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Jeb Bush eyed as latest 'white knight' candidate in GOP presidential race

2012-02-24T09:42:00.001-08:00

Former Florida governor was critical of current field in a speech this week, prompting rumours he could be a surprise contender

Speculation that a late challenger might still emerge in the increasingly bitter race for the Republican presidential nomination is set to surge after former Florida governor Jeb Bush made remarks criticising the current field.

Bush, who is the brother of President George W Bush and son of President George Bush Sr, is a beloved figure among many conservatives who see him as a strong and charismatic leader who is popular in the must-win swing state of Florida.

That contrasts with a widespread unease among many Republican leaders and grassroots activists with the remaining crop of Republican candidates and the vitriolic nature of the fight between frontrunner Mitt Romney and his main challengers Rick Santorum and Newt Gingrich.

In answers to questions from the audience after a speech in Dallas on Thursday, Bush cautioned the remaining Republican campaigns from drifting so far to the right that they put off the key independent voters needed to beat President Barack Obama in November.

"I think it's important for the candidates to recognise though they have to appeal to primary voters, and not turn off independent voters that will be part of a winning coalition," Bush told the audience according to CBS news.

Bush also directly took on the strident tone of recent Republican debates, accusing participants of scare-mongering. "I used to be a conservative and I watch these debates and I'm wondering, I don't think I've changed, but it's a little troubling sometimes when people are appealing to people's fears and emotion rather than trying to get them to look over the horizon for a broader perspective and that's kind of where we are," he said according to Fox News.

With Mitt Romney failing so far to secure the nomination but with no convincing challenger emerging to unseat him, many Republican pundits have speculated about the possibility that none of the current field will be able to amass enough support to secure the nomination this August in Tampa.

Though that is still unlikely, and Romney remains favourite to win the contest, it has led to a slew of names being mentioned as possible "white knights" who could still enter the race or emerge at Tampa as a compromise candidate to unite a splintered party. They include Bush, New Jersey governor Chris Christie, Indiana governor Mitch Daniels and Wisconsin congressman Paul Ryan.

Though none of these figures have expressed any intention to run, and several have repeatedly denied it, Bush's comments are likely to set the rumour mill spinning furiously.

They also come after Tea Party favourite Sarah Palin entered the fray, raising the idea that she might see herself as her party's saviour. In recent interviews the former Alaska governor has said she would "help" out the party if a contested convention happened and told CNN earlier this month that she believed such an event would be a good thing. "I don't think it would be a negative for the party ? That's part of the competition, that's part of the process and it may happen," she said.

Ron Paul's campaign has also complicated matters. Though the libertarian-leaning Texan congressman has not yet won a single state's popular ballot, he is trying to build up a large number of delegates to take to Tampa. In caucus states, where complex rules mean the number of delegates assigned to a candidate can outweigh their score in the popular vote, Ron Paul's campaign is working hard to win as much support as possible. That could see him amass a body of delegates in Tampa that far exceeds his standings in the polls and makes a contested convention, with no one having enough support to secure victory, more likely.

Paul Harris

Source: http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2012/feb/24/jeb-bush-latest-white-knight-republican

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Leicester Mercury published Leicester City's play-off dream still on as Danns goal...

2012-02-24T07:42:00.001-08:00

Neil Danns kept alive Leicester City's play-off hopes and maintained their bragging rights over their Midlands rivals with the...

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Leicester Mercury published The Friday Interview: Russell Cobb leaves Leicestershire with...

2012-02-24T05:42:00.001-08:00

Article

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South Wales Evening Post published Priestland: Don't write off England

2012-02-24T03:42:00.001-08:00

RHYS Priestland insists it would be foolish to write off unbeaten England ahead of their Triple Crown showdown tomorrow.

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Robert Kitson on Lancaster's XV

2012-02-24T01:42:00.001-08:00

The caretaker's 'no fear' approach puts trust in his Six Nations rookies' confidence on their journey into the unknown

The "Chiropractor" used to be the nickname given to Samoa's crash-tackling Brian Lima because of his unerring ability to rattle opponents' bones. Stuart Lancaster is a gentler character but he has given the spine of his England team an almighty wrench. It is hard to remember any England coach who has simultaneously handed first Six Nations starts to his main lineout caller, both half-backs and a 20-year-old centre. Stick or twist? Lancaster has plumped for the kill-or-cure option.

In the case of the injured Charlie Hodgson there was, in the end, no option. The management did wait until early morning to make absolutely sure but once Hodgson's breakfast-time fitness test ended in disappointment Lancaster did not flinch. While Owen Farrell may be only 20, he has spent longer on the training field lately than the more seasoned Toby Flood. Any temptation to reunite Flood with Lee Dickson, once a team-mate at Newcastle, was trumped by a desire to stay true to the "no fear" philosophy Lancaster has consistently preached since taking the caretaker reins.

No fear. It sounds simple enough. Don't worry about making a prat of yourself in front of 80,000 people, just go out and play. The truth is that Geoff Parling, England's new king of the lineout jungle, and the equally unheralded No8 Ben Morgan are about to leap off a board high enough to make even Tom Daley think twice. The 23-year-old Morgan has played twice at Twickenham for Gloucestershire Under-20s; Dickson has played a schoolboy final and a bit of pre-season sevens at HQ. Add a rookie fly-half and yet another new centre pairing and it is fair to say England are venturing into unknown territory. Lancaster reckons England's starting XV has 182 caps compared to Wales's 488, enough of a gap to make home advantage a relative concept.

Before Wales get too excited, though, there is a gleam in the eyes of Parling, Morgan, Dickson, Farrell and Manu Tuilagi which may just concern Warren Gatland. This time last year no one was talking about Rhys Priestland as a potential Lions fly-half, nor wondering aloud how to stop George North. Hodgson's injury has undoubtedly tipped the scales in terms of experience but the self-belief generated by England's on-the-road wins against Scotland and Italy is not insignificant. "We're such a together team," said Dickson.

"We've only been together five weeks but it feels like a lifetime because of the cohesion we've got." Perhaps he would say that but, as Lancaster points out, underdogs are not necessarily toothless poodles. "The strength of self-belief in a team can carry you a long way. We've tried to give this team as much of that as possible."

In the case of Farrell, this armour-plating seems to have formed in his cradle. "Owen's already won a Premiership final playing at 10," said Dickson. "He's very mature and a class act." The combative Northampton scrum-half is also totally unfazed by the prospect of tangling with the powerful Mike Phillips, taking the view that any No9 who fails to snap at the heels of their opponent, regardless of size or pedigree, is not doing their job properly. "I'm going to go out there and be myself. I don't want to stop playing for England, I want to be here for a long time."

The same up-and-at-'em spirit also oozes from both Parling and Morgan, who has been receiving cheerful "Hope you lose" messages from his Welsh friends and will be roared on by a minibus full of supporters who have known him since his playing days with Dursley in Gloucestershire. Parling has waited even longer than the 26-year-old Dickson for his chance and was so thrilled when given the news that he omitted to tell his wife for 48 hours. "I got a bit of stick off her," admitted the Teeside-born lock, now widely recognised as one of the country's smarter lineout operators since his switch from Newcastle to Leicester. "I'm really excited about it but I don't want to get too happy. It's just the start. If we go out and lose I don't want to look back at that. I'd prefer to get to the end of my career and think: 'My first start was at Twickenham against a good Wales team and we got a good solid win before going on to win the Six Nations.'" Unfamiliar spine or not, England will not lack for backbone.

Robert Kitson

Source: http://www.guardian.co.uk/sport/blog/2012/feb/23/stuart-lancaster-england-wales

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Ned Boulting: I'd wear nothing but Lycra if I could get away with it

2012-02-23T23:42:00.001-08:00

ITV's cycling and football reporter on Bradley Wiggins, Cornish hippy drumming and the world's biggest cassoulet

[After a brief period of mutual backslappery in which Ned and Small Talk profess a glowing admiration of each other's podcasts, Ned's being the Real Peloton] So Ned you've got a book to plug ...

A booklet, it's an ebook. Someone has just asked me if an ebook is a book you buy in Yorkshire. Are you a Yorkshireman Small Talk?

Aye, I am that Ned, lad.

You weren't really the person to make that joke to then. Anyway, it's a digital thing. The first thing to say about it is that it's ridiculously cheap, because it doesn't exist. And secondly it's not as long as a book, it's about a quarter of the size, so it'll get you through a train journey.

And third what's it about?

It basically picks up where my yellow jumper book left off in that it's essentially about working on and experiencing the 2011 Tour de France, which was ? I'm always slightly hesitant to say 'one of the greatest Tours' because I come away from every summer thinking that was one of the greatest tours. But there's a strong argument to say that the 2011 Tour kind of had it all ? it was extraordinary on so many different levels. Although the ebook has the word Cav in the title it's not really about Mark Cavendish, although he's in it.

Small Talk felt one of the great things about last year's Tour was that those who won weren't really the story.

Absolutely! Cadel Evans, who won it, in any other year his story would've been captivating, would've been the enduring image we have taken away from it. But that's not the case. In fact sometimes you have to stop and scratch your head and think: 'Who actually won? Oh yeah it was Evans wasn't it?' Because he's not the first image that comes to mind. You might think of Cavendish in the green jersey roaring up the Champs-Elys�es if you're particularly patriotic, or you might think of Bradley Wiggins bombing out with a broken collarbone in the first week. Or you might think of Thomas Voeckler spending 10 days in the yellow jersey, repeating his superman heroics. Or you might think of Johnny Hoogerland ripping his arse to pieces on barbed wire. Or Thor Hushovd winning two stages in the world champions jersey. Or Geraint Thomas in the white jersey. Or Edvald Boasson Hagen winning two stages for Sky. Or Philippe Gilbert. And even before you think of Evans you might think how bad Andy Schleck was, except for that one stage where he was good. But you won't think of Evans, which is a shame for him.

Who's your money on this year then?

The totally implausible situation has become plausible, something worth considering ? I see no reason why you can't throw Bradley Wiggins very seriously into the mix. I'm not sure I'd make him favourite, because so much in the Tour de France is about experience, but with the absence of Contador, who I think would've won it, I see no reason why Wiggins can't consider himself on level terms with those who you think might win it. Wiggins is a very similar rider to Cadel Evans, and the last time they rode head-to-head at a big race, Wiggins got the better of him in last years Dauphin�.

Certainly he should make the podium, no?

I think if he doesn't he'll be deeply, deeply disappointed. Because it's this year or never really, with the absence of Contador, with the way the profile looks with the two individual time trials ? there's over 90km of time trialling. Whatever time he loses to Andy Schleck in the mountains, if he can keep that to three or four minutes, he can make that back at the drop of a hat. Schleck is almost nullified as a prospect because of the profile of the race.

Anyone else?

Let's not forget the other British rider who might just win it ? Chris Froome. If he can pick up where he left off at last years Vuelta ? If you take that race and transpose it straight to July and the Tour de France you'd have to say Chris Froome would win it, not Bradley Wiggins. Not only can he time trial with the same proficiency, he attack on the climbs in a way that Wiggins can't. Now whether he can do that in France remains to be seen.

Speaking of Contador and the verdict, is that the sort of thing that makes you go: "Yes! There's another cheat caught and out the sport" or "Bugger, that's cycling dragged through the mud again"?

Nothing makes me feel good about it, nothing. They've made the right call but they've made heavy weather of making the decision. It should've been dealt with much quicker. It's all shades of grey ? its very difficult to be black and white about it. Of all the doping cases I've ever had to consider or have an opinion on, Contador's is one of the hardest. Because his defence was plausible, very difficult to prove, and the substance itself was so minuscule as to be almost negligible, which is the argument he tried to put forward. The only fact that was provable in all the toing and froing was that clenbuterol was in his system, and ultimately the system had to rely on that one unalterable fact. He had it in him. [Seems to get the idea that Small Talk has asked whether Contador is truly guilty or not.] Who knows? I don't know. I don't think we'll ever know. There's probably only one or two people on this planet who know whether Alberto Contador ate a steak or took a blood transfusion. [Again seems to have imagined Small Talk pressing him on the issue.] I don't know. I wasn't there. That's one of the eternal frustrations of these stories. [Once more, just to be sure] I don't know.

You're the man who has his microphone up in cyclists' grills after races ? do you ever get any inklings in those situations, where you suspect a rider might have had 'extra help'?

Absolutely. A really good example of that was in, I think, 2008. A German rider called Stefan Schumacher won the time trial in the opening week. No one thought he would win it, it came out of the blue, and the win propelled him into the yellow jersey. I stood waiting to interview him, talking to some German journalists who were very, very downbeat about him winning. And I thought why is this not a cause for national celebration? They told me they had good reason to suspect that he was doping. And they told me why. And I considered very carefully and made a judgment over the course of about a minute whether or not I would tackle him on these various issues. I decided that I would, because they stacked up to me and they sounded plausible. So instead of congratulating him when he came to my microphone, I just went straight in and asked him to explain why he had tested positive for amphetamines in a previous test. That shocked him, I think. He was very defensive, quite aggressive and pretty implausible in the way he dealt with it. When it was broadcast ITV got floods of complaints from viewers saying I had been disrespectful to a winning rider, that I gone in too hard and disrespected the race. Of course, you just have to take that ? you don't really have a right to reply. And it wasn't until a couple of weeks after that Tour that they released news of his positive drugs test from that very stage, on that very day. He then served a two-year ban. So my instincts were right on that day, although it was a unnerving thing to do, because no one wants to do that. I remember my microphone hand shaking. To challenge someone in that way at the pinnacle of their career was quite alarming actually. One of the reasons I love covering the Tour is that as a journalist you're right at the heart of the action, in a way that you're not really in football, where you're marginalised and kept at arm's length.

So would you say the post-race cycling interview is tougher than the post-match tunnel interview?

I wouldn't say tougher. Because, well I'm sure you've interviewed Alex Ferguson often enough ...

[Small Talk tries to chuckle knowingly, possibly giving the suggestion that yes of course Small Talk and Sir Alex are well acquainted, despite the fact that Small Talk has never interviewed Alex Ferguson. Small Talk would like to point out therefore that he did not lie. He just chuckled knowingly]

... that has a very particular toughness. It's just a more raw, open environment where you can get stuck in more. It's a more real reaction that you get. The teams and the riders are less managed and they expect it as well. They're all riders who have grown up in that context ? they understand that they'll have a microphone under their nose seconds after they cross the line. It's just part of the gig and by and large they get it and enjoy it.

Going back to the football, have you ever irritated Roy Keane?

Eem, I don't think so. Well, I might have done on the odd occasion.

But you've lived to tell the tale. Is he not the scariest man on TV?

[Smartly swerving the question] He's really growing into it on ITV, isn't he? I think we booked him as a one-off for the Champions League final. Quite famously he didn't do TV. He was one of those players who said: 'I'm not going to be hanging around in the studio pontificating.' And on the day he was relatively bland. But he feels really part of the team now, and he's really starting to enjoy it. And as he relaxes more I think you're going to see more and more of the real Keano coming out.

If there's anyone you could nab punditwise who would you have?

Well everyone's raving about Gary Neville ...

Small Talk doesn't really get that ...

I'm not entirely sold on him. [Considers the options] Cor blimey, it's not a rich tapestry is it? Do you know what, I'd go and poach someone from Germany. Because all the A-list German internationals, they all work in TV and they all compete for being the most outrageous. Lothar Mattha�s, Stefan Effenberg, the lot of them - they're all competing and they've all got egos, so I'd go and nick myself a German on a Bosman.

Would you rather be the greatest rock star of all time or the greatest cyclist of all time?

It would have to be the cyclist. Because ... Why? ... Because ... [long ruminative pause] I've got a real problem with beige food and I suspect that your life would be lived out in the haze of fried chicken buckets. I've actually just seen an advert for a new McDonald's product which I imagine if you're a rock star is all that you would eat ? an all-in-one breakfast wrap, with a hash brown in it. If you were a rock star I imagine you'd live off them.

What's your karaoke song of choice?

Anything by Jacques Brel.

Blimey. Very high brow. Any number in particular number? Ne Me Quitte Pas.

That'd be a sight to see. An evening of beered-up yawpers cranking out Hit Me Baby One More Time, then you rock up with theatrical French meanderings? You're running the risk their of the most pretentious five minutes of karaoke ever.

[Sounding ever so slightly offended by Small Talk's description of Jacques Brel] I'll take the risk.

What's the worst party you've ever been to?

The only time I tried to throw a party myself, it was a couple of years ago and all I did was fret about how many people would turn up and about a quarter of the people who I wanted to turn up actually turned up and had a miserable time.

Do aliens exist?

Yeah, I think they do. And I think Team Sky have signed up a few of them. Big story about to break.

Who would win a fight between a lion and a tiger?

It would be the tiger, because he'd be a bit sneaky about it. Pulling hair and all sorts. Gouging.

Here's one we've nabbed from somewhere. Would you rather be chased by a horse-sized duck or 20 duck-sized horses?

Erm ... I'll be chased by the ducks.

Hang on a minute ...

The ducks are horse-sized right?

Well there's one giant duck. And several small horses.

Yeah, I'll be chased by the big duck. [With confidence] But I'll beat him, stick him in a pot, add a few butter beans, some Toulouse sausage and have the world's biggest cassoulet.

Good angle. The last book you read?

Jon Ronson's Psychopath Test. Absolutely brilliant. I want to be able to write like Jon Ronson writes.

What was the last CD you bought?

Christ, CD! [Small Talk feels suitably chastened for his technological faux pas] I was given a CD of some African drumming by a Cornish hippy a few years ago on a campsite, which is still in my car. And every time I switch on the ignition it starts and I have to switch it off.

Last of all, you cycle a fair bit yourself ... Yeah, I mess about.

Now have you ever worn or possessed or do you ever intend to wear or possess at any point in the future, an item of Lycra?

Oh, yeah yeah. I've got wardrobes full of Lycra. If I could get away with it I'd wear nothing but Lycra.

Well, that would certainly add a new dimension to ITV's cycling and football coverage. An enduring image to finish on. Thanks for your time, Ned, with which you've been most generous.

