Zardari urges people to resist those exploiting religion

ISLAMABAD: Former President Asif Ali Zardari in a message asked people to resist those who are challenging the country by exploiting religion to foist their political agenda on the people.

He said this in his message on the occasion of Allama Iqbal’s birthday today (Saturday)

“Allama Muhammad Iqbal will always be remembered not only as a sage, poet and philosopher but also for dreaming of a separate homeland for the Muslims of the Sub Continent and for his contributions to understanding the true message of our religion.

“The 136th birthday of our poet sage is an occasion to rejoice and celebrate his life and teachings.

It is also an occasion to bear in mind that Pakistan has been challenged and the message of Islam is ruthlessly distorted by extremists and militants to foist their narrow political agendas on the people in the name of religion” Zardai said in a statement issued by the Pakistan People’s Party.

PTA blocks over 200,000 IP addresses

ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) has blocked over 200,000 IP (Internet Protocol) addresses as part of a drive against illegal telecom traffic.

In a statement issued here on Saturday, the PTA said that 1382 mobile phone SIMs, 3160 phones and other gadgets involved in illegal telecom traffic were blocked.

The authority had introduced a New Grey System in October which enables it to automatically block the IPs, which are not included in its white list.

Kim Kardashian and Kanye West’s romantic weekend

Kim Kardashian and Kanye West are enjoying a romantic getaway this weekend.
The newly-engaged couple are spending some quality time together away from the cameras at the infamous Kennedy Cottage at the San Ysidro Ranch resort in Montecito, California.
The 2,000 square foot cottage, which has its own gated entrance, is where former US President John F. Kennedy and Jackie Kennedy spent part of their 1953 honeymoon.
According to RadarOnline.com, Kim and Kanye's four-month-old daughter North is staying with her nanny stayed in a smaller cottage about 100 yards away to give the couple some much-needed privacy.
An eye-witness told the website: 'Kim and Kanye never left the Ranch property. Kim was also spotted cuddling little Nori on the upper level of their private deck.'
The pair have been making the most of the luxury two bedroom suite, which is decorated with antiques, crystal chandeliers and Persian rugs, for the cost of $3,500 per night.
Kim has clearly been enjoying the relaxing trip, gushing on Twitter, 'Moms- do u ever want to wake up your baby to give him or her kisses? I want to soooooooo bad right now, but she's so peaceful sleeping (sic)' 
The A-list couple have been lying low since last month when the rapper got down on one knee on Kim's 33rd birthday, hiring out the ATT Park baseball stadium in San Francisco for the romantic proposal.
Kim enthused: 'It was a pretty crazy proposal. I'm still freaking. It was so phenomenal to be there. It was pretty amazing. It was honestly the best night of my life.

Justin Bieber hit with prostitute allegations

A woman claims to have spent a 'delicious' night with Justin Bieber.
The 19-year-old pop star hit the headlines last week for frequenting famous brothel Centaurus during his visit to Brazil and trying to make a sneaky exit by hiding under a sheet.
Further allegations about the 'Baby' singer's wild antics abroad have now emerged, as a prostitute from Le Palace nightclub in Panama has come forward to claim she shared a night of passion with the teen heartthrob.
The woman told CRITICA.com: 'It was delicious. It was super delicious, because not every day do you get to be with someone famous, especially someone like him. He's a love of a man! A cutie patootie!' 
Probed about the size of a certain part of Justin's anatomy, she revealed it was 'average.'
The mystery woman says the star and his entourage picked out 10 prostitutes to take back to his hotel, and she earned $500 from the alleged hour-long x-rated encounter with Justin.
She explained: 'They took us in their car to the hotel. There was so much emotion, it was incredible. I wanted to do everything with him. I did everything!
'We left the hotel around 5 a.m. He gave me $500 because I was the one that got with him. He gave all of us concert tickets.'
This comes after a woman named Gaby del Campo posted a picture of a wad of money on Twitter last week, writing, 'Thanks @justinbieber for the fresh dolla bills. (sic)'
Justin's team vehemently denied claims he had paid for a prostitute the time, insisting the woman was one of 50 people the singer invited to a property he was renting for an after-party.

Celine Dion blasts death hoaxers

Celine Dion has lashed out at repeated rumours she has died.
The 'My Heart Will Go On' singer has blasted those behind death hoaxes throughout her career and insisted the cruel online pranks are the reason she doesn't want to be involved in show business.
She told Digital Spy: 'Many years ago I [apparently] killed myself in my own garage. Don't ask me why I don't want to be a part of the showbiz industry!'
The 45-year-old star admitted she hates reading the rumours because of the effect it has on her family, including her ageing mother.
She said: 'Sometimes it's freaky because I have to call my family about it.
'I was celebrating the birthday of my twins in Montreal and I was getting these phone calls saying there was stuff on Facebook that I was dead. 
'The thing that worries me is my mum. It makes me a little mad - she's 86 years old and if I'm not on the phone telling her I'm OK four seconds after it's on the news ... It doesn't matter what they say, it's the impact it has on your family.'

