Cash strapped: CDWP approves 8 new projects worth Rs4.7b

Federal Minister for Planning Development and Reform Ahsan Iqbal (C) chairs the CDWP meeting in Islamabad on Thursday. PHOTO: PID

ISLAMABAD: Despite facing an acute shortage of funds, the government on Thursday approved eight new projects worth Rs4.7 billion, while four projects worth Rs32.9 billion were referred to the Executive Committee of National Economic Council (ECNEC) for approval.

“Pakistan is currently in acute economic crisis. It is facing problems in energy, security and social sectors. Therefore, we must spend our resources on very important and high-priority projects by avoiding their wasteful expenditure,” the federal minister for Planning, Development and Reform Ahsan Iqbal remarked as he chaired a meeting of the Central Development Working Party (CDWP) meeting in Islamabad on Thursday.

The meeting had met to consider approvals for 14 development projects from Physical Planning & Housing, Health, Transport & Communications, Water Resources, Education, Energy, Governance, Culture Sports & Tourism, Information Technology and Higher Education sectors.

The approved projects include a health insurance (Social Health Protection) scheme for the poor in Gilgit worth Rs173 million. An integration of health services delivery with special focus on maternal newborn and child health (MNCH), lady health workers (LHW) and nutrition programme for Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa province worth Rs22.8 billion.  An improvement and reconditioning of a 52km stretch of the Noseri Leswa by-pass road in district Muzaffarabad-Neelum (AJ&K) worth Rs965 million; metalling and blacktopping of 40km stretch of the Authmuqam Karen by-pass road in Muzaffarabad-Neelum (AJ&K) worth Rs842 million. The construction of a flyover at Koyla Phatak in Quetta worth Rs1.4 billion was also approved.

CDWP also approved the Balochistan Small Scale Irrigation (BSSIP) Project worth Rs2.2 billion along with a project for the establishment and operation of basic education community schools across Pakistan (2012-16), worth Rs6.2 Billion.

Concept approval was also given to the Technology Park Development Project in Islamabad worth Rs5.4 billion.

CDWP also approved the Culture, Sports and Tourism Joint Institution Cooperation project between Pakistan and Norway worth Rs162 million.

The meeting also approved Rs644 million for establishing a campus of the Federal Urdu University of Arts, Science and Technology in Islamabad.

Approval for the Rs793 million reforms and innovation in government project was also granted. Under the programme reform agenda of the government would be pursued through the innovation and reform group over the next five years. An innovation fund will be established for this purpose with Rs250 million to encourage innovative projects.

“Government machinery is not capable to tackle new challenges of the global era. We need government machinery in line with the new management principles to facilitate and serve our people efficiently, which is not possible without reforms in the governance model,” Iqbal remarked.

Not all projects presented were approved. Iqbal was incensed at CDA authorities for presenting an odd architectural design for the extension of parliament house building, and directed them to redraw the plans in harmony with the existing structure of parliament building.

Chris Hemsworth wants to slow acting career

Chris Hemsworth wants to 'slow down' his acting career.
The 30-year-old actor - who has starred in some of 2013's biggest hit films 'Thor: The Dark World', 'Star Trek Into Darkness' and 'Rush' - wants to take a step back so he can enjoy time with his wife Elsa Pataky and their 19-month-old daughter India Rose. 
He said: 'I've been working solidly for a couple of years now, to the point where I have to slow down and spend some time with my family.'
Hemsworth wants a break but is concerned about 'saying no' after having spent so long trying to build a successful career in the entertainment industry. 
He said: 'You spend so long having your hand up, saying 'C'mon, c'mon - pick me!' there is a fear of saying no to things. It's bred into you. I get s**t sent to me and I think, ' I should probably just take this.'
'But now I try to say, 'Hold on - do you even like it? ' I do have a little control now. That's the transition - I'm not at the mercy of someone else so much. That's just as scary as it is liberating.'

