Pakistan embroiled in cricket 'match-fixing' probe

Pakistan embroiled in cricket
LONDON: Pakistan's embattled cricket team were embroiled in allegations of match-fixing on Sunday after British police arrested a man on suspicion of conspiracy to defraud bookmakers.

The controversy erupted after the News of the World alleged some members of the Pakistan team were involved in a betting scam in the ongoing fourth and final Test against England at Lord's.

Britain's biggest-selling newspaper claimed several blatant no-balls had been delivered by Pakistan bowlers.

The weekly tabloid said it gave 150,000 pounds (230,000 dollars, 185,000 euros) to a middle man who correctly told them in advance precisely when those deliveries would be bowled.

"Following information received from the News of the World we have arrested a 35-year-old man on suspicion of conspiracy to defraud bookmakers," a spokesman for London's Metropolitan Police said.

Despite the latest controversy swirling around the game, the International Cricket Council (ICC) insisted the fourth Test would continue as scheduled on Sunday, adding that no "players nor team officials have been arrested in relation to this incident".

Pakistan tour manager Yawar Saeed added: "I can confirm we are aware of the allegations. Scotland Yard (Metropolitan) police are with us now at our hotel and we are helping them with their enquiries.

"This is as much as I can say at the moment."

The News of the World published images and dialogue from the encounter and a picture of what it said was one of the promised no-balls delivered on Friday.

It also ran a photograph of Pakistan captain Salman Butt standing with the man they claimed was the middleman, and one of their reporters.

The News of the World claimed their reporters had posed as front men for an Asian gambling cartel, paying 10,000 pounds to the alleged fixer as an upfront deposit.

They met again on Wednesday in a west London hotel room to hand over the rest of the money as their "entry ticket" into what they claimed was a "huge betting syndicate".

They claimed the middle man then correctly predicted when the no-balls would be bowled.

The newspaper showed the alleged fixer with piles of cash on a table.

Meanwhile, the ICC said the match would continue as planned on Sunday at Lord's, the spiritual home of the game.

"The International Cricket Council, the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) and the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) have been informed by the Metropolitan Police that a 35-year-old man has been arrested on suspicion of conspiracy to defraud bookmakers," said an ICC statement.

"The Metropolitan Police have informed the ICC, ECB and PCB that their investigations continue and ICC, ECB and PCB, with the involvement of the ICC Anti Corruption and Security Unit, are fully assisting those enquiries.

"No players nor team officials have been arrested in relation to this incident and the fourth Test match will continue as scheduled on Sunday.

"As this is now subject to a police investigation neither ICC, ECB, PCB nor the ground authority, MCC (Marylebone Cricket Club), will make any further comment," it added.

Pakistan, who have been dogged by 'fixing' allegations since the 1990s, collapsed spectacularly yet again Saturday to leave England closing in on an innings victory.

At stumps, Pakistan, following on, were 41 for four in their second innings, having been dismissed for just 74 first time around.

That left them still 331 runs adrift of England's first innings 446 as the home team eyed a victory that would give them a 3-1 win in their final series before they begin the defence of the Ashes in Australia in November.

There was also a controversial finish to Pakistan's 2006 Test series in England.

They forfeited the final match at The Oval in south London, having refused to take the field after tea on the fourth day because they'd been penalised for ball-tampering.

Pakistan have been unable to play matches at home since an armed attack on the Sri Lanka team bus in Lahore in March last year effectively turned the country into a 'no-go area' for international cricket.
Geo.tv

Hollywood Movie Roundup: The New Iron Age

Stand clear everyone, the big guy has landed and the only ones brave enough to share the same weekend are a bunch of babies. Hollywood’s Summer season has officially arrived in the form of one of the most highly anticipated sequels ever.
IRON MAN 2
Director Jon Favreau returns with star Robert Downey Jr. reprising his role as billionaire industrialist Tony Stark, the man in the iron suit. Also returning are Gwyneth Paltrow and, in an expanded role, Samuel L. Jackson. Mickey Rourke and Scarlett Johansson join the cast, and Don Cheadle replaces Terrence Howard, sending the star power even farther into orbit. Actor-writer Justin Theroux (“Mulholland Drive” as the former, “Tropic Thunder” as the latter) wrote the screenplay.
The first “Iron Man’s” surprising success has left it little room to catch anyone off-guard and that’s clear in the reviews. Critics across the board are saying the film is more (in some cases, much more) of the same yet falls short of its predecessor. The only variance comes in the degree to which the embrace the “more.” The biggest fans, such as the Chicago Sun-Times’ Roger Ebert and Peter Travers of Rolling Stone, hail Downey’s performance. A little less enthusiastic are Lisa Schwarzbaum of Entertainment Weekly, who faults the movie for being “more about iron than men,” and  A.O. Scott of the New York Times, writing that “you’re left wanting more, but not quite the ‘more’ ‘Iron Man 2′ works so hard to supply.”
There are no contenders or pretenders to the box office crown this week, which IM2 was fitted for the moment Paramount placed it on the release schedule. The only real competition is with “The Dark Knight” and its record $158.4 million opening in 2008. IM2 opens on more screens than any movie in history and prognosticators have it pulling in between $140 and $160 million, even without the higher ticket prices it would have commanded had it been released in 3D. It opened last week in some overseas markets and may top the $300m mark globally by Sunday. The only other film opening on more than 500 screens is Focus Features’ documentary “Babies,” that follows four newborns from different parts of the world (Namibia, Mongolia, Japan, San Francisco) until they take their first steps. True counter-programming.
Hollywoodnews

