BUENOS AIRES (AFP) – Ana Obarrio de Pereyra Iraola’s dream of becoming a tennis star was put on hold in 1949 when her husband stopped her playing. For the next 20 years, she concentrated on raising their 10 children instead.

She spoke to AFP just after winning the Argentina Senior Masters in the 80-plus category.

Obarrio’s family indulged her love of tennis. She started playing as a girl and was a youth champion. But the social mores of late 1940s Argentina got the better of her after she met her husband when she was 18.

Shortly afterwards, she gave up an opportunity to play in a major international tournament.

"My husband didn’t like me playing mixed doubles with men... I didn’t play again after that," she recalls.

"I don’t regret it. I would do the same again. My first joy is my children. Tennis comes next."

She resumed playing with friends in her 40s. In her 60s, after her husband’s death, she started competing seriously again. Obarrio trains three times a week on a court her family built for her at her country estate.

"She has the best style of play of anyone in her category," said Norma Baylon, an Argentine tennis star from the 1960s.

Argentina has about 1,000 competitive players in the seniors category -- more than most countries.

"As players get older, the aim is to run less and achieve greater precision in their shots," says coach Roberto Alvarez, director of the Argentine Senior Masters 2016.

Obarrio plays in 1950s-style flat-soled white canvas shoes and stylized shorts and t-shirt that recall the days of her youth.

"I put on my shoes and feel the ground of the court," she says. "It gives me immense pleasure."

Two of Obarrio’s daughters and six of her grandchildren come to watch her beat an 80-year-old rival in their hour-long Masters final on the Hurlingham clay.

Obarrio ranks third in the country in her age group. This year she aims to play in the seniors world championships in Florida.

"I am obsessed with winning that," she says.

Obarrio has 37 grandchildren.

"She is very free-spirited," says one of them, Lupe, 19, after watching her Masters victory.

"She is an unusual grandmother."

(Published by: Dunya News)

SHIMSHAL (Awesome News): A weeklong basic mountaineering camp organized by Pakistan Youth Outreach in collaboration with Karakorum Expedition, came to its end. This year marked successful conclusion of 6th Basic Mountaineering and 2nd National Ice Climbing championship at Malangudi Glacier Shimshal.\

For the past six years, Pakistan Youth Outreach has been organizing outdoor sports related events for youth. The outdoor mountaineering training camp is initiative of mountaineering duo siblings, Ms. Samina Baig and Mr. Mirza Ali, as a part of wider youth outreach program. In particular, the purpose of this event is to promote outdoor sports, encourage women participation in challenging adventure sports and promote tourism specially winter & adventure tourism in Pakistan.

The event had around 25 participants, representing different regions of Pakistan, from Sindh, Punjab, PATA (swat), AJK and Gilgit Baltistan. Out of total 25 members, there were 13 girls from different professions and of age group between 17 to 48 years. This year’s event also had three foreign participants, two females and a male from Norway, USA and Germany respectively.

The weeklong mountaineering camp concluded with the 2nd National Ice Climbing Competition. The initial plan was for the championship to be held at the Pakistan’s first artificial wall, however due to global warming affecting Shimshal’s winter this year the wall couldn’t be built. The championship was therefore held at the foot of Malangudi Glacier’s natural ice wall.

The Championship is a promotion of winter Olympics in Pakistan and engaging youth in healthy activities. The competition was divided into two categories for girls and boys. After a thrilling competition, under boys category Mr. Sultan Mirza age 17 secured the first position, 1st National ice champion Mr. Ahmed Baig came to 2nd place and Mr. Reco from Germany secured 3rd position.

In a compelling competition among girls, Ms. Siv Ann secured 1st position, 1st National Ice climbing Champion Ms. Samana Rahim secured 2nd position and Ms.Maira Wafa held 3rd position.

The full day championship was followed by an award distribution ceremony, which was a perfect way to end the event, with winners being awarded with unique prizes of ice climbing tools.

Mr. Reco, Mr. Kalim swaty highly appreciated PYO for organizing such events for the youth of Pakistan and hoped for this to continue in future. Mr. Saleem an engineer by profession also commended the event and showed his eagerness to join similar events in the future. Ms. Natasha and Zoya from Sindh also expressed their gratitude and thanked Mr. Mirza Ali and Ms. Samina Baig for organizing such a wonderful event.