Schalke’s Kevin-Prince Boateng attacked on street in Kaarst, police investigating

The local police force for Neuss, near Düsseldorf, confirmed to the local Rheinische Post newspaper on Thursday that it was Schalke's Kevin-Prince Boateng who was the victim of a Christmas Day assault in Kaarst. The incident was first announced in a police press release which named neither victim nor suspect.

'On Wednesday, 25.12.2013, at around 12:45, an incident of physical assault took place in Kaarst. A 26-year-old man, a resident of Meerbusch, was physically attacked on the street by a currently unidentified man,' the police statement said.

After the attack in Kaarst, the police said that Schalke's 26-year-old midfielder returned home before calling them.

'There are indications that the motive for the crime is connected to the personal affairs of the 26-year-old,' the police statement said. 'The man was mildly injured. Criminal investigators have begun their work.'

German mass-circulation paper Bild later reported on its website that Boateng was leaving the house of his ex-wife after visiting his young son at Christmas. According to Bild, Boateng was struck once by the assailant and fell onto a vase as a result. He later checked into a local hospital with bruising to his ribs, back and neck.

The police appealed for anyone who might have witnessed the apparent assault on Kaarst's 'Lange Hecke' street to make contact.

The Schalke player on Thursday issued only one post on his official Twitter account, a photo of a wristwatch with a short caption: 'It's TIME.'

Boateng, a Ghanaian international who grew up in Germany, joined Schalke late in the previous transfer window from AC Milan. He had previously played for rival club Borussia Dortmund. His half-brother Jerome Boateng plays for Bayern Munich and Germany. Ghana and Germany will meet in the group stages of the 2014 World Cup.

Nadal starts season with loss to Ferrer in Abu Dhabi

Rafael Nadal began his season with a 6-4, 6-4 loss to fellow Spaniard David Ferrer in the semi-finals of the Mudabala World Tennis Championship exhibition tournament in Abu Dhabi on Friday.

It was the world number one's first match since losing in straight sets to Novak Djokovic in the final of the World Tour Finals in London on November 11.

Playing ahead of the official ATP season-opener in nearby Doha next week, Ferrer looked the sharper from the start, breaking in the ninth game to take the first set.

It was more of the same in the second set as Nadal struggled to find his range against an opponent who already had a game under his belt, having defeated Stanislas Wawrinka in the quarter-finals on Thursday.

'I think the fact that I had already played a game on the same surface meant that I was better prepared than Rafa,' said Ferrer.

'I am happy with the state of my game and will look to produce my best tennis for the final.'

The second semi-final, played later on Friday, sees world number two Djokovic go up against Jo-Wilfried Tsonga of France.

In earlier action, Andy Murray chalked up his first win since returning to action after a three-month injury lay-off by defeating Switzerland's Wawrinka 6-3, 6-4.

The 26-year-old Wimbledon champion had back surgery in September and did not play again until he lost to Tsonga in the quarter-finals of the exhibition tournament on Thursday.

Wawrinka lost to Ferrer on the same day and the match between him and Murray was to decide who would finish fifth in the unofficial three-day tournament that saw Nadal and Djokovic joining in at the semi-final stage.

Murray looked much sharper against Ferrer than he had looked in the second set against Tsonga and had little difficulty in seeing off the challenge of the world number eight.

The world number four got the better of three successive breaks to take the first set and then forged ahead again with a break for 4-3 in the second.

Wawrinka saved a match point on his own serve with a forehand winner, but Murray confidently served out for the victory.

In a courtside interview Murray said: 'I feel pretty good, a lot better than I did a few months ago. I just need to play more matches like this because the intensity's a lot higher than you can get in practice.

'It was good to get two matches against top players. Everyone needs matches at this stage, especially me. It's been a perfect start and hopefully I'll get better.'

Murray will next make the short trip over to Doha where he will play in the AFP season-opener tournament.

