide adequate security arrangements during the World Economic Forum on Africa, which begins May 7 in Abuja.

The government would provide adequate security for participants, Minister of Finance Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala told a news conference in Abuja, the country’s capiotal, Xinhua reported.

His remark came after some countries expressed concern over security issues, following a blast in Abuja, which left at least 19 people dead.

Ms. Okonjo-Iweala said President Goodluck Jonathan would make a statement on the forum and security issues shortly.

“I think that by the time we hear some of the security measures that the president is going to announce, we will see that we calm the nerves of those who are proposing to come,” she added

Robertson moves into world quarter-finals

SHEFFIELD, United Kingdom: Australia´s Neil Robertson booked his place in the quarter-finals of this year´s World Championships with a 13-7 win over Mark Allen on Monday only to barely miss out on a notable landmark.

The world number one was left stranded on 99 competitive century breaks for the season, with Robertson still one shy of becoming the first man to compile 100 hundreds in a single tour campaign.

Melbourne-born Robertson, the 2010 world champion, resumed with an overnight 9-7 lead and then made breaks of 59 and 69 to pull further in front against his Northern Irish opponent.

Remarkably, Robertson succumbed to something akin to cricket´s ´nervous nineties´ in the next two frames when he missed pots after recording breaks of 94 and 92 respectively, although both those efforts were more than enough to be frame-winners.

Seven-time world champion Stephen Hendry was in the commentary box and Robertson, who long ago surpassed Judd Trump´s record of 63 hundreds in a tour season, was disappointed not to have reached his 100th century in front of the Scottish snooker great.

Robertson will play Trump in the last eight after the Englishman defeated Wales´s Ryan Day 13-7.

Former champion Shaun Murphy will take on title-holder Ronnie O´Sullivan in the last eight after completing a 13-8 win over Hong Kong´s Marco Fu.Resuming at 9-7, 2005 world champion Murphy won the first three frames of Monday´s evening session before Fu halted his chance with a break of 92 only for the Englishman to win the next and set up a clash with O´Sullivan, bidding for a sixth world title.

Earlier on Monday, Wales´s Dominic Dale took the frame he needed to secure a 13-4 win over Michael Wasley, the shock first-round conqueror of China´s Ding Junhui.Dale will play Barry Hawkins, last year´s losing finalist, in the quarter-finals, with the remaining last-eight tie seeing veteran Alan McManus up against Mark Selby. (AFP)

Robertson moves into world quarter-finals

SHEFFIELD, United Kingdom: Australia´s Neil Robertson booked his place in the quarter-finals of this year´s World Championships with a 13-7 win over Mark Allen on Monday only to barely miss out on a notable landmark.

The world number one was left stranded on 99 competitive century breaks for the season, with Robertson still one shy of becoming the first man to compile 100 hundreds in a single tour campaign.

Melbourne-born Robertson, the 2010 world champion, resumed with an overnight 9-7 lead and then made breaks of 59 and 69 to pull further in front against his Northern Irish opponent.

Remarkably, Robertson succumbed to something akin to cricket´s ´nervous nineties´ in the next two frames when he missed pots after recording breaks of 94 and 92 respectively, although both those efforts were more than enough to be frame-winners.

Seven-time world champion Stephen Hendry was in the commentary box and Robertson, who long ago surpassed Judd Trump´s record of 63 hundreds in a tour season, was disappointed not to have reached his 100th century in front of the Scottish snooker great.

Robertson will play Trump in the last eight after the Englishman defeated Wales´s Ryan Day 13-7.

Former champion Shaun Murphy will take on title-holder Ronnie O´Sullivan in the last eight after completing a 13-8 win over Hong Kong´s Marco Fu.Resuming at 9-7, 2005 world champion Murphy won the first three frames of Monday´s evening session before Fu halted his chance with a break of 92 only for the Englishman to win the next and set up a clash with O´Sullivan, bidding for a sixth world title.

Earlier on Monday, Wales´s Dominic Dale took the frame he needed to secure a 13-4 win over Michael Wasley, the shock first-round conqueror of China´s Ding Junhui.Dale will play Barry Hawkins, last year´s losing finalist, in the quarter-finals, with the remaining last-eight tie seeing veteran Alan McManus up against Mark Selby. (AFP)

World Bank lauds Pakistan

WASHINGTON: The World Bank has forecast fair growth in Pakistan’s economy if domestic challenges are met. In its report released early Wednesday, the bank predicted that Pakistan’s economic growth could increase to 4 percent this year.

