Serena powers to Australian Open glory

Serena Williams successfully defended her Australian Open title with a 6-4 3-6 6-2 victory over Belgium's Justine Henin in a thrilling final in Melbourne on Saturday night.

Top seed and world number one Williams wrapped up victory on her second match point, before falling to the ground in relief as she claimed her 12th grand slam singles title to tie fellow American Billie-Jean King for fifth in the all-time list.

It has been a long-standing ambition for the 28-year-old and it had added resonance as King was watching as a special guest to honor the 40-year anniversary of Australian Margaret Court's four grand slam tournament wins in 1970.

"Billie we're tied, I've reached my goal," said Wiliams as she collected her trophy.

Unseeded Henin, who was attempting to win a grand slam in only her second tournament after a 20-month retirement, threatened to deny Serena her fifth Australian Open with inspired play to win the second set with a run of four straight games but could not force home her advantage.

Williams gained an early break in the decider, only for Henin to hit back for 2-2, but she then strung together a run of four straight games to close out victory with a stinging backhand after just over two hours of intense action on Rod Laver Arena.

"Billie we're tied, I've reached my goal" - Serena Williams

Henin, attempting to match the feat of compatriot Kim Clijsters, who won last year's U.S. Open on her comeback to competitive tennis, paid for uncertainty on her service with a double fault at 4-5 down in the opener before dumping a forehand into the net to hand Williams the set.

Henin looked in deep trouble when Williams broke to lead early in the second set but she immediately broke back before brilliant play at 3-2 down set her on a run which saw her level at one set apiece.

Now the momentum was with Henin as she won 18 of 19 points, but Williams dug deep to turn the tide in her favor and with a double break there was no way back even for Henin.

The American now has an 8-6 lead in career meetings between the pair, including a 6-2 6-0 win in Miami in 2008, just before Henin retired despite being world number one at the time.

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Ricardo Santos clinches win at the Pestana Sives IGT Challenge

Ricardo Santos from Portugal secured his first win on the IGT after shooting another sub par round of 69 in his final round, with Irish amateur Noel Murray taking second spot.

Under sunny skies and with a little breeze greeting the players at the start of the final round, the chasing players had the opportunity to put some pressure on Santos, but it was the amateur Noel Murray that mid way through the back nine had a chance to close the gap on Ricardo. Murray representing the Tournament Golf College had a 5 ft putt to close the gap to 2 shots with 5 holes to go, but the miss probably blew his chance to challenge Ricardo who was playing some solid golf all the way through the final round.

When Murray 3 putted the 14th and Ricardo holed a matching 6 ft birdie putt on the 15th the tournament was his to win, which he confidently did by parring his way to a closing 69 and 9 under par total of 201. Noel finished second on 5 under par 205, ahead of the fast finishing Albert Dóniga Lara who scorched the last 4 holes in 5 under with an eagle and 3 birdies, overtaking 5 players and securing 3rd spot on his own. Recently turned professional Ricardo Candeias played steady golf to finish alone in 6th on 212.

Sam Robinson finished with a 69 to come in 4th place, one shot ahead of Inder van Weerelt who closed with a 72, with the improving Tiago Cruz shooting a 69 to move into a tie with for 5th spot with the Dutchman.

Ricardo’s win moves him closer to Doníga Lara on the IGT Ranking, the two players that have showed the best form so early in the season, with both looking to capitalize on these playing opportunities in order to prepare for the upcoming season.

In his prize giving speech, Ricardo thanked the Pestana Group for supporting the IGT and especially for the quality of the golf courses with their smooth and quick greens proving a big hit with all the players.

The IGT now moves to the Pestana Alto GC for the 3rd event in the Pestana Series from the 27th to the 29th January with a pro am on the 30th of January open to all amateur players.

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Anthropographia Awards 2010

It is a great honor to present the winners of anthropographia Awards 2010. Anthropographia’s aim is to create new spaces for photojournalism; new spaces that encourage the promotion of human rights, expose social injustice and underline the multiple realities of our current world.