Cheers Small Talk.

John Ashdown

Source: http://www.guardian.co.uk/sport/2012/feb/24/small-talk-ned-boulting

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Pearce makes his case as Redknapp's rival for England

2012-02-23T21:42:00.001-08:00

? Caretaker manager stresses his international experience
? Tournament knowledge crucial at Euro 2012, says Pearce

Stuart Pearce has put himself forward as a credible candidate to rival Harry Redknapp for the England job and raised the possibility that it would be a disadvantage to appoint someone without experience of major tournaments.

Pearce has told the Football Association he would relish the chance to take England to this summer's European Championship and he went public with his ambitions after naming his squad as caretaker manager for Wednesday's friendly against Holland.

"I've said to my bosses that if they need me in the summer I've got the experience to do it," he said. "I've been to two major semi-finals as a player, I've been to a final as the Under-21s' manager, I've been to semi-finals as the Under-21s' manager and I've been with Fabio [Capello] to South Africa to a World Cup.

"I've got the experience to take this tournament on without a problem. I don't think I've the experience to be the full-time England manager, so my run would end in the summer. But the one thing I have is tournament experience. That is what I offer."

Redknapp is the overwhelming favourite to take the job at the end of the season, with bookmakers suspending betting on the Spurs manager within minutes of Capello's resignation. However, Pearce pointed out that even a manager with Capello's record of success in club football had found it difficult to adjust to tournament level.

He described himself as "a candidate who has experience and won't go to a tournament having never been to a tournament at any level", adding that "tournament football stands alone in respect to club football". The clear message was that he had the edge in terms of experience, and it was said with Sir Trevor Brooking and Adrian Bevington, two of the FA executives who will appoint Capello's successor, listening intently.

"They know exactly where I am," Pearce continued. "I've not fluffed around it. I've not turned round and said: 'I'm not sure what I want to do.' They know exactly what I want to do and if they need me to take the squad in the summer, I'll do that with pleasure."

Pearce has omitted Rio Ferdinand, Frank Lampard and several other senior players for the Holland game so he can bring in younger players, including Tom Cleverley of Manchester United and Sunderland's Fraizer Campbell. Micah Richards is recalled and Rob Green has been brought back as Joe Hart's understudy, but there is no place for Andy Carroll and Pearce has decided Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain should stay with England's Under-21s for the time being.

"I could have brought him in, played him for 10 minutes and there would have been a scrum from the media that he shouldn't ever play for the Under-21s again," Pearce explained. "It would be better for him to play 90 minutes for the Under-21s rather than a 10-minute cameo for the seniors."

Campbell's inclusion is the most surprising, the 24-year-old having recently returned to the Sunderland team after a serious knee injury. "He is an improving striker," Pearce said. "I worked with him a few years ago and injury has held him back. But I think his form is good enough to be in the squad."

Pearce addressed the issue of his appointment coming at a time when John Terry is facing a trial ? for allegedly racially abusing Anton Ferdinand, which Terry denies ? directly leading to the Chelsea player's removal as England captain and, in turn, Capello's departure. Pearce has been reminded recently of the Nottingham Forest game in December 1994 when he was accused of using a racial insult against Paul Ince.

"It was something I apologised for at the time. Myself and Paul played together at Euro 96 and have no ill feeling towards each other but it's certainly something I regretted. What you were and what you said 17 years ago is no reflection of what you say today. It was a one-off mistake. It's very disappointing. I think it's important that I draw a line under it and we move on."

Daniel Taylor

Source: http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2012/feb/23/stuart-pearce-england

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Contractors during Bankole?s tenure couldn?t be located ? Witness

2012-02-23T19:42:00.001-08:00

Companies awarded contracts by the House of Representatives for the supply of office equipments and electronics during the tenure former Speaker Dimeji Bankole could not be located for verification, a court heard yesterday.

Prosecution witness, ASP Ibrahim Ahmed, attached to the investigations unit of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), told the Federal High Court in Abuja that all efforts to trace the companies based on their addresses obtained from the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC proved futile.

He said even when letters of invitation were written to the Managing Directors of the companies and given to the EFCC dispatch unit, the letters were returned about three weeks later indicating that the addresses could not be traced.

Prosecuting Counsel Festus Keyamo sought to tender Bankole?s statement before the court, but the former Speaker?s lawyer Olawale Akoni (SAN) objected on the ground that the statement was a duplicate copy.

Keyamo, who told the court that the original was tendered before another court in a sister case refrained from tendering the statement.

He asked for an adjournment to enable him furnish the court with certified documents already mentioned by prosecution witness at the next adjourned date. Justice Donatus Okoro adjourned the case till April 3 for continuation.

Bankole is standing trial on a 16- count charge of contract fraud proffered against him by the EFCC.

Source: http://www.dailytrust.com.ng/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=155429:contractors-during-bankoles-tenure-couldnt-be-located-witness-&catid=2:lead-stories&Itemid=8

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Malae o Tiafau cleared

2012-02-23T17:42:00.001-08:00

By Jasmine Netzler-Iose

The ?Malae o Tiafau? is undergoing a facelift. The grass has been scooped by heavy machinery to make way for new grass to be planted on the surface, which will be elevated.

Clerk of the Legislative Assembly, Fepuleai Atila Ropati said this was determined following a survey that ?identified some areas of the field are below sea level.? The issue was raised by the Ministry of Works, Transport and Infrastructure and the Ministry of Police.

Source: http://www.samoaobserver.ws/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=38095:malae-o-tiafau&catid=1:latest-news&Itemid=50

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South Wales Evening Post commented Man, 60, left frightened after being robbed at knife-point

2012-02-23T15:42:00.001-08:00

A 60-YEAR-OLD man has been robbed at knife-point on a Swansea footbridge.

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Leicester Mercury published Leicester City ready for Rams after return of feelgood factor

2012-02-23T13:42:00.001-08:00

Leicester City assistant manager Craig Shakespeare said he can sense the "feelgood factor" has returned to the squad...

Source: http://rss.feedsportal.com/c/32715/f/503348/s/1cdeb283/l/0L0Sthisisleicestershire0O0CLeicester0ECity0Eready0ERams0Ereturn0Efeelgood0Efactor0Cstory0E152946240Edetail0Cstory0Bhtml/story01.htm

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Leicester Mercury published Tragic Vinny Derrick 'may have been hit by a car'

2012-02-23T11:42:00.001-08:00

A missing man whose remains were found beneath a motorway flyover could have been hit by a car, a postmortem examination has...

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Malae o Tiafau cleared

2012-02-23T09:42:00.001-08:00

Source: http://www.samoaobserver.ws/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=38095:malae-o-tiafau&catid=1:latest-news&Itemid=50

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Five things learned from this week?s Champions League

2012-02-23T07:42:00.001-08:00

Ger McCarthy

1. Zlatan Ibrahimovic defies his critics
The Swedish international striker polarises opinion despite a bulging trophy cabinet and multiple individual awards spanning a decade at the top of his profession. One criticism regularly levelled at the AC Milan striker is the fact he tends to go ‘missing’ during important matches, especially against English opponents. Ibrahimovic laid that ghost to rest on Wednesday night with a bullish individual display in the San Siro that tore the Arsenal defence asunder and helped the Rossoneri to a memorable 4-0 victory.
He set up Robinho with a sumptuous cross to head in Milan’s second goal before repeating the move to slip the Brazilian in for the Serie A side’s third and match clinching effort. The Swede then tricked Johan Djourou into conceding a late penalty and demonstrated his arrogant nature by ignoring Robinho’s chance for a hat trick before dispatching the penalty beyond Wojciech Szczesny.
Zlatan Ibrahimovic can no longer be accused of going missing in big matches and similar display in the forthcoming rounds could yet push AC Milan into Champions League contention.

2. APOEL remain in contention
A narrow 1-0 defeat away to Lyon in the Stade Gerland on Tuesday night may look a disappointing result on paper but APOEL will just be delighted to still be in with a fighting chance against the French side ahead of the second leg at the GSP Stadium in Nicosia.
Ivan Jovanovic’s squad travelled to Lyon with the intention of recording a 0-0 draw, as their one shot on target in the entire 90 minutes will testify. Yet APOEL will fancy their chances in the return fixture having already accounted for Zenit St. Petersburg and FC Porto en-route to topping Group G in the opening phase of the tournament.
One of the most prestigious and important nights in Cypriot club football could yet witness the continuing fairytale story of the 2012 Champions League tournament. APOEL possess the firepower and self-belief to progress should Remi Garde’s inconsistent Lyon fail to bring their ‘A-game’.

3. Arsenal’s darkest hour
Arsene Wenger’s honest assessment of his side’s performance following a 4-0 drubbing in the San Siro said it all “shocking”. Theo Walcott was completely anonymous and hauled off at the interval. Midfielders Mikel Arteta and Tomas Rosicky were overrun from the opening minutes and Arsenal’s perceived strongest back four floundered every time AC Milan attacked. Hard to believe that it is nearly a year ago that Arsenal were beating Barcelona at the Emirates Stadium yet not even the introduction of Thierry Henry could ignite the Gunners into any kind of response on Wednesday night.
Even an away goal might have offered the Premier League side a glimmer of hope for the second leg but instead the comments of former Milan and Italian national team Coach Arrigo Sacchi echoed many neutral and no doubt a few Gunners’ fans belief that this is “the worst Arsenal side in a decade”. This weekend’s FA Cup tie away to Sunderland offers the Arsenal players a chance to make up for their dismal Champions League showing. They certainly owe it to their fans, if not their manager, after Wednesday night’s sorry capitulation.

4. San Siro and Stadion Petrovskiy not up to scratch
BOTH AC Milan and Zenit St. Petersburg’s playing surfaces were in horrendous condition for the most important matches of each respective club’s season. Granted AC Milan’s pitch has never been of the highest quality but the Serie A club’s decision to relay both wing sections of the pitch left the surface resembling a bog and made for a poor spectacle. The state of the pitch reflected badly on UEFA who only passed the surface playable early on Tuesday morning.
Elsewhere in the Europe, the midweek sub-zero temperatures in Russia made the Stadion Petrovskiy playing surface looking like a green-tinted ice-rink. In fairness to Zenit St. Petersburg and Benfica, both clubs made light of the conditions and produced a five-goal thriller to warm the crowd. Yet the recent Six Nations debacle in France surely demonstrated that the time has come for UEFA to look at alternative / neutral venues for Eastern bloc countries when poor weather conditions are known to exist the week before a scheduled fixture.

5. Barcelona looks good even in second gear
Barca’s 3-1 result obtained away to Bayer Leverkusen on Valentine’s night was not unexpected but served as a reminder to the rest of the continent that Pep Guardiola’s side is capable of winning in second gear. Leverkusen fought doggedly for the opening 40 minutes and stretched their opponents on occasion without ever threatening Victor Valdes’ goal. Everything changed in the 41st minute once Alexis Sanchis netted Barcelona’s opener. The Bundesliga club were forced to attack (and even managed an equaliser) which allowed the Catalans’ sit back and pick off their opponents twice more on the counter before running out 3-1 winners.
Barcelona’s innate ability to patiently retain possession before quickening the pace to create holes in their opponents defence is taken for granted but remains one of the great spectacles of modern day football.
Worryingly for the remaining Champions League clubs, Barcelona were able to produce such a display on the back of a shock defeat to Osasuna and being 10 points adrift of Real Madrid in their domestic title race. Whoever wins the 2012 Champions League is most likely going to have to come up with a way to defeat the current title-holders.

Follow Ger on Twitter: @germccarthy74

Source: http://feeds.examiner.ie/~r/iesportsblog/~3/WH09YfBFwzo/post.aspx

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England riots: almost 1,000 people jailed so far, figures show

2012-02-23T05:42:00.001-08:00

Average sentence of 14.2 months is four times the average jail term handed down by the courts for similar offences in 2010

Almost 1,000 people have been sent to prison for an average of 14 months for their part in last summer's riots, according to Ministry of Justice figures published on Thursday.

The official figures show that 1,483 people had been found guilty and sentenced by the courts by 1 February for riot-related offences. This represents 55% of the 2,710 people brought before the courts so far.

The MoJ figures confirm the punitive approach that the courts have taken towards rioters with the 945 offenders who have been jailed given an average of 14.2 months. This is four times the average sentence length of 3.7 months handed down by the courts for similar offences in 2010.

The most common offences with which rioters were charged were burglary (49%), violent disorder (21%), theft (16%), robbery (2%) and criminal damage (2%).

The vast majority of cases involved disturbances that took place in London. A total of 1,896 of the 2,710 people have so far appeared in London courts. A further 301 have been in the West Midlands, 240 in Manchester, 92 in Merseyside, and 64 in Nottingham.

The majority of those brought before the courts have been under the age of 20 with 27% juveniles under 18. This is a younger age profile than is normally seen by the courts for similar offences.

The overwhelming majority were male ? 89% ? and 41% of defendants whose ethnicity is known were white. A further 39% were black, 6% were Asian and 12% from a mixed race background.

Alan Travis

Source: http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2012/feb/23/almost-1000-jailed-riot-related-offences

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Boris Johnson urges transparency over Olympic Games ticket allocation

2012-02-23T03:42:00.001-08:00

London mayor acknowledged public concern and vowed to pressure committee to release a detailed breakdown

London mayor Boris Johnson has vowed to put pressure on London 2012 organisers to be more transparent over how tickets have been allocated, particularly for blue riband events.

The London Organising Committee of the Olympic and Paralympic Games (Locog) was criticised last week by a London Assembly committee for refusing to release a detailed breakdown of which tickets had been sold at each price point.

About 75% of the total of 8.8m tickets have been made available for sale to the British public, but for the most high-profile events in the main stadium and the velodrome the proportion will be much lower. For the 100m final, about 29,000 tickets are expected to be sold to the British public of the 80,000 capacity, which will be reduced to 74,000 at games-time owing to the erection of big screens at either end of the stadium.

"I fully share the desire of the assembly for transparency and we will be raising this at the Olympic board," said Johnson.

"What Locog say is that they don't want to release the details until the issuing of the tickets is complete. I can see a certain logic in that. But I certainly feel Londoners and the whole country want to see fairness and transparency," he added.

A Locog spokeswoman said: "We are committed to providing a full breakdown of ticket sales, and believe the best time to do this is once we have completed the final sales process ? we still have nearly 4m Olympic and Paralympic tickets to sell and our priority is to get those into the hands of sports fans. We are firmly committed to providing 75% of the total number of Olympic tickets to the British public, and if we can deliver more than this, we will."

Locog argues that the overall numbers available remain fluid, pointing to a recent reduction in capacity for the equestrian cross country in Greenwich park from 75,000 to 50,000 and an increase in the capacity on Box Hill for the cycling road race to 15,000.

Dee Doocey, the Liberal Democrat London Assembly Olympic spokesperson, said she was "delighted" that Johnson backed its calls. She added, however, that if the information was not released until after all tickets were sold it would be too late to intervene if the distribution was unfair.

"We need to know now how many tickets have been sold for each event, and at what price. If this information is not provided until all the tickets are sold it will be too late to do anything about it," she said.

"Locog excuses for not publishing information are indefensible from an organisation that only exists because of a huge investment of public money."

The final batch of 1.3m tickets across all sports will go on sale in April. About 20,000 prospective purchasers who missed out last June in the second phase of sales, despite believing they had purchased tickets will have first refusal for 24 hours.

The remaining million people who applied in the first round ballot and failed to secure a ticket will then be given five days to apply, although Locog has yet to decide when tickets will be released over that time. The process will then be opened to all comers, but only tickets to the men's and women's football are likely to remain by that stage.

ends

Owen Gibson

Source: http://www.guardian.co.uk/politics/2012/feb/22/boris-johnson-olympics-ticket-allocation

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Jonathan sends revised budget to N/Assembly

2012-02-23T01:42:00.001-08:00

PRESIDENT Goodluck Jonathan has formally sought the approval of the National Assembly for a downward review of the 2012 budget by N101bn. The president had on December 13 last year presented a budget proposal of N4.749tr to a joint session of the National Assembly for the 2012 fiscal year.

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But in his letter yesterday to the leadership of both chambers of the National Assembly, Jonathan said it was necessary to review the 2012 budget and the 2012-2014 Medium Term Expenditure Framework owing to the effects of the partial removal of petroleum subsidy on government revenue and expenditure� items.

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The new proposals show that instead of the N4.749tr earlier proposed for the 2012 fiscal year, Jonathan is seeking the issuance of N4.648tr from the nation?s consolidated revenue account, making a difference of N101bn.

The capital expenditure component of the budget is now N1.284 trillion as against the N1.319tr earlier proposed.

In the same vein, the recurrent (non-debt) expenditure, which was initially put at N2.471tr has not been reduced to N2.432 trillion; while statutory transfers is now put at N372.6 billion as against the N397.9bn initially proposed.

Apart from seeking approval for the provision of N888bn as subsidy on petroleum for the 2012 fiscal year, Jonathan also sought approval for N180bn as part of the funds required for the implementation of the Subsidy Re-investment Empowerment (SURE) Programme on assumption of $90 per barrel of crude oil in the international market since Nigeria imports 90 percent of the fuel for local consumption.

Source: http://www.dailytrust.com.ng/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=155267:jonathan-sends-revised-budget-to-nassembly&catid=2:lead-stories&Itemid=8

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Minister wants new system

2012-02-22T23:42:00.001-08:00

By Marieta Heidi Ilalio

The Customs division of the Ministry of Revenue is to ?redesign their system? and ensure banking is done daily to avoid a repeat of the events of last week. Describing it as ?a terrible week,? Minister of Revenue, Tuiloma Pule Lameko said he has ordered Customs' system to be ?redesigned as soon as possible.?

Speaking to Sunday Samoan yesterday, Tuiloma said the two incidents at Customs last week made him look deeper into ways to eliminate it in future.

