Williams sisters on song in Italy



ROME // The Williams sisters were back in business in the Italian Open yesterday. Serena, the top-ranked player, got through to the quarter-finals in her first tournament in three months by defeating Germany's Andrea Petkovic of 6-2, 3-6, 6-0 on the clay court. And Venus, her older sister, also advanced, beating Shahar Peer of Israel 6-3, 6-4. The Americans are back from knee injuries, and could meet in the semi-finals after being placed in the same half of the draw. Serena had been off the tour since she won the singles and doubles at the Australian Open, and she was entered in Rome thanks to a wildcard.

Against the 49th-ranked Petkovic, Serena said she felt "rusty". Her game was erratic at times and a mid-match slump cost her the second set. In the end she had almost as many winners as unforced errors, 25 to 21. "I'm glad I was able to win because at least I can be guaranteed another match. I think I definitely need it," she said. Serena, who next plays Maria Kirilenko of Russia, said that after her three months off she needs to stay healthy and have match play. That is why, she explained, she decided to skip social events at home and come to play in Rome instead.

Serena said she told herself to "forget Oprah and Anna Wintour" - who co-chaired the annual Metropolitan Museum of Art's Costume Institute Gala Benefit on Monday in New York. "I was supposed to be there. I had a fabulous dress," Serena said. "It hurt me ... I wanted to really be there but this is my career and I need the extra match." The fourth-seeded Venus, who had been sidelined with a knee problem since losing the Key Biscayne final, will have a tough quarter-final against Jelena Jankovic, who rolled to a 6-2, 6-0 victory over Yanina Wickmayer. * AP

Singham Again

Director: Rohit Shetty

Stars: Ajay Devgn, Kareena Kapoor Khan, Ranveer Singh, Akshay Kumar, Tiger Shroff, Deepika Padukone

Rating: 3/5

Company%20Profile
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The five pillars of Islam

1. Fasting 

2. Prayer 

3. Hajj 

4. Shahada 

5. Zakat 

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Company%20profile
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Milestones on the road to union

1970

October 26: Bahrain withdraws from a proposal to create a federation of nine with the seven Trucial States and Qatar. 

December: Ahmed Al Suwaidi visits New York to discuss potential UN membership.

1971

March 1:  Alex Douglas Hume, Conservative foreign secretary confirms that Britain will leave the Gulf and “strongly supports” the creation of a Union of Arab Emirates.

July 12: Historic meeting at which Sheikh Zayed and Sheikh Rashid make a binding agreement to create what will become the UAE.

July 18: It is announced that the UAE will be formed from six emirates, with a proposed constitution signed. RAK is not yet part of the agreement.

August 6:  The fifth anniversary of Sheikh Zayed becoming Ruler of Abu Dhabi, with official celebrations deferred until later in the year.

August 15: Bahrain becomes independent.

September 3: Qatar becomes independent.

November 23-25: Meeting with Sheikh Zayed and Sheikh Rashid and senior British officials to fix December 2 as date of creation of the UAE.

November 29:  At 5.30pm Iranian forces seize the Greater and Lesser Tunbs by force.

November 30: Despite  a power sharing agreement, Tehran takes full control of Abu Musa. 

November 31: UK officials visit all six participating Emirates to formally end the Trucial States treaties

December 2: 11am, Dubai. New Supreme Council formally elects Sheikh Zayed as President. Treaty of Friendship signed with the UK. 11.30am. Flag raising ceremony at Union House and Al Manhal Palace in Abu Dhabi witnessed by Sheikh Khalifa, then Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi.

December 6: Arab League formally admits the UAE. The first British Ambassador presents his credentials to Sheikh Zayed.

December 9: UAE joins the United Nations.

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