The event came to a great end and all the participants greatly enjoyed their time & learning experience, and happily returned home after spending a night in Shimshal village. The basic mountaineering camp was an inspiration and motivation for the young participants, as it taught them not only the basic climbing techniques, but also unique survival skills and provided a great platform for social interaction.

Ms.Samina and Mr.Mirza Ali highly appreciated the participants for their courage, interest and enthusiasm for outdoor sports and appreciated participants’ families for allowing and trusting PYO to send their children in this outdoor camp specially in case of young girls. This was indeed a great message of women empowerment and gender equality.

Pakistan Youth outreach will continue to organize similar events in the future for youth with same objectives. Pakistan Youth outreach next event is Ski4Freedom starting from 20th -27th January and first ski event in Chipursan valley from 1st till 4th February.

But for four centuries, the name of a female ruler in Gilgit has been recalled every time the crops were watered a sip was taken at one of the two irrigation canals that feed the valley.

Dadi Jawari, a 17th century ruler of Gilgit, gave the region perhaps one of its greatest gifts ever.

Ajeeni daljah and Khireeni daljah are the two main irrigation channels feeding Gilgit which had been built by Jawari between 1630 and 1660 AD.

They had been built to irrigate what is now Kashrote, Nargal, Majini Muhallas, Barmas and Sonikot areas in the heart of Gilgit.

“I am sure that she was one of the finest administrators this region has even seen,” says Sherbaz Bercha, a noted historian in Gilgit-Baltistan.

“The two main channels [Ajeeni daljah and Khireeni daljah] were dug during her rule and I must say we owe the expansion of our city to that great lady,” Barcha told The Express Tribune.

The channels were built to help expand existing settlements of the time which were confined to Barmas, Jutial and Napoor.
Interestingly, Gilgit’s residents refused to help with the canal’s construction.

The queen, thus, was forced to seek help from the Darel valley – what is today known as the Diamer district – to build her canal.

In the absence of proper recorded history of the region, Barcha conceded that they mostly rely on folklore and other accounts to piece together the history.

Ahmad Hasan Dani, a famous historian who wrote History of Northern Areas of Pakistan, wrote that Dadi Jawari used to dress like a man and ride horses and issued orders in her name.

“She took great interest in ameliorating the lives of people, undertook many welfare measures and built many roads in the country, [region]” Dani wrote. He corroborates the construction of the canals in his book.

The queen is also said to have travelled to all parts of her dominion, meeting the locals and inquiring after their troubles.

Once when she was said to be visiting the Sanekar fort in Bagrote area, she was besieged by her opponents. But being a resourceful and capable woman, she managed to break through the siege.

According to Dani, Jawari twice ruled the region. First from 1630 to 1660 AD and then from 1689 to 1705.

This account, however, is disputed by another historian, the late Shah Raees Khan. He says Jawari ruled Gilgit from 1642 to 1667.

While Jawari brought the gift of water to greater Gilgit, it has been neglected by subsequent generations.

The water of the canals was used for drinking till the early 80s. However, a fast growing population and lack of care for the canals means that water in the channels is highly contaminated and not fit for drinking.

Despite that, the canals, along with her work for women empowerment, mean that Jawari is immortalised in the region.
Today, we can see some of her legacy carried forward by pioneering women such as famous climber Samina Baig. via ET

(Published by: Mountain TV)

GILGIT (AP TV): Hasan stands outside a house in a Gilgit street. He is visibly nervous. “Should I knock on the door,” he hesitantly asks a group of boys surrounding him. “Yes you have to,” replies a boy in the group. Excited to be doing it for the first time, Hasan pulled down his mask and knocks on the door.

When the door opens, the entire group of children rushes in and starts performing a traditional play. The 14-year-old was part of ‘Shaap’, a traditional form of street theatre popular in Gilgit. It is a nascent form of  entertainment for children.

The shows are performed by groups of around 15 young boys, aged between 10 and 17. During the cold winter nights of December and January, they go house-to-house knocking on doors. When someone lets them in, they start performing the musical play.