Pakistan sells $2 bn bonds in world market

 

ISLAMABAD: After seven years, Pakistan made a historic return to the international bond market with a US dollar denominated dual tranche offering, aggregating $2 billion, raising $1 billion each in five-year and 10-year terms.
The transaction represents the largest-ever international bond offering by Pakistan, the Ministry of Finance spokesman disclosed on Wednesday.A source said it was heavily over-subscribed with the offering ranging between $5 to $7 billion but only $2 billion was accepted.

The spokesman said that against the initial expectations of raising $500 million, the investor response was overwhelmingly strong and the order-books were oversubscribed across the two tranches, consisting of over 400 orders from high quality investors.

The five-year bonds were distributed across all major geographic regions: 59pc in the US, 19pc in the UK, 10pc in Europe, 10pc in Asia and 2pc in others. Fund managers took 84pc of the five-year issue, banks 8pc, hedge funds 7pc, insurance company/ pension funds 1pc.

The 10-year bonds were distributed as: 61pc in the US, 21pc in the UK, 12pc in Europe, 5pc in Asia and the Middle East and 1pc in other regions. Fund managers took 86pc of the 10-year issue, hedge funds 9pc, banks 4pc, insurance company/ pension funds 1pc.

The Government of Pakistan conducted extensive global roadshows with two teams covering key financial centres. A team headed by the finance minister visited Dubai, London and New York and another team headed by the finance secretary visited Singapore, Hong Kong, Los Angeles, San Francisco and Boston. The Pakistan government delegations met directly with a cross-section of several institutional fixed-income investors during the four days of roadshows. The teams updated the investors on the recent trends in the Pakistani economy, the government’s reforms agenda and key priorities.

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif has expressed his appreciation at the return of Pakistan to the international bond market and congratulated the finance minister and his economic team for attaining another milestone, says a press release.

The premier stated that re-emergence of Pakistan in the international market showed that the prudent and focused economic policies of the government were now proving successful. He added that this success also reflected the confidence of the international economic forces and institutions in the economic stability and strength of Pakistan.

He said it also proved that the economic wisdom and acumen of the government had finally won the confidence of international investors. The prime minister further added that achieving economic independence and progression was his government’s top priority and with current successes, the way ahead was clear, which would lead to prosperity and development of the country.

Reuters adds: Pakistan marketed $1 billion of five-year notes at a yield of 7.25 percent and $1 billion of 10-year securities at 8.25 percent, said an official requesting not to be named as the figures would not be officially released until today (Thursday).

Three more polio cases in NWA on World Health Day

PESHAWAR: As World Health Day was being marked on Monday, three new polio cases were reported from North Waziristan Agency (NWA) that took the number of detected polio cases in Pakistan to 43 this year.

According to sources in the Prime Minister’s Polio Monitoring and Coordination Cell, laboratory confirmed wild poliovirus (type-1) in the tribal agency wracked by Taliban-led militancy. Poliovirus has turned endemic in North Waziristan Agency as this year alone 33 cases of polio (76.7percent of total) were detected in the agency. Three cases this year have already been reported from the neighbouring Bannu district of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. This situation has been hobbling government efforts to purge the country of the disease.

The sources said that a 34-month-old Bushra, daughter of Noor Ali Khan, was confirmed with the poliovirus. Belonging to Mami Rogha village Manzarkhel in tehsil Miranshah, she got her leg paralysed on March 20 and laboratory test confirmed her with poliovirus.

Ashiqullah, son of Noor Badshah, who ages 12 months, had onset of paralysis on March 14. The child’s family comes from Spalgai, village Borakhel Sir Kot in tehsil Miranshah. Another 11-month-old Abuless son of Allah Dar Khan, whose paralysis started on March 19, was also confirmed to have afflicted by the poliovirus. He belongs to Saidgai, village Dewagor Saidgai in tehsil Miranshah.

Two of the victims are boys and one girl. The new polio detections increased the number of polio cases in Pakistan to 43 in 2014. It’s alarming that 42 out of the 43 cases were reported from Fata and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, the regions affected by years of militancy. Attacks on polio workers have also aggravated situation and posed serious challenge to the government to deal with poliovirus and attacks at the same time. A whooping 36 cases were detected in Fata and six from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. Only one case this year was reported from Baldia Town Karachi.