The quality of the chosen photojournalism essays, selected by a prestigious jury, testifies to the undeniable strength that the still image has on human consciousness. The jury, which includes members who are recognized for their exceptional photojournalistic work, their commitment to contemporary photojournalism and their dedication to human rights advocacy, made a very accurate job by carefully reviewing the submission.

We received a large number of essays and the selection of the nominees was a challenging process for the jury, as we sadly had to turn down many outstanding ones. The jury shortlisted 24 photography essays as well as 10 multimedia pieces which will be displayed on large scale exhibitions internationally. This collection of works is a perfect example of the power to communicate and inform in a very effective way about human rights issues via photography and multimedia.

We would like to thank all the photographers who participated in this second edition of the photojournalism competition on human rights. It is your dedication and the exceptional quality of your work that allowed us to make this 2010 edition another great success. We express our gratitude as well to everyone who has been involved in anthropographia, in particular United Photo Press, the jury and the essential partners, pillars of this adventure.

Matthieu Rytz

Founder of Anthropographia

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Awards

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The Anthropographia Award for Photography and Human Rights

Marcus Bleasdale/VII photo wins the The Anthropographia Award for Photography and Human Rights for his powerfull work “The Rape of A Nation” that points out Human rights abuse in the Democratic Republic du Congo. The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) is home to the deadliest war in the world today. An estimated 5.4 million people have died since 1998, the largest death toll since the Second World War, according to the International Rescue Committee (IRC). IRC reports that as many as 45,000 people die each month in the Congo. Most deaths are due to easily preventable and curable conditions, such as malaria, diarrhea, pneumonia, malnutrition, and neonatal problems and are byproducts of a collapsed healthcare system and a devastated economy.

Marcus Bleasdale/VII photo - "The Rape of A Nation"

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The Anthropographia Award for Multimedia and Human Rights

Jonathan Torgovnik/mediastrom wins The Anthropographia Award for Multimedia and Human Rights for his piece ”Intended Consequences” that point out the massive sexual violence on Rwandan women. An estimated 20,000 children were conceived during the genocide in Rwanda, and many of their mothers contracted HIV during the same encounters that left them pregnant. They feel they have lost their dignity, are alone and utterly powerless. Intended Consequences chronicles the lives of these women. Their narratives are embodied in portrait photographs, interviews and oral reflections.

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Honorary Mentions

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Photography and Human Rights honorary mentions

Munem Wasif/Agence VU wins an honorary mention for his work “Salt water tears” that relates the tragedy of the lack of drinkable water in southwestern Bangladesh.

Munem Wasif/Agence VU | Salt water tears | Bangladesh

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Marc Wattrelot wins an honorary mention for his work “Lost From Balochistan” that relates the penjabis domination against the balochis.Balochis cultivates a particular resentment against the central power, accused of enslaving them and delaying the provincial development while drawing from its rich basement.

Marc Wattrelot | Lost From Balochistan | Pakistan

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Multimedia and Human Rights honorary mentions

Marcus Bleasdale/VII photo/mediastrom wins an honorary mention for his multimedia version of “The Rape of A Nation” that point out Human rights abuse in the Democratic Republic du Congo.

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Jenn Ackerman wins an honorary mention for her work ”Trapped: Mental Illness in America’s Prisons” that portrays the daily struggle inside the walls of the unit redesigned to treat mental illness and maintain the level of security required in a prison.

Jenn Ackerman | Trapped

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Save the dates

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March 5 to March 14 2010 : Geneva exhibition in the Festival du Film et Forum International sur les Droits Humains

March 15  2010 : Screening of the multimedia pieces in the Montreal Human Rights Film Festival

May 12 to May 16 2010 : Exhibition in the New York Photo Festival

September 1 to September 31 2010 : Exhibition in Montreal together with the World Press Photo 2010

More to come ……

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Anthropographia 2010 shortlist

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Photography and Human Rights

Related stories will be published on anthropographia.org throughout the year

          
G.M.B. Akash/Panos Pictures | Life for rent | Bangladesh      

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Christian Als | Gaza Devastation | Gaza      

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Javier Arcenillas/Malavrava | Citizens of Despair Kutupalong | Bangladesh      

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Walter Astrada | Rape weapon of war in DRC | Democratic Republic du Congo

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Marcus Bleasdale | The Rape of A Nation | Democratic Republic du Congo       

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Stéphane Bouillet | Bhopal: Cause2Effect | Bhopal, India

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Samantha Box | Invisible | New York, USA

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Michael Brown | Kabul - The Glass House | Afghanistan       

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Mathias Christensen | Life in the "Rez" | U.S.A.

