Singer Adele welcomes voice rest from a noisy world

LOS ANGELES: Grammy winner Adele, who swept the awards show with best album, record and song of the year, told reporters backstage that being forced to rest her voice after recent surgery was a welcome change.  
   
“It’s actually been really, really peaceful,” said the radiant 23-year old British chanteuse after the awards show during which she belted out a soaring rendition of “Rolling In the Deep” in her first live performance since vocal cord surgery late last year.  
   
After it was over, her doctors ordered her not to speak and to rest her voice.  
   
“It was a bit traumatic with having to have the surgery,” she said, but noted that she enjoyed having to quiet down in such a loud world. “Everything is so noisy in my world, it was actually a bit of a blessing in disguise,” she said.  
   
“Thank God my voice healed and I stuck to all the rules that they gave me, and I’ve actually never been happier. I found great happiness when I was ill. I was glad to be back, but I really enjoyed having to be quiet. I’m so mouthy it was quite nice to be forced to be quiet,” she said. AGENCIES 

Apple takes on Samsung in new legal fight on phones

CALIFORNIA: Apple Inc raised the stake in an intensifying global patent battle with Samsung Electronics by targeting the latest model using Google’s fast growing Android software, a move which may affect other Android phone makers.

Apple has asked a federal court in California to block Samsung from selling its new Galaxy Nexus smartphones, which use Google’s newest version of Android, called Ice Cream Sandwich, alleging four patent violations including new features such as a voice-command search function.

Galaxy Nexus, the official debut of which was delayed by Samsung in October to pay respect to Apple’s co-founder Steve Jobs, is the first phone running on the newest Android version before the platform is widely adopted by hardware manufacturers such as HTC Corp and Motorola Mobility. HTC and Motorola are also in separate patent disputes with Apple.

In a lawsuit filed last week in San Jose, Apple said the Galaxy Nexus infringes on patents underlying features customers expect from Apple products. Those include the ability to unlock phones by sliding an image and to search for information by voice.

“Google cannot deny its undivided responsibility for any infringement findings. A preliminary injunction would not prohibit the sale of a Galaxy nexus just because it’s called Galaxy Nexus or looks like one: it’s all about which patents it infringes on,” said independent patent expert Florian Meuller.

“I am absolutely certain that…for the preliminary injunction motion the Galaxy Nexus was singled out because it’s so new, and important.”

Samsung said in a statement on Monday that it is aware of the filing by Apple in the California court.

“We continue to assert our intellectual property rights and defend against Apple’s claims to ensure our continued innovation and growth in the mobile communications business,” Samsung said in a statement.

With the new lawsuit, Apple is opening up another legal assault on the South Korea-based company after taking Samsung to the same court in April of last year. In the earlier case, Apple alleged that Samsung illegally copied iPhone and iPad design features and the look of its screen icons. That case is still going on, although in December Apple lost a bid for a preliminary bar against Samsung for selling Galaxy phones and tablets.

Apple acknowledged the setback in the new action and said now it is suing over new products and different patents.

In addition to the California cases, Apple and Samsung are waging more than 20 legal fights in at least 10 countries in their war for global leadership of smartphone and tablet markets. AGENCIES

Govt to tread legal path: Firdous Ashiq

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ISLAMABAD: Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting Dr Firdous Ashiq Awan Monday said the government will tread the legal path vis-à-vis court orders.

She said this while talking to reporters after hearing the landmark contempt case, where Supreme Court (SC) indicted Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani over contempt charge during the proceedings of National Reconciliation Ordinance (NRO) Implementation case.

She told the PM Gilani will not resign from his office, adding the government will consult its legal experts over the issue.

The judicial verdict is not yet out, she said referring to take on legal fight afar. TrendPK

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PPP leaders rise in sync over PM’s indictment on contempt charge

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ISLAMABAD: Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) leaders Monday said it is premature to ask Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani to resign.

The PPP leaders, after the Supreme Court (SC) indicted The PM Gilani over contempt charge during the proceedings of National Reconciliation Ordinance (NRO) Implementation case, said their party respects the courts; however, this should be kept in mind that president has immunity under the Constitution.

Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting Dr Firdous Ashiq Awan reiterated the old stance, “To our reckoning, the President enjoys immunity.”

Responding a question over making the PM Gilani a scapegoat, she said her party has always rendered sacrifices for the public and will keep doing so in future as well.

Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) Central Information Secretary Qamar-uz-Zaman Kaira, expressing distress over the indictment of Prime Minister Gilani, asserted that the PM Gilani is not guilty and this will be vindicated at the court as well.

PPP leader and Deputy Speaker in Sindh Assembly Shela Raza said there are thousands of cases pending in courts; but, the PM Gilani’s case is unnecessarily being given so much importance.

Awami National Party (ANP) Chief Asfandyar Wali Khan said his party will remain in coalition government regardless of the verdict.

Meantime, Pakistan Muslim League-Quaid (PML-Q) Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain, talking to the battery of reporters outside the apex court building, said he had offered a good counsel to the PM Gilani in this regard. TrendPK

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DM Jamali blast kills 2 kids, injures 5

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NASEERABAD: As many as two children lost their life in a powerful explosion in Dera Murad Jamali, TrendPK reports Monday.

Also, at least five people including three policemen were injured in the mishap caused by the explosives rigged to a motocycle.

According to sources, the miscreants targeted the police mobile van. TrendPK

Come back for more details.

Grammy Awards show set amidst sobs, cheers

LOS ANGELES: Adele’s distinctive voice was born again and Whitney Houston was mourned on Sunday in a Grammy Awards show packed with triumphant comebacks and fond farewells.

