Germany to Face Australia WorldCup Hockey Final Today

NEW DELHI: Defending champions Germany will face Australia in the final of Hockey World Cup 2010 today. Germany outplayed England 4-1 and Australia posted a 2-1 victory over the Netherlands in the semi-finals at Dhyan Chand National Stadium, New Dehli. England and Netherlands will play their match for 3rd position.

Pakistan after disgraceful performance in the world cup even did not manage to secure 11th spot. The national team will return back to the country today.

Lahore High Court 22 Additional Judges Will Take Oath Today

LAHORE, Pakistan News: Lahore High Court 22 Additional judges will take oath today that will lead the judges’ strength in LHC to 44.

The new judges belong to Lahore, Chakwal, Bahawalpur, Multan, Narowal, Jhelum, Sheikhupura and Rawalpindi cities of the province.

The names of the new judges include Mian Shahid Iqbal, Farrukh Irfan, Mamun Rasheed, Sheikh Shaukat Umar Pirzada, Waqar Hassan Mir, Yawar Ali Khan, Mohammed Khalid Mehmood, Chaudhry Shahid Saeed, Anwar Pahore, Ejaz Ahmed, Sardar Mohammed Shamim, Hassan Raza Pasha, Mazahir Ali Akbar Naqvi, Mohammed Anwar-ul-Haq, Qasim Khan, Shahid Hameed Dar, Chaudhry Mohammed Tariq, Mazhar Iqbal Sidhu, Rauf Ahmed Sheikh, Mohammed Naseem Akhtar and Ikhlaq Ahmed.

Presidential Notification on Judges’ Appointment is Likely to Withdrawn Today

Pakistan News: The impasse between the government and judiciary has been ended, as the presidential notification on judges’ appointment is likely to be withdrawn today.

Source told news reporter that the government has planned to address the judiciary crisis and thereby the presidential notification regarding appointment of Justice Khawaja as Supreme Court judge and Justice Saqib Nisar as acting CJ LHC would be withdrawn.

The government would also enhance consultation vis-à-vis judges’ appointment, sources said. The sources added that backchannel interaction was on for the last two to three days in which Aitzaz Ahsan played a role of a mediator.

Australia Vs West Indies 3rd ODI Today

SYDNEY: The third game of the ODI series between Australia and West Indies will be played at the Sydney Cricket Ground. And with the hosts leading the series 2-0, another win here would mean that the Australians would end up having an unassailable lead in the match-up.

It is difficult to see how the West Indian side will be able to overcome the rather strong Australian line-up that has managed to bat and bowl with equal aplomb. And with starts like the ones that the West Indies has had in the series – they were 12/3 in the first game and a worse 16/4 in the second – it is only safe to assume that Australia will be favourites to make it three in a row.

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The West Indian side will need to shuffle their batting around a little. Chris Gayle is bound to come good at some point or the other, such is his class. But one cannot be sure of the move to have Runako Morton opening the innings with him, or to have the pair of Dwayne Smith and Kieron Pollard bat so down the order.

One can almost see one of Smith or Pollard going up the order, and Morton going out of the side.

As compared to that, the Aussies have been rotating their best players around. Shane Watson and Brad Haddin have been afforded a break, and that has allowed Tim Paine and Adam Voges a re-entry into the squad. Paine will do both Watson and Haddin’s job as an opener and a wicket-keeper respectively, whereas Voges could be drafted into the playing eleven if the pitch is deemed to be a turner.

The onus, therefore, will lie in the hands of the top-order of Ricky Ponting and Michael Clarke. The one batsman who has had a quiet series so far due to the lack of opportunities, is Michael Hussey and one can expect him to come to the party here!
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Islamabad and Delhi May Lay Out Talks Agenda Today

NEW DELHI: Indian and Pakistani officials are likely to meet on Monday to decide the agenda of bilateral talks proposed by India over a year after the terror attacks on Mumbai. New Delhi’s offer of talks comes after global powers endorsed an Afghan plan to seek reconciliation with the Taliban in which Pakistan will likely play a key role.

Indian Foreign Secretary Nirupama Rao will meet Pakistan’s High Commissioner to India to agree on “where to talk, when to talk and what to talk”, a foreign ministry official said. India has offered “open-ended talks on all outstanding issues affecting peace and security”, emphasising counter-terrorism. Pakistan has called for resumption of the broader peace process called the “Composite Dialogue” on a range of issues, including Kashmir.

“This is abject surrender to Pakistan,” said Prakash Javdekar of India’s main opposition Hindu-nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party. “The unanimous position in India was there will be no talks with Pakistan unless there was credible action against the Mumbai attackers.”

New Delhi’s talks offer comes in part due to US pressure to reassure Pakistan so that it can focus on fighting the Taliban and al Qaeda on its western border with Afghanistan. Many in India also see the strategy of “coercive diplomacy” against Pakistan failing to get any more concessions on acting against the Mumbai attack planners, even as global sympathy for the attacks wanes with time. But any progress is likely to be slow. “Expect incremental progress but no breakthrough,” Lalit Mansingh, India’s former foreign secretary, told Reuters.

Chehlum of Hazrat Imam Hussain (R.A) Today

ISLAMABAD, Pakistan News: Chehlum of Nawasa-e-Rasool Hazrat Imam Hussain (RA) and his 72 companions will be observed all across country with due religious fervor and devotion.

The main procession taken out different parts of Karachi will move through its orthodox way and will end in Nishter Park where the prominent scalars will address to the attendees.

Small processions to gather at Markazi Imambargah Asna-e-Ashri G-6/2 from adjacent areas including Noorpur Shahan, Shahzad Town, Tarlai, Shah Allah Ditta and different areas of Rawalpindi.

