Karate team prepares for Asian Games 2014

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan karate team s preparations are in full swing for the upcoming Asian Games 2014 to be held in South Korea later this year.

National coach Khalid Noor said that the country s both male and female contingents had been working hard in the training camp here at Pakistan Sports Complex.

Total 17 male and 12 female players are attending the camp in two different sessions for rigorous physically and technical training according to the latest rules of the games for the Asia s mega event Noor added.

About performance of the players in the Asian Games, he said there were some brilliant players in the team who earned name in many international events.

“I m optimistic our players will produce good result in the Asian Games”, he said.

After featuring in the Asian Games Pakistan team would proceed to Germany for the 22nd edition of the World Karate Championships that takes place from November 5 to 9.

In an attempt to better prepare the side Pakistan has also planned tours of Turkey and Iran in August and September respectively the coach said.

The News Lahore team condemns attack on Hamid Mir

LAHORE: The News Lahore team Thursday organised a protest demonstration outside Jang/Geo offices at Davis Road to condemn the murder attempt on senior anchorperson Hamid Mir and to express solidarity with Jang/Geo.

The protesters, carrying banners and placards inscribed with slogans in favor of Hamid Mir and Jang/Geo, condemned in strongest words the attack on the anchorperson. They termed the attack on Hamid Mir as an attack on the whole independent media. They demanded Hamid Mir’s attackers’ arrest as soon as possible.

They said journalists of Jang/Geo have rendered great sacrifices for democracy, freedom of press and freedom of expression and it would continue the same in future as well. They said through such coward acts like attacking and threatening journalists, the journalist community would not be scared and it would continue expressing its right of informing public about the truth. They said the government should introduce a law for all secret agencies to have a check on their working to avoid such circumstances, adding that the government should also adopt protecting measures for journalists.

Those who participated in the protest include Mansoor Ahmed, Babar Dogar, Ali Raza, Amer Malik, Khalid Khattak, Faizan Bangash, Waqar Gilani, Shehzada Irfan Ahmed, Sadia Salahuddin, Khan Numan Wahab, Sajid Bashir, Shahid Aslam, Sher Ali, Rubina Nazir, Akmal Bhatti, Mansoor Ahmed and Tariq Saeed and others.

Taliban team contacts TTP shura

PESHAWAR: Taliban nominated negotiating committee has made a contact with Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) political shura and asked it for time and venue for meeting.

This was stated by member Taliban team Professor Ibrahim, while talking to Geo News here Monday.

He said: “we are waiting for response of Taliban shura and will leave for meeting whenever TTP calls us”.

Prof. Ibrahim said the government talks team had asked him for making contact with Taliban.

Wasim Akram suggests boot camp for Pakistan team

KARACHI: Pakistani cricket legend Wasim Akram on Thursday said that players heading for the 2015 World Cup in Australia and New Zealand should sweat it out at a boot camp to boost their chances of victory.

Pakistan are in Group B of the World Cup alongside arch-rivals India, South Africa, the West Indies, Ireland, United Arab Emirates and Zimbabwe.

They open their campaign against India at Adelaide on February 15.
To prepare for the challenges ahead, Wasim suggested a boot camp.

“Since Pakistan have no cricket until October (against Australia in the United Arab Emirates) they must hold a boot camp on hilly areas just like Australia do when they go into an Ashes series,” Wasim told AFP.

The former skipper said that the country’s cricket administrators need to concentrate on improving fielding and fitness.

“For me the only worry is the 2015 World Cup will be totally different as grounds in Australia and New Zealand require great expertise and good preparation,” Wasim told AFP.

Declared player of the tournament for his 18 wickets in Pakistan’s World Cup triumph in Australia and New Zealand in 1992, Wasim said it would be best to go to Australia early.

“I remember we went to Australia three weeks before the event and it helped us a lot,” said Wasim.

“The grounds in Australia need adapting to because if you are not used to them you tend to injure yourself.”

Wasim said that the Pakistani team also needs to improve their fielding.

“When I am away I always ask experts to help Pakistan and recently I talked to Jonty Rhodes who is ready to help Pakistani players in fielding for a short period,” said Wasim of the South African, regarded as one of the best fielders of his time.

Wasim also added that Pakistan should forget the panic over their World Twenty20 flop in Bangladesh recently.

“Australia and England also lost in the Super-10 stages but there was no panic like here in Pakistan. We took it to our hearts and the captain had to step down,” said Wasim, referring to Pakistan’s Twenty20 captain Mohammad Hafeez’s resignation.

Jubilation as Pakistan Street Child football team returns home

KARACHI: Pakistani squad that represented the nation at the Street Child Football World Cup 2014 reached Karachi on Tuesday morning.

Pakistan players who rose from the streets of slum areas to clinch third position in the event defeating Indians by 13 goals in their opening game, landed at the city’s Jinnah International Airport.

A large number of people including politicians from various political parties welcomed the team at the airport and showered the young players with rose petals.

Sindh Governor Dr Ishrat-ul-Ibad felicitated the team for their great performance in the world cup.

