Leila Lopes of Angola is crowned Miss Universe

SAO PAULO: Newly crowned Miss Universe Leila Lopes hopes her victory will allow her to assist her native Angola further escape its history of war and impoverishment and said she plans to focus on combatting HIV around the globe.

Speaking in a timid voice early Tuesday shortly after taking the crown in South America’s largest city, the 25-year-old Lopes said that “as Miss Angola I’ve already done a lot to help my people.”

“I’ve worked with various social causes. I work with poor kids, I work in the fight against HIV. I work to protect the elderly and I have to do everything that my country needs,” she said. “I think now as Miss Universe I will be able to do much more.”

Responding to questions, Lopes said that she has never had cosmetic surgery of any kind and that her three tips for beauty were to get a lot of sleep, use sun block even when it’s not sunny and to drink lots of water. She said her smile was her best weapon in the competition.

Asked about racism in light of the fact that she’s one of the few blacks ever crowned Miss Universe, Lopes said that “any racist needs to seek help. It’s not normal in the 21st century to think in that way.”

Lopes is Angola’s first winner. She beat out 88 other competitors to win the title during the 60th anniversary of the world’s biggest beauty pageant. She replaces last year’s winner, Ximena Navarrete of Mexico.

She deftly handled the interview question that is asked of the remaining top five contestants. She was questioned about what physical trait she would change if she could.

“Thank God I’m very satisfied with the way God created me and I wouldn’t change a thing,” Lopes said. “I consider myself a woman endowed with inner beauty. I have acquired many wonderful principles from my family and I intend to follow these for the rest of my life.”

The first runner-up was 23-year-old Olesia Stefanko of Ukraine and the second runner-up was Priscila Machado of Brazil. The third was Miss Philippines and the fourth Miss China.

Contestants spent the past three weeks in Sao Paulo, trying to learn samba dance steps, visiting impoverished children and kicking a football around for cameras as the Miss Universe pageant came to Brazil for the first time.

Despite battling against a home country favorite, Lopes won over the audience, speaking in the shared language of Portuguese. Angola, like Brazil, is a former Portuguese colony.

“She captivated the crowd and we were all behind her,” said Brazilian Natalie Bursztyn, 20, who was in the crowd inside Credicard Hall where the event took place. “It was great that the judges also saw what the fans saw and gave her the crown. Her dress was beautiful and she knew exactly what to say when they asked her the question about her looks.”

Another fan in the audience, Carolina Rocha, said Lopes’ win was “well deserved, we were cheering for her all along. Her smile and her friendliness was what set her apart from the others. She also answered her question very well, that likely helped her a lot.”

US broadcast journalist Connie Chung was one of the celebrity judges, and said before the competition that she was taking the contest seriously.

“I know my job and I’ll be tough, but fair,” Chung said. “You have to keep in mind that these women are not objects just to be looked at. They’re to be taken seriously. I want to choose somebody I take seriously and the world takes seriously, too.”

Paula Shugart, president of the Miss Universe organization, was hyped for the night.

“It’s our 60th anniversary, it’s a very big show,” she said. “We’re anticipating close to a billion viewers from around the world.”

Shugart said it was fitting the globe’s biggest beauty pageant be held in Brazil at this time, as the nation prepares to host some major events in the coming years.

“I don’t think there is any doubt in the rest of the world’s mind that Brazil is the place, between hosting the Olympics and hosting the World Cup,” she said. “I love the fact we’re going to kick it off. I always say we’re the ‘World Cup’ of beauty.”

The contestants must never have been married or had children and must be at least 18 years of age and under 27 years of age by Feb. 1 of the competition year.

The pageant, hosted by NBC “Today” anchor Natalie Morales and the Bravo network’s Andy Cohen, was broadcastr live on NBC and distributed to about 170 countries. The contest is co-owned by Donald Trump and NBC, and the celebrity judges included Chung and two prominent Brazilians, supermodel Isabeli Fontana and Indy race car driver Helio Castroneves.

Morales, who is half Brazilian, said that “what’s most important is for the women to be beautiful inside and out.”

For Cohen, the task of hosting was an easy one.

“It’s a fun job. All I have to do is stand there, smile and scream the names of countries,” he said.

Sharply dressed women and men jostled for chances to have their photos taken with stars on the red carpet. Some traveled from across the globe to support contestants.

Jehona Dreshaj, 17, arrived from Kosovo to cheer on her sister, Aferdita Dreshaj, who is representing the European country.