Source: http://www.samoaobserver.ws/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=38145:minister-wants-new&catid=1:latest-news&Itemid=50

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Roberto Mancini says Carlos Tevez may make City return in two weeks

2012-02-22T21:42:00.001-08:00

? Manchester City manager has 'no problem' with Tevez
? Argentinian has not played for club since September

Roberto Mancini has accepted Carlos Tevez's unreserved apology and will consider him for selection once the striker is back to fitness in March. Speaking after Manchester City defeated Porto 4-0 in second leg of the Europa League last-32 tie to progress 6-1 on aggregate, the manager also stated that he will meet Tevez before training for the first time since the Argentinian returned to the club.

"I accept his apology, I don't have any problem," Mancini said. "Tomorrow I will meet him before training and after that he can begin to work with us."

Asked whether Tevez would be considered for the side like any member of his squad the Italian said: "He needs maybe two or three weeks to find a good form and after that he will be OK. He can play. Like the other players."

With Manchester City leading the Premier League and hoping to progress in the next round of the Europa League ? where they meet Legia Warsaw or Sporting Lisbon ? their good form means Tevez faces a fight to regain a starting berth. He is not registered to play in Europe.

"I think Carlos knows the team very well but the team in this last six or seven months have played very well," Mancini said. "We are on the top of the Premier League. But we know Carlos very well ? he's a top striker. I think that it will be good if he can help us to do a good job in the next two months.

"Carlos can't play in the Europa League but we can have four strikers in the Premier League and that is very good. If we get through in Europe I think it will be important to have four strikers," he said of Tevez, Mario Balotelli, Sergio Ag�ero and Edin Dzeko.

The latter two scored on Wednesday night along with David Silva and David Pizarro. Of Ag�ero, who now has 20 goals for City this season, Mancini said: "Sergio is another top striker but he's young and needs to improve. He's a top striker, he has scored a lot of goals, he was important in this game and has been important during the season. It's important to have now in the last two months all the players, all the strikers available."

Asked whether City can complete a championship and Europa League double Mancini said: "We hope so. But it's not easy to win both competitions. We want to try and get to the final if possible. In the Premier League we are top. If we win the next 13 games we will be champions."

Regarding Micah Richards and Gareth Barry, who each took knocks, Mancini said: "Micah I think is OK, Gareth has a slight problem in his muscle but I don't think it is serious. We will see tomorrow."

Jamie Jackson

Source: http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2012/feb/22/roberto-mancini-carlos-tevez-manchester-city

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Llanelli Star commented Deadly rat bug outbreak fears

2012-02-22T19:42:00.001-08:00

AN epidemic of a rare bacterial infection — affecting both animals and humans — could be about to sweep the town, a...

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Receipt dispute surfaces

2012-02-22T17:42:00.001-08:00

By Taina Kami Enoka

The Ministry of Labour, Commerce and Industry (MCIL) has defended the differences in receipts available in Samoa?s supermarkets. There are two types. One is where receipts itemize purchased goods and the other, which categorizes the items as DEPT1, DEPT2 and so on.

The difference was raised by a frustrated customer who lodged a complaint with the Ministry of Commerce last year about receipts supplied by Allan Supermarket at Lalovaea.
In July 2011, Filipo Strickland, of Lalovaea, was running a catering company while his brother was away.

Source: http://www.samoaobserver.ws/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=38117:receipt-dispute-surfaces&catid=1:latest-news&Itemid=50

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Historical hall soon to be history

2012-02-22T15:42:00.001-08:00

By Charlina Tone

The Apia Protestant Church hall will soon disappear taking with it a colourful history spanning more than a hundred years. Reverend Nuuausala Siaosi Siutaia said the hall is now a safety hazard and needs to be taken down as soon as possible.

?Although we really want to preserve this piece of history, and we did what we could to save it, it is no longer safe and safety is our main concern,? he said.The hall which dates back to the mid 1880s, is the very place where Sunday School was first established in Samoa.

Source: http://www.samoaobserver.ws/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=38024:historical-hall-soon&catid=1:latest-news&Itemid=50

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20 killed as JTF pursues Boko Haram

2012-02-22T13:42:00.001-08:00

The Joint Task Force in Borno State said it killed eight Boko Haram fighters in a shootout at the Baga Fish Market in Maiduguri yesterday.

But witnesses said many more people, most of them bystanders, were killed in the shooting. The gun duel was preceded by at least seven explosions in and around the market.

Trader Mohammed Sabiu said more than 20 people were killed in the shooting and that he had seen three Hilux trucks loaded with dead bodies moving out of the market.

?But the fact is, not all the people shot are Boko Haram members; I am sure there are civilians,? he said.

Witnesses said trouble started at about noon when an explosion rocked the market just when it was filled with people.

?There was a heavy blast behind the Baga Market, and many other blasts followed, and this caused commotion as traders and customers scattered,? Hannatu Abu, a fish seller, said.

Spokesman for the JTF, Lieutenant Colonel Hassan Mohammed, told journalists in a teleconference that some suspected Boko Haram members stormed the Baga Market and shot three civilians.

?The men of the JTF immediately came to the rescue and engaged the sect members. The three civilians did not die?we rushed them to a hospital for treatment,? Mohammed said.

?Our men succeeded in detonating 3 explosives at the market and killed 8 members of the sect. Large number of IEDs (improvised explosive devices) and other weapons has been recovered. The whole market has been cordoned off and we are currently searching the market to track down the fleeing members,? he said.

He added none of the members of the JTF was injured or killed.

The BBC Hausa reported on its website yesterday that up to 30 people were killed in the shooting.

Reuters news agency quoted a nurse at the University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital saying at least 20 corpses from the fighting had been delivered there.

?I am not sure of the exact number but I saw more than 20 bodies,? he said, adding that most were wearing traditional Islamic Kaftans worn by men in the area. None were in military uniforms.

Source: http://dailytrust.com.ng/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=155161:20-killed-as-jtf-pursues-boko-haram&catid=2:lead-stories&Itemid=8

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Cost of Glazers' takeover at Manchester United reaches �500m | David Conn

2012-02-22T11:42:00.001-08:00

Despite seven years of success under the Glazers' rule, United have leaked half a billion to service the debt-laden ownership

For most normal souls outrage can only last so long, and at Manchester United, supporters' fury at the Glazer family's pillage of their club has been tempered by titles won, the glories of Wayne Rooney, Nani and the rest in full flow, as well as the passage of nearly seven years. The Glazers have sat across the Atlantic, not communicating with the club's fans, and ridden it out until battle weariness has consigned green and gold to the fringes. The release of impassive accounts for "MU Finance plc" has become a quarterly ritual, with the world pointed to the growth in the club's income, from TV deals which would have increased anyway, and commercial operations the Glazers have required to be sweated until the brand squeaks.

Yet the latest figures, covering the Glazers' financial machinations with United for the final three months of 2011, document a landmark. From October to December 2011, the cost of the Glazers' "leveraged buyout" of United, when they loaded their own �525m borrowings on to the club itself to repay, was �17.5m. The club paid �12.2m in interest and other financing charges, and �5.3m paying off some actual debt, which nevertheless remains over �400m. As documented with forensic anger by Andy Green in his "Love United, Hate Glazer" Andersred blog, the total drained out of United in interest, bank charges and other payments before these latest figures was �480m. So the total cash taken out of United, to pay for a takeover the fans and then board did not want, was �497.5m by 31 December. In round figures, and anyway now, with two months further interest from December, the Glazer family have been responsible for �500m going out of United.

Most United supporters know this and have never become reconciled to the damage done, only, slowly, to the frustration that there is nothing they can do about it. The Premier League, Football Association and government, after unrolling the red carpet for the Glazers in 2005, have ever since been silent.

There are a few contrary voices in support of the Glazers' record, so the tedious argument does have to be joined with the fact that United have continued to be successful under their rule, winning four Premier League titles since 2005 and one Champions League, in 2008. The three most straightforward answers to that are: United, who were hugely rich, had no debt, a great manager and squad of top players when the Glazers arrived, might have been even more successful, perhaps dominated in Europe as well as the Premier League, had �500m dead money not gone to bankers since.

Secondly, it is arguable that the Glazers' shrewdest move has been effectively to leave Old Trafford well alone, knowing that in Sir Alex Ferguson and David Gill, they had the partnership to maintain success, even given so much less money to play with.

Third, give the Glazers as much credit as you like, decide the playing success really is somehow all due to their absentee and debt-laden ownership, yet still no argument can be advanced for how leaking half a billion pounds out of the club, still to barely chip into the originally imposed debt, has been good for United.

The US owners of two of England's other biggest clubs, Arsenal and Liverpool, both motivated financially by the Premier League's global TV and commercial income, fly in this week. Stan Kroenke will contemplate the crumbling of quality at Arsenal and departure of several top players during his ownership, while ticket prices for fans were increased. John Henry will arrive for a Wembley final after a deeply ignominious episode in the club's history, the Luis Su�rez affair, the leadership at Liverpool furiously criticised by a coalition of anti-racism groups.

Henry has always expressed puzzlement with United fans' objections to the Glazers' debt-loading, given United's success. Kroenke, who paid Arsenal's selling English shareholders millions personally but has committed to not putting a cent into the club itself, in his only public address to date, memorably went out of his way to express admiration for what the Glazers have done. MU Finance plc is where those deeds are recorded, and even after so long, the running total should always be observed.

David Conn

Source: http://www.guardian.co.uk/sport/david-conn-inside-sport-blog/2012/feb/22/manchester-united-glazers-debt

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?Budget is rand positive?

2012-02-22T09:42:00.001-08:00

Barclays Capital regards this year's budget as broadly rand positive from a capital flow and sound macroeconomic policy perspective.

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Barclays Capital regards this year's budget as broadly rand positive from a capital flow and sound macroeconomic policy perspective.

“The Treasury is subtly suggesting the ZAR could recover from current levels over the next few years and is also looking at reducing the country's foreign debt exposure,” said the group's analysts in their post Budget commentary.

Despite the recent recovery in the rand in recent months, the Treasury was quick to mention that the local unit remains susceptible to any shifts in the level of global risk appetite, which in turn rests heavily on the rate at which global output recovers over the coming years.

The Treasury acknowledged that the rand, together with a number of other emerging market currencies, has been the recipient of the sharp increase in global liquidity in recent quarters. This is in keeping with the renewed foreign appetite for SA bonds that we have seen since the start of the year, they added.

“These recent bond inflows have more than compensated for the foreign withdrawal from SA equities and in so doing ensured that there has been a net positive inflow of portfolio capital this year, after the severe sell-off during H2 11,” the analysts said.

In the year to date foreigners have been net buyers of R8.625 billion of local bonds.

They noted that it was also heartening to see that the officials are also clearly looking to attract increased levels of FDI, given that there is an emphasis to make it 'easier to do business in SA' and also an ongoing desire to promote greater investment into Africa through SA.

“From a trade flow perspective, the Treasury also placed increased attention on the export sector. In this regard, the authorities are looking to improve the country's network infrastructure so as to address the transportation bottlenecks that have has been cited as a reason for why SA has not taken as much advantage of the prevailing commodity boom as one might have expected,” they said.

They added that based on the government's intended foreign borrowing over the next three fiscal years, the rand is implied to average R7.30 over the corresponding period.

“While one shouldn't draw too much of an inference about the exchange rate from these projected foreign bond proceeds, they do imply that the Treasury is more constructive about the ZAR in comparison to both the prevailing spot rate and the ZAR forward curve,” they said.

As expected, there were no changes in exchange control regulation at this year's budget, but it was heartening from an external vulnerability perspective that the Government intends to significantly reduce its foreign debt levels as a percentage of overall debt over the coming years - from 19.9% to 2.9% by 2014/15.

“The authorities are also optimistic that SA sovereign rating outlook will not be downgraded, which would also be supportive for the ZAR from a country risk premia perspective,” they added. - I-Net Bridge

Source: http://www.iol.co.za/budget-is-rand-positive-1.1240509

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Leicester Mercury published Leader's possible conduct breach to be probed

2012-02-22T07:42:00.001-08:00

Article

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Vailima Tennis Academy back from NZ tour

2012-02-22T05:42:00.001-08:00

By Niccola Hazelman-Siona

14 members of the Vailima Tennis Academy (VTA) have recently returned following a very impressive finish at the PBEC JUNIORS OPEN Tournament in Gisborne, New Zealand.
The Poverty Bay East Coast (PBEC) Tennis Tournament is held every year and Samoa has participated for the last eight years.

Team Coach, Yvonne Carruthers said the aim of taking a team to compete is to boost tennis. ?This tournament is very good for the development of young tennis players and the development of tennis as a sport in Samoa? ?It gives the players exposure to outside competitions and what they can achieve?

Source: http://www.samoaobserver.ws/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=38053:vailima-tennis-academy&catid=34:sports&Itemid=54

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Mercury_Sport published Leicester Tigers lock set for full England debut

2012-02-22T03:42:00.001-08:00

Article

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Rick Santorum hopes for Tea Party backing to edge out win in Arizona

2012-02-22T01:42:00.001-08:00

As Mitt Romney clinches on to a slight lead, Santorum works on tapping into powerful Tea Party for next week's primary

Republican presidential candidate Rick Santorum made a direct appeal to the Tea Party movement in Arizona to help him pull off another major upset against rival Mitt Romney in next Tuesday's party primary.

Romney began as clear favourite to take Arizona but the polls have been narrowing and he now maintains only a slim lead.

A Time/CNN/ORC poll published Tuesday put Romney on 36%, Santorum on 32%, Newt Gingrich on 18% and Ron Paul on 6%.

Arizona has until now been overshadowed by Michigan, which holds its primary the same day, because the race had been tighter there. Losing both states would be a serious setback for Romney, renewing Republican doubts about whether he is a credible candidate to take on Barack Obama in November.

Santorum needs a victory next week to demonstrate that his wins on February 7 in Minnesota and Colorado, and, to a lesser extent, Missouri, will not turn out to be a flash in the pan and that he has the momentum to go on to replace Romney as favourite to become the presidential nominee.

Santorum, in a speech in Phoenix on the eve of a Republican presidential debate Wednesday, made his most impassioned plea yet to the Tea Party movement to climb aboard his campaign.

"I love the Tea Party," he said. He applauded it for having, he claimed, restored knowledge and respect for the constitution. He said it had achieved a big change from his time as a US senator ? he represented Pennsylvania from 1994 to 2006 ? when colleagues sniggered when the constitution was raised, regarding it as outmoded.

In another appeal to Tea Party sentiment, he criticised supreme court justice Ruth Ginsburg for her remarks earlier this month saying the US constitution was not a model she would necessarily recommend for a post-revolution government and suggested instead the South African model.

Santorum needs the Tea Party movement, which has a big presence in Arizona, if he is to stand any chance of overtaking Romney.

Romney started the Arizona contest as favourite, partly because he can largely count on votes from his fellow co-religionists, Mormons, who make up a large proportion of the state's population.

He also has the backing of Arizona senator John McCain, though he is on a Middle East visit at present and not campaigning for him.

The Tea Party has a strong presence in the state. When McCain faced a re-election battle in 2010, he had to spend millions of dollars in ads ? comparable to Romney's blitzes of his rivals ? to see of a challenge from a Tea Party candidate, JD Hayworth, even though he was a poor candidate.

Among the audience for Santorum's speech was Gary Fitt, 54, an unemployed teacher from Phoenix and Tea Party member, who said he is leaning towards Santorum, though has not finally decided between Santorum and Gingrich. The CNN Wednesday debate would help make up his mind.

He will not vote for Romney, regarding him as inconsistent and insincere. Mormonism is also a factor in ruling out Romney. Fitt, who was brought up a Mormon, said: "They have some far-fetched ideas."

Arizona is a winner-takes-all primary. All 29 delegates go to the victor, and as a result Romney's other rivals, Gingrich and Paul, have made little effort in the state. This sense of defeatism is reflected in the relative lack of ads there.

Santorum's presence in the state, to be followed with another appeal to the Tea Party on Wednesday when he is to address a rally of the movement's supporters in Tucson, suggests he believes he has a fighting chance.

Polls indicate he has better chance in the other primary next Tuesday, Michigan, where the polls have recently shown him in the lead. The latest gave Romney a 2% lead.

Romney was brought up in Michigan where his father was governor. If he was to lose the state to Santorum, it would be a major blow to his campaign.

Santorum, in his Phoenix speech, noted that he is the target of ads portraying him as a Washington insider because of his time in the Senate and a supporter of indisciminate federal spending. Paul, recognising the increasing danger posed by Santorum, has joined Romney in spending money on ads critical of Santorum.

Santorum said he found it odd to be criticsed as an insider by a politician who had tried to get elected to the Senate and failed, Romney, and by Gingrich, who had been House speaker. He portrayed himself as someone who had fought corruption in Washington and who had never voted for a tax increase.

Ewen MacAskill

Source: http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2012/feb/21/rick-santorum-tea-party-backing-arizona

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Llanelli Star published Family heartbroken after loss of inspirational teen

2012-02-21T23:42:00.001-08:00

A CARWAY teenager who lost his hard-fought battle with cancer last week will always be remembered for his inspirational courage,...

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Rand flat against the US dollar

2012-02-21T21:42:00.001-08:00

The rand was flat against the dollar in noon trade as it tracked a euro that had been flustered by reports that Greece might still need a third bailout.

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The rand was flat against the dollar in noon trade on Tuesday as it tracked a euro that had been flustered by reports that Greece might still need a third bailout.

“The euphoria is wearing off as the Greek deal was already priced into the markets,” a local currency trader said.

“The markets are still worried about Greece and certain news reports haven't helped,” he added.

“I see a weaker euro looming and therefore a weaker rand as markets haven't been wowed by the approval of the second Greek bailout,” the trader said.

At 11:37 local time, the rand was bid at R7.6962 to the dollar from its previous close of R7.6805. It was bid at R10.1994 to the euro from R10.1480 before, and at R12.1913 against sterling from R12.1587 previously.

The euro was bid at US$1.3259 from its previous close of US$1.3209.

RMB said in a note on Tuesday morning that the market had responded towards the Greek bailout agreement with a big yawn.

“After weeks of anxiously waiting, the deal is an anti-climax. Part of the reason is that some eurozone members do not believe a second bailout will resolve Greece's problems.