The main characters in ‘Shaap’ are “Jaro” and “Jari” – a old man and an old woman, respectively. The couple’s characters are usually performed by teenagers under the age of 15. Their props are generally limited to masks and walking sticks to add a bit of visual depth to their characters.

The boys also bring their own musical arrangements, with the senior-most member of group carrying a drum.

The drummer usually goes door-to-door, beating the drum to alert residents about the arrival of Jari and Jaro, as the rest of the team who follow in tow.

“Apart from alerting the residents, the drumbeat ‘heats up’ the frozen atmosphere and the actors,” said city resident Altaf Khan.

The boys only visit around four houses a night before returning to their respective homes due to the extreme cold.

But in some cases, residents are not interested in allowing the kids into their homes. They simply tell the boys off at the gate.

But the boys are stubborn and do not leave without exacting a ‘tip’ – which could range from Rs10 to Rs200.

Once the ‘tip’ exchanges hands, the boys move on to the next house, happy to have at least earned something.

Dying tradition

While boys continue to perform the traditional theatre in areas such as Nagral, Kashrot, Majini Muhalla, Barmas, Amphery and Napura, its prevalence has decreased considerably over the years.

Technology is the chief culprit in this regard, keeping young and old alike preoccupied.

“There was a time when we had free time for such activities,” Khan told The Express Tribune.

“But now our kids only have time for technology,” he said, fearing that the decades old tradition was at risk of being forgotten.

KARACHI (Dunya News) - The alleged police encounter of Zeesgab got controversial on Saturday night as the family protested outside the police station and chanted slogans against police, reported Dunya News.

Police had claimed that they killed Zeeshan in an encounter on previous day and injured his two companions. But the family claimed that it was a fake encounter.

The mother and sister of Zeeshan asked that how was Zeeshan killed while he was in the custody of police. They said that they would protest until they get justice. 

KARACHI: The Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) has decided to restructure its organisational construct, sources informed on Sunday.

Under the new structure, PPP-Parliamentarians has been dissolved. The PPP will stay as the only functional party, the sources said.

Bilawal Bhutto Zardari will head the PPP while former chairman Senate Nayyar Hussain Bukhari will be the Secretary General, the sources added.

The PPP-Parliamentarians was a party created by Ameen Faheem during Pervez Musharraf's presidency. The party was an electoral extension of the PPP.

LAHORE (News92world) – Bitterly cold weather has enveloped various areas of the country with intermittent snowfall on the mountains.

A large number of tourists have flocked to Murree and Azad Kashmir to enjoy the enchanting weather.

Hundreds of tourists are also expected today whereas those already present there have prolonged their stay.

Light rain continues to fall in various areas of Punjab.

Met office has predicted more rainfall in different areas of Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

Besides this, winter will also persist in Karachi in the coming days as northeast winds has increased coldness in the city.

On the other hand, numeorus roads have been blocked in Dir due to heavy snowfall whereas power breakdown in Kaghan from the last one week has created problems for people.

Temperature fell below freezing point in Quetta, Ziarat and Kalat as a result of which water freeze up in the taps and utensils.

Temperature of some major cities recorded this morning:

Islamabad 5°C, Lahore 8°C, Karachi 12°C, Peshawar 4°C, Quetta -5°C, Gilgit 0°C, Murree -3°C and Muzaffarabad 4°C.

President Mamnoon Hussain has released the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) Amendment Ordinance 2017.

Under the new amendment, which is now in effect through a Presidential Ordinance, the discretionary powers of the NAB chairman for a plea bargain have been revoked.

Following amendment of Section 25-A of the NAB Ordinance 1999, permission of the court is now necessary to strike any deal for voluntary return or plea bargain. Any person found involved in corrupt practices would be banned for life from holding any public or government office.

The Presidential Ordinance will be presented in the Senate on January 9. After approval of the National Assembly, it will be made an Act of Parliament.

Finance Minister Ishaq Dar, at a press conference on Saturday alongside Law Minister Zahid Hamid, IT Minister Anusha Rehman, and Special Assistant to Prime Minister on Law, Barrister Zafar Ullah, had said there had been specific observations for a long time about Section 25-A (Voluntary Return and Plea Bargain) and the Supreme Court had also asked the Attorney General about the government's stance on the issue.