In the same time period last year, only six cases were detected in the country against 43 this year. Also, seven districts/agencies were infected by poliovirus this year against the six last year for the same time period.Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government has launched the “Sehat Ka Insaf” programme to accelerate and ensure polio vaccination in Peshawar, the provincial capital that was described by the WHO the “world’s largest reservoir” of polio. Last Sunday, the programme was extended to three other districts, Mardan, Charsadda and Swabi.

However, in the tribal areas polio vaccination to children has become almost impossible due to militants’ opposition. According to the Prime Minister’s Polio Monitoring and Coordination Cell sources none of the victims in North Waziristan Agency or South Waziristan had received polio drops in 2014. The region remains vulnerable to poliovirus attacks as preventive measures could not be undertaken.

According to the sources, no supplementary immunisation activities (SIAs) could be carried out in North and South Waziristan agencies since June 2012, causing the current outbreak of poliovirus. In 2013, 37 cases of wild polio were reported while this year the number rose to 33. In addition to it, 41 Sabin-2 like virus cases in 2013 and five in 2014 were reported from North Waziristan.

Sangakkara anchors Sri Lanka to maiden World T20 title

DHAKA, Bangladesh: Kumar Sangakkara hit a memorable half-century to help Sri Lanka to a six-wicket victory over India in the World Twenty20 final in Dhaka on Sunday.
The veteran left-hander knocked a 35-ball 52 not out in his last Twenty20 match to guide the Sri Lankan chase of a modest 131-run target in 17.5 overs at a packed Shere Bangla stadium.It was Sangakkara who anchored the chase with six boundaries and a six in his unbeaten knock. The victory gave Sri Lanka their first world title in 18 years since winning the World Cup (50 overs) crown in 1996 and gave the World Twenty20 a fifth champion in as many editions.

The victory also broke Sri Lanka’s jinx of losing the final of major world level events as they had lost two World Cup (50 overs) finals (2007 and 2011) besides being runners-up in as many World Twenty20 events in 2009 and 2012.
 

Sri Lanka crush Windies to reach World T20 final

DHAKA: Sri Lanka reached the final of the World Twenty20 with a 27-run win over West Indies, the defending champions, after the first semi-final was ended by rain on Thursday.

Set a challenging 161-run target, the West Indies were well short on the Duckworth-Lewis method when a thunderstorm stopped play after 13.5 overs at the Shere Bangla stadium in Dhaka.

West Indies, who would have needed 108 to win on the D/L method, were 80-4 when play was halted.

The win was sweet revenge for Sri Lanka who lost the 2012 final in Colombo to the West Indies. Sri Lanka will face the winners of the second semi-final between 2007 champions India and South Africa, also in Dhaka on Friday. The final will be played in Dhaka on Sunday.

Dwayne Bravo hit a 19-ball 30 studded with three boundaries and a six to take the fight to the Sri Lankan bowlers who took three wickets in the space of nine runs after the West Indies had reached 25-0 in the fifth over.

Spearhead Lasith Malinga, who was leading Sri Lanka after their regular captain Dinesh Chandimal opted out due to lack of form, dismissed dangerman Chris Gayle (three) and Dwayne Smith (17) in his second over.

Malinga had figures of 2-5 in his two overs. Leg-spinner Seekkuge Prasanna had Lendl Simmons lbw (four) to leave the West Indies struggling at 34-3 before Bravo and Marlon Samuels (18 not out) added 43 for the fourth wicket.

Bravo was smartly caught in the deep by Mahela Jayawardene off paceman Nuwan Kulasekara and three balls later the rain arrived in the aftermath of strong winds. When Sri Lanka batted after winning the toss, Lahiru Thirimanne top-scored with a career best 35-ball 44, Tillakaratne Dilshan made a run-a-ball 39 and Angelo Mathews a fiery 23-ball 40.Mathews hit two sixes and three boundaries to give the innings much-needed impetus before he fell off the last delivery.

Paceman Krishmar Santokie finished with two for 46 runs.

Thirimanne hit three boundaries and two sixes.Sri Lanka had raced to 41 in the fourth over thanks to Dilshan and Kusal Perera (26), before they lost three wickets in the space of 15 balls.Perera, who hit two fours and as many sixes off 12 balls, was bowled by Santokie before Jayawardene was run out without facing a delivery.Kumar Sangakkara miscued a drive and was caught and bowled by leg-spinner Samuel Badree for one.

