'Catching Fire,' 'Frozen' heat up Thanksgiving film box office in U.S.

NEW YORK: Action film "The Hunger Games: Catching Fire" led the North American box office with ticket sales of $35.6 million over the first two days of the long U.S. Thanksgiving weekend that began on Wednesday, while Disney's animated "Frozen," sold a hefty $26.3 million. "Catching Fire," the second instalment of the "Hunger Games" franchise, grossed $14.9 million on Thursday's Thanksgiving Day holiday according to studio Lions Gate. That broke the record previously held by "Toy Story 2," which earned $13.1 million on Thanksgiving in 1999, according to Rentrak. 

Indian magazine editor arrested on woman assault charges

NEW DELHI: Police arrested the editor-in-chief of an Indian magazine on Saturday over allegations that he had sexually assaulted a woman colleague, in a case that has turned the focus back on sexual violence after the fatal gang rape of a woman last year. The journalist told a superior that Tarun Tejpal, 50-year-old founder of the award-winning weekly Tehelka, had assaulted her twice in a hotel elevator during a conference in the resort state of Goa this month.

Siddle sympathises with Trott but focus on winning

BRISBANE: Australia seamer Peter Siddle sympathises with England batsman Jonathan Trott, who left the Ashes tour to deal with a stress-related illness, but said his team's focus was squarely on winning and that they would not be dialling down the intensity. England's number three batsman left the tour this week after failing twice with the bat during his team's 381-run loss in the first test in Brisbane.

South Africa win 3rd match by 4 wickets, Pakistan clinch ODI Series by 2-1

South Africa have won third and final match with four wickets while Pakistan have clinched the three-match ODI Series by 2-1 at Super Sport Park in Centurion this evening. South African batsmen played confidently and continued making runs while getting closer to the easy target set by the green shirts. The Protease crossed the target of 180 runs smoothly at completion of just 38.4 overs of the innings on six wickets.

Mozambique Airlines plane crashes in Namibia, killing 33

WINDHOEK: A Mozambique Airlines plane en route to Angola crashed in a game park in northeast Namibia, killing all 33 people on board, Namibian police said on Saturday. Flight TM 470 left Maputo on Friday for the Angolan capital Luanda with 27 passengers and six crew when it lost contact with air traffic controllers, the national carrier said in a statement. Namibian Police Force Deputy Commissioner Willy Bampton said rescue workers had found the burned-out wreckage of the aircraft in the dense bush of Bwabwata National Park, near                                                                                         the borders with Angola and Botswana.

U.S. airlines advised to give China flight plans over new defence zone

WASHINGTON: The United States advised its commercial airlines to notify Chinese authorities of flight plans when travelling through an air defence zone that Beijing established a week ago over the East China Sea, ratcheting up regional tensions.
 The United States said it expected U.S. carriers to operate in line with so-called notices to airmen issued by foreign countries, adding, however, that the decision did "not indicate U.S. government acceptance of China's requirements.

Pakistan promises to help Afghans meet former Taliban chief

KABUL: Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif promised Afghanistan on Saturday that he would help arrange further meetings between Afghan officials and a former Taliban commander as part of renewed efforts to revive a defunct peace process. Pakistan announced it would release the insurgent group's former second-in-command, Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar, in September. Afghan officials believe he still retains enough influence within the Taliban to help rekindle peace talks.

Imran Khan demands immediate removal of NAB Chairman

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Tehrik-e-Insaf (PTI) Chief Imran Khan has demanded immediate removal of the NAB Chairman today. Imran Khan said in a statement this day that the Supreme Court had declared in its verdict on NICL swindle case that the current NAB Chairman was also involved in that corruption. “The government should remove current NAB Chairman at once and end its drama of sending him on leave for delaying the law process,” demanded the PTI Chief. “The NAB Chairman should be beyond the doubts for fruitful accountability of the key culprits in country,

Bilawal Bhutto says PPP is a passion, not legacy of any player or mullah

KARACHI: Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) is a passion and spirit, not a legacy of any player or mullah, said the Chairman of the PPP, Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, here on Saturday. Bilawal Bhutto Zardari addressed to the party workers’ gathering on 47th Foundation Day of the PPP at Karachi’s Bilawal House this day.