Tag Archives: georgia
S.Williams reaches final of Swedish Open
S.Williams reaches final of Swedish Open (AP) / 21 July 2013 Serena Williams defeated Klara Zakopalova 6-0, 6-4 in the semifinals of the Swedish Open on Saturday to get her 50th win of the season faster than any other year in her career. After losing the first eight games, the third-seeded Zakopalova managed to break Williams’ serve twice in the second set to level score at 4-all, but the top-ranked Williams broke back to take the set and the match. “I was hardly making mistakes in the first set. I have to figure out a way to continue that tennis for more than one set, and I’m definitely going to go back and watch the film,” Williams said. According to the WTA, the most wins Williams previously had going into the summer hardcourt season was 38 in 2003. In the day’s other semifinal, Sweden’s Johanna Larsson came from behind to overpower Italy’s Flavia Pennetta 2-6, 6-3, 6-4. Williams will meet the home favorite Larsson in Sunday’s final. Williams will be going for her seventh title of the year and 53 rd of her career, while Larsson will be chasing her first-ever title. Continue reading
His journey with Quran started at nursery
His journey with Quran started at nursery (Ahmed Shaaban) / 20 July 2013 “There is kind of a special friendship between me and the Holy Quran.” These words best describe the intimate relationship between the holy book and the 21-year old Qatari contestant Anas Hashim Al Mashhadani who is participating in the 17th session of the Dubai International Holy Quran. Talking to Khaleej Times, the engineering student said he had always been proud of sticking to the Holy Quran since his early childhood. “I started my journey with the Holy Quran when I was at nursery school, and I memorised five parts of the Quran when I was nine.” The Holy Quran was a gift from the Almighty Allah that had positively affected Mashhadani’s life, behaviour and ethics, he said. “He who memorises the Holy Quran is supported and blessed by Allah in life and the Hereafter… The Quran has sharpened my memory and enhanced my academic performance.” 5 contestants disqualified DUBAI — Five contestants have been disqualified from the Dubai International Holy Quran Award for showing poor performance in the initial stages. According to a senior official, the participants found ineligible in initial tests for the 17th session of the award were from Fiji, Belgium, Mauritius, Grenada and Macedonia. Head of the Award Organising Committee Ibrahim Bu Melha said three other contestants from Singapore, New Zealand and Gabon have apologized for not being able to participate in the award this year. Thirty-two of the 82 contestants participating sat their final tests on Thursday night at the Dubai Chamber of Commerce and Industry. “Eighty-two contestants out of 90 contacted for participation this year will sit for final tests; and that is the highest participation ever in the award history.” Adding, he said eight other participants are to be examined on July 20. Khalid Al Marzugi, member of the public relations unit, said the award, known worldwide, has become the mother of all Quran contests. “The prizes specified for all participants are the highest and hence encouraged many contestants for participation.” ahmedshaaban@khaleejtimes.com Mashhadani then joined a Quran Study Centre where he memorised the Furqan Quran in full at the age of 13, when he was in Grade 8. Elaborating, he said he used to memorise one-and-a-half to two pages of the Quran everyday, apart from daily regular review of one part. “My family, particularly my brothers and sisters, have always been backing and encouraging me to memorise the Quran, and test my memory, offering me a lift to the Holy Quran Centre which is far away from home.” Mashhadani said he had eight brothers and sisters. “I feel we are blessed that my elder brother fully memorised the Quran as well.” Showing good performance, he participated in five local Quran contestants, mainly the Sheikh Jassim and Sheikh Ghanim Al Thani contests. “I have also participated in international Quran contests and represented Qatar in Egypt twice, as well as Jordan, Libya, Iran, Bahrain, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Oman, and now in the Dubai International Holy Quran Award.” As is the case every year, a contest is held to pick the top memoriser to represent the country. This year, Mashhadani was selected for the Dubai Award while others were sent to other international competitions. “I wish to come first in this award, best represent my country, and be a competent scholar in the future.” Giving advice to his fellow Qataris, Mashhadani urged them to stick to the Quran. “It is an honour to memorise the Quran… and mediate for his family and friends in the Dooms Day.” ahmedshaaban@khaleejtimes.com Continue reading
UAE allays Mers fears
UAE allays Mers fears Olivia Olarte-Ulherr / 20 July 2013 The Ministry of Health has said the deadly Sars-like coronavirus has not become a ‘public health emergency’ at the moment though four new cases have been detected in the UAE and two more in Saudi Arabia. There is no need for imposing any travel restrictions at this time, the ministry said, citing World Health Organisation’s latest updates. The ministry said it was following all latest updates regarding the new virus called Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (Mers-CoV) with the WHO. It confirmed that the virus was not a concern for public health at the moment as the detected cases globally continued to be very low. It reiterated that the current situation did not require a travel ban to any country in the world, nor screenings at different ports, or restrictions on trade. The MoH praised the cooperation and coordination among all health authorities in the country to follow up the situation and safeguard public health. Four healthcare workers in Abu Dhabi who took care of the first coronavirus patient in the country were identified as those recently infected with the coronavirus. According to the WHO, the medical personnel were from two hospitals in the emirate that treated the 82-year-old Emirati man. In two cases, a 28-year-old man and 30-year-old woman, did not develop symptoms of (Mers-CoV), while the other two, women aged 30 and 40, had mild upper respiratory symptoms and are in a stable condition. They are all now in isolation. State news agency Wam reported on Thursday that the four new cases were as a result of the screening of the first patient. “We screened 136 from the first contact and we found four positive,” Health Authority — Abu Dhabi (Haad) customer service and corporate communications director Dr Jamal Mohammed Al Kaabi said. The individuals screened included medical staff and family members of the patient. In addition to the four new cases in the UAE, two were also reported in Saudi Arabia, where the illness is thought to have originated and the most victims and fatalities have occurred. The WHO said both victims, from the Asir region, had mild symptoms but were not hospitalised. The first is a 26-year-old man who was in close contact with a previously laboratory-confirmed case and the second case is a 42-year-old female healthcare worker. This brought the total number of laboratory-confirmed cases of Mers infection to 88, including 45 deaths. The WHO advised healthcare providers to “maintain vigilance” and urged facilities caring for patients with suspected or confirmed Mers to take “appropriate measures to decrease the risk of transmission of the virus to other patients, healthcare workers and visitors”. olivia@khaleejtimes.com Continue reading