Dilshan and Thirimanne added 42 for the fourth wicket before Dilshan became the second batsman to be run out. He hit two boundaries and a six.

Pakistan play like children, crash out of World T20

DHAKA: Pakistan played like children as defending champions West Indies easily defeated them by 84 runs in a key Super-10 match of the World Twenty20 in Dhaka on Tuesday and sailed into the semi-finals.

The West Indies recovered from a top-order meltdown to post 166-6 after electing to take first strike, before three wickets each by spin twins Samuel Badree and Sunil Narine skittled Pakistan for 82 in 17.5 overs.

The West Indies, who finished second behind unbeaten India in group two, will clash with group one champions Sri Lanka in the first semi-final in Dhaka tomorrow (Thursday).India, who won all their four league matches, meet South Africa at the same venue on Friday. The final will take place in Dhaka on Sunday.

It was the first time Pakistan, finalists in the inaugural World T20 in 2007 and champions in 2009, failed to reach the knock-out rounds in the five editions of the tournament.

Japanese whaling not for scientific purpose: World Court

 

AP In this Jan. 5, 2014 file photo released by Sea Shepherd Australia, three dead mink whales lie on the deck of the Japanese whaling vessel Nisshin Maru, in the Southern Ocean. The International Court of Justice on Monday said that Japan’s Antarctic whaling program is not for scientific purposes and ordered a temporary stay on the program. This follows a 2010 suit filed by Australia, which argues that Japan’s whaling is a cover for commercial hunts.

The International Court of Justice says that Japan’s Antarctic whaling program is not for scientific purposes and has ordered a temporary stay on the program.

Australia had sued Japan at the U.N. dispute-resolution court for resolving in hopes of ending whaling in the icy Southern Ocean.

Reading a judgment by the court’s 16—judge panel, Presiding Judge Peter Tomka of Slovakia said Japan has not justified the large number of minke whales it takes under its program, while failing to meet much smaller targets for fin and humpback whales.

The court ordered a halt to the issuing of whaling permits until the program has been revamped.

Calls for action as world faces fork in climate road

PARIS: A stark warning by UN scientists of menacing climate change prompted demands Monday for urgent action to curb greenhouse-gas emissions even as a global pact remained elusive.

Scientists, politicians, envoys and green groups united in calls for faster, more drastic action to avoid the worst-case scenarios of conflict, drought and massive displacement highlighted in the expert report.

"The path of tomorrow is undoubtedly determined by our choices today," United Nations climate chief Christiana Figueres said after the UN's Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) warned of a "severe, pervasive and irreversible impact" if nothing is done.

"This report requires and requests that everyone accelerate and scale up efforts towards a low-carbon world and manage the risks of climate change in order to spare the planet and its people," she said.

Activist groups said governments now have all the proof they need that inaction will lead to disaster, as well as the scientific basis on which to plan an appropriate response.

Many voiced hope that the dire warning would give impetus to negotiations for a new, global pact on curbing carbon emissions from burning fossil fuels.

"The gap between the science and what governments are doing remains huge," said Sandeep Chamling Rai of green group WWF.

"Now it is up to people to hold their governments to account, to get them to act purposefully and immediately."

The Alliance of Small Island States said the new alert came as no surprise for nations already grappling with sea-level rise, droughts and record-breaking storms.

"We hope that it helps convince the international community, particularly those most responsible for climate change, to address the crisis with greater urgency and not at some abstract date in the future but immediately."

After a nearly 22-year effort under the auspices of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), negotiators are seeking to sign a new, global pact in Paris next year, to take effect in 2020.

The aim is to contain warming to 2.0 degrees Celsius (3.6 degrees Fahrenheit) over pre-Industrial Revolution levels, though even this level would require adaptive measures for a changed climate.

Countries remain deeply divided on what the deal will look like, what it must contain, how binding its provisions should be and how they will be enforced.

- No denial, says US -

US Secretary of State John Kerry said the political system must "wake up" to the threat.

"Denial of the science is malpractice," he said in a statement. "There are those who say we can't afford to act. But waiting is truly unaffordable. The costs of inaction are catastrophic."

The IPCC warned that untamed greenhouse gas emissions may cost trillions of dollars in damage to property and ecosystems, and in bills for shoring up climate defences.