“Particularly damning has been a strictly confidential report prepared for eurozone members, obtained by the Financial Times, suggesting another bailout will be needed. Surprise, surprise, the bailout simply means that Greece lives to die another day.”

Meanwhile Dow Jones Newswires reported that although the euro was still up against the dollar in European markets, trading had been cautious.

Commerzbank said scepticism was justified and added that even with the Greek bailout, the majority of market players were finding it hard to believe that Greece would get through to 2020 without a further default.

Many investors were concerned that the Greek general election, expected in April, might bring in a government unwilling or unable to implement stringent austerity measures.

In addition to this, the UK's Financial Times reported that Greece might still need a third bailout as the forced austerity could cause debt levels to rise, and its debt restructure could prevent Greece from ever returning to financial markets.

“The crisis marathon is not over,” warned Carsten Brzeski, economist at ING Bank NV. “The combination of more austerity, social unrest and European impatience could become explosive, with a high risk that the Greek crisis could still derail.”

Brzeski added that the second bailout package had again bought time for other “peripheral” eurozone countries to show that they were different from Greece and to put all available “anti-contagion firewalls” into place. - I-Net Bridge

Source: http://www.iol.co.za/rand-flat-against-the-us-dollar-1.1239240

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CSKA Moscow 1-1 Real Madrid | Champions League match report

2012-02-21T19:42:00.001-08:00

Just when it seemed that Real Madrid's work in Russia was done, Pontus Wernbloom volleyed in an injury-time goal for CSKA Moscow to secure an unlikely 1-1 draw in their Champions League last-16 first leg. When the shock subsides, Jos� Mourinho may reflect that a score draw is not a bad result away from home; he will also reflect that while Madrid rarely shone, they largely controlled a game that they had looked like winning from the moment Cristiano Ronaldo scored in the 28th minute.

In the 93rd minute, though, a cross swung in from the right was met by two headers, the second of them back across the face of the six-yard box where the Swede Wernbloom, making his first appearance for CSKA, stretched to score. It was CSKA's first shot on target. Their only other chance had come in the opening seven minutes when Georgy Shennikov's early cross found Alan Dzagoev. Falling backwards, he put his volley wide.

Madrid took the lead midway through the first half. A deep, looping cross from the left dipped into the penalty area and towards Zoran Tosic. Leaning forward awkwardly, he misjudged its flight horribly and failed to get decent contact on the ball. Ronaldo didn't. As it fell to him, 15 yards out, the Portuguese striker hit it left-footed on the bounce and sent it beyond the keeper. It was Ronaldo's 36th goal of another astonishingly productive season.

Madrid were comfortable. Ronaldo, in particular, was active, while Xabi Alonso was exerting an ever greater influence. Sami Khedira was an able assistant alongside him and at centre-back Pepe was alert and aggressive. The few chances there were fell Madrid's way. Sergey Chepchugov made an excellent double save from Gonzalo Higua�n and Khedira. Then early in the second half Jos� Callej�n twice had opportunities in the inside left position ? his first shot was scuffed, his second smothered.

Madrid did little more by way of attacking, but then they did not need to. This was a far from exciting game but it seemed effective enough for Mourinho's side and there were isolated chances to have made it safe. Sergio Ramos headed straight at Chepchugov, who then came out to deny Ronaldo space as he reached Alonso's clever pass. In the final five minutes, Ronaldo steered his shot wide. It appeared to matter little: Madrid had a 1-0 lead and an extra centre-back, Ra�l Albiol, was sent on to ensure they kept it. Besides, CSKA had not threatened Madrid at all. Until Wernbloom suddenly appeared on the edge of their six-yard box.

Mourinho said: "Without doing anything out of this world we had the chances to score a second goal. I'm frustrated but it is not a bad result. I am not happy but I am not too sad either. It's not a drama. It happened to us last year in Lyon and we got through to the quarter-finals then."

Sid Lowe

Source: http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2012/feb/21/cska-moscow-real-madrid-champions-league

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David Haye happy to hit the road and head for 'party time' in Las Vegas | Kevin Mitchell

2012-02-21T17:42:00.001-08:00

Trash-talking Bermondsey boy David Haye has again been quick to demonstrate his disregard for public opinion

David Haye, the Scarlet Pimpernel of boxing, waved goodbye to the UK ? and hello to Hollywood? ? with a Twitter message that revealed little anxiety about potential assault charges awaiting him in Germany and much about where his head is at.

There was no indication in the manner and timing of his departure that he cares much about the consequences of his continued snubbing of authority over his after-midnight brawl with Dereck Chisora in Munich on Sunday.

The indifference is compounded by distance, now, as he luxuriates in a comfortable suite in Las Vegas, or perhaps a friend's condominium, lounging by the pool with, who knows, a tequila in one hand and a freshly plucked bikini in the other.

Having described photographers camped outside his London hideaway on Tuesday as "birdwatchers", he sped to the airport and tweeted a photo of himself smiling and relaxed in his first-class seat, a picture of either smug contentment or child-like guilt. "Managed to shake off them bird watchers on M25!" he said. "Jetting off to warmer climates. Its PARTY TIME!"

There is no ambiguity about Haye's priorities. While the authorities in Munich spend more time than they would like fielding calls from British journalists about Haye's lack of interest in their inquiries, the former world champion wants to get down to some serious fun.

That's cool, as he would see it. It is also cold. Cold to the concerns of the law (although Munich police say he is entitled to go to the United States, as he has not been charged), cold to the responsibilities he has to his sport as well as to those who, until recently, admired his verve and excitement in the ring.

Haye signalled last July ? when he famously bared his bruised little toe as the excuse for his poor performance against Wladimir Klitschko ? that public opinion means little to him. Fellow boxers sniggered. Fans laughed out loud. But nobody looked away.

Nor did they ignore Haye when he hit Chisora with a cracking bottle-enforced right hand, and the process of disconnection with his old career took another irreversible click.

This reinvention of his persona, adding mystery to confusion, fuels the growing media fascination with the trash-talking fallen golden boy from Bermondsey. It's as if this is what he wanted all along.

At 1pm on Tuesday I became voyeur No 2,831,589 entranced by the YouTube clip de jour, the Brawl after Midnight. If anyone doubted the guilty attraction of the fight game, those numbers tell the truth of it, three days after the incident. Haye understands that better than most of the moralists.

I had watched it before, looking for clues and evidence from the fracas that I witnessed in uncomfortable proximity in the press conference room of the Olympiahalle. It looked bad for him. It looked worse for Chisora.

There are so many high-octane and ugly moments from the 13th round of Chisora's world title night. They are embedded in the imagination. Chisora, dismayed at the consequences of his foolishness, has said sorry. The only person happy to forget is Haye.

But he cannot be totally relaxed about his dilemma. Haye also took the trouble to retweet a BBC interview with Dr Thomas Putz, president of the Federation of German Professional Boxers, who makes a strong case for absolving Haye of blame, while advocating that Chisora be banned forever from boxing in Germany.

Putz believes Chisora is "absolutely crazy" and that Haye was acting in self-defence. He would have "absolutely no problem" with Haye fighting in Germany again. Nor, I suspect, would the Klitschkos. For all their disapproval of him, in the land of realpolitik, they love the money he brings them.

Kevin Mitchell

Source: http://www.guardian.co.uk/sport/blog/2012/feb/21/david-haye-dereck-chisora-brawl

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Fees climb at LTA

2012-02-21T15:42:00.001-08:00

By Marieta Heidi Ilalio

Running a vehicle is set to hit you where it hurts the most, in your pocket. The Land Transport Authority (LTA) has increased all licensing and registration fees.

Chief Executive Officer, Leasi Vainalepa Galuvao, told the Samoa Observer in an email message that the increase in licensing was issued by Government and was tabled and approved in Parliament last year.

Source: http://www.samoaobserver.ws/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=38013:fees-climb-at&catid=1:latest-news&Itemid=50

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Leicester Mercury published Comedy Review: Carl Donnelly, Belmont Hotel, Leicester

2012-02-21T13:42:00.001-08:00

Article

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South Wales Evening Post published Police in fresh appeal to trace bus stop flasher

2012-02-21T11:42:00.001-08:00

POLICE hunting for a man who exposed himself to a woman at a bus stop are re-appealing for help from the public.

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Rangers' case sounds tax warning football clubs would do well to heed | David Conn

2012-02-21T09:42:00.001-08:00

After years of going easy on 'community assets', the gloves are off as far as the HMRC and football clubs are concerned

There was a time not so long ago when the tax authorities went easy on football clubs, seeing them as beloved, amateurishly run havens which should be given leeway on tax bills so they could perform their community role. That patience expired during the 2000s as clubs serially plunged into administration, 54 times in England and Wales since the 1992 Premier League breakaway, leaving millions of pounds in unpaid tax while, according to the leagues' rules, paying players' wages and other football clubs in full.

In 2012, it seems like war. Rangers last week became the biggest British club to collapse into administration ? Leeds United, insolvent in 2007, may compete for that sad distinction ? with �9m tax unpaid in just nine months since Craig Whyte's takeover. Rangers face a huge further bill to Her Majesty's Revenue and Customs if the club lose the court action brought by HMRC over the use of employee benefits trusts, by which players were paid via trusts rather than straightforwardly through the books with PAYE. Even if HMRC wins the case, the resulting judgment, for which a tax bill of �49m has been mooted, will now become just another unpaid creditor in Rangers' administration.

HMRC no longer hangs around allowing the PAYE bill to run up, while the lavish wages on which that tax is due continue to be paid, principally to the players. Since 2009 alone, HMRC has issued 26 winding-up petitions, against 12 Football League clubs and Portsmouth, who in 2010 were in the Premier League.

The list includes stalwart names of the game's history: Crystal Palace, Plymouth Argyle, Cardiff City, Hull City, Rochdale, Preston North End, Notts County, Bournemouth, Southend United, Gillingham, Sheffield Wednesday and Accrington Stanley. HMRC has lost the sentiment that this history must be trodden on gingerly, that football clubs are too precious to fall. The official position, according to an HMRC spokesman, is that: "Football clubs are like any other businesses; they must pay their obligations to the public revenues."

Portsmouth's second administration in two years has been precipitated by demands for �2m unpaid tax, and HMRC was active in the high court to demand that Andrew Andronikou, the club's previous administrator and current administrator for the holding company, CSI, should not be appointed, because of "issues of conflict".

HMRC has chased Premier League clubs who paid their superstars partly for image rights, therefore free of PAYE and national insurance and often via offshore tax havens, and 16 clubs have now made increased tax payments dating back to 2004. Chelsea announced in their 2010?11 accounts that they have settled their image-rights issue with HMRC by paying �6.4m.

HMRC has now sent clubs questionnaires on "benefits in kind" they may have treated players to, including the use of yachts, planes, property or cars, because the financial value of these may be subject to PAYE.

Even the ill-fated and arguably misguided prosecutions by HMRC of the former Portsmouth owner, Milan Mandaric, chief executive Peter Storrie and manager Harry Redknapp for alleged tax evasion, of whom all were acquitted, is thought by some to spring from a resentment at football's perceived generally casual attitude to paying its taxes.

After Redknapp's and Mandaric's acquittal a fortnight ago, HMRC's assistant director of criminal investigations, Chris Martin, nevertheless read a statement at Southwark crown court with the intended ominous warning: "We accept the verdict of the jury but I would like to remind those who are evading tax by using offshore tax havens that it always makes sense to come forward and talk to us before we come to talk to you."

The football clubs reject the perception that they are any longer deficient about paying tax, and as part of their general campaign to persuade the nation that they are good citizens, point to the total tax paid.

One benefit to the public in straitened times of footballers being lavishly paid, some with the personal fortunes of overseas billionaires including Roman Abramovich and Sheikh Mansour at Manchester City, is that the 50% upper tax rate has to be paid on those mountainous wage bills, plus national insurance. The Premier League estimates that its total tax contribution ? mainly in PAYE, also in VAT and corporation tax from the handful of clubs which record a profit (those which make losses can use that as a tax break) ? will total �1bn this year.

Yet handsome as that money is, much of it from clubs in neighbourhoods of deprivation, HMRC's indignation at football will not subside while the football creditors' rule remains in force. This is the rule, unique to English football, by which the leagues allow clubs in administration to leave unpaid all creditors including tax, charities (most notoriously St John Ambulance), local businesses, public services and local schools, but insist clubs must pay all players and other clubs in full.

HMRC has legally challenged the rule, claiming it is "unfair, unlawful and unacceptable". The parliamentary select committee for culture, media and sport recommended in its report on football governance last year that the rule should be abolished, partly because "it harms the communities that football is supposed to serve".

However, both the Football League and Premier League are spending time and money defending the rule, arguing that other clubs must be paid in full if an insolvent club is to be reaccepted by the league, to prevent a domino effect and preserve "sporting integrity".

In its 106-page written case to the high court, HMRC lists figures from the administrations of clubs. At Crystal Palace, in administration in October 2010 under the ownership of the former mobile phone magnate Simon Jordan, �2m was owed to football creditors, while �25m was owed to the usual dispiriting list of "ordinary" creditors, including �2.7m to HMRC. The football creditors were paid in full by the Football League directly, from TV and sponsorship money due to Palace; the ordinary creditors were offered 1.95% of their bills.

After Portsmouth's meltdown, the Premier League withheld TV money and parachute payments solely to pay �46m owed to football clubs and players in full. The unsecured creditors among Portsmouth's total debts of �106m, including �17m tax, principally PAYE on the huge wages paid to players, had to settle for 20%, promised over five years. Now, following the club's further meltdown after the new owner, Vladimir Antonov, was arrested and accused of bank fraud in Lithuania, HMRC and those unsecured creditors of Pompey's first administration will not receive anything close to 20%.

In his evidence to the select committee, the Premier League's chief executive, Richard Scudamore, said: "I am not defending many aspects of the consequences of the football creditors' rule, but on balance I think the Football League, the Football Association and I agree that of the options available, it is better to have the rule than not have the rule."

HMRC vehemently disagrees, believing that football clubs look after themselves, leaving everybody around them high and dry after reckless overspending. Judgment is expected next month. While the rule remains, there is no prospect of peace, between the national sport, and the nation's tax man.

David Conn

Source: http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/david-conn-inside-sport-blog/2012/feb/21/rangers-tax-warning-football-clubs

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GPA must ask players about payments to managers again

2012-02-21T07:42:00.001-08:00

John Fogarty

THE reaction among the GPA’s detractors to their support for the regulated payment of inter-county managers was predictable. “They would, wouldn’t they?”

This writer has been critical of the now official players body in the past, concerned their talk of not buying the idea of volunteerism and claiming the importance of the inter-county player was greater than the man who sweeps the dressing room floor was more than just brinksmanship, more than just opening gambits.

However, the official recognition protocol in which they fully subscribed to the amateur ethos of the GAA appears to have curbed any threat of a pursuit of some form of professionalism among their ranks.

They are subsumed to a certain extent under the auspices of the Association.

At the same time, they are doing some excellent and noble work now, providing inter-county players with no end of support in all parts of their lives.

The amount of funding they attract is high, perhaps too high, and will likely be scaled down as Croke Park reviews all its outgoings in the current stricken economic climate.

But they have proven themselves decent commercial partners so far, the All Star deal with Opel and the recent Price Waterhouse Cooper sponsorship returning dividends for both bodies.

They have challenges ahead of them.

The recent decisions by players to take time out, withdraw or retire from teams indicate the pressures being exacted on inter-county hurlers and footballers.

For so few games in an inter-county season, they are being subjected to incredible demands on their time and pocket.

Never in the history of the GAA has there been more reason, at least in the output of players, to reward them for their contributions.

That’s not to say they should be. Most definitely not, in this writer’s opinion, but then neither should they be out of pocket for their services.

The same goes for managers.

Were they to be given the use of a car and a fuel allowance for the length of their term in charge, it would be a deserving perk. But pay them? No.

The GPA, though, have no problem with managers being remunerated from central funds. They also insist they would not seek payment for their members were managers to be paid.

They refer to an independent survey commissioned by them in 2010 in which 134 of 189 players who backed managers being paid said they wouldn’t look for it themselves if managers were waged.

Two years is a long time in this Ireland. The standard of living has dropped considerably.

GAA-wise, the GPA is now officially recognised. It’s in their best interests and those of the Association to provide accurate and up-to-date feedback from their members.

In the maelstrom of players who voiced their support for payment if managers were also being compensated, GPA spokesman Seán Potts spoke of the “silent majority” who had to be considered.

"This survey was comprehensive and we still feel it represents the view of our membership,” he said.

Few doubt the thoroughness of the study and nobody knows inter-county players better than the GPA themselves but feeling is one thing; knowing is another.

For the record, let’s gather up some of those sound-bites:

Kerry’s Bryan Sheehan: “Yeah, managers probably to get paid but I think players be should be looked after just as much.”

Dublin’s Alan Brogan: “It (paying managers) might open the floodgates a little bit and it could be a dangerous road to go down, to be honest, but how else do you do it?”

Wexford’s Aindreas Doyle (Twitter): “The GAA are on another planet if they think players are going to give the current commitment forever.”

Dublin’s Conal Keaney (Twitter): "Managers getting paid, there would be no game without players.”

Offaly’s PJ Ward (Twitter, sic): “GAA is a voluntary organisation all over the boards managers shudnt b paid if player aren’t.”

The argument being made by the GPA is that players have no problem with managers being paid if it ensures, as they suspect it will, they have top-class systems in place.

The thing is most of them already do without a large proportion of managers being paid at the moment so one wonders just how strong the argument is there.

An identifiably paid manager isn’t going to make life any easier for them; it’s going to legitimise every task they’re asked. In fact, it’s going to heap more upon them as managers strive to justify their worth.

For the benefit of the GAA as they shortly sit down to evaluate director general Páraic Duffy’s discussion payment and the written submissions from the counties, the GPA should commission another survey to see what players make of the idea of paying managers now.

The GPA are obliged to reflect the interests of their membership. If there are indications, as there have been in recent weeks, that there is a change in opinion they must attempt to ascertain its value.