Vin Diesel confirmed for Guardians of the Galaxy

Vin Diesel has been confirmed to play Groot in 'Guardians of the Galaxy'.
The 'Fast Furious' actor will be taking on the part of the tree-like alien superhero in the upcoming Marvel space saga, director James Gunn has officially announced on his Facebook page.
He posted a picture of Diesel posing alongside a mask of his leafy character, adding: 'Yep, it is completely official. AND he's amazing. I never knew someone could say 'I AM GROOT' so many different ways and with such feeling (and that sounds like I'm kidding but I'm not!).'
This summer Diesel had hinted at the casting by posting a picture of Groot on his own Facebook page, before swiftly taking it down.
The sentient character gains super strength from absorbing wood and has the ability to control 
trees. However, the role will require little dialogue as Groot's sole line is, 'I am Groot.'
'Guardians of the Galaxy' features Chris Pratt as the Star Lord, Peter Quil, a human pilot who gets involved with a group of mismatched mercenaries who decide to form an intergalactic crime-fighting team. Other cast members include Zoe Saldana, Benicio Del Toro, John C. Reilly, Glenn Close, Karen Gillan and Bradley Cooper.
The film is set for release in August 2014.

Queiroz: Ronaldo was destined to become the Michael Jordan of football

Former Portugal coach Carlos Queiroz believes Real Madrid attacker Cristiano Ronaldo was destined to become one of the best players in the history of the game from a young age.

Queiroz - who is now Iran national team manager - coached Ronaldo during his time in charge of Portugal between 2008 and 2010 and two spells as assistant manager to Sir Alex Ferguson at Manchester United.

The 60-year-old has now stressed that he had no doubt that the forward would establish himself as a modern-day great - even likening him to Chicago Bulls legend Michael Jordan, who is widely considered to be the best basketball player in history. 'Ronaldo is the most complete player I have ever coached in my life. In terms of fitness, ability, technical, tactical,' Queiroz said.'One day at United, I don't remember when, I said he would be the Michael Jordan of football.

'I can see in the last two years Cristiano growing up a lot, but he had everything. He had a little bit of Brazil legend Ronaldo, Figo - the speed, heading. He's fantastic at shooting with both feet, free-kicks, dribbling, passing.'

Queiroz then went on to discuss the 2014 World Cup and he expects Ronaldo, who has scored 29 goals in 23 appearances for Real this season, to have a major impact in Brazil.

He continued: 'I think he is more mature now, more experienced. Four years in a player's career is a lot and it can make a huge difference.

'I think this will be his third appearance in terms of World Cup participation, so he will be able to manage the performance much easier.'

Portugal will have to deal with Germany, Ghana and USA in Group G

Morsi supporter killed in Cairo clashes

Students supporting Egypt's ousted President Mohammed Morsi clashed with locals in Cairo, the interior ministry said. Police said one protester was killed.

In a statement released Friday, the ministry added that seven supporters of the Muslim Brotherhood had been arrested after police fired tear gas at protesters.

Violence escalated late on Thursday night when Morsi's supporters blocked a main roadway outside their university in the eastern Cairo district of Nasr City. That angered local residents, state television reported, citing a police spokesperson.

Both sides exchanged birdshot gunfire, causing fatal wounds to the student, the police official added.

More protests to come

Supporters of Morsi's Muslim Brotherhood vowed to continue protesting, despite the government declaring the organization a terrorist group.

An off-shoot of the Brotherhood called for massive street protests, dubbed 'a week of rage,' starting Friday to protest the government's decision.

'Let's begin with full force and peacefulness, a new wave of majestic anti-coup action,' the Brotherhood-led Anti Coup Alliance said in a statement.

Egyptian law states that terrorist-related charges carry the death penalty.

Thursday's protests came hours after a bomb blew up a bus in northern Cairo. Five people were wounded, prompting condemnation from US Secretary of State John Kerry.

US State Department spokesperson Jen Psaki said Kerry 'expressed concern' that the Muslim Brotherhood had been declared a terrorist organization in a call with his Egyptian counterpart Nabil Fahmy.

Hundreds of people have been killed across Egypt since July when Morsi, the country's first ever democratically-elected president, was ousted by the army.