Dress Lady Gaga’s wax statue

It was recently announced that Lady Gaga would become a wax statue at various Madame Tussauds locations and now fans are getting the chance to speak up about which trademark outfits they want on Gaga. The wax statues will be at numerous locations and fans are reportedly being asked to visit NYCwax.com to voice their opinions on what the outrageous singer is wearing, states Digital Spy. “We’re open to hearing from fans about which looks they want,” representatives have opened up about getting some more opinions on which outfits should be on display.
The Lady Gaga wax statues will not be at every location. Which outfits would you like to see her wearing?
Hollywoodnews.com

Fergie shoots music video for legendary guitarist

: After going a bit blonde reportedly for her new role as the spokesperson for Avon’s haircare brand Advanced Techniques, Fergie went and shot a music video for guitarist Slash of Guns N’ Roses. Fergie is reportedly going to be in Slash’s music video “Beautiful Dangerous,” reports Just Jared.
But this won’t be the only time the two musicians pair up. They will be performing tonight at the third annual Sunset Strip Music Festival in Los Angeles. Think these two will put on a good show together?
Hollywood News

Disney profit beats expectations, shares rise

Hit movies like "Toy Story 3" and higher advertising sales lifted Walt Disney Co's (DIS.N) quarterly profit above Wall Street's expectations, despite dwindling theme park attendance in the United States.
Investors had expected solid numbers from the entertainment and leisure conglomerate after strong results from media rivals Time Warner Inc (TWX.N) and CBS Corp (CBS.N) underscored an advertising rebound. Disney executives said on Tuesday spot pricing was running about 20 percent above "upfront" -- or advance -- advertising prices.
"Disney closed out the big media earnings posting strong ad revenue growth at the ABC and ESPN and gave an optimistic picture for scatter pricing. Their comments look like others we've seen to date," said Tony Wible, an analyst with Janney Capital Markets.
Box office smashes such as the latest Toy Story movie, "Iron Man 2" and "Alice in Wonderland" helped studio revenue rise 30 percent and generated a strong operating profit.
Revenue at its media networks arm, home to sports cable network ESPN and broadcaster ABC, rose 19 percent to $4.7 billion. But the results included $344 million in previously deferred revenue because of annual programming commitments.
"The cable division is the business that drives this business and Disney had an impressive quarter," said RBC Capital analyst David Bank.
Operating income in media networks rose 43 percent to $1.9 billion, outpacing analysts' forecasts for about $1.4 billion.
The studio entertainment division chalked up a $123 million operating profit after posting a loss a year ago. (Graphic: link.reuters.com/fav34n)
But at the theme parks arm -- operator of Disneyland resorts around the world -- operating income slid 8 percent to $477 million as attendance and hotel occupancy dropped. Disney ended widespread ticket discounts in the quarter.
This quarter, domestic hotel reservations were running about 9 percent below the prior-year quarter's pace, executives told analysts on a conference call.
But they also noted that after accounting for a calendar shift of one extra week a year ago, fourth quarter bookings so far this year are running just one percent behind last year.
Disney's net income rose to $1.3 billion, or 67 cents per share, in the third quarter ended July 3, from $954 million, or 51 cents a share, a year earlier. That beat the average analyst forecast for 58 cents, according to Thomson Reuters I/B/E/S.
Total revenue rose 16 percent to $10 billion, surpassing Wall Street's target of just under $9.4 billion.
Disney shares rose 1.4 percent to $35.80 after closing at $35.29. The stock has risen nearly 5 percent since the start of August as expectations of an advertising recovery solidified.
Last week, Time Warner raised its full-year outlook after quarterly revenue grew at the fastest pace in two years, thanks to better advertising sales at cable networks and strong turnouts for movies such as "Clash of the Titans".
That forecast came a day after CBS Corp's (CBS.N) strong quarterly report, allaying near-term fears that economic weakness could derail an ad recovery
Reuters