It’s also incumbent on them to provide the GAA with information like do inter-county players believe it could be the thin end of the wedge? How would they respond to a manager being paid when managers claim ad nauseam it is they, the players, who are the winning and losing of games?

As the GAA considers bending its most core value, empirical and current data from the true last bastions of high-profile amateur sport in this country must be gathered.

What’s there to be afraid of but the truth?

Source: http://feeds.examiner.ie/~r/iesportsblog/~3/z5tfS1dlOiA/post.aspx

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South Wales Evening Post published Petition on gay unions

2012-02-21T05:42:00.001-08:00

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Leicester Mercury published Stars coming out for festival

2012-02-21T03:42:00.001-08:00

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Olympic Park: an alternative tour around the London 2012 games site

2012-02-21T01:42:00.001-08:00

Join Alexandra Topping and tour guide Simon Cole to discover the area's greenest spaces and most interesting historical facts

Source: http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/london-2012-olympics-blog/interactive/2012/feb/20/olympic-park-alternative-tour

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GPA must ask players about payments to managers again

2012-02-20T23:42:00.001-08:00

Source: http://feeds.examiner.ie/~r/iesportsblog/~3/z5tfS1dlOiA/post.aspx

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Scotland brush aside FA anger over raids on England's talent

2012-02-20T21:42:00.001-08:00

? Craig Levein calls up England Under-20 winger Matt Phillips
? 'It's important we widen the net to give us the best chance'

Craig Levein said he is unperturbed about upsetting the Football Association with his attempts to coax English-born players to play for Scotland. Levein has named Blackpool's Matt Phillips in his squad for the friendly in Slovenia on 29 February. The 20-year-old, born in Aylesbury, has played for England's Under-19 and Under-20 teams but qualifies for Scotland through a grandparent.

Phillips' club manager, Ian Holloway, had said the forward should have spurned Levein's advances on the basis he will soon be good enough to play for England at senior level.

Asked if resentment has been apparent from the FA, Levein said: "There has been. There has been an indication that they are not particularly happy about it but I see that as a compliment in some regards.

"Who is to say that Matt Phillips isn't any more patriotic towards Scotland than half the people who live in Scotland?"

On Holloway's stance, Levein said: "Ian Holloway is a fiercely patriotic Englishman so he is going to say that. He feels very much that Matt Phillips would be an asset to the England team."

There are seven England-born players in the Scotland party for the match against Slovenia in Koper. Levein could yet coax Liverpool's Jonjo Shelvey into donning Scotland colours. His hopes of doing likewise with the Tottenham defender Steven Caulker and Chelsea's Josh McEachran are understood to be remote for now. Levein justifies his tactics on the basis he needs all the resource available for the World Cup qualifying campaign.

"I think it's really important that we widen the net and give ourselves the best chance," Levein said. "Other countries have been doing what we are attempting to do for years now. It is no coincidence that a lot of those countries have been very successful.

"I'm very proud of my Scottish roots but my job, most importantly, is to give us the best chance possible of qualifying for Brazil. It's as simple as that."

Levein reported improvement in the health of his captain, Darren Fletcher. The Manchester United midfielder is taking an extended break from football in a bid to cure a serious bowel condition.

Scotland have not completely ruled out selecting Fletcher for the friendly with the United States on 26 May. "He's is feeling better," Levein said. "Not setting aside what he is as a football player, his dealing with this has been amazing really. You need to understand the depth of the problems that he has had. It just makes him an even more impressive character. I really want him to be part of everything that we're doing. I might take him to America, depending on how well he is. Even if he is not fit to play, I might take him along."

Ewan Murray

Source: http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2012/feb/20/scotland-fa-england-talent

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South Wales Evening Post published Swansea men jailed after admitting heroin charges

2012-02-20T19:42:00.001-08:00

TWO Swansea men guilty of a serious trafficking charge involving heroin have been sent to prison for two years and eight months.

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Illness hits Paul Nicholls stable ahead of Cheltenham Festival

2012-02-20T17:42:00.001-08:00

? Gold Cup hope Kauto Star not among horses affected by bug
? Trainer has cancelled media visit to his yard this week

Paul Nicholls, the dominant force in National Hunt racing for the last six years, said on Monday that some horses in his yard are suffering from a cough and that he has cancelled a scheduled media morning at his Ditcheat yard on Wednesday as a result. The news arrived just 22 days before the opening day on 13 March of the Cheltenham Festival, the sport's showpiece meeting.

Nicholls has saddled just one winner in February, although that was a high-profile and valuable success as Zarkandar took the Betfair Hurdle at Newbury last Friday. Since Zarkandar's win, he has sent out 27 runners without success, although only five started as favourite for their races, and just one set off at odds-on.

Nicholls said that Zarkandar was one of a number of horses who returned to the yard over the weekend "with a filthy nose and a cough", though he expects the five-year-old, who is now the second favourite for the Champion Hurdle with some bookmakers, to be "back out cantering on Wednesday once he has finished his course of antibiotics".

In his column on the Betfair website, Nicholls said that "plenty of our horses didn't show their true form" on Friday and Saturday, and "as our weekend runners came back from the track, a good few of them had dirty noses and were coughing".

Nicholls continued: "[It's] nothing serious but it's got to be monitored and gives us some clues as to why a few of the team didn't run to their true form, which was plain to see. Coughs come and go at yards and there is always the odd horse with one but, in the past few days, we have started noticing more.

"We are sticklers for keeping our yard as healthy as can be with bi-annual flu jobs as well as regular steam cleaning of the horses boxes and stables ? nothing is left to chance. But unfortunately horses can pick these coughs up when visiting the track and bring them back home.

"The horses who have come back with dirty noses and coughs will get antibiotics. Depending on the horse it can be three to five days before they are back in full training. It's much like when we get a head cold ? the whole thing goes as quickly as it comes. Sometimes you might hear a cough a day or two before they go to the races but they still work well. Until they've gone through the full stress of a race it really doesn't come to the fore.

"Ourselves and other yards are no strangers to this. We've headed into Cheltenham before on so called 'terrible form' but end up banging in a few winners at the Sandown meeting and having a great Festival."

As yet, Nicholls said, his "big boys" ? including Kauto Star, the second favourite for the Gold Cup, Big Buck's, the World Hurdle favourite, and Al Ferof, who is due to contest the Arkle Trophy, are all unaffected by the cough.

On Monday morning, Nicholls was responsible for one of the first three names in the betting for 11 of the Festival's 27 races, and was top-priced at 9-4 to finish top trainer. He drifted to 11-4 with one firm following the first indications that he was not happy with some of his horses. Nicky Henderson, his main rival for the overall trainers' title, was cut to 2-1 (from 5-2) to finish the season as champion for the first time since 1987.

Paul Bittar, the new chief executive of the British Horseracing Authority, will propose fresh amendments to the authority's controversial rules on the use of the whip to a meeting of the BHA's board on Tuesday.

The changes to the current regime, which are intended to avoid damaging publicity over the issue during the Cheltenham Festival, are likely to focus on a reduction to the existing harsh penalties for relatively minor offence.

There may also be scope for local stewards to exert more discretion when deciding whether a jockey is in breach.

Greg Wood

Source: http://www.guardian.co.uk/sport/2012/feb/20/paul-nicholls-horses-coughing-cheltenham

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South Wales Evening Post commented Stags called to visit city for strip bar

2012-02-20T15:42:00.001-08:00

Article

Source: http://rss.feedsportal.com/c/32715/f/503366/s/1cc7b2aa/l/0L0Sthisissouthwales0O0CStags0Ecalled0Evisit0Ecity0Estrip0Ebar0Cstory0E15280A5810Edetail0Cstory0Bhtml/story01.htm

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Ministry of Defence spent �290m on consultants last year

2012-02-20T13:42:00.001-08:00

Exclusive: MoD criticised for failing to look in-house for technical expertise while pressing ahead with 60,000 job cuts

The Ministry of Defence spent �290m on specialist consultants last year while making thousands of military and civilian personnel redundant, new figures show.

The money was drawn from the MoD's equipment budget, which is supposed to pay for the weapons, armour and vehicles the military needs in Afghanistan and for other operations.

Last November the Guardian revealed that MoD spending on outside contractors had risen fiftyfold in four years ? from �6m in 2006 to a high of �297m in the financial year 2009/2010.

A confidential internal audit last year found the system for awarding contracts was being routinely abused. When the report was leaked to the Guardian, ministers promised to stamp out bad practice to bring the budget under control.

But the latest figures appear to show continued high spending during the first full year of the coalition government at a time when the military has been pressing ahead with a redundancy programme that will eventually result in 60,000 troops and civilians being forced out.

The number of firms commissioned by the MoD for technical consultancy and support work has also ballooned from a handful to 380, prompting unions to express fears the department's redundancy programme is self-defeating. They said it is cutting too far and too fast, forcing senior managers to rely on expensive consultants, some of whom will have worked for the MoD before being taken on by private companies.

"One of the effects of these cuts is that expenditure actually increases as the MoD has to pay consultants to do the work of those leaving the department," said Steve Jary, national secretary of Prospect, a union representing MoD civil servants.

Last week the parliamentary spending watchdog, the National Audit Office, warned the MoD had been in such a hurry to start cutting jobs, it was in grave danger of losing hundreds of in-house specialists it might never be able to replace.

At issue is the money spent by the MoD under a regime called Fats ? Framework Agreement for Technical Support. Introduced by Labour in April 2009, this allowed senior defence officials to hire specialist, short-term help for "niche" tasks without needing authorisation from a minister. The aim was to speed-up work on the MoD's large, delay-prone procurement projects by making it easier for managers to hire "highly technical" experts in certain fields if none existed in the department.

However, last year's confidential audit showed project managers weren't bothering to look in-house before bringing outsiders on board. It highlighted numerous flaws and rule-breaking, and warned control of the MoD purse appeared to be "poorly developed or non-existent". The report said there were weaknesses in the robustness of scrutiny by those in charge of the budget, and found that in 75% of cases, contracts were awarded without any kind of competition.

Philip Hammond, the defence secretary, blamed Labour's poor governance for the spiralling costs, but the spending has continued in the last 18 months. The latest figures show the department spent �290m on Fats contracts between January and December last year.

The government insisted it could not provide a breakdown of the costs, but said the department had spent �225m between April and December last year ? �5m less than the year before, a fall of 2%.

Jary said the latest figures showed the department was being forced to hire outside firms because it was losing too many of its own experts. "Prospect has been highlighting the impact of the MoD's savage cuts in its specialist staff for years. The Commons defence committee, the public accounts committee and the National Audit Office have all underlined this in recent weeks.

"Two weeks ago, we said the MoD is heading for a cliff-edge. It is now clear that the accelerator is jammed on full-speed and the driver can't see through the windscreen. Unfortunately, the brake-man has been made redundant."

The MoD insisted spending was coming down, and said it had also reduced the money spent on management consultants, which is supposed to come from a separate budget and still requires ministerial approval. Ministers say they have tightened up the rules for Fats and that these will come into effect in April.

"Fats spending has reduced in recent years and spending on management consultancy has also been reduced by from �106m under the last government to �26m over the last year," a spokesman said. "Fats is not the same as management consultancy, it is external technical services providing essential expertise such as independent airworthiness certification that our civil servants cannot provide.

"In many cases we are required to obtain independent advice on the adequacy of safety management arrangements and audit of safety related material for complex weapons. Since July 2010 governance and approval processes for Fats have been improved following an audit and from April a new framework will ensure external technical support services are used even more efficiently."

Nick Hopkins

Source: http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2012/feb/20/ministry-of-defence-spending-consultants

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The Fiver | Crisis (n): when Avram Grant gives you career advice | Rob Bagchi

2012-02-20T11:42:00.001-08:00

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FROM CROESUS TO CRISIS

The Fiver knows the one about crisis being part danger and part opportunity, having read it tattooed in comic sans on the calf of a philosopher, but a different theory seems more applicable to the predicaments of Arsenal and Chelsea, who are currently fighting a back-page war for the coveted title of "crisis club". A large crisis, as Edmund Blackadder diagnosed, requires a large plan and who could begrudge Arsene Wenger and Andre Villas-Boas turning up to face their tormentors with an HB pencil thrust up each nostril, a pair of underpants on their head and the answer "wibble" ready for every increasingly impertinent question?

Wenger, himself, refuses to be downcast and has cast his eye on the Emperor's new silverware, a fourth-place Premier League finish. "The first trophy is to finish in the top four," he said after Arsenal were knocked out of the FA Cup by Sunderland. "And that's still possible for us." Friendly voices rallied to his defence but in terms that make the Fiver wonder what his enemies sound like. "Arsene is still the solution," trilled Emmanuel Petit. "[The players] are playing like they don't know what's going on, they don't know what to do on the pitch. Mentally, they are very weak."

Wenger's predecessor but one, George Graham, is of a similar view, saying the board and "Silent" Stan Kroenke may be beginning to harbour doubts but will give him the opportunity to overhaul his squad in the summer. Most hacks agree that Wenger has another two years to turn it around and will have a �50m war chest to invest to spark the required revolution. But they're not saying whether that includes the income from flogging Robin van Persie.

Chelsea's visit to Napoli, meanwhile, has given the poets in the pack the chance to give the "See Naples and die" line a twist that concludes with the termination of Villas-Boas's contract at Stamford Bridge. The intervention of Roman Abramovich over the past fortnight, turning up to the training ground to talk to the manager and his squad, have allowed the segue from Croesus to crisis to take hold but done little to stem the mutinous vibes, confirmed by the Portuguese, emanating from Cobham.

For the last-16 tie against Napoli, Villas-Boas is faced with the dilemma of persevering with Fernando Torres, the derelict shell of a formerly formidable striker, or turning to Didier Drogba to lead the line. Drogba's motivational talk in the tunnel at St Andrew's was used by ESPN as a weapon to attack Villas-Boas's loss of control but the manager has given enough hints that his patience with Torres has finally been eroded. There seems to be a general lack of conviction, though, about his team's prospects on Tuesday. "The players will have a different outlook," he said, understandably going for a blandishment in preference to offering a hostage to fortune. It's the modern equivalent of a "no comment" but that hasn't prevented it being spun.

Speaking of the bleedin' obvious, Uncle Avram Grant has been offering his fellow potential scapegoat some of his human resources experience. "My advice to Andre," Grant says, "is to try and do his job and win games. What will happen will happen. It's important for any manager to realise that any day could be your last." Perhaps that's the very definition of the word: crisis (n): when Avram Grant gives you career advice.

QUOTE OF THE DAY

"Even when we went four, five and six up, my players were still trying to get another goal. That is the proper way to show respect to a football team. Although no one wants to lose by six, we haven't gone out there to undermine them or belittle them" - does anyone understand a word Kenny Dalglish says anymore?

FIVER LETTERS

"Re: Friday's Quote of the Day. Not surprising that 'of all people', Alison Moyet was supportive of Stan Collymore, as she is a Southend fan and Collymore was formerly of that parish" - Steve McCormack.

"Why 'of all people'? Stan Collymore played for SUFC and we love him. V funny how you did that 80s list thing though. Well done you" - Alison Moyet.

"Re: the Zlatan iPad app (Friday's last line). 'For many, the Zlatan book was their first real reading experience,' said Zlatan Ibrahimovic's publisher Albert Bonniers Forlag. To quote the English language's greatest poet, Kenneth Branagh: 'We few - we happy few'" - Edward Lovett.

Send your letters to the.boss@guardian.co.uk. And if you've nothing better to do you can also tweet the Fiver.

BITS AND BOBS

Uncle Avram is already having an influence on the fortunes of Partizan Belgrade - Iranian club Sepahan Isfahan have cancelled Friday's friendly with the Serbian club because they are managed by the Israeli. "I don't mix sports with politics and I'm not going to start now," he sniffed.

Sir Alex Ferguson has confirmed his plans to hang around his old office like David Brent once he retires as manager. Ferguson tells - and you'll like this - DJ Spoony on Radio Five Live tonight that he'd like an ambassadorial role with the club, and that he could have signed Joe Hart.

Giovanni O'Trapattoni has finally discovered James McClean, two months after the rest of the world, and has added him to the Republic O'Ireland squad for next week's friendly against the Czech Republic.

Scotland have called up England Under-20 winger Matt Phillips for next week's friendly against Slovenia. Rumours that Ian Olney, Fabrice Muamba, Danny Cadamarteri and Mich d'Avray have started drinking pints of Heavy in a bid to secure a call-up are unconfirmed. Full squad: McGregor (Pope's O'Rangers), Gordon (Sunderland), Gilks (Blackpool); Bardsley (Sunderland), Hutton (Aston Villa), Mulgrew (Queen's Celtic), Berra (Wolverhampton Wanderers), Caldwell (Wigan Athletic), Hanley (Blackeye Rovers), Martin (Norwich City); Adam (Liverpool), Bannan (Aston Villa), Brown (Queen's Celtic), Cowie (Cardiff City), Dorrans (West Bromwich Albion), McFiver (Fiver Towers), Morrison (West Bromwich Albion), Snodgrass (Nasty Leeds), Robson (Middlesbrough), Phillips (Blackpool); Mackie (Queens Park Rangers), Forrest (Queen's Celtic), Goodwillie (Blackeye Rovers), Mackail-Smith (Brighton & Hove Albion), Miller (Cardiff City).

Craig Bellamy has been included in the Wales squad for the Gary Speed Memorial Match against Costa Rica next week. Full squad: Hennessey (Wolves), Myhill (Birmingham, loan), Price (Crystal Palace); Blake (Cardiff), Collins (Aston Villa), Gabbidon (QPR), Gunter (Nottingham Forest), Matthews (Celtic), Ricketts (Bolton), Taylor (Swansea), Williams (Swansea); Allen (Swansea), Bale (Tottenham), Collison (West Ham), Crofts (Norwich), Edwards (Wolves), Llanfairpwllgwyngyllgogerychwyrndrobwllllantysiliogogogoch Fiver (Fiver Towers) Ledley (Queen's Celtic), Ramsey (Arsenal), Robson-Kanu (Reading), Vaughan (Sunderland); Bellamy (Liverpool), Earnshaw (Cardiff), Morison (Norwich), Vokes (Brighton, loan).

