Posts for 'International' Category

Under a cloud because of recent match-fixing allegations, Pakistan’s cricketers are being extra cautious in a bid to avoid any new scandal during their tour of England that got underway last week. ‘The News’ has learnt through reliable sources that the team management has warned the players against showing any kind of carelessness that might trigger suspicions of match-fixing against the team or any team member.

According to sources, team manager Yawar Saeed has held separate meetings with the players to brief them about precautionary measures aimed at minimising the chances of any ugly episode taking place during the tour that will conclude on September 22.

Sources said that the players have been told in clear terms not to entertain any guests in their hotel rooms apart from their own family members. The instructions, according to sources, are particularly aimed at discouraging the players’ agents from interacting with them during the tour that includes back-to-back series against Australia and England.

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The last time thousands of people marched on Toronto streets, a police car was lit on fire. But on Sunday Toronto police were applauded by the crowd as they marched in the 30th annual Pride Parade as hundreds of thousands — more than a million, by many estimates — swelled downtown streets on a broiling Sunday afternoon.

On a day that could have been overshadowed by  controversies involving alleged police treatment of gay detainees following the G20 and the involvement of the Queers Against Israeli Apartheid, the parade maintained its ear-splitting, boisterous example of tolerance and celebration.

In the end Toronto Police Chief Bill Blair didn’t show, though the majority of onlookers and parade participants left violent memories of the G20 behind in favour of festivity, with only a few odd signs decrying police action at the G20.

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I cannot understand why FIFA does not want to use technology in assisting referees officiating at World Cup and other football matches. And I am not alone in feeling this way. I believe that millions of fans all over the world feel the same too.

This is despite repeated calls by both current and former great players, top football officials, commentators, and the fans all over the world. The latest demand for the use of technology was sparked by Carlos Tevez’s offside goal in the 2010 World Cup which was allowed and Frank Lampard’s which was not.

The ruling out of Lampard’s goal was simply outrageous, to say the least. I’m no England fan but hey, a goal is a goal. Millions saw the ball bounced into goal. Sadly the referee did not. Television replays made it very clear it was a goal. But the referee did not have the benefit of TV replays. And FIFA wants to keep it that way.

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A new film on the life of former Pakistani prime minister Benazir Bhutto is drawing full houses and new controversies. "It includes audio tapes of Benazir Bhutto never heard before, so much so that it appears almost as if she is narrating her own film.

All of the interviews in this film, from the family, President Zardari, the three children, Sanam Bhutto, Condoleezza Rice, General Musharraf, Fatima Bhutto, all of this footage are new and never seen before,” said film producer Mark Sigel.The film directed by Duane Baughman includes a number of new interviews and comments from Benazir herself.

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It seems the newly wed pair of Sania Mirza and Shoaib Malik is up for a tough time once again. Controversies have followed the two wherever they have been, even before they got married and there seems to be no respite even now. Less than a month after their wedding, the couple is back in Hyderabad and their homecoming, like their wedding, is causing controversy.

Sania Mirza has hit the court straightaway and was seen practicing at Hyderabad's Lal Bahadur Stadium with her hubby Shoaib and dad Imran watching her from the sidelines. But Shoaib Malik's appearance at Hyderabad's Gymkhana grounds for a practice session provoked some angry remarks.

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The British one was better!” = An ubiquitous, almost necessary refrain that quickly attached itself to anything written about the first two seasons of the Steve Carell American rebrand, and for a season or two, who could argue? The British Office was, and remains.

A landmark achievement in television and humor (humour), providing more simultaneous laughs and insight into human banalities in its tidy two-season run than several entire art movements  how could a remake of an instant classic ever hope to equal, let alone surpass, its original?

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Controversies keep dogging the newly-wedded couple Shoaib Malik and Sania Mirza ever since they announced their engagement till their Walima on April 25, but they are not one to bow down to rumours. They looked wonderful together at the reception held today.

Their outfits were designed by Shantanu and Nikhil.The couple got married on April 12 amidst controversy over Malik's earlier marriage to Ayesha Siddiqui.

The problem was solved after he signed the divorce papers. However, more controversies welcome him on reaching the Pakistani soil. Two petitions were filed against him for holding reception against the rule of the government and for the alleged sale of invitation cards.However, Shoaib rubbished the allegation of selling invitation cards to his wedding reception. He pleaded the media to give them space so that they could live normal life.

A Molotov cocktail of cricket and politics on Tuesday threatened to explode the underbelly of the multi-billion rupee Indian Premier League, with the battle lines drawn between Union Minister of State Shashi Tharoor and IPL commissioner Lalit Modi.

After allegations surfaced that the Kerala team mentor, Mr. Tharoor's acknowledged friend Sunanda Pushkar received a “free” equity of the Kochi team of the IPL worth about Rs. 70 crore, the BJP jumped into the arena, demanding that Mr. Tharoor be sacked as it was a “copybook case of corruption.” Party spokesperson Ravi Shankar Prasad sought a CBI probe.

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Controversies followed them till the final day of their wedding, but Indian tennis star Sania Mirza and Pakistani cricketer Shoaib Malik feel their relationship has only got stronger due to the whole episode. “It was a test for our relationship and it got stronger with the controversy. We learnt a lot. From the very beginning we were very honest to each other and that’s the reason we didn’t have a single argument,” Sania told NDTV in an interview.

Sania, who was with Shoaib, said: “The fact is that we are married today and happy. Our family was very supportive, they supported us full heartedly. Nothing would have been possible without them.” Announcement of their marriage plan made headlines.

And controversy followed when a Hyderabad resident Ayesha Siddiqui claimed that she was Shoaib’s first wife and he had not divorced her. Ayesha filed a police complaint against Shoaib April 4, accusing him of cheating, harassment and criminal intimidation. Police grilled Shoaib and seized his passport.

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Sania and Shoaib have entered the holy matrimony, but controversies seem to follow wherever they go. Apparently the reception on April 15 has become a talking point in the Hyderabadi society with the Shoaib-Ayesha talaaq negotiators grumbling about not being invited. The Rs 61 lakh mehr too is being criticised with some saying that such a high amount is a bad precedent and others may try to outdo it.

Now some talk of the sangeet ceremony tonight...After her mehendi ceremony on April 13, Sania Mirza is now gearing up for her reception on April 15. Buzz is that Bollywood actress Neha Dhupia will spice up the sangeet ceremony on Wednesday with a performance. According to reports, Bollywood biggies are expected to stay away from the do. The Bachchans, who have sent a bouquet to the newly-weds, reportedly won't be attending and neither will any of the Khans.