“I won't be retiring, not for a long time,” Clarke says

-File photo

SYDNEY: Australian captain Michael Clarke has dismissed the idea of being driven into retirement by a degenerative back problem and believes he could play three more Ashes series over the next five years.

Clarke will start his sixth Ashes series on Nov. 21, but with the back problem certain to return at some point and his captaincy the subject of a media debate, there has been speculation he might soon call time on his test career.

“I won't be retiring, not for a long time,” the 32-year-old told Sydney's Daily Telegraph.

“I feel as fit and healthy as I've been for a long time and my love and drive to have success and be a part of this Australian team and New South Wales team is as strong as ever.

“As long as I'm performing, I think I've got a good four or five years left in me.”

There has been little wrong with his performances with the bat in the two years since Clarke took up the captaincy.

Although his record against England (1,746 runs at an average of 46 per innings) does not quite match up to his overall stats (7,656 runs at 52), Australian cricket fans will be delighted their best batsman is going nowhere.

Another five years would take Clarke through the 2015 tour of England as well as the 2017-18 series Down Under and to an age close to that of his predecessor Ricky Ponting when the Tasmanian retired.

“My love of the game is stronger than it has ever been. The older you get, the more you experience the highs and lows,” Clarke said.

“It makes you enjoy the good times and enjoy the wins, and also realise that when you're not winning hard work will turn that around.

“I'm as excited as I've been at the start of any summer.”

After losing the last Ashes played in Australia 3-1 in 2010-11 and going down 3-0 in England just a few months ago, Clarke's team are in the rare position of going into a home series as underdogs.

“If I didn't think we could win I wouldn't take the field,”

Clarke said. “You want to win every game you play. That's part of playing for Australia.”

Federer beats tough Del Potro to face Nadal in semis

Roger Federer celebrates winning against Juan Martin Del Potro of Argentina at the ATP World Tour Finals at the O2 Arena in London November 9, 2013. – Reuters

Published 2013-11-09 23:17:53

Share

 Email

0 Comment(s)

 Print

LONDON: Roger Federer staged a superb fightback to reach the semi-finals of the ATP World Tour Finals with a 4-6, 7-6 (7/2), 7-5 victory over Juan Martin del Potro on Saturday.

Federer had only once failed to reach the last four in 11 previous appearances at the season-ending event and he recovered from a set and a break down, and then 3-0 down in the final set, to subdue the Argentine fourth seed and maintain his impressive record.

The six-time Tour Finals champion qualified in second place in Group B behind defending champion Novak Djokovic and will face world number one Rafael Nadal in Sunday's semi-finals at London's O2 Arena.

“A lot of coming from behind, trying to get back into the match, and it was amazing that I was able to pull it off,” Federer said.

“I could never play free flowing tennis. I fought hard, maybe got a bit lucky at times.”

After a disappointing year saw his ranking tumble to seventh in the world, Federer remains in with a chance of finishing the season on a high with a fourth successive appearance in the final of the Tour Finals.

“I don't get a day off, I've got to back it up and be ready to go again tomorrow,” Federer added ahead of the 32nd instalment of his epic rivalry with Nadal.

“I'll try to make his life a bit difficult.”

Federer, a 17-time Grand Slam winner, had beaten del Potro in the quarter-finals of the Paris Masters last week, one of 14 victories in 19 previous meetings with the Argentine.

But del Potro got the better of the Swiss great in the Basel final last month and famously beat him in the 2009 US Open final.

Del Potro earned three break points in Federer's opening service game and converted the third when the 32-year-old drove a forehand wide.

Del Potro broke again for a 4-1 lead when Federer blew a 40-0 advantage before tamely netting with a forehand from the baseline on break point.

Federer managed to get one of the breaks back and reduced the gap to 4-5, but it wasn't enough as del Potro held his nerve, staving off two more break points before to closing out the set.

It was Del Potro who remained on top at the start of the second set and he broke for a 3-1 lead after Federer drove a lacklustre backhand into the net.

But Federer then sprang to life, earning three break points in the sixth game and taking the first of them thanks to a del Potro double-fault.

That came in the midst of run of 12 successive points for Federer as the momentum swung toward the Swiss, who levelled the match with a dominant display in the tie-break.

Federer made a sluggish start to the decider and once more del Potro capitalised, breaking en route to a 3-0 lead.

But remarkably del Potro again couldn't hold on as Federer roared back with a break in the fifth game and then landed another to move 6-5 ahead.

With the crowd shouting their support for Federer, the Swiss gave his fans another moment to treasure as he completed his comeback and sealed the win after two hours and 26 minutes with a thunderous ace.