The Neil Warnock at Nasty Leeds era has started smoothly: West Yorkshire police are continuing their investigation into Saturday's tunnel bust-up between Warnock's side and Doncaster at Elland Road, when El Hadji Diouf and Ross McCormack appeared to clash.

Police are investigating after two fans were injured when a ball was kicked into the crowd during Saturday's League One game between Hartlepool and Notts County. "Anyone with information is asked to contact PC Holly Angus at Hartlepool police on the non-emergency number 101," said a spokeswoman for Cleveland police.

And Keith Curle has been confirmed as Notts County's new manager, replacing the sacked Martin Allen.

STILL WANT MORE?

Marcus Christenson profiles Edinson Cavani, the star of the Napoli team who will send Andre Villas-Boas to the dole qu ? sorry, the side who meet Chelsea in Big Cup this week.

Michael Cox analyses Arsenal's tactical approach and wonders: what exactly are they good at?

Cursory internet research suggests that Sid Lowe has heard 47,121,949,915 jokes during his life. But, he says, the biggest joke of all would be if Malaga qualify for Big Cup.

Paolo Bandini looks at the myriad problems of Internazionale, which were put into perspective by a polite nine-year-old.

And our crack team of writers learned five things from this weekend's FA Cup matches, and here they are.

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LET THIS LADY LOOSE ON HAYE AND CHISORA AND BE DONE WITH IT

Rob Bagchi

Source: http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2012/feb/20/the-fiver-arsenal-chelsea-torment

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Samoa in pool A

2012-02-20T09:42:00.001-08:00

(rugby.com.au) - The official draw has been held for the Cathay Pacific/HSBC Hong Kong Sevens, round six of the HSBC Sevens World Series to be played on 23-25 March 2012 at the Hong Kong Stadium.

With the event doubling up in 2012 as the HSBC Sevens World Series core team qualifier, the renowned Hong Kong event will play host to two 12-team competitions played side by side at the 40,000-capacity venue.

One competition will feature the current 12 HSBC Sevens World Series core teams, who were drawn into three pools - A, B and C. The other competition features 12 teams from across the six IRB rugby regions, who will play for three additional core team places in the 2012/13 World Series and were drawn into pools D, E and F.

Source: http://www.samoaobserver.ws/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=38128:samoa-in-pool&catid=34:sports&Itemid=54

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Dereck Chisora could get life ban says British Boxing Board of Control

2012-02-20T07:42:00.001-08:00

? BBBC to speak with Chisora over Vitali Klitschko-fight furore
? David Haye 'not licensed so unlikely to be sanctioned'

The British Boxing Board of Control has confirmed they are investigating the behaviour of Dereck Chisora before, during and after his points defeat by the WBC heavyweight champion Vitali Klitschko in Munich on Saturday.

The former WBA champion David Haye was still wanted for questioning by German police on Monday following his post-fight press conference brawl with Chisora, who arrived back in England on Sunday after being freed without charge following the unsavoury scenes at the Olympiahalle venue.

A BBBC statement from the general secretary Robert Smith read: "The British Boxing Board of Control are looking at the behaviour of British Boxing Board of Control-licensed Boxer Dereck Chisora prior, during and after his contest for the World Boxing Council heavyweight championship against Vitali Klitschko on Saturday, 18 February 2012 in Munich.

"The stewards will be considering Mr Chisora under regulation 25 [misconduct] and a further statement will be issued once the stewards have decided on what action will be taken.

"With regard to Mr David Haye, Mr Haye is not a licensed boxer with the British Boxing Board of Control and therefore no longer under the jurisdiction of the British Boxing Board of Control."

Richard Caborn, the president of the Amateur Boxing Association of England, called on the British Boxing Board of Control to review its rules on how the professional sport conducts itself in the aftermath of Saturday's brawl.

Caborn said the scenes in Munich were "absolutely disgraceful" and threatened "immense damage" to the amateur game, which he said was well run.

Caborn said: "I think the BBBC have got to look at how the sport conducts itself in the future. They ought to remove some of these flashpoints such as weigh-ins and press conferences.

"The question needs to be asked as to whether the regulations and the structures are fit for purpose. There has to be far better control of the professional sport.

"Boxing has been brought into disrepute and could do immense damage to thousands of young people around the world who love the sport.

"We in the amateur game have to distance ourselves from this ? we are flourishing and have 839 clubs and 16,000 members across the country."

Caborn said the controversy raised a large question mark over whether professional boxers should be allowed to take part in the Olympics ? the Amateur International Boxing Association are currently holding a public consultation on the issue.

He added that any attempt to now fix up a match between Haye and Chisora would be regarded as "cynical".

Caborn, a former sports minister, said: "There is a big question mark now over whether professional boxing should be allowed into the Olympics.

"The amateur game is well run and has thousands of dedicated volunteers working week-in and week-out and for it to have been brought into disrepute by these people is absolutely disgraceful.

"One thing I can promise is that British boxers will make our nation proud at the London Olympics."

Asked whether a life ban was a possibility for Chisora, Smith earlier told BBC Radio 5 Live: "Of course it is. The board have many powers ? they can fine, they can suspend and they can withdraw a licence.

"There are many powers to them but let's just get there first before we speculate what we're going to do."

Haye does not have a BBBC licence, having officially retired in October, so the governing body is unlikely to be able to sanction him, but they will continue their investigations into the weekend's events today.

Smith said: "I have to speak to the chairman of the boxing federation and the German police, the authorities, to see what the situation is with regard to them over there, and then obviously take the appropriate action.

"I will have to gather all the information from those authorities and put them before the main board of control.

"I've spoken to a number of stewards already and I've spoken to the chairman on a number of occasions, and I'll put something out as soon as possible today, but it certainly will entail a hearing, a disciplinary calling ? certainly for Mr Chisora because he is a licensed boxer. David Haye is a retired boxer ? he's no longer a licence-holder with us."

Chisora's promoter, Frank Warren, claimed the blame for the disgraceful scenes in Munich should be shared rather than dumped solely at the door of his fighter.

"His emotions were high, his face was bleeding," Warren said of Chisora on BBC Radio 5 Live. "But it was unacceptable. I'm not trying to defend him ? I'm just explaining the facts and what exactly did happen.

"What happened as far as Dereck's concerned [threatening to shoot Haye] ? call it 'street talk', call it whatever you want ? it's ridiculous, it's out of order, it's wrong. Nobody can condone that. Saying you're going to shoot somebody in front of 250 press, to say the least, is a stupid remark.

"It was unacceptable. Everybody has to accept some responsibility ? Dereck Chisora, David Haye, the British Boxing Board of Control, myself ?"

The 59-year-old continued: "Could I have stopped it? I doubt it. What could have stopped it is had the German promoters had some adequate security. But they didn't. [Chisora's trainer] Don Charles, you see the transcripts of what he said ? 'please get that man out of here' ? but they didn't have any security.

"The BBBC also have to accept some responsibility in as much as their chairman was there and was nowhere to be seen when all this was going on. He disappeared."

Warren was also unhappy that the aftermath overshadowed what had happened in the ring.

"There was a lot of horrible stuff that went on prior to the fight," he said. "What I was more annoyed about was that Dereck Chisora put in a really good performance in the ring. He went there as big underdog and gave Klitschko the hardest fight he has had since he fought Lennox Lewis.

"That was all taken away by David Haye gatecrashing the press conference, calling out Klitschko and I thought that was disrespectful to Dereck Chisora."

Warren has no plans to promote any potential future match-up between Chisora and Haye.

"No, I wouldn't," he said when asked about the possibility. "I'm sure down the road that will probably happen now, but I don't feel I could do that.

"Any differences they had, that should have happened in the ring rather than instead of the circumstances it did."

Source: http://www.guardian.co.uk/sport/2012/feb/20/bbbc-dereck-chisora-david-haye

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GPA must ask players about payments to managers again

2012-02-20T05:42:00.001-08:00

Source: http://feeds.examiner.ie/~r/iesportsblog/~3/z5tfS1dlOiA/post.aspx

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Leicester Mercury published You choose first good cause to win £1,000

2012-02-20T03:42:00.001-08:00

Article

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Europe shares up

2012-02-20T01:42:00.001-08:00

European shares hit a near seven-month high after China eased its monetary policy further over the weekend in an effort to fight slowing growth, with mining stocks among the main winners.

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European shares hit a near seven-month high on Monday after China eased its monetary policy further over the weekend in an effort to fight slowing growth, with mining stocks among the main winners.

European mining shares rose 1.3 percent after China's central bank cut on Saturday the amount of cash banks must hold in reserves. China is the world's biggest metals consumer.

At 10:14 SA time, the FTSEurofirst 300 index of top European shares was up 0.6 percent at 1,090.01 points, the highest since early August.

Expectations Greece would finally see a second bailout package approved by euro zone finance ministers also contributed to the more bullish sentiment, although much has already been priced in, an analyst said.

“If this doesn't happen, you will get a major shock and might see a correction of as much as 10 percent. At the end of the day, it will be growth that will decide whether Greece is going to be saved or not,” said Koen De Leus, strategist at KBC Securities.

“If you want to buy equities now, buy defensives such as telecoms and healthcare. Focus on companies with high dividend yields. If cyclicals fall about 10 percent from here, than that could be a good entry point.” - Reuters

Source: http://www.iol.co.za/europe-shares-up-1.1238060

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Dereck Chisora and David Haye cast out into tacky world of their own

2012-02-19T23:42:00.001-08:00

British pair's brawl heightens demand for fight in the ring but the only prize is bragging rights to London not the globe

Even as Dereck "Del Boy" Chisora was celebrating his freedom after seven hours in police custody, David "Hayemaker" Haye was still at large, possibly trudging the ice-slippery streets of Munich, darting from doorway to doorway, or maybe he was tucked up in a quiet suburban bar with a hood over his head, nursing a warm drink and a sore right hand, eyes and ears sharp for a tap on the shoulder from Herr Plod.

An episode of The Sopranos? No, just another weekend in the world of professional boxing, a business that hurtles with suicidal intent from one bizarre chapter to the next. In the aftermath of their scrap in the early hours of Sunday morning at what started out as a press conference high in the recesses of the Olympiahalle and ended with the police questioning Chisora about his threat to shoot Haye, the futures of the two eccentric Londoners became more intertwined than either had intended.

Only a little earlier, the willing and callow Chisora had put in the best performance of his career to lose on points over 12 rounds to the unconquerable WBC heavyweight champion Vitali Klitschko.

When the sun rose, the loser somehow believed he would be allowed to leave the city he had so shaken up in the dark but he was dragged back from a 10.30am flight to London and sat in a room to answer some tricky questions "down town". He and his trainer, Don Charles, spent all day in the company of their new friends before being allowed to fly to London, but will ultimately have to answer allegations of what the German judicial system describes as "simple assault". Haye, meanwhile, was still "on the run".

What was crystallising as police hunted for a large, loud British boxer who, more than likely, was staring at holes in the snow, was that, after the pair have been heavily fined and reprimanded by the British Boxing Board of Control, not to mention censured by the World Boxing Council, Haye and Chisora have no immediate alternative but to fight each other with gloves. They will do it in a ring, with no title at stake but considerable amounts of money and the right to walk taller on the streets of London.

It will be a fight for connoisseurs of tack, of which there is no shortage at any given time. They will dress it up as an eliminator for either Klitschko's belt or for one of the three owned by his younger brother, Wladimir. It will not matter.

Despite unctuous protests about good taste, there is an audience for this fight, a considerably bigger one than there had been before they came to blows in front of the cameras and some distance from a referee.

The handling of the post-fight ruck was poor. As burly security men hung back and the promoters sat silently by, Chisora marched on Haye, who gritted his teeth, held on to what those close to him say was a bottle of Desperados, a pale German lager tinged with tequila, and threw an inspired right hand that cracked into the side of Chisora's jaw.

Had he been so focused against Wladimir Klitschko when dancing to defeat last July, Haye might have had no need to gatecrash this press conference. As it happened, Haye turned it into a circus, which was his intention, and Chisora was dragged on to the punch, literally and metaphorically, before issuing his alarming lines of bad intentions with a gun.

The BBBofC will fine them, suspend Chisora's licence for an extended period, possibly six months, and will not give Haye much sympathetic consideration when he applies for the renewal of his licence.

Those sanctions will put them out of the picture for much of the summer, nixing their negotiating clout with each other and with the Klitschkos. But, after a period of convenient amnesia, they will collide again towards the end of the year.

Vitali Klitschko will continue to do outside the ring what he does with such telling simplicity inside it.

There is talk of him lining up the rising American heavyweight Seth Mitchell, who fought on Amir Khan's undercard in Washington in December and looked promising but, like 17-fight Chisora, a little underdone.

That is how bare the cupboard is. The Klitschkos have fought just about all the available talent. Wladimir's next outing is in defence of his three titles against the Frenchman Jean-Marc Mormeck in D�sseldorf on 3 March. Mormeck, Haye fans will remember, fell at his feet in Paris as a cruiserweight in November 2007. He has fought only three times since, winning against modest opposition.

There is the unbeaten Russian Alexander Povetkin, who defends what the WBA call their "world" title, against Marco Huck in Stuttgart on Saturday; and then a conveyor belt of unknowns or former contenders. The American Chris Arreola, much touted over there, took a round to knock out Eric Molina in Texas on Saturday night so, technically, remains in the picture, even though Vitali has already worked him over.

Which will lead us back to Haye and Chisora. The Klitschkos' hard-nosed promoter, Bernd B�nte, told me as we left the stadium around 2am that the brawl heightened rather than wrecked the possibility of either or both of them fighting either or both of his fighters.

He would not say that in a press conference because it would not set the right tone in a sport so sensitive to criticism but it had the ring of truth about it, a rare commodity in the fight game.

Kevin Mitchell

Source: http://www.guardian.co.uk/sport/2012/feb/19/dereck-chisora-david-haye-bout

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Greece in final bailout talks in Brussels

2012-02-19T21:42:00.001-08:00

Lucas Padademos flies to meet eurozone finance ministers as Germany continues to dig heels in over latest rescue package

The Greek prime minister, Lucas Papademos, is to hold last-minute talks with eurozone finance ministers on Monday to ensure his near-bankrupt country finally secures a vital ?130bn bailout and avoids a default on its debts that could put the single currency at risk.

Papademos's unexpected flight to Brussels yesterday came as Germany continued to dig its heels in over the latest rescue package for Greece at a top-level meeting of senior EU and European Central Bank officials.

Wolfgang Sch�uble, the German finance minister and focus of mounting Greek fury at austerity measures imposed on Greece, accused Athens of rejecting offers of help in rebuilding its shattered economy and of dragging its feet on reforms.

The German economic ministry, according to the paper Welt am Sonntag, has drawn up a "sobering" report on what it sees as Greece's failure to make implementing reforms its priority, and has called for greater co-operation with Brussels as a pre-condition for approving the bailout.

Papademos is to be on hand to assure sceptics that his government can deliver on these planned reforms and iron out final technical details of the package.

Greece has to repay ?14.5bn of debt by 20 March or risk default. Some believe that a Greek default can be contained without risk of contagion to other countries such as Spain or Italy, but others insist it would create a financial tsunami through bank runs, deeper recession and intolerable unemployment across Europe.

Until his surprise visit to Brussels was announced, Papademos thought he was virtually certain to win the backing of the eurogroup of finance ministers, after gaining cabinet approval for a further ?325m savings, including pension cuts, in a ?3.3bn package of cuts.

The savings package is due to be debated and approved by parliament early this week, with 8 March set as the date when the private bondholders will participate in their part of the Greek bailout. But, as riot police and protesters renewed their acquaintance outside the Greek parliament, it emerged that even the latest savage cuts in spending could reduce national debt to only 125-129% of GDP, rather than the original target of 120% by 2020.

Even so, Maria Fekter, Austrian finance minister and a member of the hardline group around Sch�uble, indicated that the 17 finance ministers would approve the latest rescue package for Greece on Monday. "At the moment it appears it will go exactly this way," she said. "I don't think there is a majority to go a different way because a different way is enormously arduous and costs lots and lots of money."

A senior EU official told Reuters: "I don't see anybody wanting to be responsible for pulling the plug on the deal at this late stage."

Britain's foreign secretary, William Hague, warned that the euro was "built without exits".

"They have to be prepared to take action to stop euros leaving the country, maybe have border controls," Hague said on the BBC's Andrew Marr show.

"They don't have their old currency sitting in the vaults ready to distribute. It's not straightforward to leave the euro."

But the former Labour chancellor Alistair Darling, however, told Scotland on Sunday that Greece was bust and should be allowed to default, describing the austerity imposed on Greece as "sheer lunacy".

The International Monetary Fund ? involved in the bailout of Greece and other countries ? is pleading for new resources to manage the worsening crisis.

On Sunday, Japan and China said they would deal with any formal request from the IMF for extra funds jointly.

Jun Azumi, the Japanese finance minister, who was visiting China, said: "What we agreed on ... is that European countries need to do more, although [the situation], including Greece, is headed in a good direction. We can expect some sort of request from the IMF to those including the United States, Japan and China. We agreed that Japan and China will co-ordinate closely and jointly respond to IMF."

David Gow

Source: http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2012/feb/19/greece-bailout-talks-papademos-brussels

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Brighton score four but still lose

2012-02-19T19:42:00.001-08:00

? Brighton create history with three own-goals
? 'We are not ready for promotion' ? Gus Poyet

History was created at Anfield as Brighton & Hove Albion became the first club to concede three own-goals in an FA Cup tie and were duly demolished 6-1 by Liverpool. From Kenny Dalglish came sympathy for Lewis Dunk and Liam Bridcutt, the unfortunate Brighton midfielder who put through his own net twice. From Gus Poyet, however, there was a scathing assessment of his charitable team who, he insisted, had shown they are not ready for promotion to the Premier League.

