3 Hitler paintings to go up for auction

Updated at: 1038 PST, Saturday, September 05, 2009
BERLIN: A German auction house today sell three watercolor paintings attributed to Nazi leader Adolf Hitler.

The works, depicting cottages, mills, and churches nestled in rural landscapes, will go under the hammer on Sept. 5, Weidler’s auction house in Nuremberg said.

The three paintings are dated from 1910 and 1911 and originate from Vienna, where a young Hitler spent several years as a struggling artist. He then joined the army and fought in World War I.

One of the paintings, “White church in the Wachau,’’ was authenticated in 1963 by the late Peter Jahn, a renowned expert on Hitler’s early pieces.

Although the precise number of works by Hitler is unknown, Weidler said there were an estimated 723 pictures, including sketches, in existence. The auction house is expecting a five-figure sum for each picture. Earlier this year they sold two other watercolors by Hitler for a total of $45,530.

Sugar price goes up to Rs60 per kg in Peshawar

Updated at: 1450 PST, Sunday, September 06, 2009
PESHAWAR: Price of sugar has went up to Rs60 per kg in Peshawar while operation against those selling sugar at higher rates continues in the city.

Official rate of sugar in Peshawar has been fixed at Rs47 per kg but it is being sold in markets at Rs60 per kg due to which citizens are facing difficulties.

Meanwhile, crackdown continues against traders selling sugar at higher rates and 17 shopkeepers were arrested yesterday while five were fined on the spot.

Nation celebrating Defence Day with renewed commitment

Updated at: 1111 PST, Sunday, September 06, 2009
KARACHI: The nation celebrating the Defence Day today, Sunday to commemorate the great sacrifices for guarding the country against aggression and renew the pledge to make country's defence invincible.

The nation paid homage to the heroes of September 6 besides the change of guards ceremonies were held at the Mausoleum of Quaid-e-Azam and Mazar-e-Iqbal.

The day dawned with the Quran Khawani particularly for Martyrs in the unit mosques after Fajr prayers and for the solidarity of the country. Flag hoisting ceremonies held at unit and formation level and floral wreath laid at the Mazar-e-Quaid on behalf of the three services. Special prayers were held for all those who laid their valuable lives for the safety of the country and the nation, while the nation along with the Armed Forces of Pakistan celebrating the Defence Day with the pledge to leave no stone unturned in rendering any kind of sacrifice for the security of our country.

Change of Guards ceremony at the Mazar of Quaid-e-Azam Mohammad Ali Jinnah, the founder of the nation was held in the city. Pakistan Air Force cadets presented the Guard of Honour and hoisted the national flag, while assuming the Guard duty at the Mazar-e-Quaid.

In Lahore, change of guards’ ceremony was held at the Mazar of the poet laureate, Allma Muhammad Iqbal. Garrison Commander Major General Shafqat Ahmad laid the wreath on the Mazar. Brigadier Imtiaz Haider laid wreath at the grave of Lance Naik Muhammad Mahfooz located on Kahuta Road in the outskirt of Rawalpindi and offered ‘Fateha’. Brigadier Syed Hussain Shah Abbas laid wreath on the mazar of Captain Col Sher Shaheed (Nishan-e-Haider) at Swabi and an elegant and smart contingent of Pak Army presented guard of honour. Station Commander Okara Garrison, Brigadier Manzoor Ahmad laid wreath at the mazar of Major Tufail Muhammad Shaheed (Nishan-e-Haider) at Boreywala and offered’Fateha’.

Tendulkar suggests 25-over ODI matches

Updated at: 0711 PST, Sunday, September 06, 2009
NEW DELHI: The world's leading batsman Sachin Tendulkar of India has suggested that 50-over one-day internationals be split in two innings of 25 overs each to revive interest in the game.

With the growing popularity of Twenty20 cricket threatening to overshadow the 50-over format, the former India captain said the idea would also provide similar conditions to both teams.

"Today, we can tell the result of close to 75 per cent of matches after the toss. We know how conditions will affect the two teams," Tendulkar told the media.

"But it (splitting the game) is not too dependent on the toss because if, for example, it's a day-night match, then both the teams will have to bat under lights.