The team will visit the Sindh Assembly and also has been invited to the Chief Minister House.

Shah Rukh Khan-Katrina Kaif to team up again?

Shah Rukh Khan-Katrina Kaif

 

Bollywood diva Katrina Kaif is all set to be paired with Shah Rukh Khan again for a film. According to the latest buzz, the 'Dhoom 3' actress has bagged the lead role in Shah Rukh-starrer 'Raees'. This is the second time the leggy lass will be paired with Bollywood's badshah after their hit flick 'Jab Tak Hai Jaan'.

A Mid-Day report says that Katrina was in talks with filmmakers regarding the role. It seems that she has given her approval for the film. After completing her shoot with Hrithik Roshan for Bang Bang, Katrina will be doing Jagga Jasoos opposite Ranbir Kapoor. She will then start shooting for Raees.

Sources also reveal that since the actress did not have any other film except Bang Bang and Jagga Jasoos, a film with SRK will give her career a necessary boost. While Katrina refused to be a part of the film, director Rahul Dholakia remained unavailable.

Recently Raees was in news when it was reported that Nawazuddin Siddiqui replaced Farhan Akhtar in the film.

Ali Fazal to join 'Fast & Furious 7' team in Abu Dhabi

 

The shooting of Hollywood film "Fast & Furious 7", which had been postponed following actor Paul Walker's sudden demise in a car crash, will be resumed with a schedule in Abu Dhabi. Bollywood actor Ali Fazal will join the team.

"Yes, I will be joining the 'Fast & Furious' gang soon. We have to finish the filming," said the actor, who has earlier featured in Hindi films like "3 Idiots", "Always Kabhi Kabhi" and "Fukrey".

Though the dates have not been sent to Ali, he has been told to keep himself ready to leave for Abu Dhabi at the end of this month.

The shooting will resume in the first week of April.

Ali also plays the romantic lead opposite Vidya Balan in "Bobby Jasoos". Since he would be required in Mumbai for promoting the film which is expected to release around June, he is hoping that the shooting schedules of "Fast & Furious 7" don't clash with the promotion of "Bobby Jasoos".

Earlier, the actor had said that he has just a cameo in the Hollywood film.

Imran links polio team attacks to Shakil Afridi

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) chairman, Imran Khan said attacks on polio teams were linked to the Shakil Afridi incident.
“Polio health workers and policemen were not targeted prior to the Shakil Afridi incident,” said Imran Khan during a news conference alongside a delegation of the World Health Organisation.
The PTI chairman added that he would advise Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif to make polio immunisation part of the dialogue process with the Taliban.
“There is a war-like situation in North Waziristan and polio immunisation in the area should be made part of the dialogue process.”

Australia replaced India in second position in ICC Test Team rankings

Australia on 5 March 2014 replaced India at the number two position in the Test team rankings of cricket. This place was achieved by Australia after they defeated South Africa by 245-run in the third and final Test match in Cape Town.

Australia who replaced India at the second position in test rankings entered the three test-matches series with South Africa at third position.
• This second-position has won Australia a cash award of 370000 US dollars
• India will have to settle with 265000 US dollars
• South Africa at the top position will receive 475000 US dollars
• England which is at forth rank will receive 160000 US dollars

Rankings of test playing cricketing nations

Rank	Team	Matches	Points	Rating
1	South Africa	34	4332	127
2	Australia	43	4946	115
3	India	39	4359	112
4	England	44	4713	107
5	Pakistan	29	2890	100
6	Sri Lanka	33	2953	89
7	New Zealand	37	3224	87
8	West Indies	29	2516	87
9	Zimbabwe	11	372	34
10	Bangladesh	19	359	19

Obama national security team meets on Ukraine options

WASHINGTON: US President Barack Obama's national security team met on Saturday to weigh policy options after Russia's parliament endorsed military action in Ukraine, a White House official said.
Obama's team met at the White House to consider options and Defence Secretary Chuck Hagel earlier spoke by telephone with Russia's Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu, as Washington tried to keep pace with the fast escalating crisis in Ukraine and Crimea.
Senior members of the Washington national security establishment, including General Martin Dempsey, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, were earlier seen heading into the White House for the rare Saturday meeting.
"The president's national security team met today to receive an update on the situation in Ukraine and discuss potential policy options," a senior White House official said.
"We will provide further updates later this afternoon."
Obama was not in the meeting with the full team, but was briefed by his national security adviser Susan Rice and other senior officials as he mulled his options, according to the White House official.
Officials said there was "no change" to the US military's presence in the region.
The meetings came a day after Obama warned that there would be "costs" to Russia infringing the territorial integrity of Ukraine, following the ouster of pro-Moscow President Viktor Yanukovych.
That message was ignored by President Vladimir Putin, who asked Russian lawmakers for the green light to send troops into Ukraine, a move that prompted authorities in the ex-Soviet Republic to put troops on alert.
Ukraine's Defence Minister Igor Tenyukh earlier said that Russia had already sent 30 armored personnel carriers and 6,000 additional troops into Crimea to help pro-Kremlin militia gain broader independence from the new pro-EU leaders in Kiev.