For 44 minutes of the fifth-round tie, Brighton's 6,000-strong travelling support had reason to believe in a major cup upset. Kazenga LuaLua had equalised Martin Skrtel's early goal with a fine free-kick from 25 yards and Liverpool were enduring yet another of their profligate afternoons on home soil. Then Bridcutt unavoidably scored an own-goal to give the Premier League side the lead once more. "It changed the game," said Poyet. It started an avalanche that would change the FA Cup record books.

Bridcutt produced his second own goal and Liverpool's fourth of the game when attempting to clear Steven Gerrard's effort off the line. The best, or worst for Poyet and Brighton, came just three minutes later when Dunk, with time and under no pressure in front of the Kop, tried to control a Luis Su�rez cross before clearing, only to knee the ball over his own line.

Brighton's comedy of errors matched Sunderland's performance against Charlton Athletic in 2003 when Stephen Wright, a former Liverpool player, and Michael Proctor put through their own net three times in a league game. But this was a first for the oldest cup competition in the world. It pales, perhaps, in comparison with Stan van den Buys' performance for Germinal Ekeren (now Germinal Beerschot) against Anderlecht in January 1995 when the defender's hat-trick of own goals gave the Brussels club a 3-2 win. It certainly pales with the 149 own goals that Stade Olympique L'Emyrne scored against AS Adema in October 2002. SOE deliberately scored the own goals in protest at a refereeing decision and four players were subsequently suspended by the Madagascan FA.

Dalglish tried to give Bridcutt's second to Gerrard. The statistics will say otherwise. "Three own goals? Are you taking Steven's off him? You'd better tell him that yourself then," the Liverpool manager said. "You can't blame their boys for wanting to defend their own goal. They were a little unfortunate. We had 15 attempts on goal, or so I'm told, and we wanted to get our conversion rate up so this will help. I feel sympathy for the boys who scored the own goals but I'm sure their objective was always to win promotion to the Premier League and if they play like they did in the first half I'm sure they will get there."

Poyet was able to laugh about the unwanted hat-trick. "We are a record, no?" he said. But the humour disappeared when the Brighton manager gave his verdict on the Championship club's overall display. The Uruguayan, who said he was pleased for his compatriot Su�rez after his first goal at Anfield since December, said: "I have been honest about promotion and saying the same thing for the last six months. We are not ready. I said I didn't want to come to Anfield and lose six- or seven-one. We need to be ready for this level if we want to get here and stay here. You need strength, power and technical ability in the Premier League. If not, you should forget about playing the top six.

"People have been getting excited because we are doing all right. It would be fantastic if we went up but we would need to change things completely because I don't want to be managing in the Premier League and getting beat 6-1."

Andy Hunter

Source: http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2012/feb/19/liverpool-brighton-fa-cup

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Torres faces Champions League axe

2012-02-19T17:42:00.001-08:00

? Andr� Villas-Boas losing patience with striker's lack of goals
? Didier Drogba will probably play against Napoli on Tuesday

Andr� Villas-Boas is expected to drop Fernando Torres for Chelsea's Champions League tie at Napoli after warning the striker he will not alter the team's shape or strategy to try to restore the Spaniard's form.

Torres cost Chelsea �50m last January but has scored just three league goals in 34 appearances. On Saturday Chelsea were fortunate to draw 1-1 with Birmingham City at Stamford Bridge to force an FA Cup fifth-round replay, with Torres taken off at half-time following an unconvincing display. Asked if Villas-Boas would sacrifice the side's philosophy to help one player, the manager said that he would not and said: "Not on the way I put things together, not in a team basis. He is trying hard. This season shows that he's had some ups and downs on performance. We had him at a good level at the beginning of the season and at the beginning of January.

"We will continue to push for that level of performance. We have to help the players reach that level of performance and get to the top level. That comes with confidence and for Fernando with goals and he will have to find that eventually, for sure."

Torres was replaced by Didier Drogba, who only returned in midweek from the Africa Cup of Nations, and Chelsea became more effective in the second half with Daniel Sturridge's 62nd-minute header cancelling out David Murphy's opener on 20 minutes. Drogba, who appeared to give a team-talk in the tunnel before the players emerged for the second period, is expected to start in Torres's place in Naples. Drogba scored three goals for Ivory Coast and also found the net in his last match before departing for the tournament, in a 3-1 defeat at Aston Villa on New Year's Eve, whereas Torres has not scored since a Champions League group game on 19 October when he managed two in a 5-0 win over Genk.

Regarding the Ivorian's return, Villas-Boas said: "First, Torres, Drogba and [Romelu] Lukaku will compete in training to be in the team. There's competition in the striker positions and it will be a battle between the three of them. Drogba increases the level of competition. They are all top, top talents. We need that goal efficiency and we will try and get it one way or another.

"I think everybody is desperate for [Torres] to score. Everybody pushes him, praises him in training and it will come with him getting opportunities. His confidence is low but we will have to continue to persist with our belief in his talent. The belief is the same. The only thing that changes is the level of competition for him and maybe that will be the key. More competition will see him push himself that little bit harder and maybe he will eventually reach his goal and targets."

Curtis Davies, the Birmingham central defender who marked Torres out of the game and caused him to be substituted, said: "With Torres he wants to play on your shoulder, get in that right hand channel, and try to his famous cut in and whip. But we didn't let him do that, we managed to get on to him quite well.

"I didn't actually think he was that bad today. I thought he put himself about and he was not any worse than any of the rest. It's just one of those things that he got taken off because of their approach to the second half. We managed to keep them quiet in the second half, so that's how we did our job."

Davies, like Villas-Boas, believes Torres will eventually again become the world-class threat that allowed him to score 65 goals in 102 league appearances for Liverpool. "He is one of those players that you will to do well, because you know that the quality he has got and that he did bring to the Premier League, and hopefully he can bring that back again," Davies said.

Jamie Jackson

Source: http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2012/feb/19/fernando-torres-andre-villas-boas-chelsea

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South Wales Evening Post published Grieving family leave giant card in tribute to tragic dad

2012-02-19T15:42:00.001-08:00

THE heartbroken family of a Cwmavon dad has left a giant card at the scene of where he was killed to mark the 24th birthday he...

Source: http://rss.feedsportal.com/c/32715/f/503366/s/1cbe520a/l/0L0Sthisissouthwales0O0CGrieving0Efamily0Eleave0Egiant0Ecard0Etribute0Etragic0Cstory0E152650A80A0Edetail0Cstory0Bhtml/story01.htm

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Premier League winners and losers

2012-02-19T13:42:00.001-08:00

Ger McCarthy

WINNERS
Harry Redknapp
TOTTENHAM Hotspur’s manager endured a roller-coaster of emotions during a turbulent week. Redknapp had only been acquitted of tax evasion charges a few short hours before Fabio Capello’s resignation pushed the Spurs Coach into the forefront of the media glare once again as favourite to become next England manager. A marvellous Tottenham 5-0 victory Newcastle (including a brace from new signing Louis Saha) completed a terrific few days for the Redknapp clan and the only issue the likeable Londoner now faces is whether to stick with the White Hart Lane club on the cusp of Champions League qualification or take the poisoned chalice of the England job. It is still a welcome dilemma for Redknapp considering the pressure he has been under during the past couple of years.

Blackburn Rovers
Steve Kean has done it again. The oft maligned Blackburn Rovers Coach saw his side bounce back from a 7-1 drubbing at the hands of Arsenal to record a crucial 3-2 victory at home to fellow strugglers QPR. Kean’s decision to continually leave out Christopher Samba — after the giant centre-half tried to instigate a move during the January transfer window — has underlined the manager’ authority at Ewood Park and his players delivered another battling display on Saturday. The return of the previously suspended Yakubu proved the difference between two sides desperate to move away from the relegation zone and if Kean can conjure up similar performances in upcoming ‘six-pointers’ against Wolves and Bolton then Rovers have a fighting chance of avoiding the drop.

Pavel Pogrebnyak
Fulham’s new signing made an instant impact at Craven Cottage by scoring on his home debut in the 2-1 defeat of Stoke City. Pogrebnyak was brought in by Martin Jol from Vfb Stuttgart as a direct replacement for Bobby Zamora who was moved on to QPR after a series of rumoured dressing room bust-ups with the Dutch manager. The new Russian striker wasted no time in making his mark on the Premier League with a stunning left foot effort into the top corner of the net to set the Cottagers on their way to their seventh victory of the campaign. Jol’s astute acquisition looks set to reap dividends for Fulham as an alleged trouble-making striker has been replaced with a hungry international front-man eager to cement his place in Russia’s squad ahead of Euro 2012.

Thierry Henry
The on-loan New York Red Bulls striker concluded his second Arsenal spell with a ‘Roy of the Rovers’ moment at the Stadium of Light. Henry rose to volley home an Andrei Arshavin cross deep into injury time and secure an unlikely 2-1 comeback at the expense of Sunderland to move the Gunners into the top four. An injury-plagued Henry has proven a more than useful temporary signing from the MLS and both Arsene Wenger plus Henry himself have left the door open to a possible third loan spell in the future. Henry’s arrival helped ease the burden on Robin Van Persie as well as contributing three goals in six appearances. Little doubt Arsenal will miss their Gallic legend for the remainder of the campaign but at least Thierry Henry exited with a winning strike to add to a bulging treasure chest of memories.

LOSERS
Manchester United and Liverpool
The off-pitch antics at Old Trafford on Saturday were beamed around the world and painted the Premier League in a horrifically negative light. Not even an intense local derby could overshadow the handshake (or lack of it) beforehand and neither Luis Suarez nor Patrice Evra’s behaviour covered either club in glory.
A raft of official statements released on Sunday afternoon did little to lift the gloom on one of the sorriest episodes in Premier League history and the only hope now is that the players, clubs and league can finally move on.

André Villas-Boas
It is never a good sign for a Chelsea manager to hear your supporters singing ‘You don’t know what you’re doing’. An even more worrying sign is when club owner Roman Abramovich deems it necessary to attend the Cobham training ground throughout the week leading up to a fixture. André Villas-Boas is no fool and well aware that Chelsea’s failure to win a Premier League fixture for the fourth consecutive game means his job is now on the line. Everton were full value for their 2-0 victory and without the authority of John Terry at the back Chelsea looked rudderless and inept. Failure to overcome Napoli in the last sixteen of the Champions League will surely sound the death knell for Villas-Boas and possibly usher in the unlikeliest of returns for a ‘Special One’?

Bolton Wanderers
Inconsistency could be the killer element in Bolton Wanderers eventual relegation as Owen Coyle could only watch in horror as his side capitulated at home to bottom of the table Wigan Athletic. Two victories in their last six outings has Bolton just one point off the foot of the standings but more worryingly for Coyle was the fact a Wigan side with only two wins on the road (and just one at home) were able to boss possession for long stretches and run out fully deserved winners. What was left of the crowd in the Reebok Stadium at full time left their club’s manager in no uncertain terms as to their opinion of Wanderers latest effort and with away visits to Chelsea and Man City on the horizon Owen Coyle’s job is now in serious jeopardy.

Mick McCarthy
Losing a Black Country derby 5-1 at home to West Bromwich Albion proved too much for hundreds of disgruntled Wolves supporters on Sunday. Members of the Molineux faithful directed their anger at the Directors Box and manager Mick McCarthy after the finalwhislte as Wolves dropped to one place above the relegation zone (on goal difference) after another spiritless display. The former Republic of Ireland manager was sacked on Monday morning leaving his successor 13 games to turn things around. The likes of Alan Curbishley – an early favourite with some bookmakers – Steve Bruce and Neil Warnock will inevitably be linked as possible candidates.

Follow Ger on Twitter: @germccarthy74

Source: http://feeds.examiner.ie/~r/iesportsblog/~3/wLoXqJM3cfE/post.aspx

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Malae o Tiafau cleared

2012-02-19T11:42:00.001-08:00

Source: http://www.samoaobserver.ws/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=38095:malae-o-tiafau&catid=1:latest-news&Itemid=50

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Government spends �30m on agency staff after civil servant redundancies

2012-02-19T09:42:00.001-08:00

Shadow Cabinet Office minister says 'headlong rush' to cut jobs wasting millions in taxpayers' money, as unions issue warning

The government is paying out tens of millions of pounds in redundancy packages to civil servants at the same time as it spends millions of pounds recruiting agency staff to fill vacant posts across Whitehall, according to new figures.

Civil servants received almost �90m in redundancy payments in the last quarter at the same time as the government spent �30m on employment agency fees, according to figures obtained by Jon Trickett, shadow minister for the Cabinet Office.

He said the government was in a "headlong rush" to casualise the service and cut jobs regardless of whether or not the posts would need to be refilled, wasting tens of millions of pounds of taxpayers' money.

"In its casual approach to managing public sector reforms, there is a danger that the Tory-led government will inflict lasting damage on the services upon which we all depend," said Trickett. "Guided by the crude dogma that cheapest is best, the truth is the government is actually costing the tax payer more."

In an article for Comment is Free, Trickett warned that if the current rate of cuts continued over the lifetime of the parliament taxpayers would face a bill of more than �1bn in redundancy payments.

"What is staggering is that there appears to be no proper control over which posts need to be replaced and which do not," said Trickett. "It is clear that the government's left hand does not know what its right hand is doing."

The Labour MP added that the figures, which came in answers to a series of parliamentary questions, were just the tip of the iceberg in terms of redundancy costs, with hundreds of thousands of public sector jobs under threat.

"Civil servants make up only one tenth of all public sector employees. The office of budget responsibility has estimated that in the wider public sector 710,000 public employees will be laid off."

The warnings were echoed by trade unions which said the government cuts were driving down pay and conditions and undermining public service ethos by casualising the workforce.

Mark Serwotka, general secretary of the Public and Commercial Services Union, which represents civil servants, said: "The government is rushing to making cuts for ideological reasons without any thought about the long-term effect on services or costs. It is more efficient, and better for the economy as a whole, to keep public servants in secure jobs with decent pay. We will not resolve the deficit by cutting jobs and wages."

Dai Hudd, the deputy general secretary of Prospect, which represents senior civil servants, said there was a long-term skills shortage within the service that was being exacerbated by the cuts.

"We are seeing an accountant-driven set of redundancies and to put it crudely senior civil servants are ignoring the skills and simply taking anybody that puts their hand up.

"What we are seeing is the privatisation of public sector work by stealth because when ministers come back and ask whether the civil service has the skills to perform a specific task, surprise, surprise the senior civil servants say 'well no we don't, minister' because they have let many of the high-skilled people go. Therefore we land up with increased pressure to outsource, often at quite considerable cost."

A spokesman for the Cabinet Office minister, Francis Maude, accused Labour of hypocrisy.

"They presided over a redundancy scheme where civil servants could receive over six times their salary in redundancy pay. We have cut this down drastically and also cut their wasteful consultancy and agency spend by over �1bn. It is outrageous that they are criticising the coalition government for clearing up the inefficiency Labour left behind."

But Trickett said the government was in danger of losing control of staffing costs within the civil service. "In their ideological haste to downsize the state and attempt to reduce expenditure, the Tory-led government are costing the country dear, not just financially but in skills morale and expertise."

Matthew Taylor

Source: http://www.guardian.co.uk/society/2012/feb/19/government-spends-30m-agency-staff

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'Being raped by a gang is normal ? it's about craving to be accepted'

2012-02-19T07:42:00.001-08:00

Former gang member reveals how women suffer shocking sexual abuse in return for 'status'

A female former gang member has exposed the growing levels of sexual violence against young women who join them, saying that many are willing to risk being raped in return for the status of membership.

Isha Nembhard, who was part of an 80-strong gang in Peckham, south London, said some girls readily accepted that they would be sexually abused when associating with male gangs.

The 20-year-old said that the problem had reached a point where being raped was becoming "normalised" among many young women. "Girls who are getting treated very badly know what they are getting into. They sleep with a boy and the boy asks if she will sleep with all his friends.

"It's about low self-esteem and a craving for attention. Even if they know it's wrong, they will do anything to get acceptance," she said.

"A lot of girls are sort of prostituting themselves to have sexual relationships within a gang and get treated in a bad way. For example, she might know about what happens to girls in the gang but still sleeps with all of them just for the status."

Nembhard, who was a teenage drug dealer, said that even those who are abused and called "pieces of shit" by gang members maintained sexual relationships with them because they felt "that they couldn't do better".

She added that cultural and social trends had exacerbated the problem since she left school. "When I was growing up, girls were more boisterous. I used to be a tomboy, but nowadays a lot of girls who go to school are more girly-girly and make sure they put on their makeup and wear the right sort of skirts. It's changed dramatically."

Nembhard said that girls tended to be more sexually active before the age of 16 than before. "In my day it wasn't like that," she said.

Social networking sites like Facebook had, she added, helped to encourage promiscuity among young women. "You've got young gi rls exposing themselves on there, making it normal, and so others follow suit."

Earlier this month the home secretary, Theresa May, announced �1.2m of new money over three years to tackle the issue as part of the government's revamped anti-gangs strategy.

Meanwhile, a senior Scotland Yard officer has voiced concern that the problem of young women being sexually abused by male gangs had grown sufficiently large to be classified as a "mainstream issue".

The Metropolitan Police detective in charge of protecting vulnerable young women from falling into gang culture, Detective Chief Inspector Petrina Cribb, said that, although police were targeting girls as young as 12 to warn them of the risks associated with male gangs, she believed that educating youngsters of the dangers should begin even earlier, at primary school.

Cribb also admitted concern about the levels of ignorance among young women about sexual abuse, saying that many did not understand that being forced to give oral sex was rape. Cribb, who manages the Met's Heart programme, which educates young people about the risks associated with joining gangs, added: "A lot of young people do not know what is the law, particularly with regard to being coerced into oral sex, which is rape, but some think it is just playing around.

"Young girls find that they may have no choice ? a young girl who is surrounded by a group of boys might feel it's normal to go along with it."

Former girl gang members say that despite being aware of the risks many girls with low self-esteem are willing to risk being raped by entire gangs to increase their "status".

The Heart programme, which involves police, local authorities and charities, aims to teach women about relationship issues, rather than the traditional emphasis on sex education. Already 180 girls identified as at risk have begun one-on-one tutorials for the rest of the year, with another 725 workshop places available to teach girls what is unacceptable in a relationship.