“It doesn’t really matter the outcome, she is already a winner in our eye and we are so proud of her,” she said. “This has been an incredible experience for her and for all of us. It’s great for her to be representing our country in an event like this”

There have been no headline-grabbing gaffes going into this year’s competition, as opposed to past years that have seen controversies of various stripes. The show itself went off without a hitch.

Some of the contestants have complained to the local news media about the size of bikinis used in some photo shoots, with Miss Mexico Karin Ontiveros saying they were “very small.”

That was enough to draw chuckles in Brazil, where women from all walks of life, not just beauty queens, sport barely there swimwear on beaches throughout the country.

Miss USA Alyssa Campanella, from California, failed to end a long losing spell for the US in the competition. An American has not been named Miss Universe since Brook Lee won the title in 1997.

The pageant started as a local bathing suit revue in Long Beach, California, organized by a swimwear company. 

Mausam’ withdrawn from Toronto film festival

TORONTO: Veteran Indian actor Pankaj Kapur’s eagerly awaited directorial debut “Mausam” was pulled from the Toronto film festival line-up on Tuesday, one day before it was to premiere.

Organizers said in a statement they were informed by the studio that the film had not received regulatory approvals in India in time to screen the film this week in Toronto.

“We ran into a delay getting approvals from the Indian Air Force and the Board of Film Certification in India,” producer Sheetal Talwar said.

The studio Eros International Media Limited had granted the Indian Air Force final approval on the film prior to clearing the Indian censor board in exchange for using its image.

Three screenings on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday in Toronto as well as a press conference with world media were canceled at the last minute.

In the film, Kapur’s son Shahid plays an Indian Air Force pilot from the Punjab whose love for a woman from Kashmir (Sonam A. Kapoor) is thwarted by their differences – he is Hindi, she is Muslim.

Sangakkara seeks S Lanka win in 100th Test

COLOMBO: A hugely proud Kumar Sangakkara hopes Sri Lanka will celebrate his 100th Test appearance with a series-levelling victory over Australia in the final match in Colombo from Friday.

“It’s a great honour to have represented my country for a period of time, and also a great honour to play 100 Test matches,” Sangakkara told reporters ahead of his landmark match at the Sinhalese Sports Club (SSC).

“It’s not often that a player gets that opportunity and I’m very, very proud and also very privileged to be given the opportunity to represent my country and my people for so long.

“But the most important thing is to contribute as much as I can to the side winning games. It’s nice to participate, but you want to say to your team-mates and others that we are winners.

“That is what everyone wants, go out there and win matches. It’s what the whole team is chasing at the moment, to try to win and be the best.”

Sangakkara, who turns 34 next month, will be the fifth Sri Lankan to play a century of Tests after Muttiah Muralitharan (132 matches), Mahela Jayawardene (121), Chaminda Vaas (111) and Sanath Jayasuriya (110).

The elegant left-hander has provided substance and stature to Sri Lanka’s batting along with good friend Jayawardene since his debut against South Africa in Galle in 2000.

His 8,572 runs in 99 Tests at an average of 55.66 with 25 hundreds are second in his country’s all-time list, behind Jayawardene’s 9,801 runs from 121 matches.

Sangakkara said his goal was to compile 10,000 Test runs and score 30 centuries before he hung up his boots, but retirement is still far from his mind.

He could not have asked for a better venue than his favourite hunting ground at the SSC to mark his 100th Test and lead the team’s bid to draw the three-match series 1-1.

In the 18 Tests he had played at the SSC, Sangakkara has scored 1,864 runs at an awe-inspiring average of 74.56 with seven three-figure knocks, including three double centuries.

It was at the same venue that Sangakkara and Jayawardene recorded the highest partnership ever in Test cricket: 624 for the third wicket in 2006 against a South African attack that included Dale Steyn and Makhaya Ntini.

Sangakkara made 287, while Jayawardene smashed 374 before being bowled by Andre Nel agonisingly close to West Indian Brian Lara’s world record of 400 not out.

Sangakkara has scored centuries in each of his last three Tests at the SSC, including knocks of 219 and 42 not out against India last year.

But Sri Lanka have not won a Test since the retirement of world bowling record holder Muralitharan last year, losing three of the 10 played since then, but Sangakkara asked fans to be patient.

He also said the younger players in the team should be given an extended run to prove their worth at the highest level.

“They’ve got to be comfortable in the fact they are here because they are good enough and also they are going to be given a nice, long-lasting run to prove what they can do,” he said.

Sangakkara, who gave up the captaincy after the World Cup in April to concentrate on his batting, said his successor Tillakaratne Dilshan was working hard to improve the team’s fortunes.

