Did you know?: Mallika Sherawat washes her hair with mineral water!

Despite staying at a five-star hotel, Mallika demanded containers of mineral water to wash her hair. PHOTO:FILE

We have all read about starry tantrums by female leads but this one beats any other. Actor Mallika Sherawat, who is currently being seen on her reality TV show The Bachelorette India, seems to be bugging the makers with unreasonable demands.

According to the Times of India, even though Mallika was staying at a posh five-star hotel in the Indian city of Udaipur, she doubted the quality of water at the hotel. She said that the water was making her hair dry. Hence, in order to nourish her tresses, she demanded containers of mineral water!

However, this isn’t the first time that the controversial actor has made a peculiar demand. In fact, she is known to make unreasonable requests during film shoots and otherwise. For example, while promoting a reality show, the actor had demanded that she should only be given alphonso mangoes. Also during the shooting of her film Kismat Love Paisa Dilli with Vivek Oberoi last year, she insisted that six members of the staff should be allowed to travel in business class with her!

Royalty, much?

New taxes: Govt favours consultation with businessmen on property tax

No new tax to be introduced without keeping businessmen in the loop, official. CREATIVE COMMONS

FAISALABAD: 

Director General Punjab Excise and Taxation Department, Nasim Sadiq, informed members of the Faisalabad Chamber of Commerce and Industry (FCCI) on Saturday that no new property tax will be imposed without consultation with the business community, asking the FCCI to forward its proposals on proposed property taxes and valuation tables within a week.

He told the audience that he had been in close contact with businessmen in Faisalabad during his tenure at the District Coordination Office. He appreciated the social capital invested by businessmen, which he called a worthy example and a role model for the country.

He said during his tenure, approximately Rs8 billion was spent on development projects in the city, out of which Rs5 billion was contributed by the business community of Faisalabad.

He said Punjab Chief Minister Mian Shahbaz Sharif has instructed everyone to resolve all problems with regard to property taxation amicably. He assured the businessmen of consulting them during the decision-making process pertaining to new taxes.

He said that he is fully aware of the deteriorating condition of business in Faisalabad due to gas and electricity shortages.

While presenting his welcome address, FCCI President Engineer Suhail bin Rashid said that Faisalabad is the third industrial hub and second largest revenue generator in the country. He said that proposed tax rates for immovable properties are not acceptable to the business community.

He said that the declaration of valuation tables was not based on ground realities, stating that Faisalabad could not be classified in Category ‘A’ along with cities like Lahore. He said that the proposed increase in taxation has already disturbed factory owners, private schools, hotels, restaurant owners, hospitals and even the common citizens.

He said that owing to higher inflation, shortage of electricity and gas for the industries, higher prices of industrial inputs, new taxes being introduced by the Federal Board of Revenue and high bank mark-up rates have made it difficult for the business community to pay increased property taxes and called for the status quo to be maintained with some flat rate increase, if necessitated

Webber claims 13th career pole

Red Bull Racing's Australian driver Mark Webber drives during the qualifying session at the Yas Marina circuit in Abu Dhabi on November 2, 2013 ahead of the Abu Dhabi Formula One Grand Prix. PHOTO: AFP

ABU DHABI: 

Australia Mark Webber grabbed the 13th pole position of his career yesterday when he clocked the fastest lap in a tense qualifying session as Red Bull swept the front row of the grid for today’s Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.

The 37-year-old, who retires from Formula One at the end of the season, recorded one minute 39.957 seconds to edge out newly-crowned quadruple world champion teammate Sebastian Vettel.

Webber, who will start from the front of the grid for only the second time this season, equalled the Australian record of 13 poles set by Alan Jones, who was celebrating his 67th birthday yesterday.

In a thrilling finale to an intriguing day, the two Red Bull men crossed the line after the chequered flag to clock their best laps, but battling Briton Lewis Hamilton failed to do the same as he spun his Mercedes in the final part of his lap.

“Fantastic guys, thank you for a fantastic job,” said Webber on the Red Bull team radio.

“Not the smoothest path to the start of Q2 or Q1, we were not electric, but we changed the car quite a bit and I got more and more comfortable as the session went on.”

Hamilton ended up fourth and will start alongside his Mercedes teammate German Nico Rosberg, who was third fastest.

“Something broke at the rear of the car,” said a disappointed Hamilton, who has twice previously taken pole at the spectacular Yas Marina circuit.

Ferrari-bound Finn Kimi Raikkonen of Lotus was fifth ahead of German Nico Hulkenberg of Sauber with Frenchman Romain Grosjean seventh in the second Lotus.

Brazilian Felipe Massa was eighth fastest ahead of Mexican Sergio Perez of McLaren and 10th placed Australian Daniel Ricciardo of Toro Rosso.

Newcastle shock Chelsea in EPL tie

Newcastle United's Loic Remy (R) scores a goal against Chelsea during their English Premier League soccer match at St James' Park in Newcastle, northern England November 2, 2013. PHOTO: REUTERS

LONDON: Chelsea were prevented from taking over at the top of the Premier League table after being dealt a shock 2-0 defeat at Newcastle United.

Victory would have taken Jose Mourinho’s side above leaders Arsenal, who host Liverpool later today, but instead they fell to second-half goals by Yoan Gouffran and Loic Remy on a rain-soaked afternoon in northeast England.

It was Chelsea’s second defeat of the campaign and their second consecutive loss away to Newcastle, while Mourinho has now gone four league games without victory at St James’ Park in his two spells as Chelsea coach.

Chelsea’s best chances of the first half both came from corners and fell to John Terry, who saw one header come back off the crossbar and another headed off the line by a stooping Davide Santon.