Earlier, persons striking plea bargain were disqualified from holding public or government office for 10 years but this law would ensure lifetime ban of corrupt elements, the finance minister had said.

Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif had assigned the task to review this law and the Cabinet's approval had also been obtained to change the existing law, he had added.

Published By: Geo TV

Whether you’re a safari addict stuck in a rut or a first-timer with a wild side, these 10 safaris will help you find your way off the beaten path.

MIGRATION OF THE BATS SAFARI

Where: Zambia

Mention that you’re heading to Africa to see the migration, and most people will assume you’re talking about wildebeests. But Robin Pope Safaris offers an insider’s look at a very different creature on the move: the bat. Each fall, around 10 million fruit bats descend on Kasanka National Park in Zambia, as the fruit on local trees ripens. It is the largest mammal migration in the world: There are so many bats that their flapping wings can darken the Zambian sky.

GOLFER'S SAFARI

Where: South Africa

Golf fanatics don’t have to worry about leaving their irons behind when they go on safari. South Africa is a great destination for a game of golf with the added bonus of wildlife sightings. Great Safaris can help organize a game at Leopard Creek Country Club, near the Crocodile River on the southern border of Kruger National Park. Another option is the Skukuza Golf Course, the only golf course located inside Kruger. A lion once killed a buffalo here on the first green.

SAFARI ON A QUAD BIKE

Where: Kenya

Most people assume the only way to get around on a safari is by open-top Land Rover. But for a more hands-on approach, consider a quad bike safari. Cheli & Peacock Safaris offers bike trips into the unexplored territories of the Northern Frontier in Kenya. Travelers might spot Grévy's zebra, reticulated giraffes as well as elephants, buffalo, and Somali ostriches.

Insider Tip: No need to worry about tearing up the land. The quad bikes follow old game trails, so your wheel marks won’t disturb the natural environment.

Plan Your Trip: Visit Fodor’s Kenya Guide

GORILLA LOVER'S SAFARI

Where: Uganda and Rwanda

A safari doesn’t have to be limited to the big five: Luxury tour company Cox & Kings can organize gorilla viewing safaris in Rwanda as well as Uganda. Intrepid travelers can see endangered mountain gorillas in southern Uganda's Bwindi Impenetrable Forest, which is home to a dense jungle. Or head to Rwanda to catch a glimpse of mountain gorillas on the volcanic slopes of the Virungas.

Insider Tip: Want to look for more apes? Cox & Kings safaris also offers chimpanzees searches in Rwanda near Lake Kivu orin Uganda’s Kibale Forest.

Plan Your Trip: Visit Tourism Uganda and Rwanda Tourism for more information.

SAFARI ON FOOT

Where: Zambia

If the thought of sitting in a safari vehicle for hours at a time gives you restless legs, consider a walking safari. UK-based safari specialists Sally and Alice can organize a Zambian walking safari with Norman Carr Safaris. Carr was a pioneer of the walking safari, and the "week on the wild side" itinerary allows guests to move between three of the company’s traditional bush camps, which are located near the game-rich wilderness areas of the South Luangwa National Park. With the help of your guide, you can track big game on foot and take in all the sights of the bush, all with the added bonus of burning more calories than you would sitting in a 4x4.

Insider Tip: Finish your safari by spending a few nights in Zambia’s newest luxury lodge, Chinzombo, which was designed by the South African architects Silvio Rech and Lesley Carstens, who were also behind the plan for the iconic North Island in the Seychelles.

Plan Your Trip: Visit Fodor’s Zambia Guide

SAFARI FROM THE SKY

Where: Tanzania

One of the best ways to take in the scenery while on safari is from above. At the Four Seasons Safari Lodge Serengeti Tanzania, guests can sign up for a sunrise hot-air balloon flight over the Serengeti. The flight lasts about an hour, and once it’s over, guests can enjoy a Champagne breakfast in the bush.

Insider Tip: Don’t miss the hotel’s Discovery Centre. It’s a combination museum and lecture hall, where guests can learn about the wildlife, people and history of the Serengeti.