But he felt a lot still depended on how the senior players performed.

“The results will come but the senior guys have to keep putting their hands up and keep performing, which will allow the newcomers to perform even better”, he said.

Pakistan thrash Maldives 4-0 in AFC U-16 opener

KARACHI: Pakistan teenagers got off to a great start in Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Under-16 Football Championship qualifying rounds as they thrashed Maldives 4-0 in the opening match at Ali Al Sabah Stadium, Kuwait City under lights on Tuesday.

Pakistan boys maintained their fine run after winning the SAFF U-16 Championship victory as they torn apart Maldives defence.

According to report received from Pakistan Football Federation (PFF), Pakistan took the lead after 13 minutes when Muhammad Bilal scored off a well-placed pass from star striker Mansoor Khan. Bilal’s shot hit the post and went in as Pakistan went 1-0 up.

Three minutes later, Mansoor got his name on the scoresheet when his well-placed shot just inside the box found the net as Maldives defence were in complete disarray.

At half-time, Pakistan looked comfortable 2-0. In 63rd minute, a Mansoor Khan cross found the head of Bilal, who flicked it on for impressive winger Sher Ali who finished with aplomb as Pakistan went 3-0 up and took the game well beyond the reach of Maldives. Midfielder Raza Ali then made it 4-0 when his 20 yard shot flew past the goalkeeper three minutes later as Pakistan ended the game with a dominating performance over their fellow SAFF rivals.

In other games of the group, Yemen was held 1-1 by UAE, Kuwait came from behind to draw Afghanistan 1-1 earlier in the day to avoid a humiliating loss. The results mean that Pakistan is currently on top in Group B with three points. Pakistan now faces hosts Kuwait in next game on Thursday.

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Beautiful Neelum Valley Of Azad Kashmir

It is a valley of fountains, springs, waterfalls, flowering trees and plants. Geographically too, it is a hospitable valley. The Neelum Valley, 90 miles long bow-shaped with majestic pine, fir and deodar trees, lies north-south of Muzaffarabad (capital). This ninety-mile long kingdom of vegetation is ripped apart by the indigoblue Neelum river which flows serpentinely down hills to merge itself into the river Jhelum at Domail. Domail, the confluence of two mighty rivers, presents highly fascinating scene of youthful embrace. This heart-warning spectacle is most soothing to the eye. The valley, starting from Muzaffarabad, the capital of Azad Kashmir, is about 150 miles long. It lies on both sides of the river Neelum. The geographical features enhance the natural beauty of the Valley. Its elevation, a mere 2,000 feet at the start, gradually rises till it attains a respectable height of 8,000 feet. On both sides there are high mountains and peaks. Nearly all the forest wealth of Azad Kashmir is to be found in this part of the State. There are two approaches to the valley. One from the Kaghan Valley which is linked with it at two points, the Nuri Nari Hali (Pass) and the Ratti Gali and many minor Passes. From Dawarian it takes two days for hiking or riding and night stay at Dharian at 12,000 feet. The second approach is from Muzaffarabad. It is a distance of 55 miles which is jeepable in fair weather. The Neelum meets the Jhelum river at Domali (meeting of the two) on the outskirts of Muzaffarabad city. From Paticka forest one reaches Nosari, 24 miles ahead of Muzaffarabad. Next come Chaliana (height 3,200 feet), Qazi Nag, Barian, Salkhela, Kundal Shahi, Athmaqam on this road. On a number of places, the local population has built rope crossings on the river. It is a very dangerous device and the very thought of crossing these points is horrible but thrilling. Tao Butt is an example of vegetational generosity of the liberal nature. The spot is donned with all delicacies and niceties. Nature flirts here with fantastic environment. The forest wealth abounds in the Neelum Valley. Deodar, pine, fir, wild walnut, strawberry and hosts of other high statured trees and other types of wild growth and herbs are the treasure of the valley. Besides being invaluable in economic terms, the variety of natural growth offers a captivating scenery. Shunder Hill tops are covered with green forests and the fields are lush green with crops

Mangla Dam, Ramkot Fort: Mirpur

District Mirpur is located at the extreme South of the State and is linked with Pakistan and the districts of Azad Kashmir through several routes. District Mirpur comprises party plain and party hilly areas. Its hot climate and other geographical conditions closely resemble to those of Jhelum and Gujrat, the adjoining districts of Pakistan. The people of this area are basically agriculturists. During the last four decades a large number of people from this district have gone aboard, especially to United Kingdom. Today they are the major foreign exchange earning resource for Pakistan. As it adjoins the industrial cities of Pakistan,  the Government of Azad Jammu & Kashmir has successfully endeavored to develop it as an industrial place and promote private investment for establishing Textile, vegetable ghee, garments, scooters, cosmetics and many other industries.