Katy Perry, sporting blue hair and metallic body armor, stormed back defiantly in her first big public performance after husband Russell Brand filed for divorce in December, and country singer Glen Campbell, 75, made what could be his last Grammy appearance after being diagnosed with early stage Alzheimer’s disease.

Just 10 of the 78 Grammys were handed out during the 3-1/2-hour telecast from Los Angeles, clearing the way for some eclectic line-ups on stage that paired Rihanna with Coldplay, and rapper Lil Wayne with DJ David Guetta.

As expected, the music industry’s biggest night belonged to British singer Adele, 23, who won all six of the Grammys she had been nominated for. “This is ridiculous,” she said as the trophies piled up for her album “21″ and hit singles “Rolling in the Deep” and “Someone Like You.”

But the biggest applause came after Adele gave her first major public performance following throat surgery in November that millions of her fans worldwide feared might destroy her signature husky voice.

Starting out a cappella and framed by a single spotlight on the vast stage, Adele overcame initial nerves to belt out “Rolling In The Deep” and enjoy a standing ovation.

“I need to thank my doctors I suppose, who brought my voice back,” she said, describing “21″ as a record inspired by “a rubbish relationship” that had nevertheless led to “the most life-changing year.”

Memories of Houston, who was found dead in as yet unexplained circumstances just 24 hours earlier in a Los Angeles hotel room, made for a nostalgia-filled night.

Grammy host LL Cool J started the evening with a prayer “for our fallen sister Whitney Houston” but said the industry would remember her “the best way we know how, with a song.”

Grammy and Oscar-winner Jennifer Hudson did the honors, singing Houston’s biggest hit “I Will Always Love You” with just a slow piano and the “bitter sweet memories” of the song’s lyrics.

Bonnie Raitt and Alicia Keys bade farewell to another lost star – “At Last” singer Etta James – with their version of “Sunday Kind of Love.”

Chris Brown returned to Grammy’s embrace, three years after his career nosedived when he beat up girlfriend Rihanna on the eve of the 2009 awards show.

Brown won best R&B album for “F.A.M.E” and performed twice on Sunday’s show. “I thank the Grammys for letting me get on the stage and do my thing,” he said.

Country star Taylor Swift turned the table on critics of her off-key Grammy performance two years ago by winning two awards for “Mean” – in which she lashed out at her haters – and delivering a flawless performance that changed the words of the chorus to “Some day, I’ll be, singing this at the Grammys.”

The Grammys took a walk down memory lane with a Beach Boys medley featuring a nervous looking Brian Wilson – the musical genius behind the 1960s California sound – and four other early members of the “Good Vibrations” band who plan a world tour in 2012.

Nicki Minaj lost the best new artist Grammy to indie rocker Bon Iver. But the rapper staked her claim to succeed the provocative Lady Gaga with a religious-themed performance of “Roman Holiday” that saw her levitating from the set of a church.

Elsewhere, some of the night’s biggest thrills came from a small tent outside the main concert venue where Foo Fighters played a rousing version of “Walk,” and Brown, Deadmau5, David Guetta and Lil Wayne gave Grammy viewers their first taste of dance electronica. AGENCIES

Poet Atta Shad’s being remembered today

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KARACHI: Famed Urdu and Balochi poet Atta Shad is being remembered on his death anniversary today (Monday).

Atta Shad was born in 1939 in South Baluchistan. He is inarguably one of the foremost intellectuals from Balochistan.

His repertoire includes two collections of verse in Urdu and three collections of verse in Balochi besides three research related works that also include the Urdu-Balochi dictionary.

He was appointed the director of National Art Council Quetta in 1973. Atta Shad was the recipient of the Sitara Imtiaz for his services rendered in the filed of literature.

He died on 13 February 1997 in Quetta. TrendPK

Govt honors judiciary: Spokesman Farhat

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PESHAWAR: Presidential spokesman Farhatullah Babar said the government respects the judiciary.

Talking to media here, he said the President enjoys and will continue to enjoy indemnity. TrendPK

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Britain seeks urgent talks on peace force for Syria

LONDON: Britain will have urgent discussions with the Arab League over the group’s proposal for a joint peacekeeping force with the United Nations in Syria, Foreign Secretary William Hague said Monday.
  
Hague also welcomed the Arab League’s decision at a meeting in Cairo on Sunday to endorse a “Friends of Syria” group, including Britain, which will meet in Tunisia on February 24.
  
“We will discuss urgently with the Arab League and our international partners the proposals for a joint AL/UN peacekeeping force,” Hague said in a statement.
  
“Such a mission could have an important role to play in saving lives, providing the Assad regime ends the violence against civilians, withdraws its forces from towns and cities and establishes a credible ceasefire.”
  
Hague said Britain would play a “very active part” in the Friends of Syria group, which has similarities to the Libya contact group formed by international partners against Libyan leader Moamer Kadhafi.
  
The Arab League said in a statement after the Cairo meeting that it would “ask the UN Security Council to issue a decision on the formation of a joint UN-Arab peacekeeping force to oversee the implementation of a ceasefire.”
  
It said diplomats from the league would also open contacts with the Syrian opposition and give them financial and political support against Bashar al-Assad’s regime.
  
Hague said the Arab League had taken “significant steps to increase the diplomatic and economic isolation of the Syrian regime”.
  
“The Arab League could not have sent a clearer message to Syria than the one it sent yesterday and we look forward to working closely with them in the coming days and weeks,” Hague said. AGENCIES

True respect requires action on court orders: Manto

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ISLAMABAD: Renowned law expert Abid Hasan Manto Monday said the rulers were lost in their conceit, believing that they will remind judges of their favors on them (judges) and the matter will dissolve into thin air.

Talking to TrendPK TV, he said the respect for the judiciary is not just honoring the judges; instead, the actual respect lies in acting upon the court orders. TrendPK

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