The visitors were happy to cede possession to their hosts, but although Newcastle struggled to create chances in the first half, they began to make inroads in the second period.

Chelsea goalkeeper Petr Cech was called upon three times in five minutes to keep Newcastle at bay, thwarting Moussa Sissoko, Remy and Gouffran in quick succession as Alan Pardew’s men took the upper hand.

Mourinho reacted by sending on Willian for Juan Mata, only for Newcastle to open the scoring in the 68th minute when Gouffran converted Yohan Cabaye’s free-kick with a diving header.

Mourinho introduced Andre Schuerrle and Samuel Eto’o, and the Cameroonian felt he should have been awarded a penalty soon after coming on when his goal-bound half-volley struck the arm of Mapou Yanga-Mbiwa.

Nothing was given though, and after Willian, Eto’o, Schuerrle and Eden Hazard all went close to an equaliser, Remy swept home a neat cut-back from Vurnon Anita in the 89th minute to seal Chelsea’s fate.

Chelsea’s defeat saw them slip to third place, with Liverpool overtaking them on goal difference, while Newcastle climb to ninth.

South Africa series: Teams aim for batting resurrection

Spinners Afridi, Ajmal and Hafeez took a combined six wickets at a run rate of under three an over to help Pakistan win the second ODI by 66 runs. PHOTO: AFP

Pakistan captain Misbahul Haq warned his team against complacency after their series-levelling, 66-run win against South Africa in the second One-Day International (ODI), stating there were persistent problems in Pakistan’s batting that needed to be rectified.

“We shouldn’t relax after winning the second ODI and we still need to improve,” he said, according to ESPNcricinfo. “Our batsmen are getting good starts but aren’t converting them so we need to rectify that. We have a very tough series on our hands; they are very tough opponents and are going to give us a hard time.”

South Africa slumped to their second lowest total against Pakistan when they were bowled out for 143 in 40.4 overs chasing a modest 210-run target.

Leg-spinner Shahid Afridi (three for 26), pacer Mohammad Irfan (three for 53) and off-spinner Saeed Ajmal (two for 15) rocked the Proteas to level the five-match series at 1-1.

Misbah said the morale of the team was high after staging a comeback.

“Obviously we lost the first match from a winning position and when such things happen you get disappointed. However, after this win the morale is high and we needed that comeback win.”

De Villiers feels pressure over SA batting

South African captain AB de Villiers admitted he was feeling pressure over shortcomings in batting.

“To be very honest I am feeling the pressure,” said De Villiers.

“But I am enjoying my captaincy more than ever and feel that I am getting good response from the guys, especially on this tour,” he said, praising the Pakistani spinners.

“Pakistan have two bowlers in the top five in one-day rankings and its world class spinners we are playing against, but once again I have full confidence that we will come back.”

De Villiers said his team was working hard to overcome batting woes.

“We are all working, we are doing pretty much everything, it’s a matter of one or two guys to put their hands up and give that performance.”

South Africa will hope Hashim Amla boosts their batting after he is expected to rejoin the squad in time for the third game in Abu Dhabi on Wednesday. Spearhead Dale Steyn will also join the team after missing the first two one-days to have rest at home. 

Russian planning to invest..

Technoprom Export, a leading Russian engineering company that provides energy facilities in the domestic market and abroad, expressed a similar interest. DESIGN: ESSA MALIK

MOSCOW: 

As a sign of improved bilateral relations, major Russian companies have expressed their desire to invest in coal-based power projects in Pakistan.

Minister of State for Water and Power Abid Sher Ali is currently on a visit to Moscow in order to woo investors to make investment in the country.

During one of the meetings with Ali, representatives of the Russian companies put forward the investment proposal.

Technoprom Export, a leading Russian engineering company that provides energy facilities in the domestic market and abroad, expressed a similar interest. The company is willing to look into the construction of a new coal-fired unit at Jamshoro with the capacity of 600 megawatts and a 660MW coal-fired unit at Gadani.

Britney’s songs used to shoo away Somali pirates!

Britney’s music is used as a second line of defense at sea because Somali pirates hate it. PHOTO: PUBLICITY

Captain Jack Sparrow from Pirates of the Caribbean was right when he said that it’s remarkable how often the traits madness and brilliance coincide.

An absolutely mind-boggling yet effective new weapon being used by the merchant navy, is Britney Spears’ music. Her songs help in defending cargo ships from the threat of being hijacked by Somali Pirates, reports The Guardian.

The sea captains, who face a grave threat from pirates off the Horn of Africa, claim that the star’s songs are played to ward off Somali pirates because they can’t stand her music. Merchant navy officer Rachel Owes said, “These guys can’t stand Western culture or music, making Britney’s hits perfect.” Another officer, Rachel, said that “her songs were chosen by the security team because they thought the pirates would hate them most.”

The east African coast is a hot spot for pirates, who are on the lookout for ships from which they could kidnap crew for millions in ransom. In 2011, there were 25 successful attacks on ships off the Horn of Africa. But the newfound tactic of using Britney’s hits to scare away pirates is not only unique but also useful. “They’re so effective that the ship’s security rarely needs to resort to firing guns – as soon as the pirates get a blast of Britney, they move on as quickly as they can,” said Rachel. The music is currently being used as a second line of defense and is utilised when initial calls from the guards on board fail to prevent the pirates from approaching.

The US police and military were the first to use music to deter potential attacks in sea. The tactic was then employed by merchant navy vessels and cruise ships to scare away pirates. “I’d imagine using Justin Bieber would be against the Geneva Convention,” joked Steven Jones of the Security Association for the Maritime Industry.

This is definitely the news highlight of our day! All hail pop music!