Mirpur:

Mirpur, the district headquarter is situated at an elevation of 459 meters A.S.L. It is linked with the main Peshawar-Karachi grand Trunk Road at Dina, a small town about 15kms short of Jhelum city. The construction of Mangla Dam converted the old Mirpur town into a big artificial lake and effected a population of about 50,000. But it paved the way for existing new Mirpur town situated on the bank of Mangla Lake. The city is well planned and buildings are mostly of modem design. Mirpur has developed into an industrial city very rapidly. All the basic amenities of life are available in Mirpur. Colleges, hospital, banks, shopping centers, hotels,telephone & telegraph units, forest, PWD, Industries and Tourist rest houses exist in the city. Bus and wagon transport services are also available.

Mangla:

Mangla is a small beautiful modern town. It is situated at a distance of 110Kms from Islamabad and is 15Kms short of Mirpur City. The construction of Mangla reservoir having perimeter of 100Kms and presence of Mangia and Ramkot Forset of Mughal period has turned this place into an attractive tourist spot. Mangia has special attraction for the tourists coming on short visits because of its proximity to Jhelum, Lahore and Rawalpindi/ Islamabad.

Ramkot Fort:

Picturesquely located on the summit of a hill, Ramkot Fort is built over the site of and old Hindu Shiva temple.3 sides of this hill top are surrounded by River Jhelum (ancient “Vitasta”). Excavations relics of the 5^th and 9^th century AD have been discovered near one of the temples. In the 16^th 17^th century AD “the Muslim rulers of Kashmir while safe guarding their boundaries built numerous forts. Ramkot , sitting atop at the confluence of the river Jhelum & Poonch is one of them. The sikh Maharaja of Kashmir further fortified Ramkot. Ramkot Fort is located on the opposite side of the Mirpur Town and one has to cross Mangia Lake one boat to reach there. A 10 minutes travel by road from Mirpur leads to Sukhian and nearby Arm water Sports Club from where boats are available for access to Ramkot Fort. It takes 45minutes to reach there.

Shrines in MIRPUR

Hazrat Pir Shah Ghazi (RA)

The mausoleum of Pir-e- Shah Ghazi is the glory of District Mirpur. The holy shrine of the saint is situated at Khari Sharif, a town 8 km away from Mirpur.

Hazrat Pir Shah Ghazi was amongst the famous saints of 12′ century. He belonged to Qadri Mystical school of thought. His miracle of disappearing and re-emerging in a river earned him a great deal of recognition among his devotees and established his stature as a mystical figure. Due to his sanctity, piety and learning. The number of his followers swelled tothousands. His personality has been elaborated in great detail by his able Pupil. Sufi Scholar Mian Muhammad Buksh in his work “Tazkar-e­Muakeemi” the biography of Pir-e-Shah Ghazi.

His annual URS is celebrated on 13 and 14 Shaban every year. Hundreds and thousands people come from all over the country to have spiritual satisfaction.

Hazrat Mian Muhammad Buksh (RA) Khari Sharif

The shrine of the saint is situated at Khari Sharif near the Mausoleum of Hazrat Pir-e-Shah Ghazi. Hazrat was born in 1426(AH), the year 1826. He was instinctively interested in poetry and mysticism from his early age. On attaining youth, he set oull embarked on an extensive tour of Kashmir during which he visited almost all the shrines of noteworthy saints and sufis. His rnaster piece poetic work, “Saif-ul- Malook” attained enormous popularity in religious circles, which resulted in the translation of the master piece/creative work into other languages also. His writings and lofty ideas carry great deal of serenity and soft tone which make them sole piece of admiration, The master piece enjoys significant stature in the Punjabi literature, Mian sahib had written seventeen books in total of which “Hidayat-al-Muslameen” endorses I validates his stature as religious scholar of Hadiths and shows his profound insight into history, Besides being a Sufi saint, Hazrat was also fiery poet and lover of the Holy Prophet Hazrat Muhammad (PB), He left I departed for the Heavenly abode in 1907, His annual URS is held on 6th and 7^th of Zillhajj of Islamic year.

Moreover, the Shrines of Pir Shahab Gonoi Bin Sain Dudyal, Bathak Manjwari, Hazart Jhula Bahi, Darbar Shari, are also present in district Mirpur.