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Massimiliano Clausi/POSSE Photo | The Women of Vrindavan | India       

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William Daniels/Panos Pictures | Mauvais Air | Africa and Asia       

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Natan Dvir/Polaris Images | Shelter | Israel       

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Stephen Ferry/Redux pictures | The Threatened | Colombia       

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Mariella Furrer | Child Sexual Abuse | South Africa       

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Sadin Lizzie | Domestic Violence | France       

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Matt Lutton | Belgrade's Roma Gazela | Belgrade, Serbia       

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Alexandre Matthieu | Iraqi refugees | Syria and Lebanon

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Justin Mott/Redux Pictures | Legacy of Horror | Vietnam

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David Rochkind | Heavy Hand, Sunken Spirit | Mexico

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Frederic Sautereau | Gaza : Was it worth a war | Gaza Strip

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Andy Spyra | Kashmir

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Munem Wasif/Agence VU | Salt water tears | Bangladesh

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Marc Wattrelot/World Picture Network | Lost From Balochistan | Pakistan

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Taylor Weidman | Lives in Limbo | Manila, Philippines       

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Multimedia and Human Rights
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Jenn Ackerman | Trapped | Kentucky, USA

Kristen Ashburn | AIDS and Family | sub-Saharan Africa

Marcus Bleasdale | Rape of a Nation | Democratic Republic of Congo

Jean Chung | Tears in the Congo | DR Congo

Rodrigo Cruz | The Promised Land | Mexico

Brent Foster & Poul Madsen | Wasteland | India

Anne Holmes | The Kenyan Crisis | Kenya
Carlos Sousa | United Photo Press | Portugal

Alex Masi | Open Wounds | India

Dana Romanoff | No Man’s Land | Oaxaca, Mexico
Vasco Ribeiro | In Tuto | France

Jonathan Torgovnik | Intended Consequences | Rwanda

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in collaboration with

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Ricardo Santos leads the Pestana Gramacho IGT Open

On a warm but overcast day, Ricardo Santos shot a 1 under par 71 on day 2 to add to his opening round of 69, and take a 3 shot lead on 140 (-4) into the final round of the Pestana Gramacho IGT Open.

Ricardo leads a group of 3 players tied on 143 (-1) which includes the 1st round leader Damaso Carrera who scored a 75, his countryman Gonzalo Vicente who shot a 71, joined by Antonio Sobrinho after a 73. A further stroke back of this 3 way tie on 144, are another 3 players which include Moises Cobo, Daniel Silva and the leading amateur Noel Murray from Ireland and member of the Golf College Team from the University of Plymouth.

The top 10 is rounded out by 3 players – Alberto Dóniga Lara, Mark Davies and Mark Hooper – on a 1 over total of 145 with the winner likely to come from this group of 10 players. Amateur honor’s will be fought our between Murray, Adam Gouge and Henri Featherstone although good scores from these players could push them further up the professional field.

The leading players scores were generally slightly higher today due to some tighter pin placements which emphasized the ability to put the ball below the hole, leaving uphill putts and better opportunities for birdies, with players struggling to 2 putt when out of position and facing downhill putts.

After his round, Ricardo spoke in the press conference of the need to plan your shots into the flags, and how these early season tournaments are helping to improve his game in his bid to get a European Tour card after 2 years on the Challenge Tour.