After reaching the Imambargah, a detailed sermon to be delivered by the religious scholars in which rich tributes will be paid to Hazrat Imam Hussain (RA).

‘Zakireen’ will be highlighting the significance of the day and shed light on the sacrifices rendered by Imam Hussain (AS) and his companions in upholding the supremacy of Islam.

Later, a main procession to be taken out from Markazi Imambargah that passed through its traditional routes, Luqman Hakeem Road, Lal Quarters, 7th Avenue, Municipal Road, Melody and finally terminated at the Markazi Imambargah.

Hundreds of participants will observe ‘zanjir zani’ at Lal Quarters Chowk to commemorate Shuhada-e-Karbala’s sacrifice.

A large number of people to distribute ‘niaz’ (food, milk, soft drinks and simple water) to the participants of the mourning procession.

Capital Development Authority’s Health Department has set up free medical camp while Imamia Students Organisation will also be active in providing free medical assistance wherever required.

Rigorous security measures have been taken in and around the Imambargah Markazia, G-6/2, as well as on the set route of the mourning processions. Walkthrough gates in three levels were installed to check individuals entering the Imambargah and participating in the mourning procession.

All the roads and streets leading to Markazi Imambargah are closed and even pedestrians are not allowed to sneak into the imambargah through adjacent streets.

Kashmir Solidarity Day Today

MIRPUR (AJK): All is set by Pakistani nation and the people of Azad Jammu & Kashmir across the world to join hands on Friday Feb 5 to voice for the right of self determination for the Jammu & Kashmir people and to support their just and principled struggle.
Azad Jammu Kashmir Government as well as several Social, Political and Human Rights organizations have chalked out elaborate programmes to re-pledge their solidarity with the people of occupied Jammu & Kashmir in a dignified manner on this occasion.

It would be official holiday throughout Azad Jammu Kashmir and all across Pakistan besides an explicit call to the United Nations and peace-loving nations to arrange an early impartial plebiscite in Kashmir for an amicable settlement of the dispute.

The day will dawn with special prayers in the mosques at namaz-a-Fajr coupled with the offering of Fateha for the martyrs of Kashmir and for the early success of Kashmir liberation movement.

A five-minute silence will be observed all across Pakistan and in Azad Jammu and Kashmir to pay homage to Kashmir martyrs at 10.00 a.m.

Human chain on Kohala Bridge that connects Pakistan with Azad Kashmir is to be the prime feature on the occasion.

The human chains by the Pakistani brethren with the people of AJK will also be made at all other six bridges of AJK linking Pakistan including Mangla, Dhangali, Holar, Bararkot, Dhalkot, Azad Pattan and Mangla bridge over various Kashmir’s born rivers falling in Pakistan will be made at 10.00am on the Kashmir Solidarity Day falling on Feb 5 today.

The AJK President and Prime Minister will visit the occupied Jammu Kashmir refugee camps in Muzaffarabad to share their miseries and grief. Food packets and gifts will also be distributed among the refugees.

Television and radio as well as all three stations of Azad Kashmir including Mirpur, Tararkheil and Muzaffarabad will air special programmes to highlight the historical events on Kashmir.

People will take out rallies in all big and small cities. Seminars will also be held.

The Day will be observed with renewed pledges and commitments to continue diplomatic, moral and political support to Jammu Kashmir people in their just and principled demand for the achievement of the right to self-determination and the cause of Kashmir.

In Mirpur, special ceremony will be held at Mangla Bridge under the auspices of National Events organizing Committee where human hands chain will be made by the participants gathering from adjoining area of Pakistan and this side of AJK. People from all walks of life will take out procession from District court premises for Mangla Bridge.

Urmila Matondkhar Celebrates Birthday Today

MUMBAI: Bollywood actress Urmila Matondkhar is celebrating her 36th birthday today.

Born in tinsel town Mumbai, Rangeela girl Urmila started her career as a child artist. Perhaps the best known of her early movies is Shekhar Kapoor’s Masoom in 1983. She made her film debut as a lead actress with the film ‘Bade ghar ki beti’.

She next starred in the fantasy film Chamatkar, along with Shahrukh Khan. Apart from a successful acting career, Urmila is also an outstanding dancer and has been a featured performer in many Bollywood item numbers.

Pakistan Vs Australia 4th ODI Today

PERTH: Australia Vs Pakistan 4th ODI Today, The fourth One-day International of the five-match series between Australia and Pakistan will be played tomorrow here at the WACA ground.

Pakistan captain Mohammad Yousuf said that he wanted to make the end of the series a memorable one and for this, the team needed encouragement.
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Yousuf during a press conference at Perth said that the Pakistan team would make all efforts to show a hundred per cent performance in the last two matches.

He said that he wanted to make the end of the series a memorable one winning the fourth and the fifth One-day Internationals.

The Pakistan cricket team captain said that the main reason of the defeat is misfortune, too. He appealed the people to support the team and avoid to criticize it

Meanwhile, opener Imran Farhat has developed a shoulder injury.

According to coach Intikhab Alam, scan report of allrounder Rana Naved-ul-Hasan’s foot is clear and he will play the fourth One-day International while Umar Gul will be replaced by Rao Iftikhar Anjum.

President Zardari Summons Allies’ Meeting Today

ISLAMABAD, Pakistan News: President Zardari would hold consultations with his political allies on NRO at Islamabad today.

The President has invited all the political allies: MQM and ANP at luncheon at the President House. According to sources, the President and other political leaders would deliberate upon the situation ensuing the Supreme Court ruling on NRO.

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