"In those 25 overs you can use your 10 wickets the way you want. Suppose if it rains, then also you can plan. The conditions change very dramatically, but this would ensure that it's the same for everyone."

Tendulkar, the world's top scorer in Tests (12,773) and one-dayers (16,684), said he thought of the idea in 2002 when India and Sri Lanka had to share the Champions Trophy in Colombo following the rain-hit final.

"First, they played 50 overs and we played two before the rain interruption. The next day (reserve day), Sri Lanka again played 50 overs and we played eight. In the end, we were declared joint winners," he said.

"I thought, 110 overs and still no result. That's when I thought we should have 25 overs each for both sides and then 25 overs each again."

The debate over the future of one-day cricket has grown after the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) last month abandoned their domestic 50-over competition from 2010.

13 superior courts judges to take oath tomorrow

Updated at: 1900 PST, Sunday, September 06, 2009
ISLAMABAD: The two newly appointed judges of the Supreme Court will take oath of their office on Monday while the oath taking of 7 new additional judges of Peshawar High Court and 4 of Balochistan High Court will also be held tomorrow.

Justice Khilji Arif Hussain and Justice Rehmat Hussain Jafri have been inducted as SC judges and they will be taking oath of their offices here at the Supreme Court building tomorrow. Chief Justice of Pakistan Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry will administer the oath.

The total number of SC judges will become 17 after addition of the above two judges who hail from Sindh province.

President Asif Ali Zardari granted approval to the appointment of 13 judges – two judges for Supreme Court and 11 additional judges for NWFP and Balochistan high courts.

Additional judges appointed in Peshawar High Court include Abdul Aziz Kundi, Fasih-ul-Mulk, Liaquat Ali Shah, Mazhar Alam Mina Khel, Attaullah Khan, Mohammad Safdar Khan and Mufftahuddin.

Justice Jamal Khan Mandokhel, Justice Tahira Safdar, Justice Mohammad Noor Muskan Zai and Justice Ghulam Mustafa Mengal have been inducted in Balochistan High Court as additional judges.

Safina, Sharapova crashed out of US Open Tennis

Updated at: 1319 PST, Sunday, September 06, 2009
NEW YORK: World number one Dinara Safina and three-time Grand Slam champion Maria Sharapova crashed out of the US Open at
the hands of teen titans on Saturday, aiding fellow Russian Svetlana Kuznetsova's title bid.

Petra Kvitova, a 19-year-old Czech who won her first WTA title in January at Hobart, and US giant-killer Melanie Oudin, two weeks shy of her 18th birthday, became the darlings of Flushing Meadows after their third-round shockers.

Kvitova, ranked 72nd, saved three match points in the 12th game of the final set and eliminated Safina 6-4, 2-6, 7-6 (7/5).

Safina will remain atop the rankings after the Open but is still searching for a first Grand Slam title and a way to play her best when it matters most.

Oudin stunned former world number one Sharapova 3-6, 6-4, 7-5 at Arthur Ashe Stadium by holding serve in the final game after six consecutive service breaks to book a quarter-final berth against Russian 13th seed Nadia Petrova.

Reigning French Open champion and sixth seed Kuznetsova dispatched Israel's Shahar Peer 7-5, 6-1, to become the highest remaining seed in her half of the draw with dangerous Sharapova also gone.

Oudin followed her upset of former world number one Jelena Jankovic at Wimbledon with a second-round US Open ouster of fourth seed Elena Dementieva and added Sharapova to her victims list.

Sharapova, who returned from right shoulder surgery in May, double faulted 21 times and committed 63 unforced errors, 19 more than Oudin, who converted on only 8-of-26 break-point chances.

There was no such optimism for Safina, who made 39 unforced errors and nine double faults with only 12 winners. While Kvitova had 59 unforced errors, she fired 47 winners with only five double faults.

Critics says Safina is less worthy of the top ranking than US Open second seed Serena Williams, the 11-time Slam winner who holds the Australian Open and Wimbledon titles.

Safina, who was upset that officials moved her match off Ashe stadium due to night session time issues, spoke of wanting to ease her tension but said losing the top ranking would not bring her relief.

