Serena Williams Cruises into Round 3 – French Open

Serena Williams took another step towards capturing her 11^th career Grand Slam singles title on Thursday after breezing past Virginia Ruano Pascual in straight sets 6-2, 6-0 at Roland Garros.

Serena struggled in her opening match against Klara Zakopalova but showed no signs of difficulty on Thursday as she needed just 57 minutes to drop Ruano Pascual. Williams collected 23 winners and broke Ruano Pascual’s serve on five of eight opportunities while never having her serve broke.

Williams has achieved a career Grand Slam with four titles at the Australian Open (2003, 2005, 2007, 2009), three titles at the U.S. Open (1999, 2002, 2008), two at Wimbledon (2002, 2003) and a French Open title (2002).

 

Swine Flu Distribution Update

Here is a map of the world showing the distribution of Swine Flu cases and associated deaths.

 

Swine flu boy forces Eton closure

Public school Eton will close for a week after a pupil tested positive for swine flu, a school spokesman has said.

The Berkshire school, which was attended by princes William and Harry, was informed on Wednesday that a 13-year-old boy had tested positive.

Health authorities advised the school to shut until 7 June.

It comes after health officials announced a further 17 people in the UK were diagnosed with the virus, taking the total number of cases to 203.

Fourteen of the new cases – 13 children and one adult – are part of an outbreak now totalling 64 cases linked to Welford Primary School in Birmingham.

Welford is carrying out a “deep clean” while closed for half-term.

 

Source : BBC News

 

British Hostage families’ agony goes on

The “Baghdad Five” case is the UK’s longest-running hostage crisis since Terry Waite and John McCarthy were held in Lebanon a generation ago.

 

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/8071167.stm

 

Pakistani Taliban claim bombing

The Pakistani Taliban has claimed responsibility for a bomb attack in Lahore which killed at least 26 people.

A deputy to Taliban leader Baitullah Mehsud told the BBC over telephone that the attack was in response to the army’s continuing operation in Swat.

The caller, who identified himself as Hakimullah Mehsud, threatened similar attacks in other cities of Pakistan.

“Residents should leave the cities of Islamabad, Rawalpindi, Lahore and Multan,” he said.

More than 200 people were also injured in Wednesday’s attack.

 

Source : BBC News

 

Wow..worth seeing again & again for a picture of joy & passion unleashed!

 

The best of IPL

The story of the Fake IPL Player….FIP for many. 

http://fakeiplplayer.blogspot.com/2009/05/long-and-short-of-it.html

 

Ruthless Nadal into round three

World number one Rafael Nadal powered his way into the third round of the French Open, beating Russian Teimuraz Gabashvili 6-1 6-4 6-1.

After taking the first set comfortably, the Spaniard was made to work harder for the second but still prevailed.

Gabashvili showed spirit but was ultimately powerless to prevent Nadal sealing the match in straight sets.

Seventh seed Gilles Simon is also through after a 7-5 6-0 6-1 win over American Robert Kendrick.

Gabashvili began extremely well, taking the first three points of the match to have three break points, but Nadal quickly refocused and claimed the next five to avert danger.

The top seed may not have had it entirely his own way for the remainder of the set but the power and accuracy of his forehand was simply too much for Gabashvili and Nadal was able to wrap it up for the loss of just one game.

In the second set Gabashvili produced more than double Nadal’s winners with 12 to five, which goes someway towards explaining his increased competitiveness – represented by four games won – throughout the set.

 

SOURCE : BBC News.

 

Free food at a Chiptole near you! Check it out:

On Wednesday , May 27, Chipotle customers can get a free burrito and a drink at the restaurant chain’s newest Houston location.

That’s located at 8505 South Main, near Reliant Park.

Just drop in sometime between 11 a.m. and 7 p.m. for the freebies.

 

Slumdog child star gets new home

Slumdog Millionaire director Danny Boyle and the trust he set up have bought a new home for one of the child stars of his Oscar-winning movie.

The filmmaker, who is currently in Mumbai, has told Azharuddin Ismail, 9, he will be re-housed after his family was made to leave the slums.

Boyle, who has been criticised for not helping the child actors enough, blamed the press for raising expectations.

“Inevitably, the tension and pressure is media generated,” he said.

He said he hoped a new home would also be found for Rubina Ali, who played Latika, before the monsoon rains in June.

“They were given access to a world, an extraordinary and glamorous world, and they understandably want their lives to be completely transformed,” he said.

Soon after the movie was finished, Boyle and producer Christian Colson set up the Jai Ho trust, which was aimed to help the children financially until they turned 18.

“The homes are a concern. That is one of the reasons why we built the trust,” Boyle said.

SOURCE : BBC News.