Plan Your Trip: Visit Fodor’s Tanzania Guide

SELF-DRIVE SAFARI

Where: Botswana

Travelers looking for an independent safari experience—but with a little help on hand—can try Belmond’s self-drive safari in Botswana. Here’s how it works: Guests drive themselves in a Toyota Land Cruiser through the wilderness and deserts of Northern Botswana to reach the Belmond Khwai River Lodge in Chobe National Park. Two experts, a safari guide and an animal finder, accompany travelers in the vehicle to offer assistance when needed.

Insider Tip: Guests receive maps with different routes to reach their destination. They can wind their way to Baobab Hill to see the bushman paintings near the Savute Marsh, or opt for a game drive through the twilit evening.

Plan Your Trip: Visit Fodor’s Botswana Guide

SAFARI IN A KAYAK

Where: Tanzania

Most people don’t think of Africa as a kayaking destination, but it can be thanks to Infinite Safari Adventures. (This boutique safari company is the only one in Tanzania that offers kayaking as a safari extension.) Guests will travel to the remote Fish Eagle Point, which has only one lodge located on a private bay, and base themselves there for several days of kayaking in the coastal waters of the Indian Ocean. Itineraries are flexible, but guests can kayak to local villages, down quiet mangrove tributaries, or to sand islands that appear only at low tide.

Insider Tip: The kayaking tour is added on to a safari, so the best times to go depend on the season and what you want to see. September–October is a prime time for the great wildebeest migration.

Plan Your Trip: Visit Fodor’s Tanzania Guide

CONSERVATIONIST'S SAFARI

Where: Namibia

One of most valuable things that travelers can do on safari is roll up their sleeves and give back, especially when it comes to conservation. For one of the best experiences, Sally & Alice can organize a stay at Namibia’s recently renovated Desert Rhino Camp, where guests work alongside the Save the Rhino Trust team who are based at the camp. Travelers venture out with the team on daily research expeditions, and can even help them track rhinoceros on foot.

Insider Tip: Save the Rhino Trust (SRT) is almost single-handedly responsible for the preservation of the desert-adapted black rhinoceros in the area.

Plan Your Trip: Visit Fodor’s Namibia Guide

SAFARI ON HORSEBACK

Where: Kenya and Botswana

Imagine galloping alongside zebra over the plains of Africa, with sun in your face and wind in your hair. Luxury tour operator Asia to Africa can make it happen. The company offers half-day and full-day horseback safaris in Kenya and Botswana. A typical day includes four to seven hours in the saddle. In Botswana, guests travel on horseback through the Okavango Delta. In Kenya, they ride from the dry lakebeds of Amboseli in the east to the Chyulu Hills in the west—with a view of Mount Kilimanjaroin the distance.

Insider Tip: Horses aren’t the only animals of choice for a safari. Asia to Africa also offers guests the chance to ride atop elephants through the bush in Botswana, or journey through Kenya on the backs of camels.

Plan Your Trip: Visit Fodor’s Kenya Guide and Fodor’s Botswana Guide

Rihanna reportedly felt "sick" when she saw Drake's loved-up Instagram picture with Jennifer Lopez.

The 28-year-old singer was seeing the chart-topping rap star earlier this year, and is said to be seriously unhappy about her ex-boyfriend dating Jennifer.

A source explained: "That picture of them together, all hugged up, made Rihanna sick. To the point where she wanted to throw her phone down three flights of stairs."

However, the 'Work' hitmaker is also slightly relieved that Drake has moved on from her.

The insider told HollywoodLife.com: "Rih is just glad it's not her falling for this BS.

"Better J.Lo than her. The only thing Drake's ever been good at is talking a good game and never following through."

This comes after a source claimed that Jennifer, 47, is "very smitten" with the rapper.

The insider explained: "Jen is looking forward with excitement to the new year. She keeps hanging out with Drake, and he has visited her house. She has nothing but nice things to say about Drake.

"They do work on music together [but are] clearly enjoying each other on another level too. Jen loves the attention and she seems very happy to be spending time with him. Drake is very charming. He treats Jen with lots of respect. She seems very smitten."

Another source close to the situation also claimed that the couple have been trying to keep their burgeoning romance a secret.

The insider shared: "Jen and Drake have tried to keep their romance under wraps by suggesting they are just working together, but the truth is they are an item.

"They have been seeing each other for a number of weeks and her friends are saying she is already smitten. The age gap doesn't bother them. They have fun together and that's all that matters."