Safina did nothing to support her cause with a third consecutive match in which she lost the first set, roared back to win the second, then gave away an early break in the third.

This time, she could not overcome her mistakes to advance.

Safina forced three match points on Kvitova's serve in the 12th game of the last set, but the Czech sandwiched a backhand and forehand winner around a Safina mis-hit backhand to escape the threat and reach the tie-break, which she won on her second match point when Safina sent the ball long.

Kvitova plays for a quarter-final spot against Belgian Yanina Wickmayer, who beat Italy's Sara Errani 6-3, 6-4.

Kuznetsova, the 2004 US Open winner, plays Danish ninth seed Caroline Wozniacki - who beat Romanian Sorana Cirstea 6-3, 6-2 - for a last-eight spot against Oudin or Petrova, who ousted China's Zheng Jie 6-4, 6-1.

Argentina's Gisela Dulko ousted Kazak Yaroslava Shvedova 6-3, 6-4, and will next face Ukraine's Kateryna Bondarenko, who eliminated Australian qualifier Anastasia Rodionova (AUS) 7-6 (7/4), 6-4.

Personal debt dips for first time

The total amount of personal debt in the UK has fallen for the first time since records began in 1993, the Bank of England has said.

Personal borrowing fell by £600m in July, taking the total owed by individuals down to £1.457 trillion.

There was a drop in both mortgage debt and other forms of borrowing such as bank loans.

The number of mortgages approved in July rose again to 50,123, suggesting property sales will continue to rise.

"Total net lending to individuals fell by £0.6bn in July, showing a net repayment for the first time in the series," the Bank said.

The amount outstanding on mortgages fell by £400m as people repaid more than they borrowed during July.

The amount accumulated on what is called consumer credit, such as loans and hire purchase agreements, dropped by a net £200m, once a small rise in credit card borrowing of £92m was taken into account.

"Today's news will not make happy reading for policy makers who have taken significant steps over the last year to encourage greater volumes of lending throughout the economy," said Benjamin Williamson at the centre for Economics and Business Research (CEBR).

Homeowner Richard Otten told the BBC that the interest payments on his mortgage had fallen in the past 18 months from £1,800 a month to just £200, but instead of spending the saved cash he had been using it to pay off his home loan quicker than planned.

"I left my repayments as they were, so what's in practice happening is that I'm paying off capital much faster than I would otherwise have been doing, and therefore the length of my mortgage is reducing very significantly," Mr Otten said.

Still subdued?

The increasing number of mortgages approved, but not yet lent, is widely seen as a good indicator of future trends and indicates that the revival in sales seen this year will continue into the autumn.

July's increase in mortgage approvals was the sixth monthly rise in a row and took the number of approvals to nearly twice the level recorded last November.

If sales continue to rise then prices may continue their recent pick-up as well.

"The mortgage market continues to show signs of some sort of recovery when compared to the first few months of this year," said Adrian Coles, director-general of the Building Societies Association (BSA).

However, he pointed out that activity was still much lower than in previous years.

"The BSA expects the mortgage market to remain similarly subdued over the remainder of 2009," said Mr Coles.

Dwindling savings

With the Bank of England's bank rate still at a historical low of 0.5%, the BSA warned that interest rates were so low that this year savers might take more money out of their savings accounts than they put in.

Withdrawals from building society accounts have outstripped new deposits every month since March.

Even taking into account interest added to people's accounts, July was the third month in a row that savings balances held by building societies customers had fallen.

Adrian Coles warned that this process would hinder the ability of banks and building societies to lend money to potential home buyers.

"Total UK savings balances might struggle to increase by £11bn in 2009, much lower than the £60bn increase in balances in 2008," he said.

"These figures include interest added to accounts. If this amount of interest were not included, such a low forecast for 2009 suggests that savers will actually withdraw more money than they deposit this year across the entire savings market," Mr Coles added.

The Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (Rics) warned that the reduced number of lenders in the market would also put a cap on any increased mortgage borrowing.

"The fundamental issue remains the withdrawal of many lenders from the mortgage market over the past year and the reluctance of new participants to play a meaningful role in delivering finance to potential homebuyers," said Rics chief economist Simon Rubinsohn.

Source : news.bbc.co.uk