For Bjorn Lomborg of the Copenhagen Consensus Centre think-tank, "the best solution is to dramatically ramp up funding for research and development of effective green technology."

Today's renewable technology, such as solar and wind energy, required subsidies of at least $100 billion (73 billion euros) per year to become viable.

"Innovation can help us developing technologies to provide green energy more cheaply than fossil fuels, and then everyone will adopt them," said Lomborg.

In the run-up to the conclusion of this year's global climate negotiations in Lima, Peru, in December, UN chief Ban Ki-moon will host heads of state and government in New York on September 23 "to mobilise action and ambition on climate change".

European Climate Commissioner Connie Hedegaard said the world should oppose "hitting the snooze button" on the issue.

"Europe is preparing an ambitious reduction target for 2030 to be adopted later this year. I appeal to all major emitters to do the same thing," she said in a statement.

Tom Mitchell, a climate expert at Britain's Overseas Development Institute (ODI), cautioned against hopes the Paris meeting will be the definitive solution.

"The real challenge is in what happens after 2015," he said in a phone interview with AFP in Tokyo.

"If countries say they are going to reduce emissions, what is the architecture for holding countries to account, and ensuring that they are contributing their fair share in the first place?"

Netherlands to bowl in South Africa World T20

CHITTAGONG: Netherlands captain Peter Borren won the toss and sent South Africa in to bat in their group one super-10 match in the World Twenty20 in Chittagong on Thursday.

South Africa made one change from the side which beat New Zealand by two runs in their second match on Monday, bringing in Beuran Hendricks in place of paceman Morne Morkel.

The Netherlands, shot out for the lowest-ever Twenty20 international total of 39 against Sri Lanka on Monday, kept the same side.

Five teams are competing in each of the two groups in the super-10 stage, with top two teams from each group qualifying for the semis.

The final will be played in Dhaka on April 6.

Teams:

South Africa: Faf du Plessis (capt), Quinton de Kock, AB de Villiers, Hashim Amla, JP Duminy, Imran Tahir, David Miller, Albie Morkel, Beuran Hendricks, Dale Steyn, Lonwabo Tsotsobe.

Netherlands: Peter Borren (capt), Michael Swart, Stephan Myburgh, Wesley Barresi, Tom Copper, Logan van Beek, Mudassar Bukhari, Ben Cooper, Timm van der Gugten, Ahsan Malik, Pieter Seelaar.

Umpires: Steve Davis (AUS) and Bruce Oxenford (AUS)

TV umpire: Rod Tucker (AUS)

Match referee: David Boon (AUS

Kareena Kapoor: IIFA is a great platform to showcase our talent to world!

The entire film fraternity is exited about the upcoming 15th th International Indian Film Academy (IIFA) awards which is to be held in the US, as they feel that this will provide a great platform and opportunity for Hollywood and Bollywood to come together and put the Indian cinema on the global level.

“The IIFA awards is a great platform for us to showcase our work to the world. We will bring the magic of Indian cinema to America. I have not been to Tampa Bay and I am looking forward to entertain my fans there,” Kareena said at the IIFA press conference at the US Consulate here.

Kareena was accompanied by her actor-husband Saif Ali Khan. Saif said “cinema brings us together. It is a chance to give Indian and international audience opportunity to witness celebration of Indian cinema and culture“.

Actor Anil Kapoor feels that IIFA awards will create a bridge between Hollywood and Bollywood. “In my days as a teenager, I used to travel by bus and used to get fascinated seeing the US consulate in Breach Candy. I always wanted to go there and get a visa for the US. I got chance to go there while doing films and I am happy about it,” Anil said.

The IIFA will be held from April 23 to 26. “I am excited by IIFA’s decision to hold this year’s awards ceremony in Tampa, Florida. Bollywood fans across the US will be thrilled that India’s biggest film stars are coming. We look forward to other Indian companies choosing the US as their travel destination and stand ready to assist,” Haas said.

The 15th edition of the awards will include multiple star-studded events like IIFA Rocks–a fashion and music spectacular–IIFA Magic of the movies and technical awards and IIFA awards.

The award show will be hosted by Shahid Kapoor and Farhan Akhtar. Actors Hrithik Roshan, Priyanka Chopra, Madhuri Dixit Nene, Saif Ali Khan, Kareena Kapoor Khan, Ranveer Singh, Sonakshi Sinha, Bipasha Basu and others will perform at the awards.