“I am enjoying playing the IGT and taking these events seriously as I want to improve my ranking on the Challenge Tour and play much better in the 3 European Tour events that are held in Portugal – the Portuguese and Madeira Open in April, and the Portugal Masters in October. I feel that by competing and possibly being in contention more often will also help me get better. I played ok today with the tougher pins, but really missed quite a few very makeable putts, which I feel I will have to make tomorrow with the good players I have behind me.”

The Pestana Gramacho IGT Open final round is played tomorrow with the Pestana Silves IGT Challenge commencing on the Silves GC after a 2 day break which includes a rest and a practice day.

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Damaso Carrera takes early lead at Pestana Gramacho IGT Open

Spain’s Damaso Carrera today shot a 4 under par 68, to lead a group of four players on 69 and take the 1st round lead on super windless day which made good scoring possible.

Carrera, turned with 2 birdies at the 1st and 6th holes offset by a bogey at the 7th, in one under 35, and then added a further 3 birdies at the 12th, 13th and 18th holes against no bogeys to hand in a tidy round of 68.

Grouped on 69, 3 under par, are four players which include challenge Tour player Ricardo Santos (Portugal) Moises Cobo (Spain), Mark Hooper(UK), and former European tour and Q. school winner Daniel Silva who had an exciting 5 birdies and 1 eagle in his round.

Cobo bagged a total of 7 birdies, 2 on the front and 5 on the back side, but a double bogey 6 on the par 4 16th put him into 2nd spot, one behind his country man.cas8089520

Mark Hooper (UK) and Ricardo Santos played steady rounds to form a tight bunch at the top of the leaderboard, closely followed by Antonio Sobrinho (Portugal) who shot a 2 under par 70 after closing with a disappointing bogey on the par 5 18th, and Alberto Dóniga-Lara winner of the Quinta do Vale IGT Open, scoring a 71.

Carrera highlighted the quality of the greens and warm conditions that enable young professionals to practice and complete, as opposed to having 4 weeks of no proper practice in his hometown of northern Spain. He added that as a 1st year professional he intends to play most of the IGT events to prepare him for a quick start to the other tours commencing in the autumn, and looks forward to a good battle over the next couple of days.

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Thousands feared dead as major quake strikes Haiti

PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti: Dazed and injured Haitians sat on darkened streets pleading for help Wednesday and untold numbers were trapped in tons of rubble brought down by the strongest earthquake to hit this poor Caribbean nation in more than 200 years.

Destroyed communications made it impossible to tell the extent of destruction from Tuesday afternoon's 7.0-magnitude tremor — or to estimate the number of dead lying among thousands of collapsed buildings in Haiti's capital of about 2 million people.

The ornate National Palace crumbled into itself, the headquarters of the UN peacekeeping mission collapsed and swaths of rickety shacks lay in shambles. Clouds of dust thrown up by falling buildings choked Port-au-Prince for hours.

People are seen near the ruins of a building, which was destroyed after a major earthquake struck, in Port-au-Prince in this January 12, 2010 video grab. [Agencies]

International Red Cross spokesman Paul Conneally said an estimated 3 million people may have been affected by the quake and that it would take a day or two for a clear picture of the damage to emerge.

The United States and other nations began organizing aid efforts, alerting search teams and gathering supplies that will be badly needed in Haiti, the Western Hemisphere's poorest country. The international Red Cross and other aid groups announced plans for major relief operations.

Associated Press journalists found the damage staggering even for a country long accustomed to tragedy and disaster.

Aftershocks rattled the city as women covered in dust clawed out of debris, wailing. Stunned people wandered the streets holding hands. Thousands gathered in public squares long after nightfall, singing hymns.

It was clear tens of thousands lost their homes and many perished in collapsed buildings flimsy and dangerous even under normal conditions.

"The hospitals cannot handle all these victims," Dr. Louis-Gerard Gilles, a former senator, said as he helped survivors. "Haiti needs to pray. We all need to pray together."

An Associated Press videographer saw a wrecked hospital where people screamed for help in Petionville, a hillside Port-au-Prince district that is home to many diplomats and wealthy Haitians as well as the poor.

HOPE FOR HAITI NOW - CLICK HERE

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