The scheme has so far been introduced in three London boroughs ? Lewisham, Newham and Waltham Forest ? but Cribb said she felt "very strongly" that every school should be delivering a form of relationship education to empower young women. "We are trying to explain that girls actually have a choice and that consent is key to a sexual relationship," she said.

Gifford Sutherland of community group Foundation 4 Life, which uses reformed former gang members to educate vulnerable youngsters, said sexual abuse was not the only risk that gangs posed to girls. "Not only are girlfriends manipulated by young men for sex, but they become associates, hiding firearms, carrying drugs, and sometimes these young girls find that they have no choice.

"The key concern is that this sort of behaviour has been normalised, that they go through an initiation process or they are coerced into sex. We show that is not a healthy relationship."

Although the Met has no detailed data on the numbers of potential victims, it believes that the estimated 250 active criminal gangs in the capital account for one in seven reported rapes. A survey by the NSPCC has suggested that a third of teenage girls have been forced into sexual activity against their will, while research by the Race on the Agenda charity shows that rape is used to punish girl gang members.

However, those with first-hand experience of the way in which gangs operate say that the factors driving such abuse are complex.

Mark Townsend

Source: http://www.guardian.co.uk/society/2012/feb/18/being-raped-by-gang-normal

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Michael Gove under pressure over anti-gay sex education

2012-02-19T05:42:00.001-08:00

Education secretary says Equality Act does not extend to school curriculum ? allowing faith schools to use homophobic material

Michael Gove, the education secretary, is at the centre of an escalating row over how faith schools discuss homosexuality in sex education classes.

The TUC has accused Gove of failing in his legal duties by insisting that equality laws, which prohibit discrimination on the grounds of sexual orientation, do not extend to the school curriculum.

The TUC complains that the current situation sends mixed signals to the playground, because schools are legally obliged to condemn discrimination on sexual-orientation grounds but free to use religious materials that equality campaigners claim is homophobic.

Brendan Barber, the TUC's general secretary, wrote to Gove in December expressing alarm that a booklet containing "homophobic material" had been distributed by a US preacher after talks to pupils at Roman Catholic schools across the Lancashire region in 2010.

The booklet, "Pure Manhood: How to become the man God wants you to be", discusses a boy dealing with "homosexual attractions" which it suggested may "stem from an unhealthy relationship with his father, an inability to relate to other guys, or even sexual abuse".

The booklet, which claims that "scientifically speaking, safe sex is a joke", explains that "the homosexual act is disordered, much like contraceptive sex between heterosexuals. Both acts are directed against God's natural purpose for sex ? babies and bonding."

Referring to the Equality Act 2010, which prohibits discrimination against individuals, Barber said: "Schools now have a legal duty to challenge all forms of prejudice. Such literature undermines this completely."

But Gove insists: "The education provisions of the Equality Act 2010 which prohibit discrimination against individuals based on their protected characteristics (including their sexual orientation) do not extend to the content of the curriculum. Any materials used in sex and relationship education lessons, therefore, will not be subject to the discrimination provisions of the act."

Gove's response has triggered anger from the TUC. "Having written to the education secretary to express our worry about the distribution of homophobic literature in faith schools, his lack of concern is very alarming," Barber said.

A DfE spokesman insisted: "Any school engaging in the promotion of homophobic material would be acting unlawfully." But the row highlights a grey area over the teaching of sex education. A review intended to provide new guidelines on what was appropriate for schools to teach was kicked into the long grass when the last election was called.

"It would certainly be helpful if there was clarity as to what is appropriate for young people of all ages," said Ben Summerskill, chief executive of the gay rights group Stonewall. "The water could no longer be muddied by people pushing age-inappropriate sex material on the one hand and fundamentalist anti-gay religious materials on the other."

The row comes at the end of an extraordinary week in which the role of religion in society has come under acute scrutiny.

The chairman of the Equality and Human Rights Commission, Trevor Phillips, said religious rules should be left "at the door of the temple" and give way to the "public law" laid down by parliament. Phillips said: "Once you start to provide public services that have to be run under public rules ? for example, child protection ? then it has to go with public law." Phillips spoke out after Baroness Warsi, the Tory minister, warned Britain was under threat from a rising tide of "militant secularisation".

Lord Carey, the former archbishop of Canterbury, warned that Christianity was being marginalised. Days earlier, the high court ruled that councils had no statutory power to hold prayers in meetings, while the Christian owners of a bed-and-breakfast lost an appeal against a ruling that their policy of restricting double rooms to married couples discriminated against a gay couple.

Concerns that faith matters are being marginalised at school has prompted the creation of a new coalition of faith groups and politicians. The Religious Education Council of England and Wales is to back the creation of an all-party parliamentary group that will focus on protecting religious education in schools and stressing its value to young people.

Jamie Doward

Source: http://www.guardian.co.uk/education/2012/feb/18/anti-gay-book-gove-row

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South Wales Evening Post commented mums in court for truant kids

2012-02-19T03:42:00.001-08:00

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South Wales Evening Post published Mums in court for truant kids

2012-02-19T01:42:00.001-08:00

THREE mums have been taken to court and fined for failing to ensure their kids go to school.

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NicRichards published Readers pictures

2012-02-18T23:42:00.001-08:00

Gallery created by NicRichards

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Said & Done: Portsmouth and Rangers; Spurs giving back; plus fan of the week

2012-02-18T21:42:00.001-08:00

Tricking the fit and proper test; Spurs in the community; fan of the week; plus model news

Quote of the week

The Football League ? defending their fit and proper person test after Vladimir Antonov's arrest on fraud charges put Portsmouth back in administration, eight months after they cleared him. The League say Antonov tricked the test ? designed to screen out potentially dishonest or fraudulent owners ? by supplying it with "at best misleading, and possibly fraudulent" information. Antonov denies wrongdoing.

? Also passing last year: Craig Whyte ? ruled fit to buy Rangers by the Scottish FA's test, which bars previously disqualified company directors, after he "failed to share" with them that he was a previously disqualified company director. The SFA say a new inquiry "will establish the clear facts".

Football family news

New last week from the football family:

? Jack Warner: denying allegations that aid money for Haiti earthquake victims disappeared via a Trinidad FA account over which he had sole control. The FA say they will sue Warner, Warner says he'll sue "deranged and malicious persons" for spreading the lie. "I am thoroughly disgusted."

? Angel Mar�a Villar: Spain's FA head, re-elected for a seventh term after rivals failed in a legal attempt to delay the vote due to alleged irregularities in a "murky atmosphere". Villar: "This election was absolutely democratic. It's an example to the football family."

? Plus one to watch: Bahrain FA president Sheikh Salman bin Ebrahim Al Khalifa. 2011: Backs the arrest of 150 athletes who took part in pro-democracy protests. 2012: Prepares to run for the presidency of the Asian Football Confederation. "I have great support from many parties."

Deal of the week

Spurs ? given approval to drop all affordable housing from their new stadium plan. The original approved scheme included 100 affordable homes; the new scheme 285 private flats, making the project more "viable". Daniel Levy says Spurs, receiving �27m of public regeneration money, are "delighted" to be able to go ahead ? bringing "economic uplift" to "an area with such real need".

What football thinks

4: Weeks before sacking Mick McCarthy that Wolves owner Steve Morgan revealed what football thinks: "I'd like to think football thinks Wolves do things our way ? and our way is about long-term growth, stability and strength. We don't have a hire-and-fire mentality ? the message is finally dropping: this club is about stability. You don't get that by chopping and changing your manager."

Also moving

? 6 Feb, Hertha general manager Michael Preetz on calls for new coach Michael Skibbe to be sacked after three defeats in his first three games. "This is not a question. We will stand together, stay immune against outside influences, and keep calm." 12 Feb: Sacks him. "It was time to change."

? 12 Feb, Sporting Lisbon president Godinho Lopes, asked if coach Domingos Paci�ncia should be worried: "That question makes no sense. The results are not good, but do not reflect the work of the coach. I speak with Domingos every day. We are working for success." 13 Feb: Sacks him.

President of the week

Brazil: Fortaleza's Osmar Baquit ? fined 100 reals (�40) for calling match officials "crooks, thieves, a gang of tramps, a legion of thugs" while being restrained by military police. Baquit: "I know I shouldn't act like that but I'm a passionate president. Maybe I'll do it again in the next match."

Adriano latest

Brazil: Corinthians director Roberto de Andrade says press claims that Adriano "escaped" from confinement in the team's hotel and turned up in a Rio nightclub are false. Andrade said the detention of Adriano in an attempt to make him lose weight was continuing: "I'm not kidding. Adriano is committed."

Gigi news

Romania: Steaua owner Gigi Becali's new ambition: "I want to be prime minister, so I can be Christ's general on earth. This country needs 5,000 Becalis ? but even with 100 we'd be better than Germany or France. Becali is love ? love draws me to people in need. All that I do, I do for Jesus."

Fan of the week

1: Number of fans in the away end at Gr�mio supporting Santa Cruz during their 4-1 defeat (attendance 6,735). Tiago Rech: "When I got in I realised it was just me and four police. But it was worth it. When we scored I didn't care I was alone. I screamed and went for it. That's when I saw the journalists looking at me. On the radio later they talked of 'the dance of the lone fan of Santa Cruz'. It was a great day."

Coach of the week

UAE: Olaroiu coach Walter Zenga, asked in a press conference why his side play defensively. "I do not want to answer that stupid question. It's a stupid question." Journalist: "Thanks". Zenga: "With pleasure. You're finished. I enjoy myself, you're nothing, a nobody? Bye bye, bye bye. Have fun."

Apology news

Brazil: Aguia midfielder Alexandre Carioca says using a camera tripod to beat Remo defender Aldivan to the ground during a brawl was "unwise": "I felt upset, so I acted the way I did. I surely won't do it again." Aldivan, treated in hospital, says he won't press charges. "He cried and said sorry. I forgive."

Plus: model news

Brazil: Big Brother contestant Monique says her footballer-chasing media image is unfair, based on "just one serious affair" with Corinthians' Douglas. "I don't seek out footballers. It's just like I'm a magnet and they are iron filings. And it's never about their money with me: I just like thick legs." Spokesman for Douglas: "This is a lie."

David Hills

Source: http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2012/feb/18/said-and-done-quote-week

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Leicester Mercury published Builder predicts it's year of the investor

2012-02-18T19:42:00.001-08:00

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South Wales Evening Post published Theatre brings green message

2012-02-18T17:42:00.001-08:00

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Leicester Mercury commented We don't want traveller camps near our homes, say Leicester...

2012-02-18T15:42:00.001-08:00

People who live near three proposed traveller sites in Leicester are opposed to the plans.

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South Wales Evening Post published Rhys Priestland relishing challenge at Twickenham

2012-02-18T13:42:00.001-08:00

WALES may face a journey into the unknown as they travel to Twickenham with the unfamiliar tag of favourites next Saturday, but...

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Labour's Maria Eagle backs two-thirds of coalition's transport spending cuts

2012-02-18T11:42:00.001-08:00

Shadow transport secretary says she would remove �6bn from budget, the largest cuts put forward by any shadow minister

Maria Eagle, one of Ed Miliband's earliest supporters in the shadow cabinet, has said she backs transport spending cuts worth �6bn, and warned that Labour will not be elected unless it has credibility on the deficit and recognises the new economic reality.

In a Guardian interview, the shadow transport secretary said she supported two-thirds of the cuts being introduced by the coalition government, although she had some sharp differences in priority. It is the largest cuts programme both in absolute and proportional terms put forward by any shadow cabinet member.

It is also remarkable because it comes from someone on the left of the party, and follows a period of silence on the deficit from senior party figures since two initiatives by Ed Miliband and Ed Balls early in January.

Until now only the shadow defence secretary, Jim Murphy, had set out a wide-ranging cuts programme, and he is seen as a figure on what was once the Blairite wing.

Polls show Labour trails the Conservatives badly as the party considered to be best equipped to take tough decisions.

Eagle also committed to make spending pledges only by switching resources within the budget and "by being open with the public about what this will require to be cut". She promised that if elected after 2015 she would find extra resources only by being tough with the vested interests in the train and bus companies, and not by seeking resources from the Treasury.

She said there was "a something for nothing culture" across transport, where train companies made big profits off high levels of public subsidy and felt they had no responsibility. "That has got to change. They are making big profits out of �4bn of public subsidy. It is not as if they are succeeding purely through their entrepreneurship," Eagle said.

"The reality of the deficit means that we are facing a very different landscape from when we were in government. Reducing the deficit requires us to support cuts in spending that we might not have in the past. Some of this is painful," she said. "I have identified over �6bn of reductions in the Department of Transport budget that we will not oppose, out of the �9bn the government has proposed. That is two-thirds that I am supporting.

"There is no division on this. This is not being driven by a particular faction of the shadow cabinet. It is not something just Blairities think. We all have a responsibility to set out how we would meet the challenge of the deficit within our areas of policy and I have done so in transport. Some of these are painful cuts."

Eagle said she supported �528m efficiency cuts in Network Rail, �245m cuts in CrossRail, �3.36bn cuts in the Highways Agency roads programme, �794m efficiencies in the roads maintenance programme, �1.73bn cuts in the Transport for London budget and �231m in the local authority roads programme. All the figures apply to the spending round.

She said she opposed �759m cuts in Network Rail and would use the cash to keep rail fares down. She said she would have retained �500m planned government cuts in the roads programme, and some cash for safe cycle lanes and an electric car-charging network.

"I give these detailed figures not to show to the media we see the importance of deficit credibility, but because we think it is the right thing to do. We are going to inherit this. The next parliament is not about redistributing the proceeds of growth. At the next election we are going to have to be tougher than Gordon Brown and Tony Blair, and think about ways of how we can deliver more with less. That is the key challenge we face, and we have to get into that mindset. It means being bolder about responsible capitalism."

Eagle said after the election she would squeeze the rail companies by refusing to give them the right to lift the fares cap, and get the bus companies to support concessionary fares for 16- to 18-years-olds in education and training.

She promised to bring the bus network outside London back under some form of democratic control, as it is in the capital. She said her proposals represented "the biggest devolution of power in transport since Barbara Castle in the late 70s".

Eagle said: "I think it is mad that the Department of Transport awards regional rail franchises and designs new trains. It is mad that ministers have to sign off every new road and rail scheme in England and Wales. Local authorities then have to engage consultants to lobby ministers to OK their roads."

Patrick Wintour

Source: http://www.guardian.co.uk/politics/2012/feb/17/labour-maria-eagle-transport-spending-cuts

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Leicester Mercury published Body of heroic airman finally located

2012-02-18T09:42:00.001-08:00

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South Wales Evening Post commented Steve Tandy launches new Ospreys regime with a winning start

2012-02-18T07:42:00.001-08:00

NEW Ospreys head coach Steve Tandy began his reign with a win last night, though his players were made to dig deep for an...

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JSE boosted by commodities

2012-02-18T05:42:00.001-08:00

The JSE ended in the black, led by mining stocks, amid fresh optimism in world equity markets that Greece will receive a bailout package to meet its financial obligations.

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The JSE ended in the black on Friday, led by mining stocks, amid fresh optimism in world equity markets that Greece will receive a bailout package to meet its financial obligations.

At 17:00 local time, the JSE all-share index was up 0.83% to 34,082.78 points, led by the platinum sector, which climbed 2.30%, resources rose 1.28%, while the gold index lifted 1%, but ended off the session highs.

Financials were up 0.75%, banks gained 1.04%, while industrials firmed 0.49%.

The rand was at 7.73 to the dollar from 7.81 at the JSE's close on Thursday. Gold traded at US$1,722.55 a troy ounce from at US$1,717.26/oz at the JSE's previous close, while platinum was quoted US$1,631.50/oz, from US$1,619.50/oz before.

“I imagine volumes will be fairly light, given the public holiday in the US on Monday. But having said that, there is still an upside momentum if Greece receives a bailout package,” said Ron Klipin, portfolio manager at SA Stock Brokers.

US stocks were mixed on Friday, with blue chips rising in tandem with optimism for a second bailout for Greece, extending gains for a second session, Dow Jones Newswires reports.

Early gains in US stocks followed a rally in Europe, after a Greek government spokesman said at a briefing that eurozone ministers were expected to approve a new bailout package.

German officials said they had scrapped plans to pressure Greece by withholding part of the bailout, and the European Central Bank plans to swap its Greek debt holdings for new bonds once the debt-restructuring deal is complete.

On the JSE, Anglo American (AGL) advanced R5.99 or 1.87% to R326.50, BHP Billiton (BIL) pocketed R2.70 or 1.09% to R251 and Sasol (SOL) gained R2.01 to R400.50.

In gold stocks, AngloGold Ashanti (ANG) lifted R3.61 or 1.11% to R329.75, Gold Fields (GFI) inched up six cents to R125.98, Harmony Gold Mining (HAR) rallied R2.67 or 2.75% to R99.82.

Impala Platinum recovered R4.80 or 3.03% to R162.99, Lonmin (LON) shot up R3.77 or 3.10% to 125.36.

Among other miners, Exxaro (EXX) added R4.42 or 2.27% to R199, Assore (ASR) was up R2.90 or 1.20% to R244.17.

British American Tobacco (BTI) slipped R4.22 or 1.09% to R381.79 and Richemont (CFR) gained 44 cents to R45.91.

Nedbank (NED) lifted R2 or 1.27% to R160, FirstRand (FSR) was up 30 cents or 1.33% to R22.94.

Basil Read Holdings (BSR) rallied 85 cents or 6.01% to R15. The construction group said late on Thursday that it had been awarded the R2.0 billion contract for construction of the works for phases 2C and 2H in terms of the Olifants River Water Resources Development Project.

Italtile (ITE) rose 35 cents or 6.80% to R5.50. The tiles and sanitary ware retailer this week reported a 22% growth in earnings for the six months ended December 2011. - I-Net Bridge

Source: http://www.iol.co.za/jse-boosted-by-commodities-1.1237169

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JSE boosted by commodities

2012-02-18T03:42:00.001-08:00